Power Within

Chapter 4

A Lesson in Shakespeare

Draco stood outside the Great Hall--waiting. He had given up even trying to hear Hermione, or anyone else, when a Ravenclaw passed telling him that Dumbledore had placed an Imperturbable charm all around. Basically, there was no way Draco was going to know anything. Not that he was worried, after all, how often does one see Draco Malfoy worried about anything? When he saw Harry, Ron, Ginny, Lavender, and Parvati headed down the marble staircases he immediately relaxed against a wall a few feet away, so as not to look overly anxious--after all, he was going to win. She probably could not go through with it.

Then he saw her.

The doors to the Great Hall opened and a girl looked up to see the Gryffindors--her face immediately lighting up with her smile. She ran towards them, soft beautiful curls falling behind as if in a slow moving dream. She ran into the arms of her friends gleefully announcing she was to be Juliet.

Draco watched this in silence. Her running toward her friends reminded him of their second year when she returned from being petrified--the light in her face, her hair flowing, all of it. She was older now, however. These Gryffindors were never alone nor uncared about. They were always standing by each other, no matter what, and never just someone you know so you can name drop, but true friends--the kind that last a lifetime. And for the first time, standing alone in their dark shadows, Draco felt an unfamiliar pang--want.

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Hermione ran down the stairs of the girl's dormitory the next morning. McGonagall was waiting to talk to her before breakfast and to give her a rehearsal schedule. Hermione thought their head of house looked rather nervous pacing and wringing her hands while she waited. Ron and Harry were sitting by the fire, waiting for their friend, and with a quick glance, Hermione knew it was not just her--they were watching the professor with odd expressions also. Hermione took the schedule with a polite thank you and waited expectantly. "Well, dear, I have full confidence that you will be the perfect Juliet. There is something you need to be aware of before breakfast, where you may hear it from someone else."

"Yes?" Hermione was worried.

"Well, the Slytherin Romeo is Malfoy."

Harry and Ron could not help but to hear what was being said--along with everyone else who was listening. Hermione paled, turning to her best friends. Harry was unsure whether to comfort her or not when he noticed the rage rising in her eyes. "MALFOY AND HIS STUPID BET!"

By the time the trio reached the Great Hall for breakfast everyone knew Draco and Hermione were cast as Romeo and Juliet--utterly fascinating to anyone who knew even just their names. Hermione sat at the Gryffindor table trying to ignore the glares from that idiotic Slytherin. Finally, she tired of the feeling and her fuming gaze met his icy one. She felt such rage toward the cunning boy. He only moved his gaze to glance up at the storm building sky before cocking the one corner of his lips up.

"Mudblood." He mouthed to her without as much as a single change in expression.

The wild crashing thunder that echoed the Great Hall and the lightening that almost appeared to be in the Great Hall silenced the morning talking. The silence was eerie. Harry could feel every hair on the back of his neck stand. Hermione moved her eyes from the enchanted ceiling to her best friend who sat there rubbing his famous scar.

"Is it hurting again?" Hermione knew the signs.

"Just a dull pang for a second...just enough for a dull headache."

Hermione glanced up at the head table. Dumbledore sat there with his hands together resting on his chin. He had been watching his Romeo and Juliet, fully aware that they both now had the knowledge of their rolls. When the enchanted ceiling burst into the thunderous roar and was overcame with a streak of light, Dumbledore looked up at it, and then he stole a glance to each of the glaring enemies.

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This was great, grant it; he had no desire to play Romeo with a muggle-born Juliet. The simple fact that he had lost the bet was not going to keep him from knowing Hermione's secret. After all, in the right circumstances, he would catch her at it and it would seem to cause some powerfully magical reaction. All he had to do was to continue as he was and she would be telling on herself in no time--to everyone. And now that they had to rehearse at least twice a week would make the /font>discovery even sooner.

