An: Okay people I'm not going to have to threaten not to post chapters if you don't review, am I? I don't want to do that. However I would love to thank all of you who have taken the time to have to read and certainly those who have reviewed.
*Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, Draco Malfoy, Hermione Granger, Ron and Ginny Weasley or any of the other character mentioned in the book. (It's a pity isn't it?)*
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Falling Head Over Heels
The Story of Hermione Granger and
Her relationship with Draco Malfoy
By: Befuzzled Chapter Fourteen ~ Dumbledore's Announcement "If you want me to wait I will wait for youIf you tell me to stay I would stay right through
If you don't want to say anything at all
I'm happy wondering
Now my life is changing, always rearranging
Always getting stranger then I ever thought it could
Ever since I found you I wanna be around you."
~Good Charlotte
For the next week Hermione made an extra effort to keep the conversations between herself and Paul and Draco equally casual. It was difficult as the two often commented on her beauty or her intelligence making her a constant crimson color. She pleaded for them to stop but it never worked; they rattled off her compliments in the middle of sentences about potions or Quidditch just to see the color deepen in her cheeks and to see her try to shrug out of sight. It soon became a joke and others around them joined in, especially Seamus and Dean (who had become the temporary replacement noise makers to make up for the absence of Fred and George.)
It was even more awkward when Draco would step over to the Gryffindor table while she was in the middle of a conversation with Paul. She would be blushing from a simple flattering remark and then she would see Paul's warm smile contort into a sneering glare. She would pale, the fresh crimson color draining from her face as she turning to give pleasantries to Draco.
She tried to keep the secrecy of her new friends way from the other. It was a difficult task: Hermione enjoyed the challenge. "Oh it's a Gryffindor thing" or "Just some prefect things". Even Harry, Ron, and Ginny were left outside of Hermione's own little loop. They didn't really seem to notice thought. They just assumed that the strange behavior was due to all the stress of being a Prefect and now having Paul Gold, Gryffindor chaser, admire her every motion.
Hermione took it all in stride. She had canceled the rest of the flying lessons, they were taking up so much time, and she was seeing Draco at all the Prefect meetings so they weren't necessary to have their relationship; whatever it was becoming. He looked a little let down at first but then realized he could make up reasons to have to see her. 'Prefect duties' was all he had to say to get her to follow him. Half the time it was actually to tell her an announcement, but none that couldn't have been said in front of everyone. He just used it to steal her away from the tight-knit group of Gryffindors.
The puzzle all fit together nicely. Each piece oblivious to the pieces outside it's neighboring piece.
~*~
A week after Paul's confession, Dumbledore stopped the chatter at dinner to make a couple of announcements.
"Thank you students. I just have a couple of announcements before I let you get back to your important chatter." He gave a knowing smile and his eyes twinkled like distant starlight. "First, the next Hogsmeade of the year is coming up this weekend for all third years and up, with permission." He glanced at Harry while saying this remembering three years ago when the young Mister Potter had his own methods of going to the magical village. "You can leave as early as 8 but be back by 7:30 if you are planning to catch a delightful dinner here."
A burst of chatter rose in the room at his last sentence. That was longer than they had ever had before. A fourth year Ravenclaw called out, "What if we don't want dinner, sir?"
"Ahh, then I suggest you be back here, promptly at," a pregnant pause followed as he pretended to contemplate the issue. "Promptly at 7:30."
Students laughed and moaned, relieving their humor and disappointment all at once. He waited for them to simmer down before continuing on with his list of event.
"Secondly, there will be another ball coming up. During Christmas break, I'll have to ask the Prefects to meet me after dinner so I may give them the details and the information so they began to plan it." He somehow managed to spy all four nodding, accepting their duty.
"So now that I have spoken all I can for one night, please enjoy dessert."
The hall slowly filtered out for the next hour until it was just Terry, Hannah, Draco, and Hermione left sitting at their individual tables. Dumbledore and McGonagall motioned for the Hufflepuff and Slytherin to meet them in the isle between the Gryffindor and Ravenclaw benches.
"I'm so exciting, Headmaster. I can't wait for another ball." Hannah nervously anxious sat down next to Hermione. "I wonder who will take me?" She grabbed Hermione's hands and rung them in her anxiety. Only Hermione (and most likely Dumbledore) noticed the quick second glances she threw at Terry Boot.
"Yes, I am too, Hannah." Hermione didn't sound nearly as excited as the other girl. This is when thing were really going to start getting complicated. She was leading on two guys as her friends and she knew both were going to ask her, maybe, and she had already told Paul she was going to take him to the next dance. ~Oh Hermione, you've really gotten yourself into a bind this time~ She avoided looking at Draco the entire meeting.
"So Professors, what kind of ball or dance is this going to be? Are we actually going to pick our dates this time?" Draco questioned, unofficially starting the meeting.
"This Mister Malfoy will be our version of the Yule ball. You all remember that from the TriWizard Tournament? Except this time, we won't be trying to tighten the bonds of the different schools. It won't even be about trying to unite the houses. We just want to deepen the bonds of friendship." He looked back and forth between the Slytherin and Gryffindor.
