For the next hour or so, she confessed all the of the events of the
morning, holding back only a few details, such as Snape walking in on her
in the nude while she was searching through his photos. Harry listened, but
showed little appreciation, and kept biting his lip to stop himself from
interrupting her every five words with harsh accusations. It felt good to
relate it, tell somebody, despite the fact she had sworn to secrecy,
especially to Harry.
"..And I will have to meet with him tomorrow after class, as the contraceptive potion only works if you take it within twenty four hours; if you add Hazel, though, then it can be used for a fourth night, but it loses some of its potency"
"Uh huh..." Harry said, and rubbed his head, still dumbstruck. "This is mad Hermione!. I am sorry, I can't take all of this in."
"I know.. I am glad I got to speak to you. I just needed to *tell* somebody -- this whole episode feel like such a surreal nightmare!" Hermione forced a smile, moving over to one of her cabinets where she dug out a bottle of pumpkin juice and two goblets.
"Speaking of 'feel', how do you even know you two -- I mean, do you feel anything.. you know, down there." he did a hand motion that was most suggestive, if not a bit rude.
"Harry!" she snapped, looking at him, shocked
"I am serious, 'Mione -- if this was your first time.. and uhm.. this is your first.. isn't it?", he ran a hand through the fuzzy jet black hair, his face flushing red, and grinned up at Hermione baffled expression.
"Are you implying that Professor Snape and I--"
"No, no, no!" Harry interrupted quickly, waving his hands before him defensively. "I meant, you and Victor-- or, anybody really, you don't exactly tell us a lot about what you do these days--"
"Harry! I didn't think I was obligated to inform either you or Ron about any part of my sex life, existing or not! It is hardly either of your business", she barked, nearly spilling one of the goblets.
"Oh don't be like that, 'Mione, I didn't mean anything by it!" he shrugged, helplessly. "It is just that, if you were like, you know, a virgin, then wouldn't there be some blood, or wouldn't you feel at least a bit sore, or something?"
She opened her mouth to argue, but shut it, realising he had a point. She was a bit amazed that he, of all people, would think of that.
"And Snape", Harry continued, "he should feel something too, I mean.. I wouldn't know for I have never.. uhm, you know. But still, I think a lot of guys do feel something the next day.." he nodded his head in certainty.
"Maybe he did", she replied, "maybe that is why he is so confident of it, it would explain a lot!". She took a sip of one of the goblets, staring into the distance.
"I don't feel any different.. I.. think..", she said, sensing a weak tickling sensation in her lower region now that he mentioned it, but it could just as well be her imagination. "But it would make sense if he did". She deposited a goblet of juice into Harry's grip.
"You should ask him tomorrow!", he replied with a nod of thanks, and sipped his drink.
"I can't ask him!", she declared
"Why not?"
"Because I just can't!"
"You slept with the guy; I think that entitles you the right to ask if he has any feelings in his groin!"
"Harry!", she snapped again. "I am starting to regret that I told you! This is humiliating enough, without having to ask him any embarrassing questions about his.. his.. privates!". She sat the goblet aside and turned away from Harry, peering foggy eyed toward the windows
Harry gave a surrendering shrug, and pushed a strand of hair from his face. "I am sorry, 'Mione" he whispered, watching her. "I just can't believe that you and--", his whole body gave a shudder.
"Well, at least you don't have to live with it", she replied bitterly
"True", he admitted. "I didn't mean you offend you", he said, offering a little smile.
"I know Harry", she replied softly. Silence fell on the two for a few moments, before she broke it with a tone that was near whisper.
"You know Harry, it could have been worse, much worse", she said, a soft smile creeping across her features. "He didn't really insult me. He had all the chances in the world to humiliate, degrade, and shame me, and.. he didn't. He didn't even take any points, or sign me up for detention. I mean, he wasn't pleasant: far from it, he was both arrogant and smug. But he wasn't horrible either, not like he can be."
