Evaluate This
Chapter 6
Waiting
Miriam waited outside Mr. McGale's office for Harry. When the door finally opened a less than happy Gryffindor greeted her. His green eyes were shadowed and his whole face let her know he was mulling over what had gone on in there.
"So... how'd it go?"
Harry shrugged and kept walking. He wasn't in the mood for talking, even if it was Miriam. Had he been given the choice to spend an hour with either Snape or Mr. McGale he'd have chosen the slimy potions master without pause. Miriam had to walk fast to match his pace.
"Not well, huh?"
Harry didn't look at her as he started. "No one knows me. They assume everything. Everything." Harry paused, his hand a tight fist at his side. "They're all liars."
"Who?"
Harry waved his hand. "Everyone." He hissed, more to himself than his audience. "I never asked for this, I never wanted to be a celebrity." His voice lowered dangerously. "Never wanted to be gawked at…a freak."
"You're not a freak Harry."
Harry's angry green eyes glared at her. "Oh, really?" He moved his hair to the side, showing off the bane of his existence, the reason for his celebrity status. "According to the wizarding world, this…" He let his bangs fall back over the scar. "This makes me a freak."
The stone floor was worn—hundreds, thousands of feet had walked this floor, year after year. Miriam sighed. It was a nice floor, but avoiding the bad-tempered Gryffindor wasn't going to solve the situation.
"Harry, your scar doesn't make you a freak. You're special all on your own." his short laugh made her cringe. "Special in a good way Harry." she murmured softly.
Miriam bit her lip. Then she placed her hand lightly on his shoulder. "I know. I know what you mean, though. I unfortunately understand, whether you believe me or not. I do."
Glad that the topic had veered off himself, Harry glanced over. "You never told me what happened. Ron mentioned something 'bout an accident."
"I've never told anyone." Her hand slid off his shoulder. "Probably never will."
They passed out of the hallway into the sunlit outdoors.
"I suppose…" Harry shrugged. "Most things are best kept to yourself."
Miriam nodded and watched as Harry walked off, his black hair gleaming in the late afternoon beams.
"And sometimes," Miriam whispered as she walked the opposite way. "It's best to be alone."
It wasn't the first time she'd done something—out of character—after all, when you were best friends with Harry Potter, you were always breaking some school rule. All in the name of saving the world of course. But this was Hermione's first time she'd done this without there being a dire need to do it—and with Draco freaking Malfoy at that.
To say that the escape from Ms. Danna's torture chamber was interesting would be a definite understatement. After her heart rate returned to the realm of normal, her conscious and morals decided to have a go at her.
Malfoy had her hand, pulling her into passageways she'd never seen before, behind portraits, and through disappearing doors. He'd released her wrist at the door to their common room.
"Macha."
The portrait opened and Malfoy looked over his shoulder before entering. "Don't tell a soul, understand?" His eyes glimmered with ill-contained hatred. But for the first time—that terrifying look of hate wasn't directed at her…wasn't meant for her.
Hermione shrugged. "There would be nothing to tell, right?"
Draco pondered her for a moment. "Fast learner."
Nodding, Hermione went to her room. "See you later," she said without thinking as she shut the door behind her. Closed off from him, Hermione turned with a sigh.
"Ah!"
Hermione slid to the floor in shock. Her room wasn't the least bit empty. "You think you could possibly use common courtesy? You know, knocking, asking for permission?"
Charlotte's eyes glittered mischievously. "That would be too hard. Might hurt myself."
Pushing herself to her feet, Hermione ignored her cousin. "What a shame. I'd hate for you to overtax yourself."
"I know. It would be such a pity."
"What exactly do you want?"
The glitter in Charlotte's eyes was not encouraging. "Just wanted to know how your first day went." Her fingers trailed down a braided strip of black suede. Toying with it, winding it through her fingers—just the way she toyed with the people in her life. Spinning intricate tales and lies.
Hermione huffed. "It went as expected." Dogging her cousin's curious gaze she slipped towards the bathroom.
"Oh no you don't. I want to talk." Charlotte stepped between her and her haven.
"Maybe I don't want to talk."
