Chapter Fourteen: Could Be Worse

Harry and Ron sat in the Great Hall, having watched first Hermione, then

Malfoy leave. This didn't worry them. Hermione had probably gone to the library

and Malfoy to meet her there to work on the Defense Against the Dark Arts

assignment. What came next did, however, was enough to add considerable

concern. Pansy Parkinson and Millicent Bullstrode had decided to follow them shortly

after they left, or at any rate, that's how it seemed.

"Oi, Harry, I think they're going after 'Mione and Malfoy," said Ron. He had a

look of concern on his face.

Harry nodded. "Yeah, I think you're right. Let's follow them."

The redhead nodded, and they both got up, headed for the library.

"What are they doing?" asked Ron, from behind another bookshelf.

"Spying, looks like," said Harry.

They surveyed the two Slytherins, who looked very interested in what was

happening at the back of the library.

"You know, Harry, my curiosity is getting the better of me."

Harry nodded, "let's go see."

Pansy Parkinson and Millicent Bullstrode glared at Hermione and Draco. They

were also in the library, having, of course, followed Draco in, and found him sitting

with the mudblood. He was likely just getting a start on the assignment. Hah. The

assignment his own mother had given them. Just what was with that woman lately,

anyways?

Pansy and Millicent had gone, unnoticed to hide behind some bookshelves,

and get a closer look. Unable to hear anything, they had to rely solely on body

language to gauge what exactly was occurring. It had been a tedious task, until

something obvious happened.

He kissed her.

Both girls sat there, wide eyed, neither wanting to convey nor confirm what

had just transpired. Draco had kissed the mudblood.

"What's gotten into him lately?" asked Millicent.

Pansy didn't say a word. She just shook her head. She had to find out.

There was no way out of it. She would try to bring him to his senses. The two girls

watched as their beloved Slytherin Prince walked out with the mudblood. Pansy

would talk to him later. For now, she had to meet with Potter, and work on their

own Defense Against the Dark Arts Assignment.

Harry and Ron sat there, watching Malfoy kiss Hermione. They wouldn't have

believed it had they not seen it with their own eyes. She had not raised a single

protest this time, rather, seemed to enjoy it.

Without a word, Harry nodded. Ron knew. For the first time in quite a while,

Hermione seemed happy. That was enough for them. If Malfoy was going to make

her feel that way, then they would support her.

The only thing they had to worry about now was the meddling of Parkinson

and Bullstrode. And they would have to deal with them sooner than they would have

liked.

Harry found Pansy Parkinson seated at another table in the library, having

obviously just witnessed everything he had, and then some, judging by her

demeanor. All she did was glare at him, and indeed, he returned it with a defiant

stare of his own. They sat in silence for several minutes, until Pansy could obviously

control herself no longer. Harry made a mental note; he had won the first round.

"Potter, I saw you and Weasley watching that little show back there. You put

her up to it, didn't you? How dare you? Trying to --"

Harry interrupted her, shooting daggers at the Slytherin with his eyes.

"Listen Parkinson, what Hermione chooses to do is her own business. Ron and I

have not planned anything, and it is very audacious of you to make such

insinuations..."

Pansy glared at him. "Well you tell her to stay away from Drakey; he's mine,

and no one is taking him away from me."

Harry smired intrepidly. "From what we all saw back there, it doesn't look

like it, now does it?"

Ron found Millicent Bullstrode in another table, far from where Harry was with

Pansy Parkinson. They were obviously trying to act as though they hadn't seen

anything. At least, that's how it looked.

He sat down at the table with her, and she looked up from a book she was

reading... Wait, she could read? He was under the impression that she had the I.Q.

of a chimpanzee... Well, maybe she was pretending to read. Yes, that would be it.

"Weasley," she nodded.

"Good evening," he said stiffly.

In the moment of silence that followed afterward, Bullstrode analyzed him

carefully, paying special attention to his face and eyes, seeming to debate something

silently with herself. Then, she broke the quiet.

"You saw everything, didn't you?" she asked him.

Ron tried to hide his guilt, raising his eyebrows, but refusing to make eye

contact, less he be discovered. "N-- What are you talking about?!"

But Bullstrode caught on. "You know exactly what I'm talking about." She

smirked, as he tried to hide the deer-on-headlights look. He had been caught.

He sighed. "Yes, I did."

She raised a too-finely plucked blond eyebrow. "Just you, or was Potter there

as well?"

He gaped, for just a moment, but in that split second, she saw, and said, "I

thought so."

He looked at her and sighed. "It's none of our business. Let's talk about

something el--"

"I can see this bothers you."

Ron buried his face in his hands. Where was she going with this, and why

was he getting caught in the trap of a Slytherin bimbo? How was he allowing this to

happen?

When she said nothing further, he raised his head. Meeting her eyes, he saw

something in them, a trace of mischievousness. They were twinkling, much in the

manner that he had seen Dumbledore's twinkle when he, Harry, and Hermione got

caught doing something they weren't supposed to, but he took it lightly. That was

odd, he never thought Millicent Bullstrode would be capable of devious planning, but

she was obviously about to prove him wrong.

"You want to teach them both a lesson?" she asked, smirking.

This was just too good. Ron couldn't help what came out of his mouth next.

"I'm listening..."

Author's Note

This chapter is for everyone who wanted to see the "chaos" Narcissa has

caused with her assignment. Hehe... I had fun writing this one :) Okay, no update

tomorrow... Probably the day after... And I'll add two (maybe three if I'm feeling

articularly inspired) Anyhoo... Hope you liked, R&R Please!! Thanks for your

time...

Oh yeah, and to This Is Me and everyone else concerned regarding Draco

being somewhat ooc, yes, I do owe you guys an explanation, but keep in mind that

all will be revealed in the coming chapters (remember, it's all planned out, I just

need time to type it up, hehe), so please bear with me.

Lastly, concerning the length of the chapters: Please see Chapter 1, I believe

I stated it plainly there. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, however,

I posses neither the patience nor the attention span to necessary to write much

more than what the mean length of my chapters is (which is, by the way, over 1200

words, not including the A/N's). I am of the opinion that this is an appropriate

length, though some may contest this notion. The conclusion that I wish to allow

you to realize is that, my focus is, and will always be, on the quality of the writing,

and not on the quantity of it.

As always, thank you for your time.

E. Caddy Compson (persephoneia)