The dates came and went for Draco. He had a lot of fun with the
'Spectacular Seven', as they were called by many. Being hyper always made
them fun to be around.
Finally it was the night of his date with Hermione.
He had scheduled a romantic dinner by a large ocean.
No one else would be around because he owned the beach, and he decided to use it for his date.
Draco never dreamed in even his wildest dreams he would be going out with Hermione Granger, the girl his father never approved of and who was the smartest witch in his time.
He still thought she was a stuck up prick, which was exactly what she thought he was.
To be honest, Hermione was right.
Draco only seemed changed. In truth he wasn't.
His father Lucius had recently owled him.
Lucius had said he had been watching the show. Where he was he wouldn't tell.
Lucius also said he was extremely displeased with his son's decision, and he should make Hermione extremely mad at him.
Draco actually enjoyed that. Sadly.
Draco couldn't hide the fact that he got a little scared around Hermione, though.
He hid it well, only because his father taught him never to show his feelings. He never questioned his father's actions and always did what Lucius told him.
He smoothed his hair back and walked down the stairs to meet a very angry, glaring Hermione.
Draco smirked and asked casually, "So, I suppose you've been waiting all your life for this one moment. Just do me a favor and try to not slobber all over my dress robes. I had them custom made."
This infuriated Hermione who walked briskly out the door, a fire in her chocolate eyes.
Draco's gray eyes followed her. He kept his face expressionless and his eyes cold.
Butler Severus happily opened the door to the limo and waited by Draco's door.
Draco walked over and slid into the seat while Butler Severus closed the door.
Butler Severus had spent the better part of that day trying to teach the house-elves how to drive, and had succeeded in teaching the one named Winnefred.
Winnefred was to be their driver that night.
Hermione stared out the black tinted windows trying to calm herself down.
They drove past quaint little farm houses and fields of corn.
They drove past many mills and other things that one would see in the country side.
They didn't talk the whole way to the restaurant.
When Winnefred had parked the limo, she walked around it on her short knobbly legs to open it for Hermione.
Hermione, though, had already gotten out and was searching in her purse for a tip to pay Winnefred. She had stopped S. P. E. W., but she still wasn't convinced that the elves enjoyed their jobs.
Winnefred finally convinced her not to give her a tip and went around to the other side to open the door for 'Master Malfoy'.
Draco brushed past her and led Hermione to the restaurant.
For dinner Hermione ordered seared tuna and red wine.
Draco ordered the same.
Draco's sea gray eyes bore into Hermione's head until she looked up.
She smirked, noticing this, and asked innocently, "What? Are *you* checking *me* out? Or am I just so beautiful you can't take your eyes off me?"
The date went downhill from there, even if some think it couldn't get any worse.
"What? That's insane!" said Draco, finally losing his cool. He had an air about him that made everyone hear him and be afraid without him having to yell. Everyone, that is, except Hermione. She was a true Gryffindor, like Harry.
Hermione just smirked evilly at him.
Anyone looking at her would have thought they saw the devil in her eyes.
Draco was starting to get a *little* scared.
"You know, this *will* be on television all over the wizarding world."
Hermione whispered this, and, having said what she wanted to say, apparated back to Malfoy Manor with a faint pop.
Malfoy stared dumbstruck at the spot where she once stood, letting this new news sink in.
He hadn't thought of that. What she just said everyone would see and hear.
Worst of all, his father would see him looking at her like he did.
His eyes opened wide in horror, and he ran into the nearby woods.
He ran and ran until he fell, wearied at last, onto the ground.
Visions of Hermione's smirking face clouded his thoughts.
Suddenly his mouth felt extremely dry. He coughed, gasping for air. His breathing became shallower.
Somewhere his father was casting a curse he himself had created.
The curse had been created for just that purpose.
After the 'downfall' of Voldemort, he, Lucius Malfoy had become leader of all free dark wizards and witched everywhere.
With this responsibility also came power. Great power.
While Draco was suffering Hermione was also suffering.
In her room, after placing many silencing charms on and around her room.
