Chapter 5: Released from Ward, and The Quiet Room
Hello everyone, again! I hope you all appreciate me writing this next chapter when I could be studying for exams. Actually.it's more that I'm grateful to you for wanting me to write more of this, so that I can stall from studying.shiver, studying. Maths is evil!!!!!!! Thank you.
Reviews! (or rather, my responses to them):
*~*Bombshell: Sorry I posted Chapter 4 b4 you had a chance to reply to chapter 3. Doesn't Sirius Black kick it? Ahh well.this next chapter I hope will be good.siriusly.
*~*Bombshell (again): The weird movie I was watching was probably Magical Mystery Tour. . . it's a Beatles movie. It's funky and I'm v. attracted to young Paul McCartney so rar with that. And I an updating this right now!
*~*somebody(): G'day. I can't tell you yet what's going to happen to Hermione.you'll have to keep on reading PS - don't you hate it when authors do that?
*~*ILUVRONWEASLEY: Ahh yes, the unique Malfoy-not-wanting-to-change thing. . . must be the whole Australian-mortally-obsessed-in-the-Beatles thing I've got going for me. Lol. Anyway I reviewed your story for one last (:'( ) time. I hope you like this next chappie chappie.
*~*Ehlonna: I'm lost? What do you agree with? Review to tell me! *wink wink *
*~*Ehlonna: (again) (changes song on Media Player) thank you for the compliment ;). What do you agree with though?
*~*Hermionestar2020: Now don't you jeer. . . just because my previous fanfictions have sucked and this is the first one that's getting any kind of response. . . lol. Thank you for the compliment. Keep on a-reading and a- reviewing. Ta!
Now, you must all remember that I am, in fact, an Aussie. So our times are very strange (to those of you that live in the US, UK or Perth, lol.) But I cannot stress this enough guys. . . I'm not very popular. PLEASE tell other people about this story if you like it. . . even if you hate it so they can send me abusive reveals for improper use of the word 'and', or something like that. Or. . . to say that the Beatles are totally gay, or something. Review!!!!!!!
Disclaimer: Whatever.you know the drill. If I encorporate something that seems very strange in here, don't worry, I'm watching a very strange movie for about the 27th time since my friend leant it to me. OK, I've turned it off, just so I can concentrate on writing this.
Righto, let's begin. How much does Delta Goodrem rock?
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A few weeks had gone by, and Hermione was feeling much better. Her fever had come down, her headache was almost gone, and she could eat again. . . in fact, she was eating more then usual, because she'd begun to realise just how bloody hungry she was.
She'd been keeping up with her studies too. . . of course, she was helped by her friends, who did what they could.none of them, however, could quite do it properly for Hermione, so she'd do whatever they didn't do. . . it was an effective system, and she kept up that way.
That evening she was visited from Harry and Ron. They had told her about Percy settling in the Burrow nicely and taking an active part in the Order, with ideas and such. . . but she couldn't help feeling they were hiding something from her. She'd been arguing with herself for the past few days whether or not she should ask them about it.
'Hey Hermione,'
'Hello you two. How was class?'
'Boring, but whatever. During Care Of Magical Creatures Goyle almost got eaten by a Scungeweasle.'
'Goyle messed with something like a Scungeweasle? How stupid can he be?'
'See,' remarked Ron to Harry. 'I told you she'd already know what a Scungeweasle is.'
'Of course I do. How's Hagrid?'
'He's OK. He wants to see you, as soon as you're better. We told him we'd let him know.'
'All right.'
Silence emerged. Harry and Ron were busy shuffling their feet. Hermione sighed. She supposed now would be a good time to ask them about what she was worrying about.'
'Sit down you two. I need to ask you something.'
The pair looked at each other, concerned. But they obeyed her, took seats and looked at her questioningly.
Hermione cleared her throat. She then looked at both of them, and said. 'I was wondering. . . are you two hiding something from me?'
Harry and Ron looked truthfully confused, until they remembered. Of course, they thought. She's seen past us with keeping quiet about her Kedua.
'Well Hermione,' said Ron. 'There is some-'
'Yeah,' Harry butted in. 'We were debating whether or not to tell you because we thought you'd disapprove. But we'll tell you now anyway. I've made Susie Bellnak Chaser for Gryffindor.'
