Meant To Be
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters you recognise in this story. They belong to J.K Rowling.
Summary: When Mars, Jupiter and Neptune form a straight line somewhere in space, a tragic old love curse will fulfil its deadly prophecy in Hogwarts… Contains 'tie troubles', a furious break-up and strange dreams…
A/N: I obviously started this story after doing Astronomy in Science… :)
Note: Our gang is in their 7th year at Hogwarts. Hermione was made Head Girl, and Harry Head Boy. Ron became the Gryffindor Quidditch Captain. Draco is the Slytherin Quidditch Captain and also a Prefect.
Chapter 1: Dreams
He was falling… falling down into a dark, spinning whirl. His stomach was churning, his mind was blurred, his body ached, and yet he could do nothing. He stayed there, eyes closed, lips pursed together, ready to be plunged into his doom.
A light suddenly flickered in the distance. His whole world was ripped apart; torn viciously by the powers of evil. The cool darkness that enveloped him disappeared, floating away like a mist. A bright light shone through; it hit his eyes instantly, spreading through his dark, grey pupils like a blazing fire.
He covered his head in agony. It burns, it burns! But the light was too strong; his world was changed dramatically…
Draco moaned with misery. It was morning; a new day.
***
He twisted, then folded, then turned it around, then folded again. "Stuff this stupid tie!" Draco yelled angrily. His smooth green and silver tie was ruined; knots were protruding everywhere, and deep crinkles were appearing on the soft, satin material.
He gave up, watching his reflection on his full-length mirror. A boy with pale, blond hair, a pointed nose, thin lips and deep grey eyes were staring back at him. He smirked at the sight. I look so damn fine, as always.
This handsome picture was unfortunately ruined by the unruly tie clasped around his neck. Draco managed to untangle the annoying thing and threw it ferociously unto his bed. He felt the right hand side of his chest and groaned. It wasn't there.
With sudden panic, he began to rummage around his room, searching for his glinting, silver Prefect badge. Since he was a prefect, he was modestly given his very own room for the year. But he didn't even bother to decorate it properly.
There was his King sized bed, a bedside cabinet, a wardrobe and some green sofas, which has the symbol of a serpent on them. Apart from that, the room was pretty much bare, so it didn't take him long to find what he was looking for.
He found his Prefect badge inside one of the drawers, hidden under a pile of underpants. It was one with the symbol of a green snake with the gold writing across it: Prefect, Slytherin. Draco frowned, fiddling with the badge on his hands. If only it said: Head Boy…
He grunted miserably. Instantly, a picture of a dark-haired, green-eyed teenage boy appeared hazily in his mind.
Draco quivered his head, hoping the sickening image stuck on his brain would fade away. He shouldn't even find the energy to think about Potter anymore, what with all his errands for being a Prefect and Quidditch Captain; they were busy occupations to uphold, and sometimes he would come back late at night, mind throbbing with frustration at how much work he has to do in a day.
But the face of Harry Potter was branded in his memory, and it wouldn't go away. That famous, sweet Potter… Even the thought of his name disgusted him.
He pinned the silver badge on, and strode out his bedroom door.
***
The Great Hall was filled with the chattering of students, the giggling of silly girls and the murmurs of secrets being passed around, as usual. Draco wasn't very talkative this morning, just nodding and shaking his head every time a question was thrown at him. His eyes strayed up as a cheery, bright voice called out to him.
"Good morning, Draco darling!" Mandy Brocklehurst greeted, her shiny white teeth grinning adoringly at him. She lifted her head, aware of the silent stares pointed towards her, most of them coming from Draco's previous girlfriends.
"Oh, hi sweetie," replied Draco, forcing his face to smile. Mandy quickly shoved people away to sit down next to him. She then planted Draco a passionate kiss, making some jealous girls whispered curses at her angrily.
"Draco, are we going to have practice today?" Clayton Caswell (a new Slytherin Chaser) asked.
"Er- yeah… I've already booked the field," Draco answered. His eyes caught Blaise Zabini walking past as Clayton nodded.
Blaise's red lips smiled sweetly as she followed his gaze. She seated herself down opposite him, holding up his eye contact with her entrancing bright eyes. Twirling her shining blonde hair around her slender fingers, she made sure Draco would never look away.
Draco sneered amusedly and played along with her game. He continued to look amazed and flashed his irresistible smirk at her.
"You look so handsome today Draco," swooned Mandy beside him, fluttering her eyebrows.
"Yeah, I know," said Draco absentmindedly, his grey eyes fixed unto Blaise's bright blue ones.
Mandy paused for a few moments, taking a few spoonfuls of her steaming hot porridge.
Across Draco, Blaise continued to gaze dreamily at him, sighing softly every now and then.
"Draco--" Mandy started, feeling slightly uneasy.
"Hmm..?"
"Umm…" Mandy shook her head. "Nothing."
Draco didn't even look at her. "Right."
Mandy ate her porridge silently, looking up at Draco every couple of seconds. He didn't seem to be paying any attention to her. She slid her arms across Draco's back.
"I love you," she whispered as she leaned her head against his chest. She had hoped Draco's sweet grey eyes would focus unto her own.
