When Hermione returned to Hogwarts, she continued her facade of an overbearing Muggle-born but as of late her thoughts were on what she had discovered.
"Are you all right, Hermione?" inquired Lavender.
Lavender had respected Hermione's need for space so she left her to her own thoughts for a few days. Lavender had been spending a lot of time with Paverti Patil, a fellow roommate she had recently befriended. They could talk about anything and everything for hours. Lavender did liked her company but Paverti was not Hermione.
"I'm fine."
"But -" Lavender snapped her mouth shut after catching Hermione's warning glare. The never-mention –it-again one.
Lavender was dying to ask Hermione what happened at her uncle's manor and why did it have such an effect on her like this, but Hermione had her lips sealed tight and closed herself off. The dark circles under Hermione's eyes told that she hadn't slept well in days.
"Are you going down to the Great Hall for the Halloween feast?" asked Lavender.
Lavender thought she could use this opportunity to sit with Hermione with the excuse of holiday greetings. It would be like old times.
"No, Quirrell told me to wait alone in the girls' bathroom through the feast."
Lavender's face fell, "You can't go - what if he plans to hurt you!"
"If he wanted to hurt me, he would've done so a long time ago. Besides, he told me he had a fool proof plan for me to get close to Harry Potter."
"What's the plan?"
"He didn't say." Hermione said, "Also, I need you to causally mention that I'm in the girls' bathroom, alone. Make sure Potter is in hearing distant."
"All right," said Lavender. She set forth to complete her mission in the Great Hall. She was excited that Hermione finally spoke more than a few words to her.
Hermione made her way to the bathroom and picked out a stall to sit and wait in. While there, she pondered what Quirrell's plans were. How was she going to get close to Potter, seeing as she was rude and bossy to him? It was the complete opposite of her previous goals, which was working. Potter didn't despise her, but he was most definitely irritated by her, especially the Weasely. Tired from lack of sleep and overworking herself, Hermione left the stall to splash some icy cold water on her face. After wiping the liquid off with her hands, Hermione's senses were assaulted by a foul stench. Hermione had never smelled anything like it. It was indescribable. The stench was so dreadful that it made Hermione's stomach clench and she retched a few times. She covered her nose and held her breath to prevent herself from fainting.
Hermione heard a low grunt and loud stomping sound coming from outside the door. It also sounded like something large was being scraped across the stone floor. Hermione's eyes snapped to the door when she heard it open. It was a horrible sight. Twelve feet tall, its skin was a dull, granite gray, its great lumpy body like a boulder with its small bald head perched on top like a coconut. It had short legs thick as tree trunks with flat, horny feet. The smell coming from it was incredible. It was holding a huge wooden club, which dragged along the floor because its arms were so long. The troll waggled its long ears, and slouched slowly into the room. Hermione was frightened but she held in her scream. Slowly and as silently as she could, she stepped away from the sink, her mind searched for a hiding place before the troll spotted her. She told herself she was going to be fine as long as she didn't lose control of herself. She could make it to the door and escape and then lock it in the bathroom. Trolls have pea sized-brains and she could out-smart it.
Hermione almost made it to the door when it slammed shut and she heard the clicking of the lock. This was a set up! It was Quirrell's doing? Now, she's got it. She was supposed to be a damsel in distress. If that's what he wants then…she gave out a loud scream. Hearing her screams, the troll advanced on her, knocking the sinks off the walls as it went. She wasn't pretending. She was really petrified, she couldn't move even if she wanted too. She didn't even hear when Harry and Ron came in.
"Confuse it!" Harry said desperately to Ron, and, seizing a tap, he threw it as hard as he could against the wall.
The troll stopped a few feet from Hermione. It lumbered around, blinking stupidly, to see what had made the noise. Its' mean little eyes saw Harry. It hesitated, and then made for him instead, lifting its club as it went.
"Oi, pea-brain!" yelled Ron from the other side of the chamber, and he threw a metal pipe at it. The troll didn't even seem to notice the pipe hitting its shoulder, but it heard the yell and paused again, turning its ugly snout toward Ron instead, giving Harry time to run around it.
"Come on, run, run!" Harry yelled at Hermione, trying to pull her toward the door, but she couldn't move, she was still flat against the wall, her mouth wide with terror.
The shouting and the echoes seemed to be driving the troll berserk. It roared again and started toward Ron, who was nearest and had no way to escape. Harry then did something that was both very brave and very stupid: He took a great running jump and managed to fasten his arms around the troll's neck from behind. The troll couldn't feel Harry hanging there, but even a troll will notice if you stick a long bit of wood up its nose, and Harry's wand had still been in his hand when he'd jumped - it had gone straight up one of the troll's nostrils. Howling with pain, the troll twisted and flailed its club, with Harry clinging on for dear life; any second, the troll was going to rip him off or give him a terrible blow with the club. Hermione had sunk to the floor in fright; Ron pulled out his own wand - not knowing what he was going to do he heard himself cry the first spell that came into his head:
"Wingardium Leviosa!"
