Mr Maybe
HI!! OMG! This is my most successful story yet, with 73 reviews for only 5 chapters… WOW… Thankyou!
Before we begin, a little note. I've decided to change my next story from The Worst Summer Of Their Lives to 10 Things I Hate About You. This is simply because I am bursting with ideas for 10 Thingswhereas I need to spend a little more time thinking about The Worst Summer. At the end of this chapter, in the author's note I will give you the synopsis for 10 Things. Remember to review and, not only let me know what you think of it, but to tell me what you think about the following chapter too…
You Know You Love Me…
Previously On Mr Maybe…"DRACO, I KNOW THAT I'M JUST ONE OF THE MANY GIRLS WHO ARE TRYING TO GET YOUR ATTENTION, BUT I JUST HAVE TO LET YOU KNOW HOW I FEEL."
"I hate you more than words can say. I hate you more than there are grains of sand or stars. And whatever other shit you said."
"We told you, 'Mione. He's not worth it."
"This is just useless!" We've been here for almost an hour now and we still haven't found a bloody thing."
"I'm not at all happy about this. I hate having to be involved in one of your schemes."
"Oh, learn to have a little fun, Mary."
CHAPTER SIXINSULTS, TEARS AND REVELATIONS…
13:07/FRIDAY 9TH SEPTEMBER/ GRYFFINDOR TOWER/COMMON ROOM
HERMIONE P.O.V
"Oh, for God's sake, Ron," I say, exasperated. "What is there not to understand? The answer is B. I would think that doing multiple choice questions would make it easier for you, not harder."
"Well, sorry if I'm not half as clever as you, Hermione." Ron says, offended, while rubbing out his couldn't-be-more-obviously-incorrect answer. I shrug and turn away. Don't give me that look. Is his apparent empty-headedness my problem? No, I didn't think so. I look over at Harry's work.
"Harry, sweetie, it's D not C," I reprimand him, gently. He glances up, smiles at me and corrects it, grateful. Ron, having watched this little exchange, looks affronted.
"How come he gets a 'sweetie' and I get an 'oh, for God's sake'?" he asks, chewing gum ferociously. Oh, for crying out loud. This boy will be the death of me.
"Because, my dear Ronald, he doesn't make nearly as many mistakes in an hour that you do in a minute." I point out, raising an eyebrow to stress my words. Ron rolls his eyes and returns to his homework.
I've been in here, in the Gryffindor Common Room, for just over an hour now, helping my two best friends with the homework I completed days ago. Well, some of the time. Most of the time I've spent yelling at them for not having started writing up some NEWT notes. I mean, this is our 7th Year. You'd think that by now they'd have gotten the point that these exams determine our futures. But, then again, who am I kidding? This is, after all, Harry and Ron we're talking about.
And speaking of homework, I still can't get over the fact that Draco let me help him with his. I get a little tingle inside every time I remember how close we were sitting. This is progress, right? And I've decided to go for the more subtle approach in nabbing him. Outright declarations of love don't seem to go down well with him, so I've worked out that trying to be friends with him first is a much better plan.
"Guys, guess what?" I tap Harry and Ron excitedly. Ron immediately shrugs my hand off; obviously still angry from earlier but the raven-haired boy beside me mumbles something. You know what? I'm so desperate to tell someone, I'll take that as an interested response.
"Draco said thank you the other day when I helped him out with some homework." I tell them, excitedly. I watch for a reaction.
"That's- that's great, Mione, really it is, but right now I'm kinda busy." Harry mumbles, patting me consolingly, whilst rooting with his other hand through his rucksack. What? Where are the loud exclamations of disbelief? I bet they weren't even listening to me. I sit back in my chair, disappointed.
"I still can't get over the fact that you're calling the Ferret by his first name," Ron mutters whilst chewing his pen, indicating that he heard what I said but merely doesn't give a damn.
I frown and ignore him. When will these two get the point? I'm in love with Draco and, no matter what he says or does to me that will never change.
