O_O*Can't believe how many reviews there are* Ohmigosh! Thank you! (Proper thanks will be at the end.) For the purpose of this fic, they go back on a Friday and have a whole weekend before lessons start. This chapter contains a lot of swearing, as the fireworks begin.
I hope this chapter will clear up a few things. And to all those who like Draco's bad-boy image, don't worry. That ain't going anywhere. Please help me! I really need to know what I did with Blaise Zabini in the first version of this story. Anyone? Can anyone help me?
No-one has died for the purpose of this story. Especially not the character who died in Order of the Phoenix.
I'd like to thank all of you for your support. It's meant a lot to me that people actually like what I write. Thanks ^_^
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Disclaimer: I don't own this. Well, technically, I own the plot. I own the Elementals. I own any new characters that come into this. But the basic idea of Harry Potter, all the books, the rights, the money and the credit go to JK. She deserves them all.
"..." = talking
'Italics' = thinking
Italics = dreaming
Italics = singing/song
~ * ~
Draco woke the next morning with a devilish smirk on his face. He felt in a good mood today; in the mood to break some hearts. Sitting up, he stared around.
"Huh? How'd I end up here? The last thing I remember is on the train, and, oh Merlin. Did I really do that?" He put his hand to his head and rubbed it in frustration. He had a splitting headache, and the dream he'd had was still vivid before his eyes.
"Mr. Malfoy!" Madam Pomfrey came out of her office and saw that he was awake. "How are you feeling?"
"It's no concern of yours," he muttered, and then changed his mind when he remembered she would have a cure for his headache.
"Actually, Madam Pomfrey, I feel awful. My head is throbbing. I don't suppose you could give me anything for it?" Draco opened his eyes wide, plastered an innocent look on his face, and pouted.
"Of course," smiled Madam Pomfrey. "The Headmaster would like a word with you, but that can wait while I clear your headache." She produced a potion and handed it over. "That should clear your headache." Draco gave her a charming smile and drunk it all in one gulp.
"Yeuch!" He wiped his mouth with a disgusted look on his face. "That tasted awful!"
"Ah, but Mr. Malfoy, it cleared your headache." Dumbledore entered the hospital wing with a smile. "How do you feel after your sleep?"
'Lousy old git, can't even let me get dressed before he comes barging in....' "I'm fine, Professor Dumbledore."
"Perhaps you would appreciate some time to dress before I continue?" Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. "We moved most of your belongings into your new common room, but your clothes were left here. I shall leave you to prepare yourself." Dumbledore swept out.
"What the hell? Does he read minds?" asked Draco with genuine shock. He then quickly composed himself: it wouldn't do for a Malfoy to be shocked and awed by a Muggle-lover.
Jumping out of the bed and sliding over to his trunk, he smirked his famous smirk and picked out something. He was in a mood to flirt, in a mood to party, and this outfit would definitely help.
'Oh, yeah...'
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"Professor, what is it you wanted to ask?" Draco emerged from the Hospital Wing with a confident look on his face.
"Mr. Malfoy, as a prefect you have a duty to tell the truth," said Dumbledore sternly. Malfoy looked bored and rolled his eyes.
"Yeah whatever." He ran a hand through his hair, and was surprised to find it the same as it had been in his dream.
"Why had you taken Veritaserum on the journey to school?"
Malfoy froze. He definitely had not been expecting that question, and he really didn't want to answer.
'What do I do....if he finds out he'll be asking Herm-Granger, and then there'll be big trouble. What shall I say? Just play it cool, Draco, ease your way out of it with a little Malfoy charm.'
"I have no idea what you're on about. Professor." He added this bit of respect as an afterthought.
"Very well. When you decide to tell me, you know where my office is." Dumbledore smiled wearily. "I shall direct you to your new common room. As it is a Saturday, you are free to do whatever you wish. Please inform Miss Granger that her detention with Professor Snape has been cancelled." He swept down the corridor and Draco followed, complaining loudly, and smiling and winking at every girl who he walked past. Every one of them swooned.
~ * ~
Hermione sat curled up on her chair, covered by the gold blanket. Already it had gained a light orange colour, thanks to Crookshanks, who was currently shedding fur all over the rug before the fire. She had been sitting there since breakfast, reading up on the Elementals.
