Disclaimer: No matter how many times I try to apparate into the Malfoy Manner, it just doesn't work. Maybe, that's because it's just a fictional place made up and owned by JKR…..nah! LoL, just borrowing these lovable characters for my own entertainment.
A/N: Hey everyone! Did you all watch the VMA's like good little children? LOL They were hysterical, I luv Jimmy Fallon! Not as much as Draco, but who can compare to Draco? hahaha. Ok, left reality for a sec there, but I'm back. And I just saw Blue Crush, which was awesome! You all have to see it! And, I think I'll stick to surfing the small waves………hehe, ok well here's the next chapter, hope you like it and remember to review! Thank you so0o much to everyone that did! Oh, and I added part of this song in the beginning since I really like it and it seemed to fit :o)
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Every time I try to make you smile
You're always feeling sorry for yourself
Every time I try to make you laugh
You can't
You're too tough
You think you're loveless
Is that too much that I'm asking for?
I thought you'd come around when I ignored you
So I thought you'd have the decency to change.
But babe, I guess you didn't take that warning
'Cause I'm not about to look at your face again.
Can't you see that you lie to yourself
You can't see the world through a mirror.
It wont be too late when the smoke clears
'Cause I, I am still here.
But every time I try to make you smile
You'd always grow up feeling sorry for yourself
Every time I try to make you laugh
You stand like a stone
Alone in your zone.
Is it too much that I'm asking for?
Can't you see that you lie to yourself
You can't see the world through a mirror
It wont be too late when the smoke clears
'Cause I, I am still here.
Every time I try to make you smile
You're always feeling sorry for yourself
Every time I try to make you laugh
You can't
You're too tough
You think you're loveless
It was too much that I asked him for.
–Avril Lavigne, Too Much To Ask For
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Chapter 9: Severus Snape the Singing Sensation (and Several Silly Sights)
For the next few days Hermione was doing all she could to avoid Draco, and he didn't seem to mind all too much. But, finally it was Saturday and Harry and Ron were at a Quidditch practice, so Hermione decided it was time to go to Malfoy again. She had done some more research in the library, but oddly she just couldn't come up with anything. So, that morning after breakfast, when most students were in their common room or enjoying themselves outside, Hermione approached Draco yet again.
"Hey, Granger what can I so humbly do for you? And make it snappy, I have anxious admirers who are willing to pay to spend time with me."
Hermione gave him a degrading look and replied, "Look Malfoy, I know we're working on this project together and all, but you telling me about your 'private services' is where we'll have to draw the line. Anyway, I thought we could figure something out by actually GOING to the room. Wouldn't that kind of make sense?"
"Oh, yeah, I was going to suggest that." She gave him a doubtful look and he said, "Oh, all right, fine, let's just go. Of course, my public will think I've abandoned them, but I guess that's a sacrifice I'll just have to make. Now, you may think that by taking money from these lovesick girls is degrading, which, it just may be, but through my extensive research I've found…"
"Malfoy, will you please just SHUT UP?! I don't really need to know about all your love escapades."
"Oh, yeah that's right. I forgot you were the jealous, over-protective type. Say, you wouldn't happen to have 30 Knuts, would you?" he asked giving her a suggestive look.
"There is no way I'm going to pay you to be extra conceited. Plus, you're here by your own free will, no one's forcing you to be here."
"Believe me, I know. I can think of about 100 other people I'd rather be with than you right now, but I want this extra credit. It may be just what I need to finally beat you as top student."
'Yeah like that would ever happen,' Hermione chuckled to herself.
They finally found that they had come to the room where it all began, memories flooding back to the two students. They both blocked them out as Hermione turned the knob and stepped in. She could have sworn she saw a dim light fading away just as they entered, but before she could tell if it was real or not, it was gone at the blink of an eye.
However, before they could get too far, Snape appeared at the door saying, "Oh, there you are. Dumbledore wants you two to…" but before they could find out what he was going to say, Snape's body visibly stiffened and he got an unusual, mischievous look on his face. Growing strangely serious he went over to the Gryffindor and Slytherin, tightly grasping a hand in each of his own, beaming at them. Then, he gently placed Hermione's hand in Draco's, and with a meaningful look said "The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return.^" The stunned looks on their faces grew even more so as it looked like Snape was trying to suppress a giggle, then went running down the hallway, oddly in the direction of McGonagall's office.
The two hurried after him to see what was going on, all the while having to listen to him sing in an affectionate voice "Never knew I could feel like this. It's like I've never seen the sky before. Want to vanish inside your kiss. Everyday I love you more and more. Listen to my heart, can you hear it sing? Telling me to give you everything! Seasons may change winter to spring, but I love you until the end of time."
