A/N: Haha! I didn't do a disclaimer!! I didn't exasperate the fact that I don't own Harry
Potter!!!…ah bloody hell…well um sorry it's been so long, I've been kinda stressed about moving away from home and going to college. On top of that I've had one hell of a writer's block. But here I am, back at it, after much coaxing and threatening done by my very dear friends. I love you guys SO much. No, really. Well read and review. Please, boost my morale a little. Oh and yes I did alter the end of the last chapter slightly, that too has been updated.
Chapter 25-Nicknames
There was silence throughout the library for the next couple of minutes with the exception of the occasional page rustling. The peaceful quiet was suddenly broken by someone cursing loudly.
"Bloody hell."
Harry and Hermione turned to the source of the outburst, Draco.
"What is it? What did you find?" Hermione asked, anxiously.
"You're never going to believe this." He said, thumbing through the book.
"Out with it already, Malfoy." Harry said. Draco spared him a half-hearted glare before returning to the book.
"My jewelry, or rather our jewelry," he said glancing up at Hermione, "once belonged to Salazar Slytherin."
"Well that was unexpected." Harry replied.
"What does it say specifically Draco?" Hermione asked.
"Let me see…it says, 'Salazar created the Cor Una, Via Unum spell and crafted a necklace and ring as a platform for it shortly after meeting the only woman he ever loved, Rowena Ravenclaw. He had meant for it to be a precaution, incase either of them had ever been in trouble. It has been said that, when put on, the jewelry connects two peoples mind, both consciously and subconsciously. So thoughts, emotions, and energy could be transferred at will but also at random. At some point Salazar began hearing thoughts and feeling emotions from Rowena concerning a mutual friend, Godric Gryffindor. He probed into her mind further to find that she had been unfaithful to him with Godric. He was furious when he had learned of her infidelity, and soon after abandoned his relationship with her and his friendship with Godric. Before he left, however, he took back the ring he had put so much effort into creating and put another spell, or curse rather, on the set of jewelry. He made it so the jewelry could only be removed if the two people wearing it truly loved each other. After that he passed the set on to an unknown family friend and to this day no one has any idea of the jewelry's true wear-a-bouts.'"
There was silence for a few moments before Hermione exhaled deeply.
"Fascinating." She said breathlessly.
"Fascinating? That's bloody creepy if you ask me." Harry retorted.
"Hang on, it says for more information on the Cor Una, Via Unum spell, to look in Objects Cursed with Dark Magic." Draco said, glancing up at Harry who looked down to his own book.
"Well, what d'you know." He said opening up the book and looking through the table of contents. "Ah right, here we go. Page 333, The Cor Una, Via Unum curse." He emphasized curse and chuckled when Draco childishly stuck his tongue out at Hermione only to have it pinched between her thumb and forefinger.
"I'd keep that in there if I were you." She said, smiling devilishly.
"Awigh, dus lemme go." He said, sighing when she released her grip. He glared at her but quickly backed down when she snapped her teeth at him.
"Right, so the curse-" Harry ventured. Hermione turned to him smiling.
"Yes Harry the curse, let's here all about it." She said, with false enthusiasm.
"Yes well, it says…" He scanned the page with his finger, "well a bunch of stuff we already know…yes, we knew that…all right, here it says, 'In addition to being a platform for reading thoughts and emotions, the jewelry that the Cor Una, Via Unum curse is placed on, can also allow energy transfer between the two people wearing it. This allows for the pair to perform high dangerous but extremely powerful spells. It also allows for common, less dangerous spells, just with a little more gusto.' Well that was informative." Harry finished continuing to read.
"Is that all?" Hermione questioned.
"Does it say anything about how to transfer the energy?" Draco followed. Harry's brows furrowed as he read the text.
"Oh, yes actually, here it says, 'In order to perform an energy transfer the two people wearing the jewelry must first be in direct physical contact. Secondly they must draw from within themselves however much energy they wish to use. Thirdly they must simultaneously recite whichever spell, charm or curse they want the energy applied to.'"
