Chapter 57

‘So I heard you and Draco are back together?’ Harry said as Hermione sat down for dinner. ‘Ginny!’ Hermione said giving her friend who was sitting across the table a deadly glare. ‘It’s Harry!’ Ginny defended. Hermione shook her head and sighed. ‘Yes we’re back together.’ Hermione said. ‘Why didn’t you tell us?’ Harry asked. ‘Tell us what?’ Ron asked sitting down next to Hermione. ‘That Hermione and Draco are back together.’ Ginny said. ‘What?’ Ron said. ‘GIN!’ Hermione said. ‘It’s Ron!’ Ginny said. ‘Geez.’ ‘Back together, since when? I thought you said you didn’t like him like that.’ Ron said. ‘That was a lie, because I wanted to keep it a’ Hermione looked over to Ginny. ‘secret.’ ‘Sorry.’ Ginny said taking some mashed potatoes on her fork. ‘Sure.’ Hermione sighed. ‘Why did you want to keep your relationship a secret?’ Harry asked. ‘Because I’m scared something will go wrong or someone will be in danger when everyone knows.’ Hermione said. ‘Why? Why would there go something wrong? Parkinson is not even nearby.’ Harry said. ‘My gut’s just telling me it’s not smart to tell everyone.’ Hermione said. ‘We’re your best friends Hermione, you should’ve told us.’ Ron said. ‘I know, but fear is a powerful thing.’ Hermione said. Harry nodded. ‘Difficult situation you were in.’ Harry said. ‘Are in.’ Hermione said. ‘But aren’t you keeping it a secret because you’re scared to be in a relationship with Draco?’ Ginny asked. ‘No, no, absolutely not. It has been amazing the past weeks.’ Hermione said. ‘Have you….’ Ginny said not finishing her sentence and doing an eyebrow wiggle. ‘Yes.’ Hermione said. ‘Girls! Seriously, why always when we’re trying to eat!’ Harry said. Hermione and Ginny chuckled. ‘So, what now?’ Ginny asked. ‘Well if you stopped telling everybody that we’re together then nothing.’ Hermione said. ‘Are you serious?’ Ginny asked. ‘How long are you planning to keep it a secret? Because it can’t last forever you know.’ Ginny said. ‘I know.’ Hermione sighed. ‘There is always danger, there is danger around every corner, but why would that keep you from living your life with him in the open?’ Ginny asked. ‘I sounds kind of stupid, doesn’t it?’ Hermione asked. ‘You think?’ Hermione bit her lip. ‘It’s up to you and him, but I’m just telling you, you’re living a lie when you’re keeping this a secret.’ Ginny said. Hermione sighed and nodded. ‘I’ll think about it.’ she said. ‘And how do you think Draco feels?’ Ginny asked. ‘Ginny.’ Harry warned. ‘What? It’s true.’ Ginny said. ‘Don’t push it.’ Harry said. Ginny nodded. ‘I get that you’re mad.’ Hermione said. ‘And it’s okay.’ she added. ‘Okay? You lied to us.’ Ginny said. ‘Right to our faces! How do you think we feel?’ Ginny said. ‘I know and I’m sorry.’ Hermione said. Ginny shook her head. ‘I’m going to bed.’ she said getting up. ‘Ginny.’ Hermione said, but Ginny didn’t listen and she walked out of the Great Hall. Hermione placed her face in her hands and she felt a hand being placed on her back. ‘She’ll turn around.’ she heard Ron say. ‘I don’t know.’ Hermione sighed. ‘Ginny can’t stay mad for a long time, so don’t worry.’ Harry said. Hermione nodded looking up at them. ‘Aren’t you mad?’ she asked them. Harry shook his head. ‘No, I understand the way you’re thinking.’ Harry said. ‘Ginny is just hurt that you didn’t tell her.’ Harry said. Hermione nodded. ‘Like Ron said, she’ll turn around.’ Harry said. Ron nodded. ‘I hope so.’ Hermione said. ‘Of course she will, you’re best friends, practically sisters.’ Ron said. Hermione gave him a small smile. ‘I’ll talk to her.’ Harry said. ‘Thank you.’ Hermione said. ‘Don’t worry about it, it’ll be okay.’ Harry said. ‘But you’ve got to think about what Ginny said though. She’s right.’ Ron said. ‘If you’re not comfortable to let people know you’re in a relationship with Draco. What kind of relationship would that be?’ Ron said. Hermione nodded. ‘Since when are you on his side?’ Hermione asked smirking. ‘I just want you to be happy.’ Ron shrugged. Hermione smiled at him. ‘Thank you, both of you.’ Hermione said. ‘That’s what friends are for.’ Harry said.

