AN: Bah hum buck! Grrr... I had this whole beginning typed up for this chapter. AND it's now replaced with '????????????????????????' for over 13 lines. Therefore: Grrr.
Oh, yes, to answer many of your endless questions: This will be the second-to-last chapter. Then, I will have a looong epilogue. I'd like to thank all of my reviewers endlessly and apologize for the long wait for this chapter's arrival. I've been so utterly busy.
Disclaimer: I am a dreamer, and an 'inspired inventor'. Joanne K. Rowling is a creative writer and a mastermind. Now who do you think owns Harry Potter? That's what I thought.
Chapter 38: Numbers of Names
"Heroes" by The Wallflowers
I
I wish you could swim
Like the dolphins
Like dolphins can swim
Though nothing, nothing
Will keep us together
We can beat them
For ever and ever
We can be Heroes
Just for one day
I
I will be king
And you
You will be queen
Though nothing, nothing
Will drive them away
We can be Heroes
Just for one day
We can be us
Just for one day
I
I remember
Standing
By the wall
The guns
They shot above our heads
And we kissed
As though nothing could fall
And the shame
Was on the other side
We can beat them
For ever and ever
We can be Heroes
Just for one day
We can be Heroes
We can be Heroes
We can be Heroes
We can be Heroes
Just for one day
~*~
Hermione sat in the middle of the dorm room on the stone cold floor, smirking.
"That is it!" Pansy screeched pulling off another dress like it was the plague. "One more dress! Just one more that doesn't fit and I'll-I'll..." She made a wild gesture with her hands.
"Pans, you know... maybe there won't be any dresses to disguise that-" Hermione pointed towards Pansy's stomach. "Maybe," she gently said, "Maybe you should come out."
Pansy sighed as another zipper got caught around the middle of her back. "You're right."
Hermione smiled. "I'm always right."
"You're around Draco too much. You sound like him now: arrogant, self-centered..." Pansy began to list not-so-good qualities whilst Hermione began to pick at the cloth of her school robes.
It was the Saturday, before the dance, just half one. Millicent had left with Ron a couple minutes ago, with some lame excuse of 'we left my Potions Book in Charms'. Pansy just snorted, while Hermione smiled like a wolf. "The empty Charms Corridor? Empty?"
Millicent had blushed crimson. "Yes. That's the one." And as quickly as she entered the dorm, she left.
Hermione stood from her Indian style sitting position and stretched. "Where are you going now?" Pansy asked, close to a whine.
"I have to go meet Draco. We're studying for the big Transfiguration exam on Monday. I'll see you around though." Hermione said, pulling a parchment from her trunk as a cover up, they didn't want anyone to know about their training sessions.
"Okay." Pansy pouted and held another dress up to her in front of the floor length mirror. "I think I'll stick to the one I tried on first."
"Yeah, the green one with gold clovers? I loved that one." Hermione said, pulling her wand out and placing it in the front pocket of her robe.
"Bye, 'Mione." Pansy said as she held the dress in question up with one hand and pulled her hair up with the other. She made a "sexy" face and turned to the side. Hermione heard an exasperated shout as she closed the door and headed down the stairs. (AN: Is it down or up? Hmmm.)
Hermione entered the Common Room to see Draco waiting, seated lazily on a leather faint-chair. "Hey, hun."
"Hey, Hermione. Are you ready to go?" Draco said, standing up languidly. Hermione nodded, and they left through the hidden doorway and made their way up to a secret dungeon room.
"Draco, I'm too tired." Hermione whined as Draco set up a gymnastic routine route. He put blue pads on the ground, so if Hermione missed a jump or landed wrongly she wouldn't go and bloody up a knee or twist something terrible.
"Fine. I'll give you a deal. Two perfect grade difficult routines and we'll break early." Draco said, taking the liberty of changing their baggy robes into workout clothing. "And I mean perfect routines."
"Again with the skimpy clothes!" Hermione said, trying to stretch the bra top into a shirt and failing. She pulled down her shorts and pouted like a little girl.
"I don't want to restrict movement, you have to be able to do anything. Fight as if you're naked." Draco explained with a sigh. He had told Hermione about this EVERY time they'd practiced.
"Whatever you say." Hermione said in a huff. "All I know is that it's hard to fight when you aren't comfortable... Now, I'm going to do a Knee Breaker and then a Twisting Tackle."
Draco nodded in recognition, these were the two toughest routines he'd heard of. "Take it easy, don't get flustered and concentrate. Mind over matter."
Hermione smiled, taking a few deep breaths. She went to the edge of the blue mats and began the Knee breaker with a one-handed cartwheel, spinning halfway around. Hermione immediately followed that with a back flip and an areal tumble. She landed and did two high kicks and another flip. She finished with a cartwheel with no hands, into the splits.
"Right on the marker!" Draco shouted and clapped. Hermione, who was breathing heavily, moved out of the wide-legged position and walked back to the beginning of the mats.
"Thanks." She smiled tiredly. "I think I've got this all down pat!"
"Yeah, but once you can do the Twisting Tackle without pausing or stumbling, then you have perfected the art." Draco smiled as he straightened the blue pads. "Okay, you've done this one a million times, each time falling on your arse like a dope after the areal tumble to no-hands cartwheel. Now, concentrate. You have the grace of a swan, the precision of a stallion, and the strength of a bull. Take your time, hit everything perfectly and use the anti-gravity as much as possible."
