Chapter 7

"Hermione, did you hear about the good news? They caught Bellatrix Lestrange!" Harry announced excitedly as he took his seat beside her in the Great Hall.

Hermione looked up from the Daily Prophet she was reading over breakfast, and smiled at Harry. "Yes, Harry, it's in the front page."

"As it should be. This is major. She's one of Voldemort's most loyal followers. Her capture is a big blow to him, I'm sure." Harry said. "I just wish they could charge her for what she did to Sirius... but until his name is cleared, that can't happen," he added sadly.

"Hmm." Hermione nodded then went back to reading the newspaper. Something about the news did not sit well with her. According to the news, Lestrange was caught because she had tried to disapparate from Hogsmeade and was splinched in the process. The Accidental Magic Detectors, devices that signal and locate misuse of magic, at the Ministry of Magic had gone off that day, announcing that someone was splinched near Hogsmeade. The Accidental Magic Reversal Squad assumed that it was just a tipsy wizard who had tried apparating after having one too many shots of Firewhiskey. The team sent to unsplinch the poor wizard received the surprise of their lives when they found Bellatrix Lestrange instead. The news reports further said that Lestrange had remained quiet and calm, and had refused to say anything when she was sent back to Azkaban, where she had escaped from two years ago. The Lestrange I met at the Department of Mysteries two years ago was not the quiet sort, Hermione thought.

"Hermione?" Harry frowned slightly.

"Huh? Oh. Harry, yes, I'm sure they will be able to clear Sirius eventually. Just be patient," Hermione reached out to stroke his arm. "It's just that... I don't know... I think there's more to the news than what the Daily Prophet has reported."

"Like what?" Harry asked.

"I don't know... too many unanswered questions. What was she doing in Hogsmeade? Where was she apparating to? Why was she so calm and quiet about her arrest? We both know that Lestrange is a loud and whiney madwoman," Hermione explained. "I don't think that her arrest was entirely an accident, Harry."

Harry nodded as he considered her words. Hermione suddenly sat up straight, her eyes wide. "I think I got it! Come, Harry, we need to see Professor Dumbledore. Now." She got up, her breakfast forgotten, and pulled Harry up to his feet to drag him to the Headmaster's Office.

Hermione entered the Great Hall just as the DA meeting was about to be adjourned.

"Harry, if I might have a word before everyone goes?" she asked in a loud voice.

"Sure, Hermione," he nodded as she joined him in front of everyone.

"Hi. I just wanted to let everyone here know the Professors have created portkeys that will lead students back to their respective Common Rooms in the off-chance that Hogwarts would be attacked. The portkeys are located in several different areas throughout Hogwarts. The Head Boy and I have handed the list of the portkey locations for each house to your respective Prefects who will be posting the list in your respective House bulletin boards. The Heads of each House have also been working, together with the Prefects, in casting security charms for our dormitories and Common Rooms." she announced. "Oh and just in case some of you might be thinking that using your House portkeys would save you the trouble of getting to your Common Rooms on foot, or that those can be used when running away from Mr. Filch in the middle of the night, I would like to further inform you that the portkeys will only be activated in the unlikely event that Hogwarts is in peril. Any questions?"

"How can we have portkeys here? Aren't those regulated by the Ministry of Magic?" Ernie Macmillan asked.

"Yes, generally they are, Ernie. But since Hogwarts is under the jurisdiction of its Headmaster, the regulation stipulated by the Ministry of Magic has no bearing on Hogwarts territory." Hermione responded.

"But isn't is impossible to get into Hogwarts by portkey or by any other means aside from through the front gates? I read that in Hogwarts, A History," a fourth year Hufflepuff said.

Hermione smiled at the question. It was something she would have asked had she not been involved in planning and creating the Hogwarts portkeys. "You're right about not being able to apparate and enter Hogwarts via portkey, of course. But these new portkeys are just to travel within the school."

"Does that mean we can apparate within Hogwarts now?" Dennis Creevey asked eagerly.

"As far as I know, Dennis, you won't be apparating anywhere until you finish your sixth year. As for those in their seventh years, and who can apparate, the answer is no. The wards against apparating within Hogwarts are still in place," she said, smiling and shaking her head at the disappointed look on some of the students' faces. "If there are no more questions, then I'll leave you. Thank you for your attention."

Hermione turned to go, intending to head immediately to her private quarters. She was beyond tired. She had stayed up most of the night working with the professors and Draco in positioning the portkeys in different spots in the school. For the past two weeks, she and Draco had been working with Professor Flitwick and Professor McGonogall in creating the portkeys. Hermione had been able to convince Professor Dumbledore that Lestrange's apparition accident happened because she was trying to get into Hogwarts, and that Voldemort and his Death Eaters were planning to attack Hogwarts. She also suspected that the reason why Lestrange allowed herself to be sent back to Azkaban without protest or attempts to escape was because she was planning to help the Death Eaters currently residing in prison escape. After all, she had successfully fled from the same prison two years ago. The members of the Order of the Phoenix, while doubtful of Hermione's suspicions, promised to keep a more watchful eye on the activities within Azkaban.

