A/N: I try to answer all questions and requests of my reviewers in my stories. If I did not answer them, you can email me personally at katyzip@juno.com. You can also email me if you would like to know pronunciations of some names or words.
Chapter 4
BY: Acorn Dreamer
Harry and Ron had avoided Hermione all the following week. She knew something was up, and Harry had let Ron in on it. She had one choice, to talk to someone about it. There were three people she would trust with something this important. But with Harry and Ron pissed at her, she had one person left. Darien. She KNEW she could just him.
She found him down in the common room with Harry and Ron. Suddenly it struck her. A feeling worse than 'Avera Kadavera.' Had Harry dragged Darien over to his side of things as well?
Ron was the first to notice Hermione coming towards them. Ron tapped Harry on the shoulder and jerked his head towards Hermione with a nasty look on his face. Harry quickly looked. Seeing Hermione he and Ron walked off silently into another corner of the room.
"Blimey, you aren't mad at me too, are you?" Hermione asked half wanting to hear the answer the other half not.
"Coarse, not Emmi, why would I be?" Darien seemed perfectly normal.
"Well, Harry and Ron have been avoiding me for a whole week now. I saw you talking to them, so I thought maybe you on their side of what happened, which I have no idea what it was or what I did."
"Well, their story was convincing…" Darien said honestly, "But I could never turn on you unless I had all the proof."
Curious about the "thing" she supposedly did or had happened she asked him. "Darien, could you tell me exactly why Harry and Ron are avoiding me like they are?"
"Wish I could Emmi, you know I trust you with all my secrets but I can't, sworn to secrecy. Promised I wouldn't tell a soul. And of coarse you know that I always keep my promises."
Hermione nodded. This was true. Darien had never broken a promise in his life. Lying, on the other hand, well that is a complete other story.
"Then," Hermione said. "I have another promise for you to keep." Darien nodded saying he would take it to the grave something he always said when he was to keep a promise.
"Can't tell a soul about this either Darien. Ok?" Darien nodded again. Hermione told Darien all about the dream she had. What she didn't tell him was that she didn't only have the dream once; she had had three nights so far.
"You aren't the only one having bad dreams." Darien said looking in Harry's direction then back at Hermione.
Hermione walked up to the dorm. When she reached her bed she sat down on two letters by accident. She stood back up, picked up the letters, and sat back down again. One of them was a rather small paper folded in half. She opened it. Hermione immediately recognized the very neat but small handwriting, which belonged to Draco Malfoy.
Meet me in the
Back of the Graw-
Shots library at
6 tonight. Say
You want to work
on something. I
need to talk to you
about something
important.
Dragon
Hermione thought it was wise to use code names in case their letters were interfered somehow. Draco, not only being his name, was also Latin for dragon, so Draco's code name was Dragon. Hermione didn't really know the origin of her name, besides the fact that is French, so picked something she liked. She had picked Cloud. She liked the sound of it. It sounded mysterious. Hermione quickly wrote him back.
They next letter was in a regular envelope, but it came by owl. Maybe Phoenix and Daffodil nagged their grandpa to give them an owl. Hermione thought. Their grandfather was a wizard, but married a muggle. They had all muggle children, so therefore, Phoenix and Daffodil, were muggles. They had moved here from America. Their parents were what they called 'hippies' and that is why Daffodil was a 'flower child' and Phoenix was a 'bird child.'
She slit the letter opened and unfolded it.
Hermione,
What's up? Nothing's really going on here at Hogwarts. What's
going on over in America. Forgot the name of the school. Oh,
guess what? It took a long time of begging, but I talked
Prof. McGonnagual is letting me come to that school. She
it was to dangerous for 4th years to go… blah blah blah,
but she's letting me come because I'm a cheerleader and
all. Ron is going to be soooo pleased to have his little
sister running around with him. NOT! Any way, I
have class. Tell Harry the new Defense Against Dark
Arts teacher is great! Although I wouldn't exactly
call him new! (there is a clue for you Hermione)
Your Friend,
Ginny Weasley
Hermione was happy that Ginny gets to come here after all. She had been soooo mad that Professor McGonnagual had said the trip was for fifth years and up. But Ginny was right, Ron wouldn't exactly be happy that Ginny would be coming. She wrote back to Ginny.
Ginny ~
I think it is great that you're coming I'll see you
when you get here. Are you saying that one of
our old DADA teachers are back? Couldn't be
he died, could be Lockhart, maybe Lupin, but
not Mad-eye Moody. If Harry will be happy
then my guess would be Lupin. You can tell
Harry that when you get here. Harry and
your brother isn't speaking to me at the
moment and please don't why because to
tell you the truth I don't know myself.
Oh well, see you when you get here.
Friends Forever,
Hermione Granger
P.S. The school is called Grawshots.
