The Price of a World
Chapter Twelve
AN- Sorry guys... I was in a really weird mood when I wrote the last chapter. I'll make this one nice and... uhm; good ...to make up for it.
When the train arrived at Hogsmead, Hagrid was waiting at the station. He said his usual hellos to Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny before taking the First Years to the boats. Harry, Hermione, Ron and Ginny climbed into a carriage and rode up to Hogwarts entrance. They entered the Great Hall and took their places at the Gryffindor Table. Hermione nearly jumped two feet in the air when Draco came up behind her and tapped her on the shoulder. Harry was sitting opposite Hermione at the table and he glared up at Draco.
"What do you want now Malfoy?" Harry said through gritted teeth. Hermione's heart was going a million miles per hour. 'What could Draco want now? Does he seriously have a death wish to approach me in front of Harry twice in one day?' Hermione thought as she turned in her seat to look at Draco. Draco was looking down at her his usual smirk smeared across his face. He ignored Harry's comment and delivered the message to Hermione. "Dumbledore wants us to give a talk to the school." "What about?" Hermione enquired. "The upcoming event," Draco paused "and new rules..." "Oh okay. Now?" Draco nodded and Hermione rose from her seat and followed Draco to the front of the hall. Dumbledore smiled and greeted the Head Boy and Girl and he then gave his announcement to the School. He introduced a few new teachers and then handed the floor over to Hermione and Draco. "Welcome back to a new and exciting semester at Hogwarts." Hermione greeted the hall. "My name's Hermione Granger of Gryffindor and I am the Head Girl."
"I'm Draco, Draco Malfoy. Head Boy." Draco said in his usual drawl. Hermione fought back the urge to roll her eyes at his lack of enthusiasm and exaggeration of cockiness. Hermione continued to smile at the school seated before her and she nudged Draco encouragingly. "I'll tell them about the rules and you can tell them about the - " "Okay, you start." Draco interrupted. "Okay Everyone! There are a few things we need to go over with you. As you all know He-who-must-not-be-named; may rise at any time now." Hermione's eyes glanced to Draco and then to the Slytherin table. Hermione knew Draco was involved with Voldemort somehow. But she wasn't sure if she wanted to know about it, with them being on separate sides she was afraid it would affect her relationship with Draco. A mutter erupted across the hall, every person turning to his or her friends and gossiping. Dumbledore stood and clapped three times and the body of the hall silenced. He smiled at Hermione and gestured for her to continue.
"As I was saying, if Voldemort does rise. No one panic. You will be safe as long as you stay inside the Hogwarts grounds. You will all assemble in here and wait for further orders from myself, Draco, a Professor or the Headmaster. As you already know, the forest is forbidden to anyone. So far Quidditch is still on as usual but at anytime may be cancelled if the Headmaster feels it is unsafe. Now that the dismal news is over Draco and I are here to deliver a bit of news that may just interest you all." Hermione stopped and glanced at Draco. It was Draco's turn to speak. "Right. Next week, we are holding a whole school dance." Draco paused and let the school mutter words of excitement. "It will commence on the 4th of February, from 5pm till midnight. The night will start with a feast, then the room will be cleared and a live band will be coming in. The Headmaster has asked everyone to be on his or her best behavior and if you are taking a date to the dance - " Draco was cut off by an outburst of giggles from the younger half of the school population and an excited buzz from the other half. Draco noticed that beside him Hermione giggled slightly at the school's reaction. "As I was saying," He looked over and Hermione and almost winked at her but remembered the whole school was watching especially Hermione's boyfriend. "If you are taking a date we ask that you keep your behavior at a G rated level please. Although, this dance is going to be slightly different to the Yule Ball a few years ago. Dress robes are not a necessity." Draco paused and finished the sentence with distaste. "It will be a muggle dress code, gowns and tuxedos." Draco finished and glanced at Hermione. "Thanks everybody. Have a great semester, and good luck to fellow seventh years starting their NEWT studies and to the fifth years starting their OWL studies." Hermione said cheerfully and walked back to her seat at the Gryffindor table as Draco returned to his seat at the Slytherin Table.
