His Dark Arts RedShadow43
Chapter Twenty-One: Yet Another Duel
Lucius tried several different spells to repair the bed, but to no avail. Perplexed and a bit put out, he brought Hermione downstairs and they lit a fire in the hearth and laid about together on the shag carpet reading one of Hermione's books together since she was behind on her homework to an abominable degree.
"I suppose we're going to have to let Minerva know about the bloody bed," he grumbled. "There appears to be some sort of a hex on it."
"Who would hex a bed?" Hermione scoffed.
"I'm certain there must be some reason," he said as he smoothed a hand down her spine, making her whole body tingle at the touch. "Hogwarts has always been full of secrets. This surely must be another of them."
"I need to get some sleep," said Hermione with a yawn.
"Of course you do," he agreed, and helped her to her feet. "Here, let me tuck you in on the sofa, and then I shall leave you to your slumber. And don't forget, my dear, you and Draco have a duel tomorrow."
"Oh, gargoyles, I forgot all about that," she grumbled as he wrapped a blanket around her and planted a kiss on her nose. "Oh well, trouncing him should be easy enough."
"Indeed?" Lucius inquired. "Don't forget, he learned much of what he knows from the master."
"What, you mean Voldemort bothered to train him?" Hermione teased.
"Imp," he growled as he kissed her lips this time. "I'll see you in the morning."
"Good night," she whispered as she watched him go.
#
"Hermione?" said Draco as he shook her arm. "What are you sleeping down here for?"
She cracked open his eyes. He was dressed for the day and had his book bag slung over his shoulder. Groaning, she sat up. "Don't tell me it's morning already?"
"It's almost time for classes," he said. "We've overslept."
"I am not dueling on an empty stomach," she grumbled as she padded back up the stairs and into her bedroom so she could more easily magic on her clothes and head for the bathroom.
As she came out, Draco glanced in at her broken bed and shook his head. "What were you doing, killing the poor man?" he asked. "He's too old to be breaking beds anymore."
"He certainly didn't seem like it at the time," she smirked as she shut the bathroom door in his face.
"Bloody hell," she heard him say from outside the door. "I did not want to know that."
Hermione exited the bathroom again chuckling all the way. "I'll race you to breakfast," she called as she ran down the stairs and headed for the dorm's exit.
"You're on," he laughed, running along behind her.
After a thoroughly satisfying meal, the two showed up late to potions class. Slughorn cast the pair a horrified look that clearly showed what he was wondering: has Granger tired of the father and moved on to the son?
"As I have already told the rest of the students, testing for the special seventh years is under way, so you are to sit quietly and read the next lesson. It's on page eighty-four," he said as they took their seats. "And do try to arrive on time from now on, both of you. What kind of an example is it for the two Heads of class to arrive late, anyway?"
"Sorry, Professor," said Hermione. "It won't happen again."
"Well, perhaps the loss of ten points from each of your houses might reinforce your words?"
"Yes, sir," Draco answered, setting a hand on Hermione's shoulder. "Come on, Hermione, let's sit down."
The rest of the class snickered as they took their seats. Class went by fairly quickly after that, and then it was time for DADA. The pair walked companionably up the hallway as they headed for class, and several other students followed behind, still laughing behind their hands and gossiping.
"We're going to have to make sure they understand we are not madly in love, Granger," said Draco as he glanced over his shoulder. "I wouldn't want my father getting the wrong idea and hexing me but good."
"Especially after that little stunt you pulled," Hermione reminded him, her voice filled with the beginnings of a threat as she smirked up at him.
"Oh, now, you're not going to bring that into this, are you?" he asked worriedly.
"It seems like a good time to remind you," she taunted gently, and Draco's face turned a deep red as a mixture of different emotions assailed him.
"You're truly evil, Granger," he said. "I think the old man is rubbing off on you."
"Well, that's not surprising with all the rubbing we did over the weekend," she chuckled with a slight leer in her eyes, remembering.
"Yeah, he's got you completely twisted," Draco smirked. "Perhaps I will wipe that smile off your face just for the fun of it."
"Or make it even bigger when I have you hanging from the rafters," she commented, and then she darted ahead of him into the room, and smiled at Lucius as she went to take her seat.
"Ah, the fated pair have arrived at last," Lucius said amiably. "Up, up, you may as well take your places. Class is about to begin."
Lucius solicitously took Hermione's hand and led her to the dueling stage, and even went so far as to bend and kiss it as he let her go and she mounted the steps. Draco cast the two of them a stony glare.
"Hey, where's Draco's kiss?" Neville wanted to know.
Lucius stepped over an patted his son's shoulder, then bent and whispered into his ear, "Hurt her, and there'll be some real trouble."
"Don't worry, Father," he said. "This duel is for class—no killing allowed."
Lucius cast him a dangerous smile as he stepped off. "You may begin. Step forward, bow, and count your fifteen paces."
Once they'd reached their destination, Draco fired off a curse just as he took his last step, giving Hermione no time to get into her stance. Even though she was surprised, she was able to deflect the Stupefy right back at him, leaving him frozen by his own spell. He didn't appear to be able to shake it off, leaving her the immediate victor.
"Well, that was somewhat—anti-climactic," she commented to Lucius as he helped her down again on his way to retrieve his son.
"Quite," he agreed in passing. Everyone else in the class applauded as Hermione returned to her seat. All she could do was blush and shake her head, which she laid on the desk on top of her arms as Lucius called Neville Longbottom.
"Take Draco to the infirmary, there's a good lad," he said. "I'm sure you know the way."
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