Disclaimer: Nope, sadly none of the H.P. characters are mine.
A/N: Heylo! Thank you to all my wonderful reviewers and to my great friends! ::picks all of them up, hugz them and twirls them around:: LoL sry bout my lil insane moment there, happens occasionally hehe. I doubt I'd actually be able to do that tho. Sapphire613: you might wanna look at the disclaimer for chapter1 lol. And to answer all your questions: I'm planning on that, but it's all up to Hermione and Draco LoL. Of course I'll put in fluffiness, but it's later on. You need to give them time. I even wrote one of the later chaps, so don't worry! Ok, anyway, here's the next chap. Hope you all like it!
Chapter 6: Dumbledore's Conspiring and Pansy Strikes Back
However, before Draco could get to far, Hermione's voice rang throughout the quiet hall.
"You know as well as I do that we would still be locked in that room right now if we hadn't had friendly feelings toward each other. But if that's the way you want it then fine! We can forget ALL about it, in fact, I'm MUCH better off this way. And don't expect me to be sympathetic ever again, because it won't work." With this said they both turned in opposite directions and headed back to they're awaiting housemates.
It took Draco longer than expected to get back to his room, Hermione's voice still echoing in his mind. He shook his head in an attempt to rid her of his thoughts. As he made his way through the Slytherin portrait hole, he was dumbfounded to find that many people had actually missed him. The house seemed empty in his absence and the Slytherins brightened up at his presence, well, as much as Slytherins can brighten, that is.
"Glad to see you back Mister Malfoy" came the reply from Professor Snape.
"Uh, T-thanks Professor" he said, shocked, but pleased that he was still the teacher's pet. Even Crabbe and Goyle had seemed to be lost without their leader ordering them around. However, no one was bold enough to ask about his whereabouts upon seeing the expression on his face. He made his way up to his dormitory, a blubbering Pansy trailing behind him like a lost puppy.
Hermione looked back over her shoulder to see Draco's retreating figure, a mix of emotions flowing through her. First she felt betrayal and hurt, but that didn't last long; she wouldn't waste her energy on that heartless git. Now, the only emotion she recognized was rage. She was furious with Draco for doing that to her, but was mad at herself for letting him. Now she knew never to trust him ever again, to think he could be different deep down. But what did she expect anyway, for Harry and Ron to welcome him to their inner-circle with open arms? Keep their friendship stable, while keeping it private? Those ideas were ridiculous, almost as ridiculous as her actually trying to befriend him. But, she had no intention of wasting her time on Malfoy. She would only talk to him when absolutely necessary and would be better off just ignoring him whenever he was around. As Hermione walked into the Gryffindor common room she was immediately enveloped in huge hugs from Harry, Ron, Ginny, Fred, George, and even Lavender, Parvati, Dean, Seamus, and Neville. She was happier than words can say; she now realized something important. These were her real friends, she loved them dearly, and she felt extremely lucky to have them. "Guys, before you say anything, I guess I should tell you where I was..." she started but Ron held a hand up to her mouth.
"Hermione, Dumbledore told us all about that 'special secret assignment' you were on, and we know it wouldn't be fair for us to ask you questions about it if it's a secret."
"Yeah", Harry cut in "We understand that Dumbledore has you under oath."
"Secret assignment? Oath? Oh...yeah. THAT secret assignment...uh, yeah I'm not really...supposed to tell." A confused Hermione said, catching on that Dumbledore must have come up with an excuse for their disappearance. 'Why would he do that, though.' But before she could ponder the man's actions any longer, Ron interrupted her train of thought.
"Well, since everyone's favorite Gryffindor is back I think this calls for..."
Fred and George finished his sentence with equally mischievous looks. "A party!"
As the twins sneaked down to the kitchens, the friends continued their conversation.
"It must have been QUITE an experience having to work with Malfoy." Harry said with a disgusted look on his face.
"You have no idea Harry." Hermione replied with a look that told them she didn't feel like discussing it much. "You have NO idea!"
Draco slammed his door and plopped himself down on his bed, not wanting to deal with Pansy just yet, but she barged right into his room anyway. "Oh Draco! I'm SO glad that you're back and safe. I was terribly worried."
