Mr Maybe
Hi! I don't mean to be confrontational but how come 162 people have read the last chapter but only 12 reviewed…? Just asking. Please remember to review lots and lots so I am more tempted to update rather than to give up and move to a remote island in the Pacific with more security than Fort Knox, like I've been thinking of doing as of late (what is Fort Knox, by the way..? remember to include the ansa in ur review!)…K?
You Know You Love Me…
Firebirdflame…
PREVIOUSLY ON MR MAYBE…"So, does this mean you and Granger will be going to the Halloween Ball together?"
"I don't know what is wrong with you two. I would never be so desperate as to go out with a mudblood."
"Hi, um, Draco. Would you like some cookies?"
"FUCK OFF!"
Chapter FourRumours, 6th Year Gryffindors and other Pesky things…
19:24/ MONDAY 5TH SEPTEMBER/ GREAT HALL/ DINNER
NARRATOR P.O.V
It has been less than four hours since the Greatest Witch Of Our Age, Hermione Granger, was hit by a love potion and already the news has spread all over the school. It's like Hogwarts is a car and this piece of gossip is the fuel, the vehicle headed on the road to self-destruction. I say self-destruction because, in the short space of time since the news began to spread, the recollections of what actually happened in Dungeon 19 have changed so many times, that it is now near impossible to tell the truth from the pure fabrication.
Students run from table to table, some missing out on their dinner just to be able to hear every versions of the twisted tale and then piece them all together to make their own, patented version.
Let's sit down at the Ravenclaw Table and hear what's being said…
"Apparently, Snape knocked over the potion on Hermione accidentally-on-purpose in order to get revenge on the Golden Trio for something they stole from his personal cabinet back in 2nd Year…"
" Well, I heard that Ron Weasley tipped the potion on her and tried placing himself in front of her when she woke up to make her fall in love with him, because he's been in love with her since 4th Year, but it all went horribly wrong and she fell for Draco Malfoy instead…"
"That's utter nonsense. A Slytherin himself told me that Hermione tipped the potion on herself intentionally out of sheer boredom…"
"Well, word on the street is Hermione is really just pretending that the love potion affected her 'cause she's secretly been in lovewith Draco this whole time and got tired of pretending she hates his guts… but you didn't hear it from me…"
Sweet Jesus… wait one second…is that…no, it can't be. Half the Great Hall turn and stare at the entrance as the man of the hour, yes, Draco Malfoy himself, breezes past the doorway closely pursued by a large group of what looks to be 6th Year Gryffindors. Oh, dearie me. It seems as though the Love Potion Incident, or the LVI as it has come to be known, has stirred up a lot more trouble than was previously thought…
19:56/ MONDAY 5TH SEPTEMBER/ HEADS' QUARTERS/ HERMIONE.S ROOM
HERMIONE P.O.V
"I just had to see if it was true!" Ginny bursts into my room, banging open my oaken door (rudely, might I add). I frown at her, confused. What on Earth is she talking about, now? I put down my Potions homework and look at her, concerned. Has she OD'd on Coca Cola again (I really regret letting her taste it for the first time at my house during the summer)
OK, I know this is completely random, but I love my room. Every time, I look at it properly I smile. Decorated entirely in red and gold, there is a beautiful four-poster, king-size bed, light gold (practically cream) throw rug, pine floorboards, two light gold leather sofas and a floor-to-ceiling window (through which I can see the Fields). Even though I adore all of it, I have to say that my favourite part has definitely got to be my expansive, walk-in-closet that is enchanted to expand every time it gets full.
"What's the matter, Nini?" I ask, using my nickname for her. She flops down onto the sofa next to me and regards me earnestly. She is really making me worry about her now.
"There's a rumour going round that Neville spilled a love potion on you and that now you're in love with Malfoy… please tell me that this isn't true and that the school's just gone ape-shit." She looks at me, appealingly, hands clasped tightly at her stomach. What in Heaven's holy name…
"Heck, no! Sure, maybe it spilled on me, but it had no effect on me whatsoever." I assure her.
"Oh, thank God."
