Next chapie up. This is the one where I unashamedly use quotes from quote websites. I'd love you to think I came up with them myself, but that's almost a little too sad, I suppose.
Thanks to:
Hatred in a box – here's a whole 9 pages more for you…enjoy!
Bleedingheart666 – heya. I'm glad you like it.
Chappie 5 up! Happy new year everyone.
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The noise at the quidditch pitch was overpowering. As the teams walked out, Amelie smirked.
Oh my god, check them out! I want one! I want them all! Ugh, maybe not. Pansy can have Goyle and Crabbe.
I'm sure she'll be honoured by your generosity. Now shut up. Hermione said, looking through her binoculars. Amelie took control and pointed the binoculars down at the emerging teams.
See what I mean? Check them out!
You've made your point. Can I have control back now? Amelie gave it back, and Hermione returned to using her binoculars to find out who had come to the game.
You're so boring. Amelie complained.
Just because I'm not as shallow are you are doesn't make me boring.
Yeah, it makes you intellectual. Amelie said sarcastically.
I really wouldn't be surprised if that were true. Hermione said absent-mindedly.
Grr. Bitch.
"Lo Hermione." Ginny said, sitting down. "Hi Amelie." She muttered.
"Hi." Hermione said with a grin.
Aloha. Amelie said chirpily.
"Have you seen the teams? They just get cuter every year." Ginny said.
"That's not why I come here." Hermione said snappily.
"Yeah, you come to support your friends." Ginny snorted. "And to oggle them."
Go you! Amelie cheered.
"Please. You're as bad as Amy."
You mean good as.
Hush. They're starting.
The players kicked off into the air and before long the game was going very quickly, with more than a little dangerous behaviour. Amelie was being extremely annoying.
Oh, you idiot! Couldn't you see that coming? she yelled. Then, Catch the damn ball, you left-handed morons!
That's the Gryffindor team you're shouting at. Hermione said dryly.
So what? I don't care. If they're crap, I'll shout at them.
They are not crap! Hermione argued.
So how do explain that particular painful little blunder that just gave Slytherin five points? Not that I'm complaining, you understand, its just that Gryffindor cant afford to give Slytherin anything but a nasty beating.
"What are you two arguing about?" Ginny asked under all the noise. "Go Blaise!" she yelled suddenly. Hermione shot her a look, with just about everyone in Gryffindor.
"Sorry. I want to date him." She said with a shrug. "Is there anyone finer?"
Apart from Draco, you mean?
"Besides Draco." She added. "Anyway. What were you two arguing about?"
"Amy was saying the Gryffindor team is crap."
"Well, they're not exactly brilliant." Ginny said. She winced as Ron missed yet another ball. "See?"
"Harry's good!" Hermione exclaimed.
Really? Jeez, girl. Why don't you tell me these things? Hermione mentally glared, and physically blushed.
Not that way.
Ginny laughed. "You're right. He and about eight others. But the rest are pretty crap."
I could do better.
"Amy insists she could do better." Hermione reported. She and Ginny ignored the cheer that went up from the Slytherin side as Ron missed yet another goal. "They're going to start singing 'Weasley is our king' if he doesn't improve." She said darkly. Ginny smirked.
"You play then?" she asked. Hermione nodded.
"She can. I'm useless at it."
"That's cool. We'll have to practise sometime."
A great shout went up from the Slytherin side as Malfoy clenched the snitch in his hand. He flew up to where Hermione and Ginny were talking and held it out to her.
"For you." He said with a bow. Hermione laughed.
"You're too kind. Congrats."
"Hermione! You can't congratulate him!" Lavender shrieked.
"Come on, Lavvy. It's like the first game against Gryffindor he's ever won! It's not like its going to end up being a trend."
"You are a horrible person." Malfoy said, sounding injured.
"But you're so nice to be nasty to!" Hermione protested. Draco grinned.
"Mr Malfoy! Bring that snitch down here, now!" Madame Hooch yelled. Draco saluted and flew down to where the flying teacher waited.
"He so fancies you." Ginny gushed.
"I wish." Hermione said with a sigh. "Come on, let's get out of here. You can stay up in the Head's suite until the guys have finished sulking."
