Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Fanfic Death Total in third chapter:
IN all: 2+unknown number
Rating: R
Draco and Hermione are talking to each other. Has the world gone mad? No, Draco just wants to tell his friend what Hermione is up to.
(A/N: This is a mystery and will stay R as long as I can keep it form-turning NC-17.)
In this chapter:
Deaths: Unknown People
Unknown People: 1 less unknown person.
Pain: Arm rubbing and uncomfortable shifting, burning flash
Song interrupts: 7 times
Disasters: Locked in the library, whispering fog, sparks, a punishment, 2 Howlers
Screams: 2?
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Part 3
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Draco shrugged and said, "I guess so…it is odd that Prof. Snape wasn't at the head table. The man in class must be his substitute." Snape must be sick, Draco surmised. He and Hermione were sitting in the library where they retreated to skip Potions class. To look busy, they had pulled their reports from their books and pretended to work on them. Only Hermione really was putting the finishing touches on her report.
An hour later, Hermione asked, "Do you remember Snape ever showing signs of being sick?" She couldn't remember a time when he was ever sick.
"No, why?"
"It just seems to me that he is always everywhere trying to catch someone doing something wrong. He's got to be in tip top shape to be running all over school like that." Expressly, she thought ruefully, with an eye toward the Gryffindors.
"Then don't do anything wrong. Then you won't get caught." His eyes remained on his parchment.
Hermione huffed exasperatingly. "Draco…" A part of her wanted to slap him while another part of her worried about what he might think if she showed any more concern for the odd going-ons.
Draco snapped. "Now what?"
"I was simply going to ask you what you felt like when you used the swift spell. I wanted to use it as part of my assignment." She ventured innocently.
"Let's make a deal: I'll tell you if you tell me."
Inside, he smirked. This assignment is going to take less time than I
thought.
Hermione was unprepared for this but nodded. It's like a deal with the devil but I suppose fair's fair. They interviewed each other and took extensive notes. Then they continued writing their respective papers. They kept telling themselves that they were only putting up with each other to get a good grade.
He'll reach deep into the hole,
Back in Snape's classroom, Professor Carter Chase pulled out the lesson plan for the class. I would get to Potter without anyone suspecting a thing, if I was only allowed to, he thought.
In the library, Hermione felt a shiver down her spine. The small study area she and Draco sat in not only changed, but suddenly a thick mist hung in the air. She quickly picked up her book and assignment and walked toward the door.
Draco saw her walk toward the door, and then watched the door slam shut in front of her.
Hermione turned to Draco and hissed, "That's not funny. Cut it out!" Jerk.
Draco retorted, "Just who do you think you are that I would want to waste my precious energy on a Mudblood like you? Honestly, I don't have time for silly pranks." He saw her pull on the door. It did not open. Angry at her accusation, he ignored her huffs and puffs against the door and numerous unsuccessful spells and continued working on his assignment until it was finished. Finally he looked up at Hermione. "Oh, come off it. You obviously can't do a thing. No, this situation calls for a man."
"Oh, is that so? Well, looks like we're out of luck, then, huh?" She mockingly scanned the room. "Nope, I sure don't see any man in here. Do you?"
"Get out of the way and let me try to open it." He grabbed the handle and wiggled it, but the door would not open. Perturbed, he took out his wand and pulled up the sleeves of his robe.
Hermione muttered as she stepped away from him, "Good lord, I'd better stand back so I don't get caught in the explosion."
Draco glared at her for a moment before turning back toward the door and concentrating with all his might to try to open the door with some spells. The door still did not open. Exasperated, Draco began pushing on it with the bulk of his strength. Still nothing. Hermione soon joined him, both of them pushing with all their might against the weight of the door.
Hermione started crying out for help. But no matter how loudly she yelled, no one heard her. Unbeknownst to her, the same spell that kept the door solidly shut also muffled any sound, which tried to escape the small confines of the room. At best, all anyone heard outside the room was a soft whisper.
heal your shrinking soul
Suddenly, a hand touched the knob of the door and it slowly opened. Professor Chase stared at them from the threshold. "My, my, my…what are you two doing in here?"
Draco stuttered before finally spitting out "Homework."
Hermione tried to retain her composure before the professor. "The door was stuck. Thanks for opening it." She saw his eyes grow darker, and he let out a small laugh.
Professor Chase gave a small smile. "You must have been in this room for hours. It is getting late. I suggest you get to your houses."
Draco agreed. "Alright." He left.
Hermione attempted idle chitchat with the professor as she gathered her things. "You must be the new teacher everyone is so excited about. What do you normally teach?"
"Actually, I'm not a teacher. I'm only filling in for Professor Snape until he feels better. I hear he was sent to the infirmary earlier today. I was called to substitute for his class."
"Well, I hope the homework that was due today will still count if I turn it in tomorrow. " She looked worried.
"Don't worry; on account of the sudden leave of absence I extended the due date until tomorrow." Hermione breathed a sigh of relief.
Hey buddy, you know you're
never ever coming back
Professor Chase looked straight into Hermione's eyes; without another word, she turned around and walked back to the Gryffindor common room.
The next day in potions class she handed in her assignment with everyone else.
Mr. Chase reintroduced himself. "Hello students. My name is Carter Chase and I will be your substitute teacher until Professor Snape is well enough to return to his regular duties. Today you will be learning the 'Scintilla Transparent' potion. This poison will be prepared in class. I must warn you, however, not to taste the potion itself. Under no circumstances must you drink the potion. So read the instructions carefully…." He continued to talk about how the potion's ingredients and its purposes. Rather belatedly, he gave roll call.
Harry Potter was in his class. But he soon had to be excused to the infirmary. His scar was aching unbearably and he didn't know why.
