A/N1: Update!! Yay. (Erica now you can review my otehr stuff.) Wow, I can't believe I'm over 300 reviews, that is just amazing to me!! Please keep reviewing! Oh, and Blue-Stardust, I'm very sorry that I haven't posted your one-shot yet. I got a totally new and better idea so I'm rewriting it completely!!
Disclaimer: Nahway—Harry Potter is definitely not mine!
NOTE: Thank you Dez, for again, giving me a great idea!!
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XXXXXXXXXXHermioneXXXXXXXXXX (On her way to Dumbledore's office).
For some odd reason, Hermione got the strangest urge to sing: 'Weee'reeee off to see the wizard, the wonderful wizard of Oz. Because because, because because, becaaaaauuuuseeeeeeeeee...because of the wonderful things he does!' It made her laugh for not only did she feel like singing, but she felt like linking arms with the first random person that walked by and making them skip with her. Well too much time in the wizarding world was bound to affect her somehow; she figured. Either that or too much stress and pressure had odd ways of being...released so to speak.
She approached the stone gargoyles and said firmly, "Licorice Wands." As she expected, they opened and revealed the stone staircase. Giddily, she trotted—yes trotted—up the stairs and made her way into Dumbledore's abode. She walked in and expected to see him sitting at his desk, gazing at her through his half-moon spectacles with his eyes twinkling; but to her slight surprise, he wasn't there. As she waited for the headmaster, Hermione decided to look around at the interesting little wizarding trinkets in his office. It wasn't snooping; she rationalized with herself, its just looking. If I was snooping then I'd be looking through his drawers in the desks and looking at his pensieve like Harry did. But I'm not. That explanation seemed to ease her paranoia and she continued her prowl of the office. In the corner, something reflected the sunlight form the window. Immediately attracted to that, she went to investigate what it was. Hermione let out a startled gasp when she saw the object in question: it was the Mirror of Erised. There was no possible way of mistaking the grand and ornate mirror. Hermione let her fingers familiarize themselves with the engraving along the top of the mirror. Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyr on wohsi. One day, she wanted to translate what that meant. It roughly translated Hermione knew, to the deepest desire of her heart, but not specifically. This was indeed the mirror, the reason that her life had suddenly spun out of control in a way she'd never pictured. The very same, but what was it doing in Dumbledore's office?
Out of mild curiosity, Hermione looked deeply in the mirror to see if the images remained the same as when she first gazed into the mirror. Indeed, the same images flashed across, but this time there was no unclear picture, it was absolutely clear that it was her and Draco—being happy and in love—of all things! Hermione tore her eyes away from the mirror and sighed. If anything, this trip into Dumbledore's office only confirmed the facts. She did want love like that, and it wouldn't come easy, that she knew for a fact. If this has to be with Draco, then fine, I'm willing to work for it. I can learn to love him...hopefully. It will definitely be a challenge, but I can do it. We can compromise. Anything in life worth getting is worth working for.
A feeling in the back of her mind told her that Dumbledore planned this. Not the whole soul mate, true love issue—she wasn't even completely sure that he even knew about that—but the mirror being there when she was. He probably placed it there to remind me of my ultimate goal.
"Oho, he is one clever headmaster." Hermione muttered out loud, not exactly in a complimentary tone. At that exact moment, Albus Dumbledore made his presence known.
"Thank you Miss Granger! I'm glad you think so. But would you care to tell me why you think that?" Hermione blushed as he smiled knowingly at her. He knew it wasn't necessarily a compliment.
"Umm if you don't mind sir, I have a birthday party for my friend to get back to, so with all due respect, can you tell me the urgent matter you mentioned in your owl?"
"Of course; you have heard of having pen pals in the muggle world, correct?"
"Yes." Hermione replied, more than a little confused about why Dumbledore was asking.
"Well in the wizarding world we have something like that." She nodded her understanding. "I would have enjoyed trying that out as school wide activity, to assign everyone a secret, 'owl pal,' if you will. But I found that both the school governors and the ministry were against that idea. I thought that it would start more school unity if each student had someone to write to from a different house." The headmaster paused before he spoke next and instinctively Hermione knew that she would not like what was coming.
"Seeing as how that path to unity was unsuccessful, I came up with another idea. As you know, you and Mr. Malfoy will be the upcoming head students, and as it has been made very clear on many occasions, you two are not on the best of terms." Hermione winced slightly.
"That could be considered the understatement of the year, Headmaster." He chuckled.
"Very true Miss Granger, but I can see that both you are making an effort to bridge the gap. To help that along, and to also strengthen your bond as the future heads of Hogwarts, I thought that it would be beneficial that the two of you correspond over the summer through owls. It is not necessary of course, but come September, if the students see a Gryffindor and Slytherin getting along publicly despite the fact of known past enmity, then I believe that will encourage them to reach outside of their own houses and prejudices. Don't you agree?"
Hermione agreed weakly. She did think it was a great idea, one with possibility, except for the fact that she would have to constantly be in contact with Draco all summer. That wasn't exactly her idea of fun. "Do you really believe that Draco and I will be able to function publicly after only sending a couple of owls back and forth over the summer?"
"Yes I do." Dumbledore stated confidently, his eyes twinkling madly.
"Then I will try."
"That is all I ask Miss Granger." Hermione got up and made her way to the door. Her hand was poised above the doorknob but before she could make contact with it and exit the headmaster's office, he spoke again. "Oh and Miss Granger,"
Hermione turned around. "Yes Headmaster?"
"I don't think that it would be wise to tell young Mr. Malfoy about the correspondence. You should just write your first letter and see how he replies to it."
"But what if he doesn't reply?"
"I'm more than sure that he will."
That cryptic comment along with the whole conversation she just had with the headmaster left Hermione reeling. What does he mean by he was more than sure he would reply?! It's Mal—Fer—Draco! Why would he reply to me if he didn't know he had to? Her mind was unfortunately focused on that issue and not on watching where she was going. In a split second, Hermione made impact with a large barrier and then the floor. The barrier, as it turned out was a student; and not just any student, of course it was Malfoy.
"I'm sorry about that Draco; I should have been watching where I was going."
"It's okay, it happens. Want some help?" He held out his hand to her and she took it. Hermione looked him straight in the eyes; she was taken aback by what she saw: he appeared to be sincere. It seemed as if he had given up his promise for revenge and put it behind him. For that, Hermione was thankful; she had been paranoid for months, thinking that he would do something horrible to her. Well during those months he must have had done some serious thinking and gotten an attitude makeover. Hermione thought.
"Hmm, this is a change, but I can't say that I'm complaining. A couple of months ago you'd have said something rude to me, not helped me up and then stormed off. But you didn't. I can't help but say that I am surprised." Hermione teased.
"Well...don't get used to it. I'm just having an off day." Draco teased her right back.
"Oh ok, definitely not. So by tomorrow you'll be your regular evil and arrogant Slytherin roach of a self, right?"
"You can count on it."
"Then I'm going to hold you to that!" Hermione smiled and began to walk away but stopped and turned back.
"Hey, Draco! Why are you outside the headmaster's office?"
"I got this note and it said that there was a pressing matter he needed to discuss with me. Go figure. See you." He said the password to the stone gargoyles and walked up the same staircase she had just gone up not less than eleven minutes ago. It seemed suspicious to her. Why would he be sent up right after her if Dumbledore said that she shouldn't tell him?
TBC…
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A/N2: Ok so the end is seriously near...I'm not gonna say how many chapters are left, but believe me...it's not that many.
Please review!! No pointless flames allowed, but constructive criticism is totally welcome!!
Lovelove, Amanda