Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or anything in his really cool world.
Summary (Chp. 1-11): A sailing class/field trip is planned. Slytherin/Gryffindor is teamed up. Draco/Hermione are paired up. The class is taught by Professor Sinistra/Dr. Branefeld. D/Hr research the Vintmoor/Island of Malnese. Hr borrows H cloak/map to go to restricted section, runs into D. When she heads back to Gryffindor, she changes her mind and goes to see D (in an empty classroom), they have a fight, she leaves, shatters her jaw on a false step. D takes her to Madam Pomfrey, fights an inner battle over his attitude towards her. Hr awakens on Monday night, remembers she left H cloak, D shows up and brings it to her. They hold hands, Madam Pomfrey tells D to leave. D makes a decision. Hagrid has his COM class start to work with Billywigs, and Fred and George give Hr a hydrophanous orb. Hr discovers that the hydrophanous orb (H. orb) is mentioned in the book from the Restricted Section. Her and D are asked to be the class navigators.
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Chapter 12: The Necklace
The time was 11:00. After Potions, Draco and Hermione had planned to meet in the Astronomy Tower at 11:15. She slung the heavy bag of navigation instruments over her shoulder, and tucked her Astronomy book and thick cloak under her other arm.
"Hermione, are you sure you don't want one of us to come with you?" Harry asked for the thousandth time. When she had told Harry and Ron what Madam Sinistra had said, they had both paled in anger. It was bad enough that she already had to spend time in sailing class with Malfoy, and one evening a week completing homework. They couldn't believe that she would have to spend a half hour alone with him every night on top of that.
"Harry, look, it's not that big of a deal. We'll be too busy learning how to use the equipment to allow any time for him to harass me. Besides, I have my wand, and I know more hexes than Malfoy has probably even dreamed of." She gave her friend a winning smile.
"You're right, you know. You always are," Harry grinned back at her. "Oh, hey, you wanted to borrow my Cloak again, right?"
"Yeah, but not tonight. I'm tired. I just want to get the navigation stuff out of the way and go to sleep. I'll let you know when I need it."
"What do you need it for? You never told me."
"Remember the orb thing that I showed you and Ron earlier?"
Harry nodded.
"Well, I want to see if I can find any information about it in the Restricted Section." She rehoisted the heavy bag on her shoulder. "Harry, look, I would love to tell you all about everything, but I don't want to be late tonight. I'll see you at breakfast tomorrow, okay?"
Harry gave her a grin, and walked over to a table where Ron was setting up a game of Wizard's Chess. Hermione turned to leave, first checking that the pass Madam Sinistra had given her was still in her robe pocket. She pushed open the portrait door and started down the hallway.
It felt strange walking down the hallway after curfew without the Cloak as cover. The only time she had ever been allowed out of the common room past curfew was when the Gryffindor's had their Astronomy class. Her nerves were a bit jumpy as she sped through the empty hallways.
"A student out of bed? Well, well, Mrs. Norris, it looks like a detention is in the works for tonight." Filch's gravely voice caused Hermione to come to a sudden stop. "And look, it's not only a student, but the ever perfect Ms. Granger. If you will come with me, will get the pleasantries started." He turned, expecting the recalcitrant student to follow.
"Um, Mr. Filch, sir?" Hermione squeaked, her voice sounding small in the empty nighttime hallway. "I have a pass." She produced the pass from her robe.
Filch snatched the pass suspiciously from her outstretched hand, and stared at the offensive slip of parchment. "So you do, so you do. Well, you just be certain that you never let me catch you without a pass after curfew. I have some wonderful detentions cooked up that I can't wait to try out." He roughly pressed the pass back into her hand, motioned to Mrs. Norris, and continued on his watch.
Hermione took off at a run to make it to the Astronomy Tower in time. The last thing she needed was to be late. Draco would never let her live that down.
She reached the door to the platform, gasping for breath. Pushing it open, she saw Malfoy already standing at the other end, his book out, and a nocturnal grasped in his hands.
"Late, Granger?" he questioned, not turning from his calculations. "Not the best example to be setting."
"Filch stopped me. Besides, I'm still on time. You must have been early." She stepped through the doorway and stalked across the stone floor.
