DISCLAIMER: Hermione, Severus, Draco and all their friends belong to JK
Rowling, Scholastic Books and everyone else with a copyright. I'm just
letting them out to play a bit 'til the next book or movie comes out and
they have to get back to their day jobs.
A/N: Yes, yes, I know this is basically filler, but it is necessary stage setting for the next important conversations between all the important parties. Be patient!
"Marriage is a lottery, but you can't tear up your ticket if you lose."
- F. M. Knowles
Chapter 6
Hermione stifled a shriek at the sight of herself in the mirror. The sleepless night had not been kind to her. Her hair was back to its former bushy glory and she looked a lot like the ghosts who roamed the castle halls, the pallor of her complexion emphasizing the purple smudges under her eyes. "Oh, my, you can't go out looking like that, dearie!" the mirror clucked maternally. "Aren't you feeling well? Perhaps you should go back to bed and try again later."
Hermione bit back the urge to tell the mirror to sod off and began her reclamation project. A half hour later, her hair was a bit smoother and clipped up neatly, her skin, though pale, didn't look quite so translucent and her immaculate uniform drew attention away from her tired eyes. Deciding that it would have to do - the hands on her clock had been sitting at "you're really, REALLY late" for awhile now - she ran out of the bathroom, shoved her feet into her shoes and grabbed her bookbag from the chair in her room. She rifled through her desk for new ink and parchment and stuffed them into the bag as she stumbled through the common room and was nearly out the door before she remembered she wasn't wearing her robe. Backtracking, she hastily grabbed it off the back of the couch, exited into the corridor and began to run. Juggling her book bag, she managed to actually get her arms through the correct sleeves of the robe, nearly tripping over the hem a few times. Skidding to a halt in front of the doors to the Great Hall, she paused to take a deep breath and compose herself before entering.
One good thing about being so rushed this morning: she hadn't had time to think about how people were going to react after her big announcement last night. Her stomach let out a low growl, reminding her that she hadn't eaten dinner the night before, and she decided she didn't care what people said, as long as she had big plate of food in front of her while they said it.
Unconsciously squaring her shoulders and lifting her chin, she opened the doors and crossed the Great Hall to the Gryffindor table.
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Severus' mug paused briefly on its trip back to the table as he caught sight of the small figure entering the Hall. He watched as She wended her way gracefully through the tables and sat down in Her usual place between Potter and the youngest Weasley boy. Even at this distance, he noted Her pallid complexion, and wondered if She had gotten any sleep at all last night.
Not that he really cared, he assured himself, except that Her first class of the day was Advanced Potions, and he didn't want Her exhaustion to result in an accident. Quickly dismissing the thought that even half asleep She was capable of flawlessly brewing any potion in the curriculum, he forced his gaze away from Her and back to the Slytherin table.
Only to find Draco Malfoy ignoring his breakfast and watching Her. Severus ignored the sudden flash of anger that tore through him and carefully lifted his mug, drank the last of his tea, and, placing it back to the side of his still full plate, rose to make his way from the dais down to the Slytherin table.
It was time to schedule a talk with the Malfoy boy.
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"Good morning, Ron. Harry." Hermione slid into her usual place at the Gryffindor table and greeted the boy to either side of her. She felt Harry watching her as she piled her plate high with food and tucked in.
"Morning, 'Mione. How are you feeling?" Harry asked.
She smiled slightly. "Do I look that bad?"
"You look knackered. Bad dreams or no sleep?" Harry's voice was matter-of- fact, and Hermione's heart ached a little, knowing his question was born of experience.
"Couldn't sleep. I just can't believe this is all happening," Hermione sighed. "Unfortunately, it IS happening and I have to deal with it." She applied herself to clearing her plate.
"Um...Hermione?" She watched as Ron nervously pushed the scrambled eggs around on his plate before taking a deep breath. "About last night...I'm sorry. I was just so shocked and, I mean, well, who would have thought..."
Hermione sighed again. "I know. Let's just forget it, shall we?" She picked up her fork and began to eat.
