A/N: Hello! I'm going to start responding to reviews. Aren't you guys proud? Well, hope you enjoy this chapter. Oh, one more thing. This chapter is dedicated to xoKiera… my most faithful reviewer!
Laura buzali: well you could do that, but you did the smart thing. And besides, if everyone did that then there would be no story. Lol. =)
Hermione-amy: this was perhaps the best review I have ever gotten. It made me feel all special and important. It motivated me to write. Thank you so much.
XoKiera: Thanks happy holidays to you, too. You know, I always look forward to your reviews. So what better way to thank you for reviewing more than anyone else by giving you a chapter? … I would give you something else but I can't… =(
Disclaimer: Sigh. I own the plot… yeah….
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~*~Draco~*~
I paused for a moment at this new information. I felt her eyes staring at me, waiting for me to be my usual self and take control. But I couldn't. Not this time. My brain was screaming at me to move, to leave Granger here to take all the blame. Her eyes left me and I saw her move toward the still unmoving nurse.
"How do you know?" I regained my composure. I'm surprised I lost it… but really, you had to see that old hag. It was disgusting.
"Huh?"
"How do you know it was you?" She was kneeling next to Madame Pomfrey now, examining her form.
"I don't know. I just have a feeling I did this." She looked up at me when she said this. Her voice filled with regret and sorrow. If she thinks I feel bad for her than she's crazy…
"Well that makes no sense at all." I started to back towards the door. Granger was probably just crazy. She had been acting quite odd lately.
"Where are you going?" The sorrow was gone and fear was in its place. She stood up when I took another step backwards.
"To the Slytherin common room."
"You can't leave me here with her!" She pointed at the nurse as her emotions changed once again. This time it was anger. Her eyes had that faint red tint to them. Ok, now I'm definitely leaving.
I doubled my pace and turned around when I felt myself press into the door. I heard her breathing became more rapid. Wow. Granger must have PMS. She's being very moody.
"You aren't going anywhere." Granger came up behind me and pulled me backwards. I was just about to escape, too. She pulled me back with such force that I fell and slid back a couple of feet. I looked up at her. Her eyes were glowing freely by now. They lit the room and cast an eerie shadow over her face.
There was a moan from behind me. It was then I realized I had crashed into something when I slid backwards. I looked behind me then at Granger. She had obviously heard it too. The glow faded and she gaped at me.
"Was that you?"
"No… it was her." I pointed behind me and at Madame Pomfrey. Granger stared at me like I was stupid. She rushed over and pushed me out of the way as so she can tend to the nurse.
"Well?" She looked at me in an annoyed way. "What are you waiting for?"
"What the bloody hell are you talking about?"
"Go tell Professor Dumbledore!"
"No, you do it!" Yeah, like I was going to take orders from her.
"You're very thick… You should know
that I don't have my prefect badge with me. I can't go into the halls. If I get
caught then I'll have no excuse."
I said nothing. I just stepped
through the broken door and made my way down to the headmaster's office. Stupid
Granger. That's the second time today she has made me feel like an idiot. But
I'll have my revenge. I swear it. After a while I started talking to myself. I
was so caught up in it that I didn't see the person step out from the gargoyle
guarding the headmaster's office.
"Mr. Malfoy?"
"Huh?" It was Dumbledore. "Oh, yes, sir?"
"Are they still there?"
"Are who still where?" How does he expect me to know what he's going on about? For all I know he could be talking about the Emperor of Japan and his secret service. (A/N: Does he even have a secret service? Oh, BTW the Emperor of Japan's birthday was December 23… Happy Birthday!)
"Miss Granger and Poppy."
"Umm, yes?" How does he know everything? My God!
"Good." With that said he briskly walked back the way I came while beckoning for me to follow. It was silent for a moment.
"Sir? Do you know something that we don't?" The answer was obvious. I just needed reinforcement.
"Yes, Mr. Malfoy. Perhaps more than I should."
"Then why can't you stop her?! She's raving mad!" Maybe I shouldn't have said that. I could have at least said it nicer. I say this because he looked at me for a moment, his trademark twinkle nowhere in sight.
"She is not mad, Mr. Malfoy. She is merely confused about her past, present and future." Riiight… that's not mad.
"What happened in her past?" I sounded curious, with a little concern. You would have to look deeply to see that was false emotions. What I really wanted was blackmail information. He must've seen past me however, because his reply wasn't exactly what I wanted.
"If she wishes to tell you she may."
"But Professor… you certainly must know that she is a danger to the school."
"Certainly."
"Then why keep her here? Why not kick her out?"
"If I did then her life would be in danger. Even more so than it is now."
"Do you know all of her story, Professor? What happened to her over the summer, I mean."
"Yes. I know a fair share of it."
