A/N: thanks all of you so much. It makes me happy that you're enjoying this story. For a first story it makes me proud to have a great following :)
I also added other character interactions for this next one, so it might be a little boring...
Chapter 23
This was not good. Not good at all!
Blaise snarled as he watched the couple part in the middle of the field. Granger going in one direction, Draco the other; smirking.
His cockiness was starting to boil his blood.
It was time to act. Time to make sure that he will secure his Galleons! He stormed off toward the Slytherin Common Room.
Daphne was sitting on one of the couches, talking to Pansy.
"Is it ready yet?" He growled storming over to the two witches.
Pansy glared at Blaise, "What is it to you and always interrupting my conversations?"
Blaise rolled his eyes, ignoring her comment as he just faced Daphne, "Well?"
"It depends" Daphne began, waving off Pansy's protest as she walked over to join her house-mate. "Did you get the hair from Draco? The potion can't work properly if there's no target."
Blaise reached into his robes and pulled out the small vial containing three barely there hairs, as they were so light. "Of course,"
Pansy's eyes shined with wonder, "I heard Draco's name. What are you two up to? You're not going to harm him are you?!"
Pansy glared at Blaise, "I'll never forgive you for that!"
Daphne sighed, "We're not harming Draco," She took the vial from Blaise. "More like doing him a favour"
"Oh really?" Pansy said skeptically.
Blaise smirked, "Exactly. Still think we should use Polyjuice? Why can't you just give Granger the potion in that Runes class you have with her later on today?"
"Because the potion needs to stew for eight hours after adding Draco's hair, which just happens to fall in time for the evening meal. Without being suspicious you can pose yourself as one of those Gryffindorks and give it to her then."
Daphne turned to face Pansy, "See? Draco will not be harmed."
In the library
Hermione rolled her neck back and forth and then leaned backward to stretch the muscles in her back. Trying to get her brain to focus on her Potions essay was proving to be rather difficult when her conversation with Draco in the fields kept replying through her head.
"Are my feelings... genuine? Is he serious?" She raked a hand through her hair and then glared out the window. She was still trying to figure him out, let alone trying to decipher her feelings for the man! But that wasn't the only thing that stood out ot her. "I'm broke. The Ministry owns everything."
He was broke and homeless! How was he even able to get by in these past three years? She shook her head of the thoughts and looked back to her notes.
"There you are!" cried the worried voice of Ginny. "I mean first you skipped out on breakfast, now it's lunch?" She frowned, "I get that you and Ron had a row last night, but come on Hermione, not eating isn't-"
"I didn't skip breakfast," Hermione muttered, closing her books. Now with Ginny here, it was useless to even attempt to continue writing, as the redhead was one of the fair few Hermione could not tune out successfully; not to mention she had Herbology in ten minutes. "I just... had it somewhere else." She slipped her bag over her shoulder. "And I had lunch here in the library,"
She was set on walking away, but Ginny blocked her path. "Not so fast!"
Hermione sighed, and rubbed her forehead, "Please Ginny, I would like to get to class, it's about a five-minute walk to the fields..."
"You were with Malfoy last night, weren't you?"
"I-"
"Look I went to visit you last night, but I only found Crookshanks pacing by your bed, mewing." Ginny folded her arms and raised an eyebrow. "Word got around the dorm that your fight with my brother was quite colourful. But there was one thing that didn't seem to click with me."
Hermione groaned. She knew what Ginny was going to say. It involved her robe and lack of clothing.
"Did you really leave the Common Room in nothing but your robe or was that just rumors those fourth years made up? I mean after you were so clear that you wouldn't just throw yourself at Malfoy and yet you did it nak-"
Hermione smacked her hand over her friend's mouth before she could finish her comment.
"Stop it." Hermione hissed, "Yes it is rather uncharacteristic of me to do such a thing, but Ronald was being so... SO... frustrating, I acted out rather than thinking things through. Although I wasn't naked, I just saw no reason to correct Ronald when he said it."
Ginny batted Hermione's arm away, "Hermione!"
