Chapter 5: Princesses and Curses

The sun had already begun to set, taking away what little warmth it provided, leaving both Hermione and Ginny shivering in the dim light as they made their way back to the castle after their stroll outside.

The two had finally managed to catch up on each other after Ginny's successful avoidance of her brother for almost a week. Having had more rows with Ron than she could count, Hermione decided not to butt in on this one and let the Weasley siblings deal with this on their own. She would, of course, lend them an ear whenever they needed somebody to talk to, however, refused to take sides. They would not drag her into their argument, no Sir.

In fact, Hermione had very early on decided to take on Harry's famous "I'm neutral"-stance since it made her life so much easier. If the Ginny and Ron wanted to be stubborn and give each other the silent treatment, then that was fine by her.

"At first I thought it was kind of cool that to have a 'sister', but he's become so full of himself! You know what he said to me the other day? He accused me of being jealous of him! Can you believe that? It seems so silly that I believed our good relationship would last. Ron could get very annoying being his normal self, but he's even more so as a girl," Ginny complained, pulling her hair in frustration. Hermione looked at her sympathetically.

"I feel for you, Ginny. He does have really strange thoughts and ideas these days; but then there are also moments when he's surprisingly insightful and sensitive - pleasantly so. I think those oestrogens are doing him some good."

"I guess… but it still that doesn't change the fact that he's driving me crazy lately. Sometimes I just want to bitchslap him. Can't believe my own self-control," Ginny joked and Hermione chuckled.

"That's Ron."

"Yes, that's Ron," Ginny sighed and crossed her arms over her chest, trying to warm herself up. "One would think he'd be more grateful that I helped and supported him so much the last few weeks. You know the whole adjusting to being a girl? I did the whole '101 - Life as a Girl' thing with him! Many incredibly uncomfortable moments I had so suffer through, let me tell you that. But I did it anyway since I wanted to be a good sister. And how does he repay me?"

"So you helped him with all that stuff? I guess I shouldn't be as surprised as I am, since you helping him only makes sense. I'd already begun to wonder how Ron knew so much! He's been giving the other guys all sorts of advice even," said Hermione before sharing some 'Ron moments' from their therapy sessions. Ginny scoffed loudly when Hermione finished.

"Acting all like the expert now, isn't he? Well, I'm sure my brothers will sort him out and take him down a few notches once we go home for Easter holidays," she said in a clipped tone before a wide grin spread on her face, her eyes drifting off to la-la-land as she obviously imagined what awaited Ron at the Burrow a few weeks away from now.

Poor Ron.

Hermione gathered her books and stacked them neatly on top of each other before getting up and carefully balancing them two rows down to their section in the library. As she clumsily began to resort them one by one, Hermione felt a presence behind her. Slowly, she turned around and discovered Malfoy staring up at her expectantly. Hermione frowned back in confusion.

Giving him a quick once over, Hermione took note of his hair with some amusement. Draco's long white-blonde hair was stylishly done in a French braid, no doubt curtsy to Pansy Parkinson. The girl had persistently asked to be allowed to style his hair, however, had always been rebuffed. Well, until this day.

"What, Malfoy?" Hermione eventually decided to ask, wanting him to stop the creepy staring and just tell her what he wanted.

"I need a book," he finally answered, his left hand reaching into his blazer pocket, fishing out a piece of paper and handing it to her. Hermione took and read it. Her frown deepened.

"If I'm not mistaken, the 'RS' in the shelf mark suggests that this is a book from the restricted section," she said slowly, fully expecting Draco to deny it, but he didn't.

"That would be correct," he said with a curt nod.

"Students aren't allowed access to books from the restricted section," she reminded Draco.

"With the exception of the Head boy or Head girl," Draco cut in, clasping his hands together behind his back and giving her that expectant look again. Hermione shook her head and held out the note for him.

"Forget it, Malfoy. I'm not getting you that book. It was sorted to the restricted section and out of students' reach for a reason. And for the record: Even Head students have very limited access to the restricted section of the library." When Draco still ignored her outstretched hand, Hermione let it drop back to her side.

Draco pursed his lips. "I know that, Granger. If you would take a closer look at the shelf mark, then you'll see that the book belongs to the area that is accessible to you."

Hermione studied the note again. He was right.

"RS-PREG-14-LIM… Malfoy, even with it being a book with limited restriction and me technically being able to get it for you - there's probably a good reason as to why normal students don't have access to it. Not trying to start a fight here, but you're hardly the most stable person at the moment. So, no,"

Draco started to look deeply annoyed with her unwillingness to cooperate.

"And what evil deeds do you believe I'd commit by looking up a book on wizarding pregnancies?" he exclaimed, tilting his head heavenwards and rolling his eyes. His answer took Hermione by surprise.

"Wizarding pregnancies?" she choked out, her eyes gone round and owlish. "Malfoy are you pregnant? Did Goyle knock you up or something?" Dear Lord! What a horrible fate! She wouldn't wish something like this on anyone - even Draco Malfoy.

Upon hearing Hermione's question, Draco whipped his head back down to glare at her.

"Are you stupid? Of course not! With all the fuss you made about my little episode in the greenhouse a while back, you'd think that the reason for me to look up information on pregnancies would be obvious. But let me spell it out for you: My mother is expecting."

"Oh, wow. Um… Normally I'd say 'congratulations', but I sense that it's not really appropriate here."

"Yes, please spare me. Just get me the book."

"Malfoy, why would a book on wizarding pregnancies be in the restricted section?"

"It's probably because the book contains content of somewhat of graphic nature. Look, I'm concerned for my mother and want to make sure that she'll be all right. She didn't have the easiest pregnancy with me. There were complications, which is why my parents decided not to have more children after me. However now… Granger, I need to read up on this topic. I'm worried."

