I wanted to write a story set in the third year when all of the characters are carefree and innocent (sort of) so here goes...
CHAPTER 1
Whenever Blaise Zabini was alone, he would think about her. He simply couldn't help it. Her fiery red hair, her perfect brown eyes, her soft features...
"Ooooooh! Blaise is in love!"
Blaise lept about a foot in the air as Pansy Parkinson's voice rang through the the until-recently deserted common room.
"Draco!" she called. "Draco, come here! Blaise is in love!"
Draco Malfoy stepped out of the shadows, accompanied by Vincent Crabbe, Gregory Goyle and Theodore Nott, his customary sneer firmly in place. The group crowded around Blaise, drawing their chairs into a circle.
"I bet we can guess, Draco!" said Pansy, draping her arm around Draco, missing his pointed eye roll.
"Uh... Animal, vegetable or mineral?" grunted Crabbe.
"Honestly, Crabbe, could you be any more thick?" snapped Draco. He fixed his eyes on Blaise, studying him carefully. Finally, he said quietly, "I know."
"Ooooooh!" squealed Pansy. "Do tell!"
Draco smirked as he replied, "I do believe that our dear friend Blaise has developed a crush on a certain Ms. Weasley."
Blaise's shocked face was as good a comformation as any as the Slytherins gasped and tittered.
"Well, good luck with that," said Theodore, smiling nastily. "I'm not getting rid of the bat bogeys."
"Shut up!" growled Blaise as the throng sniggered. "She wouldn't hex ME, she's too... too..."
"Are you challenging our opinions?" said Draco, smirking round at the group. "OUR opinions, Zabini?"
"Maybe I am!" said Blaise, now thoroughly annoyed.
"You think that Weasley will take YOU?" said Draco, still smiling maliciously.
"Yeah she will!"
"Prove it."
"I...What?"
"You heard me," said Draco with a sneer. "You think she'll take you. Prove it!"
Blaise was still utterly confused. "How am I supposed to do that?"
Draco's smirk widened. "You have to kiss her."
"Kiss her?" said Theodore in disgust. "Is that the best you've got?"
"Oh no," said Draco, his eyes sparkling. "It gets better. You see this isn't just ANY kiss. This is a SPECIAL kiss. A VERY special kiss."
"True love's first kiss!" said Pansy, exitedly.
Draco sighed melodramatically, shrugging off her arm. "You could call it that."
Pansy burst into a fit of giggles and Crabbe and Goyle guffawed stupidly. Blaise felt his face go red.
"There's something wrong with your brain if you think that I'd accept that, Malfoy," said Blaise fiercely.
Theodore gave a cough that sounded awfully like 'chicken' and Pansy howled with laughter. Blaise felt his face go even redder.
"I am NOT chickening out!" he spat.
"Sure you're not," sneered Draco, and everyone burst into fresh bouts of laughter.
"FINE!" he yelled over the noise, practically foaming at the mouth. "Fine. I'll do it."
"You swear on the sacred snake of Salazar Slytherin?" said Pansy, wiping tears of laughter from her eyes.
Blaise swallowed. "Yes," he whispered, "I swear."
Pansy manouevred her giggling fit so that she ended up collapsing in Draco's lap. Instead of pushing her away, Draco looked at her suspiciously.
"Let's extend the challenge, shall we?" he said, coolly.
Pansy stopped laughing and slowly returned to her own chair. "I-I don't know w-what you mean," she stammered.
Draco smiled evilly. "I think you do," he smirked. "One word for you. Longbottom."
It was Blaise's turn to snigger with the group as Pansy went white.
"I don't have a crush on him!" she said, confirming that she absolutely DID.
"Prove it by kissing him and walking away," said Blaise, with a smirk to rival Draco's. "But TRUE LOVE'S first kiss, don't forget."
"Who's the chicken now?" added Theodore.
Pansy got up, eyes blazing, and walked over until she was nose to nose with Blaise. "I'll show you, Zabini," she hissed. "When I'm done, Longbottom'll be begging for more."
Draco burst out laughing and Blaise and Pansy turned slowly to face him.
"Three's a nice round number, don't you think?" said Pansy, sweetly.
"Pansy, I quite agree," said Blaise.
"Hit me with it," said Draco, smiling. "I'll beat the both of you."
"I wouldn't be so sure," said Pansy with a snigger.
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking, Pansy?"
"I'm pretty sure that I am, Blaise."
A flash of anxiety flashed accross Draco's face.
"Draco Malfoy, prepare for the worst shock of your life," said Pansy, glancing at Blaise. "Because, we have got JUST the girl for you."
"Oh yeah?" said Draco, with a nervous sneer. "Who?"
Blaise smirked back at him. "Hermione Granger."
***
Please tell me what you think here
Inspiration!
I've been hit with fresh ideas, so I'm adding a fresh update.
***
CHAPTER 2
"Remind me of the rules again," whispered Pansy, glancing nervously at the Gryffindor table.
Draco rolled his eyes. "For the hundredth time, Pansy. You just have to get him to kiss you."
"He has to mean it," added Blaise. "You can't just throw yourself at him like you normally would do."
Pansy was too stressed to even register Blaise's unkind comment; she was too busy staring at Neville.
"The Princess is going in. I repeat, the Princess is going in," she whispered urgently, rising to go.
Blaise snorted and Draco laughed derisively.
" 'Princess'?" said Blaise contemptously. "What, not 'Glinda the Good Witch'?"
Pansy blushed. "I thought we should have code names," she hissed. "Seeing as this is such a secret thing. I prepared some for you-"
"I am NOT being called 'Daisy' or something stupid like that," said Draco heatedly.
"You look like a 'Candycane-flowerpot-squirrel-lala' to me," said Blaise with a snigger.
"Focus!" snapped Pansy. "Draco, you're 'Dragon'."
"Of course," Draco muttered. " 'Dragon'. Noone's going to guess that, are they?"
"Shut up, or you can be 'Tulip'! Blaise, you're 'Flame'."
"What the hell?"
"It's just because-"
"Hey guys!" Draco nodded towards the Gryffindors, where Ginny Weasley was getting ready to leave.
"The Flame is going-"
"Oh shut up, Pansy!" snapped Blaise, marching away from the Slytherins and towards the entrance hall.
***
"Oh [Mod Deleted]"
Ginny's books spilled out of her arms and papers were scattered all over the floor. She impatiently waved her friends away and started to gather up her things as quickly as she could. She was just hurrying up the stairs when,
"Weasley!"
She spun around and saw Blaise Zabini holding her Transfiguration essay. Suspiciously, she made her way towards him. She snatched the parchment off him and stuffed it inside a large textbook. She turned to go, when she felt his hand on her shoulder.
"What is it, Zabini," she snapped, looking him fiercely in the eye.
"Oh, nothing," he shrugged, a slight smirk formining on his mouth. "It's just... You're very pretty you know."
He strode away, leaving a flabbergasted Ginny behind him.
"YOU CREEP!" she shouted after him. "YOU SICK, WEIRD CREEP!"
"Ginny?"
She looked over her shoulder and saw Harry coming towards her.
"Who's the creep?" he asked.
"Oh," she said, blushing slightly, "noone. Noone at all."
Harry raised an eyebrow, but continued his way to the Great Hall.
***
Hopefully, next chapter will have more DM/HG. Feedback!
Thx to mrs.harrypotter for the feedback.
Full Version: Our Little Secret
CHAPTER 3
"Granger?"
Hermione looked up from her copy of Hogwarts: A History and groaned inwardly.
Not him. I'm still eating breakfast for God's sake.
"Shove off, Malfoy," said Ron through a mouthful of scrambled egg.
"Love to," Malfoy retorted, "but unfortunately I wasn't talking to you, I was talking to Granger." He turned back to Hermione. "Do you get this week's potions assignment? 'Cos none of us," he jerked his thumb at the Slytherins, "understand it at all."
Hermione glared at him suspiciously, and through her narrowed eyes she made the strangest observation. It was as if Malfoy was trying to tell her something. His eyes were almost pleading ...
She mentally shook herself. Malfoy was incapable of any decent feeling. She was being stupid.
"Write '[Mod Deleted] off' and Snape will give you points for initiative," she said with a yawn. Harry and Ron stared at her incredulously, and she felt a little warm glow inside. That, she thought, was fierce.
"You heard Hermione, Malfoy," said Ron, slowly. "Now shove off."
Malfoy sneered, but behind that sneer... was it possible... had she seen a flicker of annoyance? Disappointment?
