Author's Note: Wow, I can't believe I got so many reviews! I'm going to
start writing longer chapters, and now that break's over, updates will be
farther apart. Thanks for all the wonderful reviews!
Blood Lost
Chapter 6
"We'll kill him."
Hermione looked up from her book. She had been hiding in the library, after having to endure all manners of stares that day. Although she had picked a favorite chair in a well-concealed corner of the library (and had moved a few stacks of books around to conceal herself further), she knew it would only be a matter of time before her friends found her. It didn't take long for gossip to travel through Hogwarts.
She moved to close the book and felt an unfamiliar weight on her hand. The ring glinted green rainbows in the late-autumn light streaming in from the window. Hermione sighed and looked up.
Ron's tall, lank form towered over a stack of books, and Harry was right next to him. Green and blue eyes were narrowed with fury.
"Before you guys say anything..well, I think we'd better talk someplace safer."
In Hermione's common room, they sat down on the long, green couches. All the way over there, Ron had been muttering under his breath. Hermione could guess the gist of what he was saying.
"Does Dumbledore know about this?" Harry asked first. He seemed to have calmed down a bit, but still looked tensed and poised to fight.
"Yes, and there's nothing to be done about the contract. My parents signed it."
"But- your parents wouldn't-" Harry began.
"I think they might have been under some sort of spell, but there's no way to prove it."
"Isn't there some way your parents could testisfy?"
They're muggles, Harry. Besides, I don't even know if they would, even if they could. The spell-" Hermione broke off, and saw that they had to go on. There's nothing we do about it for the moment. But you guys can relax, all right?"
"RELAX?!" Ron yelled. His whole face was redder than ever before.
"It's for the cause of the good-" Hermione began, trying to instill some hope in her voice.
"If you mean promoting good-feeling between Houses and between Purebloods and Muggleborns." Harry began while shaking his head.
"That as well, but the main thing is I'll be able to keep an eye on Lucius Malfoy, you see.?" Hermione looked at Harry, trying to make him understand.
"And Draco Malfoy," Harry said, comprehending. Hermione didn't correct him -she couldn't-, perhaps it was better if they thought she was watching him as well. "But Hermione, is that worth being married to that slimy, snobby git.."
"Draco doesn't want this any more than I do. Besides, I can take care of myself." Hermione looked into his eyes. Harry knew very well that she could take care of herself. Wasn't she the one to organize a rescue mission to save Harry at the very end?
"And that contract, are you sure there's no way to get out of it? Surely, they can't marry you without your consent."
"I'm afraid wizarding marriages can be arranged by the parents. I don't have any choice in the matter. You guys had better go," Hermione said, looking at the clock. It was almost time for dinner, but Hermione wasn't hungry.
"Don't worry Hermione, we won't let this happen!" Ron said, the first full sentence he'd said so far, and perhaps all day. His eye caught on the flash of Hermione's ring in firelight, and he paled. "Why are you wearing that?"
"What else am I supposed to do, Ron?" Hermione asked, for once without her usual fighting energy.
"Come on, Ron. Hermione will be okay," Harry said. "We're always here for you, Hermione. I just hope..er, I hope you won't actually have to-" He paused to take a breath and started again. "I hope this is all worth it."
Hermione hoped it was, as well.
****
"Eek! I can't believe you're engaged to the richest, sexiest guy in our year!" squealed Lavender, who was perched on Hermione's bed, and was trying to brush Hermione's long, unruly hair.
Parvati was on the rug, looking at Witch's Weekly, and answered with an excited squeal of her own. They had invited themselves into Hermione's dormitory for a 'girl's night'. While Hermione could sometimes tolerate Lavender and Parvati (after all, they had shared a dormitory for six years), the girls certainly weren't her favorite people.
Better than trying to deal with Ron and Harry, thought Hermione with a grimace. The girls had spent the first five minutes simply exclaiming over the ring and what kind of stone it was.
"It's a huge Green Bloodstone; a very expensive magical variety, too. And those must be iced diamonds! I wonder how old this is, is it a family heirloom?"
Hermione couldn't answer any of their questions about the ring, and the girls moved onto other topics (all the topics on their mind, however, had to do with the recent developments in Hermione's life).
"You have to tell us all about it! When did you guys get together? Did you have to meet in secret-" Lavender began.
"Because during the war he was on the other side, and you still had to pretend to hate each other-" Parvati broke in.
"But you were really soul mates and loved each other-" Lavender again. She had stopped brushing, and was now waving the brush about to emphasize her point.
"You were the unattainable princess, too beautiful for the normal ranks of Hogwarts boys-" Parvati had completely dismissed the article she had been reading to better engage in the (one-sided, or at least, one-dimensioned) conversion.
"And he was the dark Slytherin Prince, never showing what he felt, and you were the only one with whom he could take off his mask and show his real feelings-" Another wave of the brush.
"Except of course he really wasn't evil. And after the war-" Parvati again.
This is hitting way to close to the mark, thought Hermione.
