The Haven that is Belle Strait
November eleventh slowly crept nearer, and as each day passed Draco grew more and more nervous about that days events. He wasn't even sure what he would do. Perhaps the best thing to do would be to tell Hermione everything and ask if she would just go along with it. But she wouldn't. Draco knew her too well. But then maybe he should just do the plan and explain everything to her afterwards. No, that's even worse. She would hate him for life. That left one option: not going through with the plan. The consequences were brutal; he would lose the respect of the entire Slytherin house, along with losing his best friends. But as the days passed, Draco felt more and more that it would be worth it. Hermione is worth whatever torture and suffering he would have to endure after his final decision. But he still could not understand why he felt that way. She's only a muggleborn!
Anyway, the evening before November eleventh, Hermione was studying in her common room. Draco was serving a detention for Hagrid (for disrupting his second year lesson), so Hermione was left on her own to study for a test that was coming up in her Arithmancy class.
Suddenly, a tall figure loomed in the shadows of the entrance. Hermione lifted her head to see who the culprit was.
"Good evening, Miss Granger." Professor McGonagall said, smiling. Hermione's heart skipped a beat. What was McGonagall doing in her common room? And why was she smiling?
"Good evening, Professor." Hermione said, standing up. "Is there something you'd like?"
Professor McGonagall's smile broadened as she surveyed Hermione surrounded by books and notes, just as she had always been. "Yes, there is actually. I wished to speak with you about something extremely important."
"Yes?" Hermione asked, nervously.
"Well, as you're aware you have been slacking off for a fair part of this term." McGonagall informed. "But you seem to be catching up and returning to your usual above average standards, and that is exactly what I love to see."
Hermione smiled, relieved that this was a nice visit and yet still apprehensive as it seemed that McGonagall's speech was not quite finished.
"Well, Belle Strait has heard about your successfulness and wonderful grades." McGonagall continued with increasing anticipation. "Have you ever heard of Belle Strait, Miss Granger?"
"No." Hermione answered, confused.
"Well, that's not surprising. Belle Strait is not a school that one would normally read about in a book. It is very private; few have ever heard of it. It is a school much like what a muggle would call a university or college. It is not mandatory for wizards and witches to attend; Hogwarts seventh year is the furthest most need to accomplish a full education. But there are few who are honored greatly by being asked to attend Belle Strait. You learn more than Hogwarts will teach you, and with that knowledge it is almost impossible not to obtain whichever career you wish to pursue after Hogwarts. Cornelius Fudge and Professor Dumbledore both attended Belle Strait. The school accepts students at the minimum age of eighteen."
Hermione was speechless. This sounded like a haven! "If the minimum age is eighteen, then how can I-"
"Like I said, they've seen your work." McGonagall answered her unfinished question. "They recognize brilliance when they see it. You are way above average, Miss Granger. They are willing to accept a student under the age of eighteen, and you have enough credit at Hogwarts to be able to skip the rest of your seventh year and go straight to Belle Strait. There is a more evolved form of NEWTs at the school. They call it E-NEWTs. It takes place after the two years at the school are completed."
Total dream. Hermione thought to herself, hardly believing it. After a few moments of shocked silence, she asked, "And where is this school?"
"Belle Strait is in France." McGonagall answered, her enthusiasm dropping a tad.
"France!" Hermione exclaimed. The first thing that ran through her mind was Draco. She couldn't leave him. She just couldn't.
"Is that a problem?" McGonagall asked.
"I… I can't move to France!" Hermione cried. "I can't leave my friends and my family and-"
"Miss Granger, this is the chance of a lifetime!" McGonagall interrupted. "There have only been twelve people at Hogwarts to be accepted into Belle Strait since Hogwarts was created! You are honestly inquiring passing up this chance of a lifetime because of friends and family?"
"I…" Hermione began. This was all too much. This was the chance of a lifetime. It sounded like a dream. Just perfect. But Draco…
"I'll have to think about it." Hermione answered, confused and at a loss for words.