She sobbed into the pillows. She wasn't crying out of sadness, though.
She was crying out of anger.
Hermione cursed Draco, cursed him for asking her to stay, cursing him for everything he'd ever done to her.
She ran over to her bathroom where she found her necklace of a lioness.
She started to toss it into the toilet, but something stopped her hand.
The necklace started to glow a deep, venomous green.
Suddenly Hermione realized what it was.
Her eyes opened wide in shock.
"It. it. it can't be!" she squeaked.
It was a Vivere Portenderer.
If it turned green, like it just did, it meant someone was on the brink of death. Harry had bought three- one for himself, one for Hermione, and one for Ron- in their fifth year. They were very expensive.
If it was the same scarlet red color it used to be, the person was safe.
Hermione had no doubts Draco was in trouble.
She apparated to the spot where she left him and heard screams coming from the nearby forest.
"Point me!" she frantically whispered.
It pointed north and towards Draco. She had changed the spell a bit so it pointed her toward wherever she was going.
She ran and ran until she got side cramps. It was just then she saw Draco, blood trickling down his face.
He looked up slowly and muttered, "Help," in a dry cracked voice.
Suddenly he fell unconscious, his head and limbs all in very awkward positions.
Suddenly an earsplitting crack broke the silence. Hermione winced and turned away.
It was obvious that Draco's arms and legs were broken, but how? The answer was simple.
Lucius.
"Mobilus Incorpus," she muttered, and Draco's limp body drifted eerily above the ground.
She ran and ran some more until she was out of the woods.
She heard voices yelling in the forest in the spot where she had recently emerged. She quickly apparated with a small *pop* and appeared back at Malfoy Manor.
She ran to Butler Severus, Draco's head dully thunking the roof.
Butler Severus' normally unusually cheerful mood turned into horror when he saw Draco.
He quickly carried Draco to his room, Hermione rushing after him.
She summoned Madame Pomfrey, who appeared immediately.
She rushed over to Draco's bed and started conducting tests and conjuring medicines out of no where.
Hermione stood on her toes trying to see if he was all right.
Suddenly a thought struck her.
"I'm concerned about Malfoy? Wait. he asked me, a muggle born, for help?"
With these thoughts swirling around in her head, she became overwhelmed and sank into a chair by his bedside.
Madame Pomfrey, having done what she needed to do, bustled out to have a word with everyone else.
Hermione absentmindedly reached out and stroked Draco's hand.
It was so cold. She supposed he was never loved. She suddenly pitied him.
Hermione didn't move from that spot all night, and she fell asleep on his stomach.
Madame Pomfrey had seen to the camera crews and made sure they would not bother Hermione or Draco.
The show was replaced by a news cast covering the story of Draco's attack, making up all sorts of stupid exaggerated stuff like all news crews do.
~*~
"Hey, Ron, come here! Malfoy was attacked by his father!" Harry called into the kitchen were his best friend was trying to wrestle some Weasley's Wheezes from his daughter.
"That. *huff* is the. *huff* last time. *huff* I let you. *huff* spend time. *huff* with THEM!" Ron screeched.
But what Harry had said caught his attention.
Ron rushed into the den and stared in shock at the T.V.
They knew Lucius was evil, but would he really resort to trying to kill his own flesh and blood? The answer was, again, simple.
Yes he would. He would do anything to remain powerful forever. He was a Malfoy. A true, pure-blooded, every inch of him evil, Malfoy.
Unlike Draco. This accident would change him and the way he saw life forever.
No, he would not go around hugging and cuddling bunnies, or being Mr. All Around Good. That would just not be him.
The whole world stared in shock at their televisions. Everyone was on the edge of their seats. ~*~
Draco woke up and found a mass of tousled brown hair laying on his stomach and snoring softly.
The memories of the night before came flooding back to him.
Hermione. had saved him.
He. owed her his life.
He didn't like owing anyone anything.
"They're right," he murmured. "Before you die or almost die, your whole life floods before your eyes."
Hermione, aroused by her 'pillow's' sudden movements, sat up and rubbed her eyes.
