Disclaimer: I own no part of the Harry Potter franchise; all characters and ideas belong to J.K. Rowling.
The divination booth wasn't really a booth at all; it was set up like an old-fashioned circus sideshow tent. Brightly colored stripes of red, purple, green and gold ran down from its peak to the floor. One of its flaps was tied back to reveal a smoky interior, complete with crystal ball, teacups and stacks of tarot cards adorning every surface. It looked to be empty, at first, as the last girl to have a go waltzed out, a happy smile pasted across her face. The girl went to join her friends and they began giggling madly.
Hermione stared at them curiously, her hand still in Harry's. She could feel both Harry and Malfoy looking at her and it was extremely disconcerting. She half expected it from Malfoy, now that he'd revealed his feelings to her, but Harry? He was just her friend, right? He must be concerned about her, she decided, and looked back over to him, smiling. He smiled back and squeezed her hand again. Was that…was he looking at her tenderly? She blinked a few times and looked forward again. What was wrong with all these boys? She looked down at herself a little self-consciously. No, her dress wasn't riding up her ass…neither of her breasts had fallen out…so what was it? Me? She knew she'd changed somewhat after fourth year and the Yule ball, but that seemed like eons ago now. Sure, she'd blossomed, but she still wasn't a Fleur. Hugging her robe a little closer about herself, she looked to Harry again. He was staring forward, glasses slightly askew, hair a scruffy mess, and his fingers were wrapped tightly about her own. Hermione felt a sudden fondness fill her and she leaned over, landing a light kiss upon his cheek.
Harry turned, a blush flooding his face, his heart suddenly pounding. What was wrong with him? Hermione was just a friend…right? His mouth worked silently to find words as he stared at Hermione. "You- next!" he finally managed.
Hermione was puzzled at first, but realized he meant it was her turn to go in. She squeezed his hand. "Thanks, Harry," she smiled again, heading inside the small tent.
The space was much larger than it seemed from outside. There was a table with the crystal ball in the center, a chair on the other side and two chairs on the side facing the students as they walked in. A small wall mirror hung behind the seats for students. Crates draped with colorful cloth and stacked with the other divination supplies lined the sides of the tent and the air was cloudy from an incense burner tucked back into a corner. It was obviously Trelawney's break, because a student was seated behind the table, beckoning for Hermione to enter. She walked in, gingerly avoiding the crates, and took the more central seat, then gave a small frown as she saw who the student diviner was.
"I thought only seventh years were being allowed to take part tonight, Lavender," Hermione said haughtily.
Lavender smiled tentatively and gestured at the empty seat next to Hermione. "Didn't you have an escort? Would he like to join you?"
"No, he-," Hermione began, but stopped as Harry poked his head in the flaps.
"Is it okay, then? I'm allowed in?"
Lavender gave a giggle and, with a knowing wink to Hermione, nodded for him to come in. "Yeah, just take a seat next to Hermione. We can do a love prediction for the boys as well."
Hermione was indignant. "You still haven't answered my question," she huffed, even as Harry walked in and cautiously took the other chair.
"Oh, that! Well, the other seventh year who was supposed to take part got sick at the last minute…think it was food poisoning from the other day. Anyhow, here I am! Now give me your hands, Hermione."
Hermione muttered something under her breath, but put her hands out anyway and Lavender took them in her own, closing her eyes. Watching the other girl curiously, she asked, "What kind of magic are you using?"
Lavender opened one eye and sighed. "I'll read what sort of a future you'll have in the crystal ball and then you turn to look in the mirror behind you. It's enchanted to show what the crystal ball is seeing. We figured students wouldn't want us just blurting out who they'll marry and some probably wouldn't believe us if they couldn't see for themselves. Now, may I continue?"
Hermione nodded, a little embarrassed. She really didn't want Harry to be here for this. "What about Harry?" she couldn't help asking, interrupting again.
Lavender opened both eyes and glared. "He won't be able to see what's in the mirror, don't worry. Now stop talking!"
Hermione sat back in her chair, still feeling uncomfortable with the situation, but excited to see what kind of rabbit Lavender would pull out of the hat. She never had much respect for Divination, but decided that just for tonight it was okay. After all, she was here to have fun. She might get a few laughs and besides, she knew the mirror, at the very least, would tell the truth.
Lavender held her hands loosely and murmured a strange incantation. Then she laid Hermione's hands on top of the crystal ball, holding them there with her own. The ball began to grow cloudy and dark before it suddenly flashed clear and bright with light. Lavender released Hermione's hands and then gazed deeply into the orb. Her eyes flicked upwards to Hermione every now and then, but it was matter of minutes before she spoke again. When she did, her voice sounded strained.
