A/N: Hey everyone! Yeah, I know this took a while to update. My computer crashed and that was no fun. Well, I was advised by one of my reviewers to get the plot rolling. I think I got a good jump start on this chapter!
Sylvan Tears: Congrats on getting the 'intestine' quote! And thanks for the constructive criticism. I tried to fix things up a bit. Looking better? And how do you like the way I unfolded the story? I hope the Cliché Fairy doesn't come get me anytime soon!
Chapter 4: A Way Out?
Hermione sat in near shock, staring at her fingernails. Hmmm, they seemed ok. Perpetual stress over tests and exams kept them nice and stubby. Yes, Hermione, like many other stressed perfect score students, was a habitual nail biter. She'd never noticed that much before, but now they seemed so interesting...so hypnotizing...
With a jerk, Hermione snapped herself out of her hypnotic spell. What was she doing? Studying her fingernails? There were so many better things to be studying. Fingernail studying was for...well, it wasn't for her.
Hermione sighed as she shifted her weight in the comfortable armchair. She decided to blame the lively buzz in the Gryffindor common room for her hypnotic trance. Didn't these people have homework they could be doing? She needed to think in a quiet little corner. Where would she ever find a quiet little corner?
Not here...
And she couldn't go to the library...those wretched little twins were there. They'd probably do something crazy like command her to do cartwheels down the halls. No, she needed a break from them. She'd meet them tonight.
But she needed to go to the library, she needed books. This curse, this contract, she had to find a way out. What in the world had she been thinking?
Books from the library, then where? With a sigh, Hermione turned to look out the window. The blue sky... the shining sun... the shady trees... hmmm, the shady trees.
First, to the library...then, some peace and quiet outside.
And with that, Hermione leapt out of her chair and out of the portrait hole towards the library.
Sitting outside on the green grass underneath a shady tree on a beautiful spring day...Hermione was almost at peace. She wasn't at peace because she had a splitting migraine and had gone through five of the nine books with no avail. Currently, she was flipping through a dusty old copy of Binding Legal Documents of the 16th Century, trying to find a way to annul a magically binding document. So far, she had searched through the 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, and now 16th century document records and, staring down at the 17th, 18th, 19th century document records she came to a decision that she was not going to find anything.
She finally stood up and gazed hopelessly at the stacks of documents she had picked out. It was of no use. What was she to do? Suddenly overcome with a wave of anger, Hermione threw her wand out at the books in disgust. Within seconds, the books went ablaze in flames. Moments later, the flames subsided to leave behind a pile of ash. Hermione stared in shock.
'Oh my,' thought a very scared Hermione. What had she done? Kneeling in the grass, Hermione searched through the ashes for her wand. Picking it up and trying to hastily clean the soot, Hermione noticed something else in the ashes. Sweeping the ashes away she was surprised to find a fully intact page from one of the books. Curious, she began to read...
...and in the event when someone wishes to withdraw from a legal binding contract they have four options. They may kill any one of the party members involved thus causing the contract to have no purpose and be void. They have the choice of suicide, which also annuls the contract (however, is not recommended). Another possibility is to get a hold of the original contract and reword it to their own choosing. They can also draw up another contract which claims that the previous contract is no longer valid. However, this must be signed by the people who originally drew up the first contract so then…
Reading it over once again, Hermione could not believe her luck. She had found the answer to all her problems. Filled with joy, Hermione got up and started to walk back towards the castle, with visions of Fred and George pleading for mercy.
Hermione just stared at Fred and George in shock. Shock...she'd been experiencing a lot of it lately. There she was, sitting in a quite corner in the Gryffindor common room with Fred and George. They'd just finished explaining their overall plan, and Hermione did not like her involvement in it one bit.
Taking a deep breath, Hermione said, "Ok, could you explain that to me one more time. Just my part."
"Ok," said Fred with deliberate slowness, "Here it is. We wanted to completely change your appearance for this. But then we decided that turning you into some heavenly goddess model would attract too much unwanted attention. So we decided that if you looked similar to who you are now it might work out better. Because then when you're revealed Malfoy will see the similarities to who you were and who you are and that will make it even worse for him...because he had a way to figure it all out and he was just too stupid to see it."
Hermione nodded, "Then what. I mean, how are you going to change my appearance?"
