Disclaimer: don't own.
A/N: Thank you for your reviews, everyone. Unfortunately, I couldn't reply to everyone, since my e-mail program crashed. But I will the next time. Enjoy chapter 5:
That's what happened in chapter 4:
Briefly, Hermione told them about the death eater meeting and their faces got more and more appalled by the second. "Almost like the real ones." Draco groaned.
"And he just let you go like that?" Harry asked, his eyes as big as galleons. "He just let you go without deducting points? Without cursing you?"
"Obviously." Hermione shrugged, completely nonplussed, herself. "Now, on a cheerier note – what to we have in the first lesson?"
"You call that cheerier?" Draco huffed and Harry smirked. "We are talking to Hermione, have you forgotten, Draco?"
Hermione crossed her arms and glared at her friends.
"Potions." Draco answered, rolling his eyes.
"Miss Delacour." a genial voice said. "May I talk to you for a minute?"
On with the story:
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It was a Gryffindor girl who looked rather forbidding, despite her friendly voice, tall, dark hair and she seemed somehow familiar, but Hermione couldn't quite place her. She only noticed that she was wearing a headgirl badge.
"Of course." Hermione smiled politely at her, which, however, wasn't returned. Must be, because she was a Slytherin now, Hermione thought gloomily.
"Here is your household timetable." the girl said in a bored voice, handing her a piece of yellow paper.
Uhm, what?
"Excuse me?" Hermione asked, politely enough.
"Your schedule for the household lessons." The girl stared at her. "We girls have to attend it twice a month."
"What?" Hermione asked, her mouth hanging open. From the corner of her eyes, she noticed that Harry and Draco were laughing openly.
"We go there to practice household spells and cleaning potions. We learn how to cook a meal with just a wand. We learn how to keep everything clean and tidy." the girl said in a hard voice. "Don't think of chickening out, Miss Delacour. The course is compulsory for all the girls above 3rd year."
Inside, Hermione was screaming. A household course? A HOUSEHOLD COURSE? Where was she? Well, in the forties. But... a household course? Luckily, they didn't have this in the future. A household course? Maybe, it would be useful. A household course? Or maybe not... To her, it sounded more like a household curse than a household course...
"Well, thank you." Hermione said in clipped tones, unfolding the piece of paper.
"Today, at five o clock is our first lesson – 6th and 7th years are together." the Gryffindor girl continued. "Don't you dare to be late – the teacher is a nightmare if you don't follow her rules."
Hermione inwardly groaned. It was getting worse and worse.
The girl turned, without waiting for an answer and without saying good-bye, but Hermione had a sudden idea. "Hey – uhm, sorry..."
The girl turned. "Yes?"
"Don't you think it's a bit unfair that we have to go to a household course and the boys don't?" Hermione blurted out, aware of the whole Slytherin table watching.
The girl stared, dumbfounded. "Well – no. To the contrary, it's good practice for later. And well – we have to do the household..."
Another voice spoke up. It was Abraxas. "I'm sure, Miss Delacour is surprised, because the Delacour family has HOUSEELVES who do this job. No wonder. Not everyone is as simple as you, Mc Gonnagal." Abraxas sneered in the typical Malfoy way.
Lavender would have fainted. Hermione still stood her ground, though swaying slightly. This was McGonagall? GREAT. She was surprised, though, that McGonagall seemed to be such an anti-feminist in the forties. Well, things change.
Fortunately.
"Thank you, Miss McGonagall." Hermione answered in a curt voice, her face now tomato-red. "Since the course is compulsory, I will obviously have to attend. I was merely enquiring, why the boys have free time during our course."
"But they don't." Mc Gonnagal said surprised. "They have practical defence against the dark arts."
The three time travellers froze. "What? You mean, there is only theoretical defence for the girls?" Hermione felt faint, really faint. This couldn't be happening. Not another Umbridge-year. Please no!
"Of course." Mc Gonnagal answered, scowling. "Everyone has the theoretical defence and the boys take practical defence when the girls have household courses. You know, they do the real thing, duelling, fighting, shooting curses at each other..." McGonagall shuddered. "Glad, I am a girl then."
Yes, things definitely change.