"Don't give him too much credit" Harry grinned. "He probably would if he didn't fear somebody finding out about it; he can hardly take points off for you waking up in his bed."
"Why not? It never stopped in him in the past, taking points for ridiculous reasons like Neville tripping in the hallway, or you sneezing too loudly", she pointed out.
"I suppose", he said, sipping his juice.
"Did you know he used to be a Keeper for Slytherin?", she added, looking over her shoulder in expectation.
Harry's head poked up. "Really? A keeper? How do you know?"
"I saw a picture with him and the whole of the Slytherin quidditch team", she replied. "I bet he was awful", Harry laughed. "Had Ron been here, he would have pointed out that he probably had fallen on his head one time too many times wile playing."
They both laughed.
~*~*~@~*~*~
It was nearly dinner time by the time they left her room, and neither Harry nor Hermione could remember last time they had spent such a long time in each others company, talking and laughing. The conversation had shifted to the future and the muggle world, and how strange it would feel if they had to return to that existence once leaving school.
In fact Harry didn't quite know what would happen to him once he left Hogwarts. He loved the school, but after seven years it was time for him to move on, and this he confessed to Hermione who assured him that she was more then convinced the threat posed by Voldemort would be over by graduation time.
They talked about all the things they missed the most, and since there was only the two of them, they could talk freely about movies, and muggle food, with out Ron questioning each individual thing with as much curiosity as his father. It was pleasant to share each other company on their own, and they felt disappointed when their session was interrupted by dinner being served in the great hall.
"You sure were gone for a long time", Ron commented once he caught the sight of them entering the hall. Harry and Hermione just grinned at each other.
"So, what's the matter with her then?", he asked Harry, who had taken a seat beside him at the table. He looked up at Hermione who was chatting away with Lavender. "Oh you know, girl stuff; I think it is that time of the month again", he said casually. "And her shoes?", Ron asked. "Heh, you have a sister; you figure it out", Harry replied. "Who can understand girls", Ron chuckled, and seemed to settle on this answer, before changing the conversation to Seamus and Quidditch.
"Hello, Potter", a sharp and unpleasant voice called from behind. Harry twisted his neck around uncomfortably, coming face to face with Malfoy and his two companions, Crabbe and Goyle who were both grinning viciously.
"What do you want, Malfoy" Ron spat, getting ready to rise from his chair. "Sit down Weasle, I am not here to see you". Draco's eyes scanned the table, catching the gaze of Hermione, who was watching the scene attentively. "I am here to see you, Granger!". His smile widened, and Crabbe stepped between Malfoy and Ron, who had risen from the table, warning him with a single look.
"Afternoon, Granger. I didn't see you for breakfast today", he said, brightly.
"And so? A lot of people skip breakfast!" Harry interjected defensively.
"I said I was here to see Granger!", Malfoy growled. "Don't tell me you are becoming deaf, along with being dumb". Crabbe and Goyle snickered.
"Piss off, Malfoy!" Ron barked, trying to push past Crabbe, who gave his shoulder a hard shove.
"Oh Weasley, temper, temper! A lack of breeding, does not excuse a lack of manners". Again Crabbe and Goyle laughed, along with a small collection of Slytherins that had gathered behind the trio.
Draco Malfoy had grown as tall and as lean as his father in the last six years, which had left him looking almost anorexic. Some of his irrational behaviour had vanished with his age, and he had become both articulate, and patient, but had no lack of arrogance or disdain.
Crabbe and Goyle on the other hand, were strangely enough the same as they had always been. Huge square shaped brutes of muscle and meat, with baby round faces, and an intelligence that had changed little over the last few years.
"Come over here, and I'll stop your breathing, Malfoy!" Ron barked, again trying to press past Crabbe who just grunted down at him and blocked his way with his paw-like hands.
"Ron Weasley!", a sharp voice shot through the air, and all heads turned. Striding along the floorboards in purple robes was Professor McGonagall, her lips as pursed as somebody who recently had bitten down hard on a lemon.
