*Disclaimer ~ I still don't own them. I have my car, my room, my cat, and my clothes; that's it no Harry Potter character.*
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Falling Head Over Heels
The Story of Hermione Granger and
Her relationship with Draco Malfoy
By: Befuzzled Chapter Three ~ First Day Back and the Deal"The Devil went down to Georgia,
He was looking for a soul to steal.
He was in a bind,
Cause he was way behind,
And he was willing to make a deal."
~The Charlie Daniels Band
All the Gryffindors slumped into the Great Hall the next day. Not many if any had managed to get to sleep until two in the morning, that was when their Head-of-House Minerva McGonagall, finally came in to break up all the noise and ruckus that was spreading through out the castle. Hermione was fretting. It was the first day of classes and she was exhausted, bad way to start the term.
McGonagall walked up and down their table handing out schedules. "Ugh," Harry began complaining "Double potions this afternoon."
"Yeah and Herbology and Care for Magical Creatures this morning."
"Who are they with?" asked Hermione with her eyes closed munching on a piece of toast.
"Herbology with Hufflepuff and Slytherin for the other two classes."
"Figures – how is it that we always end up with Slytherin in potions?"
"Don't ask me. Probably some punishment Snape sets up every year cause he hates us so much." The others sitting around Ron just had to nod. He had a very good point even if it couldn't be proved.
Ten minutes later they began the walk to the greenhouses. Instead of starting in on a project like they had for the past years, the first day consisted of plenty of notes leaving a lot to look forward to for the rest of the year.
Care of Magical creatures was just a short jaunt away so Gryffindors took their time since they still had to wait for Slytherin.
The Dream Team took the extra few minutes to talk and catch up with their half giant friend Hagrid and try to get an idea of what sort of animals (if you could call them that) they would all be dealing with. All Hagrid said was, "Yer all find out in gerd time."
The Slytherins were walking across the lawn and gathered silently around the Gryffindors and Hagrid. "Well now that yer all 'ere. We're gonner learn about the phoenix. 'Arry would you please call Phaux?"
"Er, um how am I supposed to do that?"
"Well fer yer I think all yer have to do is stick up yer 'arm since he likes yer so much." So that's what Harry did and in about 10 seconds the beautiful red-tinted bird was flying through the skies. He landed perfectly on Harry's arm. A wave of comfort and security rushed over Harry as he remembered the times the phoenix had saved him.
Then Hagrid began a riddle of questions, which Hermione and Harry answered earning points they knew they were just going to lose in the next Potions class after lunch.
Hermione reviewed her book for potions at lunch knowing full well that she would be chastised for being a know-it-all. "Hermione why are you wasting your time? For one you know all this anyway and for two Snape will make it a point not to call on you."
"I know Harry, but I praying for that inkling of a chance that he finally forgot or forgave the grudge he has against us. Just the sliver of a chance."
Well Hermione inkling of a prayer wasn't answered but she was right that the over-grown greasy git was just go to ramble on about how much a show off she was. It started even before the questions were asked. "I suppose Miss Granger already knows the questions and answers to my topic of discussion today?"
"No, sir. Sorry." She tried to look innocent and confused, accomplishing it rather well. Snape turned back to the black board, thinking.
"Can any of you tell me what you get when you mix unicorn hair and wolfbane?" He expectantly turned around, wanting to see Hermione's hand waving in the air so he could ridicule her some more and take points away. She predicted this after five other years of his insufferable grudge towards the Gryffindors, and she kept her hands in her lap, much to the shock of every one else. No one else had raised their hand either. Snape walked from the front of the room down the isle way dividing the Slytherins from the Gryffindors.
"It appears that no one knows the answer to this question, doesn't it Miss Granger?" He turned his beetle black eyes on her, in an intimidating fashion.
"It appears so Sir. But if I may? If you mix unicorn hair and wolfsbane, than you get the base for a confusion potion. Am I right Professor?" His eyes narrowed and his breathing increased rapidly, Hermione just kept starring at him expecting a reply for her answer.
"That is correct Miss Granger, five points from Gryffindor."
"Excuse me, sir, what did I do?"