He turned on his heel and stalked away. Harry gawped at her.
"Wow, Hermione," he said in awe. "You really told him where to get off."
"Why so surprised, Harry?" said Hermione with a little smirk. "Just because I don't share it with you two losers, doesn't mean that I don't have attitude."
She threw her Hogwarts: A History on the floor and walked out of the hall, with Harry and Ron still staring open mouthed at the spot where she had been sitting.
As she marched away, she allowed herself another little smirk. She felt better than she had done in years. Perhaps it was time to ditch the geekiness and go for something a bit more fiery...
"You're cute when you're angry."
She jumped and turned around to find herself nose to nose with Draco Malfoy.
There was a hundred things she could have said, but she could only find one that wasn't too 'old her'.
"Didn't I just get rid of you?" she said casually. "Or are you now part of a professional stalker agency?"
To her surprise, he smiled wider.
"See what I mean?" he said. "Cute."
"Let me spell it out for you. B-U-Z-Z O-F-F." She strode away from him.
"Granger! Granger, wait! HERMIONE!"
She froze, stunned. "What did you just say?"
He blinked. "Nothing."
"You..." she took a step closer, "...you called me Hermione."
He smirked. "Well, that is your name. Am I not allowed to use it?"
"I-"
"Malfoy!"
Blaise Zabini was blissfully ignorant of the fact that he was interrupting a very soulful moment. He ran up to them panting, and completely ignored Hermione, addressing Malfoy.
"There you are! I need to-" He caught sight of Hermione and broke off. "Oh."
"It’s Ok," she said, coolly. "I was just going. One idiot I can deal with, but two..."
She hurried up the stairs without a backwards glance.
He called me Hermione... He called me Hermione...
Mod Edit: Cursing is not permitted AT ALL on any part of this site. I have edited your posts. Do not curse again.
"Granger?"
Hermione looked up from her copy of Hogwarts: A History and groaned inwardly.
Not him. I'm still eating breakfast for God's sake.
"Shove off, Malfoy," said Ron through a mouthful of scrambled egg.
"Love to," Malfoy retorted, "but unfortunately I wasn't talking to you, I was talking to Granger." He turned back to Hermione. "Do you get this week's potions assignment? 'Cos none of us," he jerked his thumb at the Slytherins, "understand it at all."
Hermione glared at him suspiciously, and through her narrowed eyes she made the strangest observation. It was as if Malfoy was trying to tell her something. His eyes were almost pleading ...
She mentally shook herself. Malfoy was incapable of any decent feeling. She was being stupid.
"Write '[Mod Deleted] off' and Snape will give you points for initiative," she said with a yawn. Harry and Ron stared at her incredulously, and she felt a little warm glow inside. That, she thought, was fierce.
"You heard Hermione, Malfoy," said Ron, slowly. "Now shove off."
Malfoy sneered, but behind that sneer... was it possible... had she seen a flicker of annoyance? Disappointment?
He turned on his heel and stalked away. Harry gawped at her.
"Wow, Hermione," he said in awe. "You really told him where to get off."
"Why so surprised, Harry?" said Hermione with a little smirk. "Just because I don't share it with you two losers, doesn't mean that I don't have attitude."
She threw her Hogwarts: A History on the floor and walked out of the hall, with Harry and Ron still staring open mouthed at the spot where she had been sitting.
As she marched away, she allowed herself another little smirk. She felt better than she had done in years. Perhaps it was time to ditch the geekiness and go for something a bit more fiery...
"You're cute when you're angry."
She jumped and turned around to find herself nose to nose with Draco Malfoy.
There was a hundred things she could have said, but she could only find one that wasn't too 'old her'.
"Didn't I just get rid of you?" she said casually. "Or are you now part of a professional stalker agency?"
To her surprise, he smiled wider.
"See what I mean?" he said. "Cute."
"Let me spell it out for you. B-U-Z-Z O-F-F." She strode away from him.
"Granger! Granger, wait! HERMIONE!"
She froze, stunned. "What did you just say?"
He blinked. "Nothing."
"You..." she took a step closer, "...you called me Hermione."
He smirked. "Well, that is your name. Am I not allowed to use it?"
"I-"
"Malfoy!"
Blaise Zabini was blissfully ignorant of the fact that he was interrupting a very soulful moment. He ran up to them panting, and completely ignored Hermione, addressing Malfoy.
"There you are! I need to-" He caught sight of Hermione and broke off. "Oh."
"It’s Ok," she said, coolly. "I was just going. One idiot I can deal with, but two..."
She hurried up the stairs without a backwards glance.
He called me Hermione... He called me Hermione...
Mod Edit: Cursing is not permitted AT ALL on any part of this site. I have edited your posts. Do not curse again.
CHAPTER 4
"Longbottom."
"Parkinson."
"How's life?"
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Ok."
"You know, it's kind of nice working with you."
"WHAT?"
"Nothing. Nothing."
"Oh. I like it too."
"Did you say something?"
"Nope."
"Oh. Right."
"We should do this more often."
"Yeah... NO, WAIT DON'T ADD THE-"
BANG!
When the smoke cleared, it didn't reveal good news. Extremely angry and covered in green gloop, Snape yelled "LONGBOTTOM!"
Pansy and Neville exchanged glances.
"Oops."
***
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"Longbottom."
"Parkinson."
"How's life?"
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Ok."
"You know, it's kind of nice working with you."
"WHAT?"
"Nothing. Nothing."
"Oh. I like it too."
"Did you say something?"
"Nope."
"Oh. Right."
"We should do this more often."
"Yeah... NO, WAIT DON'T ADD THE-"
BANG!
When the smoke cleared, it didn't reveal good news. Extremely angry and covered in green gloop, Snape yelled "LONGBOTTOM!"
Pansy and Neville exchanged glances.
"Oops."
***
I love feedback...
CHAPTER 5
"H-h-harry?"
Harry looked up from his tedious potions essay and grinned.
"Hey, Ginny. What's up?"
Ginny blushed. "Oh, nothing, I-" she took a deep breath, "I need to ask you something."
Harry gratefully closed One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi. "Fire away."
Ginny glanced around nervously. "Um, Ok... What do you do if...if... Someone - likes you - but... but you don't... you don't really... well... you sort of... Hate them."
Harry narrowed his eyes. "Is this something to do with the 'sick wierd creep'?"
Ginny went as red as her hair.
"Maybe," she whispered.
"Tell me who it is and I can help you, Gin. Come on."
She looked into his startling green eyes, 'as green as a fresh pickled toad'.
"It was," she glanced nervously over her shoulder,"Blaise Zabini."
Harry laughed. "Oh, Gin, you are funny. Blaise Zabini doesn't like anyone except himself."
Ginny's heart sank, but she gave Harry a watery smile and walked across the common room to an empty chair.
But he DOES like me, she thought nervously. It's just... creepy.
***
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"H-h-harry?"
Harry looked up from his tedious potions essay and grinned.
"Hey, Ginny. What's up?"
Ginny blushed. "Oh, nothing, I-" she took a deep breath, "I need to ask you something."
Harry gratefully closed One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi. "Fire away."
Ginny glanced around nervously. "Um, Ok... What do you do if...if... Someone - likes you - but... but you don't... you don't really... well... you sort of... Hate them."
Harry narrowed his eyes. "Is this something to do with the 'sick wierd creep'?"
Ginny went as red as her hair.
"Maybe," she whispered.
"Tell me who it is and I can help you, Gin. Come on."
She looked into his startling green eyes, 'as green as a fresh pickled toad'.
"It was," she glanced nervously over her shoulder,"Blaise Zabini."
Harry laughed. "Oh, Gin, you are funny. Blaise Zabini doesn't like anyone except himself."
Ginny's heart sank, but she gave Harry a watery smile and walked across the common room to an empty chair.
But he DOES like me, she thought nervously. It's just... creepy.
***
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CHAPTER 6
"God, Gryffindors are thick," Pansy fumed, throwing hersef onto a chair. "I was practically holding a flashing sign saying 'KISS ME' and Longbottom still didn't get it."
"Weasley is completely head over heels for Potter," said Blaise gloomily. "I just don't see how this is going to work..."
There was a second's pause. The pair of them turned expectantly to Draco, expecting to hear similar tales of woe.
He smirked. "Anything that passes between Granger and me is strictly private. Unless, of course, you decide to tactlessly blunder into our conversation."
Blaise went a little pink.
