-Chapter Six-
The Non-Potions Master
Hermione awoke in her bed next morning, and Draco in his. She looked at the clock; it was 8 o'clock in the morning.
'Oh, crap!' Hermione hissed. 'Draco, we're going to be late for our first class!' Draco just rolled over, not opening his eyes.
'Can't you just go back to sleep? We won't be late, relax...' Draco mumbled through his covers.
'Um, Draco...It's 8 o'clock!!!!!!' Hermione yelled. Draco's eyes snapped open.
'Why didn't you tell me it was this late in the morning?!' Draco shouted. He leapt out of bed, but tripped over a bottle of hair gel. 'ACK!' He landed face-first into the floor. Hermione was giggling at him. 'It's not funny!'
'Yes it is!' Hermione giggled. She took out her wand. 'Accio robes!' (this, of course, being a summoning charm). Hermione whipped into the change-room, and quickly brushed her hair in front of a mirror. Draco was dressed and ready by the time she got out.
'Come on, I'll walk you downstairs to the Great Hall,' he said. Hermione smiled.
'Why, that would be lovely,' she answered. They went arm in arm, down the stairs, to the hall. They quickly tore apart when they opened the doors, though.
''Mione! O'er 'ere!' Ron yelled through pieces of bread. Hermione quickly sprinted over to the Gryffindor table. 'What took you so long?'
'Just slept late, that's all,' Hermione said, looking at Harry, who looked surprisingly better. 'Have a good sleep last night, Harry?'
'Yeah...thanks for asking,' he blushed. Hermione quickly tore off a piece of parchment, and wrote a note.
Harry-
About last night; maybe we should
Continue on and pretend that kiss,
Or the arguement, never happened,
OK?
I hope you are feeling well. Have
A good day!
--Hermione
When Hermione got up from the table, she quickly passed the note to Harry, who read it, then nodded.
'I have to go meet Professor McGonagall,' Hermione exclaimed. 'Head meeting, you know...things like that.'
'OK, see you in an hour,' Ron and Harry said. Hermione hurried down to Professor McGonagall's office. Even though she was head of Gryffindor house, she would take away points from Gryffindor if Hermione was late.
'Hello, Miss Granger,' McGonagall said. 'Do sit down.' So Hermione sat in the same armchair as last time. 'As you know, the Halloween feast is approaching,' she said, 'and we need someone to organize all of the decorations. Do you think you would be able to do it?'
'Sure, Professor,' Hermione said. 'I can't see why not. What decorations will you need?'
'Just go ask Professor Flitwick, he has the decorations for all the holidays,' Professor McGonagall retorted. 'Mr Malfoy will be helping you, of course. I think that is all. You may go.'
'OK, thank you, Professor,' Hermione smiled. She was about to head out the door, when-
'You don't want to take the shortcut to Potions this afternoon,' Professor McGonagall said abruptly. 'Peeves has made a mess over there...I tell you, if he misbehaves one more time, I've had it!'
Hermione tried to stifle down a laugh. 'Yes, Professor. Thank you for the warning.'
Sure enough, Professor McGonagall was right-Peeves had sprayed magical crazy string along the corridors on the way to Potions. But this was no ordinary crazy string-Hermione had encountered it at Zonko's Jokeshop before. If you touched it, it would bind you against the ceiling you were under.
'Peeves! What did you do that for?' Hermione yelled.
'Wee-hee-hee! Isn't it fun? Hey, where's twiddle-dee and tweedle-dum? Aren't they usually with you?' Peeves cackled, while blowing gum all over the place.
'They're still eating breakfast, if you must know,' Hermione answered briskly. 'And stop blowing bubble gum everywhere! You're making the crazy string more thick!'
'Exactly! Wee-hee-hee!' Peeves cackled. No matter how many times you asked Peeves to behave, he wouldn't.
'Will you please stop it? Professor Snape will-'
'I will what?' said an icy-cold voice from behind her.
'Er-just saying how messy it is here in the corridors, sir,' Hermione said.
'Indeed...' Snape said viciously. 'Peeves, cut that out at once!'
'Wee-hee-hee! If it isn't Snape-y the snake-y!' Peeves cackled. 'Oh dear! Is this your office? Wee-hee-hee! Excellent!'
'Waddiwasi!' Snape growled, and a shot like a bullet from a gun went towards Peeves. 'Very handy spell, indeed...Granger, don't you have to be somewhere?'
