Authors Note: YEAH! I GOT MORE THAN ONE REVIEW! Except the second one was from my best friend, but whatever. The point is SOMEONE (the other dude, not my friend) liked my story, so I'm going to add chapters. (Grins with pride) I like this chapter, except it took me all day to figure out how to write about everything, but who cares? It's another chapter! Enjoy.
Hermione, Harry, Ginny, and Ron rode the once-known-to-be horseless carriages together after they got off the train. Ron kept fidgeting with his hands for some reason, shooting glances at Hermione, then to the carriage behind them. Harry however, was once again watching Ginny, except she was pretending not to notice, because she was afraid he would stop. Harry's gaze made her body heat up, which confused Ginny. I'm supposed to be over him, remember? How come whenever he looks at me with those gorgeous green eyes my face feels like it's on fire. How come whenever he's looking at me thinking I don't notice, I feel special and hot all over? WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME??
Harry didn't actually realize he was staring at Ginny so intently. Every inch of her face fascinated him, from her hairline to the delicate slope of her nose. He felt as though he wanted to absorb every detail into his brain so that he could sketch a picture in his sleep.
Ron followed Harry's gaze, and gave a jolt. Bloody idiot! That's my sister! He decided not to say anything, because he knew that Ginny would probably chuck something more than just books if he did. So he decided to try his best to ignore it and watched the scenery outside his window.
During the feast Harry, Ginny, Hermione, and Ron sat next to each other, in that order. Though Ron wanted to do nothing less then seat himself between his best friend and his little sister, he resisted the urge. Hermione, after all was sitting next to him, and he didn't want to miss this opportunity to ask her something that's been nagging him through out the entire train ride.
When Dumbledore's speech ended, he poked Hermione's shoulder. "Hermione, you don't… you know… fancy Malfoy… do you? I mean, you don't think he's handsome or anything right?" He gave Hermione a pleading look.
"What? Well, I mean, look at him. He has that devilish grin that could lure any girl to him…" Hermione looked at Ron with a wicked smile on her face. It took a while for Ron to realize she was joking.
(Authors Note: He, he. Ron's so gullible. I love gullible people. Oh, yeah, the story. Sorry about that.)
"Of course not! He's an arrogant jerk, and frankly, those aren't my type of guys… Why?" She raised her eyebrow as she waited for his response.
"Oh, nothing, just, you know, wondering. Are you gonna eat that treacle tart?"
Hermione smiled, amused at how even when it seemed like he was going to have a serious discussion, Ron's stomach always got the best of him. She handed him the treacle tart, and felt eyes boring into hers. When she looked around, she didn't see anybody, but she knew that someone was watching her, and it made her shift uncomfortably in her seat. What she didn't know was that Malfoy and his cronies were concocting a diabolical plan to destroy the Trio's friendship at the Slytherine table.
Harry and Ginny were having a debate over who would crack first.
"Honestly Harry, look at Ron! He gets furious when a guy glances at her. Now that Malfoy is going to be in the common room whenever Ron wants to visit her, it's only a matter of time until he breaks down and tells her," Ginny was saying.
Harry considered this. Though he secretly agreed with Ginny, he continued to protest to keep the conversation lasting. Ginny looked so endearing when she argued. Also, he was hoping maybe Ginny knew some secrets about Ron's crush on Hermione that she would use in the debate. After all, it's not like Ron ever actually admitted to fancying Hermione.
"And everyone knows Ron practically wears his heart on his sleeve, he just doesn't want to ever admit it," Ginny continued as she nibbled her pork roast.
"That may be true, Gin Gin," Harry smiled as Ginny threw her mashed potatoes at him, and hit Neville ("Sorry!" She blushed furiously as helped wipe it off), "but Hermione isn't as ignorant as Ron about her true feelings."
The friendly quarrel continued, ending with both of them making bets, in which Harry was sure he would be serving Ginny's hand and foot during the holiday break. He began to wonder if he did that on purpose, so that he would have an excuse to be around her. No, I just am defending Ron. There's nothing wrong with that, he thought to himself. (Authors Note: Which is kind of pointless to add, since it's no like he can be thinking to anyone else. I'm talking about the "thought to himself", not the actually italic thought.)
The feast finally ended, and Harry and Ron walked Hermione to Dumbledore's office. Hermione, sandwiched between the two of them couldn't help laughing at their brotherly actions. Ron's eyes kept darting around the corridors, as if expecting a troll to jump out and tap dance.
Sure enough, as they neared the gargoyle in which the Headmaster's office was concealed inside behind, they spotted Malfoy pacing back and forth. Ron grabbed Hermione's hand out of pure reflex. Ack, you idiot! Hermione's hand is probably wishing you disintegrated on the spot. His huge callused hands touching her own sent shivers down Hermione's spine. She gripped his hand back. Ron's heart did summersaults as he felt Hermione's soft hand fit perfectly into his enormous one.
