Title: Reflections in the Dark
Chapter: 5
By: Moondreams
Notes: I had such a writer's block with this one! Sorry it took so long. Merry Christmas to everyone! I heard somewhere that the soldiers in Iraq couldn't say Merry Christmas on TV that they had to say Happy Holidays. I hate that everything has to be so politically correct. It's a bunch of crap if you ask me. Well, ok I'm getting down from my soapbox. So, Happy Hanukah, Kwanzaa, and Merry Christmas to everyone!! Thanks for the reviews, some ya'll are really funny and had me cracking up! The reviews really kept me going on this one, so keep up the good work and thanks for making me laugh. Kudos to Lucian's Babe for the 'reviewing on caffeine', LiquidV for the longest review with good suggestions even though this isn't a slash fic, and magicalferret for the ' Hermione saying okay, i know you're not a retard. so spill" review. Thanks again for the reviews!!! Keep reviewing. I could use suggestions lol. Feel free to flame if you wish just be kind. Is that even possible for flaming? OK enough chatter, Enjoy!
Moonlight streamed through the windows causing the shadows to dance on the walls. Hermione pulled on the invisible cloak and snuck out of the Gryffindor common room. What had happened to her? She used to be such a stickler for the rules. Harry and Ron had happened, they had corrupted her, she thought with a smile. Her feet walked the familiar path the library without her having to think of it. Her mind was still on other matters. Hagrid had said that she could get the foot print casts soon. A voice in her head warned her that she might be getting over her head. It was true of course, only someone evil would surly kill so many unicorns. Harry had become moody at the possible threat of Voldermort reappearing. She knew that he sometimes wished that he could just be a normal wizard instead of having his life in jeopardy constantly. But Hermione couldn't imagine Harry sitting back and not doing anything. She pushed open the heavy doors of the library and let herself in. The smell of old book pages and dried ink greeted her. She smiled and scanned the books. Each book was filled with a piece of knowledge just waiting to be absorbed. She had loved books as long as she could remember. They had been her passion. She picked up one labeled Camelot: a study of the magical realm of Merlin. She fingered the gilded front and flipped open the book.
"Aren't you supposed to be in bed?" a male voice asked. Hermione jumped and the book flew from her hand. She spun around just to come face to face with Malfoy. She grimaced.
"What do you want, Ferret boy?" she asked coldly as she reached down and picked up her book
"Hello to you too, Granger," he said coolly in a tone that matched hers completely. The two eyed each other for a second.
"What are you doing here, Malfoy? Doing some late night plotting?" she baited with her arms crossed. It had unnerved her to run into him in the library of all places, in the middle of the night. Malfoy watched her. She was shivering slightly, not because of him, of course. She had too much backbone to ever do that.
"I couldn't sleep," he admitted and stared out the window into the star lit sky. "Do you ever have dreams that haunt you? It makes you afraid to close your eyes to what you might find," he murmured. Hermione blinked. No sarcastic remark? When she didn't answer him, he turned around and looked at her. "No, I guess you wouldn't," he said with a shrug. Hermione watched him cautiously as she clutched her book to her chest.
"Do you come here often.when you can't sleep?" she asked as she leaned against a table.
"Sometimes. Filtch hardly comes in here, you know," Malfoy said softly. Could he have been the one that scared her just a few nights before? Hermione's eyes narrowed. Where was the arrogant git? It was like someone had taken over Draco's body. well mind anyway.
"You could ask Pomprey for a dreamless sleep potion, you know," she pointed out. Malfoy shook his head.
"I don't ask anyone for help," he stated coldly sounding like his usual self.
"Asking for help doesn't make you weak," Hermione stated with a matter of fact voice that she used mostly on Harry and Ron. And with that Draco smiled, not his usual smug smile, but a sort of sad smile.
"Try telling my dad that, you don't know what's its like to always have to." he let his voice trail off. Hermione's hand found its way to Draco shoulder. "It's ok," she said then shook herself mentally. What the heck was going on? She was acting like a bloody idiot! Yet she could see pain in his eyes and her heart nearly broke. She watched him carefully and looked into his light blue eyes. She searched them for a motive.
"What do you want?" she asked slowly. Draco shook his head in protest.
"Nothing, Granger. Nothing at all," he told her as he leaned back in his chair.
"That'll be the day," she mumbled under her breath with her arms crossed. The coldness was starting to seep up her legs. Any moment she knew that her teeth would begin to chatter.
