A/N: For some reason my computer is screwed up and I can't upload stories. Good thing for friends eh? THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH JULI AND CARMEN! A word of thanks for the user pigglywiggly who is a GREAT writer. And Katukoif you like Avatar the Last Airbender.Everyone should know that.
Also, just to let you know that when the portrait is talking, "wash" means "watch"
Chapter 16 – Refusal
It was a week before the winter vacation. The grounds were now covered with white powder, lighting up the grounds. Even the trees of the Forbidden Forest looked peaceful, full of serenity. Hagrid bought the annual tree to the Great Hall and with Professor Flitwit's assistance, the ornaments were placed upon. Mistletoes were placed in entrances of the Common Rooms, including Gryffindor. Hermione had visited Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Quincy. Harry and Ginny had sat on Harry's bed while Ron and Quincy laid on Ron's bed having their backs up against the wall. Hermione was in between the two, crossing her legs and her hands near her lap. Jif was under Ron's bed near Quincy where she was able to pat him.
"It's been a while since you've come here hasn't it?" Ginny replied.
"It has," Hermione replied. "The visits with Samantha are grand,"
"Are you sure she isn't someone who'll work for Voldermort?" Harry asked suspiciously.
"It was Dumbledore who introduced me to her in the first place," Hermione answered.
Hermione stared at the two people who were cuddling.
"What are you staring at?" Ron asked, standing up straighter.
"Nothing," Hermione sputtered. "You guys just look so good together!"
"Who?" Quincy said, she pointed to herself and then Ron. "Us?"
"Both of you,"
"I would rather not talk about this," Harry said, lifting his arm off Ginny's shoulder. "The wizarding world is in danger while I'm here chatting!"
Ginny laughed slightly. "Harry, don't get this way," She punched him in the arm lightly. "You're too overwrought,"
They laughed, having their merriment 'aura' all around the room.
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Draco paced back and forth the Head Boy and Girl room. A portrait parallel to him stared perplexed at his matter.
"Boy!" the man in the portrait shouted.
Draco stopped. "What in the world do you think you're doing?" he demanded, "Pacing youself up and down. It's nauseous to wash you it is!"
"Sorry," he grumbled.
"Sorry you should be!" he said, crossing his arms in pride, "What you waitin' on for?" he asked.
"Dumbledore's response,"
"You know," the portrait whispered, stepping a bit closer if that was possible for a portrait, "I can go in their and ask him I will if you want me to,"
Draco looked up from the floor. "You will?" he eyed the portrait suspiciously.
"Course I will!" the portrait said. "I wasn't put in Ravenclaw for nothing eh?"
"Thanks,"
"And your name boy?"
"Malfoy. Draco Malfoy," he muttered.
"Alright then chap," he said and disappeared.
"That Dumbledore better have some good news," Malfoy muttered to himself.
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The portrait was completely blank and empty for 5 minutes. The portrait came back, huffing and puffing.
"Dumbledore said to go to your office later in the afternoon," he replied.
"What was going on?" Malfoy said.
"Lots' o' people there were," he replied. "McGonagall an' Snape were there, they were," he continued, "And so were Madame Pomfrey and this real pretty lady,"
"Thanks a lot um…" he paused. Just then, Hermione walked in the door.
"Bye now!" he heard her call out. She sighed. "Hello!" she said cheerfully. She set herself down on the couch and stared, smiling from ear to ear.
Draco looked over at the portrait to find it empty again. He looked over back to Hermione and asked, "What are you so chipper about?"
"Just had the best time with the old gang," she replied.
"I'm going out," Draco said.
Hermione straightened herself and asked, "Where are you going?"
"Out," he answered again, "Don't come with me,"
"Fine then," she said carelessly. "I don't need your grumpiness with me. I'll just make banners to hang to free the elves,"
Draco rolled his eyes. "What was it I heard a few years ago?" he asked, "S.P.E.W.?"
"Yes, as a matter of fact,"
"Okay then," he said and left the room.
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The halls were quiet due to sleeping in, eating lunch at the Great Hall or roaming around the grounds, soaking up the sun and the first years were playing with the snow. Draco Malfoy however was sitting under the gargoyle, his knees bent, arms crossed, pondering.
