Chapter 4: BeauxBatons Confusion

Hermione's POV

It was the big, big day. The BeauxBatons students were coming for absolutely no reason. Or so I thought. I had to do something though, I matured, yeah but Fleur was already pretty. Now that she's 19, Ron will see how much she matured. I know, Ron's trying to fix things up, but I think I'm going to take Malfoy's word for this. He can't be trusted...yet. I heard Fleur got a job as a teacher there. I'm pretty sure we'll see her. That's for sure.

"Oi! Ron!" I yelled. He was sitting in front of the fire. No girls. I'm proud.

"What is it Hermione? Did you get my letter?" He asked.

"Yeah I did. I have to say I'm proud but-..." Ron looked at me.

"What? You don't think I'll make a move on Fleur too!" Ron yelled. How did he read my mind?

"How do you...?" I was too speechless.

"Oh. Before that I thought I should open a book or two. I saw Valleria and Blaise talking by them selves. I remembered what Valleria said about me going near her, so I just went on the other side of the bookshelf so she won't see me. I heard them I couldn't resist but listen! So I heard in, they said the people from BeauxBatons were visiting. Than Blaise said 'do you think Ron will make a move on Fleur? I heard she teaches there now.' Valleria shrugged and said 'Probably. He is an animal isn't he?' I was really offended, Hermione!"

"Hmm...Malfoy and I had the same conversation." I told him.

"What? You talking to Malfoy?" He stood up.

"Yes, he was quite calm. He sort of snuck around and read your letter. Oddly. Well, I got to go. You want to come? They're coming soon." I replied.

"Yes, I'll come." When we opened the common room door. Blaise, Valleria and Draco were standing there, waiting. They all glared at Ron. Valleria put her hand up her skirt and pulled out her whip. She kept it on the side of her hip at all times. Except when she's wearing pants.

"It's hot when you pull out that whip." Draco said.

"I know." Valleria said. She went forward to him dangerously.

"I told you-." Valleria said.

"Don't worry. He's with me. (Blaise eyes widened) No, Blaise it's not like that. He's getting help. He's just going to accompany us, okay?" They all nodded. Except for Malfoy.

"I told you Granger...Richardson. That I'm still not going to believe this...weasel king that he's getting help! He hurt my girlfriend in a physical and emotional way! I'll never forget that, Richardson! I can't believe he's even a Pureblood!" He snarled. Valleria's eyes watered. I think it's how much her boyfriend got angry. It was happy tears. Hold on, blood?

"Malfoy can I speak to you? Alone?" Malfoy's eyes widened. He mouthed to Blaise 'did I do anything wrong?' Blaise merely shook his head.

Draco's POV

What did I do? Any moment, I'll be pulling oh my so gorgeous, hair! At least she didn't say 'we have to talk'.

"We have to talk." Valleria said. Damn it! No...please don't.

"What is it?" I had to say something, or else it would be awkward.

"The BeauxBatons students are coming for a small visit, one of those students will be my ex-boyfriend, James. I think he's going to try to win me back. So, I want to cook something up, you know so he won't try to win me. We're practically the most smartest Slytherins so, I thought we could think of something together." Thank Merlin! I gave a sigh of relief.

"So what are going to say to him?" Hmm... I like this plan. We should think of something kin-ky. Hmm...pregnancy? That would be great but her father would kill me if he heard this. Maybe she could owl him first telling him not to panic. Yeah, that'll do. Or should I fib making her Mrs. Malfoy? Why aren't I telling her these ideas? What will she think though? I don't want her to use that whip on me...

"Never mind, it's too late for that. I tried talking to you last night, but I couldn't find you, so I just sat in the library talking to Blaise about the students. Let's go they're coming, see!" she pointed outside the window. There were carriages.

"Let's go." I said.

Dumbledore had his announcement.

"BeauxBatons has came over because I invited them, for no particular reasons." I rolled my eyes. I knew he made a cruddy Head. The students came in there was a boy with dirty blonde hair very spiked. He stood out from the crowd.

"That's James." Valleria pointed at that idiot. He came over to our seats. I heard Blaise say something.

"Brace yourself, Malfoy." He murmured. I rolled my eyes.