Ron looked thoroughly confused for a split second. Luckily Hermione didn't notice him until he recovered and said 'Oh yeah. We were worried you wouldn't like that.'
Hermione was thoroughly confused at that. 'Why would I disapprove?'
'Well. . . because. . . we thought you didn't like her, because she's been a trouble-maker, and she was still made a prefect.'
Hermione raised her eyebrows. 'She is a troublemaker. . . but I won't deny that she's a very lovely person and an even better prefect. She's funny and considerate and all that other stuff. I think you two worry a bit too much about what I think, if you were concerned about that. Congratulations. . . she'll be a good Chaser.'
Harry feigned reliefness. Ron was still utterly befrazzled. Madam Pomfrey chose that moment to enter.
'Miss Granger. I've been analysing your statistics, and I think you're pretty much cured. You're welcome to leave this ward now.'
Hermione practically fainted. 'Really?'
'Really really.' (I happened to be thinking of Shrek for some reason.)
'Great!' Hermione leapt up and began pulling on her school robes and gathering all her stuff. When she was done, Madam Pomfrey made her take one last bought of medication, and smiled at her.
'If you've got any more problems, feel free to come to me. It's good to see you managed to repair that scratch on your cheek. A shame it left that scar though.'
Hermione smiled slightly, and felt the scar along her cheek, then the one along her arm. Then she smiled and left. Harry and Ron, frowning slightly at hearing of these injuries, followed her.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Hermione woke up the next day, for the first time in ages, without a headache. Rar, she thought to herself as she began getting dressed.
She entered the Great Hall to the usual jeers of the Slytherin table. She looked at them and made a face. Pansy Parkinson was hooting hysterically. Hermione shook her head, and thought to herself, how is it that a singular person can be such an extraordinary mixture of extremely ugly and extremely bitchy?
'Hey Granger! Recovered from your illness yet? Fancy you being away from your studies for such a long time. You're gonna be way behind. What a shame.'
God, she thought, was that meant to be INSULTING? She'd show her. 'If that was meant to be an insult, then you really need practise. Oh, just wondering. . . exactly how much of that deformity potion did you take your last potion lesson? Because I seriously do not think it's worn out yet. . . oh, wait, you're PANSY. . . you always look that deformed. So rude of me. Carry on.'
And she walked right on, past the open-mouthed expressions of all the Slytherins that were sitting there. Malfoy was extremely impressed. Hmm, he thought. Perhaps she isn't gonna be that goody-two-shoes after all.
Hermione sat down at the Gryffindor table. Harry and Ron had Extendable Ears in their ears. They took them out the second she sat down.
'Nice one, Hermione.'
'Thank you Harry. Now, I'm going to have to forbid you two from ever saying that to any of your fellow classmates.'
The two of them just stared at her for a few seconds. Then all three of them burst into hysterical laughter. It was good to laugh again.
The bell rang soon afterwards, and Hermione walked off to Potions. She entered the room and took her spot next to Malfoy. He entered a minute after, smiled slightly at her, and came up to her. He held out his hand. Hermione looked at it, confused.
'I hereby announce, Granger, that you are, in fact, able to retaliate in a way that is a) translatable to the less intelligent than yourself, and b) extremely insulting. It only pains me that you weren't able to come up with something like that when you last insulted me. Well done.'
Hermione took his hand, and shook it rather uneasily. She then rolled her eyes, smiled, and began laying out her ingredients.
'What's the date today, Malfoy?'
'Um. . . the 25th September, I think. Why?'
'Well, you said you had a proposition for Halloween? Something that we could do? I think I said something that steered you off track, or something like that, didn't I?'
'Oh yeah. Come to the Quiet Room at 5:30. I'll tell you then.'
Snape entered the room just then. Hermione shut up quickly.
'Right. Not that I really care but welcome back Miss Granger.'
'Thank you sir,' replied Hermione distractedly. She was looking for a quill.
'Today we're working on the enlargement potion. If you add this potion to something you're cooking, for example, it will make it grow. It can be quite strong. The strength of it depends on how many Scungeweasle tail- hairs you put in it. I strongly recommend, therefore, that you don't use too many. 3 should be enough. Get started.'
Rustlings and bangings of cauldrons and cutting of ingredients could be heard throughout the scene. Malfoy and Hermione worked silently for a few minutes, before Malfoy took the chance to speak.
'When did you get released from the inner holdings of the hospital wing?'
