Inter-house Tournament: Love?
Chapter 1: WHAT?
Normal POV
The boy who lived was not happy. First, he was in detention. Second, he was in detention with Snape. Third, he, Ron and Hermione was in detention with Snape and Malfoy and Blaise Zabini. Godric Gryffindor must be turning in his grave.
They were in their seventh year, after the war, and the Slytherins haven't changed a bit. They insulted Hermione's ancestry for the nth time in front of the DADA classroom. Who knew that Snape was inside? No one. Hermione acted all cool and collected, but Harry knew he saw a flash of sorrow and pain escape her eyes and she turned towards him, giving a small and barely audible sob. Hermione's parents died in the war. Not that the ferret knew, or even cared. So Harry took out his wand, and Ron followed him. It was amusing, seeing Malfoy with the Bat bogey hex. And then Snape chose that moment to come out.
He didn't even need to talk. The five of them immediately walked towards Snape's office, Hermione silently following, Harry's hand on her arm. On normal circumstances, Harry would have blushed, because he was quite affectionate—though very shy, as we all associate with Harry—with the bushy haired witch, and Harry, loved to be around her. Her presence alone calmed his frayed nerves, while Ron's ignited his determination to beat Malfoy's snarky mouth up.
But enough of that.
Harry sneaked glances at Hermione, worried, because the brunette was staring blank ahead beside Malfoy, (she was forced to sit beside him on Snape's orders), and Harry could see the look of pain in her eyes. Blaise was beside him, dozing casually on his chair.
Ron was at the back, sulking, because Snape ordered him to arrange all the ingredients of the potions cupboard alphabetically. He was the one who did the Bat-bogey hex, after all. Better him than us, Harry playfully thought.
Meanwhile, Filtch was hoarding most of the Gryffindor and Slytherin students into the great hall. The Gryffindors are very loyal and they value their friends, so when they learned that Gryffindor's princess was insulted, and the golden trio was in trouble, they had a major brawl outside near the lake, with the 'stupid snakes.'
It was certainly a messy fight.
Hermione's POV
Snape suddenly stomped into the room after about three hours of boredom when I could've done my essays, and it was so sudden and loud that even woke up Blaise Zabini from his slumber. I smiled a little bit and Blaise smirked. Even though we were in different houses, and I am a…a—mudblood, he was quite nice to me... when Malfoy was not around. "Stop laughing, Mudblood, and shut up. Your voice is making my ears bleed." I ignored the sting of Malfoy's comment and looked back at Harry. He smiled a little, asking a question. Are you alright? I nodded and smiled. Ron was looking at me too, so I smiled at him. He returned it enthusiastically after glaring at Malfoy. "You five, go to the great hall. Except Miss Granger." I gulped. Harry and Ron exited out, the latter mouthing we'll wait for you, but I shook my head. They really shouldn't bother.
"May I inquire… the problem this time… Miss Granger?" I looked up at the Potions master after he had intoned his question in his dulcet tones. He changed a lot since the war. Yes, he was still the unapproachable Slytherin lover, but he was fair to us now. At least to me and most of the Gryffindors. I looked down. "Malfoy... was insulting me about... being a muggleborn." I cross my arms, suddenly feeling angry. "Honestly, is it so bad to be a muggleborn? Aren't we all humans!?" Snape blinked at my outburst. I freeze. Uh oh… "Sorry, Professor. I—"
"Excused. Do not mind my godson and his empty insults. Fear what he can do instead. Now, I believe I do not fancy your presence here, Miss Granger, I have more important things to do than entertain The Gryffindor Princess. Get out." I blinked and turned, walking more slowly than usual. Did Snape just... do that? Did he just advice me? Well, if you ignore the snarky comments, I think he really did advice me…
Impossible.
