My Ferret 4
"Silk stockings…"
Hermione stared at the long stockings in utter surprise, her mouth forming an O as her bottom lip dropped slightly. Her chocolate eyes shifted to the white ferret, it's tiny head poking out of the drawer. It was standing there staring right up at her face, an unusual intense look in its silver eyes and she felt the urge to hide the stockings behind her back in embarrassment. For some crazy reason she felt it had pulled them out of the back of the drawer on purpose, as if it had understood what she had been talking about…
/But that's crazy. It's just a ferret!./
Yes, it was just a ferret, wasn't it? Just because it was a male ferret didn't mean she need be embarrassed of holding silk stockings in front of it. Of course, if it had been Harry or Ron she would have been mortified beyond all reason. She was just a late bloomer, that's all. This whole thing of being in love was still very new to her and although she knew some girls at Hogwarts wouldn't blink an eye if a boy saw their unmentionables lying about, she wasn't one of them; unmentionables being panties and bras, of course. Her parents had old-fashioned values and they had raised her that way. Still, these were stockings and weren't all that different from socks, were they? The line there was kind of hazy…
Then Hermione remembered an old fantasy movie she had seen on TV years ago, Beastmaster. There had been two ferrets in there and they had helped the warrior Dar by getting items for him. They would run up to what he needed and carry or drag it in their mouths. Apparently stealing things came naturally to ferrets, so maybe it wasn't all that strange this one had pulled stockings from her drawer? Feeling slightly better, Hermione smiled down at her new pet. "So, do you think Draco would like me wearing these? I'm not sure I have anything to go with them though…"
000
/Draco? What do you mean Draco? You can't mean ME, do you?./
The blonde Slytherin turned ferret was shocked to say the least and he just gaped up at her, his bottom jaw dropping open all the way. He couldn't believe it, he just couldn't. Hermione Granger was in love with him? How could this be? It was too good to be true!
But it was. No one else had his very unique name, he was sure of that. Besides, all the other clues fit. A warm fuzzy feeling filled his body and he practically glowed with happiness. In all of his life he had never felt this way before, not even once. Granger … no, HERMIONE, really cared about him and this was proof. She wasn't making some grand speech because that old crazy fool had told her to or reciting something to get him to change sides. No, she didn't even know he was here. What was coming out of her mouth was genuine, her true feelings. The Gryffindor was actually concerned about his welfare and his future, enough that she was willing to do things she found incredibly hard just to save him.
And that spoke volumes.
/I'm never going to call her that awful name again!./
And maybe, just maybe he and Hermione would be a good match. Both of them were intellectuals and got top grades, although she always beat him somehow. He was the handsomest boy and she the prettiest girl, when she made the effort that is. His silvery eyes focused on her, studying her with a more critical eye. Without the baggy Hogwarts robe, he could see her slightly better. Although he found the Muggle clothes distasteful, he could appreciate how the jeans hugged her hips and the T-shirt fitted her. Her clothes weren't tight, no, but if he looked closely he could discern her figure. Closing his eyes, he tried to imagine her dressed in one of his mother's expensive gowns with her hair done up in a French Twist. A little sound escaped him throat as he came to the conclusion that she would look absolutely stunning. And when she grew slightly older…
/She'll be absolutely breathtaking!./
Opening his eyes, Draco smirked. Hermione would be his and no one could stop him, not even Potter and Weasley. Best of all, it would be their entire fault!
000
Hermione lay the silk stocking on her bed, her mind going over the contents of her closet. There had to be something she could wear with them, but what? Then she remembered the dress she had bought on a whim a few months ago back during Christmas break. She had found it in an upscale Muggle store and had been shocked seeing it hanging on the rack as it was nothing like its fellows. She wasn't sure if it had gotten into that store by mistake or what, but she had reached for it with held breath. Her hands had trembled as they touched the soft velvet for the first time, the material the deepest burgundy imaginable. As if in a trance, she had walked to the booth to try the dress on, sure it wouldn't fit. But it had and just looking at herself in the full-length mirror had been like gazing at someone else. Surely that couldn't be her, could it?
