Have It Your Way Then
A/N: Since I cant seem to get italics to work all thoughts will be in ok? Sorry about that. I hope everyone enjoys this Chapter and I was wondering about a beta reader. Anyone interested just e-mail me ok? Bltchy_mama@hotmail.com
*
Hermione's head, which usually swam with thought, was delightfully blank. Only one thought escaped the fog. He tastes like chocolate.
They were still in the hospital wing, still on the bed by the window, still surrounded by curtains, still kissing. Anyone of a number of people could walk in at any moment. Madame Pomfrey could come in, Parkinson could come in, Ron could come looking for Hermione, and Neville could come in for any random thing. But all worries were out of Hermione's head, until that is, Draco pulled away.
"We should stop." He said breathing heavy and his voice husky; he still had his hand on the back of her neck but made no move to remove it. "Pomfrey could come in." Hermione watched as he licked his swollen lips then as his eyes danced from her own eyes to her lips.
"Soon." Was all she could manage before he pulled her back against him, groaning with the slight pain of his forming bruises. Never before had Hermione lost all reason by kissing someone. Not Krum, not Harry. It was like plunging into a deep lake, the water warm and cloudy, and up and down was mixed up. It was like drowning but Hermione loved it.
*
"We should stop." Draco had no idea where that came from. He had no desire to stop kissing her. He also had no idea how or when he decided to kiss her in the first place. It just happened, and he loved it. "Pomfrey could come in."
"Soon." She said and Draco instantly had the urge to kiss her again. And he did, he pulled her close and was lost in another long kiss, ignoring the pain of the bruises across his abdomen. She was warm against him and the skin he felt was soft, his hand on her neck felt as is it were resting on warm silk, and her now swollen lips were just as soft.
Draco could feel his heart pounding and his mind racing, with everything that was wrong about what they were doing, and all the ways it felt so right. If anyone from Slytherin came in his father would her and then his plan would crumble. But then there was the look in her eyes every time he pulled away to end it. A look as if she had ended all the hate between them and trusted him. A look of openness and if not love, then like. Draco had never received a look like this from anyone. That's why I have to end it now. To keep it later. He pulled away.
"Hermione," he said not knowing how he should say this. "We need to stop, and you need to leave." A look of pain replaced the trust he had seen in her eyes. She looked at her hands still on his shoulder and leapt up to go.
"If that's what you want Draco." Panicking he grabbed her arm and brought her back down on the bed, holding her arm softly.
You don't understand, we can't be seen..." she cut him off before he could finish explaining.
"Oh, I forgot, what would a Slytherin wand with a Gryffindor Mudblood?" Again she tried to leave but Draco held onto her wrist and pulled her closer. With his free hand he turned her chin to look at him, she had been avoiding his gaze and he saw it was because there were tears in her eyes.
"Hermione Granger, shut up and let me talk" he said frustrated. "I want to tell you something, but I need you to keep it a secret." Unsure of what he was doing Draco paused, but as she nodded he found he trusted this girl. A girl up until yesterday wasn't someone to even talk to. How could so much change in such a small period of time? So much had changed and he could feel it, in the air and in himself. He trusted Hermione Granger, he trusted her enough to tell her the plan. But would it help or harm?
*
"Are you mad?" Hermione asked pacing back and forth across the foot of the bed. She couldn't believe it, and Draco Malfoy of all people. Granted she had just drastically changed her attitude on Draco Malfoy, Hermione wasn't sure what was going on in his head. He had changed, changed enough to look at her in the eye without malice, what was it all about something like hormones, or was this change as deep as to have him follow through with the 'plan'?
"Hey, I'm not the one who cooked up this whole plan, Dumdum did." Draco said folding his arms across his chest, looking uncomfortable under Hermione's gaze.
"He would too." Hermione said to herself. She needed to get to the library to check out the things Draco had said. " I have to go." She stated.
"Where?" Draco asked snatching up another piece f chocolate from his bedside table and biting into it.
"Library, I have to look up this Adipate stone." She turned to leave but Draco called her back. "What?" she asked as he held up her bag, and when she dashed back to get it he caught her hand.
"So you understand? My father hears about any of this he will suspect something. No one can know. My being 'Nice' as you say, or this," he said and pulled her towards him and kissed her briefly. "Anything could go wrong, anything could ruin Dumdum's plans." Hermione nodded, she wasn't sure it was such a bad thing everything was going to be secret. With everything that had just happened, with Harry and Ginny, she wouldn't like the rumors.
"I understand. And stop calling him Dumdum, he is brilliant, if a bit mad." She smiled and stood up, " If you need anything I'll be in the library. But after a head injury I think you're in here overnight. Bye" she stole the chocolate halfway to his mouth and fled before the first pillow hit her.
*
Ron left the great hall and headed towards the dungeons. Class with Snape and the Slytherins was all he needed. Lunch was becoming too boring without his too best friends around. But then lunch would be too exciting if Hermione and Harry decided to pop in for lunch. He hadn't seen Hermione since the beginning of the lunch period when they were in the hospital wing. Today was going painfully slow for Ron.
