The Plays The Thing

The Play´s the Thing (4/?)

***

CHAPTER IV

***

Hermione wasn´t really sure what had induced her to do this, instead of her actual Arithmancy homework, but she was doing it anyway.

4 + 9 + 1 + 3 + 6 + 4 + 1 + 3 + 6 + 6 + 7 = 50

This was just the basics and it came to her rather easily from memory.

5 + 0 = 5.

She wrote down a "5" on her parchment and continued with her calculations. It led to another "5" and then a "9". She swallowed and scribbled down her own numbers she knew by heart, next to his.

Because in person he didn´t make any sense. She couldn´t figure him out.

But, Arithmancy she trusted. After all, the numbers didn´t lie.

Character number: 5, Heart number: 5, Social number, 9.

That was... interesting. Her own numbers were 4, 4, 9.

She bit her bottom lip and flipped through the pages of her textbook until she reached the number chart.

The character number and heart number of 5 proved to be rather intriguing.

"Five is the number of instability and imbalance, indicating change and uncertainty. Fives are drawn to many things at once but commit to none. They are adventurous, energetic, and willing to take risks. They enjoy travel and meeting new people but may not stay in one place very long. Fives can be conceited, irresponsible, quick-tempered, and impatient."

She smiled at the last line, as it was definitely true. The part about instability and imbalance also was making sense.

Unlike him.

 But then again, she was always trying to be logical and practical. She was mostly a four, after all.

"Like a table that rests solidly on four legs, four indicates stability and firmness. Fours enjoy hard work. They are practical, reliable, and down to earth; they prefer logic and reason to flights of fancy. They are good at organization and getting things done. Like the cycle of the four seasons, they are also predictable. They can be stubborn, suspicious, overly practical, and prone to angry outbursts. The conflicts with "two" are doubled in four."

Hermione could recall how Harry and Ron had laughed themselves blue in the face at how accurate this portrait of her was.

"Practical, reliable, logical and predictable. Yep, that´s you Hermione," Harry had said with a grin.

"Stubborn, suspicious, overly practical and prone to angry outbursts!!" Ron had howled, tears running down his face. "Ha! They got that one right!"

Of course, Hermione had pointed out that Ron´s character and social number both being "1" meant that he was "single-minded, determined, self-centered, egotistical and domineering."

However, so far her analysis was making sense. It did disturb her, though, that his social number was "9". That was hers as well, and surely they should be at opposite ends of the spectrum.

"Represents completion and achievement to the fullest degree, as is the "complete" number; three, expressed three times (3 x 3 = 9). Nines dedicate themselves to the service of others, often as teachers, scientists, and humanitarians. Strongly determined, they work tirelessly and are an inspiration to others. However, they can also be arrogant and conceited when things don´t go their way."

She frowned; most of this sounded like herself. But him? Maybe the part about being arrogant and conceited.

She slammed the book shut harder than intended and looked around the library guiltily. No one seemed to notice or care. She sighed and slid her chair back. It was time to begin on some research for her real homework.

She walked casually through the aisles of books, her fingers brushing against the many spines of various tomes. Some titles were in Latin, others in French, but she began browsing through a few in English.  Leafing through the contents she began to read passages to see if they would be helpful and became rather engrossed. Finally, after about fifteen minutes she started to emerge from the aisle with a stack of books in her arms and headed back for her table.

Where he was standing.

She froze and watched him peer down with interest at the pieces of parchment littering the table.

Oh God.

His bright flaxen locks hung in his face, hiding his grey eyes from her view, and his slim, pale fingers picked up one of the sheets.

Hermione cringed at seeing him again so soon and then her stomach flip-flopped as she realized what he was probably seeing on the paper.

His name. With the corresponding numbers.

Oh God.

He was in her Arithmancy class, so he could figure it out as easily as she had.

But he seemed to be interested. His attention moved to the small stack of books already on the table, and then his piercing gaze suddenly darted up and met her ashen face.

His eyes glinted maliciously as she huffed her way towards the table and set her armload of books down. He cocked an eyebrow at her.

"Light reading? Or is this how you drown the sorrows of your failed social life?"

"This is how I beat you in every class," she retorted hotly.

