Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter's world. That is the property of JKR, a most talented woman. So, don't sue me.
Plot: Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger are normal talented wizards who, on their 16th birthdays, learn otherwise. They are now burdened with family secrets that no one can ever know. They return to Hogwarts and struggle to get their lives back on track. However, both vows to find out one another's secret when they notice something different about each other.
A/N: Hey guys! I'm going on Spring Break and I won't be able to get to a computer until the 4th of April. So, I decided to update the story before I leave. That way you all can have something to read while I'm gone.
The Moon's Call
Chapter Six
She walked alone through the crowd of students and parents. Platform 9 ¾ was bustling with excitement. She could smell it in the air as well as fear from the new first years.
"Hermione!"
She turned to see Ron rush at her, followed closely by Harry and Ginny. Ron stopped just short of her and then clamped his arms around her in a crushing hug.
She could smell his heat, the soap he used that morning, faint traces of food…
Hermione began to breathe through her mouth to stop the overwhelming scent of Ron. His closeness began to rankle as the quick hug extended to a long hug.
Clearing her throat pointedly, Hermione pulled just a little. He got the hint and let go, smiling stupidly. She didn't want to put that word to him, but there was just no other way to describe the look on his face.
Turning to Harry and Ginny, she gave them each a quick hug. Ginny, she smelled, was having her period. The blood scent wafted up to her nose as Hermione pulled out of Ginny's hug. Her stomach muscles clenched painfully just as her jaw did.
The memory of what her father did struggled to surface, but she ruthlessly forced it back. That horrible day did not need to be remembered. She just wanted to forget it ever happened.
"So, um, how are you?" Hermione asked to get her mind off that particular memory.
Ron and Harry started to rattle off the things they did as they boarded the Hogwarts Express.
She and Ginny followed the boys into an empty compartment and sat down.
Harry, it seems, left the Dursleys to stay once more at the Burrow. She wanted to ask why he didn't go to London instead, but realized that it was because of Sirius. She looked at him with new eyes.
His bright emerald green eyes didn't seem that bright anymore. There was a certain sadness to him, lending an air of wisdom. Ginny seemed different this year as well.
"Hermione?"
She had spaced out. Slightly embarrassed, she looked at Ron. "I'm sorry, Ron. What did you say?"
"I asked what did you do over the break. I mean, you didn't even come visit us. You usually do." Ron's brown eyes searched her face.
"I, uh, did my homework and learned some new things." Hermione forced herself to keep eye contact with Ron as she said this.
"Homework? Will you ever change, Hermione?" asked Harry.
Her eyes lowered slightly. If only you knew, Harry.
Clearing her throat again, she said, "It wasn't all that bad."
Except for—no. Don't think about it.
Five minutes later, the train whistle blew and began its long trek to Hogwarts.
Something tugged at her mind, like she was forgetting something important. Looking at Ron, he gestured emphatically about Quidditch.
In an instant, it came to her.
"Holy hell!" she burst. The three fell silent in shock. She jumped up and grabbed Ron by the wrist. "Ronald, we're supposed to be with the other prefects!"
"Oh, fuck!" he cursed. "Have to go, guys."
Hermione didn't bother to say good-bye. She would see them later. She ran towards the front of the train for the prefect's carriage.
What a day to start off, she thought wretchedly.
"Hermione, you're gripping me too tight!" Ron said suddenly.
In a flash, she let go. "Sorry, Ron. I just—"
"Damn, when did you get all Super Witch?"
She halted and looked at him. "What do you mean?"
He held up his wrist. It was red and she could see the imprints her fingers made. Damn it. She must have held on too tight. As she studied his wrist, the red went a deeper shade.
"It's going to bruise," remarked Ron.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. Just—come on. We're late enough as it is." Hermione led the way, finally reaching the prefects carriage. Opening the door, they both stepped into the room.
Too many pairs of eyes turned to them.
"We're sorry we're late," she blurted.
