So I guess you're wondering why I'm uploading this fast. Well, our country perished from a huge typhoon so classes were suspended for an entire week

Chapter 3: The Gryffindor-Slytherin Team up

I never asked Malfoy if he actually sent an owl to his father because he went back to his usual annoying self the next day.

In two days, I got my answer.

"Hey," he said, grabbing my arm before I said the password to the Fat Lady.

"What do you want?" I said, annoyed.

"It's about that appointment with Gregorovitch," he said seriously. No one was around, so maybe this was one of those rare chances where I could see Malfoy's other side.

I decided to give him another chance.

"We're going to Bulgaria tomorrow," he said.

"Tomorrow?!" I said incredulously. "How? It's not a Hogsmeade weekend."

"We could ask Flitwick for a waiver," he replied almost immediately. "We could go out of school for official businesses like this."

"How will we get there?"

"Father's fixing the Floo network with the Ministry."

"Won't he be angry when he finds out you're going with me?"

"Blaise is helping us."

I tried to contemplate for a second. Going with Malfoy felt like betraying Harry and Ron since they've been enemies since we set foot here at Hogwarts. But if I don't agree, nothing will happen. And Malfoy seems sincere enough.

"Alright. I'll meet you tomorrow at ten."

***

When I woke up the next day, I packed my messenger bag with the essentials: dragon hide gloves, Luminesce powder, essence of murtlap, dittany (in case one of us gets hurt badly), a change of clothes, my Muggle First Aid kit and my Chemistry book.

After breakfast, I headed downstairs near the first floor lavatory. A few minutes later, Malfoy showed up.

"Come on," he said, grabbing my arm.

We slowed down behind a huge pillar near their portrait hole. Blaise was ushering the students outside.

When he gave the thumbs up, we entered the portrait hole. Both of us grabbed a handful of Floo powder and stepped into the grate.

"We're going to Dormiens Manor, okay?" he said. I just nodded. "On three. One, two, three!"

"Dormiens Manor!" we said together as we dropped the Floo powder on the fireplace. The last image I saw was Blaise waving goodbye.

I did not dare let go of Malfoy's hand. Half because I don't want to get lost or something, half because (I don't believe it) I liked holding his hand.

After a few minutes, we stopped. I was looking out into a room decorated in various shades of red. The design was totally Victorian. The draperies were maroon and the carpet was a deep cranberry color. The couch was in crimson and the walls were a dark red.

Malfoy assisted me out of the grate and helped me dust off.

"Why is it called Dormiens?" I asked. "That means sleeping, right?"

"Well, I wasn't supposed to go to Hogwarts. The real plan was Durmstrang," he began. "Everything was set, and this manor was finished, but then Mother decided to pull out my registration, insisting the place was too cold."

I can't help but look around. My eyes were scanning the place in detail.

"Young master," A high-pitched voice suddenly greeted. A house elf was bowing low in front of Draco. "I have prepared your meal."

"Excellent," Draco replied. "Oh, by the way, this is my house-elf, Squeaky."

"Yours?"

"This manor was created for me. Everything in it is mine," he explained. "Well, I know how averted you are to house-elves, but I promise that she was the one who knocked at the door." Then he turned to the elf. "Squeaky, this is Miss Hermione Granger. She is our guest for today."

"Miss Hermione," Squeaky repeated, preparing to bow.

"You don't have to do that," I said immediately. Squeaky stood straight. Draco led me into the dining room.

There was a medium-sized dinner table in the room with a golden chandelier hanging from the ceiling. The table was set with silver utensils and pearly-white china. For something that is named Dormiens, the place sure is spotless.

After Lunch, we headed to Gregorovitch's shop.

"Ah, Draco! I have been vaiting for you," Gregorovitch greeted as we entered the shop. He wrapped his arms around him like a nephew. "How is your father?"

"He is well," Draco replied. "He sends his regards."

"Ah, good, good," Gregorovitch said. "So, you have come to look for bowtruckles in my orchard?"

"Yes, we need them for school."

"Surely your Care of Magical Creatures Professor could provide you with that?" he wondered.

"Ah, no," Draco replied. "See, we won't be needing just one. We need about two dozen."

"I see," Gregorovitch replied. "Vell, let us not vaste our time vith all this small talk. You come vith me."

Gregorovitch let us enter the counter and led us to the back of the shop.

"You haven't introduced me to your little friend," Gregorovitch remarked.

"Oh, sorry," Draco replied with a crooked smile. "This is Hermione Granger. She's a schoolmate of mine."

"A pleasure to meet you, Miss Granger," Gregorovitch said.

"The pleasure is mine," I replied.

We stopped in front of a brick wall. Gregorovitch took out his wand and traced some signs on the wall. Slowly, it began to open, revealing a forest filled with trees.

"Good luck, young ones. I will leave the passageway half open so that you may call me if there may be any trouble."

"That's great, thanks." Draco replied.

We entered the woods.

"So where shall we start?" I asked.

***

After about three hours, the potato sack that Draco brought was almost half-full with bowtruckles. I casted a charm on it so that it would not rip open no matter what.

"We're almost done," he said. Sweat dripped from his brow. It may be easy tricking them, but it was much harder to catch them or avoid their claws. Even with dragon hide gloves.

He spread some Luminesce powder on the ground. Immediately, a bowtruckle came closer and sniffed it. Then, his claws began caressing the pile.

"And . . . ouch!"

"Draco! What happened?" I approached him frantically, checking his hand.

"It clawed me. And some of the essence dripped on my hand," he said, blowing on his hand. Sure enough, the back of his hand was reddening.

I took out the murtlap essence and my Muggle First Aid kit.

"Better?" I asked when his hand was cooled down and covered with a clean cloth.

"Yeah. Thanks, Hermione," he replied.

Do mine ears deceive me?

"Why are you looking at me like that?" he asked. I'm guessing that my eyes widened and I stopped in mid-gasp.

"You called me Hermione," I said.

"Well, you called me Draco earlier."

Wow. Now that's a first.

Okay, more bits. There was actually no escape, but we kept going out of school to go to universities to ask for help. Well, I usually ask him if they're going somewhere and I just joke him about it, tell him to bring me something or whatnot. We became pretty close with his group (there are 3 per group,btw) and we usually hang around in te lab together. We actually created this "research clique". hehehe :)

Thanks for reading! please review :)