Summary: When the top three Hogwarts students are selected to spend the year studying at the Durmstrang Institute of Magic, Hermione Granger is thrilled. Until she realizes who will be accompanying her. In a school full of death eaters, with only a blood traitor for protection, can she survive the entire year?
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any characters common to my story and J.K. Rowling's books.
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Chapter 1
You Only Live Once
Hermione Granger hunched over her crowded desk examining a large envelope that had been recently delivered by a large tawny owl. The letter bore the Hogwarts seal and Hermione wasted no time ripping it open to read its contents. Her mind raced at what could be in the letter. The middle of July was hardly the time for Hogwarts to send her 6th year booklist. That was as likely as her being Head Girl in only her 6th year.
'Maybe I am Head Girl,' she thought to herself, thrilled at the prospect of responsibility and power she would receive with the position. The heads had always been chosen from the 7th year students, which would make her the first 6th year to ever be Head Girl in the history of Hogwarts. Making Hermione the Head Girl would cause a lot of controversy. The entire Slytherin house would thirst for her blood and, most likely, they'd get it. The golden trio, as many other students at Hogwarts called them, weren't always together, contray to popular belief. There was alot of time for the Slytherin house to successfully plot her demise. Harry and Ron wouldn't always protect her from the house of cunning gits.
Speaking of cunning Slytherins, how did she know this letter wasn't full of anthrax? A Slytherin may lower themselves to using a muggle invention to try and kill her. As much as they despised muggles, they seemed to despise her, a muggleborn witch, even more. Stop being so paranoid, Granger, she rationalized, though she didn't doubt that any given Slytherin might attempt to murder her. Actually, being the summer, the Slytherins would be smart to plan her assassination now so they wouldn't get in trouble with the professors or be taken to Azkaban.
She gently slipped the letter from its snug home inside the envelope, still very much aware of the possibility of anthrax, and began to carefully examine the contents of the page in front of her.
Dear Miss Granger,
We are pleased to inform you of a new program availible this year. In cooperation with the Durmstrang Institute of Magical Study and Beauxbatons School of Magic, we have started an exchange student program. The top three students of the year will be attending the Durmstrang Institute while other students who wish to be involved in the program with attend Beauxbatons. If for any reason one of the top three students does not wish to attend, the fourth student will take their place. In exchange for our brightest, the top three students from Beauxbatons will be coming to Hogwarts and those of Durmstrang shall be attending Beauxbatons. Hopefully, if the program continues in the coming years, we shall host students from all schools, including less known schools.
In this program, you will be spending your 6th year attending the Durmstrang Institute of Magical Study. Since their school year commences on the 15 of August, we ask that you reply as soon as possible so your enrollement can be finalized. Courses are much the same as at Hogwarts and once you enroll, we will be sending you the required book list.. We suggest those who will be attending Durmstrang to pack warm clothing as it had a much colder climate. Also, since the Durmstrang school year is shorter, students will return to Hogwarts to attend the last weeks of school at Hogwarts. They may attend class but will be exempt from all Hogwarts exams.
Students are expected to be on their best behavior while studying abroad. I remind you that your actions reflect upon our school. The headmaster at Durmstrang will inform us of all that happens while you are abroad. Mishaps shall hurt your chances of being Head girl/boy upon your return in the 7th year.
If you chose to participate in the program, all medical information will be shared with the medi-witches at the Durmstrang institute. They will be aware of your situation, Miss Granger, and will be able to treat you to the best of their abilities.
Please send word back with this owl on which school you shall be attending this coming fall. Several informational packages have been included with this letter to answer any additional questions you may have.
Albus Dumbledore
Headmaster
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
A slight frown marred her delicate features as she quietly pondered the letter. The top three students of the 6th year happened to be her, Blaise Zabini, and the despicable ferret, Draco Malfoy.Spending a year with no company except two Slytherins was not an ideal situation for the Muggle-born Gryffindor. Would the pure-blood Slytherins consider going with a mudblood like herself. She grinned, knowing Malfoy would rather kiss one of her best friends and his worst enemy, Harry Potter, before spending a year in her company. The thought of Malfoy kissing Harry was an amusing, though slightly disturbing, thought. They'd both have to be really drunk, she said to herself, mentally. Zabini was a giant question mark. His loyalties were unknown, he rarely spoke in class, and he seemed to hate Malfoy. A Slytherin hating Malfoy is like little children hating Santa Claus. If he really did hate Malfoy, the trip might not be so bad, if she had an ally against the Slytherin Prince.
Maybe Malfoy sent it as a trick? Maybe when she went for the first day, he would capture her and lock her in Malfoy Manor so he could be top in year. Quite a devious plan, almost cunning enough to be composed by a Slytherin. Durmstrang has a reputation of rarly accepting muggleborn students, also, rather than learn about it, they teach their students the Dark Arts. Many death eaters got their starts at the infamous school. It surprised her that Malfoy wouldn't be sent there from the beginning, get an early start so he could be just like his father, Lucius Malfoy.
Still, if the letter was legitamite and she didn't go in hopes of avoiding Malfoy's devious ploy, she would lose out on a great oppurtunity. Plus travelling abroad was something she had always wanted to do. The school would be funding the entire trip (Not that Malfoy needed to be funded. He could probably buy Howarts if he felt like it.) so not a pound would some out of her pocket except fo the cost of school books. She couldn't let Malfoy win. Even if she had uncovered his true plan and this is an ambush, she give reason for his ego to grow any bigger since he would obviously think she wasn't going because of him. The best case scenerio would be that Malfoy dies before the trip (Or just doesn't go. Either is fine) and she, Zabini, and student #4 go on the Durmstrang trip.
She speedily penned her response to Hogwarts, informing them that she would participate in the program and attend Durmstrang. She should have informed her parents of the oppurtunity but decided she would tell them later. It wouldn't make much of a difference anyways. The people she was truly worried about telling were her best friends Ronald Weasley, Ginny Weasley, and Harry Potter. How would they react to the fact she'd be spending a year with two Slytherins, let alone of the Slytherins being Draco malfoy, himself. She shrugged off her nervous feelings. It was her desicion and they didn't have any say in the matter.
Why the bloody hell not? You only live once. I'm old enough to make my own desicions, right?
