Hermione Granger and the Two Lovers

Chapter Ten

Hermione sat down at the Gryffindor table. She grabbed a pancake and smeared margarine on it. She watched as more and more students filed into the Great Hall. Hermione's stomach tightened when Malfoy entered. She glared at him, but he didn't seem to notice.

Hermione had to force herself not to get up and kill Malfoy. Soon, more students entered the Great Hall and Malfoy was surrounded by his fellow Slytherins, so she couldn't have killed him if she had wanted to.

"Hermione! There you are," Ron shouted when he reached her at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall. "I asked Ginny where you were and she said she hadn't seen you all morning."

"I just didn't sleep well," Hermione explained as she poured maple syrup onto her pancakes. "But, you won't believe what I heard Malfoy saying this morning!" She explained what she had heard and told him what Dumbledore said about it.

"But, it was bound to happen. I mean someone on Voldemort's side has been after Harry every year. Why would this year be any different?" Ron asked.

"I don't know," Hermione answered. "I was just hoping we could have a normal year, but apparently I was wrong."

There was a long pause as Hermione took a bite of her pancakes.

"Do you think we should tell Harry?" Hermione asked Ron after she swallowed her bite of pancakes.

"I reckon we should. I mean this is his life. I think he should know what's going on," Ron replied. "But, what about Lupin?"

"Dumbledore said he would tell Lupin. We just have to warn Harry."

Just then, Harry walked through the doors of the Great Hall. Hermione tensed up. She knew Ron wouldn't tell him, so that left it up to her. But how was she supposed to tell Harry that Voldemort had a plan to kill him?

"Morning," Harry greeted them as he sat down at the table. "What classes do we have today?"

"Er-" Hermione stammered. Her mind was racing and she had no idea what to say.

"Transfiguration, Potions, Double Charms, and Defense Against the Dark Arts. Lunch is between Potions and Charms," Ron chimed in. "But I think Hermione has something to tell you."

Hermione's mouth went dry and she didn't know what to say. Ron gave her a sharp jab in the side and Hermione felt as though everything she had heard Draco and his father say just flew out of her mouth.

"I can't say I'm not surprised," Harry commented after Hermione finished. "I just have to watch my back. It's not as though it was something new. Now, if you were to tell me that Voldemort had given up on killing me, then I'd be surprised."

"So, you're not worried? Not at all?" Hermione asked.

"Not really. I mean, look at it this way. Voldemort has been trying to kill me since I was born and all he's managed to do is put a stupid scar on my forehead. What makes Dumbledore so sure he'll be able to do anything to me?"

"Harry," Hermione said. "Just be careful. Voldemort's really dangerous. You know how powerful he is."

"No problem," Harry said, stealing a piece of bacon off of her plate.

*~*~*~*~*

Hermione headed off to Transfiguration, leaving Ron and Harry at the Gryffindor table talking about Quidditch. Hermione knew she'd be a half an hour early for class, but she couldn't stand another Quidditch conversation.

Hermione reached the room on the first floor and opened the door. The room was completely empty.

Hermione sat down at an empty desk near the front of the room. She pulled her transfiguration book out of her bag and opened it to chapter six, Learning to be an Animagus.

In Hermione's fifth year she had chosen to be an Auror rather than continue S.P.E.W.

Hermione knew that choosing the Auror career path would be more successful and allow her to have classes with Ron and Harry. They had also decided that they would love to be Aurors and were now going to be in their class.

Just then, Malfoy walked through the door. Surprisingly, he wasn't followed by Crabbe and Goyle.

"What are you doing here, Granger?" Malfoy asked in a disgusted tone.

"I should be asking you the same thing," Hermione shot back. "I would have thought that you'd want to be a Death Eater, like your father."

"Well, I wouldn't go and admit that to teachers on Dumbledore's side now, would I?"

"I could only hope."

Malfoy ignored her remark and went on asking, "Where and Potty and the Weasel? I thought you all never went anywhere without each other. You might get lost," Malfoy snickered.

Without looking up from her book, Hermione answered, "Not that it's any of your business, Malfoy, but they are eating breakfast."

"And why aren't you waiting for them? Last year, you and Potty were inseparable. Weren't you two dating?" Malfoy asked.

"Yes we were dating, Ferret Boy," Hermione answered, angry that he brought up Harry. "But now we're not."

"Okay, so you're not dating. Why don't you still wait for the Weasel?"

"Because I got up early and already ate. I have noticed, however, that I wasn't the only one who got up early."

Malfoy was taken aback by this comment. "What are getting at, Granger?"

"I saw you this morning in the Great Hall talking to your father. I've already told Dumbledore, but, you know, if you're going to say something you don't want anyone else to hear, you really should do it somewhere more private," Hermione said with a grin.

"WHY YOU LITTLE MUDBLOOD!" Malfoy yelled and pulled out his wand.

"MR. MALFOY!" Professor McGonagall screeched as she walked through the door. "There will be no dueling in my class. A week's detention!"

Hermione leaned back over her book and grinned. She watched out of the corner of her eye as Malfoy sat down angrily. That serves you right, you stupid, ugly git.