Hermione walked with Harry and Ron to Herbology. She was nervous about how her plan would turn out. She knew Parkinson was going to help but Malfoy's father was a Death Eater and he was bound to learn some nasty spells from him. Hermione didn't want to end up like she had in the Department of Mysteries, cursed and useless. If she didn't succeed then the whole school would know her secret and that was the worst thought possible. It was bad enough that her two worst enemies knew. Well maybe Parkinson wasn't her worst enemy but Malfoy certainly was.
She was surprised at how well Ron took the news. Hermione thought he would be really angry and hurt but he was understanding and that gave her made her feel slightly less nervous than she was earlier. She knew that she could do the memory charm perfectly so there was no need to be nervous about that but there was always the chance that he would be to fast for her and she would end up on the ground unconscious.
She had a plan and she was pretty sure that it would work. Hermione already had the basics from her chat with Parkinson and after she had those she needed to go more in depth with the plan. She decided that she would wait outside the greenhouse door for him because he was usually the last one to leave. Hermione would be wearing the Invisibility cloak as she waited and when he walked out with Parkinson she would grab him and bring him behind the greenhouse. First she would cast Petrificus Totalus and then she would perform the memory charm.
"Hermione!" She was pulled out of her scheming thoughts by Harry.
"Sorry, I was a little lost in thought. What is it?"
"Were here."
"What…oh right." She realized that she was standing in front of the door and she had probably been there for some time.
"Its ok. What were you thinking so deeply about?"
"Yeah you looked a million miles away." They both looked at her curiously. She wondered how they could be so thick. What else would she be thinking about.
"I'm thinking about how I'm going to charm Malfoy and I think I've figured it out."
"I thought you already had a plan." Ron said.
"I do I was just thinking about it more in depth."
They walked into the greenhouse and sat on the stools.
"Alright everyone today we are going to be working with a very curious plant called Gilllyweed. I will be passing out a sample of this plant to every table. For those of you who don't already know this. DON'T EAT IT. On a different note can anyone tell me what Gillyweed does?"
Hermione raised her hand. Of course she knew what it did, Harry had used it during the second challenge in the Triwizard tournament. She looked at him and smiled and he smiled back knowingly.
"Yes, Miss Granger."
"Gillyweed causes the recipient to grow gills and webbed hands and feet allowing the person to be underwater for a long period of time."
"Exactly right, ten points to Gryffindor."
She smiled as she always did when she was told she was right and Professor Sprout continued.
"Ok I want you all to open your textbooks and read about Gillyweed and when your finished write an foot long essay about its uses and where it can be found. The essay will be due tomorrow. Get to work."
Everyone pulled out their textbooks and got to reading. Hermione had already read the whole textbook so she was a bit bored. She decides to think over think over her plan again to make sure it was perfect. She suddenly saw a piece of paper in front of her. She opened it up to see it was a note from Harry.
Are you sure you don't need our help?
He had been asking her this question every time he got the chance and it was begging to get on her nerves.
I am perfectly capable thank you.
She handed it back to him feeling guilty that she had been snippy. She watched him scrawl out a quick response and after a moment he slipped it to her.
Just trying to be helpful no need to be cross.
She sighed and wrote an apology.
I'm sorry Harry but you have asked me quite a lot and I realize that your looking out for me but I'm pretty sure I can do this. I have your Cloak and I know what spells I am going to use. Thank you though.
When she handed it back to him he smiled in understanding.
******
Class was finally over and now it was time to put her plan in action. Harry and Ron left reluctantly when she nodded for them to go on. They were the first to leave so she quickly slipped on the cloak and waited. After almost all of the class was gone she heard Malfoy's voice.
"That class was horrid. I was so bored I actually read the text." He sounded absolutely horrified at the idea of actually learning something.
"I know I almost fell asleep." When Parkinson spoke Hermione's heart gave a little jolt. She immediately scolded herself reminding herself that it was the Slytherin Princess that made her feel that way and that she could never like a Slytherin.
Malfoy and Parkinson finally walked out of the greenhouse and when Malfoy was in the perfect position in front of her she acted.
"Petrificus Totalus!" The fully bound boy fell to the ground landing flat on his back. She pulled of the cloak and ran towards him. Parkinson turned around glaring at Hermione.
"You could have given a little warning you nearly gave me heart failure." Her voice was icy and harsh.
"You knew that I was going to do this so you shouldn't be so surprised." Hermione's voice was equally icy. Parkinson sneered.
"Let's get on with this, I don't want to be in your company any longer than necessary." That hurt. Hermione knew this was normal for them but she had hoped that since Parkinson was helping her they might have a slightly better relationship.
"You will not speak to me that way, I am not some animal you can treat you can treat like dirt." Hermione was surprised at her boldness and from the look on Parkinson's face she was just as surprised.
"You're right I'm sorry" Hermione did a double take. Pansy Parkinson just apologized to her of all people. She was so surprised that she was at loss for words.
"Are you going to get started?" At Parkinson's words her senses came back.
"Right, yeah. I'll get started."
She pointed her wand at Malfoy and muttered the right spells under her breath. After five minutes she made it so when Malfoy woke up he wouldn't remember anything that had happened that day. He would think it had just been a normal day.
"Ok I'm finished."
"What is he going to think when he wakes up?"
"He will just think it was a normal day and nothing eventful happened."
"Alright, you should go because if he wakes up and sees us talking he'll think something is weird."
"Ok. Thank you Parkinson."
"Whatever." With that Hermione walked away content with herself. Nobody would know her secret except the people she trusted with it.
Disclaimer: Blah blah. don't sue.
A/N: I'm really sorry this is so late, but I've been busy. It won't be this late ever again, I promise. On a different note…I think Pansy might have a soft spot for Hermione *wink wink*. Please review.J
