Disclaimer: I do not own any of this
Summary: Inertia is the property of an object to remain constant in velocity unless acted upon by an outside force. In this case, Hermione's life is running smoothly until after a series of unfortunate events…a certain slytherin comes along and throws her life completely out of balance, now she has to suffer the consequences…
Rated T for language
Ch 1- Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen
Hermione Granger was just about ready to tear her ears off. She couldn't stand it anymore. Every night, she was forced to listen to Lavender Brown, Parvati Patil, and the rest of the Gryffindor 6th year girl giggle about who they had 'shagged' in a broom closet earlier that day. Hermione put her pillow over her bushy head in a pitiful attempt to muffle their high-pitched, obnoxious voices. Suddenly, she felt an unfamiliar weight next to her.
"Guess what we heard Hermione?" Lavender giggled. Hermione rolled her eyes indifferently…as if she cared.
"What, Lav?"
"Well Padma told Parvati, who's friends with Hannah, who heard from Justin, who talked to Terry, who was told by Marcus, who said he saw you staring at a certain Slytherin," Lavender replied slyly.
Hermione froze. It couldn't be! She had tried to make it as discreet as possible…apparently not discreet enough. She did the only thing that came to mind.
"What are you talking about?" Hermione asked confusedly. 'Just play innocent,' she thought.
"You know what we're talking about," Parvati accused. "You totally have a crush on Draco Malfoy!"
Hermione sighed in relief…as if. "Parvati, you have got to be kidding me. If Gandhi hated anyone, it would be him. Malfoy is absolutely the most horrible, disgusting git on the face of the earth."
"Hermione! You totally have a thing going with him, you guys fight all the time!" one of the other girls said.
"Yeah, that's like saying oil and water mix." Hermione scoffed.
"Don't they?" Lavender tilted her head stupidly.
"No." She said bluntly. "Now, go to sleep. We have classes tomorrow."
"Whatev."
Hermione turned on her side and away from the girls. They almost had her there for a moment! She did have a crush on a Slytherin, but his name was CERTAINLY not Draco Malfoy. It was, in fact, Adrian Pucey. Hermione was attracted to him in the first place because he had fairly decent grades and, unlike the rest of his classmates, didn't pick on her constantly. He was decent looking, with curly brown hair and sea green eyes. Hermione often stole glances at him during class when she was sure no one was looking, and she was right. Hermione cleared her thoughts and soon drifted off to sleep.
"Hermione, wake up!!" She felt herself being shaken awake by Parvati. She shrugged her off.
"Five more minutes…"
"Your alarm clock didn't ring! We only have ten minutes 'til class!" Parvati cried.
"Bugger!!" Hermione leaped out of bed, knocking Parvati down in the process.
"Hey!"
"Sorry!!" Hermione quickly ran to the bathroom and brushed her teeth. She didn't have time to take a shower that morning. Instead, she threw her hair up in a pathetic excuse for a ponytail. She pulled on her robes, grabbed her book bag, and ran out the door hoping to get a bit of breakfast before her first class.
"Mione! You forgot your shoes!" Lavender called behind her.
"Shit!" Hermione turned around and stepped into her shoes and ran out the door. She sprinted through the halls and as she passed through the Great Hall, she grabbed a half-bitten muffin from the Hufflepuff table. She was two corridors away from the dungeon when the bell sounded off noisily. Hermione quickly finished her 'early morning workout' and burst through Snape's door.
"You're late Ms. Granger," Snape drawled coldly.
"I'm sorry Professor but-" Hermione started.
"20 points from Gryffindor." Hermione glared at him and took her seat in between her two best friends, Harry Potter and Ron Weasley. She knew better then to argue with Professor Snape, who took points off Gryffindor every chance he got. She heard Malfoy snigger from across the room and glared at him fiercely.
"Turn your books to page 722. Today, you will be working on the draught of death. Can anyone tell me what this potion does?" Snape sneered. Hermione's hand shot up.
"Anyone at all?" Snape asked, looking over Hermione's hand as if it wasn't there. And, if possible, her hand went up even higher.
"Yes, Ms. Granger?"
"Draught of Death is a potion that, when you drink it, gives you the appearance to be dead. It's thought to be a muggle potion because it was mentioned in the play Romeo & Juliet when Friar Laurence gives the potion to Juliet." Hermione recited.
"And how long do the effects last?" Snape questioned further.
