Chapter Six: Ron's Words and the Tickle War
They took their seats near the front of class. They took out their Transfiguration books from their bags and set them on the desk.
Professor McGonagall stood up at the front of the classroom as the rest of the class made there way into the room. When everyone was seated Professor McGonagall started to tell them what they would be learning this year.
"We will, of course, be focusing, still, on non-verbal spell work. This year, however, it will be new spells. Last year, you will remember, we focused on doing spells non-verbally that we already knew, now we will try doing new spells, still non-verbally, of course."
Hermione heard, both, Harry, and Ron, groaned at this news. She knew why, Harry, and Ron, still hadn't even perfected the spells they had been learning how to cast, non-verbally, last year, and now they had to learn new ones! Hermione sighed; it looked like another year of doing someone else's homework.
No! It won't be! Hermione told herself, silently; I have Heads business to attend to! Harry will have to try and work out the spells on his own, and Ron, well, Ron will have to apologize to me before I'll even think of helping him
"Hey, Hermione" came a whisper from her right, she turned, and saw Harry looking at her out of the corner of his eye, which were acting like they were glued to Professor McGonagall, as she went on explain the years spells, and work. Harry, then, added, "Will you be able to help me with the 'veraverto' spell," (A/N-veraverto is the spell that changes a animal into a water goblet) "my goblet still has fur when I try doing the spell non-verbally."
"I'm really sorry Harry." Hermione said under her breath, her eyes looking back at Professor McGonagall, who seemingly, hadn't noticed the conversation, taking place between Hermione and Harry, right in front of her. She then added, in an undertone, "I'm Head Girl, now, I have work to do, as well as my own homework."
"Hermione! What kind of excuse is that?"
Hermione's head whipped up to look around Harry, that hadn't been Harry's voice that had said that, it had been Ron's, who was sitting on the other side of Harry. Hermione leaned forward across Harry, forgetting completely that they were in the middle of a class right now, and said in a quite, yet dangerous tone of voice, "I'm sorry, Ronald, but, even if I wasn't a Head, it's not likely that I would help you, now, is it? So, you're just going to have to try doing your own homework for a change!"
Before she could even blink, Ron was on his feet, and yelling, "WELL, PARDON ME FOR NOT BEING A KNOW-IT-ALL, BOOKWORM, LIKE YOU, HERMIONE!"
"Mr. Weasley!" Professor McGonagall barked, her voice like ice, and her eyes locked on Ron with a mixture of shock, and immense rage.
Everyone in class was, now, looking between Hermione, and Ron. The Gryffindors with looks of sympathy for Hermione, who looked as though she had just been slapped, and looks of disgust for Ron, who had gone a sickening shade of gray. The Slytherin's, on the other hand, were looking at Ron with up most satisfaction spread across there faces, except, surprisingly, Malfoy.
Malfoy had an odd expression resting upon his face, it was somewhere between sympathy, and guilt, as though he felt like this whole thing was his fault.
Hermione, who had been looking at Ron for the past few moments, as this was one huge not-so-funny joke, turned away from him and looked off to her left at the floor, her hair falling just-so that it hide her, now beat red, close to tears, face, from view.
"Professor?" Hermione spoke quietly, and slowly, not looking up, "may I be excused?"
Professor McGonagall looked Hermione over carefully for a moment, she had never let a student leave her class before, and she wasn't sure whether Hermione was in the right state of mine to be walking about the school. Then again, it was Hermione, she would easily be able to make up the work that she would miss, and she was headstrong. So, Professor McGonagall, slowly, nodded her head in approval, and said, "Yes, all right, Miss Granger, go ahead. I'll send someone with your homework."
Without even looking up, or taking her books, Hermione nodded that she understood, stood up, made her way between the rows of desks, not even noticing that she walked right by Draco's desk, who was watching her, solemnly, as she made her way out of the classroom.
When the door closed with a small 'bang' behind Hermione, there was a moments pause, then the class heard a small whimper, then a complete break down, they could hear Hermione sob as her footsteps were heard moving quickly down the hallway beyond the classroom, in which everyone sat, sympathetic, and dumbfounded, and, in the case of the Slytherins, minus Draco, rather gleeful.
"Twenty points from Gryffindor." Professor McGonagall announced, after a moment, everyone nodded in agreement, even the Gryffindors themselves who were still looking at Ron darkly, as Professor McGonagall, who didn't even try to tell them to stop, continued, "You will severe a detention, with me, tomorrow evening, and write a letter of apology to Miss Granger, is that clear?"
