The Price Of Knowledge

The Price of Knowledge





Chapter Twenty

When I stepped into the hall and the stairs to Professor Dumbledore’s office, my mind was swirling in a dark sea of thoughts. I could feel the synapses in my brain spark and sizzle as my thoughts came together and formed into ideas. I knew my first phases of attack, so to speak – I had to talk to Draco.

He wasn’t waiting for me when I emerged from the Headmaster’s office, and I admit, I was disappointed. I did expect him to be there. I tried to push that arrant wave of an idea away – I had to avoid putting expectations on Draco, especially if I wasn’t sure how I felt about him and everything and…

The whole school probably knew something was going on.

I wasn’t embarrassed, I was apprehensive. What did this really mean? I kind of liked sneaking around. It wasn’t as…conventional. There was no expectation in the relationship. Having everyone privy to our affair only made it into something more; it made everything official and complex. Now we were going to be seen as a couple. Now my name would be synonymous with Draco’s. One could not use his name in a sentence without mine. I was now a girlfriend.

Ick.

I felt like a walking cliché. Did we now have to eat together, hold hands, walk each other to classes? Were we now to spend our Hogsmeade weekend staring at each other dreamily at Madam Puddifoot’s?

I liked being independent. I liked doing things on my own, having my own time. I liked being just Hermione Granger, Head Girl, the constant overachiever, the girl who lived with her nose in a book. It felt as if I was no longer that person. Now I was Draco Malfoy’s girl. I didn’t even know how I felt about the prat to begin with! What a bloody mess!

I needed to find him, and find the git fast. Before I ran into Harry…or Ron. Blimey. I didn’t even think of Ron’s reaction. Sod it, I kept repeating to myself.

I had to get inside the Slytherin lair. I would likely be eaten alive, but I had to think beyond that. I was Head Girl; I should be able to enter the Slytherin common room during daylight as long as it was on Hogwart’s business. Another little lie couldn’t hurt. Not as debonair as the first time I stole into the Slytherin common room, but this time I wasn’t undercover. If anything, I was standing on a platform naked and exposed for the entire school to gawk at. The pretense of being secretive was laughable now.

I headed down to the dungeons, passing a couple of fifth years. They looked at each other and snickered to each other. I frowned. News traveled way too bloody fast at this school. Did people have anything better to do than gossip?

I approached the wall of Slytherin’s entrance and tapped my wand against it. “Hogwart’s business, Head girl.” It was the most basic override, and only in effect during the day. At least Dumbledore let me keep that. For now.

I stepped into the vaguely familiar surroundings, and took a deep breath. All eyes shot on me. It was eerily quiet. “I’m looking for Draco.”

Tracy stepped forward, arms folded across her chest. “You are not wanted in here, Mudblood.”

As if I was going to be intimidated by her. “I don’t care. Where is he?”

“I think the little lion should have thought twice before entering the snake’s pit.” Theodore Nott stepped forward, mimicking Tracey’s pose. I could see Crabbe and Goyle step forward. Whoever said it was Gryffindors who were known for their loyalty needed to take a lesson from these people.

“Let up,” I heard Draco call out. All eyes were on him as he emerged from the boys’ dormitory. He stepped forward, placed his hands on Tracey’s and Theodore’s shoulders. “It’s all right.” He nodded to his other goons and stepped forward, arms folded. “So, how was it?”

I shrugged. “It wasn’t too bad.”

“I’m not going to apologize. Potter’s a fuckwad.” Draco shrugged. “Always been, only now you get to see it for yourself.”

I nodded. “You’re absolutely right. I didn’t react well.”

“You didn’t react at all.”

“That’s true.” It really was. I hadn’t reacted to anything – to the changes, to losing my friends, to Draco, to everything…I avoided it all. Maybe it had been easier to go through the motions without actually acknowledging the effect they had, not just in me, but everything.

No more avoiding. If I wanted to grab the proverbial bull by the horns, I had to do so without hesitation, without remorse. And I couldn’t do it alone.

I took out the contract. His left eyebrow rose almost an inch when I resized it – and cast an Incendio. Within two seconds it was no more than ashes, drifting to the floor. The contract wasn’t needed anymore, the secret was out.

“I’m sorry, Draco.” I stepped forward, and cupped his face in my hands, bringing my lips against his.

I heard someone gasp, but ignored it as I kissed him soundly, leaving no possibility of doubt. I needed allies, and if I had lost my Gryffindor friends, I now had to make new ones. If I had to be Draco’s girl…then I needed all it came with. Without the safety net.

Draco’s arms unfolded, but didn’t wrap around me. His lips were soft and gentle, allowing me full opportunity but not taking anything. He pulled away slowly, opening his eyes slowly. His face slowly broke into his habitual smirk. “You’re up to something.”

“What makes you think that?” I whispered, kissing his cheek.

“Because you’re here, not hiding under Potter’s cloak,” he said. “You took a big chance coming here.”

I nodded, watching as the stares faded; Tracey turned, red faced, back to the girls dorm, students went back to usual business. “I figured I could be popular by association,” I replied lightly, smiling softly.

Draco snorted. “You must have flaming pants, because you are a liar, liar.” He nodded to his fellow classmates. “I have some stuff I need to do, but I want to talk to you privately. Come back here after dinner.”

