First off, I better answer the most frequently asked question of last chapter, lol: What did they do wrong??
Well, (at least to me) they didn't do anything wrong by dancing together! It's just that they suddenly appeared out of thin air, so everyone was afraid and started screaming. THAT'S what happened. Since they scared everyone, the teachers went after them to give them a lecture on not bringing invisibility cloaks to dances ;) get it? Lol
And that's to all of my reviewers! I'm glad you still didn't forget me!
Finally this chapter is out!! And FINALLY I'm done with tests!! Believe me, it was HARD to find time to write this! (That's why it took so long)
Ok, maybe the character's reactions were too exagerated, but… please forgive!! I'll try not to do it again! (Well, maybe I already did in this chapter.. oops . hop it doesn't happen again!)
WoOt! 618 reviews!!! Thanks to Silver Fawkes, Unicorn777, Sophiebabe, StarJade, Hermie4sev, Madelaine Foxglove, chocolat elf, Dolce Espressivo, Tom*Feltons*Babe, Angelwings, slytherin-cool, Sparkled-eyed dreamer, Starry Skies, Crystalline lily, DemonWitch666, gravidy, Gliniel de Silva Malfoy + Wood, draco's gurl, Rage, Juliet Rose Granger, Teresa, affisia, Littletiger, Dominique, Silver Masamune, Steph, Jessica, Aindel, ex-jlo, horsegrl, Scarlett, FiliaTheRyuuzoku, Vikkitoria, Calani, SVZ, TriGemini, Bean, Katcat, fb90, filles folles, willowwiccantara, sodie, sb1, Me123, OceanGuardian, Cassiel, Sara, and intuerimors for reviewing!! Thanks for being so patient!! ^_^
******
Everyone gasped, and some first years screamed.
McGonagall looked as if she was going to fall down. She always went by the rules, so finding, for the first time in her teaching career at Hogwarts, a Slythering student in the Gryffindor common room was quite shocking.
She didn't have strength to yell or look stern anymore, though. This last surprise had left her weak.
"Follow me, Miss Granger, Mr. Malfoy," she said simply, nodding at them.
Draco set the cloak on the floor, and gave Hermione an encouraging look.
McGonagall went out of the portrait, with Draco and Hermione trailing behind.
By the time they were going down a third corridor in utter silence, McGonagall started to win her strengh back.
"I must say that I'm very disappointed in your behaviour, Miss Granger," she said, walking faster. "And that goes for you too, Mr. Malfoy. I would have never thought you to do something of this sort…"
As McGongall droned on about their misdoings, Herminoe thought, for the first time that night, just what they had done wrong.
She couldn't stand to have McGongall lecturing them, so she looked at Draco, seeking comfort, but he looked deadly serious and distant. Much too different from the Draco she had known back in the garden.
She felt butterflies in her stomach as she remembered what had almost happened in the garden.
"First of all, I just don't know what you have been doing together, under that cloak!"
Was it Hermione's imagination, or was McGonagall trying to fight a tiny smile?
McGonagall stopped before a large and extremely ugly stone gargoyle.
"Lemon pie," she said.
The gargoyle sprang suddenly into life and hopped aside as the wall behind him split in two.
Behind the wall there was a spiral staircase moving smoothly upwards, like an escalator.
McGonagall stepped onto it, and Hermione and Draco did the same, and they rose higher and higher in circles, until, at last, they could see an oak door ahead, with a brass knowcker in the shape of a griffon.
McGonagall knocked on the door.
"Come in!" a voice called behind the door.
McGonagall opened it, and the three of them slipped inside.
And, in the center of the beautiful, circular room full of interesting objects and portraits sat Dumbledore, behind a desk.
"Here they are, Proffesor Dumbledore," McGonagall said hurriedly.
"Ah, yes, thank you, Minerva," he looked at Draco and Hermione, and signalled them to sit down on the two chairs in front of his desk.
They did as instructed, and remained quiet.
Dumbledore looked at McGonagall with a smile on his face, and nodding towards the door, but she didn't seem to want to go, though.
"Are you sure you can handle this? It is a very special-"
"We'll be fine, Minerva," Dumbledore assured her.
Reluctantly she left, giving a last glance at Draco and Hermione before closing the door behind her.
Hermione and Draco looked at Dumbledore helplessly, ready to be lectured harshly.
No lecture came, though.
"So," Dumbledore said with a smile. "You've caused some great chaos tonight. May I ask what you were doing with an invisibility cloak?"
Hermione blushed deeply, and looked away. How could she possibly explain the reason of bringing the cloak to the headmaster?
Draco cleared his throat and suddenly seemed very interested on a spot on the floor.
"I believe I already know," Dumbledore said after a long silence.
