AN: We're about half way through! Yay!
Disclaimer: If I were J K Rowling I'd be reading ff checking out my competition and cursing how close some of the writers are to my final plot, not writing the stuff trying to work out my own style!
Chapter 5- Damn!
Hermione was swanning around the house with a fantastic smile on her face. Last night had been amazing; she'd had the most fun of her life and fallen in love. Of course the object of her affections didn't even know her name or where she lived and then there'd been how the night ended....
Hermione had danced the night away forgetting everyone in the room- and the time limit. When the clock had struck twelve she'd jumped in shock already beginning to feel the magic fade. Leaving suddenly she'd shouted apologies over her shoulder to the stunned and dumbfounded prince. Terrified of what was going to happen Hermione had leapt into he pumpkin transfigured carriage and urged it to take her home quickly. It had obliged but as it raced back to the house it had turned orange under her touch. Finally she had reached the front drive of the house, where she was thrown out into the puddle that had earlier shown her attractive reflection but now soaked her original common dress. Turning she looked to where the splendid coach had been to see a pumpkin with two chickens clucking around it. Hermione wondered if she had fallen and hit her head, wondered if it had all been a dream. However looking at her feet she'd seen one glass slipper resting on her right foot- the other must have fallen off during the scramble home. Feeling hazy she'd gathered herself together and stumbled into bed.
.... Now fingering the glass slipper all of the unfortunate events of the past evening were forgotten and replaced by the memory of those deep, dark eyes. Lost in the fantasy she didn't hear the conversation that was taking place in the next room.
"Lavender," Malfoy stormed, pacing the room, "what happened? Everything was going perfectly. Why you didn't send that girl away as soon as she appeared I'll never know."
Lavender just stood there quietly. It wasn't that she felt guilty about disappointing her father but she had actually liked the charming prince and couldn't believe what Hermione had done. She'd always stuck up for her sister and never thought she'd hurt her so willingly like this.
Malfoy carried on only was now in a slightly resigned tone, "Well I suppose you didn't have much chance against that beautiful stranger."
"What?" Lavender questioned coming out of her meditation, "You didn't recognise her?"
"No. Why should I?" He continued his pacing, "Probably some foreign princess wi-"
""Father!" she interrupted, "it was Hermione!"
"Don't be stupid," he countered, "of course it wasn't Hermi...." His voice broke off as he realised who the mysterious figure of the night really was. "Of course it was Hermione," he breathed talking to himself, "but I don't understand. How did she get there?"
Just then came a steady knock at the front door. The Malfoy's maid, Winky, opened it to be pushed aside by an entourage of people who forced their way into the living room to the astonishment of the occupants.
A fanfare filled the room, "Hear ye! Hear ye!" cried the messenger. "All stand in welcome for Prince Krum the majestic and awesome. His future king wishes to seek and wed the beautiful lady of the night. The young woman whose foot fits this glass slipper," he announced presenting the shoe on a purple, puffed pillow, "shall become princess of all that is fair and free in this land."
The Prince then stately entered the room; not perturbed by the lack of riches he headed directly for Malfoy. "Kind sir," he began slightly pompously, "it would do me a great honour to marry your wonderful daughter for whom I can not yet name but would she fit this precious footwear there would be no limit to my joy."
The Prince's face was full of such urgency and love that it was all Lavender could do but to look at him, pained with every glance. Malfoy stared at the Prince who he couldn't possibly refuse. The day had started badly but now maybe he could turn this to his advantage.
"I know of which young lady you speak." Malfoy replied, choosing his words carefully, " However you would be depriving this family of one of its greatest attributes."
Lavender gaped at her father in disbelief. She and the prince knew exactly where this was going. Krum spoke with a disgusted look in his eyes, "Of course your family would be.... compensated for the loss of a daughter."
"She is very valuable your majesty."
"I can believe that and I'm sure that you and my financial adviser will be able to work something out."
Malfoy nodded his head, walked to the door and called, "Hermione Granger! Visitor!"
Krum quickly found a mirror and, smoothing down his expensive clothing, ignored Lavender as she made her way out of the room, pausing by her father.
"I can not believe that you just sold out your own daughter," she whispered harshly.
Malfoy was unfazed, "She gets a prince and we get the comfort we deserve. Anyway, she isn't my daughter." Lavender just shot him a disgusted look and left the room.
Hermione had heard her name being called and gave Lavender a confused look as the past in the hallway. Closely behind followed Pansy, her curiosity stirred by the noise.
