Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Harry Potter characters.
A/N: I absolutely love to go into my email to see a crudload of reveiws. Thanks so very much, Mia Hindo, Crystal Snowflakes, miss.carla, periwinklemagic, Stick It To The Man, Fiona, emikae- I don't know how long it will be, Kat-it's always great to hear from my off the net friends, and thanks to that anonymous reveiwer. I don't want to leave you out even if I don't know who you are. Thanks so much everyone.
A Different You by Lina Shay
Chapter Eight: Suspicion
"While the rest of us were watching and worried for Dumbledore," Malfoy began, "Harry just went on and caught the snitch as if he could care less what happened to Dumbledore."
Malfoy, Hermione and Neville were heading back to the castle form the Quidditch pitch. Malfoy was still in his Gryffindor Quidditch robes. Hermione had to admit that Malfoy looked nice in red and gold.
"From what I know of Harry, it sounds about right," Hermione muttered. "Does anyone know the deal with the basket?"
"Wormtail's basket?" Malfoy shrugged.
"I think there's something with that," Hermione said more to herself than to anyone else.
"Baby!"
"Oh, no!" Hermione groaned.
Malfoy and Neville backed off as Harry came up, swinging his arm around Hermione.
"Did you see that catch, babe!" Harry exclaimed excitedly, pulling Hermione to his sweaty body. It was quite disgusting. "It was probably five feet from me, but I lunged forward and caught it in my-" Harry suddenly noticed Malfoy and Neville. "Malfunction, Lardbottom. Baby, since when have you been hanging out with Gryffindors?"
"Since I got my sense back," Hermione shot at him, pulling away from his grip.
Harry looked quite disgruntled. "Hermione, I thought you were over this nonsense."
"I am," Hermione insisted. "I'm over you."
"Fine!" Harry yelled. "If you want to hang with losers and give up your last chance on this. Be that way!"
Harry pushed Neville aside and strutted up to the castle.
"I could never talk to Potter that way," Neville insisted, staring in awe after him.
"Oh, that's nothing," Malfoy insisted. "You should have heard what she said to him this morning."
Malfoy looked on her with pride, and Hermione blushed.
"It's time for dinner," Neville announced excitedly. "I'm starving. We'd better get up there."
Still watching Hermione, Malfoy followed Neville up to the castle. The three walked into the Entrance Hall together. Hermione stopped when Malfoy and Neville started toward the great Hall doors. Malfoy noticed that she hadn't been following and glanced behind him.
"Aren't you coming to dinner?" Malfoy asked blankly.
"No," Hermione muttered. "No, I don't think I will."
Malfoy and Neville looked at each other a moment.
"What's wrong, Hermione?" Malfoy asked.
Hermione lowered her head. "I don't want to sit at the Slytherin table."
"Is that all?" Neville chuckled. "You could sit with us, then. Come on."
"No, a Slytherin at Gryffindor table?" Hermione shook her head. "I would be stoned."
"You can't not eat dinner," Malfoy insisted, walking up to her. "I mean, it wouldn't be healthy."
"You two go on," Hermione ordered. "I'll be fine. Maybe I'll owl in something."
Neville shrugged, then pulled on Malfoy's arm. He reluctantly went with his friend while looking back at Hermione. Once the door had closed behind them, Hermione sat on the stairs. She thought of relaxing in her room, but Slytherin common wasn't her idea of comfort. So she sat and sighed discontentedly.
"Hungry, miss?" came a squeaky little voice.
Hermione started and looked down at Dobby.
"Dear me! I didn't see you there."
"Forgive Dobby, miss," Dobby said, his hands behind his back. "Dobby sometimes appearates without thinking, miss."
"Oh, it's fine," Hermione insisted. "Did you want something?"
"Yes, miss," Dobby said excitedly. "Dobby wants to serve you."
"There's no need to serve me," Hermione told him. "I can do things for myself."