"Thanks. But I don't think they'll ever recover from this one." Ginny followed Hermione down the stands and back up to the castle.
"So you want to date Blaise?" Hermione asked as they walked through the near-empty halls of the castle.
"So bad. He is hot." Ginny said with a grin.
"I know what you mean."
"Talking about me?" Draco asked, running to catch up with them.
"Fucking hell, how fast do you shower and change?" Amelie snapped, grabbing control from Hermione. Draco raised an eyebrow and she let Hermione have control back sheepishly.
"Gloating over Slytherins is no fun. But since you're both in Gryffindor…" Draco smirked.
"Well, I was cheering for Blaise anyway. So I don't really think gloating at me will help you boost your ego." Ginny said with a shrug. They let themselves into the head dorm room, and the girls collapsed onto the couch while Draco sank into a chair.
"So how did you get changed so fast?" Hermione asked.
"Magic." Draco answered shortly. He grinned.
"So what, you say the spell and you end up clean, sweat free, dry and smelling of cologne?" Ginny asked skeptically. He nodded with a smirk, and she got up, leaned over, and sniffed his shoulder. She turned to Hermione. "He's right." She confirmed. Amelie took control.
"Nice cologne?" She asked with a grin. Ginny smirked.
"You try." So Amy did, much to Hermione's embarrassment.
"You're right. It's nice. It's very nice."
"What did you expect? I have money for a reason." Draco said with a shrug.
"Well, some expensive cologne absolutely reeks." Amelie explained.
"Wait, she knows?" Malfoy suddenly said. Amelie nodded.
"Yep. After being possessed herself, she was quick to recognise the symptoms in Hermione. Except this isnt really possession. Or rather, it might be, but in that case, I think Hermione's possessing me."
"Nah." Ginny said with a grin.
"You've been possessed? When?" Draco demanded.
"Ruddy hell, mate. Catch up." Ginny said with a laugh. "Where have you been living for the last six years? Under a rock?"
"I have better things to do with my life than keep tabs on your lot." Malfoy said primly.
"Yeah, like hang out with Crabbe and Goyle." Amelie said with a snigger.
"Shut up. You can't talk. You hang out with the wonder boys."
"I can too."
"I've got an idea for the Halloween ball." Ginny announced, heading off an argument.
"Oh?" Amelie asked.
"Yeah. We could do a masquerade, you know, make everyone wear masks…"
"We know what a masquerade is." Draco said flatly.
"Shut up, ferret, I wasn't finished. Everyone wears masks, but there's a charm on the castle so people cant recognise anyone else, but they have to interact and stuff, and people arent allowed to say who they are until the end."
"That's do-able." Amelie commented.
Shouldn't I have control, since I'm head girl? Hermione asked.
Spoilsport.
"And, I don't know, the girls could wear like, renaissance dress? To go in with the theme of masquerade, although the boys don't have to wear tights."
"You're lucky you said that, Weasley, or I'd have had to hit you with something heavy. Like an anvil."
"My name is Ginny." She said pointedly.
"Actually, it's Virginia, but I'll let it sit for now." Malfoy retorted.
"So guys can wear dress robes or muggle clothes or whatever, formals, obviously, and if people come separately, then they have to find their dates in the ball. And if people are only allowed to talk about themselves, like their hobbies or whatever, their dates can recognise them by that."
"Now that's pretty useless for those of us who go with the prettiest or most popular girl in school simply because we look really good together." Draco said, folding his arms.
"Then you'll have to pick the prettiest mask that matches yours." Ginny said carelessly.
"That might work." He said thoughtfully.
"I can't believe you're taking her seriously!" Hermione exclaimed.
"What?" Draco defended himself. "If any girl actually went to the ball with me, it wouldn't be because she actually liked me, it'd be because she knows how good it would look and what it would do to her reputation if she came to the ball with Draco Malfoy!"
"Oh, ouch. That kind of shallowness has got to hurt." Hermione commented.
"This is your chance to meet someone for who you are then." Ginny said brightly. "Since they wont know its you, they have a chance to actually like you for who you are. Provided you have some endearing qualities. You do, don't you?"