"Yes, well, looks aren´t everything." He smirked at her. "Or, so people always try to tell me."

Hermione scoffed and then tried to casually rearrange the papers and books so that her earlier calculations were hidden.

However, she discovered that luck was on her side. Apparently, that piece of paper had been knocked off the table when she had left and the parchment Draco Malfoy had been reading was the introduction to her Arithmancy essay.

Malfoy´s expression changed imperceptibly as she plucked this piece of parchment from under his fingers.

"So, you are a fan of Arithmancy, but not divination or astrology? You believe in the meanings of random numbers, but not random tealeaf patterns? Or the alignment of the planets? Isn´t that a bit... illogical."

"Hardly," Hermione muttered, trying to keep her voice to a whisper. "Look at Professor Trelawney. Her predictions are either meaningless or pure luck. And usually the former."

"Yes, well... maybe you should meet a real diviner."

"Oh?" she asked sarcastically.

He regarded her down his nose. "Yes. You know, Granger, there are some forms of magic you have yet to experience. You can´t learn everything from books."

"You´re right," she said, getting rather agitated. "I learned how much of a selfish, bigoted, egotistical and snobbish prick you were simply by meeting you on the train."

 "Oh, come now," he said condescendingly. "That´s a bit... rash."

"Hardly," she jeered. "Besides, why are you here, reading my work and at my table? A few hours ago you couldn´t even bring yourself to act a dance with me."

"Oh, and you´re hurt. You were disappointed," he said, mocking her. "You know, I have been informed that I am quite attractive and sexy-"

"Get over yourself, Malfoy," Hermione said tightly.

"I´m quite hard to get over."

Hermione had to clench her fists and dig her nails into her skin to keep from smacking his smug face.

"If you are done copying my homework, feel free to walk away," she managed to say, with a semblance of calm. "I hardly think I´ll miss you."

"Perhaps," he taunted. "But don´t let me stop you ogling me as I swish away. You know the adage, `Every woman is a rebel, and usually in wild revolt against herself.´ "

Oh God, Oscar Wilde again, she realized. He smirked again at her as she made the connection and then he turned away from her.

Hermione watched in stunned silence as he walked out of the library, head held high and with a determined stride. Slowly she sunk back into her chair and leaned down to pick up the piece of parchment from the floor. She looked at it again before folding it up and stuffing it in the back of her textbook.

D R A C O  M A L F O Y

4  9 1 3 6   4  1  3  6  6  7

He still didn´t make any sense to her.

***

"That´s picking up a few books, Hermione?!"

Harry´s incredulous question was thrown at Hermione immediately upon entering the Gryffindor common room.

She shrugged at him and smiled thankfully as Ron ran over and unloaded half of the books onto the nearest table. "Thanks," she sighed. "Those were getting heavy."

"Imagine that," Harry said drolly. Hermione pretended to ignore him.

"So, did you read anything interesting about, er, Quidditch?" she asked.

"Oh yeah, loads," Ron gushed. "There was an article about perfecting the Wronski Feint, which was really helpful, wasn´t it Harry?" Harry nodded. "Oh, and rumors about the Nimbus 3000 - and predictions for games. What do you think, Harry? Puddlmere United or the Wimbourne Wasps?"

"Puddlemere."

"What about the Chudley Cannons and the Montrose Magpies?"

"You´re kidding, right?"

"No, I think the Canons have a chance!"

"Ron," Harry said, looking at him as if he had just said Snape was his favorite professor of all time. "It´s - it´s the Canons. Against the most successful team in the league! They´re going to be crushed!"

Hermione watched with bemusement as her two best friends quibbled about Quidditch. It let her mind stay off the Malfoy track. The one that zigzagged for no reason, made unscheduled stops and tended to blow its own whistle.

Smug bastard, she thought as she recalled their brief conversation in the library.

Not brief enough.

Why couldn´t he have just ignored her? She tried to ignore him. Or at least, why did he have to come up and interrupt her studying when she had been trying to forget the incident at the rehearsal. He was a jerk, but an unpredictable jerk.

"No, I don´t think Harding can do the Double Eight Loop as well as the Magpies´ Keeper, but that doesn´t mean anything," Ron was saying to Harry. "The Canons pull off a mean Woollongong Shimmy."

