Title: Dare You To Move
Author: Mjade
Summary: My third Draco/Mione fic. Hermione Granger is feeling left out by the people she once called friends . . . but her dreams are all about to come true.
Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns Harry Potter but the idea of this story, the two Slytherins: Mason Deimos and Don Gears, and the Gryffindor: Lucinda Lucent, are mine.
Rating: PG-13/Romance
Author's Note: My thanks go out to Slytherin Girl, ali potter, crystal369, and Katie. Thank you for your wonderful reviews!
P.S. I know in the movie his hair is brown and I think the book said his hair was curly but in this fanfiction Justin Finch-Fletchley has blonde hair, because that's how I always imagined him.
Love comforteth like sunshine after rain . . .
William Shakespeare
"Password?" The gargoyle inquired.
"Hogwarts ad infinitum (a/n: Latin for Hogwarts to infinity. How typical.)," Hermione answered as the gargoyle spiraled upwards to reveal stairs to the Head Boy and Girl common room. As she entered, she saw Justin on the couch with 'The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 7' on his lap. He looked up to see Hermione sit beside him.
"Hello, 'Mione. Professor Dumbledore said we needed to come up with a theme for the Christmas Ball. Any ideas?" Justin asked her.
"I haven't thought about it much lately," Hermione grinned. "However, I'm sure Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown would want that bewitched mistletoe again," she said, teasing Justin since the whole school witnessed his most embarrassing moment last year.
"As much as I love those girls," Justin said, "That idea is definitely out!"
"Oh, come on! I know Pansy Parkinson isn't exactly your type but you only kissed her for what, sixty seconds," Hermione said, trying her best to suppress laughter.
"It was more like sixty excruciating seconds. I'm just glad it wasn't Millicent Bulstrode, I doubt she brushes her teeth," Justin said, and then he glared at Hermione. "Don't start getting ideas, it's not funny!"
"Sorry, Justin," Hermione said, recovering from laughing. "We'll leave the mistletoe out. Did you have anything in mind, then?"
"Er . . .a luau?" Justin suggested.
"You can't be serious," Hermione said.
"Hold on! Give me time to think. Er . . .Masquerade, no that was last year, er . . ."
While Justin was giving a few suggestions, Hermione ran through some ideas in her mind. However, most of them had already been done twice or three times and she wanted this year's Christmas Ball to be special. She looked back at some parties she had gone to in the past. Then it hit her. It was the most obvious thing in the world but it was never done in any of the Christmas Balls she had ever attended.
"How about Medieval ages--no some people may come as monks . . ."
"I've got one. How about international?" Hermione suggested.
Justin looked at her, slightly puzzled. "International what?"
Hermione smiled. "You know we could dress as great or famous people from around the world. For example: Cleopatra, Julius Caesar, King Arthur, Queen Elizabeth, a Norwegian princess, an heiress from Japan--"
"Oh, I get it. That's a great idea! Why didn't I think of that?" Justin said, shaking his head.
"You're not losing your touch, are you?" Hermione joked. Justin grinned. "So I guess I better tell the Headmaster our decision. What are you going to do the whole afternoon?"
"Oh, I'm going to start studying for my Transfiguration test," Hermione said.
"Isn't yours a month from now?" Justin asked.
"You're exaggerating. It's two weeks from now." Justin still gave her that same look. " What? I want to be prepared," she said sternly.
"You're such a 'Hermione'," Justin joked, rolling his eyes and shaking his head again.
"Why, thank you," Hermione smiled back before she climbed the steps to her bedroom.