When the sleep was rubbed from her eyes, she turned a brilliant shade of pink, realizing what she had done.
Draco smiled. It was a genuine smile, not his normal smirk.
Hermione had seen a mere glimpse of the true and hidden Draco.
And she liked it.
She looked down, still blushing.
Draco extended a hand and lifted her face up so she looked into his gray eyes.
She saw a brief moment of happiness in eyes that had seen a life full of sorrow. The life he had lived up until that point in his life.
Hermione broke the awkward silence by timidly asking, "So. how are you feeling?"
Madame Pomfrey chose that moment to come bustling in.
Luckily Draco had removed his hand from Hermione's face a few moments before.
It would have been very awkward indeed of she had seen the Slytherin and Gryffindor in that very private moment.
Hermione stood and slipped out the door, much to Draco's disappointment.
She had just made a new friend, if not more than a friend.
Little did she know what fate had in store for her.
Or perhaps it was luck.
~*~
Hermione walked back to her room, her eyes clouded over and a dreamy expression on her face.
Erika, who had been watching T.V. with the rest of the girls, ran up to Hermione and snapped her out of her daze.
"So, is it true?" she squealed.
Hermione got a perplexed look on her face.
Erika sighed exasperatedly. "Did you REALLY save Draco?"
"Oh!" Hermione exclaimed, and then blushed and sighed.
"Yes, I did. But it's not that big of a deal!" she rushed out.
Erika looked at her like she was crazy.
"What do you mean it doesn't matter? He is the hottest guy on the planet, and if he died, the show would be over and he wouldn't fall in love with y- me!"
Erika hid her mistake. She had almost revealed a part of the Spectacular Seven's plan!
Hermione, luckily, didn't notice.
Curiosity getting the better of her, she asked, "So, what're you watching on T.V.?"
Devony turned, a dreamy look on her face.
"Ben Affleck!" all the girls shouted.
Hermione rushed over. Next to Leonardo di Caprio, Ben Affleck was her next favorite actor.
"Really?" she squealed, and she ran over to join them.
Erika rushed back over.
"Oh. My. Gosh! It's. DANIEL RADCLIFFE!"
Devony, who was now beside herself with glee, started jumping around the room humming the Wedding March.
Unfortunately for her, Kelsey reached over and grabbed the remote control and changed the channel to The Daily Prophet Live, which was still covering the story of how 'Hermione Granger 'bravely and dramatically' rescued Draco Malfoy from perils unknown'.
Hermione sighed exasperatedly and stormed off to her room to think things over.
She had actually started thinking Draco and her could actually become friends. Maybe.
She walked into her bathroom and filled the tub with water.
She reached up to her neck to pull her shirt over her head when she found she still had the Vivere Portenderer around her neck.
She unclasped the clasp and laid it on her marble countertop.
She took off the rest of her clothes and stepped into the warm water. ~*~
Meanwhile, Draco was in his room with many bandages on him thinking about the past night and wondering if Hermione and all muggle borns were as horrible and filthy as his father made them out to be.
He concluded that they weren't.
After all, one DID just save his life.
And he had to find a way to repay her.
What he still didn't know was how Hermione knew where and when to find him. He didn't know that the Spectacular Seven had traded Hermione's necklace that Draco had given every Gryffindor girl with a Vivere Portenderer.
That was part of their plan.
They knew what was going to happen on that date, and they knew that Draco's father would try and kill his son.
They also knew what had happened earlier in Draco's room.
How- only they knew. It was one of the many mysteries surrounding this group.
Hermione, for normally being so smart, was falling for the trap, amazingly. ~*~
The Spectacular Seven, meanwhile, was holding a conference to discuss the next move in their plan.
This conference was taking place in Kelsey's room.
This happened because Kelsey flatly refused to go into any room that had posters of Daniel Radcliffe or Legolas Greenleaf.
Nari's room was the one with Legolas, and Devony's was the one with Daniel.
Kelsey also refused to go into any room with Tom Felton. That room was Erika's.
Kara had recently been approved as being able to handle the pressure of keeping the plan secret.
