AN:Oh my gosh, I put up the wrong chapter so sorry if u guys were confused....Just Read and Review ok?
Draco Malfoy on the other hand was fuming. He had never been insulted like this before. "Stupid mudblood doesn't know what she's gotten herself into," he muttered as he paced along the corridors. She was the only one who had gotten away with insulting him. It had happened in their third year when she slapped him. He wondered why he had let her go instead of using it as an excuse to make her life a living hell.
Now she had gotten out of hand. She had dared to insult him; Draco Malfoy in front of the school. His father would definitely hear about this. Not from him as obviously he preferred to deal with his own problems but from Pansy who was Draco's personal stalker and his father's spy.
He had once like Pansy for the aloof beauty that she was. With blonde hair and blue eyes she looked much like a model. Unfortunately unknown to him was a bundle of insecurity under the fake pretence. He regretted ever getting himself involved with her. He was sick and tired of her clinging onto him. This year he had managed to avoid her so far but the problem was she was in almost all his classes so avoiding would be impossible.
He wondered how to show the thick skinned, thick skulled moron that clung to him that he wasn't interested. He had put up with her because he was not bothered enough to do anything about it.
"Shit, I'm digressing from the problem at hand," he said cussing at himself. He wondered why that mudblood had such an effect on him when she wasn't even directly in her presence.
He wanted to mark her just as she had marked him; make her regret ever forgetting her place. Finally he decided that he had best go back to the common room as he had to take a bath and get ready to meet all the prefects.
Storming off he finally arrived at the painting of Ella Enchanted. She looked at him and said with a calm face, "You've got a bit of custard on your nose," before breaking into fits of hysterical laughter. He rolled his eyes wondering why he had not expected the mudblood to tell everyone in the school who hadn't seen it first hand. He waited until she had stopped laughing. Unfortunately her laughter didn't seem to cease and he felt his blood began to boil.
"Are you done laughing idiot woman?" he said scathingly and looked at her condescendingly. He immediately knew he had said the wrong thing. He had a knack of doing those sort of thing. Suddenly she stopped laughing. Her expression became stony and she blinked at him before suddenly turning around and walking away, leaving an empty frame and no way into the common room for Malfoy.
"This is great just great," he muttered incoherently to himself as he started pounding on the frame. Professor Dumbledore happened to walk past at the moment and he smiled at Malfoy before commenting, "Hell hath on fury as a woman scorned." before walking away.
Malfoy felt like hitting that old interfering old man who thought too much of himself. "Why couldn't Dumbledore have just helped him?" he wondered.
Hermione heard violent pounding at the door and thinking it was Harry and Ron she jumped out of the pool and forgot to use a charm to dry herself before rushing to the door and pulling it open. As Malfoy at that moment was trying to use his weight to jimmy open the door he fell right on top of Hermione.
"Oi" she said in shock as she stood up and saw that Malfoy had fallen on her. His weight had not near crushed her as he expected.
Instead of apologizing to her or even thanking her for opening the door he replied with a voice of malice, "Thank goodness I have time to take a bath."
Malfoy was shocked. Never would he have believed that under those baggy robes were such a good body. Her shorts were way to short for her own good but it made her look good instead of sluttish. Her shirt had been stuck to her body and ridden up. She had abs and when he fell on her he couldn't believe that she had been able to take such an impact without feeling much pain.
Hermione couldn't believe her ears. Of all things him choosing to insult her when all she did was help him struck a nerve. She followed him into the bathroom and shouted, "What the hell did I do to you Malfoy? Why do you love tormenting me so much?"
They were in front of the huge mirrors that had misted over during the time Hermione was taking a bath. She watched the shadow that was Malfoy's reflection move behind her. She attempted to spin around but he quickly caught her hand and twisted it behind her back pinning it to the small of her back. This way she could not move as it would break her arm.
She squirmed trying her best to free herself of his vice like grip. His reflection in the mirror showed no emotion but hatred at it's rawest. His eyes flashed dangerously, making her fear for her life.
"You asked me what you did. I'll tell you. I don't think you would understand things like family reputation. Do you know that no one and I mean on one has ever dared to insult me like this? Sure Scar head and Weasel have thrown some insults at me but those are trivial compared to what you did. I guess my sentiments are sorely misplaced on you as after all you are a mudblood, filthier than pond scum and you would know nothing about respect," he hissed into her ear.
