Disclaimer:
dracoJAE: i own everything! Every single thing! I own Hermione and Draco and McGonagall...
draco: HEY YOU DON'T! NOBODY CAN EVER OWN ME, i'm too good for anione else anyway.
dracoJAE: FINE!!! ::shakes head at immature draco (tho still luvs him for it!):: i don't own anithing! JKR owns EVERYTHING! hMPF! i only own the plot, that is, if there is one! =)
I Could Die For You
~*~
.(1.detention).
"Last year at Hogwarts," Harry said dolefully, looking up at the bewitched ceiling of the Great Hall as they made their way to the Gryffindor table for dinner. Hermione and Ron exchanged wary glances at this morose statement-- they knew the reason behind Harry's lament, of course, but how could they help him?
"We betta win the House Cup this year, 'Mione, Ron, and the Quidditch Cup's ours, too."
They nodded, silently, as they took places on either side of Harry. "It'll be all right," Hermione soothed, "Everything will turn out fine."
"Yeah, and you know we're just gonna bash Slytherin this year," Ron said thickly, his mouth full of mashed potatoes. "That's a gurrantee. And you'd find a job after Hogwarts, so that you don't need to go back to the Dursleys anymore. Come on, Harry, you could always stay at Hermione's or my house."
"I know," Harry sighed, pushing his piece of apple strudel round and round the plate. "But... it's not really good for me to do that, is it, I can't always depend on you two anyway. And I'd be imposing on you two. Plus your families..."
"Nah you won't, Harry! We welcome you, come on, maybe Ron can even stay over with us for a period of time; god knows he needs some Muggle knowledge, anyway, considering the fact that he wants to work in the Ministry! Hey Ron, that's a perfect plan isn't it?" Hermione exclaimed excitedly-- this arrangement had just occured to her and she was rather proud of herself for having thought of it. "Come on Harry!" she repeated, her food forgotten amidst her excitement. "We could always go work in the Ministry together... Ron... you could be Minister for all I know! And Harry and I can be Aurors..."she continued dreamily, her fork missing the plate and stabbing onto the table with a clang.
"Well that'd be pretty cool I suppose," Harry said, but still a trace of doubt lingered in his voice. "But won't your parents mind?"
"Of course they won't," sniped someone from behind, and they turned together to face a smirking Malfoy. "Granger would only be too pleased to have you and Weasel over at her house, won't you Mudblood?"
"Ignore him," Hermione hissed, putting a restraining hand on Ron's arm. He had turned red, with anger, as was the usual case whenever they came in contact with Malfoy. "He's not worth it." That mantra, too, had been repeated thousands of times.
"So little Mudblood protecting her two bodyguards, eh?" chuckled Malfoy maliciously. "What's up with you two, can't stand up for yourselves?"
Ron looked about to kill-- and as Hermione cast a quick glance in Harry's direction she noticed with a sinking feeling that he looked murderous, too. She didn't want them to fight-- standing up she stared impassively at Malfoy.
"Shut up, ferret, and get a life."
"Oh I have mine, thank you. But do you have one?"
"You--"
With Hermione's grasp on him gone Ron had jumped up and grabbed Malfoy by the front of his robes. "No, Ron!" she shouted, her eyes darting first to Malfoy, then Ron, then to the teachers' table, where Professor McGonagall was looking very severe. "Stop it!" she tried, but the boys had started wrestling and she couldn't get them to stop.
"Now, Mr Malfoy, perhaps you'd like to tell me what happened?"
The two wizards froze at the sound of a professor's voice, then broke out of the headlock they had been engaged in.
"Yes?" Professor McGonagall had crossed her arms and was looking at them patiently.
Ron was looking embarrassed-- usual, again, ever since they had been having numerous fights since their first year and it seemed as though that was the case, too, in their seventh. Malfoy was looking-- well, he wasn't expressing anything at all-- his face was blank and he was just staring nonchalantly at Professor McGonagall.
"Detention, two of you, and Miss Granger, too."
Ron had been ready to accept the fact that he would most likely be forced to scrub the Transfiguration classroom clean without using magic again but his head jerked up at the mention of Hermione's name. "Look, Professor, Hermione didn't do anything wrong!" he protested, and Hermione flashed him a grateful smile.
