Chapter four: A date with destiny

Author's note: Hey you guys! :] Right now I'm sitting inside, boring myself to death, because it's raining and there's nothing to do! It was supposed to be shiny, but who am I to judge... Anyways, I thought this may be a good time for me to write the next chapter which for I even have some fine ideas. Let us start, so wish me good luck! :D

Discalmer: Thank you, J.K. Rowling for our childhood :D

October 14th

Dear diary,

I don't have really much to say, only that I managed to survive my first, and hopefully last detention. Ow, and last night, while I was walking to the library, I came across Malfoy, who seem rather odd, and as I simply asked what's wrong, he just yelled, telling me to leave him alone. Like that wasn't confusing enough, I ended up waiting the whole night for him to return to his dorm, but he never did. After some time, I started worrying that he might be in some trouble, when I remembered it was Malfoy I was talking about, so I forced myself just to forget about it. Now, it is morning before breakfast, and because it's still to early for me to get to the Great Hall, and I already finished getting myself ready, I thought of writing a few thoughts in my journal. And today, we even have an Arithmancy quiz on the last lesson and an essay for Potions, so it's going to be a long day. Fortunately, I am as ready as I always am!

Hermione heard the door shut, so she scrabbled a few more words in her journal before closing it.

I'd better go, that must be Malfoy. You can bet I'll give him a piece of my mind on his behavior.

Hermione looked up just in time to see Malfoy, walking into the common room, slowly. She stood up, crossing her arm over her chest, tapping her foot on the floor, impatiently. She almost reminded herself of her mother.

"Well?", she demanded.

Malfoy looked up at her, stopping in the middle of the room.

As he did so, Hermione had to shiver at his sight. He seemed to was up all night, for he had big dark bags under his eyes, his hair was messy for the first time in his life, and he looked absolutely exhausted. Than Hermione, to her horror, noticed his right red hand shaking incredibly. Hermione widened her eyes in shook.

"Malfoy, what happen?", she walked over to him, reaching for his hand.

Malfoy stepped back, jerking his hand away from her. He started walking to his dorm, trembling as fast as could, but Hermione caught up to him easily.

She blocked the door to his room with her body, so he couldn't go in.

"Malfoy, I demand you to tell me where have you been all night and what happened to your hand?"

He frowned, trying to get past her, but she wouldn't let him just yet.

"Malfoy, you talk this instant!", Hermione shouted at him angrily.

"You know what?", Malfoy sneered, " Forget it!"

He turned around and left the common room, shutting the door, behind him.

Hermione signed.

'Why did he have to be so stubborn?', she thought.

...

By looking on the clock, she realized it was almost time for breakfast, so she grabbed her bag and hurried out, letting out another sigh.

"So, did you heard about the winter ball?", Jinny asked her friends, excitedly.

"Yeah, on Christmas eve, right?", Ron scratched his head.

"It's because this is our last year. So the ball will be only for seventh years and professors.", Hermione said.

"Aw, does that mean I can't come?", Jinny seemed disappointed.

"Actually, you can. Dumbledore said the dance is for seventh's and their dates, so I guess if someone invited you, you could come", Hermione gave Harry a glance.

"Great!", Jinny smiled.

"But, um, it's too early for that, anyway, right? I mean, for asking someone?", Harry said nervously.

"Yes, well, there's still plenty of time left.", Hermione shrugged.

Harry sighed with relief and Ron shook his head.

"But, anyway, who would you want to go with, 'Mione?", Junny turned to her best friend.

Hermione blushed, "Well, I haven't thought about it yet...".

But, before she got anything else to say, it was time for their first class to start.

...

Hermione settled herself on her seat beside Harry and took her Potions essay and books, ready for class. Snape came into the class room, shutting the door, in the spirit of his usual mood.

"Has everyone written their Potion's essay?", he asked.

"Yes, professor.", students mumbled quietly.

"Good. You will hand them over at once, and than..."

Snape was interrupted by the sound of closing the door.

Everyone's heads turned to see, which unfortunate student was late for Snape's class. Unfortunately for Hermione, it was Malfoy.

He quickly mumbled some sort of apology and sat at his desk, looking down at his hands. Hermione noticed his right hand; it was wrapped in a bandage.

Snape raised his eyebrow and walked over where Malfoy was sitting by himself.

"I assume you have a good explanation for being late, don't you, Mr Malfoy?"