"Very well." McGonagall answered solemnly. Obviously this had not gone the way she had expected. "I shall expect your answer no later then a week from today. Belle Strait cannot wait forever. Good night."
"Good night." Hermione replied, dazed.
The shock of there being a school as high-rated as Belle Strait and Hermione not knowing about it bemused her enough, but the fact that the school was actually asking Hermione to become an underage student there was just remarkably incredible. But Hermione could not go. She refused to leave Draco, bottom line. Perhaps Belle Strait would keep the invitation open for her until she finishes her seventh year, and then Draco and her could possibly move to Paris together, if he would accept.
Hermione was exhausted by all of the information and knowledge slowly filling her head like rain in an empty bucket. Only one thing was for sure: she had to talk to Draco.
The next morning, Hermione awoke to an empty bed. Draco must have slipped out earlier, before she awoke. She stuffed her face in her pillow; telling Draco about this news was a bit harder than she anticipated it would be. She attempted to tell him the previous night when he returned from his detention, but she did not have chance. He was tired and wanted to go straight to bed, and that wasn't exactly the type of mood she wanted him to be in when she revealed the amazing news. Hermione knew that he would tell her to go to Belle Strait straight away and pretty much tell her the exact same things that McGonagall told her and that she was telling herself repeatedly in her mind.
Today, November eleventh, marks the day of Hagrid's birthday. For the special event, Dumbledore asked the house-elves in the kitchens to prepare a scrumptious feast in recognition of Hagrid's big day; so, the students were all looking forward to an amazing feast that evening. Hermione felt this would be the opportune time to tell Draco about Belle Strait; why, she was not sure. But, her gut told her to do it that evening, so that evening she would do it.
"Ouch!" Hermione cried. Startled, she sat upright in bed looking for the culprit of the sharp pain in her leg. Curling up at the end of the bed was Crookshanks; he must have just leapt up. "Okay, okay, okay, I'm up!" She said, exasperatedly. "Happy?" Crookshanks purred affectionately as though answering Hermione's question. She could not help but smile as she lifted herself out of bed and quickly got dressed, anxious to find Draco. However, she did not have far to look.
"Morning, beautiful." Draco greeted Hermione as she entered the common room. He was already fully dressed, lounging around on the sofa and apparently waiting for Hermione to get up. She did not know it, but he had gone to visit Blaise earlier that morning, hoping to be able to persuade him to change his mind. No luck came of it, though; Blaise was still hell-bent on destroying Hermione's life that evening.
"Good morning." Hermione smiled, walking over to him and pecking him on the lips. "Excited about the feast?"
"Am I excited about celebrating some big oaf's birthday?" Draco asked. "Hell no."
"Draco." Hermione warned, sternly. "Hagrid is a wonderful person. You just never got the chance to get to know him."
"Granger, he almost killed me with one of his little pets in third year, remember? I don't fancy being friends with an attempted murder, thank you very much." Draco answered.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Okay fine, whatever. The least you could do is pretend to celebrate with the rest of us. Can you do that?"
Draco felt something fluttering around in his stomach. Every time he thought about what would happen that evening, something would flutter. He was nervous; this was deadline. This would be it. And he still had absolutely no idea what he wanted to do about the situation. If he wanted to tell her, then this would be the time to do it…
"Yeah, I can. Uh, Granger-" Draco began.
"Hermione!" A set of voices rang in unison from outside the portrait hole. "Hermione, are you in there?"
Hermione gave Draco a quizzical look before giving the mermaids permission to allow the guests inside. Parvati and Lavender scampered in, gazing avidly at their surroundings.
"Damn, you guys have it good!" Lavender exclaimed in awe.
"Yeah, like what the hell?" Parvati agreed.
"Good morning to you, too." Hermione laughed.
