Chapter Three
By: Kellyx0x
Disclaimer: Unfortunately for me, I don't own Harry Potter. But things you don't recognize are mine.
Summary: Hermione's summer wasn't so grand well it was the complete opposite of grand. Her summer was downright horrible. Hidden secrets lie within her mind. To top it all off Dumbledore has set the seventh years up with a year long project. One guess at who Hermione gets stuck with…Hdr
Look At Last Time:
His future was all planned out for him. Even if he wanted to change it he couldn't, right? But then again. He was a Malfoy and Malfoy's don't settle for just anything.
Malfoy's get what they want. And this Malfoy would do what he wanted.
Not what some stupid half blood planned for him.
A/n: I noticed some errors in my past chapters. I spelt Gryffindor wrong and a few others.
About 10 minuets later all the blocks of wood were transfigured into tables and chairs. Hermione smiled at their work, satisfied that she had done a good job. After all they were the best in their year and maybe even centuries.
Why else would they have become Head Boy and Girl? They practically had their names down since the beginning of 6th year.
Dumbledore cleared his throat and the duo turned back towards him. Once again Draco's face expressionless and Hermione's smiling.
"Well" He said as he waved his hand in the air. Hermione knew he had just done something but didn't turn around to look just yet.
"Now that everything's settled, you two may take you place at the doorway and direct the students towards the opposite wall. We need to separate everyone into groups."
The two nodded and Draco headed for the door but Hermione's voiced stopped him. Not that it was directed at him though, rather Dumbledore.
She knew something was up. Yes she knew this was the beginning of a project of some sorts, and the two chairs obviously meant that they were paired with someone. Hermione was a very intelligent girl, no one would disagree.
Well, Maybe Malfoy would but since when did his opinion count?
"Sir, if you could, Could you please tell us who we are paired with?"
That same old smile crossed the old fools face and he shook his head no, apologetically.
"Sorry Hermione, my dear, but you will just have to wait like the rest of us, for it is not I who picks, but fate. Everything will be explained in due time."
By this statement Hermione was confused, just as confused as Draco, though he didn't show it. Hermione sighed in a defeated manner and nodded her head somberly before walking towards the door.
What a crybaby, Draco thought, following her footsteps until he reached the door where he stood on the opposite side. No way in hell would he stand next to that- that, mud- muggleborn.
Draco cursed himself silently. In the beginning of the year he had vowed not to call her a mudblood any longer. But old habits die hard and this one was surely hard to break. Draco didn't want to be anything like his father so upon making that decision he decided to try not to hate upon others, such as muggbornes. But who would he be without the general loathing of the public?
Not very long later the seventh year students began filing down the grand staircase towards them, where Hermione or Malfoy would direct them into the hall and onto the opposite wall where they stood, some looking anxious while others, mostly Slytherin, looking board.
As soon as everyone was present Hermione and Draco took their places at the front of the room, near Dumbledore and waited for further instructions.
Someone tapped their glass three times and the hall quieted down to a bitter silence.
Now it was time for Dumbledore to talk, now everything would be explained. Or at least they hopped.
"May I have you attention please students!"
Dumbledore called out into the hall. All attention was on him now.
"It is time for the seventh year projects to be explained and your assignments handed out. First of all, I would like to let you know that this year we are trying something a little bit different -"
Just like him to have something up his sleeve.
"- You will be put in random pairs and between the two you will be given a sheet of paper. Let us do that before we continue."
Hermione and Draco stood by the door and saw Dumbledore looking at them, taking the hint they, along with the rest of the teachers, began putting pairs together. Hermione paired most of the Gryffindor house, making sure Harry and Ron were together.
And when everyone was paired the horrific results dawned on both Hermione and Draco. There was no one left for them to be paired with but, each other.
An amused look crossed Dumbledore's face. He had planned this hadn't he! He had known this all along! Hermione was speechless, Draco on the other hand look enraged.
"I will not be paired with this insufferable mudblood!"
He hollered at the professors.
"I have never heard of anything so absurd! I, a pureblood wizard, paired with this scum! Really now!"
Opps…He had slipped.
