Snake Charmer

"Oh no."

Ron's first owl of the summer had come, leaving Hermione a bit light headed and jumpy.

Lightheaded, because she always had liked Ron, much more than as a best friend, and jumpy because he asked if she wanted to come to the Order early.

Hermione knew that although Dumbledore wanted Draco to get involved with the Order, she was not about to drag him over there so soon. It would not set the mood for a good summer, especially since Harry had not written either her or Ron yet, and to have a depressed Harry walk into Grimmauld Place and seeing Draco lounging about was not a good idea.

Harry. Thinking about how Harry is right now made her feel worse. With the war starting and Sirius' death, Hermione felt that they should talk about what happened before Harry has another horrible summer. Hermione has read books on the previous war and still had no idea what to expect. She felt like a sitting duck, and with Malfoy's arrival she would feel like a duck sitting on a bed of needles.

Dumbledore's words were the kicker. He had written her back already within only a few days with his explanation. He told her that it would be very useful to the Order if he joined their side in the war. Hermione was supposed to loosen him up and perhaps warm up to him a bit.

Hermione was, and is still stunned. He made it sound like a pre-arranged marriage. Still, she would have to give her best efforts, and would keep her friends in the dark about why she cannot go to the Order just yet.

Draco was arriving today, which set Hermione in a cleaning frenzy. She had opted not to let him into her room, and was now debating on what to wear. She refused to give him a reason to make fun of her.

Hermione ran her hands over her springy brown hair to smooth it, but it would only puff back out. She still had that hair gel from her fourth year. Maybe that would help. Hermione was mildly surprised at her figure, for it was quite noticeable now. To do things right, she should probably show some skin and make an effort to look more like a Slytherin girl would. She slipped into a pair of very short shorts that were one size too small, and pulled on a green tank top with thin straps, and a mid drift. Hermione blushed in spite of herself. She didn't dress like this often at school. Skipping out on the makeup she began to do her hair when a loud rapping came from the door.

"Oh fuck!" Hermione's mind raced. Lock the door! She slammed her door shut and locked it, hoping her parents would think she was changing or something. She heard her mother give a sing-song "hello", and knew that her life was over.

"Hermione, come down here!" Mrs. Granger called out. Draco felt as though he would throw up on the overly-cheerful muggle. If his dad knew...

"HERMIONEEEEEE!" The screech startled him, and he snapped out of his own thoughts. He was already going to hate this. He found his eyes scanning the overly clean living room, smirking as it was about the size of his bathroom, when he heard feet stomping down the steps. He looked up at Hermione and frowned. He would rather spend a summer with a basilisk. Judging from the look on Granger's face, she would too.

Suddenly an idea struck him. Draco masked his disgust and horror with a grin as Hermione tentatively walked up to them. By the small intake of breath his false kindness had caught her off guard. Draco liked games, and pretending to like the Grangers would be a fun one to play. Could the Mudblood keep up?

Hermione grinned back weakly as her mother grinned dumbly. "Oh this is going to be so much fun! You two will become friends in no time!"

Draco felt his heart skip a beat and thought he would drop dead. Friends? Doubt it. He was beginning to hate muggle decency, but made a mental note to add it to his report.

"I'm sure we will, right Hermione?" This was too easy. Granger was already tripping over the fact he used her first name.

"Yeah." Hermione hardly muttered her answer before walking up the stairs. "I'll show you your room, Draco." Touché. Draco bounded up the stairs after her, Mrs.Granger carrying his things.

"This is the bedroom you'll stay in. Any questions?" Hermione had caught on to how Draco was going to act, and was ready with her own charade. Mrs.Granger dropped his trunk by the small bed.

"Yeah. Do muggles have bathrooms?"

Mrs.Granger blushed a little and waved down the hall. "First door on the left, Draco."

"Thank you. I assume there's toilet paper and such?"

"We're not animals, Malfoy!" Hermione snapped to her old ways, and her mother gave her a small glance of disapproval. Hermione didn't have time to look apologetic before Draco was gone.

"Hermione-"

"Mom, he's a prat! You have no idea what he does to me, Harry and Ron at school!" Hermione snapped in desperation.

