A/N: HAPPY Belated BIRTHDAY TO RENESMEE TONKS! You're one of my most loyal reviewers and one of my closest friends, so I wish you a wonderful 14th birthday :D ~Cakey Potter
Happy Birthday, Renesmee Tonks! Keep the crazy ideas coming! -Cammy
Random fact: A giant squid's eye is the size of a basketball.
We were challenged to kill off a real life friend by some anonymous review, but thankfully that'd mean changing the rating, so we don't have to do that -wipes eyebrow- Phew! ~Cakey Potter
Well, we could kill me. JK! -Cammy
Whoever 'Teddy-Mister' is supposed to be, I'm gonna find and kill you... Unless I know you and we're friends... -shrug- ~Cakey Potter
Umm we have two challenges: 1) Renesmee Tonks wanted us to update on her birthday/really close to it (Her 14th was yesterday), so yeah, we did it! and 2) Sofjedi wants the Grangers and Malfoys meet... It was actually already in the works, but I guess it's still a challenge! ~Cakey Potter
Disclaimer: If we owned this, we wouldn't be writing our messed up dreams about it on FanFiction, now would we? -Cammy
Draco's POV
It was nearing 11 and our parents were all coming soon to check up on what we've been learning. Currently the eight of us were all waiting in the Great Hall doing a little last-minute practice of some spells we were going to show off to our parents.
Spells were being cast all around the room, an empty goblet floating via Hermione's wand in one corner and floor tiles were changing into cushions in another.
"Students!" Professor McGonagall announced loudly, "You parents are arriving. Please be on your best behavior while they are here." Then she added as an after-thought, "And when they're not."
There were different reactions from all the students; some looked saddened, some were giddy, and I, personally, stood in a corner, not thrilled at the aspect of Hermione's parents meeting mine.
This won't be easy, I kept repeating, Stay away from Hermione and her parents as much as possible.
"Psst."
I turned around, seeing Hermione motion me from a discreet corner. Glancing around, I saw all the students were busy, and oblivious to us.
Once we were there, Hermione didn't hesitate to raise the question haunting my mind.
"What are we going to do when our parents meet?"
I shrugged, "Who says they have to meet?"
"Draco," she lowered her voice. "They are going to end up meeting, one way or another. Now, what are we going to do when it happens?"
"No clue. I've been wondering, too, but haven't figured out a solution. All I can come up with is for us to talk to Headmaster Dumbledore and find out his thoughts." I shrugged.
"But... Wouldn't that give us away?" She asked worriedly.
"Right...Well, how about this? When they meet, we start insulting each other so that our parents force us apart. Well, my parents anyway. They won't want me seen in a bad way."
She looked at the floor, thinking, "My parents always taught me to not make enemies, if we fight, they'll think Hogwarts is a bad influence or something." She said, now looking me in the eyes, desperate for some answer to what to do, "They'd take me out of Hogwarts."
Hermione not at Hogwarts? No way. I thought furiously, There's an answer, we just have to find it, and quick.
"Our parents are coming, we shouldn't be together. Don't give up, keep thinking up ideas." I replied.
Hermione nodded, resigned, "Okay, we'll just try and not be in the same place at the same time. If we are... we'll hope for the best."
This is not a solid plan, but what else is there that we can do? Nothing. That's what.
"Bye, see you in a couple days, I guess." Hermione said, starting to walk away.
I made a quick decision, "Hermione?" I asked her. She turned back to me, "I'll see you soon," I said, giving her a hug; It wasn't the same as the last hugs when I gave her the book or when I tried to ask her for forgiveness for being such a butterface (A/N: Yess, that is a reference...) under the blood-status pressure, it was better. There wasn't any reason behind it other than to say 'good-bye' to a close friend.
We broke off the hug and left each other a couple moments before the doors opened and parents started being ushered in.
Hermione's POV
I walked away from Draco feeling happy. It was like the last few days hadn't happened.
I have my friend back..I thought joyously.
The Great Hall doors opened, revealing Dumbledore, who was leading our parents in.
Rory bounced up from her chair, running to her mother excitedly shouting in, presumably, Bulgarian.
Leanne hugged her parents. Then proceeded to drag them over to anyone who was standing still.
I watched as everyone greeted their parents. The boys all stood with their fathers as their mothers smothered them.
Except for Draco. His parents stood nearby, and hadn't hugged him or anything a normal family would do.