"Well, good night then," she said with a nod.
"Who's in there!" a voice bellowed. Hermione and Draco both froze at the sound of Filtch's voice. Hermione's eyes darted to the cloak in her arms. She couldn't put it on, then Malfoy would know of its existence. Draco quickly jumped up and gave Hermione a mighty shove sending her reeling to the ground.
"Under the desk, now!" he hissed and he turned his head as if trying to see Filtch through the darkness. Hermione darted in the shadow cubby under the desk as the caretaker approached.
"What do you want, old man?" Draco asked looking smugly up from the book he had grabbed.
"It's past curfew, Slytherin," Filtch said with a frown. Hermione held her breath as the two faced off. If it was Harry or herself, they would've been hulled to Snape for punishment.
"So it is," the blonde haired boy drawled look very unimpressed.
"Who else is here?" Filtch scanned the library. Mrs. Norris was nowhere to be seen. Maybe Fred and George stuffed her in one of the toilets again.
"Just me,"
"I could've sworn I heard two voices," Filtch growled.
"Are you hearing voices again? I wouldn't tell anyone, people would start to talk," Draco warned looking extremely bored about the whole ideal. Hermione bit back a gasp. Filtch was really going to get him now. Filtch snarled at him.
"By the way, I saw Potter in the Great Hall about 10 minutes ago, if you hurry you'll be able to catch him," Malfoy remarked. Filtch spun on the ball of his heel and hurried out of the library. Draco smiled smugly and went back to reading as he glanced one or twice to see if the old man was coming back.
"You can come out now,"
Hermione crawled out seething. Draco raised an eyebrow in question. "What?" he asked. "You sent him after Harry!" she said with a stomp of her foot.
"But your Golden boy is not in the Great Hall, is he?" asked Draco. Hermione stopped for a second.
"Well, no, but still." she protested.
"But it worked for us getting him to leave," Draco pointed out snapping the book shut.
"The ends don't always justify the means," she argued.
"Would you rather be in detention now for skipping curfew and sneaking into the library?" he questioned.
"No? Then how about saying thank you?" he continued. Hermione rolled her eyes but murmured a thank you.
"I didn't hear you, Granger," Malfoy stated.
"THANK YOU," Hermione said louder.
"You owe me," he pointed out. The brown haired girl looked to him in
disbelief.
"Think again, Ferret," she argued.
"You do."
"Do not."
"I saved you from detention." Hermione felt like screaming. She just HAD to come down here tonight. She felt like kicking herself then drop kicking Malfoy.
"So what do you want?" she asked with a huff.
"I need help," he told her. Hermione leaned against the table and watched him come towards her.
"I can't give you a new heart," she retorted. "Ouch, Granger, hitting below the belt, aren't we?"
"Drop dead,"
"You'd like that, wouldn't you? I need help in History of Magic. I failed my last test and need helping studying for the test we have on Thursday," he explained. Hermione looked at him for a moment. The moonlight was turning his hair an almost silvery color. It played against his white shirt making it glow slightly. He could easily pass for an angel if Hermione didn't know any better. "Is that it?" she asked.
"No, I want your first born to sacrifice," he drawled. He looked at her stunned face.
"Kidding, Granger. It's a joke. Lighten up," he said grinning. "Alright, when?" she asked.
"Tomorrow, 4pm, in the unused classroom next to the entrance," Malfoy told her quickly. A little too quickly, could he have planned this?
"Fine," she said as she turned and walked quickly out, leaving the book left on the table. Malfoy watched her flee with a smug smile on his face.
By the next morning, it was raining. Not just raining, it was pouring. Hermione stared gloomily out of the window during Transfiguration. "Well, it was a good idea, you know," Ron tried to comfort her.
"Yeah, would've worked really well," Harry added giving her an encouraging smile. Hermione let out a sigh but said nothing as she watched the rain beat on the window panes. She had been so close! Was the Ministry of Magic doing anything to stop the killings? She doubted it. Maybe when she was done with school she'd go and work for the ministry making sure to pay close attention to all things that got over looked. Like the house elves. Like the unicorns. Like Sparrow.
