Village of Trelium, Kingdom of Quaymoire

December

'Ah...Mr Malfoy-'

'I want something strong. In my room.' barked the man who just barged abruptly into the tavern. He was slightly dishevelled; his smooth blond hair seemed rough and tousled as if it was howling wind and rain outside, his wild eyes were deep swirling vortexes of jade green and his tall fit form was rigid and he was slightly hunched over. He paused for a bit before letting out an inaudible hiss. 'Now.'

He was clutching his thick cloak tightly to his left side; undescribable pain was etched upon his pale smudged face.

Without another word he bounded up the stairs heavily to his room and the innkeeper sighed. He always had peculiar customers, he even had a notion that some of them were involved with illegal plans but he always told himself that customers were always customers, besides these 'maybe illegal' customers paid him good money to stay in his fairly small tavern. Situated at the right side of the village Trelium, in the major kingdom of Quaymoire, it was a few leagues away from the grand dock ports of the country so travellers always passed by the Maiden's tavern. Despite the small size of the village, it was a busy region, merchants of all trades ventured far to sell their fine wares here. Trelium was the capital of trade, a place of rumours and held many myths and legends.

Ignorant of his blond customer's intentions, the innkeeper had a fairly good idea that those intentions were just the same as the reasons of the others staying here.

Draco Malfoy, 25, stumbled into his room on the second floor. It was smaller than the other ones he spent the night in during his journey here but it was clean and it had all he needed- a warm bed, food and the perfect view of Trelium was just an added bonus. On a clear day, he could even see the dark blur of Quaymoire Palace. He spent more time on horseback than sleeping so luxury of the retiring room wasn't an issue. Limping over to his bed, he shrugged off his heavy travelling cloak, he drew the thin curtains (night was falling fast) then he turned around.

The blood had already seeped through his coarse linen shirt; it was worse than he thought. Slowly he peeled off the wet layer, there was a deep gash just above his hip, he scowled as the cool air stung his wound. Without the dried blood as a barrier, the blood flowed freely from his waist.

'Damn...' swore Draco, he gripped his side adding pressure to cease the bloodflow as he weighed his options; he only hoped that there was no poison on the arrowhead.

'I'm sorry!'

She was a young one, but a pretty one. Maybe around the age of eighteen, he observed. His intruder's brown eyes were wide as they flickered back and forth from his face to the dark liquid trickling onto his brown slacks and her rosy lips were quivering softly.

'I would have appreciated it if you notified me of your presence.' Draco said rudely, he winced and struggled to pull his linen shirt over the wound.

She said nothing; her ignorance infuriated him even more as she strolled into the room gracefully holding the laden wooden tray of ale and his dinner. He breathed her in sweet fragrance as she stepped over him to place the items on the rough wooden table. He could also smell a tang of stale beer; she obviously worked here. The girl was wearing a stiff cotton dress; more reserved than what he'd seen the others wear. Her brown curly mane was tied back loosely with a frayed and tattered blue ribbon and her only valuable possession (it seemed); a small sapphire token pinned to the right side of her laced edge collar.

'I want to question the privacy on customers here-' he frowned irritably; breaking into the silence. He had specifically told the innkeeper that he valued privacy very strongly and he wished that they would knock and wait for permisson to enter.

'I don't think it is a wise idea to cover that wound like that, sir.' she said sternly, finally looking at him straight in the eyes, the tray tucked neatly underneath her arm.

'It's nothing.' lied Draco at once but he knew he wasn't deceiving her for she raised an eyebrow. He shrugged indifferently and his eyes lingered on her. 'What's your name?'

'Hermione. Hermione Granger, sir.' she replied politely.

Draco stared at this bold girl before him. Looks were certainly decieivng, beyond her innocence and under the soft unruly curls, it seemed Hermione Granger was no kitten but a determined tigress.

'Well, Miss Granger, you can leave now.' he said coldly, he leaned forward swiftly and he poured himself a measure of the ale.

But she reached forward and lifted the goblet from his lips and she also took the keg.

'Excuse me?' he spluttered angrily.

'This will do you no good sir, especially with wound like that.' she said defiantly.

Heat rose to Draco's face and he stood up suddenly; pain searing through his side and he gasped.

'Exactly.' she said as if her point was proved.

He looked up with disgust written all over his face and a low growl slipped through his dry lips.

'Manners, Miss Granger?'

'Oh my...my apologies, sir.' she looked taken aback, as if she was genuinely ashamed. Her hand covered her mouth and her lips quivered again. Draco groaned inwardly, she was good, it was obvious, to him, that it wasn't the first time she played her winning cards.

'It's alright.' he said, his hand waving through the air lazily.

'May I look at your wound, Mr Malfoy?' she asked with a beaming smile.

'What?!' he croaked loudly, dropping the buttered wheaten bread in his hand.

'Your wound, sir. I'm an apprentice, I'm nearly qualified as a Healer. You can trust my skills.' she announced confidently, pointing at the blue token at her collar.

Like you're going to let me say no, he thought bemused, but he thought he'd take his chances.

'No, it's quite alright.' he fired back.

'Would you like me to fetch the village Healer then, sir?'

'No.' he said a little more firmly, clenching his teeth, the pain at his side was getting intensified by the second but he couldn't afford to let anyone know, 'I can deal with it myself.'

She must have noticed that he was doubling over slowly to ease the pain because she suddenly straightened up and her eyes scoured his room for a few seconds.

Draco felt naked under her scorching gaze, like a guilty merchant examined by a 'knowing' guard.

She placed the full keg and goblet onto the tray carefully despite his indignant protests and she left the room.

But before she left, Hermione Granger swirled around and the dangerous look that sparkled in her eyes nearly threw him back onto the bed.

'I'll see you tonight.' she said.

I've got a plot planned for this! I'm actually quite excited to write this fic, so please support me and REVIEW!

yummydreams x