A/N- Sorry I haven't updated it like forever! Shame on me! *I'm just glad I'm not a houseelf. Then I'd have to punish myself. And I'm not very good with self-discipline.* I'm still suffering from writer's block. Which sucks!! But I really want to post a chapter so I'm sawry if this chapter isn't very good. I'm trying my best! Trying to think of some way to get out two not yet lovebirds get thrown together........hmmmm.
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Hermione woke up late the next morning. She found a note on her nightstand from Draco. There was to be a meeting at lunch with Dumbledore. She lay there and yawned. Just as she was about to get out of bed, she decided against it. After all, she is at the top of the year. She could afford to miss some classes every once in a while. She lay back down and closed her eyes.
*~Draco's POV~*
Draco walked into Hermione's room looking for her. It was almost time for their meeting and Ganger was still sleeping. 'She needs to be taught a lesson.' he thought. Deciding to have some fun with her, he took some toothpaste and dabbed some on her finger. Then he took his quill and tickled her face. Pretty soon she had toothpaste all over her face.
"Draco.'' Hermione mumbled. Draco lifted up his eyebrows in surprise. You could almost see the light bulb go on above his head.
''Yes, Hermione?" he asked sweetly. He desperately wanted to laugh, but stopped himself in fear of waking her.
''Don't go Draco. Stay here with me.'' Draco couldn't help it any longer. It was just too good of an opportunity.
"I won't Hermione. I'm gonna stay right here with you.'' snickering to himself, he took off his shirt, messed up his hair and crawled under the covers snuggling with her. She stirred but didn't wake. He wrapped his arms around her. She still didn't wake. He took a strand of her long hair and tickled her with it. She mumbled a little and swiped at him. He did it again. This time he got the response he was waiting for. He closed his eyes, pretending he was asleep. She opened her eyes and screamed.
'That girl has one great set of lungs.' thought Draco as he tried his best not to smile. He pretended to wake up.
"What's wrong honey? Is everything alright?'' he asked sweetly. He could only imagine how he looked right now. His hair mussed up and his shirt off. He almost cracked up again.
"What are you doing in my bed. And why don't you have any clothes on? What happened?'' she asked. Draco almost cracked a rib at the sight of Hermione's horrified face.
"I can't believe you!'' said Malfoy putting on a hurt face. "Acting like last night didn't happen. Acting like you didn't know what was going on the whole time!'' Hermione looked ready to faint.
"Last night? What are you talking about? Nothing happened!" A dawn of realization came over Hermione's face and she looked about ready to cry. "Someone must have put the Imperise on me!'' Draco began to smile and Hermione figured out the ruse.
"You buttmunch! That was the worst joke ever!" squealed Hermione. She picked up a pillow and hit him with it with enough force to knock him down on the bed.
"Buttmunch?? That's one I've never heard. And I thought the joke was pretty funny.'' he picked up a pillow and hit her with it.
"I learned that one from my cousin, she lives in America. And no, the joke wasn't funny.'' she grabbed a pillow and hit him again. He ducked and threw his pillow down and tackled Hermione.
"Chicken peck!!!" He sat on her and started tapping her under her collarbone. She was laughing and trying to get away.
"Get off! Get off!" squealed Hermione, at that exact moment who should walk in other than Harry and Ron.
"Get off her you bastard!" yelled Ron. He pulled Draco off of Hermione who was crying from laughing so hard. Ron reared back and punched Draco in the face. Draco hit the floor with a thud and Ron jumped on top of him.
"Ron, stop!" shouted Hermione. Ron stopped in mid-punch. "We……..we were just playing around. He wasn't hurting me." explained Hermione. Ron gaped at her.
"Are you sure?" asked Harry.
"Positive," said Hermione. Ron let his arm fall to his side. Hermione offered Draco her hand, he took it reluctantly and she pulled him up off of the floor. "Are you alright?''
"Yea, I guess," said Draco rubbing his jaw. "You know, Weasel, any normal person would have said sorry."
"I'm not normal," said Ron over his shoulder as he walked off. Draco looked at his watch.
"Time for the meeting," he said shortly. He too, walked out, slamming the door behind him. Hermione sighed and got up. She dressed quickly and headed to the Headmaster's office.
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"I'm glad you could make it," said Dumbledore, smiling as he peered over his half-moon glasses at Hermione as she walked in the room. She smiled as she sat down in the chair beside Draco. She noticed Draco had a fairly large bruise on his jaw and wondered if Professor Dumbledore noticed too. If he did, he didn't mention it.
"I have received information on the exchange program. There will be four exchange students coming here. Two boys and two girls. They are in their seventh year also. Also two of them are twins. The students will arrive on November 1st. There will be a ball to welcome the students. You two must go. Be sure you have partners. You will leave January 1st. There will be another ball in honor of you. I must ask that you attend the ball together. The school you will be going to is called Prosperity. Now did I leave anything out? " asked Dumbledore as he stroked Fawkes' back.
"That's sounds like the name of the school that my cousin goes to!" squealed Hermione. "But I'm afraid I'm not sure if that's it."
"Go together?" asked Draco incredulously. "Granger and I? Together? But sir--"
"Now now Mr. Malfoy. Calm down. You and Miss Granger are going to the ball together. As a matter of fact, it would be best if you attend both together. Now anything else?
"Yes, where is the school that we're going to?" she asked. At that exact same moment Fawkes flew over to Draco. He rested his head against Draco's chin and dropped a pearly tear onto his bruise which cleared up. Dumbledore watched this with interest.
'She's changing him. Slowly, very slowly of course. But nonetheless, Fawkes wouldn't have healed that bruise if he wasn't loyal to us.' Dumbledore was staring off into space with a funny look on his face.
