Chapter 7: A Conspiracy
(Your reviews in bold, my comments as normal)
THANKS TO:
Demosa-oh jeez...who could it be? happy birthday to ur friend, and put up the next chapter soon! if i can read ur story and review with all my work u can put up an other chapter. Think of the well being of ur fans!cheers
You'll find out soon, and thanks for the happy birthday, I'm sure if I got to talk to him (he moved, can't call, and I don't have long distance. Damn git won't check his mail…it's all very complicated). I know it took a while, and I'm not too sure how long this will be, cuz I'm running low on ideas…:( But thanks for the shove.
Alex'z Death Chic-Hello! hehe! It's me again! I'm really looking forward on reading the next chapter... make it soon okay? please? pretty please?? umm... can you please put hermoine's plan on motion a little bit faster? please? I'd really scream with joy if you do! I'll even share my cookies!
Sorry, it took a bit…I think I'll try to do it either this chapter or next, whichever one it works into. I'm sorry if it doesn't happen now!
Kaimelar-this is too great! i'd never have come up with the idea of switching hermione and draco around. brilliant. i hope she doesn't really get into this voldemort-wedding thing and i think it's hilarious how her own dad calls her "you stupid little bitch!"
I'll never tell! Thanks for the compliment! I think I rather liked his behavior too!
Snapegirl-Hi, that was very good! I hope its Draco, altho, I don't know how he overtook her when she was running so fast. Anyway, loved that chappie, update asap, pls. and Happy Birthday to your friend! SG
Erm, scroll down, and you'll know. It took a while, I'm sorry. And thanks for the b-day wish to him!
Mistress Malfoy-hey I love this story i hope you update real soon!! good job!…Mistress Malfoy aka Kristin Black
Spanks. Again, sorry it took long.
Itsbitsyspider-You have to update... maybe put this fic into PG-13 plus? (its not dirty enough, besides, wouldn't more people read it if it's i PG-13?)This is so good! Consider my tip. (Read some other fanfics... those are truly r)
Updated! Yeah, I know…I put it on R for safety, but I'm not sure I'll be using it. So…we'll see. I think I may. (See offer at end of chappie)
Erilyn Rose-WHO IS IT?! Jeez... :) I wanna know so... erm... update please!!And Happy Belated Birthday to your friend!
Hehe! I really stumped you guys? He thanks you, I'm sure.
Trinity-im so sry i havnt reviewed since lik ch 3 but i jus got around to read ur wonderful story again its betta tha second time lol well i realli lik tha new ch! im so scarrd! who do those arms belong to? who noes? o wait u do well keep writin pleaz awsome story!
No, that's ok. Thanks, though! Too kind! And, well, you'll find out the answer…soon! (As in the first sentence.)
HarryPotterWanter-So Dumbledore's finally back, eh? That's nice. I wonder how many students he spies on. Does he even accidentally see some students doing anything inappropriate? Why does Draco think Hermione likes him? Is it because she stood up for him? I wonder why Hermione is so upset. I understand that she's upset about marrying Voldemort, but she's known that for awhile now. Maybe it's just the fact that she realizes that this is the first time her father has ever been proud of her. Or maybe it's just all the little things combined. Has Draco communicated with Harry yet that he wants to help Hermione? I wonder who Hermione ran into. It could be Draco, but I thought he was following her. I'm not sure how he'd be able to get in front of her without her noticing. Maybe it's Harry, but I don't know if he has enough guts to hug Hermione. It could possibly be Dumbledore or one of the Professors. They know about her ordeal and they're likely to try to comfort her, especially Dumbledore. Anyway, I'm looking forward to the next chapter. I hope you update again soon!
Yes, I stalled for too long. Erm, I guess he does…I dunno, lol. Sure, why not? Or not. If you look back, Blaise accused her of liking him, because she was so defending (I think. Damn you, I forget now!) No, I don't think he has quite yet. All I have to say is: Congrats! One of your guesses is correct!
Enter the Red Age-well I'm leaving tomorrow and won't be back until the sunday after this upcoming one, so don't feel too badly. :)yeah, WE NEED A DAN RADCLIFFE FAN TO COMPLETE THE...THINGY! i can't come up with a better word either lol. nice chapter. I think it's...erm...Ron? or Harry. Maybe Draco. ACK you suck I can't pick one. But there you have it. You have successfully surprised the reader; congratulations. I really liked the Moaning myrtle scene, and how she sees Cedric sometimes- brilliant addition! p.s. before I forget, I think I've uploaded the fic you asked me to e-mail you about, so as long as I'm here I'll just let you know now. :D
Hehehe! I stumped you! I thought the loo scene was nice too, lol. Just some random thing after I reread HP 4. I read ur upload, and I'm almost positive I reviewed!
