Ha ha ha. This chapter is dedicated to the REAL Maureen! Go, girl, go!
That school day had been dreadful. Some horrible 'Muggle-tramps' as Draco had called them had stuck gum in Hermione's hair. Now, she had to cut it to her shoulders. She looked positively awful. On the way home of the first day, she walked to the bus stop with Anna and Maureen.
"It's not that bad. I've had bad luck all my life." Maureen said, and then named a few of her experiences.
"I look horrendous. I hate this school." Hermione shed a tear.
"Oh, its okay Hermione! Don't worry, tomorrow will be a lot better." Anna mumbled under her breath, "I hope."
The bus ride there was atrocious too. Draco teased her all the way back to the Manor about the gum.
"Figures. Lemme guess Draco, you're going to join the football team, get a cheerleader girlfriend, and instantly be popular?" Hermione asked.
"Of course. With my dashing looks, who could say no?" Draco batted his eyelids.
"You freak. Always get everything you want." Hermione sighed, rolled her eyes, and started on Geometry homework.
"I hate this. You want to see the gardens?" The gardens were the only part of the Manor Hermione hadn't seen yet.
"Sure. Better then figuring out the measurement of angle blah." Hermione closed her book happily and followed Draco. She wasn't one to give up on her homework, but she really wanted to see the gardens.
The gardens were gorgeous, as was the Manor itself. There was a labyrinth of roses, and many other beautiful smelling plants.
"This-is. Wonderful!" Hermione ran around freely, feeling like a child.
"Yeah. I like it too. My grandmother originally planted all these flowers from seeds." Draco stated. He never talked about her before.
"Really? Looks like a lot of work!" Hermione stood on her tiptoes to look over a lilac bush, but couldn't. Draco easily could see over the bush.
"Need help? Even though I'll need hand sanitizer after this." Draco mumbled, and grabbed Hermione by the waist and lifted her with ease over the lilac bushes. There were fields of berries, and even more flowers. It was truly wonderful.
"Thank you, Malfoy." Hermione smirked when she was let down on a garden bench.
"It's worth it. Even though I have Mudblood germs on me now. I better take a shower."
"No way!" Hermione stood in front of him, "I get to take one first! I'm the lady!"
"You'll use all the hot water. I might as well take a bath in the Lake at Hogwarts."
"Too bad." Hermione trotted in front of him to test out the many shampoos on the wall. Hermione picked up a green bottle of shampoo. The label was getting faded from many uses. 'This must be Draco's.' Hermione observed the moving picture of a snake on the front. She read the label, I Herbal Essence /I. 'What a cheesy name.' Hermione observed the others, then picked up a bright pink bottle, reading I Tropical Princess /I All of the names were incredibly cheesy, so she just went with that one. Hermione had just wrapped a towel around herself, when Draco came in. He started taking off his clothes, not aware that Hermione was standing right behind him. Luckily, he hadn't gotten very far when he realized the toweled Hermione was behind him.
"Some people can bring their clothes into the bathroom before they take their shower." Draco said, throwing his pile of new clothes on the floor. "And also, some people shower in private." He shooed Hermione away, and she dripped cold water on the cobblestone floor. Her hair was soaking wet.
"Draco! I need a hair dryer, you git!" She kicked the door with her foot, and she fell. "Open this door right now!"
"I'm taking a shower!" Draco said, muffled by the shower.
"Come on out here, Herb Boy, I want a hair dryer!!!"
"Fine. Be that way." Draco got out, and dried himself off partially. The air reeked of herbs from where Hermione was standing. "Here you go." Draco slipped his hand through the door and gave her the hairdryer.
"Finally." Hermione stomped off, but then realized something. Her clothes were in the bathroom! "Draco!!! Get out! I want my clothes!" Her lavender top, and capris were lying on the floor. Along with her underwear.
Peachy.
Just Peachy.
It would've been okay if she were with Harry.
But, oh no.
Oh no.
She was with the Amazing Bouncing Ferret. The Horrible. The git. Stupid Draco. Stupid, stupid Draco.
"Ferret boy! Give me my clothes. Now! Before I do something horrible!" Hermione banged on the door with her head.