"You will marry twice," she intoned slowly, glancing to Hermione again. Hermione felt strange when she heard the words. The light in the tent faded to darkness and Lavender spoke again. "Turn around and look in the mirror, it will show you the man you will wed." A single light above the mirror came to life, illuminating the dusty and grimy object. It hardly looked as though it would show anything, real or magical.
Slowly, Hermione turned in her seat to look into the filmy surface of the mirror. She tried to tell herself it was only a child's game, one which she had certainly played during her time as a normal muggle child. Her mother had set the game up many a time for Halloween parties with her friends from back then…still, her heart was racing as she turned and looked back.
At first, the mirror only showed her face with the room spread behind her, but then the image behind her slowly dissolved into darkness and a figure began to take shape, resolving into a smiling face, no, wait. It was scowling. Now it was smiling again. Hermione wiggled impatiently in her seat, trying to look for other discerning features. Black- blond hair? No…the hair was shifting furiously from one to the other, a pair of blue…grey…green eyes stared out at her, and Hermione felt her frustration grow.
"Lavender, it's not showing me anything! Just a jumble of images-," she began, annoyed.
Lavender sighed and muttered something. The mirror suddenly cleared and the face of her best friend stared out at her. Hermione was about to turn back around, half amused and half believing that the whole thing was bollocks, when she heard Lavender's voice.
"Harry, stop looking in the mirror! You're going to ruin it!" Harry's face disappeared from the mirror as Lavender pulled him away and Hermione sucked air in through her teeth and stared, stupefied at what she was now seeing. She would know that lean frame, that smirk, that arrogant glare anywhere. She just wished she wasn't seeing it now. She turned back around quickly, her heart beating fast, her mind a jumble.
The lights in the tent popped back on and Lavender looked at Hermione speculatively. "Well, satisfied with what you saw, Hermione?"
Hermione shook her head, a little shaky and looked over at Harry. "It's a lot of nonsense; you already know what I think about all this, Lavender," she muttered just a little too quickly.
Lavender laughed. "You really have been getting up to something, haven't you?"
Hermione looked at her, panicked. "You didn't- you couldn't-," she somehow couldn't get the words out. Lavender took her meaning anyway. "I…could, but don't worry. It's an oath we take as diviners to not reveal the knowledge that is divined to any other party than that one asking for the reading." Hermione stared at her blankly, looking like a deer in the headlights. She smiled. "You secret is safe with me."
Harry looked from one to the other, confused. Hermione glanced at him again, nervous. She turned to Lavender once more. "What did you mean earlier? About my being married twice? Is one just a mistake? Can you tell me anything else? If I'm going to be married twice, then why did I only see one person in the mirror?"
"My crystal said they were both real marriages and the reason you only saw one is because the mirror only shows the person whom you are most in love with. That's all I can really tell you, I'm sorry." Lavender shrugged helplessly. Then she made a mistake. "I guess it's really over between you and Ron, then," she said, a small smile on her lips.
Hermione, who was about to stand, stopped and sat down again. "What was that?"
Lavender realized what she'd just said. "I just meant that, well, with all that's happened…he still believes you'll patch things up."
"You've been talking to him?" Hermione was outraged.
"Well, it's not like he actually hit you or anything! He's still my friend, Hermione!"
"So you just believe anything he says? He treated me horridly, you know!"
"Yeah, I believe him!"
At this point, both girls were out of their chairs and Hermione was reaching for her wand. Harry jumped from his seat and grabbed hold of Hermione's arm. "Come on, Hermione. Let's just leave. I'm sure she doesn't mean it…"
"Of course I mean it!" Lavender yelled. "Stupid muggle! Ron was wonderful to-," she stopped in mid sentence as Hermione leveled her wand with Lavender's face.
"You're an idiot, Lavender," Hermione said clearly. Then she swept her free arm across the table, knocking the crystal ball off, and started from the tent. Before she left, she turned back once more. "Oh, and I suppose you're the one who let him into the girl's dormitory." She watched as Lavender nodded her head defiantly, even if she was a bit frightened.
"I'd do it again, too!"
"I'm sure you would, Lavender. Well, thanks for the prediction, even if it all bunk." She smiled strangely. "I'll be reporting you later." Hermione walked from the tent, ignoring Lavender's protestations. Harry looked to Lavender, mustered a glare, and then rushed after his date.
Outside, Hermione walked straight through the line, sending first years to the ground and jostling people from their places. She crashed into someone's chest and felt pain flood her nose.