In other words, she was not part of the seven, but well on her way to becoming something close to one.
There would never be any more permanent admittances into that group, or at least not for a long time.
They were all sitting on Kelsey's bed because the beds were so large.
"I think next we should work on trying to find someway to boost their relationship. They're more than likely already friends, and Hermione has spent one night without moving from his bedside, so there's definitely a little friendship there, if not more than friendship." Devony grinned, causing everyone else to laugh.
"But how're we going to get them to like each other more?" Melissa questioned.
Nari glanced over at Erika, who amazingly seemed happy with the whole thing.
Especially since she had a humongous crush on Draco ever since their first year at Hogwarts.
Erika noticed this and stated, "I'm all for Tom now."
Everyone looked at her awkwardly and Nari just sighed in relief.
"I think we should just leave them alone. They seem to do perfectly well on their own."
Amanda had said this. She liked doing things the easiest way, unlike the other six.
They all looked at her like she was nuts.
They seemed to do that a lot.
"Aw, but that'd take all the fun out of it!" Kelsey whined. She loved tinkering with other people's lives and playing matchmaker.
Kelsey was the one who had suggested the whole Hermione/Draco thing, and so far it had been working like a charm.
They all rolled their eyes.
Throughout all of this Kara hadn't said anything.
Suddenly Kara spoke up, causing everyone to jump.
They were used to people never shutting up, like Devony, and someone being quiet for more than ten seconds was new to them.
Not that Kara was always quiet, though!
It's just she wasn't as hyper as Erika or Devony.
Now THEY were hyper, Devony more so.
"I think we should talk to Draco and give him some tips for getting Hermione to like him. After all, he does owe his life to her. That should be enough for making ANYONE like someone else."
Erika turned to Kara, surprised, and then looked at everyone else.
They made a silent agreement that Kara had a good point.
"Kara," Nari began, "we all agree that that is the BEST idea we have heard all night!"
Kara beamed in delight at impressing them. That was not something done everyday.
"It's decided then. We'll talk to Draco tomorrow."
The conference was over until next time. ~*~
Hermione had gotten out of the bath and dressed in her cotton pajamas after wrapping her hair in a towel.
She laid down with her favorite book, Hogwarts: A History.
She had read it at least a hundred times, and memorized it, but the fascination of the giant castle would never go away.
She missed it very much.
With Draco being wounded the Necklace Ceremony was postponed until next week.
This nearly gave all the girls except Hermione a heart attack.
After about thirty minutes she had read every page in Hogwarts: A History.
She set it on her bed stand and turned on the television.
There was nothing on T.V. except the Rescue of a Malfoy.
Hermione turned it off and clapped twice to turn off the lights.
She lay her head down on the feathery soft pillows and fell asleep in ten minutes. ~*~
Albus Dumbledore, meanwhile, was having a chat with Tom Riddle.
He peered over his half-moon spectacles and looked Tom in the eyes.
"Are you sure you want to take this risk?" he questioned for the seventh time.
Tom nodded solemnly and replied, "You know as well as I, Albus, I must take this risk. It was my fault in the first place. I now realize the mistake of all my actions.
Dumbledore sadly nodded and sighed.
"So, there's no talking you out of it?"
They both knew this was more of a statement than a question, but Tom answered it anyway.
"No, Albus. If I die, than so be it."
Fawkes sang out loud and clear and flew over to rest on Tom's shoulder.
Tom smiled and pet the large phoenix. He had never had a phoenix perched on his shoulder before, and it somehow strengthened him and gave him courage to stand up to whatever his fate would be.
Dumbledore noticed a change in his new friend's eyes, a mere flash of his former self before he let evil devour him wholly, back in his school days.
Those were the days he had hoped to be a Gryffindor. Tom now wished he had been a Gryffindor instead of turning into the hideous monster he was for so many years.
But those days of evil were past for him now.
Tom became what he became, and realized his mistakes.
Tom was truly a Gryffindor in that time and place, and Dumbledore knew it.
Dumbledore smiled and touched him on the forehead and muttered a few words.
