Disclaimer: JK may own the peeps but I sure do own the cheeps, so if the
words do make you sleep, it is the fault of the Passion creep.
~*~*~*~
Last time on LGG:
"Hey, I was wondering... why'd you blow up at Weasley? What'd he do? I know it wasn't just because he was talking to you; he'd been doing that the entire class." Hermione raised an eyebrow.
"He told me I had a nice ass," she said and Draco looked somewhat surprised. He leaned over in his chair, which was across from Hermione's, and pretended to validate Ron's statement.
"I agree," he said as he straightened again and Hermione shook her head at him. He smirked. "What, no 'Malfoy! Shut the hell up!'?" Hermione smiled.
"If I'm not mistaken, Malfoy, you are not a member of an elite group of dumb asses bent on making my life a living hell, are you?"
"No. I fly solo," he stated smartly and Hermione smiled.
"That's what I thought."
~*~*~*~
CHAPTER ELEVEN: Operation Secret Decoder Ring
When Dobby returned, carrying with him a tray of turkey salad sandwiches, he struck up a 'how're things at home' conversation with Draco.
"Does Penny make those cookies your mother likes? I tried to teach her before I left, but I'm afraid she wasn't the quickest learner, poor thing..."
"Actually, Mother makes them herself. Now SHE'S good at it... maybe better than you, even." Dobby laughed.
"Yeah, right," he said with a smirk, then looked a little more serious. "Lucius doesn't know about that, does he? She really shouldn't be... if he ever caught her..."
"I know; god knows how many times I've told her... but you know mother..." he rolled his eyes. "Once she sets her mind to something..." Dobby nodded. "Although I'm not really sure what he'd actually DO if he found out... he hasn't been himself since..." Draco looked to Hermione, who'd remained quietly eating her sandwich while the two boys talked. Draco was about to finish, but Dobby knew what he meant and nodded.
"Might be the best thing to ever happen to the man, really... it's better this way, isn't it?"
"Oh, much..."
"Dobby! Barry needs Dobby's assistance in the mixing room," said a female house elf, bounding over to the little group.
"Okay, okay, I'm coming Jessie. Tell Barry to wait a tit." Jessie's eyes grew wide.
"Dobby!" she scolded, gesturing to the two at the table. "Humans." Dobby smirked.
"It's okay, Jessie. They're good ones." Jessie rolled her eyes and spun, leaving Dobby to his business. "I better go; Barry doesn't rhyme with scary for nothing."
"Thanks Dobby," Hermione called after him as the house elf walked away and Draco nodded in agreement, then turned back to his lunch. "Since what?" Hermione asked before he could manage a bite. Draco set down his sandwich slowly, noticing that she seemed to mean business. This could take a while.
"What?"
"Don't play dumb, Draco. It's beneath you." Draco sighed.
"Since the defeat." Hermione looked down. "Yep, see, this is why I didn't want to tell you. Now you feel guilty, don't you?" Hermione didn't say anything. "It could've been worse... most of the other death eaters spontaneously combusted; it's almost a miracle, if you think about it."
"Draco, that's really not helping. Tell me what you mean by 'he hasn't been himself,'" she asked sadly and he sighed again.
"He's gone mad, Hermione. My father is legally insane. Sometimes he's the same old Lucius... sometimes he's super-dad, rebuilding the tree-house I'd build when I was three, which he'd burned down to spite me... attempting to give me advice... he once even tried to give me the sex talk. Can you imagine that? Lucius Malfoy talking to his son about a matter such as sex? It was bloody hilarious if you ask me..."
"So he's just normal and nice?" she asked hopefully and Draco's smile dropped.
"No, I'm not going to lie to you... sometimes he's violent. We had to have one of those padded rooms installed in order for the ministry to let us keep him at the manor, and he has three male nurses... big guys who can wrestle him down. But it's not as bad as I'm making it sound, Hermione; I swear. He has medication... and he's nice most of the time. It's so much better this way; you have no idea." Hermione didn't look too much happier. With a sad smile, Draco reached across and brushed her hair back behind her ear, causing Hermione to look at him. "He doesn't beat my mother anymore, Hermione. He doesn't even threaten to... if he does, he goes to his room; he knows that, so he doesn't do it. Lucius is on his best behavior or he gets time out; like a five-year-old. He realizes this, and it embarrasses him, so he makes an effort to be what everyone wants him to be. I can't emphasize how much this means to me... and my mother... and our house elves. You should feel proud of yourself; not guilty. Don't, okay? Don't torture yourself for me."
Hermione kept her eyes locked on his for a while, then looked back down at her plate. Draco's hand was still close to her cheek; fingers curled around her ear.
"Hermione?" he asked softly, knowing he hadn't quite gotten her to understand yet, and Hermione took a small breath. She reached a hand up to his, pulling it down, but keeping it in hers, then resting them on her shoulder.
"How can you be so optimistic? I made your father go crazy, Draco. He's insane, because of me. It's irrelevant how it affected him, the fact still remains that I've given your father a mental illness. You should hate me," she said sadly, not making eye contact. She held tight to his hand, as if she thought he'd agree and leave her where she sat, never chancing a word with her again.
"Hermione, it does matter. What doesn't matter is what they call it. In truth, you've made him a better person and you've taken suffering away from countless others. In my opinion, he was loonier before the incident. When everyone thought Black was a murderer, what did people say? 'That man is crazy.' And they were right; you'd have to be crazy to take the innocent lives of strangers... and my father did that, along with countless other things only someone a little off the deep end would do... things I will never repeat to you; ever, but they're there... he did them... and he doesn't do them anymore. He's a normal person now... as long as he takes his pill. That one little capsule of powder in his morning cup of yogurt and he's Saint Augustine for the rest of the day. Please, Hermione. You feeling bad about this is just stupid... there's no other way to say it." Hermione still looked torn; should she believe him? He might be exaggerating to make her feel better... oh god, she drove his father mad! How could she do something so terrible! But he'd done things much worse... and she'd stopped him...
"Draco..." she said, tilting her head slightly, leaning it on their hands. Sensing she would make another excuse and refuse to feel better, Draco stopped her.
"I'll kick you if you don't stop kicking yourself," he said and she smiled, although she tried hard not to.
"You wouldn't dare," she challenged and Draco smirked.
"Oh, wouldn't you like to find out. And I'm wearing steel-toed shoes, so I'd be careful." Hermione dropped her smile and sighed.
"You're sure it's better; you're not just saying that?"
"I swear on my life I'm not leading you anywhere." Slouching a bit in her chair, Hermione nodded slightly.
"Alright," she agreed, then smiled at him. Draco looked much happier and squeezed her hand.
"Good. You're a real drag when you're unhappy," he said and Hermione smiled more genuinely. Then, she sat straighter with a start, needing to let go of Draco's hand in order to move her sleeve to view her watch.
"We've got class in twenty minutes; I have Herbology; that's only about a ten minute walk from here... providing I walk a bit faster than we did coming down." Draco smiled.
"Then we'll stay a few more minutes, hm?" he suggested and Hermione smiled.