Draco, finished with his first set of measurements, put down the nocturnal and looked over at Hermione. She had put down her load and was shrugging herself into her cloak. The waning moon glowed on Hermione's face, softening her features. Draco felt a strange flutter in his stomach at the sight.
"What are you staring at, Ferret Boy?" she snapped at him.
"Nothing. Just waiting for you to get to work." Embarrassed, he quickly turned back to his book, ostensibly reviewing the next step in his readings with the nocturnal.
The rest of the half-hour passed smoothly. They spoke only when necessary, and finished their calculations quickly. Hermione used a soft cloth to carefully clean her instruments and packed them back into their cases. She noticed, from the corner of her eye, that Draco skipped the cleaning part.
"Malfoy, you're supposed to clean them each time."
"Shut up, Mudblood. I'll do as I please."
"You're instruments won't remain accurate if you refuse to clean them, Malfoy," she said, with a sigh of exasperation.
"What, are you going to tell on me?" he gave her a glare.
"No, I wouldn't do that. But, if you don't get into the habit of cleaning them now, it will be hard to get into that habit when we are taking measurements four times a day on the ship." She narrowed her eyes at him.
"Whatever. I'm leaving." He snatched his packed bag up, and strode across the platform entering the doorway. With a sigh, Hermione picked up her heavy bag and her book, and headed back indoors.
~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~
The rest of the week flew by. Hermione got wrapped up in the increased challenges of her studies. Dr. Branefeld taught wonderfully exciting Arithmancy courses. He challenged the class beyond what Hermione could have even hoped. He often commented on the work that Hermione was turning in, both to her embarrassment and her pride.
She enjoyed learning how to use the various navigation instruments each evening, and found that she had a special aptitude with the sextant. Draco appeared to really enjoy using the nocturnal, and they fell into a comfortable rhythm with each other, laughter actually occurring at times. They seemed to enjoy being around each other, at least when the audience was comprised of the stars, sky, and moon. During the rest of the day, they regarded each other with glares and muttered curses.
Tuesday, the 19th of September crept up. Hermione awoke on the morning of her 15th birthday ready for the challenges that lie ahead. A particularly difficult quiz had been scheduled that morning for Transfiguration, and she was looking forward to tackling the task. Springing lightly out of bed, she rushed off to the bathroom to get ready for the day.
"Hey, Hermione!" Lavender's voice rang out. "There's an owl here to see you."
Hermione, towel wrapped around her wet hair, exited the bathroom while drawing on her bathrobe. A large barn owl was sitting on her bed next to a small package. She went to her trunk and pulled out a couple of knuts which she wrapped in a piece of cloth and gave to the fowl. The bird gave a small hoot and flew back out the window it had come in from.
"Oh, who is it from?" Parvati squealed as both she and Lavender leaped from their beds.
"I don't know." Hermione picked up the small package, and looked at it. It was wrapped in gold paper with a beautiful silver bow. "I suppose I'll open it." She carefully opened the paper, and took the lid off the small box. Inside she found a necklace. She pulled out the delicate gold chain upon which was strung a clear glass globe in which sparkled a miniature star.
Lavender and Parvati shrieked with excitement when they saw it.
"Wow, that is so cool. My mom has one of those." Parvati reached out to take the necklace, looking closely at the dangling globe. "It's an actual star, Hermione. They are only made in Sweden. They're really expensive. Did a note come with it?"
Hermione looked back into the small box. She pulled out a small piece of parchment. Opening it she saw written, in an unfamiliar hand, a simple message.
Happy Birthday
"Is it signed?" Lavender asked, reaching for the necklace, which Parvati was holding.
"No, it's just has happy birthday written on it."
"You have a secret admirer, Hermione!" Parvati screeched, grabbing Hermione's hands, and spinning her about the room. Hermione tried to extricate herself from Parvati's grip, but failed as Lavender joined them. For the next few minutes, she was spun about the room with the two overly excited girls. They finally calmed down and released a relieved Hermione.
"So, who do you think it is?" Lavender aksed.
"I don't know."
"Well, the necklace is really expensive, so we know who it probably isn't," reasoned Parvati. "I mean, it couldn't be Ron, he's too poor. It wouldn't be Neville; he's too unromantic. It couldn't be Dean, he's dating that Ravenclaw girl." Hermione amusedly turned from Parvati as she continued her mental checklist, and began to dress for the day. She finished running her brush through her hair just as Parvati completed her list of all the Hogwarts boys it couldn't have been. She reached for the necklace and hooked it around her neck.
