Title
Among the Serpents
Chapter 7
By
Adrienne Black
Meanwhile, in the Slytherins dorms, Pansy Parkinson was storming about the common room in a most foreboding manner. Terrified first years had long since fled the room in a ridiculous panic, and every other Slytherin in the room had retreated to a far corner. A young girl in sixth year with ebony hair known as Penelope walked through the statue hole, a tense atmosphere greeted her. Pansy saw her look around the room, finding her friends and immediately ran over to them, whisper frantically. Pansy could only hear bits and pieces of their conversation but it was enough to enrage her further.
"What's up with Parkinson?"
"No one knows, she's just in a foul mood, hasn't talked for ages."
"Oh, I know what's the matter with her. Granger."
"What about Granger, what happened?"
The black haired girl related the morning events to her three friends. She tried to keep her voice down as much as possible, but teenage girls rarely have any idea of how loud they actually are, so by the time she got to the middle of her tale the entire common room knew exactly why Pansy was so foul. Upon the completion to the story the group of girls began to giggle uncontrollably.
"How positively embarrassing!" a girl with dyed blue hair whispered.
Pansy's nostrils flared as she turned on her heals and strode over the obnoxious group. All four of the girls grew quite as she advanced upon them. None of them saw Pansy's hand plunge into her robe pocket. None of them heard a spell being uttered, and none of them thought Pansy was as crazy as she, apparently, was.
Where once all four of the girls were completely, deathly silent, they now were all screeching as their black haired friend transformed before their very eyes. Penelope began shrieking a horrible, blood curling scream, Pansy just laughed. The girls head was shrinking in a horribly quick speed. The entire common room, with the exception of Penelope's friends, was as silent as if death was upon them, they all stared horrified, their gaze transfixed on Pansy, but none of them made a move to help Penelope. They were, after all, Slytherins.
Finally, after what seemed like hours, when it seemed as though Pansy was going to let Penelope's head shrink into oblivious, Pansy lifted the curse, grinning like a mad woman. Pansy bent down and grabbed the girls chin, which was thankfully back to a normal size.
"Don't talk about things you don't know anything about."
The girl was too petrified too speak, too petrified to even nod. Nodding to herself, Pansy turned on her heal and swept up to her dorm room. She slammed the door shut behind her and sunk down to the floor, her back to the wall.
What did she just do? She was never this kind of witch, this was Hermione or Blaise, this wasn't her. So what the girl was running her mouth, who in this damned school didn't? But that girl made her so mad. What did she know? Draco does love me. He does. He just couldn't love that…that… Granger. She treated him like a gnome, how could he love her? No, he didn't. He loves me.
But Pansy knew that wasn't true. And it was this that made her crazy, crazy enough to shrink a girl's head.
Hermione pulled herself together, she wouldn't let him get to her. This was a happy day, she was having fun, they were off to a robes shop, she was going to get to shop, it was going to be okay.
She grabbed Draco's arm and strode down the street, admiring the beautiful autumn colors. She, Draco, Blaise, his date, Crabbe, Goyle and Flint (who had failed four times) were going to do some Halloween shopping for the parties tonight.
It seemed that every year each house had a sort of 'underground' Halloween party. It was almost a competition, so, of course, Slytherin and Gryffindor always went head to head. More often then not Slytherin came out on top. Sure the house may not always win the Quidditch Cup, or the House Cup, or put one of it's wizards in the Triwizard Tournament, but they did know how to throw a good party.
The group walked into a high-end shop "Tituba's Closet" and began searching through the clothes. Draco and Hermione went to opposite sides of the store (which was surprisingly large), and Hermione found a few garments she wanted to try on. She walked into an unoccupied dressing room and shut the door behind her. As she turned around she gave out a soft gasp. A hand grabbed her wrist and slammed her against the wall. Before she knew what was happening her wand was in the hand of the stranger.
It took a few seconds for Hermione to realize who the stranger was, and when she did she bubbled with rage. It was no stranger at all, it was Blaise Zabini, staring down at her with an expression of utmost disdain.
"Zabini, what in the hell do you think your doing. Let go of me."
"What the hell do you think your doing talking to Potter about eh?"
Thank Merlin Hermione had grown up with a deceitful face, otherwise it might have been apparent to Zabini that she was genuinely frightened. She hadn't thought anyone had seen her, the store had been so crowded. But she had been wrong, and Zabini had seen their conversation, had seen the jealousy on her face as Potter walked out with Pavarti and had seen how close Potter had gotten to her ear. This was not good. So, Hermione had to think quick and be clever. Then it hit her.
"Oh that doesn't really concern you, does it? But what does concern you is the compromising position it would seem we are in to, say, Draco. How would he like you pressed against me like this? I would think he'd be quite pleased, eh?"
She pushed her hips into his, watching his face for a sign of weakness, but then realizing that was foolish. They had been brought up the same way, just differently. He wasn't about to show any sign of weakness and neither was she.
Blaise slammed her against the wall again, she wasn't expecting that. Her eyes met his and narrowed at the sight of him.
"You think he'd blame me? Or would he blame you, for looking like a whore, or would he blame himself for not believing me. My bet would be on you, Granger. Calling him in here would just confirm what I've been saying all along." he leaned in closer to her ear, his lips grazing the lobe as he spoke. "I've got you Granger, just step on a few more toes and the dance'll be over." He chuckled and then POP, he was gone, her wand falling to the ground below where he held it.
Hermione kicked the wall. Today had been a good day.
The day had come and gone and it was finally Halloween night, ten o'clock meant parties were beginning and professors were sleeping. No one (except maybe first years, who weren't even invited to these parties) was under the pretense that the professors were oblivious to the night's activities, it's just that none of the professors cared, some of them even promoted the inter-house relationship that seemed to be created as a result.
