Disclaimer: If I still have to actually say 'I don't own anything; it all
belongs to JKR' I think you need to sign up for the special classes at the
local YMCA. Just a thought. Tell them Mandy sent you; they know me there.
Last time on LGG:
"Bite me, Malfoy. I'm not afraid of you." A loud and devastating moan was heard from the downward staircase, followed by louder banging. Again, Draco looked to Hermione.
"Go ahead, you know you want to," she whispered and Draco smirked, kissed her knee once more, then stood, making his way slowly toward the Hufflepuff prefect.
"Oh you're not now, are you? Well, that's good, because we wouldn't want that. Tension in the common room causes tension in the classroom... and as prefects we are respected throughout the student body." Hermione snickered, but Draco continued. "So tell me... Moooraag," he said, stretching out the name. "What ARE you afraid of?" Draco began to walk circles around the obviously scared boy. Morag stood stiff and straight, eyes watching every step Draco took, face pale and beaded with sweat. "Oh, come now," Draco said when he didn't answer. "Everybody's afraid of something... I happen to know that Potter is afraid of dementors, Weasley is afraid of spiders... Hermione is afraid of my father, and I am afraid of drowning, having no one to talk to, and the crucias curse. What are YOU afraid of?" Morag swallowed nervously and the banging from the doorway stopped momentarily.
"Pregnant women," he said quietly, but the silence was so complete that everyone could hear him loud and clear.
~*~*~*~
.
CHAPTER SEVEN: Extending the Olive... Knife
There was a gallant pause, then Draco nodded.
"Very understandable. Now, would you please just apologize so I can stop hovering over you?"
"Sorry Granger; really," he said sincerely and Hermione nodded.
"It's okay, Morag," she said and Draco smiled.
"There you go," he said to the Hufflepuff and walked back to his seat on the couch, hugging Hermione's knees as he had before. Morag watched them for a moment, a slight suspicion in his glance, but then turned and fled the common room as if it were on fire. Draco smiled and pressed his lips against Hermione's knee for the third time. She smiled and looked up at him. After a few moments of silence, Draco lifted his head and looked toward the staircase. "Go on ahead, Brocklehurst. I'm not going to mug you or anything," he called to her and Mandy's voice came back.
"Oh! No, it's not that, I just can't find my... um...accio...thing I'm looking for! Oh! There it is!" she said and hurriedly climbed the stairs, then sped through the common room, giving the two prefects on the sofa a slight wave as she passed and was out the door before either could process her movement. Silence instilled again, this time for a bit longer. Hermione closed her eyes, hands still on her stomach, and Draco kept his arms around her legs, watching her.
"Who do you know who's been pregnant?" she asked almost suddenly and Draco jerked slightly. Hermione opened her eyes, looking curious and he smiled sadly.
"My mother," he said and Hermione looked surprised.
"Do elaborate; you never told me you had siblings," she said and he nodded.
"That's because I don't. My mother has been pregnant five times. Once before me, then me, then three times more. You see, Malfoys have certain rules. One of these rules is no female heirs. For some reason, my father was pretty prone on creating female offspring. My mother's first pregnancy, which I obviously wasn't around for, turned out negative for Y chromosomes, so it was terminated. Next came me, oh joy. Then, two more terminations. The last one, which she was so very convinced would be a boy, died before we could even find out. She cried for three months. It was horrible. I agree with Mork; pregnant women terrify me," he explained and Hermione smiled.
"His name is Morag," she corrected.
"Whatever, he's still right."
"I don't mean to try and pry you open and read you like a book or anything, but do you agree with this? No female offspring?"
"I don't know... I can see where they're coming from when they say that, but it's so sad when they have to kill the babies just because they're girls... as if it's someone's fault... and it rips Mother's heart out every time," he said somewhat sadly and Hermione frowned apologetically.
"I'm sorry, Draco." He smiled and kissed her knee again. "I have a totally hypothetical, but still serious, question. If we slept together, and you got me pregnant, and it was a girl and I wanted to keep it... would you let me?" Draco smiled as if she were the most adorable thing he had ever seen, looking up at him with those innocent and curious eyes.
"Hermione; if I knocked you up and it was a frog I'd let you keep it if you wanted to. I could never hurt anyone like that... the way my father hurts her every time. She didn't even tell him about the last one until it was too late... that was less than a year ago. I hope it's a boy next time, and there will be a next time, my father will make sure of it... but I hope he gets what he wants, just so he'll leave her alone. It's eating her up inside," he said, beginning to move his hand up and down her leg again. Then he suddenly stopped. "I'm sorry; I'm sure you don't care about this. I'll stop."
"No, Draco... it's okay; I'm your friend, this is what I do. If you want to talk about this, then go right ahead, we've got all day, and I'm willing to listen."
"Wow... you're the best friend I've ever had. Even the house elves tell me to shut up after a few minutes of babbling," Draco said in astonishment and Hermione smiled.
"Hey, they're very busy people, those house elves. If I was told by your father to do all this stuff and you started talking to me, yeah, I'd probably get mad and tell you to shut up too. I'm sorry, but I sympathize. Your father is intimidating to me, and house elves are about a third his size and unable to use magic. I'd be scared," she said and Draco nodded.
"Point taken. Hey, you feel better?" Hermione smiled.
"Much."
"Good," Draco said, moving one of his hands down to her waist, then he slid his fingers under her shirt. Hermione moved her hands away and looked down curiously.
"What are you doing?" Draco didn't answer, but lifted her shirt a few inches, exposing her navel, complete with ring. Today's style was unlike that of yesterday. It was a black scorpion with an extra long tail voyaging through her skin and out the other side, capped off with a stinger. He smiled and looked up at Hermione, who was looking at her navel with a blank expression. She turned and met eyes with him, but her expression didn't change.
"It's simply interesting to me that you have a navel ring, yet no eyebrow ring, no nose, lip, tongue... your ears aren't even pierced," he said, looking back down and tracing a finger around the captivating extremity. Hermione smirked.
"You can't hide facial piercing with your clothes," she explained and he smiled, continuing to trace her scorpion.
"You didn't tell your parents?"
"No, of course not. That would have just been stupid... and a waste of about fifty galleons worth of rings; they'd never let me keep it," she said, rolling her eyes. "I don't know how they can be so overprotective, yet still manage not to give a shit about me."
"Oh, come on, I'm sure THAT'S not true. What plausible reason could your parents have to begrudge you?"