16:28/ FRIDAY 9TH SEPTEMBER/ HEADMASTER'S QUARTERS/OFFICE
NARRATOR P.O.V
KNOCK, KNOCK
The Headmaster looks up, spectacles perched on the end of his nose. He blinks twice before taking them off and putting them aside.
"Come in," he calls, leaning back in his chair. A woman's head with a mass of curly, blonde hair pokes around the newly opened door. Ah, of course, Professor Sprout.
"You asked for me, Albus?" she asks, timidly. Dumbledore gives a cheesy smile and beckons her in.
"Ah, yes. Do come in, my dear Sprout," the curly headed witch enters the office and takes a seat before his desk. He shuffles some papers on his desk. Let's move to that sofa over there to get a better look.
"I have called you here to discuss with you your bet," he starts, looking at the papers which we can now see seem to be records of the Hermione and Draco bet progression. "Now, as you can see, the date you picked, i.e. the 30th October, has been selected by four others. As the prize money has recently risen to 600 galleons, with many of the staff choosing to make use of the availability of choosing a second date early on in the game, you may either want to change your date to another less popular or make use of your second. This is to maximise your winnings in the event that you do win."
The Herbology teacher sits back and thinks for a moment. This could be in her best interests. I mean, who wants to share winnings?
"I would like to change my original date to the 29th October," she announces, leaning forward eagerly. Dumbledore smiles.
"That is a very wise decision," he notes down the change, "Thank you for your time."
"No," Sprout says, rising from her seat," Thank you"
With these last words, she leaves the room, closing the door gently behind her. Dumbledore sits back in his chair. Wait a minute… can you see that too? There are not four names beside the date of 30th October only one. Dumbledore's.
Dumbledore, you sneaky old man.
17:18/ FRIDAY 9TH SEPTEMBER/ A RANDOM 6TH FLOOR CORRIDOR
HERMIONE P.O.V
One of the most pleasurable things in life is to be able to amble alone down an almost deserted corridor. OK, so maybe it isn't for you. But it is to me. You see, it isn't often that I'm by myself so I always seize with both hands every rare chance that I do get. It gives me an opportunity to just think.
Ron, Harry and Ginny are off flying and, as swooping around on a long stick with twigs stuck at one end doesn't really interest me, I didn't go with them and though having received numerous invitations to go to Dinner with many other people, insisted that I just wanted to hang around in the Gryffindor Common Room for a little while longer. And now, half an hour later, I'm going to get something to eat.
I'm just thinking about random things such as… you know how when you go back to school after Summer Holidays, you sometimes don't see certain people until days after term begins? Well, it's like that with Draco, except I haven't seen him since Charms earlier. I miss him. I wonder where he is…
I walk past classroom after classroom, flights of stairs, offices, students, teachers. Some wave, others just smile politely in recognition and I reciprocate. It's pretty much silent up here, the dormitories being on the second floor and the vast majority of Hogwarts' population being either at Dinner or, for the students only, at the Fields…
Well, it's not so silent anymore. Faint voices can be heard from up ahead. As I near the source, they begin to sound very familiar. Hmm… whom do they belong to? Frowning, I continue my journey.
"And I was all 'never gonna happen, freak'," sniggers a mocking female voice that I instantly recognise. Pansy? What's she doing up here? Normally, at this time of day she can be found either at the Fields, or at Dinner.
Two deep, male voices laugh along with her and immediately I distinguish the only one that really matters to me.
"Hey, Draco," I smile brightly, discovering the Silver Trio in a cranny. "What are you guys doing here?"
Blaise, Pansy and (sigh) Draco turn to look at me in understandable surprise (I mean, I did come out of practically nowhere). The latter's expression changes rapidly to one that resembles disgust while the other two members of the infamous Silver Trio merely look at me indifferently.
"What the hell are you… Are you-are you stalking me?" he asks, eyebrow raised in disbelief. How could he even think such a thing? I shake my head, frantically.