"She is part of this conflict, too," Professor McGonagall said as a form of explanation. "Now Mr Weasley you can go find Professor Snape after dinner,"--ignoring Ron's groan--" and Mr Malfoy, Miss Granger, be ready at the Transfiguration classroom by nine o'clock. Clear?"
"Crystal," drawled Malfoy, and Hermione narrowed her eyes at him. Stay cool, she chanted under her breath. It wasn't the first time she had to do detention but this time she was determined to steer clear of Malfoy. Merlin knows what might happen if he provoked her!
=*=*=*=*=*=*=
"Without magic, I repeat, without magic." With a last warning glare the Head of Gryffindor left the candle-illuminated classroom.
Hermione sighed. Might as well get to work, she thought, grabbing a rag and soaking it in a pail of soapy water. Long night, man, long night. The Transfiguration classroom was so full of animal cages and all sorts of Transfiguration equipment that it seemed a rather impossible feat to clean them up. And within two hours! Suppressing another sigh she went to the nearest cage and started wiping the metal bars.
"So, Granger, how's your life?" said Malfoy conversationally from the other side of the room, and she tensed.
"Fine," she answered shortly, moving on to another cage.
"Enjoying the company of Pothead and Weasel, eh?"
"Uhhuh," she mumbled as a reply. Stay cool, Hermione reminded herself.
"Dream team," commented Malfoy sarcastically.
Straightening up Hermione looked over at the Slytherin. "Don't you ever get tired of calling us that?" she asked, her voice enquiring. "All these years--- it's been mudblood, potty, weasel. Don't you ever get sick of calling us those names over and over again?"
"Habit," he replied, shrugging, and Hermione couldn't help but roll her eyes.
.*.*.
From his place in the shadows Draco watched the Gryffindor girl warily. She had her not-that-bushy-anymore hair tied up carelessly in a bun and the sleeves of her robes were folded up so as to ensure easier working. Bitterly he remembered what Lucius had told him a week before-- on the night of his first ever Death Eaters' meeting. He wasn't eighteen yet, therefore the incantation rites hadn't been started for him, but he knew he was going to be a very important member in the circle, anyway. Lucius had dropped hints, that Voldemort was looking for someone young, and ambitious, with a thirst for power, and Draco knew he was the best choice-- undoubtedly, since Crabbe and Goyle were basically useless gits.
It had been horrible, the way Lucius had spoken to him. His father was jealous of him, he could tell. Jealous that Draco might very well one day come into more power than him.
"Now, listen here, Draco," his father had hissed. "The Dark Lord has plans. Very important plans. And you are part of it. It involves that Mudblood you are always so petulant about-- Granger, isn't that her name? The Dark Lord wants you to watch over her in Hogwarts-- ensure that she doesn't come into danger. Get that? He'll tell you his purpose in the next meeting."
His tone-- jealousy, mixed with anger. And bitterness. He was pissed, that his son would be better than him.
Draco had nodded, expressionless, as always. It wouldn't be a hard task; Potter and Weasley were always looking out for her anyway. But even though he didn't show it he was excited at the thought of being useful to the Dark Lord. Soon, he thought, Soon I would be his right-hand man, and to hell with Lucius and his foolish friends.
Returning to reality he snapped at Granger impatiently. "Hey, mudblood, why bother with all those ... dittergern stuff? Are you a witch, or not?" Before she could retort he waved his wand and the Transfiguration classroom was sparkling clean.
"But we're not supposed to use magic," Granger protested-- sounding very much like a whiny child he thought disdainfully.
"I don't tell, you don't tell, who will know?" He replied nonchalantly, plopping down onto one of the chairs and propping his legs up on the table.
Granger shook her head-- almost despairingly he noted. "Then what are we going to do now?" she demanded, and Draco had a sudden urge to clamp her mouth shut. "Why, mudblood, stay here until McGonagall comes, of course."
"One and a half more hours with you inside this room?! And nothing to occupy me with?!" she half-shrieked, and Draco laughed out loud. "It's not that bad, come on," he sniggered, and chuckled to himself as Granger flounced to the other end of the room-- as far away from him as possible.
