A/N- I got this one up faster! Yay! And Mocha, to answer your question about the "quotes," I don't find them I write them. Some come easily and others take me forever, but I really enjoy writing them, because they are so different from the way I write my stories. This one is not my favorite. And thank-you again for your wonderful reviews! They brighten my day!
All people look for a sense of security and safety. We provide that sense of security to those we care about, because they know we would do anything, no matter how foolish, to protect them.
Those who make us feel the safest are the ones we care about most.
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After climbing what seemed like an endless amount of stairs Draco finally reached the owlery. He stepped over straw and droppings and headed over to a window. He pulled a piece of parchment and a pen out of his robe and wrote:
Father,
I have thought of an initiation plan. However, I do not believe it necessary for me to fill you in on the details. The last thing I need right now is for you to be butting in and taking any credit for what I plan to accomplish. I can tell you that when I succeed you will never have reason to be ashamed of me again!
Draco
He called to his owl and attached the letter to his leg. After throwing the owl violently out the window he began the climb back down the steps. About halfway down he heard voices. Three voices he would recognize anywhere. The golden trio was walking past the base of the owlery tower.
"So, 'Mione, whatcha got in mind?" Ron asked.
"I don't know, Ron." Hermione replied in an exasperated tone. "This wasn't even my idea!"
"Still, you're bloody brilliant if anyone one could think of a way to get even with that git it's you." Ron countered.
Hermione sighed exasperatedly and answered, "If we want to get Malfoy we have got to hit where it hurts the most. Ok, we're going to…"
The trio had moved too far down the hall for Draco to hear anymore of what they were saying.
"Damn!" Draco whispered. If that filthy little mudblood thinks she's gonna get me, she has another thing coming. I'll get her good, along with Potter! They'll regret the day they crossed a Malfoy.
Draco continued down the stairs and headed to the Slytherin common room. He had some plans to finalize.
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"…we have got to hit where it hurts most. Ok, we're going to need to publicly humiliate him. That's the best way to get under his skin."
"Huh? Why? How do you know that?" Ron asked, confusion covering his features.
"What is the most important thing to purebloods, especially the Malfoys?" Hermione looked around expectantly, and when neither boy had a reply she rolled her eyes and answered for them, "Pride! Damage that huge ego of his and he won't know what to do with himself."
"Oh, Yeah, I knew that," both boys said assuredly.
"I'm sure," Hermione said doubtfully. "Ron, I think it would be best if we let Ginny do it."
"What? Why her?" Ron cried out. "She's my baby sister, I can't let her get hurt."
"She won't, Ron. We'll have it all planned out and I promise she won't get hurt. Plus, it'll really peeve Malfoy to get hexed by a younger girl. Especially since he is constantly acting superior to your family. It'll really hit him hard."
"Alright, I guess." Ron relented.
"Mate, we'll all be right there with her if she does need our help." Harry offered, "Besides, she's an awesome witch, there's no way Malfoy could hurt her.
"Yeah," Ron said, sounding very unsure of himself.
The trio arrived at the room of requirement where they were supposed to meet Ginny. They went in and looked around to see what the room would have in store for them this time. There were four comfortable chairs placed around a large round table. On the table there was a map of the school, a book of hexes and a schedule of where all the teachers are at what time of day.
"Where's Ginny? Why isn't she here?" Ron asked after a few minutes.
"I'm sure she'll be here in a minute, Ron. Calm down." Hermione commanded as she sat in one of the chairs.
"But what if she's hurt, or lost, or someone attacked her or…"
"Or maybe she fell in a toilet and drowned." Ginny said sarcastically as she entered the room.
" Yeah!" Ron replied enthusiastically. All three laughed heartily at Ron who was turning a violent shade of red.
"The room looks nice," Ginny commented.
"Yeah," Harry said staring intently at her.
"Come on, let's get started." Hermione said.
After all four had taken their places around the table Hermione filled Ginny in on their plan to use her. Much to Ron's displeasure she was thrilled with the idea.
"When are we going to do it?" She shrieked excitedly. "I can't wait!"
"Lets do it Sunday. All the students will be outside on the grounds, where they can all see. And, afterwards he'll have to face everyone again in class Monday." Hermione said.
"Bloody brilliant," Ron complimented.
"Ron's in, I'm in, Harry? Does Sunday sound good?" Ginny asked turning her gaze away from the maps on the table to look at him.
"Hmm? Sunday? Sounds good to me." Harry was a little startled when she looked over at him and turned red, hoping she hadn't noticed him looking at her.
"Ok, Sunday then. I vote down by the lake, that's where most kids hang out, and it far enough away where there won't be too many teachers. We'll do it after lunch." Ginny said.
"There are no teachers down by the lake at 12:30," Hermione stated looking up from one of the schedules lying on the table. "So, we'll do it then."
"Ok, I like it. Now we need to decided what we're going to do to him." Harry said with an evil glint in his eye.
"I vote we drown him," Ron said viciously.
"RON! We're not trying to kill him!" Hermione screeched.
"I know," Ron said, laughing heartily at Hermione's expressions.
"What are you laughing at?" Hermione demanded.
"You," Ron said simply.
"Arrg, you make me so mad sometimes," Hermione said with a stern expression, but Ron could see the amusement in her eyes.
"You know you love me for it," Ron teased, causing Hermione to turn red.
"So, I was thinking we would use the treafee hex," Hermione suggested, ignoring Ron's last comment.
"What's that?" Ron and Harry asked in unison.
"It turns you green, causes your hair to turn into leaves, and smell REALLY bad." Ginny answered.
"Sounds good to me," Harry said.
"How did you know that Ginny?" Ron asked.
"I don't know," Ginny shrugged innocently.
