AN:Hey everyone sorry for the long updateless months. I had to study for my exams but guess what, now their over!!! Everyone scream...okay here's the deal, I'll update once every other day, provided I get at least 20 reviews everytime but then, I'll have to scram on the 15th of November cuz I'm touring Germany, London, Paris and New Zealand till the 28th of December. If I get enough responses, I might update everyday...hahaha...yeah, I'm evil but ne ways, just remember it's your motivation that keeps me going yeah.
"SURPRISE! Happy birthday Mione'!" A crowd shouted as the fire flickered and then came back on. The Gryffindor common room had a banner strewn across a wall with all the pictures of Hermione that was either cut out of their yearbook or drawn. In the middle the words 'Happy Birthday our future Valedictorian' were writing themselves over and over and flashing in different colors.
Hermione looked around her drinking in the sight of all the Gryffindors around her. They all held presents and were looking extremely pleased with themselves. "Oh my gosh, this for me. I don't know what to say. Why? How?" Hermione stuttered as she realized that everything had been prepared for her.
Ron who was beside her draped his arm over her shoulder and smiled saying, "You don't have to say anything, just enjoy yourself." Hermione grinned back at him and then saw that all of them were staring at her intently.
"Err...Let the celebrations begin," Hermione said as she reveled in the fact that her friends actually cared. She looked at the clock and realized that it was only 5.30 in the morning. She turned to ask Ron how he knew she would have been awake at that time but he had disappeared from her side.
Suddenly Ginny extricated herself from the throng and made her way to Hermione. "Mione' why have you been so spiteful towards me these few days," Ginny asked looking at her feet as she shuffled them nervously.
"Like you don't know that I heard you telling Parvati all about my secret," Hermione shot back glaring at her icily. Ginny's arrival had somehow dampened her good spirits as she hated Ginny for telling Paravti about her being adopted.
"B...but I didn't," Ginny said confused. She wondered where Hermione had gotten that piece of information from and what would have caused Hermione to actually believe it.
"Yeah like I don't know you were telling her during the first prefects meeting this year. Right after you promised not to say anything. I was there, remember?" Hermione retorted cattily. Ginny looked puzzled for awhile then comprehension and relief showed on her face.
"Mione' I didn't tell anyone. Not anyone about your secret. I was just discussing the party for you and enlisting Parvati's help. So that is exactly how much you trust me huh?" Ginny said emboldened by her understanding.
Hermione blinked disconcertedly. Everything fell into place. She felt extremely guilty for her treatment to Ginny and opened her mouth to apologize but Ginny cut her off saying, "Save it. Tell someone who actually gives a damn. I can't believe that you didn't trust me," before flouncing off.
Hermione's jaw dropped when she realized how wrong she was. All Ginny had wanted to do was to cheer her up but now...now Ginny hated for distrusting her. "Great, perfect, could the day get any worse?" Hermione wondered to herself.
Harry felt someone slam into him and looked down to see the youngest Weasley hugging him tightly. He smiled, even though she wasn't looking at him and her face buried in his shirt. Suddenly he felt water seeping through his shirt. It was damp! "Shit Ginny's crying," Harry muttered incoherently after realization hit upon him.
"Ginny come with me," he whispered to her softly. Taking her hand he led her out of the Gryffindor common room. Ginny didn't resist allowing her to lead her away from the crush of bodies. Once outside Harry attempted to pull the clinging girl away from him.
"Ginny...shhh...don't cry," Harry said in a loss of what to say as the only time he had dealt with an emotional girl was with Cho Chang and everyone knew how well that went.
Ginny looked up at him, hazel eyes meeting emerald green ones. "Harry...how could she have been so quick to judge me..." Ginny trailed off not wanting to give up Hermione's secret. Harry didn't understand what was going on but nodded sympathetically and hugged Ginny.
