Falling in Love with a Memory
Chapter 1 - The Introduction
Disclaimer - Han la bay gio no co mat o nha - Hell be at now as likely as not -ergo, i dont own it but I own the plot.
Short overview Note: This story will not be like the Draco/Hermione classic Heads deal. There will be no "meet, insult, truce, friends, crush, love, baby." In fact, they wil not be friends. There will be Hermione/Draco but it will have nothing to do with being heads of houses and they will not even really share a common room. Their fateful encounter will have somethin to do with a school assignment, but no, they are not partnered up for the whole year and they "have" to be together, which leads into the classic "partners, insult, truce, friends, crush, love, baby" stuff. Don't get me wrong, that stuff is great and all but will not be part of this story. It is titled "Falling in love with a Memory" for a reason, but you wont really understand it until they get to Hogwarts and all the classes commence and what not. I had this idea brewing in my head and just decided to write it so let me know what you think. The beginning is fairly important to the story and I hope you dont get too bored by it. This Chapter starts off in relatively the same way as all the other D/Hr stories I'm fairly sure but stick tight it gets loads better. If you like it, Review! 3 Aeris
It was dark and stormy, eerie winds picked up outside the castle tower, and a cold influx of air entered the drafty room. There was no window glass, no proper flooring, and only rafters for a ceiling, where bats and mice watched from behind their beady eyes. The cool cobblestones were slimy around the edge of the window where rain had sloshed in carrying the smell of decay with it. A large canopy bed lay on one side of the room, covered in black sheets with large gaping holes in them, clawmarks and terrible stains. Blood dripped onto the already dirty stones in some places and in the otherwise barren room, the bed seemed to stick out, like it did not belong. Its darkness created an aura of death in the dimly lit chamber, and encompassed with grief lay a creature spralled across the ground in a sickly position. Around the neck, a dull chain was worn, and adorning it; a brightly colored jewel unseen anywhere ever before. Entangled in a long sweeping black dress, also with gashes covering it, dirty lace, uneven stockings, the creature would have seemed nearly human, except for the eyes. A blank whiteness consumed the place where one would normally see things, but instead there was only a glossy...nothing. And though the face on the creature did not change, a blackness could be felt consuming the room as its eyes burned. As the lights ceased, the torrent of rain mixed with the blackness outside. The creature, this.. woman.. stepped carefully, but not without haste towards the slippery window, peering into the darkness with seemingly unseeing eyes. Without hesitation, the cool night air could be felt whipping around the legs and body, the sweet sensation of falling; if only for a few blissful moments. Black hair whipping in the wind, and the feeling of euphoria, all greif washed away leaving only...life. Those few moments was the only reason to live, the creature's last thoughts were, the only reason to live...was to die. "Forgive me" she breathed; and was gone as the rain drenched her broken body.
Hermione awoke with a start, breathing rather heavily. She had been having the same dream ever since the episode at the Ministry of Magic. She dared not to mention any of this to her best friends, afterall, they were suffering just as much as she was and she did not need to bother them with such frivolities.
Ginny lay curled in the bed beside her, sleeping soundly; red hair sprawled uncerimoniously across her pillow. Hermione had arrived at the burrow a week ago and had awoken the same way almost every day. The only day she had not awaken from strange and terrifying dreams was the day Fred and George had returned home on a less than voluntary visit. Apparently, from what Hermione heard through the cracked door to Ginny's room was that the twins were home because of "reconstruction issues". Fred then went on to explain how George had "accidentally" added some form of exploding powder to the puking pastel mix which blew up part of the cellar and lit Fleur on fire when her and Bill were visiting the shop. Mrs Weasley had been none to friendly towards the infamous duo since, not that anything different should have been expected.
Ron, however, had been none the sweeter to Hermione and hadn't caught anyone on fire as of yet, as far as Hermione knew. They had just started dating maybe 3 weeks prior to Fred and George's escapades and were still a little shy around each other. Neither of them knew whether they should tell Harry or not and had since kept it secret. Hermione didn't think he would mind, or feel out of the loop since he was, afterall, dating Ginny. Mrs. Weasley couldn't be more excited about it, and Hermione thought that if it werent for this, then she might have had a breakdown and either killed Fred and George or something much worse.
It was now a week before school began and as Hermione was walking down the stairs to get some breakfast, she heard a loud squeal and saw a red blur fly by alarmingly close to her face.
