Anger and Laugh

Hermione's point of view

"Blimey, Hermione! Have you gone, barmy?" Ron bellowed, attracting the attention of half the Gryffindor table. "What were you doing fraternizing with the enemy?"

Before I could reply to his rude statement, I felt a hand on my forehead. Turning towards the owner of the I saw Ginny checking my temperature with a confused expression.

"What are you doing?" I ask incredulously. "Checking to see if you're disoriented still, after the mishap. Why would you be giggling with Malfoy otherwise?"

"Oh! put a sock in it, you two!" I exclaimed tiredly.

I have to explain it to them before they go on hating Draco. If we are going to be trying to make us work, then I need my friends to support me and my decision. I will tell them the truth but preferably when it's just us four.

I looked them in the eyes.

"He saved me in that accident. He is a changed person now. He even apologized for everything before the incident as well as after. Please don't judge him for something he forced to do. I know he hasn't been the most pleasant in the past, but he didn't know any better. That's how he had been raised, but he truly feels guilty."

Ron scoffed in disbelief, turning his head away. Ginny placed a hand on my shoulder, making me look up at her.

"If you say so, Hermione, then I believe you," she said with a light smile. I mentally heaved a sign and returned her smile before looking at the black-haired boy with the scar and the glasses.

Harry is the only one who has not spoken yet. He is someone who has always been there whenever I have needed him. I look expectedly at him, urging him to say something.

He looked me in the eyes and showed his familiar grin.

" I don't want any more enemies. If you believe he has changed, then I trust you. I forgive him. I will always be grateful to him for saving you."

" What is wrong with you guys," Ron snapped. "How can we accept that person who has done nothing but insult us, trouble us, and hurt us. I refuse to forgive that git," with that, he scooped another spoonful of mashed potatoes and devoured it, chewing furiously.

I looked towards Harry for help, who, with a nod, delivered the message that he'll make Ron come around. I nodded and started nibbling on a piece of tart, losing a bit of my appetite.

"Don't get sad, Hermione," I heard before I looked up at the face of the voice, " One should always possess a healthy appetite."

With that, he served more amount of food on my plate than I could ever eat.

"Ivan!" I voiced accusingly glaring at the blonde boy with the baby like features. " I don't have a stomach as big as Ron's."

"But he is certainly not as smart as you are. Those cells in your brain require food to work, not to mention, you are still recovering." He spoke in a playful chastising voice while Ron stared dumbfounded as Harry and Ginny laughed at his expense.

"Fine..." I dragged the word like an unruly child with a grin on my face, before spooning up the food and chewing it up.

I swatted his hand away, glaring at him warningly when Ivan attempted to ruffle my hair. For the rest of the dinner, he continued trying to make me smile with his impishness. His efforts made me concede as I laughed with Harry and Ginny, while Ron grumbled at the jokes made on him, before joining in as well.

__________________________________________________________________

Draco's point of view.

I saw Blaise grin up at me as I walked and sat down beside him.

Returning his grin with a shy smile, I began loading my plate with the delicacies set in front of me.

Before Blaise could speak, he was interrupted by a shrill tone.

"Draco! What do you think you are doing? Mingling merrily with that." Pansy, who for once graced us with her toxic presence without Astoria, spat out the last word with such loathing and disgust that made me want to throttle her with the same feelings.

But that was not possible, not yet, so instead, I drawled out with contempt, "Whatever do you mean by that, Pansy?"

Blaise, on the other hand, looked amused as he continued with his dinner.

I feel hungry too!

"Are you sick? Or under a spell maybe of that good for nothing witch, I always knew she was too cunning."

"I fail to understand, Pansy, if you are praising this 'witch' or insulting her?" I ask with an amused smirk of my own.

"Do not pretend to be so oblivious Draco, you, happen to know very well who I am talking. The one with whom you entered giggling gaily. I still don't understand why did you even save her in the potions class? You should've left her to her fate." she snarled.

Now, I was past her degrading words and just wanted to throw her back into the hole from which she had crawled out. Controlling my fury, I spewed out a sinister smile to answer her.

"That's enough Pansy I suggest you not to test my patience anymore. I deem only one response fit enough to answer your queries, so, you listen and listen good, you will be seeing a lot of Hermione and me together this year, therefore, learn to suck it up. Now, very politely, may I ask you to get lost."

Looking appalled at my usage of my mate's first name, Pansy scowled, and with a this is not over, she left us in peace.

As soon as she got out of my line of sight, my eyes unwittingly sought for Hermione. In an instant, I found the brunette I was searching for, but I did not like what I saw.

How come the Russian blonde is always there to make my happiness disappear and replaced by envy and fury. I watch him trying to pat her head.

I growled at the thought of him touching her luscious locks.

Closing my eyes, I fisted my hands and looked down at my plate before beginning to eat.

Meanwhile, Blaise continued to occupy himself by observing me. With a throaty chuckle, he said," Mate, you have got yourself some competition, it seems."

I scowled at him, which he brushed off before continuing,"I suggest you strike the iron while it's still hot. Eliminate the enemy while he's still clueless. Do not delay to sweep Granger off her feet." he suggested.

Little did he know that I was already making plans to do just that.