AN: Ah... Standardized tests are evil, but at least I get lotsa time to write....
AN2: OK, something I just realized is that the review alerts don't always work, and that there have been a few reviews that I did not respond to, because I didn't receive them in my inbox. So, if you ever reviewed and didn't get a response, I'm terribly sorry, and I thank you for reviewing.
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Ron got to Draco before anyone else, and sent him staggering back several feet.
"You jackass! What the hell do you think you're doing here with her?"
He was advancing on Draco again, and Harry wasn't stopping him.
Hermione grabbed her wand and stood in front of Draco.
Ron blinked.
"Hermione?"
"Don't you DARE hurt him in any way, shape, or form."
The silence crept over the Great Hall again as everyone stared at her. Draco stood up. "It's OK, Hermione," he said, laying his hand on her shoulder.
"DON'T TOUCH HER!"
Ron made to punch Draco again, but was stopped as a huge force hitting his cheek moved him sharply to the side. It took a few moments for him to realize that Hermione had slapped him.
It wasn't only Draco's mouth that was hanging open, but he was feeling a special surge of pride as Hermione stepped back beside him with her cheeks red with anger.
Ron was holding his hand to his cheek and joined everyone in staring at her.
Finally, Professor Weasley (who was, after all, in charge), thought fit to intervene.
"Ronald Weasley! Step back!"
He glared at her and she continued. "If you have a problem, you can sort it out afterwards. WITHOUT--" she added as she noticed her cousin and Draco glaring at each other. "--any violence."
Ron tried to say something, but Shaylee held up her hand and said firmly, "Wait. No buts. And if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything."
Ron glared at her for a second, then spun around and walked away angrily. With one betrayed look at Hermione, Harry followed.
At this, conversation slowly started up again. and Lee put on a song.
Severus and Shaylee exchanged a glance. "Are you sure you aren't the one who'd make a good mommy?" Shaylee did a double take. "Did you just say 'mommy'????" When he nodded, Shaylee asked him in the same tone he had used, "Are you sure you aren't the one who's drunk?"
Severus glared at her and she turned to Draco and Hermione, who were still standing there, not knowing what exactly they should do.
"You may leave now, if you wish, but for your purposes, I'd recommend you stay, if you want people to actually believe that you are a couple... Just ignore everyone else and have fun."
They didn't have to do this, because Scott and Kerry were walking towards them that moment.
"They didn't exactly like what we did, so they sent us over here... Something about a traitor was mentioned... Not sure!" Scott still seemed perky, though Hermione thought something was there that hadn't been there before. Was that sadness... or triumph in his eyes?
Shaylee looked angry at these words. "I'll talk to the twins. Don't worry, Scott." She tugged on Severus and they headed over to where a group of Gryffindors was gathered, whispering. Scott just shrugged as if he didn't care.
"So, guys," he began, cheerfully. "What should we do, now? We've wreaked havoc, and broadcasted a forbidden relationship... Hmmm.... They've already spiked the punch... There's nothing else to do!!" he chided, hoping that Hermione would come out of her trance and tell him off.
Hermione opened her mouth and said with a hoarse voice, "Well, it's a dance... How about we dance?"
Scott was disappointed in her lack of a response, but he had no problem with dancing. "OK! Practical answer! Let's!!"
When they got out onto the dancefloor, a Weird Sisters hit was playing. The dance floor was full, but as they entered, people tended to scoot away from them, or just leave the dance floor altogether.
Draco sighed. "Screw this. Guys, why don't we just stand around an--" "Make faces at people? I couldn't say it better myself!" Scott interrupted, and caused Hermione to laugh softly.
"You know, that's not a half bad idea, Scott."
Hermione took Draco's hand and they walked through the path being created for them by the crowd. She noticed the disdainful looks that were being sent, and she moved closer to Draco, because some of the faces looked pretty violent. This, however, just made it worse, and the faces grew angrier.
Finally, they reached an empty slab of wall (which had probably been cleared out when everyone saw that they were coming that way) and they leaned against it, surveying the rest of the Hall, and looking for people to make faces at.
