And So It Begins

Chapter Three

"He's officially on my shit list," Draco whispered to Pansy and Blaise, who both gave him 'I know' looks.

"I know!" Pansy exclaimed keeping her voice low as well. "He knows perfect well what our parents stand for- what WE stand for. Why would he give them consent?"

Blaise tapped her forehead. "Think Pansy. He didn't want to look suspicious in front of the rest of them. THAT'S why he did it."

Pansy's eyes narrowed and she pouted. "Screw being suspicious! Thanks to him and Dumbledore, come holidays, our dads are going to beat us to a bloody pulp."

Blaise's cobalt blue eyes widened. "I know!" Her whispers quickened as she recalled the thought of it. "Why did he have to say grounded? You know what? I bet you he didn't even mention he's doing this for the prejudice issue. He probably told them that we had misbehaved and we're getting punished!"

Draco shook his head. "Dumbledore wouldn't lie. He's not the type." His gray eyes lifted up and met the gazes of the Gryffindors. "What the hell are you staring at?"

Ron rolled his eyes and snapped, "Nothing much, Malfoy!"

Pansy plopped down on a green sofa and furrowed her brows. "I don't suppose they'll let us out early if we pretend to like each other in classes and such, do you?"

Harry and Ron shrugged impassively. Like they would ever admit the idea wasn't half bad. Blaise did though.

"That's not a bad idea," she said pushing Pansy's feet off the couch and sitting in their place.

Hermione rolled her eyes and muttered, "Oh my goodness" under her breath. Draco shook his head. "It's not going to work guys."

Pansy's face fell. "Why not?"

"Because Parkinson," Hermione snapped. "Even if we do pretend to like each other in class, they're going to realize we were lying the moment they come to check on us and they see all 18 of those locks shut nice and tight. That's the whole point of all this. Those locks won't budge an inch until we like each other and respect each other and all that other good stuff in here, where no one is watching us and we don't have to pretend so they know for a fact that those feelings are genuine. God! How in the world are you a prefect?!"

Pansy glowered, "It was just a suggestion, Granger-,"

Hermione pointed a finger at her. "Well your suggestions are just as stupid as you are so keep them to yourself and your buddies, okay? If I were you I'd shut up because everything that you say is getting on my last nerve- just looking at you makes me sick!"

Draco and Blaise's mouths dropped open in shock and Harry and Ron smiled, relieved they hadn't commented on Pansy's idea, although they both knew perfectly well that Hermione's harsh words were out of rage from Pansy's comment on Harry's parents. Pansy's face hardened, her breath quickened, and her nostrils flared. She stood up and muttered something to Blaise and then gave Hermione a look of contempt before entering the bathroom.

Harry's eyes remained on the shut door. "She's not crying, is she?"

Blaise sputtered in an almost horrified manner. "Potter please. She's having a shower."

Draco's eyebrows rose a fraction of an inch. "Why do you care, Potter?"

Harry shrugged, "Girls crying makes me feel icky."

Hermione pointed a finger at the door. "That's not a girl! That's a Slytherin!"

Blaise stood up and her eyes froze over. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"You Slytherins are like little robots programmed by your parents and Voldemort, or whoever raised you, to think a certain way and it's so infuriating!" Hermione pointed to herself. "I'm not one to follow the crowd. I wouldn't have a problem with Slytherins, like you, if I didn't think they are all the same and if I didn't think you are what people say you are but you are so I do!"

Blaise and Draco's expressions were unreadable. Hermione and they were silent, glaring at each other for a moment and then Hermione muttered something about homework. She picked up her school bag and walked to a far corner of the room where she sat and started getting out her books. Harry and Ron looked at each other speechless then they went to join her.