"You did not answer the question when I first asked it when you so clearly knew it," he said disdainfully. Ron was about to protest but Hermione held him back.
"Yes, sir." Hermione suddenly found her quill fascinating to avoid the condemning stares and snickers of the Slytherins.
"Get out your notes, we have a lot to cover today."
They lost only 20 points; 5 from Nevil since he didn't no the answer to a question; 5 from Hermione since she was being a know-it-all; and 5 each from Harry and Ron when they protested it's unfairness. But it was all well since Harry and Hermione had just earned 35 points in Care of Magical Creatures.
Overall it had been a good first day – even if they had stayed up extremely late.
Plus between the Dream Team and the Malfoy Posse, there had only been one incident. Malfoy had to have at least one stab at Hermione calling her a mudblood after he had missed his chance on the train yesterday.
But their luck wouldn't last all week. Every time Malfoy got the chance he called Hermione a mudblood totally neglecting 'Granger' for it. It was really getting on all the Gryffindors nerves especially Hermione's.
They were walking back towards the castle for lunch and Malfoy was apparently walking to the Quidditch field with his broom. Harry noticed and remembered, "I still have to fill the positions that were left void when Fred, George, and Alicia Spinnet left last year. So that's two beaters and a chaser."
'No," Hermione corrected. "It's two beaters and two chaser's; Katie left too, remember Harry?"
"Yes I do Hermione, but I figured Ron would want to take her spot. Am I right?" Ron just nodded excitedly, for once he would be able to prove himself worthy to be friends with the Great Harry Potter and oh so intelligent Hermione Granger. Harry looked pleased and continued brainstorming other people who could take the place as beaters, "There's two transfers from the United States, Dustin Shoe and Courtney Thornberry, supposedly their parents took jobs in France and Germany, but anyway I hear they pretty good."
"What positions to they play, Harry?" Hermione interrupted his thoughts.
"Um Shoe is a beater and Thornberry is a chaser. So what do we have left, and whose is going to fill that spot?"
But they were interrupted before they finished filling in the blanks of the roster.
"Well, well, well look who it is, the Boy-who-should-have-died, the boy-who-can-barely-afford-to-live, and the mudblood. Oh what a match," the voice drawled out and released a great amount of sarcasm in the air.
"Sod off, Malfoy," Hermione said starting to walk away.
"I don't take orders from a mudblood; don't ever turn your back on me," he said pushing her back into her place. "You bow to me." He pushed down hard on her shoulders but she wouldn't succumb to the pressure. "Stupid mudblood."
"Don't call her that, she never did anything to you. Plus your just jealous that she's a better witch than you'll ever be and she's muggle-born." Harry said this with gaining confidence so he's pitch grew louder as he spoke.
"Oh does little Mudblood need her boyfriends to stick…" he never got the chance to finish the sentence.
He had done it again. He had just had to say that word, again. It was the last straw. A flash of red-hair followed by a blur of jet-black took off after the blonde hair boy scurrying to get on his broom, while swinging punches all over the place.
They were both out run by the curly haired girl in her moment of rage. Hermione leaped to catch Draco Malfoy just as he was taking off on his broom towards the Quidditch Pitch. She just made it! She flopped her leg over the broomstick just as it left the ground, grabbing on to the back of his robes.
She started slapping and hitting his back, "MALFOY IF YOU EVER CALL ME THAT AGAIN I'LL THROW YOU OFF YOUR BROOM, SO HELP ME…" Hermione faded off coming to the realization of how high they were getting. Ron and Harry looked like specs on the ground as the broom flew above the North tower.
Hermione gave a shudder, brooms didn't like her, and she didn't like them. Instinctively she grabbed on to the back of Malfoy's black robes. "What? Is Granger scared of heights? Is the brave Gryffindor scared? Awe."
"Shut up MALFOY!! Take me back down right now. Brooms and I just don't get along. And if you don't understand that it's like blood and water, you and me, do you need anymore examples."
'"Oh does the mudblood, want to go back to her books and her precious libr.."
"I SAID NOT TO CALL ME THAT!! NOW TAKE ME DOWN!!"
