Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Harry Potter's characters. Everything belongs to J. K. Rowling. Everything unfamiliar is mine. 5/19/04
A/N: '' – Basically means that the character is thinking
"" – Basically means that the character is speaking
This is the continuation to "Models".
I wanted to thank everyone who reviewed. Loved everything! I was horrible to Ginny in this story so I thought I'd at least make up for it in my new story, "The Haunted". Check out my other stories: "Summer Camp" (Draco-Hermione fic) and "Picture Perfect" (Sirius-Hermione fic).
Title: Last Chance Chapter 12 Put to the testAfter a couple of weeks, Draco finally woke up free of any annoying headache or any body ache for that matter and had decided that he needed to leave his tentative home. He didn't wait for Madam Pomfrey to tell him to leave. Actually, he saw her more of a pest. He was never accustomed in receiving kindness form anyone, with the exception of his mother. That's the reason he changed with her death. Narcissa was the only person who was keeping him somewhat human. Madam Pomfrey's act of kindness was in fact making a mockery of his mother's affection. He felt that the kind healer's actions were forced and mechanical. How could someone get emotionally involved with a stranger? His father for one hasn't shown any kindness towards him.
He stood from his bed struggling with what little balance he could remember. He scanned the room careful not to make a sound. Each step he made had triggered his memory of the pain that was once there. His only source of strength was that of Hermione's memory. He was weak; he accepted that fact when he realized he needed someone, contrary to what his father had been preaching. He needed Hermione before at the lake, he needed her now, and he needed her beside him all the time.
The walk to his original dorm had been pure torture. What's worse is that he realized he didn't know the password.
"Mudblood." The portrait swung open.
Draco looked over his shoulder and found Pansy smirking behind him. "Who approved that as a password?"
"What's the matter Draco? Have you forgotten that we use that every year for one week?" Pansy walked to his side and snaked her arms around him.
"Aren't we a little childish to continue such tradition?" He tried to push her arms off him but she was stronger right now.
"It's a tradition passed down through generations ever since Hogwarts started accepting mudbloods! You can't really dismiss that easily." She drew him closer.
Draco was more irritated by her presence more than when she told him of his mother's death. "Parkinson! I can barely breathe!" He pushed once again with her arms.
"Grouchy! I'm only trying to help. You can barely stand!" She shouted back.
"I don't need help!" He finally freed himself. "Least of all from you." However, he was wrong. His feet were failing him. He needed something to hold on to.
Pansy saw this need and attempted to help him again.
"I told you I don't need you!" Draco growled. He wasn't used with showing any weakness to his housemates.
"Fine!" She moved away. "I can't imagine anyone dare come near a stupid git like you anyway!"
Draco decided to ignore the comment as he attached himself to the portrait.
"Does your mudblood bitch know of your temper? I doubt it or else she wouldn't even give you a second glance."
That hit more than a couple of nerves. He walked to her towering her. "She is NOT a mudblood!"
That didn't deter her. "What did she do to you? That's not the Draco Malfoy I know. She has turned you weak! You deserve your father's wrath! And here I was worrying everyday about your welfare!"
"If you're so worried why the hell didn't you show up in the hospital wing!" His eyes were boring dangerously down at her.
"I don't want to be on the dark lord's bad side now do I?" She tried to match the well-practiced glare.
"You know what? I pity you. You will live behind fear, masked as respect. You will never feel what I feel right now or what I feel when I'm with her. You are nothing but a puppet for the enjoyment of a bastard." He left her with his newfound energy and walked to his dorm.
Pansy was left staring at his back with tears streaming out of her eyes. 'Fool! You could have chosen me and everything would've been all right. I would've chosen you!'
Visiting Draco was already part of her morning rituals. They would've talked about different things from Dumbledore's so-called plan to schoolwork. She even recapped the incident with Snape and his pet spiders. Draco had made her promise not to experiment with the spiders so long as he's still in the hospital wing.
Hermione was surprised to see his bed empty. She even agonized about Madam Pomfrey's accusation about being the one responsible for Draco's disappearance.
She couldn't think of where he could be. Actually, she had a few ideas but she didn't know how to get there. She pondered on this thought until she reached the Great Hall. There was a surprise waiting for her. Draco was already on the Prefects table. Without hesitation, she walked towards him smiling. "Fancy seeing you here."
Draco gave a warm smile in reply. "My back was aching from sleeping that long."
"I heard that there was a patient in the hospital wing who broke out. Madam Pomfrey told me she didn't allow him to leave yet."
