Another chapter my dear readers, thanks for the interesting reviews!
************************************************************************
Hermione sighed as she entered the Transfiguration classroom cautiously. Everyone was so jumpy and she was allowing it to affect her. She mentally scolded herself for her own paranoia as she took her seat.
Professor McGonagall was instructing them on the finer points of changing hats into rope when the bell sounded, reverberating off the classroom walls.
Minerva sighed as the students gathered their things and plopped down into the seat behind her desk. As Hermione pivoted to leave she distinctly heard professor McGonagall clear her throat in an unusual manner.
Hermione turned around to meet Minerva's stern gaze with her own questioning one. "Miss Granger, if I may have a word?" McGonagall gestured to the chair resting in front of her desk.
Hermione sat her things down and walked slowly to the chair the Transfiguration teacher had indicated "Yes Professor?"
"Well, how shall I phrase this, I've noticed that you and Mr. Malfoy have entered a small competition, am I wrong?"
"No Professor, you're quite right." Hermione affirmed hesitantly.
"You see Miss Granger, I merely wanted to offer my assistance." McGonagall said softly.
Hermione's eyebrows rose out of sheer shock "I hope you won't find me rude in asking why Professor, I mean it's just that you've always disapproved of inappropriate behavior."
Minerva's lips curled ever so slightly "That boy is Severus's pet. You see, I really have nothing against Mr. Malfoy, I merely want to ensure that Severus is humiliated, an assistance that can't possibly be traced to me. We can help each other. And, if you'll allow me to speak frankly, I've always had a particular fondness for you, as I would a daughter, and I know I would never want my daughter to be beaten by some silver haired Slytherin, bred by Severus."
Hermione smiled warmly "Of course not Professor."
Minerva walked around her desk as Hermione stood to leave. The teacher extended her hand "Allies?"
Hermione nodded "Allies."
Minerva took Hermione's hand but instead of shaking it she pulled the younger girl into an embrace, one which Hermione returned before leaving.
As Hermione reached the portrait of the Fat Lady an eagle owl swooped low and landed on her shoulder. She regarded the bird curiously before noting the scrap of parchment attached to it's leg.
Hermione untied it carefully and unraveled the message as the bird escalated into the air. She skimmed the letter quickly.
Dear Hermione,
Meet me in the library at midnight tonight. Come alone or I will not reveal myself. And before I forget, I would suggest you not visit Weasley tonight.
Yours Sincerely,
Draco Malfoy
Hermione rolled her eyes as she entered the common room and dropped her things. Now what did he want? Was his attack on Ginny not enough?
Harry emerged from the boy's dormitory with a grave expression, followed closely by Ginny. Her hair had returned to its original brilliant shade of red.
Ginny walked straight over to Hermione and tilted her chin up slightly to look her in the eye as Harry plopped down on the couch in front of them.
"How could you Hermione? It took Madame Pomfrey a good four hours to undo the damage you had done." Ginny exclaimed.
"Ginny, I didn't do it, I swear!" Hermione vowed.
Ginny scoffed "Sure, well it doesn't matter anyway cause we're going to get you back." Ginny promised as she fell back beside Harry.
Harry sighed heavily.
"What's your problem?" Hermione asked, becoming annoyed.
Harry raised tired eyes to Hermione's "It is far better thing that I do now, then I have ever done before."
"I don't like the sound of that" Hermione announced.
Suddenly the clock sitting above the fireplace sounded throughout the common room twelve times. Midnight. Oh well, she may as well go.
As Hermione pushed the heavy oak door of the library open it creaked upon it's hinges in protest. She peered around the poorly lit space in vain.
She put her form completely within the room and allowed the door to thud closed behind her. "Draco?"
She walked halfway down an aisle "Draco?" Maybe he wouldn't show after all.
All of the sudden Hermione felt something warm cover the back of her neck. She whirled around to address Draco's smiling face.
"Are you alone?" He asked softly.
She nodded "Yes."
"No one else knows you're here?" He whispered distractedly playing with her chocolate waves.
She shook her head gently "No one else." She answered.
"That's good." He replied as he bent to brush his lips across hers.
She pulled back slightly "And you called me here because?"
He smiled "I called you here to propose an alliance."
She automatically shook her head "Ginny is your presumed ally and look what you did to her, why I have half a mind to tell her."
She felt his body ripple with amusement "You would have half a mind if you thought she'd believe you."
Hermione shook her head, sending her brown locks flying. "There's just one thing I don't understand, why did you do it?"
His grin widened "I had to ensure her loyalty."
"By attacking her?"
"Think about it Hermione, if someone attacked Harry would you attack the culprit?" He asked stroking his thumb across her lower lip.
Hermione cast her eyes downward "No, I guess not." She admitted.
Draco nodded "But if someone attacked you, you would."
"Damn you, you're right." Hermione sighed defeatedly.
Draco nodded "Always, so what do you say, will you join me."
A defiant glare twinkled in her eye as she tilted her chin "Never." She vowed "You're the cause of this and someone has to stop you."
