I am so sorry this is late! I've had an extremely stressful few weeks. I promise I will begin updating this regularly again.
In other news, I just started another Dramione story.
It's called The Seven Deadly Sins. It's more fun than this or Fate Has Its Ways. It's about how Hermione manages to commit every single deadly sin because of Malfoy. I've been having a lot of fun writing that story. It's going to be really good, I'm sure.
So go check that out. Only the prologue is out right now, the first chapter should be going up tomorrow.
I now have three stories on the go: this, Love Has Its Ways, and The Seven Deadly Sins.
Love Has Its Ways was updated recently, with the scene about the fight at Grimmauld Place the night Hermione disappeared. (If you don't know what I'm talking about, go read Fate Has Its Ways)
I'm really excited about life.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
Draco was sitting in the Great Hall about an hour later, eating everything in front of him. He had a lot of issues with Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, but no one could deny that the food was superb.
He was just reaching for another potato when the doors slammed open. Draco looked up in confusion. Then he chuckled. Potter was back.
After Draco had arrived, he had told his story to thunderous applause. The idea of the chosen one, immobile and beaten on the train's floor was something all Slytherins enjoyed.
Potter scurried through the Great Hall towards ginger and mudblood, avoiding eye contact with everyone. People around the hall began to notice who had entered. There were even some sad losers at the Hufflepuff table who stood up to look at him.
Draco felt this was an excellent opportunity to tell the story again.
As he got to the part about shattering Potter's nose, Draco saw that he had garnered attention from the Gryffindor table. Granger was giving him an absolutely scathing look. He replied with his trade mark smirk.
Up at the front of the Hall, Dumbledore stood up to begin his speech.
"Welcome students, to another year at Hogwarts!"
The joy he had felt after telling the story disappeared. As the others began listening to Dumbledore, Draco tried not to have a panic attack.
He immediately stared forward. Breath, he told himself. His began levitating his fork in front of him, focusing on the spell to drown out the Headmaster's words.
This was the first time Draco had seen Dumbledore since his task had been assigned. Before this moment, he had been one hundred percent prepared. He was sure he could do it. He had no doubt that this was what he needed to do in order to join the ranks.
But, laying his eyes on the Headmaster had reminded him of what his task actually was. What he really needed to do.
Murder was a bit of a step up from school-yard bullying.
This man had been a part of his life for six years. He had never really liked the supposed greatest wizard in the world, but had always respected him. He was an incredible wizard, no one could deny that.
Seeing him in the flesh made him question if he could complete the task, and more importantly, if he should.
Stop, Draco commanded of himself. He could do this. He had to do this. He knew what would happen if he didn't. The threat had never been explicitly stated, but it hung over his head. He thought of his mother and father.
He took a deep breath.
He needed to do this.
He kept on levitating his fork.
Dumbledore's words broke through to him eventually.
"Mr. Filch, our caretaker, has asked me to say that there is a blanket ban on any joke items bought at the shop called Weasley's Wizard Wheezes."
Draco though of the Peruvian instant darkness powder he had upstairs.
No way was this ban was actually going to work.
"Those wishing to play for their house Quidditch teams should give their names to their Heads of House as usual. We are also looking for new Quidditch commentators, who should do likewise."
Draco scoffed. He wouldn't have to do that, nor would he have to tryout. Most people didn't realize it because of damn Potter, but he was actually an incredible seeker. He was the best in Slytherin. No one would replace him
However, Draco thought, would he have to give up Quidditch for his task? Possibly, he decided. But fixing that cabinet couldn't be that hard.
Could it?
"We are pleased to welcome a new member of staff this year. Professor Slughorn." Dumbledore continued, not realizing what was going through Draco's head. Draco looked over at the new professor. He was fat as a slug, with no hair but spectacular wizard robes on. He reeked of pureblood. Draco smirked. Maybe he could get this new professor on his side after all.
Dumbledore continued.
"He is a former colleague of mine who has agreed to resume his old post of Potions Master."
Draco almost dropped the fork.
Potions?
Well that was most certainly unexpected.
The new teacher was the Potions Master? What happened to Snape? Even saying the name sent a flash of rage through Draco. Don't think about it, he reminded himself. He looked at the High Table and caught a glance at the hook nosed bastard before beginning to levitate the fork once again.
If Snape was still here, and not teaching potions, then what was he….
No.
"Professor Snape, meanwhile," Dumbledore said, raising his voice to carry over all the muttering that had commenced. "Will be taking over the position of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher."
No fucking way.
The Slytherin table erupted into cheers. Draco stayed still, levitating the damn fork, trying to drown it out. He heard someone cry No! from another table, but he didn't bother to check who it was.
How in the fuck did the slimy douschebag manage to pull this off?
Draco clenched his fingers as he allowed himself to truly think about Snape. His godfather, his mentor of five years, was now nothing but a bastard in his mind. A two timing bastard. Draco didn't believe that Snape was truly loyal to the Dark Lord like he was. Otherwise, he would've been at the Battle of the Department of Mysteries. He would've fought with the Death Eaters. Maybe they would've won.
