My computer is having some severe technical issues.... Well...I have a bit of bad news: I'm going to be going to China for vacation from July 11th to August 5th...so I won't be able to update, unless they have computers in China where I'm going [which I highly doubt.] I'm so sorry, but this is the only vacation we're having for the summer!! And then, straight after that, it's high school!! ::shudder:: So I don't think I can update very much after summer is over, because I seriously have to do well in high school...I have hopes for Yale, people! So yeah...I'm sorry, I'll try to update every weekend, and make the chapters so totally long, it's like you've read 4 chapters!!
I'll write about 3 more chapters in the next few days, so that you won't get a cliffhanger while I'm gone. I'm not THAT mean::snicker::
Chapter 9
Hermione gulped as Professor Dumbledore led her and Malfoy down the corridor, to his office. Surely, surely, she wasn't in trouble? If she lost any more points, her chances for Head Girl next year would be dashed. Hermione winced as she thought of the possibility of losing Head Girl-ship.
Professor Dumbledore stopped in front of a large statue of a griffin. He muttered, "Chocolate Frog," and the griffin began to rotate, turning into a group of stairs. Hermione followed Draco into Dumbledore's office.
Hermione was surprised to see Ernie Macmillan and Padma Patil inside, waiting nervously. She smiled uneasily at Padma, and took a seat next to her.
Dumbledore surveyed the four students, his eyes twinkling mysteriously. "As confused as you may be," he said, adjusting his half moon spectacles. "I beg you to allow me to explain."
The four students nodded, and intently listened as the Headmaster spoke again.
"As you all know, the spots for Head Boy and Head Girl will be vacant at the end of this year." Dumbledore continued, intertwining his long fingers. "It is my duty to choose the Head Boy and Head Girl from a select number of prefects. I have chosen each one of you as a prefect for the final four. I'll be choosing the Head Girl and Head Boy based on your school record, ability to behave, and of course, ability to prove yourself."
The students glanced at each other nervously. This sounded like The Triwizard Tournament.
Dumbledore resumed his speech. "I'll be assigning each of you a partner, and you and your partner will be assigned a specific task. The final decision of Head Boy and Head Girl-ship will be decided on the outcome of your task. If you and your partner fail to complete it, well...."
Dumbledore paused and looked at his students. They seemed to understand what he was implying, and they nodded.
"Very well," Dumbledore sighed. "I'll pair you up, then. Miss Patil and Mr. Macmillon, if you please." Dumbledore paused and his beard lifted mysteriously, and they were positive that he was smiling. "Miss Granger and Mr. Malfoy."
Hermione inwardly groaned. Her chances for becoming Head Girl were now zero to nil. How could she ever complete the task with a partner such as Malfoy?
Dumbledore took out a piece of parchment and read from it. "Miss Patil and Mr. Macmillon, you will be assigned Halloween and Christmas feast. Miss Granger and Mr. Malfoy, you will be assigned all trips to Hogsmeade." Dumbledore peered at them over the parchment. "Please do your best to cooperate with each other."
The four students stood up and exited the office.
Padma grinned at them excitedly. "This shall be fun!" she exclaimed, clapping her hands. "We must plan an extravagant ball and what not!" She giggled, looking pleadingly at Ernie.
"Right," Ernie said, groaning. "A ball...."
Draco didn't say anything; he separated from the group and headed off toward the Slytherin dungeons. Hermione raced after him.
"What do you want, Granger?" he spat at her, still walking.
Hermione ran to keep up with his brisk stride, and panted, "We need to talk."
Draco turned, a smug smile on his face.
"I know you don't want me for a partner." Hermione started. "Believe me, I don't want you either. However, I think it would be best if we tried to get through this task as civilly as possible."
Draco smirked. "Go on."
Hermione bit her lip. "And, well...I think we should be polite to each other."
Draco sneered. "Chances of that are very slim, Granger."
Hermione stomped down her foot. "Why do you have to be so difficult?"
Draco ran his hand through his sleek blond hair. "I won't be nice to you, Granger. And I suggest you never again order me to be polite to you, if you want this task to be easy."
Hermione breathed in deeply, trying to remain calm. "Malfoy, I don't care if I hurt your ego. Let's just get this task done!" She grabbed his arm and dragged him down the corridor, no doubt in the direction of the library.
Draco wrenched his hand from hers, causing her to stop and turn around. "Don't you ever touch me again, Mudblood." He spat venomously.
Hermione gritted her teeth. "I'll touch you any time I want, thanks."
Draco raised an eyebrow. Hermione, realizing what she just said, blushed furiously and shifted around uncomfortably.
"I see...." Draco smirked, and he leaned against the wall casually. "I knew you always wanted me, Granger."
Hermione looked up indignantly. "I do not want you!" she sputtered, still blushing.
"Right." Draco said sardonically. "That's why you're blushing, is it?"
Hermione tried not to flush, only to redden even more.
"Uncomfortable, are you?" Draco smirked, crossing his arms. "Listen, Granger, I know I'm very enticing and all, but do try to keep your hands off me."
