Hermione's Little Secret

Lunch came all too soon for Hermione. She had broken her fast with RJ in their quarters, then hurried to her early morning class, so she hadn’t seen Draco yet. She had been best-friends with ‘the boy who lived’, helped defeat a Mountain Troll, been petrified by a basilisk, ridden a hippogriff, fought Dementors and Death-Eaters, been chased by a werewolf through the Forbidden Forest, but facing Draco Malfoy after having had such a confrontation with him made her so nervous she was shaking. What would he do if she just ignored him at the meal? Knowing him, he’d probably cause a scene in the middle of the Great Hall, maybe drag her out like a Neanderthal man and his mate. She snickered at that image. She had to admit. He had finally grown some balls since the last time they had had a confrontation.

Things might have been different if he had followed her and risked her wrath that night. ‘Coulda, shoulda, woulda, mighta. Nothing’s going to change the past, my dear, you can only move forward. Now, is Draco your future?’ She wondered as she entered the Great Hall through the staff entrance to find Draco sitting in the chair to her left and Severus in the middle as always, on her right. She was stuck between the two Slytherins. Again. Bracing herself, she walked over and let Draco hold her chair while he helped her sit.

“Thank you, Professor Malfoy. You look good today. No coups in the dungeon yet?”

“The previous Potions instructor taught them well. The students were too scared that I would be just as bad as him.” Draco didn’t look at Severus as he threw out that dig at their former teacher. Severus smirked and raised his glass in toast. “You look quite well yourself, Madame Weasley. Sleep well?”


“Like a stone.”

“As interesting as this conversation is not being, how did rounds go last evening, Professors?”

Hermione choked on her water, turning bright red.

“Red really isn’t your color, Madame. You should never have been sorted into Gryffindor. Green looks so much better on you.” Draco smirked, trying not to follow suite. Severus’ question had come out of nowhere and he wondered if the Headmaster might have an idea of what was happening between his staff-members. “Nothing much happened, Headmaster. It was the first night. Most of the students raise their hell in their common rooms. We’ll give the children a couple more nights before dropping the hammer down on them, sir.”

“So nothing happened?”

“Nothing of interest. We spent most of the time just getting reacquainted, right, Madame Weasley?” Draco held her hand loosely and kissed the knuckle lightly. She caught her breath and lifted her gaze to his. He smiled at her.

“Argus was walking about with Mrs. Norris and heard something from the Great Hall, just after midnight. He said that he tried to enter, but the doors were warded. By the time he got back with a prefect, the room was empty.”

“We—we were talking in here. It was quite heated, and we didn’t hear anyone trying to get in. I’m sorry we disturbed Mr. Filch.” Hermione flushed again and began eating her pasta, not looking at either man. Severus knew something was up, and Draco seemed to be interested in furthering their ‘discussion’ from the night before.

“Ah. I hope you found a more appropriate location to continue this ‘discussion’ as the Great Hall is too…big for such meetings of the minds.”

Damn, he knew. Both Hermione and Draco frowned at the Headmaster, the identical thought running through their minds.

“Will do, Headmaster. Thank you.” Draco choked out and returned his attention to Hermione. “So, Madame, I thought that you and RJ might join Lilah and me for a late dinner in our quarters.”

“I have RJ serving his punishment with Argus starting tonight. He’ll be cleaning the trophy room for the next few nights.”

“Wow. I just told Lilah she couldn’t stay after school for two weeks and she was to come directly back to the castle every day after school.”

“RJ’s been in more trouble.” Hermione rolled her eyes, remembering the fights her two children had started and instigated with other students and between themselves in previous years. No, RJ’s punishment hadn’t been too harsh.

“I’m not saying anything against it. Gods, you’re tense. Maybe we need to have another discussion about our past, Madame?”

“Not right now. Both of us have classes right after lunch, sir.” Hermione smiled at the potions instructor, internally amazed that she was flirting with him in public.

“Later, then, Madame.” Draco returned to his lunch and smirked at her discomfort.


Severus watched the two of them and wished he could read their minds. Something had happened between the two professors last night and he’d bet his Order of Merlin that they’d become ‘reacquainted’ in a most intimate manner. He’d have to remember to lock the Hall doors before retiring from now on, to keep from having the elves scrub the tables down just in case every morning.


“RJ Weasley, what are you doing here? Does your mother know you’re not in school?” Molly glared at her grandson as he stepped out of the fireplace, wiping black soot from his jeans.


“Gram, I need to talk to someone. Please don’t tell Mum I’m here.” He lifted his dark blue eyes to his grandmother. She paused in her haranguing as she noticed how upset he was. Frowning, she opened her arms and pulled the boy into her arms. RJ hugged his grandmother tight.

a/n~~ it's short, I know. I'm sorry. Just trying to work through a massive case of writers block.

thanks for all the great reviews and your wonderful words of encouragement. keep it up..

until next time..

marti