"Fascinating," Hermione said sarcastically when the boys paused for air.

"We´ll convert you someday," Harry said with a wry grin.

"No thanks," she smiled. "Sports aren´t my thing. Plus, I hate flying."

"Oh, that´s horrible!" Ron said earnestly.

"Flying is... wonderful," Harry agreed dreamily.

"Okay, you two," Hermione said as she sat down on the couch. "Enough of Quidditch and flying already."

"Hey, you know Hufflepuff vs. Slytherin is in two days," Harry said brightly, taking a seat next to Hermione.

"Oh yes," Ron said thoughtfully. "It´s a shame Malfoy will probably catch the Snitch first."

"Malfoy came up to me in the library," Hermione blurted out suddenly.

"What?" Both boys asked.

"Yeah," she said slowly. "He was reading the first page of my essays when I found him at my table. Then he proceeded to be his sarcastic and egotistical self."

"Did he say anything about the rehearsal?" Harry asked.

"Did he insult you?" Ron inquired shrewdly.

"No, and not... really," Hermione answered. "Nothing like what he did today at practice. Just a bit of snobbery, condescension and then mooning over himself. Nothing new."

"Classic Malfoy," Harry muttered.

Classic Malfoy - without the usual cruelty, though, Hermione thought randomly. Recently their encounters had lost the bitter edge.

But not the coldness.

She sighed as she remembered his name-calling and refusal to touch her hand during the play rehearsal. 

"I wonder what `words´ Trelawney had with him." Harry mused aloud.

"I hope most of them were unrepeatable," Ron muttered. "Or at least included, `you´, `are´ and `expelled´ "

"Hardly," Hermione replied, thinking of Malfoy´s mocking attitude in the library. "Whatever she said, he obviously didn´t take it to heart."

"Well, I guess we´ll find out tomorrow," Harry said. "We have rehearsal tomorrow instead of Thursday because of the Quidditch match."

"Oh yes!" Hermione said, remembering.

"Maybe Malfoy will be distracted and nervous because of the match the following day," Ron said hopefully.

"And then there is that extended rehearsal on Friday since we have Hogsmeade on Saturday," Harry chimed in.

"Hogsmeade! I´d almost forgotten," Ron said, licking his lips. "I´ve been dying for another trip to Honeydukes."

"It will be a nice break," Hermione said. But first, she thought, I have to get through two more rehearsals with Malfoy.

***

"And so, everyone begins dancing, following Benedick and Beatrice´s lead," Professor Trelawney was explaining to the students. "And remember, everyone is masked." She looked around in the crowd and then pointed to Seamus. "Mr. Finnigan, will you come up here. And you, young Mr. Weasley, and Mr. Pritchard."

Seamus, Ron, and Graham all made their way up to the stage.

"Now, this scene introduced Don John´s first attempt to wreck Count Claudio," she continued explaining. "They seek Claudio out and pretend they think he is Benedick. Claudio goes along with it, because he wants to hear what they have to say. Don John tells him that his brother, the Prince, is madly in love with Hero, and would like `Benedick´ to convince the Prince she is unworthy of his station." Trelawney turned her attention onto Seamus. "Poor Claudio believes him, thinking he has been betrayed, and is crushed."

"Oh, ye of little faith," Ron whispered to Seamus. The Irishman grinned and shrugged sheepishly.

"Then Benedick," her attention focused to Malfoy, who was leaning casually up against the wall in the right wing, "comes to collect Claudio and lead him to the Prince and Hero, where Hero will be given to him. Claudio refuses to go and stalks off in anger. Don Pedro comes in and he and Benedick share some words, mostly about Beatrice. Then Hero, Leonato and finally, Beatrice with Claudio trailing behind enter. And, Claudio learns Hero is indeed his, and is recovered. Benedick, however, says he is unable to take Beatrice anymore and leaves. Beatrice addresses this with the Prince, after which she exits, leaving the rest to plot some match-making schemes."

With that conclusion of the act two, scene one summary, Trelawney gave stage directions for Seamus, Ron, Malcolm, Graham and then Malfoy and Harry. After a few final comments and gestures, she motioned for them to begin the scene.