"I'm not doing it..." Draco protested. "Oh, why not?" Hermione chided as Scott stuck his tongue out and made noises at a passerby.
"Because he looks like an idiot!" he said, looking pointedly at Scott as he stretched out his eyelids and made his cheeks poofy.
"Yes, I'll agree to that," Hermione admitted. "But, still... He's stopping people from looking, and it's funny."
Draco rolled his eyes. "I don't see you doing it." "Well, I have a reputation to uphold!" "And I don't?"
"Neither of you have a reputation to uphold anymore," Kerry pointed out. Draco and Hermione looked at each other and shrugged.
"Why aren't you doing it, then?" Hermione asked.
"Well, I don't know any of these people. It wouldn't exactly be polite..." Kerry shrugged innocently.
At their blank stares Kerry sighed. "OK, OK... Lame excuse... I know..." And with that, she rolled her eyes around crazily and made a pig nose at the next passing person that was looking at them nastily.
After their expression changed to something like a mixture of surprise and fright and they hurried off, Kerry collapsed into a fit of the giggles.
Scott grinned at her. "Now that's something you don't see every day..."
She sobered up immediately and shrugged.
"Hey, I'm going to go ask Shaylee if she'll come over here. You don't mind, do you, Kerry?"
"No. Do as you wish," she said absentmindedly.
Scott grinned as he caught sight of Shaylee plopping down on her chair at the High Table, exhausted, followed by Severus sitting down elegantly, and engaging her in conversation. "I'll be right back, guys." He waved and winked at them as he made his way towards the High Table.
~*~
Over on the other side of the Hall, the group that had been so lively
before the unmasking, was sitting and glaring at the group who was having
tremendous amounts of fun making faces at people. Certain words that really
should not be said when at a teacher surrounded function, were coming out
of Ron's mouth, and Harry was just sitting, a look of utter confusion,
hurt, and hatred on his face.
~*~
From the High Table, Shaylee glared menacingly at her cousins. "Stupid...
Take loyalty much too far... Don't know what real love is..." she was muttering
under her breath.
She stopped as she noticed Severus looking at her strangely. "Oh, shut up."
"I didn't say anything."
"But your eyes did." She glared at him and started muttering again. "Stupid eyes... Need gouged out..." That's when Severus held her hand steady, which had been previously slapping the table unmercifully.
She glared at him again, but she didn't have time to say anything, because at that moment, Scott came up to her and beamed. "Hey, Shaylee!!"
She grinned beside herself. "Hey Scott."
"Hey, Professor Snape, is it OK if I borrow this beautiful lady for a moment?"
"I wouldn't know, seeing as she's not mine to loan," Snape retorted scathingly.
Shaylee patted him reassuringly on the shoulder as she stood up and followed Scott. "I'll be right back, Sevvy."
~*~
Ron scowled as he saw Hermione laugh and give Draco a kiss on the cheek.
"What the hell did he do to her to make her do this?" "I don't know..."
Harry looked miserable. "But he had to have done something. She hates him."
"Or so you think. You haven't really been around her that often lately,"
Ginny reminded them sullenly.
Ron glared at her and said something that wasn't exactly too nice, but Harry froze as he realized that what she said was true. They hadn't been spending much time around her lately. She was always sneaking off to go to the pool. Every single day. It had crossed his mind a few times as being a little odd, but he hadn't thought much of it. Now, however, he saw what was happening, and he realized he needed to talk to Hermione.
I'm gonna see you
I'll break through to you some way
You'll be my alarm clock
To wake me from this endless day
Ron was angry. Extremely, pissed sort of angry. The type of angry that happens when you're already mad, and then your best friends don't agree when you say that your other best friend isn't smooching your worst enemy by her free will. He was sure that it wasn't actually happening. They'd find out what Draco was doing to Hermione, they'd beat his ass, and they'd be perfectly happy again.
And when it's all over
Well you'll be calling out for me
Finish what you started
And do it all over
And do it all over again
Severus sat at the High Table alone, watching as Shaylee laughed as she saw what Kerry, Draco, and Hermione were doing. She put her hand on Scott's shoulder and grinned her special lopsided grin. That was an action that was usually reserved for Severus.