It was too much for Hermione, Draco, and now McGonagall who was at the door staring and sputtering, as he seemingly with all his heart, belted out "Come what may! Come what may! I will love you, until my dyyyinggg daaayyy!^"
Snape then began to stiffen, then violently twitch, with a glazed over look, as Peeves floated out of his body giggling like mad and saying "Oh, that was fun! I just hope the grease ball didn't leave a stain on poor old me!" he floated anxiously down the corridor calling out "All right Sal-y, I took you're dare, now it's time to pay up!"
The now revived Severus stared at McGonagall, who was in shock, with wonderment. "Minerva, WHAT is going on?"
She replied irrationally, "Never knew you…feel Peeves… change winter to spring come until… my dying day." And with that, she fainted. With just the professor's luck, he caught her, and was now shaking her in hopes she would revive.
An unfortunate 7th year Ravenclaw just happened to be passing by at the time, and having seen the whole incident, walked by shaking his head, as various mutterings such as "inappropriate public displays of affection" and "traumatized for life" could be heard.
McGonagall's fainting spell finally knocked some sense back into the two on-looking students, and as they went to see if she was all right, they both noticed there hands were still the way 'Peeves-as-Snape' had put them. They both just stood there staring at their intertwined fingers, neither moving a muscle. They both almost seemed unable (or maybe in Draco's case, unwilling) to let go. Finally Hermione's brain kicked in and she snatched her hand back, and looked away, focusing on anything but him. Draco had seemed almost reluctant at her actions, and now an awkward silence was lingering between them. However, Hermione no longer had time to think as she rushed over to a struggling Snape, who was awkwardly trying to keep McGonagall in an upright position, his limbs flailing about, looking as though he was about to drop her.
"Here professor, let me help," Hermione said while helping him carry the passed out McGonagall to her desk. They sat her down and Snape asked her "What happened to her? What happened to ME? The last thing I remember is going to tell you that Dumbledore wanted to see you."
"Uh, I think you'd better let her explain when she wakes up. We'd should go."
Draco, who had waited outside was staring at Hermione with a strange look.
Hermione noticed and said "Oh no, you'd better not be Peeves. You aren't going to start belting out love tunes now too, are you?
"Huh? Of course not! Why would I ever belt out a love song to you, or anyone for that matter? Now let's go see what Dumbledore wanted."
As they continued to the Headmaster's office, they couldn't help laughing about Snape's silly scene.
"Wow, I didn't know Snape could actually sing," he said while snickering.
"Well, he's no Ewan McGregor, but I'm certain McGonagall thought he came pretty close," she replied, laughing as well.
"Who's that?" he asked, but still smiling nonetheless.
But Hermione never got the chance to explain, because they were now at Dumbledore's office. He was standing outside looking as though he had been waiting for them.
"Ah, I was wondering when you would show up. I don't have much time because I have an important meeting to go to, but I just wanted to check up on your progress.
"Well Professor, so far we haven't been able to find much out, but it definitely has been…interesting, that's for sure, " Hermione told him, not being able to suppress the small giggle that escaped her lips remembering all of the experiences of the past few days.
"Well, I'm glad the two of you seem to be getting along. Don't worry, I'm sure you'll be able to find something soon, and keep up the good work," he replied giving them a faint smile and disappearing down the hallway, apparently going to the meeting he had mentioned.
Hermione had then realized that she had left her bag in the room, with all the excitement with Snape going on, and the two made their way back, also to see if there was anything else they could find.
As Hermione bent over to pick up her bag, she noticed a book on the floor titled "Similar Spells and How to Determine Their Differences". It had a bookmark in it, and Hermione flipped to the page to see what had been so interesting to make someone want to go back to it. The paragraph she read stated 'The Cupiditas Valentorum charm, a powerful love spell, is most frequently mispronounced and confused with the Cupidites Falortorum charm. These spells are often performed on objects, but the latter can cause complications if the objects under the spell come in contact with people. If the two people are friends, they will realize that they are in love, but if they are enemies, they will be trapped in a nearby room, and will be stuck until they get along.* Once they get along, this counteracts the spell and they are freed. These two spells are thought to have been created by Cupid himself, and are most regularly used around the time of Valentine's Day.'
"Draco, look at this, this must be the spell we were put under!" she exclaimed excitedly, not realizing her usage of his first name.