"What is going on here?", her eyes shifted from person to person and guilty eyes turned to the ground. "Threatening each other, here in front of all the younger students; you should all be ashamed! You are supposed to stand forward and be a good example to them. Return to your tables at once!". She glared over the small crowd of Slytherin who had made no effort to move. "*Now*", she stated firmly, and they all scattered like fleeing rats, searching for vacant chairs to settle on.
Malfoy shot Hermione a poisoned look, before turning back to his table with the rest of the crowd, snickering behind McGonagall, who was now hovering over Ron and Harry.
"Professor", Harry tried, once Malfoy was out of listening range. "We didn't start anything. Malfoy--" "I know, Harry". McGonagall interrupted quietly. But as we have discussed in the past, I can't tolerate such behaviour as this, despite whose fault it was to begin with". The two boys hung their heads.
"Well", she said in a more pleasant tone. "Now that it all seems settled, let's eat, shall we?" she looked over at Hermione, who was still watching Malfoy, puzzled at the look he had given her. "Miss Granger, will I still be seeing in my office, tonight, at eight?". "huh? uhm, oh yes, Professor, I'll be there!". Head girl issues, she thought with a shrugged, and smiled up at the woman who nodded her good byes before, striding off.
Once McGongall was out of sight, and the dinner was on the table, the three were back to chattering.
"I wonder what he wants with you?", Harry asked, pouring some chicken curry onto his plate. "I don't know, and I don't really care to find out", Hermione replied, indifferently, as she buttered a roll and filled her glass with squash juice.
Harry was noticing how Hermione's attention dwelled on the high table. Seated on the left side, resembling something like a black raven, sat Snape, his cold dark eyes scanning the room attentively, searching for misbehaving students like a hungry hawk searching out a unaware mouse.
His eyes settled on her just once, and Harry noticed how he wrinkled his nose before his attention shifted elsewhere, and then avoiding her from there on. It angered him, his dismissive expression. He noticed Hermione looking down on her plate in shame, and only nibbling absently on her roll while staring lost in to the air.
Ron didn't notice. It wasn't that he wasn't sensitive, he was just less attentive to his surroundings; like Malfoy, he too had changed a fair bit over the years. He had grown to look more like his twin brothers, tall but slightly stocky in build. He was now a beater on the Gryffindor team, and though both witty and charismatic, he became easily distracted, and kept himself to a limited interest.
The current players were: Hannah Abbott, a Hufflepuff girl in the seventh year, and Ginny, who had grown both attractive and charming, causing many a boy to look her way (well, when Ron wasn't stalking her like some ginger haired bodyguard, that is).
~*~*~@~*~*~
After dinner Hermione went straight to her room, picked up the papers she would need for her meeting with McGonagall before settling herself at the library, planning to entertain herself with a book, and allow time to pass. She didn't know where Ron and Harry had gone off to, but they never hung around the library; in fact she lovedit's solitary feel on the weekends, as nobody was about except Madam Pince who was dusting off some books in the restricted section.
"I knew I could find you here, Granger!". The slippery voice of Malfoy echoed trough the empty room. Hermione chose to ignore him out of principal, and continued her reading, keeping her head buried in 'A History of Horseradish'
"What is this? You're ignoring me?", he said, peering about to see if Madam Pince was in sight before snatching the book out of her hands, and holding it out of her reach.
"Hey give me that!", she shouted.
"Calm down, I want to talk to you!", he said, closing the book and shuffling into seat opposite her. He handed the book to Goyle, who with Crabbe remained standing behind him, grinning disturbingly across at her.
"What do you want malfoy!", she spat, leaning over the table with her eyes full of fire.
"Easy, Granger. You are certainly a bit on the edge today; what is wrong? Did you wake up on the wrong side of.. *your* bed, this morning?". His two side kicks chuckled.
"Whatever are you talking about, Malfoy?", she growled venomously through her teeth.
