Bad Romance - Time

Hermione walked down to the dungeons and shivered. Even in early October the dungeons were chilly.

She been at school now for a little under a month and she was disappointed. Hermione wasn’t a fool, she had known that it would be different but she was shocked by just how much she missed the boys. It was hard going to the great hall at meal times and not seeing them stuffing their faces.

The first Quidditch match of the season had been played just two days ago and Hermione had missed not seeing Ron and Harry playing. It had felt strange cheering a new seeker on and not chanting ‘Weasley is our king’.

She had thought, at the beginning of the school year that at least she’s have Ginny for company but the red haired girl always seemed busy with head girl duties.

Hermione found herself spending more and more time in the library. Oh, it wasn’t that she didn’t have friends, she had lots, but to her it seemed that most of them only wanted to be her friend because she was one third of the ‘golden trio’ as people referred to her, Harry and Ron.

Hermione didn’t want to admit it but she was lonely, and just a little bit home sick. But not for her home. Not the red brick semi-attached house she grew up in - no she was homesick for the burrow. For Harry and Ron.

Even her heart had stopped twitching in pain whenever she thought of Ron now. Proof that she had really got over the disaster that was her and Ron trying to be a couple. They had had more fights when they where together then they’d had in all the years of them being friends. In the end they had both agreed that being a couple just wasn’t right for them.

It had hurt, after years of wanting him, it had hurt to admit that they just didn’t work together, but Hermione would rather have his friendship then nothing at all and if they had continued to make it work they would have both ended up hating each other.

She’d give anything right then though for one good fight with Ron. Even that would be better then feeling the way she did now. When she had made the decision to come back to school, she had thought she was making the right one, but now she wasn’t so sure.

Of course everything had changed, she’d expected that, she’d expected everything to be different. Hermione had just hoped that it would be different in a good way not a bad one. When she had stood waiting to board the train she’d had such a positive feeling about this year, where had that feeling gone now?

Hermione rounded the corner to her potions class and saw a blonde haired boy stood by Slughorn’s door, waiting for it to be opened.

As she got closer Hermione realised it wasn’t a boy but Draco Malfoy.
She stopped in her tracks and decided to wait further down the corridor. She hadn’t seen the Slytherin since the final battle, were Harry had saved his life.

He looked a little different, she thought. He hadn’t noticed her so Hermione took the chance to look at him properly.

His blonde hair was shorter then she remembered. His face was still as pale and his nose still as pointed. He looked slimmer then before as well, like he’d lost weight he couldn’t afford to lose.

He was just as tall. Taller then Harry and maybe even taller then Ron, if that was possible. He’d grown since she’d last seen him, she decided.

‘Take a picture, Granger!’ His voice made her jump and Hermione lifted her eyes to his icy grey ones to find him watching her. She felt her cheeks heat up in a blush. ‘It’ll last longer!’

Hermione straightened her back at his tone and narrowed her eyes. ‘I might just do that, Malfoy, it’d probably be more polite too.’

His own eyes narrowed. ‘Why should I be polite to you?’

Hermione’s mouth opened in a small gasp. ‘I don’t know, maybe because I helped Harry-’

‘Don’t!’ His voice was hard as steel. Within seconds he was stood in front of her. His face inches from hers. ‘Don’t even mention his name.’

His eyes fashed anger at her and Hermione found that she couldn’t make her voice work. She held her breath as he stared at her. His stormy eyes taking in every feature on her face.

Giggles and talking from further down the hallway caught his attention and Draco backed off and disappeared down the other end of the corridor.

Hermione was left distracted throughout her potions lesson and her work was affected. Even Slughorn seemed disappointed by the green gunk she produced as a potion to heal heart burn. It should have been a mint green, thick shimmery liquid.

After potions Hermione had Herbology in green house three. She walked to the green house with Neville Longbottom.

‘Strange without Harry and Ron, isn’t it?’ Neville asked quietly.

Hermione smiled and nodded her head. She didn’t really want to talk about the boys, it only made the lack of their presence more prominent.

‘I hear their doing really well for themselves,’ Neville continued, not taking the hint of Hermione’s silence.

‘They are. They’re having a great time and learning lots of exciting things.’

‘I bet they are. Are you sorry you didn’t go with them?’

That one sentence hit home more then any other that had been spoken in the last few weeks. Hermione wasn’t surprised that Neville had been the one to say it. Over the last seven years Neville had surprised a lot of people by his quiet understanding.

Hermione decided to be honest with him. ‘A little, but getting my NEWT’s is important to me.’

Neville nodded again. ‘It’s important to my Gran as well, that’s why I’m here,’ he grimaced and Hermione couldn’t help but smile when thinking of Neville’s grandmother.

The Grythindor’s and the Slytherin’s had Herbology together and Hermione was surprised to see that Draco wasn’t present. That was two classes he’d missed.