When he entered the classroom, Ron was surprised to see Hermione sitting behind her usual workbench, book on her lap and her fingers playing with a curl of her chestnut hair. She was completely oblivious of his entrance and seemed unfazed by the gurgling of the cauldron on Snape's work desk.
"Hermione," he said sitting down next to her in the seat that used to be Harry's guess its mine now he thought absentmindedly. "Where were you? I haven't seen you all of lunch." She looked up from her book and regarded him briefly.
"I was in the library, and I had to ask my morning teachers about homework." He should have known, homework, library, Hermione. "Oh, and I'm mad at you, just so you know." She added as if it were an afterthought. Ron was taken aback.
"Why?" He asked pulling the book away from her because she had turned back to instead of looking at him. She tried without hope of retrieving the book back before sitting back in a huff and pouting. "Well why are you mad?"
"You scared me half to death Ronald Weasley. I have never seen such a horrible thing from you. Poor Draco up in the hospital wing with a concussion."
"Poor Draco? What about me, Snape gave me a month worth of detention. Besides he provoked me, he is the one you should be fuming at, he deserved worse then that. And besides I already told you I was sorry." Ron handed the book back to Hermione thinking that was that.
"You said you were sorry for scaring me, but you never said sorry for almost killing him." Ron was shocked; nothing and no one would make him apologize to a Malfoy for anything. "And," she continued turning back to her book. "I will not forgive you until you swallow your pride and apologize to the person you really hurt."
"Hermione your mad, be reasonable, Malfoy is a git. This is about pride, and I refuse to apologize for something that was well deserved." He turned from her and crossed his arms across his chest stubbornly. People began to file into the classroom and Hermione pushed yet another book into her bulging bag.
"Have it your way then."
* Harry ran at break neck speed towards the dungeons, he was going to be late for class and Snape would have a field day taking points away. Harry had spent the rest of the lunch period after Ron left to fume in anger in front of the fire, waiting for Ginny to come down from the girl's dorms. But she didn't and he had waited until the last possible moment before leaving for the dungeons. He would have made it too if it hadn't have been for Peeves, who had blocked the second floor corridor. His only relief was that Hermione hadn't gone to the morning classes and he was hoping she would miss this class as well.
But as he ran through the open door of the potions dungeons and all eyes turned to him he knew he was wrong in his hope, as the only eyes not turned to him were Hermione's. She sat still writing the notes everyone had forgotten in the split second it took for Snape to snap at Harry.
"Mr. Potter, how generous of you to grace us with your presence. I hope the lunch period was long enough for you, but I see that it must have been insufficient as you had such pressing matters to keep you detained." Snape's sarcasm made the Slytherins snicker at Harry and joyfully turn back to their work as Snape dished out his punishment. "I think we should make up for you precious lost time Mr. Potter, lets say twenty points from Gryffindor and detention tomorrow. Now sit down." Harry glanced at his fellow Gryffindors who had all decided to ignore him, ever since that morning Harry realized he needn't avoid his friends, they were ignoring him. Harry made his way to his workbench and sat down next to Ron, who also ignored him and looked to the board where Snape had written out the ingredients for the potion they were making that week.
But before Harry could begin writing the notes out he noticed Snape giving him and his bench partners an odd look. He looked to be contemplating something, and it usually meant something very unfortunate was about to happen.
"Actually, I think today we will start off with a little bit of seat arranging." The class shared a collective groan, which Snape ignored and pulled out the class registry. 'Yes, Miss Parkinson isn't here and Mr. Malfoy is in the hospital wing so those are empty seats right now. " Harry could hear Snape muttering to himself from his front row spot Hermione had insisted they get the first class. Harry didn't like the look in Snape's eye, and with good reason. "Miss Granger, take Miss Parkinson's place, Miss Brown take Miss Granger's old place and Mr. Weasley switch with Mr. Goyle." Harry waited a few moments as the Ron and Hermione left their bench and Lavender and Goyle came to sit. Harry also waited to be moved as well but Snape dropped the registry back on his desk and then sat behind it waiting for the class to finish taking down the ingredients.
*
Hermione let out a silent sigh of relief as she packed up her things and moved eagerly to the bench Pansy Parkinson shared with Draco and Crabbe. She ignored the whispers that erupted after Snape's sudden small re- arrangements and she ignored the odd look she was getting from Ron, who sat directly next to her in the row to the left of her.
But Hermione forgot about everything else as she began her work on the potion for the week, it was won she had attempted successfully before during the summer when she attended a workshop in London. It was a potion called Poperozi potion and was a potion that influenced memories, it was taken when the brewer chose that they wanted to block a certain memory out of their minds. They took the same potion to reverse the effects. Ignorance is bliss Hermione thought remembering the famous saying.
"I want everyone to work independently and brew this carefully, it is a difficult potion and will take you the rest of the week to complete. So you have three days, just enough time to let the potions simmer over the weekend and to be tested on Monday." He paused in his little speech and looked towards Neville's workbench. "Try not to muck this up, everyone who is able to actually brew this potion will receive extra marks. Begin now, the first three ingredients must be added by the end of class."