Hermione nodded solemnly. She began to run, did a one handed cartwheel, into three front flips, she jumped and did a Matrix-like move before kicking. From that areal kick, she tumbled to the ground, landing into the splits. She began to leap up (still in the splits, like a hand stand), and flipped back. She grunted in determination and began to back flip, four times. Next, she began the hardest part. The areal tumble into the no-handed cartwheel. She landed perfectly. Smiling, she did one last flip into a kick and punch.
"YES!!!!" She shouted elatedly. Draco came running from where he was (the room was quite large, so he had a long way to run), shouting and yelling and whooping.
"You did it!! You are amazing!!!!" He shouted, hugging Hermione and spinning her around. She grinned with all of her heart and turned to kiss Draco. With passion, this became more than a small victory kiss.
~*~
Millicent giggled as Ron pulled her excitedly down the abandoned Charms Corridor. "Shh!" Ron smiled over his shoulder, causing Millicent to giggle more. It was contagious! She covered her mouth as Ron briskly pulled her further down the hallway.
"Ron! Where are we going?" Millicent said as colour rose to her cheeks.
"Harry and I were looking for a new secret room last night. We found one right here in this Corridor. We decorated it 'specially and everything." Ron said, ecstatic. Millicent just giggled as He pulled her over to a beautiful Parisian tapestry. "Made in France, 1803. Now... I just have to press the right..... stone..."
He pressed an awkwardly wedged stone and a doorway blossomed before them. "C'mon, Milli-Moo."
Ron and Millicent stopped abruptly when they saw what was inside this cozy room. Two other people. One happened to be Harry and the other......
~*~ (AN: Heh-heh-heh!)
Pansy mulled through her trunk, before deciding the ink green dress with gold clovers would do. She held it up to her one last time, deciding she would look ravishing in it. Just ravishing! Pansy laid the dress out on her bed, before she walked over to her trunk and took out a heavy stack of parchments.
"Now, let me see..." She looked at the top twenty names and middle names she had written down.
"I have for first names: Cora, Mary, Madison, Bailey, Michelle, Chloe, Zoe, Jade, Riley, Morgan, Emily, Paige, Elizabeth, Olivia, Brianna, Jasmine, Pearl, Alexis, Andrea, and Aubrey. And for middle names, I have: Linn, Adrianna, Ariel, Bianca, Sitara, Cleo, Aradia, Isis, Iris, Natalia, Vallerie, Ziarre, Venus, Krystal, Alice, Lucille, Starr, Kendra, Aysel, and Emerald." Pansy sighed, picked up a quill and dipping it in red ink. She began to cross out names for specific reasons, and, before she knew it, she was left with a whole lot of red and no names.
Pansy looked at the clock, where had time gone? It was already half three! Pansy, sensing the need for relaxation, grabbed her bathrobe and padded into the lavatory. "I think I'll use rose bubbles today."
~*~
Ron's face was a blazing red tomato. Harry got up from the floor, tucking in his shirt and scrambling around for his glasses. Millicent had gone ghost white as she stood watching Ron's blood boil.
"Ron?! What are you doing with that... that Slytherin?!!" Harry said, blush covering his cheeks.
"Harry!!!!? WHAT THE BLOODY HELL ARE YOU DOING WITH MY SISITER?!!?" Ron bellowed, tapestry door closing behind him. Ginny was on the floor, buttoning her shirt.
"Ron... look, we were going to tell you... when the time was right... and.... we're sorry..." Harry said, looking humiliated. Ron looked shocked, but cleared his throat.
"Harry... this is my girlfriend of two months, or so, Millicent." Ron said, formally, trying to keep his surprise out of his voice.
"N-nice to see you, Millicent. I believe you know Ginny?" Harry said stiffly, helping Ginny off the hearth rug. Ginny, hair ruffled, blushed and stuttered out a 'hello'. Ron, still a bit angry, tried to keep a look of acceptance on his face.
"Er, we'd better get going, Harry." Ginny said, stepping out of the secret room. Ron grabbed Harry before he escaped.
"If you do anything to hurt my little sister, you're arse is grass." Ron muttered threateningly. Harry gulped and smiled to Millicent before rushing outside to usher Ginny to the Tower.
"Ron..." Millicent began, still cold with surprise. "Just accept it. I think they make a cute couple..."
"I'm not going to be... too happy about it... but I can accept it....... I think." Ron said, as Millicent wrapped her arms around him.
"Are we going to let that ruin our fun?" Millicent whispered seductively.
"No." Ron awkwardly said, blushing from embarrassment rather than anger.
~*~
Pansy got out of the tub, smiling and feeling refreshed. She walked over to the mirror, towel wrapped haphazardly around her. She looked into the mirror, trying to decide on how to wear her hair tonight.
She decided a cascading-type bun would look right. She padded out of the bathroom to find Millicent and Hermione just entering the dorm room. "Oh, hey, guys! How was... studying?" Pansy smiled knowingly.
"Never had a better lesson." Hermione gave another wolf-smile as she walked toward her trunk. "I'm heading to the Prefect's bathroom. I don't want to be in anyone's way. Be back after a quick shower!" She hollered and ran out the door with a robe and towel.
Millicent smiled warmly before heading toward her own bed. "I'm just going to... catch a few... winks... before... I get.... reaaady." She lied down and fell to a much earned sleep. Pansy smirked before walking back into the bathroom, dress in hand. She struggled into it, noticing how "formed" her body looked.