"Oh, but Draco wished me to-" Dobby began, but Hermione interrupted.
"Draco? Malfoy is your master?" Hermione demanded. "He keeps a house elf? That has to be the most despicable, loathsome-"
"Beg pardon, miss," Dobby began, "but Draco owns me not. No one is Dobby's master. Draco is Dobby's friend."
"Oh," Hermione muttered, feeling ashamed for having jumped to conclusions.
"Draco wished Dobby to help Hermione," Dobby informed. "He asks Dobby to feed Hermione."
Hermione smiled to herself. "No, thank you. I really don't want anything. But wait. How come you don't belong to Drac-I mean, Malfoy? Didn't you belong to his parents?"
"Yes, miss," Dobby nodded vigorously. "Dobby serve to Draco after parents die. Draco free Dobby when Black Sir tells him of slavery."
"Black?" Hermione asked in surprise. "Sirius Black?"
"Yes, miss," Dobby replied. "Black Sir is Draco's guardian, closest relative to live with."
"Draco was raised by Sirius after his parents died," Hermione told herself. "That's why he's so nice."
Dobby just stared at her in confusion.
Just then, Pettigrew came running out of the Great Hall. Hermione's eyes followed him across the Entrance Hall and down a corridor. She had to wonder what that was about. Maybe he forgot his basket or something. Hermione rolled her eyes. When she looked back in the direction of the Great Hall, she saw Malfoy sneaking out.
"Which way did he go?" Malfoy whispered, sneaking up to her as if someone might be just around a corner listening.
"Pettigrew went that way, if that's who you mean," Hermione said, pointing down that corridor.
Malfoy rubbed his chin in thought, gazing down the corridor. "What might he be after in such a hurry?"
"I was just wondering that same thing," Hermione told him.
Malfoy shrugged, laughed, and sat on the stairs with Hermione.
"Hullo, Dobby," Malfoy greeted.
"She take not Dobby services, Draco," Dobby told him, sadly.
"I really don't need anything," Hermione insisted.
Malfoy smiled, staring at her in an odd way. Hermione looked away, trying not to blush.
"I don't want to go to the feast!" Dumbledore exclaimed, struggling against Pettigrew's grip as the two came down the corridor.
Malfoy instantly grabbed Hermione and pulled her around, under the stairs. As Hermione sat crouched on the floor, she could feel Malfoy's body warmth just behind her. It was a strange feeling, like she almost wanted Malfoy to put his arms around her.
"But, Albus," Pettigrew sniveled, pulling Dumbledore across the Entrance Hall, "Severus says you must go."
Dumbledore squirmed all the way into the Great Hall. Hermione glanced over her shoulder at Malfoy. To her surprise, Malfoy's crystal blue eyes were staring back into her's. Before she could have a chance to fantasize about what she wished Malfoy would do right then, Hermione climbed out from under the staircase and joined Dobby. She glanced into the Great Hall, seeing Pettigrew taking Dumbledore to his seat.
Hermione shook her head. "That's just sad."
"Yeah," Malfoy agreed, now standing beside her. "Who would have thought McGonagal's death would drive him mad? It's so unreal. You know, I wonder about that all the time."
"Me too!" Hermione exclaimed, turning her eyes to Malfoy.
"It's especially odd because of Wormtail," Malfoy said.
"Because he works for You-Know-Who?" Hermione asked.
This time Malfoy looked surprised at her. "You know? No one believed Neville and me when we said Wormtail worked for Voldemort. He claimed he had been taken over by the Imperius curse, that he was really good. How did you know he wasn't?"
"You'd be surprised at the things I know," Hermione insisted. "Now that I know that the situation is abnormal for this world too, I think this needs investigating."
"I agree," Malfoy told her. "But what do you mean 'this world'?"
Hermione had to think fast. "I meant the wizard world. I was raised as a muggle, you know."
"Oh," Malfoy shrugged, smiling at her.