"Owb!" she groaned, clapping her hands over the offended body part. Glaring, she looked up to the offender. It was Malfoy. Oh, fuck.
"What's the matter, mudblood? Not happy with your prediction?" He sneered down at her and she felt her heart skip a beat. What the fuck? Gods, participate in one stupid, childish game and suddenly she was a puddle of girlish glee. She gingerly removed one hand from her nose to inspect the damage and saw blood. Gods. Hermione brought a sleeve up to her nose and, keeping it covered, proceeded to tell Malfoy to fuck off.
"Mai dib ag ou, Balfoy!" Then, "fub!"
Draco laughed down at her. She really was delightful. Luckily it was crowded and dim in the hall and Pansy was several feet away, gossiping with her girl friends. "Let me, you idiot." She shook her head at him and tried to move away, but he caught her arms and removed them from her face. A thin trail of blood was streaming from her nose. He pulled out his wand and muttered a healing spell. The bleeding stopped immediately and Hermione snatched her hands away, bringing them up to wipe at her nose. She cast several furtive glances in his direction and he laughed a little louder. "Merlin, Granger, you just can't seem to hold yourself together around me!"
Hermione finished wiping her face and glared up at him again. "Maybe you should just watch where you're going, Malfoy!" She felt a hand on her shoulder and turned about. Harry had found her.
"What do you think you're doing, Malfoy?" he half snarled, seeing that his wand was out.
The other boy looked from Hermione to Harry and back again before answering. "Your girlfriend ran into me in her desperate attempt to escape you," he finally settled on saying.
Harry took a step forward, but Hermione held him back. "It was nothing, Harry. I ran into him and bloodied my nose- he's just healed it, is all."
Harry looked at Malfoy suspiciously. "Why would you heal Hermione, Malfoy? You hate her."
"Couldn't let her get her filthy blood all over my robes, could I?" Draco snarled back, watching through half lidded eyes as Hermione's face grew pale and she tugged Harry's arm, dragging him away from the scene and disappearing into the crowd. He didn't really feel fantastic saying those things, but there wasn't much help for it at the moment. Pansy returned from her gossip session and Draco pushed her firmly towards the tent the other two had exited moments earlier. He didn't want to lose track of them just because he had to be a good boyfriend for a few more days.
"Come on, Pans. Let's get your future settled." Pansy giggled at him and then ducked inside. He cast one more glance about the room before heading in after her. Potter and Granger were headed for the east end of the hall. He noted the direction carefully and then pulled the flaps closed behind him.
Harry pulled back on Hermione's arm, slowing them down. "Hermione, hang on- just slow down!" He pulled back a little harder and she crashed back into his arms. He turned her around and smiled down at her, concerned. "Are you okay? Malfoy didn't hurt you?" She shook her head sullenly and looked away.
"I'm fine, Harry. Malfoy didn't do anything." Well, nothing I'm going to tell you about, anyway.
He put his finger under her chin and tilted her head up, but she jerked her head away. He sighed, a little frustrated. He wanted to help her, really he did, but he couldn't help her when she was behaving so mysteriously. "Hermione, what did Lavender mean, back there? She said Ron didn't actually hit you."
"Harry, I don't really want to talk about it right now," she looked up at him, her best weepy look upon her face. Harry didn't buy it.
"Hermione…please, tell me. I won't get angry, I promise. He's been a git about the whole thing so much that he deserved the punch I swung at him." When she didn't say anything, he added, "I probably deserve to be punched, we've all been such bastards."
Hermione looked down at her shoes. She couldn't tell him the truth…not now, not after everything else, not when…not when she didn't want Malfoy in trouble. She looked up at him again. He was standing there, waiting patiently for her reply, ready to believe whatever she told him. So she lied. Again. On purpose. And she didn't much care.
"I don't actually know who hit me," she began. "It all happened to quickly…I was walking back from the library late a few nights ago and a group of students must've overtaken me, because the next thing I knew, I felt hands grab my shoulders," Malfoy's hands, "and they shook me up a bit," well, that part is true, at least, "and then someone hit me. Here," she said, pointing, "across my cheek. Made my nose bleed, actually. Things went dark for a bit and when I came to, I was alone again." She shuffled her feet some. "I think maybe Filch or someone scared them off."
Harry felt strangely as though his heart wanted to break. It was certainly dashing about his chest in a most awkward manner. He'd hit his best mate for something he hadn't done while at the same time glad for the opportunity to nail him one. Personally, he thought he should've done it ages ago, for all the misery he'd caused Hermione. Still, he wasn't sure whether to laugh or shout. He decided to go for something that didn't involve speaking and hugged Hermione close. Harry felt her trembling and pulled back. "Are you cold?" She shook her head. "I'm sorry, Hermione. If Ron and I hadn't been such fools this never would've happened." He put a hand to the side of her face, gently, his thumb brushing across the cheek that had taken the blow.