"I've got to run, girls. I'm meeting Harry and Ron for a special birthday breakfast." She turned to leave, when Parvati's hand grasped hers.
"Oh my gosh! Hermione, we are so sorry. Happy birthday!" she shrieked, Lavender joining her. "We have a present for you, too."
Lavender dashed over to her trunk, threw it open, and retrieved a package wrapped in a beautiful blue paper. Hermione opened it to reveal the latest edition of ::Hogwarts, A History::. She gave the two girls a huge grin.
"Thank you! I love it. I can't wait to read the new stuff in it." She gave them each a big hug, put the book on top of her bed, and left the room.
Harry and Ron were waiting for her at the foot of the stairs.
"Happy birthday, Hermione," Ron said, a grin lighting his face.
"Happy birthday," Harry repeated.
"Thanks guys. Let's go."
The three friends walked across the common room and pushed open the portrait.
"What's that around your neck, Hermione?" Ron questioned as they walked down the hall.
"Oh, it's a birthday gift." Hermione, unsuccessfully, tried not to blush.
"From who?"
"I-I don't know," she stuttered.
"What do you mean, you don't know?" Harry asked, a puzzled look crossing his face.
"It came this morning, by owl. There was a note, but it was unsigned."
"And you're wearing it? You don't know if it's cursed or something," Ron argued, trying to keep a grin from his face.
"It's perfectly fine, Ron."
"I don't know, Hermione. You wouldn't let me keep my Firebolt when I got it." Ron nodded his agreement with Harry's statement.
"Oh, come off it!" Hermione growled. "That was a whole different set of circumstances. I mean, you were in danger that year. For goodness sake," huffed Hermione.
As they reached the door to the Great Hall, Harry and Ron burst out laughing. "Sorry, Hermione! We're just picking on you." Harry managed, through his laughter. "Of course the necklace is perfectly fine. You've got to stop taking everything so seriously."
Hermione scowled at them, which only caused them to laugh all the harder. Finally, Hermione realized how silly she was behaving, and her scowl melted into a smile, before morphing into laughter. The three laughing friends made their way to their table, oblivious to the glare of a blond headed Slytherin across the room.
"Oh, look!" exclaimed Hermione, when they reached the table. "Belgium Waffles with fresh strawberries! My favorite!" She sat down, and reached for the platter.
"I talked with Dobby and asked him if he could whip you up your favorite, you know, it being your birthday and all." Harry grinned at the happy expression on Hermione's face as he took his seat.
"Thank you, Harry. You're the best," she mumbled, through a mouthful of waffles.
Draco watched the happy trio continue their morning feast. He still couldn't figure out what had possessed him to send a gift to Hermione. He squinted, and could see that she was wearing the necklace. An unbidden sigh tore from him.
"What's the matter, Draco?" Blaise questioned, slipping onto the bench opposite him.
"Huh?" he replied, looking at her.
"I said, what's the matter. It looks like your upset about something." Blaise grabbed a large blueberry muffin off the platter in front of her, and slathered it with butter.
"Nothing. I'm just tired." The line rolled easily off his tongue. "So, are you ready for another fun-filled morning learning about Billywigs?" he questioned, pouring himself another glass of pumpkin juice.
The two Slytherin's spent the rest of breakfast discussing the day's classes. Draco kept slipping glances past Blaise, however. He couldn't seem to stop checking on the progress of Hermione and her friends. When the morning warning bell rang. Draco stood, said bye to Blaise, and left for his Ancient Runes class, Hermione, annoyingly, still in his mind.
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Well, there it is. I hope you all enjoyed it. If you did, or didn't, please review. I want to know what you liked, or hated.
blueberry girl: In answer to your question, yes, there was a kissing scene, but I cut it. My characters got out of hand, okay, well I did. I'm trying to build more tension between the two before they kiss. So, hang on, because when it comes, you will be very pleased.
