A/N: Oh my gosh! Sorry peoples! I didn't mean to be gone for so long. You've probably already forgotten me by now... lol... Anyways, I FINALLY wrote up the third chapter! Mark your calendars!
Replies to Reviewers:
softballtitan009: Listen, I appreciate that you actually tried to be reasonable about it, but I'm getting really tired of this 'you flamed my friend' stuff. I'm not trying to be mean here, I'm trying to reason with you people. At least, from what I can see, you seem to be the most mature of all the people that have been lashing back at me just for that little flame. The review that I sent Troubled-Ego were my thoughts on her/his story, why must you get so angry about it? If you guys don't have enough self-confidence to be able to deal with that, and maybe use that to try and refine your writing skills, then I can only think less of you. I get that you feel that you must stand up for your friends and all that, and I'd have to say I retain some respect for you for actually explaining yourself and trying to sound reasonable, but there are some people out there that are flaming me just for the purpose of getting back at me. What's even worse is that I haven't even heard from Troubled- Ego, and if anyone, it's his/her business if she/he has a problem with my criticism. Listen, there's nothing worse than a flamer like that, I really don't see any sense in the sort of flames I've been getting and it only gives me pity for that person that would get that worked up over something that they could use to help them. I mean, you can only wonder what they're actually like in real life.
My annoyance is not to you in particular, softballtitan, but to your friends and whatever that have been only showing their insolence by giving me these flames that are only degrading themselves. I really don't mind if I'm flamed, it's a chance to enhance my abilities as a writer because I can listen to the opinions of others. But when these flames contain nothing of relevance and are just saying, in essence: 'You flamed this so- and-so, I hate you because of it, and you stink like stinky poo on a hot summer day'. It just makes absolutely no sense that these friends of yours (I would assume) must be so ignorant and they make themselves sound like such absolute... idiots, if I must use that word. I wonder if they even bother to READ the stories they're flaming, it's nonsense.
So, softballtitan, I do truly appreciate your maturity through this all and that you have said that you truly do like my story. It means much to me to know that there are people out there that actually DO read the stories when they're telling a writer off, and I appreciate that you were so mature about it. Thank you for listening, and if you could, it would be kind of you to tell your friends (I would assume they are, please don't kill me for saying) to stop flaming me and at least read this. If you are their friend then if you would please talk to them, I would think they would listen to you more than me, their supposed 'enemy'. And many thanks, I appreciate your admiration for my work and I do hope that you continue to read.
ghypscee: A devious Hermione is a dangerous Hermione. . You'll be seeing more of that in later chapters, worry not. Thank you for the review.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. Really now, I can't have been gone long enough for ya'll to forget THAT, eh?
Chapter 3: The Chapter that Links to the NextHermione took her time returning to her common room, smug that her plan was going into action successfully so far and proud that she had been able to strike up enough self-control so she had been able to restrain herself from slapping Draco throughout the whole ordeal.
Harry and Ron were the only ones occupying the common room when she entered with the slightest creak of the hinges on the fat lady's portrait. Her two best friends sprung out of their seats like they had been sitting on one of Fred and George's newest creations, exploding whoopee cushions.
"Hermione!" They chorused; a hint of their previous impatience in waiting for her in their expressions.
She just smiled and nodded slightly, keeping up a victorious and smug air. "Everything went according to plan."
The boys looked utterly confused. "You don't mean—"Ron started, unbelieving.
Hermione glared at him coolly, a message to keep his mouth shut. "Listen, just trust me." She said quietly, incase anyone in the dorms was still awake. "I've got a plan, a way to get information on Professor Malfoy in the safest way possible."
"Safest?" Harry said skeptically, his eyebrows disappearing past his messy hairline.
Hermione sighed, wincing. "Well, maybe not the most... enjoyable way, but it's safer than sneaking around and asking suspicious questions."
Harry's eyebrows came down in an obstinate scowl and Ron snorted. "You've gotta be kidding me!" Ron tried to laugh but that didn't last long as he saw the serious looks of his two friends.
Hermione took a deep breath and let it out with a sigh. "I'm going with Draco to Hogsmeade this weekend—"She started to explain.
