~A month later~
"What in the world were you thinking?" Professor McGonagall bellowed so loudly that her voice echoed all the way down the hall to where the Gryffindors were climbing the stairs slowly up to their common room. Seamus Finnigan sighed and made his way reluctantly up the stairs. He planned on waiting in the common room until his friends came up and told him the story of their punishment. "It's truly amazing that they had ventured so far over the line this ti-" Parvati Patil began but was cut off as she fell through one of the many trick stairs in the castle. Half of the school had ventured downstairs, curious as to what all of the yelling was about, but had quickly been urged back to their common rooms by Professor Dumbledore.
"On the last day of school! You thought that would make you free from detention, did you? How did this happen?" the aging professor rubbed her eyes behind her glasses.
Hermione hung her head ashamedly. Ron just stood there glaring at the blond haired boy next to him as if he hadn't bathed in over a year. The pure disgust Ron had towards Draco stopped him from speaking; the look he was giving required Ron's full attention.
"Professor," Harry began, "we didn't mean to hit Mrs. Norris with the hex. Draco and I were having a duel and she got in the middle of it." Draco now shot Harry a look that matched Ron's.
"I knew that much, Mr. Potter, but thank you for being honest. I am going to go to Professor Dumbledore's office. Stay here," she looked at them over the rim of her glasses. She stalked quickly out of her office and down the hallway.
"You just had to drag me down with you, didn't you, Potter," Draco spat.
"Please, Malfoy. I didn't even tell Professor McGonagall that you put the hex on Mrs. Norris on purpose," Harry ran his hand through his tousled black hair.
Draco plopped down in McGonagall's chair. "I wonder how they're going to punish us," he sneered. "The damn cat just had to get in the way. She didn't even hit the wall that hard."
"She flew across the Great Hall!" Hermione looked up for the first time. "If we get expelled because of this." Harry looked closely at Hermione's face. Her eyes were red and puffy and an angry red color quickly took its place in her cheeks.
"You shouldn't have come with us, Hermione," Harry looked at her apologetically. "You warned us and now you're in trouble."
"I would have come anyway, Harry. I knew you wouldn't back out and I wasn't about to let you go duel alone."
"I would've been there," Ron spoke up.
"Yes, you were a ton of help," Hermione said sarcastically. "You jumped on Malfoy's back and started beating him! If anything, you got us in more trouble." Hermione began pacing the room nervously.
The four of them waited in Professor McGonagall's office for ten minutes and then she returned. Hermione stopped pacing and looked up at the professor. Draco spun around in the chair behind her desk, but made no attempt to move from it.
"Mr. Malfoy, get out of my chair," Professor McGonagall pointed her wand at the chair and it spun so quickly that Draco flew out of it and onto the floor. Harry and Ron tried their hardest not to snicker as he got up and wiped himself off.
"Due to the fact that you chose to perform this little stunt on the final day of school, your punishment will not be held at Hogwarts. You instead will be working at a daycare center in Hogsmeade. They need volunteers and Professor Dumbledore, who is very close to the head witch there, volunteered the four of you. You will work for one week, five hours a day, and stay in the apartments above the center. After you are done working, you will be free to roam the town. Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley, you will take one room while Ms. Granger and Mr. Malfoy take the other."
"Professor," Draco stepped closer to the desk, "I cannot work at a daycare center. I am supposed to be traveling to Italy the first week of the summer. I'm terribly sorry. I suppose my detention will have to be served when I arrive back to school."
"No, Mr. Malfoy, it will not. I have talked to your father. You will be missing your vacation to Italy and you will work at the daycare."
"Wait a second," Ron cut in," you mean, like, a daycare? With babies and slobber and all of that?"
"Yes, Mr. Weasley. Babies usually do stay in daycare," McGonagall said sarcastically. "You will be taken to Hogsmeade as everyone else boards the Hogwarts' Express. Understood?"
"Yes, ma'am," Hermione said semi-happily and exited the office quickly.
"I suggest the rest of you follow in Ms. Granger's footsteps and make your way to the common rooms," Professor McGonagall sat down at her desk and sighed.
The three boys exited the office. "A damn daycare." Draco's voice drifted back to Harry and Ron as he headed in the opposite direction of them and toward the Slytherin common room. "Might as well have been assigned to go back into the Forbidden Forest."
Hermione was waiting at the top of the staircase for Harry and Ron. "Well, that certainly was a relief. I was almost positive we were going to get expelled after the fuss Filch made."