Maybe his father wouldn't be decaying in Azkaban at this exact moment.
Draco shot Snape a look of pure hatred, and was surprised to see the ex-potions master eyeing him with a stone face. Draco looked away immediately, not wanting to look at the man. He hated him. His father's imprisonment was the bastards' fault. That was unforgivable. Because of that, the Malfoy name was disgraced with the light and the dark, and he had been given his task.
He let his fear take over for a moment before shoving it back down.
Dumbledore kept talking. "Now, as everybody in this Hall knows, Lord Voldemort and his followers are once more at large and gaining in strength."
Draco kept levitating the fork, trying desperately to drown out the old man's words. He kept his face as mask, unwilling to betray the fact that he was now a follower.
He wasn't too sure about the gaining strength part.
"I cannot emphasise strongly enough how dangerous the present situation is, and how much care each of us at Hogwarts must take to ensure that we remain safe. The castle's magical fortifications have been strengthened over the summer, we are protected in new and more powerful ways, but we must still guard scrupulously against carelessness on the part of any student or member of staff. I urge you, therefore, to abide by any security restrictions that your teachers might impose upon you, however irksome you might find them – in particular, the rule that you are not to be out of bed after hours. I implore you, should you notice anything strange or suspicious within or outside the castle, to report it to a member of staff immediately. I trust you to conduct yourselves, always, with the utmost regard for your own and each other's safety."
Draco thought about the Headmaster's words. These new restrictions would make his task far more difficult. Who was he kidding? It would be difficult even if there were no restrictions. It was Dumbledore, after all. Now that all staff and students were looking out for anything suspicious, he would have to be one hundred times more inconspicuous. He knew he could do this.
He took a deep breath and lowered his fork, just as the professor was finishing up his speech.
"But now, your beds await, as warm and comfortable as you could possibly wish, and I know that your top priority is to be well-rested for your lessons tomorrow." Fat chance. "Let us therefore say goodnight. Pip pip!"
Draco stood up from the bench and began walking towards the door, not once looking back.
Blaise rushed up to his side, and muttered in his ear. "Potter's behind us."
Draco smiled. Looking around at his fellow Slytherins, he shouted.
"Who wants to hear about how I broke Potter's nose one more time?"
During his seven minutes, his first month at Hogwarts seemed to be a blur more than anything else. There were new lessons to attend, new people to avoid and new people to taunt. He started Quidditch training again, keeping his position as Slytherin Seeker. He sat at the back of the Defense against the Dark Arts classroom, avoiding contact with Snape at all costs. He tried to get in Slughorn's favour, which evidently didn't really work. He watched Potter excel at Potions, and win the coveted Felix Felicis potion that he had wanted so badly.
In this day and age, one lucky day could change everything.
During his first month, he spent almost every evening in the Room of Requirement, trying to fix that blasted old cabinet. It was proving much more difficult than he ever thought. It was stressing him out to the point where meeting Pansy in the dungeon couldn't calm him down. He met her once, but then worked on the cabinet almost every other night. He tried everything, but nothing seemed to work.
Therefore, he started working on plan B.
One night, he discovered a passageway out of Hogwarts in the Room of Requirement. There was no way this one was being monitored, so he took a chance. It led him straight to the Hog's Head. During the night, while the old bartender was asleep, Draco snuck out. He wore a dark travelling clock. It was still September, so there was no snow to reflect light. In Hogsmeade, he was completely covered by shadow.
He had snuck into the Three Broomsticks and found Madam Rosmerta. The witch had forgotten to set her alarms that night. It made Draco think that maybe he had earned that lucky day after all. She was asleep in her bed. Within seconds, Draco had her under the Imperius curse.
Perfect. Plan B was started.
However, all this work on his task was taking its toll on his schoolwork. He was failing Transfiguration, Charms, and Arithmancy. He was barely scrapping by in DADA and potions. He never completed his homework, and failed to actually listen during class, given that his mind was obsessed with that damn cabinet.
Therefore, he wasn't at all surprised when McGonagall summoned him to her office.
During his seven minutes, this moment stopped the blur.
Looking back, this moment changed everything.
Draco stood in front of McGonagall's death. She was eyeing him with one eyebrow raised. He responded by letting his features show how snarky he felt.
"Mr. Malfoy, I assume you know you are failing this class."
He shrugged. The Professor huffed.
"I will not allow you to stay in the class if that is your reaction."
He shrugged again. McGonagall opened a folder on her desk.
"I can see that you are failing two of your other courses, and scraping by in the others. This is simply not acceptable."
"Do you honestly think I care, Professor?"
McGonagall stood up, which immediately reminded Draco that she was one of the most intimidating women he had ever met.
"Mr. Malfoy," she said in a voice that sent fear through him. "I do not care if you care. I do not care if you are failing other courses. I do not care if you do your homework for potions, or finish an essay for Arithmancy. I care if you come into my classroom every day and do not do a single thing."
She glared at him. The sour bitch probably needed her students to pass so she could get a bonus.
