Fatal Affairs

7.

Alone

The weeks passed and November came to a close.

Everyone noticed, that something was different. The Gryffindors all wondered why the "Golden Trio" had parted. They walked one their own to each of the lessons. And during the lessons all three would remain silent. When it was lunchtime in the Great Hall, they took seats as far away from each other as possible.

Lavender tried desperately to get Ron to talk to Harry and Hermione. But every time she spoke to him, a wave of guilt rushed over him. Because his words, that he had spoken to Hermione, would always repeat in his mind over, and over. 'I love you, that's why! I would do anything for you!' Yes, that had ruined it all. Surely she hated him now...

Hermione sat next to Ginny, who talked animatedly about her schedule. And Hermione would just stare absently at her plate and would mumble, "Yeah, your right," from time to time. Ginny had of course noticed what was going on, but she did not want to force her friend to talk about it. If Hermione felt the need to talk, then she would come to her on her own...

Draco stared at Hermione across the Hall, but she held her head down, so she didn't noticed him. Calmly he got up and left the Great Hall. He had finally come to a conclusion that would solve all their problems...

On the other end of the Gryffindor table, Harry sat with a grim expression on his face. A few of the first years got nervous as they saw this and shifted nervously in their seats, as if they expected Harry to attack them in the next instant.

But Harry wasn't contemplating an attack on them. His thoughts were about Ron and Hermione. This time it was worse than in fourth year when he hadn't spoke a word with Ron. Then he'd had Hermione to talk to, but now... 'I lost them,' he thought, 'I've lost the two best friends anyone could wish for. Now I'm completely alone. No parents, and no friends.' But while he thought about it, his eyes scanned the Hall and rested on the staff table, to be exact, on a big beetle eyed man. 'But wait... what about Hagrid?'

***flashback***

Thursday evening in the library, two weeks ago

"I've had feelings for you for a long time, Hermione," Draco said.

Hermione remained still, the kiss had left her totally speechless.

"I never meant to hurt you, or be so cruel to you, but I had to keep up my image, you understand? And you can't imagine the reaction of the other Slytherins or my father, if they heard that I... fell in love with a Muggle-born."

Draco smiled shyly at her and trailed off. The way he looked... so innocent. Hermione finally found her voice.

You... love me?" she asked quietly, a bit unsure of what she'd just heard. "But I always thought, you hated me?"

"I did, but was a long ago, Hermione. ... Can I call you Mia? It's just that, Hermione is such a long name."

That was absolutely to much to take! Draco Malfoy, who had called her "Mudblood" for the last four years, sat in front of her professing his love for her. And the same boy who just asked if he could give her a nickname!

"You can't be serious? I mean..." She stopped, unable to find the right words.

Draco's smile faded away. He was confusing Hermione's quietness as rejection.

"Fine! Just forget everything I said," Draco said with a pained voice. He quickly got up and rushed out of the library.

Hermione sat, motionless in her seat and stared at the point where Draco had disappeared.

***end of flashback***

Right now Hermione sat on her bed , looking more than just a little sad. Lavender and Parvati had left a while ago. So she could at least sit here in peace and wouldn't have to listen to their endless babble.

Yesterday, Draco had tried to comfort her in vain, but she just couldn't get the thing with Ron and Harry out of her head. She had asked him for time, just until she knew clearly, what she really wanted. That's why she was so confused as suddenly Draco's eagle owl picked against her window. Hastily she opened it.

With slightly trembling fingers she loosened the letter, which was tied to the leg of the giant bird. As soon as she managed it, the owl flew away. With a worried expression she opened the letter and began to read.

'Dear Hermione,

perhaps it would be better if we end things between us. I don't want you to loose your friends because of me. I'm sorry for the way things happened. I hope, when they realize that things between us are over, they'll to talk to you again. My feelings for you won't change, nevertheless. I just wanted to let you know that.

With love

Draco'

When she finished reading, her eyes burned. Finally, a single salty tears streamed down her cheek. 'No,' she pleaded silently, 'please don't do this to me. I can't loose you, too!' Sobbing she lay back on her bed and curled herself into a fetal position, her tears staining her pillow.

Harry walked slowly over the lawn to Hagrid's hut, while clouds scudded across the moon. It was pretty late, past curfew, actually. That's why Harry was covered under his Invisibility cloak. Finally he stood in front of the little hut and knocked on the door. Immediately the sound of Fang's barking would be heard inside.

"Quite, Fang!" Hagrids loud voice echoed through the hut. Then the door was opened vigorously and Hagrid stood in front of him, staring into nothingness.

"Can I talk to you, Hagrid?" Harry asked. Hagrid jumped back, utterly startled. Harry quickly realized, that he was still wearing the cloak.

"Sorry, it's just me," Harry said and pulled the cloak off him

"Merlin, Harry! Never do that 'gain, a'right?" he spoke, while stepping aside to let him in.

8.

Hagrid's advice

"So, what's botherin yeh, Harry?" Hagrid asked while making some tea.

Harry sat down in one of Hagrid's oversized chairs. Immediately, Fang was resting his head on Harry's lap.

Harry stared at Fang, giving the large dog a scratch behind the ears. After a few moments he sighed, about to tell Hagrid what had been bothering him.

"We had a fight," he said, "Ron, Hermione and I." Hagrid gave him a mild smile, which, if Harry hadn't been used too, would have scared him.

"Friends argue, Harry. It will be over soon." With that Hagrid placed a cup of tea in front of Harry and offered some biscuits which looked a little too similar to rocks for Harry's liking. He shook his head and watched as Hagrid took the seat across the table.

"It wasn't just a little fight between friends, Hagrid," Harry said. "It was really, really bad."

