A/N: Hello! Sorry it has taken so much time to get this chapter out, but I really couldn't think of anything to put in it. Really, I think the only interesting part about this chapter is the thing with Ron at the end and when Draco is in deep thought at the very end. You will see what I mean.
Another reson is that I've been working on another story of mine. I haven't put it up yet, mostly because it doesn't have a name, but I would like to write this one out, then make neccessary changes to it, make sure it makes sense, then put it up chapter at a time. It will take a while.
Anyway, read and enjoy!
Chapter 20
The next morning, Hermione got up at her usual early time and had a shower and did her toilette before getting dressed and heading down stairs to meet Harry and Ron for breakfast.
They made their way down the stairs, talking loudly and laughing excitedly about their new classes.
'So, what do you think that we have to do this year?' Harry asked.
'Complicated stuff?' Ron answered. Hermione and Harry laughed.
'I'm sure Ron. The work only gets harder. I wonder what Snape's going to make us do.' Harry pondered aloud.
'Probably really horrible stuff with really horrible ingredients that will make us want to puke.' Ron muttered.
'Knowing him, probably.' Harry agreed.
'Oh come on, Potions isn't that bad. Ok, Snape is, but what we do isn't.' Hermione defended.
'Consider what you're saying for a second Hermione. This is Potions, awful, horrible, Potions. Even a good teacher wouldn't make Potions worth while.' Harry argued.
'Snape is a good teacher; he just has a rather horrid disposition.' Hermione said.
'Stop defending the man Hermione. He's been a right awful git to us since first year.' Ron spat.
'I know, I didn't say that I liked the man. I just said he was a good teacher. Personally, I hate him. Don't doubt me on this.' Hermione answered reassuringly.
'Fine, but you just keep standing up for him. It isn't right.' Ron complained. Hermione and Harry just rolled their eyes and walked into the Great Hall.
They took their seats and ate in relative silence, while Professor McGonagall handed out their timetables for the year.
'Yes! Lupin and McGonagall before lunch, then after lunch, Flitwick and Sprout. A very good day if I say so myself.' Ron commented. Hermione rolled her eyes.
'Come on, let's just head back to the common room and get our stuff for our first class.' She said, getting up and walking out with the boys trailing behind her.
After getting their stuff, they headed down to Defence against the Dark Arts. They met up with Draco, Pansy and Sierra along the way.
'Hey guys, let's see your timetables for this year.' Hermione said, looking over Draco's shoulder at the timetable he held in his hands.
'You have the same classes as us. Brilliant.' Hermione smiled up at him and kissed his cheek, before starting to walk off with Sierra and Pansy to get to Defence against the Dark Arts.
Draco followed after her with Harry, Ron and Blaise as they too entered the classroom just after the girls.
Professor Lupin was still teaching Defence, so they sat at the front and started to talk to him.
'Hey Professor, how are you?' Harry asked, as he sat down.
'Pretty good Harry. Prongs wanted me to give you something too.' Lupin handed Harry an envelope and Harry quickly stashed it in his cloak to read later.
'Thanks. So, how are Sirius and the others?' Harry asked. Lupin smiled.
'They aren't bad. Molly is worrying herself stupid over our latest addition, but he wants none of it. He just wants time to look for Evans. He hasn't had time so far because of going to see the Dursleys and looking after and spending time with you as much he could before you left for school. Molly doesn't want him leaving the house until everyone already knows about him. But he just wants to find information.
'Sirius is helping him as much as possible, and apparently neither has had much sleep so far. Don't worry about it too much though. And don't bring it up around them. The man wants to keep it a secret. I didn't tell you anything.' Lupin reported. Harry smirked and waited as the rest of the class began to settle down.
'Okay, okay. Welcome everyone to sixth year Defence against the Dark Arts. This year, we will learn about a range of creatures, more advances curses, counter-curses and stuff like that. Okay, take out your books and turn to page 10 to learn about the Blood Spilling Curse.'
Everyone obliged and they started to read to themselves about the horrid curse. When they had all finished, they started to talk about what the effects were, the incantation and other facts about it.
'Alright class, I want two scrolls of parchment about the Blood-Spilling Curse by next class. All the information you need is in the text book. It shouldn't be too hard. But if you are having difficulties, see me before then.' Lupin advised, just as the bell went. They packed up what equipment they had and walked outside for break.
'So, where do you want to go?' Draco asked as they meandered around.
'How about down to the lawns by the lake?' Harry suggested. 'That's always a nice place, and we'll still be able to hear the bell.' They nodded in agreement and made their way down to the lake.
'We've already got homework, and from Lupin too! To think, we spent an entire two months with him and he's setting us the same amount of homework that Snape does. How is this fair?' Ron complained.
