Romancing the Stone: Chapter 6

The Hall of Mirrors

by Iridian

Hermione woke up to the sound of chirping birds and sunlight. She didn't know why exactly she was so willing to deal with said chirping that morning, and managed to make it a positive…but…that's unimportant. She got slowly off her bed, smiling slightly, and walked over to her bathroom.

Unfortunately, Hermione conveniently forgot that she shared that bathroom.

With Draco Malfoy.

Who happened to wear black, silk boxers to sleep.

And who grinned rather disarmingly as Hermione squeaked and shut the door.

Well, Hermione managed to turn that one into a positive too.

Draco stood in the bathroom, wondering what the hell just happened.

Hermione had walked in with an almost euphoric, if dazed smile on her face.

Luckily, Draco had fast enough reflexes to smirk at her before she shut the door.

Draco considered if it was himself who had put the smile on her face. It wasn't impossible, he did it all the time, though they usually ended up throwing themselves at his feet…

He sighed, and turned to walk back to his room to get dressed.

---

Hermione walked down to the Great Hall in good spirits, fairly skipping down the stairways.

Draco swept in soon afterwards, a small half-smile on his face.

If people wondered, they kept their mouths shut.

But only a few things could make two people that happy.

---

In Hogsmeade, the usual was occurring, matronly witches bustling around, old wizards debating, and excited young children floating around on toy broomsticks. Draco looked around, his face schooled into a calm, pacifistic expression, his grey eyes sweeping over the crowd.

Ron and Harry were arguing over where they wanted to go, Ginny rolling her eyes at the two, an exasperated sigh making its way past her lips.

Hermione shut her eyes briefly, as if experiencing intense pain, then opened them again, her expression resigned.

Draco arched one eyebrow at the verbally dueling two, noting with only slight interest how pathetic their insults and arguments were.

"We're going to Honeydukes, then to Puddifoot's," said Draco, immediately dismissing whatever the two wanted to stay, heading off in the direction of Honeydukes.

Ginny and Hermione followed, grateful that one of them finally cut in and made a decision.

Ron and Harry followed, avoiding each others' gazes while trying to hide their hunger as they gazed at the chocolate shop that was coming closer and closer into view.

Draco stepped into Honeydukes, casting a perfunctory glance at the sugar quills, floating sherbet balls, and huge bars of chocolate that were the Honeydukes' trademark.

Ron immediately began loading his arms with candy and chocolate.

The rest of them followed at a more sedate pace, picking out different concoctions made of pure sugar, a little coloring, and a touch of magic.

Of course, Ron managed to get a eyeful of the newest Spider Sorbet, with new seemingly-alive spiders that ran around in your mouth while you ate it. And of course, Ron promptly screamed faintly and plastered himself against the wall, almost indistinguishable whispers of "Mommy…" escaping from his mouth.

The five left soon afterwards, leaving the sweets behind despite their obvious charms, and trekked over to Madame Puddifoot's for sustenance of a more substantial kind.

---

"Hello, dears. What would you all like today?" said the matronly witch, smiling warmly down on the five. Her eyes lingered on each person, taking notice of the seating arrangement.

Ginny was sitting next to Harry, who was sitting next to Ron. Hermione sat on Ginny's other side, Draco sitting next to her. The five had chosen one of the round tables in the back, in a dimly lit corner in the warm café. This particular arrangement had been chosen so as to minimize the amount of food Ron would steal from someone's plate, considering he was sitting in between the Prince of Slytherins and well…Harry.

Harry and Ron both ordered warm butterbeers with cherry jubilee ice cream, and a stack of chocolate chip cookies meant for the whole table to share.

The others, wisely, didn't get pulled into that charade, and ordered their own food.

Ginny ordered a cinnamon and ginger infused coffee from the imported from the Philippines, with a slice gingersnap-crumb cheesecake. Hermione ordered got the same, but got honey and nutmeg chamomile tea instead.

Draco got a vanilla mocha latte, and crème brulee.

The other three stared at him for a moment, until he explained that is was a French dessert. He was part French after all.

"You're part French?" questioned Hermione.

"Malfoy comes from Malfoi, we just changed it when we came to England," said Draco.