"Pansy, the only thing you were worried about is you getting into trouble."
"Of course I wasn't darling, I would never want anything bad to ever happen to you. What on Earth did happen?" she said while walking over to him and draping an arm over his shoulder.
He roughly shrugged her off and glared at her. "What happened? You of all people should know what happened! You were the one that put that blasted ring on me that made me get stuck in that bloody room with Granger."
"But, it was only supposed to be a love...spell" she finished awkwardly, ashamed at what she had admitted.
"A WHAT? Pansy, listen and listen closely. Nothing could EVER make me love you!"
"B-but, Draco" she was close to tears now, but she didn't want to cry in front of him.
"Just leave me alone!" he shouted at her.
"Fine! Be that way! But I guarantee you that you'll regret this." She said with a contorted grin, slamming the door for extra emphasis. She huffed back to her own room, plotting yet again, but this time, revenge. (a/n: sry if this sounds too over dramatic, but I think that's the way Pansy's mind works hehe. Don't worry her plan won't be toooo bad lol.) Draco was left on his bed laughing at the girl's foolishness, hoping to drift off into a restful slumber soon.
Dumbledore was seated at his desk when the same mysterious dark-haired woman floated through his wall. "Sir, the two young students are out now" she informed him.
"Oh, Ro, I'm so glad to hear that."
"Well, so were we sir, but they began fighting again a short while later."
"Oh, well, I guess this calls for some more devising. Not to worry though, I'll think of something."
"Thank you Dumbledore, sir." She replied, slowly fading away.
Hermione woke up the next morning well rested, after having an exhaustively good time at her 'welcome back' party. She decided she'd have to go to Dumbledore's office early that morning, with or without Malfoy. She got ready quickly, and headed to the Headmaster's office. After she had knocked on the door and heard a faint "Come in.", she was surprised to see Malfoy there, already seated. He looked like he hadn't gotten much sleep the night before.
"Ah, hello Ms. Granger, how good of you to join us. Please have a seat. Now, would you two like to begin explaining where you've been for the last two weeks."
"Well", Hermione started " "We where stuck in a room, which I believe was in the east wing, that looked like an old common room. We were wearing these rings that were under some sort of spell that made us stuck there."
"And just how did you obtain these rings, Ms. Granger."
"Oh, Pansy gave one to me, and must have lost the other one." Draco interrupted. "She said she was trying to do a love spell, but it must have turned out wrong."
Hermione snickered at this comment. 'Of course she did the spell wrong, and who would be disturbed enough to put a love spell on him?'
"And just how did the two of you break the spell?" their Headmaster inquired.
Now it was Hermione's turn to interrupt. "Well, we were sitting around yesterday, when all of a sudden...the wall started to glow and a big door appeared. The spell just must have worn off on it's own" Hermione answered, making up the excuse as she went along.
"Is that true, Mister Malfoy?" he asked the young wizard for conformation.
"Uh, yeah, yes that is right sir.," he said while nodding his head and throwing a questioning glance toward the girl seated next to him.
"Very well then, if you say so." He replied with a knowing smile. The two students started to leave, but Dumbledore called them back. "There is just one more thing I'd like to ask of you. This room you described, sounds a lot like a mysterious chamber I've been reading about. There have accounts of a few strange happenings here, and some DO indeed believe it is an old common room, like you said Ms. Granger. Now, I was planning on inspecting this, and I'd like the two of you, if you don't mind that is, to investigate what you can about these happenings and find out what the room was used for. The reason I'm asking this of you is because you are the top students of your year, and its better for me to pick you two since you already know about it, and I will count this as an extra grade for you both."
Reluctant to accept, but unwilling to pass up the chance at an extra grade, they both agreed and were to start a week after classes resumed. They were making they're way back downstairs, when Hermione poked her head back through the door, her curiosity getting the better of her.
"Excuse me sir, if I may ask, why did you tell everyone that we were on a 'special secret assignment'?"
"Ah, Miss Granger, I'm afraid you've caught me. You see, I knew that the two of you were stuck. But truth be told, I don't think there was much anyone could have done to help anyway. I felt it best to let the situation be resolved on it's own. And I dare say, it did work out for the best. But, I'm afraid that's all I can say for now, a person must have some secrets. But you'll find out, all in good time, Ms. Granger, all in good time." He answered, and winked at her as she shut the door.