"Hey, guys. I'm James. Who's the babe?" Valleria eyes narrowed. She frowned. She has a hot frown. Man, is it just me, or is it getting hot in here? I pulled my collar.

"James, you forgot already? Tsk, tsk, tsk." She looked angry.

"You remind me of an ex girlfriend...Valleria? Is that you?" James replied.

"Obviously, you are still simple minded." Valleria snapped.

"Oo0o0o, you got plain hard to get! Now you're hot you want to, you know." Valleria made a disgusted look.

"Just to inform you, she has a boyfriend. He's not as shallow minded. You're a pervert." Blaise said. Wow, is that what he thought? Well, I guess I'm a pervert too, but I didn't make my move 'till the end of 4th year. At least get to know her better. Hey, what am I saying? She's my girlfriend!

"And who may that be?" James said.

"That would be me, idiot." I said. I hate this guy! Hold on is this jealousy? Valleria kissed me.

"See, he doesn't get out of control like you did. One kiss on the cheek, you'd be snogging me! Even, though I'd usually say I was too busy. Heh, you would believe anything." The two Richardsons walked over.

"Oh, Valleria who's your friend here?" Richardson asked.

"He's not a friend, he's some git I once thought I knew. I don't know what I saw in him before. He seemed nice until I was his girlfriend. It was finally like my label, James's girlfriend. That's all nobody knew my actual name. When I'm with Draco, people know me as Valleria Scarlet." She kissed me again.

"Valleria, I have a plan." I whispered in her ear. We both went out in the hall.

"What are you planning?" She sounded desperate so James would get away from her.

"Here, wear this ring." I put my hand in my pocket. Got the ring that had the Malfoy Crest on it with a giant diamond.

"Oh it's beautiful Malfoy! Are you asking me to marry me? Oh gosh, I would say yes, but this young! What'll father think-?"

"No! Not...(cough) now. Just pretend. Send your father a letter telling him to not panic. Ok?" I said. Oh god, she thought is real...now? Ha! I would kneel! Practically begging for her to say yes.

"I love it, though! The Malfoy crest is so beautiful! I thought the Scarlet Crest was nice but...wow this is something!" She put it on her ring finger. I put a ring that I had for me, on my ring finger.

"Let's go talk to Dumbledore to tell all the students that it's an act. I mean Hogwarts students, so it won't be anything." I agreed. I walked with Valleria to the Professor's Table.

"Professor, may we speak to you?" Dumbledore got up, and went into the hall with us.

"Um, professor, if it's not too much trouble, could you say Malfoy and I are pretending to be married?" Dumbledore looked at us as if we're crazy or something but I have to admit he himself, is off his rocker.

"What do you mean Miss Scarlet? Or shall I say Mrs. Malfoy." Dumbledore seem to get what we were saying.

"It's about James, he wants to win me back. I used to see this really nice guy I knew before, until he became well let's say...Ron-ish. So Malfoy and I thought of this plan. Could you tell the BeauxBatons students to get out in the hall for a second?" Dumbledore nodded.

"Yes, anything for you Miss Scarlet." He said. Either she could blackmail him, or he respects her. Or is it both...?

Hermione's POV

I saw Ron talking to Fleur. She did mature, that's for sure. They seemed to have a great time. I'm not sure if she likes him like that, though. I think Ron is starting to fall for her Veela beauty. Oh well, at least not being some animal.

"Excuse me, could all the BeauxBatons students and professors just walk out into the hall?" Dumbledore asked very kindly. All I heard were murmurs of 'that never happens back home' or 'Eh? Oh well, let's just get out of here'. I saw Draco and Valleria were in front.

"Mr. Malfoy and Mrs. Malfoy are going to tell you that they are not married. They're pretending for a personal reason. What's that Mrs. Malfoy? Oh, well, she wants me to tell you. She's trying to avoid this one student, James. He's her ex." Pavarti, Lavender and Padma squealed.

"That's so romantic!" Lavender squealed.

"I know!" Padma squealed.

Dumbledore allowed all the students from BeauxBatons came back. James came back and sat with us. We all rolled our eyes. Valleria held James's hand hiding her disgust.

"To tell you the truth..." she showed James the ring. His eyes widened.