"Ow!" She leaned over, holding her stomach. "You aren't going to start the kicking again, are you!" She said, massaging her stomach. "I do NOT want to see Professor Snape again... I have a feeling you like the feeling of his hand up in there!"
She admonished the life inside of her, rubbing her belly. The baby kicked again. "Fine. You win. Off to Professor Snape we go!"
Moments later, Pansy was back with soothing potions. "Hah! You thought old Sevy was going to stick a hand up to say hello, did you? Well, he didn't!" Pansy giggled at herself, she sounded nutters!
Pansy noticed her ratty, wet hair with a look of despair. She'd have to use some pretty handy spell work to pull off her bun. She got out Ms. Delia's Detangler, and worked the potion into her hair. She got out her wand and insta-dried the gold locks. She then took out a bottle of Magical Curls and sprayed the substance into her hair, soft curls sprung from her hair. She took her now manageable and gorgeous hair and pinned it up, curls falling like a waterfall in the back.
By that time, Hermione was back and just arriving to do her makeup. "Oh, Mia, I love your dress!" Pansy gasped as she looked at the gown Hermione was in. The dress was a light sage green, covered in a sheer gold over-lace over it. The dress was (of course) corset-style, but very elegant just the same. The dress ended at the knee, free and whispy, as if it were torn. Sophistication and movability at its best.
"Thanks, this time I would like to be able to actually dance." Hermione laughed, pulling a smock over the top of the dress, as not to get any makeup on it. Pansy noticed Hermione's dark brown hair pulled into two long braids.
Snapping out of the daze, Pansy took the top off of a potion Snape had given her and chugged it down. It tasted like smooth flowers...
Pansy glossed her lips lightly and added a little green eye shadow. Her hormones had made her cheeks rosy and timeless, she didn't need the makeup this time.
"What time is it?" Hermione asked, applying mascara carefully.
"Oh, my, it's just about six!" Pansy said, quickly putting a ink green robe around her shoulders. "Just about time to leave."
Hermione nodded as she powdered her nose and forehead. "MILLICENT!!!!!" Pansy shouted to the sleeping girl. "Dance. Thirty minutes! Hurry!"
"Wah?" Millicent asked, rubbing her eyes. "Why didn't you wake me up earlier!?"
Millicent threw on a white gown with gold and green ribbons tied around it. Hermione rolled her eyes and grabbed her sparkling gold sandals. Millicent rushed to a mirror, applying dark red lip stick, brown eye shadow, mascara, and blush. "You could have told me sooner, you know. Now I'm not going to be relaxed and ready... I'm all rushing and...."
Pansy squeezed her swollen feet into low rise cushioned, green pumps. "Sorry, you just had to sleep, didn't you?"
Millicent huffed and slipped into her two inch, spiked, gold heels. "Let's just get their on time and be happy."
The three girls walked down to the Common Room, collecting Draco and Zeke. Draco's arm snaked along Hermione's waistline, pulling her close to him in an almost possesive way. Hermione rested her head on his shoulder as they walked lazily along. Millicent crossed her arms and observed the others with a hint of never-admitted jealousy. They could be with their boyfriends in public... why couldn't she? Zeke and Pansy immediately started to play tonsil hockey, holding onto each other with lust.
Millicent made a gagging sound, and they pried off of each other, still standing very close.
~
Upon entering the Great Hall, the five began to eat dinner. The house tables were decorated with green, gold, and white, looking quite festive and joyous. Pots of leprechaun gold stood around the corners and edges of walls, and the tables were filled with candy of all sorts.
Ron and Millicent sat on opposite sides of the hall, looking at each other longingly. "With the way you two goons are looking at each other, I'm surprised the whole school doesn't know your together." Hermione said as she observed their "separation anxiety".
"Oh, bugger it! I'm not going to care about this House Rivalry anymore. I don't give a rat's arse what anyone thinks, I love Ronald Weasley and I'm not afraid to show it!" Millicent shouted and stomped over to the Gryffindor table. The other's watched as the Gryffindor's began to hatefully ask her what she was doing there. Millicent ignored their hostile looks and sat on Ron's lap. She then pulled him into a passionate kiss and looked at the other speechless Gryffindors afterward. They watched her, not knowing what to do.
"Welcome, welcome!" Dumbledore bellowed from the front of the room. Everyone stopped chattering and looked at the headmaster. "I am glad you students decided to come to this festive dance. Please, do not be afraid to eat and dance, as the dance floor is now officially open! Have fun!"
Hermione grabbed Draco's hand and they made their way to the cleared dancing area, as so many others did.
"Hey, Pansy?" A Hufflepuff sixth year approached she and Zeke.
"Yes?" Pansy looked at the girl with a critical eye.
"I don't mean to be blunt or rude, but are you pregnant?" The girl asked, looking like she meant well.
"Yes, yes I am." Pansy said, immediately on the defense.
"Oh!" The girl looked shocked. "Well, then, congratulations."
Pansy smiled. Everything would be okay in the end after all. (AN: How many of you are saying, "Famous last words" right now??)
Just as Hermione, Draco, and the other couples arrived at the dance floor, a loud boom sounded. Suddenly the floor began shaking. Hermione fell back into Draco, who looked at her questioningly. The floors kept shaking, almost as if thousands of animals were stampeding. Everyone became silent, wondering what was happening. Suddenly, the lights (torches) went out.
