Chapter 8
Weeks passed and Draco proved true to his word during this span of time. He really did put a distance between him and Hermione. Too much distance, in fact, that even her bestest best pals had noticed. He had overheard them in one of the hallways one day talking amongst themselves just as he was about to turn a corner into the same hallway.
"Did you notice something weird about Malfoy lately?" the Weasel had asked. It was a question definitely out of the blue and Draco, upon hearing his name, immediately halted and listened to what Ron was going to say.
"You mean aside from the fact that he hasn't turned into a ferret for weeks already?" Harry put in.
"I mean," Ron explained, "He's not bothering us much this month, is he?"
"Do you seriously want to talk about that cockroach?" Harry asked. It took Draco every ounce of his will to not jump out and hex him for insulting him.
Ron shrugged. "For lack of a better subject, yes."
"Hmm," Hermione murmured. "I agree with you, Ron. The last time we had an encounter with him was around three weeks ago, and that had been our fault."
Harry chuckled. "Ron's fault, you mean," he joked. "It was Ron's idea to toss that giant slug into Malfoy's hair."
So it was them!
"Ahem, you agreed on it, though, didn't you?" Ron reminded him.
All three of them laughed as one, commenting on how the slimy dark brown slug had looked like a really big hair clip on Draco's white-blonde hair. It ticked him off, of course, and he gleefully cast the body-bind spell on them. It took Loony…er, Luna Lovegood, who happened to pass by accidentally while on one of her regular strolls around the building, to free them from it.
Now he was walking down the same corridor on his way to Potions, his last subject before lunch, when he heard footsteps a little way behind him. He turned his head around slightly to find out that it was the very person he was trying to avoid. There was no place to go. They were both headed for the same class, which had been so ever since they first arrived in that school, so there was no use trying to go the other way. He just kept his face to the front and pretended that he didn't see her coming.
Hermione had been thinking about her Ancient Runes quiz while walking, so she did not notice the path she was taking. Actually, it was more of like she wasn't paying any attention to where she was going. She knew she was going the right way to the Potions dungeons, but that was as far as it went. Some time when she was about to descend the stairs to the dungeons, she finally noticed that someone was walking ahead of her. Someone with blonde hair.
"Malfoy!" she called, remembering that she had something to tell him. She ran so that she could catch up to him. "Wait! I need to tell you something!"
Draco heard Hermione's voice calling out to him and he swore under his breath. Pretending he didn't hear, he continued down the stairs.
"Wait! Slow down, you jerk!"
He finally stopped walking, waiting for her to come. "What's all the rush, Granger? Missed me that much?" He grinned at her while she glowered at him.
"No, you doofus," she said. "I just have to tell you something important about—"
"Oh no!" Draco said, faking a surprised expression. "You're not about to profess your undying love for me, are you? I mean, it's not really a surprise that a Mudblood like you would take a liking to me, but you really aren't my type and I don't want to hurt your feelings. How do I say this lightly…"
Hermione rolled her eyes at him. "You are pathetic," she said monotonously. "I was going to tell you that we're having a meeting with the Prefects tomorrow night at seven o'clock in the Prefects' office. Now that I have, I'm off. Sorry if I disappointed you about the undying love thing, but you really aren't my type either. Oh, and don't forget that it's our turn to patrol tonight." Turning her back to him, she walked down the hall to the Potions classroom, ignoring his next words. All she understood was "Whatever."
Draco scrunched up his face. "You really aren't my type either," he said shrilly in an attempt to mimic Hermione. "Know-it-all," he huffed. Turning his expression back to normal, which was basically cold and expressionless, he followed in the direction she had gone to and entered the Potions classroom.
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Draco ran a hand through his damp hair and made his way to Prefects' office. He had just come from Quidditch training with his team, which he unwillingly cut short because of the meeting. It was quite a big sacrifice to make since the first match of the year was only a week and a day away. Honestly, who'd want to go to a meeting when they could spend their time playing Quidditch?
He reached the corridor of the office and saw that the Prefects were all standing outside the doors. "What's the hold-up?" he asked, annoyed that they haven't entered yet. Did they really have to wait for me to do this? I do not have to do everything for them. And where on earth is the fucking Mudblood?
Padma was the first to answer. "As you can see, we're still outside," se said as-a-matter-of-factly.
"That I can," Draco replied sarcastically as he neared them. He hated Padma. She was pretty, yes. That much was obvious. But she was freaking cheeky, one factor that he absolutely hated. "How come you haven't gone yet inside was what I meant. You'd think Ravenclaws would know what my question meant."
"Well," Pansy simpered, touching Draco lightly by the arm. "The password we were using until last week doesn't work anymore. Did you change it?" The look on Draco's face told them that it was changed. "Next time, try informing us about the password change. We arrive before you do, and then Granger's not here; probably she's goofing off with her idiot Gryffindor pals."
Ginny glared at Pansy. "Hermione doesn't have the habit of goofing off and missing an important meeting like this, Parkinson," she said, rising to the defense of her friend. "There must be a valid reason for her tardiness today."
Pansy narrowed her eyes in disgust, still while attempting to caress Draco's arm with her fingers. Draco was busy pulling away from her. "Shut up, redhead. Just because your Mudblood friend portrays the image of a saint doesn't mean she is one. For all we know, she could be off banging with your precious brother."
Ginny looked ready to kill. "If you value your face, try not insulting Gryffindors in the presence of another Gryffindor," she threatened.
"Shut up, both of you," Draco interrupted before the Weasley could do anything rash. Somehow, he was disquieted by what Pansy had said about Hermione and Ron. He pried Pansy's fingers off his arm with a little difficulty. "And will you stop clutching me, Pansy," he said through gritted teeth. Finally succeeding in freeing himself, he strode to the painting that concealed the door to the Prefects' office. "Western Isles," he said loudly for the whole assembly to hear, and the painting swung open to reveal a large door, which he easily pushed open. "Come on. We've wasted enough time already."
One by one, the Prefects admitted themselves into the room. When the last of the Prefects was already inside, Draco followed and closed the door behind him. He made a fire appear in the fireplace with his wand, then leaned himself on the wall as the Prefects settled themselves on the couches.
"Excuse me," Justin Finch-Fletchley said as soon as everyone was settle in their seats. "Can we please get this over with quickly? I have an appointment with… well, I just have an important appointment." He looked at Draco square in the eye, though he really wanted to look away.