Draco shrugged "As you wish, in that case I wish you luck, because you'll need it." And with that he disappeared into the darkness of the library leaving Hermione to go back to her common room for some much needed sleep.
Unfortunately for her this was not the case.
"OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!" The echo resounded throughout the castle, originating in the boy's dormitory.
Ron ran out of his bedroom in a blind haze, quickly followed by Neville, Seamus and Dean. Harry was no where to be seen.
In his madness Ron made a mad dash to Hermione's room but the sixth step slid him back down, creating easy prey for the monstrosity emerging from the bedroom.
The girls all rushed out to the top of the freshly concocted slide and several screamed at the sight.
A hideous black spider, towering over six feet was creeping steadily down the steps towards Ron, completely disregarding Neville, Seamus and Dean.
Hermione pushed her way through the crowd and caught a glimpse of the fallen red head cowering from the gigantic terror.
"Ron!" She yelled pointlessly over the noise.
The arachnid advanced, it's deadly pincers dripping with poison and Ron began to whimper. Hermione flew to her room, groping in the darkness for her wand. She finally clutched the thin strip of wood in her shaking grasp and shoved her way out.
She took a deep breath and jumped, allowing her body to slide down the stone ramp Ron had accidentally created.
She ran to block the monster's motion forward, stood in front of Ron and yelled "Expelliarmus!!"
The octane flew backward a good four feet before disintegrating into dust. Ron clutched his heart, breathing heavily as Hermione helped him to his feet.
Suddenly Professor McGonagall burst into the room, took in the sight before her and assessed it into one horrid fact. Her students were out of bed.
"Back to bed all of you!" She ordered. The pupils began to turn, some still in shell shock, and do her bidding.
"Weasley, Granger, freeze!" She commanded as Hermione began to assist the slightly shaken Weasley to bed. Minerva looked at Hermione expectantly "Explain." She ordered crisply.
Hermione took a deep breath but Ron croaked up before she got the chance "I was sleeping in my bed, Professor, when this fuzzy thing hit my leg and when I turned on the lights to...to see what it was... it was this huge sp- sp-spider! I ran down stairs t-to try and get away from it but... but it caught up." He finished in a strangled gurgle.
"That's when I slid down here to kill it Professor, its ashes are over there" She gestured to the pile of black grains covering the foot of the boy's staircase.
McGonagall nodded, apparently appeased by this explanation upon examination of the black dust. She signaled for Hermione to continue to help Ron to bed when a thought struck her.
"Just a moment, Miss Granger, I just have one more question."
Hermione halted her persistence and turned expectantly "Yes Professor?"
"Where is Mr. Potter?"
Hermione sighed as she entered the Transfiguration classroom cautiously. Everyone was so jumpy and she was allowing it to affect her. She mentally scolded herself for her own paranoia as she took her seat.
Professor McGonagall was instructing them on the finer points of changing hats into rope when the bell sounded, reverberating off the classroom walls.
Minerva sighed as the students gathered their things and plopped down into the seat behind her desk. As Hermione pivoted to leave she distinctly heard professor McGonagall clear her throat in an unusual manner.
Hermione turned around to meet Minerva's stern gaze with her own questioning one. "Miss Granger, if I may have a word?" McGonagall gestured to the chair resting in front of her desk.
Hermione sat her things down and walked slowly to the chair the Transfiguration teacher had indicated "Yes Professor?"
"Well, how shall I phrase this, I've noticed that you and Mr. Malfoy have entered a small competition, am I wrong?"
"No Professor, you're quite right." Hermione affirmed hesitantly.
"You see Miss Granger, I merely wanted to offer my assistance." McGonagall said softly.
Hermione's eyebrows rose out of sheer shock "I hope you won't find me rude in asking why Professor, I mean it's just that you've always disapproved of inappropriate behavior."
Minerva's lips curled ever so slightly "That boy is Severus's pet. You see, I really have nothing against Mr. Malfoy, I merely want to ensure that Severus is humiliated, an assistance that can't possibly be traced to me. We can help each other. And, if you'll allow me to speak frankly, I've always had a particular fondness for you, as I would a daughter, and I know I would never want my daughter to be beaten by some silver haired Slytherin, bred by Severus."
Hermione smiled warmly "Of course not Professor."
Minerva walked around her desk as Hermione stood to leave. The teacher extended her hand "Allies?"
Hermione nodded "Allies."
Minerva took Hermione's hand but instead of shaking it she pulled the younger girl into an embrace, one which Hermione returned before leaving.
As Hermione reached the portrait of the Fat Lady an eagle owl swooped low and landed on her shoulder. She regarded the bird curiously before noting the scrap of parchment attached to it's leg.
Hermione untied it carefully and unraveled the message as the bird escalated into the air. She skimmed the letter quickly.
Dear Hermione,
Meet me in the library at midnight tonight. Come alone or I will not reveal myself. And before I forget, I would suggest you not visit Weasley tonight.
Yours Sincerely,
Draco Malfoy
Hermione rolled her eyes as she entered the common room and dropped her things. Now what did he want? Was his attack on Ginny not enough?
