Hello all! I guess I made alot of little strings waiting to be tied up with Draco's friends, huh? Well all will be explained eventually! haha (: oh and to answer a question from last chapter yes Samhain was a wiccan reference. So, enjoy!
Oh yes, I am looking for a beta for this story, so if you are interested then you can message me or put it in a review. I have never done anything with a beta before so you might have to help me out and explain the process ;_;
disclaimer: I do not own HP, blah blah blah, nothing is mine (:well obviously the plot but not the characters/other HP stuff:)
So, this chapter is dedicated to: ALL WHO REVIEWED! Thanks soooo much you guys!
Thankies, guys! So, here we go~
Chapter Five
Life, Abnormally
Snap, snap, snap.
"Urgh. Really Astoria?" Hermione groaned. The younger Slytherin smirked and snapped another picture. "Oh, yes, 'Mione."
Said witch placed a hand on her hip and stared down at the brunette stalker. Her hair reached her shoulders and was layered incredibly well. Her facial features resembled that of Daphne's but with a darker tint. It puzzled the wizarding world almost as much as the whole Narcissa-is-blond-so-why-the-fuck-is-Bellatrix's-hair-that-fucking-dark? fiasco.
"I told you not to call me that." Hermione scolded. "Can't you go and bother Harry or Draco? I have classes to study for."
Astoria pouted. "Buuut Hermione, you're the biggest scoop. My Current Events on The Hogwarts Scene club needs to know the information!"
Hermione rolled her eyes and continued to march down the hallway, towards the library. Astoria had been following her around since school started. Taking pictures, writing down quotes. Her blue eyes always sparkled with mischief and curiosity that quite frankly scared the older witch. Many a time, Hermione had made attempts to lose the annoying brat but Astoria always found her way back. She was a stubborn one, she was.
"Pleeeaaaseee!" Astoria whined. The older witch sighed. "Fine. I will come down to your little club to answer questions. But only for a half an hour, got it?" Astoria's pretty eyes widened and she grinned.
"Thanks! Be in the Divination's classroom this time tomorrow, kay?"
Hermione ran a hand through her brown curls and nodded, eager to be rid of the annoying Slytherin. Snap. "Oooh, nice one. I should make it a poster."
Hermione blushed red and quickened her pace towards the library. She'd been getting much unwanted attention since school started. A dozen of Slytherins and some Ravenclaws had asked her out. She'd politely declined. The Gryffindors watched her warily, as if she would summon the forces of darkness to do her biding. What was the worst was how Malfoy and his posse always had their eyes glued to her. Waiting to pounce. It was unnerving.
The only sanctuary she could come up with was the library. It was always so quiet and drama-free. Not to mention Slytherin-free. Just what Hermione needed.
As she entered her beloved sanctuary, Hermione caught a flash of blond. There sat the Slytherin Prince himself at a lonesome table. His perfect brows were arched in concentration, and he bit his lip, drawing blood. He looked deep in thought. Much different from his usual sneering pointed face. Hermione was drawn to him like a moth to light. Her mouth opened a bit, in surprise.
Sit with him. He won't mind. A voice echoed in her head. Her heart sped up, beating out of her chest almost. Just move your feet... Silver eyes looked up from a scarlet book. He raised one of those perfect brows.
"Are you going to sit down or just ogle me, Granger?" Draco said softly, a small smirk on his lips. Hermione's honey eyes narrowed, but she sat across from him anyway.
She pulled out one of her textbooks from Arithmancy and began taking long and extremely detailed notes. There was a companionable silence between the two, and that shocked Hermione. Lately she hadn't been feeling any ill feelings towards Draco or his group. It was baffling. She almost felt connected to them, but had no clue why.
"Granger." Draco whispered. Hermione snapped her head up, alarmed.
"Listen, about the train, I'm sorry I-"
Then Hermione felt it. In a swirl of emotions she felt the regret and doubts clouded in Draco's eyes. She felt it all and she could hear him in her head. It was almost too much to bear. The gaining a second brain.