The dress was like something out of a different century. It had a tucked bodice that clung to her bust, waist and hips without seeming vulgar; the thick skirt falling in smooth lines to the floor. The upper parts of the sleeves were puffed, the puffed section ending halfway between her shoulder and elbow. The rest of the long sleeves gripped her arms tightly all the way to her hands, the cuffs pointed so the velvet extended to her first finger joints. It also had a gently scooped neckline. All in all, it was something directly out of Regency England and wearing it made her feel like a romantic heroine. She could just imagine a brave hero riding up to her on a white charger, bold and brave.
The price had been a bit steep and she had stood there in the store undecided for a good half hour, arguing with herself. The practical part of her kept insisting it was silly to splurge on such a useless thing. Where would she wear it? She had wanted to say the Yule Ball that occurred every year for the older students just before most of them left the school for the holidays, but she knew to wear something so different from the others girls, well, it would take a lot of guts. And she wasn't sure if she had that within her. Besides, the Ball had already gone through for that year. Still, she loved the dress and how it made her feel. Finally, in a moment of extreme weakness, she had carried it to the checkout and had bought it. And there it had hung in her closet until now, covered carefully in a dry-cleaners bag to keep it clean.
/Maybe I could wear it this year at the Ball…/
The dress would be the perfect thing to get Draco's attention. And maybe they would have a Harvest Ball if she were lucky, the rich color going perfectly with fall or winter.
/But maybe I need to practice being feminine…/
Yes, that would be a good idea. If she wanted to capture his heart, a little practice was in order. Best of all, she had all summer to practice and with luck, when the time came to return to Platform 9 ¾ she'd be ready! Hermione glanced at her wristwatch and sighed. It was late and she needed to get some sleep. She would start practicing tomorrow first thing! Going to her dresser, she pulled open another drawer and took a pair of plaid pajamas out of them. The nightclothes in hand, she paused, her chocolate eyes drifting to the ferret. Its silvery eyes were on her again and a little nervous feeling bubbled in her stomach. A slight frown creased her face as she continued to study it. For some unknown reason she felt funny about changing in front of it and she couldn't figure out why. Crookshanks had never bothered her before…
Shrugging her shoulders, Hermione headed into the bathroom to change.
000
Draco watched her leave, feeling both relieved and disappointed; relieved because he knew it wouldn't be right to watch her and disappointed because he was a healthy young male. Still, common sense won out. He wasn't a peeping tom and wouldn't spoil his reputation by being one. Women should be respected and not treated as sex objects, no matter what some brain dead men thought.
A few moments later Hermione returned and picked him up from the drawer. Cradling him against her chest again, she carried him to her bed and climbed in. A moment later he was set down on her bed next to her, near the pillow. The pajamas, he noticed, covered every inch of skin except for her feet and were very boyish. They were a tad disheartening, to be the truth, yet exactly what he expected from a bookworm. Still, he knew she could always change just for him and that gave him hope for the future.
"You can sleep here with me, OK? But you best stay in the room unless you want my cat to get you…"
/Sleep with…/
Draco's tiny heart beat rapidly in his chest at those innocent words. His busy-haired Gryffindor still didn't know who he truly was and thought he was a ferret – yet she had changed clothes in the other room, probably a bathroom. Curling up on the soft yet firm mattress, Draco watched her for a moment. She lay on her side facing him, one arm stretched out in front and the other curled up against her chest. Her wavy hair was pushed behind her head and spread out across her pale pink pillowcase. This situation, as innocent as it seemed, had all sorts of problems; the main one being what will she do when she finds out the truth?
/Oh Merlin! I'll be in hot water for sure!./
She'd be mortified that she had actually spent the night with him, even if he had been a ferret! He could imagine it all too well. She might even blame it all on him! What to do? Then Draco suddenly remembered the ring his Father had given him a few years ago. It was incredibly fancy and expensive, made of silver and shaped like a snake's head. It even had two tiny emeralds as eyes. Crabbe and Goyle had received one, too, and they had been extremely grateful for the gift. But the ring was far more than a piece of jewelry; it was a tracking device.
