Alright, I know it's been a while. A REALLY long while. And I have no excuse for leaving all of my wonderful readers, and I apologize ten times over. But between class work, college tests, band, horses, finals, and life in general, I had no time to just sit down and write anything that wasn't for a school assignment. I didn't get a chance to work on anything extracurricular, and I promise this is what I started with first when summer holiday hit. Hopefully I can keep updating it much better. I'm so sorry again…and anyway, when I saw 'Ten Ways to Kill Draco Malfoy' had updated, I was inspired to do the same. Without any further a due…
Chapter Five: The Great Robe Heist
I whipped the Gryffindor robes back off of me, dropping them in a fit of surprise. Good thing no one else was there as a witness, for I'm sure I looked like quite the fool. Can't have that ruining my reputation. But really…how would you react to realizing that you had just slipped into your enemy's…article of clothing! I don't think I overreacted at all. Hmph.
Anyway, what bothered me more than the fact that I had her robes, was the fact that she had mine. That…mudblood was holding, possibly wearing something that belonged to me. Surely she had noticed the problem as well by now, but she hadn't returned, which bothered me. Why didn't she just bring them back and fix the entire problem? But no. She left ME to fix it.
I gingerly picked her robe back up from the floor, putting it over my arm, and then strolled out of the dungeon classroom. I glanced back at it for a moment, noticing that the line of 'clean' ended not more than three meters from the doorway where I had been sweeping. Still a hard thought to imagine…me sweeping, that is. But that's beside the point. I recalled Filch's threat that if the room was not clean enough for him, then we would not get our wands back. Surely Granger hadn't been given hers back…he hadn't come to 'inspect' the room or whatever it was he said he was going to do. Yet another problem I would have to fix…well, not getting her wand back, getting mine. Like I care about her…why does the topic always turn to her! She's invading my bloody life, I tell you.
But I'm done talking and thinking about that busy haired—female. I think I'm above such petty profanity I could have used there…you just don't talk like that in mixed company, so I discovered it was better to cut them out of my vocabulary completely. But that really has nothing to do with the story, does it? Even though the story is about me, and that factoid was about me…
I really am having a problem with getting off-track from the task at hand, don't I? I blame it all on Granger. And I don't need a reason to. Anyway, back to talking about what happened to me that night…not her. Never her. I closed the door to the room for safe measure, and then made my way towards Filch's office with thoughts of either grabbing my wand and making a run for it, or blaming the entire issue on the Gryffindor. I was leaning toward the latter idea, not enjoying the thought of being hung by my toes from the ceiling of his office or something else foul like that.
I paused in front of the door to his office. It was closed, and no light shown underneath the door. I didn't even know if he was in there or not…I reached out for the door handle and found it to be unlocked. I pushed it open, finding myself in complete darkness. I stood there for a moment, letting my eyes adjust to the absence of light, and then I could make out the figure of Filch slumped in a chair. He appeared to be asleep…good news for me.
I walked slowly to his desk, trying my best to be silent. There sat both of our wands, just lying out in the open. Luck was really on my side. I pocketed both of them, intending to return Granger's when I gave her back her robes. Not that I was trying to help her or anything, that would be ridiculous. I could just imagine that when she got to class in the morning and couldn't do her work and ending up failing she might kill herself or something. Yes, that's my reasoning. Not that I would care if she were dead…I mean…I don't want to talk about this. Don't question me on why I grabbed her wand too!
Suddenly, I heard a terrible sound behind me, causing me to startle. I was not afraid, mind you. Just…startled. Slightly. But it ended up being nothing more than some disgusting noise from the pit of Filch's stomach, so I continued about my business, leaving the room and closing the door snuggly behind me.
I stepped into the empty corridor, making my way up the steps towards the Gryffindor Common Room. Of course I knew where it was…by the time you were at Hogwarts as long as I, nothing like that was really a secret anymore. I had a feeling that would be the best vicinity to wait for Granger in, considering she would have to come back out soon to start our Prefect duties. That thought instantly racked my brain as I remembered it. To think, I had been relieved at 'finishing' the cleaning job early, with thoughts of getting my robe back and heading for bed. But no. I had to still have a full schedule when most human beings were off having dreams. At least she would too…but that thought didn't give me as much satisfaction as I thought it would.
I looked up the many, many sets of stairs in disgust. Why did that common room have to be so bloody far away? Up where the owls roost, if you ask me. I decided I would just report to McGonagall's room instead and just wait for her there. Much, much shorter walk, after all.
After taking a few of the stairways, I found myself standing before the door, which was already open. I entered, looking around for Granger, but she wasn't there. McGonagall, on the other hand, was. She was sitting at her desk, her nose in a thick spell book, but she looked up upon my entry. "Mr. Malfoy, just where have you been!" she demanded, her voice dripping in malice and authority. Of all the professors in the school, she is the only one that still intimidates me. Only a little bit though. I mean, what a laugh, me intimidated. Ahem.
"I was in detention," I replied, confused. You would have thought that the professors would have told each other these things…but then again, it was from Binns. I can't imagine him sitting around in the lounge with the others discussing his day.
"Do you have a note or anything?" she asked me pointedly. I could see from her expression that she didn't believe me. Typical.
"Mr. Filch didn't give me one," I replied. Don't I sound so polite and naïve? I flatter myself, I know, but it's so well deserved.