"Relieved?" Ron cried. "As if I didn't have my fair share of babies when Ginny was born. I swear, Hermione, they are the most annoying creatures on earth! And you have to take care of them with - with - Malfoy!"
"Hermione's right, Ron. Our punishment could've been much worse," Harry stated before stopping at the picture of a fat woman in a frilly pink dress. "Parvus canis," he told the woman and the picture slid forward.
"Goodnight, Harry, Ron," she nodded curtly before following the stairway up to the girls' dormitories.
"Relieved." Ron muttered before following Harry up to the boys' dorms.
The next morning Harry woke up early and put on his old glasses. "Ron," he shook his friend, "Ron, wake up. You haven't even begun to pack."
"Shut up, Harry," Ron grumbled. "All I have to do is shove my junk in the trunk. It's not like I'm going home for mom to yell at me."
"I'm going down to the Great Hall once I'm dressed. See you there," Harry grabbed his clothes from the edge of his bed and headed off to get dressed.
"Yeah, yeah," Ron muttered as he slowly turned out of bed. "Wait for me."
Once the two boys were done getting dressed, they made their way down to the Great Hall where Hermione was already sitting, waiting for them. "Ron," she looked at him apologetically, "a barn owl form the ministry brought this. I figure it is from your parents." She held out a bright red envelope.
"Looks like you don't have to be home to be yelled at, Ron," Harry looked down at the Howler.
"Not another one!" Ron sat down on the bench and took the envelope from Hermione. "Well, here it goes," he opened the flap and instantly the loud, magnified voice of Mrs. Weasley filled the Great Hall.
"Ronald Weasley! A duel? What in heaven's name were you thinking? You left bed after hours; you were involved in an illegal use of magic, and hurt Mr. Filch's cat! I cannot believe you. Just wait until you get home, young man. Working at a daycare and being free to roam Hogsmeade is nothing compared to what I have waiting for you. Fred and George are helping me begin a list of what needs to be done around here. I will see you in a week and you better be prepared. Oh, and hello Harry and Hermione," her voice lowered a little bit. "I can't wait to see you over the summer, dears. Please, do keep Ron in line while in Hogsmeade. Goodbye." The Howler exploded in mid-air.
"Is it over?" Ron asked from between the two arms his head had been cowering beneath throughout the entire Howler.
"I think so," Harry laughed.
"She sounded really angry, Ron," Hermione looked worriedly at him.
"Way to state the obvious," Ron sneered.
Hermione sneered right back at Ron before turning to Harry. "Are you all ready to go? We are probably going to be leaving in about an hour and a half."
"Yes. I finished last night."
"Good. I'm going back up to the dormitories and bringing my bags down. Since we are not riding the train, we will have to do that ourselves," Hermione stood up and strode off to Gryffindor tower. On her way out, she passed Draco Malfoy who gave her a brief nod. Draco confidently sauntered to the head of the Slytherin table and took his usual spot.
As Hermione predicted, an hour and a half later Hagrid came into the Great Hall and gathered the four students not allowed to go home that day. Hermione, Harry, Ron, and Draco dragged their trunks behind them and followed Hagrid to the old, beat up car that would take them to Hogsmeade.
"K, 'Arry. Jest load yer stuff back there and we'll be outta here in no time," Hagrid pulled open the trunk. Everyone put their bags in the back and loaded into the car. Hermione, Harry, and Ron were in the back seat and Draco and Hagrid in the front. Slowly, the car made its way to Hogsmeade.
After a thirty-minute drive that actually could've taken ten if Hagrid had actually driven a car before, they reached Hogsmeade. Harry, Ron and Hermione brightened at the sight of the town they had visited since their third year at Hogwarts. Now, it was the summer before their sixth year. The four students climbed out of the car in front of the dilapidated nursery and pulled their trunks from the back of their car. The house was five stories high and built on a slant. The outside was an ivory color and windows scattered the front of the house, many of them with holes or cracks in them.
"Just wait until my father hears about this," Draco complained. "This place is in shambles. I wouldn't be surprised if it collapses one night while we are sleeping."
"Don't let the outside fool yeh," Hagrid called from the driver's seat. "The inside's perty as a picture."
"Sure it is," Malfoy rolled his eyes and took his broomstick out of the trunk.
"Ok, we're done, Hagrid," Harry called. "Thanks for the ride."
