When Hermione Fights

The Sneak

I apologise that there was no new chapter last week. There were many reasons, but let's just call it a heat break.

Chapter beta: Dani. What would I do without you?

Chapter translator: Aivy

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When Harry and I entered the Great Hall, it suddenly became quieter as the entire Gryffindor table fell silent, which usually contributed greatly to the overall volume in the Hall. If a table, especially our table, went completely silent, well, then it became quite quiet in the Great Hall.

We attracted everyone's attention. More and more heads went up in the air because of this unusualness. Above all, Harry and I were aware of the lion's dissecting gazes. Suddenly, to my surprise, which I knew how to hide through a blank mask, Harry put an arm around my waist, hugged me tightly and pulled me close. I looked at his so close face and he whispered:

"Play along!"

And suddenly he bridged the short distance between our lips, put his mouth to my lips and kissed me. This action silenced the Hall completely. Only the clank of falling cutlery, the startled breaths and a few shocked shouts were still ringing as Harry kissed me like this at the entrance to the Great Hall in front of the whole school.

Okay, I didn't do anything. I didn't really return that kiss that made me feel nothing, but neither was I pushing him away as he intensified his efforts. I tilted my head slightly to make it easier for him since I already knew what he wanted to achieve: that everyone thought we were having our fun yesterday when we didn't return to our common room. And for Snape's sake and for Harry's sake, I would do anything to make the story believable and to avoid probing questions. Let the students think what they wanted to think. Draco was something different. His fury would be terrible to behold.

Now Harry broke away and put his forehead against mine, whispering apologetically with a visibly bad conscience: "Thanks for playing along. It was a spontaneous idea. Sorry, that came to me when they all stared like that!"

"I thought so," I admitted and was not feeling any anger towards him. Then, with a laugh, I broke away from him, resolutely taking his hand in mine, and pulled him to the table where Fred and George made space for us while Ron stared as if he had seen a ghost.

"Hey man, mate. Congrats! You caught a real hottie there!" he was praised, while Fred clapped his back proudly. George looked at me with a raised, questioning eyebrow and I shook my head slightly and he exhaled with relief, then grinned openly and cheekily to Draco and shook his head. I had watched this communication and made out Draco's cold and rigid mask and now looked at him slightly apologetically, which made his elegantly curved eyebrow rise in reproach. However, he had understood George's message and mine, and had noticed the strange behaviour of the Gryffindors and was now calmer, sitting back a bit more relaxed.

"Uhm, thanks, Fred!" the answer came timidly from Harry and he ruffled through his dishevelled hair.

"Since when?!" Ron voice was unnaturally high and cracking. "Since when, Harry?!" The question got more insistent and Ron's head increasingly red. Ginny had jumped up from her place further down the table, looking frantic, and was hurrying towards us with a deep blush on her cheeks.

"Hermione, what are you thinking throwing yourself at Harry? You know Ron's got a crush on you!" she exclaimed indignantly and loudly in the still very quiet Hall. "And Harry, I ... I thought you didn't see anything special in Hermione!" Her shrieking, agitated voice echoed from the high walls of the Great Hall. It was always nice when we were able to contribute to the excitement and entertainment at Hogwarts. Our relationship drama took place before the eyes of the whole student body, wonderful.