A love like Tinted Glass

Disclaimer: I barely even own the socks on my feet, I don't own Harry Potter, or the universe. It's all JK Rowlings, and I'm not making any money. Period.


((AUTHORS NOTE!: Oh my beautiful duckies! I apologize for being away for SO long! If you're still with me, then thank you for sticking around and keeping your ears open for this story. Please, feel free to harass me to post through reviews. My life has calmed enough that I can finally get some writing done.

It was brought to my attention to a loved reviewer that I had, in the beginning of this story, stated that in this particular verse, Dumbledore had not died. And just last chapter, I contradicted myself, so, I have gone back and edited Chapter 8 for content, and remedied this issue. Thank you very much for bringing this to my attention, lovey. If anyone can find any other inconsistencies, please tell me, as I'm far to spacey sometimes to catch them. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter! I know it's been a long time coming.))


Chapter 9: It can't be all that bad.....


Thankfully, for the head girls sanity, the rest of the day went much smoother for Hermione. Ronald had been perfectly contrite for the way he'd acted that morning, and by supper they were all on tentative speaking terms again. It was Ginny who had noticed that, despite the smile on her friends face, Hermione couldn't keep her eyes away from the teachers table. Hermiones honeyed gaze centered on a specific platinum haired teacher that was the hot topic that day. And the frown of worry that the brunette's eyebrows formed was more telling that the forced grin she upheld.

“Bloody awful, having that pompous ass here....” Startled from her daze, just as Lucius had raised his hard silver eyes to meet Hermiones, the young woman jerked her face back to focus her gaze on Seamus. He'd been the one who had spoken the words that broke her from her thoughts.

“Who are you talking about, Seamus?” She asked, setting her fork down on her plate. Her food had hardly been touched. The scottish youth looked at her like she'd grown a third eyeball.

“Who else, Hermione? Malfoy! Lookit him, swaggering about like he owns Hogwarts...” Seamus clarified, making the headgirl frown a little more. Before she could speak, Ron cut in as well.

“His class was awful, Mione! I swear if he fails me....” Rolling her eyes, Hermione leaned back, and crossed her arms over her chest.

“Oh you'll do what Ronald? He's a Professor. And from what I saw in the class I had with him, a good one. Not that I mean to defend his morals, but if you, just for one moment, put that aside and perhaps paid attention to his class instead of making snide remarks to Harry and Seamus while he was lecturing, you might have actually learned something.” She snipped at him, raising an eyebrow that dared him to tell her he'd done anything but what she'd just predicted had happened. The Weasley deflated a little, looking down at the crumbs on his plate.

“It's hard when I can't stand the guy, Hermione....” He muttered. Harry nodded a bit, but only looking halfhearted. Seamus was less than understanding of Hermione's defense.

“What so are you siding with Death Eaters now, Hermione?” He dug at her, looking angry. Hermione locked a hard glare on him, her jaw clenched.

“Seamus Finnigan, you should know, just as well as any other person in this school that I do not side with Death Eaters. My opinion of Malfoy as a Teacher and as Person are completely seperate opinions. I will kindly ask you to remember that while some of you may be hung up on the fact that are bad people in this school, that does not mean that they are not intelligent people who are actually doing their jobs. Until Malfoy breaks the law, he is a Professor here, and I for one will take the chance to learn from him what I can. I did not think you to be such a bigot.” Snapping smartly her miniature lecture, Hermione gathered her things, and stormed from the table. Even as she walked away, she could feel the eyes of her classmates on her back, her shoulders sagging as she wearily became aware of just how many events had happened recently, resulting with her 'storming off' like a child.

“Seamus... You're a bloody git.” Ginny delivered as she rolled her eyes, pulling away from Harry who gripped at her hand, asking her where she was going. She looked at her boyfriend as though he were daft as well. “I'm going after her! Something is very obviously wrong with Hermione, and if neither of you to idiots will talk to her, I will have to.” And with that, the youngest Weasley took off after her best friend.

It wasn't until they were just outside the courtyard that Ginny finally caught up with Hermione.

“Hermione! Hermione wait! Oh come on it's just me! Wait up damn it!” Ginny called out, finally catching up to the head girl and falling from her jog to match the brisk walk that her friend was paced at.

“What are you here to criticize me as well?” Hermione snapped. Ginny looked at her, a hurt expression across her face.

“No. I'm here to find out what has you so upset, Hermione. You've not been right since we got to school, and I'm worried.” She said softly. It was her gentle tone that finally made Hermione falter, and sigh, raising a hand to massage her throbbing temple.

“I'm alright Ginny... I really am. I'm sorry for snapping at you like that.” She started to apologize timidly. The young redhead wasn't buying it though, and pulled Hermione to a stop, looking at her with an expression that said she wasn't going to be tolerating any bullshit from the slightly older teen. Hermione shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other, tugging on her skirt a little in a nervous fidgit. “Fine, okay. But I don't want to talk about it here.”

“Then lets go to your dorm.” Ginny suggested. Hermione was about to agree, before her eyes widened and she shook her head. “No! No we can't go there.... D..... Malfoy will be there, and probably some of his friends, and I don't want to deal with that. Let's go to the Astronomy Tower.” She supplied instead. Looking at her suspiciously, Ginny finally nodded, consenting to the location....

“.......I know it's hard to believe Ginny but.... God the last two months have just been awful...” Hermione finished off her long explanation, sagging back against the stone barrier that kept the two girls from falling off the tallest tower of the school. She'd explained everything that had happened to her, from her Step Father telling her not to come home after she graduated, to all of the problems with Draco. She left out a few details though... Like the late night bathroom meeting, and the one that morning with Lucius. She wasn't quite sure she wanted to talk about them just yet. Part of her was afraid that if she spoke about them, it might happen again. Ginny just shook her head.

“Hermione... You should have told us first thing about what's been going on with your Step Dad. You know we'd help you. After school lets out, you can come and stay at the Burrow until we figure out what to do. And as far as Malfoy... He's a prick. He always has been, and I don't know if there's much we can really do about that factor....” Hermione offered her friend a smile and shook her head.

“I don't think there is anything to be done but to just learn to work around him. I feel better just for having been able to speak about it. I'll have to think about it all but... Please... Don't tell Ron or Harry about this yet. I'm still trying to get to a place where I'm okay with it myself, I don't want to have to deal with them going on about it as well.” Nodding in understanding, Ginny patted Hermiones hand, and pulled the girl in for a hug......

Luckily, by the time Hermione returned to her dorm, and slipped inside, the lights were all off, and it seemed like Draco was in bed, and Lucius was not in sight. She was able to safely dart into her room, lock the doors, and get ready for bed in peace....


((So, my lovely readers... Who would like to see some more smutty action, perhaps even involving Hermione? R&R please! ))