--**For those of you with short attention spans (like me) let's recap**--
Disclaimer: No. I do not own Harry Potter. Stop, already.
Title: Study Buddies
Rating: R - for no apparent reason, it just has that R feel.
Summary: OK, you know the quote -- but do you know the whole story? No? Neither do I. But never fear - Chapter Two is here! No. I am not a poet.
Just For Something Different - Draco's POV
Chapter Two
She'd changed her hair. I noticed quietly along with everyone else. I heard her telling one of the girls she used one of those highlight booster creme conditioner crap that gorgeous blonde celebrities like to rag on about. As you can tell I am devastatingly bored. I am sitting in the car charmed to fit in all ten of us -- Dean and Seamus managed to convince Dumbledore studying was a vital importance to them -- comfortably. Potter was the driver. Correction -- Potter was a terribly slow and horrible driver. At times, when pushed by the rest of us, he would go slightly than usual. The slightly faster being one or two kilometres faster. Sad, really. I would've thought the lone survivor of Lord Voldemort would at least be a good driver.
Now, I must explain why I was talking about Hermione Granger's (previous credits include mind-numbingly boring book worm) hair. You see, the normal five-seater car was changed from two-people-front-seat-occasional-hand-jobs-are-known-to-frequent-there to five-people-front-seat-it'd-be-quite-gritty-porn-for-a-hand-job-to-frequent-there. And the back was changed from three-people-back-seat-again-quite-gritty-porn-if-anything-was-to-happen to five-people-back-seat-again-again-I-know-quite-gritty-porn-Ron-Weasley-would-adore. So, Hermione is sitting in front of me, and although I could've just said that tiny fraction of anything interesting I decided it best to get it out there. As I mentioned before she changed her hair. It's longer, either a result of a spell, hair extensions or having enough patience to grow it to your arse. And there it was. Flowing from her hair it's right in front of me -- begging to me described. It's also begging to be brushed ... Someone was in a rush this morning. So I did. I described it. It's quite nice as far as hair is concerned. It definitely doesn't give off the book worm-ish vibe it did before.
In fact, nothing of Hermione Granger's current seventeen-year-old existence gives off a book worm-ish vibe anymore. It was quite strange at first, but she changed herself in such a subtle way that if any poor soul was recruited to attend Hogwarts in their seventh year, they would never would have guessed first-hand that the previous-know-it-all Granger simply wasn't putting up her hand anymore. If I remember correctly she only put her hand up four times this year. Three times was to go to the bathroom and the fourth was when most of us were in a desperate need to throw up any more alcoholic substances after we got drunk off our tits the night before.
You may be thinking now that Draco Malfoy has changed. And I say to you -- slightly, just slightly. To elaborate on the slightly I just stopped being a complete and utter bastard to everyone around me. No. I didn't need a patch. I just needed a few jolly beers to be nice for a night and then I began living up to the 'Drunk Draco' everyone came to embrace. No. Seriously. Drunk Draco is what they called me. And I'll tell you it sure beats Ferret Face.
"Come on, Harry!" Hermione says suddenly. "Hurry the fuck up or we'll be here till Christmas."
"Too right we will, Hermione!" Ron says, nodding at her. "Christmas is only two weeks away." I've come to like Ron. Ever since he tried to punch Crabbe in the nose and he hit his jaw. Watching a now elephant-sized-man eat soup three times a day is some classic moments I will never forget. However, I still do not like Potter. Why? Well, he drives like a woman for a start.
Parvati and Lavender -- who have come to look immensely like one another -- look up from their newly manicured nails and nod at the conversation at hand to show they've joined in. Pansy is entranced by the map we're using to find our way to destination. It truly is a miracle she's got us this far. However, it's only a matter of time before ...
"We're lost!" she exclaims, looking up from the map staring at the road in front of us.
Hermione stares at her. Blinks a few times. Stares some more. Then looks around the car. "Who didn't see this coming?"
Pansy raises her hand. She's the only one.
"Draco, help her, will you?" she says.
Lucky me. I had to be the one Pansy was obsessed with from day one to lead to sitting next to her in car full of young and disturbed people. I look at the map. Praise the Lord. It's upside-down. I turn it the right way quickly and causing a mark that will eat at me later, I bite my tongue hard to keep from laughing. Dean and Seamus let a simultaneous snort. I obviously wasn't the only one who saw.
"Turn left, Harry." It's Ron command. Although, I can't understand how we could hear him so clearly now his whole fist is in his mouth. Dear me. When will Pansy ever learn? Never, I hear you say. Oh, I whole heartedly concur.
Let's review the seating plan. Front seat: Potter -- driving, Ginny -- reading, Parvati -- staring, Lavender -- picking ... Er ... something out of her ear, Hermione -- looking at me.
We'll get back to that.
Oh. Hang on. No. We won't. I'm asking now. "Yes?"
"Oh, sorry. You have ... Uh ... Salvation."
Smokes. My smokes. She wasn't looking at me. She was looking at my smokes. Hermione Granger, a smoker. Who would've thunk it? Not me. I did not thunk it for a second.
"Right. Right. You want one?"
She beams. "God, yes!"
"Not in my car." Potter.
She takes a sole cigarette. "I'll save it for later."
Reviewing seating plan once again. Back seat: Ron -- fist still in mouth, Seamus -- snorting now and again, Dean -- leaning against Pansy for support 'cause he laughing so hard, even though we are in a car, Pansy -- absolutely perplexed why people are laughing at her, Draco -- me. Doing nothing. As usual.
"Oh -- shit! We're here!" Ginny's found her voice, as we pull into a rocky mess which somehow passes as a driveway.
"Miracle," Hermione and I utter in unison. We stare at each other, embarrassed. It's an odd moment.
We stumble out of the car. Suddenly there is a comfortable silence.
"Upside-down!" Leave it to Ron to ruin a good moment.
Tsk. Tsk. Tsk.
--**I'll thank all of you reviewers soon -- next chapter -- so get to reviewing! You'll get to see your name on the computer! Cool! God, I'm lame! Hey, beach -- hope your reading! This was in a way dedicated to you -- ALL OF YOU -- so, get to reviewing! Bye, bye**--
When SB continues …
I have absolutely no idea what will happen. Use your great imaginations…