I own nothing. Warning...NOT beta read.
Chapter 32
"Ms. Krum! I didn't expect you so soon!" Professor McGonagall exclaimed as her fire place activated, startling her during her early morning tea. She knew she would be needing the caffeine as little sleep as she had gotten the night before.
"I apologize for startling you, Professor. If it's a bad time, I can come back later," Irina replied politely. She didn't really want to do that, but if that's what it took to see get best friend, then thats what she would do.
"That's quite alright. You are already here, so I see no need in sending you away for just a few hours," the older witch said as she took a drink of her tea. "Now, I assume that you've never been to Hogwarts and you have no clue where Gryfindor tower is located."
"No, I don't. I'm sorry," Irina replied. "But I'm sure that I could find my way."
"Oh there's no need for you to go searching the castle for hours," Professor McGonagall insisted. As she opened her mouth to call one of Hogwarts elves to show her the way, there was a loud pop.
"Mitzi?" the two witches asked.
"Ms. Irina! Me's didn't know you were coming to the great Hogwarts," the house elf exclaimed excitedly. She loved Irina as much as she loved Hermione.
"I decided to come and make sure Hermione was alright and maybe stay for awhile, if its alright with Professor McGonagall," Irina replied, glancing over to gage the older witches reaction.
"I think we can arrange something," she said, smiling. "Why don't you take a seat and we can discuss what needs to be done?"
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
"Please let me in," Draco begged for the tenth time. He hated asking for anything, it just wasn't his style. He certainly didn't go around, begging for things. Especially from an overweight portrait.
"I'm sorry, I can not let you in without a password, Mr. Malfoy," the Fat Lady said firmly.
"But I have been in there before, just last night even!"
"That may be the case, but I'm not the one who let you through," she replied.
"That's right, McGonagall did! The Headmistress of Hogwarts aloud me through. Surely if she let me, then you know it's fine that I come through," Draco insisted.
"No, I can't. I'm sorry."
"Damn it! Let me in the f,"
"Malfoy?" a voice asked behind him, sounding surprised.
"Yes?" he replied irritably, not recognizing the girl who stood behind him with an amused look on her face.
"Irina Krum. We met last night," she said, walking closer to the portrait.
"Oh yes. Sorry, my mind was rather preoccupied when we met," the blonde replied, running his hands through his hair, sending glares toward the portrait.
"Yes, I remember," Irina smiled, shaking her head. "Dumbledores lemon drops."
The portrait smiled politely at the young lady. "Thank you, dear."
"Your welcome. Beautiful dress by the way," she replied as the door opened to the Gryfindor common room.
"Why, thank you!"
"How did you do that? How did you know the password? Who told you?" Draco demanded as he followed quickly behind her.
"I said the password, someone told me and it was my new Head of House," she answered as she made her way up the staircase.
"Wait, your new Head of House?" the blonde wondered, completely confused as he cast the spell that froze the stairs.
"Yes, I'm going to take some classes here at Hogwarts," she answered.
"I thought you were out of school though."
"I graduated, but they didn't offer some of the classes that are offered here. McGonagall allowed me to come take them," she replied, shrugging as if it were no big deal.
Draco raised an eyebrow, analyzing what the witch in front of him had just said. He didn't know anyone who would want to go to another school, just to take a few classes that hadn't been offered at their own place of education. Well, except for Hermione, a voice in his head reminded him.
"You came to make sure she ends up with Krum," he accused, realizing exactly what was going on.
"No. I'm here to make sure she's alright and to be another ear for her to talk out her choices," Irina insisted, crossing her arms in front of her chest.
"You mean to talk up your brother," he replied, crossing his own arms.
"No, that's not what I mean and I don't appreciate that accusation. I meant what I said. I've been friends with her since before you decided to grow a pair and go after her. I know what you did growing up to try and protect her. I know you were a pain in her arse because you wanted to protect her. That was a very noble thing," Irina informed him.
He raised an eyebrow, slightly shocked that she knew that. "She doesn't know."
"I know that. I'm not going to tell her."
