Strange Happenings

Rude Behavior

It was a bright Sunday morning. The sun was shining down across the lake where a few students were throwing Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans in the clear water and watching the Giant Squid reach up and grab them with his tentacles. Harry remembered the mermaids that swam down below the surface. They were incredibly ugly, unlike muggle cartoons and storybooks depicted them.

He glanced over at Ron, who had a sullen look on his face. He was no doubt thinking about Hermione's attitude as of late. She'd changed right overnight. She was dressing to get boys attention, getting extra homework for her new disregard for authority, and treating Ron and Harry like stinksap; avoiding them as much as possible.

They continued down the familiar path to Hagrid's. Harry was happy they were going, because he hadn't spoken with his enormous friend in quite a few weeks. Hopefully it would turn out to be a pleasant experience.

***

Hagird greeted them at the door and invited them inside. They both took chairs at his large table and watched him as he stoked the fire. They made small talk as he put a pot of tea on and tried to tempt them with rock cakes, which they declined. Finally, he asked the question:

"What's happenin' wit Hermione? This mornin' she jus' walked righ' past me when I said 'ello," questioned Hagrid while placing two mugs of tea on the table in front of Ron and Harry and sipping at his own. He looked down at their brooding expressions. Hagrid felt sympathy for Ron especially. He seemed heartbroken with Hermione's new appearance. He was so upset that even his efforts at Quidditch practice were lackadaisical.

"We're not sure either," remarked Harry. "She just turned up to class one day looking...well...odd. She won't talk to either of us. I dunno what's going on. And, I can't find my Invisibility Cloak anywhere. I know that I left it in my trunk. I haven't used it in a while and now it's missing. I'd summon it, but you have to know exactly where something is for the charm to work. Bloody brilliant restriction on a charm," he sighed.

Harry drifted into his thoughts when a loud CRASH! brought him out of his silent reverie. Hagrid had dropped his giant mug and was staring out the window. "What's wrong, Hagrid?"

"Ah, nothin'.nothin'," he lied. Ron caught on by the tone of the half-giant's voice and looked out the window to see Hermione leaning against the beech tree by the lake, talking to Draco Malfoy. The sleazy Slytherin wore a proud smirk on his face.

Harry looked at Hermione and saw that she was actually laughing! Ron turned a shade of red when he saw the two chatting happily. He slammed his mug down on the table and tore out of Hargrid's hut. Harry jumped up and raced after him.

***

Draco watched as Hermione smiled at him. For a half blood, she was rather pretty. He opened his mouth to say something when a loud BANG! sounded. Draco looked up to see Hagrid's front door slam open.

"What do you think you're doing there, Malfoy?" yelled Ron as he crossed the lawn to reach the pair, Harry trailing after him. He wore a fierce expression on his face.

"What does it look like, Weasel King? I'm having an intelligent conversation, something you yourself will never do considering your mum and dad are too stupid to teach you. The only people you talk to are that brainless half-breed and Potter, not that either of them count as anyone," Draco sneered.

Harry could see Ron's ears glowing red. "Shut up, Malfoy or you'll be talkin' out of the other side of your face," Harry threatened.

Ron was staring fixedly at Hermione.

"Hermione, what're you doing? Hello, this is Malfoy! The Amazing Bouncing Ferret!!! The same git who you punched in third year! The one who told us that he hoped you were going to die in second year!" his voice became louder as he spoke each word. "What? Why are you laughing like that?"

"Well," she responded trying to supress a fit of giggles. "You sound like a blithering idiot, that's why. Do you honestly think that I don't know who I'm talking to, Weasley? I'm the top student in our year. I think I've got a bit more brains than an oaf like you."

Ron looked like he'd just received a Howler from Mrs. Weasley. Harry stood helplessly at his side. The best he could do was place an arm on Ron's shoulder.

"The weasel is going to cry," smirked Draco. "Potter, you better summon him a tissue. Aww, did ickle Weezy get his feewins huwt?"

Hermione and a few others laughed. Before another offensive remark could be made, there was a shout of "Stupify!" and Malfoy was knocked to the ground, obviously unconscious. Hermione pulled out her wand and aimed it at Harry. Before he could act, she hexed him with a Bat Bogey curse. He stumbled around, bats attacking every inch of his face. Ron pointed his wand and said, "Finite." The hex lifted and Harry was able to regain his bearings.

