Friends Forever....Or Not?

Chapter 8

Hermione had found out whose journal it was. It was Harry's. Yet she couldn't bring herself to stop reading it. She knew what she was doing was bad, even if she was fighting with him at the moment. It was wrong to read his journal. But, she did. And it was kind of boring. All he wrote about was what he did that day or things about school or Sirius Black. He said some pretty nasty things about the Dursleys that Hermione would prefer not mentioning...But about halfway through, it got a little interesting. She could tell that Harry had a big crush on a girl, but he never did mention any name. At least, she didn't notice any. By the sound of it, it was something major. He said that she was all he thought about. That he would do anything for her. That he wished she liked him too...That he was falling in love with her. At this point, Hermione was dying to find out who it was. Before their fight, Harry never mentioned anything about liking a girl, and Harry would usually tell her things like that. And the time where he started writing about her was definitely before their fight. She was getting very curious. She was just about to turn the page where it revealed the name when...

"Hey, Hermione. What are you reading?"

Hermione jumped up. She shoved the journal in her bag and turned around to find Neville standing there. "Ahh...um, nothing really. Just a book. Just some book I got from the, uh, the library."

"Oh."

"I thought you were leaving for Christmas vacation?"

"Well, I was. I missed the train. I had to write my grandmother a letter explaining what happened. She wasn't too thrilled. She wouldn't come and get me, so I guess I'm stuck here."

"That's too bad."

"Yeah. I'm used to it though. I'm always messing up. I can't do anything right."

"Don't say that."

"Well, it's true. Nobody likes me," argued Neville.

"I like you. You're a very good friend."

"Well you may like me, but others sure don't. They're always teasing me."

"Like who?"

"Well for starters...Draco Malfoy. I know you're going out with him and stuff, but he still teases me a lot...Where is he, by the way? I though you'd be with him today."

"It's a long story. I've decided to break up with him though. When he comes back from his vacation. He doesn't know it yet. No one knows, so please don't tell anyone, ok?"

"Oh, I definitely won't tell anyone. But you actually trust me with that kind of information?"

"Of course. Why wouldn't I?"

"I don't know...So you're actually going to break up with Malfoy?"

"Yeah. I just don't really like him anymore. He used to be nice to me and stuff, but now he is acting very rude to me and I just don't see anything happening between us anymore."

"He's going to be very mad when you tell him. Did you know that?"

"Yeah," said Hermione, letting out a huge sigh. "Telling him will be the hard part." Hermione was getting a little annoyed with Neville. It seemed to her that he always showed up in the wrong place at the wrong time. She had to get rid of him, but how? She was dying to finish reading Harry's journal. "Well, Neville, I better get going. I have a lot of work to do."

"Really?" he said with a sad face.

"Yeah."

"Ok. Thank you for talking to me."

You're welcome...bye."

"Bye."

Once Neville was gone, she took her bag and brought it into her room. She couldn't take any more chances. She took the journal out again. She couldn't believe she was actually doing this. If Harry ever found out...She couldn't help it though. She found her page and began reading again. She still couldn't find a name. What was he waiting for? She flipped the page...She dropped the journal and let out a slight gasp.

* * *

Throughout the rest of the vacation Harry was worried. Thoughts kept running through his head. What if someone read it? Why didn't I put a lock on it? I am so stupid! He even told Ron about it. All he said was, "Well, you didn't have anything too important in there...or did you?" Harry told him he didn't. Ron still believed that his feelings for Hermione were over and done with. But they weren't. What if someone found out that I liked Hermione? What if...Hermione found out? What if she found my journal and read it? But then he realized that Hermione, friend or no friend, would never do such a thing...or would she? He sure hoped not.

Finally, it was the last day of vacation. He packed up all his stuff. By 11:00, they were on the train going back to Hogwarts.