Tom smiled and walked out of the room.
~*~
R&R! Thanks for all who have!
Disclaimer: Don't own, don't sue.
Finally it was the night of his date with Hermione.
He had scheduled a romantic dinner by a large ocean.
No one else would be around because he owned the beach, and he decided to use it for his date.
Draco never dreamed in even his wildest dreams he would be going out with Hermione Granger, the girl his father never approved of and who was the smartest witch in his time.
He still thought she was a stuck up prick, which was exactly what she thought he was.
To be honest, Hermione was right.
Draco only seemed changed. In truth he wasn't.
His father Lucius had recently owled him.
Lucius had said he had been watching the show. Where he was he wouldn't tell.
Lucius also said he was extremely displeased with his son's decision, and he should make Hermione extremely mad at him.
Draco actually enjoyed that. Sadly.
Draco couldn't hide the fact that he got a little scared around Hermione, though.
He hid it well, only because his father taught him never to show his feelings. He never questioned his father's actions and always did what Lucius told him.
He smoothed his hair back and walked down the stairs to meet a very angry, glaring Hermione.
Draco smirked and asked casually, "So, I suppose you've been waiting all your life for this one moment. Just do me a favor and try to not slobber all over my dress robes. I had them custom made."
This infuriated Hermione who walked briskly out the door, a fire in her chocolate eyes.
Draco's gray eyes followed her. He kept his face expressionless and his eyes cold.
Butler Severus happily opened the door to the limo and waited by Draco's door.
Draco walked over and slid into the seat while Butler Severus closed the door.
Butler Severus had spent the better part of that day trying to teach the house-elves how to drive, and had succeeded in teaching the one named Winnefred.
Winnefred was to be their driver that night.
Hermione stared out the black tinted windows trying to calm herself down.
They drove past quaint little farm houses and fields of corn.
They drove past many mills and other things that one would see in the country side.
They didn't talk the whole way to the restaurant.
When Winnefred had parked the limo, she walked around it on her short knobbly legs to open it for Hermione.
Hermione, though, had already gotten out and was searching in her purse for a tip to pay Winnefred. She had stopped S. P. E. W., but she still wasn't convinced that the elves enjoyed their jobs.
Winnefred finally convinced her not to give her a tip and went around to the other side to open the door for 'Master Malfoy'.
Draco brushed past her and led Hermione to the restaurant.
For dinner Hermione ordered seared tuna and red wine.
Draco ordered the same.
Draco's sea gray eyes bore into Hermione's head until she looked up.
She smirked, noticing this, and asked innocently, "What? Are *you* checking *me* out? Or am I just so beautiful you can't take your eyes off me?"
The date went downhill from there, even if some think it couldn't get any worse.
"What? That's insane!" said Draco, finally losing his cool. He had an air about him that made everyone hear him and be afraid without him having to yell. Everyone, that is, except Hermione. She was a true Gryffindor, like Harry.
Hermione just smirked evilly at him.
Anyone looking at her would have thought they saw the devil in her eyes.
Draco was starting to get a *little* scared.
"You know, this *will* be on television all over the wizarding world."
Hermione whispered this, and, having said what she wanted to say, apparated back to Malfoy Manor with a faint pop.
Malfoy stared dumbstruck at the spot where she once stood, letting this new news sink in.
He hadn't thought of that. What she just said everyone would see and hear.
Worst of all, his father would see him looking at her like he did.
His eyes opened wide in horror, and he ran into the nearby woods.
He ran and ran until he fell, wearied at last, onto the ground.
Visions of Hermione's smirking face clouded his thoughts.
Suddenly his mouth felt extremely dry. He coughed, gasping for air. His breathing became shallower.
Somewhere his father was casting a curse he himself had created.
The curse had been created for just that purpose.
After the 'downfall' of Voldemort, he, Lucius Malfoy had become leader of all free dark wizards and witched everywhere.
With this responsibility also came power. Great power.
While Draco was suffering Hermione was also suffering.
In her room, after placing many silencing charms on and around her room.
She sobbed into the pillows. She wasn't crying out of sadness, though.