From the Journal of Draco Malfoy:
11/24
How I hate Monday mornings. I slept in but it didn't bother me. Besides I had Potions for my first two periods. All I received from Snape was a frown, but was it for being late or getting a seventy-one on a damn test? Oh, father would be pleased. He returned home a year ago after Potter finally defeated the Dark Lord. I don't know how he convinced the Ministry that he was under the Imperious curse the whole time during Voldemort's 'reign', but he was released from Azkaban. The Ministry records regarded him as innocent. Innocent, my ass. Well, if Cornelius Fudge wanted Dark Magic demolished completely he failed miserably. Lucius is already leading a new league of Death Eaters. Why am I even thinking about that bastard? So, I didn't make Head Boy this year. Hell, he could beat me up a hundred times for all I care. He probably still is fuming up to now. It's not like he was a top student or anything during his damn era. For some reason, I wonder why they didn't make Potter Head Boy. Didn't Dumbledore just adore him? Instead they chose a Mudblood to be Head Boy, Finch-Fletchley, and as if that isn't embarrassing enough, Granger's Head Girl. Great, top students of Hogwarts are two Mudbloods. Pathetic really.
Advanced Arithmancy was Hermione's favorite subject and the last class of the day. Unfortunately, since only a few students took the extra course just one class existed. There were about six Ravenclaws, which included Terry Boot and Lisa Turpin. Four Hufflepuffs, three Gryffindors, Hermione and a few other seventh years, and two Slytherins: Don Gears and, much to Hermione's distaste, Draco Malfoy.
The fair-skinned Draco Malfoy glanced to where Hermione sat. Her arm was raised eagerly to answer the question of Professor Vector. Damn Mudblood. She hasn't changed a bit. She's still a know-it-all, bushy-haired, Muggle-born.
Draco wasn't really paying attention to Professor Vector's lecture. It appeared as though he couldn't hear her---that is, until class ended.
"Draco Malfoy?"
"Yes, ma'm?"
"Can I see you for a moment?" Professor Vector said reading some documents on her desk. Most of the class filed out, Don apologizing that he couldn't wait for him because he had to talk to Mason, but Hermione was still on her desk arranging her pieces of parchment.
Draco moved down the isle and deliberately hit the table, where Hermione was, and caused her books to crash to the floor. Draco smirked at her as Hermione began to pick up her books, glaring at him. She zipped her bag and stepped out of the classroom without a word.
Draco strode to the front of the classroom, his blonde hair gelled back and his face wearing one of his famous smirks. He grabbed a seat from one of the front desks and positioned himself on the opposite side of the table from where his Arithmancy Professor sat.
"I'd like to discuss something with you," said Professor Vector, finally looking up from her desk. She narrowed her eyes at Draco. "Is there something troubling you this year, Mister Malfoy?"
"No, ma'm," Draco replied. "Nothing's wrong, I feel fine. In fact, never better," he added, startled by his Professor's question. "Is there a problem, Professor?"
Professor Vector took one page of parchment off her desk and handed it to Draco. "Take a good look at it, Mister Malfoy. It's your last Arithmancy major exam, worth twenty-five percent of your grade."
Draco scanned it then mentally fell off his chair. What the hell? I got a fifty-two? Was this some bizarre joke? I have never gotten a lower grade than ninety on an exam, well seventy-one since Snape's stupid pop test.
"Professor, you must have made a mistake-"
"I don't think so, Mister Malfoy. I even checked twice to make sure it was yours," Professor Vector said sternly. "Did you happen to study for this test?"
Draco was about to say yes when he stopped and remembered. That night, before the Arithmancy exam, was the time they set up the 'bludger plan' for Potter. He never studied for the test on Thursday.
"No, Professor. It must have slipped my mind," Draco said.
"Draco, it seems that a lot of things have been slipping your mind lately," Professor Vector said, standing up. "You've been turning in your homework a day late or they're done without thorough thinking or no evidence of effort. Your quiz scores are less than satisfactory when you used to get nothing below a perfect score. And your tests--well, your grades are descending. I've been telling the whole class ahead of time on what to study but you don't seem to be paying attention anymore."
Draco couldn't believe he was hearing this. A teacher had never lectured him on his grades.Never.Draco Malfoy was actually a ratherintelligent student. His grades were always high and he always turned in his work on time. But what happened? I didn't get Head Boy, that's what happened.
"Even Professor Snape told me you got a seventy-one on a test when you had a excellent record of attaining a hundred percent," Professor Vector added.