* * *

It was Hermione. That was who Harry had fallen in love with. Hermione. At first, she thought she had misread it, but it was there, in black and white. SHE remembered exactly what it had said: I can't stop thinking about Hermione, because everything I look at or do makes me think of her. She never expected this. She was kind of excited though. She had never known of any boy who had really liked her like this...well, maybe Victor Krum was an exception, but still...she really didn't feel the same way about Krum that he did her. Now Harry one the other hand, maybe she did she feel the same way that he felt about her...

She had decided that under any circumstances, Harry mustn't know that she had read his journal. On the day Harry came back, she was going to set his journal in the same spot she had found it. Hopefully, he would know it was missing and go first thing to see if it was there. And of course, it would be. And he would never know anyone had read it. Until then, she would keep it. She didn't want anyone else reading it.

It was the night before Harry was to come back. And Draco would also be back. She decided to take a walk around the castle by herself. She had decided to take a walk around the castle by herself. She needed to think about what to say to Draco. She turned the corner and there was a surprise waiting for her.

"Draco! Why are you home so early? I thought the train came back tomorrow?"

"I wanted to surprise you, Hermione. I begged and pleaded with my mother and she agreed to bring me here tonight. I felt so bad about leaving you."

"Oh."

"Aren't you glad to see me?"

"Of course I am," she lied.

"Is something wrong?"

"Well..." Hermione started. She decided to tell him now, even though she had not prepared what she was going to say. "I think we need to talk," she finally said.

"You're absolutely right, Hermione. We do need to talk," Draco replied.

Hermione looked up in shock. "What..."

"I need to tell you something that I should have told you before."

During this time, Hermione completely forgot that she was breaking up with him. She listened with interest.

"I think I know what you want to talk about."

"You do?" said Hermione in confusion.

"Yeah, I do."

Hermione had a strong feeling that what he was talking about wasn't the same thing as she was talking about, but she nodded her head in agreement anyway.

"Well, my father knows we are dating and stuff, and well, he's not too happy about it. He told me to break up with you right away or else he will disown me from the family. I told him that he could go right ahead and disown me because there was no way I was going to break up with you. And well, he got a little mad. You could tell that he really didn't want to kick me out of the family, because he said, 'If you stay with her, I, myself, will make sure your time together is not happy and I will do everything I can to tear you two apart.' And I just wanted to tell you that," said Draco.

Hermione just nodded her head again.

"And also," he continued, "I know that lately I haven't been so nice towards you, and I want to apologize for that. This whole thing with my father has really stressed me out and I guess I have been taking it out on you, and I know I shouldn't have, but I did. And I just want you to know that that is over with. I want to stay with you, regardless of what my father said."

Hermione stood there shocked. She had no idea that was the reason why he was acting that way. And that his father had forbid him to go out with her. And even worse, he was standing up for her. Against Lucius Malfoy. That must have been really hard. And he was doing all of this for her...

"You ok, Hermione?" he said when he noticed her standing there in shock.

She slowly nodded her head. "Yeah. Actually I am ok." From this point on, she decided not to break up with him. She had no idea what he had gone through...She had no idea that he loved her that much.

"That was what you had wanted to talk about, right?" said Draco uncertainly.

Hermione didn't know how to answer that. She didn't want to lie to him. But then again, she definitely couldn't tell him what she had originally planned. But before she could decide, Neville walked around the corner.

"Hello, Hermione," said Neville. "See, he doesn't look that mad about you breaking up with him. I-"

"What?!" yelled Draco. He stood there in shock. "You're-you're breaking up with me?"

"Now, Draco, listen, I thought that-" attempted Hermione.

"I can't believe this. After all I've done for you. After all I just said about you! AFTER WHAT MY FATHER SAID HE WAS GOING TO DO TO ME!!!! How dare you!! How dare you do that to me!!?" He stopped to listen for an answer.

"But, Draco, listen, I didn't know. I had decided not to. I don't want to break up with you anymore!"

"You think that excuse is going to welcome you back into my arms? Think again. You know how much crap I took from other people, just because I was with you? My father was about to kick me out of the family! I had absolutely no friends left! I can't believe you are doing this to me! I'm sorry, but no excuse is going to change my mind. You know, Goyle was right. You are a bitch. Everyone saw right through you. Everyone except me."