The students trudged through the rain as their umbrellas threatened to break with each gust of wind. They all crowded into Hagrid's hut, usually two per each oversized chair. About 10 sat on the edge of Hagrid's bed, about five on Sparrow's. Many sat cross-legged on the floor. Draco and his goons stood leaning against the door looking cool. "Sorry for the lousy weather," Hagrid apologized and passed round large cups full of hot tea to the wet students. Harry, Ron and Hermione were fortunate to get a chair.
"Alright, for today's lesson," Hagrid started as he sat down on an overstuffed chair closest to the fire propping his leg up. The door was yanked open, Draco who had been leaning on it, fell backwards against the surprised Sparrow sending them both sprawling in the mud. The covered birdcage that Sparrow had been holding flew from his hand and landed on its side in the mud. Whatever was in it squawked in protest. The students howled with laughter. Crabbe and Goyle quickly rushed to Draco's side. Sparrow who was beginning to stand up was thrown off balance yet again as Crabbe and Goyle shoved past him. Hermione leapt from her chair and rushed outside to help Sparrow up.
"Are you ok?" she asked him as she helped him up. Sparrow nodded and picked up the cage and the two made their way back into the hut, both extremely wet with rain. Sparrow's clothes were covered with mud and clung to his thin body making him look even smaller. Draco was pulling off his mud cover robe and glaring at Hagrid's assistant. Sparrow laid the cage gently on the table and pulled off the covering revealing a vulture like bird. He then sat down in a darkened corner away from the rest of the students. His eyes moved dully from each student and rested briefly on Hermione who met his gaze. "This bird is what you'd call an Irish Phoenix," Hagrid started.
"Once thought to predict death with it's scream, this here bird actually predicts bad weather like today."
"So did you hear about Fred and George? The Slytherin room was covered with a swamp. They didn't get caught but I think Snape has a good idea it was them," Ron whispered to Hermione.
"Or us," Harry shrugged.
"They're gonna get kicked out if they keep it up," Hermione stated flatly. Her glanced quickly at Sparrow in the corner. His head was resting against the wall and his eyes were closed. Hermione grabbed her cup of tea and walked toward him ignoring the curious gazes of the others. Hagrid ignored her and kept on teaching.
"Sparrow?" she asked and knelt beside him. His eyes opened in surprise. She handed him the warm cup, which he accepted with a smile. He gave her a nod in thanks. She turned her head slightly and caught Draco glaring at her and Sparrow. She walked back over to her seat feeling both Draco's and Sparrow's eyes follow her.
Ron dropped a couple of stacks of books on the library table sending up clouds of dust from their yellowed pages.
"Apparently, the achieves don't get looked at that often," Harry said coughing as he covered his mouth and nose with his robes. Hermione coughed and nodded. She pushed her potions homework and grabbed one.
"So, you were both born in 1981 so we should probably look around the seventies for your parents, Harry, and probably the sixties for you Ron," Hermione explained. She opened a book and sneezed as another cloud of dust surrounded her.
"I think we need to do some anti-dust charms on these," she said in between sneezing. She grabbed her wand and uttered the charm. The dust immediately disappeared.
"I could use that one for my room," Ron said with adoration. Hermione never did cease to amaze him.
"Here, I found Remus' picture," she said pointing out a picture of a brown haired young man with a small smile playing on his lips. Harry rushed around the table and looked over her shoulder.
"Remus Lupin, Gryffindor, 6th year, Most likely to open a bookstore," Harry read out loud laughing. "Apparently each student was given some superlative by their year," Hermione said grinning as she read some of the more funnier ones.
"Most likely to turn his sister into a toad, most likely to have made out with every single girl at Hogwarts, now that's a record. Oh here's Sirius': Most likely to hex Severus Snape into a pin cushion," Hermione read. Ron and Harry howled with laughter.
"Here's my dad, most likely to win the Quidditch World Cup," and with that Harry sobered. "I wonder, would he have? If he wasn't." Harry couldn't finish and shook his head. "I really don't see how this can help us except see our parents with weird hairstyles," Ron pointed out flipping through the books.
"Oh ye of little faith," Hermione said smugly as she waved her wand at James Potter's picture. A list of classes appeared beside the picture and the picture started to talk.
"Hi, I'm James Potter. A shout out to all my friends, just remember, we're the class they warned you about," the picture said with a wink.
"What my future holds? In 10 years, my face will be on posters," he said with a laugh.
"Wanted posters maybe!" Sirius's picture remarked.
"On Quidditch posters," James corrected.
