Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
A/N: Here is yet another chapter with more surprises. Thanks to the people who reviewed.
Chapter 4-Questions, Questions Everywhere
She stopped squealing just before she reached her bed. The reason being, there was already someone sitting on it. That person in particular was her best friend in the whole world, Ginevra Molly Weasley. Known to her and everyone else (except for when her mother is mad at her), as Ginny.
"Ginny, where have you been? Did you have a good time? How in the world did you convince your parents to let you go to w-wherever you went and they don't even know your boyfriend's name? Who is your boyfriend anyway? When can I meet him and why have you not told me about him?" said Hermione. She was rambling so much that she did not even notice that Ginny was trying to get a word in, until:
"HERMIONE JANE, calm down!" said Ginny, while grabbing Hermione's shoulders and steering her to sit on the bed next to her. "I will explain everything to you. After you take three deep breaths, because, frankly, you're starting to look like a human cherry."
"Okay, okay. I will breathe. Sheesh," said Hermione. She was very anxious to hear what Ginny had to say. "Now will you, please, answer my questions?" Ginny was turning almost as pale as a piece of paper, which Hermione did not notice until now.
"Gin, are you all right?" asked Hermione. She was starting to get a little worried. Her friend never turned pale. "Ginny Hello!"
"What?" said Ginny, clearly not listening at the moment. "Oh, I'm okay, Hermione. I was just thinking about what I am about to tell you. Because you probably would not believe me until I show you. In the meantime, could I have your wand to hold while I'm explaining everything?" Ginny was starting to get her color back now, so Hermione was not too worried now. She thought about it for a few minutes, but in the end she agreed. What in the world is Ginny talking about, thought Hermione.
"Yes, you can hold my wand. But as soon as you get it you had better start explaining." Said Hermione, holding out to Ginny her pride and joy of being a witch.
Ginny held out her hand for Hermione's wand, which she reluctantly gave up.
"Okay, now that I have your wand I can explain to you what has been going on, but you have to promise to not blow up on anything that I say. And none of what I say can leave this room, because if Ron ever found out he would blow a gasket and start going ten-pen bowling with our heads. Not to mention our parents," said Ginny, blushing a little in the cheeks.
"Whoa there, Gin. What do you mean by 'our heads'," said Hermione, ever astute and observant.
"I'm getting to that, 'Mione, but just please trust me about this, and don't say a word. Pinky swear," asked Ginny.
"I trust you and I will not say a damn word. Pinky swear," said Hermione. They entwined pinkies and Hermione thought this had better be good for her taking my wand and having me make all these dumb promises.
Ginny grabbed Hermione's hands into hers and said, "All right, well here it goes," while looking at Hermione with a genuine smile on her face.
/SS/SS/SS/SS/SS/SS/SS/
Severus was down in his chambers making Hermione's room comfortable for her. Although, this was against all of his greatest desires for her, the bloody know-it-all Granger. The only thing he really wanted to do was put a bucket of water over the door, that way, when she walked in she would be splashed with water. She would then be covered in flour and more water would be dumped onto her, and to add to that, berries would be thrown at her. While she was too busy thinking about how much of a prat he was, bats, from some place in the room, would be let out to swarm her and get the berries. Oh yes, he thought, that would be a marvelous plan.
But, nooo. The knowing, kind to everyone Headmaster wouldn't let him do that. He, Severus Snape, had to be nice, him of all people. So he would just settle for making her room his favorite colors, and adding a spell to make them non-removable. When he was through around 11:30 p.m., he looked around at his handiwork. There was a varied array of colors in the room, but only just, dark green, silver and black. Not a stitch of anything remotely Gryffindor was to be seen. Proffesor Snape said, "If I have to be NICE, she has to live with Slytherin colors. Inscesentia colors."
After that he turned to leave the room with a, "Nox." Immediately, the lights went out. He went to the kitchen to make himself a midnight snack and some hot tea, smirking all the way about his sneaky Slytherin handiwork.
"I have been through enough all of these years, and I put every one of my students through hell and back. None of them have ever lived up to my expectations. Well, all except for Ms. Granger, and only then did she barely gain my approval. Why in the world did she choose me? Look at me. I am even talking to myself right now because of that witch. I am going to be so miserable it will not even be funny. I am going to bed for now, and I am not waking up until whenever I feel like it."
His last thought before a deep, dreamless slumber overtook him was, "I wonder what the little pain-in-the-donkeys-rear is going to think of her room. Oh shit, Dumbledore's words have gone to my head. I'm starting to clean up my French." And with thought he was out, hoping that the next day would not be as terrible as this one.
