Disclaimer: I only own my plot and chars. you know the drill.

A/N: Is it possible to be on such a roll with typing, you don't even know what you're typing. That kind of happened last chapter. I knew what I was typing, but some of it seemed....stupid...to put in. I have an outline of the plot for this story, but I loosely follow it. Anyways, thanks again for my comments! I love you all so so much for reading this!

Chapter 13: One Stormy Day

Monday, Monday, Monday...Of all days to plan revenge. It was not a great day, and it had only been three minutes since I woke up. Me, pathetic Maranda, forgets to wash her favorite jeans, which forces a different type of clothing on without permission...A skirt. Not just any skirt, but a jean skirt that ended a few inches above my knees, making me feel like I belonged in a strip club. As nothing matched the skirt right, I had to wear a baby blue peasant top, which fit uncomfortably like a glove. I was a mess, and couldn't pretend to be sick, because everyone would say I was hiding from the torment and teasing they'd give me. So I swallowed any pride I had left swimming inside of me, and headed to breakfast.

My curly hair now bouncing around as I walked into the Great Hall, too many pairs of eyes stared at me. I truly was not myself today; Anyone could figure that out. Even the pink skirt and top set I wore before wasn't as bad as this. Sitting down, making sure my legs weren't flying all over the place, I tried to look as lady-like as possible. Hermione smiled and told me she liked my ensemble, and Ron followed after. How could Ron, a person who despised me for no reason, give me a complement and expect me to take it?

"Damn," I swore quietly to Hermione, "These sneakers don't match me at all. But I'm not about to wear high-heels and fall everywhere."

Laughing, Hermione told me she knew exactly what I meant.

I checked my backpack for all the equipment for my plans of revenge. Most of the things I would use I already owned, but never used it. But some of the things I found in the storage closet where I found the boombox I used on Halloween. Seeing all the equipment in my bag, I took out a piece of bubble gum and started to chew it. As the bell rang for first class, Charms, I waited for the Ravenclaws to leave the hall. I followed Veronica and placed the chewed, soggy bubble gum in her hair without anyone noticing. I think blue gum goes well with braided hair, honest! Falling behind a few paces, so Veronica wouldn't think I did it, I sighed as I realized Draco was walking by my side. Ignoring him, I rushed to Charms class and sat just as the second bell rang.

"...Oh and did you hear her screaming? I can't imagine who put gum in Veronica's hair!" A Slytherin girl was chatting with her friends.

One of the other girls laughed, "It was in her braids, and Oh Merlin, she was so ticked off!"

I was satisfied, but not satisfied enough. I would still attempt to get revenge on the rest of the people I had in mind. For instance, as Charms class proceeded, Crabbe and Goyle just so happened to walk by my desk. I took out a small packet of itching powder and just as their backs were turned to me, I poured it all over them. They sat down, and started to scratch. Draco was trying to talk to them, but they were too distracted with the itching. Unfortunately, Malfoy glanced at my side of the room, so I think he may know I did it.

The day progressed and I stayed away from major pranks. I tripped a few people and even put sneezing powder in Ferret Boy's book. When he opened it in Transfiguration class, he couldn't stop sneezing. However, it wore off after ten minutes. That was good though, because McGonagal looked as though she would go crazy soon.

Oh Merlin, what I didn't remember was Potions class was last. I was planning on pulling some prank on Snape, but I was having second thoughts. He saved me from falling off the balcony on the night of the Ball, but every other time he saw me he did nothing but act cruel. A small prank won't hurt, will it?

Walking shyly into Potions class, I sat next to Draco and stayed silent. Slithering into the classroom, Snape had a usual look of hatred casted on his face. He sauntered down the isle and stopped at my row. Taking an exploding quill in my hand, which looked like any other quill, I slipped it into his pocket without anyone noticing; That was surprising! Switching glares from the opposite side of the room to mine, he stared at me. He raised both eyebrows, but said nothing and continued walking to his desk.

..he checked you out again... I could imagine Ron whisper to me by the end of class. That would be once again the grossest thing I ever heard.

Now standing in front of the chalkboard, Snape's eyes shot icy daggers as he looked us over. "Everyone's here.." He assumed, "Great. Now I won't have to punish anyone for being late. Take out your books and turn to page two-hundred and four. You will be working with your assigned partners, as usual, to conjure up your own potion. That's right, this chapter shows how to create an original potion you make up. I will be around to check any progress you make. This is a class project which will take up the next three classes. I don't expect you to know exactly what you are doing until tomorrow. So, talk it over with your partners and try to be creative. Now, onto your assignment."

"You heard the man," Draco scolded me, "let's make a potion!"

Snape sat down at his desk and took the quill from his pocket, clearly curious how it got there. I payed no attention to Draco as Snape dipped the quill in ink, seconds seemed slower than slugs.

"Maguire," Draco called, but saw where my attention was, "Why aren't you paying attention to our project?"

Slowly, the quill pressed lightly onto parchment, with Snape having no idea that it wasn't a regular quill.

Poking me, Draco tried to get my attention again, "Maguire, stupid girl, Maguire!" But his words trailed off..

With a loud bang, the quill finally exploded, leaving Severus Snape's hand covered in black ink. The class was now in dead silence. The silence that comes right before the loud explosion of bombs in war. Yet, this wasn't war, nor was it a battleground; This was Potions class..So what was an explosion doing in here? Only I could answer that, but would I? I don't think wild horses could drag the confession out of me. I wouldn't tell anyone. I thought the exploding quill would have been funnier, but to my surprise, it only filled me with a deathly nervous feeling, and guilt was the cherry to the paranoid sundae.

