ch4:

Hermione sat up. She still felt weak but could breathe normally again, though the thought of the artificial respiration paralysed her.

'Thank you,' she whispered, avoiding Malfoy's eyes.

'Pardon?' The boy asked in a surprised tone.

'Thank you,' she repeated somewhat louder, glaring at him.

'For what?' Malfoy sat down the ground next to her.

'For saving my life, what else should I say thank you for?' She answered nervously, rolling her eyes.

'It's just good to hear it from you.' He sneered.

'Then try to memorise it, because I won't say it again.' She spat.

'Okay, Granger, let's skip the cheesy scenes and talk about more serious issues. Could you get some of that bloody weed?'

Hermione's face clouded over.

'No. Someone had taken all the gillyweed by the time I got there. Someone who needed that herb very much. No wonder that Grindylow was so furious...' She sighed.

'It's all very nice, Granger, but we should come up with an idea quickly how to return to Moody empty-handed. You know, I don't really want to end up as a ferret tonight.'

'Let's not panic, right?'

She looked up into Malfoy's eyes. Water droplets glistened on his hair and eyelashes. It was flattering that he wanted to hear her suggestion. It was like helping Harry and Ron when in trouble.

Now Malfoy was her ally. They were in the same boat. And the oars seemed to have been lost.

'First, we should find a place where we can dry our clothes and our hair. And, in the meantime, we can discuss how to go on.' She was confident and calm, the boy admired her a bit for this.

Malfoy looked around, examining the landscape. When he saw the Whomping Willow in the distance, he sighed in relief.

'I know the perfect place.'

Hermione followed his gaze and nodded. They said together, at the same time.

' The Shrieking Shack.'

Their eyes met.

'I really hope you can walk, Granger, cause I've had enough of carrying you tonight.'

OOOOO

The oak, pine and sycamore trees were silently watching the two students heading for the Whomping Willow.

'Do you have deja vu, too, Granger?' Malfoy asked quietly.

'You mean the detention in the first year, thanks to you?'

'No, I mean the detention in the first year, thanks to YOU and your fantastic Potty and Weasel friends.'

'Malfoy! Have you heard it?'

'What?'

'Something was moving in that bush over there.' She whispered.

'Maybe... Maybe that's just Hagrid's dog.' Malfoy tried to be optimistic.

There was a sudden flap of wings and Hermione pulled closer to the blond boy.

'Granger... Bad news. Behind that oak tree, there's a strange creature... Looks like a huge scorpion... I think it has noticed us.'

'Gosh, Malfoy, it's a blast-ended skrewt...'

'No way, they are much smaller. I remember Hagrid's class...'

'They have grown, Malfoy. By now they can be as long as six feet.'

'Now I can smell its disgusting rotten-fish odour.'

'You see? I was right.'

'Well-done, Granger, I'll tell Snape to give Gryffindor extra 10 points, but before that would you please find a way to get rid of this beast? Or shall we be its dinner?'

'Malfoy, if you had listened to Hagrid, you would know that it has no mouth so it can't eat. It can burn us, sting us, or, if its a female, suck our blood.'

'Now you put me at ease, Granger.'

Bright sparks flew out of the end of the creature which propelled it forward a few meters.

Malfoy and Hermione stepped backwards but the huge trunk of an oak tree stopped them.

It was the moment they realized that not one, but several blast-ended skrewts were surrounding them.

Hermione held Malfoy's hand, pulling very close to him.

'Sorry,' she apologized.

'It's okay. I guess, nothing matters anymore. I won't have time to be ashamed.'

The scorpion-like creatures were moving towards the students, their blast of flame shot them forward. Closer and closer.

Hermione pointed her wand at one of them.

'Impedimenta!'

The skrewt stopped. Unfortunately its mates did not.

'There are too many of them! Spells don't work!' Malfoy exclaimed, holding the girl's hand tightly.

The fastest skrewt was some feet away from Malfoy, sticking out its dangerous sting towards him.

'Petrificus Totalus!' He shouted raising his wand.

The monster stopped for a moment, then continued moving forward.

'Their armor reflect magic spells!' Hermione realised.

They pressed themselves against the tree-trunk.

Then suddenly something unexpected happened.

The skrewts attacked each other. Crashing stings were seen in the flash of the flames.

Hermione was watching it in horror. Malfoy came to his senses first, and, pulling the girl with himself, got away from the battlefield quickly.

They ran as fast as they could. Fortunately the Whomping Willow was not far. Breathing heavily they stopped in front of the magic tree.

'What the hell was that?' Malfoy was puzzled.

'Well, I suppose, skrewts don't really get on well with each other... ' She couldn't finish her sentence as a violent branch of the tree caught her and lifted her up high.

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