Ron had to make himself focus for a moment to get his Don John edge back, but soon stepped forward and started talking to Graham rather loudly as Seamus knelt nearby.

" `Sure my brother is amorous on Hero, and hath withdrawn her father to break with him about it. The ladies follow her, and but one visor remains.´ "

" `And that is Claudio,´ " Graham said darkly as Borachio. " `I know him by his bearing.´ "

Ron swaggered up behind Seamus and gave a shrewd look to his companions. " `Are you not Signior Benedick?´ "

" `You know me well; I am he,´ " Seamus responded.

" `Signior, you are very near my brother in his love: he is enamored on Hero,´ " Ron hissed in Seamus´ ear with malice that would make even the Slytherins proud. " `I pray you, dissuade him from her: she is not equal for his birth: you may do the part of an honest man in it.´ "

" `How know you he loves her?´ " Seamus asked, his voice cracking.

" `I heard him swear his affection.´ "

"So did I; and he swore he would marry her to-night,´ " Graham said with vicious delight that was possibly not fake.

" `Come, let us to the banquet,´ " Ron said, leading the exit of him and Graham.

Seamus stood absolutely still for a moment before miming the removing of a mask.

" `Thus answer I in name of Benedick,

But hear these ill news with the ears of Claudio.´ " He paused, in grief.

" `´Tis certain so; the prince wooes for himself.

Friendship is constant in all things

Save in the office of and affairs of love,´ " he spat out.

" `Therefore all hearts in love use their own tongues;
Let every eye negotiate for itself,
And trust no agent; for beauty is a witch,
Against whose charms faith melteth into blood.
This is an accident of hourly proof,
Which I mistrusted not. Farewell, therefore, Hero!´ "

Seamus stood up and began pacing until Malfoy walked into the scene.

" `Count Claudio?´ "

" `Yea, the same.´ "

" `Come, will you go with me?´ "

" `Whither?´ " Seamus said resentfully. Malfoy´s eyes rose in surprise.

" `Even to the next willow, about your own business, county,´ " he said, looking at Seamus as though he was quite daft. His tone clearly indicated he thought the idea of marriage was intolerable, and his `friend´ was being a lovesick fool. And now, a dense one if he asked why and where he should follow Benedick. " `What fashion will you wear the garland of? about your neck, like an usurer´s chain? or under your arm, like a lieutenant´s scarf? You must wear it one way, for the prince hath got your Hero.´ "

" `I wish him joy of her,´ " Seamus said bitterly.

" `Why, that´s spoken like an honest drovier; so they sell bullocks,´ " Malfoy said as Hermione whispered, "A drovier is a cattle dealer," to Harry and Ginny. Malfoy suddenly gave Seamus an insulted and indignant look. " `But did you think the prince would have served you thus?´ "

"I pray you, leave me,´ " said Seamus sullenly and pouting like a child who has had his favorite toy taken up.

" `Ho! now you strike like the blind man; `twas the boy that stole your meat, and you´ll beat the post.´ "

" `If it will not be, I´ll leave you,´ " Seamus said peevishly and stalked off the stage.

Malfoy threw up his hands in disbelief.

" `Alas, poor hurt fowl! now will he creep into sedges.´ " He then shifted the tone to insulted wonder about his conversation where Beatrice had mocked him to his face, though he was masked. " `But, that my Lady Beatrice should know me, and not know me! The prince´s fool! Ha? It may I go under that title because I am merry. Yea, but so I am apt to do myself wrong; I am not so reputed: it is the base, though bitter, disposition of Beatrice that puts the world into her person, and so gives me out. Well, I´ll be revenged as I may.´ "

By this point, Harry had moved from his seat in the audience to the wings of the stage and now made his entrance. He was dreading having a light scene with Malfoy, but it seemed easier now that Malfoy was already quite into character. He seemed more focused than ever, but perhaps it was mere determination to get out of the rehearsal as soon as possible so he could concentrate on the match the next evening.

" `Now, signior, where´s the count? did you see him?´ " Harry asked jovially.