"SHHH!" Hissed Madam Pince as she hobbled by, "this is a library. Keep your voices down"
Hermione nodded her head and muttered her an apology before facing Ginny, "Look I really have got to get to Herbology. Today's lesson is with Whale Whiskers and I am really excited to deal with them. It is said that they are the opposite of Devil's Snare. Used as an aid rather than defense, and not quite as fatal. However, it is rather difficult to know what harms it, as each batch is different from the next"
Ginny blinked, only having heard half what Hermione said she was talking so fast. "Erm... I'll take your word for it,"
Hermione scoffed and then pushed herself passed Ginny to leave.
"I should've known you'd be here" drawled a voice from behind her.
Draco spent a good half an hour trying to locate her when he didn't spot her in the Great Hall. Theo had urged him to not let her out of his sight as Blaise was also missing from the table... but he saw Red saunter off, and knew she had a close connection with her, and followed her. Of course he completely blanked that she would be in the library; Slughorn gave them an assignment, but would she really work on it straight away?
'Clearly she needs to get out more,'
Hermione whirled back around, her eyes widening once she realized it was Draco. He glanced back to the library where Ginny shuffled her way out.
"Oi! Don't run away from me, you need to tell me what happened between you and Malf-" Ginny's eyes widened once she realized the person she was about to say was right before her. "Malfoy..." she mumbled before her eyes turned back to Hermione, "R-Right... w-we w-will um...later," and then she strolled off sheepishly.
Hermione groaned. 'Just what he needs to know... that I talk about him...'
The bell sounded making her jump on the spot.
"Oh no! I'm late for class!" She whimpered before strolling off.
Before she could take one more step, Draco had already strided over to block her path. "You're not going to class"
"No, Draco please, don't do this. I can't be late. It's not acceptable..."
Truthfully, she did not want to fall victim to his odd questioning about her feelings...
"Well actually, I need your help." He was rather grateful that Theo gave him such information, but he had no intention of following his advice. No, he would go one step further and interfere with Blaise's plan. Teach him a lesson for ever trying to undermine him.
Hermione looked at him incredulously, hoping to not have heard him properly, "Did you just... you said you needed my help?"
He gave her no out as he reached over and took her hand within his, feeling the familiar warmth emitting from it.
"Correct"
"And it involves skipping class?" She dropped her eyes down to their clasped hands.
Draco's lips twitched to a broad grin, "Exactly. Of course I feel I should add, it isn't anything terrible, so you don't need to fear McGonagall hounding you for being rebellious"
"Why can't we just do it after then, you know like regular people? Why the sudden urgency that it needs to be done right this moment? Never mind! I...I'm not... I mean sure you might say it isn't bad, but skipping class-"
Draco let out a frustrated groan, "Why do you feel the need to even be there, because you're Head Girl? Must set a good example? Please, you already know everything, so going to class is pointless anyway, why not just let loose and have a bit of fun?"
Hermione blinked, 'Of course Draco would consider this mundane!' However he did require her help and even if it was for something...against the rules, Hermione couldn't help but smirk - such an action would be considered beneath him. Then of course there was the fact he said she already knew everything, which she knew he hadn't realized it; the corner of her mouth lightly twitching, as she repressed it from growing into a smile.
"Alright now that I am completely convinced that you hit your head." Her voice was light, as she still tried to stop herself from laughing out loud, "There is just no way you are the same person I've dealt with in the past forty-eight hours! Requesting my help?! Complementing me? Who are you and what have you done with the real Draco Malfoy?"
Now she tried to get her hand away from his grasp.
Draco raised one curious brow, as he refused to let go of her limb, "One would say the same for you...running around in corridors in the middle of the night half-naked.." Draco smirked, "Clearly not a way a Head Girl should act,"
She felt the heat rise to her cheeks before she turned away, "Please stop mentioning that," her voice was weak. "And let go of my hand!"
He took in great delight to the flash of pink on her cheeks, "So you can run off? I rather not. Besides watching you blush is...quite fascinating,"
Her heart pounded from his words, and her eyes dropped downward. 'I wish he would stop saying those comments...'
Draco's grin widened, "It's the fact that it requires magic, which I cannot do at the moment."