Hermione happily bent over her ingredients and began to brew the potion. She had done a perfect job of the potion during the workshop and she had also found this difficult potion easy and relaxing as most of it was just adding the correct ingredients in the correct order. Hermione was in her element and nothing would stop her from the extra marks promised. She was so engrossed with her potion making that she didn't notice the classroom door opening or the third year whole hesitantly handed Snape a note. But she snapped to attention as Snape called her name. Well kind of called her name.
"Prefect," he said in her direction as he swept towards the door with the third year in tow. 'Watch over the classroom, I must attend to something with the Headmaster." And with a glare of warning to the class to behave, he turned, robes billowing behind him and left the classroom, nearly slamming the door in the face of the third year.
The class erupted in happy whispers but Hermione gave her classmates a sharp look and they went back to work, fir the most part, the class went silent aside for a few whispered conversations.
*
"You can get back to class Mr. Bradly." Severus said motioning for the third year to leave his side and the student thankfully fell back and returned to his afternoon lessons. He stepped up his pace in the absence of the student and hurried to the headmaster's office. When he reached the Gargoyle he took a second to remember the password 'skittles' and then ascended towards the office on the moving staircase.
"You wanted to speak with me Albus?" Snape sat in his usual place in front of the large desk and questioned his friend. Too many times lately had there been reason to be pulled from a class in the middle of a lesson, he just hoped that he wasn't going to be detained long, he had left the class with two feuding students and a large number of Gryffindors compared to his small number of Slytherins.
"Yes, I wont keep you long I just need to tell you I have just discovered Mr. Malfoy has told Miss Granger of our plans." The headmaster seemed unfazed by his own news. This had to be bad. Wasn't it?
"Well there are many ways to erase the details from Miss Granger's memory, in fact we are brewing Poperozi potion today, no that would require her wanting to forget, and maybe we could..." Albus cut him off with an amused laugh.
"Erase this? Severus are you not thinking of the opportunities this can bring? Don't you see what this means?" Albus was very confusing, if anything in the world this man was confusing.
"What I am thinking about is the safety of Mr. Malfoy and Miss Granger, I'm thinking this means that there are now two students, if not more, that know of something that could have them killed, and I'm thinking that not only should Miss Granger be whipped of this memory but Mr. Malfoy as well." Severus finished his rant and tried to regain composer. Albus was looking at him calmly and with mirth in his eyes.
"Now, I'm thinking that Hermione can be a great help to our cause, I know you are reluctant to admit it but she is a very intelligent witch and she is the reason Mr. Potter hasn't already been blown to bits. Also I see that this means there is trust in his heart. Draco has shown an emotion of love, trust. This means everything is falling into place."
"I hope your right Albus, they are the only two students I can stand to put in front of a cauldron. But if this is all I need to get back, I don't know what mess started after I left, there are two Slytherins missing today, Miss Parkinson is also away from my afternoon." Albus shot straight out of his chair and straight to his most valued possession as a Headmaster. It was his master list, with each students name and where they were. " What is it?" no response, Albus ignored him as he hurriedly flipped to the P section and scanned down the list.
" Well Severus it looks like you have Miss Parkinson in class," he again flipped the pages of the list back and searched the M section as he had the P section. "And it seems Draco has escaped Poppy and has made an appearance."
"Oh shit!" Severus swore tearing towards the door, answering Albus' inquiries as he flew down the moving stairs with Albus closely behind him. "I moved a few students today, just Miss Granger and Weasley, but Miss Granger is in Miss Parkinson's old seat.uh.next to Draco." They flew down the hall and descended the stairs to the dungeons before Albus answered.
"Well, this is going to be interesting. But you do realize that if Draco reveals his. um-kinder feelings towards Hermione everything will be lost, or worse. And I don't think its wise to send anyone else to the Hospital wing today, Poppy isn't in the best of moods today." They had reached the door to the potions lab and they could hear yelling inside.
*
Hermione tried to struggle against the bonds that held her in the air but it was no use. Pansy was livid and none of the Gryffindor students that tried could convince her to release her spell.
"We swear, Snape moved her there, she didn't steal your spot. Now give me that wand." Ron tried to pry the wand out of Pansy's hand but she used her other hand to scratch the hand over her wand.
"You're just lying for her, but she is trying to take everything away from me. First my Draco now my seat, little Mudblood whore." She twisted her wand and thus tightened the bonds on Hermione's writs and neck.
"I didn't take anything from you! Snape moved me there, I swear. I have no idea what your talking about." Again Pansy twisted the bonds and Hermione cried out in pain. She was losing all circulation in her hands but she could still breath. Pansy opened her mouth to lash out again, venom in her eyes, when the door opened with a bang.
"What the bloody Hell is going on here?"
*
"What the bloody Hell is going on here?" Draco looked at the suspended Hermione and felt panic flood through his body before he masked it and placed a mask of stone on. "Pansy why are you tormenting the Mudblood?" He carefully ignored the gasps from the Gryffindor lot as he moved casually towards the livid Pansy. "Now as entertaining as this is you know I'm a prefect and this is unacceptable behavior. So lower Granger. Where is Snape?" No one answered but Pansy twisted the bonds again before dropping Hermione to the ground where she kneeled massaging her neck.
