A/N: Hello! Sorry for the longer wait; my Internet wasn't working for a long time! I just wanted to say this: Some people like action; others think it's too fast, and it's very hard to accommodate both groups. This chapter is a bit on the slow side, but I PROMISE it will pick up in the next two or so chapters! Please read, enjoy, and REVIEW! I love feedback; negative or positive! One last thing; chapter titles are not my strong point, but I bet you can tell, right? D
Chapter 5 – You Have a Very Interesting Friend…
Saturday, September 2nd, 7:56 AM
- Draco's Story -
"Charisse! You found it!" I said when I stumbled sleepily out of my room, wearing only a shirt and a pair of boxers.
"Well, it took a while, but I did!" Charisse answered, running over to me.
"What the hell is going on?" Mudblood asked, sounding mad. "And who is she?"
"Hi! I'm Charisse…I'm new here, and Draco was kind enough to show me around!" She punched me lightly on the arm, and smiled seductively.
"Since there are no classes today…" I said suggestively. Charisse giggled, then strutted into my room. As I turned to follow her, the Mudblood spoke up.
"Malfoy, you disgust me!" she sputtered.
"I know, Granger, you told me last night. Have you come up with anything new, or should I give you more time to think?" I mocked her. She glared daggers at me, then grabbed her bag and stomped off. I followed Charisse into my room, and then lead her through the rest of our "living quarters".
"This is my room." I gestured at the silver and green walls, the king sized bed, and large wardrobe, desk, and bureau. "Here is the bathroom, which I unfortunately share with Granger, and here is the tiny kitchen and Common Room. In here," I said, reaching my hand to turn the handle on Granger's door, (I was curious to see if hers was much different than mine) "is Grang-Ow!" I jerked my hand back, rubbing at my fingertips. "The stupid thing shocked me!"
"Oh?" Charisse wondered, and leaned forward to open the door. Immediately, she pulled her hand back with a shriek, and frowned. "My fingers!" She cried, rubbing at the tips ferociously.
"She must have put a warding spell on it!" I was very angry with that Mudblood. I was going to have a go at her later, after I finished "showing Charisse around the castle…" I grinned inwardly.
Saturday, September 2nd, 8:03 AM
- Hermione's Story -
I cannot believe his nerve! Poor girl doesn't even know what she got herself into, talking to Malfoy! 'Showing her around!' I'll bet! A snort escaped my lips, and I clamped my hand to my mouth. I was incredibly cross with Malfoy, and we didn't even have breakfast yet, I thought as I headed to the Great Hall. There, I met up with Ron and Harry.
"Harry, what's wrong?" I asked when I saw their faces. Harry didn't say anything, just held out a newspaper to me. I skimmed the front page, and at the bottom found a tiny article. It read:
"Auror Captured by Death Eaters
Has been Recovered
"We were very worried when she showed up for work early one day," a Ministry official says. "There was something very wrong, we thought, when she entered the Auror office on August 27th."
It was discovered that the woman who had appeared at the Ministry of Magic for the past six days was a Death Eater using the Polyjuice Potion. This young woman, had been attacked at her London flat by Death Eaters late Sunday morning, and had been imprisoned ever since.
Friday, September 1st, she was rescued by an unnamed organization, and the woman was transported to St. Mungo's immediately. She is making fast recovery after her horrible ordeal, Healers told the press, though she is secure in a closed ward. She should be released within the week, fortunately, and the search for the impostors will begin.
Woman remains anonymous for privacy reasons"
I dropped the Quibbler in my lap, and shudders ran down my spine. "Is this true?" I asked, suddenly weary. Ron nodded, while Harry just stared at his shoes.
"But I thought you knew that she was captured, there should be no shock…" Ron asked tentatively.
"Merlin's beard! I saw Tonks!" I wailed with a sudden revelation, and Harry looked up at me, motioning for me to continue. "She was at my house, early yesterday morning. She escorted me to King's Cross. But…when we were having tea, I dropped a mug; and she snatched a mug out of the air! Also, she was quiet, not at all cheerful, and didn't want to discuss Professor Lupin, or talk at all!