What am I supposed to do about it
I sit around and wait for you
What am I supposed to say to you
You already know I'm in love with you
(And I hope that you love me too)
Ron was glaring at anyone who came near him, including his family members. Especially Fred and George, who had had the gall to actually associate with their cousin, who was now joking with the low piece of not-so-human flesh.
You broke me down without saying a thing
All it took was for me to see you with him
Severus was sure he looked a little pathetic here, sitting all alone. But, then again he couldn't go anywhere right now. not when she was with him. The person who reminded him so much of his past.
I'll pack my bags and move to Alaska
Where it's as cold as you
Thinking of this, Severus grew slightly angry. She was doing just what Lily had done. She was making him go through this torture again. For the second time in his life, he had to go through this utter torture of knowing that he wasn't good enough. His personality wasn't playful enough. Well, life isn't all fun and games. But he wasn't sure that Shaylee knew this.
What am I supposed to do about it
I sit around and wait for you
What am I supposed to say to you
While Harry was sitting, wondering what in the world he was going to say to Hermione when he talked to her, Ron was pacing back and forth.
You already know I'm in love with you
(and I hope that you love me too)
Ron finally plopped down beside Harry and said weakly, "Why did she do this to us? What brought her to this? Surely we aren't that bad of friends, are we?" Harry shrugged and said, "I'm going to go talk to her..." Ron's head snapped up. "I'm going with you." "No you aren't," Ginny interrupted them swiftly.
What am I supposed to do about it
I sit around and wait for you
What am I supposed to say to you
"And why not?" Ron demanded. "You'll make a fool of yourself, and kill someone," was Ginny's simple answer.
You already know I'm in love with you
(and I hope that you love me too)
Ron sighed. For their friendship's sake... "OK, go, Harry."
And as I let this note ring out
The only thing I think about
Is how I never took a chance on you
Harry made his way towards the section of wall that the laughing group was standing by. He noticed that they were the exact opposite of the rest of the people in the Hall, who were being sullen and weren't having much fun.
The way you used to look at me
Hermione seemed to have sensed that he was coming. She looked up straight into his eyes, and the look wasn't a pleasant one. It was a mixture of relief that it was him coming to talk to her, worry that he would start acting like Ron, and anger because he wouldn't accept her.
Has changed so clearly I can see
Things will always be so awkward between you and me.
He reached them and smiled softly at Hermione before looking at Draco indifferently. "Mal-..." He decided against using his surname, and just said, "I hope you don't mind if I talk to Hermione."
Draco looked back at him just as indifferently. "As long as nothing harmful is said." He said it with a slightly hostile voice, though he too resolved to not use Harry's last name.
Hermione calmly followed him until they were outside and out of anyone's hearing range. "I was aware that we were to wait to speak until afterwards, or did you not hear Professor Weasley?"
Harry tried to remain calm, but couldn't help but retort, "As she was standing right there as we left to speak, I doubt she has any complaints of me talking to you."
Hermione shrugged. She didn't volunteer any information, but just stood there, waiting for Harry to ask her something.
"Well?" she prompted. Harry sighed. It seemed that he had something to ask her, but didn't want to know the answer.
"Are you with him of your free will is what I should ask first, I suppose..."
Hermione looked at him coldly and answered, "Yes," shortly.
Harry sighed. "It was all that time at the pool, wasn't it?"
Hermione froze, and Harry looked the other way. "I thought something had changed after you started going there. You were being so secretive. You even stopped complaining about being paired up with... him." He shook his head and looked at her softly.
"You know, Hermione, physical attraction isn't love. You're too good for him..." He looked away again, and Hermione felt pity for her best friend.
"Harry, I know what you think. But that isn't why I like him so much."
Harry turned back at her and looked incredulously at her. "You mean you like him because he's an egotistical asshole who calls you dirty names every time he sees you?"
Hermione looked exasperated. "If you care to notice, that has cut back a little. It was basically just a show so that you wouldn't know what was happening."
Harry looked uncomfortable as he realized that what she said was true.
