Halloween Mix-Up

Halloween Mix-Up

by: Tassana Burrfoot







Chapter Thirteen: Working







It had been a week since her discussion with Harry and Ron. A week since the time spent with Snape. Now, she found herself sitting in Potions class, stirring the contents of her potion.



So much had happened in a week\'s time. Dumbledore had called a staff meeting, inviting Hermione along as well. During that meeting, he had informed the staff of Hermione\'s "condition" and asked that they helped her with it. Not that there was much they could do to help, but the support was what she really needed.



She was happy no one pointed fingers at her. No one blamed her for what had happened. They all accepted it for what it was. An accident. She hadn\'t meant to cast the spell. She hadn\'t even realized it was a spell she was casting.



In fact, everyone was being so helpful, McGonagall had even suggested setting Hermione up in her own little apartment within the castle. That way, the young Gryffindor would have a place to set up "meetings" with those males that had been affected, and it could help keep Hermione from accidentally touching other males.



Dumbledore had thought it a marvelous idea. He even knew of the perfect place. A little room off the third floor corridors. It was a nice size, small enough for one person, with ample space for Hermione. There was even a small bathroom in the room.



Hermione had moved into the new place during the weekend. Harry, Ron, and Draco had even helped her. Well, Draco helped once Hermione was able to convince McGonagall that he wouldn\'t hex any of the Gryffindors.



The room had been decorated the Gryffindor style, with reds and golds. A huge tapistry with the Gryffindor coat of arms hung above the fireplace mantle. A large four poster bed sat in the corner. There were book shelves, a desk, a dresser, a vanity, and an armiour as well. All decorated in the Gryffindor style.



As Dumbledore had stated, it was small and cozy, but big enough for Hermione. There were two armchairs in front of the fireplace, and another off to the side, in the event that Harry and Ron both wished to visit her for help with their homework or what not.



"Just remember, Miss Granger," Dumbledore had warned, "for the most part, we expect you to remain a lady and not allow more than one boy to spend the night at a time. We do not want to learn of any parties or wild... things happening."



As if! She had readily agreed to the terms. She had no intention of having any sort of odd behaviour occurring. It was bad enough she had her two best friends and her Potions Master going after her.



She hadn\'t slept with anyone new since that night with Snape. Sure Draco and her had been together a few times. In fact, he had stayed with her the first night in her new apartment.



Now, she was in Potions class, reading over the next step to this potion. It was time for her to add another pinch of aconite to the mixture. Very carefully, she took her tweezers and gathered a pinch of crushed leaf from her desk. She had already crushed the poisonous plant, so she needn\'t worry about that.



With just as much care and ease, she dropped the leaf into her cauldron and stirred it. She then sat back and let it simmer.



Turning her attention back to her Potions book, she continued to read about the potion the other students had begun reading about. It was such an easy potion. In fact, they had already brewed this potion once before.



Curious, Hermione raised her hand. "Yes, Miss Granger?" Snape asked, causing the other students to look up. It was rare that Snape would acknowledge the Muggle-born.



"Professor? I\'m curious," she began. "The potion that you have everyone making is a potion you had us brew last year. Why are they doing it over again?"



He gave only one nod of his head as he stood up. "It is not your place to question a teacher\'s syllabus," he told her.



The other students looked on in earnest. The Slytherins snickered while the Gryffindors waited with baited breath for Snape\'s next words.



"But, seeing as this isn\'t part of the curriculum, I will answer your question," he continued. He took a moment to walk around his desk and stand in front of it, so he may address, not just her, but the rest of the class. When he spoke, however, his dark eyes remained focused on hers. "You and Mr. Malfoy are the only two who were able to get your potion correct last week. Since the two of you are my best students, I do not wish for you to fall behind. The potion you are brewing will take two more weeks to finish. Until such time, I am having the other students work on other things so when your potion is done, the class as a whole can continue on until the next potion."



Hermione nodded in understanding, but still she questioned, "Yes, but, sir, this potion isn\'t that difficult. Malfoy and I could easily do other potions as well while we wait for this one to finish."



Again, he agreed, "You are correct, Miss Granger. However, the next potion I have for you is another which will take time. If we are not careful, you and Mr. Malfoy will have far more potions to work on than necessary."



"Sir? Why don\'t you just let us start the potion over again?" Zabini asked suddenly, without raising his hand.



"Ten points from Slytherin," Snape growled, throwing the black boy a nasty sneer. "The potion Mr. Malfoy and Miss Granger are working on is a very complicated potion. You were able to see that last week when you attempted to brew it yourself. I will not have this class fall behind for your impertinence. This is easier and far better for all involved. If you do not like it, then you may leave, Mr. Zabini. I will not, however, allow another student to question my authority."