"Then why not tell her so we won't be in danger?" I couldn't help it. This man holds very valuable information.
"Do you remember, Mr. Malfoy, what I told you last week? I said to you that Miss Granger must find out on her own."
"Yes, I know that. But why?" We were close to the hospital wing doors, so my words were rushed.
He sighed and slowed his pace a little bit. "She must find out gradually, Mr. Malfoy. If I tell her now, when she knows so little, then she may take drastic measures."
"Drastic measures?"
"Indeed. She may try to control what is happening to her. Whether she tries to fight by potion or sheer inner strength I cannot allow her to do that."
"Why, sir?"
"If she does then I'm afraid we will lose her forever."
"What do you mean?" We were now at the hospital wing door, so the Professor lowered his voice considerably.
"No matter how much she tries to fight it, it is unavoidable. Miss Granger would eventually break, and all the anger she held inside would be let loose. If that happens she will no longer have control of her body or mind." His voice cheered up as he added, "but that won't happen to her unless she finds out too quickly. So you won't mention anything, will you, Mr. Malfoy?"
He didn't wait for my reply. I take it that wasn't meant to be a question. Wait a minute… was I just threatened by Dumbledore? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~*~Hermione~*~
I could hear voices outside the door. Probably Malfoy with Professor Dumbledore. For a moment I didn't think he would actually go through with it. At least he's good for something… wait, no he isn't.
The voices were right outside the door but I couldn't hear what they were saying. I was getting nervous. What if Malfoy told? I could just imagine all the trouble I'd be in. I took my mind off it for a moment to study Madame Pomfrey.
It looked like she had been poisoned. I could tell because her pupils were dilated. If she was, it was forced down judging by her slightly swollen throat. And it was possible that it was me. My evidence? Well, for one thing the door is locked from the inside and out. Another was I had access to all the potion ingredients. Making a poison would be easy for me. She wasn't dead, though. My last case of evidence: She had a weak pulse.
Both the Professor and Malfoy entered the room and disrupted me from my thoughts. The Professor looked a little disappointed. Malfoy just looked angry. I sat by the nurse for a minute before standing and trying to say something on my behalf.
"Professor… well, umm, you see what happened was…"
"There is no need Miss Granger. I already know."
"Oh, well err, I think she was poisoned, sir."
"Really? Well then let me have a look."
Malfoy scoffed and said, "There is no way that she was poisoned. Look at the way she's positioned!"
Professor Dumbledore walked over to me and examined the body closer. He gently lifted one of her eyelids before letting out a sigh.
"I am afraid that Miss Granger is right. Nothing to worry about. The potion was a weak one. Poppy should recover in a couple of days. A week at the most. That is all. I will tend to her now."
"What about her punishment!?" Malfoy cried out, astonished.
Professor Dumbledore looked at me then stated, "All is forgiven. We must keep in mind that Miss Granger wasn't in the right head, were you?"
"No, sir."
"Good. That is all."
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~*~Draco~*~
"We must keep in mind that Miss Granger wasn't in the right head," I mimicked as soon as we were out of hearing distance from the door. "More like not right in the head if you ask me."
"Well no one asked you!" Granger needs to calm down… really.
"Uh-huh. So, how was your summer?" I made it seem casual, as if I was really interested. Granger seemed thoughtful for a moment.
"I don't really remember."
"Well what good are you, then?" I said this under my breath as so she wouldn't hear me.
"What was that?"
"Nothing."
"I know you said something." She sounded irritated.
"You're just hearing things. Hey, what do you know… You need to go up the stairs, but I'm going down. What a shame."
The last two sentences came out quickly and I almost ran away from her. Her eyes were getting that all too familiar glow about them. I feel bad for the poor sucker that stays around to see that. Not to mention she's all PMS-like. I just realized that on normal nights I would be waking up right now. Great. Another five hours of my life dedicated to Hermione Granger. And just think of all the fun we'll have when I see her in breakfast about an hour from now… I despise life.
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A/N: Hooray! Another chapter. I may not be able to update the rest of vacation due to a massive 6-page report my crappy social studies teacher gave out before break. I'll try though. I have to study for the ELA exam, too. Not to mention the experimental part of the Earth Science Regents Exam. ARGH! All this studying is too much for a thirteen year old (did I ever mention that?) Once again thanks to my reviewers. Oh, just a thought did anyone ever see the "special awards"? That thing is so funny. I was just watching it and they had old people racing in wheelchairs, the best man-boobs and even a competition where people had to hump some guy's leg. HAHAHA! It was the best. Anyway, I had a brilliant idea for this story. I have a lot of chapters planned. Except I don't know which way I'm leaning towards… Happy or Not-So-Happy ending. You decide! Just click the button… o.0