Draco looked at the witch in front of him, wondering what she was planning on doing while at Hogwarts. "I'm sorry I accused you of trying to promote your brother."
"You're forgiven," she smiled looking at the closed door in front of them. "Just to warn you, you might not like what we find when we open the door."
"Why? Is she okay?" he asked, panicked, thinking that something was wrong with her.
"Calm down. Mitzi just came to Professor McGonagalls office while I was in there to inform her that Harry and the Weasley twins were in there with her. She said something along the line of those, 'Noisy red head handsome ones surrounding Ms. Hermione with their yumminess.'"
"What does that mean?" Draco wondered.
Irina smirked, raising her eyebrows at the blond. "I thought Nene said that you were known as the Slytherin Casanova."
Draco grinned, enjoying the fact that Hermione had talked about him with one of her best friends. "Actually it's the 'Slytherin sex god' but I'll let it slip, seeing that you are new around here."
Irina laughed and shook her head. "You really are full of yourself, aren't you?"
"Just because I have the nick name does not mean that it's true," he replied, smiling.
"If you were as infatuated with Hermione as I've heard, I have no doubt that its just a rumor," she said. "Well, let's see what we find behind door number one, shall we?"
Draco raised an eyebrow, not understanding what this Bulgarian women was talking about.
Irina laughed. "It's a reference to a Muggle game show from the States. Nene loves corny television shows like that. Its one of her guilty pleasures. We watched them for hours the summer she stayed with us."
"Good to know," he replied, grinning that he had a bit more information on the witch of his dreams.
Irina rolled her eyes as she opened the door quietly, not wanting to wake her friend up.
"Bloody hell," Draco couldn't help but whisper as they walked quietly into the room. He had never seen anything like what was in front of him.
"Indeed," Irina agreed, smirking. Nene, Nene, who knew you had such great taste in men, she thought as she walked closer to the bed to examine the twin specimens that were attached to her.
"How, in the name of Merlins hairy balls did they end up like that?" Draco wondered, irritated to see Hermione sandwiched between the Weasley twins. She had a gentle smile on her face, as if she were the most content she had ever been.
"They were checking on the Ms. Hermione and she was asleeping when she grabbed the twin handsome mens arms," Mitzi replied suddenly.
"Why didn't they try to move away?" he asked, arms folded over his chest.
Irina chuckled softly. "Malfoy, would you have pulled away if a sleeping Hermione had grabbed your arm?"
She has a point, he thought to himself, but refused to voice it aloud. "I would have moved away so she could get some much needed rest."
"And I was Voldemore's long lost best friend," a voice said quietly from the other side of the massive bed.
"Potter?" Draco replied, startled as he realized that the massive bed was actually two beds, pushed together.
"The one and only," the raven haired boy answered, slowly sitting up.
"What are you doing in here?" Draco wondered.
"I came up to check on my sister and then she grabbed those nutters. And there was no way I was going to leave them in here alone with them," he answered.
"I was in here," Ginny replied, sitting up as well.
"Merlin, maybe I should have come to Hogwarts to begin with," Irina said, thinking of all the fun she could have had if she had been able to be around such handsome wizards. There was no way that her Headmistress would have allowed boys in the girls dormitories.
"Are you Irina?" the red headed witch wondered excitedly, crawling to the end of the bed to meet her.
"Yes, you must be Ginny," she replied, laughing as she was enveloped in a hug.
"It's so good to finally meet you. I've heard so much about you!"
"As I have you. It's a pleasure to meet you, too," Irina said earnestly. Hermione had always talked so affectionately about the family that took her in when her parents had practically disowned her. She had loved them before that, but Irina knew that since them, Hermione's affection for the red headed family had grown.
"Mitzi is glad everyone is happy to see people, but you must not wake Ms. Hermione," the small elf insisted, her tiny hands on her hips.
Harry smiled and cast a spell around Hermione, so that she couldn't hear them, but they could hear if she needed anything. "Is that better, Mitzi?"
The young elf let out a squeal of glee, the tips of her ears turning bright pink. "Of course it is, most handsome Harry Potter. Thanks you so much."