The club flew suddenly out of the troll's hand, rose high, high up into the air, turned slowly over - and dropped, with a sickening crack, onto its owner's head. The troll swayed on the spot and then fell flat on its face, with a thud that made the whole room tremble.
Harry got to his feet. He was shaking and out of breath. Ron was standing there with his wand still raised, staring at what he had done. It was Hermione who spoke first.
"Is it - dead?"
"I don't think so," said Harry, "I think it's just been knocked out." He bent down and pulled his wand out of the troll's nose. It was covered in what looked like lumpy gray glue. "Urgh - troll boogers." He wiped it on the troll's trousers.
A sudden slamming and loud footsteps made the three of them look up. They hadn't realized what a racket they had been making, but of course, someone downstairs must have heard the crashes and the troll's roars. A moment later, Professor McGonagall came bursting into the room, closely followed by Snape, with Quirrell bringing up the rear. Quirrell took one look at the troll, let out a faint whimper, and sat quickly down on a toilet, clutching his heart.
At the sight of the whimpering professor, Hermione remembered how he had sent her to the bathroom and realized that this whole thing - the troll - was a part of his plan. Was he trying to kill her? This plan of his was too far-fetch for her to get close to Potter. Hermione glared at Quirrell. He met her gaze, sent her a sharp nod, and glanced at McGonagall. Hermione continued to glare at him for a little while longer before she did what he was urging her to do.
Professor Snape bent over the troll and McGonagall was looking at Ron and Harry, not noticing Hermione, since she was so focused on the boys up front.
"What on earth were you thinking of?" said Professor McGonagall, with cold fury in her voice. "You're lucky you weren't killed. Why aren't you in your dormitory?"
Snape gave Harry a swift, piercing look.
"Please, Professor McGonagall - they were looking for me." Hermione stepped up and told her.
"Miss Granger!" Professor McGonagall gasped.
"I went looking for the troll because I - I thought I could deal with it on my own - you know, because I've read all about them." Hermione began making up a story, "If they hadn't found me, I'd be dead now. Harry stuck his wand up its nose and Ron knocked it out with its own club. They didn't have time to come and fetch anyone. It was about to finish me off when they arrived."
"Well - in that case..." said Professor McGonagall, staring at the three of them, "Miss Granger, you foolish girl, how could you think of tackling a mountain troll on your own?"
Hermione hung her head in shame at upsetting her favorite professor.
"Miss Granger, five points will be taken from Gryffindor for this," said Professor McGonagall. "I'm very disappointed in you. If you're not hurt at all, you'd better get off to Gryffindor tower. Students are finishing the feast in their houses."
Hermione left without a word.
Hermione marched to her dorm room without stopping, and waited for Lavender to join her.
"What happened?" asked Lavender. "Quirrell said a troll got in!"
"A troll he brought in. He sent the troll into the bathroom to attack me."
Lavender squealed.
"Potter and Weasely came in and saved the day."
"Wow! That's so heroic - tell me! Please - you have to tell me every detail!"
Hermione recounted her experience in detail.
Lavender was angry on Hermione's behalf. "He could've told you what he was planning. How could he throw things like that at you?"
"He wanted me too frightened to do anything so Potter would save me."
Hermione went to the door and stuck her head out in search of the two boys. She had to properly thank Potter and Weasely. They were her saviors. She had an excuse to start hanging around them. It was going to be a nightmare.
"This is too hard!" exclaimed Ron, throwing his quill on the desk and rubbed his eyes.
Harry and Hermione looked up from their books and sighed. It was late in the afternoon and they were in the middle of doing their homework.
"What part do you not understand?" asked Hermione. She put a bookmark inside her book and went to sit in front of Ron and his books. "I'll help you."
"Well... thanks." said Ron, reaching his hand out.
Hermione picked up his parchment to look it over when she noticed Ron's hand.
"Yes?" she asked.
"Your homework?" he hesitantly asked her.
"Oh..." Hermione blinked, understanding his meaning, "You want to copy it?"
"Yeah..." Ron nodded, wondering why she was asking him. She was the one offered to help him.
"No." said Hermione, firmly.
"What? But you said-"
"I said 'I would help you' not I'll let you copy my work."
"So...you're not going to let me copy it?"
"How will you learn?"
"By looking at yours?" Ron said slowly as if she didn't understand him.
Hermione was exasperated by Ron. She didn't appreciate him talking to her like she was slow-minded. He's the one slow one because if he copied her work, the teachers would notice. Both of them would get in trouble. What part of that did he not understand?
Harry looked from Ron to Hermione. Clearly, from the angry look in Hermione's face and Ron's peeved one, things were going to get ugly. It looked like one of them was going to jump over the table and attack the other.
"How nice of you to offer your help, Hermione." said Harry, slamming his book on the table loud enough to get their attention, "I already finished mine. Would you read it through for me too?"
Hermione took one last look at Ron and turned to Harry, "I'd loved too." she said, taking his parchment.
