Please do. The wait is killing me.

Haha, okay. Don't worry. I'll get to work on it in just a few minutes.

Ok Yay!

Chapter Twenty-Three

Hermione looked from Draco to the wrinkled bit of parchment in her hands. She couldn’t process this all. Her eyes were stinging to cry, but she wouldn’t let them. She didn’t want to admit defeat; she didn’t want to show she was weak. She took a deep breath and put the paper lightly down on top of the bedside table. Draco made a move to move towards the bed, and Hermione took the chance. She grabbed the invisibility cloak and made her way out of the door and back down the stairs into the common room. Draco thundered after her. “Hermione!” he called, not really caring if anyone might be in the common room. “Hermione, wait up!”

Hermione, tears threatening to fall more than ever, kept walking, glad the common room was still deserted. Everyone appeared to be at dinner. Hermione was now solemnly wishing that she was too. She kept walking away, unable to look back at Draco. He kept calling her name; it was beginning to get on her nerves. Finally, she whipped around. “When were you going to tell me about this?!” she screamed at him.

He looked dumbstruck. He stared at her and said, “I was just going to go meet her and tell my parents she wasn’t satisfactory.”

Hermione laughed a shrill laugh that didn’t belong to her. “Right! You were going to turn down a half-veela? I expect you were just going to run off and marry her and come back and tell me it was over?!” She huffed a great huff and began walking off again when Draco grabbed her arm.

She whipped around and glared at him. “Get your filthy hands off of me.”

A billion thoughts were running through his head and when she said that, they all just stopped. He reluctantly let go of her arm and looked at her. Her eyes were full of tears, but he could tell she was holding them back with all her might. Her hands were shaking almost as much as her knees. She was a mess and she wasn’t going to admit that.

“Hermione,” he said softly.

“Don’t talk to me. If you see me walking down the halls, don’t give me that stupid smirk of yours. Don’t wink at me when no one is looking. I see now why you wanted us to be a secret. You were only ashamed of me. I ate every lie you fed me, but now I’m done and it’s over,” she roared. She gave him one last glare and walked out of the common room.

He stood on the spot, feeling a lump forming in his throat. He cleared it at once and thought to himself, “You’re a Malfoy; stop being a baby.”

He couldn’t help it, though. He walked upstairs and lay down on his bed. He stared at the ceiling for a number of hours before he finally fell asleep. He really didn’t know what he was going to do. He had to get her back, he knew, but at the moment it honestly seemed impossible.

At that very moment, Hermione was many floors ahead, crying silently into her pillow. All the girls in her dormitory had thought she was asleep, and so they had fallen asleep as well. She didn’t fall asleep all night. All she kept seeing were visions of the letter that had ruined every happy thought she had had that year at Hogwarts.

Things had drastically changed for Hermione Granger in just a few short hours. She seemed awestruck that just a few hours prior, she had been walking down to the Slytherin common room in Harry’s cloak to meet Draco secretly. Everything that had ever happened between them, she couldn’t help thinking, had only been a lie.

Oh Wow! Great Post. Poor Hemione.
PAMS
Jamie

WOW
hermione
ch-hill
dont you think you might
be overreacting a
itsy bitsy bit
its not his fault

I don't know who I feel worse for
Hermione or Draco
Hewrmione for not believeing Draco and crying
Or Draco for Hermione now hateing him
Ohhhhhhhh
Sooo I'll just say............................................... .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. ...............ME for my head which is hurting trying to deside
LOL
Please Post Sooooon
~Ashy~

Chapter Twenty-Four

The next day, everyone couldn't help but wonder what was going on with Hermione. Ginny tried to ask her a few times, and even though Ginny knew about Hermione and Draco, Hermione refused to tell her. Ginny obviously figured that it was something to do with Draco, but didn't push the matter any further. Harry and Ron kept looking at their bushy haired friend confusedly, but pushed it aside figuring that she was probably only stressing over a piece of homework she had forgotten about.

Hermione's head was a raging battle ground. She hadn't let Draco explain himself thoroughly, and she was beginning to regret that. She had simply given up, left him, and went on. She had acted cowardly and hot-headedly. She couldn't help but wonder if he even cared at this point. After all, he was a Malfoy. He had been taught to not ever care about someone too much. Maybe that's why he had decided to not tell her about this: he obviously didn't care about her.

