Chapter 10: Conversion Night.
Draco made his way over to where his mother was at, with Hermione right beside him.
"Hello, Mother," Draco greeted her, staying beside Hermione for now.
"Hello, Draco. This must be Hermione Granger, I assume?" Narcissa greeted him back.
"I am. Hello, Mrs. Malfoy," Hermione said, not backing down.
"What are you even doing here?" Draco asked her, trying to think of what card she was playing.
Narcissa heavily sighed and said "Things have not gone what you're father had hoped. I know that he …sent off a letter to you…and I remember what you said before school started,"
"That you should give my friends a chance?" Draco dully stated again to her.
Narcissa heavily sighed and then patted to the seat next to her.
Draco slowly walked over, keeping Hermione behind him, as they both sat down.
"Exactly how you came across of knowing what happened to your aunts, Draco," Narcissa began, looking at him warily, "is something that I …I should have told you,"
"You always told me to go play in your closet, Mother. I only found your memories so that I wouldn't get in trouble by you or Father," Draco supplied to her.
Narcissa's eyes briefly turned sad but then it vanished, stating "And you carried it all of this time, without asking for more?"
"Why? The memories provided what all I needed to know, Mother," Draco said back, putting himself in front of Hermione.
Narcissa was silent and softly sighed to herself.
Hermione nudged Draco as he turned to look at her curiously.
"I cannot give a good explanation on what your family is, Draco," Narcissa then said to him. "Except that they are in the lure of purebloods,"
"And yet you haven't realized how bad it is? I mean, Mother, the most brilliant witch of our age is right here," Draco shot back.
"What, do …you mean, Draco?" Narcissa slowly asked, looking at him and then to Hermione.
"Hermione Granger. She's a Muggleborn, Mother and she's the top of our classes," Draco explained to his mother. "It doesn't matter how long and exhausting do I study, she will always have more, to each assignment. That doesn't come from inbreeding; it comes from sheer wanting to be a part of our world,"
Narcissa stared at Hermione for a long moment. Hermione felt a little nervous; this wasn't the Mrs. Malfoy that she grew to know.
"Then, I highly suggest, Draco," Narcissa began; keeping face blank, "that you don't talk about her at the ball,"
Draco heavily sighed through his teeth and said "Mother, I can't go back home,"
"You have no other choice, sweetheart," Narcissa said staring bleakly at him.
Hermione felt like her heart punctured by a needle; the more that they stay here the more the needle puts more tiny holes in her heart.
Draco just glares at her with whispering low "Everyone has a choice, mother,"
Narcissa just simply raised her eyebrow at him.
Draco nodded to her, and asked "Why haven't you tried to get in touch with your sister, Mother?"
"Andromeda? Draco," Narcissa began, she looked so confused.
"Mother, I know that you miss her. I know that you two were close, from what the memories showed me. Why else would you keep them and not discard them away?" Draco pressed.
Narcissa heavily sighed and softly said "Because I don't know if she wants to talk to me,"
"I'm sure, Mother, that she misses you just like you miss her. Maybe much more," Draco said, gently taking her hand.
"How is it that you are so much mature when you are so young?" Narcissa asked, trying to understand who her son is now.
Draco remained silent. He knew that Hermione gently hit her knee with his as a reminder of where they were from.
"I will do my best, Draco but, you know how"
"Mother, she is family! And regardless of what the past was or is, she is your sister," Draco snapped at her.
Hermione knew that Draco wanted things to change but this was not it.
"Draco, your family is the most looked to family within the pureblood community, of the wizarding world," She softly told him.
"And we need to clean it," Draco said, turning to her.
Narcissa gazed at her only child with confusion, trying to understand where he was coming from and, a reminder that he has seen her memories of his aunts.
Draco stared back at his mother and whispered low "If only you knew what it's like, Mother,"
Narcissa was about to ask what he meant but, decided against it. She rose from her seat and then sighed.
"I will see you at King's Cross for this Holiday," she told him, walking towards the staircase.
"I won't change, mother. Even if Father is threatening me to take the Dark Mark," Draco said, standing in front of Hermione.
Both of them gasped; Narcissa spun around on the spot, Hermione brought her hands up to her mouth.
"Exactly how-?"
"Your memories," Draco cut in.