A second bell chimed, signalling the start of class, but Hermione remained completely still. Draco grinned internally when she made no means to escape him after hearing the bell.
"How about the fact that skipping class will get you expelled?" Hermione said, frowning, "It was one of the rules McGonagall gave you isn't it? If she finds out that you're up to your old tricks again-"
Draco shrugged, "Like I said, it's nothing bad. I'm not harming anyone or anything, just..." he trailed off, not really sure on how to tell her without divulging too much information. "Doing what is necessary. It's just how we Slytherins operate."
Hermione eyed him sternly. McGonagall would surely reprimand her for letting him skip class to do something against the rules.
"You're speaking as though I have no choice in the matter..." she murmured, trying to play it off that his proximity did not bother her. Her eyes staring as his thumb grazed the back of her hand. She really did want to go to class. Whale Whiskers were very interesting plants...
"Well you haven't moved from this spot..." Draco said just as softly as she did. "What else am I supposed to think?"
"Nothing! Just..." Hermione felt her throat go dry, "Just because I have yet to move doesn't mean I've decided." She finally lifted her head to meet his gaze, inhaling sharply once she realized how close his face was to hers.
She stepped back quickly and scoffed once she was met with resistance of his grip.
Draco watched her in a pleasant silence, "What if I say it involves you? Would that make you do it?"
Hermione's eyes shot wide, that was not what she expected him to say!
"What?" She said, surprised.
Draco felt Hermione tense up in grasp, as he grimaced slightly, trying to find the right words to use, "I'm... uh, not sure what it is... but I just know it's meant for you... we do this and then you will be fine."
"You're... serious?"
So what, some Slytherins had it out for her because she was with Draco? Something potentially harmful that would make Draco act in such a way, that he felt the need to protect her?
Protect. The word warmed her heart, but it still made her feel strange.
'God, Draco what are you doing to me?' She thought, as she studied his eyes. First asking her about her feelings now... this.
He took her silence as a good sign, "But of course I can't do anything because I am... restricted." He had no idea how many times he had to say it to her for her to actually get it.
'Okay so this makes things more...awkward...' Hermione felt the heat rise to her face, "So you... you're..."
Draco nodded slowly, "It's nothing to taint your pristine record, I assure you. It is, however our only chance while everyone is in class..."
"And you don't think that is a tad bit suspicious?" She bit out sternly, choosing to ignore his pristine comment and just went on with what she wanted to say, without letting her emotions take over. "Especially for the one who... well..." Hermione licked her lips, "Who is it? Who is trying to... well..." she left her comment unfinished as she wasn't sure how to word her situation.
Draco shook his head, "It doesn't matter. No one will figure it out" he used this time to release her hand from his grasp, trusting her to not run away. 'Rather they would think we are up to something completely different,'
She looked around the corridors, taking a while before she faced him again. His face was so blocked off, it was hard for her to tell what he was really thinking.
"But why does it have to be done right now? Can't we just wait until after?"
Draco groaned again, why was she making this so difficult for him? Surely knowing when you are in danger, one would want to step up and take action, not... ignore it. 'Bloody stubborn Gryffindor...'
"Well the Common Room will be empty," he said slowly, keeping his annoyance with her stubbornness in check, "which is what I want for this to succeed. I mean... this other person has no idea I know anything so our absence will mean nothing to him - he won't put two and two together! But he does believe he's got this... thing in the bag, but clearly that is not the case. See I have a very trustworthy friend. And that same friend made me save you from... being manipulated... so taking care of it now would be our best bet"
"Made you save me, huh?" Hermione drawled, her eyes narrowing.
Draco muttered under his breath, "Not like that. Stop taking this the wrong way. He said what I needed to know in order for me to save you. Understand now?" He tried not to sound condescending, but really, what did she take him for?
Hermione folded her arms as she continued to stare at him. Draco swallowed at he waited for her response. 'Come on... just say it already!'
'Unbelieveable...completely...utterly...ridiculous .' she moaned to herself, running a hand through her hair, she could not believe herself what she was about to say.
"Alright," she said after a long moment of silence. "Fine. I'll do it."