Hermione was starting to get a little mad right now. He had no right what so ever to call her a bitch. "Well let me tell you something!!" she started. "You weren't the only one who had to put up with people for our relationship to work! I took a lot of crap from people too, and I thought they were all wrong when they said things about you that weren't very nice. I guess I was wrong. They were right! You don't have any feelings! And don't fucking call me a bitch!!"

"I will call you whatever the hell I want to! You are a bitch. And a slut. Oh, and we can't forget a-"

Draco would have kept going and called her every name in the book and more, if it hadn't been for McGonagall standing right behind him, tapping him on the shoulder.

"Mr. Malfoy, follow me. Now," said McGonagall.

"It wasn't just me, it was Hermione to, she was-" Draco argued.

"I only heard you. If Hermione did say something, I am sure that she has learned her lesson. Now, come on."

Draco had no choice but to follow. Hermione could hear McGonagall yelling at Draco. (I will NOT tolerate this kind of language, Malfoy. Never in all my years I have heard such fowl language...) Hermione was so surprised that McGonagall never heard her. She breathed a sigh of relief and glanced over at Neville. He was standing in the corner, looking like a coward. He finally got the courage to say.

"Hermione, I am so sorry! I didn't know. I just realized that you hadn't told him right after I said it. I am so sorry!"

Hermione stayed silent for a moment. She couldn't believe that she had actually trusted him with that important of information. What was with him always showing up at the wrong place and the wrong time?

"Oh, Neville, that's ok. He deserved what just happened. He was a worthless piece of...I don't know...I have to go," she said as she ran off.

"Bye..." said Neville.

* * *

Draco was now standing in McGonagall's office. He had never seen her so pissed off before.

"Draco, explain yourself."

"She broke up with me. I was just telling her what she really was. Apparently, she can't handle the truth."

"There is no need for that kind of attitude, Malfoy."

"She deserved every one of those names I called her. And besides, she started it all."

"That is no excuse for using such foul language!"

"Really?...I thought it was," he said sarcastically.

"You better watch your mouth, young man!"

"Why isn't she in here with me? She was cussing me out too. You just didn't hear her."

"No, I didn't hear her. And that is the exact reason why she is not in here. Although, I did hear you."

"Obviously."

"Do you want me to add 'smarting off to a teacher' to the list of things I will be punishing you for? Because I can. And will."

"Why would I care? You can't punish me! Only the Head of my House, Snape, can punish me!"

"Dear, dear. I am afraid Professor Snape failed to mention one little thing," said McGonagall, smiling.

"What?" said a shocked Draco.

"I am so sorry to inform you, Mr. Malfoy, but Professor Snape is not here. He will be back tomorrow though. He has kindly enough asked me to watch over his students and, if necessary, punish those who need punishing. You need punishing and I am going to be the one who gives it to you...What do you have to say for yourself now?"

"Sorry?" said Draco in a very small voice.

"You better be sorry. You're lucky I'm not expelling you. This school had a zero tolerance policy on swearing."

Draco breathed a sigh of relief. At least he wasn't going to get expelled.

"However, I will be taking away 100 house points from Slytherin. You will also be receiving detention."

"What kind of detention?" groaned Draco.

"Right now I do not know. I will inform you when the time comes...You may go now."

Draco walked quietly out of her office. He couldn't believe he had gotten detention. And 100 points taken away. It was all Hermione's fault. If she hadn't broken up with him, this would have never happened. She was going to pay for this. HE would make sure of that.

* * *

Hermione wouldn't have exactly chosen that way to tell him, but what's done is done. She couldn't do anything about it. She felt miserable. She wished Neville would have never come at that moment. If he hadn't, then she would be with Draco right now. She couldn't believe that she had ever doubted him. Well, until now. She had no idea that he would act that way in that type of situation. She didn't know what to think anymore. She wanted Draco back, but then again, what about Harry? He had feelings for her. She was so confused. It was like something was taking over her mind. All of a sudden, she had a huge headache. She should have gone to Madame Pomfrey, but somehow she felt that she couldn't. She didn't want to admit to anyone what she was feeling inside her head. She knew one thing. It wasn't normal. She decided to go up to her room and lie down.

