Chapter 6 Hermione's Suspicions (Words: 1,215)
Ron's POV
"I'm going to kill Malfoy for stealing my girl. Just eight more hours until my Polyjuice Potion is ready, and then I can put my plan into action."
(*)
"Draco, I think there's something wrong with Ron. We should probably tell Dumbledore about it." I explained to him, worried about my former friend.
"You're probably right, 'Mione. We could go do that right now if you want?" he comforted me. Why do I feel safe in his arms? I'm so stressed. Ron's such a jerk. "Yeah, let's go before I change my mind for studying"
At Dumbledore's office, I explained that Ron hasn't been himself, but he was fine when I talked to him back at the beginning of the year. He told me that he will be more than happy to look into Ron's recent behavior. I felt so relieved at the news.
We went back up to our Common Room and spent the rest of the night studying. He told he'd be back to do his runs, making sure no one's out of bed. "I'm not going to finish your notes if you don't come back in time. Fifteen minutes enough?"
"Yeah," he replied, "I'm sure you wouldn't mind doing me a favor by doing my notes. I'll be back."
Draco's POV
I left Hermione, knowing she'd be fine without me for a little while. Being Head Boy is okay, I suppose. I'm glad Hermione's letting me near her now, and I'm also getting to know her better.
All of a sudden I felt a sharp pain in my back, and I fell to my knees. I felt a tug at my head, and then everything went black. I couldn't move. "Maybe that'll teach you from stealing MY Girl!" I faintly heard but knew it was the Weasel who did this to me. Who would have known the Weasel had it in him? Then I remembered about Hermione. Hermione! She's in trouble once Weasel gets to her!
Ron's POV
(**)
I drank the potion, it tasted awful. I only had to wait a little while before turning into that Ferret. But still, my plan is going perfectly so far. I still have to hide the real Draco, especially from 'Mione. I just had to make sure he's knocked out until Hollow's Eve. Now where to put him? Maybe Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, no one goes in there much anymore. So I went ahead took Malfoy to Myrtle's Bathroom to make sure no one finds him until Phase 2 is completed. I stole some lipstick from Ginny to pretend 'Draco' was making out with another girl.
I pretended to finish my- his- rounds. I quickly got back to the Common Room where Hermione was waiting.
"Draco! There you are! That did take longer that I expected. I said fifteen minutes remember?" She sounded genuinely worried about Malfoy. That was like a slap to the face to me. She cares for him? I was outraged by this. She isn't supposed to care for him!
"Right, sorry, 'Mione. Just lost track of time." I tried my best to mimic the Ferret's smirk, and to keep calm. I turned to make sure she saw the lipstick marks, and her reaction came just as expected. "What's that all over your face, Draco?" She passed her hand across my face, picking up a little of the placed lipstick.
"Why is there lipstick on your face? Don't tell me you snogging a girl during your runs tonight. That's why you were late! I can't believe you! I thought you changed Draco- no it's Malfoy from me now."
Merlin, she's so cute when she's worked up like that. It's all going according to plan.
"Listen, 'Mione I'm sorry. I didn't think kissing another girl would make you so upset."
"Ugh, whatever, Malfoy. I do not want to talk to you any more. I'm going to bed." She stormed off to her room. I took another swig of the potion when I was sure she was gone.
Hermione's POV
The nerve of him! I can't believe I'm overreacting about this. I thought he'd changed. But he was acting weirdly last night…
I walked out from our dorm, and went downstairs to the Great Hall for breakfast. "Ginny, have you seen Ron or Harry?"
"Uh, Ron not for a while, and Harry, I was just with him." She answered.
"Okay, we three need to talk, you, Harry, and myself. I have a bad feeling about Draco."
"Why? What's happened?" Ginny sounded worried to me.
"We had a fight last night because I caught him with lipstick all over his face." I frowned at the memory. "Oh, I'm sorry Herms. And yeah, I'll tell Harry. Room of Requirement?" I nodded, "We meet at 9 tonight"
Good thing Malfoy is doing rounds tonight until 11. I walked to the hallway where the Room of Requirement shows up, and entered finding that Harry and Ginny were already there.
"Hey 'Mione. Ginny told me something was off about Malfoy. What's wrong?"
"Last night after he told he'd be back after doing rounds in fifteen minutes, I found that he had actually been snogging with another girl. Lipstick was all over his face. I'd thought he'd changed, Harry." He held me for comfort, as I cried a little into his shoulder.
"Wait, do you remember what color it was? Because I've seemed to have misplaced mine," Ginny asked me.
"Um, yeah. It was a pink color; the shade wasn't too dark or too light. I've seen the same color of your lipstick…Ginny, do you think Ron has to do with any of this?"
"My brother? I don't know Hermione. But I know he has been acting strangely since the fight. Possibly even before that."
"I've had the same feeling too 'Mione. I know that he wasn't acting himself when he attacked Malfoy." Harry commented about Ron's strange behavior.
"Okay, thanks guys for meeting with me. I feel better now. I have to go do my rounds now. Good night." I gave them both a quick hug then left. I'm going to get to the bottom of this, no matter what. I was determined to figure this huge mess out.
(*2 days before Hollow's Eve (31st) (Ron's made enough PJP for 12-16 hours))
(**Ron is now Draco, at least just for now until the Switch happens. To make it clear, I made the spell up myself, so RON is the one who causes the switch of them. Phase 1. Turn into Malfoy Phase 2. Cause Malfoy and Hermione to switch with the spell and try to make them hate each other.)