'Give it up Ronald. I've explained to you before that the work load is only going to get bigger and is only going to get harder. Have I not?' Hermione asked. Ron nodded and sighed.
'But it's the first day back! We shouldn't have homework yet!' Ron exclaimed.
'Just be glad that we haven't had potions yet, Snape will give us double.' Harry said, shuddering. They all groaned in agreement.
'What Lupin gave us isn't that hard though. Even you should be able to finish it. Ron.' Hermione teased. They all laughed and Ron flushed a rather red colour.
'Shut up you.' Ron said, pushing her gently in a teasing type manner.
Hermione lay down in the grass and sighed contently with her hands behind her head. She saw Draco loom over her, smiling down at her gently.
'What's up you?' He asked. Hermione laughed lightly.
'Your face.' She answered, earning her a playful glare and a flick on the shoulder.
'You seem happier now.' He mentioned, gently pushing some hair off of her face. Hermione just smiled at him.
'I'm glad to be back at school. The holidays were getting kind of boring.' She admitted.
'I know. There wasn't really much to do. Was there?' Draco asked.
'Nope; nothing much at all.' Hermione sighed. 'At least there aren't any exams this year.'
'Yeah; that I am completely glad about. No crazy psycho girlfriend. Best thing ever.' Draco teased, earning himself a glare and a hit on the shoulder.
'Be quiet you. I am not crazy or psycho.' Hermione muttered. Draco kissed her forehead.
'You are when it comes to exams though, love.' He murmured. 'I still love you though.' He grinned down at her and she hit his arm.
'I love you too.' Just as she finished talking, the bell for her next class sounded. They all got up, collected their books off the ground and headed for Transfiguration.
At the classroom, they found everyone still waiting outside for McGonagall. She turned up after a couple of minutes and had them enter the classroom.
'Good morning class. Today we will be doing animal transformations into other animals. Miss Malfoy, please hand out the bird cages.' While McGonagall had her back turned, Sierra put on a look of disgust that made Harry and the others want to burst out laughing, but they had to cover it with coughs.
'Please don't make faces behind my back, Miss. Malfoy. They could get you into a lot of trouble.' Professor McGonagall said as she wrote up on the board the incantation and hand and wrist movements used for it.
'Sorry Professor.' She said, wincing. Sierra picked up the cages and walked around the room, handing them out to everyone in the class.
'Here you go.' She muttered to Harry, passing him the last cage.
'Thanks.' He said back to her, taking her hand under the table.
'Now, class, we are going to study the hand movements of such a spell. Follow me.' McGonagall did a couple of brisk hand movements while saying the incantation. They all tried to copy; but once again, only Hermione was the one to get it perfect.
'Well done Miss Granger. Try practicing the incantation too now.' Professor McGonagall instructed. Hermione tried; the incantation was rather difficult to say, but she soon got the hang of saying it by the end of class.
By the end of transfiguration, only Draco, Hermione and Harry had been able to get the hand and wrist movements' right and only Hermione could say the incantation. Draco came up to her at the end of class.
'You know, I'm going to need some extra tutoring if I'm going to get it right.' Draco whispered seductively into her ear, while holding her hips.
'I'm sure you will.' Hermione said, smiling up at him. Draco spun her around to face him again because she had just started to walk away.
'Please?' He begged, looking down at her and holding her.
'Fine.' Hermione answered, rolling her eyes and kissing his cheek. But her cheeky boyfriend turned his head and captured her lips in a hot kiss. He pulled her flush against him and snogged her thoroughly.
Hermione pulled away after a while and smiled at him.
'I said okay. I'll "help" you.' Hermione said. Draco didn't actually expect her to agree with what he was insinuating.
'Meet me in the Room of Requirement after dinner.' He whispered, then turned and walked down to the Slytherin Dungeons to get his stuff for classes after lunch.
Hermione headed back to her dorm and changed over her books before making her way down to the Great Hall with Harry, Ron and Ginny.
'Oh, guys don't expect me back tonight. Or, at least, until rather early in the morning. Oh, and Harry, can I please borrow your Invisibility cloak?' Hermione asked eagerly.
Harry looked at her suspiciously.
'Will I get it back without stains?' Harry asked. Hermione glared at him.
'Yes Harry.' Hermione answered.
'Fine. But get it back to me bu tomorrow morning. Preferably before breakfast.' Harry said.
'Thank you Harry!' Hermione said, hugging him tightly.
'That's alright. Just don't get caught.' Harry said. 'Oh, and have fun.' Harry smirked at her. Hermione stuck her tongue out at the boy as they entered the Great Hall.