"It's very bad," she sulked, and Draco quirked an eyebrow at her. "Stop being childish," he advised, then looked the other way.
*
Can't stand him, Hermione thought. She was sitting on one of the benches-- stretching her legs out she fiddled with her wand. Wonder what Harry and Ron are doing now? Worryingly she couldn't concentrate on that and instead her thoughts drifted to the blonde-haired Slytherin who was staring off into space at the other side of the classroom. He's still the same as ever, huh, the same irksome ferret who thinks that he's above anyone else. Prat! Swinging her legs off the table she jumped up.
"What are you doing?" Malfoy called, and she shrugged.
Walking around the classroom with her wand providing sufficient light ("Lumos") she peered curiously at the cupboards that stored McGonagall's usual teaching things. In one glass cabinet there was a crystal ball-- which caused Hermione to furrow her brow. Thought McGonagall thinks that divination's crap? Upon studying the object she realised it must be some sort of Transfiguration tool. There was a slight mist swirling in the middle of the sphere, and from time to time it would glow a dark blue. Next to the object there was a placard that read--
"So you're looking at the Turner, eh?"
Hermione turned; gaped at Malfoy. "How do you know it was called that?"
The Slytherin tilted his head. "We've got it at home."
"Oh," said Hermione, turning back she gave the spherical ball another curious glance before giving her attention back to Malfoy. "What does it do?"
*
Draco stopped himself from frowning at Granger's question-- he didn't want to appear rude-- he wanted to be civil, at least, after all if he was his usual self with her who knew what she might do-- cry and run to Pothead and Weasley and then they'd come and curse him and then she would end up getting caught in their usual scuffles and the Dark Lord had said no harm whatsoever. Inhaling a calming breath he walked over to where the mudblood was.
"It was discovered by Professor Alan Turnerson," he explained briskly, wanting to get out of her way as soon as possible. Even the air around her make him feel awful. "Turnerson was a Transfiguration teacher at Hogwarts, too, hundreds of years back. Originally he invented this tool to help his weaker students-- the Turner, when touched and muttered with a spell could open up, release the mist that you see inside there, and give temporary extraodinary powers to the person. Transfiguration would then become very easy, and it helps when one wants to transfer to his or her Animagus form, too."
Without looking once at her he moved away.
"Why did you have it?" Inquisitive as ever, Draco thought, too busybody for her own good.
"We have a lot of things at Malfoy Manor, Miss Granger, which you won't want to know about."
*
Biting her lip Hermione resumed her observations of the equipments that lined the shelves of oak and mahogany cupboards. Must he be so... arrogant, she thought irritably, then caught herself. Come on, girl, at least he had a civil conversation with you.
Civil, yeah, but still calling me mublood huh? another voice retorted in her head-- and she pushed it away. It was a long time before they spoke-- Hermione was busy looking at various things and Malfoy, she supposed, was lost in his own thoughts. Until--
"Hey, Granger, wanna go to the Halloween Ball with me?"
^*^*^*^*^*^
dracoJAE: HEHE!!! i'm sorry, guys, I'M REALLY SORRY FOR NOT UPDATING ANY SOONER! it's juz that i've been more involved in my other hermione/draco fic (If You Come BacK), so i couldn't get myself to continue writing this one. But here it is! First chappie, so not much action yet. But this is an important chap, take not!! Little things, big things, they'll be referred to in the future! -winks- aniwaes here's the replies i owe you guys--
Cindy: That's cuz i din put the stuff in italics muah, hahaha!
siognee: Thanks! here's the next chappie, sorry that it took me so long!
~C Lily~: hehe, do you realli think so? that was moi purpose... :)
Shining-Star: Uhm, hehe, i will when i haf the time!
Kerbi: hey thanksaload for your review!!
Spika: hehe yea draco/hermione rocks!!!!
Shanshine: lol, trying out different writings muah!
arethelia: LingZi! you again! hahahah... thx!!
Aphrienna Alezadi: o they'r in 7th year!!
Draco's Sexy Dulce a.k.a Kaye: my FIRST reviewer! lol! thanks!! =) here's the chappie!!