Am I doing the right thing? He asked himself. He shook his head. Of course I am! He replied. This is to protect her.
After moments of impatient waiting, Draco charges up and knocks open the front wooden door. He came in and saw the teachers all standing, preparing to leave.
"Mr. Malfoy!" McGonagall exclaimed, "Why are you here? Charging up Dumbledore's office like it's your own!"
"Um..." Draco started but McGonagall continued.
"You don't consider I suppose for one moment about how this entire will affect you?" she paused and continued. Draco's face was starting to get pink a bit. Professor McGonagall's hand was everywhere from hand motions, the finger pointing at Malfoy and she continues with her loud lecture.
"You think that it's all fun and a game to conceal your feelings but it's an important and serious matter that should not be taken lightly!"
Dumbledore came in between them and said calmly, "Now, Minerva, there's no need to explain to Mr. Malfoy about the consequences of his actions,"
"Right then," Snape said, stepping into the conversation, "We need to," he breathed in and out slowly, pointing a finger to Draco, "Explain to you some ground rules of taking this potion," he held up a small bottle that was glistening. The middle was bright with a sort of silver aura around it. He held it and gave it to Draco carefully as if half – expecting him to drop it suddenly.
"I won't drop it sir," Malfoy said suddenly. Snape gave a slight glare and handed it to him.
"You are aware that you will not be able to vent anger out or weep in sorrow, correct?" Dumbledore asked.
"Yes," Draco replied in a tried voice. Why do they need to ask me all these stupid, pathetic questions? He thought to himself. Don't they think that I have a reason for my madness! He pondered. Maybe that's why.
"Did you hear?" a voice said.
Draco snapped out of his thinking and said, "Huh?"
"Draco Malfoy!" McGonagall cried. "Are you ready to take the potion?" her voice was so stern and sharp Malfoy thought that glass was about to shatter in front of them.
"Oh, yes, of course," he managed to say. "And how long will this last?"
"You will have to say a spell to reverse the potion," Dumbledore answered.
"Why do you need a potion instead of another potion?"
"Because," Snape answered in an annoyed voice, "you might be in a state of forever 'sleep' and won't be able to wake up and take the potion,"
"Oh," was all Draco managed to say.
He didn't take any time to make suspense. He opened the cork of the bottle and gulped it in one swing.
The teachers all looked into his eyes and waited. Draco eyed them and ask, "What's going on?"
"Nothing," they said in unison.
"Can I go now?" he asked.
"Sure," McGonagall said and stepped aside.
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The door closed behind him carefully and he tiptoed to his bedroom where he found Hermione was laying, on the side of the bed. Her arms were under her head and one of her legs was on the floor while the other one was slightly off the green sheets.
Draco sighed, knowing what he had to do. He touched her arm and shook it.
"Hermione!" he shouted.
Her head jerked up. She looked around and smiled. "Hi Malfoy" she said, extending every word she said.
"Hi," he said plainly.
"What's wrong?" she asked. She jumped on the bed and patted the seat for him to sit next to her.
"We're wrong,"
He didn't take the seat.
"What are you taking about?"
"We're wrong," he repeated, more firm this time.
"Are you messing with me again?"
"No," he said faintly, "I think," he paused, and continued, holding him back a bit, "I think that we're wrong for each other," he stepped back a bit.
"Wrong?" she repeated.
He just nodded. I have to. He kept telling himself.
"Wrong huh?" she said, her mouth in a slight smirk of disgust. "Wrong?" she stood up from the bed and walked to the doorway. "If this is some kind of trick, Malfoy, then I'm going to play,"
"What?" he asked confused. "What are you talking about?"
"I said," she repeated, "That I'll play your little game. I know you want me,"
"What?" he asked even more confused.
"I can see it your eyes,"
"I will not accept this," he said defensively.
"Of course not," she said in an apparent tone. "You never accept what you are fated with," she chuckled.
"I'm serious!" he cried.
"Yes, yes," she said, walking away, "you keep telling yourself that,"
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A/N: Well, there you have it. I broke them up. Temperately. Review please! Thanks. I'll try to post chapter 17 as soon as possible.