The rest of the morning passed by rather slowly and it was soon lunch time. Hermione grabbed a quick bite to eat in the great hall before going to the library to study.

She found the book she was looking for and sat down by a window to look through it. Her attention was caught though when a shadow walked past her and she looked up to watch Draco Malfoy settle himself at a table in the darkest corner of the library.

He was looking through a book and seemed to be lost within it’s pages. Hermione bit her lip. Their run-in down in the dungeons kept going over and over in her mind. The feeling it gave her she couldn’t explain.

Watching Draco now as he read she felt compelled to make some kind of contact with him and she wasn’t sure why. He was Draco Malfoy! The boy who had bullied and picked on her since she was eleven. She hated him, didn’t she?

Before she could stop herself Hermione pulled out her morning notes from Potions and Herbology and did a quick spell to duplicate them.

Taking the duplicated copies she got up from her seat and slowly walked over to where Draco was sitting.

He looked up at her when she reached his side and raised one finely arched eyebrow in question.

‘Here,’ Hermione said and placed the notes on the table in front of him.

Draco leaned forward and looked at the papers. He then looked back at her, another question in his eyes.

Feeling embarrassed and annoyed at herself for some unknown reason Hermione quickly turned on her heal and walked away, she grabbed her things from her table and left the library.

---

The following day Hermione was walking down a corridor leading to her defense against the dark arts class room when she had the feeling that someone was watching her. She slowed down and looked over her shoulder, half expecting Lavender to be staring daggers at her again, when her eyes met those of Draco’s.

Hermione found her feet slow to a stop and she stood staring at him as he got closer to her. With each step his eyes seemed to get brighter. Hermione’s breath caught in her throat.

‘Thank you,’ his whispered in his silky voice as he walked past her and then ahead of her.

It took her a few minutes to get her feet to work again and as it was Hermione was one of the last to enter the class room.

All the tables at the front of the class were taken and Hermione couldn’t help but smile when she saw that they were mostly taken by male students. As they had been since the first defense lesson of the school year.

Pretty Professor Lynch was causing a bit of a stir amongst the male pupils. With her thin waist and ample curves she had a figure most of the teenage girls of Hogwarts would dye for. Her smart blond bob was fashionable amongst muggles, which led to speculation that she was muggle born. She was young enough for it to be cool amongst the male students to have a crush on her.

Hermione was forced to take the only seat available to her. One sitting next to student from Slytherin, who she wasn’t familiar with.

The boy, a year younger then herself, seemed to stiffen and edge away when she sat down. Hermione rolled her eyes in silent frustration.

‘Good afternoon, class,’ Professor Lynch beamed her award winning smile, and cast her gaze around the room. ‘Please remember to hand in last lesson’s homework on your way out, anyone who forgets will receive a detention.’

Hermione took hers out of her bag and placed it on her desk so she wouldn’t forget when the lesson was over.

‘Today we will begin to study the unforgivable curses...’ A gasp went around the room. ‘Now, quiet down. I know you have studied them before but this time we will be looking at them from a much deeper level.’

A question popped into Hermione’s head and her hand reached up to the ceiling.

‘Miss Granger?’ Professor Lynch asked.

‘Are we allowed to study them?’

Professor Lynch smiled. ‘Yes, a new decree has been passed stating that all NEWT level students may study the unforgivable curses if they so wish too...’

‘If we so wish?’ Hermione questioned, frowning.

Lynch nodded her blonde head. ‘The ministry doesn’t want to force any student to study them if they do not want to. Some students may be more sensitive to the curses then others and so if that is the case any student not wishing to take part may leave, with other defense work to study of course.’

‘Who’s going to be more sensitive then others to the curses? We all know what they can do!’ Blaise said.

Hermione looked over at him and saw that he was sitting next to Draco.

Draco, she noticed, was looking rather uncomfortable. He was staring at his desk and didn’t seem to be breathing.

Hermione couldn’t control her tongue. ‘Those unlike you, Blaise, who may have a softer disposition. Or those who have seen first hand what the curses can do.’

Blaise turned to look at her, his eyes darkening. ‘We’ve all seen what they can do, Granger! We we’re all here for the final battle.’

‘Not all.’ Hermione said, not wanting Blaise to get the better of her. ‘And I wasn’t thinking of that.’

‘Oh no? What then?’

Hermione took a deep breath. The whole classroom was silent as they watched Hermione and Blaise. Even Lynch was taking a step back.

‘Obviously the ministry are thinking of those who it might cause pain for if they were made to study the unforgivable. Those who had suffered one or even those who might have used one,’ her eyes fell on Draco, who looked up to watch her.