They sat down at the Gryffindor table when Hermione felt something hit the back of her head.
On the floor behind her, she saw a piece of paper folded into a paper aeroplane. She picked it up and opened it.
Can't wait until tonight. DM.
Hermione grinned to herself. She turned to look at the Slytherin table and she caught eyes with Draco. He winked at her and looked back down at her food. Hermione smiled and tucked a piece of hair back behind her ear. She took out her quill and ink and wrote back.
You just want to get laid. HG
She took out her wand and charmed it to fly back over to him. She watched him while he opened it and laughed, earning very weird looks from the Slytherins at the table.
She saw him write back to her hastily because Snape was just about to walk past him. He sent it back to her with a wink.
Touché
Hermione laughed and folded it up before the bell went and she met up with him just outside the big doors.
'I knew that was all you wanted.' She said to him.
'You can't blame a guy for trying.' He answered as they mage their way to charms.
'Who says you didn't succeed?' She asked, walking a little faster as he stopped dead in his tracks. It took him a while before he came back to life again and had to run to catch up with her.
'You aren't serious?' He asked.
'Of course I am.' She answered. Draco took her by the arms and kissed her sweetly.
'We don't have to you know.' He said to her.
'I know.' She said and they entered the Charms room. Draco followed her in with a huge grin.
He sat down beside her and squeezed her hand under the table. Hermione smiled at him and turned back to Professor Flitwick. He lectured them all on the spell they were going to perform and showed what they had to do in order for it to work.
It took a bit of skill and time, but Hermione and Draco eventually got it. As a result, they got to talk for the rest of the lesson while the class practiced.
When the bell went, they made their way to their next class, Herbology, with Professor Sprout.
As they walked in with Harry, Ron, Pansy, Blaise and Sierra trailing after, they met up with Neville. The boy still didn't trust the Slytherins very much.
'Hey Neville!' Hermione said happily as they caught up with him.
'Hey Hermione.' The boy said fearfully, taking glances at Draco, who nodded to Neville, making the boy even more scared.
'Ready for Herbology then?' She asked him. Neville seemed to relax a little as the subject turned to Herbology.
'Yeah, I can't wait to see what Professor Sprout is going to let us do today. I love working with the plants.' Neville said. Draco gave him a thoughtful look.
'You really like the subject, don't you Longbottom?' He asked. Neville nodded shakily. So far, Draco hadn't exactly noticed Neville, so the timid boy had never met the nicer side of Draco that the others had.
'Yes, I do.' Came the half-stuttered reply. Draco nodded thoughtfully.
'I enjoy the DADA and Potions more myself. I guess I've just grown up with it. I also don't like the thought of plants eating me.' Draco said with a grimace. Hermione giggled at the thought of Draco being eaten by one of the plants they had experienced so far. Draco shot her a look and she instantly quelled the giggling.
'Think that's funny do you?' He asked with a slight smile.
'Sorry, I was just imagining you being eaten by one of the Mandrakes from a couple of years back.' Hermione said, engulfed by giggles once again by the image that came to mind. Draco got her round the neck, making her laugh and gave her a nugie, making everyone else laugh at their antics.
'Mr. Malfoy, please release Miss Granger immediately.' Professor Sprout said tiredly as she walked past them, pulling on her gloves and getting her key to open the Greenhouse door.
Draco let go of Hermione quickly, but she was still laughing so much that she was bent over double. Draco poked his tongue out at her, making her laugh harder.
'Do control yourself Miss Granger.' Professor Sprout said.
'Yes, sorry Professor.' Hermione said, after calming herself down some and began to walk straight again.
As they walked into the greenhouse, they saw plants that Hermione thought looked like a bigger version of the Mimbulus Mimbiltonia that Neville had last year.
They all went and found a desk with the plant on it and stood there, putting their gloves and goggles on.
'Now, class, today we will be dealing on how to juice the Mimbulus Mimbiltonia, without getting it all over you. Now, watch carefully.' Sprout demonstrated on how to do it, and then she set everyone to try it out for themselves. Hermione and Neville had the easiest time doing this, but Neville was the expert. He had his done in 30 minutes, and was going around the class with Sprout, helping out the other students with theirs. Even Draco asked to have some help with his.
But the biggest surprise when Ron annoyed his plant and it squirted a whole lot of juice all over him. Everyone was laughing at him. Even Pansy, though she tried not to show it.
'Stupid boy.' Sprout muttered under her breath as she made her way over to him to help get the stuff off of him. Draco, Blaise and Harry were nearly on the floor in laughter at the shocked, split-second look on Ron's face when the thing had exploded on him.