Sorry, so sorry. Bellatrix said it wouldn't be easy...she hates me...and I go and do that?
Honey eyes widen. "Why can I hear your thoughts?" Gray eyes flashed. "What are you talking about?" He lied perfectly, holding his breath.
Hermione looked down at her palms, frowning. Draco cautiously placed the back of his hand to Hermione's forehead. The witch blushed red and frowned up at him. What was he doing? His pale hand was slender, unlike Ron's large wolfish ones, and pale and soft. Human beings should not be that pale. It wasn't natural.
"You feel a little warm. Maybe you're just imagining things, then?" He withdrew his unnatural hand from Hermione's flushed skin slowly. Hermione, then, looked away quickly. That was so embarrassing! Why would he touch me? Without flinching? Is this some sort of cruel joke he's playing? Him and his posse? Make the bookworm Granger so confused she begins hearing voices in her head? Well, it was working.
She knew she heard a voice, unmistakably Draco's honey covered tone. But maybe he was right? There was a nagging feeling telling her to just trust him with everything. That more then anything really scared her.
"Err, E-excuse me, Malfoy." Hermione muttered. She picked up her beloved textbooks and retreated from the library in a flash.
Draco sighed. He rested his chin on his hand, glaring at an open book. Damn Bellatrix. There's no way this could work.
"Well, that was a fail." A girlish voice hissed from the darkness of the Library. "I tried." Draco responded, closing his stormy eyes. He heard someone sit beside him, resting their feet on the table.
"Maybe you should learn to block her out."
Draco opened one eye, and was greeted with the pleasant sight of Pansy Parkinson, smirking at him.
"Tch. Not that easy." He didn't even have a clue of how to go about doing that. Pansy sighed dramatically. She was doing that alot lately.
"Try mental images. Picture a brick wall around your brain, that nothing can break down or get past. I've heard it helps." Draco closed his eye, bored with her already. He yawned, much to Pansy's annoyance.
"Are you listening to me, Draco?" She asked, impatiently. Draco turned away from her. "Yeah, yeah. Brick walls. Where did you get the delusional idea that would work?"
There was a pause then, a small ruffling sound, and then a few books were dropped on Draco's head. "Ouch!" He yelped, rubbing at his beloved hair. "What are you doing, you hag?"
Pansy frowned, then flicked Draco on the forehead. "I got the brick wall idea from these books." Draco looked down at said books. Well, he glared.
"I actually had the brains to find these for you, since you seem to have no common sense about this engagement, whatsoever."
Draco lifted up a particular heavy book, and squinted his eyes. "Arranged Marriages and You, by Cynthia Merku?" Draco read fearfully. Pansy licked her lips and nodded. "Yup." Draco gave her an are-you-fucking-serious? look.
She smiled and nodded again. With a groan, Draco retrieved the other books that had been scattered around them. "I don't need your help, Pansy. You or Blaise. I can take care of myself." He reached for a small leather-bound book. Avoiding her gaze. He knew it would be a scowl or something equally as scary.
But Pansy just smiled softly. "Of Course you dont, Draco. You are a big boy now, I guess."
"Tch."
Twitch. Twitch. Glare. Frown. Hand wave. Growl. Blink.
"Harry. don't provoke the beast in it's natural habitat." Ron whispered into his best friend's ear. Well, his best guy-friend. His best girl-friend was currently wide awake in the middle of the night, scribbling notes down furiously.
Harry waved Ron's worries away with his hand, again attempting to get Hermione's attention. She glared up at him. "Harry Potter, leave me alone." She hissed. "I've actually got to study potions, unlike you."
Harry frowned and shrunk away from the angry witch. Ron sighed. "See, I told you she's still mad about it."