" `Troth, my lord, I have played the part of Lady Fame. I found him here as melancholy as a lodge in a warren: I told him, and I think I told him true, that your grace had got the good will of this young lady; and I offered him my company to a willow-tree, either to make him a garland, as being forsaken, or to bind him up a rod, as being worthy to be whipped.´ "

" `To be whipped?´ " Harry choked out in laughter. " `What´s his fault?´ "

" `The flat transgression of a school-boy, who, being overjoyed with finding a bird´s nest, shows it to his companion, and he steals it.´ "

" `Wilt thou make a trust a transgression? The transgression is in the stealer.´ "

They continued, saying their lines to one another, without incident and Harry was surprised and pleased. He didn´t feel like arguing with Malfoy today, and he hoped Hermione wouldn´t have to either.

Finally, it was his line that brought up the subject of "Beatrice".

" `The Lady Beatrice hath a quarrel to you: the gentleman that danced with her told her she is much wronged by you.´ "

Malfoy twisted is face into an expression Harry imagined was rather rare. It was impatience, bemusement, indigence, horror, outrage and a few other emotions he couldn´t exactly pinpoint.

" `O, she misused me past the endurance of a block!´ " he exclaimed, rather outraged and scandalized. " `An oak but with one green leaf on it would have answered her; my very visor began to assume life and scold with her. She told me, not thinking I had been myself, that I was the prince´s jester, that I was duller than a great thaw; huddling jest upon jest, with such impossible conveyance, upon me, that I stood like a man at a mark, with a whole army shooting at me.´ " Malfoy stopped for a moment to move around Harry and inhale some air. He didn´t, to his credit, look down at his lines or even appear to lose track of his long, passionate speech. " `She speaks poniards, and every word stabs,´ " he continued, for a moment serious before getting facetious again.  " `If her breath were as terrible as her terminations, there were no living near her; she would infect to the north star.´ "

Harry tried to shrug off the notion that Malfoy was really enjoying this speech because it was all about how horrible "Beatrice", being Hermione, was. And then he had to forget that thought if he was going to be a decent actor in this role.

Malfoy, however, continued on in his flawless recitation, totally unfazed by anything going on in the audience. He didn´t even look twice as Hermione took her mark, preparing to walk towards him and Harry. He simply continued on.

" `I would not marry her, though she were endowed with all that Adam had left him before he transgressed: she would have made Hercules have turned spit, yea, and have cleft his club to make the fire too. Come, talk not of her: you shall find her the infernal Ate in good apparel. I would to God some scholar would conjure her; for certainly, while she is here, a man may live as quiet in hell as in sanctuary; and people sin upon purpose, because they would go thither; so, indeed, all disquiet, horror, and perturbation follows her.´ "

Harry waited for a moment, still in surprise over Malfoy´s performance, before realizing it was his line. A little ruffled, he had to glance down at his lines.

" `Look, here she comes.´ " He motioned to Hermione, who was striding onto the stage. Malfoy´s Benedick looked frantic as he noticed Hermione´s Beatrice among the others entering.

He turned to Harry and his voice took on a tone Harry had never heard before, and was fairly sure he never would again. Malfoy was begging.

Of course, he was also acting.

" `Will your grace command me any service to the world´s end? I will go on the slightest errand now to the Antipodes that you can devise to send me on; I will fetch you a toothpicker now from the furthest inch of Asia; bring you the length of Prester John´s foot; fetch you a hair off the great Cham´s beard; do you any embassage to the Pigmies; rather than hold three words´ conference with this harpy.´ " He threw a death glare in Hermione´s direction and then implored Harry again. " `You have no employment for me?´ "

" `None,´ " Harry said good-naturedly, " `but to desire your good company.´ "

" `O God, sir, here´s a dish I love not: I cannot endure my Lady Tongue.´ "

With that parting shot at Hermione, Malfoy turned on his heel and stalked off the stage. Harry gave a semi-serious frown of concern to Hermione who stepped forward.