"She took my spot-" Pansy began to rant to the uninterested Draco when he was brushed past and Pansy was thrown back. It took a second for Draco to realize it was Hermione and she was now rolling around on the floor with Pansy trying to scratch and tear each other to death. Draco groaned inwardly as he calmly strode over to where the Slytherins and Gryffindors had grouped quickly around the catfight. Had this been anyone else, I would have taken bets he thought as he pushed past the group and found Hermione in the mess of hair and robes and yanked her off of Pansy by the waist.
"Let me go!" she yelled trying to pull from Draco's grasp, twisting and prying at his fingers at her waist. "She came in here and attacked me from behind!"
"You are a thief! I don't care what you say, you're trying to steal Draco from me!" Draco almost lost control of Hermione from her doubled attempt for freedom and the shock of Pansy's words. Before Hermione could respond Draco cut it.
"Parkinson what in the Bloody hell are you on about? How can anyone steal me away from you if you never had me?" There was laughter from the crowd of students and Pansy began fuming even worse. Draco squeezed the still struggling Hermione and she stopped pulling away.
"Let me go I wont do anything." He reluctantly released her and instantly had to grab the back of her robes as she lunged at Pansy again, pansy jumped back and hid behind Goyle who dumbly stood there.
"Will you stop it already Prefect!" that did the trick, Hermione stopped, Draco gathered more of her robes in his hands and pulled Hermione further away from Pansy. "Now," he said smugly, using his power as a Prefect to take control. "What happened?" as Both Pansy and Hermione started explaining at once he added "Prefect?" and Hermione straightened up smugly.
"I was sitting there doing my potion, which will be ruined if you don't let me get back to it soon, but I was just doing my work and she barged in, late I might add, and flung me across the wall accusing me of all sorts of rubbish." Hermione shot a look at Pansy. "And she attacked me from behind, chicken shit."
"Draco she was in my seat!" Pansy yelled back at Hermione from where she was peeking out over Goyle's shoulder. Draco turned to Hermione for explanation but Weasley spoke up from his spot in the back of the crowd.
"We told you Parkinson, Snape moved a few people around this morning, we told you that twice." The other Gryffindor chorused in agreement and Draco looked up as if he were frustrated instead of having fun.
"One Gryffindor at a time please." He said and let go of Hermione's robes. "I want everyone back to their seats, to the seats they were assigned to this morning Parkinson. And someone tell me where Snape is?" Hermione looked up from straightening her ingredients on their workbench and her eyes snapped towards the door, panic flashing on her eye as she pointed behind him. He turned to see Snape stepping into the class.
"Mr. Malfoy, I thought you were in the Hospital wing." Snape said, marching up to Draco, who now had a disheveled looking Pansy standing next to him. "Miss Parkinson, your late, I bet your wondering where you're sitting. Move over to the back table there with Mr. Longbottom in Miss Browns previous spot." Snape looked at Draco and he could see a mischievous glint in his eye. Draco could tell instantly that Snape knew about the whole fight and what it was about. He must have arrived in the hall just after Draco had gone into the classroom. This whole place has gone mad Draco thought as he made his way to the workbench he now shared with Hermione and began to unload everything he needed.
"Oh and Miss Granger," Snape said from his desk, not looking up from his marking. "You might want to clean up that cut to your lip." Hermione's hand shot up and felt the small cut on her lip and then looked up at Draco, and Draco couldn't help snicker along with the rest of the Slytherins. She shot him a look and took out her wand and healed the cut instantly.
Draco looked around the class to see everyone working on their potions again. Everyone But Harry Potter. Potter was looking straight at Draco with a look that made Draco wonder what the Boy-Who-Lived-And-Grew-Up-To-Be-A- Jerk was thinking. But after a second he seemed to realize Draco was looking right back, and with a matching look of hate plastered on his face, Potter looked back down and Draco turned back to his Cauldron. This is the wacky world I like in. he thought to himself measuring out beetle eyes for the potion. At least it stays interesting.
* Special thanks to my reviewers:
Guenevere Morgan: Thank you, I hope you continue to like the story, and I read your Really Dumb Things, its funny, I am almost the same during Chemistry, my sarcasm is the only thing keeping anyone awake in that class. Read on!
Kenshin: thanks I enjoy getting reviews, and thumbs up.
Dragon Girl: I went to your favorites and began reading In the eyes of a dragon, and I'm liking it so thanks for the semi recommendation.
Morgan Riddle: Sorry about the typos I'm going to go back right now and read through this chapter to make sure there are no typos. Thanks.
Death Ringer: Thank you but I don't mind the number of reviews, I'm sorry it took a bit for this chapter but I've had a lot of family stuff to do, Christmas and all. So I hope you enjoy this chapter its longer but not by much.
The Lost1: I read Hate and Eek! Wine should be monitored! I can't wait till the next installment. I just wish you would write with more description, but it's just a suggestion, I love the story's plot so far!
Dreaming One: I'm glad you enjoy the story so much; this is my favorite ship too. I would hope my story has a plot, but thanks for noticing, I know what you mean.
dEsTiNy: I hope this kept you action addiction satisfied, but I know once I establish all the key points in the plot I can move on to more and more action so keep reading!