'Last night.'
'Right. You do realise that our detentions resume tonight therefore.'
'Yes, I'm aware. No problem.when we're done hearing about this wonderful idea of yours for Halloween, we can come down here and begin detention.'
'All right. Will you work your magic again? I really wanna get out of there quickly.'
'Yeah yeah whatever. It all sounds fine to me.'
Suddenly a bang could be heard. Hermione whipped around and noticed that Nikolas Lestrange was standing there, trying to figure out what the hell he'd gotten wrong with the potion. Hermione grimaced, and Malfoy sniggered.
'Hehe. . . so Nikolas isn't as smart as he says he is.'
Hermione looked over at him again. 'What's he like?'
'Who, Nikolas? Nice enough. I've talked to him. A bit too obsessed in the Dark Arts though. A bit like his mother,' he added half-heartedly.
'So it is. . . her. . . son, is it?'
'Yup. He thinks just like his mother. . . if he acts like he talks, he's going to be a very powerful person one day.'
Hermione narrowed her eyes at Malfoy then. 'You say that like it's a good thing.'
Malfoy shrugged. 'It's his decision. He won't have a very happy life. Ever thought about how miserable the Dark Lord's life is? I mean, day after day (alone on a hill, the man with the foolish grin is keeping perfectly still) he has to sit around, order people around, and be really evil. Must get dreadfully boring after a while. . . don't you think?'
Hermione smiled grimly to herself. 'He chose that lifestyle, you realise.'
Malfoy decided to drop the subject, by saying 'Yes. . . of course he did.'
The pair of them worked silently until they heard Snape's voice sounding.
'That will be all everyone. Bottle a sample and bring it up to me with you and your partners name on it.'
Hurrah, thought Hermione to herself, as she put all her stuff away (Malfoy was taking up their potion).
Malfoy came back rather giggly. Hermione was surprised at that. Since when has a Malfoy been giggly?
'What is it?'
He began shaking in laughter. 'Don't worry. . . just thinking about the fact that it's an. . . enlargement potion.'
Hermione got it straight away of course. She rolled her eyes and the bell chose that moment to ring.
'You're all so immature, you know,' she said, as she headed out of the classroom.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
That evening she remembered what Malfoy had asked her to do. She was in the middle of hearing Harry and Ron's Quidditch techniques. The team outlook was sounding promising. . . it was obvious that the inclusion of Susie Bellnak was really lifting up the spirits of the Gryffindor team. Hermione was just remembering how spectacularly they lost their last match to Slytherin. It didn't help that Katie Bell was extremely sick and they had to get a last minute replacement.
Then she remembered. She was suppose to be meeting Malfoy in the Quiet Room. Bugger, she thought to herself as she took out her key from her pocket.
'Hey you two. I have to go and see Malfoy about some Head People's business.'
'Have fun.'
'Thank you.' She held the key in her hand, said 'Quiet Room' and was immediately gone from the sight of Harry and Ron, who were baffled as to how she managed to disappear like that.
Hermione arrived at the quiet room in 3 seconds flat (as opposed to three seconds sharp? Honestly. . . honestly, English is a stupid language). And what a sight it was.
It was a large, circular room. There was a fire to one side, and armchairs everywhere, as well as several lounges to the back. A huge rug was in the middle of the room, and there were several large windows which showed a marvellous view of the Hogwarts castle. A bit extravagant, she thought to herself, considering the fact that only two people are allowed to use it.
'Hey Granger, over here.'
Hermione noticed Malfoy sitting on an armchair, reading through a sheaf of parchment. Hermione sat down on a fairly nearby chair and looked quizzically at him.
(A/N: Now guys, in case you haven't noticed, my vocabulary isn't that great. I don't read a lot, unless I'm nigelated. So, if any of these words isn't quite correct, please tell me.)
'OK, suppose you want to know my idea?'
'You suppose correctly. You haven't forgotten it, have you?'
'No. What do you take me for Granger? My idea's simple enough. An Amusement Day.'
Seeing the completely black expression on Hermiones face, he invited himself to continue.
'You know how in the muggle world they have these weird things where there are shops and. . . stalls. . . I think they're called? And rides . . . and things like that?'
'Oh yes. They call those carnivals. They tend to have them sometimes on Halloween.' She thought about this one time in her life where her parents took her to this Halloween carnival. She shivered. The carnival was awful, come to think of it. 'But the muggle ones are really pathetic.'
