Title: Man Going Down
Pairing: Ginny/Draco; Harry/Hermione
Disclaimer: I own absolutely nothing.
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Chapter 2: Things Revealed?
"Mione! Are you absolutely sure he'll let us borrow the cloak?"
"Yes Ginny!" We began climbing the stairs to the 7th year boy's dorm.
"But how are we gonna borrow the books if we can't take them out? You know Madame Pince will notice they're missing!" We came to the landing and Mione knocked on the door.
"Copying spell."
"Those are illegal and you know it."
"They are also untraceable and un-trackable." The door opened.
"I don't even want to know." Harry said with a smile when he saw our conspiratorial looks and let us in.
"I wish I didn't know!" I answered flopping down on Harry's bed and eyeing my sleeping brother. "How long has Mione liked to break the rules Harry?"
He looked at her funny.
"She doesn't. Why?" Mione turned red.
"Can we borrow your invisibility cloak Harry?" she asked.
"That depends . . . what for?" I looked at Mione then at Harry.
"Books?" I answered in an innocent tone. He hung his head as he opened the trunk that contained the cloak.
"I refer to my earlier statement. I don't want to know."
"Good." I said as I grabbed the cloak and walked out the door. Hermione kissed Harry before following suit. I walked down the stairs and grabbed my book bag. "So Mione? What kind of books are we looking for?"
"I told you already." she answered as we walked over to the portrait and covered ourselves with the cloak. "And you're going to have to wait until we get to the library before I remind you. I don't want to get caught by Filch." I looked at her.
"Don't be such a worry wart!" I opened the door and we crept down to the library. It was a very uneventful trip and we never once saw Filch or Mrs. Norris. Upon entering the library, we shed the invisibility cloak and began our search for books on 19th century culture. It didn't take too awful long, and there was an abundance of books and we found exactly the ones we needed. "What was that spell you said you knew Mione?" she grinned at me.
"You just tap the object to be copied and say 'simulare' and you will get an exact replica." I did as she said and copied the books I found that I thought we might need, Herms did the same and we put back the originals. "We can read these when we get back to the tower. I think you should spend the night in my room Gin, so we can get right to work on this stuff."
"What about spending time with Harry?" she looked a little embarrassed as we walked over to the invisibility cloak.
"I can see Harry later. We need to prepare you for being a lady." I smiled at her and put the books in my bag.
"Thanks Mione." I hugged her and we put the cloak on before heading back to the tower, totally ignoring the shadowed figure in the corner of the library. As was the walk to the library, the walk back was quite uneventful. We headed straight to Mione's room and I dropped the bag of books on her mini-couch.
"Where should we start Ginny?" Mione asked as I unloaded all the books onto the floor. There had to be at least twenty of them.
"I guess reading about the 1800's. Since these books are ours, we can highlight them right?"
"I suppose. It would be easier that way. Make sure you take notes though, so we have a clear list of what you need to learn."
"Okay." I picked ap a thick book entitled "Culture of the 19th Century" and began to read. After about a half an hour I shook my head and looked over the notes I had. Dancing? Manners? Walking? Riding? Titles? Sitting? Learning to curtsey? Learning to flirt properly? "My gods Mione! I can't learn this in a month!!"
"What are you reading about Ginny?"
"The culture. You?"
"Fashion." I looked at her weird. "Well, you are going to Diagon Alley tomorrow to buy clothes, jewelry and the like. One of us needs to know about it." I nodded and smiled at her.
"Good point." I yawned and went to check my nonexistent watch. "What time is it Mione?" She looked at her clock and shrugged.
"Around midnight, a little before. Why?" I stretched out on the floor.
"I do have to go to Diagon Alley as you pointed out, but other then that I was just curious. Why don't we switch notes seeing as you aren't allowed to accompany me to London?" She handed me her notes and took mine.
"Sounds good." I had just started to go over the notes when there was a knock on the door. "Nobody's home!" I called cutely. The door opened and Harry stepped in.
"Cute Gin, real cute." He stopped when he noticed the books that were spread out all over the floor. "What have you two been up to?"
"Uh nothing. Nothing at all." Herms answered getting up and kissing him on the cheek.
"I agree with her. Why are you here?" He laughed.
"Well, last time I checked, Mione was my girlfriend. And I went to see Dumbledore about something and he sent me back with this note for Mione. Seeing as you two are busy with illegal books" I made and indigent sound "I'll leave you alone and talk to you at breakfast." He walked out and I jumped on the bed next to where Hermione had sat.
"What's it say?"
"I don't know." She unrolled the parchment and gasped causing me to rip it out of her hands.
Miss Granger,
After careful consideration I have decided to change your social status for the impending history project. The following are your new stats:
Name: Hermione DuMont
Class: Upper
Parent: Severus DuMont
Personal Maid: Teresa Richards
Objective: Attract and marry a man with a high title, particularly the son of Baroness Stone.
Please make sure that you inform Ms. Weasley that you will no longer be her maid, and taking that place will be 'Angela Richards'. You now have the privilege of going to Diagon Alley if you wish.
Prof. Dumbledore
"Mione! That makes you my sister!"
"I know!!" she shrieked as she hugged me. I flopped down on her bed.
"I am suddenly very tired Mione, I think I'm going back to my dorm to sleep."
"Night Gin."
"Night."
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I was surprised to hear voices when I walked into the library, and stepped into the shadows as the came closer.
"What about spending time with Harry?"
"I can see Harry later. We need to prepare you for being a lady."
"Thanks Mione." So? Weasley had a place in the upper class? That's a little surprising. I wonder what her role is going to be, don't want to run into her in London. Today's or then's. Hmm. I needed to find books regarding dukedom and the proper culture for the time. I copied the books and went back to my prefect room.
I scanned through the books until I found the section that pertained to my interests at the moment. Clothes. I had a trip to Diagon Alley in the morning and I needed to know what types of clothes men wore at the time. After a half an hour or so later, I had mental notes categorized in my head for the shopping trip.
Then I moved on to the duties of a duke. I needed to be able to handle estates and the people on them, I had to know who to behave in polite society, not to mention how to court a female. Aside from that I learned about the not-so-polite things; gaming halls, and mistresses. My attitude toward the project began to change, this could be highly enjoyable . . . as long as I don't run into the Weaselette. That sucks the fun right out of anything.
I moved on to the actual etiquette of the time. Dancing, addressing other titles, along with other proprieties I already knew from the manor. This was going to be a cake. Now, if I could just find out who was to play Miss DuMont. It would be so ironic if it were to be the Weaselette, but fate and Dumbledore can not seriously have that terrible a sense of humor . . . could they?
*End of Chapter 2*
Thanks to those who reviewed. It meant a great deal. Um, I cant remember who commented on it for I lost my reviewer list but, yes I have done, and am still doing, my research on the 19th century. Hopefully it will turn out believable. Til next time.