Unforeseen Love

Chapter 1 - Where was Harry?

Hermione sat at the Gryffindor table, eating her breakfast, alone. Harry was out for a quick Quidditch practice with his other teammates, and that included Ron. She stared up absently at the enchanted ceiling, where the image of the white clouds drifting by was displayed. The Great Hall was full of the noisy chatter usually heard before a Quidditch match, and today it was Gryffindor versus Ravenclaw. She continued eating her breakfast and she didn’t notice when Ron had come in and sat next to her, his face flushed from the sun.

“Hey Hermione, nice day isn‘t it?

"Oh yes, Ron."

"Is something wrong?" asked Ron.

“No, no just …er… really sleepy, didn’t sleep well last night.” She was too worried to have any sleep at all.

Ron noticed she wasn’t telling him something, but he decided not to make a scene.

" So, did I miss anything?" stated Harry as he sat down on the other side of Hermione.

" Where were you last night, I was worried!" asked Hermione not making an attempt to hide the concern.

" I was sleeping in my bed, why what were you doing? " a grin started to grow on Harry's face, and he winked at her. This action made Ron’s face turn red like a tomato that would either burst or would hoped to be throw at Harry.

" I was waiting for you in the common room, because I wanted to let you know that Professor McGonagall said not to worry about the Quidditch match .She knew you'd be fine even if you did break your arm, and leg, and rib, and ... "

" You make it sound like he was ready for his death bed!" interrupted Ron.

All three laughed at this and Hermione decided to leave it alone. A silence crept upon them as they ate giving Hermione time to let it all sink in.

She was so happy around Harry and Ron. She felt as though they were her reason for existence. She just sat and stared at them as though trying to absorb every detail, from the way Ron kept running his hand through his hair, to the way Harry's nose twitched whenever the conversation was steered towards Potions class. She felt as though they were her haven, her safe place, her sanctuary. She could trust them with anything, but could she trust them with...
Her thoughts were rudely interrupted by a cold voice dripping with malice.

" Thinking of your poor red haired lover, mudblood? "

" Actually I was just thinking of how it would bring me immense pleasure to see you on the floor yelping with pain, ferret!"

Draco Malfoy stepped back at this comment for he had yet to forget what had happened last year with their Professor, Alastor Moody. It gave him , however, great satisfaction to know that he made Hermione’s blood boil enough to say such things to him.

"Well Mr. Weasley, you don't have a say in this, do you?"

" Actually, I think Hermione is capable of defending herself against scum like you."

" Ooh ouch, two in a row, all we need is little Mr. Hero Potter to say something and my day will be complete."

" Don't count on it, Malfoy. It‘s too early to waste my time on you."

" And why would that be, Little-Miss-Mudblood got your head all mixed up? "

" Oh Please, Malfoy, save it. Don't you have anywhere else to be? You know with friends? Oh wait I forgot Goyle and Crabbe don't really count as friends, do they? Big bodyguards is what they are, but they won't be around forever Malfoy, you can bet on it."

“You, my little pretty, are one to talk. If Hand-Me-Down Henry (Ron) and Scarred Steven (Harry) weren’t around, you’d be in a little trouble, but they won’t be around forever either, and YOU can be sure of that, ‘Mione.”

“How dare you call her that, I should kill you for calling her that, but you’re not worth it. Leave Malfoy before I change my mind.”

“Whatever Weasley.” With that, Draco turned on his heel, and stalked out of the Great Hall.

" Thank you, Ron and Harry, I was about to kill him myself, but that isn’t very dainty is it?” Hermione smiled, then reached out and hugged them. She needed that… not the physical touch, but the warmth of having friends who love you, and who protect.

“Are you coming down for the match today, ‘Mione?” asked Harry, grinning as he said

“’Mione.”

“ Do you really think I would miss Ron’s first game as Keeper?” she smirked, and pinched Ron’s cheek. “Honestly. Well you two, I’ll see you in half an hour, G’luck, and please… try to come back in one piece. “ She giggled and left the Great Hall only to find herself face to face with Malfoy, alone.

“Excuse me,” she said with sarcasm in her voice. She pushed him out of her way, but kept her head up as he grabbed her arm and whipped her around.

“Where are you going?” he asked laughing to himself as he said it.

“ Let go of me, what the hell are you doing?” she screamed trying to get someone’s attention, ANYONE’S attention. “Let go of me, Malfoy!” She flailed her arms around trying to loosen his grip, but he let go. “ Don’t you EVER touch me again, do you understand?, Leave me alone!”

With that, she ran up the marble staircase without looking back. By the time she got to the common room, her face was stained with tears.

“How dare he?” she thought out loud “He has no right, I.. I”

“Who has no right?”

Hermione turned around and gasped for air. He stood there with confusion on his face. She needed him.

“Oh Ron… he grabbed me he was so close… I was afraid!”

“Ok, Hermione I need you to calm down, Please explain this… I’m very lost!”

“Later!” She leaped up and he wrapped his arms around her. “I’m sorry, I overreacted… He was just being himself, Ha, just himself!”

“ WHO?”

“Malfoy, but that doesn’t matter, Oh Ron, please don’t do anything without thinking… I know a way to handle him, Please don’t hurt anyone… remember… he’s not worth it.”

“But… I … he needs to pay …Ok! I won’t, but if you don’t act soon I will hurt him, in many ways! Only for you Hermione.. I promise not to do anything… YET! “

“Alright that’s good enough. I’ve got to get to the common room. I wish you the best of luck! I’ll be cheering for you, and you know it.” She kissed him on the cheek and kept walking at a brisk pace… with her arms folded at her chest.

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Ron walked to the Quidditch Pitch himself… thinking also. “What the hell just happened?” He wouldn’t let that bother him too much during the game, they were going to smoke Ravenclaw. He thought, I’m not nervous…this isn’t nervous… I’m just excited. Ron’s insides felt like writhing worms, he couldn’t stand straight because he was afraid his breakfast would be all over the floor. Why did he have to eat anything? Focus Ron FOCUS! He opened the doors to the Hogwarts grounds and felt the rush of wind. He would be alright, he hoped.

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