High
A/N- Hello my faithful readers and new readers who have decided to jump on this ride. Well, this will be a short two-shot but I promise you'll have fun… or atleast amusement…
I had this lying around on my laptop and when I read it, I thought this is something worth sharing because I had a good time reading this. So here is this new story…
For songs, well, any peppy song would go on well. As I wrote this some time back, I don't remember the exact songs I heard while writing this…
Disclaimer- Well, if someone was just distributing HP rights, I would be first in line. But sadly no one is and I still don't own HP. Though the plot is mine so you know, something is better than nothing.
Chapter 1
The windows of the heads dorm gave a brilliant view of the Hogwarts ground and the Black lake. The ground was lush green and the giant squid seemed to be whooping around in the lake. She sighed and sat at the window seat. It had been a month, 6 days and Hermione Granger was frustrated. The last year of her school was not at all going well and all of that because of a certain blond.
Draco Malfoy was and always has been the bane of her existence. The past six years it was hell but looked like her seventh year was even worse. It felt like she had been locked away in Lucifer's cage in hell with the one and only pureblood extraordinaire; Draco Malfoy. Welcome to a year of insanity. She could have handled the satan himself but Draco Malfoy was a prick on a different dimension.
She had thought that maybe, just maybe, after last year, he would've changed. But really, who was she kidding. He was Draco Malfoy and she was Hermione Granger… and they were heads. When she had thought that her seventh year would be great, things like this had to happen.
Last year was traumatic for the whole school and the wizarding world. Voldemort himself had graced the halls of Hogwarts with his cronies and tried to kill the Headmaster and Harry. What a fight it was… she would always remember it. But it had looked like Draco Malfoy was a spy on their side. The Voldemort and his death eaters entering Hogwarts was all planned beforehand.
The headmaster had destroyed five Horcruxes right under the nose of old Voldy-Moldy but looked like he was too busy planning Dumbledore's execution that he didn't even notice. The fight took place at Hogwarts' grounds. Order of Phoenix and the DA member fought valiantly. There were few casualties but no one died so that was good… right.
Harry had cut the snake in two with Godric Gryffindor's sword before slitting the throat of Bellatrix. Then he took on Tom Riddle alongside Dumbledore. When the killing curse had hit him she had panicked so much. But she saw Dumbledore's eyes twinkling and she knew he was upto something. And the next second, Harry was standing back up. Seriously, it looked like he had a penchant for surviving killing curses.
Then Harry and Dumbledore finished the Dark Lord in style. And when she saw Harry pumping a fist in the air at their victory, she felt like she had been in some kind of gory action movie, fighting monsters and zombies; kinda like walking dead meets supernatural. Half the death eaters looked insane as it was.
Draco Malfoy was considered a hero and so was Severus Snape. While Snape sneered whenever anyone mentioned his role in war, Draco would smirk and be smug about it. It got frustrating after a while.
When she had gotten the Head Girl's badge in summer, she was elated. Her parents couldn't be any happier. She had enjoyed the summer being a total teenager. Without the fear of Voldemort looming over them, she had enjoyed every single day. She had gone to Quidditch matches with Harry, Ron and his family. She had gone for shopping with her mother and cricketing with her father.
She got in touch with her muggle friends and went out to party or on adventures with them. And sometimes she had called Harry too for the trips. She liked Ron as a friend but he would never be able to understand how muggle things worked and she was not that comfortable with the idea of him trying out things like bowling or driving or cinema.
After awesome summer holidays, September 1 she got on the train and had got the biggest; well not biggest but definitely one of the biggest shock in her life. She saw Draco Malfoy sitting smugly in the Prefect's compartment and she thought of pulling her hair out. But then she imagined how she would look with that and shuddered at the image. And then she decided to endure the torture of it all.
When she was summoned by Dumbledore after the welcome feast, she thought it would be perfectly normal. But when had her luck been that good. She discovered they would be sharing Head's dorm together with one common room and a bathroom. Earlier it used to be a separate dorm in their own respective houses but now they would share same. She wanted someone to shoot her then and there; because there was no way she would survive with Draco Malfoy. Either she would kill him, or he would kill her.
