Greetings, people! I really appreciate all those reviews…it's what keeps a fanfiction writer alive…ahihihi. Liriel23, I believe you're right about the pillow, therefore, I'm going to change the profile of the pillow from pink and lacy into red and satin, as that was more Hermione –ish. Thank you very much for that suggestion! For 'a little thing', I don't know if I'm really 87….maybe I'm 94.
Note: this isn't the original chapter I've uploaded...I've already edited this one.
Anyway, hello there, Mr. Seiji Kawazu! Please continue on with your career and write more! Don't be discouraged, that's a sin! See? I'm even promoting your work! Haha…
So…you can start reading on…this is quite longer than the previous ones…
CHAPTER 4
CHALLENGE
Draco shielded his face with his arms, palms outward. He was blinded by the light that was coming from the window covered by slightly drawn green curtains. His eyes popped open. He glanced at the wizard clock beside his bed. It has only one hand with his face on it, almost pointing on "Breakfast time in Great Hall". He rubbed his eyes for a while and looked around the dormitory – the "special" dormitory. Yeah, his father made sure he gets the best facilities as possible. There are three windows facing the door, the other two allowing sunlight to fully enter the room but the window facing his bed was still covered by the thick curtains that bore the Slytherin motif - snakes embroidered on the corners.
He seemed to have noticed that and so he sneered. Ha, he gets that all the time.
Nobody dares to wake Draco Malfoy when he's busy sleeping – or else you'll never be allowed to sleep the following night. That's not about to change…
Unless he changes his mind.
Yep. That's Draco Malfoy. Everything in his territory moves according to his wishes.
He knew he will be late for breakfast but he doesn't give a damn. If he wants to eat two hours after call time, he will eat. His minions always make sure he had something to eat – and not only something. It must be the best food they could save for him – even if it means they have to starve for it.
Yep. That's Draco Malfoy. Everything in his territory moves according to his wishes.
He stood up and clasped his wand lying beside the wizard clock. Casually flicking it, the curtains on the window in front of his bed drew themselves. Finally adjusting to the light, the mess on his bed greeted his eyes. Sweet wrappers, letter envelopes and other rubbish are all over the blankets.
Again, Draco Malfoy doesn't give a damn. Sooner or later, someone will clean up his bed for him.
However, something caught his eyes. Something lying against the head board…it was very conspicuous amidst the green pillows near it.
Draco lifted the "foreign object" and scrutinized it. It was red and satin with flowers all over it. He looked at it intently to see if there's something familiar on it…and…and…
NOW WHY THE HECK IS HIS NAME SEWED ON THIS DISGUSTING ENTITY?
He stared on the needlework on the corner of the pillow. It's very eye-catching… but not striking if you didn't turn the pillow cover inside-out, which is what he did. The embroidery was done not on the front… oh yeah… maybe it was done on purpose to keep it hidden…
It was unmistakable. 'Draco' was beautifully sewed with gold thread on the satin cover… it couldn't be from his mother… otherwise his name wouldn't be hidden… and besides, this entity got nothing of his taste – nothing at all. Red and satin? He doesn't like red in the first place… and the design was revolting! Flowers? ewww….he's a guy, for heaven's sake…
Despite of that, Draco couldn't bear to dispose of the pillow. He doesn't know why…it's puzzling… why does he feel some sort of unexplainable connection with that repulsive thing?... no matter how he despised the flowery design and the red color… he, for some mystifying reason, doesn't want to throw it away… to burn it like the other things that get on his nerves…
Out of the blue, Hermione's face flashed in his mind.
What in the…? Why in Merlin's beard did he suddenly think of…of…Herm – no. It's Granger. Call her by her surname. You kind of have some respect for her if you are in a first name basis with her, Draco. He shook his head to drive "Hermione's face" away and decided to hide the pillow in his trunk. Sheesh… what will people think if they saw him holding such sickening thingamajigger? Hell, that was nightmare…
After casting a spell on his trunk, he went to the shower room inside the dormitory.
