Before I start I would just like to say that I am SO sorry I haven't updated in a while, I've been struggling to keep up with my work and outer curricular activities so I found it really hard to find the time to write this. However, it is finally done! I could have gone on for longer, but I didn't think you would want to keep waiting. Also, If you want to be on my Emailing list so I email you when I update, could you please tell me in a review and give me your email. Also I'm sorry for faults or inconsistencies in the plot line, and so; On with the story!
Chapter 4 – Things Get Messy
Malfoy expertly reached out a hand and caught the missile shaped piece of paper that had come dangerously close to clipping his ear. He unfolded it, taking his time, and looked it over, a smirk on his lips.
WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER YOU STUPID FERRET!?
It was written in a gangly drawl, with splodges all over the page. Weasley. The idiot really needed to learn to control his temper.
Not wanting to waste any more of his top quality note paper on the Weasel, he flipped the ripped piece of lined paper over, and picked up a quill.
On the Gryffindor side of the classroom, Ron clenched and unclenched his fists as he watched Malfoy read the paper in a relaxed manner.
Harry placed a steadying hand on his friend's shoulder and kept a calm façade, however inside he was extremely worried. He knew what Malfoy was capable of, and even though he had full faith in Hermione's ability to protect herself he had been watching Malfoy and Malfoy had the typical smug expression on his face that he always displayed when things went his way. Harry longed to jump out of his seat and give Malfoy the pounding he deserved, but he knew he had to stay in control, for Hermione's sake if nothing else.
When Snape turned to the blackboard to jot down a few words, Malfoy leisurely folded the paper into the shape of a plane and threw it towards Harry and Ron. It landed neatly on the centre of the desk between them. Both eyed the paper in trepidation and finally Ron reached out and picked up the paper with shaking hands. After a couple of failed attempts to open it, Harry gently plucked the paper out from between Ron's fingers and unfolded it himself.
There were only two words written on the otherwise blank side of the paper.
Nothing permanent
Unfortunately for them, Harry and Ron were so busy staring at the paper in front of them they didn't notice Snape glide up to their desk and join in the staring contest.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't the infamous Potter and his sidekick, Weasley, reading notes in class when they should be bottling their Hogs essence potion. What a surprise," Snape drawled sarcastically.
Harry mentally kicked himself. He had been so busy reading the note that he had forgotten to keep an eye out for Snape.
"30 points from Gryffindor. I want a written 2000 word analytical essay from each of you on why you believed it possible to get away with note passing in my class. If they are not sitting on my desk by 9:00am tomorrow morning it'll be a months worth of detentions for the both of you." Snape spun on his heel and marched back up to his desk, his cloak billowing out behind him.
"Class dismissed."
Harry and Ron groaned simultaneously as their heads hit the desk with a loud thump.
Malfoy was delighted.
Knowing that Harry and Ron would be worried out of their minds about her, Hermione forced herself to open her eyes and get up off the bed. All she wanted to do was to keep them tightly shut and sink back into the blissful blackness that awaited her there. However after already missing a whole class, she couldn't bear to miss morning break too.
Quickly, she brushed down her clothes, grabbed her satchel and ran out of the portrait hole, ignoring the Fat lady's shrieks of outrage as she was bashed against the stone wall.
When Hermione stepped into the Great Hall she took her time making her way over to the Gryffindor table; dreading the questions she knew she wouldn't be able to answer. Instinctively her eyes travelled over to the Slytherin table, and her facial expression changed into a glare when her eyes came to rest upon Malfoy. He lazily stared into her eyes, looking unperturbed as usual, and then he winked.
Hermione's eyes narrowed, then she wrenched her gaze away and marched over to the Gryffindor table. Never had she wanted to leave the Great Hall this much; with that wink Malfoy had basically told her that he was up to something, but by leaving she would show him that she was afraid of him and with Malfoy, that was NOT a good idea.
Besides, she told herself, his ego might inflate to the point of explosion if she did. She forced down a giggle at the amusing mental picture her mind provided along with this thought.
Harry and Ron were sitting next to each other, unusually quiet and picking at their food. Hermione plonked herself into the spare seat next to Harry.
"Hermione!"
"What happened to you?
"Where have you been?"
"Did Malfoy do something to you?! If he did I swear I'll pound his face in, the no good slimy -"
"Calm down Ron!" Hermione said loudly interrupting Ron's tirade. "I'm fine ok."
"Then where on earth were you?"
Oh no, I should have taken time to think up a good lie.
"Still waiting 'mione..."
A stroke of brilliance came to Hermione.
"I was at the library! Remember when I told you that I had some research to do before Potions, well I was so caught up in it that I just lost track of time."
Brilliant Hermione, two lies combined to make one, just brilliant.
"Oh Hermione, we were so worried! You should really check your watch more!" Ron gave Hermione a one armed hug.
Caught hook, line and sinker.
"But Malfoy said that he knew where you were, like he'd done something to you..." Harry said slowly.
Drat.
"He was probably just baiting you, you know Malfoy." Hermione laughed nervously.
"I guess..." said Harry doubtfully.
Just then Hermione began humming under her breath. It was so soft that the notes she hummed were in disguisable. She winced, as though in pain, and hummed much louder.
Harry and Ron traded a glance.
"Hermione, what...?"
Suddenly she burst into song.
I've been missin' your strawberry kissin'
Nothing so sweet
The taste still drives me crazy
I've been missin' your strawberry kissin'
Goodbye to the wind from you to me
"Ha ha, very funny Hermione, now could you please stop singing?!" Harry covered his ears with his hands.
People started to stare.