George took out a vial filled with an odd murky substance. "With this, we used some properties of a Polyjuice Potion and a heart's desire charm. Basically, when you drink it, it changes your appearance to what you want it to be."
Hermione just started at the vial in horror. "You can't fool around with potions and charms like that! It needs to be properly tested. I refuse to touch it."
George shrugged, "No problem there. We can command you to do whatever."
"You wouldn't!"
"Wouldn't we?"
Hermione fumed. She decided that as soon as she had moment free she was going to write up that counter contract...and perhaps add an obedience charm of her own.
"Don't worry Hermione. We'll test it on someone before you take it." Fred said, trying to calm the angry witch.
"Well, that's a relief," said Hermione. Then a question crossed her mind.
"But wait a moment. Who would you test this on? Who would ever risk themselves on some potion created by two underage wizards?"
George grinned, "Well, he doesn't know that he's volunteered to test it out. We're going to give him some tomorrow morning before he wakes up."
Aghast, Hermione couldn't believe her ears. She leapt up and glared at the two.
"You can't do this! There are laws against illegal human testing! This is going too far!" And with that, Hermione headed for the portrait hole, prepared to go to Dumbledore's office.
However, she was barely a few feet away when she heard a voice behind her.
"Stop," said Fred. She couldn't move, her feet were stuck to the ground.
"Come back now." Clenching her jaw, Hermione stomped back to where Fred and George were, glaring down at them.
"Sit," said George, watching in glee and Hermione tried to resist and, of course, failed. She sat back down and mentally cursed them both. Yes, she would make sure to add a very potent obedience charm in her counter contract.
"Just calm down and relax. And don't even think about telling anyone about the human testing." She sighed and rubbed her temples, willing the ache in her head to go away. Now she definitely couldn't tell anyone. Curse this cursed obedience charm. Where were the loopholes when you needed them?
Taking in a deep breath, Hermione decided it was about time that she got this over with.
"Ok, Fred, George, after I take this," she said, indicating the vial with a slight shudder, "What are you going to have me do?"
"That," said Fred "is up to you. How are we to know how a woman snares a man? This is your territory. We are just going to leave you with this vial and your wand. I'm sure you'll think of something."
What were they on about? How was she to know how a woman snared a man? This was ridiculous! Wasn't she supposed to get some sort of script to memorize? Or at least some guidelines!
Disoriented, she watched in silence as George handed her the vial. She saw that Fred was saying something to her, something important perhaps. She didn't know, she couldn't hear him, she couldn't hear anything. The room started to blur about her.
Fred grabbed her shoulders and started violently shaking her. George took the vial from her. Fred's lips were moving...but what was he saying?
George took out his wand and muttered something under his breath. A jet of cold water shot out from his wand, straight at Hermione.
"Hermione, can you hear me?" Hermione sputtered as the cold water hit her face.
"Are you there? Damn it George, we've lost her. Now we're going to have her ghost to deal with!"
"No, I'm fine now," Hermione said, pushing Fred back, "I was just shocked for a bit, that's all."
Fred and George looked relieved.
"Good, now listen. This is something we think might help you out. The Slytherin password is parselmouth," Fred said as George handed her the vial again. "And don't forget to take the potion right after your last class. We'll give you more of it after dinner. It should last you about four hours. Ok?"
Hermione nodded, getting up carefully.
"Will you be able to make it to your room?" asked George, concerned.
"I'm fine. Of course I will," said Hermione.
"Ok then, see you at breakfast," said George as he and Fred headed up the staircase that lead to the boy's dormitory.
Walking up the staircase that led to the girl's dormitory, Hermione quietly entered her room. As she lay in her bed she started to think. How was she supposed to do this? She knew nothing...nothing at all. Boys weren't worth getting worked over. Not yet anyways, she had more important things to think about at this time of her life. She needed someone's help. But who...? Drifting off into a restless sleep, the question remained unanswered.
Waking up to the sound of shrill giggling, Hermione Granger was not amused. Sitting up in bed she rubbed her eyes. What time was it anyways?
Pulling away the curtains, she saw Parvati and Lavender reading a magazine article with girlish fascination.
"Why are you two up so early? Something important?" Hermione asked, getting up out of bed to change into her robes. Maybe if she got lucky she would be able to write up the counter contract before breakfast.
"This article has all the beauty spells a woman would ever need! To make your hair longer, to have perfect skin, for great nails...everything!" said Parvati dreamily as she clutched the magazine.