Ginny stopped crying, deciding that it was Hermione's loss for not trusting her. She wrapped her arms around Harry's waist and felt herself melting into him. Suddenly there was a huge gasp heard behind them. "Ginny Weasley get your butt here," Ron's shrill voice rang in the air.
Ginny felt someone grab hold of her hand and pull her away from Harry. Ron was livid. How dare Harry touch her even after the threat he had made. He was definitely going to have to contact the rest of the Weasley brothers.
Ginny glared at Ron and stalked back into the Gryffindor common room past Hermione and the bustle of the crowd and into her dorm. Harry and Ron faced off staring at each other. Their friendship of six years yet again being tested by something. "Lay off Ginny ok. She's too young for any of this..." Ron said trying to keep his calm.
"Too young...you jest Ron because if my memory serves me right, you were dating Padma Patil throughout you sixth year and let's see, what year is Ginny in?" Harry said sarcasm dripping off every word of his. He had known Ginny for six years now and was fond of her but ever since the revelation on the train rides, he felt something else for her.
He felt extremely attracted to the feisty female she had grown to be. Ron's expression hardened and he left with a warning ringing in the air, "don't say I didn't warn you."
Harry stuffed his hands in his pocket and turned away from the portrait. If he wanted his relationship with Ginny to be a success regardless of what Ron did, he had some planning to do.
"Hey Mione' Happy Birthday!" Ron congratulated her handing over a box wrapped with shiny material. Hermione smiled at him, and accepted the gift, adding it to the huge pile she had amassed in the corner. She turned back to thank Ron but she saw him walking out of the portrait. Shrugging, she turned around to engage Lavender Brown in a conversation.
"Umm...Hermione did you like the gift," a voice asked from behind her, turning around, she saw Ron standing there, his hands stuffed in his pockets and him looking down.
"Er...I haven't opened them yet but I would be right to hazard a guess at it being a book," Hermione said smiling. Ron looked as though he was about to say something when someone announced that lessons would start in half an hour.
Hermione gasped and her eyes swiveled to the clock. She wondered if that much time had really passed. Scanning the crowd for Ginny, she realized that it was to no avail and that she would just have to sort out that problem later on. Ron had somehow clambered onto a table and was clinking on his goblet with a spoon to get attention.
Soon everyone was facing him and in awhile silence ensued as everyone stared expectantly at Ron. "Well...er, everyone thanks for turning up. Ya'll best leave to get ready for lessons which begin in twenty five minutes," he stammered turning beet red for no particular reason.
"Well...I best be leaving now. See you later guys," Hermione said after finally pulling herself out of the crush. There were choruses of goodbyes following until the portrait slammed shut. Hermione felt her pockets bulging with all the gifts she had gotten. She had shrunken all of them and stuffed them in her pockets and she had lost count of how many she had gotten after fifty.
She walked to the head's dorms smiling and humming tunelessly, as she was born tone deaf. "Miss Grenaldi," a voice called behind her. Hermione wondered who is could be that was calling her so briskly. She whipped around to see a little house-elf, standing at her waist's height tugging at her robes anxiously.
"Yes. Can I help you?" Hermione said in a kind tone, squatting down so that she could look at it in the eye. The elf's eyes widened as though it had never experienced respect like this. Hermione smiled at it.
"Missus, your parents want you to come back home missus. Master says Missus must come with Madame. Madame is waiting in the office Missus. She is telling Pinky to get Missus," the Elf said rocking back and forth on its feet. Hermione's eyes grew large at the news. How could they pull her out of school? Just rip her away from the place she knew as her second home.
"Er...tell Mrs. Grenaldi that this is my home," Hermione said defiantly before spinning on her heel about to leave abruptly when she felt a sudden lunge of weight from behind causing her to fall forward towards Ella Enchanted's painting which swung open revealing an extremely shocked Malfoy who was staring at her.