Cassiel-Role reversal. I like it. Made me feel better during my sick day off school
Yay, I'm glad. I'll assume you're feeling better.
~*~
Dumbledore patted Hermione's head in a fatherly manner. "It's alright, Miss Granger."
She didn't know what possessed her to utter the next words, but she did. "It's not alright, Professor! My life's a mess! I don't know what to do!" she wailed.
"I know."
"You…you know? How could you possibly know? Have you been spying on me?! How dare you!" she shrieked, regaining her cold exterior.
"Hermione, look at me. I'm the Headmaster. I know a lot of the things that go on," Dumbledore comforted.
Hermione glared at him, refusing to speak. She had begun to cry in front of him. Lousy kook. What was she thinking?
"And…I believe that I have a way for you to be helped. Come on, then. Into my office."
"I'm not going anywhere with you! I don't need help! Get away!"
He stared at her, his blue eyes pleading with her. "Miss Granger, you do need it. Please, consider my offer."
"Oh my Gods. That's what you were doing while I was gone. You were helping me, and you didn't even tell me?!"
"I didn't want you to get your hopes—"
"What hopes? I'm betrothed to Voldemort. Lord. Bloody. Voldemort. No one could help me, and I have no hopes."
"Please, come up to my office. Severus and Minerva are waiting."
"They know too? Gods, who doesn't know!"
Hermione figured Dumbledore knew that he had been saying the wrong things to her, because the next thing he said was surprisingly non-pushy.
"If you wish to handle it yourself, then I'll let it be. But—" he added, "my door is always open, Miss Granger. The offer will still stand."
Sighing with relief, Hermione pushed past him, and ran to the Slytherin locker room, where she was met with stares.
Naturally, she glared back. "What the hell do you want?"
The team turned back to their lockers, not saying a word.
Except Kevin Grey, of course. The boy who seemed to think he was her protector.
"You ok, Hermione?"
"Yes, I'm fine," she snapped, stubbornly crossing her arms. "Just a little stomach upset. Go away."
He motioned, instead, for Kyle Thompson and Richard Jackson—fondly referred to as Ricky.
"I think Hermione may need to go to Madam Pomfrey. I know she won't go, so we have to help."
"To hell with that, Kevin! If any of you three so much as touch me, I'll make sure you never see the light of day," Hermione threatened, pointing a shaking finger.
"Look, she's delusional," Ricky grinned. He reached forward, and she slapped away his hand.
"Go to bloody hell!"
"I'm rather fond of my life. You guys can do whatever you want, but I'm not taking her anywhere," Kyle said, his eyes wide.
"She won't—" Kevin began, only to be cut off by Hermione.
Gripping his throat loosely, she muttered, "Oh I won't do anything, will I? Do you really want to find out? No? Then bugger off!" she yelled, letting go.
He scrambled away, followed closely by Kyle and Ricky.
~*~
Draco watched Dumbledore talk softly to her, looking deeply concerned.
Deciding she was ok, and no suicide attempts would be made, he went back to change.
Harry stared curiously at him as he entered, smirking a bit. He pulled him aside, and tried to hold a private conversation.
"So, I reckon you want to help now?"
"Yeah, I guess. Did you see Hermione run off? I was pretty worried, after what you showed me. So…what can we do? This seems so stupid. I mean, what can we do?" Draco asked, looking around the changing room.
"Well, er, I really don't know. We definitely need to tell Dumbledore, I know that. I know he can help," Harry replied, looking uncertain.
"I think he knows. I saw Hermione crash into him, and he started talking to her, and he looked pretty grim."
"Ok. But I'd rather do it, just in case. If he does know, and has a solution, maybe there's some way we can help with it."
Draco bit his lower lip, and followed Harry out of the Quidditch changing room.
~*~
Harry stepped into Dumbledore's office, still smirking at the password.
"Why, hello, Mister Potter…Mister Malfoy. I was expecting you two sooner or later," Dumbledore grinned, rising out of his chair.
Harry wasn't quite shocked anymore: he knew of the wise old Headmaster's powers. He opened his mouth to speak, looking over at Draco.
"Wait. Before you speak, I must know: Would either of you care for a Cockroach Cluster?"
