Enemy Seduction: Dramione

Gossip and Rumors

For the rest of the day, Hermione's classmates were giving her questioning, confused, curious, and disguisted faces,so she figured they had read the paper and the word got out. She felt a weight lift off her shoulders when she realized it was the end of the day. Thankfully, Gryffindors had no classes with the Slytherins so that meant she didn't have to tolerate any of their comments and sneers.

She worked on her assignments until they were perfect and didn't even go down for dinner. Shortly after, it was time for bed so she headed to the girls' dormitories after she reassured Harry and Ron everything was fine while they kept exchanging uneasy and worry glances her way. Hermione figured she'd go to bed sooner before the girls would so she wouldn't have a worse repeat of last night. After every single thought passed through her mind, she finally fell asleep. 

•

"Divination today." Ron announced, walking in the middle of the others. Harry made an annoyed sound. Professor Trelawney always predicted Harry's death which got irratating quickly; as she does it nearly every time he sees her. Hermione barely heard Ron as every single person shot her a look when they walked by.

The group made their way into the Great Hall, taking in the smells of fresh food. Ron took a swig of his pumpkin juice while Harry and Hermione helped themselves to toast. The noise level was considerably higher than usual; the Yule Ball was on everybody's mind. Hermione felt it happen before she saw it; Malfoy came over with his fists clenched. Her heart started hammering faster because she know everyone was going to stare and he'd make a scene. 

"Happen to read the paper yet?" Malfoy demanded, gesturing to his own copy of the paper in his fists. Harry and Ron were about to angrily interject for Hermione, but she surprised them. 

"Yeah I did. What do you want from me? I can't control Skeeter's lies!" Hermione answered with a hint of consternation in her eyes. 

"What do I want? I want to not be associated with you in the press, you filthy Mudb-"

"Oh, shut up, Malfoy!" Ron spat in a fury. 

"How cute, Weasley. Defending your Mudblood friend. You only want a go with me because you're the only guy who hasn't been reported in admiration of her!" 

"Give it a rest, Malfoy. Now you and your Slytherins have to know the lies about me aren't true, or we can all ask about your admiration for Hermione," Harry snapped back while Ron flushed slightly.

A look wavered in Draco's eyes. "Wait till my father hears about this!" He left in a hurry toward the Slytherin table and Hermione gave Harry a grateful look.

"Thanks Harry! I thought Malfoy was going to blame me, as if I wanted this to be in the paper!" She gave an incredulous look. 

Ron looked a little upset about what just happened, but why would he? Malfoy didn't say anything about him personally. He only scowled and looked at his plate of untouched food with a glum expression plastered on his face. 

"Oi, Ron! Harry!" The Weasley twins, Fred and George, took a seat next to Harry looking happy as usual. "How's it going for the Ball?"

"What do you mean?" Harry asked.

"We mean, have you asked anyone out yet?" George translated.

"Oh...well...no, not yet-" Ron stumbled, still looking down.

"Harry?" Fred asked.

"Well, I mean the person I want to ask-"

"You two are pathetic! You better hurry before all the good ones are taken!" George advised with an incredulous look. Ron suddenly had a change of mood.

"What do you mean?! We won't be the only ones without dates!"

"Even Neville's found someone.." Fred answered slightly amused. Then he looked over at Hermione, although noticing her for the first time. "Looks like you've got plently of options, though, right Hermione? Malfoy and Harry having a go over you," he finished

Hermione's cheeks flushed. She didn't want to keep talking about this. Almost on cue, Ginny Weasley came over and told Hermione Professor McGonagall was looking for her. Grateful for an excuse to leave, Hermione left not even noticing the trail of whispers that concerned her.

She made her way out towards the Professor's office when she heard a huge crash. It sounded like something massive fell over. Hermione started to run now, feeling her heart race. What was going on? She stopped dead in the tracks when she realized it was coming from McGonagall's office. Hermione took a deep breath, opened the door, and gasped when she realized what was the source of the noise.