The Agreement
Chapter 4
The whole day sped by uneventfully after that hectic morning. Malfoy rushed himself to the hospital wing as soon as potions class was over, and he had not been seen since. This pleased Hermione, Harry, and Ron a great deal.
"So how is that evil git making you serve for detention?" Ron asked angrily, referring to Snape. They stood waiting for Hagrid to come out of his cabin. Care of Magical Creatures was the last class of the day.
"Oh, nothing terrible, just writing lines." Hermione checked her watch impatiently.
"At least it's not scrubbing clean the chamber pots in the infirmary." Harry chuckled. Ron glared at his bespectacled friend.
"That was not funny Harry. I had detention all last week doing awful laboring for Snape." complained Ron. Hermione joined in with Harry and laughed politely at Ron.
"I told you not to put the frog eyes in too early, Ronald," Hermione sniffed haughtily, "served you right." Harry snickered. Hermione turned her attention to Harry and glared. "Don't you remember the time you mixed your potion in the wrong direction for at least half an hour?"
This time Ron laughed. "It's not funny at all. How are you supposed to pass your N.E.W.T.s? Or how are you two going to live on your own after this year?" Hermione worried.
"We're going to be roommates." Harry explained.
Ron nodded. "We'll probably live in an apartment London."
"Typical." Hermione grumpily muttered to herself. Those two were relied on each other with their dependency.
"An apartment, Weasley?" A jeering voice said behind them. The trio whipped around and faced Pansy Parkinson and her pesky group of friends.
"Some sort of ramshackle, no doubt." A tall blonde sneered.
Ron's ears turned red; he seemed lost for words.
Harry and Hermione took control. "Maybe, Parkinson," Harry said angrily, "but it won't even compare to the doghouse your pug of an arse will live in, now will it?"
Pansy opened her mouth to respond but Hagrid had just come out of his cabin. "Listen up. We're gonna be 'round back today." He grunted.
The class, slow to react, followed their teacher around the pumpkin patch into the yard in back of Hagrid's home.
"This better be impressive." Ron joked, observing the large cloth-covered crates in front of them. When had Hagrid's classes ever not been surprising?
"It will be." Hermione replied in obvious eagerness apparently not getting it. Her friends rolled their eyes and turned their attention on Hagrid.
"Got a little somethin' I know yeh all might like. Went through a handful to get them, but here they are. I'm gonna let one out. Now stand back Neville." Hagrid walked over to one of the crates and tore off the cover.
The class gasped.
"No, not again." Harry groaned.
"How's that? Blast-Ended Skrewts. Managed to get over two dozen of 'em for you lot." Hagrid grinned proudly.
Hermione's face fell. "We've already covered these." She called out.
Hagrid opened a crate and pulled out a runty skrewt. "You're right 'Ermione. Since I know you all loved the lot we had three years ago-"
"Loved them?" Someone interrupted. The speaker was Pansy Parkinson. Everyone turned to look at her. "Loved those? That's absurd! These things here are horrid. They ruin your clothes, they burn your skin, and if that isn't the worst, half of us caught fire last time. Why? Why would you even think we liked them? Even Potter and Weasley despised them!" Pansy took a breath.
"You're a terrible teacher. Couldn't you get creatures that aren't a dangerous threat to our health?" Blaise Zabini remarked smirking around at his friends.
Everyone turned to look at Hagrid but he was busy concentrating on Harry, Ron and Hermione. "You mean ter tell me you don't like them? Is that true Harry?"
Harry tried to comfort his friend. "No, I...it's just..."
Hagrid turned to Ron and Hermione and gave them a pleading stare. "Are my classes that bad?" His dark eyes like small beetles steadily shinnied with water.
"No, of course not!" assured Hermione. "You're a great teacher."
A few of the other Gryffindors babbled out about how Hagrid was their favorite teacher.
"Free period. You're all dismissed." He said gruffly.
"Oh Hagrid!" Hermione cried out. The great half-giant placed the skrewt back into its wooden crate.
Without a backward glance, he walked around the hut. Hermione winced as his door slammed shut. There was a moment's silence before the Slytherins began to cheer wildly as they trudged back up to the castle.