A/N: Since I cant seem to get italics to work all thoughts will be in ok? Sorry about that. I hope everyone enjoys this Chapter and I was wondering about a beta reader. Anyone interested just e-mail me ok? Bltchy_mama@hotmail.com
*
Hermione's head, which usually swam with thought, was delightfully blank. Only one thought escaped the fog. He tastes like chocolate.
They were still in the hospital wing, still on the bed by the window, still surrounded by curtains, still kissing. Anyone of a number of people could walk in at any moment. Madame Pomfrey could come in, Parkinson could come in, Ron could come looking for Hermione, and Neville could come in for any random thing. But all worries were out of Hermione's head, until that is, Draco pulled away.
"We should stop." He said breathing heavy and his voice husky; he still had his hand on the back of her neck but made no move to remove it. "Pomfrey could come in." Hermione watched as he licked his swollen lips then as his eyes danced from her own eyes to her lips.
"Soon." Was all she could manage before he pulled her back against him, groaning with the slight pain of his forming bruises. Never before had Hermione lost all reason by kissing someone. Not Krum, not Harry. It was like plunging into a deep lake, the water warm and cloudy, and up and down was mixed up. It was like drowning but Hermione loved it.
*
"We should stop." Draco had no idea where that came from. He had no desire to stop kissing her. He also had no idea how or when he decided to kiss her in the first place. It just happened, and he loved it. "Pomfrey could come in."
"Soon." She said and Draco instantly had the urge to kiss her again. And he did, he pulled her close and was lost in another long kiss, ignoring the pain of the bruises across his abdomen. She was warm against him and the skin he felt was soft, his hand on her neck felt as is it were resting on warm silk, and her now swollen lips were just as soft.
Draco could feel his heart pounding and his mind racing, with everything that was wrong about what they were doing, and all the ways it felt so right. If anyone from Slytherin came in his father would her and then his plan would crumble. But then there was the look in her eyes every time he pulled away to end it. A look as if she had ended all the hate between them and trusted him. A look of openness and if not love, then like. Draco had never received a look like this from anyone. That's why I have to end it now. To keep it later. He pulled away.
"Hermione," he said not knowing how he should say this. "We need to stop, and you need to leave." A look of pain replaced the trust he had seen in her eyes. She looked at her hands still on his shoulder and leapt up to go.
"If that's what you want Draco." Panicking he grabbed her arm and brought her back down on the bed, holding her arm softly.
You don't understand, we can't be seen..." she cut him off before he could finish explaining.
"Oh, I forgot, what would a Slytherin wand with a Gryffindor Mudblood?" Again she tried to leave but Draco held onto her wrist and pulled her closer. With his free hand he turned her chin to look at him, she had been avoiding his gaze and he saw it was because there were tears in her eyes.
"Hermione Granger, shut up and let me talk" he said frustrated. "I want to tell you something, but I need you to keep it a secret." Unsure of what he was doing Draco paused, but as she nodded he found he trusted this girl. A girl up until yesterday wasn't someone to even talk to. How could so much change in such a small period of time? So much had changed and he could feel it, in the air and in himself. He trusted Hermione Granger, he trusted her enough to tell her the plan. But would it help or harm?
*
"Are you mad?" Hermione asked pacing back and forth across the foot of the bed. She couldn't believe it, and Draco Malfoy of all people. Granted she had just drastically changed her attitude on Draco Malfoy, Hermione wasn't sure what was going on in his head. He had changed, changed enough to look at her in the eye without malice, what was it all about something like hormones, or was this change as deep as to have him follow through with the 'plan'?
"Hey, I'm not the one who cooked up this whole plan, Dumdum did." Draco said folding his arms across his chest, looking uncomfortable under Hermione's gaze.
"He would too." Hermione said to herself. She needed to get to the library to check out the things Draco had said. " I have to go." She stated.
"Where?" Draco asked snatching up another piece f chocolate from his bedside table and biting into it.
"Library, I have to look up this Adipate stone." She turned to leave but Draco called her back. "What?" she asked as he held up her bag, and when she dashed back to get it he caught her hand.
"So you understand? My father hears about any of this he will suspect something. No one can know. My being 'Nice' as you say, or this," he said and pulled her towards him and kissed her briefly. "Anything could go wrong, anything could ruin Dumdum's plans." Hermione nodded, she wasn't sure it was such a bad thing everything was going to be secret. With everything that had just happened, with Harry and Ginny, she wouldn't like the rumors.
"I understand. And stop calling him Dumdum, he is brilliant, if a bit mad." She smiled and stood up, " If you need anything I'll be in the library. But after a head injury I think you're in here overnight. Bye" she stole the chocolate halfway to his mouth and fled before the first pillow hit her.
*
Ron left the great hall and headed towards the dungeons. Class with Snape and the Slytherins was all he needed. Lunch was becoming too boring without his too best friends around. But then lunch would be too exciting if Hermione and Harry decided to pop in for lunch. He hadn't seen Hermione since the beginning of the lunch period when they were in the hospital wing. Today was going painfully slow for Ron.