"Granger! Wait a while okay!" Draco opened the door with his foot, and handed her all of her clothes. Okay, well he didn't hand them to her. More like a throw. Unfortunately, Hermione missed and they landed on the floor. "I don't enjoy handling girls clothing. Take it and leave okay?" Draco shut the door and resumed singing while combing back his hair.
Hermione was happy, but the next day at school, she would feel a different emotion.
"Hermione! Your hair looks great!" Maureen said carrying her books in one hand.
"Yeah. I like that style a lot better anyway." Anna said grabbing 3 pieces of cake for them all during lunch. "Here you go." Anna dished out the cake.
"Thanks." Hermione poked her cake with her fork. She didn't feel like eating.
"Hermione. What's wrong?" Maureen asked while consuming her cake.
"Its. Draco." Hermione sighed while Maureen and Anna giggled.
"What about him?" Anna asked.
"It's just. I don't know what to think about him." Hermione threw away her uneaten cake. "He's nice to me sometimes. Just not all the time, you know."
"I could've eaten that cake." Maureen mumbled, "But I've been through the same thing you know. Just that Draco is so much cuter!" They all giggled and laughed at Draco's direction, he was eying a football tryouts sign.
At the tryouts that day, Draco was dreadful. He could hardly kick a football, but he could throw it. He easily preferred Quidditch, but this would have to do. 'Muggle Sports. How sad.' He thought.
The way home, Hermione thought it was her turn to do some teasing. "At least I have some friends." Hermione laughed, "I guess Ferret Boy scared them away with his Herbal Hair!" Hermione glared angrily, as if taking revenge for all those times. "Herb Boy, do you really think you could make it on the football team? My Mom could do a better job than you! And she's never played before!" Hermione felt satisfied.
"Shut it, at least I don't get gum in my hair."
"That wasn't purposeful!" Hermione sneered and felt her shorter hair. The popular group all laughed.
"Yes, but I still laugh at you anyway!" Draco pointed and laughed, Hermione sighed and looked at the ground. The bus stopped, Hermione and Draco walked along the gravelly path to the Manor when a gigantic black owl flew towards them.
"Oof!" Hermione said, flaring her arms. A hefty black owl struck the back of her head. "Ouch. Stupid owl." Hermione plucked the letter out of the owl's talons. It cooed at her and flew away.
It read,
Draco and Hermione Pathway to Malfoy Manor
Draco opened it this time, and read aloud,
I Hermione and Draco,
You've done well so far, but a new challenge waits for you. Please go up to the 24th floor of the Toucan Cracker Co. and you will find it. Take Care. /I
"Toucan Cracker Co.? I love their cracke-I mean the crackers must be for birds!" Draco shifted uncomfortably.
"Yeah. So do I-er-yeah I guess the birds like them." Hermione said, "We better get there!" Hermione ran off, book bag bouncing with her strides. They then slowed to a jog, and as they passed a preschool, Hermione asked, "What preschool did you go to Draco?"
"Erm. Jelly Bear Kids." Draco laughed at the fond memories.
"Oh." Hermione shuddered, "I went there too." They stopped jogging.
"Squirrel?" Draco asked, referring to his childhood playmate.
"Flying Fish?" Hermione jumped up and giggled. "Oh! I thought I'd never find Squirrel again. Erm. Oh that's nice." Hermione started walking again. She knew there was always something familiar about Draco. Ah well.
"Here we are." Draco pointed to the tall, yellow building with a giant toucan eating a cracker on the top.
"What a funny place!" Hermione laughed and rushed into the revolving door. She entered an unoccupied elevator, and danced around.
2nd floor.
7th floor.
13th floor.
Click.
Darkness.
The elevator stopped dead in its tracks, the music stopped, and the lights turned off.
"Meh." Hermione let out a faint whisper. Now Draco would know about her fear of the dark. She shuddered and slumped in the corner.
"Here. Maybe the fire department will come." Draco pressed the red fireman button on the wall.
Silence.
"Okay maybe not." Draco said, and sat down next to the close-to-sobbing Hermione.
