A/N: Thanks reviewers! And thank you for all of the middle name suggestions, but I decided on one, which is revealed in the little bit at the end of the chapter. I'm updating again sooner than I thought because I finished this chapter quickly and it's really short. I still like it though!
You know, it's almost Halloween! I have NO IDEA IN HECK WHAT I'M GOING TO BE! Any suggestions?
You know what else it is almost? Election Day! I really hope Kerry wins...I know on November 2nd I'm going to school all Kerry-zised so all the 18 year olds at my school will be moved by my political statement and go vote! I want him to win...I don't want Bush to reinstate the draft and all my friends go off to war! That would be way sad!
Anyway, that was my political paragraph, now it's back to the subject which is now the short story I'll be writing in English class in a week. You know my teacher told us about these short stories 3 weeks ago so mine's already done. And we have a week to work on them in class...hehe...I like to work ahead.
Report cards come out soon and I think I have 100 in all of my classes except for 2! Isn't that SKILL?!?! I think it is. I won't be sure until the darned things come out, but I think that's right. But then again, it's only the first 6 weeks so I have 5 more grading periods to go.
Since I'm filling you all in on my social life I'm going to tell you that I got my hair cut the other day! It's like 3 inches shorter! It almost touches my shoulders! It hasn't been this short in, like, 8 years!
I want to warn you right now that this chapter is very short and the little bit at the end was all Hannah's fault. So there Hannah, I took your cliffhanger suggestion.
My story is over 100,000 words. I want to jump for joy but I have a knot in my shoulder so I won't.
Here's the chapter!
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Pepper, Harry, and Ron crept through the teacher-filled hallways, invisible to the eyes of others. Pepper had no idea how Malfoy would have gotten from the dungeons to the Defense Against the Dark Arts room undetected. Unless he really wasn't there and she was just being led on a wild goose chase, in which case Pepper would have to wring his little Slytherin neck.
When they got to the classroom door they checked to see if there was anyone around before Pepper got out from under the cloak. Pushing open the door as silently as she could she discreetly held it open for Ron and Harry before she stepped in herself.
She found the room was lit with one candle which was at the table Malfoy was occupying, in the front of the room. His head was down, and he was straddling the back of a chair, his arms resting on the back of it. Pepper couldn't help noticing how attractive he looked. Shaking the thought from her mind she started walking towards him, hoping Harry and Ron were somewhere nearby.
He heard Pepper's footsteps and looked up. He was very obviously distressed. Pepper took a seat across from him. "Why did you want me here?" she asked quietly, not wanting to make any noise for the teachers roaming the hallways to hear.
"I don't have much time," he said, not in a drawl, but in a strained voice, like it hurt to talk. It was at this point that Pepper became concerned.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"You don't know how hard it is to fight this...Potter would know, though...ask him..." Malfoy said with a weak chuckle.
"What the hell is going on?" Pepper pressed. She didn't want to be here all night listening to him speak in riddles.
"My father...he's put me under the Indirect Imperius Curse. I've been under it for years and I've just begun to fight it," he spoke slowly and with difficulty, as if he had to force each word from his mouth. "Tell Potter and Granger I'm sorry for all the things I've said over the years...it wasn't really me speaking..."
"How does it work?" Pepper asked, realizing that Malfoy wasn't going to be able to fight this Curse off for much longer.
"I'm not sure...it's not like the Imperius Curse where he controls all my actions...he just plants ideas in my head and I have to follow them...though I can do it in my own manner."
"Why did you want to talk to me? Why not talk to one of your Slytherin friends about it? They could help you."
"I admire you Pepper, you and Granger both." His eyes locked with Pepper's as he said this, and his head tilted to the side the slightest bit. "All of my "Slytherin friends" have Death Eater parents...I'd bet they're under the same Curse I am. You're the one that can help me...there's something you can do, I know it. You're the daughter of a Charmed one, for Merlin's sake." He lowered his head to look at the dimly lit stone floor.
"How can I do something? I don't even know what the Imperius Curse is. I've never met your father...I don't know how to meet him to get rid of this Curse...I don't know a counter curse..." Pepper's mind was reeling. She couldn't believe this was actually real and that Malfoy chose to share this information with her, of all people. And he was asking her for help...why did he even think she would help him? After all he'd done to her...