But, of course, McGonagall was not about to be swayed. Maybe if I was one of her precious Gryffindors…I swear, if Granger would have walked in the room at that moment and said she was in detention—no note or anything, same as me—McGonagall would just let her off with a look of amazement that she was in detention. There wouldn't be any of this…interrogation.
"You haven't been known for your honesty in the past," she was talking…lecturing, really. I had heard this tone many, many times. "But I can imagine you being in detention. Which Professor was it for?"
"Binns," I replied, giving her my best innocent look. If it was anyone but McGonagall…
"I'll talk to him about it tomorrow," she replied sternly. "I expect complete promptness in the future, or a formal excuse for your absence, or you're going to loose your Prefect status. You are an example to the other students…"
This was where I stopped listening. I think I had heard this speech before…more than likely I had. And I haven't lost my Prefect duties yet. But, that probably has something to do with who would be left to pick from in Slytherin if I was gone.
I suddenly realized that there was a silence in the conversation. I looked at McGonagall expectantly. Great, she had asked me something and I hadn't been listening…the one time I really am thinking about something else she decides to change the speech. My good luck was draining out rather quickly. I guess I used it all with Filch. "I said," she repeated, "Why are you not wearing your robes?" At least she had repeated it for me…the last thing I needed was to have to ask her what she had said. But yeah…what a touchy subject for her to pick up on.
I had no idea what to say as a good excuse, so for once, I decided to just tell her the truth, no matter how strange it would sound. I mean, not that I meant that 'for once' I just said. She wasn't right when she said I "wasn't known for my honesty." I am. Really. AHEM, ANYWAY… "These aren't my robes." At least I was able to keep my voice sounding disinterested. It drew attention away from what I had just revealed.
"Not your robes?" McGonagall repeated.
Um, yes, Minerva, that's what I just said, no need to be an echo. What a good girl you are…listening to me even when I don't listen to you. Perhaps it is possible to retain your hearing even when you reach such a high age. Heh. "Not my robes," I said instead of that thought. I figured it was a bit smarter.
She still looked irritated at my response. Figures. I try to be a gentleman and answer nicely, and she is still not pleased with me. "Whose robes are they?" she pressed, sounding like a mother chastising a small child. Well…maliciously chastising.
I might as well hold up with the truth thing…I don't think there was a good name I could say that would really help the awkwardness of the situation. "Hermione Granger's," I replied simply, making it sound like the most obvious answer in the world.
For a moment, she appeared shocked, but that wasn't a look McGonagall often had, so it was only there for a fleeting, yet satisfying moment. I could only imagine what she was thinking about, the scenarios she was putting together in her head of how on earth I could have her pet's robes. It was definitely amusing. She didn't even ask the next question, the one she probably wanted to ask more than anything, but really didn't want to know the answer to. 'And just why do you have Mz. Granger's robes?' Oh, I wanted her to ask that one. The stories I could come up with to answer that…BUT I'm honest. Remember? Honest. Wonder what she would say to me having the Mudblood's wand, too?
And then, to add to this wonderful situation, I heard the sound of footsteps behind me. I turned to see Granger run into the room, completely out of breath. McGonagall looked from me to her, and then back to me, an accusing look on her face, but she still said nothing. "You two need to start on your patrols now," she finally said, with a lot of emphasis on the last word. She probably thought she was just better off not knowing…and she was. Granger and I turned and left her classroom, and she closed the door behind us.
"Why so out of breath?" I asked Granger casually, taking in her messy hair and flushed cheeks. "Having a bit of—"
"Don't even finish that sentence," she snapped at me venomously. Guess she was still holding a grudge about the doxy situation. Yet again, typical. "The truth is…I…I forgot about the Prefect duties."
Wow. I couldn't believe she had just admitted that to me of all people. Not that I really cared that she had forgotten…it was just amazing that she had admitted a fault to me. She probably blamed me for it.
"I forgot because of that fiasco with you in detention!" she then added…or more exclaimed. Yet again, I am correct. She blamed me. How predictable. "Anyway, I started to come here, and realized that I also didn't have my wand, so I went to get it, but Filch's door was locked and he didn't answer my knocks."
I decided not to tell her just then that I, in fact, had her wand in the back pocket of my trousers right at that moment. She looked so…flustered. It was spectacular. "And I suppose the fact that you had my robes meant nothing to you?" I asked instead, still keeping my voice cool.
"I figured that you had mine, so if you did anything to them, I would just return the favor to your own robes," she replied, staring at me with those coffee bean eye—what am I saying! Comparing her eyes to something like coffee beans…ridiculous. Never happened.
"Touché," I replied simply. I suppose she did have a point, and I didn't feel like pressing the matter. I just wanted my robes back out of her possession…uhh…yeah, that's what I thought. "Just give it back."
We quickly exchanged robes, and I slipped back into mine, satisfied when it went all the way to the floor this time instead of just a bit past my knees. "Now the matter of getting our wands back…" Granger was trailing off, in speech and literally as she walked away, headed down the staircase. She stopped at the top, turning back to look at me. "Not that I'm inviting you, but don't you think you need to get your wand back as well?" she asked.
The situation was too sweet. "Good point," I said, and followed her down the stairs. There was no way I was telling her I had them yet. This was too good.
Alright, well, I hope that was worth the long wait, but I doubt it. I decided to end it now to get it out to all of you as soon as I can rather then just try to add more and more. Next chapter starts out with Draco and Hermione already together, and I'm very excited to keep writing. Thank you again for all your patience!
