Disclaimer: As much as I want to own the character, I don't. J.K Rowling does. *sigh*
Chapter Nine
Pansy Parkinson was seated in the far corner of the Slytherin common room. Draco had just walked in too sleepy to notice her. She hadn't slept a wink. Her blood was boiling. She was walking towards on of the dungeons last night for a meeting with her father when he saw Draco carrying Hermione inside another dungeon. She couldn't believe it. She couldn't believe that Draco was going around school at the middle of the night with a mudblood in his arms! He didn't even look angry, in fact he looked happy! It made her blood boil even more just thinking of how happy they both looked.
"It's all Granger's fault! She put my Draco under a spell!" she thought angrily. "I'm the one he should be carrying!"
She considered telling her father, knowing that he could easily tell Draco's father but she thought against it. She'll have her revenge soon but she'll have to try harder. Obviously kissing him just won't do the trick. She had to make sure Hermione was around…
"The mudblood will pay" she promised herself. "And Draco will fall into my arms" she added grinning evilly at the thought.
***
"Ron! Is everyone in their places already?" Harry yelled at Ron across the common room.
"I can't believe we forgot Moine's birthday!" Ron mumbled
"RON!" Harry yelled. "Quit mumbling and hide already! Hermione will be here in a while"
"Are you sure?" Ron asked. "I don't like hiding so you better be sure"
"God Ron! Everyone's hiding already. I do have the Marauders Map dumbo." Harry snapped
"Will you two just shut up already?! You might just spoil the surprise if you don't keep your mouths shut!" yelled Ginny.
"Well Gin, you may have ruined it with your voice" Ron muttered.
"Shut up and hide." Ginny hissed.
"H-H-Harry?" Ron stuttered. "I think there's a spider behind me"
"It's all in the mind" Harry whispered back. "She'll be here soon"
"Stop whispering" Ginny snapped.
"She's here! Everyone ready!" Harry whispered loudly to the Gryffindor students who were hiding. "3…2…1..."
"SURPRISE! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!" everyone in the common room yelled when Hermione entered the common room.
Madame Pomfrey had released Hermione right after she removed the scars on Hermione's arm she didn't want to waste a beautiful Saturday in the Hospital Wing. She decided to go and visit Harry and Ron. As soon as she stepped into the common room a great surprise met her. Harry and Ron together with all her friends greeted her. She was at a loss for words.
"Happy birthday Mione!" Ron said as he led her over to the couch, where all her gifts were placed. "Were sorry we forgot. We didn't mean to..."
"Yeah were sorry Mione" Harry piped in.
"Its alright. I'm glad you remembered!" Hermione said wiping the tears from her eyes. "I love you guys!" She hugged both Ron and Harry. They stayed and talked in the Gryffindor common room until after lunch to make up for lost time.
"I have to go and practice Quidditch with Ron" Harry said after a while.
"Its no problem. I have some work to do myself" replied Hermione although secretly wishing they wouldn't have to leave.
"I'll go get my stuff" Ron said and raced up the stairs into their dormitory.
When Harry was certain Ron wasn't around anymore, he sat Hermione back down.
"Why were you in the Hospital Wing?" Harry asked her.
Hermione was starting to panic. She hadn't planned on telling Harry or Ron about her condition, nor was she about to tell him about Malfoy.
"How did you know?" Hermione asked buying time.
"I saw you leaving the Hospital Wing before you came here. I had the Marauders Map." Harry explained.
"I wasn't feeling very well last night. I went to the Hospital Wing and Madame Pomfrey told me to stay." She lied.
"Are you alright now?" Harry asked concerned.
Hermione felt guilty about lying all of a sudden. She hated lying to her friends.
"I'm fine now" she answered.
"I'm ready" Ron called out.
"Let's go then" Harry said leading Ron out of the common room.
Hermione sat in the couch for a few more minutes before deciding to head for her common room. Her stomach started to grumble when she realized that she hadn't eaten anything since breakfast. She headed for the kitchen in search for a snack.
***
Draco Malfoy was seated on the couch in Hermione's common room. His mind was still a mess. Earlier today he had asked Dumbledore if he could move into the room beside Hermione's. He quickly agreed and asked that he and Hermione go see him later on about the decorations. He didn't know why exactly he did this but what was done was done. He sighed just as the door swung open and Hermione walked in.