But before I turned away from him a while ago, I swear I heard him mutter "Lily." Who was she? There are a lot of Lily's in the world... like Harry's mother… Meanwhile, I opened the doors to the great hall. Harry and Ron were just beside each other at the great doors, so I wasn't surprised when two hands suddenly took hold of my arms. "Honestly, I'm fine!" I smiled at the two. They rarely show this kind of affection to me. It felt nice, all the same. "Dumbledore is going to talk to us... and something about his smile ago means we're in it for trouble, mate. It was all the Slytherins fault! Bloody Bonkers, that Dumbledore, I tell you." Ron muttered. I frowned at him. "Dumbledore isn't as mad as you think, Ronald." He ignored me. As we seated, the headmaster stood. "Students. I was informed about the... mishap that had happened a while ago. I am very disappointed in all of you. Though, I have devised a plan to solve this, which shall be announced this time tomorrow. You may leave." He said, his eyes twinkling mischievously and Harry whispered to me, "We are in trouble." I giggled softly as his breath tickled my ear. "Stop it, Harry." He tried to breathe on my ear again, making me pinch his arm. "Ow!" I roll my eyes at him. "Come on, Mate—Hermione." Ron said, plucking a slice of meat pie before gesturing us to go out of the Great hall, where most of the students are, vacating the hall.
The three of us walked out of the place, my shoulders drooping a bit, and my walk looking dejected, once I've remembered that I was the reason that Dumbledore's got punishment for us… "This is my entire fault." Ron looked at me, disbelief in his face. "Have you gone mad?! It's that stupid ferret's fault. Bloody git." I walk silently towards the Gryffindor tower, not comforted by Ron's words, instead muttering, "Language, Ronald."
"Aliomphous Oblivio" I whispered once front of the fat lady. George and Fred's smiling—if somewhat not as cheerful as normal—faces greeted me as I entered the common room. "Hermione, are you alright?" George asked.
"—Cause if you're not—"
"—We'll certainly beat—"
"—That pompous git Malfoy—"
"—Up!—"They finished what they were saying, smiling.
I actually laughed at the twins, who beamed at me. "Yes, I'm… Brilliant." Faces smiled at me as I bid good night to Harry and Ron, and walked towards the girl's dormitories, a little uncomfortable at the attention. I drew the curtains of my four poster closed once I have sat on my bed and looked blankly at nothing. I heard a 'Good night Hermione' from Fay Dunbar and settled to sleep, reminding myself that I have wonderful friends.
XXX
The next morning, I was walking to the library, the place that can calm my nerves before you can even say Quidditch. I needed to think. The stupid ferret made me feel conscious of myself of the people around me. Harry lost his parents, and never broke down while I cry every time I remember them. I knew I needed to be strong. How does Harry cope with this? After the war, Harry and Ron—rather reluctantly about missing his mother's Christmas feasts—went with me to remove the memory charm I used to remove my parent's memories. They… they came with me to Australia, and…and then…
Flashback:
"Harry! Ron! Faster!" I was smiling widely, hurrying towards the pale yellow house at the far corner of Red Ridges Street. It has been so long since I have seen my parents. I absolutely miss them! I do hope they're alright, though… There was a feeling inside that just won't cease, ever since Malfoy Manor. It's like… somebody has gone into my head. I… I remembered my parents. I was thinking about this while Ron yelled. "Hermione! Wait up!" I ignored him, finally reaching the house and throwing open the door. It knew it was my excitement that clouded my logic. "Mum! Dad!"
"AVADA KEDAVRA!" I froze, panic sealing me in place. If it weren't for Harry who had pushed my head down roughly, I would be a corpse."Stupefy!" I immediately shouted, but the man with the mask dodged my spell. "Oi, what's happening—Ron toppled over Harry and me. "Ron—GET OFF NOW!" I shouted, looking at my parents, both tied and whimpering at the floor."Incarcerous!" I felt ropes bind my body, and the horrible reality finally sunk in. That time in the Manor… Legilimency. But who? The man, seeing that Ron, Harry, and I we're unable to move, muttered "Expelliarmus!" and our wands flew to his outstretched hand."Well well well," The man muttered. "If it isn't our Mudblood." With a terrible flourish, he took of his mask. I gasped.
It was Rodolphus Lestrange.