The two prefects sat together for almost ten more minutes, neither speaking much... they were more concentrated on the sandwiches they'd neglected while talking. When they were finished and ready to go, Draco and Hermione bid an across-the-kitchen goodbye to Dobby and left.
"Steel-toed shoes, huh? Liar," Hermione said, looking down at Draco's sneakers. He smiled and shrugged, so she stepped on his foot.
"Ow; geez I'm sorry! Why must you be so brutal?" Hermione rolled her eyes.
"What do you have now?" she asked as they continued down the hall, trying to put on her gloves and hold her notebook at the same time. Noticing her struggling, Draco took her book away. Hermione moved to snatch it back, but remembered his promise and put her gloves on as fast as she could, taking it back calmly. "Thanks," she said and he smiled. She really did trust him; even with her most prized possession. As Draco handed the notebook back, he answered her.
"Astronomy," he said and her jaw dropped.
"Draco! Why didn't you tell me that?! You'll never get to class on time! You'll be late, and it's my fault," she wined and he laughed.
"Actually, that would be my fault... I know how far away the tower is. Don't worry about it, Hermione; I'll be fine."
"How do you have astronomy at one o'clock in the afternoon? You can't possibly see stars..."
"It's called magic, Granger. The same magic that did my potions essay last night, and fixed the black eye I got on the train," Draco said smartly and Hermione rolled her eyes.
"I'm stupid sometimes; forgive me."
"Liar," he said with a smirk. "I've got to go... I'll see you later; CMC." Hermione bit her lip and nodded, feeling guilty about making him late. "I told you to stop that," he said as he backed away and she smiled a bit. Then, Hermione had another stroke of genius.
"Draco, wait!" Unsurprisingly, he waited. Hermione walked quickly up to him, taking a paper from her pocket. "This is my schedule. Say you picked it up by accident this morning, thinking it was yours and went to Herbology instead. Our first three classes were together; it wouldn't have made a difference until now," she said, holding the paper out to him. Draco stared at her as he took it, smiling. Then, he leaned down and kissed her... again. It wasn't as involved as last time; they were on a time schedule. Hermione was speechless as they parted. No matter how many times they kissed, each managed to always catch the other off-guard, and each kiss in itself was surprising.
"You're amazing. Thanks," he said softly, then turned and jogged down the hall. Hermione watched him go, then snapped out of it and looked at her watch.
"Shit," she said and took off running toward the greenhouses.
~*~*~*~
Hermione managed to make it to Herbology within three minutes after the beginning of class. Some day this had been... first the house points, then detention, then having to sit next to Ron for two whole hours, then learning about what she did to Draco's father, and now, she was barely on time to class. At least she could get Snape back... not to mention Harry, Ron, Nick, and Claire. Damn Gryffindors.
Although the day seemed to lag forever, Hermione made it through Herbology, spent her free period in the library, then sat through Arithmacy and DADA without a hitch. Unfortunately, she was forced to sit with either Gryffindor or Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw she didn't know, so Hermione sat with Harry and Ron. Again. And they kept trying to talk to her. Again. Lord, it would have been easier to just sit with Finch-Fletchley or something. Hm... she could have told him about Hannah... no, no, that was just too evil. Hermione Granger wasn't THAT evil... but Guilly Granger? Kid stuff.
The Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Costello, sat silently at his desk, eyes on the clock, waiting to dismiss the class. Hermione, taking note of this, stared with him... just a few more minutes... she was tapping her feet in anticipation. She had Care of Magical Creatures next. The last class of the day... and it was with Slytherin. She smiled spontaneously. Slytherin.
"What are you so excited about, Mione? I'd rather stay here all day than go to class with those prats. At least it's with Hagrid. Imagine if we had potions last... I'd die, I'd literally die," Ron said, noticing her practical need to leave. Hermione glared at him, but Ron took it as dislike for Slytherin. "It's okay, Mione. We'll still be there... we won't let the stupid Slytherin touch you."
Hermione was suddenly struck with images of Draco the morning after she'd slept in his bed. She could almost feel his caresses... his lips in her hair... she shivered.
"Oh, I wish..." she moaned in a whisper, and both Harry and Ron looked to her with wide eyes. Hermione panicked. Had she said that out loud? Wait... had she said that? "I-I wish this class would just end so I can go to CMC and get this stupid day over with," she covered less than brilliantly, and Harry narrowed his eyes.
"That's not what you meant," he accused and Hermione thought about this. No, no... that definitely wasn't what she meant... and why is it any of their business anyway? Yeah, why should they care if she's... attracted... to a Slytherin? And a damn hott Slytherin at that. She blinked. Whoa, where was all this coming from? Shaking her head, Hermione made up her mind.
"You're right Harry, that's not what I meant. I meant exactly what you think I meant," she said and both Harry and Ron dropped their jaws, eyes on her. Hermione shrugged. "Draco's hott."
"Class dismissed," said Professor Costello, simple and out of the blue. Hermione smiled and stood quickly, hurrying from the classroom. Perfect timing, Professor. Let them chew on that one for a while... serves them right, annoying little bastards.
* * * * * * * * * *
"Harry, please tell me that did not happen. Tell me Granger didn't just say she wanted to shag Malfoy. I don't think I can take that right now."
"Sorry Ron, but yes, that most certainly did happen. Damn Slytherin, they're ruining everything... we'll have to put Operation Secret Decoder Ring into action a little sooner if we don't want to lose Ms. Encyclopedia to the enemy. She may annoy the hell out of me, but if she's not on our side, I don't want to know what she could do to us... Malfoy needs to be out of the picture," Harry said as he picked up his books and Ron nodded.
"Right." Then, he looked uneasy. "Harry?"
"Yeah."
"What's Operation Secret Decoder Ring?" Harry rolled his eyes.
"Sometimes you're as in the dark as Granger. We write a letter 'from' Malfoy to Granger telling her all about how he finds her the most disgusting thing he's ever seen and blah, blah, blah... then she gets mad at him, which makes him mad at her... presto magnifico, Malfoy's no longer a problem. Honestly, can't you remember anything? We were talking about this half an hour ago."
"Well you have so many damn plans... I'm bound to forget which is which."
"You named that one!"
"Right."
* * * * * * * * * *
Hermione and Draco were standing just outside the DADA doorway, and both heard every word spoken by the enemy. As Harry and Ron approached the door, Draco silently took Hermione by the arm and pulled her around the corner he knew they wouldn't pass. Once the duo of double-crossers was out of ear shot, Hermione laughed out loud.
"Did you hear that? They think a forged letter is going to fool ME..." she asked, standing with her back against the wall and shaking her head. "Are they progressively losing brain cells?" Draco smirked. He was standing in front of her, eyes on her face as she laughed. Again, another activity she could participate in and still remain beautiful. Damn.
"You told them you wanted to sleep with me?" he asked with a smirk and Hermione felt her heart drop, but thankfully didn't falter her laughter. She nodded slightly.
