Pride and Polyjuice Potion

Chapter 25

It felt as though nothing could console her the whole day. She still went to all her lessons of course. It was almost impossible to make Hermione Granger miss a lesson.

But her thoughts were conflicted all day. There was no way for her to avoid the great tumult of her mind that grew increasingly excessive with time. Nobody had heard from Cedric nor Draco and it was tormenting her. She needed to know if they were alright.

She scarcely found herself distracted that whole day, apart from, perhaps, when they were all sitting in the Gryffindor common room after dinner, as they often did.

Seamous Finnigan stood up dramatically and cleared his throat.

"Listen up, everybody," he began, and the chatter died down. "This is very hard for me to say but I'm finally doing it. I cannot hide myself or my feelings any longer."

Everyone looked at him rather strangely, but were quiet and attentive nonetheless.

"Dean Thomas," he said, loud and clear. "I have been in love with you for quite some time now. I've never had the courage to admit it until this day. Will you be my date to the ball?"

Everyone was silent, their eyes fixed on Dean, waiting for his reaction.

Dean took in a deep breath and stood up.

"Seamous, I believe I have loved you longer than you yourself can boast. Going to the ball with you would make me the happiest person in the world."

Everybody erupted into loud cheers and claps, the excitement growing louder when Seamous ran over to Dean, pulled him in and kissed him.

As with most other Yule Ball proposals, everybody in the house celebrated. Perhaps the fire whiskey and the butter beer were becoming a little addictive at this point. Hermione didn't mind though; the alcohol seemed to numb the pain a little and it distracted her from events and thoughts that could not be too soon forgotten.

Hermione's distraction was only temporary. Whilst she was in the common room, she was overjoyed and congratulated them both with a full heart and sincerity.

Later, she and Luna tucked themselves into bed.

"Can you believe that about Dean and Seamous?" Hermione asked Luna.

"I'm surprised it took them this long."

"How on earth did you know?"

"I can tell these things, Mione."

"Any other secrets about people in our house that you somehow know?" Hermione joked. Luna smiled at Hermione's use of 'our'. She loved that her friend always made her feel welcome in her unofficial house.

"Oh, plenty," she whispered. "Many about people even just in this room. Even in this bed, perhaps."

"Whatever do you mean?" Hermione asked defensively. She was not prepared to discuss any of the things that Luna was hinting at, especially not after today's events.

Luna perhaps sensed this.

"Dean Thomas isn't the only one who swings both ways."

Hermione was a little taken aback, but not entirely surprised, she gave her friend's hand a little squeeze and expressed her support.

"Thank you, Mione, that means more than you can imagine."

"Tell me about you and Blaise."

"Are you sure you want to know?"

"Absolutely. The two of you are honestly one of the few things keeping me sane at the moment," Hermione chuckled.

"Alright, then. I wasn't going to tell you today - I'd planned on telling you on a day that was perhaps slightly brighter or happier, but as long as you wish me to speak of it, then I will continue."

"Of course I am. Please, I am so curious."

"Oh, Mione, it was simply the most beautiful experience. He took me to one of the empty classrooms which had a beautiful view of the landscape outside. We kissed passionately and then, he asked me to be his girlfriend, officially. I'll save you from the additional details because things got a little heated let's say. But it was just perfect."

"I'm so happy for the two of you, truly," said Hermione, sincerely.

"Oh if only there was such a man for you, Mione."

"You could give me thirty such men, Luna, and I would never be as happy as you. Until I have your goodness, I can never have your happiness."

They talked for a little longer until Luna yawned more and more frequently before finally drifting off into a deep and peaceful sleep.

Now being entirely alone with her thoughts, Hermione was at liberty to reflect upon her situation. She imagined that she probably would not be getting a good night's sleep tonight anyway, so she didn't even try to stop herself.

Pretty much everyone by that point was in a happy Yule ball couple, even Ron and Lavender who nobody had expected to last. Everybody but herself.

A few days ago, Theo had caught her up on how it went with Pansy.

He had run up to her, smiling from ear to ear.

"I suppose I should thank you for your shitty advice," he joked. "It somehow worked."

"No way!" she exclaimed. "I am so proud of you, Theo. That's so exciting."

"You cannot imagine how fucking nervous I was though. I was literally shaking; I felt like I was going to throw up."

"But hey, congratulations, you didn't!"

"Not in front of her but I did straight after."

"Lovely," she jokingly remarked with a disgusted look on her face. "So how did you do it?"

"Well basically I just blurted out a stream of rather incoherent sentences and she just pulled me in and kissed me. Fuck, even just remembering it now..."

"Alright Mr Lover Boy, no need to make me throw up too."

"Shut the fuck up, Hermit."

"Someone's a little defensive."

"Yeah, whatever, jealousy is a disease, might I remind you."

Reflecting on that moment, she knew she was jealous. Jealous that everybody else somehow managed to have perfect love lives that went exactly how they wanted them to. Even if they did have a little wobble, it would soon be sorted out. She whereas, was living through not just a constant wobble, but a constant bloody shipwreck.