They did their homework in silence for a while and then Pansy came out of the bathroom to get something from her trunk. Blaise and Draco looked up from their places on the couch. Draco beckoned, "Pansy come here." Hermione, who had been working on a Transfiguration essay due weeks away from now, raised her head and glared at Pansy as she made her way to Blaise and Draco. She watched Blaise whisper in her ear and saw Pansy wave the comment away. Hermione muttered darkly under her breath, "I can't stand her."

Harry and Ron, who had been working on a Potions essay due on Monday looked up at her and then followed her gaze. Harry looked back at Hermione and asked tentatively, "Why is she making you so angry?"

Hermione looked at him in disbelief. "Harry, she made a rise about your parents-,"

Ron interrupted, "But it seemed to have bothered you more than it did Harry."

"Yeah," Harry agreed.

They waited patiently for a response from Hermione, who was looking down at her hands and taking long deep breaths. She sighed, "I was going to tell you guys earlier but I didn't want to talk about it at first and then it slipped my mind until Pansy made that comment."

"What happened?" Harry asked. His eyebrows furrowed with concern.

Hermione looked up at them and then back down as if their stares were too much to handle. She said softly, "My parents told me that I was adopted this summer. My real mother died giving birth to me and my father committed suicide a couple of days later. The people that have raised me are my aunt and uncle." There was a silence and then Ron let out an, "Oh."

Hermione made a small smile. Harry patted her hand and they both said, "I'm sorry."

"It's okay. You didn't know . . . and Pansy didn't either." Harry and Ron nodded. "But Pansy knows about Harry's parents so she's still at fault."

"Yeah but your blowing up at her isn't helping anything," Ron said.

Hermione scowled, "You're just saying that because you don't want to miss the Quidditch season."

Harry argued, "Not necessarily. We're doing it for you too. I mean, you're not gonna do any prefect duties until we get out of here."

She groaned, "Don't remind me."

* * *

The table appeared at 7:00 sharp as expected. Ron and Harry sprung up from their seats on the ground, relieved by a distraction from homework. They sat down at the table and the food appeared. "Come on, Hermione!"

"Hold on." She wrote her concluding sentence for the Transfiguration essay. She shut the book closed and sat to Ron's right.

Blaise sat across from Ron, who was sitting in the middle, and Pansy sat across from Harry. Draco joined them a few moments later with eyeglasses on.

"I didn't know you wore glasses," Ron said.

Draco scooted his chair in and opened up his napkin. While doing so he said coldly, "There are a lot of things you don't know, Weasel." He placed the napkin on top of his lap neatly.

"Don't-," Ron cut the sentence short.

Pansy's eyebrows rose as she put her napkin on her lap. "What? Does the name bother you . . . Weasel. It has a certain ring to it, doesn't it Blaise?"

Blaise's napkin was already on her lap. She smirked, "Just rolls off the tongue."

Hermione rolled her eyes and scooped mash potatoes on to her plate. "We need to make bathroom arrangements."

"May I ask why?" Draco inquired, taking some steamed vegetables from a plate passed to him.

"So we're not fighting for the shower in the morning. I prefer to wash in the morning because it wakes me up."

Draco worked his mouth several times before reluctantly admitting, "Me too."

Blaise imputed, "I have to take them at night. They put me to sleep."

"Same," Pansy said.

Harry shrugged, "I don't care when I take one-,"

"Yeah," Ron agreed.

"Okay well Potter, Parkinson, and Zabini will shower at night and me, Ron and Malfoy will shower in the morning."

"I have to take it first," Draco ordered.

"Why?" Hermione asked pointedly.

"I don't want you to use up all the hot water. If I don't get a hot shower in the morning, I get really . . . cranky."

Ron rolled his eyes. "Could you be anymore spoiled?"

Blaise raised an eyebrow. "Jealous, Weasley?"

Harry shot back, "Of what, Zabini?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Grow up."

Draco said, "I'd listen to your girlfriend if I were you."

Hermione rounded on Draco. "Go fuck yourself, Malfoy."

Pansy tutted, "Such language for a Gryffindork."