"There isn't a counter curse," he replied curtly. "Though I'm sure you could come up with one if you really wanted to."
"What do you mean? I can't come up with spell...especially to a Curse as powerful as this one seems to be."
"You're the daughter of a Charmed one," Malfoy repeated. "I've done my homework on your lineage...coming up with spells is what you do, isn't it?"
"Not me...my aunts maybe...what are you getting at? I can't help you, Malfoy!" she was getting frustrated and wanted him to change the subject. Did he really believe she could help him? "Why did your father do this to you, anyway?" she asked, trying to get off her family history.
"He was afraid that I was too soft..." Malfoy chuckled distantly, like he was recalling a memory. Pepper wasn't sure she wanted to know what memory that would be... "He didn't think I was going to make a good heir...knew I didn't agree with what Purebloods were supposed to believe in.
"What kind of father would do such a thing?" Pepper thought aloud.
"He's no father," Malfoy said scornfully.
"Malfoy, I can't relate to this, I can't help you...so again, I ask why you wanted to meet with me," said Pepper.
"I can understand why you're tentative to believe me," Malfoy said. "But –"
The candle that was lighting the room was suddenly blown out and Malfoy stopped talking. Pepper assumed that Harry or Ron had blown it out, but for what purpose she did not know. But the reason was revealed to her soon enough, when she heard footsteps coming down the corridor. Pepper ducked, hiding slightly under the table, and she supposed Malfoy was doing the same.
The classroom door opened and in walked a teacher. There was only a little light coming from the hallway so Pepper could only see the professor's silhouette, but she could still tell that it was Professor Snape. He stood in the doorway for almost a minute before deciding the room was empty and leaving.
Pepper sat up in the chair again, seeing that the room was completely pitch black. Suddenly there was hot breath on her ear as Malfoy whispered, "I'd never hurt you," into her ear. There was that damn shiver down her spine again! Then his lips met with hers in the softest kiss Pepper had ever experienced. It seemed like the kiss was coming from a person totally opposite from Malfoy, whose kisses were usually hard and crushing. But, Pepper realized, this might be the real Malfoy, rid of his evil father's curse for just a few minutes. She decided she liked this Malfoy better.
As soon was the kiss was initiated, it was finished. The room was still dark as pitch, and Pepper was glad because this way no one could see her beat red face. "Why didn't you go to the Headmaster?" Pepper whispered as softly as she could manage, just in case Snape was still lingering outside.
"My father mustn't know I fought it off for a little while," he replied just as softly.
"I'll try to help you," Pepper responded.
"Thanks," Malfoy whispered before getting up and making his way silently out of the classroom.
Pepper banged her head against the stone table in front of her. Was all of that really serious? Did that really happen? Was Malfoy just pulling her leg? It was all very possible, until Pepper thought about the brief kiss they had shared. That had sealed the deal for her and made her realize that Malfoy had been sincere. That fact made her even more confused. She still couldn't work out why Malfoy had to see HER instead of someone else – anyone else.
And what was that comment about not hurting her? Did that mean he hadn't raped her? Did it mean they hadn't really had sex? She hit her head on the table again when she became conscious of the fact that she had missed her chance to cast the Truth Spell and that that opportunity might not come up again. But did she really want to cast it on him now, since he was already under a Curse?
She wanted to know what the Indirect Imperius Curse was all about, so she decided that she'd put Hermione on the job to keep her mind off of the recent passing of her parents. Keeping Hermione busy was the key, Pepper now knew.
So Malfoy really thought she could help him out...Pepper didn't know how to help though. She didn't know Malfoy's father at all, except she gathered the fact that he was a Death Eater. Pepper didn't think the detail about her being the daughter of a Charmed one was very relevant in a situation like this, but apparently Malfoy did, as he kept bringing it up.
"Did you guys hear all of that?" Pepper said into the darkness, wondering where Harry and Ron were.
"Yeah," said Harry, his voice nearer than Pepper thought. Had they seen the kiss she'd shared with Malfoy?