"Let me see that." He said while grabbing the book from her. He read over the passage, and was about to show Hermione something she must have looked over, but she was already heading out the door, and he realized it would cause confusion anyway. The footnote at the bottom of the page that Hermione had overlooked shocked and disconcerted Draco as it said '*Further research on this topic has shown that the spell can only be performed on people that by fate, are meant to be together.'
While making their way to the Great Hall for lunch, Hermione noticed Draco was oddly quiet, and seemed to be extremely uncomfortable being near her. They were in the Charms corridor, and before they could get too far, they suddenly saw Professor Sprout carrying a pink plant with heart shaped leaves. It was enthusiastically repeating, "Love is like oxygen! Love is a many-splendored thing! Love lifts us up where we belong! All you need is love!"
Hermione was about to confront the teacher to see what she was up to, but Draco pulled her back and placed a finger up to her lips to silence her.
The two hid around the corner watching the professor's mysterious actions. Sprout knocked on a door, and Professor Flitwick answered. She held the plant out in front of her, and suddenly bright red hearts shone in the tiny professors eyes. He ran over to her and was jumping up and down, looking as though he was trying to kiss her, but couldn't quite reach. She then picked him while he put his arms around her neck, and the two lovebirds continued down the hallway.
"What is with everyone at this school? They should seriously change the name of Hogwarts to Heartwarts," replied Draco, who looked like he was queasy from the sight they just saw.
Hermione couldn't help giggling at this. "Yeah, you're right. I think maybe Baz Luhrman^ is hypnotizing all of our professors today."
"Who's that?" Draco asked, confused again with her Muggle reference.
"Never mind", she said while shaking her head.
Hermione noticed Draco's scowling face, still staring at the spot where the two teachers had been, and wondering what his expression was all about, she couldn't help asking, "Why does it always look like you hate when people are in love?"
"I don't hate it, I'd just rather not see it every time I turn around a corner."
"Why not? Do you have something against it? You don't have to get so nauseated."
"This conversation is starting to sound familiar. So far I've been able to keep my food down, but seeing all of my teachers making kissy faces at each other is just too much to handle. Don't they realize that there are other people in this school that are forced to witness their sickeningly sweet demonstrations?"
"Well it just sounds like you're in denial. You're making yourself sound like you're unfeeling and cruel."
"Oh, this is great, what are you my psychiatrist now? Going to help me discover my 'true self' and change for the better?" he retorted sarcastically and in a harsher tone than he had been using.
"Well, now that you mention it, you sure could use one. What do you have multiple personality disorder or something? One minute you're actually being friendly, then the next you're back to being a spiteful, mean jerk. But that's just it, I know deep down you're not really like that. "
"Oh, you think you know me so well, do you? Poor misunderstood Malfoy, let's all feel sorry for him. I don't need to hear this, especially from you Granger."
"I'm not pitying you Malfoy. Well, in a sense maybe I am, but what's so bad about that? I just want an explanation. Can't you make up your mind on how to act?" Hermione's tone was growing more severe as well.
"Around you I can't! How many times do I have to remind you that I'm a pureblood Slytherin and you're a mudblood Gryffindor!"
Hermione looked hurt now and almost on the verge of tears. "So? Why does it matter so much?" She now shouted at the top of her lungs, "I'm a mudblood! Can everyone hear me?! I'm a MUDBLOOD!" Now she looked like she was going to go into hysterics, but she took and deep breath and said a little more calmly, "So what? I don't understand how someone can be so prejudice. Those things shouldn't matter. Can't we just hate each other for our personalities and not for who our parents are?"
However, Draco misinterpreted Hermione's attempt to ease the tension and took it as a sign that she still did hate him. "I do hate you for your personality Granger", he muttered under his breath, not really meaning what he said.
"Fine then, I guess I should have known you'd say that. WHY do I even bother trying?!" With this she turned to leave, but Draco couldn't fight the urge to grab her and turn her around. Before either of them knew what was happening, Draco's mouth was firmly, yet gently pressed against Hermione's, neither of them resisting. However as soon as it had happened Hermione pulled back about to start shouting protests, but before she could she realized harry and Ron were standing there.
Draco was left speechless, but as Harry and Ron were about to start speaking, Draco and Hermione interrupted them, rambling on rapidly at the same time.
Finally Harry held up his hand and replied, "What? I can't understand anything either of you are saying. Hermione, what are you doing with Malfoy in the middle of a hallway?"
"Well, we're working on Dumbledore's project. What you saw was…" she started.
"Was a rehearsal for a skit!" Draco continued, seeming a bit too anxious.