"And I'll be married to Lily and have 3 kids and a dog of course," James continued. Sirius' picture laughed. "A black one, named Snuffles," James grinned. Sirius laughed even harder.
"And it'll be fixed," James remarked with a mischievous grin. Sirius stopped laughing.
"Hey, now that's not even right!" Sirius remarked. "Well, that it, congrads to the graduating class!" James said with a wave and picture stilled to the smiling young face of James Potter.
"Do they all talk?" asked Harry with wonder.
"Yes, of course," Hermione said with a grin. Then she sat up suddenly and glanced at a clock on the library wall. "It's almost four, I got to go," she said grabbing her books and stuffing them into her bag.
"Where are you going, Mione?" asked Ron. Harry looked at her with curiosity wondering the same thing. "I meet you at dinner," she said not bothering to answer. With that, she left leaving behind two very puzzled boys.
Marcus Flint watched from a behind a statue in the hall as Hermione slipped into the classroom. "That's one," Draco stated as he joined his fellow Slytherin. "I said date," Marcus scowled.
"It's a study date," Draco grinned with triumph. "The last two have to be real dates," Marcus stated with a sneer that showed two rows of crooked teeth.
"Fine, well I have a date to go to, see you later, Flint," he said as he slapped his friend on the back before walking to the classroom. The sneer on Flint's face became more pronounced. He leaned back against the cold stone wall and thought for a moment. He truly doubted Draco would be able to get two more dates with the mudblood. Even so, if he did, Marcus would just have to get rid of Harry Potter for him. Thus resulting in Marcus becoming a Death eater when he handed the bloodied body over to the Dark Lord. Then evidence could appear blaming Draco for the murder of the Gryffindor golden boy. On the other hand, if Malfoy couldn't get another date then Marcus would get the money and blackmail material. If Draco's father found out that his son was dating a mudblood, he'd either pay Marcus to keep silent about whole ordeal or disown his son. If Draco did get disowned then he wouldn't be the spoiled rich prat who felt he could rule Slytherin. Flint rubbed his hands together greedily, either way he won in the end. Malfoy was walking into his own downfall. He whistled tunelessly as he made his way back to the Slytherin common room dreaming of all the possible outcomes. Maybe if he had turned around he would've seen a thin brown haired boy immerge from a darkened corner.
Chapter: 5
By: Moondreams
Notes: I had such a writer's block with this one! Sorry it took so long. Merry Christmas to everyone! I heard somewhere that the soldiers in Iraq couldn't say Merry Christmas on TV that they had to say Happy Holidays. I hate that everything has to be so politically correct. It's a bunch of crap if you ask me. Well, ok I'm getting down from my soapbox. So, Happy Hanukah, Kwanzaa, and Merry Christmas to everyone!! Thanks for the reviews, some ya'll are really funny and had me cracking up! The reviews really kept me going on this one, so keep up the good work and thanks for making me laugh. Kudos to Lucian's Babe for the 'reviewing on caffeine', LiquidV for the longest review with good suggestions even though this isn't a slash fic, and magicalferret for the ' Hermione saying okay, i know you're not a retard. so spill" review. Thanks again for the reviews!!! Keep reviewing. I could use suggestions lol. Feel free to flame if you wish just be kind. Is that even possible for flaming? OK enough chatter, Enjoy!
Moonlight streamed through the windows causing the shadows to dance on the walls. Hermione pulled on the invisible cloak and snuck out of the Gryffindor common room. What had happened to her? She used to be such a stickler for the rules. Harry and Ron had happened, they had corrupted her, she thought with a smile. Her feet walked the familiar path the library without her having to think of it. Her mind was still on other matters. Hagrid had said that she could get the foot print casts soon. A voice in her head warned her that she might be getting over her head. It was true of course, only someone evil would surly kill so many unicorns. Harry had become moody at the possible threat of Voldermort reappearing. She knew that he sometimes wished that he could just be a normal wizard instead of having his life in jeopardy constantly. But Hermione couldn't imagine Harry sitting back and not doing anything. She pushed open the heavy doors of the library and let herself in. The smell of old book pages and dried ink greeted her. She smiled and scanned the books. Each book was filled with a piece of knowledge just waiting to be absorbed. She had loved books as long as she could remember. They had been her passion. She picked up one labeled Camelot: a study of the magical realm of Merlin. She fingered the gilded front and flipped open the book.
"Aren't you supposed to be in bed?" a male voice asked. Hermione jumped and the book flew from her hand. She spun around just to come face to face with Malfoy. She grimaced.
