Disclaimer: See Chapter One.

Author's note: Here's proof that I'm still alive and kicking. I deeply apologize for the 6 year long wait. Hopefully this will be the last time that will happen for this fanfiction.

Also, a HUGE thanks to everyone who has been reading thus far as well as the reviewed. You all reignited my motivation to finish this story. My goal is to complete this before 2012 ends. Achievable? I think YES.

Italics for thoughts.
"Quotations for speech."
Bold for In first and third person POV.
Symbols or lines to separate the POV.
Sorry if this is confusing.

Happy reading!

000

Recap:

"DRACO MALFOY! I DEMAND TO KNOW!" Hermione screamed...practically in his ear. Damn. I think she broke my eardrum.

Yes, she demands to know added his conscience and it snickered.

Draco finally snapped. Without realizing what he was doing, he turned around and faced Hermione and yelled, "I LIKE YOU, OKAY!" As soon as those words left his mouth, he realized what he just said. Oh Merlin…

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Chapter Eleven: Oh Merlin, Not Again

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Wednesday, Sixth Day in July (Time Unknown) – Continued

"W-what? What did you just say?" Hermione was in disbelief. Her wand was still threateningly close to him as well.

"Nothing," muttered Draco. "I said 'nothing'." Hermione eyed him curiously.

"No… you said something. Are my ears deceiving me or did I just hear the great Draco Malfoy say he liked me?"

Draco had two options. One, he could deny it and endure the fact that she wouldn't stop pestering him about it for Merlin knows how long. Or two, he could just tell her and see what happens next.

"Well? I'm waiting…" Hermione tapped her foot impatiently. One hand was placed on her hip in a sassy manner, the other holding her wand that was threateningly close to Draco. Draco sighed.

"Yes, I admit it Hermione. I like you." Her next reaction was one he didn't expect.

"LIAR!" she screamed angrily, drawing the wand closer. It was now aimed at his neck. "HOW DARE YOU SAY THAT?"

"What?" was all Draco could stutter. That's it. This girl is absolutely mental.

Yet you still laaaaveee her, mused his 'conscience'.

Oh sod off. You were the one who got me into this mess.

"DO NOT PLAY DUMB WITH ME, DRACO MALFOY. I SEE WHAT YOU ARE DOING! AND LET ME TELL YOU, IT IS NOT GOING TO WORK!" Draco seriously didn't have a clue as to what she was referring to. His clueless expression further angered the explosive witch.

"OH, DO NOT TELL ME YOU'RE TOO STUPID TO REALIZE WHAT YOU HAVE JUST DONE! LET ME TELL YOU A THING OR TWO, MALFOY. YOU HAVE CROSSED THE LINE." Draco allowed his eyes to take in Hermione's current appearance. Fiery brown eyes, quick lashing tongue, and her hair… oh god her hair, masses of green moving everywhere every time she inches her wand closer to his face. It vaguely reminded him of the gorgons…

Oh wait, that's not a good thing.

"FIRST OF ALL, YOU HAVE INSULTED THE MEANING OF THE WORD 'LIKE'. ALTHOUGH 'LIKE' IS NOWHERE IN COMPARISON TO THE WORD 'LOVE', IT STILL HOLDS GREAT MEANING. IT IS A POWERFUL WORD, AND YOU HAVE JUST ABUSED IT." Oh Merlin, there she goes…

"AND FOR WHAT? TO TRY AND GET BACK AT ME? TRY TO TRICK ME INTO BELIEVING YOU LIKE ME SO I WILL RECIPROCATE FEELINGS AND THEN YOU WILL GET YOUR REVENGE BY BREAKING MY HEART? OH I DO NOT THINK SO, MISTER!" Wait… what?

"THIS ACT, THIS ACT IS UNEXCUSABLE! AND FOR THAT –" Hermione waved her wand at Draco.

Oh… not again.

000

Somewhere in the dark mysterious room…

"HA! You owe me a galleon!" exclaimed dark figure #3 proudly.

Person grumbled and reluctantly handed the galleon over. Anonymous rolled her eyes at the exchange before moving her attention back to the cauldron next to them.

000

When Draco opened his eyes, he found himself closer to the ground.

She did it again, didn't she?

He observed his surroundings. He spotted a white tail. Damn, I didn't know she had it in her to do this to me, AGAIN. He put his hand, er… paw, to his face.

Told you not to provoke her.

WHAT? I didn't provoke her! YOU – YOU…

I, what? You are aware that I'm you, aren't you?

But… but you called yourself my 'conscience'. That means you have a mind of your own. Which means –

Blah blah blah. Kid, the bottom line is, I'm still you. Draco Malfoy, we are one in the same, you and I.

Draco could swear his conscience was grinning. He tried to groan, but the only sound that came out of his mouth was a… chirp? Is this the sound that ferrets make? He tried to make another sound. Hiss? Ferrets hiss?

He looked up at Hermione, who was obviously still peeved at him. No, peeved doesn't accurately describe her. She was livid, with her face as red as a cherry tomato.

Hermione sighed heavily. "Malfoy, I'm not changing you back until you realize the consequences of your actions." What is she, my mother?

Then Hermione unexpectedly broke into tears and ran off.

Unfortunately for Draco, being at the end of the handcuff, did not have its perks.

000

That stupid, arrogant git! Hermione had just turned Malfoy into a ferret again. She honestly wasn't planning on it as she thought it was a tiny bit cruel, but no, that asshole really did deserve it this time. In fact, she should have bounced him a few times for good measure.

