Beneath the Bubbles
"You had a pillow fight with Draco Malfoy?" Ron said with a sour look. "Have you gone stalk raving mad?!"
"No, actually I'm more or less happy." Hermione said cheerfully, her delight swallowing her pessimistic self.
"Hermione," Harry said in a intonation Hermione was unable to define, "Do you realize how serious this is?"
"No," she said, smiling. "not that I want to..."
"He's Slytherin though!" Ron said wildly. "it's practically a law that Gryffindor and Slytherin don't mix at Hogwarts!"
"Well, it's about time we students change the law, don't you think?" Luna questioned, a dreamy expression dancing in her eyes. "For justice! for right!" she punched her fist triumphantly in the air.
Harry and Ron looked at each other.
"Look, I still think it's a bad idea, you know—"
Hermione wasn't paying attention, for Draco had just swept by hastily. Why is he in such a hurry?
"DRACO!!!" Pansy shouted, dodging through the crowd. Her sallow ivory hair hung in tangled knots down her back. "Draco, wait! Come back!" but Draco was too far ahead. Pansy halted, stomped her foot loudly and whined in frustration. Then she stalked up to Hermione.
"You-you little TRAMP!" she huffed. "You keep your grimy little paws off Draco! Just wait! I'm gonna get you for this!"
Hermione leaned back from her sweating face, "Before you get me, maybe you should cool off."
Snickers buzzed throughout the Great Hall. Pansy glowered at Hermione before marching away.
"Hermione!" exclaimed Ron with astonishment. "That was incredible!"
Hermione nodded. "I've been wanting to cuss her off for a long time now."
"Aren't you worried about what she said, though?" Ginny put in worriedly. "She can get pretty darn nasty sometimes."
"Ever heard of the phrase "One minute grilling, next minute chilling"?" Hermione said calmly. "I can take a little threat."
"I don't know..." Harry said, his voice had the same edgy manner Ginny's did.
~*~
Early early next morning, Hermione awoke to distant yelps. Crookshanks! She thought as she threw her cloak on hurriedly. Making as less noise as possible, Hermione bounded down the stairs of the girl's corridor and out into the misty air. It was pretty warm for October, but with the Sun still set and the wind blowing, it was considerably chilly. Hermione's heartbeat quickened as she fallowed the cries of her cat, whom she had bonded with since the day she bought him. She stepped into the clearing of the pond obverse the school.
"Crookshanks!" she called out, rubbing her palms together to create more heat.
From behind the bushes, Crookshanks came bounding to her.
Hermione gave a sigh of relief. "You bonehead! Don't you ever scare me like that again!" but Crookshanks kept nudging her legs, pushing her away from the pond.
Hermione bent down. "What do you want now you little rascal?"
"Well, well, well,"
Hermione wheeled around. Pansy Parkinson stepped out behind a tree, wearing a look that told Hermione she was up to no good.
"What are you doing out here?" Hermione said as she slowly rose into full height. Pansy drew nearer to her. Although not as bulky as most Slytherin girls, Pansy was definitely taller than Hermione was.
"Oh, just wondering around, looking for..." her eyes leveled with hers.
Hermione sensed trouble. Lifting up Crookshanks, she turned to go, but came face to face with two Slytherin girls, whom she recognized to be the two Chasers of Slytherin.
She faced Pansy. "Is this your idea of a joke?"
"Oh, far from it," Pansy said dangerously, "You see, I always get what I want." She stepped closer. "and now I want you DEAD!"
Hermione took off at her last word, heart racing. "Help!" she screamed desperately. The weight of the feline in her arms was weighing her down. Heavy footsteps gained on her. She let Crookshanks go with a swift movement of her hand. She watched as the cat scampered down the stony path and into the mist. No sooner had Crookshanks disappeared, Hermione felt her hands being roughly held behind her back. She struggled as the two large Chasers forced her back towards the lake.
"Now, where were we?" Pansy questioned mockingly. This was way different than babyish spoiled Pansy in front of Malfoy. This Pansy was cold and heartless. "Ah yes," she directed her finger towards the lake. Hermione tried hard to break free, but the many enormous hands on her was holding her down. Hermione felt the rough uneven edges of stones beneath her feet. At the very edge, Pansy came over.
