High (A Harry Potter Fanfiction--Dramione)

Hermione is Good at Hiding

Hermione spent the rest of the afternoon hiding from her friends. She couldn't believe Ron! They had promised never to tell anyone what had happened between them. They hadn't even spoken about it to each other since Ron and Lavender got together.

She wasn't too bothered that Ron had told Harry, Ginny, and Dean. If anyone absolutely had to know, it wasn't the worst thing in the world that it was those three. The horror of the situation was that he had inadvertently told Malfoy! GAH!!!

Malfoy had actually been semi-decent to her this year too. He rarely called her a Mudblood (even though that word had long since become white noise). He didn't tease her. He barely even spoke to her. Until today the longest interaction the two had was that day in the library back at the beginning of term when he actually offered to help her. Hermione still couldn't wrap her head around that day. She got the strangest sense that...maybe...he was sort of flirting with her, as ridiculous as that sounded. After that day, Malfoy seemed to forget that she existed. Sure, he still couldn't resist ripping on Harry and Ron, but he just sort of glossed over her, as if she wasn't even there. Every now and then she'd catch him looking at her in class, but he'd look away the moment she turned her head.

During those moments, Hermione was forced to admit an uncomfortable truth. Malfoy was actually pretty fit. She loathed the smug bastard with every fiber of her being, but she had to admit that she fully understood why the blond Slytherin was so popular with the ladies. He was tall and had a traditional lean, muscular Seeker's build. His penetrating silver eyes gave him an air of otherworldliness. He had a sharp, angular jawline which was often highlighted by the signature smirk he wore so handsomely. He carried himself with the casual elegance of a rebellious rich boy. It was bloody infuriating that such a travesty of a human being looked so good.

Merlin, nobody got under her skin like that blond prick! The way he had goaded her until she lost control again and punched him in the face. Hermione wasn't one for extreme bouts of emotion, unlike her fellow Gryffindors. Honestly, she was never supposed to be in Gryffindor at all. She remembered the Sorting Ceremony like it was yesterday. She never told anyone about the conversation between her and the Hat...

"Well, now. Bit of temper on you, eh?"

" Not really, no. I can't recall ever having lost my temper."

"Hehe! Perhaps not. But the temper is still there, no matter if you lost it or not. You're good at hiding, aren't you? I should put you in Slytherin."

" WHAT??? You can't do that! I've read all about Slytherin! I'm Muggleborn! They'll never accept me! Don't you dare!!!!"

" Hehehehe! What's that you said about not having a temper, lass? You see, at first glance one would think you're a Ravenclaw. Clever, thirsty for knowledge, level-headed. But you're more emotional than you let on. You're just good at hiding it. Cleverness and ambition are also Slytherin traits, as is the ability to 'play the game' so to speak. You'd fit in very well there. And they'd challenge you, lassie. They'd teach you how to achieve your ambitions, how to read other people. You've got a knack for it. You'd do proper well down in them dungeons."

"PLEASE no!"

" What's your beef with Slytherin, eh?"

"From everything I've read, they won't accept a Muggleborn. Plus, You-Know-Who was a Slytherin, as was pretty much every other dark wizard!"

" Eh, now a smart girl like you shouldn't listen to gossip, even if it's been published in a book. The other houses got their fair share of shady witches and wizards too. You just don't hear about them. Merlin, himself was a Slytherin, did you know that? And let me tell you about them Slytherin snakes, lassie. They take care of their own. They might give you a bit of a hard time at first, but once you've proven that you're one of them, they'll do anything for you. Why else do you think I said that in Slytherin 'you'll meet your true friends.' Every bit as loyal as Hufflepuffs. Just choosey about who deserves their loyalty. Still afraid, lassie?"