Snake Eyes - by sapphire serpent
This is my first fanfic, so please don't be too harsh when you review. I fully accept constructive criticism, but no extremely negative comments. Thank you and enjoy.
NOTE: All mentions of Harry Potter and anything from the Harry Potter stories is fully copyrighted to JK Rowling.
- - - Chapter One
The rain poured heavily against the window sill in the common room that night. The fire burned as wild as ever. Red, orange, and yellow flames danced around in the dust ridden brick fireplace. The room was quiet, so quiet it seemed almost eerie to Hermione, who was sitting sideways on the soft red couch. She pushed a section of hair away from her pale face as she read a rather large leather covered book. Although she seemed to concentrate as hard as she could, there was something on her mind that she couldn't help but ponder.
At Hogwarts that year, which was currently her 6th, they were to have a gift exchange program. Headmaster Dumbledore had put it together so the four houses could get along with ease, and push aside their differences.
All students were to participate, and would get matched up with someone random in their Charms class. The students would know who they were to send a present to, but had to keep it confidential. The exciting thing was that the students didn't know who was giving them gifts. They were permitted to write to their secret exchange buddy, even give them hints to who they were, but never fully reveal themselves, and they had to sign the note with a 'Your secret exchange buddy' at the end.
The announcement of the new event was made just a couple hours before at dinner in the Great Hall. Harry had thought it was a stupid idea because he imagined having Draco or any other Slytherin as a partner, and refused to give presents to any git from that house, and Ron because he hadn't the money to buy any fancy presents to impressive anyone.
Hermione's opinion was very different. She thought it'd be a wonderful event to make new friends, take student's minds off Lord Voldemort, and grow tighter together and make a stronger army to fight against the dark side of the war. Hermione was so excited that she slammed her book shut and tossed it to the floor, something she never imagined she'd do.
Hermione made her way up to bed, her robes falling off her shoulders as she yawned. She stepped quietly into the girl's dormitories, careful not to wake any of the others. She dressed in her nightgown and opened the covers of her bed by the window. The rain had fallen silent and tapped gently on the grounds through the glass window. She gave a smile as she layed in bed and threw the covers over herself. She was kept awake all night by the colourful thoughts in her mind, and the pattering of the raindrops.
- - -
The next morning when Hermione woke up, she heard much chatter in the common room. She got dressed quickly and rushed down to see what the fuss was about.
"Hermione! Come look at this!" Ron shouted over many chattering students that crowded around the notice board. Hermione looked puzzled as she stood on the top of the couch to see over the other heads. On the notice board was a large piece of parchment, written on with big bold letters:
"Attention all students! The Gift Exchange Program will begin September 2nd, in which you will be placed with a partner in your Charms classes. Due to the events, there will be no lesson today in Charms. You will get further instructions from Professor Flitwick."
Hermione smiled and began chattering with the other students while Harry and Ron headed down to breakfast. After Hermione and the others headed down to breakfast, it was time to start the first class. Hermione grabbed a quick piece of toast and headed to her first class, Arithmancy.
Through the lesson, Hermione couldn't pay attention to Professor Vector for more than the first two minutes of class. She wanted her classes to end quick, another thing she thought she'd never imagine. After Arithmancy, she met up with Harry and Ron for Care of Magical Creatures. Seeing the dull expressions on their faces, she asked what was wrong.
"Nothing's wrong, Hermione. Just because you're excited about giving gifts to a stranger all year doesn't mean we have to be," Ron said dully.
Hermione gave him a cold stare.
"Honestly, you two never want to participate in anything!"
"That's not true! We're both in Quidditch already. What more do we need?" Harry replied.
"Yeah, and what about the Triwizard Tournament? Harry had to do that! " Ron added.
Hermione shook her head as Hagrid came out of his hut holding a box that carried a creature that looked somewhat like a small piece of wood.
"What is that hideous thing supposed to be?" A cold voice snarled from behind Harry, Ron, and Hermione. It was Draco Malfoy, looking at the creatures in disgust.
"It's not hideous. It can' help the way it looks!" Hagrid's voice boomed. "Anyway, it's a Dugbog." Many of the students were clueless as to what a Dugbog actually was. Hagrid had shown them the sharp teeth and small claws that poked out, and many of the students backed away. Hagrid then explained that they were in need of feeding. "Now, they eat Mandrakes. Professor Sprout's been so kind ter lend me some o' her extra Mandrakes from 'erbology. Anyone wanna try feedin' 'em?"
For the rest of the class, only a few students dared walk up to the thing and feed it. One of them was Draco Malfoy. "Harmless that thing was. Could've stuck my arm right in it's mouth and it wouldn't bite." Harry, Ron, and Hermione rolled their eyes as they listened to Draco's bigotry and headed to the greenhouses for Herbology.
- - -
After Herbology, all Hermione could talk about was the gift exchange program that would start right after lunch, which they were headed to.