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Draco Malfoy sat on the comfortable leather couch situated in the parlor of Malfoy Manor. He clutched the Hogwarts letter, examining its contents for the seventh time, debating whether of not he should go. It would be a good oppurtunity for future employment and making some new allies. Durmstrang was regarded as a Pure Blood school, before they began admitting muggleborn students almost two years ago. That was a damn pity, he mused. A school without muggleborns was the school for him. It took much persuation from his mother to get him to attend Hogwarts in the first place. She insisted that he go to the school she and Lucius had attended, as a family tradition. Lucius cared little about his schooling, though he would have somewhat rather Draco went to Durmstrang to prepare him for his 'future'. Not that it mattered anymore since Lucius was currently rotting away in Azkaban because of Potter and his happy helpers.
'Some Future', he thought. How bloody fantastic. Serving a coward who treats his followers as bad as his enemies. What a privilige. While Draco agreed with some of the Dark Lord's principles, ridding the world of muggles and mudbloods for example, he could never bring himself to be a servant to someone. Malfoys HAD servant. They were definitly not servants, not even to someone one fancied themselves as the messiah of the entire wizarding world. A self-proclaimed messiah was, in his opinion, an fool. Take Potter for instance.
He forced his eyes back towards the letter currently in his hands. One line in particular stuck out amungst the other assorted words on the page.
'The top three students of the year will be attending the Durmstrang Institute of Magical Study'
He read that one line many times over. The top three 6th years meant he would be traveling with the mudblood and that git, Zabini. Zabini was one of the few Slytherins who hated him, the Slytherin Prince, dispised the Dark Lord, and had little interest in blood purity. Why was he even sorted into Slytherin? Shouldn't he have been some bloody Hufflepuff? He usually referred to Zabini as, 'The Slytherin Traitor or ' That Bloody Prat'. Needless to say, Zabini spent almost as much time in the library as Granger to avoid his fellow Slytherins but he hasn't accomplished his goal of unseating the Slytherin Prince as the second smartest of their year. The only thing that saved him from being pulverized were the damn girls. He could care less how 'dreamy' Blaise was but each time he suggested something particularily malicious involving Blaise, Pansy and her gang would yell his bloody ear off until he agreed not to lay a finger on Blaise. Usually he'd just do it anyways unless Pansy was in a particularily murderous mood, which happened alot of the time.
It was even worse when that wretched toad made the Slytherin Quidditch team as a Chaser. He did everything in his power to get Zabini thrown off the team (Like that time he bewitched the fool's broom and made it do the opposite of what Zabini commanded. Git flew right into he goalpost. That was a great day.), but to his disappointment, the traitor had some skill that couldn't be ignored by any Quidditch captain. Draco, himself, was supposed to be the captain this year so if he chose to go to Durmstrang, someone else would replace him for the year. Atleast it wouldn't be the traitor, if he chose to come too.
Mudblood probably won't go, considering the fact that I will also be attending. Zabini, that bloody prat, won't try anything to risk him not being named Head boy so he will either be civil or not go. It would be a good oppurtunity and I would be a fool to pass it up because of a childish rivalry.
He hastily tied the parchement with his response to the tawny Hogwarts owl and sent it off, hoping he made the right decision. Lucius would be thrilled he was attending a school that taught the Dark Arts, if only for a year. His mother, Narcissa Malfoy, might protest but he knew she would let him go. His mother had never been fond of the Dark Arts despite being in a family so closely associated with the Dark Lord himself. She tried to steer Draco clear of that path but Lucius wanted to ensure the Malfoys would always be close with Voldemort. Lucius raised him to be perfectly bred for a life in the Dark Arts. Before he went to Hogwarts, he was required to read many books involving spells and curses, he even had to memorize some on Lucius' order.
Mudblood better not come or I might not be able to survive the year
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The month of July passed too quickly for the scholarly girl. She pursuaded her parents into letting her go for her last week before starting at Durmstrang to spend time with Harry, Ron, and Ginny at the Burrow. Telling them about the program was harder than she thought it would be. While the Weasleys were all rather supportive, it was Harry who was reluctant to give her his blessing to go.
"What if Malfoy goes. He'll make it a living hell for you. You can't be seriously thing of going, can you Mione?", Harry pleaded, his eyes resembling those of a small, lost puppy. "We won't pass anything without you there".
"Malfoy won't want to spend the year with a muggleborn and I'd appricate it if you could leave it alone. I'm going", Hermione replied, her tone carrying a sense of finality. "And you'll both do fine in your classes if you actually pay attention and take notes". Her squirmed under Harry's scrutinizing gaze. She knew exactly why he wanted her to stay at Hogwarts. He had been unnaturally clingy to his two best friends wince the death of his godfather, Sirius Black. He wanted to protect the female member of the Golden Trio, as the other Hogwarts students called them. Sometimes she just wished he would stop playing the bloody hero and trust her.
"Thats a pretty big if, Hermione", Ron said. "But I guess I can always find someone else to give me their notes. Dunno, I can bully come Ravenclaw into it or somethin'."
Hermione scoffed at the thought. "Now I feel very wanted, Ron. Beside, Ravenclaws aren't there to be your personal note-takers. They are merely intelligent and hold value in knowledge."
He lazily threw his arm over her shoulder, "This is what I'll miss most next year. Your lectures are always the high points of my day."
Harry said nothing but gave her a pointed look that clearly stated that 'this is not over'. And it most definitly wasn't. Almost everyday, Harry found a new, and even most exciting, reason not to attend Durmstrang. Her favorite was his theory that Voldemort himself would come to Durmstrang and cast a Confundus charm on her, making her believe that she was in love with Malfoy and she would become a Death Eater. She laughed loudly when he told her that theory three days before she was due to leave.
"It could happen!", Harry argued through breakfast that it was a very possible scenerio. Ginny excused herself from the table and peals of laughter could be heard from the other room. She returned several minutes later, her face still somewhat matching her hair.
"Just leave it alone and let us enjoy the time we have left before she leaves" Ron said dully, poking his sausages around his plate. Harry gave him an annoyed look but quieted down and sat glaring at his eggs for the rest of the meal.