"I have no idea, but it seems like they're avoiding me... I hardly ever saw them over break; they're always at the office... but I know they can't be working all that time, I mean... who leaves at four o'clock and gets back at eleven that night when their practice is just barely out of walking distance from their home? I ate frozen waffles straight out of the box for dinner almost every night; occasionally I'd get ambitious and cook them something big... but I'd always end up eating it the next day... I mean really, it's not like I'd poison them or something... honestly, I've noticed them acting strange since I came home for Christmas break last year... I forgot we weren't supposed to use magic, don't even ask me how I forgot something so embedded into my brain, but there's Granger for you... anyway; I broke this really important vase and my mother went practically hysterical... so I wasn't thinking and I just 'reparo'-ed it... they looked scared of me for like ten minutes, then it was like it never happened...except they kept avoiding me..." she said, then paused for a moment. "Am I boring you?"
"No, of course not." Hermione smiled.
"Do you think they're afraid of me?" she asked, looking back toward the ceiling. Draco shrugged.
"It's possible... and it makes sense, I mean... think of all the things you could just... do to them... and they wouldn't have the faintest idea of how to stop you. You hear about teens going insane and killing people all the time, shooting their teachers, their parents, their friends... but you have a wand; a gun can kill if lucky, but a wand WILL kill if told to."
"Alright, let's say you're right and my parents are afraid that I'm going to kill them if they make me angry. Totally ignoring me isn't going to prevent that! If anything, it's going to cause it! I mean, who's more prone to become a mass murderer? A girl who lives with a happy little nuclear family in a happy home with a happy cat and quality time and fun and love... or a girl who grows up all by herself in a cold empty house with a skinny little cat and a post card from her parents every week? I'd say the latter, but that's just my opinion."
"Maybe you should talk to them about it... they probably never thought of it that way," Draco suggested and moved his hand back across her skin, but left her shirt flipped up.
"What am I supposed to do? Owl them and say 'Hey, are you guys afraid I'm going to kill you? Well, it's more likely that I will if you keep avoiding me. Maybe we should spend more time together.'? That could be taken the wrong way," she said sounding slightly sarcastic. Draco looked a little hurt.
"Hey, it was a suggestion. I was just trying to help you, you know," he said and Hermione smiled.
"I know, I didn't mean it that way. Thank you for listening to me, I'm sure you're ready for nap time now, but hey; it felt kind of nice from this side." Draco smiled and kissed her knee again.
"I'm going to go upstairs; I'll see you in a bit," he said and stood, sweeping around the couch and taking the stairs, two at a time as always. Eglamour jumped up into his vacated seat and rubbed up against Hermione's legs before climbing onto the back of the couch, then jumping off and heading after him. Hermione shook her head after the kitten, then pulled her blanket from a top the sofa, spreading it around her before closing her eyes. She suddenly felt much colder when Draco was gone.
~*~*~*~
Hermione woke up a few hours later to a heavenly sound. A rich classical symphony drifted about the common room, accompanied by the beautiful baritone voice of some random wizard. She smiled and fluttered her eyes open, turning her head to look across the sofa circle. On the couch directly across from hers, which happened to be the Slytherin sofa, was Draco Malfoy, wearing glasses and sitting with an open book. He hadn't noticed Hermione's movement, and she didn't alert him; simply smiled and watched her friend.
As a particularly heavy spot in the music came upon them, Draco stopped his reading and mouthed the words silently with the talented musician. Hermione couldn't help but laugh quietly. Draco didn't hear this over the music, but Eglamour did. The little kitten, which had been curled up next to his Slytherin shadow, picked his head up and perked his ears, looking to Hermione. She waved a little and Eglamour swiftly jumped from the sofa and trotted over to hers, jumping up and rubbing along her side. The silent serenade of the Slytherin prefect was cut short as he felt the cat jump down, and he looked up. Hermione smirked and waved to him, and Draco smiled back.
"Sorry; I didn't know you were sleeping when I started it, and you didn't seem to mind, so I left it on. I'll turn it off if you want me to," he said and Hermione propped her head up on one elbow.
"No, that's alright. It's not really my kind of music, but it isn't bad," she said and Draco smirked deviously, moving his arm down to let the wand slide from his sleeve, then flicked it. The music automatically changed to something a little more... Granger grunge. She smiled and started to sing along as the words began. "I need a witch with a passion for pain, who'll do anything I tell her to despite the distain.
"Undercover lover with an acidic chain, who'll meet me in the morning, drive me strictly insane.
"What the hell is this, I didn't ask for your name, I needed lovin', just a little bit of sex in my brain.
"Bye baby, cry my baby, baby's caught between hell and rain, she don't got nothing to lose, gives me something to gain.
"She wants a wizard whose slick and smooth, just a little bitty quickie and she'll keep up her cool.
"It isn't easy, squeezie, always be tool, with a tiny little nutshell she keeps all off of them fooled,
"I say it isn't easy with her company pool, she hides behind a pound of make-up and a skin tight front jewel.
"But the bird is mine; give her my time, my dime, the shit on my mind... I need by baby, maybe baby, can't just leave her behind.
"Treat her like more than that shit slimy Park-in-son puffy grime; I feel my baby, maybe baby, can't just leave her behind
"Got to get her chime and ring up do the crime, treat her like I pine, I love my baby, maybe baby, can't just leave her behind," Hermione sang in perfect time, never missing a word. Draco smiled as he watched her, her eyes alive with a rush from the beat. When she finished, he clapped, just to be a smartass.
"I give it a six point five for style, but you get a ten on the weirding me out scale," he said smartly and she just shook her head.
"I really love that song; HEX has got to be my all time favorite band...the only one I know with an electric ukulele," Hermione said, shrugging her shoulders. Draco smiled.
"Ay, me too... but I do believe it's prostitute puffy grime, not Parkinson puffy grime," he corrected and Hermione smiled.
"Is there really a difference?"
"Point taken. So, you hungry?" Hermione groaned.
"Oh my god, I hate you so very much right now," she moaned into Eglamour and Draco laughed.
"Yeah, I thought you'd say something like that... oh well, don't say I didn't try," he shrugged and went back to his book after switching the music to a light jazz. Hermione smiled.
"This is better," she said quietly and closed her eyes again, continuing to pet Eglamour. She had almost fallen asleep when there was an extremely loud knock at the portrait door.
