by Black-Diamonds and Beck
 
 

Chapter 10
Friends Again / Perfectly Pretentious
 

As she walked up the stairs, a cold feeling began to grow in the pit of her stomach. What if
her disappearance was noticed? What if McGonagall found out where she'd been? As she
approached the Fat Lady, she felt true fear. Hermione gave the Fat Lady the password, and
stepped into the common room. No-one looked up. No-one had noticed anything.
Hermione felt a huge sense of relief.

"Hermione!" She heard Harry call. She looked over and walked up to join him.

"What?" She asked casually, hoping she didn't sound nervous.

"Have you seen Ron? I have no clue where he's gone." Harry told her. Hermione's face went
red, but before she could answer, Ron ran down the stairs from his dorm. He stepped in front
of them and avoided Hermione's eyes.

"Sorry Harry. I was just playing around with your cloak." He panted.

"Why?" Harry asked, puzzled as to why Ron would want to do so.

"I don't know. I felt like being alone, and the best way to do that was to disappear. Sorry."
Ron stated, as if this was obvious.

"Ah, that's okay. So what are we going to do today?" Harry thought out loud.

"Breakfast?" Ron asked them hopefully. Harry and Hermione laughed and the three of them
walked down to the great hall.

*

"Ahem!" The charms teacher, Professor Flitwick, cleared his throat loudly. "Ah, today we
will be learning about Christmas charms through history, as Christmas is drawing nearer as
we speak."

This statement reminded Hermione that it was almost the holidays, and she remembered
also that this year she was staying, as her parents were going to Australia.

"Miss Granger?" Professor Flitwick asked.

"Hmmm? Sorry, what?" She asked, blushing for being caught not listening.

"Where were you last lesson?" He asked.

"I - I was sick." She stuttered out.

"But you weren't in the hospital wing." Flitwick stated.

"I..." She stammered again.

"Professor, she was helping me with my homework and I said the spell wrong and cast
the slug curse on her. She couldn't speak well, so I left her to recover and I came to class."
Ron lied.

"Very well. And er...Mister Malfoy?"

"I fell asleep while reading for homework." He drawled out.

"Well, I might remind you not to fall asleep during homework, as you don't get much done."

Draco nodded, but said nothing.

*
 
 

After charms, Hermione pulled Ron aside.

"Thank you so much Ron." She told him quietly. "Thankyou."

Ron nodded, his face going red.

"I...I'm sorry for...this morning." He apologised.

"It's okay Ron. He had no right to say thos things about you. Even I felt like hitting him."
She confided in him.

Ron laughed and held out his hand.

"Friends?"

"Friends!" She laughed, and shook his hand once.

Together they walked down the hall, but then Hermione stopped suddenly, forcing Ron
to pause as well.

"Hermione! What-" But he said no more, Hermione had clamped her hand over his mouth.

"Shhhh!" She hissed. Then she pointed at an open door.

"Oh Draco!" A high-pitched voice squealed in delight.

Hermione paled but looked around the doorframe just in time to see Pansy Parkinson
wrap her arms around Draco's neck and kiss him firmly on the lips. Hermione started,
shocked by this scene. Then Draco turned. Hermione looked into those cold blue
eyes and her's filled with tears.

"Draco-" She choked out.

Draco's eyes changed then, as panic filled them.

"Hermione, I-"

But Hermioned had turned and ran away, sobbing heavily.

"Well I might not have her, but at least you don't!" Ron hissed at Draco. Then he turned
and ran after the fleeing figure of Hermione.
 
 
 

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Chapter 11