(A/N: so for everyone who has read the story so far thanks a million and all I ask if you review please.)
"So is Ron talking to you yet?" Hermione asked Harry. They were sitting on the couch in the Heads common room finishing up some of their homework.
"No. He is really peeved about the quidditch thing and Sirius Lee taking his position" said Harry as he put his head in his hands.
"Well Harry you have to realize he feels betrayed by his best friend" said Hermione who put a hand on Harry's shoulder.
"Yeah but Hermione I told him that if I found a better player I was going to put who ever it was on the team. I told him just because he is my best friend he wasn't necessarily going to be on the team and he said he would understand."
"Yes but he probably thought you weren't being serious. He'll cool off just give it some time" said Hermione reassuringly to Harry.
"God I can't believe he would do that to me! I hate him and that Sirius guy too" Ron was fuming as he paced in front of Ernie. Ron was complaining again about how Harry stabbed him in the back and how he wasnt on the team anymore. Ernie was starting to loose it, he didn't want to hear about Harry anymore.
"Ron just let it go for now. Come here and sit down" said Ernie who was trying not to get mad. He patted the seat next to him and waited for Ron to sit down. When he did Ernie wrapped his arms around him and kissed him.
Ron and Ernie spent the next two hours just sitting there. Sometimes they would just hold one another sometimes they would kiss but for the most part they were silent. Ron never wanted to leave that spot. That was where he felt most comfortable. Even though they had only been together for a few weeks Ron started having very strong feelings for the boy who was in his arms.
"I hate to stop this but I think we better be going to dinner or someone begin to wonder" said Ernie slowly separating himself from Ron.
"Alright, do you want to meet here after dinner?" Ron replied.
"Oh, I can't," said Ernie "I'm sorry, but I have homework that I have to do."
"Okay," Ron said disappointedly, "I guess I will see you tomorrow then." Ron and Ernie exchanged a quick hug before going down to dinner.
Before they entered Ernie said, "Ron, I know you're mad, but you have to understand that Harry did what he thought was best for the team, so try and forgive him. It's not worth losing a friend."
Ron thought about what he said for a few minutes and realized that he was right. Harry was his best friend and wouldn't want to purposely hurt him. He entered the Great Hall and spotted Harry, Hermione, and Ginny. He walked down and sat next to Harry.
"Look Harry," Ron started. Harry looked up in surprise. "I am sorry about the way I have been acting. I was being a git can you forgive me?"
"Of course mate" replied Harry. Ron sat down and they all started talking about what they were going to do for Halloween.
They were coming up with ideas for what the school could do when Hermione was tapped on the shoulder.
"Professor Dumbledore needs to speak with you in his office right now Miss Granger," McGonagall said.
"Alright Professor" Hermione replied. She then turned to Harry, Ron, and Ginny and said, "I'll see you guys later." With that she walked to the Headmasters office said the password and walked up the steps to knock on his office door.
"Come in" She heard through the door. She walked in and took a seat in front of Dumbledore. Since she had opened the door she had been staring at Fawkes who had recently been reborn in his ashes. The Headmaster's words broke her trance.
"Thank you both for joining me," Dumbledore started. Both thought Hermione. She turned around and saw Malfoy sitting in his chair staring off into space. Typical she thought and looked away, "As you both know Halloween is right around the corner and the school would like to do something special because of all that has been happening lately." At this Draco let out a short huff, but Dumbledore seemed unfazed. "So I was hoping that the two of you, along with the prefects would plan a Halloween Ball. I will expect to be amazed seeing as you are my brightest students. The ball will be Saturday, October 31 and there will be a Hogsmeade visit the week before so students can find costumes. You have three weeks so good luck." Hermione and Draco got up and left his office. They walked back to their room in silence.
Hermione's head was reeling with planning a dance in just three weeks. As soon as she got to her common room she got some catalogues from some costume shops in Hogsmeade to see if she saw anything she liked. Sitting on the couch Hermione felt someone's eyes on her but when she looked up all she saw was Malfoy with his head in a book. 'I didn't know he reads' thought Hermione who was truly surprised.