Ignoring the comment, Charlotte pulled Hermione back towards the bed. "I heard from a certain Slytherin that you and a certain other Slytherin had a session together…a session that isn't supposed to be over for another fifteen minutes."
"And these Slytherins have names?"
"Yes. One of which I believe is a certain blond boy who thinks he owns the world. A certain blond boy who was holding you the other day in a very…tight embrace."
Hermione blushed. "Why did you bring that up?"
"Oh, I'm not finished just yet." Charlotte grinned. "A certain blond boy who is your mortal enemy, or so say your supposed best friends. Now, your very sweet cousin here would like an explanation."
"There is nothing to explain."
"Don't make me pull teeth, Hermione."
Hermione sat on the edge of her bed. "Charlotte, I really have no idea what's going on."
"Well, that's a start." she shifted, bringing her legs beneath her. "So this Draco Malfoy has been your worst enemy for, what, four…five years?"
"Yeah."
"And suddenly…"
"He hasn't changed." Charlotte's eyebrow rose. "Not much, I mean. Yeah, he's suddenly not repulsed to, to…touch me. But he still rattles off the insults, still sneers, still torments me. It's just a new form of torment."
"Do you like him? I think this is the most important thing at the moment. Do you like him, even a little bit?"
"You've got to be kidding! It's Draco Malfoy. What girl hasn't liked his looks at some point or another?"
"So you like the way he looks."
Hermione blushed again. "I'm regretting this already."
"Okay, I'll let it go for a second. But tell me, how is it you got out of there fifteen minutes early?"
Lowering her eyes, Hermione tried to keep the smile, that wanted so desperately to escape, off her lips.
Charlotte grinned. "Please tell. Come on, while I'm young."
"We sort of…" Hermione grimaced, the smile till trying to take over.
"Yes…" Charlotte leaned forward in anticipation.
"We left. Just left."
Charlotte rolled her eyes. "Right. You just left."
"We did!"
"Uh huh."
"I'm telling you the truth."
"I believe you are telling me the truth. But I think you're leaving out all the juicy details."
Hermione glared. "You're too perceptive for your own good, you know?"
"You want to know what else I've observed?"
"Do I have a choice?"
"Not really, no."
"Fine. What do you know?"
"First off, I know that everything that was said during that session you two cut short will be posted tomorrow for everyone to read." Her lips widened in a grin at the horror-stricken expression.
"Merlin. You're right."
"Yep. So you can tell me everything, or I'll just find out tomorrow."
"Shit."
In a sickening singsong voice, Charlotte taunted her already downed cousin. "It's going to be common knowledge, all your little boy friends are going to know that the blond idiot likes you."
"Shit."
"Double shit, eh?"
Hermione glared at the evil enjoyment Charlotte was getting from this. "You're demented."
Charlotte only grinned.
"Oh, shut up!" Grabbing a pillow, she flung it.
Draco moaned into his pillow. Everything, the entire deck of cards, was going to come crashing down on his head. "Crap, crap, crap, crap!"
The night was gaining as Harry whacked the bludger once more. He'd been flying over the pitch, his anger going into killing that bludger. He swung again, seeing Mr. McGale's face. It brought a sick smile to his own. "The best therapy." Harry murmured as the bludger was sent flying away from him.
Ron brought the fork up to eyelevel, eyeing the pie before stuffing it into his mouth. The last bite before he passed out.
Blaise curled into a little ball and cried himself to sleep.
Miriam wrote.
Charlotte and Hermione laughed.
Dumbledore sat in his office, overlooking the subdued castle grounds. It was going to be a long year.
The next morning, the school teetered on the edge of chaos. Posted outside the Great Hall were the results—several pages of who knew what.
The students, despite themselves, approached. Another case of when curiosity killed the cat. The tension hung in the air as the first students came within range of reading…everyone stilled, ready to defend themselves if necessary.
At the teachers table the silence continued as Ms. Danna and Mr. McGale exchanged veiled looks before they turned their attention to the students. Waiting…
The smiles faded from their faces, replaced with deep frowns.
Instead of the chaos, the fighting, the hatred, the turning. Instead of pandemonium, the psychiatrists heard…
Laughter.
Ms. Danna's eyes bulged.
Surprised, Mr. McGale choked on his morning coffee. Standing, he hurried down to the doors, Ms. Danna on his heels.
