A Siren's Song
Chapter 15
The next morning came quickly, and a bit to soon. Harry nor Hermione were prepared for the sun, nor the arguments that came with it. Ron who. Wasn't talking to Hermione wasn't talking to Harry either, he seemed hostile almost.
Hermione waited for Harry in the common room, before heading to breakfast. The Gryffindor common room was full of hostility toward not only Harry but anyone who supported him. They just couldn't get over the fact that Harry was chosen as a tournament champion along side Cedric Diggery, Viktor Krum and Fleur Delacour.
As Hermione and Harry walked to the Great Hall, they were greeted by Cedric and Viktor. "Good morning," Cedric said.
"Good morning," Hermione said.
"You OK?" Viktor asked.
"We're OK," Hermione said, "how are you?"
"We're doing fine," said Cedric and Viktor.
Hermione giggled, "I'm happy to hear it," she said.
"Are you sure you're alright?" Harry asked, "you seem a bit giddy this morning."
"I'm fine really," she said in a sing song voice, "I'm just trying to be positive."
"Whats wrong?" Cedric asked concerned.
"None of our house mates believe that Harry didn't enter his name into the Goblet of Fire." Hermione sighed, "and it seems that since I sided with Harry, some of our house mates have, not only blacklisted Harry, but me as well."
"House mates are supposed to be supportive, yes?" Viktor asked in his deep Bulgarian accent.
"That is what one would normally assume," Hermione said speaking in turn for Harry again. She was determined not to let anyone get away with being rude to him. "but it seems in this case we were mistaken."
"What about your Weasley twins?" Viktor asked,
Harry smiled at the pair of them, "they didn't seem to be against me from the start," Harry said, "but they just wanted to know how I did it. It was Hermione that convinced them that if I said I didn't do it than I didn't do it. She really is the best friend that a guy can get."
"We know," Cedric said with a smile, "if everyone could be so lucky to have someone like her in their life."
Hermione blushed, this was the first time that she had talked this much to them in front of someone she was close to. It was a little embarrassing, not that she didn't enjoy talking to them. It was just a bit unnerving to have Harry along for the wonderful conversation.
"Well we'll leave you go to breakfast," Cedric said, "I'm off to the library to drop off some books that I borrowed. You wouldn't be planning a study session tonight after dinner would you?"
"I'm not entirely sure," she said shyly, "but I think that Ginny, Neville might accompany me if I did."
"Then perhaps I shall see you then," Cedric said, taking her hand into his. He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. She let her hand sit passively in his, allowing him to do the lifting and the kissing. She tried not to blush, but her plan was thwarted when Viktor copied his actions.
Harry stood there passively, watching the display. If he hadn't know that they were interested in her, he would think that they were trying to convey their interests in her. Hermione blushed prettily as the the boys took a turn kissing her hand and bidding her fare well.
"Well that was interesting," Harry said vaguely in a amused tone, "so you see them often Hermione?"
Hermione blushed and giggled a bit as they watched Cedric and Viktor walk away in different directions. "I see them every morning, sometimes before lunch, and a lot of the time after dinner either in the library or uh on the way to to the common room."
"And you still manage to find time to study and spend time with Fred and George, not to mention Neville and Ginny." Harry said, "your not using the time turner again are you?"
"No, of course not," Hermione scoffed in a disgruntled tone, "You know I turned that in to professor Dumbledore at the end of last year."
"Just teasing Hermione," Harry said, "now what say you we get something to eat?"
"Sounds like a plan," Hermione said to Harry as they finished their journey to the Great Hall.
Sitting down at the table, the two of them seemed a bit segregated, there was murmuring and whispering all around them. Hermione put her hand on Harry's and smiled a smile that cheered him to his bones. He couldn't help but smile back.
Ginny and Neville came and sat in the empty seats across to Harry and Hermione, "good morning," Ginny said, "how are the two of you?"
"We're good," Hermione said, "we're dealing with it, I'm sure things will work out eventually."
"OK," Ginny said picking up a piece of toast and buttering it, "where are Fred and George?"
"I haven't talked to them since last night," Hermione said. There was no tone to her voice, so Ginny couldn't tell if she was upset or not. "I'm sure they'll be down in a bit."
"Hermione," Ginny said trying to console her, sure she didn't seem that she needed consoled but Hermione didn't usually wear her feelings on her sleeve.
