Hermione
Later that night, Hermione sat on her bed writing in her journal that she hadn't used in years.
Dear Journal,
It's been a long time, but I need some one or something to use to clear out my head! I can't exactly explain this weird stuff to Ron and Harry because they'd get too nervous and probably high jack Ron's dad's car to get here! Something seems not quite right in this hotel. It's just a feeling I probably should ignore in order to have a good time but I can't. Also the strangest thing is-
She threw her pen down in frustration as she heard someone pounding on her door. 'I swear if that's Stacey or one of her ditsy friends asking me to go dancing with them again,' she silently threatened and made a strangling motion with her hands. Lazily, Hermione stood up, wrapping her robe tightly around her body, and walked to the door. When she opened it she was surprised to see Draco there at almost one in the morning.
"From what I've read," He started. Hermione was tempted to slam the door in his face, but she listened. "this confusion potion is quite complicated."
"You're point being?"
"We should get started."
"Do you know what time it is, Malfoy?" She asked, reluctant to leave her room.
"It's late..." His voiced trailed off and Hermione could see his cheeks flush with a rosy color. "Ok, then we can work on it tomorrow morning I guess."
She watched him turn. "Let me get changed at least."
Draco spun around and smiled. "Can I come in?"
"You can stay right where you are and wait!"
Hermione closed the door gently, leaving Draco in the dark halls.
Draco
'Of course I knew what time it was!' Draco thought crossly as he waited for Hermione. It's not like they were going to dinner, why was she taking so long? After spending what seemed like endless hours tossing and turning in bed, Draco finally got the courage to risk waking Hermione up and offer to work on the potion.
The door opened, revealing Hermione in jeans and a tee shirt that said 'Old Navy'. A muggle shirt obviously, he thought with distaste. He ignored it though and headed down the hall for the library, while Hermione locked her door and then jogged to catch up.
"This is ok?" She questioned.
"What's ok?"
"Using the library so late."
Draco simply shrugged. "If it isn't we'll just tell them it's for school and they can go talk to Dumbledore."
That seemed to be enough for her, Draco noted. Besides, he could always simply say who he was. Malfoy's always got their way. There was an uneasy moment of silence as the two made their way to the library.
"So," Hermione broke the ice, trying to sound more cheery then she had originally come off. "I've seen your dad around."
"And?" If there was anything right now that he didn't want to hear about. it was his family.
"Never mind."
They entered the library. There was one table filled with five people, but other than that it was completely empty. In the back was a table set up with two cauldrons, several books and a shelf beside it stocked with potion ingredients. Near the table was a large balcony where, only one person sat reading a book, his blonde hair brightly shining against the candle which he was reading from and his back to Draco and Hermione. Draco took lead and headed for a secluded table. Hermione seemed to lag behind because she was so taken aback by all the books.
"There must be thousands more here then at Hogwarts!" She confirmed he suspicion.
"Probably." He looked down at the table and felt the weight of tiredness fall upon him all of a sudden. He couldn't help but smirk, though, at her fascination, because she really was fascinated, of the large library.
"Actually," He corrected himself. "I believe it is the second largest. The largest wizard library is in London.."
Hermione smiled. "I love books," When Draco sat down, she did too. "Have to been to this library."
Draco gave her a curt nod and focused most of his energy on not looking at her, she did look-
'What are you thinking about?!' He silently scolded himself, feeling his face turn red with anger.
"Onion root, Spider root, Beetle bulb, eye of-" Hermione started
"What are you rambling about?" Draco snapped. He looked over at the girl. In her hands was a book.
Hermione
She looked up at him, positively confused at his sudden mood swing. "I'm reading the ingredients! If that's ok with you I will return to working on the potion you were so eager to start on tonight, at this ungodly hour!" Hermione sat on the table while Draco pulled up a chair for himself. "Where was I?" She skimmed down the page. "Eye of a who plant, newt blood an owl feather and a drop of the blood of whom you will make confused."
They both met eyes, giving each other puzzled looks.
"Who is going to be confused?" Draco asked.
"Well, certainly not me. I say you, Malfoy. It wont make much of a difference on your already confused mind."
He gave way to a small laugh and grabbed the book from Hermione.
"How about you work on the first part of the potion and I'll work on the second. The blood is the very last thing." Draco offered. He didn't receive an answer from her, but she smiled and reached for a cauldron, letting him know it was fine.
They worked quietly for the next hour. Hermione had just finished her half of the potion, now it needed only to simmer for an hour.
"Damn it!" she heard her follow head student curse.
She gave him a curious glance and waiting for an explanation. When none came she asked, "What do you need, Malfoy?"
"I see no owl feathers anywhere!" He walked to from the self to the table and back to the shelf. "I'm sure if worst come to worst, we could always use that blasted owl Harry owns... what's it's name? Hegwid?"