Narcissa paled, as to what else her son knew of? From being so careless of leaving that basin in her closet? She then hurried away from her son.
Hermione, not knowing what to say, pulled Draco towards the staircase and walked down them in silence, walking back to the castle. Draco scanned the area where he saw the shape of his mother disappear into the castle.
They walked up the flights of stairs to the Gryffindor tower.
Draco gently pulled Hermione over to an abandon classroom and locked the door after them. He waved his wand silently, the room was silenced.
"Draco," Hermione began but jumped when an explosion erupted from the old desks and chairs to her right.
Draco continued to throw spells at the desks and chairs until Hermione ran over to him; wrapping her arms around his neck and just clung on.
"No matter what I do…how I word it…they still want me to be that boy who will do anything for the sake of his family," He forced out through clenched teeth.
"Then, don't go," she mumbled into his neck.
Draco wrapped his arms around her body and just held her.
Hermione was on her bed up in the Gryffindor tower for the girls. She didn't really see the need to socialize with them the first time, but this time, she kept an open mind of it.
"Is that all you're ever going to do?" a girl asked her, hands on her hips.
Hermione looked up and asked "I beg your pardon?"
"You heard me, Granger," the girl sneered at her.
Tilting her head to the right, Hermione then asked "Is it really that bothersome to you that I'm doing my homework now instead of cramming it all in at the last second?"
"Yes, since you don't ever live your life to the fullest," the girl shot back, flipping her hair over her shoulder.
"Excuse me, but you do not know who I am. Why in the bloody hell should you dictate to me on how I spend my time?" Hermione threw back at her, glaring.
"Fine, have it your way," the girl simply said and walked out of the dormitory.
Another girl walked over to Hermione and whispered low "The higher years pick students to do something for them. If they pick you, you have no choice but go with whatever it is that they ask of you to do,"
Hermione looked alarmed and asked "How do you know this? And is it Ok for you to tell me of it?"
The girl looked around, mumbling low "My older sister and brother were in Gryffindor. They told me of this before I came here. I'm Christine by the way,"
"Nice to meet you Christine. I'm sure you know who I am," Hermione replied back, smiling.
"Indeed. But I honestly think that you would do well to get out of here for a bit," Christine warned her and then walked away.
Hermione didn't know what to think of this. It sure wasn't in her time line. There the older students didn't have time for the youngsters who coming in after them.
Slowly, Hermione went back to studying. What she was studying was the 7th year books and making notes of it since she never did so in her timeline. Sure, she went back to school after the war and after helping clean up, but the world had changed so much that she just guessed what was on the tests.
So unlike Hermione, I know, but she didn't look through half of what was in the books. Now, however, she did.
Something hit Hermione from the side, a bright flash of some sort as she looked over her shoulder. There, standing was a 7th year girl with a white mask on.
"Wha…" Hermione felt so drowsy that she slumped over onto her books and pillows.
"You really should have listened to those other girls, Granger," The 7th year girl stated, helping her up and forcing her to walk out of the dormitory.
No one saw them leave the Gryffindor tower; no one asked where they were going except that Hermione fought against the spell that was placed upon her every other stair case.
"You are fighter, that's for sure," the 7th year girl huffed at her.
"This isn't right," Hermione said swaying on her feet.
They walked down a corridor, and then another until they walked into what looked like an abandoned classroom? No, it was much bigger than a normal classroom.
"Where …what is this?" Hermione asked, finally snapping out of the spell.
"Sheesh Robyn, she's a toughie," another girl with a white mask said to her.
"Tell me about it. Had to put the spell back on her several times while coming here," this Robyn girl said, rolling her eyes.
Hermione glared, holding out her wand and asked "Why am I here? What do you want?"
The girls looked at her as she got into a defensive stance.
"Calm down, Hermione," Angelina then said, taking off her mask.
"Why am I here?" Hermione asked her, not lowering her wand.
"All upper years do this to those who we think," a different girl came forward "is best at handing down tradition,"
"Tradition of what?" Hermione asked, not buying it.
"The ways of Hogwarts. It started out in the 1300's," another girl said, walking forward with her own charge.
"I don't understand…." Hermione said looking utterly confused now.