Just then her thoughts left the books and she started thinking about the kiss that had happened three weeks earlier. Subconsciously she touched her lips as the kiss was replayed in her mind. What she wanted right then was for Malfoy to kiss her so she could feel like she did when they had kissed. She had never felt anything so thrilling, exciting, and frightening all at the same time. The thing Hermione didn't know was that Draco was sitting in the armchair not five feet away from her thinking the same thing.
'God I can't get her out of my head! That kiss that kiss was amazing. I have kissed many girls but it's never felt like that. Oh what I wouldn't do to kiss her again. I wonder if it would feel the same' thought Draco as he sat in the chair. As he was looking at Hermione he thought he saw something in her eyes that resembled longing but as quickly as he saw it, it was gone. Then he remembered what Brooke had said to him, maybe she was right.
Flashback!!
"Draco why don't you just tell her?" asked Brooke who looked up from the work she was doing to find Draco starring at Hermione at the other end of the library.
"Tell who what?" Draco asked turning his attention to Brooke.
"Tell Hermione that you like her" said Brooke in a nonchalant manner.
"Good god Brooke I don't like her" said Draco with a slight blush on his face.
"Well then why haven't you been able to take your eyes off her since she walked in the library?" asked Brooke "You totally like her"
"I really don't. Besides even if I did she doesn't like me, so what's the point?" asked Draco who went back to his homework after giving one last look towards Hermione.
"Talk to her you never know what you might find out" said Brooke with a knowing smile. Draco gave Brooke a questioning look but when she ignored him he went back to his work and watching Hermione out of the corner of his eye.
End of flashback
Draco came back to the present to find that Hermione had left the couch. He turned his head to see her in the kitchenette room cutting something up. As he looked back to the book in his lap he heard her yell. Draco shot out of his chair to see what was wrong and he found her clutching her hand
"What happened?" asked Draco shocked to see a pained expression on Hermione's face
"I cut my finger. It really hurts" said Hermione, tears brimming her eyes ready to spill.
"Are you okay? Here let me see it." Reluctantly Hermione gave Draco her hand. She was surprised with how gentle his touch was and how soothing he could be. Hermione forgot about her finger. As she looked at Draco with him looking at her finger then looked up into her eyes. Their gaze looked into each other as they inched closer, just as their lips were about to touch Draco could feel the blood flowing onto his hand. Moving his head back he said "Maybe we should take you to the hospital wing"
"Um. Yeah okay" Hermione managed to say but it was strained. Washing her cut then wrapping a towel around it Draco walked Hermione to the hospital wing then when she was situated and healed they walked back together. Neither one said anything about what happened before.
"Draco thank you" said Hermione with her hand on the door to her bedroom standing in the doorway about to go in.
Draco was surprised by the fact she used his first name replied "Well I didn't want blood to get all over the common room, so you are, ah, welcome… Hermione"
"Good night" Hermione smiled as she closed her door and changed to get ready for bed.
Harry, Ron and Hermione walked down to Potions together. For the past few days Harry and Ron were a little worried about Hermione. She had been acting strange ever since she went to Dumbledore's office. At first they thought something had happened but when asked she just told them the truth about how Dumbledore had plans for a Halloween Ball on the 31st. That's what had then confused, why would that make Hermione act like that?
The three of them walked into class and took their respective seats. There was an audible gasp as Snape walked into the room. The usually greasy haired man looked different, his hair looked as if he had actually taken the time to wash it and was looking soft and shining. His skin looked clear with a smooth complexion. Some students had to do and double take because he looked so unlike himself, some would say he even looked handsome. But as the class started the students noticed that just because their teacher looked so different Snape was still acting like himself. He gave Neville an F on his potion because it came out so bad and took points off of a Gryffindor for what he claimed was back talking.
"Now class before you leave your homework is to write a 25 paragraph essay on the reading in you book pages 194 to 221. It is due tomorrow NO EXCEPTIONS!" sneered Snape and with that he left the classroom with his robes billowing behind him.