"There is no way Granger would fall for you," said Pansy, sounding more confident than she actually was. "She's hated you too long. And you called her a mudblood last year."
"You'd be surprised, Pansy," said Draco, still smirking. "She's just desperate for attention. Poor dear," he added unconvincingly.
"I know!" said Blaise, excitedly. You could almost see the lightbulb go 'ping' above his head. "Let's add a time limit!"
"I'm sorry, I am currently unable to perform Legilimency," said Draco coolly, "please explain your sudden stroke of genius."
"I mean," said Blaise slowly,"that we but a time limit on the bet. If we can't get them by the end of the week... Game over."
"For the first time in your life, Zabini, you may be onto something," said Draco, thinking hard. "Either one of us wins... or none of us do..."
"I'm in," said Pansy quickly.
"So am I. Draco?"
"Duh. Shake on it?"
They all shook hands.
"Well," Draco yawned, "I'm off to bed. Tomorrow, things get interesting."
***
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"God, Gryffindors are thick," Pansy fumed, throwing hersef onto a chair. "I was practically holding a flashing sign saying 'KISS ME' and Longbottom still didn't get it."
"Weasley is completely head over heels for Potter," said Blaise gloomily. "I just don't see how this is going to work..."
There was a second's pause. The pair of them turned expectantly to Draco, expecting to hear similar tales of woe.
He smirked. "Anything that passes between Granger and me is strictly private. Unless, of course, you decide to tactlessly blunder into our conversation."
Blaise went a little pink.
"There is no way Granger would fall for you," said Pansy, sounding more confident than she actually was. "She's hated you too long. And you called her a mudblood last year."
"You'd be surprised, Pansy," said Draco, still smirking. "She's just desperate for attention. Poor dear," he added unconvincingly.
"I know!" said Blaise, excitedly. You could almost see the lightbulb go 'ping' above his head. "Let's add a time limit!"
"I'm sorry, I am currently unable to perform Legilimency," said Draco coolly, "please explain your sudden stroke of genius."
"I mean," said Blaise slowly,"that we but a time limit on the bet. If we can't get them by the end of the week... Game over."
"For the first time in your life, Zabini, you may be onto something," said Draco, thinking hard. "Either one of us wins... or none of us do..."
"I'm in," said Pansy quickly.
"So am I. Draco?"
"Duh. Shake on it?"
They all shook hands.
"Well," Draco yawned, "I'm off to bed. Tomorrow, things get interesting."
***
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CHAPTER 7
"Good morning, Granger."
"Good morning, Weasley."
"Good morning, Longbottom."
Hermione, Ginny and Neville watched, open-mouthed, as Draco, Blaise and Pansy exchanged smirks as if it were some sort of private joke to give Gryffindors morning greetings. They turned away in unison, and each Gryffindor felt something pressed secretly into their hands.
Neville cleared his throat loudly.
"Well, er, got to go, see you all later..."
He hurried away, unfolding the note as he went.
Neville,
I love you. I have always loved you. Meet me by Greenhouse Three at midnight.
All my love,
Pansy
***
Ginny dropped her fork on the floor. It made a loud clanging noise on the stone floor, and she instantly dived to retrieve it. Quickly, she fumbled with the parchment Zabini had given her and read it.
Ginny,
Has anyone ever told you how beautiful you are? Your hair is amazing, your smile is wonderful, and your eyes... Well, what can I say?
Meet my outside the kitchens at 10 tonight and I will say it all.
Yours, now and forever,
Blaise Zabini
***
Hermione quietly slipped the letter inside Hogwarts: A History and then bowed her head over the book.
Hermione,
Words cannot express what I feel for you, darling. I think you know what I mean. You're smart.
Meet me by that tapestry on the fourth floor of the pixies savaging Edwina the Elated at nine o'clock tonight.
DM
x
***
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Please leave feedback
"Good morning, Granger."
"Good morning, Weasley."
"Good morning, Longbottom."
Hermione, Ginny and Neville watched, open-mouthed, as Draco, Blaise and Pansy exchanged smirks as if it were some sort of private joke to give Gryffindors morning greetings. They turned away in unison, and each Gryffindor felt something pressed secretly into their hands.
Neville cleared his throat loudly.
"Well, er, got to go, see you all later..."
He hurried away, unfolding the note as he went.
Neville,
I love you. I have always loved you. Meet me by Greenhouse Three at midnight.
All my love,
Pansy
***
Ginny dropped her fork on the floor. It made a loud clanging noise on the stone floor, and she instantly dived to retrieve it. Quickly, she fumbled with the parchment Zabini had given her and read it.
Ginny,
Has anyone ever told you how beautiful you are? Your hair is amazing, your smile is wonderful, and your eyes... Well, what can I say?
Meet my outside the kitchens at 10 tonight and I will say it all.
Yours, now and forever,
Blaise Zabini
***
Hermione quietly slipped the letter inside Hogwarts: A History and then bowed her head over the book.
Hermione,
Words cannot express what I feel for you, darling. I think you know what I mean. You're smart.
Meet me by that tapestry on the fourth floor of the pixies savaging Edwina the Elated at nine o'clock tonight.
DM
x
***
I'll write more asap.
Please leave feedback
CHAPTER 8
Hermione shivered slightly although it could hardly be called cold on the fourth floor. It felt like she'd been standing there for hours.
"Of course he's not going to show up," she said to the slightly manic looking picture of Edwina the Elated. "I'm so stupid. Stupid. Stupid. Stu-"
She was cut off in mid sentence as someone's lips pressed against hers. She nearly jumped out of her skin, and she pushed them roughly away. Someone chuckled.
"Sorry I'm late," said Malfoy, softly, slipping his hand in hers. "I assure you, it was unintentional."
She looked down at their intertwined fingers, and for one second she felt a sudden urge to kiss him again. She resisted, however, and instead snatched her hand away.
"I've met you," she said, bluntly. "It was a crazy thing to do, but I came anyway. You've seen me. Can I go?"
"No!" he said desperately. Then he said, more calmly, "Not yet. I've got something to show you."
"But we can't!" Hermione gasped. "I mean, it's almost after hours."
"Live a little, Granger," he said, taking her hand and pulling her after him.
***
"Oh wow," said Hermione blankly. "It's a stretch of mouldy dungeon wall."
"Hey," he said, pretending to take offense. "Don't insult it. Walls have ears, you know."
She gave an unwilling giggle, even though it was a pretty pathetic joke. Smirking, Malfoy placed his palm flat against the wall.
"Was something supposed to happen?" Hermione asked after a few seconds.
"Yes. This."
He grabbed her around the waist and pulled her through the wall.
***
The chapter isn't really finished, but I should be able to update soon.
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Hermione shivered slightly although it could hardly be called cold on the fourth floor. It felt like she'd been standing there for hours.
"Of course he's not going to show up," she said to the slightly manic looking picture of Edwina the Elated. "I'm so stupid. Stupid. Stupid. Stu-"
She was cut off in mid sentence as someone's lips pressed against hers. She nearly jumped out of her skin, and she pushed them roughly away. Someone chuckled.
"Sorry I'm late," said Malfoy, softly, slipping his hand in hers. "I assure you, it was unintentional."
She looked down at their intertwined fingers, and for one second she felt a sudden urge to kiss him again. She resisted, however, and instead snatched her hand away.
"I've met you," she said, bluntly. "It was a crazy thing to do, but I came anyway. You've seen me. Can I go?"
"No!" he said desperately. Then he said, more calmly, "Not yet. I've got something to show you."
"But we can't!" Hermione gasped. "I mean, it's almost after hours."
"Live a little, Granger," he said, taking her hand and pulling her after him.
***
"Oh wow," said Hermione blankly. "It's a stretch of mouldy dungeon wall."
"Hey," he said, pretending to take offense. "Don't insult it. Walls have ears, you know."
She gave an unwilling giggle, even though it was a pretty pathetic joke. Smirking, Malfoy placed his palm flat against the wall.
"Was something supposed to happen?" Hermione asked after a few seconds.
"Yes. This."
He grabbed her around the waist and pulled her through the wall.
***
The chapter isn't really finished, but I should be able to update soon.
Please leave feedback, or you could even PM me if you haven't got much to say!
"You're crazy!" said Hermione weakly. "We are going to get in SO much trouble."
Malfoy rolled his eyes. "No one knows we're here, Granger. This room is a secret room."
"How did you find it then?"
"How do you think?" said Malfoy, blushing slightly. "I tripped over and fell right through it."
