Hey guys! Thanks again for all the reviews! You guys rock!
I don't really like this chapter much, it seems to 'drag onish' for me. I just really had to tell about Malfoy..... sorry guys. Next one is THE ONE
For all of Hogwarts history, Prefects meetings generally took place in the old antechamber off of the Great Hall, but for this one Harry and Hermione both agreed to hold it outside in the courtyard, which everyone agreed to happily. So at seven PM prompt, Harry and Hermione surveyed the area to make sure everyone was there. The twenty-four prefects (two each from each year from each house) sat chatting away happily interspersed on benches, hedgeboxes and even the grass until Hermione whistled and they turned with their full attention. She initiated the first order of business, which just happened to be what they discussed last meeting, which was (oddly enough for a magical castle) the plumbing, Hermione listened carefully, and Harry watched her for a minute. He was quite intent to let her lead the meetings, as he never really got comfortable talking in front of people, and she knew exactly what she was doing by the air of her. She was always so keen and confident and 'bloody brilliant' as Ron would so eloquently put it and Harry smirked to himself. 'Ah my old mate Ron! When's he gonna get his head out of the clouds and do what needs to be done?' he thought and smiled to himself as Julia Davis, sixth year Ravenclaw Prefect, finished on about having been to the astronomy tower last Tuesday and the pipes exploding. Ginny, who was also the secretary, was scribbling furiously as Hermione said that she had talked to McGonagall last meeting and McGonagall had agreed to get the plumbing fixed after Halloween, and many of the girls groaned. Ginny giggled and Harry looked at her. She didn't blush and Harry tried hard to remember the last time she had blushed around him. 'It must have been the same time she got so pretty' he thought briefly.
"Any new business then?" Hermione asked professionally and Malfoy, the Seventh Year Slytherin Prefect, raised his hand.
"Draco?" Hermione asked casually. In fifth year, something had passed unaware by the trio which they had only found out accidentally. After the Triwizard Tournament during the summer, Lucius Malfoy had one day all of a sudden left Malfoy manor never to be seen again. Narcissa and Draco immediately went to the Ministry and a raid was conducted on the manor, where they found loads of Dark Arts artifacts - enough to send Lucius to Azkaban for life. When school started again in September; Hermione, Ron and Harry were indeed expecting Malfoy to be just as thuggish and annoying as he had been the last five years, but on the train he had done something very unexpected. Half an hour into the ride he had entered the compartment the three shared and had apologized sincerely and profusely. When he took the seat offered wearily by Hermione he plunged into the story of his life, how his dad had kept him and his mum under a slight Imperious curse to beleive in what he did, and had indeed been a Deatheater. Ron and Harry had been hesitant to believe it was anything then a plot to get on their good side, but Hermione believed he was sincere when a tear slid past Malfoy's grey eyes as his eyes were downcast on the compartment floor. From that day on Hermione tried everything in her power to help Malfoy and eventually Harry and Ron even got up enough power to talk to him, although refusing to forgive him entirely and continuously reminding Hermione of all the times he had called her a Mudblood. Hermione began to see the good in Malfoy when Dumbledore had asked Hermione if she could help Malfoy in Potions, a class Hermione thought that he had been doing exceptionally well at. Ron and Harry went into absolute hysterics when she told them, and almost forbade her to go until Hermione started a row which had involved both Harry and Ron. She hadn't talked to them for a whole week before Malfoy approached them in the hall once and threatened to beat them both up unless they apologized to her. The Trios friendship fixed, Hermione continued her study sessions with Malfoy, and when he got his marks for the semester back after Christmas break she had seen him smile genuinely and thank her. Since then there had been something mirroring friendship between Hermione and Draco and even little less rivalry between the Slytherin and Gryffindor house.
"I don't know if a lot of you are aware," Malfoy spoke loudly and clearly, "but Professor Sprout is retiring this year" A few surprised comments flew through the meeting and Hermione grinned at him. Over his glasses Harry looked surprised. Only him and Hermione had known about that.
"I think it would be nice if we did something for her. She was the one who back in second year took such good care of the Mandrakes that revived the future Head Girl and she also donates what Madame Pomfrey doesn't use to St. Mungos. She's been a part of Hogwarts for...." Draco snapped, trying to remember.
"Fifty years" Hermione supplied and continued on listening.
