Author's Note - Okay, I know I said that I'd update when someone guessed who the character name from another story was, but I failed to mention that I'd wait to see if someone got it right... Sigh. Sorry about that! I did get one guess and it was from a random (sorry, there was no name!) who said it was Alice from Twilight. As it is rather controversial to mention any hostility or favourability towards that book, I will just say that, no it is not Alice. From Twilight. If it was Alice, I've been thinking more along the lines of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. If anyone has any more guesses... I'll tell you next chapter! And I'm glad you've read this far! XD
Chapter twenty-nine.
"I really don't want to be here! Can't this wait until summer at least? Even though that feels like winter too… The deepest, darkest, depths of Australian winter are the HOT days here! The world is so messed up. I mean; I'm more acclimatised to Australia than New Zealand right now! I never thought that'd happen…or maybe its just the cold…" Alice grumbled under her breath as she wandered the Forbidden Forest. She didn't mean to complain, but she really didn't like all this cold. Sure, the snow was awesome, but when it's dark, freezing cold and the snow hides every land marker, she felt a swell of malevolence towards the British weather.
Eventually she found what she was looking for. A paperbark eucalyptus. When she had first arrived, Hadgrid had decided to plant a couple of Australian trees so she would feel at home (this was before she had told the embarrassed half-giant that she was actually from New Zealand, but had reassured him that Australian trees were just as good) and right now, she was really grateful for it.
He had also gotten Hermione to cast a spell over them so they would survive the harsh English winter. Those babies could live through bushfires, but they would never be able to last a snow-filled winter.
Alice heaved a breath of air and smiled, amused, as she watched it form in the air. Then, softly, she began a low chant, her arms slowly waving in a complicated pattern. The tree creaked and groaned as a few leaves fluttered to the ground, before the whole thing began to shudder and a couple of its branches fell to the ground. Alice's chanting slowed, then stopped as she bowed low to the tree, levitated the fallen branches and started to walk deeper into the forest, the full moon highlighting her way.
Lupin (Alice had always smiled sadly at his name, it was almost like the Latin word, Lupo. The Wolf. It was as if he had always been marked for the moon…) had taken the Wolfsbane Potion and had told her that he'd be lurking around the Black Lake, so she knew to avoid there, because even if he had full control of his mind it was best not to test his limits.
Soon, floating behind Alice was a large pile of branches, a mixture of Australian wood and the magical wood of Rowans and Ashes. In the large area of lawn outside the Hospital wing, Alice lit a large bonfire and still cursing the English weather (and also a Miss Hermione Granger) she shed her outer-clothing until she was standing bare-footed in snow wearing a thin t-shirt and shorts. Shivering, Alice began a lilting chant as she circled the huge bonfire, dancing. Every now and then, she'd take out her wand and cast a Latin spell over the fire.
You see, the Australian Aboriginals had a type of magic for dreams and that was what Hermione had wanted to take advantage of. All the students in Australia had to learn the native magic's of the Aboriginals, New Zealand Maoris, the Islanders, various African and Asian magic too, as well as the conventional European magic. It was because so many people had to go to Australia for magical training that the school had to acclimatise for many different cultures, this happened because for many students there was nothing for them in their country or there was huge fights between the muggle governments and the people, making it unsafe to practice magic for fear the government would put them to 'good use'.
Unfortunately, to mix different types of magic together was both difficult and dangerous. But as Hermione (for once) had no-idea how to control the other types of magic, she would have to do it. Poor Draco had no idea what was coming.
It was Hermione's job to distract Draco long enough for Alice to find all the wood she'd need and do the spell. Hermione had it pinned for an hour, but three hours had gone by and still nothing.
So it meant either;
(a) Alice was lost,
(b) Alice knew where she was, but not the trees she needed
(c) Alice had ditched and was reading a book
(d) Alice had found Professor Lupin and decided to have a chat/be eaten
(e) Alice was lost
(f) Alice had found the trees, but then gotten lost
(g) Alice was taking her merry time
...and did Hermione mention the possibility of Alice being lost?