Hermione tried to conceal a very unladylike snort, but was unsuccessful.
"You're disgusting," said Malfoy calmly, passing her a tissue from a box on the table. Hermione took it gratefully and wiped her face.
"Sit," said Malfoy, an amused smile creeping across his face.
Uncertainly, Hermione looked around the tiny little room for a chair. Malfoy's smile broadened.
"I don't have dragon pox, you know," he said, patting the sofa beside him. Sighing inwardly, Hermione perched herself on the edge.
There was a long, awkward pause.
"Are we just going to sit here until we get caught?" said Hermione waspishly after a time. Malfoy said nothing. He was looking at her with his head slightly to one side, his expression unreadable.
"Look," said Hermione, getting up, "I'm going to go..."
Malfoy pulled her back down again insistently.
"What day is it today?" he whispered.
"Um..." For some reason, Hermione's brain had gone blank. "Saturday."
He gave the smallest of groans.
"One day," he muttered to himself. Hermione was intruiged.
"One day what?"
Quite unexpectedly, he got up.
"We should go," he said darkly, and he left without a word, leaving Hermione to puzzle her way through the maze of dungeon passages on her own.
***
CHAPTER 9
"Well," said Blaise importantly, "I should really be heading off. I've got a bet to win."
Draco and Pansy glared at him as he strutted out of the common room.
He paused as the concealed door shut behind him. Which way was it to the kitchens? He honestly had no idea...
"It's that way," Pansy giggled, poking her head out of the common room and pointing down one of the passages. "Just keep following it and you'll get there."
Still trying his best to look confident, Blaise set off.
'Just keep following it' proved a lot harder than Pansy had insinuated. The passage twisted and turned and branched outwards and merged with other paths. Blaise did his best, but just when he was about to admit to himself that he was well and truly lost, the passage opened out into a well lit basement corridor, with a rather attractive redhead dawdling nervously at the end of it.
Smoothing back his hair, Blaise walked purposefully towards her, pretending to be more interested in the wall murals than in her.
He finally met her eyes, and, with some surprise, saw that she had been crying.
"I hate you," she whispered. "I really hate you."
It took a lot of self-control to stop him screaming at the stupid girl "Then why did you come?"
"I know you do," he said in an 'I-couldn't-be-more-bothered' voice. "Come on."
She faltered. "Where are we going?"
"Out."
***
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Malfoy rolled his eyes. "No one knows we're here, Granger. This room is a secret room."
"How did you find it then?"
"How do you think?" said Malfoy, blushing slightly. "I tripped over and fell right through it."
Hermione tried to conceal a very unladylike snort, but was unsuccessful.
"You're disgusting," said Malfoy calmly, passing her a tissue from a box on the table. Hermione took it gratefully and wiped her face.
"Sit," said Malfoy, an amused smile creeping across his face.
Uncertainly, Hermione looked around the tiny little room for a chair. Malfoy's smile broadened.
"I don't have dragon pox, you know," he said, patting the sofa beside him. Sighing inwardly, Hermione perched herself on the edge.
There was a long, awkward pause.
"Are we just going to sit here until we get caught?" said Hermione waspishly after a time. Malfoy said nothing. He was looking at her with his head slightly to one side, his expression unreadable.
"Look," said Hermione, getting up, "I'm going to go..."
Malfoy pulled her back down again insistently.
"What day is it today?" he whispered.
"Um..." For some reason, Hermione's brain had gone blank. "Saturday."
He gave the smallest of groans.
"One day," he muttered to himself. Hermione was intruiged.
"One day what?"
Quite unexpectedly, he got up.
"We should go," he said darkly, and he left without a word, leaving Hermione to puzzle her way through the maze of dungeon passages on her own.
***
CHAPTER 9
"Well," said Blaise importantly, "I should really be heading off. I've got a bet to win."
Draco and Pansy glared at him as he strutted out of the common room.
He paused as the concealed door shut behind him. Which way was it to the kitchens? He honestly had no idea...
"It's that way," Pansy giggled, poking her head out of the common room and pointing down one of the passages. "Just keep following it and you'll get there."
Still trying his best to look confident, Blaise set off.
'Just keep following it' proved a lot harder than Pansy had insinuated. The passage twisted and turned and branched outwards and merged with other paths. Blaise did his best, but just when he was about to admit to himself that he was well and truly lost, the passage opened out into a well lit basement corridor, with a rather attractive redhead dawdling nervously at the end of it.
Smoothing back his hair, Blaise walked purposefully towards her, pretending to be more interested in the wall murals than in her.
He finally met her eyes, and, with some surprise, saw that she had been crying.
"I hate you," she whispered. "I really hate you."
It took a lot of self-control to stop him screaming at the stupid girl "Then why did you come?"
"I know you do," he said in an 'I-couldn't-be-more-bothered' voice. "Come on."
She faltered. "Where are we going?"
"Out."
***
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CHAPTER 10
She couldn't help but give a small sigh.
"Oh. It's beautiful."
"I'd love to take the credit for it..." said Blaise, sitting down on the elaborately carved stone bench. "But it was like this when I got her. Divine from the moment of creation."
Out of Ginny's eyeline, Blaise shuffled his little bundle of notes that he had deemed useful to bring with him. He wasn't the world's best conversationist, unless the subject was himself, of course.
Ginny ran her hands lovingly over the intertwined ivy covering the ancient stone table. The she froze.
"I still hate you, you know," she said stiffly. Then, hardly able to contain herself, she ran over to the little moonlight pond to watch the dragon flies skimming across the water. Blaise chuckled to himself.
Piece of cake, he thought happily. He crept up behind her and draped an arm quickly around her shoulders. She squealed, but it was a happy squeal.
"I've just got to show this place to Harry," she breathed.
"NO!" He withdrew his arm. "No, you can't show anyone. It's a secret place, not just any riff-raff can come here. You musn't tell anyone. Swear?"
A kind of fire flashed in her chocolate brown eyes that he could have never imagined there. She drew back her hand and slapped him as hard as she could.
"Make me," she hissed. And she turned on her heel and stormed away.
***
Short, but (hopefully) to the point. My life's getting a bit full, but I should be able to get some more up soon. But in the meantime, you know that you would just love to leave me feedback
She couldn't help but give a small sigh.
"Oh. It's beautiful."
"I'd love to take the credit for it..." said Blaise, sitting down on the elaborately carved stone bench. "But it was like this when I got her. Divine from the moment of creation."
Out of Ginny's eyeline, Blaise shuffled his little bundle of notes that he had deemed useful to bring with him. He wasn't the world's best conversationist, unless the subject was himself, of course.
Ginny ran her hands lovingly over the intertwined ivy covering the ancient stone table. The she froze.
"I still hate you, you know," she said stiffly. Then, hardly able to contain herself, she ran over to the little moonlight pond to watch the dragon flies skimming across the water. Blaise chuckled to himself.
Piece of cake, he thought happily. He crept up behind her and draped an arm quickly around her shoulders. She squealed, but it was a happy squeal.
"I've just got to show this place to Harry," she breathed.
"NO!" He withdrew his arm. "No, you can't show anyone. It's a secret place, not just any riff-raff can come here. You musn't tell anyone. Swear?"
A kind of fire flashed in her chocolate brown eyes that he could have never imagined there. She drew back her hand and slapped him as hard as she could.
"Make me," she hissed. And she turned on her heel and stormed away.
***
Short, but (hopefully) to the point. My life's getting a bit full, but I should be able to get some more up soon. But in the meantime, you know that you would just love to leave me feedback
CHAPTER 11
Neville shivered slightly and looked down at his fluffy bunny slippers. It occurred to him that they might not have been the most stylish thing to wear. As he waited, he considered his ridiculous situation. A girl was in love with him. In love with HIM, Neville Longbottom, Gryffindor's joke, the one everyone laughed AT, not with.
He drew his dressing gown more tightly around himself and tried to puzzle out the thing that was bothering him most. Did he love Pansy too?
Sure, she was pretty and popular and all the Slytherins thought she was funny, but when he lay alone at night, Neville liked to fantasize about being in love. He'd imagined a more passionate feeling than this timid respect and admiration that he felt for Pansy.
His teeth began to chatter slightly, and a horrible thought struck him. What if it was too good to be true? What if it had all been a joke, a Slytherin prank? What if he would remain standing in the cold for hours until he caught a chill and died?