/Father will no doubt be remembering about it any minute…/
Being as wealthy as they were, kidnapping had been a concern for his parents. Not that they ever considered the possibility very seriously, but with things heating up since Voldemort's return, well, it was better to be safe than sorry. Lucius always tried to see every possible angle on things and planned accordingly. Draco's gray eyes drifted down to his tiny white paw, sure the ring was still there somewhere. When Moody had changed him, his clothes had transformed with him, reappearing when the spell had been lifted. So the ring was most likely there and working under the fur. He expected that both of his parents had been shocked and not thinking too clearly upon finding him missing. Like most parents, they would have panicked. But by now…
/Father most likely has come to his senses by now and will be using the ring to track me down…/
His silvery-gray eyes flickered to the sleeping girl, her chest slowly rising and falling with each gentle breath. What would happen to Granger when his father showed up? He hoped that he wouldn't hurt her. She was, after all, innocent in the matter. Lucius did have a bad temper at times and could fly off the handle, flinging curses. Still, he hoped that Granger wouldn't get hurt or try something foolish.
/I'll just have to protect her…/
Yes, once he was changed back to his proper form he'd explain what had happened to his father. He would sing her praises and maybe, just maybe he'd be allowed to date her.
/Yeah. Right. When cats learn to fly…/
Still, he could dream, couldn't he?
Tired from a busy and stressful day, Draco curled his long furry body into a tight ball and drifted off to sleep.
000
Hermione stepped into the Great Hall, a gasp of wonderment escaping her painted red lips. The huge room was decorated for the Yule Ball and had been turned into an enchanted wonderland. Twirling snowflakes slowly drifted down from the dark sky above and the walls glistened with layer upon layer of shiny ice. The ice reminded her of frozen waterfalls, the surfaces rippled and reflecting a rainbow of colors. Huge towering pine trees, dusted with freshly fallen snow, stood along the walls adding to the outside feeling without having the artic cold. This truly was the best of both worlds and she was lucky enough to experience it first hand.
Smiling, she turned to the handsome boy who was her escort to the dance. It was none other than Draco Malfoy and she couldn't believe that he, the most eligible bachelor in the entire school, had asked her out. This was the most perfect night of her whole life and her heart beat quickly within her chest. She was afraid to close her eyes for a single second lest she miss something. Her hand clung to his arm, as was the old custom. Gently he led her out onto the dance floor as tiny winter faeries darted through the air around them, each faerie a whitish-blue dot of light. His platinum blonde hair gleamed smoothly and hung into his silvery eyes. Those eyes could mesmerize her with a single look and often did just that. At the moment he was gazing adoringly at her with love in his eyes and her heart fluttered. Draco looked especially handsome in his formal dress robes, his starched white shirt and black robe. He was the most dashing figure there, the one that all the girls dreamed of and he was hers. His pale hand gripped her waist firmly, his other hand interlocking their fingers together. Shyly, she placed her free hand up on her shoulder. She could feel his body heat soaking into her waist where he held her. Lifting her eyes to gaze into his magical silver orbs, he began to lead her expertly around the room in a waltz.
She was wearing her burgundy dress and she could feel the admiring eyes of her classmates on her. Her fellow Gryffindors had oohed and aahed when she had emerged wearing it, most exclaiming where she had gotten it. Deep red matching ribbons intertwined with her brown curls, the long twirled ribbons falling down her back. It had taken hours to get ready, but seeing the enchanted look on Draco's face had been worth it. The gown swooshed around her legs elegantly with each step and she felt like a princess.
The soft music came to an end and he leaned closer. She knew he was going to kiss her and her heart sped up with excitement. This was it, the moment she had dreamed of for so many months! His eyes sparkled with merriment and then his lips were upon hers, soft and warm. Hermione closed her eyes and kissed him back, a warm tingle spreading through her entire body. She felt his arms wrap around her back, bringing her in closer to him. It was her first kiss and it was pure magic.
000
Hermione blinked, opening her eyes. She was lying in bed, a bright beam of summer sunshine falling on her face. A smile crept across her face as she remembered her dream. It had been so real. She remembered the kiss and blushed slightly. Would something like that ever happen for real? She didn't know but she hoped so! Then she remembered her plan from the night before and leaped out of bed with excitement. Her whole body felt energized and ready to go. Pulling clean clothes out of her closet and drawers, she dashed into the shower to get ready.
/Today I'll practice being more feminine../
She didn't know if she could actually do it, but she would try. The dream had been so real that she half expected to see snow outside even though it was June. Her chocolate eyes fell on the bottle of her mother's bubble bath, a gift from some friend at work. Her mother barely ever touched the stuff, claiming it took too long to take a bubble bath and why bother? If wasn't like she and her father ever went anywhere romantic. Mostly they just went in to the dentist office together and spent the day staring into people's mouths. How exciting.
