Not a Fairytale
1
-too late for you and your white horse-
Ever since she had watched Cinderella when she had been six, Hermione had been fascinated by the idea of Prince Charming. How could one man be so perfect, so suited to one woman? It couldn't happen, even though she desperately did want it to happen, especially to her. So she watched the boys at Hogwarts, trying to see if any of them suited her ideals of a Prince Charming. And it all went as she had expected: none of them did, not even one.
And he didn't count.
Her robes pulled tight, she shivered down the hall, teeth chattering.
She was going to be late to Charms, again. Flitwick was going to have her head for turning up this late, two times in a row. No matter what they all said, he was one professor you couldn't mess with.
Voices coming from the classroom just down the hall intrigues her, making her walk closer to them instead of hurrying to Charms, filled with apologies. She peeks in through the crack at the door, eyes squinting to make out the people inside.
Slytherins.
The new Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor is inside there, wand pointed and murmuring something. She watches as he beckons a student up, telling something to the small class. They all listen eagerly; making this the first time Hermione has seen a group of Slytherins willing to work.
She squints a bit more, making out the figure next to the teacher as Theodore Nott. Captivated by the idea of what they are doing, she watches eagerly, holding her own wand as Theo conjures his Patronus.
Her's is an playful otter; Nott's is a hissing snake.
She watches the whole class go through the cycle, some taking longer than others - then again, they might not have many happy memories to conjure their Patrounus's from.
Parkinson's is a Chihuahua, which makes Hermione laugh at the dumbfounded expression on the girl's faces. She might not now what the barking small dog is, but Hermione does, and it suits her just fine.
Goyle's is a snarling Doberman, which he looks content with. Zabini's is an eagle, and he regards it with pride in his eyes, stroking the bird. Greengrass's is a fluffy cat, which purrs as it walks around the room.
Then Malfoy walks up to the teacher, full of confidence, like always. He holds his wand tightly in his hand, contraction written all over his face.
There are a few moments of silence, before bright light bursts out of the end of his wand, Malfoy shaking softly. Hermione supposes it is hardest for him to think of happy memories, and she does pity him for that.
Squinting, she watches as the light begins to take shape, students at the back of the room flattening themselves to the wall, trying to escape the mass of light that is twisting and turning. It finally takes shape, lifting its head up and roaring.
A dragon.
Her first ideal of a Prince Charming comes to mind as she shakes her head and walks away from the classroom.
A white horse is acceptable. A dragon is not.
This is why Draco Malfoy will never be her Prince Charming.
Never.
This will be a ten-parter! :) For the Prince Charming Challenge on HPFFC! Review, yeaaah? Every little snippet at the top won't be from the story, but from Taylor Swift's song White Horse, which I love! :D