"My pleasure, 'Arry," Hagrid called. "See yeh next year." Then, Hagrid drove away.
"Well, let's got get settled in," Hermione dragged her trunk to the door and knocked. A kindly looking, middle-aged woman answered the door and when she saw them, smiled brightly.
"New volunteers!" she called as she ushered them inside. "My name is Suede. It's nice to meet you. We haven't had a young face in here to volunteer in ages! And you are.?"
"I'm Hermione Granger," Hermione extended her hand and Suede shook it heartily.
"Harry Potter." Unlike most people, Suede did not do a retake and stare at his scar. She graciously welcomed him as she did Hermione and then moved onto Ron, whom she gave a large hug.
"Another Weasley!" she grinned. "Your brothers, George and Fred, used to come in here all the time and play with the children, showing them silly jokes and nonesuch."
"Sounds like them," Ron smiled weakly.
"And so there is one more left," Suede paused. "That must mean you are.Draco Malfoy," she smiled at Draco. He didn't smile back. Hermione watched as Suede's face fall as if she was confused and she felt sorry for the woman. "Well, let me show you your rooms," she led them up two flights of stairs.
The building really was much nicer on the inside. Everything was painted a pale peach color with various pieces of artwork hanging along the walls. There was an iron, spiraling staircase leading up the four stories. On the third story, they turned right and Suede placed the three boys in a large room with one bunk bed and a cot. She then led Hermione to a small room with one bed and a large dresser.
Hermione set down her things and turned to Suede. "Well, since today is our first day and we do have to get five hours in, do you mind showing us the rooms with the children?"
"No, of course not! That is, after all, why we are here. Boys," she called down the hall, "please follow me and I will show you the rooms you will be watching."
The three boys exited their rooms, Draco tagging slowly behind, and Suede led the four of them down to the second floor. "Harry and Ron, you will have this room. They are boys and girls six to eight years old. You will watch them from 10 AM to 3 PM. They normally behave well and I doubt you will have any problems. Hermione and Draco, please follow me."
Hermione watched Draco's face and it seemed to relax a little bit once Harry and Ron were gone. If the boy wasn't so horrible, Hermione actually might of felt sorry for him. No one should be uptight simply because they are around other human beings.
Suede opened the fifth door down on her left and ushered Hermione and Draco into it. "You will watching the three to five year olds. You have the same hours as Ron and Harry. I hate to run off so quickly, but I really must go. Tata," she hurried out the door.
"So.you're a girl, presumably," Draco turned to Hermione. "What do we do with these things?" He looked down at the children as if he had never seen one before.
"What? You think simply because I am a female, I have nothing better to do than watch over kids?" Hermione snapped at him.
"Was I incorrect in thinking that?"
"You watch them, you play with them, you rebuke them when they do something wrong and if they mess up again, you take away privileges," Hermione repeated in a monotone voice.
Draco smirked, "Knew you had to be good for something." He walked to the front of the room and sat down heavily in a red leather chair. All of the children immediately crowded around him with their wide eyes glued on Draco. They sat down in a circle at the base of the chair.
"What do you want?" Draco looked down at the kids.
"I think they expect you to read them a story," Hermione called over the children, trying hard to hide her smile.
"What gave them the idea I would do that?"
"Normally, the big chair in the front of the room is the story time chair. Here, read." Hermione handed him a book from the floor. Draco looked down at The Wicked Werewolf for a moment before shoving it back in Hermione's hand.
"No, you read."
"Draco, you will have to pull some of the weight around here. Just read the story, they're waiting." Sure enough, when you looked down at the children, every one of their eyes were locked on the blond boy in the "story time chair."
"So." Draco began uncertainly. "Does anyone want to hear about the Wicked Werewolf?" A series of cheers came from the small children and Draco opened the book. "Far away in a dark, scary forest, there lived a werewolf. This wasn't just any werewolf either, he could change into a werewolf any time he wanted to, not only on the full moon."
Hermione watched from the back of the class smiling slightly at each of the children as their facial features contorted to match the emotions in the book. They were so tiny and cute! This wasn't so bad after all. She sat down in one of the chairs at the back of the room and watched Draco continue reading the book.
".And then, a tiny man popped out from behind the tree." Now, not only did the children's faces change, but Draco acted out the story, also. By the end of the book, Draco had fallen to the ground, acting out the part of the dead werewolf, and Hermione was fast asleep in the back of the room.