"Nothing!", he replied simply, leaning back in his seat in a flamboyant pose -- stretched out and one arm swung over the back of the chair.
"I was simply wondering where you were this morning", he asked with a grin. "I didn't see you for breakfast!"
"That is absolutely none of your business", she stated flatly, fixing her cinnamon brown eyes with his blue.
"Perhaps", he said with a grin, "but I am drawn by this uncontrollable urge of curiosity, since I didn't see you for the last half of yesterday night".
"I am head girl. I can come and go as I please!" she replied dismissively.
"Yes, and what could the head girl be doing? Perhaps romping about while the others have their attention focused elsewhere..?" he grin "I do not hope you find my attitude too Gryffendor'ish. It really doesn't suit me."
"I do not have the slightest idea what you are going on about!", she snapped. "I left the party before everybody else, and patrolled the halls before heading straight to bed".
"Who's bed, I wonder", Malfoy whispered, leaning forward a little.
"Are you accusing me of something? If you are, I'll report you to the headmaster!", she warned him.
"Ooh, not at all, simply curious. Allow me, though, to hear from your lips, that you were not frolicking after curfew last night. Just tell me and Ill be on my way, I promise!"
She suppressed an urge to shout and settled with a silky soft sneer. "It's none of business what I do, Malfoy. Now leave me alone!!", she demanded, staring him straight in the eyes.
"Oh..", Malfoy couldn't help but snicker, "is that so?". He peered up at Crabbe and Goyle who were snickering and chuckling so hard their fat faces had turned scarlet.
"What are you two laughing about", Malfoy said, his voice dripping with menace and sarcasm. "We have obviously been mistaken. Come on, let's leave this Gryffindor to her reading". He took the book from Goyle, and with his back facing her; she could see him slip a hand inside his robes, pulling something out and placing it between the pages of the book.
"I am sure that she will find.." he read the title, grinning somewhat at the words, "A History of Horseradish? Is that the most tantalizing book you could find?. Well I do hope that the little present I left you will make the book slightly more fascinating."
He dropped it on the table and patted the cover with his hand.
"Just a little something I found when I went to collect my owl first thing this morning".
He leaned forward so he was just inches from her face. It was up in the Owlery of all places", he said in a disgusted tone, shaking his head.
"Happy reading, mudblood"
And with a wink and a smile he turned on his heal and left the library.
Hermione watched him in astonishment. She was boiling with fury inside, but thought it better to keep her mouth shut, as he was obviously ready to leave.
Once out of sight, she pulled the book carefully towards her and opened the pages. She gasped, and suppressed a whimper, her body tensing at the garment she found inside. Between the pages of the old book lay a pair of white cotton knickers, with the initials 'H.G.' sewed into the lining. They were hers from the night before!
She had the most horrible habit of labelling everything she owned. Bottles, pencils, books and indeed her underwear, as she simply didn't trust that the house elfs wouldn't mix hers up in the wash, and now she was facing the consequences of one of her many organizing quirks.
"Oh, god no".
She winced, dropping her head in to her hands.
"Just what I *don't* need!", she moaned..
"And the owlery?!?! Ewww!"
*****
Ah here we finally go. I gave this to my beta reader about two days after I posted the other, but I suppose it is my fault for writing such long chapters, for her to beta read.
Thank you again for all your lovely comments, it is hard to explain how much it cheers me up to find a "Fan fiction, review" msg in my mail box. Makes me all happy and excited :)
I am trying to toughen Hermione up as you guys suggested.
I want to use the British word "pissed" instead of "drunk" but oh well, here is a small Gilbert and Sullivan quote from Princess Ida, that makes me think about Snape.
"I'm sure I'm no ascetic; I'm as pleasant as can be; You'll always find me ready with a crushing repartee, I've an irritating chuckle, I've a celebrated sneer, I've an entertaining snigger, I've a fascinating leer. To ev'rybody's prejudice I know a thing or two; I can tell a woman's age in half a minute -- and I do. But although I try to make myself as pleasant as I can, Yet ev'rybody says I'm such a disagreeable man! And I can't think why!"