The night had just started and they were already well into their first fights. There was not much space in the bookshelves and apparently both of them had tons of books. The house elves, (it had looked like) put most important tomes in the shelves and the rest were all mixed up. They had stayed well into the night separating their books which had involved a lot of screaming, cursing and chaos.
They had left the common room a mess that night. When Draco had got fed up and retreated to his room, she had left a note for elves for not to touch her things.
The next morning, she gathered all her things and moved them to her room. When Draco had entered the room, it was all neat and clean. But to his utter irritation, the house elves had cleared his stuff up. Half of his books were shifted to his room while the other half seemed to be lost in oblivion. When he noticed this, he had lost his temper and had threatened the elves to return his things. Sadly, his potions and transfiguration essay alongside with some of his less relevant books were in ashes.
When he had asked why they had such an ingenious idea as of burning them, they had just squeaked.
'We saw Miss had half of those books and other looked not important.'
He was filled with rage. And when he asked about the essays and how he would ever explain their mistake to his professors, they uttered.
'Oh but Mister Malfoy, the essays were ruined by the ink from your ink-pot.'
Hermione had laughed out so loud that she had to bury her head in a cushion to suppress it. Malfoy had looked murderous with that nasty glare. And the elves had vanished the second he turned to look at her.
And that was just the start. From then on, it was war. He would prank her and then she would prank him back and it went so on.
Once he had mixed green metallic hair colour in her shampoo and she had to sport green streaked locks for 3 days. In return she had set his hair on fire; which did decrease the length of his hair.
The next time, he slipped a wrong ingredient in her potion and she ended up with an explosion, a broken finger and goo in all her hair; much to Professor Snape's amusement.
The next class, she transfigured his sweater in a bra with a sticking charm on all his clothes. One moment he was sitting there taking notes and the other, he was sporting a pink bra with floral design and 'suck me' written over them, on his shirt, which was stuck to him for the remainder of the day. All Professor McGonagall did was tell him that he was stuck with that for remainder of the day as the spell was modified and gave Hermione a secretive smile.
The next week, Hermione had to endure wardrobe malfunction and in return Draco had to endure significant decrease in his clothes as they were turned in ashes.
The 5th week in school, Hermione scored an E in Potions because Draco thought it was funny to screw up with her essay. Hermione was in such a fury that she tore 4 of his essays to shreds and burst them up in flames.
It was the both of them that endured the consequences but all the houses were quiet enjoying their predicament.
She heard the common room door open and swore she would hex him good this time if he tried to mess with her.
'Sweet Salazar! What do we have here? The bushy bookworm trying to send love signs to her lover squid.' Draco mocked before settling down on a sofa.
'How I wish that the giant squid would eat you alive, ferret.' She said.
'My-my! And deprive all of the girls from seeing me daily. How cruel can you get Granger?' he said dramatically.
'You wish!' she snorted.
'What? That every girl drools over me? Oh I assure you Granger, they do.' He said smugly.
'So delusional you are Malfoy. Not every girl is daft.' She stated.
'Oh if you are talking about yourself then don't bother. Hardly anyone sees you more than a bookworm Granger. So it doesn't really matter.' He mocked her again and she could feel the anger coursing through her vein.
'Then I suggest you get a pair of glasses Malfoy. Because it was what, just two hours back that Blaise told me I looked hot in Arthimancy. Not that I need anyone to validate it but I thought you should know.' She smirked at him and went to her room slamming her door hard.
Granger 1 Malfoy 0.
That night when he visited the Slytherin common room, he dragged Blaise to a corner and set silencing charm around them.
'Did you call her hot?' he asked and Blaise looked at him like he had asked who was Salazar Slytherin.
'I don't know who you are referring to but if it's about Granger then yeah.' Blaise said casually and Draco looked at him in bafflement.
'But why would you do such an atrocious thing?' he asked or more like yelled.