"Hermione?" Harry put his hand on her back and rubbed gently. "Ron, Gin and I talked last night, and we just want you to know that we're here to help. There has to be something we can do, some way to get you out of this, and we're going to help you find it."
Hermione blinked back tears. " Thanks, Harry. I don't know what I would do without you guys." A tear leaked out and she went to wipe it away with the sleeve of her robe, only to find herself face to face with a handkerchief. Without thinking, she grabbed the square of linen and wiped away her tears.
"Really, Granger. I don't mind you borrowing my clothes, but do try and care of them." Hermione's head shot up and she found herself staring into Malfoy's amused grey eyes. She watched, confused, as his eyes dropped to her chest. "I must say, it looks surprisingly good on you. Who would have guessed?"
Following his gaze, she gasped in surprise at the sight of the Slytherin crest on her robe. She closed her eyes and groaned, suppressing her desire to bang her head on the table. She'd been in such a hurry, she'd grabbed the wrong robe on her way out this morning, which meant...opening her eyes, she eyed the Slytherin crest on Malfoy's robe suspiciously. "If I'm wearing your robe, where's mine?"
"Where you left it, I imagine. You don't actually think I wear the same robe two days in a row, do you? You know, if you don't hurry, Granger, you're going to be late for Potions, and I don't think even that robe will save you from my Head of House. Oh, and you can keep the handkerchief. It's got our monogram on it." Malfoy smiled at her and tucked a stray curl behind her ear before heading off towards the waiting Crabbe and Goyle, ignoring the speculative stares and the buzzing of gossip that followed him.
Seven...eight...nine... Draco's mental count stopped as he heard the Weasel explode behind him. "Hermione! What the hell are you doing wearing Malfoy's clothes?"
A/N: As most of you know, this is destined to be a SS/HG story. I have, however, had a number of requests (surprisingly enough, even from fans of our beloved Potions Master) for an alternate version of this story where Draco gets the girl, as it were. If you would be interested in the DM/HG version as well, let me know, and I will see what I can do. (I am undecided about writing them concurrently or one after another.)
A/N: Yes, yes, I know this is basically filler, but it is necessary stage setting for the next important conversations between all the important parties. Be patient!
"Marriage is a lottery, but you can't tear up your ticket if you lose."
- F. M. Knowles
Chapter 6
Hermione stifled a shriek at the sight of herself in the mirror. The sleepless night had not been kind to her. Her hair was back to its former bushy glory and she looked a lot like the ghosts who roamed the castle halls, the pallor of her complexion emphasizing the purple smudges under her eyes. "Oh, my, you can't go out looking like that, dearie!" the mirror clucked maternally. "Aren't you feeling well? Perhaps you should go back to bed and try again later."
Hermione bit back the urge to tell the mirror to sod off and began her reclamation project. A half hour later, her hair was a bit smoother and clipped up neatly, her skin, though pale, didn't look quite so translucent and her immaculate uniform drew attention away from her tired eyes. Deciding that it would have to do - the hands on her clock had been sitting at "you're really, REALLY late" for awhile now - she ran out of the bathroom, shoved her feet into her shoes and grabbed her bookbag from the chair in her room. She rifled through her desk for new ink and parchment and stuffed them into the bag as she stumbled through the common room and was nearly out the door before she remembered she wasn't wearing her robe. Backtracking, she hastily grabbed it off the back of the couch, exited into the corridor and began to run. Juggling her book bag, she managed to actually get her arms through the correct sleeves of the robe, nearly tripping over the hem a few times. Skidding to a halt in front of the doors to the Great Hall, she paused to take a deep breath and compose herself before entering.
One good thing about being so rushed this morning: she hadn't had time to think about how people were going to react after her big announcement last night. Her stomach let out a low growl, reminding her that she hadn't eaten dinner the night before, and she decided she didn't care what people said, as long as she had big plate of food in front of her while they said it.