I'm sorry, guys, really sorry for delaying so long. By the way this is the first time i'm trying to write something DARK so pls help me out by REVIEWING!! lolz. Luv ya all for your support!!!
dracoJAE: i own everything! Every single thing! I own Hermione and Draco and McGonagall...
draco: HEY YOU DON'T! NOBODY CAN EVER OWN ME, i'm too good for anione else anyway.
dracoJAE: FINE!!! ::shakes head at immature draco (tho still luvs him for it!):: i don't own anithing! JKR owns EVERYTHING! hMPF! i only own the plot, that is, if there is one! =)
"Last year at Hogwarts," Harry said dolefully, looking up at the bewitched ceiling of the Great Hall as they made their way to the Gryffindor table for dinner. Hermione and Ron exchanged wary glances at this morose statement-- they knew the reason behind Harry's lament, of course, but how could they help him?
"We betta win the House Cup this year, 'Mione, Ron, and the Quidditch Cup's ours, too."
They nodded, silently, as they took places on either side of Harry. "It'll be all right," Hermione soothed, "Everything will turn out fine."
"Yeah, and you know we're just gonna bash Slytherin this year," Ron said thickly, his mouth full of mashed potatoes. "That's a gurrantee. And you'd find a job after Hogwarts, so that you don't need to go back to the Dursleys anymore. Come on, Harry, you could always stay at Hermione's or my house."
"I know," Harry sighed, pushing his piece of apple strudel round and round the plate. "But... it's not really good for me to do that, is it, I can't always depend on you two anyway. And I'd be imposing on you two. Plus your families..."
"Nah you won't, Harry! We welcome you, come on, maybe Ron can even stay over with us for a period of time; god knows he needs some Muggle knowledge, anyway, considering the fact that he wants to work in the Ministry! Hey Ron, that's a perfect plan isn't it?" Hermione exclaimed excitedly-- this arrangement had just occured to her and she was rather proud of herself for having thought of it. "Come on Harry!" she repeated, her food forgotten amidst her excitement. "We could always go work in the Ministry together... Ron... you could be Minister for all I know! And Harry and I can be Aurors..."she continued dreamily, her fork missing the plate and stabbing onto the table with a clang.
"Well that'd be pretty cool I suppose," Harry said, but still a trace of doubt lingered in his voice. "But won't your parents mind?"
"Of course they won't," sniped someone from behind, and they turned together to face a smirking Malfoy. "Granger would only be too pleased to have you and Weasel over at her house, won't you Mudblood?"
"Ignore him," Hermione hissed, putting a restraining hand on Ron's arm. He had turned red, with anger, as was the usual case whenever they came in contact with Malfoy. "He's not worth it." That mantra, too, had been repeated thousands of times.
"So little Mudblood protecting her two bodyguards, eh?" chuckled Malfoy maliciously. "What's up with you two, can't stand up for yourselves?"
Ron looked about to kill-- and as Hermione cast a quick glance in Harry's direction she noticed with a sinking feeling that he looked murderous, too. She didn't want them to fight-- standing up she stared impassively at Malfoy.
"Shut up, ferret, and get a life."
"Oh I have mine, thank you. But do you have one?"
"You--"
With Hermione's grasp on him gone Ron had jumped up and grabbed Malfoy by the front of his robes. "No, Ron!" she shouted, her eyes darting first to Malfoy, then Ron, then to the teachers' table, where Professor McGonagall was looking very severe. "Stop it!" she tried, but the boys had started wrestling and she couldn't get them to stop.
"Now, Mr Malfoy, perhaps you'd like to tell me what happened?"
The two wizards froze at the sound of a professor's voice, then broke out of the headlock they had been engaged in.
"Yes?" Professor McGonagall had crossed her arms and was looking at them patiently.
Ron was looking embarrassed-- usual, again, ever since they had been having numerous fights since their first year and it seemed as though that was the case, too, in their seventh. Malfoy was looking-- well, he wasn't expressing anything at all-- his face was blank and he was just staring nonchalantly at Professor McGonagall.
"Detention, two of you, and Miss Granger, too."
Ron had been ready to accept the fact that he would most likely be forced to scrub the Transfiguration classroom clean without using magic again but his head jerked up at the mention of Hermione's name. "Look, Professor, Hermione didn't do anything wrong!" he protested, and Hermione flashed him a grateful smile.