He smiled mischievously at her. "Did you by any chance catch his name? We ought to form a search party for him."
Hermione smiled in response. "When I do find him he'll regret that he ever left Madam Pomfrey. I had a hard time arguing with her that I wasn't responsible. She even told me not to expect any help from her if by chance I get into an accident."
Draco tried not to laugh. "I'm sure you'll find him. I'll even help you."
"This is not funny Draco Malfoy!"
"No it isn't." He formed a straight face. "You're Harry Potter's best friend. That means trouble you know. I'll talk to Madam Pomfrey into letting you in again upon an accident."
"Draco! She said you weren't ready to leave yet!"
"You told me she said I was a fast healer." He tried to argue. He loved the idea that she truly cared for him.
"But..."
"Hermione, I don't want to be stuck in there. I'm going to die out of boredom. Also I'm very much far behind with my lessons. In addition, you need help with that potion. Or has Potter and Weasley finally got their arses up to help you?"
Hermione smiled. Draco out of the hospital wing could prove advantageous to her but that also seemed selfish of her.
"So, are you going to send me back there?" Draco wasn't used with using pity so he smiled seductively at her instead.
Hermione just melted in her place. "Ok but if something happens you'll go straight back to Madam Pomfrey and no questions!"
Draco nodded his head like a little boy.
Harry and Ron watched as Hermione entered the Great Hall. They watched as she caught sight of Draco, ignoring them completely.
"I guess everything's back to normal again." Ginny said aloud.
Both Harry and Ron glared at her.
"Why don't you get a life Gin and maybe you'd go back to who you used to be." Ron snapped at her.
"Why don't you two realize that she has finally replaced you with Malfoy? Everybody seems to know that by now."
"And why don't you realize that you've been after Harry for a long time now but he still pushes you away. He doesn't like you. Everybody also seems to know that by now." Ron countered.
Ginny's face was turning red from anger, "Why don't you look for a girl that likes you for who you are and stop living your dream through Harry. Or can't you find any girl that's interested in you?"
Before Ron could explode, Harry butted in. "Ginny mind your own business and Ron ignore her. She loves the attention."
She glared at Harry for his comment but moved away. Ever since they found out about Ginny's involvement on the dare thing, Harry and Ron stopped thinking twice about arguing with Ginny.
"I'm having trouble following the family code." Ron blurted out all of the sudden.
"Which family code?" Harry never lifted his eyes away from Hermione.
"The one that orders the older Weasleys to protect those younger than him."
"You had that rule? What about Percy?" Harry was still staring at Hermione.
"Percy's older than me so I don't have to protect him."
"Alright but he didn't protect the twins from anything and the twins with you? If I'm not mistaken you were their favorite person to experiment with."
"You know, you're right. Why should I honor the code when my brothers didn't."
Harry didn't respond nor was he listening. He watched Malfoy as he stood up followed by Hermione. 'Where the hell are you taking her?' He watched as Malfoy offered to get Hermione's things. His mood lifted when Hermione refused to give her things. Harry watched as the two walked away together from the Prefects table toward them.
This earned another buzz from all houses. 'Malfoy and the Gryffindor trio are now friends?'
Upon reaching them, Hermione was all smiles. "I'll be seeing you later Draco."
Draco nodded and left without another word.
Hermione ached an eyebrow at her two best friends. "Aren't you going to let me sit down?"
Harry pushed Ron down to give space for her. "Hi!"
Ron rolled his eyes at his best friend's actions.
"Hi to you too." Hermione greeted her friends. The spout between them was clearly forgotten.
"So Malfoy's out of the hospital wing now eh?" Ron was still jealous of the time she was spending with Malfoy.
"Yes, and he said he would help me out later with the project." Hermione tried to make them feel guilty.
"You know we'd love to help you out but we have a duty to our house. The Quidditch match against the Ravenclaws is drawing near." Ron missed their little arguments.
"Alright, I'm sure Draco would be more of a help than you Ron. Harry, you don't really need to train now do you?" Hermione gave Harry a smile.
Harry was too distracted by her fragrance that he didn't realize that she was talking to him. He cleared his throat and responded with, "Ehem."
"Was that supposed to be a yes?" Hermione asked hopefully. The year was drawing near and she feared that she might not graduate without finishing the thesis.
Again just an "Ehem."
"I think it was a no." Ron interfered.
"I believe it was a yes." Hermione argued.
"The team can't possibly train without the team captain." Ron argued some more but he was ready to give up any minute though. He just wanted a little persuasion.
"Ron, you do know that I'm planning to graduate this year."