Harry emerged from the boy's dormitory with a grave expression, followed closely by Ginny. Her hair had returned to its original brilliant shade of red.
Ginny walked straight over to Hermione and tilted her chin up slightly to look her in the eye as Harry plopped down on the couch in front of them.
"How could you Hermione? It took Madame Pomfrey a good four hours to undo the damage you had done." Ginny exclaimed.
"Ginny, I didn't do it, I swear!" Hermione vowed.
Ginny scoffed "Sure, well it doesn't matter anyway cause we're going to get you back." Ginny promised as she fell back beside Harry.
Harry sighed heavily.
"What's your problem?" Hermione asked, becoming annoyed.
Harry raised tired eyes to Hermione's "It is far better thing that I do now, then I have ever done before."
"I don't like the sound of that" Hermione announced.
Suddenly the clock sitting above the fireplace sounded throughout the common room twelve times. Midnight. Oh well, she may as well go.
As Hermione pushed the heavy oak door of the library open it creaked upon it's hinges in protest. She peered around the poorly lit space in vain.
She put her form completely within the room and allowed the door to thud closed behind her. "Draco?"
She walked halfway down an aisle "Draco?" Maybe he wouldn't show after all.
All of the sudden Hermione felt something warm cover the back of her neck. She whirled around to address Draco's smiling face.
"Are you alone?" He asked softly.
She nodded "Yes."
"No one else knows you're here?" He whispered distractedly playing with her chocolate waves.
She shook her head gently "No one else." She answered.
"That's good." He replied as he bent to brush his lips across hers.
She pulled back slightly "And you called me here because?"
He smiled "I called you here to propose an alliance."
She automatically shook her head "Ginny is your presumed ally and look what you did to her, why I have half a mind to tell her."
She felt his body ripple with amusement "You would have half a mind if you thought she'd believe you."
Hermione shook her head, sending her brown locks flying. "There's just one thing I don't understand, why did you do it?"
His grin widened "I had to ensure her loyalty."
"By attacking her?"
"Think about it Hermione, if someone attacked Harry would you attack the culprit?" He asked stroking his thumb across her lower lip.
Hermione cast her eyes downward "No, I guess not." She admitted.
Draco nodded "But if someone attacked you, you would."
"Damn you, you're right." Hermione sighed defeatedly.
Draco nodded "Always, so what do you say, will you join me."
A defiant glare twinkled in her eye as she tilted her chin "Never." She vowed "You're the cause of this and someone has to stop you."
Draco shrugged "As you wish, in that case I wish you luck, because you'll need it." And with that he disappeared into the darkness of the library leaving Hermione to go back to her common room for some much needed sleep.
Unfortunately for her this was not the case.
"OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!" The echo resounded throughout the castle, originating in the boy's dormitory.
Ron ran out of his bedroom in a blind haze, quickly followed by Neville, Seamus and Dean. Harry was no where to be seen.
In his madness Ron made a mad dash to Hermione's room but the sixth step slid him back down, creating easy prey for the monstrosity emerging from the bedroom.
The girls all rushed out to the top of the freshly concocted slide and several screamed at the sight.
A hideous black spider, towering over six feet was creeping steadily down the steps towards Ron, completely disregarding Neville, Seamus and Dean.
Hermione pushed her way through the crowd and caught a glimpse of the fallen red head cowering from the gigantic terror.
"Ron!" She yelled pointlessly over the noise.
The arachnid advanced, it's deadly pincers dripping with poison and Ron began to whimper. Hermione flew to her room, groping in the darkness for her wand. She finally clutched the thin strip of wood in her shaking grasp and shoved her way out.
She took a deep breath and jumped, allowing her body to slide down the stone ramp Ron had accidentally created.
She ran to block the monster's motion forward, stood in front of Ron and yelled "Expelliarmus!!"
The octane flew backward a good four feet before disintegrating into dust. Ron clutched his heart, breathing heavily as Hermione helped him to his feet.
Suddenly Professor McGonagall burst into the room, took in the sight before her and assessed it into one horrid fact. Her students were out of bed.
"Back to bed all of you!" She ordered. The pupils began to turn, some still in shell shock, and do her bidding.
"Weasley, Granger, freeze!" She commanded as Hermione began to assist the slightly shaken Weasley to bed. Minerva looked at Hermione expectantly "Explain." She ordered crisply.
Hermione took a deep breath but Ron croaked up before she got the chance "I was sleeping in my bed, Professor, when this fuzzy thing hit my leg and when I turned on the lights to...to see what it was... it was this huge sp- sp-spider! I ran down stairs t-to try and get away from it but... but it caught up." He finished in a strangled gurgle.
"That's when I slid down here to kill it Professor, its ashes are over there" She gestured to the pile of black grains covering the foot of the boy's staircase.
McGonagall nodded, apparently appeased by this explanation upon examination of the black dust. She signaled for Hermione to continue to help Ron to bed when a thought struck her.
"Just a moment, Miss Granger, I just have one more question."
Hermione halted her persistence and turned expectantly "Yes Professor?"
"Where is Mr. Potter?"