"What are you talking about?' asked a puzzled Ron. "We didn't see anything, just you two standing there staring into space. Was there something we should have seen?"
"No! I mean…of course not Ron, it's not important. We're not supposed to be talking about this anyway, Dumbledoe's orders."
"Ok 'Mione, I think being around Malfoy for so long is starting to affect your mental stability. I guess you should finish up what you were doing. We'll meet you in the common room later," replied Harry, continuing down the hallway with Ron.
When they appeared to be out of sight Draco started to walk closer to Hermione smirking. "For once I actually agree with Potter. We should finish up what we were doing."
"No, I-I've got to go," she replied nervously and before he had a chance to say anything, she dashed down the hall in the direction Harry and Ron had gone.
The next day at breakfast, Harry, Ron, and Ginny had noticed Hermione seemed to be spacing out a lot. She hadn't even touched her food.
"Hermione, what's wrong?" asked Ron with a mouth full of food.
"Hmm? Oh, nothing, just tired I guess. I'd better get to the library to work more on this assignment for Dumbledore."
"Oh, I think I understand," Harry replied, causing Hermione to stiffen.
"W-what do you mean?" she asked him nervously.
"Well, it's Malfoy." At this Hermione looked even tenser and started to get fidgety.
"Yeah, working with him must be really stressful."
Hermione breathed out a sigh of relief. "Oh, yeah it is. But, I really want this extra credit. I'll see you guys later."
Hermione stood up and, having seen Harry and Ron become engrossed in a Quidditch conversation, Ginny pulled on her sleeve and whispered, "I know there's something up Hermione, and if you need someone to talk to you know I'm here." Hermione smiled at the younger girl and headed to the library. She was hoping that Malfoy wouldn't be there, but knowing her kind of luck, of course he was.
She sat down at her usual table in a secluded corner hoping he would ignore her, but as soon as he spotted the long brown hair and many books, he approached her.
"Hey," he said tentatively while taking a seat across from her.
"Hi. Do you want to start working?" she said still looking down at her book. She was trying to avoid any kind of interaction with him, especially eye contact.
"I guess so. I doubt we're going to find anything though," he said while taking a book from Hermione's pile. They were silent for about 10 minutes, but Hermione couldn't keep quiet any longer.
"Why'd you do it?"
"Haven't I heard that question somewhere before?" he asked sarcastically.
"I mean it, Malfoy. Why did you kiss me?"
"I had to check something" Draco replied referring to the footnote he had read a day earlier.
"Check what, the temperature of my mouth?" she asked, her voice starting to rise.
"No, just forget it. I don't see what the problem is, first I'm too mean, and now what, I'm too nice?"
"M-Draco. That…that was meaningless, wasn't it? We were both just very excitable, our tempers were flaring, at it was just…a heat of the moment kind of thing. It didn't mean anything, right?"
For a fleeting second a trace of dejectedness could be seen in his eyes, but the anger flared up again.
"R-right, meaningless." If Hermione had been listening a little more carefully, she would have noticed that his voice cracked as he said this. Draco cleared his throat and continued, "Of course it was. Why would I ever want to kiss you? I plead temporary insanity. In fact, I don't even give a damn."
Hermione sighed and let out a noise that Draco assumed meant she was frustrated. "Why do you have to make everything complicated? You get rejected and then you go back to being a jerk."
"Me rejected? By you? I don't think so. If anything you're the one in denial now. Look, I've got to go. Actually, I don't necessarily have to, I just don't feel like stressing myself out anymore by having to be near a mudblood."
"That is IT, Draco, I can't take this anymore. Why are you acting like this?"
"If you want an answer I suggest you go and look in that spell book you found yesterday. I think you might have missed a small, insignificant detail. And, maybe you'll get a clue." With that he had stalked out of the library, leaving Hermione with a stack of books, and many confusing thoughts.
^These are all references to Moulin Rouge. The quote and song from Snape are from the movie, and Baz Luhrman is the director. It's a really good movie, if you haven't seen it you should!
A/N: Hey! Hope you all liked it! How was it? The next chapter might be out soon, but that all depends on how many reviews I get…you just might not be getting the next one he he he. Oh, and my audition for the next school play is tomorrow (I'm singing "Journey to the Past from Anastasia), so wish me all luck! Ok, I doubt you care haha, just remember to review! And thanx a bunch to Susan and Mel , (Susamina and crystalnight). Go read their fics, they're great! And I'll say it once more too be annoying hehe..review! Luv ya all! TTYL!
~SweetWater~