"HARRY'S HERE!" Ginny squealed again, causing Errol to take flight from a dirty basket of laundry at the foot of the staircase.
"How d'you know ---" Hermione began, but before she could finish her sentence, there was a great flash of green flames from the center of hearth and a very messy haired boy stumbled outwards, hands flailing.
"I will never get used to that," Harry said dusting off his robes momentarily before being acosted by a very excited redhead.
"Harry you're finally here! I thought you were supposed to get here yesterday!" Ginny exclaimed, still grasping him rather tightly, causing Harry to turn red.
"Well I would have been here yesterday if it werent for the fact that Dudley decided to smash a rather large gorde on top of Hedwigs cage, which not only caused her to go flying off Merlin knows where, but I got the blame for it. Vernon locked me in that cupboard again all night without my wand and smelling like a vegetable. No worries though I got them back. You should have seen the look on their faces when I --" Harry stopped suddenly at the stern expression on Mrs. Weasley's face, as well as Hermiones.
"Well enough of that rubbish," Ron stated, joining the rest of them at the base of the stairs "Welcome home Harry, good thing you're here now, because we're going to Diagon alley later today, after breakfast I suppose, right mum?"
"Right you are, Harry, Dumbledore sent yours here as well, its over on the counter, he wasn't sure if the Dursley's would let you have any access to your mail so, well there it is. Eat up now, all of you, and then get ready if you aren't already, we have a big day. Oh and guess what everyone!" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed summoning letters from out of thin air with her wand.
"Oh no..." Harry and Ron started at the same time,
"Oh YES!" Hermione yelped, snatching a letter out of the eldest female Weasley's outstretched hands and began frantically ripping it apart, ignoring stares from Ginny, Ron, and Harry. "OWL RESULTS!" she nearly screamed.
Ron and Harry reluctantly grabbed their letters from her hands as well, but unlike Hermione, were holding them like they would catch some sort of fatal disease. Over the next several minutes, after Ron and Harry had finally opened their letters as well, the three of them exchanged results. Ginny, in turn, read out their scores to Mrs. Weasley who gave out congradulations and reprimands to each respective grade.
Hermione:
Transfiguration - O
Potions - O
Herbology - O
Charms - O
Defense Against the Dark Arts - E
Care of Magical Creatures - O
Ancient Runes - O
Arithmacy - O
Astronomy - O
Ron:
Transfiguration - E
Potions - E
Herbology - E
Charms - E
Defense Against the Dark Arts - O
Care of Magical Creatures - O
Astronomy - E
Divination - T
Harry:
Transfiguration - E
Potions - E
Herbology - A
Charms - O
Defense Against the Dark Arts - O
Care of Magical Creatures - O
Astronomy - E
Divination - D
"I just cannot beleive that I only got an 'E' in Defense Against the Dark Arts! There has to be some kind of mistake! I'm just going to have to retake it and try much harder or I'll never be able to live with myself," Hermione said angrily. Neither Ron, Harry, or Ginny tried to talk her out of this absurd idea, they knew better than to try to talk to her about classes or homework when she was in a bad mood. They would rather live another day, it seemed.
"Oh and Hermione," Mrs. Weasley said, brandishing another letter from thin air once more, "You got another letter early this morning as well, it looks important dear."
Hermione, surprised, grabbed the second outstretched letter and opened it slowly, nothing compared to when she opened her OWL results letter. She had to read it to herself three times before she could comprehend it.
To Hermione Jane Granger
Ottery St. Catchpole
The Burrow
"Dear Ms. Granger,
It is with great happiness that I award you the prestigeous title of Head Girl. This acheivement could not have come without years of hardwork and dedication. Not only have you acheived the highest marks in this school for close to 50 years, but you're personality is one to reckon with. With your great leadership qualities, the staff and I beleive you have what it takes to be a fantastic leader and our new Headgirl. You will be sharing a compartment with the head boy, Mr. Malfoy, if you so choose to accept this title. There is a list of heads duties attached to this letter, and a general outline, though Professor McGonagall will go over it with both of you in the Heads compartment at 11:30 AM sharp on the Hogwarts Express, Sept. 1st. I hope you agree to this title, or we will be looking for quite some time for a replacement.