Hermione looked at him, surprised. His eyes were twinkling behind his half-moon spectacles.
"And it is very interesting," Dumbledore continued. He stared first at Hermione, and then at Draco, still giving them a very curious smile. "Very interesting indeed,"
After a moment of silence, Draco couldn't stand the look Dumbledore was giving them. "What's interesting, sir?" he asked.
"You will know shortly, Mr. Malfoy," Dumbledore assured him. "Quite shortly, I am sure."
He continued to smile.
Hermione was starting to wonder what they were doing in the Headmaster's office, if they weren't being lectured.
As if reading her thoughts, Dumbledore cleared his throat. "I suppose you're wondering why you've been brought here,"
Hermione nodded.
"Well, you certainly didn't do anything wrong by dancing together," he chuckled. "Nothing wrong indeed," he stared at both of them again, smiling. "It was just your sudden appearance. You scared everyone, and the teachers could do almost nothing to calm them down. Finally, we had to cancel the Ball, as no one seemed to be in the mood of dancing anymore. They were all talking about these two mysterious subjects,"
He paused.
Hermione was looking away again, and Draco stared at Dumbledore.
A long silence hung between them, but, as neither Draco or Hermione seemed to want to say anything, Dumbledore finally broke the silence.
"You may go," he said.
Hermione looked at him yet again. "That's it?" she asked. "You're not going to punish us?"
Draco nudged her, giving her a murderous look.
Dumbledore smiled. "No. Not this time, at least. Just make sure that the next time there is a dance you don't bring that cloak,"
"Of course not, headmaster!" Hermione exclaimed.
Dumbledore nodded. "You may go now,"
Hermione and Draco both stood up and, saying good bye, they got out of the room, and went back downstairs.
As the ugly gargoyle hopped back into place, Hermione sighed with relief, and smiled up at Draco. "We didn't get punished!"
"Yes, fortunally, we didn't,"
Hermione looked around, and saw an old man dozing in a portrait nearby. "What time is it? All the portraits have gone to sleep,"
"It's probably around eleven," Draco guessed. "Why? Are you sleepy?"
"A little," Hermione admitted. "All this excitement has worn me out,"
Draco, in turn, felt just the oposite: All the excitement had taken sleep out of him.
"I'll walk you to Gryffindor tower," he offered. After all, he was anything but sleepy, and he wasn't looking forward to the welcoming party the Slytherins would give him the minute he had entered his common room.
Besides, he wanted to be with Hermione as long as possible.
"Ok," Hermione said, giving him a tired smile. "That would be nice,"
They set off towards the tower, walking throught the silent, empty corridors.
"Do you have to go to the dungeons?" Hermione asked.
"Obviously, Granger," Draco said in an arrogant tone.
She looked at him strangely.
He hadn't meant to be arrogant. He was just ashamed of feeling very worried about what would happen when he came into the dungeons, and was afraid to show it.
Even to Hermione.
"What's wrong?" she asked, sensing something weird about him.
He merely shrugged and looked another way.
"Draco, what's the matter?" she insisted.
"Nothing is the matter!" he said angrily.
They walked in silence.
Hermione didn't dare say anything, as he wasn't in a very good mood. She didn't feel hurt, because she could guess what was troubling him and, if it were happening to her, she wouldn't be really happy, either.
Draco, in turn, was sorry he had snapped at her. This could be the last time they would be together, if his father somehow found out that he had danced with a muggle born.
They finally reached the portrait.
The fat lady was talking happily with her friend Vi.
Hermione was surprised, because, from what she had heard from Harry, the fat lady was always sleeping after eleven.
"Yes, everyone came back from the Ball and-" the fat lady glanced at Hermione and Draco, and gasped.
"Oh, Vi, it's them!" she exclaimed, pointing.
Hermione was feeling very uncomfortable now. She felt like a strange bug who was being stared at, and she was sure the fat lady was going to lecture her.
She was wrong, though.
Instead of lecturing, the fat lady smiled sweetly at them, and turned to her friend. "Isn't it just so cute? Why, I remember once when a couple went on a night stroll and-"
Draco cleared his throat.
Hermione looked at him, and saw that he was turning a bit red.
"Oh, don't be embarrased, dear," the fat lady told him.
"If it was me, I'd lecture them," Vi said. When she looked at them, though, her expression softened. "But, as this is a strange happening, and everyone is so excited about it all, I can't help but thinking that it's sweet to see them together, even if they should be in bed by now,"
The fat lady turned to Vi. "Oh, the young are always up for adventure…"
Hermione was also turning red, so she turned to Draco and let the fat lady and Vi to continue their conversation.
"I'll see you tomorrow then," she said.