"You're coming on a walk with us." Parvati ordered, rushing over to Hermione and linking arms with her. "We need to talk about the feast. What are you wearing! Girl bonding time, you know? So if you'll excuse us, Draco…"
Parvati led Hermione outside, Hermione with Parvati on one arm and Lavender on the other. The three girls strolled around the Hogwarts grounds chatting about anything and everything; all in all, Hermione was having a surprisingly excellent afternoon.
"Hello, Hermione!" Pansy cried from across the grounds.
Bewildered, Hermione waved a quick hello before carrying on with Parvati and Lavender. Pansy's saying hello was once again odd, but the Slytherins all seemed to be paying much more attention to her that day; they were waving, saying hello, patting her on the back and asking her how her day was going. It was all just odd; there was no other word for it.
Pansy and Lavender decided they needed to use the washroom through midday, and of course Hermione was needed to accompany them.
"It's not proper for a girl to go to the lavatory by herself!" Parvati educated.
"Yeah," Lavender agreed. "We need each other. You never know what's hiding in those bathrooms."
They broke out in giggles. As they approached the bathroom door, a muscular, dark silhouette emerged from the shadows. It was none other than Blaise Zabini.
"Hello, Granger." He said in a cruel, menacing voice.
Parvati and Lavender began giggling once more. They obviously found Blaise attractive; Hermione found him creepy and daunting.
"Hello, Blaise." Hermione replied, a chill creeping down her back.
"You girls go on." Blaise said, indicating the bathroom to Parvati and Lavender. "I just need a quick word with Granger, here."
Still giggling, Parvati and Lavender pushed their way into the lavatory.
"Look, Blaise-" Hermione began, racking her brain for an excuse to slip away.
"Shut up, Granger." Blaise interrupted. "Look, you're all right for a mudblood, which is why I felt the need to approach you."
"Approach me about what?" Hermione asked, confused.
"Well, it's come to my attention that your dear boyfriend Draco was caught making out with Pansy yesterday while he apparently told you that he was in a detention." Blaise informed, trying to contain the menacing smile fighting to come out.
Hermione's jaw dropped. "What?" she asked, disbelievingly.
"You heard me. Usually, I wouldn't tell you. Draco's my best mate. But like I said, you're all right. You don't deserve that." Blaise said, laughing inside.
Hermione hesitated, astounded at what she was hearing. "What… what are you talking about? That can't be true. It's not. You've been wrongly informed, Mr Zabini." Hermione finally said, growing angry that Blaise would make up such silly accusations.
"Whatever. Talk to him if you want." Blaise offered, indicating the corridor leading to her dormitory.
"Fine, I will." Hermione said, turning to leave.
Blaise grabbed her arm. Hermione glared at him. "Let go of me, Blaise."
Blaise loosened his hold slightly, but did not completely release her. "Talk to him about it at the feast. He's not around right now; I think he might have snuck into Hogsmeade with a friend. Could be Pansy. He'll be back in time for the feast, though. Talk to him then."
Little did Hermione know that Blaise planned the whole thing; he dared Draco to draw very crude graffiti on the wall of the Astronomy Tower that afternoon. That would take a few hours, and when Blaise 'accidentally' lets it spill to Professor Snape about what Draco is doing, that will be another two hours (at least) detention for Draco. Snape, not liking Hagrid much, would not care if Draco were late for the feast. And that is exactly how Blaise wanted it.
All of a sudden, Parvati and Lavender emerged from the toilets. The moment they caught sight of Blaise, they started giggling once more. Blaise automatically released Hermione's arm from his grip and turned to leave, but not before shooting Hermione a meaningful, malevolent glance. "Later, Granger."
Hermione nodded to be polite, suddenly feeling sick. It couldn't be true. Draco wouldn't cheat on her. Who would she believe? Her sweet boyfriend or the new creepy Slytherin king? Simple. But Draco does have a past reputation…
"Let's go find something to wear to the feast!" Parvati suggested, excitedly.
"Yeah!" Lavender agreed, once again linking arms with Hermione. The three of them took off down the corridor back to the dormitory, Hermione still deep in thought about her confused, crazy relationship and apprehensive about the confrontation awaiting her that evening.