Chapter 8 - Of Mudbloods & Ferrets
Please note, that after the break line in the story it goes into flashbacks. The first bit is what is going on now, while the italicized bits are flashbacks. By the end of the chapter we're back to the exact same spot in now. Like a circle. Hope its not too confusing.
Hermione looked horrified at the proposition of having to work with Malfoy, but it went unnoticed by Snape, as the door to the dungeon opened once more.
In stepped Blaise Zabini, in all his Slytherin glory. "Professor Snape, I'm terribly sorry to interrupt, sir, but I've gotten switched into this class."
"That's quite alright, Mr. Zabini. Although, I'd like to inquire as to why you've been placed here."
"Well, you see, sir, I don't quite get on with some students in my Divination class and Professor Trelawney hasforeseen that it will cause a major dispute if I don't change my class. Personally, I think she just hit the Firewhiskey a bit too hard last night or-"
"That'll be enough, Mr. Zabini."
"Right, Professor."
"Miss Granger," Snape said, turning to her, "it appears as though you won't have work with Mr. Malfoy after all."
Hermione could've sworn that Snape looked a bit crestfallen at this, though Malfoy practically sang his praises. "Miss Granger, take a seat with Mr. Zabini at that last table, over there," Snape said, pointing to the back of the room, "this way Potter and Weasley don't start crying."
Hermione almost smiled at this remark, but didn't quite feel like receiving hateful looks from anymore Gryffindors. She moved to the back of the classroom and took her seat next to Blaise.
As Snape began his lesson, with slightly less zeal, Hermione settled in next to Blaise.
Within ten minutes Blaise found himself incredibly bored, so he found a spare piece of parchment in his bag and scribbled a note.
Bloody hell, this is boring. Did you bring the book? I could teach you something…
He slid it over to Hermione, who looked at him, and scribbled back.
I'm not stupid, if I ever got caught with that book…oh Merlin, what would people think, she slid it back.
Since when do you care what people think, Hermione? I mean you're dating me, you've ditched your friends and you hate everything that's breathing.
He passed it back to Hermione, who gave an exasperated sigh before writing back.
First off, Zabini, I'm not dating you. And, secondly, I don't hateeverythingthat's breathing.She shoved the parchment back at him.
Someone's in denial…
At this point Hermione kicked him under the table. Blaise seized the parchment from her hands and wrote,So do you care about what people think?
He passed it back.
Blaise, we're supposed to be learning Potions…
He rolled his eyes.
We could've passed this course in our first year. And stop avoiding the question.
This time Hermione rolled her eyes. She poised her quill to write back, but found that all the other students were exiting the dungeon.
She stuffed the parchment into her bag and made her way into the corridor, intent on getting to Transfiguration before the Dim Duo.
Hermione sat in the common room sometime after dinner, reading a book. Not The Unforgivables , of course since Draco had almost caught her reading it earlier…
Draco Malfoy, on his way back to the Heads' Common Room after dinner, was in a relatively good mood. Millicent had kept her hands off him long enough for him to be able to eat most of his dinner with retching. Nonetheless, he'd made his departure from the Great Hall early, intent on getting ready and beating the rest of the Slytherin team to the Quidditch pitch before practice.
He smirked at the thought of having them dodge Bludgers as punishment for being late.
Hermione had skipped dinner, hoping to have more of an opportunity to read The Unforgivables . She'd spent most of dinner reading in the common room. She checked the clock only to find that she needn't expect Malfoy back for at least a quarter of an hour.
Less than three minutes later, however, she was incredibly shocked to find the portrait opening.
She quickly shoved the book behind a pillow, but not before Malfoy could see her motion.
He'd tried to get a peek at the title, but his efforts were hindered by her rapid movement.
He smirked at her, shutting the portrait and striding towards his room.
"I never pegged you as the type to read smutty romance novels. Is Zabini not enough for you, Granger?"
Hermione shrugged it off, "Actually, I borrowed this from your girlfriend." She smiled, "It's well-worn."
Malfoy stopped in his tracks, and knowing full well that she hadn't actually borrowed it, he turned to face her. He then proceeded to smirk at her again.
She spoke first, however, "What? Are you not enough for her?" she asked in an amused and slightly mocking tone. She'd one-upped him
Malfoy rolled his eyes and turned on his heel, walking towards his room. He called over his shoulder, "Glad to see that your wit is improving, Mudblood."
She called back, "I see yours hasn't, Ferret."
Once Malfoy had shut his door, Hermione had snuck off into her room and placed the book in her bureau. She'd have to be more careful next time.
She returned to the common room only to find Malfoy's door standing open, she watched him fight with his Quidditch robes, which were, apparently much like a maze. She revealed her presence when she laughed as Malfoy tried to navigate his arm into his sleeve for the sixth time….
"Mudblood."
"Ferret."
He sneered at her and then resumed his quest to conquer the perils of wizarding wardrobes.
"Is that why you made Zabini your co-captain? I mean, if you can't even dress yourself – which my four year oldMuggle cousin can do – then how do you propose you run a Quidditch team?"
"Shutup , Mudblood."
"Oh, how very clever, Malfoy. Eloquent, too."
At last he managed to thrust his arm through the hole. Grabbing his broom he pushed past Hermione and moved towards the portrait hole.
"Don't you have better things to do, Granger? Like…" he shuddered, "screw Zabini? Or curse Potty and Weasel King? Or cry over your worthless Muggle parents?"
Without giving her a chance to speak he strode over to the portrait hole, threw it open, stepped out and slammed it behind him.
Staring after him Hermione couldn't help but want to scream.
And she did scream. A lot.
After calming down a bit she moved to the window. She watched as a blonde figured strode towards the Quidditch pitch and thought occurred to her.
With a few words and some quick wand work Hermione managed to give herself a few laughs.
She watched in hysterics as the other six members of the Slytherin Quidditch team, Blaise included, made their way down to the Quidditch pitch.
So now she sat in the common room, reading a book that wasn'tThe Unforgivables and awaiting Draco Malfoy's return. She had no doubt that his return would be quite soon; that is, of course, if the Slytherin Quidditch team felt it was beneficial to tell him what he looked like.
Author's Notes: Believe it or not, I've already finished chapter 9 and I'm already working on chapter 10. Chp 9 should be up sometime next week, and ten by the week after that. I may update more during the winter holidays...we'll see how it goes.
I've created a "How the Other Half Lives" forum using the new features. The link is in my profile, at the bottom. Click HTOHL Forum. There's a preview of Chapter 9 there.
I'd love to hear what all of you think, so please visit the forum. I'm open to suggestions and I love to hear your theories.