C'est La Vie: Hogwarts

Author's Note:

So basically, I'm still writing and you guys are still reading, so that makes me happy. So don't worry, it will end...when, I'm not sure and how, my mind haven't reached to that point yet.

Nevertheless, enjoy!

~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~

Chapter Thirty-One

(The Art of War...Desdemona Style)

Hermione and Blaise joined Harry and Desdemona for another afternoon by the lake. The end of November brought the first snow fall, the grounds sprinkled with the frost.

Desdemona, dressed in jeans and a pink cashmere sweater thought it would be nice to have a picnic and took the time to carefully make the food. By now, everyone already got their hands on her delicious cucumber sandwiches, cut thin and squared to perfection. The blanket beneath their bottoms was nice and toasty, Hermione’s idea.

Glad to be out, Hermione reached for another sandwich and offered it to Blaise. She smiled when he took a bite, leaving some for her. Desdemona looked at them amusingly, finding their loving gestures to be endearing. She understood now what Harry was referring to when he said his best friend found the happiness she was seeking.

Apparently, Blaise Zabini brought out a side Hermione never knew she had. Desdemona felt the same when she and Severus finally got together. Somehow, the brooding potion master changed her wild outlook and turned her into a somber person.

Taking another sip of her excellent brewed peppermint tea, she sighed happily, enjoying the scenery nature always provided for them. “What a beautiful day to have a picnic, among friends nevertheless.” She said, her tone chipper and her eyes bright, looking among the three teenagers.

Harry smiled, shyly as usual, nibbling away on his fifth sandwich. “Who knew the sun would be out after seeing dark clouds for weeks.” He looked up at the sky, feeling the warm rays from the sun brush against his cheeks.

“I know, I was starting to think we will be locked inside.” Hermione replied, picking up a lemon square and automatically moved it towards Blaise lips.

The dark skinned boy smiled, loving the fact his girlfriend was feeding him, taking the sweet into his mouth, along with her fingers. Licking the digits clean from any sticky residue, he chewed the sweet before replying. It would be rude of him to speak with his mouth full. “Thanks again for inviting us, professor.”

Desdemona shook her head, giving him a little wave, dismissing the politeness. “Please, call me Desdemona. I’m only your professor during class and within the halls. When we are in private, I am your friend.”

Harry laughed, remembering when she told him the same thing. “Trust me; you’ll get use to the idea. She’s a great person to hang out with.”

“I’m sure she is, seeing how you spend most of your time either with her or playing spy.” Hermione chuckled.

That caught Desdemona’s attention, turning to her young friend with a quirk brow. “Spying…now Harry I thought you said you came up with a plan?”

He blushed, scratching his head. “Well, I’m trying, but do you know how hard it is to trap him. He’s always slithering away before I can get a chance.”

Hermione reached over, patting his leg. “I’m sure you’ll come up with something. Draco Malfoy is a tricky guy to catch, seeing how he has a reputation as a sex god on campus.”

“Now that’s something.” said Desdemona, interested in the latest gossip. Besides, Draco is her cousin and she has the right to know about his latest adventures. She was sure his father knows about his endless libido. “Do tell, Hermione.”

She opened her mouth, ready to explain the world that is Draco Malfoy, but Blaise beat her to the punch. He would know more about the boy than she did, seeing how they were enemies for the last six years. “You see, Draco Malfoy is known as a sex god for many reasons. One, he has the looks. Everyone wants him, guy, girl, and surprising a professor or two. Next, he understands the language of wooing. I’ve seen this guy undress a girl with his eyes. He screams sex. Lastly, he leaves you wanting more and from what I’ve heard, he aim to please.” Boasting rights could only go to Blaise Zabini, for he too holds the same title, coming in second place to the God himself.

“Well, isn’t that egotistical.” muttered Hermione, getting over her chance to speak about the boy.

Blaise shrugged. “He is Draco Malfoy. His ego is bigger than his thinking capacity.”

“True, I’ve witness the expansion over time myself, and still find him to be insufferable.” Using the word everyone deemed her with, she heard the others laugh.

Harry, shaking his head at his best friend, couldn’t help but agree. “Yes, Draco Malfoy is insufferable, but still attractive.”

“Which is why you, my dear boy need to figure out how to tame that wild beast before someone else does.” concluded Desdemona, smirking.

“Yeah Potter, seeing how you have a thing for my best mate, I think I can help you.” Blaise, always the reliable one, enjoyed tampering with other people’s lives.

Draco will thank him for this one day.

That caught Harry’s attention, willing to take any advice given. “You don’t say…so what kind of plan do you have in mind?”

The other two nodded, slightly curious about the plan.

Enjoying the attention (just because he’s with Hermione doesn’t mean he still wasn’t vain), he revealed the plan Draco secretly told him. “Apparently Potter, you have become the target of Draco Malfoy’s raging jealousy.”

“You don’t say.” Desdemona sarcastically replied.

“What do you mean?” asked Harry.

Blaise smirked, throwing his arm around Hermione’s shoulders. “Just like I said, you’re being targeted and from what he told me, he’s going to enjoy humiliating you.” He did take some credit, seeing how he persuaded the blond to do it.
Hermione looked at him, the knowing look in her eyes told it all. “Blaise, what is Draco going to do?”

“Well…you know Draco and his heavy exaggerated tricks. He’s planning something…extravagant for Potter to endure.” Thus, Blaise went into lengthy details about Draco’s plan and his part in it.

All three occupants listened carefully, tagging important words or descriptions. Harry, astonished, enjoyed the idea of Draco being interested in him also, making his job easier. Desdemona, finding this funny, couldn’t wait until it happens. She felt like a kid again, doing something naughty and the anticipation of getting caught fueled the adrenaline. She missed times like this and was glad to be able to feel the joy of being a kid once more. Maybe returning back to the place where it all began wasn’t entirely bad.

After ten minutes of explanation, Hermione broke the mood by laughing. She cannot believe the ideas that went on in Draco’s head. “Do you seriously think Harry is going to fall for something like that?” She questioned, clenching her stomach from the insult on her best friend’s intelligence.

“I thought the same thing when I heard it. I mean, Potter’s too smart to fall for something like that.” He found Hermione’s laughter to be contagious, getting in a few chuckles himself.

Desdemona eyes twinkled, the slight mischievous gaze reminding them all of Dumbledore. “I think this plan is going to work. However, I have a plan to make it more…interesting.”

“What is it?” The three excited teens asked in unison.

Grinning evilly, she beckoned them to come closer.

“I believe it’s time to teach Harry the ways of war. Seduction is the primal key to absolute survival and if he doesn’t
perfect it, he will be at lost.” She spoke in her military voice, stern and direct, lying down the rules in short replies.

The other two nodded in agreement, eying the said boy. “I think it’s time for Harry to embrace his acting side.” Hermione suggested with a grin.

“And I will keep everyone updated on any change in plans.” offered Blaise, saluting their commander.

Desdemona, liking the kid’s spunk returned the salute. “Then it is agreed, Harry James Potter, today’s your lucky day. With us training you, Draco Malfoy will be yours.”

Liking the idea, Harry gave a little nod. “Alright captain, just tell me what needs to be done.”

“Oh yes…we’re going to work some magic tonight!”

She couldn’t believe how excited she was getting from this little game.

Oh well, she might as well enjoy being young while it last.

She continued with the plan, elaborating more on the scheme.

She couldn’t have him going in blindly. War is about combat skills and common sense.