Again, thanks to everyone for your reviews!! story is below my notes to you.
A/N:
Thank you Gentileschi, Zarroc, callernumber16onz100, Blue-Stardust, M.C. Firefly, Tigersky7, clarealexandrea, basketballstarhottie, ca803, lilyandjamesfanatic, brown-eyes27, marauders rox
childoftheorient: when I first thought of this story I knew I'd want to include Pansy. I like writing about her, she's so annoying so it makes for funny situations.
Aangsfangirl1214: I don't like Ron/Lavender either. They're always so annoying together!
Gueneviere and Proper T: glad you noticed the bit about Blaise smiling at Hermione. You find out why he's so friendly with her in this chapter!
marshmellowluvr: haha that's a funny suggestion, and I was thinking of working it in, but then later on in the story a character will actually find out about the Switch for real.
Proper T: yes, Draco is painfully awkward during the Switch. He just can't help being himself! He's a lot worse about his behavior in this chapter, too.
Serina-Chan: glad it brightened your day!
Silidons: ha the part you mentioned was one of my favorite parts, too :) Thanks for reviewing again and again!
Jente Bidernais: I like your sense of humor. And you're Dutch, which is pretty cool!
Ok, so here's chapter four:
"Sorry, Hermione," Ron whispered as Snape marched him and Malfoy to the headmistress's office. "Guess we're in for it now."
"Thank you, Captain Obvious."
"Like I said, I'm sorry."
"Just...just please don't talk, okay...Ron."
"Okay. But again, I'm really s—" Ron was quickly silenced by a death glare from the other student.
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"Mr. Weasley, Miss Granger," McGonagall said after the two walked into her office accompanied by Snape. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"
"These two students, Minerva," Snape explained, fighting to keep his voice even, "have destroyed my classroom."
McGonagall looked from Hermione Granger—Malfoy—to Ronald Weasley. "Oh. Oh." She blinked. "And how did this happen?"
"They were incorrectly brewing a Sangrinius potion and refused to follow directions correctly. For their willful disregard of the rules, I will now have to conduct classes elsewhere."
"Have you informed Mr. Filch of the classroom damage?"
"No."
"Very well. I'll send word to him in a moment."
"I am asking to have Miss Granger and Mr. Weasley placed in a special detention. I would like them to assist Filch in cleaning the dungeon." McGonagall opened her mouth to protest but Snape continued. "Yes, I know the fumes are poisonous, and the liquid is injurious to human flesh, so they would have to wear protective suits and masks as well as being spelled. But I think you will agree the punishment fits the crime, Minerva. Perhaps this will teach them the work involved in cleaning up after such a mess."
"Yes," McGonagall said, and sighed. "You are right. Very well, I give you permission."
Minerva McGonagall could only think with grim satisfaction that at least it was really Draco Malfoy and not Miss Granger who would have to clean the room.
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Draco Malfoy was furious as he walked to his dormitory. He wanted to write his mother and complain, but of course he couldn't. However, he did consider for a brief moment confessing everything to Snape. Maybe the professor would go easy on him after realizing he wasn't Granger.
He soon felt his arm jerked roughly as he was pulled into an alcove. "Don't even think about it," he heard Granger say warningly.
"How did you even know what I was thinking?"
"I can practically read your mind. 'Boo hoo, I have a detention, let's see how I can get out of it'. You can't inform anyone of our Switch, remember? Not even Snape!" she declared.
"Do you know what I have to do? I have to clean every inch of the dungeon, which is covered in poisonous potion thanks to your thick-headed friend!"
"I know, I heard."
"Well? Don't you think it's unfair?"
"You were Ron's partner. You obviously didn't make any attempt to communicate. And please try to be more civil in the future."
"Damn you! I don't have to be civil for anybody! I hate being you!"
"Happy cleaning," she said as she walked away. "By the way, you're headed in the wrong direction."
"How would you know where I'm going?" he sneered.