"About what, Ronald?" Hermione barked. She crossed her legs on the chair, looking back at him with a death glare. Ron stuttered. "I, he, well, you know, uhh-"
"That's what I thought." She turned back around and lifted her trusty quill. Harry shook his head. "Mione, listen. I know you're mad at me and all about the Half Blood Prince thing. But, I don't think you should deprive yourself of sleep because of it."
Hermione didnt reply. Okay, maybe she was over reacting to it. But losing really ticked her off. Hermione was always the best in everything. Always. When Harry had won the prize potion in class, she'd immediately wanted blood. There was no way he could have fairly won against her. When he told her about the Half Blood Prince's book, it confirmed her theory.
Since her "best friend" refused to hand it over she had settled with studying potions so much that even Snape would bow down to her and kiss the ground she walked on... A girl could hope.
"You don't have to win all the time?" Ron said in a small voice.
You don't have to win all the time.
You don't have to win all the time.
You don't have to win all the time.
You don't have to win all the time.
You don't have to win all the time.
You don't have to win all the time.
You don't have to win all the time.
You don't have to win all the time.
Hermione stared blankly at them. Honey eyes betraying no emotion. She was processing. Ron and Harry backed away. Trying to get as much distance as possible. "I think you broke her." Harry whispered. Ron gulped. Hermione smiled wickedly. "Oh, Ronald dearest. You shouldn't have said that."
Ron's eyes widened. Harry sprinted away from Ron. Hermione slowly stood from her chair. By this time, Ron was backed into a wall. He put his arms up, as if to surrender. He closed his eyes tightly, waiting for the blow. After a minute, it didn't come. He opened his eyes to see a sea of honey mocking him. Ron gasped.
"W-what are you going to do to me?" He asked. Hermione smirked. Her 'pureblood heiress' genes must have kicked in.
"Oh, you'll just have to wait and see." Her breath gently hit Ron's face. He smelled the mint toothpaste. "I could get you anytime with anything. You'll never know when I'll strike. Like a bloody snake."
Ron had a look of absolute horror. This was a side of Hermione he had never seen. And it scared the shit out of him. She was acting like a...a...a Slytherin!
With that last statement, Hermione returned to her studies, across the room. Harry slithered over to his best friend, still pressed against the wall.
"Are you okay, mate?"
Ron shook his head, his eyes still wide. "I think I peed my pants a bit, Harry."
"Oi, Draco!" Blaise called towards a blur of blond, mixed in with other students in the corridor. The blur turned around, looking annoyed. Blaise pushed his way through the crowd. He bumped into a pretty girl and apologized, managing to get her name and possibly a date...
"Blaise, what do you want?" Oh, right. There was a reason he was in this corridor. He excused himself, kissing the bubbly red head on the cheek, then skipped over to his best friend.
"Hello, blond-one!" Draco glared, not even bothering to reply to that.
Blaise sighed, and patted Draco on the back. "So, have you been reading those books Pans gave you?" Draco nodded. "Unfortunately."
"Well, I think theres an opportunity that has arisen for you to test what you've learned." Draco looked over at Blaise curiously. It was then Draco noticed how tall his friend was. A good 5 inches taller then himself. Hm.
"What is this opportunity?" Draco asked finally. Blaise grinned. "Hermione is going to be interviewed by Astoria and her little friends in about...twenty minutes."
"Well, that does seem opportunistic. What do you suppose I do about it though? Thats only for female students."
"Well, I'm sure Pansy has the solution to that problem, mate." Draco didn't like the sound of this. But, he gave in and let Blaise drag him to the fourth floor corridor. It was usually empty, so it was a good meeting spot. The crazy witch herself stood proudly in her undergarments in the middle of the corridor.
Draco looked away. Blaise smirked. "Drakey-poo, put these on!" Pansy threw her Slytherin robes at the confused blond.
"What? Why?" Draco said, backing away. Blaise grabbed his arms, smiling down at him. "Sorry, but it's gotta be done."