"Hi!" she greeted. "What are you doing in here?"
"I was waiting for you. I need to talk to you about something." He replied.
Hermione walked over and sat beside Draco.
"What is it?" she asked.
"I asked Dumbledore if I could stay in the other room. Is that alright with you?" Draco said taking her hand in his.
"Really?!" Hermione replied trying to keep the excitement out of her voice. "I mean why?" she asked fighting back a smile.
"I don't know really. I guess after what happened I can't leave you alone. I want to be there for you Hermione. I want to take care of you." He said sincerely.
This time around Hermione was fighting back the tears. Someone actually wants to take care of her. She hugged Draco taking him completely by surprise.
"You can do better than that" he whispered playfully in her ear.
Hermione caught what he was trying to suggest and kissed him. Their kiss lasted longer than usual until Draco broke off.
"Dumbledore wants to see us" he said still panting.
Hermione nodded and they headed for Dumbledore's office. They discussed the ball and the decorations which would be coming in a couple of days and the dress code. They decided that muggle attire would be appropriate but not too revealing. The meeting together with the other Prefects and Heads lasted quite a while. When the finished it was time for dinner. They all headed for the Great Hall except for Hermione who needed to fetch a book from her dormitory. She didn't make it though. Someone snuck behind her and hit her in the head and she had passed out.
~*~
Hiding in the dungeons was Pansy. She had instructed Crabbe and Goyle to kidnap Hermione and bring her to a dungeon underground. She managed to pry the idiots from dinner and promised them a kitchen raid later on. She needed them to kidnap Hermione just for the night to teach her a lesson. She heard footsteps and moaning outside signaling that they were coming with Hermione with them. They had knocked Hermione out and placed her in the corner of the dungeon.
"Wake up you filthy mudblood!" Pansy hissed
"What? Where am I?" Hermione asked clearly unaware of her current predicament. She shook her head trying to get the room to stop spinning. She stopped and saw Pansy and stared at her.
"Don't worry. I won't hurt you" Pansy said with a voice dripping with sarcasm. "I just want to chat with you about my Draco" she said glaring at her.
Hermione stood up and returned her glare.
"Don't glare at me Granger. I can kill you right now if I wanted to. What I ask of you is simple. I want you to stop hanging out with my Draco. Do you understand me?" Pansy asked her.
"Never" replied Hermione. Pansy slapped her hard. The impact sent her flying to the ground.
"Do you dare defy me?" Pansy asked menacingly. She walked over to where Hermione was and kicked her in the stomach. Hermione moaned in pain unable to do anything.
"You two!" she said looking at Crabbe and Goyle. "Go back up, I'll handle the mudblood. It would look weird if both of you were gone including me and Granger."
Crabbe and Goyle nodded and headed out the dungeon.
***
Twenty minutes into dinner and Draco was getting worried. He looked over to the Gryffindor table and Hermione's seat was still empty. He sighed. She probably decided not to have dinner. "No need to worry" he thought. "She'll be fine"
***
Pansy watched Hermione clutch her stomach in pain for a while. Sweet revenge.
"Now" Pansy started to talk again. "I have a feeling that my Draco will be asking you to the Christmas Ball" She walked over to Hermione, pulled her up and pushed her against the wall. "I want you to say no"
"But…" Hermione started
Pansy slapped her hard again. "No buts stupid filthy mudblood! I'm the only one who goes with Draco. If I can't then no one else will." Pansy punched Hermione's stomach to prove her point. Then she let her go and headed out the door.
"Oh and mudblood, if anyone hears about this especially Draco, I will personally see to the death of Potter and Weasly. I am not afraid of anything or anyone; I have the Dark Lord by my side." Pansy said. "And by the way" she added "I want to see you here again tomorrow at around noon. I'll be waiting and you better show up. Ta ta!" she finished as she slipped out of the room.
Hermione had no choice but to follow what Pansy wanted. She would rather die than threaten the lives of her friends. She struggled to get up and headed for her room. The only place right now Draco won't see her. As much as it pained her heart, she had to distance herself from Draco Malfoy.
A/N: Thanks to those who reviewed!
To Dark Vampire, I'll try to use your suggestion.
To to whom it may concearn, Belated Happy Birthday!