A third year boy shrieked, "YOU-KNOW-WHO!!!!!!!!!!"
~*~
AN: Sorry about the long wait! I meant to update quicker. My birthday is Friday and I am eagerly awaiting my complaptop among other gifts. ; D SoOoOo, sorry for the cliffie. ::shrugs:: I am not too sure if this chapter was perfect... I tried!!!! I may not update 'til next week. I am so busy, but I love you all!!! My reviewers, I shall miss you when this ends!
THANKS TO MY 400TH REVIEWER: IRELANDSOWNROSE- Love you to death! You aren't even here to read this! ::sobs:: I MISS YOU!!!!!! You will be back the twenty-third, a very long time away... But I will live, as long as you call me as soon as you get home. ::cries:: WAH!
RR:
Draco is the man- Courage the Cowardly Dog... no... I think it's been around longer than that, but it might have been used on that show. Thanks for reviewing this time, as the story ends. ::wipes tears from eyes::
DraconisGirl- Thanks for reviewing. I do think flames are funny. Thank goodness I have my story planned, right? Thanks again!
BelleThePhilosopher'sCookie (interesting name, Belle)- Nice dance! ::does Irish-Scottish jig:: Keep up the moves!
EmeraldMalfoyAnimeWitch- Okaaaay ::takes away sugar and pills:: No more of that for you... And I guess the Dark Side is cool. It isn't publicized as much either... Thanks for your review!
Ravyn Nyte- (Ch. 36) Yes, thank you Miguel the Custodian. It would have been funny to see him read it... "Que? Ella es loca en la cabasa!!" lol. Oh, and hope you did do well on those finals. I did!! English= 91%, Spanish= 80%, 88%, Science= ...78%... Math= 82%, Literature= (Something good... I didn't get it back, though. They kept it hostage!). AND I got an A in Music!!! YES! And Zeke is like a bunny ::winks:: (Ch. 37).- Hey! Hermione just didn't want anyone finding it and putting two and two together. Poor Ronniekins. I want him to be special, I really do, but he just didn't get the lime light this time... I think Ron may know about Hermione's secret life, though. Because of Millicent. And I am GLAD reviewing me makes you happy, as it makes ME happy too. And (as Martha Stuart [sp?] would say) that's a good thing. lol.
arcee- Glad you liked those lyrics. ::notices lyrics at the top of this chapter:: I like "Heroes", it was a good song. Thanks for the review!
pixie307neon- You know what else is a cool word? Bungalow. BUNGaLOW. Say it with me now... lol. Thanks for reviewing. bungalow bungalow bungalow.
O.B.I.M.- I think that I told y'all at the top of the chapter, but one more chapter and one looong epilogue is left in this story. It's so hard to part with this story. It's my baby! ::sobs:: I've come a long way! ::blows nose loudly::
ROSE- Oh, Roserz! I miss you. My other half... all the way in Connecticut, Virginia... ::cries:: Get back soon. We finally did it. We finished school. Wow. I'm SCARED. lol. The world is going to end, right? I'm getting a complaptop for my birthday ::does an IRISH jig:: Oh, yeah! Love you, be safe! Lils
Try Harder- ::ahem:: Now who said anyone Muggle would live? And we don't know Snape is a traitor, do we? We don't. JKR never cleared that up, did she? And neither did I. Hermione's mum was an ELF not a fae. Goodness, please read over that part again. Her mum was an elf, and Hermione was some Chosen One who had the animagius of a faery. And I understand my grammatical errors. You are talking to a fourteen year old, here. I know I have many mistakes. I also know I made it into Honours English for a reason. I wrote an essay. They liked it. They saw I had potential and that I obviously wasn't a grammatical wreck. So, your suggestions to 'Try Harder' doesn't seem to reach me. So, next time, when you are cooking up a "critical" review, I suggest you 'Try Harder'.
Felicity- Milk is good. Helps you grow! lol.
cuttie-blossom- Thanks for reviewing. Sweet in an evil way, lol. That's a new one. I understand what you're saying, though. Flamers stink!!! Positivity is the best thing to do. Suggestions. Not flames. Never flames.
meg-meg2007- I guess she hasn't told anyone yet, right? Thanks for reviewing! Loves!
alexandergranger- I think I said (I know I said) that the baby will come the 24th of March. Thanks for reminding me of the Celtic origin, I'll keep thinking about the names. And Draco and Hermione kissed! ; D That bounce bit? I didn't find it disgusting. I didn't think of whatever you and your sister were thinking... Thanks for reviewing!
Amethyst D- Thanks for reviewing! Makes me happy. I will keep writing, too!
Pandora- Thank you for your review. I do like to think I am getting better. ::sighs:: I can always dream, can't I? lol. Thanks for finding time!
sillyme313 (that rhymes!)- Thanks for taking all of that time to read my story! I know it's monstrously long! I didn't see Clockwork Orange... Is it any good? ::stares off into space thinking:: Ah, well, thanks for reviewing!
Ash- Thanks for dropping a line! And about that Blaise and Cody thing.... well, you'll know soon. PATIENCE!
~
I'd like to thank you all for reviewing and reading, you really make the difference. (Meaning: Review this chapter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
lol.
LOVES!