Slytherin hot chick: Sorry about the (), that's how your name appeared in my emails, (which is where I go to respond), so I just figured that you did that for whatever reason. Anyway, I won't do it anymore. =)
Rebecca: I did a bunch of weird things the other day, like moving my two appendices around a bunch and adding two new chapters, so it is understandable that you almost missed things. Thank you for you synopsis of my hand holding scene. As far as my summaries, I do wish more people would write them, because I am TOTALLY lost in some stories. WOW...I am in your top 10 list? I feel really special. **huggles Rebecca** Let me know what your other ones are. I love good D/Hr stories.
CatalinaRose: That's okay with the page number thing. It didn't take me long to find it. =) The appendices aren't THAT bad, it's just something I have to remember to do each time. Breakfast fits in somewhere between 7 and 9. I figured that Hogwarts would allow the students to eat breakfast at their own time, as well as lunch (basically when the choose during their lunch break), however, dinner is something that, from the movie and the books, appears to be a set time. I thought it would be fun to deal with a class that we have only heard of in the books, I'm having fun with it too. I debated on having Hermione tell Harry and Ron everything, but decided that a lie would work better for the rest of the story's plot. Yeah, Draco and Hermione are navigators. I have just made my story a whole lot harder to write. I am furiously searching the internet to find good information on navigating in medieval times. The deal with the orb will be explained in future chapters. =) I think you will like it. (Of course, it would be helpful if I knew exactly what I was planning to do with it.) It is hilarious that you mentioned The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle. Not only is that one of my all time favorites, it was the impetus for the appendix idea. There will be an appendix B, when I finish it. It is my ship manual one, so it is taking the longest time to write. (Look what happens when I don't have fanfic to waste time on? I spend forever writing my thank you's.)
CrystallineLily: Well, here is the new chapter. Hope you liked it. Oh and I am glad you liked my songfic. I am hoping to turn it into a full fledged story, but not until I finish On Storm Tossed Seas.
f0yness39: Thank you. Professor Sinistra is the Astronomy teacher at Hogwarts. In my story she also is teaching the fifth year Gryffindor/Slytherin sailing class.
You guys are the best. Thank you to all who take time out of their lives to read my fanfic. I am really enjoying the whole process of writing it. I hope that I can continue to write good chapters and that I can get them out in a timely manner. Thank you guys.
Summary (Chp. 1-11): A sailing class/field trip is planned. Slytherin/Gryffindor is teamed up. Draco/Hermione are paired up. The class is taught by Professor Sinistra/Dr. Branefeld. D/Hr research the Vintmoor/Island of Malnese. Hr borrows H cloak/map to go to restricted section, runs into D. When she heads back to Gryffindor, she changes her mind and goes to see D (in an empty classroom), they have a fight, she leaves, shatters her jaw on a false step. D takes her to Madam Pomfrey, fights an inner battle over his attitude towards her. Hr awakens on Monday night, remembers she left H cloak, D shows up and brings it to her. They hold hands, Madam Pomfrey tells D to leave. D makes a decision. Hagrid has his COM class start to work with Billywigs, and Fred and George give Hr a hydrophanous orb. Hr discovers that the hydrophanous orb (H. orb) is mentioned in the book from the Restricted Section. Her and D are asked to be the class navigators.
_____________________________________________________________
Chapter 12: The Necklace
The time was 11:00. After Potions, Draco and Hermione had planned to meet in the Astronomy Tower at 11:15. She slung the heavy bag of navigation instruments over her shoulder, and tucked her Astronomy book and thick cloak under her other arm.
"Hermione, are you sure you don't want one of us to come with you?" Harry asked for the thousandth time. When she had told Harry and Ron what Madam Sinistra had said, they had both paled in anger. It was bad enough that she already had to spend time in sailing class with Malfoy, and one evening a week completing homework. They couldn't believe that she would have to spend a half hour alone with him every night on top of that.
"Harry, look, it's not that big of a deal. We'll be too busy learning how to use the equipment to allow any time for him to harass me. Besides, I have my wand, and I know more hexes than Malfoy has probably even dreamed of." She gave her friend a winning smile.
"You're right, you know. You always are," Harry grinned back at her. "Oh, hey, you wanted to borrow my Cloak again, right?"
"Yeah, but not tonight. I'm tired. I just want to get the navigation stuff out of the way and go to sleep. I'll let you know when I need it."
"What do you need it for? You never told me."
"Remember the orb thing that I showed you and Ron earlier?"
