Chapter 14: Dumbledore with his weird but brilliant plans
Later that day
"Granger!" Hermione is in the bathroom with the door shut and Draco is trying to get her out and talk to him.
"Go away"
"please talk to me! Let me explain"
"don't you know what go away means?"
"Granger"
"leave me alone!" she is close to tears.
"look it's not what you think, let me explain"
"which part of go away don't you understand?"
"Okay if you don't want to talk to me fine. But there is a letter from Dumbledore. It says Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger, open it together."
Silence
"I'll be out in a sec, wait in the living room"
"okay" he leaves and she runs to the mirror. Her tears hadn't fallen but her eyes are all red and puffy. Hermione splashes some cold water on her face and waits a few seconds. It's better now but you can still see it. Well, it will have to do.
Moments later Hermione comes out and sits next to him on the couch.
"are you okay?" Draco asks her.
"Just open the letter".
He opens it and starts to read out loud.
Dear mister Malfoy,
Miss Granger came to my office today to enlighten me about something that happened today. I was shocked to hear a game like the one she told me about was being played here at Hogwarts. However, I don't think you meant to hurt miss Granger and I think you both can sort this out. I know how stubborn you both are, don't take this as an insult, it's the truth. As I said, I think you can sort things out on your own if you try. I hereby give you the perfect chance to talk. When you've finished this letter you and miss Granger will be handcuffed. Handcuffs are muggle inventions and I'm sure miss Granger can tell you how it works.
Draco looks at Hermione confused but she can't answer. She is too shocked so Draco reads on.
You both will be stuck together until you've sorted out your problems. You still have to do the jobs in order to finish the project. However it is impossible to be at two places at once. You won't get the necklace miss Granger had in third year. You both will have to go to the muggle studies classes. Once a week you will go to the library to let young mister Malfoy do his job. You will need to do the head boy and girl tasks as well. You may not like the idea but it's my idea so it's automatically a good one. As you know.
You can hold hands and the handcuffs will appear. Don't bother running away. If you two don't choose hands the spell will choose for you. Make sure the hand you use most is free.
Good luck and have fun. Albus Dumbledore
They look at each other not knowing what to say. "so, does this mean we're stuck together?" Draco asks her
"yes"
Silence
"which hand do you want to keep free Draco?" Hermione is a bit shaken up and she doesn't even realize she had said Draco instead of Malfoy. He doesn't notice either.
"I don't know you?"
"my right but that would mean you would have to chain your right hand to my left is that okay?"
"yeah sure, I write left anyway so it may be best."
Silence, neither of them look at each other.
"Hermione, We need to hold hands now I think."
"oh yeah, right" Hermione had been lost in her thoughts and had forgotten.
He holds her left hand in his right. How can Dumbledore do this to me? Hermione thinks. After what he did to me I don't want to be so close. The handcuffs have appeared and they don't say anything. How am I going to do this? I can't have him with me all the time. Wait a minute, all the time?
Her face suddenly turned white as a ghost.
"What's wrong?" he asks her.
"I just realized something"
"What?"
"I need to pee"
"What?"
"well I don't but I will have to sooner or later"
"so?"
"We're stuck together remember?"
"Oh Merlin! Well, you're just gonna have to hold it in! I'm not going to stand beside you while you're taking a shit!"
"what about showers? I won't shower with you but if we don't we will be smelling badly very soon."
"looks like we have to shower together" He smirks but when he sees her reaction it changes into a smile.
"I guess we just have to figure things out before we need to shower okay?"
"sure like that's going to happen anytime soon" she spats and she stands up automatically pulling Draco with her. "oh sorry, I forgot"
"it's okay"
"uhm, I feel like going to bed early, I'm not ready to talk yet is that okay with you?"
"yeah sure take your time." Draco said. They are going into the bathroom to brush their teeth and then go to bed.
He is being really nice. Probably feels sorry for what he did. No that can't be it he's Draco Malfoy he doesn't feel sorry for anyone. He doesn't care. But what if he does? How am I going to do this. We'll be stuck together. What will people think? It must look insane. The weirdest thing is that I do feel save. Yes I hate him and he hurt me but somehow I think he won't hurt me again. Like he will protect me. Oh it's nonsense! I'd wish!
How am I going to make up to her? I really hurt her. I finally realize I might have feelings for her and I screw up again. What will she be thinking? Does she want me to bring it up or maybe just pretend it didn't happen. I have to make it up to her. She deserves an explanation. Damn she even looks cute with a toothbrush in her mouth and toothpaste dripping out of it. Jeez I'm far gone. Maybe I should just kill myself. No that's ridiculous just apologize.
"Draco?" came a small voice next to him. "how are we going to change into nightwear?"
"uhm, I haven't thought about it. We can sleep in our day clothes"
"I don't think that's a good idea, anyway we will need to change tomorrow too"
"oh shit, you're right. I guess we need to cut us out of these clothes and have someone fix them tomorrow."
"okay but how am I getting into my nightgown?"
"Uhm, it's spaghetti strapped right?"
"yes"
"well I think you need to step in them and cut the strap on you left and tie it up again."
"never realized you were so smart! Thank you"
"you're welcome" She thinks I'm smart! She thinks I'm smart! I am but now she knows it!
They go to get some scissors from the kitchen and look the other way so they can both change clothes. This is going to be harder than they thought at first. They will be limited in all of their actions. If they pass this at least they can be sure to pass the muggle studies program. If they don't learn how to work together like muggles this way only Merlin knows what will.