When We Try to Deceive...
Chapter One: A Spell Is Cast
Disclaimer: Yup, if you've got déjà vu, it is most likely because you
have in fact read this story before. It
got deleted from my account, so please re-review!!! I still disclaim, of course.
All J.K.Rowling, no A.Miercoles.
Ah shucks.
***
Hermione sighed. She was comfortably sat in an ancient brown
leather armchair, whose creases and scratches acquired over the years really showed
its age. As she moved her toes slightly, the heat from the now gently
flickering fire tickled the sole of her foot. The scarlet interior of the
round, cosy room seemed to fit her mood perfectly. Hermione felt... content.
Yes, she decided, content was exactly how she felt. Like a cat, happily
stretched out on the lawn when the sun is shining, feeling perfectly happy just
to be. No urge to move or do anything, just sit there. For Hermione, the flames
provided enough entertainment. For a while she sat, just watching the flames
lick the chimneybreast.
She glanced across the common room, at the remaining Gryffindors. Fred and
George were still up, hunched over what looked to be an ear-battered, bashed,
very old book. The only other pupil still up was a first year, poring over a
textbook and hurriedly writing an essay that Hermione supposed was in first
thing the next day. Tomorrow, thought Hermione, Valentine's Day. She smiled
wryly. There was little chance she would get any kind of card or present, unless
Ron sent her an anonymous one for a joke. The other girls in her class had been
whispering and giggling excitably in Herbology, before Professor Sprout had
threatened them with detention. Hermione had stood with Neville, wishing
fervently that someone, anyone, would notice that she, Hermione Granger, was a
girl. Instead, everyone thought of her as the brain box they could turn to if
they were stuck on their homework.
Ron and Harry cared nothing for Valentine's Day of course. Harry was bound to
get a card or, Hermione thought back a few years, a sonogram from Ginny
Weasley. But apart from that they wouldn't think about it at all. It wasn't
fair, Hermione thought. Just for once she would like the kind of recognition
everyone else got, but she knew it wouldn't happen. After all, who could
possibly have noticed her? She had dedicated her life to school work, but she
now realised that the joy she got from being top of the class, or getting full
marks in a test, was nothing compared to the fun she had with her friends. She
really longed to have more friends. She could just imagine how wonderful it
would be to be Miss Popular, to get bagfuls of cards every February, and have
all her girl friends gathered around her, giggling and comparing cards.
Hermione yawned, and stood up. She might as well go to bed. It was, looking
down at her watch briefly, half past eleven after all. And it was a Wednesday
tomorrow after all. Wednesday- great. Potions first thing, followed by
Transfiguration, History of Magic and Flying with Madame Hooch. To top it off,
waking up to absolutely nothing, on a day where girls should be showered with
flowers, chocolates and jewellery would really make Hermione happy. She thought
back to quarter of an hour ago, when she'd been so happy. Huh. Just thinking
about how unlovable she was had made her feel awful. As she trudged up the
stairs to her dormitory, Hermione heard Fred call behind her,
"Sweet dreams, Granger!" Sweet dreams? Yeah right, she thought, as
she got into bed, and pulled up the sheets. Nothing could make tomorrow even
the slightest bit enjoyable. And with that, she turned over, and
instantaneously fell into a dead-fast sleep.
***
Downstairs, in the common room, Charity Melbroke finished her essay. She leaned
back in her chair, jubilant. She really needed that Potions essay finished, or
she knew Snape would penalise her. Seeing two boys, that looked identical, over
in the corner staring at her, she quickly packed up her books and made for bed.
The thought that it was St Valentine's Day tomorrow barely crossed her mind,
and it really wouldn't affect her. First years seem to be so much more hard
working and school-orientated that the rest of the pupils. It was doubtful that
anyone in the first year would give the date any thought, as they went into
lessons tomorrow. The same cannot be said for the rest of the school,
however...
***
"Finally!" exclaimed George. "I thought that first year would
never finish!"
"Yeah, I was almost tempted to go and help her," Fred contributed. As
George laughed, Fred continued. "And what was Granger doing? Sitting there
on her own, doing absolutely nothing!"
When he finally stopped laughing, George said, in Hermione's defence,
"That's not true, I mean she was looking at the fire!" Fred smiled
and George finally managed to take control of himself.
"Are we ready then?" asked Fred. George flicked open the book to the
right page and ran his finger down the list. Fred read over his shoulder, and
suddenly George tapped one of the points.
"Hair," he said plainly.
"You forgot to get hair?" Fred marvelled. "Hair is like the most
important thing. We can't do it without hair! I can't believe you didn't get
hair!"
"Calm down already!" exclaimed George. "So, we didn't get hair.
We could always use someone else's hair. Make it a bit more interesting."
Fred looked doubtful.
"Where are we going to get hair from now?" he asked. Then a strange
look came over his face and he jumped up. "Not me!"
"Of course not us, and will you keep your voice down!" George hissed.
Fred sat down hesitantly and stared at George, critically.
"Think-" said George, exasperated. "Whose hair can we get?
Obviously that someone has to have been here..." Realisation dawned on
Fred and he grinned at his brother.
"Granger!" George nodded, smiling. Fred leapt over to the armchair by
the fire, and quickly but efficiently searched it. "Aha!" he cried,
picking up a single strand of hair. He examined it carefully; making sure that
it was in fact Hermione's hair, rather than another pupil's or an animal hair!
Convinced that it was, he took it back to the table. George glanced at it
briefly but he trusted his brother's intuition. Then he took out of his pocket
a small plastic back, with two other hairs and what looked like white powder.
It was in fact a delicate mixture of many different ingredients, including
herbs, talcum powder and toenail cuttings.
The brothers then strode over to the fire in unison. George knelt down and
opened the bag, while Fred brought out his wand. He uttered a simple verse, and
then George tipped the ingredients into the fire. Fred murmured one conclusive
word and there was a blue explosion, pushing the twins back. Thankfully, the
explosion was silent. Shakily, they rose to their feet.
"Was that supposed to happen?" asked Fred nervously.
George paused for a moment but then reluctantly nodded. He turned to Fred with a twinkle in his eye.
"Right- let's see what tomorrow brings!" Then they collected the book
and made their way to bed, both bubbling with excitement and mischievous anticipation.
Magic was in the air...
***
Audrey: Thanks for reading. I'm really sorry if you reviewed this story before Fanfiction.net randomly decided to delete all my stories, but all my reviews were lost and I would really appreciate it if you would take a couple of minutes to click on that Go! button down there.
Bat Girl: And vote for me as Best Supporting Carcass Savager!
Audrey: Best Supporting Carcass Savager? When have you ever savaged a carcass in a film?
Bat Girl: Who said it was in a film?
Audrey: Ew...
Bat Girl: VOTE FOR ME!