The Project

Chapter 3:: Withered trust

“Ron?”

Ron stood still, his fist ringing with pain; he didn’t think that someone would be up at this time of night–or morning. He whirled around and saw Harry in his bed, arranging his glasses and looking at him with a confused stare. He was surrounded by different kinds of books and parchments and his wand pointing towards Ron with a lumos charm on it.

“Harry! W-what are you doing up?” he fumbled trying to be casual as if dashing inside the dormitory and hitting the wall would be an ordinary thing for him to do.

“I’m studying for the NEWTS,” Harry said probably stunned because of Ron’s actions a few moments ago, “Um, Ron?”

Why? Why? Why? Why did I kiss her? The thoughts flooded Draco’s head that night – or you could say morning, he couldn’t sleep, not after what happened, I kissed Granger, I kissed a mudblood, I kissed her.

He rammed his brain for a reason but couldn’t find any. Damn it Draco!  She was just standing there, smiling–wait! Maybe it was her smile–I do get attracted to girls with pretty smiles. And I admit that she has a great smile, not too grin-y, not flirt-y… just natural.

But not to the point that I would then kiss them there and then! She’s a mudblood for Grindelwald’s sake! And she’s Weasel’s girlfriend! I wouldn’t stoop that low, would I? Of course not! Said a voice in his head, Then what? What made me do it? This time the voice had no answer.

Why? Why? Oh why did I let him kiss me? The thought cascaded Hermione’s head. She couldn’t even peek at her Arithmancy Chart, not after what happened, I let Malfoy kiss me, I let a Deatheater-to-be kiss me, I let him kiss me.

She forced her brain to give a levelheaded answer only to come up with… nothing! Arrgh! I hate my self! She berated. He was just standing there, his face—it was different, somehow, gentle—there was his eyes it was unusually warm and affectionate—not the Draco she knew and loathe, definitely not! Then a thought hit her; for once, she had a glimpse of another side of Draco Malfoy, a warmer side, a gentler side, a different side.

But… He’s Malfoy for goodness sake! And, Oh my God, I’ve totally forgotten about Ron! What am I going to do? What am I going to say to him? How could I have done this to him? Guilt began to creep throughout her body, Then why? Why did I let Draco do this to me?

She only fell asleep when exhaustion overtook her body.

Great Hall; breakfast:

“Ron, are you alright?” Harry asked for the fifth time, after what happened last night, Ron barging in the dormitory and almost crumbling the wall to ruins with his fist, He had been worried indeed and for the fact that Ron is saying, ‘I’m alright,’ all the time and not telling him what’s the problem makes him worry more.

“I’m alright Harry,” said Ron putting butter in his pancakes, “How many times have I told you that?”

At that point in time, Hermione walked inside the Great Hall with a ghastly look in her face, like she hadn’t had enough sleep last night, she and Malfoy probably really worked hard last night, she looked nervous too, Harry wondered if that has a connection to Ron.

“Umm, Good Morning,” greeted Hermione, she then sat opposite to them.

“Good Morning, Hermie. Harry would you please pass the syrup,” Ron said, flatly. Harry did.

And they all began to eat silently.

“I’ve got to go,” said Ron suddenly standing up from his chair, “I think I’ve forgotten something,”

“Ron…” said Harry and Hermione together.

“What?”

“Um, we’ve got Divination soon,” said Harry, “so, hurry up okay?”

Ron nodded faced Hermione and asked, “Hermione?”

“Nothing, forget about it, take care, okay?” Hermione answered feebly.

“Okay,” said Ron then ran ahead.

“Hermione? Are you alright?” asked Harry noticing Hermione’s upset expression in her face.

“I’m alright, Harry,” she answered gathering her books and shielding her face by her hair and then hurried towards her Arithmancy class.

That’s it, Harry thought, if anyone would say ‘I’m alright’ to me and they’re not, I would blow up Professor Trelawney’s fish bowl, the one that she calls Crystal Orb! He then jogged towards the tower where their Divination classroom is found.

~o000o~

“What do you think’s wrong with Hermione?” the question from Harry caught Ron off guard. It was after their Divination Class and Professor Trelawney had just announced Harry’s death by a guillotine before she dismissed all of them.

“W-what?” Ron said.