The Gryffindors followed gaily. It wasn't everyday you got upset your teacher and a free period. "I feel horrible." Harry muttered, walking around the hut onto the grounds. "I should have said something."
"Don't feel bad mate. It was all the Slytherin's fault. He can't be mad at us." Ron thumped Harry's back.
"Maybe we should check on him." Hermione stated.
"You two can. I'm going to get something to eat. See the both of you later." Ron jogged to catch up with their fellow Gryffindors.
"Come on Harry." Hermione knocked on Hagrid thick wood door. "Hagrid! Please come out!" She said loudly. Hagrid did not answer, but she heard Fang scratching the door inside.
"Hagrid! We're sorry. Don't believe anything Pansy says. You're my favorite teacher!" Harry yelled. They heard sniffling inside. "Well, see you later." Harry called uncomfortably.
"That went well." Hermione snapped once they were inside the castle. Harry friendly patted her back.
"He'll come round. Anyhow, I'm going to catch up with Ron. Are you coming?" Hermione shook her head. "Okay Hermione. See you at dinner then."
"Bye Harry." Hermione watched him walk away. She led herself toward her dormitory where she would be able to begin her transfiguration homework which happened to be due soon.
She entered through the portrait door which was a beautifully drawn piece of art bearing the late Merlin's elderly face. Her footsteps were silent underneath the rich creamy tan carpeting. Hermione walked into the common room and found it empty.
"Good." She thought a loud. "Malfoy must still be at the hospital wing."
She stood over a desk of pure maple in the common room, and placed her books neatly to the side then slid into the cushioned chair and sighed. Hermione looked around feeling unusually content. The Head Boy and Girl's common room had an expensive air to it.
There were sofas, either plush maroon or black leather. The walls were of only expensive stone; each rock different from the ones around it. The mantle above the fireplace was made of exquisite marble of both forest green and scarlet coloring. Hermione, unlike Malfoy appreciated the common room and her dormitory which was altogether splendid.
Hermione sighed again, more deeply this time. She began her essay and finished it nearly two hours later. After finishing her homework she decided to go down to the library and get a few books for a bit of light reading.
"Good evening, Ms. Granger. What can I do for you?" Madam Pince greeted the Gryffindor from her desk located off to the side.
"Just browsing." Hermione beamed. Soon enough Hermione found herself amongst thick and heavy books about curses and trickery spells. Hermione leafed through a few but found nothing that really interested her.
As she turned down another aisle full of shelves and books, she ran into something. Or someone. Hermione looked down and stared into the frightened eyes of a first or second year. "Pardon." Hermione excused politely.
The boy blushed but did not answer. He went back to looking at the books on the shelf. Hermione gazed at him a second longer. He had unruly and curly light brown hair. He was stout; shorter than average and slightly overweight. She caught on his robes that he was a Hufflepuff.
Hermione shook her head and turned to look at the books on the shelves opposite him. Minding her own business she was until the boy interrupted her from reading.
"I'm Daniel. Daniel Quartet." He said turning to look at her.
Hermione was taken aback by surprise. "I'm...Hermione Granger." She replied. She stuck out her hand for him to shake. "Nice to meet you." She said in a business tone.
He shook her hand without hesitation. His palm was sweaty and warm. "I know. You're Harry Potter's best friend. Head Girl too, if I'm not mistaken." He answered in a way as if he didn't care. Hermione smiled.
"Yes, I am." She decided to be kinder. "What are you looking for? Do you need any help?"
His round face reddened and he shook his head ruefully.
"Oh come on." Hermione teased playfully.
"You promise not to take points from Hufflepuff?" He bit his lip.
"I promise. I just want to help." She wondered what it was he was looking for.
"One of the Slytherins tripped me in the hallway yesterday," He explained. "I was looking for a spell to put on him..." He reddened.
"Do you know who it was?" Hermione demanded angrily.
Daniel shook his head hesitantly at first. "N...no."
"You can tell me." Hermione responded.
"I can do this myself," He replied indignantly, "I just needed help searching for a good one."
She sighed. "I sure I can be of some help." Hermione took a number of books from the shelves and brought them over to a table closest to where the books of skullduggery. She sat down in a seat and began to search through the books slowly. Daniel too sat down at the table and followed her lead.