"I remember pushing my uneasy thoughts aside, figuring something was not right with Professor Lupin, though she had said they were fine!" I finished, sobbing fully into Ron's chest. He stroked my hair, insisting that there was nothing I could have done, even if I had realized she was an impostor and I pushed myself away from him. (I seemed to be doing that quite often, now…)
"No! There is something I could have done!" I cried. "If I had told the Ministry, we could have unmasked the Death Eater right away, and avenged Tonks!" Again, Harry stayed silent, while Ron thought of something to say to argue with me. "I know it's true, don't deny it, Ron."
"Alright, it would have been easier," he gave in, "but this isn't your fault."
"You may be right…" I suggested in a tone that clearly stated that I didn't agree with him. "Oh, Merlin!" I swiftly stood, abandoning my half finished breakfast, and grabbed my bag, dashing up to the Owlery. I heard Ron mutter "I hate it when she does that," as I hurried away, and couldn't help smiling a little in spite of the situation.
When I reached the Owlery, I pulled a piece of parchment and a quill out of my bag, and quickly scribbled: Dear Mom and Dad, Is everything all right at home? Are you both okay? I am only asking because of something I read in the newspaper, and it really scared me. Please answer immediately, Love, Your Hermione.
Then I coaxed a large school barn owl down from a high perch, and placed my short note securely around its leg.
"Hurry up…" I told it in a whisper, then muttered my address, and walked him to the window where he took off gracefully. Afterwards, I felt a little better, but not much, because I had to know if my parents were okay. It was sure that they would let in the Tonks impersonator without question, and what might happen wasn't something I wanted to think about… I shuddered at the thought.
I spent the rest of the morning in the library, not wanting to go back and be in the same vicinity as Malfoy. The thought of him made the hair on my neck stand up. I pushed him out of my mind, and focused on studying Muggle Studies. During a very interesting chapter, Halloween, someone tapped me lightly on the shoulder.
I jumped a mile, nearly tearing the books' pages, then turned around to be face-to-face with a rather beautiful Charisse Mabel.
"Hello," she said, in a soft French accent. "Are you Hermione?"
"Yes. I believe we met earlier," I answered politely, because it wasn't entirely her fault that Malfoy had gotten to her first, and shook her hand. Her grip was very strong for such a petite person, I noted. I motioned for her to sit, and she obliged.
"How very unusual you are reading that! I just finished that book over the summer!" She exclaimed, pointing at my Muggle Studies textbook. "I saw that we had to buy it for this year, and decided to get a head start with it…" She blushed.
"Oh, I do that too!"
"Really?" She seemed amazed.
"Usually, but I haven't gotten around to this yet." I explained about the Heads' duties, and about all the other subjects I was taking. Her eyes widened more and more, and when I finally finished, she started listing my subjects, and ticking them off on her fingers.
"Muggle Studies, Potions NEWTS, Defense Against the Dark Arts NEWTS, Herbology NEWTS, Transfiguration NEWTS…" she named all my classes, then grinned broadly. "We're taking ALL the same classes, Hermione!" she said happily. I beamed back, for I really liked this girl; she was smart, kind, and fun.
"That's great! I'll help you find all your classes on Monday, okay? You know where my room is," I offered.
"Alright, thanks," she accepted. "You know, you have a very interesting friend…" she began slowly.
"Oh, no! We're not friends, at all. In fact, we are enemies." I wanted to make sure she wasn't under the wrong impression. "I dislike Draco Malfoy very much, and I don't think he's right for you, either, Charisse."
"Well, yes, I figured that out after I told him I'm partly Muggleborn. He practically threw me out of his room when he heard that. I feel foolish for falling for his charming smiles." (Charming smiles!) She bowed her head, and I reassured her that Malfoy charms most girls to sleep with him.
"You didn't…?"
"Oh, Merlin, thank goodness no! I don't know what I'd have done if I did!" she said.
"Good to hear…" I said, feeling more than a little relieved.