Robyn sighed and said "Besides what the professors teach us, we also have a secret club, like that of the duel club. But this is just for girls only since boys tend to gravitate to the violent duel club. The professors know of our gatherings and don't bring it to the rest of the student body,"
"So what do we do in this …gender club?" Hermione asked, looking from one girl to the next.
"What do we do best? Act," another girl stepped forward.
"Wait, what?" Hermione said, knowing that voice.
The girl smiled at Hermione and said "Lavender Brown, Hermione,"
Hermione stared in shock as the girl before her wasn't quite the girl that she knew from 6th year. She had brighter blonde in her hair, her curls weren't perfected yet and the giggling hadn't set in either.
"Hi, Lavender," Hermione greeted her, slowly lowering her wand.
"I take it that the other girls have warned you of us?" a 7th year dark brown hair girl asked Hermione, walking over to her.
"Yes. So, we put on this …play I'm assuming here, for ourselves?" Hermione asked her, looking up into her green eyes.
"Yes, but you won't be kissing another girl. I am Rosemary, the leader until I pick the next one at the end of this school year. You may just be lucky enough to see this through to your 7th year, Hermione," Rosemary introduced herself to her.
'I highly doubt that,' Hermione thought to herself.
"The boy that we picked should be here soon," Rosemary informed them all.
"Is it true that you only study?" Lavender asked Hermione to bide some time.
"What is so wrong with doing that?" Hermione asked her or anyone else.
"Nothing," Angelina said "Just maybe this will help balance it out,"
Hermione snorted, thinking to herself 'if only you knew,'
BLAST!
The girls shrieked as Hermione whipped around yelling, "Draco!"
"Granger? What in the Merlin's blue balls am I doing here!?" he snarled, yanking her behind him.
"Will you calm down and not fire any magic at our housemates?" She asked, standing in front of him now.
Draco glared at her and asked "Again, what am I doing here?"
"You are here, Draco, for helping us do a play," Hermione said at once, keeping his eyes on her.
"A Play? Whatever the bloody hell for?" he asked, confused.
"It's a somewhat hidden tradition within the girls of Hogwarts. Just lower your wand, please?" Hermione asked of him.
The other girls had hid behind the desks and chairs.
"Did you just do that spell non-verbally?" a 5th year girl asked of him.
"No, but is that the reason why I am here?" Draco asked of them back.
"If you would calm down, we can easily answer you, but if you won't calm down, we can go find another boy," Rosemary stepped forward.
Draco heavily sighed, putting his wand back into his pocket, looking at Hermione.
"Fine, I'm calm and will do this, but understand that I am Granger's boyfriend," Draco told them all.
"Draco," Hermione hissed at him.
The other girls smiled and Rosemary said "Don't worry. We've had boys in here that were already dating someone of our club,"
Draco nodded and asked "Has any of them request to only kiss their girlfriend and no other girl?"
"Some do, but they also have cheated on that said girl," Angelina told him, shrugging.
Draco shook his head and said "Alright, I'll do this for you ladies, but if there's a kissing scene, just please skip over it,"
"Don't worry, we will," Another 7th year girl said.
"So what play are we doing?" Hermione asked, moving the topic along and off of Draco being her boyfriend.
"Well, how about we just see how you newbies do?" Another girl said, smiling at them.
"What kind of script?" Lavender asked next, looking around almost lost.
"Why not…" Draco spoke up slowly "we can pretend that we're …"
Hermione swiftly stepped in and said "at the store, buying something but bargain for a lower price of said item?"
"That's good. It's simple and it will show us all higher years, what you newbies got. Including you Draco, which he is the manger of the store," Rosemary agreed to it. "And it's a bag of potatoes, for 8 pounds,"
"Pounds as in it weight?" Draco asked her curiously.
"No, Money wise," Hermione told him.
"OK?" He said, not getting into it.
He is given a conjured up bag of potatoes from Rosemary as they get into positions.
"I'll give you a pound for it," Lavender said to Draco.
"No way. I told you it was 8 pounds," Draco said, holding the bag almost walking away from her.
"I only have a pound," Lavender said with stress.
"You do realize that I've come all the way down here to sell you this?" Draco asked, arching his eyebrow up at her in a sneer.