"Ron was just playing. We'll be there." Harry glared at Ron.
"I knew I could count on you." Hermione kissed Harry's forehead in appreciation before she left the hall.
That night, Harry and Ron arrived early at the dungeon keen not to get on the bad side of Hermione. They weren't surprised to see somebody else waiting for her.
Draco was first to arrive and was very much eager to be alone with her. Imagine his surprise when the two guys he hated the most arrived. 'Obviously this is another one of her attempts to make us friends.' He decided to ignore them and studied the components of the potion.
Harry and Ron stayed at one corner talking in codes and letting Hermione's name slip several times. There were even a few exchanges of glares from each party. Nevertheless, they never crossed the imaginary boundary they raised from each side.
Hermione on the other hand wasn't thinking about relationships at that moment. She wanted to finish the potion and graduate, it was that easy. So, upon her arrival she didn't even acknowledge the fact that the guys were staying at the opposite ends of the room. "Good you're all here."
The three guys smiled at her arrival and nodded.
She had planned the whole evening and hoped that everything would go smoothly. "I need fresh ideas on the approach necessary for the potion. I imagine Harry you'd be up for this?"
"No problem. Although I'm afraid I won't be able to do this on my own. Potion's not my forte."
"How about you Ron? Can you do this alone?" Hermione had four tasks at hand and she doesn't want to waste their resources.
"You expect me to do that?" Ron didn't want to take the load.
Hermione sighed and motion to Harry and Ron to step outside. "Guys, I need your cooperation here."
"Well, we are cooperating." Ron argued. "We're here right?"
"Come on Hermione, you have to admit thinking from scratch is really hard work." Harry was being realistic.
"I know what you mean. That's what I've been doing in the past weeks in this dungeon." Hermione now was being sarcastic.
"Come on if the great Hermione Granger couldn't do it then there's no way any other witch or wizard would be able to." Ron was trying to praise her.
"That's the reason why I had to assign this to Harry." Hermione smirked at her redhead friend. "I have faith in you Harry. I know how dedicated you can be. I know you are great and I believe you can do this."
Harry blushed and nodded. "But Ron and Malfoy should do something equally demanding."
Hermione smiled. "Actually I believe that all we need right now is patience. I mean the spider did live for a few seconds. He didn't die at once."
"Yes and we've praised you time and again." Ron was tired of hearing the story.
"Harry all I ask of you is to make your own potion and later on we'd compare notes." Hermione ignored Ron.
"What about me?" Ron was afraid to ask.
"Ron I need you to talk to Sirius..."
"Alright!" Ron clapped his hands together.
"Hey! Sirius is my godfather. I should be the one talking to him." Harry protested. "Besides, you told me that we would be having equal load!"
Hermione almost laughed at her friends' whining. "You didn't let me finish."
Ron smiled at Harry teasing him. Harry shrugged. "Fine!"
"Ron's job is to talk to Sirius, well not actually talk but ask his help." She focused her attention to Ron. "Ron I want you to watch Sirius do the Avada curse on spiders."
"What! Spiders! You have got to be kidding right? You know damn well I hate spiders." Ron thought that the task was impossible.
"Ron, you told me you couldn't handle the task I handed Harry. It's only logical that you'd be the one to take on Sirius." Hermione tried to explain.
Harry was still not satisfied with Hermione's decision. "Shut it Ron you still got the better end of the deal."
"Well it would be better if I didn't HATE spiders now." Ron's face was turning red. "You talked of four tasks Hermione what were the other two?"
"Well, I'm to ask help from Professor Arabelle about something. Draco's task is to figure out what I did wrong with the potion."
"Wow, Malfoy got the easy part. All he has to do is say there's nothing wrong." Ron was fuming. "Why can't you assign that to me?"
Hermione rolled her eyes, "You've already made up your mind that what I did was right. Draco on the other hand likes to challenge some of my belief."
"Ha! He would never argue with you especially since he wants to be with you. All he'd be able to come up with will be praises." Ron bickered some more.
"Ron stop it. All you have to do is watch." Harry was getting irritated. "I mean come on mate, just conquer your fear." He knew the hardest task was to judge Hermione's work and he's glad he wasn't assigned for it.
"Let me take the task on Professor Arabelle, Harry could take Sirius, and Malfoy could be the fresh eyes."
"That's good thinking Ron, tell me how would I know what I did wrong? I mean this is not the time for self evaluation." Hermione rolled her eyes at him.
Ron released a frustrated grunt. "This is so not fair!" He went inside to get his things before heading to Sirius' room. Harry followed him inside.