"HERMIONE I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE HELL YOUR MIDDLE NAME IS GRANGER! OPEN THIS DOOR RIGHT THIS INSTANT!" yelled the annoyed voice of Harry Potter and Hermione made a crying groan as she rolled off the couch and onto her hands and knees.
"He knows the password, why doesn't he just come in or something?" she mumbled as she slowly got to her feet. Draco, who was looking at his book without the slightest bit of interest in the scene, shrugged.
"Because I told him I changed it, although I didn't, and he's too stupid to realize that," he explained and Hermione nodded, running a hand through her hair.
"Okay, yeah, that's probably why. Good plan, though. He'll never guess that... ever... five years from now he'd still be outside the door calling for me... but because I want to go back to sleep, I think I'm just going to go answer it," she said, sounding as if it was the most excruciating thing she would ever have to do in her entire lifetime. Draco made no comment as she shuffled to the portrait hole, hunched over and holding her stomach, looking pretty much worse for the wear. She opened the door with a whimper of discomfort. "What the hell do you want, Harry?" Harry was standing outside the door, looking quite frustrated, with Ron, who looked clueless.
"What happened to your hair?" asked the red-headed rebel and Hermione looked confused for a moment, then remembered that they hadn't seen her since last night.
"I dyed it, but that's irrelevant. Why the hell are you here, and why did you feel the need to freaking scream at me? You could have just knocked and asked politely, but no, always have to be an asshole," she said, rolling her eyes. Ron nodded blankly.
"So that's why you were a black cat," he said in amazement and Hermione stiffened a bit, remembering what he had done to her precious little Eglamour. She felt the poor thing brush up against her leg and she quickly closed the portrait enough to not allow them to see.
"Excuse me for a moment," she said and closed the door completely. "Draco, could you get Eglamour? He's going to ruin everything if they see him," she whispered loudly and he nodded.
"Come here, Eggy," he said, then snapped his fingers and patted his shoulder. Immediately, Eglamour jumped onto the back of his couch and to his shoulder, purring as he rubbed his head against Draco's temple. Hermione smiled for a moment, then opened the door again.
"Sorry, and yes, that's why I was a black cat... now, back to the subject of your extremely rude intrusion," she said, replacing the hand on her stomach.
"Sorry, Mione. I got a little frustrated with dark-wing dumb-ass out here... I couldn't guess the password," Harry explained and Hermione had to hold in a snicker. "Are you alright? You don't look so good," he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah, well, that's what you get for being kicked across the room," she said, shooting Ron a glare. He paled and looked a bit scared. "Just because I looked like a cat, it doesn't mean I was built exactly like a cat. Haven't you been paying enough attention to know that transfigured items are always much more fragile than the original? That really fucking hurt," Hermione said, sounding hurt and rubbing her stomach. Then, she turned to Harry. "And as for you, I'm not even going to acknowledge what YOU did..." she shook her head. "I can't even talk to you right now. Please do not visit my common room again in the near future. You are not welcome here." Hermione slammed the door before either of them could fathom something more to say.
She slowly made her way back to the couch, supporting her weight on anything she could and sighing painfully as she sat down. Draco watched her, a small speck of worry in his look, and petted the black cat which now rested over the book on his lap.
"That's not true, what you said about transfigured items," he reminded her and Hermione smiled.
"Yeah, but they don't know that; I'm know-it-all Granger, they'd have to be IDIOTS not to believe me," she said and attempted a laugh at her sarcastic use of the degrading adjective, but it turned into more of a complaining whine.
"You all right, Hermione?" Draco asked, now sounding slightly worried. Hermione smiled and nodded slightly before sliding down and settling herself to go back to sleep.
"I am never eating again. Ever. If I go anywhere near anything even slightly edible, I want you to body bind me on the spot," she said and Draco laughed a bit. He shook his head and simply kept his eyes on her, unable to read without disturbing his sleeping friend. After a moment, Hermione spoke. "You know, they didn't even ask if I wanted to go to the hospital wing or anything... I mean seriously, if you hurt someone, you ask that... it's like a rule." He raised an eyebrow.
"DO you want to go to the hospital wing?" She turned to him slightly.
"Why would I? It's not like I'm actually hurt, I just ate about sixteen times too much Auntie Em's... I'll be fine in a few hours." He shrugged and she sighed, turning back to face the ceiling. "Why does the name Cronan sound so familiar?" Draco shrugged.
"I don't know; it means 'Little Dark One' in like Scottish or something," he told her and Hermione nodded.
"I know, I thought that was kind of cute... but that's not it, there's something else..."
"Um... that guy from REO Speedwagon's last name is Cronin," he said and Hermione's eyes popped open.
"Oh my god, that's it... how did you know that?" Draco shrugged.
"My Mum has interesting taste in music. They're not THAT bad, really..."
"Yeah, but I don't know why anyone, other than me, who is obsessed, would know that... I mean, not only are they muggles and Americans, they haven't put out an album since like the eighties... it's incredibly ironic, don't you think?" Draco shrugged again, obviously not as amazed by the occurrence as Hermione. Then, he smirked and flicked his wand. Again, the magical music changed.
*She doesn't like the tough guys, they think that they can do anything they please.
*But they're gonna get a surprise, when she brings them to their knees.
* 'Cus she doesn't like the rough guys. They act like they can have any girl they choose
*They've got tricks, but my baby's got wise, so in case you haven't heard the news...
*She doesn't like the tough guys. She doesn't like the rough guys.
*So find someone your own size, 'cus she's not afraid of you.
Hermione laughed, winced, then laughed again.
"Interesting choice," she commented and he shrugged.
"Cronin wrote it; seemed appropriate," Draco said with a smile and Hermione closed her eyes again.
"Yeah, maybe," she said, paused for a moment, then shifted, pulling a wand from her charmed to hold anything pocket. She changed the music once again.
*So you figure that you've got him all figured out, he's a sweet talking stud who can melt a girl's heart with his pout... he's the kind of lover that the ladies dream about.
*He's got plenty of cash, he's got plenty of friends. He drives women wild, then he drives off in a Mercedes Benz. He's got a long wick with a flame at both ends.
*But don't let him go. Just give him a chance to grow. Take it easy, take is slow, and don't let him go.
Now Draco laughed.