"As long as you want them to." Hermione replied without missing a beat. Snape nodded in approval.
"The instructions are on the board. You have the rest of this class period to complete the potions in pairs. I will assign your partners." Groans echoed throughout the classroom.
"Potter and Parkinson."
"Weasley and Bulstrode."
"Patil and Nott."
"Brown and Pucey." (Hermione inwardly cursed Lavender)
"Granger and Malfoy."
"Longbottom and Zabini."
"Finnigan and Crabbe."
"Thomas and Goyle."
Hermione cursed the heavens. Today was NOT her day. She scooped up her book bag when she realized Malfoy was not going to come to her.
"Let's get this over with Malfoy, I'm not in a good mood today." Hermine hissed.
Malfoy smirked, "That time of the month, eh?"
"No," she gritted her teeth.
"It sure seems like it." He chuckled sadistically.
"Whatever, Malfoy." Hermione rolled her eyes as she added the vampire blood to the already simmering cauldron. They spent the rest of the class in silence. Hermione turned in a vile of the completed potion when the bell rung and took her time walking out of the class in an attempt to make small talk with Adrian. To Hermione's dismay, as Adrian walked toward her he was forcefully grabbed by Pansy and tugged away to who-knows-where. Hermione sighed defeatedly.
The rest of the day went by quite uneventfully, well except for the blast-ended skrewt that had tried to swallow Marcus Flint's head and he had to be transported to St. Mungo's. At dinner, Hermione plopped down in her seat and sighed wearily.
"Hermione, what's wrong?" Ginny asked.
"Nothing."
"Don't give me that, I know you too well to know that nothing's wrong." Ginny said sternly. "Come on, hurry up and eat so we can talk." Hermione did as she was told and soon she, Ginny, Parvati, and Lavender were all sitting around in the Gyffindor girls' dormitory in their pjs.
"Come on, Mione. Spill." Ginny giggled.
"Well, I sort of like this guy-" Hermione began.
"Malfoy!!" Lavender burst.
"Um… no. I like Adrian Pucey from Slytherin." They gasped loudly.
"Aww, he's super cute." Parvati gushed.
"And he's sweet… for a Slytherin-" Ginny added.
"Oh, and he has really pretty eyes." Lavender squealed. They all began shouting excitedly.
"Ok, well I think you should talk to him Mione. You totally have a chance. I heard from Hanna who heard from Millicent that he liked a girl from Gryffindor…maybe it's you!" Ginny said.
"I doubt it, " Hermione sighed unhappily, "I'm not pretty enough."
"Herms, you're extremely pretty. You just need to know how to flatter your best attributes." Ginny scolded.
"Will you teach me?" Hermione asked shyly.
Parvati face broke into a devious smirk. "It'd be our pleasure." They let out evil cackles and got to work.
"First we'll start with your hair…" Ginny said thoughtfully.
"I don't think there's anything we can do to tame that rat's nest." Parvati mumbled under her breath. Hermione heard her and glared.
"A few simple spells should do it…" Lavender murmured as she took out a book titled '101 Beauty Tips and Spells for Witches!'
"Let's get to work…"
3 hours later…
Hermione groaned…at the moment they were committing bloody murder on her eyebrows. They yanked a hair from the end of her left eyebrow and she flinched.
"Bloody hell Hermione! Hold still!" Lavender growled.
"Can't you do it with magic or something?" Hermione whined.
"A spell hasn't been invented for this yet." She snapped back quickly.
"Ok, all done." Parvati smiled, and they stepped back to admire her work. Hermione couldn't help but smile inwardly at the thought of her finally looking pretty. They had taken the time to do her makeup and everything. She grabbed the mirror as Parvati handed it to her.
Bloody FUCKING hell.
She shrieked loudly, "I look like a WHORE!!"
They gasped in horror. "You do not!"
"Aargggggh!!!!! Yes I DO!" Hermione ran to the bathroom to wash her face. After ten minutes of scrubbing, her face was back to normal…save the plucked eyebrows and straightened hair.
"There…much better." She said to herself. "They may have overdone it, but I think with some mascara and a little blush, I'll look just fine."
"I agree." Ginny said simply from the bathroom's door frame.
"Thanks, Gin. We better get to bed." Hermione got up and let herself fall on her bed. She fell asleep almost immediately.