"Ok, kids," Draco whispered, "Do whatever you want now. I'm going to stay sitting right here," he propped his head against the back of the chair and closed his eyes. "If the kid expert gets to sleep, I can too," he mumbled before drifting off.
Hermione's eyes slowly fluttered open a half an hour later to see about 10 kids surrounding her. Ten more had crowded around Draco's chair in the front of the room.
"Oh, no! I feel asleep," she muttered. "Hey guys," she smiled at the kids. "What have you been up to?"
"Coloring."
"Oh, fun," she got up and headed toward Draco's chair. "Draco?"
"Shhh! He's asleep," a little girl tugged on Hermione's shirt.
"Not him, too!" she reached the chair and gently pushed a few of the children away from the chair. "Oh my goodness," she stared at Draco in shock and amusement. "Draco, wake up!" she shook him roughly. "Wake up!"
Draco woke up startled and immediately reached his hand into his pocket to find his wand. "Oh, it's just you. What is on your face?" he laughed.
"I was about to ask you the same thing. Don't tell me they did it to me too!" Hermione raised her wand and pointed it at the blackboard, "Reflectimore."
"Oh my." she sighed at her refection. Blue, yellow, and red circles of paint covered her face. "So," she turned back to the children, "this is what you were coloring?" A few small heads bobbed up and down.
"Thirty more minutes. Only thirty more minutes." she spoke to herself.
"Stressing out?" Draco smiled smugly.
"Slightly," Hermione admitted. "You're not the only one who's disappointed that they have to miss the first week of summer vacation, you know? I was supposed to be going back to Paris and taking classes that Hogwarts doesn't offer. There was one class I was supposed to take that would allow me to get my apparition license in September."
"Oh, the fun," Draco laughed. "More classes."
"If your just going to be snide, you might as well keep your mouth shut. You don't bother me." For once, Draco didn't seem to have a ruse comeback. "Are you going to come with me, Ron, and Harry to the Three Broomsticks once we get off duty?"
"No, I don't think so."
"Got other plans?" Hermione asked, doubted.
"No, I just need to. relax. Take a nap, think, whatever."
"Another nap? You'll certainly be well rested."
"That's what I'm shooting for," Draco sat back in the chair again and closed his eyes. "Tell me when it's three."
Hermione closed her Care of Magical Creatures book. She had picked up two of her books for next year while in Hogsmeade. "Could this week have been anymore stressful?" she muttered to herself as she set the book down on the nightstand next to her bed. First, there was the stress of finals. Next, there was the problem with Harry getting into a duel. Then, there was being caught in the duel. And, now, she was stuck with the slacker of the year trying to take care of a bunch of three year olds. For a week. She wouldn't be able to get her apparition license early and she wouldn't be able to take her classes. In fact, the only thing she would probably get from this experience would be a headache and a horrible, everlasting impression of Draco Malfoy.
"You've made me laugh, now hear me cry. Just listen to my soul weep one more time." Hermione sat up in bed and turned on her light as she listened to someone singing outside her door. She got up and tiptoed to her door and leaned her ear against it. The man's voice kept singing a song she had never heard before. He was good. Very good. Suddenly, the door fell out from under Hermione and she stumbled out into the hallway.
"Eavesdropping on something?" Draco stared down at her.
"That was you?" Hermione asked unbelievably.
"Singing? Yes, that was me. Why? Have something to correct on that too?" he sneered.
"No," Hermione hung her head. "You were very good. What are you doing up so late?"
"Getting a drink," he raised his glass. "You?"
"Reading."
"Should've figured," Draco smirked and started walking back to the boys' room.
"What were you singing?"
Draco stopped in his tracks and turned around, "Why do you have a sudden interest in my singing?"
"I've never heard you sing before and I never knew you were that good. I guess I'm just curious about it," Hermione answered truthfully.
"It was a song I made up. I don't sing for people. My father thinks it is immature and pointless. He also thinks it is something that muggles hold too high in opinion, so therefore it is forbidden in my family. Anymore questions?"
"No," Hermione paused and entered her room. She opened the door a little way and called after Draco, "thank you for telling me that."
"It's not that big of a deal," Draco shut his door behind him.
Hermione crawled back into her bed. She took out a small piece of parchment and her quill and quickly scribbled down the lyrics she had heard Draco sing. You've made me laugh
Now hear me cry
Just listen to my soul weep
One more time
"Maybe there's more to Draco than we thought," she considered silently to herself before she laid down and slipped off to sleep.