Hermione sat next to Harry and rested her head on his shoulder. Ginny's eyes furtively looked up and watched Harry and Hermione. "4th of February... is our one year anniversary..." Harry whispered into Hermione's ear. Her eyes widened in shock. She'd completely forgotten but she couldn't lat Harry know that. "Why do you think I chose that date for the dance..." Hermione whispered back seductively. Harry smiled at Hermione and kissed her softly on the lips. Ginny felt her blood boil but shook her head not knowing what had gotten into her. She peeled her eyes away from Harry and started staring at the cutlery before her.
After the feast the entire body of the school burst out of the hall and wandered back to their dorms in excited masses. Hermione took Harry's hand and he walked Hermione to her private Head Girl quarters on the third level, directly below the Gryffindor common room and dorms. They stopped at the portrait leading into Hermione's private dorm, Harry turned to look at Hermione. "The Gryffindor Tower isn't the same with out you..." He said looking down into Hermione's eyes. She flushed slightly and looked up at him. "It isn't like I can never go in there again..." Harry smiled slightly, cupping Hermione's face in his hands he leant down and kissed her. "Then again... there is no rule saying that you can't come into my dorms..." Hermione whispered into Harry's ear and she placed soft kisses down his neck. Harry grabbed Hermione's arms gently and stood back from her. "Don't; I won't be able to stop." Harry said looking away. Hermione nodded. "I love you so much Hermione..." "I know you do. And I love you. More then you'll ever know." Harry caressed Hermione's cheek gently with his hand. "See you tomorrow at breakfast." "Okay, goodnight then." Hermione kissed Harry on the cheek and stood and watched as he turned and jogged down the hall, off to the Gryffindor dorms.
After the feast Draco watched Hermione and Harry leave the hall together. A burning feeling slowly crept up from Draco's stomach and into his throat. He suddenly found himself, trying hard to restrain himself from going and knocking Harry's lights out for touching his girlfriend. He had to remember that Hermione still loved Harry. 'What if Hermione ends up loving Harry more in the end?' Draco thought to himself. 'I'll never be able to hold her in my arms again...' He thought.
"Draco..." It was Pansy; she ran her finger lightly up Draco's arm. "What are you thinking about so intently?" She said rather seductively. "Piss off Parkinson, you're not getting any from me." Pansy scoffed. "Why would I need you when I have a sex god at my own disposal." Pansy said, almost offended that Draco had even suggested that she wanted sex from him. Draco looked at Pansy. "There is some one better then me?" Draco said, raising an eyebrow. "Well..." Pansy looked around before continuing. "Between you and me... Voldemort and I are getting married." Pansy said trying her hardest to contain her glee and excitement. Draco nearly choked on his pumpkin juice. "What?" Draco scoffed. Pansy rolled her eyes. "You heard me..." Draco shook his head not wanting to hear or know anymore. He was already starting to get BAD mental images. Draco looked up at the door; Harry and Hermione had already left the hall. He swore slightly and ran out of the hall. Pansy frowned at Draco's sudden retreat. It suddenly dawned on her that she had to report to Voldemort, and so far she had nothing to report. So she jumped up from her seat and ran out of the hall after Draco.
Meanwhile; over at the Gryffindor table, Ron, Ginny, Seamus and Dean noted Draco's speedy exit. "Wonder what got him running..." Ginny said indicating towards Draco as he bolted out of the doors. Ron looked up as Draco ran out of the hall with Pansy hot on his heels. He scoffed slightly. "Well, look what's chasing him." Seamus, Dean and Ginny erupted in giggles at Ron's comment.