'Er-no, sir, my first class isn't for another forty-five minutes,' Hermione shuddered.
'Well, go and do something, surely this castle isn't all boring, now, is it?' Snape snarled. Hermione just stood there. 'For heavens sake, just go!' Hermione sprinted off in the opposite direction.
'Sheesh! You'd think he'd just drunk an anger potion...' Hermione thought. 'That would definitely have explained a lot.'
*
'Welcome to Charms!' beamed Professor Flitwick. 'We will be discussing the Colour Charm today! Anyone object?' Nobody spoke up. 'OK, then! Wands out, please!'
Everyone took out there wands. 'This is going to be easy,' Harry mumbled.
'Not really, actually,' Hermione said matter-of-factly. 'It's quite complicated. It took me a whole week to finally get it.'
'You mean you learn these charms before your forced to?' Ron asked.
'Of course!' Hermione said. 'Why wouldn't I?' Ron just rolled his eyes.
'OK now, everybody raise there wands, and do what I do!' Professor Flitwick said merrily. 'Calarium Periocer!' Everybody did the the spell, but none of them did it correctly, except Hermione. 'Well done, Miss Granger! You should all be taking a leaf out of Miss Granger's booklet!'
'How did you do that?' Ron asked. 'It looked so easy.'
'You're probably just not putting enough emphesis on the words,' Hermione muttered. 'Try it again.'
'Calarium Periocer!' Ron said. Oh yeah, this time it worked, all right-it turned everything blue and purple! 'Whoops...'
'See here? See here?' Professor Flitwick said, pointing a finger at Ron. 'Can anyone tell me what Mr Weasley has done wrong?' Hermione's hand shot up so quickly, Harry's glasses nearly fell of. 'Yes, yes, Miss Granger?'
'He did a background colour charm, instead of just a colour charm,' Hermione said brightly.
'Correct! 10 points for Gryffindor! Absolutely splendid!' Professor Flitwick smiled. 'We'll leave it there for today. You may go. Good day to you all!'
Everybody left except for Hermione. 'Um, Professor Flitwick, sir?'
'Yes, Miss Granger?' he asked.
'Well, as you know, the Halloween feast is coming up, and I need the decorations,' Hermione said.
'Oh, of course!' Professor Flitwick said, grinning broadly. 'Over there in the cupboard!' He pointed to an old, birchwood cupboard. 'The pumpkins, and special goblets and candles are in there. I'll teach you the charm for lighting up the pumpkins, and making them float.'
'Great, thanks,' Hermione said excitedly. 'I've never decorated before. I was afraid you wouldn't teach me the spell, and I'd've had to learn it on my own.'
'Nonsense!' he smiled. 'Always happy to help! Say, how is it going being Head Girl? Must be quite the responsibility!'
'Oh, yes, sir, it is!' Hermione grinned. 'I love it, though. To tell you the truth, I'm rather surprised that I was able to be Head Girl. I would have thought Cho Chang would have been.'
'Doesn't really surprise me a bit, my dear, that you were chosen,' Professor Flitwick said graciously. 'You're the top student in the school, between you and I.'
'Thank you, Professor,' Hermione blushed. 'Well, I better go. Things to do, not always enough time!'
'Yes, yes, run along, then!' Professor Flitwick said. 'Have a nice day!'
*
On the way to Potions, everybody was gathered around a specific area in the halls. Harry and Ron being in the crowd, too.
'What's going on?' Hermione panted, after she'd caught up with them. 'Is it Peeves?'
'No, it's Neville,' Harry muttered. 'Look!' He pointed up at the ceiling, where Neville was, attached to it with magical crazy string.
'Oh, my gosh!' Hermione squealed. 'Neville, are you all right??'
'As long as I don't fall!' he squeaked. 'Somebody get me down!' Draco Malfoy came striding in beside Hermione.
'What seems to be the problem? Let me through, I'm Head Boy, I'll handle it,' Draco said as he pushed through the crowd. 'Hermione, why-is-Neville-on-the-ceiling?'
'Peeves enchanted some crazy string. Whoever touches it will be tied to the ceiling, and, well...' Hermione pointed at Neville, 'he must have touched it.'
'Oh well, I shall get him down,' Draco said, pushing others out of the way. 'Neville, all right up there? I'm going to get you down.'
