Great Hall of reveals

The Great Reveal

Hermione was walking down the corridor towards the Great Hall for dinner. Her best friend Ginny is walking with her, talking about some date she went on with Harry over the weekend. Hermione is trying to pay attention but her mind keeps drifting off towards a certain blonde Head Boy. She noticed that he has been acting strange the last couple weeks, and its progressively getting worse. He is becoming withdrawn and seems much more sad lately. She has been wracking her brain for the last week, trying to come up with any explanation but she hasn't been able to think of a single reason. As far as she knows, nothing has changed in his daily life to reason his change in demeanor. 

"Hermione, are you listening?" 

"What? Sorry Gin. I was thinking about the uh, the potions essay I need to finish." She lied, just as the pair entered the Great Hall. Hermione slyly glanced at the Slytherin table. Draco Malfoy was staring down at his plate, absently pushing food around. His best friend, Blaise Zabini, was sitting next to him trying to talk to him, and kept shooting Draco worried glances. Hermione sighed and continued on with Ginny toward the Gryffindor table. 

The girls took the two empty spots, Hermione across from Ron and Ginny across from Harry. Lavender Brown was sitting beside Ron, gossiping to Padma Patil. 

"Hermione! Why didn't you tell us?" Lavender started as soon as the girls sit down. 

"Tell you what?" 

"That Malfoy has a secret girlfriend! You had to have seen her since you two share a dorm." Lavender stated excitedly, no doubt figuring she was about to get some juicy gossip from Hermione. 

"What are you talking about?" Hermione asked, trying to look nonchalant, but really her heart rate picked up and she had to stop herself from looking over towards the Slytherin table. 

"Well, I was just in the library, minding my own business, and Malfoy and Zabini were sitting at the table next to me talking. I could hear Malfoy saying he was ready to take the next step with his girlfriend, and even got a ring! Can you believe it!" Lavender gushed. 

"A ring?" Hermione whispered, her eyes blown wide. At this point she couldn't stop herself from looking across the Hall. Zabini was still trying to engage the blonde, but it was as if he was in a trance. He glanced up and his eyes connected with Hermione's. One of his pale eyebrows rose, questioning the surprised look on her face, but she just turned to focus on what Lavender was saying. 

"I know! I didn't even know he was dating someone but apparently they are serious enough to get engaged!" 

"Maybe it's an arranged marriage?" Harry suggested. 

"No I don't think so." Lavender said, shaking her head. "You guys should have heard how he was talking about this girl. He seemed so in love with her. He kept saying how lucky he was to have her, and how she was everything he could ever want and he didn't deserve her. I never heard Malfoy sound so romantic!" She finished with a wishful sigh. 

"He really said all that?" Hermione asked softly to which Lavender just nodded her head really fast. 

Ron snorted. "The git probably made her up. I cant imagine anyone choosing to willingly be in a relationship with that slimy snake." 

"Yeah I agree." Added Harry. "Especially since no one's heard of this secret girlfriend until now." 

"Hmm, did he say a name at all Lav? Maybe she just doesn't go to this school and that's why no one knows." Padma reasoned. 

"Huh, I didn't think of that. That would make sense. He said the name "Mya" a couple times, and I don't recognize it from any girls at Hogwarts." Lavender mused, not noticing Hermione stiffen at the name. "It still seemed like it was a secret though. He was talking about how he thinks she is ashamed of him and that's why she doesn't want anyone to know."