"That's it! Fifty years so we have just got to show thanks somehow!" he finished and the rest agreed.
"Ah! That was to be our last order of issue. Anyone with any ideas, and we do have until June to come up with something, give them to either Harry or myself and we'll take them up with Professor Dumbledore. Now if there isn't anything else?" Hermione asked as she looked at Harry and he shook his head.
"I guess we'll see you all at the next meeting the night after Halloween" Harry smiled and adjourned the meeting.
Now, usually what happened after Prefects meetings was that they all sat around chatting about everything from homework to Hogsmeade and tonight was no exception. While Harry and Hermione gathered the notes from Ginny, Ernie and Orla went to work.
Orla walked, or rather wiggled her way up to Ron. Because it was a Sunday, everyone was wearing regular clothes and Orla had expertly chosen to wear a tight fitting purple shirt and white 'just as tight' pants. Catching Ron chatting to Lavender, Lavender backed away sneakily, laving Ron caught to the charm.
Orla batted her eyes and waited for Ron to acknowledge her.
"Ah hello Orla, how are you?" Ron stammered, being a male could hardly pass up the opportunity to talk to such a beautiful girl.
Orla giggled loudly, and Ron looked confused. The laugh worked and Hermione turned her head to see where it was coming from. Accross the courtyard, Orla Quirke was 'pressed' up against Ron engaging him in an apparently stimulating conversation as Ron laughed talked. Hermione honed right in on them, her eyes narrowing. 'What in the hell did Orla think she was doing?' she thought furiously, as Orla ran her hand through Ron's hair. Hermione pursed her lips in...anger? before shaking herself out of it. 'What in the world would she have to be angry for?' Someone calling her name pulled her from her thoughts. Thinking it was Harry she turned around, but Harry and Ginny were gone. It was Ernie, who sat grinning toothily at her.
Ginny had pulled Harry aside when she had seen Ernie approach them.
"What is it Ginny?" Harry asked looking at her, but Ginny was too busy watching Ernie begin to chat it up with Hermione. Hermione giggled a little and took a seat next to Ernie and Ginny sighed. Hermione was smart, but sometimes people just couldn't resist the McMillan charm. Harry continued to look at her until he followed Ginny's gave to where Ernie was obviously flirting with Hermione.
"Ginny" his eyes narrowed at her, "Whats going on eh?"
Ginny looked up at him. "Oh nothing..... Ernie just wanted to talk to Hermione alone" she lied.
"But isn't Ernie going out with Hannah?" he asked looking around for the blonde who had been at the meeting. To his surprise she was walking right up to them, side by side with Justin.
"Yeah Harry. She was... and....oh!" Ginny said exasperated and then looked to Justin and Hannah who nodded. "If we told you something you promise you wouldn't tell a SINGLE soul?" Ginny bartered and Harry reluctantly agreed.
Meanwhile, Hermione had apparently asked about Hannah as her eyes scanned the crowd. Ernie just scoffed and said, "No, she broke up with me. She's going with Fitch-Flecthley now" he spat vehemently, putting on a good show if he might say so himself. And Hermione nodded, offering a quiet 'Ohh', not feeling it in her place to ask why.
"Hermione, if it were okay with you, Id like to get to know you better" he said fluidly and inched a little closer to her and she blushed. "Would you like to have dinner at the Hufflepuff table on Monday with me?" he asked her, "Not much of a date but its the best I can do under the circumstances" he added, motioning toward the castle and Hermione chuickled. Thinking with herself for moment, and glancing a look over to Ron who was still taking with Orla, she nodded.
"Great! Then if its nice out we can go for a walk or something?" he suggested and she agreed again. Platonically he reached over and gave her a hug, before they went there separate ways with the dispersing crowd.
Ron, who had witnessed much of the talk between McMillan and Hermione, was glowing red with anger as he tried to keep up with Orla. He vowed that he was going to beat McMillan to a pulp for touching Hermione like that.
"Ronnie? Have you heard me at all?" Orla pouted and Ron turned to her.
"Uh...sorry?" he said and Orla grinned.
"I said do you want to go for a walk, just the two of us, on Friday night?" and she ran her hands down her sides. Ron nodded slowly, not taking her eyes off Orla and together they walked into Hogwarts with the dispersing crowd as one very worried Harry was being comforted by a certain redhead.
Well? I am going to post the next one sometime today. I just need to tweak it. Reviews?