Draco was sitting at the Slytherin table wishing that he had never woken up. He kept shooting glances over towards Hermione anxiously, hoping to see her look back at him. It was miserable; then a thought struck him. It was Monday! The two had Potions together and they were Lab Partners! They would be forced to talk, and he could have a slight chance to get her back.

Suddenly, a horrible thought struck Hermione. She had Potions today with Draco as her Lab Partner. She wouldn't be able to avoid him without taking a zero for the day, and she wasn't willing to let her grades slip over a boy.

"Hermione?" Draco asked later, when they were seated in Potions. Snape hadn't entered the classroom, so they were all talking animatedly, no one noticing that Hermione and Draco were talking to each other, Draco pleading with her, Hermione shooting daggers at him.

"What?" she said coldly.

He flinched at the animosity of her tone. "Umm," he said, trying to gain back his courage. "Look, we need to talk about this!" he said, trying to reason with her.

She looked at him and began, "What is there to talk about? You're betrothed! Go get married to your stupid half-veela and be happy." She stared at him and blinked, trying to force back the tears that were forming themselves once again behind her eyelids.

"I don't want to marry a half-veela," he whispered, trying to make sure no one heard them. Suddenly, Snape walked in, and silence fell across the classroom. Hermione couldn't stand much more of this. She felt sick; she really did feel sick...Oh no...

"Professor," Hermione said suddenly, startling everyone, seeing as she hadn't raised her hand. "Professor, I'm going to be sick!" she shouted.

"Malfoy," Snape drawled. "Take Miss Granger to the hospital wing. I'll give you the homework assignment later...."

Draco couldn't have been more delighted. He pretended to be angry and took Hermione out of the classroom. "Are you okay?" he asked her worriedly.

"I'm fine," she said coldly, the sick feeling suddenly leaving her, being quickly replaced with anger.

He looked at her. "Hermione," he said coldly, "Stop acting like a fool. I love you and you know that so why are you acting like I don't?" He was sad, but he was also beginning to get annoyed with the fact that she was doubting him as though he had ever lied to her. Sure, he had hidden this, but that was only because he had planned to deny the stupid veela anyways!

She looked at him and finally let a tear escape her eye; her battle had been lost. "I know..." she murmured embarrassedly.

"Then why are you acting like this?" he asked her pleadingly.

Before he could even await her response, she had flung herself upon him and was kissing him wildly, muttering "I'm sorry," in between kisses. Passion flared between their lips and nothing could have disturbed them.

They were so caught up in their kiss, they didn't even notice Hagrid walking down the seemingly deserted corridor. They didn't notice him, that is, until they heard him say, "What's all this? Hermione?"

Hermione looked up and suddenly reality came flashing back. Hagrid knew their secret.

Ohhhh Hagrid Please don't tell
Pleeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaassssssseeeeeee
don't
I'm happy they're together but Hagrid
Great Post
~Ashy~

Oh No of all people Hagrid!!
Great Post...
PAMS
Jamie

Chapter Twenty-Five

Harry, Ron, and Abrielle, who were still sitting in Potions were suddenly concerned. They could hear the sound of muffled yelling outside. The whole class seemed eager to know what was going on, but no one dared to ask Snape to let them out.

“It sounds almost like Hagrid,” Ron said quietly. Abrielle nodded, but it was Harry who replied.

“It is Hagrid,” he said lowly. They couldn’t make out what was being said. Snape was getting agitated, they could tell. He finally sighed and put down his potion ingredients. He walked to his door and opened it.

“Hagrid,” he drawled, “What is going on out here? I’m trying to carry on a class in here.”

There was a brief pause of silence and then Snape’s voice rang again. “Malfoy?” he asked confusedly. “What’s going on here?”

This was more than the class could resist. Snape hardly even noticed as the class simultaneously made their way to the door and peered out. Harry and Ron made their way to the front. Snape looked utterly shocked, and he didn’t say a word.

“Hagrid,” Harry began worriedly, “What’s going on here?” He glanced and saw Malfoy and Hermione standing below Hagrid. “He hasn’t been trying to hex her, has he?” Harry added, reaching for his wand.