Tired of doing his own homework, without the help from Hermione that he thought he was going to get, Ron suggested they go out for a short walk. Hermione had conjured up the bright blue fire inside a jam jar because Ron wouldn't stop complaining about the cold weather, even though he was the one who suggest they take the break, and Harry was shivering. Professor Snape came upon them, with a noticeable limp, and scolded Harry about taking library books outside of the school. Hermione almost rolled her eyes at this. The book belonged to her, not the school. She was about ready to say that, but changed her mind and let Snape confiscate it. She could buy another copy.
Before, Snape barely paid attention to Hermione. Now she was being targeted because of her association with Potter. He was an adult and a professor and yet he was being childish and petty over something that happened in the past. She'd take Snape as a life lesson. Don't dwell in the past and grow up.
Harry was restless for the rest of the day. Hermione and Ron were by his side, but both kept quiet. They did not want to be the one Harry would vent his frustrations out on. They made their way back to the common room and sat next to a window as they try to finish the rest of their homework.
"I'm going to get it back!" declared Harry as he stood from his chair.
"Better you than me," Hermione and Ron said together. Both stopped what they were doing and awkwardly looked at each other. It was the first time they ever agreed on something. It felt unsettling to the both of them. Hermione went back to looking through the rest of Harry's homework, hoping this phenomenon would never happen again. Ron blinked a few times, making certain that no one was watching and took one last look at Hermione before returning to his homework.
Sometime after Harry departed, Hermione realized that she should have stopped him. She should have told him that if he defied Snape; Snape might give him detention on the dates of his Quidditch practice. It'll be complete torture for him because he'll be unprepared for his matches. Harry liked Quidditch so much that it would have stopped him from pulling a stunt like this. But alas, she was only there to observe him, not babysit him. If Harry wanted to be a troublemaker, then go right ahead. She wouldn't get in his way as long as it doesn't affect her.
"Did you get it?" Ron asked when Harry came back.
Harry was sweating from running back there.
"What's the matter?" Hermione asked.
In a low whisper, Harry told them what he'd seen. Snape and Filch were inside the staffroom, alone. Snape was holding his robes above his knees. One of his legs was bloody and mangled. Filch was handing Snape bandages. Snape was mumbling about being attacked by the three headed dog.
"You know what this means." he finished breathlessly. "He tried to get past that three-headed dog at Halloween! That's where he was going when we saw him - he's after whatever it's guarding! And I'd bet my broomstick that he let that troll in to make a diversion!"
Hermione's eyes were wide. Harry was more intelligent than what she gave him credit for. He figured out the plan already, only he didn't have the real culprit. It was Quirrell, not Snape who was behind all this. Though, she couldn't blame Harry for guessing wrong. Standing next to Snape would make Quirrell look like a helpless little worm. If only Harry knew the truth. Not that she was going to tell him. Quirrell would kill her, not to mention He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. She could only imagine what he'd to do to her if she betrayed him.
"No - he wouldn't," Hermione said, in an attempt to defend their Potions professor and pull Harry into the right track, without actually telling him. "I know he's not very nice, but he wouldn't try and steal something Dumbledore was keeping safe." Did that sound as lame to them as it sounded to her?
"Honestly, Hermione, you think all teachers are saints or something," snapped Ron.
Yeah right…thought Hermione. Teachers are people too. They are equally susceptible to the desire for power and greed as anyone of them.
"I'm with Harry. I wouldn't put anything past Snape. But what's he after. What's that dog guarding?"
That was the same thing Hermione wanted to know…what was the dog guarding?
Ron and Hermione joined Neville, Seamus, and Dean, the West Ham fan up in the top row. As a surprise for Harry, they had painted a large banner on one of the sheets Scabbers had ruined. It said Potter for President. Dean, who was good at drawing, had done a large Gryffindor lion underneath. Then Hermione had performed a tricky little charm so that the paint flashed different colors. Hermione didn't understand what the banner meant. Dean claimed it was a Muggle thing, when Ron asked, and that it would encourage Harry to win the game. Since it was a Muggle thing, Hermione pretended that she knew it.
From where Hermione was, she could see Lavender, who was busy talking to Parvati. She was happy Lavender finally made new friends and was learning how to be independent. She was much more confident than Hermione remembered and was not letting people push her around.
The match between Gryffindor and Slytherin progressed as any Quidditch would, dirty and brutal. Hermione was not paying the game much attention as she was with Harry. She thought it was odd how her eyes would wander to Harry. Hermione brushed it off as her being worried about him. It was his first game and Seekers were the most targeted, since they decide when the game would end and who gets the final one-hundred- and fifty points.
Hermione gasped seeing the Bludger nearly missing Harry's head and when his broom gave a sudden, frightening lurch. At first she thought he made his broom lurch on purpose to dodge the Bludger but soon she began to feel that something was not right with Harry, when the broom lurched again. It was as though the broom was trying to buck him off. Hermione bit her bottom lip as she watched Harry zigzagging through the air, and every now and then making violent swishing movements that almost unseated him. His broom had started to roll over and over, with him only just managing to hold on. The crowd around her gasped as they finally noticed Harry. Harry's broom had given a wild jerk and Harry swung off it. He was now dangling from it, holding on with only one hand. Hermione thought her heart had stopped from the sight of him dangling there.