"Yes Professor." Ron said in a small voice.
"All right then, let's continue with our work." Professor McGonagall stated, turning to look at the class.
An hour, or so, later class ended, and Harry, who had stopped talking to Ron since his outburst at Hermione, stooped down to pick up Hermione's things, as well as his own, while Professor McGonagall called Malfoy to the front.
"Leave them there, Mister Potter." Professor McGonagall called to Harry, who stood up, and looked at Professor McGonagall, who was standing behind her desk at the front of the classroom, with Malfoy standing in front of it.
"Leave what, Professor?" Harry asked, a little confused.
"Miss Granger's things."
"But-" Harry started, but Professor McGonagall cut him off.
"I'll have Mister Malfoy take them to the Heads common room." Professor McGonagall exclaimed.
"What? No, it's alright Professor, I can take Hermione her things." Harry insisted.
"Oh? I didn't know Miss Granger had given you the password to the Heads common room." Professor McGonagall said peering at Harry, knowingly.
"Oh, well, she hasn't," Harry admitted, then quickly added, at the look on McGonagall's face, "but I sure you know the password, you could tell me."
"I could, but that would be highly inappropriate, it is not my place to invite people to the Heads common room, it is either, Mister Malfoy's, or Miss Granger's place to do so, and unless Mister Malfoy, here," McGonagall explained, nodding at Malfoy, "gives you permission to enter, or Miss Granger, which I'm pretty sure she is unable to do at the moment, I'm afraid you'll have to let Mister Malfoy take Miss Granger's things up to the Heads common room for her."
Harry made to protest, but Professor McGonagall silenced him with an impatient wave of her hand, she, then, turned to Malfoy, "Mister Malfoy, would you please take Miss Granger's things up to your room, as well as her homework?"
"Yes, Professor." Draco agreed, Maybe I should tell Potter the password, Draco questioned himself inwardly, as he walked over to Harry, who, resentfully, handed him Hermione's book bag.
"Mister Malfoy, you know the homework for tonight, you will tell her, correct?"
"Yes, Professor." Malfoy answered, as he thought to himself, No, wait, I want to know if she's all right, for some reason.
"All right, then, off you go," Professor McGonagall said, then added, "both of you."
Harry, and Malfoy, walked, quietly, from the classroom, when they turned the corner, Malfoy spoke before he knew what he saying, "What in bloody hell is wrong with her?"
Harry snorted, "Like I'd tell you."
"Well, you'd better tell me, Potter, or you'll find that your little girlfriend has woken up with a 'bat bogey' hex on her." Malfoy threatened, I'm so full of shit, that is such an empty threat, I'd never do that to her! Draco thought, then, re-thinking the events that had just happened in class, added to his thought, Of course, that doesn't mean the weasel shouldn't watch out.
"How do you know that?" Harry asked, stopping.
Malfoy stopped and looked around, "What? Have you been practicing your 'bat bogey' hexes on Granger while she sleeps, Potter?"
"No! I didn't mean that!" Harry shouted, and then lowering his voice a little, asked, "I meant, how did you know that Hermione was my girlfriend?"
Hermione was my girlfriend, the words washed though Draco's mind like a flash flood. His surprise must of shown on his face, because Potter then said, in a amused tone of voice, "What's wrong, Malfoy? Does 'scarface' have something you want?"
Damn it! Stop that Draco! In your common room you may be friends, but out here you've got to hate her! Malfoy ordered himself, strictly.
"It's kind of hard to miss you two, when you where shagging for the whole world to see, yesterday, in the Entrance Hall!" Malfoy sneered, trying his best to ignore the feeling in his chest that felt a lot like jealousy.
"Shagging!" Harry exclaimed, looking appalled.
"That's what I'd call it, Scarface!" Malfoy scoffed, trying to sound as though is was the most disgusting thing in the world, which was proving to be a fairly difficult task to accomplish.
Harry opened his mouth to reply, but, seemed to think better of it, shook his head, and closed his mouth and continued to walk down to the dungeon's form potions class, Malfoy followed for a short time until they came to a corridor that lead to the Heads common room, he turned down it and made his way to the picture of Hermione, and himself under the tree out in the grounds.