Hermione was still wondering what plan Dumbledore had up his sleeve with the whole situation, and was about to go to breakfast when Malfoy abruptly turned her around.
"What was that about? I thought the goody-two-shoes Granger didn't lie about anything? Why did you make up that story for the Dumbledork?"
"Well, like you said Malfoy, we can't be friends, so why should I tell him about that fact, if your ashamed of it? Now, I have no desire to talk to you any longer, and try to stay away from me." She told him before continuing on her way.
At breakfast Hermione was reminded that the Hogsmeade trip was today. She also received quite a good surprise when a nervous, faltering Dean Thomas asked her to go to the Christmas Ball with him. To his delight, she readily accepted; all the better to get Malfoy off her mind once and for all.
Draco had been fuming at what Hermione had said to him. As it was, he had barely nodded off when her words came back to plague him. He didn't shut his eyes once after that, and now she wasn't doing anything to help the circumstances. 'How dare she speak to me that way, she's just a little mudblood nobody, she doesn't matter." Deep down he knew these words weren't true, but he wasn't about to acknowledge anything of the sort just yet.
Hermione, Ron and Harry spent a great day in Hogsmeade, shopping for Christmas presents and enjoying lunch in The Three Broomsticks. She and Ginny even went into Madam Malkins to find the perfect dress robes for the ball. Ginny decided on beautiful, rather short, forest green dress robes, but Hermione had always been partial to Muggle clothing, choosing a lovely blue evening gown that just reached the tip of her toes. Very pleased with their selections, they met up with Harry and Ron again, who had been in the Quidditch Supply Shop, and were about to head back to the castle when they were met with an odd sight. Malfoy was frantically scratching at his head, Pansy and a few others behind him sniggering and he shouted "Parkinson, what in the HELL did you do this time?" It was then that they noticed large chunks of his silver locks quickly accumulating in a heap on the ground.
Draco was so infuriated, he didn't know whether to bellow, flail around like a maniac, break down and sob, or just plain bash someone in the face. The last option seemed like the best choice to him right now. He couldn't believe the audacity of that sniveling little rat, some people called a girl. His hair, his beloved, precious hair was falling out, in rather large clumps, and he had no way of stopping it. Ooh that girl was going to pay. He was about to confront her, when someone cut into his thoughts. The Dream Team was standing there in hysterics, Hermione the one laughing the hardest.
"Come on guys" she started staring directly at Draco "There's nothing important to see here, except a boy whining about that vile fluff he likes to call hair."
That was it. Draco couldn't take it anymore. He wasn't about to stand around and let that sorry excuse for a witch insult him like that. He raised his wand in retaliation, preparing to blast them all away so he could just be left alone during his 'traumatic' experience. A hand clasped his hand, briskly bringing his arm down, and the stern voice of Professor McGonagall sounded from behind him.
"Is there a problem here?" she asked the crowd, and giving peculiar glances toward the pile of silver tresses at Draco's feet.
"No there's no problem" he replied, as the rest of the crowd mumbled and dispersed, heading back to Hogwarts.
"Good." She stated. "And I suggest" she said trying to control her laughter "That you get up to the infirmary and have that...fixed." She did feel sorry for the boy, but she assumed that whatever he did to make someone do that to him, that he deserved it.
So, a distressed and furious Draco, solemnly picked up the heap of fallen hair, and made his way to the hospital wing, trying to cope with the loss, and wishing a thousand horrible, damnable deaths on Pansy and Madam Pomfrey if it couldn't be restored.