Half an hour later, Daniel and Hermione had found a few good curses that were easy enough for a first year.
As Hermione read about illusion spells, a shadow came over her book and blocked out the light. She snapped around and glared.
"I see your honker has been modified." She sniffed. "It's funny," Hermione continued, "I never thought I'd live to see the day I saw a ferret with a beak."
Malfoy sneered and pretended not to have heard her. "Well, well, well. And I never thought I'd see the day Mudblood Granger got a boyfriend. So your first date's in a library? No surprise. Pity, seeing all you can do is a first year..." Malfoy peered to look at Daniel's robes. "And a Hufflepuff at that!" He chuckled in adetesting way. "They're almost as filthy as you mudbloods." He smirked and sent Daniel a seething glare. Daniel gave a Hermione a helpless glance but her back was turned to him.
"Watch it Malfoy." Hermione breathed sharply through her nostrils. She stood up, feeling too intimidated in her seat.
"I was just leaving." Malfoy gave Daniel another look. "See you later." He turned on his heel and stalked out of the library, his nose held high in the air.
"Don't worry about him." Hermione reassured sitting back down. "Once a git always a git." She smiled brightly as if she wasn't even bothered.
Daniel got up from his chair without another word. He followed in Malfoy's footsteps, leaving Hermione alone in the library besides Madam Pince.
Confused, Hermione picked up the books he had choose to use and checked them out. She'd just give them to Daniel when she saw him. Checking her watch, she realized dinner had already started.
Hermione walked into the familiar hall. She rushed over to her table and took a seat next to Ron. "Where were you?" Ron protested. He bit into a treacle tart and studied Hermione carefully.
"Library." Hermione shrugged.
Ron didn't give an answer, but he couldn't help rolling his eyes at Harry. "What are those books for, Hermione?" Harry asked curiously.
"Oh, I was helping a first year and he forgot them."
"He?" Ron raised his eyebrows. "Hermione's finally gotten a date." Ron announced to the people around them. Seamus gave Hermione thumbs up and Dean applauded loudly. Hermione blushed slightly.
"It was not a date, Ronald." Her tone implied disapproval. "What do you call it when I help you with your homework?" She questioned with narrowed eyes.
"Cheating." Ron and Harry answered at the same time.
"Very funny." She emphasized as she got up.
"Where are you going?" Ron asked, spitting food over the table in front of him. She ignored him and waked over to the Hufflepuff able. She spotted Daniel at the far end of the table with a few other first years.
"You forgot these." As Hermione handed him the books, she heard someone call out loudly.
"See, I told you Pansy. Granger's dating a first year." Malfoy drawled loudly, not even bothering to speak quietly. Daniel was mortified. His friends started to tease him about his new "girlfriend".
Hermione ignored Malfoy and returned to her table and sat down. "So it's true." Ron stated with laughter.
"Ron that is disgusting!" Ginny remarked watching her plate become covered with her brother's half chewed food.
"What's true?" Hermione took a baked potato and put it her gold plate angrily.
"You and that Hufflepuff." Ron's laughter ceased at her sudden burst of anger.
"What? No, Ron!" She said loudly, cutting her potato in half.
"Then what was that?" Harry asked.
"I was just being friendly, Harry." She decided not to talk to them for the rest of the meal if they were going to be so disagreeing.
Before Hermione could leave the Great Hall, not being able to take the penetrating stares, Malfoy had initiated another round of taunts.
"Granger and Quartet sitting in a tree," Malfoy began.
"K-I-S-S-" Malfoy started, but his voice was drowned out by Ron.
"Malfoy, you just leave her alone!" Ron snarled across the hall. His face was slightly red with anger.
"Why should I?" Malfoy asked with pure hatred in his gleaming eyes.
"Don't you realize we don't like you Malfoy?" Harry asked.
"Yes." Malfoy answered bluntly. "Not that that bothers me or anything." He sneered sarcastically.
Ron grabbed Hermione's half eaten potato from her plate and launched it towards the Slytherin table. Without saying anything, she took another potato and glared at Ron angrily.
"Is that the best you've got?" Malfoy smirked. The potato had not flown far enough. It landed on the side of Luna Lovegood's plate with a plop. She noticed it and nonchalantly dipped it into her curry sauce and took a bite. Hannah Abbott, who had been sitting next to Luna, moved to sit next to someone else.