"Besides his ass? I'm not so sure." Amelie said with a smirk. Hermione started sulking.
"Amelie, you have hurt my feelings." He said with a dramatic sigh.
"Well, yeah, guys do have feelings you know." Ginny said. Draco looked at her in approval. "But like, who cares?"
"You little red-headed monster!" he got up and started tickling her, and she shrieked and curled up.
"Miss? There's someone at the portrait." The portrait of a girl sat under a full moon that hung over the fireplace said. Hermione left Ginny and Draco to their tickle-war, since Ginny had found where Draco was ticklish, and opened the portrait, just as Ginny shrieked with laughter and Draco swore.
Ron and Harry stood just outside, confused expressions on their faces. Hermione stood just inside and shut the portrait so her head stopped it from closing.
"What's going on?" Harry asked.
"Tickle war. How are you guys recovering?"
"I cant believe we lost to Slytherin!" Harry groaned.
"Who's doing the tickle war?" Ron asked curiously. Ginny screamed and there was a thud. "That sounded like Ginny!" There was a crash behind Hermione. She glanced over her shoulder and saw Draco and Ginny facing off, the couch between them. Both were mussed, and Ginny had a huge grin on her face while Draco looked determined.
"She's okay. A little breathless, but okay." Hermione reassured him.
"What's going on?" Harry asked.
"I told you. A tickle war." Hermione said. There was another crash. "Be careful you guys!" she called over her shoulder.
"Sorry!" Ginny called.
"If Ginny's in there, and you're here, who's tickling Ginny?" Harry asked slowly.
"Draco." Hermione said.
"What!" Ron lunged for the door, but Hermione jammed it with her foot.
"Don't ruin their fun. What did you want?"
"To talk to you. But since you're obviously too busy…" Ron trailed off angrily.
"Oh, I'm not too busy. Hold on a sec." Hermione pulled her head into the room, and looked over her shoulder. Ron saw past her that Draco had Ginny in a head-lock, and he was just on his way to getting furious when Ginny stamped on Draco's foot and he let her go.
"I'm going out. Don't let Draco in my room, Gin."
"Kay!" Hermione let herself out and shut the door firmly behind her, before joining Harry and Ron in the corridor.
"So what did you want to talk about?" she asked as they started walking in the direction of the Gryffindor common room.
"Since when have you and Malfoy been friendly?" Harry asked sharply.
"We live together, Harry. It makes life easier for both of us if we act civilly."
"That was more than civil. That was friendly."
"Speaking of friendly, you guys arent getting high marks for it at the moment. What's crawled up your ass?"
"We think Malfoy's going to ruin your life." Ron said bluntly.
"At least you're honest." Hermione said.
Oh please. You mean jealous.
That too,
"But you know what would really ruin my life?"
Hermione… Amelie said warningly.
"You guys being bastards and throwing a shadow of our friendship because you refuse to share me with other people. I'm not a possession, you know."
And if ignorance is bliss, why aren't more people happy?
That, while amusing, is not helpful.
"We're worried for you, Hermione." Ron said, slinging an arm over her shoulders.
Oh, ick. Don't touch me. I might catch something!
Stop it!
"There's no need to be worried for me." Hermione said reassuringly. "I'm fine."
"You don't act it." Harry said. "You're so absentminded lately, and you always end up off in your own world when people are talking to you."
"I'm just listening to the little voices in my head more. Either that, or they've gotten louder. And although insanity is great, the voices can sometimes give me a headache." Hermione said glibly.
Are you referring to me, by any chance?
Would I?
Without hesitation.
Then yes, I am referring to you. Happy you haven't been forgotten?
Ecstatic.
"Like now. I don't think you heard what I just said." Ron said.
"Something about hearing voices not being a good sign, and its probably due to overexposure to Malfoy?" Hermione guessed. Ron looked surprised.
"So you did hear me." He said, sounding relieved.
"No, I just guessed. Guys, I'm fine. Now, when my marks stop slipping, that's when you can seriously worry about me."
"Yeah, that's a sure sign Malfoy's killing your brain with his stupidity." Harry said with a laugh.
