Indescribable Taste

Chapter 1: Year Seven

"Look, would you just stand up?" Seamus growled, staring down at Hermione, who had passed out in a stone dead sleep on her Standard Book of Spells: Grade Seven. Her long brown hair hung off both sides of the book in large fluffy tuffs. Some of the locks were even caught in the folds of the many pages. Her breathing was a steady purr of deep, comfortable breaths. Anyone with a sense of caring would have left her to her dreams.

Seamus shook her violently and kicked the leg of the dark wooden chair. Hermione shot up with a look on her face like there was a fire in the library. Her long thick eyelashes were soggy like she had been crying in her sleep and she looked at her boyfriend with glossy, confused brown eyes.

"Yes, Seamus, what might I ask is so important now?" she asked with a dulled expression in her voice and on her face when her surrounding area wasn't in any visual danger. Hermione was beginning to believe this past week her steady boyfriend had been out to annoy her. Earlier in the week they had been playing Wizards Chess and Hermione beat him fairly easily which made Seamus proceed to throw the startled chess pieces at her. Every time she mentioned the word 'library' or something to do with books, Seamus would stare at her with an annoyed look on his face and poke fun at her so everyone else could hear them argue. He knew she hated all of that negative attention on her.

"I see you're in here having your affair with the books again," he said, putting his fists on his hips and pouting like a little boy. He knew she hated that too.

"I can't have an AFFAIR with a book," Hermione snapped, pushing a large lock of bushy hair away from her eyes, "and you know it! Why do you always have to bother me when I'm trying to work?"

"You didn't look like you were working. It looked like you were sleeping to get away from me!"

The girl stood up to her height of five foot seven inches and snatched up her books that were some what covered in saliva. She clasped them up to her chest and sneered at Seamus. "I wouldn't have to fall asleep on my books if you didn't always insist I be with you every waking moment. And it's not because I want to get away from you when I study, it's that I HAVE TO STUDY! I am Head Girl! Getting away from you doesn't sound like such a bad idea though, Seamus. Good day," she said, turning on her heel and stomping away. He was yelling something but was quickly silenced by Madam Pince.

'The nerve of him! I wish he would just disappear so I can have a day of rest,' Hermione thought to herself as she strode through the long corridors from the Library to the stairs. 'His arguments are completely empty. No source of idea in any of it. Ron puts up a better debate.'

She really HAD been hiding out from him. It couldn't really be called hiding though since he knew where she was. It was just a weak excuse to flush out his bickering for an hour. She really was trying to be an understanding girlfriend to Seamus. She didn't exactly have a good track record with guys. None of them interested her for longer then a few weeks. Their droning conversation left her feeling like she's in a daze of stupidity for an hour. Hermione Granger had put up with Seamus Finnigan for over six months and as much as she wanted to give up, her pride held her back and she continued to suffer his annoying antics.

Romance was the last thing on Hermione's Life List. She had her career to think about first and foremost. McGonagall, who had just arrived after a two year hiatus at St. Mungo's for all of those stunning spells to the chest, had been going over her applications for Arithmacy teacher for next year. Her current teacher was talking about retiring and that happened to be Hermione's favorite class.

Suddenly smiling, thinking of a job teaching something as exciting as Arithmacy, Hermoine forgot all about Seamus's outbreak in the library.

"So she's in another of her moods, is she?" Hermione heard Ron say.

She ducked behind a statue that was sculpted in the shape of a large boar. She hated eavesdropping but Seamus, Harry, and Ron were walking together and she didn't want to argue with Seamus in front of her friends.

"Yeah, I just tapped her on the shoulder and asked her to come and eat breakfast with me in the Great Hall," Seamus said.

"Well, that doesn't sound bad at all," Harry said, cocking his eyebrow. "I wonder why Hermione is acting so funny lately. She hasn't even been talking to us much either."

"Yeah, and she won't ever look at us in the eyes. She's always looking down at the floor," Ron said, nearly dropping one of his books.

"Well I've been trying to be a good boyfriend to Hermione but she just seems to want to make it harder and harder for us to get along," Seamus said.

Harry patted him on the back with one large hand and smiled. "She's crazy about you. You'll see. She just goes through these phases. It's Hermione, after all."

Their voices faded into the hallways, still conversing about Hermione. She was sitting only feet away with a broken quill splintered to pieces in her fist. He was ALWAYS lying to them. She should have thought of that and went to talk to them first before Seamus could. It was too late now. If she tried to explain it to her two comrades they would accuse her of being melodramatic which at times she could be. Would they have even believed her if she had told them first? It's true she hadn't been talking to them much but other things were on her mind, aside from the silly craze called love.

Ron had been dating Lavender which was going stunningly for him. Harry and Ginny had been an item for over a year now. It was like some annoying little bug came into Hogwarts and bit all of her classmates with some kissing disease. In the common room she couldn't study with all the spit swapping everyone was doing. It sounded like a baby alien was being born in there, with all the heavy breathing and smacking lips. It nearly always made Hermione's stomach lurch.

