Masked

(17) Breakthrough

Hermione choked on air and started coughing and sputtering. She couldn't believe what Harry had just said. 'Maybe the Drarry Plan isn't needed after all, since they seem to be getting together by themselves.' She thought.

Hermione felt eyes on her and looked up across the Hall. It was Pansy. Hermione quickly gave a discreet 'it's ok' sign before finally tuning in to what Ron and Harry were saying.

"Don't pretend you didn't hear me." Harry said exasperatedly.

"I heard you! I just don't get what it's supposed to mean! Why did it make Hermione go into a coughing fit like that? Is this some kind of inside joke I'm not in on?" Ron was now standing and leaning forward slightly over the table.

Harry scoffed from across the table, he was still sitting and obviously fed up with Ron's inability to process innuendos. He looked at Hermione with a pleading expression and she understood that he wanted her to explain to Ron. How fun.

"Ron, do you really not get it?" Hermione asked gently.

"No!" Ron fell back into his seat, almost knocking over a glass of pumpkin juice in the process.

"Well, uh," Hermione glanced at Harry and he gave her a slight nod, "what harry said was an innuendo."

Ron gave her a blank expression and waved his hand, signaling for her to continue.

"He was basically saying that Draco attacked him sexually not violently." Hermione spoke quickly and cringed back a bit, preparing herself for Ron's yells of outrage. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Harry lean back a bit too.

Pansy sighed loudly and Draco looked at her in exasperation, "You've been doing that constantly! What's the matter?"

"Isn't it obvious? I want to know what happen between you and Potter after you went into your room! And I also want to know what's happening with those Gryffindors over there." Pansy gestured towards the Gryffindor table.

Draco looked over and tensed as he saw Weasley standing up, glaring at Harry and Granger. "What's going on there?"

"Well, I was hoping you would have some insight on it." Pansy poked Draco's arm, making him look at her again.

"Harry did mention something about him and Weasel having a fight earlier." Draco looked over at the Gryffindor table again.

"Aha! So you two were talking! What else did you do? You were alone for a long time." Pansy raised her eyebrows at him and Draco scoffed.

"I'm not telling you!"

"Why not?"

"So you'll know what it feels like to spend days and days trying to figure it out." Draco smirked at her, but continued watching Harry and his friends at their table.

"Oh, so this is about what you said aloud last week." Pansy smirked back at him.

"No! Well, kind of." Draco looked away and started getting ready to go. "How about this; if you tell me what I said aloud I'll tell you what happened with Harry."

"Deal!" Pansy said immediately.

"So," Draco prompted, "what did I say?"

"You didn't say anything, I made the whole thing up."