Chapter Twenty: Planning and Watching
A smile danced across Narcissa Malfoy's face. After Dumbledore had taken his leave,
most of the staff had followed, as there was a meeting to discuss the pressing issue of
safety on the trip, leaving only her and Professor Snape to supervise, and watch the
calamity that unfolded before their eyes.
It had started with the high-pitched, annoying cry of Pansy Parkinson. Narcissa saw
Severus cover his ears, in an attempt to drown out the noise, and indeed that was the
course of action many students chose to take, trying to ignore her altogether. Draco had
tried, at first, but had been unsuccessful as she chose to sit on his lap. What a--
Narcissa watched with delight as her son pushed that snobby, wanton brat off him
and revealed his feelings to all. He had professed his feelings for Hermione, and threatened
anyone who dared think to do her any harm. He had then chivalrously bent down on one
knee and kissed her hand, and then left, with the student body left gossiping in his wake.
Narcissa turned to the man sitting next to her, whose face had an unmistakable grin
on it. He turned to meet her eyes.
"That was quite droll," he said, clearly fighting back the laughter that threatened to
stain his image.
"Yes it was," her eyes twinkled as she spoke.
"I only have one question: why, Narcissa?"
She sighed. "Because of the way my son would always talk about Hermione. It was,
I guess you could say, an elementary love, of sorts. She sounded perfect for him, and if he
could only get past his hatred for those who are different, maybe he would be able to see
that beneath those barriers they have both put up to block out the world, they are more
similar than they could have imagined."
Severus nodded in agreement. "I think you 'hit the nail on the head' so to speak."
"And one more thing. I didn't want him to get stuck with Pansy Parkinson." She
scoffed. "That girl is absolutely obsessed. I've never seen anything like it..."
"And her voice is absolutely horrid."
"Yes, it is. I wouldn't want her for a daughter in law."
"You know that she fantasizes over becoming the next Mrs. Malfoy."
"Yes... Over my dead body!"
Snape let out a chuckle. Wow! He had let out a chuckle. Was it really that funny?
Narcissa hadn't thought so, but apparently Severus did. Any sign of amusement from
Severus Snape was a thing seldom seen... And then she thought of something.
"Oh, and I have a question for you."
"What might that be?" he asked.
"What was it you meant in the library? About teaching everyone a few things,
Severus?" she asked, examining his eyes.
He looked away, and sighed. "There is a time and a place for everything, Narcissa.
If you don't know already, someday you will, when the time is right," and with that, he
stood up and walked out of the Great Hall, leaving Narcissa to her thoughts.
Ron and Harry sat in the Gryffindor Common Room that night, about an hour after
dinner, talking, after Ron once again had beaten Harry at Wizard's Chess. Hermione had
decided to go somewhere to be alone, though not likely to her dorm, since Pavarti and
Lavender could surely track her down there and bombard her with questions.
"Can you believe it, Harry?" asked Ron.
He shook his head. "I would never have believed it had I not seen it with my own
eyes."
"Me neither."
Just then, a group of Gryffindor girls walked in. They were talking loudly about the
ball and their dates, and a grin spread across Harry's face.
"So, Ron, who are you going to the ball with?"
Ron was taken aback. "I... erm... nobody yet..."
"Don't want to get stuck with the last girls left, right? Let's go" he said, looking in
the direction of Pavarti Patil and Lavender Brown. The two girls had been giggling furiously
and looking in their direction, up until they had seen them, and then they had turned away,
blushing scarlet.
"Whoa, wait a minute, Harry. Pavarti is not going to want to go with you after what
happened at the Yule Ball –-"
Harry interrupted. "Ron, come on. I'm going to ask Lavender. You get to go with
Pavarti." And he left, his friend standing, rooted to the spot.
As Harry walked up to where Lavender and Pavarti were standing, he noticed that his
hands became sweaty, and he got really nervous. Maybe Ron was right--
"Oh, hey Harry," Lavender said, trying to conceal her now beet red cheeks.
"Hey, Lavender." Why did his voice sound so squeaky. Why was he nervous? Just
then, Ron came up behind him.
"Hi Lavender, hey Pavarti."
"Hey Ron," said Pavarti, smiling.
"Lavender, could I talk to you for a minute?" Harry asked.
"Sure," she said.
He pulled her away from Pavarti and Ron, and turned to her. "You... erm... Wanna
go to the Ball with me?"
She turned, if possible, redder. "Yes," she giggled. "I'd love to."
"Okay, then. Oh, and I don't--"
"Yeah, I know, Harry, I don't dance much either, don't worry." She smiled. This was
certainly going to be better than the Yule Ball.
Draco sat at the top of the Astronomy tower. The night was calm; the stars were
out, the moon waxing. He looked out over the Hogwarts grounds, surveying the scenery
and breathing in the crisp, nighttime air.
He had lost his temper and been caught up in the moment at the Great Hall, what
must have been well over an hour before. He wondered why none of the Professors that
were left had said anything. Maybe they had all been too shocked. And then it came to
him.
The only professors that had been left afterwards were Snape and... his mother.
She hadn't even said a word. Something odd was going on, he could feel it. Narcissa
Malfoy not saying something was an indicator of her approval, wasn't it? She was the one
who had chosen to seat them together, even after his continual rants at Malfoy Manor every
holiday. And she did seem quite annoyed whenever Mrs. Parkinson came with Pansy for
tea. He shook his head. How could he not have seen it before?
She had wanted him and Hermione to be together. He gritted his teeth. His mother
probably thought something along the lines of them being "such a cute couple." Of course.
Everything always had to be perfect for her, didn't it? She wanted him with the girl who
was the smartest in her class, the prettiest, the most perfect. Elitist. She probably wanted
to improve the gene pool or something of that sort, and be able to proclaim at her tea
parties how her son, likely to be the Head Boy, or at the very least with his Prefect title, had
married the likeliest candidate for Head Girl from his class at Hogwarts... How romantic...
They had played right into her plans. How could he have been so blind?
Then there was Snape. How did he fit into the picture? Perhaps he just found the
whole scenario amusing. He was a bit of a sadist, wasn't he? But then, maybe he had
helped plan all this. Teachers could be quite odd, reliving their youths through their
students...
Draco felt a presence next to him, taking him from his thoughts. He turned to meet
the brown eyes. "What do you want, Granger?" he asked, in an agitated tone.
Hermione was taken aback. "Draco, what's wrong? Is something the matter?"
"Nothing of your concern; now I'd appreciate it if you just left me alone."
There was a hurt look in her eyes, and then they narrowed in anger. "It is my
concern if you're going to treat me this way over it. But fine, you know what? I'm leaving.
I never want to speak to you again, Draco Malfoy."
Something about the way she looked, the tone of her voice did it. It dawned on him.
It was no more her fault than his. He shouldn't blame it all on her. She was a victim, too.
But then again, were they really victims? He knew how she felt about him, and no one had
ever made him feel the way that she was able to. He sighed in defeat. His mother was
right again, as usual. But why did she always have to meddle?
He looked at the angry girl opening the door to go down the staircase and back
inside the castle. He cloak fluttered, her hair had that wave-like motion when she walked,
as it reflected the light cast by the moon and stars. Her skin glowed in the same light. He
noticed something else, too...
Author's Note
Thanks to all my lovely reviewers!!! You guys once again have made my day (and I've
added TWO chapters for your reading pleasure... hehe)
So, just click the next button to keep on reading.
I'll be adding more looks at clock. It reads "11:50PM"
Tomorrow :)
Until then, please Read and Review, and thanks for your time
E. Caddy Compson (persephoneia)