A/N no more bloody disclaimers!
Chapter 3
Footsteps…some one was coming towards her…she could feel them coming, closer; and it wasn't friendly. She shook herself mentally, there was no way she could know that…she couldn't sense things. Just to be on the safe side, she carefully laid the still rotating sphere back where she had found it and vowing to come back for it when she didn't have any so called bad company, she rearranged the drab looking volumes so they would completely obscure the sphere.
Then it came. The thing she thought she had felt; he was standing right behind her, radiating menacing energy.
"My, my, what do we have here?"
She sucked in a breath and dared not turn round to see who it was. Malfoy? No it wasn't. Malfoy would have been halfway through a volley of insults by now. She needn't wait no longer as the intruder announced himself.
"Ms. Granger…even though I have only been present in this school for a mere three days I know that no pupil is to be in this section of the library unless that said pupil has been allotted permission by a superior…"
She turned around for the second time that day to come face to face with Professor Yaji. Hermione blew out through her teeth silently; already she could feel a black anger boiling up inside her.
"So… Ms Granger, answer my question."
"And what question was that sir?" She forced an innocent smile to appear on her face.
Yaji gave her another one of his icy stares. If he looks at me like that one more time I might really give into the temptation of cursing him. Instead she shot him a dirty look. Yaji raised an eyebrow at her and then smirked.
"As the new Head Girl Ms Granger I expected more from you…" he was silent for a few milliseconds. "…So be it; I believe I have the power of assigning punishments to pupils breaking school regulations."
Hermione stared at him then, all traces of malicious anger squeezed out of her body, neutral once more. "H…H...Head Girl…" she stuttered. When had she become Head Girl; weren't they still having trouble deciding. She shouldn't be surprised she reasoned; it was bound to happen sooner or later, and a detention was no way to mark her new position as Head Girl.
"Stop gaping like a fish Ms Granger as this game of physic the teacher is really tiring me out." He stared at her once more before saying "And I do believe it will be a double detention" He gave her another cold look then swept out of the aisle as silently as he had come.
Head Girl…She was THE Head Girl; then who was the Head Boy? Harry? Well she would have to find out wouldn't she? Forgetting her recent encounter with Professor Yaji and the hovering Sphere she rushed out of the library earning a scolding from Madam Pince as she went.
In a dank room somewhere in the Hogwarts grounds, three professors and the headmaster of Hogwarts sat around an old willow table with mugs of hot chocolate in hand. Dumbledore smiled at his professors from his seat at the head of the crooked table. Snape wore his usual irritated scowl and having refused the mug of hot chocolate offered to him by Dumbledore he sat erect and absolutely immobile.
"Albus?" whispered McGonagall. It was enough this had to be a secret meeting but in this damp and grimy room deep inside Hogwarts was enough to put her off from ever attending any secret meetings in her life.
"Yes, Minerva I know we may be putting the life of one of our most valuable student at risk; maybe even the entire student body." Answered Dumbledore.
"Albus, can't you see were this is all leading. Even Poppy and Serverus agree with me."
"Minerva, no worries. None can tell only time."
Colour rose to McGonagall's cheeks; how could he stand back and let this happen?
Snape rose from his seat stiffly. "If Dumbledore believes there is no imminent danger to us all then I have no worries; Ms Granger…and Yaji; I feel that any further contact with him will give us something to worry about, after all the man is immune to most magical curses and even my potions."
Poppy having been quiet throughout the hearty exchange decided it was time to voice her thoughts.
"Now Albus I must agree with Severus; that man give me a very funny feeling and it's not a good funny feeling either."
Dumbledore pressed his two index fingers together and assumed a thoughtful pose. He shut his eyes and breathed out, then slowly opened them and peered at his professors over his half moon spectacles. A mischievous smile graced his lined face.
"My dear colleagues I know how much you take the welfare of Hogwarts and its present tenants seriously and I cannot deny you that, but be patient sometimes the best solution to one problem is taken in the smallest action…"
"Small! Dumbledore we can't think small! Not in a situation such as this!" whispered Minerva even though their current classroom was deserted.
Dumbledore raised his eyebrows slightly and smiled at her. "Be patient… sometimes the smallest act can and will make a difference."
She skidded to a stop at the entrance to the Griffindor common room, putting a hand to her furious heart.
"Meta…mor…phus…" she panted
The Fat Lady frowned at her and gave her a sceptical look, and then as if not finding what she had been looking for, she let her through.