"So, I am destined to love a Slytherin...." she whispered softly. "And he too will be an Elemental. With the same powers as me." So far, Hannah and Terry had avoided asking questions about her new look. But by this morning, the Gryffindors had spread the news all over Hogwarts. "Hermione's an Elemental, a Princess." Whispers followed her, and she had got fed up.
"Thank Merlin that Dumbledore gave us individual rooms," she muttered, putting her book down and stretching. A small laugh came from the doorway, and she fell of the chair.
"Hey, what did you do that for?" she asked, annoyed, picking herself up and dusting off her jeans. That morning, she had really thought about her outfit in the hope that she would be able to act like a normal teenage girl, and have dates. Her jeans were extremely low cut, and her cropped gypsy top showed her incredibly flat, toned stomach. Her hair was in a long braid, and hung over her shoulder in a very 'innocent' manner.
'Why couldn't I have a figure like this before?' she had asked herself, smiling as winks, stares and leers floated through the air to her.
"That wasn't very funny," she complained, turning around, and - staggering backwards again in shock. She tipped up over Crookshanks and landed with a thud in front of the fire.
Before her stood Draco Malfoy. 'It's got to be him, no-one else can get in,' she thought, her eyes travelling over his body. He had definitely changed overnight, the same as she had a few weeks ago. His body was lean and muscular, and it was a definite improvement. He was leaning (in an incredibly sexy manner, in her opinion) against the doorframe. He was wearing relatively tight-fitting leather trousers, and a black silk shirt. The top few buttons were undone, giving a tantalising glimpse of his firm, broad chest.
Her eyes then met his, and Hermione was instantly drawn in. They were an indescribable colour, the same as her new eyes, filled with many things: mystery, confidence, intelligence, lust.
Lust? Was she seeing things?
'Apparently not,' she decided after looking again. She then continued her scrutiny and admired his new hairstyle, amazingly blonde hair that fell about his head, making him look even sexier, the wispy bangs floating in front of his eyes.
"Seen everything?" His voice jolted her from her reverie, and she blushed, climbing unsteadily to her feet.
'Okay Hermione, be calm, be cool, be...sexy.'
"Why did you do that?!" she whined. 'Oh, great, real sexy. Way to go, 'Mione.'
"Why did I do what? Laugh? It's a free world, Granger." Draco stepped confidently closer to her, his famous smirk spreading across his utterly kissable lips.
'Whoa, kissable? Sexy? Are these your thoughts, 'Mione? About Malfoy? No way!'
"I thought you were in the Hospital Wing. Although Madam Pomfrey doesn't like having vermin hanging around," countered Hermione smoothly. "Or did you threaten her, Ferret face?"
"I don't need threats to get myself out of the Hospital Wing, Granger." Draco's smirk was starting to irritate. "Or to get myself a quick lay, either. Unlike yourself."
"Oh, but the voices disagree, Draco. Would you like them back?" Hermione's wand appeared in her hand, and she smiled a Malfoy Smirk⢠at him. "Well, would you?"
Draco scowled and a slight flush rose on his cheeks. "That was a clever spell, Granger, I'll admit. What the hell was it?"
"Just a little something I threw together. It's the Taming Voices spell." Hermione smiled at Draco. "Nice to see I've impressed you."
"Can you tell me what to do?" Draco asked eagerly, a little too eagerly. But Hermione, confident in her spell-making skills, nodded.
"Yup. Just say 'vox vocis domito'." She readied her wand, as Draco muttered the words and pointed his wand at her.
"Removeo vox vocis!" she called. The voices disappeared before they could say anything, and Draco was visibly shocked.
"You even wrote a counter curse? You're in big trouble. That's illegal, unless the Minister himself approves. Got you now, Granger." His smirk appeared again and he composed himself.
"What're you gonna do, Malfoy, go running to Daddy Dearest?" Hermione said quickly, with a wicked smile. 'Not very me-like,' she thought, 'but why not?'
"Besides, it's not illegal."
"What?" Draco was now visibly disappointed. "How do you know that?"