"Because this way leads towards the Slytherin dorms. You're a Gryffindor, remember?" she reminded him.
He let out a string of curses that would shrivel the ears of any passerby.
"Oy! Young lady!" a chess player in a portrait called out. "Mind your tongue, or I'll send word to the Headmistress to have your mouth washed with soap!"
Draco only gave the portrait a special one-fingered salute as he walked off.
"Girls are so vulgar these days," the portrait lamented.
He spotted Crabbe and Goyle on his way to his new dormitory. Goyle purposedly hit his shoulder against Draco's, and Draco winced and drew back his arm to hit the bigger student, but then stopped himself.
"Look at the Mudblood," Goyle sneered.
"I think she wants a fight," Crabbe added.
"Oh, sod off, both of you," Draco said.
Crabbe drew himself up importantly. "You're still a mudblood." Draco realized it was the only insult Crabbe ever called Granger.
"I"m not a mudblood." He didn't like to be insulted. Why, his blood was as pure as their own! And he wasn't dumbed down from generations of inbreeding, like those two morons. "If you ever call me a mudblood again, I'll tell Pansy how Blaise has caught you stealing her panties on a number of occasions. Plus I'll tell Snape that it was you who stole all his calacta vine last year when you tried to brew that illegal weight-loss and muscle-building potion." He eyed their fat figures. "Even if you were too stupid to do it properly."
He left them there in the hallway, mouths gaping.
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Draco Malfoy thought he would have some peace and quiet once he reached the Heads dorms. Unfortunately he couldn't remember the password to gain entrance.Luck was on his side, however, as Ernie Macmillan strolled up to the portrait.
"Watcha doing, Hermione?" he asked.
"Going to my room. Erm...Are you going inside as well?"
"No, I'm headed to the library."
"Cool, cool...well, hey, mind telling me the password?"
"What password?"
"The password to the dormitory. It just slipped my mind, wasn't it, er, mintaluddenmus or something?"
Ernie's face was grave. "I don't think I can tell you the password, Hermione."
Draco was exasperated. "And why not?"
"Because, we're not allowed to give anyone our passwords."
"Don't be an ars—I mean, a silly person," Draco said hastily. "It doesn't count if you tell me. I'm Head Girl." He tried to sound authoritative, like Granger.
"I'm sorry, Hermione. I really shouldn't."
"Give me one good reason—" Draco started to say angrily.
"You might be an imposter. I mean, not that I think you are," the Head Boy reassured Draco, "but it's still good practice. I couldn't possibly give you secret information like that."
Draco stood on his tiptoes, trying to make himself look imposing in his smaller body. "Now, you listen to me, Ernie Macmillan," he threatened the other student, "...If you don't tell me the password in three seconds, I'm going to make you wish you'd never been born." He gave Macmillan an icy glare.
The Head Boy complied immediately.
Ginny Weasley was waiting inside the Head Girl room, bouncing on Granger's bed. So much for peace and quiet.
"Hey," she greeted him, "how's it going? You look kind of mad."
"Macmillan's an idiot," Draco told her. "Such a stickler for rules."
"You know, I think he secretly fancies you," Ginny said with a wink.
"Disgusting. Could we not talk about anything like that?"
"What's wrong? We always have girl talk."
"Look, I 'm not—" He was about to say that he wasn't in the mood to talk (his favorite excuse) when he realized he might turn the conversation to his benefit.
He wondered just exactly how poor the Weasleys were. He'd always made fun of Ron Weasley for their poverty, but he was curious to know how much money they had.
"So, W—Ginny," Draco began, "How much does your dad make in a year?"
"What?" Ginny cried.
"Just curious," Draco said hastily.
"I've no idea. Why do you care?" Ginny said, a little defensively.
"Just...just wondering. You see, I heard something about a great investment in...Gumbler's Great Items for Mischief. But it all depends on how much you're willing to put down."