Harry and Ron sat over a friendly game of chess, totally oblivious to the chaos around them. Hermione seeing the state of the common room clucked her tongue and set about trying to squeeze herself through a maze of hot and sweaty Griffindor bodies.
"Eric! Here." A squat first year threw some white powder into the blazing fire causing it to lift its fiery body into the air and take on the shape of a horse. Golden flames billowed around its stout body, glazed eyes of molten blackness peered at the room. It shook its brilliant mane of fire and snorted a few puffs of steam before deciding to leap out of its confines, onto the plush velvet carpet. Hermione's eyes widened in horror as she saw the carpet burn beneath the flaming hooves.
"Abomination!" Someone shouted, and with the shout came thick silence. Harry and Ron where at their feet, fire dancing in their eyes; wands held out before them. Abomination, it was the name of the fire born stallion standing before them all. Abomination, someone whispered in the gathered crowd. Abomination trotted forwards, leaving smouldering carpet in its trail, for Abomination trotted forwards heating the air around it into a scalding storm of energy, and as Abomination trotted forwards, witches and wizards jumped out of its way. Hermione watched fascinated by the mystic creature whereas a few moments ago she had been horrified. Energy exploded around it and cackled against its body. Such an enticing creature as this was now standing before her, tossing its fiery mane and snorting scalding steam into her face. She smiled clumsily lost in the bottomless pits that were its eyes…and then there was thunder. Frightened cries rang throughout the common room, no one could get out and no one could get in, for Hermione had her back towards the opening; well that is except for Andréa Sheffield; a tiny second year Griffindor. Who scrambled helplessly at the opening to haven. She stumbled out through the portrait, blinking a long amber fringe out of her eyes.
Harry and Ron dashed towards her. Wands held out before them running so fast they were practically tripping over the bodies of fellow house mates, jostling through the frantic students they finally managed to reach her. Abomination stood before her magnificent as its name; both boys stopped in their tracks. Their plan had been to save her and nothing more; not how to save her form the jaws of the beast itself; no not as complicated as that, but just to save her. In their moment of hesitation the portrait hole swung open and crashed loudly against the common room, loud enough to gain some attention. The figure of Dumbledore and McGonagall silhouetted by the corridor light seemed to bring sanity to the Griffindors and all quieted down, all except a few who caught their breath at the stolid form of Abomination snorting and glaring almost passionately into Hermione's eyes.
"Oh…my…" whispered McGonagall, her eyes wide with shock and fear?
"…Yes…oh my…" whispered an equally shocked Dombledore. Little Andréa Sheffield cowered behind them both; but before either of them could do anything more. Abomination whipped its muscular neck to one side and moved so quickly that one moment it was there and the next it was gone and the only way one would have known it had stood there but a moment ago, would be from the sour and acrid smell of burnt plastic that clung in the air like air freshener.
Hermione blinked, once then twice before being crushed into the burly bodies of her best mates. She blinked again. What in the world was going on?
She sat high upon her mighty throne and gazed down at her loyal followers. Not with scorn or with compassion. Her pale colourless eyes glittered like diamonds, as she sat on that mighty throne of hers. Somewhere in the distance came the sharp echo of footsteps on the marble floor, but apart from that the throne room was silent, no one dared to make any sound that might gain them the young Queens displeasure. For her consort had just perished, leaving her child fatherless and her own heart broken.
The footsteps approached, the sound of metal heels crashing against the smooth surface of the marble tiles seemed unnerving for the straight-backed guards by the door.
A black cape swept into the room, the face hidden by its thick hood; the silence deepened, here entered the murderer; here stood an elite of the Kardeshian army; a betrayer…
Her eyes snapped open suddenly, but what met her gaze was more terrifying than the little drama that had unfolded in her mind; this was darkness, pure and utterly black; and it was waiting to steal her away to the Land of Shadows. She squeezed her eyes shut. Darkness did not belong here.
Harry gave her a weird look, it was Saturday morning but she wasn't grumpy today.
Guess it was one of those girl things… He shoved a piece of pancake in his mouth, getting syrup on his chin. Ginny giggled with a mouthful of cereal, miraculously managing not to gag and choke on it. He grinned at her and then motioned to Hermione who was attacking her breakfast with a passion they only saw in a classroom. Ginny smiled back at him; then wiggled her eyebrows at Ron, who for today had sat next to Ginny and opposite Hermione. Harry almost spat out what he was eating and managed to smother a snort by bending closer to his stack of pancakes.