"Your married?!" everybody looked at him. Than you could hear a flow of whispers.

"To whom?" He asked. He was still in shock.

"Uh, Draco. Draco Malfoy." Great! She sounds like him now.

"So your Valleria Malfoy now." He said shakily but tried to be calm.

"Yeah...let's go shall we, honey?" Valleria said.

"Yes, I agree. Time for some honeymoon fun?" Valleria smirked as they snuck off to their common room. Instead, they just said hello to some old friends.

"Valleria? Is that you! Man, you got hot!" Draco and Valleria turned around. There stood a guy with brown hair and odd orange eyes.

"Red! It is you!" She hugged the guy.

"Draco, this is my old best friend, Red."

Draco POV

"Red...?" What an odd name.

"When I was at BeauxBatons, he's practically the only boy who called me by my name." Valleria said. I shook hands with this...Red.

"You know, Tails and Jinx are somewhere here. I think they're lost somewhere. Trust me, if they can get lost in their own room, they'll get lost here. They miss you, a lot. They're nothing without you." Red told Valleria.

"Who are-...?" I said more odd names...darn.

"Tails and Jinx are, I guess the female versions of Crabbe and Goyle. There they are!" We turned around to see a blonde and a brunette with both the sickening bluest eyes I've ever seen. They did look like they were lost.

"Boss! It's been a long time! We've missed you! In BeauxBatons, we couldn't find anybody else as popular as you to protect!" The brunette said.

"Guys, I'm not your boss anymore. Get that through! Ever since I left, you don't serve me! I had fun when you did though! I'm not saying I don't like you two anymore we could be friends! Just if you're wondering Draco, the brunette is Tails and the blonde is Jinx. They're really nice if you get to know them. Let's go Draco." Valleria said.

"Is it true your married?" Jinx blurted out. She covered her mouth as if she just swore to Valleria.

"Yes, it is Jinx. Do you have a problem with that?" At least she didn't sound rude, if you get what I mean. Red's mouth was open wide.

"What your Surname than, Valleria?" Red asked.

"My surname is...Malfoy." I pointed to Draco.

"That is Draco Malfoy. I have to go write a letter to father." She said. I gulped what would she tell her dad? Her dad knows me. He used to talk with my father. When he figured out he was Death Eater and got the Dementor's Kiss all her father wanted to do was pity me. I respect his pity though, it's not like he's babying me. Plus, with my mother going around snogging other men, Valleria's stepmother has been kind to me. I had to wait for her to come back. You know, that thing with the stupid stairs...

"Sorry for taking to long, couldn't find my quill! Than I remembered I could Accio it heh, heh... but when I did, like 7 quills flew at me! I had to dodge them all! Here this is the letter I'm giving to father." Valleria said.

Dear Father,

Don't worry Malfoy and I aren't really married. It's just a plan to keep James away. Cause' everybody knows now not to mess with me. I f it's like this to be married to Malfoy, maybe I should! Sorry father, just joking. Hope I didn't cause you to panic or anything. Did I mention that Draco would love to come for the summer? I think I did, but just to tell you again. Don't hate me!!!


Yours Truly,

Valleria...Malfoy.

"Nice touch. If anything happened to him, I'm sure I'll feel guilty." I said.

"Come on, I played way worse tricks than that. I told him once that I was banned from Hogs Head because I was caught snogging somebody." Valleria said. My eyes widened.

"Don't worry. He was only in St. Mungo's for about 2 days!" She giggled. She got the letter and gave it to her falcon.

Hermione's POV

I kept eyeing Ron. They seemed to have a really great time together. Uh-oh Fleur is whispering something to Ron. Ron just shook his head. I read his mouth he said 'I'd love to but I just...can't' than Fleur said 'Oh come on, I heard you were ze animal from girls'. Fleur! That naughty girl! I had to do something. Blaise than said something.

"Oh come on, let the guy have some fun." I looked at him with rage.

"What? Why are you on his side?" I said.

"I'm not taking sides! I never do, my mum said I remind her of Lupin. I highly doubt that. Come on, my pet, at least he got to know the girl. He tried to not accept he's trying! Just let the guy has fun, please?" Blaise made the biggest puppy dog eyes.

