"Just keep guessing food. Harry said the stranger, the better." They stood
beside the gargoyle that marked the entrance to Dumbledore's office.
"Candy, usually."
Draco stared at her. "Candy. Lord Voldemort fears someone who uses 'candy' for his office password?"
Hermione ignored his sarcasm. She had gotten very good at it. "Ice Mice. Pepper Imps. Sherbet lemons. Chocoballs. Sugar Quills." That did it, and they rode the staircase up to where Dumbledore's door creaked open for them. It revealed Albus Dumbledore seated at his desk. "We're here, Professor," Hermione said. Draco bowed, earning him a strange look from Hermione and a small smile from the Headmaster.
"Come in, both of you, and sit down" He waved his hand and two armchairs positioned themselves in front of the desk. Hermione sat. Draco stood, out of habit. Dumbledore continued, "That was very clever of you. Why did you do it?"
"We didn't feel we could continue our friendship in opposing Houses," Hermione offered. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Draco's brow crease, but he said nothing.
"It is a bit more than a friendship, isn't it?" the Headmaster asked gently.
Draco's turn. "Yes, sir, it is." He could not have lied if he'd wanted to; although Draco had never met anyone less like his father, you told no falsehoods to the man behind the desk.
Dumbledore didn't pursue the matter. "The Sorting list can only be amended magically. Minerva didn't think any student could do it, which is why she went through with it. I think you will find," he looked down his long, crooked nose at them, "that you have created more problems than you have solved. Mr. Malfoy, your father will be here any moment. Professor Snape is stalling him." Hermione resisted the urge to giggle.
"Headmaster, if the Sorting Hat put me in Ravenclaw, not even the governors can remove me." Draco substituted bravado for certainty, for Hermione's sake.
"Your father wants you transferred, Draco."
An uncomprehending Hermione watched Draco's face slowly turn translucent. But when he spoke, it was with a calm acceptance that marked the way he took pain and change. "Excuse us a moment, Headmaster." He pulled Hermione out the door, closed it, and set his back against it. "'Mione, listen to me. We haven't much time. My father is a powerful, dangerous man, and his anger is now directed at you. Promise me, beloved, that you won't eat or drink anything not served to a group or open any mail not magically scanned." Hermione nodded, caught up in his urgency. "Go back to Gryffindor. You'll need your friends. Stay away from the Slytherins. 'All' of the Slytherins." Draco ran a finger along the line of her cheek and pulled her close to him, and they embraced like two drowning people.
"I love you," she whispered into his hair, trying to calm the nervous energy his body radiated. "Draco-"
"Draco!" They broke the embrace to see Lucius Malfoy storming up the stairway toward them.
Please go read 'Perfect', I just posted it. Percy angst, what's not to love? Please!
G. R.
Draco stared at her. "Candy. Lord Voldemort fears someone who uses 'candy' for his office password?"
Hermione ignored his sarcasm. She had gotten very good at it. "Ice Mice. Pepper Imps. Sherbet lemons. Chocoballs. Sugar Quills." That did it, and they rode the staircase up to where Dumbledore's door creaked open for them. It revealed Albus Dumbledore seated at his desk. "We're here, Professor," Hermione said. Draco bowed, earning him a strange look from Hermione and a small smile from the Headmaster.
"Come in, both of you, and sit down" He waved his hand and two armchairs positioned themselves in front of the desk. Hermione sat. Draco stood, out of habit. Dumbledore continued, "That was very clever of you. Why did you do it?"
"We didn't feel we could continue our friendship in opposing Houses," Hermione offered. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Draco's brow crease, but he said nothing.
"It is a bit more than a friendship, isn't it?" the Headmaster asked gently.
Draco's turn. "Yes, sir, it is." He could not have lied if he'd wanted to; although Draco had never met anyone less like his father, you told no falsehoods to the man behind the desk.
Dumbledore didn't pursue the matter. "The Sorting list can only be amended magically. Minerva didn't think any student could do it, which is why she went through with it. I think you will find," he looked down his long, crooked nose at them, "that you have created more problems than you have solved. Mr. Malfoy, your father will be here any moment. Professor Snape is stalling him." Hermione resisted the urge to giggle.
"Headmaster, if the Sorting Hat put me in Ravenclaw, not even the governors can remove me." Draco substituted bravado for certainty, for Hermione's sake.
"Your father wants you transferred, Draco."
An uncomprehending Hermione watched Draco's face slowly turn translucent. But when he spoke, it was with a calm acceptance that marked the way he took pain and change. "Excuse us a moment, Headmaster." He pulled Hermione out the door, closed it, and set his back against it. "'Mione, listen to me. We haven't much time. My father is a powerful, dangerous man, and his anger is now directed at you. Promise me, beloved, that you won't eat or drink anything not served to a group or open any mail not magically scanned." Hermione nodded, caught up in his urgency. "Go back to Gryffindor. You'll need your friends. Stay away from the Slytherins. 'All' of the Slytherins." Draco ran a finger along the line of her cheek and pulled her close to him, and they embraced like two drowning people.
"I love you," she whispered into his hair, trying to calm the nervous energy his body radiated. "Draco-"
"Draco!" They broke the embrace to see Lucius Malfoy storming up the stairway toward them.
Please go read 'Perfect', I just posted it. Percy angst, what's not to love? Please!
G. R.