"Oh that sounds lovely, Professor," Hermione spoke coming out of a reverie of the Yule Ball, remembering the shocked faces of all her friends and acquaintances. "So where do we come in? I mean it sounds like you have everything planned out."
"You can't very well have a dance without any music. And what kind of party would it be without refreshments and food? Not to mention, clothes. Do you expect the students to show up in their school robes?"
Hermione blushed. She hadn't really thought about that before. Every other dance had been planned for her, even the Halloween Masquerade Ball. It had only been their idea. They hadn't really done anything to make it happen. Hermione decided just to keep her mouth shut for the rest of the conference.
"So what do you suggest we do, Sir?"
"Well I just want you to organize some music, Muggle and Wizard, the dress attire, and contact the house elves to tell them what type of food you would like. Fred and George Weasley are no longer here so we don't have to worry about Canary Creams transforming the students."
Hermione giggle. Apparently she was the only one who knew what the Headmaster was talking about. Surprisingly, the first successful creation of Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes hadn't spread through the school like a wildfire.
"It's your job to determine how you want to split up the work. We decided to give you all your own common room to work in without disruption. You will still sleep in your dorms. Minerva, would you please escort them to their new common room?"
"Of course Albus."
They quietly talked in astounded chatter as they were led to the third floor corridor. The approached a trap door in the floor. Hermione stopped dead in her tracks, the many memories flashed through her head remembering their first year. Ron sacrificing himself in the chess game; the giant mountain troll knocked unconscious; the mad winged keys; the riddle of death, progress, and wine bottles.
"Hermione?"
"Miss Granger?"
"Huh? What? I'm sorry, did you say something?" Draco's hands were on her shoulders; he had a perplexed expression on his face, begging her to tell him she was okay. She feigned a smile and acted curious to what was going on.
"As I was saying, this trap door will the entrance to your common room. Don't worry about climbing down or up or down ladders. ("Whew") Once you say the password you will be transported to a landing spot in the common room. I suggest keeping this spot clear; we don't want any unnecessary accidents. The password right now is 'Shrug'. It was the first word we could come up with incorporating the first letters of your houses. Well here you go, I'll let you settle in and get comfortable.
They all stood together on the trap door and looked at each other questioningly. Draco shrugged and said the password. They all appeared about 25 feet underneath the trap door. They all mumbled about how easy that was, then the looked around. They were stunned into utter silence. One would have thought they were put under the 'Petrificus Totalus' curse.
The room was amazing. It had high faulted ceilings, a spacious room (maybe 50 feet by 40 feet). Scattered around in the many architectural features (jutted walls, coves, rounded joints, window seats, shelving, and two levels) were the earth tones of each of their houses. The walls were painted a sage green with deep yellow faux finishes. Crimson and indigo couches were placed around the fire. A set of over sized chairs (sage, goldenrod, crimson, and indigo) was situated on the second bi-level of the room around a globular glass table. Each had an embroidered blanket on it. The room was also equipped with a sparkling pearl white bathroom with onyx tiles and counter tops.
Off to the side in a sunken back portion of the wall was a set of wizarding games: chess, exploding snaps, etc.. In another corner was a collection of music from both worlds. Placed on the window seats were an assortment of fashion catalogues containing dress robes and muggle formals.
Desks were placed asymmetrically along one wall. Each contained a notebook of parchment with the inscription of the specified owner written cleanly and perfectly on the front. Matching lamps were set there as well conforming to their house colors.
They began drifting around the room looking at each thing as if each were Alice exploring her wonderland. Hermione pulled open a beautiful pair of French door leading out on to their own personal balcony. Stone benches were placed neatly around.
Hermione sat down on one looking out of the ground of Hogwarts. She could easily view the Quidditch pitch, Hagrid's hut, and parts of the Forbidden forest. It was just beautiful. Hermione was feeling chilled but was not yet ready to relinquish the view to her memory.
She felt a warm cloth draped over her shoulders and strong hands rub the warmth onto her skin. Draco hugged her from behind. "Beautiful isn't it?" she asked.
"No." She turned her head to question him. "Not compared to you." She face immediately brought upon a nice contrast to the Slytherin blanket around her.
His kissed her cheek, for a brief second. Hermione felt a wave a guilt rush over her. She couldn't keep this a secret much longer. It was going to get too problematic. She stood to face him. "Shall we head back inside? Our housemates might wonder what's keeping us. Oh yeah Draco I still have your cloak."
"Keep it. I don't want to hear it." Hermione mouth shut immediately.
They walked back inside. "It's so magnificent."
'Yeah," Terry commented, "but does anyone remember McGonagall mentioning how we get out of here?"
The all looked at each other and then shook their heads. As if on cue, a small scrap of parchment appeared on the glass table by the chairs.
Draco, Hermione, Hannah, and Terry
To leave the room you can either escape through the portrait of the founders back to your own dorm rooms. (Each founder lead to his or her own house) Or you can stand under the trap door and say the password backwards.
Dumbledore
"Oh well I guess that helps." Draco began to walk over to the picture of Slytherin. 'Well I guess I'll see you all tomorrow and we can start getting the details organized. Bye for now."
"That goes for me too," said Hermione leaving through the frame of Gryffindor.