Once out of the hall Draco looked right and left, wondering which way Harry and Hermione could've gone. As if in perfect timing a first year came jumping down the stairs three at a time. Draco grabbed him by the robes and shook him slightly. He put on his typically, frightening Slytherin face and tone of voice. "Have you seen Potter and his mudblood girlfriend?" "Y-yes M- M-Malfoy. They were headed towards the Gryffindor tower." The defenseless first year stuttered pointing in the direction of the Gryffindor dorms. Draco figured that they were probably headed to Hermione's Head Girl dorms. Draco, being Head Boy – also had his own Head Boy dorms located on the third level. It hadn't ever occurred to him to find out where the Head Girl dorms were. Draco let go of the terrified First Year and ran off up the stairs, in the direction of the Gryffindor dorms.
Draco took the stairs three at a time. He turned left into the main hallway of the third level and was about to take the immediate right up the stairs towards the Gryffindor Tower when he heard a familiar voice. He stopped and crept further down the hall, towards the voice and now another voice. He came to a halt just before another hallway branched off to the right. He could hear the two people clearly now.
"I love you so much Hermione..." "I know you do. And I love you. More then you'll ever know."
There was a pause in the conversation. Draco had to bite down on his bottom lip to stop himself from storming around the corner and pummeling Harry. He could hardly believe what he was hearing. Hermione still loved Harry. Of course he already knew that, but 'more then you'll ever know'. Draco was fuming, and his blood boiled more and more the longer the silence went on. He could only imagine what Potter might be doing to his girlfriend. Finally, Harry spoke again.
"See you tomorrow at breakfast." "Okay, goodnight then."
Suddenly he heard footsteps, approaching him fast. Draco figured that it must be Harry heading to the Gryffindor common room. Draco looked around frantically, trying to find a place to hide. And then he saw it, a suit of Armour sitting in its own little alcove in the stonewall. He dashed across the hallway and jumped up into the alcove and slipped in between the Armour and the wall; hidden from sight. With Draco's slender bone structure it was easy for him to get into the small gap. He heard Harry's heavy footstep clunk past the Armour and up the stairs.
Draco couldn't waste time. He jumped out from behind the Armour and raced down the corridor and skidded around the corner into which Hermione's dorm was located. He was just in time; a portrait half way down the hall was closing slowly. 'Shit...' Draco muttered under his breath. He pelted down the hallway and jammed his foot between the closing portrait and the wall, stopping the portrait from fully closing just in time. He pulled the portrait back open and slid inside.
Pansy ran out of the hallway after Draco just in time to see him running up the stairs. She ran after him, not being as fast as Draco was at running; she followed the sound of his running feet. She followed him up to the third level but his footsteps stopped. She slowed down to a jog and then a slow walk. She listened closely. She could hear the murmur of voices but wasn't sure whether they were coming from the right of the stairs or the left. She decided to take the left turn first. She wandered down the hall slowly, her ears listening intently for any sound. The voices were fading away as she went further. "Damn... it's down the other end of the third level..." Pansy cursed turning around and heading for the right corridor of the third level. Little did she know she was heading straight for Draco, Harry and Hermione.
As she got closer to the staircase once more she could hear footsteps. She stopped dead in her tracks, having nowhere to run and hide. Before she knew it Harry came walking out of the corridor and up the stairs towards the Gryffindor tower. Pansy sighed with relief that he hadn't seen her. "Draco must be down there..." Pansy said venturing down the corridor towards Draco. She was just in time to see Draco jump out from behind a suit of armour and run down another corridor. She immediately raced off after Draco. She turned into the corridor in which Draco had gone down. He was gone, the hallway was empty. "Damn it!" Pansy said, chucking a slight tantrum. She then turned on her heel and stormed off towards the dungeons.
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AN2- Sorry that it took so long for this chappy. I've been really busy with school and stuff. I hope you liked the chappy. So how's my story going? Do you like the way it's going, if not tell me why and how you think I can improve it. Thankies
AN3- Oh yer, just answer these two questions for me in your review please...
Should Ginny or Ron die? I can't decide... Should I start writing a sequel?
Thanks ppl, you're all champs grins