By the time Ron had finished beating Harry at a second round of chess,
it was already ten o'clock. Hermione had been gone for two hours. Harry
finished cleaning up the chest set, as Ron peered out the common room
and down through the staircases looking for any site of her.
"She should be back by now, Harry. What if he's done something to her. They're working on Transfiguration. He could've turned her into something." he said worriedly, returning to where Harry was standing. Harry shrugged.
"We're not that advanced in Transfiguration. She can take care of herself." he commented, although he didn't believe it himself. He was a bit worried. She's been tutoring him for over a month. Usually Hermione was back by nine, flustered and annoyed by whatever Malfoy had been saying through the tutoring session. It was without fail. She should have been back by now.
"I'm going to get her." Ron said boldly, before Harry stopped him.
"If Filch sees you, you'll be dead. Let's take the invisibility cloak." Harry told him. He rushed up stairs and got it. He and Ron made sure they were both completely covered then headed out towards the Transfiguration room. The door was open. They snuck in quietly. Hermione was talking about how to turn a turtle into a pincushion, something they'd gone over years earlier. Malfoy was looking bored. He had his head resting on his hand and he was drifting in an out.
"Are you even listening to me?!" Hermione snapped. He woke up.
"Yeah sure, you just flick your wand and voila a cushion." he yawned. She rolled her eyes at him and pulled out the turtle. Ok, try it."
"I'm going to bed." he stated and stood up. She pushed him back down. He glared at her.
"You're not teaching me anything I don't already know." he growled.
"Fine we'll move onto this week's homework. Now what do you remember about turning a kitten into a full grown cat?"
"I don't remember. Listen, it's ten thirty. I'm going to bed." he stopped for a moment and looked her over. A look Harry had never seen in Malfoy before. He couldn't explain it.
"That is unless you can give me a better reason for staying, other than kittens." Malfoy added and moved closer. Ron gulped from underneath the invisibility cloak. They moved closer for a better view.
"W-what do you mean?" Hermione moved a little further away from him, but he moved closer again.
"I mean, we're all alone. Everyone's gone to bed. I know it's probably been hard having to work with me, all the sexual tension..." his lips were right next to Hermione's. Harry had to do all he could to hold Ron back. He too wanted to jump out, take Malfoy by surprise, but he knew that as a prefect, Malfoy could harm him far worse, without having to touch him. They had to sit there and bear it while they watched their sworn enemy kissing their best friend. Ron was now fuming. Mid-kiss, Malfoy broke it and pushed Hermione away. He stood up and headed for the door. She looked at him confused at his behavior.
"Filthy mudblood, what made you think I wanted to kiss you. Never touch me again, or I'll kill you." he spit on the ground and walked off. Hermione got up and slammed the door behind him. Harry and Ron revealed their identity and went over to Hermione.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, completely taken back.
"You hadn't returned we wanted to make sure Malfoy hadn't done anything to you." Harry said calmly. He didn't want to make matters worse by yelling at her. Ron, on the other hand, had different feelings.
"Why were you kissing Malfoy?! Malfoy of all people! That's the most repulsing thing I've ever seen!"
"No one asked you to be here!" she snapped back at him.
"You'll let just anyone on you won't you? You've sunk low, Hermione. Malfoy?! How long has this been going on?!"
"Nothing's going on! I don't know where that came from! I'm sorry!" she started to cry and sat back down at the desk. Ron's anger suddenly changed directions.
"I'm going to kill Malfoy! I'm going after him right now."
"No, don't! It's my fault. It's my fault." she cried.
"What do you mean, Hermione?" Harry asked. He was completely confused by the whole situation. Malfoy had been right to some degree. Why would he kiss her? They despised him, as much as he despised them.
"I was trying to cast a spell. He kept falling asleep. I wanted to cast a spell so that we could get through this without him saying anything mean, without him getting up and leaving. I couldn't bear to think what he'd tell McGonagall. He's threatened to tell her that I've been the one provoking fights. That I've been teaching him the wrong things to fail on purpose. He wants me out of this school. He doesn't like being showed up. He doesn't want his father to have another excuse to yell at him. He-"
"What spell did you cast? A love spell?" Harry interrupted.
