Woot! I got more reviews on this story on the first chapter than any other so far! do u guys really like it? ::cries happy tears:: well, because I got lots of reviews, I am happy and I am posting another chapter! I hope you enjoy it.
Disclaimer: It all belongs to that wonderful genius named J.K. Rowling.
**~FAÇADE~**
An Interesting Ruse
~ She felt the train jerk to a stop, and she collected herself and got off the floor. She was going to have to face the world wasn't she?~
Hermione grabbed her bag and walked out of the bathroom and off of the train. She stood for a few seconds surveying the carriages, but soon spotted the one she wanted. Taking a deep breath, Hermione hurried over to the carriage and climbed up.
"Got room for one more?"
"Mione!" came a high-pitched squeal as Ginny tackled her in a hug that would have sent both girls falling out of the carriage if it weren't for Harry and Ron catching them. Hermione was glad that the sixteen year old was happy to see her; but she wished Ginny wouldn't squeeze so hard, she still had many bruises and sores that were now screaming at her. She shut her eyes to contend with the pain as she hugged the girl back. Finally the hug was over and not a moment too soon for Hermione's sake.
When Ginny released her, both boys were ready for their turns and both gave Hermione rather smothering hugs, being that she only came up to either boys chest. She was glad that Ginny was short too, or she would have felt like she lived among giants.
"Where were you Mione? We didn't see you on the train." Harry inquired with a note of concern in his voice.
"Oh," what was she going to say? "I just got over the flue, and well, being in the fast moving train well it didn't exactly agree with my stomach," she lied holding her middle. Well she had spent about half of the ride in the bathroom, so it wasn't a total lie.
"Do you feel better now?" Ron asked also concerned, but taking a step backwards.
Hermione laughed, "Yes! And you don't have to worry I'm not contagious anymore. Besides even if I were, you wouldn't have to worry, Madam Pomfrey can fix a flue in less than five seconds!"
It felt good to joke around with her friends, but it felt horrid to not be completely honest with them about everything. How she wished she could tell them! But she couldn't . She sat down on the seat next to Harry and across from Ginny. The boys were starting to get into a discussion about Quidditch already, but Ginny thought of a better topic.
"So Hermione, do you have any thing you want to tell us?" Ginny prodded.
Okay, Ginny was definitely her best girl friend, but there was no way she could know. Was there? Hermione had done her best to wear a smile and hid her feelings from her friends. "W-what do you mean?" she stammered.
Ginny sighed and leaned forward, "Like whose Head Girl this year?"
Hermione laughed, "Oh, I am. How did you know?"
"Please Hermione," interrupted Harry, "Who didn't know you would be Head Girl?"
She giggled, it was nice to be around people who had faith in her. Maybe she could forget this summer; or not, she knew she could never forget that horror. But don't think of that now. She pushed the memory aside, she didn't want any of her friends knowing something was wrong.
"So whose the head boy?" Ron asked.
"Ten knuts says it's Malfoy." Groaned Hermione, she was rather displeased to think of that; they would have to share a common room, and that was quite a discouraging thought.
"Try not to sound so happy next time," replied Ginny in her usual bubbly voice.
"And you would be?" was Hermione's retort.
She cocked her head to the side in consideration. "Well no, but look on the bright side, he is really hot." This earned her death glares from Harry and her brother, so she giggled sheepishly.
"Yea," said Hermione, "just ask him, and he'll tell ya."
This just made Ginny giggle more, "He is quite conceited isn't he?"
"Conceited is not strong enough a word," at this both girls laughed. Hermione looked at Ginny; forever the optimist, she thought to herself. That was one of the reasons she liked Ginny so much, she was fun to have around. Harry and Ron had resumed their Quidditch talk clearly not wanting to hear what the girls thought of Malfoy's devilishly good looks.
"Don't the heads usually meet on the train?" Ginny asked realizing that Hermione was still guessing at who the Head Boy was.
"Oh, yeah usually, but the meeting is with Professor Mcgonagall, and she couldn't make it on the train this year, we are supposed to meet after the feast."
"Oh," she nodded in understanding. Then the two girls launched into a conversation about the classes they were taking this year.
They arrived at the castle, and all the students went in to the feast. It was a wonderful feast, Hermione felt like she was receiving enough food and for the first time in a long time, she was without hunger when she finished. Dumbledor confirmed Hermione's suspicions about the Head Boy during the feast: it was indeed Draco Malfoy. But Hermione didn't let this news stop her from enjoying the feast.
After the feast, Hermione and Draco met with Professor Mcgonagall in Great Hall at the table where the teacher sits. She gave them a short speech about being on their best behavior, being an example to all other students, and their duties. Then she led them to their rooms. All three entered the common room, and the Professor allowed the teens a few moments to admire the room before she spoke again.
Hermione was walking around the room, there were so many things to see! There were beautiful murals on the wall, and there were two sofas, a few arm chairs, two tables, and a bunch of bean bag chairs on the floor. Hermione had a pink bean bag chair in her room at home, it had been her favorite place to read. The room was all decorated with greens, reds, golds, and silvers. The room was magnificent and had to be bigger than the Gryffindor and Slytherin common rooms combined. There were many bookcases around the room just filled with their wonders, and the fire place was huge and made the room very inviting. This was amazing, even if she had to share it with Malfoy.