"I'm fine, Harry, really," she replied, taking care to make her trembling a little less noticeable. She wondered briefly if Harry was just stupid, or madly in love with her. She decided to settle on the former, because the latter was to difficult to deal with at the moment. If he couldn't recognize fake tears and trembling when he saw it, then of course he would believe her lies. She smiled a little and he nodded his head.
"Right then. How about we go to the dunking booth next? I hear Dumbledore forced Snape to take part."
Hermione laughed at this and they turned to join the line to the dunking booth. Seeing that the line was very long, Harry said, "Actually, why don't you wait here a moment and I'll go get us some drinks. We can take a turn after the queue's gone down a bit."
Hermione nodded in agreement, making a face at all the people who filled the hall. "I'll just be here by the photo booth," she said, gesturing behind her.
"Oh, right, of course that's what it is," Harry replied. Hermione laughed at him a little.
"What, never seen one?"
"No," Harry said, his face darkening just a bit, "I just never really got to use one out in the muggle world, you know?"
Hermione fell quiet; she wasn't sure what to say to that. She'd known Harry's childhood hadn't been a happy one, but she was so used to seeing his smiling face when he was at Hogwarts that she didn't always realize he might not be as familiar with the items other children were used to. She started to apologize, but Harry shook his head.
"S'alright," he said. "So is this one like a combination of the muggle kiosks in the malls and wizard photography?"
"That's right!" she replied brightly. "Hey, let's have a go after you get back with drinks, okay?"
He smiled down at her. "Sounds great. I'll see you in a minute or two!" With that, Harry walked out into the crowd and Hermione leaned back against the photo booth, looking down at her feet. In spite of the enchanted breeze and cool air, Hermione was starting to feel warm. She absentmindedly slipped her robe off her shoulders and reattached the prefect badge to her dress. Her annoyance from the reading earlier was still bothering her. That Lavender Brown…who did she think she was? And Malfoy- bloodying her nose for the second time in three nights. What was wrong with the stupid git? You know perfectly well what's wrong with him, the voice said. She picked at the fabric of her dress, frustrated. Surely she didn't care for him? What the mirror showed was only a mistake, right? After all, getting married was the farthest thing from her mind at the moment. There was the war they all needed to prepare for; N.E.W.T.s next year- she really ought to be studying for those now; she had to decide what she wanted to do upon graduating- if she lived to graduate. Actually, with Voldemort and his followers out to get Harry and his closest friends and now a would-be Death Eater himself lusting after her, well, death sometime in the next year and a half seemed a likely probability.
From across the room in line at the dunking booth, Draco could see Potter and Hermione having a rather friendly conversation. Damn it, Potter was leaning. Only he, Draco Malfoy, was allowed to lean with Hermione Granger. He was the god of leaning. He looked down at Pansy and then back up to Potter and Granger. Potter was just leaving, probably to get food or something. That was the only reason any boy in his right mind would leave a girl who looked that good alone at a crowded party. Not that he knew they were going out, but if Potter was leaning, well, that only meant one thing. He looked to Pansy again. She was chatting with some of her friends again. The only booths she'd wanted to visit were the divination and maybe one of the wand game booths. She wasn't interested in the dunking, but was willing to follow Draco anywhere he wanted to go. He'd only really wanted to come here because it was close to where Potter and Granger had ended up, but far enough away they wouldn't try to accuse him of following them. Glancing at Pansy once more, he made up his mind.
"Oy, Pansy," he said, leaning over her. She looked up at him, eyes bright and vacant from the gossip she'd been exchanging. He chuckled to himself. "I'll go get us some drinks while we wait, shall I?" She and her girlfriends giggled over what a perfect boyfriend he was and he cringed a little.
"Sure, Draco. You know what I like?"
"Of course," he murmured gallantly, "hot chocolate?" She nodded and he bowed over her hand, then took off. If he was going to execute his plan, it needed to be done quickly. He waited for the crowd to thicken a bit and then veered his course towards Hermione.
Hermione had just looked up from her morbid thoughts when a figure appeared beside her. She looked up and saw Malfoy. Oh, gods.
"What do you want, Malfoy?"
He smirked down at her. "You know perfectly well what I want," he drawled slowly, sending a hot flush creeping up her neck. She looked back down to her dress, her robe tucked neatly over one arm. She wished desperately she was still wearing it; from Malfoy's height she was sure he had quite a view. "Anyway, how did your little divination go? Pleased with your results? Going to marry Potter and have lots of little half-bred babies?"