"Oy, Prince Poverty, did you get yourself a girlfriend or something? You know, I was hoping that you could sink no lower, but no one else but a bushy haired mudblood like that would even glance twice at you." Malfoy sneered nodding his head toward Hermione, who quickly let go of Ron's hand.
Oh, my gosh, Ron must be so embarrassed. I'm going to strangle Malfoy in his much needed beauty sleep. Hermione looked apologetically at Ron, who just continued shooting daggers at Malfoy's pointed face. "Malfoy, do us all a favor and go drown yourself in a toilet," Hermione said hotly.
"Hmm… Granger, you seem much more confident then you were on the train, now that you have your body guards," Malfoy scoffed. His eyes traveled over Hermione, as he checked her out, once again. There was almost a hungry look in them.
"I told you once and I'll tell you again, I don't need anyone to protect me," Hermione scowled. She turned to Harry and Ron, giving them each a hug before saying her goodbyes. When she hugged Ron she took a deep breath to capture his woodsy scent.
"Just lay them already, you're making me bored." Malfoy's voice drawled from behind her. She grimaced, and then shoved the comment aside.
"Hermione, do you want us to stay until Dumbledore comes?" Ron asked, his eyes glaring at Malfoy.
"No, Ron, I can handle it. You both go relax in the common room. I'll be fine, honest," she added quickly when she noted Ron's obvious reluctance. She watched them gravely as they strode away hesitantly.
Once they turned the corner and were out of an ear-shot, Malfoy snuck up behind her and pinned her against the wall, all before she even registered what was happening. He leaned in, his hair tickling her cheek. "Do you need someone to protect you now?" he whispered.
Hermione's eyes were wide with fear. Raising her throbbing arms, she shoved Malfoy aside and walked across the all, where she planted her feet as she waited for the Headmaster.
Malfoy's wicked grin disappeared, as he heard faint footsteps coming down the corridor. Professor Dumbledore, with his sweeping beard and crooked nose, appeared before them.
"Peanut butter cups" he said, and the hideous gargoyle jumped back. Hermione followed closely behind him, trying her hardest to get away from Malfoy, but she knew she was being paranoid, since he wouldn't dare try anything in front of the Headmaster.
"I hope you enjoyed the feast," he began. "Your dormitories can be found right at the end of this hall, behind a knight. The password is 'Dead Roses" I know it's rather odd, but I couldn't help myself." His light cerulean eyes twinkled behind his glasses. "Just so there aren't any problems, when you are in the bathroom, and you wish not to be disturbed, just say your name to the mirror. Let me think… yes I think that's all you really need to know. Good luck and welcome back!" He chuckled jubilantly.
Of course it's easy for him to laugh. He's not living with this… this slime-ball for the rest of the school year, Hermione thought miserably as she trudged out of the office. "Dead roses" she mumbled to the knight, which politely walked out of the way revealing a door. She gasped in awe at the room. The floor was a deep scarlet, with golden baseboards along the sides of the wall. There were silver throw rugs with green lining. The couches and plush chairs were made with a soft blue material, while the purple (with canary yellow lining) silk pillows laid casually on them. Paintings of gorgeous sceneries with waterfalls or falling snow covered the walls. A magnificent chandelier hung above the room, the candle light reflecting off of the crystals illuminating the room.
(Authors Note: For those of you who don't understand the colors, it's all of the house colors. I was getting sick of all the stories where the Head dorms were only the Slytherine and Gryffindor colors, 'cause not every Head Girl and Head Boy are going to be from Slytherine and Gryffindor, and the colors should represent the school, you know? No offense to anyone who did that in theirs. Oh, and, er, I'm not really sure what the Hufflepuff house colors are, but I'm guessing purple and gold, or yellow and gold. So, yeah, please don't make voodoo dolls of me and stab them with safety pins if I'm wrong. Thanks.)
Malfoy merely yawned. "What a dump," he muttered. "Listen, if you're going to shower and try to wash all of that repulsive hair, you better do it quick, because I am not going to sit around waiting. Then again, we could save water if we just showered together," he added thoughtfully.
Hermione whipped around, her eyes narrowed. "Would you stop saying things like that? It's disgusting and nauseating! And if you're so worried about the environment, let's just not shower at all!!!" she shrieked. Her heart speeded up when he said that. She knew it was a putrid, dirty thought, but it was kind of invigorating, like she was special. What am I thinking? IT'S NOT SPECIAL! HE'S A HORNY TEENAGER WHO PROBABLY LOST HIS PORNOGRAPHY. Perverted idiot. Her face was flushed, and she turned back to look at the paintings. Maybe if I just ignore him he'll run to his daddy like he normally does when things don't go his way.