/Maybe I should take a bubble bath…/
"Honey!" Her mother's voice called from in the hallway. "Your father and I are going grocery shopping and then to the video store! We'll be back in a few hours, OK?"
"Mom! Can I use some of your bubble bath?" Hermione asked as she stared at the bottle's label, reading the directions. It was Lavender Bouquet according to the label and she twisted the cover off, sniffing. A heavenly scent filled her nose and she smiled, closing her eyes in delight.
"Of course, dear! Help yourself." Her mother replied. "We're going now…"
"OK!" Hermoine poured some of the pale purple liquid into the running bath and watched the bubbles form. Soon the enticing scent filled the entire bathroom making it smell like a garden. When it was ready, Hermione crawled in and sighed. She had never done this before and now she pondered why. The other girls at school were always talking about taking such baths when they had the time and about the various scents they had bought. But relaxing in the hot water with layer upon layer of bubbles almost all the way to her chin, she knew. It was so soothing…
/But at Hogwarts I just don't have time for such things…/
She had assignments to do, homework, books to read, running around with Harry and Ron…
/But what about the future?./
Presuming that Harry would successfully destroy Voldemort once and for all, and then what would happen? She hadn't missed the way that Harry looked at Ron's little sister, Ginny. Most likely the two would become a couple and might even marry. She knew that her dark-haired friend certainly liked the Weasleys enough… The Weasleys … what was she thinking? She was angry with Harry and Ron! The bubble bath must have been too relaxing and she had forgotten! Still, her line of thought hadn't been that far off. Whether she stayed angry with them or eventually forgave them didn't matter. This would be their last year at Hogwarts and things would change afterwards. Most likely they'd all go off in different directions and if she weren't planning ahead she'd be left all alone. Harry and Ginny, Ron had been eying Cho… She didn't want to spend the rest of her life alone and if she didn't get into the habit of dating now and being seen as someone a bit desirable…
/I'll be single for the rest of my life, just like that batty old teacher had said!./
Trelawney's words had hit closer to the mark than she would have liked… old maid indeed!
Feeling the sand slipping through the hourglass, Hermione crawled out of the bath and took a quick shower to get all the excess soap off. Then she dried herself with a big fluffy towel and pulled on fresh underclothes. Lifting an arm, she sniffed at it, curious if the lavender scent would still be there. It was silly and she felt supremely stupid doing so, but she was a bookworm and had no experience with this sort of thing. A faint scent filled her nose and she grinned. At least her time hadn't been completely wasted. If the flowery scent had been totally gone then she would have thought it a waste. She was just glad that she was safe in the bathroom and no one had witnessed her moment of idiocy.
/I suppose I should get on with it…/
Yes, she needed to practice more, although the bath had been a good start. Her mind drifted to the burgundy dress in her closet and she really wanted to try it on again. Surely it couldn't hurt just wearing it for a short time and admiring herself in the mirror, even if she had no where to go in it. She very rarely ever did anything of the sort so this little indulgence couldn't hurt, could it?
/I can't spend all my time reading books…/
And so Hermione left the bathroom and entered her room, unaware that a pair of silvery eyes was staring at her, mouth hanging agape. She was so intent on getting the lovely dress on once more that she had totally forgotten about the little white ferret.
000
Draco gasped. Being the Pureblood that he was, he was accustomed to seeing girls and women wearing, well, clothes. And although Hermione was decently covered, her current 'outfit' had more in common with a bikini than the long dresses he was used to seeing on his mother. The truth was, Draco had never even heard of a bikini before and if he were to ever stumble upon a Muggle beach by accident, he would most likely faint from the shock of seeing so much bare skin. His silvery eyes were practically glued to her form as she went to her wardrobe and pulled something out. It was covered in some sort of covering and once it was removed he dully noted that it was burgundy.
/I never dreamed Granger had such a body…/
And her mind wasn't bad, either. She was, in fact, smarter than he was. He remembered his resolution from last night, the one about saving her from his angry father. Yes, he would do that and hopefully a bit more. It would be nice to have a girlfriend his last year of school. His ferret lips curled upward in a grin.