The Potions Master pivoted on his heel and went back to his desk. As he sat down he shot the boy another threatening look, as though daring the boy to argue. He nearly snarled when he saw another hand shoot up, but relaxed when he saw it was Hermione\'s. "Yes, Miss Granger?" he said, and she knew his patience was starting to wear thin.



"Is there something else Malfoy and I may do?" she asked. "I understand your reasoning behind all of this and I know you are doing this to help Malfoy and I as well as the rest of the class. And while I enjoy reading, as you know I do, both of us have nothing else to do. The potions are brewing and being stirred at regular intervals, but other than that, it\'s quite... boring."



He took a moment to contemplate what she was saying. Then, he waved his hand. "Help Longbottom, Miss Granger, if you wish," he said, waving his hand as though dismissing her.



While Hermione looked both curious and pleased, the rest of the class was shocked. Snape never gave Hermione permission to help Neville. As she turned to the boy in question, the rest of the class watched in curiousity. Since when did Hermione Granger gain Snape\'s favour?



Hermione was careful to keep herself covered while she helped Neville with his potion. She kept her gloves on and her sleeves pushed over her wrists. Thankfully, she didn\'t need to do much, though. Neville was an intelligent person, he just needed some guidance. And Snape always made the poor Gryffindor nervous.



(II) (II)



"Hey, Granger!" a voice called from behind.



Hermione and Draco both turned around at the same time to see Zabini approaching them. Hermione sighed in irritation. Now that she and Draco were "dating", she knew she would have to deal with his friends.



Once the boy caught up, however, she knew he wasn\'t there to make friendly chat. "What did you do to get Snape like that?" the Italian asked.



"I don\'t know what you are talking about, Zabini," she said and she made a move to turn and leave.



He grabbed her arm. "Don\'t walk away from me!" he hissed.



The next moment, three wands were pointed at him. "You will release her," Harry growled from behind Zabini.



Hermione turned slowly, her eyes looking down at Zabini\'s hand on her arm. Thankfully, he was touching her sleeve and not her. "It\'s all right, Harry," she said as she yanked her arm out of the boy\'s grasp. "He didn\'t tou... hurt me."



Blaise knew he was outnumbered. Not only was Draco and Granger staring daggers at him, but he knew Potter and Weasley were right behind him. He would have to make this quick. "You did something to Snape, I know you did. I want to know what."



Hermione rolled her eyes. "What\'s the issue, Zabini? I\'m still confused. I did nothing to Snape. He acted of his own free will today," she told him.



"You\'re wrong," he argued. "Snape would never let you help Longbottom. Nor would he ever answer a question like the one you asked. What did..."



"Are you jealous, Zabini?" Draco asked, still pointing his wand at the boy. "Jealous that Snape favoured Hermione over you?"



Blaise\'s eyes narrowed. "She\'s done something to you as well," he sneered. "I can see it in your eyes. You hated that Mud..."



"Say it and I will hex you!" Harry snarled, digging his wand into the Italian\'s back.



"Oh, come on, Harry. Let him," Ron begged. "I want to have a reason to hex him."



Blaise scowled at Harry and Ron, then turned his attention back to Draco. "You hated her. You\'ve always hated her. What happened to make this sudden change?" he questioned.



Draco raised an eyebrow. "I haven\'t always hated her, Blaise," he said, the calm in his voice belying the anger raging in his eyes. "If anything, I\'ve always envied her. Then, after the Yule Ball, well, you could hardly claim I hated her after that. Even you found yourself looking at her in a new light."



"Infatuation," Blaise snapped. "Lust, even. But, I know my place. What will your father say when he hears of this? Turning blood traitor on your own family."



Draco let his lips slip into his trademark smirk. "Actually, I believe you will find they will be quite pleased. I\'ve already written to my mother, explaining to her the situation. She has no qualms with any of it, and neither does my father. So, I haven\'t turned blood traitor on my own family."



Hermione glanced at Draco in shock. Just how much did he tell his family? She didn\'t like the thought of too many people knowing about this. It was hard enough for her dealing with what she had. Much less if Lucius Malfoy learned of this condition. He was a Death Eater, after all.



Blaise slowly backed away from three Gryffindors and one Slytherin. He glared at them. "You better watch your back, Granger," he warned. "I\'m not the only Slytherin who\'s taken notice. You may have been able to convince Draco to be on your side, but you won\'t always be around someone. There will come a time when you are alone."



"Don\'t worry," she assured him. "I\'ll be prepared."



As they watched him leave, Hermione placed a hand on Ron\'s shoulder to stop him from hexing the boy. "He\'s not worth it, Ron," she told him.



The four students walked to their next class in silence.