"She is part of this conflict, too," Professor McGonagall said as a form of explanation. "Now Mr Weasley you can go find Professor Snape after dinner,"--ignoring Ron's groan--" and Mr Malfoy, Miss Granger, be ready at the Transfiguration classroom by nine o'clock. Clear?"
"Crystal," drawled Malfoy, and Hermione narrowed her eyes at him. Stay cool, she chanted under her breath. It wasn't the first time she had to do detention but this time she was determined to steer clear of Malfoy. Merlin knows what might happen if he provoked her!
"Without magic, I repeat, without magic." With a last warning glare the Head of Gryffindor left the candle-illuminated classroom.
Hermione sighed. Might as well get to work, she thought, grabbing a rag and soaking it in a pail of soapy water. Long night, man, long night. The Transfiguration classroom was so full of animal cages and all sorts of Transfiguration equipment that it seemed a rather impossible feat to clean them up. And within two hours! Suppressing another sigh she went to the nearest cage and started wiping the metal bars.
"So, Granger, how's your life?" said Malfoy conversationally from the other side of the room, and she tensed.
"Fine," she answered shortly, moving on to another cage.
"Enjoying the company of Pothead and Weasel, eh?"
"Uhhuh," she mumbled as a reply. Stay cool, Hermione reminded herself.
"Dream team," commented Malfoy sarcastically.
Straightening up Hermione looked over at the Slytherin. "Don't you ever get tired of calling us that?" she asked, her voice enquiring. "All these years--- it's been mudblood, potty, weasel. Don't you ever get sick of calling us those names over and over again?"
"Habit," he replied, shrugging, and Hermione couldn't help but roll her eyes.
.*.*.
From his place in the shadows Draco watched the Gryffindor girl warily. She had her not-that-bushy-anymore hair tied up carelessly in a bun and the sleeves of her robes were folded up so as to ensure easier working. Bitterly he remembered what Lucius had told him a week before-- on the night of his first ever Death Eaters' meeting. He wasn't eighteen yet, therefore the incantation rites hadn't been started for him, but he knew he was going to be a very important member in the circle, anyway. Lucius had dropped hints, that Voldemort was looking for someone young, and ambitious, with a thirst for power, and Draco knew he was the best choice-- undoubtedly, since Crabbe and Goyle were basically useless gits.
It had been horrible, the way Lucius had spoken to him. His father was jealous of him, he could tell. Jealous that Draco might very well one day come into more power than him.
"Now, listen here, Draco," his father had hissed. "The Dark Lord has plans. Very important plans. And you are part of it. It involves that Mudblood you are always so petulant about-- Granger, isn't that her name? The Dark Lord wants you to watch over her in Hogwarts-- ensure that she doesn't come into danger. Get that? He'll tell you his purpose in the next meeting."
His tone-- jealousy, mixed with anger. And bitterness. He was pissed, that his son would be better than him.
Draco had nodded, expressionless, as always. It wouldn't be a hard task; Potter and Weasley were always looking out for her anyway. But even though he didn't show it he was excited at the thought of being useful to the Dark Lord. Soon, he thought, Soon I would be his right-hand man, and to hell with Lucius and his foolish friends.
Returning to reality he snapped at Granger impatiently. "Hey, mudblood, why bother with all those ... dittergern stuff? Are you a witch, or not?" Before she could retort he waved his wand and the Transfiguration classroom was sparkling clean.
"But we're not supposed to use magic," Granger protested-- sounding very much like a whiny child he thought disdainfully.
"I don't tell, you don't tell, who will know?" He replied nonchalantly, plopping down onto one of the chairs and propping his legs up on the table.
Granger shook her head-- almost despairingly he noted. "Then what are we going to do now?" she demanded, and Draco had a sudden urge to clamp her mouth shut. "Why, mudblood, stay here until McGonagall comes, of course."
"One and a half more hours with you inside this room?! And nothing to occupy me with?!" she half-shrieked, and Draco laughed out loud. "It's not that bad, come on," he sniggered, and chuckled to himself as Granger flounced to the other end of the room-- as far away from him as possible.
"It's very bad," she sulked, and Draco quirked an eyebrow at her. "Stop being childish," he advised, then looked the other way.