Hermione sent off the letter with one of the pen pal owls. Hermione looked at the clock on Darien's nightstand. 5:43. She decided to leave and meet Draco early incase she got lost on the way there. She walked out of the common room carrying some books with to look like she had to return them to the library. She was walking with her head in one of the books as though she was reading. She accidentally ran into someone.
"Sorry," said the person she had just ran into. Hermione looked up. At first she thought it was Justin Flinch-Flechy, a boy in Hufflepuff, friends with Hannah Abbott. But this boy had an American accent.
"It's ok, I wasn't watching where I was going." Hermione replied.
"I wasn't either," the boy replied. "My name is Zac, I'm in Huperlooff. What house are you in?"
"Oh I'm don't go here I go to Hogwarts. I'm staying in Growlyn while I'm here." Hermione said, slightly blushing, "Oh, I'm Hermione by the way."
"Cool do you know Hannah Abbott? She is my pen pal." Hermione nodded. "Well, see ya around then," Then Zac, continued
on his direction. Hermione quickly glanced at her watch. 5:52. She'd better hurry up. She decided to trop the book charade and to continue walking normally.
She reached the library. The librarian was extremely nicer than Madam Pince. The second Hermione stepped into the library She asked, "May I help you dear?"
Hermione shook her head and told the librarian she had only come to look around. She walked to the back of the library. Draco was already there.
Hermione glanced at her watch again. "You aren't late I got here early," Draco said as though knowing what Hermione was thinking.
"So," Hermione said, "What was so important that you just HAD to talk me?"
"Besides the fact that I need someone to complain to because Natasha and Pansy have joined forces and are annoying the hell out of me, I needed to talk to you about Potter and Weasley."
"What is there to talk about?" said Hermione trying to act as nothing was wrong.
"Well I've noticed that they are avoiding you. Whenever I see you now, mainly in meals, you are always sitting with Darien or Cleo."
"Draco, please don't take this the wrong way, but I don't want to talk about it with you, I mean…"
"Yeah, I know Hermione relax I gave a bad first impression, and you don't think you can trust me with your secret. Well, you are right you can't. I'm HORRIBLE at keeping secrets."
Hermione felt somewhat relieved when Draco told her this. She didn't want him being mad at her too.
"I could try and get Potter and Weasley into telling me why their mad at you?" Draco suggested.
"I highly doubt they will tell you Draco."
"Yeah, guess you're right. You try and figure it out. I have a headache."
"Let me guess, Natasha and Pansy?"
Draco nodded and moaned. They had to go to dinner, and Natasha and Pansy always sat next to him before Crabbe and Goyle could even get into the room.
"It'll be ok Draco, just ignore them."
Draco looked at her as though she was insane. "Ignore them? You try ignoring them. I tell you, they aren't human. They are talking, howling monkeys!" They both laughed at this and walked into the dining hall to have dinner.
After everyone was seated and had started eating dinner Carla stood up and cleared her throat. "Good evening students, as all of my Grawshots students know tomorrow is American Pride Day. It is a day when everyone wears clothes that have thing to do with America on them, Such as the American Flag. Hogwarts students, you do not have to do this if you have soothing you could wear tomorrow go right ahead. Students are reminded you do not have to wear your robes tomorrow, just the clothes."
The next morning when the Luis, Darien, Jason, Ron, Bobby, Seamus, and Dean woke up there were noises coming from inside the bathroom. Being the only morning person in the dorm, Luis looked over at Hermione's bed. It was empty.
"Hermione is that you in there?" Luis called
"Yeah, it's me, I have the perfect outfit for this American thingy and I'm doing my hair and make-up."
"All right, we are gunna get changed then, so don't come out till we say ya can all right?"
"Ok" Hermione called.
Hermione was almost done when she and Luis were having this conversation, so she waited about ten minutes before asking if she could come out.
"Yeah, come on out let me in there I need to gel my hair." Said Darien
"What is with Americans and gelling their hair?" Hermione said stepping out of the bathroom.
But all the boys were to stunned to answer. At first glance Darien, Luis, and Jason thought her out fit generally matched the one Jennifer Lopez had worn to the 2000 Video Music Awards they had all watched on MTV. She had her bangs pulled up into a ponytail with the rest of her hair down and a rolled up bandana rapped around her forehead. Her outfit contained a black pair of bellbottom pants with red, white, and blue stars down the sides. Her shirt however, was a tube top, with a glittering American flag on it.
"What are you all staring at, and Bobby, please you look like a monkey, do shut your mouth," Hermione said. Bobby shut his mouth, which was hanging open, but didn't take his eyes off of her. Even Ron, who wasn't speaking to her, wouldn't take his eyes off of her.
Hermione seemed to have that affect on boys the rest of the day. Even Harry, down in the common room, was staring at her, but when they made eye contact, he quickly looked away.