As Hermione, Ron and Harry walked out together Harry asked the question that was on everyone's mind. "Can I ask what was up with Snape? Did he look like he actually took time to make himself look alright today?" asked Harry who was sincerely inquiring about Snape's queer behavior with his looks.
"I have no idea. Maybe he is trying to clean himself up and get a better reputation" Ron stated. They talked about the odd behavior of their potions teacher and the large essay he was having them write for homework. Ron and Harry said good bye to Hermione as they went to their common room to start their essay and Hermione went to Arithmacy.
Later on that day after all her classes were finished Hermione was sitting in her common room working on the assignment her teachers had given her. As she was sitting there Draco came in and sat down on the couch to start his homework as well. About ten minutes into his work Draco let out a frustrated sigh threw his quill down and rubbed his eyes.
Today had been a long day Draco couldn't concentrate in any of his classes because he couldn't get Hermione out of his mind. So now when he tried to do his work he couldn't because he had no idea what they had learned in class.
Hermione seeing that Draco was frustrated with his work looked to see if she could help him. "Draco do you need help with you homework?" asked Hermione who had moved her eyes from his paper to his grayish blue eyes.
Again surprised that she used first name Draco looked her in the eyes and said "umm yeah, but don't get the impression that I can't do this or something. I just didn't pay attention in class, I have something on my mind."
Hermione moved closer to Draco and started to help him with his work. After fifteen minutes of showing him what to do Hermione thought he had it under control.
"Okay so do you understand it now?" asked Hermione when looked up at Draco.
"Yeah I think so" replied Draco as he slowly turned his head up from the paper Hermione had been helping him with. As soon as their eyes locked Draco leaned into Hermione and kissed her lips. It was even better than he remembered. Draco could smell the scent of her strawberries and crème shampoo as he moved his hand to the back of her head while he deepened the kiss.
First Hermione was shocked to feel his lips pressed against hers but that soon changed when the electrifying feeling she got whenever he touched her came back. She put her hand on his chest then moved it around his back and pulled him closer to herself. Hermione just let herself go in the arms of her enemy.
As the kissing progressed there was a knock on the door and with hearing that Draco and Hermione jumped away from each other. Draco ran his hand through his hair and tuck his shirt back in as Hermione straightened her skirt and put her even messier hair into a ponytail.
"Um maybe we should… ah… get the door" said Hermione with an evident blush on her face.
"Yeah. Yeah that would be good idea" Draco said fumbling a little with his words. He walked to the door to see who it was found a young second year Slytherin standing there looking terrified. "Can I help you?" sneered Draco with a peeved look on his face.
"Umm… ah.." the little Slytherin stuttered too scared to speak to Draco.
"Just spit it out already," Draco said through clenched teeth getting angry that this kid was wasting his time.
"Sorry" squeaked the boy, "Umm Blaise said he wants to talk to you so he sent me to tell you." As soon as the boy finished he ran off to the dungeons.
Draco turned back to the common room to see Hermione walk into her room. 'Oh god what just happened here?' asked Draco to himself. He ran a hand through his hair then left to go see what Blaise wanted.
On his way down he almost ran into Blaise himself.
"Blaise you wanted to talk to me?" asked Draco as they walked together into an empty room.
"Umm.. Yeah," Blaise started but when he looked at Draco he said, "Good god man what happened to you?" Blaise had taken in Draco's frazzled looks. His normally ironed and pressed shirt was not tucked in all the way and had wrinkles all over it. Draco's hair which usually was always neatly slicked back had bits and pieces falling in his face there was a slight pinkish tint to his face and his breath was a little uneven.
"Nothing!" Draco said startled that Blaise thought something happened.
"Who is she?" asked Blaise with a knowing look on his face.
"What are you talking about?" Draco asked getting somewhat worried.
"The girl that made you look so disheveled." Blaise smirked, crossed his arms and waited for a response.
"You won't believe me if I told you," said Draco.
"Yeah sure. Just try me mate. I'm not leaving till you tell me."