Hermione turned and looked up at him, her eyes sparking. "Not that it's any of your business, Malfoy," oh, but it is, "but I don't believe a word of that rubbish! Besides, I'm sure Pansy already has her china patterns picked out, ferret. "
He looked at her thoughtfully for a moment before placing one hand upon her shoulder and sending her falling backwards into the photo booth. She landed on the seat with a whumph, the breath knocked out of her. Malfoy followed her swiftly, immediately pinned her hands above her head and before she knew what was happening she was being kissed, firmly and on the lips. She turned her head away, tearing her mouth from his deliciously offending lips and glared up at her captor. Malfoy, that, that…delectable piece of pureblood ass? She shook her head violently, struggling. She should've guessed what he would try and do. Take every opportunity to kiss, her that's what! Those soft, warm lips covering her mouth, just moist enough…no one else had those lips. She blinked again, shaking her head. What the fuck. What the fuck!
"Malfoy, if you don't get off me this instant, I'll-," she paused, searching for words. His lips hovering right above hers were proving distracting.
"What, Granger?" he laughed. "You can't reach your wand." He shifted on top of her, making her quest for a lungful of air more difficult.
"Pansy!" she managed to gasp.
"Oh, she thinks I'm off getting her drinks, same as your boyfriend," he replied. Then, realizing she couldn't breath, moved her so that she was, however unwillingly, sitting on his lap. His eyes took in her dress and make-up almost greedily and she shrank away from him.
"For your information, Harry really is getting me drinks- Malfoy, what do you think you're doing?" she asked for the second time that day.
Again, he was hard pressed to answer, but finally found one that was appropriate. He leaned forward, his mouth at her ear. He could feel her tensing…
"Seducing you," he breathed, and then drew her mouth to his once more, crushing her body to him, feeling her heart race as her own chest squashed up against his. He had to admit, it wasn't his first choice of loactions for seduction, but it would have to do. They were at a carnival, after all, in the middle of all the students…all his classmates…his professors. The thought made him shiver from danger and he pulled her closer, his tongue exploring her mouth- now that was interesting. For all of her posturing, she seemed to be responding rather hungrily to his touch.
Hermione managed to pull away, a flush in her cheeks, her eyes glassy. "Malfoy, you need to let me go," she said, out of breath and out of sorts.
He shook his head fiercely and drew her in for another kiss, but she succeeded in bringing her hands up and held herself firmly away from him, hands on his chest. His heart fluttered again. She tried to shift on his lap, but only succeeded in hitting her foot against the button for pictures.
"Harry will be back any moment and I refuse to be caught in such a position!"
He shook his head again and tightened his grip. She sighed. "I refuse to let you be caught in such a position, either, Malfoy. Please?"
The flash began to go off and without thinking, he pulled her into another heart stopping kiss. He pushed her away when the flash stopped and stood up, holding her tightly to him for a moment more. Pansy's waiting. He tried to ignore the sick feeling in his stomach. Potter is on his way back. Hermione felt stiff and unwieldy in his arms, different from the girl he'd kissed only seconds before. Oh for Merlin's sake, Draco- you do value your life, don't you, man? He felt her hands on his chest again, reach up and feel his face once- almost tenderly- and then with blunt determination shove hard on him.
"Get out now!" she hissed at him.He stumbled from the booth and turned to look back at the swinging curtain.
He shrugged and ran a hand through his hair, trying to slow his ragged breathing. He was about to turn and walk away when he saw the little strip of paper in the slot on the side of the booth. Curious, Draco reached down and pulled it out; it was their photos from just now…rather incriminating photos, really. In spite of her protests, Hermione's head was clearly thrown back in ecstasy as he nuzzled her neck first, then her jaw, and finally landed his mouth upon hers. In the pictures she was either pulling him near or pushing him away, alternately; a smile upon her face at one moment and then scolding him and pouting the next. Smiling, he tucked the strip of miniature photos into his robe and whisked away from the scene. Draco could see Potter was just heading back, two drinks in hand. Better go get some for Pansy, he thought. He found he didn't feel any guilt as he walked away, patting the photos through his robe, and he suddenly couldn't wait until the dance. Then again, he thought, gods don't feel guilt. That emotion is reserved for mere mortals, of which the savory Hermione is obviously one. He smirked to himself as he headed for the drinks booth. I'll have to work on that. With her.
Author's Note: I apologize for making you all wait for this chapter so long. I am still in the middle of exams, but I hope to be back to my regular updates very soon. Thanks for your patience. More confrontations to come!