Fascination|𝐴 𝐷𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑆𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑦 (𝚈𝚎𝚊𝚛 3, 𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔 1)

Chapter Twenty | Beautiful Soul

Beautiful Soul, by Jesse McCartney

"Please Ron! Why can't you just accept him?"

"I don't trust him!"

"Then trust me!"

"He's tricked you!"

"No he hasn't, Ron! Just listen to me!"

"No! Until you and that ferret are over we are done, Hermione!"

   Hermione ran, tears streaming down her cheeks. How could he be so insensitive?! He didn't care what she wanted or that she was happy. At least Draco was willing to try. He acted civily towards Ron and Ron responded by pulling out his wand on Draco. It was a very immature thing to do and he could have hurt somebody. But even then Draco didn't fight back. In Hermione's book, that was an act of maturity. But Ron has to be immature and a prick. He couldn't put aside his differences for a single moment and allow her to explain.

Hermione knew that Draco and Ron's rivalry ran deep. Their families were practically enemies, but she didn't understand why Ron couldn't be more open minded. Draco couldn't stand Ron but at least he was willing to try for her sake. He truly cared about her and right now, that was more than she could say for Harry or Ron. Harry needed time, and she respected that, but at least he wasn't screaming at her during the whole situation. At least he hadn't acted out of anger and almost gotten them all a weeks worth of detentions.

It was unjust of Ron to act the way he had towards her and towards Draco. Harry had tried to talk to him but he was to hot-headed. No. Hermione knew that Ron wasn't going to give Draco a chance. She also knew that that would affect their friendship. It definitely put a dent in their relationship. If her best friend couldn't accept her boyfriend then what was she to do? Ron was trying to force her to choose and that was unfair. It was unfair to her and caused her to lose her trust in him. She had really thought he was a better friend than this.

   Not looking where she was going, Hermione rounded a corner and gasped as she bumped into someone. The figure, though lanky, didn't budge when she hit him. Hermione, assuming it was Draco because of the black suit and his tall build, buried her face in his chest. She let out a sob she had been holding back for a long while. A hand patted her back hesitantly and Hermione gasped. She backed off immediately, knowing that the boy standing before her was not Draco. Draco would have enveloped her when she was close to him. It was true, the boy was dressed in all black, Draco's usual attire, but when she looked up, she was greeted by bright green eyes and a mess of black hair.

Hermione froze and studdered. "Oh, I... I'm so sorry. I didn't see you there..." She trailed off when she saw the green Slytherin emblem embroidered onto his black suit, over his chest. Not taking her eyes off the emblem she muttered. "I... I thought you were someone else."

The boy nodded, giving her a half smile. "Are you alright?"

Hermione nodded, her eyes wide.  Why was a Slytherin being nice to her? She had half expected him to yell at her for bumping into him. "I... I'm fine."

The boy frowned. "Why were you crying?"

"Oh, I... uh... I've just been a bit stressed recently."

   The boy nodded and smiled, then blinked. "Oh. Uh... My names Theodore Nott, I'm a friend of Draco's." He reached over and held out his hand. "My friends call me Theo."

Hermione shook his hand with a slight smile. "I'm Hermione Granger. Though, if your a friend of Draco's, I'm sure you knew that."

Theodore nodded with a smile then became solemn. "I'm sorry about what happened during dinner. The others, other Slytherins I mean, they can be quite cruel."