"No, I mean I casted a mood modifier charm. But unfortunately it only works through your inner most feelings. Ever since I started working with him, I haven't been able to stop from noticing, he's changed. He's growing up."
"He's still Malfoy, Hermione!"
"Yeah, but he's not the tiny scrawny Malfoy we used to pick fights with in the past. He's..."
"You think Malfoy's cute! God, Hermione! How could you even think that about HIM. He's repulsive! He's a Slytherin. He's out to kill Harry!"
"I couldn't help it. The charm must've reacted on those subconscious feelings. And it must've stopped working while we were kissing. I didn't mean for that to happen!"
"Why'd you kiss him back. You could've pushed him away! Hermione! You were kissing Draco Malfoy!" Ron was still overreacting. The yelling must've attracted some attention because McGonagall and Snape showed up at the entrance of the transfiguration room.
"What are you three doing out of bed?" McGonagall asked. She was wearing a sleeping gown and a very tired expression. Snape was still dressed, although his expression showed he was very annoyed about having to come up from whatever he'd been doing.
"You three have defied the rules, this particular rule often, since your first year at Hogwarts. You especially...Potter." Snape snarled.
"It's my fault. Draco and I let our lesson go to late. They just came looking for me." Hermione explained.
"Where's Mr. Malfoy now?" McGonagall asked.
"He left a little while ago. Before Ron and Harry got here."
"fifteen points from Gryffindor for each of you. And detention for you three and Mr. Malfoy. I specifically told you Hermione, your lessons were to go no later than ten. Get back to your rooms now, while Professor Snape and I decide on your appropriate punishments." McGonagall's lips were pierced so tight, that Harry was sure he was going to get a lashing as he walked past, picking up his invisibility cloak. Snape noticing this, stopped Harry in his tracks.
"Potter! Come here a minute." he called. Harry drudged back to the room, waving to Ron and Hermione as they turned the corridor.
"This invisibility cloak is the cause for many of these late night rendezvous'. I don't think it is an appropriate item for a student of Hogwarts to have. I believe it has given Potter the belief that with it, he can go wherever he wants, whenever he wants. I suggest confiscating it till further notice." Snape commented.
"It was Dumbledore's decision to give it to him, and only Dumbledore can take it from him. He gave it to Harry for good reason, and it may be needed in these dark times. Especially, Harry. But, your opinion Severus, has been dually noted, I will mention it to the headmaster. Now if you excuse me, I'd like to get back to my room. Goodnight, Severus. Goodnight, Potter." she stated then apparated from where she was. Snape sneered at Harry, and followed him to the Gryffindor tower. After making sure he'd climbed through the portrait hole, he himself turned around and headed back towards the dungeon.
Hermione and Ron were still arguing quietly, waiting his return.
"But Malfoy??" Ron groaned.
"Get over it, Ron. We need to get to bed. We'll see you tomorrow Harry."
Hermione said and grabbed Ron's arm. They headed back up to their room. Harry layed down on the bed in his own room, and fell asleep almost instantly. He soon slipped into dreams.
Voldemort was talking to his death eaters. The vision wasn't clear, but Harry recognized the deep red eyes glowing from underneath the black cloak. Around him stood his faithful death eaters, a few giants, and a hoard of dementors.
"There is young blood at Hogwarts. One who'll be able to help us get to Harry Potter. From what I'm told by Lucius, he's being tutored by one of Harry's closest allies. We must have him on our side, he's a valuable resource. Lucius, offer your son a spot on my army."
"He will take it gladly my lord. Narcissa and I have prepared him well for this moment. He's only been awaiting your calling." Lucius stepped out of the line of death eaters and bowed to Voldemort.
"Very well then, send word to him tonight." at that Harry bolted awake.
He had to tell Hermione. He had to tell Dumbledore. Dumbledore. Hermione could wait. Harry once again, pounced out of bed and threw the invisibility cloak over him. He considered waking Ron, but rethought the decision, it was too risky, them both getting caught again by Snape, who he was sure was still wandering the hallways or worse waiting outside the portrait hole. He ran down the stairs, almost getting stuck in a trip step and headed towards Dumbledore's office. Would he see him? What time was it? Even Dumbledore needed sleep. He wasn't paying attention when he ran smack right back into Snape.