"Aww, tsk, tsk, tsk, poor Hermione," her eyes widened. "Oh, and don't bother swimming, it's -1000 degrees down there, and might I add jellyfish just waiting for a perfect meal. Oh!" she clasped her hands together. "I almost forgot, even if you do survive, and I'm not saying that's possible, but if, I've dumped Forgetfulness Potion throughout the lake. Professor Snape was kind enough to lend it to me, not that he knew what I was gonna use it for. No, no no, I'm not telling him, I mean, even he wouldn't let me break the regulations of Hogwarts."
Hermione shook a strand of hair out of her eyes and stared daggers at Pansy. "You heatless—"
Pansy flipped her hand. "Uh, uh, uh, I don't have time for this," She bent down. "You're burning hot, Hermione." She traced an icy finger down her cheek. "Maybe you should COOL OFF!"
With that, the many hands drew back instantly. Pansy put both hands on Hermione's sholders and pushed hard. Hermione lost her balance. She screamed as she fell down down down and plunged several feet into the freezing water.
Mind swirling, Hermione concentrated on what was most important, staying afloat. She swam as near to the surface as she possibly could. The water was indeed freezing. There came a loud swoosh, and Hermione felt herself being hulled down. She opened her eyes, looking down, and sure enough, there was a blurry shape of a jellyfish. Her breathe of air lessened as she tried to break free. Rummaging frantically in her robe pocket, Hermione felt for her wand. Then she remembered her wand was safely tucked away back in her dorm. Hermione began to feel weak from lack of oxygen. She needed air... streams of bubbles issued from her mouth as she drifted in and out of conciousness. She knew this was it, she was going to die in a watery grave. Might as well stop fighting. Giving up, she let the squid drag her away. For what seemed like forever, Hermione was faintly aware of herself being pulled away from the squid's binds. Someone grabbed her waist. Hermione sagged feebly. She felt herself being raised rapidly towards the surface. The last of her strength left her as she blacked out completely.
"Breathe Hermione.....................don't die on me..................." Draco's voice seemed to be coming from a faraway tunnel. Hermione had no strength to.
"If anything happens to her......... I'll take it out on you.............."
Hermione's felt a strong force pressing down on her body. She felt a hand on her cheek. Something soft pressed upon her lips and a gust of air followed. She stirred.
"She's not waking!" Ginny was sobbing.
"Ron............... you're not pressing hard enough.................." Harry said.
An abrupt jolt followed. Hermione choked as liquid expelled from her mouth. She coughed multiple times, but her head dropped to the other side as sleep eludes her still.
"Someone hold her upright!" Luna instructed.
Two hands held onto Hermione's sholders and pulled her up. Hermione didn't move as her head tipped back.
"You keep your hands off her Malfoy!"
"Shut up Potter,"
"Hermione, c'mon wake up." Draco. He put his arms around her. His robes were cold and wet. Hermione stayed motionless. "Hey, wake up." He said gently, shaking her. Hermione roused. She finally opened her eyes. Draco smiled down at her.
She felt confused. "What happened to me?" she said shakily, raising up her head.
Ron's eyes were as big as tennis balls. "Don't tell me you don't remember."
She shook her head. Nausea hit her, causing her to sink back down. Draco immediately felt her forehead.
"She's got a fever."
Without another word, he lifted her up swiftly and easily. Hermione wrapped her arms loosely around his neck, and rested her head on his chest. Harry stepped forward. "Where do you think you're taking her?"
Hermione felt Draco turn. "She needs sleep, in case you didn't notice!"
~*~
Draco set Hermione down on her bed softly and lifted up the covers to her chin. "You need sleep now, Hermione. You haven't completely recovered from last time. " With that, he turned to go.
"Wait," she whispered, drawing him back with all the strength she could muster. "Could you stay? Just for a little?"
Draco smiled and sat down beside her on the bed, just like she had done when he was injured and in the Hospital Wing. Taking her hand in his, he reached out and brushed a strand of her hair away from her face with his other hand. "Go to sleep now, okay? Or do you need me to tell you how?"
Hermione giggled and closed her eyes. Within minutes, she dozed off, and didn't feel his hand slip away.