'EEP!' Neville squealed. He had had some bad experiences with magic.
'Pryairo-flottom!' Draco said, pointing his wand at Neville. Neville started drifting slowly back to the ground, and landed on his feet perfectly. He dusted himself off.
'Er-th-th-th-thank you!' Neville squealed, and he ran over to Harry, Ron and Hermione.
'Neville, is something wrong? You've been acting strange lately,' Hermione said, a concerned look on her face.
'Yes, there is something wrong, Herm,' Neville said, going pink in the face (not that he wasn't already, though, from the embarrassment of being attached to the ceiling). 'Can you guys meet me in the Astronomy Tower at midnight? I'll tell you then.'
'OK,' they all said with puzzled looks on their faces.
'All right!' Snape roared, stepping out of his classroom. 'Go in, single file, now. Mr Malfoy, if you would have a word with me outside...' He gripped Draco's shoulder. Once everyone else had gone into the classroom, Snape began to speak to him. 'You will be serving your detention with Filch tonight. You will be cleaning out the Owlery from 9-12 o'clock. Have a good time...if that's even possible,' he smirked, as Draco went into the classroom. Hermione looked at Draco with a puzzled expression.
'Right then, class, we will be doing a hiccoughing potion today,' Snape said with a twisted smile. 'Again, I will be partnering you. Potter, Granger. Longbottom, Malfoy. Weasley, Bulstrode.'
Harry was happy to be partners with Hermione. 'This is much better than you sitting with Malfoy, isn't it?'
'Er-yeah, that's so true,' she said. 'You want to cut up the ingredients, or shall I?'
'I'll cut them up, while you tell me what ingredients and how much,' Harry smiled gently. 'Listen, again, about last night, I'm sorry.'
'Harry, it's perfectly fine,' Hermione said sincerely. 'I've come to a decision; I love you like a brother.'
'A brother, eh? I guess that's not too bad,' Harry grinned. 'Then I guess I'll love you like a sister. Oh, hang on a second...' He reached into his robes, and pulled out a ring. 'Not that you're my girlfriend, but I bought it at the giftshop when you weren't looking, and thought you might like it.' Harry put the ring on Hermione's slender finger. It shined beautifully.
'Thank you, Harry,' Hermione whispered. Draco was watching this, and felt a seer of anger flow through him.
'How dare he give my Hermione a ring!' he thought to himself. 'I oughtta-'
'D-d-d-draco? Y-y-you're not listening to me when I'm talking,' Neville stammered. 'Y-y-you need two lacewings, not four.'
'Huh? What?-Oh, right, sorry,' Draco said, as he stepped foot back onto Earth.
'Is s-something b-b-bothering you, D-draco?' Neville asked. 'If I'm n-n-nosing, just tell me t-to butt out.'
'Yes, something's bothering me, Neville,' Draco growled, then saw the scared look on Neville's face. 'Oh, no, no! It has nothing to do with you.'
After class, everybody rushed down to the Great Hall for lunch. The Owl Post arrived as soon as everybody had settled. Something dropped down in front of Harry. It was a letter from Sirius, and a clipping from the Daily Prophet. The note said:
Harry-
Are these words true?
--Sirius
The clipping was ridiculous! He tossed it aside for Hermione to look at.
Potter is Getting Married?!
Harry Potter and a mysterious Muggle-born by
The name of Hermione Granger are said to be
Wed in July, reports Rita Skeeter. 'Oh, yeah! Potter
Hangs out with that Mudblood all the time!' says one, Vincent Crabbe.
Gregory Goyle says, 'When they're not in class, they're usually
Smooching up a storm in the Astronomy Tower!'
Hermione spat out her Pumpkin juice. 'What the?! Ugh! That Skeeter woman will do anything to embarrass us!'
'Wh't? Wh't is it?' Ron asked through a mouth full of chicken.
'Rita Skeeter said that Hermione and I were boyfriend and girlfriend, and that we're getting married,' Harry grumbled. 'Totally nutters, that woman is!'
'Hey, Potter! Going up to the Astronomy Tower tonight with your girlfriend?' Pansy Parkinson laughed. Harry went crimson in the face.
'Harry, ignore her,' Hermione said coolly. 'She's just a brat starving for attention, and you know it.'