She was crying out of anger.
Hermione cursed Draco, cursed him for asking her to stay, cursing him for everything he'd ever done to her.
She ran over to her bathroom where she found her necklace of a lioness.
She started to toss it into the toilet, but something stopped her hand.
The necklace started to glow a deep, venomous green.
Suddenly Hermione realized what it was.
Her eyes opened wide in shock.
"It. it. it can't be!" she squeaked.
It was a Vivere Portenderer.
If it turned green, like it just did, it meant someone was on the brink of death. Harry had bought three- one for himself, one for Hermione, and one for Ron- in their fifth year. They were very expensive.
If it was the same scarlet red color it used to be, the person was safe.
Hermione had no doubts Draco was in trouble.
She apparated to the spot where she left him and heard screams coming from the nearby forest.
"Point me!" she frantically whispered.
It pointed north and towards Draco. She had changed the spell a bit so it pointed her toward wherever she was going.
She ran and ran until she got side cramps. It was just then she saw Draco, blood trickling down his face.
He looked up slowly and muttered, "Help," in a dry cracked voice.
Suddenly he fell unconscious, his head and limbs all in very awkward positions.
Suddenly an earsplitting crack broke the silence. Hermione winced and turned away.
It was obvious that Draco's arms and legs were broken, but how? The answer was simple.
Lucius.
"Mobilus Incorpus," she muttered, and Draco's limp body drifted eerily above the ground.
She ran and ran some more until she was out of the woods.
She heard voices yelling in the forest in the spot where she had recently emerged. She quickly apparated with a small *pop* and appeared back at Malfoy Manor.
She ran to Butler Severus, Draco's head dully thunking the roof.
Butler Severus' normally unusually cheerful mood turned into horror when he saw Draco.
He quickly carried Draco to his room, Hermione rushing after him.
She summoned Madame Pomfrey, who appeared immediately.
She rushed over to Draco's bed and started conducting tests and conjuring medicines out of no where.
Hermione stood on her toes trying to see if he was all right.
Suddenly a thought struck her.
"I'm concerned about Malfoy? Wait. he asked me, a muggle born, for help?"
With these thoughts swirling around in her head, she became overwhelmed and sank into a chair by his bedside.
Madame Pomfrey, having done what she needed to do, bustled out to have a word with everyone else.
Hermione absentmindedly reached out and stroked Draco's hand.
It was so cold. She supposed he was never loved. She suddenly pitied him.
Hermione didn't move from that spot all night, and she fell asleep on his stomach.
Madame Pomfrey had seen to the camera crews and made sure they would not bother Hermione or Draco.
The show was replaced by a news cast covering the story of Draco's attack, making up all sorts of stupid exaggerated stuff like all news crews do.
~*~
"Hey, Ron, come here! Malfoy was attacked by his father!" Harry called into the kitchen were his best friend was trying to wrestle some Weasley's Wheezes from his daughter.
"That. *huff* is the. *huff* last time. *huff* I let you. *huff* spend time. *huff* with THEM!" Ron screeched.
But what Harry had said caught his attention.
Ron rushed into the den and stared in shock at the T.V.
They knew Lucius was evil, but would he really resort to trying to kill his own flesh and blood? The answer was, again, simple.
Yes he would. He would do anything to remain powerful forever. He was a Malfoy. A true, pure-blooded, every inch of him evil, Malfoy.
Unlike Draco. This accident would change him and the way he saw life forever.
No, he would not go around hugging and cuddling bunnies, or being Mr. All Around Good. That would just not be him.
The whole world stared in shock at their televisions. Everyone was on the edge of their seats. ~*~
Draco woke up and found a mass of tousled brown hair laying on his stomach and snoring softly.
The memories of the night before came flooding back to him.
Hermione. had saved him.
He. owed her his life.
He didn't like owing anyone anything.
"They're right," he murmured. "Before you die or almost die, your whole life floods before your eyes."
Hermione, aroused by her 'pillow's' sudden movements, sat up and rubbed her eyes.
