Library Love

Part 5

It was past curfew when Hermione and Draco parted ways, Hermione up to the Gryffindor common room and Draco to the dungeons. It was surprising that there weren't any teachers or prefects scouring the corridors like usual, especially since the incident at Hogsmede earlier that day. It was almost midnight, and surely everyone would be asleep when Hermione got to the common room. She was wrong. 

"Hermione! Where have you been?" Harry exclaimed as soon as Hermione got through the portrait hole. He stood up from the chair by the fire, and Ron stood up after him.

Hermione rushed over to them, relieved that Harry was okay. "I've been- I've been busy," she said, catching herself before giving it away. She wasn't sure how they'd react to her and Draco, and tonight she didn't feel like finding out. "What happened in Hogsmede today?"

Ron just gaped at her as if he'd seen a ghost. "You're gone half the bloody day and now you're acting as if nothing happened today? Surely you must have heard what happened in Hogsmede. A first year died."

Hermione gasped. She knew something serious had happened, but the thought that someone had died was just shocking. 

"Oh, Hermione, don't act so shocked. I saw you with Molfoy earlier." Hermoine flinched when Harry spat Draco's name. He moved closer to her, questioning her with his eyes.

"What?" Ron exclaimed, but Harry spoke over him, still moving closer to Hermione.

"What were you doing with him anyway, Hermione?"

Hermione looked at her feet, feeling a warmth rising in her cheeks. Oh no, she couldn't be blushing now in front of her friends. She was about to answer when Ron broke her off.

"You're not... you're not going out with him, are you?

Hermione looked up to see Harry turn his head to Ron. "Don't be stupid, Ron. Why.. Hermione would never..." He trailed off and looked back to Hermione, his eyes were difficult to read. "Hermione?"

She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Closing her mouth, she gulped and tried to speak again, but all that she could say was, "I have to go." She rushed past them and up the staircase to the girls dormitory, leaving Ron and Harry stunned in the common room.

Ron sank slowly back into the arm chair he'd been in a few minutes before. All was quiet for a few minutes before he let out a sigh. "Bloody hell, what has gotten into her?"

"I don't know..." Harry replied. "I'm going to go to bed. Good night." He walked off to the boys dormitory, and Ron sighed again before getting up and following him.

Meanwhile Hermione sat on the steps to the girls dormitory, tears rolling down her face. They hadn't said anything, but she knew her friends well. She knew what they'd be thinking. Has she gone crazy? What is she thinking, dating Malfoy, or even dating a Slytherin at all? Is there some hidden motive behind it that she hasn't told us? She heaved a heavy sob, almost letting out an audible whimper. She stayed like that for an hour or two on the steps, her head in her hands, crying, before she finally went to bed. She didn't want to face the oncoming morning filled with questions and disappointment.