When he entered the classroom, Ron was surprised to see Hermione sitting behind her usual workbench, book on her lap and her fingers playing with a curl of her chestnut hair. She was completely oblivious of his entrance and seemed unfazed by the gurgling of the cauldron on Snape's work desk.
"Hermione," he said sitting down next to her in the seat that used to be Harry's guess its mine now he thought absentmindedly. "Where were you? I haven't seen you all of lunch." She looked up from her book and regarded him briefly.
"I was in the library, and I had to ask my morning teachers about homework." He should have known, homework, library, Hermione. "Oh, and I'm mad at you, just so you know." She added as if it were an afterthought. Ron was taken aback.
"Why?" He asked pulling the book away from her because she had turned back to instead of looking at him. She tried without hope of retrieving the book back before sitting back in a huff and pouting. "Well why are you mad?"
"You scared me half to death Ronald Weasley. I have never seen such a horrible thing from you. Poor Draco up in the hospital wing with a concussion."
"Poor Draco? What about me, Snape gave me a month worth of detention. Besides he provoked me, he is the one you should be fuming at, he deserved worse then that. And besides I already told you I was sorry." Ron handed the book back to Hermione thinking that was that.
"You said you were sorry for scaring me, but you never said sorry for almost killing him." Ron was shocked; nothing and no one would make him apologize to a Malfoy for anything. "And," she continued turning back to her book. "I will not forgive you until you swallow your pride and apologize to the person you really hurt."
"Hermione your mad, be reasonable, Malfoy is a git. This is about pride, and I refuse to apologize for something that was well deserved." He turned from her and crossed his arms across his chest stubbornly. People began to file into the classroom and Hermione pushed yet another book into her bulging bag.
"Have it your way then."
* Harry ran at break neck speed towards the dungeons, he was going to be late for class and Snape would have a field day taking points away. Harry had spent the rest of the lunch period after Ron left to fume in anger in front of the fire, waiting for Ginny to come down from the girl's dorms. But she didn't and he had waited until the last possible moment before leaving for the dungeons. He would have made it too if it hadn't have been for Peeves, who had blocked the second floor corridor. His only relief was that Hermione hadn't gone to the morning classes and he was hoping she would miss this class as well.
But as he ran through the open door of the potions dungeons and all eyes turned to him he knew he was wrong in his hope, as the only eyes not turned to him were Hermione's. She sat still writing the notes everyone had forgotten in the split second it took for Snape to snap at Harry.
"Mr. Potter, how generous of you to grace us with your presence. I hope the lunch period was long enough for you, but I see that it must have been insufficient as you had such pressing matters to keep you detained." Snape's sarcasm made the Slytherins snicker at Harry and joyfully turn back to their work as Snape dished out his punishment. "I think we should make up for you precious lost time Mr. Potter, lets say twenty points from Gryffindor and detention tomorrow. Now sit down." Harry glanced at his fellow Gryffindors who had all decided to ignore him, ever since that morning Harry realized he needn't avoid his friends, they were ignoring him. Harry made his way to his workbench and sat down next to Ron, who also ignored him and looked to the board where Snape had written out the ingredients for the potion they were making that week.
But before Harry could begin writing the notes out he noticed Snape giving him and his bench partners an odd look. He looked to be contemplating something, and it usually meant something very unfortunate was about to happen.
"Actually, I think today we will start off with a little bit of seat arranging." The class shared a collective groan, which Snape ignored and pulled out the class registry. 'Yes, Miss Parkinson isn't here and Mr. Malfoy is in the hospital wing so those are empty seats right now. " Harry could hear Snape muttering to himself from his front row spot Hermione had insisted they get the first class. Harry didn't like the look in Snape's eye, and with good reason. "Miss Granger, take Miss Parkinson's place, Miss Brown take Miss Granger's old place and Mr. Weasley switch with Mr. Goyle." Harry waited a few moments as the Ron and Hermione left their bench and Lavender and Goyle came to sit. Harry also waited to be moved as well but Snape dropped the registry back on his desk and then sat behind it waiting for the class to finish taking down the ingredients.
*
Hermione let out a silent sigh of relief as she packed up her things and moved eagerly to the bench Pansy Parkinson shared with Draco and Crabbe. She ignored the whispers that erupted after Snape's sudden small re- arrangements and she ignored the odd look she was getting from Ron, who sat directly next to her in the row to the left of her.
But Hermione forgot about everything else as she began her work on the potion for the week, it was won she had attempted successfully before during the summer when she attended a workshop in London. It was a potion called Poperozi potion and was a potion that influenced memories, it was taken when the brewer chose that they wanted to block a certain memory out of their minds. They took the same potion to reverse the effects. Ignorance is bliss Hermione thought remembering the famous saying.
"I want everyone to work independently and brew this carefully, it is a difficult potion and will take you the rest of the week to complete. So you have three days, just enough time to let the potions simmer over the weekend and to be tested on Monday." He paused in his little speech and looked towards Neville's workbench. "Try not to muck this up, everyone who is able to actually brew this potion will receive extra marks. Begin now, the first three ingredients must be added by the end of class."