"What do you want, Ferret boy?" she asked coldly as she reached down and picked up her book
"Hello to you too, Granger," he said coolly in a tone that matched hers completely. The two eyed each other for a second.
"What are you doing here, Malfoy? Doing some late night plotting?" she baited with her arms crossed. It had unnerved her to run into him in the library of all places, in the middle of the night. Malfoy watched her. She was shivering slightly, not because of him, of course. She had too much backbone to ever do that.
"I couldn't sleep," he admitted and stared out the window into the star lit sky. "Do you ever have dreams that haunt you? It makes you afraid to close your eyes to what you might find," he murmured. Hermione blinked. No sarcastic remark? When she didn't answer him, he turned around and looked at her. "No, I guess you wouldn't," he said with a shrug. Hermione watched him cautiously as she clutched her book to her chest.
"Do you come here often.when you can't sleep?" she asked as she leaned against a table.
"Sometimes. Filtch hardly comes in here, you know," Malfoy said softly. Could he have been the one that scared her just a few nights before? Hermione's eyes narrowed. Where was the arrogant git? It was like someone had taken over Draco's body. well mind anyway.
"You could ask Pomprey for a dreamless sleep potion, you know," she pointed out. Malfoy shook his head.
"I don't ask anyone for help," he stated coldly sounding like his usual self.
"Asking for help doesn't make you weak," Hermione stated with a matter of fact voice that she used mostly on Harry and Ron. And with that Draco smiled, not his usual smug smile, but a sort of sad smile.
"Try telling my dad that, you don't know what's its like to always have to." he let his voice trail off. Hermione's hand found its way to Draco shoulder. "It's ok," she said then shook herself mentally. What the heck was going on? She was acting like a bloody idiot! Yet she could see pain in his eyes and her heart nearly broke. She watched him carefully and looked into his light blue eyes. She searched them for a motive.
"What do you want?" she asked slowly. Draco shook his head in protest.
"Nothing, Granger. Nothing at all," he told her as he leaned back in his chair.
"That'll be the day," she mumbled under her breath with her arms crossed. The coldness was starting to seep up her legs. Any moment she knew that her teeth would begin to chatter.
"Well, good night then," she said with a nod.
"Who's in there!" a voice bellowed. Hermione and Draco both froze at the sound of Filtch's voice. Hermione's eyes darted to the cloak in her arms. She couldn't put it on, then Malfoy would know of its existence. Draco quickly jumped up and gave Hermione a mighty shove sending her reeling to the ground.
"Under the desk, now!" he hissed and he turned his head as if trying to see Filtch through the darkness. Hermione darted in the shadow cubby under the desk as the caretaker approached.
"What do you want, old man?" Draco asked looking smugly up from the book he had grabbed.
"It's past curfew, Slytherin," Filtch said with a frown. Hermione held her breath as the two faced off. If it was Harry or herself, they would've been hulled to Snape for punishment.
"So it is," the blonde haired boy drawled look very unimpressed.
"Who else is here?" Filtch scanned the library. Mrs. Norris was nowhere to be seen. Maybe Fred and George stuffed her in one of the toilets again.
"Just me,"
"I could've sworn I heard two voices," Filtch growled.
"Are you hearing voices again? I wouldn't tell anyone, people would start to talk," Draco warned looking extremely bored about the whole ideal. Hermione bit back a gasp. Filtch was really going to get him now. Filtch snarled at him.
"By the way, I saw Potter in the Great Hall about 10 minutes ago, if you hurry you'll be able to catch him," Malfoy remarked. Filtch spun on the ball of his heel and hurried out of the library. Draco smiled smugly and went back to reading as he glanced one or twice to see if the old man was coming back.
"You can come out now,"
Hermione crawled out seething. Draco raised an eyebrow in question. "What?" he asked. "You sent him after Harry!" she said with a stomp of her foot.
"But your Golden boy is not in the Great Hall, is he?" asked Draco. Hermione stopped for a second.
"Well, no, but still." she protested.
"But it worked for us getting him to leave," Draco pointed out snapping the book shut.
"The ends don't always justify the means," she argued.
"Would you rather be in detention now for skipping curfew and sneaking into the library?" he questioned.
"No? Then how about saying thank you?" he continued. Hermione rolled her eyes but murmured a thank you.