A/N: Well, I was going to continue, but it seemed like a good place to end, and if I keep writing, I'd probably never stop LoL. Awww poor Draco LoL, hope you don't think that I made that petty, but we all know how Draco feels about his hair hahaha. The next chapter might be the Christmas Ball, I'm not sure yet, we'll just have to wait and see. Draco and Hermione aren't quite ready to make up just yet, but don't fret cause it'll happen soon :o). And remember to pleease review! Thanks everyone! 0o0 and btw, I was wondering who put me on their faves list? Thanx so much to who ever did! TTYL. ~SweetWater~
A/N: Heylo! Thank you to all my wonderful reviewers and to my great friends! ::picks all of them up, hugz them and twirls them around:: LoL sry bout my lil insane moment there, happens occasionally hehe. I doubt I'd actually be able to do that tho. Sapphire613: you might wanna look at the disclaimer for chapter1 lol. And to answer all your questions: I'm planning on that, but it's all up to Hermione and Draco LoL. Of course I'll put in fluffiness, but it's later on. You need to give them time. I even wrote one of the later chaps, so don't worry! Ok, anyway, here's the next chap. Hope you all like it!
Chapter 6: Dumbledore's Conspiring and Pansy Strikes Back
However, before Draco could get to far, Hermione's voice rang throughout the quiet hall.
"You know as well as I do that we would still be locked in that room right now if we hadn't had friendly feelings toward each other. But if that's the way you want it then fine! We can forget ALL about it, in fact, I'm MUCH better off this way. And don't expect me to be sympathetic ever again, because it won't work." With this said they both turned in opposite directions and headed back to they're awaiting housemates.
It took Draco longer than expected to get back to his room, Hermione's voice still echoing in his mind. He shook his head in an attempt to rid her of his thoughts. As he made his way through the Slytherin portrait hole, he was dumbfounded to find that many people had actually missed him. The house seemed empty in his absence and the Slytherins brightened up at his presence, well, as much as Slytherins can brighten, that is.
"Glad to see you back Mister Malfoy" came the reply from Professor Snape.
"Uh, T-thanks Professor" he said, shocked, but pleased that he was still the teacher's pet. Even Crabbe and Goyle had seemed to be lost without their leader ordering them around. However, no one was bold enough to ask about his whereabouts upon seeing the expression on his face. He made his way up to his dormitory, a blubbering Pansy trailing behind him like a lost puppy.
Hermione looked back over her shoulder to see Draco's retreating figure, a mix of emotions flowing through her. First she felt betrayal and hurt, but that didn't last long; she wouldn't waste her energy on that heartless git. Now, the only emotion she recognized was rage. She was furious with Draco for doing that to her, but was mad at herself for letting him. Now she knew never to trust him ever again, to think he could be different deep down. But what did she expect anyway, for Harry and Ron to welcome him to their inner-circle with open arms? Keep their friendship stable, while keeping it private? Those ideas were ridiculous, almost as ridiculous as her actually trying to befriend him. But, she had no intention of wasting her time on Malfoy. She would only talk to him when absolutely necessary and would be better off just ignoring him whenever he was around. As Hermione walked into the Gryffindor common room she was immediately enveloped in huge hugs from Harry, Ron, Ginny, Fred, George, and even Lavender, Parvati, Dean, Seamus, and Neville. She was happier than words can say; she now realized something important. These were her real friends, she loved them dearly, and she felt extremely lucky to have them. "Guys, before you say anything, I guess I should tell you where I was..." she started but Ron held a hand up to her mouth.
"Hermione, Dumbledore told us all about that 'special secret assignment' you were on, and we know it wouldn't be fair for us to ask you questions about it if it's a secret."
"Yeah", Harry cut in "We understand that Dumbledore has you under oath."
"Secret assignment? Oath? Oh...yeah. THAT secret assignment...uh, yeah I'm not really...supposed to tell." A confused Hermione said, catching on that Dumbledore must have come up with an excuse for their disappearance. 'Why would he do that, though.' But before she could ponder the man's actions any longer, Ron interrupted her train of thought.
"Well, since everyone's favorite Gryffindor is back I think this calls for..."
Fred and George finished his sentence with equally mischievous looks. "A party!"
As the twins sneaked down to the kitchens, the friends continued their conversation.
"It must have been QUITE an experience having to work with Malfoy." Harry said with a disgusted look on his face.
"You have no idea Harry." Hermione replied with a look that told them she didn't feel like discussing it much. "You have NO idea!"
Draco slammed his door and plopped himself down on his bed, not wanting to deal with Pansy just yet, but she barged right into his room anyway. "Oh Draco! I'm SO glad that you're back and safe. I was terribly worried."
"Pansy, the only thing you were worried about is you getting into trouble."
