Title: Out of Body, Out of Mind
Author: Audrey (booksmartbrilliance@yahoo.com)
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Summary: An accident in potions almost means the end for Hermione. What happens when Moaning Myrtle takes advantage of Hermione's out of body experience? Will Myrtle finally get her chance with Harry? Will Hermione ever get her body back? Or will everyone think she's lost her mind, including her best friends?
A/N: WARNING! Angst ahoy! Please review!
CHAPTER FIVE -- DIFFERENT SIDES
Myrtle sat by the fire seemingly engrossed in her book. At a table a few feet away Harry, Ron and Ginny were doing their homework. Hermione was pacing up and down in front of the fire.
"How could she do this to me? she asked thin air. "I thought we were really close!"
Myrtle sighed and lowered her book. It was impossible to concentrate when Hermione was carrying on so. She had been ranting about Ginny seeing some Slytherin ever since she had suddenly appeared at dinner.
"It seems to me that you have more to worry about than who your friend is seeing behind your back." Myrtle whispered so low that only Hermione could hear. Hermione ignored her and continued to pace.
"Did she think I'd tell Ron?"
"Well, wouldn't you?" Myrtle said, bored.
"What?" Hermione said stopping abruptly and looking at her. "No I wouldn't!"
"You wouldn't?" Myrtle asked enjoying the total look of confusion on Hermione's face. "You're perfectly fine with a Gryffindor seeing a Slytherin?"
"Well, in theory...yes. It doesn't matter what house they're in. But Malfoy? Ugh!"
"Typical Gryffindor," said Myrtle raising her book just below eye level and pretending to read. In all actuality she was watching Harry do his Divination homework.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Hermione asked putting her hands on her hips.
"Gryffindors always think they are better than everyone else."
"What house were you in then?"
"Slytherin."
Hermione snorted. "You were in Slytherin?"
"Yes, is that so hard to believe?" Myrtle said shortly. She didn't have to look quite so shocked, did she?
"I always thought you were Hufflepuff."
"HUFFLEPUFF!" Myrtle cried, causing the three at the table to look up at her in a startled fashion. There was a moment of total silence and then Myrtle blushed and held up the book apologetically. "That stupid Hufflepuff Hussy, she just makes me so mad!"
The three exchanged looks and Ron whispered something to Harry.
Hermione shook her head, "Look, we need to talk."
Myrtle nodded and stood. "Goodnight."
"Are you going to bed already?" Ron asked incredulously . "You haven't even done any homework tonight."
"Yes, I'm tired." She said rather coldly to Ron. She was finding that Ron hadn't changed much from the second year she had met four years ago. He was still outspoken and rude.
"Me too," said Ginny putting away her books. "Goodnight."
"Night," Harry called as they ascended the stairs.
* * * * *
Hermione took a deep breath, looked her body in the eye and tried to make Myrtle understand. "If you're gong to be me you could at least make it realistic," she said with a frown. "I don't run into walls, I don't eat absurd amounts of sweets -- my parents are dentists after all-- and I don't read romance novels!"
She had been horrified upon finding Myrtle stuffing her face full of treacle tarts at dinner, gaining undisguised stares from her fellow Gryffindors. Myrtle had eaten as if there was no tomorrow until Ron had finally said something about stopping and she had left in a huff. Mentally she could understand that Myrtle hadn't eaten anything in fifty years, but Hermione had never been so embarrassed in her life. Well, not until two seconds later, however, when Lavender had reached over to pick up the book Myrtle had left behind and it was made known up and down the Gryffindor table that Hermione Granger, the prefect, read trashy romance novels.
"Well, what do you do then?" Myrtle asked crossing her arms. They were sitting on her bed, having pulled the curtains and placing a soundproof spell so that they could talk in peace.
"I study," said Hermione simply. She knew she did more than that, but she couldn't think of anything else on the spot. Besides, the N.E.W.T.s were only a year away.
"In other words, you're boring." Myrtle said frowning.
"I am not boring!" Hermione protested.