If anything, she had expected it to be the other way around, with Harry being the calm one and Ron sputtering excuses why she shouldn't go. Ron almost had a heart attack when she began dating her first boyfriend, a Ravenclaw whose name she preferred to forget. When Ron found out about their relationship, he convinced Harry that this guy wasn't good enough for Hermoine and set out to convince the poor Ravenclaw the same. They returned to the common room several hours later, looking very pleased with themselves Needless to say, he broke up with her the next day while Ron sat absentmindly cracking his knuckles beside the pale boy as he stammered his excuse for ending their relationship. They only went out for a week so while she had been somewhat annoyed, she didn't really care.
After breakfast was finished, Harry and the Weasley boys went out for a quick game of Quidditch while Ginny and Hermione washed the dishes left over from dinner. They did their work silently until Hermione, who was rather sick of only hearing dishes clanging together and the occasional moan from the ghost in the attic, decided to break the silence.
"Harry is being a bloody git about this Durmstrang thing" Hermione exclaimed in a fit of unusually angry rage. The youngest Weasley could see the flame dancing in Hermione's eyes. A fire that was usually reserved for Malfoy or Snape of someone who equally annoyed her, not one of her best friends.
"He's only looking out for you", Ginny interjected, hoping not to be the victim of the older girl's temper. She felt compelled to defend Harry. She understood where he was coming from. Sure he was a little extreme and unnaturally Mad-Eye Moody-ish (Constant Vigulince!) but he just wanted her to be safe.
"I don't care anymore.", She huffed. "For once, I wish he would stop trying to be the bloody hero. I wish he would trust me to take care of myself. I just wish he'd let me live my life with out constantly making descions for me. I want to be more than 'Harry Potter's best friend. Is that too much too ask?"
Ginny was astonished. How long had she felt like this? She remained silent letting the clanking of dishes and the jublient shouts coming from outside sooth her mind. She nodded at Hermione, urging her to continue. Which she did.
"Don't get me wrong, I love Harry and Ron but they suffocate me sometimes" Hermione explained to the redhead. With Ron as her brother, she probably understood what she felt like. Ginny had more than her share of relationships and Ron usually found a major flaw in every single guy.
Ginny looked at the girl in front of her. She looked exhausted, frustrated, and somewhat murderous. She sighed softly, she was too nice for her own good.
"Then what are we waiting for", she smirked mischieviously. "You leave on the 15th, right? We can go down to Diagon Ally and book a room at the Leaky Cauldron and stay there till you leave. We'll ask mom and dad before we leave. It'll give you a chance to cool down"
Hermione glowed at the prospect. She needed to escape Harry for a bit. He was being an insufferable prick about Durmstrang and she did not want him ruining the last two days of her vacation.
"Its a plan", she grinned. "Where are you mom and dad?" Neither girl would want to risk leaving without telling Molly Weasley. Her Howlers were famous in the wizarding world even since the first year, when Fred and George received a particularily nasty one during breakfast one morning. If they left, they would definitly be on the receiving end of the howler. Though, Harry might still send her one for leaving without telling him. Ron vowed never to send a Howler to anyone after the embarrasing incident in the second year when Harry and Ron had driven a flying car to Hogwarts. Malfoy and his lackeys had teased him for weeks regarding that Howler. He would never wish it on anyone so he might be able to convince Harry not to send her one.
Hermione spared a quick glance towards the Weasley family clock that stated where each member of the Weasley family was at the moment. The hand for Mrs. Weasley was pointed in the direction of 'Home'. The two girls set out to find the older woman, in hopes of pursuading her to allow them to go to Diagon Alley unaccompayed. They weaved through each room of the tiny house, never laying eyes on Molly. Arthur Weasley would have been the better parent to ask since he was much more lenient about the rules than his strict wife but he was currently at the Ministry, dealing with the latest disaster in the Miuse of Muggle Artifacts department.
After several minutes, Hermione and Ginny walked outside to discover Molly was currently attending to the gnomes attacking her garden. She halted her activites when the two girls walked towards her, something in their expressions told her they wanted to ask her something.
"Hey mom", Ginny said, somewhat sheepishly. "We were kind of wonder if we could go to Diagon Alley and stay at the Leaky Cauldron until Mione has to leave." Mrs. Weasley stood and faced the two girls in front of her. While she tried to remain calm and collected, her face slowly started to resemble her fiery red hair, betraying her emotions and making the girls step back in fear.
"Why, with all the death eaters running around the world, would you even consider asking that question" Molly Weasley asked, her voice was now somewhat hoarse, as though she were tring to contain herself and stop herself from screaming at them.
Ginny looked at her friend. The hopeful look that shone in her eye was now replaced by a cold fire, one that suggested she would stop at nothing to acchieve her goal. She looked Mrs. Weasley straight in the eye, a sign of aggression to most canines.
"I guess thats reasonable. Who could always ask Fred and George to accompany us. They are part of the Order" Hermione smirked at the older woman. She would never let the twins take them to Diagon Alley. Fred and George would be sure to get them kicked out of the hotel. The twins were rarely allowed in Diagon Alley anymore, since it was a great place to replenish their supplies of Dung Bombs and other misscellaneus pranking equipment. It was bad enough that they made their own now.
Molly Weasley had a horrible ultimatum. Her eyes never left Hermiones chocolate brown orbs as she mulled over her options. Letting the girls go by themselves seemed like the lesser of two evils, but with all the dangers, it would be extremely dangerous to allow two underage witches to go to Diagon Alley alone, Although now, Diagon Alley was patrolled by aurors and had anti-apparation wards that would make Gringotts proud. They would have their wands as a last defense so they wouldn't be absolutely hopeless. She sighed, realizing what little choice she truely had. If the terrible twins accompanied them, there would be hell to pay. Dung bombs set off at every street corner, drunken brawls (One of Fred's new inventions, tricks whoever eats a mint into thinking they're drunk and the person beside them has greatly offended them) and not to meantion they would sleep on the streets since Fred and George would get them kicked out of any hotel they stayed at. Yes, the girls would be better of going without the troublesome twins.
"I guess you can go", Molly Weasley sighed. "But please, Hermione, protect my Ginny."
Hermione nodded, "Mrs. Weasley, I assure you that theres a reason why I'm called one of the smartest witches Hogwarts has ever seen." Ginny rolled her eyes at both her mother and her friend and both girls trapsed out of the garden towards their room to pack. It was their goal to be packed and leave before the boys returned from Quidditch so they couldn't object to their trip.