‘Are you okay?’ Draco asked, catching up with Hermione as she walked up the stairs. ‘Yeah, it’s just…. Ginny is mad at me.’ Hermione sighed. ‘She’ll turn around.’ Draco said. ‘I hope so.’ Hermione said. ‘How do you feel?’ Hermione asked. ‘Good I guess.’ Draco said. ‘I meant about us.’ Hermione asked. Draco looked sideways at her and frowned. ‘What do you mean?’ Draco asked. ‘Ginny had a point, what kind of relationship is this? Keeping it a secret to everyone.’ Hermione said. Draco’s eyes shifted to her necklace and to his relieve nothing had changed. ‘I mean, maybe I should get over my fear?’ Hermione said looking up at him. ‘You don’t have to do that for me, I can wait.’ Draco said softly. ‘I know, but I’ve got to do this for us.’ Hermione said. Draco gave her  a small smile. ‘Only if you’re comfortable.’ Draco said. Hermione took his hand in hers and gave it a little squeeze. ‘I think I’ll get there.’ Hermione said with a small smile. Draco kissed her forehead before they stopped to say the password. They walked in and let themselves fall on the couch, totally exhausted. ‘It’s just bothering me.’ Hermione said after 30 minutes of talking. ‘You know, I don’t want her to be mad at me because I kept something for her. I understand her though, I wouldn’t be excited if I heard she had done the same thing.’ Hermione sighed. ‘It’s hard, I’ll just apologize tomorrow, again. What do you think?’ she asked looking sideways. She then saw that Draco was asleep. She shook her head with a small smile on her face and got up. She took the blanket from the chair and placed it over him, covering his body with it. She gave him a soft kiss on the cheek before walking to her room.

Hermione woke up and got dressed. When she entered the common room she didn’t see Draco and when she called for him he didn’t answer. Hermione shrugged and walked out of the common room and down to the Great Hall, to get herself some breakfast. ‘Good morning.’ Hermione said cheerful, sitting down next to Harry. ‘Good morning.’ they all said to her. ‘Where’s Ginny?’ Hermione asked. ‘Still in bed, she didn’t feel well.’ Harry said. Hermione nodded. ‘Is she really not feeling well or is it just the fact she doesn’t want to see me?’ Hermione asked. But before Harry could answer Ron sat down. ‘Good morning.’ he said. ‘Morning.’ ‘Finally Saturday.’ Ron said. ‘I know, it’s been busy.’ Hermione said. ‘It sure was.’ Ron sighed. ‘I’ve still got a lot of homework to do though.’ Hermione said. ‘You’re not the only one.’ Harry sighed. ‘Tell me something I don’t know.’ Ron said. ‘Any plans today?’ Hermione asked. ‘Not really.’ Ron shrugged. ‘Me neither.’ Harry said. Hermione nodded. After they had finished their breakfast they stayed just a little longer to talk. ‘I really need to go now if I want to finish everything before tonight.’ Ron said getting up. ‘Good luck.’ Hermione said. ‘You too.’ Ron said, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek. Hermione raised her eyebrows, looking after Ron as he left the Great Hall. ‘What was that about?’ Hermione asked. ‘What?’ Harry asked. Hermione frowned. ‘Never mind, I’ve got to go too. I’ll see you later.’ Hermione said getting up and heading off to the library. Hermione had been spending the rest of the day in the library doing her homework and all day she hadn’t had a sign of Draco. She was getting quite worried but when she walked back to their common room she all of a sudden saw a blonde haired guy passing a corner. ‘Draco!’ she said. Draco turned around and saw it was Hermione, he stopped and looked at her. ‘What do you want Granger?’ Draco snapped. Hermione was taken aback by this sneer. ‘Are you okay?’ Hermione asked. ‘That’s none of your damn business.’ Draco said. ‘Excuse me?’ Hermione asked. ‘I thought we agreed.’ Draco said. ‘Agreed on what?’ ‘I leave you alone and you leave me alone, pronto.’ Draco said. ‘What the hell is wrong with you?’ Hermione asked. ‘What the hell are you talking about?’ Draco said. ‘Have you hit your head or something Granger?’ Draco asked. ‘Well actually-‘ Hermione started. ‘Hey Drakie.’ a girl said behind him. Draco turned around and as he did Hermione saw it was Pansy Parkinson who was coming their way. ‘What is that mudblood doing here?’ Pansy snapped. Hermione raised her eyebrows. What is the girl that caused her accident, that caused her memory loss, doing here? ‘I have literally no idea.’ Draco said. ‘Stay away from my boyfriend mudblood.’ Pansy snapped. ‘You-your boyfriend?’ Hermione asked. ‘You’ve got a problem with that?’ Pansy asked. Hermione frowned, was it all a dream? Was her relationship just something that had been playing inside her head? Had she made it up? Was it all really just a strange dream?