Author's Note:
Forgive me for any grammer and typos you will see this chapter. I was quick to update. Enjoy.
Chapter Ten
Unnoticed even by my own doing, out of nervousness, I chewed the tip of my quill as I was trying to bury my thoughts into my homework, which was not due for another two weeks. I did not notice what I was doing until the flaky, flurry taste of the feathers nearly made me choke. Merlin, I was coughing fur balls, or something of that similarity... feathers.
I should feel rested, feel relieved, that for once and for all, my dare is done and I won't have to worry about another consequence unsuspecting popping out of nowhere and downright embarrassing me to insanity. After all, this morning it felt like a light was shining on me, and that I was freed from the chase the consequences had me going. My temporary moment of happiness was squashed when I realized this simple, but very much manifest fact: Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley hates Draco Malfoy.
Even so, hate might be a light word to describe the mutual feelings my two bestfriends have with Malfoy. Detestation... abhorrence... repugnance... revulsion... all relatively common synonyms, but I knew their feelings were a bit deeper than those words. There is no description, no words to express what they truly feel. I did not want to imagine their look of revelation, betrayal once I give them the confession that their arch nemesis is my date for the most important ball of Hogwarts, the Graduation Ball. How can they take it lightly? Gods, they'll gang up on Malfoy and murder him. Harry might understand if I explain to him, but Ron is a difficult case. I will have to confine him, tie him to a chair and deadbolt his mouth, just so he would listen. Otherwise, his irrational behavior will cause the death of the Head-Boy.
Certainly, it's not jealously that will cause them to act this way. It would be like I'm betraying them, sleeping with the enemy. But mind you, I will not... ever. That's a ludicrous thought and I won't hesitate to hex you to hell if the thought that Hermione Granger sleeps with Draco Malfoy crosses your incongruous mind.
How will I tell them? I can't spill everything, from the dare to the consequences to me and Malfoy making out and him touching me... like that... ugh. It'll be headline news: Hermione Granger, Goody-two-shoes Rebels from the Influence of Sinister Malfoy Jr.
I buried my face into my hand, groaning because of the horrible incidents I somehow have gotten myself into. For the past hour, I have been lying on my bed, trying to do homework, but only managed to draw silly scribbles which strongly resembled Malfoy's deaths in many, creative ways. Hung from a rope, burning in flames, chopped up into pieces... Goodness, this is obscene. I have to do something. I cannot lie around, moping like this.
Finally, I got up my bed, fiddled around for my shoes and grabbed my wand from my desk. I turned the doorknob and yanked the door open. I marched across the common room and pounded on Malfoy's door. That bloody bloke better be in there. No answer. I knocked on the door again. I waited, tapping my foot impatiently.
Moments later, the door opened and an irritated Malfoy greeted me. "What the hell do you want?"
I took a deep breath and said quickly, "IamnotgoingtoBallwithyou."
He raised his eyebrow. "What?"
"You heard me."
"Sorry, Granger, but I don't speak your language." He crossed his arms arrogantly.
My fingers twitched, having the biggest urge to smack him and wipe that conceited smirk off his face. "I said," I gritted. "I. Am. Not. Going. To. The. Ball. With. You."
The smirk on his face faded. "You're not backing out on me, Granger. I won't tolerate it."
"Well," I heightened my posture, attempting to look confident as I stuck my nose haughtily into the air. "I just did. So you just go find some other girl to be draped around your arms for the Ball."
Malfoy laughed.
"What's so funny?" I demanded, rather offended. Is that bloke not taking me seriously?
"Granger, don't kid yourself. What female wouldn't want Draco Malfoy as her date?"
"I'm not like the other females and frankly, I don't want you as my date."
"And who would you rather have? Potter? Weasley? Longbottom, for Merlin's sake?"
"Any one of them is better company than you any day."
Malfoy clicked his tongue disapprovingly. "I'll let you on a secret, Granger. Come closer." He wriggled his finger at me.
I stared at him, wondering if I should.
"I won't bite... much."
I stepped back.
"I'm only joking, Granger." He grinned naughtily. "Now, seriously, I'll let you on something."
I vacillated, but took a step forward. He leaned in. I could feel his warm breath on my face. Mmm...minty... I shook the thought away, disgusted with myself. His lips were only a mere centimeter from mine and I could have sworn that he was going to kiss me. Somewhere, deep down inside me, like all the way down to my foot or something, I think I wanted him to. But fortunately, (unfortunately?), he didn't.
He smiled, his face still close to mine. He tilted his head a bit and whispered into my ear, "If you don't go with me to the Ball, the consequences are returning... and retaliating... You wouldn't want to deal with them again, would you?"
He leaned back, chuckling amusedly. My mouth dropped with the ground. How did he know?! How the hell did he know?! Gods, how did he know?! My mind was racing.
He examined his fingernails, but kept an eye on my shocked expression. "The dare would be incomplete, Granger."
I was a bit too speechless to reply. He can't... He can't!
"I-I... How did you know?" I swallowed, breathless.