Lavender looked down, bashfully said "I know,"
"And I told you before, that it's 8 pounds?" Draco asked, pressing her.
"Yes," Lavender said more confidently.
"And you're only offering a pound for this bag of potatoes?" Draco said, looking her up and down.
Lavender flipped her hair and sighed "That is correct,"
"Why on earth would I sell this to you for just a pound?" Draco then asked, getting angry now.
"Well, the way I see it, there are no other buyers who want a bag of potatoes for 8 pounds," Lavender said to him, looking at her finger nails.
"I turned down other offers because you told me that you would buy this for 8 pounds!" Draco's voice rose in anger just a tad.
"Right. So they're no longer in wanting to buy it. Which, no one want to buy and it brings down the price to just a pound," Lavender said to him, getting angry herself.
Draco shook his head and said "You're crazy,"
"I'm basically doing you a favor of taking that worthless thing off of your hands now," Lavender warned him.
"Then, let's not waste time here. I'll lower the price to 6 pounds, and we're even," Draco said, wanting her to buy it.
"But I only have a pound," Lavender reminded him, confused.
"I'm out of here," Draco told her, turning around and took a few steps away.
"Wait. I'll give you 10 pounds," Lavender panicked.
Draco stopped and slowly turned around; locking his eyes with hers, asked "But you just said that you only have a pound?"
"In this pocket. I have more in the other pocket," Lavender said, digging through her pockets to get the other pills out.
But what happened next caused Hermione and the others to gasp: Lavender fumbled with the pills but dropped them. Draco bent over to help her but the bag of potatoes also fell and the bag ripped opened. Potatoes rolled and bounced across the floor.
"Uh oh," Lavender said, looking around her.
"Hand over the 10 pounds," Draco said, standing up now.
"Sorry, but I don't want them now," Lavender said, walking away from him.
Draco glared behind her.
"CUT!" Rosemary said loudly which got their attention.
They looked to her for guidance.
"You two have real promise. During the next few meetings after tonight, we'll be auditioning for if you are worthy of being in this club or not. Now, off to bed," she told them all, smiling.
Hermione nodded as the new girls and her walked out of the classroom. Draco soon followed after her and took her hand into his.
She looked at him as he pulled her into another abandon classroom, putting up silence spells and the door locked.
"WHAT the fucking hell was that!?" He exclaimed at her.
"I don't know! We never had that in our timeline!" she said loudly back at him.
Draco paced around and asked "you don't mind if I am your boyfriend?"
"We're really young for this, Draco. Just please keep that down a notch or two," Hermione said to him.
He nodded and said "I will try to,"
"Because you do realize that I am with Ron and you're with…Astoria Greengrass?" Hermione reminded him.
"It was never set in stone, Granger," Draco glared at her.
"But you do know my emotions to him, right?" She asked, driving it more to him.
"Yes, but again, it's not set in stone! We can do just about anything here," Draco reminded her.
"But to what replaces it does it change the timeline here?" Hermione asked of him. "We cannot mess with the events here, Draco,"
Draco stared at her and then walked slowly stating "And how many times, do I have to remind you, that it won't affect us in our original timeline,"
"What if it does?" Hermione asked, looking at him.
"It hasn't so far, Hermione," He whispered, stopping just before her.
She shook her head and whispered "we don't know that,"
Draco softly rested his forehead against hers and just wrapped his arms around her.
For them being 11 years old, it sure felt like that they were just 17 or so.
"Come on, let's go get some sleep," he said, changing the topic again.
Hermione nodded and followed after him, leaving the abandon classroom.
Author's Note:
Hello! Hello! Liked this story so far? Give it a follow! Is it your favorite? Why thank you, you are too kind. No, really, you are too kind for favoriting it. Want to tell me what you honestly think of it. I got my shields ready, so don't be afraid to give me a review!
SO. What will happen in the future? How will Draco handle being at the holiday ball of his parents? And will I ever stop reminding you guys that they are not of this timeline or age? That last one: Never lol.
I honestly thought, to when the dueling club was for everyone, and the idea just evolved from there: Why not just a Girls club? So that's how that came about.
Also, I'm not from the UK, I'm from the USA. So if I got that wrong on the price of a bag of potatoes, please correct me if I am wrong.
What will I write up next? God if only I knew.
Alonia143.