"I looked it up, didn't I. Granger, the Good Girl. Spent ages in the Library. Paid off, 'cause that's not the only one I've made." Hermione folded her arms across her chest and smiled sweetly.
"Figures," muttered Draco sullenly. "Why can't you just do anything illegal, so I can get you out of Hogwarts and out of my life?" This last part had been whispered, and Hermione had strained to catch every word.
"Draco?"
Draco paused. 'Did she just call me Draco? Not Malfoy, or Ferret-face?'
"What the hell do you want?"
'Oh, way to go Malfoy. Score. Just a few more insults and she'll have you hexed.'
"Did you mean it...what you said on the train?" Hermione's face had become serious, and her eyes were fixed on Draco's.
'Now what do I say? Do I tell her yes? I'd taken bloody Veritaserum! How does she figure I could've lied?'
"It's not important, Granger. After all, who would believe a Malfoy." Draco's voice was icy. "Dumbledore says your detention is cancelled." He turned and disappeared into his room without answering.
"Oh great," sighed Hermione. 'So much for my apology,' she thought bitterly. "If you want to be an ass, then stay in there!" she screamed suddenly, not being able to cope with moody teenage boys and saving the world.
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"Hey guys, have you seen Hermione?" Hannah looked around the common room. Draco was refusing to come out of his room, Katie was watching a DVD and Terry and Roger were arguing over Quidditch.
"Hey, guys? Guys?" Hannah looked around blankly. "We have like, five minutes to find Hermione, before Dumbledore, McGonagall and Snape turn up. We've got something to do for them."
"Already?" Katie pressed pause and turned around. "But it's the first day! A Saturday!" she complained. Hannah, the peacemaker, shrugged.
"He says its important. So, I'll go check the Library. Katie, can you check the Gryffindor Common Room?" Katie nodded. "Oh, and guys?" Both girls stopped before their portraits. "Get Draco out of his room."
"Yes, Ma'am!" saluted Terry with a grin. He ducked to avoid the cushion that was flung, with amazing accuracy, at his head.
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"Hermione? Hermione?!" Katie entered the Gryffindor common room and looked around. Harry and Ron were playing Wizard's Chess by the fire. Ginny, Lavender and Parvati were discussing fashion next to them. Neville, Dean and Seamus were the only other ones in the common room, arguing for the umpteenth time over football.
"Where is everyone?" asked Katie, annoyed. Harry looked up from his spectacular loss and smiled.
"Oh, hi Katie. Everyone's either in their dorms, in the Great Hall, or pestering a professor. We haven't seen many people all day. Have you seen Hermione?"
"No, that's who I'm looking for." Katie shrugged. "I'll go try the Library with Hannah. Sorry to have disturbed your game." She left the common room and headed for the Library.
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"Hermione?" Hannah cautiously entered the Library, knowing how Madam Pince disapproved of shouting. "Hermione? Are you in here?" She headed over to Hermione's favourite spot, and sure enough found her.
"Hannah! Is she here?" Katie had quickly caught up with Hannah. "Oh good. Hermione, we've got to - Hermione, what's wrong?" Hermione had just lifted her hair, and her face was streaked with tears.
"It's all too much, I can't cope with this yet," she said with a stifled sob. "Dumbledore seems to think I can do it, but I can't even cope with Malfoy."
"It's okay Hermione." Hannah threw Katie a glance that ordered her back to the common room, and sat down. "Hermione, what does Dumbledore expect you to do?" She gave the other girl a comforting hug.
"Defeat You-Know-Who!" sobbed Hermione. "I woke up, in the summer, and I was like this, and I found out that Dumbledore - everyone - had always been lying to me. I wasn't Hermione Granger. I was some princess who had been fated to beat You-Know-Who before she was even born. The powers are cool, yes, but I can't cope with the stress of this. It's a wonder Harry hasn't cracked up, knowing that he has to play a big part in the downfall of You-Know-Who."
"Hermione, you can do it. You can do anything you put your mind to, because you're intelligent, and brave. That's why you were put in Gryffindor." Hannah smiled, and tried to get Hermione to smile. "And, didn't you lie to Harry last year? To protect him?"