Unconsciously squaring her shoulders and lifting her chin, she opened the doors and crossed the Great Hall to the Gryffindor table.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------
Severus' mug paused briefly on its trip back to the table as he caught sight of the small figure entering the Hall. He watched as She wended her way gracefully through the tables and sat down in Her usual place between Potter and the youngest Weasley boy. Even at this distance, he noted Her pallid complexion, and wondered if She had gotten any sleep at all last night.
Not that he really cared, he assured himself, except that Her first class of the day was Advanced Potions, and he didn't want Her exhaustion to result in an accident. Quickly dismissing the thought that even half asleep She was capable of flawlessly brewing any potion in the curriculum, he forced his gaze away from Her and back to the Slytherin table.
Only to find Draco Malfoy ignoring his breakfast and watching Her. Severus ignored the sudden flash of anger that tore through him and carefully lifted his mug, drank the last of his tea, and, placing it back to the side of his still full plate, rose to make his way from the dais down to the Slytherin table.
It was time to schedule a talk with the Malfoy boy.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------
"Good morning, Ron. Harry." Hermione slid into her usual place at the Gryffindor table and greeted the boy to either side of her. She felt Harry watching her as she piled her plate high with food and tucked in.
"Morning, 'Mione. How are you feeling?" Harry asked.
She smiled slightly. "Do I look that bad?"
"You look knackered. Bad dreams or no sleep?" Harry's voice was matter-of- fact, and Hermione's heart ached a little, knowing his question was born of experience.
"Couldn't sleep. I just can't believe this is all happening," Hermione sighed. "Unfortunately, it IS happening and I have to deal with it." She applied herself to clearing her plate.
"Um...Hermione?" She watched as Ron nervously pushed the scrambled eggs around on his plate before taking a deep breath. "About last night...I'm sorry. I was just so shocked and, I mean, well, who would have thought..."
Hermione sighed again. "I know. Let's just forget it, shall we?" She picked up her fork and began to eat.
"Hermione?" Harry put his hand on her back and rubbed gently. "Ron, Gin and I talked last night, and we just want you to know that we're here to help. There has to be something we can do, some way to get you out of this, and we're going to help you find it."
Hermione blinked back tears. " Thanks, Harry. I don't know what I would do without you guys." A tear leaked out and she went to wipe it away with the sleeve of her robe, only to find herself face to face with a handkerchief. Without thinking, she grabbed the square of linen and wiped away her tears.
"Really, Granger. I don't mind you borrowing my clothes, but do try and care of them." Hermione's head shot up and she found herself staring into Malfoy's amused grey eyes. She watched, confused, as his eyes dropped to her chest. "I must say, it looks surprisingly good on you. Who would have guessed?"
Following his gaze, she gasped in surprise at the sight of the Slytherin crest on her robe. She closed her eyes and groaned, suppressing her desire to bang her head on the table. She'd been in such a hurry, she'd grabbed the wrong robe on her way out this morning, which meant...opening her eyes, she eyed the Slytherin crest on Malfoy's robe suspiciously. "If I'm wearing your robe, where's mine?"
"Where you left it, I imagine. You don't actually think I wear the same robe two days in a row, do you? You know, if you don't hurry, Granger, you're going to be late for Potions, and I don't think even that robe will save you from my Head of House. Oh, and you can keep the handkerchief. It's got our monogram on it." Malfoy smiled at her and tucked a stray curl behind her ear before heading off towards the waiting Crabbe and Goyle, ignoring the speculative stares and the buzzing of gossip that followed him.
Seven...eight...nine... Draco's mental count stopped as he heard the Weasel explode behind him. "Hermione! What the hell are you doing wearing Malfoy's clothes?"
A/N: As most of you know, this is destined to be a SS/HG story. I have, however, had a number of requests (surprisingly enough, even from fans of our beloved Potions Master) for an alternate version of this story where Draco gets the girl, as it were. If you would be interested in the DM/HG version as well, let me know, and I will see what I can do. (I am undecided about writing them concurrently or one after another.)