Hermione furrowed her brow. "I don't actually know your whole name."

The other three agreed, wondering how they had known Draco since first year and had never actually known his full name.

"Draconis Khan Alexander Malfoy. I have some titles attached to that name too," said Draco, his aristocratic bearing being put into new light.

Ginny whistled appreciatively. "No wonder you're on Witch Weekly's Hottest Bachelors List, hon."

Draco winked at her. "It's my devilishly good looks, love."

Ron screwed his eyes shut, willing the image of his little sister flirting with Draco away from his mind. Far, far away.

Harry and Hermione both looked away, their faces burning with embarrassment and a strange tightness in their chests.

Thankfully, the food came and the five hungry teenagers dug into the steaming food.

The food disappeared at an alarmingly fast rate, and soon enough, they were thanking Madame Puddifoot and putting on their jackets to leave the café.

The five walked out of the coffee shop, stomachs sated for the moment, and headed out into the wintery streets of Hogsmeade. Ron had already left them when he had very calmly pointed out that, "Oh look, there's Lavender, suppose I pop in and say hello," and had very promptly run off, his ears red with cold and embarrassment, and was currently offering his arm to said girl when the other four had heaved big sighs and left him.

Ginny had already meandered off, idly picking at snow in a snowdrift, Harry trailing behind her.

"Today is absolutely gorgeous," said Hermione, sitting down on a snow covered bench, her eyes lifted to the sky.

"Bloody cold," grumbled Draco, sitting down next to Hermione and busying himself in rewrapping his many layers around him, looking for all intents and purposes like an irate child with incredibly chiseled features. Well, at least that's what Hermione thought.

"Don't be such a baby," snorted Hermione, comfortable herself in a several layers and a warming charm.

Draco chose not to dignify that sentence with a response, and instead settled on casting several warming charms on each part of his body, then separately on each article of clothing.

Hermione glanced over, amused by her companions nonexistent capacity for cold.

"How did you ever live in the Slytherin dorms?" said Hermione.

"It's not that I can't take the cold, Granger," drawled Draco, "But if I am presented with an opportunity not to be, I take every precaution not to be."

Hermione simply raised an eyebrow, then turned to fumble around with something on the bench next to her.

Draco turned. "What are you mess-."

Hermione shoved a handful of snow into his face, cackling madly while trying to sprint away in the middle of a snowdrift.

Startled, he slowly raised a hand to his face, wiping the cold snow off, his expression completely murderous. He whipped his wand out and his features settled into an emotionless mask.

"It's war, Granger. Accio Firebolt!"

Draco's signature black and silver Firebolt came zooming towards him a minute afterwards, and he hopped on, using his wand to levitate several snowballs with him.

Hermione shrieked, trying to run faster, forgetting all about her wand in her panic.

Draco smirked, flying over to Hermione and dropped a few dozen pounds of snow directly on her head.

He watched, his face smug, the huge white pile of snow, the entire pile completely unmoving. His satisfied grin began falling off his face as several minutes passed.

Time passed, and he began to get a little worried.

She's fine...right? She's a witch...oh God, it's not moving at all. It's not moving at all...

Draco threw aside the pile of snow with his wand, practically falling off his broom in his mad rush to reach the small figure he had uncovered.

"Hermione?"

He wiped the snow frantically off of her, casting a warming charm on her and settling her head into his arms.

"Hermione!"

To his immense relief, Hermione soon began heaving great breaths, her chest rising and falling in her efforts.

Draco let out a breath, his heart rate calming but his mind spinning at the possible consequences of his actions.

"Are you alright?" said Draco, his voice strained as he peered intensely into her face, regret and guilt flashing across his face.

Hermione could only nod, before Draco lifted her up, telling her that he was bringing her to her room, no questions asked, he needed to be sure she was alright.

They passed a startled Harry and Ginny who were informed in no uncertain terms that their day was to be cut short, they could go do something, but we're going back to the castle, maybe we'll see you later?

Hermione nestled herself into Draco, still somewhat startled by his sudden show of gentlemanly chivalry, his body heat and warming charms keeping her protected from the chill. She decided not to protest. Just to indulge him, that's all.