Malfoy raised a singular eyebrow. 'Surely they're not all bad. What's so bad about them?'
'Oh. . . rides that malfunction every hour. Food that's been handled by about 10 people before it finally reaches you. Really bad prizes and activities. . . '
'Uh-huh. That's the problem with Muggles. No imagination.'
Hermione narrowed her eyes. 'Actually, it's more like, no funds. Unlike magic, things in muggle carnivals aren't free. Even really crap things cost some form of money.'
'Hmm.' Malfoy pondered this. 'What did you do for fun then, when you were a muggle, Granger?'
'Malfoy,' she replied. 'I've never been a muggle. I'm a witch. When I didn't know I was a witch, however, I'd. . . I dunno. . . do homework, study. A lot of people in the muggle world go shopping, watch movies, listen to music, hang out with friends, that sort of thing.'
'Did you do that sort of thing?'
'Nope. Never had time. Never had friends either.' She smiled grimly.
'Never had friends?' asked Malfoy. 'Why not?'
Hermione shrugged. 'I don't know. I guess I just didn't have time for them.' she snorted. 'They were all stupid anyway.'
Malfoy smiled at that. 'You know, for someone that campaigns continuously for people to be treated equally, and not reading books by their covers, and all that stuff, you seem to be an awful lot like that yourself.'
'Well, it's true in this case. All of them. . . called me every name under the book.'
Malfoy raised his eyebrows. 'Were any of these names true?'
Hermione started. 'No! Of course not!'
'No? I don't believe you. There's always some amount of truth in an insult, I find.'
'Well,' replied Hermione. 'I guess. . . maybe. . . there was some truth. . . in some of them. . . but I'm not like that any more.'
Malfoy snorted. 'What, a teachers pet know-it-all more obsessed with her studies then having fun?'
Hermione opened her mouth, then closed it again, unable to think of a very good response.
'Anyway, this Amusement Day thingy,' continued Malfoy. 'We have each year doing a particular part of it, and then on Halloween we round them all up together, and spend the day at this carnival, and go to the feast for dinner.'
'OK . . do you want me to send out the message?'
'If you would.' Malfoy looked at his watch. 'Hmm.time for us to go down. Did you know how to get out of this room?'
'I guess you just order the key to take you back to the right place.'
'Ah.'
'I'll try it first.' She took out her key and held it in her hand. 'Potions classroom,' she said clearly. She felt herself being taken away, and landed 3 seconds later in the Potions room, with Malfoy at her heels.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
An hour later Hermione was back in her dormitory. She was quite tired, but decided she'd better read that chapter of Runes In Romania before falling asleep. She wondered where Harry and Ron were as well. She figured she could wait for them too.
She got her book from her dormitory, and came downstairs to read it.
Chapter 6: Armestious's Rein
In 2006B.C. Armestious defeated heir to Romania Cremestus by a series of sharp curses to the heart. Armestious then claimed the throne. He changed Romania in many ways during his 20 year reign. He invented protection charms around his country, and he defeated several dark dynasties of the time. In 1986 B.C. Armestious got one of the most curious diseases known to wizardkind, Kedua's syndrome. It took him a year to get over it, when he finally managed to find a loving wife to cure him of the disease. He lived for many years afterwards, dying on June 23rd 1943, with his wife by his side.
Hermione read up to there, then collapsed in her chair, asleep.
She was standing on a big white square, like a boxing ring, alone. She was thinking about. . . something. . . she wasn't sure what though. She couldn't get a lock on what she was thinking about.
She had a vague idea that she needed to get out of the square. She began to move forward. She was pushed back however, with a pain in her arm. Hermione looked at her upper arm and saw fingernail marks there. Bugger, she thought. She tried to move another way, but what again pushed back, this time her stomach received some amount of pain. She kept on trying, but she kept being knocked back. She was confused. . .
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Harry and Ron came into the common room, and saw Hermione lying there, asleep. They looked at each other, alarmed, and rushed to her side. Harry heard her mumbling. Something like 'Let me go'. Harry looked at Ron, Ron nodded, and they both began shaking her. She woke with a start.
Guys I am so sorry this has taken me so long. I've been really busy, but yay, for me, I have finished this chapter.
In order to complain about me taking so long to do this chapter, you're going to have to review.
