Hello my lovely readers! Again, I'm apologizing for updating late, but my exams have started and I'm unable to concentrate on this…. : ( But I promise I'll update at every opportunity I get… And I'm telling you not to expect very regular updates from now on…. Because my uncle's getting married and I guess I'll be busy with all the decorating stuff and all…. I believe I'll be free only after the month of October. And I advise you guys to go back to the last chapter and read it again cause I've updated really late and I guess you won't be able to remember much of the story..
Enough of my rambling…
I 'd also like to thank my reviewers!
Enjoy this chapter and please REVIEW!
"A plan?" Ginny said, echoing Harry's words. Harry nodded.
"A plan is exactly what we need." He said, nodding all the time.
"You know…" Blaise began, a thoughtful look appearing on his face. "I've got a plan…. But I feel it somehow isn't very delicate…." He said, hesitating.
"What's your plan, Blaise?" Theo asked. The others looked at him eagerly, waiting to hear what he had in mind.
"I told you.." Blaise spoke, hesitating more than ever. "It doesn't seem delicate." He frowned.
"Blaise, Blaise, Blaise!." Harry said, smiling. "We most certainly cannot use any delicate plans here. This is Draco and Hermione we're talking about. Delicate plans don't work on them. So please reveal your amazing plan." Harry finished, pleased with himself.
"Ok." Blaise said, coming out of his thoughtful state. "It isn't much of a plan really.. but well. I thought that if we started ignoring them completely, then they will have to talk to each other." He said.
"Idiot!" Pansy scolded. "Don't they have other people to talk to?" she said.
"But still…." Blaise persisted.
"It's worth a try." Ron said.
"But Blaise, my boy.." Harry said. "What made you think that your plan wasn't 'delicate'?" he asked.
"You see," Blaise replied. "I thought that they'd get really furious with us and never talk to us again or do something of that sort.." he said.
Theo put his hand on Blaise's forehead, as if checking for a temperature. "Nope." He said. "The boy's perfectly fine."
"What the hell Theo?" Blaise asked.
"I was just wondering when you had gotten so thoughtful all of a sudden." Theo replied.
Blaise smirked. "I can change myself according to the situation at hand." He said.
"That's enough!" Harry said. "From now on, this plan is going to be put into action. We are going to ignore Draco and Hermione in an attempt to make them speak with each other. Deal?" he asked, a strange twinkle oddly similar to Dumbledore's shining in his eyes.
"DEAL!" everyone agreed.
"BLOODY HELL!" Ron swore.
"What?" Pansy asked.
"Does anyone realize we're late for Potions?" he asked, looking around.
"Shit!" Blaise cried. "Snape's gonna skin us alive!"
"Run!" Theo yelled.
They all ran to the dungeons, panting.
"Well…." Snape drawled in his most irritating voice. "Nice to see that you blockheads have finally decided to grace us with your presence." He said, a hint of malice in his voice.
"We're sorry professor…" Theo said and paused to study Snape. The man looked no less annoying.
It was then that Harry noticed Draco and Hermione sitting together with their cauldron in front of them, staring at the scene. Harry nudged Blaise and lifted his eyebrows at Draco and Hermione. Blaise followed his gaze and smirked along with him.
"May I ask," Snape's smooth drawl interrupted their smirks. "What is it that you find so amusing in this class, Mr. Potter and Mr. Zabini?" he asked.
"N-nothing sir." Harry answered, moving his eyes to the floor.
Snape turned around and walked to his desk, his robes billowing behind him. "50 points from each of you and detention with me in my office. Tonight. Sit down." He said authoritatively.
"Yes sir." They all muttered and made their way over to the empty benches.
Harry and Blaise occupied one of the benches. "Damn!" Harry mumbled under his breath. "I had planned to have a fly down the Quidditch Pitch tonight! Damn Snape and his stupid Potions! Damn…" and his rant continued.
Blaise sighed. "Stop it, Harry." He said.
"Sorry." Harry said and turned to listen to whatever Snape was telling them.
"Now," Snape's irritating voice said. "Along with your partners, you have 1 hour to brew the Draught of Laughter. And do not ask me for the recipe, look into page 394 of your books." He instructed.
There was a scurry of feet as students opened their books and went to get the required ingredients. Harry and Blaise, however, were in deep discussion about Draco and Hermione. Draco went to get the ingredients while Hermione stayed.
"Do you think they're going to speak with each other?" Blaise asked.
"Well, they may speak, as they have to work toge –"
"I must insist that any important matter concerning your incredibly interesting lives must be discussed outside this classroom." An unmistakable voice said.
Harry and Blaise turned around to find Snape towering over them with a blank expression.
"Sorry professor." Harry said.
"Page three-hundred-ninetyfour." Snape said and walked away to pester another group of students.
"Get the ingredients, will you?" Harry asked Blaise.
"Sure." Blaise replied and walked to the cupboard.
Meanwhile, Draco and Hermione started to work on their potion.
Why did these idiots have to be late to class? Now I have to put up with him! Hermione groaned in her head. I cannot just talk to him at the moment!"
Draco was thinking along the same lines. "I'll teach Blaise a lesson for being late once we're out of this place. Right now, I have to concentrate on how to deal with her.
They worked in silence, thoughts of nervousness about each other occupying their minds. Everything was peaceful until their potion turned shade of bright green.
