Chapter 2 ~ Racing for an Answer

Rolling his eyes Draco took a slight step forward "Of course Granger would suggest the library." Hermione crossed her arms across her chest as Draco looked at her impatiently, "Well let's go then, to your precious library. Even though it will probably be crawling with His followers." Hermione looked down at the ground, muttering quietly, "I can't apparate."

Raising his eyebrow Draco scoffed at her, "What did you say can't hear you mumbling like that." Hermione raised her eyes to look at the pureblood in front of her, "I said I can't apparate, I'm still underage." Draco's eyes slightly narrowed and he grabbed her left hand suddenly, "Ah right a member of the Golden Trio would never break a rule. Just come with me. We don't have much time." Before Hermione could reply with a snarky comeback they were suddenly teleported.

Hermione stumbled forward when Draco relinquished his grip on her, as she ungracefully fell on her butt on the concrete ground. Rubbing where she had fallen and wincing in pain, she glared up at the prick that let her fall. "Gee thanks a lot Malfoy. Might warn me next time you're going to let me go suddenly." In a huff she stood up and glanced around the area, "Malfoy where have you taken us now?! This looks like Knockturn Alley!" Taking a step forward she put her face close to his and hissed angrily, "What a perfect place to bring me the practical breeding grounds for Death Eaters!" Draco sneered at her as he pushed her away roughly, "By all means mudblood go ahead got on my last nerve I wouldn't reject the idea of bringing you right back to my father, better yet Him." Hermione visibly paled as she began walking quickly, "Why didn't you just apparate us to Hogsmeade, we could have taken a shortcut through the Shrieking.." Quickly closing her mouth Hermione's eyes widened realizing she almost gave away the Shrieking Shack passageway.

Draco quickly look at Hermione and rolled his eyes, "I know all about the Shrieking Shack Granger. That would hardly be the best shortcut; I hear tons of my father's colleagues have taken residence in there." Hermione frowned, "Then they know how to get into Hogwarts don't they? Harry has no idea, Ron hasn't a clue, I have to warn them!" The blonde Slytherin shook his head, "They don't know that part, though I didn't know you did either. I discovered it only a few weeks prior with Crabbe and Goyle." Hermione shook her head, "It doesn't matter, how do you propose we get into Hogwarts now? I can bet my life that Dementors will be guarding and the Hogwarts Express doesn't leave for days from now. What are we going to do, your father is going to find me, maybe I should just give myself in, but what if they use the Imperius curse I would have no choice but to do what they say. You can't very well apparate into Hogwarts there is no way, perhaps if we contact Professor Mc Gonagall maybe she can help us, or oh I don't know."

Draco began rubbing his temples once Hermione began rambling, muttering quietly to himself, "This bloody girl won't shut the hell up. How can I think with her constant rambling?" Finally having enough he took Hermione by both arms and began to shake her, "Granger will you be so kind as to shut up! I can't think of a way out of this if you don't give me a moment's peace and quiet!" Hermione shut her mouth promptly, but was sure to send a death glare towards the direction of the Slytherin now beside her. Tapping her foot impatiently Hermione quietly practiced incantations to herself as she waited for Draco to decide their next plan of action. Draco suddenly grabbed Hermione's hand and pulled her through the dark alleyway to go towards Diagon Alley. He entered the shop selling Quidditch supplies and Hermione swallowed anxiously not liking where this plan was heading. Within a couple minutes Draco was smirking with a pair of the newest model of broomstick in his hands. Handing over one to Hermione he shooed her out of the store, "This is perfect I wanted the latest model anyway, just hadn't a chance to go out and buy it lately. Well Granger, aren't you going to thank me? Show the slightest bit of gratitude? I just gave you the most expensive broom there is to date and you're staring at it as if I had shown you a three headed dog."