"Learn your houses. Gryffindors are brave, not prude."

Blaise argued, "Says you!"

"Do tell me: on what grounds does it say that Gryffindors are prudes?"

Draco answered, "The same grounds that say Slytherins are evil."

"That's a completely different matter. You can assume that Slytherins are evil," Harry put in.

"How?"

"Slytherins are sly and cunning creatures . . . much like snakes. Their mascot: a snake! Now where have I seen that before? Oh yeah! In the Bible, the DEVIL took the form of a snake to tempt Eve into biting the apple that will be the birth of sin. Now if that isn't evil, I don't know what is."

Draco shook his head and dug back into his food, a gesture that said, 'I won't even dignify that with a response.' He reached over and grabbed the pitcher of pumpkin juice. While he was pouring Blaise moved and bumped his arm, causing him to pour pumpkin juice all over his lap. The Gryffindors' chews slowed as they watched in curiosity. Blaise stared wide eyed at Draco's lap. "I am so sorry! I didn't mean to-,"

Draco stood up. They saw the last of the pumpkin juice disappear into his pants be fore he strode off quickly into the bathroom.

Ron shook his head, digging into his steak. "Malfoy's such a priss. He looked like he was in pain or something."

Pansy gave Blaise a look out of the corner of her eye. They glared at Ron, stood up, and walked up to the bathroom door. Pansy knocked and waited patiently.

Ron shook his head and returned to his food. "We are never gonna get out of here."

* * *

Draco stood up and hurried to the bathroom. He closed the door and staggered to the sink. He gritted his teeth and squeezed his hand tightly around the edges as he felt the curse start to course through his body. Where the drink had touched his skin, an excruciating burning sensation had started. Draco could feel the fever coming as well. He felt weak and cold. His legs gave out. He felt the cool tile floor on his cheek for a moment before he forced himself to his knees again. He heard a knock on the door. There was a long pause be fore he forced out a 'what' from his clenched teeth.

Pansy asked tentatively, "Can we come in?"

His knuckles turned white as he clenched his fists. He braced himself for the worst part of the curse. Draco bit his tongue as he felt the sensation of salt in the burn begin and start to heighten. He let out a soft cry but managed to cover it with a cough. The pain was unbelievable. . .

"Draco, is it that bad?" Blaise asked, worried.

Draco moaned and his vision clouded.

"Let us in!" Pansy exclaimed.

He tried to tell them he was fine but his mouth wouldn't work right. His throat and mouth felt dry and his tongue suddenly felt too thick for his mouth.

The door opened and closed as they let themselves in. Draco tried to raise his head but it felt so heavy. Blaise said a spell to keep the door locked. Pansy grabbed one of Draco's arms and tried to pull him up.

"Blaise help me get him up!"

Blaise came and grabbed Draco's other arm and with great effort they turned Draco around and pulled him up to a sitting position on the counter. Draco's head dropped on his chest. She removed his glasses. Blaise lifted his head up by his chin and looked into Draco's glazed gray eyes. Pansy grabbed a vial from her robe pocked and put it in Blaise's outstretched hand. Blaise patted Draco's cheek gently. "Come on Draco, you got to take this."

Draco's eyelids drooped shut and Blaise patted his cheeks a little harder. His eyelids fluttered open for a brief moment and then closed again. Blaise then opened his mouth and poured his moth and poured the contents into it. Draco's eyes drifted open and they lost the glazed look the fever had caused. The potion made him feel better and that was the point. It dulled the pain a bit and got rid of the fever but he still felt weak.

Blaise gave Draco a quick once over and then down at her hands. "I'm sorry, Draco. I really didn't mean to-,"

"It's okay," Draco muttered. "I'm fine, just a bit tired."

Pansy asked, "Does it hurt?"

Draco shook his head. The pain was still there but he could deal with this. "I'm just gonna rest this weekend. I did the bulk of my homework days ago."

