Halloween Mix-Up

I am so sorry I've kept you all waiting for so long for an update. There's really no liable excuse save the fact that I just haven't felt like posting. Long story, one that you aren't interested in. Trust me. I'm sure you would rather read my next chapter than read a long, drawn out drama queen spectacle. So, I'll leave the drama for the actual story. Have fun!





Halloween Mix-Up

by: Tassana Burrfoot





Chapter Seventeen: Intrigues





Draco sat in the chair next to Snape's. It had been a long, hard day for both the student and the teacher. Now, all either wished to do was to relax and drink their drinks. Of course, since Draco was sixteen, Snape made him drink butterbeer, rather than the firewhiskey Snape currently stirred in his own glass.



Draco let out a sigh as he stretched. "I heard Hermione finally let Finnigan into her apartment," he drawled as he looked into the fire.



Snape snorted, "She didn't let him in, Mr. Malfoy. You know as well as I that, due to the spell, she cannot refuse him. If anything, he finally let himself into her apartment."



Draco shook his head. "What's with these Gryffindors and their need to be 'righteous'? Weasel-breath and Pott-face are driving themselves mad."



"It's called chivalry, Draco," Snape explained, tiredly. "Even you know a bit about it. I know your parents taught you a thing or two about being chivalrous."



"They're driving her mad as well," Draco added, glancing at the professor from the corner of his eye. "Just the other day, she was telling me how frustrated she was that they didn't just 'get it over with.' It almost made me lose my lunch."



Snape gave the boy a bemused look. "Tell me, Mr. Malfoy, which annoys you more, that they haven't been with her or that she is frustrated that they haven't been with her? Personally, I'm rather pleased that they've kept their nasty little hands off of her."



The boy sighed again as he finished off his butterbeer. "Neither is worse than the other, honestly. They are both equally annoying. I cannot wait for this curse to be over and done with," he said, placing his empty bottle on the table.



Immediately, the empty bottle was replaced with a fresh, full one provided, no doubt, by the Hogwarts house elves. As Draco opened the new bottle and began it, Snape watched him curiously.



It was no secret, Draco wasn't the only one waiting for the end of the curse. And all for the same reasons, mostly. Each male effected by the spell, secretly hoped that he would be Hermione's true love. At the same token, each male was eager for the spell to end the other males' infatuation for the girl. Even Snape had found himself thinking of these things.



Almost a month had gone by since Hermione had accidentally brushed Severus' hand, thereby causing the curse to fall upon him. Since that moment, Severus had grown rather fond of the girl. Though she was irritating, she was also genuine and true. She had a certain quality about her which made her endearing. Not to mention the fact that she was an intelligent, beautiful creature with a heart as large as her mind. She was everything Severus could ever had hoped to capture.



And yet, Severus couldn't help but wonder if it was the spell causing him to think like this. Never had he imagined he would think of any of his students as anything but a student. For him to fall madly in love with one of them was insane and unthinkable. And yet, he found himself doing just that. He was falling in love.



But, then, so was Draco. Severus had seen it in the boy's eyes. Just the mere mention of her name sent Draco off. It was alarming, for if Draco were to fall in love with the girl, Severus felt he wouldn't stand a chance.



Then again, considering his age, as compared to the others, Severus knew he didn't stand a chance. He was twenty years her senior. Definitely a teacher to a student. And yet, who knew? Maybe Severus did stand a chance? After all, she did enjoy being around him, as often noticed by the fact that she spends a lot of her time in his office.



"I just wish she knew the difference between what is the spell and what's real," Draco said, catching Snape's attention.



"And you do?" he asked, taking a sip of his firewhiskey.



Draco shrugged. "No one really knows for certain, do they, Professor? At least, not until the curse ends. But, I know how I felt before the curse. I've tried telling her, but she's convinced that it's the curse talking," he complained with another sigh and he leaned back into his chair.



"Perhaps it is," Snape offered. Seeing that the boy was about to get angry, Snape raised a hand. "I mean no offense, Mr. Malfoy. Just consider for a moment what's she's going through. And you really don't know for certain what is the spell and what is not. You can say you are in love with her, and have been since before the curse. But, how do you know that it is not the curse making you think this way? Where's the proof that you've been feeling this way? I myself am finding it very difficult to remember a time when I did not love Hermione. And as I am obviously a lot older than her, it shouldn't be that difficult. Yet, it is. Until February 14th, none of us will know for certain."



"True love's kiss," Draco recited for the umpteenth time. "It does sound like a fairytale, doesn't it, Professor? Don't many fairytales have to do with true love's kiss? What if she doesn't find her true love? What if her true love is not here? What if..."



Draco shot Snape a wide-eyed look that caused the teacher to become confused. At Snape's raised eyebrow inquiry, Draco continued, "What if her true love does not live here in England and therefore cannot be found in Hogwarts? What if her true love comes from another country?"



"What are you suggesting?" the professor asked.



"What if her true love is Krum?" the boy questioned, causing the professor to nearly spit his drink all over himself.



Snape shook his head. "Not possible."



"How so?"



"Her true love will be a man she touches. Krum is not here for her to touch, therefore, he cannot be her true love," Snape surmised.