Hermione, as usual, finished her potion first. She checked Ron's potion when he wasn't looking to see how it was coming along and to make sure he did not need any help.
Draco noticed. "Looking for something?" She must be looking around to see if she's the first to finish her potion. Show off! He thought to himself. Hermione pretended she didn't hear him. She was about to stand up but remembered the stares she had gotten before when she had stood up last time in Prof. Snape's class.
Professor Chase began handing out live bunnies to each of the students. "Put 5 drops of your potion on the bunny. If you have prepared the potion correctly, the bunny should be just fine."
Hermione did as he said and her bunny became transparent. Then it started to flash a brilliant, white light.
Draco's did the same.
Soon, the whole class was illuminated with transparent, flashing bunnies. Everyone had succeeded for the first time in Potions class to make a perfectly usable mixture; even Neville, who was smiling in satisfaction that he did not make his bunny explode. The bell rang and everyone excitedly left the room, leaving Prof. Chase to pick up the bunnies and put them back into their cages.
He's a god, he's a man,
And at lunch, everyone was talking about potions class.
he's a ghost, he's a guru
None of the students had heard of him before, but they enjoyed his lessons. "Professor Chase should start his own fan club," Draco said sarcastically at the Slytherin table to his friends.
Hermione also noticed the adoration her fellow Gryffindors had for their new teacher.
They're whispering his name
through this disappearing land
That afternoon, a dark fog drifted over Hogwarts. Hermione could hear soft whispers, which seemed to stem from the fog itself. This intrigued and scared her. The fog began to cover the ground, surrounding the school entirely. Dumbledore, sure something was afoot, made all of the students go back to their dorms.
Naturally, Harry, Ron, and Hermione did not listen. They went in search of the disturbance that cancelled all of their classes, including Quiddich practice. But they found nothing within the school itself, and it was too dark from the thick fog to venture outside, so they went back to the Gryffindor common room.
But hidden in his coat
is a red right hand
At breakfast the next day, Hermione and Draco received howlers from their parents. (A/N: I will explain later how Hermione can receive a Howler.) And they received their punishment.
Hermione opened her first howler, ever. "HERMIONE, WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?? STOP ARGUING WITH THAT BOY. JUST DO YOUR HOMEWORK. THINK ABOUT YOUR O.W.L.S.!! FOR GOODNESS SAKE, THINK BEFORE YOU ACT. YOUR PUNISHMENT BETTER TEACH YOU NOT TO FIGHT IN CLASS." By the end of it all, her ears were ringing.
Draco snickered at hers, and then watched in horror as his owl dropped a howler in his bowl of porridge. Carefully, he unwrapped it. "DRACO MALFOY," his father's voice boomed, "I AM NOT EVEN GOING TO GET UPSET WITH YOU. BUT IF YOU DON'T FINISH YOUR PUNISHMENT, YOU'LL HAVE A FAR WORSE ONE TO CONTEND WITH AT HOME. SO GET THIS OVER WITH AS SOON AS POSSIBLE." His ears were ringing too.
Across the dining hall, Hermione caught Draco's eye, and vice versa. They both smiled at each other embarrassingly. It then occurred to Hermione that—she was being nice to Draco! This left her wondering why she was being nice to Draco all of a sudden. Draco wondered the same thing.
But then, ever since Professor Chase arrived, they had been getting along much better. In fact, the entire school seemed to be getting along with each other, as though the traditional house rivalries no longer mattered. It was as if everyone were under some gigantic spell that made all of them friendlier. Little did they know that this was precisely the case: the spell was done to ensure that no one would find out who Prof. Chase really was. After all, anger arouses suspicion, and that suspicion could be reflected on him and he felt he had to avoid being caught at all costs.
You ain't got no money?
He'll get you some
You ain't got no car? He'll get you one
You ain't got no self-respect,
Nearly every student was impressed with Professor Chase's looks and his innate ability to help them out. He seemed to be everywhere all at the same time.
Finally, all Hermione and Draco had left were their letters of punishment. Tentatively, they opened their letters, only to have sparks jump out at them and be absorbed by their skin. Terrified, they read the contents. The letter, it seemed, contained his and her punishment: as soon as they opened their letters, the spell would hit them. And the spell itself made them unable to be far from each other when school was in session, including the Winter Holiday but excluding Summer Holiday and their separate class schedules. All other times they had to accompany each other in order to learn how to get along. Hermione's note included a condition that stated that Draco Malfoy was to spend the holidays with her and her family, Christmas holiday is fast approaching in four weeks. Not to mention the 3-day holiday coming up. She would have to study with him every day until then and even sit with him during meals at a special, separate table from everyone else. Even more so, they would have to walk with each other in the halls for 4 weeks. The punishment would not end until after Christmas break was over and then they would not have to eat together.
All either of them could think was: Prof. Snape is going too far! How could he be so cruel? But the spell would not allow them to voice their complaints. They watched in silent horror as a table suddenly appeared at one corner of the Great Hall. Dumbledore proceeded to walk towards them.
"Ganger, Malfoy: you will sit here for the next four weeks while you are eating in this hall." They wanted to, desperately, but they could not protest. The spell would not allow them to do so.
Hermione wondered if this punishment was just a joke that Snape wanted to play on her. Then she remembered that Snape did not have a sense of humor. She was stuck with Malfoy, even over the holidays.
Draco knew this punishment would not be easy for him to take. He hated having to be with her, even if they were getting along better now than before. And now he was forced by some wacko spell to spend nearly every waking moment with her. Including the upcoming holiday, Draco groaned.
This humiliated them both. They could not even look at each other.
you feel like an insect
Well don't you worry buddy,
And, to make things even worse, all of the houses stared at them sitting at their lonesome table, as if this could not even be possible.
Draco wished he could just disappear.
To be continued…
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