He looked terrible, and it irked me to feel pleased at his half-melted face. "See what has happened to me? All this because of you." I glared at him, remembering our skirmish at the Battle at Hogwarts. "That was a good Blasting Jinx." I spit out. He snickered. "I see, gloating, are we? Let's see." He pointed a wand, my wand, at my parents. "CRUCIO!" My mother writhed on the ground, and my father released a bout of muffled yells. "AHHHHHHHHHHH!" I closed my eyes, tears falling down. "STOP IT! STOP IT! FIGHT ME INSTEAD! GIVE ME BACK MY WAND!" I inhaled painfully.
" STOP!"
I screamed. All of a sudden, the spell stopped. "Ahh, a loyal wand you have, Mudblood. But not a problem. My wand would be best." Rodolphus drew his own wand, slipping mine into his coat pocket. "LET HER PARENTS GO!" Harry yelled. "Oooh, I'm scared, Boy-who-lived. You don't seem very intimidating, tied in ropes." He pointed his wand again, this time at my father. "Crucio." "STOP! STOP! STO—" My shouts we're blocked out of my father's bloodcurling scream. My mother was breathing hardly on the ground, spasms raking her body. "MUM!" I sobbed. "Harry—I…Help me…Help…p-please…" I whispered helplessly. "Please…please h-help them…" I knew it was in vain, though. Harry was no super hero. Without his wand, he was as helpless as I am. Ron looked absolutely livid. "YOU BLOODY DEATH EATER! LET HER PARENTS GO AND FIGHT LIKE A REAL PUREBLOOD! YOU ARE A DISGRACE!" He hollered, but it fell on deaf ears. My father continued to scream. The spell was still going on. Rodolphus included my mother on his unforgivable spell, and she too, screamed. My nails dug into my palm, drawing blood.
My wrist and arms felt raw, and my skin tingled badly when I tried to wriggle my way out of the ropes. "LET—THEM—GO!" I screamed, and then the ropes binding me snapped. I didn't know how that happened, but I took off towards Lestrange. I body slammed him, cutting off his spell and started pummelling him. I was so mad, so angry. I know didn't care if he dies. Then I saw my wand. I let my logical side take over and grabbed it. "Stupefy!" I pointed my wand at his neck, retrieving all wands in his hand. A simple cutting hex released Harry and Ron."'Mione!" They both ran at me. I tossed them their wands. "Take care of him." I spit out, and ran to my parents, both pale.
They couldn't be dead!
Then I saw my mother's chest rise and fall, and a huge wave of relief came over me that I collapsed next to her and my father. "Dad…Mum." My eyes settled on her. "M-mum?" Her head lolled at the sound of my voice. I frantically move to clasp hers.
Her grip wasn't very tight.
"Mum… just—just, hold on, okay? Help will be coming." She only looked at me with her blue eyes. "My…my daughter… you came back." A tear of moisture ran a trail on her aged cheek. "Yes! Yes…I promised I would." I said, hiding my surprise. Of course, my parents were only muggles, and it wouldn't take them long to break upon the Cruciatus curse, much less a memory spell like mine. "Mama—mama, hold on. Please—please, don't close your eyes." She only smiled at me. "My dear Hermione…you've grown so beautiful. You have made" She coughed blood. Then I saw the fresh wound on her lower abdomen. Lestrange must have done this before we came… "Mum!" She lifted her hand with difficulty and patted my hand. She turned her head, as if talking to Dad. " Look… look, Dan. She came back… Our daughter's come back to us…" Her grip on my hand faltered for a moment. "No, no… Mum?" She only smiled at me, fresh tears welling up on her eyes. She closed her mouth, and hummed softly.
I released a sob. She was humming my lullaby. The lullaby I had sorely missed, the lullaby that kept the monsters of fear in my heart dormant. The lullaby she made for me, and sang to me ever since I was young.
"Sing for me…" she exhaled. I grasped both of her hands, more moisture running on my cheeks. I opened my mouth:
Here with me, safe and warm,
We're no monsters will come to harm,
My love for you will keep you out of harm's way,
You will show your brilliance one day.