The Head Boy, Daniel Smythe, raised his eyebrow at them. "Well, now that you've joined us, the new fifth year prefects were introducing themselves. After that, Pamela and I will hand you all your instructions."
Hermione spotted Pamela Dawson behind Daniel and nodded hello to her. She nodded back. Walking silently, she and Ron took their seats behind the Hufflepuff prefects.
Taking a quick look around, she noticed the new prefects were slightly shaking. She could smell fear emanating from them, especially the girls. Then an odd scent caught her attention, but Daniel was speaking once more and she focused on him.
"—this year, we all need to work together to plan several events for the students. Pamela and I will assign positions when they draw near. I expect all of you to not abuse your titles. If you are caught doing so, you will automatically be stripped of your prefect duties." He turned to Pamela. "Pam?"
She stood as he sat down. Pushing her blond hair out of her eyes, she said, "First off, I want to congratulate the fifth year prefects. The job isn't hard as long as you do it right. Second, I will be handing out schedules of patrolling the castle. For now, the fifth years are paired with their corresponding sixth year House prefects to learn how things are done. After a few months of that, then different Houses will patrol with other Houses, but the schedules for that will be worked out later in the year."
At that, she shot a quick look for the first time at the Slytherin prefects. She nearly jumped in surprise when she met Draco Malfoy's hard pale eyes. Hermione glared at him and turned her attention back to Pamela, dismissing him.
She felt his eyes on her the whole time Pamela talked. Her jaw kept clenching as it began to get on her nerves, but she would not let herself turn to meet his gaze again.
The schedules came around then. Taking one, she looked it over.
Patrolling Schedule
September:
Monday – Tamara Philips & Padma Patil (Ravenclaw)
Tuesday – Bradley Fine & Ernie Macmillan (Hufflepuff)
Wednesday – Angelica Rasden & Hermione Granger (Gryffindor)
Thursday – Seth Trevors & Draco Malfoy (Slytherin)
Friday – Andrew Thompson & Anthony Goldstein (Ravenclaw)
Saturday – Eliza Watson & Hannah Abbott (Hufflepuff)
Sunday – Joseph Kennedy & Ronald Weasley (Gryffindor)
Monday – Gwendolyn Devon & Pansy Parkinson (Slytherin)
Tuesday starts the cycle all over again with Philips and Patil.
Please note that this cycle will continue until Head Boy and Girl have said otherwise and that either one will also be patrolling the corridors to make sure the prefects are doing their jobs.
It seemed everyone finished reading the schedules at the same time. The rustle of papers caught Daniel's attention. Getting up from his seat, he said, "Now that you all have read the schedules, seeing as today is Wednesday, Rasden and Granger will patrol tonight."
Pamela spoke up. "Also remember that you fifth year prefects are to escort the new first years of your individual Houses to your dormitories. Then after that will Rasden and Granger patrol."
"Does everyone understand what their job is to do?" asked Daniel. No one spoke. He clapped his hands together. "Okay then. You're all free to leave, or you can hang out in here."
Standing up, Hermione went up to the new Gryffindor prefects. "Hi, sorry Ron and I were late to the meeting."
Angelica Rasden, a raven-haired girl with blue eyes, shrugged and said, "You didn't miss much, Hermione. In fact, Malfoy got in just a few minutes before you."
Ron was talking with Joseph Kennedy, who was almost as tall as Ron, but had shaggy blond hair. They were talking about Quidditch. She met Angelica's eyes and simultaneously they rolled them in exasperation.
"Honestly," said Angelica, "don't they talk about anything else?"
Smiling, Hermione shook her head. "Afraid not."
Angelica shrugged. "Yeah, whatever. I'll see you later tonight."
Hermione nodded. "Yeah. Just meet me in front of the Great Hall after you and Joseph are done with the first years."
"Sure thing." Angelica tossed her hair over her shoulder and paused nearly imperceptibly. Then she leaned forward and whispered, "Hermione, uh, Malfoy's staring at you."
"What?" she hissed. "That's not funny, Angelica."