Draco nodded, and started to turn around.
"And… Draco?"
He stopped, and stared at her.
"I'd be worried, too, if I had to go into the dungeons. And scared."
They stood looking at each other silently.
Draco didn't move.
So she knew. She knew why he was troubled, and she wasn't laughing.
"Just know that, if you need anything, I'm here," Hermione continued, and smiled.
After a moment of silence, he nodded, and gave her a brief smile before returning to his solemn expression.
He started walking away, and Hermione opened the portrait. Before she climbed into the common room, she turned around to watch him as he left.
He suddenly stopped walking, and turned around to look straight at her. "I'm here, too, Hermione" he said silently. "If you ever need anything,"
Before she could say anything, though, he left quickly, leaving her to stare after him, holding the necklace he had given her, feeling as if something had just gone really well.
***
Draco entered the dungeons silently.
It was deadly quiet.
As he walked closer to his common room, everything around him got darker and damper.
In the distance, he could water dripping. Shadows, coming from the flaming torches, danced on the wall made of stone.
Draco, of course, wasn't nervous to be here. He had gone through this passageway hundreds of times before, so it was all very familiar now.
The dungeons twisted and turned, getting colder and colder.
He was still very worried about all the Slytherin's reactions when they saw him. He hoped that, at least, they still respected him.
Even if they didn't fear him.
Now I'm thinking like a Gryffindor, he thought.
He turned a corner and saw, next to the piece of wall that served as the entrance to the Slytherin common room, that someone was resting with their back against the wall, apparently waiting for someone.
He walked closer, and saw who it was.
Pansy. Waiting for him.
He faced the wall, ignoring her, and was about to say the password, when Pansy stopped him.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you,"
Draco stood still for a moment, and reluctantly looked at her.
"Everyone's very… altered," she said, speaking in a mysterious tone. "They feel angry. Betrayed. Everyone is asking themselves, 'How did this happen? How could a Slytherin go so low as to dance with a Gryffindor?'" she smiled. "A shame to the whole Slytherin reputation. Comitted by no other than Draco Malfoy,"
Draco was clenching his fists, looking at Pansy angrily.
"If you go in there," Pansy continued. "Everyone will see you as something dirty. Not as a pureblood. You will be insulted and mocked," she lowered her voice to a whisper. "You will not be feared, Draco,"
You will not be feared, Draco.
He stood still, taking in what she had just said.
Pansy smiled sweetly. "I can help you,"
Draco stood in silence.
Pansy took this silence as an oportunity to show him her offer. She drew out her wand from her pocket.
"I can make everyone in this room think whatever I want," she said, pointing her wand towards the wall. "I can make them think none of this ever happened."
Of course. Draco had heard about this curse.
It was dark magic.
You were able to toy around with other people's minds, making them think whatever you wanted.
His father had told him about it, but he had never taught him how to do it. What he did teach him, though, was the counter-curse.
The offer seemed very tempting.
"The only thing you need to do is forget about Hermione Granger, and I will do it,"
"No," Draco answered immediately.
That was too much. He wouldn't give Hermione's friendship for anything in the world… not even for his reputation.
Pansy pointed her wand towards him. "I can make you forget,"
Draco got his wand out. "Just try it, Parkinson," he hissed. "And I will make sure something very bad happens. Think you're the only one who knows dark magic?"
Pansy lowered her wand slowly, and, with an evil smile on her face, said, "Fine. I tried,"
She turned to the wall. "Mudblood hate,"
The wall split open, and revealed the Slytherin common room.
Inside were most of the Slytherins. All waiting for him.
Draco bravely stepped inside. He wasn't afraid anymore. He was ready to face every blow that came his way.
"Well, look who's here!" a Slytherin girl with long blond hair from the crowd yelled.
Draco kept on walking, ignoring her. Ignoring everyone's eyes upon him. Ignoring the burning anger he felt inside. The only thing on his mind was getting to his room. And to do that, he only needed to get past the mob of Slytherins…
"Did you bring your little mudblood friend?" a boy sneered as he passed by.
"I feel so betrayed, Draco Malfoy," a girl said angrily, crossing her arms.
"Idiot!" another girl cried.
Before he knew it, he was surrounded by people who were all hissing, sneering, and mocking him.
He was in the middle of a crowd of stupid, insulting Slytherins.
That was dangerous.
Anger was boiling up inside him. He snapped.
Draco took out his wand and pointed it at the crowd. Everyone drew back, afraid of him.
"Stop this or I will curse you all!" he yelled threateningly.
Everyone stood quiet.
No one seemed to breathe.
A terrible silence hung around the room, making everyone nervous.