" `Come, lady, come; you have lost the heart of Signior Benedick.´ "

Hermione gave an almost wistful sigh. " `Indeed, my lord, he lent me it awhile; and I gave him use for it, a double heart for his single one: marry, once before he won it of me with false dice, therefore your Grace may well say I have lost it.´ "

" `You have put him down, lady, you have put him down.´ "

" `So I would not he should do to me, my lord, lest I should prove the mother of fools,´ " Hermione said more strongly before sighing and then indicating Seamus behind her. " `I have brought Count Claudio, whom you sent me to seek.´ "

Harry glanced at the morose and sour looking Seamus. " `Why, how now, count! wherefore are you sad?´ "

" `Not sad, my lord,´ " Seamus replied tightly.

" `How then? sick?´ "

"Neither, my lord,´ " was the terse answer.

" `The count is neither sad, nor sick, nor merry, nor well,´ " Hermione said, shaking her head slightly. " `But civil count,´ " she said turning to Seamus, her feigned woe turning more facetious. " `Civil as an orange, and something of that jealous complexion.´ "

Harry looked shocked at this diagnosis, but looking at Seamus he began to believe it was true. " `I´ faith, lady, I think your blazon to be true; though, I´ll be sworn, if he be so, his conceit is false.´ " He looked directly at Seamus and gave him a warm smile. " `Here, Claudio, I have wooed in thy name, and fair Hero is won.´ " Ginny stepped forward from behind Harry and looked at Seamus shyly, a blush rising to her cheeks. " `I have broke with her father, and his good will obtained: name the day of marriage, and God give thee joy!´ "

It was taking a few seconds for this news to sink in for Seamus´ Claudio, and in the meantime Fred spoke up, more calmly than most Weasley´s had ever heard him.

" `Count, take me of my daughter, and with her my fortunes: his Grace hath made the match, and all grace say Amen to it.´ "

Seamus was still silent in shock. Hermione gave a small laugh.

" `Speak, count,´ " she said amusedly. " ``Tis your cue.´ "

" `Silence is the perfectest herald of joy,´ " he said finally, is accent getting stronger with the emotion. " `I were but little happy, if I could say how much.´ " He turned his attention to Ginny alone. " `Lady, as you are mine, I am yours: I give away myself for you, and dote upon the exchange.´ "

Hermione smiled at the scene, as Ginny blushed even deeper. She had to admit, Seamus really got into the scenes and it was a bit unnerving for everyone who had never acted before. 

" `Speak, cousin,´ " Hermione told Ginny joyfully. " `Or, if you cannot, stop his mouth with a kiss, and let him not speak either.´ "

Ginny froze, as did Seamus. There was a moment of absolute silence on the stage before Professor Trelawney spoke from the darkness.

"My, my. All right then, we will set up the various kisses later. For now, move on. Ms. Weasley, step closer to Mr. Finnigan and pretend to whisper something in his ear. Line, Mr. Potter."

Harry jumped and then said his line quickly to Hermione. " `In faith, lady, you have a merry heart.´ "

" `Yea, my lord; I thank it, poor fool, it keeps on the windy side of care.´ " She smiled at Harry and then turned to Seamus and Ginny with an indulgent look. " `My cousin tells him in his ear that he is in her heart.´ "

Seamus smiled and spun Ginny around. " `And so she doth, cousin.´ "

" `Good Lord, for alliance!´ " Hermione exclaimed. " `Thus goes every one to the world but I, and I am sun-burnt; I may sit in a corner, and cry heigh-ho for a husband!´ "

Harry laughed good-naturedly. " `Lady Beatrice, I will get you one.´ "

" `I would rather have one of your father´s getting. Hath your Grace ne´er a brother like you? Your father got excellent husbands, if a maid could come by them.´ " Hermione allowed a wink in Harry´s direction. He blushed.

" `Will you have me, lady?´ "

It was Hermione´s turn to freeze. Then she looked at him with a sigh of regret. " `No, my lord,´ " She paused again and gave a small smile. " `Unless I might have another for working-days: your Grace is too costly to wear every day. But, I beseech your Grace, pardon me: I was born to speak all mirth and no matter.´ " Secretly she hoped Harry would never get refuted for his unasked for fame.

" `Your silence most offends me,´ " Harry said softly. " `And to be merry best becomes you; for, out of question, you were born in a merry hour.´ "

" `No, sure, my lord,´ " Hermione replied. " `My mother cried; but then there was a star danced, and under that was I born.´ " She brightened visibly and looked over at Seamus and Ginny. " `Cousins, God give you joy!´ "

" `Niece, will you look to those things I told you of?´ " Fred hollered after her.

