The news of Hermione's more than friendly gesture of welcome towards Harry was the subject of a great many conversations that day. As Harry and Hermione walked hand in hand through the halls, tentative whispers followed them like a gust of wind. Some were happy for them both, they had always thought they would be more than platonic friends one day, but some others were a little less enthusiastic about the idea. Since Harry had disposed of his old, geeky, black rimmed glasses, he had earned himself quite a powerful following of fan girls, all completely besotted with the 'Boy who Lived'. It was this group however, that started the most malicious rumours. One was that Rita Skeeter was right, and Hermione was brewing Love Potions, which is why Ron wasn't talking to them anymore, because he found out. Another was that Hermione was doing the Imperius Curse on Harry.
They found that they didn't care very much, as long as they could walk hand in hand lovingly down the corridors without anyone hurting them physically, they were fine. They were too besotted with each other to notice whispers and staring any way.
All through classes that day, Harry and Hermione sat next to each other in every class, holding hands under the table and smiling serenely at each other, unable to keep their minds on their work, for the thought of what happened between them both was enough to make them dizzy. Surprisingly, none of the teachers picked up on this lack of enthusiasm from them both, which was quite a surprise, since Hermione's Dangerous enthusiasm to answer every question was famous throughout all of the staff at Hogwarts. But what surprised Harry the most was the attitude the teachers were taking when they did find out about the two of them. When somebody told Professor Flitwick, he gave a small squeak of excitement and toppled over his chair again; Professor McGonagall gave them a wide, warm smile which took the both of them aback, but the appreciated it the same; and as soon as Hagrid found out in their Care of Magical Creatures class that day, he enveloped them both in a rib-cracking hug, tears in his crinkly black beetle eyes, saying he'd knew it all along.
After lessons, they walked back through the corridors, hand in hand, towards the Gryffindor Common Room. This was the part of the day they had been dreading the most. If they went into the common room, Ron was more than likely to be there, and they didn't want any confrontations in front of the rest of Gryffindor House in case things should be said that would embarrass the both of them.
Taking their time through the draughty corridors, they took the long route back to the common room, the one that took them right outside the Room of Requirement. As they passed it, Harry stopped, a cheeky grin lining his face. Hermione gave a laugh.
"Come on, Harry, it's almost past curfew, I'm a prefect…"
Harry just continued to smile, ideas in his head much more interesting than curfew. She looked at him in mock sternness, but still keeping that pretty smile on her face. Giving up, she gave a quick, tentative look around the corridor, and followed Harry into the Room of Requirement.
*
They emerged breathless from the room some time later, wide happy, pure smiles on their flushed faces. Hermione turned to Harry and giggled softly, which he returned with a manly chuckle.
"Well, shall we go then, Prefect?"
She swatted him playfully on the arm and, taking his soft string manly hand in her own delicate one, they began to make their way slowly back to the common room, hoping no one had missed their appearance that evening.
As they turned a corner next to a long tapestry of Olga the Omnipotent however, they heard hushed voices coming from one of the empty classrooms. Giving Harry a confused look, Hermione crept forward, and stood next to the oaken door to the classroom, which was ajar.
"Don't know why the hell you wanted to meet here, Malfoy. Come to think of it, why did you meet me at all?"
Harry recognised that voice, but didn't believe it. Ron was in Gryffindor Tower, wasn't he? And why was he meeting with Malfoy?
"I didn't want to be overheard, you know what Potter and the Mudblood are like; probably off shagging somewhere, and they could hear us on the way back."
There was silence as these words sunk in. Harry and Hermione looked at each other startled.
"Get to the point, Malfoy."
"Well…" he began in his long, drawling voice. "I couldn't help but notice Potter and Granger's little display of affection this morning, disgusting and horrifying as it was. I was about to voice my own opinion on the matter when I saw you, sitting ten feet away from them, and I wondered. Wasn't she your Girlfriend?"
Ron gave a barely inaudible grunt, which Malfoy took for his 'yes'.
"So why, I asked myself, would his best friends cheat on him like that?"
Another grunt.
"Well, I supposed you would be angry, and considering that you were sitting ten feet away from them both, I was right, wasn't I?"
Ron gave an impatient huffing noise with the breath. "Just get on with it. I want to get some sleep tonight."
Malfoy laughed softly. "Oh, you will, Weasley, you will. Well, yes, the point. How would you like to get your revenge on Potter and Granger?"
At this there was silence. Harry and Hermione exchanged worried glances and moved closer to the door to listen in harder.
"What do you mean, Malfoy?"
"Oh, come on Weasley, even you know should know what I'm talking about…"
Malfoy had obviously leaned forwards to whisper to Ron, and Harry and Hermione strained their ears to hear.
"Join us. Join Voldemort. Join the Death Eaters. You're old enough now, you're 16."
Harry had to put his hand over Hermione's mouth to mask the audible gasp he knew was coming. She looked up at him thankfully, but the fear was evident in her eyes. He held her hand tighter.
"Drop Dead, Malfoy."
"Ah, I knew you'd see it like that. Well, if you want Potter and Granger to get away with what they did… Humiliating you… Cheating on you… taking away the girl you loved…"
"How do you know-"
"Oh, come one Weasley, I'm not that stupid."
There was another long silence. It hung in the air like a lead weight, stifling them all. Hermione shifted uncomfortably.
"What does this… 'revenge' involve? I don't want them dead."
"Don't you, Weasley? They'd be out of your hair forever. No more being overshadowed by Potter, or overlooked by Granger. They underestimate you, My friend. However, Lord Voldemort will not…"
Tears were coursing slowly down Hermione's cheeks now, and she gripped Harry's hand tighter. He closed his eyes, a feeling of dread and anticipation in his stomach.
"Lord Voldemort will be your friend, Weasley. There is no danger of ever being underestimated by him. He will know your power, and he will use it. You will be praised beyond your wildest dreams if you join him now…"
"Okay… Okay… Where do I sign up?"