"You had a pillow fight with Draco Malfoy?" Ron said with a sour look. "Have you gone stalk raving mad?!"
"No, actually I'm more or less happy." Hermione said cheerfully, her delight swallowing her pessimistic self.
"Hermione," Harry said in a intonation Hermione was unable to define, "Do you realize how serious this is?"
"No," she said, smiling. "not that I want to..."
"He's Slytherin though!" Ron said wildly. "it's practically a law that Gryffindor and Slytherin don't mix at Hogwarts!"
"Well, it's about time we students change the law, don't you think?" Luna questioned, a dreamy expression dancing in her eyes. "For justice! for right!" she punched her fist triumphantly in the air.
Harry and Ron looked at each other.
"Look, I still think it's a bad idea, you know—"
Hermione wasn't paying attention, for Draco had just swept by hastily. Why is he in such a hurry?
"DRACO!!!" Pansy shouted, dodging through the crowd. Her sallow ivory hair hung in tangled knots down her back. "Draco, wait! Come back!" but Draco was too far ahead. Pansy halted, stomped her foot loudly and whined in frustration. Then she stalked up to Hermione.
"You-you little TRAMP!" she huffed. "You keep your grimy little paws off Draco! Just wait! I'm gonna get you for this!"
Hermione leaned back from her sweating face, "Before you get me, maybe you should cool off."
Snickers buzzed throughout the Great Hall. Pansy glowered at Hermione before marching away.
"Hermione!" exclaimed Ron with astonishment. "That was incredible!"
Hermione nodded. "I've been wanting to cuss her off for a long time now."
"Aren't you worried about what she said, though?" Ginny put in worriedly. "She can get pretty darn nasty sometimes."
"Ever heard of the phrase "One minute grilling, next minute chilling"?" Hermione said calmly. "I can take a little threat."
"I don't know..." Harry said, his voice had the same edgy manner Ginny's did.
~*~
Early early next morning, Hermione awoke to distant yelps. Crookshanks! She thought as she threw her cloak on hurriedly. Making as less noise as possible, Hermione bounded down the stairs of the girl's corridor and out into the misty air. It was pretty warm for October, but with the Sun still set and the wind blowing, it was considerably chilly. Hermione's heartbeat quickened as she fallowed the cries of her cat, whom she had bonded with since the day she bought him. She stepped into the clearing of the pond obverse the school.
"Crookshanks!" she called out, rubbing her palms together to create more heat.
From behind the bushes, Crookshanks came bounding to her.
Hermione gave a sigh of relief. "You bonehead! Don't you ever scare me like that again!" but Crookshanks kept nudging her legs, pushing her away from the pond.
Hermione bent down. "What do you want now you little rascal?"
"Well, well, well,"
Hermione wheeled around. Pansy Parkinson stepped out behind a tree, wearing a look that told Hermione she was up to no good.
"What are you doing out here?" Hermione said as she slowly rose into full height. Pansy drew nearer to her. Although not as bulky as most Slytherin girls, Pansy was definitely taller than Hermione was.
"Oh, just wondering around, looking for..." her eyes leveled with hers.
Hermione sensed trouble. Lifting up Crookshanks, she turned to go, but came face to face with two Slytherin girls, whom she recognized to be the two Chasers of Slytherin.
She faced Pansy. "Is this your idea of a joke?"
"Oh, far from it," Pansy said dangerously, "You see, I always get what I want." She stepped closer. "and now I want you DEAD!"
Hermione took off at her last word, heart racing. "Help!" she screamed desperately. The weight of the feline in her arms was weighing her down. Heavy footsteps gained on her. She let Crookshanks go with a swift movement of her hand. She watched as the cat scampered down the stony path and into the mist. No sooner had Crookshanks disappeared, Hermione felt her hands being roughly held behind her back. She struggled as the two large Chasers forced her back towards the lake.
"Now, where were we?" Pansy questioned mockingly. This was way different than babyish spoiled Pansy in front of Malfoy. This Pansy was cold and heartless. "Ah yes," she directed her finger towards the lake. Hermione tried hard to break free, but the many enormous hands on her was holding her down. Hermione felt the rough uneven edges of stones beneath her feet. At the very edge, Pansy came over.