"Yes," admitted Hermione, thinking back to the time when Harry had refused to acknowledge her existence because she wouldn't tell him what she knew. That was until Sirius had confessed to Harry that he was the one who made Hermione keep quiet. The Wonder Trio was soon back on top form.
"You got over it, didn't you?" asked Hannah. Hermione nodded again.
"There we go, see? They lied and kept secrets because they didn't want you to get hurt. If You-Know-Who found out about you, he'd try and kill you. You can't die yet."
"But, but he does know," whispered Hermione. "You-Know-Who does know. He's tried to kill me, every single year that we've been here."
Hannah paled and her jaw dropped. "Why here, though? Why not at your home?" she asked, picking up on a point that Hermione had missed.
"I don't know." Hermione's eyes suddenly became focused. "But I know someone who does. Come on." She grabbed Hannah's arm and dragged her back to the common room, determined to get answers this time.
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"Hannah! Hermione! He won't come out!" complained Terry, gesturing to Draco's door. Hermione strode across the room and pushed everyone out of the way with a gust of wind.
"Draco Malfoy! Get your head outta your ass and get that ass out here!" she hollered, hammering on the door. It swung open a few seconds after, and Draco stood in the doorway. Behind Hermione, Hannah and Katie were suddenly overcome and sat down.
"What the hell do you want, Granger?" he snarled. "Come to insult me again?"
"I always insult you. Since when have you cared?"
"You know since when, Granger. Not that you care."
Hannah, Terry, Roger and Katie watched the fast exchange, their heads flying from Hermione, to Draco, and back to Hermione.
"Alright, that's it Malfoy. I tried to apologise earlier, you didn't want to know. I come here for answers, you insult me. Next thing, you'll be telling me it was all a lie."
"Oh stop pretending you give a damn Granger. You don't, you know it."
"Malfoy, if you don't wise up right now, I'll kick your ass all the way to the Hospital Wing."
"If it's a fight you want, you picked the wrong person to bitch at," growled Draco. His wand appeared in his hand.
"Screw wands!" announced Hermione. With a yell of anger, she waved her hands and flames erupted around Draco. He stared at her, in a mixture of shock and anger.
"Go to hell, Granger." He raised his hand and a tornado appeared around her, knocking her around. Her blue hair flew loose, making her angrier. Still she refused to back down, and the heat of the flames intensified. Flames began to spring up around her, and a tornado appeared around Draco.
"Granger! Malfoy!" The three professors had arrived for the meeting, and Snape drew his wand. "Finite Incantatem!" he shouted.
"Shield!" barked Hermione and Draco at the same time. The air around them formed a shield, and deflected the spell.
"Miss Granger! Mr Malfoy!" Dumbledore shouted their names, but couldn't be heard over the insults that had started being shouted, and the chants from the other prefects and heads.
"Go Draco! Go Draco!" chanted Terry and Roger. Katie and Hannah were the other side of the room, chanting, "Go 'Mione! Go 'Mione!"
"Ferret shit!" screamed Hermione, creating an earthquake beneath Draco.
"Useless Mudblood!" hollered Draco, adding a water typhoon to the air around Hermione.
"Asshole!" Hail started to fall heavily around Draco, hitting him relentlessly.
"Silly bitch!" Draco created thorny branches from the ground that started to hit Hermione.
"Screw you!" they both hollered at the same time, adding the remaining elements to their attacks and intensifying them.
"Stupefy!" called Professors McGonagall and Snape at the same time. Hermione and Draco didn't notice the spells, and fell to the ground. The winds died down, the floor steadied, the flames, water and branches disappeared, and order returned.
"Aw, Professors, why did you do that?" complained the boys, and then realised what had happened. The area around Hermione and Draco was a mess, and Draco's room had been damaged too. The professors had angry looks on their faces, although Dumbledore seemed more amused.
"Enervate," glowered Katie and Roger, refusing to leave Hermione and Draco. They got to their feet at the same time, and stared at each other in shock and horror.
"How did you do that?" they both asked.
"I've been doing it for a few weeks!" said Hermione angrily.
"I've been practising all day after reading the book my mother gave me!" said Draco, smoothing his hair down. His smirk reappeared.