When the sleep was rubbed from her eyes, she turned a brilliant shade of pink, realizing what she had done.
Draco smiled. It was a genuine smile, not his normal smirk.
Hermione had seen a mere glimpse of the true and hidden Draco.
And she liked it.
She looked down, still blushing.
Draco extended a hand and lifted her face up so she looked into his gray eyes.
She saw a brief moment of happiness in eyes that had seen a life full of sorrow. The life he had lived up until that point in his life.
Hermione broke the awkward silence by timidly asking, "So. how are you feeling?"
Madame Pomfrey chose that moment to come bustling in.
Luckily Draco had removed his hand from Hermione's face a few moments before.
It would have been very awkward indeed of she had seen the Slytherin and Gryffindor in that very private moment.
Hermione stood and slipped out the door, much to Draco's disappointment.
She had just made a new friend, if not more than a friend.
Little did she know what fate had in store for her.
Or perhaps it was luck.
~*~
Hermione walked back to her room, her eyes clouded over and a dreamy expression on her face.
Erika, who had been watching T.V. with the rest of the girls, ran up to Hermione and snapped her out of her daze.
"So, is it true?" she squealed.
Hermione got a perplexed look on her face.
Erika sighed exasperatedly. "Did you REALLY save Draco?"
"Oh!" Hermione exclaimed, and then blushed and sighed.
"Yes, I did. But it's not that big of a deal!" she rushed out.
Erika looked at her like she was crazy.
"What do you mean it doesn't matter? He is the hottest guy on the planet, and if he died, the show would be over and he wouldn't fall in love with y- me!"
Erika hid her mistake. She had almost revealed a part of the Spectacular Seven's plan!
Hermione, luckily, didn't notice.
Curiosity getting the better of her, she asked, "So, what're you watching on T.V.?"
Devony turned, a dreamy look on her face.
"Ben Affleck!" all the girls shouted.
Hermione rushed over. Next to Leonardo di Caprio, Ben Affleck was her next favorite actor.
"Really?" she squealed, and she ran over to join them.
Erika rushed back over.
"Oh. My. Gosh! It's. DANIEL RADCLIFFE!"
Devony, who was now beside herself with glee, started jumping around the room humming the Wedding March.
Unfortunately for her, Kelsey reached over and grabbed the remote control and changed the channel to The Daily Prophet Live, which was still covering the story of how 'Hermione Granger 'bravely and dramatically' rescued Draco Malfoy from perils unknown'.
Hermione sighed exasperatedly and stormed off to her room to think things over.
She had actually started thinking Draco and her could actually become friends. Maybe.
She walked into her bathroom and filled the tub with water.
She reached up to her neck to pull her shirt over her head when she found she still had the Vivere Portenderer around her neck.
She unclasped the clasp and laid it on her marble countertop.
She took off the rest of her clothes and stepped into the warm water. ~*~
Meanwhile, Draco was in his room with many bandages on him thinking about the past night and wondering if Hermione and all muggle borns were as horrible and filthy as his father made them out to be.
He concluded that they weren't.
After all, one DID just save his life.
And he had to find a way to repay her.
What he still didn't know was how Hermione knew where and when to find him. He didn't know that the Spectacular Seven had traded Hermione's necklace that Draco had given every Gryffindor girl with a Vivere Portenderer.
That was part of their plan.
They knew what was going to happen on that date, and they knew that Draco's father would try and kill his son.
They also knew what had happened earlier in Draco's room.
How- only they knew. It was one of the many mysteries surrounding this group.
Hermione, for normally being so smart, was falling for the trap, amazingly. ~*~
The Spectacular Seven, meanwhile, was holding a conference to discuss the next move in their plan.
This conference was taking place in Kelsey's room.
This happened because Kelsey flatly refused to go into any room that had posters of Daniel Radcliffe or Legolas Greenleaf.
Nari's room was the one with Legolas, and Devony's was the one with Daniel.
Kelsey also refused to go into any room with Tom Felton. That room was Erika's.
Kara had recently been approved as being able to handle the pressure of keeping the plan secret.
In other words, she was not part of the seven, but well on her way to becoming something close to one.