"You are boring," Myrtle said. "No wonder Harry has been your friend for six years and never wanted more."
Hermione sat up straighter, Myrtle's words stung. "You should talk, Moping Myrtle! You've spent the last fifty years crying in a toilet because you never had anyone love you back. That's not really screaming 'fascinating' is it?"
"Shut up," said Myrtle looking at Hermione unhappily. "What would you know about love anyway? You've never stuck your head outside of your books to notice what's been right here in front of you. There's a reason I haven't been living life to the fullest, I've been dead. What's your excuse?"
"Look," Hermione said sighing. "all I'm saying is this. If you want Harry to fall in love with me...or you, or whoever. You're going to have to stop acting so unusual! It's a wonder they haven't carted me off to St. Mungos yet. Just do what I would do. At least until I can come up with someway to..." Hermione faltered.
"To get him to fall in love with me," Myrtle finished for her.
Hermione frowned, "And stop staring at him."
"I don't stare," Myrtle said pouting. "I study."
Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Oh, fine," Myrtle said sighing. "I'll stop staring. But if I'm going to act like you, I'm going to need you to stick around. Don't go wandering off so much. Otherwise I might have to do something completely unexpected."
"Like what?" Hermione asked, startled.
Myrtle smiled wickedly at her, "Oh, I'm sure I'll think of something."
Hermione didn't like her tone at all.
* * * * *
Hermione sat in the Common Room staring into the dying fire. It had been deserted long ago by Ron and Harry. Myrtle was asleep upstairs in her bed and she was left to wait out the night. On the plus side it did give her time to think over her situation. On the down side it seemed a hopeless situation the more she thought about it.
First, there was the problem of no one being able to see or hear her except Myrtle. Ron had seemed to have some reaction to her presence but she didn't know how she was going to communicate with him, or anyone else for that matter, with Myrtle always hanging about. She also didn't understand why Myrtle had seen her when no other ghost could. It didn't make any sense. What she needed was to go to the library and research out of body experiences, but there was no way for her to do that in the state she was in.
Second, there was the problem of Harry. She didn't like the way Myrtle was always looking at him. Like he was a piece of candy for Merlin's sake! Frankly, it was embarrassing. Who knew what rumors were being spread around the school by Lavender and Parvati. Not to mention that it wouldn't be long before Harry began to notice her behavior. And then...well then Myrtle may do something insane like pledge her undying love to Harry. Hermione shivered at the thought.
Third, there was the problem of Ginny. Since when was she seeing Malfoy? Since when did any Weasley tolerate a Malfoy enough to kiss them? Was she in trouble? Under some kind of love potion? Had she gone insane? How could she date someone who's father tried to kill her second year? Hermione was genuinely worried about the girl. She was also not a little hurt that Ginny hadn't told her about her relationship. They had grown very close over the last two years and it felt like a punch in the stomach that she couldn't be trusted with this piece of information.
As if on cue, Hermione looked up to see the figure of Ginny Weasley tiptoeing down the stairs. She suddenly remembered the conversation she had overheard at dinner. She was on her way to meet Malfoy. Hermione watched her as she walked through the Common Room oblivious to her presence. It only took Hermione a moment to decide to follow her. She realized that it was a bit intrusive, but she was worried. Besides, Ginny would never know.
* * * * *
Ginny hugged her knees as she sat on the stone bench carved into the stone Astronomy Tower wall. From the tower she could see the grounds all the way to the Forbidden Forest bathed in moonlight. It was a beautiful night and the stars glittered against the dark blue sky like diamonds. Ordinarily she would have been entranced by the beautiful scenery.
Instead she was staring down at the stone floor. She wasn't sure how long she had been waiting for Draco to show, but she knew it had been too long. She could feel worry gnawing at her stomach. It wasn't like him not to show up when he said he would. He would have sent her an owl or manage to get her a message somehow. She couldn't push away the feeling that something terrible had happened.