'You have got to be blind man. I think you are in a desperate need of Glasses, princess.' Blaise said dramatically and Draco sighed at his best friend's antics.
'I don't need fucking glasses Zabini. And if you call me silly names one more time I swear I will castrate you no matter best friend or not.' Draco glared.
Blaise put his hands up in surrender with an amused look on his face.
'Drake, you've got to be kidding me by asking why I told Granger she looked hot. You live within the same quarters and have failed to take notice of how hot she has got. I mean have you seen her in those muggle jeans and all, she looks smoking.' Blaise said. Draco looked at him incredulously and he just shrugged.
'She is a nightmare to live with, first thing. Then she's always being a bitch. How can you find her anything but disgusting.' Draco shuddered.
'Look here mate. I will say this once and once only. That girl there that you live with is hot as fuck. She is like the scorching heat in Caribbean. Now either you disguise your apparent attraction towards her by your so called hatred and all or you go there, treat her better and shag her. Choice is yours.' Blaise said quite wisely.
But…
'My apparent attraction towards that… towards her. Blaise you've officially gone off your rockers.' Draco said sounding appalled. Though his inside twisted at the thought; and not the twist that made you vomit.
'Drake, I'm your best friend. And then I'm neither blind nor dumb. Third year, her right hook and your nose, never have seen you so flustered. Fourth year, Yule ball, and the way your eyes popped out of those sockets and jaw hit the floor. Or fifth year, when you held her by wrist. The way your eyes glimmered when she put up a fight to you restraining her. Last year, the way you used to look at her. C'mon mate, give me some credit.' Blaise said smugly.
'I don't know what you are talking about.' Draco said and Blaise just smirked.
Draco threw him a dirty look before storming out the common room. Seeds planted- Blaise thought and smirked even more. Now to make Draco's dear Granger see the light. Oh he would be needing help for that.
The next day was Saturday and a Hogsmeade weekend. Blaise jogged down to the entrance hall and pulled Theo aside.
'Mate, I was going to get my date!' Theo exclaimed.
'I know Theo. But the phase 2 has started.' Blaise muttered urgently.
'What!? How? But didn't we plan that we'll let them fight for… mmph.' Theo was saying but Blaise put a hand to his mouth when he noticed Pansy Parkinson pass.
She looked at them with a strange expression and Blaise smiled. Theo jabbed him in ribs and he dropped his hand. Theo wiped his mouth with his sleeves before giving her a smile too. She looked at them suspiciously before heading out.
'Idiot!' Blaise exclaimed and Theo looked appalled.
'Ok so now I am an idiot. Dragging me away like I'm your girlfriend who you want to snog was your idea purely.' Theo said with a mock glare.
'Oh please! Now I will be informing my partner. I hope you remember your part in this. Seeds have been planted inside dragon's head.' Blaise pointed out and disappeared while Theo went to get his date.
While on the other side, the Heads were bickering.
'From where did you get such a rubbish idea Granger. We are not liable for them.' Draco said sourly patrolling the streets of Hogsmeade with Hermione.
'We are heads Malfoy, of course we are liable for them. And FYI, it was professor McGonagall who asked us to do this.' She said shaking her head and trying to keep a calm head.
'What is FYI?' he asked perplexed and she sighed.
'For your information. Really, sometimes I think wizarding world is so obsolete.' She said.
'Who says such things Granger?' he snorted.
'Oh, I don't know but about all the muggles.' She replied and he narrowed his eyes at her.
'And you want us to say such ludicrous things?' he asked incredulously.
'Ludicrous!? Malfoy it's a simple acronym. Your tongue won't turn blue or you won't grow two heads if you use acronyms.' She said exasperated.
'Whatever Granger.' He said and gave detention to a pair of fourth year trying to prank a villager on their way.
When they had finally scoured the village, they went to Three Broomsticks for a drink. Both of them were exhausted by a morning of constant bickering and handing out 20 detentions. It was like a silent truce.