"Also an appropriate choice." Hermione smiled and flicked her wand again, bringing back the light and sweet classical music. She smiled and shifted to put her wand back in her pocket, then curled up under the blanket and closed her eyes. Draco smiled at her and looked down at Eglamour. "Go," he whispered gently, smiling. Eglamour seemed to get his meaning and jumped from his lap, padding over to Hermione and jumping up on the couch. She smiled and wrapped an arm around him, holding the little kitten close. Draco smiled and went back to his reading.
Hermione didn't go to sleep for well over an hour and a half. She simply listened to the pretty music with a smile and watched through slightly parted lids as Draco sang silently along. When the little charmed clock on the mantle struck six, she was sleeping lightly, undisturbed by the quiet chime. Draco looked up from his book, which he was still reading, to the clock, then to Hermione. He smiled at her and turned down the music slightly before leaving for dinner. He would have woken her, but she seemed so peaceful... and he was pretty sure she wouldn't want to eat anyway. As Draco walked away, Eglamour looked up. He immediately jumped down and started after him, but Draco shook a finger.
"Sorry Eg, I can't take you this time; it'll be too suspicious. I'll bring you back something nice, promise," Draco said and Eglamour simply sat, looking up at him with wide and curious eyes, tail swishing behind him. "Stay with your mum; she doesn't feel too good." Draco pointed to Hermione and Eglamour turned to look at her, then back at Draco, who looked determined, and finally padded his way back to his master, who slept silently on the couch. "There's a good boy," Draco said, then left for the great hall.
~*~*~*~
This time, when Draco entered, Harry and Ron immediately approached him.
"Where's Hermione, Malfoy, and don't give me the 'she's a cat' bullshit, alright?" Harry asked angrily, walking right up to Draco and stopping an inch from touching him. Draco, eyebrows raised in surprise, took a step back. He blinked, regaining himself, then smirked.
"For some strange and unknown reason... she didn't feel like coming down... hm, wonder why that could be?" he said in mock unknowingness. Harry and Ron automatically looked extremely guilty. "Oh, don't worry; I'm sure she'll forgive you for beating the bloody hell out of her while viewing her feline firecracker in the process. Yes, no reason to be upset there. I'm sure she's already gotten over it... if I were to guess, I'd say her not coming down has something to do with the fact that she needs help to climb the stairs, but that's just my opinion." Ron paled considerably and looked to the floor. Draco smirked. It was incredibly pathetic how trusting they were in everything he was saying... and everything Hermione said. For two people who hate her, they had an unnatural habit of hanging on every word she said.
"You've got to be exaggerating, Malfoy... he barely touched her," Harry defended Ron, who looked hopefully up at Draco, but the Slytherin just shook his head.
"Hey, Potter, I don't like it any more than you do. She keeps...COMPLAINING... and moaning and groaning... it's getting quite annoying. But, I do feel quite sorry for her. She's rather angry with you, and I don't blame her... but regardless, she is a... scrawny little... woman, so I'm being nice and helping her out. She told me to kick your ass, but I think I'll leave that for her once she's regained herself... as much as I'd like to honor her wishes. Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to have my dinner and get back to your little friend there... she'll probably get mad if she needs something and I'm not back yet. Good day, gentlemen," he said, pretended to tip his imaginary hat, then spun and headed for the Slytherin table. Unfortunately, there were quite a few more people at dinner than there had been at breakfast.
Draco watched as Harry and Ron glared at him, then went back to their dinner. He looked around at the table, disgusted at the groups of people who hadn't even acknowledged his presence. True to his word, he spent no more than twenty minutes in that crowded room.
A/N: Not really much to say... they're pretty good liars, aren't they? Lol. Poor Eglamour; he really wanted to come steal more food! Draco's gonna have to bring him back something REALLY good...I've got plans for that... I have a quick, yet important QUESTION... would you guys get pissed off if I got a little... R-rated on you in a couple chapters? I have an idea, which I was gonna use in the next one, but I want opinions first, and I think it's a little early... it's not going to be X, just R... no descriptive sex... it'll only be like half a page long or so, too... just tell me okay?!!
PRF:
Daisy: Lol... I'm not afraid of big breasts, but they kind of gross me out... but I'm thinking like HUGE breasts... like Jerry Springer Show breasts... yeah, the ones bigger than their heads? Ew.... is this Harry's an ass story a D/Hr? I love D/Hr!
Tainted Black: I wasn't sure if that pregnant women thing would go over well, but it was like a spontaneous spur of the moment thing... I'm like what's a weird thing to be afraid of... pregnant people! Yeah! Yeah, Ron is an ass! Let's get him! They've like switched places with a revenge thirsty Crabbe and Goyle... lol... and about her 'bottom half' if you just mean in the last chapter, it was just the way they were sitting... I wasn't gonna make him like climb over her or anything... lol, he was being comforting and affectionate without making her move.
Sweet Sorrow: yeah, I put in reference to the chamber of secrets thing... but she's REALLY a cat this time, not a cat...woman, lol
Hasapi: That exact problem was what caused me to write both this and MPES... I just couldn't get it out of my head! And I don't know about her turning BACK into a cat and them saying it was a weird spell... maybe I'll have H+R accidentally see Eggy... then it wouldn't be bad... I don't know, we'll see
DJ: Okay!
Little Witch: Actually, it just spontaneously popped into my head... but I went with it... lol
Crystalline Lily: Evidently no, Morag doesn't want children. But this would explain, somewhat, Draco's reasoning about his big feet and little reputation for sheet ripping... he doesn't want to knock anyone up! Yep, yep... friends to the END!
Lisawescott: I don't know... I hate them? Is that a good reason? Okay... after she killed Voldie, they saw no need for her anymore, and they ditched her... if you read the first book, the ENTIRE time they're like, wow, Hermione, would you just SHUT THE HELL UP! And then it's all of a sudden, oh Hermione! Are you okay? And stuff... so my reasoning is that they just never really liked her and were pretending...
Silver Dragon Goddess: Lol, that's my favorite part too... hehe, and yeah, some people hate Draco, but some people are mentally unstable.
Jade-snake: I damn well would!
Some1: Yep, yep! Eggy did a good job at acting mad, too... didn't he? Lol. Mandy and Morag are such twits... lol ~Some2
Luving Draco: Yeah, it was pretty depressing, and I've been kind of wondering about that... did she get over her whole I'm depressed thing too quickly? Maybe I'll just make it that she's not like that alone with Draco, but she is around other people... except Mandy and Morag, because they're stupid... lol, and Harry and Ron, I guess too... for the same reason... I don't know... Thanx!