~*~
Goddess of the Dark
After AN: I have had this chapter ready since Tuesday, when I said I would. I am sure you know by now that the Document Manager isn't letting people update. Sorry, but HERE YOU ALL ARE!!!! ~Lils
Oh, yes, to answer many of your endless questions: This will be the second-to-last chapter. Then, I will have a looong epilogue. I'd like to thank all of my reviewers endlessly and apologize for the long wait for this chapter's arrival. I've been so utterly busy.
Disclaimer: I am a dreamer, and an 'inspired inventor'. Joanne K. Rowling is a creative writer and a mastermind. Now who do you think owns Harry Potter? That's what I thought.
Chapter 38: Numbers of Names
"Heroes" by The Wallflowers
I
I wish you could swim
Like the dolphins
Like dolphins can swim
Though nothing, nothing
Will keep us together
We can beat them
For ever and ever
We can be Heroes
Just for one day
I
I will be king
And you
You will be queen
Though nothing, nothing
Will drive them away
We can be Heroes
Just for one day
We can be us
Just for one day
I
I remember
Standing
By the wall
The guns
They shot above our heads
And we kissed
As though nothing could fall
And the shame
Was on the other side
We can beat them
For ever and ever
We can be Heroes
Just for one day
We can be Heroes
We can be Heroes
We can be Heroes
We can be Heroes
Just for one day
~*~
Hermione sat in the middle of the dorm room on the stone cold floor, smirking.
"That is it!" Pansy screeched pulling off another dress like it was the plague. "One more dress! Just one more that doesn't fit and I'll-I'll..." She made a wild gesture with her hands.
"Pans, you know... maybe there won't be any dresses to disguise that-" Hermione pointed towards Pansy's stomach. "Maybe," she gently said, "Maybe you should come out."
Pansy sighed as another zipper got caught around the middle of her back. "You're right."
Hermione smiled. "I'm always right."
"You're around Draco too much. You sound like him now: arrogant, self-centered..." Pansy began to list not-so-good qualities whilst Hermione began to pick at the cloth of her school robes.
It was the Saturday, before the dance, just half one. Millicent had left with Ron a couple minutes ago, with some lame excuse of 'we left my Potions Book in Charms'. Pansy just snorted, while Hermione smiled like a wolf. "The empty Charms Corridor? Empty?"
Millicent had blushed crimson. "Yes. That's the one." And as quickly as she entered the dorm, she left.
Hermione stood from her Indian style sitting position and stretched. "Where are you going now?" Pansy asked, close to a whine.
"I have to go meet Draco. We're studying for the big Transfiguration exam on Monday. I'll see you around though." Hermione said, pulling a parchment from her trunk as a cover up, they didn't want anyone to know about their training sessions.
"Okay." Pansy pouted and held another dress up to her in front of the floor length mirror. "I think I'll stick to the one I tried on first."
"Yeah, the green one with gold clovers? I loved that one." Hermione said, pulling her wand out and placing it in the front pocket of her robe.
"Bye, 'Mione." Pansy said as she held the dress in question up with one hand and pulled her hair up with the other. She made a "sexy" face and turned to the side. Hermione heard an exasperated shout as she closed the door and headed down the stairs. (AN: Is it down or up? Hmmm.)
Hermione entered the Common Room to see Draco waiting, seated lazily on a leather faint-chair. "Hey, hun."
"Hey, Hermione. Are you ready to go?" Draco said, standing up languidly. Hermione nodded, and they left through the hidden doorway and made their way up to a secret dungeon room.
"Draco, I'm too tired." Hermione whined as Draco set up a gymnastic routine route. He put blue pads on the ground, so if Hermione missed a jump or landed wrongly she wouldn't go and bloody up a knee or twist something terrible.
"Fine. I'll give you a deal. Two perfect grade difficult routines and we'll break early." Draco said, taking the liberty of changing their baggy robes into workout clothing. "And I mean perfect routines."
"Again with the skimpy clothes!" Hermione said, trying to stretch the bra top into a shirt and failing. She pulled down her shorts and pouted like a little girl.
"I don't want to restrict movement, you have to be able to do anything. Fight as if you're naked." Draco explained with a sigh. He had told Hermione about this EVERY time they'd practiced.
"Whatever you say." Hermione said in a huff. "All I know is that it's hard to fight when you aren't comfortable... Now, I'm going to do a Knee Breaker and then a Twisting Tackle."
Draco nodded in recognition, these were the two toughest routines he'd heard of. "Take it easy, don't get flustered and concentrate. Mind over matter."
Hermione smiled, taking a few deep breaths. She went to the edge of the blue mats and began the Knee breaker with a one-handed cartwheel, spinning halfway around. Hermione immediately followed that with a back flip and an areal tumble. She landed and did two high kicks and another flip. She finished with a cartwheel with no hands, into the splits.
"Right on the marker!" Draco shouted and clapped. Hermione, who was breathing heavily, moved out of the wide-legged position and walked back to the beginning of the mats.
"Thanks." She smiled tiredly. "I think I've got this all down pat!"
"Yeah, but once you can do the Twisting Tackle without pausing or stumbling, then you have perfected the art." Draco smiled as he straightened the blue pads. "Okay, you've done this one a million times, each time falling on your arse like a dope after the areal tumble to no-hands cartwheel. Now, concentrate. You have the grace of a swan, the precision of a stallion, and the strength of a bull. Take your time, hit everything perfectly and use the anti-gravity as much as possible."