“Er, no,” Hagrid said, apparently nervous.

Harry was very confused. Why did Hagrid look so itchy and nervous? “Well then what’s wrong?” he asked impatiently as everyone waited with bated breath. Harry had apparently asked the question that was lingering in all of the other students’ minds.

“Well, I was jus’ walking by,” Hagrid said. “It’s really none o’ my business,” he said, averting his eyes to the floor.

Hermione sighed. “It’s nothing, everyone,” she said, trying to make them all leave. Harry eyed her suspiciously.

“Hagrid, what’s going on?” Ron asked, getting very agitated himself. Everyone muttered sayings of agreement, and Hagrid was looking thoroughly flustered, apparently wishing that he hadn’t been so loud.

“Er, well I was jus’ walking by,” he repeated, “An’—an’ I ran into Hermione, here, with Malfoy.” Hagrid looked very torn.

“Right,” said Snape, speaking for the first time, “He was only taking her to the hospital wing.” Snape seemed to be regaining composure; he had obviously gotten the wrong idea, he thought to himself.

“Er, well actually…they were, er, they was…well they were kissin’, they were!” He had finally let out what he had wanted to say. He looked relieved for a split second, but when he looked down at Hermione, he looked ashamed. Hermione looked absolutely furious.

“Hagrid!” she screamed, before stomping away from everyone. She was headed for the seventh floor to the Room of Requirement. Draco glared at Hagrid, then Snape, then the whole crowd. He stomped off after her, not caring now that anyone saw them.

“Hermione!” he called after her. “Hermione, wait up!”

Hermione, seeing that it was only Draco who was following her, slowed down and waited for him to catch up.

“Where are you going?” he asked her, out of breath.

“Room of Requirement,” she said shortly.

“Everyone was going to find out eventually,” Draco said reasonably, looking at the floor, his face the reddest it had ever been.

“I know,” Hermione said quietly, “I just didn’t want it to be like that. I wanted to tell them all properly and in a happy, excited way.”

He put his arm around her waist lightly. “I know Hermione, but at least we don’t have to lie to everyone anymore.”

She smiled weakly at him; she knew he probably wasn’t really happy. He was probably terrified knowing that his parents were sure to find out now. “You don’t have to put on a brave face with me, you know,” she told him honestly.

“I know,” he said, still looking down. “I’m trying not to, but it’s hard. I want to be the strong one and care for you,” he said, being very candid.

“We can both be strong for each other,” Hermione said reasonably. They had reached the seventh floor, and were in front of the blank space of wall. “Leave it up to me,” Hermione said. She walked in front of the wall three times thinking that she needed a place for her and Draco to be alone that no one else could get into. The door magically appeared and they walked in. A fire was blazing inside, and a comfortable looking bed had formed. As they lay down together, she wrapped herself into him.

“Are you scared?” she asked him, watching his face closely, his pointed features being very appealing to her eyes.

“Yes,” Draco said honestly, “But not for myself.”

“What do you mean?” Hermione asked in a confused tone.

“I don’t care if people ridicule me. I only care what happens to you.”

Poor Hagrid!! That is all I can say
Great Post
PAMS!
Jamie

poor hagrid! yay their back together!!

Ms. Malfoy, are you a new reader? I don't recognize the username!

Ahhhh poor Hagrid
And poor Hermione
And poor Malfoy
And poor whoeverelse this is going to effect
I love the Post
Please Posty Soon
~Ashy~

Chapter Twenty-Six

Harry and Ron were stunned far more than anyone else. They couldn’t fathom how Malfoy and Hermione had ended up together; they began to blame it whole-heartedly on Snape for making the two Lab Partners.

“Maybe Malfoy has her under the Imperius Curse,” Ron suggested as they left Potions that day.

“I don’t think so,” said Harry darkly. “I think he has just charmed his way into making her think that he actually likes her.” Harry was disgusted; he could see how even Malfoy could sink that low.

“Where do you think she’s gotten off to?” Ron asked Harry in an undertone, making sure no one else heard them talking.

“She’s probably off crying somewhere,” Harry said in a pitiless tone. “What would possess her to run off with Malfoy?!” he asked no one in particular.