Hermione growled and yanked him from the wall. She dragged him to the threshold of the library and looked at him.
"I know I'm supposed to tutor you as well." She said, opening the door. "I think it'd be best if we prepared for our task as well as tutoring every night."
Draco let out a noise of disbelief. "Granger, what are you playing at?"
Hermione huffed and led him to a table. "I want to be Head Girl next year. If you don't want Head Boy-ship, I don't care. I'm not letting you ruin my chances."
Draco sighed. "And what about Quidditch?" Hermione mused how much he sounded like Harry.
"The faster we get done, the faster you can play." She took out a quill and a piece of parchment, and looked expectantly at Draco.
"Any ideas?" she asked, flourishing the parchment.
Draco looked around the library, thinking hard. "Well, I suppose around winter time, we could invite the students to Hogsmeade."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Yes, Malfoy, we could invite them to Hogsmeade. You're forgetting that they come on their own free will." She sighed exasperatedly.
"Be quite, Granger." Draco snapped. "I meant, we could invite them to an activity. Like...ice skating."
Hermione raised an eyebrow. She was surprised at how creative his idea was. "I think we could do that." She said, writing it down on the parchment. "And I was also thinking of a costume party at The Three Broomsticks after the Halloween Feast."
Draco nodded. "More like a dance party." He said, twiddling his thumbs. "I suppose we can squeeze in a visit to the Shrieking Shack before that."
Hermione excitedly wrote down all of their ideas. By the end of the day, they had come up with about twenty, all of which were very good. "Well!" she said, finally rolling up the parchment. "That was good. We got a lot done today."
Draco watched her roll up the parchment, and spoke. "Just because I helped you, Granger, doesn't mean I'm going to be nice to you."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "God, Malfoy." She said, picking up her bag. "I never asked."
"Hermione," Ron said, looking worriedly at her. "You haven't been to any of our classes today...and you haven't shown up for lunch or breakfast either. What's up?"
Harry and Ginny stopped talking to listen concernedly.
Hermione shoved mouthfuls of potatoes down before answering. "Prefect stuff, you know."
Ron made a noise. "But Hermione!" he whined, not letting up. "I'm a prefect too, and I've been to all my classes."
Hermione finished her dinner and stood up. "See you in the common room!" she said, before departing to a stunned Harry and Ron.
"Let's practice with wands now." Hermione said, drawing out her own wand.
Draco grumbled and took out his wand.
Hermione took a deep breath. "One, two, three—Stupefy!" She cried, pointing her wand at Draco.
Draco reacted quickly and yelled, "Shieldus!"
A large green shield appeared in Draco's hand, and blocked Hermione's spell, sending it back to her. She quickly dodged it, and smiled at Draco.
"That was your best yet!" she said, gathering up her things. "That's enough for tonight. I'll see you tomorrow."
Draco nodded, and followed her out of the library. Hermione quickly traced her steps to the Gryffindor common room. As she hummed to herself on the stairs, she felt a jolt beneath her. She looked down, wide-eyed, and was horrified to see the staircase moving to a new path that she'd never seen before.
Hermione nervously walked down the corridor, glancing at the portraits along the walls. They depicted many gruesome battle scenes and...snakes....
"Granger."
Hermione jumped, and she felt a hand grabbed her from behind. She turned to face the person.
"Granger, what do you think you're doing here?"
It was Malfoy, of course. He was observing her suspiciously.
Hermione calmed herself down. "The staircase changed...I think I'm lost."
Draco sneered. "You're in the Slytherin wing."
Hermione gasped. She'd never been here before, and the darkness was scaring her. She tried to smile. "Erm, that's all right, then. I'll just go back the way I came."
Draco shrugged. "Good luck, Granger."
Hermione stopped in her tracks. "What do you mean, 'good luck'?" she hissed.
Draco started to walk away. "Well...it's quite hard to find your way back if you don't know where you're going. Besides," he said, eyeing her humorously. "There are nasty things wandering around at night."
Hermione grumbled to herself and ran after Draco. "Can you show me the way back?" she asked grudgingly.
Draco smirked. "I don't know, Granger. Tell me why I should help you."
Hermione muttered in frustration. "Because I'm tutoring you?"
Draco shook his head. "I don't think I can help you, Granger."
Hermione grabbed his arm. "Please?" she asked, hating herself for begging Draco Malfoy for help.
Draco jerked his arm away. "I told you not to touch me, Mudblood."
Hermione narrowed her eyes. "Fine." She said, walking away determinedly. "I'll find my way back by myself."
She walked off into the dark corridor, wand held out in front of her, shivering from the cold.
Yes...that was long! 1825 words!! My longest yet!! Hope this doesn't disappoint! Review for me, please! Thanks to the reviewers:
nyyrocks
Lindsay Larkin
Noir de Dame
Lisi
CozzaGirl16
Kigomae
jessjica
Eniyou
StarLady92
The look of lve
fantasy-princess09
sundaym0rning
Of course, you smart smart people, you were right, Hermione did lose points before...er...I was just writing that to see if ya'll were paying attention...lol j/k thanks you guys!
-enjorli