She shivered at the thought and looked around the tower. Her imagination was definitely getting to her. She couldn't shrug off the feeling that she was being watched and kept imagining eyes staring at her from the darkness. She slowly stretched out her legs and stood up from the cold stone seat. She walked to the window and looked out over the grounds. She should go. It was getting later and she would be falling asleep in class tomorrow for keeping these hours.
She jumped as she heard the door creak open and she spun around to be greeted by the sight of a tired looking Draco. She smiled and gave a sigh of relief. "You scared me," she chided playfully, walking over to kiss him softly on the lips.
"Did I?" he asked blankly, not returning her smile.
Something was different about him. She couldn't put her finger on it, but there was something there. "Where have you been?"
"I had to talk to my father."
"What?" Ginny asked alarmed. "He's here at Hogwarts?"
"No, we talked in the Common Room, through the fireplace."
"Oh," she said, not a little relieved that Lucius Malfoy was a safe distance away. She looked up at Draco and found his gaze focused on the window. He looked so stiff and pale, like a statue. Why was he refusing to look at her?
His voice was low as he spoke, "He wants me to get the Dark Mark as soon as possible. He says it's time."
She gasped and stepped away from him. Surely she had heard him wrong. "The Dark Mark?" she repeated numbly.
He nodded and his eyes met hers.
"What did he do when you told him no?"
He looked away from her and said nothing.
Ginny felt her chest constrict, "You did tell him no, didn't you?"
"Damn it, Ginny, it's not that easy."
"What do you mean it's not that easy?" she asked, her voice shaking slightly. She stepped toward him and laid her hand on his arm. "You're not a Death Eater, Draco."
"Not yet," he said bitterly.
"Not ever!" she said desperately, squeezing his arm. He looked down at her hand on his arm and sneered.
"Who's going to stop me?" he asked, coldly. "You?"
She swallowed hard. "That's not you," she whispered. "You're not your father, Draco."
He pushed her hand away and shook his head, "You don't understand. Without my family, I'm nothing."
"That's not true!"
"It is." he said forcefully. "If I refuse, I'll have no money, no home, no name, no friends..."
"You'll have me," she said cutting him off.
He looked down at her a strange expression on his face. "And if I refuse to refuse?"
She bit her lip, "You can't have both worlds, Draco."
He tensed and she saw his hands roll themselves into fists. "No, I suppose, I can't," he said softly.
She felt tears well up in her eyes as she reached up to gently tuck a stray of his pale hair behind his ear. "You've made your decision, then?"
He nodded. She reached up and pulled him down to her for a long kiss. He pulled her close as she wrapped her arms around his neck. They broke apart and she found that her tears were falling down her face. "I guess this is goodbye, then."
She swept her long red hair over her shoulder and went to unhook a thin gold chain that hung around her neck.
"Don't," he said quickly, holding out a hand and stopping her. "Keep it."
"I can't," she said.
"I want you to."
She dropped the chain with a sigh, suddenly feeling too tired to take it off. She turned and willed her feet to make their way to the door. At the door she turned and looked back at him. With the moonlight coming in from behind him he looked like a faceless angel with a halo of blonde hair.
"Are we enemies, again?" she asked.
He shook his head, "We were never enemies, Ginny. Just on different sides."
"I wish you were on the right one," she said softly, before walking through the door. She was concentrating so hard on trying not to cry that she didn't hear his whispered reply.
"So do I."
* * * * *.
A/N: Okay you D/G shippers must really hate me right now. Don't fear! This is just the beginning. As for all you Myrtle supporters, I apologize for the small appearance of our star. Though this chapter had some very important information about our favorite Naked-Prefect-Obsessed Ghost.
Apologies for taking so long to churn out this chapter. I wanted that last scene perfect without being melodramatic...tell me if I succeeded or if it is sickeningly sappy. PLEASE? Constructive Criticism is always valued.
Once again I'd love to thank all you wonderful reviewers. You keep me inspired to write more!
Scrabbit, Kristen Elizabeth, Arctic_Akita, Ailsa, Eric Bloodstone, Andrea, depth, Lost Dove, Angelic_Eyez....THANK YOU!