'Oh! Are we having Care of Magical Creatures this afternoon?' Ron asked abruptly.
'No, sorry, we're having Transfiguration,' Hermione said. 'Why do you ask?'
'I really liked those Centaurs the other day, that's all,' Ron sighed. 'Say, who's setting up decorations this year for the Halloween feast?'
'That would be me,' said a voice behind Ron. 'Of course, Hermione will be helping me.'
'Malfoy, buzz off,' Ron said. 'You're ruining our meal...'
'Now, now, Ron, I could give you detention. Keep that temper in line,' Draco said smoothly. 'I shall be leaving now. See you all later.' And with that, he swept away, over to the Slytherin table.
'How come he's calling us by our first names?' Harry asked curiously.
'Oh, uh, dunno...' said Hermione innocently. 'Probably just wants to be on first name terms, since he's Head Boy and all...'
'Yeah, maybe...' eyed Ron suspiciously. He nodded towards Harry, and they mysteriously "had to go and see Moaning Myrtle."
Really, Harry and Ron went over to the Slytherin table, and beckoned Malfoy out into the halls.
'OK, wise guy, why are you calling us by our first names?' Harry demanded angrily.
'What? Can't a guy be nice for awhile?' Malfoy smirked innocently. 'Really, it's none of your business.'
'Really? Well, maybe we should just go tell Professor McGonagall that you're hiding stuff from everyone,' Ron sneered.
'Fine, fine! How much will it cost me to make you two shut up?' Malfoy asked. 'Twenty? No, maybe thirty galleons?'
'Make it seventy-five, slimy idiot,' Ron spat. 'Right here, right now.'
Malfoy sighed deeply. 'OK, OK, here you go.' He handed Ron a sack of galleons. 'You can even count them yourself.'
*
At midnight, Harry, Ron and Hermione snuck up to the Astronomy Tower to meet Neville. When they got there, they saw him huddled in a corner, hugging his knees tightly.
'Neville? What's up?' Hermione said. 'You wanted us to meet you here?'
'Y-y-yeah, that's right,' Neville stammered nervously. 'The reason I called you here is b-because if I fail one more a-a-assignment for P-p-professor Snape, I'll get k-kicked out of s-s-school!'
The Non-Potions Master
Hermione awoke in her bed next morning, and Draco in his. She looked at the clock; it was 8 o'clock in the morning.
'Oh, crap!' Hermione hissed. 'Draco, we're going to be late for our first class!' Draco just rolled over, not opening his eyes.
'Can't you just go back to sleep? We won't be late, relax...' Draco mumbled through his covers.
'Um, Draco...It's 8 o'clock!!!!!!' Hermione yelled. Draco's eyes snapped open.
'Why didn't you tell me it was this late in the morning?!' Draco shouted. He leapt out of bed, but tripped over a bottle of hair gel. 'ACK!' He landed face-first into the floor. Hermione was giggling at him. 'It's not funny!'
'Yes it is!' Hermione giggled. She took out her wand. 'Accio robes!' (this, of course, being a summoning charm). Hermione whipped into the change-room, and quickly brushed her hair in front of a mirror. Draco was dressed and ready by the time she got out.
'Come on, I'll walk you downstairs to the Great Hall,' he said. Hermione smiled.
'Why, that would be lovely,' she answered. They went arm in arm, down the stairs, to the hall. They quickly tore apart when they opened the doors, though.
''Mione! O'er 'ere!' Ron yelled through pieces of bread. Hermione quickly sprinted over to the Gryffindor table. 'What took you so long?'
'Just slept late, that's all,' Hermione said, looking at Harry, who looked surprisingly better. 'Have a good sleep last night, Harry?'
'Yeah...thanks for asking,' he blushed. Hermione quickly tore off a piece of parchment, and wrote a note.
Harry-
About last night; maybe we should
Continue on and pretend that kiss,
Or the arguement, never happened,
OK?
I hope you are feeling well. Have
A good day!
--Hermione
When Hermione got up from the table, she quickly passed the note to Harry, who read it, then nodded.
'I have to go meet Professor McGonagall,' Hermione exclaimed. 'Head meeting, you know...things like that.'
'OK, see you in an hour,' Ron and Harry said. Hermione hurried down to Professor McGonagall's office. Even though she was head of Gryffindor house, she would take away points from Gryffindor if Hermione was late.