Hermione landed, cushioned by something or another. She laid sprawled on it for a moment until it started moving. "Hey Grenaldi, I know we're getting married and everything but there's no need to fling yourself onto me. There's time for that later," a voice whispered huskily into her ear.
Malfoy. Draco Malfoy. That was who she was lying sprawled on. Pushing herself up, she looked down at the boy lounging at the point he had fallen looking at her lazily. "Ugg... you're despicable Malfoy. Get your head out of the gutter," Hermione said flaming red at having such things whispered to her.
A constant tugging at her robe brought her attention to the elf that had caused the fall to happen. Hermione swallowed her anger and forced a smile at it. "Yes Pinky, is there a certain reason that they want me back home?" Hermione asked in a calculated voice already formulating an argument as to why she should stay in Hogwarts.
"Madame is not saying. I is sorry Missus but this I have to do," Pinky said before pointing a finger at her. Suddenly Hermione felt herself being drawn towards Pinky while Malfoy watched amused from his resting spot.
He hated her. She was...so Arrghh. There were no words to describe the passion with which he hated her. Smirking at her he propped himself up using his elbows and said aloud, "This seems entertaining enough." he said knowing what was in store for her. He pushed himself of the floor and followed the elf and Hermione who was being dragged along against her will.
He watched her struggle at first then go limp as though she had given up. He itched to beat her up for her behavior the night before. He smirked as her limp body hit a pillar roughly as they turned a corner. "That's got to leave a mark," he sneered derisively.
After the turn, Hermione's mother stood at the opening to Dumbledore's office, wringing her hands nervously and looking ahead as though having been made to wait for long. "Antoinette finally," she gushed when she saw her daughter being dragged along. "Pinky release her." she stated, hardly acknowledging the poor elf, Hermione noticed.
Once the spell was lifted Hermione rose to her feet and faced Pinky who was shivering with fear. Squatting yet again, Hermione smiled wanly at the elf. "I'm sorry for making your job difficult. I hope that you will find it in your heart to forgive me," she said. The elf near fainted when it heard the words coming out of her mouth.
"What nonsense darling, the elf has no feelings, ignore it," Hermione's mother said dismissively and at the same time waving her hand at the elf, motioning it to leave. Pinky disappeared with a pop. Hermione opened her mouth to disagree but was cut of with a smarmy voice from behind her.
"Mrs. Grenaldi. It is so wonderful to see you," Draco Malfoy said cutting in front of Hermione and taking Danielle's hand and slightly brushing his lips against them. Danielle smiled at him. She might not have liked him the night before but she had to give him credit for his charm.
"Miss Grenaldi, a pleasure," Malfoy said turning to Hermione. Hermione's eyes widened. As his back was turned to Hermione's mother, he smirked at her evilly. Hermione's mother made motions to Hermione to offer her hand which Hermione kept pinned uncomfortably to her side.
Malfoy bent down and grabbed the hand that hung stiffly at her side and raised it to his lips while the whole time looking at her and smirking. Hermione tried to keep from blushing when his lips connected with her hand.
Malfoy grinned to himself. He would make her squirm and at the same time gain the favor of her mother. Deciding to make Hermione even more flustered, he parted him lips and ran his tongue along her hand.
Hermione had to use all her self control from retching when Draco's tongue swept over the portion of her hand his lips covered. She inhaled deeply and yanked her hand away from him. Straightening up, Malfoy smirked at her before turning to Danielle and telling her that he knew of the good news and was extremely happy.
This caused Hermione to worry. Something that made Malfoy happy was definitely not a good thing especially if it concerned her. "Er...good news?" Hermione interjected unsurely.
"Yes darling, the engagement has been pushed forward, its one month from now which is why we have to take you home. You have to master etiquette by the end of this month and we have to arrange an engagement party so we need you there. There is no choice in the matter dear." Hermione's mother said sensing that Hermione was about to interrupt.