"..And I will have to meet with him tomorrow after class, as the contraceptive potion only works if you take it within twenty four hours; if you add Hazel, though, then it can be used for a fourth night, but it loses some of its potency"
"Uh huh..." Harry said, and rubbed his head, still dumbstruck. "This is mad Hermione!. I am sorry, I can't take all of this in."
"I know.. I am glad I got to speak to you. I just needed to *tell* somebody -- this whole episode feel like such a surreal nightmare!" Hermione forced a smile, moving over to one of her cabinets where she dug out a bottle of pumpkin juice and two goblets.
"Speaking of 'feel', how do you even know you two -- I mean, do you feel anything.. you know, down there." he did a hand motion that was most suggestive, if not a bit rude.
"Harry!" she snapped, looking at him, shocked
"I am serious, 'Mione -- if this was your first time.. and uhm.. this is your first.. isn't it?", he ran a hand through the fuzzy jet black hair, his face flushing red, and grinned up at Hermione baffled expression.
"Are you implying that Professor Snape and I--"
"No, no, no!" Harry interrupted quickly, waving his hands before him defensively. "I meant, you and Victor-- or, anybody really, you don't exactly tell us a lot about what you do these days--"
"Harry! I didn't think I was obligated to inform either you or Ron about any part of my sex life, existing or not! It is hardly either of your business", she barked, nearly spilling one of the goblets.
"Oh don't be like that, 'Mione, I didn't mean anything by it!" he shrugged, helplessly. "It is just that, if you were like, you know, a virgin, then wouldn't there be some blood, or wouldn't you feel at least a bit sore, or something?"
She opened her mouth to argue, but shut it, realising he had a point. She was a bit amazed that he, of all people, would think of that.
"And Snape", Harry continued, "he should feel something too, I mean.. I wouldn't know for I have never.. uhm, you know. But still, I think a lot of guys do feel something the next day.." he nodded his head in certainty.
"Maybe he did", she replied, "maybe that is why he is so confident of it, it would explain a lot!". She took a sip of one of the goblets, staring into the distance.
"I don't feel any different.. I.. think..", she said, sensing a weak tickling sensation in her lower region now that he mentioned it, but it could just as well be her imagination. "But it would make sense if he did". She deposited a goblet of juice into Harry's grip.
"You should ask him tomorrow!", he replied with a nod of thanks, and sipped his drink.
"I can't ask him!", she declared
"Why not?"
"Because I just can't!"
"You slept with the guy; I think that entitles you the right to ask if he has any feelings in his groin!"
"Harry!", she snapped again. "I am starting to regret that I told you! This is humiliating enough, without having to ask him any embarrassing questions about his.. his.. privates!". She sat the goblet aside and turned away from Harry, peering foggy eyed toward the windows
Harry gave a surrendering shrug, and pushed a strand of hair from his face. "I am sorry, 'Mione" he whispered, watching her. "I just can't believe that you and--", his whole body gave a shudder.
"Well, at least you don't have to live with it", she replied bitterly
"True", he admitted. "I didn't mean you offend you", he said, offering a little smile.
"I know Harry", she replied softly. Silence fell on the two for a few moments, before she broke it with a tone that was near whisper.
"You know Harry, it could have been worse, much worse", she said, a soft smile creeping across her features. "He didn't really insult me. He had all the chances in the world to humiliate, degrade, and shame me, and.. he didn't. He didn't even take any points, or sign me up for detention. I mean, he wasn't pleasant: far from it, he was both arrogant and smug. But he wasn't horrible either, not like he can be."
"Don't give him too much credit" Harry grinned. "He probably would if he didn't fear somebody finding out about it; he can hardly take points off for you waking up in his bed."