"Fine it was… Granger," Draco had his head down when he said this but when he didn't hear Blaise reply he looked up to find Blaise looking very annoyed.
"God Draco just tell me who she is. Stop joking around."
"Blaise I'm not kidding you."
Blaise looked at Draco then it dawned on him. Draco was not kidding, he was being completely serious. Not giving Blaise any reaction time he moved to change the subject.
"So what did you want?"
"Oh yeah here this was sent to me to give to you," said Blaise as he reached into his pocket and pulled an envelope out. He handed it to Draco.
Draco took the envelope he saw his father's neat scrawl. Folding it in half he stuck it in his pocket.
"Well I best be getting back to my homework," Draco said getting up going to the door to leave.
"Yeah… is that what they call it now, homework." said Blaise laughing. Draco shot him a 'not funny' look then left quickly to go finish his homework and read the letter in his pocket.
He went back to his common room packed up his work and when into his room. 'Its safer in here anyways' thought Draco as he put his books on his desk and put his hand in his pocket to bring the letter out. Slowly Draco opened it and began to read it.
Draco-
I am writing to inform you that you are responsible for keeping the Malfoy name, and blood, pure. So you are to become closer to Pansy Parkinson. You are destined to marry her after becoming a follower of the Dark Lord.
When I get out of Azkaban (sp), and I will get out, I will be expecting you to have fulfilled this task. If not there will be serious consequences for you.
Remember what I have said to you.
Lucius
Upon finishing reading the letter his father wrote him he crumbled it up with fury. 'Get close to that slut. Oh god that is the worst thing that can happen. That's almost as bad at becoming one of those freaks he wants me to be. Ha! Neither of those two things are going to happen' Draco thought with his fists clenched as he paced angrily. 'Thank god that he is in jail or I would die.'
The next day Hermione thought that she would ask Draco to do her potions with her. When she arrived at the common room after classes she saw Draco scribbling furiously on his parchment across the room. She hadn't really talked to him all day, but the way things had been going lately she thought that she would sneak up on him. She quietly snuck up behind him and covered his eyes.
"Guess who?" Hermione asked.
"What the hell?" Draco yelled as he stood up. Hermione's hands broke their hold over his eyes because of his height. "What do you think you are doing? Can't you see I am trying to do homework here," yelled Draco.
"Well... I mean... I didn't think..."
"That's right you didn't think you stupid mudblood."
"What the hell is your problem Draco?"
"NEVER use my first name EVER. I don't want it soiled by the likes of you!" with that Hermione ran up to her room and slammed the door. She stayed in her room all night and did her homework for the next day.
Thursday morning she avoided Draco at all costs. She spent all of the time before potions preparing for the time she would have to spend with Draco. 'Oh god! I'm doomed' thought Hermione.
Professor Snape was grading papers before his class when he heard a knock at the door.
"You may enter" Snape snapped. Vanessa Crêpe walked through his door and pulled a chair up in front of his desk. Snape tried to wipe the look of surprise off of his face while he tried to clean up his desk. "Sorry I thought you were a student" he muttered.
"Oh it's alright" Vanessa smiled.
"Can I… uh… help you?" Snape asked blushing slightly.
"Well I think it would be a good idea to do a co-curricular project where the seventh year students learn how to create specific defense potions." Vanessa was smiling because Snape looked like an ant under a magnifying glass as if talking to her was painful.
"That sounds like a good idea Professor…"
"You can call me Vanessa"
"Well let's go back and look at my potion stores to see what we can come up with… Vanessa," Snape blushed again when he said her name.
As they were looking at the potions stores Snape went to reach for the Boomslang he needed for his next class and knocked over a bottle of bat's blood all over Vanessa.
"Oh my god!" Vanessa shrieked as the blood stained her white blouse.
"I am so sorry," said Snape rushing to help her clean up, "let me help you."
"It's alright Severus you have done enough already," Vanessa replied. Severus was so embarrassed that he didn't notice Vanessa used his first name.
