Il Corpo Cambia
A/N: Hey people! Like I said in the last chapter there will be a coupling up and a breaking up before Christmas and depending how the length of this turns out it may happen in this very chapter!! And as usual thoughts in italics and song in bold and centre.
Let's Roll. . .
Did I disappoint you?
Or let you down?
Over the next couple of weeks with the help of Seamus and Ron, Hermione realised that what she had felt for Draco was the exact same feelings she held for Harry. This made Seamus's body swapping theory all the more intriguing. She quickly went right back to her old ways – the routines, study & research and having perfectly completed homework every night. Seamus and Hermione spent an hour almost everyday in the library pouring over books about body swapping but they weren't getting very far, if anything they were getting really frustrated. Ron was also helping research too but he couldn't bear to spend every night in library. By the looks of it neither could Seamus. He stared out at the quidditch pitch after twenty minutes and kept looking at it until Hermione told him to leave because he was getting nowhere. He had not objected to this but still met up with Ron and Hermione nearly every day for twenty minutes at least. Ginny wasn't happy with this at all.
It was a particularly cold Sunday morning when Hermione woke up. Only another five days of lessons and then Christmas holidays. She rubbed her eyes and checked her watch. It was half past ten.
Finally, a worthy sleep in.
She climbed out of bed and put on her dressing gown.
What should I wear?
Should I be feeling guilty?
Or let the judges frown?
She eventually decided on her dark blue jeans, tucked inside her uggs, which her aunt had gotten her for her birthday and her green, long sleeved top that read "I don't do Monday's" in silvery beads. She headed down to breakfast.
Sitting next to Ron she looked up and for a second imagined Harry sitting there laughing at Ron as he stuffed his face. Instead there was Cormac McLaggen, the guy she'd confunded to keep Ron on the Gryffindor team last year and who she'd asked to go to Slughorn's Christmas party too – to spite Ron. It had been a disaster and he wasn't her favourite person in the world, to put it mildly.
"Hey Hermione!"
"Eh…hey"
"WachuwangMugLugin?" Hermione turned to see Ron had stopped eating but his mouth was full of food and he'd tried to talk – not a good idea.
"Wonderful manner's you've got there Weasley", McLaggen said wiping some hashbrown off his cheek, "I simply wondered if Hermione, here was going to Hogsmeade with anyone. Are you?"
"Yeah, I am. Ron as matter of fact"
"Wouldn't you prefer . . . better company than the food machine here?" He asked jerking his head towards Ron. Ron stood up in fury.
"Wuchyurmoff!"
'Cause I saw the end,
Before we'd begun
"Excuse me?" Ron swallowed, with difficulty, before he replied again.
"I said, watch your mouth" McLaggen turned his eyes onto his lips and stared at his mouth for a few minutes.
"What's that supposed to do to me Weasley?" Ron looked incensed. He made to lunge at McLaggen but Hermione pulled him back.
"Come on Ron, let's head to Hogsmeade. We'll go and see Fred and George." Ron started to calm down once they'd left the Great hall though he started muttering under his breath darkly.
"One day…If he just knew"
Hermione burst out laughing.
"What's so funny?"
"You are just like…" was all Ron could get out of her for a few minutes.
"You are just like Kreatcher when he mutters about people" Ron stopped immediately. He then realised they had left the Entrance hall towards the steps.
"Hey why aren't we leaving?"
"We've got to back to Gryffindor tower for coats, hats, scarfs and gloves. It's -3 outside"
Once inside Hermione made her way to her dormitory as did Ron. Five minutes later Ron and Hermione were outside the grounds and on their way to Hogsmeade.
Yes, I saw you were blinded,
And I knew I had one
"Hey 'Mione…do you…do you, you know, miss Harry?" Hermione looked over at Ron who was focusing intently on his left hand.
"Yeah I do, all the time. Do you?"
