Draco was right. She needed this last stop before the insanity of the week took over. They spent the time from that missed Arithmancy - or in Draco's case, Potions - lesson reading and cuddling. Draco picked a book and read it to her out loud, giving each character their own voice. It was a story about a young Animagus who could turn into a shark finding a portal into a world made of an endless stretch of sea. The book detailed his travels and adventures in this foreign land and his encounters with the strange sea people who could command water freely. When the boy sneaked onto a pirate ship, Draco mimicked the pirate's speech as well as he could, putting so much gusto into his first 'Yarrrrrgh!' Hermione laughed herself to tears.
The similarities between wizarding fiction and muggle one were surprising. It made her wonder what sheltered purebloods would think about muggle fantasy or even sci-fi.
Well, she wouldn't have to wonder for long. After telling Ginny about her day - she had to, the redhead was unstoppable with her questions - she told her not to worry, just let her set some things up. When Gin came back to her on Wednesday asking for the projector she charmed to be magic compatible, she should've picked up on the clues. But no, Hermione was too preoccupied with his father's book to notice, and by the time she did, they already put up flyers all around Hogwarts.
And it's not like reading that damn thing did her any good. The book was a bloody enigma. The subject seemed to change every page, flipping between six different languages. There was an insane-looking fairy-like thing scribbled all over one page, with childish script rudely exclaiming 'Dotty' in bold letters near her horns, or maybe just some overly aggressive hair.
Hermione also found three recipes of varying disgustingness, a matrix of multicolour poffle that vaguely reminded her of a Punnett square, and long, handwritten lines of repeating letters spanning multiple chapters and a bit of the back cover.
In short, it made no sense. And it made her skin tingle.
Between her repeated re-reads and Ginny's increasingly stranger requests, she didn't even have time to meet with Draco, except for a quick hello and goodbye each day.
That Friday she fled her room in the early morning, desperate for answers. She ran out of books to cross-reference in the library and since her owls were managed by Theo she had to hunt him down to send a letter to Lucius, asking for access to the manor library.
She didn't expect to run into Ginny at this hour, but she was up and in full Quidditch gear already. And with a smile to boot! Yes, Hermione understood that this was Ginny's project and responsibility, but still, the perfectionist in her wanted to micromanage everything. She even made a five-foot long list of the most important details but as soon as she showed them, Ginny told her to go and entertain Draco instead.
"Hello! How are you? Excited for the big event?"
Of course Ginny would not bring up her forced removal from the team. Fine, it was too early in the morning to bicker about it anyway.
"Excited isn't exactly the right word. Worried, more like," she answered honestly.
"Why?"
"I wanted to start with something more familiar to them. Books! Both in worldbuilding and story, they are far superior to the films. And much easier to understand." Not to mention the half a dozen other reasons she had in that list Gin didn't bother to read.
"Yes, I know, but hear me out," she grabbed her shoulders, as to bear her against bad news. "I love you, but you are pretty much the only bookworm in this school, and no, I don't care about Ravenclaws. You have to see that the wizarding world isn't as fun as the muggle one. Just think about it. You have to read books to study, then you have to read reports and stuff at work, and then you go home to relax with either the Daily Prophet or oh, I don't know… books."
Ginny was overexaggerating, but she had a point. Maybe the students would be more easily immersed in the story this way, without having to sit down and read three whole books. If she took Ron as an example, it would've been a miracle if he read anything non-compulsory. Still, it was disappointing. Hermione thought about Lucius's enthusiasm towards literature. It looks like this time, he was the outlier.
When Hermione didn't dispute her claims, the redhead continued. "So, believe me when I say, the first time they see the big screen they are going to lose their collective mind. And they will have so many questions. And where can they get answers? That's right, from you! During the class." Ginny grinned. "See? This is the perfect plan."
Hermione hung her head with a sigh. "Fine. But if this goes south, you'll have to deal with the confused mob."
"I'll keep my hexing hand ready."
"Ginny!"