Mcgonagall began to speak, "Up those stairs," she waved her hand in the direction of the stairs, "You will find your rooms, and the bathroom. Now before I leave, I must give you this little warning. The staff here at Hogwarts was most concerned about the two of you sharing a common room judging by your, history." This last word came out slowly and the professor noticed the looks that the two students had thrown at each other. She continued, "So, we decided to charm your common room. If either of you should try to hex the other here, you will find that you are the recipient of your own spell. Now, I must go. Good night." She turned and left.
Hermione was both upset and relieved at the same time; she couldn't hex Malfoy clear out of the school like she would like to do at times, but he couldn't hex her either. She shrugged, it was after all for the best. She absent-mindedly dropped her bag in the middle of the floor and approached the nearest bookcase, an excited feeling inside her, that books had always given her. Her books that had started off as an adventure when she was younger, had become the only way she could escape life during that harsh summer. Quickly she picked up a book to turn her thoughts away from the summer.
"The Mudblood with her nose in a book, how typical," came a sneer from the other side of the room.
Hermione snapped the book shut as she turned to glare at Malfoy.
"What?" he provoked her.
She couldn't think of anything to say so she shook her head and let out a frustrated sigh. "I'm going to get a shower." She wanted to get away from him and would be able to do that there. Quickly she headed out of the common room.
A few minutes later the water turned on. Granger was not being as fun to torment as she usually was. Draco remembered the diary that was in the pocket of his robes, Well, now I'll really have something to taunt her with. He headed up to his room and sat on his bed. A brilliant idea came to his head: it would be fun to know what Granger had thought, but wouldn't it be more fun to know what she thought all year? A sly smile came to his face.
He went to his trunk and pulled out and empty journal that his mother had given him before school had started. Sitting on the bed he placed the two books side by side. He muttered a few words while waving his wand properly above both books. There was a flash of blue light encircling the books. After the light died down Draco picked up the book that belonged to him and opened it; it was full of Granger's perfect and loopy writing. He closed the book, success! What he had just done, was put a joining charm on the books, what ever Hermione wrote in her journal would appear in Draco's also. Draco smiled to him self, I love being evil! Picking up Granger's journal, he hurried back into the common room and slipped it into her bag. Hopefully she hadn't yet noticed it missing, and if she did, maybe she'd think it was a fluke. He heard the water shut off and went back to his room. It was late, so he decided to go to bed, and read tomorrow. The book was put in the top drawer of his night stand. He laid down and went to sleep.
Hermione climbed out of the shower, dressed and headed back to her room. It was late, but she felt the need to complete her nightly ritual before turning in. She looked around the room for her bag and remembered that she dropped it in the common room. Cursing for being so dumb and now possibly having to run into Malfoy again she proceeded down the stairs to fetch her things.
She turned up lucky as it looked like Malfoy had already gone to bed. Picking up her bag she headed back to her room. She took out her pen and diary and sat on her bed to write.
Dear Diary,
I don't know how long I can lie to my friends. It hurts me to pretend every thing is alright. But I can't tell them what he did to me. I can't, at least its over now, but I can't stop seeing the images in my head. The bruises still hurt. I can't live with this secrete. I have to tell some one. Oh and if things weren't bad enough, guess who is head boy! Yup and I have to live with him! I hate that stupid git Malfoy! I finally leave that gods forsaken hell-hole, and now I have to live with him! I can't stand his condescending looks and his holier than thou attitude. He is such a prat! And what makes matters worse is that he thinks it funny to call me foul names, like Mudblood. It's good for him the teachers put that charm on this room, or I hex him clear into the next century! The summer's events had shortened her temper, and she was angry about not being able to think of a comeback for Malfoy earlier. It also helped her to direct some of her bottled up anger at a more sizable target than her father. Malfoy wasn't what you would call small, but her father had been huge, and Malfoy was her equal in magic she assumed. First every thing that happened this summer and now this! Stupid Malfoy! I HATE HIM! Every time he calls me Mudblood, I feel like I'm small and worthless. Here a tear fell on the page and smeared the ink slightly. But I wont let him see me cry, I won't give him the pleasure!
She finished and closed her book. It felt good to get out some of her frustration at having to live with Malfoy. She put her sacred book in the top drawer of her night stand and lay down. She wanted desperately to sleep but every time her eyes closed she saw the mad who had once been her loving father coming after her and hitting her with whatever he could get his hands on. The images scared her still and she twisted and turned in her bed and didn't get to sleep at all.
*~%~*
So how was that one? I think my tone changed slightly, but that is because Hermione has to act like nothing is wrong when she is with her friends, which will only lead her into more complex depression later on. Draco actually reads the diary in the next chapter I promise. I like the next chapter a lot! It's already done, so it should be posted in the next day or two.
I wanted to thank all of my oh so wonderful reviewers! I luv u all! So thank you to Manic angst, GameOfLove, Mariah, Felinefire82, LP Draconis, Moon Goddess, Elven Ice Angel, Meena, and Saquoia. And a very special thanks to Roxy Surfer, who has read and reviewed all of my stories, and has been a very wonderful audience! Thank you!
These were all the reviews that I have read, if you have reviewed and you are not on here, it b/c I haven't seen it yet, so you'll be in the next chapter!
Also, if any one would like me to e-mail them when I update, just say so in ur review and type ur e-mail address.
Bye bye for now!
~Atiannala