It was Ron who answered. “I don’t know.” He sounded slightly hurt, as though he couldn’t believe that the girl he had once fancied had chosen Malfoy over him. Just then, Abrielle caught up them; she was winded from running after them.

“Well that was…erm, a shocker,” Abrielle said. Harry and Ron both looked at her as though she was insane. “Shocker” seemed to be a bit of an understatement in their eyes. The three walked in silence for some time and it was Abrielle who spoke again.

“Where do you think she is?” she said worriedly. Hermione had become her best friend at the school. She eyed Harry closely, watching his facial features move angrily. He was so handsome….

Ron’s voice snapped her back to reality. He had grabbed her hand hopefully. “She’s probably off crying; that’s what Harry suggested earlier.”

Abrielle peered apprehensively at a bathroom they were passing. She opened the door slightly and called, “Hermione?” Of course there was no answer. Hermione was several floors above, cuddled up to Draco.

“They’re probably looking for me,” Hermione said worriedly. “Class is over by now.”

Draco scoffed, “I don’t really care if they’re looking for you.” With this, he pulled her closer to signify that he didn’t want to let her go. She smiled up at him.

“We’re going to have to go eventually,” she said in a scared tone. She didn’t really want to face the other Gryffindors.

“Says who?” Draco asked in a high and mighty voice.

“Says me,” Hermione began, “I actually want to finish school, and that requires attending some classes.” Draco laughed lowly.

“I think you could go to no classes and still pass each of them with a hundred and four percent,” he said stroking her hair. Hermione looked outraged.

“I think not!” she said, laughing. “We really do need to go. It’s nearly time for our next lesson.” Half of the free period was gone now. Draco nodded and the two stepped up to leave. Hermione took a deep breath and looked over at Draco. “Will you walk me to class?” she asked smiling.

Draco contemplated her question. It was the first time he’d be able to do so as Hermione’s boyfriend. “Why not?” he said in a nonchalant voice. She giggled and the two left the Room of Requirement hand in hand.

They didn’t meet anyone for quite some time. Most of the classes seemed to be on lower floors at the moment. The lower down they got, the more stares they received. Apparently, word hadn’t yet spread about the two. On the second floor, they ran into a group of Slytherins being led by Blaise Zambini.

“What’s this Malfoy?” Blaise asked, obviously thinking it was some sick prank.

Malfoy’s eyes narrowed, “What does it look like, git?”

Blaise looked positively taken aback. “What did you say to me?”

“I called you a git, Zambini. Now move; I need to get Hermione to her class.” Draco’s gray eyes looked at Zambini in a very scary way indeed. Blaise moved slowly away from the two. The group of Slytherins was eyeing them suspiciously, and when they were a good distance away, their laughter began to echo in the hallways. Hermione glanced over at Draco. She was a very bright pink shade.

“You didn’t have to do that,” she said meekly.

“Why wouldn’t I?” Draco asked looking down at her.

“I’m not worth all of that,” Hermione said, still in a quiet undertone.

Draco placed his arm around her waist. This caused many stares from a passing group of Hufflepuffs. “You’re worth anything, Hermione. Get that through your head!” He smirked playfully down at her and she reached up, kissing him on the cheek. This got them more stares than ever.

“This could be a fun game, you know: seeing how many stares we can get,” Hermione laughed. However, her laughter was cut short when she saw who was walking down the corridor next. Draco and Hermione stopped dead. They had finally run into Harry and Ron who looked positively furious.

Loved the post
I think I know who's comeing
Hmmmm should I say
~Ashy~

This is going to be war aint it?
Great Post Bre and you are leaving us!!!
PAMS
Jamie

DUN DUN DUN
that is FUNNY
nice going hagrid
doesnt it seem kind of obvios
that the WOULDNT
want people to know

Hey guys,

I really wanted to give you all a post before I left for Cali, but I'm not going to be able to. I have saved everything for the last minute. I tried to write one, but I felt rushed, so nothing came to me. I will try and post something while I'm there, but I can't make any promises. Thank you for reading. I'll be back August 6th.

-Breana

I am going to miss you Bre
*sniffles*
Jamie

* starts to baul her eyes out* *S