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"Really, Hermione, you don't look fine today."
"Just didn't have enough sleep last night, that's all.", Hermione answered, her face still buried on Intermediate Arithmancy.
Ron stared at her, bewildered. Yeah, he has a point. The girl had obvious dark circles under her eyes and her bushy, auburn hair stuck out in weird angles.
"Like you're not used to it. You know, 'the exams are just around the corner so we need to work much harder than ever' ", Harry snorted after imitating Hermione's preaching voice. until our eyeballs pop out and we vomit blood."
"Yeah, whatever, Harry."
"No, Harry. You're wrong.", Ron said seriously.
Harry turned to him with a puzzled look in his face. Ron had never passed the chance to tease her whenever he starts it…Hermione looked up from the book and gave Ron a look of approval.
The red head sneered. "No, Harry. ", He put out an exaggerated imitation of Hermione's worried face. 'We need to work much harder than ever until we turn into books.'"
Harry and Ron started laughing like hyenas. Hermione scowled.
"Great, Ron. Very mature."
Harry wiped the forming tears in his eyes because of too much laughing. He was about to stop but Ron blurted out again, "Can I read your pages, Hermione?" which sent him guffawing again.
Hermione chose to ignore them and busied herself on the book. They were on their way to the Great Hall for lunch and since the staircases lead somewhere different on Fridays, they have to take the long way.
"Anyway, why didn't you had enough sleep last night?", Harry asked, finally calm.
"She was busy turning into a book."
"Shut up, Ron.", she was about to say ' I have to finish my ACOS (Advanced Curriculum for Outstanding Students) History of Magic essay' when the real reason appeared on the hall way.
Draco Malfoy was strutting again like he owned the place with his minions surrounding him. He was telling some joke about muggles which Harry knew he had told five weeks ago. Pathetic folks, Harry thought. Doing nothing but obey Malfoy's whining like stupid dogs – and it's part of their job to laugh at his lame jokes over and over again.
Hermione buried her face again on the book. Her heart beating nonstop, she grasped the book tightly.
"Here's Malfoy again –", Ron whispered.
"Just ignore him."
Draco smirked, walked towards them and stopped several feet away from the three. He snapped his fingers and his sworn bodyguards, Crabbe and Goyle, approached his side. Snapping his fingers again, the three of them raised their thumbs, ran them across their necks slowly, stuck out their butts, placed their thumbs on their butts and made a sound of something sizzling (sss…).
Laughter filled the entire hallway. However, Draco rolled his eyes and snapped his fingers twice. Louder laughing was heard and some fell down on the floor in an exaggerated manner.
"Snap your fingers again, Malfoy. Make the laughing louder, I didn't hear it." , Ron answered, trying hard to extinguish the anger in his voice.
Ron looked at Hermione again, baffled. It looks like she's the one Malfoy was making fun of… but why exactly?…
"So what's that all about, Malfoy?" , Harry asked nonchalantly.
Malfoy advanced towards them again. He stood motionless for a while then immediately went several steps backward.
"I better keep a distance. It's hard – Granger thinks I'm hot – she might cast a spell that will lock us together forever.", he snapped his fingers and automatically, there was laughter again.
"Haha… you still dreaming? That punch she gave you still hurting?"
This time, the silence was deafening. No one in that hallway had the guts to taunt Draco Malfoy – except Harry, Ron and Hermione.
Draco's jaws locked together.
"Oh yeah, the mudblood will do anything just to touch my face."
Ron abruptly rolled his sleeves and pointed his wand at Malfoy but Harry was quick enough to stop him.
"I told you not to call her that ever again, you vile cockroach – "
Harry and Hermione had to struggle hard to keep Ron from getting at Malfoy. They knew Ron could not stand it when someone calls another a 'mudblood'. His parents made sure he bear in mind that it's the greatest verbal insult in the wizarding world. Crabbe and Goyle hurriedly went in front of Malfoy, forming a sort of fortress. Draco chortled again endlessly.