"What in the world were you thinking?" Professor McGonagall bellowed so loudly that her voice echoed all the way down the hall to where the Gryffindors were climbing the stairs slowly up to their common room. Seamus Finnigan sighed and made his way reluctantly up the stairs. He planned on waiting in the common room until his friends came up and told him the story of their punishment. "It's truly amazing that they had ventured so far over the line this ti-" Parvati Patil began but was cut off as she fell through one of the many trick stairs in the castle. Half of the school had ventured downstairs, curious as to what all of the yelling was about, but had quickly been urged back to their common rooms by Professor Dumbledore.
"On the last day of school! You thought that would make you free from detention, did you? How did this happen?" the aging professor rubbed her eyes behind her glasses.
Hermione hung her head ashamedly. Ron just stood there glaring at the blond haired boy next to him as if he hadn't bathed in over a year. The pure disgust Ron had towards Draco stopped him from speaking; the look he was giving required Ron's full attention.
"Professor," Harry began, "we didn't mean to hit Mrs. Norris with the hex. Draco and I were having a duel and she got in the middle of it." Draco now shot Harry a look that matched Ron's.
"I knew that much, Mr. Potter, but thank you for being honest. I am going to go to Professor Dumbledore's office. Stay here," she looked at them over the rim of her glasses. She stalked quickly out of her office and down the hallway.
"You just had to drag me down with you, didn't you, Potter," Draco spat.
"Please, Malfoy. I didn't even tell Professor McGonagall that you put the hex on Mrs. Norris on purpose," Harry ran his hand through his tousled black hair.
Draco plopped down in McGonagall's chair. "I wonder how they're going to punish us," he sneered. "The damn cat just had to get in the way. She didn't even hit the wall that hard."
"She flew across the Great Hall!" Hermione looked up for the first time. "If we get expelled because of this." Harry looked closely at Hermione's face. Her eyes were red and puffy and an angry red color quickly took its place in her cheeks.
"You shouldn't have come with us, Hermione," Harry looked at her apologetically. "You warned us and now you're in trouble."
"I would have come anyway, Harry. I knew you wouldn't back out and I wasn't about to let you go duel alone."
"I would've been there," Ron spoke up.
"Yes, you were a ton of help," Hermione said sarcastically. "You jumped on Malfoy's back and started beating him! If anything, you got us in more trouble." Hermione began pacing the room nervously.
The four of them waited in Professor McGonagall's office for ten minutes and then she returned. Hermione stopped pacing and looked up at the professor. Draco spun around in the chair behind her desk, but made no attempt to move from it.
"Mr. Malfoy, get out of my chair," Professor McGonagall pointed her wand at the chair and it spun so quickly that Draco flew out of it and onto the floor. Harry and Ron tried their hardest not to snicker as he got up and wiped himself off.
"Due to the fact that you chose to perform this little stunt on the final day of school, your punishment will not be held at Hogwarts. You instead will be working at a daycare center in Hogsmeade. They need volunteers and Professor Dumbledore, who is very close to the head witch there, volunteered the four of you. You will work for one week, five hours a day, and stay in the apartments above the center. After you are done working, you will be free to roam the town. Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley, you will take one room while Ms. Granger and Mr. Malfoy take the other."
"Professor," Draco stepped closer to the desk, "I cannot work at a daycare center. I am supposed to be traveling to Italy the first week of the summer. I'm terribly sorry. I suppose my detention will have to be served when I arrive back to school."
"No, Mr. Malfoy, it will not. I have talked to your father. You will be missing your vacation to Italy and you will work at the daycare."
"Wait a second," Ron cut in," you mean, like, a daycare? With babies and slobber and all of that?"
"Yes, Mr. Weasley. Babies usually do stay in daycare," McGonagall said sarcastically. "You will be taken to Hogsmeade as everyone else boards the Hogwarts' Express. Understood?"
"Yes, ma'am," Hermione said semi-happily and exited the office quickly.
"I suggest the rest of you follow in Ms. Granger's footsteps and make your way to the common rooms," Professor McGonagall sat down at her desk and sighed.
The three boys exited the office. "A damn daycare." Draco's voice drifted back to Harry and Ron as he headed in the opposite direction of them and toward the Slytherin common room. "Might as well have been assigned to go back into the Forbidden Forest."
Hermione was waiting at the top of the staircase for Harry and Ron. "Well, that certainly was a relief. I was almost positive we were going to get expelled after the fuss Filch made."