"Please, you guys," Hermione finally broke in. "I really don't think- that's not how it is at all. In fact, neither of us wants to get married to each other!"
"Huh?" asked Lavender, setting down the brush.
"It was all arranged by..our parents," said Hermione. She was developing the Slytherin trait of not telling the whole truth, she realized.
"Oh." They were struck dumb for a moment, and Hermione took the pause to open up a book. And then-
"You were forced to marry by your parents-" Lavender said as she started to braid Hermione's hair into submission.
"Unknowingly, you both had crushes on each other for the longest time-"
"But you kept fighting whenever you'd meet- in a battle of wits -you're both so smart--"
"And then, one day.."
They had stopped. Hermione looked up from the book she really hadn't been reading. Lavender had finished braiding her hair, and both of them looked expectantly at her.
"And then, what?"
"You crossed the line," Lavender said, in a matter-of-fact tone.
"What line?"
"The very thin line between anger and passion," Parvati's voice was faraway.
Hermione was silent.
"Everyone knows that if two people fight like you and Draco do, that they really are perfect for each other. He's the only guy who could keep up with you, I'd bet," Lavender said.
"I doubt we'll end up in love like one of your fairy-tale stories, Lavender," said Hermione, looking up at the ceiling.
But Lavender and Parvati only exchanged knowing glances.
Hermione didn't try to argue, she knew Parvati and Lavender well enough to know that they wouldn't be swayed from their romantic visions. She let them talk on, and once it started growing late, she transfigured her two large chairs into something like a couple of comfy chair-bed.
Hermione felt herself nodding off, when Parvati asked her something.
"Have you thought about the wedding, Hermione?"
"Huh?" said Hermione.
"I'm sure it will be the biggest event of the year! It's not everyday that a Malfoy gets married," declared Lavender. She certainly didn't seem tired in the least.
"Could we help you, Hermione? Though, I'm sure Draco's mother will be the one planning a lot of it. We'll at least be able to buy some new dress robes, even if we can't help.." Parvati said, her voice trailing off.
Hermione realized she didn't know anything about wizarding marriages. She remembered reading something..weren't they based off ancient pagan rituals? Well, she was going to have to look that up in the library..
Hermione didn't say anything, and the other two girls seemed to have talked themselves into sleep.
Hermione closed her eyes, and had a fleeting image of the Narcissa Malfoy she had seen at the World Cup three years before. Would she had to see them before.?
Remember, Hermione, you're doing this to keep an eye on Lucius, she told herself. In fact, it would be best if she could go to Malfoy Manor over winter break. She made another mental note to talk to Malfoy (Draco, she corrected herself), right before falling into sleep.
Blood Lost
Chapter 6
"We'll kill him."
Hermione looked up from her book. She had been hiding in the library, after having to endure all manners of stares that day. Although she had picked a favorite chair in a well-concealed corner of the library (and had moved a few stacks of books around to conceal herself further), she knew it would only be a matter of time before her friends found her. It didn't take long for gossip to travel through Hogwarts.
She moved to close the book and felt an unfamiliar weight on her hand. The ring glinted green rainbows in the late-autumn light streaming in from the window. Hermione sighed and looked up.
Ron's tall, lank form towered over a stack of books, and Harry was right next to him. Green and blue eyes were narrowed with fury.
"Before you guys say anything..well, I think we'd better talk someplace safer."
In Hermione's common room, they sat down on the long, green couches. All the way over there, Ron had been muttering under his breath. Hermione could guess the gist of what he was saying.
"Does Dumbledore know about this?" Harry asked first. He seemed to have calmed down a bit, but still looked tensed and poised to fight.
"Yes, and there's nothing to be done about the contract. My parents signed it."
"But- your parents wouldn't-" Harry began.
"I think they might have been under some sort of spell, but there's no way to prove it."
"Isn't there some way your parents could testisfy?"
They're muggles, Harry. Besides, I don't even know if they would, even if they could. The spell-" Hermione broke off, and saw that they had to go on. There's nothing we do about it for the moment. But you guys can relax, all right?"
"RELAX?!" Ron yelled. His whole face was redder than ever before.
"It's for the cause of the good-" Hermione began, trying to instill some hope in her voice.
"If you mean promoting good-feeling between Houses and between Purebloods and Muggleborns." Harry began while shaking his head.
"That as well, but the main thing is I'll be able to keep an eye on Lucius Malfoy, you see.?" Hermione looked at Harry, trying to make him understand.
"And Draco Malfoy," Harry said, comprehending. Hermione didn't correct him -she couldn't-, perhaps it was better if they thought she was watching him as well. "But Hermione, is that worth being married to that slimy, snobby git.."
"Draco doesn't want this any more than I do. Besides, I can take care of myself." Hermione looked into his eyes. Harry knew very well that she could take care of herself. Wasn't she the one to organize a rescue mission to save Harry at the very end?
"And that contract, are you sure there's no way to get out of it? Surely, they can't marry you without your consent."
