Disclaimer: I own only my characters and plot.
A/N: Thank you so much for reading this story. This is going to be a trilogy, so I hope you all stay for the ride.
Chapter 12: Morning After
Ermmmm I was in a comfortable bed, but not my own. The bright light of the new day blinded my eyes as I opened them, and gave me a pain in my head worse than any headache could. I groaned at the throbbing pain near my temple, and I rubbed it, wishing it would erase. Opening my eyes fully now, I could see I was in the Hospital Wing. Professor Snape was talking with Malfoy and Nurse Pomfrey across from me, not noticing I was awake. I back-tracked to the previous night, trying to figure out why I was in the Hospital Wing.
The only memories of last night were of Draco dancing with me, then my feeling very ill. Something about walking out on the balcony for some fresh air, and Snape coming to yell at me to go back inside, but after that was fuzzy. However, my feeling ill was a mystery. I hadn't eaten anything unusual, or drank anything out of the ordinary. I only drank some punch that Malfoy brought to me...
"Miss Maguire," Snape's calm and sleek voice seemed to aid the throbbing in my brain, "How are you feeling this morning?"
I choked, "Icky, Just icky."
Malfoy smiled devilishly, and Snape continued to talk, "I'm not surprised. After all, you were drunk..."
"Drunk?" I was confused. How was I drunk? I hadn't any alchohol..I'm against drinking..
"Yes," Snape slithered closer to me as I sat up in bed, "you were drunk. Mister Malfoy found an empty bottle of vodka where you were talking with your friends."
Malfoy had spiked my drinks! How stupid I was to trust him with a simple task of getting me fruit punch to quench my thirst! "Professor Snape, Sir," I began, "I did not, nor would I ever, drink alchohol of any kind. Now, i don't want to sound rude, but how do you know Malfoy isn't lying? We have been through a situation where he has framed me before, have we not? Wouldn't you be so kind as to give him a truth serum?"
Shocked at my calm speech, Snape gave in, "Alright, Miss Maguire, I will give Mr. Malfoy a truth serum. But if he is not lying, you will be severely punished for this nonsense."
Snape always had to add some instigation to any situation, didn't he? Forcing a small smile on my face, I thanked Snape. Noticing the look of defeat on Malfoy's face, I held back a giggle. For once Snape was going to be civil and considerate, which I could have never guessed possible for a man of his kind. Getting up, I stumbled a bit and had to put my hand on Snape's arm for support. After this stupid act of mine, he said nothing, but gave me a strange look. Appologizing, I took my hand off and realized I was still in my white dress.
Malfoy mumbled a few bad words at me and left the room. Professor Snape looked at me in an odd way, "You'd better get dressed. I don't expect you'll walk around in a dress all day."
"Wait," I rudely blurted before he left the room, "What happened with me last night, After I went on the balcony?"
Sighing, Snape told me, "You fell off the bench you were sitting on, so I caught you, and tried to force you back inside. You were acting quite silly, and stated that you could fly. Walking over to the balcony's edge, you leaned on it the wrong way, almost falling off, but I grabbed you. You blacked out before I took you though. If you had fallen off of that balcony....I don't think you would be awake right now. It's a pretty high fall."
Speechless, the thought of Snape saving my life drained all education from my aching head. I managed to cough up a few words, making barely any sense, "Thanks...my life...you saved...wow...you...saved..."
"I think you might need a nap, Miss Maguire.." Snape playfully said, and a hint of a half-smile appeared.
I nodded my head, "Yeah..nap.." Snape left the Hospital Wing, and I was alone with my confused thoughts.
0o0o0o0o0o
Rolling out of my dormitory bed from my nap, I saw that it was past noontime. When I came up to the common room, I was too lazy to change out of my dress. So, after my nap, I took a shower, and changed into my normal jeans and a t-shirt. Being slightly bored, I remembered how I told Hagrid how nervous I was about Draco. I decided to walk to his hut and talk the previous evening's occurences over with him.
Hagrid welcomed me in with his usual cheery self, but once I told him all the details of Malfoy's alchohol plot, Hagrid was ready to pound the Ferret Boy himself. After a cup of tea, I was feeling much better and my headache was gone.
"Maranda," Hagrid stood up and walked by the table which held the sewing machine, "I want you to keep this sewing machine."
"Whoa-What? I can't keep that, Hagrid. What will you use?" I was surprised at Hagrid's over-kindness.
Hagrid's eyes looked like they were about to leak with tears, "I don't sew. I want you to keep it. You don't have to bring it up to the castle, but when summer comes 'round, I want you to take it with yeh' and make all the clothes and things that yeh' want."
Speechless, being twice in one day, I shook my head and pushed back my own tears. No one had ever given me anything, not even for my birthday, and the gift of my own sewing machine was too much. "Hagrid, I don't-"
"Now I won't take no for an answer," He grinned happily, "This sewing machine is now property of Maranda."
