Notes: Hey all! Happy news- I'm back in business with this story! In fact, I have it all planned out and ready- and there will be about 31 chapters the way I have it written out now. So yay! Sorry this chapter is un-beta'ed too… my beta doesn't seem to be around! O_O So I tried editing it myself…
Chapter Four: Ravenclaw
Harry swished his tail happily as he pranced down the hall. His plan seemed to be working quite well. Though he had to put up with a tail for the rest of- well, whenever- it was totally worth it to piss off his winter companion. And besides, if it got too annoying, he could always have Madam Pomphrey or even Hermione remove it for him. "Ha ha ha ha…" he laughed to himself. "I'll have Malfoy screaming like a cranky baby when I'm finished with him."
"Have you ever heard a cranky baby? I doubt Malfoy would sound like one. Their screams are too shrill, while his lungs have expanded and his voice deepened due to age." Hermione Granger poked her head out from around a corner. "Hi, Harry. Nice tail." She ducked back around and then reappeared holding a thick, rather dusty looking book. "What was this about Malfoy screaming?"
"I have to room with him for the rest of the winter holidays," Harry said, making a face and then laughing. "And I've decided to annoy him as much as possible."
"That sounds like fun. Pranking?" Hermione flipped a few pages of her book.
"Not really. I'm just going to be really extra nice and perky." He shrugged. "We'll see how it goes."
"Yes," the girl said absently. "Say, Harry- when have you last seen Professor Snape?"
"Um… in class?" Harry raised both eyebrows in surprise. "Same as you. Why?"
"Oh, I needed to see him about something…" She looked up and snapped the book shut. "Sorry. Anyway, you're rooming with Malfoy? I'm sorry. I have to stay in Ravenclaw with Parvati and Padma, but they aren't so bad- not after living with Parvati and Lavender for the past six years. And certainly not as bad as Malfoy. Padma's really quite bright. We're setting up to play Parcheesi right now- want to join us?"
"I guess." Harry shrugged. "I have nothing better to do." He grinned.
"Don't make me twist your arm," growled Hermione, running her fingers through her hair. "I just don't want to be alone with the twins. You know how twins get. Whispering secrets and looking at each other significantly and all that."
Harry nodded and grimaced. "I spent a few days at the Weasleys with only Ginny and the twins once. It was pretty bad. Ginny was flirting every time I saw her, and the twins were poncing around putting silly spells on things and talking mostly to each other. I don't think they actually realized that they were doing it."
"Where was Ron?"
"Don't remember. I think he was visiting Hogwarts for some extra credit… or something."
"That's strange." Hermione frowned. "Ron doesn't usually do extra credit."
"Maybe it was something else. I don't know." Harry shrugged. "Anyway, he was gone and I had to stick around the twins- not that I don't like Ginny," he hurriedly added at the look on Hermione's face. "I just don't know her that well."
"You could always get to know her," his friend said curtly.
"I'm having enough trouble keeping cheerful around Malfoy right now."
Hermione swung off to the left, gesturing for Harry to join her. "Come on. We'll cheer you up. If you can endure that insufferable tittering of Parvati's." She laughed shortly. "Ah well. Without Lavender here, she's a bit more tolerable. Padma keeps her feet on the ground."
"Padma's feet?"
"Both of their feet."
"They only have two between them?" teased Harry.
"Oh dear, that would be disturbing," Hermione mused and then laughed and yanked at Harry's tail. He yowled and she actually jumped, her face taking on a very contrite expression. "Oh Harry I'm sorry! I thought you were joking! I thought-"
"It was fake?" Harry grimaced. "Unfortunately not. But don't tell Malfoy that. He thinks that I love it."
"Did you tell him that?"
"Yeah." Harry sighed. "And now I have to be doubly careful about sitting down and shutting doors behind me." He ran his hand down the silky black fur. "And I have to avoid people who would be tempted to pull it." Laughing at Hermione's guilty expression, he added, "But I know that now you'll be gentle." He leaned over and patted her shoulder. "And you're not Malfoy, so I'm happy."
"You're silly," Hermione said, but blushed in appreciation. "Hey, would you take a look at something for me?" Her face was turning even redder as she held out the book. "Don't… don't tell anyone about this. I just… well, I had to share it with someone and it sure as hell wasn't going to be Ron. Or the girls. You're… well… just read it," she finished lamely, looking away from Harry.
Harry blinked a few times and then turned his attention to the book as he continued to follow his friend.
I think I fall
For the monsters
Fire on down…
I think I dream
Of the monsters
Fire around me…
I think I sing
With the monsters
Fire in the sky…
Fire, fire…
And the monsters
Live inside me.
Harry coughed. "Did you write this?"
A nod. "Yeah, I did."
"Well, I'm not one for poetry… but I'd say this was kind of deep. What does it mean?" Harry wasn't sure what to say. He actually didn't like the poem much at all, but he didn't want to hurt Hermione's feelings. It wasn't that he thought it was poorly written, he just didn't understand it. However, one line had caught his eyes. Fire in the sky… He liked that one. And so he said it out loud. "I like the fourth last line. Fire in the sky. That's really neat." He smiled so that he gave Hermione a good impression.