"Mitzi, would you mind going and letting mum know how Hermione slept last night and maybe asking the Hogwarts elves to bring some breakfast up for her? I'm sure she will be waking up soon." Irina asked her childhood play mate.
"Of course, Ms. Irina. You's mummy would love to know that," Mitzi replied happily, quietly popping away.
"Your elf is a piece of work, isn't she?" Ginny asked, grinning.
"She was raised with me, so it's really my fault. But I wouldn't have her any other way," Irina replied.
"I like her. She's rather entertaining," Harry said.
"Of course you do, Potter. She calls you handsome every time she even looks at you," Draco replied quietly as he walked closer to the side of the bed that was Hermione's. He smiled down at the beautiful goddess, wondering if he would ever have the privilege of holding her like that.
"How long has she been asleep?" he asked, looking over at Ginny.
"I gave her a Sleeping drought shortly after you left and she's been asleep ever since," the witch replied. She then grinned widely, as if about to add something else, but dropped the grin, hoping no one had noticed. Ginny knew that Hermione wouldn't like for everyone to know what she muttered in her sleep.
"What was that grin for?" Irina wondered, raising an eyebrow.
"What grin?" Ginny asked, playing stupid. She saw the looks that Draco and Irina were giving her and she knew that they wouldn't drop it. Especially if it had something to do with Hermione.
"If I tell you, you can not tell anyone," she insisted.
"Alright," Irina agreed wearily, not knowing the Weasley well enough to trust her.
Draco merely nodded, not taking his eyes off the sleeping face of an angel.
"She talked in her sleep on and off all night."
"Oh, she used to do that all the time," Irina said, amused. "If I ever wanted to know one of her deepest darkest secrets, all you had to do was stay awake longer then she did."
"When she got older though, she put a block on her mind before she went to sleep so that she wouldn't do that when she was on the same room with someone," Harry replied, remembering watching as she would do that before falling asleep in their tent.
"But she forgot to do that last night, since she was so exhausted," Ginny said, sitting gently on the end of her bed.
"What did she say?" Draco asked quietly.
"She said, 'Mine. Not choosing. ALL mine!'" the red headed witch informed them.
Draco raised his eyebrow, surprised, yet intrigued, wondering what was going on in that beautiful mind of hers.
Irina laughed loudly, startling them all, including the twin that was near the edge of the bed, causing him to jump and fall off of the bed, nearly landing on Dracos feet.
"Harry! I thought you placed a silencing charm around the bed!" Ginny scolded her fiancee'.
"I placed once around Mione, not Fred and George!" he replied defensively.
"Merlins beard, what was that noise?" the heap of legs, arms and red hair asked from the floor, rubbing his head.
"It was me. I apologize," Irina replied, smiling unashamed.
"Were you chocking?" the twin asked, causing Draco to snort.
Irina glared at the blonde, causing him to step further away from her.
"No, I was not chocking," she replied, huffing loudly as she crossed her arms in front of her.
"She sounds just like Hermione when she gets irritated at me," the twin said, grinning.
"It's probably because they've spent so much time together, George," Ginny replied, amused. "This is Irina Krum."
George's eyes widened, realization dawning in them. "Its a pleasure to finally meet you. If I've offended you, I apologize. It's just that you startled me awake with your, um, laughing"
Irina unfolded her arms and looked the twin up and down. Merlin, NeNe! How did you get so bloody lucky to have a bloke like him come after you, she thought, smiling. "I think you're forgiven."
They heard movement from the bed, all of their attention shifting to the witch who was stretching like a cat.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Hermione smiled in her half awake, half asleep state, having had the best dream ever. She had been surrounded by the most beautiful things, everyone one of them asking her to choose them. She hadn't wanted to choose, not wanting to give up any of the great things she had. I wonder why I can't remember anymore of the dream, she thought as she burrowed against something comfortable and warm. It smelled wonderful, like peppermint and fire. When did I get a body pillow, she wondered. Suddenly the pillow put it's arm around her, causing her to quickly open her eyes.