"Ugh, just forget about it," she told herself, standing up and brushing the wrinkles from the hem of her gray skirt and pulling up her bobby socks. She had Care of Magical Creatures with Hagrid and though the other Gryffindors would be there at least they wouldn't be jabbing their tongues into each others mouths during a class. This cheered her up faintly. Hermione stuffed the broken quill into the front pocket of her bag and strode desperately outside to get some fresh air.

The grounds leading to Hagrid's hut were thriving with life as the leaves and shrubs whispered to each other in hushed voices. Hermione ignored them and quickly walked along the path. There were a few Slytherins in front of her that were having Care of Magical Creatures as well but no one else was walking along the path to class.

Hermione hadn't heard the three boys behind her because the leaves were rustling loudly in their favor. Draco had jogged up beside her from behind, followed by his two overgrown henchmen, and pulled on a string that was sticking from her bag.

All of her books seemed to have the domino effect turned on and they all fell out of her bag with a loud dirt filled thump. Hermione whipped around to meet him and he took one step back, smiling in a friendly way. Draco Malfoy's hair was cut in the usual way, short and neat but the sun always gave it such a shine that even Hermione could have commented on. He knew he looked good without anyone telling him though. He had only improved with age as his baby cheeks melted away over the years to show strong facial features that were just stunning. His height hadn't gone over the top as he was one inch from six feet and he hadn't toned his muscles much either but just enough to add ripples to his arms and legs. Crabbe and Goyle on the other hand had buffed up plenty over the years at Hogwarts and Hermione supposed Draco felt comfortable with them doing the dirty work.

Smooth silvery locks fell in front of Draco's gray eyes that were twinkling with a desire for mischief. "Walking alone again, Granger?" he asked, brushing his hair aside and watching her scramble for her books. "I've been seeing you alone a lot lately."

She rolled her eyes. "Please, Malfoy, not today," she moaned, stuffing the final book into the small bag.

Crabbe and Goyle snickered behind him.

"Hey," Draco said, putting his hands up in defeat, "I'm just walking to class, here. Not a good year for you, huh? That's so good to hear," he said with a childish grin.

Hermione laughed tonelessly, her teeth clenched, and sped up her steps. Draco began walking backwards beside her just to spite her.

"Gryffindors have Defense Against the Dark Arts with us this year? I was so happy that you didn't have it with us last year. Why didn't old Dumbledore see how much better it was and went on with it this year?"

"My question exactly," Hermione grumbled.

"I feel so sorry for you Gryffindors," Draco sighed. "I mean you aren't exactly GOOD at Dark Arts are you? And with the new teacher coming..."

"Malfoy, we already have a teacher," she stated definitely. Professor Bune was a bit of a pushover considering his age. He had also been their Defense against the Dark Arts teacher last year. Professor Snape was always called in to take care of the hands on part of the class because Bune didn't believe it was good for his heart to follow such exercises they were required for. His age was nearly eighty four and everyone was putting bets the date of his death. Ron lost a good amount of his allowance last year.

"And what a fine teacher he is!" Malfoy exclaimed, walking right ways again. "Don't kid yourself. Oh, you never hear anything do you? You're just a Muggle and no connections either. You really have no idea who the new teacher is?"

Hermione was tired of hearing him talk. She stopped dead in her tracks and gave him her meanest scowl. "If you have something you want to say, just say it and stop talking like your information will tilt the earth's axis!"

"Well, if you're going to act like that I don't think you need to know," Draco said, smirking. "Goodbye lonely little Gryffindor," Malfoy chirped. He waved his pale hand in her frowning face and turned around to join his mumbling friends.

"The possibility of this day getting worse is slim to none," Hermione said. It was just hope talking. In Care of Magical Creatures, Hagrid was teaching them about Nougaunges. It wasn't as bad as Malfoy breathing down her neck or Seamus kicking her out of a blissful sleep but it was nearly as bad. The Nougaunge seemed to be a cross between a Lobalug and a Nogtail. It ravaged through its cage with a sputtering growl that would choke off after a few seconds and would start humming a tone-deaf tune. The sound of was nearly tragic. Ron tried petting its fur and it nearly took his hand off.

"IT-TRIED-TO-KILL-ME!" Ron screamed. Lavender was rubbing his back but closing her eyes to block out Ron's hand that had looked torn apart. Harry and Ginny were smothering their laughter into their robes. Malfoy's Slytherin gang had stopped poking the Nougaunge with a stick and were all doubled over in laughter as well. Ron had never learned not to poke at the wildlife, though he has such bad luck with them.

After Ron had been taken the hospital wing, Harry turned to Hermione with a look on his face that Hermione recognized all too well.

"There's nothing wrong. Really, I'm just tired," she said, trying to stick a piece of grass in between the bars of the cage. Her tone wasn't very believable. She scanned the grounds to see if Seamus was listening but he was no where in sight.