Hello everyone, again! I hope you all appreciate me writing this next chapter when I could be studying for exams. Actually.it's more that I'm grateful to you for wanting me to write more of this, so that I can stall from studying.shiver, studying. Maths is evil!!!!!!! Thank you.
Reviews! (or rather, my responses to them):
*~*Bombshell: Sorry I posted Chapter 4 b4 you had a chance to reply to chapter 3. Doesn't Sirius Black kick it? Ahh well.this next chapter I hope will be good.siriusly.
*~*Bombshell (again): The weird movie I was watching was probably Magical Mystery Tour. . . it's a Beatles movie. It's funky and I'm v. attracted to young Paul McCartney so rar with that. And I an updating this right now!
*~*somebody(): G'day. I can't tell you yet what's going to happen to Hermione.you'll have to keep on reading PS - don't you hate it when authors do that?
*~*ILUVRONWEASLEY: Ahh yes, the unique Malfoy-not-wanting-to-change thing. . . must be the whole Australian-mortally-obsessed-in-the-Beatles thing I've got going for me. Lol. Anyway I reviewed your story for one last (:'( ) time. I hope you like this next chappie chappie.
*~*Ehlonna: I'm lost? What do you agree with? Review to tell me! *wink wink *
*~*Ehlonna: (again) (changes song on Media Player) thank you for the compliment ;). What do you agree with though?
*~*Hermionestar2020: Now don't you jeer. . . just because my previous fanfictions have sucked and this is the first one that's getting any kind of response. . . lol. Thank you for the compliment. Keep on a-reading and a- reviewing. Ta!
Now, you must all remember that I am, in fact, an Aussie. So our times are very strange (to those of you that live in the US, UK or Perth, lol.) But I cannot stress this enough guys. . . I'm not very popular. PLEASE tell other people about this story if you like it. . . even if you hate it so they can send me abusive reveals for improper use of the word 'and', or something like that. Or. . . to say that the Beatles are totally gay, or something. Review!!!!!!!
Disclaimer: Whatever.you know the drill. If I encorporate something that seems very strange in here, don't worry, I'm watching a very strange movie for about the 27th time since my friend leant it to me. OK, I've turned it off, just so I can concentrate on writing this.
Righto, let's begin. How much does Delta Goodrem rock?
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A few weeks had gone by, and Hermione was feeling much better. Her fever had come down, her headache was almost gone, and she could eat again. . . in fact, she was eating more then usual, because she'd begun to realise just how bloody hungry she was.
She'd been keeping up with her studies too. . . of course, she was helped by her friends, who did what they could.none of them, however, could quite do it properly for Hermione, so she'd do whatever they didn't do. . . it was an effective system, and she kept up that way.
That evening she was visited from Harry and Ron. They had told her about Percy settling in the Burrow nicely and taking an active part in the Order, with ideas and such. . . but she couldn't help feeling they were hiding something from her. She'd been arguing with herself for the past few days whether or not she should ask them about it.
'Hey Hermione,'
'Hello you two. How was class?'
'Boring, but whatever. During Care Of Magical Creatures Goyle almost got eaten by a Scungeweasle.'
'Goyle messed with something like a Scungeweasle? How stupid can he be?'
'See,' remarked Ron to Harry. 'I told you she'd already know what a Scungeweasle is.'
'Of course I do. How's Hagrid?'
'He's OK. He wants to see you, as soon as you're better. We told him we'd let him know.'
'All right.'
Silence emerged. Harry and Ron were busy shuffling their feet. Hermione sighed. She supposed now would be a good time to ask them about what she was worrying about.'
'Sit down you two. I need to ask you something.'
The pair looked at each other, concerned. But they obeyed her, took seats and looked at her questioningly.
Hermione cleared her throat. She then looked at both of them, and said. 'I was wondering. . . are you two hiding something from me?'
Harry and Ron looked truthfully confused, until they remembered. Of course, they thought. She's seen past us with keeping quiet about her Kedua.
'Well Hermione,' said Ron. 'There is some-'
'Yeah,' Harry butted in. 'We were debating whether or not to tell you because we thought you'd disapprove. But we'll tell you now anyway. I've made Susie Bellnak Chaser for Gryffindor.'
Ron looked thoroughly confused for a split second. Luckily Hermione didn't notice him until he recovered and said 'Oh yeah. We were worried you wouldn't like that.'