"No, no of course not," I reassure him." I just wanted to know if you guys were planning to go down to Dinner anytime soon so we could all walk down together." I finish, a brilliant idea striking me. To my surprise, Draco throws his head back in loud laughter. What's so funny? I frown, confused.
"You know what, Granger? I'ma be honest with you, Ok?" he turns to me, an amused smile gracing his handsome features. "I wouldn't want to walk to Dinner with you even if someone threatened to break my legs, make me wear a negligee and parade me around the Great Hall at Breakfast."
At this, Blaise and Pansy explode into laughter. My face crumples. Why does Draco hate me so much? What did I do?
Draco, seemingly encouraged by his friend's enthusiastic response, continues in his venting.
" Let me put this so you can understand. You are a good-for-nothing, useless, unwanted MUDBLOOD. I would rather scrape my eyes out with a fork than to have to look at you. I would prefer to have my skin peeled off inch by painful inch that to have to touch you."
A ringing starts in my ears and my chest starts to ache unbearably as tears start to fall from my eyes. I have never felt worse in my life. So devastated am I that I barely even register the fact that Blaise and Pansy seem to be gazing at me with sympathy rather than mocking.
"And I would prefer to burn in Hell for the rest of eternity than to have to kiss you," he continues, arms folded and ocean blue eyes glinting scornfully. "Do you remember how you forced yourself on me the other day? That, for me, was the torture anyone could have ever made me endure. The majority of the male student population in this school may be obsessed with you, but I most certainly am not. Do you get it now? Continue to lust after me, bitch, 'cause that's all that will ever be between us. So why don't you just piss off and never come near me again, OK?"
His words are a like a physical blow, causing me to gasp in pain and bend over almost double. What have I ever done to deserve such… hatred? Is it really just because of my heritage? My heart feels as though it's about to be torn out and trampled on. The pain in my chest increases. I have to get out of here. I couldn't take anymore of this even if I wanted to.
I whirl around, racing tears cooling my hot cheeks, and run off down the corridor.
DRACO P.O.V
Good. Now maybe she'll get the damn point. I HATE HER. What is there not to understand? I watch her retreating back in barely hidden glee. Alright, now that that's sorted out, time for Dinner. I turn to Blaise and Pansy, ready to suggest my idea. Why are they looking at me like that? They wear similar expressions of shock on their faces. Oh for God's sake. Please do not tell me that these two are going soft.
"What?" I roll my eyes, long-sufferingly. Blaise shakes his head slowly at me in- could that be? - disapproval.
" Draco, I have never seen you be so cruel and that is saying a heck of a lot," Pansy's eyes are filled with disappointment. "The poor girl was just asking a question. You could have been more polite!"
"But she-" I defend myself.
"I don't care, Draco. Your behaviour is inexcusable, " Pansy snaps back, face pale. Wait a second. Has she forgotten whomshe's talking to?
"Both of you stop looking at me like that, and Pansy, shut up," I snap. " I am Draco Malfoy and I can do whatever the hell I like and nobody has the right to judge or question me." As I turn and storm away, I see my evidently foolish companions exchange long-suffering, exasperated glances before following me. I ignore their muttered conversation but I can't help but feel a bitguilty. But just a bit, you understand.
I haven't gone mad.
20:57/ FRIDAY 9TH SEPTEMBER/ HEADS' QUARTERS/ COMMON ROOM
DRACO P.O.V
Thank God I'm almost done with this damn homework. I've had a hell of a day, a hell of a week, in fact, and just want to go to sleep as soon as possible or I won't wake up at all for the Hogsmeade trip tomorrow. That witch, Granger, has finished hers and hasn't moved yet. I do hope she isn't waiting around for an apology for this afternoon, because, if she is, she's going to die of old age still in that seat. As guilty as I may feel (what I said has only just started to sink in. I mean, I dislike her severely but, looking back, I think I may have been just a tad too harsh), I'd rather save my breath to cool my porridge.