"Oh! Why can't you two look at the positive side?!" Hermione exclaimed. Ron shook his head.
"What positive side? I mean, what if I got paired with a Slytherin..."
"It's not going to kill you, Ronald!" Hermione said angrily. "I still can't believe you think it's a stupid idea. It could stop the houses from being foes with each other!" She added.
"Yeah, sure. Here Malfoy, I've bought you a present, now let's be friends," Harry chimed in, sarcastically.
Hermione gave him a cold look as they got up to the castle and into the Great Hall.
Hermione had gulped her food down so quickly that she started coughing. "Breathe, mate, breathe," Ron said, looking amazed. Hermione shook her head as she spoke with a full mouth. "Der's no time to breef. Need to get a goof seat for Charms claus!" She swallowed her food, grabbed her bag, and walked quickly out of the doors of the Great Hall.
"Does she think she's going to be late? Charms isn't for another 30 minutes!" Ron said frowning. Harry shrugged as they continued eating their lunch.
Meanwhile, Hermione was alone by the staircases as she made her way up to the second floor. She walked half-way down the first hall and about to turn the corner when she heard voices coming from the other side.
"Oh Draco, please, not here," giggled a girl's voice, who sounded much like Pansy Parkinson.
"What, you think anyone's going to hear us? They're all at lunch, Pansy," replied the voice that Hermione recognized as Draco's. Pansy giggled as Draco was talking.
Great, Hermione thought. Now how was she going to make it to the Charms classroom? Hermione waited and listened around the corner as she finally decided to just walk on through them. She continued around the corner quickly as Draco and Pansy stared up at her.
"Granger? What are you doing here? Eavesdropping?" Draco said with a cold voice. Hermione kept on walking. Pansy then spoke up, intending to make Hermione mad.
"She's probably been listening to us the whole time and wished it were herself and that stupid Weasley kid she always wanders around with."
Hermione halted abruptly and turned toward them.
"Excuse me?" Hermione said with a dull glance.
"That's right Granger. You're jealous. But I don't blame you. If I was you I'd--"
"You'd what?" Hermione interrupted, looking determined. Pansy sneered and spoke to Draco loudly, still looking at Hermione.
"Come on Draco, let's go somewhere a little less crowded. Since Miss Know-It-All seems to take up the whole corridor."
Pansy walked away gracefully, not looking back, as Draco followed. Hermione shook her head as she walked into the Charms classroom on the right of the hall.
- - -
FINITE. Please review!
This is my first fanfic, so please don't be too harsh when you review. I fully accept constructive criticism, but no extremely negative comments. Thank you and enjoy.
NOTE: All mentions of Harry Potter and anything from the Harry Potter stories is fully copyrighted to JK Rowling.
- - - Chapter One
The rain poured heavily against the window sill in the common room that night. The fire burned as wild as ever. Red, orange, and yellow flames danced around in the dust ridden brick fireplace. The room was quiet, so quiet it seemed almost eerie to Hermione, who was sitting sideways on the soft red couch. She pushed a section of hair away from her pale face as she read a rather large leather covered book. Although she seemed to concentrate as hard as she could, there was something on her mind that she couldn't help but ponder.
At Hogwarts that year, which was currently her 6th, they were to have a gift exchange program. Headmaster Dumbledore had put it together so the four houses could get along with ease, and push aside their differences.
All students were to participate, and would get matched up with someone random in their Charms class. The students would know who they were to send a present to, but had to keep it confidential. The exciting thing was that the students didn't know who was giving them gifts. They were permitted to write to their secret exchange buddy, even give them hints to who they were, but never fully reveal themselves, and they had to sign the note with a 'Your secret exchange buddy' at the end.
The announcement of the new event was made just a couple hours before at dinner in the Great Hall. Harry had thought it was a stupid idea because he imagined having Draco or any other Slytherin as a partner, and refused to give presents to any git from that house, and Ron because he hadn't the money to buy any fancy presents to impressive anyone.
Hermione's opinion was very different. She thought it'd be a wonderful event to make new friends, take student's minds off Lord Voldemort, and grow tighter together and make a stronger army to fight against the dark side of the war. Hermione was so excited that she slammed her book shut and tossed it to the floor, something she never imagined she'd do.
Hermione made her way up to bed, her robes falling off her shoulders as she yawned. She stepped quietly into the girl's dormitories, careful not to wake any of the others. She dressed in her nightgown and opened the covers of her bed by the window. The rain had fallen silent and tapped gently on the grounds through the glass window. She gave a smile as she layed in bed and threw the covers over herself. She was kept awake all night by the colourful thoughts in her mind, and the pattering of the raindrops.
- - -
The next morning when Hermione woke up, she heard much chatter in the common room. She got dressed quickly and rushed down to see what the fuss was about.
