AN: Ugh. THIS CHAPTER SUCKS!!!! Too rushed and not written well enough. I can't even stand to read it over. Ewwwww! Sorry. I had Writer's Block, and instead of waiting it out, I just went on, trying to write it. I shouldn't have done that. Sorry again. Hopefully the next chapter will be a lot better.
IMPORTANT REQUEST!!!!: OK, as you all know, I'm in band (and my band rocks). Well, every year, there's a contest for the area schools' bands. We won last year (by having an Army Base vote for us every 10 seconds....), however, we can't exactly do that this year... Sooooo, if you love me..... Go to my profile for the link. From there, click on "Benton Central" on the voting section pleeeaaase. We're getting our butts whipped... Please note that the voting is only taking place this week. Nothing afterwards. And, if you vote for us, tell me in a review and I will be most grateful to you! You might even get a prize!!!! ^_^
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Ron, Harry and Ginny were sitting in a compartment on the train, talking and waiting for Draco and Hermione to find them so that they could sit with them.
They were playing Exploding Snap when the two finally walked in, holding hands as usual. Ron pretended to gag as Harry rolled his eyes and Ginny beamed at them.
"Don't mind them," she told them as they sat down on the seat beside Harry. "They just don't understand being in love." She glared at Ron and Harry, who were now ignoring her and concentrating greatly on their game.
Harry blushed as he felt Ginny's eyes on him. He forced his eyes to stay away from her and on the Exploding Snap cards instead. He heard a giggle come from Hermione and he finally looked up to see all three of the passengers beside Ron (who was still playing the game intently) studying him.
His face just turned redder. "What?"
Hermione giggled again. "Look at that, Draco! He's blushing!!!" Ron looked up at the unfamiliar sound of feminine noises coming from Hermione. He looked at her, confused, then looked to Harry for an explanation. It didn't help any, as Harry was now blushing bright red again, and wasn't looking at anyone.
"I think I missed something," Ron announced as he looked to Ginny to see that her face was also red. He shrugged and went back to his game.
Ginny looked up to see which card he was pulling out. She opened her mouth suddenly. "Ron, not that--" She moved out of the way just in time. Ron's singed hair was sticking up and his sleeve was charred by the game, while Ginny had escaped anything happening to her... by jumping straight into Harry's lap.
Hermione and Draco were already laughing, but their laughter grew louder as they saw the ironic picture of Ginny sitting on Harry's lap, looking rather confused as to how she got there.
"Um... Sorry, Harry..." Ginny said and quickly made her way to get off of his lap. Harry caught her arm, however, and pulled her back down on his lap. "There's no need to run away. Hell, they might as well get used to it anyway."
Ginny smiled at him demurely and situated herself more comfortably on his lap.
Ron was busy flattening his hair and wiping off his face, but still found time to send a small glare Harry's way. "You know the 'Protective Brother Speech', Harry. You helped me create it. But, I mean it. I don't care who you are; I'll--"
"Ron? I don't think he's listening..." Hermione interrupted, directing
his attention to where Harry and Ginny were sitting, whispering to each
other with small smiles on their faces.
It was a few more hours before they pulled up to Platform 9 3/4. The Weasleys and Harry left through the barrier with joyful waves and wishes for a happy holiday season.
"Mother usually comes to accompany me home, but she had other business today. We're to meet the carriage driver in Diagon Ally."
"And how are we to get there?"
Draco smiled at her. "Surely you've read somewhere that the Leaky Cauldron isn't the only spot with an opening to Diagon Ally?"
Hermione shook her head. "Actually, I haven't. But, thanks to you, I now know that small bit of information. Is that, by chance, our means of getting to Diagon Ally?"
"Aren't you the smart one? Yes it is. That opening happens to be at Platform 9 3/4."
Draco led her to the right a couple of yards, scanning the wall. Finally, he stopped right in front of a bright red brick, which contrasted with the rest of the bricks in the wall, all of which were a dull brownish color.
"It's quite obvious really. I don't know why they still have this old entry way. It's so cliché."
Draco pulled out his wand and tapped the bright red brick twice and the brick above it once.
After a few moments of waiting, the bricks finally spread open, making an opening for them into the cobblestone street.
Diagon Ally wasn't as crowded as Hermione had always seen it. There were no students running around for school supplies. The main crowd was made up of parents with Christmas wish lists, or women shopping at the food market for dinner.
"There he is," Draco said, interrupting Hermione's thoughts as he pointed her towards a well dressed chauffeur standing by a carriage much like the ones at school, though more regally ornamented.