“What do you think is wrong with Hermione?” he asked again.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, it’s just that at breakfast this morning, didn’t she act a little odd to you? I mean, the two of you… err…she-“

“Everything’s fine Harry!” said Ron cutting Harry off.

“Fine?” Harry’s eyebrows rose with inquisitiveness.

“Yeah, I guess her project with Malfoy isn’t successful last night ” Ron answered trying to be relaxed.

“Well anyway, what was her reaction when you gave her the flowers?” Harry asked, changing the subject.

Ron sighed. Why does Harry have to be very nosy? I can’t tell him about what happened last night; I want Hermione to tell me herself! To say that it really happened!

Ron took a deep breath and said, “Well, It’s like this, I-“

“Excuse me?” Harry turned around and saw the familiar, brilliant blue-green eyes of no other than his Transfiguration Partner, Elyse Munday.

“Harry, can I talk to you?” she said to Harry but realized that he was talking to Ron, “Oh, am I interrupting something?”

Ron grinned widely, pleased that he had an excuse not to tell Harry now, and said, “No, not at all, I’ll see you in History of Magic, Harry!” he then went off.

“Harry, can I talk to you?” Elyse asked.

“Yeah, Okay,” Harry replied, looking back to where Ron was walking briskly away, “Um, what do you want to talk about?”

“You see Harry, it’s about you,” She said.

“Me? What about me?” asked Harry skeptically.

“Yes, about you. You see Harry, um… I…” Elyse couldn’t find the words to say and she was looking at Harry anxiously.

Was she about to say that she likes me? Does she know that I like her? Had she noticed? I guess this is now or never… Harry thought. His heart was beating faster than ever.

“I like you too!” Harry blurted out obviously not listening to what Elyse is saying.

“What?”

“It’s ok Elyse. I understand, it’s about our houses isn’t it? I know you’re a Slytherin and I am a Gryffindor, but I know we could work this out if—“

“Whoa, stop, stop, Stop!” said Elyse putting both her hands up, “did you hear what I just said?”

“Um, yeah, you said that you like me, and I said that I like you too, and that you are a Slytherin and I am a Gry—“

“Harry, I never said that I liked you,”

“You didn’t?” Harry blinked.

“That’s what I’m talking about, you are not always paying attention when I’m speaking to you. That’s the problem, Harry, you’re not listening to me, and we couldn’t get anything done if you continue to go on like this. Besides, I already have a boyfriend, Fernan McNair,” Elyse said.

“I-I’m sorry Elyse,” Harry replied snapping back to reality and immediately felt ashamed because of what he said, he felt blood rush through his cheeks, “I guess, I’m just… forget about it, forget everything I said, okay?”

“That’s okay, just promise me that it won’t ever happen when we work on our project again, okay?”

“I promise, bye!”

“See you tomorrow, Potter, same time, same place!”

“I’ll be there!” Harry said his farewell and then sprinted towards their History of Magic class realizing that he was already three minutes late.

~o000o~

Ron entered the classroom and immediately noticed Hermione. What’s not to notice? She is the most beautiful witch in the classroom, even though she looks kind of preoccupied. Probably feeling guilty about kissing Malfoy! Ron thought angrily.

Pretending what he saw last night was a horrible nightmare; he went for their usual seats beside Hermione who is very deep in thoughts and didn’t notice Ron sat beside her.

~o000o~

Harry walked in the classroom and found Professor Binns roll calling the class.

“Good Morning Professor, sorry I’m late.” Harry exclaimed.

“That’s all right Mr. Potter, however, I shall take 3 points from Gryffindor, now find yourself a seat.” said Professor Binns.

Harry groaned and automatically seated himself towards Hermione’s left.

“Thanks a lot Harry.” Hermione whispered acerbically.

“What? I can’t help it, Elyse and I had a talk about our Project.” Harry answered defensively.

Hermione stiffened. Mentioning the project sent flashbacks of memory last night that came rushing in again in her brain. How can I tell Ron about what happened?

“…In the 14^th century, Sir Gadswald Gondollyn XII rebelled against his uncle, King Pierce Gondollyn, for wrongly proclaiming Lithersborough (old name of Nottinghamshire) and mistreating the people…” Professor Binns drawled in his dullest voice.

Hermione realized that she almost missed half what Professor Binns was lecturing and began copying furiously almost tearing her parchment.

Harry and Ron both saw this, and threw a confused look towards each other, but in the end, Ron just shrugged.

