(A/N: I'm so sorry I haven't updated! For some reason, fanfic wasn't letting me onto my name, so I couldn't upload or anything, and then the whole thing like in the last chapter. Argh! I'm sorry… If this ever happens again, my deadjournal is the place to go to check for reasons I haven't posted. Okay then, on with the story.)
As Draco nodded off in the common room, Thomas was doing just the opposite in the dorm. He sat up, rubbing his eyes. Refreshed and now awake, he looked around the room, and seeing Draco's bed still occupied, got out of his own. "Get out of bed, sleepyhead!" Thomas said, whipping the covers back. "Hermione! What the…?!?" He shouted.
"Don't yell!" She whispered angrily, clutching the covers back over herself. "You'll wake everyone up!"
Too late. And what, may I ask, is the meaning of this? Asked Thibaut, who had appeared out of nowhere. You both should know, if you don't, that it is unacceptable to have members of the opposite sex in the dorm room after hours. Or before, for that matter. Please, do explain.
Uhh, I don't know myself. Ask her! Thomas said, trying to maintain his innocent composure.
Hermione?
I don't know how I got here. I just woke up in this bed. Oh, I remember! I got back late from Madame Santé, and the girls' room door was locked, so I couldn't get in. Draco found me asleep on the couch earlier, and he made me come in here, so I could get some sleep. I'm sorry, I couldn't think at five o'clock in the morning. Please forgive me, Thibaut? She begged.
I don't know, I'll have to think on this. It is a very serious infraction to be caught here, not matter the circumstances. I'll get back to you on the punishments, he said gravely as he strode out of the room.
"Why did you have to yell, Thomas? Why?" Hermione wept. "Now I'm going to be expelled and it's going to go on my permanent record, and my parents will be so disappointed in me! They always wanted me to be the best witch I could be…"
"There, there, Hermione. You aren't going to be expelled, because you didn't do anything wrong. Besides, I couldn't stand it if we got expelled. That'd mean that I couldn't see you every day," Thomas lifted up her chin with a finger.
"Really? You'd…you'd… miss me?" After Thomas nodded his agreement, she smiled. "Well, you know what? I'd miss you too."
"Well, well, well, what did I miss?" Draco asked, standing over them as they sat on Draco's bed holding hands. "Did I accidentally get you two in trouble? I didn't mean to. I personally thought it would be a good idea for Hermione to get her beauty sleep, since we all know what she looks like without it."
Hermione slapped his arm playfully, and said, "Oh, Draco. Yeah, you got us in trouble, but that's okay. We, I mean Thomas and me, well, we're an item now. And it's entirely your fault, except it's not really your fault, because it isn't such a bad thing-Oh, I'm just so happy!" she babbled on and on excitedly, all the while gazing into Thomas's clear aquamarine eyes. "So do you know what the big thing is today, Draco? I hope it's something really fun."
"Uh, no, I have no clue as to what it's going to be," Draco said distractedly, perplexed by the thoughts running unbidden through his mind. What was he thinking, wishing that it was him running his thumb along Hermione's jaw line? That wasn't something he could think. After all, he should feel happy for his new best friend. It wasn't fair to them to be encroaching on Hermione like that. Like what? He hadn't actually done anything, and probably never would because… because why? Because she was a Mudblood? That was no reason. His great-uncle Levantine had found love with a Muggle, even though the Malfoy family usually made no mention of that disgrace to the Malfoy name.
Draco walked down the hall, slightly dazed by this turn of events. Who would have thought that those two… and who would tell Potter? Draco wasn't sure that Holy Harry would appreciate his girlfriend being stolen away from him from right under his nose like that. No, Draco would just let those two tell him. It would sound better coming from them anyways.
Breakfast went by quickly on this day, so early into the New Year, and ended with an assembly called by the headmistress. Now, kids, I know that you know that there is going to be something special happening today, but it won't be until this after noon, and I want it to be a surprise. Okay? So, teachers, that means that you can't tell the students anything. If you do, I shall be very angry with you, and you might just find your pillows Port Keyed to some very bad places tonight if you do… Get the idea? She said, with an evil glint in her eyes. Good, so now all you children will just have to wait. With that, she walked off the dais, and left the room.
Draco felt an immense sense of camaraderie as he joined in the speculation as to what the day would hold. Do you think we'll all get to go down to Jolilieu? One of the younger years asked.
What's Jolilieu? Draco wondered to him.
It's a little town that only the seventh years get to go to, usually, but the rest of us go to on occasion. It's really cool; there are a bunch of shops for all sorts of things, and a bunch of the kids go there just to hang out on weekends. Muggles go there too sometimes, ones who know witches and wizards anyways. Some of them are pretty neat. Gabriel expounded on the subject. Anyhow, we all love going there. There's also a great library Hermione can go to while she's there, seeing as we all know what a bookworm she is.
You know her like you know the back of your hand, don't you? I'm sure she'll love it. Oh, I just can't wait! Draco said impatiently. Do you think we'll go after lunch?
That's the way it usually goes around here. Gabriel told him, and then took his classroom seat. They had reached the Potions room, and Monsieur Thibaut awaited them.