"Aww, tsk, tsk, tsk, poor Hermione," her eyes widened. "Oh, and don't bother swimming, it's -1000 degrees down there, and might I add jellyfish just waiting for a perfect meal. Oh!" she clasped her hands together. "I almost forgot, even if you do survive, and I'm not saying that's possible, but if, I've dumped Forgetfulness Potion throughout the lake. Professor Snape was kind enough to lend it to me, not that he knew what I was gonna use it for. No, no no, I'm not telling him, I mean, even he wouldn't let me break the regulations of Hogwarts."
Hermione shook a strand of hair out of her eyes and stared daggers at Pansy. "You heatless—"
Pansy flipped her hand. "Uh, uh, uh, I don't have time for this," She bent down. "You're burning hot, Hermione." She traced an icy finger down her cheek. "Maybe you should COOL OFF!"
With that, the many hands drew back instantly. Pansy put both hands on Hermione's sholders and pushed hard. Hermione lost her balance. She screamed as she fell down down down and plunged several feet into the freezing water.
Mind swirling, Hermione concentrated on what was most important, staying afloat. She swam as near to the surface as she possibly could. The water was indeed freezing. There came a loud swoosh, and Hermione felt herself being hulled down. She opened her eyes, looking down, and sure enough, there was a blurry shape of a jellyfish. Her breathe of air lessened as she tried to break free. Rummaging frantically in her robe pocket, Hermione felt for her wand. Then she remembered her wand was safely tucked away back in her dorm. Hermione began to feel weak from lack of oxygen. She needed air... streams of bubbles issued from her mouth as she drifted in and out of conciousness. She knew this was it, she was going to die in a watery grave. Might as well stop fighting. Giving up, she let the squid drag her away. For what seemed like forever, Hermione was faintly aware of herself being pulled away from the squid's binds. Someone grabbed her waist. Hermione sagged feebly. She felt herself being raised rapidly towards the surface. The last of her strength left her as she blacked out completely.
"Breathe Hermione.....................don't die on me..................." Draco's voice seemed to be coming from a faraway tunnel. Hermione had no strength to.
"If anything happens to her......... I'll take it out on you.............."
Hermione's felt a strong force pressing down on her body. She felt a hand on her cheek. Something soft pressed upon her lips and a gust of air followed. She stirred.
"She's not waking!" Ginny was sobbing.
"Ron............... you're not pressing hard enough.................." Harry said.
An abrupt jolt followed. Hermione choked as liquid expelled from her mouth. She coughed multiple times, but her head dropped to the other side as sleep eludes her still.
"Someone hold her upright!" Luna instructed.
Two hands held onto Hermione's sholders and pulled her up. Hermione didn't move as her head tipped back.
"You keep your hands off her Malfoy!"
"Shut up Potter,"
"Hermione, c'mon wake up." Draco. He put his arms around her. His robes were cold and wet. Hermione stayed motionless. "Hey, wake up." He said gently, shaking her. Hermione roused. She finally opened her eyes. Draco smiled down at her.
She felt confused. "What happened to me?" she said shakily, raising up her head.
Ron's eyes were as big as tennis balls. "Don't tell me you don't remember."
She shook her head. Nausea hit her, causing her to sink back down. Draco immediately felt her forehead.
"She's got a fever."
Without another word, he lifted her up swiftly and easily. Hermione wrapped her arms loosely around his neck, and rested her head on his chest. Harry stepped forward. "Where do you think you're taking her?"
Hermione felt Draco turn. "She needs sleep, in case you didn't notice!"
~*~
Draco set Hermione down on her bed softly and lifted up the covers to her chin. "You need sleep now, Hermione. You haven't completely recovered from last time. " With that, he turned to go.
"Wait," she whispered, drawing him back with all the strength she could muster. "Could you stay? Just for a little?"
Draco smiled and sat down beside her on the bed, just like she had done when he was injured and in the Hospital Wing. Taking her hand in his, he reached out and brushed a strand of her hair away from her face with his other hand. "Go to sleep now, okay? Or do you need me to tell you how?"
Hermione giggled and closed her eyes. Within minutes, she dozed off, and didn't feel his hand slip away.