A/N: VSATGPFAN88, this one is for you. :)
Chapter 6: All's Fair in Revenge and War
Her irritation grew the longer she waited. So far her attempts at intercepting Draco Malfoy had been unsuccessful. Apparently the sneaky little rat had mastered the way of avoiding her overnight, only letting Hermione catch short glimpses of him before either disappearing into a throng of students or into what Hermione assumed were hidden passages that weren't documented in the Marauders' Map.
Hermione cursed and berated herself for even letting him get away with all of this instead of just choosing the easy way out and informing a teacher. It wasn't like Malfoy appreciated her generosity anyway. Not to mention that he was completely wasting her time!
All the interesting things she could be doing, had she not to search for him!
However, judging by the sound of approaching footsteps and the sickeningly sweet voice of Draco Malfoy, the long manhunt was finally over. Hermione pushed herself off the wall and walked towards him. She couldn't resist a snort at the sight of him striding down the corridor liked he owned the place whilst flanked by his new bestie Michael Corner and the ever loyal Gregory Goyle.
Malfoy stopped dead in his tracks for a second when he saw her before quickly straightening up to make himself look taller and acting completely undeterred by her presence. Hermione guessed that this was exactly how she always looked like when getting into an argument and wanting to appear more intimidating. Malfoy hadn't quite perfected this look just yet (and for a moment Hermione wondered if she had managed to).
"Hello Malfoy. I'd like to have a word," she announced whilst trying to hide a victorious grin for finally cornering him.
"Granger, I'm busy," Draco answered with an undertone of annoyance and unease (Hermione noted this with delight) in his voice.
"No, not too busy for this," she told him firmly, causing Goyle and Corner to raise questioning brows at their friend, but Draco only waved them off and told them to head off without him and that he would catch up with them later. When they were out of sight, Draco crossed his arms over his chest defensively.
"Anyone ever told you how much of a pest you are?"
"Ditto, Malfoy. I'd rather associate as little as possible with you, but we both know that we have something to settle first. We are here so I can kick your arse."
At these words, Malfoy's hand shot to his wand, ready to duel Hermione if necessary. However, Hermione made no move to attack him.
"Whilst that would be something you deserve, I have - much to your luck - changed my mind and decided to let you off if you'd just hand over that note and take a little oath. I'm sure this is preferable to the involvement of teachers."
"Why Granger, if I didn't know any better, I'd say you're afraid of getting busted by the teachers yourself. You know, since you helped me getting a book that was clearly containing Dark Arts. This would look very bad on your student's record," Draco countered. Hermione gritted her teeth.
"Indeed Malfoy. This is why I came up with this plan; although I doubt that it would damage me very much. This is more about avoiding an uncomfortable situation or worse, the guilt of letting you do illegal and dangerous stuff to your mother."
"Do you really think that I'd harm my own mother?"
"Malfoy, you're the Devil's Spawn - of course I do," Hermione answered calmly whilst Draco gave her the finger. Hermione couldn't resist returning the gesture.
"Have you even read the whole thing?"
Actually she hadn't, but skimming over it had, in her opinion, told her enough. Malfoy realised this and pointed an accusing finger at her.
"You didn't!"
"It doesn't matter, Malfoy - because what you're planning is still illegal. How could you? To your pregnant mother no less?"
"Actually, I might have lied about that bit," he admitted reluctantly.
"Lied about what bit?" Hermione pressed, taking a step forward.
"About her being pregnant."
"So, if it's not your mother who is pregnant, then who is?" Hermione asked in exasperation, throwing her hands up in the air before dropping them and then eyeing Draco in horror, "Malfoy, I knew it: YOU are pregnant! … But let me ask you here: Why would you curse yourself? I know it mustn't be all that great to have Goyle's kid, but…"
A red light flashed by Hermione's head. Draco had his wand drawn at her and had only missed her by an inch. Had Hermione still kept her old hairdo, the hair would have been badly singed.
"Malfoy!" Hermione yelled in outrage. How dare he try to hex her? Hermione drew out her own wand whilst Draco still hadn't lowered his.
