And here we go again!
Hermione's point of view, some sneaking and sparks ;D
Hermione was getting rather bored of her first day feast. The same conversation with Percy could only keep her going so long. So it was with some surprise that she overheard Ron talking to Harry and Neville about Draco.
"I thought he was alright, you know? But he got put in Slytherin… There's not a witch or wizard who went dark that wasn't in Slytherin."
"Really?" Harry spoke in a quiet voice, peering over Ron's head to get a better look at the Slytherin table. "But He seemed really nice, and… never mind"
And the hat wanted to put me in Slytherin,was the rest of that unspoken sentence. Slytherin prejudice, well Hermione wasn't going to stand for that rubbish.
She snorted "What a load of rubbish! Honestly, you can't really believe that someone is evil based on his or her house? Honestly I thought wizards were more evolved."
Ron's face flushed heatedly, "Well what do you know about it? You'd never even heard of Hogwarts before your letter!"
She drew herself up "I can read you know, Merlin himself was a Slytherin which you'd know if you picked up a book once in a while." And pulling out her best impersonation of Mrs Weasley, "I thought that you would be more accepting of others Ronald and make up your own mind about them and not cave to others prejudice." She held her imposing stare, until the ginger boy deflated.
"Yeah, yeah. I guess…" He grumbled, thoughtfully looking at the Slytherin table, shoulders hunched slightly.
Nodding in satisfaction, she turned back to her conversation only to find Percy watching her warily. His shoulders were also hunched and he had ducked his head as though trying to appear smaller. "Um, where were we?" she spoke pleasantly, jolting Percy who shook his head bewilderedly then straightened up again.
The feast continued as normal and, with Dumbledore's final words and a half-hearted attempt at the Hogwarts school song, they all marched out of the hall towards their respective dormitories. She caught a glimpse of Draco and he laughed and waved at her. She flipped him off and he seemed delighted with that, laughing harder and sending back his own two-fingered salute, before vanishing into the bowels of Hogwarts.
Three million flights of shifting stairs, multiple trips through tapestries and one altercation with Peeves, finally led them to the portrait of the Fat Lady. Percy stuck out his chest nose in the air and loudly proclaimed "Caput Draconis".
After they all scrambled in through the portrait hole, Hermione bid good night to the boys before following Lavender and the other girls up the spiral staircase to the top, where their dorm awaited.
They were all a bit groggy and tired from such a long day, so after quick introductions, they all got ready for bed. Hermione knew she would be spending the next seven to eight years with these girls and wanted to make a good first impression. She made a conscious effort to smile and engage with the others, whilst meticulously getting ready for bed.
She was a bit ashamed to say, that the first time around she had not really given them much of a chance, thinking them immature. Now however, she could see that they were just children, excited and nervous about being in a new place. Lavender and Parvarti were always going to be insatiable gossips, but they were really nice girls. Fey and Kellah she didn't know very well, but they were always pleasant to her. Maybe the first few months didn't have to be so lonely for her again. That and there was always Draco…
Thinking of, she took her wand out and quickly set a charm to wake her up at quarter past eleven, just in case she fell asleep. She slid the wand under her pillow and paused, Fey was watching her curiously.
"Just setting an alarm for the morning!" She smiled sheepishly, causing Fey's jaw to drop.
"Oh you have to show me that! How come you know how to do it? Did your mum teach you? Oh I'm so envious! Mum wouldn't let me have a go at ANY spells!" the girl had sat herself down on the corner of Hermione's bed drawing the attention of the others in the room.
"Actually" Deep breath, they don't know you're an adult. "I'm muggleborn… I got a book on simple spells for beginners and tried a few on the train on the way up, you know, just to see if I could?"
This elicited lots of excited mutterings. She ended up getting the book from her trunk and spent the next half hour teaching the other girls how to cast the tempest charm. She left the beginner book on her side table, and told the others to help themselves. Never let it be said that Hermione Granger discouraged learning. She knew all those spells by heart anyway; she had from the time she brought the book after her first trip to Diagon alley.
In no time at all, gentle snores echoed around their tower room, each child exhausted from the long day. Hermione herself dozed intermittently, too worried about missing her 'night-time meeting with Malfoy'. Oh if her younger… Previous younger? Self could see her now! She'd give herself quite the telling off.
A small smile pulled at her lips, as her wand began to vibrate and make a small chime. She silenced it quickly, throwing off the covers and chucking on her dressing gown and slippers. Closing her curtains and charming them shut, just in case, she slipped from the room like a ghost.
She dashed down the spiral staircase, ears straining and eyes wide. Her heart was beating traitorously loud in her eardrums, as she glided across the common room, just another shadow in the dark.