What ifs began to fly through his brain like dark, pessimistic bats. He tried hopelessly to dispell his mounting fears, but something told him very firmly that Pansy was not going to come.
"Boo," someone whispered softly in his ear. He screamed loudly and fell backwards into a bush.
"It's only me," said Pansy, heaving him upright and stifling a giggle when she saw the little toads embroidered on his pyjamas. "Come on, let's get inside."
He let her lead him at a brisk pace back up to the castle without asking why they hadn't just met inside in the warm. Pressing a finger to her lips, she led him not towards the oak front doors, but around the back of the castle, through a particularly wild thicket and out into a small opening in the wall.
"This leads directly to the kitchens," she said, her eyes sparkling as she pushed him through first. "We'll get some hot chocolate or something to warm up."
The small stone tunnel opened out suddenly, banishing the cold and replacing it with blazing hot air. Neville realized that he could feel his toes again, and wiggled them appreciatively.
"Good evening, young sir and miss," squeaked a tiny voice. Turning, Neville saw that one single house elf had broken away from the busily working throng and approached them. "Ling-ling hopes she may be of assistance to you. The others are far too busy, but Ling-ling can help!"
"Two mugs of hot chocolate," said Pansy with an air of authority.
"Please," added Neville meekly. Ling-ling bowed deeply and scurried off, returning almost immediately with two mugs of steaming hot chocolate.
"Thank you," said Neville, grasping the warm mug in his slowly defrosting fingers and taking a scalding sip.
"That is all you will be needing, Miss?" asked Ling-ling, speaking to Pansy instead of Neville. Pansy nodded and Ling-ling hurried back to join the other elves at work.
They stood in silence for a few minutes, sipping their drinks. Neville felt that he should say something, but was afraid of getting tongue-tied, so stayed quiet.
"Who are your friends, Long... I mean Neville?" asked Pansy calmly, putting her mug down on the stone floor.
"Um..." Neville wanted to ask what she meant by friends (people he like or people who liked him?) but he didn't know how to phrase it, so he just said vaugely, "Oh, you know, I like everyone really..." he trailed off uncertainly, but Pansy made no further attempts at conversation.
He put his cup down on the floor by his feet and looked absently at the bustling house elves. He didn't even notice Pansy slip her hand in his.
"I like you, Neville," she whispered.
Neville jumped. "What?"
"I... love you." She batted her eyes demurely. "You're sweet."
He supposed he should be grateful, but no girl in his wishful fantasies had ever called him 'sweet', so he had no idea what to say in response. He suddenly became aware of her hand in his, and it seemed like a good idea to give it a comforting squeeze.
It appeared that this was the wrong thing to do. Pansy made an impatient noise and snatched her hand away. Then she seemed to catch herself, and she smiled and offered him her arm.
"Walk me to my common room," she said gently. He swallowed.
"I... I... I don't know... the way."
Her face clouded and she looked like she was about to scream, but she caught herself again and simply said, "Ah well. I'll see you tomorrow." And she kissed him on the cheek.
Long after she had walked out of the kitchen, Neville put a trembling hand up to his cheek and felt the place where she had kissed him. There were no fireworks, no choirs singing jovially, but it was still satisfying to know that a girl his own age had actually kissed him willingly.
***
I'm sorry it took so long, I've been REALLY busy. Please leave feedback!
Neville shivered slightly and looked down at his fluffy bunny slippers. It occurred to him that they might not have been the most stylish thing to wear. As he waited, he considered his ridiculous situation. A girl was in love with him. In love with HIM, Neville Longbottom, Gryffindor's joke, the one everyone laughed AT, not with.
He drew his dressing gown more tightly around himself and tried to puzzle out the thing that was bothering him most. Did he love Pansy too?
Sure, she was pretty and popular and all the Slytherins thought she was funny, but when he lay alone at night, Neville liked to fantasize about being in love. He'd imagined a more passionate feeling than this timid respect and admiration that he felt for Pansy.
His teeth began to chatter slightly, and a horrible thought struck him. What if it was too good to be true? What if it had all been a joke, a Slytherin prank? What if he would remain standing in the cold for hours until he caught a chill and died?
What ifs began to fly through his brain like dark, pessimistic bats. He tried hopelessly to dispell his mounting fears, but something told him very firmly that Pansy was not going to come.
"Boo," someone whispered softly in his ear. He screamed loudly and fell backwards into a bush.
"It's only me," said Pansy, heaving him upright and stifling a giggle when she saw the little toads embroidered on his pyjamas. "Come on, let's get inside."
He let her lead him at a brisk pace back up to the castle without asking why they hadn't just met inside in the warm. Pressing a finger to her lips, she led him not towards the oak front doors, but around the back of the castle, through a particularly wild thicket and out into a small opening in the wall.
"This leads directly to the kitchens," she said, her eyes sparkling as she pushed him through first. "We'll get some hot chocolate or something to warm up."
The small stone tunnel opened out suddenly, banishing the cold and replacing it with blazing hot air. Neville realized that he could feel his toes again, and wiggled them appreciatively.
"Good evening, young sir and miss," squeaked a tiny voice. Turning, Neville saw that one single house elf had broken away from the busily working throng and approached them. "Ling-ling hopes she may be of assistance to you. The others are far too busy, but Ling-ling can help!"
"Two mugs of hot chocolate," said Pansy with an air of authority.
"Please," added Neville meekly. Ling-ling bowed deeply and scurried off, returning almost immediately with two mugs of steaming hot chocolate.
"Thank you," said Neville, grasping the warm mug in his slowly defrosting fingers and taking a scalding sip.
"That is all you will be needing, Miss?" asked Ling-ling, speaking to Pansy instead of Neville. Pansy nodded and Ling-ling hurried back to join the other elves at work.
They stood in silence for a few minutes, sipping their drinks. Neville felt that he should say something, but was afraid of getting tongue-tied, so stayed quiet.
"Who are your friends, Long... I mean Neville?" asked Pansy calmly, putting her mug down on the stone floor.
"Um..." Neville wanted to ask what she meant by friends (people he like or people who liked him?) but he didn't know how to phrase it, so he just said vaugely, "Oh, you know, I like everyone really..." he trailed off uncertainly, but Pansy made no further attempts at conversation.
He put his cup down on the floor by his feet and looked absently at the bustling house elves. He didn't even notice Pansy slip her hand in his.
"I like you, Neville," she whispered.
Neville jumped. "What?"
"I... love you." She batted her eyes demurely. "You're sweet."
He supposed he should be grateful, but no girl in his wishful fantasies had ever called him 'sweet', so he had no idea what to say in response. He suddenly became aware of her hand in his, and it seemed like a good idea to give it a comforting squeeze.
It appeared that this was the wrong thing to do. Pansy made an impatient noise and snatched her hand away. Then she seemed to catch herself, and she smiled and offered him her arm.
"Walk me to my common room," she said gently. He swallowed.
"I... I... I don't know... the way."
Her face clouded and she looked like she was about to scream, but she caught herself again and simply said, "Ah well. I'll see you tomorrow." And she kissed him on the cheek.
Long after she had walked out of the kitchen, Neville put a trembling hand up to his cheek and felt the place where she had kissed him. There were no fireworks, no choirs singing jovially, but it was still satisfying to know that a girl his own age had actually kissed him willingly.
***
I'm sorry it took so long, I've been REALLY busy. Please leave feedback!
CHAPTER 12
The three Slytherins ate breakfast in complete silence, not taking their eyes off the Gryffindor table. Apart from a "Today's Sunday, isn't it?" from Blaise, nothing was exchanged between them. Across the hall, Hermione and Ginny left early, arm in arm, their heads bowed in furious conversation. Blaise got up almost immediately, a strange expression on his face, but Draco hung back until Hermione was out of sight, possibly to avoid arousing the suspicion of Harry and Ron, who were watching him closely, before sauntering out the Hall. Only Pansy hung back, looking pensive.
It was going to be a lot harder than she thought, she could see that now. Longbottom had obviously never even SPOKEN to a girl before. But she was confident that she could get.
A mischievous smile spread across her face and she laughed for no apparent reason. She abandoned her toast and walked towards the Entrance Hall. As she went, she saw Longbottom staring at, and gave a flirtatious wave. He went bright red and sank down low in his seat. Laughing again, she made her way to the Slytherin common room. She had some careful planning to do.
***
Following Ginny and Granger at a reasonable distance, Blaise strained his ears to try and catch what they were saying.
"- Just so confused!"
