Shattered | Hermione x Draco

Lions and Snakes

My body still aches, but I ignore the pain as I walk towards the Great Hall. I am late, so the halls are empty and my footsteps echo. Just for a moment I wait outside the hall. My life is going to change the moment I set a step in it. Even if I haven't felt like a Gryffindor for months, now everyone is going to see it. They are going to hate me for it, they will see it as a betrayal. Talking to Slytherin is even frowned upon, they are going to find out everything. Ron was right all along.

I exhale, close my eyes for a few seconds while I ground myself, searching for the magic inside of me and letting it surface to my fingertips. My fingers are twitching with power, but I hide the blueish whisps.

Goodbye...

Nothing is different when I walk towards the Gryffindor table and sit at my usual spot. Harry is sitting in front of me, Neville to his left, Ron to his right, Lavender next to him and Parvati and Ginny sit on either side of me. Nothing is different yet as I start to plate my dinner.

"Why are you late?" sneers Ron.

I shrug. "I was busy," I avoid his question as I look up at him.

He knows where I was. He has been watching the Marauders Map. He wants to catch me in a lie and when he does, he will make a big scene.

Severus walks in the Great Hall and I look up, can't keep a small smile from forming on my lips. Well played. He planned this. He walks over to the Gryffindor table, this alone makes people look up.

"Ah Miss Granger, all healed up, I see," he drawls in his teaching voice.

"Yes, just a bit sore, Professor Snape," I respond, keeping a small smile on my face.

Ron sees it and slams his fist on the table. "How desperate are you?" he shouts at me.

"I don't know what you mean, Ronald?" I roll my eyes.

"Do you think I am stupid?" he screams. I shrug. "No, fuck you, Hermione. You were in his room, day and night! I saw it!"

The whole Great Hall is watching us and everything is going according to plan. Ron is losing hit, his face red, hair is spiking up with magic. Harry is looking between the three of us. This is even better, he just shouts about the Marauders Map, that is not very smart of him. Harry won't like it.

"Tell me it isn't true, Hermione. Tell me," he begs.

I look at him, willing him to understand that I do it all to protect them as much as I can. "It was not for the reason you think," I answer honestly.

"Oh!" Ron scoffs. "So it wasn't for you to spread your legs so he can fuck your Mudblood cunt?" he snarls the insult at me, for everyone to hear.

I can see the literal recoil and hear the gasps through the Great Hall. From the farthest corner I can hear him, his voice loud, clear and very, very angry.

"The fuck did you say, Weasel!" he roars. "You better hope I misheard you, you fucking piece of shit!"

He is walking towards us, his strides strong and long, flanked by Theo and Pansy. Behind them follow Blaise, Vincent, Gregory and Daphne.

Ron swirls around looking at the Slytherins who spread out around Draco and Severus.

"Hermione, what is going on?" Ginny asks and grabs my hand.

Shield your emotions, don't show them the pain, don't show them the agony. Show them coldness, nothing but an empty shell. I let the emotions drain from my face, my eyes going cold and the signature Malfoy sneer settling on my lips. I pull my hand back roughly and stand up from the bench, making my way around it in big strides.