"..." Standing up, Snape's face turned pale like the moonlight, and his eyes almost seemed a reddish tint of freshly spilled blood. There was definately hatred growing in him; More hatred than he had ever experienced...Maybe..

The first giggle came from my side of the room, and I had to touch my closed mouth to make sure it wasn't me. After that, like dominoes, the room filled with an eruption of laughter. I had been proved wrong; This classroom was a battlefield, and the bombs were laughing students.

"Stop laughing!" Snape ordered. The laughter haulted on demand, and he asked, "Who put an exploding quill in my possesion?"

Silence captivated the classroom; The calm before the storm.

Taking a deep breath, Snape shouted, "No one will leave this classroom until I know who did this! An exploding quill in a professor's pocket is not a laughing matter. Whichever one of you pulled this prank had better learn to speak up for themselves pretty soon. If I am forced to, I will use a truth serum on the entire class until I know exactly which one of you dunderheads did it! And don't think for one second that I won't use the truth serum, for I already have a cauldron full of it on the counter over there for my third year students. I will use that one, and have the other class make twice as much as assigned. So, for the sake of your class and another class of mine, tell me who did this."

Once again, silence; The brewing of the storm.

Gulping, I tried to figure out how much trouble I would get in if I outright admitted it was my doing. Before I could think anymore, Snape walked around the room, glaring at each and every student, even the Slytherins. Now I could tell Snape had no humor in life. Especially from us 'dunderheads.' And now, with every prayer floating in my head hoping for my life to still exist after my next action, I raised my hand high in the air awaiting Snape to come to me.

"Put your hand down, Miss Maguire," Snape approached me. No turning back now..

My meek voice merely whispered, "It was me.."

"Excuse me?" Snape wanted me to repeat myself louder, so he could actually hear this time.

"It was me, Sir." I said as though I were in an army.

Snape told me to stand up. Now, my friends, the storm.

"Who do you think you are?" Snape questioned.

I stood up straight, "A mere student. Nothing more, nothing less." I told him what he wanted to hear.

"Must I remind you," His voice was bitter, "that you are on very fine lines with the school?"

"Whoa...Excuse me Professor Snape, but I have done nothing so terribly wrong to make our Headmaster think of expelling me. I am not on fine lines with the school..Just...Just you.." I couldn't believe my words.

"Miss Maguire! You have spoken to me in an attitude for the last time!"

"How do you know? Are you able to see into the future? I sure don't think so."

Snape was infuriated, but the class was being entertained, "You have just lost your house ten points. What have you to say about this?"

"I say...You shouldn't punish them for my actions. I can see you taking points away if the whole Gryffindor house attacked you or something, but just me... That's a bit..harsh.."

"You," Snape sneered, "have detention with me tonight, tomorrow night, and the night after that. And ten more points away from Gryffindor. Now, Miss Maguire, what have you to say about that?"

I sat back down, and crossed my arms, "It's fine."

The bell rang, and everyone piled out of the room as though a monster were to chase them. I left as well, and held my head high for taking a bad situation so lightly. I was thrilled I had survived the terrible storm.

"Maranda!" Hermione ran up to me, "Oh Merlin are you alright?"

"Peachy," I answered shortly.

She smiled, "Congratulations..That was one of the best fights you and Snape had so far. You really put the quill in his pocket?"

"Yep.."

"Wow. Good job." Hermione spotted Harry and Ron and told them to wait up as she rushed to them in the hall. I stayed in my place, leaning against a wall on the first floor, thinking about what had happened.

Suddenly, Ferret Boy came over to me, grinning like an idiot. What did he want now?

"Maguire, that was pretty funny. I could have never guessed you of all people would pull a prank on Snape." Draco continued to smile.

Sighing, I said, "Thanks. It was no big deal though. I've been trying to get revenge on everyone today-" Crap, I didn't mean to admit that!

"Oh, so it was you who put sneezing powder in my book." Draco inched closer to me, leaving me pushing myself back onto the wall as though I would fall through it and hide.

"Umm...sorry." I appologized.

Malfoy stood an inch away from me, and looked into my eyes. I tried not to look at his, but there was some unbreakable force pulling my eyes into his. His ocean blue eyes sparkled with cleverness, but gave a hint of mischief as well.

"It's ok," He whispered, "I like your bravery.."

With no sense whatsoever as what was about to happen, I could not move myself or get out of the way. Malfoy was now close enough to me to feel his hot breath being exhaled. He placed his hand on my face and pressed his lips on mine. I couldn't move, and I couldn't fight him. I was helpless, I was paralized, I He pulled his lips slowly off of mine and stepped back a few inches.

"See you later, Maranda..." Draco walked down he hall, away from my sight.

Still leaning on the wall, I was sure I was not awake. My body felt numb, almost dead, and my brain was swimming in curiosity. What just happened? I asked myself this over and over again, not gaining any answers. I found myself walking to supper, but I wasn't hungry. Instead, I walked to my sanctuary, the library.

Reading didn't help me at all. I couldn't stop thinking about the confusing kiss. Draco hated me, didn't he? Why would he kiss me? And why the hell did he call me by my first name? I couldn't figure this out, but I did figure out one thing; Ironically, the kiss, the unexpected gesture, was the calm after the storm. Little raindrops that fell from the window sill kind of calm. A confusing calm...So calm, you must be either dreaming or imagining it. But no matter what it was, it was still the calm after one stormy day.