"So what if it is?" Harry narrowed his eyes. Malfoy let of a string of angry curses.
"Mr. Malfoy I will not have you speaking that way in my presence. Ten points from Slytherin." Professor McGonagall snapped. She had just come into the hall and had been passing the Slytherin table on her way to the staff table.
"That was wicked." Ron said happily watching McGonagall walk swiftly to her designated seat. "Even though Harry and I could have easily outdone him."
"He got what he deserved." Harry stated. He looked back at Malfoy and watched him glaring into his goblet. He turned back to face Hermione and Ron.
Hermione replied, "That little ferret is just jealous. It's plain for everyone to see." She forgot that she wasn't talking to her two best friends.
They walked up to the portrait of Merlin. "I don't know what to do about Hagrid." Hermione wailed changing the subject. She looked tiredly around the hall and got up. Harry and Ron got up too.
Ron shrugged. "To be quite frank, Hermione, Parkinson was right. No one liked the skrewts. They're horrible." They walked out of the hall ignoring stares from the other students.
"Ron!" squeaked Hermione. "That's exactly how we got him upset."
"They might not be our favorite creatures, but that doesn't give the Slytherins a reason to bash him up like that." The three stopped in front of Hermione's common room.
"What that girl needs is a real duffing up." Ron refused to hear out what Harry had to say.
"Well, goodnight you two." Hermione said the password to gain entrance of her common room.
"Night." They replied in unison.
Hermione stepped into the common room and took a seat in front of the fireplace, but no before getting a book to read from her room.
She read for at least two hours almost forgetting Malfoy. He almost always came in after curfew. When the clock struck nine, Hermione laid her book down and went out into the corridor to wait for prefect Anthony Goldstein. Tonight was one of her nights for patrolling the corridors.
Candles flickered weakly, not giving Hermione enough light. She stood huddled up against the portrait shivering. After waiting for a few minutes, she heard footsteps proceeding towards her. "Is that you Hermione?" Questioned the voice of Anthony Goldstein.
"You're late Goldstein." She laughed softly.
"Nonsense. You're just early." He came into Hermione's view, grinning. "Shall we be on our way then?" He held out his arm for Hermione to take. She willingly linked arms with his as they continued on.
"Unusually quiet tonight." Anthony commented, leading Hermione down a flight of stairs. Hermione agreed. They continued down to the dungeons where there always seemed to be Slytherins milling about in the shadows.
Hermione halted suddenly. She heard voices, two or three. There was a crash. "Someone's in the classroom."
They stood outside of potions classroom. "Should we wait for them to come out?" Anthony whispered. Hermione shook her head.
"They'd have to have a good reason to be in Snape's classroom. Let's just bust them." Silently she went to turn the knob. As soon as her fingered gripped it, she pulled back and moaned.
"What's the matter Hermione?" Anthony reached out for the knob but Hermione held his hand back. She showed him her palm. It was red.
"It's a spell. The knob becomes untouchable to everyone but the witch or wizard that casts it. It seared my skin pretty badly." She cradled her hand.
The Ravenclaw nodded sympathetically. "You're burned? We need to get you to the hospital wing. But not before we give our little friend a few detentions." He removed his wand from his pocket and tapped the doorknob sharply.
Its glow was a vibrant shade of silver before turned back to its normal deep copper color. Defiantly, Anthony grabbed it and turned it. He opened the door with haste and held his wand out.
He nodded and Hermione followed him into the classroom. "They're in there." She whispered. She pointed, with her good hand, to the door to the closet that held ingredients used for potion making.
With quiet steps he was at the door instantly. Hermione looked around and stood guard at the door they had come through. Anthony tapped the doorknob with his wand before touching it.
Behind the door, sounds of glass shattering could be heard. Muffled curses followed shortly. Anthony stood poised outside the door patiently. When they did not open the door, he reached for the knob and turned it slowly.
He threw open the door. Hermione rushed to his side. "Ah, look what we have here." She said to Anthony. She grinned triumphantly. "What are you two doing in here?
Crabbe and Goyle glared at them. "Nothing." Crabbe said fingering the bag that he held. He wasn't entirely intimidating, just standing there looking nervous.
