Chapter 4:

A Mutual Agreement

"Alright you two, I hope you've put aside your differences. I realize it will take more than one night, but the first step is to reach a mutual agreement. Agree to disagree, this semester is not about Gryffindor and Slytherin, it's about Hogwarts. Remember that."

Hermione yawned as Professor McGonagall Lectured her and Draco. She understood where her teacher was coming from, but after last night, the only "mutual agreement" she was willing to make with Malfoy is weather he wanted to die quick and easy or slow and painful.

She looked over to where he was sitting, he sneered at her when the Professor turned her back. That's it; he's dying slowly and painfully. Hermione turned her head to look out the window, not really seeing the passing countryside.

"We will be arriving at Venificus Trellum, in a few short hours," Professor McGonagall was saying, as she crossed their compartment, "I am going to go check in with the conductor," she stopped at the door and gave them both sharp looks, as if telling them that they better not kill each other while she was gone.

The moment the door was closed Hermione could feel the thick fog of tension between her and Malfoy intensify. They were both as far away from each other as possible; him on the end near the door and her on the other side by the window, yet they felt each others presence with escalading vehemence.

"Sleep well last night Granger?" said Malfoy snidely, his voice was so smooth and casual, you would never guess that he meant it as anything other than a polite inquiry.

"Sod off Malfoy" Hermione snapped; she was in no mood to put up with his games.

"Tsk, Tsk, Didn't you just hear what your beloved Professor said?" Malfoy said in a falsely innocent voice, "we have to reach a mutually agree to disagree"

"Mutual my ass" Hermione said, "How about we mutually agree to stay out of each others way and no one gets killed? Got it?"

Draco smirked. "Afraid for your life Granger?" He asked superiorly.

"Actually" Hermione said, venom dripping from every word she spoke, "it's you who should be afraid. Do you think I'm just going to let what you did go?"

Draco laughed condescendingly. "Is that a threat? Excuse me for not worrying too much, but a threat from a Gryffindor bookworm is about as scary as a bunny rabbit."

Hermione scowled at him, a dangerous glint in her eyes "I'd watch my back if I were you Malfoy. Don't forget, I'm top of all my classes for a reason."

An expression resembling uncertainty flashed across Draco's face, but it was gone so fast Hermione questioned if it was even there in the first place. He opened his mouth to speak, but was cut off by Professor McGonagall's arrival.

As the Professor looked at her two students sitting where she left them, yet glaring hatefully at each other, Hermione could almost hear what she was thinking: at least they didn't kill each other! Hermione smiled sweetly at her Professor and wondered if that statement would still be true at the end of the year.

Hermione was snapped out of her cynical thoughts as she realized that Professor McGonagall was talking.

"When we reach the school, we will meet up with the other students chosen for the program. These students travel great distances to get here."

Despite her present company, Hermione felt a surge of excitement to hear this. Meeting new people and going to different places was always fun for her.

"At the end of the trip all the students in the Gifted Program will present what they have learned in each subject through a group presentation." Here she paused to note something on the parchment she had been consulting while telling them all this. "You will decide what exactly to do for your final project with the rest of the students. Understood?"

The two students nodded wordlessly. For the rest of the trip the only noise came from Professor McGonagall's quill scratching notes onto her papers. The two students on either side of her sat in silent calamity on the outside while raging with fury at each other on the inside. Each wished furiously for the others death, and hoping they were the ones to cause it.

xoxo

Next chapter we finally get to the school, the chapter is actually half way written so it should be up really soon! (promise!)