Determination| 𝐴 𝐷𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑆𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑦 (𝚈𝚎𝚊𝚛 4, 𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔 2)

Chapter Ten | Somebody That I Used To Know

Somebody That I Used To Know, by Gotye

  The scene played over and over in Hermione's mind. How could anyone be so stuck-up? He acted as if he owned her! As if they hadn't broken up! Hermione fumed. He'd even tried to kiss her! But then... She'd slapped him. Had he truly deserved that? The pained look on his expression made her regret her decision to hit him slightly. Though he had deserved it last year, perhaps he hadn't this time. Maybe it was a misunderstanding. But whatever it was, Draco Malfoy needed to realize that he no longer had the right to touch her. Or especially kiss her. He needed to see that they were no longer dating. If he thought that kissing her would make her fall in love with him again then he was sorely mistaken.

   Hermione sat at the dinner table with her chin in her hand. She didn't even have the attention span to watch the sorting of the new first years. Her mind was otherwise preoccupied. Hermione sighed. She didn't know how she was going to continue this year with Malfoy following her every move. He was persistent and Hermione knew well enough that he wouldn't give up. It was as if he made her his conquest. And everyone knew that once a Malfoy had a conquest they wouldn't give up until they've achieved their goal. But that was what bothered her. Hermione didn't know what his goal was. She couldn't figure it out. He'd already humiliated her. What more could he want? She knew he was mean but she hadn't thought he could be that cruel.

In Hermione's eyes, Malfoy wanted to show everyone that he was capable of wooing the bookworm, Gryffindor Princess and when he proved his capability he dropped her. So what was he after now? Was he attempting to further the embarrassment? To prove that even after he hurt her he could make her fall for him again? She couldn't tell. If only her big brain would work for something other than spells and potions. Book knowledge did nothing to help in matters of the heart.

   But the worst part of the entire ordeal was that she knew she still loved him. She loved him after everything he'd done to her. She didn't want to, but it wasn't like she could just fall out of love. Hermione sighed. She was just going to have to avoid him until she was able to move on. Though her mind told her it was possible, her heart begged to differ. But what did her heart know? The heart was misleading. Hermione had always relied on her mind, books, and knowledge to guide her before. So why should that be any different now? Malfoy most certainly hadn't changed who she was. So perhaps all Hermione needed... was to remember who she was. Before she ever fell in love with Draco Malfoy.

   "Hermione?" With a startled gasp, Hermione shook her head and turned to Ginny who stared at her with concern. "Are you okay?" Hermione realized what she'd been doing and nodded slowly. Ginny raised a skeptical eyebrow. "You've been staring off into space for at least five minutes now." Then Ginny smirked slightly. "And you're not the only one who's been doing some staring." Ginny pointed towards the table behind them and Hermione turned to see Malfoy looking at her. She groaned and turned back around.

"I could really care less," Hermione said stiffly and Ginny's brow furrowed.

"What do you mean?" The red-headed girl asked as she raised an eyebrow. Then Ginny leaned forward and lowered her voice to a whisper. "I thought you two had made up."

Hermione's eyes widened. "Where did you hear that?" She asked, her tone slightly appalled. Why would Ginny think that after everything Draco had done???

Thunder rumbled across the sky outside and the building shook a little. Ginny, looking disturbed, leaned back and frowned. "I didn't I guess." She sighed and confusion riddled her expression. Hermione could see Ginny struggling to understand. The confusion in her expression only matched Hermione's inwardly. Hermione knew Ginny had hoped they would make up because of her relationship with Theodore but Hermione just couldn't pull herself to do it. Even for the sake of Ginny's hopes.