"Hermione, you never tell your father or I anything that happens at Hogwarts anymore." Mrs.Granger murmured quietly. Hermione felt her mouth drop. Where exactly was this conversation going?

When Hermione didn't say anything, Mrs.Granger continued. "This came for us today from an owl." She pulled from her pocket a small instructional manual titled, How to Defend Yourself During A Magical War (muggle edition)."

Hermione knew at once that this would be a topic of debate later on, but not while Draco is here. He happened to walk in just as Hermione's mom opened her mouth to speak. Mrs.Granger tucked the book into her pocket and told them both to be ready for dinner soon. Hermione looked after her mom, sighing.

"They actually sent out a book to a muggle-born's home? What did it say, 'you're gonna die anyway so run around and scream'?" Draco's cold voice cut through Hermione's thoughts. She turned to yell at him.

"Shut the hell up! Who do you think you are, coming into my house and acting like we're best friends!?"

"I don't need a Mudblood and her two muggle parents yelling in my ear for a whole summer. Ignoring you is enough thanks." Draco's ability to pull a one-liner after everything she said made Hermione throw a book at him, which he ducked.

"How's your dad doing in Azkaban by the way?"

Draco lunged at her faster than she could prepare. He shoved her into the closet door, Draco clutching her shoulders.

"Don't ever mention my parents, Granger. If you do, you had better hope that there is a wall to shove you against or I'll be forced to do a bit more damage." He let go of her with a final shove, and Hermione sunk to the ground in fear. Her face had lost color faster than ever. She looked up at Draco, who was fiddling with the remote control to the small TV in the room. For a while, she was lost for words.

"So what does this do, Granger?" Draco snarled as he pressed the buttons. Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Behold the power of electricity." Hermione snatched the remote from him and turned on the television. Draco jumped back in horror, and Hermione laughed at the sight.

"Shut it, Mudblood!" With that, he left the room, though where he was going to go was anyone's guess.

Hermione sat down on his bed, her hand in her heads as a sob of frustration hit her. She can't do this for the Order. She doesn't have the patience.

Ginny Weasley had been playing with her Extendable Ear for roughly the whole day. She picked up several small conversations (one between her parents about Fred and George, who were not on Mrs.Weasley's good side since leaving Hogwarts the previous year) and numerous noises that Ginny didn't recognize (though one turned out to be Ron's stomach). There have not been any meetings that she knew of, but then again the Order has taken to not talking about the war in front of her. Ginny was in her fifth year, after all, and was not to be underestimated.

Ginny had casually left Ron's room after sending another letter to Harry ("where is he anyway?") when she saw Dumbledore and Professor Snape in the living room. Ginny had the Ear in her pocket, and dropped it slowly behind a curtain so she was sure no one would see it.

"Severus, I assure you that Mr.Malfoy will be fine."

Malfoy? Ginny felt a chill of excitement run through her.

"Albus, if Lucius escapes from Azkaban he'll be sure to go after his son! It will end up being the first attack in the war!" Snape was trying to remain calm, but his voice was rising.

"You are correct, but we are ready for it. We have known that the Death Eaters would be attacking areas near Diagon Ally anyway."

"This is insane! Trying to fulfill a prophecy made by a wizard who lives in Italy!"

Ginny almost let out a cry. The prophecy about Harry! It had to have been! So it wasn't smashed in the Ministry of Magic...

"Warren is the most famous Seer since Cassandra's time, and I trust everything he says." Dumbledore spoke so confidently that Ginny was sure the conversation was over. She pulled up the ear but dropped it again when she heard Hermione's name. What did she or Draco have to do with a prophecy? Where was Draco that was so dangerous?

Professor Dumbledore's voice was suddenly too loud for the sensitive ear to comprehend. Ginny yank upward but was shocked when she felt resistance.

"Miss Weasley, what a pleasant surprise." Dumbledore smiled brightly, and Ginny knew that she was in trouble. Stalking down the stairs, she slumped into a loveseat with a look of depression on her face. Snape was mildly amused, hoping that he could send the little Weasley off with a tongue-lashing to her mother. He never left the role of professor.

"So what's the prophecy about?" Ginny asked innocently. She figured she should try and make the best out of the situation. Dumbledore was mildly amused.