Hermione nodded solemnly. She began to run, did a one handed cartwheel, into three front flips, she jumped and did a Matrix-like move before kicking. From that areal kick, she tumbled to the ground, landing into the splits. She began to leap up (still in the splits, like a hand stand), and flipped back. She grunted in determination and began to back flip, four times. Next, she began the hardest part. The areal tumble into the no-handed cartwheel. She landed perfectly. Smiling, she did one last flip into a kick and punch.
"YES!!!!" She shouted elatedly. Draco came running from where he was (the room was quite large, so he had a long way to run), shouting and yelling and whooping.
"You did it!! You are amazing!!!!" He shouted, hugging Hermione and spinning her around. She grinned with all of her heart and turned to kiss Draco. With passion, this became more than a small victory kiss.
~*~
Millicent giggled as Ron pulled her excitedly down the abandoned Charms Corridor. "Shh!" Ron smiled over his shoulder, causing Millicent to giggle more. It was contagious! She covered her mouth as Ron briskly pulled her further down the hallway.
"Ron! Where are we going?" Millicent said as colour rose to her cheeks.
"Harry and I were looking for a new secret room last night. We found one right here in this Corridor. We decorated it 'specially and everything." Ron said, ecstatic. Millicent just giggled as He pulled her over to a beautiful Parisian tapestry. "Made in France, 1803. Now... I just have to press the right..... stone..."
He pressed an awkwardly wedged stone and a doorway blossomed before them. "C'mon, Milli-Moo."
Ron and Millicent stopped abruptly when they saw what was inside this cozy room. Two other people. One happened to be Harry and the other......
~*~ (AN: Heh-heh-heh!)
Pansy mulled through her trunk, before deciding the ink green dress with gold clovers would do. She held it up to her one last time, deciding she would look ravishing in it. Just ravishing! Pansy laid the dress out on her bed, before she walked over to her trunk and took out a heavy stack of parchments.
"Now, let me see..." She looked at the top twenty names and middle names she had written down.
"I have for first names: Cora, Mary, Madison, Bailey, Michelle, Chloe, Zoe, Jade, Riley, Morgan, Emily, Paige, Elizabeth, Olivia, Brianna, Jasmine, Pearl, Alexis, Andrea, and Aubrey. And for middle names, I have: Linn, Adrianna, Ariel, Bianca, Sitara, Cleo, Aradia, Isis, Iris, Natalia, Vallerie, Ziarre, Venus, Krystal, Alice, Lucille, Starr, Kendra, Aysel, and Emerald." Pansy sighed, picked up a quill and dipping it in red ink. She began to cross out names for specific reasons, and, before she knew it, she was left with a whole lot of red and no names.
Pansy looked at the clock, where had time gone? It was already half three! Pansy, sensing the need for relaxation, grabbed her bathrobe and padded into the lavatory. "I think I'll use rose bubbles today."
~*~
Ron's face was a blazing red tomato. Harry got up from the floor, tucking in his shirt and scrambling around for his glasses. Millicent had gone ghost white as she stood watching Ron's blood boil.
"Ron?! What are you doing with that... that Slytherin?!!" Harry said, blush covering his cheeks.
"Harry!!!!? WHAT THE BLOODY HELL ARE YOU DOING WITH MY SISITER?!!?" Ron bellowed, tapestry door closing behind him. Ginny was on the floor, buttoning her shirt.
"Ron... look, we were going to tell you... when the time was right... and.... we're sorry..." Harry said, looking humiliated. Ron looked shocked, but cleared his throat.
"Harry... this is my girlfriend of two months, or so, Millicent." Ron said, formally, trying to keep his surprise out of his voice.
"N-nice to see you, Millicent. I believe you know Ginny?" Harry said stiffly, helping Ginny off the hearth rug. Ginny, hair ruffled, blushed and stuttered out a 'hello'. Ron, still a bit angry, tried to keep a look of acceptance on his face.
"Er, we'd better get going, Harry." Ginny said, stepping out of the secret room. Ron grabbed Harry before he escaped.
"If you do anything to hurt my little sister, you're arse is grass." Ron muttered threateningly. Harry gulped and smiled to Millicent before rushing outside to usher Ginny to the Tower.
"Ron..." Millicent began, still cold with surprise. "Just accept it. I think they make a cute couple..."
"I'm not going to be... too happy about it... but I can accept it....... I think." Ron said, as Millicent wrapped her arms around him.
"Are we going to let that ruin our fun?" Millicent whispered seductively.
"No." Ron awkwardly said, blushing from embarrassment rather than anger.
~*~
Pansy got out of the tub, smiling and feeling refreshed. She walked over to the mirror, towel wrapped haphazardly around her. She looked into the mirror, trying to decide on how to wear her hair tonight.
She decided a cascading-type bun would look right. She padded out of the bathroom to find Millicent and Hermione just entering the dorm room. "Oh, hey, guys! How was... studying?" Pansy smiled knowingly.
"Never had a better lesson." Hermione gave another wolf-smile as she walked toward her trunk. "I'm heading to the Prefect's bathroom. I don't want to be in anyone's way. Be back after a quick shower!" She hollered and ran out the door with a robe and towel.
Millicent smiled warmly before heading toward her own bed. "I'm just going to... catch a few... winks... before... I get.... reaaady." She lied down and fell to a much earned sleep. Pansy smirked before walking back into the bathroom, dress in hand. She struggled into it, noticing how "formed" her body looked.