"What have you been up to Gin?" Ron demanded.
"So, everyone agree? Sunday, down by the lake, at 12:30?" Ginny questioned, ignoring, Ron.
"Can you even cast the hex?" Ron asked doubtfully.
"Yes, I learned it from Luna last year." Ginny replied haughtily.
"Great, if she learned it from Luna she's bound to turn the castle into a stinky tree." Ron muttered.
"Luna is a nice person, Ron!" Hermione scolded.
"Yeah, if you like the crazy types." Ron whispered to Harry. Both boys started laughing heartily. Hermione chose to ignore them.
"Gin, if you want to go practice that hex, just to make sure you got it, we could go practice down in an empty classroom." Harry asked awkwardly.
"Sure, that'd be fun." Ginny replied merrily.
"Awesome!" Harry answered a little too enthusiastically.
Hermione chuckled softly at the two while Ron looked from Harry to Ginny and back again with a look of confusion and suspicion on his face.
"We'll see you two later," Harry called over his shoulder as he lead Ginny out of the room.
Just before they made it around the corner Hermione saw Ginny grab Harry's hand.
"What up with those two?" Ron switched chairs to be in the one next to Hermione, who was still giggling.
"Isn't it obvious?" Hermione asked.
"No! Isn't what obvious?" Ron asked, growing angry.
"They like each other." Hermione answered, a smile playing across her face. "And it's about time they realized it."
"You knew? My best mate, and my, my sister!" Ron cried.
"It was pretty obvious." Hermione stated again with a small laugh. "Calm down, Ron. It will be ok. I promise." Hermione placed her hand comfortingly on Ron's arm and felt him tense up under her touch. She drew her hand away quickly.
"Maybe, we should go." Hermione suggested.
"Why?" Ron asked, turning slightly red.
"Why what?" Hermione asked, looking puzzled.
"Why do we have to go? I mean where do we have to go anyway?" Ron was turning redder and redder every moment. Finally, he seemed to make up his mind about something and stuttered quickly, "I like being here with you."
Before Hermione could reply the room began to change. The two chairs they had been sitting on turned into a couch and the bright lights suddenly turned to soft candlelight. Instead of maps on the huge table, chocolate appeared on a much smaller table.
"Wow," Ron marveled. "What do you think it did that for?" he asked as he turned a deeper shade of red.
Hermione smiled at him and answered, "I believe it thought we had a new requirement." Hermione started laughing and Ron quickly joined in. "Well, isn't this awkward?"
"Yeah, but I kinda like it too. I think we should stay awhile and enjoy that chocolate." Ron said very hurriedly.
"Mk," Hermione answered as she reached for a nearby piece of chocolate.
They sat together eating chocolate with their feet up on the table for a long time, talking about anything and everything. As they talked Ron was dealing with some internal struggle that Hermione was totally oblivious to.
"Mione?" Ron asked.
"Hmm?" She said through a mouthful of chocolate.
"Harry and Ginny really care about each other don't they," Ron said leaning back on the couch and staring intently at the floor.
"Yeah, they really do." Hermione said after a minute.
"Do you think," he paused and took a deep breath, "do you think we could have that same thing?" Ron asked in a barely audible whisper. By now he was almost an impossible shade of red.
"Ron," Hermione started, "Ron, look at me." Ron was apparently very fascinated by something on the ground because he simply wouldn't look up. "Ron, come on now." Very reluctantly he lifted his glowing red face and looked at her sheepishly. "Ron, what are you saying?"
Ron hesitated a long time and looked back at the floor. After a few moments a new resolve came over him. "I already took the plunge, so I might as well get it all out. I care about you a lot Hermione, and not just as a friend would. I want to protect you from everything and anything. I get insanely jealous of any guy that even looks at you twice. Remember Victor? I didn't hate him, I wanted to have his courage to tell you how I felt. I'm happy when I'm with you and I think about you all the time. And now I'm rambling," Ron stopped talking and returned his gaze to the floor.
"Ron," Hermione said softly and the tall redhead looked up at her, "I really care about you too," Hermione said affectionately.
"Really?" Ron yelled, pure joy illuminated all of his features. "Yes! I promise to always protect you and be there for you, no matter what."
Ron placed both of his long arms around Hermione and pulled her into a tight hug. She stiffened under his touch, not yet used to this new arrangement, but he didn't even notice for all the joy he was feeling.
The two of them sat on that couch for a long time with Ron's arm around Hermione, who gradually relaxed although she still wasn't completely comfortable.
This will feel more natural with time, Hermione told herself. I'm just not used to being with him like this. I really do care for him.
After they had talked for several more hours and Hermione was dozing lightly on Ron's shoulder they decided it was time to head back to the common room. As they stood up the incredibly groggy Hermione nearly fell over. Ron placed a protective arm around her and walked with her that way all the way back to Griffindor common room.
When they arrived everyone else was already asleep. Ron walked her over to the base of the girl's staircase and gave her a gentle good night hug.
"See you tomorrow, 'Mione." He whispered affectionately. "You don't know how long I've wanted us to be like this." He smiled down at her and headed over to the boy's dormitories.
As she climbed the stairs to her dorm she thought about her new boyfriend. She honestly cared for him and found him attractive and fun. The awkwardness she felt would fade with time. He truly made her happy. A small smile spread across her face as she reflected on the events of the night and they way he felt when he hugged her.
"Wow," she whispered to herself as she drifted off to sleep.
A/N- I'm not sure if I like this chapter or not, so give me some input!
Mocha, in the review you gave me your email address in, it didn't show up, it was just a weird A, instead. Could you go to my user profile and send me an email so I could get it that way? Thanks! I did the same thing, but I'm not sure the address was correct.
PLEASE R/R!