Krum and Hermione's eyes met from across the room and they were instantly drawn to each other. Drinking in each other's presence they both ignored the nagging little voice at the back of their minds that was saying that there was something seriously not right.
"What is going on here?" Pansy questioned breaking the couple out of their reverie.
The messenger stepped forward and repeated his earlier message.
"Ha! You think that that Hermione is The One?" she guffawed.
Krum cut her off with sweet tones, talking softly to Hermione he said, "I know she is."
Pansy simply stared in shock at as Krum placed the glass slipper onto his true love's foot. "Miss Hermione Granger," at least he knew her name now, "it would give me the greatest honour if you would consent to be my wife."
Hermione screamed her positive answer and, swinging her arms around his neck, kissed him lightly on the cheek. But all the while at the back of her mind something didn't feel quite right.
............................................................................................................
A couple of hours later Hermione was in the kitchen sweeping the floor (out of familiarity rather than necessity). After Krum had left to tell his family the wonderful news she'd settled into her usual routine and tried to order the chaotic day in her head.
Her train of thought was broken when she saw a familiar mouse sitting on the side. Instantly she forgot what she was doing as she saw that the light that had sparkled in those green eyes were dull and his fur seemed lifeless. Quickly she found some cheese and placed it in front of him but he wouldn't touch it.
"Oh what's wrong?" she cried, "If you were human I'd say you were stressed."
"You have no idea," Harry thought to himself.
"I'm just being silly, of course you're going to be nervous around humans." The analysis over Hermione contented herself by stroking his fur and started to daydream about the morning- again.
Suddenly a whirlwind entered the room. Rom had come in seemingly calm but that was just the eye of the storm as he boiled inside.
"Is there anything you want to tell me?" He asked, though already quite aware of the answer. Amazingly Hermione didn't pick up on the tension in his voice.
"I'm getting married!" she squealed in delight, happily swinging her arms around his neck. Ron stood in shock and anger not responding to her embrace. "Ron what's wrong?" she asked confused.
"What's wrong? What's wrong!? You've met him twice in the last twenty four hours, decided you're going to marry him and you ask me what's wrong!?"
She couldn't understand his reaction, "I don't get it. I love Victor, what is the problem."
"Oh, Victor now is it? Until a couple of hour ago Vicky didn't even know your bloody name!"
"Ron don't swear," he rolled his eyes at her, "and don't call him that."
"What, Vicky?"
"Stop it!"
"Y'know, Hermione, I'd never have thought that you would be one to go after the money."
"How dare you," she whispered, "we are in love."
The hurt in her eyes killed him even more than the thought of them together. And Ron wanted to stop hurting her, he really did, but why couldn't she see what she was doing to him?
"Anyway how is anything I do or who I do it with anything to do with you?" she continued.
"It has everything to do with me. I'm your best friend. This just isn't you okay, you hardly know the bloke. He could be using you! I bet he won't even marry you, just use you as a bit on the side until he can find a real princess."
The sound of the slap that Hermione swung at Ron not only shut him up but also echoed around the now completely still room. "You know nothing about us," she hissed, "we are in love."
"This is lust not love!"
Again the room was silenced but the anger had dissipated slightly as Hermione sat on the kitchen stool worn from the fighting and horrified when she realised what she'd done. But she wasn't going to apologise for something he deserved instead she tried explaining it to him.
"Look," she began, "it's not like there's anyone else."
"What?"
"I'm going to have to leave here someday and I know that even if we fell in love quickly we are in love. I'm not going to slow down just because you tell me to."
Ron was still coming to terms with her earlier statement, "You think that no one cares for you like that?"
"No Ron," she sighed, "I know that no one cares for me like that."
Harry lifted his sore head, which he'd been banging against the table in despair. Maybe there was some hope for them after all he thought as he saw the look of realisation that had appeared on Ron's face.
"You're wrong Hermione someone does care for you like that."
"Who?" she asked in disbelief, nevertheless for some reason her heart started to race.
But Ron bottled it. He'd only just worked out why he'd gotten so mad about Krum, why he had to protect her, why he felt more alive anytime he was near her. How was he meant to explain that to her now? His mouth gaped trying to form the words. In the end he gave up his spluttering and simply left, muttering something about being sorry, leaving a very confused Hermione and frustrated Harry in his wake.
The mouse banged his head against the table. Damn!
AN: Vels thanks for ur reviews and ur not the only one that's confused.
To those that still stick with me thank you for your support but I seriously doubt that the next chappie will be out within the next 2 weeks.
To any new readers (if you exist) if I were you I'd just wait until the summary says COMPLETE and then read the thing as a whole.