Hermione threw all her supplies and clothing into her trunk at a rapid pace. She drug her immensly heavy trunk down towards fireplace, where she found Ginny waiting with a pot of Floo powder. Molly Weasley took an oppurtunity to give both girls a fierce hug and last minute instructions.
"Don't do anything Harry would do while at Durmstrang. Remember, you're an ambassator of the school and the country" Molly Weasley chided the young woman.
Hermione simply smiled and nodded at the woman who was like a second mother to her. Without hesitation, she grabbed a handful of Floo powder an stepped into the flames.
"Diagon Ally", she shouted. Ron and Harry walked into the room just in time to see her disappear into the flames. Harry's face contorted into an expression of rage. "Why the hell did she leave? She still had two days left", Harry began shouting but was quickly cut off by Ginny.
"She doesn't want to spend anymore time arguing with you." she spat, "Just let her spend the rest of her vacation in peace."
"Oh, forgive me for trying to protect my best friend" he hissed mockingly, "I don't want her too die. I would have thought you wouldn't have wanted that either"
"Everyones going to die, aren't they Harry? Is that the only thing you think about? Everyone dies. All you can do is enjoy the time you have left. Stop trying to protect everyone and let them live their own lives. Is it really her you're protecting? or are you trying to protect yourself?". She walked briskly over the the fireplace and grabbed a handful of floo powder. She shouted, "Diagon Alley" and disappeared into the green flames.
Harry stared into the flames, shocked by Ginny's words. What was he protecting himself from? That girl didn't make any sense. He felt Ron pat his back reassuringly but he continued to stare at the embers, that had now returned to a redish hue. He was somewhat angry that Hermione left without saying goodbye.
But friends forgive. What kind of person would I be if I didn't forgive her?
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Draco Malfoy sat quietly in the corner of the Leaky Cauldron, slowly sipping his mug of Butterbeer. He decided he would rather spend the rest of his summer in the dump most people called 'The Leaky Cauldron' than with his mother at the manor. She used every moment they spent together to try and convince him to stay at Hogwarts, as he had suspected she would. It had grown rather tiresome so late one night, he pinned a note to the mantle in the parlor, explaining his whereabouts, and flooed to Diagon Alley. She had presented no logical reason for him to stay at Hogwarts when he had the oppurtunity to experience a different school. Malfoys valued logic and her arguement had none. He had to admit that he took the cowardly option to leave. Malfoys were many things but never cowards. Well, almost never.
The embers of the fireplace across the room suddenly turned a bright hue of green, announcing the arrival of a witch/wizard. Draco stared with mild disapointment at the flames. Diagon Ally was almost peaceful without the mass of students preparing for the start of Hogwarts. He never spent too much time in Diagon Ally without needing to purchase his school supplies. Shopping was not an interesting pass time and it amazed his how his mother could shop for hours straight and never tire.
The flames returned to their original. A woman stood beside the fireplace, one with a massive trunk. Her faces hidden by shadow but Draco could see her slim form rather clearly. She looked to be3 around the same age as him, give or take a year. He considered asking her to join him for a mug of butterbeer. Over the summer, he grew to miss the female attention he received at Hogwarts, being so deviously handsome, he received quite alot. Hopefully, the girls at Durmstrang would think the same. He would need somewhere to go. Apparently, the Hogwarts exchange students would be sharing a common room, so he would need plenty of places to escape the two other students.
She stood beside the fireplace for several minutes, doing absoluely nothing. She seemed to be waiting for someone to join her, if the incessant tapping of her foot was any indication. Finally, the embers once again turned bright green and another young woman stepped out of the embers. Studying them, his glance fell upon the newcomers faming red hair. Oh Merlin. It was a damn Weasley which meant that the other girl was probably Granger. Of course the only two females in the entire pub would be them. Just his luck. But why would they come a month early for school supplies? Unless...
"Damn it", he whispered to himself. "Durmstrang". Bloody hell, the mudblood was going too. How utterly brilliant. He was sure she wouldn't even think about going to a foreign country with two Slytherins but the damn girl felt the need to prove him wrong again. No doubt Granger and Zabini would skip around having lovely mudblood praising sessions and lecture everyone they laid eyes on about good morales and whatever else they feel like wasting people's time with. He could handle Zabini, hell, he could even handle Granger. But it would take all his patience to survive a day with the two, let alone an entire year of misery. Now he was sure both were going, after seeing Zabini in Diagon Alley earlier that day, and now seeing Granger.
He drained his Butterbeer and stalked towards his suite. Melin, help me survive this year
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Hermione instantly wrinkled her nose as she appeared in the fireplace of the Leaky Cauldron. It seemed everytime she came to this dump, it looked and smell worse than it had the previous time. She stepped out of the now-red embers and impatiently waited for her red-haired friend.
Bah, she thought whats taking that girl so long. Its enough to drive me insane.
She took a tentative look around the busy pub, studying her surroundings. The seedy pub was filled with many men, young and old but hardly any women. And who says theres no proof as to what the better gender is? She found it rather pathetic for them to be getting smashed silly in the middle of the afternoon. She considered speaking to some of the more sober men about the inportance of clean living but the fireplace caught her attention when it returned to its bright green hue. Ginny stepped out, looking oddly discheveled and frustrated. hermoine thought better than to ask and simply suggested they book their room and go shopping for the day.
The pair made their way over to the desk to negociate a price with the barkeep, Tom. Hermione insisted on paying for the room since it was her fault they were staying there. After paying him the twelve sickles and four knuts they owed, they manoevered Hermoine's large trunk throught the narrow corridor and into their room on the third floor.
The two girls decided to spend some time shopping and picking up school supplies in Diagon Alley. Hermione utterly refused to step into any store before visiting Flourish and Blott's bookshop. Ginny shared the same dislike for books as her brother, Ron had so it took alot of persuation on Hermione's part to get her to agree. Grinning at her victory, she skipped down Diagon Alley towards Flourish and Blotts. Her grin faltered when she remembered the terms she agreed upon in order to visit her beloved bookstore. Why would anyone in their right mind spend good money on superfical things like clothes or 'dress robes' as Ginny prefered to refer to them as. Still, a deals a deal and now she not only had to try on dress robes, she had to buy some.