She struggled to get away from him. His words stung. She knew that she should never listen to a word a Malfoy said about her but still it hurt. "Why did he have to bring up family, Why?" she though to herself.
Her eyes were brimming with tears but she refused to cry in front of him so she blinked back her tears and gave a sharp pull away from him, using her whole weight to propel herself forward. She managed to slip out of his grip. She spun around and ran to her room. She thanked her lucky stars that she had gotten away fast enough as when she was out of the bathroom itself tears were pouring down her face.
She hated herself for being so weak, for not being strong and living with the issue instead of breaking down anytime someone mentioned family. She didn't want to give Malfoy the satisfaction of seeing her cry as so far he never had but now he knew that he had broken her. He had made her cry. Hermione thought of all this when she rushed into her room.
Malfoy stared at her quickly retreating form and wondered if he pushed it too far. He had seen the tears in her eyes and after the moment of triumph that he felt after hurting her he felt nothing, not guilt mind you because Malfoy's never felt guilt. He then decided that he might as well have a bath. As he floated on his back in the pool, he thought about making the mudblood cry.
He had thought that she was stupid to yet again show her emotions to the enemy but then he remembered the look in her eyes. It had scared him if he told the truth not that he would mention it to anyone. It was of raw emotion. Not like anything that he had seen. Not physical but he couldn't place a name to it. She looked so powerful as though she could cope with anything after she coped with whatever it was that had her upset.
Malfoy wondered for the second time that day why the mudblood had that effect on him.
Hermione sat in her room sobbing into her hands. She was kneeling by the bed with her hands propped up on them. She was telling herself off for showing Malfoy that he had struck a nerve. Suddenly the cool voice that woke her up in the morning announced that a Ginny Weasly was there to see Hermione. Hermione wiped away her tears, hoping that Ginny wouldn't realize that anything was wrong and went to open the door. Ginny stood there for a minute before rushing at Hermione and enveloping her in a bear hug.
"Harry's taking me to dinner at a muggle restaurant this weekend. We're sneaking out of course..." she said jabbering on and on about her up coming date with Harry. She noticed that Hermione wasn't listening and called her name. Then she realized that Hermione's eyes were red from crying.
Ginny nearly hit herself on her head for being so insensitive. She should have realized that something was up.
"Oh my gosh, Mione I'm so sorry. I was so caught up in my own world. What happened?" she said as they walked into Hermione's room. Hermione just shook her head and settled herself on the floor.
She wasn't ready to tell anyone about it but on the other hand her whole being seemed to be on the verge of exploding after learning the news. She had kept it to herself for too long and felt that it was bringing her down the path of self destruction. She knew that if she continued the way she had, it would either bring her to suicide or becoming a nutcase.
Silent tears poured down her cheeks and plopped onto the ground. Finally making a decision, she decided that she would tell Ginny but have her sworn to secrecy. "Ginny...I haven't told anyone and you can't tell anyone either not even Ron or Harry," she said calmly. She loved them as brothers but couldn't deal with a confrontation; not yet.
Ginny nodded her eyes shining with sympathy as she watched her friend cry silent tears while all she could do was stand at the side lines. Choking on a sob she let it out together with all the emotions that she had been feeling throughout the whole period of time. "I...I'm adopted," she said her voice strangled as she forced the words out amidst her body wracking sobs.
She wondered why she had not told anyone about her discovery earlier. It lessened the huge weight that was at her stomach throughout the whole time. Hermione tried her best to brace herself for her friend's reply. Although telling someone seemed to make the issue true in her mind and add some finality to it.
Ginny's eyes widened and she rushed to Hermione's side and gave her a hug. Hermione couldn't hold it in anymore so she just cried. Ginny whispered to her that everything would be okay that it was alright and suddenly Hermione stopped crying. She just froze when she saw a shadow at the door.
AN:I though of leaving it at that but what fun would it be as all of you can already guess who it is by now...
Malfoy's jaw dropped as a feeling he had never felt engulfed him. Guilt. At what he had done. Of course she had teared because of his mention of family. Using her Palms Hermione wiped of her tears and through gritted teeth said, "If you mentioned this to anyone Malfoy, I will kill you," she said. He just smirked and walked off cockily.