"Of course I wasn't darling, I would never want anything bad to ever happen to you. What on Earth did happen?" she said while walking over to him and draping an arm over his shoulder.
He roughly shrugged her off and glared at her. "What happened? You of all people should know what happened! You were the one that put that blasted ring on me that made me get stuck in that bloody room with Granger."
"But, it was only supposed to be a love...spell" she finished awkwardly, ashamed at what she had admitted.
"A WHAT? Pansy, listen and listen closely. Nothing could EVER make me love you!"
"B-but, Draco" she was close to tears now, but she didn't want to cry in front of him.
"Just leave me alone!" he shouted at her.
"Fine! Be that way! But I guarantee you that you'll regret this." She said with a contorted grin, slamming the door for extra emphasis. She huffed back to her own room, plotting yet again, but this time, revenge. (a/n: sry if this sounds too over dramatic, but I think that's the way Pansy's mind works hehe. Don't worry her plan won't be toooo bad lol.) Draco was left on his bed laughing at the girl's foolishness, hoping to drift off into a restful slumber soon.
Dumbledore was seated at his desk when the same mysterious dark-haired woman floated through his wall. "Sir, the two young students are out now" she informed him.
"Oh, Ro, I'm so glad to hear that."
"Well, so were we sir, but they began fighting again a short while later."
"Oh, well, I guess this calls for some more devising. Not to worry though, I'll think of something."
"Thank you Dumbledore, sir." She replied, slowly fading away.
Hermione woke up the next morning well rested, after having an exhaustively good time at her 'welcome back' party. She decided she'd have to go to Dumbledore's office early that morning, with or without Malfoy. She got ready quickly, and headed to the Headmaster's office. After she had knocked on the door and heard a faint "Come in.", she was surprised to see Malfoy there, already seated. He looked like he hadn't gotten much sleep the night before.
"Ah, hello Ms. Granger, how good of you to join us. Please have a seat. Now, would you two like to begin explaining where you've been for the last two weeks."
"Well", Hermione started " "We where stuck in a room, which I believe was in the east wing, that looked like an old common room. We were wearing these rings that were under some sort of spell that made us stuck there."
"And just how did you obtain these rings, Ms. Granger."
"Oh, Pansy gave one to me, and must have lost the other one." Draco interrupted. "She said she was trying to do a love spell, but it must have turned out wrong."
Hermione snickered at this comment. 'Of course she did the spell wrong, and who would be disturbed enough to put a love spell on him?'
"And just how did the two of you break the spell?" their Headmaster inquired.
Now it was Hermione's turn to interrupt. "Well, we were sitting around yesterday, when all of a sudden...the wall started to glow and a big door appeared. The spell just must have worn off on it's own" Hermione answered, making up the excuse as she went along.
"Is that true, Mister Malfoy?" he asked the young wizard for conformation.
"Uh, yeah, yes that is right sir.," he said while nodding his head and throwing a questioning glance toward the girl seated next to him.
"Very well then, if you say so." He replied with a knowing smile. The two students started to leave, but Dumbledore called them back. "There is just one more thing I'd like to ask of you. This room you described, sounds a lot like a mysterious chamber I've been reading about. There have accounts of a few strange happenings here, and some DO indeed believe it is an old common room, like you said Ms. Granger. Now, I was planning on inspecting this, and I'd like the two of you, if you don't mind that is, to investigate what you can about these happenings and find out what the room was used for. The reason I'm asking this of you is because you are the top students of your year, and its better for me to pick you two since you already know about it, and I will count this as an extra grade for you both."
Reluctant to accept, but unwilling to pass up the chance at an extra grade, they both agreed and were to start a week after classes resumed. They were making they're way back downstairs, when Hermione poked her head back through the door, her curiosity getting the better of her.
"Excuse me sir, if I may ask, why did you tell everyone that we were on a 'special secret assignment'?"
"Ah, Miss Granger, I'm afraid you've caught me. You see, I knew that the two of you were stuck. But truth be told, I don't think there was much anyone could have done to help anyway. I felt it best to let the situation be resolved on it's own. And I dare say, it did work out for the best. But, I'm afraid that's all I can say for now, a person must have some secrets. But you'll find out, all in good time, Ms. Granger, all in good time." He answered, and winked at her as she shut the door.