"Because I've always been in love with Draco."
"Oh, dear Lord. It is true." She looks appalled. At what? I mean couldn't everyone tell what my true feelings for him were? Ah, Draco. I sigh in remembrance. He's so perfect. She shakes her head in disbelief and seizes hold of my hands.
"There isn't a snowball's chance in Hell that you're actually in love with the freak-above-all-freaks. This is what you must remember." Why is this girl so intent on fooling herself?
"Nini, honey, I am and I always have been. This is what you must remember." I tell her earnestly. Her eyes widen in shock as she gasps in horror. What? Is there a lack of oxygen in the room, 'cause I certainly haven't noticed.
"Mione, this is the potion's effect. Fight it! You are, nor never have been, in love with the Ferret!" Alright. That is it. I am growing tired of this conversation and Ginny's refusals to accept the truth. I jump up, homework forgotten. I mean, proving my love for Draco is far more important than anything else. I storm towards the door.
"Fine! I'll prove it to you!"
19:56/MONDAY 5TH SEPTEMBER/ HEADS' QUARTERS/ DRACO'S ROOM
DRACO P.O.V
Today has been, without a doubt, the worst day of my life. First, the Mudblood gets herself hit by a love potion and won't leave me alone and then I'm chased and almost killed by a murderous group of 6th Year Gryffindors. I flop down onto my silver and green, four-poster bed, exhausted. Life just can't get any worse, can it? Actually, no, I shouldn't say that. Last time I did, God set out to prove just how wrong I could be.
Ow, my bum is sore. Those Gryffindors better be hoping I don't see them tomorrow, 'cause if I do…and all just because of an innocent little walk down a 1st Floor corridor…
Aah. Finally some peace and quiet. Granger and her stupid cookies. Like I'd ever want to take anything from her. Then she had the nerve to ask me if she could help with my homework, like I needed her help. I just had to get out of there and now here I am, ambling pleasantly along a 1st Floor corridor.
Every now and then, I pass other students but this isn't every often as almost everyone has gone for late dinner in the Great Hall. I wonder what Blaise and Pansy are up to? I hope they're not-
"Yo! Draco Malfoy, right?" comes a male voice from behind me. What now? Why can't I just be left alone sometimes? I'm telling you, sometimes being so popular has its disadvantages.
As I turn around, I see that it is a group of 6th Year Gryffindors. Why are on Earth are they talking to me? Aren't they meant to be off somewhere worshipping the Golden Trio like the rest of their pathetic house?
"You got a problem?" I ask, raising an eyebrow. This question-along with the addition of the raised eyebrow-would, on a normal day, be enough to scare off even the most hardcore of students, but- as I should remember-this has been a far from normal day and these Gryffindors don't seem to have even a grain of sense in their heads. They must not know about me and how many students I've helped on their way to Madame Pomfrey with broken bones or worse (that woman should give me presents at Christmas for all the patients I send to the Hospital Wing).
"Yeah, actually." Another of the boys says, eyes narrowed in what I'm sure he fancies is a dangerous fashion. "We heard that you chucked some love potion over Hermione Granger and then placed yourself deliberately in her line of sight so she'd fall in love with you as some kind of prank." He continues, starting to crack his knuckles.
WHAT THE FUCK? So people are actually going around thinking that I'm anything but the innocent victim in all of this? I snort in disgusted disbelief.
"Are you fucking kidding me? I would never, and I mean never, want the muh-"
"What did you just say?" one of them asks in a quiet voice. I look around at them. Damn, how could I have forgotten? They're all fans of the mudblood. They're all cracking the knuckles and glaring at me.
Now, if I had some Slytherins with me, I would be more than happy to give these fools what they obviously came begging for. But, since I haven't and I'm a sensible boy and I like the way I look right now, I turn tail and breeze it down the corridor, closely pursued by those pesky Gryffindors.
RUN, DRACO! You do want to live to see the Sun set, don't you? We race past students returning from dinner, flights of stairs and empty classrooms. I can't risk trying to create a diversion-they may just catch me. As I run, I hurl other students out of my way, thanking God for my 6"2 frame as it enables me to push those with less important reasons to be getting somewhere, aside.