"Pissed them off right good, didn't it? Operation Secret Decoder Ring, good god," she said, still grinning on the edge of her laughter. Meanwhile, Draco was having mental conflict. His mouth wasn't cooperating with his brain: 'Do you? Ask her, Malfoy, damn you. Do you want to sleep with me?' "Where did you come from, anyway? Are you stalking me or something?" Draco smirked.
"Maybe. Or maybe I just came from the Arithmacy room down the hall and I thought you might like to walk with me to class. I haven't quite decided yet." Hermione remained silent for a moment, and Draco worked an impulse, leaning in for a kiss. Knowing what was coming and, due to her new found feelings, not knowing if she was really quite ready for it, Hermione slid away, out into the open hallway. Draco looked shot down. Noticing this, Hermione took his hand in hers.
"We should go, come on." And Draco followed. He sighed at himself. That was the second time today he hadn't had the guts to say something to her. What was wrong with him? Maybe it was good that he hadn't asked, though... she didn't seem too keen on his closeness a moment ago. It probably would have scared her away...
* * * * * * * * * *
Draco and Hermione approached Hagrid's hut, still holding hands. Hermione seemed not even to notice, but Draco did, and it worried him a tiny bit. Potter and Weasley were bound to blow up at that, weren't they?
The two prefects were the last to arrive, but luckily found an empty table and sat together. Hermione was glad; she would have kicked herself for listening to Harry and Ron talk about their stupid little plan if it meant she couldn't sit next to the boy she'd been waiting to see since he turned the corner from the kitchens. It wasn't like she'd have fallen for the letter trick anyway.
Hermione looked to Harry and Ron, wanting to see their reaction. They were both looking right at her, but smiled when they saw her stare. She narrowed her eyes, but they just shrugged and turned ahead, each wearing evil smirks. Hermione smiled.
"You know," she said, attracting Draco's attention, not noticing she'd never lost it. Hermione nodded at the Gryffindor boys. "If I didn't know better, I'd think they were planning something." Draco smirked.
"Could be," he agreed, but Hagrid cut off anything else he might have wanted to say. The burly professor began into a speech about unicorns. Again. Every year, Hagrid started out each class, from first to seventh year, with a project on unicorns, gradually getting more difficult at each level. As seventh year students, their project was to have one member of each group approach the caged unicorn in Hagrid's stables and collect a sample of hair from the main, tail, and just above the hoof. This particular unicorn was color-coded, in a sense, so the hairs could be distinguished.
Once done, the team must collect all the information they can on each type of hair, then brew three separate potions involving each, and finally organize their observations and construct a report of some kind. As large a project as it seemed, it was well known that Hagrid probably didn't even read the finished products, so a lot of people were planning on easy living through this. Not Hermione. She'd never slacked off on an assignment, and she wasn't planning to start now. If Draco wasn't willing to help her, she'd do it herself. Maybe he'd feel guilty. Or maybe he'd just help...
Once Hagrid was done explaining the requirements of the project and the students had split themselves into twelve boy-girl teams, only one inter- house, the class was drawing to a close.
"Seem 'zer ain't enough time 'ta collect 'da 'airs today, so we'll do it nex' class. Yer dismissed," Hagrid said merrily, then retreated to his domicile. Harry and Ron shot directly to the castle, running as if the had somewhere to be, and most of the other students followed, however not as quickly. Again, Draco and Hermione leisurely packed up their stuff and slowly made their way back to the castle.
"I thought this day would never end..." Hermione said, crossing her arms in front of her. Draco smiled.
"Yeah, I was kind of thinking the same thing. Must everything we do be so boring? Was that like a requirement by the ministry or something? Bore the children to death so they'll know nothing and we won't have to spend money on exams!"
"No exams? Preposterous!" Hermione said seriously, and for a moment Draco thought he'd offended her, but then she broke out in a smirk.
"Hermione, do you ever stop being Granger? Just for a few minutes?" She laughed.
"Who'd you rather I be? Malfoy? That'd be a riot," Hermione said, shaking her head and smiling widely. Draco was smirking. He could live with her as a Malfoy... it'd be better than Parkinson being one. He shuddered to think. "I was just kidding, Draco. No exams would be just peachy with me."
"Glad to hear it." Hermione looked at her watch.
"I have to find Eglamour," she said and Draco looked curiously at her. He was about to ask why she needed to locate her cat, but Hermione beat him by answering. "If he goes to the Great Hall during dinner, he'll ruin the whole I'm-a-cat thing. And he will go, little pig. He'd eat all day if I left food out for him," she said, smiling at the thought of her cat and ultimately causing Draco to do the same.
"Mind if I join you? Don't really feel like homework right now... I definitely need a break before detention." Hermione laughed.
"You make it sound like it's going to be hard or something... it's just a detention."
"Yes, but a detention with Snape. Ever had one? He'll take away our wands and make us... wash his underwear or something. I'm not exactly looking forward to it," Draco said, his face slightly contorted. Hermione smirked.
"Blindfold me and hand over a sponge," she said, holding out her hand as if she were really expecting her request to be fulfilled, then paused. "Preferably one on a very long stick." Draco shook his head.
"Always the optimist."
"Of course."
* * * * * * * * * *
When Hermione and Draco reentered the castle, Hermione looked around, hoping Eglamour may have ventured to the great hall a little early, but he was no where to be seen. She looked to Draco, who shrugged and did his shoulder call. Still no Eglamour. Hermione waited a moment, then started down a corridor, Draco in tails.
"Eglamour!" she called, not quite loudly, in that sing-song voice she always used to call him. Draco remained silent, but kept his eyes peeled for his little furry friend. Hermione opened a door to look in an empty classroom and Draco ventured ahead of her a few steps. He stopped dead at the corner and took a step back. Hermione, who hadn't noticed this, pulled back out of the classroom and started down the hall again. She took in a breath to call again and Draco heard, so he rushed to her. "Egla-mmph!"
Draco had stopped her the only way he could think of on the spur of the moment; he kissed her. Hermione seemed extremely surprised, but didn't push him away. In fact, she let Draco push her... right into the wall behind her. Their kiss was short and shallow, and when they parted, Draco looked down the hall.
"Wha-?" Hermione began, but Draco raised a finger to her lips to stop her from speaking.
"Shh," he said softly and Hermione complied, eyes widened a little in fear at the unknown. Then, Draco stepped back. "Come on," he whispered, taking her hand and walking back to the corner. It was then that Hermione realized why he had stopped her.
~
"Ron, it's not her."
"Yes it is Harry! That's exactly what she looked like. Mione? Mione, give us a sign, tell us it's you!" Hermione looked confusedly at Draco, who placed his finger to her lips again, then pointed toward the corner. Hermione slowly peeked around and almost burst out laughing. Harry and Ron were standing in the middle of the hall with their backs to them, looking down at a tiny black kitten. A tiny black kitten named Eglamour.
"Ron, you're being an idiot. It's just some mangy cat; leave it alone, it probably has rabbis or something." Hermione scowled, but kept quiet.
"I'm telling you, Harry, I KNOW that's the same cat from the great hall. It's GOT to be her... come on, Mione! Wag your tail or something!" Draco wanted to just go over there and slap the red-headed retard right in the face. It was too much, it really was.