“Now, who can tell me what kind of creatures saved young Gadswald while he was lost in the Forest of Doom?” asked Professor Binns.

Two hands went up, Hermione’s and to everyone’s surprise, Harry’s.

“Well, well, Mister Potter, it seems that you have been participating as well, tell me what’s the answer?”

“A Badger, by the name of Rincewind, and two Dwarves, whose names are Cedarclove and Wipplewane,” said Harry.

“Very good, Mister Potter, and the exact names too, I’ll give back the points taken from your house,” said Professor Binns looking very impressed, Hermione looked impressed as well.

“Back to our lesson, after Rincewind, Cedarclove and Wipplewane saved Sir Gadswald that’s when they knew that he was the nephew of the person that they hated the most and…” the professor continued.

~o000o~

After class, the trio went to the Great Hall for lunch, when they turned to a corner they accidentally bumped into Draco Malfoy and his two cronies, Crabbe and Goyle.

“Watch it! Don’t you look at where you’re going?” said Draco in a half-shouting voice.

“Obviously, your big fat head is occupying the whole corridor that we couldn’t see a thing!” mocked Ron.

Draco looked at him hard and smirked.

“It’s a pity Weasley that when all your family’s money combined it wouldn’t be enough to fit this square tile.” Draco pointed his foot inside the square tile of the corridor floor.

Ron sprang forward aiming his fist directly towards Draco’s face. His face is now much redder than his hair and you could almost see steam coming form his ears.

“You… you… e-evil, slimy…” Ron couldn’t finish his sentence. All his anger about Draco was already releasing one by one…

He grabbed Draco by the collar of his robes and his fist was about to collide with Draco’s pale cheek…

“No Ron! Stop it!” Hermione’s voice echoed throughout the hallway. She instantly came in between the two pushing Ron away from Draco.

“As a Head Girl of this school, I order both of you to stop this at once!” she commanded.

Draco looked at Hermione then at Ron, arranged his robes and motioned for Crabbe and Goyle, who was about to pound Ron into pieces, to leave and the three of them walked ahead to the Great Hall.

Ron remained in his position, as if he was frozen, his fist still held high up in the air. Thinking that he was so close into pounding Malfoy and Hermione ruined his chance.

Harry stared at them in surprise, everything happened so fast. Like a movie, he thought. In that moment, Ron looked like he was about to pulverize Malfoy with or without magic. Strange, I thought Ron got over Malfoy’s stupid remarks about his family last year, he promised never to burst and make a scene, but that’s what he was making right now, he was still locked in the same position for about a few moments and some students are already looking at him with confused stares.

“Um, Ron?” Harry said, a little nervous.

Ron looked at him, and then at his fist (which is still clenched), but when he looked at Hermione, who was holding her wand out, his expression was a mixture of shock and bewilderment, and then took off, just like that. He ran and ran as if a pack of Acromantulas were chasing him.

Hermione called out for him, but he ignored it.

She was about to run after him but Harry stopped her, “Hermione, it’s no use, c’mon let’s just leave him for awhile,”

“Did I do something wrong? But I was just doing my duties as Head Girl,” Hermione explained.

“He needs time for himself, let’s just give him some space for awhile,” Harry said.

7:34 PM,

“Hermione, can I talk to you?”

It was after dinner and Harry grabbed Hermione’s wrist before she could go inside her dormitory. He wanted to get to the bottom of this and end this stupid fight… or whatever it is. Harry was really worried because Ron hadn’t attended any of the classes that afternoon he wasn’t at dinner as well.

Hermione nodded and reluctantly followed Harry when he led her in an empty classroom. She looked very guilty, and she keep biting her lower lip and fumbling the locket Ron gave her in their First-week Anniversary.

“Hermione, what happened last night?” Harry asked looking straight at Hermione’s eyes.

“Last night? What do you mean?” Hermione said looking away, she was trying to act innocent but failed miserably.

“Hermione, you have to be very honest with me, please. Ron still hasn’t returned yet and I… I think this has something to do with last night, I mean, whatever it is you can tell me right? I’m your best friend after all,”

Hermione took a deep breath and let it out slowly before she said, “Last night, when Draco and I were doing our project, something happened,”

Harry narrowed his eyes, “What?”

“He… I don’t want to say this… but… it was just… it’s because…”

“Hermione, what happened between you and Malfoy?” asked Harry suspiciously, “Did he hurt you?”

