Disclaimer: I don't own any of the HP characters. Damn!!!!
Author's Note: Thanks for all the reviews people. I'm sorry I took a really long time. I really am!!! I've had exams, homework e.t.c. Don't shoot me!!! Anyway here is the next chapter. Hope you enjoy it!!!!
Chapter 3
Hermione's P.O.V
I had no idea what happened. I mean first of all I blacked out and then suddenly wake up as a ghost and Professor Dumbledore is standing, staring right in front of me and so is that mirror I touched...
"What happened to me?" I asked, scared. I tried not to look at the mirror because I hated my reflection. White, see through, misty...all ghost like really.
"I'm sure you do know that happened before you blacked out don't you, Miss. Granger?" asked Dumbledore
I suddenly felt angry. That ferret had done this to me. How dare he. "Oh yeah I know" I murmured angrily "That slimy git-"
"Mr. Malfoy" interrupted Professor Dumbledore
"Yeah him. He made me touch that mirror" I replied angrily, pointing at the mirror. I'm going to make him pay for what he has done to me. That slimy git!!!!
"Yes I know, Miss. Granger. Mr. Malfoy has informed me about everything"
"Really? Well at least he did something sensible" I said
I expected Professor Dumbledore to at least agree with me but all he did was chuckle, which kind of annoyed me. But then...I couldn't blame him and really...I couldn't blame Malfoy for everything either. Because I was stupid enough to go and actually touch the mirror when I could have just ignored the idiot and left the scene. How stupid can I be???
"Who brought me here?" I asked, wondering who actually did.
"Mr. Malfoy himself" he replied, after he had finished his chuckling. Malfoy?? Brought me here??? That's just not right!!! But then maybe he did. He probably dragged me along the floor. Well it could be possible. But I didn't bother to ask Dumbledore how.
"So how did I end up like this?" I muttered. I wanted to know everything that had happened and that was going to happen. Everything!!!!
"As you know Mrs. Granger, you touched the mirror of 'Happily ever after'-"
"Is that the name of the mirror? How romantic" I mean it really was...just like the fairy tales.
"Yes, Miss. Granger" replied Dumbledore smiling. "It is. But as I was saying before, because you touched the mirror you should be asleep"
"So this prince charming thing is true?"
"I'm afraid so" he replied calmly. So it was true. What was I going to do? Who was going to be my prince charming? What if he never came? All these questions were running through my head, making me sick.
"Continue" I said wanting to know about this prince charming thing. Lately Dumbledore, some how didn't seem that important. I mean I do respect him. I'm still Hermione Granger. I haven't changed one bit. Okay maybe I have...but still. I think seeing him everyday...some how just made him seem normal.
"But" he continued "You have the choice of sleeping here till your prince kisses or you could also be a ghost till he kisses you. It's your choice"
Sleep or be a ghost? That wasn't much of a choice. If I slept I wouldn't have to look at myself everyday...but if I was ghost I wouldn't have to miss all the school work we'd have to do. I mean, I didn't want to fail this year. This is my last and Hermione Granger never fails!!!
"But why?" I asked distressed.
But before Dumbledore could answer the mirror turned red this time and suddenly this girl...more like a lady appeared in the mirror and to tell you the truth I have never seen anyone look better than her. Beautiful complexion, black silky straight hair, wonderful figure. I could go on about her looks but something about her just didn't make me feel good. She seemed...Slytherin like. You know, arrogant and...something else I can't put my finger on.
"Because those are the rules of the mirror of 'Happily-ever-after'" she replied not very nicely, I could tell you that.
"You mean this mirror has rules?" I asked surprised. Didn't know a mirror had rules.
"Yes" she replied irritated. "You didn't think you could just have your prince kiss you and then that's the end of story did you?"
"Um...I did" I said, wondering what she was talking about.
"Kids!!!" she said sighing. What did she mean when she said kids? I am 17 you know but I decided not to say that. After all, a Granger has to remember that word, manners. It's a big thing in our family. "There's always a bad part in everything you do" she continued smirking. So like a Slytherin!!!
"So what's the bad part in this scenario?" I asked, my voice slightly trembling.