"Calm down, nothing bad will happen. And I had Harry promote it and Luna helped with the flyers. With such a great team, we are destined to win," she told her in her inspiring team captain voice, but it only made Hermione roll her eyes.
"This is education, not a competition, you know."
"Then we'll get a bloody 'O'," she said and left no room for arguing, quickly turning towards the Quidditch field. "Don't be late."
They charmed a classroom to look like a movie theatre! The screen, the chairs, the smell, everything was perfect. Ginny was grinning as she greeted her at the door, pointing out the popcorn machine in the corner with pride. It didn't work, but it was 'necessary for immersion' according to her. Thankfully, the elves kept it full, with no need for magical readjustments to its electronics. Hermione had no time to charm anything else for her this week.
Still, the setup was impressive. On the huge projection, she saw Harry fiddling with some resolution settings on the laptop she lent him, and Ron was busy taste-testing the junk food, with a solemn Zabini watching from a nearby chair.
"What's he doing here?" Hermione asked, with her eyes pointed at the Italian wizard. Ginny followed her gaze.
"He's our Slytherin 'associate'. Your boyfriend kindly helped us with getting the snakes on board, but he wanted constant updates." She shrugged. "So, yeah, halfway into the decoration, Zabini just showed up with a stack of fancy papers and an official invitation letter for us to copy… I gave it all to Luna and told her to go wild.
Oh, no, the poor man! Luna was the antithesis to anything green and silver.
"How did that work out?" Hermione asked, but she was afraid of the answer.
"Well, he's still alive, if a bit frazzled. Just don't mention the glitter stuck to his shoes. Or his hair."
"Gin you're an absolute menace," she tried to reprimand her, but her giggles ruined it.
"I know, that's why I'm here for." She jokingly curtsied. "And look, our first guest just arrived."
It was still half an hour early. Who was this enthusiastic? Hermione turned around, but only saw the twinkle of his silver eyes before getting scooped up in a tight embrace.
"Hello, Hermione," he whispered, and she allowed herself a moment to take in his warmth. His grey turtleneck sweater was so snug and soft she felt like she was cocooned in a big blanket.
Except blankets rarely groped her behind.
"Draco!" she snapped at him and pushed herself back a bit, so she could look him in the eyes.
"I haven't seen you all week. Don't I deserve a hug?" Oh, her wizard was shrewd, putting on the puppy eyes and everything, but by this point, she was immune to it. She hung around with two needy boys most of her life, and grey eyes weren't the best for faking innocence. Or should not have been, anyway. The funny feeling in her tummy apparently did not get the memo.
Giving in, she dug her nose back into his clothes, shifting her hips to shake off his hand. "A hug, yes, but we are in public."
"Oh, don't mind me, I was about to get the popcorn," came Ginny's joke-mocking from behind her. She thanked Merlin Ginny was so supportive of them. If Harry or Ron were to notice… she couldn't dare imagine. She begrudgingly untangled herself, leaving only her right hand in his.
"Miss Weasley, it's nice to meet the mastermind of the show. You've ruffled a lot of feathers with this little play, you know?" he teased her with no malice.
"I didn't know that snakes had feathers, but since it seems they do, I'm glad they're ruffled," she quipped back. "You boring stuck-up types need some spice in your lives."
Draco nodded. "Spice, yes, I agree. But was the glitter necessary?"
"Absolutely," Ginny said with a straight face.
"Anyway, are you two ready for your journey to Mordor?"
"I hope you mean that figuratively. Not that I wouldn't be up for a nice evening walk, I doubt your brother would agree," said Draco.
"He's just having his luncheon." Ginny joked, but he didn't get the reference. But Hermione did.
"And I'll have you know, that one does not simply walk into Mordor," she continued eliciting a snort from Ginny.
"Oh?" he furrowed his brows. "Are we taking the Floo then? Or do you have a Portkey… Why are you both laughing?"
Oh, this will definitely be an experience for everyone involved.