Preperations

"So, what should the theme be?" Hermione asked after glancing at the packet of rules, example invitations, example themes that could not be used , and costumes.

"We have to go to the ball together? Isn't enough to be stuck in the same dorm, classes, and put it on together? Have all the teachers gone mental?" Malfoy shrieked.

"God, would you stop obsessing. It said go together not hang out together. Nor did it say dance together. All we do is walk in, maybe greet the guests and go our separate ways. And if you read the front page from Dumbledore you would of noted that the head Aurors are going to be there to interview a few people. Also the reporters from the Daily Prophet are going to be there. This is like, a historic event."

"But why together?" whined Malfoy.

"God you're impossible. Just shut up and help so we can send out the invites."

"Fine. You probably want to go with me. I was thinking it should be a haunted house theme. Outside. To get to the dance floor, you have to get through the house. But if people get scared we push a button and the scariness stops, then starts when the next couple goes through," suggested Malfoy. "But how will we know when they're scared?"

"I have a way. Let me take care of the mirror. Now we have the theme but we need to work on the invites and set up. How about the dance floor is on the border between the forest? It could be plastic and underneath it could be "severed heads" and "blood"? The noises from the forest should be scary enough plus the occasional screams."

"I did not think you would like it but whatever. You're girly, so you do the invitations and I will plan the set up. Get volunteers to help set up and I'll meet you there." Malfoy said as he stood up.

"We aren't done. What day, time, and what part of the grounds? Wait, to the left side of the house, as you're facing it, should be the pond. We could dye the pond a dark black and have the mer-people and monsters come up and move around."

"Sure. Good job and good night. Have the invitations ready to be sent by tomorrow. The date will be Saturday, October 30th. At 10:00pm. Happy Granger? If not do it yourself, you are obviously smart enough," Malfoy said annoyed when he saw Granger about to say something. Having said all he was going to at 11:00 pm, Malfoy stalked into his room, closing the door.

'Stupid pureblood. Doesn't do any good to yell at him though.' Hermione sat down on her four- poster bed and got to work. She wasn't going to wait till the last minute.

After staying up until 3:00 in the morning, Hermione finally finished all of the cards and fell asleep.

'Granger must still be asleep. Should I wake her up loudly or let her be late to potions? I think I like the late idea better.' Malfoy was going to get her back, but make it look accidental. He thought she had already left and wasn't going to invade her room, was going to be his excuse.

"Unh..." yawned Hermione. She felt a little rested after that good sleep. 'It must be early' she thought considering Malfoy wasn't banging around. In fact, it was silent as a grave. Glancing at her bed side table she groggily glanced at the alarm.

"What?" she yelled. It said 9:30! Her alarm was supposed to go off at 6:30. Why wouldn't Malfoy make sure she was awake? Malfoy! He must have messed up her alarm so it wouldn't go off and make her late to potions. 'But would he do that? Of course he would. He was a double crossing no good pureblood Malfoy!'

Forgetting to enchant her invites to go to the people they were for and stuffing her bag with her necessary accessories, Hermione rushed to the dungeons. She was late- for potions. With Snape. She was so in for it. Peeking through the window she spotted her friends. All were working on the complicated potion. Malfoy was whispering to Stephanie. 'Probably about how he messed up my clock and how I am late.' She thought angrily. Muttering under her breath she heard a rewarding shriek. The feathers and glove returned this time with Malfoy being unable to talk without clucking in between words. 'Ha. Glad I made that change' she thought as Snape tried to remove the spell.

Quickly Hermione ran down the halls back to the Head's room. She was going to say she felt sick and couldn't even get out of bed to Madam Promphrey. Once safely out of earshot she prepared a light breakfast and went back into her bed. Turning on her muggle TV she added when she moved in, Hermione got comfortable. Later she would get the homework from Sunny or Elle.

Suddenly she heard the portrait hole open and her bedroom door was shoved open, putting a dent in her wall. There stood none other than Malfoy.

"What do you want? Leave me alone," groaned Hermione pretending to be sick.

Malfoy yelled," What the cluck did you cluck do? Get cluck rid of cluck this and I cluck won't kill you cluck!"

Feigning surprise and sickness Hermione groaned. "Keep your voice down, my head hurts enough without you making it worse. And why are you clucking. What can I do about it?"

"You did cluck this to cluck me! Cluck undo the cluck freakin' spell!"

'Might as well stop faking.' "You did get me back. The spell is made so that if the promise is broken it comes back worse. You messed up my alarm so it came back. You wanted me to be late to Potions and lose points, don't lie!"

"I didn't cluck touch your cluck alarm!"

"No I am not undoing the spell. And if you were telling the truth it wouldn't have happened. You will just have to stay here and tonight I will undo it. Unless you want to walk around that way, all day…"

"NO! Cluck now! I will stay here cluck but you cluck have to cluck undo it."

"I can't. I made the spell so that you can't get rid of it until 6:00pm tonight. You have to wait 6 and a half hour. Sorry," Hermione laughed and went back to watching a soap opera.

"WHAT! There cluck has to be a way cluck!"

"Nope, now go away."

Malfoy glanced at the clock. 'Only 30 seconds left. I didn't think Hermione could do that.' On schedule the feathers and glove went away. His room- which had regained the whip cream decorations- cleaned itself up. Stretching, he got up and went to Hermione's room. He planned to make her remove the spell permanently. When he knocked there was no answer or even any noise.

Curious he opened the door. Hermione lay on the ground a knife in her heart. Running into the room he tried to pull it out. He hadn't thought he would care; one less mudblood in the world. But he found out he didn't hate her too much. The whole chicken thing definitely got him to respect her a little more. Suddenly laughing could be heard from the closet. Wrenching open the door he gasped. There stood Hermione, well and unharmed.

"What the heck did you do!" Malfoy was mad. Hermione had tricked him and he couldn't trick her back because of the stupid spell.

"Good, the dummy works," Hermione gasped for breath. "It's for the haunted house. We could put it in one of the rooms and have it fall out of the closet when someone goes by. Then it will automatically go back into the said closet. Genius huh?"

"Coming from a mudblood yes. But don't ever do that again or I will smack you across the face."

"Oh fine. Ruin my fun. I sent out the invitations and found helpers. People should get theirs tonight," she said stepping out of the closet.

Malfoy sighed. 'Why me?' "God you're crazy."

AN: Review. I know the chicken thing is lame but it works. I couldn't think of anything else to do.