"You mean you're the prince?" asked Hermione faintly, her mind working faster than Draco's. She started re-braiding her hair nervously.
"Yeah. It's all like a Muggle fairy tale. The horror part is where it says I have to marry a Gryffindor princess." He sat down with a wicked smile.
"The worst part is where it says I have to marry a Slytherin prince," shot back Hermione, whose worst fears had just been confirmed.
"What?" Draco raised his head and stared at her, not understanding.
"Me Hermione. You Draco," said Hermione, pointing and trying to make him understand. "Me Gryffindor. You Slytherin. Me princess. You prince. Gryffindor Princess Hermione. Slytherin Prince Draco." He shook his head aimlessly, trying to follow the conversation. "Me Gryffindor Princess. You Slytherin Prince. Gryffindor Princess. Slytherin Prince. Me. You." Hermione started slightly as five thumps sounded. Turning, she saw Katie, Roger, Terry, Hannah, and Draco, all passed out on the floor.
"Screw this," she muttered. Turning to the professors, she smiled.
"Meeting cancelled?" she suggested as she fell to the floor in a faint.
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Sorry if it's kinda short. This chapter was mainly to clear up a few things, and also to give my lovely readers a gift in the form of Draco looking hot in leather. *swoons*
I hope that this has made the story a lot clearer. If it hasn't, review, tell me, and I'll clear it up in the next chapter or so. For those who were worried that the badass Draco we all love will be missing from the story, don't worry. I love writing arguments and sarcastic comments too much to pass up this opportunity.
I apologise for all the cussing in the chapter, but Hermione has been through a lot in a short space of time, and just realised she's got to marry her worst enemy. Wouldn't you cuss? (Even if Draco is a sex god, I know I'd cuss)
Mari (miraimari@cfl.rr.com) - Thanks for reviewing every chapter! You didn't have to...aw, I'm touched. Seriously. It means a lot to me. There'll be more Harry/Ginny coupling throughout the story, including more apparent mind-reading, lol. I hope this chapter clears up the confusion about the spell. It was a curse that Hermione made, so Draco couldn't get it off, so he decided to name the voices. I don't know why, he just did ^_^;. I hope this cleared up about Draco's powers too. I didn't make it too clear before, sorry! I'm not making any comments about the bathroom door, and the prefects found out from the Gryffindors. *phew* I hope it makes more sense now.
Ice Sprite - Yes Ma'am. Now I have two slavedrivers forcing me to write. LOL.
willowfairy - Glad you liked the virtual cookie. You can have another one ^_^
Morbid Princess - I'm not passing comment on the bathroom. I'll leave your overactive imaginations come up with something. ^_^
Polaris the Ice Queen - There will be more lemony goodness in later chapters, just for you. ^_^ (Lemon as in the fruit, readers!)
haebrethiliel - I hope this was worth the (relatively short, for me) wait!
Diana Faeroe - I like to see Draco in leather too! Hope this fuels your obsession!
firequeen1414 - The Muggle stuff is worked by magic. Dumbledore sorted it. In this story, Dumbledore fixes everything. LMAO. He's my way out of explaining awkward things.
Callista Moon - Thanks. Comments like that are really good for my confidence ^_^
Slytherin Angel - I hope you liked Draco in leather too ^_~ Glad you like the story so much.
delphi - Don't worry. There's no way I could convincingly change Draco in one chapter. He'll have a gradual change to a relatively good boy. But bad boy Draco is very sexy, so we'll never lose him completely. He's just so hot, and interestingly sarcastic. ^_^ I love him. I hope there was plenty of the badass side of him in this chapter for you ^_^
Blue-Dreamz - I'm glad you like it. This is a pretty original storyline, IMO, and I haven't seen many, if any, with something similar to this. If there are, then I'm sorry! I honestly haven't seen any. Hermione is very, um, princess-y material, 'cause of how polite she is. And Draco is my God, so why not a prince? ^_~
Lis - Thanks for reviewing, and I'll try!
Beyond-Artemis - Thanks! I hope I can keep up this standard of writing throughout the story.
Cherry - Thanks! I'm determined to finish the story this time!
Thanks everyone for reading and reviewing! Next chapter should be out pretty soon.
