I've Been Living A Lie
~* Sorry for not updating this fiction, but I have been tied up with my new one, Cast Away. *~
Chapter 15 ~ The Identity
Harry and Hermione were pleased to wake up in their own bodies once more. It was lucky that Voldemort didn't get to attack Harry when he was still in Hermione's body, that could have been really bad.
Hermione came running down the stairs into the common room. The first thing she did was wrap Harry in a big hug.
'It's so good to be me again!' Hermione cried. Some people looked over like Hermione was a little wacky.
Ron was telling Harry about Dumbledore looking something up in the library.
'Well he has to find out stuff somehow,' Harry said.
'I just thought he knew everything,' Ron replied.
'That's ridiculous!' Hermione butted in. At that moment, Miranda Durshwood walked past the three, giving them all strange looks. She slipped out of the common room, looking quite sneaky. Hermione turned back to Harry and Ron. 'I'm going to follow her, you two stay here, okay?' Hermione dashed after Miranda.
Hermione followed her down some windy stair passages that she didn't know about, and around a corner where she almost ran into Miranda talking to someone.
'Sister, it's nice to see you, I'm glad father doesn't know that you're in Gryffindor, he's coming, I borrowed these Slytherin robes for you, quick, put them on,' Hermione recognised Draco Malfoy's voice. Miranda Malfoy? She questioned the irony of this fact. Miranda always did seem like she didn't like being in Gryffindor, and she most certainly didn't like Hermione, Harry and Ron.
Hermione decided to step out before the Malfoy siblings wandered away.
'What are you doing here, Granger?' Miranda asked suspiciously, narrowing her eyes dangerously. Hermione stepped up.
'You don't scare me, Miranda, you're only a first year,' Hermione said. Draco stepped in front of his sister.
'But I'm not a first year,' He said, and grabbed Hermione's arm, leading her away. 'We need to talk, Granger.'
'Why would I want to talk to you?' Hermione asked nastily.
'My sister has been through a lot, and now she's facing exclusion because she's not in Slytherin, this is the first time ever that a Malfoy hasn't been in Slytherin.'
'Her name is Durshwood, not Malfoy,' Hermione argued. 'So technically she's not a Malfoy,'
'That's her adoption name, you're dumber than I thought,' Malfoy drawled. 'Anyway, my father is coming to the school for some unknown reason, so don't say anything to him that will lead him to believe that Miranda's in Gryffindor,'
'Fine, but you owe me a favour,' Hermione said firmly. Draco hesitated, before nodding his head and walking off. So he does have a soft spot, his sister… Hermione thought as she wandered back to the Gryffindor common room to tell Ron and Harry.
'So that's why she's so nasty,' Ron said in amazement and realisation when Hermione had finished telling Ron and Harry about her run in with Miranda and Draco.
'Yes, that certainly does explain a lot.' Harry agreed.
'Well, don't say anything to Lucius, because this means Draco Malfoy owes me a favour,' Hermione grinned, thinking of what she could make Malfoy do for her.
'He's a Malfoy, he won't keep his word,' Harry said sharply. Hermione gave him a stern look.
'You don't know that, he's never owed you anything now, has he?' She snapped.
'I suppose that's somewhat true, not like I would want a favour from Malfoy anyway,' Harry responded.
'Why not? This could be a great chance to get Malfoy to do anything we want,' Ron piped up.
'Yeah, you could make him serve you dinner or something awful like that,' Harry suggested, but Hermione shook her head.
'No, I don't want to publicly humiliate him,' Both boys looked shocked and betrayed.
'What?' Ron exploded.
'Why not, Hermione? This is Malfoy we're talking about!' Harry yelled.
'Yeah, you have the chance to get back at him for all the terrible things he's said and done to you, and you're not going to take it?' Ron continued.
'Aren't you the least bit curious of how far he'll go to protect his sister?' Harry questioned.