Hermione threw her a dazzling smile, before she finished eating her breakfast. No sooner than she picked up her fork to cut into her eggs, did Fred and George waltz into the Great Hall.
"Good Morning," Fred said, sitting in the free spot next to Hermione, "How are you this morning?"
"Good," she said with a smile. Harry moved over so that George could sit where he was sitting at.
George wrapped his arm around Hermione's shoulders giving her a partial hug before filling his own plate. "I'm sorry about not believing in you Harry," George said turning to Harry, "if you say you didn't do it, then you didn't. You need any help at all, George and I have your back."
"thanks guys," Harry said, "that means a lot to me. Now if everyone else would have a little faith in me, everything would be great."
"I'm sure they'll come around," Ginny said, "Ron will come around once he realizes that he's being a Berk."
"Once he realizes that only an idiot would face down death for eternal glory, he'll come around." Lavender said sitting down on the other side of Neville.
"How do you know?" Ginny asked kindly.
"I just know," Lavender said, "call it intuition if you will. After the first task is said and done, he'll be singing a different tune, or talking a different tune. I'm sure he'll come around about you to Hermione, he's been feeling bad about all the things he's said, he's just not sure how to get around all that yet."
"How do you know all that?" Hermione asked suddenly curious.
"We talk a lot," Lavender said with a blush lining her cheeks. Hermione could tell that she like that idiot Ron., "and when he's not trying to teach me Chess, and I'm not helping him study for his assignments. Which is very hard by the way. I have no idea how you can handle him all the time, he's very hard to motivate."
Harry and Hermione laughed slightly, "anyway, he confides in me some days. So when he comes back to you guys and apologizes, which he will, you should give him a second chance. He knows he's in the wrong, he just doesn't know how to say he's wrong."
"You like him," Ginny said smirking.
"Perhaps," Lavender said her cheeks still alight with a reddish tint. She didn't say anything else as she started eating her breakfast. Hermione couldn't help but smile at the girl, she really should make more of an effort to talk to her dorm mates.
Soon it was time to go to class, so Hermione, Harry, Neville, as well as the other 4th years scuffled off to their first class of the day. Hermione and Harry along with Neville, in the spot where Ron used to be. Followed by the rest of the class. Seamus and Dean were bemoaning going to class, while Parvati and Lavender were telling them to suck it up, and to get moving. Ron took up the rear, eying up the group in front wearily. For some reason he was so very angry with Harry, he'd never felt so angry before. The year seemed to be going all pear shaped. To think that he wished for a bit of excitement, he was starting to wish the year quiet and boring, perhaps then he wouldn't feel so wretchedly angry.
…
The day seemed to pass rather slowly, in terms of time. By the time lunch came around Hermione was ready to return to the dorms and take a nap. The last few hours of the morning felt like years, what she really needed was a nap, possibly a wonderful cup of tea and sum cookies.
Sitting at the table in the Great Hall, Hermione sighed a deep sigh before taking a drink from her cup. "What's wrong?" Fred asked.
"it feels as if the day is dragging on and on," she said, "I'm a bit tired."
"what class do you have after this?" Fred asked.
"Defense with Professor Moody," Hermione said with a sigh, "not that I don't enjoy the class. It's very informative. I just feel as though the last few hours have been days instead of just a few hours."
"Perhaps you should go to bed early tonight," George said, "we don't want you getting sick."
"I'm sure I'm fine," Hermione said with a small smile.
"If you say so dear," Fred said patting her hand with his own, "how about a refreshing cup of tea? I'm sure that will help brighten your spirits."
"I'm sure that it would," Hermione said taking the cup from Fred, "thank you very much."
The twins watched as Hermione savored the warm cup of tea. They watched as she cupped the cup in her hands before brining it to her nose to inhale the heavenly aroma, before taking a sip. They both silently wished that they were the cup. Oh to have her lips caress theirs would be a heavenly experience. They were determined to win a kiss from her before Christmas, they would have to come up with something that allowed them to sneak or even openly steal one from her. Perhaps some twin trickery was in order?
As everyone finished their lunch, they stood gathering their things in order to head to their next class. The 4th years were off to Defense, surely it would be an interesting class.
Once again, Moody targeted Harry in his testing of spell and how to avoid or shield against them. Nothing to dangerous; but 'He' thought it was prudent that they be prepared for anything. Obviously a war was coming, it was just a matter of time before they headed against it; and Potter and his friends had been fighting it since first year.