Please open your books to chapter thirteen, and follow the instructions to make the Dreamer's Dram. This potion makes one dream in clear and memorable detail, and explains the answers to one's emotional turmoil. It doesn't explain things like a math problem, though; those you'll have to solve on your own. All the information the dream elucidates upon comes from your own mind. Now, this is a complicated potion, but I think you shall all be able to complete it. Any slight slip, however, can drastically change the dram, from one extra beetle eye, or too few tongues of newt. All changes to it ARE fatal, and you shall have to drink this. Well, maybe they aren't fatal, but they will cause severe stomachaches and your toenails to grow thirty-two times more quickly. Trust me, you don't want that to happen… As M Thibaut rambled on and on, the students collected and assembled their ingredients.
"Today is going to be so much fun, isn't it, Draco?" Thomas commented as he set up his cauldron. "You know, the only problem with these things is that they're so bulky! I hate lugging them around all the time."
"Yeah, but its okay. We only have potions class twice a week, and it's not that bad to carry it around so little." Draco replied, and put exactly thirty-two goat toenails into the mixture. A small puff of steam came out when each of the nail hit the viscous fluid. "The thing I don't like is carrying around all those Arithmancy books. I don't know how you like that class, because it's so boring."
"It's not boring, that's how I like it. All the formulas are great. Don't you be dissing my 'rithmancy, boy! I like-" Thomas was interrupted by the bell ringing.
Okay, class. Leave your cauldron in your cubby, as we will continue this potion next time you're in my class. And put up all your ingredients! He added as the class filed out into the hall.
Well, all we have left is lunch, and then we get to know the secret destination of our day, Thomas told Joel, sitting down at the round luncheon table. I really do hope we go to Jolilieu. That sounds like the perfect place that we could all go hang out at during days off. Heck, back in America, what we do is just hang out at the mall. We don't actually buy stuff, we just run amok in the stores until we practically get kicked out.
We can't do that in Mozambique. There aren't any malls where I live, and most of the spare time we have that we aren't in school, is used in helping out our villages. We still have a bunch of fun though, Joel countered.
Lunch was over quickly, bites of food taken amongst serious discussion of what amusement the afternoon would bring. The plates disappeared, leaving a long and resinous expanse of dark wood. May I have your attention, please? Could all of the students please go to the boat loading area? We are going to take a little trip this afternoon. A collective gasp arose from the group. I'm sure you have all figured out where we are going, without any help at all from the teachers, right? So you guys know that we shall be going to Jolilieu. Now hurry up, and get out to the boats to go downstream. We can't stay after dark with this big of a horde, and the sun goes down early in winter, which it most definitely is right now. Get a move on! Can't be late!
As Draco nodded off in the common room, Thomas was doing just the opposite in the dorm. He sat up, rubbing his eyes. Refreshed and now awake, he looked around the room, and seeing Draco's bed still occupied, got out of his own. "Get out of bed, sleepyhead!" Thomas said, whipping the covers back. "Hermione! What the…?!?" He shouted.
"Don't yell!" She whispered angrily, clutching the covers back over herself. "You'll wake everyone up!"
Too late. And what, may I ask, is the meaning of this? Asked Thibaut, who had appeared out of nowhere. You both should know, if you don't, that it is unacceptable to have members of the opposite sex in the dorm room after hours. Or before, for that matter. Please, do explain.
Uhh, I don't know myself. Ask her! Thomas said, trying to maintain his innocent composure.
Hermione?
I don't know how I got here. I just woke up in this bed. Oh, I remember! I got back late from Madame Santé, and the girls' room door was locked, so I couldn't get in. Draco found me asleep on the couch earlier, and he made me come in here, so I could get some sleep. I'm sorry, I couldn't think at five o'clock in the morning. Please forgive me, Thibaut? She begged.
I don't know, I'll have to think on this. It is a very serious infraction to be caught here, not matter the circumstances. I'll get back to you on the punishments, he said gravely as he strode out of the room.
"Why did you have to yell, Thomas? Why?" Hermione wept. "Now I'm going to be expelled and it's going to go on my permanent record, and my parents will be so disappointed in me! They always wanted me to be the best witch I could be…"
"There, there, Hermione. You aren't going to be expelled, because you didn't do anything wrong. Besides, I couldn't stand it if we got expelled. That'd mean that I couldn't see you every day," Thomas lifted up her chin with a finger.
"Really? You'd…you'd… miss me?" After Thomas nodded his agreement, she smiled. "Well, you know what? I'd miss you too."
"Well, well, well, what did I miss?" Draco asked, standing over them as they sat on Draco's bed holding hands. "Did I accidentally get you two in trouble? I didn't mean to. I personally thought it would be a good idea for Hermione to get her beauty sleep, since we all know what she looks like without it."
Hermione slapped his arm playfully, and said, "Oh, Draco. Yeah, you got us in trouble, but that's okay. We, I mean Thomas and me, well, we're an item now. And it's entirely your fault, except it's not really your fault, because it isn't such a bad thing-Oh, I'm just so happy!" she babbled on and on excitedly, all the while gazing into Thomas's clear aquamarine eyes. "So do you know what the big thing is today, Draco? I hope it's something really fun."