"I do not think your mark reflects your actual state of intelligence. Last year you were second in your year. You are an extremely intelligent and resourceful young man. So show it."
She sat back down.
"I understand that you are under an extraordinary amount of pressure, Mr. Malfoy. What with your father in Azkaban…." His eyes flared here but she didn't seem to notice. "That must not be easy to deal with, but that does not mean that you should give up on school. Education is one of the most powerful tools we have. Use it."
Draco was struck by her words and the look she was giving him.
"You have the capacity to succeed tremendously in this course. However, it is school policy that when a student begins to fail, they must be assigned a tutor."
Draco's eyebrows shot up. A tutor?
He didn't try to hide the annoyance he felt.
"Fine, Professor. Blaise can teach me Transfiguration if that's what must be done to secure your end of year bonus."
McGonagall raised her eyebrows. "Do not think for a moment that this is about me, Mr. Malfoy. This is about you, and your education."
He scoffed. Right.
"And, though Mr. Zabini is extremely gifted, I have already secured you a tutor."
Draco's jaw hit the floor.
"What?!"
The uptight bitch nodded. "She is one of the most intelligent students I have ever met. If she can't teach you, no one will be able to. She should be here any moment."
Draco's eyes narrowed. She?
Oh fuck.
The classroom doors opened.
"You wanted to see me, Professor?"
Hermione fucking Granger.
She walked up to the desk, and Draco looked at her. Her goddamn bushy hair and perfectly straight uniform. His veins filled with pure hatred.
McGonagall must be trying to kill him.
Granger eyed him strangely, before turning to McGonagall.
"Hello Hermione," she said, smiling. Granger was such a teacher's pet even the biggest bitch in the world smiled at her. "I have called you here because I have a job for you."
"Alright," the Gryffindor princess answered slowly.
McGonagall gestured to Draco. "Mr. Malfoy here has not been succeeding in transfiguration as of late. By school policy, we must assign him a tutor."
"Ok…" Granger replied, confused. "What does that have to do with me?
Draco almost laughed. She was so dense.
McGonagall sighed. "I have assigned you to be Draco's new tutor."
There was a beat of pure silence.
Then…
"What?!"
"Believe me, Granger. I'm not thrilled either," he said swiftly.
Granger turned to McGonagall, her eyes desperate. "Please, Professor, don't make me do this! I can't tutor that pompous prat!"
Draco narrowed his eyes. "Like I want to be tutored by mudblood scum."
"Mr. Malfoy!" cried McGonagall, reproachful. Granger glared at him, her cheeks red with anger.
"I'd rather die than spend five minutes with you, ferret."
Draco took a step towards her, and glared down at her smaller form. "Oh please, would you just?"
"Oh can it, you bastard!"
"Ms. Granger!" cried McGongall once more.
"At least my existence isn't an abomination, Granger. What happened with you? Did the condom break?"
He heard McGonagall gasp. Granger's eyes narrowed.
"Well, at least my parents love me. And aren't convicted felons."
"Don't talk about things you don't understand, mudblood," Draco threatened.
"Don't talk about me then, Malfoy," she responded spitefully.
"I know you're nothing but a mudblood."
"Better a mudblood than a Death Eater."
There was silence then. Granger's words hung over the room like a curtain. Draco couldn't find words to respond. Did she know?
Doubtful, she probably said that to all Slytherins.
He narrowed his eyes at her, trying to hide the fact that her words had struck home.
McGonagall stood up. Her voice was shaking. "I never want to hear language like that in this class from either of you. This is non-negotiable. Ms. Granger, you will tutor Mr. Malfoy in the library twice a week. Mr. Malfoy, you will attend these meetings or so help me merlin I will get you there myself, using any means possible."
They both began to argue again, but McGonagall cut them off.
"Non-negotiable. You may leave now."
They both turned on the heel and stormed out.
"Fuck," Granger muttered as they exited the classroom.
"My sentiments exactly," replied Draco.
A slight smile appeared on her face before she wiped it away.
They stared at each other for a moment.
"I'm not happy about this, Granger," said Draco.
"And you honestly think I am?" she snapped.
Draco shrugged. "Most women would kill to spend time with me."
She narrowed her eyes. "Well, Malfoy, I am not like most women."
"Well, obviously. You are more like a beaver with those damn teeth."
She flushed.
"But," Draco continued. "I have no wish for McGonagall to kill me. I would like to survive sixth year, thank you very much." There was more truth to those words than anyone would ever know.
She huffed. "Tuesday after dinner in the library?"
"I'm dreading it," he replied.
Granger looked at him. "We tell no one."
Draco nodded. That was a given.
"Tuesday," she said.
Draco looked at her. "I would rather be anywhere else."
"I know," Granger replied. "But you won't be."
With this, she turned on her heel and headed off.
Draco ran a hand through his hair, and headed back to the Common Room, wanting some normalcy.
It was doubtful he would get any.
Hermione Granger was now a part of his life.
What was less normal than that?
Given that this was his second time through, one final sentence slipped into his thoughts.
And what could be more extraordinary?
Review my lovelies :)