"She's not a dog, Ron," Harry said and Hermione smiled. That was the closest thing to a compliment she'd heard from him in years. "Listen to me. It's a black cat. This is a WIZARDING school. There are probably a million black cats around here... just leave it alone. We'll go tell McGonagall; maybe it belongs to somebody." Ron reluctantly stood from his crouch in front of Eglamour and took a step back.
"Alright, Harry," he agreed and they turned around. Hermione gasped slightly and hid herself behind the wall again.
"Draco, they're coming," she whispered ever so softly and Draco took her hand in his, pulling her back to the empty classroom she'd just checked for her baby. The prefect couple closed the door behind them just in time for it to go unnoticed by Harry and Ron. Hermione smiled at Draco as she leaned against the door, making sure nothing was visible through the small window. Draco watched the opening from an angle and waited until Harry and Ron were a safe distance away and around a corner before speaking.
"Okay," he said and Hermione spun, opening the door and stepping out. She looked down the hall where the two Gryffindor boys had just headed and laughed.
"That was priceless." Draco nodded in agreement and opened his mouth to speak something in return, but the loud wail of a small feline broke him off. "Eglamour!" Hermione shrieked in panic and ran around the corner, Draco close behind.
Eglamour was squeezed into a corner, a large grey ball of nothing but fur in front of him, fangs shown and haunches set. Ms. Norris.
"Get away from him you monstrosity!" Hermione yelled, dashing toward the two cats and pushing the larger out of the way, scooping the shaking Eglamour into her arms. Hermione scowled at the now quite angry Ms. Norris and backed away, toward Draco. Then, Ms. Norris dropped all her guards and, looking very innocent, mewed. It was under ten seconds before Filch came bounding around the corner.
"Precious! You called me, my precious, what happened?" Draco and Hermione looked at each other, holding back laughter. That man was way, way too into his cat. "You seem shaken my lovely, what..." Then, he noticed Draco, Hermione, and Eglamour standing to the side. "What have you done to my precious!?"
"We didn't do anything to your blasted cat," Draco said as if the entire scene bored him and Hermione gave a harsh nod, still scowling.
"It was YOUR lump who tried to hurt Eglamour," she added, glaring daggers at the cat who was now circling Filch's feet.
"You lie! Ms. Norris would never do such a thing! Would you, precious?" Norris mewed and Filch crossed his arms as if he'd just proved his client innocent. Then he narrowed his eyes at Eglamour. "If I find any tiny kittens under my bed within the next few months, I'll know who to give them to, won't I Miss Prefect?" Hermione glared.
"How dare you! Eglamour's just a baby; he couldn't do that even if your flee-bag didn't scare the living day lights out of him!"
"Bite your tongue!"
"Come on, Mione. Eg's alright, let's just go, okay?" Draco suggested, although he was glaring just as hard as she was at the caretaker. Filch licked his lips.
"Disgracing your house, are you Mr. Malfoy? What would Snape say?" Draco thought about this.
"Either he didn't notice or he doesn't care, but that's not the point." Filch sighed.
"Go if you must, but keep that runt away from Precious. And don't be surprised if an owl drops you a squirmy little trinket in a few weeks." Hermione's eyes grew fiery.
"You MONSTER! As infatuated as you are with that miniature beast of burden, I'm surprised you're not a bit more sympathetic toward others of its species." Filch smirked.
"I'd direct that statement to yourself if I were you, Miss Granger. Come Precious." Ms. Norris mewed and followed her master down the corridor. Hermione scowled after them, then turned away, toward Draco. Eglamour was still shaking and she concentrated on calming him down.
Draco lifted a hand and lightly stroked the tiny kitten, comforting him as Hermione was. Then, she looked up at him.
"What do you think Filch was implying by that last thing he said?" Draco stopped his absent petting of Eglamour, leaving his hand in mind stroke. He looked absolutely clueless. "You don't think he means Harry and Ron, do you? As if they deserve sympathy... but how would he even know about that?" She shivered. "Creepy."
"I don't know, but I agree, yes, creepy is a great adjective to describe Filch. Filthy is another one. And twisted... grimy, unhygienic, obsessive, jealous, rotten, lunatic. That about covers it, I'd say."
"You forgot barbaric." He smiled.
"My mistake. Come on, Hermione; let's get out of here, hm?" She nodded and started down the hall, Draco at her side. Eglamour would be locked in the common room until she could find a way to get at Ms. Norris...hm... Do they rent out basilisks?
A/N: Dun, dun, dun, dun! Ms. Norris is a B-otch! Filch is just freaky! And Harry and Ron are idiots! Lol... we've still yet to see Snape's reaction to the potion, and can't forget about detention! Hehe!
PRF:
FiliatheRyuuzoko: Don't worry; we're all waiting for that! Me included, lol!
Erilyn Rose: Sorry about the chapter title! I was going to change it to Soap Opera Digest, but I like this one better... lol, it'll scare people into reading! And Mia's lightening up a little, hehe. She's in deep, we already know that.
KittyKat589: Of COURSE it would be sad! And yes, I enjoy updating, lol. And yes. Hyperventilation is very, very bad.
Kat-tak: Neither did I! I wasn't planning on making him like that; I only did it because I'm too lazy to change everything I want him to say into third person.
Heather: I bet your dad's not the only one.... j/k! j/k! Don't get mad, now!
Ikiko: Thanx! I like my tiny weenie little plot... which will grow at least a little. It's simply yet interesting... or at least it is in my opinion. Hehe.
Silver Dragon Goddess: Sorry I got of my schedule! I made it up; it's been like four days; I apologize! Lots o' stuff going on... most of which I'm still neglecting.
Shezabel: Oh well, I still really like it. Lol. And yeah, Dobby rocks.
Sleepy-kitty: Damn; you got me all excited...lol. Oh well; I don't even KNOW anyone named Tom. At least you have friends, hehe.
Ezmerelda: Hehe... this should be good.
MysticPixie: Hehe... Here we go on a rollercoaster of fun, fun, fun!
Tom*Feltons*Babe: They love each other now, or at least sort of... kind of subconsciously. The thing is, they've only been friends for like two days...lol. I know, it seems like a lot longer.
Tainted Black: I know! Lol! Ron's an idiot! As for the notebook.... it's a mystery. That 'excerpt' was Draco's note from the day before... *I see we listen well...* that thing. I wasn't sure if you meant that or the whole she waited for him to make a disgusted face in her general direction thing... lol.
Exlibus: I won't! The fluffiest this Draco is gonna get is when she cries, which she never does, but that one time? That's about his limit right there. They're more of the 'I hate you! Let's make out!' kind of people... lol
DracoJAE: Yeah, they're so cute! Cutie patootie!
MoshiMoshiQueen: Sure, I'll keep writing! Lol. Thanx; I like my Harry and Ron. Actually, I hate my Harry and Ron, but that's what I was going for, so it's all good!
Once again, I remind EVERYBODY that if you wish to be on the mailing list and receive said e-mail when I update, just tell me in a signed review or leave your email in an anon. one. Happy Reading!