I eyed them, waiting for them to show some sort of compassion toward each other, but none came as I watched.
"Hermione! Honey ! Nous vous avons tellement manqué ! Comment a été un camp d'été?" (A/N: "We've missed you so much! How was summer camp?") My mom asked me, bringing me into a tight hug. My dad looked on.
I replied, "Il a beaucoup , j'ai fait plein de nouveaux amis!" (A/N: "It went great, I've made lots of new friends!") and removed myself from my mother so that I could hug my father.
"Hermione Magnifique! Je pense que nous avons pris une grande décision de vous amener ici à Poudlard." (A/N: "Wonderful Hermione! I think we've made a great decision to bring you here to Hogwarts." Heehee Hogwarts in French is Poudlard :D ~Cakey Potter) Dad remarked.
The three of us looked around at the other families, most were conversing with others now. "Come meet Rory, she's one of my two closest friends." I said brightly.
I led them over to Rory, whose mother turned to us and spoke in rapid Bulgarian.
"Mum, they don't speak Bulgarian!" Rory said playfully. "Hermione, these are my parents."
We made the introductions, and a pleasant conversation followed. Rory kept shooting me joy filled looks, loving that our parents were getting along.
Suddenly, she glared at something over my shoulder. I turned around curiously, assuming it wasn't towards me, to find myself face to face with someone who could only be Draco's father; He had too close of grey eyes and platinum blond hair to be anyone else's parent.
"So, Professor Dumbledore, this is the brilliant muggle-born?" He sneered.
"Yes, this is Miss Granger. If you'll excuse me." With that, Dumbledore walked over to Rory's parents, leading them away.
I stared up at the elder Malfoy, not sure what to do. Draco walked up to him, giving a small look as if to say 'I'm sorry'. Malfoy turned to his son, asking, "So, this i the mudblood know-it-all? Hogwarts really has gone to the dogs."
Without waiting for an answer, he turned to address me again. "Miss Granger, are these your parents? Muggles, here at Hogwarts? What a pity."
My father had come to stand next to me, offering his hand to Draco's father.
He sneered, turning back to Draco. "Come along, son, before we are... tainted."
My dad stood there, a look of confusion and shock on his face. Turning to me, he said, "What was that about, I wonder."
"Don't worry about it, Dad. It's nothing we need to worry about." I said, giving him a wide smile, however fake, to try to get him to move to a new subject.
He did as such, but I really wish he hadn't picked this new topic.
"Hermione Jean Granger, what happened to your teeth?"
There it was, the bombshell of shock, surprise and anger. What am I going to do?
It didn't thrill me to know I had been using that phrase a lot these last few days.
Grabbing my mother's hand and my own, Dad led us outside the Great Hall.
Making sure that no one was around, he started in.
"What. Happened."
I paled, not knowing exactly how to explain it.
"Well you see, Dad-"
"I knew that sending you to a magic school was a bad idea! Ginger, look at what's come of this! Our daughter's teeth have been ruined!" My father exclaimed, "We can't let this go on! She's only eleven, she needs to go to regular school!"
Tears were beginning to well up in my eyes, "But dad! This is regular school for me! We are eleven! Of course there'll be incorrect spells used! I'm not like other students back home! I don't want to be an outcast again! These past few weeks have been wonderful! Vous ne pouvez pas me ramener à la vieille école!" (A/N: "You simply can't bring me back to the old school!") I shouted at him, pleading him to change his mind.
"May I help in some way, Mr. and Mrs. Granger?" Headmaster Dumbledore asked when he'd exited the Great Hall and joined my parents and me.
Dad was furious, "Look at my daughter's teeth!" He shouted, pulling my chin up and pointing a my mouth for the Headmaster to see, "Why does she have buck teeth? We're dentists!" He exclaimed, pointing at himself and mom, "This is not acceptable!" He finished, looking down at my teeth again, cringing as he saw them.
"Mister Granger, calm down sir, you're drawing attention. Yes, we had a little mishap with a charm that we were practicing; She originally had teeth down past her collar and we were able to mend that, but if we shortened it even more, we could've hit the risk of her front teeth being too small. We're sorry that her teeth are this way, too, but there's nothing we can do about it unless you'd like for her to have smaller-than-average teeth instead." He said, watching my dad as he took this in.
Please don't mention the lisp; Please don't mention the lisp! I kept thinking over and over again, if the lisp was mentioned, there'd be no hope for me being able to stay
The area silenced for a couple minutes as my dad weighed the options.