Hermione awoke early the next morning and took her time to get ready. She put on a yellow polka-dotted blouse and a pair of jeans. She slipped her robes on over it. Then, she went to the bathroom and applied some light makeup. Satisfied with her appearance, she strolled into the Great Hall and sat in between Harry and Ron.
Harry beamed at her, "Wow Mione, you look great!"
"Thanks Harry. And what do you have to say for yourself Ron?" Hermione turned to look at Ron, whose gaping mouth revealed a half-eaten biscuit. "And please close your mouth, it's unbecoming of you." Hermione added.
Ron gulped down his food noisily. "You look… pretty."
Hermione smiled, "Thanks." Hermione glanced over at the Slytherin table, where she saw Adrian talking animatedly to Blaise about something. Hermione couldn't help but smile at the thought of him.
"Well, I guess we're off to divination. See you at herbology Hermione." Harry and Ron walked out of the Great Hall. Hermione finished the rest of her toast and grabbed her book bag. Just as she walked out of the Great Hall, another body came into step beside her.
"Mind if I join you?" A mellifluous voice asked. Hermione turned to see the beautiful green eyes of Adrian Pucey. She giggled nervously.
"Not at all."
"So um, are you going to go to Hogsmeade this weekend?" He asked. There was an awkward silence.
"I dunno, I think I'm gonna stay here and do my charms essay." Hermione mumbled in response.
"Well, I was wondering if you would…maybe wanna come with me?" Adrian smiled sheepishly. "But if you don't that's okay." He added quickly.
"Actually, I'd love to." Hermione grinned.
"Really?" His face lit up.
"Yeah," Hermione answered eagerly. .
"Cool." Adrian tried to hide his grin but failed miserably. He had arithmancy with her next. They walked in silence for a while, neither of them knowing what to say or do. Then, Adrian grabbed Hermione's hand, and she took it. They walked into the arithmancy and took their seats next to each other. Throughout the class, Adrian whispered humorous comments in her ear, and she giggled. When class was over, they walked out of the classroom and burst out laughing.
"Did you see the way she looked at you after you said that?" Hermione giggled. "She definitely heard you!"
"I don't care. I'm a slytherin, remember?" Adrian's eyes glittered mischievously. Hermione blushed.
"I guess."
"Well, I'm off to care of magical creatures. Bye Hermione." Adrian said, he kissed her on the cheek.
"Bye," Hermione blushed for the second time in five minutes. As soon as he was out of view, she sighed contently.
During lunch, she told Ginny, Lavender, Parvati, Harry, and Ron everything.
"A slytherin?! But Hermione, they're the enemy!" Ron protested.
"He's one of the better slytherins. I remember seeing him at one of the DA meetings once. I approve, Mione." Harry smiled.
Instead of the expected reaction, Hermione glared. "No offense Harry, but I wasn't asking nor do I need your approval. I was simply telling you so you aren't caught by surprise."
"Sorry," Harry seemed perplexed.
"Whatever," Hermione replied. The next class they had was potions. Hermione caught sight of Adrian and her 'frown turned upside down.' He took Ron's usual spot on Hermione's left and Ron, fuming, was left to sit Neville. Not even Snape, who tried desperately, couldn't ruin Hermione's wonderful mood, she was absolutely delighted. By the end of the week, everyone knew of Hermione's high spirits. Some even tried to take advantage of it.
"Hey Hermione, do you think you could help me with my homework?" A small Hufflepuff boy asked.
"No," she said in a sing-song voice. Apparently, it didn't work.
She met up with Adrian at the library on Saturday night.
"So, do you think you could help me finish my potions essay?" He asked teasingly.
"That depends, do you want me to help you or finish it for you?" Hermione asked cockily in response.
"Whatever answer doesn't get me a slap," Adrian chuckled.
"Help it is." Hermione moved her chair closer to him so she could get a good view of his essay. Her frown grew as she her eyes scanned over his essay.
"No offense, but this sucks. Give me your quill." Hermione spent the rest of the hour revising it while Adrian looked on in amusement.
"There, all done." Hermione gazed in content.
"You're brilliant," Adrian admired.
"I know," Hermione smirked. "We better get going. The library is going to close in a few minutes."
"Okay." He grabbed her hand and led her out of the library.
"So I guess I'll see you tomorrow. I'll drop by your common room at ten." Adrian told her.
"Yeah, I'll be ready." Hermione smiled.
"Good." He kissed her. "G'night."
"Night."