Prophecies- a Dramione Fanfiction

Chapter Eight: Plan B?

The next morning, Ginny was incredibly frustrated. Hermione was her calm side and the others knew they were going to be extremely glad when Hermione came back. And even then, that was an understatement. "We know she's up there with Ferret." she growled. "It's only them stupid wards. Does anyone have any ideas of how to break or reverse the spells?" Prudence, who had joined them, immediately shook her head. "Well, let's do what Gra- Hermione would do if she were here." Blaise suggested. Everyone stared blankly. "Go to the library of course!"

Everyone gave out sighs of "Oh yeah!". Blaise rolled his eyes.   Soon, they were all reading 3kg books on wards and how to break them.

Two and a half hours later, they had still found nothing. Prudence had slipped off just as they began to go to a lesson. "Guys, I say we ask someone. This is getting us nowhere!" complained Harry.  

"I was just thinking... what if Hermione and Draco are destined to fulfill the prophecy. Being out in the open might trigger more hatred and then we'd all lose our magic. Maybe they're having the time of their lives and don't want to be disturbed. The officials wouldn't tuck them away for no  good reason." Luna commented. Everyone absorbed this information silently.
  "True. and the Ministry wouldn't let them starve or anything." admitted Ginny sulkily. "So that's why we are going to use Plan B!"  

"Plan B?" the others echoed.

"I'm not so sure..." Blaise's face conveyed doubt and worry.

"We all heard the Auror. We'll get in serious trouble if we get caught. And... I don't fancy visiting McGonagall. "   Ginny's eyes gleamed dangerously. "Which is why, we. Won't. Get. Caught." Harry sighed and pulled on her arm. "Come." He winked suggestively. "Our bench awaits..."

Blaise looked quite disgusted but then Harry leant in to begin a snog session on the bench a few metres away. Blaise sighed in relief.
"We have things to do. Like homework." Luna told him and they left the romantic couple quite happily.  

Much to Harry's displeasure, Ginny's mood had not changed after the snog session. If anything, she was more driven. "Plan B is we ask... Professor Flitwick or Professor Slughorn about whether they know Hermione or Ferret's whereabouts. Those professors liked them both a lot when they were here. In case they have heard of our night time expedition, we will ask them at the leaving feast when they will be... intoxicated. In the mean time, we ask the house-elves."

Everyone looked confused. "The house-elves will have to cook for them too, unless they have left the castle, which we know they haven't."

Harry still looked unsure while Blaise, who had never been down to the kitchens before, asked "House-elves? Where'd you get the idea of house-elves from?"

"Who's been cooking and cleaning you for years, dummy?" retorted Ginny. Blaise looked confounded. "So that's what S.P.E.W is about. I thought Gra- Hermione had just heard about the existence of house-elves and was going barmy."   "Gin, we can go after dinner. I think if we stand in the place of the food while it disappears, we can get down without having to walk to the pear portrait." "Great idea Harry!" As it was, this plan was not meant to be. "What is it with you guys and Yorkshire puddings?" Ron asked as Harry and Ginny loaded up their 10th plate. Pansy and Ron had given the teachers the slip, and while Hermione was locked up in the middle of who-knows-where, they had taken Draco and Hermione's seats.   "Nothing." Ginny mumbled. It was nearing the end of dinner and most students had left, as had most of the teachers. Finally, no one was left except Harry and Ginny. "Ready?" asked Ginny. They stepped in the empty platter of Yorkshire puddings.   They saw the other foods disappear and felt themselves falling when... SPLAT then SPLASH!   "ARGH!!!" shrieked Ginny. They were in a massive washing up bowl, surrounded by house-elves at the rim, each washing the massive dishes. Harry pulled Ginny over to where a house-elf had left a gap to put a stack of clean dishes away. He helped her out, before skidding out himself. 