I don't really like this chapter much, it seems to 'drag onish' for me. I just really had to tell about Malfoy..... sorry guys. Next one is THE ONE
For all of Hogwarts history, Prefects meetings generally took place in the old antechamber off of the Great Hall, but for this one Harry and Hermione both agreed to hold it outside in the courtyard, which everyone agreed to happily. So at seven PM prompt, Harry and Hermione surveyed the area to make sure everyone was there. The twenty-four prefects (two each from each year from each house) sat chatting away happily interspersed on benches, hedgeboxes and even the grass until Hermione whistled and they turned with their full attention. She initiated the first order of business, which just happened to be what they discussed last meeting, which was (oddly enough for a magical castle) the plumbing, Hermione listened carefully, and Harry watched her for a minute. He was quite intent to let her lead the meetings, as he never really got comfortable talking in front of people, and she knew exactly what she was doing by the air of her. She was always so keen and confident and 'bloody brilliant' as Ron would so eloquently put it and Harry smirked to himself. 'Ah my old mate Ron! When's he gonna get his head out of the clouds and do what needs to be done?' he thought and smiled to himself as Julia Davis, sixth year Ravenclaw Prefect, finished on about having been to the astronomy tower last Tuesday and the pipes exploding. Ginny, who was also the secretary, was scribbling furiously as Hermione said that she had talked to McGonagall last meeting and McGonagall had agreed to get the plumbing fixed after Halloween, and many of the girls groaned. Ginny giggled and Harry looked at her. She didn't blush and Harry tried hard to remember the last time she had blushed around him. 'It must have been the same time she got so pretty' he thought briefly.
"Any new business then?" Hermione asked professionally and Malfoy, the Seventh Year Slytherin Prefect, raised his hand.
"Draco?" Hermione asked casually. In fifth year, something had passed unaware by the trio which they had only found out accidentally. After the Triwizard Tournament during the summer, Lucius Malfoy had one day all of a sudden left Malfoy manor never to be seen again. Narcissa and Draco immediately went to the Ministry and a raid was conducted on the manor, where they found loads of Dark Arts artifacts - enough to send Lucius to Azkaban for life. When school started again in September; Hermione, Ron and Harry were indeed expecting Malfoy to be just as thuggish and annoying as he had been the last five years, but on the train he had done something very unexpected. Half an hour into the ride he had entered the compartment the three shared and had apologized sincerely and profusely. When he took the seat offered wearily by Hermione he plunged into the story of his life, how his dad had kept him and his mum under a slight Imperious curse to beleive in what he did, and had indeed been a Deatheater. Ron and Harry had been hesitant to believe it was anything then a plot to get on their good side, but Hermione believed he was sincere when a tear slid past Malfoy's grey eyes as his eyes were downcast on the compartment floor. From that day on Hermione tried everything in her power to help Malfoy and eventually Harry and Ron even got up enough power to talk to him, although refusing to forgive him entirely and continuously reminding Hermione of all the times he had called her a Mudblood. Hermione began to see the good in Malfoy when Dumbledore had asked Hermione if she could help Malfoy in Potions, a class Hermione thought that he had been doing exceptionally well at. Ron and Harry went into absolute hysterics when she told them, and almost forbade her to go until Hermione started a row which had involved both Harry and Ron. She hadn't talked to them for a whole week before Malfoy approached them in the hall once and threatened to beat them both up unless they apologized to her. The Trios friendship fixed, Hermione continued her study sessions with Malfoy, and when he got his marks for the semester back after Christmas break she had seen him smile genuinely and thank her. Since then there had been something mirroring friendship between Hermione and Draco and even little less rivalry between the Slytherin and Gryffindor house.
"I don't know if a lot of you are aware," Malfoy spoke loudly and clearly, "but Professor Sprout is retiring this year" A few surprised comments flew through the meeting and Hermione grinned at him. Over his glasses Harry looked surprised. Only him and Hermione had known about that.
"I think it would be nice if we did something for her. She was the one who back in second year took such good care of the Mandrakes that revived the future Head Girl and she also donates what Madame Pomfrey doesn't use to St. Mungos. She's been a part of Hogwarts for...." Draco snapped, trying to remember.
"Fifty years" Hermione supplied and continued on listening.
"That's it! Fifty years so we have just got to show thanks somehow!" he finished and the rest agreed.