"Ow!" She leaned over, holding her stomach. "You aren't going to start the kicking again, are you!" She said, massaging her stomach. "I do NOT want to see Professor Snape again... I have a feeling you like the feeling of his hand up in there!"
She admonished the life inside of her, rubbing her belly. The baby kicked again. "Fine. You win. Off to Professor Snape we go!"
Moments later, Pansy was back with soothing potions. "Hah! You thought old Sevy was going to stick a hand up to say hello, did you? Well, he didn't!" Pansy giggled at herself, she sounded nutters!
Pansy noticed her ratty, wet hair with a look of despair. She'd have to use some pretty handy spell work to pull off her bun. She got out Ms. Delia's Detangler, and worked the potion into her hair. She got out her wand and insta-dried the gold locks. She then took out a bottle of Magical Curls and sprayed the substance into her hair, soft curls sprung from her hair. She took her now manageable and gorgeous hair and pinned it up, curls falling like a waterfall in the back.
By that time, Hermione was back and just arriving to do her makeup. "Oh, Mia, I love your dress!" Pansy gasped as she looked at the gown Hermione was in. The dress was a light sage green, covered in a sheer gold over-lace over it. The dress was (of course) corset-style, but very elegant just the same. The dress ended at the knee, free and whispy, as if it were torn. Sophistication and movability at its best.
"Thanks, this time I would like to be able to actually dance." Hermione laughed, pulling a smock over the top of the dress, as not to get any makeup on it. Pansy noticed Hermione's dark brown hair pulled into two long braids.
Snapping out of the daze, Pansy took the top off of a potion Snape had given her and chugged it down. It tasted like smooth flowers...
Pansy glossed her lips lightly and added a little green eye shadow. Her hormones had made her cheeks rosy and timeless, she didn't need the makeup this time.
"What time is it?" Hermione asked, applying mascara carefully.
"Oh, my, it's just about six!" Pansy said, quickly putting a ink green robe around her shoulders. "Just about time to leave."
Hermione nodded as she powdered her nose and forehead. "MILLICENT!!!!!" Pansy shouted to the sleeping girl. "Dance. Thirty minutes! Hurry!"
"Wah?" Millicent asked, rubbing her eyes. "Why didn't you wake me up earlier!?"
Millicent threw on a white gown with gold and green ribbons tied around it. Hermione rolled her eyes and grabbed her sparkling gold sandals. Millicent rushed to a mirror, applying dark red lip stick, brown eye shadow, mascara, and blush. "You could have told me sooner, you know. Now I'm not going to be relaxed and ready... I'm all rushing and...."
Pansy squeezed her swollen feet into low rise cushioned, green pumps. "Sorry, you just had to sleep, didn't you?"
Millicent huffed and slipped into her two inch, spiked, gold heels. "Let's just get their on time and be happy."
The three girls walked down to the Common Room, collecting Draco and Zeke. Draco's arm snaked along Hermione's waistline, pulling her close to him in an almost possesive way. Hermione rested her head on his shoulder as they walked lazily along. Millicent crossed her arms and observed the others with a hint of never-admitted jealousy. They could be with their boyfriends in public... why couldn't she? Zeke and Pansy immediately started to play tonsil hockey, holding onto each other with lust.
Millicent made a gagging sound, and they pried off of each other, still standing very close.
~
Upon entering the Great Hall, the five began to eat dinner. The house tables were decorated with green, gold, and white, looking quite festive and joyous. Pots of leprechaun gold stood around the corners and edges of walls, and the tables were filled with candy of all sorts.
Ron and Millicent sat on opposite sides of the hall, looking at each other longingly. "With the way you two goons are looking at each other, I'm surprised the whole school doesn't know your together." Hermione said as she observed their "separation anxiety".
"Oh, bugger it! I'm not going to care about this House Rivalry anymore. I don't give a rat's arse what anyone thinks, I love Ronald Weasley and I'm not afraid to show it!" Millicent shouted and stomped over to the Gryffindor table. The other's watched as the Gryffindor's began to hatefully ask her what she was doing there. Millicent ignored their hostile looks and sat on Ron's lap. She then pulled him into a passionate kiss and looked at the other speechless Gryffindors afterward. They watched her, not knowing what to do.
"Welcome, welcome!" Dumbledore bellowed from the front of the room. Everyone stopped chattering and looked at the headmaster. "I am glad you students decided to come to this festive dance. Please, do not be afraid to eat and dance, as the dance floor is now officially open! Have fun!"
Hermione grabbed Draco's hand and they made their way to the cleared dancing area, as so many others did.
"Hey, Pansy?" A Hufflepuff sixth year approached she and Zeke.
"Yes?" Pansy looked at the girl with a critical eye.
"I don't mean to be blunt or rude, but are you pregnant?" The girl asked, looking like she meant well.
"Yes, yes I am." Pansy said, immediately on the defense.
"Oh!" The girl looked shocked. "Well, then, congratulations."
Pansy smiled. Everything would be okay in the end after all. (AN: How many of you are saying, "Famous last words" right now??)
Just as Hermione, Draco, and the other couples arrived at the dance floor, a loud boom sounded. Suddenly the floor began shaking. Hermione fell back into Draco, who looked at her questioningly. The floors kept shaking, almost as if thousands of animals were stampeding. Everyone became silent, wondering what was happening. Suddenly, the lights (torches) went out.