" `I cry you mercy, uncle. By your Grace´s pardon.´ " Hermione walked lightly off the stage and made her way down into the darkened seating area.

" `By my troth, a pleasant-spirited lady,´ " Harry was saying up on the stage.

" `There´s little of the melancholy element in her, my lord,´ " Fred said. " `She is never sad but when she sleeps; and not ever sad then; for I have heard my daughter say, she hath often dreamed of unhappiness, and waked herself with laughing.´ "

" `She cannot endure to hear tell of a husband,´ " Harry nodded.

" `O, by no means: she mocks all her wooers out of suit,´ " Fred said.

Hermione heard a stifled cough - or was it laugh? - behind her.

It was Harry´s line. " `She were an excellent wife for Benedick.´ "

The laugh, for it was that, became unmasked. Hermione turned around in annoyance and found herself face to face with Draco Malfoy and his derisive smile.

"Imagine, trying to match us up," he said flippantly, regarding his nails. "Nauseating. Even if it´s in a play."

" `O Lord, my lord,´ " Fred was saying in surprise. " `If they were but a week married, they would talk themselves mad.´ "

"Yes, Malfoy, I can see how much you despise me," Hermione whispered back. "That explains why you keep stalking me."

"Hey, you sat down in front of me."

"It was dark."

"Was that part of the plan?" He said, leering at her through the shadows.

"I believe you were the one who followed me to the library, who engaged me in conversation at my table."

"Ah, yes," Malfoy quipped. "Because only you are allowed to work in the library."

" `County Claudio, when mean you to go to church?´ " Harry asked Seamus.

" `To-morrow, my lord: time goes on crutches till love have all his rites.´ "

"Whatever," Hermione told Malfoy. " `The truth is, you´ve started everything: every fight, every scuffle, and every interaction with Harry, Ron or myself. You have engaged every one of them, Malfoy," Hermione whispered back at him, delighted with the affect it had of unnerving him a little.

"Hardly," he spat back.

 
"Shall I list them?" She grinned victoriously in the dark as he sighed with vexation.

"You are more of a waste of time than I first thought," he said floutingly. "Make yourself useful and tell Trelawney I went to Quidditch practice if she asks." He stood up and started to leave, giving her one last sharp look. "Or, don´t." With that he slipped out of the row of seats and left the hall.

Hermione turned back around, watching her friends on the stage mutely, but once again found herself completely baffled.

" `Not till Monday, my dear son,´ " Fred said earnestly to Seamus. " `Which is hence a just seven-night; and a time too brief, too, to have all things answer my mind.´ "

" `Come,´ " Harry said with a smile and pulling Seamus, Fred, and Ginny around him. " `You shake the head at so long a breathing: but, I warrant thee, Claudio, the time shall not go dully by us. I will, in the interim, undertake one of Hercules´ labors; which is, to bring Signior Benedick and the Lady Beatrice into a mountain of affection the one with the other. I would fain have it a match; and I doubt not but to fashion it, if you three will but minister such assistance as I shall give you direction.´"

Malfoy´s words and footsteps still echoed in Hermione´s ears.

" `My lord, I am for you, though it cost me ten nights´ watchings,´ " Fred said with a mischievous glint in his eye more familiar to his friends.

" `And I, my lord,´ " Seamus said graciously.

" `And you too, gentle Hero?´ " Harry said, regarding Ginny innocently.

" `I will do any modest office, my lord, to help my cousin to a good husband,´ " Ginny managed to get out.