He tried to think of something to say, as Hermione looked at him softly, realizing how good of a friend he was being, trying to protect her from any possible evil.
"But, what if he's using you?" He was clutching at straws now, and he knew that she knew it.
She smiled triumphantly. "I was worried about that myself. Until I found out it was true."
Harry's mouth fell open, and anger was flaring in his eyes. She quickly added, before he went inside to beat the shit out of Draco, "But, he was the one who told me that he had been using me at the beginning. He told me that he had fallen in love with me. And he no longer wished to do any harm to me."
Harry looked at her skeptically. "Hermione, that's the most cliche line ever created!"
Hermione looked at him fiercely, her gaze set in stone. "I know that. But, it was in his eyes. And you can't argue with eyes, Harry."
Harry looked as if he were fighting an inner battle, but then he smiled weakly. "I can't promise you anything. And I can say that I'll probably never like Malfoy. But, you are still one of my best friends, and I'm not going to lose that friendship because you are dating my worst enemy."
Hermione grinned and gave him a big hug. "Thank you so much Harry!"
Harry frowned. "And, you do realize that I'm not going to be able to sort Ron out. That will be your problem..."
Hermione sighed, but she understood. "That's OK. I'm not looking forward to it, but at least you understand! Thank you so much Harry! you won't believe how much it means for it to be accepted by someone!"
Harry patted her back awkwardly. "Well, how about we go back inside, so that I can get pegged with questions that I can't answer..." Hermione grinned and they walked back inside.
Before heading over to the table, Harry led Hermione back to where she had been before.
Draco looked suspiciously at both of their smiling faces, until Hermione slid her arm happily through Draco's and Harry still looked contented. That is, until he saw him. He stepped forward and said seriously. "I understand. But, if you hurt her in any way, you will have me, and the rest of her friends to answer to." Draco nodded, because he understood the whole "protective friend thing", and didn't want to mess with an angry Gryffindor, which just showed how much he had changed.
~*~*~**~*~*~
Shaylee returned to the High Table, where Severus greeted her with a sarcastic, "Welcome back, Weasley."
She grinned, looked across the crowd, and called, "You owe me a Galleon, Ellis!!"
Severus looked confused and slightly P.O'd, so she explained. "I made a bet with Scott that you'd call me Weasley when I got back to the table."
He looked miffed, and from then on out, he called her Shaylee.
~*~*~**~*~*~
The evening was about to come to a close, and Shaylee hadn't pulled a prank yet. This was why Severus was slightly worried when she said she had to use the loo with an evil grin on her face. It just wasn't a good combination. And, as it turned out, he had the right to be worried.
Everything was going on as usual, until people started noticing a glittery substance in the air.
Naturally, when something was strange at Hogwarts, the first person to look at was Albus Dumbledore, who happened to be looking at the second place to look; the Weasley twins. Naturally, when everyone saw that the twins were looking up, so did they.
And, that's when they saw Shaylee, flying through the rafters and sprinkling the glitter from the bag that Severus recognized as the one that her cousins had given her.
"Oh... For Merlin's Sake..." Severus muttered.
"Just trying to make a more memorable night, everybody!" Shaylee said while laughing gleefully.
Severus recognized the glitter for what it was immediately, and cast an invisible shield around himself, for he did not want to be a giggling fool for the rest of the night.
However, that's what the rest of the Hall turned into as Shaylee settled down in her seat. She grinned at Severus, who glared at her accusatoringly. Her face turned into a pout. "Cheater! You weren't supposed to use a shield!!"
His response was stopped as a chuckling (for the headmaster did not giggle) Dumbledore stood up and informed the students that it was past time for them to retire, for he knew that most of them had weekend homework to finish that night.
And, so the night, but not their problems, came to an end.
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OK, the review responses (as promised, of course!) will be at the end of the next chapter. Thank you to everyone! And I hope no one harbored any harmful thoughts about me over that last cliffy.... Hehe... Some of those reviews were darn scary.... ^_^
Oh, and just for the record, I had never heard that song in my life... And I didn't have time to download it. So, I dunno what it sounds like.... But, I liked the lyrics that I found, so yeah....