"Is it really important?" Draco asked suspiciously. "If you're only trying to skip out on this boring meeting, you'd better stop the attempt. If it is an appointment with a Professor or if it was a very important family thing, you may go now."
Before Justin could come up with a good answer to say, fifth year Hufflepuff Prefect, Millie Brackhart, already gave an answer. "He's meeting up with upperclass-man Ernie Macmillian," she said quietly. She couldn't keep quiet because she knew something others didn't, and though she wasn't as much of a gossip as the Patil twins were, she was still one. Nothing excites a gossip more than rumors and scandals and things better kept secret. "I saw them earlier today in one of the corridors, but they were getting cozy so the only thing I heard was that they were having a date tonight."
Everyone in the room turned their heads to Millie, including a blushing Justin. "W-what the h-hell are you t-talking about?" he stuttered, and everyone looked into his guilty face.
Draco stared amusedly at the two Hufflepuffs. I never knew Finch-Fletchley was bi… or possibly even homo, he thought. Indeed, Justin never showed any outward signs that he was interested in males, so it surely came as a shock to all of them. As for Millie, he had always thought she was a funny character. She would say things she wasn't supposed to say, then make it look like she wasn't the least bothered by what she had revealed and sometimes look like she thought everyone else won't bother either. Tonight was just the same.
"Finch-Fletchley," he said. "I see it is an important appointment, but then I didn't think you'd be dating Macmillian. You just wait. It'd be all over the school before breakfast even starts." He smirked at Justin and was pleased to see that his eyes were wide-open and his face was furiously red. "Oh," he added. "No, you cannot skip the meeting, by the way."
He walked to what they call the "Cork Wall." The wall itself was the Prefects' bulletin board, the whole length of it a large corkboard. He removed one piece of parchment pinned to the wall and brought it back to the waiting group of Prefects.
"Now," he said. "The meeting will commence." As soon as the words came out of his mouth, the office door swung open and in came Hermione.
"Sorry I'm late," she apologized. She looked like she had been running, he breathing ragged and strands of her chocolate brown hair plastered to her slightly sweaty face. She stepped into the room and closed the door behind her, apologizing one more time. "What did I miss?" she asked as she stood to stand beside Draco.
"We just finished the meeting," he said disapprovingly as she put her bag down on the floor. Why did she look so disheveled? Surely Pansy's joke wasn't true, was it? He became even more uneasy as he saw that she was starting to remove her black Hogwarts robes. She was wearing only the white long-sleeved blouse and the Hogwarts gray skirt under it, her Gryffindor tie absent for once. So unkempt… she couldn't have been really banging with Weasley, right? Amidst his inquietude, he managed to appreciate what she was wearing. He had always found plain blouses of all kinds and cuts sexy on women, and seeing Hermione in her white school blouse without the annoying red and gold tie was undeniably delightful. He muttered a, "Quit stripping in front of us, Granger," to her.
Hermione turned to look at him oddly. "Who's stripping?" she asked with a frown. "It's just a robe. Don't you feel hot in your own robes?" She continued to fold her robes neatly and placed it on top of her bag.
"Of course, I feel hot," Draco replied. Well, he wanted to, but nothing came out of his mouth. Yes, I feel hot, dammit! Who wouldn't with all the clothes you're taking off? And stop talking like that, for Merlin's sake! You fucking sound like a fucking stripper! She had just tied up her hair in a pony, exposing her long slender neck, another thing which he was a sucker for. Damn the Vampire blood in him…
"That's better," Hermione muttered, patting her ponytail. She turned to Draco. "And you didn't really expect me to believe that the meeting is finished, do you?
Draco swallowed hard, trying to push away the naughty thoughts he was having about the girl in front of him. "Whatever," he retorted pitifully, lifting the paper to his eyes to avoid seeing Hermione in her sexy white blouse and her neck that was enough to tempt a Vampire into coming out in the open during daylight. "Let's see, where was I? Oh, right… you all know what this paper does, don't you?" he asked, showing the paper around to everyone. "It magically lists down all punishments you people have been giving out." He scanned the paper with her eyes. Beside him, he could feel Hermione doing the exact same thing.
"Parkinson," Hermione said in a troubled tone. "You gave detention to Colin Creevey for accidentally stepping on your pink hair clip?" She turned an eye on the Slytherin girl, who shrugged like she didn't care and crossed her arms in front of her chest.
"Was that his name?" Pansy asked, and Draco had to smirk. "He smashed it. It was my favorite Montferrat hair clip. We all know how expensive Monferrat merchandise can get. That clip alone cost me 51 galleons! But then you wouldn't know that, would you? Being a nothing more than a Muggle, I mean." She looked away grumpily.
Hermione ignored Pansy's comment about Muggles. She wouldn't rise to the bait. She knew that was Pansy's aim… to get her worked up. 51 galleons… that's like around 15-20 pounds. Who'd be stupid enough to buy something that expensive? she mused, instead. If she were Pansy, she'd get furious at Colin, too. "But you gave him a week's worth of detention for that," she said anyway. "That's a little too much. Besides, he doesn't even deserve any detention. You can't give out detentions for personal and selfish reasons." She turned to face Ginny, who was in the same year as Colin. "Gin, you tell Colin that the detention Parkinson gave him is cancelled."
"You cannot do that!" Pansy shrieked indignantly. "He wrecked my 51 galleon pink Monferrat hair clip! I would have taken points from your House, but Prefects are not allowed to do that. What did you want me to do? Would you rather I asked Crabbe or Goyle to beat him up?"
Hermione rolled her eyes, though she actually thought, that could be a good option. Goodness knows Colin is one of the most annoying people in school. "Whatever, Parkinson," she said aloud. "Maybe next time you'd think before you leave your expensive valuables lying around the floor. The detention is off. If you've got any problems with that, I'll take a few points from your own House." She turned back to Draco, who held the paper. She tapped her wand a few times on Colin's name and it, along with the word 'detention' written beside it, disappeared.
Pansy sat down on her seat, glaring at Hermione and muttering curses under her breath, in which the words "Mudblood" and "Fucking Bitch" were discernable.
Draco ignored Pansy's tantrum and looked at the paper again, his eyes lighting up maliciously. "What about you, Thomas," he said, grinning triumphantly at the Gryffindor. "You gave Crabbe detention for being fat and overweight? I think that is just utterly unreasonable." He grinned even larger when he saw Hermione almost crack her neck as she craned it quickly to better see if Draco was kidding or not.