"Can't nothing interfere with a broomstick except powerful Dark magic - no kid could do that to a Nimbus Two Thousand." Said Hagrid.
At these words, Hermione snapped out of her trace and seized Hagrid's binoculars, looking frantically at the crowd. Quirrell! She had to find Quirrell! As soon as she placed the binoculars on her face, Hermione spotted Quirrell in the stands opposite them. He had his eyes fixed on Harry and was muttering nonstop under his breath as was Snape, who was a few rolls behind him.
"I knew it," Hermione gasped, and turned to see Ron giving her an inquisitive stare, "Snape - look." She said quickly.
"He's doing something - jinxing the broom," said Hermione.
"What should we do?"
"Leave it to me."
Before Ron could say another word, Hermione disappeared. She fought her way across to the stand where Quirrell stood, and was racing along the row behind him. She knocked Quirrell headfirst into the row in front and kept going. Reaching Snape, she crouched down, pulled out her wand, and whispered a few, well- chosen words. Bright blue flames shot from her wand onto the hem of Snape's robes. It took perhaps thirty seconds for Snape to realize that he was on fire. A sudden yelp told her she had done her job. Scooping the fire off him into a little jar in her pocket, she scrambled back along the row.
Hermione was making her way to back to her seat when Quirrell grabbed her arm and pulled her behind the stands, demanding to know why she had knocked him over.
"Ron and Harry!" Hermione said him, "They wanted me to avenge Harry because Snape took his book, Quidditch Through the Ages. Sorry sir, it was a dare. If I didn't do it, they wouldn't become be my friends. I did it here because there's a large crowd and Snape won't know it was me." She told him the truth of yesterday's events and added her friendship with Harry to throw him off. He would believe her story. Her mission was to be with Harry at all cost. For her to be with Harry; she'll have to please him to stay. And boys have the tendency to dare their friends to do embarrassing and dangerous tasks.
"Very well," said Quirrell, releasing his grip on her arm. "Return to them." He said, before departing a least angry than he was before.
Hermione joined her fellow Gryffindor in cheering of their victory.
Hermione was not surprised when Hagrid attempted to defend Snape when Ron told him about Snape trying to jinx Harry off him broom. Hermione had surrendered her attempt to defend Snape a long time ago, since Harry was too thick to listen to her. It seemed that Harry had his heart set on framing Snape. There was nothing she could do at this point. Hermione was also not surprised that Hagrid knew of the three headed-dog, Fluffy. From the stories she had heard of the infamous gamekeeper, Fluffy was the least of their worries. Her Uncle Lucius once told her fifty years ago, Hagrid let lose a horrible unknown creature about the castle. The creature devoured a girl and petrified six students. It was not reported on the Daily Prophet because the school did not want to lose its credibility. They kept the story quiet by paying off the victims' families. Hagrid was expelled, but Dumbledore gave him permission to stay on the school as its gamekeeper, claiming he felt sorry for him having no place else to go. Lucius theorized that Dumbledore was probably keeping the half-giant as a figure to intimidate the Ministry and show that he could overthrow them with his hidden army of mountain giants if they tried to interfere with his plans of letting disgusting Muggles attend the school.
"Now, don't ask me anymore," said Hagrid gruffly. "That's top secret, that is."
"But Snape's trying to steal it."
"Rubbish," said Hagrid again. "Snape's a Hogwarts teacher, he'd do nothin' of the sort."
"So why did he just tried to kill Harry." cried Hermione. She figured if it was what Harry wanted, might as well go along with it to not cause any disputes between them. "I know a jinx when I see one, Hagrid, I've read all about them! You've got to keep eye contact, and Snape wasn't blinking at all, I saw him!" She noticed that under pressure, Hagrid would get panicky and slip. If this kept up, she'd have some useful information to give to Quirrell and her uncle.
"I'm tellin' yeh, yer wrong!" said Hagrid hotly. "I don' know why Harry's broom acted like that, but Snape wouldn' try an' kill a student! Now, listen to me, all three of yeh - yer meddlin' in things that don' concern yeh. It's dangerous. You forget that dog, an' you forget what it's guardin', that's between Professor Dumbledore an' Nicolas Flamel -"
"Aha!" said Harry, "so there's someone called Nicolas Flamel involved, is there."
Hagrid looked furious with himself.
Hermione mentally smiled, Harry was doing all the work for her and he didn't even know it.
As Christmas approached, Hermione, and everyone else, could not help but notice Draco was being even more unpleasant than usual. He was dismayed over Harry not only becoming a Seeker during his first year but he miraculously won the first game he ever played. She wanted to comfort Draco as Lyra, but she couldn't reveal her secret to him. Also, she didn't have any sympathy towards him after witnessing how he had been treating his schoolmates, mainly Harry. Harry's dead parents were Draco's favorite weapon to use to hurt Harry. Hermione began to wonder if Draco's parents weren't always monitoring them, would Draco have treated her as poorly as he would Harry. Would he taunt her about her parents? Not to her face he wouldn't…behind her back, secretly he might.