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Hermione and Draco were to be in the Great Hall every Tuesday and Thursday for rehearsals. This irritated Hermione beyond all reason--this meant Malfoy every single day. To make matters worse, it would seem that Dumbledore was trying to torture the Gryffindors this year. Not only did they have Potions and Care of Magical Creatures with the Slytherins, but they also had transfiguration.

It was a well-known fact that Hogwarts held many muggle-born students and some that had at least one muggle parent and lived in the muggle world. Many of these students wondered why a muggle play was chosen for the production. Finally, Seamus could not stand it any more and he asked McGonagall during class. She looked around at the expectant faces surrounding her, letting her know that some of the teen witches and wizards in front of her that lived in the wizard world also did not know.

"Can no one tell me why," she asked the class. Everyone automatically looked to Hermione--after all, she was the resident know-it-all. Her hand is the only hand that would shoot up to answer every question since day one. It was too tempting to Draco when he noticed that Hermione's hand was not in the air. McGonagall was the only one who noticed Draco's hand. She nodded to him to answer.

"Well," Hermione heard the cold calculating voice from behind her, to the left, and turned slightly to see him looking at her with the smirk he seemed to always save for humiliating Hermione. "First, Shakespeare was not a muggle and he was a student at Hogwarts." Hermione glared at him--she had not known that. She had never thought to look him up in the wizarding library, believing him to be muggle. Draco could not resist; Hermione's surprise was all over her face. "You mean you did not know, Granger? You cannot honestly believe a muggle man could write all those plays and sonnets in one life time?" Hermione's glare became fierce.

Why does he insist on trying to humiliate me?

"That is enough, Mr. Malfoy," McGonagall stated firmly. Then she continued with a story that would make Hermione and Draco the talk of the school--as if their parts in the production were not enough. "As Mr. Malfoy stated, Shakespeare was in fact a student here. What many people do not realize, with that, is that 'Romeo and Juliet' is not what most believe it to be about."

Hermione looked up with a dawn of realization on her face. "Of course! 'Two households, both alike in dignity, In fair Verona, where we lay our scene, From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.' Of course!" Ron looked flat out confused along with Harry. McGonagall just smiled and Draco's smirk faded slightly---he still knew when she did not.

"That is right, Ms. Granger," McGonagall clarified. "He was writing a true story of a fatal love between a muggle born Gryffindor and a pureblood Slytherin."

Okay, so maybe I was not going THAT far, Hermione thought. Ron and Harry both appeared taken aback; Draco's smirk faded as he raised his hand and everyone else was looking from Draco to Hermione. McGonagall looked at Draco in the uncomfortable silence nodding to acknowledge his raised hand.

"Can I go ahead and slit my throat now instead of waiting to do it in the play?" A majority of the Slytherins snickered at this.

"Malfoy, for someone who knows so much more than I on Shakespeare, you sure missed a major part of the play! Romeo does not slit his own throat--but if that is what you want I will not stop you." The bell outside the classroom rang. Hermione stood up, watching Draco the whole time. He stood up as if he was going to block the trio's way out of the class. He had Crabbe and Goyle flanked on each side with Pansy next to Crabbe and Millicent next to Goyle.

Is Granger going to stop?

She made right for him as if she was going to walk right through him but turned just in time to the small gap between Malfoy and Crabbe and shoved her way through.

Nobody does that to me!

He watched her in a mixed emotion of rage and awe. However, Harry and Ron chose not to run through anyone, but to begin to go around. Pansy and Millicent stepped back out of their way politely. Pansy saw the smile playing on Harry's lips and could have sworn she heard him mutter to her, "head against the wall." Pansy was smiling--oh yeh was Draco going to have a headache tonight. A Granger style headache.

"What are you two smiling about!?!"

Pansy and Millicent turned to leave.