I look up at her. She's just sitting there watching me, chocolate eyes more serious than I've
ever seen them. I don't think she's actually with us, if you get my meaning. I wave my hand to-and-fro in front of my face, but she doesn't even blink. Oh, whatever. Deciding to ignore her, I go back to my work.
34 and a half seconds later…
OK, this is getting so annoying. The mudblood still hasn't stopped staring at me. I put my quill down, exasperated.
"What now, Granger?" I ask, in a deadpan voice. The sooner I know what's bugging her, the sooner she'll stop bugging me and the sooner I can finish my last two questions. She blinks twice at my words, as if coming to, and then examines me seriously. For some unknown reason, my skin heats up under her intense scrutiny.
" I'm going to ask you a few questions and I would like you to answer them completely truthfully."
OK, what is this girl up to now? I feel tempted to just ignore her, but, you know what? I always think of myself and, as right now I wouldn't mind having a distraction from this homework and, hey, I guess I kind of owe after this afternoon.
"OK, what?" I humour her, putting aside my books. She's silent for a moment, eyes still on me.
"The reason why you hate me so much is because I'm a muh-mudblood, correct?" she asks, gaze now on the flickering fireplace. I pause in thought for a moment.
"That is just one of the many, but that is the main one, yes," I answer, simply. What? Don't look at me like that. It's true.
"And this is because purebloods are better than muggleborns, right?" is her next question. I look at her in disbelief.
"Granger, if you're going to ask me questions with obvious answers, I don't see why you have to ask them at all," I snigger, "But, yes."
Granger pauses for a moment, seemingly considering my words, before turning her brown eyes back towards me.
"Why?" she asks, simply. What?
"What?" I repeat out loud.
"Why are purebloods better than muggleborns?" she replies, patiently, eyes still on me. My heart slows for a moment. The silence is deafening. I can't think of a single answer. I could always say that they're better at magic but, much as I hate to admit it (and I do hate to admit it), Granger disproves this theory greatly. I could say that we're naturally better looking, but just take a look at that muggle actress, Halle Berry (yes, I do know about her, do not be stupid enough to ask why, it is none of your Goddamn business).
Granger packs up her stuff and leaves me to my thoughts, my homework forgotten…
10:13/ SATURDAY 10TH SEPTEMBER/ HEADS' QUARTERS/ HERMIONE'S ROOM
HERMIONE P.O.V
"I'M COMING!"
Dear Lord Almighty. Boys are so impatient. I mean, really, half an hour isn't that long. Harry and Ron really need to learn that patience is a virtue. They're waiting for me downstairs in the Common Room so all three of us can make our way to Hogsmeade together.
There. With one last swipe of lip-gloss applied to my mouth, I place my T-Mobile Sidekick Phone (that I've enchanted to work in both the muggle and magical worlds), make up bag and Fendi purse in my favourite Chloe Paddington bag. Now I just need my coat. Where is my coat, anyway?
I root through the large pile of clothes on my closet floor. I pick up a black Gucci coat with a fur-trimmed hood and inspect it. Uh, no. This doesn't exactly go with the rest of my outfit, which consists of a short, denim Cavalli skirt, green, scoop-necked, cashmere Pringle sweater and a pair of white, peep-toed Jimmy Choo mules. What I need is my white, Michael Kors pea coat. But where did I leave it…?
Ah, yes. Now I remember. I pick up my bag, walk out of my closet, into my bedroom and open the door to the bathroom. To my surprise, Draco is already seated in here, on one of the two white leather sofas Dumbledore had put into the recesses of the wall. He looks up at me as I, spotting my coat, walk over to the other sofa and grab it.
Wait just one moment. He didn't answer my question yesterday. Yes, I love him, but I just need to make him realise that just because someone is of muggle heritage, purebloods aren't entitled to hate and look down on him or her simply because of it.
I turn to him. He is leaning against the back of the sofa; platinum locks oh-so-sexily mussed, eyes now on the floor. Suddenly, they're on me and he raises an eyebrow slightly. Now's your cue, Hermione. Take it.
