A/n:Oh I just can't help continuing this story. I wound up writing this chapter instead of Sealed Lips'. sorry 'bout that Sealed Lips subscribers. Hehehe. Anyway, this is a bridge chapter; meaning it does not contain anything important, just a bridge to the other chapter. In conclusion, I can't continue without this chapter!! Enjoy guys!! If you have any suggestions or questions email me at Thanks!
Chapter 8: Unconventional Scheme
The next morning was full of chatter about last night's events. All were very weary eyed and worn-out, good thing it was only up to midnight. More people found themselves sleeping during History of Magic (Professor Binns never noticed, did he.) but none were thick enough to sleep in Professor McGonagall's class, in their opinion, she looked pretty cross that day. She too, bore the somnolent eyes of last night's affair. Professor Vivien merely chuckled at the sight of the exhausted girls and boys slouching on their seats. She, as always, thought it best to have class not in this state.
She suddenly blew a whistle and everyone jerked their weary heads in surprise towards the vibrant Professor.
"Now surely you wouldn't want to have a class in this state wouldn't you, chaps?" she shouted undauntedly through the whole class. A number of groans followed.
"Dear, dear, I cannot have a class full of groaning trolls! Come now, let us all rise, up now! Lest you want to rot your buttocks off there." Professor Vivien muttered nonchalantly. Everyone in the class groaned once more about having to stand up.
Hermione was first to stand up, though. She looked unusually more energetic than the rest; nonetheless, she did not look rather blissful either. She has been thinking about last night where she had danced with Malfoy and even more awful; flirted with him to some extent. She had not dared to even look up in his direction, she obliged into putting much distance whenever Malfoy was in the vicinity. She was acting as if there was an anti-Malfoy jinx cast on her.
On the other hand, Draco Malfoy was doing nothing much to avoid Hermione Granger, for she already saved him the trouble of doing that. But still, that didn't stop him throwing her some furtive glances during class did it? He was really ashamed of having thought of Hermione Granger in a good way, especially in a really, really good way. Secretly, he really thought Hermione looked real stunning the night before, good thing he didn't admit it, though.
Anyway, even though the two found a way not to talk or even look at each other because of the awkward circumstances, fate or rather; a certain Professor did.
"Okay class," Professor Vivien continued. "I want you to pair up with the person sitting next to you."
The class was shocked to find another person seating next to them instead of their seatmates. The professor transported everyone to random seats in a blink of an eye. Surprisingly enough, everyone was paired up with the opposite house. Maybe you can guess who Hermione was paired with.
"Evil little witch." Draco cursed under his breath while glaring at his sister who was apparently pleased with the seating arrangements.
"Okay now, I want you to hex the person next to you and I want them to block it as quickly as they can." Everyone suddenly shouted jinxes and their partners dodged them unknowingly. Hermione and Draco, however, could not decide who would jinx who.
Finally, Hermione gathered up her guts and jinxed the unaware Draco square on the chest. He stumbled backwards not having realized that Hermione took an action. He looked straight into her and saw her face flash a concealed grin. He didn't know what made him do it, but he jinxed her back.
"Expelliarmus!" Draco yelled viciously, Hermione, however, blocked the jinx.
Feeling the tension pump into their every vein, the class was thoroughly invigorated by the short exercise and was now as vigorous as ever.
"Now, that wasn't so bad, wasn't it?" the smiling Professor chuckled to the panting students. "I guess we can carry on with the lessons then, shall we?"
The class assembled back to their original seats and got their books out animatedly. They scribbled at their parchments quietly and listened to every word Professor Vivien let go. Before the class ended, Professor Vivien made a small announcement.
"Now, I want you all to pay attention closely." She started eagerly. "I will assign you all a highly dangerous and difficult task. Let us consider it a little project of ours." She paused dramatically and continued. "You are to invent spells that aids defense. Meaning, it cannot be, under no circumstances, harmful to anyone. It should be mainly used for defense. I know that this task is pretty rough so I decided that it'll be a partner project. You will be partnered to the ones who have been your partners in the little duel we held a while ago."
Hermione threw Draco a furtive glance before gasping shockingly. Draco was clenching his fist so hard that it became white. Everyone thought it was a bad idea to have a partner project, especially with rival houses.
"So, anyway, this project will be done during your free time and not in class. I don't want anything disturbing my lesson plan. It'll be handed to me by the end of the month. I know that you all think that this is a really dreadful idea, but I'm one of those exceedingly annoying professors who aspires inter-house collaboration. So please forgive my irksome habits."
The class took one last groan at the pathetic teacher whose aspiration can never come true and strode out of the room. Draco was so mad at his sister that he wanted to strangle her with his bare hands, but she called out someone that interrupted their forthcoming confrontation.
"Oh, Hermione," she called out sweetly. "I want to tell you something."
"What is it, professor?" Hermione carefully replied, coming back into the room.
"I just wanted you to know," she suddenly dropped her voice into a point that only Hermione can hear. "Friday night, usual time and place."
"Okay, Professor." She answered politely.
Once Hermione was out of earshot, Draco yelled furiously and ranted on regarding his sister's awful habits about making other people's lives more complicated.
"Why did you have to do that?" Draco raged on furiously. "You're torturing the living hell out of me!" Professor Vivien merely giggled. "What are you giggling about now?"
"I saw you last night, Draco." She chortled evilly.
Draco was left speechless and looked at his sister sheepishly before turning to leave.
"I'm going to be late for class." He said curtly.
"I thought so." She replied with a sinister look on her face. "You fancy her don't you, Draco?"
"No, I do not!" Draco ejaculated while blushing. Professor Vivien let out an uncommon high pitched cackle.
"Don't worry, Draco. I won't tell. You should be the one to tell her, anyway." She muttered matter-of-factly.
"I have nothing to tell her, zilch!" he retorted crossly.
"Whatever." She responded idly. "But you will have to tell her sooner or later."
