Disclaimer: Harry Potter is property of JK Rowling! I'm sure everybody is aware of this by now. : )
Spoilers/Warnings: All FIVE books! I'm not sure if anything is given away in this chapter, but please do not read as a precaution! AND there's some swearing, too. : )
The Secret Keeperby phantasm
Chapter Five: The Alliance
"Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned, Nor hell a fury like a woman scorned." -William Congreve, "The Mourning Bride"
***
Hermione gave the wall a frustrated, furious punch and instantly regretted it. She recoiled her fist, clutching her knuckles that were now flushed with a blotchy crimson, gritting her teeth against the pain. Having done that, Hermione couldn't quite understand why actors did this pointless, painful act in Muggle cinemas- she didn't feel a single bit better- but a whole lot worse, instead.
She was angry, of course.
When had she not been angry during her stay in this damnable manor, the sight of which had not quite yet ceased to disgust her? Where were the dim ebony walls that oozed with flowing shadows, and a frigid draft whipping around her the way she had imagined in her dreams? She would rather reel back in horrified disgust, surrounded by unmentionable dark items, than stand slack-jawed at its undeniable, overpowering magnificence- as she had been doing.
So, yes, she was still angry at her two best friends (for not even a feather from either of their owls had been spotted)-
But she was more angry at herself. For eating his food. For accepting a room in his home. For not being able to find any fault in him.
She blindly felt along the sides of the door frame, running her fingers across the smooth sculpted gold in the darkness, searching for the light switch ('Damn wand was still probably on the floor at her house where I dropped it,' she grumbled). Feeling a protrusion beneath her grimy fingernails, she gave it a small flick, and a shower of light immediately swept over the room.
And the whole of her bitterness and anger she had been feeling seconds before was stripped away so that only the speech-stopping awe could remain once more.
This room seemed the only escape from the shining gold and shadowy marble that swallowed the manor- it was filled with the brilliant sheen of pearl and the fire of a million sun-touched opals. Her bed, it seemed, was made entirely of carved ice- until on closer inspection, under her examining hands, it was all crystal-cut glass. But then again- so was everything else in the room- from the illuminated crystals dangling delicately from the ornate chandelier hanging over her head and the carved dresser top. She was surrounded by the glow of pearl, the burning of jewels, and the clarity of glass.
The bedroom itself was easily larger than any room in her own home (which was quite large to Muggle standards, though shamefully small when compared to the manor). Three gilded doorways led out, one to the hallway, she already knew- but the others?
Crossing the carpet, which was as feathery soft beneath her roughened feet, she passed through the first connecting doorway and switched on the light. It was the bathroom, as Draco had directed her before, another spectacle of pearl. Catching sight of the enormous bath, she ripped off the filthy, dirt-ridden remains of her clothes that she had been wearing since her abduction, twisted on the scented water, and threw herself inside.
After soaking in the raspberry-scented, bubble-saturated water for a full hour, she emerged from the bathroom feeling squeakily clean and wrapped snugly inside a terry bathrobe. And certainly in better spirits.
Now the problem of finding something to wear. She mumbled some obscenities as she made her way over to the wardrobe, hoping desperately that there would be something inside (she didn't quite enjoy the possibility of fitting back into her rags), when she heard a primal, pain-filled shriek from the hallway.
"But you can't possibly- No you cant… Why… you…"
And then a vicious crack. Another shriek filled the air, and a ripping sound vibrated horrendously in her ears.
Rushing to the door, she flung it wide open expecting the worst-
To reveal a scarlet-faced Blaise Zambini beside five, vicious slashes into the corridor's creamy wallpaper. One look at her bleeding, razored red fingernails could explain why.
Malfoy stood calmly in front of her, arms crossed, almost as if he had expected this drama to occur.
"Your belongings have been moved into your primary room on the second floor," he explained slowly, and tersely, as one would to a misbehaving child. "Miss Granger is to be staying in this room for the time being-"
"Miss Granger," she spat vehemently, "Since when have you called Mudblood that?"
"Blaise, you have several rooms to yourself in the manor," he began, ignoring her question. "I'm sure you'll make do with one less-"
"But it's been mine every visit for years! And no Mudblood will be dirtying my sheets-"
"This is my manor," he cut in suddenly, very coldly, dropping the calm that had just rested over his features. "And unless you intend to return to your own very soon, I suggest you go to your room."
"Go… to… my… room…" she repeated, seething after a silent moment, through clenched teeth. "What am I to you, a fucking child?"
The silence was the worst answer she could have received.
Wild-eyed, curls astray and crimson dripping off the tips of her torn fingernails, it seemed as if Blaise finally recognized Hermione's presence.
Blaise's eyes turned slowly to meet hers, and the instant they met, Hermione felt the breath she had just taken in freeze painfully in her lungs.
Blaise's face, once so enchantingly, so perfectly pale had swollen into a ruddy, intoxicated color. Her face contorted hideously, dark eyes staring hatefully through narrowed lids, mouth twisted into a feral snarl. Their eyes caught for only a second.
She gave her a furious once-over, her eyes hatefully raking across Hermione's body.
And with a deafening, reverberating Crack! she disapparated from sight, leaving no trace but the small droplets of blood that had collected by her slippered feet. .
"She's been telling everyone who would listen since we were first years that a great, great, great grandmother of hers was a part-veela," Draco said suddenly, breaking through the awkward stillness. "She finds that reason enough to throw a fit every time her demands aren't met."