Hermione shook her head in disapproval before following her two friends. She smiled at Harry and Ron before they did their tasks and marched to Draco. "Hi."
"Hi." He was a little disappointed by the fact that Hermione spoke to Potter and Weasley first.
"So how was your day? Are you feeling alright?"
"I had to adjust first but I'm doing fine right now."
"Um, Draco do you think you could..."
"Hermione, I managed transfiguration, history, and charms today. Just tell me what you want me to do."
"Alright." She took some parchment from her bag and handed them to Draco. "These are the list of the ingredients that I used." She pointed to one of the parchments. "The rest are the procedures and my observations."
Draco scanned through them and dreaded the next words she was going to say.
Hermione watched Draco before continuing. "I was thinking maybe if you could take a look at them and figure out what I did wrong."
Draco arched an eyebrow in disbelief. "Hermione, are you sure? I mean you three had more extra classes in Potions."
"Well um, Harry and Ron are doing something."
'Great Potter and Weasley had a chance to choose!'
She saw the change in his face. "Don't worry, everybody have the same load."
"Some how I doubt that." Draco mumbled to himself.
"Harry, Draco, don't kill each other ok? I'll be back as soon as I've finished my task." She waved goodbye at the two guys before heading out.
Hermione knew the route to Arabelle's room by heart. It wasn't really that far from the dungeons. She was glad to finally have time to relax. She didn't tell the guys what she'd specifically do with the older witch. She wanted to rest for at least one night. She did earn it. She had been working on the project ever since summer. She knows everything about the potion. She had researched the Avada Curse. She knew what happens to the recipient of the curse. She just wanted her teammates to have knowledge of the thesis, for the defense. She knew she's torturing Harry and Ron tonight and she didn't care. She earned this night and she promised herself that she would stop worrying about them. She was however guilty of putting Draco in her games. He was after all still recovering. She thoroughly considered the tasks she was handing out. She thought that judging her work was the easiest. Harry would have to study her notes before he could start. Ok Ron's task was the easiest but she couldn't give that to Draco because of Sirius. She trusted Draco but Harry, Ron and Sirius didn't. Besides, it was a punishment for Ron's attitude towards her these past few days.
She finally reached the portrait leading inside Arabelle's room. She whispered the password and entered. "Arabelle?"
The older witch was busy reading a thick book in the corner of the room. "Hermione, what brings you here? Come in and let me finish this page." She called to her without lifting her eyes off the book.
Hermione did as was told. She closed the portrait hole and carefully walked towards the elder witch. She patiently waited for Arabelle to finish.
Arabelle was tempted to turn the page but closed it instead. "Hermione, it's been a long time since you've visited me." She stood up and smiled at her.
"Is it a bad time? I was thinking maybe we could talk." Hermione was embarrassed for the intrusion.
"Oh no! I love talking with you." Arabelle took Hermione hand and led her to the bed sitting side by side. "So tell me, what's happening now? I thought you might be busy with that thesis. The year is closing in."
Hermione smiled at her, "actually the potion is done. All we need is to test it."
"My, my, my. You found a potion that can withstand Voldemort's greatest weapon?" Arabelle was very much impressed.
"I'm not quite sure it's finish since it has not yet been tested." Hermione was blushing.
"Why don't you test it then?" Arabelle was excited as well. The potion would prove to be a necessity for the war at hand.
"You see, Professor Snape said he'd help us out with the testing but..."
"But what?" Arabelle could see that there was something she wasn't saying.
"We tested the first potion that I came up with on a spider and it died."
"Are you telling me you're afraid of failure?" Arabelle teased.
"No, well, yes... in a way..."
"And what do you mean by that?"
"You see Professor Snape didn't like the fact that the potion was a failure. He actually named the remaining spiders with our names."
Arabelle almost laugh, "So you're telling me you can't kill Harry, Hermione and Ron?"
"And Draco as well." Hermione blushed once again. "And that's not how I feel. I mean sure, I can do that for the... thesis. But I can't choose which one to test first. If the spider dies then the person with the same name might be offended."
"Hermione, those are just spiders. They are not you or your friends." She was having a hard time not to laugh.
"You see I have three very sensitive friends. They might think I'm favoring one over the other."
"Fine then, why don't you just pick a name out of the hat or something?"
Hermione smiled at the older witch. "That seems fair."
"Or you could ask them, 'who wants to die first'." This time she started laughing.
"That's not funny." Hermione whined.
"I'm sorry. I think though that your friends trust your skills as a witch." She smiled.