Hermione happily bent over her ingredients and began to brew the potion. She had done a perfect job of the potion during the workshop and she had also found this difficult potion easy and relaxing as most of it was just adding the correct ingredients in the correct order. Hermione was in her element and nothing would stop her from the extra marks promised. She was so engrossed with her potion making that she didn't notice the classroom door opening or the third year whole hesitantly handed Snape a note. But she snapped to attention as Snape called her name. Well kind of called her name.
"Prefect," he said in her direction as he swept towards the door with the third year in tow. 'Watch over the classroom, I must attend to something with the Headmaster." And with a glare of warning to the class to behave, he turned, robes billowing behind him and left the classroom, nearly slamming the door in the face of the third year.
The class erupted in happy whispers but Hermione gave her classmates a sharp look and they went back to work, fir the most part, the class went silent aside for a few whispered conversations.
*
"You can get back to class Mr. Bradly." Severus said motioning for the third year to leave his side and the student thankfully fell back and returned to his afternoon lessons. He stepped up his pace in the absence of the student and hurried to the headmaster's office. When he reached the Gargoyle he took a second to remember the password 'skittles' and then ascended towards the office on the moving staircase.
"You wanted to speak with me Albus?" Snape sat in his usual place in front of the large desk and questioned his friend. Too many times lately had there been reason to be pulled from a class in the middle of a lesson, he just hoped that he wasn't going to be detained long, he had left the class with two feuding students and a large number of Gryffindors compared to his small number of Slytherins.
"Yes, I wont keep you long I just need to tell you I have just discovered Mr. Malfoy has told Miss Granger of our plans." The headmaster seemed unfazed by his own news. This had to be bad. Wasn't it?
"Well there are many ways to erase the details from Miss Granger's memory, in fact we are brewing Poperozi potion today, no that would require her wanting to forget, and maybe we could..." Albus cut him off with an amused laugh.
"Erase this? Severus are you not thinking of the opportunities this can bring? Don't you see what this means?" Albus was very confusing, if anything in the world this man was confusing.
"What I am thinking about is the safety of Mr. Malfoy and Miss Granger, I'm thinking this means that there are now two students, if not more, that know of something that could have them killed, and I'm thinking that not only should Miss Granger be whipped of this memory but Mr. Malfoy as well." Severus finished his rant and tried to regain composer. Albus was looking at him calmly and with mirth in his eyes.
"Now, I'm thinking that Hermione can be a great help to our cause, I know you are reluctant to admit it but she is a very intelligent witch and she is the reason Mr. Potter hasn't already been blown to bits. Also I see that this means there is trust in his heart. Draco has shown an emotion of love, trust. This means everything is falling into place."
"I hope your right Albus, they are the only two students I can stand to put in front of a cauldron. But if this is all I need to get back, I don't know what mess started after I left, there are two Slytherins missing today, Miss Parkinson is also away from my afternoon." Albus shot straight out of his chair and straight to his most valued possession as a Headmaster. It was his master list, with each students name and where they were. " What is it?" no response, Albus ignored him as he hurriedly flipped to the P section and scanned down the list.
" Well Severus it looks like you have Miss Parkinson in class," he again flipped the pages of the list back and searched the M section as he had the P section. "And it seems Draco has escaped Poppy and has made an appearance."
"Oh shit!" Severus swore tearing towards the door, answering Albus' inquiries as he flew down the moving stairs with Albus closely behind him. "I moved a few students today, just Miss Granger and Weasley, but Miss Granger is in Miss Parkinson's old seat.uh.next to Draco." They flew down the hall and descended the stairs to the dungeons before Albus answered.
"Well, this is going to be interesting. But you do realize that if Draco reveals his. um-kinder feelings towards Hermione everything will be lost, or worse. And I don't think its wise to send anyone else to the Hospital wing today, Poppy isn't in the best of moods today." They had reached the door to the potions lab and they could hear yelling inside.
*
Hermione tried to struggle against the bonds that held her in the air but it was no use. Pansy was livid and none of the Gryffindor students that tried could convince her to release her spell.
"We swear, Snape moved her there, she didn't steal your spot. Now give me that wand." Ron tried to pry the wand out of Pansy's hand but she used her other hand to scratch the hand over her wand.
"You're just lying for her, but she is trying to take everything away from me. First my Draco now my seat, little Mudblood whore." She twisted her wand and thus tightened the bonds on Hermione's writs and neck.
"I didn't take anything from you! Snape moved me there, I swear. I have no idea what your talking about." Again Pansy twisted the bonds and Hermione cried out in pain. She was losing all circulation in her hands but she could still breath. Pansy opened her mouth to lash out again, venom in her eyes, when the door opened with a bang.
"What the bloody Hell is going on here?"
*
"What the bloody Hell is going on here?" Draco looked at the suspended Hermione and felt panic flood through his body before he masked it and placed a mask of stone on. "Pansy why are you tormenting the Mudblood?" He carefully ignored the gasps from the Gryffindor lot as he moved casually towards the livid Pansy. "Now as entertaining as this is you know I'm a prefect and this is unacceptable behavior. So lower Granger. Where is Snape?" No one answered but Pansy twisted the bonds again before dropping Hermione to the ground where she kneeled massaging her neck.