'Hello, Miss Granger,' McGonagall said. 'Do sit down.' So Hermione sat in the same armchair as last time. 'As you know, the Halloween feast is approaching,' she said, 'and we need someone to organize all of the decorations. Do you think you would be able to do it?'
'Sure, Professor,' Hermione said. 'I can't see why not. What decorations will you need?'
'Just go ask Professor Flitwick, he has the decorations for all the holidays,' Professor McGonagall retorted. 'Mr Malfoy will be helping you, of course. I think that is all. You may go.'
'OK, thank you, Professor,' Hermione smiled. She was about to head out the door, when-
'You don't want to take the shortcut to Potions this afternoon,' Professor McGonagall said abruptly. 'Peeves has made a mess over there...I tell you, if he misbehaves one more time, I've had it!'
Hermione tried to stifle down a laugh. 'Yes, Professor. Thank you for the warning.'
Sure enough, Professor McGonagall was right-Peeves had sprayed magical crazy string along the corridors on the way to Potions. But this was no ordinary crazy string-Hermione had encountered it at Zonko's Jokeshop before. If you touched it, it would bind you against the ceiling you were under.
'Peeves! What did you do that for?' Hermione yelled.
'Wee-hee-hee! Isn't it fun? Hey, where's twiddle-dee and tweedle-dum? Aren't they usually with you?' Peeves cackled, while blowing gum all over the place.
'They're still eating breakfast, if you must know,' Hermione answered briskly. 'And stop blowing bubble gum everywhere! You're making the crazy string more thick!'
'Exactly! Wee-hee-hee!' Peeves cackled. No matter how many times you asked Peeves to behave, he wouldn't.
'Will you please stop it? Professor Snape will-'
'I will what?' said an icy-cold voice from behind her.
'Er-just saying how messy it is here in the corridors, sir,' Hermione said.
'Indeed...' Snape said viciously. 'Peeves, cut that out at once!'
'Wee-hee-hee! If it isn't Snape-y the snake-y!' Peeves cackled. 'Oh dear! Is this your office? Wee-hee-hee! Excellent!'
'Waddiwasi!' Snape growled, and a shot like a bullet from a gun went towards Peeves. 'Very handy spell, indeed...Granger, don't you have to be somewhere?'
'Er-no, sir, my first class isn't for another forty-five minutes,' Hermione shuddered.
'Well, go and do something, surely this castle isn't all boring, now, is it?' Snape snarled. Hermione just stood there. 'For heavens sake, just go!' Hermione sprinted off in the opposite direction.
'Sheesh! You'd think he'd just drunk an anger potion...' Hermione thought. 'That would definitely have explained a lot.'
*
'Welcome to Charms!' beamed Professor Flitwick. 'We will be discussing the Colour Charm today! Anyone object?' Nobody spoke up. 'OK, then! Wands out, please!'
Everyone took out there wands. 'This is going to be easy,' Harry mumbled.
'Not really, actually,' Hermione said matter-of-factly. 'It's quite complicated. It took me a whole week to finally get it.'
'You mean you learn these charms before your forced to?' Ron asked.
'Of course!' Hermione said. 'Why wouldn't I?' Ron just rolled his eyes.
'OK now, everybody raise there wands, and do what I do!' Professor Flitwick said merrily. 'Calarium Periocer!' Everybody did the the spell, but none of them did it correctly, except Hermione. 'Well done, Miss Granger! You should all be taking a leaf out of Miss Granger's booklet!'
'How did you do that?' Ron asked. 'It looked so easy.'
'You're probably just not putting enough emphesis on the words,' Hermione muttered. 'Try it again.'
'Calarium Periocer!' Ron said. Oh yeah, this time it worked, all right-it turned everything blue and purple! 'Whoops...'
'See here? See here?' Professor Flitwick said, pointing a finger at Ron. 'Can anyone tell me what Mr Weasley has done wrong?' Hermione's hand shot up so quickly, Harry's glasses nearly fell of. 'Yes, yes, Miss Granger?'
'He did a background colour charm, instead of just a colour charm,' Hermione said brightly.
'Correct! 10 points for Gryffindor! Absolutely splendid!' Professor Flitwick smiled. 'We'll leave it there for today. You may go. Good day to you all!'
Everybody left except for Hermione. 'Um, Professor Flitwick, sir?'