“ Oh no, no, nothing like that,”

“Then what? What did he do?”

“He… he kissed me,” Hermione blurted now close to tears, she was clasping her locket very hard, “I-I don’t know w-what I was thinking but I-I… I should have slapped him but I d-didn’t, I-I…”

“Malfoy kissed you?! How dare he?! That bastard!” Harry shouted so loudly that his voice echoed throughout the room, “Thinks he could put his stinking, slimy lips anywhere he wants, does he? Thinks he owns everything? Everybody? Well, I’ll show him, and I don’t care how many points I will lose in the process,” He was downright angry.

“Harry, please!” Hermione shouted and at the same time collapsed in sobs, “you are making this much worse!”

Harry’s face softened and hugged Hermione, she hugged him back, “I’m sorry ‘Mione, I didn’t mean to make you cry, please calm down, c’mon, don’t cry,” he said.

Hermione kept saying, “I should have…” “I should never have…” “Why? Oh why did I…” again and again but her words were muffled and sometimes interrupted by chokes and sobs. And Harry kept saying, “it’s alright ‘Mione…” “Calm down…” “Don’t cry, I’m here…” while rubbing her back, like comforting a five year old girl who lost her favorite doll.

After Hermione calmed down, Harry took his wand out, whispered some well-chosen words and immediately summoned a tissue box. He gave them to Hermione and she blew her nose.

“I-I’m so sorry to break down like that,” Hermione said sniffing.

“That’s okay, what are friends for, right?” Harry said trying to be cheerful, but inside, his head was really confused. What has Hermione gotten herself into? What has gotten into Malfoy? Why did he kiss her?

“Does Ron know about any of this?” Harry asked.

“Ron? Of course not,” Hermione said, “I haven’t told a single soul, except you of course,”

“Are you planning to tell him?”

“No.” Hermione said flatly.

“Hermione! He has the right to know!”

“I know Harry, but if I told him that Draco kis- about what happened, He’d totally freak out. I saw your reaction and it’s nothing compared to Ron’s.”

“But Hermione, he—“

“Okay, okay! I’m going to tell him… but not now. When the right time comes,”

One of Harry’s eyebrows went up.

“I will! I will tell Ron… one of these days,”

“Okay… there’s nothing going on between you and Malfoy, is there?” Harry asked.

“Harry, what are you talking about? There’s nothing going on between Draco and me. Do you think I’m that unfaithful?”

“No, of course not, I’m just making sure,”

“Um, Harry, can you do me a favor?”

“‘Course,”

“Please don’t tell anybody about this, I mean, can you imagine if Parvati and Lavender and anyone else know about this? Please?”

“Okay fine, as long as you tell Ron as soon as possible, promise?”

“I promise,” Hermione held her right hand.

“Hmm,” Harry scratched his chin.

“What is it, Harry?”

“Speaking of Parvati and Lavender, It just hit me, it’s weird isn’t it?”

“What’s weird?”

“Malfoy, I mean, if he kissed you I should have heard it by now. With him gloating about whom he snogged first, I mean. Remember Eloise Midgen?”

“Yeah, I haven’t thought about that… that’s weird indeed,” Hermione thoughtfully said. She glanced at her wrist watch and saw the time, “Oh no! I’ve got two hundred sixty-four pages to read in Advanced Ancient Runes! Harry, I have to go, we can talk another time, okay?” She then hugged Harry warmly, “Thanks for being my friend,”

“No problem,” Harry smiled, “Any time,”

“Do you want to go with me to the common room?”

“Nah, maybe I’ll just take a stroll around the grounds, find Ron,” He replied.

“Okay, if you found him, tell him that I… umm… never mind, bye!” Hermione said dashing outside the door.

“Hermione wait!” Harry said suddenly remembered something,

“What?”

“I almost forgot, how were the flowers?” He asked, he was about to go outside the door as well.

“Flowers? What flowers?” Hermione threw him a puzzled look.

“You know, the Blue E--, oh, um… never mind, see ya!” He then jogged the opposite direction to where Hermione was going.

Hermione just shook her head and dashed towards their common room.

7:37 PM (meaning, a little flashback in another situation…):

“Did you hear about Dean and Susan?” Parvati Patil was chatting to Lavender Brown and they were just walking around the school, “They just broke up!”