Harry grinned, rubbing his hands together in anticipation. " `And Benedick is not the unhopefullest husband that I know. Thus far can I praise him; he is of a noble strain, of approved valor, and confirmed honesty. I will teach you how to humor your cousin, that she shall fall in love with Benedick, that, in despite of his quick wit and queasy stomach, he shall fall in love with Beatrice.´ " Hermione felt something tighten in her stomach as she watched them. " `If we can do this,´ " Harry continued gleefully, " `Cupid is no longer an archer: his glory shall be ours, for we are the only love-gods. Go in with me, and I will tell you my drift.´ "

"And that concludes scene two of act two," Professor Trelawney said, floating out of the darkness of the wings. "And, that finishes up our rehearsal for today. Wonderful read through, I feel we may be gaining on fate-" Suddenly, she turned her attention to the audience area and appeared to be listening acutely. Her gaze rested on Hermione´s face, which went from dazed and confused to cynical as Trelawney began to look distressed. "Oh, do be careful, my love. I have seen things-" She broke off again, (before Hermione could retort), and surveyed the group of students. "Where is Mr. Malfoy?"

Hermione cleared her voice and sighed. "He, uh, went to Quidditch practice."

***

"Are you going to come to the game tomorrow?" Ron asked Hermione as they made their way back to the Gryffindor Tower from the rehearsal.

"Yes, I guess," Hermione said thoughtfully.

"Hufflepuff... might... win..." Harry mused aloud, and unconvincingly, as they said the password and passed the Fat Lady.

"Yes, and Snape might wash his hair," Ron replied. "But Weasley´s don´t take such risky bets."

Harry laughed and Hermione allowed a distracted smile as she took a seat on the couch, ready to get some studying done. At least it would keep her mind off Malfoy.

"Well, if Slytherin is having an emergency, pre-game rehearsal tonight, maybe they are a little nervous," Harry said, taking a seat across from Hermione as Ron took up the seat next to her.

"When Malfoy left, did he seem anxious?" Ron asked. It took Hermione a moment to realize he was addressing her.

"Uh, not really. Just muttered he was going to that to, uh, be more productive and then he left."

"Oh," Ron said, chewing his lip thoughtfully.

"I hear he has a Firebolt now as well, latest model," Harry said.

"Yeah," Ron scowled. "We´ll have to watch closely tomorrow, see if he has any new tricks up his sleeve."

"Yep. Gryffindor-Slytherin is next."

"And now you are both team captains," Ron said.

"They tell me Blaise Zabini has a wicked Bludger Backbeat that they have been working on."

"Man!" Ron exclaimed, and then looked over Hermione who was reading one of the books off the top of the stack that she had borrowed from the library. "Are we boring you?"

"Of course not," she looked up from her pages brightly. "I´ve been tuning you out."

"Thanks!" Harry laughed.

"We can´t have this many assignments," Ron said, looking at the pile of books in awe and horror. He began flipping through them and Hermione just shook her head and went back to her reading. This went on for a moment or two when Ron spoke up again. He was handing her a book.

"I don´t think we have to do research on this," he said as he extended it towards her. "More light reading for fun?" He shared a look with Harry and then went back to flipping through books and papers left on the table.

Hermione looked at the book in confusion. She didn´t remember picking it out from the library. It was rather small in size and bound in smooth, old black leather. She ran her fingers curiously along the spine looking for a title. It was not printed there, or if it was the gilded letters had peeled off and not yet been re-magiked. She also noticed it had no library seal on the spine.

This isn´t from the library...

Her mind was spinning as she nervously lifted the cover of the book open. She realized she was both squinting her eyes and holding her breath, and had to rectify this as she peered down at the title page.

And almost dropped the book.

She had seen moving wizard photographs, of course, many times before. But never an animated one that she was so used to seeing absolutely still, not to mention long dead person.

The familiar figure fidgeted in his seat and then looked around him, as if bored. Trying to remain calm, Hermione read the title above the picture, still moving on the crisp paper:

The Secret Lives of Oscar Wilde:

Popular Writer, Persecuted Muggle & Ostracized Wizard

By Adolphus S. Peacock

Whizz Hard Books, Diagon Alley, London

© 1902

Hermione felt light headed and a bit dizzy, and apparently wasn´t hiding it very well. Ron looked over at her and then grabbed her hand in concern

"Hermione, what´s wrong? Are you feeling okay?"

Harry also jumped up and made his way over to them. Hermione nodded feebly and tried to laugh it off.

"Yeah, I just was..." her voice trailed off as something caught her eye. In the top right corner of the inside cover, across from the title, there was a little stamped crest. Hermione began feeling woozy again as she read it:

Ex Libris: The Malfoy Family.