All You Want

30) I Need This

"Wait. What?"

Hermione turned sharply to see Blaise Zabini emerge from a tapestry down the hall followed by a confused and rumpled looking Daphne Greengrass.

Hermione shot a quick glare of loathing at Daphne. The witch seemed to get around like it was nobody's business. Earlier in the day Hermione had seen her cornering Draco for what seemed to have been the umpteenth time. Now the aggressive Slytherin girl appeared to have been interrupted from a game of tonsil hockey with Blaise.

Hermione tried not to loathe people on impulse, but Daphne Greengrass was beginning to piss her off.

She stared at Blaise and ignored his question. "You're out past curfew, Zabini and Greengrass. That will be ten points each from Slytherin."

Blaise waved his hand dismissively. "Right. Never mind that. You're losing your magic, Granger?"

"Fuck off, Blaise, Granger and I are bonding," Pansy said in a sharp voice as she stepped forward.

"Oh you're bonding?" Blaise's eyebrows arched upward. "Does Drake know? Sorry. I'm just wanting some clarification about this whole losing magic thing."

Hermione's mouth twitched as she looked from Blaise to Pansy to Daphne. Blaise seemed to realize that the presence of his lady friend was problematic.

"Daph, love, head back to the dorms without me will you?"

"What? I want—," Daphne started, looking visibly sulky. Pansy and Blaise both glared at her. She gave a dramatic sigh. "Fine."

Daphne stalked off toward the dungeons as Blaise and Pansy looked back at Hermione.

Hermione crossed her arms tightly across her chest and stared at the two of them. "I'm not the type to put a my eggs in one basket. I'm preparing for multiple possibilities, lining up back-up plans. I don't know how this can possibly surprise you."

She gestured awkwardly around herself and swallowed. "I'm not necessarily going to get approved for surgery anyway. I'm just doing the preliminary interviews. However, if I do get approved and end up going that route—it's not losing my magic is a sure thing. It's just an associated risk."

Pansy snorted and arched her eyebrows. "I admit, I'm not studying NEWT level Arithmancy, but I think I understand enough to know that an eighty percent chance of never managing so much as a basic household charm afterward sounds fairly sure."

Hermione jerked her chin down and drew herself up. "I don't really see why it's any of your business. The fact you went through my school bag and decided to read my medical correspondence doesn't entitle you to have an opinion about my life choices, Pansy."

Blaise crossed his arms and looked Hermione up and down as though he were reevaluating her. "So, let me get this straight. You're dating Draco now, but if it doesn't work out by graduation, your plan is—to become a Muggle?" He rolled his eyes. "That—is the most Gryffindor thing I have ever heard in my life."

Hermione's face grew hot. "I'm sure it is. So, what now? Are you two planning to tell Draco?"

She looked at each of them. Pansy looked strangely subdued, and Blaise continued to look contemplative as he stared at her.

She let out a deep sigh. "Despite the fact neither of you like me and spend most of your time treating me like I'm on a path to entrap or ruin your friend, I am actually trying very hard not to. So, by all means, tell him, if you think he should know."

She turned on her heel and walked away, wrapping up the remainder of the patrol route without Pansy.

After she finished, she headed back toward Draco. When she stood outside the door, she paused for a moment and drew a deep breath before she muttered the password.