Still only my plot
Mare breathed a sigh of relief as she saw the top of the Hogwarts from the mount on her broom. Brooms were still not her favorite mode of travel, and as she touched the ground, she almost fell off because of her eagerness not to be on a broom anymore.
Seconds later, Ash joined her. He took her hand, and as they walked into the Great Hall, he kept muttering to her about Hermione.
"Ash, what is the matter with you? What's wrong with Hermione? I know that it's probably something that will make me angry, so just tell me now and get it over with." Mare told him, exasperated by the fact that he was trying to hide something from her.
They were right outside the portrait of the Fat Lady when he finally released her hand.
"When you get inside, you might notice something different about Hermione. She was the victim of my Soulmate Withdrawal. When I first found out about you and Draco, I became incredibly depressed. I drank eight bottles of beer every night, and I stopped myself from feeding. Finally, one night when Hermione and I had a date, she was wearing a strapless dress and I lost control.
"I was out of my mind with bloodlust. It's a pain that you can't imagine. Every single vain in your body is on fire. Actually, it happened more then once. Then, the Soulmate withdrawal part came in. I apparently exchanged blood with her, and it happened more then once. Three times in fact."
Then, he stopped speaking. He had a hopeless, end-of-the-world look in his eyes, like he was condemning himself by speaking the truth.
Finally, he got the strength to look into Mare's eyes, and what he saw made him feel a tiny bit better. He saw no anger, just shock.
"Are you saying that Hermione's a vampire now? I don't believe you. You couldn't do that."
Sighing despairingly, Ash just shook his head. "Go in there and see for yourself. Good night Mary-Lynnette, I'll see you in the morning."
Mare turned back to tell him goodnight too, but he was gone before she could gather breath to make words. She told the Fat Lady the password ("heffalumps"), and was allowed entrance into the Gryffindor common room where she immediately spotted Ron and Harry seated around a table, deeply absorbed in a game of Wizard's Chess.
Mare watched as Ron's queen dragged away one of Harry's bishops. When all the mess was cleared away, she finally found it in herself to speak.
"Guys, where's Hermione? I need to talk to her."
Harry looked up from the board, and grinned at the sight of her.
"Marie! Long time no-see. I would ask you how things were going with Malfoy, but apparently Hermione has gone and replaced you in his affections. In fact, they were at the Three Broomsticks having a Butterbeer just yesterday."
Mare started. This was news to her.
"What do you mean 'Hermione has replaced me in Malfoy's affections?' what about the mission? How is it supposed to be completed if Malfoy doesn't like me anymore?"
Ron looked up at her, startled. "Are you jealous? I'm surprised. I thought you'd be relieved because now there's nothing to interfere with you and Ash's relationship. And as for the mission, Hermione has taken over for you. She convinced Dumbledore that you'd been through enough for mission's sake, and that since Draco liked her, she could just take over."
"First of all Ron, it's Mare again. And are you telling me that I married my boyfriend in a Las Vegas wedding chapel for no reason at all! Good Lord, and what are Malfoy's parents going to do when they find out that he doesn't like me anymore? They think I'm the be-all and end-all of the universe! We're supposed to be married in two months!"
As Mare looked at Ron, his eyes widened.
"You married Ash, and you and Malfoy are supposed to be married in two months? That is a problem."
Just then, Hermione entered the common room grinning from ear to ear. Seeing Mare standing by Ron and Harry, she walked over and grabbed her by the arm, dragging her to a more private corner.
Mare gazed intently at her friend. "What's this I hear about you taking over the mission?"
Hermione sighed. "I'm sorry Mare. I just thought that you would want a break after all the Soulmate Withdrawal trouble. And besides, Malfoy seems to think he likes me now. Oh, and about you guys' wedding: he says it's still on so his parents don't suspect anything."
Great, Mare thought. First, I kill my best friend, now I get to be a bigamist. Is there any normalcy allowed in my life anymore?
She looked at Hermione. "How can you feel sorry for all I went through when what you went through was way worse? Ash told me he accidentally made you a vampire. I'm so sorry you had to get wrapped up in all my problems."
Hermione just grinned devilishly at her. "Are you kidding? This is one of the best things that has ever happened to me! I'm pretty now! No one thinks of me just as the Gryffindor Brain who spends all her time in the library. Now, people talk to me, and Pansy Parkinson hates my guts because I'm getting all the guys she wants!"
Mare snorted. "That doesn't surprise me. Pansy has major issues, so there you go. Has it ever occurred to you though that people only talk to you because you're pretty?"
Hermione shrugged. "Yes, it's crossed my mind a few times. I'm sorry about seeming so vain, but it feels so good to finallybe somebody.Have you ever felt like that?."
Mare nodded. "Yeah. When I went back to my old school in Oregon, all the really hot guys were hitting on me because of the attitude and self-confidence I gained over the summer. It was a weird feeling."
Then, Mare looked at her watch. "We should probably be getting to bed. It's getting late."
Before going to bed, Hermione had one last message for Mare. "Oh, Mare I almost forgot to tell you that Dumbledore wants to see you in his office about any prophetic Voldemort dreams."
The next day was a nice one and Mare woke up feeling very happy. Classes seemed wonderful, and Mare realized how much she had missed this school.
After lunch, she ran into Malfoy, who took her into an empty classroom so that the two of them could "talk."
"Marie," he started, "You probably know what I have to tell you, but I'm going to tell you anyway. I like Hermione better now, and I don't think that it would be wise for us to keep seeing each other since I think we both know it's pointless."
Mare looked at him. "Have you told your parents about this?"
Malfoy's eyes widened, and his mouth twitched convulsively.
"God, no! Trust me, that would be a really, really bad idea. So, despite the fact that it would make us both miserable for the rest of our lives, I think we should have the wedding anyway."
"Draco, you don't understand. I can't marry you, I have to marry Ash!"
He nodded. "The arranged marriage? Well, we could always get divorced, I guess."
Just then, the bell rang, signaling the beginning of afternoon classes, and she and Draco when their separate ways.
In the middle of Potions, a message came said Mare was to go to the headmaster's office immediately.
She left quickly, and made good time. Professor Dumbledore was sitting at his desk looking thoughtful. At the sight of her, he grinned.
"So, Miss Carter, had any dreams recently?
Mare nodded. "I think so. I always have this one involving bright green light, a rat, a snake, and a bloody wedding dress. What do you think it means, Professor?"
Dumbledore gazed at her intently. "I think, Miss Carter, your dreams are saying that the Final Battle will happen at you and Mr. Malfoy's wedding."
I would like to thank everyone who reviewed last chapter. You guys are the best!
