Ooh! I'm updating faster, aren't i? ^_^ Anyway, I would like to thank and dedicate this chapter to:
Bonnie, Yamiko, Hatokirei, Sky*Angeli, Emma, Draco's Sexy Dulce a.k.a Kaye, HHGGDDMM, yam, Fire Soul, Ezmerelda,
Lyrea, AlyBaby, Lydia, Slytherin5, angel-kisses, CedricDiggory, LookEn4CoffeeGod and wyrm!
I hope your like this extra long chapter! And it will finally answer why Hermione changed her appearance and all… ^_^
Chapter eight: Somebody help me!
I was speechless.
"Did you hear me?" Draco smiled. "So will you teach me how to dance?"
I sighed. "I was hoping I heard wrongly."
"Are you unconfident of your own dancing abilities?" Draco looked at me with a smirk.
I hated the way he always challenged me. I hated the way I always had to prove him wrong.
"I was more worried about the fact that you have two left feet." I smiled beguilingly back. "A teacher however talented can only do so much for a pupil you know."
Draco jumped out of his chair. "Who dares say I have two left feet! I have swept millions of girls off their feet with my suave moves."
I laughed. "Is it because you kept stepping on their toes?"
Draco raised his hand at me. "Enough talk, Granger. It's lesson time."
I placed my hand in Draco's. "I thought I was the teacher."
"You still are." Draco said, he placed one hand on my waist and held my hand in the other.
We stopped talking. It was as if no words needed to be said. It didn't matter that I was actually dancing with Draco, or the fact that I even allowed him to dance with me. It didn't matter to Draco as well. We were all under a spell, so we did the only thing we were able to do – dance.
There was no music, but we had our own silent rhythm. We danced, we swayed, and Draco even twirled me at various points. We seemed to have formed a connection, that was both eerie and wonderful.
Just as the strange dance had started, it ended just as quickly. It was liked both of us suddenly realized, that god forbid we were touching each other! The realization was weird and neither of us were able to accept it.
We parted abruptly. Looking at each other, stunned.
And for once Draco and I agreed on something. What had happened we did not want to explain, we did not know how to explain. It was odd, something out of the ordinary. Admittedly, kind of nice, but it was understood that it should and shall not happen again.
"Goodnight." I said finally, breaking the awkward silence.
Something seemed to have changed between us. But we both didn't want to acknowledge it. The change was too drastic, too sudden. It was unacceptable.
Draco seemed to have regained his self. He gave a malicious grin. "Night."
As he walked out of the room, I cried out at him suddenly. "You passed."
He nodded his head. "I thought you I had suave moves."
I smiled, almost laughing. I had the sudden desire to find a window and look out into the night. I wanted to remember how the sky look the night I danced with Draco.
Sometimes something so crazy happens in your life, that you can't believe it's real. It's as if it was all a dream. A wonderful dream perhaps, but a weird reality all the same.
And last night, that dream was dancing with Hermione.
I don't understand what made me ask her to dance. It was as if I needed to. I wanted to see her dance.
And she danced well. And she smelled like sweet sweet honey. Of course, that could be because she poured honey over my head before.
I shook my head. Maybe I was spending too much time with Hermione, I was becoming less of myself.
I stood outside the door, waiting for Hermione to come out. I didn't sleep last night. I couldn't sleep.
I had looked into the mirror, and made myself be truthful.
I had forced myself to admit that I didn't detest Hermione anymore, in fact I kind of thought of her as a friend.
And then I wondered. Did I thought of her as more than a friend?
I spent the whole night thinking of an answer. And I think I finally got one.
The answer is a big resounding NO!
I could never think of Hermione and me as more than friends. I can't stand the thought of Hermione and me as a couple. But sometimes, rarely though I must add, I'm beginning to wonder what would happen if Hermione was no longer by my side?
But I would shrug it off. Because I love teasing Hermione too much, to think of anything else besides tormenting her. What can I say? It's a Malfoy gift.
"Oh my god." Hermione jumped. "Am I still dreaming?"
She pinched her cheeks, staring unbelievably at me.
I smiled. "Your chariot awaits."
Hermione looked at her watch. "I don't believe this! You mean your body can actually function at this time?"
"Stop it Hermione. Or this could be the first and last time I'm early for anything." I smiled.
Hermione laughed. "So what's the occasion? The anniversary of your first murder?"
"I haven't killed anyone in my whole life, for your information." I looked pointedly at Hermione. "Not that I don't have any targets though."
"What's that your holding?" I couldn't help but grinned. "It looks like a bottle labeled sticky glue."
Hermione's grin froze. "Nonsense." She put her hand behind her back.
"The thought of pouring sticky glue over
someone's head has never come across you before, has it?
" I asked innocently.
"Of course not! Why would I think of such a despicable thing? I would never think of pouring sticky glue over your head! You can count on me on that." Hermione nodded her head vigorously.
"The thought of pouring sticky glue over your head has never crossed my head." Hermione stressed. "I would never find any delight in seeing all your hair stick onto your forehead and hear you scream or maybe go bald."
I smiled. "I agree. So would you mind giving me that pretty bottle labeled sticky glue? Knowing that the bottle does not contain sticky glue of course."
"I… would." Hermione stammered. "But I can't."
"Why ever not?" I smiled harmlessly. "You see it's a simple motion of swing your hand up and releasing the tight grip you have on the bottle so it will land simply on my palm."
"It's my medicine." Hermione said stepping
back.
"I didn't know you were ill." I gave a mock gasp. "Are you alright?"
