Red Roses and Silver Rings

Chapter Seven - Get Off Your High Horse

It's an early morning in the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. One a.m to be precise. With Hermione determined to find Harry even with the little evidence she has keeps her up at night.

The evident fear of seeing people after her blow up with Cormac a couple of nights ago lays heavy on her mind. Her friends having to pop by if they wanted to see her.

Cormac's horrid words run through her body like he has written them on her with ink.

Your hair is too much.

You look too skinny.

You look like a virgin.

No man would ever want you.

Hermione tried to wrap her head around what coursed him to do such things. She understands maybe being funny about an ex but they never dated, not even close.

Hermione has always had a funny relationship with her hair. The curly locks always seem to hate one second and love the other. She wonders if any other girls have this sort of relationship with their hair.

Thinking about Harry makes her heart sink. She has re read the letter an embarrassing amount of times. The letter doesn't give one hint of anything away and yet she has re read every single letter, every word, every line to try and find something.

But she comes back with nothing every time.

Yet... she never gives up.

Hermione was watching as Harry was having one of his flashes with Voldemort. She watched as he sat stoic with his breathing ragged. Fear written all over his face.

She kneels down to him and waits for it to be over. Some days they can take seconds, sometimes minutes. It always depends on what Voldemort wants Harry to see.

He jumps and takes short in-hales of breath. Looking at Hermione as she sits down on the floor. The leaves crumbling under her bottom. She crosses her legs and looks to Harry again.

"You have to stop letting him in, Harry." Her tone was gentle and soft, like it always was.

They talk about the horcrux around Harry's neck. The thing that keeps them up at night and worried all day. They barely ever sleep over it. With Hermione explaining about how she is trying to find ways to break the horcrux.

"I'm doing all I can."

"You're not doing enough!"

Even though many people would have never forgiven Harry for what he said, especially in that time, Hermione could never be angry at Harry. He was just one person who was going through so much and she could never bring it on herself to be rude to him. Even when it was justified. Even when Harry had calmed down later and said sorry.

Sighing and needing a break, Hermione walks over to the kettle and turns it on. Filling up one of her many favourite mugs full with hot chocolate. She eyes some of the biscuits that Ginny had brought her in Hogsmeade, taking them with her into the living area. Sitting down on the comfortable sofa and just living in the peace and quiet.

Dracos door suddenly opens and he storms through it. Not even bothering to look at Hermione when he stalks over to the kitchen sink. Filling up a glass of water and drinking it. Still not saying anything. And when he does notice her presence he just gives her a dirty look. Hermione just rolls her eyes and carries on drinking her hot chocolate.

"What are you doing up so late, Draco?"

He grumbles. "None of your fucking business, Granger. Leave me alone."