"Hermione! Come look at this!" Ron shouted over many chattering students that crowded around the notice board. Hermione looked puzzled as she stood on the top of the couch to see over the other heads. On the notice board was a large piece of parchment, written on with big bold letters:
"Attention all students! The Gift Exchange Program will begin September 2nd, in which you will be placed with a partner in your Charms classes. Due to the events, there will be no lesson today in Charms. You will get further instructions from Professor Flitwick."
Hermione smiled and began chattering with the other students while Harry and Ron headed down to breakfast. After Hermione and the others headed down to breakfast, it was time to start the first class. Hermione grabbed a quick piece of toast and headed to her first class, Arithmancy.
Through the lesson, Hermione couldn't pay attention to Professor Vector for more than the first two minutes of class. She wanted her classes to end quick, another thing she thought she'd never imagine. After Arithmancy, she met up with Harry and Ron for Care of Magical Creatures. Seeing the dull expressions on their faces, she asked what was wrong.
"Nothing's wrong, Hermione. Just because you're excited about giving gifts to a stranger all year doesn't mean we have to be," Ron said dully.
Hermione gave him a cold stare.
"Honestly, you two never want to participate in anything!"
"That's not true! We're both in Quidditch already. What more do we need?" Harry replied.
"Yeah, and what about the Triwizard Tournament? Harry had to do that! " Ron added.
Hermione shook her head as Hagrid came out of his hut holding a box that carried a creature that looked somewhat like a small piece of wood.
"What is that hideous thing supposed to be?" A cold voice snarled from behind Harry, Ron, and Hermione. It was Draco Malfoy, looking at the creatures in disgust.
"It's not hideous. It can' help the way it looks!" Hagrid's voice boomed. "Anyway, it's a Dugbog." Many of the students were clueless as to what a Dugbog actually was. Hagrid had shown them the sharp teeth and small claws that poked out, and many of the students backed away. Hagrid then explained that they were in need of feeding. "Now, they eat Mandrakes. Professor Sprout's been so kind ter lend me some o' her extra Mandrakes from 'erbology. Anyone wanna try feedin' 'em?"
For the rest of the class, only a few students dared walk up to the thing and feed it. One of them was Draco Malfoy. "Harmless that thing was. Could've stuck my arm right in it's mouth and it wouldn't bite." Harry, Ron, and Hermione rolled their eyes as they listened to Draco's bigotry and headed to the greenhouses for Herbology.
- - -
After Herbology, all Hermione could talk about was the gift exchange program that would start right after lunch, which they were headed to.
"Oh! Why can't you two look at the positive side?!" Hermione exclaimed. Ron shook his head.
"What positive side? I mean, what if I got paired with a Slytherin..."
"It's not going to kill you, Ronald!" Hermione said angrily. "I still can't believe you think it's a stupid idea. It could stop the houses from being foes with each other!" She added.
"Yeah, sure. Here Malfoy, I've bought you a present, now let's be friends," Harry chimed in, sarcastically.
Hermione gave him a cold look as they got up to the castle and into the Great Hall.
Hermione had gulped her food down so quickly that she started coughing. "Breathe, mate, breathe," Ron said, looking amazed. Hermione shook her head as she spoke with a full mouth. "Der's no time to breef. Need to get a goof seat for Charms claus!" She swallowed her food, grabbed her bag, and walked quickly out of the doors of the Great Hall.
"Does she think she's going to be late? Charms isn't for another 30 minutes!" Ron said frowning. Harry shrugged as they continued eating their lunch.
Meanwhile, Hermione was alone by the staircases as she made her way up to the second floor. She walked half-way down the first hall and about to turn the corner when she heard voices coming from the other side.
"Oh Draco, please, not here," giggled a girl's voice, who sounded much like Pansy Parkinson.
"What, you think anyone's going to hear us? They're all at lunch, Pansy," replied the voice that Hermione recognized as Draco's. Pansy giggled as Draco was talking.
Great, Hermione thought. Now how was she going to make it to the Charms classroom? Hermione waited and listened around the corner as she finally decided to just walk on through them. She continued around the corner quickly as Draco and Pansy stared up at her.
"Granger? What are you doing here? Eavesdropping?" Draco said with a cold voice. Hermione kept on walking. Pansy then spoke up, intending to make Hermione mad.
"She's probably been listening to us the whole time and wished it were herself and that stupid Weasley kid she always wanders around with."
Hermione halted abruptly and turned toward them.
"Excuse me?" Hermione said with a dull glance.
"That's right Granger. You're jealous. But I don't blame you. If I was you I'd--"
"You'd what?" Hermione interrupted, looking determined. Pansy sneered and spoke to Draco loudly, still looking at Hermione.
"Come on Draco, let's go somewhere a little less crowded. Since Miss Know-It-All seems to take up the whole corridor."
Pansy walked away gracefully, not looking back, as Draco followed. Hermione shook her head as she walked into the Charms classroom on the right of the hall.
- - -
FINITE. Please review!