So many books in one place! If there is a heaven, which there is no scientific proof for, this would have to be it. She fluttered around the store, weaving throught the many different aisles, stopping at any books that caught her fancy. She stopped inthe transfiguation aisle and began to browse for books on her favorite subject. She traced the spine of each book loveingly. They possesed such great knowledge and yet there were people who didn't care for them. She would save as many as possible from the cruel fate of being bought by someone who could care less about their power. She scooped up five books, being the highest amount she could buy at the moment. She would have been able to afford one more if it wasn't for the stupid dress robes. Just think of how many she could buy if she didn't have to buy new quills and other school products. A frown immediately appeared on her face. Books were important, yes, but without quills she wouldn't be able to do her homework. She placed one book back in its place on the shelf. If she had enough money, she'd come back later and buy it. She swiftly turned and began to march towards the counter when she crashed into someone in her path. She fell to the ground from the impact, her books scattering everywhere. A hand descended and Hermione latched onto it and pulled herself up. She came face to face with a well known Slytherin, Blaise Zabini.
"Sorry, are you all right?", he asked her caustiously. He bent down and collected the scattered books until every one was accounted for. He carefully stacked the books securly back into her arms. He himself had quite a collection of books he was buying, mostly on the subject of charms.
"I'm fine." she stated, gently brushing herself off with one hand. He didn't seem like he recognized or felt comfortable starting a converation with a Gryffindor so she decided to iniciate a disscussion. "Are you Blaise Zabini?". She knew perfectly well who he was but decided that would be the safest way to start a converation.
"Yes. You're Hermione Granger, right?", Blaise replied, adsentmindly shuffling his feet nervously.
"Yup", she said. "Are you excited about the Durmstrang trip?"
"You're going?" he questioned bluntly, as though he had expected her to be attending Hogwarts. "Not that you shouldn't", he started. "I just assumed you wouldn't want to go with two Slytherins. Especially since Malfoy is going". I guess everyone knew how much she and her friends (she and most Gryffindors actually) hated Malfoy. A grin appeared on her face as she recalled the great view of the Quidditch pitch from Gryffindor tower, a view she and Harry had used to its full advantage in their fifth year. During a Slytherin Quidditch practice, she and Harry sat by the common room window and managed to bewitch Malfoy's broom. for about an hour, his broom did amazing loops and dives around to Quidditch. It even flew right into front a bludger 'on its own accord'. The weeks it had taken to learn that complicated spell had been completely worth it. While nothing was even proven, Malfoy glared at the golden trio for the rest of the week (well, more than the usual amount of glaring, anyways) and Gryffindors kept giving them high-fives and looks of admiration.
"I'm not going to let Malfoy ruin this experience for me", she replied, nonchalently, a goofy girin still visible on her face. "Besides, this is a good chance to see another country." He nodded at her statement, looking somewhat relieved. Why was a Slytherin relieved that she, a proud, muggle-born Gryffindor, was going with him on a yearlong trip?
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Ginny motioning for her to hurry up. She just wanted to make her try on some bloody dress robes. She juggled a few ideas to stall some time before her inevitable session of clothes shopping. She grinned as she though of a great plan.
Talk about nailing two birds with one stone, she thought. She'd ask Zabini to come with her and Ginny to get ice-cream. She learn about Zabini while also stalling time since Ginny, being sensitive to men since she had six brothers, would never drag a boy clothes shopping with them. She smirked at her devious plan. It was almost worthy of being a Slytherin plan.
"If you're not busy, would you like to get some ice-cream with me and my friend?", she asked sweetly, hopefully getting her ticket to freedom from Ginny's makeover fun-time. He looked startled by her invitation, as many people would be, considering they were from opposing houses. They were basically enemies by nature.
He teetered on one foot, looking somewhat uncomfortable. "I still need to buy some school stuff, maybe some other time." Zabini replied hesitantly. The grin on her face was quickly replaced by a grimace. Joy, more clothes shopping with the queen of clothes (Maybe Parvati or Lavender derserved that title more? She had shared a room with them for five years and knew just how many clothes they had.).
She flashed the Slytherin in front of her a goodnatured smile as she moved towards the counter. "OK, I'll see you later then.", she shrugged, feeling somewhat less joyous than she pretended to be. She paid for her books as slowly as possible and trudged towards the exit after going Blaise a quick, wave which he nervously returned. She barely stepped out of the store when Ginny grabbed her arm and ushered her towards Madam Malkins Robes of All Occasions.
She took one look inside the shop and felt immediatly rather sick. Usually, when she entered this shop, there were plain black robes on display for Hogwarts students. Now, since school wouldn't be back in session for weeks, there were fighteningly colorful robes as far as the eye could see, and probably further. She shot a discusted glare and the nearest robe, which happened to be a horrible shade of lilac. Ginny, on the other hand, was squealing with delight, throwing different colors of robes into Hermione's arms. One of the robes included, much to Hermione's horror, was the lilac disaster of a robe. She sighed and slowly trudged towards the fitting rooms to begin how slow torture at the hands of her 'friend'. Some friend, making her try on clothes for, merlin knows, how long. Still, she agreed, and Hermione was never one to go back on her word.
After over an hour of trying on dress robes, Hermione just decided to buy the first thing that wasn't absolutely aweful. She wouldn't fling her money around like some rich git (Malfoy), she would wait until she found something that was atleast suitable. Ginny handed her a new pile of three robes and pointed back towards the fitting room. She stared at the familiar stalls of the rooms, feeling somewhat nausiated. She always hated spending more than thirty minutes shopping for clothes and it was nearly driving her insane to be spending an hour and a half trying on nausiatingly bright robes. She filed through the new robes in her arms. Her eyes settled upon an emerald green robe with gold lining. It was a small improvement from the 'filth' Ginny had been bringing her. As much as she dispised Slytherin, she wished Gryffindor had been lucky enough to have green as their house color. She loved most shades of green, excluding olive green. She hurridly changed into the robe and examined herself in the mirror, hoping that she was finsihed looking.