Draco laughed a little, and shook his head, like Harry.
"Fine, fine, then. Please, tell me what you came for."
"Well, erm…I found Hermione's diary. And, well, to tell the truth, it was pretty disturbing. And I want to know…is it true?" Harry asked quickly.
"I'm afraid so. Now, now…don't look so downcast! I'm very glad that you two could look past the 'enemy' thing, and want to help Miss Granger. Don't worry, I think that, after she comes around, Miss Granger will find that adequate help will be provided. It's not foolproof, mind you, but the very best we could get."
"Can we help?" Draco blurted.
Dumbledore smiled. "I believe that you can Draco. But…give her a few days. She knows you two read her diary, and I daresay she'll Avada you on the spot."
Draco went a little more pale, and Harry swallowed, surprised.
"Can I help, Professor?"
"Perhaps. Draco will be the one who needs to get her out of this self-defensive mode she's in. Perhaps you can help her with the actual plan. Now, I'm not going to tell you now, because she may never use it. I certainly hope she will, however," the Headmaster sighed, looking distraught.
"Yes, sir."
Draco looked very worried. "Er…how do I do that? That's like…telling Fred and George to behave nicely, and leave the kids alone!"
"Draco, I believe that an opportunity will reveal itself, and you'll know. For now, just know: The other Professors and I are watching over her, to make sure nothing terrible happens," Dumbledore added, smiling faintly.
~*~
Hermione threw a book forcefully on her bed, imagining the face of two specific Gryffindors, who would die painful, slow deaths if she ever came near enough.
They couldn't leave well enough alone, could they? No, they had to butt in!
Especially Potter! As if he wasn't in enough peoples' business already. Honestly.
Potter. I still need to come up with something for him. Why is he so hard? Stupid Boy-Who-Lived…he has to have some sort of weakness, Hermione thought.
Presently, the only things coming to mind were the other two-thirds of his Trio. She'd get the one, and had no interest in the other, hideous, flame-haired Weasley.
No, Draco would be getting it double-time. First, there was herself, dead-set on revenge. Secondly, there was Blaise, who never stood for being insulted. Blaise would probably be the least of his worries when she was done.
"Ugh…" Hermione groaned, looking up at Pansy. "I'm not going to class. Tell Snape I'm feeling ill. He won't care," she ordered, glaring.
Pansy nodded, and turned out of the dorm, leaving Hermione alone in her bedroom.
Millicent was in Madam Pomfrey's office, dealing with something or other that some class gave her. All Hermione remembered was that it was hilarious at the time.
Potter, Potter, Potter! Why was he so fucking impossible to develop a revenge plan for?!
~*~
Ron followed Draco up the stairs to their dorm, and engaged in conversation.
"So, when are you going to use those presents you got?"
Draco shrugged. "Dunno. Whenever it seems best, I s'pose."
Ron looked over at Draco, perplexed. He seemed a little more colder, and distant.
"What's wrong, Draco?"
"Nothing. I'm just tired. Been studying for hours."
Ron frowned, but didn't say anything. What happened to the Infamous Trio? Now, it just seemed like Draco and Harry had extra-large bugs up their asses. Always quiet and secretive about one thing or another.
"Seriously. You know me, I have a short temper. You two are seriously testing it," Ron warned, growing suspicious.
"Ask Harry, I'm really not at liberty to tell," Draco said loftily, plopping onto his bed.
"I don't want to ask Harry! You two are my best friends. Am I going to have to hang out with Seamus and Neville now?"
"No. Just…well, Gods, Ron! It's not really my business, I found out by accident, and I'm not comfortable telling you. So, ask Harry."
Ron grit his teeth, and felt an overwhelming sense of loneliness, and being left out. "Fine," he mumbled.
Draco didn't even look up when he left.
~*~
Harry had his legs crossed, and was intently looking over his essay for Transfiguration.
"Harry!" Ron bellowed. "You're hiding something, and I want to know!"
He looked up, surprised, but not confused. "I…I'm hiding something?" he asked, pretending to sound confused.
"Look, Draco knows…I know he does. Why can't you tell me? Being secretive for days, maybe even weeks—I honestly don't know, school blurs it all—but nevertheless, Harry I really want to know!" Ron exclaimed, seeming genuinely upset.
It isn't fair that I haven't told him, I s'pose…but honestly, how many people am I going to be telling? Harry asked himself.
"Are you sure you want to know? You won't like it, I swear."