"But, actually, I wasn't talking of Draco…" she began again, tentatively. "I was thinking of that tall boy that you always sit with."
I smiled. Of course, how could I be so stupid? "Oh, that's Harry Potter. Well, I'm sure you know that. I can introduc-" I stopped when I saw Charisse shake her head rapidly.
"No, not him…the other one." I cocked my eyebrow.
"Are you talking about Ron?" I asked, and when I saw that she didn't know his name, I said, "The red-head?"
"Yes, that one! Ron! He's really cute. Don't you think so?" she said dreamily.
By now I was feeling very uncomfortable. I didn't want to tell her that he's my boyfriend, though I didn't know why, so instead I mumbled, "Yea," then said to change the subject, "Well, let's go have lunch. Can you find your way?"
"I certainly hope so!" Charisse seemed okay with discussing something else, so I had her lead the way. I followed her out the door and down many flights of stairs, and after a couple of attempts, and many dead ends, she found the Great Hall. She left me to go sit with her house, and I joined the Gryffindor Table, between Ginny and Ron.
"Are you, er, better?" Ron questioned.
"Much!" I said cheerily. "I had a really long talk with that new student, Charisse, and I really like her. She is smart and nice, and realized much sooner than the other girls what a moron Malfoy is!" I grinned.
"Charisse, huh?" Harry asked, coming up behind me. "That's weird, heard she tried out for the Hufflepuff team!" I raised my eyebrows, not remembering her mention anything about Quidditch, then realized that she seemed just like a Quidditch player; small, agile, and probably had great reflexes.
"That's great for her, she seems to be fitting in so well," Ron said dreamily. "Wonder if she needs a guide help her to her classes?" He directed his question at me.
"Oh, I offered to help her, don't worry. We are taking all the same classes, and will probably be together in many!"
"Oh," he sounded disappointed. "Okay, well, I gotta go…erm…Quidditch." He said hastily. I glanced at his full plate, and looked at him.
"Uh.Not hungry. Um, gotta run!" Ron seemed deeply troubled, but I pushed the thought out of my mind as I finished my lunch and headed out the door. Out of habit, I went straight for the Fat Lady, but then, realizing I didn't know the Gryffindor password, I decided to go back to my room.
I slumped on my bed, bored, tired, and very sad…Poor Tonks! Oh, how I wanted to go and visit her! I remembered the Death Eaters swarming all around me, spells being fired this way and that, and I fell into an uneasy and nightmare-filled sleep. I dreamed:
The fighting was still in full heat; and the Death Eaters were there. I was the last one standing, and I had to protect just myself. They took over the train, killing all those who opposed Voldemort, and I hid beneath the halted train, waiting, for hours. Finally, a head popped into view, and I was astonished and scared to see Malfoy staring straight back at me.
I awoke with a start, shivering in fright. It had all seemed so…real. Shuddering, I thought I'd take a warm bath since I had nothing to do. I realized it was only 2:30, but I was bored. Collecting a book and my slippers, I headed into the marble room.
- Draco's Story -
Saturday, September 2nd, 2:42 PM
Oh, life here is so boring! I was almost ready to open a book, that's how bored I was. Okay, maybe not that desperate, but pretty close. Last night had been fun, a good way to start the school year, but how come that every possible girl I come upon turns out to be half-blood or a Mudblood? It's really VERY exasperating!
I went back to my room, a little while after lunch, and deciding that I was not going to start schoolwork earlier then I was forced to, grabbed my Quidditch Strategies book, and flopped down on my grand bed.
I read a chapter or two (both were short and explained in detail how to catch a Snitch) and I quickly got bored of that as well. Though it was not late in the afternoon, I settled on taking a quick shower now, and maybe going to the Slytherin Common room later.
The door opened easily (I see the house elves know at least how to maintain a household, if not how to behave around a master) and I entered, pulling my shirt over my head. As my top came off, I saw someone standing before me…
A/N: I hope that you liked this chapter, and if you did, please tell me. And if you didn't please tell me why not, so I can change it! I'd really appreciate it! And thanks to my beta; scarletheartedlioness for her always wonderful work!