So, needless to say, Harry was excited. He left the Halloween feast a little early, as did every other 7th year, and headed straight to his dorm room to begin getting ready. He hadn't told Granger yet, but he had planned a party for their common room.
He was walking so fast down the corridor, not even watching where he was going that he bumped into something with obnoxious red hair. He almost fell to the floor, but steadied himself with a few steps, the same couldn't be said for Ron Weasley.
"Oi! Watch out Potter."
"Since when do you call me Potter, Ron?" Harry asked, half-laughing. He thought Ron was kidding.
"Since my sister saw you in Hogsmead with Pavarti!"
Harry froze.
"Yeah, she's been bloody crying all day! And I thought you'd be good to her! You're a slimy git, that's what you are."
Harry didn't say anything, sure he would have liked to very much, but nothing came to mind. He hadn't even thought of Ginny when Pavarti asked him to Hogsmead.
"Well! Your not even going to say anything? Well that's bloody brilliant."
"Ron, you have to know I didn't do it on purpose, I wasn't thinking."
"Oh, so now you don't even think about my sister? Or her feelings?"
"Ron, you know it's not like that… calm down and can we talk about this."
"What is there to talk about?"
"Why are you getting so worked up, you never wanted me to date Ginny anyway."
"Right! So this wouldn't happen!" And with that Ron stormed down the hallway, knocking over a suit of armor and a couple third years, who spewed some choice words after him.
Well wasn't that just perfect. He hadn't even thought about Ginny, or Ron. But that was the problem wasn't it? He would just have to apologize to her tonight, and explain himself. He began walking again, toward his dorm room, thinking of how he would approach Ginny. And the more he thought about it, the worse he felt. When he arrived to the portrait hole he muttered the password (Meriwether) and strode in quickly.
He flicked his wand, muttering Patria Decortum. The room instantly transformed itself. The couch zoomed to the wall, the modest kitchenette table turned into a large buffet table full of chocolates and Halloween decorations, balloons that changed from orange to black filled the ceiling, and some music began to play. Harry flicked his wand again, and as a final touch made the fire flash the words "Happy Halloween". He nodded to himself, content with the room. Everyone knew the Head Boy and Girl's party was always the best, and he didn't want to disappoint.
He hurried to his room to get ready, he didn't want to tell Granger until the last possible moment. He went straight to his wardrobe and began getting dressed. He had half of his shirt on when he heard an angry banging on his door, followed by a defining yell from his roommate.
"Potter! What the hell are these decorations doing in here!" She banged on the door again. "Potter get out here and explain this!" She banged again and again until finally the door opened.
"What is this?" She asked shrilly, holding a balloon in her hand.
"Well that would be a balloon, Granger."
"Don't be stupid I know what it is, what is it doing in the common room?"
"Well, if you already knew, then why did you ask? It seems a bit silly to me."
"Don't be a smart ass."
"Stop making references to my ass, it makes me uncomfortable."
She let out a loud shriek and marched across the hall to her dorm, slamming the door shut behind her.
Well it's not as though she blamed him for wanting to throw a party, and she probably would have been on board with it had she had the day she thought she would have. But Zabini had to ruin it all, and after McGonagall had given her such fantastic news…
As much as she had hoped she would be able to hide in her rooms for the entire night, she would simply have to attend the party. She couldn't let Zabini think he had won, as he most certainly had not. She would just have to suck it up. After all, she hadn't endured six years of betraying her personality to have it all ruined in one month.
What was wrong with her this year? She had successfully completed six years in Hogwarts, among people she distrusted, with a family who despised her and she had done it all perfectly. Why was it so hard for her to keep it together now? She let out a sigh. She had no idea.
She got off her bed and strode over to her closet. She quickly threw on a deep purple t-shirt, a pair of dark jeans and black boots. Taking a deep breath, Hermione pulled her door open. The noise of a festive party greeted her as she descended the stairs. She looked around the room, it was as she expected; mostly Gryffindors…figures.
Hermione made her way through the masses of people, until finally she came upon a familiar face. It was Stephen Cornfoot, one of Hermione's ex-boyfriends. She had only dated in for a month or so, in sixth year when she and Draco had taken a 'break'. When he had found out about it Stephen spent three months in the Hospital Wing with perpetual boils on his penis. She tapped the tall blonde on his shoulder, not sure whether he would speak to her or run away screaming. To her relief he turned around with a welcoming smile plastered on his handsome features.
"Well, if it isn't Hermione Granger. Haven't talked to you since…well in a while. How's Malfoy working out for you?"
"Not as well as you worked me." Hermione giggled, she did enjoy teasing him.
"Oh, well I knew that."
"I'm sure you did."
"There are a lot of people here eh?"
"Mmm. But no Draco."
"Ah, well they knew I would be here, they probably didn't want to be overshadowed."
"Well aren't we cocky?"
"Don't act so put off. I distinctly remember you liking it."
"Ha. Well to be honest I'm surprised you didn't run through the door at the sight of me."
"For Merlin's sake your not a vampire."
"No. I suppose your right."
"Besides I'll take my chances to talk to you."
"Keep it in your pants, if you still have one." She laughed. So did he.
"Came out of your room to play then, eh Granger?"
Hermione turned around to see a sneering Potter, looking very uncomfortable. She rolled her eyes.
"I'm having a conversation here, Wonder-boy. Where are your manners?"
"Ah, well it's hanging out with your virginity of course."
"Oh your so clever." she turned back to Stephen, but he had gone. Behind her Hermione heard Potter's laughter and felt enraged. Why wouldn't anyone allow her to carry on a simple conversation! She let out a sigh of rage and headed for the door.
Hermione spent the rest of Halloween alone, in a broom closet.