"Relieved?" Ron cried. "As if I didn't have my fair share of babies when Ginny was born. I swear, Hermione, they are the most annoying creatures on earth! And you have to take care of them with - with - Malfoy!"
"Hermione's right, Ron. Our punishment could've been much worse," Harry stated before stopping at the picture of a fat woman in a frilly pink dress. "Parvus canis," he told the woman and the picture slid forward.
"Goodnight, Harry, Ron," she nodded curtly before following the stairway up to the girls' dormitories.
"Relieved." Ron muttered before following Harry up to the boys' dorms.
The next morning Harry woke up early and put on his old glasses. "Ron," he shook his friend, "Ron, wake up. You haven't even begun to pack."
"Shut up, Harry," Ron grumbled. "All I have to do is shove my junk in the trunk. It's not like I'm going home for mom to yell at me."
"I'm going down to the Great Hall once I'm dressed. See you there," Harry grabbed his clothes from the edge of his bed and headed off to get dressed.
"Yeah, yeah," Ron muttered as he slowly turned out of bed. "Wait for me."
Once the two boys were done getting dressed, they made their way down to the Great Hall where Hermione was already sitting, waiting for them. "Ron," she looked at him apologetically, "a barn owl form the ministry brought this. I figure it is from your parents." She held out a bright red envelope.
"Looks like you don't have to be home to be yelled at, Ron," Harry looked down at the Howler.
"Not another one!" Ron sat down on the bench and took the envelope from Hermione. "Well, here it goes," he opened the flap and instantly the loud, magnified voice of Mrs. Weasley filled the Great Hall.
"Ronald Weasley! A duel? What in heaven's name were you thinking? You left bed after hours; you were involved in an illegal use of magic, and hurt Mr. Filch's cat! I cannot believe you. Just wait until you get home, young man. Working at a daycare and being free to roam Hogsmeade is nothing compared to what I have waiting for you. Fred and George are helping me begin a list of what needs to be done around here. I will see you in a week and you better be prepared. Oh, and hello Harry and Hermione," her voice lowered a little bit. "I can't wait to see you over the summer, dears. Please, do keep Ron in line while in Hogsmeade. Goodbye." The Howler exploded in mid-air.
"Is it over?" Ron asked from between the two arms his head had been cowering beneath throughout the entire Howler.
"I think so," Harry laughed.
"She sounded really angry, Ron," Hermione looked worriedly at him.
"Way to state the obvious," Ron sneered.
Hermione sneered right back at Ron before turning to Harry. "Are you all ready to go? We are probably going to be leaving in about an hour and a half."
"Yes. I finished last night."
"Good. I'm going back up to the dormitories and bringing my bags down. Since we are not riding the train, we will have to do that ourselves," Hermione stood up and strode off to Gryffindor tower. On her way out, she passed Draco Malfoy who gave her a brief nod. Draco confidently sauntered to the head of the Slytherin table and took his usual spot.
As Hermione predicted, an hour and a half later Hagrid came into the Great Hall and gathered the four students not allowed to go home that day. Hermione, Harry, Ron, and Draco dragged their trunks behind them and followed Hagrid to the old, beat up car that would take them to Hogsmeade.
"K, 'Arry. Jest load yer stuff back there and we'll be outta here in no time," Hagrid pulled open the trunk. Everyone put their bags in the back and loaded into the car. Hermione, Harry, and Ron were in the back seat and Draco and Hagrid in the front. Slowly, the car made its way to Hogsmeade.
After a thirty-minute drive that actually could've taken ten if Hagrid had actually driven a car before, they reached Hogsmeade. Harry, Ron and Hermione brightened at the sight of the town they had visited since their third year at Hogwarts. Now, it was the summer before their sixth year. The four students climbed out of the car in front of the dilapidated nursery and pulled their trunks from the back of their car. The house was five stories high and built on a slant. The outside was an ivory color and windows scattered the front of the house, many of them with holes or cracks in them.
"Just wait until my father hears about this," Draco complained. "This place is in shambles. I wouldn't be surprised if it collapses one night while we are sleeping."
"Don't let the outside fool yeh," Hagrid called from the driver's seat. "The inside's perty as a picture."
"Sure it is," Malfoy rolled his eyes and took his broomstick out of the trunk.
"Ok, we're done, Hagrid," Harry called. "Thanks for the ride."