"Why not? It never stopped in him in the past, taking points for ridiculous reasons like Neville tripping in the hallway, or you sneezing too loudly", she pointed out.
"I suppose", he said, sipping his juice.
"Did you know he used to be a Keeper for Slytherin?", she added, looking over her shoulder in expectation.
Harry's head poked up. "Really? A keeper? How do you know?"
"I saw a picture with him and the whole of the Slytherin quidditch team", she replied. "I bet he was awful", Harry laughed. "Had Ron been here, he would have pointed out that he probably had fallen on his head one time too many times wile playing."
They both laughed.
~*~*~@~*~*~
It was nearly dinner time by the time they left her room, and neither Harry nor Hermione could remember last time they had spent such a long time in each others company, talking and laughing. The conversation had shifted to the future and the muggle world, and how strange it would feel if they had to return to that existence once leaving school.
In fact Harry didn't quite know what would happen to him once he left Hogwarts. He loved the school, but after seven years it was time for him to move on, and this he confessed to Hermione who assured him that she was more then convinced the threat posed by Voldemort would be over by graduation time.
They talked about all the things they missed the most, and since there was only the two of them, they could talk freely about movies, and muggle food, with out Ron questioning each individual thing with as much curiosity as his father. It was pleasant to share each other company on their own, and they felt disappointed when their session was interrupted by dinner being served in the great hall.
"You sure were gone for a long time", Ron commented once he caught the sight of them entering the hall. Harry and Hermione just grinned at each other.
"So, what's the matter with her then?", he asked Harry, who had taken a seat beside him at the table. He looked up at Hermione who was chatting away with Lavender. "Oh you know, girl stuff; I think it is that time of the month again", he said casually. "And her shoes?", Ron asked. "Heh, you have a sister; you figure it out", Harry replied. "Who can understand girls", Ron chuckled, and seemed to settle on this answer, before changing the conversation to Seamus and Quidditch.
"Hello, Potter", a sharp and unpleasant voice called from behind. Harry twisted his neck around uncomfortably, coming face to face with Malfoy and his two companions, Crabbe and Goyle who were both grinning viciously.
"What do you want, Malfoy" Ron spat, getting ready to rise from his chair. "Sit down Weasle, I am not here to see you". Draco's eyes scanned the table, catching the gaze of Hermione, who was watching the scene attentively. "I am here to see you, Granger!". His smile widened, and Crabbe stepped between Malfoy and Ron, who had risen from the table, warning him with a single look.
"Afternoon, Granger. I didn't see you for breakfast today", he said, brightly.
"And so? A lot of people skip breakfast!" Harry interjected defensively.
"I said I was here to see Granger!", Malfoy growled. "Don't tell me you are becoming deaf, along with being dumb". Crabbe and Goyle snickered.
"Piss off, Malfoy!" Ron barked, trying to push past Crabbe, who gave his shoulder a hard shove.
"Oh Weasley, temper, temper! A lack of breeding, does not excuse a lack of manners". Again Crabbe and Goyle laughed, along with a small collection of Slytherins that had gathered behind the trio.
Draco Malfoy had grown as tall and as lean as his father in the last six years, which had left him looking almost anorexic. Some of his irrational behaviour had vanished with his age, and he had become both articulate, and patient, but had no lack of arrogance or disdain.
Crabbe and Goyle on the other hand, were strangely enough the same as they had always been. Huge square shaped brutes of muscle and meat, with baby round faces, and an intelligence that had changed little over the last few years.
"Come over here, and I'll stop your breathing, Malfoy!" Ron barked, again trying to press past Crabbe who just grunted down at him and blocked his way with his paw-like hands.
"Ron Weasley!", a sharp voice shot through the air, and all heads turned. Striding along the floorboards in purple robes was Professor McGonagall, her lips as pursed as somebody who recently had bitten down hard on a lemon.