"It doesn't mean anything," she said, her voice a little deeper than usual. "It's just a poem."
"Hermione?"
"Here we are!" she announced cheerfully. "Ravenclaw dorms."
And indeed, in front of them, a pair of suits of armor stood, both with axes raised in a rather threatening motion. As Harry and Hermione approached them, the left suit of armor squeaked a bit. "Miss Granger!" it called in a shrill, rusty voice. "Password, dearie?"
"Blodment." Hermione said ruefully. "What a horrid password…"
The suits of armor moved and opened a heavy looking door in the stone. "Good to see you, Miss!" shrilled the one on the right, bowing awkwardly. "And nice to finally meet you, too, Mr. Potter."
"Um…" Harry blinked a couple times. "Thank you."
"Harry!" Parvati squealed as soon as the door opened. "Oh, Hermione! You brought him! I heard you were staying in Slytherin." She practically slid across the floor, natural grace settling on her supple hips. Her hair hung heavily down her back in a braid and her usual robes were replaced with a festive red sweater and a short kilt.
"Hey!" Hermione objected. "You didn't tell me that!"
Padma appeared at her sister's side. She was wearing a rather tired look as well as a pair of pajamas scattered with bunnies. "Oh. Harry. Hello," she said quietly, leaning her chin on Parvati's shoulder. "Parcheesi?"
"Oh do join us!" gushed Parvati, grabbing Harry's arm (much to Hermione's apparent discomfort). "That way we'll have a full board. And it's so much more fun when you play with wizards."
"Why? Do the pieces move by themselves?" Harry asked, confused. "Do they stomp on each other like in Wizards' chess?"
"Oh of course not, silly!" giggled the dark haired Gryffindor, dragging her new companion across the room. "It's just more fun with wizards!"
(Author's Note: okay, I never interject like this, but I was just listening to this song, and it sounded like the girl was saying, "send me a ninja" and that just cracked me up! Muwa ha ha!)
Over the course of the evening, Harry found out exactly why it was that Hermione thought Parvati and Padma were not the best of companions. When Parvati wasn't being overly bubbly and bouncy, she was sharing secrets with Padma, and the two would laugh softly. Padma was fairly normal, but she was so tired that she didn't say very much and was a very boring person. Hermione whispered to Harry that it was because she studied almost all week without sleep before the finals.
By the time Harry was ushered out of the dorms so that the girls could sleep, he was almost glad to be going back to Malfoy. Though he felt really sorry for Hermione, he did not want to remain around another minute.
To be continued…
Special Thanks to:
Missy Wong: Ar! That would be so cute! Hey, now you gave me an idea for a picture… hee hee… Bell!Harry…
Rachel: Thanks for the sweet review! Yeah, I like the idea of short-sheeting Harry's bed myself… though I have no idea how to do it. ^_~
OddballSlasher: You friggin' bet there's sexual tension! Nya ha ha…
Jaittsuko Kureiko: Well, I'm back so you'll be getting these faster. ^_^ And yeah, I like the idea of Harry with a tail, too!
Shinigami: Snogging starts later! And I'll definitely do a side PWP where there is random shagging. Thanks for your wonderful review!
Jade Dragon: Thank you, I did have a good first week of school. Or at least, tolerable. And you know what's really great? There's this kid who looks just like Malfoy who lives on my floor… and he keeps walking by my room to visit someone down the hall- it's really fantastic. I'm watching for him right now… Nya ha ha! And thanks for the compliments on Sloording!
Razberry: Hah! Yeah…. I want a tail, too! Actually what I really want is for this kid who looks like Malfoy to walk around the corner right now.. so I can take a picture and show you guys what I really think Malfoy looks like. He's so cute…. Come back, boy!
Tenshimagic: I was actually wondering that myself… ^_^ I have a feeling it's going to be Draco, though.
Demeter: Glad you like it! Yeah- I thought it would be an interesting change from the usual fighting boys…
El: Ah! I see…. ^_^ Yeah, I'm willing to bet that Malfoy has a better looking "broom" than Harry anyway… *sniggers*
Lunadeath: XD I'm so proud to have you reviewing my story! Thank you for the complements- I really appreciate it.
Venus Princess: O_O Fox ears Draco! That is soooo great! Maybe Harry'll give that to him for Christmas or something. Nya ha ha… And yes, the mistletoe will come in later… or at least, so I hope. That means- If I don't forget about it!
Dark Peppermint: Squee! I love your reviews. They just make me laugh happily! So review more often, even if I don't write anything! XD
Juniper Winner: Now you have me wondering what a hyperactive fly looks like… ^_^
Rings of Saturn: Um…. The first review you posted was for the wrong fic! Lol! But the second one was really nice… and I don't make Draco nice very often because I want him at least semi in character. ^_^;; ooo… but that's a good idea for an AU fic…. Nice Draco…
And to all my other reviewers- I love you!!! You guys totally make my world. You and the kid who lives around the corner who looks like Malfoy. I'll try to get a picture of him for you. ^_^