The difficult bit would be getting in and out without the Fat Lady Knowing. Hermione had come up with a sneaky trick that should, should being the operative word here; allow her to open the frame without waking the portrait. Approaching the back of the frame quietly, eyes scanning the common room for any observant; Hermione listened for the Fat Lady's snores.
Judging the portrait to be asleep, Hermione pulled out some loose strands of her hair and twisted them together. Carefully lowering to the base of the painting, she stuck the strands of hair by one end to the corner of the frame. Quietly she pushed open the frame, and slid from the portrait hole to the floor at the base of the frame, hand gripping the other end of the hairs tightly.
Now for the charm, keeping her voice low she attached the hair to the outside of the frame, creating a link. "Custodi aperta porta." The hair flared gold for a moment before dulling back to her usual brown. There, that should allow her, and only her, to enter the common room without the assistance of the Fat Lady.
Spinning her wand and tapping it on her head, Hermione disillusioned herself. She moved swiftly across the corridor, the cold seeping through her slippers. Shadows were jumping out at her as she rapidly descended the staircase and slipped through the passage that would lead her directly to the seventh floor corridor.
Halting behind the tapestry that concealed the passageway, Hermione cast the revelio charm. A small sigh escaped as the result came back negative. Carefully, just in case, she slid from behind the heavy material hoping that it would look like a gust of wind, if there were anybody there.
The corridor was silent and dark.
Almost holding her breath, Hermione stepped up lightly to the hanging tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy. She began pacing, 'I need a room that can only be accessed by Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy.' Three times she paced, three times she repeated that mantra, picturing the old DA room as she did.
The Tapestry began to warp; a dark wooden door appeared, growing into the space previously occupied by Barnabas. It was the same as the DA door, metal hinge accents and all. Feeling a little giddy, she reached forward to grasp the doorknob.
"Very impressive Minister!"
"Holy SHIT" She spun round to see Draco standing there, gazing almost through her at the door. The little sod wasn't even disillusioned, just loitering about in his bright green pyjamas where anybody could spot him. He looked far too pleased with himself.
She opened her mouth to berate him, when they heard scuffling footsteps rushing in their direction. Without further ado, Hermione grabbed the front of Draco's shirt and dragged him bodily through the door into the Room of Requirement. Slamming the door behind her and pressing her ear to it, she waited with bated breath for someone to try the door.
Nothing.
"Calm down Minister, not like anybody knows about this room currently anyway." Draco was adjusting his button up pyjama top, frowning down at the creases now marring the front.
Hermione pursed her lips and gave him 'the look', to which he responded by sticking out his tongue. It was difficult to keep a straight face, as he looked utterly adorable. His pale blond hair stuck up in all directions at the back, and his pyjamas had his initials monogrammed on the pocket. He even had little green slippers to match.
"Uh, I can't even stay mad at you. Look at you! You're too adorable!" She waved her hand at him before stomping past and heading to the centre of the training room.
He quickly followed her, batting his eyelids and pursing his lips, using his hands to frame his face. She swiftly kicked his leg and he stopped pouting to laugh.
"Granger! You've given me more bruises than my whole Quidditch career ever did!" He stated jumping on one leg and clutching his shin, sniggering. Looking quite ridiculous, in Hermione's opinion.
"Stop exaggerating Draco" rolling her eyes Hermione plonked to the ground, crossing her legs.
Still smirking at her, Draco joined her on the floor, sitting with his legs out and leaning back on his palms. His gaze travelled over the room, lingering on the practice duellers a thoughtful look on his face. He cleared his throat, glancing at her quickly.
"This is Potter's training room isn't it? From fifth year?" He sent her a grin that was almost a wince. "I recognise it… y'know, from when…"
"When you came blasting in wands blazing? Yeah I remember. God you were such a twat…"
"Hey! I resemble that remark!"
A comfortable silence fell between the two former enemies, as they both turned to watch the clock on the far side of the room.
Ten minutes.
Nine.
Eight.
Seven.
Six.
Five.
Four.
Three.
They turned to each other and grasped each other's forearms tightly.
Two.
Draco's knuckles were white against her dressing gown, as he clung to her tightly. His face drawn and pale.
One.
Both sets of eyes watched as, in almost slow motion, the minute hand shifted onto the number twelve. The first chime made them both jump, hands clutching tighter as they spared each other a worried glance. Then they waited with baited breath as the rest of the chimes followed.
Sparks began to travel over Draco's body, bright little flashes of light. They jumped across to Hermione and sped over her own skin, tickling as they went. A tense minute passed where they waited for the horrible disintegration and pressure to begin, but nothing happened.