Dean looked up from his hand. He knew that he was going to be called on, but he had hoped that Hermione would be the first to see the paper and hence go easy on him. "But he really is overweight," he said defiantly, facing a smug Draco and a displeased Hermione. "I was late for class the other day because he couldn't fit through the bathroom door and I couldn't get out. This school should only accept students who are of high intelligence and not some pea-brained porky fellow who cannot even spell his own name."
"Well, that certainly rules you out, Thomas," Draco replied haughtily. "You're not really known to have a large mental capacity, are you? With intelligence like yours, I find it hard to believe that Hogwarts even actually considered sending you a letter. Even Flobberworms have more brains. Now," he tapped the paper with his wand in much the same way that Hermione did. "Crabbe's detention is off, as well. And, let's see, five points from Gryffindor for abusing your power as a Prefect."
Hermione, who had remained quiet through Draco's speech, snapped her head to his direction. "Hey, now, wait a second there," she said angrily. "I didn't take any points from your House for Parkinson's unnecessary distribution of punishments. The worst thing I did was cancel the detention. There's no reason for you to go and take points from Gryffindor."
Draco smirked at her. "That was to teach Thomas a lesson," he replied simply. "If he is not disciplined well, he would continue to do the same thing next time." He shrugged his shoulders at Hermione, looking like he did not care the least bit about what he had done.
"What you did was unreasonable as well!" she pointed out. "Isn't it enough to call it off? I mean, Parkinson gave Colin a week's detention for accidentally stepping on her hair clip which, if I might remind you, shouldn't have been lying on the floor in the first place. I did not take five points from Slytherin, did I?"
"You're just too goody-goody, Granger. Normal people won't let it off easy."
Hermione rolled her eyes, throwing him a look of disgust. "So I suppose you're normal, now, are you?"
"Indeed."
"Let me take points from your House, then."
Draco tutted. "Do you seriously want to do that, Granger? Wouldn't that be for revenge? I think that's under the category of 'personal' reasons."
Hermione opened her mouth to speak, but she didn't have anything to say. She had to admit, she walked into that one. She shook her head, trying to ignore the way he smirked. She was starting to find the smirk irritating and irresistible at the same time… and it was difficult to get mad at someone when you're busy admiring his good looks. Pushing the 'evil' thoughts away, she snatched the paper from his hands and looked at it.
"Don't you have manners, Mudblood?" Draco said angrily. "Mommy Muggle didn't teach you any?" But he let Hermione handle the paper, anyway. Sitting himself on the floor by the fire, just like he did the other meeting, he allowed her control.
Hermione let him go. After all, there was no point in arguing with an irresponsible dickwad like him. She mentally slapped herself for using the disgusting term. She faced the Prefects and clasped her hands behind her back. "Okay, that's it for the problems in detention-giving," she said in a business-like tone. "I am disappointed that two of you, one from my House and one from his—" she nodded at Draco who was busy shining his Head Boy badge. "Have given detentions to fellow students who did not merit a detention. We are not supposed to do that… ever. The next time anyone of you do something like this, you will be reported to your Head of House. And do not try editing what is on this paper. It answers only to my and Malfoy's wand. If any other wand is used on it, we will immediately be alerted as to who tried changing what is on it."
The Prefects looked at one another. It hadn't occurred to them that they could try to alter what is written on the paper, and it made Hermione glow with something somewhat like pride that 'their Prefects' did not think of misbehaving even more by changing the paper. On the Prefects' part, learning that a spell was on paper only showed them just how serious Hermione was about doing duties well.
"Moving on," Hermione said, calling back the attention of the Prefects and of Draco. "Tomorrow is a Hogsmeade day, as you all must know. All ten of us will be the last ones to head there, as we have the duty to make sure all who are not allowed to go will not be able to go. Malfoy and I will be stationed at the Entrance Hall. The rest of you will station yourselves elsewhere."
Draco stood up from the floor, dusting off his pants with one hand. "Right," he said idly. "And then we'll be the last to stay there until all the Hogwarts students have gone back safely to school. Of course, the Head Boy, me, has to remain and make sure all the Prefects get back to school, since you are my responsibility."
"I have to stay behind, too," Hermione added. "To make sure that The Head Boy goes back to school and doesn't go off somewhere on his own after school hours." She was not about to let anyone take her out of the picture, and that included jerks and Malfoys.
Draco waved his hand at her. "You do that. And while you're at it, stay there forever and lessen the troubles in my life, then there'd be one less person to annoy me." He took the paper from Hermione and pinned it again to the cork wall. "That should do it, people. This meeting is adjourned. Oh, and Finch-Fletchley," he added maliciously. "Why don't you hurry along. Macmillian must already be waiting for you."
Justin glared at Draco, some Prefects giggled and whispered amongst themselves, and Hermione stared from Justin's red face to Draco's smirking one. The Prefects eventually exited the office, leaving Hermione alone with Draco.
"What was that about Justin and Ernie?" she asked as soon as all the Prefects have gone. She stooped to pick up her bag and robe from the floor.
"Oh, you mean you didn't know?" Draco said innocently. "Finch-Fletchley and Macmillian are dating." He grinned at Hermione's stupefied expression, savoring the thought that there was something he knew that she didn't. "Really, I couldn't believe it either when I first heard it, but it's true. Close your mouth Granger."
Hermione snapped her jaw shut. Se couldn't tell if he was being serious or not. He had the look that said he knew something, but she couldn't help distrusting him He's Malfoy, after all; always out to pull our legs when given the chance. "Come on," she said after a moment. "That's just ludicrous. Justin dated Mandy Brocklehurst back in fifth year. Now you want me to believe what you're saying, that he's gay?"
Draco shrugged and made for the door. "Obviously, that was all for show, in case you haven't thought of that yet. I'm not telling you to believe me," he said as he opened the door, Hermione walking some distance behind him. "But. I tell you, the whole school will know by breakfast, now that all the Prefects know it. Patil and Pansy would definitely spread the good news faster than any bacteria can."
Hermione ran a little to catch up to him, so that they were walking side-by-side. "And are you sure about this? Sure? I mean, how on earth did you know about this?"
Draco looked at her with an exasperated look. "Two words: Millie Brackhart. I hope that's enough to shut you up and keep you that way."
It was. Hermione knew what Millie was like, and she knew that most of what Millie said was true, if not some version of the truth. She was known for being annoyingly frank and tactless, so not many people like being around her. You wouldn't want that, too, if you don't want your secrets to be spilled out. Having no close friends, she became one of the people who spent time with textbooks, otherwise known as the nerds, making her one of the top students of the fifth years.