* * *

Draco was sitting in his common room doing his homework. It seemed to him that the whole Slytherin house was mad at him. Those hundred points really made them lose their lead. They used to be in first place. They were now in last place. His life really sucked at the moment. He had just lost Hermione. He lost the hundred points. He had detention. All of Slytherin was mad at him. Today was just not his day...Until Professor Cambridge came in.

"Hello Draco," she said warmly.

"Hey."

"I came to give you your detention."

"Oh great. Just what I was waiting for."

She gave him a stern look and then replied, "You will be coming with me. Right now."

"But I am in the middle of my homework," he protested.

"Malfoy, I haven't got time for your crap. Now come on."

Draco froze for a moment. Did a teacher just say that? He decided he better listen. He didn't want his day any worse than it already was. "I'm coming," he said with a sigh. He followed her all the way to her office. There, he found Rita Skeeter sitting in her chair. "Hey! What are you doing back?"

"Just sit and listen," said Rita. "We couldn't get the hundred points back, but there will be no detention for you."

Draco smiled. "Why?"

"We need your help," said Cambridge.

"I am working undercover this time with Cambridge," said Rita. "Only us three know. Well, someone else knows too, but we've taken care of her. Now listen, you remember what you did last time? You are going to do that again for me. Got it?"

"Ok, I guess. If it means I won't have any detention...But why me again?"

"Because you will have the best stories for us," said Cambridge. "I know what Hermione Granger just did to you. You want revenge, don't you? I want stories on her. And whatever she had said about her two sidekicks. You are going to get us all the good stories. We have some access, but not as much as you do."

"Oh, I get it now," said Draco, smiling. "I get revenge on Granger. Perfect. I'm in. But, may I ask, you said there was one other person who knew. Who is she?"

"Hermione Granger," said Rita. "And we have taken care of her, don't worry."

"What did you do to her?" said Draco.

"Imperius Curse...Works every time."

"You've been controlling her!" he exclaimed.

"No, no, no, dear boy. We just made her forget the fact that she knew about us...And maybe a couple of other things," she said smiling. "But that's not important."

"So, have we got your word on this, Draco? Are you in? For Sure?"

Draco stopped a moment to think. He couldn't believe that were using the Imperius Curse on Hermione. But then again, she deserved it. After what she did to him. She deserved every last bit. "I'm in. For sure."

"Very good, Draco...I want you in here once a week with news for us. You may go back to your common room."

"I am going to make Hermione Granger's life living hell," he thought to himself as he walked out.

"The plan is going great," said Cambridge, as soon as Draco was clearly out of sight. "We got Draco right where we want him."

"So how's the Imperius Curse going on Hermione?" said Rita. "She still has no clue that she knew about us, right?"

"Right."

"You know, I was watching her this after noon and I think something is going wrong with it."

"Wrong? What do you mean?" exclaimed Cambridge.

"Well, I think that pretty soon she might be able to fight it," said Rita. "I've watched her when she is alone. At times, she doesn't even know what she is doing. And then other times, she knows something is not right with her mind. She knows something is wrong. She feels it."

"Well, we will just have to keep a very close eye on her, now won't we?" said Cambridge.

"Yes, but I think I know what the problem is," said Rita. "You're using it too much. She really shouldn't be this confused. She should be acting normal, all the time, and she's not. Maybe you should ease off a bit."

"Ease off? And let her remember?" yelled Cambridge. "The second she finds out, she'll go straight to Dumbledore and our covers will be blown. We'll be sent to Azkaban! The Unforgivable Cures are illegal! We can't just ease off a bit! We'll let her go crazy before we do that! Do you understand?"

"Yes, I suppose," she said with a sigh.

"Now come on, we've got work to do."

* * *