"I'm afraid wizarding marriages can be arranged by the parents. I don't have any choice in the matter. You guys had better go," Hermione said, looking at the clock. It was almost time for dinner, but Hermione wasn't hungry.
"Don't worry Hermione, we won't let this happen!" Ron said, the first full sentence he'd said so far, and perhaps all day. His eye caught on the flash of Hermione's ring in firelight, and he paled. "Why are you wearing that?"
"What else am I supposed to do, Ron?" Hermione asked, for once without her usual fighting energy.
"Come on, Ron. Hermione will be okay," Harry said. "We're always here for you, Hermione. I just hope..er, I hope you won't actually have to-" He paused to take a breath and started again. "I hope this is all worth it."
Hermione hoped it was, as well.
****
"Eek! I can't believe you're engaged to the richest, sexiest guy in our year!" squealed Lavender, who was perched on Hermione's bed, and was trying to brush Hermione's long, unruly hair.
Parvati was on the rug, looking at Witch's Weekly, and answered with an excited squeal of her own. They had invited themselves into Hermione's dormitory for a 'girl's night'. While Hermione could sometimes tolerate Lavender and Parvati (after all, they had shared a dormitory for six years), the girls certainly weren't her favorite people.
Better than trying to deal with Ron and Harry, thought Hermione with a grimace. The girls had spent the first five minutes simply exclaiming over the ring and what kind of stone it was.
"It's a huge Green Bloodstone; a very expensive magical variety, too. And those must be iced diamonds! I wonder how old this is, is it a family heirloom?"
Hermione couldn't answer any of their questions about the ring, and the girls moved onto other topics (all the topics on their mind, however, had to do with the recent developments in Hermione's life).
"You have to tell us all about it! When did you guys get together? Did you have to meet in secret-" Lavender began.
"Because during the war he was on the other side, and you still had to pretend to hate each other-" Parvati broke in.
"But you were really soul mates and loved each other-" Lavender again. She had stopped brushing, and was now waving the brush about to emphasize her point.
"You were the unattainable princess, too beautiful for the normal ranks of Hogwarts boys-" Parvati had completely dismissed the article she had been reading to better engage in the (one-sided, or at least, one-dimensioned) conversion.
"And he was the dark Slytherin Prince, never showing what he felt, and you were the only one with whom he could take off his mask and show his real feelings-" Another wave of the brush.
"Except of course he really wasn't evil. And after the war-" Parvati again.
This is hitting way to close to the mark, thought Hermione.
"Please, you guys," Hermione finally broke in. "I really don't think- that's not how it is at all. In fact, neither of us wants to get married to each other!"
"Huh?" asked Lavender, setting down the brush.
"It was all arranged by..our parents," said Hermione. She was developing the Slytherin trait of not telling the whole truth, she realized.
"Oh." They were struck dumb for a moment, and Hermione took the pause to open up a book. And then-
"You were forced to marry by your parents-" Lavender said as she started to braid Hermione's hair into submission.
"Unknowingly, you both had crushes on each other for the longest time-"
"But you kept fighting whenever you'd meet- in a battle of wits -you're both so smart--"
"And then, one day.."
They had stopped. Hermione looked up from the book she really hadn't been reading. Lavender had finished braiding her hair, and both of them looked expectantly at her.
"And then, what?"
"You crossed the line," Lavender said, in a matter-of-fact tone.
"What line?"
"The very thin line between anger and passion," Parvati's voice was faraway.
Hermione was silent.
"Everyone knows that if two people fight like you and Draco do, that they really are perfect for each other. He's the only guy who could keep up with you, I'd bet," Lavender said.
"I doubt we'll end up in love like one of your fairy-tale stories, Lavender," said Hermione, looking up at the ceiling.
But Lavender and Parvati only exchanged knowing glances.
Hermione didn't try to argue, she knew Parvati and Lavender well enough to know that they wouldn't be swayed from their romantic visions. She let them talk on, and once it started growing late, she transfigured her two large chairs into something like a couple of comfy chair-bed.
Hermione felt herself nodding off, when Parvati asked her something.
"Have you thought about the wedding, Hermione?"
"Huh?" said Hermione.
"I'm sure it will be the biggest event of the year! It's not everyday that a Malfoy gets married," declared Lavender. She certainly didn't seem tired in the least.
"Could we help you, Hermione? Though, I'm sure Draco's mother will be the one planning a lot of it. We'll at least be able to buy some new dress robes, even if we can't help.." Parvati said, her voice trailing off.
Hermione realized she didn't know anything about wizarding marriages. She remembered reading something..weren't they based off ancient pagan rituals? Well, she was going to have to look that up in the library..
Hermione didn't say anything, and the other two girls seemed to have talked themselves into sleep.
Hermione closed her eyes, and had a fleeting image of the Narcissa Malfoy she had seen at the World Cup three years before. Would she had to see them before.?
Remember, Hermione, you're doing this to keep an eye on Lucius, she told herself. In fact, it would be best if she could go to Malfoy Manor over winter break. She made another mental note to talk to Malfoy (Draco, she corrected herself), right before falling into sleep.