~*~*~*~
Last time on LGG:
"Hey, I was wondering... why'd you blow up at Weasley? What'd he do? I know it wasn't just because he was talking to you; he'd been doing that the entire class." Hermione raised an eyebrow.
"He told me I had a nice ass," she said and Draco looked somewhat surprised. He leaned over in his chair, which was across from Hermione's, and pretended to validate Ron's statement.
"I agree," he said as he straightened again and Hermione shook her head at him. He smirked. "What, no 'Malfoy! Shut the hell up!'?" Hermione smiled.
"If I'm not mistaken, Malfoy, you are not a member of an elite group of dumb asses bent on making my life a living hell, are you?"
"No. I fly solo," he stated smartly and Hermione smiled.
"That's what I thought."
~*~*~*~
CHAPTER ELEVEN: Operation Secret Decoder Ring
When Dobby returned, carrying with him a tray of turkey salad sandwiches, he struck up a 'how're things at home' conversation with Draco.
"Does Penny make those cookies your mother likes? I tried to teach her before I left, but I'm afraid she wasn't the quickest learner, poor thing..."
"Actually, Mother makes them herself. Now SHE'S good at it... maybe better than you, even." Dobby laughed.
"Yeah, right," he said with a smirk, then looked a little more serious. "Lucius doesn't know about that, does he? She really shouldn't be... if he ever caught her..."
"I know; god knows how many times I've told her... but you know mother..." he rolled his eyes. "Once she sets her mind to something..." Dobby nodded. "Although I'm not really sure what he'd actually DO if he found out... he hasn't been himself since..." Draco looked to Hermione, who'd remained quietly eating her sandwich while the two boys talked. Draco was about to finish, but Dobby knew what he meant and nodded.
"Might be the best thing to ever happen to the man, really... it's better this way, isn't it?"
"Oh, much..."
"Dobby! Barry needs Dobby's assistance in the mixing room," said a female house elf, bounding over to the little group.
"Okay, okay, I'm coming Jessie. Tell Barry to wait a tit." Jessie's eyes grew wide.
"Dobby!" she scolded, gesturing to the two at the table. "Humans." Dobby smirked.
"It's okay, Jessie. They're good ones." Jessie rolled her eyes and spun, leaving Dobby to his business. "I better go; Barry doesn't rhyme with scary for nothing."
"Thanks Dobby," Hermione called after him as the house elf walked away and Draco nodded in agreement, then turned back to his lunch. "Since what?" Hermione asked before he could manage a bite. Draco set down his sandwich slowly, noticing that she seemed to mean business. This could take a while.
"What?"
"Don't play dumb, Draco. It's beneath you." Draco sighed.
"Since the defeat." Hermione looked down. "Yep, see, this is why I didn't want to tell you. Now you feel guilty, don't you?" Hermione didn't say anything. "It could've been worse... most of the other death eaters spontaneously combusted; it's almost a miracle, if you think about it."
"Draco, that's really not helping. Tell me what you mean by 'he hasn't been himself,'" she asked sadly and he sighed again.
"He's gone mad, Hermione. My father is legally insane. Sometimes he's the same old Lucius... sometimes he's super-dad, rebuilding the tree-house I'd build when I was three, which he'd burned down to spite me... attempting to give me advice... he once even tried to give me the sex talk. Can you imagine that? Lucius Malfoy talking to his son about a matter such as sex? It was bloody hilarious if you ask me..."
"So he's just normal and nice?" she asked hopefully and Draco's smile dropped.
"No, I'm not going to lie to you... sometimes he's violent. We had to have one of those padded rooms installed in order for the ministry to let us keep him at the manor, and he has three male nurses... big guys who can wrestle him down. But it's not as bad as I'm making it sound, Hermione; I swear. He has medication... and he's nice most of the time. It's so much better this way; you have no idea." Hermione didn't look too much happier. With a sad smile, Draco reached across and brushed her hair back behind her ear, causing Hermione to look at him. "He doesn't beat my mother anymore, Hermione. He doesn't even threaten to... if he does, he goes to his room; he knows that, so he doesn't do it. Lucius is on his best behavior or he gets time out; like a five-year-old. He realizes this, and it embarrasses him, so he makes an effort to be what everyone wants him to be. I can't emphasize how much this means to me... and my mother... and our house elves. You should feel proud of yourself; not guilty. Don't, okay? Don't torture yourself for me."
Hermione kept her eyes locked on his for a while, then looked back down at her plate. Draco's hand was still close to her cheek; fingers curled around her ear.
"Hermione?" he asked softly, knowing he hadn't quite gotten her to understand yet, and Hermione took a small breath. She reached a hand up to his, pulling it down, but keeping it in hers, then resting them on her shoulder.
"How can you be so optimistic? I made your father go crazy, Draco. He's insane, because of me. It's irrelevant how it affected him, the fact still remains that I've given your father a mental illness. You should hate me," she said sadly, not making eye contact. She held tight to his hand, as if she thought he'd agree and leave her where she sat, never chancing a word with her again.
"Hermione, it does matter. What doesn't matter is what they call it. In truth, you've made him a better person and you've taken suffering away from countless others. In my opinion, he was loonier before the incident. When everyone thought Black was a murderer, what did people say? 'That man is crazy.' And they were right; you'd have to be crazy to take the innocent lives of strangers... and my father did that, along with countless other things only someone a little off the deep end would do... things I will never repeat to you; ever, but they're there... he did them... and he doesn't do them anymore. He's a normal person now... as long as he takes his pill. That one little capsule of powder in his morning cup of yogurt and he's Saint Augustine for the rest of the day. Please, Hermione. You feeling bad about this is just stupid... there's no other way to say it." Hermione still looked torn; should she believe him? He might be exaggerating to make her feel better... oh god, she drove his father mad! How could she do something so terrible! But he'd done things much worse... and she'd stopped him...
"Draco..." she said, tilting her head slightly, leaning it on their hands. Sensing she would make another excuse and refuse to feel better, Draco stopped her.
"I'll kick you if you don't stop kicking yourself," he said and she smiled, although she tried hard not to.
"You wouldn't dare," she challenged and Draco smirked.
"Oh, wouldn't you like to find out. And I'm wearing steel-toed shoes, so I'd be careful." Hermione dropped her smile and sighed.
"You're sure it's better; you're not just saying that?"
"I swear on my life I'm not leading you anywhere." Slouching a bit in her chair, Hermione nodded slightly.
"Alright," she agreed, then smiled at him. Draco looked much happier and squeezed her hand.
"Good. You're a real drag when you're unhappy," he said and Hermione smiled more genuinely. Then, she sat straighter with a start, needing to let go of Draco's hand in order to move her sleeve to view her watch.
"We've got class in twenty minutes; I have Herbology; that's only about a ten minute walk from here... providing I walk a bit faster than we did coming down." Draco smiled.
"Then we'll stay a few more minutes, hm?" he suggested and Hermione smiled.