Harry nodded.
"Well, I want to see if I can find any information about it in the Restricted Section." She rehoisted the heavy bag on her shoulder. "Harry, look, I would love to tell you all about everything, but I don't want to be late tonight. I'll see you at breakfast tomorrow, okay?"
Harry gave her a grin, and walked over to a table where Ron was setting up a game of Wizard's Chess. Hermione turned to leave, first checking that the pass Madam Sinistra had given her was still in her robe pocket. She pushed open the portrait door and started down the hallway.
It felt strange walking down the hallway after curfew without the Cloak as cover. The only time she had ever been allowed out of the common room past curfew was when the Gryffindor's had their Astronomy class. Her nerves were a bit jumpy as she sped through the empty hallways.
"A student out of bed? Well, well, Mrs. Norris, it looks like a detention is in the works for tonight." Filch's gravely voice caused Hermione to come to a sudden stop. "And look, it's not only a student, but the ever perfect Ms. Granger. If you will come with me, will get the pleasantries started." He turned, expecting the recalcitrant student to follow.
"Um, Mr. Filch, sir?" Hermione squeaked, her voice sounding small in the empty nighttime hallway. "I have a pass." She produced the pass from her robe.
Filch snatched the pass suspiciously from her outstretched hand, and stared at the offensive slip of parchment. "So you do, so you do. Well, you just be certain that you never let me catch you without a pass after curfew. I have some wonderful detentions cooked up that I can't wait to try out." He roughly pressed the pass back into her hand, motioned to Mrs. Norris, and continued on his watch.
Hermione took off at a run to make it to the Astronomy Tower in time. The last thing she needed was to be late. Draco would never let her live that down.
She reached the door to the platform, gasping for breath. Pushing it open, she saw Malfoy already standing at the other end, his book out, and a nocturnal grasped in his hands.
"Late, Granger?" he questioned, not turning from his calculations. "Not the best example to be setting."
"Filch stopped me. Besides, I'm still on time. You must have been early." She stepped through the doorway and stalked across the stone floor.
Draco, finished with his first set of measurements, put down the nocturnal and looked over at Hermione. She had put down her load and was shrugging herself into her cloak. The waning moon glowed on Hermione's face, softening her features. Draco felt a strange flutter in his stomach at the sight.
"What are you staring at, Ferret Boy?" she snapped at him.
"Nothing. Just waiting for you to get to work." Embarrassed, he quickly turned back to his book, ostensibly reviewing the next step in his readings with the nocturnal.
The rest of the half-hour passed smoothly. They spoke only when necessary, and finished their calculations quickly. Hermione used a soft cloth to carefully clean her instruments and packed them back into their cases. She noticed, from the corner of her eye, that Draco skipped the cleaning part.
"Malfoy, you're supposed to clean them each time."
"Shut up, Mudblood. I'll do as I please."
"You're instruments won't remain accurate if you refuse to clean them, Malfoy," she said, with a sigh of exasperation.
"What, are you going to tell on me?" he gave her a glare.
"No, I wouldn't do that. But, if you don't get into the habit of cleaning them now, it will be hard to get into that habit when we are taking measurements four times a day on the ship." She narrowed her eyes at him.
"Whatever. I'm leaving." He snatched his packed bag up, and strode across the platform entering the doorway. With a sigh, Hermione picked up her heavy bag and her book, and headed back indoors.
~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~
The rest of the week flew by. Hermione got wrapped up in the increased challenges of her studies. Dr. Branefeld taught wonderfully exciting Arithmancy courses. He challenged the class beyond what Hermione could have even hoped. He often commented on the work that Hermione was turning in, both to her embarrassment and her pride.
She enjoyed learning how to use the various navigation instruments each evening, and found that she had a special aptitude with the sextant. Draco appeared to really enjoy using the nocturnal, and they fell into a comfortable rhythm with each other, laughter actually occurring at times. They seemed to enjoy being around each other, at least when the audience was comprised of the stars, sky, and moon. During the rest of the day, they regarded each other with glares and muttered curses.
Tuesday, the 19th of September crept up. Hermione awoke on the morning of her 15th birthday ready for the challenges that lie ahead. A particularly difficult quiz had been scheduled that morning for Transfiguration, and she was looking forward to tackling the task. Springing lightly out of bed, she rushed off to the bathroom to get ready for the day.