Hermione gasped, trying to keep the scream in. If Draco knew, he would taunt her the rest of her life, then tell every one at Hogwarts, and her life would be ruined.
"Granger?" Draco said, as Hermione let out a wail.
"WHAT? GET AWAY FROM ME YOU CREEP!" Hermione said in between sobs as he laid his hand on her shoulder.
"What is wrong with you?" Draco said, backing away from her.
"I'm. I'm. I'm afraid of the dark okay!" Hermione sniffled, and laid her head on her knees.
"Granger! What a stupid thing to be afraid about! Now we are stuck here!!!" Draco rammed his foot into the wall of the elevator.
"MALFOY! This isn't going to be solved by breaking things! See, there!" Hermione pointed to a tall door on the top of the elevator. "It's my size! I'm supposed to go through!" Hermione laughed triumphantly as she figured out Dumbledoor puzzle.
Back at Hogwarts, Dumbledoor, Snape, and Professor McGonagal stood by the head masters crystal ball. It showed Hermione and Draco in the elevator shaft, and with Hermione crying. In a thin, silver frame, Ron and Pansy were at a local pool. In the last, a thick golden one, Harry stood with Tabitha by a lake, picking daises.
"Interesting." Dumbledoor said, eyeing the bronze frame of Draco and Hermione.
"Why Idid/I they get paired up together anyway?" Snape asked, disgusted.
"It was meant to be." Dumbledoor laughed, and stroked Fawkes as he became a baby bird again.
"What?" Snape asked, "But. They hate each other!"
"I'd prefer to watch this alone." Dumbledoor stated, as his office door swung open for them. Then, as the teachers left, Dumbledoor chuckled to himself, and watched the elevator some more.
Creak.
The elevator began to slowly descend, then faster and faster. They plunged into the shaft.
"Draco!" Hermione was crying, sobbing endlessly.
"Granger, if we don't make it through this, I'd just like to tell you."
Dumbledoor edged up on his chair. Then gasped at what he had heard.
~*~ Sorry everyone for a cliff in which you must hang. But I promise to update when I do!!!
Luv to reviewers. And you who are reading this,
Jijokii ~*~
That school day had been dreadful. Some horrible 'Muggle-tramps' as Draco had called them had stuck gum in Hermione's hair. Now, she had to cut it to her shoulders. She looked positively awful. On the way home of the first day, she walked to the bus stop with Anna and Maureen.
"It's not that bad. I've had bad luck all my life." Maureen said, and then named a few of her experiences.
"I look horrendous. I hate this school." Hermione shed a tear.
"Oh, its okay Hermione! Don't worry, tomorrow will be a lot better." Anna mumbled under her breath, "I hope."
The bus ride there was atrocious too. Draco teased her all the way back to the Manor about the gum.
"Figures. Lemme guess Draco, you're going to join the football team, get a cheerleader girlfriend, and instantly be popular?" Hermione asked.
"Of course. With my dashing looks, who could say no?" Draco batted his eyelids.
"You freak. Always get everything you want." Hermione sighed, rolled her eyes, and started on Geometry homework.
"I hate this. You want to see the gardens?" The gardens were the only part of the Manor Hermione hadn't seen yet.
"Sure. Better then figuring out the measurement of angle blah." Hermione closed her book happily and followed Draco. She wasn't one to give up on her homework, but she really wanted to see the gardens.
The gardens were gorgeous, as was the Manor itself. There was a labyrinth of roses, and many other beautiful smelling plants.
"This-is. Wonderful!" Hermione ran around freely, feeling like a child.
"Yeah. I like it too. My grandmother originally planted all these flowers from seeds." Draco stated. He never talked about her before.
"Really? Looks like a lot of work!" Hermione stood on her tiptoes to look over a lilac bush, but couldn't. Draco easily could see over the bush.
"Need help? Even though I'll need hand sanitizer after this." Draco mumbled, and grabbed Hermione by the waist and lifted her with ease over the lilac bushes. There were fields of berries, and even more flowers. It was truly wonderful.
"Thank you, Malfoy." Hermione smirked when she was let down on a garden bench.
"It's worth it. Even though I have Mudblood germs on me now. I better take a shower."