Ronald Weasly sat totally immobile, mouth hanging wide open and stared with absolute amazement at Hermione. He'd never seen her eat so much so fast. At the sound of Harry's almost disguised snort he snapped his jaw shut and stared down at his own breakfast, which was only half eaten.
Hermione lugged down a stack of pancakes and a bowl of cereal, two goblets full of pumpkin juice and sat back, laying down the cutlery as she did so. She; herself was amazed at her own appetite. Ron stared at her again for what seemed like the hundredth time since she'd began eating so lavishly. "What?" she snapped at him suddenly annoyed. "Haven't you ever seen someone eat before?"
"'Course we have; it's just that we've never seen you eat like that before." Said Harry.
"That's right! No wonder you're so thin Hermione; you practically never eat anything at breakfast lunch or dinner." Ginny chimed in.
"Bloody right! These last few days you haven't eaten anything." This last remark came from the temporarily muted Ron.
Hermione lowered her eyes at him, what would he know; the man who thinks eating a plateful of food is the same as eating nothing. She sighed and patted Ron's hand.
"Look I know I haven't been very receptive lately," she was interrupted by a murmur of "Major understatement…" from Ginny but carried on nonetheless. "But I've got my reasons for behaving the way I did and please, please don't be mad at me for it."
Harry put a hand on her shoulder. "Maybe you could tell us about it sometime?"
She smiled at maybe. Maybe?
Ginny, feeling left out, decided on announcing a group hug over the table but did not get a chance to make a sound when Dumbledore rose from his seat at the head of the table; commanding silence as he straightened his posture. A warm smile etched itself into his worn features and then he spoke.
"My dear students; the first week of the term has passed and as time goes by so will the next and the next just as quickly." He paused and rested his gaze knowingly on Hermione. "Old barriers shall be torn down and new ones built but for now please keep explosives to a minimum." He chuckled, and laughter spread throughput the hall.
"Yesterday we announced the Head Boy and Girl and unfortunately our Head Girl was missing during our announcement…so I would like to present to you again this years Head Girl, Ms Hermione Granger and our Head Boy, Mr Draco Malfoy."
Thundering claps arose from the Griffindor table and equally passionate clapping form the Slytherins.
"Ms Granger…" Dumbledore motioned her forwards. Harry gently pushed her towards the staff table, she frowned at him but he just shrugged and grinned at her. Finally she strode towards Dumbledore and arrived at his side only to meet the mocking gaze of Malfoy.
"So very glad you could join us." Dumbledore whispered in her ear and placed a hand on her shoulder. Malfoy just ignored her, as if noticing Hermione was a waste of his energy he, focused his gaze on the Slytherin table. She ignored his blatant rudeness, smiling all the while. "You may go back to your tables." Whispered Dumbledore and lightly pushed them forwards.
Malfoy shot her a haughty look before departing to be with his fellow Slytherins…
Hermione was greeted with the noisy cheer of the Griffindors, Ginny grinned at her then proceeded to finish the rest of her breakfast. Ron pulled her suddenly into a bear hug; making some of the Griffindors laugh, but Neville stayed silent, staring down at his syrup covered pancakes.
Hermione sat in Dumbledore's office, twisting a strand of hazel nut-brown hair between her fingers nervously. After the hearty celebrations had ended, a snow-white school owl had landed on her shoulder and opened its pale yellow beak to release the treasure it carried. Upon reading the note, she had raced up to the Griffindor common room and into her dorm room; changed into some casual but smart dress, donned her black school robe and raced past a bewildered Harry and Ron clutching the note in her hand. She had almost been late. Almost that is and Malfoy was nowhere in sight. Dumbledore sat patiently in his armchair; sucking on a lemon drop and watching Ms Granger fidget in her seat.
Hermione crushed the note in her hand, then smoothed it out over her lap and crushed it in her fist again. Dumbledore cleared his throat noisily to get her attention and at that exact moment a flustered Malfoy walked into the office and collapsed into the comfy armchair adjacent Hermione's. She ignored him… as simple as that, but Dumbeledore cleared his throat once more. Her head shot up to gaze at him questioningly. He smiled sweetly, mischievously at her.