"Hey, Hermione!" Lavender's voice rang out. "There's an owl here to see you."
Hermione, towel wrapped around her wet hair, exited the bathroom while drawing on her bathrobe. A large barn owl was sitting on her bed next to a small package. She went to her trunk and pulled out a couple of knuts which she wrapped in a piece of cloth and gave to the fowl. The bird gave a small hoot and flew back out the window it had come in from.
"Oh, who is it from?" Parvati squealed as both she and Lavender leaped from their beds.
"I don't know." Hermione picked up the small package, and looked at it. It was wrapped in gold paper with a beautiful silver bow. "I suppose I'll open it." She carefully opened the paper, and took the lid off the small box. Inside she found a necklace. She pulled out the delicate gold chain upon which was strung a clear glass globe in which sparkled a miniature star.
Lavender and Parvati shrieked with excitement when they saw it.
"Wow, that is so cool. My mom has one of those." Parvati reached out to take the necklace, looking closely at the dangling globe. "It's an actual star, Hermione. They are only made in Sweden. They're really expensive. Did a note come with it?"
Hermione looked back into the small box. She pulled out a small piece of parchment. Opening it she saw written, in an unfamiliar hand, a simple message.
Happy Birthday
"Is it signed?" Lavender asked, reaching for the necklace, which Parvati was holding.
"No, it's just has happy birthday written on it."
"You have a secret admirer, Hermione!" Parvati screeched, grabbing Hermione's hands, and spinning her about the room. Hermione tried to extricate herself from Parvati's grip, but failed as Lavender joined them. For the next few minutes, she was spun about the room with the two overly excited girls. They finally calmed down and released a relieved Hermione.
"So, who do you think it is?" Lavender aksed.
"I don't know."
"Well, the necklace is really expensive, so we know who it probably isn't," reasoned Parvati. "I mean, it couldn't be Ron, he's too poor. It wouldn't be Neville; he's too unromantic. It couldn't be Dean, he's dating that Ravenclaw girl." Hermione amusedly turned from Parvati as she continued her mental checklist, and began to dress for the day. She finished running her brush through her hair just as Parvati completed her list of all the Hogwarts boys it couldn't have been. She reached for the necklace and hooked it around her neck.
"I've got to run, girls. I'm meeting Harry and Ron for a special birthday breakfast." She turned to leave, when Parvati's hand grasped hers.
"Oh my gosh! Hermione, we are so sorry. Happy birthday!" she shrieked, Lavender joining her. "We have a present for you, too."
Lavender dashed over to her trunk, threw it open, and retrieved a package wrapped in a beautiful blue paper. Hermione opened it to reveal the latest edition of ::Hogwarts, A History::. She gave the two girls a huge grin.
"Thank you! I love it. I can't wait to read the new stuff in it." She gave them each a big hug, put the book on top of her bed, and left the room.
Harry and Ron were waiting for her at the foot of the stairs.
"Happy birthday, Hermione," Ron said, a grin lighting his face.
"Happy birthday," Harry repeated.
"Thanks guys. Let's go."
The three friends walked across the common room and pushed open the portrait.
"What's that around your neck, Hermione?" Ron questioned as they walked down the hall.
"Oh, it's a birthday gift." Hermione, unsuccessfully, tried not to blush.
"From who?"
"I-I don't know," she stuttered.
"What do you mean, you don't know?" Harry asked, a puzzled look crossing his face.
"It came this morning, by owl. There was a note, but it was unsigned."
"And you're wearing it? You don't know if it's cursed or something," Ron argued, trying to keep a grin from his face.
"It's perfectly fine, Ron."
"I don't know, Hermione. You wouldn't let me keep my Firebolt when I got it." Ron nodded his agreement with Harry's statement.
"Oh, come off it!" Hermione growled. "That was a whole different set of circumstances. I mean, you were in danger that year. For goodness sake," huffed Hermione.
As they reached the door to the Great Hall, Harry and Ron burst out laughing. "Sorry, Hermione! We're just picking on you." Harry managed, through his laughter. "Of course the necklace is perfectly fine. You've got to stop taking everything so seriously."
