The Thought Of It All

Later that night after having finished all her classes, she was just coming out of the library and ran till she reached the Gryffindor Common Room. She muttered the password to the fat lady. Having caught her breath, she walked in and saw Harry and Ginny sitting around playing Wizard Chess.

Harry turned her way and said in a suspicious tone. 'Where have you been all night? We didn't even see you at dinner.'

'I was at the library, studying,' she said, remembering Ron hadn't appeared.

Ginny smiled and said, 'We were waiting for you. I never got to ask how patrolling was yesterday, was my brother a turd again?'

'He didn't show up for patrolling, I told him to meet me in font of the trophy room.' she said, wondering where he was.

She moved into the room and dropped her bag near the fireplace. Aside from Ron's disappearance she knew she should tell her friends what Malfoy did to her, but she felt weak and incompetent that she let him get the best of her.

The piece of parchment with Malfoy's signature was in her robes, where it will stay safe, till she finished the curse on it and make him realize he never should have messed with a muggle-born.
Hermione laughed and received strange glances from the other two. Ignoring them, she took out her potions book and tried to study, but she really wanted to finish the incantation. She couldn't wait for Malfoy to see the extent of her powers.

He was stupid for signing his name, but then he was angry, and he became reckless in the process. Forgetting or simply unaware that she would infinitely make him pay, he'll get what he deserves the next time he curses her name.
Sighing impatiently, she faked yawned, rubbed her eyes and murmured sleepily. 'I'm exhausted, I think I'll go to bed. Night.'

'Night, 'Mione.' Harry and Ginny said in unison. They were looking at her questioningly, it was only 10.30 pm and normally Hermione would be studying on the plush couch in front of the fireplace.

She got her pack and walked slowly to the stairs, then started running. Her robe fluttered around her legs, her eyes shun with excitement.

'Hello Lavender, Pavarti.' she rushed out once she reached her dormitory. They were looking at magazines on the floor in the center of the room.

The girls greeted her, and Hermione said she was going to turn in, they gave her strange looks and said good night. Why was everyone surprised that she wanted to go to bed early? It's not that hard to believe. Even though it was, that's how much a life she had.

Pulling the curtain around her bed, she quickly pulled her robes off but kept her blouse and skirt on. But removing her shoes and stockings a long the way. She settled neatly in her bed and cautiously pulled out the parchment and her wand.

She unfolded it and saw the clear polished signature of Malfoy. Hermione whispered the enchantment and the parchment glowed, a sudden gold from its normal white. She grinned sheepishly, excited like a child on Christmas morning.

It's been two days since it happened, and although she promised not to go wondering off by herself, she couldn't tell them yet. It would break Harry and Ron's heart. No she'll just face up, and move on.

Hermione got up, hid the parchment in the little compartment in the headboard. She knew no one will find it, it's magically sealed until you say the spell. She hopped off the bed and changed into her night clothes before sliding under the covers and dreamed of Draco Malfoy's face the next time he called her a 'Mudblood.'

~

The next morning, Hermione woke up to birds chirping and her roommates shuffling around the room, being careful not to wake her up. She got up, maintained her wild hair and got dressed.

She skipped down to the Common Room, seeing that Ron and Harry were already waiting for her. Harry lifted his eyebrows, silently questioning her bright mood that morning, she simply shrugged, turned and made her way to the door.

They stepped out of the portrait and descended seven floors to the Great Hall, sitting themselves at the Gryffindor table. She turned and saw Ron already stuffing his face in with eggs and bacon and swallowing a tank of pumpkin juice. She tried hiding her disgust but simply ended up giggling. Harry turned her way and she pointed at Ron.

He looked and laughed. 'After 6 years, Ron hasn't changed much. If anything, it got more and more repulsive.'

'Ron, where were you last night? I had to patrol all by myself,' she questioned, seeing him pale slightly he began to stutter 'Oh well, I was in the library, finishing the Divination assignment, I'm sorry I didn't tell you.'

He sounded strange but she nodded anyway, turning to Harry. 'I know you're not in our class, but you could help me?'

After seeing Harry avoiding her eyes, she said. 'Professor Trelawney won't like that very much. You can't always rely on me to save you, when you forget.'

Harry nodded, looking down at his plate. 'I promise I'll try and finish it all.'

Hermione smiled and turned to her breakfast, the toast was delicious with just a smear of marmalade, and the pumpkin juice did quench her thirst. Harry had taken out his One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi spell book and was trying to concentrate on it, but Ron and Seamus were chatting loudly about The Chudley Cannons. And Harry deciding to ignore his open book and discuss the new 'game plan' that he made for the Gryffindor team.

She rolled her eyes and got up. 'Come on, we have to get to class.'

Ron and Harry reluctantly got up, waving bye to Seamus, and Dean, who always arrived late to Harry and Ron's class. They left the Great Hall, and made there way to the greenhouse, that was a close visitation to Hagrids. Hermione was only dropping them off, for she liked to talk to Neville who always arrived early, and was never at breakfast.