'Well-'
'You'll have to make him do something tonight, while Lucius is still around, so that you can go to him to rat out Miranda if Malfoy doesn't do as he's told,' Ron planned.
'But-'
'No buts Hermione, you really should do this, it would make you feel ten times better, and it would make Malfoy realise that he isn't better than everyone else,' Harry continued.
'The opportunity is just too good to refuse!' Ron urged.
'What-'
'We'll plan it all out for you, and all you have to do is say the word to Malfoy, and he'll do whatever you ask,' Harry said. Ron nodded.
'But-'
'Hermione!' Ron whined.
'No! Listen to me!' Hermione suddenly erupted in rage that she was being ignored. Both boys shrunk back. 'I will not humiliate Malfoy! It isn't right, I don't want to sink to his level. By favour he means if I was in need of urgent help, and he could do something about it, he would, not what you two think he means, honestly, grow some brains!'
Ron and Harry exchanged looks as Hermione turned on her heel and stormed up the girls staircase.
'Gee, she's really mad,' Ron said timidly.
'She has no reason to, she hates Malfoy just as much as we do,' Harry pondered.
'Maybe she doesn't hate him?' Ron questioned.
'That's ridiculous, he's done as much horrible things to her as he has to us, he's insulted her just as much,' Harry blurted out.
'True, but maybe she's being responsible,'
'Maybe? Hermione has Responsible tattooed across her forehead,' Harry reminded Ron.
'That's right, do you remember her saying "You're going to get us killed, or worse: expelled!",' Ron asked.
'Yeah, she really needs to sort out some things, like who her friends and enemies are,'
'That would be a good start,' Ron agreed.
~***~
At dinner that night, Lucius Malfoy was sitting at the teacher's table, just as Malfoy said. With Harry and Hermione back in their own bodies, they were able to leave the Gryffindor common room, and they were glad, they wouldn't miss this dinner for anything. Lucius Malfoy glared out at the students, not even giving his own children a smile. Miranda was sitting with the Slytherins, trying to stay un-noticed as much as she could.
They ate silently. Time seemed to crawl by. People had their suspicions that something big was going on, but they didn't know what. After what seemed like a lifetime, the plates were cleared, and Dumbledore got to his feet.
'Most of you would have noticed the presence of Lucius Malfoy,' There was some unfriendly murmurs through the Great Hall. 'He has an important announcement to make, but before he does, I would please ask Miranda Durshwood to return to her house table,' Dumbledore smiled down at the small girl, who gave a small squeak.
Lucius watched as his daughter rose from the Slytherin table, her eyes trained on him, and slowly walked over to the Gryffindor table and took a seat. This was too much for the older Malfoy, who exploded right then and there.
'No child of mind will be in Gryffindor!' He yelled in rage. Miranda tried to look as small as she possibly could. 'I hereby disown you as a Malfoy!' Lucius roared, but at that point, Draco stood up.
'Father, you cannot do that, it isn't fair!' He shouted up at Lucius.
'Don't you dare tell me what to do boy, or I'll strip you of the name Malfoy just like your good-for-nothing sister,' Lucius threatened.
'Go ahead, do your worst,' Draco said, his voice icy.
'I hereby denounce you as a Malfoy, you lose the heritage, the name, and the fame,' With those words said, Lucius stormed out of the Great Hall in a fit of rage. Draco sat down shakily.
'Oh dear, well, what Lucius meant to say was that there will be a new subject introduced into the school's curriculem, Ancient Greek Literature, available to fifth, sixth and seventh years, sign up on your house notice board as soon as possible,' Dumbledore sat down and began immediately talking to Professor McGonagall who was sitting to his right.
'Who will the teacher be?' Someone had the nerve to call out. Dumbledore looked up from his conversation.
'Oh, right, erm, that would be Lucius Malfoy himself,'
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~* I'm sorry for the wait on this chapter, I just didn't really know what to write about, but now I have something! I hope you all liked it, and please review if you're still reading! Thanks *~
~Gryffindor Gal~
