Chapter 6- It Began With a Hungry Cat
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Like I said it would be it has been about a week. So I hope no one has become frustrated with waiting (not the reviewer!). Thankyou to my reviewers and, as always, look out for your personal thankyous at the end! That's all!
'-' =thoughts
Disclaimer: If I was the author and owner of Harry Potter and Co would I be this annoyed at the suggestion that the fifth book might be coming out in 2003? The answer is no! So deduce from that that it is not mine!
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Hermione looked around the great hall realising in all the excitement and fixing Malfoy some breakfast she had completely forgotten about her own breakfast. Her stomach rumbling she headed out onto the Hogwarts grounds with the intention of looking for Harry and Ron so they could take their shift in the hospital wing. However it wasn't long before she hurried back inside for she had forgotten about the biting weather and she hadn't even her cloak to keep her warm. She trudged up the many stairs to the Gryffindor common room and flopped down in one of the many squishy armchairs. 'What a morning!' she thought as she closed her eyes and let the blazing fire warm her through. "Miaow?" Crookshanks appeared at her feet and looked up atr her with questioning eyes.
"Oh no!" Hermione shot up out of her seat. "I forgot to feed you baby? I'm so sorry!" she snatched up the hungry cat and ran back down the stairs to the kitchen. The house elves soon whipped up a bowl full of meat which Crookshanks appreciatively gobbled up. Hermione put her head in her hands. Everything was falling apart first Neville getting hurt and then the Malfoy thing and now she had forgotten to feed her pet! Even as she thought it she realised how ridiculous it sounded and instead of crying like she felt like doing she burst out laughing.
"Mudblood have you completely lost your mind?" Hermione gasped and whirled around to face a sneering Pansy.
"No, but I bet you wish you'd lost your face." Hermione's eyes widened and her hand flew to her mouth. 'Where had that come from?' "Oh Pansy, I didn't mean it! I don't know what came over me."
Pansy slapped her. Hard and fast, leaving a red and inflamed mark across her cheek.
"Stupid mudblood whore." She snarled before whirling around and stalking out of the kitchens calling over her shoulder.
"By the way house elves the reason I came down here was to tell you that my mirror is filthy, I want to see my face shining in it by morning."
"As you wish.* A tiny voice squeaked from underneath a table where the elves had all hidden when Pansy had entered the kitchens.
Hermione was still sitting, stunned, her hand clasped to her cheek and her eyes shining and on the brink of tears.
"Miss, are you alright?" the small voice of Winky asked. Without answering Hermione fled to the hospital wing in the vague hope that Ron or Harry would be there.
***
Ron sat staring at Neville's pale face.
"Wake up." He whispered, "Um sorry mate but I have no idea what to say… how about …I'm sorry… I didn't mean to…well you know. Can you even hear me? Argghh this is ridiculous!"
Ron stood up and ran his fingers through his hair. "I need Hermione, she was right, I am no good at this whole beside manner thing!" he heard a soft chuckle and he remembered Malfoy was in the hospital wing too. His face reddened and he spun around to face his arch nemesis.
"Shut up Malfoy." He growled warningly.
"Oh does the little Weasley not know what to do without his mudblood girlfriend? Poor ickle Ronnekins, that's what your brothers call you isn't it? Poor pathetic, useless Ron. Always in the way, always trying to get a piece of Potter's fame and a piece of Hermione's…well a piece of Hermione!"
Ron was turning a brighter and brighter red at Malfoy's words and his fists were clenching and unclenching at his sides. He took a hesitant step towards the Slytherin, hesitant because he hadn't forgotten the bet he had made with Hermione and Harry. 'But' he thought' Harry and Hermione aren't here are they?' as soon as the thought crossed his mind the door flew open and Hermione stumbled in. Ron took one look at her and plans for inflicting serious damage on Malfoy drained from his mind. He hurried over to her and took her hands in his.
"Hermione, what's wrong?" he asked noticing the red mark on her otherwise ivory cheek.
"P..Pansy…oh Ron I'm becoming one of them!" she howled throwing herself into his arms and sobbing onto his shoulder. Ron was understandably shocked not to mention confused but he just wrapped his arms around her shaking shoulders and made what he hoped were comforting noises into her hair. Suddenly he felt a hand clasp the back of his robes and he was jerked away from his friend and pushed across the room. Malfoy stood angrily in front of Hermione staring at her so fiercely that she stopped crying immediately.**
"What? What did Pansy do to you?" he asked angrily. Hermione stared at him, speechless. "Well?" he asked again. But Ron had had enough and he pushed Malfoy away from her.
"Look Malfoy, I don't know what the hell your problem is but…"
"My problem? My problem is pathetic losers like yourself who..."
