Hermes' Secret

Chapter 10- Proof

Hermione clicked the mouse lightly, watching the video intently. This was it. She had it. Squealing with excitement, she performed a simple spell she had picked up while doing some light reading before extracting the cassette from the cassette player and hurrying out of the dark, dingy office, trying not to smile too widely.

After sending a quick owl to Ginny, informing her of her success, Hermione headed straight towards the hospital wing. She just hoped that Draco was still there. Word had spread throughout the school that he was to be released today and she hoped to catch him before he did. After increasing her pace, Hermione found herself in front of the hospital wing double doors, biting her lip nervously. Just as she had mustered up enough courage, the door she was about to push open, swung open itself and she came face to face with none other than Draco Malfoy.

'Umm,' Hermione stuttered, lost for words, trying not to look affected by the fact that his face was less than inches away from hers.

'Hermes Orion' Draco addressed, taking a step back 'What a surprise?'

'What are you doing here?' Pansy accused, attempting to take a step forward, but was stopped by Blaise, drawing Hermione's attention to the fact that Draco wasn't alone.

'Oh hi,' Hermione mumbled, looking around at the other three Slytherins.

'What have you come here?' Blaise asked, not unkindly 'Any reason?'

'Uhh yeah' Hermione tried to form words 'I've got proof'

'Proof?' Theo asked, his eyebrows raised 'Of what?'

'Proof that I didn't do it. I didn't hurt Draco. I would never-' Hermione said, finding her voice.

'Mr Malfoy' Madam Pomfrey called from her office 'Could you and your friends please move away from the doorway?'

'Come on' Draco said, moving out of the way 'Let's go'

'Where?' Blaise asked.

'The lake. The common room is too crowded'

'Draco' Hermione tried again, once they were outside the castle and away from prying eyes 'Here take this' She pushed the cassette into his hand 'This is my proof. Look. It wasn't me who knocked you off your broom'

'Proof you say?' Pansy frowned 'How do we know it isn't all fake?'

'Just have a look at it and then decide'

'Okay, there isn't any loss in trying' Theo shot a spell at it and a hologram of sorts appeared above it displaying the video.

'So it was Potter and the Weasel' Theo punched his hand in anger.

'I knew there was something dodgy about the way you rose to their comments that day' Blaise nodded.

'So you believe me?' Hermione smiled.

'There isn't any reason not to' Draco said, holding out his hand to Hermione to embrace her. Taking it gratefully, Hermione felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes.

As she retreated from Draco's form, Hermione felt two arms snaking their way around her neck and salty tears on her neck 'I'm sorry' Pansy sobbed.

'Oh Pansy' Hermione smiled 'It's alright. I forgive you. If I was in your place, I would have thought the same thing.'

'Potter and Weasley were good. We had no reason to believe you until you found this.' Blaise chuckled, embracing Pansy and allowing her to sit on his lap.

'How did you get this weird black thing anyway?' Theo asked, picking it up and playing with it.

'You won't believe it, but I found it while in detention with Filch' Hermione laughed.

'What?' Blaise asked, disbelievingly.

'Filch?'

'Yep,' Hermione nodded, before retelling the whole thing.

'So Filch can probably see us right now?' Draco asked, looking around as if expecting him to be there.

'That 's creepy' Pansy shivered.

'Well, at least he can't see us at night or I would be dead by now' Theo chuckled.

'You would have more detentions than you could count' Blaise mocked.

'Hey, you lot!' Ginny called, running up to them from the castle.

'Ginny' Hermione waved.

'You know that the whole school is buzzing about you lot'

'Well, the girls are always anyway talking about me' Blaise flashed a dashing smile, earning himself a playful punch on the arm from Pansy. 'Hey'

'What are they talking about?' Theo asked, ignoring Blaise.

'They are saying that you all have made up and are cooking up stories about how it happened. Some of the most far-fetched ones are...they're too crazy to explain' Ginny waved it off.

'I'm sure that you can explain it' Theo smiled at Ginny.

'Well, let's just say that some include actual dragons' Ginny laughed.

'Snap out of it, you two' Pansy reprimanded 'What about the ball?'

'What ball?' Hermione asked.

'The ball next Thursday' Pansy repeated 'Don't tell me you forgot?'

'Uhhh...well' Hermione looked down at her feet.

'Don't worry about it? We'll help you. It's a Halloween dress-up ball, so you need a costume.' Pansy squealed with excitement at the thought.

'Not shopping' Draco groaned, hanging his head in his hands.

'Don't even try getting out of it' Pansy scolded 'Any of you. You all need a costume anyway. I'll help you all shop.'

'But Pans-' Theo began.

'Don't even think about it' Pansy pointed her finger at him before turning to Ginny. 'What about you?'

'I've got my dress, thanks' Ginny smiled.

'I thought you would've, but I meant a date.

'Oh, none yet, but Potter's asked and I guess that I'm stuck with him until someone else asks'

'You mean that no one else has?' Theo asked, incredulously.

'Umm' Ginny looked down at her feet. She had been asked actually by many, but she didn't really feel like going with any of them, even if it meant that she could be free of Harry.

'Hey, why don't I do you a favour' Theo asked 'You can be my date and I can help keep Potter away?'

'Okay, sure' Ginny smiled, while Blaise coughed exaggeratedly and Hermione giggled. Theo stared at her. She had giggled. Was she really going to be that obviously girly?

Conversation flowed after that and they all learnt to forget house rivalries as they talked and laughed simultaneously, enjoying life while it lasted. There was one sad face among the group, though, and that belonged to Hermes Orion.

~*~

A/N: This is a bit of an odd update, but I was very busy last weekend and didn't get any time to update, but thankfully I got the chance to upload today, so you've got your fix.

Sorry for the delay. I really am trying to be more consistent, I promise.

Anyway, how did you like this chapter?

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Thank you for all the support!

Sam <3