He finally spoke up, "Fine. Hermione can stay at Hogwarts," He stated, a large smile spread across my face, "But-" It fell immediately, "-when a better antidote becomes available, I want her teeth to be fixed straight away." He said, my smile joined my face again.
"Merci, Papa!" I exclaimed, running at him and hugging him in excitement, "Merci beaucoup!" (A/N: "Thank you, daddy!" ... "Thank you so much!")
He smiled down at me and replied, "Vous êtes les bienvenus, la citrouille." (A/N: You're welcome, pumpkin") Hugging me back.
Draco's POV
There was a lot of shouting coming from the Entrance Hall. I had no clue what was going on, but I recognized Hermione's shouts so I decided that I should know.
Excusing myself from my parents at the table, I exited the Hall in search of the noise.
When I found it, there was Hermione, hugging her dad while Dumbledore and Hermione's mom looked on.
"What're you doing?" I heard from behind me, I quickly stood up straighter and turned around to face Rory, alone, with her hands on her hips.
"Nothing," I said truthfully.
"Leave Hermione alone." Rory stated, glaring at me.
Not that I don't appreciate it, but what happened to Rory hitting on me? I asked myself, noticing her new perspective toward me.
"What, Miller, no more flirting?" I asked before I realized it.
She drew back her hand, probably to punch me, but thought better of it.
"Leave her alone, Malfoy." She repeated.
I rolled my eyes, "Rory, you know, as well as I, that whenever I'm told not to do something, I do it anyways." I said, walking towards her casually.
Freaking girls out is way too fun... I realized.
She blushed furiously and took a couple steps back from me, "Fine, then. Stay around Hermione, see how that works out for you. I've heard she's got a good threat always available to use." She said, looking for some way to escape from me.
I raised an eyebrow, "And what exactly would that threat be?" I asked her, taking another step forward.
She opened her mouth, closed it, and reopened it again, closing it once more, "Nice try," She finally said, "But I'm not going to answer that." She said, turning and walking back into the Great Hall.
I smirked and went back in, too, at a leisurely pace.
The other families all started entering the Great Hall to listen to Professor Dumbledore's quick speech before the students could show off a couple spells and take their parents on tours of the castle.
His speech was short and sweet; a lot of it was about what the summer students did during the past weeks. Finishing, he called Ernie and Rory up to demonstrate a few spells.
I zoned out, not bothering to pay attention. Glancing around, I saw Hermione with her parents, leaning against her mom. She looks happy...
"Draco, when I say something to you, I expect you to pay attention."
I nodded, knowing a smart remark would get me nowhere. "Yes, father. What is it?"
Hermione's POV
I watched intently as Rory and Ernie cast harmless spells at each other. Excitement coursed through me; I really wanted to show my parents that I am a witch and that Hogwarts is the place for me.
I could hear my father stifling a laugh when Ernie was hit with the Jelly-Legs Jinx and near face-planted his head to the ground as all the mothers gave sharp intakes of breath.
Professor Dumbledore made his way back onto the stage, casting the counter-curse and asking Rory and Ernie to go back to their seats.
"A wonderful job by Mister MacMillan and Miss Miller; Let's give them a round-of-applause." The Headmaster said, starting off the polite congratulations. When the clapping died down, which wasn't long after, he spoke again, "Next up will be Miss Granger and Mister Malfoy."
My jaw unhooked, He can't be serious.
"Hermione, it's your turn! Go up!" Leanne urged from a few seats over, "Don't worry, I've got your back." She said, winking and twirling her wand between her fingers.
I gave her a warning glance before getting up and starting toward the raised platform.
It'll be fine, no worries. There's plenty of people around to help me if something goes wrong, which it won't. I kept saying, different words each time.
Professor McGonagall, who was on a side of the stage, ready for any spells that could need a quick countercurse, put a hand on my shoulder, wishing me "Good Luck" before I reached the middle of the platform.
I pulled my wand out and looked at Draco; he seemed worried about something.
He gave a smirk, pulling his mask on.
I made eye contact with him and bowed, him doing the same.
Oh no, this can't be good. Something bad's going to happen. I started thinking, sweat beginning to form on my forehead.
He winked at me with his left eye, which the parents and students couldn't see, before turning and walking to his end of the platform. I did the same.
"Three..." Dumbledore began, I stared at Draco's face, all spells forgotten.
"Two..." Draco's eyes gleamed and my worrying heightened.