Dumbledore averted his gaze to rest on Malfoy's heavily flushed features. Malfoy glanced at him through his thick black eyelashes, the movement lazy and slow. Maybe Malfoy had had a rough time at Quiditch practice…but if he had had Quiditch practice it would have been before breakfast…Hermione glances at him suspiciously and once again Dumbledore cleared his throat to get their attention. She let the matter go, for now; he was a Malfoy wasn't he? It was just typical of someone like him to make people wait.
Dumbledore pushed up his half-moon spectacles that were slipping quite slowly down his nose. He cleared his throat again and the office was suddenly filled a soothing breeze, reaching out and wrapping ghost like fingers around Hermione. She closed her eyes and breathed out through her nose. Even though the energy sent towards her was soothing it was still unnerving. Malfoy didn't seem to notice the breeze, but if he did he didn't show it. Dumbledore sat up straight in his armchair and just as suddenly as the breeze had appeared it had disappered. What the hell was going on around here?
"Ms. Granger…Mr. Malfoy. I am very glad you could join me on such short notice."
He said each word carefully and as clearly as possible, as if he were talking to a child; no, make it children. Something is definitely wrong. Thought Hermione, she peered at him closely and even the Malfoy sat up straight and stared at Dumbledore with carefully expressionless eyes.
"As you both know, the position of Head Boy and Girl requires the fulfilment of many duties. You both will be required to carry out these duties accordingly. Again I suspect you know that as Head Boy and Girl you will have the power to deduct house points and vise versa, with that comes the power to hand out detentions, but all detentions must be reported to the Head of the student's house. Understand that I expect neither of you to abuse your status or it will be striped away from you."
He sighed and watched them carefully over his half-moon spectacles.
"Having said that, I thought I'd give you both a head start in planning Hogwart's first event…no Mr. Malfoy it's not anything to do with Quiditch I'm afraid."
Malfoy shut his mouth and threw a speculating look Dumbledore's way. Hermione kept silent and rigid in her seat, eyes pinned on the Head Master.
"Now, where were we? Ah…yes. This is the first time I have mentioned my idea to anyone, and I am hoping greatly that with to able young minds such as yours…"
Malfoy and Hermione glared at eachother, Malfoy snorted, sitting up straighter and folding his arms across his chest.
"…That is, if you both can put your vast differences aside and work together for the duration of the year."
Did he just say 'duration of the year'? She couldn't be civilised with Malfoy; never. The idea was just too preposterous for words. What was Dumbledore playing at?
If he wanted an internal war to break out in Hogwarts this was exactly the way to go. It was not that she would find a way to start one; no it would more likely be narrow-minded Ron to cause an inter-house war when there was already major hostily between Griffindor and Slytherin. No it would certainly not do and that meant she had to try to behave.
"Ms. Granger…truly sorry to interrupt you but as I was saying to Mr. Malfoy; I would like you both to review the timetables for all years and plan out a schedule with Professor Yaji."
With Professor Yaji? She must have blanked out the world for more than a few seconds as she missed what it was they had to plan with Professor Yaji. Dumbledore smiled at her and popped a lemon drop in his mouth. He then offered her and Malfoy one but they declined.
"…And, Ms. Granger, if you are confused…" He smiled innocently…innocently?
"I am quite sure Mr. Malfoy here will explain." He was still smiling.
By now Malfoy was standing tall and straight, his face devoid of any obvious emotion. He turned and stalked out of the Head Master's office. Hermione sent Dumbledore a curious look, but didn't move from her seat. She sighed and pushed herself up, using her momentum to balance herself on her two feet.
"Thank you sir…" She dragged herself towards the oaken door, gripping the doorknob tightly before pulling it open.
"Hermione…Know that I an always here…" Whispered Dumbledore, ever so quietly, but she heard him somehow, for she stopped in her tracks to turn towards him, with a question in her eyes.
He smiled at her as before, though she caught wisps of concern and worry behind the sparkle of false merriment.
"I suggest you hurry, Ms. Granger before you lose our young Malfoy."
She nodded her head in acknowledgement and left with no intention what so ever of going after Malfoy. It would certainly amuse him to have her trailing after him like an obsessed house-elf. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction.
A/N: I'll have you know this is just a filler chapter; things are going to get more interesting in the next chapter. Read it? Then review. See that button right there.
(Look to arrow for guidance if needed.) I know it's not a big shiny red button, but it's still a button.