Strange Happenings

"Where is she?" sighed Ron.

"Maybe she got hold of a Time-Turner again?" mused Harry. "It's not like Hermione to be late...and thirty minutes late to Charms, too!"

They looked up as Professor Flitwick waddled over, his head barely high enough to peer over the table at the pair. "Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, where is Ms. Granger?"

"We don't know, Professor. She wasn't at breakfast this morning either. It's not like her to over sleep...".

"Well, if you see her..." The tiny little man trotted off towards his perch on a stack of books.

Harry picked up his wand and pointed it at his Charms book. They'd been reviewing the Locomotor Mortis spell for their forthcoming exams. "Locomotor Mortis," Harry said firmly. His Charms book slid off of the table and flew into Professor Flitwick, knocking him from his stack of books.

A few Gryffindor students stood up and helped the professor back to his feet. The Slytherins, however, chortled with glee. Harry gazed across the room at Draco Malfoy. Maybe he had something to do with Hermione's absence. Then again, every time they tried to pin something on Malfoy, he always came up innocent.

At this thought the door to the classroom swung open. In stepped Hermione Granger. An audible gasp passed through the room. Ron and Harry's mouths were both agape, their eyes as large as saucers. "Er...Hermione?" questioned Ron.

"What?" she barked in a defensive tone making him jump back in his seat. Ron had reason to question her. Today, she was not sporting the traditional Hogwarts uniform. No knee - length socks, long and gray skirts, or prefect badges. Her ensemble consisted of her white, long-sleeved undershirt, which was un buttoned down to the third button and exposed the top of her breasts, and a very low - cut black skirt. Her feet were adorned in a pair of black stilettos.

Many students raised eyebrows at her new appearance. "All right, all right. Class will be over in fifteen minutes. Settle down, settle down." Flitwick came striding across the room to Hermione. "Ms. Granger, where have you been? You're forty - five minutes late to class!"

"I didn't want to come."

"Excuse me?"

Across the room, Draco Malfoy stared at Hermione. The moment she walked through the door, he was struck with an odd feeling. His breathing became rapid, matching the pace of his heart. For some reason, he felt like he'd completed a marathon.

"I said, 'I didn't want to come'. Is there a problem with that? I'm not a bloody House-Elf, I have my rights, ya know," she huffed. The tiny dwarf was so taken aback that he turned on his heel and sidled off to his desk and completely forgot to assign them homework.

***

Every student at the Gryffindor table scooted away when Hermione Granger joined them for lunch. She didn't mind. She didn't need them. Harry and Ron had not arrived yet, but she expected them to berate her with questions. She rolled her eyes as a familiar voice came wafting down the hall.

"She's acting really strange, George! She's dressed...well...like a scarlet woman! She snapped back at Professor Flitwick, and she got into class 45 minutes late!"

"You know, Ron," retorted Fred. "I heard about this Muggle thing called 'alien abduction'. Maybe that's what happened to her." Fred and Harry burst into a fit of laughter. They had to stop before they reached the table for lunch, for fear that Hermione would hear them.

Too late, she already had. "And just what is so funny, boys? You wouldn't happen to be laughing about me, now would you? Because if you are, let me tell you that I will give you something to cry about," she declared and then rose from the table.

"Um, Hermione, you realize that you're really scaring me, right?" George asked. Hermione just gave him a smile and then sauntered off in the direction of Gryffindor Tower. On her way, she passed the Slytherin table and gave Malfoy a seductive smirk. The blonde nearly fell off of his seat as she walked past.

***

An owl soared through the open window of the Girl's dormitory and landed on Hermione's bed. She stared at it. A sense of recognition came to her. She'd seen the Eagle owl before, but she wasn't quite sure where. Pushing her thoughts away, she reached for the black parchment tied to its leg. As soon as she freed it, the bird flew back out the window and into the clear sky.

Curiously, she opened the parchment. At first all she saw was black, then slowly jade green lettering appeared. It was written neatly and looked unrushed, as if the writer took their time to compose it, careful not to make a mistake.

Granger,

Your new appearance has puzzled some, but only made me more aware of your presence at Hogwarts. Meet me in the Library if you're interested.