"She saw Finch-Fletchley and Macmillian in some corridor," he continued. "Brackhart being who she was, she told us what she saw the moment Finch-Fletchley said he was having an important appointment tonight."
Hermione nodded in understanding. "I see," she said. She couldn't think of anything sensible to say, for the news was such a shock to her. Silently, she walked alongside Draco as they both headed for their rooms. She watched as he said the password to Frederick. Somehow, his voice, which used to be very annoying and somewhat always lazy-like, had acquired a deep tenor and slightly soothing quality. Traces of the eleven-year-old Draco's drawl were still distinguishable, but for the most part he had a very masculine and manly voice.
As she followed him into the room, she couldn't help but compare him to Harry, which she noticed she had been doing quite often lately. While Draco had a now more manly voice, Harry still had the voice of a pubescent boy. He still sounded like he did in fourth year, when his voice was still immature, cracking often every once in a while, as if he would still be going through much changes. But then Harry always seemed to mature late, and she guessed that it's because his childhood wasn't exactly what one could call fun, so he's making up for his "lost years." He had remained skinny and scrawny up until fifth year, when he had grown a good three inches. Of course, though both him and Ron still acted like puerile adolescents, Ron was about two and a half inches taller and a good deal more buffed. And though Draco had also grown more muscles than Harry ever had the past few years, he still was just slightly smaller and leaner than Ron.
Stepping into the common room, Hermione mentally slapped herself. What was she doing? She was comparing her friends to Draco! That can't be good, can it? she reflected. She frowned at herself and said, That's it, no more thinking about Malfoy from now on.
However, when she was about to close the door to her room, she found herself muttering a "Goodnight, Malfoy," in his direction. She saw him pause, then walk into his room like he had heard nothing. Frowning, she closed her own door and walked to her bed to change and get some sleep.
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Hermione sat at the Gryffindor table lunchtime that Sunday afternoon, watching Harry and Ron converse about Quidditch. The first game of the season was between Gryffindor and Slytherin, as Ron, Gryffindor team Captain, had told her that morning. Being both in the team, he and Harry spent a lot of their time mapping out strategies for the match against their rival house.
"Malfoy's Captain this year, "Ron said as both Harry and Hermione listened; Harry for pure interest and curiosity, and Hermione for sheer boredom. "With him as Captain, Slytherin team would surely goof up."
Harry shook his head sternly. "Don't underestimate Malfoy, Ron," he said seriously. "He was their sub-captain for the past three years, and he was one of their strategists last year. You saw how they performed during last year's final match against them. We almost got beat at that time. If I hadn't seen the Snitch hiding in the Gryffindor bleachers when I did, Slytherin would have garnered so much points that not even the additional 150 points for catching the Snitch would allow us to outscore them."
"Pshaw," Ron said carelessly, dismissing the thought with a wave of his hand. "Come on, Harry. You don't expect Malfoy's team to put up much of a fight, do you? We all know that their main strategist last year was Johnson Townshend, and he's a real genius. Malfoy's just putting up that show of being strategist and sub-captain for the attention!"
Harry fixed another stern gaze on his best friend. "I've played against him for six years, Ron. I'd know."
Ron nodded resignedly. "Alright, alright, I bloody well get it. Don't underestimate Captain Malfoy." He shook his head indifferently. "Really, Harry, it's Malfoy. With you on the team, we'd surely win every match this year." It had been hard to say that bit about Harry being the team's savior. But then I couldn't bloody well admit that I'm bloody jealous of his fame, can I? There had been many instances the past years where his jealously was more than a little obvious, but pride always kept him from stating the obvious.
"Then that must mean I wasn't on the team the past six years," Harry told him. "If I am what you say I am, then we should have won every single match against every single house since first year. But that didn't happen at all, did it? Because during first year I was injured and wasn't able to come to the last match for the Quidditch cup. I am pretty sure that I lost to Hufflepuff during third year. Fourth year we never had Quidditch, fifth year I was banned form the team, and sixth year I was once again injured during our supposed match against Ravenclaw. Second year is the only year I got to complete every match and win them all. Now do you still want to tell me that our win is guaranteed?" He looked questioningly at Ron.
Ron shook his head. "I'm sorry, mate. I wasn't thinking," he said. "You're right, I shouldn't be labelling you like that." Nevertheless, Harry's words had made him feel better. Well, that makes him less perfect and more human, right?
"Attention, students!" said Dumbledore in a very loud voice, stopping Hermione from opening her mouth to say something. "Third years and up, it is time to make your way to Hogsmeade. May I please ask the Prefects and the Head Boy and Girl to check every student leaving the premises and make sure only those who have permits could come."
Hearing Dumbledore's words, Hermione stood up from her seat. "That's my call," she said with slight resignation in her tone. "So, I'll meet you two at Honeydukes later." Nodding at them, she walked away to the Entrance Hall along with the third year students, calling out, "Third years first! Let's do this in an organized manner, everyone! No dear, you're a fifth year. Wait till it's your year's turn to go."
Harry shook his head, smiling amusedly. "I hear lots of students from the lower levels are easily intimidated by Hermione," he told Ron. "Sit down, Neville," he added as he saw Neville rise from his seat to go to the Entrance Hall. "It's not our turn yet."
"What do you mean?" Ron asked Harry as soon as Neville was already sitting down. "Hermione is perfectly nice to everyone. How can she intimidate any midgets?"
Harry rolled his eyes. "Let's see, she's the smartest girl in the whole school, she's Head Girl, and she's part of a small group of three seventh year Gryffindors who are dubbed many different names such as The Hogwarts Dream Team, The Golden Trio, The Wonder Troublemakers, and—excuse the name—Harry Potter and Company… you know, all those crappy stuff they call us."
Ron agreed, munching on his ninth piece of toast. "I hate all those names they call us. I mean, whoever would think of such a thing as The Hogwarts Dream Team, anyway? I can understand the one about us being troublemakers, but, really—Dream Team?"
"I know what you mean. I think it all started during second year, when Lockhart kept insisting that I wanted publicity and fame and all that shit."
"That Lockhart's naturally mental. I mean, you're more famous than him without even trying."