Chapter 5

The Twitchy Little Ferret VS. The Jarvey

Dumbledore made an announcement at dinner that evening. Halloween was approaching quickly and he wanted to remind students this year they were not just having a feast, but a costume ball as well. Exciting whispers rushed through the Great Hall with the announcement. Once students realized that Dumbledore was not finished, there was instant silence. He then reminded participants in the production to be in the Great Hall that evening at seven.

Ugh...just what I need--an evening with Malfoy.

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Draco watched as the fire he loved to set ablaze in Hermione was burning fiercely in her eyes. He knew that if it were not for the presence of the professors she would have already hexed him. He watched with his usual arrogant grin at what he had created inside Hermione, realizing out of all the kids at Hogwarts she was the one he enjoyed picking on most as a kid--she never backed down. Other kids would cower athis insults, but not Hermione--she would come back with a fire burning and growing so brightly that through the years it had become entrancing.

Why are you staring in her eyes? You are not glaring you are staring!

A slow rumble began to swell around them, like a thunder coming from the distance and then...

"ENOUGH!"

Thank you, Dumbledore!

Their eye contact broke as they turned to look at the headmaster that had just come in.

"I can hear the two of you all the way down the corridor."

"I am sorry, headmaster; Malfoy was just explaining his arrogance to me." With that, she turned away and walked off the stage. Draco watched her go. Something was intriguing him about Granger--what, he did not know. He looked back at the headmaster, setting his cold mask back. Dumbledore was looking at him smiling.

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Hermione headed back to Gryffindor tower. She took a longer route in order to calm down.

Why is he tormenting me even worse now?

Practice started fine as they passed out scripts and explained music--al of which was their choice, being as it was a student production of creativity and unity. Then ferret boy had to start about how wonderful he dances and how she probably had two left feet.

Git.

As her mind raced through the evening's events, she remembered the rumbling when she was staring hatred into his silvery cold eyes.

Why is that happening?

True, she discovered an ability to move things without a wand during the summer, but what is the whole weather thing about? It happening more than once now was worrying Hermione and to make it worse, Malfoy kept popping up everywhere to find out what was going on. And she still had not told Harry and Ron. She felt a warm sensation suddenly in her pocket and for a second it startled her. Then, she realized what it was and took out the fake galleon--Harry had set the first DA meeting of the year.

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Draco could not help it. He had to follow her just to watch the fire dancing in her. He followed her in the shadows. The torches she passed highlighted her hair perfectly. She was like a moving blazing fire at that moment and he was captivated. Then she stopped and he ducked into an alcove to watch her. She reached her hand in her pocket and pulled something out.

What is it?

It looked like a galleon--but the numbers glowed for a second when she took it out.

Granger, what are you up to?

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The next morning in potions Snape informed the class their potions should be ready right after Halloween and they would all be testing it the class after. This made some of the class a little apprehensive--did anyone really want to remember forgotten memories while teamed up with an "enemy" from the opposng house? But the great bat seemed to enjoy torture, so there they had it--the first potions class after the holiday.

Draco watched Hermione's eyes dance with worry. Maybe she would tell him while under the influence of the potion? No, that was not possible. The potion causes you to remember forgotten memories--she has not forgotten, she just will not tell.

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Harry, Ron, and Hermione were walking down to Hagrid's cabin, for Care of Magical Creatures, after lunch. The first thing they saw was a strange cage next to Hagrid and behind this was a few others--housing, naturally, a strange creature. Surprisingly, the Slytherins were already there and were quietly staring at these things. That is when the trio noticed how pale Draco was looking. Of cours, he was the one that always had accidents in this class due to his own arrogant stupidity. Harry leaned over putting his hand on Hermione's shoulder and whispering in her ear.

"Is it just me or does that thing look like a giant ferret?" Hermione tried to stifle her laughter, but it was no use. She laughed softly as Harry's forehead leaned against the side of hers laughing. Hermione looked up to see Pansy watching them.

Odd.

Draco still looked pale after everyone arrived. Hagrid began to talk.