"Seamus told me about you sleeping on your books again."

Hermione snorted. "Seamus says a lot of things these days."

"What do you have against Seamus? He's always the sweetest to me," Ginny interjected. Harry nodded in agreement. "Maybe you two should spend a little time--ALONE," she said, emphasizing alone.

Hermione had to nearly hold her hands to her mouth because being alone with Seamus was the last thing she wanted. It made her stomach churn. "I don't think I'm--ready to be alone with him," she said, looking around for something to do and brush them off.

"Look," Harry said, his brows pressed together in anger, "if you're going to keep up this charade of constant study and no fun, I don't think you deserve to have a boyfriend yet. You should grow up. You're putting yourself first before anything!"

Tears were brimming on her eyelids. They had believed all of his lies and weren't even giving her a chance. She felt like all the eyes in her class were boring down into her and her face turned scarlet. "Fine," she whispered to Harry. Her two fat tears slid quickly down her cheeks and splashed into her robes. "FINE! I will tell him tonight then and I'll try to grow up or be what you think is an 'acceptable girlfriend," she spat. Hermione hoisted bag over her shoulders and stormed off.

"'Ermione!" Hagrid called, coming out of his hut with Seamus, who was carrying a box full of dragon hide gloves just in case someone else got their hands near the Nougaunge.

"What's with her now?" Seamus asked, sighing to Harry.

"She's being a bit melodramatic lately." Harry shrugged and turned back to the Nougaunge with a look of growing discomfort.

**

Hermione had gone back to the common room after storming out of Care of Magical Creatures. She hid up in the girls' dorm when everyone came in and even skipped out of a few classes. She couldn't cover up her blotchy red face and puffy eyes.

It seemed like every year she was doing something to annoy Harry or Ron. Perhaps she should just get used to being without friends. The only thing she seems to provide them with is help on homework. The rest of her just seems trivial to the boys.

She changed her robes and put a little powder under her eyes. As much as she didn't want to go to the Great Hall, in front of every house, her stomach was demanding at least one meal. She thought of going down to the kitchen but house elves fled in every direction when she stepped in there. Seeing that would depress her even more.

And she had to finally just tell Seamus it was over.

That made her stomach flip flop because Hermione didn't want him blowing up on her yet in the same sense she was getting rid of a heavy loud on her shoulders.

When she came down from the dorm, the common room was empty except for her soon to be ex boyfriend sitting in a large puffy red chair. He was picking the dirt from his fingernails and staring into the blazing fire.

"Seamus?"

"Sit with me," Seamus said.

She sat across from him instead. "I want to tell you something." Hermione's courage was building with each second passing. "I don't think I love you, or even like you--that way."

He kept staring into the fire but his fingers were shaking now and he had to grip the arms of the chair. "So, you think you can just break up with me like that?" he snapped, not looking at her.

"I had hoped so," Hermione whispered. He snorted. If she could've only seen the real color of his face over the dancing flames she would have been less brave. He was holding his breath and trying to retain his overbearing anger.

He stood up and grabbed the nearest thing to him, which happened to be Hermione's copy of Raging Death Eaters and How to Spot them and threw it into the fire. Bits of burning log fell out onto the carpet but went out instantly. He got in her face and began to breathe heavily. Hermione held fast to where she was sitting and stared him down.

"Get out before I take your head off," he growled. She didn't argue, knowing though he might not actually kill her--he would definitely try to hurt her. She pushed pasted him and crawled through the portrait and out of Gryffindor tower.

After she had gotten herself together, she had felt better then she had in six months. A smile had finally breached her face for the first time today as she arrived in the Great Hall. No one took any notice when she sat at the end of the Gryffindor table and began picking up several chicken legs and piling them up on her plate. Even if they did notice her, and said something, nothing could knock down her good spirits.

After her stomach was full and the plates had been cleared, Hermione was feeling very tired from the day of stress. She had almost gotten up when Dumbledore tapped his wand against his empty wine goblet.

"Students of Hogwarts," he began. "As you all know, our current Defense against the Dark Arts teacher has been very ill for the past few weeks"--there were several snickers from the Slytherin table--"and he was to retire very last year but he had no one else for the job. He agreed to fill in until we could find a replacement and at long last, we have."

Snape was looking even grumpier then usual as a tall man with hooded robes stood up. There was snow white hair tumbling out from his hooded face and Hermione's stomach jolted.

"Professor Malfoy will be filling Professor Bune's place."

The hall filled with a high amount of chatter but broke into applause after several seconds of surprise.

Lucius pulled back his hood and bowed gracefully, his hair falling nearly to his feet when he hung his head. He took a seat next to Snape and smiled viciously. Hermione could hear people from her table whispering about Death Eaters. Hermione looked over at Draco whose smirk seemed to be painted on his face as he stared triumphantly at his look a like father.

And when Hermione thought her day couldn't get any worse...