"No way!" Hermione stood in front of him, "I get to take one first! I'm the lady!"
"You'll use all the hot water. I might as well take a bath in the Lake at Hogwarts."
"Too bad." Hermione trotted in front of him to test out the many shampoos on the wall. Hermione picked up a green bottle of shampoo. The label was getting faded from many uses. 'This must be Draco's.' Hermione observed the moving picture of a snake on the front. She read the label, I Herbal Essence /I. 'What a cheesy name.' Hermione observed the others, then picked up a bright pink bottle, reading I Tropical Princess /I All of the names were incredibly cheesy, so she just went with that one. Hermione had just wrapped a towel around herself, when Draco came in. He started taking off his clothes, not aware that Hermione was standing right behind him. Luckily, he hadn't gotten very far when he realized the toweled Hermione was behind him.
"Some people can bring their clothes into the bathroom before they take their shower." Draco said, throwing his pile of new clothes on the floor. "And also, some people shower in private." He shooed Hermione away, and she dripped cold water on the cobblestone floor. Her hair was soaking wet.
"Draco! I need a hair dryer, you git!" She kicked the door with her foot, and she fell. "Open this door right now!"
"I'm taking a shower!" Draco said, muffled by the shower.
"Come on out here, Herb Boy, I want a hair dryer!!!"
"Fine. Be that way." Draco got out, and dried himself off partially. The air reeked of herbs from where Hermione was standing. "Here you go." Draco slipped his hand through the door and gave her the hairdryer.
"Finally." Hermione stomped off, but then realized something. Her clothes were in the bathroom! "Draco!!! Get out! I want my clothes!" Her lavender top, and capris were lying on the floor. Along with her underwear.
Peachy.
Just Peachy.
It would've been okay if she were with Harry.
But, oh no.
Oh no.
She was with the Amazing Bouncing Ferret. The Horrible. The git. Stupid Draco. Stupid, stupid Draco.
"Ferret boy! Give me my clothes. Now! Before I do something horrible!" Hermione banged on the door with her head.
"Granger! Wait a while okay!" Draco opened the door with his foot, and handed her all of her clothes. Okay, well he didn't hand them to her. More like a throw. Unfortunately, Hermione missed and they landed on the floor. "I don't enjoy handling girls clothing. Take it and leave okay?" Draco shut the door and resumed singing while combing back his hair.
Hermione was happy, but the next day at school, she would feel a different emotion.
"Hermione! Your hair looks great!" Maureen said carrying her books in one hand.
"Yeah. I like that style a lot better anyway." Anna said grabbing 3 pieces of cake for them all during lunch. "Here you go." Anna dished out the cake.
"Thanks." Hermione poked her cake with her fork. She didn't feel like eating.
"Hermione. What's wrong?" Maureen asked while consuming her cake.
"Its. Draco." Hermione sighed while Maureen and Anna giggled.
"What about him?" Anna asked.
"It's just. I don't know what to think about him." Hermione threw away her uneaten cake. "He's nice to me sometimes. Just not all the time, you know."
"I could've eaten that cake." Maureen mumbled, "But I've been through the same thing you know. Just that Draco is so much cuter!" They all giggled and laughed at Draco's direction, he was eying a football tryouts sign.
At the tryouts that day, Draco was dreadful. He could hardly kick a football, but he could throw it. He easily preferred Quidditch, but this would have to do. 'Muggle Sports. How sad.' He thought.
The way home, Hermione thought it was her turn to do some teasing. "At least I have some friends." Hermione laughed, "I guess Ferret Boy scared them away with his Herbal Hair!" Hermione glared angrily, as if taking revenge for all those times. "Herb Boy, do you really think you could make it on the football team? My Mom could do a better job than you! And she's never played before!" Hermione felt satisfied.
"Shut it, at least I don't get gum in my hair."
"That wasn't purposeful!" Hermione sneered and felt her shorter hair. The popular group all laughed.
"Yes, but I still laugh at you anyway!" Draco pointed and laughed, Hermione sighed and looked at the ground. The bus stopped, Hermione and Draco walked along the gravelly path to the Manor when a gigantic black owl flew towards them.