Halfway through the song, My mother released my hand, and it traveled towards my father's. "Richard…" She exhaled a little bit giddily. My Father sighed, though I could tell it hurt him to do so, like my mother, he had a gaping wound on his abdomen. "Emma." I continued singing.
The tearful present as you know,
Won't be as sad and lonely tomorrow.
Patience, my little flower, and you'll blossom too,
Because I love you, I love you, I love you…
"Remember, my little—flower. The—tearful…present as you know now, Won't be as—as sad and as lonely—tomorrow. I—I…L-love…" She said in deep, painful breaths. "No! Mum, please, don't waste your breath on this! Mum!" She looked at me, but as I watched, the fire in her blue eyes receded, until it vanished entirely. My mum isn't there anymore. I looked over at my dad, and his hand was limp. "No…"
Nononononononononononononono nononono.
"NO!NO! MUM! THIS CANNOT BE HAPPENING! MUM! DAD! WAKE UP! WAKE UP! YOU PROMISED YOU WON'T LEAVE—YOU PROMISED! REMEMBER? AS LONG AS WE'RE HERE, THE MONSTERS' WON'T HURT ME? You lied… y-you lied…please—I'll study harder—just… ALL THE PLANS I MADE—I MADE THEM FOR YOUR SAFETY! SO WE'LL BE TOGETHER, S-SAFE! SO WE CAN SPEND CHRISTMAS TOGETHER…AND GO TO FRANCE AGAIN...SO—SO PLEASE COME BACK TO ME…" Warm arms encircled me, and I turned my body and leaned on Harry's chest. "Th-They can't be gone, Ha-Harry, this is a dream right? Tell me they will be there when I wake up …" Another pair of warm hands settled on my shoulder, rubbing in warm circles. "R-ron."
"'Mione…they're gone..." And suddenly, I was a wild animal, crying, screaming and trashing. I just couldn't believe it. My parents we're gone. And it was because of me. They died because I was too weak to stop a Legilimens. I rose to my feet. "NO! YOU'RE LYING! MUM! PLEASE! PLEASE, I'LL DO ANYTHING, DON'T—DON'T DO THIS TO ME! DAD! I'M SORRY I DIDN'T TELL A LOT OF THINGS HAPPENING AT HOGWARTS, RIGHT? I WASN'T ABLE TO SHOW—SHOW YOU MY PATRONUS YET, RIGHT? Please, just…don't die… I need you here… Don't—don't leave me…" I collapse again on my knees. "Don't…leave…"
That was when utter blackness enveloped me into its numb arms.
I smiled flippantly at Madam Pince who smiled back at me. Taking out my copy of Hogwarts: A history and reading it, my nerves calmed a bit, and the stinging behind my eyes receded. I sat comfortably on the library chair. I was already in the 54th chapter when I felt the hairs on my neck rise. I looked around and came face to face with a red haired boy. My face broke into a scowl. "You scared me, Ron." He only smiled. "Do you want to go to breakfast? The announcement will be three hours later." I shook my head. Breakfast won't be a good distraction. "I'm getting bad again, Ron...the memories… I need a distraction…" Ron looked back at me, confusion on his face. And then an idea rose into my mind. It was completely barmy, but I would take anything, anything just to forget for a moment.
"Well, I just wanted to ask if you could teach me on riding a broom? And—" I didn't get to finish my sentence when Ron hugged me. It completely surprised me. Ron never do hugs. His body was warm. "Come on Hermione!" I laughed. He led me towards the Quidditch pitch, bringing his new Nimbus 2000 and saying a lot of stuff about Quidditch that I listened to, even if I didn't understand why Quidditch is so exciting. "I haven't got a broom, Ron." He blushed, apparently not thinking about this. "Nevermind, I'll ride with you." I said, failing to notice Ron's face becoming a deeper red. So for two hours, Ron and I zoomed around the pitch, both of us laughing—and screaming, for one person (three guesses on who)—and generally enjoying ourselves. Then Ron gently landed us. "Thank you, that was fun." I told him, though feeling a bit green. Make that very queasy. Flying is fun, not that I'm trying it again.