Oh no, Hermione thought miserably. She couldn't believe her "luck". She was doomed. She wanted to put her hands over her face and weep.
But she couldn't do that – not in front of the whole Slytherin table.
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"May I sit next to you?" a cocky voice asked and Hermione knew who it was without looking up.
"I suppose so." Hermione removed her book bag and Abraxas swiftly sat down next to her. Draco and Harry were sitting behind her, not daring to breathe – they were obviously listening in. Hermione, however, was happy that at least Harry and Draco seemed to get along – a first.
"No Malfoy wife has to work in the household." Abraxas told Hermione all of a sudden – and out of context. "We have house elves who do this for us. They cook, clean, wash and iron clothes, they do everything. But for you as a Delacour, this is normal anyway."
Now was not the time to talk about house elf rights. Not when she was supposed to be a pureblood – a Delacour. From the corner of her eyes, she noticed that Tom and another Slytherin boy were sitting down at the table next to them – which was two feet away from her.
"Right." Hermione answered, at a loss of what to say. She knew that Harry and Draco were behind her, avidly listening in.
"The Malfoy women lead a relaxed luxurious lifestyle." Abraxas continued. "They only have to give us an heir and organize events, dinner parties and dances."
Hermione stared at him. "Don't they work?"
"Work?" Abraxas' cheeks were tinged in red when he looked at her. He looked amused.
"Don't they go to work?" She tried hard to stay calm.
"No, of course not." Abraxas looked at her funnily. "The Malfoy MEN go to work though – always in a high position, at the ministry of something like that."
At this moment, Slughorn walked in – his belly preceding him – and Abraxas fell silent. Hermione felt a tap on her back, as Slughorn greeted his class and Draco handed her a folded piece of paper.
Rolling her eyes, she opened it.
Please don't contradict my grandfather again, Hermione, he still has these "old-fashioned" views on practically everything. We don't want to be suspicious – just like you said.
Want to meet up today? After hours, if you know what I mean ^^
Draco
Oh yes, she knew what he meant.
Gingerly she took her quill and started writing when Tom – next to her – spoke quietly. "Miss Delacour, what are you writing?"
Hermione almost jumped a foot in the air when his warm breath tickled her ear. "Oh... uhm sorry."
"Put this away." Tom ordered, although he was glaring at Draco. "Or I will have to deduct points, Miss Delacour."
"Sorry." Hermione's cheeks were tinged in pink and she didn't dare look at him again.
"Today, we are going to brew Veritaserum." Slughorn announced, bouncing on his toes. "Who can tell me what it does?"
Simultaneously, two hands shot up at the same time. "Ah." Slughorn chuckled. "Miss Delacour, is it?"
Hermione nodded. "Veritaserum forces the drinker to tell the truth. It is clearer than water and when brewed correctly, three drops can make you spill your darkest secrets."
"Bravo!" Slughorn clapped his hands together, beaming. "I couldn't have described it better. 10 points to Slytherin."
Tom glared at her and Abraxas looked impressed. Big surprise, eh?
"You will both work with the partner next to you. Start – now!"
Hermione turned to her partner. "Have you already brewed Veritaserum before?"
Abraxas just stared at her. "No, of course not. Have you?"
"Yes." Hermione answered through gritted teeth. "So would you mind let me do the majority of the work?"
Of course.
Abraxas smirked. "Sure." he drawled. "If you promise me an outstanding."
"What do you think?" Hermione smirked back. "Would you get me the ingredients, please? So that you have contributed something at least."
When Abraxas sauntered off, Tom turned to her, his glorious face highly entertained. "I didn't know you had it in you, Miss Delacour." he smirked. "A feisty one."
Hermione chose to ignore him and instead smiled sweetly at Abraxas when he brought her the ingredients.
"You are so going down, Miss Delacour." Tom muttered, but Hermione didn't hear him.
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At the end of the lesson, only Hermione and Tom had managed the perfect clearer-than-water potion and Hermione was – predictably – invited to the infamous Slug Club. Harry and Draco still chuckled about that when they met a red-faced Hermione in front of the Charms Classroom.
"Why are you grinning?" she spat.
"Oh... nothing." Draco smirked. "Is our little Miss-know-it-all invited to good ol' Sluggies favourites? AGAIN?"