'Whoo. That is one to keep in the old pensieve in case I need a good cheer up.' Draco said. Hermione hit him on the shoulder, but she could help but silently agree with him. Ron did look absolutely hilarious with that goo all over him. Just then she saw Pansy go up to him.
'You do know that you are going to clean yourself up before you even dare try to hug me.' She said. Hermione giggled at this. Ron was going to have hard time with this. He couldn't keep his hands off the girl.
'Won't take too long, Miss Parkinson, before you can have the boy back.' Sprout said, flicking her wand at Ron, and all the goo left him.
'How come I still smell like that horrid stuff?' Ron asked, smelling his arm and pulling a face.
'It will take a while before that smell comes off Weasley. I suggest at least three baths, if not more. The young ones aren't that bad on the smell, comes off when you evaporate it. But the adults stink can take up to several days. I'm sure you want your man-stink to come back by then.' Sprout said, bustling her way back up to her work station.
Hermione and Draco looked at each other with questioning expressions.
'Man-stink?' They mimed to each other, before Hermione burst into a fit giggles and Draco snorted, rather elegantly though.
By the end of class, Draco didn't think that he had ever laughed so much in one class. And it was all thanks to Ron.
'That was excellent Ron. Though, I do agree with Sprout, you should go take a couple of baths.' Draco said patting him on the back. They all cracked up again. Even Pansy let herself laugh.
'Come on Ron, it was funny. Even you have to admit it!' She exclaimed, taking his arm. 'You'll be right as rain again in a couple of days.'
Ron just grunted and kissed her on the head before running up the stairs to the Gryffindor Common Room. Hermione patted Pansy on the back.
'Just let him get used to the fact that we were just teasing him in a friendly way. He'll come round again tomorrow. No one can fight as long as Ron and I do. You have nothing to worry about. He loves you.' Hermione said, saying a very "heartfelt" goodbye to Draco and walking up to her dormitories, Harry in tow.
Hermione came down the stairs later, after putting away her books to find Harry had already left, so she walked down by herself.
When she came down the stairs, she found Draco waiting for her. She smiled at him as he stood there.
'You take too long.' He told her, after kissing her hello.
'Well, I wasn't exactly planning on meeting you here.' She answered as they walked into the Hall. Draco smirked and gave her a quick kiss before heading off to his table, and Hermione did the same.
'Do you two have to do that in public?' Harry asked.
'You're one to talk! I found you and Sierra snogging in the hallway over the holidays. I swear Prongs was about to have a fit when he saw it!' Hermione exclaimed in a whisper. Harry at least had the decency to flush.
'Okay, okay. I get your point. But are you trying to get yourself killed?! You are already on Voldemort and Lucius Malfoys' wanted list because of it. Draco got thrown out of his house because of it. And no, I'm not blaming that on you. Draco chose you over his family. But Hermione, you have as many people after you as I have! Try to make it a little less public. At least Sierra's family isn't trying to kill me; her immediate family anyway.' Harry said. Hermione was looking down at her plate by now and was fidgeting with her food.
'Look, Hermione, I'm not trying to make you feel horrible, but please, be a little more discreet. I want to see you live.' Harry pushed. Hermione just nodded and ate her food slowly.
After about 10 minutes of silence, Harry tapped Hermione on the arm again. He pulled something out from under his shirt.
'Here, you said you wanted it. Make the room unplottable and no one will be able to find you apart from the ones that know you are there.' Harry advised. Hermione took the cloak from him and tucked back up her shirt, before finishing her meal.
I really need to get my mind off things, and Draco's the only one who can help. Hermione thought.
After dinner finished, Hermione found Draco waiting for her outside in the Entrance Hall and he nodded to her before heading up the stairs towards the Seventh Floor.
Hermione hid in an alcove under the stairs after he left, and donned the Invisibility Cloak that Harry had given her.
One thing was for sure, Hermione definitely didn't return until rather early in the morning the next day.
--
The next night, Draco lay on his bed, thinking about the note that he had received from his mother while Hermione had been captured. He took it out of the desk of drawers beside his bed and opened it again.
He re-read the letter at least three times to make sure he had it all in his head.
When was he going to tell her? He knew he had to soon, but he just didn't know when. Time was gaining on him fast, and it was only a matter of time before it ran out completely. He only had a year left. He turned sixteen in less than a month.
In fact, now that he thought about it, he had less than a year. Women were pregnant for nine months, right? Yes, that was right. He remembered getting the "talk" in his second year, when he came home for the holidays.
Draco shuddered at the memory. That he didn't need remembering.
That was when Draco made up his mind. He was going to tell her tomorrow. He just needed some help organising it.
A/N: Hello again! Now it is time for my favorite part of the story! Naming all my lovely reviewers!
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