/Besides, I'd love to see the shocked looks on Potter and Weasley's face when they find out!./
The thought pleased him to no end. Potter beat him at everything. The dark-haired boy received more attention, was fussed over, always caught the snitch … it was downright sickening! But if he could sneak Granger out from under his nose…
/That is, if Father will let me…/
That, of course, was the sticking point. No doubt his old man expected him to date another Pureblood like Pansy. Uggh! Was there any way at all he could convince him otherwise or was it a hopeless case? And no matter how much Lucius hated Potter, he wouldn't let his only son date Potter's friend just to spite the boy.
/I have to think of something!./
Draco continued goggling at Hermione and his eyes became partly glazed. Thinking of a plan was growing harder and harder…
000
Hermione sat on her bed, one knee over the other. She had the round container of powder in her hand and cautiously lifted off the lid. As she did so, a light layer of white powdery dust sprayed out and the scent of flowers filled the air. It smelled like roses and the bushy-haired girl smiled at the delightful scent that drifted around her in the air.
/So this is what Paris smells like in spring…/
This was the first time she had ever opened the cardboard container, as before she had just admired the artwork on the cover. Her chocolate eyes stared down into the container and a slight frown marred her face. The puff was sitting there staring up at her, white powder just beneath it. The thing is, she was still unsure on how to use it. Carefully gripping the soft puff with her thumb and forefinger, she lifted it up. The powder looked awfully white to her, almost like chalk dust. If she puffed this white powder on her face, wouldn't she look, well, weird? She could imagine all too well how she'd look, white-faced like a clown. Even Draco didn't have skin this pale…
Her frown increased as she thought back over what little she knew about make-up. Occasionally during the summer when she had gone into public restrooms, like at a theatre or restaurant, she had seen Muggle women touching their faces up. They had seemed to have huge budging purses filled with all sorts of make-up, as if they couldn't live without the stuff. The powder, she remembered, came in little round compacts with hinged lids or more recently in bottles.
/But it didn't smell like this…/
As far as she recalled, their powder hadn't smelled at all…
Confused, Hermione carefully lifted the tiny container up and peered at the bottom. To her utter surprise, printed words were there. Carefully placing the lid on again, the lid smoothly sliding over the entire box to the very bottom so no powder could escape, she flipped it over and started to read.
Spring in Paris Poudre de Toilette: an utter delight for silky smooth skin and perfumed body, this dusting powder will leave you glowing. To use, simply rub a generous amount into your dry skin after a bath to leave you smelling fresh all day.
Hermione mouthed the words, her eyes widening in surprise. "It's a deodorant?"
000
/I didn't know it was a deodorant…/
Draco shrugged his little ferret shoulders. His mother had so much stuff sitting on her vanity table that he never really paid that much attention. Why should he? He was a boy and he wore the best men's cologne. He had just presumed because it was a powder that it was applied to the face, hmm… apparently not. If he was to be truthful with himself, he was enjoying watching Hermione sitting on her bed. He could see her legs really well from where he rested on the mattress. They seemed incredibly long and went on forever. Of course, that was due to his much smaller body mass…
He watched her reopen the box, powder flying out into the air around her. Some of it landed on him and he sneezed loudly, the fine dust getting into his nose. Silver eyes locked on her, he scrutinized her every move avidly. With a look of trepidation on her face, she gripped the puff and picked it up. Turning it over, she noted that it was covered in a fine layer of the perfumed powder. Then with pursed lips, she started to rub the puff lightly on her upper leg very lightly.
Draco sneered and started laughing ferret style, a weird sound coming from his lips. He supposed it should be sexy watching her put the powder on, but that look on her face!
/It's not going to bite you, Granger!./
000
Hermione sighed. The powdering was going a bit better than she had expected and she thought she had the hang of it by now. At first she had been extremely nervous and unsure. It had felt odd rubbing the puff on her skin, the powder feeling cool and silky. She had just used the regular under-arm deodorant stick and had presumed it was good enough, but this wasn't all that bad.
