Chapter 21
A new day has come. For Parvati it was a day of her first hangover. For Hermione it was a day full of fear. For Seb it was a day of making important decisions. For Harry and Ginny it was a day of unwanted consequences. In Cat's case the day seemed absolutely normal.
Hermione left and Cat was all alone. She also started remembering last night. Seb's angry voice. His relapse. Most of all: his questions. Maybe he does have the right to know? She asked herself.
She got dresses with one swing of her wand and followed Hermione's steps only to find Draco Malfoy still at the spot where Hermione just left him. He was leaning on the wall. If only he wasn't looking at his shoes Cat would see a great deal of confusion in his eyes.
"Thinking again?" she smiled to him "it's bad for you, you know?" she batted her eyelashes trying to look innocent and happy
"Wh... hi Cat. Nope not thinking. Doesn't do you any good." His face went from sad to almost happy. He fooled her.
"Well you should be. You guys disappeared last night and there is only a number of things you could have been doing" Cat smiled meaningfully
"Look at that! You actually care? We went horse back riding in Beirut" he answered mockingly
"Ahhh yes it's such a nice place to ride isn't it" Cat wasn't offended. His use of humour only meant the plan worked.
This year Defence Against the Dark Arts was taught by Foster Maniac. An Auror at the Ministry. He was a very grumpy man, however sometimes he showed signs of weakness and became very jolly. As strange as it sounds he really was like that. Of course no one knew whether he could be trusted. It had turned out this position has drawn the wrong kind of people so many times. Until now Professor Maniac seemed quite normal in spite of what his name suggested. He gave out a lot of homework. He was mean, but at least much to Hermione's Harry's and Ron's pleasure, he wasn't Snape.
"Occulmacy" Professor Maniac directed his voice to the class. He spoke like a charismatic vampire. His words seemed to have power. "Is a very powerful weapon. It seems some of you have studied the art of Occulmacy before" at that point he looked around the class as if he was looking for someone however his eyes showed disappointment when he has not succeeded "But most of you are new to this wonderful and dangerous world of thoughts". Hermione followed the Professor's eyes and realised he was looking for Harry. She gasped and went very pale. She started looking around the room. Ron was obviously still enslaved by Parvati who looked very tired and definitely unhappy. Come to think of it she wasn't sure who looked more devastated Parvati or Ron who was forced to hold her hand under the table. However now was not the time to think about that. Hermione scanned the room looking for Cat. She found her friend sitting right behind her with Tom 'ever drunk'. As she scanned the room she also noticed Malfoy. To her surprise he seemed totally cool and normal. He looked just as he would look any other day.
"Psst" Hermione turned around to face Cat
"Granger isn't it? What is so important it can't wait until the end of my class?"
Professor Maniac's voice pierced the air.
"Emm yes, sir" Hermione slowly turned around to face her teacher "I mean yes, it is Granger" He knows it is. I'm like the only one talking in this class.
"Soooo? What is it?"
"Em nothing I just forgot my quill and I was wondering if they have an extra one" she said praying inside her head
"Oh ok." the professors voice suddenly changed to a jolly one. "I thought it was something like that. I would never expect any nonsense from you Ms Granger"
You've never seen her drunk. Draco smiled to himself. Nonsense. Cute nonsense.
Hermione exhaled as she just realised she's been holding her breath.
"Now, your assignment for today is to read each other's minds" Professor Maniac continued lightly. The whole class gasped. "I know . I know. I'm not expecting you to succeed today. I just want you to give it a try before I give you the details. Of you go." He sat down and began studying a book he brought with him.
Draco Malfoy caught Hermione's attention by saying "Read minds. Just that! Come on this is soooo easy" And he's back to being an idiot. She thought.
"Ten points Malfoy" Professor Maniac shot out without even taking his eyes of the book.
Hermione had no time to look at Malfoy's reaction. As the noise level in the class started rising when people where discussing the task, she had little time left before they would actually start doing the task, which was, let's face it, a task that needed no talking.