She saw him release a heavy sigh as he took a hold of her hand once more. Before taking one step, Hermione held her ground.
"However, if this was just a ploy to get me in your room again I swear I'll-"
He pressed a finger to her lips, "Hex me to oblivion, right." He gave her hand a light squeeze before leading her to the Slytherin Common Room. Hermione closed her eyes and frowned, 'Professor Sprout... please forgive me,'
Herbology Class
"Why do you keep looking at the door?" Hissed Ron as he jabbed Harry in the stomach with his elbow. "Obviously she's too ashamed to face us,"
Harry growled before he faced his friend, "She showed up in Potions didn't she?"
Ron shrugged, but said nothing. Their table mates, Justin and Susan, from Hufflepuff and Anthony from Ravenclaw, just looked at the duo oddly as they tried to tame their Whale Whisker. As the large crowd of people seemed to have startled it.
Harry rolled his eyes, "Look, it's all your fault this is even happening. If you didn't make such a big deal about-"
"Not a big deal? She goes and tells me that she...she's ready and-"
Harry waved his hand, "No need for the replay, Ron,"
"Well here you are defending her. Just whose side are you on anyway?"
"No one's. I just think you should apologize to Hermione. I mean, I get that you're upset and everything, but this is getting far too out of hand."
"You're out of your bloody mind! Let Malfoy deal with her, because she is so convinced he is the better man for her..."
Harry rolled his eyes, Ron can really be a stubborn arse.
"Well when you're nothing but an arse to her, then yes, I suppose she would find him a better man"
Harry reached over and took the white vine away from Susan from Hufflepuff, placing it into the vase of water before him.
The day's task was to see what they were weak to as each part of Whale Whisker would have different effects, and Susan's Rain Element made it angry.
Ron scoffed, "Well Lavender never complains about anything..."
Harry sighed, not really wanting to be apart of the conversation anymore, "Whatever Ron..."
"Uh, not to interrupt," began Anthony, as he watched the Whale Whisker grow thicker and longer, "But Malfoy isn't here either."
Both Ron and Harry started at the Ravenclaw Prefect. Harry furrowed his brows, "Sorry?"
Anthony shrugged, "He's not at the Slytherin table. Here mate, the water is making it worse, let me try fire."
Harry just stepped back as he watched Anthony take the moving white vine and placing it into his vase and muttered the flame charm. Almost instantly it changed colour to a nice rosy pink, and began cooing.
Justin snickered, "It likes it" as he began to scribble away the effects on his parchment. Susan nodded, "It's strange though. It has no face..."
Harry cleared his throat, "So Malfoy... he-"
Anthony shook his head, "Nope, so chances are, they are together. Although it's rather odd that Hermione would skip a class..."
Ron snarled, "Yeah well she's obviously busy boink-"
Harry elbowed Ron again, "That is enough! I am not going to stand here and listen to you bad-mouth Hermione anymore..."
He hastily packed up his things and then moved over to the table where Hermione would have been.
All her table mates stared at him curiously. Or rather the three Gryffindors did.
"Hey," Terry began, "You're friend's with Hermione. Would you know where she is? She was really looking forward to this class..."
Harry shook his head, "No, sorry. Haven't seen her since Potions this morning..."
Seamus glanced at a scowling Ron before facing Harry, "Seems like yer at yer wit's end with 'im as well, eh Harry?"
Harry sighed, "Pretty much," he looked at Seamus' notes, "Do you mind? For Hermione?"
Seamus shook his head, "Not at all. Check it out, in water, our Whisker falls asleep!"
"It's not sleeping," moaned Neville, "It's dead!"
"Excellent, twenty points to each of you!" hollered Sprout as she hovered at their table.
In the Slytherin Common Room
Draco quickly looked around to be sure they were alone before turning back to her.
"Okay coast is clear. Um, just wait here, and I'll be right back,"
Hermione furrowed her brows, "Why what-?"
But he was already gone before she could finish her question.
"Swell," she murmured, and turned away, folding her arms. She really wished she was in class. It would be very interesting to know what a Whale Whisker looked like in person. Staring at the fireplace, she waited in silence for him to return with Merlin-knows-what!