"What's the matter mudblood? Afraid you might enjoy it?" Malfoy said from behind her back. He sounded very close. Hermione turned around (Authors Note: I know, she seems to be turning around a lot) and stared into those cold gray eyes. They looked like thunderclouds now. Aggressive and cruel.
"You wish. I would never enjoy anything involving a shallow brat like you," she hissed. He continued to step closer to her. When he was a few feet away she started to step back. Inside she wanted to run as fast as her slender legs could carry her, but she didn't want him to know that he scared her to death. Especially after she repeatedly told him she wasn't frightened of him.
As she was walking backward, away from the slithering snake, she knocked into one of the lounge chairs and sank into its plush. She clutched the fabric as she watched, transfixed, as Malfoy continued to saunter toward her. She listed the possible choices inside her head. Okay, you didn't become Head Girl for nothing. You've got brains! Use them! I can take out my wand and hex him... but there's a strong chance he'll see me reaching for my wand and beat me to it. Or I can scream at the top of my lungs. Wait, what would that do? It's not like anyone can hear us. Maybe, I can make a run for it? No, he's standing right in front of my possible getaway route. Or… I can play his little games, until my other options open. Oh, no. No, no, no. Yes, yes, yes. There's only one choice. You're a Granger. You're supposed to tackle any challenge that comes your way. Jut remember, don't let him win! Stand your ground! STOP TALKING TO YOURSELF!
(Authors Note: I just had to add that. Muahahahaha)
Malfoy was now directly infront of her chair, making it impossible for her to escape to her room. He leaned down and gripped the broad shoulders of the chair, making his face inches from hers. (Authors Note: I would like to use another word for chair, since I feel as though I'm over using it, but I don't know any, so please bear with me.) His eyes seemed to be glittering with a devilish bliss, and it troubled her even more than she already was. "I told you," he said softly, "to stop insulting me. It looks like you're not as bright as everyone thinks." Hermione had never been this close to a guy, let alone Malfoy, and she was beginning to wish she would never have to be again.
His voice sent chills down her spine, just like Ron's touch did. But these were chills of utter fear, not heavenly delight. Cursing her ill luck, she began to wish Harry and Ron would come bursting through the door, just in the knick of time before Malfoy could do anything dreadful. She knew it was an absurdly far-fetched wish, because obviously they didn't know the password. And now she couldn't even count on Dumbledore to come strolling in since they had just left his office. It's not like he was going to be like "Oh! Dear me, I think I'll just check on Draco and Hermione, because I have a hunch that Draco has trapped Hermione in one of the plush chairs!" No, Hermione was on her own now.
Malfoy seemed to read Hermione's mind. He let out a quiet laugh as his gaze pierced her skin. "Ah, I see worry written all over your face. No St. Potter, no red-headed rodents, and no Dumbledore to come to your rescue now. You're all mine," he muttered into her ear. He traced a finger along her cheek, and then down her neck. It was like he had icicles for fingers, leaving a trail that burst into fire a few seconds later. His finger ran along her collar bone and towards her chest. This was just too much.
"Don't touch me," Hermione growled, as she snatched his finger away from her body.
Malfoy just raised an eyebrow. "Granger, I know I'm irresistible, but don't you think it's a little soon for you to go grabbing my-"
"My gosh!" Hermione cut him off. "That's not what I meant you cocky sod!" Then, realizing she was still holding on to his finger, she let go of it quickly as if it was contaminated. Who knows where his hands have been, she thought disgustedly. Alright, I've hade enough. She made a move to get up, but he pushed her back into the chair with ease. She sank even lower to the chair to put as much space between them as possible.
In the meantime, Harry, Ginny and Ron were huddled together in the common room testing out the latest products Fred and George sent them. One was a pack of colored tooth picks that changed the color of your teeth to whatever color the particular toothpick was. Unfortunately it took over an hour to wear off, so Ron, Harry, and Ginny had to test the other products, as they struggled from bursting into laughter. Harry had purple teeth, Ginny had orange, and Ron was cursed with black, making Harry think of the witch who tried to molest him when he ended up in Knockturn Alley during his second year. (Authors Note: Well, to me it seemed like she was going to molest him.)
Harry and Ginny kept stealing looks at each other when they thought nobody was looking. Ron bit his tongue so hard when he caught Harry for the fifth time (Ginny was far too sneaky to get caught) it bled. Black teeth and a mouth full of blood is not the most pleasant sight.
After trying out Fred and George's Chatty Parchment (which allowed you to send notes to your friends on one parchment, while they received it on their own), Sneaky Shoelaces (which tied themselves together when you least expected it), and Bubbly Gum (which made you hic-up bubbles for at least half an hour, and when they popped they squeaked random words such as "Pickles!" or "Sanctuary!") Harry and Ron went up to the boys dormitories while Ginny went up to hers.