Malfoy sounded too sincere when he said this that Hermione couldn't help but sympathise with him. He might act like a little shit most of the time, but he really did care for his mother.

"Okay, Malfoy. Wait here."

Hermione took out her novel and settled in the chair opposite to Draco. The latter was immediately engrossed in his book the moment he had opened it. Every once in a while Hermione would glance up from her novel and monitor what her classmate was reading.

"What?" Draco snapped when he caught her looking.

"Nothing, I was just checking up on what you're reading."

"Yes, because I'm sure that you'd need to look at my hair for that. Don't even think about mocking me about it, Granger."

Okay so her eyes might have wandered off a moment to admire his hair. As much as she hated to admit it, Malfoy did have very nice hair - hair she could only dream of having. So shiny and healthy-looking, without any frizz at all.

"Why would I mock you? I think it looks nice."

"Right," Draco answered in a clipped tone, not buying it; but after a while of staring at her in suspicion, he seemingly decided that Hermione might have been sincere with her compliment after all.

"They always got in my face, but I wasn't going to cut them because I don't do the pixie cut shit. And since Pansy's been offering to do my hair for ages, I decided to let her," he offered and Hermione nodded. They then went back to what they were doing before. It wasn't until Draco took out a parchment and started to scribble on it that Hermione decided to speak again.

"Malfoy, why does that page you're reading look like something you should not be reading?" she asked as she scanned the title. Draco looked up in surprise, however, said nothing. He only gave her a short shrug before returning to his notes. Not satisfied with his answer, Hermione reached over the table and snatched up his parchment.

"What the fuck, Granger?" Draco immediately cursed, but was ignored by the person the curse was aimed at. A deep frown settled on Hermione's face again as she skimmed over the content of the paper.

"Malfoy, this is a curse. Why are you looking up a curse and taking notes about it? You told me you wanted to look up stuff about complications during pregnancies because of your mother."

Draco stood up and leaned over the table.

"Well, I lied," he mocked and snatched the parchment out of Hermione's hands and quickly stuffed it into his pocket. Hermione's eyes narrowed.

"Malfoy, give it back or I'll report-"

"Report me to a teacher? Puh-lease, Granger. How about you come up with something new?"

"The paper, Malfoy. Now."

"No."

"Malfoy, I'm not kidding. Give me that note," Hermione warned as she tucked the book from the restricted section under her arm away from Draco. "Don't make me come over and to take it from you."

At her threat Draco quickly reached into his pocket, took out the note, folded it before stuffing it into his bra, believing it would be safe from Hermione there.

"No," he mouthed smugly. Hermione gritted her teeth.

"Give it to me freely, or so God help me, I'll come and get it from you."

"You wouldn't," Draco replied, not believing her. In fact, he was sending her a daring look even.

"Oh, I would," Hermione answered firmly, now taking a step towards him.

"I honestly doubt tha-GRANGER!" Malfoy yelped as Hermione lunged at him and suddenly held him in tight a grip lock.

"GRANGER YOU LUNATIC!" he continued to scream, struggling in vain to get out of Hermione's hold. The latter had taken her new tall physique and strength to full advantage. Draco had no chance - or at least Hermione had thought so. She was, however, taught better when she suddenly felt a blinding pain that brought her to knees. That little wanker had kneed her in the balls!

Hermione had always thought that guys were exaggerating with the pain, but she knew better now. It wasn't exaggerated one bit! Gods, the pain!

"Serves you just right. How dare you attack me like that?" Draco fumed as he looked down at her in disdain. Hermione could only groan in reply as she dropped onto her back. She felt like all air had been sucked out of her and couldn't move.

"Well, as fun as this was, Granger, I have to leave you now. Normally I'd say 'See you later', but let's not," Draco said 'pleasantly' as he stepped over her form and walked off.

This was how Astoria Greengrass found her. The girl gasped loudly and dropped her things when she saw Hermione groaning on the floor, eyes shut.

"Oh my. Are you… are you all right? Wait, that was a stupid question. Of course you're not all right. What happened?" she demanded, dropping to her knees next to Hermione. Hermione rolled to the side, her eyes snapping open, looking into Astoria's concerned ones.

"Had a little row with Malfoy. Unfortunately he won," Hermione offered, lying there for a few more seconds before struggling to sit up. Astoria quickly slid an arm around Hermione to help her.

"Thanks, Astoria," Hermione said gratefully and carefully sat down on a chair nearby. Astoria nodded.

"No problem; but may I ask how exactly this happened?" she asked curiously. Hermione let out a long sigh.

"Well, I discovered Malfoy looking up a curse and don't think that he did it just out of curiosity. He wants to use it against someone. I wanted him to give me his notes, but he refused, so I went to get it myself. He kneed me in my family jewels before I could succeed…"

"Oh, um…you should tell a professor about the curse."

"I probably will, but first I'd like to try and talk to him." Yeah, since she was the one who had actually given him that book in the first place, making her somewhat an accomplice (or accessory, given her current state).

Astoria looked at her thoughtfully.

"You know, I never liked Draco. My sister is friends with him, although I never understood why. He's so rude and acts like he's better than everyone else. I'm afraid my sister fancies him and that's why she puts up with him."

Hermione grimaced at the thought of Malfoy being mooned over by people. She just couldn't see it. Astoria giggled at her expression.

"I know. I don't get it either. Our parents are friends, so I unfortunately get to see him quite often during the holidays. Always acting like a spoiled little princess - which I suppose he now sort of is: Princess Draco," she joked and both Hermione and she burst out laughing.

It was always astonishing how easy it was to bond with someone by slagging Draco Malfoy off.