Malfoy mumbled his answer once more.

"What was that, Mr Malfoy?", Snape hissed.

"I said, no, not really, sir.", Malfoy almost shouted, now looking straight into Snape's eyes.

Snape rose his hand, as if to hit the Slytherin, but thought about it and lowered it down.

"Maybe a few extra pages on your essay, which I assume you haven't wrote, will teach you how to speak...", Snape turned and walked behind his desk before finishing, " To your superiors.", he gave him one last cold look, after concentrating on giving the assignments.

' Wow! ', thought Hermione, after turning to her papers, as well, ' Talk about irony. '

...

After all the classes were over, Hermione was heading to the library.

' What an odd day, I'd say...', she thought. ' Malfoy was psychically completely un present at all classes! All he did was stare off into space, even when we had the quiz! That was so unlike him... It was, like he even wasn't there. And that was way odd. Maybe he's ill? He certainly doesn't look well... Than again, maybe he is just pretending? No, why on earth would he do that?', Hermione was more than confused.

'One thing I do know, is that, if he doesn't snap out of this... Whatever like trance he is... He might lose his Head boy position.'

Hermione frowned. Although earlier that term, she would give anything just to replace him with any other person else for the Prefect position, she had to admit to herself, she did start to get used to living with Malfoy. Yes, he was a total git and yes, he did annoy her to no end, but, this was every day for her. And, although might not seem like it, but Malfoy had actually worked really hard for his badge. She knew, because McGonnigal said to her so, other wise, she would never believe it, herself.

Hermione sighed.

She had to find out what was going on. It confused her hard, and she hated when she couldn't figure out something.

'Speak of the devil', she thought as she saw Malfoy outside the window.

Hermione quickly hide behind the tall wall, peeking through the glass toward him.

Malfoy was sprinting toward the castle gates, although it was already dark outside.

'So, he isn't planning on returning to his dorm tonight, either.', she frowned.

But this could be her chance to figure out what is he up to. So she decided to follow him, until he leads her to her answer.

Malfoy was already disappearing from her sight, so Hermione hurried out, keeping the distance between them. It seemed he was heading somewhere near the Forbidden forest. Hermione stopped in her steps.

They shouldn't be anywhere near the Forbidden forest, Dumbledore said so. There are loads of dangerous creatures in there, especially at night. She shivered as she saw Malfoy entering the forest. He looked behind himself, being sure nobody is near to see him and disappears into the darkness.

Hermione let out a saighn and ran after him. As she entered the dark forest, she stopped, trying to catch the sound of Malfoy's far foot steps. She started following the sound, but as soon as she turned around herself, she could no longer hear them. Hermione started panicking, for she didn't knew where she was, or which way to get out, and she was starting to hear other, more scary noises from around her. She shivered harder, from fright and the cold. Hermione put her arms around her, trying to warm herself up.

Suddenly, Hermione hear a loud crack behind her. Shaking desperately, she turned around slowly. There, before her, was standing a large Thestral. It appeared to be angry.

Hermione froze as she stared into the creatures eyes, they were shining bright red at her. She started backing away slowly, but the creature was following her every step. Hermione swallowed hard as her heart was threatening to jump out of her chest.

The Thestral showed its long sharp teeth as it began approaching the terrified girl. Hermione covered her ears when the creature let out its long angry roar, right in front of her. The next moment everything was like in slow-motion, as the Thestral stroke its sharp claws to the girls direction and she screamed in horror. The next thing she knew, the creature was lying beside her, but it was on its way up to strike another attack. A pair of strong hands pushed Hermione to the side, avoiding claws by an inch. Than Hermione found herself being pulled and running through the forest with someone in front of her. Although it was peach black under the high branches of the forest trees, she noticed the hand pulling her forward was wrapped in some now dirty bandages. The adrenaline was still running through her body as she hear another loud roar from behind her, she did not have the time to put the pieces together and actually know whose the one that saved her from almost certain death. Seconds before the creature caught up with them, the person in front of her pushed Hermione out of the forest on the dark green field and turned to face their chaser. The Thestral threw itself on the boy and clasped it jaws around his arm. Hermione screamed once more as she stood and watched the boy shout some spell, pointing his wand to the creature struggling on him. Some green light appeared and hit the Thestral right in its head, causing it to blow away back in the darkness of the Forbidden Forest. As all seemed to be over, Hermione collapsed to her knees and started sobbing quietly, tears of horror rolling down her cheeks. The boy who saved her life stood up, holding his arm tightly. When he approached her, she could finally realize who it was the whole time.