"Wait, how are we supposed to draw energy from within ourselves?" Draco asked.
"It doesn't say." Harry replied, rereading the text.
"Well that's a lot of help." Draco said sarcastically, slumping down into his seat.
"What? Of course it is Draco. Don't you see?" Hermione said, her eyes glowing with excitement.
"See what?" He replied.
"All we need to do is right here in this passage." She said, taking the book from Harry and pointing to it.
"But we don't know how to do some of the things in that passage Hermes." He whined.
"Firstly don't call me Hermes-" She started.
"I thought you liked that nickname?" Harry interjected. Hermione swore under her breath as Draco smirked knowingly.
"Oh, of course I do Harry. I was just…erm…as I was saying, I'm sure it'll take some practice and getting used to but I know we can figure it out." She said. Draco looked into her eyes, they were pleading with him and he hated that look, it would always win. He sighed resignedly. "All right, if you say so Mione." She squealed and hugged him tightly.
"Oh, thank you Draco." She said.
"Yeah, well can we start tomorrow? I'm thoroughly exhausted." He said, stretching.
"Yes, speaking of what time is it?" She replied, glancing at the clock on the wall. "Merlin, it's late." She began to gather her things as did Draco and Harry. "Harry, thank you so much for your help." She said kissing him on the cheek.
"Anytime Hermes." He said hugging her, missing the grimace that crossed her features. He nodded curtly towards Draco, who nodded back and left, closing the door behind him. Hermione waited as Draco extinguished the last of the candles. He smiled and took her hand leading her from the deserted library. They walked for a few minutes before Draco broke the silence.
"You know, you never told me why you hate that nickname, Hermes." He said, grinning mischievously. Hermione groaned.
"I don't know. I just don't like it I suppose." She replied.
"Come on, you've got to give me more than that. Make something up if it's really that boring." He said, chuckling.
"Well, fine. I don't like the nickname Hermes because…it…rhymes with germs. There, happy now?" She asked.
"That was pathetic, but I guess I'll have to be satisfied. It's all right, I like Mione better anyways." He said, squeezing her hand slightly.
"Me too. It's special, just for us." She replied.
"I agree, but don't you think you should come up with a nickname for me?" He asked, sticking out his lower lip and pouting slightly.
"Oh you poor thing, you're absolutely right." She said, using her finger to push his lip back into position. She nibbled her bottom lip in thought. Draco laughed at her repetitive mannerism.
"Oh I don't know…how about…Dray?" She said finally.
"Dray huh?" Draco repeated, seemingly thinking it over in his mind. "Yes, actually I like that. It rhymes with K." He laughed as Hermione glared at him.
"Are you mocking me?" She asked, stopping and planting her hands on her hips. This just made Draco laugh even more. He grabbed her around the waist and swooped her up, spinning around in a circle.
"Never love." He said, kissing her lightly. She smiled as they entered the common room.
"Get to bed, we've got a lot of work to do tomorrow." She said, heading for her bedroom.
"Yes mother…I mean Mione." Draco said, grinning. Hermione laughed and opened her door. She turned around and leant against the doorframe, watching as Draco approached his own room.
"Night Dray." She said quietly. He turned around and smiled.
"Night Mione."
"Draco…Draco…" Hermione said quietly, trying to stir the young man sleeping before her.
"Oh goodie…no thank you." He mumbled, rolling over and clutching his pillow in his sleep.
"All right you asked for this." She said to herself. She stood up and took a deep breath preparing to screech at the top of her lungs. "Drakie! Drakie get up!" Draco shot up, glaring wildly about the room before his eyes finally focused on Hermione, standing beside his bed with her hands on her hips, smirking at him. He groaned and fell back against his pillow rubbing the sleep from his face.
"Have you any idea how mean that was?" He asked, his hands still covering his face.
"Yes," she replied sitting down next to him, "and I would kiss you and tell you sorry but you have morning breath. So get up!" She finished drumming her hands on his bare stomach.