But then there was Draco to contend with, he should be getting suspicious soon as to why she was still talking to him after three hours, usually she'd have gone to her room by now.
Hermione realised that after three hours, she'd only just thought of Alice and the huge prank they were going to pull because of something Draco had said that reminded her of the girl.
Hermione was actually… enjoying his company; the topics were up-to-date, his manners were teasing and witty and he actually cared about what he was talking about.
'Yet another side to Draco Malfoy…I wonder how many he has,' Hermione mused to herself. Her eyes widened as she realised that she genuinely wanted to get to know him better; know the man beneath the mask, to know why Alice, sweet trustworthy Alice, obviously knew, loved and trusted the Slytherin Prince enough that she feared no repercussions from what she was doing that could easily be traced back to her.
Soon though, Draco's eyes drooped and he quietly fell asleep during a lapse of conversation. Hermione got up, smiling hugely and did a small, quiet victory dance, realising that Alice had pulled through with her dream magic.
Hermione's plan was simple; give Draco a very vivid dream, but upon awakening, be unable to remember it, except that he has to tell everyone something very important, (like but not limited to) the return of (the long-dead, never-able-to-come-back, buried-six-feet-under) Lord Voldemort.
The mixture of magics Alice used in casting it would also ensure paranoia throughout the day too… Draco would go about with a feeling that someone was following and spying on him, something that would definitely get on his nerves, (because, as an ex-spy, he should be able to who is spying, right?)
On top of that, if he ever tries to talk about his paranoia or dream, he'll only be able to sprout gibberish.
Until the next night, where he will dream the same dream (and be able to identify it as such.) But, upon awakening he will be able to remember it… A dream of rainbows, teddy bears and fluffy little puppies.
Hermione sighed as she looked down at his face. Softened by sleep, he was still a commanding presence and Hermione was reminded that she was marrying one of the world's most sought after bachelors; he was handsome, loaded with money and as she had just realised, an enigma. And if there was one thing that Hermione Granger loved, it was a good mystery.
Planning all these jokes on him and trying to figure out how to evade anything that Draco threw her way, Hermione had never really stopped and looked at him, except for when he had asked her to put the past in the past and call a truce. Remembering that lovely feeling, Hermione slowly inched towards him and placed her hand in his. It was as she remembered; their hands fitting together, his large hand, strong and secure wrapped around hers. Right then and there, Hermione vowed that this joke would be the last. She smiled a small, blissful smile, but jumped when she heard a large bang coming from outside. Hurrying away, Hermione put it down to Peeves flying around again and went quickly to her bed.
"Hello? Hello! Hermione, are you still up? …Anyone?" Alice stood outside the portrait door, staring helplessly at the roaming wolf in the picture, who was watching her amusedly.
Hermione had told her that the passwords were to be changed that day, but no-one had informed her of what the new password was.
Alice sighed in dejection, shivering against the cold. Even though she had donned her warm outer clothes again, everything was still freezing. Rolling up her sleeves and rubbing her forehead, Alice began chanting every curse-breaking spell she knew.
She had run out of spells and the wolf was still silently laughing at her. Narrowing her eyes, she created a replica portrait on the other wall, minus the wolf. The amber eyed Canus Lupus suddenly decided to watch her uneasily instead of with contempt and amusement and she rolled her eyes. In a flash, the wolf found itself in the replica. Starting to howl a warning, he stopped when he saw the New Zealand witch fire a spell that caused his previous portrait to explode, leaving the door hanging open.
Alice glanced tiredly back at the wolf as she clambered through (it was really late, after all) and could've sworn she saw a 'Those-convicts-have-no-tact' look on the wolf's face.
Not wanting a repeat of the other night's performance, Alice collapsed on the lounge, ignoring her cousin-person-thingy and fell asleep.
Hermione and Harry awoke the next day to a pacing wolf going through the pictures in their rooms, the passage door hanging on its hinges and Alice and Draco snoring on the couches.