"United!" Malfoy practically yelled at the portrait, the portrait version of Hermione, Malfoy noticed, was the only one there, the portrait of him was nowhere to be seen, as he readjusted Hermione's book bag on his shoulder, he put a hand on the door the portrait had opened for him and asked the Hermione portrait, "Where's…"
"Off to give Weasley a piece of his mind." The Hermione in the portrait replied, with an air of satisfaction in her voice.
Draco grinned, and the Hermione in the portrait beamed back. Then, without wasting another second Draco ran into the Heads common room. He looked around and found that no one was there. He put Hermione's book bag in one of the armchairs, then made his way upstairs to Hermione's room. He knocked lightly on the door, and waited for a response.
No reply.
Draco knew Hermione was in there, he could hear her sobs though the door. So, he knocked again, while calling out, clearly, but softly, "Hermione, are you okay?"
This time there was an inaudible mumble, that sounded, to Draco, like, "Go away!"
Draco tried again, tapping the door smartly, but speaking soothingly, not even aware of the fact that he was using Hermione's real name, "Hermione, may I come in?"
There was a small pause, then, "Hmm-mm."
Draco slowly turned the handle, then pushed the door open, there, beyond it he saw Hermione lying across the width of her bed, her arms up around her face. Draco entered her room quietly and walked slowly around Hermione's bed, and stopped in front of her. He placed his hands on her upper arms then knelt down, and looked at her. He couldn't see her face she had her face buried in the sheets, and covers, of her bed.
"Are you okay?" Draco asked quietly.
"Why…why would…" Hermione said through her sobs, not looking up, "why would you care?"
Draco, honestly, didn't know how to answer her, he had, after all been asking himself that same question for a while, now. He was, also, somewhat surprised at how much her words hurt him.
"Honestly," Draco sighed, deciding that the truth was the best thing to say, "I don't know why I care, I just…do."
Hermione looked up at him, her eyes were red, and puffy, from crying. She was biting her bottom lip, obviously, trying to make herself stop crying.
"You, do?" Hermione asked him, in a relatively calm voice.
"Yes," Draco said, he was surprise that he was able to look at Hermione without looking away in embarrassment when he said this.
"I'm glad at least one person cares," Hermione said, burying her face in the sheets once more, "even if it is you."
Draco just watched as he heard Hermione break into tears, again. He didn't have a clue as to what he could do for her. But he body seemed to answer the question for him. He slipped his hands around her back, and lean his head down, resting his forehead on Hermione's left forearm.
How long they stayed there, neither of them knew, but after awhile Hermione's tears subsided, but Draco didn't let her go, he was, almost afraid, that if he let her go she would disappear.
"Hermione," Draco whispered, "may I call you, Hermione."
"If I can call you Draco, Draco." Hermione answered.
"Yes, please," Draco said, "call me Draco."
"Then, I would be happy to hear you call me Hermione."
"It'll make you happy if I call you Hermione?" Draco asked, his hands still around her.
"Yes."
"Then, I will make you happy, Hermione," Draco said, and then he added, "Hermione."
Hermione let out the smallest giggle.
"Hermione."
The giggle grew louder.
"Hermione."
The giggle grew louder still.
"Hermione," Draco said, but, this time, he gave her a small tickle.
Hermione laughed.
"Hermione, Hermione, Hermione!" Draco teased, and he tickled her more.
"Draco!" Hermione gasped, out of breath from laughing so hard, "Stop!"
"Well," Draco said his voice trailing off, he stopped tickling Hermione for a moment, then with a humour filled, "no," went right back to tickling her.
"DRACO!" Hermione yelled through her laughs, she squirmed, and squirmed, but Draco was able to kept hold of her.
Finally, Hermione wiggled free, and pushed Draco back, "That tickles you, you, you big meanie!"
"What are you five years old?" Draco laughed, taking note of Hermione's choice of words.
Hermione reared, then pounced, like a cat, at Draco, flattening him against the ground, she then tickled him, making him laugh, even harder than he had been laughing before.
After a few minutes, Hermione rolled off Draco, laughing.
"I never knew you could be so evil!" Draco started, holding his gut, and laughing out loud.
"Well," Hermione said, climbing up onto the top of her bed, giggling, "now, you know."
"Guess I do," Draco admitted, still laughing slightly, "I remember never to tick you off."
Hermione, and Draco, both stopped laughing at Draco words.
"That's right," Draco broke the odd silence that had come up around them, "It's kind of my 'job' to tick you off."
"I had completely forgotten," Hermione realized.
"Yeah," Draco said, sounding depressed, "me, too."