"You will be living in the Grenaldi mansion and we will close the charmed circle as soon as we get back. Also we have to get you back to how you usually look. Ah...you will have lessons to control your powers off course..." Danielle prattled on excitedly while Hermione tuned out.
The three words that rung in her head were, "Engagement. Next month." She shut her eyes as her whole world whirled around her. She was about to be engaged in a matter of a month. Malfoy smirked at Hermione knowing the emotional torture that she was going through.
"I'm not marrying this...this git!" Hermione exclaimed. Malfoy glared at her.
"Sorry Mrs. Grenaldi, lover's tiff. Let me just apologize," he smoothed over and before Hermione could say anything, dragged her with him around the corner. "What the hell do you think you are doing?" Malfoy hissed.
His grip on her hand tightened. "Leave me alone Malfoy," Hermione hissed back.
"Granger, you don't seem to understand. Our lives are at stake here. This union was not only decided by our parents. Why the hell do you think that they used such a binding spell?" Malfoy near whispered.
He wanted her to know the severity of the issue. He knew that he would be blamed if she continued to protest. And punishment from his father and the dark lord was not something that he enjoyed. "Just play along. After we are married, we'll just ignore each other," he added somewhat to calm her down.
"What d...do you mean? V...Voldemort?" Hermione stuttered, utterly shocked by the news.
"Shut up! What the hell," Malfoy hissed.
"You have to tell me!" Hermione insisted, imagining the worst.
"Granger, your thirst for knowledge as interesting as it is getting on my nerves," he murmured knowing it would get on her last nerve. "I have better ideas on how to spend our last few minutes together," he added, raising his eyebrows suggestively.
"Malfoy please. I have the right to know," Hermione said rolling her eyes at his ridiculous effort.
"You know enough." Malfoy said with finality and pulled her with him towards Danielle so that she could not continue her tirade of questions.
"All done darling? Well I have settled everything. Professor Dumbledore wasn't too happy but in the end you are our daughter so it is not as though he has a choice in the matter. We're pulling you out of school for good darling. You will be home schooled and sit for your NEWTS later on" Danielle said.
"Goodbye Mister Malfoy, we best be going," she added taking a shocked Hermione's hand.
Malfoy smirked at Granger's shocked expression. The school loving know-it-all would feel ripped apart not being able to attend her beloved Hogwarts.
"But...Mrs. Grenaldi, I...my friends. I haven't packed. M...my studies. My head girl position?" Hermione said losing the ability yet again to form coherent sentences. Her mind was reeling from what was happening.
"Your friends will be informed by Dumbledore; your things have been packed and sent to the manor by now. Your studies will be completed at home and I'm sure Dumbledore will find someone fitting for your former position," Danielle said shortly annoyed at the insolence of Hermione.
"We're orbing, my way of transportation. Hold on tight," Danielle said before Hermione could get a word in edgewise.
Hermione felt her body break apart again but this time it was different. She felt no control over the speed and direction she was moving in. She was moving upwards, as though weightless. The light was blinding and Hermione forced her eyes shut as the wind whipped cruelly at her face, stinging it.
Hermione opened her eyes to find herself among the clouds. It wasn't anything like she imagined. The whole place had a pink hue as the sun was about to rise and the cloud made it seem as though she was moving through snow. Moisture from the cloud stuck to her making it even colder when the wind blew.
Hermione shut her eyes and grit her teeth. She turned her thoughts to the fact that Malfoy and her would be engaged in a matter if a month and the fact that she had been pulled out of school, leaving behind so many loose ends and losing the right to enjoy her seventh year.
She was ready to bet that it was Malfoy who had caused her parents change in mind to hold the engagement after school ended. She felt like breaking down but told herself to bear with it and that she would find a way out of it. She knew that there was no arguing her stay for the month till her engagement but maybe after that...she thought trailing off.
She felt the both of them slowing down and finally they ground to a halt.
AN:Once again, sorry for the lull in updates. Have fun... God bless all of ya.