"We don't buy stock in Gumbler's, they're Fred and George's competition."
"Oh...right."
"So, I came here to tell you about my date," Ginny said, lowering her voice. She sounded excited. "Well, aren't you going to ask me about it? It's only my third one with him."
"Er...how was it?" He wondered if there were any way for him to excuse himself and get rid of the youngest Weasley.
"Well, don't act too interested," Weasley said huffily. This Weasley was obviously more perceptive than her brother. He would have to take care to watch the tone in his voice.
"Sorry. It's just that I have to use the loo, could you tell me about it some other t—"
"He kissed me!" the Weaslette suddenly shrieked, falling back on the pillows and giggling like a maniac.
Draco was disturbed. "How...nice." He couldn't help a disgusted sneer from appearing on his face.
Luckily Weasley couldn't see his face, and she was too absorbed in her raptures to notice the sarcasm.
She sighed blissfully. "Blaise is the best kisser I've known."
That got his attention. "Blaise? Blaise who?"
"Ha ha, very funny."
"Blaise Zabini?"
"Oh, stop it. You've known about him since we've been going out."
Draco didn't trust himself to speak. He turned his back to Weasley and privately fumed. Blaise, go out with a Gryffindor? After professing hatred for their house? And a Weasley at that! Hadn't Blaise, along with the rest of the Slytherins, always complained how the Weasleys were a bunch of blood traitors?
"Well? Isn't it glorious?'
"Yeah, cool," Draco said, trying to infuse a little excitement in his tone to mask the anger. "So, uh, exactly how long has it been, again?"
"Yesterday was our one-month anniversary, dolt. That's why we were going out."
"Right, right. It's, er, too bad you haven't had more than three dates."
"Yeah, but you know how it is, sneaking behind everyone's back. We can't just walk together around Hogsmeade."
"And it's been a month and he's only kissed you now?" Draco was a little amused. It was completely unlike Blaise to take his time with anyone.
"Well, we haven't been able to see each other as often as we should, so naturally things have been moving slowly," Ginny Weasley emphasized. "By the way, what are you wearing tonight?"
"What do you mean? Am I supposed to change clothes?"
"Don't tell me you've forgotten about our secret double-date."
"Date?" Draco exclaimed, jumping. "What date? I can't go on a date!"
"Relax. You were perfectly willing to go with Blaise and me when I asked you the other day. I thought it'd be fun. I know you and Neville are only going as friends—"
"Longbottom!" Draco yelped.
"What's wrong with you?"
"Nothing...nothing."
Ginny Weasley gave him a strange look and began again. "And even though Blaise doesn't really know Neville, he thinks it's nice that Neville's willing to go with us, and that he's keeping it a secret."
"I don't want to be set up with—with Neville."
"Why are you acting so weird? You're going as friends, idiot. If he tries to go for something more like last time, just subtly hint that there's someone else in the picture."
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In normal circumstances Draco would have flat-out refused to go on a date with another guy. So what if he had to pretend to be Granger? He didn't have to do this!
He could always feign sickness. But there was the tiny matter of Blaise Zabini. This was major. Draco would suffer through the evening because Weasley's date was Blaise. Draco was dying of curiosity and he was extremely angry besides. What gives? he thought. First he needed to see Blaise and Ginny Weasley together with his own eyes--a confirmation--and then, if it was true, he might try to confront Blaise, to tap into his mind.
He and the Weaslette were getting ready before the night out.
"So what do I wear?"
"Something that doesn't hide your body. No bulky jumpers, all right?"
"Sure."
Ginny Weasley was already dressed and in the Head Girl room, waiting to sneak out of Hogwarts for the date.
Draco inspected drawers of clothes. He carefully selected a pair of black jeans and a normalish green top. Satisfied with his choice, he beckoned Ginny Weasley to leave the room.
"Go on, try it on."
"Not while you're here."
"You always undress in front of me!"