"You, Goyle. Explain." Anthony pounced upon the other.
"I...uh...Someone sent us to do them a favor."
Crabbe punched Goyle, causing a shelf to fall down behind them. "You're not supposed to tell them!" He growled.
"Before I take points from Slytherin, and give you both detentions, I expect you to answer." Hermione put a hand on her hip.
"As I said before," Goyle replied, trying to intimidate the Gryffindor, "we're helping a fellow Slytherin out."
"With what?" Hermione stood her ground, although she half wanted to back away. Anthony, on the other hand advanced on the Slytherins. He grabbed the bag that Crabbe had been holding from behind his back.
"What's in here?" Anthony looked up at the large boys before going to open the bag. Relief seemed to pass over both of their faces. They both looked over Anthony's shoulder. Hermione advanced to have a look; neither prefect nor Head Girl took any notice.
"Whatever is in that bag, Goldstein, certainly does not concern you or Granger." said a cool female voice. They whipped around and faced Pansy Parkinson. Hermione gave her a false smile.
"Parkinson. Do you know what's in the bag?" Hermione took out her wand. Crabbe meanwhile grabbed the bag back from Anthony.
"Of course I do, Granger. As I said, it's none of your business. Now hand it here, you fat lard." Pansy shoved her way towards Crabbe and reached for the bag. Crabbe reluctantly let go. "Snape was in need of a few items. He asked me to run out and do a favor. As if I was going to. Do I look like a house elf to you?" she asked.
"More like a pig." Anthony muttered under his breath. Pansy glared at him.
"In case you haven't forgotten, I'm a fellow prefect, Goldstein."
Hermione smiled. "We haven't."
"So I had these two," She pointed to Crabbe and Goyle, "go. It was taking them so long and I was getting worried, so I took pity and came to find them myself. Now if you'll excuse me, I'll be on my way."
Pansy made to leave, but Hermione held her back. "Let's see a note admitting you to go wandering around the school then."
Pansy fake smile did not falter. She fished around in her cloak pocket and pulled out a piece of folded parchment. Anthony grabbed it and unfolded it. His eyes skimmed down the wrinkled parchment before reading it.
"I, Professor Serverus Snape am admitting Miss Parkinson to retrieve some personal items on my behalf. Anyone that gives Miss Parkinson trouble on her errand will answer to me." Anthony read. He smirked at Snape's lousy standing threat.
"I could report you, Mudblood." Pansy said with sparkling eyes. "You'll get weeks worth of detention I bet. But, I won't because you don't know what's in the bag."
With that, Pansy fled out the door and as quick as she'd come she was gone. Anthony and Hermione turned to look at Crabbe and Goyle. "Fifteen points from Slytherin for making a mess. Clean it up. Then I expect both of you to return to your common room for the night." Hermione ordered.
Crabbe and Goyle nodded their heads vigorously, knowing they were being let off easily. Hermione and Anthony strolled from the classroom. The Ravenclaw glanced at the watch on his wrist.
"It's already ten." He yawned. "I'll see you back to your common room; unless you want to get your hand bandaged up. Then I'm hitting the sack. He grinned cheekily at Hermione whom smiled back.
"Don't worry about my hand. I have something I can but on it."
So Anthony saw her to the portrait of Merlin. "Take care." He said parting.
"See you tomorrow." Hermione called down the corridor towards Anthony's retreating back. He turned to look over his shoulder and waved.
...ABCDEFG...
Before Pansy could even walk into the dormitory in which she slept, she was bombarded by the other Slytherin girls in her year.
"Did you get it?"
"How did it go?"
"Was there any trouble?"
Pansy pushed her way into the room and sat down on one of the girl's beds.
The girls crowded around her eagerly. "So..?" Millicent Bulstrode made to grab for the bag Pansy's fingers were clutched around. She glared at Millicent. Pansy didn't really like her, but she still put up with her.
"To answer your questions, yes I obviously have it. It went okay. Not well. I blame Draco for never teaching those illiterate lugs anything. There was a slight situation. Mudblood Granger and Anthony Goldstein interrupted Crabbe and Goyle, but Granger fell for the signed permission slip trick. She really isn't as smart as they say she is."