"Ah! That was to be our last order of issue. Anyone with any ideas, and we do have until June to come up with something, give them to either Harry or myself and we'll take them up with Professor Dumbledore. Now if there isn't anything else?" Hermione asked as she looked at Harry and he shook his head.
"I guess we'll see you all at the next meeting the night after Halloween" Harry smiled and adjourned the meeting.
Now, usually what happened after Prefects meetings was that they all sat around chatting about everything from homework to Hogsmeade and tonight was no exception. While Harry and Hermione gathered the notes from Ginny, Ernie and Orla went to work.
Orla walked, or rather wiggled her way up to Ron. Because it was a Sunday, everyone was wearing regular clothes and Orla had expertly chosen to wear a tight fitting purple shirt and white 'just as tight' pants. Catching Ron chatting to Lavender, Lavender backed away sneakily, laving Ron caught to the charm.
Orla batted her eyes and waited for Ron to acknowledge her.
"Ah hello Orla, how are you?" Ron stammered, being a male could hardly pass up the opportunity to talk to such a beautiful girl.
Orla giggled loudly, and Ron looked confused. The laugh worked and Hermione turned her head to see where it was coming from. Accross the courtyard, Orla Quirke was 'pressed' up against Ron engaging him in an apparently stimulating conversation as Ron laughed talked. Hermione honed right in on them, her eyes narrowing. 'What in the hell did Orla think she was doing?' she thought furiously, as Orla ran her hand through Ron's hair. Hermione pursed her lips in...anger? before shaking herself out of it. 'What in the world would she have to be angry for?' Someone calling her name pulled her from her thoughts. Thinking it was Harry she turned around, but Harry and Ginny were gone. It was Ernie, who sat grinning toothily at her.
Ginny had pulled Harry aside when she had seen Ernie approach them.
"What is it Ginny?" Harry asked looking at her, but Ginny was too busy watching Ernie begin to chat it up with Hermione. Hermione giggled a little and took a seat next to Ernie and Ginny sighed. Hermione was smart, but sometimes people just couldn't resist the McMillan charm. Harry continued to look at her until he followed Ginny's gave to where Ernie was obviously flirting with Hermione.
"Ginny" his eyes narrowed at her, "Whats going on eh?"
Ginny looked up at him. "Oh nothing..... Ernie just wanted to talk to Hermione alone" she lied.
"But isn't Ernie going out with Hannah?" he asked looking around for the blonde who had been at the meeting. To his surprise she was walking right up to them, side by side with Justin.
"Yeah Harry. She was... and....oh!" Ginny said exasperated and then looked to Justin and Hannah who nodded. "If we told you something you promise you wouldn't tell a SINGLE soul?" Ginny bartered and Harry reluctantly agreed.
Meanwhile, Hermione had apparently asked about Hannah as her eyes scanned the crowd. Ernie just scoffed and said, "No, she broke up with me. She's going with Fitch-Flecthley now" he spat vehemently, putting on a good show if he might say so himself. And Hermione nodded, offering a quiet 'Ohh', not feeling it in her place to ask why.
"Hermione, if it were okay with you, Id like to get to know you better" he said fluidly and inched a little closer to her and she blushed. "Would you like to have dinner at the Hufflepuff table on Monday with me?" he asked her, "Not much of a date but its the best I can do under the circumstances" he added, motioning toward the castle and Hermione chuickled. Thinking with herself for moment, and glancing a look over to Ron who was still taking with Orla, she nodded.
"Great! Then if its nice out we can go for a walk or something?" he suggested and she agreed again. Platonically he reached over and gave her a hug, before they went there separate ways with the dispersing crowd.
Ron, who had witnessed much of the talk between McMillan and Hermione, was glowing red with anger as he tried to keep up with Orla. He vowed that he was going to beat McMillan to a pulp for touching Hermione like that.
"Ronnie? Have you heard me at all?" Orla pouted and Ron turned to her.
"Uh...sorry?" he said and Orla grinned.
"I said do you want to go for a walk, just the two of us, on Friday night?" and she ran her hands down her sides. Ron nodded slowly, not taking her eyes off Orla and together they walked into Hogwarts with the dispersing crowd as one very worried Harry was being comforted by a certain redhead.
Well? I am going to post the next one sometime today. I just need to tweak it. Reviews?