Harry dismissed Ron's comment with a roll of his green eyes. "Shut up, Ron. Don't remind me. You know that I don't want the fame." He noticed that Neville and Seamus were already rising from the table now only occupied by a few seventh years and the first- and second-years that weren't allowed to come. "I think it's our turn already to go," he said, standing from his seat and waiting for Ron to stand as well.
"Right," the redhead replied, stepping away from the table. "Let's go." He and Harry walked amidst all the other seventh years form the other Houses to the Entrance Hall, where they saw Hermione standing by the Entrance Doors opposite of Draco.
"Form one line, seventh years," the two boys heard Draco say. "Come on, we've been doing this for four years already. you should know the procedures by now."
"Mr. Head Git is acting up again," Ron whispered into Harry's ear.
Harry nodded in agreement. "I really don't know why he got the position of Head Boy. As far as I'm concerned, you and Hermione make a far better team. And you two get along great, too. Of course, there're always your petty quarrels, but at least you're not her worst enemy, which he is."
Ron's ears turned slightly pink. "Oh, come on, Harry. You know the whole school had expected you to get the position," he said.
"I wasn't even made a Prefect," Harry replied with a little bitterness. "In your case, maybe they don't usually choose Heads that come from the same House."
"Oh," Ron interrupted. "But your mom and dad were from the same House, weren't they. And from what I know, your dad didn't become a Prefect in all his years in Hogwarts either."
Harry shrugged. "Exactly. It just means I really am not meant for the job. If I were. Then maybe what had happened to my dad would have happened to me, too."
Ron mentally hit himself on the forehead. He had walked into that one.
They had been walking as they talked, and they suddenly found themselves standing beside Hermione.
"Well, don't you two look distracted this afternoon," she said gaily, peering into their faces as if she would find out what's making them so serious by doing so. "Are you two alright? Let me guess, is it a guy thing? I mean, you can share it with me. I'm not a girl remember?"
Harry looked up from his seat and smiled at her as he recalled what had happened at the Yule Ball during fourth year. Beside him, he felt Ron doing the same. "It's nothing," he said dismissively, simultaneously looking in Draco's direction. He glared at the blonde Head Boy, much to the Head Girl's puzzlement.
"Okaaay," she said slowly, looking at Ron questioningly. She dropped the subject when she said him shrug at her, but she also saw him glare at Draco like Harry had done. "Alright. If you don't want me to know, then just move on and leave. You're blocking the others. I'll meet you at Honeydukes." She waved them off and they left, waving back at her. After they had gone, she herself looked at Draco, trying to figure out what he could have done this time to deserve their death glares.
"God, Granger," Draco drawled. "I do not mind being admired, but that's the whole Golden Trio in five minutes. You three really do have a thing for me, don't you?" he kept his eyes on their Gryffindor and Ravenclaw batchmates who were stepping out of the doors the whole time, but he had felt it when Harry, Ron and Hermione each stared at him one after the other.
Hermione scowled as she ushered the Ravenclaws into hurrying. "Shut up, Mr. Head Ferret," she said to him. "For once can you please just keep your big mouth shut."
Draco scowled, too, as the last of the seventh years went through the doors. "I detest you," he said haughtily, grey eyes narrowed at her.
"You do not know how pleased I am to hear that, Malfoy," she replied in the same tone. She went out of the door and pulled shut the left half of it with her, watching as he did the same with the other half.
"Actually, I do," he replied as they walked together down the stairs to the carriage waiting below. The Prefects had gone into it's expanded interior, so they were the only ones being waited for. "I know you couldn't bear to hear me say that I hate you, when you're doing all you can to show your love for me."
Hermione threw him a look of disgust. "As if, Malfoy," she said just as they reached the bottom of the stairs.
"You know what, you're always in denial everytime we talk of this," he said as he held the door open for her, as was his habit of opening the carriage door for all females. "Go on, Granger," as he noted her surprised expression and realized what he had just done. "I can't hold open the door like this for you forever."
Hearing his words, she stepped up into the carriage and sat to Ginny's left. Shortly after, Draco followed inside and sat to Hermione's left, which was the only vacant seat left, closing the door with him as soon as he was seated.
The carriage jerked and they were riding to Hogsmeade in no time.
"Move your ass, Granger," he whispered to her. "I need a space to sit, too, you know."
Hermione glared at him hatefully and moved away from him. "Well, if you want to be able to sit somewhere, try not to keep following me wherever I go."
"In case you didn't notice, Granger, we're heading in the same place."
She rolled her eyes. "You know what I mean." With another glare in his direction, she turned to face Ginny, with whom she chatted the whole way to Hogsmeade. "So, Gin, how're your other brothers? Ron told me that one of them is going to marry soon, but he refused to tell me who it was and to whom he was going to get married, saying it was supposed to be a surprise until your mom said that he can tell it."
Ginny let out a laugh. "Oh, then don't tell him I told you, but Fred's going to marry Angelina Johnson," she said cheerfully. "You know, that Quidditch player who was in the same year as the twins and the one who replaced Wood as Captain the year they dropped out of school. Really, it was actually expected, you know."
Hermione nodded in approval, raising her voice a little so that Ginny would hear her amidst the conversations of the other occupants of the carriage. "I remember her. Harry had complained about her too many times that year when she became the Captain. He kept saying she was almost as bad as Wood."
"She is," Ginny replied. "I was substitute seeker that year, remember? Anyway, their marriage is scheduled sometime in January or early February. You and Harry are invited, by the way."
Hermione smiled at the news. "Great! I can't wait to see Fred married. Can I ask you something? Has Fred been going out with Angelina long?"
Ginny shrugged. "I don't really know when they started, but I heard that they were already together at the time we held a Yule Ball here."
"Oh," Hermione said thoughtfully. "Come to think of it, there were many rumors that even before the Yule Ball the two of them were already starting to get really close and personal. And there were also those times after the Ball when George would just come up to us and ask us if we have seen either Fred or Angelina or both."
"Speaking of George, did you know that he threw a tantrum when he learned that Fred was planning to get married?" Ginny said with a really big grin on her face. "I swear, he was so hilarious! He locked himself in his room, which was also Fred's too, so he had to sleep with Ron for about two weeks. He didn't even come to work during that time. We would have thought he was dead if he didn't always call for food!"
Hermione stifled a laugh. "George did that? I wish I'd seen it. George just loves his twin so much."
"What's more funny," Ginny added. "Is that every night, during that two weeks that he locked himself away from us, he always sent a howler into Ron's room, saying that Fred was a traitor and that he never wanted to be associated with someone who would probably betray him once more ever again! Mum didn't know if she should laugh because of George silliness or cry because of all the expenses that sending a howler brought her!"