"Green!" Hermione exclaimed, speaking first. "I honestly don't think it's supposed to be bright green!?"
"It should be a pale yellow." Draco said.
"Yellow?" Hermione asked in surprise. "And what makes you think that? I remember reading that it has to be red in colour!" she argued. She found that she felt a bit relieved talking to him, even though they were technically fighting.
This girl is getting on my nerves! Draco thought. "No Granger, it has to be yellow."
"Oh! It's back to Granger now, is it?" Hermione asked, her voice raising a little due to anger.
"Shush Granger!" Draco said. "You're being too loud."
"I'll be as loud as I want Malfoy!" she said, emphasizing his last name. She didn't want to be loud, but she would, just to infuriate him.
Draco was getting exasperated. "What is wrong with you Hermione?" he asked.
"I'm telling you, the potion has to be a pale yellow!" he tried to convey to her.
"Red!" Hermione cried. "It has to be red!"
By now, the whole class was witnessing the exchange. Including Snape. But he made no move to stop them.
"You think you know everything?" Draco asked, losing his patience. He regretted it immediately, but he couldn't stop himself. She was getting too infuriating for words.
"Shut up!" Hermione screeched.
Blaise and Harry were watching with huge grins on their faces. "At least they're speaking to each other!" Blaise said. Harry nodded. "Yeah." He said as they turned back to witness the word fight.
"What the heck is wrong with you?" Draco burst out angrily. He couldn't keep himself contained any longer. "You're acting really childish over all that's happened. You refuse to even look at me. What if we're destined to be together? Can't we work something out? I try to note any little change in you, but no! Nothing at all! You think ignoring me can get you out of this?" he yelled, breathing heavily.
Hermione stared at him wide eyed. Draco realized all of a sudden that he had revealed basically everything about the prophecy. Murmurs started throughout the class.
"Class dismissed." Snape ordered. "Except these two bickering fools, everyone out!"
Everyone scurried out hurriedly, leaving Blaise, Theo, Pansy, Harry, Ron and Ginny standing.
"You foul, loathsome, evil little cockroach!" she cried. "You gave away everything!"
"I didn't mean to." Draco said.
"I hate you!" she said, sobbing.
Draco felt his heart skip a beat. He didn't want to make her cry.
"Look, I'm sor –" he began.
"Enough!" Hermione held up her hand.
"Stop this nonsense." Snape ordered. "Mr. Malfoy and Miss Granger, detention with your friends tonight for disrupting the class. And by the way, your potion has to be a dark blue. Now, out!"
They all silently walked out of the classroom. Hermione took off towards the dorm.
"Mione!" Ginny called. "Mione wait!" she shouted and raced after Hermione.
"Idiot!" Blaise scolded Draco.
"I didn't mean to do that!" Draco defended himself.
"Well, thank goodness we have a free period now! Come on, let's go see how Hermione is." Pansy said.
They ran up to their dorm, Draco trailing behind.
The portrait opened to let them through. The common room was empty. Sobs could be heard coming from Hermione's room. "Leave it Hermione." They heard Ginny say. "Draco is an ass. I'll teach him a lesson once he gets here. Don't you worry about this." she said soothingly.
Despite the current situation, everyone downstairs smirked evilly at Draco.
"What?" Draco asked.
"You know mate," Blaise said. "I've known Weaselette's Bat Bogey Hex to be quite popular." He said.
"Zabini…" Ron threatened.
"Alright, alright!" Blaise held up his hands in defence. "I've known Ginny's Bat Bogey Hex to be quite popular." He rephrased.
Draco's skin turned a shade paler, but he tried not to show it. "You guys go up there and try to stop her from crying. I'm fine here." He said.
"Oh no you're not." Pansy said as she proceeded to drag Draco upstairs.
"Hey!" Draco protested. "I don't want to go! There are two angry birds up there! I could be killed!"
All his protests were ignored as he was dragged upstairs forcefully by Pansy. They got to Hermione's door. Pansy stepped inside, still dragging Draco by the collar of his shirt.
"Hermione?" she asked tentatively.
"Why is he here?" Hermione asked, anger enveloping her.
"Draco is here to apologize." Pansy said firmly.
"Apologize?!" Draco asked in surprise. "But you never tol –"
"We'll leave you two alone to sort out things." Pansy said as she pushed the others outside.
"Pansy I –" Hermione started.
"Out, everyone!" Pansy said and went out herself, closing the door behind her, leaving and Draco and Hermione alone inside.
"Hey wait!" Ron said once they were outside. "We are going to eavesdrop, aren't we?" he asked.
Harry smirked, the twinkle in his eye shining brighter than ever.
"Of course." He answered as they settled down in a comfortable position in front of the door to listen.
I'm soooooooooooooooooooo sorry but you'll have to wait until the next chapter for their conversation. And let me tell you…. there is going to be something really very interesting in the next chapter! And you can see I added the 'page 394' bit here! I really love it!
And what do you think about this chapter? Tell me in your reviews!
Now about my reviewers:
glazedwater – Thank you so much! You've been a great support!
divergentlover0904 – Thanks a lot and don't worry! It's gonna have a lot more chapters!
Guest – Your wish will be fulfilled very soon!
Ironman – No tension! I'm not going to give up! : )
Good bye guys!
[Remember I cannot update regularly! (My apologies!)]