Draco sighed in relief and allowed himself to fall back into the seat's cushions.



What they didn't know was that, in another part of the castle, far above them, Hermione was receiving a very intriguing owl...





(II) (II)





Dear Hermione,



It's been so long since I've seen your face or have heard your voice. My team is planning a trip to London soon for a practice with the Chudley Cannons. I pray that while I am there, I might be able to steal you away for a bit of dinner and perhaps a walk. I miss you so much. Please send me an owl with your answer as soon as possible.



Yours Forever,

Viktor



Hermione squealed in delight as she ran to her desk. She quickly grabbed her quill and opened her ink bottle. Very carefully, she penned her response, sealed it, addressed it, and sent it away with the same owl.



Once the owl was gone, she danced around her room, holding his letter in her hands. She missed him as much as he missed her, she knew. It had been so long since their last encounter and she couldn't wait...



Hermione dropped the letter in shock as she stared at her reflection in the mirror. She then looked down at her uncovered hands and her bare arms. Where so much happiness and excitement existed merely moments ago, now there was a great sadness.



She would have to write Viktor back with an apology. She couldn't go see him. Especially if it was within the next couple months. She couldn't risk it.



With a heavy heart, she sat at her desk and penned her apology. As she was doing so, she heard a knock at her door. Not thinking anything on it, she waved at the door and said, "Enter."



"I've got Chocolate Frogs and Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans," came Ron's voice as he entered the apartment.



"And I was wondering if you happened to understand what Professor McGonagall was talking about today," Harry added, as he put his book sack on the couch.



Hermione quickly dried her tears. "Yes, I did," she answered as she finished up her letter. "And you would have, too, Harry, if you had paid attention. She did speak in English today."



She felt Ron behind her before she heard him. He leaned casually over her shoulder. "What are you writing?" he asked, curiously.



She quickly covered her letter and pushed him away. "Nothing," she answered as she stood up and dusted herself off. "At least, nothing for you to worry about."



He pierced his lips as though about to say something, but then seemed to change his mind. He simply shrugged and turned back to the main part of the room. "So, would you help us with our Transfiguration work?" he asked.



She felt like telling both boys to shove off. They needed to learn to do their own work. However, she thought better of it and agreed to help them out. Perhaps it would help get her mind off of things.



As the evening progressed, the Golden Trio went about their work, laughing and goofing off throughout the way.



"You should have seen the look on Mum's face, Harry!" Ron chortled. "I never thought I'd see an angrier woman. And Fred and George were covered head to toe in whipped cream!"



The three laughed heartily while they ate their Chocolate Frogs. Finally, they each sighed and quieted down a bit. "Christmas is going to be great," Ron told them. "Charlie and Bill's going to be there and I hear Bill's bringing Fleur."



Hermione's face fell. She hadn't thought about Christmas. Where would she stay? She normally went to the Burrow or off with her parents, but neither of those were very wise options. She couldn't risk having Bill or Charlie or the twins or Mr. Weasley touch her. And if her father were to touch her... She shuddered at the thought.



And Grimmauld Place wasn't an option either. Not with Sirius and Professor Lupin and Professor Moody staying there. "Harry, is Lupin and Moody staying at headquarters this year?" she asked.



Harry happily nodded. "And from what Sirius was telling me, Shacklebolt, Tonks, and other Order members are going to be there."



Nope. Grimmauld Place was not an option. She could always stay there at Hogwarts, but she had heard that Zabini and his small gang was staying there. She did not need to incidentally bump into one of them in the corridors late at night all alone. Even with the threats she made, she was unsure if they would abide by them throughout the holidays. No need to risk it.



So, where would she stay? Where could she stay?



"Hermione? What wrong?" Harry asked, having noticed her sudden mood change.



She glanced up at him and gave him her best fake smile. "Nothing," she lied. "I'm just tired, that's all. Professor Vector was exceedingly hard on us today. Even Draco found it hard, and that's one of the few classes he truly excels at."



"Malfoy excels at all of his classes," Ron corrected through gritted teeth.



Hermione fixed him with a look. "Only through hard work and effort," she provided. "However, like Potions, he doesn't have to work as hard in Ancient Runes. It's one of his easiest subjects. Everything else? He works just as hard as I do to make the grades he makes."



Ron rolled his eyes. "It almost sounds as though you admire him," he complained.



She shrugged. "Perhaps I do. And it wouldn't hurt you to take a leaf out of his book. N.E.W.Ts aren't that far away, you know."



"That's next year!" he whined.



She nodded. "Yes, and if you don't work hard this year, you'll have a hard time passing them next year," she pointed out, getting satisfaction from his groans.



Harry remained quiet as they bickered about N.E.W.Ts and school work and Malfoy. He still didn't understand Hermione's sudden mood swing, but one thing was certain: Ron had fallen in love with her. And perhaps she with him?



Harry didn't know when it had happened, but he was happy for them. Perhaps Ron was Hermione's true love. While that bothered Harry somewhat, he was glad for it. Without a word, Harry slipped away and returned to his own Common Room.



Tonight was Ron's turn at happiness.