Draco was one of the few people Hermione loved, despite her constantly teasing of him. If he were to really say those cruel words, even in secret, she thought she would die that instant and her love for him would dissolve into nothing.
Hermione turned to Harry and Ron, reminding of their planned visit to the library. Hagrid tried to derailed them from their research after he found out that they were searching for Nicolas Flamel, the name he accidently let slip. But it didn't stop Harry; in fact it seemed to fuel his efforts. They searched and they searched but to no avail. Harry and Ron were becoming aggravated and tired, since they had been spending all their free time in the library.
Hermione felt bad for not revealing to Harry and Ron that she already knew who Flamel was. After hearing the name, Hermione sent an owl to her uncle and asked him to send her every book or news clipping on Professor Dumbledore he could find, claiming that she wanted to get to know their enemy a little more. It was then that she found Flamel's name and information. Nicolas Flamel is a well-known alchemist and only known maker of the Sorcerer's Stone, or the Elixir of Life, a legendary substance with incredible powers. He was a close friend and partner with Hogwarts School Headmaster Albus Dumbledore.
The Elixir of Life was what Quirrell wants for his lord. The Sorcerer's Stone was a legendary substance with astonishing powers. The stone could transform any metal into pure gold. It also produces the Elixir of Life, which will make the drinker immortal. There have been many reports of the Sorcerer's Stone over the centuries, but the only Stone currently in existence belongs to Mr. Nicolas Flamel, the noted alchemist and opera lover. Mr. Flamel, who celebrated his six hundred and sixty-fifth birthday last year, enjoys a quiet life in Devon with his wife, Perenelle (six hundred and fifty-eight).
Hermione was more curious than she ever was before. Why does Quirrell want the stone for, since the Dark Lord is still alive? Or is he? Hermione thought back to the day when she had her first encounter with him. There was something not right about that day. The voice, the voice of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named; it was coming from Quirrell, and no one else was there! The only reason, Hermione could think of was that he was wearing an invisible cloak and was hiding in the school. But wanting to be certain, Hermione rushed to the library to research and see if she could find some more clues as to why she could not see him.
On her way there she saw something flying at her, it was Peeves. Hermione dodged him and continued to sprint to the library.
"Bothersome ghost!" she muttered under her breath.
Hermione halted as she realized something and fell head first on to the floor.
"Hermione!" exclaimed Lavender. She rushed to Hermione's side and helped her up.
"What happened?" asked Parvati. She and Lavender just turned a corner when they saw Hermione on the floor.
"Nothing! I fell." Hermione told them and clutched her head, trying to remember what she had realized before she fell.
"You need to go to the Hospital wing." declared Lavender and dragged Hermione away.
Parvati followed suit, but Lavender stopped her and told her; she could take Hermione by herself. By the worried look on Hermione's face, Lavender knew something was up and didn't want Parvati to get in the way.
"What's the matter?" asked Lavender, pulling Hermione into the bathroom and warding it.
"I forgot," said Hermione, "I just had it and I forgot!"
"Forgot what?"
"I don't know, but it's there. I can't remember. I was running, and then Peeves -" Hermione gasped, then her lips slowly curled into a smiled.
"What? What is it?"
"He's a ghost." Hermione told her.
"Who?"
"Him, that's why I couldn't see him."
"Who?"
"He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named." Hermione whispered.
Lavender gasped, "You mean…he's?"
"Dead, but he's a ghost or a zombie now and he wants to be human again. He told Quirrell to get him the stone – the Sorcerer's Stone!"
"Sorcerer's Stone?" repeated Lavender.
"The stone is what the dog is guarding. It's a key ingredient to a potion that grants the drinker eternal life or eternal youth and was also said to be able to create life."
As a Christmas present, Hermione left Harry a large box of Chocolate Frogs. She wanted him to get Dumbledore's card and see Nicolas Flamel's name there. Dumbledore cards were very common. Harry's bound to find at least four of them. That way they could move faster and gain an upper hand over Quirrell. As for Ron, she left him a box of Every Flavor Beans. Hermione had thought it over and decided to be on Harry's side, for she knew what fate lay ahead of them if Quirrell were to success.
Veralidaine laughed as they made their way to Malfoy Manor inside the carriage, Lucius sent for them.
"I had my doubts, but it was really fun." She told her, "Being Lavender is amazing."
"It's troublesome, but being Hermione is exciting...sometimes…"
"How can it not? You get to spent all that time with Harry Potter." Veralidaine batted her eyes, "What's he like, personally?"
Lyra remembered Veralidaine had asked her the same question in the Hogwarts Express train. Back then, she didn't know Harry, therefore she answered from what she had observed. Currently, she could answer her question as a friend of Harry's.
"Troublesome, nosy, blindly courageous, recklessly bold…" and the list went on.
Veralidaine opened her mouth to speak but didn't want to interrupt Lyra and all she could say was 'wow.'
As they near the manor, Lyra discontinued her list and stared out the window.
"Ready?" Veralidaine asked her.
"Always." Replied Lyra.
"Welcome home, love." Narcissa Malfoy said, embracing Lyra.
"I missed you." Lyra said to her and kissed cheek.
