Growing marijuana or hallucinogenic mushrooms is not "an extra credit project for Herbology".
Justin Finch-Fletchley stood at the Great Hall entrance collecting his nerves. Under normal circumstances he would never admittedly disclose house information, but things were getting to the point where he was determined to protect younger students from such toxins. The older students in his house didn't seem too have the nerve to contend with the dealing of Sonny Hanson so it fell on Justin's shoulders to take care of the problem arising among his younger peers.
Nervously he straighten his tie with nimble fingers, smoothed the folds from his shirt and ran his hands through his dark hair. He would tell the Head Girl and she would use digression while handling this situation. He didn't want an eleven year old to get expelled for being naive. Gathering what courage he could muster up Justin walked into the busy Hall and made a beeline for the Gryffindor table his eyes searching for Hermione.
Only she wasn't there. His eyes scanned over every face three times before he admitted defeat and went to ask Harry and Ron where Hermione had went off to.
Justin walked up right behind the pair of Gryffindor boy's and politely cleared his throat to gain their attention. Neither boy acknowledged his presence too occupied with an ungodly sight across the hall. A monumental event that held the heated glare of every single Gryffindor student, but seemed to allude the dark-haired Hufflepuff seventh year prefect. Again Justin cleared his throat. This time Neville looked up a look of unfathomable disgust marring his normally adorable face. "What do you what Fletchley?" Neville asked quit rudely, surprising Justin.
A few others turned to eye Justin suspiciously, Harry's and Ron's attention, however, remained on a fixed point across the room. Again Justin cleared his throat before speaking. "I was looking for the Head girl. Anyone seen her?" His question came out rushed and high pitched. The surrounding Gryffindors's eyes darkened and Justin was frighten, wondering what he had said to warrant such hostility.
"Over. There." Potter growled pointing to the Slytherin table without looking away from his best friend and archenemies holding hands eating lunch.
Justin palled, his body trembled a little and he thought for sure he was going to be sick. "What the hell is she doing over there?" Justin asked truly horrified by the sight before him.
"Why? Jealous, Fletchley?" Seamus asked, unable to keep his own venomous envy out of his tone.
Justin just shook his head. "No. But she is too good for the likes of him." Justin responded sincerely.
"She's too good for a lot of us but that doesn't mean we don't keep trying." Seamus responded looking down at his breakfast in a failing attempt to keep his eyes from the couple across the hall.
Justin didn't have a response to that, simply nodding in accord.
"I thought you were gay?" Ron asked slightly confused by the conversation going on around him.
"I am." Justin responded.
"Then why do you care? I thought you had a thing for, Malfoy. You pitched his arse!" Ron stated finally looking up to meet Justin's dark brown eyes.
"Malfoy is sexy and I would wager a great lay. But he is not boyfriend material. And everyone knows Hermione is for keeps. A girl like that is for marriage not one night stands." Justin explained like this knowledge was common fact.
"So what does Malfoy want with her? He is the biggest slut in the school!" Ron asked horrified by the implication.
"Oooo! His is sick of one night stands and Hermione is the only girl that can set him on the path of love!" Lavender cooed excitably, a few seats down. Her eyes misting over dreamily at the romantic possibility.
"Oooo! Hermione is the only girl for him always has been. She is the only one that doesn't put up with that foul git's shit and he has fallen head over heels in love with her for it!" Parvati squealed, adding on to Lavenders' romantic picture before both girls sighing in longing wonder.
Harry rolled his eyes, offended by such a disgusting suggestion. "Don't be stupid. There is only one thing, on a guy like that's mind. And it has nothing to do with love." Harry stated, throwing his napkin in his plate and standing.
"Where you going?" Ron asked, he too now standing.
"To save Hermione." Harry stated his eyes never leaving Hermione and Malfoy's joined hands.
"No!" Justin shouted blocking Harry's and Ron's path.
"Get out of my way, Fletchley, before I take Malfoy's lead and hex your sorry arse." Harry threatened, his hand moving to the wand in his back pocket.
"Oh, alright. First listen to reason. Alright, Harry…Ron, now really, how is Hermione going to act with you two blazing in and accusing her of not being able to take care of herself? Hermione is not the damsel in distress kind. I have business with her. A legitimate excuse to go and talk to her. Now I will go over and intervene on your behalf. What I have to say needs to be said in privet. So, see everyone wins but Malfoy." Justin's voice shook as he spelled out his plan. He really didn't want to see Harry and Ron in a fight with Hermione because of Malfoy. Hermione was too good of a friend for him to allow that. Justin really hated seeing her upset.
"Alright, Justin. You have five minutes to get her away from the ferret before I take matters into my own hands and curse his balls off." Harry conceded, shoving Justin in the direction of the Slytherin table. "Get to it!" Harry commanded before sitting back down.
Justin could feel their eyes on him. Harry's and Ron's, if not the entire Gryffindor student bodies's.
His hands were shaking with nerves and he knew he was mumbling out what he was planning on saying once he reached Hermione and Malfoy.
Merlin he hoped Malfoy didn't murder him. Most of his apprehension was over the incident in the hall last week and he knew with clear certainty that Malfoy was never one to leave personal mistakes alone and buried in the past.
No matter, He told himself in attempts to calm his nerves, Your not doing this for yourself, Justin, your doing this for the children and for Hermione, your friend. Yes for the children and your friend.
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Draco was having a wonderful day. His hand tightened around Hermione's small one as he tucked in to his meal. He was aware of the many eyes watching his and Hermione's every move. They all wondered if they were a couple. Draco smirked, as he planned his next move, wanting nothing more than to confirm such speculation with a slight and innocent action. Basically he didn't want Hermione to know what he was up to.