"In case you haven't noticed, Riddle is also part of the Slug Club. It would be a perfect opportunity to get to know him better." Hermione chose to ignore his snarky comment.
"Spare me that." Harry growled. "I would say, we just kill him and go back to the future."
"We can't do that!" Hermione was outraged. "Dumbledore specifically told us not to. Besides, Tom Riddle isn't evil – yet."
But a little voice in her head disagreed. He had already held the death eater meetings, hadn't he?
Hm, Hermione was confused and her head felt faint.
"Why don't you just go to the Halloween ball with him and snog him senseless?" Draco said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Show him love, that kind of thing."
Hermione's eyes flew open when she registered what he had said. Growling, she pushed the image of Tom and her snogging out of her mind. Her face felt tomato-red when she answered. "Halloween ball?"
"Haven't you heard?" Harry asked surprised. "It was on the Slytherin notice board this morning. All the girls are going on and on about it."
"No, I haven't." Hermione mirrored his expression. "So are you saying, you think I should go with him? No way, Harry, this is taking it too far."
Draco, however, looked miffed and obviously jealous, but Harry nodded slowly. "If that's what Dumbledore wanted us to do – then yes. Go to the ball with him."
Hermione didn't believe her ears, and she hated to admit it, but Harry was actually right. "Shall I ask him?"
No, Harry, no, I don't want to ask him, Hermione thought desperately. Stupid mission. She'd rather go there with Draco.
"No!" Draco said sharply. "We are in the forties. No woman would ask a man – he has to ask YOU."
"But he is not going to." Hermione rolled her eyes at the obvious.
"I think he has taken an interest in you." Draco frowned. "Understandable, though."
"Ugh." Hermione shivered, but not from the cold and not from feeling grossed out. "Besides, I don't feel like dancing with the Dark Lord. That's creepy." Her voice sounded unsure.
"You've just told us that he is only Tom Riddle." Harry smirked. "Not yet the Dark Lord."
Hermione glared daggers at him. "He is still creepy. Harry – don't wind me up! There must be another way."
To say that Draco's expression was pleased would be the understatement of the century. "In that case – "he looked pointedly at Harry before he turned to Hermione. "Would you like to go to the Halloween ball with me, Hermione?"
Smiling in relief, Hermione hugged him. "Yes, Draco, I would love to go there with you."
"We shouldn't tell anyone though." Harry said frowning. "Because I still think that Tom Riddle is interested in you..."
"Alright alright, I get it." Hermione groaned. "Everyone who is going to ask me to the ball will get the same answer: I'm already going with someone. I'm not going t name Draco's name, though. Happy?"
"Happy." Draco and Harry nodded in unison.
"However, I don't think, anyone is going to ask me anyway." Hermione shook her head. "Sorry to burst your bubble."
But Hermione Jane Granger was wrong.
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When she arrived back in the Slytherin common room, there was indeed a notice about the upcoming Halloween ball. A black-haired boy she had never seen before approached her warily; he seemed to be a year younger than her.
"Miss Delacour?" he asked timidly and Hermione turned towards him.
"Yes?"
"Would you like to go to the Halloween ball with me?" he asked his face beet red.
"Oh." Hermione blushed and immediately felt sorry for him. "I'm sorry; I'm already going with someone."
"Oh." the boy turned around and fled out of the portrait hole.
Three more boys asked her out – one of them was in Ravenclaw – and Hermione arrived at Lunch slightly harassed looking.
"What's the matter?" Draco asked horrified, when he saw Hermione's face.
"I've just fled – I mean, I've just left my fourth one standing there." Hermione murmured, aware that half the table was listening in.
"Your fourth what?" Draco had the audacity to ask.
"Isn't it obvious?" Harry asked, rolling his eyes. "Our Hermione is popular. She has admirers who have asked her to the ball. Correct?"
Hermione nodded and Draco looked outraged. "That's just crazy!"
"Crazy?" Hermione turned to her "lover" furiously. "What do you exactly mean by that?"
"Miss Delacour?" A very familiar, but not pleasant voice interrupted her rant and Hermione turned around sharply. "Would you like to go to the dance with me?"