"You could have given me a different room," Hermione replied, still shaken.
And after another pause, she could only bring herself to tentatively ask, "…Why this one?"
She almost dreaded the answer.
"…Because it is the best," he replied simply, with no further explanation.
Hermione hated herself for blushing that moment. But he didn't seem to notice.
Turning to reenter her room, she heard him distinctly call over her shoulder.
"You may want to put some clothes on, too."
Damn. She supposed her bathrobe wasn't covering too much at the moment. Rather than try to stutter a response in her embarrassment, she decided it would be best to just walk away and salvage the last remaining bits of her dignity.
She was grateful her back was turned so he couldn't see the burn intensifying in her cheeks.
***
If Pansy could ask for any one thing in the universe at this precise moment, she knew exactly what she would request.
…Well… Draco, of course.
Scratch that.
If Pansy could ask for any two things in the universe, it would be: 1) Draco 2) A camera
In her life, she had never so much as seen a single hair hiding amongst the glossy tendrils of Blaise's magnificently groomed mane, heaven forbid two hairs misplaced. Now if only all the Slytherin dotes who decided to go with Blaise to the Yule Ball instead of her- well… if only they could see her now.
"I think the only word to describe how you look right now is…" Pansy started smugly, dizzy with grasping her good luck If she hadn't been walking down their hallway at the exact moment that Blaise came storming down the stairs- she may have missed this opportunity!
"…Completely hideous."
Blaise just snarled quite unbecomingly and continued to stalk angrily to her room. But then again- this was just too good of an opportunity to let her get away.
"So where's the ring," Pansy questioned innocently, batting her eyelashes magnificently. "You've been telling me about one since you went to go see him."
"Oh shut up, Pansy."
"So explain to me why you look so… ugly… When this should be the happiest day of your life?"
"I'm part-"
"Yes, yes, we all know. Part veela. You must have told me a million times. But what has Draco done to make put you in this horrible mood?"
Blaise stopped mid-stride, turned abruptly, and glowered. Pansy shrieked with a terrible bout of laughter. Blaise had to be the ugliest thing she'd ever had the misfortune to lay her eyes on. Mustering all the goodness her heart possessed, she managed to keep the laugh she desperately wished to release to a minimal grin.
"Do you know who's staying in Draco's guest room?" Blaise hissed suddenly, not expecting an answer.
"Well… you," Pansy replied shortly, uneager to allow Blaise to exercise superiority once more.
"No, not me," Blaise responded impatiently. And as a bitter, hushed afterthought, added, "Not anymore, that is."
"So, Draco's found someone new… As if you didn't expect that?"
Pansy was desensitized to letting these words roll off her lips, having scolded herself with the same question endlessly. So easy to say those words- but when would it stop hurting to think about it? But this would not spoil her good mood- not until she was locked in her room, letting tears roll down her cheeks in utter darkness.
"You still didn't answer my question. Do you know who?"
"Probably the fifth year Draco's been fucking-"
"Mudblood."
"Excuse me?" Pansy asked with a deadening thud in her chest cavity, not yet trusting her ears. Her heart plastered itself against her rib cage in frantic palpitation.
"The Mudblood," Blaise repeated, in a harsh, strangled whisper.
Pansy's smile vanished.
And in that instant, an uneasy, untrusting alliance was silently formed against one.
***
Author's Note:
Ahh… I need to work my way back to continuing the plot! (I've been a very, very bad author. Forgive me.)
Thanks again to my reviewers! I love you (even though you guys are way too nice to me)! Be mean!
And these responses were made in order received:
Hea-Chan: I pretty much do have the plot thought out. It's probably not a very good plot- but I'll try to make it work. Thanks for being so kind!
dkg: When is Hermione going to give into Draco? I'm trying! I really am trying to convince her to fall in love with him!
Stephanie: I love to think that my story's original, so thank you. It gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling. : )
regina-terrae: You're right, Draco's not too suave with the decent females. And Hermione is definitely not going to fall for it! (Eh… Not yet, that is…)
Croft: Ah, I hoped the checklist would break up the bore of my long-winded writing. I'm happy you liked it!
arbitrary: More lies from you again! Why would you look forward to this admittedly crappy chapter? But thanks for making me feel better. : )
Flexi Lexi: Your review could be a chapter in itself. It's huge! Thanks for taking the time to leave me your comments every chapter. No, Narcissa's not dead (Ack, I should have made this background stuff more clear. Stupid me!). She's off on the pursuit of our favorite Potty! So, I attempted the detail of her room, but it's probably sub-par. Wah. I'll try harder. If you really hate it, I'll edit it and try again. And I'll definitely try to work in some of your suggestions. Thanks again!
Princess of Darkness6: Haha, that line was just a bit of randomness. : ) Hopefully, it wasn't too kooky.
Ardent Entity: Thanks for liking my story (and for reviewing it too)! Always makes any author happy. And I've been trying to update soon- I've just had mild writer's block.
Chick Vicious: Well-written and an interesting plot? I must say you're being awfully generous there. (And it doesn't belong your favorites, dearie). Thanks for reading and for your kindness, too!
Pailay: Thanks for another review. I'm trying not to make them fall head over heels for each other… but I'm getting impatient. : ) I need to start writing more to get the plot moving!