"Well if it's that easy for you to chose, who would you chose if you were in my position..."
"Malfoy in a heartbeat." Arabelle cut her off.
"You didn't let me finish. Who would you choose if the spiders names were Hermione, Arabelle, and Sirius." Hermione believed the older witch really likes Sirius.
"Fine, Sirius in a heartbeat."
"You'd let Sirius die?" Hermione seemed bewildered.
"Yes but then again I'm not in your position so don't tell him."
"You do like him don't you?" Hermione teased.
"He's so childish, arrogant, self-righteous..."
"Understanding, supportive, caring, a good godfather..."
"A dog, pigheaded, vain, impossible..."
"You seem to know him so well." Hermione couldn't think of anything else to describe him. "Why don't you say something nice about him?"
"Well there's nothing nice about him." Arabelle was stubborn.
"Just try. I mean I know he can be impossible sometimes but if you look past those things you'd see that he's not such a bad guy."
"Yes, he's a very bad guy."
"Come on give him a chance. He's been a good godfather to Harry."
"Fine! Sirius is... tall."
"That's not a compliment." Hermione pointed out.
"You didn't say it had to be a compliment."
"Well it has to be a compliment."
"Fine. Sirius is a good godfather although I can't attest to that."
Hermione arched an eyebrow clearly not satisfied.
"Sirius can be caring to those important to him." Arabelle closed her eyes and painted a picture of the man she was describing. 'He's got wonderful teeth...'
Hermione watched her friend. She knew that look. She had it before when she was in love with Harry. 'Was?'
"And his eyes are as bright as the moon. He's got a lean body and strong arms." Arabelle didn't realize that she was no longer admiring him in her thoughts.
Arabelle's words shook Hermione back into reality, "Lean body and strong arms?"
Arabelle blushed a deep shade of red when she heard her friend. "Don't tell anyone!"
"No problem." Hermione was surprised that older people still had those petty little crushes. "You know you ought to tell him about it."
"Having infatuation when you're older is different than when you're young." Arabelle started to lecture.
"How so?"
"When you're older, it's so much easier!" She grabbed her wand that was lying on her desk next to the book she was reading.
Hermione gave her a mischievous smile. "Sirius is with Ron. They may be collecting spiders with Hagrid or already experimenting with them in the Room of Requirement."
"Thanks." Arabelle was close to the door when she turned to her. "It's easier because we're past the awkwardness and denial stage. And if you'd like you can stay here and I'll tell you what happens." She didn't wait for an answer as she raced the halls.
"Thanks." Hermione looked at her watch and deemed it was too early to go back to Harry and Draco.
She lied on the big bed and closed her eyes. 'Would it be easier when we get older?' Two faces raced inside her thoughts.
'Harry... he's always been there for me, well except that time last summer. Are we really supposed to be together?'
'Draco... he's also always been there for me at least since last year.'
Then she remembered how Arabelle looked earlier. She knew she wore that look before, she remembered the feelings that came along with it. 'I had that look with Harry... I can't remember when was the last time I had that look. Not this year, not with Harry.'
"What do you mean not with Harry?" She said it aloud to clear her thoughts.
'Draco...'
She didn't realize that she had dozed off. She came around when the portrait slammed making her jump.
"OH! Hermione, you're still here." Arabelle with her hair tousled blushed at something.
Hermione's eyes were still focusing that she didn't see another person behind Arabelle. "I fell asleep." She glanced at her watch and surprised that it was almost lights out. "I have to go. I have to check up on Harry and Draco."
"And Ron too." A male voice added for her.
"Yeah and Ron too." Hermione knew that voice. She turned her attention to the origin of the voice and saw Arabelle elbowing... "Sirius!"
"Uh, hi." Sirius was rubbing his stomach from Arabelle's blow.
"Uh, Sirius and I were just saying goodbye..." Arabelle tried to explain.
"Don't worry, I have to go anyway. And remember you told me that you skip the awkward and denial stage?" Hermione teased before brushing past the couple.
A/N: Hi! I'm awfully sorry about not updating any of my fanfics for quite a while especially my other fics like Summer Camp. I've just realized that I have no time to write these stories anymore and I have also lost my passion for writing fanfics altogether. Please bear with me. If you want to know the ending of any of my fanfics, as in abrupt endings just email me and I'll give a brief summary.
I have been pushing myself to try to finish this story so that I can move on to the next stories. I have already written the next few chapters. I'm quite stuck with the last chapter though. Since I have been procrastinating with my fics I've been having trouble with my beta readers. So forgive my English.