"This 'ere is a Jarvey." The class watched Hagrid cautiously. "You can find these 'ere in Britain, Ireland, 'nd America. Do any of yus know what they eat?"

Draco had his hand up in an attempt to humiliate Hermione again.

"Malfoy."

"They eat gnomes, moles, rats, and voles."

"Good. 10 points to Slytherin. Can any of yu tell me anything about 'em?"

Hermione was going to be nice; until she saw Draco smirk and glare at her as he answered the question.

Fine.

It was her turn.

"Hermione."

"The Jarvey lives underground and in most aspects it resembles an overgrown ferret," she was looking right into Draco's eyes and she was smirking this time, "and where as it can not hold intelligent conversation it shouts out short and rude phrases constantly." Harry and Ron looked at Malfoy and they could no longer contain themselves--the whole of the Gryffindors where in hysterics and a couple of Slytherin. But not Malfoy. The memory of being a bouncing ferret was etched in his mind forever and she was never going to let him forget about it.

"I did not know you had a brother, Malfoy."

That is it. She is going to pay.

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After dinner Hermione went to the library. She told Harry and Ron she was working on an essay, but she was truly trying to figure out what was going on. She had sent her mother an owl, finally telling her what was happening and asking about names of relatives, due to the fact of the unusual powers she was displaying--had to come from somewhere. Now, she was looking in every book she could find on rare magical powers and a couple on curses and hexes. She wanted to find something special for Malfoy for his next attempt to humiliate her. Amazingly enough, she found Shakespeare listed in Historical Figures Cursed: The Benefits. Hermione had to read what it said on him now that she knew he went to Hogwarts and wrote a true story.

"William Shakespeare wrote many things while a student at Hogwarts, but none as famous after having read the cursed book 'Sonnets of a Sorcerer.' The book appeared in the restricted section one day in his search of a way to help the notorious Gryffindor and Slytherin couple. As the story goes, anyone who opens this book and reads from it is cursed to speak in limericks for the remainder of their life. This proved beneficial in Shakespeare's case..."

Oh. That explains a lot.

The time flew quickly and before she knew it, she was going to be late for the DA meeting. Hermione grabbed her things and ran out of the library and right into Draco.

"Granger! Where is the fire?"

He was already on his feet and had his hand held out to help her up.

Okay, why is he offering help?

Apprehensively, Hermione took his hand and said thank you.

"You are welcome, Granger."

Okay, who took over Malfoy's body? Although, if I took over a body, it would definitely be Malfoy's. WHAT AM I THINKING!

Hermione bent down to start picking up her books and noticed that Draco had begun to help her. He silently handed her the remainder of her books and turned just as silently and left.

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Draco was walking to the back of the library when he saw her. The muggle music contraption on, surrounded by books, and intensely reading something. For some reason, a smile began to break through his cold icy features. He was heading into the library to research the power he had seen in her and then to find her and torment her into showing him more. But something about her sitting there, not realizing he was there, brought him to a stand still. Instead, he sat at a table and began to act as if he was reading. She was so relaxed and almost angelic when he was not there to cause her mental anguish. Yet, she had a determined look on her face.

Is something troubling her?

But he had a feeling as to what was troubling her--he just needed to be sure she was, in fact, the one. He saw her putting books away hurriedly, so he decided to leave to owl his mother, after following Granger.

Damn. She just had to run into me. She looks so lost looking up at me. If only I could help her without her realizing it. But she makes me so bloody mad a lot of the time, why should I?

Draco turned and left when he handed the Gryffindor her books and waited for her to pass, to follow her again.

Okay, where is she going?

Draco followed Hermione all the way to a dim-witted tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy trying to teach trolls ballet.

Idiot.

He watched Hermione run up to Harry. Together, they closed their eyes in concentration and walked back and fourth three times before entering a door that appeared. He stayed silent in the shadows watching others show up--others that were rumored to be a part of Potter's little defense against the dark arts club.

"So, Granger, we still have the DA do we?"