Hermione laughed, covering her mouth so that she wouldn't be a nuisance to the other people in the carriage. "Oh my gosh, you should have taken a picture for me!"
"Dad did take a picture. He even took a vido or whatever you call it."
"It's called a video," Hermione told her. "I've got to borrow the tape sometime."
"Sure," Ginny nodded. "Just remind me to bring it to school after Christmas."
The carriage came to a stop, and the door was opened by Draco, showing the others that they were already in Hogsmeade. One by one they all stepped down and separated ways, some going this way and some going that.
After waving a goodbye to Ginny, Hermione walked down the lane that led to Honeydukes sweets shop. She found the shop crowded with Hogwarts students, as it usually was year after year. Somehow she managed to squeeze herself inside, finding Ron and Harry standing by the big jar of chocolate frogs beside the counter. She walked over to them and tapped them both by the shoulders. "Hey," she said.
Harry smiled at her in greeting and said "Hello," while Ron only nodded, his eyes remaining transfixed on the frogs.
"What's up with Ron?" she asked Harry.
"He's debating whether to buy the frogs or the new assorted fruit belts," Harry replied. "I think he has this whole saving money thing going on. I told him I'd treat him to either one while he pays for the other one, but he didn't want to owe me anything." He shrugged at Hermione, grinning at Ron.
"Damn right," Ron said, pointing his finger to the jars and mouthing something that looked suspiciously like 'ini-mini-miny-mo.' "I still owe you for the omnioculars back in fourth year, and I don't want my debt to increase anymore." Finally coming up with a decision, he reached a hand into the jar of frogs and took ten.
Harry rolled his eyes. "I told you, Ron," he said exasperatedly. "Screw the omnioculars! You're like my brother, and brothers share what they have."
Hermione watched them from the background, smiling at the sight. Indeed, Ron and Harry were like brothers in many ways. It was hardly possible to separate them, except when they had to go pee or when they had their petty quarrels. Harry was also very much welcome in Ron's family, and Hermione didn't doubt that, given enough money, Arthur and Molly Weasley would adopt Harry into the family.
After some time, Ron finally consented to being treated to the fruit belts. "I swear, Harry, I'll pay you back one day," he said determinedly. "And I'll pay for the omnioculars as well."
Harry only smiled at him, but Hermione knew that he wouldn't accept the money anyway if Ron would pay. It wasn't just sympathy for Ron's poor family, but because he really loved Ron as a brother, and he would always want to be on equal ground with him.
After falling into the long line in front of the counter, Ron, Harry and Hermione finally got to pay for the sweets they chose, and together they walked out of the shop, Hermione walking between Harry and Ron.
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Hermione sat up from the couch, surprising everyone else in the room. "Oh shoot!" she exclaimed. "It's past nine o'clock already! How come none of you told me?" She looked at Harry, Ron and Ginny. She had spent her afternoon in the Gryffindor common room after they had arrived from Hogsmeade and had forgotten to get back to her own common room before curfew.
Ron hiccuped, having drunk more than ten butterbeers in succession. "You didn't ask, did you, Herm-own-ninny," he said, his voice slurry and his head almost falling off his neck.
Ginny held up her brother's head by the chin. "Oh, Ron, they're just butterbeers," she said in the tone of a mother teaching something to her child. "Really, it's not like you haven't drunk any before."
Hermione waved a hand at Ginny. "He drank fourteen butterbeers on an empty stomach, Gin," she explained. "Unless you count Chocolate Frogs and Bertie Bott's Every-Flavour Beans. I told him to go down for dinner, but he said he needed to finish his new Divination Chart."
"And a good job he did on it, too," Harry interjected, holding up Ron's chart, which was absolutely spotless, not a single drop of ink staining it. "I told him we can do it together after dinner, but he still wouldn't come. What's worse, he couldn't think of anything to write on it even after dinner, and then you came along and began talking about different things and he won't lay a finger on his ink or paper anymore."
"Are you saying it's my fault that he hasn't yet done his homework?" she joked.
Harry shrugged, playing along with her. "Well, yes, actually," he replied in a serious tone. "If you hadn't come and mentioned Victor Krum, he would have kept his mouth shut and we would have done some progress on both our Divination homeworks."
Hermione smiled and rolled her eyes, letting her arms fall to her side. "Whatever, Harry," she said with a grin. "I've been telling you for years to drop that subject, but you wouldn't listen. Now look what you have to do every year. It's the same thing over and over again. Now, may I borrow your cloak again? It simply wouldn't do for the Head Girl to be caught in the halls after curfew."
Harry put down the bottle of butterbeer which was in hand and stood up. "You owe me a homework for this," he joked, making his way to the boys' dormitories. After a while, he stepped out again, this time with something silvery in his hand.
"Thanks," Hermione smiled, taking the Invisibility cloak from him. "I'll help you with your homework anyway even if you didn't let me borrow this."
"I know."
She picked up the brown paper bag lying by her feet, the sweets she bought from Honeydukes. Donning on the cloak, she said goodbye to Harry, Ginny and a giddy Ron, then opened the portrait door of the Gryffindor Tower.
She tiptoed quietly down the stairs and across the halls, careful to hold her paper bag in such a way that it would not make any rustling sound while she walked. Filch could be about, and the last thing she wanted was to get caught in Harry's cloak. That would mean Harry would be involved, and the cloak would be confiscated. Finally reaching Frederick's corridor, she hurried to the statue. "Monsieur Freddie," she whispered to wake the sleeping statue. "Crystal Drops."
Freddie opened his eyes and looked around. "Mademoiselle Granger, is that you?" he asked suspiciously as he could see no one.
Reluctantly, Hermione pulled off part of the cloak to expose her upper body. "Yes, it's me," she confirmed. "Please hurry. Mr. Filch might come along."
Finally sure that it was Hermione, Freddie immediately jumped out of the way and opened the door for her. "Oui, Mademoiselle. Please come in immedietely."
Hermione went in and pulled off the cloak entirely, whispering a thank you to Freddie before closing the door. She walked into the common room, about to head or her bedroom, when she saw that Draco was on the floor his Quidditch broom in hand. Letting go of the doorknob, she walked to him and sat on the couch, observing what he was doing.