"Why are purebloods better than muggleborns, Draco?" I ask, heart thumping at the intensity of his ocean-blue gaze. He watches me, silent, gaze serious. O-K, maybe he needs a little more time. That and I can feel a fiery heat creeping up my cheeks at the eyes that seem to be able to see right to my very soul.
I turn around and stalk out of the bathroom, feeling his gaze on my back. I shut the door, release a breath I didn't know I'd been holding and walk down the stairs. Oh, there they are, the whiners. I can't help but roll my eyes at Harry and Ron perched on the sofa.
"Let's go."
DRACO P.O.V
I hear the portrait door slam shut as I think about Granger's question. It's ridiculous. And it has nothing to do with Granger anyway. I have many reasons for hating her apart from the muggle thing, like… or… such as… OK, I can't think of any right now, but that's only 'cause I'm under pressure. I'll think up some later.
You see, the problem is that I don't have an answer for her-one that will justify everything I've been taught to believe in, anyway. I can't think of one reason why purebloods are better than muggleborns so does this mean that everything my father and all his other Death Eater pals taught me was a prejudiced lie?
You know, now that I come to think about it, Father was the only one who ever said a bad thing about muggleborns in our house, I can't remember ever having heard Mum using the term 'mudblood' or, indeed, her having seemed prejudiced in any way. And, now that's she's the only parent I've got left, maybe I should start to take more of her view on things, rather than Father's. I mean, look where that got him. Slave to some mad freak and then left to rot in Azkaban. I definitely don't want to end up like that.
And Mum doesn't seem to be the only one who holds different opinions to mine. Ever since the War ended this summer, opinions of purebloods on muggleborns seem to have changed. As a matter of fact, I don't recall anyone in Slytherin, or, indeed, Hogwarts for that matter, insulting a muggleborn because of their heritage or using the term 'mudblood'.
And the other day, when Pansy said that she had never had a problem with Granger based on the fact that she's a muggle. Was she right? Am I just using Granger's heritage as an excuse for hating her?
Right…just as I promised…
10 Things I Hate About YouEstimated Release Date: May/ June 2007
When Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy stage the biggest fight that Hogwarts has ever seen, Dumbledore decides that enough is enough. He instructs the two to write out 10 things that they hate and like about each other on a daily basis and makes them unable to move more than 15 cm away from each other. What with the Hogwarts media in a frenzy, friends confused as to what exactly is going on and Dumbledore's refusal to change his mind, it seems as though things just can't get any worse. Then Viktor Krum transfers to Hogwarts, demanding that Hermione return to him, and all Hell breaks loose…
So, what do you think? Let me know in a (hopefully nice) review!
Next thing on the agenda…
RECOMMENDED STORIES (again, all are in my favourites section on my profile)Rainbow: an arranged marriage of Granger and Malfoy- if you read this one you will see why I had to include it this week
The Prank War: one of my favourite fanfics of all time
Curse of the Mistletoe: Not only do I love this one more than life itself, but I also think it is highly appropriate considering the season!
Again, I'm always looking for more stories to read so make sure to recommend some –and much better, your own! – in your review!
Right… next…
Updates: sadly, due to a nasty flu I have only completed Chapter 14. But, don't worry, 'cause I'm going back to my 'one chapter a day' routine.
Alright! I think that's about it for this week…
Oh, yeah, shoutouts… to people who have reviewed lately, if I forget anyone, I'm soz but my internet isn't up at the moment and I can't access it right now as it's begin difficult, so I'll name all the ones that stick out in my mind, mainly the ones that ALWAYS REVIEW!! So… likewise4me, Silidons (of course, hun, love ya!), Rupertsgirlies (love u too, you always review) and a bunch of other people.
I will give shoutouts to all the people that have ever reviewed next week, I promise, so if you want to be mentioned, all you have to do is click a little blue button at the bottom and write a couple of words…
I guess that's it… so, until next week…
You Know You Love Me…
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