With the help of his friends, Draco heaved himself off the floor. He swayed on his feet for a moment and then caught himself.

Pansy inquired, "Can you walk?"

He nodded, "Yeah, but not for long. I'll just make my way to the closest couch and crash there."

Blaise nodded, checking her watch. "I'm gonna take a shower and then meet you guys."

With that, Pansy opened the door and Draco shot out of the bathroom toward the nearest couch like he'd said. He was asleep before his head hit a cushion. Pansy walked back to the dinner table and whatever conversation the Gryffindors were having stopped when she sat down. She replaced her napkin on her lap and resumed eating.

Ron looked at Draco and back at Pansy. He opened and closed his mouth several times thinking of saying something. Pansy, without lifting her head, wiped her mouth with a napkin and said briskly, "If you have something to say Weasel, say it. You look like fish."

He shut his mouth when Hermione and Harry looked at him. He replied indignantly, "I was chewing."

Pansy looked up with a quirked eyebrow. "Is that so?"

"Yes."

She nodded slowly with a 'sure you were' smile on her face. "In that case," she began, taking a last sip from her goblet and balling up her napkin. "You chew like a horse." She stood up and smirked at Ron's glare.

Pansy walked to where Draco was laying and knelt by his side. She placed her hand on his back and started rubbing soft circles like Draco did when she was feeling ill. "Are you sleeping?" She asked quietly so to not attract the other's attention.

Draco's eyes flickered open and then shut again. He mumbled, "I was."

Pansy stopped rubbing. "Sorry."

Draco muttered, "S'okay."

"Do you need anything?"

"No."

"Cause if you want anything I can get if for you."

He smiled lazily, "S'okay."

"Are you sure?"

There was a slight pause and then he asked, "Can you get me a blanket?"

Pansy grabbed a blanket from the opposite couch and unfolded it. "Cold?" she asked. He turned himself onto his back and then he replied softly, "Yeah." She laid it on top of him and mumbled a thank you. She looked closely at Draco. "You look a bit flushed."

"Mm-mmm."

"You're telling me you don't look feverish when I can see your cheeks are started to flush and you're starting to perspire?"

Another pause and another mumble: "Mm-hmm."

Pansy got up rolling her eyes. She walked to the bathroom door and knocked.

Blaise called, "Who is it?"

"It's me. Open up!" After hearing the click, Pansy opened the door. Blaise was in bra and panties putting on lotion. She looked up and asked, "How is he?"

Pansy opened the linen closet and brought out a white washcloth. "The fever came back." She walked to one of the sinks and ran the cloth under cold water.

Blaise had finished with the lotion and had started putting on her pajama bottoms. She inquired, "After the potion?"

Pansy shrugged, shutting off the faucet. "If you remember," she wrung out the cloth, "we were rushing when we made it. The wormwood was stirred for one minute instead of three."

She had just gotten her PJ bottoms on and was putting on a white cami. "Draco said it wouldn't matter much," Blaise said.

"And it doesn't. We didn't make the potion for the fever. It's to numb the pain." Pansy opened the door and Blaise followed. They kneeled in front of Draco. Before she put the cloth on she felt Draco's forehead. The fever felt pretty high but she'd dealt with worse. She daubed the cold, wet cloth on his cheek. Draco's head snapped to the right in attempt to shy away from the cloth and a soft groan escaped from his lips. After Draco's head fell back, Pansy dabbed the cloth on his temple. Draco's eyebrows furrowed as he snapped his head away and his moan got a little louder.

Pansy sighed, exasperated. Blaise put a hand on Draco's back and whispered, "Nous savons c'est froid mais nous devons réduire la fièvre. Calmes toi-même, d'accord?"

Pansy thought she saw the slightest nod and hoped she wasn't wrong. She hesitated and then patted the cloth on his face again. Draco stiffened and his eyebrows furrowed again but he didn't cry out. As he got used to the washcloth he gradually relaxed.