"She took my spot-" Pansy began to rant to the uninterested Draco when he was brushed past and Pansy was thrown back. It took a second for Draco to realize it was Hermione and she was now rolling around on the floor with Pansy trying to scratch and tear each other to death. Draco groaned inwardly as he calmly strode over to where the Slytherins and Gryffindors had grouped quickly around the catfight. Had this been anyone else, I would have taken bets he thought as he pushed past the group and found Hermione in the mess of hair and robes and yanked her off of Pansy by the waist.
"Let me go!" she yelled trying to pull from Draco's grasp, twisting and prying at his fingers at her waist. "She came in here and attacked me from behind!"
"You are a thief! I don't care what you say, you're trying to steal Draco from me!" Draco almost lost control of Hermione from her doubled attempt for freedom and the shock of Pansy's words. Before Hermione could respond Draco cut it.
"Parkinson what in the Bloody hell are you on about? How can anyone steal me away from you if you never had me?" There was laughter from the crowd of students and Pansy began fuming even worse. Draco squeezed the still struggling Hermione and she stopped pulling away.
"Let me go I wont do anything." He reluctantly released her and instantly had to grab the back of her robes as she lunged at Pansy again, pansy jumped back and hid behind Goyle who dumbly stood there.
"Will you stop it already Prefect!" that did the trick, Hermione stopped, Draco gathered more of her robes in his hands and pulled Hermione further away from Pansy. "Now," he said smugly, using his power as a Prefect to take control. "What happened?" as Both Pansy and Hermione started explaining at once he added "Prefect?" and Hermione straightened up smugly.
"I was sitting there doing my potion, which will be ruined if you don't let me get back to it soon, but I was just doing my work and she barged in, late I might add, and flung me across the wall accusing me of all sorts of rubbish." Hermione shot a look at Pansy. "And she attacked me from behind, chicken shit."
"Draco she was in my seat!" Pansy yelled back at Hermione from where she was peeking out over Goyle's shoulder. Draco turned to Hermione for explanation but Weasley spoke up from his spot in the back of the crowd.
"We told you Parkinson, Snape moved a few people around this morning, we told you that twice." The other Gryffindor chorused in agreement and Draco looked up as if he were frustrated instead of having fun.
"One Gryffindor at a time please." He said and let go of Hermione's robes. "I want everyone back to their seats, to the seats they were assigned to this morning Parkinson. And someone tell me where Snape is?" Hermione looked up from straightening her ingredients on their workbench and her eyes snapped towards the door, panic flashing on her eye as she pointed behind him. He turned to see Snape stepping into the class.
"Mr. Malfoy, I thought you were in the Hospital wing." Snape said, marching up to Draco, who now had a disheveled looking Pansy standing next to him. "Miss Parkinson, your late, I bet your wondering where you're sitting. Move over to the back table there with Mr. Longbottom in Miss Browns previous spot." Snape looked at Draco and he could see a mischievous glint in his eye. Draco could tell instantly that Snape knew about the whole fight and what it was about. He must have arrived in the hall just after Draco had gone into the classroom. This whole place has gone mad Draco thought as he made his way to the workbench he now shared with Hermione and began to unload everything he needed.
"Oh and Miss Granger," Snape said from his desk, not looking up from his marking. "You might want to clean up that cut to your lip." Hermione's hand shot up and felt the small cut on her lip and then looked up at Draco, and Draco couldn't help snicker along with the rest of the Slytherins. She shot him a look and took out her wand and healed the cut instantly.
Draco looked around the class to see everyone working on their potions again. Everyone But Harry Potter. Potter was looking straight at Draco with a look that made Draco wonder what the Boy-Who-Lived-And-Grew-Up-To-Be-A- Jerk was thinking. But after a second he seemed to realize Draco was looking right back, and with a matching look of hate plastered on his face, Potter looked back down and Draco turned back to his Cauldron. This is the wacky world I like in. he thought to himself measuring out beetle eyes for the potion. At least it stays interesting.
* Special thanks to my reviewers:
Guenevere Morgan: Thank you, I hope you continue to like the story, and I read your Really Dumb Things, its funny, I am almost the same during Chemistry, my sarcasm is the only thing keeping anyone awake in that class. Read on!
Kenshin: thanks I enjoy getting reviews, and thumbs up.
Dragon Girl: I went to your favorites and began reading In the eyes of a dragon, and I'm liking it so thanks for the semi recommendation.
Morgan Riddle: Sorry about the typos I'm going to go back right now and read through this chapter to make sure there are no typos. Thanks.
Death Ringer: Thank you but I don't mind the number of reviews, I'm sorry it took a bit for this chapter but I've had a lot of family stuff to do, Christmas and all. So I hope you enjoy this chapter its longer but not by much.
The Lost1: I read Hate and Eek! Wine should be monitored! I can't wait till the next installment. I just wish you would write with more description, but it's just a suggestion, I love the story's plot so far!
Dreaming One: I'm glad you enjoy the story so much; this is my favorite ship too. I would hope my story has a plot, but thanks for noticing, I know what you mean.
dEsTiNy: I hope this kept you action addiction satisfied, but I know once I establish all the key points in the plot I can move on to more and more action so keep reading!