They're mouths dropped open.
"Oh man Dean, I had no idea your favorite color was pink!"
Dean started to back away.
"Hey, Dean man, me too!"
Slowly Dean smiled.
Laughter.
"Mate, look there, Ron and Hermione are just friends, wow! Who knew?"
"Really? You've got to be kidding me."
"Nah, see." Seamus pointed next to Ron's name under 'love interest'.
"Hey, everyone! Look here, Malfoy's middle name is Herbert!"
"My parents went momentarily brain dead." Draco mumbled.
"That's better than having the middle name Skinnard."
"Skinnard?"
"Yeah, I'd much rather have Herbert."
Draco smirked. "Too bad, eh?" For the first time, he loved his middle name.
"Zabini, I didn't know you were deathly afraid of spiders!" Ron cried, then turned to the wary Slytherin. "Join the club mate!"
Hermione and Charlotte observed the varying reactions of their classmates.
"Who would have thought it?" Charlotte murmured.
"No kidding." Hermione smiled as she watched Ron and Blaise discuss how disgusting spiders were…watched as friendships formed. "Look over there." Hermione whispered, pointing to the entrance of the Great Hall where two very defeated psychologists stood.
"Is she drooling?"
"I think so." Hermione grinned. "Seems we shocked them senseless."
Beaming brightly, Charlotte walked up to the lists. "You never told me I was your favorite cousin!"
"You're my only cousin."
Charlotte shook her head. "No. What about Clarissa?"
"She's not my cousin."
"Yes she is. My mother's sister."
"Which would be my mom."
"No her other sister."
"What other sister?"
"Oh just admit it, you have other cousins…but I'm your favorite."
"Fine. I admit it."
As the students dispersed, opting for food, they all sat down in their families—the hall uncommonly noisy.
Everyone's thoughts revolved around one thing. Us: 1, Them: 0.
Draco tried to eat his breakfast in relative peace. But when half the student body was running here and there and everywhere, all the while yakking it up, it was very hard to enjoy a peaceful breakfast.
He watched as the 'families' visited each other, not caring about what house they used to belong to.
Everyone did just as they wanted.
"Hey Herbert." Blaise slid into an empty seat next to Draco.
"Blaise." Draco nodded.
They settled easily into their roles as they ate breakfast.
When Dumbledore rose from his seat the hall took several minutes to quiet. Dumbledore didn't seem to mind, his eyes glittering. "I have an announcement to make."
Draco looked up from his breakfast.
"I have been informed that all evaluations set for today have been cancelled. Since you don't have classes, you can use this free time as you wish." Dumbledore paused. "I do need to see the Head Boy and Girl in my office. After breakfast of course."
Draco glanced around until he found Hermione and caught her eye. She nodded, giving him a slight smile before looking away.
"Why are you smiling?"
Draco wiped the smile off his face as he looked up. "I wasn't smiling."
"Oh yes you were."
"Blaise." Draco said sharply.
"Fine. Fine. I'll shut up."
"Good."
"For now."
Draco couldn't help it, as he got up to leave, he smiled winningly at Blaise. "I'm sure you will. Bye."
"Bye."
He met Hermione outside of the Great Hall.
"Good breakfast?" she asked as they walked towards Dumbledore's office.
"Tolerable. Yours?"
Hermione shrugged. "Same as usual." They paused in front of the statue. "Buzzard pudding."
"That's just disgusting." Draco mumbled as the gargoyle jumped aside.
"Ah, Ms. Granger, Mr. Malfoy." Dumbledore smiled at them. "I'm glad you could make it. Thank you for coming."
"What do you need professor?"
"Well Ms. Granger, it has to do with the wishes of Mr. McGale and Ms. Danna."
Hermione grimaced. "What do they need?"
"They have requested that you and Mr. Malfoy prepare a…" Dumbledore grinned. "A rather unorthodox ball."
Draco's eyes glittered at the word unorthodox. "And what exactly are we supposed to do?"
"Good question Mr. Malfoy, what I have been told is that, while you will arrange and set up the ball, you will be following a very strict list of guidelines."
Malfoy groaned.