A/N: I absolutely love to go into my email to see a crudload of reveiws. Thanks so very much, Mia Hindo, Crystal Snowflakes, miss.carla, periwinklemagic, Stick It To The Man, Fiona, emikae- I don't know how long it will be, Kat-it's always great to hear from my off the net friends, and thanks to that anonymous reveiwer. I don't want to leave you out even if I don't know who you are. Thanks so much everyone.
A Different You by Lina Shay
Chapter Eight: Suspicion
"While the rest of us were watching and worried for Dumbledore," Malfoy began, "Harry just went on and caught the snitch as if he could care less what happened to Dumbledore."
Malfoy, Hermione and Neville were heading back to the castle form the Quidditch pitch. Malfoy was still in his Gryffindor Quidditch robes. Hermione had to admit that Malfoy looked nice in red and gold.
"From what I know of Harry, it sounds about right," Hermione muttered. "Does anyone know the deal with the basket?"
"Wormtail's basket?" Malfoy shrugged.
"I think there's something with that," Hermione said more to herself than to anyone else.
"Baby!"
"Oh, no!" Hermione groaned.
Malfoy and Neville backed off as Harry came up, swinging his arm around Hermione.
"Did you see that catch, babe!" Harry exclaimed excitedly, pulling Hermione to his sweaty body. It was quite disgusting. "It was probably five feet from me, but I lunged forward and caught it in my-" Harry suddenly noticed Malfoy and Neville. "Malfunction, Lardbottom. Baby, since when have you been hanging out with Gryffindors?"
"Since I got my sense back," Hermione shot at him, pulling away from his grip.
Harry looked quite disgruntled. "Hermione, I thought you were over this nonsense."
"I am," Hermione insisted. "I'm over you."
"Fine!" Harry yelled. "If you want to hang with losers and give up your last chance on this. Be that way!"
Harry pushed Neville aside and strutted up to the castle.
"I could never talk to Potter that way," Neville insisted, staring in awe after him.
"Oh, that's nothing," Malfoy insisted. "You should have heard what she said to him this morning."
Malfoy looked on her with pride, and Hermione blushed.
"It's time for dinner," Neville announced excitedly. "I'm starving. We'd better get up there."
Still watching Hermione, Malfoy followed Neville up to the castle. The three walked into the Entrance Hall together. Hermione stopped when Malfoy and Neville started toward the great Hall doors. Malfoy noticed that she hadn't been following and glanced behind him.
"Aren't you coming to dinner?" Malfoy asked blankly.
"No," Hermione muttered. "No, I don't think I will."
Malfoy and Neville looked at each other a moment.
"What's wrong, Hermione?" Malfoy asked.
Hermione lowered her head. "I don't want to sit at the Slytherin table."
"Is that all?" Neville chuckled. "You could sit with us, then. Come on."
"No, a Slytherin at Gryffindor table?" Hermione shook her head. "I would be stoned."
"You can't not eat dinner," Malfoy insisted, walking up to her. "I mean, it wouldn't be healthy."
"You two go on," Hermione ordered. "I'll be fine. Maybe I'll owl in something."
Neville shrugged, then pulled on Malfoy's arm. He reluctantly went with his friend while looking back at Hermione. Once the door had closed behind them, Hermione sat on the stairs. She thought of relaxing in her room, but Slytherin common wasn't her idea of comfort. So she sat and sighed discontentedly.
"Hungry, miss?" came a squeaky little voice.
Hermione started and looked down at Dobby.
"Dear me! I didn't see you there."
"Forgive Dobby, miss," Dobby said, his hands behind his back. "Dobby sometimes appearates without thinking, miss."
"Oh, it's fine," Hermione insisted. "Did you want something?"
"Yes, miss," Dobby said excitedly. "Dobby wants to serve you."
"There's no need to serve me," Hermione told him. "I can do things for myself."
