DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER OR THE CINDERELLA STORY.
PLEASE ENJOY THE CHAPTER
EXPLAINATIONS AND REALISATIONS
"Oh no, oh no, oh no…" Hermione panicked, reaching for a dirty rag beside the vase.
"It's ok, 'Mione" Oliver said soothingly. "We've finished everything".
Hermione stopped having a panic attack and smiled at her friends. She then glanced out the window to see her stepmother and stepsisters coming closer to the house on their horse drawn cart.
"Thankyou so much" Hermione said, hugging her friends one by one. "I love you heaps but you better go. If she catches you…"
"It's ok, 'Mione. We'll go now but will be back to see you off. Good luck" Oliver said.
Then, with a "pop" disappeared. The others followed Oliver's lead, saying their farewells to Hermione and then disappearing. But Seamus stayed behind.
"Seamus please go. You know what will happen…"
"'Mione" he said, cutting her off. Tonight you must take your wand to the ball. You must know that…"
"I don't use magic anymore" Hermione stated firmly. "After what happened to mother…"
"Voldemorts back, Hermione. I can feel it".
"But how can you be sure Seamus? No one has seen him since he tried to kill Harry and…"
Seamus had pulled up his sleeve to reveal his forearm. A heart was on it and was glowing black.
"I don't understand" Hermione said, ignoring the frustrated yells coming from outside.
"I use to be human, Hermione" Seamus confessed. "I still am part-human. Me and the others were being tutored by your mother when Death Eaters attacked. Dumbledore arrived before a Death Eater could take your mother back to Voldemort, but a curse had put her in a coma."
Seamus stopped to take a breath and Hermione heard the front door open.
"Us, on the other hand, were unwillingly brandished with the Dark Mark. Dumbledore tried to reverse the spell, but the damage was done. So he came up with an idea. He would turn us into figurines to help you and Harry (and this way, instead of being Voldemorts slaves, we could be your helpers).By doing this, Dumbledore could also change the Dark Mark as we had it done unwillingly. Now, it's in the shape of a heart and still glows black whenever Voldemort wants us. However, he can't discover where we are as we're not completely human".
Hermione touched Seamus' arm and whispered "why…?"
"Didn't I tell you until now? Because Voldemort is back and Harry needs all the help he can get- especially from one of his best friends…"
Footsteps were audible, coming up the stairs.
"Trust yourself, 'Mione. Magic can also be used for good- especially magic of the heart".
Hermione opened her mouth to ask what he meant but Seamus held up his hand to stop her.
"No, 'Mione. You must figure it out. Believe in your heart and your senses and you'll pull through. Good luck tonight".
Seamus disappeared as footsteps were heard outside the music room door. Morticia walked in, looking shocked.
"I don't believe it" she said, looking around the clean room. "You can't possibly have done this all by yourself. Explain".
Hermione shrugged her shoulders.
"I clean fast when determined" she said and walked out of the room, leaving Morticia gaping at her like a goldfish.
Groaning, Draco slowly opened his eyes, only to shut them again as unexpected sunlight fell on his face.
"What the…" he mumbled, attempting to sit up but failing.
"So you're up, Mr Malfoy" Lupin said, standing in front of Draco to block the suns rays.
"It could seem that way" Draco said and, once again, attempted to sit up and open his eyes.
"We were successful, Mr Malfoy" Lupin said, causing Draco to actually open his eyes and stare at him. "You should know that the risks of us succeeding were slim to none…" Draco opened his mouth in astonishment (and to yell abuse). "…But it was actually you who pulled us through. Whatever the thing is that you value, keep it and there will be many more victories".
Lupin made a move to leave, but stopped to say "there has been search parties for you everywhere. It would be a good idea for you to go back to the palace- but only when you're ready. You can stay here until then. I'll bring you out some food momentarily".
Then he left Draco.
As soon as Lupin had moved, the sunlight shone on Draco's face, causing him to squint. After a while (when his eyes had adjusted to the light), Draco looked around at his surrounding. He had know idea where he was. He was laying on a hammock tied to two trees, and he was in a garden. It was a simple garden; nothing like the gardens back at the palace, but beautiful nonetheless. The trees between which Draco and the hammock were suspended, was in the centre of the garden- with plants growing around the sides. The plants were enchanted. Every so often they would change colour, sparkle or begin glowing. Draco continued to gawk at the garden when, hearing a noice behind him, he turned around so fast that he nearly got whiplash. Draco saw Lupin approach him, a tray of food in his hands. Draco was going to thank Lupin, as he was handed the tray of food, but instead asked "Where am I".
Lupin smiled and replied "there is more to a place then it's looks, Mr Malfoy".
Draco looked confused.
"The back of the shop" Lupin sighed.
lightbulb
"of course. The veil…"Draco mumbled. "You said that we were successful…"
"Yeah, that's why we are still alive".
"…but…"
"Eat. Mr Malfoy. You lost a lot of strength. If you need me, give a yell".
"…but…"
"You've been asleep for five hours. The balls tonight, so you need your strength. Eat!"
With that, Lupin went back inside and Draco began eating his food hungrily. After all the food had vanished from his plate, Draco made a move to stand up but a hand on his shoulder topped him.
"What…?" Draco said, jumping slightly and nearly falling off the hammock.
Lupins hand steadied him.