After they went through the theory, and notes and testing, they were divided up into pairs. "No don't pair with someone you like," Professor Moody said, "it will work much better if you are paired with someone you honestly dislike."
No one really wanted to move, it seemed that nearly everyone was displeased with Harry and his band of merry fellows lately. Perhaps a bit of house disloyalty was the order of the day.
"Malfoy, you pair up with Weasley, Nott your with the Granger girl," Professor Moody called, "Goyle your with Brown, Parkinson your with Patil. The rest of you pair up together." after everyone stood around for a minute or so practically refusing to move, "Get a move on, we haven't all day."
reluctantly everyone while grunting and groaning moved to stand across from their new partner for the day. "now I really want you to put your feelings into it, I want you to take turns hexing your opponent while the other blocks. The pair left standing the longest gets the pleasure of facing the teacher."
"You can't be serious," Malfoy said, "isn't it against the rules for teachers to hex their students?"
"No its not," Hermione said, "as long as were in a class setting it's considered learning. I looked it up after we went over the unforgivable unit. As long as he doesn't use anything that can really hurt us, it's only frowned upon."
"Suddenly I wish it weren't allowed," Neville said aloud.
Professor Moody laughed most evilly before continuing on, "get practicing, we've only a half hour or so left of class."
And so it began, the students who threw the first hex, threw the hex half heartedly because no one wanted to be the one to face Moody. Perhaps they could arrange it so that Harry was the one who faced off against the professor.
Hermione and Theodore to each others surprise was very good at dueling, "do you duel often," Hermione asked, "your very good."
"Thank you," Theodore said returning her Hex for one of his own. He didn't want to hurt her; but he didn't want to go down without a fight.
"You are very much welcome," she said returning his hex, for one of her own. They dueled like this for a while, before class was deemed over. Professor Moody barked the homework assignment at them on their way out the door.
"What on earth was that?" Draco asked, "since when are you nice to the Gryffindor Princess?"
"What?" Theodore asked, "what are you talking about, I was being civil. She really is very good a dueling."
"So that's no reason to be nice to her," Draco said, "thats like fraternizing with the enemy."
Theodore and Blaze busted out into peels of laughter on the way to their next class, "Oh Draco," Blaise said, "you crack me up. Really you should be a Muggle Comedian your so funny."
"It wasn't that funny," Draco said dramatically.
"sure it was," Blaise said, "come on lets get to class before we loose all the good seats."
They hurried to Ancient Runes, to find that Hermione was the only one who was there. "How on earth did you get here before us?" Draco asked annoyed.
Ignoring him as much as she could she just shrugged her shoulders and dove back into reading the next chapter in the book before class began. Sure she had read the entire book before the start of term but she wanted to recap. The Slytherin boys watched her intently as she read from the text, she seemed to be humming to herself.
To Draco she didn't seem anything interesting to look at, as far a looks went. Her hair was still a bit bushy although longer than it was the previous year. Her skin had a healthy tan, that she probably gained during the summer. She was still shorter than him, he didn't see what so many boys seemed to see in her. He couldn't figure out how Krum could be into her. She really wasn't all that pretty, although he had to admit that she was far from being ugly; but as far a beauty went, he though other girls in their year were far prettier.
Though Theodore thought the same of her as Draco he had to admit that she changed a lot since the end of third year. He hadn't been present when she had punched Draco in the nose before disappearing to Hagrid's to try and console him on the loss of the Hippogriff. He couldn't help but grinning, as he looked back on it. She really was his match in all things if ever there was one; well perhaps not romantically.
To Blaise she was the Gryffindor Princess, she seemed to have almost changed over night. Most of Slytherin forgot that he lived in Italy when he wasn't in school. Sure his mother wasn't around a lot but it was still his home. His mother had just remarried for the third time, in 15 years. His birth father had died around the time he was born because he refuted The Dark Lord's will. In order to protect his family he moved them to a secure house in Italy and became the only Secret Keeper for the manor. His mother second husband died just 2 or three years ago because of a deadly disease that up until a year ago had no cure; The Dragon Pox was a deadly disease that wasn't quite related to the Muggle version of Chicken Pox. It was a common child disease, but sometimes if contracted by adults it could be deadly.
So over the summer his mother married again for the third time. Actually she declared to Blaise that should another husband die due to mysterious causes she was swearing off men forever. So far as he could tell from his mothers letters everything was going swell.