"I think that you should worry about what you're mother would say to you if she found out you have these Extendable Ears." Ginny winced a bit, but knew where this was going.

"So, I won't tell anyone what I heard and you don't tell mom about the Ears, then."

Dumbledore nodded, and Ginny bolted back up the stairs, red with embarrassment.

Snape was disappointed that the girl did not receive any punishment, but continued the conversation, which he did not wish to be over. His job for the Order was at stake, and he wanted Dumbledore to know it.

"So I'm to let this happen even though it risks my cover being blown?" Snape was not used to Dumbledore listening to just any old prophecy and believing it to be true. It was not like him to buy anything without investigating it first. Snape remembered when he was given a position at Hogwarts, and how scrutinized he was at first.

"Yes." Dumbledore got up and began to leave. "I shall send a Pensieve with the prophecy in it to you soon."

Draco had found himself sitting with Mrs.Granger, of all people, watching the "TV" and taking notes. If there was one thing to distract himself from Granger it was doing his assignment. Mrs.Granger was watching a soap opera called "General Hospital". The show was hardly worth noting, but Draco was amazed by the television set. It was something he had never seen before. Mrs.Granger had taken to watching Draco with confusion. She couldn't imagine a boy more ignorant to her world than him.

"So how did you meet Hermione, Draco?"

The Slytherin rolled his eyes. "She's in most of my classes." He hoped that was as good of an answer as any. Mrs.Granger nodded.

"Do you two get along well?" Hermione's mom had to find out for herself. Draco remembered to play the role of Mister Perfect and said, "of course."

"Do you hang out with Harry and Ron too?" God, the woman doesn't shut up!

"Yeah, loads of times." If you count harassing them to no end.

Mrs.Granger, pleased with the answers, got up to tend to dinner.

"Something must be here...a letter from his dad...something." Hermione muttered to herself as she tore through Draco's trunk, carefully removing the articles of clothing ("a wand, is he daft?") and finally reaching personal items. A quill, a picture of his mom, money, a newspaper clipping with the date of Lucius' trial on it, and a letter. Bingo.

Hermione read the letter and realized it was not one from his father as she hoped, but from Dumbledore. She read it through slowly, each line growing more unreal.

The reason I ask of you to stay with Miss Granger is so that you will get the chance to visit a place that I own, and so that I know that you can be trusted with something I have been wanting to give you.

If you decide to stay with Miss Granger, I ask that you do not write letters to your mother. Also, in the event Miss Granger is harmed or you betray her trust that she has already put forth upon accepting your arrival, I shall be sure to pay you a visit.

Again, I await your answer.

Dumbledore

So there was something involved. Hermione re-read the letter incredulously. Dumbledore wanted to give Draco something. He can't write his mom either, which was a relief. Maybe she wouldn't have to worry about Lucius after all.

"Like my things, Granger? If I had known you were so taken with me I would have given you an old robe or something." Draco leaned against the doorway, his head cocked to the side. Hermione fumed.

"So I don't want a Death Eater in my house. Big deal." The words were cruel and probably something only Ron would say, but Hermione didn't want him to think of her as a sneak. Not that it couldn't be helped now.

"Whatever, Mudblood. Dinner's ready. Hope you lot has something good to eat."

"It's called food. Need to take notes on that too?" Hermione shot back with a glare. His own slate eyes met hers, and Hermione looked away, whimping out of the stare down. Draco chuckled, shoved his hands in his pockets, and walked away.

Hermione felt childish, and a bit of an idiot. She had stooped to his pathetic level. If she was going to act like a Slytherin girl in effort to warm up to him, she would have to be a bit rougher than this. Most girls just go along with what he has to say.

Hermione wrinkled her nose at that. True, Ginny and her often had small conversations about guys, though Hermione was more reluctant to talk about some guys (Ron), and whenever Draco was brought up Ginny would say, "but he his a bit...sexy, don't you think?"

Hermione always said no of course, but combined with a slender, quidditch defined build, pale, silvery blond hair that seemed longer than it was last year, and his overall demeanor, he was fairly attractive.

If you liked losers. Hermione never cared for any guy over his looks.