"Pathetic loser? Well that's pot calling kettle black, Malfoy why don't you just…"
"Why don't one of you just kiss her for crying out loud and get it over with!" a new voice entered the fray and they all looked around to see who had spoken. This soon became apparent as the curtain around the bed to the right of Neville's was pushed back and a tousled blonde head appeared.
"Casey!" Hermione gushed, "We are so sorry, we didn't mean to wake you."
"It wasn't you, dear, it was these two. Their hormones were raging so loudly I'm surprised that anyone in a two hundred mile radius would be able to sleep through it!" Casey had a stern face but there was a twinkle in her eyes that betrayed her and soon she burst out laughing at the three shocked faces. "Oh you guys are a hoot!" she cackled, "You should see your faces. Like toddlers caught stealing cookies out of the cookie jar!" Her howling was infectious and soon Hermione joined in with her laughter. Ron and Malfoy, however, found nothing funny in their circumstances and stood glaring at each other until Hermione, wiping tears from her eyes, went over to them.
"Ron? Where's Harry? I haven't seen him this morning."
Ron broke eye contact with Malfoy and looked down at Hermione.
"Um, I don't know. Should we look for him?"
"I think that would be a good idea." Hermione linked her arm through Ron's and they headed towards the door.
"Wait!" Malfoy caught Hermione's other arm forcing her to face him, "You never answered my question, what did Pansy do?"
"Nothing." She lied, but impulsively her hand strayed up to her inflamed cheek and Malfoy understood. "Right." He said quietly before pushing past the friends and striding down the corridor.
"What was that all about?" Hermione wondered out loud.
"I don't know." Ron said seriously, "But I have a feeling we'll soon find out."
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* Scandalous plagiarism from 'The Princess Bride' but God I love that movie/book. I love it so much in fact that you should look out for more quotes woven in throughout this story!
** Congratulations to Malfoy who has achieved what the world thought was impossible. He stopped Hermione Granger in a star123 story from crying!
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Ah so many strange ideas floating around in my head about where this is going and what it going to happen. If it keeps up this story could go on for chapters and chapters, in fact it probably will. I hope you liked this chapter and it will probably be another week until the next is up but look out for it because I might be wrong!
unique chica: Thankyou so much for saying so. You can't wait much longer? But I thought you just read it? Oh whatever thankyou very much for your review!
Rackel: You'll never believe it but 'Never is a Promise' by Lopotter was the first D/Hr story I ever read and it was the one that inspired me to write my own! I agree, it really is a fantastic story and I can't wait for chapter 36! Have you read 'We'll Always Have Paris' by Melissa D? If you haven't I strongly recommend it! It is similar to Lopotter's story! Anyway thankyou so much for reviewing. About Jonathon…you'll just have to wait and see!
Rina: Thankyou for your review and especially for saying that I was posting fast. I really did feel guilty for not posting for a long time and I hope everything is even now! With such nice manners how could I refuse? Here is your new chapter!
bLuegrEeN: You must update soon! Thankyou again for reviewing and everything!
Heather: I'm so glad you weren't a H/Hr shipper. I just don't understand how that works you know?! It is just so…blech! Anyway thankyou for reviewing and I'm so happy the fact that it is a D/Hr story doesn't put you off!
Becka, Draco's one and only: Hermione may be warming up to Malfoy a little but rest assured it is going to be a while before Draco stops acting like a prat! Yay! Thankyou so much for your review!
Sailor Earth: Um I think this chapter smashed the whole Draco good guy thing! Thankyou so much for saying it is cool, in my books that makes you very cool too!
Mione G: Well thankyou so much for saying so. I don't know if 'as always' is entirely correct. Sometimes my story sucks!
Gaille: Yay, I'm forgiven! Thankyou for reviewing my ever faithful one! I was just wondering. Where does gaille come from if your name is Allison? You don't have to answer if you don't want to, but I was just wondering! I think fantastic is going a bit far but thankyou anyway!
Marisa: Well I don't know I'm sure! It is a mystery! Thankyou so much for reviewing!
Calypso in Love: Come on, to be fair as if anyone could Draco overdose! One can never have too much Draco! I'm so happy I made you grin like an Alice in Wonderland character. Very cool! Thankyou.
Waiting: well, blimey. While you were waiting you sure put your time to good use (or so I think) reviewing! And she strikes again making the reviewer known as waiting a little confused and dare I say crazy?! I usually post on the weekends so I guess your computer timetable fits in just fine for me! Thankyou for reviewing both chapters in such detail!
Flaky ballerina: thankyou so much for your lovely reviews and I hope you like this chapter too. It is so great that you have been with me since the beginning of this story and you are still here. Thankyou very, very much!
And that is it for another chapter. I was thinking of changing my summary. Any ideas or suggestions? As always please review as I do love them so!
Adios,
Jess/star123