Last time on LGG:
"Bite me, Malfoy. I'm not afraid of you." A loud and devastating moan was heard from the downward staircase, followed by louder banging. Again, Draco looked to Hermione.
"Go ahead, you know you want to," she whispered and Draco smirked, kissed her knee once more, then stood, making his way slowly toward the Hufflepuff prefect.
"Oh you're not now, are you? Well, that's good, because we wouldn't want that. Tension in the common room causes tension in the classroom... and as prefects we are respected throughout the student body." Hermione snickered, but Draco continued. "So tell me... Moooraag," he said, stretching out the name. "What ARE you afraid of?" Draco began to walk circles around the obviously scared boy. Morag stood stiff and straight, eyes watching every step Draco took, face pale and beaded with sweat. "Oh, come now," Draco said when he didn't answer. "Everybody's afraid of something... I happen to know that Potter is afraid of dementors, Weasley is afraid of spiders... Hermione is afraid of my father, and I am afraid of drowning, having no one to talk to, and the crucias curse. What are YOU afraid of?" Morag swallowed nervously and the banging from the doorway stopped momentarily.
"Pregnant women," he said quietly, but the silence was so complete that everyone could hear him loud and clear.
~*~*~*~
.
CHAPTER SEVEN: Extending the Olive... Knife
There was a gallant pause, then Draco nodded.
"Very understandable. Now, would you please just apologize so I can stop hovering over you?"
"Sorry Granger; really," he said sincerely and Hermione nodded.
"It's okay, Morag," she said and Draco smiled.
"There you go," he said to the Hufflepuff and walked back to his seat on the couch, hugging Hermione's knees as he had before. Morag watched them for a moment, a slight suspicion in his glance, but then turned and fled the common room as if it were on fire. Draco smiled and pressed his lips against Hermione's knee for the third time. She smiled and looked up at him. After a few moments of silence, Draco lifted his head and looked toward the staircase. "Go on ahead, Brocklehurst. I'm not going to mug you or anything," he called to her and Mandy's voice came back.
"Oh! No, it's not that, I just can't find my... um...accio...thing I'm looking for! Oh! There it is!" she said and hurriedly climbed the stairs, then sped through the common room, giving the two prefects on the sofa a slight wave as she passed and was out the door before either could process her movement. Silence instilled again, this time for a bit longer. Hermione closed her eyes, hands still on her stomach, and Draco kept his arms around her legs, watching her.
"Who do you know who's been pregnant?" she asked almost suddenly and Draco jerked slightly. Hermione opened her eyes, looking curious and he smiled sadly.
"My mother," he said and Hermione looked surprised.
"Do elaborate; you never told me you had siblings," she said and he nodded.
"That's because I don't. My mother has been pregnant five times. Once before me, then me, then three times more. You see, Malfoys have certain rules. One of these rules is no female heirs. For some reason, my father was pretty prone on creating female offspring. My mother's first pregnancy, which I obviously wasn't around for, turned out negative for Y chromosomes, so it was terminated. Next came me, oh joy. Then, two more terminations. The last one, which she was so very convinced would be a boy, died before we could even find out. She cried for three months. It was horrible. I agree with Mork; pregnant women terrify me," he explained and Hermione smiled.
"His name is Morag," she corrected.
"Whatever, he's still right."
"I don't mean to try and pry you open and read you like a book or anything, but do you agree with this? No female offspring?"
"I don't know... I can see where they're coming from when they say that, but it's so sad when they have to kill the babies just because they're girls... as if it's someone's fault... and it rips Mother's heart out every time," he said somewhat sadly and Hermione frowned apologetically.
"I'm sorry, Draco." He smiled and kissed her knee again. "I have a totally hypothetical, but still serious, question. If we slept together, and you got me pregnant, and it was a girl and I wanted to keep it... would you let me?" Draco smiled as if she were the most adorable thing he had ever seen, looking up at him with those innocent and curious eyes.
"Hermione; if I knocked you up and it was a frog I'd let you keep it if you wanted to. I could never hurt anyone like that... the way my father hurts her every time. She didn't even tell him about the last one until it was too late... that was less than a year ago. I hope it's a boy next time, and there will be a next time, my father will make sure of it... but I hope he gets what he wants, just so he'll leave her alone. It's eating her up inside," he said, beginning to move his hand up and down her leg again. Then he suddenly stopped. "I'm sorry; I'm sure you don't care about this. I'll stop."
"No, Draco... it's okay; I'm your friend, this is what I do. If you want to talk about this, then go right ahead, we've got all day, and I'm willing to listen."
"Wow... you're the best friend I've ever had. Even the house elves tell me to shut up after a few minutes of babbling," Draco said in astonishment and Hermione smiled.
"Hey, they're very busy people, those house elves. If I was told by your father to do all this stuff and you started talking to me, yeah, I'd probably get mad and tell you to shut up too. I'm sorry, but I sympathize. Your father is intimidating to me, and house elves are about a third his size and unable to use magic. I'd be scared," she said and Draco nodded.
"Point taken. Hey, you feel better?" Hermione smiled.
"Much."
"Good," Draco said, moving one of his hands down to her waist, then he slid his fingers under her shirt. Hermione moved her hands away and looked down curiously.
"What are you doing?" Draco didn't answer, but lifted her shirt a few inches, exposing her navel, complete with ring. Today's style was unlike that of yesterday. It was a black scorpion with an extra long tail voyaging through her skin and out the other side, capped off with a stinger. He smiled and looked up at Hermione, who was looking at her navel with a blank expression. She turned and met eyes with him, but her expression didn't change.
"It's simply interesting to me that you have a navel ring, yet no eyebrow ring, no nose, lip, tongue... your ears aren't even pierced," he said, looking back down and tracing a finger around the captivating extremity. Hermione smirked.
"You can't hide facial piercing with your clothes," she explained and he smiled, continuing to trace her scorpion.
"You didn't tell your parents?"
"No, of course not. That would have just been stupid... and a waste of about fifty galleons worth of rings; they'd never let me keep it," she said, rolling her eyes. "I don't know how they can be so overprotective, yet still manage not to give a shit about me."
"Oh, come on, I'm sure THAT'S not true. What plausible reason could your parents have to begrudge you?"
