Good Girl Goes Bad

First of many

The Great Hall buzzed with the chatter of students as the enchanted ceiling mirrored a clear blue sky above. Sunlight filtered through the stained-glass windows, casting a warm glow over the house tables. Hermione Granger, her hair tamed into loose curls for the day, clasped hands with Draco Malfoy, his pale features softened by the rare smile gracing his lips.

"Ready?" Hermione asked, her voice barely audible over the din.

"Always," Draco replied with a confidence that only partially masked the nerves beneath. Their intertwined fingers spoke volumes of the unity they now shared, a testament to the bond they had solidified.

They stepped into the Great Hall, crossing the threshold like pioneers of a new era. The murmurs crescendoed as heads turned, eyes wide and whispers rampant as the rumours of their relationship were finally confirmed. Hand in hand, Hermione and Draco navigated the sea of robes, making their way towards the Slytherin table—a path that felt remarkably less treacherous with the other by their side.

As they settled onto the bench, the clattering of dishes and the rich aroma of roast chicken and fresh bread filled the space around them. They began to serve themselves, the comfort of routine smoothing out the edges of the unconventional image they presented.

Their momentary peace shattered as Ginny Weasley burst into the hall. Her stride was purposeful, her expression tight with anger that reddened her cheeks more than any brush with cold air could. Students instinctively shrank back, no one wanting to encounter her infamous bat bogey hex, creating a wake in the crowd as she made a beeline for Hermione and Draco.

"Merlin's beard, what's got her wand in a knot?" Draco murmured under his breath, just loud enough for Hermione to catch.

"Shh, Draco, not now," Hermione chided softly, her gaze fixed on her approaching friend.

Ginny reached them, the fury in her movements causing her to nearly knock over a goblet of pumpkin juice. She dropped onto the bench opposite the couple with such force that it earned a glance from nearby students, who quickly returned to their meals under the weight of her scowl.

"Everything alright, Ginny?" Hermione ventured; her tone laced with concern as she observed her friend's stormy visage.

"Fine," Ginny bit out, though her crossed arms and narrowed eyes suggested anything but. The tension rolled off her in waves, ruffling the serenity of the Great Hall like a gust of wind disturbing still waters.

Draco watched the exchange, his fork pausing mid-air, laden with a succulent piece of chicken. He knew better than to interject when Ginny wore that particular look; the years had taught him as much. Instead, he exchanged a silent glance with Hermione, a silent pact to weather whatever storm Ginny was about to unleash upon them.

Harry Potter's footsteps reverberated through the Great Hall, each step a testament to his barely contained frustration. His jaw was set, the line of it tight enough to suggest he had been grinding his teeth. As he approached the Slytherin table where Ginny sat simmering in her anger, his green eyes flickered with a stormy light that rivalled the tempest brewing outside the castle windows.

"Are you seriously going to ignore your mother's advice?" Harry's voice cut through the ambient chatter of the hall like a curse, drawing more than a few curious glances from the surrounding students.

Ginny turned her head sharply in his direction, her red hair a fiery cascade that mirrored the fury in her brown eyes. "I don't need her—or anyone else—telling me how to handle my own pregnancy, Harry."

His hands clenched at his sides as if grappling with an invisible opponent. "She's only trying to help, Gin. She's raised seven of you, after all. You could at least consider what she has to say."

A collective hush seemed to fall over their corner of the Great Hall, the tension between the couple as palpable as the magic that hung in the air around them. Hermione and Draco exchanged a worried look, recognizing the delicate nature of the conversation but unable to intervene without risk of exacerbating the situation.

"Consider it?" Ginny scoffed, her voice rising despite herself. "That's rich, coming from you, Harry. Since when do you follow every piece of advice you're given?"

Harry's expression hardened, the lines of his face deepening with the weight of unspoken concerns. He leaned forward slightly, his posture suggesting both a readiness to argue and a protective instinct that those who knew him would recognize as quintessentially Harry.

"Because this is different, Ginny. This is about our family—our future." The words hung between them, laden with a gravity that seemed too heavy for even the enchanted ceiling above to hold.

Ginny's gaze held his for a long moment before she broke away, her breaths coming in short, measured puffs. It was clear that Molly Weasley's well-meaning barrage of letters had struck a nerve, one that vibrated with the desire for independence clashing against the fear of the unknown.

"Fine," she finally muttered, though the word was thick with reluctance. "I'll read them, Harry. But that doesn't mean I'm going to do everything she says."

In that moment, the fierce loyalty and stubborn resolve that defined both Harry and Ginny became the silent bridge over which they began to navigate the tumultuous waters of their disagreement. With a final nod, Harry took his seat beside her, their hands brushing in a quiet promise to face the challenges ahead—together.

When the eventual tidal wave of curiosity had quietened, and the earlier drama concluded the groups lunch went more smoothly than most they had had over the years.

Once finished they reluctantly stood to head to double potions, a subject not quite the same since the death of Professor Snape; whilst professor Slughorn was kinder to most students, he didn't quite have the skill the former known bat of the dungeons once had.

On the way throughout the corridors, they came across a sight both unusual and usual during recent weeks. Ron Weasley and pansy Parkinson were once more flirting as they chatted walking down the corridors to their own lessons. Despite the strangeness of the situation their friends were happy for them, content to let them move at their own pace without interference. They simply caught up with the couple and began a group conversation on their way to classes, including each member equally.

The development of Hermione and Draco's relationship stayed between them, their friends knew something had changed based on the heated looks between the two but would not disturb their privacy.

In the end, their first day as a bonded couple was a success, a hopeful sign for a happy future.