"Oh fine, you do remind me of a young Lupin too!" I said. It's very odd, he reminds me of Professor Lupin. I watched Ron and Fleur walk out to a room.

"Oh shut up." He said playfully. I giggled than we started to make out.

"Um...ugh...(gulp) sister, we have a letter." Len said. I immediately jumped up, tried to put my lip-gloss back on properly. I just took the letter from Len.

"Sorry bout' that." I said.

"It's ok, being in Slytherin, I'm getting used to it, if you get what I mean." I nodded gleefully. I read the letter very closely.

Dear Hermione,

It's your mother honey; I heard that BeauxBatons students are visiting there.
[News sure goes fast.] Look, a certain Professor Holmes ok? When you find him call him 'Rolly' ok? I think you'll be very nice friends. Tell me if you find him, I might visit.

Love,

Mother.

Ok...Rolly? I explained it to Blaise.

"Ok...right...let's go find this Professor." He said. We asked all the students. Including James.

"James? Where's Professor Holmes?" I said.

"Oo0o0o, why talk to ol' Holmes, when you can get close to me." He purred. Blaise raised an eyebrow. He grabbed his collar.

"Where is he?" Blaise snapped.

"Ok, ok, don't lose your top. Except for you (he pointed at me) that would be great if you lost your top." I rolled my eyes. Blaise lifted his collar higher.

"Ok...(cough)...he's there. (Cough). Man your strong, (cough)." James said while he wheezed.

"Play Quidditch. So you'll get muscles. Not like those bags in your arms, that you supposedly call muscles." Blaise said. We saw this man he had spectacles. Light brown hair, wore robes too baggy for him. Talking to Professor Flitwick. I had to do what I would regret.

"Rolly?" I said as I tapped his shoulder. He continued talking than he paused for a moment and froze. He didn't turn around yet, but he said something to me.

"Leslie? What are you doing here?" I knew that was my mother's name. He turned around and gave me a hug.

"Help..." I said to Blaise. Blaise just stood there shrugging, looking concerned. Professor Holmes known as 'Rolly' stopped hugging me and took a step back.

"Sorry about that young lady, you just remind me of a woman I used to know...are you her daughter? Are you the daughter of Leslie Vanessa Leon?" Leon? Maybe that was my mother's old name. Before she married my father, of course.

"Well, yes, but its now Leslie Vanessa Richardson." Professor Holmes just stood there. He looked a bit upset.

"He married Hugh? She always talked to me and called him a bloody git who doesn't care about anything. How could a Gryffindor like a Slytherin?" Than he eyed at Blaise and I. He saw the Slytherin crest on Blaise's robe. He also saw the Gryffindor crest on my robe.

"Oh...I mean, there's nothing wrong with it! It's just that he was different. He always called her names, said he was going to kill her one day. He even said that she was ugly compared to a troll. She cried for 2 straight days about that." Holmes said.

"Maybe love starts with hate?" Blaise said trying to get into the conversation.

"Yes, very true...are you Lupin's nephew or something?" He asked.

"No! Why is everybody thinking that?" Blaise said.

"Your mother, she is a very beautiful woman, maybe it's genetic. You look like a fine young lady." Holmes said. He's really nice I wish he taught here.

"I've always wondered why most of the people we met from BeauxBatons don't have their accents? Charles and Valleria are from there, they don't have accents." Blaise said.

"It's because most of us aren't from France. Some people moved to France to hide they're past like Richardson here. What are your names?"

"I'm Hermione, this is Blaise." I said.

"I see those are really nice names." I smiled.

"Thanks Professor." I said.

"My mother told me to call you 'Rolly' I have to write her a letter back. She said she might come visit." I said.

"That would be excellent! To see Leslie again!" Holmes said. So I rushed and wrote the letter.

Dear Mom,

Professor Holmes is really nice! You should come visit, now. Now, now, now!!!

Love,

Hermione.

I sent it so quickly I swear I ran over about 3 first years. About 10 minutes later, my mother was at the door.

"Rolly!" She yelled. Professor Holmes looked at her and they both hugged.

"Leslie! How long has it been? Why did you marry Hugh? You got children and didn't even tell me about them? Oh, never mind!" They hugged again.

