1AN: Ok, I am SO sorry that I took so long! I had this history paper I had to research, and it pretty much sucked up my life. Anyway, here's another chapter at last!
Chapter 3: Future Duals
Hermione
It seemed like forever before the train stopped. I could feel the excitement in the air around me as Harry, Ron, and I prepared for our last first sight of Hogwarts. Ron generously offered to carry my bags for me.
I guess I got a little too excited about seeing Hogwarts again. Because, sure enough, as soon as I reached the last step of the train, I fell all over myself. I guess it was due to irony that I landed gracefully on my ass, right at the feet of none other than Draco Malfoy.
"Well, well, well...I guess its true what they say." I saw him nudge Blaise Zabini in the ribs with his elbow, as though spurring him on. I was just getting up and dusting myself off, trying to look dignified, when Blaise responded.
"What's that, Drake?"
"Mudbloods really DO fly!" They all shared a heartfelt round of laughter as I felt the blood rush to my face.
Thankfully enough, I had friends behind me.
"You know, Malfoy, if I were you, I don't think I'd be talking much about flying." Harry stepped in, always protective of me.
"Oh? And why's that, Potter?" My oh my. He looked genuinely confused.
"Well, I would figure that it would still be a sore subject."
"Potter, could you stop beating around the bush, please?" He turned pink, a true sign that he was frustrated. "Why would flying be a sore subject for me?"
"Because I seem to remember you doing a fair bit of flying as a ferret."
Then, a miracle happened. Draco Malfoy was struck silent.
"What, you don't remember? Well, I guess it wasn't true flying...more like bouncing around, really." Draco turned more and more pink as Harry continued on. Then Ron joined in.
"Maybe we should give him a little reminder, Harry." Ron cracked his fingers.
"Oh, please." Draco's tongue had finally become untied. He was retorting. "Like you two morons could ever transfigure anything larger than a rock."
"But I could." I finally joined in to defend myself.
"Doubtful, Granger." He sneered. "You'd probably just fall all over yourself."
"Well, why don't we find out?" I could hear my voice become silent, almost lethal. I hardly recognized it.
Draco dropped his voice in response.
"Was that a challenge, Mudblood?"
"Was that an agreement, Ferret?"
It seemed that the rest of the life of the world had stopped. When I had once felt excitement pulse through the air, I could now only feel our anger throbbing. Everyone around us was staring on.
Draco narrowed his eyes.
"Bring it, Mudblood. Midnight, tonight. Slytherin common room."
"No way, Ferret. You'd cheat. Midnight, Great Hall."
"Fine. Great Hall then. And if you're not there, you have to scrub my bathroom with a toothbrush."
"And if you're not there, you have to admit that I'm better than you anytime somebody badmouths me around you."
Honestly, I didn't think he'd accept.
"Fine."
"I want an Unbreakable Vow."
I still didn't think he'd agree. If we made an Unbreakable Vow, then neither of us could go back. Whoever went back would be plagued forever with terrible acne. (AN: I don't know what an Unbreakable Vow actually does, or if it even exists, but just pretend that this is what it does.)
"You got it, Mudblood."
He always manages to surprise me.
With Ron as my witness and Blaise as his, we agreed to have Harry cast the spell. We all joined hands in the middle of a circle we'd formed, and I couldn't help but to be excited when his hand touched mine. However, I also noticed a sort of forced disgust on his face.
"Herms and Mal-jerk, do you both swear to be in the Great Hall at midnight?"
I nodded and he did, too. However, he shot Harry a look at the new nickname Harry had given him. One thin, green ribbon shot out of Harry's wand and wrapped itself around our hands.
"Hermione, if you lose the dual, will you scrub Malfoy's bathroom with a toothbrush."
No matter how much I loved him, I still inwardly shuddered.
"Unfortunately." I replied.
Another ribbon came out from Harry's wand and wrapped around our hands.
"Malfoy, if you lose the dual, will you always admit the Hermione is better than you whenever anyone badmouths her?"
While my shudder was inward, his was outward.
"Unfortunately." He mirrored my reply.
Another ribbon wrapped around our hands. The three intertwined into a thin green braid, and then they all disappeared.
"See you, Mudblood. Midnight."
Then he walked away.
"Herms, that was great!" Harry congratulated.
"What's so great about that, Harry?"
"Mione, you just challenged Malfoy. You've never challenged anyone before!" Ron exclaimed. He was practically jumping up and down.
"So what, Ron?" Honestly, it was exasperating. I had just challenged the man I love to a dual, and only because he'd embarrassed me in a completely juvenile way. I should have just walked away.
"So you're gonna kick his ASS, Mione!" Ron couldn't help his excitement.
"Yea, Herms. NO one can take you!" Harry joined in.
"Great. Just great."
I started a slow shuffle to the school with Harry and Ron behind me, both jabbering on excitedly behind me about tonight's future events.
I dreaded midnight more than anything else.
