"HARRY POTTER AND RONALD WEASLEY! HOW DARE YOU LEAVE ME ALONE WITH MALFOY! YOU TWO OF ALL PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW THAT THAT BOY IS NOTHING BUT TROUBLE!"
"But Hermione—."
"DON'T YOU 'BUT HERMIONE' ME!…MALFOY! Does that mean nothing?! Draco Malfoy!!! YOU LEFT ME ALONE...WHERE NO ONE COULD SEE ME WITH DRACO MALFOY …TO GO AFTER A VEELA!! DRACO M-A-L-F-O-Y!! DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS??!! SLYTHERIN KING! SLYTHERIN PRICK…SLYTHERIN BASTARD!!! NEVER…AND I MEAN N-E-V-E-R DO THAT AGAIN…DO YOU HEAR ME??!!!!"
"But Hermione—."
"We're supposed to be friends! We're supposed to be there for each other no matter what! We're supposed to be the Golden Trio. One is never seen without the other…risk lives…and the chance to meet a Veela…for one another! I would never do that to you guys! Never in my entire life!!!"
"Look Hermione. We're sorry. But it really isn't our fault. We fell into her spell, but she really just wanted Harry. Harry…not me," said Ron quickly, placing all blame on Harry.
If there was anything Ronald Weasley feared more than spiders and his mother was Hermione. The way she flailed her arms and hands dangerously, how her eyes bulged out and pierced through his every nerve and sane thought…and how her face became so red. Redder than the Devil's.
No. There was no messing with Hermione Granger.
"Oh, so that's why you so willingly left me as well, right or wrong?"
"Hermione you're overreacting," reasoned Harry.
Bad move.
"OVERREACTING?! OVERREACTING??!! WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DRACO MALFOY HERE! FOR ALL YOU KNOW…I'M NO LONGER A VIRGIN!!!" screamed Hermione, her finger painfully pointing to herself.
The place where these three friends were located at the moment was truly beautiful. It very much resembled a tent on the outside, but a house on the inside. Kitchen, bathrooms, living room, dining room, and four bedrooms were all included in this cabin.
Harry and Ron had been sitting on two chairs in the kitchen as Hermione towered over them both in anger…her voice could have been carried on for miles if it weren't for the silencing spell she had placed on the specific room.
"But you are right? You're a virgin?"
"DOES IT MATTER?! IT'S NOT LIKE YOU CARE! YOU RATHER GO FIND OUT A VEELA'S NUMBER BEFORE FINDING OUT WHETHER OR NOT I'M A VIRGIN!"
Ron abruptly stood up in alert.
"That is not true Hermione! We were asking Raquella if she had a boyfriend…not for her number."
Hermione looked at Ron incredulously while Harry slowly reached for Ron's robes and pulled him down.
"OH WELL EXCUUUSE MEE! IT WASN'T HER NUMBER, IT WAS WHETHER SHE HAD A BOYFRIEND!"
"Jeez Hermione, when you say it like that you make it sound like we don't care about you at all," said Ron, slowly sinking into his chair.''
"I don't know, maybe it's because you DON'T!" screamed Hermione, furiously turning around and leaving the kitchen, and finally slamming the door of her current bedroom.
Harry took a deep breath of relief and looked at Ron with a lopsided grin.
"That wasn't so bad, right?"
Draco walked through the overgrown, moist and calm forest of Bulgaria where the Gold Cup had been held.
He could hear the birds chirping in the distance, and the hot sun receding to nearly nothing but a cool night.
His shoes and socks were wet, and made his every step heavier. His breathing increased as the forest thickened…his body skillfully fitting in between tall trees and dangerous plants. Where was he headed to?
He had no idea.
That had been happening to him a lot lately. He'd just feel like taking a walk and before he knew it…he was in the forest…again.
What exactly called him to the forest he had absolutely no idea. But by now…he knew the forest inside out. He knew it better than he knew his manor back 'home'.
And everyday it'd be the same. He'd meet up with some girl that goes to his school…if he'd in the mood, he'd bed her…and if not he'd schedule for another day. No girl got past him.
Sure Granger didn't exactly fall into his charms…but it wasn't like he wanted her to. He didn't want to bed Granger…that was just plain disgusting.
But he still wanted to make it clear that he could get any girl he wanted. And what happened between him and Granger last year was just to test himself.
And Granger fell…
Almost.
Something told him that the girl had no desire for him. None whatsoever. And that day proved it.
The strength in her voice when she told him to get off her was more than enough to shock him…and of course…anger him.
Girls gave into him as soon as he touched them. They were his toys and play things. But Granger… she was one hard toy to break.
But then again…he didn't exactly want to break her. She wasn't even that pretty. She wasn't ugly…not sad ugly…but there were definitely prettier girls out there.
Draco stopped, leaning back in between two thick, close trees…panting as he closed his eyes.