"I'm serious," Angelica insisted.
Hermione discreetly sniffed Angelica and didn't smell anything to indicate that the girl was lying. She had drawn the conclusion that lying had a certain smell to it, as her parents always knew when she was lying. She sighed, struggling to accept the fact that Malfoy might be staring. Hell, he might not even be staring at her.
Using the guise of tucking her hair behind her ear, Hermione chanced a look at Malfoy. A shot of adrenaline went through her when her eyes met his. An arrogant brow lifted and something flickered in his eyes. A thrill of excitement went through her.
She forced a glare and turned away. "Ron," she said to get his attention. "I'm heading back to the compartment. You coming?"
"Of course." The redhead said his good-byes to Joseph.
While Ron was doing that, Angelica again leaned forward. "I told you. What do you think he's up to?"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "I don't know and, frankly, I don't care." Ron touched her shoulder and she muttered a quick farewell to Angelica. As they walked to the door, Malfoy and Parkinson cut in front of them. Startled, she cried, "Hey!"
Malfoy pushed Parkinson out the door as he turned his head to pin her in place with a glare.
The hair on the back of her neck stood up and the wolf inside her raised its hackles warily. There was something different about Malfoy now. He was…dangerous.
She refused to take a step back and she glared right back. She was not going to back down and intuition told her neither would he. Just as he was now different, so was she. They stood there for seconds, or maybe it was minutes. Time stretched.
There was nothing but Malfoy's gray eyes. The look in them was hard and unyielding, but there was something else. Something she'd seen before, but the memory was distant and fuzzy like a dream remembered after too many years…
"Hey, Ferret, you're blocking the door." Ron's voice was biting and it brought Hermione back to reality.
Malfoy jerked his gaze away from her and to Ron. He smirked mysteriously and continued on his way.
"What the hell was that all about?" asked Ron. "He's finally gone mental, I think."
Hermione didn't know what to say to that. That familiar gleam in his eyes tugged at her mind. She let Ron steer her though the train as her mind was preoccupied.
"Merlin, what was up with Ferret? Usually he makes a few comments about me and you, then he either gets bored and wanders away, or pushes for a duel." Ron kept up a continuous monologue. It registered in her mind, but Hermione wasn't paying attention.
As they neared the compartment where they left Harry and Ginny, Hermione picked up a strong hormonal change in the air. It was strong enough to push Malfoy away.
Where is that coming from?
They drew closer and closer. Ron kept talking, asking questions and answering them himself. Then Harry and Ginny's scents were also in the air.
Hermione was sure that there was no way their scents could reach this far. If they needed to go to the bathroom, there was one at the back of the train. The scent trail was all over. A sudden thought came to mind and Hermione wanted to stop right where she was, but Ron still had his hands on her shoulders.
She heard a slight moaning…kissing…the rustle of clothing…and a soft voice saying, "Oh, Harry."
Ohmigod! That's Ginny! With Harry!
"Where was our compartment?" Ron asked, oblivious. "Oh, there it was."
Hermione took in the drawn curtains and Ron reached out to open the door. Panic drove her to grab his hand. "Ron!" she spoke loudly. The sounds in the compartment stopped. "I, uh, wanted to…ask you a question."
He looked at her hand holding his and met her eyes. "Go ahead."
"Uh, well," her eyes went to the window, "we've been friends a long time, right?" He nodded. She heard the panicked whispers of Harry and Ginny. She had to stall for more time. "And we've been through a lot with Harry over the years. I was, uh, wondering if you—"
"Hermione, you don't have to say anymore," Ron interrupted. Slightly dazed, she looked into his eyes. He said, "I know what you're asking me and, well, I accept."
Wait, what? Her mind felt suddenly full of wool.
"Yes…I'll be… your boyfriend."
-Ha! What do you think? How embarrassing, right? In fact, how will Hermione deal with this sudden snag? Stay tuned. I'll write over break, so don't cry.
Wish me sunshine and fun! (And a few reviews wouldn't hurt).
—TG