"Hermione, wait." Harry called out after he had adjourned the DA meeting.

Hermione turned to see Harry, Ron and Ginny hurriedly walking towards her. "Yes?"

"We've barely seen you these past few weeks, Hermione. How have you been?" Harry asked as soon as they reached her.

"Well the portkey project took up most of my free time, Harry. I've been fine, but I'm a bit tired at the moment. How about you guys?" she smiled at her friends.

Her friends smiled back at her and informed her that they were fine. "C'mon, let's walk Hermione back to her quarters, so she can rest up." Harry suggested. Hermione smiled gratefully at him.

"I've barely seen Malfoy these past few days as well, Hermione," Ginny said as they walked to the Head Girl's room.

Hermione looked at Ginny, a little surprised at the comment. Ginny didn't care one whit about Malfoy. Why is she talking about him? "Well, he's been busy with the portkey project, too, Ginny."

"How does it feel to be spending that much time with Malfoy, Hermione?" Ginny asked.

Before Hermione could respond, Ron said, "What kind of daft question is that, Ginny? Of course Hermione hates spending that much time with Malfoy. That's pretty obvious."

"Oh, I wouldn't be so sure of that, Ron," Ginny responded with a raised eyebrow at Hermione. "I don't hear Hermione complaining about it too much."

Hermione walked on, letting the two Weasleys slug it out themselves. She was too tired to get into a heated discussion with the Weasleys. Besides, she suspected that Ginny had been observing her and Draco's behaviour for the past few weeks, and was coming up with the right conclusions.

Being caught up in schoolwork and their extra-curricular activities had not kept Hermione and Draco from the resolutions and plans about each other that they had made separately and secretly. Hermione sensed that Draco had indeed taken her bait and was now acting on it. His attitude towards her in the past few weeks bordered on being flirtatious, and his conversations with her had been laden with sexual innuendo. Hermione, quite aware of the reasons for Draco's changed behaviour and what it meant to her Pet Project, met his actions and his conversations head on and in equal measure. When he tucked the stray hairs that escaped her French braid behind her ear after they had practiced hexes against each other during last week's DA session, she responded by brushing the fine white blond lock of hair away from his forehead. When he approached the Gryffindor table to ask her a question about their Ancient Runes homework a few days ago, instead of the expected vehement response from her, she smiled at him instead and answered his question. When he asked if he could study with her at the library for their N.E.W.T.s, she said yes and promptly shared with him her study schedule and notes. Obviously, based on Ginny's comments, the changing interaction between Hermione and Draco was not going unnoticed. Which was fine by Hermione. Her plan required as many witnesses as possible.

"Hermione?" Ron's voice broke through her thoughts, just as Harry nudged her arm to get her attention.

"Oh. Sorry. Yes, Ron?" she looked up and realised that they were at the door to the Head Common Room.

"You're not going to deny what Ginny's saying?" Ron looked ready to burst.

"Sorry, I wasn't paying attention. Kind of spaced out for a while. What is Ginny saying?" Hermione said patiently, not wanting to trigger Ron's fiery temper.

"That there's something going on between you and Malfoy!" Ron practically bellowed. "Please tell me that's not the case."

Hmm. If word gets out too soon about me and Malfoy, Ron would probably kill him before I can properly end the Pet Project. "Of course there's nothing going on between me and Malfoy, Ron. Why would you think that, Ginny?"

"Well the two of you have been flirting a lot lately, Hermione. I'm not the only one who's noticed. Lavender, Parvati, Padma and the other girls have too. Even Luna." Ginny responded, looking at Hermione closely. "So what's going on?"

It was on the tip of Hermione's tongue to ask Ginny Weasley where she got off thinking she could demand answers to questions that she had no business asking, but Hermione bit her tongue and smiled instead. "Of course Lavender would notice something like that, Ginny. She's been itching for another date with Malfoy and since she hasn't been able to get that, she's looking for someone to blame. And we all know that Lavender and Parvati kind of share the same brain. And then Padma is Parvati's twin. So it makes sense that they would see more into my working relationship with Malfoy."

"And the rest of us?" Ginny insisted.

"Look, let's all admit it, Draco Malfoy is one of the most popular boys in school. Of course people would gossip about him and speculate about his romantic life. Right now, due to our positions in school, the two of us have had to spend quite a bit of time working together, so it's no surprise that people would romanticise the whole thing and spread gossip about us." Hermione said patiently. Damn, if I don't make it as a witch, I may have a future in the diplomatic community.