The two prefects sat together for almost ten more minutes, neither speaking much... they were more concentrated on the sandwiches they'd neglected while talking. When they were finished and ready to go, Draco and Hermione bid an across-the-kitchen goodbye to Dobby and left.
"Steel-toed shoes, huh? Liar," Hermione said, looking down at Draco's sneakers. He smiled and shrugged, so she stepped on his foot.
"Ow; geez I'm sorry! Why must you be so brutal?" Hermione rolled her eyes.
"What do you have now?" she asked as they continued down the hall, trying to put on her gloves and hold her notebook at the same time. Noticing her struggling, Draco took her book away. Hermione moved to snatch it back, but remembered his promise and put her gloves on as fast as she could, taking it back calmly. "Thanks," she said and he smiled. She really did trust him; even with her most prized possession. As Draco handed the notebook back, he answered her.
"Astronomy," he said and her jaw dropped.
"Draco! Why didn't you tell me that?! You'll never get to class on time! You'll be late, and it's my fault," she wined and he laughed.
"Actually, that would be my fault... I know how far away the tower is. Don't worry about it, Hermione; I'll be fine."
"How do you have astronomy at one o'clock in the afternoon? You can't possibly see stars..."
"It's called magic, Granger. The same magic that did my potions essay last night, and fixed the black eye I got on the train," Draco said smartly and Hermione rolled her eyes.
"I'm stupid sometimes; forgive me."
"Liar," he said with a smirk. "I've got to go... I'll see you later; CMC." Hermione bit her lip and nodded, feeling guilty about making him late. "I told you to stop that," he said as he backed away and she smiled a bit. Then, Hermione had another stroke of genius.
"Draco, wait!" Unsurprisingly, he waited. Hermione walked quickly up to him, taking a paper from her pocket. "This is my schedule. Say you picked it up by accident this morning, thinking it was yours and went to Herbology instead. Our first three classes were together; it wouldn't have made a difference until now," she said, holding the paper out to him. Draco stared at her as he took it, smiling. Then, he leaned down and kissed her... again. It wasn't as involved as last time; they were on a time schedule. Hermione was speechless as they parted. No matter how many times they kissed, each managed to always catch the other off-guard, and each kiss in itself was surprising.
"You're amazing. Thanks," he said softly, then turned and jogged down the hall. Hermione watched him go, then snapped out of it and looked at her watch.
"Shit," she said and took off running toward the greenhouses.
~*~*~*~
Hermione managed to make it to Herbology within three minutes after the beginning of class. Some day this had been... first the house points, then detention, then having to sit next to Ron for two whole hours, then learning about what she did to Draco's father, and now, she was barely on time to class. At least she could get Snape back... not to mention Harry, Ron, Nick, and Claire. Damn Gryffindors.
Although the day seemed to lag forever, Hermione made it through Herbology, spent her free period in the library, then sat through Arithmacy and DADA without a hitch. Unfortunately, she was forced to sit with either Gryffindor or Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw she didn't know, so Hermione sat with Harry and Ron. Again. And they kept trying to talk to her. Again. Lord, it would have been easier to just sit with Finch-Fletchley or something. Hm... she could have told him about Hannah... no, no, that was just too evil. Hermione Granger wasn't THAT evil... but Guilly Granger? Kid stuff.
The Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Costello, sat silently at his desk, eyes on the clock, waiting to dismiss the class. Hermione, taking note of this, stared with him... just a few more minutes... she was tapping her feet in anticipation. She had Care of Magical Creatures next. The last class of the day... and it was with Slytherin. She smiled spontaneously. Slytherin.
"What are you so excited about, Mione? I'd rather stay here all day than go to class with those prats. At least it's with Hagrid. Imagine if we had potions last... I'd die, I'd literally die," Ron said, noticing her practical need to leave. Hermione glared at him, but Ron took it as dislike for Slytherin. "It's okay, Mione. We'll still be there... we won't let the stupid Slytherin touch you."
Hermione was suddenly struck with images of Draco the morning after she'd slept in his bed. She could almost feel his caresses... his lips in her hair... she shivered.
"Oh, I wish..." she moaned in a whisper, and both Harry and Ron looked to her with wide eyes. Hermione panicked. Had she said that out loud? Wait... had she said that? "I-I wish this class would just end so I can go to CMC and get this stupid day over with," she covered less than brilliantly, and Harry narrowed his eyes.
"That's not what you meant," he accused and Hermione thought about this. No, no... that definitely wasn't what she meant... and why is it any of their business anyway? Yeah, why should they care if she's... attracted... to a Slytherin? And a damn hott Slytherin at that. She blinked. Whoa, where was all this coming from? Shaking her head, Hermione made up her mind.
"You're right Harry, that's not what I meant. I meant exactly what you think I meant," she said and both Harry and Ron dropped their jaws, eyes on her. Hermione shrugged. "Draco's hott."
"Class dismissed," said Professor Costello, simple and out of the blue. Hermione smiled and stood quickly, hurrying from the classroom. Perfect timing, Professor. Let them chew on that one for a while... serves them right, annoying little bastards.
* * * * * * * * * *
"Harry, please tell me that did not happen. Tell me Granger didn't just say she wanted to shag Malfoy. I don't think I can take that right now."
"Sorry Ron, but yes, that most certainly did happen. Damn Slytherin, they're ruining everything... we'll have to put Operation Secret Decoder Ring into action a little sooner if we don't want to lose Ms. Encyclopedia to the enemy. She may annoy the hell out of me, but if she's not on our side, I don't want to know what she could do to us... Malfoy needs to be out of the picture," Harry said as he picked up his books and Ron nodded.
"Right." Then, he looked uneasy. "Harry?"
"Yeah."
"What's Operation Secret Decoder Ring?" Harry rolled his eyes.
"Sometimes you're as in the dark as Granger. We write a letter 'from' Malfoy to Granger telling her all about how he finds her the most disgusting thing he's ever seen and blah, blah, blah... then she gets mad at him, which makes him mad at her... presto magnifico, Malfoy's no longer a problem. Honestly, can't you remember anything? We were talking about this half an hour ago."
"Well you have so many damn plans... I'm bound to forget which is which."
"You named that one!"
"Right."
* * * * * * * * * *
Hermione and Draco were standing just outside the DADA doorway, and both heard every word spoken by the enemy. As Harry and Ron approached the door, Draco silently took Hermione by the arm and pulled her around the corner he knew they wouldn't pass. Once the duo of double-crossers was out of ear shot, Hermione laughed out loud.
"Did you hear that? They think a forged letter is going to fool ME..." she asked, standing with her back against the wall and shaking her head. "Are they progressively losing brain cells?" Draco smirked. He was standing in front of her, eyes on her face as she laughed. Again, another activity she could participate in and still remain beautiful. Damn.
"You told them you wanted to sleep with me?" he asked with a smirk and Hermione felt her heart drop, but thankfully didn't falter her laughter. She nodded slightly.
"Pissed them off right good, didn't it? Operation Secret Decoder Ring, good god," she said, still grinning on the edge of her laughter. Meanwhile, Draco was having mental conflict. His mouth wasn't cooperating with his brain: 'Do you? Ask her, Malfoy, damn you. Do you want to sleep with me?' "Where did you come from, anyway? Are you stalking me or something?" Draco smirked.