"I have no idea, but it seems like they're avoiding me... I hardly ever saw them over break; they're always at the office... but I know they can't be working all that time, I mean... who leaves at four o'clock and gets back at eleven that night when their practice is just barely out of walking distance from their home? I ate frozen waffles straight out of the box for dinner almost every night; occasionally I'd get ambitious and cook them something big... but I'd always end up eating it the next day... I mean really, it's not like I'd poison them or something... honestly, I've noticed them acting strange since I came home for Christmas break last year... I forgot we weren't supposed to use magic, don't even ask me how I forgot something so embedded into my brain, but there's Granger for you... anyway; I broke this really important vase and my mother went practically hysterical... so I wasn't thinking and I just 'reparo'-ed it... they looked scared of me for like ten minutes, then it was like it never happened...except they kept avoiding me..." she said, then paused for a moment. "Am I boring you?"
"No, of course not." Hermione smiled.
"Do you think they're afraid of me?" she asked, looking back toward the ceiling. Draco shrugged.
"It's possible... and it makes sense, I mean... think of all the things you could just... do to them... and they wouldn't have the faintest idea of how to stop you. You hear about teens going insane and killing people all the time, shooting their teachers, their parents, their friends... but you have a wand; a gun can kill if lucky, but a wand WILL kill if told to."
"Alright, let's say you're right and my parents are afraid that I'm going to kill them if they make me angry. Totally ignoring me isn't going to prevent that! If anything, it's going to cause it! I mean, who's more prone to become a mass murderer? A girl who lives with a happy little nuclear family in a happy home with a happy cat and quality time and fun and love... or a girl who grows up all by herself in a cold empty house with a skinny little cat and a post card from her parents every week? I'd say the latter, but that's just my opinion."
"Maybe you should talk to them about it... they probably never thought of it that way," Draco suggested and moved his hand back across her skin, but left her shirt flipped up.
"What am I supposed to do? Owl them and say 'Hey, are you guys afraid I'm going to kill you? Well, it's more likely that I will if you keep avoiding me. Maybe we should spend more time together.'? That could be taken the wrong way," she said sounding slightly sarcastic. Draco looked a little hurt.
"Hey, it was a suggestion. I was just trying to help you, you know," he said and Hermione smiled.
"I know, I didn't mean it that way. Thank you for listening to me, I'm sure you're ready for nap time now, but hey; it felt kind of nice from this side." Draco smiled and kissed her knee again.
"I'm going to go upstairs; I'll see you in a bit," he said and stood, sweeping around the couch and taking the stairs, two at a time as always. Eglamour jumped up into his vacated seat and rubbed up against Hermione's legs before climbing onto the back of the couch, then jumping off and heading after him. Hermione shook her head after the kitten, then pulled her blanket from a top the sofa, spreading it around her before closing her eyes. She suddenly felt much colder when Draco was gone.
~*~*~*~
Hermione woke up a few hours later to a heavenly sound. A rich classical symphony drifted about the common room, accompanied by the beautiful baritone voice of some random wizard. She smiled and fluttered her eyes open, turning her head to look across the sofa circle. On the couch directly across from hers, which happened to be the Slytherin sofa, was Draco Malfoy, wearing glasses and sitting with an open book. He hadn't noticed Hermione's movement, and she didn't alert him; simply smiled and watched her friend.
As a particularly heavy spot in the music came upon them, Draco stopped his reading and mouthed the words silently with the talented musician. Hermione couldn't help but laugh quietly. Draco didn't hear this over the music, but Eglamour did. The little kitten, which had been curled up next to his Slytherin shadow, picked his head up and perked his ears, looking to Hermione. She waved a little and Eglamour swiftly jumped from the sofa and trotted over to hers, jumping up and rubbing along her side. The silent serenade of the Slytherin prefect was cut short as he felt the cat jump down, and he looked up. Hermione smirked and waved to him, and Draco smiled back.
"Sorry; I didn't know you were sleeping when I started it, and you didn't seem to mind, so I left it on. I'll turn it off if you want me to," he said and Hermione propped her head up on one elbow.
"No, that's alright. It's not really my kind of music, but it isn't bad," she said and Draco smirked deviously, moving his arm down to let the wand slide from his sleeve, then flicked it. The music automatically changed to something a little more... Granger grunge. She smiled and started to sing along as the words began. "I need a witch with a passion for pain, who'll do anything I tell her to despite the distain.
"Undercover lover with an acidic chain, who'll meet me in the morning, drive me strictly insane.
"What the hell is this, I didn't ask for your name, I needed lovin', just a little bit of sex in my brain.
"Bye baby, cry my baby, baby's caught between hell and rain, she don't got nothing to lose, gives me something to gain.
"She wants a wizard whose slick and smooth, just a little bitty quickie and she'll keep up her cool.
"It isn't easy, squeezie, always be tool, with a tiny little nutshell she keeps all off of them fooled,
"I say it isn't easy with her company pool, she hides behind a pound of make-up and a skin tight front jewel.
"But the bird is mine; give her my time, my dime, the shit on my mind... I need by baby, maybe baby, can't just leave her behind.
"Treat her like more than that shit slimy Park-in-son puffy grime; I feel my baby, maybe baby, can't just leave her behind
"Got to get her chime and ring up do the crime, treat her like I pine, I love my baby, maybe baby, can't just leave her behind," Hermione sang in perfect time, never missing a word. Draco smiled as he watched her, her eyes alive with a rush from the beat. When she finished, he clapped, just to be a smartass.
"I give it a six point five for style, but you get a ten on the weirding me out scale," he said smartly and she just shook her head.
"I really love that song; HEX has got to be my all time favorite band...the only one I know with an electric ukulele," Hermione said, shrugging her shoulders. Draco smiled.
"Ay, me too... but I do believe it's prostitute puffy grime, not Parkinson puffy grime," he corrected and Hermione smiled.
"Is there really a difference?"
"Point taken. So, you hungry?" Hermione groaned.
"Oh my god, I hate you so very much right now," she moaned into Eglamour and Draco laughed.
"Yeah, I thought you'd say something like that... oh well, don't say I didn't try," he shrugged and went back to his book after switching the music to a light jazz. Hermione smiled.
"This is better," she said quietly and closed her eyes again, continuing to pet Eglamour. She had almost fallen asleep when there was an extremely loud knock at the portrait door.