Hermione was still wondering what plan Dumbledore had up his sleeve with the whole situation, and was about to go to breakfast when Malfoy abruptly turned her around.
"What was that about? I thought the goody-two-shoes Granger didn't lie about anything? Why did you make up that story for the Dumbledork?"
"Well, like you said Malfoy, we can't be friends, so why should I tell him about that fact, if your ashamed of it? Now, I have no desire to talk to you any longer, and try to stay away from me." She told him before continuing on her way.
At breakfast Hermione was reminded that the Hogsmeade trip was today. She also received quite a good surprise when a nervous, faltering Dean Thomas asked her to go to the Christmas Ball with him. To his delight, she readily accepted; all the better to get Malfoy off her mind once and for all.
Draco had been fuming at what Hermione had said to him. As it was, he had barely nodded off when her words came back to plague him. He didn't shut his eyes once after that, and now she wasn't doing anything to help the circumstances. 'How dare she speak to me that way, she's just a little mudblood nobody, she doesn't matter." Deep down he knew these words weren't true, but he wasn't about to acknowledge anything of the sort just yet.
Hermione, Ron and Harry spent a great day in Hogsmeade, shopping for Christmas presents and enjoying lunch in The Three Broomsticks. She and Ginny even went into Madam Malkins to find the perfect dress robes for the ball. Ginny decided on beautiful, rather short, forest green dress robes, but Hermione had always been partial to Muggle clothing, choosing a lovely blue evening gown that just reached the tip of her toes. Very pleased with their selections, they met up with Harry and Ron again, who had been in the Quidditch Supply Shop, and were about to head back to the castle when they were met with an odd sight. Malfoy was frantically scratching at his head, Pansy and a few others behind him sniggering and he shouted "Parkinson, what in the HELL did you do this time?" It was then that they noticed large chunks of his silver locks quickly accumulating in a heap on the ground.
Draco was so infuriated, he didn't know whether to bellow, flail around like a maniac, break down and sob, or just plain bash someone in the face. The last option seemed like the best choice to him right now. He couldn't believe the audacity of that sniveling little rat, some people called a girl. His hair, his beloved, precious hair was falling out, in rather large clumps, and he had no way of stopping it. Ooh that girl was going to pay. He was about to confront her, when someone cut into his thoughts. The Dream Team was standing there in hysterics, Hermione the one laughing the hardest.
"Come on guys" she started staring directly at Draco "There's nothing important to see here, except a boy whining about that vile fluff he likes to call hair."
That was it. Draco couldn't take it anymore. He wasn't about to stand around and let that sorry excuse for a witch insult him like that. He raised his wand in retaliation, preparing to blast them all away so he could just be left alone during his 'traumatic' experience. A hand clasped his hand, briskly bringing his arm down, and the stern voice of Professor McGonagall sounded from behind him.
"Is there a problem here?" she asked the crowd, and giving peculiar glances toward the pile of silver tresses at Draco's feet.
"No there's no problem" he replied, as the rest of the crowd mumbled and dispersed, heading back to Hogwarts.
"Good." She stated. "And I suggest" she said trying to control her laughter "That you get up to the infirmary and have that...fixed." She did feel sorry for the boy, but she assumed that whatever he did to make someone do that to him, that he deserved it.
So, a distressed and furious Draco, solemnly picked up the heap of fallen hair, and made his way to the hospital wing, trying to cope with the loss, and wishing a thousand horrible, damnable deaths on Pansy and Madam Pomfrey if it couldn't be restored.
A/N: Well, I was going to continue, but it seemed like a good place to end, and if I keep writing, I'd probably never stop LoL. Awww poor Draco LoL, hope you don't think that I made that petty, but we all know how Draco feels about his hair hahaha. The next chapter might be the Christmas Ball, I'm not sure yet, we'll just have to wait and see. Draco and Hermione aren't quite ready to make up just yet, but don't fret cause it'll happen soon :o). And remember to pleease review! Thanks everyone! 0o0 and btw, I was wondering who put me on their faves list? Thanx so much to who ever did! TTYL. ~SweetWater~