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Hermione deciding that she was bored chose to go down to the library to do some free reading. But as she was walking down the hall she saw Draco, being dragged down the hall by Natasha and Pansy holding onto each arm, which left no choice but fro Draco to follow them. Draco's eyes seemed to light up with hope when he saw Hermione.
"Get out of our way Mudblood, we have to be somewhere." Natasha said coolly. "Right Draco? Draco? DRACO!!!!!!!!!!" Draco was in the same trance that all the other boys were in around Hermione, mouth hanging wide open."
"Oh go right ahead," Hermione said smiling.
"Slut," Natasha muttered to Pansy.
"Oh, Natasha, Don't hate because I'm beautiful, hate because your little slave thinks so." Hermione called eyeing Draco. With that the three (well two, technically Draco was being dragged,) stormed off.
So this is what it is like being a veela, all men attracted to you, amazing what tube tops can do. Hermione thought laughing to herself.
Hermione reached the library and walked up to the librarian's desk. "Do you have any good fiction books that would make a good read?" Hermione asked quietly.
"Yes that whole aisle of books over there are all fiction," said the librarian smiling.
Hermione said a quick thank you and walked over to the row of books. When she got there, Cleo was in there also. Seeing Hermione a huge smile spread over her face.
"Finally," she said, "Someone to talk to! Guess who I'm going to the dance with?"
"Who?"
"Jason!" seeing the confusion on Hermione's face she continued with a story. "Well, me and Jason were thinking about the dance and all, and I said 'I think I want to the dance with Darien' the he said 'you can't go to the dance with Darien' and then I asked him 'why not?' then he didn't say anything for a while and just stood where he was for a couple of seconds staring at his feet. But then he said 'because I want to go with you' and then he looked at me. And then we kinda hooked up I guess," Cleo said finishing.
"That's great!" Hermione said hugging Cleo.
"Yeah, and the weird thing is almost the same exact thing happened to Nyomi and Bobby!"
"Yeah that is weird,"
"So any guys ask you to the dance yet?"
"Yeah about 14 today. But I think it is just because of my outfit." Hermione replied looking down, examining the outfit she was wearing.
"Yep, guys in America see a tube top and go brain dead, well most of 'em any way. Hey there are two of this book and it sounds really good, how about we both read it!"
"That's a great idea, but I warn you I read fast," Hermione says.
"So do I!" Cleo said handing her a copy of the book.
Hermione didn't realize it but she had been sitting in the library for over an hour. The book was so good.
"Oh, hi Hermione," A familiar voice shot her out of the book and back into the library. She looked up. It was Zac. "You don't have homework to do you?" he asked.
"Nope, just reading for fun. Your teachers gave you homework?"
"Teacher. My potions teacher, Professor Shray, INSISTED we have homework these are seventy-five questions. I've finished most of them except for two."
"Let me see it." Hermione said holding out her hand. He gave the packet to her.
"Number six and twenty-three." Hermione looked at the problems. Looked threw the potions textbook Zac had.
"The answer to six is on page 271 and the answer to twenty-three is on page 274." Hermione said plainly. "I guess I'll go up to my dorm and finish reading this."
"Ok, see ya later. Oh and Hermione LOVE the outfit." He said smiling.
Hermione stepped into the common room and headed straight for the dorm stairs.
"Emmi," called Darien. He was sitting on the couch.
"Yeah,"
"Don't go up to the dorm yet, Harry and Ron are having a private conversation and they don't want anyone to hear what they are talking about."
"Well, I was going to go read up in the dorm but I guess I could read down here. I am FREEZING though can I just please go and get a sweatshirt?"
"Fine but if you hear anything, and they kill you, don't haunt me."
Hermione shook her head. "So strange you are."
Hermione walked up the stairs and into the dorm. She was quiet so Ron and Harry wouldn't hear her. They were in one of the wardrobes, talking.
"I still think it's stupid to keep avoiding Hermione like this," came Ron's voice.
"I know, but I've had this dream every single night for two weeks straight, and I'm starting to think it isn't a dream it is our future."
"Harry I thought you didn't believe in Diviation?"
"I know,"
"What is the dream again?"
"Well, I'm sitting at a table with Hermione and Malfoy, and we are all best friends,"
"Thanks a lot," Ron said sarcastically.
"Sorry, and we are talking and stuff and then Hermione and Malfoy go to get our drinks and when I drink mine, I pass out, that is when I always wake up,"
Hermione just stood there rooted to her spot not able to move. Why would Harry believe that? Hermione thought. Then Harry and Ron walked out of the wardrobe and saw Hermione standing there holding tightly onto a sweatshirt and a book. She looked up at them and could see anger in their faces. She ran from the room.
A/N: So do you like chapter 4? Please read and review! Sorry to leave this as a cliffhanger but this chapter was getting to long and my fingers are starting to hurt. I wasn't planning on putting chapter 4 out this early, but well, let's put it this way. The more reviews I get, the faster the chapters come out!