"It's alright, Ginny," said Granger soothingly. "Of course you're confused. You think you hate him but you're not totally sure, and at times you think you might even be in love with him..."
Blaise's heart rate quickened. She was in love with him! He knew it!
"And then," continued Granger, "there's Harry."
Blaise froze.
"What about Harry?" said Ginny, a little indignantly. Granger looked meaningfully at her, and she hung her head.
"He's too good for me," she said dejectedly. "I just thought maybe... But he'll never think of me as anything but his best friend's little sister..."
"You really care about him, don't you?" said Granger thoughtfully, as Blaise seethed quietly. "Then let me give you some advice." They started to walk again. "You need to relax a bit. You know what I mean," she said when Ginny showed signs of interrupting. "He's just not ready yet. Give him time." She smiled. "Boys are so immature sometimes. He'll come round."
Ginny still looked defeated, so Granger said, "Look, Ginny. Here's an idea. I think..." she paused. "I think you should go out with someone else." Ginny stared at her. Blaise did too.
"Not right now!" she said hurridly. "Maybe in a year or two. But try to think of him more as a friend than a... you know." Hermione looked at her in a concerned way. "Not that I'm saying Blaise Zabini is your best option. We'll see how we go, but I was thinking more... Michael Corner, or Terry Boot. Or maybe Justin Finch-Fletchly. Someone like that."
They walked in silence for a time.
"Do you really think it might... work?" said Ginny shyly. Granger relaxed.
"Yes," she said. "Trust me. Blitherhide," she said off-handly to a portrait, which swung open to admit them. Just before they disappeared inside, Blaise heard her say, "Just give him time."
***
A bit off the storyline as well, but I felt I needed to include it. I'm sorry I'm so slow at updating, but I am really trying to get faster! And I always love feedback!
The three Slytherins ate breakfast in complete silence, not taking their eyes off the Gryffindor table. Apart from a "Today's Sunday, isn't it?" from Blaise, nothing was exchanged between them. Across the hall, Hermione and Ginny left early, arm in arm, their heads bowed in furious conversation. Blaise got up almost immediately, a strange expression on his face, but Draco hung back until Hermione was out of sight, possibly to avoid arousing the suspicion of Harry and Ron, who were watching him closely, before sauntering out the Hall. Only Pansy hung back, looking pensive.
It was going to be a lot harder than she thought, she could see that now. Longbottom had obviously never even SPOKEN to a girl before. But she was confident that she could get.
A mischievous smile spread across her face and she laughed for no apparent reason. She abandoned her toast and walked towards the Entrance Hall. As she went, she saw Longbottom staring at, and gave a flirtatious wave. He went bright red and sank down low in his seat. Laughing again, she made her way to the Slytherin common room. She had some careful planning to do.
***
Following Ginny and Granger at a reasonable distance, Blaise strained his ears to try and catch what they were saying.
"- Just so confused!"
"It's alright, Ginny," said Granger soothingly. "Of course you're confused. You think you hate him but you're not totally sure, and at times you think you might even be in love with him..."
Blaise's heart rate quickened. She was in love with him! He knew it!
"And then," continued Granger, "there's Harry."
Blaise froze.
"What about Harry?" said Ginny, a little indignantly. Granger looked meaningfully at her, and she hung her head.
"He's too good for me," she said dejectedly. "I just thought maybe... But he'll never think of me as anything but his best friend's little sister..."
"You really care about him, don't you?" said Granger thoughtfully, as Blaise seethed quietly. "Then let me give you some advice." They started to walk again. "You need to relax a bit. You know what I mean," she said when Ginny showed signs of interrupting. "He's just not ready yet. Give him time." She smiled. "Boys are so immature sometimes. He'll come round."
Ginny still looked defeated, so Granger said, "Look, Ginny. Here's an idea. I think..." she paused. "I think you should go out with someone else." Ginny stared at her. Blaise did too.
"Not right now!" she said hurridly. "Maybe in a year or two. But try to think of him more as a friend than a... you know." Hermione looked at her in a concerned way. "Not that I'm saying Blaise Zabini is your best option. We'll see how we go, but I was thinking more... Michael Corner, or Terry Boot. Or maybe Justin Finch-Fletchly. Someone like that."
They walked in silence for a time.
"Do you really think it might... work?" said Ginny shyly. Granger relaxed.
"Yes," she said. "Trust me. Blitherhide," she said off-handly to a portrait, which swung open to admit them. Just before they disappeared inside, Blaise heard her say, "Just give him time."
***
A bit off the storyline as well, but I felt I needed to include it. I'm sorry I'm so slow at updating, but I am really trying to get faster! And I always love feedback!
CHAPTER 13
"Hey there, genius."
Hermione looked up from her third draft of her History of Magic essay, and half-smiled half-frowned.
"Can I help you?" she asked. Malfoy smirked, but said nothing. He sat down opposite her and, with a small wrist movement, indicated that she could continue writing. she stared at him for a second, but then hunched over her work and tried her best to ignore him.
However, there were several other aspects that led up to the meeting of the Wizengamot which can only lead it to be labelled 'corrupt' and essentially...
Her heart was beating a little faster than usual, and she felt hot and flustered and had no idea why. She glanced at her watch and then back down at her parchment. It was getting late.
"Look, you're putting off," she said as politely as she could, meeting his gaze. "Would you mind leaving? I need to finish this."
He pretended to look hurt.
"If you feel that way, then fine. But this is a library, you know."
"What's that got to do with anything?" she asked in surprise.
"It's a communal space. I can sit here if I want to."
Hermione laughed. She couldn't help it.
"I get the feeling that if you told me to leave, I would have no choice but to obey."
"That's different," he said automatically. Hermione's smile faded, and she raised an eyebrow.
"Because I'm a Mudblood?" she said coolly.
"Yes. No." He blushed. "I mean..."
She reached across the table and took his hand.
"Stay if you want to, but keep very quiet," she said in a whisper. It took a few minutes of him staring at their interlocked fingers for her to realize that she was touching him intentionally, and she instinctively snatched her hand away. Clearing her throat a little nervously, she bent back over her essay.
But in the case of Draco Malfoy...
She jumped, and quickly corrected her mistake.
But in the case ofDraco Malfoy Arnold Wallenbanger, the wizard on trial...
She stole a glance upwards. Draco was looking at her with a strange expression on her face, that changed into a smirk the moment he realized she was looking at him. She quickly looked back down at her work, but when she read over her previous sentence, it made no sense to her, and she could not for the life of her remember what she was going to write next.
"It's no good," she sighed, pushing the essay away. "I can't concentrate."
Draco reached out and pulled the parchment towards him. His eyes flew over the page and then he pushed it back towards her.
"You were about to write about Sinead Portersmith."
She blinked. "What?"
He lent over the table and ran his finger over the page, trying to find the right line. He was so close to her, she could hear his breathing.
"There. You've already spoken about how Wallenbanger had given financial support in many Ministry departments. But it was Portersmith who used his influence in the media to stir up..."
He was speaking but she couldn't hear a word he was saying. With a start she realized he was looking at her exspectantly, as though he'd asked her a question.
"Um..." she said, biting her lip.
Her heart was pounding in her ribcage. She felt herself leaning forward slightly, as though the thing in the world that she wanted most was to be closer to him. He fascinated her, scared her and mesemerised her all at the same time. She wanted to know more, and there was only one way on her mind of finding out. Curiosity overtook her, and she closed her eyes, reducing the distance between their lips to zero.
***
CHAPTER 14
Pansy expertly applied her lipgloss in front of the well lit mirror. Happy with her handiwork, she twisted her hair up into a messy bun and gave her best model pout. Perfect.
Finding Longbottom wasn't hard. He was in Greenhouse Three, helping Professor Sprout tend to the plants. Pansy, who wasn't particularly fond of Herbology, waited outside for him to finish.
When she linked arms with him, she felt him stiffen slightly, which both amused and irritate her.
"You're SO good at Herbology," she exclaimed. He flushed.
"N-n-no, well n-n-not..." he stammered, trailing off. Pansy couldn't hold back a self-satisfied smile.
"I wish you could teach me," she said, smiling melodramatically. "I'm TERRIBLE at Herbology."
Neville brightened. He may not know anything about girls, but when it came to plants he was much more well-informed.
"Shall we go back to the Greenhouse then?" he suggested timidly. "I could show you..."
Pansy gave him a dazzling smile. "I'd like that a lot."