“What?!” Lavender shrieked, “How? How? Details please?!”

“Well, she caught Dean snogging Yvonne Ziebarth, you know, the sixth year Ravenclaw genius?” Parvati supplied.

“Then what?” Lavender was getting every word.

“She immediately slapped him in front of the girl, I mean I was there and you should see the look in his face and Yvonne then…” Parvati stopped in mid-sentence, as they were about to pass an empty classroom, which is not so empty now because there are voices coming out of it. She began to lean her right ear towards the door.

“What? What is it Parvati?” said Lavender leaning her ear as well.

“Shhhh, listen,” Parvati shushed.

“Malfoy kissed you?! How dare he?! That bastard!”

“Malfoy kissed who?” Lavender whispered.

“Shhhhh.”

“Thinks he could put his stinking, slimy lips anywhere he wants, can he? Thinks he owns everything? Everybody? Well, I’ll show him…”

“Who’s talking?” Lavender whispered again.

“Harry, please!”

“It’s Harry,” Parvati answered.

“You are making this much worse!”

“And who is that?” Lavender asked.

“I’m sorry, ‘Mione, I didn’t mean to make you cry, please calm down, c’mon, don’t cry,”

“It’s Hermione…” Parvati answered, “And she’s crying…” then, her eyes widened, “Omigod!”

“What? What is it?”

Parvati dragged Lavender to a nearby corner so that they will not be heard.

“Draco Malfoy just snogged Hermione Granger!” she cried.

“Omigod!” said Lavender, her eyes widened too.

“Can you believe how good this gossip is?! I mean, Draco Malfoy, a pureblood, who despises mudbloods suddenly kissed Hermione Granger, a muggle-born witch?! This is like… Omigod! This could earn a place at Witch Weekly’s!” bloomed Parvati.

“Yeah! I can’t wait to tell everyone at the dorm,” Lavender said.

“The dorm? The dorm?! We are going to tell the whole school!” Parvati screamed.

And they laughed and cheered and ran towards the Gryffindor common room.

Harry found Ron sitting inside the Astronomy tower, thinking.

“Thought you would be here,” he greeted.

Ron looked back and saw his best friend, standing at the doorway, “Harry! How did you find me?”

Harry shrugged, “Instincts?” he then moved where Ron is sitting and sat himself beside him, “Starry night, isn’t it?” he said looking up.

“Yeah, just saw thirteen shooting stars,” Ron replied.

“Wow, that’s great! What did you wish for?”

“Nothing,”

“Why?” asked Harry.

“'Dunno, I guess I already have all that I wished for,” said Ron.

“Why didn’t you show up this afternoon?” Harry asked looking at Ron.

“Nothing,” answered Ron, still star gazing.

“Nothing? You skipped two periods and dinner, and that’s hardly nothing,” Harry said.

“I guess, I need some time to think,” Ron responded carefully. He didn’t want to say everything to Harry, he couldn’t trust himself.

“Think? What is there to think about?”

“Relationships,”

“Uh-huh, well, I’m sorry but I can’t help you there, mate. Never been in one,” Harry joked.

Ron sighed and Harry heard a little rumbling coming from Ron’s stomach.

“Tell you what, why don’t we go raid the kitchens and talk, I mean, your stomach is already angry, besides, I’m craving for the elves’ homemade chocolate fudge,” Harry said.

Ron smiled at his idea and said, “You know what? My stomach is actually jumping for joy the moment you said chocolate fudge,”

And together, they went to the kitchens.

Tuesday night, Transfiguration classroom:

“Sorry, I’m late,” Hermione said dashing inside the classroom, “I… um, have to pick up some books in the library,”

“Don’t worry about it,” Draco said quietly, “I just got here myself,”

“Oh, um okay, why don’t we get started then,” said Hermione awkwardly putting her bag in a table and rummaging through it for her parchments and stuff.

“Before we start, I just want to say that I’m sorry,” Draco said, his pale cheeks starting to redden.

“Sorry?”

“You know, for the other night?” now he was blushing furiously, “I-I guess, I got carried away with the success of the project,”

“Oh, um… it’s um…” Hermione tried to think of a reply.

“No need for saying ‘it’s alright’,” he said, “I mean, it was my fault,”

“Well, I guess it was my fault too,” she replied.

Draco looked at her curiously, “I mean, I could’ve slapped you, couldn’t I?” she said.