Veralidaine smiled sweetly at the elder woman, "You look lovely as always madam."
Narcissa looked from one girl to another. She was astonished by both girls' transformations in just a few months. Lyra was much livelier than before, in contrast to her normal emotionless self. She had a warm and friendly air around her and her face showed more than one expression. Veralidaine was much more charming and less plain. Normally Narcissa hardly noticed her. She knew the girl simply as Lyra's playmate. But Veralidaine wasn't hiding behind Lyra like she did whenever in their presents and lowering her head anymore. The girl was standing next to Lyra with her head held high. Narcissa didn't know if she was happy or sad that her beloved niece was maturing before her eyes. If Lyra had grown at a rate such as this, than how would Draco be?
Lyra and Veralidaine went upstairs, Draco arrived.
"Mum!" Draco shouted, jumping out of the carriage and hugging his mother.
"Welcome home, love."
"Mum! May I bring my broom back to school?" Draco asked, with an expecting look on his face.
"Oh, Draco," Narcissa kissed his head. He hadn't changed a bit.
"As I said before, absolutely not," drawled Lucius, walking up behind Draco from the carriage. He looked down at his son, who was trying to trick his wife into over ruling him. "Off to your room, now."
Draco pressed out his bottom lip and pouted his way to his room.
Seeing what had transpired down stair, Veralidaine giggled.
"What?" Lyra curiously asked.
"Draco's home," Veralidaine said in a sing-song voice.
As if on cue, Lyra heard Draco loudly stumping his feet past her door and to his room.
"Aren't you going to greet him?" asked Veralidaine,
"Later," said Lyra as she supervised the house-elves in organizing her belongings.
Veralidaine sighed and nodded, but her excitement did not weaver. She didn't approve of Draco's behavior at Hogwarts and couldn't wait and see when Lyra gives him a taste of his own medicine. If Lyra was waiting until later to see him that means she has something wicked it planned for him and Veralidaine was correct in her assumption.
"DRACO!" Lyra bellowed, with a large smile and ran right at him with her arms stretched out.
Draco didn't like the way she was coming at him and ran. Veralidaine laughed at the scene before her and covered her ears. Draco's scream was so sharp and high that she thought she was going to go deaf, but she didn't let that stop her from enjoying his feeble attempt to escape from Lyra. Once Lyra had Draco cornered like a frightened mouse, she pulled him into a tight hug and said, "I missed you, my husband-to be!"
Draco fell on the carpeted floor with Lyra landing on his back. He twisted and turned, struggling to free himself from her hold. Lyra put her full weight on him to anchor him down. She kissed his pink cheek. "Draco! My Draco!" she shouted, batting her eyelashes. Draco screamed louder, sharper than before and renewed his efforts to escape.
Veralidaine pressed her hands harder over ears. She looked at the mirrors and windows in the hall and saw little cracks around the edges; her mouth agape. She was impressed by Draco's vocal cords. Draco had given up trying to throw Lyra off his back and was trying to crawl away, scratching at the carpeted floor.
"Help!" cried Draco. "I'm being crushed by a fat cow!"
"Fat cow, am I? A real man would have the muscles to push me off." Lyra countered.
Lucius entered the hall from another room. "What's happened, Lyra? I heard you screaming."
Veralidaine was in tears at this point, and fell onto the ground. He actually mistook his own son's screams for Lyra's. Lyra was more devious than she thought, avenging their schoolmates in this way. Lyra knew Draco hated it the most when she gets all mushy and flirtatious on him. As soon as she could, Veralidaine recovered and quickly apologized to Lucius. But a smile was still plastered on her face. Draco whimpered and once again tried to crawl out from under Lyra. He thought that since his father was there, Lyra would release him. But Lyra kept her iron grip around his waist.
"Nothing, I thought I saw a spider and Draco is comforting me." Lyra told her uncle.
Lyra lazily rested her head between Draco shoulder blades. She appeared bored, yet the smirk on her face said otherwise. Lucius looked at his son, who was lying flat in his stomach, and sending him a desperate, pleading look. Draco's eyes were pink and swollen and his face was flushed. He resembled a turtle with an oversized shell. Lyra being the shell. Lucius inclined his head. He remembered how rude Draco was when he demanded his broom back. He and Narcissa are currently arguing over it. Lucius was planning to punish Draco for causing a dispute between him and Narcissa. Narcissa would have stopped him, leading them to argue some more and ruin their Christmas. If Lyra were to punish Draco, for whatever reason, Narcissa would not mind. She'd see it as them playing.
"Very well, continue." Lucius turned around, returning to the master bedroom to stop Narcissa before she came to investigate.
Lyra covered Draco's mouth before he could scream for help and roughly dragged him into his room. She shut the door with a kick of her foot and locked it after releasing Draco. Lyra crossed her arms over her chest and leaned against the door.
"You were acting very childish." Lyra told him. "And why were you trying to run from me?"
Draco sniffed and frowned at Lyra. "Coming at me like that-of course I'll run!" he whined.