Really, what is going on inside that boy's head? Is he just that stupid?

She paused and thought about Ron and how naïve he could be.

Scratch that, maybe he is that stupid.

Hermione turned her eyes to the floor.

Oh look, he's observing his surroundings. What is he going to do next I wonder?

She saw him place a paw on his face. If she hadn't been so royally pissed, she might have found the act adorable. To be clear, it is the image of the ferret putting a paw on its face, not Draco Malfoy himself.

Now, he is moving his head sideways. Hermione couldn't help but wonder how it'd look if he moved his head back and forth. If he started doing that, she would have to track down that parrot from the Internet and have the two become the best of friends. That sounds like a great idea actually.

Hermione was about to ponder more about this when a chirp distracted her.

Did Draco just chirp?

She glanced down. Draco hissed. Ferrets can hiss?

Well, the world is strange like that. Hermione sighed heavily before adamantly stating, "Malfoy, I'm not changing you back until you realize the consequences of your actions."

Great, now she sounds like she's mothering him. Oh, mother. Although it has only been a little over a month, she missed her parents dearly. If they were back, maybe they could help her with this problem. Tears started building in her eyes.

Before she knew it, she was having an emotional meltdown.

I need to get away from here, she thought, and sprinted off, forgetting momentarily that she and Draco were connected via handcuff.

000

She was currently sitting in a nice comfortable chair inside the Malfoy library. She turned her head, seeing if she could spot the little ferret. She couldn't.

Oh well, if she ever needed him she could just yank on the chain and he'll come flying through the air. Hermione smiled mischievously at the thought, but felt a pang of sadness.

Wait a minute, sadness? What does she need to be sad about?

Sure, she missed her parents, but she knows deep down that isn't the cause of her sadness. Is it due to how Ron and Harry have yet to respond to her letters?

Hermione sighed as she closed the book in front of her. No sense in reading if I can't focus on the words, she thought. Maybe I should write another letter to Harry and Ron. Yes, I believe that will help!

She stood up, only to realize she hasn't had the slightest idea where Draco puts the stationery.

"Draco?" No answer. Maybe he's sleeping. Oh well, who needs him? She called the next creature who knew her way around Malfoy Manor.

"Ginky?" At once, Ginky appeared.

"Yes, Miss Herminny?"

"Could you get me some stationery please? Oh, and a quill and ink too?"

"Yes, Miss Herminny." With a snap, she vanished.

Hermione only had to wait a minute until Ginky appeared again, with the objects she requested.

"Thank you, Ginky." And with that, Hermione started writing.

000

Dear Harry,

Is everything okay at your end? I haven't been receiving any letters from you this summer. I'm worried.

Please reply soon. I must speak to you about something. I require some of your assistance about something I'd rather not discuss by owl.

Love, Hermione

P.S. Have you heard from Ron lately?

000

Dear Ron,

I swear Ronald, if you are ignoring me because of my concern for the well-being of the library, I will make this upcoming school year absolutely dreadful for you. But if that isn't the case and something bad has happened, my deepest apologies, and I hope you and your family are doing well.

I must admit Ron, next time we meet, I will have an interesting story to entertain you and Harry with.

Speaking of Harry, have you heard from him? He hasn't owled me all summer. I'm beginning to think that Voldemort has finally captured him.

Please respond soon, Ron. I'm going insane.

Love, Hermione

Oh! Before I forget, does your family happen to have any information regarding ancient magical items? Specifically handcuffs and how to remove them?

000

She just finished sealing her envelopes when she realized how strange it is that Draco hasn't bothered her the past few hours. Maybe her scolding did get to him. She frowned. No, that's not like him. Perhaps he was ignoring her because she turned him into a ferret again? Her frown deepened as she tried to solve this puzzle.

Well, it's not like she is going to uncover this secret without asking him. Besides, she needs to go to an Owlery.

"Draco?" No response. She waited a few seconds.

"Draco Malfoy?" Again, no response.

"MALFOY!" Her patience was wearing thin, not that she didn't have patience, but when it came to Malfoy…

"DRACO MALFOY, I'M GIVING YOU UNTIL THE COUNT OF THREE. IF YOU DON'T COME OUT WILLINGLY, I'LL DRAG YOU OUT! ONE…" She looked around and waited.

"TWO…" There was no sign of the insolent furball anywhere.

"THREE!" Hermione yanked the chain linking the two and up flew the white ferret. Only, he wasn't exactly white anymore.

Hermione gasped in horror, shocked as she caught him as he was falling from the air. In her hands was the tiny white ferret, but covered with specks of dirt and mostly blood. How could this have happened? She recalled what she did that day… nothing out of the ordinary… except she did sprint off and seeing as how Draco was a ferret and would be practically dragged by her every movement…

Oh. That's probably it, but that was hours ago! Surely he had recovered?

Hermione gently placed him on the desk in front of her and poked him with the feather part of the quill. Nothing, no reaction, not even a chirp. Hermione sighed and moved him to the chair. I guess I have no other choice, she thought as she undid the spell.

The sight in front of her was bad. She almost preferred the sight of the ferret despite its atrocity. Hermione did the first thing that popped into her head, "Ginky?"

"Yes, Miss Herminny?" Ginky's eyes widened immensely at the sight of her master Draco.

"Get Madam Hafella please."