Hermione was thoroughly confused at that. 'Why would I disapprove?'
'Well. . . because. . . we thought you didn't like her, because she's been a trouble-maker, and she was still made a prefect.'
Hermione raised her eyebrows. 'She is a troublemaker. . . but I won't deny that she's a very lovely person and an even better prefect. She's funny and considerate and all that other stuff. I think you two worry a bit too much about what I think, if you were concerned about that. Congratulations. . . she'll be a good Chaser.'
Harry feigned reliefness. Ron was still utterly befrazzled. Madam Pomfrey chose that moment to enter.
'Miss Granger. I've been analysing your statistics, and I think you're pretty much cured. You're welcome to leave this ward now.'
Hermione practically fainted. 'Really?'
'Really really.' (I happened to be thinking of Shrek for some reason.)
'Great!' Hermione leapt up and began pulling on her school robes and gathering all her stuff. When she was done, Madam Pomfrey made her take one last bought of medication, and smiled at her.
'If you've got any more problems, feel free to come to me. It's good to see you managed to repair that scratch on your cheek. A shame it left that scar though.'
Hermione smiled slightly, and felt the scar along her cheek, then the one along her arm. Then she smiled and left. Harry and Ron, frowning slightly at hearing of these injuries, followed her.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Hermione woke up the next day, for the first time in ages, without a headache. Rar, she thought to herself as she began getting dressed.
She entered the Great Hall to the usual jeers of the Slytherin table. She looked at them and made a face. Pansy Parkinson was hooting hysterically. Hermione shook her head, and thought to herself, how is it that a singular person can be such an extraordinary mixture of extremely ugly and extremely bitchy?
'Hey Granger! Recovered from your illness yet? Fancy you being away from your studies for such a long time. You're gonna be way behind. What a shame.'
God, she thought, was that meant to be INSULTING? She'd show her. 'If that was meant to be an insult, then you really need practise. Oh, just wondering. . . exactly how much of that deformity potion did you take your last potion lesson? Because I seriously do not think it's worn out yet. . . oh, wait, you're PANSY. . . you always look that deformed. So rude of me. Carry on.'
And she walked right on, past the open-mouthed expressions of all the Slytherins that were sitting there. Malfoy was extremely impressed. Hmm, he thought. Perhaps she isn't gonna be that goody-two-shoes after all.
Hermione sat down at the Gryffindor table. Harry and Ron had Extendable Ears in their ears. They took them out the second she sat down.
'Nice one, Hermione.'
'Thank you Harry. Now, I'm going to have to forbid you two from ever saying that to any of your fellow classmates.'
The two of them just stared at her for a few seconds. Then all three of them burst into hysterical laughter. It was good to laugh again.
The bell rang soon afterwards, and Hermione walked off to Potions. She entered the room and took her spot next to Malfoy. He entered a minute after, smiled slightly at her, and came up to her. He held out his hand. Hermione looked at it, confused.
'I hereby announce, Granger, that you are, in fact, able to retaliate in a way that is a) translatable to the less intelligent than yourself, and b) extremely insulting. It only pains me that you weren't able to come up with something like that when you last insulted me. Well done.'
Hermione took his hand, and shook it rather uneasily. She then rolled her eyes, smiled, and began laying out her ingredients.
'What's the date today, Malfoy?'
'Um. . . the 25th September, I think. Why?'
'Well, you said you had a proposition for Halloween? Something that we could do? I think I said something that steered you off track, or something like that, didn't I?'
'Oh yeah. Come to the Quiet Room at 5:30. I'll tell you then.'
Snape entered the room just then. Hermione shut up quickly.
'Right. Not that I really care but welcome back Miss Granger.'
'Thank you sir,' replied Hermione distractedly. She was looking for a quill.
'Today we're working on the enlargement potion. If you add this potion to something you're cooking, for example, it will make it grow. It can be quite strong. The strength of it depends on how many Scungeweasle tail- hairs you put in it. I strongly recommend, therefore, that you don't use too many. 3 should be enough. Get started.'
Rustlings and bangings of cauldrons and cutting of ingredients could be heard throughout the scene. Malfoy and Hermione worked silently for a few minutes, before Malfoy took the chance to speak.
'When did you get released from the inner holdings of the hospital wing?'
'Last night.'