"Suppose so"
"Ron it's me – Hermione – you can tell me, I won't laugh"
"I miss him too, tonnes. Now you're great Hermsy but, I'm not really a library person, or a bed at nine person and Harry well, he lightened everything up. He was my best mate. But now he's…now I've no idea who he is anymore"
"You know what? I think we should go straight to Dumbledore when we get back. He might be able to enlighten us on the whole body swapping situation"
"That's a great idea Herms-"
"Don't call me 'Hermsy'. That's what Grawp calls me"
"And?"
"And, I don't mind being called it by a talking giant but by you it's just annoying!"
"Well sorry!"
"You should be!"
They spent the rest of the journey trying to think up a new nickname for Hermione. After what seemed a very short time they were in Hogsmeade.
"Come on Ron. Let's go to the Three Broomsticks" Hermione said as she tried to stop chattering.
So I took what's mine,
By eternal right,
"How about we go to Fred and George first, then we'll split up and buy our Christmas presents. Then we'll go to the Three Broomsticks?"
"Yeah okay"
The duo hurried along to Weasleys Wizards Wheezes. Once they reached the inside they were surrounded by warmth and voices filled with laughter. Hermione and Ron made their way to the front of the shop.
"Ron, Hermione, Har-" Fred stopped short and looked around, "Where's Harry?" Hermione answered.
"Trapped inside Malfoys body we think"
"WHAT?"
"Yeah, and has been since October…we'll it's either that or he has suddenly become a violent, screaming, angry, uncaring Harry"
But he's been on the verge of being violent, angry and screaming since last year. What happened to make him explode? If it even is him...
"So where's Malfoy gone if Harry's in his body?"
"He's in Harrys body – or so we think. We haven't proved anything yet"
"So, your life's been a bit chaotic, eh Ron?"
"No, but Hermiones' has! She was the reason a fight started- which I regrettably took part in. She then kissed Malfoy and has been confronted at least three times in the last week or so by Harry – or as we now call him – Malfarry – Malfoy and Harry together!"
Took your soul out,
Into the night.
"No, Ron you call him that – only you, no one else!"
"So, Miss Granger", George said in a would be authority like voice, "Who do you like Malfoy or Harry?"
Who do I like? Malfoys looks with Harry's personality?? That can't be right. Can it? But do I like either anymore?
"Neither, I was just a bit confused at the time. And thanks Ronald for revealing my personal life to everybody in the vicinity" Hermione stalked out of the shop and headed over to Madam Malkins.
"Is ikkle Ronnikins in trouble?"
"Shut up. What do you think about the Harry/Malfoy thing?" Fred and George sobered up immediately.
"Ron, you know there are still a lot of Death Eaters that would like to kill Harry? Ya well; maybe Malfoy is one or something. I dunno." Fred looked troubled and George carried on, "How much of a change is there in him? Harry I mean"
"Well…he is very cagey. He's missing loads of classes and this is NEWT year, even I'm paying attention! Also, he likes to corner Hermione around the castle and ask forgiveness. From what she's told me he sounds really sincere at first but then flips out and starts screaming"
"Hmm, I see"
It may be over,
But it won't stop there,
"You guys stop acting like you know what you're talking about and help me pick out a present for Lavender"
"Ooooh, back together are we?"
"Yes and don't mock me" They helped him pick out a Pygmy puff for her in a lavender sort of colour. Ron paid and then headed off to buy the rest of his presents. About an hour later he barged into the Three Broomsticks with loads of bags. Spotting Hermione by herself at a bale in the middle of the pub he made his way over to her.
"Hey Mionsey --A/N: pronounced – My – on – zey--, I'm…er, sorry for telling Fred and George about…hey are you okay?"
Hermione looked up at him her expression unreadable.
"I'm fine"
"Do you want to see what I got-" Hermione tried to hide it but a big fat tear had just rolled down her cheek. Closely followed by another.
"What's wrong 'Mione?"
