Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling. I'm just playing with her world
Chapter 11: Prevalent yet Unassuming
After their discussion with Headmaster Dumbledore the two of them walked to where the letter indicated the Head Boy and Girl rooms would be. The silence between them was uncomfortable and awkward, but it would have been even odder if they had been carrying on a polite conversation.
Soon the two reached the door that would lead them into their new home for the rest of this year. Hermione read off of her letter the password (Pilfidora, a common ingredient in healing potions) and thought it appropriate because potions seemed to be the only thing that she and Draco did not disagree on. The common room was plush and comfortable. Of course, the room was a delicate balance between the colors of Gryfindor and Slytherin. Two doors on opposite sides of the room, with a lion and snake on them respectively, had the password that would lead them to their house's common rooms. Beside the two doors were staircases leading up to the Head Boy and Girl's quarters. The banisters had weaving lions and snakes on them with the house crests adorning the handrails.
As Hermione walked up her staircase, with Draco completely forgotten as he went up his, she had pictures filtering though her head of what it may look like. Upon entering, after the 27th step, she opened the door as slow as she could to try and delay the excitement. But it was all very anti-climactic as Hermione saw only a white blank room with a piece of parchment in the middle of the floor. She walked in cautiously and sat down on the hardwood floor to read the letter.
Dear Miss Hermione Granger,
I know how creative you are, also your love of our school's library, which can be connected to your new bookcase if you so desire, and your very apparent perfectionism trait. Please furnish this room to your own liking. Your bathroom is also yours to decorate as you please.
Headmaster Albus Dumbledore.
Hermione looked at the elegant handwriting and smiled as she looked over the letter again and again. She glanced around her room for a little while imagining what she could do on this blank canvas.
The first thing done was the color, a deep burgundy was slashed on to the wall and Hermione smiled, immediately liking the color. Next she put in a mahogany sleigh bed right under the window, and bed curtains were soon on too, that came out of habit for having them on her bed for six years. She moved along to the tables that were soon beside her bed, placing three candles on each. After that Hermione decided on a desk, a wonderfully large desk with lots of drawers and room to do all of her homework. The final addition was the bookcase. She replaced the wall to the left of the door with full length shelves and filled not even a third of it with books that she pulled out of her trunk. And of course with the Headmaster's blessing she connected it with the school library, so every book was at her finger tips. Finding this to her liking she put in a few accessories that made this room feel more like home and headed on to the bathroom.
Immediately upon entering the vision of the Prefect's bathroom came to her mind. Although she didn't want a tub as large as that one it would definitely be the starting point. Hermione put in the big tub, with one side filled with faucets for different kinds of scents and the opposite side with jets, for after those very stressful days. Hermione placed a vanity in front of a large mirror and the sinks and countertops were all made of marble. A shower was soon put in the corner. Finishing with candles and windows, Hermione looked in awe at the work she had created, but there was one thing missing: a theme.
Hermione racked her mind for a theme that would fit in with her but also with the rest of the décor. Finally one was decided. Her bathroom walls turned into what the Ancient Greeks had had as decorations and everything took on that old world charm and elegance.
After the bathroom, Hermione walked out exhausted and flopped down on her bed to review her new school books. About an hour into it she fell asleep, and once again dreamt of her dark angel. With a fright she woke up and mentally and physically slapped herself for forgetting what she had wanted to do.
Soon her bed linens were made a beautiful green and silver satin. She added paintings and tapestries to her walls, all of which had green or snakes some where prevalent yet unassuming. Hermione rushed into her bathroom, turning her faucets from gold to silver lions and snakes in an embrace. The marble was made emerald green and snakes were added to her Greek scenery.
As Hermione walked to her bed and slipped into comfortable pajamas, she couldn't help but feel a sneaky happiness that all throughout her room were little reminders of Severus. For one of the first moments in a long time, Hermione smiled at his memory, and even laughed as she looked around knowing what he would love and hate about her new room.
Hermione left her trunk for unpacking tomorrow and decided to go and get a nice cup of hot chocolate before going to bed. She walked down to her common room and found Draco sitting in front on the fire, deep in thought. He seemed so sad and scared, and Hermione knew that this was a time that she would never get to see again, Draco Malfoy was unguarded and his face portrayed all of his emotions very clearly.
Hermione saw on his face the emotion that she had felt so very often after… that day, and knew that he was contemplating his life and whether it was worth it all. His thoughts matched her own two months ago, why not just give up now, there is nothing here for me now and there is no way I can get it back. But both of them were too stubborn, smart, and resourceful to believe that they could to nothing to fix their current situation. Hermione silently walked down the stairs and sat next to him gently, wanting not to disturb him.
Draco's thoughts had been exactly what Hermione had thought they would be, and he was so deep in those thought that he didn't notice his new roommate until he felt a warm body next to him. The two sat there and Draco knew that Hermione had gone through something so heart-wrenching and terrible that he could give him comfort later on. From the moment that they had gotten away from the prying eyes of the school, Draco had noticed her change. She was weary with each step and was felt the need to check the corners each time they passed one, ever so discreetly of course. He felt her anguish and heartbreak radiating off of her and wondered how her friends had failed to notice this. With no thoughts of pushing her away Draco and Hermione sat their in silence for the rest of the night, both too lost in their own thoughts to even talk to one another.