Lyra uncrossed her arms and strides toward Draco, with her arms out, "I missed you…"
Draco shirked and backed away from her grasp. Lyra stopped and put her arms down. "Why? You don't love me anymore?" she pouted.
"Of course I don't! I never did!"
"Liar!"
"I'm not a liar!"
"Yes, you are!"
"No, I'm not!"
"Oh, really?" Lyra stuck her nose in the air, "Do you remember this?" She said, holding the diamond ring to his face.
Draco stared at the ring.
"I…" Draco pressed his lips together, trying to find an excuse. He had stolen that ring from his mother's jewelry box, and giving it to Lyra. He didn't know what came over him back then, but he certainly regretted his actions now. "I was five and mental! And I didn't know what I was doing!"
"Isn't it just like a man to spout words of love to you, and then take it back the next day?" Lyra mumbled under her breath, but purposely said it loud enough for Draco to hear. "Don't forget Draco, you were the one who asked for my hand and demand Uncle Lucius and Aunt Narcissa hold the wedding."
Draco gritted his teeth, recalling the tiny ceremony his parents held for them in the garden. Most of their close relatives were there, baring presents. Draco was dressed in his best dress robe and Lyra was wearing a white dress. They sat together in their little table, where he told Lyra that he loved her and placed the ring on her finger. Everyone cheered and clapped. His father held his weeping mother.
Draco gasped and slapped himself on the head. "That was a real wedding?" he said, falling onto the floor in despair.
"No, it wasn't and stop being so dramatic."
Happy, Draco got up and went to sit on his bed. Lyra waited until Draco was fully comfortable before she said, "It was an engagement party."
Lyra climbed onto Draco's bed and saw that he was asleep, or fainted was the better word to describe his state. "Goodnight, love." She said, moving the strands of hair from his face and pulling the covers over him. When Draco awoke a few hours later, he found Lyra fast asleep beside him. Frowning, Draco pulled the covers off him but realized that he couldn't get up. She was sleeping on his arm. Draco pushed Lyra off him and found a rope tied on his wrist. It was connected to Lyra's wrist. Lyra was awoken by Draco's glass breaking scream.
"What's the matter?" Lyra groaned, although she already knew the reason.
"THIS!" Draco shouted, pulling at the rope.
Lyra looked at the rope and shrugged. She had tied their wrist together while he was asleep and planned to keep it on for the rest to the holidays, just to make Draco suffer.
"Oh...this." Lyra lazily sat up, and rested her head on Draco's shoulder.
Draco shirked and pulled away from her. "Why did you tie us together?" he demanded.
"We haven't seen each other in months and I want to spend the rest of the holidays with you."
"But why did you tie us together?" he repeated, getting angrier by the minute.
"I want to spend every second with you." she smiled.
"MUMMY! HELP! HELP!" Draco screamed. He jumped off the bed, dragging Lyra with him, and stumped his feet on the floor.
Narcissa hurried into Draco's room to see what the commotion was about and saw their tied hands.
"How adorable." she said, holding their tied hands up.
"I see," said Lucius, following his wife inside the room, "How...creative."
Veralidaine appeared from Lyra's bedroom and clapped her hands. "They are so perfect together."
Draco sniffed, glaring at his father and Veralidaine, and sent sad, watery eyes to his mother. "But mummy, what if I have to go to the bathroom?" he whined.
"It's not like I haven't seen you naked before." Lyra said.
Draco scowled at Lyra.
"All right, fine," said Lyra.
Draco huffed, thinking he was finally getting his way.
Lyra waited a few seconds before she said, "I'll turn around."
"MUM!" he screamed, "MAKE HER UNTIE ME!"
"Draco!" Lyra shouted above him, causing him to stop. "I'm hungry, aren't you?"
Draco was, but he wouldn't admit it to her.
"How about we have some sweets in the garden?" Lyra decided, pulling Draco with her without waiting for him to respond. "Veralidaine?"
"Coming,"
It was the Malfoy's annual winter ball and Lyra was making sure that everyone saw her and Draco together. Especially, all of the young and older witches who thought they could actually steal Draco from her. It wasn't as if she had romantic feelings for him, other than brotherly love, but Lyra had to keep her face up to show that she and Draco are the perfect couple. Narcissa and Lucius were always reminding her that Draco was her fiancé. He belonged her to and she to him. Their union was planned before their birth and nothing could change it. If that was how it was going to be, she might as well make the best of it.
"Keep still." Lyra ordered Draco, while she straightened his dress robes and patted his hair down.
Draco sulked, but did as he was told. He learned years ago that if he disobeyed Lyra, especially when they are expected to attend a ball together, there'll be dire consequences from Lyra and his parents.
"Are you going to untie me now?" Draco asked for the millionth time. The decision to untie them was given to Lyra by his parents the night he told a house-elf to give him a knife to cut the rope. When the rope didn't budge he attempted to cut Lyra's hand off, while she slept. The traitorous house-elf popped out and tattled to his parents about his scheme. He was severally punished. The house-elves were ordered to not obey him and only Lyra for the rest of the holiday. Draco was crossed. Whenever he wanted something he had to ask Lyra nicely (or else she wouldn't do it) to tell the house-elves get it for him.
