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Song suggestion: I'd lie, Taylor Swift.
Chapter Twelve: Downside accomplishment.
As the train drew up at the station Hermione sighed. This is it, my life for a year and it's only going to get worse by the looks of it.
"You coming Hermione?" Ginny asked as they left the compartment.
"Yes." She quickly followed Ginny, watching for a certain blonde.
"We better hurry." Ginny grabbed her arm and pulled her swiftly through the crowds.
"Why?"
"I just saw him get off the train and look at you."
"Crap."
"Come on." They climbed into the carriage with everyone else and breathed a sigh of relief.
"Is everything alright?" Harry asked as it slightly jolted to a start.
"Everything's fine, will people stop asking that?" Hermione stressed.
"Okay." Harry raised his hands innocently.
"Did anyone listen to the latest Chudley Cannons Quidditch match?" Ron asked trying to defuse the atmosphere.
"I did." Neville nodded and conversation resumed.
The carriage took them to Hogwarts castle quickly where they stepped off and took in the sight before them. I'm home. Hermione predictably thought, like every year. Then a chuckle interrupted her thoughts. Glancing over at the next carriage, she saw Pansy, Blaise and Malfoy get out. Hermione felt backwards for someone to hold onto and gripped Harry's bicep.
"Hermione, are you okay?" He asked covering her hand with his and looked the same way as her, "It's only Malfoy."
"I need to go change." She mumbled, "Ginny?" The red haired Witch turned to her and took in the situation quickly.
"Coming." She smiled weakly and they hurried inside.
"Hermione? Ginny?" Harry shook his head in confusion and followed everyone else inside.
"Help." Hermione cried as they got dressed.
"It's okay Hermione." Ginny tried to reassure her.
"No it's not, even Harry's noticing!"
"Okay, okay…I think you should tell Harry and Ron so you have someone in classes to watch out for you."
"I can't." Hermione sighed, "You know what they're like…they'll kill him."
"True, but with him dead this situation resolves itself."
"Ginny, are you seriously contemplating someone else's death?" Hermione gasped.
"Sorry." She grumbled, "Just saying…"
"I know." Hermione sighed and straightened her perfect uniform.
"Right, let's go." And the two girls left.
Stood outside the Great Hall Hermione and Ginny talked idly waiting for everyone else. They eyed the way as their group made its way towards them, but it was the people in front of them that caught her interest. Slytherin Prince along with Blaise and Pansy were strolling along.
"Ginny, I'm going to go ahead into the Hall; I'll see you in a minute." Hermione whispered anxiously.
"Good idea, I'll come too." And with that the two girls hurried in.
Malfoy smiled as Granger walked into the Hall; obviously she had decided to employ a bodyguard to protect her in the form of Weaslette.
"She hates you." Blaise commented.
"Evidently she can't hate me as much as she likes because she kissed me three times." He smirked in remembrance.
"I don't see why you don't use more Veela charm."
"Because, if I did, she would loathe me for life and I don't want that. I will give her a choice, I will not force her."
"I never said force her." Blaise pointed out.
"Maybe I should talk to her?" Pansy mused.
"Do you think that will help?" Malfoy frowned.
"It couldn't make it worse." She shrugged.
"Look man, Gryffindor's Princess isn't going to submit any time soon and you, my friend, are going to get worse."
"I'll deal with it." He rolled his eyes.
"It's your choice, but remember the longer you go against it, the worse it will be."
"I told you, she has to decide for herself. If she doesn't have a choice in me, then I'll give her a choice of when."
"You're only making it harder for yourself."
"Yeah, because you took the easy route. Tell me how many days didn't you speak to him for Pansy?"
"Two weeks, three days and one hour." Pansy smiled.
"Accurate much." Malfoy sighed.
"The thing was though, Blaise isn't sick because he's waiting, you are getting sick! Draco, this is not good anymore."
"What? I'm supposed to jump her? Catch her at a vulnerable moment? Force her?"
"It's worth it to stop you getting ill, what do you have to pay for that? A few weeks of silence?"
"She's too stubborn, she'll never come near me again and then I will get sick."
"We're not going to change your mind now, are we?"
"No."
"Fine." Pansy sighed and squeezed Blaise's hand.
"But this isn't the last time we are going to discuss this." Blaise warned.
"Merlin forbid." Malfoy rolled his eyes and let them drift to the bushy hair girl as he sat down.
"By the way, quit staring at her, unless you want Potter and Weasley to beat the snot out of you." Pansy tutted.
"I'm not concerned with Potter and Weasley."
"Okay, what about Weaslette? She got congratulated last year for her bat-bogey hex by joining the slug club, do you really want to be hit with that?"
"Whatever Pansy."
"Just saying Draco."
"Give it a rest."
Across the Hall Hermione sighed.
"Why did I sit facing this way?" She complained.
"Just ignore him." Ginny patted her shoulder, "He can't do anything here."
"I might though."
"Do you want me to hex him?"
"Now?"
"When the teachers aren't looking obviously, he's not going to grass me up."
"No, let's just forget him and the Slytherins."
"Good."
"Hey honey." Harry smiled as everyone sat down-except Luna who sat at the Ravenclaw table.
After the usual Sorting Ceremony they ate and drank and completely forget all worries as they did. Hermione relaxed and looked forward to Head girl and boy announcements.
"So who do you think will be Head girl?" Lavender smiled and winked at Hermione.
"Who do you think?" Ron sighed.
"Hermione, of course." Harry nodded.
"And Head boy?" She asked.
"I'd say Harry." Ron pointed to him.
"Me too." "Yeah." Came several responses to this.
"Students!" Dumbledore called.
"Here we go." Hermione smiled before paying attention.