/SS/SS/SS/SS/SS/SS/
"Well, I have been in America, because my boyfriend and I wanted to get away from the magical world for a little while. While we were there we went to these really cool amusement parks and rode the rides all day long, and we played at arcades. We had some really awesome meals as well. We ate this muggle food called Pizzy with a desert dish of Rice Crean." Ginny still had that giddy expression on her face.
"Do you mean pizza and ice cream?" asked Hermione, who was what the wizarding world called a muggle, so she knew all about what her friend was trying to tell her.
"Yes, that is it. Pizza and ice cream. We stayed with some muggle penpals of mine, and they were so neat. No magic was a great experience for both of us. We really appreciate how muggles live now. No offense, by the way." Hermione waved her on with a smile. "Oh, we had a great time. We went to these buildings that played a movie on a giant white screen hung on a wall. Then we went to a Green Day and Coldplay concert. Green Day was the bomb," said Ginny, using her newfound american slang. She was smiling so wide, Hermione thought that she might blow a blood vessell.
"I know they are great," said Hermione, agreeing with her, though something just popped into her mind as well. "I have some news that I don't won't Ron or Harry knowing about either, until term starts, now that I think about it."
"Okay, Hermione, I am almost through," said Ginny, hurrying to finish her tale. "Now the only reason my parents let me go without knowing who my boyfriend is is because they trust me. And you know my mom, 'Mione. She put a spell on me, that made me only be able to kiss him on the cheek or the lips. Nothing else." Ginny burst out laughing and Hermione started laughing with her, thinking how much she loved Mrs. Weasley.
"All right, Ginny, I can hear about your boyfriend in a second, but I really have to tell you something," said Hermione, desperately, wanting to get her news out.
"Okay, 'Mione, what's going on?" said Ginny, mock seriousness on her face.
"First off, my name has 4 syllables, not 3. Secondly, I have been offered the Head Girl position, and I have taken it, of course. There is no sense losing the credits to put on my resumes. Then Professor Dumbledore offered me an apprenticeship with a professor and subject of my liking, that, in the case of me wanting to teach when I get older, I could learn the subject that I need to." She said all of this really quickly, and Ginny felt her head starting to hurt.
"Okay, 'Mione. What is it that you don't want Ron or Harry to know until term, because I'm assuming that they know about the apprenticeship along with your Head Girl position?" said Ginny.
"Well they do know about that, but it's more along the lines of what subject and who I want to learn under, that is the problem," replied Hermione, a small blush coming across her flustered cheeks.
"Duh, Hermione, that is obvious. But, come on, it's not like you chose Potions Mistress with Greasy Bat. I mean com " Ginny suddenly paused at the look on Hermione's face, which was wide eyed. It was like 'oh she's going to freak out now, and whack me upside the head'. "Oh, no, Hermione. Why?" asked Ginny. Little did she know that Professor Snape was thinking the same thing at the exact moment back at Hogwarts.
"Yes, I chose, Severus Snape, Potions Extraordinare (aka Greasy Bat). Big deal. The only reason I told you was because you're my best friend and I knew you would understand," said Hermione, almost frantically, trying to withhold her temper at the feeling she was being snubbed.
"I understand, 'Mione, but it's so ironic!" When Ginny started laughing this time, it infuriated Hermione to no end, and the temper burst through.
"Why, on God's green earth are you laughing, Ginevra?" demanded Hermione, hands wrenched from Ginny's and on her hips now.
"Well, don't freak out or anything, because I am about to tell you who my boyfriend is, and the reason that I said your professor choice was ironic," said Ginny, with a Dumbledore like twinkle in her eyes.
"Well, go on, I want to know why you were laughing," said Hermione, crossing her arms as she spoke.
"Okay, my boyfriend just so happens to be Head Boy. He is a blonde (in real life and in the brain), he is in Slytherin, he used to be wait still is Harry's worst enemy, he is the biggest jerk around except for Snape, and he "
Hermione interrupted her in midsentence, wearing a half disgusted, half incredulous look and said, "Whoa, whoa, whoa. Stop, rewind, freeze. Are you talking about about oh my goodness. DRACO MALFOY!"
She yelled the last part, and it was so loud it shook the breakables on the shelf. But Ginny continued on as if Hermione hadn't said a thing.
" has the finest arse around school," she finished, grinning in triumph at finally revealing her secret.