"Cat! Where's Harry?" She quickly turned around to face her friend again
"What? He's not here?" Cat paused "How am I suppose to know where he is? I'm not his guardian angel" she hissed
"Chill Caty. What's up with you" Tom asked with a dreamy voice
"What are you high? This is first grade stuff that's what's up" Cat rethought her words "I'm sorry Hermione this has nothing to do with you. It's just that... Herbology is fine because I never had it at such a high level. Even History of Magic is not that bad because I never had it at all. Which for the record I now know why. Talk about boring. But this. THIS is killing me" Cat stopped when she realised she has just said more then 7 words at once.
"Man you're definitely more high then me" Tom spoke with surprise
"Sod off. I am not high. I just didn't sleep. I can have a bad day too you know."
"Normally when you have a bad day 'sod off' is all you say. You must be having a good day then or maybe it's that time of the month?" Tom argued
"Sod off"
"GUYS! FOCUS!" Hermione was panicking. And now she started talking. She thought looking at Cat.
"Focus! Focus?" Cat and Tom both gazed at her confused
"HARRY!" Hermione was loosing her patience
"Oh you're still on that" Tom looked surprised
"Yes, I'm still on that! How could I be on anything else? They are NOT HERE! Ginny's gone too. Something must of happened to them!"
"Good point" Tom stated the obvious
"So ?" Hermione asked patiently
"So what?" Tom asked. Confused again.
"CAT!" Hermione turned for help to her (at least she hoped so) more normal friend.
"Yeah I'm here. Just enjoying your conversation. Tom, mate you should really stop drinking, smoking, inhaling, sniffing, whatever you're doing. Although this way you're always a good laugh." Tom smiled and mouthed a 'thank you'. "Now back to the point. We can't do anything Hermione. They're on their own. If we go looking for them, which if I may point out is totally pointless as it will be impossible to find them, we'll get suspended." Cat reasoned. Hermione was about to say something but was interrupted "Hello! You are the we-will-get-suspended girl aren't you? Let's wait until the second period and if they won't show up we'll go to McGonagall. I think they just probably overslept or something. They're probably in their rooms sleeping. I'm telling you. Look at Ron. He's not worried"
"Oh he's worried alright. That bird has been clinging on to him all night and now too. He looks petrified." Tom stated.
Hermione considered her friend's words for a moment.
"I guess you're right. I'm just so worried."
At the other side of the room Draco Malfoy was trying really hard not to look at his last night's trip partner. He couldn't stop himself. She was so adorable last night. Today however she reminded him of the Hermione he knew yesterday morning. Jumpy and strangely emotional. Why is she so weird again? Potter's not here. Of course. The charm has not totally faded though. When looking at her he no longer felt disgust or even lust. He felt curiosity. However that was not enough for today. Yesterday they were people. Today he was Draco Malfoy the baddest boy in town and she was Hermione Granger the Griffindor smart ass and Potter's best friend. Somehow he felt drawn o her. But again that was not enough.
Notes:
Ahhh good old "waiting for the reviews" faze. I know I have disappointed you guys and I know now I have to pay for it so it's ok. Hope someday you will decide to come here and you will find a nice surprise.
Few words of explanation: I know there is no such word as baddest (just in case someone wants to say something). I know now we all know Dumbledor is dead and that Snape killed him and everyone should be devastated it's just a) hard to remember that as I started this fic when he was still 'alive. b) I had no idea who should be teaching DatDA class so I made someone up c)I leant my ook to my bro so I have no access to HP for now and it's hard to get back into it. I aslo am very sorry for doing another chapter of pointless dailogue but it's hard to get to the point 'in class'. I really feel like writing another chapter right now but I'm kind of tired so I think I'll pass. Sorry:D :puppy eyes:
I think this chapter is not that bad! Requests for lessons...there you have it. I don't really enjoy writing about it...somehow it's just so ... enslaving... you know so many things can't be done or said. If you have any suggestions please write it in your review.
Also most of my former ideas are out of my head by now. I slowly remember some of them, but just warning you that all hints as to what will happen are now expired. I still have some sort of a plan.
Please review and tell me whether this is much worse then what I have written before. I really want to get better. I really also want to get the 'feel' of HP DM&HG fics so if you know any good ones please let me know:D
THANK YOU ALL:D
Still miss you and love you :D
To only, if any, new readers: leave me a message as well so that I know who you are and that you're there:D
BRODIE: I can't get through to you by emailī