The sparks settled down, sinking back to their skin as the minute hand ticked on. Fingers still clenched tightly Hermione met Draco's eyes.
"Do you think it worked? Should we?" she gestured down with her head, "Should we let go?"
"Can't stay here forever Minister, as much as I'm sure you'd like to…" He flashed her a small grin, but his mouth was turned down at the sides and his eyebrows creased slightly.
With a deep breath Hermione released her grip, Draco's face contorted with panic before he too let go and their arms released.
Nothing.
"Oh thank Merlin" Draco dropped back onto the floor and lay there in a dramatic little heap. His body shook with laughter, and he sighed in relief. "Oh man, I was worried that wouldn't work! Granger you are a Merlin damned genius."
"Why thank you Mr Malfoy." She said primly, shifting her bum across the floor to lie down next to him. "It's nice to be recognised for my intellect."
"Pleasure is all mine"
They lay there for a good 10 minutes in silence. Now they had that little problem sorted, on to the much bigger problem.
"What do you think we should do…" "Granger about the Dark Lo….."
They both paused and Hermione snorted a laugh, "Great minds think alike, ay Draco?"
"From you that is a high compliment indeed! But yeah, I think having him attached to Professor Quirrell is too good an opportunity for us to pass up."
"Agreed" she sighed, "If we can destroy all his Horcruxes we could kill him before the end of the school year."
"I assume you know what they all are?" Draco turned towards her, propping himself up on his elbow.
"Of course", she nodded looking over to him, "The problem is not what they are or where they are, it's destroying them. We had the sword of Gryffindor before."
"So lets go ask Dumbledore for the sword, we can just get the Horcruxes and dump them on his desk or something!" He waved his hand whilst he spoke, looking hopeful.
"Wouldn't work, Harry uses the sword to kill the basilisk in second year. It's that venom that gives the sword the power to kill the bits of Voldemort's soul."
"Okay, okay, so lets get the sword… Go kill the basilisk, thenuse it to kill the Dark Lord's nasty soul bits!" he splayed his hands in a 'ta da' gesture.
"We've also got to get a soul fragment out of Harry".
"Fucking Potter!" Draco dropped back to the floor; he really was a dramatic little shit.
"Lets just focus on getting the ones we can and destroying them, or at least getting them all in one place. Do you have access to your aunt Bellatrix's vault?"
"Uh, maybe? I think Mother is current Primary on the Lestrange estate, being the closest living relative not in Azkaban. I think she has Auntie Bella's wand too, if that helps?"
"Could be useful if we have to sneak in. Think you can convince you mother to remove Helga Hufflepuff's cup from the vault?"
"Probably, might have to show her some memories but I'm confident she'll do it."
"Excellent, we'll need Sirius to gain access to the Black house for the locket. Then it's a matter of finding the Gaunt house for the ring and finding the diadem in the room of hidden things."
"And Potter"
She smacked Draco's shoulder. "We're not killing Harry!"
"I mean taking the soul out! Bloody Hell Granger! The Dark Lord couldn't kill Potter, what chance have I got?"
"Good"
"Great"
"Fine" Hermione sighed and rolled her eyes. "Alright, enough of this… We need to get back to our common rooms and get some sleep. She sat up stiffly, "You'll be alright getting back?"
Draco gave her an odd look, "Well I am a delicate young thing, but I think I'll make it." This earned him another smack and a laugh. "Same time tomorrow Hermione?" He said with a cheeky grin.
"Sure Draco, I'll see what I can do to make meeting up easier for us both. Maybe if we clue in some of the teachers? Not quite yet though."
"Alright, Night Granger." Draco leaned in and gave her a peck on the cheek, "Don't miss me too much!" He ran out the door as she made to swipe at him again.
"Git!" She muttered under her breath, as she disillusioned herself and followed him quietly out the door. The sod was already gone when she entered the corridor, leaving her to navigate her way through the darkened castle in eerie silence.
Once she reached the Fat Lady, she was pleased to see that the portrait was empty. That makes her job easier. Moving with purpose Hermione traced her fingers along the bottom of the frame until she felt the strands of her hair. "Open" she whispered.
She felt a small vibration pass along the strands, and the frame came away from the wall ever so slightly. Double-checking her surroundings, Hermione quietly slid into the hole and then tiptoed up the spiral staircase.
In no time at all she was tucked back up in bed, slipping into a deep sleep. Tomorrow would be the first official day back at school, and to be honest, for the first time Hermione didn't really care about performing well. Guess life is just funny that way.
