A/N: The last of the revised...
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'Could first day back be any worse?' thought Hermione, 'Already Ron and Harry need help with their homework, and we've been to like... three classes. What do they do during class?'
"Hermione, *please*! I haven't got a clue what I am doing. I'm real sorry for what happened on the train yesterday; I told you that at breakfast."
"Whatever, Harry. Why don't you just copy my paper?"
"But you don't..." Harry was interrupted by Ron's hand covering his mouth.
"Don't give her a chance to think twice, she's giving us a perfect grade, come on!" Ron whispered into Harry's ear.
Harry looked at Hermione skeptically, but took her paper. Hermione barely glanced at him before leaving her seat in the Gryffindor Common Room. No one had a chance to question her before she was out the portrait hole and halfway to the library.
'Where do I have to go to get a little peace and quiet?' she thought as she slumped into one of the chairs in the back of the library.
There were only one or two other people in the library. Even Madam Pince wasn't at her usual post near the library's exit. There was a first year looking totally lost near the potions section and one more student, but Hermione could only see their shoes; big, expensive, male shoes.
"At least there is no one in here to bug me," thought Hermione.
"Why would anyone want to bug miss know-it-all Granger? Is there someone invisible that you are talking to or are you the only person able to see them?" Hermione heard from behind her.
"Since when did you take residence in the library? Go haunt the dungeons, Malfoy, you aren't welcome here," she replied without moving.
"Someone's in a pissy mood. Come here, sit down, tell Dr. Draco all about your problems."
"Fuck off Malfoy. Go bug someone else, and get *out* of my library."
"This isn't *your* library, Granger, I can be in it if I so wish," exclaimed Draco as he walked past.
"Fine! Be in here, just don't sit at *my* table."
Malfoy sat in the chair directly across from Hermione then stated, "I do believe that all the furniture in this section of the library was donated by my father in my name. If anything, it is *my* table, and I plan on enjoying it."
"Why do you chose *today* of all the days to come and sit at *my* table? We've been here for more than 5 years and *today* you chose to invade my space. Why can't you just leave. Me. Alone," said Hermione, raising her voice.
"May I remind you, Granger, this is *my* table, donated by *my* family, thanks to *me* you have your precious table. You should be thanking me, not harassing me. If I want to sit at the table that I so generously donated every single day for the rest of the year, then I am going to do *just* that."
"This is MY table Malfoy! Why don't you just sit at that one over there?!" screamed Hermione drawing her wand and pointing to a table to her left.
Without glancing at the other table Malfoy pointed his own wand at Hermione before roared back, "Because I like THIS table, and I am going to sit at THIS TABLE."
"OH NO YOU AREN'T! Both of you follow me, THIS INSTANT!" In the heat of their argument, neither student had noticed Madam Pince entering the library.
"How horrible, I would never have thought. What got into you two? I am trying to run a library, I shouldn't have to baby-sit two students, prefects, no less! Aren't both of you in that special class? You better hope Professor Dumbledore is in a good mood. He will be *extrenely* disappointed in both of you."
Hermione and Draco followed Madam Pince down the corridor towards Professor Dumbledore's office. Both knew they had overreacted, but hadn't really broken any school rules. Neither would look at the other, but kept their gazes down. Just before reaching the headmaster's office, gargoyle jumped aside to reveal the form of Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Magic himself.
Stepping out of the office Fudge exclaimed, "And here are our wonderful students. Congratulations on being accepted into Egnah Cxe. The ministry is very proud."
"Thank you, sir. It is quite an honor to be selected for this class," replied Draco before Hermione could even open her mouth.
"Yes, yes it is. And Draco, please keep to your schoolwork, I don't want you to end like... Now, I must be going, you know, busy ministry business and everything"
The Minister swept past them without a glance towards either Hermione or Madam Pince. The two students then entered the room, closely followed by the librarian.
"Professor Dumbledore, I bring you Hogwarts' top students, who I caught screaming at one another in my library. I was able to calm them before any magic was performed, but I think they need some discipline. They shouldn't be acting like this. I hope you agree."
"Certainly, Madam Pince. Leave it to me. You may go look after the library, I daresay there are a few first years who need some assistance."
"Thank you, Professor Dumbledore."
"Now, both of you, please sit," said Dumbledore as soon as the door had closed, "Just before you came in, Mr. Fudge was in here congratulating me on finally producing a pair of students worthy of Egnah Cxe. Yet here you are, in my office, in need of discipline. I do hope it was all the excitement that fueled your argument, not some silly house rivalry."
Both Hermione and Draco looked away because they knew the house rivalry was the reason for them being enemies, which led to this argument.
"Please explain to me what happened."
"Malfoy insists on annoying me. All I want is to study and he had to make a big fuss about sitting at my table. There are a million other tables in the library, he could have sit anywhere, but he chose *my* table."