"While I was Christmas shopping, Draco came over to me. He t-told me that he actually did really like me and that he was really sorry for pushing me away and that his 'date' was nowhere as near as kind, funny or pretty as me"
"Oh" Was all Ron could say. It was usually him getting advice off Hermione not the other way round.
I am here for you,
If you'd only care,
"And now I'm really confused because I don't like him anymore. I like Harry but Harry is Malfoy but I'm not so sure I like either since I've avoided them both but I don't know who's who and then to top everything off I think I'm going mad because I keep imagining Harry everywhere but it's the old Harry not Malfarry and it's just really, really confusing" The Three Broomsticks went totally quiet. After a few minutes Rosmerta among others made their way over to Hermione and comforted her.
"Poor thing"
"And I thought I had problems!"
"Anybody got a calming draught?"
Hermione was sobbing uncontrollably. Among all the people trying to comfort her, including Ron, she looked up as the door opened and in walked Harry, with a grin on his face and his hair as unruly as ever. A look of concern came over his features as he noticed Hermione. She jumped out of her chair and ran towards him. She didn't care whether he was Malfoy or new Harry or an undercover Death Eater. At that moment he was old Harry. She ran to him pushing and shoving the crowd of people. She reached him and he wrapped his arms around her waist and spun her on the spot. The crying ceased immediately Harry was back! But all of a sudden a look of cold greyness overcame his green eyes and he pushed her away. He looked at her as if she were filth.
You touched my heart,
You touched my soul.
"Don't touch me mud-blood" Hermione fell to the floor with the force of the push he used to get her out of his way he then walked down to the back of the pub and sat by himself. Ron charged at him but Hermione pulled him back indicating she was on the floor. He pulled Hermione up to her feet.
"Ron, did you see that?"
"That was definitely Malfoy. Let's head back to school. Accio bags" All his bags and Hermiones came zooming towards him, he just about managed to stay upright. Hermione took her bags, put on her coat and headed out into the snow. Ron followed suit.
Just as they were entering the grounds Ron spoke for the first time since they'd left Hogsmeade.
"Why'd you run to him?"
"Huh?"
"Why did you run do Malfarry?"
"When I first saw him come through the door…he was Harry and I just didn't realise how much I've missed him. So I ran and for a second or two he was the old Harry. Then I dunno what happened" A short silence followed.
"Who do you prefer 'Mione? Harry or Malfoy?"
Hermione was spared having to answer though because Ginny came storming out of the castle.
You changed my life,
and all my goals.
"Hey Gin. What's up?"
"You bitch. You're dating him aren't you? You're with him? Have you slept with him?" Ginny was pushing Hermione around the courtyard and screaming at her.
"I – Ginny what's wrong?"
"What's wrong is that you are sleeping with my boyfriend"
"What? No I'm not"
"Yes, you are. I know you are. Every Saturday night at around nine, Seamus says he's going out. When I ask him where to he simply shrugs and says 'for pie'. I then called up to you only to find you were gone 'for pie' too, I then checked the kitchen and you weren't there so where were you?" Ginny by now was crying aswell as trying to kill Hermione.
"Ginny, if you'd actually gone down to the ovens you would have found both of us – making pies. Pies that we were going to make into a huge pie cake for your birthday" Hermione who by now had started pushing Ginny continued on, "Seamus who has never cooked in his life has decided to make you a pie-cake for your birthday, but you're so paranoid about us that you have started obsessing. I've seen you, asking questions, trying to follow him to classes, following me to the toilets. And you think we spend our time kissing when we're 'researching' in the library. If you're so sure why don't you ask Ron – he's there researching with us too" Ginny looked dumbfounded.
And love is blind,
And I knew that when,
"But…you and him-"
"Are friends. Just like you and I"
"You think you're my friend? You were my best friend, now all I see is a tramp who can't get her own guy so has to take her best friends instead." Ginny lunged at Hermione and started pulling Hermiones hair and scratching her face. Hermione pushed her backwards with such force that Ginny rolled over on the ground.