"Granger, I know you're not daft. You think something as important and amusing as this would pass by me?
I literally melted to the ground.
He bended down infront of me and lifted my chin with his hand. "People are very easy to manipulate when under... certain circumstances... and it seems like I've found my info."
"Malfoy!" I screeched, hands outstretched to grab his neck and wring him to his death. "I'm going to kill you!"
He quickly grabbed my wrists with one hand, while the other hand held me down. "No need for violence Granger."
"When I get my hands on you, I swear, you're going to wish you're dead!"
His grip on my wrists tightened. "Never in my life have I faced such humiliations from a mudblood, you don't think that I'm going to let you get away that easily? Now listen here, I'm doing you a favor by taking you to the Ball. I can easily let you suffer the intolerable consequences and never face the world again, or you can calm down and be reasonable."
I sniffed. I could feel them blasted tears trying to break free.
"From what I've learned," He said, loosening his grip, but still held me down. "It seems like your consequences would commence again if the dare is not completely carried out. The dare would be fully completed at the end of the Graduation Ball."
"Why are you doing this?" I sobbed. Knowing Draco Malfoy, he would never admit the true reasoning behind his actions.
"I have my reasons, Granger." He let go of me. He stood up, brushing off his robe. "I believe that there will be no more disagreements about this?"
I nodded, wanting to crawl into a corner and just stay there for the rest of my life. Merlin can only hope that Harry and Ron would understand.
I did not know to approach Harry or Ron about this matter. I have been thinking about it all throughout my detention with Binns last night, organizing his books. My detention with Malfoy was done. McGonagall had a bit of benevolence left and told us we do not have to complete the fifth day of detention. One day with her and three days with Binns was enough for me. It had already tarnished the good record I've been trying to keep clean for so long. Guess it's true when they say there is a first time for everything.
How should I break the news to them? Perhaps, I'm exaggerating this a bit much.
But foremost, before I do anything else, I wanted to know who was the conniving snitch that told Malfoy about my dare. There were only three other people that I know of who knew. Lavender, Parvarti, and Ginny...unless someone were busy eavesdropping on our conversations...
I wanted to confront them and demand that they give me truthful answers. Parvarti was the first of the trio that I saw the next morning. I saw her heading down the stairs of the Gryffindor stairs of the Girls' Dorms.
"Parvarti!" I hollered. She looked at me, surprised.
"I need to talk to you." I said, dragging her back up the stairs into my old dorm.
"What's the hurry?" She asked. "Hermione, I'm going to need that wrist to write my Potions essay!"
I let her go and closed the door. "I need to know," I said, turning around to face her. "Did you tell Malfoy about my dare?"
She was aghast. "Of course not!"
I crossed my arms angrily. "Well, someone did because he knows and he's using it to his advantage."
She looked sheepishly at the floor. "H-How so?"
"I don't know what his plan is, but he's determined to take me to the Ball, claiming that he's 'helping me' with my dare. I know Malfoy; he's planning something and the conse—" I winced. That word is evil as evil. "The results won't be pleasant for me."
Parvarti fidgeted uneasily with her fingers.
"Parvarti, is there something you want to tell me?" I asked, looking at her suspiciously.
There was a heavy silence between us, with her fidgeting and nervously twirling her hair and me scrutinizing her carefully. After a long period of time, she broke.
"I-I-oh! I'm sorry!" She threw her arms around me, sobbing uncontrollably. "I-I'm sorry Hermione! I didn't mean to! I didn't want to!"
I can't believe she was the one who told!
"Wha—tell me. What happened?" I attempted to comfort her even though a very evil part of me wanted to strangle her.
"Merlin, that devil has his ways! I was completely helpless!"
"What happened? Did he hurt you?"
She was frenzied. "I didn't know what to do! I was so lost!"
I shook her. "Tell. Me. What. Happened!"
She wiped her tears. "H-he didn't hurt me. I was cornered by him a couple nights ago a-and... Merlin, I couldn't help but look into his alluring eyes! He had me so captivated and gave me the best snogging session I ever had! He started to ask me questions about you, but I didn't notice that I was answering them because... because..." She dazed off, possibly recalling the remnants of her late-night snogging session.
I let go of my arms around her, dropping her to the ground. "This is unbelievable..."
"Hermione," she whimpered, standing up. "Please forgive me."
I couldn't look at her. I turned around and walked away.
"I-if it helps, Draco has a dare too!"
I halted. I slowly turned back, eyes interested and ears opened. "What did you say?"
"W-well, I was overhearing Zabini talk and he said that Malfoy has a dare. He was dared by Zabini to take you to the Graduation Ball."
Now it all fitted perfectly. Helping me, my arse! That deceiving bloke just didn't want to lose the dare and get pummeled by the consequences! I should've known he would pull a stunt like that. So, if Malfoy and I don't complete this dare, we'll both face the consequences... Okay, my plan can work with that.
"Thank you, Parvarti. That helped very much."
She let out a sigh of relief.
"But I'm still angry that you told him. Friends wouldn't do that."