"If you say so" Draco began to dive, straight for the ground. Hermione shut her eyes and moved her grip around Draco's waist.
If I'm falling his coming with me she thought.
About 10 feet from the ground the Slytherin finally pulled up and began a series of turns, flips, and spirals. All this was scaring Hermione to almost death.
A group of onlookers was beginning to join Harry and Ron, just starring up trying to prepare themselves if Hermione would happen to fall.
Professor Snape was storming across the field, noticed the gathering crowd and the direction of their gaze, and looked up to see the ongoing display.
"Draco…please take me…back down," Hermione implored, almost in tears.
"Your house must be disgraced – brave Gryffindors my arse." He stopped down just in front of Harry and Ron, who looked both pissed and confused at the same time.
"Hermione!" they both spoke at once rushing to embrace her. "Are you okay? What did he do to you?"
Ron felt compelled to add "I swear I'll kill him if he touched…." He was interrupted by the presence of Snape.
'What's going on here?" The words came out cold and stiff.
"Malfoy tried to kill Herm…"
"Malfoy called Hermione a mud..."
"Nothing sir, I was just giving Hermione a flying lesson."
Snape held up a hand calling a halt to the rampage of conversation.
"Draco, you were saying…"
"Thank you sir. I was just saying that I offered to give Hermione a flying lesson. I guess I tried to show her too much for her first session.
Harry and Ron irrupted in anger. "But sir." "That's not true." "He called her a dirty word and then tried to kill…"
"Silence! No one seems to have been hurt or killed. Maybe Miss Granger just was a bit overwhelmed by the expertise of Mr. Malfoy's flying abilities." The words were drawn out nice and slow. "Is that what happened Miss Granger?" It was said in a tone that warned not to contradict him.
Hermione was silent. She knew it was pointless to try to defend herself. Plus she would probably just get in more trouble if she explained that she charged at Malfoy.
"Isn't that right?" The words were harsh.
Hermione just nodded. Ron and Harry were abashed and forced into a stunned silence.
"Well. That's good. Perhaps, if it's not an inconvenience to you, Mr. Malfoy, you could continue with these lessons. Maybe teach Granger a thing or two about how witches are supposed to fly."
"No Sir, that's okay I think I'm satisfied with one, thank you," Hermione attempted in protest.
"No, no, no. I insist," Draco, chirped, in his successful attempt to suck up.
And it would be a great time to make the mudblood scared without Potty and Weasel around.
"Very well, once a week. I'll write your special permission to the Quidditch pitch or wherever you think it would be best for flying. Can you handle that Ms. Granger?" his voice was condescending and shattered Hermione's nerves.
She nodded. She was simply lost for words. She was in trouble, big time. She would be alone with Draco Malfoy, king of the Slytherins, out of her element; to put it simply she was doomed.
Snape strode off. "Well, Granger looks like your mine, to teach." Draco lashed and followed it with a nerve-racking laugh. "You will learn a lot. Not just about flying."
Ron was about to run after him, but Hermione and Harry held him back. "Just don't, he's not worth it."
"Do you realize what he's going to do to you if he gets the chance?" Both he and Harry were protective of their best friend and loathed Draco Malfoy, with a passion.
"He won't do anything that Madam Pomfrey can't fix."
"She's right, Ron."
"I know but I still don't truth that Slytherin."
Hermione snorted slightly,
Ron looked confused, "What's so funny?"
Harry began to catch on. "Do you trust any Slytherin, Ron?"
"I guess not." The trio burst out laughing. Hermione put an arm around each of her friends' neck and they walked back towards the castle.
It wasn't the worst start they could have had for their sixth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry was still the seeker on the house Quidditch team and had earned the position of Captain; Hermione was a prefect, top student in her year (let's face it probably the whole school) and people were finally noticing her for more than just a brain; Ron, well apparently Ron has just earned the spot of a chaser on the house team. They had managed for once not to find themselves indefinitely in trouble in potions, knowing full well it would never last long.
The tiff with Malfoy was the only thing that had put a dent into their week. But really how long would Malfoy be able to stand Hermione, (especially since he had to deal with her with out his goons there.)