‘Exactly, Miss Granger,’ Lynch said, breaking in. ‘Which is why if any of you wish to leave you may do so now and then return at the end of the day so I can sort you out with some other work.’ She waited a few seconds to see if anyone would leave - no one did. ‘Right, then,’ she waved her wand and brand new books appeared in front of every student. ‘If you will turn to the first chapter and read the first paragraph we can begin.’

The lesson was difficult, Hermione had expected that. The first unforgivable they were learning about was the Imperius curse. From a academic view it was very interesting. Hermione learnt about the elements and components that went into the curse to make it effective.

It was interesting but Hermione couldn’t hide the fact that it brought back some unpleasant memories. It was a dangerous curse and Hermione worried about some of the students learning it and the other un-forgivables. They were banned for a reason and the thought of studying them, even so they can defend themselves against them, had her wary of what might happen if someone was to use the lessons to their own means. There was quite a few Slytherins in the room who had excited looks on their faces. Hermione didn’t think this was one of the ministry’s best decisions. However she wasn’t about to miss out on the chance to learn. So would be attending each and every lesson.

---

The weekend brought with it a Hogsmeade trip and a very excited Ginny Weasley.
‘Come on, Hermione!’ Ginny cried. She was sat on Hermione’s bed, waiting for Hermione to finish getting ready.

Hermione finished zipping up her jacket and looked at Ginny. ‘All ready,’ she told her. ‘He’s probably not even there yet, Gin’

‘He’s meeting us at the gates,’ Ginny replied and jumped up. Her cheeks were flushed and excitement shone in her eyes.

Ginny was missing Harry terribly, Hermione knew. She smiled as she watched her friend skip through the Grythindor common room and down the stairs.

Once they reached the grounds Ginny’s steps sped up and Hermione found herself having to jog to keep up.

She and Ginny must have spotted Harry at the same moment for just as Hermione saw him Ginny let out a little cry and then ran forwards.

Harry caught her with a grunt just before Ginny’s lips locked on his.

Hermione stood watching them from a minute and then flushed. ‘I’ll just carry on,’ she tried to tell them, thinking neither had heard her.

She started forwards then a arm wrapped around her shoulders.

‘How you doing, Hermione?’ Harry asked. He kept his arm around her as the three of them walked towards the little village.

‘I’m fine,’ she quickly told him. ‘No Ron?’

Harry shook his head. ‘No, he’s training.’

‘Oh, are you both still liking it?’

Harry nodded. ‘Yeah, it’s great. What about you? How’s school?’

She couldn’t lie to Harry. He was more then just her friend, he was her family. ‘It’s so different without you and Ron, I’m finding it a little hard to adjust.’

‘You never said, Hermione!’ Ginny looked around Harry to look at Hermione.

Hermione grimaced. ‘I know. I expect it’s just going to take a little time. It’s nothing major...’

Harry’s arm tightened around her in a squeeze of comfort.

When they reached the village they had a wonder around the shops and then went to the pub for a fire whiskey to warm themselves up.

Hermione drank hers and tried to avoid looking at Harry and Ginny as the snuggled in the corner of their booth.

Eventually she found herself feeling far too uncomfortable. ‘I’m heading back,’ she interrupted them.

Ginny looked up and grimaced. ‘Don’t leave...’

‘It’s ok. I’ll see you later. Bye, Harry.’

Harry looked like he was about to say something and then seemed to stop himself. He gave Hermione a small smile and a wave of his hand.

Hermione walked out of the warmth of the pup and followed the path back to the school. The chilly wind blew at her hair and Hermione shivered.

Autumn was always her favourite season. She just loved the colour of the leaves falling from the trees. The sound of them crunching under her soft steps. She always felt like she could smell the magic in the air that autumn brought.

As she thought this she heard a sound behind her. Hermione turned her head but couldn’t see anything. She was alone on the deserted pathway.

Deciding to quicken her steps and not to dawdle, Hermione started walking again. She took a few more steps and then heard the sound again. It was footsteps, she was sure of it.

She quicken her pace even more and felt relieved when she saw the school gates looming ahead.

Some one was definitely following her, she was sure of it. But who and why?

Her hand felt along her waist and she wrapped her fingers tightly around her wand. ‘Who thought that they could follow her and get away with it? She thought angrily.

She walked through the gates of the school and decided to walk around the side of the great castle in stead of going straight inside, after all, she could be wrong and the footsteps could just be those of another student on their way back to the school.

But no, the footsteps followed her around the school and towards the black lake.

They grew louder and seemed to taunt Hermione, daring her to turn around and see who it was following her.

Hermione grew nearer to the lake and the great old tree that stood alone near the edge. She waited till she was right under the tree before facing her follower and aiming her wand at them.

‘You!’ she gasped when she saw who it was. ‘Why are you following me?’

Her wand didn’t lower as his expression turned frosty and he stook a step closer.

‘Because I want to talk to you,’ his icy voice said quietly.

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A/N; Please leave a review and let me know what you thought, it'd be much apriciated.