This foolish chase is causing nothing but trouble. All I can hope is that I'm running so fast that people won't be able to tell it's me or my reputation will go down the drain. I mean, I , Draco Malfoy, running from Gryffindors? It would not go down well.
As we run past the Great Hall, I see everyone turn to stare at me and, for a second, I think I recognise a two people, one a girl, that I've been seeing everywhere I go lately, seated at the Ravenclaw Table but, by the time I try to take a second look, we've passed the large doorway.
I am growing tired. I have never run so far in my life. My lungs feel as if they are about to burst and my legs as if they are on fire. Wait a minute… could I possibly…OK, on three. ONE, TWO, THREE!
I hurl myself into another corridor and hide instantly behind the door in an empty classroom.
Do you think they noticed? God I hope not. I don't think I could run anymore even if wild Gryndilows were behind me. I peer around the door cautiously but quickly pull my head back round as they thunder past.
Oh, thank God.
5 minutes later
I think it's safe to come out now, don't you? My legs are aching far worse than after any quidditch practice or game. Being chased for half an hour is no joke.
As I depart from my safe refuge, I console myself with the thought that those bastards will get what they fucking deserve when I corner them in a dark corridor with a few of my always-loyal Slytherin buddies in the morning…
And I will get my revenge. Right after I go downstairs to the Common Room to pick up the homework I abandoned earlier. I leave the room and walk slowly down the stairs. The last thing I see before my lips are brutally covered, is Granger running towards me, arms outstretched.
NARRATOR P.O.V
Draco doesn't even have the time to scream in panic before his lips are covered by the Head Girl's and he is smothered. Ginny, having followed Hermione in alarm at what she meant by her departing words, watches in horror and disgusted disbelief.
Our jaws hang so low that, if we were to try and take a step now, we would trip over them. But, then again, this is the kind of thing we live for. Pass the popcorn, would you?
Hands waving madly in the air, the poor boy tries to take a step back, only to be hit in the back of the leg by a stair. Hermione's arms are so tightly wrapped around him that it's a surprise to all in the vicinity that his air supply hasn't been cut off yet. Ginny, watching in horror, feels as though she's about to be sick. How could her best friend, and it is important to remember that this is Hermione Granger we are talking about, be kissing the Ferret without any sign of repulsion or utter disgust? A week ago, this would have been thought of by all at Hogwarts as an impossibility, but it is also important to remember that it isn't a week ago and things have changed ever so slightly since then, but this has still got to stop. Now.
Seizing hold of the Hermione's slim waist, she yanks the Head Girl backwards. With a noise not dissimilar to that of a plunger being pulled from a previously blocked toilet, the two are separated. Immediately, Draco gasps desperately for air, eyes bulging, while Ginny vigorously shakes Hermione who is looking slightly dazed (perhaps from lack of oxygen..?). And…Oh My Dear God…what is he..? Draco is now scraping his tongue repeatedly against the sofa, desperate to cleanse his mouth after such abuse. Ginny, whose feelings are now beyond that of just mere disgust, drags the Head Girl (who still has a lovesick expression upon her face) out of the Heads' Quarters.
Let's sit down on the sofa, shall we? And, no. Shall we avoid that one over there after what we just recently witnessed happening to it? Oh, and please stop laughing so loud or Draco'll hear us. Jesus, you're no good at this, are you? If you're not careful, one day you'll wake up to find I've abandoned you for someone more inconspicuous and let's see what you do then without all my – shall we say- connections.
The Head Boy rushes off to the bathroom. The only indication of where he is headed is the loud 'bang' of the door and now, Oh, God, the sound of retching. Does he mind? Some of us are actually trying to keep our dinner where it belongs.
A red light blinks silently in the top left corner of the room.
I wink at it, slowly.