"First of all, sir, the table isn't *hers*. All *I* wanted to do was study. She was the one harassing me. She was the one insisting I move from the most convenient table. I didn't care what table I was at; this one was just the closest. I have a lot to study for, and don't need to be wasting time searching for a table."
"That's a load of codswallop! You didn't even have any books."
"I did so.."
"Okay, okay, I've heard enough. For any normal students caught bickering, detention and a few points deducted from their house would be the proper punishment, but neither of you are normal students. You two are extraordinary; your knowledge, Ms. Granger, going past just books and academics, as well as you both are representing the school as prefects and in Egnah Cxe. I don't think a night of detention and 5 points off your house is a sufficient punishment."
"Professor, I don't regret yelling at Malfoy, Merlin knows he needs it to knock him off the high pedestal he stands on, so could you tell us what our punishment is so that I can get back to studying?"
"Just because I know that you can never be as good as me doesn't mean I stand on a high pedestal, Granger."
"I'm ten times the witch you will ever be!"
"I sure hope so, but no witch could ever 'hold a light' to even a mediocre *wizard*."
"Silence! I see how this is! You both hate each other for no good reason. I can't have you constantly bickering in Egnah Cxe, lord knows what the other countries would think about us! You, Ms. Granger, should know more than anyone how much we need international cooperation at times like these."
"I don't see how I could help international magic cooperation if I don't yell at Malfoy during a class that only we attend," mumbled Hermione.
"You still think that we are the only ones in that class? Stupid mudblood."
"SILENCE! I WILL NOT ALLOW *ANYONE* TO CALL ANY OF MY STUDENTS BY THAT NAME. APOLIGIZE THIS INSTANT!"
Draco was so frightened by the look in Dumbledore's eyes that he nearly wet himself. He quickly mumbled 'sorry' to Hermione.
"Draco, for years I have put up with you, hoping you would start making your own decisions, but I fear you may never make them for yourself. Do you really believe that someone could be less of a witch or wizard because they don't have magical parents?"
Draco didn't reply, but avoided eye contact with his professor, instead looking to the floor.
"Some very important witches and wizards have come from muggle parents, such as Lily Potter, Gregory Bishop and even... Voldemort" (Draco shuddered when he said this name, then looked at Dumbledore in awe) "had one muggle parent. Do you not agree that these people are great witches and wizards, even thought they had muggle heritage?"
"I agree, sir."
"Draco, you are almost 17, almost a man. I think it is time you start thinking for yourself."
"I do so think for myself. I just follow my parents wishes, isn't that what you are supposed to do?"
"Of course, but if you always doing what your parents say when would you have time to think for yourself?"
"Professor Dumbledore, the Dark Lord may be afraid of you, but I am not," said Malfoy standing up, "Don't try to tell me to think for myself, for I do that enough. I am a good son and am loyal to my father. I have everything going for me and don't need *you* to screw it up."
In a very calm voice Dumbledore replied, "But is this what you want?"
"Of course its what I want, who wouldn't want to be one of the richest wizards in all of England?"
"I wouldn't," said Hermione quietly, "not if it meant following one person and doing exactly what he says all the time. Your life can never get any better."
"My life will get better the day we get ride of all of the mudbloods like you."
"Would that *really* make your life better Malfoy? HOW?" said Hermione.
"It just WOULD!" screamed Malfoy, storming out of the office.
"Wow, Miss Granger." Pause. "I believe we may have gotten to him."
"What do I care if I got to him? All I want is for him to stay away from me. I don't care if he becomes a Death Eater or not, and everybody knows he will, once he's of age."
"Miss Granger, is there something bothering you?"
"No," she replied, looking away.
"are you sure?" he asked skeptically, glancing at her over his glasses.
"Yes I'm sure! I can deal with my problems myself, thanks. I'm going to go back to the library and study, Merlin knows you need time to yourself to save the world or something," said Hermione walking out the door.
"What has gotten into those two? I forgot to tell them what their punishment was... oh well... they will figure it out soon enough," said Dumbledore to himself.
The headmaster then made a whooshing wave of his wand. Although nothing seemed to happen, the man looked content with his work.
***********
A few steps outside the office, Hermione felt herself walking faster. She was soon at the library, but her legs didn't stop; they kept moving faster and towards the stairwell. Hermione tried to turn around but her legs wouldn't let her. When she reached the stairs, she thought she was going to fall, but her legs calmly descended the steps. Faster and faster she went until she was almost sprinting.
She started to scream, and everyone just leapt out of her way, no one knowing why she was running down the hall screaming, no one expecting her to be under any type of curse. She went down more and more flights of stairs, threw passageways she didn't know existed, until suddenly, down in the dungeons, very close to the Potions lab, her legs stopped....