"Professor Dumbledore? Sir? I asked you a question." said Hermione impatiently.
"Oh yes of course," he paused for a minute, "What was the question again?" he asked meekly.
"Where are we going on the exchange trip?" asked Hermione. She hated to repeat herself, and here she was having to do it to the Headmaster!
"Miss Granger and Mr. Malfoy, you are going to The United States of America." announced Dumbledore triumphantly. He smiled at their vacant stares and open mouth.
"REALLY? America? So that is the school that my cousin goes to! You're joshing me aren't you? Please tell me your not joshing me." *sorry but I love saying that!*
"No, Miss Granger. I'm not 'joshing you.' I'm quite serious actually. The exchange students are coming from America and you two are going to go there." Dumbledore smiled and continued, "I expect you two to be on your best behavior. No fighting. Remember you will be representing Hogwarts. Now I do believe its time to water whatever is growing in my flower box. Off you go." he said shoving them outside the door.
"I can't believe we get to go to America! I can visit my cousin again!" said Hermione once the door was shut.
"Oh yes, it's going to be loads of fun," said Draco sarcastically. "I bet that school is full of Mudbloods too." he sneered.
"For your sake, I'm going to ignore that remark." said Hermione airily. She stuck her nose in the air and breezed by him, leaving behind a scent of strawberry. Draco breathed in deeply and wondered why he never notice that she smelt that way before. It was oddly intriguing.
That night a storm blew in. The enchanted ceiling in the Great Hall looked worse than it had been in ages. Lightning flashed every few seconds. The thunder shook the water in everybody's goblets. Hermione went to bed early, too tired for anything else. She was lying there in the dark when she heard a timid knock on her door.
"Come in," she said, sitting up and pulling her covers tighter around her. She was wearing the peach nightgown again. Draco pushed the door open and walked in.
"Ummmmmm, Hermione? Can I sleep with you tonight?" he asked.
"Sleep with me? You most certainly will not! I'm not that kind of girl, Malfoy." said Hermione. Why would Draco be asking a stupid question like that? He should've known what the answer would be.
"I didn't mean it like that. I swear you're the most perverted person I've ever met. I just wanted to know if I could sleep in your bed.'' he said. Hermione noticed he was very nervous. He kept switching the foot he was leaning on and was playing with the white tee-shirt he had on. Hermione noted with a trace of disappointment that he wasn't wearing his usual nightclothes.
"Why can't you sleep in your own bed?" asked Hermione. Draco sighed in exasperation.
"Because…umm…well it's sorta embarrassing."
"Oh get over it Malfoy. I won't tell anybody." Draco looked at her skeptically. But nonetheless attempted to explain.
"It's just that--" at that moment lightning flashed and thunder boomed. Draco jumped. At that moment, Hermione understood.
"Are you afraid of the storm?" she asked. Draco nodded his head, too embarrassed to say anything. He looked so scared and helpless that Hermione started to feel sorry for him. 'This is just too weird. Me feeling sorry for a Malfoy?'
"Alright. I suppose it would be alright." Draco smiled in relief, "Only for tonight though, and no funny stuff or else I'll be forced to hurt you." She pulled the covers back and Draco climbed under them gratefully.
"Hermione?" whispered Draco.
"Yea?" said Hermione groggily.
"Thanks. I mean, for letting me stay here tonight." Hermione's eyes flew open in shock. Draco? Calling her Hermione and saying thanks? Wow when did this happen?
"Your welcome Draco." she smiled and rolled over. Draco lay there for a while staring at the back of her head.
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A/N I know I know. It took me 4ever to get this chapter out. But I've been really busy. This is the first night I've stayed home this week. Thanks to all who reviewed!! Btw I've been meaning to get around to reading and reviewing yall's stories but I haven't had time yet. Please forgive! I'm going to do it as soon as I post this chapter!
Scrabbit- Thanks for all your reviews!!! I'm glad u like my story!
narcissusmuses- thanks for reviewing! Yea Percy probably would be outraged!! hehe! But what he probably doesn't realize is that Draco's second in his year. Obviously, Draco's got everyone fooled! I guess you'll have to wait and see what Dumbledore is trying to do. Hehe I know, I'm awful. I'm hoping to get 150 reviews by….hmm…let's say chapter 15? I set my goals high!! lol
Sushie-chan- Of course ur included in the good authors! Snape? Santa Clause. Hmmm Interesting…..hehe evil idea!
Cassandra Dreamwater- thanks for the compliments!!!
CassieXanthe- Please if you don't mind. Thanks for not biting my head off! I was afraid u were gonna. Ur a really good author though. It's sorta flattering that u think my stories good enough to copy but it is sorta frustrating for someone else to get credit for my work. Thanks for understanding!
Mirei- lol!! Shhhhh!! He doesn't know that yet. Ooh new chapter??? Yaaaaaay!! Thanks for reviewing mine!!
Irish Lass- Addictive? If u say so…lol just call me caffeine. I PROMISE ill review ur story! I'm sorry I haven't gotten around to it yet but like I said I've been really busy!
Sighhhhh- Thank you so much. I'm glad you like the plot. I'm pretty anxious for them to get together soon but I really want to do it eventually. As a matter of fact I think I'm going to fast right now.
Athena- My first constructive criticism reviewer! Thanks. I understand what you are sayin. It's hard for me though. I really need to read over my chapters before I post them. I go back and read them again and I see all these little mistakes. So thanks for your suggestions! I'm keeping them in mind.
Overprotectedgrl- lol sorry I get a little worked up about reviews. I just love them so much!! Thanks for reviewing! I'm glad ur liking it so far!
Risquer-I'm glad you love it! And that you keep on reviewing!
couch-potato- Thanks for reviewing! I'm glad you think it's interesting and that I'm not boring you people to sleep!