"Morning, love," Fred said quietly, gently moving a strand of hair from in front of her face.
"Fred? What are you doing here? What if Professor McGonagall finds you here? What if she expels me? Where's George? What if, oh Merlin that feels nice," she moaned in the middle if her frantic rant as Fred made soothing circles all over her back, causing her to forget what she had been saying.
Fred grinned, moving closer so that he could reach more of her back. She moaned again, causing him to shift a little, so that the problem that he was having in his pants wouldn't be so evident to Hermione. He leaned in and kissed her gently.
"Really?" a voice asked, sounding amused.
Hermione jumped, surprised by the unexpected voice that was in her room. She sat up quickly, leaning against her head board when she did, becoming dizzy.
"Are you okay, love?" Fred asked from beside her, gently moving a stray hair away from her face once again.
"Just sat up a bit too quickly, that's all," she replied, slowly opening her eyes once again. She took in the people who surrounded her bed, all of them looking rather concerned. The events of the previous day came crashing back to her, causing her to glance around the room to see if Viktor was there was well.
"How are you feeling?" Draco asked, taking her hand.
"I'm feeling alright, I think," she replied, moving her legs slowly. "It would probably be a good thing for me to stand up for a few moments."
"No, it wouldn't be," George insisted from the end of the bed, right by her feet.
"At least not until Madam Pomfey comes and has a look at you to make sure you are okay," Fred added.
"When will that be?" Hermione wondered, never being one to lay around.
"She should be here around ten. We wanted to make sure you had plenty of rest," Harry answered, grinning.
Hermione looked at her watch and sighed. That was still over an hour away. What was she suppose to do until then?
"Do you need to use the little witches room?" another voice asked.
Hermione's head turned quickly when she heard the unexpected voice. "Irina! What are you doing here?"
Irina grinned broadly, moving Draco over so that she could hug her friend tightly. "I came to check on you, of course."
"How long do you get to stay? I want to show you Hogwarts and let you get to know...everybody," she said, her checks turning slightly pink as she realized that the people she wanted to introduce her to were right there.
Irina grinned, taking in the identical grinning nutters and the cocky, smirking pureblood. "I'm staying for awhile."
Hermione grinned, happy that she would get to have all of her best friends together for the first time ever.
"Well, do you?" Irina asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Do I what?" Hermione asked, confused.
"Do you need to visit the little witches room?" she asked again, grinning when she made Hermione blush again. She loved doing that.
"Well, now that you mention it, I suppose I do," the Gryfindor witch replied. "But I don't know how I will get there, because these guys won't let me walk."
"I'll carry you," four identical voices replied, causing Irina and Ginny to laugh.
"Why's is Ms. Hermione awake?" a squeaky voice demanded to know.
They all turned to see an annoyed Mitzi standing by the door, with her hands on her hips.
"Mitzi, I woke up. They didn't disturb me. Not at all," Hermione told the house elf.
"Are you's sure? I can kick thems out so you can have a good rest," the cute little creature offered.
"No!" Hermione quickly replied, with more enthusiasm then she realized. "I mean, I don't mind if they are here."
"Okays. Does you need anything? Breakfast should be here's soon," Mitzi asked.
"I need to go to the restroom, but they said I can't walk until Madam Pomfey has a look at me."
Mitzi smiled at the wizards that surrounded her Ms. Hermione. "Mitzi is glad that the boys that wants you are not always using their little heads. I's glad that they wants to take care of Ms. Hermione."
"Mitzi!" Hermione cried, blushing furiously at what the house elf had just said.
Irina and Ginny were once again laughing as the wizards in the room smiled at the little creature.
"I's just stating the truth," she insisted, shrugging in the same manner as Irina often did. She then walked over to Hermione, grabbed the witches hand and snapped her fingers.
"Where'd they go?" Fred wondered.
"My guess would be to the bathroom," Draco replied.
Suddenly there was a tapping at the window. Ginny walked over and allowed the owl in.
"Whose it from?" Harry wondered, as his fiancee opened the letter that was addressed to her.
"Luna," she replied absentmindedly. Her eyes widened as she read what her future sister-in-law had written.