"Seamus and I are – "
"What? Just friends?" Ginny sneered. If old Malfoy was around it would have impressed him, "Why? Why did you do it 'Mione? Why are you sleeping with him? You miss Harry is it? Well, he's not missing you from what Paravati has told me" Ginny sneered again. Hermiones eyes lit up with tears.
No, I am stronger than this. From now on…no more tears from me…
Hermione blinked back the tears.
"Gin, Seamus and I –"
"Are just friends" Hermione looked up to see Seamus standing atop the steps glaring down at Ginny, "If you wanted answers you should have come to me. Not attack Hermione and try and suffocate her. Ginny, you are a psycho, you've been following me everywhere for the last month. You then thought I was cheating on you when I haven't even thought about another girl-"
My heart was blinded by you.
I've kissed your lips & held your head
Except Hermione…said a small voice in his head.
"-and why should I when I had you?"
"H-h-had? What do mean by 'had'?"
"Ginny, it was great at the start. Hell, it was great up until last month. But you are…just not for me. We don't fit. We are and always were, not meant to be. I would say it's not you, but…we'll it kinda is" Seamus looked at his feet as he'd turned very pale after saying this.
Ginny had silent tears falling from her eyes. Turning to Ron her eyes are blazing.
"Well?"
"Well what?" Ron's eyes widen.
"Aren't you going to beat him up for me? I mean – he just dumped me" Ron looked back and forth between Ginny and Seamus. It looked like he was preparing himself but inside his head a battle was raging.
She's your sister…but he's one of my best mates…BUT she's your sister…I can't beat him up again, I don't think he'd let me and I don't want to anyway…But she's your sister…
"Gin, I don't-"
"Ron, remember when I was in second year and you thought I had a boyfriend and you said ''If a guy ever hurts you, I'll personally kill him''. Remember that? You can't break a promise Ron"
Shared your dreams,
And shared your bed.
"Ginny, you're my baby sister – my only sister – and I did promise you that, but to be honest…you seem to have hurt Seamus a lot more than he's hurt you"
Ginny stared at Ron with a look of disbelief on her face. Seamus tried to hide the fact that he looked utterly miserable and Hermione was drawing circles in the snow with her boots, her hair – all messed up from Ginny's attacks – was covering her face. Ginny couldn't speak for a minute or two. Finally she found her voice.
"See you around Seamus" She ran up the stairs and was out of sight before anyone could blink.
"Listen, Ron – thanks" Seamus voice was slightly hoarse.
"Come on guys. We…err…we've got to go to Dumbledore." Both boys stared at Hermione, then shrugged and followed her up the stairs and into the castle. Trying to make them feel better she links her arms in their arms and the new found trio skip, laughing and smiling, despite what had just happened, all the way to Dumbledore's office. They reached the Gargoyle concealing Dumbledore's office and attempted the password.
"Sherbet lemon?" Ron tried first.
"Cockroach cluster?" Seamus tried second.
"Chocolate frog?" Hermione tried thirdly. It carried on in this order.
"Fizzing Whizzbees?"
I know you well,
I know your smell,
I've been addicted to you.
"Caramel coated wands?"
"Bertie Botts every flavour beans?"
"Sugar Quill?"
"Acid pops?"
"Peppermint pigs?"
"Edible Dark marks?" Seamus and Hermione turn to stare at Ron.
"What? It was just a thought. Hey, look" They looked. The gargoyle had stepped aside and the winding stairs started to rise out of the floor. Ron jumped on a step and was brought up. Seamus jumped on and pulled Hermione with him as the stairs rose up to Dumbledore's office.
When all three of them had reached the top. They waited for their breathing to return to normal. Hermione took this time to try and fix her hair. Nothing worked. It was back to being a bush since Ginny had attacked her. Ron leaned forward nervously and knocked twice.
