He stirred from one side to another as the hard ground made it uncomfortable to go into a peaceful sleep. A sound at a distance or two broke his last hope of getting more sleep. He wiped away the corner of his mouth and looked to his side. She was not there. His eyes darted to the corner where she kept her stupid beaded bag and other things she managed to gather around the forest. The bow they made yesterday lay there too. Where did she go at this early morning? He got up and put on his boots and made it out of the shelter, throwing her shawl around his neck.

He went a little further to the tree she usually killed time these days. As he went near, she was no where to be found. A fear unknown seemed to take place inside. A hollow feeling somewhere in his gut. Then a voice shouted from a distance. Unmistakeably it was Granger's. He ran to the direction of the sound. As he got nearer, he could hear the distinct words.

"No- put that back... Shhhoosh... Ah my- get back. Seriously what should I do!" The voice kept on shouting and howling and pleading. He ran to the direction of the lake. Then the scene descended on his eyes. Hermione was inside the lake, quite possibly without any clothes and in the middle of taking a bath. Her clothes which she usually kept on a small tree near the lake was then in the hands of what looked like a monkey. Hermione had one of her hand across her chest in an attempt to cover it and other one brandising at the monkey. The sight seemed too funny to him as he fell on his knees and started laughing out loud. Hermione catching his laughter, shifted her temper to him. "What the hell do you think you are doing there! Help me here. Can't you see! My clothes"

He passed a look at her. That temper of her. If she would have asked a bit more kindly... He thought. He got up slowly, dusting away his knees and started in the opposite direction.

She shouted again, "You- Malfoy! Can you see what is going or not? Get my clothes back." She paused or a minute and again started shouting.

"Oi... Malfoy! You insolent little- have you gone blind or something! Help me here."

Again she paused as he kept on walking at the opposite direction.

"MALFOY!" She screamed her loudest. Malfoy kept on walking with a grin on his face. She again screamed.

"Draco, please help me. My clothes!"

"Now, that's how you ask for a favour, Granger." Malfoy muttered to himself.

He looked around for a stone and a stick as he walked hastily towards her.

xxxx

"Don't worry... I will arrange the food today." Malfoy said, quite not looking at her.

"You better." Gritted Hermione. She was sitted at one side of the room, without doing anything. Malfoy sat quietly at the other end, throwing a stone or two outside. "And...well it will be better if you come out with me. I am being honest when I say that I can't climb trees!"

"Go and break a bone or two. I will be glad." Muttered Hermione.

"Come on now Granger. Who is throwing tantrums now!"

"I help you, you help me. That's the protocol. If I go on counting the no of times you should be grateful to me then-"

He stood up and walked out of the door. Dammit, he thought. He kicked a stone, flinging it far.

xxxxx

Hermione took out the galleon again. If she wanted, she could send a message too. Why was she hesitating? Maybe because all these time they did things together, she felt that they ought to have placed a little more trust on her. Believed her for who she was. And that Malfoy! Dared he trick her like that. He should have some sense, she was a girl. How would she go around without clothes! He just needs to be put up on a pedestal and worshipped, she thought. But it feels like hours... Why isn't he back? She got up taking her bow, slinging it on her shoulder. Then, walked out.

She went near the tree to check but he was not there. She proceeded towards the lake. Where did this boy go? She thought. When she came into the clearing of the lake, she saw Malfoy at one side, bend over and washing off his hands. The water was red around him. She ran towards him. "What happened? Where did you get hurt?"

He looked up, smirking. He pulled out his hand from the water to reveal a dead mass of meat.

What's that?" Hermione asked, startled.

"A rabbit. Killed it myself. Tired of eating berries and fruits. This would do a good change."

"How did you kill it?"

"With a stone."

"With a stone?" Repeated Hermione.

"I mean with with a big kind of stone."

"You killed a rabbit with a big kind of stone?"

"Come on now, Granger. Say you are impressed."

"But the rabbit would run away-"

"Leave that. And I have finished washing this. Let's go back."

He stood up , swinging the dead rabbit by his hands. Hermione walked behind him, examing the rabbit.

"Malfoy but this kind of small animals are quite hard to kill with a stone or boulders. It will run-"

"It was sleeping."

"Sleeping?"

"You are not at school Granger. Stop asking so many questions."

Hermione let the matter drop as she walked silently behind him. Malfoy looked quite pleased with himself as he hummed along the way. Halfway to their hut, he stopped whistling and asked. "Granger, why did you come out?"

"You were out for ages."

"Concerned?"

"More like hungry."

They were almost near the hut when Malfoy spoke again.

"I was thinking about this thing for days. Can't understand how you do it. The-"

"Vod you doing vid him, 'ere?"

Both Malfoy and Hermione looked up, both of their mouth open.

"Victor?" Said Hermione.

"Krum?" Malfoy mouthed.

Instinctively both of them drew their wands. Krum drew out his.

"How did you know I am here? Why are you here?" Hermione said, eyeing him.

"Somevone used the killing curse." He said.