Chapter Text
Hermione sighed as she stared out the fogged window beside her. Her parents were in the front seat chatting merrily to one another but she wasn't paying any attention to the conversation. Her mind was back on the Hogwarts train. More importantly it was on her friends Harry and Ron. The three of them set together as usual, along with Ginny and Neville. Harry, Ron, and Ginny were talking about quidditch while Neville was reading a book on plants.
Hermione stared out the window thinking about what had happened so far that year. Her and Ginny had become a lot closer while her relationship with Ron had all but fallen apart completely. She had learned that not every slytherin was as evil as she had originally thought. Well at least Blaise isn't anyway. Her and Pansy still weren't seeing eye-to-eye, which really didn't bother her all that much. Though she was beginning to get more frustrated of the house rivalries. Her thoughts drifted to when it was only herself and Harry left in the compartment. Neville's toad, Trevor, had gotten lose again and Ron and Ginny offered to help find him. She was going to help too but Harry made her stay behind.
"What's this about Harry?"
"Umm well, how have you been lately?"
"Harry you know how I've been now tell me exactly what this is all about."
"Okay, I mean..err..you're sure about this Blaise thing then?"
"Yes Harry I'm sure. He makes me very happy, but what we should be talking about is you and Ginny," She replied with a knowing smile while Harry blushed.
Just when Harry was about to say something Ron burst into the compartment red-faced. Harry was just about to ask what was up but Ron beat him to it.
"I can't believe this! Those Slytherins think they can get away with anything, well not this time. I will not allow them to hurt my friends!"
"Ron what happened?" Hermione asked.
"I was walking down the train looking for Trevor when I heard yelling inside one of the compartments. The door was cracked a bit so I decided to take a peek when I saw that it was a few Slytherins. Pansy, Millicent, Crabbe, Gole, and Zabini. Pansy was shrieking at Blaise about something, and I really can't stand her voice so I was about to keep going on when I heard your name Hermione."
Hermione gasped and urged Ron to go on with his story knowing that after he had heard her name that he wouldn't have just left.
"Well I couldn't have just left right then after hearing your name you know so I kept listening. Apparently Pansy is mad at Blaise for being your friend. It sounded to me like she wanted him to choose between you two. Then Blaise started yelling back at her but she cut him off and said something about him not being able to keep secrets from you very much longer and that if she had to, she would make sure you knew the truth about things."
Hermione eyes widened at Ron's words. "Tell me the truth about what, and since when does Pansy care anyway?"
"I think it might have something to do with Malfoy," Harry said speaking up for the first time since Ron had entered the compartment.
"Well you know what I think? I think that this Blaise bloke is the whole cause of Malfoy being dead. I bet if it wasn't for him then none of this would have happened. And now he is trying to get to Hermione. He's using her that's what he's doing!" Ron shouted.
Hermione started to shake, furious at what Ron had said. She knew better than to think for one minute that Blaise would stoop so low. But what if Ron's right? The voice in the back of her head said. No, there is no possible way that Blaise would do that. He may be a Slytherin but he's good and kind. He would never hurt me.
"Ron, how could you say such a thing? Blaise has been nothing but a friend to me. I can't believe you would think so low of him when you yourself wanted nothing to do with me after the whole Malfoy ordeal!" Hermione screamed at him, aggravated that Ron would even think such things and disappointed in herself for thinking for one second that he might just be right.
"Hermione I'm only telling you the truth. You just wait, you'll see that I've been right all along about him. I bet that Malfoy somehow faked his death too!" Ron shot back at her his fists clenching.
Hermione shook her head in disbelief. She refused to think that Ron could be right about everything. She shifted her thoughts to when her and Ginny had walked down the corridor to find all the Gryffindors among other students staring up at the wall snickering at something. Hermione had all but wanted to die right then and there. On the wall had been a love letter of sorts addressed to none other than Ron Weasley. The sender was supposedly Hermione herself. She knew that she didn't write that though, she would never do something like that. Ron hadn't believed her though and screamed at her in front of everyone because of it.
"Ron why didn't you believe me about the letter that was written on the wall? I never wrote that. I would think you would know me better by now than to do something like that even if I did have feelings for you," Hermione said calmly clearly wanting some answers.
Ron stared out the window for a bit thinking before finally answering. "I didn't know what to think anymore. Everyone was talking about how you killed Malfoy. At first I didn't believe that you could do such a thing, but several people claimed to have seen it. I still had my suspicions about the whole thing but then.."
"But then what Ron?" Hermione asked urging him to go on.
Ron shook his as if disbelieving what he knew was true.
"But then we saw Malfoy's dead body being carried out of the room of requirement. Snape dragged you out. Hermione you were covered in blood, Malfoy's blood," Harry said slightly shaking.
________________________
"Hermione are you alright dear?"
Hermione shook her head from her thoughts and looked up at her mother. "What? I'm fine Mum, why?"
"Hermione we're at home now and I've been trying to tell you to get out of the car for the last five minuets," Mrs. Granger said looking worried at her only daughter.
Hermione blushed at her mother's words. "Sorry Mum, I wasn't paying attention."
Later that day Hermione was up in her room reading a book on her bed when she heard a small tap at her window. She looked over to see black owl hovering just about the window ledge. She set her book aside and ran to the window to open it. The owl flew in and set at her desk holding out its leg where a small letter had been tied. Hermione untied the letter and read.
Hermione,
I'm so glad you'll be able to come for Christmas. I'm really excited. Let me know when you're able to come. My Mum said that she could set up a temporary flu network from our house to yours. I don't really like traveling by floo all that much, but Mum said it would be better than to just pop in all of a sudden.
Well my owl will stay with you until you decide to reply. Please don't make it long, Mum keeps bugging me about wanting to meet you.
Hope to see you soon,
Blaise
Hermione read over the letter several times and laughed at thinking about her parents sitting in the kitchen enjoying their morning coffee when two wizards popped up beside them. Just then the owl hooted beside her and she was reminded of him not leaving until she had given a reply. She set down at her desk and fetched some parchment and a quill and began to write.
Dear Blaise,
I'm excited about getting to see you also. I can't wait either. I think your Mum is quite right in thinking about traveling by floo instead of apparating here. I don't think my parents would like two wizards popping in on their morning coffee very much. Come in a few days around 5 o'clock please. I want a bit of time with my family before going somewhere else.
Oh before I forget, Mum would like you and your mother to stay for supper the night you come to pick me up. Let me know if that's convenient.
See you soon,
Hermione
Hermione finished her letter and set it off with Blaise's owl before going downstairs to talk to her mother.
"Mum I just received a letter from Blaise. He said that him and his mum would be picking me up by floo in a few days. They also might be able to stay for dinner. I'm not sure yet. Blaise is supposed to write back telling me if they are or not."
Mrs. Granger turned to face her daughter from where she was cooking at the stove. "That sounds great dear. I was thinking, how would you like to go shopping and help me decorate the house before our guests arrive. Actually, why don't you ask your friend if he can wait a bit longer before he comes to get you. That way him and his mother can spend Christmas with us. You can invite your friends Harry and Ron if you would like too."
"Oh, that's a great idea Mum! Ron's with his family in Romania for a few days I'm afraid though. They won't be back until late Christmas Eve. But I'll invite Harry," Hermione said smiling while making her way back up to her room to write to Blaise and Harry. This was going to be one very happy Christmas.