"And it says right here that the next issue of Witch Weekly will have over a hundred tips on how to snare a man!" Lavender said with a squeal.
They both began to giggle. Hermione rolled her eyes. Some people just needed to pick up a good book. Most magazines were a waste of good time. But the title of the magazine article echoed in her mind… 'snare a man', now where had she heard that before? Ignoring her confusion, Hermione got out of bed and rubbed her sleepy eyes as she got dressed.
"Well then, I'll leave you two to it," Hermione said, grabbing her school bag and the vial next to her bed she ran out the door and down the stairs. She looked at the vial once more and prayed that she would be able to finish the counter contract soon.
Sitting down in the common room, Hermione pulled out a quill and a piece of parchment and got to work.
Half an hour later, Hermione sat with a complete contract in her hands. She re-read it once more. It annulled the last contract and put Fred and George under an obedience charm. She knew it was wrong of her to add the charm. But at the moment she didn't care.
Now how was she going to get them to sign it? Thinking for a moment, Hermione was struck with an idea. She cloaked the words on the document in an illusion and set another illusion of a false contract. The contract now read;
We, Fred and George Weasley, solemnly swear that we will never ransom Hermione Granger's Potions Essay again.
It was a justifiable reason for a contract. Well, to Hermione it was.
Quickly rolling up the contract, Hermione stuck it into her bag and decided to head off for an early breakfast.
Just then, Hermione heard a voice behind her.
"Wait up Hermione!"
"Sure Neville," said Hermione turning around. The sight she faced left her in shock.
"Off to breakfast?" he asked.
She nodded dumbly as they walked out of the portrait hole. As they walked towards the Great Hall, Hermione tried to snap out of her stupor. Glancing once more at Neville beside her, she tried to recollect her thoughts. He was taller, more robust, and...just about everything seemed different.
He caught her staring at him and gave her a quizzical look.
"What...what...how...?" Hermione was at a loss for words.
Neville gave a shrug. "I really have no clue," he said truthfully, "I think it's some strange after effect of the charms that backfired on me in class." he said with a sheepish grin.
He walked and talked with confidence. His new looks perhaps? New looks...wait a moment, she knew what had happened! Fred and George's potion! Wow...Neville sure had an interesting opinion of how he wanted to look like.
Walking into the Great Hall, Neville moved aside to let her in first, giving her a smile that made her heart beat faster.
Wait a moment...what was happening to her? How could she be attracted to Neville of all people? Mentally berating herself, Hermione gave Neville a quick smile back as she headed towards the Gryffindor table. Spotting Fred and George at the table, Hermione nearly jumped with joy
Seating herself down with them she fished through her bag until she found the contract.
"Fred, George, I want you two to sign this," Hermione said simply, handing Fred a quill and pointing to the bottom. 'Oh please let it work,' she thought, biting her lower lip. Fred read it and gave a shrug, ready to sign his name on the bottom.
"Wait," said George, "let me see that." Hermione sighed. She knew it was too easy to be true.
George squinted at the document, turning it this way and that. Taking out his wand he muttered a spell and tapped the parchment. There appeared the real conditions of the contract. George was smug as he handed it back to Fred. Fred read and shook his head, passing it back to Hermione.
"Nice try Hermione," said George, "but how do you think we were able to hide the fine print in your contract?"
Hermione was getting desperate. She had to take the potion today. What was she to do?
"Please, you can't seriously have me do this. I mean, it's Malfoy! Pick anyone else, they'll pull this off better then I can!"
Fred nodded solemnly, "You're right Hermione, this is inhumane of us. We shouldn't make you do this."
"What?" Hermione was caught off guard.
Fred burst out laughing. Confused, Hermione waited with annoyed patience as Fred calmed down, wiping the tears from his eyes.
"Now that was funny. Wish I could have caught that expression on camera," Fred said as he took a deep breath.
"Hermione, you've made a commitment, you've signed a contract. You can't back out now," George said in a mock serious tone.
Hermione looked with desperation at both Fred and George. "But I can't do this, I don't know how to do this, I don't want to do this...and I am getting nothing out of this!"
George thought for moment, thinking about what Hermione had said. "Well, I know one solution to all this. I command you to do this, and I command you to seek help so you are able to do this, I command you to stop finding loopholes to get out of this, and I command you not to protest."