"Oh, bloody hell, you're an brilliant flyer, Hemione! I didn't even need to do anything much!" Ron laughed while I mentally told myself to not ever propose flying to Ron again. "So... what now?" I smiled mischievously. Now that Ron had his fun, it's my turn. "Homework, Ron."
Ron can be seen paling even on the dark side of the moon. I dragged him off with the use of "Mobilicorpus!" sending the redhead walking against his will towards the library.
"Hermione!" Ron wailed. "Shut up Ron, or I will levitate you." That shutted him up. We were in the library after 2 minutes and I was looking over Ron's assignments. "Ron, Why is your name Roggie Wheashulbuy?" he frowned. "That's not my name."
"Exactly my—"
"Why is it that your voice is so painful to the ear?" Ron glared at someone behind me. I turned around, meeting the cold silvery-grey eyes of Draco Malfoy, with his goons cracking their knuckles. "You—" I turned to Ron, my eyes hard. "S'okay, Ron. There's no one worth talking to here besides you, so do not mind other nosy people." I heard Malfoy draw something, definitely his wand. "Do as you please, Malfoy, right in front of Madam Pince." I said,sounding rather bored, but my finger touched the vine embellishments of my wand deep in my skirt pocket, tense. Malfoy stomped off—"This is not over yet, Mudblood"—Crabbe and Goyle following him like the dogs they are. I actually pity them.
"Hermione! that was wicked!" I laughed softly, feeling giddy. I just out talked Malfoy-ferret-face! "I just threw back his responses, that's all."
Normal POV
Many people were already assembled in the Great hall when Hermione and Ron went to their seats beside Harry. "Where have you two been?" He asked. Ron shrugged, feeling that he didn't want to share things to Harry. "Nowhere."
Harry raised an eyebrow. He was about to give a retort when Dumbledore spoke up. "Students, Seventh years, I have come to announce the solution we have come up to bring Inter house unity." Everyone in the room seemed to hold their breath, the Slytherins rolling their eyes. The twinkle in Dumbledore's eyes seemed to expand. "We will be holding an Inter-house Triwizard Tournament, between the Slytherin and Gryffindor houses!"
Thunderous clapping can be heard from everywhere. Hermione was bewildered. Another Tri-wizard tournament? Harry had stiffened, and looked at Dumbledore in disbelief. Hadn't he remembered what happened the last time? He shared a terrified look to Hermione, who gripped his hand and started rubbing circles at the back of it, trying to calm and comfort him simultaneously.
"Only, the theme would be an entirely new concept, and the winner will be awarded a thousand house points. But there is a catch. While the tournament is ongoing, All Slytherins and Gryffindors are expected to live in the same quarters. No fights are allowed, or else the tournament will be faulty and the points will be awarded to the opposing house." Hermione noticed McGonagall looking at her. Her gaze was sorely on Hermione. Meet me later, her gaze was saying. Hermione answered with a bob of her head. "We will use the goblet of fire to pick out the students again. Putting your name is mandatory. Ah, Before I forget, females aren't allowed, as they will be helping with something else. Ms. Granger, We need you for your head duties." Hermione stood and went to McGonagall. She nodded in goodbye to Harry and Ron.
When she cannot hear the sounds of feet dragging and students muttering excitedly and what not from the great hall anymore, she turned to Professor McGonagall, as Dumbledore went in and was looking expectantly at her. "So... duties, Professor?" They both smiled at her. "Ms. Granger, I want you to read the name in this parchment that the goblet had chosen." Hermione nodded, thinking that this was a bit odd. She read the parchment.
Hermione Granger
"It's my name... What? I thought females aren't participating?" Hermione looked up to McGonagall. "Yes, but we coaxed all the females in the involved into the goblet first-hand, and it picked you."
"But—picked me for what?"
"Minerva, if I may" Dumbledore said. "The role of the female chosen is like the goblet of fire. You will choose the person that wins." She frowned. What? How would I choose the winner?
"But wouldn't that be unfair to the Slytherin house? And how will I choose the winner? What exactly is my role?"
"Yes, we have thought of the fairness. We will Obliviate you're memories of the chosen contenders. And one thing you should know, Miss Granger, is that the theme of the Tournament... is love."