Harry and Ron both looked relieved at her words. Ginny still looked a little skeptical.

"See, Ginny? There's nothing to worry about. There's nothing going on between Hermione and Malfoy," Harry said, smiling.

"Right. Well, I'm really kind of tired, so if you want to continue this discussion, can we do it tomorrow?" Hermione asked. When they nodded, she bade them goodnight and headed inside the Common Room.

"Ever thought about applying for a job at the Department of International Magic Cooperation?" Draco drawled from his slouched position on the couch.

"So you heard," she shook her head and took a seat beside him on the couch.

"Hard not to hear with two Weasels yelling so close," he answered. "So nothing's going on between the two of us, do you really believe that?" I'd like to see you try denying that to me, Granger.

Hermione remained silent for a while, caught a little by surprise by Malfoy's candor, and thinking about how to approach this situation. If I say yes, it might back-track things. If I say no, it might speed it up too soon.

"I don't know. What do you believe?" she responded. When you have no answer, answer with a question. Brilliant, Hermione.

Damn, I had a feeling she'd do that. Fine, time to speed things up a bit. "I don't know either, but I do think you're beautiful." He lifted his right hand to stroke her cheek with the back of his forefinger.

Oh, he's good. He almost got my spine-tingling with that one."Thank you," she said, deliberately keeping her face lowered.

He moved his hand to her chin to hold it gently as he raised her face to his. Let's see you deny this, Granger. He lowered his face towards hers.

Move, Granger! This is too fast. This is too much. You haven't planned for this. Not really. You need a strategy. You need--

Draco's mouth brushed against hers slowly and gently before he licked her lips. Draco, my boy, you are the best. Pretty soon you'll have her. You'll break her and then--

Hermione opened her mouth so her tongue could brush against his before she plunged it into his mouth. They closed their eyes at the same time as sensations flooded through them. He sucked her tongue deeply before he opened his mouth wider to devour her mouth and plunge his tongue repeatedly into hers. Hermione's hands reached up to clutch his shoulders as his arms wrapped around her waist to press her upper body against his.

He broke the kiss to catch his breath but moved his mouth and tongue to her ear, moaning when she made the sexiest growl when his tongue teased the whorls of her ear. He lowered their bodies to the couch, him on top of her, as she nibbled on his jawline. When Hermione's back was flat on the couch, Draco placed his mouth back on hers for a second kiss, lifting his hands to feel her breasts through her school uniform. Hermione groaned at the unfamiliar feel of someone's hands on her breasts, burying her fingers in his soft flaxen hair, and opening her legs to allow his thigh between them.

"You feel so good, Hermione."

At the sound of her name on his lips, familiar words came rushing back into Hermione's mind, causing her to stiffen and remember who she was, who he was and why she was here.

"Do not think for a minute, Granger, that I will ever allow you to address me in such a familiar manner".

"Hermione?" He looked up from kissing her neck when he realised that she was no longer responding to him.

How she wanted to fling his words back at him right this minute, to chastise him for assuming he could call her by her first name. But not yet, Hermione. Not yet. This is not the opportune moment. Besides, she realised she had not regained enough control to have a fully functional vocabulary, and she wanted the choicest words for when she finally decimates Malfoy.

Hermione pushed him away from her and tried to clear her thoughts.

"Hermione?" Draco looked at her in concern, confused as to why she had put a stop to those pleasureable moments.

"I'm sorry... I... uh... too fast," she mumbled as she straightened her uniform in an attempt to calm herself down. She bit her lower lip to keep words from spilling from her mouth.

"Hermione?" he tried to lift her chin so he could look into her eyes. He was a bit concerned, he had never seen her so flustered. She looked like she was on the verge of crying.

"I think I better go," she whispered and then stood up on shaky legs. "Good night."

She almost ran to her room, where the tears started to flow as soon as she closed the door.

How could you lose control like that, Hermione? How could you allow that... that... Malfoy to get to you? How could you allow yourself to forget even for a few minutes what this is all about? What the hell is wrong with you?

She wiped her eyes and took a deep breath. She headed for her bag and took out the Pet Project notebook. It was time to remind herself the reasons why the scene in the Common Room happened. It was time to tell herself that it meant that her plan was moving along perfectly. It was time to remember not to take that kiss personally. It had nothing to do with her, and everything to do with her Pet Project. Malfoy wasn't kissing Hermione Granger back there, he was kissing the latest challenge that she had voluntarily placed before him.

As she wrote the kiss down in her growing list of scenarios that would eventually lead to the fulfillment of her plan, she realised that it was her first real kiss, and felt a twinge in her heart that she couldn't allow the giddy feeling that the thought almost brought her. Stick to the plan, Hermione. There's no room for girlish giddiness, not when you've got a project to finish. You can have your real romantic first kiss later. For now, concentrate on your Pet Project.