Congradulations,
Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, Order of Merlin, First Class, Cheif Warlock - Wizengamot, Supreme Wugwump - International Confederation of Wizards
Hermione blink. And blinked again. And again. Then she jumped for joy, and the supreme amazement of everyone, including herself, giggled like a little girl. When she had finally calmed down, she handed off the letter to her friends and for the next 10 minutes, they all congradulated her and offered their supreme apologies that she was stuck with Malfoy.
0000
Around an hour and a half later, when everyone had eaten and gotten ready, they all stood waiting by the fireplace for Ginny who had said "Five more minutes" for the 3rd time.
"You know," said Hermione, brandishing her booklist "Defending Against the Impossible is our book of study for, im assuming, Defense Against the Dark Arts. I wonder who our new teacher is."
"Better not be another quack," Ron said, then sighed a sigh of finality for Ginny had finally came down the stairs.
"You know its pretty much inevitable, right? Since when have we not had a freak teacher... besides Lupin I mean; and even he was a little strange, you have to admit," said Harry, weighing his chances.
"Well, either way, children, its time to leave so grab a handful of floo powder dears, Ginny you first," said Mrs. Weasley, making them all form a line. Seven "Diagon Alley!"'s later, (as Fred and George had managed to sneak their way in) they all stretched and looked around the wand shop and out into the busy streets.
"Ah, Diagon Alley, it's been too long," Said Harry, opening the door to the main drag, followed by Hermione and Ron. "Far too long."
0000
After hours of roaming around Diagon Alley and retreiving all the books they would need this year, they started towards the wandmakers shop to travel back to the burrow. On the way, they passed Weasley's Wizard Weezes, which was somehow still smoking and emitting a very foul smelling liquid from under the front door. Fred and George were found outside, staring at their shop. Fred was shaking his head in a defeated sort of way, but george was flasking some of the foul smelling liquid, which could in no way be good.
Before returning back to the Burrow, they met up with Ginny and decided to have a bite to eat at the Three Broomsticks. Ron and Hermione decided now was the time to let the other two know about their secretive relationship and prayed that neither of them would be angry.
"Well we already knew that," Said Ginny, sipping butterbeer after Hermione's long speech about how Ron and herself were dating and why they chose to keep it a 'secret'.
"What do you mean you already --" Hermione started, blushing.
"I already knew too, I was just wondering how long it was going to take you two to finally tell us. By the way love, you owe me 5 galleons," butted in Harry, brandishing his hand out in front of Ginny.
"You two made a bet on us?" Ron asked, letting out a sigh of relaxation that everything was out and a snort of indignation that they had bet on Hermione and his relationship.
"You arent really going to make me pay are you?" Ginny asked, sticking out he bottom lip.
"Oh, hell yes I am," Harry said, and Ginny punched him on the shoulder.
"Sigh Fine..."
0000
Once they were all finished the Three Broomsticks, they were once again on their way to meet up with Mrs. Weasley, when they ran into three all-too-familiar people.
"Ah if it isn't the Mudblood, Potty, and Potty's sidekick. I figured you three would have been thrown out by now, what with being so filthy and stupid," Malfoy drawled, causing Crabbe and Goyle to guffaw stupidly. A fourth person sat a short way back from the three, a girl with long blondish-white hair and bright blue eyes. She didn't laugh, but neither did she jump to the rescue of the three. She merely observed, in a creepy sort of way.
"Just ignore him guys, hes not even worth it," Hermione said, jumping into adult mode, but before she could see what was coming, Ron had already launched himself on Malfoy, like he had been waiting to do this for his entire life (which is plausible).
Malfoy blocked many and even got in a good shot, But with Ron's size and anger capacity, he ended up giving Malfoy a bloody nose and a goodsized black eye. Malfoy in indignation shouted off a string of curses and spit at him, yelling things about how he'll get kicked out of school for this, and "his father".
"You know Malfoy, school hasn't even started and theres noone around to save you now so the school administration and your father do nothing but amuse me, so be on yor way ferrett," Hermione said suddenly, shocking everyone around her. She felt safer in numbers.
"You'll regret this Weasle," Malfoy spat, "you too Mudblood." And with that the three goons and the mysterious girl travelled off in the opposite direction. Immediately after they were out of hearing range, Ron began to retell the story to anyone who would listen, even though they were all there. Overall, it was a fantastic trip to Diagon Alley, by far one of their best.
Hope you enjoyed! Review!