"HERMIONE I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE HELL YOUR MIDDLE NAME IS GRANGER! OPEN THIS DOOR RIGHT THIS INSTANT!" yelled the annoyed voice of Harry Potter and Hermione made a crying groan as she rolled off the couch and onto her hands and knees.
"He knows the password, why doesn't he just come in or something?" she mumbled as she slowly got to her feet. Draco, who was looking at his book without the slightest bit of interest in the scene, shrugged.
"Because I told him I changed it, although I didn't, and he's too stupid to realize that," he explained and Hermione nodded, running a hand through her hair.
"Okay, yeah, that's probably why. Good plan, though. He'll never guess that... ever... five years from now he'd still be outside the door calling for me... but because I want to go back to sleep, I think I'm just going to go answer it," she said, sounding as if it was the most excruciating thing she would ever have to do in her entire lifetime. Draco made no comment as she shuffled to the portrait hole, hunched over and holding her stomach, looking pretty much worse for the wear. She opened the door with a whimper of discomfort. "What the hell do you want, Harry?" Harry was standing outside the door, looking quite frustrated, with Ron, who looked clueless.
"What happened to your hair?" asked the red-headed rebel and Hermione looked confused for a moment, then remembered that they hadn't seen her since last night.
"I dyed it, but that's irrelevant. Why the hell are you here, and why did you feel the need to freaking scream at me? You could have just knocked and asked politely, but no, always have to be an asshole," she said, rolling her eyes. Ron nodded blankly.
"So that's why you were a black cat," he said in amazement and Hermione stiffened a bit, remembering what he had done to her precious little Eglamour. She felt the poor thing brush up against her leg and she quickly closed the portrait enough to not allow them to see.
"Excuse me for a moment," she said and closed the door completely. "Draco, could you get Eglamour? He's going to ruin everything if they see him," she whispered loudly and he nodded.
"Come here, Eggy," he said, then snapped his fingers and patted his shoulder. Immediately, Eglamour jumped onto the back of his couch and to his shoulder, purring as he rubbed his head against Draco's temple. Hermione smiled for a moment, then opened the door again.
"Sorry, and yes, that's why I was a black cat... now, back to the subject of your extremely rude intrusion," she said, replacing the hand on her stomach.
"Sorry, Mione. I got a little frustrated with dark-wing dumb-ass out here... I couldn't guess the password," Harry explained and Hermione had to hold in a snicker. "Are you alright? You don't look so good," he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah, well, that's what you get for being kicked across the room," she said, shooting Ron a glare. He paled and looked a bit scared. "Just because I looked like a cat, it doesn't mean I was built exactly like a cat. Haven't you been paying enough attention to know that transfigured items are always much more fragile than the original? That really fucking hurt," Hermione said, sounding hurt and rubbing her stomach. Then, she turned to Harry. "And as for you, I'm not even going to acknowledge what YOU did..." she shook her head. "I can't even talk to you right now. Please do not visit my common room again in the near future. You are not welcome here." Hermione slammed the door before either of them could fathom something more to say.
She slowly made her way back to the couch, supporting her weight on anything she could and sighing painfully as she sat down. Draco watched her, a small speck of worry in his look, and petted the black cat which now rested over the book on his lap.
"That's not true, what you said about transfigured items," he reminded her and Hermione smiled.
"Yeah, but they don't know that; I'm know-it-all Granger, they'd have to be IDIOTS not to believe me," she said and attempted a laugh at her sarcastic use of the degrading adjective, but it turned into more of a complaining whine.
"You all right, Hermione?" Draco asked, now sounding slightly worried. Hermione smiled and nodded slightly before sliding down and settling herself to go back to sleep.
"I am never eating again. Ever. If I go anywhere near anything even slightly edible, I want you to body bind me on the spot," she said and Draco laughed a bit. He shook his head and simply kept his eyes on her, unable to read without disturbing his sleeping friend. After a moment, Hermione spoke. "You know, they didn't even ask if I wanted to go to the hospital wing or anything... I mean seriously, if you hurt someone, you ask that... it's like a rule." He raised an eyebrow.
"DO you want to go to the hospital wing?" She turned to him slightly.
"Why would I? It's not like I'm actually hurt, I just ate about sixteen times too much Auntie Em's... I'll be fine in a few hours." He shrugged and she sighed, turning back to face the ceiling. "Why does the name Cronan sound so familiar?" Draco shrugged.
"I don't know; it means 'Little Dark One' in like Scottish or something," he told her and Hermione nodded.
"I know, I thought that was kind of cute... but that's not it, there's something else..."
"Um... that guy from REO Speedwagon's last name is Cronin," he said and Hermione's eyes popped open.
"Oh my god, that's it... how did you know that?" Draco shrugged.
"My Mum has interesting taste in music. They're not THAT bad, really..."
"Yeah, but I don't know why anyone, other than me, who is obsessed, would know that... I mean, not only are they muggles and Americans, they haven't put out an album since like the eighties... it's incredibly ironic, don't you think?" Draco shrugged again, obviously not as amazed by the occurrence as Hermione. Then, he smirked and flicked his wand. Again, the magical music changed.
*She doesn't like the tough guys, they think that they can do anything they please.
*But they're gonna get a surprise, when she brings them to their knees.
* 'Cus she doesn't like the rough guys. They act like they can have any girl they choose
*They've got tricks, but my baby's got wise, so in case you haven't heard the news...
*She doesn't like the tough guys. She doesn't like the rough guys.
*So find someone your own size, 'cus she's not afraid of you.
Hermione laughed, winced, then laughed again.
"Interesting choice," she commented and he shrugged.
"Cronin wrote it; seemed appropriate," Draco said with a smile and Hermione closed her eyes again.
"Yeah, maybe," she said, paused for a moment, then shifted, pulling a wand from her charmed to hold anything pocket. She changed the music once again.
*So you figure that you've got him all figured out, he's a sweet talking stud who can melt a girl's heart with his pout... he's the kind of lover that the ladies dream about.
*He's got plenty of cash, he's got plenty of friends. He drives women wild, then he drives off in a Mercedes Benz. He's got a long wick with a flame at both ends.
*But don't let him go. Just give him a chance to grow. Take it easy, take is slow, and don't let him go.
Now Draco laughed.