The girls gasped and began speaking once again, all at the same time.
"That Granger has it coming." Millicent cracked her knuckles. Pansy eyed her in hidden fright.
"Anthony...isn't he that dorky prefect from Ravenclaw?" giggled Gwen Ludder.
"Yes, isn't he adorable?" responded Monet Evans.
"Shut up all of you!" Pansy barked. They simply obeyed their raven haired friend.
"When are we going to start it?" Millicent asked thoughtfully.
Pansy succeeded in not scrunching up her face. "We're going to start it as soon as I can get someone," Pansy looked at all of the girls, "to nick a cauldron from the potions classroom."
"I'll do it." Tabitha Limons offered happily. She was Pansy right hand, and did almost everything she was told.
"Alright, Tabitha. I want it no later than tomorrow night." Pansy glared at Mallory Kings, a very outspoken blonde. "I assume you've gotten the instructions, Kings?" Mallory nodded and opened up the book up to a page in the back.
"It's a strong love potion. They call it The Deeply and Ineffable Love Potion of Ecstasy." Mallory held the book up for the other girls to see. "It's got a picture here of two lovers walking along a stream..." Mallory explained.
Pansy raised her eyebrows. "Do you think I care? Just read what it says!" She shrieked. Mallory shrugged and squinted to read the small print.
"The Deeply and Ineffable Love Potion of Ecstasy was created in the late 1800's by the infamous witch, Helga Rae Cottonseed, that was forever in love with a man whom loved someone else. The potion is very successful. Her man came running to Cottonseed in a matter of hours."
"How utterly romantic!" Monet interrupted.
The other girls were about to agree but Pansy sent them a warning glare. "Go on, Mallory."
"...This attaching potion can be used throughout both genders. It can also be dangerous. Adding too many snake eyes can cause the potion to react stronger in unintentional ways." Mallory took a breath before continuing. "A recent discovery was made in the last decade by Charles Deacons. He theoretically discovered and proved that by restraining from adding the crushed spider legs, the potion will eventually wear off in a day or two, etc." Mallory closed the book with a snap.
"So we've got the ingredients, and if all goes well, Pansy, we'll be able to start tomorrow." Mallory yawned.
Pansy nodded. "Yes, it'll take at least two weeks until it's complete."
"So it'll be done by Halloween?" Millicent predicted. Monet rolled her eyes and shared a look with Gwen. They were the quieter two.
"You're forgetting one thing." Tabitha remarked. "Who are we going to use it on?"
Each girl looked curiously at the other.
"I know who." Tabitha smirked.
Author's Note: Finally. Finally. Finally. I deeply apologize for not updating sooner. I don't give excuses, so I'll just say that I had a bit of Writer's Block. I'm pretty slow at typing dialogue and all too. I'm having some fun writing, though. I enjoy it.
Sorry that there wasn't a lot of Draco. He's just not as important to the plot. Yet. I think in the next chapter or the following one. No promises. Thanks for the reviews. They are inspiring. I hope this chapter wasn't slow, or anything. I have a hard time stopping myself from springing detail after detail.
I also realize that I didn't set disclaimers up for the last three chapters.
Disclaimer: I don't own the Harry Potter novels because I'm certainly not Jo Rowling. This is sort of depressing because if it's one thing I love, it's the paparazzi. So since I don't own the books, I don't own the characters, settings, etc, etc, etc.
Claimer: Yep... I can claim. Which sort of makes me sad to think I'd need to actually do it, but some people like to use other people's ideas without permission? So, I made up "The Deeply and Ineffable Love Potion of Ecstasy", Helga Rae Cottonseed, and Charles Deacons, Daniel Quartet, Tabitha Limons, Mallory Kings, Monet Arwens, and Gwen Ludder.
Yes, and if you weren't planning on reviewing, because you're feeling a bit lazy, you'll miss out on winning a date with Draco Malfoy!
Draco: What? Come again.
DD: I...uh... Just made you into a bachelor of some sort. –Nervous grin-
Draco: You bloody sicko!
Also, please make it one of your options to review. I'd be most pleased. No flaming, no criticism. If you're unhappy with my fic, don't read it.
Completed Mar. 30 2005