In the summer around the time of his mothers wedding, he could have sworn that he had seen the Granger girl at a cafe or two. He had seen her with her Muggle parents, they were touring. He saw her nearly every morning little cafe for a cup of coffee. She spoke Italian very well, for being 14, if he had to hazard a guess he would think she visited Italy on more than one occasion.
The three Slytherin boys were interrupted from their train of thought when the rest of the students entered follow by the teacher.
Professor Babbling stood behind her desk before putting class work up on the board that stood next to her desk. "I want to see if you've been paying attention in my class," she said in a clear crisp voice, "while you are doing that I would like to see you each individually. I have some assignments to return to you, we'll start with Hufflepuff."
As Hermione worked on the assignment on the board, she could help but hum a Muggle tune to herself. Really the only students who would know of Snow White and the Seven Dwarf's were the Muggle born students in the class. Some of the students in close range to her could hear that she had a very pretty humming voice, well if you can compare humming to singing anyways.
Soon after Hermione finished deciphering the runes on the board her name was called. She stood from her desk and flounced towards the teachers desk. Some of the students were surprised to see the very serious, no kidding, Gryffindor Princess Know-It-All, walking in a way that looked like she was almost dancing. Some were slightly amused, some were a bit concerned that she was possibly going a little nutty. Poor girl, Draco thought, she might actually be nutters. Then he snickered quietly to himself before finishing up the assignment.
After they left the class, "what are you laughing about?" Theodore asked.
"I think the Gryffindor Princess might be going around the bend so to speak," Draco said laughing.
"Why do you say that?" Blaise asked.
"I dunno she looks like she's almost dancing down the hall," Draco said, "I've never seen anything so ridicules."
"You mean except when Pansy drapes herself all over you, and calls you Dracypoo?"
"Besides that." Draco said with a growl.
They goofed as only Slytherin boys could on the way to the common room. It was the end of the day and they had very little homework to complete, nothing that couldn't be finished after dinner, or before dinner with a quick visit to the library.
Hermione on the other hand stopped by the common room. There was no one there however as she went up to her dorm room and dropped off her book. She traded out the books in her sack for the ones that she had assignments for. Grabbing a blanket, for just in case purposes, and a loaded book bag she walked towards the great hall. After looking to see who of her class mates were in the Great Hall and find none, she walked to the library. After returning some books she walked towards the lake.
Slytherin's as they are sometimes need to feel sneaky and annoying. So three Slytherin boys crept out towards the lake, following the girl that none of them could quite get a handle on. She seemed so out of character lately, she hadn't even been raising her hand in class which gave others the option to answer. Only after others were given the chance of not knowing did she raise her hand to answer, and then she was giving only vague answers. Needless to say some of her classmates as long with the teachers were a bit confused with the way she had been acting.
Hermione sat in the grass just before the shoreline became sand and rocks, on her blanket. Her books were spread out around her, like an alcove of treasure. Hermione was oblivious to anything around her, let alone three spying Slytherin's.
"What are we doing?" Blaise whispered to Draco.
"Were watching her for any sign of amusement," Draco answered back in hushed tones.
"Why?" Theodore asked a tad confused. Since when did Draco spy on annoying Gryffindor know-it-alls?
"Because I'm bored," Draco said in a bored whispered tone, "and we've nothing better to do. Maybe she'll do something interesting that we can use against her later."
"I'd hate to say it," Blaise whispered in turn, "but your about as obsessed as your father is with the girl. I mean really you've taken to spying on her. Taunting her and calling her names when ever you see her. And to top it all off you've warned her that your father may or may not be very interested in having her for whatever it is he may want her for. I mean really she probably already knew about that. You told us what he said at the Quidditch World Cup. But do you really have to look out for her, or taunt her every waking moment. I'm starting to think that you like her."
Was silent for a long while, he didn't quite know how to explain the situation. He father had sent another letter asking far to many questions about the girl for his liking. When he wrote his father the letter asking about him wanting to know so much about the Mudblood. His father answered back that it was none of his bloody business and to just do as he was told. He mentioned that age had nothing to do with it, weather he like that barely pubescent teen or not. She certainly looked more than a pubescent teen to him, but he wasn't about to tell his father that to his face. That was a death wish waiting to happen.