Hermione scowled at them, which only caused them to laugh all the harder. Finally, Hermione realized how silly she was behaving, and her scowl melted into a smile, before morphing into laughter. The three laughing friends made their way to their table, oblivious to the glare of a blond headed Slytherin across the room.
"Oh, look!" exclaimed Hermione, when they reached the table. "Belgium Waffles with fresh strawberries! My favorite!" She sat down, and reached for the platter.
"I talked with Dobby and asked him if he could whip you up your favorite, you know, it being your birthday and all." Harry grinned at the happy expression on Hermione's face as he took his seat.
"Thank you, Harry. You're the best," she mumbled, through a mouthful of waffles.
Draco watched the happy trio continue their morning feast. He still couldn't figure out what had possessed him to send a gift to Hermione. He squinted, and could see that she was wearing the necklace. An unbidden sigh tore from him.
"What's the matter, Draco?" Blaise questioned, slipping onto the bench opposite him.
"Huh?" he replied, looking at her.
"I said, what's the matter. It looks like your upset about something." Blaise grabbed a large blueberry muffin off the platter in front of her, and slathered it with butter.
"Nothing. I'm just tired." The line rolled easily off his tongue. "So, are you ready for another fun-filled morning learning about Billywigs?" he questioned, pouring himself another glass of pumpkin juice.
The two Slytherin's spent the rest of breakfast discussing the day's classes. Draco kept slipping glances past Blaise, however. He couldn't seem to stop checking on the progress of Hermione and her friends. When the morning warning bell rang. Draco stood, said bye to Blaise, and left for his Ancient Runes class, Hermione, annoyingly, still in his mind.
_____________________________________________________________
Well, there it is. I hope you all enjoyed it. If you did, or didn't, please review. I want to know what you liked, or hated.
blueberry girl: In answer to your question, yes, there was a kissing scene, but I cut it. My characters got out of hand, okay, well I did. I'm trying to build more tension between the two before they kiss. So, hang on, because when it comes, you will be very pleased.
Slytherin hot chick: Sorry about the (), that's how your name appeared in my emails, (which is where I go to respond), so I just figured that you did that for whatever reason. Anyway, I won't do it anymore. =)
Rebecca: I did a bunch of weird things the other day, like moving my two appendices around a bunch and adding two new chapters, so it is understandable that you almost missed things. Thank you for you synopsis of my hand holding scene. As far as my summaries, I do wish more people would write them, because I am TOTALLY lost in some stories. WOW...I am in your top 10 list? I feel really special. **huggles Rebecca** Let me know what your other ones are. I love good D/Hr stories.
CatalinaRose: That's okay with the page number thing. It didn't take me long to find it. =) The appendices aren't THAT bad, it's just something I have to remember to do each time. Breakfast fits in somewhere between 7 and 9. I figured that Hogwarts would allow the students to eat breakfast at their own time, as well as lunch (basically when the choose during their lunch break), however, dinner is something that, from the movie and the books, appears to be a set time. I thought it would be fun to deal with a class that we have only heard of in the books, I'm having fun with it too. I debated on having Hermione tell Harry and Ron everything, but decided that a lie would work better for the rest of the story's plot. Yeah, Draco and Hermione are navigators. I have just made my story a whole lot harder to write. I am furiously searching the internet to find good information on navigating in medieval times. The deal with the orb will be explained in future chapters. =) I think you will like it. (Of course, it would be helpful if I knew exactly what I was planning to do with it.) It is hilarious that you mentioned The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle. Not only is that one of my all time favorites, it was the impetus for the appendix idea. There will be an appendix B, when I finish it. It is my ship manual one, so it is taking the longest time to write. (Look what happens when I don't have fanfic to waste time on? I spend forever writing my thank you's.)
CrystallineLily: Well, here is the new chapter. Hope you liked it. Oh and I am glad you liked my songfic. I am hoping to turn it into a full fledged story, but not until I finish On Storm Tossed Seas.
f0yness39: Thank you. Professor Sinistra is the Astronomy teacher at Hogwarts. In my story she also is teaching the fifth year Gryffindor/Slytherin sailing class.
You guys are the best. Thank you to all who take time out of their lives to read my fanfic. I am really enjoying the whole process of writing it. I hope that I can continue to write good chapters and that I can get them out in a timely manner. Thank you guys.