"No."
"But – but everyone will see -" Draco held his wrist up, "this!"
"That's the idea. Come." Lyra said sharply.
Draco stuck his tied hand in his pocket and mumbled to himself about revenge and things he'd do to her, until they entered the ball room. Lyra pulled Draco's hand from his pocket and laced their fingers together. As they arrived, the guests mutter of how attractive and perfect they were. Lyra smiled as sweetly as she could and curtsied, while Draco followed suite with a proper deep bow. The guests' reaction to the rope was positive. They saw it as a lovely symbolic representation of their union and unyielding devotion for one another. The couple was applauded for their creativity.
"When is this going to be over?" Draco whined to Lyra as they shared yet another dance.
"Only two more songs to go and we're done for the night." Lyra replied.
"Two more?" Draco whined, drag his feet and pulling at his bow tie when he thought no one was watching. "Why's it getting more and more? Last ball we only have to dance twelve times. Now fifteen?"
"Tell it to your father." Lyra commented, which she knew would make him shut his mouth for the next hour in fear his father was behind him and could hear him complain.
As Lyra danced, she glanced at Veralidaine to see if she was all right. Veralidaine smiled in response, mouthing that she was fine, and turned her attention back the group of boys surrounding her.
"Want to join your little friend?" Draco drawled.
Lyra arched an eyebrow at him, "Jealous?"
"No!" Draco shouted, causing guests to turn their head to see what the commotion was about.
"You're absolutely right Draco. The Banchory Bangers should have been disbanded sooner." said Lyra, causing the guests to turn back and continue with whatever they were doing earlier.
Draco huffed and roughly took Lyra's hands and continued with their dance. After two songs were finish, the couple was able to stop dancing and flexed their sore ankles.
"Draco!" Pansy shouted over the music and ran to them.
"Oh, look Draco. You girlfriend's here." Lyra commented.
Draco groaned at this. He was tired and wanted to sleep in his soft and comfy bed. Without a word, he took Lyra's hand and pulled her into the crowd.
"That was very rude of you," said Lyra as he pulled her away.
Draco looked at Pansy and then back at Lyra. He pulled her to his chest and pressed his lips on her. Lyra knew it was just for show and he probably did it to spite her and Pansy. She would let him have what little fun he needed to please his shattered ego. Draco looked at the mirror behind him and searched for Pansy's reflection. Meanwhile, Lyra untied the bow tie on Draco's collar that had gradually made him uncomfortable throughout the night and straightened his collar. Seeing them together, Pansy sobbed and ran off to the other side of the room. Draco released Lyra and smirked. He could kiss Lyra on cue as it was only for display, but he didn't like it when Lyra kissed him when his guard is down or when she suddenly develops the urge to tease him.
Lyra took out her handkerchief and wiped the sweat from his brows, "I think you broke her heart."
Draco scoffed, leveling his cheeks and lips for her to wipe. "She'll recover."
He hated when Lyra teases him, but Draco relish it when she decides to tend to him. They left the party and entered Draco's room. Lyra told the house elf to fluff their pillows, massage their aching feet, and help remove their garments.
"I'm going to be sore for days." groaned Draco, sitting on his bed and placing his feet in a bucket of ice.
"You're lucky you don't have to wear heels." Lyra winced as the house-elf rubbed the salve over her skin.
Draco reclined on the plush pillows, looked down at Lyra's feet and cringed. "I bet you the designer purposely made those to maim women's feet."
"Probably," Lyra agreed, ordering another house-elf to remove the tight pins on her hair.
Lyra looked down at the rope entwining her and Draco. She pulled the rope apart and released both of them. Draco pulled his arm from her and rubbed it. He smiled; glad she finally untied them after two and half weeks of torture.
"I'm going back to school before the start of term." she told him.
The smile on Draco's face faded, "Why? Don't tell me you're a teacher's pet now?"
"Are you going to miss me?"
"No!" Draco retorted.
"Then why are you distressed?"
Draco won't admit that he would miss her. That he had truly missed those pasted months and was dying to see her again, until she attacked him and tied him to her. When she was gone he felt empty, like a part of him was missing. It was the same feeling he felt when Lyra had left for her first year at Durmstrang. He thought he was going to be happy, since he had his parents all to himself. But his father was always busy in his study and although his mother spent all her time with him, she was awful at playing games and there were no limits with her. He truly missed Lyra and their game of matching wits, and that she would say no to him if needed. When Lyra came back for her birthday party, he was overjoyed and embarrassed. He didn't even talked to her and stayed away from her the whole time.
"Fine! Go! Who needs you?" Draco shouted, stumping into the bathroom. Though his feet were causing him pain, he did not want her to see him cry. He missed her if she was gone. When she was there, he wants to get far away from her. He didn't understand how he felt about her. It was maddening.
I read in an interview that the editor wanted to remove the troll scene. It's too violent for a kids book. Rowling fought really hard for the troll scene to be in the book. She said it was important since it was the moment that solidified Hermione's friendship with Harry and Ron. I want to honor that and kept it in here too.