"What is going on here?", her eyes shifted from person to person and guilty eyes turned to the ground. "Threatening each other, here in front of all the younger students; you should all be ashamed! You are supposed to stand forward and be a good example to them. Return to your tables at once!". She glared over the small crowd of Slytherin who had made no effort to move. "*Now*", she stated firmly, and they all scattered like fleeing rats, searching for vacant chairs to settle on.
Malfoy shot Hermione a poisoned look, before turning back to his table with the rest of the crowd, snickering behind McGonagall, who was now hovering over Ron and Harry.
"Professor", Harry tried, once Malfoy was out of listening range. "We didn't start anything. Malfoy--" "I know, Harry". McGonagall interrupted quietly. But as we have discussed in the past, I can't tolerate such behaviour as this, despite whose fault it was to begin with". The two boys hung their heads.
"Well", she said in a more pleasant tone. "Now that it all seems settled, let's eat, shall we?" she looked over at Hermione, who was still watching Malfoy, puzzled at the look he had given her. "Miss Granger, will I still be seeing in my office, tonight, at eight?". "huh? uhm, oh yes, Professor, I'll be there!". Head girl issues, she thought with a shrugged, and smiled up at the woman who nodded her good byes before, striding off.
Once McGongall was out of sight, and the dinner was on the table, the three were back to chattering.
"I wonder what he wants with you?", Harry asked, pouring some chicken curry onto his plate. "I don't know, and I don't really care to find out", Hermione replied, indifferently, as she buttered a roll and filled her glass with squash juice.
Harry was noticing how Hermione's attention dwelled on the high table. Seated on the left side, resembling something like a black raven, sat Snape, his cold dark eyes scanning the room attentively, searching for misbehaving students like a hungry hawk searching out a unaware mouse.
His eyes settled on her just once, and Harry noticed how he wrinkled his nose before his attention shifted elsewhere, and then avoiding her from there on. It angered him, his dismissive expression. He noticed Hermione looking down on her plate in shame, and only nibbling absently on her roll while staring lost in to the air.
Ron didn't notice. It wasn't that he wasn't sensitive, he was just less attentive to his surroundings; like Malfoy, he too had changed a fair bit over the years. He had grown to look more like his twin brothers, tall but slightly stocky in build. He was now a beater on the Gryffindor team, and though both witty and charismatic, he became easily distracted, and kept himself to a limited interest.
The current players were: Hannah Abbott, a Hufflepuff girl in the seventh year, and Ginny, who had grown both attractive and charming, causing many a boy to look her way (well, when Ron wasn't stalking her like some ginger haired bodyguard, that is).
~*~*~@~*~*~
After dinner Hermione went straight to her room, picked up the papers she would need for her meeting with McGonagall before settling herself at the library, planning to entertain herself with a book, and allow time to pass. She didn't know where Ron and Harry had gone off to, but they never hung around the library; in fact she lovedit's solitary feel on the weekends, as nobody was about except Madam Pince who was dusting off some books in the restricted section.
"I knew I could find you here, Granger!". The slippery voice of Malfoy echoed trough the empty room. Hermione chose to ignore him out of principal, and continued her reading, keeping her head buried in 'A History of Horseradish'
"What is this? You're ignoring me?", he said, peering about to see if Madam Pince was in sight before snatching the book out of her hands, and holding it out of her reach.
"Hey give me that!", she shouted.
"Calm down, I want to talk to you!", he said, closing the book and shuffling into seat opposite her. He handed the book to Goyle, who with Crabbe remained standing behind him, grinning disturbingly across at her.
"What do you want malfoy!", she spat, leaning over the table with her eyes full of fire.
"Easy, Granger. You are certainly a bit on the edge today; what is wrong? Did you wake up on the wrong side of.. *your* bed, this morning?". His two side kicks chuckled.
"Whatever are you talking about, Malfoy?", she growled venomously through her teeth.
"Nothing!", he replied simply, leaning back in his seat in a flamboyant pose -- stretched out and one arm swung over the back of the chair.