Hermione gave me a look. "Sorry, Malfoy. You may be a great pretender, but a look of concern is one you can never master."
I laughed, unperturbed. "Fine. Go keep your medicine. But remember, I have some medicine of my own too."
Hermione gave me a malicious look before she went back into her room.
I finally understood that silly muggle phrase, "The early bird catches the early worm."
Life is really full of surprises. I never thought of the day that Draco would wake up earlier than me. It was like something that you don't expect to happen in reality.
Maybe it was something added in our food or something. Because it's making everybody act all weird and strange. Including me.
Parry came up to me at the entrance of the dining hall. She had "urgent matters". I told Draco to wait for me for five minutes. You would think I asked him to go jump through a ring of fire though from the look on his face.
"Hermione, I know we are not actually good friends. But I always thought you were such a saint. You are always so sweet, nice and helpful to everyone. So I was wondering… if you could help me." Parry looked at me like I was her last hope left in the world.
Me? A Saint? I wonder what Draco would think about that.
"What's the matter?" I asked.
"Well, it's Harry. It's like fate or something, it's like I can never find him. I would ask around where he is and when I go there, he disappears. It's our tragic luck or something. Maybe we are this century's Romeo and Juliet." Parry said, her eyes full of sadness.
I tried to smother a giggle.
"I don't see how I can help. One can't mess with fate you know." I said in all seriousness.
"Well, I was wondering since I'm unable to find Harry in any way. If you could ask him to meet me at the Goddess of Venus statue at eleven tomorrow night." Parry said. Her cheeks flushed like a girl deep in love as she added. "I'm going to ask him to be my date for the dance."
The Goddess of Venus statue was something Professor Dumbledore bought this year, and it has become somewhat of a hot spot for couples. A rumor is that any couple that kisses next to the statue at midnight shall be blessed in their love. All hogwash to me though.
I looked at Parry's face and I couldn't bring myself to say no. "Ok. I will try my best."
Though it would be hard, almost impossible actually, to get Harry to meet Parry. It would be like asking him to kiss Voldemort's face.
When I met Harry and Ron in the dining hall, I almost did not recognized Harry. He had disguised himself from head to toe and looked really ridiculous.
"You look ridiculous." I said laughing. "That red wig looks like a bird nest and don't get me started on that weird moustache!"
"At least I'm not recognized." Harry said darkly.
"I made that moustache." Ron said proudly.
"Oh, yeah, that reminds me…" I started nervously. "Parry asked me…"
"Hermione, would you ask me to be your date for the dance?" Harry cut in suddenly.
I looked at him. He was practically begging me.
"I know Parry wants to ask me to the dance. So I really need you, to well divert her attentions." Harry pleaded.
"Er… I don't know." I gulped.
What was I to do?
"Why? Do you have someone you want to go to the dance with?" Harry asked surprised. "I didn't know you like anybody."
"I don't!" I cried. "But you see I sort of promised Parry I would arrange a meeting for the both of you."
Harry almost fainted. He choked on his sandwich. "I thought you were my best friend, Hermione!"
"I am!"
"Well, you must as well throw me into a pit of snakes." Harry said, his eyes full of horror.
I rolled my eyes. "Harry. You got to learn to deal with girls, since you seem to attract them. You may not like Parry the way you like (I almost muttered Cho, but stopped myself in time) you know, but that doesn't mean you don't deal with them."
"You can't run away from some things like love, Harry. I think it's best you break it to Parry, that contrary to what she thinks you are not her Romeo."
"So I expect you to be like a man. And meet her at the Goddess of Venus statue at eleven tomorrow night." I said looking deep into Harry's eyes.
Harry sighed. But he took off his wig and moustache.
Thank god, or I wouldn't know how I would be able to eat breakfast without choking.
The day passed almost eventless. Draco was even sort of cooperating with me. Maybe, he has finally grasped the concept of time. Or maybe I was just being too optimistic.
But then something happened. Professor McGonagall asked to speak to me after dinner.
She didn't say anything as she gave me a white envelope. I recognized that smell of sweet lavender from the envelope. It must be from my Aunt.
My heart froze and I felt an icy hand running over my spine. I tried to keep myself from trembling as I took the letter from Professor McGonagall. "Would you like to read the letter in my office? Or back in your room?"
"Room." I croaked.
Was the room getting smaller? Because I felt so congest, I tried my hardest to breathe.
I couldn't hear the rest of what she said but I remember vaguely Draco guiding me to my room.
I was pretty shocked when Professor McGonagall asked me to bring Hermione back to her room. What has happened?
Hermione was acting all weird. Like something has stopped functioning in her.
When I looked into her eyes, it was as if nothing was there.
She was silent and all she did was tremble. She clutched a white envelope in her hand so tightly, I thought she wanted to destroy its very existence so she wouldn't have to read its contents.
I hated to admit it, but I was worried.
When we reached the hallway to our rooms, Hermione didn't even seem to notice.
I patted her shoulder. "Your room."
She seemed to have awoken, but only temporarily.
She muttered a soft thanks and went into her room.
I waited outside, I didn't know what to do.
And I was dying with curiosity, what the hell was in that white envelope?
Why was Hermione so frightened?
And then I heard something, sort of like a kitten mewing.
I opened the door quickly. My heart in my mouth.
I couldn't believe what I saw……
Hermione sat there like a ragged doll on the floor. The letter scattered over the floor.
And she was sobbing. Sobbing with all heart and soul.
I didn't know what to do, but I knelt down next to Hermione and held her in my arms.
