Tutoring A Dragon

Breaking Up Is Hard To Do

Or

Threats

The eyes that followed them belonged to none other than Jon Hopkins. He was talking to Draco, who was watching his girlfriend leave with the astonishingly good-looking Ravenclaw Chaser.

"Well," he said, resigned, but immensely angry, "I guess that I knew, deep down, that I didn't have much of a chance with her. At least I can get someone else."

"I doubt that Ewan was taking her away to make out," offered Jon. "He's not that kind of a guy. I know he fancies her, but unless she shows an interest and breaks up with you, he won't make any sort of overture."

"Well, that's comforting," said the sarcastic voice of Draco as he walked away. "But I'd rather take a chance with Lola, over there." And, with that, he walked away.

~*~

Harry watched Hermione walk out with Ewan. Knowing that Draco would want to know why she was leaving with someone else, he ran to catch up with them.

"Oi! Hermione!" he called. They stopped.

"Yeah, Harry?" replied Hermione. She was getting a bit chilly, she wished he'd hurry.

"Why're you leaving with McAlpin?" he asked, nodding towards Ewan, who was standing a couple feet away.

Hermione waved a dismissive hand. "He offered to take me back to my dorm, since I was tired. I figured that I'd go since Draco likes to party."

"Oh," said Harry. "Right, well, have at it."

~*~

Draco spent the next couple of hours in the company of Lola Striker, a sixth-year Ravenclaw.

The last Harry saw of him, Draco left the shack with Lola.

~*~

Tuesday, four days before the Halloween Ball

Hermione woke with a yawn. She hoped that Draco had made it back all right. And not drunk, as she had been slightly.

"Stupid morons and their incessant need to spike the punch," she muttered, and pulled on her bathrobe. "Well, time to wake the Dragon."

She tottered through the bathroom, and opened Draco's door... and screamed.

On the floor was a girl's cloak. And on his chair, was a girl. Draco himself was in bed, fully clothed, as was the girl in the chair. They woke when Hermione screamed.

"How dare you, Draco Malfoy! HOW DARE YOU!" she screamed, through the tears that were crawling down her face.

"How dare I?" he asked, pointing to his chest. "How dare you! How dare you leave with that Ravenclaw! Just... leave! If you wanted to break up, you could have just said!"

"Where in the world," said Hermione slowly, through clenched teeth as she advanced on him, with her wand drawn. "Would you get the sodding idea that I wanted to break up?! I left with Ewan because he offered to escort me back to my rooms, as I was a bit drunk and tipsy, and had a headache! He was just being a friend! Last night I may have not wanted to break up with you, but now it's over!" She slashed her wand through the air. She turned away from him and stalked away from him, out the door. "And stay out of my rooms!" The door slammed painfully behind her. He heard her mutter, "And stay away from me."

Draco tucked his head in between his legs so he wouldn't faint from sheer stupidity. How could he have done that! And how could he have brought that- that girl into his rooms? He'd had every intention of sleeping with her, but couldn't seem to bring himself to it. So he made out with her, and then put a sleeping charm on her. And now, she was awake.

"Who was that?" she asked, her voice trembling.

"My ex," he said, his voice muffled. "Now get out."

"But-"

"GET OUT!" he roared, throwing a pillow at her. Hard. She grabbed her stuff and fled.

Draco pounded his bed. "Stupid, stupid, stupid," he said.

~*~

Hermione stepped into the hot shower and wished that the water would wash away the hurt, the pain. It didn't, but at least she could now cry without thinking about her appearance. Water dripped down her face as well as tears. She pressed her hands up against the glass walls and cried her heart out. She felt ripped into pieces, torn into shreds. How could he?

~*~

After her shower, she felt like she couldn't cry anymore. But, as she stepped into the Great Hall, and slung her bag over the back of a chair, her eyes met his.

She had always thought that the eyes were windows into the soul, and she could feel it now. She saw anger, and sorrow.

'Most likely angry with me for 'cheating' and sorry that I caught him at it!' she thought, glaring at him.

But her heart wasn't in it, and she felt warm water drip down her face again as she turned away from his face.

A hand touched her shoulder. It was Ewan.

"Hello," he said, smiling until he saw the tears. "Is something the matter? D'you still have a headache?"

"No," said Hermione, trying to wipe the tears from her face unsuccessfully. A hand lifted her face up, so she looked him in the eyes. His other hand came up by her eyes; his thumb wiped away the tears.