So they turned and retraced their steps back to the Greenhouse, where Professor Sprout was still bustling among the plants. The smell of moist earth and dragon dung fertilizer made Pansy wrinkle her nose, but Neville seemed perfectly used to it.
"Hi, Professor," he said brightly. She straightened up and smiled at him. "Pansy asked me to show her round."
Professor Sprout caught sight of Pansy and her smile faded somewhat. She pursed her lips.
"Yes, Miss Parkinson could definitely benefit from your instruction, Longbottom."
Pansy's upper lip curled slightly.
"Well," continued Sprout, glancing around. "I need to get going, but you two should be all right on your own?"
Neville nodded eagerly. Behind him, Pansy smirked. It was all just too perfect.
With one last slightly suspicious look at Pansy, Professor Sprout left. Neville turned to Pansy, grinning bashfully.
"Where shall we start?" he asked her.
"With the least dangerous plant," said Pansy, barely concealing a shudder. Neville gave a shy giggle, and gently led her over to a tray of innocent looking seedlings.
All his anxieties seemed to melt away, and Pansy watched with something like fascination as he confidently pointed out the different parts of the plants and chatted merrily about how to care for them. Neville lent across to pull over another set of seedlings and for some reason, looked up into her face, inches from his. He froze, staring into her sparkling eyes, and his mouth fell open at his own daring to come this close to an actual real-life girl. Emotions that he had never felt before raged inside him, and he could barely keep himself from shaking. Pansy closed her eyes like she was expecting something, and, as though he had done it a thousand times before, he lent slowly into her until they were ALMOST touching...
***
I was going to do a bit about Zabini as well, but I wanted to really do all of them justice, and I just don't think I have the time right now...
Anyway, please leave feedback! Thanks!
"Hey there, genius."
Hermione looked up from her third draft of her History of Magic essay, and half-smiled half-frowned.
"Can I help you?" she asked. Malfoy smirked, but said nothing. He sat down opposite her and, with a small wrist movement, indicated that she could continue writing. she stared at him for a second, but then hunched over her work and tried her best to ignore him.
However, there were several other aspects that led up to the meeting of the Wizengamot which can only lead it to be labelled 'corrupt' and essentially...
Her heart was beating a little faster than usual, and she felt hot and flustered and had no idea why. She glanced at her watch and then back down at her parchment. It was getting late.
"Look, you're putting off," she said as politely as she could, meeting his gaze. "Would you mind leaving? I need to finish this."
He pretended to look hurt.
"If you feel that way, then fine. But this is a library, you know."
"What's that got to do with anything?" she asked in surprise.
"It's a communal space. I can sit here if I want to."
Hermione laughed. She couldn't help it.
"I get the feeling that if you told me to leave, I would have no choice but to obey."
"That's different," he said automatically. Hermione's smile faded, and she raised an eyebrow.
"Because I'm a Mudblood?" she said coolly.
"Yes. No." He blushed. "I mean..."
She reached across the table and took his hand.
"Stay if you want to, but keep very quiet," she said in a whisper. It took a few minutes of him staring at their interlocked fingers for her to realize that she was touching him intentionally, and she instinctively snatched her hand away. Clearing her throat a little nervously, she bent back over her essay.
But in the case of Draco Malfoy...
She jumped, and quickly corrected her mistake.
But in the case of
She stole a glance upwards. Draco was looking at her with a strange expression on her face, that changed into a smirk the moment he realized she was looking at him. She quickly looked back down at her work, but when she read over her previous sentence, it made no sense to her, and she could not for the life of her remember what she was going to write next.
"It's no good," she sighed, pushing the essay away. "I can't concentrate."
Draco reached out and pulled the parchment towards him. His eyes flew over the page and then he pushed it back towards her.
"You were about to write about Sinead Portersmith."
She blinked. "What?"
He lent over the table and ran his finger over the page, trying to find the right line. He was so close to her, she could hear his breathing.
"There. You've already spoken about how Wallenbanger had given financial support in many Ministry departments. But it was Portersmith who used his influence in the media to stir up..."
He was speaking but she couldn't hear a word he was saying. With a start she realized he was looking at her exspectantly, as though he'd asked her a question.
"Um..." she said, biting her lip.
Her heart was pounding in her ribcage. She felt herself leaning forward slightly, as though the thing in the world that she wanted most was to be closer to him. He fascinated her, scared her and mesemerised her all at the same time. She wanted to know more, and there was only one way on her mind of finding out. Curiosity overtook her, and she closed her eyes, reducing the distance between their lips to zero.
***
CHAPTER 14
Pansy expertly applied her lipgloss in front of the well lit mirror. Happy with her handiwork, she twisted her hair up into a messy bun and gave her best model pout. Perfect.
Finding Longbottom wasn't hard. He was in Greenhouse Three, helping Professor Sprout tend to the plants. Pansy, who wasn't particularly fond of Herbology, waited outside for him to finish.
When she linked arms with him, she felt him stiffen slightly, which both amused and irritate her.
"You're SO good at Herbology," she exclaimed. He flushed.
"N-n-no, well n-n-not..." he stammered, trailing off. Pansy couldn't hold back a self-satisfied smile.
"I wish you could teach me," she said, smiling melodramatically. "I'm TERRIBLE at Herbology."
Neville brightened. He may not know anything about girls, but when it came to plants he was much more well-informed.
"Shall we go back to the Greenhouse then?" he suggested timidly. "I could show you..."
Pansy gave him a dazzling smile. "I'd like that a lot."
So they turned and retraced their steps back to the Greenhouse, where Professor Sprout was still bustling among the plants. The smell of moist earth and dragon dung fertilizer made Pansy wrinkle her nose, but Neville seemed perfectly used to it.
"Hi, Professor," he said brightly. She straightened up and smiled at him. "Pansy asked me to show her round."
Professor Sprout caught sight of Pansy and her smile faded somewhat. She pursed her lips.
"Yes, Miss Parkinson could definitely benefit from your instruction, Longbottom."
Pansy's upper lip curled slightly.
"Well," continued Sprout, glancing around. "I need to get going, but you two should be all right on your own?"
Neville nodded eagerly. Behind him, Pansy smirked. It was all just too perfect.
With one last slightly suspicious look at Pansy, Professor Sprout left. Neville turned to Pansy, grinning bashfully.
"Where shall we start?" he asked her.
"With the least dangerous plant," said Pansy, barely concealing a shudder. Neville gave a shy giggle, and gently led her over to a tray of innocent looking seedlings.
All his anxieties seemed to melt away, and Pansy watched with something like fascination as he confidently pointed out the different parts of the plants and chatted merrily about how to care for them. Neville lent across to pull over another set of seedlings and for some reason, looked up into her face, inches from his. He froze, staring into her sparkling eyes, and his mouth fell open at his own daring to come this close to an actual real-life girl. Emotions that he had never felt before raged inside him, and he could barely keep himself from shaking. Pansy closed her eyes like she was expecting something, and, as though he had done it a thousand times before, he lent slowly into her until they were ALMOST touching...
***
I was going to do a bit about Zabini as well, but I wanted to really do all of them justice, and I just don't think I have the time right now...
Anyway, please leave feedback! Thanks!
CHAPTER 14
Ginny sat on the stone bench, staring at the little pond, thinking. Her mind felt strangely clear, and she saw the way ahead exactly as Hermione had told it to her. She realized that the way she acted around Harry had to change. She could wait for him.
"I knew I'd find you here."
That slime-ball Zabini came and sat next to her on the stone bench. She expected him to speak, but he remained silent, and she felt strangely grateful.
"Hermione saw you following us," she said finally. Zabini gave a half-smile.
"She's a smart girl. And what she said was right, you know." He leaned in closer. "You've got to move on from Potter."
He reached over and took her hand. Ginny was about to pull away, when she suddenly stopped herself. She sighed heavily and looked out at the pond again.
There was a prolonged pause. Ginny felt like she was supposed to do something, but she wasn't quite sure what.
Zabini groaned and dropped her hand, looking pensively into the branches of the overhead willow tree.
"Will you..." he faltered. "Could you kiss me?"
Ginny stared at him.
"W-what?"
He leaned towards her again. "I need you to kiss me. Just once." He looked deep into her brown eyes. "Please."
Ginny was temporarily lost for words. Zabini sighed.
"I'm going to come clean with you," he said. "I made a bet-"
"I knew it!"
Ginny and Zabini sprung apart. Two of the bushes concealing the secret glade shook violently and two Hogwarts students emerged from them.