Hermione didn't bother correcting him, but rather stood up and walked beside him, eyeing the book case. "Is that it on the top? The jar matted with dust and cobwebs?" She pointed to the top shelf, which was three times the height of Draco.
"I'll stand on the table and lift you onto my shoulders to get it."
She couldn't help herself, she cracked a smile at the ridiculous suggestion. After all, what were wands for? Pulling out her wand, she saw Draco's face go bright red. Ignoring it, she unsheathed her wand.
"Or," He stated, glancing at the wand. "We can use our wands."
"Good idea." The young witch lifted her wand towards the jar. "Wingardium Leviosa" The jar didn't even budge. "Leviosa!" She said more sternly. Still nothing.
Draco lifted his wand repeating Hermione's word. Nothing.
"That's just weird..." Hermione spat out, clearly annoyed that her spell didn't work.
Pulling the table over, Draco grinned. "Guess we'll be using my plan after all!" He stepped on top of it and extended his hand for Hermione to take.
She reluctantly took it and let herself be pulled up by Malfoy. Next thing she knew, he was boosting her up, onto his shoulders and she was sitting there with either leg on one of his shoulders. For some reason, she could feel herself blush as Draco's hands left her hips. She held onto his hair.
"I feel so stupid," She stated plainly, quickly glancing over her shoulder to make sure no one was watching. Two people were looking at her and whispering, but quickly averted their gazes as she met their eyes.
Draco laughed, causing her to bounce up and down a little. Her grip tightened, pulling his hair harshly. He rubbed his head and sighed.
"Don't move or I'll fall!"
"I wont let you fall Granger. Just stand up and reach for the jar."
"You will let me fall! You'd just love to see my brains splattered across this rug!"
"As much as I would love to see that, I would no longer be headboy if I was the reason for your loss of brains."
She tensed at his words and tighted her grip on his head.
It was a joke, Hermione. I promise not to let you fall."
'There he goes calling me by my first name,' She thought. For some reason though, it took to fear away and she started attempting to stand. First she placed one foot on his shoulder, using his head to balance as she placed the other foot on his other shoulder. Wobbling at first, she started to rise and then stood. She was so close to the jar. Reaching for the jar, something caught her eye right in front of her, pushed to the back of the shelf. "Owl's feather... Then what's that?"
She looked at the jar that they had originally thought was the owl feathers.
Malfoy moved slightly underneath her. His grip on her ankles clenched tighter. "You weigh a ton! Let's go!"
"Gee... you sure are a charmer." She tucked the jar of feathers under her arm and reached for the mystery jar. It was just out of reach. "Move closer!"
He obeyed. Her arm smacked off the jar causing it to fall off of the shelf and onto the floor. Hermione felt herself sway and her knees gave way. She let out a scream as she fell. She could feel something smack against her back and immediately imagined it broken.
It wasn't though.
Draco
Draco was standing there, holding Hermione still one moment and the next thing he knew he was trying desperately to catch her. He looked up just in time to see her smack against the book case and grab at the shelves. Next, she was falling backwards towards Draco. He caught her by the waist, causing he to smack against his chest and just in time to stop a sprained ankle, then set her on her feet, gently. Hermione turned around and slouched against the book case, out of breath but looking Draco straight in the eye.
"You let me fall." She punched him playfully on the shoulder and smiled.
For a second, Draco wanted to slap himself. He felt something inside him jump. What could he possibly see in Granger? Then again, did he ever actually give her a chance to show him? Of course not. He was to afraid of his father and his reputation and what it would be like if he did.
Draco tried to say something to let her know how he was feeling about her in that moment, but he couldn't so he jumped off the table and looked up at Hermione. She looked a little disappointed about something. Had she expected him to say something to? IF she had she didn't say anything, just stepped onto the chair and then to the floor.
"Guess we should get back to work." Hermione picked up the two jars and set them on the table.
"What's in that one?" asked Draco.
She held the dusty one and brushed it off. When Draco saw what the label for that jar was he looked at Hermione. Her mouth was slightly open and her breath quickened. "What's this doing in here?"
Draco crossed his fingers and prayed it was just a prank or coincidence, but part of him knew it wasn't.
Lucius
'What's that silly boy doing with that mudblood?' Lucius thought. He turned from his position on the balcony and stared at the two. Watched as his son actually smiled at her. And then when she was falling, he actually saved her?
He would have to do something about that. He realized that this girl must be the other head student. Something would be done about that too. A mudblood as a head student was preposterous. He turned his attention back to the papers he was writing up.
Everything is going as planned. My son will be initiated as death eater soon.
Your loyal servant
He left it unsigned and handed the note to his owl who flapped away in the brilliant early morning sky.