Disclaimer: Not mine, but the incredible J.K. Rowling's.
A/N: My first attempt at a Harry Potter fic, I hope you enjoy it.
Chapter 1 – The Accident
Ron stifled a yawn. He was watching his best friend Harry Potter receiving yet another lecture from the Potions Master. Harry had accidentally added too much crushed stag beetle shell and his Giggle Potion, rather than making the boy giggle had caused him to collapse in howls of laughter, right on top of Snape's desk.
"Twenty points from Gryffindor!" Snape yelled predictably. He glared at Harry, who was still in fits. "And ten more from you, Weasley," he sneered. Ron gaped at him. "What did I do?"
But Snape ignored him and starting muttering about 'good for nothing Gryffindors with oversized egos'. The potion finally wore off and Harry, looking flustered, got up off the floor and began to mop up the potion he'd spilled whilst falling into Snape's desk. Hermione rose from her seat to help him. As she watched Harry and Ron she had to suppress the giggle that rose in her own throat. Although they were now in their sixth year at Hogwarts, things seemed to be much the same as they had been when they had originally arrived as first years.
The bell rang then, signalling to all that it was lunch time. Harry, Hermione and Ron all grabbed their belongings and exited the dungeons along with their fellow Gryffindors. However, the Slytherins remained behind as Snape had requested at the beginning of the lesson.
"As you are all no doubt aware," he began cynically, "there is a lot of … tension, between the Houses of Slytherin and Gryffindor. Professor Dumbledore has assured me that it would be in the best interest of both Houses to rectify the situation." The Slytherins watched their Head of House pacing back and forth. "It has been decided, against my wishes, that from now on, all of your classes will be taken with the Gryffindors."
The room was suddenly filled with groans, muttering and frowns. The students were, putting it mildly, slightly annoyed at this latest development. A stern look from Snape silenced them. "Nothing can be done about this at the present time," he continued. "However, I believe that the Headmaster will come to his senses soon enough."
Draco Malfoy however, was not frowning. "Oh well," he muttered to his lackeys Crabbe and Goyle. "At least Divination is going to become less boring." He smirked as he thought of all the different ways now available to him to get Harry into detention more often.
Later that same evening, the Gryffindor Common Room was also filled with the same groaning as the dungeons had experienced earlier. "How come we get stuck with Slytherin?! Ron yelled over the noise.
"Mr Weasley," Professor McGonagall said. "Please keep your voice down." She didn't seem to be very happy with the arrangement either. She had decided to announce Dumbledore's idea in the Common Room after lessons had ended, believing it to be easier than telling the students in small groups. Right now she was questioning her sanity; the moans, yelling and gasps of horror were just aggravating her already pounding headache. "Everyone calm down!" When they quietened, she continued. "I know you don't like the idea; I very much doubt anyone in Slytherin likes it either. However, for the present time at least, that is how it will be." She sighed. "Try to get along with one another." With that, she swept from the room.
"I can't believe this," protested Ron. "Just think, Malfoy in every lesson." He shuddered.
"Not to mention Crabbe and Goyle," said Harry.
"And Pansy Parkinson," added Hermione. "I can't stand that girl."
* * *
"What?" Hermione was dumbfounded. It was the first lesson of the day after they had been informed of their new circumstances. Transfiguration wasn't exactly fun and games, but Hermione had enjoyed it, as much as she had her other lessons. But not today. She couldn't believe what Professor McGonagall was saying.
McGonagall had decided to pick their lesson partners for them and had started to read from a list. Hermione and indeed everyone else in the room believed the Professor had gone mad when she casually announced, "Harry and Draco." Her other choices weren't much better. "Ron and Vincent, Lavender and Millicent, Seamus and Gregory." The last straw (for Hermione at least) was, "Hermione and Pansy."
"No way!" she shrieked Pansy.
Hermione buried her head in her arms. Anyone but her.
"Well," said McGonagall. "Everyone sit with your partner."
Gryffindors and Slytherins alike stared at her speechless.
"Now," she said sharply. Grudgingly, everyone moved into a seat next to his or her partner.
"So now not only have we got to share classrooms with them, but we're forced to have them as lesson partners too?" Hermione muttered to Ron. "It can't get any worse."
As if determined to prove her wrong, McGonagall spoke again. "You may as well know now, that your Transfiguration partner is also your partner in every other subject."
Ron grimaced, then looked at Hermione. "You had to pick now to be wrong didn't you?" he sighed. "Oh well, at least neither of us are stuck with Malfoy. I feel sorry for Harry."
Hermione turned around to see Harry and Malfoy having a staring contest, each glaring at the other as if he were the scum of the earth. Malfoy then noticed Hermione looking over and sneered at her. She stuck her tongue out at him and stared back.
"Miss Granger," McGonagall said pointedly, "when you've quite finished being childish, maybe you could pay attention and I can start the lesson."