He was shining his broomstick handle, a Broom Servicing Kit like Harry's lying open in front of him, although it was obvious that, by the additional broom care products in it, his kit was more expensive than the one she got for Harry. He continued to shine and trim the handle and bristles of his broom, but he was getting distracted by Hermione as she went on staring at him.
"Have you got no other better thing to do besides stare at me?" he snapped, causing her to drop the bag in her hand. "I mean, it's really distracting."
Hermione stooped down to pick her bag. "I'm sorry," she apologized, not knowing why she was apologizing when she didn't do anything. "I just wanted to see how that kit is actually used." She sat up straight again and resumed looking at what Draco was doing.
"What for?" he asked irritably. "You don't like Quidditch, anyway."
She refused to answer and remained still, not uttering a word. "You're going against Gryffindor, aren't you?" she asked after some silence. "Ron and Harry are practicing real hard for the match against you."
Draco puffed. "Funny, our team seems to be the only one practicing day after day," he said sardonically. "I've only seen them in the pitch one time this week. Being Captain, shouldn't Weasley take his team to practice more often? Or is he just taking me too lightly? Tell him tomorrow that he had better start training his team if he wants to beat us in the match."
Hermione scowled. "For your information, our Quidditch team is practicing hard, too, though I admit that Ron is underestimating you a bit." She looked at Draco closely. There was something odd about him that moment. "You look almost like you're happy for some reason," she commented.
He looked astonished at her. "Oh, is it that obvious?" he asked, and she wasn't sure if he was being sarcastic or not. He grinned at her. "Fine, I'll tell you. My Mum just mailed me and said that one of my many pets gave birth. Not that you care, anyway."
Hermione looked somewhat interested. "Oh really?" she said, leaning closer to hear better. "And what's this pet of yours?" she asked. She was really interested at what kind of animals he kept at home as pets. She could hardly imagine him with a hamster or a rabbit. "It's not that owl of yours, is it? I mean, I've heard you calling it Vladimir, and that can't be a female name, can it?"
Draco rolled his eyes at her. "Don't be stupid, Granger," he said exasperatedly. "Of course it isn't a female name. My other pet is also a bird, though. Her name's Zimri, and she's a Snidget[1]. Not that you care, anyway." In truth, he didn't mind if she asked. In fact, he was happy to show off his precious pets.
Hermione looked at him with a surprised expression. "A Snidget?" she asked, not sure if she was going to believe him.
"Yes, Granger, a Snidget," he said proudly in a tone that one would use on an ignorant child. "It's a magical bird, like I said."
"I know it's a bird!" she snapped. "But isn't it illegal to capture one? Much more to own one!"
Draco smirked at her again. "Well, I got away with owning a Runespoor[2], I can get away with a Snidget."
Hermione's jaw dropped open in surprise. "You've got a Runespoor, as well?" she asked, unable to believe her ears. "Stop pulling my leg, Malfoy." It was bad enough to own a Snidget; having a Runespoor besides that was worse.
"I'm not pulling your leg, Granger. I really do have a Runespoor," he continued. "The Critic's name is Venom, since he's the one with the poisonous fangs and all. The Dreamer is Fallasia, and the Planner is Keikaku. Not that you care, anyway." He reached for a piece of cloth in his kit and began to wipe the base of the broom clean.
Hermione opened her mouth to reprimand him. "You do know the consequence of owning those animals, don't you? You could be put in Azkaban just for that."
He put on a touched expression. "You do care," he said.
Hermione rolled her eyes again. "I swear, Malfoy," she said irritably. "You are the most bigheaded jerk I've ever seen and had the misfortune to meet." She stood from the seat and walked to the door of her bedroom. "Good luck in the match next week, anyway." As if realizing what she had said, she hastily added, "Not that I want you to win or anything like that—." She stopped speaking abruptly and hurriedly went into her room to hide her embarrassment.
Draco would have laughed at her unusually peculiar behavior, but he was too displeased by her words to do so. He was used to having people say that they don't want him to win, but this was the first time that the words really disappointed him. What was more surprising was it was Hermione who had said it. If it were another person who said it, he would have just laughed it off, but for some reason he didn't want Hermione to not wish him to win. He wanted her to want him to win.
He shook his head to push away those thoughts. Get real, Draco, he told himself. Sighing, he went back to caring for his broomstick.
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"Albus, you feel it, do you not?"
Headmaster Albus Dumbledore faced the gathering of teachers sitting in his office. Everyone in the room had serious expressions, even Fawkes the Phoenix wasn't singing his usual beautiful Phoenix song. "Yes," Dumbledore affirmed, eyeing McGonagall through his half-moon glasses. "Yes, I do, Minerva. There is something different in the school. There is a spy here, I'm afraid."
Professors Sprout and Flitwick gasped as one. "No!" Sprout exclaimed.
"Yes, there is, Sprout," Snape put in. "I can feel it as well. The Dark Lord has sent someone here in Hogwarts." He involuntarily rubbed his left forearm, conscious of the Dark Mark that was concealed in his robes. "What we don't know is who the spy is."
Flitwick squirmed uncomfortably in his seat. "But it would be really difficult to enter the school if you were an outside," he squeaked.
Dumbledore nodded gravely. "Yes, indeed, it would be difficult. The hounds on the grounds are trained to catch whoever is not authorized here, basically those who not part of the student population or the Hogwarts staff and house elves. The enchanments I put on them would also make it impossible for the spy to cast spells on them." He paced the room thoughtfully. "There are also many wards around the grounds and, as we all know, it's impossible to apparate or disapparate from here."
"The culprit must be really very good," McGonagall reflected, fiddling with her pointy witch's hat in perturbation.
Hagrid cleared his throat loudly. "Could't be one o' th'students?" he asked innocently. "Professor Flitwick's righ', I mean. It's impossible fer outsiders ter get in w'thout bein' d'tected, after all."
Dumbledore shook his head solemnly at this. "We cannot go around suspecting our students of this. It will destroy the relationship between students and teachers."
"But, Professor Dumbledore, sir," Hagrid reasoned. "There are a lot o' 'spicious charact'rs 'ere. That Malfoy boy—."
"Draco may be Lucius son," Snape said loudly, rising to defend his student. "But he isn't Lucius. It doesn't mean he is just as evil. I know him more," he continued. "Seeing as he is in my house, and he is not like Lucius, though he is one who loves to push others around and act superior to everyone."
Dumbledore tried calming them down. "There, there…" he said.
"E's Lucius Malfoy's son," Hagrid said stubbornly. "'N we know that 'e's in You-Know-Who's inner circle. Yeh know what they say: like Father, like son."