"You better watch out for your wand, Weasel. You might be vomiting elephants this time."
Fury was now creeping into Harry's veins also. He was trying to restrain himself from 'exploding' and concentrated on suppressing Ron's temper.
"Hey Granger, I've finally spoken to you! I know you'll be happily jumping in your bed later! Your greatest dream had just been fulfilled!"
At that instant, the hallway started to get crammed as other students began to pour into the area. A group of girls descended from the staircase nearby, one of them gazed at where Harry, Ron and Hermione were standing. In a split-second, she was already beside Ron.
It was Lavender Brown.
"Oh, hi Ron…", she started batting her eyelashes and swinging her hair. What are you doing here? Is anything bothering you? And – oh. Granger."
Lavender turned to Hermione coldly. She wasn't doing that on purpose – she can't help it. She was used to this obsessive jealousy of Lavender Brown. She gets that treatment everyday…oh well…what's new...
Hermione bit her lip and smiled forcibly.
"So…how's Draco Malfoy in bed?", she said in a whisper – but loud enough to let Ron and Harry hear it.
Hermione froze.
Hermione POV
What the hell is this stupid girl doing? She'll get Gryffindor in trouble – all those points once the word spreads! What an abhorrent flirt… she'll do anything just to get Ron – I thought McGonagall made it clear! I thought she got at least a bit of conscience not to do this – I'm bloody wrong! Hope she dies right now! RIGHT NOW!
Harry and Ron were flabbergasted. Ron was speechless. His face is turning redder and redder by the minute.
So…how's Draco Malfoy in bed?
So…how's Draco Malfoy in bed?
So…how's Draco Malfoy in bed?
The words kept repeating themselves inRon's head like mad. What did Lavender mean by that? Draco Malfoy? In bed? And she said that to Hermione! TO HERMIONE!
"Oh look! You're safe now, Weasley! Your little girlfriend's here!"
Ron didn't know what to do. But at that moment, he just knew he had to release all that rage and confusion in nuclear proportions struggling within him.
Lavender was taken aback when Ron jumped out and forced his way through Crabbe and Goyle. He plunged at Malfoy and landed his fist on his face. Instinctively, Malfoy's sworn bodyguards grabbed the rampaging Ron by the arms. Harry was instantly awaken from the sudden tremor and (knowing Crabbe and Goyle) pulled his friend away as fast as possible with all the strength he could muster.
However, it was a different case for Hermione. She walked towards Malfoy without actually meaning it. Her heart is beating frenziedly again. She could not stop herself from checking on Draco and see if he's hurt…
"Hermione! what are you doing there? Come on! ", Harry bellowed at her.
She snapped out of it right away and hurried towards Harry and Lavender ,who was caressing Ron all over.
"YOU WILL PAY FOR THAT ONE,WEASLEY! YOU WILL PAY! NEXT SATURDAY, AT THE QUIDDITCH PITCH!LET'S SETTLE THIS –", Draco exclaimed as Crabbe and Goyle helped him on his feet.
"Yeah I'll be there, Malfoy! I'm going to break your neck – and I don't need a rich dad to knock you out!", Ron answered as they tried to find their way on the crowd – dodging all the whispers and glances.
Hermione could not speak – let alone say anything. It was silence that reigned on them as they walked to the Great Hall - nobody spoke as Ron gritted his teeth, clenched his fists and muttered words none of them could make out. Even Lavender got contented on just looking at him and kept her hands off him.
Harry, however, stared at Hermione and said, almost in a whisper,
"I need a word later. You've got a lot of explaining to do."
Phew…finally…that's finished…now for the next chapter, you know what's in store for you…that will be the clash between Ron and Draco. It's not a wizards' duel or a some sort of boxing bout if that's what's in your mind…you've got to find that out! I dedicate this chapter to all those who reviewed my fic! Thank you! Now…I'm again asking for reviews! Mi amas vin!