I nodded. “Time for me to face the others anyway.” I turned back the way I came, when Draco caught my wrist.

I turned and met his cool silver gaze. “Don’t let them get to you,” he warned.

Easier said than done.


When I reached Gryffindor tower, the Fat Lady was staring. Before she opened her pursed pink lips I raised my hand. “I have a vial of vanishing ink in my bureau,” I blurted out. She furrowed her eyebrows and her nose went straight into the air before she opened. Saucy wench.

The common room was eerily quiet when I came in, although not for lack of students. Harry was in the center of it all, sitting rather calmly in front of the fire. Ron was pacing behind him, his face as crimson as his hair. Ginny was there, and she smiled at me. I could read her expression – she offered sympathy, but seemed pleased everything was in the open. So she got what she wanted – my secret, out in the open. This satisfied her.

“So Draco and I are seeing each other. It hasn’t been long. Harry found out a while ago, and obviously doesn’t like it. I will now answer any questions you may have.” I must have sounded like an ambassador during a press conference – not that anyone would have understood the Muggle reference. “Don’t be shy. I’ll tell you all what you want to know, provided I don’t hear any porkies. I don’t need a reason to hex first.”

For the most part, the questions I received were inane, like how far we have gone, how did it start. I avoided questions regarding recent events – Harry watched the fireplace the entire time.

Dinner came and the common room emptied, save for Ginny, Ron and Harry, who still stood perfectly still, his gaze on the dancing flames.

Ginny looked between the two of them and then towards me. “Would you like me to wait?”

“No, go ahead,” I nodded to her. I was nervous – the trepidation in my veins was making my hands shake. Facing Ron and Harry, my friends from first year, my cohorts, my partners in crime…my eventual executioners.

Ron had been so quiet throughout the whole question and answer period – unlike himself. I expected him to have question after question, unable to stand with his foot so ornately lodged in his mouth.

“Why…Draco?”

I almost didn’t catch it. “Pardon?”

“Why did you choose Draco?” Ron asked. “I mean…if you wanted to prove me wrong, why him? He’s not even nice to us.”

“It wasn’t about proving you wrong, Ron,” I said, folding my arms across my chest. “This was something I did for myself, call it personal growth. Draco isn’t the prat he once was, he’s grown up, we all have. We just all need to accept the changes that have been in front of us the entire time.”

Ron seemed thoughtful for a moment. “I wished for so long I’d be the one...” He sighed, running his hand thought his hair. “Well you should have said something. As long as he treats you well and you don’t forget I’ll knock his block if he doesn’t, then I’ll leave you be.”

That was unexpected. Understanding from Ron, of all people. I wrapped my arms around him tightly. “Thank you.” I said, kissing his cheek.

Ron blushed even brighter than before, if possible and stammered out a “Gee…” before heading down for dinner.

And then there was one. Harry and I, alone again. He rose from his seat by the fire, I had one hand on my wand. Madam Pomfrey fixed his nose, but it was still an ugly shade of purple. “We’ll see what happens, won’t we?”

“Until you grow up, stay away from me, Harry.”

He nodded. “Until you regain your loyalty, stay away from me.”

He moved past me, his shoulder grazing mine. I watched him go through the portrait, thinking how far gone our friendship was if this is how we parted company. Too bad we were both too stubborn to back down. Harry and I have had many trials and tribulations in the past seven years of friendship, and overcome them all – but something in my gut said that this was the end, that out relationship may not survive.

I found my appetite had faded and I headed for my dorm.



Later that evening as I was immersed in Potions homework, Parvati stepped into the room on quiet feet and came up beside me. I was so involved with my reading I didn’t even notice her until she tapped my shoulder. I practically fell off the bed.

“Blimey! You startled me!” I gasped.

She smiled softly, sadly, taking a seat at the edge of my bed. “I just wanted to talk to you… about stuff.”

She wanted to talk about stuff. I just hoped it wasn’t her-in-my-knickers kind of stuff. Then I had an idea. “Parvati, have you ever noticed how pretty Pansy is?”

She looked taken back for a moment. “Pansy?”

I nodded. “Yes. Granted she’s a little high maintenance, I know from personal experience students from Slytherin House have their charms. She’s also single…her last girlfriend was a bit of a let down.”

Parvati seemed to follow what I was saying very well. “Her last girlfriend?”

“Yes, that daft cow Millicent.” I tapped my finger against my lips. “I do say she might welcome a more bright and wholesome change. Perhaps…you and she would get along well.”

Parvati’s lovely face broke into a smile. “Hmmm. Sounds...interesting...”

I shrugged. “I thought so.” And it would mean less advances on me.

“You know, most of the House doesn’t really approve of you and Mal – I mean Draco. I think it’s probably that they just don’t understand it. I like the change in you, Hermione. You’re so much more…approachable now. More lively. It’s a good change, and anyone who says otherwise is a jealous arse. You’re going to excel at everything you do because of those brains…might as well let the heart have some fun while you’re at it.” She reached over and kissed the top of my head. It was a very sisterly gesture, I was a little taken back by it. She then stood up and started for the door.

“Where are you going?” I asked.

“To get some,” she answered. “I have a lady waiting on the rebound!”

I couldn’t stop laughing as she closed the door behind her.




Tbc…