You're Mine (A Dramione Story)

Chapter 5: Dinner With Another Gryffindor

To say that Hermione liked her classes would be the understatement of the year. She adored each and every one, though Divination would be an exception. She thought it to be very unprecise, and downright pointless. But she loved all of her other classes. In her third year at Hogwarts, she had chosen a few extra classes to start in. She had just managed to keep up with her studies because of the Time Turner Professor McGonagall had given to her. However, at the end of the year, she had decided to just take the required number of classes. Her stress levels had grown alarmingly high throughout the year. She often found herself falling asleep in the Gryffindor common room because all of her homework.
However, the first day of classes back to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry had been absolute torture for Hermione. She couldn't remember hating a Hogwarts day more. But that was how it went. And it was all because of a certain Slytherin git.
Potions had been a complete disaster. Malfoy had knocked over the cauldron they were sharing because he insisted that Hermione had measured the powdered horn of bicorn incorrectly. The potion had melted holes all over the two's textbooks. In Charms, Professor Flitwick had decided it would be an excellent idea to parter students from different Houses. "To end House rivalry," he had said. Poor Ginny had been paired with Blaise Zabini, but Hermione had gotten the short end of the straw. They were supposed to be practicing the Bat Bogey Hex, something Ginny excelled at. Surprisingly, almost two-thirds of their class were unable to perform the hex. Unfortunately for the two Gryffindors and Slytherins, the partnerships were permanent.
Professor Sprout had been thinking along the same lines as Professor Flitwick. Hermione was with Malfoy, and Ginny was with Neville Longbottom. Professor Sprout had assigned each pair a task. Ginny and Neville were attempting to pluck Tentacula leaves. Hermione and Malfoy were to be taking pods from a Snargaluff stump. To Malfoy's distaste, they ended up working next to Ginny and Neville, which proved to be unfortunate. The Tentacula had reached over and grabbed Hermione and Malfoy when they were elbow deep in their stump. To make matters worse, the Snargaluff stump had whipped out its thick, thorny vines and wrapped themselves around Hermione and Malfoy, causing them to be a tangled mess; they were covered in cuts and scratches by the time the bell had rang.
Hermione's new favorite subject was Defence Against the Dark Arts, seeing as that was the only class where she was not paired with Malfoy. The new professor was none other than Aberforth Dumbledore. He insisted on the students calling him Professor Aberforth, claiming that he wants to in no way be mixed with Albus Dumbledore, the old headmaster of Hogwarts. Professor Aberforth allowed the students to pick their partners for the year, saying he "wasn't going to be like the other stuffy teachers in this school". After that statement, Hermione and Ginny happily partnered up and chose the seats farthest away from Malfoy and Zabini.