Hermione could feel the blood rushing to her cheeks while all of the Slytherins did fair impressions of Malfoy's smirk.
"Now, as I was saying," said McGonagall, "we'll be concentrating now on larger items, much larger. And much more complex. You're going to learn how to transfigure humans." The whole class looked up in surprise. Now sure that she had their attention, McGonagall continued. "In order to complete the set tasks, you must be able to trust your partner. It will not work if you do not."
Harry shot Ron a sour look that said quite plainly, Trust Malfoy? She's out of her mind.
"Okay class," said McGonagall, "This is how it's done. Farere Veratori." Many of the Gryffindors applauded as she turned herself into a replica of the Quidditch Cup. She immediately changed back. "In some ways, transfiguring yourself is more difficult than transfiguring someone else. However, the person has to trust you, so both can be equally difficult." She sat down. "I understand that this is difficult; I know it will take a long time for you all to perfect this particular spell. I also assume that the 'trust' factor will extend that time considerably."
"She's got that right," Ron muttered.
"In any case, you cannot start the practical without first learning the theory. I would like you all to research the topic and hand in an essay on the spell by next week. It should be two rolls of parchment in length."
"Only two?" Hermione said disappointedly. "My notes are almost that long."
"You never change, do you?" Harry said laughingly.
* * *
Surprisingly, the rest of the day passed without incident. In fact, everything went pretty smoothly. Until the next day's transfiguration lesson that is.
Hermione took her seat as usual in Professor McGonagall's classroom. Harry and Ron followed her inside and also sat down. They had only the briefest of moments in which to once again air their displeasure over their 'partners'…
"…did you see Pansy…"
"…tried to hex me!"
"…being silly, he's too thick to hex anyone and…"
…as the remainder of the students filed in and McGonagall began the lesson. Hermione tried to ignore the fact that Pansy was watching her like hawk (a pug-faced hawk at that) and was glaring like a madwoman. Blocking all thoughts of her Slytherin partner from her mind, Hermione attempted to answer a question posed by the Transfiguration Professor. Raising her hand, she waited for the word of acknowledgement, but it never came. Instead, Hermione heard McGonagall say in a half-surprised, half-amused tone, "Yes, Mister Malfoy?"
"Other than having trust in your partner you must also trust yourself," drawled Draco. Hermione looked up in surprise. "Confidence in your own ability is a necessity," he continued lazily.
McGonagall adjusted her glasses. "Well done… Five points to Slytherin."
Malfoy acknowledged McGonagall's words with a mocking glance and smirked when Hermione looked over at him. Hermione turned away, returning her attention to her essay notes to find that Pansy was copying them word for word. "Pansy," said Hermione. "Are you that desperate to annoy me that you'll jeopardise your Transfiguration grade? Professor McGonagall will fail you if she finds you copying my essay."
"That doesn't matter," Pansy replied sneeringly. "Once Draco and I are married, I'm not going to need Transfiguration."
"You're marrying Malfoy?" Hermione asked mockingly. This girl really is delusional. "I wasn't aware that the two of you were engaged."
"We're not, officially. But Draco's father and my father are very good friends. Besides that, Draco and I are going out with each other. It's obvious that he'll ask me to marry him after our 7th year here."
Hermione wondered silently how on earth Pansy had survived the previous five years at Hogwarts. I'll bet it's not so obvious to Malfoy.
Malfoy meanwhile, had wrenched his gaze away from Harry and looked over at where Pansy and Hermione were working. Watching for a few moments, he noticed an open ink bottle on their desk and an idea took shape in his mind. "Hey Pansy!" he called out grinning.
"Yes Draco?" Pansy answered immediately turning around. By doing so, she also knocked an open bottle of ink over Hermione's freshly written notes.
Hermione cried out, "My notes!" She glared at Pansy who made no attempt to apologise. Hearing a loud snicker Hermione said, "Great one Malfoy; very mature."
Draco stopped laughing and smirked again. McGonagall however had been watching the entire scene unfold and had just about had enough. "Draco Malfoy, detention at lunch time for not paying attention to the lesson and for deliberately disrupting your classmates. I expect better from a Prefect."
Draco rolled his eyes. What was another detention?
Pansy instantly turned on Hermione. "What did you do that for? You got Draco into trouble, you chipmunk!"
"So what? He shouldn't be bothering us," Hermione bit back. "Besides, he probably enjoys detention, since he goes out of his way to get it. Maybe it's so that he can avoid you."
Pansy was seething. She waited until she saw McGonagall preoccupied with Neville, then without warning she pushed Hermione's book bag to the floor "Oops."
"Pansy! Watch what you're doing!" Hermione bent down to retrieve her things. As she lifted her bag, a photograph fell to the ground. Pansy 'accidentally' stepped on it. "Oops," she said again. "Sorry about that," she added silkily
Hermione picked up the photograph and placed it back inside her bag.