She didn't have to wait long, except Draco showed up with two cauldrons.
"Here,"
He walked over to her and showed her each cauldron separately.
"Umm?" Hermione stepped forward to peek inside. One potion was Amortentia, she could tell by smell. Fresh parchment, mowed grass and...some sort of spice, she couldn't put her finger on. The other, was clear like water. She wasn't even going to bother asking why or how he was able to obtain potions so quickly.
"I don't understand...what you want me to do..." the scent of the potion was getting to be too much for her, so she stepped backward, blushing slightly. He didn't really expect her to drink that, did he?
"Simple. Girl's dormitories are over there...it's where the...potion is. Seeing how I am not a girl, I cannot go up the stairs without being trapped."
'Just like it is in Gryffindor...' but that wasn't the only thing that caught her attention.
"So it's a girl that wants to do away with me?" She ended her comment with a scoff, "I should have known it was all a matter of time before one of your lovely exes decided to give me a piece of their mind. Hell has no fury to a woman scorned, as they say..."
Draco raised an eyebrow at her babbling, "What are you on about? My exes?"
Hermione let out an exasperated sigh, "Right, that would mean you actually felt something for them. I mean your..." she trailed off when she saw that he was staring at her, waiting for her response.
"Never mind..." she turned her head away.
They walked down the corridor in silence, similar to that of the boys dorms, each year had their own room. Just like for him the girl Prefect got her own dorm.
D. Greengrass, Prefect
"She doesn't ward the place so you can unlock it normally,"
Hermione didn't even want to know why or how he knew that. She felt uneasy of the task at hand as is! She pulled out her wand and whispered a soft, 'Alohomora' where the door clicked open.
Just like everything else Slytherin, her room completely coated with greens, silvers, and blacks.
'How boring,' Hermione thought as she glanced at the four-poster bed covered in green sheets.
Draco smirked as he walked over to the two brewing cauldrons by her bed. The one potion Hermione knew straight away - it was the Polyjuice potion. The other... a dark purple in colour, she had no idea.
"This will teach them for ever messing with me,"
He placed the two new cauldrons before the bed. "Alright Granger, put that brain of yours to some use and use make these potions identical to those which we took away."
"But what is that one? I don't recall ever seeing it before,"
Draco looked down at the hateful potion, "Because it's one of Daphne's special brews. A powerful, untreatable Hateful Potion, meant for you..." he added the last comment quietly, but she still heard it.
'So... he... he doesn't want me to hate him? That's what this is all about?'
She blinked and then turned back to the two other potions Draco brought. She really had no idea what to make of the newfound information...
"And...those-?"
Draco's lips twitched into a grin, "I would've gathered you figured that out at least. We're going to switch them. Amortentia for the Polyjuice Potion, and your...uh.. the other potion is just a Calming Draught. The only thing that I could brew in time."
Not that it actually mattered as once Blaise downs the Love Potion, he would abandon the other potion.
"Anyway this Illusionary Spell is one I made myself."
Hermione turned to face him, "You...made your own spells?"
"Just the one," Draco said with a shrug.
And once again, he surprised her in ways she never thought were possible.
"Wow, that is... quite the feat! Even I can't do that"
"It just takes practice. It's not a complicated spell either," 'Well not for your brain' he cleared his throat, "Uh just say 'Illusio' while trying to picture what you want it to take form. This case, the Polyjuice Potion," he tried to hide his laugh, but it came out anyway.
Oh this was going to be good. Blaise, Mister StoneWall of any caring emotion, will act like a love-sick puppy! To one unsuspecting wizard once Daphne drops Potter's hair in the cauldron.
Hermione nodded her head, "Sounds simple enough, how long does the spell last?" she reached into her robes and pulled out her wand.
"Twelve hours, so no worries of them finding out."
Hermione pointed her wand right to the cauldron with the Love Potion. 'I can't believe I am actually going to do this...' Concentrating hard on the details of the muddy coloured, gloopy substance bubbling away at her feet.
"Illusio!"
Right before their eyes, the bubbling pink potion transformed into the Polyjuice Potion and the cauldron took shape to Daphne's.