"Well," he said gently, "if you don't have a headache, then what's the matter?"

"Dra-Malfoy and I broke up," she admitted. "He-"

Ewan smiled apologetically. "That's okay; you don't have to tell me."

She smiled at him. She hadn't thought she'd ever smile again. "Thanks."

~*~

Hermione and Ewan talked for a few more moments before Harry, Ron, and Ginny showed up.

"Hey," said Hermione, much brighter than it would have been if Ewan hadn't of shown up.

"Look, Hermione, I think Draco's jealous of Ewan," said Harry.

"Well that hardly matters, now does it?" she said briskly, unfolding a napkin and tucking it into her lap.

"Why?" asked Ginny suspiciously.

Hermione looked up. "Why what...? Oh! Why does it hardly matter? Because Draco and I broke up this morning..."

"What!" said the other three. "You what?"

"Broke up. B-R-O-K-E U-P! I walked into Draco's room this morning and there was a girl on his chair. And her cloak was on the floor. Obviously something went on. He said he'd only done it because I'd cheated on him with Ewan, which isn't true. I told him that and we broke up. Now, Harry, would you pass the jam, please?"

Her friends sat in mute silence. Harry passed the jam tray.

"You broke up?" asked Parvati. "Really? That's horrible! Well, tonight's a Girl's Night, then!" And all the Gryffindor girls whooped. "For the Sixth and Seventh years," finished Parvati. The fifth and below glared in her general direction.

"Well, that sounds... fun," said Hermione, spreading strawberry jam on her toast. "Do I have to come?"

"Yes," said Parvati, frowning into the distance, trying to figure out how many beat-Draco-Malfoy's-arse dummies they'd need. "And, bring some candy, preferably something like Aero or," she grinned, "Cadbury's!"

Hermione's eyes unfocused. "Mmm.... Cadbury's... milk chocolate... large bar..."

Luckily, Ewan tapped her on the shoulder to remind her that they had a class together, Ancient Runes. She'd forgotten that he had that class.

"Oh, Hermione?" he asked as she got up.

She looked into his big brown eyes. "Yes, Ewan?"

He flushed. "Would you mind terribly much if I asked you to, erm, sit-next-to-me-in-Ancient-Runes?" he said very quickly.

Hermione smiled. "No. Not at all."

~*~

Draco grimaced at the sight of Hermione leaving the Great Hall with that- that-that sissy-waisted pansy!

Pansy Parkinson walked over to him and patted his shoulder. "So she finally exchanged a real man for a great pouf, eh?"

"Shut up, Parkinson," he growled at the girl patting his shoulder.

"Well," she said, walking away, "the door's always open if you'd like to come back!"

He picked up a goblet and slammed it down on the tabletop. It shattered and he threw it aside, picking up his bag as he stormed off.

~*~

Draco entered the classroom, and saw his girlfr-no, wait, his ex-girlfriend sitting next to, and laughing with, a sissy-waisted pansy, a.k.a., Ewan McAlpin. She glanced back, as he knew she always did, because she liked to know who entered the room, and saw him.

The laughter that had filled her eyes suddenly sunk out of existence and sadness and pain replaced it. She nodded at him solemnly and turned away.

Draco took a seat at the table behind theirs, glaring at the Ravenclaw's head while he made his notes.

~*~

After class, Hermione and Ewan made their way to Defense Against the Dark Arts and stopped outside the door.

"Well, erm," he said, flushing again, "this is where I leave you. I have, erm, Transfiguration right now, so I've got to go."

They stood awkwardly for a moment before Hermione gave him a short hug and fled into the classroom.

Ewan stood for a moment, grinned and started to run to his class. With any luck, he'd be there with time to spare.

~*~

Ewan had almost made it to Transfiguration, when a hand popped out and grabbed his cloak and slammed him against the wall.

Draco moved to stand in front of the slightly prone body of Ewan.

"Look, McAlpin, I've nothing against you except for this: you stay away from Hermione."

"Why should I, Malfoy?" said Ewan. "Because she might like me? I'm not going to force her into anything, you know."

"Yeah, I know that. You Ravenclaws are an honorable bunch. But, stay away from her. I plan to get her back." Draco glared at him. "And you'd better not ruin it."

Draco pushed Ewan towards his class. "Now, get out of my sight. And remember what I said." He walked away.

"Or what?" called Ewan after Draco.

The right side of Draco's face appeared over his shoulder. "Or else." He turned a corner and disappeared.