"Where are you?" Ron asked Pepper. He sounded a little dazed; Pepper supposed it was because of all they had just heard come from Malfoy's mouth.
"Over here," Pepper answered, hoping the two of them could follow her voice.
"Where is that, exactly?" asked Ron. There was a loud thump and Ron swore. Apparently he had just run into something.
"Shh!" Harry said. "We don't want any teachers to hear us. Hold on, let's take of the Cloak so we can actually move around." The swoosh of a cloak was heard as it was removed from the two boys. "Now where are you Pepper?"
"Over here," Pepper replied. Sighing heavily she stood up from the chair and searched for Ron and Harry. "Where are you guys?" She had confirmation on where they were when she tripped over a chair leg and stumbled, knocking into Harry, who let out a small "Oomph!"
Regaining her balance, Pepper steadied Harry as well. "Ron, come over here right now so we can get the heck out of here. I don't fancy being caught by a teacher tonight. We need to get back to the common room and talk this over," Harry said.
Once Ron made it over to the other two people the cloak was thrown over them and they made their way slowly from the Defense Against the Dark Arts room and back up to Gryffindor Tower, all three of them bursting with questions.
AMANDA: And Hannah might have had sex with Ron!
PEPPER: What are you talking about?
HERMIONE: Yeah, who's Hannah?
RON: I DIDN'T HAVE SEX WITH ANYONE!
HERMIONE: WHO'S HANNAH?!
AMANDA: Oh...well...you don't know her...but I said the chapter had to end in a cliffhanger...and it didn't...so she told me that that had to be the ending... so... er... nevermind...scratch that...
DRACO: Is she hot? I'll have sex with her if she is.
AMANDA: shakes head You are way too horny.
HARRY: Hey, he's a guy, it's what we do.
PEPPER: Hence the reason I broke up with you.
AMANDA: Besides, I think Hannah fancies Ron, not you Draco.
HERMIONE & DRACO: WHAT!
DRACO: How could she not like me? How can she resist my sexiness?!
AMANDA: I dunno.
PEPPER: I can't!
DRACO & AMANDA: I noticed.
HERMIONE: Is this Hannah trying to steal my Ron from me?
AMANDA: Yes, I think she is.
HARRY: Anyway, he's not yours anymore, remember?
HERMIONE: Oh, yea.
DRACO: We're destined to be together anyway, Mudblood.
HERMIONE: We aren't if you keep calling me that!
AMANDA: I definitely agree with Draco. You two are made for each other.
HARRY: Except he just went all soft in the last chapter! What was the deal with pouring your heart out to Pepper, anyway?
DRACO: Er...I was trying to win over Granger's heart?
RON: She wasn't even there FERRET!
DRACO: Hey, how do YOU know about it?
RON: Um...hey Pepper, weren't you gonna do that Truth Spell on him?
PEPPER: Yeah, but I forgot. And Malfoy, what was up with you kissing me?
HARRY: He KISSED YOU? How come I didn't see that?!
DRACO: It was dark, dumbass.
AMANDA: Haha...that's a funny word.
DRACO: What, dumbass???
AMANDA: Yea.
DRACO: You're a dumbass too. I think you and Potter are meant for each other.
AMANDA: Perhaps...
RON: They're about as meant for each other as Malfoy and Hermione.
AMANDA: Oh dear Harry, I think we should start making wedding plans then.
HARRY: Ron's gonna end up with Luna...
PEPPER: And Harry and Ginny!
AMANDA: Hermione and Dracoooooo!
HERMIONE: And Pepper and one of Malfoy's Slytherin friends!
HARRY: He doesn't have any Slytherin friends.
DRACO: Yes I do!
HARRY: Who then?
DRACO: Blaise Zabini!
HERMIONE: Is that a girl or a boy?
AMANDA: A boy! J.K. Rowling so said Bliase was male!
HARRY: I've only heard his name once!
RON: Wait a minute, are you pairing me with Luna Lovegood?!
DRACO: Yes, we are, you're a bit late Weasel.
HERMIONE: She does have a crush on you Ron.