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'Could first day back be any worse?' thought Hermione, 'Already Ron and Harry need help with their homework, and we've been to like... three classes. What do they do during class?'
"Hermione, *please*! I haven't got a clue what I am doing. I'm real sorry for what happened on the train yesterday; I told you that at breakfast."
"Whatever, Harry. Why don't you just copy my paper?"
"But you don't..." Harry was interrupted by Ron's hand covering his mouth.
"Don't give her a chance to think twice, she's giving us a perfect grade, come on!" Ron whispered into Harry's ear.
Harry looked at Hermione skeptically, but took her paper. Hermione barely glanced at him before leaving her seat in the Gryffindor Common Room. No one had a chance to question her before she was out the portrait hole and halfway to the library.
'Where do I have to go to get a little peace and quiet?' she thought as she slumped into one of the chairs in the back of the library.
There were only one or two other people in the library. Even Madam Pince wasn't at her usual post near the library's exit. There was a first year looking totally lost near the potions section and one more student, but Hermione could only see their shoes; big, expensive, male shoes.
"At least there is no one in here to bug me," thought Hermione.
"Why would anyone want to bug miss know-it-all Granger? Is there someone invisible that you are talking to or are you the only person able to see them?" Hermione heard from behind her.
"Since when did you take residence in the library? Go haunt the dungeons, Malfoy, you aren't welcome here," she replied without moving.
"Someone's in a pissy mood. Come here, sit down, tell Dr. Draco all about your problems."
"Fuck off Malfoy. Go bug someone else, and get *out* of my library."
"This isn't *your* library, Granger, I can be in it if I so wish," exclaimed Draco as he walked past.
"Fine! Be in here, just don't sit at *my* table."
Malfoy sat in the chair directly across from Hermione then stated, "I do believe that all the furniture in this section of the library was donated by my father in my name. If anything, it is *my* table, and I plan on enjoying it."
"Why do you chose *today* of all the days to come and sit at *my* table? We've been here for more than 5 years and *today* you chose to invade my space. Why can't you just leave. Me. Alone," said Hermione, raising her voice.
"May I remind you, Granger, this is *my* table, donated by *my* family, thanks to *me* you have your precious table. You should be thanking me, not harassing me. If I want to sit at the table that I so generously donated every single day for the rest of the year, then I am going to do *just* that."
"This is MY table Malfoy! Why don't you just sit at that one over there?!" screamed Hermione drawing her wand and pointing to a table to her left.
Without glancing at the other table Malfoy pointed his own wand at Hermione before roared back, "Because I like THIS table, and I am going to sit at THIS TABLE."
"OH NO YOU AREN'T! Both of you follow me, THIS INSTANT!" In the heat of their argument, neither student had noticed Madam Pince entering the library.
"How horrible, I would never have thought. What got into you two? I am trying to run a library, I shouldn't have to baby-sit two students, prefects, no less! Aren't both of you in that special class? You better hope Professor Dumbledore is in a good mood. He will be *extrenely* disappointed in both of you."
Hermione and Draco followed Madam Pince down the corridor towards Professor Dumbledore's office. Both knew they had overreacted, but hadn't really broken any school rules. Neither would look at the other, but kept their gazes down. Just before reaching the headmaster's office, gargoyle jumped aside to reveal the form of Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Magic himself.
Stepping out of the office Fudge exclaimed, "And here are our wonderful students. Congratulations on being accepted into Egnah Cxe. The ministry is very proud."
"Thank you, sir. It is quite an honor to be selected for this class," replied Draco before Hermione could even open her mouth.
"Yes, yes it is. And Draco, please keep to your schoolwork, I don't want you to end like... Now, I must be going, you know, busy ministry business and everything"
The Minister swept past them without a glance towards either Hermione or Madam Pince. The two students then entered the room, closely followed by the librarian.
"Professor Dumbledore, I bring you Hogwarts' top students, who I caught screaming at one another in my library. I was able to calm them before any magic was performed, but I think they need some discipline. They shouldn't be acting like this. I hope you agree."
"Certainly, Madam Pince. Leave it to me. You may go look after the library, I daresay there are a few first years who need some assistance."
"Thank you, Professor Dumbledore."
"Now, both of you, please sit," said Dumbledore as soon as the door had closed, "Just before you came in, Mr. Fudge was in here congratulating me on finally producing a pair of students worthy of Egnah Cxe. Yet here you are, in my office, in need of discipline. I do hope it was all the excitement that fueled your argument, not some silly house rivalry."
Both Hermione and Draco looked away because they knew the house rivalry was the reason for them being enemies, which led to this argument.
"Please explain to me what happened."
"Malfoy insists on annoying me. All I want is to study and he had to make a big fuss about sitting at my table. There are a million other tables in the library, he could have sit anywhere, but he chose *my* table."