"She should be back by now, Harry. What if he's done something to her. They're working on Transfiguration. He could've turned her into something." he said worriedly, returning to where Harry was standing. Harry shrugged.
"We're not that advanced in Transfiguration. She can take care of herself." he commented, although he didn't believe it himself. He was a bit worried. She's been tutoring him for over a month. Usually Hermione was back by nine, flustered and annoyed by whatever Malfoy had been saying through the tutoring session. It was without fail. She should have been back by now.
"I'm going to get her." Ron said boldly, before Harry stopped him.
"If Filch sees you, you'll be dead. Let's take the invisibility cloak." Harry told him. He rushed up stairs and got it. He and Ron made sure they were both completely covered then headed out towards the Transfiguration room. The door was open. They snuck in quietly. Hermione was talking about how to turn a turtle into a pincushion, something they'd gone over years earlier. Malfoy was looking bored. He had his head resting on his hand and he was drifting in an out.
"Are you even listening to me?!" Hermione snapped. He woke up.
"Yeah sure, you just flick your wand and voila a cushion." he yawned. She rolled her eyes at him and pulled out the turtle. Ok, try it."
"I'm going to bed." he stated and stood up. She pushed him back down. He glared at her.
"You're not teaching me anything I don't already know." he growled.
"Fine we'll move onto this week's homework. Now what do you remember about turning a kitten into a full grown cat?"
"I don't remember. Listen, it's ten thirty. I'm going to bed." he stopped for a moment and looked her over. A look Harry had never seen in Malfoy before. He couldn't explain it.
"That is unless you can give me a better reason for staying, other than kittens." Malfoy added and moved closer. Ron gulped from underneath the invisibility cloak. They moved closer for a better view.
"W-what do you mean?" Hermione moved a little further away from him, but he moved closer again.
"I mean, we're all alone. Everyone's gone to bed. I know it's probably been hard having to work with me, all the sexual tension..." his lips were right next to Hermione's. Harry had to do all he could to hold Ron back. He too wanted to jump out, take Malfoy by surprise, but he knew that as a prefect, Malfoy could harm him far worse, without having to touch him. They had to sit there and bear it while they watched their sworn enemy kissing their best friend. Ron was now fuming. Mid-kiss, Malfoy broke it and pushed Hermione away. He stood up and headed for the door. She looked at him confused at his behavior.
"Filthy mudblood, what made you think I wanted to kiss you. Never touch me again, or I'll kill you." he spit on the ground and walked off. Hermione got up and slammed the door behind him. Harry and Ron revealed their identity and went over to Hermione.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, completely taken back.
"You hadn't returned we wanted to make sure Malfoy hadn't done anything to you." Harry said calmly. He didn't want to make matters worse by yelling at her. Ron, on the other hand, had different feelings.
"Why were you kissing Malfoy?! Malfoy of all people! That's the most repulsing thing I've ever seen!"
"No one asked you to be here!" she snapped back at him.
"You'll let just anyone on you won't you? You've sunk low, Hermione. Malfoy?! How long has this been going on?!"
"Nothing's going on! I don't know where that came from! I'm sorry!" she started to cry and sat back down at the desk. Ron's anger suddenly changed directions.
"I'm going to kill Malfoy! I'm going after him right now."
"No, don't! It's my fault. It's my fault." she cried.
"What do you mean, Hermione?" Harry asked. He was completely confused by the whole situation. Malfoy had been right to some degree. Why would he kiss her? They despised him, as much as he despised them.
"I was trying to cast a spell. He kept falling asleep. I wanted to cast a spell so that we could get through this without him saying anything mean, without him getting up and leaving. I couldn't bear to think what he'd tell McGonagall. He's threatened to tell her that I've been the one provoking fights. That I've been teaching him the wrong things to fail on purpose. He wants me out of this school. He doesn't like being showed up. He doesn't want his father to have another excuse to yell at him. He-"
"What spell did you cast? A love spell?" Harry interrupted.
"No, I mean I casted a mood modifier charm. But unfortunately it only works through your inner most feelings. Ever since I started working with him, I haven't been able to stop from noticing, he's changed. He's growing up."