"My pleasure, 'Arry," Hagrid called. "See yeh next year." Then, Hagrid drove away.
"Well, let's got get settled in," Hermione dragged her trunk to the door and knocked. A kindly looking, middle-aged woman answered the door and when she saw them, smiled brightly.
"New volunteers!" she called as she ushered them inside. "My name is Suede. It's nice to meet you. We haven't had a young face in here to volunteer in ages! And you are.?"
"I'm Hermione Granger," Hermione extended her hand and Suede shook it heartily.
"Harry Potter." Unlike most people, Suede did not do a retake and stare at his scar. She graciously welcomed him as she did Hermione and then moved onto Ron, whom she gave a large hug.
"Another Weasley!" she grinned. "Your brothers, George and Fred, used to come in here all the time and play with the children, showing them silly jokes and nonesuch."
"Sounds like them," Ron smiled weakly.
"And so there is one more left," Suede paused. "That must mean you are.Draco Malfoy," she smiled at Draco. He didn't smile back. Hermione watched as Suede's face fall as if she was confused and she felt sorry for the woman. "Well, let me show you your rooms," she led them up two flights of stairs.
The building really was much nicer on the inside. Everything was painted a pale peach color with various pieces of artwork hanging along the walls. There was an iron, spiraling staircase leading up the four stories. On the third story, they turned right and Suede placed the three boys in a large room with one bunk bed and a cot. She then led Hermione to a small room with one bed and a large dresser.
Hermione set down her things and turned to Suede. "Well, since today is our first day and we do have to get five hours in, do you mind showing us the rooms with the children?"
"No, of course not! That is, after all, why we are here. Boys," she called down the hall, "please follow me and I will show you the rooms you will be watching."
The three boys exited their rooms, Draco tagging slowly behind, and Suede led the four of them down to the second floor. "Harry and Ron, you will have this room. They are boys and girls six to eight years old. You will watch them from 10 AM to 3 PM. They normally behave well and I doubt you will have any problems. Hermione and Draco, please follow me."
Hermione watched Draco's face and it seemed to relax a little bit once Harry and Ron were gone. If the boy wasn't so horrible, Hermione actually might of felt sorry for him. No one should be uptight simply because they are around other human beings.
Suede opened the fifth door down on her left and ushered Hermione and Draco into it. "You will watching the three to five year olds. You have the same hours as Ron and Harry. I hate to run off so quickly, but I really must go. Tata," she hurried out the door.
"So.you're a girl, presumably," Draco turned to Hermione. "What do we do with these things?" He looked down at the children as if he had never seen one before.
"What? You think simply because I am a female, I have nothing better to do than watch over kids?" Hermione snapped at him.
"Was I incorrect in thinking that?"
"You watch them, you play with them, you rebuke them when they do something wrong and if they mess up again, you take away privileges," Hermione repeated in a monotone voice.
Draco smirked, "Knew you had to be good for something." He walked to the front of the room and sat down heavily in a red leather chair. All of the children immediately crowded around him with their wide eyes glued on Draco. They sat down in a circle at the base of the chair.
"What do you want?" Draco looked down at the kids.
"I think they expect you to read them a story," Hermione called over the children, trying hard to hide her smile.
"What gave them the idea I would do that?"
"Normally, the big chair in the front of the room is the story time chair. Here, read." Hermione handed him a book from the floor. Draco looked down at The Wicked Werewolf for a moment before shoving it back in Hermione's hand.
"No, you read."
"Draco, you will have to pull some of the weight around here. Just read the story, they're waiting." Sure enough, when you looked down at the children, every one of their eyes were locked on the blond boy in the "story time chair."
"So." Draco began uncertainly. "Does anyone want to hear about the Wicked Werewolf?" A series of cheers came from the small children and Draco opened the book. "Far away in a dark, scary forest, there lived a werewolf. This wasn't just any werewolf either, he could change into a werewolf any time he wanted to, not only on the full moon."
Hermione watched from the back of the class smiling slightly at each of the children as their facial features contorted to match the emotions in the book. They were so tiny and cute! This wasn't so bad after all. She sat down in one of the chairs at the back of the room and watched Draco continue reading the book.
".And then, a tiny man popped out from behind the tree." Now, not only did the children's faces change, but Draco acted out the story, also. By the end of the book, Draco had fallen to the ground, acting out the part of the dead werewolf, and Hermione was fast asleep in the back of the room.
