Short Change Hero

Chapter 19: Everything's Alright Sugar

Chapter Nineteen

Sugar

"I've gotten in over my head,

I can't think about anybody, but you
Sugar, I can't think about anybody but you...'

Sugar by Karmin

Still Monday October 14th, 1996

Noon- Just outside the Great Hall

The sound of glass breaking followed by a horse nickering caught Hermione's attention as a ghost crashed through a window magically, while she scanned the room for someone in particular. After what happened this morning, she wanted to avoid seeing him at all costs, and thankfully, so far he was nowhere to be seen.

With a shaky sigh to steady her head that was whirling with prickly memories, Hermione then started towards the Gryffindor table when her eyes met silver ones from across the Ravenclaw table. And in that moment, just his stare alone had an uncanny ability to steal the air from her lungs forcing her to take several unsure steps backwards.

Just thinking about how she had a moment of weakness when she indulged herself by - kissing- him, made her feel angry, at Malfoy for allowing her to kiss him, but mostly at herself for wanting him. Don't get her wrong, the kiss was everything she imagined. The mere thought of the memory made her lips burn, and Hermione knew that it was wrong to want anything from it was him let alone physical contact of the intimate kind.

'Merlin why did I have to go and do that...' she thought as she spun on her heels hugging her books closer and decided she would have to eat more at dinner later. Eating was last on her long list of things on her mind right now.

"'Mione," a familiar voice called out loudly, which was instantly identified as Harry, "Hey- excuse me. Do you mind, some of us are actually walking here?" Glancing once over her shoulder Hermione watched Harry trying to make his way past a cluster of fourth years who were giggling quietly from him talking to them.

Harry's voice grew somewhat louder thus signaling he was closing in to talk with her, but talking to her friends whilst pretending that nothing was the matter seemed almost as impossible as sitting across the room from- a right confusing prat whom wouldn't give her a moment's peace.

Huffing loudly she quickly climbed the stairs as fast as she could hoping that if she went fast enough she would get a few more seconds of time to herself. Not that time alone was helping stop her stray thoughts about stolen kisses, but it was loads better than coming across fidgety in front of a friend.

"Her-mione!" stopping at the top of a set of stairs, she turned to see red. Red cheeks inflamed with anger, but what shocked her was the sprawled mess of red hair that topped it off. Blinking multiple times as Harry showed up just behind Ron, both of them looking towards her almost as if they were waiting for an explanation.

"Ron... Let's go back to the Great hall. "Harry said quietly as he reached out to touch the red-heads shoulder but it was shrugged from his grasp before he had it.

"No, if you're not going to ask her, then piss off Harry, but I am," Ron started; his voice had knots of anger tied into his words which only confused her more. "What the Bloody Hell was Malfoy doing?"

Hermione looked between her two friends, and it was evident that she was missing what linked Ronald's anger to Draco. Shaking her head lightly, she opened her mouth to say, but she hadn't a clue as to what he was on about. Then the blonde Slytherin himself walked out of the Great Hall with Theo Nott beside him and suddenly she had a bad feeling about what was about to happen. When her eyes looked at Draco, almost in slow motion Hermione watched Ron turn to look at him and the words slipped out.