Hermione's mouth opened in shock, and she put the pieces together, a horrible image painted itself on her mind. No... it can't be... "So... they have to make me fall in love with them?" Dumbledore nodded. "The goblet will only pick those who... are likely to succeed. Do not worry, you will still be yourself, only removing your memories, and be living in Slythendor—all the students of Slytherin and Gryffindor—female dormitories for the first week, before moving back to The Head Dormitories with Mister Malfoy. I believe this is much of what you need to know, Miss Granger. Please do not tell this to anybody, except a trusted... female." Hermione sighed and excused herself from the presence of her Professors. Her head was spinning with information.
She was just passing the first floor on her way to the Gryffindor tower when she heard a sobbing voice near the 2nd level bathroom, where Myrtle was. She walked towards the corridor of Myrtle's bathroom. As head girl, she wanted to be helpful to her classmates and it was her duty to help other people have a happy time in Hogwarts. She pushed the door gently. What she saw was... an alarming sight. Malfoy was hunched over one of the sinks, his body shaking uncontrollably as if he was... crying. He was crying. And as much as Hermione want him to suffer, her heart went out to him. It's as if she saw the real him for the first time.
"Mal—Dra-Draco?" He whipped his head at her, drawing his wand. Hermione expected it, too, so she waved her wand and cast expelliarmus. His wand leaped towards her, and she caught it. "What's wrong?" She acted as if nothing had happened. He glared at her murderously. "Stay away from me, Mudblood." He spat. Hermione recoiled, but she was determined that she should at least be civil with Malfoy, for once. They were both the Heads, after all. "Come with me."
"As if I would." His eyes were brimmed with red, and Hermione feel her face soften. "If you don't, I could easily cast Mobilicorpus, Silencio and a Disillusionment charm on you simultaneously and drag you off, considering that I have your wand. I just want to help. Now come with me so no one will hear you... um... lament." He looked at her as if he couldn't wait to Avada her. She waved her wand about her, non-verbally casting Protego and held Malfoy's robe, so he couldn't run of once she cast a disillusionment spell.. He was so... repulsed, but she threatened him again with the spells, so he gave in, muttering colourful words against her. Ignoring him, she cast a disillusionment charm on both of them and then walked towards the fifth floor, towards the Room of Requirement. She paced in front of the wall, concentrating on a place where you would be comfortable, still holding Malfoy's robe. After three rounds, she looked at the majestic door revealing itself. "Let's go." She dragged Malfoy inside. The minute they were inside, she let go of Malfoy, who brushed his robes fervently. "Okay, so what is it?" She narrowed her eyes as Draco sat on the couch farthest from her. "It's none of your business, Mudblood." She let down a deep growl, then straightened. She breathed in, out, in… out… opened her mouth.
"The point is, I might be able to help you. It's actually better if you tell somebody—" Draco stood up, eyes raging with emotions.
"HOW CAN YOU BLOODY HELP ME WHEN YOU'RE PARENT'S ARE HAPPILY LIVING WITH YOU AND YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT I FEEL WITH MY PARENTS BEING SENT TO AZKABAN, YOU MUDBLOOD?" Hermione flinched at his tone. It was filled with hate, and she felt frozen with the ice in his words. It took a while for the meaning of his words to sink in. She grew furious. Who was Malfoy to judge her? The urge to punch him was growing steadily, and her hand twitched—
"OF COURSE I KNOW HOW IT FEELS, MALFOY! AT LEAST YOU'RE PARENTS ARE ALIVE, AND WAS NOT MURDERED IN FRONT OF YO—" The brunette put her hand on her mouth, her eyes widening. Oh no, she wasn't supposed to say that...Malfoy shouldn't know that... She glared at Malfoy. He was looking at her, his face emotionless, but his eyes were wide, and they we're stormy gray, filled with a maelstrom of emotions she did not want to identify. She obviously didn't want Malfoy to gloat in her face about lesser muggles in the world. "You know what? I have no time for your pathetic screaming, Malfoy. Please remind me if I ever try to help you again. You obviously are better off alone." She turned to leave, tossing his wand at him. She closed the door with a huge bang, and then watched the door disappear on the wall. She took a breath, and when she felt tears prick her eyes again, she ran away from the room, as far as she could.
