The Truth Behind The Mask → ????????

[ L i b r a r y ]

A month had passed by as normal as a 7th year could go for a couple that just got together in secret, when Hermione and Draco were in the privacy of the head dorm, they could just be a regular couple but when they were outside, they had to go back to being simply the head students.

They did tell Blaise and Luna, the four of them spent time together in their dorms since they could all be a couple, judgement free.

While Ginny and lavender were with Hermione, they would occasionally bring up Draco. They questioned whether why she never seemed annoyed at Draco and would have civilised conversations together, she would simply change the topic.

They went to the library together (not having spent much time with just the three girls), one chilly night two weeks from Halloween. After classes had ended before dinner. They sat at a table in the back, Lavender continued to ask Hermione different questions about her potions homework while Hermione was reading since she finished her's in class.

"Hey Hermione, you and Malfoy aren't dating right?" Ginny asked.

Hermione coughed slightly, "No? Of course not, what made you think that?" She asked alarmed.

"Well last night, during dinner I was going to ask you something when I saw you looking at the Slytherin table and pointed it out to Lavender."

Lavender nodded, "Of course, we were both confused. We looked back at you and you were blushing, we looked towards where you were looking at it was at Draco bloody Malfoy."

Hermione's eyes widened, "Well we..." 

However she was interrupted by Ginny, "That's not all! You know what we happened to catch?"

She shook her head in fear, "What did you catch?"

"Him winking at you!" Lavender and Ginny both yelled.

Madam Pince immediately showed up behind them to shush them, Hermione apologised sheepishly and continuing to read her book hoping the girls would forget what they were talking about just before.

As soon as Madam Pince walked away however, Lavender and Ginny looked at her with confusion, "What's the deal with you and Malfoy? You can't be dating, can you?" Ginny asked.

Hermione wanted to tell her friends about what was happening but she knew they would judge her, even in the little question Ginny asked. "No of course not, just having to spend time together now for the head students duty, you know."

Ginny and Lavender exchanged confused looks before Lavender shook her head, "Well don't make it too obvious, the other Gryffindors are already mad McGongall made him head boy. If you date him, they might as well never talk to you."

Hermione sighed, she wouldn't be completely mad if all the other Gryffindors hated her but she did want support from her friends. "He's changed, I'm sure that's why McGongall made him head boy. He never wanted to be a death eater and he hasn't insulted me once. He defended me to Pansy when she called me a mudblood."

Ginny sighed, "Yeah, sure. Hermione, you're my best friend. I just want you to be happy. Surely it wasn't with my brainless brother, no offence Lavender. Though Draco isn't particularly the upgrade, is he?"

Hermione shrugged. Lavender put a hand on her shoulder. "I'm on the same page as Ginny and none taken by the way. I like him just the way he is. If being with Draco is... what you want and he makes you happy then sure I guess."

Hermione genuinely smiled before reading her book again. She knew her friends wanted her to be happy but wouldn't support her relationship. How would she ever tell them now?

☆★☆

At 6pm the bell rang, the girls packed their books and wandered out of the library. Ron and Harry came out the corridor after and smiled at the sight of their girlfriends and best friend.

"Hey ladies." Harry said, he hugged Ginny, kissing her on the cheek while Ron cupped Lavender cheeks and gave her a quick kiss on the lips before Lavender deepened it.

Ginny hugged Harry back with a blush and Harry went over to Hermione to give her a quick hug which she happily returned before he went back to Ginny, draping an arm around her shoulders as they walked towards the Great Hall.

Lavender and Ron pulled away and Ron wrapped his arm around Lavender's waist and Lavender leaned into him before they had a soft conversation trailing behind Ginny and Harry.

Hermione loved her friends and seeing them so happy together was nice but it was moments like this that she wished her friends approved of her relationship.

She smiled sadly as she followed behind them, keeping slight distance so it wasn't obvious she was the fifth wheel. Luckily for her, it wasn't long until she was pulled away from the group.

Draco grabbed her arm and pulled her into an empty classroom. As soon as Hermione saw his face, she gladly kissed him on his lips. Draco returned the kiss and as they pulled apart, Draco hugged Hermione around the waist with the other hand behind her head. Hermione smiled into his chest, happy not to be following her two couple best friends. 

"Noticed you weren't happy being the fifth-wheel, love." Draco said, moving his hand from behind her head and smiling down at her. Hermione chuckled before smiling sheepishly, looking down.

"Would you enjoy it?"

"I wasn't questioning you, I was purely making an observation."

Hermione rolled her eyes and Draco grabbed her hand. "Everyone's at dinner now, we can finally walk somewhere hand in hand."

Hermione blushed as she squeezed Draco's hand. They were careful turning around every corner and walking slowly just to savour the moment.

As the Great Hall came into view Draco kissed her cheek and dropped her hand, stopping. "Go ahead, if we walk in together people will suspect things."

Hermione nodded and smiled sadly. "Alright, well thank you for that. I hate being the fifth wheel to all my friends." Hermione quickly walked towards the hall and sat down next to Ginny who immediately bombarded her with questions.

Hermione shrugged them off with simple excuses. Moments later, Draco entered with his hands in his pocket, smirking. Hermione blushed and started to eat her food. She wished she could just date Draco like how Ginny and Harry are or Ron and Lavender. The mask was being glued to her at this point.