"Three... Duel!" The Headmaster shouted; Draco cast the Bat-Bogey Hex at me and my instincts kicked in, shouting "Protego!" to his spell and before the spell's effects finished, I'd cast his original spell at him.
I smirked at him as the spell began working. Wow, dueling is easier than I thought! I noted.
After three or so minutes of Malfoy in Bat-Bogey effect, Professor gave in and cast the counter-curse so that dueling could begin again.
I threw out "Everte Statum" at him and he reflexed by casting the Jellylegs Jinx toward me.
What is with his lame spells? My eyes lit up, Oh, he's trying to not hurt me... Well, no one ever said I had to play fair...
"Unjellify! Flipendo!" I shouted, stopping my Jelly-Legs and pushing Draco backwards a couple steps with help from my spell.
He raised his eyebrows at me after he'd regained his balance. I gave my own smirk.
Everything turned slow motion. I could see Draco taking a deep breath and raising his wand. I had no clue what a 'Q' shaped wand movement would make; He spoke the incacntation, "Wingardium Leviosa," and I felt my feet leaving the ground.
My eyes popped and I stared around in horror having no clue how to get back down.
Okay, now this has gone too far... Payback time! I decided, pointing my wand at him and shouting "Locomotor Mortis!" at him, automatically seeing his legs lock together, unmovable.
Hey, Déjà vu, Ithought, remembering when he'd locked my legs together down by the lake a few weeks ago.
"Thank you, Miss Granger and Mister Malfoy! I believe it's time to finish up this duel before the chaos attracts Peeves." The Headmaster said, pointing his wand at both of us, making it so that Draco's legs moved again and I was safely back on the ground.
I was grinning as I came down the platform, hearing applause toward our performances. As I passed by Terry and Rory, they both requested high-fives.
"Wonderful, Hermione! I never imagined that you'd learn so many things already! And if these are spells that you've learned in two months, I'd best hope that I'm on your good side once summer comes again." My dad said to me, giving me a hug teasingly.
"Magnifique, Hermione! Je ne peux pas attendre l'été prochain à venir afin que vous puissiez nous montrer ce que vous avez appris!" My mom exclaimed, hugging me also. (A/N: "Magnificent, Hermione! I can't wait for next summer to come so that you can show us what else you've learned!")
I was still out of breath from the adrenaline rush I'd gotten during the duel, but thanked them and left the hall to get water.
I turned my head before I left to see Millicent and Neville competing, Wish I could see that...
"Hermione?" I heard from behind me. It was easily recognized.
"Call me by my last name." I said, turning around, "What do you want, Malfoy?" I asked him.
He had wet hair but was on the calm side, "Right, Granger, forgot. Good game... or duel or whatever it's called?" He asked me, holding his hand out.
I smiled as I shook his hand, "Yeah, Great job. Hope you got Déjà vu, too." I said, my mouth twitching from not trying to smile at his reminiscence, making him shift uncomfortably.
"Right..." He said, watching me, "Sorry about that, but you knew that was the only way I could make you stop..."
I lowered my eyes to the ground, thinking of other ways he could've gone about it, but not thinking of anything, "I guess you're right about that. Well," I said, picking up a cup of ice water off a table, "See you at school." I finished, walking out of the room.
The duels ended soon after and everyone sat down, talking and making aquaintances, waiting for Headmaster Dumbledore's explanation of how the rest of the day would go. His speech was mostly about how us students were going to take our parents on individual tours of the castle and that afterward we'd have dinner, receive our letters with the shopping list, and take a train back home.
A/N: Sort of an odd place to finish for the chapter... -shrug- Anyways... Reviews aren't happening as often anymore, so that's a little saddening... The story's recently hit 5,00 hits and is now in three communities! That's so awesome :D Thank you for that :D What's odd is that one of the communities is for stories about Harry only... -shrug- A community's a community! If you like this story, pleease add it to any communities that you're a part of so that the story can be shared/advertised :D ~Cakey Potter
We will NOT be posting until reviews pick up! Come on guys, you are our uber awesome faithful readers! Your thoughts and ideas make our days just a little better every time read a new one! So, 10 reviews please! -Cammy c:
Yeah, seriusly, I've got 23 alerters for this story; If you could please review so that I know that you don't automatically click 'Mark as Read' I'd feel so much better :-) ~Cakey Potter
We are developing Review Withdrawl Syndrome. Only your reviews can save us.
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