Disclaimer: If I were J K Rowling I'd be reading ff checking out my competition and cursing how close some of the writers are to my final plot, not writing the stuff trying to work out my own style!
Chapter 5- Damn!
Hermione was swanning around the house with a fantastic smile on her face. Last night had been amazing; she'd had the most fun of her life and fallen in love. Of course the object of her affections didn't even know her name or where she lived and then there'd been how the night ended....
Hermione had danced the night away forgetting everyone in the room- and the time limit. When the clock had struck twelve she'd jumped in shock already beginning to feel the magic fade. Leaving suddenly she'd shouted apologies over her shoulder to the stunned and dumbfounded prince. Terrified of what was going to happen Hermione had leapt into he pumpkin transfigured carriage and urged it to take her home quickly. It had obliged but as it raced back to the house it had turned orange under her touch. Finally she had reached the front drive of the house, where she was thrown out into the puddle that had earlier shown her attractive reflection but now soaked her original common dress. Turning she looked to where the splendid coach had been to see a pumpkin with two chickens clucking around it. Hermione wondered if she had fallen and hit her head, wondered if it had all been a dream. However looking at her feet she'd seen one glass slipper resting on her right foot- the other must have fallen off during the scramble home. Feeling hazy she'd gathered herself together and stumbled into bed.
.... Now fingering the glass slipper all of the unfortunate events of the past evening were forgotten and replaced by the memory of those deep, dark eyes. Lost in the fantasy she didn't hear the conversation that was taking place in the next room.
"Lavender," Malfoy stormed, pacing the room, "what happened? Everything was going perfectly. Why you didn't send that girl away as soon as she appeared I'll never know."
Lavender just stood there quietly. It wasn't that she felt guilty about disappointing her father but she had actually liked the charming prince and couldn't believe what Hermione had done. She'd always stuck up for her sister and never thought she'd hurt her so willingly like this.
Malfoy carried on only was now in a slightly resigned tone, "Well I suppose you didn't have much chance against that beautiful stranger."
"What?" Lavender questioned coming out of her meditation, "You didn't recognise her?"
"No. Why should I?" He continued his pacing, "Probably some foreign princess wi-"
""Father!" she interrupted, "it was Hermione!"
"Don't be stupid," he countered, "of course it wasn't Hermi...." His voice broke off as he realised who the mysterious figure of the night really was. "Of course it was Hermione," he breathed talking to himself, "but I don't understand. How did she get there?"
Just then came a steady knock at the front door. The Malfoy's maid, Winky, opened it to be pushed aside by an entourage of people who forced their way into the living room to the astonishment of the occupants.
A fanfare filled the room, "Hear ye! Hear ye!" cried the messenger. "All stand in welcome for Prince Krum the majestic and awesome. His future king wishes to seek and wed the beautiful lady of the night. The young woman whose foot fits this glass slipper," he announced presenting the shoe on a purple, puffed pillow, "shall become princess of all that is fair and free in this land."
The Prince then stately entered the room; not perturbed by the lack of riches he headed directly for Malfoy. "Kind sir," he began slightly pompously, "it would do me a great honour to marry your wonderful daughter for whom I can not yet name but would she fit this precious footwear there would be no limit to my joy."
The Prince's face was full of such urgency and love that it was all Lavender could do but to look at him, pained with every glance. Malfoy stared at the Prince who he couldn't possibly refuse. The day had started badly but now maybe he could turn this to his advantage.
"I know of which young lady you speak." Malfoy replied, choosing his words carefully, " However you would be depriving this family of one of its greatest attributes."
Lavender gaped at her father in disbelief. She and the prince knew exactly where this was going. Krum spoke with a disgusted look in his eyes, "Of course your family would be.... compensated for the loss of a daughter."
"She is very valuable your majesty."
"I can believe that and I'm sure that you and my financial adviser will be able to work something out."
Malfoy nodded his head, walked to the door and called, "Hermione Granger! Visitor!"
Krum quickly found a mirror and, smoothing down his expensive clothing, ignored Lavender as she made her way out of the room, pausing by her father.
"I can not believe that you just sold out your own daughter," she whispered harshly.
Malfoy was unfazed, "She gets a prince and we get the comfort we deserve. Anyway, she isn't my daughter." Lavender just shot him a disgusted look and left the room.
Hermione had heard her name being called and gave Lavender a confused look as the past in the hallway. Closely behind followed Pansy, her curiosity stirred by the noise.