"Maybe. Or maybe I just came from the Arithmacy room down the hall and I thought you might like to walk with me to class. I haven't quite decided yet." Hermione remained silent for a moment, and Draco worked an impulse, leaning in for a kiss. Knowing what was coming and, due to her new found feelings, not knowing if she was really quite ready for it, Hermione slid away, out into the open hallway. Draco looked shot down. Noticing this, Hermione took his hand in hers.
"We should go, come on." And Draco followed. He sighed at himself. That was the second time today he hadn't had the guts to say something to her. What was wrong with him? Maybe it was good that he hadn't asked, though... she didn't seem too keen on his closeness a moment ago. It probably would have scared her away...
* * * * * * * * * *
Draco and Hermione approached Hagrid's hut, still holding hands. Hermione seemed not even to notice, but Draco did, and it worried him a tiny bit. Potter and Weasley were bound to blow up at that, weren't they?
The two prefects were the last to arrive, but luckily found an empty table and sat together. Hermione was glad; she would have kicked herself for listening to Harry and Ron talk about their stupid little plan if it meant she couldn't sit next to the boy she'd been waiting to see since he turned the corner from the kitchens. It wasn't like she'd have fallen for the letter trick anyway.
Hermione looked to Harry and Ron, wanting to see their reaction. They were both looking right at her, but smiled when they saw her stare. She narrowed her eyes, but they just shrugged and turned ahead, each wearing evil smirks. Hermione smiled.
"You know," she said, attracting Draco's attention, not noticing she'd never lost it. Hermione nodded at the Gryffindor boys. "If I didn't know better, I'd think they were planning something." Draco smirked.
"Could be," he agreed, but Hagrid cut off anything else he might have wanted to say. The burly professor began into a speech about unicorns. Again. Every year, Hagrid started out each class, from first to seventh year, with a project on unicorns, gradually getting more difficult at each level. As seventh year students, their project was to have one member of each group approach the caged unicorn in Hagrid's stables and collect a sample of hair from the main, tail, and just above the hoof. This particular unicorn was color-coded, in a sense, so the hairs could be distinguished.
Once done, the team must collect all the information they can on each type of hair, then brew three separate potions involving each, and finally organize their observations and construct a report of some kind. As large a project as it seemed, it was well known that Hagrid probably didn't even read the finished products, so a lot of people were planning on easy living through this. Not Hermione. She'd never slacked off on an assignment, and she wasn't planning to start now. If Draco wasn't willing to help her, she'd do it herself. Maybe he'd feel guilty. Or maybe he'd just help...
Once Hagrid was done explaining the requirements of the project and the students had split themselves into twelve boy-girl teams, only one inter- house, the class was drawing to a close.
"Seem 'zer ain't enough time 'ta collect 'da 'airs today, so we'll do it nex' class. Yer dismissed," Hagrid said merrily, then retreated to his domicile. Harry and Ron shot directly to the castle, running as if the had somewhere to be, and most of the other students followed, however not as quickly. Again, Draco and Hermione leisurely packed up their stuff and slowly made their way back to the castle.
"I thought this day would never end..." Hermione said, crossing her arms in front of her. Draco smiled.
"Yeah, I was kind of thinking the same thing. Must everything we do be so boring? Was that like a requirement by the ministry or something? Bore the children to death so they'll know nothing and we won't have to spend money on exams!"
"No exams? Preposterous!" Hermione said seriously, and for a moment Draco thought he'd offended her, but then she broke out in a smirk.
"Hermione, do you ever stop being Granger? Just for a few minutes?" She laughed.
"Who'd you rather I be? Malfoy? That'd be a riot," Hermione said, shaking her head and smiling widely. Draco was smirking. He could live with her as a Malfoy... it'd be better than Parkinson being one. He shuddered to think. "I was just kidding, Draco. No exams would be just peachy with me."
"Glad to hear it." Hermione looked at her watch.
"I have to find Eglamour," she said and Draco looked curiously at her. He was about to ask why she needed to locate her cat, but Hermione beat him by answering. "If he goes to the Great Hall during dinner, he'll ruin the whole I'm-a-cat thing. And he will go, little pig. He'd eat all day if I left food out for him," she said, smiling at the thought of her cat and ultimately causing Draco to do the same.
"Mind if I join you? Don't really feel like homework right now... I definitely need a break before detention." Hermione laughed.
"You make it sound like it's going to be hard or something... it's just a detention."
"Yes, but a detention with Snape. Ever had one? He'll take away our wands and make us... wash his underwear or something. I'm not exactly looking forward to it," Draco said, his face slightly contorted. Hermione smirked.
"Blindfold me and hand over a sponge," she said, holding out her hand as if she were really expecting her request to be fulfilled, then paused. "Preferably one on a very long stick." Draco shook his head.
"Always the optimist."
"Of course."
* * * * * * * * * *
When Hermione and Draco reentered the castle, Hermione looked around, hoping Eglamour may have ventured to the great hall a little early, but he was no where to be seen. She looked to Draco, who shrugged and did his shoulder call. Still no Eglamour. Hermione waited a moment, then started down a corridor, Draco in tails.
"Eglamour!" she called, not quite loudly, in that sing-song voice she always used to call him. Draco remained silent, but kept his eyes peeled for his little furry friend. Hermione opened a door to look in an empty classroom and Draco ventured ahead of her a few steps. He stopped dead at the corner and took a step back. Hermione, who hadn't noticed this, pulled back out of the classroom and started down the hall again. She took in a breath to call again and Draco heard, so he rushed to her. "Egla-mmph!"
Draco had stopped her the only way he could think of on the spur of the moment; he kissed her. Hermione seemed extremely surprised, but didn't push him away. In fact, she let Draco push her... right into the wall behind her. Their kiss was short and shallow, and when they parted, Draco looked down the hall.
"Wha-?" Hermione began, but Draco raised a finger to her lips to stop her from speaking.
"Shh," he said softly and Hermione complied, eyes widened a little in fear at the unknown. Then, Draco stepped back. "Come on," he whispered, taking her hand and walking back to the corner. It was then that Hermione realized why he had stopped her.
~
"Ron, it's not her."
"Yes it is Harry! That's exactly what she looked like. Mione? Mione, give us a sign, tell us it's you!" Hermione looked confusedly at Draco, who placed his finger to her lips again, then pointed toward the corner. Hermione slowly peeked around and almost burst out laughing. Harry and Ron were standing in the middle of the hall with their backs to them, looking down at a tiny black kitten. A tiny black kitten named Eglamour.
"Ron, you're being an idiot. It's just some mangy cat; leave it alone, it probably has rabbis or something." Hermione scowled, but kept quiet.
"I'm telling you, Harry, I KNOW that's the same cat from the great hall. It's GOT to be her... come on, Mione! Wag your tail or something!" Draco wanted to just go over there and slap the red-headed retard right in the face. It was too much, it really was.