"What was that all about Harry?" Ron asked as soon as they closed the door behind them, and walked to their four poster beds to change.
"I don't know what you're talking about, mate." Harry's voice was muffled as he pulled his pajama shirt over his head.
"Looking Ginny you at!" Ron was so livid that he jumbled all of his words up, and it took Harry a while to decode what he had just garbled.
(Authors Note: For those of you who aren't the brightest crayon in the box, Ron meant to say, "You looking at Ginny!")
"Oh, that. I was just staring at her teeth. I mean, you have to admit, it's rather odd seeing a red-head with orange teeth."
Ron considered this. "So, you don't, you know, fancy her right?" He asked hopefully.
"What? Of course not." Ron noticed Harry didn't look him in the eye as he said this, but he forced himself to believe it for his own good. He didn't want to think about how disturbing it would be if his best friend actually went out with his sister. For a split second Ron pictured Harry and Ginny making out, and then went into a fit of violent coughs.
"Mudblood, I'm not cocky, I'm just honest," he said as he began carelessly twirling a lock of her hair.
Hermione was freaking out by then. She didn't know what to do. Here she was, sandwiched between an innocent cushion and the Hogwarts pimp of the year. Her heart beat sped up, partly because she was terrified out of her mind, and partly because his burly body was so close, hovering above her as she coward in the chair. I mustn't let him notice how terrified I am. He'll only use my panic to his advantage. Oh, God, I don't want to know what he wants to use it for. She heaved a shudder and looked around the room for anything that might assist her in this time of need.
"Right, you just keep telling yourself that," she muttered. She turned her head away from his face so she wouldn't have to look at him anymore and also because his mouth was becoming dangerously close.
"For a nerdy little goody-two-shoes, you've turned out quite decent," he continued. She could feel his hair sweep her cheekbones as he moved his head. It was soft. I should've expected a guy like him to spend more time on his hair then on his schoolwork. She began to wonder if Ron's hair was as soft as his. "Why don't we try something new? You wanna see what it's like to be bad?" He murmured into her ear.
Something about his voice made Hermione go weak in the knees. She knew there would be tons of Slytherine girls who would have jumped at the opportunity to be sitting where she was. How gladly she would have switched if she had the chance. Though he was rather easy on the eyes, as much as she hated to admit it, she knew he was trouble, and she wasn't falling for whatever scheme he was planning. His breath tickled her neck, and he smelled like expensive cologne.
"I would like to get out of this chair and away from you." She smiled sweetly at him, and turned her head to the side again.
"Come on Granger, aren't you tired of that Weasel and Potter hanging around you?" He was saying, as though they were filth rather than her best friends.
That did it. She whipped her face toward him, eyes fuming with rage. She wouldn't just sit there and allow him to insult Ron and Harry. Even though Ron apparently was not interested in her in the way she wanted him to be, she wouldn't just fling herself at the next stud that came her way. Especially if this particular stud was Malfoy, who was not only a; Slytherine, cocky jerk, and enemy of the Trio, but he and his father made the Weasley's life hell. Not to mention the fact that he's ruined her own life for the past six years as well. And Hagrid's, Harry's, Neville's…
Oh shut up! He's ruined everyone's life! If I listed all of the names my head would spin! This is Malfoy! The question is whose life he HASN'T made a living hell. Then again hell wouldn't really be living, so that is an awkward saying and it really doesn't make sense—OH SHUT UP ALREADY AND GET OUT OF THERE!
She looked up see Malfoy smiling at her with that mischievous smile of his, as if he had a plan up his sleeve that would be nothing but evil.
"I said don't touch me," she said in a voice braver than how she felt.
He just continued smiling and playing with her hair, as his eyes grazed over her body.
Without thinking about the consequences or even realizing what she was doing, Hermione rammed her knee in between his legs. She must have hit something very sensitive because he wasn't smiling anymore
Malfoy's scream shocked her, and then she pushed him out of the way as she dashed towards the bathroom. There he lay, on the scarlet carpet cursing her as she fled the room.
After saying her name to the grand mirror, she relaxed. Malfoy might not be too eager to see me tomorrow, she smiled to herself.
Authors Note: There it is. Now, wasn't that special? Someone send me a review for this chapter so I know that you people are actually reading it. I don't care if it's just one person. YOU ALL MAKE ME FEEL SPECIAL AND FUZZY INSIDE! Anyways, flames are wickedly awesome, as long as they have a purpose. If they don't, they're just wickedly fun to make fun of. (Muahahahaha) Sorry if my chapters may seem short, but I'm not that smart. (Sniffles) And for those of you who are getting annoyed with all of my authors' notes, you can just skip over the bold parts, but they are there to help you understand the story. Or just because I felt like putting them in the story. (Evil cackle)