Draco's muscles tensed. "That's nice," was all he said, his eyes still far away.
"Darling, can you please look at me?" Mandy asked desperately, lifting her head.
"Hmm..." muttered Draco. Blaise is so pretty… How come I didn't notice her before?
"Draco," Mandy's voice raised.
"Yes…"
"Look at me!" Mandy called out loud.
"Oh, that's nice…"
"Are you even listening to me??"
"Wow, that's great… yeah, excellent…"
"DRACO MALFOY!"
"You look beautiful today too, Mandy."
"You're NOT listening to ME!" Mandy slammed her fist with frustration.
"Yes, I am."
"You're not."
"What?"
"You're a stupid bastard, Draco Malfoy!"
"Thanks, that's good to hear."
Mandy's face turned red, her eyes were dark with anger. She slapped Draco, hard, across the cheek, eyes glinting with rage.
Draco finally broke his stare at Blaise, clutching his red hot cheek painfully, which was stinging with heat. "Mandy! What the hell was that for?" he yelled out furiously. His cheek felt like flames had just sprouted into it, and Mandy's red palm mark was still visible on his pale, fair skin, as if it was printed out of a sizzling iron plate.
Mandy just shook her head, eyeing him with resentment, before she yelled out, "WE ARE FINISHED!" and stormed out of the Hall, her mouth twisted into a deep frown. The rest of the Hall stared blankly at Draco, whose face was red with embarrassment.
***
The dungeon potions classroom was boiling hot under the morning sun. Draco's moods were not improved by Mandy's constant crying and sobbing, which could be heard faintly all through the classroom.
Snape seemed to be as fine as ever, while the rest of the class were sweating on their seats. He held up a vial full of a light blue liquid, which appeared to be shimmering.
"Can anyone tell me what this potion is? And what it is made out of?" Snape's clear and crisp voice called out. His eyes searched the room, and unsurprisingly landed on Hermione Granger's outstretched hand.
Hermione cleared her throat. "It is a Sleeping Potion," she informed, remembering the one she had to make back in her second year. "It is made out of a newt's tongue, a drop of a dragon's tears, two spoonfuls of crushed Gillyweed, a spoonful of beetle eyes and a pair of owl feathers," she finished, looking pleased with herself.
Snape didn't even bother telling the class that this was correct.
Draco stared at Hermione irritably. She thinks she's sooo smart… A weird force made his heart thumped harder than usual. He instantly choked, feeling the sudden gush of air that had entered his lungs.
"Mr Malfoy… Are you alright there?" Snape asked with concern.
Draco's breathing gradually returned to normal. "Yes—Yes, Sir. I'm fine, thanks," he answered between coughs.
Snape nodded and continued to talk. "The Sleeping Potion is quite easy to make, but we will make different variations of it today. Meanwhile, I will ask someone to try this potion first." His eyes roamed the room.
"Miss Granger, would you like to come up please," Snape ordered.
"M—Me, Sir?" Hermione said uncertainly. She looked over at Harry, who just nudged her along.
"Yes, you, Miss Granger! Now, please come up here!" Snape said, losing his temper.
Hermione got up from her seat shakily. It reminds her of the time she was called up to try the Sorting Hat in her first year. It seems so long ago… But the awkward feeling kept gnawing on her.
It's just a Sleeping Potion… No harm… she thought to herself as she arrived in front of the classroom.
"Miss Granger will drink this potion and will wake up in about 15 minutes or so, since this is not a very strong potion," explained Snape. Then he turned to Hermione. "You will tell us what you feel when you wake up. Is that clear?" he asked.
Hermione just nodded; her throat seemed to have closed up. With that, Snape poured a piece of the potion into a clear, glass cup. "Here you go," he said as he offered her the potion.
Hermione took the cup from Snape's pale, cold hand and looked down on it. She gulped nervously. It's only a harmless potion… so why am I so anxious? Hermione wondered as sweat trickled down her forehead. She wiped it away with the sleeve of her robe.
"Ahem…" she heard Snape coughed impatiently. "I haven't put poison into that, Miss Granger," he said.
Hermione's cheeks turned red. She watched the students before her, looking up eagerly at the potion in her hand, daring her to drink it.
She pulled the cup up and poured it down her throat, swallowing it in one gulp as quickly as she could. She closed her eyes, waiting for something to happen. A couple of seconds passed…
She opened her eyes. The class was still there, staring at her. Their faces were blank, puzzled at why she was still awake. This potion isn't working… This is useless, she thought with relief.
The effect took hold of her like a jolt of ice. Her vision blurred. Her knees felt wobbly. Her body felt weak. The class seemed to spin away from her view. Their faces became less visible, and her surroundings began to deteriorate. Everything was unfocused; the blazing sun remained bright and yellow for a time, but that too disappeared. Soon after, her whole classroom turned black; the last faces that remained before she fell into a deep slumber were Harry and… Draco?
***
A/N: Second chapter coming up… Prepare for a rhyme…!
Next Chapter:
Hermione will wake up swollen and sore;
You may find it a bit of a bore
But she had a really strange dream;
Remember… Nothing is what it seems!