"She's not a dog, Ron," Harry said and Hermione smiled. That was the closest thing to a compliment she'd heard from him in years. "Listen to me. It's a black cat. This is a WIZARDING school. There are probably a million black cats around here... just leave it alone. We'll go tell McGonagall; maybe it belongs to somebody." Ron reluctantly stood from his crouch in front of Eglamour and took a step back.
"Alright, Harry," he agreed and they turned around. Hermione gasped slightly and hid herself behind the wall again.
"Draco, they're coming," she whispered ever so softly and Draco took her hand in his, pulling her back to the empty classroom she'd just checked for her baby. The prefect couple closed the door behind them just in time for it to go unnoticed by Harry and Ron. Hermione smiled at Draco as she leaned against the door, making sure nothing was visible through the small window. Draco watched the opening from an angle and waited until Harry and Ron were a safe distance away and around a corner before speaking.
"Okay," he said and Hermione spun, opening the door and stepping out. She looked down the hall where the two Gryffindor boys had just headed and laughed.
"That was priceless." Draco nodded in agreement and opened his mouth to speak something in return, but the loud wail of a small feline broke him off. "Eglamour!" Hermione shrieked in panic and ran around the corner, Draco close behind.
Eglamour was squeezed into a corner, a large grey ball of nothing but fur in front of him, fangs shown and haunches set. Ms. Norris.
"Get away from him you monstrosity!" Hermione yelled, dashing toward the two cats and pushing the larger out of the way, scooping the shaking Eglamour into her arms. Hermione scowled at the now quite angry Ms. Norris and backed away, toward Draco. Then, Ms. Norris dropped all her guards and, looking very innocent, mewed. It was under ten seconds before Filch came bounding around the corner.
"Precious! You called me, my precious, what happened?" Draco and Hermione looked at each other, holding back laughter. That man was way, way too into his cat. "You seem shaken my lovely, what..." Then, he noticed Draco, Hermione, and Eglamour standing to the side. "What have you done to my precious!?"
"We didn't do anything to your blasted cat," Draco said as if the entire scene bored him and Hermione gave a harsh nod, still scowling.
"It was YOUR lump who tried to hurt Eglamour," she added, glaring daggers at the cat who was now circling Filch's feet.
"You lie! Ms. Norris would never do such a thing! Would you, precious?" Norris mewed and Filch crossed his arms as if he'd just proved his client innocent. Then he narrowed his eyes at Eglamour. "If I find any tiny kittens under my bed within the next few months, I'll know who to give them to, won't I Miss Prefect?" Hermione glared.
"How dare you! Eglamour's just a baby; he couldn't do that even if your flee-bag didn't scare the living day lights out of him!"
"Bite your tongue!"
"Come on, Mione. Eg's alright, let's just go, okay?" Draco suggested, although he was glaring just as hard as she was at the caretaker. Filch licked his lips.
"Disgracing your house, are you Mr. Malfoy? What would Snape say?" Draco thought about this.
"Either he didn't notice or he doesn't care, but that's not the point." Filch sighed.
"Go if you must, but keep that runt away from Precious. And don't be surprised if an owl drops you a squirmy little trinket in a few weeks." Hermione's eyes grew fiery.
"You MONSTER! As infatuated as you are with that miniature beast of burden, I'm surprised you're not a bit more sympathetic toward others of its species." Filch smirked.
"I'd direct that statement to yourself if I were you, Miss Granger. Come Precious." Ms. Norris mewed and followed her master down the corridor. Hermione scowled after them, then turned away, toward Draco. Eglamour was still shaking and she concentrated on calming him down.
Draco lifted a hand and lightly stroked the tiny kitten, comforting him as Hermione was. Then, she looked up at him.
"What do you think Filch was implying by that last thing he said?" Draco stopped his absent petting of Eglamour, leaving his hand in mind stroke. He looked absolutely clueless. "You don't think he means Harry and Ron, do you? As if they deserve sympathy... but how would he even know about that?" She shivered. "Creepy."
"I don't know, but I agree, yes, creepy is a great adjective to describe Filch. Filthy is another one. And twisted... grimy, unhygienic, obsessive, jealous, rotten, lunatic. That about covers it, I'd say."
"You forgot barbaric." He smiled.
"My mistake. Come on, Hermione; let's get out of here, hm?" She nodded and started down the hall, Draco at her side. Eglamour would be locked in the common room until she could find a way to get at Ms. Norris...hm... Do they rent out basilisks?
A/N: Dun, dun, dun, dun! Ms. Norris is a B-otch! Filch is just freaky! And Harry and Ron are idiots! Lol... we've still yet to see Snape's reaction to the potion, and can't forget about detention! Hehe!
PRF:
FiliatheRyuuzoko: Don't worry; we're all waiting for that! Me included, lol!
Erilyn Rose: Sorry about the chapter title! I was going to change it to Soap Opera Digest, but I like this one better... lol, it'll scare people into reading! And Mia's lightening up a little, hehe. She's in deep, we already know that.
KittyKat589: Of COURSE it would be sad! And yes, I enjoy updating, lol. And yes. Hyperventilation is very, very bad.
Kat-tak: Neither did I! I wasn't planning on making him like that; I only did it because I'm too lazy to change everything I want him to say into third person.
Heather: I bet your dad's not the only one.... j/k! j/k! Don't get mad, now!
Ikiko: Thanx! I like my tiny weenie little plot... which will grow at least a little. It's simply yet interesting... or at least it is in my opinion. Hehe.
Silver Dragon Goddess: Sorry I got of my schedule! I made it up; it's been like four days; I apologize! Lots o' stuff going on... most of which I'm still neglecting.
Shezabel: Oh well, I still really like it. Lol. And yeah, Dobby rocks.
Sleepy-kitty: Damn; you got me all excited...lol. Oh well; I don't even KNOW anyone named Tom. At least you have friends, hehe.
Ezmerelda: Hehe... this should be good.
MysticPixie: Hehe... Here we go on a rollercoaster of fun, fun, fun!
Tom*Feltons*Babe: They love each other now, or at least sort of... kind of subconsciously. The thing is, they've only been friends for like two days...lol. I know, it seems like a lot longer.
Tainted Black: I know! Lol! Ron's an idiot! As for the notebook.... it's a mystery. That 'excerpt' was Draco's note from the day before... *I see we listen well...* that thing. I wasn't sure if you meant that or the whole she waited for him to make a disgusted face in her general direction thing... lol.
Exlibus: I won't! The fluffiest this Draco is gonna get is when she cries, which she never does, but that one time? That's about his limit right there. They're more of the 'I hate you! Let's make out!' kind of people... lol
DracoJAE: Yeah, they're so cute! Cutie patootie!
MoshiMoshiQueen: Sure, I'll keep writing! Lol. Thanx; I like my Harry and Ron. Actually, I hate my Harry and Ron, but that's what I was going for, so it's all good!
Once again, I remind EVERYBODY that if you wish to be on the mailing list and receive said e-mail when I update, just tell me in a signed review or leave your email in an anon. one. Happy Reading!