19:56/MONDAY 5TH SEPTEMBER/ HEADMASTER'S QUARTERS/OFFICE
NARRATOR P.O.V
The Headmaster's office is a beautiful room. Decorated in the colours of the ocean (blue and green), it contains a wooden desk with a wheelie chair (purchased just yesterday from PC World- Dumbledore's new favourite store), bookshelves, shelves stacked with Advanced Magic paraphernalia, throw rugs, a warm fireplace and a marble mantelpiece. The portraits of the past head teachers of Hogwarts are lined up on the wall behind the desk.
The owner himself is seated in the wheelie chair, laughing at something that he is looking at on – could that be? – a laptop screen. Without warning, the door swings open and the Deputy Headmistress walks in. She starts to open her mouth to say something but frowns when she sees what has Dumbledore occupied, and walks round behind his desk to watch over his shoulder. Let's join them, shall we?
On the screen, we see the common room in the Heads' Quarters. Draco Malfoy is rushing up the marble staircase and into the bathroom. We can only guess at what he's doing in there, as there is no sound. Mc Gonogall's expression changes from one of surprise to disapproval in a matter of seconds. Dumbledore glances up and sees this.
"What?"
"You know exactly what, Albus! This is an infringement of Hogwarts' students' privacy! You should be ashamed of yourself!"
"Oh, don't be such a bore, Minerva, " he says, good-naturedly.
"Albus… where did you even get this stuff?" she asks, picking up the Apple laptop and peering at it over her spectacles. "Please do NOT say that dreaded place IM World."
"PC World, my dear Mc Gonogall, and, yes." He admits.
"Oh, God."
"The came-ra I got is really quite remarkable. I'm going back there next week to get the speakers."
"Oh, God no."
"I'm using all the resources available to me in order to win this bet. If I play my cards right, and everything goes according to plan, I shall be able to estimate the exact time they'll admit their love for one another to within a few minutes."
"Oh, sweet Jesus and Mary, Mother of God no."
" Of course I could always reverse the effects of the potion, but where's the fun in that?"
It seems as though these last few words are all too much for the Deputy Head and, with a last "Mary, Mother of God no.", she departs from the room, a hand clasped tightly to her forehead. Dumbledore turns back to the screen. There are now only two people left in the common room, neither of them being the Head Boy or Girl. One of them, a girl, winks slowly at the screen.
The Headmaster waits a moment before winking back.
02:36/TUESDAY 6TH SEPTEMBER/ HEADS' QUARTERS/ HERMIONE'S ROOM
HERMIONE P.O.V
Before you ask, yes it is two in the morning and, yes, I AM still awake. But it IS for a good cause. I'm lying in my cosy bed, trying to find a way to show Draco my feelings for him. Now that I've kissed him (and, oh, what an amazing experience THAT was…drool), I know that he must have some feelings for me. Why else did he not attempt to pull away when our lips made contact? Sigh… the fact that he didn't reciprocate my actions is irrelevant. He was probably just taken by surprise.
Hmm, but back to what I was doing before I oh-so-rudely interrupted myself. I could always… or I could… nah. Bad idea… actually…wait a minute…
PERFECT!!
That is such a perfect plan! Satisfied and excited, I clap my hands to turn off the lights and snuggle into my bed.
I can't wait for tomorrow.
I know, I know! I'm very cruel leaving you hanging like that, but I'll let you in on a little secret. If you review lots and lots, I'll put my next chapter up before next Wednesday, as I had previously intended.
Also, one last note, all of the ideas that were suggested to me I was already going to use! You see! Already our minds are becoming one… (Anyone who can guess which movie I got that quote from gets one of Hermione's cookies…).
Updates: I have planned out all 26 chapters in such detail that all it requires now is for me to write it out in a proper form. As I just finished this task on Monday, I am now writing a chapter a day i.e. I wrote the 6th chapter yesterday and I am going to complete the 7th one today… And make no mistake, there is so much drama and lots more surprises to come so remember to keep reading. The chapters will start getting way longer after around the next couple of chapters and will get even longer after chapter 14 so stick with me for that.
Weekly Question: do you like the 'Previously On Mr Maybe' bits that I do..?
So, yeah. I guess all there is that is left to say is…
You Know You Love Me…
Firebirdflame…