"Come in"
The trio looked at one another. Seamus took a deep breath, Ron nodded and Hermione pushed open the Oak double doors.
"Ah, Good evening. What can I do for you?"
"P-professor, we were wondering, what you knew, about – body swapping." Ron had answered.
Goodbye my lover,
Goodbye my friend,
"Very well, take a seat. Do you want to body-swap?"
"N-no Sir. We, uh, we think Harry and Malfoy have swapped bodies" Hermione had answered this time.
"Ah, I've been expecting this. Body swapping or, Il corpo cambia, as it is originally known, happens without magic and only when a most unusual row about love has happened between the duo"
"A row about love?" This time Seamus had spoken.
"Yes Mister Finnegan and a truly unique row it is. When body swapping occurs it is mainly from the fact that one of the boys, Harry or Draco, is infatuated with somebody and one of them is in love with that same somebody. Both then vie for that somebody's love, more than likely resulting in a confrontation which led to the body swapping. But there is more." Dumbledore paused, probably for dramatic effect. Continuing he gazes at Fawkes. "The somebody who this row is about has to choose who she loves-"
"Loves?"
"Yes Ms. Granger, she must love the chosen boy from the bottom of her heart and must not have any second thoughts. If she has, something terrible will happen."
"What?" Hermione answered hoarsely.
Am I this girl?? Dumbledore's blue eyes searched Hermiones then he turned toward Fawkes again and answered.
You have been the one,
You have been the one for me.
"If this girl has any doubts, any at all, the boy will know and she will break his heart into-"
"That's all?" Dumbledore smiled at Ron and his bluntness.
"Yes Mr. Weasley, that is all. Obviously you have never been in love. To be in love is magical. You feel as though you are unstoppable, invincible and happier than ever. You have a spring in your step and a smile never leaves your face" Dumbledore's eyes sparkled with days gone by and memories.
"But to have your heartbroken by that person you loved so dearly – is honestly, the worst experience of my life. I cannot even make up words to describe how it felt – how it feels. For having your heartbroken you will never forget the feeling it will stay with you for as long as you live. You will never love as you loved and if a person loves you but you can't love them back…the circle starts again you break their heart, knowing how it feels. They then break someone else's heart. It is the worst knowledge in the world. Your life will change. You'll change your views on . . . everything" Silence filled the office. Ron still looked like he thought it was a bit over the top – all this stuff about love. Seamus was thinking over what the headmaster had said. Hermione was getting paler by the second. Dumbledore looked up at the ceiling.
"Look at the time. I kept you longer than expected. You better head down to dinner."
"Bye sir" The trio headed to the door. Ron and Seamus exited. Hermione paused, and then turned to leave as a voice spoke behind her.
Goodbye my lover,
Goodbye my friend,
You have been the one,
You have been the one for me.
"Hermione?"
"Yes sir?"
"Think clearly about both Mr. Malfoy and Harry. I think what you'll discover will surprise you."
"But sir, if you know then why not tell me?"
"Lessons of the heart must be learned. Not taught. Good evening"
"Bye" Hermione's voice was barley a whisper. She thought about not going for dinner but to 'think clearly' as Dumbledore had said. But she decided against it. She hadn't eaten properly in days. And as she made her way to the Great hall her tummy rumbled and she knew she'd made at least one right decision tonight.
A/N: Hey guys! The song is Goodbye my lover – James Blunt. I hope you like. Please let me know what you think might happen!! I hope not many of you are put off by the Ginny/Seamus break up. But there's more to come next chapter. There still has to be a coupling up! I kind of sick about writing about a weepy Hermione so I've decided to make her an independent, strong non-crying Hermione. But there will be tears to come soon though, more on that later on. Anyway – thanks for the support! Got to go now…
Thanks to my reviewers:
Ellemay, b-ballgurl2, wickedenchantress & MiKaYgIrL.
Love you guys!
FireboltPheonix,
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