While they were sipping their butterbear, Hermione noticed Ginny sitting in a booth with Theodore Nott. She knew her friend liked the studious Slytherin but when had this happened. She guiltily admitted that with NEWTs, Head duties and enduring Malfoy, her friendship was suffering. She made a mental note to ask Ginny and Luna to come to her room for some girls' time.
She could not hear what they were saying so she figured they must have put up a silencing charm. And they looked so engrossed in whatever they were talking about. She smirked. Now she had to know what they were talking about.
'Wow Granger! You got a mean smirk.' Draco said. She didn't know if it was some kind of complement or twisted insult so she just smirked.
While 3 tables down…
'What!?' Ginny asked stretching the syllables.
'Yes. Blaise told me he had planted thoughts in our dear dragon's head. Now we are to be proceeding which tells me that someone needs to get similar thoughts moving inside our lioness's head.' Theo said and she smirked.
'Well, wasn't that fast and sneaky of Zabini.' Ginny said.
He looked at her with a crooked smile.
'Ok. Red knows her work. But she warns you, it won't be easy. Hermione has been distant so it'll be difficult for her. Nonetheless, she'll do it.' She said with a smug look.
'I so love it when you talk about yourself in third person Red.' Theo said with a suggestive smile.
'Then what are we waiting for Mr. Nott?' she asked suggesting.
Theo was a bookworm but he knew when a girl wanted what. He paid up for their drinks and food and dragged her away to fulfill his Red's wishes.
Hermione and Draco were walking back to the castle when they saw a bunch of third years lurking outside shrieking shack. They went there and Draco barked.
'Back to the castle if you don't want me giving you a week's worth of detention.'
The third years looked at him in fear.
'You heard him. Back to castle, right now.' Hermione said narrowing her eyes and they scampered off.
'Didn't need you to open your mouth.' He said when he saw her moving forward.
'A thank you would have sufficed Malfoy.' She said and heard him snort.
'You remember when we were in our third year?' She asked looking at the building.
'What about it?' he muttered.
'How Harry tricked you, Crabbe and Goyle! Oh my goodness! It was absolutely brilliant!' she said smiling.
'Haha… very hilarious indeed.' He said sarcastically.
'C'mon Malfoy. That incident with them falling over their pants was hilarious.' She said and saw a hint of smile on his face.
'Whatever. Let's head back to the castle, or else all I know Potter might be sending a search party for you.' He said and they walked back to the castle in silence.
The next Tuesday she invited Ginny and Luna for a Girls night. And by extended invitation, Daphne Greengrass was also invited.
In the evening she informed Draco of her plans and he nodded before heading out for Quidditch practice. When the girls arrived, Hermione was pulling out the baked goods from oven.
'What is that delicious smell Hermione?' Ginny asked.
'That's chocolate chip cookies with a hint of cinnamon, blueberry muffins, hot chocolate and hot fried ice-cream with chocolate syrup.' She informed the girls.
'I didn't know you could cook Granger.' Daphne said sounding definitely impressed.
'Oh Hermione here is a big multi-tasker. I don't know a thing that she is not good at, except flying.' Ginny said.
'Its nice to meet you Daphne. Its Hermione for you.' Hermione said with a smile as she and her friends took all the goodies and went to her room.
When they had settled down, Hermione put up her favorite artist.
'That's heavenly music! Who is that?' Daphne asked.
'I don't think you would know about him Daphne, he's a muggle singer. His name is Ed Sheeran.' Hermione said.
'Muggle or not, I would definitely snog that guy if only to have him sing me a song.' Ginny winked at her.
'Ginerva Weasly! You are impossible.' Hermione admonished her friend.
'Oh it's nothing new Hermione. She has all these nargles over her these days. But I have noticed Linkyramps have gone missing Ginny.' Luna said in her airy voice.
'What are Linkyramps?' Daphne asked.
'Oh! They are these little fairy-like beings that get attracted to those who have a significant amount of sexual tension. I see there are lot of them around here too Hermione. Malfoy seems to have them too.' Luna said nonchalantly.