/SS/SS/SS/SS/SS/SS/
At this time in Hogwarts, Severus Snape was sleeping like a baby angel, or a bat to some people. All of a sudden he sat bolt upright in the bed. "I can't believe it," is what he was saying to himself over and over. For Severus had just had a dream about him and his bride a woman who actually had married him riding away into the sunset.
He was so drenched in sweat. He had never even thought about marrying someone, or in reality never thought someone would love him enough to marry him. But he was not going to think about it right now. He was going back to bed. There was no sense in worrying over something that would never happen. 'Damn stupid dreams. Tomorrow I will take a Dreamless Sleep draught before bed. I'm not dealing with this nonsense,' he grumbled before falling fast asleep again.
/SS/SS/SS/SS/SS/SS/
Hermione almost passed out again for what would be the 2nd time that night. She had her hands over her mouth and was trying not to hyperventilate.
"Oh my gosh, Ginny, you are talking about Malfoy, aren't you?" asked Hermione, finally realizing she needed to speak.
"Yes, I am. Now would you believe me if I told you he's different around me, and that he's only mean to everyone because of his father, and that you'll understand me just like I understood you, or do you need proof?" asked Ginny, hoping her friend would understand.
"Well, Gin, to be perfectly honest with you, I understand you, but if you have a way to show me proof, I really want no, have to see this. But I want you to know that I support whatever decisions that you make." Said Hermione, truly meaning what she said.
"Oh, and he also accepted the offer Dumbledore made, and is going to learn under Professor McGonagall with Transfiguration."
Hermione whistled and smiled knowingly at Ginny, "Now I know why you were laughing. It is odd."
"Okay," said Ginny, "now don't get mad, but Draco, come out with your hands up." She looked towards Hermione's closet door.
A couple seconds later, a muffled voice called out, "The hell I'm coming out with my hands up. I'm just going to come out."
"All right, just come out," said Ginny, giggling. To Hermione's right, her closet door opened, and out came Draco Malfoy, her and her friend's archenemy, and now her best friends boyfriend.
"Well, if it isn't the little mud " Draco had started, but Ginny slapped him in the back of the head, and he gave a pained look.
"Draco Lucius Malfoy, what have I told you about calling people names, especially Hermione? Be nice to my friends," said Ginny, who had that You better do what I tell you to do expression.
"Fine, luv. Hello, Granger," said Draco, looking sheepish.
"Hello, Draco. Now when did you two get together?" asked Hermione, grinning and extending her hand in a truce to Malfoy. He looked at it for a second, looked back at Ginny, who arched an eyebrow, then finally accepted the hand Hermione held out to him.
"Do you remember in February of last year that I kept leaving at odd times during the day when I did not have any classes?" asked Ginny.
"Yes, you always came back with this really loopy look on your face, and when I asked you why, you looked at me and said, 'No reason'. So I left it alone, though I knew I should have questioned you more," answered Hermione, finally realizing how dumb she had been.
"That's when," said Draco.
Is he smiling? thought Hermione. He is, indeed. Wow.
"Okay, cool. Ginny, I loved seeing your boyfriend and having my questions answered and I really missed you, but I really have to get ready for tomorrow. And Draco, because you have accepted, too, don't you think you have to get ready as well?" asked Hermione, looking tired again.
"Oh yeah! I forgot about that. I guess I do. Thanks for reminding me," said Draco, that sheepish expression again on his face. Ginny was looking startled.
"Oh, Gin, I guess Draco forgot to tell you that, too. We have to go to the school two weeks before term starts. And we have to leave tomorrow at noon. And, Gin, do you know what else?" said Hermione, knowing Ginny would be gaping at her.
"No, what?" asked Ginny.
This next part sounded like Hermione was about to be sick. "I have to live in Snape's quarters. That means share a kitchen, den, and a bathroom with him. Ewww!"
"Ha, ha. I feel so sorry for you. See you at term. Bye, miss you," said Ginny, laughing as she grabbed Draco's arm and they turned to leave.
"Bye, Hermione, see you tomorrow on the train," said Draco.
"Bye, you two," said Hermione, grinning and when she remembered her living situation, frowning.
After they left she started packing her stuff. Then she went to bed so she would not look like a hag meeting her professors tomorrow.
A/N: Please review. Yayyy. No cliffies. I am still updating more of the chapters. I am going through all of them and correcting mistakes and refreshing some of the words. Hopefully all this will be done in about 2 weeks. I love my reviews though, so please keep them coming.