"Sorry I startled you, Mr Malfoy, but I think that you better go soon. Your father is now, personally, searching for you…"
"...probably wants to practice curses on me…" Draco mumbled.
"…And I heard that your mother is very distraught. But like I said, you can stay here as long as you need to". Lupingave a small, genuine, smile and removed the tray from Dracos lap.
"Thankyou, Mr Lupin" Draco said politely. The words sounded foreign to himself as if he had never formally thanked anyonebefore (well, anyone who wasn't a pure blood) and meant it.
"You're welcome, Mr Malfoy".
"I should go. If Father is looking for me then he must be..." he was going to say "worried" or "concerned" but he believed none of these to be true. "...um... Mother will worry about my safety..." he believed this to be true. "...but could we go over the plan one more time? Then I'm ready" Draco finished, determined.
"Of course, Mr Malfoy. Now Dumbledore and Harry will..."
After finishing the housework (with the help of her friends), Hermione was ordered to help Blanche and Katarina to get dressed and ready for the Ball. Thankfully, their ride home from the Village wasn't as eventful as the previous day so Hermione only had to fix their hair and makeup a little bit. It was nearlly dark before Hermione had finished getting Blanche and Katarina ready; the girls giving Hermione awkward hugs to avoid their hair falling out of place or their makeup getting smudged.
Then Morticia called her for help.
As Hermione entered her stepmothers room, she nearlly tripped over the cat; causing it to lash out at her.
"Come here, Hermione" Morticia said, ignoring her screeching cat.
Hermione helped lace up Morticias dress and tie it up at the back (like a corset). When Morticias dress was on, she sat down at her dresser and told Hermione to fix up her hair and makeup. While Hermione was doing this, Morticia told her about the events of the day, starting with them getting their hair and makeup done (exaggerating how relaxing, wonderful-and expensive- it was). Hermione smiled politely.
"...then I saw the Prince".
Hermione dropped the hairbrush, tlhen ooked at Morticias reflection in the mirror. Morticia ignored her.
"He spoke to me and was very polite. He also showed some interest in Blanche and Katarina- I wouldn't be surprised if he proposed to one of them tonight".
Hermione was about to ask whether it really was the Prince that she talked to (she believed the story to be fabricated. Well, about the proposal part mainly.), when excited screams were heard coming from downstairs.
"That will be our ride. Oh..." Morticia said, as though she was surprised. "But you're not ready child. Why are you not wearing your dress?" Morticia hid a smirk.
"I've been cleaning all day stepmother and didn't have time to make a dress for myself. I was going to make one this afternoon but..."
"That's too bad child" Morticia said, rising from her chair and putting on her gloves and mask.Then she exited the room and went downstairs.
Hermione followed her.
Once they got to the kitchen, they saw Katarina and Blanche jumping up and down, screaming. Outside, stroking one of the four horses attached to the carriage, was Ron Weasley.
"Come on girls" Morticia said, clapping her hands twice. Blanche and Katarina waited for Ron to open the door before jumping in the carriage and yelling for their mother to hurry up. "Good job cleaning the house, stepdaughter" Morticia whispered. "Don't wait up for us. Have a nice night".
Morticia laughed and she entered the carriage and shut the door.
Hermione was about to go inside when she saw Ron approach her.
"Miss Grang..."
Hermione glared at him.
"Uh... Hermione" Ron said awkwardly, causing Hermione to smile and him to blush.
"Yes, Ron?"
"Hermione..." he repeated, saying her name with some sort of fascination. "Tonight is not what it appears to be..." she opened her mouth to ask what he meant but he cut her off. "...bad things are going to happen, Hermione, things. Harry said for you to come and bring your wand. He told me about- you know-but you're strong Hermione, and can overcome your fears".
"But I'm not allowed to come..."
"Please, Hermione. Harry needs you... we all need you..."
Then he took his place on the carriage, gave a small smile and wave to Hermione, then moved the horses into a trot. Hermione waved to Ron and then went into the house. When she no longer heard the sound of hoof beats, she knew they were gone.
AUTHORS NOTE: SORRY IT HAS TAKEN ME SO LONG TO UPDATE. I'VE NEARLY FINISHED DRAFTING THE WHOLE STORY AND HAVE WRITTEN TWO MORE CHAPTERS THAT I HAVE TO WRITE UP. THANKS TO ALL MY FAITHFUL (AND NEW) REVIEWERS. I HOPE YOU STILL ENJOY THIS STORY AND LIKE THIS CHAPTER (ALTHOUGH I PERSONALLY THINK IT WAS CRAP- BUT THE INFO REVEALED IN THIS CHAPTER NEEDED TO BE HERE AND IS CRUCIAL TO WHAT HAPPENS NEXT).
THE BALL CHAPTER IS NEXT.
THANKS TO FIRE-AND-ICE89, SOFTBALL-ROCKS, MISSBAUDELAIRE, GOODYBAD, HERMIONE-GRANGER-420, MYSTERIOUSCHARM, AND BAKA DESHIS FOR YOUR REVIEWS. SORRY I'M NOT REPLYING TO YOU LIKE I NORMALLY DO BUT... hands you guys cookies and cream THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
PLEASE REVIEW THIS CHAPTER AND I'LL PERSONALLY REPLY TO YOU IN THE NEXT ONE WHICH I WILL PUT UP ASAP.
THE BALLS NEXT!