"Meditating Malfoy?"
Draco quickly turned around, and stared through the dark at the figure struggling through the wild plants.
"It's me you moron."
Draco's form relaxed, skillfully retreating his body from the limited space between the two trees.
"Blaise, what are you doing here?"
"Where's your shirt?"
"Took it off on the way."
"Why? I'm not gay."
"What makes you think I want to impress you?"
"Don't tell me you're trying to turn on the trees…wait…were you just trying to fuck one right now? I mean, you were in between two…maybe you thought you could have a threeso—."
"Get a fucking life, Zabini. You're always coming up with stupid shit."
Blaise smirked. "Don't hate me cause I'm sexier."
Draco's silver eyes flashed in the moonlight as he looked at Blaise.
"In your dreams, stupid prick."
"Hey…no offense but the Slytherin King is getting old. No girl likes an old man's saggy—."
"Get to the point Zabini," said Draco, slowly walking towards him in a threatening manner.
"What I'm trying to say is that the Slytherin King is loosing his touch with the ladies."
Draco stopped walking and chuckled, "That'll be the day."
Blaise leaned against the tree, crossing his arms in a superior manner. "You know it's true."
"Get real Zabini. The girls still love me."
"True."
"So why'd you say I'm loosing my touch? I just scored with this girl…what's her face…Raquel? Rochelle? Rachel? Well it was some Veela girl, can't remember her name right now. But I got her right after the match today."
"After going soft on Granger?"
"What?"
"You know what I mean."
"No I don't know what you mean. I don't go soft on no one."
"Then tell me how…after two private encounters…she's still a virgin."
"Maybe I don't want to get with Granger."
"Maybe you're just afraid that Granger may actually turn you down."
"Hell no! Granger turn me down! Blaise, it's the other way around. I could get Granger if I wanted to. Key Word Blaise…IF." Said Draco, as he mimicked Blaise and leaned against a tree with his arms folded across his chest.
"Prove it, bitch."
Draco stiffened and abruptly stepped away from the tree.
"What is this, a challenge?"
"Maybe."
"It was a yes of no answer."
"Fine then. Here's the deal."
"So it is a challenge?"
"No shit Sherlock."
"What do you want me to do?"
"Bed Granger. Make her fall madly in love with you and then…dump her."
"The same ole routine?"
"The same ole routine."
"What if I win?"
"I'll give you three thousand Galleons, and my father's encyclopedia collection of the Dark Arts."
Draco's eyes widened. "But that's not yours."
"It might as well be. My father's never home and my mother's dead…so why not?" smirked Blaise.
"What if I loose?"
"When you loose, you'll have to give me the same, exact thing. Three thousand galleons and your father's full encyclopedia collection of the Dark Arts."
"How much time do I have?"
"All seventh year. That's how much I don't think you can do it."
"…Bed Granger…bed Granger…" said Draco thoughtfully. "Why not? I accept this challenge."
"Great!" yelled Blaise, and also stepped away from the tree. Draco looked at him in curiosity.
"You still didn't tell me why you're all the way over here?"
"I had to take a piss."
"There're bathrooms in the cabin."
"I know. But I lost my key."
Hermione woke up to the screaming and yelling from outside. Helpless cries of fear, pain, and mercy.
Her heart thumping out of control she quickly searched for Ginny on the bed below hers. It was pitch black, but even so she could see that Ginny was also awake, stiff under the covers, her eyes as the only part of her exposed.
"What's going on?!" Hermione whispered.
"I don't know," said Ginny, her voice cracking with emotion.
Just then a hard knock came to the room door, but didn't wait for a reply as the person abruptly opened it harshly.
"Are you two alright?" asked Arthur Weasley, stepping into the darkness.
"What's going on, dad?" asked Ginny, bringing the covers down to her chest.
"It's another attack. C'mon, get up! Quick, I don't know how much time we have."
Hermione and Ginny, both girl's heart pounding loudly, shot our of bed.
Ginny was the first out the door, her father waving for Hermione to hurry up.
More out of desperation than anything else, Hermione jumped onto the floor from her bed, the top bunk.
Pain seared through her foot.
She fell backwards and clutched her ankle. Her eyes closed as her head tilted back…trying to hold in the pain.
She couldn't help it. The tears came as she clenched her jaw.
"Hermione, are you all right?!" asked Arthur, running towards her immediately. Hermione nodded that she wasn't, and bit her tongue so that she wouldn't tell Ron's father that he had asked the most stupid question.
"Harry! Harry come over here, hurry!" yelled Arthur.
Harry walked into the room, his face pale and his form tense.
"No, don't turn on the light! They'll see us," said Arthur and motioned for him to walk further into the room.
"What happened to Hermione?"
"Looks like she broke her ankle jumping off the bed."
"Can't you perform a healing spell?"