As soon as he was out of sight in his room, he sunk onto the arm chair there and sighed, wondering what he had done. He knew now that she was adopted, he wondered who her real parents were...
He also regretted what he had done earlier and the way he had behaved when she told him that he had to choose between silence on the matter or death. Personally he wondered if he had struck such a bad impression on Hermione that she thought that he would use the piece of information to his advantage.
He knew that the Malfoy from two years ago would have but why didn't people realize that he had changed. He was no more that aristocratic kid that hid behind his power hungry father that people grudgingly respected more out of fear than anything else. He was no longer the weak boy who used money for means of everything and knew nothing about life.
He had paid the price of being such a person though he felt that he shouldn't be blamed for the way he behaved in his early years as he had behaved the way it had been ingrained into him how to behave since young. He remembered the look in her eyes again
"Hermione, I'm so sorry come sit over hear, wait your hair wet. You'll catch a cold. I'll dry it for you," Ginny said reassuringly. Hermione sat on the floor and Ginny right above her on the bed.
Ginny used her wand to emit blast of hot air as she did Hermione's hair. She conjured up big clips and clipped up most of Hermione's hair. She then used a round brush and started emitting blasts of icy air at the hair while muttering a spell under he breath. If Hermione had not been so preoccupied, she would have realized what Ginny was doing. Unfortunately, she was.
Both of them sat in silence the only sound of the clock ticking and the wand making slight choking noises as the icy air came out.
"Hermione, do you know who your real parents are?" Ginny whispered breaking the silence. Ginny didn't mean to pry but she at the same time was dying from curiosity. Also all the silence and tension in the room was making her extremely uncomfortable. She wondered why Hermione had not told anyone over the holidays when she was staying at their place.
Hermione shrugged before replying, "Well my parents said they were from the wizarding world but I didn't want to know then," Hermione answered as she sat thinking. All those years Malfoy had called her a mudblood but now she knew she wasn't. She blinked back the fresh tears that threatened to spill.
"Why didn't you tell us earlier Mione'. We love you and you should have known that we wouldn't have judged you based on that," Ginny said her voice taking a concerned tone. A lone tear slipped along her face at this and Hermione tried to smile but it seemed that she had forgotten how to. What had seemed easy a few days ago now seemed so hard.
"Ginny do you mind if we change the topic. It's just...I'm not ready to talk about it yet. Tell me about your upcoming date," Hermione said. Hermione settled back onto the bed as Ginny began to give her a blow by blow account of what she was going to wear that day.
"Oh it's a gorgeous dress that I designed by myself and the satin is so smooth..." Hermione heard Ginny say before tuning her out. Hermione felt guilty for doing so but she couldn't help it. She wondered who her parents were. Weather they would accept her and the list of questions went on. She felt angry that they had abandoned her, obviously she was assuming that it had happened as she knew nothing for sure.
She realized that this was the first time that Hermione Granger knew nothing about a certain subject. And this was part of her life. Being the diligent know-it-all that she was, she told herself that she would ask her foster parents who her real ones were.
"Hermione close your eyes, I've got a surprise for you," Ginny said, breaking Hermione line of thoughts. Hermione did as her friend had told her to wondering what Ginny was up to. Ginny levitated the handheld mirror on Hermione's desk in front of Hermione's face. Telling her that she could open her eyes now Ginny laid back and watched as her friend's expression changed. From sad to surprised to happy.
In the mirror Hermione saw herself but with straight and sleek brown hair. Ginny had blow dried it straight and it hung straight framing her face and making her look much better. She was surprised at first when she couldn't put her finger on what it was that was different. She was angry at Ginny for going against her wishes but at the same time she couldn't help but unconsciously forgive her friend as she realized that she looked great.
"You should have asked but anyway it looks great," Hermione exclaimed her worries forgotten for a minute. Ginny then muttered a charm and informed Hermione that it would remain that way until Hermione said the counter-charm.
Hermione looked closer and noticed that Ginny had highlighted her hair so that it had bronze streaks in it. She didn't really like the look but obviously Ginny did and she didn't want to hurt the feelings of someone trying so hard to make her happy.