"Stupid muggle pictures," Pansy sneered. "They're rubbish; they don't even move."
"You wouldn't understand," Hermione told her.
"Stupid muggles. Who are they anyway?"
"My parents," Hermione said through gritted teeth.
"No wonder you're so ugly," Pansy said.
That was the last straw. Hermione wouldn't allow anyone, especially this brainless, pasty powder puff to insult her parents. Her self-control snapped and Hermione pulled out her wand. She aimed directly at Pansy and screamed out the words to a spell. She didn't even know what she was saying; the anger was in control.
Everyone in the room turned in horror to witness the event. Blue flame erupted from Hermione's wand and flew towards where the Slytherin girl was sitting. Pansy screamed and fell out of her seat in surprise, the flame missing her by barely an inch. Instead, it continued towards the next person in its path. Malfoy.
His eyes widened in surprise as he saw the iridescent blue light coming towards him. He didn't have the time to utter a single sound before the spell hit. There was a blinding flash of light. Teacher and pupils blinked, trying to see what had happened. The spot where Malfoy had been sitting now contained a cloud of blue smoke, which shielded the area from prying eyes. Harry coughed violently as he inhaled the smoke. Covering his mouth with his hand he attempted to wave some of the cloud away with the other.
Professor McGonagall stood white-faced, staring disbelievingly at Hermione. Hermione herself was shaking, wide-eyed. Her hand went limp and her wand dropped clattering to the floor.
"Hermione Granger," McGonagall said in voice ringing with authority. "Go to your room immediately." She tore her gaze from Hermione. "Everyone else, go back to your Common Rooms."
The students silently obeyed, picking up their belongings quickly. Hermione, still in shock, fled from the room. Ron and Harry attempted to follow her but McGonagall stopped them with a simple command, "Harry, Ron, go to the Common Room, now."
When the last student had left, Professor McGonagall walked over to where Draco had been standing moments before and stooped down. She saw a small furry grey tail. Reaching out, she picked up the tail and the attached four-legged creature carefully before setting it on the desk. "Well Mister Malfoy," she said. "You do seem to have a knack for getting yourself into trouble." She raised her own wand. "Ferali Reverso". Nothing happened. McGonagall looked at the creature in surprise. "What happened? Why didn't it work?" she asked aloud. Deeply troubled, she picked up the fur-covered creature and started towards Headmaster Dumbledore's office.
* * *
In the Gryffindor Common Room, Ron and Harry were discussing the events of the lesson.
"What was Hermione thinking?" Harry burst out, seating himself on an armchair in front of the fire.
"I don't think she was," Ron replied. "I can't believe she'd do something like that. Well, actually, I can. But in front of McGonagall? Draco's dad is gonna spew when he finds out about this. Y'know, it's bad enough what she did, without his dad being a muggle-hater."
"I hadn't thought about that," Harry said. "But do they have to tell him? The teachers I mean?"
"Of course they'll tell him! They have to."
"But what if Draco doesn't want to tell him?" Harry said then.
"What do you mean, if Draco doesn't want to tell him?" Ron asked exasperatedly. "Sure he'll tell."
"Maybe not. Don't you think he's too proud to want to let his dad know a muggle managed to hex him and that he couldn't defend himself?"
"Harry, you may have a point there."
* * *
"Chocolate frogs," said McGonagall. She entered Dumbledore's study quickly.
"Minerva," said Dumbledore, by way of greeting. "What ever is the matter?" he added, seeing her pale complexion.
Silently she held out the creature. Dumbledore's eyes studied it carefully. "And how did this happen?" he asked simply.
McGonagall related the story to the headmaster, how both Pansy and Draco had been goading Hermione into some sort of action, how she'd cast a spell, and how McGonagall, for some unknown reason, was unable to reverse its effects.
"Whatever will we tell his father Albus?" she asked worriedly.
"I believe," Dumbledore said with a twinkle in his eye, "that we should allow Mister Malfoy the opportunity to decide whether or not to let his father know of this incident. And as he is currently unable to decide, we shall simply leave it until he can." He straightened in his chair. "I do believe however, that Miss Granger and I should have a talk."
* * *
Hermione sat on the floor of her room, staring blankly at the wall. What have I done? I should never have let my temper get the better of me…What if they expel me?!... I suppose I should go and reverse the spell; they won't be able to do it themselves. She stood and brushed off her robes. Reaching into her pocket, she felt for her wand. It wasn't there. My wand! Oh no, if something's happened to it I can't…She ran towards the door and opened it. Ron and Harry were standing there.
"Hermione," Harry started.
"McGonagall asked us to collect you," Ron said in a rush.
"Dumbledore wants to see you," Harry finished quietly.