So when his father wrote telling him to keep an eye on the chit, getting her routine down for when in Hogsmeade. He took to trying to keep an eye out on her, he didn't trust his father to not do something rash. Not that the girl should matter to him anyway, she was just a stupid Mudblood chit who happened to be the best friend of the Boy-Who-Just-Wouldn't-Quit, and also the smartest girl in their class. He had to step up his A game and actually try to do well in class, just so that his Godfather would stop pestering him.
"Look don't ask," Draco whispered turning his back on the girl, "I can't really tell you anything. But father has told me to keep an eye on her. More like threatened my life actually, I don't dare go against him. I'm actually afraid that he might do something stupid. She's already gone to Dumbledore about her concerns, King Weasel actually came to the school for a meeting with her and Ginny about safety in Hogsmeade."
"So your not infatuated with her then?" Theodore asked as if anything else had mattered.
"No Theo I'm not," Draco whispered with a sigh.
"Well that's fine then," Theodore said, "as long as you not starting to like the girl I shall say nothing else."
"Why Theo," Blaise taunted, "you starting to like her huh? You work one class together with her and you're already gathering a crush."
"I am not," Theodore whispered haughtily.
"I think he doth protest to much," Blaise said.
"Huh?" Theo and Draco said together.
"It's from one off Shakespeare's plays," Blaise said.
"Huh?" Theodore said.
"Whose-a-what-sit?" Draco asked.
"Never mind," Blaise said, "it's a Muggle writer you wouldn't understand it."
"OK," Theodore and Draco said together.
They continued on watching the Gryffindor girl, mostly in silence. Whispering to each other from time to time about various things. It was getting close to dinner time, as they watched the girl down on the blanket seemed to have laid down while they weren't paying any attention. She may or may not have been sleeping when the caught the sight of to redheaded boys walking down to her. They were to old to be the younger Weasley boy so it must have been the twins.
The Slytherin trio watched as the twins sat down on the blanked next to her. The one shook her arm while the other smoothed her hair away from her face. The watched nearly entranced as the girl sat up and smiled the most perfect smile. They were talking about something when her smile fell of her face and she scowled a little. The one boy helped her stand while the other helped her gather her books and assignments and put them into her bag.
"what do you think they're talking about?" Blaise asked.
"I've no idea," Draco said, "what ever it is they're talking about she's not very happy."
As the three walked passed where the Slytherin trio were hiding they heard a snippet of the conversation.
"Oh first I'm betraying him," the Granger girl said angrily, "and because I go outside for a few hours for some peace and quiet to get some assignments done I'm suddenly abandoning him. What's next are they going to say I'm smothering him? Is your brother going to say that I've mutated from best friend into mother of the year? Ugh, I hate to admit it but your brother is grating on my nerves."
The Weasley twins couldn't help it, they busted up into bouts of hysterical laugher, "guys, it wasn't that funny," she said trying to hold back a smile, at the twins antics.
It wasn't long before she was in a merry state and the tree of them were off to the Great Hall for dinner.
After they were well on their way and out of hearing and seeing distance, the Slytherin's busted up into laughter. "Mother of the year," Blaise said, "thats funny."
"I'll only say this once," Draco said, "any any repeating of it and I'll deny it totally; but that was very funny. I wonder tho what she was saying about betraying and abandoning. It must be about Potter, the stupid weasel must know that she would never abandon Potter. The way she stuck up for him last night surely they would never question her loyalty. I mean potter may have cheated his way in but that girl is loyal to a fault. I bet that if he decided to try and break into Gringotts she would be right there with him, no second thoughts."
There was nothing else said after that, they headed towards the Great Hall. They silently wondered if perhaps they were starting to see the Granger girl in a better light. Nah, all three voiced in their heads, although secretly they would all kill for the loyalty of a friend like the seemingly crazy Gryffindor Princess. After all having a friend like that couldn't ever be bad, right?
A/N: I wanted to make the chapter longer but I'm not sure where I want to go next.. and it seemed like the best place to end a chapter (4,673 words took me forever to write.) I am very sorry for the long wait, I know two weeks can seem such a long time between updates. I shall however endeavor to get the next chapter up sooner rather than later. But first I must write it.
How did you like my take on the Slytherin Trio? I thought that perhaps Draco should show an ounce of concern for the girl, but not really show it to her face. I'll try to make him the same uncivil git he usually is, when in public. Ah but I think pretty boy might actually have a conscious.
I do not own Harry potter, nor shall I ever try to make profit from this story or any other I like.