"What," Hermione wondered, "should we do?"
Draco looked up at her, without even thinking, he asked her, "Do you like this?"
Hermione fixed Draco with a look he had never seen before; it looked like a mixture of sadness, anger, and happiness, all in one, "Yes."
"You, do?" Draco asked her in disbelief.
"Yes," Hermione repeated, "I don't know when it happened, but I really enjoy having your company."
"You, do?" Draco asked her, again.
"Yes, I feel a strange sense of peace around you," Hermione told him, "and, I would like to keep feeling that, this, way."
Draco stood up, looking at Hermione, he inched towards her, "Does that mean, you don't care what the school might think of you, and of us?"
"When have I ever cared what the school thinks of me?" Hermione questioned.
"Good point."
"Miss Granger!"
Draco, and Hermione, both looked towards the bedroom door, wondering who was calling. Draco looked at Hermione, who looked, vaguely, confused.
"Miss Granger, are you in," the voice called again.
"Isn't that," Draco whispered, "Professor McGonagall's voice?"
"I think so." Hermione agreed.
"Um," Draco stuttered, starting to get nervous, "It won't be good if she sees us in one room, together."
"Go," Hermione told him, "Through the passage."
"Oh," Draco said, remembering the passageway, he ran through the door that led to the secret passageway that, in turn, led to his own bedroom.
"Miss Granger?" Professor McGonagall called once more.
"Coming!" Hermione called, jumping from her bed, and running downstairs to see Professor McGonagall standing in the Heads common room, along with Professor Dumbledore, and…Professor Snape?
"Um, Hello Professors," Hermione greeted, confused by the sight of the three Professors in front of her.
"Hello, Miss Granger." Professor Dumbledore returned her greeting.
"Nice of you to finally join us," Snape added, as way of a greeting.
Hermione ignored Professor Snape's comment, and looked around at the other two Professors in curiosity.
"You know," Professor McGonagall spoke up, "perhaps we should have Mister Malfoy here as well."
"Yes," Professor Dumbledore agreed, nodding his head.
"Miss Granger," Professor McGonagall asked, "do you know if Mister Malfoy is in?"
"Um," Hermione said, making it sound as though she wasn't quite sure, "I think he might be in his room."
"Would you be able to go get him," Professor McGonagall requested.
"Um, okay." Hermione obliged, walking up the stairs to Draco's bedroom door.
Hermione tapped lightly on the door, and called through the door, "Malfoy, Professor McGonagall would like a word with you."
No answer.
"Malfoy!" Hermione called, a little louder, knocking more forcefully on Draco's bedroom door.
Still, there was no answer.
"Is there a problem, Miss Granger?"
Hermione turned to see that Professor McGonagall, Professor Snape, and Professor Dumbledore, had come up the stairs to the second floor.
"He's not answering," Hermione told Professor McGonagall.
"Here," Snape snapped, moving forward, "out of the way!"
Hermione stepped back so that he could stand directly in front of Draco's door, "Mister Malfoy open this door, now!" Snape ordered, obviously losing his patience.
The door didn't open, nor was there an answer that came from behind it.
Snape looked angry, he reached out a hand and gripped the door handle, turned it, and opened the door wide. He walked in, McGonagall, and Dumbledore followed, Hermione at there heels.
Hermione noticed that Draco was lying on his bed, sleeping. Snape huffed at the sight, and Professor Dumbledore just said, "Maybe we should come back when he is awake to hear what we have to say."
"Yes, I suppose," McGonagall, agreed; Snape said nothing, only glared darkly at Hermione, as though this were all her fault.
Hermione, though, was looking at Draco his hand had just twitched.
"Miss Granger, you will tell Mister Malfoy that you two are to come to my office once he wakes up." Dumbledore told Hermione, her head snapped back to Dumbledore, away from Draco's 'sleeping' form.
"Um, Yes, Professor." Hermione said.
"All right, then," Dumbledore said, turning and walking from the room, McGonagall followed. Snape, on the other hand, continued to stare at Hermione. Hermione knew what he was thinking within about half a second, so she stalked out of the room and went to her own room.
It was only now didn't she realize that Draco's room had looked odd, the door, the one that connected their rooms hadn't been there. She glanced over at the door to Draco's room, only to find it not there! Hermione whipped fully around to stare at the blank wall, thinking, where's the door?
A/N-There's another chapter! Hope you enjoyed it! Byes! Please Read&Review!