'Yes, Miss Granger?' he asked.
'Well, as you know, the Halloween feast is coming up, and I need the decorations,' Hermione said.
'Oh, of course!' Professor Flitwick said, grinning broadly. 'Over there in the cupboard!' He pointed to an old, birchwood cupboard. 'The pumpkins, and special goblets and candles are in there. I'll teach you the charm for lighting up the pumpkins, and making them float.'
'Great, thanks,' Hermione said excitedly. 'I've never decorated before. I was afraid you wouldn't teach me the spell, and I'd've had to learn it on my own.'
'Nonsense!' he smiled. 'Always happy to help! Say, how is it going being Head Girl? Must be quite the responsibility!'
'Oh, yes, sir, it is!' Hermione grinned. 'I love it, though. To tell you the truth, I'm rather surprised that I was able to be Head Girl. I would have thought Cho Chang would have been.'
'Doesn't really surprise me a bit, my dear, that you were chosen,' Professor Flitwick said graciously. 'You're the top student in the school, between you and I.'
'Thank you, Professor,' Hermione blushed. 'Well, I better go. Things to do, not always enough time!'
'Yes, yes, run along, then!' Professor Flitwick said. 'Have a nice day!'
*
On the way to Potions, everybody was gathered around a specific area in the halls. Harry and Ron being in the crowd, too.
'What's going on?' Hermione panted, after she'd caught up with them. 'Is it Peeves?'
'No, it's Neville,' Harry muttered. 'Look!' He pointed up at the ceiling, where Neville was, attached to it with magical crazy string.
'Oh, my gosh!' Hermione squealed. 'Neville, are you all right??'
'As long as I don't fall!' he squeaked. 'Somebody get me down!' Draco Malfoy came striding in beside Hermione.
'What seems to be the problem? Let me through, I'm Head Boy, I'll handle it,' Draco said as he pushed through the crowd. 'Hermione, why-is-Neville-on-the-ceiling?'
'Peeves enchanted some crazy string. Whoever touches it will be tied to the ceiling, and, well...' Hermione pointed at Neville, 'he must have touched it.'
'Oh well, I shall get him down,' Draco said, pushing others out of the way. 'Neville, all right up there? I'm going to get you down.'
'EEP!' Neville squealed. He had had some bad experiences with magic.
'Pryairo-flottom!' Draco said, pointing his wand at Neville. Neville started drifting slowly back to the ground, and landed on his feet perfectly. He dusted himself off.
'Er-th-th-th-thank you!' Neville squealed, and he ran over to Harry, Ron and Hermione.
'Neville, is something wrong? You've been acting strange lately,' Hermione said, a concerned look on her face.
'Yes, there is something wrong, Herm,' Neville said, going pink in the face (not that he wasn't already, though, from the embarrassment of being attached to the ceiling). 'Can you guys meet me in the Astronomy Tower at midnight? I'll tell you then.'
'OK,' they all said with puzzled looks on their faces.
'All right!' Snape roared, stepping out of his classroom. 'Go in, single file, now. Mr Malfoy, if you would have a word with me outside...' He gripped Draco's shoulder. Once everyone else had gone into the classroom, Snape began to speak to him. 'You will be serving your detention with Filch tonight. You will be cleaning out the Owlery from 9-12 o'clock. Have a good time...if that's even possible,' he smirked, as Draco went into the classroom. Hermione looked at Draco with a puzzled expression.
'Right then, class, we will be doing a hiccoughing potion today,' Snape said with a twisted smile. 'Again, I will be partnering you. Potter, Granger. Longbottom, Malfoy. Weasley, Bulstrode.'
Harry was happy to be partners with Hermione. 'This is much better than you sitting with Malfoy, isn't it?'
'Er-yeah, that's so true,' she said. 'You want to cut up the ingredients, or shall I?'
'I'll cut them up, while you tell me what ingredients and how much,' Harry smiled gently. 'Listen, again, about last night, I'm sorry.'
'Harry, it's perfectly fine,' Hermione said sincerely. 'I've come to a decision; I love you like a brother.'
'A brother, eh? I guess that's not too bad,' Harry grinned. 'Then I guess I'll love you like a sister. Oh, hang on a second...' He reached into his robes, and pulled out a ring. 'Not that you're my girlfriend, but I bought it at the giftshop when you weren't looking, and thought you might like it.' Harry put the ring on Hermione's slender finger. It shined beautifully.