RON: I cannot be paired with Loony Lovegood!
AMANDA: Hey! I love Luna! In an online quiz at I got matched with Luna!
PEPPER: So are you saying Draco and Hermione are really going to end up together?
AMANDA: I said nothing of the sort!
PEPPER: AND DOES THAT MEAN I'LL END UP WITH BLAISE ZABINI, WHOEVER THE HELL HE IS?
AMANDA: Watch your language, young lady!
PEPPER: But Draco swore and you didn't yell at him!
AMANDA: That's because I like him better than you and he's hotter than you are!
PEPPER: HEY!
HERMIONE: Well he IS!
HARRY: Are we gonna perform the Féminin Vivreencore Curse even though we're broken up?
PEPPER: Who are you asking?
HARRY: Amanda.
AMANDA: I DON'T KNOW!
PEPPER: BUT YOU'RE THE AUTHOR!
AMANDA: So? I still don't know everything that's going to happen!
PEPPER: Draco was right, you ARE a dumbass.
AMANDA: Stop complaining, if it weren't for me you wouldn't even be here.
PEPPER: How do you figure?
AMANDA: I created you, DUMBASS!
PEPPER: Oh...right...
DRACO: Can I meet this Hannah?
AMANDA: I dunno...is Tom Felton going to Maryland anytime soon?
DRACO: Who's Tom Felton?
AMANDA: You're double. Anyway, Hannah picked Ron over you already, Draco.
PEPPER: I DIDN'T!!!!
AMANDA: You're too horny too!
HERMIONE: So that makes two horny people and two dumbasses.
AMANDA: Three dumbasses.
HERMIONE: Really?
AMANDA: Yea, me, Harry and Pepper.
PEPPER: Why did Hermione cut herself?
AMANDA: Because you're a bad influence you bad bad girl!
PEPPER: No, really, why?
AMANDA: I already told you, dumbass.
HERMIONE: Can we PLEASE stop using that word!
RON: Sure. DRACO: No, dumbass.
HERMIONE: face turns red I asked nicely.
AMANDA: Yes she did! Be nice Draco!
DRACO: No, dumbass.
HERMIONE: growls
PEPPER: Uh, oh, she's getting mad.
HARRY: Malfoy, you're about to face the wrath of Hermione.
DRACO: Granger has wrath? I doubt it. She's just an innocent little dumbass -
HERMIONE: pummels Draco
DRACO: AHH! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!
HARRY: We tried to warn him...
PEPPER: joins Hermione in beating Malfoy
AMANDA: Haha! This is almost as entertaining as Richard beating on Lexi! Okay
people! That's enough! Break it up! Violence is NOT THE ANSWER!
RON: Yeah, snogging's the answer!
AMANDA: Oh dear Ron, you're going to start a –
HARRY: SNOG FEST!
AMANDA: Shoot.
DRACO, HERMIONE, PEPPER, HARRY: snog each other (the opposite sex!)
RON: You know Amanda, you have way too much time on your hands.
AMANDA: Naw ah!
PEPPER: breaks away from Draco's lips Yes you do.
AMANDA: Don't complain, Black! If it weren't for me you WOULDN'T EXIST!
PEPPER: getting out of Draco's grasp and going over to Amanda Well tell me something about my parents then! I want to know!
AMANDA: Er...they were male and female...?
PEPPER: Something I don't know!
AMANDA: They weren't married.
PEPPER: I knew that too!
AMANDA: Really?
PEPPER: YEAH!
AMANDA: How? I didn't tell you that!
PEPPER: My aunts did, dumbass.
HERMIONE: DON'T USE THAT WORD!
AMANDA: That's weird...
DRACO: irritated because the snog fest is over What's weird?!
AMANDA: That Pepper knew her parents weren't married.
DRACO: You ILLEGITIMATE CHILD! SEE I'M NOT THE ONE RUNNING AROUND WITH ILLEGITIAMTE CHILDREN! YOU'RE THE ILLEGITIMATE CHILD! YOU'RE PARENTS WERE OUT OF WEDLOCK!
PEPPER: Wedlock?
DRACO: YOU'RE ILLEGAL! YOU MUST LEAVE!
