Here's the next chapter! sorry for leaving you guys on a small cliffhanger for 4 days but here we are! the next chapter! ;)

"Hermione! Why are you you sitting with the snakes?" Ron yelled, stomping over to the Slytherin table.

Hermione sighed. So much for not making a scene. Of course Ron had to come and start yelling. What else was she expecting? For him to be understanding? She shifted uncomfortably in her seat. She turned her head to Draco who gave her a reassuring glance. Hermione smiled. For some reason, knowing that she had his support meant a lot to her.

"Because I want to" she replied shortly before turning back to her food.

"Have they impurioused you? You need to come with me! You're supposed to be the brightest witch of your age!" Ron was now turning red with anger.

Hermione was seething. How dare he? How dare he suggest that she was anything less than what she was? The anger was boiling up. This was the true Ron. The one who always belittled her. The one who always looked down on her. Above all, he was the one who hurt her the most. And it ended today.

"I am the brightest witch of my age. Have you ever thought that you're the brainless git? Oh, and one other thing, I haven't been imperioused. I have just decided to put aside old prejudices. Something you clearly don't understand, and something you never will, because you can't see over your over inflated ego. You are so determined that they are bad that you can't see the truth that's staring you in the face. I pick them. I will always pick them above you. I'm no longer the little girl you used to keep around just for my smarts. I'm done. I'm not putting up with you anymore"

That struck a blow. Astoria and Pansy let slip laughs, unable to contain their amusement. By now, everyone in the great hall was staring at them, due to Hermione's screaming. Ron turned an even brighter shade of red if that was possible. Hermione smirked inwardly. She knew that her words were true and now everybody else did too. Now they all knew that Ron was just a little brat who could never look past his anger.

Ron held his hand up as if to slap her. She threw her hands up over her face. Her expression of triumph changed to one of shock and fear. He was going to hurt her. But the blow never came. She looked up to find that Draco Malfoy had stopped Ron. He had grabbed Ron's hand and looked as if he wanted to murder him. The rest of the group were standing up as well and were glaring at him.

"Get away from her, weasel, or you might find yourself with more than a bruised ego" Draco said in a low threatening voice.

Ron backed away a bit, seeming to shrink smaller under the sharp gaze of the Slytherins. Hermione's insides were dancing, but she had no idea why she was so excited. Draco Malfoy had stood up for her! But why did that make her so happy? Her thoughts were interrupted by Blaise, Theo, Astoria and Pansy.

"Unless i'm mistaken you are no longer welcome here"

"So you can get lost"

"Or we can make you wish you never came here"

"And you will wish you never crossed us"

Their words brought a smile to Hermione's lips. They were standing up for her, and coming from her former bullies, that was nothing small. Ron quickly backed away, his arms raised in surrender, though he didn't look happy about it. Hermione took a seat and the others quickly followed.

"Are you okay?" Draco asked, sounding generally concerned.

Hermione nodded, smiling at the fact that Draco cared about her. She turned to the others.

"That was...interesting" Theo said slowly, followed by a whack on the head by Blaise. "Owwwww. what was that for?" He whined. Blaise rolled his eyes. "For being an imbecile" he replied. Hermione cracked a smile before turning back to Astoria and Pansy to start a conversation. Draco rolled his eyes and turned to his food.

"Life's never dull at Hogwarts, is it?" Theo asked.

"And i thought you already knew that" Draco commented. Blaise nodded in agreement.

Draco's gaze turned to Hermione. The rest of lunch passed with his two best friends teasing him about her and Draco hoping desperately that she didn't hear.