* * *
Pansy entered the Transfiguration classroom quietly, closing the door behind her. Her eyes adjusted to the poor lighting and she quickly spotted that which she had come for. Hermione's dropped wand lay on the floor. Pansy stooped and grasped it tightly, her robes sweeping the floor. Taking the wand in both hands, she twisted it in her grip. She heard a sharp crack, and dropped the pieces of broken wand onto the floor. "That'll teach you to hurt Draco," she muttered. "Stupid mudblood."
* * *
Hermione found herself in the Headmaster's office all too soon. She was seated in a chair, facing Dumbledore who was gazing at her quite calmly. Fawkes drifted silently into the room and landed on Hermione's lap. For some reason, this made her feel slightly better.
Dumbledore smiled. Hermione looked at him in surprise. She hadn't expected that.
"Hermione," he started. "I know what you did. I know why you did it."
Hermione looked at him, guilt rising in her.
"I do understand," he continued. "I know you realise that what you did was not the right way to deal with the situation. However, emotions have a habit of meddling with our actions; everyone loses control at some point. Also, I have taken into account your previous record. Therefore I will not taking this matter further than giving you a suitable punishment."
Hermione wanted to sigh in relief. She wasn't going to be expelled after all!
"But there is one problem," Dumbledore said then. Hermione looked up again, alarmed. "The charm you used is refusing to be reversed. Do you know anything about that?"
"Yes Professor," Hermione said. She proceeded to tell him of a charm she had found months before, that was to be cast on a wand itself. The charm stopped others from interfering in spells cast by that particular wand. Spells could be altered however, if the same wand was used. "I cast the charm on my wand last year, as a precaution," she told him. "It also stops other people from using the wand. Only the owner can use it."
"Well then Miss Granger, my suggestion is that we go to Madam Pomfrey and reverse the charm so that Mister Malfoy doesn't miss too many lessons… or his detention with Professor McGonagall for that matter."
"Professor," Hermione said then, "my wand, it's in the Transfiguration classroom."
"I'll leave it to you to retrieve it then," Dumbledore said. "I'll be waiting for you with Madam Pomfrey."
Hermione exited the office, to find Ron and Harry waiting for her. "I have to-" she began.
"We know," said Ron. "We got bored, so we eavesdropped."
"Ron!" Harry said. "What did you tell her that for?"
"I don't want to hear a long explanation, that's why."
They reached the classroom in minutes; Hermione ran inside, her eyes scanning the floor. Her gaze fell upon the broken shards of her wands, glinting in the sunlight that was shining through the window. "NO!"
* * *
Opening the door to the hospital wing, Hermione walked inside dejectedly, followed by Harry and Ron. Harry squeezed her hand reassuringly and Hermione shot him a grateful look. Professors Dumbledore, McGonagall and Snape were standing around a bed. Madam Pomfrey was looking agitated. As the students closed the door behind them, all four adults turned around, Snape glaring first at Hermione, then at Harry. He was sure Potter had something to do with this latest mishap.
"Someone's broken my wand," Hermione whispered, tears threatening to fall. McGonagall looked at Dumbledore with a grave expression. Snape glared harder. Suddenly Madam Pomfrey said, "I have the feeling I've heard of this charm before. A friend of mine at Beauxbatons had a similar problem." The professors and students turned to her. "I'm sure it was the same sort of thing. I'll Owl her and ask for some guidance."
"Well then," said Dumbledore, "then the only problem we now have is that of who is going to take care of Draco until a cure is found."
Madam Pomfrey spoke again. "Maybe Miss Granger here could take care of him," she suggested.
"That's a good idea," said McGonagall. "After all, we hadn't yet decided on a suitable punishment."
"Why don't we just give her detention and take one hundred house points from her?" Snape sneered. "There's no knowing what she'll do to Draco next."
"Nonsense Severus," Dumbledore said, a hint of annoyance in his voice. "Miss Granger will be a perfect candidate to take of Draco until we can cure him."
"Then it's settled," McGonagall said.
Hermione didn't really want to do anything to help Draco, but considering the circumstances, she knew she was getting off lightly. Harry and Ron smiled at her encouragingly. They weren't too happy with the idea either, but at least Hermione wasn't going to be expelled.
Hermione looked at Dumbledore in surprise as he handed her a furry grey puppy. Holding it gently in her arms, she looked at it more closely. "A husky?"
"That's right Miss Granger," McGonagall said with a perfectly straight face. "You managed to turn Mister Malfoy into a husky puppy."
Harry and Ron took one look at the pup and burst out laughing.
Wow, that's the longest chapter I've ever written, about four pages longer than normal. I hope you didn't fall asleep reading it and please review, I appreciate your comments and criticisms. It'll also let me know whether or not to continue this. Thanks! ^_~
~*Lady Deathscythe*~ 12/10/2002