"What are you reading?" Hermione wondered from her seat back on her bed.
Ginny looked up at the bright young witch, biting her tongue so that she wouldn't say anything. This wasn't something that needed to be talked about in front of Draco and the twins. Plus, she wanted to go get more information from Luna.
"Oh, it's nothing. Just a letter from Luna," she insisted flippantly, walking over to her closet and quickly pulling out clothes as she levitated her purse, shoes and school bag towards her. "I better go to class. That way I can get your assignments for you. I will see you all later. Irina, it was great to meet you. I look forward to getting to know you. Fred, George, make sure you clean my pillows of any slobber you got on it. Harry, come help me change," she said hurriedly as she ran out of the room.
"What, in the name of Merlin was that?" Irina wondered, looking at the door that had just been closed.
"That was Ginny trying to hide something that she doesn't want us to know yet," Hermione replied, raising an eyebrow. She wondered what Luna had told her that she didn't want her to know.
"Harry Potter!" George exclaimed at the raven haired wizard who was opening the door to exit.
"Yes?" he asked innocently, knowing exactly what was coming next.
"Don't you dare help our little sister change!" Fred replied, slowly pulling his wand out of his pocket.
"We love you," George started.
"And we know that you are going to be our brother in law soon," Fred added.
"But you are not going to help her change!" they insisted together.
Harry looked at the twins and thought of his fiancee and her wrath. It was a very easy decision for the Boy That Lived. "Sorry, but I think I would rather have you two irritated at me then her. She's a lot scarier."
"What?" George asked, surprised looking at the empty doorway.
"We aren't scary?" Fred wondered, sounding slightly hurt.
"No you aren't at all," Draco confirmed, earning glares from the pair.
"You may not be scary, but you defiantly make up for that in the looks department," Irina informed them.
The pair looked over at the black haired witch and grinned.
"Thank you, My lady," they replied together, bowing dramatically towards the girl.
Irina laughed at their antics, stopping abruptly when she turned to look at her best friend. If looks could kill, Hermione's glare would have had her dead faster then even Voldemore himself could say Avada Kadava.
"What's wrong, love?" Draco asked, trying to hide the smirk that was threatening to break across his face. He had silently watched the exchange between the twins and the Bulgarian witch and had observed the look of anger and pain that had passed across Hermione's face. He didn't like to see her hurt, but if it meant that there was even a tiny possibility that the twins would be out of his way, then he would just have to make sure to ease her pain.
"I'm fine," Hermione insisted, blushing slightly at getting caught glaring at one of her oldest girl friends.
"Are you sure?" George wondered, quickly coming to her side.
"Do you need one of us to go get Madam Pomfy early for some pain potion?" Fred asked.
"I said I'm fine," she snapped quickly, regretting it instantly She saw the look of pain flash across the identical handsome faces. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you. I just don't like laying here."
"That's understandable," Fred insisted, smiling as he leaned down and kissed her forehead.
"We would be the same way," George agreed.
"She's probably hungry," Irina added, earning a sincere smile from Hermione. The black haired witch knew that was her apologizing. She smiled back at the girl who was being doted upon, winking to know she forgave her.
"Here's is your breakfast," Mitzi replied.
Hermione smiled, never feeling so happy to have something to put in her mouth. She didn't know what had come over her. She never became jealous like that, not where Irina was concerned.
She knew one thing though. Hermione would be very happy when she could walk and go think by herself. She needed to know what had caused her body to shut down as it had and why on earth she had felt such intense jealousy when Irina had flirted with Fred and George.
I hope you liked this chapter. I know I'm not updating as often as people would like, however, I'm updating this one a lot more often then my other two. :) I still don't have another beta reader for this story. If you are interested, please let me know. I didn't get a lot of reviews last chapter. I don't know if you have lost interest or not. If you have, that's fine, but if not, please take a few seconds to let me know what you thought about this chapter and if you have any ideas. :) Its helps me write more quickly. :) Thank you to all of those who have stuck by this story since the beginning. :) You all rock! Happy Reading.