"Mione, I hope you feel better now. Wait let me do your makeup. Just for today. It'll cover up the redness and swollenness of your eyes. Please," Ginny begged and Hermione agreed knowing that her friend was just trying her best to make her feel better. After twenty minutes Hermione was led to a mirror and she had to admit that she couldn't recognize herself.
Ginny had accentuated her brown eyes with earth toned eye-shadow on the inner corner of her eyes that became a lighter color as it branched out towards the side's of her head. Her eyebrows were thinner and the arches more well defined. Her eyelashes gave an illusion of being long and curly. She had lip gloss on her lips. They made them look fuller and somehow made her look more mature. The slight rouge on her check bones made her features seem more defined. Her hair that now hung straight was left to flow freely and it obeyed her swishing lightly with every movement she made.
She smiled but it didn't reach her eyes as she still had thoughts about her parents on the back of her mind. She loved the way she looked but she knew she could not be bothered to maintain it as she had been taught since young that beauty was only skin deep.
"I'll always be there for you Mione and don't you forget that," Ginny said trying to cheer her friend up. Hermione nodded and managed a smile. Pulling her robes over her clothes she told Ginny that she had to go for a prefect's meeting. It wasn't that she wanted to brush off Ginny but some questions that Ginny asked had raised some important questions in her mind.
She wanted some time to sit down and think about weather she really wanted to know who her parents were. If they were purebloods and all purebloods were like the Malfoy..."she though shuddering at the thought of being brought up to hate people who she once counted herself into.
She wondered if she had any siblings. Having grown up an only child she was thrilled at thought of having a younger or older, brother or sister. She lapsed into a dream world where her family was made up of a woman with blonde hair and blue eyes who looked extremely motherly and a man who looked burly and strong.
Also she had a gorgeous older brother who owned a motor bike and was the most sought after guy in school. She was very pretty and was head cheerleader. Hermione smiled as she thought about the silly dream. She did not want to be in a perfect family that was for sure and she knew that she would never in her right mind, choose to be a cheerleader.
Their perkiness and bubbly behavior tended to get on her nerves and she remembered the way she was treated by the ones in her school before she came to Hogwarts.
"Oops I nearly forgot all about it. Did I tell you I was Gryffindor prefect?" Ginny said smiling. Hermione smiled back and congratulated her.
"Ginny I have to be there a little earlier. Let yourself out okay," Hermione said before giving her friend a hug and departing. She was thankful that Ginny had been there for her. She knew that Harry and Ron were her best friends but lately they seemed to always exclude her and the constant chatter on quidditch tended to get on her nerves.
The guys were great but they tended to lack in sensitivity as it never was a strong point in boys. Hermione raised her hand to unconsciously touch her hair which wasn't wiry and rough but so soft and shiny that she fell in love with it once again.
"Wait one last thing," Ginny said before muttering Tighteno and Hermione felt her robes tighten and stick to her figure.
"Oh god I must look like a slut," she thought to herself but wasn't bothered enough to waste her time thinking of the counter charm. Looking down she saw that the robes clung onto her like a second skin. She thanked god that she had worked out during the holidays.
Staying with the Weasly's had it's perks as everyone was so energetic and quidditch matches were held in the backyard almost everyday. She played terribly as she was so frightened of looking down and had fallen off her broomstick more than once. But still the constant running around had kept her in shape and she had to thank her foster parents for her abs as they had sent her to boot camp for summer when they were overseas on a worldwide dental business venture.
Of course at that time she did not know that they were not her real parents. She walked up to Malfoy's room and knocked, noticing that his door had a picture of a serpent that hissed when she neared it. Even as much as she hated him she had no choice but to discuss the Prefect duties with him. For the millionth time that day, she cursed her bad luck at having to work with the self obsessed, egoistic manic.
Malfoy heard a knock on the door. Wondering who it was as he hardly ever got any visitors. He of course never expected who it would be and how they would look.
He opened the door and his jaw dropped.
AN:Dear readers, I'm so sorry for being the blur queen that i am and forgetting to post the first part of the chapter. Oh yeah and though the beginnings of the chapters might seem the same, the middle and end have changed so yeah check it out if you left it out. I dropped a million hints on what is about to take place later on in the story...Just to check, does everyone here know about charmed? I love the show...si I try my best to catch every episode...just checking .