"Uh, no, I have no clue as to what it's going to be," Draco said distractedly, perplexed by the thoughts running unbidden through his mind. What was he thinking, wishing that it was him running his thumb along Hermione's jaw line? That wasn't something he could think. After all, he should feel happy for his new best friend. It wasn't fair to them to be encroaching on Hermione like that. Like what? He hadn't actually done anything, and probably never would because… because why? Because she was a Mudblood? That was no reason. His great-uncle Levantine had found love with a Muggle, even though the Malfoy family usually made no mention of that disgrace to the Malfoy name.
Draco walked down the hall, slightly dazed by this turn of events. Who would have thought that those two… and who would tell Potter? Draco wasn't sure that Holy Harry would appreciate his girlfriend being stolen away from him from right under his nose like that. No, Draco would just let those two tell him. It would sound better coming from them anyways.
Breakfast went by quickly on this day, so early into the New Year, and ended with an assembly called by the headmistress. Now, kids, I know that you know that there is going to be something special happening today, but it won't be until this after noon, and I want it to be a surprise. Okay? So, teachers, that means that you can't tell the students anything. If you do, I shall be very angry with you, and you might just find your pillows Port Keyed to some very bad places tonight if you do… Get the idea? She said, with an evil glint in her eyes. Good, so now all you children will just have to wait. With that, she walked off the dais, and left the room.
Draco felt an immense sense of camaraderie as he joined in the speculation as to what the day would hold. Do you think we'll all get to go down to Jolilieu? One of the younger years asked.
What's Jolilieu? Draco wondered to him.
It's a little town that only the seventh years get to go to, usually, but the rest of us go to on occasion. It's really cool; there are a bunch of shops for all sorts of things, and a bunch of the kids go there just to hang out on weekends. Muggles go there too sometimes, ones who know witches and wizards anyways. Some of them are pretty neat. Gabriel expounded on the subject. Anyhow, we all love going there. There's also a great library Hermione can go to while she's there, seeing as we all know what a bookworm she is.
You know her like you know the back of your hand, don't you? I'm sure she'll love it. Oh, I just can't wait! Draco said impatiently. Do you think we'll go after lunch?
That's the way it usually goes around here. Gabriel told him, and then took his classroom seat. They had reached the Potions room, and Monsieur Thibaut awaited them.
Please open your books to chapter thirteen, and follow the instructions to make the Dreamer's Dram. This potion makes one dream in clear and memorable detail, and explains the answers to one's emotional turmoil. It doesn't explain things like a math problem, though; those you'll have to solve on your own. All the information the dream elucidates upon comes from your own mind. Now, this is a complicated potion, but I think you shall all be able to complete it. Any slight slip, however, can drastically change the dram, from one extra beetle eye, or too few tongues of newt. All changes to it ARE fatal, and you shall have to drink this. Well, maybe they aren't fatal, but they will cause severe stomachaches and your toenails to grow thirty-two times more quickly. Trust me, you don't want that to happen… As M Thibaut rambled on and on, the students collected and assembled their ingredients.
"Today is going to be so much fun, isn't it, Draco?" Thomas commented as he set up his cauldron. "You know, the only problem with these things is that they're so bulky! I hate lugging them around all the time."
"Yeah, but its okay. We only have potions class twice a week, and it's not that bad to carry it around so little." Draco replied, and put exactly thirty-two goat toenails into the mixture. A small puff of steam came out when each of the nail hit the viscous fluid. "The thing I don't like is carrying around all those Arithmancy books. I don't know how you like that class, because it's so boring."
"It's not boring, that's how I like it. All the formulas are great. Don't you be dissing my 'rithmancy, boy! I like-" Thomas was interrupted by the bell ringing.
Okay, class. Leave your cauldron in your cubby, as we will continue this potion next time you're in my class. And put up all your ingredients! He added as the class filed out into the hall.
Well, all we have left is lunch, and then we get to know the secret destination of our day, Thomas told Joel, sitting down at the round luncheon table. I really do hope we go to Jolilieu. That sounds like the perfect place that we could all go hang out at during days off. Heck, back in America, what we do is just hang out at the mall. We don't actually buy stuff, we just run amok in the stores until we practically get kicked out.
We can't do that in Mozambique. There aren't any malls where I live, and most of the spare time we have that we aren't in school, is used in helping out our villages. We still have a bunch of fun though, Joel countered.
Lunch was over quickly, bites of food taken amongst serious discussion of what amusement the afternoon would bring. The plates disappeared, leaving a long and resinous expanse of dark wood. May I have your attention, please? Could all of the students please go to the boat loading area? We are going to take a little trip this afternoon. A collective gasp arose from the group. I'm sure you have all figured out where we are going, without any help at all from the teachers, right? So you guys know that we shall be going to Jolilieu. Now hurry up, and get out to the boats to go downstream. We can't stay after dark with this big of a horde, and the sun goes down early in winter, which it most definitely is right now. Get a move on! Can't be late!