Hermione marched over to him. That was it, she couldn't take it any longer. She had put up with awful remarks just like this all summer and now she wasn't going to take it any longer. Hermione was just as good of a witch as any one else and if she did recall correctly her scores have always been just a little bit better then Draco's.
Lucky for Draco, Hermione reached him before Harry and Ron could. Both boys stopped dead when they saw Hermione grab Draco by the shoulders and spin him towards her.
"You listen here Malfoy! I will not tolerate your rude remarks any longer. I swear to Merlin if you call me a Mudblood one more time you will regret it fiercely! -"
Oh she had it coming now. She was taunting him! Asking for it!
"Mudblood"
He cut her off just as she was about to rant on. Hermione pursed her lips together and out of no where her hand flew up and she back handed him across the face. The silver and diamond ring she wore cut his flawless skin and blood dripped slowly down it.
"I thought I told you not to say that"
The whole hall was quiet now. Draco looked shocked along with Harry and Ron, basically the whole Great Hall. Except for Dumbledore. He was the only one who looked amused.
"Well, now that that is settled lets get on with the show!"
He smiled merrily and everyone Hermione sat down at the assigned table. A parchment appeared in front of everyone, on it something that looked like a riddle.
"This project is somewhat of a mystery. It is for you to figure out. On the parchments you have received is a riddle. Once you solve the riddle you will know what you will have to do. There will be tasks along the way and the end results of your efforts will be what is graded. Just remember, Hogwarts is a big school, a mystery could be hidden behind every drape, through every door. A new mystery everywhere you look!"
Dumbledore smiled, happy with his little speech.
"Now on with you all, back to your dormitories!"
Draco stormed out of the Great Hall, probably going to Madame Promfry.
By looking at Draco Malfoy right now you could tell he was royally pissed. Not one person dared to get in his way while he stormed towards the infirmary. Hare dare she punch him, how dare she touch him! Hopefully Madame Promfry had some of that bruise serum left. No way would he show his face with a bruise on it, especially if it was inflicted by a girl.
A muggle born no less!
And the whole of seventh year had seen it.
Bloody perfect. Just bloody fucking perfect! And Dumbledore hadn't even done anything about it. Stupid Dumbledore.
A stream of curses could be heard as he stormed on his way. Finally reaching the door he stopped, took a deep breath (one would think he was trying to calm himself) -opened the door and -
"MADAME PROMFRY!"
The woman came running and a smug look was plastered across his face. That's right, run to my aid you stupid loaf.
"Mr. Malfoy what ever is the problem!"
"My face! My face is the problem! Don't you see I'm bleeding here! Stupid bloody Granger punched me!"
The plump woman sighed and with a wave of her want the blood was gone. She thrust a vile in his hand and directed him to drink it and head back to his dormitory.
Their dormitory.
More curses were heard as he headed back to the Head's common room. Mumbling the password he entered to find none other then the girl he loathed at the moment sitting on his couch, looking at him expectantly.
"First of all Granger, what are you doing on my couch and why are you looking at me like that. You bloody well have no right too! After just hitting me you insufferable no it all! You really do think you know everything don't you! If -"
"If you are done ranting Malfoy, I would very much appreciate it if you sat down to go over this with me. I, unlike you want to get this project done as effortlessly and efficiently as possible."
He walked closer and a sheet of parchment was shoved into his hand.
M-A-G-I-C is the key in this little riddle.
What's opposite of wizard?
Yet stand the opposite next to the first and you could tell no difference?
Think of an analogous means of communication
Now fill in the gaps ----
Divide by 9
But remember you lucky number 5
Then find your path of marble blocks
Go to the first number, stop at the second,
Upon which you will find
The second part of your mission!
A/n: So what do you think they'll find at the end of the riddle? Any ideas to what the riddle is saying? I havent updated in forever, truth is I've been working on Pandemonium at the moment, and I even havent updated that in awhile.
Shining star: Thanks for getting me going. This chapter wouldn't of come out now, if it hadn't been for your Review in my email!
Draco's Girl: Haha, I thought that was really funny myself. I couldn't help but put it in!
LadySaint: Ah, errors are a pain, but your right, who doesn't make them? Thanks for the advice!
Mystical Love: I cant wait to see what's next either! Hehe :-P