She rounded on the corner and bumped someone, falling to the floor. It was Ginny. A trusted female, Professor Dumbledore said in her mind. "Mione? Are you okay? Oh, stupid question, what's wrong?" Ginny helped her up, and led her to the Slythendor girl's dormitories (The professors wanted to implement this rule even before the tournament started) shooing away the concerned Gryffindors and sneering Slytherins. Hermione knew she looked like hell. But she won't cry. She knew she had been crying an awful lot lately. She squared her shoulders as Ginny made her sit down on her bed, drawing the dark gold and silver drapes shut. "Spill. You look like you've been trampled by a thousand hippogriffs, Mione, and I know that look. You were remembering them again." Hermione hissed and glared at the redhead. "You make it sound so bad." Ginny put her arms on her hips, looking extremely like Molly Weasley. "You don't know the half of it, Hermione. It's good that you have started eating properly again, but you still aren't you, Hermione. The Hermione I know wouldn't cry every other day and start procrastinating."
"I—"
"Think about it, Hermione. What would your parents think, the daughter they raised, wasting her life. You only live once, Hermione Jean Granger, and you must realize how daft you've been. Can't you see, you are wasting your life, do you think your parents would be happy with what you're doing?" Hermione opened her mouth, and then closed it again. "I was picked by the goblet of fire." She said instead, and Ginny gaped at her. "What?"
"Dumbledore said that I will be the deciding factor on who will win the Triwizard tournament." Ginny gasped. "So you are the girl Professor McGonagall was talking about! She told all the girls, Slytherin—Ginny shuddered—and Gryffindor, to help you." Hermione looked at the floor, told Ginny on how she should fall in love with one of the contenders, her memories getting obliviated. She told her about Malfoy, accidentally slipping and telling him her secret, to Malfoy!
"I need to f-finish a lot, Ginny! Paperworks as the Head Girl, the Prefect Schedules, and my—my parents' memories aren't helping! I know Harry and Ron are so, so worried, and I'm getting nightmares, and I see them, everyone I love, even you, Ginny, dying because I can't—I'm a failure. I failed! I can't stop a Legimens from attacking my mind! And now Malfoy knows that! He will stop at nothing, and make me remember that everyday… and—and… I don't know what to do anymore! We have NEWTs this year, and I need to study and now I'm chosen in a competition were my memories are obliviated and—Oh Merlin, Ginny what if I forget? What if I don't study for NEWTs? What if I fall in love with I person I don't like? What if—"
"Hermione. Hermione. Calm down. And you will like the person you will fall in love with. Professor McGonagall said that they will have to woo you, and the Goblet of fire only chooses those who have a chance at winning, right? And you will only lose your memories, Hermione. You will still be Hermione. And if it calms you down, I can remind you subtly. I promise. And I know you'll be a wonderful Head girl, memories or not. And I have already talked to you about your parents…" Hermione looked up at her friend, and smiled a little. Ginny's face mellowed as she looked at the brunette's smile. Hermione's real smiles rarely came by these days, and it was only Ginny, Hermione's best girl friend, who noticed.
"I'm sorry… I really was daft, wasn't I?" the redhead smiled.
"It's okay, Hermione. If I were you I would have exploded long ago. And I am here for you. I would never ever leave you. You know Harry—Ginny's heart fluttered a bit when she said his name—and Ron won't too. And even though my brother is a git that can't figure anything out without you saying it outright to him, Harry can understand you. It's very scary, actually, both of you know each other so well, when you look at each other, it seems like you can read each other's minds. We're your friends, you know. You can count on us."
Hermione smiled weakly. "I know."
XXX
This is the rewritten stuff, 12-19-2012! Tell me if you like it! Thank you! Anyway, so, Hermione is part of the tournament now! Who will be the contenders of this tournament, and how will Hermione be without her memories? Stay tuned!