"If someone -anyone-" he spun around, with his wand still in front of him like a sword. He stood perfectly straight, staring at everyone with an utterly calm face. "Dares say anything to me about this, I will make sure they have a difficult time at it,"
And he left.
The crowd parted to let him pass.
When he locked the door to his room behind him, he looked out the window in relief.
He had gained respect once more.
***
Hermione's entrance was much more pleasing.
When she came back from Dumbledore's office, almost everyone had gone to bed.
Everyone but three persons.
Ginny, who had been sitting on a sofa near the fire, jumped up and hurried over to her. "Oh my god, Hermione!" she exclaimed as she hugged her. "Are you ok?"
"Um, yes," Hermione answered, a bit surprised by the hug.
"Wow Hermione, that was great!" Ron said as he ran over to her. "Your first time at Dumbledore's office for something you've done wrong! Way to go! I knew you had it in you!"
Hermione glared at him.
"Did you get punished?" Harry wanted to know. He looked serious.
"No. Dumbledore just told us not to bring invisibility cloaks to dances again," she bit her bottom lip. "I owe you an apology, Harry," she said. "I shouldn't have used the cloak without your permission,"
Harry smiled. "It's alright. If you used it tonight, then it was because you really needed it. I guess dancing with Malfoy was very important to you,"
Hermione blushed deeply. "N-no! I mean, I…"
"I can't believe this," Ron said, shaking his head. "Malfoy! Please… I thought you had better taste making friends. Hey! Maybe he gave you something to make you like him, Hermione! Who knows? That pumpkin juice you drank at lunch looked pretty suspicious, didn't it?"
"Why shouldn't I like him as a friend?" Hermione demanded.
Ron's mouth dropped open. "Should I begin relating all the things he's done to us since first year, Hermione?"
"Hermione, we should go to bed," Lavender, who had been watching everything from afar, and saw another argument arising, got her arm.
Hermione smiled, and nodded. "Yes. There's been enough excitement for tonight,"
"Good night!" Harry said.
"Yeah! Hope you don't dream about that git!" Ron piped up.
"Sweet dreams," Ginny said, smiling drowsily.
"Thanks. Good night, everyone," Hermione said, and went up the stairs with Lavender.
***
Hermione lay awake, watching the shadows dancing on the ceiling. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't sleep. The scene in the garden kept popping up in her head, sending a thousand butterflies into her stomach. You'd think she would sleep soundly, after so much excitement, but she wasn't able to.
"Are you awake?" Hermione whispered, looking at Lavender's bed, which was next to hers.
"No," Lavender answered. "I can't. I was just remembering how great it was to dance with Ron tonight."
Hermione sighed. "I can't sleep either,"
Lavender turned to face her. "Why? What's wrong?"
Hermione was glad it was dark, because she felt herself blush. "I… I don't know. I guess I was remembering what happened tonight, too,"
Silence.
"What happened?" Lavender wanted to know.
"Well…" Hermion started. "Um…" she couldn't go on. She just couldn't tell Lavender. At least, not now. "Lavender? Do you think it's strange that I went to the Ball with Draco?"
"Oh, Hermione," Lavender whispered. She threw her covers back and came to sit on Hermione's bed. "Is that what's troubling you?"
Herminoe sat up and looked at her friend's caring face. She nodded. "Kind of,"
"Well… I'm not sure. At least, I don't think it was too strange. I sort of could see it coming,"
"Could see what coming?"
Lavender smiled misteriously, but she didn't answer Hermione's question. "I'm sure that, if you went with him, you had a reason to do so. And as long as you're happy, then there's nothing to worry about. You're not hurting anyone by going with him, are you?"
Hermione sat in silence for a moment, but, before she could do anything about it, a tear slid down her cheek. "Yes I am," she said in a trembling voice. "I'm hurting him. He risked his reputation to go with me, and now everyone knows, and…" she trailed off, hoping Parvarti wouldn't wake to the sound of her sobs.
"Shh," Lavender said, throwing an arm around her friend. "If he risked that, Hermione, then it was because going with you was really important to him."
Hermione sobbed a bit more, but then eventually smiled, with red nose and red cheeks. "Thanks, Lavender,"
Lavender smiled back. "Don't mention it," she gave Hermione a hug and got off her bed. "Now, go to sleep, Hermione. Tomorrow's a new day."
Hermione nodded. Soon after she closed her eyes, and she was sound asleep.
******
Ok… I admit it, I took the part of the gargoyle suddenly coming to life (to go into Dumbledore's office) from the 2nd book…but I just didn't remember how it was! Lol. Sorry if nothing much happened in this chapter, but it's kind of the end of the, um… "First season". So the next chapter will have more things!! And again, thanks for being patient!! ^_^ it was hard to find time to write this!