"Actually, he's second in the year." Hermione pointed out. Harry's smile fell from his face.
"Please tell me you're joking." He said pathetically.
"Sorry. I only beat him by a couple of marks each year."
"Oh man." Ron groaned.
"What?"
"Philosophy homework."
"Philosophy? You guys don't do philosophy!" Hermione said, confused.
"It got added to Trelawney's syllabus." Harry explained.
"And we have to think of at least three philosophic expressions." Ron moaned.
"I'll help." Hermione volunteered.
Goody-goody. Amelie accused.
It'd look odd if I didn't. Hermione explained.
Bloody hell, what kind of reputation have you got yourself? Amelie demanded. Hermione ignored her.
"Would you? You're an angel." Ron smiled at her, and she nodded.
He likes you, like, so bad!
That isnt helpful. Are you noticing a trend here?
In the common room, Harry and Ron spread out their stuff while Hermione perched on the armrest of one of the chairs.
"You guys don't need those books. I can think of three each, that are suitably depressing, without looking at them. But you gotta try first."
I imagine you'll be needing my help.
Yeah, so don't go to sleep.
Now, when did I go to sleep when you needed me?
It was a warning, not a rebuke.
"Now, Harry. Think of a saying."
"What goes around comes around." Harry said with a shrug.
"Yeah…" Hermione pulled a face. "Except I think you have it wrong. What goes around gets dizzy and falls over, leaving you high and dry. Revenge is good." Ron snickered. "Look, to prove beyond all doubt that I'm getting stranger, here's three." She scribbled a few down, and Harry read them with raised eyebrows.
"A conscience does not prevent you committing sin- it just prevents you enjoying it. I'm not sure I can use that one."
"Why not? This is Trelawney, the woman who gives you marks for predicting your own deaths. She'd probably congratulate you on your realistic view of life." Hermione pointed out.
"Maybe…" Harry said, unconvinced.
"If you don't want that one, Harry, I'll use it." Ron said, scribbling it down. Hermione laughed.
Beggars cant be choosers. Amelie pointed out. Hermione smirked.
"I'll do it for you first, Ron, and then Harry."
"Why are you being so nice?" Ron asked suspiciously.
"I'm always nice!" Hermione protested.
"Not usually this nice." Ron said knowingly.
"Right." Harry agreed. Hermione shot them both evil looks, and they immediately looked repentant.
They want you to do their homework for them. Amelie said flatly.
And I will, this once, so they wont think I've abandoned them.
Fair enough, just don't make a habit of it.
I wont. I actually have a life. Amelie said nothing, and Hermione huffed to herself.
"Right, Ron. Two more. Um…" she scribbled something down, and Ron picked it up and looked up at it.
"Common sense is the set of predjudices you get before age 18?" He looked up at her, and she shrugged.
"If you don't like it, don't use it." She offered.
"No, it's fine." He said hastily. He looked down at the third one. "If there is one thing the non-conformist hates more than the conformist, its another non-conformist who doesn't conform to the prevailing standard of non-conformity." He glanced up at her. "Huh?"
"It makes sense, trust me." Hermione said. She looked at Harry.
"Do you still want me to help you with yours?" she asked.
"That's okay, I think I've thought of some."
Liar.
Isnt he just?
A bad one too. You have to be trusted by the people you lie to. And you obviously don't trust him.
I do too! He's just transparent as a liar.
That is very true.
"I'm going to go now. I'll talk to you guys later." Hermione grinned, waved and left the common room, walking back to her common room. Inside, it was quiet. She walked in, and saw Draco lying on the couch, reading a magazine of the description Hermione really didn't want to know. He looked over it at her.
"Please read that in the privacy of your own room." She said distastefully. "Where's Ginny?"
"In your room. She barricaded herself in there when she realised she wasn't going to win the tickle war. Did it sufficiently upset Potter and Weasley?"
"Excellently." Hermione said with a grin. "You should be ashamed of yourself."
"But it isnt going to happen. So get over it." Hermione sulked momentarily.
"Okay, over it!" she said perkily. Then she jumped up and bounced over to her door, and she disappeared inside.
"Weird." Draco shuddered, going back to his magazine.
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