"Harry, if there's anyone worse at healing spells than Gilderoy Lockhart, it's me. She's just going to have to deal with the pain for now…sorry Hermione," he finished, looking at Hermione ruefully.
Hermione just rocked back and forth, clutching her ankle in pain, and frustrated at the tears that ran down her cheeks.
"I need you to carry Hermione to safety," said Arthur, as something that sounded very much like a bomb explode echoed through the air, more cries of fear and pain issuing from those outside.
"And where's that?!" asked Harry, as he carefully picked up Hermione…one arm under her legs and another supporting her back.
"Anywhere but here. Where are Ron and Ginny."
"They're waiting for us in the kitchen."
"Right. You four go and get yourselves somewhere safe. I have to help calm the unsteady. Be careful, you hear?"
"You too," said Harry, and turned around, Hermione in arms, and walked to the kitchen.
"What's wrong with Hermione?!" asked Ginny, untangling herself from her brother's comforting arms.
"She broke her ankle on her way here," said Harry in a hurry, as another bomb-like explosion pierced through the air.
"Harry, we better hurry, they're attacking all the cabins! It won't be long before they come to ours…we haven't much time!"
"Right," said Harry and nodded through the door. "Let's go."
It was war outside. The four passed by people without body parts, people begging for help, little boys and girls without ears or noses. They came close to getting hit by the soaring spells themselves…so close.
There wasn't a single spot safe. Not under a tree, not in a cabin, not anywhere. In the most unexpected places, a spell would crash onto the floor an inch away from you.
"HARRY LOOK!" screamed Ron over the exploding sounds that surrounded them, pointing to the sky.
"THE DARK MARK. WHY IS THIS SO FAMILIAR?"
"BECAUSE IT HAPPENED BEFORE!" said Ron back, and continued their search for safety.
They moved from place to place, and nothing suited the word "safety." There was no where to hide. The panic that seared through each of them was immense.
It truly was hell on earth.
A spell hit the ground about two feet away from Harry, the impulse throwing him off his feet…the dirt blinding all four of them and finally separating each them from each other.
Hermione felt the pain sear through her foot once again, as she clutched it and looked around for Harry, or anyone with a familiar face.
"HARRY! HARRY WHERE ARE YOU?!!" said Hermione in a roar of desperation, tears of fear nearly choking her.
"RON, GINNY, ANYONE, HELP! HELP ME, PLEASE! SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP ME!!!" begged Hermione, but no one was in sight. Only unsettled dirt still suspended in the air from the previous spell.
Hermione started coughing, and then continued pleading, joining the other screams from those in her situation.
A spell hit the ground next to her…sending her flying farther away from the others. Her ankle was in agony, her forehead, her arm and her leg stung incredibly.
"HELP ME PLEASE! ANYONE! DON'T LET ME DIE…PLEASE!" yelled Hermione again, this time her voice a bit raspy from her previous yelling.
A pair of arms from a mysterious person lifted her off the ground and pulled her backwards.
She desperately tried to see who it was, but it soon didn't matter. She clung onto the person knowing that her life depended on it.
She was pulled away from the commotion, the screams now sounding distant, as well as the threatening spells.
Hermione tried to control her loud sobs. Now burying her face into the person's chest, taking a strong hold of his neck.
Having no track of where she was being taken to, she prayed that the man that was carrying her was of good intention.
She looked up and secretly thanked God for saving her, and saw that the man that was carrying her was none other than…
a stranger.
Hermione was starting to calm down, her heavy sobs becoming light hiccups.
She wasn't aware of the small tent in the distance, or when the man entered it.
"I got another one! It's crazy out there. This girl was screaming Bloody Mary when I saved her, but she's calmed down a lot since then."
"Are there anymore out there, Paul?"
"Alive? I'm not sure. How's Harry Potter?"
At his name, Hermione turned her head from the man's chest and looked around. She was in an infirmary, where many people were lying in small white beds, being attended by what Hermione assumed were healers.
"Granger?!"
Hermione averted her eyes to the man whom her 'savior' was talking to.
She looked at him, but she didn't see him.
Malfoy turned to lead Paul to a new bed at the far back corner of the room, and carefully watched him place her onto it.
"I'm going back out there. I'll be back," said Paul, and left the tent.
Malfoy turned to Hermione, who was looking around frantically.
"Damn Granger, you're a mess," said Malfoy, eyeing the blood that spilled over the right side of her face.
The gashes on her leg and arm.
And her purple, swollen ankle.
Hermione just looked at Malfoy, her eyes distant and painful.
"She's in shock," said one of the healers from the other side of the tent. "Most of them are."
"Get her to lie down and start cleansing her wounds. Do not use magic," said the healer, as he gave a little girl some water.
Hermione laid down on her own…forgetting all about the physical pain, and just staring at the ceiling…depicting her future.
Please review! Oh, and guys…I'll try and update every week. Love ya!!!