"I'm sorry." She frowned. "If there is anything I can do to make it up to you..."
I thought about it for a moment. "Yes," I said finally. "You can help me prepare for the Graduation Ball."
Her face lighted up. "You're not kidding? You're actually going to... Oh my gosh! Hermione!" She grabbed me and pulled me into a tight hug. "I'm going to make you so beautiful!"
"Good." I smiled deviously. "That's what I'm aiming for." I walked to the door, but stopped. "One more thing... Since there was foul play that was involved in my dare... can it still be called off even though it's in the process of completing?
"Yeah... I think so, but you got to have all three of us to withdraw it." She looked me cagily. "Why are you calling it off? Malfoy is your date isn't he?"
"Oh course he is," I kept smiling. It made Parvarti uneasy. How comical. "Why don't we find Lavender and Ginny so you can call off my dare? Don't worry, Malfoy would still be my date, but I just don't want to go knowing that I'm going with him because of a dare."
"If you put it that way... then I guess, we can."
"Perfect."
A minor setback. Malfoy knowing about my dare, but no problem. I have suffered enough throughout this year and I'm going to end it with a bang. Parvarti, Ginny, and Lavender eventually withdrew my dare during lunch, even though reluctantly. Malfoy didn't know there was foul play involved in my dare. Now there is a window for me, before I was just stuck in a windowless room with no way to get out. The window had just been opened. I could be Malfoy's date... or I can choose not to be and let him suffer the consequences. Yes, I might do that just to wallow in the joy to see Malfoy humiliated, but I have bigger plans for him. Goodness, I would've done well in Slytherin spite their downright haughty, evil nature. Being cunning and scheming revenge... Merlin, I'm surprised I love the thrill in this.
Let's just pray, for my own sake, that Malfoy does not know about this and will not know until my plan is completed.
I stabbed my apple pie, the sticky, cinnamon syrup oozed out of the pie. The Great Hall was filled with the chattering of students during dinner. Harry and Ron were late. Ron is late. Ron is never for dinner. He is never late for any meal and it's making me anxious! I stuffed a fork full of pie into my mouth. As delicious as it was, I couldn't enjoy it. My lips were smothered with the cinnamon syrup. It definitely had to be coincident timing that Malfoy happened to be looking over the Gryffindor table just as I was seductively running my tongue over my lips to clean it of the sugar bits. I didn't really notice him until he was smirking at me and repeated my deed with his own lips and tongue. Any other girl in the female population that has the predicted crush on him would find this a major turn on. But you must know by now, I was disgusted. Infuriated, I grabbed another bite, chewed for a while and stuck my tongue out at him, displaying the unsightly glob of mashed pie. He rolled his eyes and went back to his food. Ha!
"Hermione," Ron said, looking at me weirdly. "What were you doing?"
"Huh?" I quickly closed my mouth. "Oh, Malfoy was pissin' me off."
Harry sat down next to me.
"You guys are never late for dinner. What's the deal?" I asked.
"We had to do something for McGonagall." Harry answered. "Fred and George had sent Ron something and it exploded. She made us cleaned it up. It smelled like bird shit." He wriggled his nose with disgust.
"I'm going to kill Fred and George." Ron gritted.
This probably isn't a good time to tell them, but then again, with this matter, when is?
"Harry," I started slowly, looking at him and then at Ron. "Ron, I have something to tell you both and you guys probably will hate me for it."
Harry looked up from his food and smiled, "Aw, Hermione, what can be so dreadful that will make us hate you? We can never hate you."
"Well," I twitched uneasily. "Malfoy is my date for the Graduation Ball."
The chicken stopped midway to Ron's mouth. Harry stared at me unblinkingly. Neither of them said a word for a really long time.
"Say something." I chuckled nervously.
"We didn't like the idea at first." Harry said finally. "But Ginny said you guys had to, cause the Head-Girl and the Head-Boy always go together."
I blinked. Ginny? "G-Ginny said something?"
"Yeah," Ron nodded sadly. "She said it was school rules."
Thank you Ginny! You just saved Malfoy's life!
"W-well, I just wanted to let you know incase you didn't..." I stammered. "And I'm glad you're both fine with this."
I felt guilty for lying to them, but this little one wouldn't hurt anyone. And to think, I spent all last night trying to think of a good way to tell them! I have to remember to thank Ginny later.
Harry grinned. "Give him hell at the Ball, Hermione."
I simpered.
Oh I will. I will.
TBC
Author's Note: Thank you everyone for their reviews. I read every single one because they all count! (grins) Thank you for commending me about the brilliant plot. Honestly, truth be told, I made up things as I went along and it was just good fortune that my silly thoughts evolved to a decent plot. Hehe.
Well, you might possibly be happy about this news. I've been thinking and I thought I should stretch the story a bit longer than I've planned. Then again, I didn't plan much for this story, anyways. I went along with whatever my mind thought of. So, it'll most likely be longer than the two or three chapters I said before.
If you want another quick update, please remember to rate and review! Luvs to you all!