A third year boy shrieked, "YOU-KNOW-WHO!!!!!!!!!!"
~*~
AN: Sorry about the long wait! I meant to update quicker. My birthday is Friday and I am eagerly awaiting my complaptop among other gifts. ; D SoOoOo, sorry for the cliffie. ::shrugs:: I am not too sure if this chapter was perfect... I tried!!!! I may not update 'til next week. I am so busy, but I love you all!!! My reviewers, I shall miss you when this ends!
THANKS TO MY 400TH REVIEWER: IRELANDSOWNROSE- Love you to death! You aren't even here to read this! ::sobs:: I MISS YOU!!!!!! You will be back the twenty-third, a very long time away... But I will live, as long as you call me as soon as you get home. ::cries:: WAH!
RR:
Draco is the man- Courage the Cowardly Dog... no... I think it's been around longer than that, but it might have been used on that show. Thanks for reviewing this time, as the story ends. ::wipes tears from eyes::
DraconisGirl- Thanks for reviewing. I do think flames are funny. Thank goodness I have my story planned, right? Thanks again!
BelleThePhilosopher'sCookie (interesting name, Belle)- Nice dance! ::does Irish-Scottish jig:: Keep up the moves!
EmeraldMalfoyAnimeWitch- Okaaaay ::takes away sugar and pills:: No more of that for you... And I guess the Dark Side is cool. It isn't publicized as much either... Thanks for your review!
Ravyn Nyte- (Ch. 36) Yes, thank you Miguel the Custodian. It would have been funny to see him read it... "Que? Ella es loca en la cabasa!!" lol. Oh, and hope you did do well on those finals. I did!! English= 91%, Spanish= 80%, 88%, Science= ...78%... Math= 82%, Literature= (Something good... I didn't get it back, though. They kept it hostage!). AND I got an A in Music!!! YES! And Zeke is like a bunny ::winks:: (Ch. 37).- Hey! Hermione just didn't want anyone finding it and putting two and two together. Poor Ronniekins. I want him to be special, I really do, but he just didn't get the lime light this time... I think Ron may know about Hermione's secret life, though. Because of Millicent. And I am GLAD reviewing me makes you happy, as it makes ME happy too. And (as Martha Stuart [sp?] would say) that's a good thing. lol.
arcee- Glad you liked those lyrics. ::notices lyrics at the top of this chapter:: I like "Heroes", it was a good song. Thanks for the review!
pixie307neon- You know what else is a cool word? Bungalow. BUNGaLOW. Say it with me now... lol. Thanks for reviewing. bungalow bungalow bungalow.
O.B.I.M.- I think that I told y'all at the top of the chapter, but one more chapter and one looong epilogue is left in this story. It's so hard to part with this story. It's my baby! ::sobs:: I've come a long way! ::blows nose loudly::
ROSE- Oh, Roserz! I miss you. My other half... all the way in Connecticut, Virginia... ::cries:: Get back soon. We finally did it. We finished school. Wow. I'm SCARED. lol. The world is going to end, right? I'm getting a complaptop for my birthday ::does an IRISH jig:: Oh, yeah! Love you, be safe! Lils
Try Harder- ::ahem:: Now who said anyone Muggle would live? And we don't know Snape is a traitor, do we? We don't. JKR never cleared that up, did she? And neither did I. Hermione's mum was an ELF not a fae. Goodness, please read over that part again. Her mum was an elf, and Hermione was some Chosen One who had the animagius of a faery. And I understand my grammatical errors. You are talking to a fourteen year old, here. I know I have many mistakes. I also know I made it into Honours English for a reason. I wrote an essay. They liked it. They saw I had potential and that I obviously wasn't a grammatical wreck. So, your suggestions to 'Try Harder' doesn't seem to reach me. So, next time, when you are cooking up a "critical" review, I suggest you 'Try Harder'.
Felicity- Milk is good. Helps you grow! lol.
cuttie-blossom- Thanks for reviewing. Sweet in an evil way, lol. That's a new one. I understand what you're saying, though. Flamers stink!!! Positivity is the best thing to do. Suggestions. Not flames. Never flames.
meg-meg2007- I guess she hasn't told anyone yet, right? Thanks for reviewing! Loves!
alexandergranger- I think I said (I know I said) that the baby will come the 24th of March. Thanks for reminding me of the Celtic origin, I'll keep thinking about the names. And Draco and Hermione kissed! ; D That bounce bit? I didn't find it disgusting. I didn't think of whatever you and your sister were thinking... Thanks for reviewing!
Amethyst D- Thanks for reviewing! Makes me happy. I will keep writing, too!
Pandora- Thank you for your review. I do like to think I am getting better. ::sighs:: I can always dream, can't I? lol. Thanks for finding time!
sillyme313 (that rhymes!)- Thanks for taking all of that time to read my story! I know it's monstrously long! I didn't see Clockwork Orange... Is it any good? ::stares off into space thinking:: Ah, well, thanks for reviewing!
Ash- Thanks for dropping a line! And about that Blaise and Cody thing.... well, you'll know soon. PATIENCE!
~
I'd like to thank you all for reviewing and reading, you really make the difference. (Meaning: Review this chapter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
lol.
LOVES!
~*~
Goddess of the Dark
After AN: I have had this chapter ready since Tuesday, when I said I would. I am sure you know by now that the Document Manager isn't letting people update. Sorry, but HERE YOU ALL ARE!!!! ~Lils