"He is not Lucius," Snape continued angrily. "Draco is different. I was in the Dark Lord's inner circle as well, and Albus trusted me when I said I have changed sides."
Hagrid snorted. "It don't mean I do."
Snape glowered at Hagrid with pure Hatred with a capital H. "I think it is more appropriate to trust Draco Malfoy than to trust a half-giant like you," he said spitefully.
"Stop it!" Dumbledore interjected before Hagrid could retort. "During these times we should not be fighting amongst ourselves, but we should co-operate with one another to bring Voldemort down together." He turned a strict eye on Hagrid. "Hagrid, like I said, we cannot suspect our students, especially if it is only based on his or her family's history." Next, he faced Snape, saying. "Giant, half-giant, pure human or not, I trust Hagrid with my life, Severus. It is inappropriate for a Hogwarts teacher to stereotype others, may it be a fellow teacher or a student.
"Now," he continued. "We should start thinking of how to keep Voldemort away from our school. For him to get close to any of our students is the worst thing that could possibly happen to Hogwarts."
"Is it safe to speak of this here?" Madame Pince asked skeptically. "If we have a spy here, wouldn't it be careless to speak of this without precautions?"
Sprout comforted her by patting her on the shoulder. "Do not worry, Pince," she said almost cheerfully. "Professor Dumbledore's office is always well guarded. That gargoyle outside is tasked to keep those not part of the staff away from the door. That includes students and elves. And do not forget that Albus is one to take all necessary precautions."
"It is impossible to listen from the outside," Professor Vector added.
Thus satisfied, Madame Pince sighed with relief and Dumbledore resumed speaking.
"Right. Now let us go on with this." He went around his desk to the Pensieve standing on it. taking his wand, he pointed it to his scalp and pulled something white and wispy form his head. To someone not part of the magical world, it would look like his hair, but at closer look, it is noticeable that it glows in a way that human hair cannot. Sinking the tip of his wand into the black cauldron, which held many more similar white strands, he deposited his thoughts into the Pensieve. "A very reliable source has informed me that Voldemort has already enlisted the aid of the Goblins of the South. Those in the North are awfully stubborn, as is common knowledge."
"Albus," McGonagall said to him. "We have to get the Northern Goblins into our side before he does. It will be disastrous if he got to them first."
Dumbledore nodded gravely. "Precisely. Which is why I've sent Mad-Eye and some other Aurors and members of the Order to do that. Hopefully, they succeed. If they do not…" He looked up into each of the Professors' anxious faces. "If the Goblins do not accept our proposal, we have no choice but to look for ways to counterattack them in case the need arises."
"The Giants could help us," Sprout offered. "They have enough strength to hold up an army of nasty Goblins."
"That is if they are still willing to side with us," Snape added. "You know how contumacious they also are. At the least sign of weakness from our part, they would choose the other side. Thick skulls, those giants have." At this, he gazed distastefully at Hagrid, who glared back with as much hatred.
The Headmaster sat back on his armchair with a sigh. "That is precisely what I am worried about," he said, a tired tone creeping into his normally lively voice. "The Giants change their minds too easily—"
"I'll talk to 'em!" Hagrid volunteered. "I can go the the mountains jus' like before."
Dumbledore shook his head sadly. "I'm afraid we cannot do that, Hagrid," he told the school's gamekeeper. "Last time we did that you came home too bloodied up. We cannot risk that anymore."
"But, Professor Dumbledore, sir—!"
"No, Hagrid," Dumbledore said with an air of finality. "My mind is made up. We cannot do that anymore. I will ask someone else. I know of a fairy who has connections with some Giants. I will contact him as soon as he learn where he is—." Suddenly, he sat up straight on his chair, staring directly at something glittering on Hagrid's shoulder. Standing up abruptly, he walked around his table and snatched the thing. It was a piece of string, and, as soon as he touched it, he felt something pulling on it from the opposite, which was apparently outside.
The Professors in the room stood from their seats at his sudden action, realizing that something was terribly and seriously wrong.
"We've been duped!" Dumbeldore said angrily, still not letting go of the string. "Someone was obviously eavesdropping on us the whole time, and I didn't notice it!" he pulled the string and saw that it had gone in through his door. Following its trail, he and the other Professors went outside. Thy found that the string went past the gargoyle and to a corner. Finally getting to the end of the rope, they found that it had been abandoned.
"Is that one of the Weasley twins' Extending Ears?" McGonagall asked.
Snape growled. "No, it isn't," he said. "I recognize that. Ancient wizards have used these strings for listening in on important business. The Espier Wire is now a very rare magical object. You hardly see even the most rich families with it. the most ancient ones are the only ones who could have enough history and influence to own one."
Dumbledore, still furious at what had happened, walked briskly back to his gargoyle. "This is all due to my carelessness," he muttered angrily, ignoring what the other Professors' said about it being a mistake even the most powerful ones can make.
"I'm really sorry, Professor," Hagrid apologized quietly, in as quiet as he could in his giant voice. "This is all my fault. I'm not a careful enough person. I'll go pack me bags and leave right away."
"Don't be a fool, Hagrid," Dumbledore said sternly. "It's not your fault. Nobody noticed anything wrong, so you are not to blame." Finally reaching the entrance to his office, he walked up to the gargoyle. "Harper," he said, addressing the gargoyle. "Has anyone been in this corridor for the past half hour?"
The gargoyle shook it's head. "Not a soul, Headmaster," it answered. "Not one soul but all of these with you."
Dumbledore almost muttered a curse. Whoever the spy was, he was definitely a good one.
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A/N: This chapter took suuuuch a looong time, I know. We started having classes, see, and I couldn't find time to type.
The Snidget and Runespoor, source is hp-lexicon.org:
[1] Snidget- a Snidget is a magical yellow/gold bird with red eyes. This animal was used in Quidditch a long time ago, now replaced by the Snitch, but a lot of them were killed in the process so now they're nearly extinct. Because of this, capturing and owning one is banned, and severe penalties await those who disobey this.
[2] Runespoor- Still another magical animal, reaching a length of 6-7 feet and with three heads: the critic, the dreamer and the planner. The planner decides where to go, the dreamer dreams and the critic is the one with the poisonous fangs. What's funny is the critic almost always hisses, so the other two heads get annoyed and bite it off. The eggs are used for making potions to enhance mental ability
Next Chapter: More trouble for the protagonists of the story!