Song for the Chapter: This is Gospel ~ Panic! At The Disco

Hermione's POV

I wasn't disappointed anymore. The anger and fury was back, boiling my blood. Why the hell was I so angry? It wasn't like I thought he'd actually be my friend. In fact, I hated him. His stupid dinner had just been to get me to like him, so he could spread rumours about me.

I didn't want to cry. That would be stupid. I was better than that, anyway. I swallowed proudly and went in search of Ginny. I didn't feel like talking to Harry and Ron, and I knew Ginny would be able to help, anyway. She wasn't my closest friend - but she was a girl.

Not to my surprise, I found her snogging another boy under the tree by the black lake. Clearing my throat awkwardly as I approached, Ginny turned her head slightly, not in the slightest embarrassed. That was the kind of confidence I aspired to have.

"Ginny," I said uneasily. "Can I talk to you?" I eyed the red-faced Hufflepuff boy anxiously. "Please," I added. Ginny nodded, detached herself quickly from the boy and followed me out of earshot, to a secluded spot by the lake.

"Guy troubles?" Asked Ginny at once. I hesitated, then nodded, subdued.

"Yeah," I muttered, flushing pink. "Except, I don't know why I'm so annoyed about it. I went to dinner with this guy - just as...well, sort-of friends, and then I didn't think he'd tell anybody. But then he told Harry and Ron, and made it sound like we were on a date, and you know Ron, he overreacts, and --" 

"What an idiot," said Ginny sympathetically. "Who's the guy? Do you actually like him...like that?"

I laughed, finding the whole idea stupid. "Ginny, if I told you who it was --" I shook my head and laughed to myself. "No. I don't even...I hate him. I thought maybe he wanted to be friends, but he went and started spreading rumours about me, so..." I shrugged.

"I get what you mean." Ginny nodded understandingly, and I felt a rush of gratitude towards her. Thank God she understood. I shuddered, imagining pouring out my troubles to Harry, who would have absolutely no idea what to do. "Listen, I think you should just spend some time away from the guy. Stick around with me, maybe. It might be better."

I swallowed and nodded, remembering Draco's words.

Just stay away from me. Maybe then you won't bloody cry so much. 

They still stung, but I had been expecting it, so it didn't hurt as much as it should. Anyway, I'd stood up to him for the last seven years. Insults from him weren't anything new to me, I guess. Maybe I thought he'd changed. But even then, the idea seemed stupid.

"Maybe I will," I said thoughtfully. "Thanks, Ginny. You can go back to...um...whatever you were doing." I gestured to the Hufflepuff boy, standing awkwardly by the tree. Ginny grinned.

"Whoever I was doing," she corrected me with a smirk. I flushed and returned a hurried smile before starting back towards the castle. I just needed to forget about Draco. I don't know what made me want to be friends in the first place. He was a stupid idiot, and he didn't deserve any of my time.

Go me, I thought glumly. 

At dinner that night, I sat with Ginny. She talked mostly about all the boys she fancied, but that only made me think of Ron. Maybe splitting up with him wasn't the right thing to do after all. He couldn't be that bad, could he? At any rate, I didn't hate him quite as much as Draco Malfoy.

So that was something.

Author's Note: Over 100 reads already, I'm freaking out! Thank you so much for all your support, it means so much. Don't forget to vote and comment :)

By the way, here is the link for the Spotify playlist if you're interested (updated every chapter)

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4e9ZvQGytZ22qqgq4clG9N?si=KservWXTROC3NaeVRz8m-g