He laughed and Hermione joined him, but she stopped abruptly realizing that it was Malfoy she was laughing with. Draco did the same.

She coughed nervously and said, “Um, I think we should get started now,”

“Yeah, I guess so,” Draco said.

And so, they continued to work.

After a few hours…

“I really need a break, don’t you?” Draco said, putting down is quill and began massaging his wrist.

“Um… just a few more minutes, I think I got it,” Hermione said her eyes never leaving her parchment.

“You’re really devoted to solving that, aren’t you,” Draco noticed.

“I have to,” she said, still not looking away from her writings, “I mean, I really, really want our project to be successful, not only because I want the highest grade but I also want that letter of recommendation from Professor McGonagall to the Ministry of Magic, I mean, can you imagine being recommended to the—“

“Okay, okay, just calm down,” Draco said, amused because of the muggle-born’s determination to succeed, “I was just trying to say that you need to give yourself a break sometimes, I mean, don’t you ever get tired?”

“Of course I get tired, but… I just have to, I guess,” she put down her quill.

“Why?”

“I… I guess that being a muggle-born, I have to work a lot harder because most wizards think that… um…” she looked at Draco and shook her head and said angrily, “Oh why am I saying this to you? You hate muggle-borns.”

Draco just stared at her.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“You know, my father always tells me that muggle-borns are not worthy to learn magic,” he said suddenly, “he says that they are just incompetent and greedy and selfish, and I always believed him,” he looked at her as if he could see right through her, Hermione looked at him bewilderedly.

“Draco…” Hermione tried to find words to say but she couldn’t find any.

“I never dared disobey my father. That was my duty as his son, my obligation,” he continued but he looked down, “I owe him everything. He planned my future, even before I was born, like I was born to serve… to serve… “Him”. I never did anything that he doesn’t want, hell, I couldn’t even leave the manor without his permission,” he forced a laugh, “I never had my freedom, my freedom to think, my freedom to do stuff, my freedom to have my own friends… my freedom to be me.”

“Draco…” she said again.

“That is where all my frustration and anger went,” he persisted, “to mudblo – muggle-borns, I mean,” he looked at Hermione.

“Draco…” she said for the third time.

“Oh, Potter and Weasley too,” he added with a forced mischievous grin, Hermione didn’t frown, but she didn’t laugh either she just looked at him with the same mixture of confused and shocked expression.

“Why are you telling me this?” Hermione managed to say, “I mean… why?”

“I… I don’t know,” he lowered his head and began to fumble the tip of his wand which was protruding from his pocket, “Maybe because I feel that I can tell you anything, everything…”

“Don’t you have any friends?” Hermione asked.

“You mean those two fumbling idiots called Crabbe and Goyle?” he looked at her with a smirk in his lips, but the smirk was not intended for her, “They couldn’t even tie their shoelaces with mine still undone,”

“Oh… because I thought that… um,” Hermione said awkwardly.

“Besides, all they do is agree with me,” he shook his head and asked her, “Where’s the fun in that?”

“So, you told me all your personal problems because I always argue with you?” she said offended.

“No, no, it’s not that,” he said quickly, “it’s just, I guess I wanted someone’s opinion, for a change,”

“I still don’t understand,”

Thursday, Great Hall; Dinner:

Professor McGonagall tapped her glass goblet with her knife. Naturally, the clinking sound echoed throughout the Great Hall therefore silencing all the students.

“Excuse me students but Professor Dumbledore would like to make some announcements,” she stated.

“Good evening,” Professor Dumbledore stood up cheerily, “I would like to announce that before the Christmas vacation begins, Hogwarts would have a Christmas party this weekend,”

Everyone clapped their hands and cheered, they could surely use a party.

“And I would like to add that Professor Snape would be guarding the punch bowl, in case someone would try to spike it,” continued the headmaster, some groaned, “And every one must be in their dress robes,” more groans, “Any questions?”

Silence. Professor Dumbledore took his seat, and Professor McGonagall took his place.

“Now, Prefects and Head Boy and Girl, please take note that we will have our meeting tonight,” said the professor.

After Professor McGonagall sat, the Great Hall was once again filled with excited chatters and murmurs:

“What will you wear?”

“Oh, no! I just ran out of …”

“I can’t wait to …”

“What about that …”

“Who will take you?”