'So, Hermione, you remember some stuff from our class right?' Harry said lamely.

He was slightly hinting that he hadn't finished his homework. Hermione inwardly smiled.

'I'm not helping you. It's not my fault you didn't finish it, that's why I gave you the planner for Christmas, remember? But you threw it aside and promised me you would have all your homework finished before there due dates.' she scolded lightly.

'Granger!' yelled a voice from the top of the stairs. She turned and saw Malfoy- without his cronies- marching his way towards her.

'What does he want?He is not in this class,' Ron asked Hermione.

'I have no idea!' but she couldn't keep the smile from forming. She could vaguely see the green blotches on his right arm, and it was escalating rapidly up to his neck.

'Yes, Malfoy?'

'Come with me.' not bothering waiting for a reply, he passed by her and turned the corner of the greenhouse.

Hermione knew she shouldn't follow, but she had been waiting since yesterday to see the look on Malfoy's face. It would be priceless. She slowly faced Harry and Ron and said 'If I'm not back by the beginning of class, come find me.'

She whirled around, and followed Malfoy, but at a turtle neck speed. He would be angry, but it was what he rightly deserved for all that he put her through.

Malfoy was sitting on the steps right beside the exit to the Greenhouse. He was scowling at her, and the younger grades that were coming and going saw the scowl and scattered like rabbits. Hermione knew Malfoy held a powerful position over the younger students, but this was just ridiculous.

“May I help you, Malfoy? I thought you said you didn't want to see or talk to me again.'

'What did you do?' he said through clenched teeth.

'I haven't done anything. Why would you think I did something?' she looked around and saw no one. She was officially alone with Malfoy.

'Why does my skin have blotches on it?' he asked, and showed his right arm, the blotches were large and took up most of his arm. They were terribly ugly but insanely funny.

'Oh, look Malfoy there green, like your house colors. I thought you would be proud.'

'I'm not.' he said harshly. He got up and she backed away, but then he continued striding, she pressed herself against the wall. Malfoy looked at her and knew she was going to make a run for it.

His wand was out and pointing at her before she could even move a foot. He wasn't touching her, but she could feel his anger emanating off him, it was strong and somewhat surprising. Sure, Malfoy could be intimidating, but she thought that he was a coward at heart.
'You deserved it Malfoy. For using that curse on me, I told you, you would pay. Every time you say something against me, you'll grow green blotches. So, from now on, you're going to have to hold that tongue of yours. Can you do that, Ferret?' she spat out.

'Tear up the sheet. Do it now.' his eyes narrowed and the tip of his wand managed to find itself on her heart, pressing painfully.

'Let me go, Malfoy. I'm not doing anything for you, you vicious cockroach.' she screamed. And wished that she never came out here.

'Hermione!' someone yelled from the entrance to the greenhouse, sighing in relief, she pushed Malfoy off her and scurried away.

Standing safely beside Harry and Ron did she finally let herself relax. It was stupid to be anywhere near Malfoy, especially when he was so bloody annoying about the parchment.

'What did he want?' Harry questioned suspiciously (A/N: Note how he is taking everything suspiciously, he has to. The Dark Lord has just come back, and Harry has to be on his guard. Well most of the time anyway)

Grinning stupidly, she had a plan in mind that'll send the Slytherin running back to his Death Eater parents. Harry and Ron headed in the spacious greenhouse, waving good-bye to Hermione, who ran up the stairs to the castle for Ancient Runes.

Arriving at class, she realized that she forgot a book that she was supposed to bring to class to show the Professor the Runes that were located in South America. Letting her go, she quickly ran up to the library, but not before seeing Malfoy in the corner.

Slowly walking in that direction, for the Ancient Runes was across from where he sat, menacingly glaring at her.

'So, Beaver, you are keeping up the end of your bargain, right?' he grimaced when another blotch formed on his pale hand. She smiled and he frowned, the way it was meant to be.

'For your information, Malfoy, I haven't told a soul, and I won't since you signed it,'

She detested being in his presence more then she had to be, and now was no exception. Except he was smiling and twirling his wand around, not in a menacing way but sort of like isn't-my-wand-pretty-have-to-show-it-off way.

'You will tear up that parchment, you have to. No way in Hell will my actions or words be accounted for by a Mudblood,' he yelped when another blotch appeared but on the sensitive side of his neck.

'I told you Malfoy, I'm not tearing up the sheet, unless, you want me to tell someone about you, and what you have done. Do you want me to do that?' she whispered, for they were passing first year students who were heading towards the front of the library.

'No, Granger, I don't want people to know,' he said, angrily.

'Good, we have agreed on something,' she smiled when he looked bewildered. The days she leaves Malfoy looking like a fish will be the most memorable days of her life.