"Oof!" Hermione said, flaring her arms. A hefty black owl struck the back of her head. "Ouch. Stupid owl." Hermione plucked the letter out of the owl's talons. It cooed at her and flew away.
It read,
Draco and Hermione Pathway to Malfoy Manor
Draco opened it this time, and read aloud,
I Hermione and Draco,
You've done well so far, but a new challenge waits for you. Please go up to the 24th floor of the Toucan Cracker Co. and you will find it. Take Care. /I
"Toucan Cracker Co.? I love their cracke-I mean the crackers must be for birds!" Draco shifted uncomfortably.
"Yeah. So do I-er-yeah I guess the birds like them." Hermione said, "We better get there!" Hermione ran off, book bag bouncing with her strides. They then slowed to a jog, and as they passed a preschool, Hermione asked, "What preschool did you go to Draco?"
"Erm. Jelly Bear Kids." Draco laughed at the fond memories.
"Oh." Hermione shuddered, "I went there too." They stopped jogging.
"Squirrel?" Draco asked, referring to his childhood playmate.
"Flying Fish?" Hermione jumped up and giggled. "Oh! I thought I'd never find Squirrel again. Erm. Oh that's nice." Hermione started walking again. She knew there was always something familiar about Draco. Ah well.
"Here we are." Draco pointed to the tall, yellow building with a giant toucan eating a cracker on the top.
"What a funny place!" Hermione laughed and rushed into the revolving door. She entered an unoccupied elevator, and danced around.
2nd floor.
7th floor.
13th floor.
Click.
Darkness.
The elevator stopped dead in its tracks, the music stopped, and the lights turned off.
"Meh." Hermione let out a faint whisper. Now Draco would know about her fear of the dark. She shuddered and slumped in the corner.
"Here. Maybe the fire department will come." Draco pressed the red fireman button on the wall.
Silence.
"Okay maybe not." Draco said, and sat down next to the close-to-sobbing Hermione.
Hermione gasped, trying to keep the scream in. If Draco knew, he would taunt her the rest of her life, then tell every one at Hogwarts, and her life would be ruined.
"Granger?" Draco said, as Hermione let out a wail.
"WHAT? GET AWAY FROM ME YOU CREEP!" Hermione said in between sobs as he laid his hand on her shoulder.
"What is wrong with you?" Draco said, backing away from her.
"I'm. I'm. I'm afraid of the dark okay!" Hermione sniffled, and laid her head on her knees.
"Granger! What a stupid thing to be afraid about! Now we are stuck here!!!" Draco rammed his foot into the wall of the elevator.
"MALFOY! This isn't going to be solved by breaking things! See, there!" Hermione pointed to a tall door on the top of the elevator. "It's my size! I'm supposed to go through!" Hermione laughed triumphantly as she figured out Dumbledoor puzzle.
Back at Hogwarts, Dumbledoor, Snape, and Professor McGonagal stood by the head masters crystal ball. It showed Hermione and Draco in the elevator shaft, and with Hermione crying. In a thin, silver frame, Ron and Pansy were at a local pool. In the last, a thick golden one, Harry stood with Tabitha by a lake, picking daises.
"Interesting." Dumbledoor said, eyeing the bronze frame of Draco and Hermione.
"Why Idid/I they get paired up together anyway?" Snape asked, disgusted.
"It was meant to be." Dumbledoor laughed, and stroked Fawkes as he became a baby bird again.
"What?" Snape asked, "But. They hate each other!"
"I'd prefer to watch this alone." Dumbledoor stated, as his office door swung open for them. Then, as the teachers left, Dumbledoor chuckled to himself, and watched the elevator some more.
Creak.
The elevator began to slowly descend, then faster and faster. They plunged into the shaft.
"Draco!" Hermione was crying, sobbing endlessly.
"Granger, if we don't make it through this, I'd just like to tell you."
Dumbledoor edged up on his chair. Then gasped at what he had heard.
~*~ Sorry everyone for a cliff in which you must hang. But I promise to update when I do!!!
Luv to reviewers. And you who are reading this,
Jijokii ~*~