There would never be any more permanent admittances into that group, or at least not for a long time.
They were all sitting on Kelsey's bed because the beds were so large.
"I think next we should work on trying to find someway to boost their relationship. They're more than likely already friends, and Hermione has spent one night without moving from his bedside, so there's definitely a little friendship there, if not more than friendship." Devony grinned, causing everyone else to laugh.
"But how're we going to get them to like each other more?" Melissa questioned.
Nari glanced over at Erika, who amazingly seemed happy with the whole thing.
Especially since she had a humongous crush on Draco ever since their first year at Hogwarts.
Erika noticed this and stated, "I'm all for Tom now."
Everyone looked at her awkwardly and Nari just sighed in relief.
"I think we should just leave them alone. They seem to do perfectly well on their own."
Amanda had said this. She liked doing things the easiest way, unlike the other six.
They all looked at her like she was nuts.
They seemed to do that a lot.
"Aw, but that'd take all the fun out of it!" Kelsey whined. She loved tinkering with other people's lives and playing matchmaker.
Kelsey was the one who had suggested the whole Hermione/Draco thing, and so far it had been working like a charm.
They all rolled their eyes.
Throughout all of this Kara hadn't said anything.
Suddenly Kara spoke up, causing everyone to jump.
They were used to people never shutting up, like Devony, and someone being quiet for more than ten seconds was new to them.
Not that Kara was always quiet, though!
It's just she wasn't as hyper as Erika or Devony.
Now THEY were hyper, Devony more so.
"I think we should talk to Draco and give him some tips for getting Hermione to like him. After all, he does owe his life to her. That should be enough for making ANYONE like someone else."
Erika turned to Kara, surprised, and then looked at everyone else.
They made a silent agreement that Kara had a good point.
"Kara," Nari began, "we all agree that that is the BEST idea we have heard all night!"
Kara beamed in delight at impressing them. That was not something done everyday.
"It's decided then. We'll talk to Draco tomorrow."
The conference was over until next time. ~*~
Hermione had gotten out of the bath and dressed in her cotton pajamas after wrapping her hair in a towel.
She laid down with her favorite book, Hogwarts: A History.
She had read it at least a hundred times, and memorized it, but the fascination of the giant castle would never go away.
She missed it very much.
With Draco being wounded the Necklace Ceremony was postponed until next week.
This nearly gave all the girls except Hermione a heart attack.
After about thirty minutes she had read every page in Hogwarts: A History.
She set it on her bed stand and turned on the television.
There was nothing on T.V. except the Rescue of a Malfoy.
Hermione turned it off and clapped twice to turn off the lights.
She lay her head down on the feathery soft pillows and fell asleep in ten minutes. ~*~
Albus Dumbledore, meanwhile, was having a chat with Tom Riddle.
He peered over his half-moon spectacles and looked Tom in the eyes.
"Are you sure you want to take this risk?" he questioned for the seventh time.
Tom nodded solemnly and replied, "You know as well as I, Albus, I must take this risk. It was my fault in the first place. I now realize the mistake of all my actions.
Dumbledore sadly nodded and sighed.
"So, there's no talking you out of it?"
They both knew this was more of a statement than a question, but Tom answered it anyway.
"No, Albus. If I die, than so be it."
Fawkes sang out loud and clear and flew over to rest on Tom's shoulder.
Tom smiled and pet the large phoenix. He had never had a phoenix perched on his shoulder before, and it somehow strengthened him and gave him courage to stand up to whatever his fate would be.
Dumbledore noticed a change in his new friend's eyes, a mere flash of his former self before he let evil devour him wholly, back in his school days.
Those were the days he had hoped to be a Gryffindor. Tom now wished he had been a Gryffindor instead of turning into the hideous monster he was for so many years.
But those days of evil were past for him now.
Tom became what he became, and realized his mistakes.
Tom was truly a Gryffindor in that time and place, and Dumbledore knew it.
Dumbledore smiled and touched him on the forehead and muttered a few words.
Tom smiled and walked out of the room.
~*~
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