Hermione shook her head coming out of her frightened daze, "Uh Malfoy I can't, you shouldn't have." The blonde rolled his eyes "Now is not the time to be humble Granger, just get on the broom and let's get on with this already." Hermione pursed her lips trying to think of any solution besides the one blaringly obvious. "That's quite a distance to fly, what if we go to Hogsmeade and then fly? I think we would be less likely to be seen then." Draco chuckled, "If I didn't know any better Granger I'd say you're afraid of flying. But that's just ridiculous, after all that you've dealt with and being afraid of this." Hermione shook her head and swallowed nervously, " That's ridiculous Malfoy of course I'm not afraid." Draco watched Hermione anxiously bite her lip and smirked, "Really prove it then, go on get going. I'll follow behind you." Hermione tensed visibly as she gripped the broom tightly remembering the lessons from her first year, she can almost hear Madam Hooch's gravelly voice in her head. 'And grip it tight. You don't want to be sliding off the end.' She closed her eyes her legs trembling as she kicked off from the ground, the broom immediately wobbling around in the air as if a horse trying to buck off it's own rider. Hermione shrieked as she tried to take control of the broom but failed to do so, almost losing her grip when a pair of hands suddenly grabbed onto the broom. Terrified she opened one tearful eye to notice Draco was trying to take control of the rampant broom while on his own beside her.

Draco struggled to take control of Hermione's broom but to no avail, he called out to her, "I'm going to have to try something. Whatever you do Granger don't let go of that broom!" He ever so carefully began to stand on his own broom as if a surfer on a surf board as he prepared himself. By now the broom's had ascended to about fifty five feet in the air. With one last deep breath Draco made a leap of faith jumping from his broom towards Hermione's. Missing the broom by only a few inches his left leg hit into the broom and he grappled onto the broom as tightly as he could, dangling from the broom. Hermione felt the sudden jolt and screamed as she grabbed the broom handle even more tightly if that was possible. Tears were beginning to slide down her cheeks and she whimpered. "Malfoy what are you doing trying to knock me off?" Draco dryly laughed, "If I was doing that you think I'd be hanging from this bloody broom, trying to save your ass?" He swung his legs until they were both wrapped around the pole. Hanging upside down being supported by his arms and legs he yelled, "You're going to have to land, I can't get back on the top." Hermione's eyes widened in surprise, "What?! N-no there has to be some other way! This broom won't obey me!"

Draco growled as he began to feel his arm muscles weakening, "You better land this fucking broom, Granger or so help me I will haunt you for the rest of your life!" Hermione shook her head trying to focus, "What do I do?" He grappled onto the broom tighter, "You need to calm down they can sense you're not confident. Gently aim the handle downward towards the ground. " Hermione pushed the handle a bit too far and the broom jolted towards the ground as Draco let out a short scream of his own. "Fuck! I told you gently! Even that damn oaf Hagrid can probably do that right." Ignoring Malfoy's insults Hermione focused on landing trying to ignore her own fear. She focused on how she was going to warn Ron and Harry about everything, escape, she had to somehow protect her parents from the death eaters, who obviously knew where she lived. The broom landed but not gracefully, as Draco let go last second before being slammed into the ground on his back. He rolled to a stop and shakily stood as he dusted off his robes. Hermione had fallen off the broom upon impact and Draco quickly walked over to her. She was lying on the ground dazed as he approached her, "Granger? You all right there?" She did not answer but stood on her feet and punched Draco in the stomach, her eyes full of fresh tears threatening to spill, "I do, I hate flying. I can't stand feeling so insecure hundreds of feet in the air! I can't control a broom properly every time I go on one it just goes the wrong direction or tries to kick me off of it." She looked at the Slytherin who had doubled over in pain and confusion, "And don't you dare say that it's because of my blood or I swear it Malfoy I will hex you!" Draco glared at the brown haired girl, "What the hell was that about? Don't think I wouldn't kill you just because He is looking for you! Fuck that's how you thank someone who just saved your life!" Hermione stopped in her tracks, "Saved my life? Hah, I wouldn't have needed saving if you didn't keep egging me on!" Draco mumbled sarcastically, "Of course princess, sorry you reacted so immaturely to some teasing." Hermione let out a frustrated groan, she couldn't waste any more time on arguing she had to get to her friends. "Whatever, Malfoy! Just let's get out of here."

Draco gritted his teeth biting back an insult, "Fine by me, but can you deal with riding a broom there? He turned his head to her, smirking,"Or should I just leave you here?" Draco had climbed onto his broom which had flown safely to the ground after he had vaulted from it. He was about to take off without a second notice when Hermione out of fear of being left for the death eaters and not getting a chance to help the others, jumped onto Draco's broom and clutched onto him like her life depended on it. She could feel a mocking laugh vibrating through him as she pressed her head into his back squeezing her eyes tightly as possible. "Hang on Granger this is going to be a long ride."