A/N: I never thought this story would ever get to 193 reviews! Thanks
everybody!!! And I also have a few other D/Hr fics posted as well, if you'd
like to read those too (hint!). Now on with chapter 22...!
Disclaimer: See chapter 1.
Muggle Messenger
Chapter 22
I sighed, knowing that this would be more trouble than it was worth. I'm talking about my telling Ginny that I do indeed like Malfoy. Er, Draco. A lot! "Gin, are you in here?" I called into her rooms. 'Hm...guess not.'
"I haven't seen her all morning dear!" the portrait called after me.
"Thanks!"
Oh great. I'm SO going to regret this. Twenty minutes later, I found myself in the library, looking for none other than Draco Malfoy. Slytherin King...oh, and Heir of Phoenix House. I saw him sitting at a chair, gazing out the window, "Draco!"
He blinked as he looked at me, coming out of his daydream, "Hermione." His voice was flat.
"Have you seen Blaise or Ginny?" I asked him.
"No," he said dully.
What's his problem?! "Oh, okay. I just can't seem to find them anywhere."
"Did you check the broom closets?"
"What?! No...they're not...that together."
"What makes you say that?" At least he sounded slightly interested now.
"Well, er...I don't know if you know, but Ginny is going out with Harry. Or was..."
I was cut off, "What????" Draco stood up, looking down on me, "You're not serious?"
"Well if you'd let me finish," I said, glaring, "She sent him a letter after she kissed Blaise telling him that she didn't feel the same anymore."
"AFTER she kissed Blaise?!" Draco looked slightly shocked.
"Yes, AFTER she kissed him. I think she's slowly gotten to like Blaise since this whole project thing started," I said, as we walked slowly out of the library.
Draco nodded, "Yeah, I can see where you're coming from on that."
"But you haven't seen them?" I asked, referring back to what I had originally come to Draco for.
"Nope. Did you look all over for me too?" He asked, his voice slightly teasing.
"Yes, actually, I did." I said bluntly. No use lying to him.
He chuckled softly, "Well did you check Dumbledore's office? They were going there to get resorted, if I remember correctly."
I smacked myself, "Ouch. Well, no I didn't. I completely forgot. Damn, I knew I was forgetting someplace." I rubbed my forehead again, "Okay, that really hurt."
He laughed softly as we walked to Dumbledore's office. His laugh seemed to echo off the walls, making it seem like all of Hogwarts was happy. ---Okay, Hermione snap out of it. So, I fibbed a bit...as long as he doesn't know, I don't think it matters.
We arrived in Professor Dumbledore's office. He seemed surprised to see us, "Well. Hello, now, what can I do for you?"
"Have you seen Ginny and Blaise?" I asked rather bluntly before I could stop myself.
"No. They were following me, but I assumed they got er- rather caught up."
My eyebrows must've disappeared into my hair because Professor Dumbledore began to laugh, "The staircase moved. So, they would have had to- " He stood up and crossed over to the wall in front of which Draco and I were standing. Behind us was an entire map of Hogwarts. It didn't show anything, apparently so I asked, "What is that map for? It doesn't appear to show anybody."
"Ah, yes, well, there are some things that go on in this school that I don't want to know about, so what I did was I fixed the map to show only those who were in dangerous parts of the school," he paused, pointing to a place on the map, "and it appears that your two friends are in said dangerous parts of the school."
He grabbed some Floo Powder and threw it into the flames, "Ninth floor, and sixth corridor!!" The flames turned green and he motioned for us to go through.
In an instant, we found ourselves at the edge of a set of steps. The hallway was dark and musty. Did I mention dark? Professor Dumbledore led the way, lighting the torches along the wall as he went. Draco and I followed, not saying a word, but wondering what kind, exactly, of danger our friends were in. We'd been walking for a minute or so when all of a sudden, I felt Draco take a hold of my hand. I didn't say anything at all; I merely smiled up at him a bit. A smile, which I noticed, he did not return so easily. It almost seemed to pain him. Mentally shaking my head, we continued on following Dumbledore down the hallway, and further down still. Until we heard voices...more like shouts, "RUN GINNY!" My hand tightened on Draco's instinctively, as we waited behind Professor Dumbledore whose wand was at the ready. A streak of red came flying-well, running-towards us in the form of Ginny. She was panting hard when she reached us, the one word she managed to get out was, "Blaise?" Then she sunk to the floor in a heap, unconscious.
Another few minutes later and Blaise came hobbling into view. There was a low growl behind him and Professor Dumbledore shouted some complex spell I couldn't even begin to comprehend. There was a boom! of sorts and then nothing.
We headed back, quickly, to the infirmary. Blaise fell unconscious going down our third flight of stairs, so he too, was floated behind us. Professor Dumbledore turned to me and Draco, "Perhaps you two should get some sleep. It's been a long day for both of you, and I promise, Blaise and Ginny will be up and about in the morning."
"What time is it?" I heard Draco ask while I let out a yawn.
"Ten o'clock in the evening," Professor Dumbledore replied, pointing to a nearby clock.