Krum and Hermione's eyes met from across the room and they were instantly drawn to each other. Drinking in each other's presence they both ignored the nagging little voice at the back of their minds that was saying that there was something seriously not right.
"What is going on here?" Pansy questioned breaking the couple out of their reverie.
The messenger stepped forward and repeated his earlier message.
"Ha! You think that that Hermione is The One?" she guffawed.
Krum cut her off with sweet tones, talking softly to Hermione he said, "I know she is."
Pansy simply stared in shock at as Krum placed the glass slipper onto his true love's foot. "Miss Hermione Granger," at least he knew her name now, "it would give me the greatest honour if you would consent to be my wife."
Hermione screamed her positive answer and, swinging her arms around his neck, kissed him lightly on the cheek. But all the while at the back of her mind something didn't feel quite right.
............................................................................................................
A couple of hours later Hermione was in the kitchen sweeping the floor (out of familiarity rather than necessity). After Krum had left to tell his family the wonderful news she'd settled into her usual routine and tried to order the chaotic day in her head.
Her train of thought was broken when she saw a familiar mouse sitting on the side. Instantly she forgot what she was doing as she saw that the light that had sparkled in those green eyes were dull and his fur seemed lifeless. Quickly she found some cheese and placed it in front of him but he wouldn't touch it.
"Oh what's wrong?" she cried, "If you were human I'd say you were stressed."
"You have no idea," Harry thought to himself.
"I'm just being silly, of course you're going to be nervous around humans." The analysis over Hermione contented herself by stroking his fur and started to daydream about the morning- again.
Suddenly a whirlwind entered the room. Rom had come in seemingly calm but that was just the eye of the storm as he boiled inside.
"Is there anything you want to tell me?" He asked, though already quite aware of the answer. Amazingly Hermione didn't pick up on the tension in his voice.
"I'm getting married!" she squealed in delight, happily swinging her arms around his neck. Ron stood in shock and anger not responding to her embrace. "Ron what's wrong?" she asked confused.
"What's wrong? What's wrong!? You've met him twice in the last twenty four hours, decided you're going to marry him and you ask me what's wrong!?"
She couldn't understand his reaction, "I don't get it. I love Victor, what is the problem."
"Oh, Victor now is it? Until a couple of hour ago Vicky didn't even know your bloody name!"
"Ron don't swear," he rolled his eyes at her, "and don't call him that."
"What, Vicky?"
"Stop it!"
"Y'know, Hermione, I'd never have thought that you would be one to go after the money."
"How dare you," she whispered, "we are in love."
The hurt in her eyes killed him even more than the thought of them together. And Ron wanted to stop hurting her, he really did, but why couldn't she see what she was doing to him?
"Anyway how is anything I do or who I do it with anything to do with you?" she continued.
"It has everything to do with me. I'm your best friend. This just isn't you okay, you hardly know the bloke. He could be using you! I bet he won't even marry you, just use you as a bit on the side until he can find a real princess."
The sound of the slap that Hermione swung at Ron not only shut him up but also echoed around the now completely still room. "You know nothing about us," she hissed, "we are in love."
"This is lust not love!"
Again the room was silenced but the anger had dissipated slightly as Hermione sat on the kitchen stool worn from the fighting and horrified when she realised what she'd done. But she wasn't going to apologise for something he deserved instead she tried explaining it to him.
"Look," she began, "it's not like there's anyone else."
"What?"
"I'm going to have to leave here someday and I know that even if we fell in love quickly we are in love. I'm not going to slow down just because you tell me to."
Ron was still coming to terms with her earlier statement, "You think that no one cares for you like that?"
"No Ron," she sighed, "I know that no one cares for me like that."
Harry lifted his sore head, which he'd been banging against the table in despair. Maybe there was some hope for them after all he thought as he saw the look of realisation that had appeared on Ron's face.
"You're wrong Hermione someone does care for you like that."
"Who?" she asked in disbelief, nevertheless for some reason her heart started to race.
But Ron bottled it. He'd only just worked out why he'd gotten so mad about Krum, why he had to protect her, why he felt more alive anytime he was near her. How was he meant to explain that to her now? His mouth gaped trying to form the words. In the end he gave up his spluttering and simply left, muttering something about being sorry, leaving a very confused Hermione and frustrated Harry in his wake.
The mouse banged his head against the table. Damn!
AN: Vels thanks for ur reviews and ur not the only one that's confused.
To those that still stick with me thank you for your support but I seriously doubt that the next chappie will be out within the next 2 weeks.
To any new readers (if you exist) if I were you I'd just wait until the summary says COMPLETE and then read the thing as a whole.