"First of all, sir, the table isn't *hers*. All *I* wanted to do was study. She was the one harassing me. She was the one insisting I move from the most convenient table. I didn't care what table I was at; this one was just the closest. I have a lot to study for, and don't need to be wasting time searching for a table."
"That's a load of codswallop! You didn't even have any books."
"I did so.."
"Okay, okay, I've heard enough. For any normal students caught bickering, detention and a few points deducted from their house would be the proper punishment, but neither of you are normal students. You two are extraordinary; your knowledge, Ms. Granger, going past just books and academics, as well as you both are representing the school as prefects and in Egnah Cxe. I don't think a night of detention and 5 points off your house is a sufficient punishment."
"Professor, I don't regret yelling at Malfoy, Merlin knows he needs it to knock him off the high pedestal he stands on, so could you tell us what our punishment is so that I can get back to studying?"
"Just because I know that you can never be as good as me doesn't mean I stand on a high pedestal, Granger."
"I'm ten times the witch you will ever be!"
"I sure hope so, but no witch could ever 'hold a light' to even a mediocre *wizard*."
"Silence! I see how this is! You both hate each other for no good reason. I can't have you constantly bickering in Egnah Cxe, lord knows what the other countries would think about us! You, Ms. Granger, should know more than anyone how much we need international cooperation at times like these."
"I don't see how I could help international magic cooperation if I don't yell at Malfoy during a class that only we attend," mumbled Hermione.
"You still think that we are the only ones in that class? Stupid mudblood."
"SILENCE! I WILL NOT ALLOW *ANYONE* TO CALL ANY OF MY STUDENTS BY THAT NAME. APOLIGIZE THIS INSTANT!"
Draco was so frightened by the look in Dumbledore's eyes that he nearly wet himself. He quickly mumbled 'sorry' to Hermione.
"Draco, for years I have put up with you, hoping you would start making your own decisions, but I fear you may never make them for yourself. Do you really believe that someone could be less of a witch or wizard because they don't have magical parents?"
Draco didn't reply, but avoided eye contact with his professor, instead looking to the floor.
"Some very important witches and wizards have come from muggle parents, such as Lily Potter, Gregory Bishop and even... Voldemort" (Draco shuddered when he said this name, then looked at Dumbledore in awe) "had one muggle parent. Do you not agree that these people are great witches and wizards, even thought they had muggle heritage?"
"I agree, sir."
"Draco, you are almost 17, almost a man. I think it is time you start thinking for yourself."
"I do so think for myself. I just follow my parents wishes, isn't that what you are supposed to do?"
"Of course, but if you always doing what your parents say when would you have time to think for yourself?"
"Professor Dumbledore, the Dark Lord may be afraid of you, but I am not," said Malfoy standing up, "Don't try to tell me to think for myself, for I do that enough. I am a good son and am loyal to my father. I have everything going for me and don't need *you* to screw it up."
In a very calm voice Dumbledore replied, "But is this what you want?"
"Of course its what I want, who wouldn't want to be one of the richest wizards in all of England?"
"I wouldn't," said Hermione quietly, "not if it meant following one person and doing exactly what he says all the time. Your life can never get any better."
"My life will get better the day we get ride of all of the mudbloods like you."
"Would that *really* make your life better Malfoy? HOW?" said Hermione.
"It just WOULD!" screamed Malfoy, storming out of the office.
"Wow, Miss Granger." Pause. "I believe we may have gotten to him."
"What do I care if I got to him? All I want is for him to stay away from me. I don't care if he becomes a Death Eater or not, and everybody knows he will, once he's of age."
"Miss Granger, is there something bothering you?"
"No," she replied, looking away.
"are you sure?" he asked skeptically, glancing at her over his glasses.
"Yes I'm sure! I can deal with my problems myself, thanks. I'm going to go back to the library and study, Merlin knows you need time to yourself to save the world or something," said Hermione walking out the door.
"What has gotten into those two? I forgot to tell them what their punishment was... oh well... they will figure it out soon enough," said Dumbledore to himself.
The headmaster then made a whooshing wave of his wand. Although nothing seemed to happen, the man looked content with his work.
***********
A few steps outside the office, Hermione felt herself walking faster. She was soon at the library, but her legs didn't stop; they kept moving faster and towards the stairwell. Hermione tried to turn around but her legs wouldn't let her. When she reached the stairs, she thought she was going to fall, but her legs calmly descended the steps. Faster and faster she went until she was almost sprinting.
She started to scream, and everyone just leapt out of her way, no one knowing why she was running down the hall screaming, no one expecting her to be under any type of curse. She went down more and more flights of stairs, threw passageways she didn't know existed, until suddenly, down in the dungeons, very close to the Potions lab, her legs stopped....
***********