My brain kicked in, "You mean to tell me that we were after them for almost two hours???"
"Three," Draco said softly.
I felt my face flush, "Oh, right."
Then I realized that Dumbledore was gone, leaving Draco and I just a few moments away from Phoenix House. I yawned again, not being able to help myself, and when I happened to glance at Draco again, he had a small smile on his face and his eyes were amused.
"Hogwarts," we both said simultaneously and climbed into our common room. Once again, the beauty of the Phoenix House had me rooted to the spot. Draco waved his hand in front of my face, but I didn't react. He shook my shoulders and I didn't react. Finally, rolling his eyes and saying something to the affect of "women" I snapped out of it.
"What did you just say?" I said. I failed miserably at trying to be angry, I'm just too damn tired.
"Uhh..." he looked uncomfortable, "Nothing."
"Sure, whatever Draco," I replied, stumbling to the nearest couch.
"Your room is that way," he pointed up the stairs.
"I know. I'm too tired to climb the stairs. It takes effort," I said.
Within moments, there was a blanket in his hand, a dark silver blanket. He came over to me and threw it over me. "Thanks," I managed to reply, my eyes groggy with sleep.
"You're welcome." He settled down on the other couch with a blue blanket over him.
I fell asleep almost instantly. Too bad it didn't last long. About an hour later, according to the clock, I was awake. Damn. I peaked over at Draco. His gray eyes were open, staring at the ceiling with his arms behind his head. As I watched, he said, "Goodnight, my lady," and closed his eyes.
"What?" I said out loud before I could catch myself.
His eyes sprung open, looking at me with an intensity that made me want to curl up and hide. And curl up I did...and of course, fell off the couch. "Ow," I said softly.
When I was brave enough to open my eyes, I found myself looking at his feet. Slowly, I turned my head to look up at him, and he knelt down, "That was silly of you."
"Gee, thanks."
Before I could get up, he scooped me up in his arms. He smelled very, very good. I snuggled into his chest, which made him laugh softly, "Don't get too comfortable."
"Why not?"
He merely smiled at me, but didn't say anything.
"What did you say before?" I asked him.
He looked at me, and then set me down on the landing between our two staircases. "I think you heard me, my lady."
In response, I buried my head in his chest, with the blanket still wrapped around me. He held me close, and the last thing I remember was his kissing the top of my head before sleep claimed me right there in his arms.
A/N: Well, that was a bit of a sweet chapter. Oh and Blaise and Ginny were running from a portrait that came alive and decided to well, chase them. Lame I know, but hey what can I say. Please, please, PLEASE review!!! I'd really like to get to 200 reviews.
Disclaimer: See chapter 1.
Muggle Messenger
Chapter 22
I sighed, knowing that this would be more trouble than it was worth. I'm talking about my telling Ginny that I do indeed like Malfoy. Er, Draco. A lot! "Gin, are you in here?" I called into her rooms. 'Hm...guess not.'
"I haven't seen her all morning dear!" the portrait called after me.
"Thanks!"
Oh great. I'm SO going to regret this. Twenty minutes later, I found myself in the library, looking for none other than Draco Malfoy. Slytherin King...oh, and Heir of Phoenix House. I saw him sitting at a chair, gazing out the window, "Draco!"
He blinked as he looked at me, coming out of his daydream, "Hermione." His voice was flat.
"Have you seen Blaise or Ginny?" I asked him.
"No," he said dully.
What's his problem?! "Oh, okay. I just can't seem to find them anywhere."
"Did you check the broom closets?"
"What?! No...they're not...that together."
"What makes you say that?" At least he sounded slightly interested now.
"Well, er...I don't know if you know, but Ginny is going out with Harry. Or was..."
I was cut off, "What????" Draco stood up, looking down on me, "You're not serious?"
"Well if you'd let me finish," I said, glaring, "She sent him a letter after she kissed Blaise telling him that she didn't feel the same anymore."
"AFTER she kissed Blaise?!" Draco looked slightly shocked.
"Yes, AFTER she kissed him. I think she's slowly gotten to like Blaise since this whole project thing started," I said, as we walked slowly out of the library.
Draco nodded, "Yeah, I can see where you're coming from on that."
"But you haven't seen them?" I asked, referring back to what I had originally come to Draco for.
"Nope. Did you look all over for me too?" He asked, his voice slightly teasing.
"Yes, actually, I did." I said bluntly. No use lying to him.
He chuckled softly, "Well did you check Dumbledore's office? They were going there to get resorted, if I remember correctly."
I smacked myself, "Ouch. Well, no I didn't. I completely forgot. Damn, I knew I was forgetting someplace." I rubbed my forehead again, "Okay, that really hurt."
He laughed softly as we walked to Dumbledore's office. His laugh seemed to echo off the walls, making it seem like all of Hogwarts was happy. ---Okay, Hermione snap out of it. So, I fibbed a bit...as long as he doesn't know, I don't think it matters.
We arrived in Professor Dumbledore's office. He seemed surprised to see us, "Well. Hello, now, what can I do for you?"