"Thank you so much..." I stood up, and did something I had never done on my own free will; I gave Hagrid the biggest hug both of us ever had.
Ending my visit, I said my goodbyes to Hagrid and started off to the castle again. I left the sewing machine in his hut, which was a good thing until I found a spot in the dormitory for it. I didn't trust anyone in that school yet, so I decided with hagrid was perfect. I did trust him, as he was the first real friend I had.
Walking back into the school, I noticed a few groups of students huddling together. One of the groups was all Slytherins, including Draco and his pals Crabbe and Goyle. I was in too much of a good mood to care what crap he would give me.
Spotting me, Draco shouted, "You little wench! Snape found out I gave you spiked drinks and he gave me a week of detentions. The punishment would've been worse, but I acted so sorry and said I had no clue what I was doing. He loves us Slytherins!"
"Leave me alone, Ferret.." I warned. My good mood had vanished. Guess I was wrong about being in too nice of a mood to let it be destroyed.
"Maguire, the liar, got drunker and higher, all on one winter's night..Maguire, the liar, who's temper caught fire, gave even Snape a fright!" Malfoy was too pathetic. As if a silly rhyme would make me upset.
Well, it wouldn't make me upset until all of the students in the hall started to say it in unison.
Maguire, the liar, got drunker and higher, all on one winter's night..Maguire, the liar, who's temper caught fire, gave even Snape a fright!
As if things couldn't get any worse! I thought too soon..Veronica Watson walked in front of Malfoy and acted like.....like me?
"Oh, I can't take it anymore...My poor orphanage was nicer to me than this! I can't deal with it anymore..I must...I must...kill myself! No..I'll drink my problems away! Better yet, I'll pretend that I have a date to the Ball! Everyone will like me then!" Veronica put a hand over her head and pretended to faint.
"Shut up..." I muttered, clenching my fists.
"No!" Veronica continued to mock me, "Oh, my dead parents must be looking up from Hell in disgust at my pathetic life."
Draco's blank face showed no emotion. I couldn't tell if he was enjoying this or not, but I sure wasn't.
"That's enough, Veronica," Malfoy shoed her away, back into the croud. "We have to see what will make poor, little, Maguire cry. She holds in so many tears, and we think it's time to let them come out."
I clenched my fists tighter and felt my nails digging into my skin. I loosened the grip, not wanting to start bleeding. Before the group of people could start saying the rhyme again, Professor McGonagal pushed through the croud.
"What is the meaning of this assembly? Mister Malfoy," She said intimidatingly, "you already have a week's worth of detention, which is not enough for bringing alchohol into the school, do you want more punishment?"
"No Ma'am..." Draco sounded scared.
"Then get on your way. I think you've teased Miss Maguire enough. And I don't want to hear anymore rhymes or songs mocking her." McGonagal looked at me, and then turned the corner of the hallway towards the Grand Staricase.
Watching the students pile out of the hallway, Draco walked up to me, two inches from my face.
"You watch it, Maguire," He whispered harshly, "Or your parents will have some company soon.."
"Draco," I laughed, "You're such a dork! You couldn't kill me. You'd be expelled, and sent to Azkaban."
"Who told you about Azkaban?" He asked innocently.
I sneered, "Hagrid did. So, if I were you, which I'm glad I'm not, I would leave me alone and stop mocking me."
"You can't threaten me!"
"Yes I can," I said surely, "and I just did."
Grunting, Draco turned on his heel and walked out of my sight.
Standing in my own annoyance at everything, I couldn't figure out why Draco hated me so much. I understood how it felt to loathe someone, but not unless I had a reason. I didn't loathe Snape, and he was always a cruel person to me.. But Draco, I was confused. I hated his evil ways, his teasing me, and his stupid Ferret-ness..Yet, I didn't hate him either. Anyone would guess I did, but their was something about Malfoy that made me enjoy fighting with him. Even though he was terribly mean, there was that glimmer of hope that maybe in the future we would put aside our differences and become...friends. Maybe even best friends. He didn't seem to hate me too much..The only reason he hated me, that I knew of, was that I was not pure witch. That's a very stupid reason not to like someone.
Noticing a nearby clock, I headed to the Great Hall for supper. Upon entering, several icy glares planted on me. Boy, if looks could kill, I'd be buried one thousand feet underground! Sitting in my normal seat, Hermione asked if I was alright. I told what happened, and curious ears heard every detail. Harry even glared at me when I called Veronica a stupid loser. How could Harry like her? If anyone could answer, I'd give them one million dollars...(that I didn't have.)
Heading to bed early, I thought of nothing but ways to get even with everyone who treated me horribly. For I would be initiating any revenge tomorrow....