'Thank you, Harry,' Hermione whispered. Draco was watching this, and felt a seer of anger flow through him.
'How dare he give my Hermione a ring!' he thought to himself. 'I oughtta-'
'D-d-d-draco? Y-y-you're not listening to me when I'm talking,' Neville stammered. 'Y-y-you need two lacewings, not four.'
'Huh? What?-Oh, right, sorry,' Draco said, as he stepped foot back onto Earth.
'Is s-something b-b-bothering you, D-draco?' Neville asked. 'If I'm n-n-nosing, just tell me t-to butt out.'
'Yes, something's bothering me, Neville,' Draco growled, then saw the scared look on Neville's face. 'Oh, no, no! It has nothing to do with you.'
After class, everybody rushed down to the Great Hall for lunch. The Owl Post arrived as soon as everybody had settled. Something dropped down in front of Harry. It was a letter from Sirius, and a clipping from the Daily Prophet. The note said:
Harry-
Are these words true?
--Sirius
The clipping was ridiculous! He tossed it aside for Hermione to look at.
Potter is Getting Married?!
Harry Potter and a mysterious Muggle-born by
The name of Hermione Granger are said to be
Wed in July, reports Rita Skeeter. 'Oh, yeah! Potter
Hangs out with that Mudblood all the time!' says one, Vincent Crabbe.
Gregory Goyle says, 'When they're not in class, they're usually
Smooching up a storm in the Astronomy Tower!'
Hermione spat out her Pumpkin juice. 'What the?! Ugh! That Skeeter woman will do anything to embarrass us!'
'Wh't? Wh't is it?' Ron asked through a mouth full of chicken.
'Rita Skeeter said that Hermione and I were boyfriend and girlfriend, and that we're getting married,' Harry grumbled. 'Totally nutters, that woman is!'
'Hey, Potter! Going up to the Astronomy Tower tonight with your girlfriend?' Pansy Parkinson laughed. Harry went crimson in the face.
'Harry, ignore her,' Hermione said coolly. 'She's just a brat starving for attention, and you know it.'
'Oh! Are we having Care of Magical Creatures this afternoon?' Ron asked abruptly.
'No, sorry, we're having Transfiguration,' Hermione said. 'Why do you ask?'
'I really liked those Centaurs the other day, that's all,' Ron sighed. 'Say, who's setting up decorations this year for the Halloween feast?'
'That would be me,' said a voice behind Ron. 'Of course, Hermione will be helping me.'
'Malfoy, buzz off,' Ron said. 'You're ruining our meal...'
'Now, now, Ron, I could give you detention. Keep that temper in line,' Draco said smoothly. 'I shall be leaving now. See you all later.' And with that, he swept away, over to the Slytherin table.
'How come he's calling us by our first names?' Harry asked curiously.
'Oh, uh, dunno...' said Hermione innocently. 'Probably just wants to be on first name terms, since he's Head Boy and all...'
'Yeah, maybe...' eyed Ron suspiciously. He nodded towards Harry, and they mysteriously "had to go and see Moaning Myrtle."
Really, Harry and Ron went over to the Slytherin table, and beckoned Malfoy out into the halls.
'OK, wise guy, why are you calling us by our first names?' Harry demanded angrily.
'What? Can't a guy be nice for awhile?' Malfoy smirked innocently. 'Really, it's none of your business.'
'Really? Well, maybe we should just go tell Professor McGonagall that you're hiding stuff from everyone,' Ron sneered.
'Fine, fine! How much will it cost me to make you two shut up?' Malfoy asked. 'Twenty? No, maybe thirty galleons?'
'Make it seventy-five, slimy idiot,' Ron spat. 'Right here, right now.'
Malfoy sighed deeply. 'OK, OK, here you go.' He handed Ron a sack of galleons. 'You can even count them yourself.'
*
At midnight, Harry, Ron and Hermione snuck up to the Astronomy Tower to meet Neville. When they got there, they saw him huddled in a corner, hugging his knees tightly.
'Neville? What's up?' Hermione said. 'You wanted us to meet you here?'
'Y-y-yeah, that's right,' Neville stammered nervously. 'The reason I called you here is b-because if I fail one more a-a-assignment for P-p-professor Snape, I'll get k-kicked out of s-s-school!'