"Fine, fine. I'll explain. I married Hugh because..." Professor Holmes looked very anxious.

"Yes?" He answered.

"Because, you remember that night Hugh fell off his broom in 7th year? He couldn't go to the farewell ball because he was too injured?"

"Yes! His face was like this." He did a imitation of somebody wincing. I guess he forgot he was talking to Hugh's daughter and wife. Professor Holmes laughed. My mother glared at him. He froze and just nodded.

"Well, I was, I guess worried. Felt so sorry, nobody seemed to care. Plus, I didn't have anybody to dance with so what was the point of going? You were going with Neon (?) so I said what was the point? When I went into the Hospital Wing he was sleeping, so I just sat there just to watch over him. He was talking in his sleep. I heard 'I will kill you, Leon.' I got outraged so I was about to punch him until he said 'but you're funny, cute, smart a bit too smart for your own good if you ask me. I wish I could tell you that in person. Ha!' I never knew he felt like that about me so I just watched over him the whole night. He woke up, and saw me. He looked so surprised because right when he woke up, I kissed him. I thought he would push me off, but instead he returned the kisses. I hated him, but it was like we were putting masks on. Every time we said 'I hate you.' We actually meant 'I love you.' We met up at places after school year, than we got more involved. Until, the day he proposed. I said yes [A/N A bit Duh....]. Since than I'm Leslie Richardson. Heh, like Romeo and Juliet."

My eyes were watering.

"That's so romantic, mother!" I said. Blaise laughed.

"Aw, is somebody going to cry about a story?" he said playfully.

"No! I just liked the story..." I said. So, that's how my mom and dad fell in love. It's nothing like Blaise and I. Blaise liked me in the first place. I sort of liked him back, but I barely noticed him...that's all.

"You know just to tell you I only took Neon to make somebody jealous..." Professor Holmes said.

"Oh really? Who might that be?" My mother asked.

"Well, you. Don't worry, I suddenly noticed I loved you as a sister." Professor Holmes said.

"I completely agree." Mom said.

"Let's go talk about life shall we?" Mom said. Professor Holmes nodded.

"We'll be right back talking about life."

"Excellent choice! Miss Richardson! Life is very important in wizarding systems." Blaise said.

"Are you—"Blaise cut my mom off.

"No, I'm not Lupin's nephew or something."

"Oh, ok." My mother said as she walked away with Prof. Holmes.

Charles POV [A/N We're jumping around!]

I'm so...bored...must play...prank...on teacher...seriously, being home schooled is so...boring. I heard the BeauxBatons students are coming for a visit. So classes are called off for two weeks! This sucks. All she does is blab, blab and blab about things that I already know. I know what to do! I'll pretend to die! Just tip...the chair. Oh yeah! Who fell on the floor! Ok, close eyes and pretend to be knocked out. There.

"Oh my gosh!" My teacher yelled. Excellent, the plan is working. I hear footsteps coming from the staircase. Good father, come and see your conscious-but-pretending-to-be-unconscious son.

"What the hell happened?" my father said.

"I-I d-d-don't know! He was f-f-fine one second, t-t-the other second h-h-he's down!" my teacher stuttered. I know, this is mean but I can't resist. It's excellent.

"Calm down. It's nothing. Leave him there." My father said.

"What?! You mean you're just going to leave me here?!" Oops. Did I say that out loud?

"Yes son, I'm going to leave somebody who doesn't need help on the floor. And yes son, you did say that out loud." Father said. I pouted. He walked away. Than he turned around.

"Oh yeah, and son?" he said.

"Yesh Daddy?" I said snickering.

"You're grounded." He said trying-to-be-sweetly-evil. I rolled my eyes.

"How long?" I said.

"Two hours. No magic." What that's all? Ah, the treasures of being a rich wizard. Ha! Father is too vulnerable to ground his kids. I can't beat Valleria's record. A day. It was when she told father that she was banned from Hog's Head snogging somebody. Mother-who's-actually-stepmother didn't do anything, she was laughing at father. Same with me. Father walked down stairs.

"Don't d-d-do that again! Y-you hear me!" as the tone of her voice she was trying to still heal from the shock I gave her.