"I didn't hear you, Granger," Malfoy stated.
"THANK YOU," Hermione said louder.
"You owe me," he pointed out. The brown haired girl looked to him in
disbelief.
"Think again, Ferret," she argued.
"You do."
"Do not."
"I saved you from detention." Hermione felt like screaming. She just HAD to come down here tonight. She felt like kicking herself then drop kicking Malfoy.
"So what do you want?" she asked with a huff.
"I need help," he told her. Hermione leaned against the table and watched him come towards her.
"I can't give you a new heart," she retorted. "Ouch, Granger, hitting below the belt, aren't we?"
"Drop dead,"
"You'd like that, wouldn't you? I need help in History of Magic. I failed my last test and need helping studying for the test we have on Thursday," he explained. Hermione looked at him for a moment. The moonlight was turning his hair an almost silvery color. It played against his white shirt making it glow slightly. He could easily pass for an angel if Hermione didn't know any better. "Is that it?" she asked.
"No, I want your first born to sacrifice," he drawled. He looked at her stunned face.
"Kidding, Granger. It's a joke. Lighten up," he said grinning. "Alright, when?" she asked.
"Tomorrow, 4pm, in the unused classroom next to the entrance," Malfoy told her quickly. A little too quickly, could he have planned this?
"Fine," she said as she turned and walked quickly out, leaving the book left on the table. Malfoy watched her flee with a smug smile on his face.
By the next morning, it was raining. Not just raining, it was pouring. Hermione stared gloomily out of the window during Transfiguration. "Well, it was a good idea, you know," Ron tried to comfort her.
"Yeah, would've worked really well," Harry added giving her an encouraging smile. Hermione let out a sigh but said nothing as she watched the rain beat on the window panes. She had been so close! Was the Ministry of Magic doing anything to stop the killings? She doubted it. Maybe when she was done with school she'd go and work for the ministry making sure to pay close attention to all things that got over looked. Like the house elves. Like the unicorns. Like Sparrow.
The students trudged through the rain as their umbrellas threatened to break with each gust of wind. They all crowded into Hagrid's hut, usually two per each oversized chair. About 10 sat on the edge of Hagrid's bed, about five on Sparrow's. Many sat cross-legged on the floor. Draco and his goons stood leaning against the door looking cool. "Sorry for the lousy weather," Hagrid apologized and passed round large cups full of hot tea to the wet students. Harry, Ron and Hermione were fortunate to get a chair.
"Alright, for today's lesson," Hagrid started as he sat down on an overstuffed chair closest to the fire propping his leg up. The door was yanked open, Draco who had been leaning on it, fell backwards against the surprised Sparrow sending them both sprawling in the mud. The covered birdcage that Sparrow had been holding flew from his hand and landed on its side in the mud. Whatever was in it squawked in protest. The students howled with laughter. Crabbe and Goyle quickly rushed to Draco's side. Sparrow who was beginning to stand up was thrown off balance yet again as Crabbe and Goyle shoved past him. Hermione leapt from her chair and rushed outside to help Sparrow up.
"Are you ok?" she asked him as she helped him up. Sparrow nodded and picked up the cage and the two made their way back into the hut, both extremely wet with rain. Sparrow's clothes were covered with mud and clung to his thin body making him look even smaller. Draco was pulling off his mud cover robe and glaring at Hagrid's assistant. Sparrow laid the cage gently on the table and pulled off the covering revealing a vulture like bird. He then sat down in a darkened corner away from the rest of the students. His eyes moved dully from each student and rested briefly on Hermione who met his gaze. "This bird is what you'd call an Irish Phoenix," Hagrid started.
"Once thought to predict death with it's scream, this here bird actually predicts bad weather like today."
"So did you hear about Fred and George? The Slytherin room was covered with a swamp. They didn't get caught but I think Snape has a good idea it was them," Ron whispered to Hermione.
"Or us," Harry shrugged.
"They're gonna get kicked out if they keep it up," Hermione stated flatly. Her glanced quickly at Sparrow in the corner. His head was resting against the wall and his eyes were closed. Hermione grabbed her cup of tea and walked toward him ignoring the curious gazes of the others. Hagrid ignored her and kept on teaching.
"Sparrow?" she asked and knelt beside him. His eyes opened in surprise. She handed him the warm cup, which he accepted with a smile. He gave her a nod in thanks. She turned her head slightly and caught Draco glaring at her and Sparrow. She walked back over to her seat feeling both Draco's and Sparrow's eyes follow her.