It was...good enough. It was something she'd wear more than once, something that was somewhat practical, and something she liked. It fit all her requirements that her clothing was always tested on. She emerged from the fitting room to find Ginny waiting outside with a fresh pile of robes. She quickly brushed past the red head and made her way to the front desk, where a cheerful old witch was waiting happily to ring up the sale. The old woman attempted to make light conversation but was disppointed by the young girl's lack of communication. Ginny appeared by her side a moment later with another dress robe. It was crimson with gold lining, seeming to support Gryffindor spirit.
Hermione payed for the robe and waited for Ginny outside the store. All she wanted to do was go back to her grungy hotel room and sleep. Ginny joined her moments later and attempted to drag her to another clothing store that would be 'on the way'. Hermione denied and walked briskly towards the hotel, making the shorter girl run to keep up with her. She walked through the dingy pub towards the stairwell leading to her room which, to her misfortune, happened to be on the thrid floor. She swifly inserted the key and pushed the door open. She collapsed on the firm mattrass, her eyes already begining to grow weary. By the time her companion entered the room, her face as red as her hair from the brisk pace Hermione made her run, Hermione was already asleep.
Hermione tiptoed quietly through the halls of the Leaky Cauldron, sliently sursing the owners of the dumpy hotel/pub. Apparently, they saw fit to have a pub downstairs for their drunken customers but not to have working toilets in each room. The stairs creaked as she silently made her way towards the public washrooms near the tables. She glared at one drunken man who winked suggestively at the sixteen-year-old girl. Merlin, men these days had no sense or propriety. Wanting to shag everything that moved. Revolting. She scowled at old man and continued her journey to the loo.
She pushed the door to the washroom open and stepped inside, vowing to never set foot in the Leaky Cauldron again. For well respected establishment (who knew why it was respected?) the state of the washrooms was simply appauling. She scowled at the mirror above the sink. How many girls would look into it and critize themselves? She scoffed at the mirror and stared at the sinks taps. She wrinkled her nose when she realized that to turn the sink on, she would have to touch the two grimy levers that looked like they haven't been cleaned in months. Of all muggle technology, wizards had to use plumbing. She pulled her wand out of her robe. She stopped midway through her complex cleaning spell, letting her wand fall to her side. Was it worth risking explusion for doing magic over the summer. Certainly not. As a current contender for the position of Head Girl, it wouldn't be a good idea to de expelled for under-age magic. She daintly reached out and turned the taps. She made sure to wipe for hands with some paper towel, to hopefully clear the germs away.
She once again began her journey across the pub to her room. She smiled once she noticed the discusting man, who was probably at least fifty and or old enough to be her great grandfather, was gone. The stairs groaned under her weight as she made her way to the top. She suddenly felt bony arms encircle her small waist. She was pulled into a shadowy corner and was face to face with the gross old man. His breath smelled of whisky and garlic.
"Why hello little miss", he smirked. "Lookin' for a good time?". She struggled against his forceful hold. She thought, being a strong young woman, that she would have been able to escape from the man who looked like a horribly decaying corpse but as much as she strained her muscles, she couldn't seem to break the hold he had on her waist.
"Umm, no", she stammered, struggling even more to escape his clutches.
"Aww c'mon", the drunken corpse slurred. "Don't wanna let go of a pretty youn' thing like yous".
"Pretty?", a familiar voice drawled. "Your taste, sir, if questionable". Malfoy swaggered out of his room, somewhat intoxicated, and surveyed her situation with mild interest. The old man scowled at the newcomer and sent a feeble punch that was easily dodged by the drunk Slytherin Quidditch captain.
"Yous can have 'er when I'm done", the man grumbled, turning back to Hermione. She heard Malfoy sigh and step closer. Not a thousand years would she dream of Malfoy saving her. Was that what he was doing? Maybe he was going to save her, then take her to Voldemort who would then cast a Confundus charm so she would fall in love with Malfoy. Dammit, Harry was right! She began to struggle even more, trying to escape the two evil men in front of her. She crashed to the ground when the man severed his hold on her. She tried to stand when she felt muscular arms grab her. Holy hell, he really was going to take her to Voldemort! She kicked and punched the air around, not hitting Malfoy once.
"Damn, Granger, I'm not going to hurt you" Malfoy spat, picking her off the ground.
'Of course YOU won't', she thought. 'thats Voldemort's job.'
The drunk would-be rapist began to stir and slowly lifted his groggy head before it fell back down to the ground witha sharp punch from Malfoy. He would probably apparate her to Voldemort. Would she rather face the Dark Lord or get splinched because she was struggling too much? Voldemort sounded like the better prospect at the moment. Tears streaming down her face, she threw her arms around Malfoy's neck and ceased her struggles. The change in position threw Malfoy off balance and the two crashed to the ground. A door creaked open and Ginny stood there looking rather confused.
"Weaslette, get this bloody thing off of me" Malfoy hissed, trying without avail to shake off the clinging Gryffindor. Still sobbing into her robes, Hermoine waited to be apparated, oblivious to the scene that was happening. More people stepped out of their rooms to see a muggleborn witch sobbing into the robes of a Death Eater's son, who was a suspected Death Eater himself. Many people shot him glares for hurting the poor girl. Some looked at the scene with distain. Ginny stepped closer and attempted to pry the sobbing girl from her enemy. The hall was silent and everyone heard the whispers of the crying girl
"I don't want to be splinched", she whispered.
Malfoy slowly stood up, the mudblood's arms still wrapped around his neck. She doesn't want to be splinched? No one does but that only happens when you apparate, not when you cry in the halls of a hotel. Weaslette was trying to pull Granger off. She finally sighed, exasperated, and beckoned him into their room. He wrinkled his nose. A Malfoy would never go willingly into a room shared by a Mudblood and a Weasley. He shot quick glances around the corridor. Everyone had returned to their rooms. No witnesses would see him. He followed the redhead into her room.
"Mione", the weaslette whispered softly to the girl on his chest. "You're clinging to the ferret. Let go of him". For once, he decided to let her call him a ferret. If it would get Granger off, he would let them call him Zabini. Granger just shook her head. "I don't want to be splinched", she repeated. What the hell was wrong with this girl. They weren't apparating anywhere. The Weasley girl seemed to be aware of this fact, too.
"Mione, hun, you're not apparating anywhere" she stated calmly, once again attempting to pull her from his chest.