'God' thought Ron 'I am such a dunce. I need to find Ernie he will be able to make me feel better.' Ron remembered what had happened in potions earlier that day.
flashback
Ron, Harry, and Hermione were all sitting at the same table in potions because today they were taking notes.
"Geez," whispered Ron, "why does he take out his frustration on us?"
"Ron just be quiet and copy the notes," said Harry quickly. Hermione just was starring at her paper. She hadn't said anything but one word all of class.
"It is probably because he hasn't been laid in like forever," Ron laughed at his last statement.
"Mr. Weasley," Snape calmly said from over Ron's shoulder, "for that comment I am taking thirty points from Gryffindor, you have detention for two weeks, and you owe me a paper about the importance of respect that is two feet long due in two days" With that class was over and Ron left in a huff.
end of flashback
Ron had been searching for Ernie for a half hour and hadn't found him. Ron heard moaning coming from a near-by classroom. Ron's heart skipped a beat as he heard the sounds coming from the classroom where he and Ernie usually met. Ron opened the door and saw two fourth year students making out on one of the tables.
"Oy! Get the bloody hell outta here five points from Ravenclaw next time," Ron said relieved. "Give me that broom over there and I'll put it away so you can get back to your common room before curfew." Ron grabbed the broom and decided to just put the broom in the closest closet. He opened the door and when he looked down he saw Sirius Lee and his boyfriend Ernie going at it like randy rabbits. Ron slammed the door and ran back to his room. He wasn't in the rest of his classes that day. He told Ginny he was sick.
Since Ron ran off after Potions, and Hermione had to go to another class, Harry decided that he would go to the library to get a head start on his potions homework for Monday. As he walked into the library, he looked around and saw Brooke sitting in the corner near the window. 'Now or never,' Harry thought as he approached Brooke's table. She looked frustrated and she had about three books open in front of her.
"Can I help you?" Harry said. Brooke jumped and almost fell out of her seat.
"You startled me Harry," Brooke chuckled at the situation.
"Sorry. I was just wondering if you needed any help with that," he gestured to the open books.
"I hate to admit it, but I actually do. I have read every thing about this spell for Defense Against the Dark Arts, but every time I try to do it, it doesn't work and we have a practical exam coming up soon."
"Well, how about we made a deal? I will help you with your Defense Against the Dark Arts, if you help me with my potions. Deal?" Harry asked as he stuck his hand out. Brooke thought about it for a minute.
"Deal"
"Let's find a room where we can practice, come on." Brooke grabbed her bag quickly as Harry grabbed her arm and practically dragged her out of the library.
When they got to the classroom Brooke and Harry set their stuff on a table and Harry asked Brooke what spell she needed help with.
"It's the quick freeze spell that I don't get."
"Alright let's see then. Try to freeze this book when I throw it," Harry threw the book across the room and Brooke yelled. "Glacies." There was a spark and the book flew at the wall. Harry laughed.
"Well there is your problem," Harry started, "Your wand work is wrong. The pronunciation is fine but you need to wave your wand like this." Harry demonstrated the proper technique. Brooke tried but failed miserably. Harry laughed again.
"It's not funny Harry," Brooke was laughing as she playfully smacked him on the arm.
"Umm yeah it really is."
"Alright master show me how it's done."
"Fine" After that Harry did it perfectly.
"Ok, ok show me how to do it" Harry grabbed her hand.
"Alright wave right, up, down, quick sharp movements though not so flowy."
"Flowy?"
"Just do it Brooke. Come on. Right, up, down, right, up, down," As Harry said these words he moved Brooke's hand in his. They kept doing the motions, but neither one of them were thinking about the spell.
"Ok, I think I've got it," said Brooke in a low tone.
"Let me see," Harry replied breaking their contact.
"Glacies," Brooke said as Harry threw the book across the room. It froze, ice surrounding it in midair.
"Perfect," Harry said.
"Thanks professor."
"Your turn to help me now," Harry smirked.
"Alright," sighed Brooke. For the next half hour before Defense Against the Dark Arts Brooke showed Harry the basics of writing a good essay for Snape.