"Oomph!" He curled into a fetal position clutching his stomach. "You are evil." He said, as she sashayed out of his room. She smirked at him over her shoulder before shutting the door with a click. He groaned again and rolled off his bed, straightening his silk pajama bottoms as he headed out the door towards their bathroom. He yawned and surveyed the common room. Hermione was sitting on the couch with her legs tucked under her, conversing with Harry. She blew on, what Draco assumed was, a steaming cup of tea in her hands.
"Morning Potter." He said mid yawn, continuing to the bathroom. Harry nodded his head in acknowledgment.
"Malfoy."
"Don't I get a hello?" Hermione called to him.
"Morning Hermes!" He said before shutting the door behind him. Hermione rolled her eyes and sipped her tea.
"What were you saying Harry?" She asked.
"Oh right, I just thought you ought to know that Ron is well aware of your relationship with Malfoy." Harry said, taking off his glasses and cleaning them on his red t-shirt. Hermione grimaced and set her cup down on the small table in front of them.
"Is he furious with me?" She asked, not looking at Harry. Harry chuckled.
"No actually." He started. Hermione turned to look him in the eye.
"Really?"
"Really. He was actually more levelheaded about it than I was." He replied. Hermione looked puzzled.
"Are you sure we're talking about the same Ron?" She asked.
"Positive. He knew about it before I did. Figured it out on his own. He's a right bit smarter than we give him credit for." Harry said, looking slightly ashamed. Hermione nodded in agreement.
"Well I guess he ought to know that I know that he knows." She said slowly. She looked to Harry, realizing how ridiculous that sounded.
"I understand." Harry said smiling. He rose, stretching and yawning as he did.
"Harry I've an idea. How about you go and fetch Ron and meet us at the Room of Requirement. That way he'll be able to help also." Hermione suggested standing as well.
"All right." Harry agreed. "We'll meet you there in say…half an hour?" He asked, looking at his watch.
"Perfect, see you then." She said, standing on tiptoe to kiss his cheek. She saw him out the door and just as she closed it behind him, felt a pair of strong arms wrap around her waist. She breathed deeply.
"Good morning to you too." She said, turning in his arms. "You smell shower fresh."
"That's because I am shower fresh." He said, shaking some water out of his hair. She squirmed in his arms trying to avoid the drops of water that were pelting her.
"Draco." She whined.
"Hermione." He whined back. He laughed as she glared at him but couldn't help to smile at his childishness. "So how about that kiss and apology?" He asked smiling.
"Oh of course." She said, kissing him lightly on the lips. She pulled away and smiled. "And I'm sorry."
"It's all right." He replied.
"No not for that." She said beginning to walk away. "For this." She took hold of the towel that was his sole piece of clothing and turning towards her room, snatched it away from him.
"Bloody hell." She heard him say behind her. She smiled as she heard him run to his room and slam the door behind him. She tossed the towel to the side and it instantly vanished, taken somewhere to be cleaned, she assumed. She casually walked over to the couch, picked up her tea and resumed reading some Muggle magazine that had been delivered with her morning mail. A few minutes later she heard his door open and smiled when she saw his reflection in the window. He was wearing a black t-shirt and denim jeans. She watched as he crept up behind her, not knowing that she could see him in the window. Right as he was about to surprise her, she surprised him.
"Hello Draco." She said calmly. The evil glint in his eye vanished and his ego instantly deflated. Never the less, he wrapped his arms around her from behind and kissed the top of her head.
"Do you know how much I would love to hate you right now?" He asked.
"Almost as much as you would love to love me?" She replied. He thought for a minute then smiled.
"Yeah, that about sums it up." He said. She smiled and looked up at him before pulling him down into a deep kiss. They broke apart both breathing heavily.
"Merlin," Draco said breathlessly. "Could you be evil more often?" She just smiled and stood up, heading for the door.
"Come on." She said stepping into the hallway.
"Where are we going?" He asked, rushing out after her. She turned around, waiting for him to catch up.
"The Room of Requirement."
A/N: Well, I hope you guys liked it. I'll try and get another chapter out soon but I'm not promising anything. So now that you've read, go and review.