PEPPER: I'm not illegal, dumbass.
DRACO: Oh, well, that's alright.
PEPPER: And why is my name Pepper, anyway? I'm not very fond of that name. Why not something pretty?
HARRY: Pepper is a pretty name!
PEPPER: Shut up you suck up.
AMANDA: Well YOU try coming up with another P name.
PEPPER: How about Paris?
DRACO: Paris Hilton? She's hot! Is Hannah as hot as her?
AMANDA: YOU CAN SHAG HANNAH ANYTIME YOU WANT! SHE'S IN THE DAMN STORY IN ANOTHER FORM!
DRACO: What's her name?
AMANDA: SADIE MONTGOMERY! Now will you shut up before I kill you?
DRACO: You can't kill me, I'm Draco Malfoy.
AMANDA: I can too kill you, I'm the ruler of the fanfiction.
DRACO: You wouldn't.
AMANDA: Try me, dumbass.
DRACO: shuts up
PEPPER: WHY COULDN'T MY NAME BE PARIS?
AMANDA: Because that's what your daughter's name is going to be!
HARRY: Not if she marries me!
HERMIONE: She's not going to marry you, get over it!
PEPPER: Are you like, in love with me Harry?
HARRY: Nooo...
RON: Sure Harry, what ever you say...
HARRY: I am NOT! If I was in love it would be with –
RON: MOANING MYRTLE!
PEPPER: Draco, I want to meet this guy who I'm supposedly getting together with.
AMANDA: You're not getting together with anyone! You're going to DIE!
PEPPER: BUT YOU JUST SAID MY KID'S NAME IS GOING TO BE PARIS!
AMANDA: You're going to go on a blind date, have sex, get pregnant, have a kid, and DIE!
PEPPER: Well that's sad.
DRACO: Is she going to get killed by DEATH EATERS?!?!?!?!
AMANDA: No! Death Eaters won't be around when she dies!
DRACO: Unless I'm the one that got her pregnant.
EVERYONE: is silent. Stares at Draco in disbelief
PEPPER: I still want to meet this guy.
AMANDA: Okay, here he is.
BLAISE: Who am I getting together with? Why am I HERE!
PEPPER: THAT'S BLAISE!?!?!? I could SO get used to this idea...
AMANDA: You're not getting together! Pepper's going to DIE!
DRACO: So you've planned out our whole lives? Is that it?
AMANDA: Er...yes?
PEPPER: Like I said, you are a loser with way too much time on your hands.
AMANDA: I am not!
RON: You're the one with the 189 page story!
HERMIONE: You mean brilliant fanfiction.
RON: Yes, that.
PEPPER: And you're the person who's writing this five page dialogue between you and imaginary people just to put at the end of this chapter!
HARRY: You know this thing is longer than the actual chapter?
AMANDA: No it isn't! The chapter is about 122 words longer than this! Now I hope you are all aware that I can think of interesting ways for you to die in the next chapter?
DRACO, HERMIONE, RON, HARRY, PEPPER: Oh yea...
BLAISE: I didn't say anything! I'm not even in the story!
AMANDA: Just to let you readers know I did this out of sheer boredom for your entertainment...if, in fact, it is entertaining to anyone but me...which I doubt.
RON: Aren't you supposed to do that in an author's note?
AMANDA: Well, seeing as this isn't the story and I am the author...
RON: Right...
AMANDA: But this is going to end now, before it really is longer than the chapter.
PEPPER: WAIT! I THINK WE ALL NEED TO KNOW MY MIDDLE NAME
FIRST!
AMANDA: Fine, it's Lillian. After Harry's mother.
HERMIONE: Aww, how sweet of your mother, Pepper.
PEPPER: I wanted something more exotic....
AMANDA: Shut up you ungrateful lump.
REAL A/N: Okay, I liked my chapter but the random thing was just dumb. Though, if you read it there are some clues about what's going to happen in the future of my story. Not all of it will happen, in fact, a lot of it was a load of shite I just did for fun but some of it really will happen. You just have to figure out what's real and what isn't...
By the way Hannah, that was all your fault.