*
Can't stand him, Hermione thought. She was sitting on one of the benches-- stretching her legs out she fiddled with her wand. Wonder what Harry and Ron are doing now? Worryingly she couldn't concentrate on that and instead her thoughts drifted to the blonde-haired Slytherin who was staring off into space at the other side of the classroom. He's still the same as ever, huh, the same irksome ferret who thinks that he's above anyone else. Prat! Swinging her legs off the table she jumped up.
"What are you doing?" Malfoy called, and she shrugged.
Walking around the classroom with her wand providing sufficient light ("Lumos") she peered curiously at the cupboards that stored McGonagall's usual teaching things. In one glass cabinet there was a crystal ball-- which caused Hermione to furrow her brow. Thought McGonagall thinks that divination's crap? Upon studying the object she realised it must be some sort of Transfiguration tool. There was a slight mist swirling in the middle of the sphere, and from time to time it would glow a dark blue. Next to the object there was a placard that read--
"So you're looking at the Turner, eh?"
Hermione turned; gaped at Malfoy. "How do you know it was called that?"
The Slytherin tilted his head. "We've got it at home."
"Oh," said Hermione, turning back she gave the spherical ball another curious glance before giving her attention back to Malfoy. "What does it do?"
*
Draco stopped himself from frowning at Granger's question-- he didn't want to appear rude-- he wanted to be civil, at least, after all if he was his usual self with her who knew what she might do-- cry and run to Pothead and Weasley and then they'd come and curse him and then she would end up getting caught in their usual scuffles and the Dark Lord had said no harm whatsoever. Inhaling a calming breath he walked over to where the mudblood was.
"It was discovered by Professor Alan Turnerson," he explained briskly, wanting to get out of her way as soon as possible. Even the air around her make him feel awful. "Turnerson was a Transfiguration teacher at Hogwarts, too, hundreds of years back. Originally he invented this tool to help his weaker students-- the Turner, when touched and muttered with a spell could open up, release the mist that you see inside there, and give temporary extraodinary powers to the person. Transfiguration would then become very easy, and it helps when one wants to transfer to his or her Animagus form, too."
Without looking once at her he moved away.
"Why did you have it?" Inquisitive as ever, Draco thought, too busybody for her own good.
"We have a lot of things at Malfoy Manor, Miss Granger, which you won't want to know about."
*
Biting her lip Hermione resumed her observations of the equipments that lined the shelves of oak and mahogany cupboards. Must he be so... arrogant, she thought irritably, then caught herself. Come on, girl, at least he had a civil conversation with you.
Civil, yeah, but still calling me mublood huh? another voice retorted in her head-- and she pushed it away. It was a long time before they spoke-- Hermione was busy looking at various things and Malfoy, she supposed, was lost in his own thoughts. Until--
"Hey, Granger, wanna go to the Halloween Ball with me?"
^*^*^*^*^*^
dracoJAE: HEHE!!! i'm sorry, guys, I'M REALLY SORRY FOR NOT UPDATING ANY SOONER! it's juz that i've been more involved in my other hermione/draco fic (If You Come BacK), so i couldn't get myself to continue writing this one. But here it is! First chappie, so not much action yet. But this is an important chap, take not!! Little things, big things, they'll be referred to in the future! -winks- aniwaes here's the replies i owe you guys--
Cindy: That's cuz i din put the stuff in italics muah, hahaha!
siognee: Thanks! here's the next chappie, sorry that it took me so long!
~C Lily~: hehe, do you realli think so? that was moi purpose... :)
Shining-Star: Uhm, hehe, i will when i haf the time!
Kerbi: hey thanksaload for your review!!
Spika: hehe yea draco/hermione rocks!!!!
Shanshine: lol, trying out different writings muah!
arethelia: LingZi! you again! hahahah... thx!!
Aphrienna Alezadi: o they'r in 7th year!!
Draco's Sexy Dulce a.k.a Kaye: my FIRST reviewer! lol! thanks!! =) here's the chappie!!
I'm sorry, guys, really sorry for delaying so long. By the way this is the first time i'm trying to write something DARK so pls help me out by REVIEWING!! lolz. Luv ya all for your support!!!