"Oh...you have a time limit" she replied trying to look bored. God!!! A time limit??? What could that mean?? Seeing my face she continued smiling "You prince has to kiss you within your time limit and if he doesn't well...you'll be the next keeper of the mirror 'Happily-ever-after"
"What do you mean?" I asked frustrated. Keeper of this mirror??? I just don't get it!!!
"What she means is-" started Dumbledore, trying to calm me down.
But...before he could say or do anything the girl herself interrupted by saying "Do you mind if I tell her everything?"
"Certainly Villainia" he said calmly "I was just-"
"You don't need to do anything" she interrupted again but this time angrily.
"I understand" he replied. God, I never knew anyone who is as calm as Dumbledore. As they say, he's as calm as a cucumber. Never have I seen him angry.
"This is how it goes" started Villainia (what a name) "I'll give you a rose. Have you seen Beauty and the Beast?"
"Um...no. But I have read the book" I replied
"Whatever" she muttered irritated "Well you know the story any how. You do know about the rose the witch gave the beast blah blah?"
"Yeah"
"Well you'll get one too and if your prince charming doesn't kiss you before the last petal falls...well too bad for you"
I gasped, horrified. But she continued smiling her face off "So... if he doesn't you'll be the keeper of this mirror which is what I am right now. And you'll be in here (the mirror) till somebody 'who isn't kissed before the last petal of their rose falls', arrives. It's a long wait. Normally all the princes do arrive in time but some unlucky girls...well they never know who their princes are and they end up as the keeper. You'll just have to hope you are not one of them"
I gasped for the second time and this time really loudly. What have I gotten myself into? What if I became the next keeper. Stop thinking about the bad stuff I told myself firmly. But just then something else came into my mind "So you never knew who your prince charming was?" I asked
Suddenly her face turned all gloomy, it almost made me feel sorry for her. I mean it must feel bad, not knowing who your prince was.
"Yes" she replied but quickly asked, returning to her normal self "So do you want to be a ghost or sleep?"
"Ghost" I said glumly. It's not like I really had a choice.
"Your choice" she replied and she brought her hands outside the mirror, which was really freaky and handed me, my the rose which had been kept in a glass container just like in 'Beauty and the Beast'. It was a beautiful flower but everything depended on this.
"There you are" she said smiling "Wish you luck (sure!!) and good day to you Dumbledore"
"Same to you" he replied and with that Villainia disappeared.
"What are we going to do?" I asked sadly keeping the rose on the table.
"I'll have to have all the boys in 7th year kiss you, Miss. Granger"
"All the boys?" I asked surprised "Like Goyle, Crabbe and Malfoy?"
"Yes" he replied smiling
"NO!!!" I wailed "Professor, I'm sure we could do something else. Anything-"
But before I could finish, he interrupted "There is no other way. This or nothing. I tried to do this for Villainia but it didn't end quite well"
Great!!! How can this happen to me??? What did I do wrong???
"So how are they going to kiss me since I'm a ghost" I asked staring at the rose.
"Oh you don't have to worry about that. Nothing goes through you like it does for a ghost. You are just like a human except for looking ghost-like. Meaning you'll touch, feel e.t.c."
"Nice to know" I replied tears forming in my eyes.
"Don't worry Miss. Granger" said Dumbledore, his eyes twinkling "We will get through this"
Trying to smile, I said "I know"
"Good" replied Dumbledore "Now let's go have dinner and I'll have the a school informed about you. I'm sure they wouldn't like seeing the ghost you walking along corridors and going for classes"
I had to laugh for that one "Yep, I'm sure they won't"
"So let's go" he said walking towards the door.
"Professor" I said "By chance, you don't who Villainia's prince charming was did you?"
"Actually I do"
"You wouldn't-"
"I don't think Villainia would approve of it Miss. Granger" he replied smiling
"I guess she wouldn't" I said a bit disappointed. And with that we left his office. Actually I floated out of the office *sigh*
Author's Note: There I finished. Hope you'll like it and please review. Thank you for all your reviews. And as I always say: the next chapter will come out...sooner or later. So please don't stop reading if I don't update quickly because I will. hehe