Hagrid just stared at him, not entirely understanding what could have happen to rip the Golden Trio apart. He nodded his head for Harry to continue.

"First, Ron doesn't tell me that he's dating Lavender Brown," Harry said. " But that's not the worst of it. I could have lived with. But then I find out that Hermione has...has...has been having some sort of an affair with Draco-bloody-Malfoy."

Hagrid just listened, but flinched at the mention that Hermione had been dating a Malfoy.

"I mean, Malfoy, of all people!" Harry continue, practically yelling. "And what's worst is that Ron knew about them, and didn't tell me!" Harry slammed his fists on the table in his fury, almost knocking his mug to the ground.

"And then?" Hagrid asked hesitantly.

"Then I told them we were no longer friends."

As suddenly as it had come, his anger vanished and Harry put his face in his hands. His breath coming in hectic gasps. "I mean, what else could I have done?" he asked desperately.

"Maybe yeh should have talked to 'em. Instead of yellin' at 'em and ending yer friendship," Hagrid said calmly, taking a drink of his tea.

"Harry, even a blind man can see that yeh miss 'em. And I bet they feel the same way. Look at the things you three have experienced together. Yeh can't just forget all that because of 'em snogging someone."

Harry's breath came more slowly now. He looked at his giant friend, and asked in a whisper: "So what do you think I should do?"

"Go, talk to 'em," Hagrid said. "As soon as possible.They're probably just afraid to make the first move because they feel guilty. So it's up to yeh, Harry. Yeh still want to be friends with 'em, right?"

"Of course," Harry replied without hesitation.

"Then there yeh 'ave it , Harry," said Hagrid. "Yeh know what yeh need to do."

"Yeah, thanks, Hagrid," said Harry, a small grin appearing on his face. Feeling as though a large weight had been lifted from his shoulders, Harry pulled the Invisibility cloak over his head.

Hagrid continued looking at the place where Harry had disappeared. "Well, Harry, go and get yerself to bed. It's late. And tomorrow mornin' yeh go and talk to Ron and Hermione."

***flashback***

Friday, two weeks ago

It had cost Hermine a lot to talk to Draco that night after their kiss in the library.

"Hey, Mal... Draco. Please wait," Hermione said as she saw him walking around a corner. He stopped so quickly that Hermione could have sworn that someone had put a Stunning spell on him. Hermione caught up with him, slightly out of breath.

"I want to talk to you, Draco," she said, taking him by the hand and leading him into an empty classroom.

Draco starred at her in amazement. "What is it?" he asked.

Instead of answering, she asked a question on her own.

"Did you mean what you said yesterday?"

For a second Draco contemplated saying "no". She had hurt him immensely by not saying anything yesterday, after his declaration of love. He'd finally worked up the nerve to tell someone about his feelings, and this person of all people said nothing about it. But then he saw the pleading look in her eyes, and decided to tell the truth. Even if it would mean that he'd get hurt again.

"Yes, I meant every single word," he answered quietly. The laces on his shoes were suddenly very interesting.

"Listen," Hermione said. "I don't wanted you to feel rejected, but your... ah...announcement was a little bit...er... unexpected," a small smile crept over the Gryffindor's face. "And yes, I enjoyed the kiss," she blushed slightly as she said this.

"Really?" Draco asked. A devilish grin snaking it's way on to his face.

Instead of answering, she leaned forward, and softly brushed her lips against his. The world around them fell apart as Draco deepened the kiss. After what seemed like an eternity Hermione loosened herself from Draco's grip.

"By the way," Hermione whispered into his ear, "Mia sounds great."

***end of flashback***

Hermione awoke early the next morning. She rubbed her eyes, stretching lazily and then glanced at her bedside table.... her eyes fell onto the letter... Draco.

Draco had broke up.

He had ended it after only two weeks. Hermione fought back the tears with all she had. No! She would not cry again. She had done enough of that yesterday.

And Draco was right. When Harry and Ron realized that the two of them had broken up, they'd probably talk to her again.

But what if they didn't...?

Then she would have lost the three people in the world that she cared for the most.

Hermione dressed herself in silence, dark thoughts plaguing her mind. Then she headed down to breakfast. It shouldn't be too hard to pretend that nothing had happened between her and Draco. After all, they'd spent the last two weeks pretending that very thing.

The Great Hall was nearly empty, except for a few students at the Ravenclaw table. And a few early birds at her own table. At the far end of the table, a student sat on his own. Slowly Hermione made her way towards him.

"Harry?" she asked hesitantly. Slowly he turned to face her.

"Good morning," he said tonelessly, then turned back to shoving his scrambled eggs around his plate with his fork.

"Harry, can we talk? Please?" Hermione said in a pleading voice.'Please Merlin, let him stay and not run away again,' she thought.

Harry turned and stared at her expectantly.

Just as she was about to start, Harry spoke. "Harry, I-" "Look-"

Hermione and Harry grinned at each other. "You first," Harry said, still smiling.

"Harry, I'm sorry, for not telling you about Dra... Malfoy and me. And I'm sorry for ignoring you lately. I just didn't know how to explain it to you. It sounded weird, even to me. Hermione Granger, and Draco Malfoy. Together..."

She trailed off as she realized that this lay in the past. Harry used her pause to start talking.

"And I'm sorry for all the things I said to you. I shouldn't have said those things. I don't care if you snog with Malfoy or the monster of Loch Ness; ... although I would prefer the monster instead of Malfoy."

The two of them stopped and looked at each other. Both bursting into laughter. It was just like old times. After a moment it went still again and they eyed each other, both unsure of what to do next. Then Hermione took a deep breath.

"Friends again?" she asked finally. Harry embraced her around her shoulders, and hugged her for all he was worth.

"Friends!"