"Not now but we will be", Granger said. "He's going to take me to Voldemort whos going to caste a Confundus charm on me to make me think I'm in love with Malfoy". What.The.Hell. He stared at her blankly. He sent a questioning glance towards Weasley but Granger held all her attention
"No, he won't. You've just been listening to Harry too much" Weasley said calmly. "Right now, it looks like he just wants you to get off of him". Was this Potter's plan to cause him a mental breakdown? Or was Potter himself going insane? Thinks everyone is out to kill him and the other two members of the 'dream team'. Having a mudblood clinging to him, he was getting pretty close to admitting himself to St. Mungos. Maybe he'd meet Potter there.
He felt the grip on his robe loosen and Granger took a tentative step back. " I wasn't splinched", she grinned happily. Somehow, an immense feeling of regret clouded her thoughts. She, Hermoine Granger, mudblood extrodinaire had clung onto Draco Malfoy, evil git, as if her life depended on it. She slowly lifted her head to meet his stunning silvery eyes. She had expected to see hatred, anger, maybe a murderous. While she had trouble seeing the emotions in his silvery eyes, it surprised her that she could see amusement reflecting in his eyes. He was probably having murderous thoughts involving a certain muggleborn, fire, and the Confunus charm, he certainly was hiding his desire to kill her well.
"I knew it", he smirked. "Even Granger can't resist me". He winked at the scowling Gryffindor. He was delighted to note that the female member of the golden trio was blushing. He swaggered out of their room to hear the door being swiftly shut behind him. He had never met a woman who could resist his looks and charms. Apparently, mudbloods were no exception. Not even, Potter-worshipping, Weasley-loving, Know-it-all mudbloods like Hermoine Granger.
This year with Granger might be fun after all
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Draco Malfoy left Hermione in a fiery state of rage. She ranted and raved to her companion, only taking brief breaks between her insults for breaths. Breathing was annoying and tedious work, but if was unfortunately necessary.
"Urg, I hate that slimy git. Who does he think he is? The pope? The bloody Queen of England? Urg, I just want to give him a swift kick in the ---" Hermione fumed angrily before being cut off.
"Hermione!", Ginny interjected. "He's a prat. I get it. Watch your language, Mione" Having six brothers, she heard many stories growing up about when they were kicked in...specific places. Now, she didn't wish it on any boy, including the sons of Death Eaters. She was incredibly thankful to be born a girl.
"I am going to give him a bloody piece of my mind!", she shouted, grabbing her wand off the table. "No one makes a fool of Hermione Granger". Quickly slidding on her shoes, she marched towards the door and stepped out into the dark hallway. She ignored Ginny's pleas and stormed three doors down and pounded on the door. She waited. One minute. Two. When she was about to leave, finally a disgruntled looking Malfoy pulled open the door. His platnum blond hair stuck up wildly around his head, and that somehow made his hair look even better than usual, and his silver eyes were half open. He was wearing only a pair of green and black boxers without a shirt covering his athletic body. Hermione stared longingly at his abs. Why did god bless someone so vile with such a great body? Bloody unfair was what it was. She firmly believed that the outside should match the inside so Draco Malfoy, for instance, should be a fat, sweaty dork with greasy hair. Instead, he was the Slytherin sex god. Girls would beat each other with a stick just to be the one priviliged enough to kiss his feet. Excluding most girls in Gryffindor house, though there were many exceptions. Usually at the front of the pack, beating the rest back with a sledge hammer, was Pansy Parkinson, who was also a Slytherin. he had short, dark hair and a slim build but that was lost when one gazed upon her pug-like face. While she claimed to be Malfoy's girlfriend, he denied all claims and immediately began 'dating' Daphne Greengrass, also a Slytherin.
"Merlin, Granger, what the bloody hell do you want", Malfoy slurred sleepily "Didn't come for that shag did ya?".
Outrage. That was the only visible emotion on the face of Hermione Granger. Her face flushed with anger and turned a lovely tomato red. "I did not come for a shag, you discusting ferret" she spat. She was suddenly tackled to the ground by a blur of flaming red. "What the bloody hell was that for, Ginny? I was about to hurt him!"
"Really, Mione, watch your language", Ginny scolded the older girl. "I came to stop you from making a fool of yourself." Did she think he meant something when he winked at her? Did she really think that he, a pureblood wizard, would ever even think about touching a mudblood? Silly bint. Though, he had to admit, she didn't look half as bad as she had in previous years. Her long curls cascaded down her back, though not smooth, they were nowhere near as bushy as they had been. Her figure had filled out quite nicely. Had she been a pureblood witch, she would have made
Malfoy surveyed the situation dubiously. "Does this have anything to do with me?", he sleepily asked the youngest Weasley, who seemed slightly less likely to go into fits of rage at the question. Weasley just shook her head and attempted to pull the rabid mudblood back towards their room. "Right then. Tell Granger I wouldn't shag a mudblood anyways" Deciding sleep was definitly more important then whatever the hell they were doing, he swiftly slammed the door and let sleep reclaim him while outside his room. He could hear his latest comment was sending the mudblood into more screams of rage. That woman mudblood thing was far too bloody emotional.He had one final thought before he drifted back into a dreamless sleep
Durmstrang is going to be hell
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Somehow, Ginny managed to drag the outraged, older girl back to the room they shared and quickly locked the door.
"Whats the best possible revenge you could get on him?" Ginny asked her, still sitting over her legs to keep her from marching right back to malfoy's room and breaking the door down. Hermione looked at her quizically. The best revenge she could get on him would be to kick in a southern region but Ginny had stopped her before she had a chance to extract her revenge. Ginny rolled her eyes, as if the answer were dancing in front of them naked and throwing out chocolate. Wasn't it Hermione Granger who was the smartest witch Hogwarts had seen in decades? It was most certainly NOT Ginervra Weasley so where did she get off acting like she was the smart one.
"His pride, Mione.", Ginny stated. "Theres nothing more important to Malfoy then his pride." How Ginny understood the workings of the Malfoy mind was beyond Hermione's knowledge but she seemed to know how to hurt him and that was fine with her. Any plan to cause Draco Malfoy pain, emotionally or physically, sounded like a great plan to her. She had been delighted when Mad-Eye Moody transfigured the Slythergit into a ferret during their fourth year at Hogwarts. That certainly bruised him, mentally. He snaps at anyone who dares meantion Moody, ferrets, or the event in parcticular. She made a point of bringing it up most times when she had to talk to him. Her and Harry would get into long-winded disscussions on ferrets whenever Malfoy was in earshot. He usually turned an angry red color and glared at them angrily for the rest of the period.