"What if I do? You can't give me detention, because that would be a privilege! Fine, give me detention! Cause' I want to make a sandwich I'm getting hungry." My teacher ignored me. She kept on blabbing on something about ghosts. Ok, I heard one word but now all I hear is blah, blah, blah, blah! I think I have what Muggles call ADD.

'a ghost can't die' that's one sentence I heard.

"Really?" I said with sarcasm but the teacher thought I was really involved.

"Yes, it is true because they're already dead!" she said with enthusiasm. This is my 73rd teacher and I'm not going to end until I leave 100! This one's tough though, she's already taught me a week. It's because father keeps on coming in. If I could get him out of the house for one second. One single second! She will be the victim of the...Prank Demon. I sound like two year old...that's not what I'm trying to do. I'm just so desperate to get out of here. I'm sure going to regret this...

"Stupefy!" I yelled. Oh yeah, dad banned my magic use. My teacher raised an eyebrow at me.

"Uh, just you use Stupefy on a...ghost?" oh shoot. I'm going for the smart kid! That means more explanations...oh no.

"No, no, no, no. Don't you listen? You can't use spells on a ghost. Geez." Hey, she doesn't like explaining hmmm. Charles has a wonderful plan!

"But you remember in the 2nd year though the Basilisk attacked a ghost right?" My teacher said.

"I don't get it." Heh, if she doesn't like explaining I'll make her explain some more! Heh.

"What? How can you not get that?" She's sounding impatient...

"I don't get that either." Ha! Watch her slide out of my house.

"What?"

"I don't get it."

"That's it! I'm leaving!" Boo-yeah! Next contestant, please! My father rushed upstairs wondering what was happening. All he saw was the teacher running out of the door.

"What the hell happened?" He asked. But than again, it was pretty obvious what had happened. I, Charles Scarlet happened.

"Mr. Scarlet! Your son is so impossible to teach! He won't listen to one word I say! It's pretty obvious that he should never be taught ever! He says he knows everything I teach him, so what's really the point! You're just wasting your money on this child! He's obnoxious! And not to mention rude! Hmph!" My teacher yelled. I just snorted. This is mad! My father turned red.

"Nobody, absolutely nobody, will mock any member of the Scarlet clan! You mock him you mock the rest of us! You're right. I'm wasting money on my son. Since, he is smarter than any of you morons I'm wasting time!" Whoa, is that the nicest thing he's ever said besides 'You're grounded'? Heh, hold on...that means no more making fun of teachers! No!

"Father, just get a new person to teach me. I like learning things I already know! Their practically my...my...victims!" I yelled. Father raised an eyebrow.

"Um, all right son..." father stuttered. The teacher glared and stumbled down the stairs. Bounce, bounce, silly tutor.

"Yeah, thanks father..." I said.

"For what? I didn't do anything." How clueless can he get? I know he (cough) (cough) loves me, hey maybe that's what made him love mother. He never knew when he was nice. That's sad...

"You just backed me up! You don't know that you did?" I said. He just ruffled my hair and went downstairs. Man, watch the hair! I waste 10 minutes of life just to do my hair! Hold on, I heard the BeauxBatons students are visiting! I'll get to see my friends! Got to go...hold on, I need a new teacher...their staying for 2 weeks...I'll go visit them next week. Yeah!

"Ahhh!!!" That sounded like downstairs, rush downstairs...

"What happened Daddy-o yo?" Ha! I love mocking him like that.

"Oh, never mind. It's nothing...just another letter from Valleria saying she married Malfoy." What? MALFOY??? I'm like Malfoy's brother! Ahhh!

"Son...son...stop running in circles...stop it...SON!" Holy crap...didn't have to lose control.

"She says it's only to keep James Bailey away, ok?" James? I despise that name! Losing temper...

"Son, control...whoa, boy. Save it." Fine I'll save it for next week...

[A/N I made Charles a funny guy! How do you like his personality! Otaku Sae thanks a lot for reviewing. Tell me your real name, and I might put you as Charles girlfriend if you want. Uh-oh Draco didn't catch up to James alone yet...it's going to be hunt. Charles is stinking mad at James for breaking his sister heart when they were in the 3rd year. And Valleria's caught in the whole middle of it...oh god.]