"Ok, kids," Draco whispered, "Do whatever you want now. I'm going to stay sitting right here," he propped his head against the back of the chair and closed his eyes. "If the kid expert gets to sleep, I can too," he mumbled before drifting off.
Hermione's eyes slowly fluttered open a half an hour later to see about 10 kids surrounding her. Ten more had crowded around Draco's chair in the front of the room.
"Oh, no! I feel asleep," she muttered. "Hey guys," she smiled at the kids. "What have you been up to?"
"Coloring."
"Oh, fun," she got up and headed toward Draco's chair. "Draco?"
"Shhh! He's asleep," a little girl tugged on Hermione's shirt.
"Not him, too!" she reached the chair and gently pushed a few of the children away from the chair. "Oh my goodness," she stared at Draco in shock and amusement. "Draco, wake up!" she shook him roughly. "Wake up!"
Draco woke up startled and immediately reached his hand into his pocket to find his wand. "Oh, it's just you. What is on your face?" he laughed.
"I was about to ask you the same thing. Don't tell me they did it to me too!" Hermione raised her wand and pointed it at the blackboard, "Reflectimore."
"Oh my." she sighed at her refection. Blue, yellow, and red circles of paint covered her face. "So," she turned back to the children, "this is what you were coloring?" A few small heads bobbed up and down.
"Thirty more minutes. Only thirty more minutes." she spoke to herself.
"Stressing out?" Draco smiled smugly.
"Slightly," Hermione admitted. "You're not the only one who's disappointed that they have to miss the first week of summer vacation, you know? I was supposed to be going back to Paris and taking classes that Hogwarts doesn't offer. There was one class I was supposed to take that would allow me to get my apparition license in September."
"Oh, the fun," Draco laughed. "More classes."
"If your just going to be snide, you might as well keep your mouth shut. You don't bother me." For once, Draco didn't seem to have a ruse comeback. "Are you going to come with me, Ron, and Harry to the Three Broomsticks once we get off duty?"
"No, I don't think so."
"Got other plans?" Hermione asked, doubted.
"No, I just need to. relax. Take a nap, think, whatever."
"Another nap? You'll certainly be well rested."
"That's what I'm shooting for," Draco sat back in the chair again and closed his eyes. "Tell me when it's three."
Hermione closed her Care of Magical Creatures book. She had picked up two of her books for next year while in Hogsmeade. "Could this week have been anymore stressful?" she muttered to herself as she set the book down on the nightstand next to her bed. First, there was the stress of finals. Next, there was the problem with Harry getting into a duel. Then, there was being caught in the duel. And, now, she was stuck with the slacker of the year trying to take care of a bunch of three year olds. For a week. She wouldn't be able to get her apparition license early and she wouldn't be able to take her classes. In fact, the only thing she would probably get from this experience would be a headache and a horrible, everlasting impression of Draco Malfoy.
"You've made me laugh, now hear me cry. Just listen to my soul weep one more time." Hermione sat up in bed and turned on her light as she listened to someone singing outside her door. She got up and tiptoed to her door and leaned her ear against it. The man's voice kept singing a song she had never heard before. He was good. Very good. Suddenly, the door fell out from under Hermione and she stumbled out into the hallway.
"Eavesdropping on something?" Draco stared down at her.
"That was you?" Hermione asked unbelievably.
"Singing? Yes, that was me. Why? Have something to correct on that too?" he sneered.
"No," Hermione hung her head. "You were very good. What are you doing up so late?"
"Getting a drink," he raised his glass. "You?"
"Reading."
"Should've figured," Draco smirked and started walking back to the boys' room.
"What were you singing?"
Draco stopped in his tracks and turned around, "Why do you have a sudden interest in my singing?"
"I've never heard you sing before and I never knew you were that good. I guess I'm just curious about it," Hermione answered truthfully.
"It was a song I made up. I don't sing for people. My father thinks it is immature and pointless. He also thinks it is something that muggles hold too high in opinion, so therefore it is forbidden in my family. Anymore questions?"
"No," Hermione paused and entered her room. She opened the door a little way and called after Draco, "thank you for telling me that."
"It's not that big of a deal," Draco shut his door behind him.
Hermione crawled back into her bed. She took out a small piece of parchment and her quill and quickly scribbled down the lyrics she had heard Draco sing. You've made me laugh
Now hear me cry
Just listen to my soul weep
One more time
"Maybe there's more to Draco than we thought," she considered silently to herself before she laid down and slipped off to sleep.