"I had no warning," Draco said. "It was a pop test."
"No it wasn't, Mister Malfoy. Professor Snape doesn't give pop quizzes or tests," Professor Vector said, she sat down again. "You were the top student in Potions class and you and Miss Granger in Arithmancy. That's why I even gave you both that high level project," She sighed, "I'm sure you would be glad to hear that you were the Headmaster's second choice to be this years Head Boy."
But I didn't get it did I? Draco thought bitterly.
He had wanted that position badly. In sixth year he took almost all extra classes including Muggle Studies. However, it did not seem enough when he found out that his position was taken by a Muggle-born Hufflepuff.
And depression struck him.
His father had beaten him up when Justin got to the Head Boy position instead of Draco. Lucius was outraged that a Muggle-born was a top student instead of a pureblood. Draco worked hard all those years but he didn't think it was worth it this time.
He had been slacking, staying up way after midnight, coming to class late, planning schemes on students and staff, and what was worse-he didn't care what happened. Besides good grades or a scholarship weren't required if you were to become a Death Eater at the end of the year. Lucius only wanted Draco to be Head Boy so he could spy on Dumbledore. Draco wanted-well, used to want that scholarship.
"If your grades don't improve after the Christmas break and you fail classes, Mister Malfoy," Professor Vector went on, "you can face yet another year in Hogwarts and the Headmaster will have to notify your parents."
Draco sat up straighter at this. "Professor you can't be serious. My grades can't be that bad."
"Believe me when I say I was extremely surprised by this. This is your last and final year in Hogwarts. You can't afford to fail."
"So what's going to happen now?" Draco drawled, sitting back down.
"Well, first off you're going to start coming to class early and doing you're homework with care and turning it in on time," Professor Vector said.
"I guess I can do that," Draco said, with sarcastic enthusiasm.
"Then, you need a tutor for Arithmancy, Potions, and Transfiguration. The teachers have decided on the perfect person for the job," Professor Vector looked at Draco turn his head to the window.
"Hermione Granger."
Draco's head snapped back and despite his efforts his eyes widened. "Professor, no!" He blurted involuntarily.
"No? Why not, Mister Malfoy?" Professor Vector asked him.
"You can't tell me I have to be tutored by a Mud--" Draco stopped. He knew Professor Vector would give him another lecture or even assign him detention if he said the word 'Mudblood'.
Professor Vector's eyes narrowed. "Oh, I assure you I can," she said, but then in a gentler tone she added, "Please, Draco. This is your last year and your last chance. If you fail, your friends and classmates will graduate without you. I don't want to see that, I want one of my top students back."
Draco was still trying to absorb what Professor Vector had said earlier. A Mudblood. I have to spend my free time with a Mudblood to tutor me, and it's not just any Mudblood--it's Hermione Granger. She must have had a hard time waiting 'till she got to the Gryffindor tower so she could laugh her bloody head off when Dumbledore told her the news about having to tutor me. This year is definitely not going to be one of my favorites.
"When do I begin?" Draco asked Professor Vector.
"Preferably this Christmas," Professor Vector said. "You can owl your parents stating that you'll be staying at Hogwarts over the holidays but actually it's really up to you, Draco. You decide when you want to start."
"What? You mean you haven't told her yet?" Draco said.
"Mister Malfoy, I can only tell you what you need to do, but you have to decide whether or not it is worth your time. Besides, a teacher does not have the right to force a student into tutoring another. It is your job to ask Miss Granger if you intend to improve. You may leave."
Draco grabbed his bag angrily and went out the door, debating whether to ask for her help or not. Still, did he really want to fail this year? He didn't care about staying over the holidays-it was better than being at home with that bastard of a father. Draco stepped into the library and saw no one there except the Mudblood.
Here goes nothing.
A/N: No, I'm not obsessed with grades or anything. I'm not really sure how the grading system is at Hogwarts so I just sort of created one. Hope you enjoyed that chapter and please review. Next chapter will involve the 'question' for help.
Mjade