Draco's eys widened, as he reached for his wand. Gone. "Damn you Blaise!'
"Now, now. Calm down, blond one."
"I'm gonna kill you!"
Pansy cackled. "Oh, after all the trouble I've gone through to get this potion? I think not! Now, be a good little ferret and go get the scoop on your fiance!"
"Pansy-!"
"Well, here it is." Hermione said to herself, frowning at the ladder leading up to her doom. I did promise... She could hear Astoria's obnoxious voice. Or maybe it's not too late to sneak-
"Hermione!" Astoria chirped. Hermione sighed. She'd been discovered. She climbed the latter to the room and was met with about 20 pairs of curious eyes. The young girls all sat patiently at their tables. A good half was Slytherin, but there were sprinklings of the other houses. Hermione was actually kind of impressed that Astoria had brought the houses together in a way.
Though, the topic wasn't the most...well, appropriate. One smaller girl caught her eye. She looked to be a first year. She had wavy blond hair and the most familiar stormy gray eyes. Like a certain Slytherin prince.
Did Draco have a little sister? The girl's gaze found hers and Hermione flinched. The same pointed features. But in a feminine way. If you could consider Draco's feature's manly. He'd always looked more delicate. It was kinda cute that- Dammit Hermione, no! NOT CUTE! SHHHH!
"Miss Granger, are you alright?" Astoria asked, tugging on Hermione's sleeve. Hermione nodded weakly and tore her eyes away from the mini fem Draco.
"Sit here, please." There was a simple chair at the front of the room. Hermione sighed quietly before taking a seat.
"Okay, so heres how this works. Each member of the audience will ask you a question. You will then answer. Be honest of what you say, because it will get around." Astoria smiled innocently.
Hermione paled. Oh, Merlin! What have I gotten myself into?
"First question is by me. Are your parents really the Maeve's?"
"Yes." Hermione answered, blushing.
"So, you're really pure-blood, then?"
Hermione nodded. "Yes." The crowd gasped.
"Is you're life like a princess'?"
"Err, not really. It's still kinda the same."
"How is it different?"
"Well, people look at me alot more. People who used to not like me that much." Hermione was feeling extremely uncomfortable right then.
"Like Draco Malfoy?"
Hermione's heart skipped a beat, and she looked away, biting her lip. "I guess. I don't really notice him." Lie!
"WHY NOT? HE'S HOT!"
Hermione raised a brow, with an amused look on her face. "Errm, well Mr. Malfoy is attractive but I find his intelligence lacking."
Lies! You filthy liar! Inner Hermione screamed.
"Are you and Ron Weasley a couple?"
Hermione giggled. "Not really. We're just good friends."
"Harry Potter?"
"Friends."
"What guy do you like, then?"
"I don't have time for a boyfriend, really."
"Why not?"
"Well, theres alot going on. Like studying. That takes up alot of my time."
Crickets. Inner Hermione sighed.
"So what do you like in a guy?" Mini fem Draco asked in a quiet yet confident voice.
Hermione pondered this for a moment. "Well he has to be smart. And brave. Absolute gentleman with an open mind. Like a prince for a story." Hermione blushed at her own words. The crowd aww'd.
Astoria grinned widely. "Interesting..." And she scribbled something down on paper.
"H-hey! What are you writing?" Hermione asked. Astoria shook her head. "Continue with the questions, ladies."
END
AHHH sorry it took me so long to update ;_; and sorry for any mistakes made.
I had a serious case of writers block. I hope this chappie makes up for it. And I'll try to write another chapter this weekend~ Don't give up one me! *bows*
I have alot of stories to update O_O', so I will try to update this one again ASAP. Next chapter will be IDK. LOL I'm still thinking. Sigh~
Well, anyways, I hope you enjoyed this. I'm off to update my other stories and then off to bed for me! (Thanksgiving has me sleepy!) soo bye my darling readers!
review please.
ciao! :P