It was soon morning and the two roommates were in the same position they had been in since the night before. But the moments of the night before were gone and Draco quickly pulled on the 'I don't care' face he wore so well, whispered a "mudblood" Hermione's way and went off to get ready for the day.
Hermione smiled a little at hearing this. "Some things just never change." She said to herself and also got up to get ready for the long day ahead.
It was Saturday morning, so Hermione took her time in her new bath tub then dressed in sweatpants and tank top to go under her new robes. She ambled down to the Great Hall and took her normal place in between Harry and Ron, who were already there full to bursting with questions about her Head Girl rooms. They interrogated her and make remarks of how terrible it was that Draco was Head Boy and not somebody that they actually liked. Hermione didn't mention her night with Draco and swore she never would, thinking that would be an ultimate betrayal.
A few times during the meal, Hermione would glance up to the Head Table, wanting so much to see his familiar face, or at least his retreating back, or dark shadow, but never did. Every time she would look up the arm around her waist grew tighter and tighter until she could feel Harry's fingernails draw blood, although she never winced once or cried out in pain.
The weekend was spent outside, watching a few pick up games Quidditch, and frantically finishing the summer homework. As the Sunday night dinner came around, the long awaited new school year schedules were passed out. Hermione found to her great relief that she had only 3 classes with Harry, DADA, Charms, and Transfigurations. Also looking at her schedule another sigh of relief escaped, she found that her Advanced Potions Class was on Tuesday but that it was a double period on Thursday and Friday, not that she really minded. Hermione just wanted a much time as possible before she had to meet the new teacher and the fate of her old one. Harry, Ron, Ginny, and herself exchanged papers, checked times, and groaned over heavy homework loads that were soon to come.
Sunday night came and Hermione was so glad to get away form the people that seemed to constantly surround her. She crawled into bed, smuggling against her secret sheets. The dream was the same, the same dark angel she could never reach and the same creature following after her still.
Monday morning came with the prospect of new things to learn and this gave Hermione a lot of things to look forward to. She took a shower, straightened her hair, and graced her beautiful face with just the barest hints of makeup. Rushing down through her new common room and to the Great Hall she was still about 20 minutes early.
Her day, unfortunately enough, had two classes that she shared with Harry. He still took hold of her when he could, his grip seemingly tighter now, and would mention to everyone he talked to about their relationship, how long they had been going out, and how great it was. Hermione would just stand their and smile, kissing him on the cheek at the right moment, and it was all she could do from not tearing from his arms and run to bathroom to lock herself up and not come out till the end of the day. The meals were stressed as well. She kept most of her focus on the Head Table or looking around by the doorways, though this seemed to make Harry more and more irate every time she would glance up there.
The Monday passed without incident, excluding the 'quality time with Harry' during lunch. Hermione stayed on the outskirts of her friends but still clung to them desperately when passing by the rest of the students, she didn't dare venture near or even look at the direction of the Dungeons or of the Potions room. Dinner came and went, with still no sign of him, and Hermione quickly went to her room were she stayed for the rest of the night, or at least until it was time to make her rounds at about ten o'clock.
Hermione's night was restless and she could be found at 2:30 in the morning pacing in front of her gigantic fireplace. She paced and thought and thought and paced for the entire night thinking of the day to come. She would panic then become angry then depressed and then panic once more started this cycle over again. Finally she glanced at the grandfather clock and saw the time: 6:47. It was time to get ready and face the horrific day.
It was still dark in his rooms, and he liked it that way. Always had, along with the silence that lingered there no matter what was happening in the rest of the castle. He was sitting in his favorite chair and had his fingers steepled in front of him. He was gazed into the fires, or at least the last remaining embers of it, when there came of inevitable knock on his door.
He got up and slowly yet gracefully opened the door, to reveal and worried yet still cheerful Dumbledore standing in his doorway. The Headmaster let himself in without preamble as he always and took a seat on the long sofa that was hardly ever used.
"Headmaster, what am I to do? She is coming today and I don't want her to react badly, although I know that she will. Why do you think I have stayed down here all this time?" The younger man rubbed his temples feeling the on coming headache. But he willed himself to settle down and take deep breaths.
"I really don't know, my boy. We shall just have wait and see what the outcome of this day will be. What time is her class with you? Before and after lunch, yes?" The other man simply nodded his head and rested his is forehead in his palm. "Alright well, just be ready for anything that may happen. But no matter what she will not take this calmly, I can tell you that much."
The Headmaster stood next to the ailing, bleak looking man and placed a hand on his shoulder. The moment was tense and the time soon passed quickly as the first period was ending and the children were shuffling out, heading for their next class.
A/N: Well guys, there's the next chapter. I know that it is shorter, but it needed to end there so that the next chapter will be jam-packed with drama-y goodness, which I know you all love so much. So review lots I love them, they make me happy, even the flames do!
Oh and to Usuu Bishouji, I'm gonna write a new story that's a crossover, don't worry it will still be HG/SS but those two will be exactly, or as close as I can get to Christine and Erik!
Thanks guys I love you so much! BYE