"Have you seen Ginny and Blaise?" I asked rather bluntly before I could stop myself.
"No. They were following me, but I assumed they got er- rather caught up."
My eyebrows must've disappeared into my hair because Professor Dumbledore began to laugh, "The staircase moved. So, they would have had to- " He stood up and crossed over to the wall in front of which Draco and I were standing. Behind us was an entire map of Hogwarts. It didn't show anything, apparently so I asked, "What is that map for? It doesn't appear to show anybody."
"Ah, yes, well, there are some things that go on in this school that I don't want to know about, so what I did was I fixed the map to show only those who were in dangerous parts of the school," he paused, pointing to a place on the map, "and it appears that your two friends are in said dangerous parts of the school."
He grabbed some Floo Powder and threw it into the flames, "Ninth floor, and sixth corridor!!" The flames turned green and he motioned for us to go through.
In an instant, we found ourselves at the edge of a set of steps. The hallway was dark and musty. Did I mention dark? Professor Dumbledore led the way, lighting the torches along the wall as he went. Draco and I followed, not saying a word, but wondering what kind, exactly, of danger our friends were in. We'd been walking for a minute or so when all of a sudden, I felt Draco take a hold of my hand. I didn't say anything at all; I merely smiled up at him a bit. A smile, which I noticed, he did not return so easily. It almost seemed to pain him. Mentally shaking my head, we continued on following Dumbledore down the hallway, and further down still. Until we heard voices...more like shouts, "RUN GINNY!" My hand tightened on Draco's instinctively, as we waited behind Professor Dumbledore whose wand was at the ready. A streak of red came flying-well, running-towards us in the form of Ginny. She was panting hard when she reached us, the one word she managed to get out was, "Blaise?" Then she sunk to the floor in a heap, unconscious.
Another few minutes later and Blaise came hobbling into view. There was a low growl behind him and Professor Dumbledore shouted some complex spell I couldn't even begin to comprehend. There was a boom! of sorts and then nothing.
We headed back, quickly, to the infirmary. Blaise fell unconscious going down our third flight of stairs, so he too, was floated behind us. Professor Dumbledore turned to me and Draco, "Perhaps you two should get some sleep. It's been a long day for both of you, and I promise, Blaise and Ginny will be up and about in the morning."
"What time is it?" I heard Draco ask while I let out a yawn.
"Ten o'clock in the evening," Professor Dumbledore replied, pointing to a nearby clock.
My brain kicked in, "You mean to tell me that we were after them for almost two hours???"
"Three," Draco said softly.
I felt my face flush, "Oh, right."
Then I realized that Dumbledore was gone, leaving Draco and I just a few moments away from Phoenix House. I yawned again, not being able to help myself, and when I happened to glance at Draco again, he had a small smile on his face and his eyes were amused.
"Hogwarts," we both said simultaneously and climbed into our common room. Once again, the beauty of the Phoenix House had me rooted to the spot. Draco waved his hand in front of my face, but I didn't react. He shook my shoulders and I didn't react. Finally, rolling his eyes and saying something to the affect of "women" I snapped out of it.
"What did you just say?" I said. I failed miserably at trying to be angry, I'm just too damn tired.
"Uhh..." he looked uncomfortable, "Nothing."
"Sure, whatever Draco," I replied, stumbling to the nearest couch.
"Your room is that way," he pointed up the stairs.
"I know. I'm too tired to climb the stairs. It takes effort," I said.
Within moments, there was a blanket in his hand, a dark silver blanket. He came over to me and threw it over me. "Thanks," I managed to reply, my eyes groggy with sleep.
"You're welcome." He settled down on the other couch with a blue blanket over him.
I fell asleep almost instantly. Too bad it didn't last long. About an hour later, according to the clock, I was awake. Damn. I peaked over at Draco. His gray eyes were open, staring at the ceiling with his arms behind his head. As I watched, he said, "Goodnight, my lady," and closed his eyes.
"What?" I said out loud before I could catch myself.
His eyes sprung open, looking at me with an intensity that made me want to curl up and hide. And curl up I did...and of course, fell off the couch. "Ow," I said softly.
When I was brave enough to open my eyes, I found myself looking at his feet. Slowly, I turned my head to look up at him, and he knelt down, "That was silly of you."
"Gee, thanks."
Before I could get up, he scooped me up in his arms. He smelled very, very good. I snuggled into his chest, which made him laugh softly, "Don't get too comfortable."
"Why not?"
He merely smiled at me, but didn't say anything.
"What did you say before?" I asked him.
He looked at me, and then set me down on the landing between our two staircases. "I think you heard me, my lady."
In response, I buried my head in his chest, with the blanket still wrapped around me. He held me close, and the last thing I remember was his kissing the top of my head before sleep claimed me right there in his arms.
A/N: Well, that was a bit of a sweet chapter. Oh and Blaise and Ginny were running from a portrait that came alive and decided to well, chase them. Lame I know, but hey what can I say. Please, please, PLEASE review!!! I'd really like to get to 200 reviews.