Daphne's eyes popped wide and Hermione chocked on her hot chocolate while Ginny sniggered.
'Luna! There's nothing of that sorts.' Hermione said a little flustered.
Bless Luna and her not so subtle way of making things awkward and apparent- thought Ginny when she winked at Luna.
'I am spending some time with Theo so I would say that its only normal that Linkyramps would not be attracted to me anymore.' Ginny said casually.
'About that Ginny, when did all this happen?' Hermione said glad for the change of topic. Ginny sensed that too but knew not to push it just yet.
'Yeah. Honestly, it was shocking and not so shocking at the same time when I saw you both in Hogsmeade. Theo never tells me anything really.' Daphne said.
'I got caught checking him out at the Quidditch practice. And then he kissed me. From then on it all went on. Then he asked me for Hogmeade and rest is as they say; History.' Ginny said with a tint of scarlet on her cheeks.
'Interesting how Linkyramps just don't disappear from only kissing.' Luna said and this time it was Ginny who choked and the rest smirked.
The girls talked about their holidays, what they did or learnt. The next topic was school and how better the politics and ministry had become after Kingsley assumed the role of Minister of Magic. And so on it went till all of them were tired. Daphne and Luna bid them farewell while Ginny stuck back for some time.
'So, you and Malfoy.' Ginny said wiggling her brows.
'Oh shut up you!' Hermione exclaimed throwing a pillow at Ginny's head.
'Luna did say something about Linkyramps.' Ginny said trying to sound casual.
'And since when have you started believing in the magical creatures that Luna talks about.' Hermione shot back.
'Point. But still, it would be legendary sort of thing, you know. Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger, war heroine snatches yet another heart.' Ginny said imitating Rita Skeeter while saying the last line.
'Gin!' Hermione protested.
'C'mon Hermione, imagine all the gossips and stares that would surround you. The richest bachelor and the brightest witch of her age dating! It would be so adventurous!' Ginny said with a sly smile.
'What it would be is a disaster. Now can we please stop talking about ferret.' Hermione said. Ginny always tested her patience but she wouldn't trade her friend for anyone else.
'Ok. I will stop. But please, don't you deny that he is so smoking hot. Like I'm happy with Theo but Malfoy just has that Adonis features. Hey! You live with Malfoy.' Ginny said.
'Nice observation.' Hermione said rolling her eyes.
'Yeah. Have you ever caught him naked or something? Like you may have just caught him showering in bathroom or strolling in the common room half naked. Have you?' Ginny asked excitedly.
'Ginny!' Hermione looked appalled. Ok. So now the seed was almost planted. Just few more sentences and she would get back to her room.
'No? Harsh luck!' Ginny said like it was the biggest tragedy.
'Ginny, either you have really lost it or you fancy Malfoy. Whatever it is, can we stop talking about that arrogant git?' Hermione said looking at Ginny pointedly.
'Ok-ok. We'll stop there.' Ginny said putting her hands up in surrender. When Hermione smiled, she sighed in relief. Seeds planted, images fixed and she had done her part.
'By the way, you and Theo.' Hermione pointed.
'Yeah. He's something else.' Ginny said sheepishly.
'Looks like someone is completely enamored with someone.' Hermione prompted.
'Is it that obvious?' she asked and when Hermione smiled in agreement she continued. 'You know it didn't really work between me and Harry. He is great but I guess all I had on him was a childish crush and it faded. I did tell you that I thought Theo was hot, right.' Hermione nodded.
'So then this one day, I was on grounds and Slytherin's were practicing. I spotted him and I was just checking him out when he caught me staring. After the practice, he came to me where I was sitting. I was about to tell him off but then he went and kissed me. It was like I was being kissed the first time. And then sometimes we sneaked off to alcoves and all to snog. Then he asked me on a date and I agreed. When we were returning, it started out as a steamy snog but ended up in the best shag of my life.' Ginny completed her tale blushing.
It was not often that Hermione saw her female best friend blush, so she figured that Ginny must really like Theo.