"Harry!" Ginny gasped.
"Nott!" Zabini growled.
"I'm sorry, Ginny," said Harry, glaring at Zabini. "I should have listened to you when you told me about Zabini." He held out his hand, not taking his eyes off the Slytherins. "Come on. Let's go."
For a fleeting second, Ginny considered resisting, but she decided against it. With one last searching look at Zabini, she let Harry lead her away.
"Cheater," Nott hissed as soon as they were out of sight.
"So I didn't win," said Zabini. "Big deal." He looked at the floor. "I suppose those two told you to spy on me."
"Whatever. We're all meeting in the library."
Zabini sighed.
"I'll be there."
Nott smirked and sauntered off, leaving Zabini on his own.
***
CHAPTER 15
Neville faltered.
"Just kiss me for Merlin's sake," Pansy whispered.
"What?"
Pansy's eyes opened. Neville had leaned away from her. "I... Um..."
Neville stared at the plants in front of him, steeling himself to say what was on his mind.
"Actually, I don't think I will kiss you," he said, not making eye contact. "You see, I don't really like you. You're not a very nice person. And I know you're not really interested in me. So you can leave now."
Pansy turned an ugly shade of red, but even she knew that she'd been beaten. With a filthy look at Neville, who was shaking slightly, but staring determinedly at his plants, she left, kicking over a soil-filled pot as she went.
***
Draco and Hermione broke apart. They both blushed, and looked away from each other.
"That was... Um..."
Hermione gave a little giggle. "But you can't tell anyone," she said.
"Of course," he said, smiling.
She leaned across the table.
"It'll be our little secret," she said, and, smiling, she gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.
Behind Hermione, Draco caught sight of Zabini, Pansy and Nott sitting down at a table. He sighed inwardly.
"I'll be right back," he said, to hermione, and he made his way over to them.
"So," said Nott, taking on the position of adjudicator. "Do we have a winner."
Zabini shook his head silently, glaring at Nott. Pansy glowered at the table.
"I can't believe it!" she exploded. "I was SO close! And then he had to go and-"
"What about you Malfoy?" Nott interrupted.
"Oh, um, no" said Draco hurridly. He gave a short laugh. "It's just a stupid bet though. It's not like I actually LIKE her. Stupid Mudblood," he added for good measure.
Pansy relaxed and laughed too. "That's the end of that then," she said with relief. Zabini gave a silent shrug. "It was a weird bet," Pansy continued. "Making Gryffindors think we actually like them. Ha!"
Behind the nearest bookcase, Hermione had heard enough. With tears in her eyes, she gathered up her essay and left.
***
EPILOGUE
"Have you anything quite as pathetic?" said Malfoy. Hermione whipped around. "And he's supposed to be our teacher!"
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Harry reach for his wand and Ron start forward. Ordinarily, she would have restrained them, but this time it was different. He had lied to her, and that wasn't ok. And, what was worse, she had...
SMACK!
Malfoy staggered backwards. He stared up at her, confused and hurt. But one glance told him that she knew. She knew everything.
I'm sorry, his eyes seemed to say to her, but that just made Hermione even angrier. She raised her hand to hit him again.
"Don't you DARE call Hagrid pathetic, you foul... you evil..."
He knew it wasn't about Hagrid.
"Hermione..." said Ron weakly, making a grab at her arm.
"Get OFF, Ron!"
She pulled out her wand and pointed it threateningly at Malfoy.
Whatever there was between us, her eyes said, it's over.
"C'mon," he muttered to Crabbe and Goyle. With one last look at Hermione, he disappeared down a passageway.
***
Oh wow. It's over...
Please do leave feedback!
Ginny sat on the stone bench, staring at the little pond, thinking. Her mind felt strangely clear, and she saw the way ahead exactly as Hermione had told it to her. She realized that the way she acted around Harry had to change. She could wait for him.
"I knew I'd find you here."
That slime-ball Zabini came and sat next to her on the stone bench. She expected him to speak, but he remained silent, and she felt strangely grateful.
"Hermione saw you following us," she said finally. Zabini gave a half-smile.
"She's a smart girl. And what she said was right, you know." He leaned in closer. "You've got to move on from Potter."
He reached over and took her hand. Ginny was about to pull away, when she suddenly stopped herself. She sighed heavily and looked out at the pond again.
There was a prolonged pause. Ginny felt like she was supposed to do something, but she wasn't quite sure what.
Zabini groaned and dropped her hand, looking pensively into the branches of the overhead willow tree.
"Will you..." he faltered. "Could you kiss me?"
Ginny stared at him.
"W-what?"
He leaned towards her again. "I need you to kiss me. Just once." He looked deep into her brown eyes. "Please."
Ginny was temporarily lost for words. Zabini sighed.
"I'm going to come clean with you," he said. "I made a bet-"
"I knew it!"
Ginny and Zabini sprung apart. Two of the bushes concealing the secret glade shook violently and two Hogwarts students emerged from them.
"Harry!" Ginny gasped.
"Nott!" Zabini growled.
"I'm sorry, Ginny," said Harry, glaring at Zabini. "I should have listened to you when you told me about Zabini." He held out his hand, not taking his eyes off the Slytherins. "Come on. Let's go."
For a fleeting second, Ginny considered resisting, but she decided against it. With one last searching look at Zabini, she let Harry lead her away.
"Cheater," Nott hissed as soon as they were out of sight.
"So I didn't win," said Zabini. "Big deal." He looked at the floor. "I suppose those two told you to spy on me."
"Whatever. We're all meeting in the library."
Zabini sighed.
"I'll be there."
Nott smirked and sauntered off, leaving Zabini on his own.
***
CHAPTER 15
Neville faltered.
"Just kiss me for Merlin's sake," Pansy whispered.
"What?"
Pansy's eyes opened. Neville had leaned away from her. "I... Um..."
Neville stared at the plants in front of him, steeling himself to say what was on his mind.
"Actually, I don't think I will kiss you," he said, not making eye contact. "You see, I don't really like you. You're not a very nice person. And I know you're not really interested in me. So you can leave now."
Pansy turned an ugly shade of red, but even she knew that she'd been beaten. With a filthy look at Neville, who was shaking slightly, but staring determinedly at his plants, she left, kicking over a soil-filled pot as she went.
***
Draco and Hermione broke apart. They both blushed, and looked away from each other.
"That was... Um..."
Hermione gave a little giggle. "But you can't tell anyone," she said.
"Of course," he said, smiling.
She leaned across the table.
"It'll be our little secret," she said, and, smiling, she gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.
Behind Hermione, Draco caught sight of Zabini, Pansy and Nott sitting down at a table. He sighed inwardly.
"I'll be right back," he said, to hermione, and he made his way over to them.
"So," said Nott, taking on the position of adjudicator. "Do we have a winner."
Zabini shook his head silently, glaring at Nott. Pansy glowered at the table.
"I can't believe it!" she exploded. "I was SO close! And then he had to go and-"
"What about you Malfoy?" Nott interrupted.
"Oh, um, no" said Draco hurridly. He gave a short laugh. "It's just a stupid bet though. It's not like I actually LIKE her. Stupid Mudblood," he added for good measure.
Pansy relaxed and laughed too. "That's the end of that then," she said with relief. Zabini gave a silent shrug. "It was a weird bet," Pansy continued. "Making Gryffindors think we actually like them. Ha!"
Behind the nearest bookcase, Hermione had heard enough. With tears in her eyes, she gathered up her essay and left.
***
EPILOGUE
"Have you anything quite as pathetic?" said Malfoy. Hermione whipped around. "And he's supposed to be our teacher!"
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Harry reach for his wand and Ron start forward. Ordinarily, she would have restrained them, but this time it was different. He had lied to her, and that wasn't ok. And, what was worse, she had...
SMACK!
Malfoy staggered backwards. He stared up at her, confused and hurt. But one glance told him that she knew. She knew everything.
I'm sorry, his eyes seemed to say to her, but that just made Hermione even angrier. She raised her hand to hit him again.
"Don't you DARE call Hagrid pathetic, you foul... you evil..."
He knew it wasn't about Hagrid.
"Hermione..." said Ron weakly, making a grab at her arm.
"Get OFF, Ron!"
She pulled out her wand and pointed it threateningly at Malfoy.
Whatever there was between us, her eyes said, it's over.
"C'mon," he muttered to Crabbe and Goyle. With one last look at Hermione, he disappeared down a passageway.
THE END
***
Oh wow. It's over...
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