Cold (Hermoine X Draco)

Chapter Six

HERMIONE POV

I'm honestly quite confused as to why Zabini brought Malfoy here. If this had to do with his mysterious plan, then I was even more lost as to what it was than before. I realize suddenly that both Slytherin boys are still standing uncomfortably in front of me. I open my mouth to speak, but Zabini beats me to it.

"Draco's ditching, so he tagged along. D'you mind?"

I hesitate. "No, I guess not."

There's a bit more small talk between us, and then all hell breaks loose.

"Hermione!" I groan inwardly. Ron. How am I supposed to explain this? Maybe if I just pretend not to hear...class has to start soon.

"Hermione Jean Granger!"

"Your middle name is Jean?" Malfoy asks me, a bemused expression on his face.

"Yes," I say defensively. "Weren't you at least partially named after a Death Eater?" It's common knowledge that Pureblood families traditionally give the father's name for the son's middle one. Draco Lucius Malfoy.

He glares at me. "Listen, Granger,"

"Hermione!"

I finally have to turn around. "Yes, Ronald?"

Ron's face is as red as his hair and he looks mad enough to murder someone. "What do you think you're doing? Those are Slytherins!"

"Yes, I know." I say calmly.

"Hermione, that's Malfoy. And Blaize Zabini. Have you lost your mind?"

"Zabini's quite nice, actually, if you'd ever bothered to find out."

"That's it, 'Mione, you're going to the Hospital Wing."

I pull my arm out of his grasp. "No, Ron, I'm fine, really. He's cool."

Ron glares venomously. "My girlfriend doesn't associate with snakes!" he snarls.

I heave a sigh at his thick-headed stupidity. "I also don't have to do everything you say."

"Hermione, have you lost it completely?"

"No, Ron," I say impatiently. "Why don't you come and meet him, see for yourself that I'm not associating with 'nasty snakes'." I add air quotes for effect.

"Yeah, I think I will," Ron barrels through the Hufflepuffs I was talking with earlier and I am left to follow in his wake, apologizing for his rudeness.

"Zabini, Malfoy, actually this is more for Blaize's benefit... but, this is Ron Weasley." I introduce him lamely.

"Yeah, you're going out with Granger, right?" Zabini asks, quite casually.

"He doesn't even call you by your first name, 'Mione, come on!"

"Don't call me 'Mione." I say between clenched teeth. "And, uh, that's fine, I mean, calling me Granger, it's...it's, like, a....nickname, I guess. I don't mind."

"Did you Imperious my girlfriend?" Ron spits.

"Ronald!" I yelp. "Don't be stupid."

The next thing I know, Ron's fist has connected with Zabini's nose and they both fall to the floor of the classroom, shouting obscenities (Ron) and scrabbling for his wand (Zabini).

"Alright, stop it, Ron!" I shout, realizing I've left my wand across the room at my desk. There's no hope of getting it now, because I'm trapped in the center of a ring of onlookers.

Malfoy cautiously steps toward the wrestling boys. "Okay, Zabini, mate, don't hex him, you'll just get in more trouble."

"Self defense!" Zabini argues. Or, at least, that was what he was trying to say, I think. With a mouthful of blood and a few teeth in need of regrowing, it's a bit hard to articulate anything.