Sincerely,

Draco Thomas Darminius Malfoy III

Hermione chortled to herself. A reaction she'd wanted, but from Malfoy? Malfoy was always talked about among the female populace. He was attractive, that was true. He could be charming, according to Pansy Parkinson, which is something Hermione hardly believed but intended to find out.

***

Without Harry's knowledge Hermione had taken his Invisibility Cloak. He'd used it to go gallivanting about, so why couldn't she? At quarter of 12 she strolled down the corridor trying to be as silent as possible. With a quick "Lumos" her wand lit the way to the library for her. As she expected, it was locked. Of course, Alohomora would do the trick. She pushed the door open and tiptoed in.

A fire lit in the grate illuminated a silver-blonde head. Draco turned and stared at the empty air. He couldn't see Hermione, but he knew she was there. "Take off Potter's cloak, Granger," he commanded. She did as she was told, revealing herself to him. She was in the same outfit as she was earlier but now her hair was messy and unbrushed. She looked as if she'd just gotten out of bed. "So tell me, what's with the new transformation?"

"Why do you care, Malfoy? I'm the Mudblood, remember....?"

"Yes, but this side of you is different. This side...is someone I want to know. You look like a whore, Hermione. You look quite attractive that way," he professed.

The old Hermione would have held him at wand point and jinxed him. However, that Hermione was totally gone. She would never see the light of day again. "Malfoy, I'm truly touched. You managed to compliment me and not turn it into an insult."

He began to slowly walk towards her. "Hermione," he breathed. "What if I was to wrap my arms around your waist and give you the greatest kiss you've ever received? How would you react?" A smile pulled at the corners of his lips.

"I guess that's for me to know and you to find out, Malfoy," she drawled.

"Call me Draco," was the last thing he said before he pulled her into a tight embrace and locked his lips on hers. He could feel Hermione's hands traveling up his back and roaming through his hair. Won't do any good... he thought. It's plastered to my head, she'll never get her fingers in it... Hermione smoothed her hands over the soft, blonde hair and brought them down to trace little circles on his collarbone. The pale skin was easy to mark. Her fingernails left red scratches on him which delighted her.

After a moment, Draco pulled back. He looked into Hermione's eyes, which were begging him to kiss her again. He did so. This time, his lips were hard against hers and his tongue forced entry; although if Hermione had known he was going to attempt that, she would have let him. "Draco, I want to join you..." she whispered.

"Can that cloak fit two people?"

"No, you git. I want to become a Death Eater," she confessed. This had been a desire of hers for a while now. Something she's relayed to no one; until now.

Draco was perplexed by the news. "You what? I thought this new look was just a cry for attention...You want to join the Dark Arts?"

"Yes, I'm totally serious. I'm sick of joining the losing side. Every year, Harry defeats Voldemort. But every year, Voldemort resurfaces. Sooner or later, Harry's going to crack. Teach me Draco. Teach me how to kill someone with the Avada Kedavra. Let me know what it's like to put my enemy under the Cruciatus Curse. Please," her tone was desperate.

Now a smile did flash on Malfoy's face. "Of course, Hermione. One problem though. You're a Muggleborn. Do you honestly believe that Voldemort will accept you? He's liable to kill you."

"The Dark Lord is a half blood too, Draco. I think that if he sees another half blood is making the transition, then he'll be happy to have me as a Death Eater. I promise you, Draco. Teach me everything you know and I will make it worth your while."

She pushed Malfoy back into a small table. Taken by surprise, he stumbled and toppled onto it. "You're lucky I put a Silencing Charm on the room," he said. Hermione averted his comments and crushed her lips against his. She sat herself on the table, straddling Malfoy and contemplating what to do next. For the first time she got a good look at his outfit. The boy did dress himself well. He was wearing a green cashmere shirt and black trousers that matched his pale complexion and Slytherin pride well.

She reached down and pull his buttons open, revealing his paper-white skin. Hermione's fingers traced up and down his firm chest. He was lean, but muscular. The perfect build for a Seeker. She wondered why he'd never beaten Harry at Quidditch.

Hermione bent down and placed her lips on his sternum, kissing a trail all the way down to his navel. She could feel him shiver as her lips grazed over sensitive areas. She smiled to herself, knowing that at this moment, she had full control over Draco Malfoy.