Draco was not a happy camper. He had nearly just killed the lov-, uh, Hermione. If Merlin didn't decide to strike him down now, he'd be surprised. He didn't even know why this was such a big deal. He should be celebrating damn it, but a nagging feeling of guilt and surprisingly, betrayal was following him.

He was currently storming through a shortcut that he took all the time when he was alone, which incidentally led directly up the Head rooms.

He looked up, his eyes taking in terribly unfamiliar surroundings.

What the hell?

Unfortunately, he realized that he had no idea where they were anymore.

Hmm…maybe I took a wrong turn. Draco turned that thought over a couple of times in his head. Nah…I don't do that. Malfoys don't make wrong turns. What was I thinking? A disbelieving snort came out, followed by a slightly more derisive snort, and he quickly settled back into finding out where they were.

Hermione looked up when her carrier came to a stop, her eyes reluctantly opening to find completely deserted and strange surroundings.

Thin emerald green and dark blue pinstriped the walls, punctuated by a seemingly endless parade of tasteful silver gilt mirrors. Dark oaken floors reflected the dim lighting of the small antique light fixtures on the walls, and the ornate crystal chandeliers that paraded down the center of the ceiling.

Draco looked around, seeing only mirrors for as far as he could see. The person in his arms gasped when the mirrors began to shimmer a dull silver, the surfaces becoming a milky silvery opaque color. The wisps of color began to swirl, revealing the face of a silvery jester's face.

The face cackled, the ghostlike bells on his hat chiming morbidly in the dead silence.

"Welcome to the Hall of Mirrors, children.

I am Tsangoros, the jester,

Please do hesitate to ask me questions,

Because I only

Answer five questions,

And five only,

And surely you will ask the right ones,

Or keep me company for eternity!"

The jester's face morphed into a happy smile, the mouth gaping open to reveal the mirror's surface.

Draco set Hermione down, the two looking quietly at each other, trying to figure out the meaning of the jester.

Hermione looked at Draco, who nodded in acquiescence.

"How do we get out of here?"

"The first of five questions,

and only five only,

Tsangoros shall answer.

The question, dear children,

Will not be Tsangoros' to answer,

But only, only, each other."

Draco's eyebrows drew together.

"What kind of question?"

"Twice you have asked me,

And twice I shall answer,

Quandaries of the heart,

That go unspoken, mostly,

Shall be the question,

Of which you must ask,

Or stay forever with me."

"Why do you do this?"

"Thrice is the count,

Twice to go.

To face the truth of the matter

Or matters,

Sometimes fate must resort to drastic measures,

To achieve.

The ends justify the means!"

The jester laughed maniacally, the chiming of bells ringing louder in the silence.

"What is the question?"

"Fourth is the question,

And just one more to answer.

Cannot be answered."

"What? You have to answer all the questions!" shouted Draco, irate.

The jester only smiled grotesquely in response, his pupil-less eyes turning up in mirth.

Hermione was just opening her mouth to ask their last question when a loud crash came from behind them.

Draco dove, pulling Hermione down beneath him as all the mirrors in the hallway crashed down from the walls, shards of mirror flying all over the place.

Dumbledore swept up to them, his face grave.

"Are you two alright? Well, get back to your rooms, I'll see you at dinner," said Dumbledore, his tone hurried.

Draco frowned, his aristocratic features pulled into a frown.

"Professor Dumbledore, I would really like to know what just-."

Dumbledore turned, cutting of whatever Draco was saying. "Not now."

Draco and Hermione traded glances, nodding briefly at the headmaster before turning to leave the shattered hall of mirrors.

Dumbledore stared sadly after the two. "All in due time…but until then, it is best you do not know the truth."

Draco and Hermione looked briefly at each other, but then quickly turned away. The jester's words replayed themselves in their heads.

Quandaries of the heart,

That go unspoken, mostly,

Shall be the question…

Rowena and Salazar gave each other a look when the two Heads said the password, seemingly lost in their own worlds and not looking at each other.

Day drew to a close, and no more words had been passed between the two.

Both wondered if maybe it would be better that way.

I'm so sorry for the wait, I'll be updating more regularly now, hopefully.

Iri

Thanks to:

Demeter Hera

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