"Oh, but Draco wished me to-" Dobby began, but Hermione interrupted.
"Draco? Malfoy is your master?" Hermione demanded. "He keeps a house elf? That has to be the most despicable, loathsome-"
"Beg pardon, miss," Dobby began, "but Draco owns me not. No one is Dobby's master. Draco is Dobby's friend."
"Oh," Hermione muttered, feeling ashamed for having jumped to conclusions.
"Draco wished Dobby to help Hermione," Dobby informed. "He asks Dobby to feed Hermione."
Hermione smiled to herself. "No, thank you. I really don't want anything. But wait. How come you don't belong to Drac-I mean, Malfoy? Didn't you belong to his parents?"
"Yes, miss," Dobby nodded vigorously. "Dobby serve to Draco after parents die. Draco free Dobby when Black Sir tells him of slavery."
"Black?" Hermione asked in surprise. "Sirius Black?"
"Yes, miss," Dobby replied. "Black Sir is Draco's guardian, closest relative to live with."
"Draco was raised by Sirius after his parents died," Hermione told herself. "That's why he's so nice."
Dobby just stared at her in confusion.
Just then, Pettigrew came running out of the Great Hall. Hermione's eyes followed him across the Entrance Hall and down a corridor. She had to wonder what that was about. Maybe he forgot his basket or something. Hermione rolled her eyes. When she looked back in the direction of the Great Hall, she saw Malfoy sneaking out.
"Which way did he go?" Malfoy whispered, sneaking up to her as if someone might be just around a corner listening.
"Pettigrew went that way, if that's who you mean," Hermione said, pointing down that corridor.
Malfoy rubbed his chin in thought, gazing down the corridor. "What might he be after in such a hurry?"
"I was just wondering that same thing," Hermione told him.
Malfoy shrugged, laughed, and sat on the stairs with Hermione.
"Hullo, Dobby," Malfoy greeted.
"She take not Dobby services, Draco," Dobby told him, sadly.
"I really don't need anything," Hermione insisted.
Malfoy smiled, staring at her in an odd way. Hermione looked away, trying not to blush.
"I don't want to go to the feast!" Dumbledore exclaimed, struggling against Pettigrew's grip as the two came down the corridor.
Malfoy instantly grabbed Hermione and pulled her around, under the stairs. As Hermione sat crouched on the floor, she could feel Malfoy's body warmth just behind her. It was a strange feeling, like she almost wanted Malfoy to put his arms around her.
"But, Albus," Pettigrew sniveled, pulling Dumbledore across the Entrance Hall, "Severus says you must go."
Dumbledore squirmed all the way into the Great Hall. Hermione glanced over her shoulder at Malfoy. To her surprise, Malfoy's crystal blue eyes were staring back into her's. Before she could have a chance to fantasize about what she wished Malfoy would do right then, Hermione climbed out from under the staircase and joined Dobby. She glanced into the Great Hall, seeing Pettigrew taking Dumbledore to his seat.
Hermione shook her head. "That's just sad."
"Yeah," Malfoy agreed, now standing beside her. "Who would have thought McGonagal's death would drive him mad? It's so unreal. You know, I wonder about that all the time."
"Me too!" Hermione exclaimed, turning her eyes to Malfoy.
"It's especially odd because of Wormtail," Malfoy said.
"Because he works for You-Know-Who?" Hermione asked.
This time Malfoy looked surprised at her. "You know? No one believed Neville and me when we said Wormtail worked for Voldemort. He claimed he had been taken over by the Imperius curse, that he was really good. How did you know he wasn't?"
"You'd be surprised at the things I know," Hermione insisted. "Now that I know that the situation is abnormal for this world too, I think this needs investigating."
"I agree," Malfoy told her. "But what do you mean 'this world'?"
Hermione had to think fast. "I meant the wizard world. I was raised as a muggle, you know."
"Oh," Malfoy shrugged, smiling at her.