"But, other than that, you have the freedom to make this a memorable experience. I'm sure you have by now figured out the intentions of our resident psychologists?"
They nodded.
"Good. I knew you two were smart. So here's the details…I'm sure you won't disappoint us."
Hermione was sitting on the couch, lounging in what Draco thought to be a quite sexual position. Draco averted his eyes and tried to listen to her. Tried being the key word there.
"Dumbledore basically gave us permission to spit in their faces. We have to be sneaky though, we have to be…" Hermione paused. "Are you even listening to me?"
"Huh?"
"Malfoy, this is important!"
"Uh huh."
"Malfoy!"
"I'm listening Granger, what is it you're trying to say. We have to be…"
"We have to be you." She said with a hint of a smirk.
That caught Draco's attention. He brought his silver eyes to her laughing brown ones.
"What exactly do you mean, Granger?"
Hermione sat up on the couch, tucking her legs beneath her. "We have to be cunning, cool, precise…you, basically." She finished with a wave of her hand.
"So…you think I'm cunning?" Draco asked as he stepped toward her. Hermione didn't notice the predatory gleam in his eyes. She was reviewing the packet, once more, in front of her.
"Of course." She looked up and was shocked at what she saw in his eyes.
"Hermione." Draco said softly, laying his lips on her forehead, closing his eyes, just enjoying the softness of her skin.
Hermione tried not to breath, Draco had a rather…unique smell, and it was…Merlin help her, intoxicating. He was leaning over her, his body so close, his hair brushing the top of her head. She could feel his warm breath—causing her to shiver.
"I…I have to see Charlotte." Hermione stated dumbly.
"Okay." Draco waited a moment before pulling her face to his, placing a light kiss on her lips. He didn't know why he did it. He didn't really care. She may have been a mudblood, she may be Harry Potter's best friend, she may be his enemy…but those things really don't have much weight once you become attracted. "I'll wait for you."
Hermione pulled away and ran without a backward glance.
She found the Slytherin dungeons without much difficulty—only having to dodge one obstacle, Mrs. Norris. Lucky for her, she was Head Girl, and being Head Girl certainly had its perks—passwords to every house were in her possession.
Hermione did not pause as the portrait opened, she did not pause as the Slytherins looked up at her, she did not pause until she made it to the girl's dormitory and found Charlotte.
Then she collapsed.
"What is it?" Charlotte hurried over to her panting cousin. "What are you doing here?"
"He kissed me."
"Who?"
Hermione's eyes bulged. "He!"
"Oh, Malfoy?"
Hermione nodded frantically.
"And?"
"AND! That's all you have to say?"
Charlotte lay back. "Well, what do you want me to say?"
"I don't know!" Hermione gripped her hair, rocking back and forth.
"Okay, sorry, it's okay." Charlotte patted her back awkwardly. "So how was it?"
"Charlotte." Hermione groaned, sitting up. "I don't think that that part is what matters."
"Whatever you say."
"So, what should I do?"
"What do you want to do?"
"Run."
Hermione had always held by a few simple rules. A few simple rules as to whether a guy was good enough or not. The fact that she'd never had the opportunity, as of yet, to test them out didn't matter. She believed them.
She'd always held that a guy worth keeping would call you beautiful instead of hot—so not romantic.
He would call you back if you hung up on him—of course, in the wizarding world, she'd have to suffice with flooing over to you after a fight.
He'd call just to talk, long endless conversations about nothing in particular—but mean the world to you.
He would stay beside you, awake even when tired, just to watch you sleep. Hermione couldn't help it; she was a sucker for a little romance.
She believed that a guy was worth keeping if he kissed your forehead…if he wants the world to know how great you are.
That is a guy worth keeping.
A man who wouldn't be embarrassed to be with you in front of his friends. A guy who tells you he cares, a guy who thinks you are special, a guy who points you out in a crowd and says 'that's her'.
Now that she thought about it. That wasn't a few simple rules. That was a whole list. And Malfoy, it seemed…could actually fall into her perfect guy category. If he tried just a little bit in some areas.
"I'm in so much trouble." Hermione murmured as she fell back onto Charlotte's bed.
"I'd say you're screwed."
Hermione could only laugh as her semi-normal world began to cave in around her.
A/N: ...Review...
