A/N: So. So. So. How was that? I like this story…my plan is to reach the 40, 000 word limit in one or two months time.
Do you think that is possible? I can write in school during break and spare time. Those writers who have written that far,
can you tell me if it is indeed possible? Thanks. Should I do away with the little conferencing session at the end of each
chapter? And the last time I forgot to put the disclaimer. Anyway, one for then and one for now. Goodbye. Harry and Ron
comes into the story. Why do they hate Hermione?
Chapter 4: 0h.It's you. Hermione
I halted in my tracks, just baldly staring at the two figures in front of me. I could hear Malfoy behind me, stumbling along,
until he was beside me and fell silent, looking at the two of them and me with interest. I shut my eyes tight, willing myself
to keep under control. I would not succumb to them. Again replacing my look of satisfaction with a veil of coldness, I
opened my lids and gazed at them, waiting for them to start world war three.
"Granger. What are you doing here?" Harry asked, concealing his true feelings as well. I could feel three pairs of eyes
staring at me, waiting for my response.
"Same as you. Going to Hogwarts." I replied coolly, my face stiff and blank. Inside, I was surprised at the similarity
between him and Malfoy. Malfoy covered up a laugh by coughing loudly. Ron's ears started to turn red, a sure indication
that he was getting angry. On the outside, I remained cool and collected but I just wanted to cry and weep in front of all of
them. Why? Why did it have to come to this? I just wanted to help them that time and this was what I got in return? Our
friendship was irrevocably damaged, and nothing would bring us back to what we once were.
"Trying to be smart? Granger, you are sadly mistaken if you consider yourself clever. Even your mother was more
intelligent compared to you; she was smart enough to leave you." Ron shot back, sneering widely. The area became deathly
silent. Harry arched his head, as though mortified by himself. Malfoy did not dare to make a sound, instead choosing to
glare at the floor. Only Ron was looking at me as if he had won the lottery. How insensitive could he get? I knew that I
was about to lunge at him and tackle him till his body was black and blue, but I would never be able get to be Head Girl if
I ever did that, and besides, I did not want to do anything irrational which I would regret later on. So I clenched my fists
until they dug into my own flesh painfully, and my knuckles turned white. I steeled my voice and responded, with but a
quaver in my voice.
"I see no relevance between my mother and how smart I am. I see no way that you should be concerned with my private
affairs. I also see nothing between my mother's questionable intellect and this problem. I also don't see how you were
smart enough to get into this school!" I gritted my teeth and stared defiantly into his brown eyes. He sputtered; for I had
just insulted his intelligence, but I bet even Harry thought he deserved it.
Before Ron could respond, another voice cut in coolly.
"As much as I would like to see you kick Granger's butt here, we both have a prefectorial meeting that we have to attend
to, which of course, you would never be able to join, as Granger has mentioned, your level of intelligence is not up to
standard. With that I bid you goodbye. Granger?" I whirled around, stunned that Malfoy had attempted to get me out of a
sticky situation. My eyes must have shown astonishment, because he just shrugged non-commitally and turned to leave.
Making it a priority to thank Malfoy afterwards, I jogged to his side, leaving two gaping boys behind.
As we strolled leisurely down the aisle, I wondered if Malfoy had an ulterior motive to extracting me from the
predicament. It could not have been because of the meeting because it started in forty-five minutes, so that was off the list.
Maybe he wanted to get me out to beat me bad himself. I did not think so; he knew the best way to torture me was to leave
me in their presence. (though he had to admit I was doing pretty fine by myself.) So that was probably eliminated too.