"Bloody hell," Ron remarked. "You've turned into a right bitch, Hermione. C'mon, Harry."

Harry turned and followed Ron as he stomped to the castle. "I'm surprised her head isn't spinning around on her shoulders," he sighed.

Ron looked befuddled. "What?"

"Oh, sorry.muggle film."

"What's a film?"

Harry laughed, "Never mind, Ron."

***

"I hope you realize that you're never going to get away with this. Someone is bound to figure it out."

"Do you hear that, Wormtail?" Voldemort asked as he lifted his glass of Firewhiskey to his lips and looked around the room at the treacherous being. A fire lit in the grate illuminated his features. He was a short, fat, and bald man. He resembled his animagus form; a rat. "Why do they all think that they're smarter than I am?" Voldemort laughed.

"I don't know, Master. No one is as intelligent as you. Some may be clever, but not a single person, mudblood, muggle or wizard, can come close," Wormtail managed as he peered into the shadows. His gaze danced across the tattered curtains hanging in the window. He'd been here before, many times. He had recommended it to Lord Voldemort.

"Wormtail, do stop kissing my arse. Be useful to me. Go owl Lucius and tell him that I need to speak with him."

"Yes, my Lord."

Wormtail turned and exited the room. Voldemort turned back to his prisoner and smiled. "Now, do tell me why it is you think that you are so much more clever than I am. Do you think that as the greatest wizard ever, I would be foolish enough to carry out a plan that wasn't foolproof, hmm, child?"

"You are not the greatest wizard. Dumbledore far surpasses you in that category! Do not continue to fool your self."

Voldemort began to shake with rage. His bone white face began a bright shade of red. He leaned close to his prisoner's face, who lay chained to the wall. "DUMBLEDORE ISN'T EVEN HALF AS POWERFUL AS I AM! HE IS CONTROLLED BY THE FOULEST EMOTION! HE LETS LOVE RUIN HIM! DO YOU HEAR ME, CHILD? DUMBLEDORE IS A WEAK, OLD MAN! HE IS NOT AND NEVER WILL BE STRONG ENOUGH TO DEFEAT LORD VOLDEMORT!"

"It drives you mad, doesn't it? Knowing that he IS better than you and that he will over power you. If no one else figures it out, he will!"

Voldemort was seething. "CRUCIO!" he bellowed and pointed his wand. He laughed maniacally as his victim's earsplitting screams echoed throughout the room; their body writhed on the wooden floor.

***

Hermione's lips were warm on his. Her hands were exploring his hair, which he decided to leave hanging free for her this time. His shirt was off, exposing his muscled chest and pale skin. He was reveling in the feeling of her tongue sliding down his sternum and stopping just short of his navel. His eyes widened as her mouth moved lower and she began to unbutton his trousers. He knew that she found him attractive, everybody did, but he was surprised to find that Hermione Granger was advancing this far on him.

However, he did not protest.

Draco groaned as she teased him, zipping up and buttoning his trousers just as fast as she had undone them. She hadn't been serious. She only wanted to play games with him. Maybe that was all this was.a game. Well, Draco decided, he liked it.

He sat up on the table and looked around. They had decided to meet in the library again. It was quiet and they were undisturbed. The only light this time came from a small lantern. They decided not to risk being caught. "You still want to learn all about being a Death Eater? Want to know everything? How do I know that you won't run and tell Potter. This could all be a scheme to get my father into trouble and the Dark Lord caught. Can I trust you?"

"If you would like," she began quietly. "You could use Veritaserum. Snape has some in his cupboards.go and steal some," she smiled at him, daring him to steal from the Potions professor who kept a close watch on his stores after being robbed in Hermione's second year.

"No," he looked at her peculiarly. "That's quite alright." He sat quiet for a minute and pondered how he was going to prove that she was telling the truth. He could owl his father for a bottle. Of course, he would probably ask what he wanted it for. Father would be terribly upset if he said I'm trying to teach a mudblood that I'm snogging how to do the Avada Kedavra spell and I need to know if I can trust her. "How about a little trade?" he offered. "You tell me all about Potter.and I'll tell you everything I know about the Dark Arts and how to perform dark magic."

She smiled at his wit. He was so jealous of Potter. He was looking for embarrassing stories, but she had much more important information to give him. She could tell him all sorts of things that the Dark Lord would love to know.. "You first," she grinned.