Ron glared, causing Harry to sigh.
"Fine then, follow me."
He got the diary out of his bag, and jogged up the steps to their shared dorm. "Here."
During what seemed like hours, Draco and Harry intently watched Ron's facial expressions.
Finally, he closed the book, with a vacant expression. Ron sighed, grinning a little. "Well, only Granger could do this! Make me feel bad for hating her, and she doesn't even know. Leave it to her to make me feel bad for something I didn't even start!" he exclaimed.
Both his friends broke out into grins, and Harry instantly felt better about the whole thing. No more secrets.
(A/N: Ok, yeah, this will definitely need to be moved to PG-13. I can't stop the damn fluff. Well, you can't blame me! It's so hard to transition this story!)
~*~
A few days later, Hermione sat reluctantly in Dumbledore's office, pouting.
"So, have you decided what to do? Changed your mind?" the old Headmaster asked eagerly.
In her head, she silently repeated over the words Snape had said, which encouraged her to get the help anyway.
"Yes," she answered grumpily.
He clapped. "Excellent! Well then, there are quite a few things that need to be discussed.
First, keep up appearance. Second, you will most definitely need a new dorm for this. Now, with that in mind, who do you trust most?"
Hermione opened her mouth, and shut it again. Feeling a slight tinge of embarrassment, she replied, "No one, sir."
"I surmised as much, Miss Granger. Therefore, Mister Potter has agreed to help."
She jumped up. "Hold on…Potter?! You're fucking kidding! No WAY!"
Dumbledore winced a bit at her strong curse, but she could care less.
"Did you tell him? Great, so he knows everything? I suppose Malfoy does, too. Oh, and let's not forget Weasel. What one knows, the rest do!" she yelled.
"As far as I know, Mister Weasley's in the dark. I doubt that has changed."
"Oh, great. One less person on the fifty-foot list. Hurrah," Hermione said, sarcastically.
But the Headmaster proceeded as if she said nothing. "You will need Harry as your Secret Keeper, and a Portkey to your dorm. Then, there's a special crystal I obtained that alerts people when their foes are near. Like a Sneakoscope, yes. But it's been altered so it only glows when Lord Voldemort is near. Clever, really. Very rare, as well."
Hermione huffed, and looked at the phoenix in its cage. "Can I go now?"
He frowned, but nodded. "We'll go over the rest later, then."
Yes, much.
She ran down the steps, and wandered around the Halls, feeling extremely grouchy.
It only got worse when she heard the voices.
~*~
"Malfoy, you did the right thing. For once," Snape added.
Draco frowned, and glared at the Professor.
"Telling me that Hermione was offered help, and then refusing it…that was possibly the smartest thing you could have done. Told me. However, don't be expecting any sort of House Points, or something. This was out of the goodness of your heart, understand?"
Draco nodded, growing increasingly pissed off at the ungratefulness of Snape, after he just saved her.
It had been Ron's idea, to go to the Professor that favored him most, and to that, Draco was grateful. Bloody brilliant idea, really.
Professor Snape droned on and on, and Draco found himself wondering why he was still here in the first place.
"Yeah, great—can I go?" he asked impatiently, interrupting Snape.
He looked infuriated, but said nothing. After all, Draco had just helped Hermione not too long ago.
~*~
A conspiracy!
That's what it was against Hermione. A conspiracy.
A/N:
Ok, that's it. Very fluffy, absolutely terrible. If you don't review, I'll understand, because I'm low on ideas.
But, at least, tell me what you think of this new story idea I have. It'll be called "Living Arrangements", I think. Here's the snippet, to hopefully get you hooked.
The Tradition:
Every year, 10 former Hogwarts students are chosen. Five from each House are chosen. The way the two Houses are determined is by reflecting on the two that got along the least. More often than not, it was Slytherin and someone else.
They are tricked into going to a secret, hidden Manor for six months. Hopefully, this period of time will get them to cooperate, and become friends. It was something that started after they realized that had Voldemort perhaps made friends, nothing would have happened. It was an effort to save the students from destruction.
Generally, the ten picked are great wizards or witches. This is in hopes that its ten more great wizards or witches will join the fight against Voldemort.
This year, the results are crucial.
Nextly, I'm lowering the rating. I just can't get it up to 'R' status, so…
Email me, or leave your email address should you want to emailed with the update, incase—like me—you never leave the 'R' section, unless very desperate.
Ta for now!!!
[Submitted: April 24, 2003]