"So I hit him on the head?", she asked. How was she supposed to hurt his pride? Beat it out of him. Sounded like a pretty good idea to her. One punch in five years was not nearly enough physical damage to equal what he had done to her for their many years of animosity. At the time, it felt great but afterwards she wished she had done more than give him one punch. A good and proper beating would have been better for the likes of him.
"Geez, Hermione, you sound like a neanderthal. No, you are not going to 'hit' him" Ginny said, brushing Hermione brown curls out of her face. "You are going to beat his grades so badly, he'll cry himself to sleep."
Hermione looked at her, dumbfounded. She already did that, didn't she? He may not cry about it, but it would be hard to improve her grades from what they already were. She remained silent and Ginny let out an exasparated sigh. Ginny climbed into the double sized bed beside hers and slid under the blankets
"I'm going to sleep now.", Ginny murmured, looking like she was halfway asleep already. "Don't try to kill Malfoy in her sleep, there'll be plenty of time for that at Durmstrang." Within moments of her red head hitting the pillow, the youngest Weasley was asleep.
Being the only person awake in their room, Hermione let her mind wander. The most reoccuring thought was of her soon-to-be new school, Durmstrang. They had a reputation for not only teaching the Dark Arts but actually learning them. Long ago, she had vowed never to do anything even mildly resembling the Dark Arts. What would she do if it was part of the curriculum? She couldn't let herself fail the course or pass with anything less than an 'Outstanding'. It would give Malfoy even more reasons to gloat (since he would probably preform every dark spell perfectly 'for his first time' (If it was his first time with dark arts, she was madly in love with Crabbe.).
From what Victor Krum told her during triwizard tournment in her fourth year, the ground were quite lovely there even though the school was slightly smaller. Most nights at Hogwarts, she'd go for walks around the grounds to clear her head. Sometimes she'd take Harry with her. For some reason, she had always been alot closer with Harry then her other friends. Sometimes at night, they'd stay uo in the common room and just talk for a while. Harry was one of the things she would miss most about Hogwarts. Ever since the troll incident in the first year, Harry had always stuck by her to protect her.
Victor, she thought. He'd be in his seventh year now so he would be there while she was. Atleast there would be one friendly face amist the sea of strangers. They kept in touch ever since fourth year, sending the occasion letter, letting the other know what was going on in their life. She was glad she didn't have to worry about Victor hitting on her. In his last letter, he told her that he had a new girlfriend in Bulgaria named Sophia Poliskii. Supposidly, she was a beautiful girl with long, dark hair and a 'hot arse' as Victor claimed. Honestly, men these day are so conceited and vulgur! Hopefully, Sophia wouldn't be too jeleous that Hermione and Victor had attended the Yule Ball together during his stay. It didn't matter anyways, she didn't harbor any romanic feelings for him. Sure, he was somewhat good looking but she couldn't see them being more than friends. He reminded her too much of Harry and Ron to let anything romanic happen.
Another worry of Durmstrang was sharing a common room with her enemy, Draco Malfoy. He would use every waking moment of every bloody day to successfully drive her insane. He'd take everything she said as a sexual inuendo and tell her he doesn't shag mudbloods. Hermione Granger shag Malfoy? That would be like Voldemort dating Minerva McGonagall or the Easter Bunny being in love with Satan. It just didn't happen. Did he really think she wouldn't make his life a living hell for even suggesting it? Well, rest assured, that was exactly what she planned to do. Hopefully, she could convince Zabini or Victor to protect her from the deranged Slytherin.
She didn't know too much about the other person accompaying her on the trip, Blaise Zabini. He seemed nice from their encounter at Flourish and Blotts and he never bothered her in class like the other Slytherins. But there had to be a reason he was sorted into the Slytherin house. Nice, smart people aren't usually sorted into the house full of lying, backstabbing snakes. He seemed to be the somplete opposite of everything they stood for. There was a reason he was there and she would use their year at Durmstrang to figure out what is was.
She let out a soft sigh. She would be leaving in two days and would have plenty of time to worry later. Right now, it was best for her to lay down and rest up. This might be the only good chance to sleep she'll get in months.
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End of the Chapter
AN: This is my very first fanfic so any constructive critism will be appreciated. I changed a few details from the books when I wrote my story. Some details meantioned in HBP were changed when I wrote this. Call it creative lisense, if you will. First of all, while Sirus Black is still dead, Dumbledore is not. Blaise Zabini is somewhat neutral on terms of the war and does not believe in blood rights. Since I plan out my stories starting at the end, then writing the beginning and middle, it worked better to have Blaise be more neutral from the start rather then be befriended by Hermione on the trip. So far I don't have any plans for Snape, I haven't yet decided whether or not to make their return to Hogwarts a sequel or just continue this story at Hogwarts. Most of the information in HBP will not be compatable with my story so it would be easier if you disregard that book while reading this story.
Hermione may seem a little off but thats exactly how I want her to come off. I feel shes a more interesting character when shes slightly neurotic. She came become rather tedious and predictable, I find, so I figured if she was slightly unhinged, it would make for an ultimitly more amusing story. This was the main reason of the bathroom scene (I hated that part. I was going to cut it but my beta insisted that it stayed.). I wanted her to seem a little obsesive complusive
When I first thought of this idea, I thought it was original but after looking around on the site. I found some Draco/Hermione stories using the same idea of an exchange program. While I will continue writing (I started writing it before coming across any story like it), I want to point out that I will not take credit for this idea, since I was not the first to think of it.
I've been really busy this year with my sports teams and band so I may not be able to update two often. My goal is to come out with a new chapter at least every two weeks. I will usually update on weekends. I try to make myself write about an hour a day. I want each of my chapters to be a minimum of 8000 words.
The title is under debate and you are welcome to voice any titles you feel would fit the story.
Thanks for reading. The next chapter will hopefully be out in about in a week (Around next Friday, if not before).
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