They walked that way and as the carriage driver noticed them, he pulled his hat off and bowed. "Young Master Malfoy."
"Hello Tobias," Draco said kindly. Tobias turned his head back towards him in a double take. Hermione smiled up at Draco as she realized that the Malfoys' chauffeur must not be used to being treated like that.
Tobias opened the carriage door for them and Draco helped Hermione up with a smile towards the driver as he shut the door.
A couple moments later, the carriage jolted into movement and they were on their way down the street. They made a turn and started going down another, much less crowded road that eventually turned into a country road.
"So, how long is the ride exactly?" Hermione asked Draco.
"I'd say about a half hour at the most," he answered her.
There was silence and then Hermione asked the question she'd been pondering for a while. "Why do they call you 'Young Master Malfoy'?"
Draco rolled his eyes. "I'm 'Young Master Malfoy' until my father dies. He was called that when my grandfather was still alive, and it just goes down the line like that."
"Are you fine with that?"
Draco thought for a moment. "Truthfully, I'd rather not even be associated with my family until my father dies. He holds too much power over the rest of my relatives, and they're mostly into the same kinds of things he is."
Hermione was silent for a few minutes as she thought about this. "So, what about your mother?"
Draco smiled softly. "She's the best woman in the world, beside you of course." Hermione smiled at that. "Go on," she prompted.
"She's so loving. I don't understand how she can love my dad so much when he's such a jackass."
"You can love someone without liking them," Hermione told him wisely.
Draco smiled at her. "You make me feel stupid."
Hermione laughed.
"No, I'm serious. You're too smart for me."
She grinned modestly. "Thanks," she said with a blush on her face.
"So, genius, is it possible to love someone and hate them at the same time?" he asked.
"... Hmm... Actually," Hermione paused. "I don't know. True hate falls so deep. True hate is wishing that someone would die, or that they had never existed at all. Love is the exact opposite of that. To have both feelings for the same person is the ultimate oxymoron. It'd take someone with an extraordinary emotional scale to feel that way."
"OK, Voltaire!" He grinned at her sarcastically. "Thank you for that deep look into Hermione Granger's mind. Now, if you care to look out of your window, you will see the ominous looking gates of Malfoy Manor right ahead." Draco said in a tour guide voice.
Hermione rolled her eyes, but looked out her window to see that they were passing through elegant steel gates on a winding road. To the right, she saw a tall hill, covered in snow. To her left, there was a huge greenhouse containing a whole garden.
"Wow.. It's..."
"Huge?" Draco finished for her, smiling.
She grinned. "That's the word I was thinking of. But where's the house?"
"Right up there," Draco said, gesturing straight ahead of them.
Hermione craned her neck to see ahead of the carriage. She couldn't see it properly yet, but she could make out an extremely large Renaissance style mansion.
The carriage came to a halt and only a few short moments later, Tobias opened the door. Draco slid out and helped Hermione out.
"Wow..." she breathed, looking at the house. "It's beautiful."
Draco smiled as he also studied his house critically. "Wait until you see the inside."
Hermione grinned at the familiar cockiness, but took his hand and followed him up the stairs to the magnificent door.
"Well, welcome to Malfoy Manor," Draco said, turning the doorknob.
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Shaylee sat on her desk, her arms crossed. "Are you ready yet?" She glared at Severus.
He glared back at her. "Wait one second."
He pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket. "All right; I found it."
Shaylee looked at him blankly. "Er... What the hell is that?"
"Tha Portkey to my sister's house."
"Oohhhh... OK."
"We still have forty-eight seconds," Severus informed her, leaning up against the desk with her.
Shaylee hesitated as if she was thinking of something intelligent, then said, "Is your sister as evil as you are?"
Severus rolled his eyes. "In my opinion? She's worse."
Shaylee grinned. "If that's what you think of her, I think we'll definitely get along."
Severus ignored that statement and held out the Portkey. "Almost time."
Shaylee reached out and they both took hold of a corner of the handkerchief.
A few seconds later, the two were being tugged by the Portkey to their
destination.
They landed in a huge pile of snow, Shaylee on top of, and squishing Severus.
"Oh, Merlin..."
"Oh, sorry about that. Am I hurting you?" Shaylee asked innocently, refusing to sit up off of him.
Severus' glare was interrupted by a shriek. "Uncy Sevwus!!"
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Thanks to reviewers. I love you all! Remember to go vote for my band
at ;
^_^ Benton Central Band would appreciate it!!