"I was simply wondering where you were this morning", he asked with a grin. "I didn't see you for breakfast!"
"That is absolutely none of your business", she stated flatly, fixing her cinnamon brown eyes with his blue.
"Perhaps", he said with a grin, "but I am drawn by this uncontrollable urge of curiosity, since I didn't see you for the last half of yesterday night".
"I am head girl. I can come and go as I please!" she replied dismissively.
"Yes, and what could the head girl be doing? Perhaps romping about while the others have their attention focused elsewhere..?" he grin "I do not hope you find my attitude too Gryffendor'ish. It really doesn't suit me."
"I do not have the slightest idea what you are going on about!", she snapped. "I left the party before everybody else, and patrolled the halls before heading straight to bed".
"Who's bed, I wonder", Malfoy whispered, leaning forward a little.
"Are you accusing me of something? If you are, I'll report you to the headmaster!", she warned him.
"Ooh, not at all, simply curious. Allow me, though, to hear from your lips, that you were not frolicking after curfew last night. Just tell me and Ill be on my way, I promise!"
She suppressed an urge to shout and settled with a silky soft sneer. "It's none of business what I do, Malfoy. Now leave me alone!!", she demanded, staring him straight in the eyes.
"Oh..", Malfoy couldn't help but snicker, "is that so?". He peered up at Crabbe and Goyle who were snickering and chuckling so hard their fat faces had turned scarlet.
"What are you two laughing about", Malfoy said, his voice dripping with menace and sarcasm. "We have obviously been mistaken. Come on, let's leave this Gryffindor to her reading". He took the book from Goyle, and with his back facing her; she could see him slip a hand inside his robes, pulling something out and placing it between the pages of the book.
"I am sure that she will find.." he read the title, grinning somewhat at the words, "A History of Horseradish? Is that the most tantalizing book you could find?. Well I do hope that the little present I left you will make the book slightly more fascinating."
He dropped it on the table and patted the cover with his hand.
"Just a little something I found when I went to collect my owl first thing this morning".
He leaned forward so he was just inches from her face. It was up in the Owlery of all places", he said in a disgusted tone, shaking his head.
"Happy reading, mudblood"
And with a wink and a smile he turned on his heal and left the library.
Hermione watched him in astonishment. She was boiling with fury inside, but thought it better to keep her mouth shut, as he was obviously ready to leave.
Once out of sight, she pulled the book carefully towards her and opened the pages. She gasped, and suppressed a whimper, her body tensing at the garment she found inside. Between the pages of the old book lay a pair of white cotton knickers, with the initials 'H.G.' sewed into the lining. They were hers from the night before!
She had the most horrible habit of labelling everything she owned. Bottles, pencils, books and indeed her underwear, as she simply didn't trust that the house elfs wouldn't mix hers up in the wash, and now she was facing the consequences of one of her many organizing quirks.
"Oh, god no".
She winced, dropping her head in to her hands.
"Just what I *don't* need!", she moaned..
"And the owlery?!?! Ewww!"
*****
Ah here we finally go. I gave this to my beta reader about two days after I posted the other, but I suppose it is my fault for writing such long chapters, for her to beta read.
Thank you again for all your lovely comments, it is hard to explain how much it cheers me up to find a "Fan fiction, review" msg in my mail box. Makes me all happy and excited :)
I am trying to toughen Hermione up as you guys suggested.
I want to use the British word "pissed" instead of "drunk" but oh well, here is a small Gilbert and Sullivan quote from Princess Ida, that makes me think about Snape.
"I'm sure I'm no ascetic; I'm as pleasant as can be; You'll always find me ready with a crushing repartee, I've an irritating chuckle, I've a celebrated sneer, I've an entertaining snigger, I've a fascinating leer. To ev'rybody's prejudice I know a thing or two; I can tell a woman's age in half a minute -- and I do. But although I try to make myself as pleasant as I can, Yet ev'rybody says I'm such a disagreeable man! And I can't think why!"