"He's still Malfoy, Hermione!"
"Yeah, but he's not the tiny scrawny Malfoy we used to pick fights with in the past. He's..."
"You think Malfoy's cute! God, Hermione! How could you even think that about HIM. He's repulsive! He's a Slytherin. He's out to kill Harry!"
"I couldn't help it. The charm must've reacted on those subconscious feelings. And it must've stopped working while we were kissing. I didn't mean for that to happen!"
"Why'd you kiss him back. You could've pushed him away! Hermione! You were kissing Draco Malfoy!" Ron was still overreacting. The yelling must've attracted some attention because McGonagall and Snape showed up at the entrance of the transfiguration room.
"What are you three doing out of bed?" McGonagall asked. She was wearing a sleeping gown and a very tired expression. Snape was still dressed, although his expression showed he was very annoyed about having to come up from whatever he'd been doing.
"You three have defied the rules, this particular rule often, since your first year at Hogwarts. You especially...Potter." Snape snarled.
"It's my fault. Draco and I let our lesson go to late. They just came looking for me." Hermione explained.
"Where's Mr. Malfoy now?" McGonagall asked.
"He left a little while ago. Before Ron and Harry got here."
"fifteen points from Gryffindor for each of you. And detention for you three and Mr. Malfoy. I specifically told you Hermione, your lessons were to go no later than ten. Get back to your rooms now, while Professor Snape and I decide on your appropriate punishments." McGonagall's lips were pierced so tight, that Harry was sure he was going to get a lashing as he walked past, picking up his invisibility cloak. Snape noticing this, stopped Harry in his tracks.
"Potter! Come here a minute." he called. Harry drudged back to the room, waving to Ron and Hermione as they turned the corridor.
"This invisibility cloak is the cause for many of these late night rendezvous'. I don't think it is an appropriate item for a student of Hogwarts to have. I believe it has given Potter the belief that with it, he can go wherever he wants, whenever he wants. I suggest confiscating it till further notice." Snape commented.
"It was Dumbledore's decision to give it to him, and only Dumbledore can take it from him. He gave it to Harry for good reason, and it may be needed in these dark times. Especially, Harry. But, your opinion Severus, has been dually noted, I will mention it to the headmaster. Now if you excuse me, I'd like to get back to my room. Goodnight, Severus. Goodnight, Potter." she stated then apparated from where she was. Snape sneered at Harry, and followed him to the Gryffindor tower. After making sure he'd climbed through the portrait hole, he himself turned around and headed back towards the dungeon.
Hermione and Ron were still arguing quietly, waiting his return.
"But Malfoy??" Ron groaned.
"Get over it, Ron. We need to get to bed. We'll see you tomorrow Harry."
Hermione said and grabbed Ron's arm. They headed back up to their room. Harry layed down on the bed in his own room, and fell asleep almost instantly. He soon slipped into dreams.
Voldemort was talking to his death eaters. The vision wasn't clear, but Harry recognized the deep red eyes glowing from underneath the black cloak. Around him stood his faithful death eaters, a few giants, and a hoard of dementors.
"There is young blood at Hogwarts. One who'll be able to help us get to Harry Potter. From what I'm told by Lucius, he's being tutored by one of Harry's closest allies. We must have him on our side, he's a valuable resource. Lucius, offer your son a spot on my army."
"He will take it gladly my lord. Narcissa and I have prepared him well for this moment. He's only been awaiting your calling." Lucius stepped out of the line of death eaters and bowed to Voldemort.
"Very well then, send word to him tonight." at that Harry bolted awake.
He had to tell Hermione. He had to tell Dumbledore. Dumbledore. Hermione could wait. Harry once again, pounced out of bed and threw the invisibility cloak over him. He considered waking Ron, but rethought the decision, it was too risky, them both getting caught again by Snape, who he was sure was still wandering the hallways or worse waiting outside the portrait hole. He ran down the stairs, almost getting stuck in a trip step and headed towards Dumbledore's office. Would he see him? What time was it? Even Dumbledore needed sleep. He wasn't paying attention when he ran smack right back into Snape.