"WHAT?!?" Was the spontaneous interruption.
"—And I need you guys to keep quiet about our little plan, okay?" She paused as a thought came to her. "... In fact, just act as normally as possible. If you start acting indifferent to me and Draco being together he might find it suspicious."
"So we'll punch his lights out—"
"—And curse him with every spell we know—"
"And threaten him till he goes crying for his Mommy!"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Well, I wouldn't encourage you to hurt him, but in essence, yes, that's precisely what I'd like you to do. If I know Draco, he likes intimidating you two especially, and I'm sure he'd draw pleasure from thinking he has control over something you don't, but want. Namely, me."
Harry nodded, trying his best to understand, but he was still frowning.
"I... don't get it." Ron said simply.
Hermione sighed in exasperation and sent her eyes heaven-ward. She glanced at the clock. "Anyway, it's getting late. We should go to bed." With that, she spun on her heel and walked off. When she had reached the stairs that had led up to the girls' dormitories where her perfect quarters resided, she turned. "Good night." She said before disappearing up the staircase, leaving her friends to do nothing but head for their own room."Snorkleworm flapjacks."
The statue stepped aside silently, letting the Slytherin enter.
Once inside, Draco ignored the greetings of his couple housemates that were still awake and hanging around in the common room. He went directly to his private room, closing and locking the door behind him.
Draco let himself gracefully flop onto his bed, turning over onto his back and folding his hands under his head. He went over all that had happened that day, trying to figure out all his possible benefits and disadvantages.
Potter and the Weasel obviously did not want him near Granger, and were willing to start a fight over it... knowing that, he could likely get them into trouble with ease. But was that worth going out with a Gryffindor? Of course, Granger could supply a benefit by herself. What with her latest... developments, surely...
Draco let that thought trail, for there were other girls still prettier than her, Slytherin girls. But then again, he was becoming bored with the lot of them, they just weren't very interesting to him. One thing about Granger was that she was different; and if her grades could prove anything, perhaps he could actually have a conversation with her that was up to his level, unlike the Slytherin girls. But no, Granger was a Gryffindor! Not to mention a mudblood.
It was then that a tapping at his window interrupted his thoughts. Draco sat up to see his father's intimidating- looking horn owl, it had a vanilla colored envelope in its beak and it was scratching at his window with one taloned foot.
"What could my father want now?" He muttered, hopping up from his bed.
Once Draco had opened the window the bird flapped its wings and glided across his room to perch on his bed post while dropping the letter upon his pillow. He picked up the envelope on the back of which his name was scrawled in a smooth, refined hand, his father's hand.
Draco already had an idea of the letter's contents as he opened the envelope. His eyes darted over the neat writing several times, a snarl forming on his lips. At last, he ripped up the letter and threw the remains into his personal fireplace opposite his bed.
The letter burned and crumpled and curled in on its self but the destruction of just a petty piece of paper left Draco with no condolence. His blood still boiled with contempt and disgust.
However kindly and fatherly Lucius may try to portray his intentions, Draco found nothing kind about it. His fists clenched and he ground his teeth together, turning to the horn owl perched by his bed, waiting for Draco's return reply to his father's letter.
"Get out, you bloody bird!" He swatted at it, scaring it off his bed post, and shooed it back out the window. Draco slammed the window closed and the bewildered bird fluttered away into the night.
Draco turned his back on it and plopped back onto his bed. He looked towards the fireplace where only the ashes of the letter remained.
"... the ceremony must be soon, my son. If you were to bring home a lovely young lady by then... perhaps I could arrange for you a good position among... think of the possibilities, Draco. I will be sitting at his right hand whilst if things go well with you, you may take a seat just next to me. Partners under Him..."
Draco scowled, remembering the contents of the letter. His father was pushing him into something he no longer wanted a part of; he didn't want to be like his father— at least not in the way Lucius was trying to make him.
The young Malfoy sat there for several minutes, fuming over his position. If he didn't do something soon he would be trapped...
It was then that he realized something, perhaps Granger would be more useful than he had at first realized...
Draco smiled his famous, slow smirk.A/N: Heh heh heh...