"But that's not..." Hermione stopped her protest in mid sentence as her mouth automatically clamped shut. Hermione was mute for the next few moments as she tried to battle the spell and regain her free will.
Giving up, she just sat there, limp in her chair. She looked up first at George then Fred, pleading with her eyes to pity her.
"Well," said Fred, feeling a twinge of guilt, "I think we should be fair. Hermione should get something out of this."
"Hmmm," George thought, "I know! We'll help you out on your house-elf campaign. Spread the word about SPEW and maybe shine some light on the situation."
Hermione listened to Fred as a vision began to form in her mind. Hermione's eyes shined with the prospect of finally being able to continue on with her campaign!
"Yes! I'll do it!" said Hermione, finding her voice. "But you both have to promise to help me out. Agreed?"
"We promise," they said in chorus. Hermione was thrilled.
"Promise what?" Hermione was jerked out of her vision of house-elf rights as Harry and Ron sat down with them.
Ron looked at first George, then Fred, then Hermione in mounting suspicion. "What's going on here? What secrets have you all been keeping? This has to do with that damn contract, doesn't it?" Ron started to turn red with rage as he glared at Fred and George.
"You both should get lost. Go make someone else do your dirty work. Leave Hermione out of this."
Rolling their eyes, Fred and George got up off the table. "Meet you after school," George called back to Hermione as they left the table and walked out of the Great Hall.
"Explain," Ron commanded, his eyes drilling into hers. Her eyes grew big as she forced herself not to speak. If Ron knew he would kill Fred and George. What would happen to her precious SPEW? But before her little self control could give away Harry came to her rescue.
"Hermione, you don't have to tell us anything," he said, shoving a plate of pancakes in front of Ron. Ron seemed to forget everything else as he dug into the plate with relish. Hermione sighed with relief. That was close.
"Thanks Harry, I just need to sort things out on my own for a bit," she said, flashing him a grin as she started to gather up all her things.
"No problem, just call on us when you need us," Harry said as he started on his own breakfast.
Right then, just on time, the swarm of owls flew into the Great Hall, littering the Hall with letters and parcels. Dropping the day's edition of the Daily Prophet, a barn owl landed next to Hermione expectantly. Automatically paying it, she watched in astonishment as a school owl landed next to Ron and...glared at him?
Yes, the owl was glaring at him. Ron had received a letter and seemed to have ignored the poor owl. Miffed, it gave Ron a sharp peck as it flew away.
"Ouch!" Ron said, rubbing his hand. "I don't know what is wrong with all those bloody school owls but they seem to have something against me!"
Hermione giggled. Word must spread in the Owlery.
Tucking the Daily Prophet in her bag, Hermione got up and headed out of the Great Hall. "See you two in class," she called back and, as she did, she accidentally bumped into someone.
It was none other then Lavender with Parvati, pouring over the newest issue of Witch Weekly
"Sorry," she said hastily, ready to walk away. Then she realized that this may be her chance. Turning around, she took a deep breath.
"Lavender? Parvati? Can I ask you two a favor?"
They looked up from the magazine, "What is it Hermione," asked Parvati.
"Can you...well...I need some help," Hermione said, looking around to make sure no one was in earshot. Taking in a deep breath, she decided a little white lie at the moment would serve her better then the truth.
"I like someone. Will you help me?"
Lavender and Parvati squealed in reply and engulfed Hermione in a big hug.
"Hermione, this is great!" said Lavender, "we can teach you how to be a girl!"
Hermione decided not to take that too personally.
"Wait...who is it?" asked Parvati in anticipation.
Hermione now felt a bit uncomfortable, "I promise to tell you both later," she said quickly, "can I meet with you two at lunch?"
Parvati and Lavender nodded their heads vigorously. Hermione left them to their excited whispers. All she heard before she left them was something about a complete makeover. Hermione shuddered at the thought. She might have to clear up some misconceptions with them. In no way would she go through a 'complete makeover'.
A/N: Well, here is chapter four! Review and tell me what you all think! I love reviews!
I want to thank all of my reviewers! Mystical maniac, Horny-Cotter, Chrisoriented, Wings-of-Fantasy, Quill of the Lark, Sacagawea, XxGuMmYbEaRxX, Tacky Socks, LilChocolateAngl, loveiscrazy-bebe, Meirarien, winterspirit, and Sylvan Tears. Double thanks to those who reviewed more then once!