"Granger, no one is pregnant! But my mother might as well be. If you'd actually read the damned chapter of the book, then you'd have known that the curse only works if put on a person before the pregnancy."
"Well, you can't really fault me for assuming things with you talking about pregnancies the whole time. Goyle's been spending a whole lot of time with you and I have seen him eyeing you up on a few occasions," she explained defensively whilst Draco looked deeply disturbed by this news. Hermione was sure that Draco now reconsidered spending so much time with his long-time friend.
"And it doesn't help that you lie," she added. Draco shrugged.
"Can't help it that you're naïve."
Hermione took a deep breath in order to calm herself down and not lunge at him.
"Okay Malfoy, how about you tell me the truth this time?" she asked as she lowered her wand and patted her hair. "Tell me what I'm missing."
Draco pursed his lips as he considered her request. He eventually decided to answer.
"I was looking up the Exsecratio Filiae - the Curse of the Daughter - to curse my parents with a girl. If you had invested a little of your time in something useful like Latin, or if you had bothered to read the chapter, then you would have known that.
"The Curse of the Daughter was actually a very popular curse amongst warring clans until it was declared illegal about two hundred years ago. The curse was used to prevent people you considered your enemies from continuing their legacy, their family line, by preventing the birth of a male descendant. It's a complicated curse, but if performed correctly, has a success rate of seventy per cent. I was actually planning on combining it with the Gemini Curse, so they'd not only have a girl, but a set of twin girls. Happy now, Granger?" Draco asked sarcastically.
"And you tell me that you're not the Devil's Spawn?" Hermione commented flatly.
"All's fair in revenge and war. My parents need to be punished. And my punishment for them is no sleep for next few years and the constant worries that come along with being a parent to girls. No real harm, but still a punishment for their betrayal."
If Hermione wasn't entirely mistaken, Draco actually looked proud of the idea he had managed to come up with. She shook her head.
"Malfoy, there will be neither revenge nor war, because I will make you take a binding oath that will prevent you from doing so."
Draco snorted. "Forget it, I won't take any oaths. You'll just have to take my word," Draco dismissed and walked around her to head after his friends. Hermione's hand shot out to stop him.
"You're not going anywhere."
Draco obviously disagreed and tried to shrug her off, but Hermione's hand only clutched his wrist tighter.
"Granger," he said warningly.
"Malfoy," she replied in the same manner and then everything happened very fast. Malfoy swung his leg back to get a full kick in her family jewels, but Hermione was already prepared for that and caught his leg mid-kick. Because if anything, Hermione Granger was a quick learner. No more defeat by groin kicks!
"Hah!" she cried out triumphantly and then added to provoke him, "That was weak, Malfoy."
But Malfoy didn't bother answering as he was too occupied in keeping his balance since standing on one leg only. He wasn't very successful though and when all failed, he did what he had to do…
Awkward seconds ticked by until Hermione, who stood stock still from shock, eventually said something.
"Malfoy, would you mind unwrapping your legs from around me? Because you clinging onto me like a horny little koala would look very, very bad if someone walked by."
Draco glared up at Hermione. "Granger, if you hadn't grabbed my leg then I wouldn't have to resort to this. I lost my balance!" he hissed as he unwrapped his legs from Hermione's waist and slowly slipped down.
"Well, I had to grab your leg because you wanted to kick me! You didn't have to jump me like a horny little koala either. It's not appreciated."
"Stop calling me that! You wouldn't let go and I didn't want to fall!"
"Just because you wouldn't take the oath! Seriously Malfoy… You, ugh, can we just please do as I suggested? Or do you want any more awkward encounters like this?"
Draco huffed and reluctantly held out his arm to her for the oath. Hermione rolled her eyes and drew out her wand.
Yes, Draco Malfoy was not a difficult person at all.
Another day, another therapy session. Hermione discovered that she didn't mind them anymore. Sometimes she even looked forward to them and today, Hermione apparently wasn't the only one. Malfoy seemed to enjoy himself during therapy immensely - albeit for a very, very different reason.