*****

Hermione stormed into the Gryffindor common the second night back at Hogwarts. She was shaking. She had just had a particularly nasty run-in with Malfoy.
     Perhaps I should just learn to ignore him, Hermione thought as she recalled the events that happened throughout the day while pacing in front of the fire. But she simply couldn't if her nemesis was Head Boy, had every class with her, and the two were being forced to share a bloody dormitory.
     "Hermione?" Dean Thomas said from the cushiony sofa in front of the fire.
     "Yes?" said Hermione impatiently, pacing in front of him. She looked at him for a moment, her eyes unfocused. Then she turned away, continuing to walk back and forth.
     "Erm - are you all right?"
     "Fine," she replied rather waspishly.
     "Are you sure?"
     She didn't answer. She continued pacing, muttering darkly under her breath. Dean sat in awkward silence. The fire crackled merrily.
     Dean cleared his throat. "Do you want to meet a new Gryffindor?" It was a feeble attempt at conversation.
     "No, Harry, I'm not going to do your homework for you," Hermione said absentmindedly.
     "Hermione, McGonagall's coming to tell you that you need to go to the Head Boy and Girl's common room right now, or you have detention for another night!"
     "What?" Hermione snapped out of her trance. Her eyes swung around the room to see no McGonagall. She sighed and looked at the ceiling. She couldn't believe she'd fallen for that.
     "What is it that you want, Dean?"
     "Are you all right?"
     "I'm fine," she said, rubbing her temples furiously. She flopped onto a squashy arm chair next to the fire.
     "Well, do you want to meet a new Gryffindor?"
     "Sorry, Dean, I'm not really in the mood to meet a new first year."
     "But he's not a first year."
     "What?" Hermione turned toward him. She blinked.
     There, next to Dean, was a boy. How had she not noticed him before? He had floppy brown hair and sat uncomfortably, staring at the floor, shifting his weight slightly. When he finally looked up, Hermione was taken aback. His eyes were shockingly blue. He offered a small smile to Hermione. Then he looked away quickly.
     "This is Liam Taylor. Liam, this is Hermione Granger," Dean said.
     "Erm - hello." Liam gave a nervous smile. His voice was deep, but not too much.
     Hermione blushed, her face showing the faintest trace of pink. She had just shown the slightly mad side of herself to a new Gryffindor. Not to mention a rather good looking one, at that. Perhaps this was why a few bit of people did not want to be friends with her. Maybe she scared them. Hermione sighed internally.
"Sorry about that," she said, a sheepish smile on her face. "I'm not usually that distracted. Or mad."
Liam looked at her again, letting out a breath, as if he'd been holding it. He grinned. He opened his mouth to say something when Dean interrupted. "Yes, you are. In sixth year, I asked to borrow a quill in the common room while you were studying. You gave me your essay on a Charms assignment." Hermione scoffed. "Thanks for that, by the way. I got a 110%." Dean added thoughtfully.
     It was true, Hermione often got distracted with her studying. She wasn't very surprised to hear she was immersed enough to hand over a homework assignment.
Liam laughed. Hermione had forgotten he was there. "So the rumors are true, then? You're really that smart?"
Hermione smiled. "I suppose so."
"I'm a bit offended, though."
"Why is that?"
"Not one person has mentioned to me how beautiful you are. They seemed to only know you for your brains. There has to be more to her than that, I thought. And I was correct."
Hermione promptly turned red again. No one had ever complimented her in such a way. And she didn't think she was that pretty. Sure, the bushiness in her hair had died down a bit after the war, but that was about it. Her eyes were a normal size, if not a bit larger, her nose was small and narrow, and her teeth were now perfectly straight after having Madame Pomfrey fix them in her fourth year. But there were much prettier girls in the school.
Dean let out a low whistle. "Mate, I did tell you what she was like. You just refused to believe me until you had met her yourself."
"I did believe you, I just wanted confirmation-"
"That is not what it sounded like-"
"So when did you guys meet?" Hermione said loudly before the two boys could cause a disruption to the peaceful common room.
Liam turned to her. His blue eyes locked with her brown ones. "Last night."
"It was in the dormitory," Dean put in. "His trunk was at the end of Ron's bed, so when he walked in and sat down, Seamus got just a little mad because he thought he was trying to replace Ron. You know, the lot who try to prove they're better than everyone else all the time. Seamus thought that was what Liam is like."
" 'Just a little' ?" Liam said repeated incredulously, obviously still on about that one part Dean had added. "He pinned me against the wall and threatened to set me on fire."
Hermione laughed. "Yes, well, Seamus is actually very good at setting things on fire and making them explode."
Dean chuckled. Liam looked puzzled. He was just on the verge to say something when they heard the portrait hole open. Ginny Weasley marched into the common room. She looked very annoyed. Her eyes seemed to burn for just a moment when they met Hermione's. Dean and Liam recoiled slightly.
     "Where have you been?" Ginny said, her voice barely a whisper.
     "Well I only just came back from-" Hermione started, but Ginny didn't let her finish.
     "I've been looking all over for you! I thought we agreed to meet at the library before dinner!"
     Hermione winced. Truth be told, she'd been so caught up in her ordeal with Malfoy that she'd forgotten about her agreement with Ginny. "I'm sorry, Ginny-"
     Ginny looked as though she were about to explode. Her face was very red; it contrasted with her hair magnificently. Liam was very frightened; Dean looked as though he was about to jump behind an armchair.
     Then the young redhead relaxed slightly. She looked at Hermione for an explanation.
     "Malfoy," was all Hermione said.
     Ginny didn't say anything. She simply stared at Hermione.
That was the thing about Ginny; she had a temper, much like Mrs. Weasley. When she was angry, she usually held a grudge against that person unless given a reason not to. Hermione could see that Ginny was making effort not to scream. Hermione didn't know how Harry handled all of it.
Finally, Ginny spoke. "Who's that?" she said a bit rudely, jerking her head in the direction of a cowering Liam.
Hermione's eyes swung to the boy, waiting for him to answer for himself. He just watched the youngest Weasley apprehensively. He obviously wasn't going to answer. Ginny had that effect on people.
Hermione sighed. "Ginny, this is Liam Taylor. Liam, this is Ginny."
Liam seemed to shrink into the couch even more at the thought of saying anything to Ginny. Ginny took notice of this as she scrutunized him. She sighed. Her shoulders sagged, her body became less tense, and she unfurrowed her eyebrows. She leaned on the back of the armchair Hermione was still seated in. "Sorry. Rough day," she said, sheepishness creeping into her voice.
"It's all right," Liam said, looking far more relaxed. Hermione couldn't help but notice, though, that his voice was still slightly tense, along with his back.
However, Ginny was no longer looking at Liam. She was staring at the armchair across from Hermione. She rolled her eyes. Ginny said, "Oi, get up, Dean."
Dean peeked around the armchair that he had taken refuge behind in order to escape Ginny's wrath. He glanced at Liam. "Is it safe?"
"Erm," said Liam.
"Look at her. Is her face still red? Is she holding her wand? Are her eyes shooting lasers?"
Ginny rolled her eyes once more and marched forward. Dean cowered behind the armchair and flung his hands up for protection. However, Ginny merely grabbed his arm and yanked him up. She dragged him toward the portrait hole with Dean protesting loudly, "Ouch! Bloody woman, that hurts!"
"Come along, you two. We're late for dinner," Ginny called over her shoulder.
Hermione and Liam looked each other - Liam rather warily - and then proceeded to get up and follow them out the hole.