Ron dropped a couple of stacks of books on the library table sending up clouds of dust from their yellowed pages.
"Apparently, the achieves don't get looked at that often," Harry said coughing as he covered his mouth and nose with his robes. Hermione coughed and nodded. She pushed her potions homework and grabbed one.
"So, you were both born in 1981 so we should probably look around the seventies for your parents, Harry, and probably the sixties for you Ron," Hermione explained. She opened a book and sneezed as another cloud of dust surrounded her.
"I think we need to do some anti-dust charms on these," she said in between sneezing. She grabbed her wand and uttered the charm. The dust immediately disappeared.
"I could use that one for my room," Ron said with adoration. Hermione never did cease to amaze him.
"Here, I found Remus' picture," she said pointing out a picture of a brown haired young man with a small smile playing on his lips. Harry rushed around the table and looked over her shoulder.
"Remus Lupin, Gryffindor, 6th year, Most likely to open a bookstore," Harry read out loud laughing. "Apparently each student was given some superlative by their year," Hermione said grinning as she read some of the more funnier ones.
"Most likely to turn his sister into a toad, most likely to have made out with every single girl at Hogwarts, now that's a record. Oh here's Sirius': Most likely to hex Severus Snape into a pin cushion," Hermione read. Ron and Harry howled with laughter.
"Here's my dad, most likely to win the Quidditch World Cup," and with that Harry sobered. "I wonder, would he have? If he wasn't." Harry couldn't finish and shook his head. "I really don't see how this can help us except see our parents with weird hairstyles," Ron pointed out flipping through the books.
"Oh ye of little faith," Hermione said smugly as she waved her wand at James Potter's picture. A list of classes appeared beside the picture and the picture started to talk.
"Hi, I'm James Potter. A shout out to all my friends, just remember, we're the class they warned you about," the picture said with a wink.
"What my future holds? In 10 years, my face will be on posters," he said with a laugh.
"Wanted posters maybe!" Sirius's picture remarked.
"On Quidditch posters," James corrected.
"And I'll be married to Lily and have 3 kids and a dog of course," James continued. Sirius' picture laughed. "A black one, named Snuffles," James grinned. Sirius laughed even harder.
"And it'll be fixed," James remarked with a mischievous grin. Sirius stopped laughing.
"Hey, now that's not even right!" Sirius remarked. "Well, that it, congrads to the graduating class!" James said with a wave and picture stilled to the smiling young face of James Potter.
"Do they all talk?" asked Harry with wonder.
"Yes, of course," Hermione said with a grin. Then she sat up suddenly and glanced at a clock on the library wall. "It's almost four, I got to go," she said grabbing her books and stuffing them into her bag.
"Where are you going, Mione?" asked Ron. Harry looked at her with curiosity wondering the same thing. "I meet you at dinner," she said not bothering to answer. With that, she left leaving behind two very puzzled boys.
Marcus Flint watched from a behind a statue in the hall as Hermione slipped into the classroom. "That's one," Draco stated as he joined his fellow Slytherin. "I said date," Marcus scowled.
"It's a study date," Draco grinned with triumph. "The last two have to be real dates," Marcus stated with a sneer that showed two rows of crooked teeth.
"Fine, well I have a date to go to, see you later, Flint," he said as he slapped his friend on the back before walking to the classroom. The sneer on Flint's face became more pronounced. He leaned back against the cold stone wall and thought for a moment. He truly doubted Draco would be able to get two more dates with the mudblood. Even so, if he did, Marcus would just have to get rid of Harry Potter for him. Thus resulting in Marcus becoming a Death eater when he handed the bloodied body over to the Dark Lord. Then evidence could appear blaming Draco for the murder of the Gryffindor golden boy. On the other hand, if Malfoy couldn't get another date then Marcus would get the money and blackmail material. If Draco's father found out that his son was dating a mudblood, he'd either pay Marcus to keep silent about whole ordeal or disown his son. If Draco did get disowned then he wouldn't be the spoiled rich prat who felt he could rule Slytherin. Flint rubbed his hands together greedily, either way he won in the end. Malfoy was walking into his own downfall. He whistled tunelessly as he made his way back to the Slytherin common room dreaming of all the possible outcomes. Maybe if he had turned around he would've seen a thin brown haired boy immerge from a darkened corner.