"Miss Magical Hufflepuff." Was whispered in Draco's ear interrupting his scheming, By his best mate. Draco turned his head looking at the Italian Slytherin sitting on his right.
"Shit. How soon?" Draco cursed quietly, hoping Hermione remained unaware beside him.
"Just passed the Ravenclaw table. He looks determined and he is most certainly headed his way." Blaise replied.
"Double shit. My reputation can't take another detention. I wonder what the flop wants?" Draco asked rhetorically.
"Your about to find out." Blaise snickered turning to watch the Hufflepuff's approach.
Justin swallowed hard, "Hello, Hermione, I need to have a word with you." Justin requested his voice high and pitchy.
Draco turned to look at the Hufflepuff a sneer gracing his handsome face. "The Head girl is in an important meeting, leave." The harsh intensely of Draco's tone would of generally worked scarring Justin off but today he was too determined to be frightened.
"Since when did you become my secretary, Malfoy?" Hermione asked, pocketing her wand.
Draco smirked tilting his head condescend, "I'm not your secretary, Granger, I'm your master."
Several surrounding people snickered in response to Draco's boast. Justin was the only one who appeared insulted on Hermione's behalf.
Hermione simply raised an eye brow. "No one is my master, Malfoy."
Draco contained an eye roll. " So long as we are attached, you are mine."
Hermione smirked, it was a frightening likeness to the man sitting next to her. She said nothing as she stood, and her hand slipping out of Draco's. She picked her books up off the table grabbed a hold of Justin's sleeve and marched away from the Slytherin table and out the Great Hall.
Draco tried to shift and stand- How dare she walk away from him while he was enlightening her to certain facts, how dare she free herself from a spell it took him three days to research and perfect - He was truly out raged with all intent of chasing after the Gryffindor know-it-all to enlighten Granger on the proper response to his lectures but found he was rooted in place. "Granger! Get back here!" He yelled over his shoulder, completely at a lost on what just happened.
"A soon as your attention was else where, she made the most of it. Pulling out her wand and muttering like fifty spells in a row." Pansy leaned in to enlighten a perplexed Draco.
"If Granger wasn't so noble she would make a fantastic Slytherin. I give her an O for sneakiness." Pansy stated proudly.
"No one asked your opinion, Parkinson." Draco sneered reaching into his breast pocket for his wand. It was missing. Frantically he began to pat himself down looking for said item.
"It's not there. Granger swiped it." Pansy smiled like a proud mother, after this enlightening news.
Draco shifted in his seat willing what ever hex Granger used to wear off soon. "You Could always take your pants off!" Millicent Bullstode suggested from across the table.
Blaise unable to hold back any longer broke out in a deep chuckle prompting Pansy to start giggling to Draco's left.
---
Hermione tapped the toe of her left Mary-Jane impatiently waiting for whatever lame excuse Sonny Hanson was sure to come up with. Sonny a rather short, sandy blonde fifth year stood arms spread wide with a confused look on his face.
Hermione had no doubts in her mind he was currently high.
"Look, Hanson. You said you had a viable excuse for growing muggle drugs in your dorm. But I'm starting to think that all this only has one purpose, to make you some extra cash from innocent children." Hermione was pissed. No she was spitting-fire angry that this toad had the nerve to stand there an lie, when she had more than enough proof against him. Still she calmly played this game with him will all intent of calling him out as a lier and getting his pathetic arse expelled.
"Get off your high horse already. I meant no harm. Besides growing pot and such is just an extra credit project for Herbology." The think Scottish burg hit a nerve within Hermione and she couldn't stop from leaping forward and slapping the arrogant face or this particular ignorant boy.
"NO HARM?" Hermione screeched feeling Justin's arms surround her waist and hold her back from attacking the younger boy. "Your selling illegal drugs to small children and you claim to have meant no Harm. You rat bastard!" Hermione yelled reaching for her wand.
Justin's hold, however, wouldn't allow it.
"Prude little girls have no rights to deny others a bit of fun." Sonny shot back hating the snotty tone the Gryffindor was taking with him.
"They are children." Hermione responded her voice filled righteous morals.
"They have the right to choose their own path, Gryffindor. Why don't you for once mind your own bloody business?" Sonny asked only wanting to rile her up more. He knew he was already expelled. Why not have some fun while he ruined his life.
"Shut it, Hanson! You know eleven is too young to start smoking. Pot may be a house favorite but everyone agreed, to cut off sales to anyone under fifth year. You broke that Badger code, for greed, now you have to pay the price." Justin replied finally letting go of Hermione watching as she adjusted her robes.
"You're a bloody traitor, Fletchley. No one asked your opinions. One would thing you were just as fidget as this here hag. Too bad your gay, you two would of made a lovely pair."
Sonny Hansen hit the ground moments after Justin's fist collided with his face. The boy clenched his jaw standing up to look at the pair with distain.
"Well what are you waiting for? Go on, run to the Head Master get me expelled!" Sonny spat.
Hermione looked over, her eyes met Justin's, both smiled in unison.
"Sorry, Sonny, but expulsion is just too easy for you. Getting kicked out of Hogwarts will not impress upon you the importance of a child's innocence. I have a fate much worse in mind for you." Hermione explained pulling her wand out and aiming it at the drug dealer.
"Oh and what could be worse than being expelled from school?" Sonny asked rolling his eyes.
"Try detention…every day…until the end of the year." Justin told him.
Sonny, again rolled his eyes before letting out a bored 'hump'.
"With Moaning Myrtle." Hermione finished watching the color drain victoriously from Sonny's face.
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* A/N; Thank you for the reviews! They are love and they are appreciated!