Poison

Chapter Ten – Asperity

Harry was sitting at the moldy kitchen table in the small cottage that had been his parent’s home, reading the Daily Prophet reports on the movements of Voldemort and his Death Eaters. Ron stood in the doorway and watched his friend. He looked tired. Ron knew he hadn’t been sleeping well. He knew that Dumbledore’s death weighed heavily on the young man.

“Any news?” he asked. Harry looked up and shook his head.

“Nothing useful,”

Ron flopped into a chair near him, rubbing his eyes.

A sudden noise at the window had them both out of their seats, wands out and ready. Harry snorted with a half laugh when he realized that they had been about to hex a tawny owl. It sat blinking indignantly at them. Ron walked over and opened the window. The bird hopped through and dropped the envelope it was holding on to the bench.

Ron grabbed it, and scratched the bird under its beak. Harry crossed to the cupboard near the door and grabbed a handful of Hedwig’s owl treats and dropped them on the counter near the bird.

“There you go, fella,” he said. The bird studied him for a moment, before leaning down and gobbling up the treats. It gave a hoot then hopped back through the window and took off.

“It’s from Ginny,” Ron said opening the letter. Harry sat back down and picked up the paper again. Ron sat opposite him and read the letter.

Harry looked up when he heard his friends labored breathing. Ron was red with anger; his hand was crumpled around the letter from his sister.

“What is it, Ron?” Harry asked leaning across the table and reading the letter.

Harry and Ron

I think that it might be a good idea for you two to make a trip to Hogwarts soon.

There have been some rumors going around about Hermione. I, of course, wouldn’t believe anything unless I had a reason.

This morning I saw Malfoy kiss Hermione and she let him. She even blushed at something he said.

She’s been very distant over the past few weeks, and I don’t want to believe that she could do what she’s been accused of, but what I witnessed leaves a lot of questions that I think you two need to ask.

Looking forward to seeing you, and soon.

Ginny

Harry looked up at Ron. He was starting to go blue.

“Ron, breathe,” he said.

“If Malfoy has touched her, I’ll bloody well kill him,” Ron said. He thumped his fist on the table with so much force, the old wood cracked and slumped.

“Relax Ron, this is Hermione we’re talking about. She’d never let that ferret touch her,” Harry said. He re-read Ginny’s letter, “She must have been mistaken.” He shook his head.

“Are you coming with me or not?” Ron asked.

“Of course I’m coming. But I think we need to get dressed first,” he said, gesturing towards the pajama’s that Ron was wearing.

“Right,” said Ron.

Once they were done changing. They went to the closet under the stair and retrieved their brooms.

“Ron, do I have your promise that if there is any truth to these allegations, you aren’t going to hurt Mione in any way?” Harry asked.

“Of course I won’t. Like you said, it’s most certainly him. She’d never touch him,” Ron said heading towards the front door. He had taken flight before Harry had reached the door.

* -* - *- *

“Stop it, Malfoy,” she said batting his hand away from her thigh, “If I fail Ancient Runes because of you, I’ll hex your nose off.”

He studied her. God, he hated it when she was all prim and proper. He glanced around the library, where they were currently studying. He wished they were in their common room where he could properly ravage her, instead of being restricted to such chaste gestures. They were still relatively alone, most of the students preferring the better lit area towards the entrance of the library. Only a true book worm like Granger would be more at home in the dust and dark of the rear stacks.

“Come in the Restricted Section with me, Granger,” he said, flashing his trade mark smirk. She glanced up at him, and gave a little tremor when she saw his face. Gods, he was sexy. She struggled to hide her smile and her raging hormones.

“No, I’ve got to study this, exams are in less than six weeks,” she said, dragging her eyes away from his seductive mouth, and back to her text. If she could just concentrate on the book long enough maybe he would go back to their rooms and wait for her there.

“I’ll just have to kiss you here then,” he whispered, nuzzling her neck. The tried to push his head away, but he captured her wrist and pressed a soft kiss on the fleshy side just below her palm. She sighed and he felt her relax. He returned his attention to her neck, pressing his tongue to her skin and licking up to her ear. He sucked the lobe into his mouth and began to nibble on it gently. A soft moan escaped her lips. He released her ear and reached up. With one finger he turned her head and claimed her mouth in a long kiss. She relented, and he grabbed her and pulled her into his lap, running his hand up her thigh.

Harry and Ron walked out of Professor McGonagall’s office, having received permission from her to explore the school to seek out their friend. She’d been overjoyed to see them still alive and well. They’d given her a report on the progress of their self appointed mission, and heard some much needed information passed onto her from the Order. They had requested and been given the Gryffindor tower password, and after a fond farewell and a promise to say goodbye, they set off to find Ginny.

When they first entered the Common Room, they were surprised by the lack of students hanging around. They’d received word through Hermione that a lot of students had been pulled out of school over the summer, but they hadn’t expected this. Ginny saw her brother and the boy she loved and was overjoyed. She flung herself into Harry’s arms, pressing little kisses all over his face. He blushed, grinned and glanced at Ron, who had looked away, happy to see some sort of smile on his friends face again after so long. With Ron’s silent accent, he greeted the red haired girl with some fervor, despite his previous reservations about getting involved with her during this war. It just felt so good having her soft body pressed up against him. It was a warmth that he had missed more than he thought he would.

Once Harry and Ginny had finished saying their hellos, Ginny sat them down and explained everything from the rumor about Malfoy and Hermione, to the exchange she herself had witnessed.

“When the rumors first started, I asked her if they were true, and she denied it,” Ginny said, “But from what I saw, there’s a least some truth to the story. I know what a girl looks like when she’s smitten,” she finished, casting a glance at Harry under her lids. Harry blushed again. Ron shook his head.

“Where is she now, Ginny?” Harry asked.

“We hardly ever see her here anymore,” Ginny replied, “But she still studies in the library, so I’d try there first. If we don’t have any luck, we can try her rooms,”

“Maybe its best if Ron and I do this alone, Ginny,” Harry said. She shook her head.

“I don’t think so. She’s my friend too, and if she’s in any danger, I want to be able to help as well.” Harry and Ron looked at each other. Ron shrugged.

“Ok, let’s go,”

The corridors of the school were darkened and deserted, with most students either studying in their common rooms, or a dinner in the Great Hall. As they walked along, Ginny snaked her fingers through Harry’s and gave his hand a squeeze. He looked down at their joined hands, and then at her face. She gave him a wink and a small smile. His heart flip-flopped. He really had missed her these past few months, and after being the one to put an end to their relationship, he’d felt awkward about writing to her. He had received all her gossip and news through Ron, but he couldn’t help think about what sort of letter she might write him.

They entered the library and looked around. There were a scattering of students studying at tables around the entrance, but no sign of the bushy head they were looking for. The trio walked through the stacks, checking all of Hermione’s usual haunts.

They found her right in time to see Draco Malfoy pulling her into his lap. They watched open mouthed as he blatantly tried to feel her up.

“Hermione!” Harry shouted. The two guilty parties flew apart as though they were polarized.

“Harry! Ron!” Hermione gasped.