"Also an appropriate choice." Hermione smiled and flicked her wand again, bringing back the light and sweet classical music. She smiled and shifted to put her wand back in her pocket, then curled up under the blanket and closed her eyes. Draco smiled at her and looked down at Eglamour. "Go," he whispered gently, smiling. Eglamour seemed to get his meaning and jumped from his lap, padding over to Hermione and jumping up on the couch. She smiled and wrapped an arm around him, holding the little kitten close. Draco smiled and went back to his reading.
Hermione didn't go to sleep for well over an hour and a half. She simply listened to the pretty music with a smile and watched through slightly parted lids as Draco sang silently along. When the little charmed clock on the mantle struck six, she was sleeping lightly, undisturbed by the quiet chime. Draco looked up from his book, which he was still reading, to the clock, then to Hermione. He smiled at her and turned down the music slightly before leaving for dinner. He would have woken her, but she seemed so peaceful... and he was pretty sure she wouldn't want to eat anyway. As Draco walked away, Eglamour looked up. He immediately jumped down and started after him, but Draco shook a finger.
"Sorry Eg, I can't take you this time; it'll be too suspicious. I'll bring you back something nice, promise," Draco said and Eglamour simply sat, looking up at him with wide and curious eyes, tail swishing behind him. "Stay with your mum; she doesn't feel too good." Draco pointed to Hermione and Eglamour turned to look at her, then back at Draco, who looked determined, and finally padded his way back to his master, who slept silently on the couch. "There's a good boy," Draco said, then left for the great hall.
~*~*~*~
This time, when Draco entered, Harry and Ron immediately approached him.
"Where's Hermione, Malfoy, and don't give me the 'she's a cat' bullshit, alright?" Harry asked angrily, walking right up to Draco and stopping an inch from touching him. Draco, eyebrows raised in surprise, took a step back. He blinked, regaining himself, then smirked.
"For some strange and unknown reason... she didn't feel like coming down... hm, wonder why that could be?" he said in mock unknowingness. Harry and Ron automatically looked extremely guilty. "Oh, don't worry; I'm sure she'll forgive you for beating the bloody hell out of her while viewing her feline firecracker in the process. Yes, no reason to be upset there. I'm sure she's already gotten over it... if I were to guess, I'd say her not coming down has something to do with the fact that she needs help to climb the stairs, but that's just my opinion." Ron paled considerably and looked to the floor. Draco smirked. It was incredibly pathetic how trusting they were in everything he was saying... and everything Hermione said. For two people who hate her, they had an unnatural habit of hanging on every word she said.
"You've got to be exaggerating, Malfoy... he barely touched her," Harry defended Ron, who looked hopefully up at Draco, but the Slytherin just shook his head.
"Hey, Potter, I don't like it any more than you do. She keeps...COMPLAINING... and moaning and groaning... it's getting quite annoying. But, I do feel quite sorry for her. She's rather angry with you, and I don't blame her... but regardless, she is a... scrawny little... woman, so I'm being nice and helping her out. She told me to kick your ass, but I think I'll leave that for her once she's regained herself... as much as I'd like to honor her wishes. Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to have my dinner and get back to your little friend there... she'll probably get mad if she needs something and I'm not back yet. Good day, gentlemen," he said, pretended to tip his imaginary hat, then spun and headed for the Slytherin table. Unfortunately, there were quite a few more people at dinner than there had been at breakfast.
Draco watched as Harry and Ron glared at him, then went back to their dinner. He looked around at the table, disgusted at the groups of people who hadn't even acknowledged his presence. True to his word, he spent no more than twenty minutes in that crowded room.
A/N: Not really much to say... they're pretty good liars, aren't they? Lol. Poor Eglamour; he really wanted to come steal more food! Draco's gonna have to bring him back something REALLY good...I've got plans for that... I have a quick, yet important QUESTION... would you guys get pissed off if I got a little... R-rated on you in a couple chapters? I have an idea, which I was gonna use in the next one, but I want opinions first, and I think it's a little early... it's not going to be X, just R... no descriptive sex... it'll only be like half a page long or so, too... just tell me okay?!!
PRF:
Daisy: Lol... I'm not afraid of big breasts, but they kind of gross me out... but I'm thinking like HUGE breasts... like Jerry Springer Show breasts... yeah, the ones bigger than their heads? Ew.... is this Harry's an ass story a D/Hr? I love D/Hr!
Tainted Black: I wasn't sure if that pregnant women thing would go over well, but it was like a spontaneous spur of the moment thing... I'm like what's a weird thing to be afraid of... pregnant people! Yeah! Yeah, Ron is an ass! Let's get him! They've like switched places with a revenge thirsty Crabbe and Goyle... lol... and about her 'bottom half' if you just mean in the last chapter, it was just the way they were sitting... I wasn't gonna make him like climb over her or anything... lol, he was being comforting and affectionate without making her move.
Sweet Sorrow: yeah, I put in reference to the chamber of secrets thing... but she's REALLY a cat this time, not a cat...woman, lol
Hasapi: That exact problem was what caused me to write both this and MPES... I just couldn't get it out of my head! And I don't know about her turning BACK into a cat and them saying it was a weird spell... maybe I'll have H+R accidentally see Eggy... then it wouldn't be bad... I don't know, we'll see
DJ: Okay!
Little Witch: Actually, it just spontaneously popped into my head... but I went with it... lol
Crystalline Lily: Evidently no, Morag doesn't want children. But this would explain, somewhat, Draco's reasoning about his big feet and little reputation for sheet ripping... he doesn't want to knock anyone up! Yep, yep... friends to the END!
Lisawescott: I don't know... I hate them? Is that a good reason? Okay... after she killed Voldie, they saw no need for her anymore, and they ditched her... if you read the first book, the ENTIRE time they're like, wow, Hermione, would you just SHUT THE HELL UP! And then it's all of a sudden, oh Hermione! Are you okay? And stuff... so my reasoning is that they just never really liked her and were pretending...
Silver Dragon Goddess: Lol, that's my favorite part too... hehe, and yeah, some people hate Draco, but some people are mentally unstable.
Jade-snake: I damn well would!
Some1: Yep, yep! Eggy did a good job at acting mad, too... didn't he? Lol. Mandy and Morag are such twits... lol ~Some2
Luving Draco: Yeah, it was pretty depressing, and I've been kind of wondering about that... did she get over her whole I'm depressed thing too quickly? Maybe I'll just make it that she's not like that alone with Draco, but she is around other people... except Mandy and Morag, because they're stupid... lol, and Harry and Ron, I guess too... for the same reason... I don't know... Thanx!