However, I could not take my mind off something I saw in his eyes when he briefly glanced at me. Pity. He had looked at
me with pity. I wanted to crack right now. I wanted to scream at him that I did not need his pity. I was doing perfectly well,
darn it! Of all people, I would have expected Malfoy to understand, what with his abusive father. I thought he had known
that pity would never change anything. Pity would never be something useful. Why did nobody look at me with
understanding? Look at me with understanding and help me get past this time. I sighed wearily, and Malfoy looked at me
again, surprised. He remained silent though, and for that I as appreciative. In that way, Malfoy was brilliant. He knew when
you needed privacy and respected it. I smiled a full-on smile at him, hoping he would not catch it. Oops. Too late. His eyes
widened, steel eyes temporarily melting into liquid silver. Then he caught himself, and just pursed his lips, gave a half-
hearted, flashed, lop-sided grin and looked away. I was, to say the least, astounded. Malfoy? Smile? I shook my head
furiously. Not possible. Anyhow, I let my mind wander…that was a pretty amazing grin…Oh god! What was I thinking?
This was my archenemy, my rival! My NEMESIS. I exhaled deeply, attracting yet another stare from him, and thought
about something not insulting to my memory. Like hamburgers. Yes, hamburgers were delicious. Why not-BAM! Holy
crud! What was that? I collided head on with something rock solid and flew backwards. I closed my eyes, anticipating the
rough surface of the floor. But it never came. (A/N: Ha! I know what you are all thinking- you think that Malfoy held
her up didn't you? You were rolling your eyes because you thought it was so clichéd weren't you? I knew it. Well read
on, Life is full of surprises. And besides, ask all my friends, I am a highly unpredictable girl and my writing takes after
my personality. By the way, do you like those clichéd stories? I hope not, because this will not be one. I keep telling
you what this story is not, but I never tell you what it is. Well, this is a story of designing. You will understand later on.
Anyway, in other fanfiction stories, the character Draco Malfoy always softens a lot. But this one will not. Hermione
will not become bad, but they will have an in-between sort-of relationship. Like a limbo dance. Welcome to the grey
era.)
Confounded, I tried to frown. Note the word tried. My muscles felt frozen up and I could not move an inch. Trying to
hoist myself up, I tried to move my hand, but failed to do so yet again. What was happening? Then, like all the movies say,
realization dawned upon me. The little bugger Malfoy had frozen me! Ooh…the moment somebody let me go, I was going
to castrate him…Malfoy advanced closer, a tiny smirk on his smug face. He leant down next to my ear. My senses tingled
and goosebumps started popping up. Now what was he up to? I tried to glare at him, but of course, in vain.
"You know, I think I like you this way…" he trailed off suggestively. Internally shuddering, I stared straight ahead,
wishing someone would come. I could hear him chuckle in satisfaction. Oh god…just let me at him…He was going to be
hacked to death so fast you wouldn't even see it happen…He pointed his wand at me. I suddenly realized that I was
completely vulnerable. A spasm of panic ran through me, and I mutely screamed. What did I get myself into? That was it, I
was officially about to be murdered. I already wrote my will, some things went to mom and dad. Oh dear. The rest went to
Harry and Ron…that had to be changed.
"Finite incantenum." I fell to the floor, blood rushing through my veins and I collapsed with my hair splayed out on the
cold ground and my skimpy clothes on full display. I lay there, shocked into immobility. It seemed that Malfoy was just as
startled as I was. But by what? Oh…my clothes. Maybe I had to wear more of these… I got up, brushing invisible lint off
my clothes.
"Look Malfoy, I know that my clothes are cool, but you don't have to gawk you know." I sniffed, aloof, trying to redeem
what little dignity I had left. He blushed.
"Erm…it's not your…ahem…clothes, it's your…urm…" he trailed off again, gesturing at his left pelvic bone. I just
gaped blankly at him, wondering what he was trying to tell me. I looked at my own pelvic bone, and gasped in horror. Oh
dear lord.
Cast of story says: (Draco) what? What? What was it? Tell me, tell me!
Distraughtsenses says: Erm…Draco, in the story you already know…
Cast of story says: (Draco) oh, yeah.
Cast of story says: (Hermione) freak. Stupid freak.
Distraughtsenses says: Now now kids, don't quarrel.