/I could do this at school…/
It wouldn't take all that much time, either. And it smelled heavenly. Finished, she stood and went to pick up the silk stockings. If she was going to practice dressing up, she might as well go all the way. Pulling them on was easy enough, the long stockings reaching up all the way to her thighs. She glanced down at them, biting her bottom lip. What was supposed to hold them up? She was pretty sure if she started walking any distance, they'd start drooping and slide down her legs! The thought of that happening when someone was around, well, it was horrifying! These days Muggle women avoided that problem by wearing pantyhose, but silk stockings were not pantyhose. Her face took on a bookish look as she thought over what she knew…
/Oh! They used to wear garter belts!./
Going to her dresser draw, she pulled it open all the way and dug around in the very back. She remembered her mother saying years ago if she was going to keep the stockings, she might as well keep that odd belt, too. Now where was the thing? With triumph she yanked it out and quickly put it on, the thing hugging her stomach tightly. It had metal clips that worked like a clothespin. They hung down on bits of elastic and clipped onto the upper hem of the stockings. Smiling, Hermione picked the burgundy dress off the chair back where she had it draped and pulled it on. Smoothing it down, she glanced at herself in the mirror. Realizing she was still just in her stockings, she pulled a pair of black, low-heel shoes from within her wardrobe. Slipping them onto her feet, she grinned at her reflection.
000
Draco gawked open-mouthed at the Gryffindor. She looked ravishing! And that dress… where did she get it? It was the last thing he had expected a Mudb… no, a Muggle-born to own! Only Purebloods dressed that way these days, the kids from Muggle families more interested in modern stuff.
/Hermione could fit right into the family dressed like that…/
Yes, he could easily imagine her strolling down the hallways of the Manor on his arm as he escorted her out into the courtyard.
000
Hermione was just reaching up to do something about her hair when she heard an unexpected sound: the doorbell. Eyeing her reflection in the mirror, she frowned slightly and lowered her hands. She didn't exactly relish the idea of answering the front door dressed like this. Most likely it was a Muggle, as her wizard and witch friends never visited at her house. How would she explain why she was dressed like this? It was very old-fashioned compared to these days and truthfully she never saw anyone dress like this in real life except in movies. She contemplated just ignoring the bell but what if it were something important? Maybe her parents had ordered something through the mail and it was a deliveryman requiring a signature? Letting a breath escape her lips, she sighed and turned to the ferret. "I guess I have to answer the door…"
The loud ringing echoed throughout the house again and she picked the little animal up, placing it on her shoulder. Leaving her room, she walked down the hallway towards the stairs. Then she gripped her dress and lifted the skirt daintily as she went down the steps. Whoever it was, he was apparently getting impatient as the bell rang yet again.
/Maybe I can say I'm in a stage play…/
Although Hermione hated to lie, sometimes she found it necessary. She certainly couldn't tell a Muggle the truth! Not only would that be breaking the major rule of the Wizarding World but they wouldn't understand what a Pureblood was, anyway. She might as well try to tell them that elves and magic were real. They'd just look at her like she was nuts anyway, so lying it would be.
"Yes, yes, I'm coming!" Hermione called out as she neared the door, her shoes clicking on the floor with each step. Her stomach bubbled nervously as the idea of someone seeing her like this…
/I just hope it's not one of the neighbors! Oh, why doesn't this door have a peephole/
Unfortunately, her dentist parents had never saw the use for one and so she'd have to open it to see who it was. The ferret balanced on her shoulder, she gripped the doorknob and turned, pulling the inner door open. Her eyes widened in shock when they fell on not a Muggle as she had expected but a wizard robed in black; a wizard in fact she had seen just last evening at the train station.
/Why the heck is Lucius Malfoy standing on my front porch!./
Upon the door swinging open, Lucius' gray eyes opened wide in surprise, too, as he took in how she was dressed. He gaped open-mouthed at her dumbly for a few moments. The very last thing he had expected was to discover a well-known Mudblood dressed like a noble Pureblood lady!
Hermione's mind quickly got over the unexpected shock and she started to realize what it meant.
/There's a Death Eater on my porch and I dumbly left my wand upstairs!./
Great, that was just great! Her chocolate eyes flickered to his flashy silver-headed walking stick and her stomach did an uncomfortable jolt. He certainly hadn't been that stupid! From what Harry told her Second Year, she knew Lucius kept his wand inside the walking stick and so was armed at all times. "Well, what do you want?"
"I've come for my son." He stated.
To be continued…
Author's Note: Thanks for the great reviews! I wanted to work in a scene where Lucius confronts Ron (or Harry & Ron) but that really wouldn't work into the plot. I could work it in after Draco tells his father what happened though. I also hope no one is upset that Draco the ferret was in Hermione's room while she was getting dressed. He IS, after all, just a ferret.