"Come on Harry we are going to be late." They got up and walked together chatting all the way to Defense Against the Dark Arts.
When Brooke and Harry arrived in Defense Against the Dark Arts, Harry noticed that Ron was missing. 'That's odd,' thought Harry, 'I wonder where he is?' They sat down just as Professor Crêpe walked into the room.
"Alright class today we will be reviewing for our written exam tomorrow and don't forget about the practical exam on Monday. For the review we are going to divide into two teams. Each team will have a captain/speaker for the team. They will be the only ones allowed to answer the questions. The team with the most points at the end of class will get five extra credit points," At this there was a murmur of excitement from the students. "The questions will be of all types so be prepared. The captains may consult their teams if they wish. Now everyone on this half of the room," She pointed to Harry, Brooke, and Draco's side, "will be team A and the other side will be team B. Captains when you have the answer shoot up blue sparks." The teams went right to working trying to choose a captain. The Slytherins wanted Draco, but the Gryffindors wanted Harry to be captain. Since no one could agree Brooke stepped up.
"That's fine with me," Harry said.
"Me too," Draco muttered glaring at Harry.
"Ok then it's settled. Now look I really want to win so I will only consult you if I really need help." Brooke was so excited. She loved competition. Naturally the other team selected Hermione as their captain. When the captains stepped to the center of the room Professor Crêpe said, "I forgot to mention if a captain gets the question wrong they are permanently out of the game. Each person will alternate selecting the difficulty of the questions. Obviously the more difficult the more points. Good luck let's begin. Hermione you can choose the first level of difficulty it's between one and five point value corresponds to difficulty."
The game between Brooke and Hermione was intense. They were both very gifted students. With five minutes to go in class there was a tie so Crêpe decided to have a tie breaker. Professor Crêpe asked the question and Hermione was the first with her sparks in the air. She confidently answered, but for the first time that day she was wrong. Brooke sat stunned because she didn't know the answer. She looked at her cousin who gave her a nod. She walked over to him and he whispered her the answer. Brooke got it right and Team A won the extra credit. At the end of the game Brooke ran up and hugged Harry then Draco. Harry had this dreamy look on his face and didn't notice the glare that Draco sent his way while he was being hugged. Hermione caught the display of affection between Brooke and Draco and she felt enraged. She thought that Brooke's sole mission in life was to ruin hers.
Draco and Brooke walked to lunch together talking about the Halloween ball. Draco expressed his feelings about the ball and how he flat out refused to go with Pansy.
"Do you have anyone to go with?" asked Draco. At this Brooke glanced over at the Gryffindor table where Harry was laughing.
"No not really, but I was thinking we could go together so we don't have to worry about dates and stupid stuff like that besides I need to spend quality time with the cousin."
"Hey Brooke?"
"Yeah"
"What the hell was with you and Potter today? I mean first you both arrive to class almost late and then when we won you hugged him?"
"I don't know Draco. I mean we got to class late because we were studying in the library and I was just excited I guess so I didn't really think about it."
"Well just stay away from Potter."
"Okay dad" Brooke said as she rolled her eyes.
Hermione and Draco avoided each other like the plague. Hermione decided that she needed to vent so she asked Ginny over for a sleepover Friday night.
"I thought it would be fun for you to stay over tonight before we go shopping," Hermione started.
"Yeah we have been so busy we haven't been able to talk like at all. So why have you been looking so glum lately?"
"Well I thought that Malfoy and I had become friends, but then he acted like an ass so I don't know what to do."
"Look Hermione when we go shopping tomorrow I'll help you forget all about him."
"Alright," and with that they fell asleep.
(A/N: so as I said at the beginning of the chapter thanks for reading and please leave reviews, whether they are good bad or ugly I don't mind I just want reviews. So I hope you enjoyed this chapter and the next one is almost done being written right now so hopefully it wont take long for it to be up. Please leave some reviews!!! Thanks for reading. Love ya, O'Malley and gabby)