Since the beginning of today's session, Malfoy's eyes had continuously darted over to Ron to smirk at and laugh "covertly" about him. (Although the laughing actually sounded very much like giggles to Hermione's ears.) And Ron, well, he looked ready to explode after letting Malfoy provoke him for far too long.
"Draco, I'm pleased to note you're in a good mood today, but this behaviour is kind of distracting," Mr. Harris remarked.
"I'm sorry Mr. Harris," Draco apologized whilst trying his best to stifle the laughter. "I'll pull myself together - promise."
"Thank you," Mr. Harris said gratefully and continued the session - that is until interrupted by Draco, who couldn't keep his promise, again.
"Malfoy, the ice you're walking on is very, very thin," Ron said warningly, balling his hands to fists. Hermione had to say that she totally understood him. Their therapist, however, did not.
"Guys, what is this all about?" he demanded, his eyes flitting between Ron and Draco.
"It's nothing," Ron answered huffily whilst Draco said nothing, but giggled again.
"Seriously, it's not even that funny. What are you - nine?" Hermione reprimanded Draco as the whole thing was starting to get on her nerves as well.
"But…," he giggled again, "… that's where you're wrong, Granger. So wrong. Besides, what kind of nine-year-old would get this? Did you at that age?"
Hermione decided not to acknowledge him with an answer. He was so immature!
"Hermione, can you tell us what this is all about?" Mr. Harris asked, looking at her as if she was his last resort in finding out what was going on.
"Um, I'm not sure I should get into this," Hermione answered warily as she cast a look at Ron. He looked really angry and this anger would only be extended to her if she talked. In his eyes this would be a huge betrayal.
"Well, these two are obviously not going to talk, so help us out."
"It's juvenile, really," Hermione tried to talk her way out of this.
"Please," Mr. Harris stressed the word with such insistence that let Hermione know that this was not a request. Hermione took a deep breath and trained her eyes on her hands, avoiding all eye contact with Ron.
"They had an argument earlier today where they called each other stupid names. Ron saw Malfoy petting my cat Crookshanks and made a jab at him about it. Told him how he never would have thought that Malfoy was a cat person, but-", the explanation was interrupted by a giggle. Hermione quickly caught her mistake and shook her head at Draco, letting him know how very childish she thought he was being.
"However, Ron thought that he had to tell Malfoy that he always thought of him as a ferret person, not a cat person." Snorts and cackles echoed the room after Hermione's explanation whilst the therapist looked plain confused. Hermione decided to elaborate.
"Well, you see in our 4th year, there was this incident where Malfoy had an argument with my friend Harry. Harry didn't want to let the likes of Malfoy bother him so he left. When Harry had his back turned to Malfoy, Malfoy here very cowardly tried to attack Harry, however, was stopped by a professor who transfigured Malfoy into a ferret as disciplinary action. This professor actually later turned out to be a Death Eater, however, that's beside the point.
"So obviously, Ron's jab didn't sit well with Malfoy, which in turn made Malfoy tell Ron that he thought that if Harry and Ron ever were to enter a gay relationship with each other, then Ron would be… the butt."
Muffled laughter.
"I think you get the gist as to why he," Hermione pointed at Draco, "in the presence of Ron, always giggles whenever the word…," Hermione paused, "but(t) is said."
"My comeback was so much better, wasn't it?" Draco couldn't resist asking whilst clutching his stomach. Judging by their roaring laughter, most of his peers seemed to agree with him.
"Although, as of current state Weasley wouldn't even have to be the butt. He'd still be Potter's bitch, though," Michael mock-whispered to Draco, who had a hard time sitting up from laughing so hard.
During all of this, nobody cared to watch for Ron, so when a blur of fury lunged at Draco and Michael, it was already too late and a huge cat fight broke out - a fight that landed them all in detention for the lack of camaraderie.
What a day.
A/N: Sorry everyone for the long wait. I had a bit of a motivation problem.