"Oh... I did it!" Hermione cried happily. There were only a few spells she mastered straight away, and most were under Fourth level. Even though he had said it was a simple spell, she still felt thrilled to have done it first try.
Draco muffled his laugh, "Yes... you did" he wasn't that surprised, as her reputation of knowing spells and incantations straight after studying them. Made him even more impressed.
Hermione folded her arms, at glared at Draco, "What's so funny?" If there was one thing she did not appreciate is when people mocked her enjoyment over knowledge. Draco being one of them!
Draco took one look at Hermione and calmed his snickering.
"Oh... you'll wait and see... um... tonight probably..." he cleared his throat and motioned to the other potion, "Next think 'Greengrass' Hateful Potion"
But Hermione wasn't having it. "Draco...who is the potion meant for?"
Draco shook his head, "Can't say, it'll ruin the surprise,"
Hermione narrowed her eyes slightly, "I think I have a right to know who it is that-"
"Yes I am sure you think that way, but just... trust me on this. This person deserves it"
Hermione fidgeted slightly at his words, as she knew how important those words were. "Trust you?" She shied away, "That's um..." 'A loaded request...' her mind supplied.
"Well you've come this far, haven't you?!" Draco reached over to turn her face so she was looking at him, "Because of what we're doing now, you're not gonna be a victim to that potion..."
"Why?" Hermione whispered, reaching up to remove his hand from her face. "Why are you... doing this?"
Draco purposefully took a long while to answer her question. His eyes focused on her painted nails as she held onto his hand. "I think you already know the answer to that... Hermione."
Hermione gulped and then bowed her head, 'Because you want to make this work' she reasoned.
"It's going a bit fast, isn't it?" Her voice was small as she took several deep breaths through her nose. "Whatever this is between us that is..."
"I don't think so..." he murmured, picking her head back up to keep the eye contact. She stared at him, her eyes shifting back and forth only for a moment before she threw her arms around his shoulders and kissed him. Whether it was the proximity, his sincere expression, or that he was doing all this to prevent harm from coming to her, she didn't know all she could do was thank him in the only way that seemed fitting.
It lasted for only a few seconds before Draco placed his hands on her waist and pushed her back slightly, stunned for words.
Hermione swallowed and then turned back to the potion, not wanting to give the moment a second thought.
"Right... the potion."
She distracted herself by examining the dark purple substance for a few minutes and then turned back to the cauldron with the Calming Draught with her wand at the ready.
"Illusio!"
They both watched at the potion darkened and swirled, the cauldron transformed into the one beside it.
"Wow... I cannot get over this! How ever did you manage to accomplish it? Those potions really do look like the...real thing..." she knelt down to sniff them, for any traces of the Love Potion, "Ugh, even smells like it. Are you sure this is a simple spell?"
Draco gave her a small smile, as she wafted the air from her nose, with a foul expression on her face. He had to admit, she looked so... cute? No, that wasn't the word for it. And adorable was completely out of the question! Then again that kiss was unexpected and completely...
Charming. That works and it was also when she turned to face him.
"What?" She said softly. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
Draco bit on his lip to keep himself from grinning, "Your actions... are very endearing,"
Hermione smirked at his choice of words. "You just say that because I kissed you," She blinked and chewed on her lip before standing back properly, not really wanting to look at him. 'Did I really just say that out loud?'
"Well there's that, yes. But actually I was thinking that you just successfully, thwarted another's plan, after you thought it was going to be something terrible..."
Again, Hermione didn't linger, and just pressed on. "Yes... but I would still like to know who-"
"And you will all in a due time, love." It was his turn to kiss her. Albeit softly.
Hermione felt her body shudder - in a good way - before she stepped back, and vanished the real Polyjuice and Hateful Potions and with his urging, 'Accioed' them back to his room. She lowered her wand and then felt his arm wrap around her shoulders and gently guided her back out of Daphne's room, and kindly asked her to lock the door.
His hand dropped down to clasp her hand, "Come on, let's take a walk..."
E/N: I didn't encounter any Illusion Spells in my researching. Although I am sure there are Charms that make it like it, but whatever. It's just one part of a story...