They were instantly surrounded by eager house-elves.   After they were warm and dry and had been fed roast potatoes, roast parsnips, peas, carrots and no Yorkshire puddings, Ginny made her request.   "Hi everyone. I'm sorry for disturbing you but we came down to ask if any of you know where Hermione Granger or Draco Malfoy are." There was silence. Someone dropped a stack of plates "We is incredibly sorry miss, for Mistress McGonagall and Master ordered us not to say. I is Tinky miss and I cares for them. They are very well, miss, so don't worry any more." piped up one, who was promptly frowned upon. Ginny looked down at the floor. Harry was scribbling something on a piece of parchment.

 "Tinky, would you mind giving this to them when you next see them?" He held out the 5 foot length of parchment, 3 quarters of which was notably empty and a quill   "Of course, sir. Tinky would be delighted." Sighing, they both left. 

"What was that all about?" Ginny asked. "Two way Protean Charm. Whatever they write on that parchment will come up on mine and whatever we write will come up on theirs. It also automatically faded away when the page is full and that quill doesn't need any ink." "Your're genius Harry!"  

Meanwhile...

"Will you get off me, you lump!" snapped Hermione. "This is my bed, too. Not my fault we both can't fit on."  replied Draco wearily. "Hang on... didn't you say we were stuck in a broom cupboard?"

"Yes..."

"Oh we are so stupid! If we are in a broom cupboard..." Draco began.

"...there has to be a door! " Hermione finished. They immediately ran- with much difficulty- to a wall. "Why oh why... We could have got out ages ago!" They began running their hands over it."Not this one" Draco muttered. They did this until Hermione  gave a cry of victory. The door was now deprived of its Disillusionment Charm. Yet their victory was short lived for when Hermione turned and pulled it... "It's not opening!"

"Let me try!" Draco attempted, with no avail. Hermione joined him and they turned their heads towards each other.

"Aargh!" Hermione shrieked as she saw how close their faces were. Draco let go of the door handle at the sudden sound and the sudden release of tension sent them hurtling to the floor.

  Draco landed with a thud and because of the binding charm, he pulled Hermione on top of him. Hermione  tried to scramble off but Draco pulled her back.

"Don't fight it, Hermione. The prophecy is the reason why we're here. I don't want to get cursed by Voldemort. They won't tell us because they don't to us to know. You know deep down that we'll have to face it one day. Hermione, let's make that day today. You know deep down, that we have a connection. It's a connection full of fire and not roses. But maybe we can change that. We can, Hermione, we can." Her name sounded so foreign on his tongue.

Though , truth be told,  Draco admired Hermione and was very thankful that the sorting hat had not partnered him with Pansy.   Hermione was still in a state of shock when Draco pulled her down and kissed her.  

It was gentle, unlike the ones she and Ron had shared. Hermione pulled away , shocked, confused, no doubt by the fact she felt like she was flying.  That was when Hermione realised her left arm was no longer stuck to Draco's right.

They smiled awkwardly at each other and started arguing about another trivial matter when Tinky appeared.

"Sir, Miss, Harry Potter asked for me to give this to you." She left the quill and parchment on the desk and disappeared. "Hermione, Malfoy," Hermione read. "This has a two way Protean Charm on it. You're in a room on the 10th floor. Ginny's already tried to get you out with Luna, mine and Blaise's help but we got caught, so we can't risk storming your room again. Write a reply, Harry." Draco continued. "I must say, I quite like the sound of who it's addressed to. Hermione Malfoy, eh?"

He nudged her, grinning and she flushed before wacking him on the arm.  
Hermione: Harry, do you know why we can't get out? We're fine, so don't worry about us.  
Draco: Potter, tell Pansy not to freak out. I couldn't give a damn about her. I pity the Weasel.   Hermione: Ferret!  

Draco: What?  
Hermione: Give me the quill!   Draco: No!  
Hermione: FERRET! Anyway Harry we're fine. Well I would be if I weren't stuck in a room with Ferret.
Draco: Hey!    

This kind of banter continued for the rest of the parchment, so Harry in his class found some of the insults quite amusing to read. But then he got bored and scribbled.   WILL YOU JUST SHUT UP! Of course they didn't.