/Sing the most annoying song you know/
Quickly before the pain could begin, Hermione began humming Strawberry Kissing under her breath.
Oh god, this can't be good! DAMN YOU MALFOY!!!!
Sharp stabbing pains began assaulting her head. Obviously she wasn't singing it loud enough to obey the order.
Hermione gritted her teeth as she burst into song.
She knew she was off key, and she couldn't sing to save herself. Slowly the great hall quietened as everyone turned in their seats to stare at her.
/Jump onto the table and use your fist like one of those muggle sound projectors./
As she jumped she clenched her fists. If she had to go down in Hogwarts History for the most embarrassing act ever, then Malfoy was going down with her. He would NOT come away from this without a scratch.
A group of people at the Slytherin table including Malfoy started to laugh, and the noise swelled as more and more people joined in.
Dodging Harry and Ron's grasping hands; she spun around till she found herself facing Malfoy, who was doubled over in his seat clutching his stomach while his shoulders shook. He was so busy laughing that he didn't see Hermione's wand pointed at his face until it was too late.
"CHEVEUXROSE MUSIQUEFAIRE!"
Instantly his hair was transformed into a brilliant shade of pink and on its own accord his mouth opened and he began singing the accompanying lines to Hermione's chorus in a comically high pitched voice.
Strawberry kissin'! ...Gonna make you mi-i-ine!...
The laughter that filled up the Great Hall doubled, people were bent over in their seats clutching their stomachs while the teachers desperately tried to regain order and Harry Ron made several more futile grasps at Hermione's legs.
Malfoy's face turned red with fury.
GRANGER!!!! ------take------off-------this--------spell-----now!!!
To his absolute horror, Malfoy found his legs moving on his own accord, and he ran over to the Gryffindor table and jumped up to join Hermione, who had an unusual mixture of triumph and humiliation on her face.
Bad luck------Malfoy------can't------till-------you take-------back-----the order!
A Ravenclaw 5th year picked up a hot jam donut and threw it at Hermione. At once, entire hall exploded with flying food and absolute chaos.
"SOMEONE GET DUMBLEDORE!!!" Screamed Professor McGonagall, whose face was splattered with red cordial and whipped cream.
The yelling and screaming was deafening as the students jumped up onto chairs and tables and threw anything they could lay their hands on at Hermione and Malfoy and each other.
Harry and Ron crawled under the Gryffindor table as Neville's toad Trevor went sailing overhead accompanied by two fruit tarts and a handful of grapes.
A sticky bun hit Malfoy in the centre of his forehead and dropped to the ground, leaving a trail of honey in its wake. It was soon joined by three more and another jam donut. Malfoy had had enough.
"---FINE!!---JUST----TAKE---OFF THE----DAMN----SPELL!!!"
The instant Hermione felt the spell being released she muttered to counter charm to the spell, jumped off the table, and ran out of the hall ducking buns and laughing and crying at the same time. This would cost her her prefects badge for sure, but at least she had got back at Malfoy. The look on his face when he began to sing was priceless!
She had to get away from the scene of the crime before the teachers regained order and began to question people as to who caused the ruckus. For she had no doubt that the first word that came to their lips would be 'Hermione'.
Maybe if she said it was someone else under the influence of polyjuice potion they would believe her. Maybe, but probably not.
Panicking, she ran out of the doors that opened onto the sloping lawns outside Hogwarts, and continued all the way down to the lake.
She skidded just short of the waters edge and bend over, panting. She then noticed that her hands, just like the rest of her body, were covered in food.
She had to get it off her, it was evidence of her crime. If there wasn't any proof then they couldn't prove it was her, right? Right?
Without thinking, and still in a state of crazed panic, Hermione jumped straight into the lake.
"THAT WILL BE ENOUGH!" Dumbledore roared.
In a matter of seconds, the noise in the Great Hall dropped off to silence and all the students froze where they were, staring at Dumbledore with guilty food stained faces.
Dumbledore surveyed the hall sternly without the usual twinkle in his eyes.
"I am saddened to say that I am disappointed in you all. There is a time for food fights, however that time is not now."
"None of you will leave this hall till this mess has been cleaned up, without magic. Classes will be extended into the afternoon to make up for the time lost here."
Many students groaned and there were a few cries of protest loud enough to reach Dumbledore's ears. He held up a hand and they were silenced.
"I am once more announcement to make. Can Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger please see me in my office in half an hour's time."
His eyes twinkled at the sight of the masses of students glaring at him mutinously.
"What are you waiting for?" He said cheerfully, "The time is right to start cleaning!"
He was about to sweep out the door when someone called out.
"Granger isn't here sir."
"Then you'd best go find her, Mister Malfoy," he replied.
The lake was cold, Hermione noted distantly. Very cold.
Just when she thought her life couldn't get worse, fate, or really Malfoy, had dumped this on her.
At least now she was clean.
She resisted the urge to drown herself.
After all, a dead body couldn't get revenge on a certain Blond haired bastard, who had just now put his arms around her...Wait a minute?!
Malfoy was decidedly fed up.
After yelling Dumbledore's message to Granger god knows how many times he had still not even seen Granger twitch.
She was standing waist deep in icy water staring in the opposite direction. Blank to the point of insanity.
He doubted even a sharp burst of pain would wake her up.
It was time to take matters into his own hands, and not just figuratively speaking.
He waded straight into the water, wrapped his arms around her waist, and started pulling.
There was no way in HELL he would let Granger get away from her fair share of the punishment.
Hehehe, I LOVE leaving it at the most exciting parts. Evil me, hehehe... I gave up much precious homework time to write this so you'd better review dammit! Or I will never write again! [only joking :) ]