Of Foes and Friends

With a sigh, Hermione plopped down next to Ginny at the Gryffindor table. She busied herself with loading up her plate with eggs, toast and fruit while her friend stared at her, mouth agape.

"Hermione, where were you last night?" Ginny whispered in a concerned voice.

"The RoR. I told you I sleep better there." Hermione shrugged off the question like it was nothing.

The redhead scoffed next to her, "I saw Malfoy head that way last night. After our little situation."

Hermione rolled her eyes at the comment and went back to her breakfast. Why was Ginny so obsessed with where, or with who, she slept anyways? If anything the line of questioning should have come from a place of concern, yet Hermione felt something sinister behind it. Like Ginny was searching for information to use against her.

"Whatever 'Mione, I just don't want you to get hurt again."

Laughter bubbled at Hermione's lips. The irony of the statement wasn't lost on her, not in the least. "Trust me Gin, I won't be."

"I hope you're right," Ginny said with a sad smile. "But..."  "-Gin! I am trying to have a nice breakfast with my friend before class, can we not argue about this right now?"

Slightly taken aback, Ginny nodded and looked at her plate of food. “Sorry,” she murmured. She fidgeted slightly, twirling a fork between her fingers. Her behavior made Hermione sigh. There was no use in arguing over where she slept, she wasn’t going back to Gryffindor Tower. It wasn’t her home anymore.

Just as Hermione was about to get up Harry’s owl came swooping in, holding its leg out towards Ginny. The redhead quickly snatched it off the bird and stuffed it in her bag. In the same fell swoop she stood up and ran from the table. Her full plate was left behind, shaking slightly with the force of her bag having swung above it.

Hermione was confused, what on earth could Harry be sending Ginny that was so secret she’d have to run as soon as she received it? Shaking her head she reached out and petted the owl that had started to munch on Ginny’s leavings.

“What was that all about?” Draco’s silken voice said as he sat down across from Hermione. She was shocked—first his public display yesterday and now he was sitting at the Gryffindor table! A hush had settled over the Great Hall and Professor McGonagall had raised herself out of her seat. Hermione noticed Snape shake his head at the older Professor.

 

“I have no idea. What are you doing?” Hermione hissed. She looked around at all the stunned faces around them. She did not need any more attention than she was already getting from her peers. The less the better, really.

“Gee, Granger, I thought I was sitting with my girlfriend.” Draco said the words with an eye-roll. Gasps could be heard throughout the dining area. Most noticeably Hermione’s.

“Your wh-what?” she stammered slightly. Slytherins were standing at the other end of the Hall, their necks craning trying to hear what was being said. “My girlfriend.” He looked her straight in the eye as he said the words. To everyone else he looked like a smug bastard as he said the words, but Hermione saw the desperation in his eyes. She’d hurt him, accidently, by saying what she’d said.

She smiled slyly – displaying the most coquette look she could muster – grasped his face in between her hands and kissing him right on the lips. “Your girlfriend,” she replied back, still smiling.

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All morning Hermione was stared at, whispers followed her every step she took. The slivers of conversations she heard deflated her positive mood.

“How could she – wasn’t he a Death Eater?”

 

“She could do so much better.”

“I thought she was engaged to Ron Weasley?” “Maybe she was double dipping?” “Like she’s fit enough to have two guys!”

 

Some students were more subtle than others. News was spreading fast. Surprisingly, Ginny was eerily calm when they met up again at lunch.

“I guess I should have seen this one coming.” Ginny said. She didn’t sound catty but hurt. “I just wish I would have had more warning. Moaning Myrtle told me. Moaning. Myrtle.” The last words came out exasperated. She looked at her brown haired friend.  

Hermione looked a little guilty, chewing her cheek and staring at her nails. “I didn’t exactly know he was going to say anything. Or that I was his girlfriend.”

A confused look spread across her friend’s face so she explained further, “we’ve been spending time together…and we’ve kissed a few times.” Hermione was having a hard time formulating the words, especially the last of the confession.

Ginny nodded slightly, finally digging into her food.

Draco snuck into the seat next to Hermione and slid his hand onto her thigh. Neither Ginny, nor Draco said anything to each other. They chose to pretend the other didn’t exist, staying quiet when the other was talking to Hermione. It was slightly awkward but functional.

Draco could feel eyes on him—it was making the hairs on his neck stand at attention. These weren’t the eyes that had been following him since he’d come. Those had been curious and pitying. This felt malevolent, almost personal. Subconsciously, he ran his hand over the back of his neck, as if he could wipe away the feeling.

“I’m going to the loo. I’ll see you later, Hermione.” Draco squeezed her thigh lightly and kissed her cheek before getting up to leave the Great Hall. “Of course,” she said back, watching his retreating form. She felt uneasy about Draco leaving her side, but she wasn’t sure why. When she turned back around to speak to Ginny, the younger witch was no longer there.

 

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Author’s note: for now, this is where we rest. I have a pretty solid idea of what is going to happen next. Hopefully, it’ll follow much faster than this chapter has. Thank you for those that have read, rated or reviewed. Your continued support means the world to me. Happy reading!