'Right. You do realise that our detentions resume tonight therefore.'
'Yes, I'm aware. No problem.when we're done hearing about this wonderful idea of yours for Halloween, we can come down here and begin detention.'
'All right. Will you work your magic again? I really wanna get out of there quickly.'
'Yeah yeah whatever. It all sounds fine to me.'
Suddenly a bang could be heard. Hermione whipped around and noticed that Nikolas Lestrange was standing there, trying to figure out what the hell he'd gotten wrong with the potion. Hermione grimaced, and Malfoy sniggered.
'Hehe. . . so Nikolas isn't as smart as he says he is.'
Hermione looked over at him again. 'What's he like?'
'Who, Nikolas? Nice enough. I've talked to him. A bit too obsessed in the Dark Arts though. A bit like his mother,' he added half-heartedly.
'So it is. . . her. . . son, is it?'
'Yup. He thinks just like his mother. . . if he acts like he talks, he's going to be a very powerful person one day.'
Hermione narrowed her eyes at Malfoy then. 'You say that like it's a good thing.'
Malfoy shrugged. 'It's his decision. He won't have a very happy life. Ever thought about how miserable the Dark Lord's life is? I mean, day after day (alone on a hill, the man with the foolish grin is keeping perfectly still) he has to sit around, order people around, and be really evil. Must get dreadfully boring after a while. . . don't you think?'
Hermione smiled grimly to herself. 'He chose that lifestyle, you realise.'
Malfoy decided to drop the subject, by saying 'Yes. . . of course he did.'
The pair of them worked silently until they heard Snape's voice sounding.
'That will be all everyone. Bottle a sample and bring it up to me with you and your partners name on it.'
Hurrah, thought Hermione to herself, as she put all her stuff away (Malfoy was taking up their potion).
Malfoy came back rather giggly. Hermione was surprised at that. Since when has a Malfoy been giggly?
'What is it?'
He began shaking in laughter. 'Don't worry. . . just thinking about the fact that it's an. . . enlargement potion.'
Hermione got it straight away of course. She rolled her eyes and the bell chose that moment to ring.
'You're all so immature, you know,' she said, as she headed out of the classroom.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
That evening she remembered what Malfoy had asked her to do. She was in the middle of hearing Harry and Ron's Quidditch techniques. The team outlook was sounding promising. . . it was obvious that the inclusion of Susie Bellnak was really lifting up the spirits of the Gryffindor team. Hermione was just remembering how spectacularly they lost their last match to Slytherin. It didn't help that Katie Bell was extremely sick and they had to get a last minute replacement.
Then she remembered. She was suppose to be meeting Malfoy in the Quiet Room. Bugger, she thought to herself as she took out her key from her pocket.
'Hey you two. I have to go and see Malfoy about some Head People's business.'
'Have fun.'
'Thank you.' She held the key in her hand, said 'Quiet Room' and was immediately gone from the sight of Harry and Ron, who were baffled as to how she managed to disappear like that.
Hermione arrived at the quiet room in 3 seconds flat (as opposed to three seconds sharp? Honestly. . . honestly, English is a stupid language). And what a sight it was.
It was a large, circular room. There was a fire to one side, and armchairs everywhere, as well as several lounges to the back. A huge rug was in the middle of the room, and there were several large windows which showed a marvellous view of the Hogwarts castle. A bit extravagant, she thought to herself, considering the fact that only two people are allowed to use it.
'Hey Granger, over here.'
Hermione noticed Malfoy sitting on an armchair, reading through a sheaf of parchment. Hermione sat down on a fairly nearby chair and looked quizzically at him.
(A/N: Now guys, in case you haven't noticed, my vocabulary isn't that great. I don't read a lot, unless I'm nigelated. So, if any of these words isn't quite correct, please tell me.)
'OK, suppose you want to know my idea?'
'You suppose correctly. You haven't forgotten it, have you?'
'No. What do you take me for Granger? My idea's simple enough. An Amusement Day.'
Seeing the completely black expression on Hermiones face, he invited himself to continue.
'You know how in the muggle world they have these weird things where there are shops and. . . stalls. . . I think they're called? And rides . . . and things like that?'
'Oh yes. They call those carnivals. They tend to have them sometimes on Halloween.' She thought about this one time in her life where her parents took her to this Halloween carnival. She shivered. The carnival was awful, come to think of it. 'But the muggle ones are really pathetic.'