"Well, I'm feeling self-concious right now, d'you mind leaving for a moment?" he said, exasperated.
"Fine." She went into Granger's and Macmillan's common room.
Draco stepped out of the bedroom, feeling like he'd forgotten something. He stopped short when he saw Ginny staring at him and grinning.
"Well?" he asked impatiently. "How do I look?"
"Great...if you want your nipples to stick out."
"What?"
"You forgot to put on a bra."
"Ah." He snapped his fingers and went to put one on.
"Mental," Ginny muttered.
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It was nine o'clock and dark. Longbottom and Blaise met them by the statue of the one-eyed witch.
"You look good, Hermione," Longbottom said as he attempted to give Draco a winning smile.
"Ginny," Draco muttered when they were walking in the chilly air outside Hogwarts, "what exactly happened the last time?"
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(later on the date)
They were in The Three Broomsticks, and so far it was awkward. Draco couldn't stop himself from glaring daggers at Blaise. Blaise pretended not to notice, but he did look a little unnerved.
"So, Blaise," Draco said after Ginny had gone to get them butterbeers. "You must be pretty brave to go out with Ginny Weasley. Aren't you afraid of persecution, from your own Housemates?"
Blaise laughed nervously, still trying to tear his eyes away from Draco's hard gaze. "Well, I haven't told anyone from Slytherin, as you're probably aware. Slytherins aren't that open to these kinds of things, you know."
Longbottom was trying to turn the tide of conversation to safer waters. "I don't know about you two, but I really enjoyed Professor Sprout's lesson the other day. The one with the African potted pickleplants?"
Draco ignored the opportunity to ridicule Longbottom for talking about Herbology on a date. He looked at Blaise pointedly. "Mmhmmm. And haven't you, as a Slytherin, always denounced the Weasleys?"
"What are you talking about?" Blaise asked with a touch of anger.
"Hermione, I really don't think we should discuss—"
"Shut up, Longbottom, before I magically sew your lips together. Now, Blaise, don't tell me you've never joked to your friends about what a bunch of blood-traitors the Weasleys are?"
"And why would you say—"
"Everyone knows the kinds of things Slytherins say about Weasels—er, Weasleys. I assume you used to say the same things. Why the sudden change of heart?"
Blaise narrowed his eyes. "Ginny informed me that you approved of us. I didn't expect you to interrogate me like this."
"But how could you? It betrays the very values of a Slytherin!" Draco yelled, jumping up from his seat.
Blaise jumped up as well. "Why the hell do you care?" he yelled back. "You aren't even a Slytherin!"
"Yes, that's exactly right! I'm not a Slytherin!" He shouted. He paused as they stared at him. "I only want to find out your motives! Not because I'm a Slytherin, as we obviously know." Shut up, brain! "I mean, why, Blaise? Have you suddenly lost your aversion to people like the Weasleys? Why?!"
"Damn you!" Blaise said. "I don't have to tell you why! I like Ginny because she's Ginny, not because she's a Weasley! And the war's over, and I don't care about silly things like that. I never have, not really, anyway!"
"Would everyone just settle down—"
"Shut up, Longbottom!" both Blaise and Draco shouted.
"And why did you not tell anyone?" Draco continued.
"Because all my friends are stupid sons of Death Eaters and arseholes, too!" Blaise glared at Draco.
Draco glared right back. "Well. Right. I just can't be-lieve you wouldn't even tell your best friend."
"Who, Draco Malfoy? You're fucking mad, Granger! He hates all of you!"
"He doesn't hate all of us!" Draco burst out before he knew what he was saying.
"And what is your interest in all of this?"
Draco realized he had overstepped his boundaries as Hermione Granger. Wayyyy overstepped his boundaries. "You're right," he forced himself to say through gritted teeth just as Ginny Weasley was returning with drinks. "It's not any of my business, because, after all, I'm not a Slytherin myself."
He sulked and drowned his anger out in the drink.