'Well… I'm so happy you found someone. Theo is one of those good ones. We are paired up in Ancient Runes. He doesn't talk much but from what I have observed, he is intelligent, witty and nice.' Hermione said and Ginny's face burst in a huge smile.
'So you don't have any problem with us dating?' Ginny asked. A little extra effort never went to waste.
'I'm no one to judge Ginny. I did go on many rendezvous this summer. Beside I don't really have problem with nice Slytherin. Theo and Blaise are nice. And Daphne is quite nice too. It's the like of Crabbe and Goyle and Parkinson that I have real problem with.' Hermione stated.
'Oh everyone has problems with the likes of them. But you didn't mention Malfoy.' Ginny raised one of her eyebrow at her.
'Ginny… Malfoy is a pompous ass, I admit. But he's not evil. I mean he did fight for our side.' Hermione said.
Mission Successful- Ginny screamed internally.
'Well yes. I guess no one was innocent. We were as prejudiced as they were. So not all Slytherins are bad. Have you tried proposing truce with Malfoy? It may give you time to show your face in Gryffindor common room more often.' Ginny suggested subtly.
Hermione pondered over it for some time before answering.
'No I haven't. I actually haven't even thought of any such thing. It's that he's always being a pain in ass in general.'
'Well I suggest that you should. Your fights are entertaining, believe me. But I would like to spend more time with you. And wasn't this year about letting your hair down? Throw parties and have fun. Just try. Maybe it'll result in something good.' Ginny said genuinely before bidding her goodnight.
And when Hermione was in her bed trying to sleep later, it did seem like a nice idea.
The week passed in a flash and soon the weekend was upon them. Hermione had finished all of her homework so she was actually looking forward to having fun. Then there was the thing about proposing truce.
The past week, Malfoy had kept to himself aside from his daily dose of snide remarks. It had surprised her but it came as a huge relief. She could actually see what Ginny was going on about the truce. If it took a truce to give her peace of mind and time to enjoy her last year, then a truce it was.
She rolled out of her bed and threw loose robe on her night dress which was a pair of shorts and a loose top. When she entered the common room, her eyes fell on her fellow co-head who was lounging on the couch reading newspaper. But the thing that possibly bothered her more than she cared to admit was that he was not wearing any t-shirt.
She gulped and remembered Ginny telling her how hot Malfoy was. It looked like what Ginny said was cent percent true. His body looked like of a Greek God sculpted perfectly like those structures she saw in a museum. She closed her eyes and decided to focus on what she came here for.
With renewed resolve in her eyes, she marched to him.
'Malfoy!' she said and he looked up from his paper.
'I need to talk to you about something.' She said as seriously as she could. Sensing the seriousness in her voice he kept the paper down and looked at her.
'Go on Granger.' He said smoothly.
'Look, you don't like me and neither do I like you. But we are stuck together in this common room and all heads duties together for this year. Now I don't know about you but I would like to enjoy my last year. So I say we make truce and try to work cordially. The prank war is great but taxing at the same time. I really don't want to run around all the time worrying what your next prank would be or thinking about new pranks. What do you say, a truce?' she said very calmly.
He looked at her composed face. It was true what she said and he knew it. And if it made his life easier then…
'A truce it is.' He said nodding. She gave him a small smile before walking towards the bathroom. From where he sat, he could make out her figure very easily. And when she hung the robe outside before going in, he admitted to himself that Granger was hot.
He was just digesting the fact that he had thought of her as hot when a shrieking sound came from inside the bathroom. He ran to the bathroom wandlessly unlocking the door. The scene inside had him in shock too.
'What the hell are they doing here?' was all he could say.
A/N- my longest chapter ever. Wow! 5k!
So, I hope you enjoyed the first chapter. And if you are intrigued to find out where this goes after this cliffy, hang on.
And don't forget to review, favorite and follow. Tell me your guesses about who could be there in Head dorms washroom and I will dedicate the next chapter to you if you get it right.
Till then… lots of love.