Everyone was excited… Well, almost everyone.

~o000o~

“Hey Malfoy, Go to sleep, man,” said Fernan McNair who was lying in his bed with his arms folded above his head, “it’s been almost four days since you started to act like that, what gives?”

“What do you mean?” asked Draco facing him.

“You know what I mean, ever since last weekend when you refused to come with us to Hogsmeade ‘coz you have to do some stupid project with that mudblood Glanger girl you’ve—“

“Look, that project was not stupid,” Draco cut in, “and her name’s Hermione Granger,”

“Hey chill man,” McNair said sitting up and putting his hands up, “I was just saying that ever since that, you’ve been acting… weird,”

“Weird?”

“Well, like now, for once, you’ve never defended a Gryffindor before, much less a mudblood,” he said this with disgust, “I mean, what’s happening to you, man? Don’t tell me you’ve gone soft with mudbloods, have you?

“No, I’m fine,” Draco said, irritated, “I’m completely fine,”

“You sure? ‘Coz maybe you’ve got—“

“I’m fine, okay!” Draco snapped.

“Sure, sure, whatever,” he said yawning.

“I’m going to bed, McNair,” Draco said, he then lied on his back staring at the ceiling of his four poster bed, but he did not sleep right away.

~o000o~

Hermione just came in the portrait from their meeting when she heard loud murmurs coming from the common room and stopped immediately as she came into full view of their common room. It was packed; almost all Gryffindors were there.

They are now staring at Hermione as if she was a criminal who escaped from Azkaban. But they wouldn’t meet her eyes. She looked at everyone with her eyebrows furrowing, why are you looking at me like this? She wanted to say out loud, but she only contained herself to walk to the safety of her dormitory. She could feel everyone’s eyes on her, what’s their problem?   

“So Hermione, who’s going to take you to the dance?” the question from Ginger Kringle caught Hermione off guard, there was a hint of sarcasm in her voice as she was eyeing her through the latest edition of Witch Weekly’s showing the grinning Weird Sisters in the Front Cover.

“W-what?” she sputtered.

Ginger rolled her eyes and asked again, “Who’s going to take you to the dance? You know, the Christmas Dance?”

“Oh, um, Ron probably will,” said Hermione, her face beginning to feel hot.

“Probably? Come on Hermione, we all know that you and Ron are a couple now, why try to hide it?” she said clipping out a picture of Rickmond McCaine, the bass guitarist of the Bleak Brothers.

“Um,” Hermione’s face is now as red as the scarlet sweater she was wearing.

“Hermione, do you have a sec?” Ginny Weasley’s face appeared from the portrait.

“Sure,” Hermione said, glad to be out of the conversation with Ginger who was now whispering something to Clarrise Mirk. She followed Ginny inside their dormitory, which is deserted, and sat beside her.

“Is there something wrong with you and my brother?” she asked.

“No, nothing’s wrong, what made you ask me that?” Hermione replied taken aback.

“It’s just that, he’s been acting really weird, and you’re acting really weird” she stammered, “and Harry has been acting really, really weird. So I figured there must be something wrong I—“

“What do you mean really weird?” Hermione cut in, “Since when did I start to act weird?”

“Well, ever since you missed Hogsmeade Weekend you have been acting like you’re here but not really here. Like you’re in some kind of parallel universe, or something,” she said looking at Hermione nervously.

“I have been acting like that?” Hermione asked.

“Uh-huh, and Ron’s been acting just the same, are you really sure there’s nothing wrong between you and Ron?”

“Ron? Ron’s acting weird too?” said Hermione, her brows furrowed.

“Uh-huh, and well, Harry’s been acting a lot weirder than usual lately,” Ginny continued, “He’s got this dreamy look in his face, you didn’t get into a fight again, did you?”

“N-no, look Ginny, its probably just stress and pressure because of our project,” Hermione said, “I assure you, everything is completely fine,”

“Thanks for clearing that up Hermione, I really thought that you two have been fighting again,” Ginny’s worried expression lightened up a bit when she smiled, “And I’m really glad that Ron chose you to be his girlfriend, at least he didn’t end up with some snotty-snobby show-off girls,” and with that she squeezed Hermione’s hand and went out of the dormitory leaving Hermione behind.