Malfoy raised a singular eyebrow. 'Surely they're not all bad. What's so bad about them?'
'Oh. . . rides that malfunction every hour. Food that's been handled by about 10 people before it finally reaches you. Really bad prizes and activities. . . '
'Uh-huh. That's the problem with Muggles. No imagination.'
Hermione narrowed her eyes. 'Actually, it's more like, no funds. Unlike magic, things in muggle carnivals aren't free. Even really crap things cost some form of money.'
'Hmm.' Malfoy pondered this. 'What did you do for fun then, when you were a muggle, Granger?'
'Malfoy,' she replied. 'I've never been a muggle. I'm a witch. When I didn't know I was a witch, however, I'd. . . I dunno. . . do homework, study. A lot of people in the muggle world go shopping, watch movies, listen to music, hang out with friends, that sort of thing.'
'Did you do that sort of thing?'
'Nope. Never had time. Never had friends either.' She smiled grimly.
'Never had friends?' asked Malfoy. 'Why not?'
Hermione shrugged. 'I don't know. I guess I just didn't have time for them.' she snorted. 'They were all stupid anyway.'
Malfoy smiled at that. 'You know, for someone that campaigns continuously for people to be treated equally, and not reading books by their covers, and all that stuff, you seem to be an awful lot like that yourself.'
'Well, it's true in this case. All of them. . . called me every name under the book.'
Malfoy raised his eyebrows. 'Were any of these names true?'
Hermione started. 'No! Of course not!'
'No? I don't believe you. There's always some amount of truth in an insult, I find.'
'Well,' replied Hermione. 'I guess. . . maybe. . . there was some truth. . . in some of them. . . but I'm not like that any more.'
Malfoy snorted. 'What, a teachers pet know-it-all more obsessed with her studies then having fun?'
Hermione opened her mouth, then closed it again, unable to think of a very good response.
'Anyway, this Amusement Day thingy,' continued Malfoy. 'We have each year doing a particular part of it, and then on Halloween we round them all up together, and spend the day at this carnival, and go to the feast for dinner.'
'OK . . do you want me to send out the message?'
'If you would.' Malfoy looked at his watch. 'Hmm.time for us to go down. Did you know how to get out of this room?'
'I guess you just order the key to take you back to the right place.'
'Ah.'
'I'll try it first.' She took out her key and held it in her hand. 'Potions classroom,' she said clearly. She felt herself being taken away, and landed 3 seconds later in the Potions room, with Malfoy at her heels.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
An hour later Hermione was back in her dormitory. She was quite tired, but decided she'd better read that chapter of Runes In Romania before falling asleep. She wondered where Harry and Ron were as well. She figured she could wait for them too.
She got her book from her dormitory, and came downstairs to read it.
Chapter 6: Armestious's Rein
In 2006B.C. Armestious defeated heir to Romania Cremestus by a series of sharp curses to the heart. Armestious then claimed the throne. He changed Romania in many ways during his 20 year reign. He invented protection charms around his country, and he defeated several dark dynasties of the time. In 1986 B.C. Armestious got one of the most curious diseases known to wizardkind, Kedua's syndrome. It took him a year to get over it, when he finally managed to find a loving wife to cure him of the disease. He lived for many years afterwards, dying on June 23rd 1943, with his wife by his side.
Hermione read up to there, then collapsed in her chair, asleep.
She was standing on a big white square, like a boxing ring, alone. She was thinking about. . . something. . . she wasn't sure what though. She couldn't get a lock on what she was thinking about.
She had a vague idea that she needed to get out of the square. She began to move forward. She was pushed back however, with a pain in her arm. Hermione looked at her upper arm and saw fingernail marks there. Bugger, she thought. She tried to move another way, but what again pushed back, this time her stomach received some amount of pain. She kept on trying, but she kept being knocked back. She was confused. . .
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Harry and Ron came into the common room, and saw Hermione lying there, asleep. They looked at each other, alarmed, and rushed to her side. Harry heard her mumbling. Something like 'Let me go'. Harry looked at Ron, Ron nodded, and they both began shaking her. She woke with a start.
Guys I am so sorry this has taken me so long. I've been really busy, but yay, for me, I have finished this chapter.
In order to complain about me taking so long to do this chapter, you're going to have to review.