Friday Morning:

“ ‘The Triplex’ was the sign of Quintrisha, a triangle with three pairs of webbed grindylow feet and a basil leaf in the center…” murmured Hermione. She was memorizing their lesson-to-be as she was passing the corridors when she heard someone call her.

“Granger,” Hermione turned around and saw Pansy Parkinson, Millicent Bullstrode and Blaise Zabini walking towards her in such a manner that if you tried to cross their path, you would end up crushed. Hermione let them catch up and when they were coming closer and closer, she could feel anger radiate from them, especially from Pansy.

“What’s with you and Draco?” Pansy crossed her arms and looked Hermione with piercing, dagger-eyed looks.

After her question, Ron and Harry just rounded up the corner and saw Hermione surrounded by a group of Slytherin girls.

“What do you mean?” Hermione said coolly.

“You know what I mean, you just have to have Draco, don’t you?” said Pansy in an almost hurt voice.

“Draco and I are just Transfiguration partners, nothing more nothing less,” said Hermione but you could notice her confidence faltering.

Pansy doesn’t seemed to be convinced, “Well, you’d better keep it that way, Mudblood,” she said in an inaudible whisper but made sure that Hermione heard it, “If you know what’s good for you, you’d better keep your filthy hands away from my Draco,” she raised one of her eyebrows and took a last hateful look at Hermione and went away with her two friends trailing behind.

Ron and Harry were still standing when Hermione bolted to her class. She hadn’t noticed them, of course.

“What did Pansy mean about Hermione taking Malfoy?” Ron asked Harry whose blood turned cold.

“Um… err…I don’t know, Ron,” Harry said as if trying to sound confused as Ron. “As I was saying, Elyse and I managed to get information about Ruteshia…” he said changing the subject.

As Harry blabbed away about his project with Elyse, Ron cannot ignore a sinking feeling forming inside his stomach. He concluded: It really happened…

I’m going to tell Ron, tonight, Hermione thought to herself, before he hears it from someone else. But how am I going to tell him? How did Pansy know about it anyway? Does this have a connection with last night at the common room? It doesn’t matter; I just have to tell Ron tonight.

~o000o~

“Ron, wait, please wait!”

Ron turned around and saw Hermione running towards him, he immediately felt his stomach quench. He stopped and waited for her to catch up with him.

“I need to talk to you,” she said.

“Okay,” he said, “talk,”

Hermione was surprised because of Ron’s coldness, like he had gone a personality change or something, “Um, can we talk somewhere in private?”

Ron looked inside an empty classroom and said, “How about here?”

“Um, okay,” she said quietly, she entered the classroom and Ron followed.

“I-I want to tell you something,” she started.

“Go on, tell me,” come on Hermione tell me, Ron thought.

Hermione took a deep breath, “Uh, this is really hard…” she said staring down.

Just say it, Ron thought. Just get it over with and say it.

“Okay, I’m just going to say it,” she said, her face paling.

There you go,

“Draco and I kissed,” she blurted out finally, “It happened during Hogsmeade Weekend, we kissed in the Astronomy Tower and that’s what I’m going to tell you,” she let out a sigh like she was relieved but the moment she saw Ron’s calm expression, her forehead wrinkled in confusion.

“Ron, did you hear what I just said?” she asked.

“Yeah, I know,” Ron said matter-of-factly.

Hermione’s mouth dropped open, and her face got even paler than it already was, “You… knew? How?”

“I saw you that night,” said Ron, his voice shaking slightly, “I was about to give you the… never mind, I was just going to… and I saw the two of you…”

“Oh,” said Hermione swallowing hard, “So if you knew, then why didn’t you tell me?”

That was when Ron almost lost it, “Why didn’t I tell you?” he half-shouted, “How long have you been keeping this from me? How long has Harry and everyone else known about this? How long have I been walking around, as, like almost the only person who doesn’t know my girlfriend is cheating on me? And I am suppose to tell you that?” Ron’s face was now as red as his hair, but it didn’t matter.

“I’m sorry Ron,” she said, now tears were pouring profusely from her cheeks, “I-I wanted to tell you… really… I was just waiting for the right time… I didn’t want you to get hurt,”

Ron was just staring at her, hard. “Well, you’ve done a really bad job of keeping that from happening,” he said slowly, “And you know what hurts me the most? It’s like you don’t trust me to be… to… just be there for you or something…after everything we’ve been through… that’s what hurts.” At that, Ron went out of the classroom, not looking back.