"Are you alright?", Malfoy gasped as he trambeled on the ground beside her.

Hermione could only slightly nod, as the tears continued falling over.

She heard him sigh painfully, so she looked up at him.

A soft milky moonlight was lightening his face which seemed even more pale, if it even was possible. He tightened the grasp on his arm, as it bled his entire shirt with soaking blood. Hermione swallowed hard and moved closer to him.

"L-let me look.", she whispered as if the creature would return if they spoke any louder.

He gave her a look, which she couldn't quite understand, and sighed, than gave her his injured arm.

She took it in her shaky hands to examine the condition his arm was in. She couldn't find the wound thought, there was so much blood, and even if she had found it, it was way beyond the healing spells, even for her. She shook her head at the thought of it and looked Malfoy right in the eyes.

"We need to get you to Madam Pomfrey."

He just nodded in silent, his whole body twitching from pain.

She helped him to his feet, but just as she let go of him, his knees trembled and she barely stopped him from collapsing back on the ground.

"I'm fine, Granger.", Malfoy hissed, but his voice was drained from exhaustion.

She watched him take a few uncertain steps, before falling to his knees again. Hermione held him up, slowly starting their way back to the castle, trying to stop him from falling again. This time, he didn't even bother to say anything.

They walked some time in silence, until Hermione spoke.

"Thank you."

Malfoy looked over at her, raising his eyebrow.

"For saving me back there. Thank you.", she blushed a bit.

"I thought you knew better, than to wonder through the woods in the middle of the night alone, Granger. Isn't it even forbidden? I'd thought you'd never let down our irreplaceable headmaster Dumb-ledore.", he sighed.

Hermione shoot an angry gaze at him.

"Or did he make an exception for his precious Golden Trio? Although, too bad Boy-Wonder wasn't the one who saved you, isn't it, Granger? I know you'd like that.", Malfoy sneered.

Hermione couldn't believe he was acting like a such git even in a situation like this! He just couldn't miss an opportunity to make her mad.

Hermione stopped in her steps, causing Malfoy to trip. After he gained his balance back, he looked at her curiously.

"I know what your doing, Malfoy, don't you dare think that I don't! I just can't believe how selfish you can get! Or even to think that I am in any ways!", she shouted at him, furiously.

"I just can't believe that you'd ever say something like that, when you saved me and I thanked you for it, and now I'm even helping you and you'd still say...", Hermione was out of words, she was so mad she could go all night yelling at him, and still, she didn't know what else to say.

She was waiving her hands around her, as if to grab some words of guest what she wanted to say, is when Malfoy frowned and looked at her, coldly.

"Listen here, Granger!", he hissed at her.

She stopped waving and looked at him.

"The thing that I don't quite understand is, why ever, would someone labeled 'the brightest which of her generation' be stupid enough to do exactly what you did! Have you any idea what could happen if I haven't been there? You'd be dead long by now, if I haven't saved you than! You just made yourself a date with destiny, which, believe me, would not end up quite as pretty.", Malfoy was shouting.

"I just can't believe how stupid you acted!", he finally closed his mouth.

Malfoy expected from Hermione some more of her wisdom and shouting anger towards him insulting her, but she appeared to be crying.

Having a girl cry in front of him, made Malfoy feel even more stupid and even... bad.

"I-I'm sorry, your right.", her shoulders were shaking as she whispered those words.

This confession got Malfoy off-guarded and he did not know what to say. Strangely, he felt like comforting her, just like he felt helping her in the forest. An odd feeling, thought, Malfoy has never experienced something like that before. He always thought of himself before others, but seeing Hermione in danger or hurt, he felt bad himself, and wanted to help her. Malfoy just shook his head at these thoughts, forcing himself to just forget about them, for it was Granger he was thinking about! The know-it-all bookworm mudblood Granger.

He looked at her and sighed as he felt quite dizzy and his injured arm burning. He decided to ignore it and focused on the crying Gryffindor.

"Look, Granger...", he began nervously, "I-I just... I didn't...", he struggled to find the words.

"Dammit, Granger, would you stop?", he did his best to keep his voice calm, "I'm trying to say... It happens.", he sighed.

Hermione looked up at him, confused.

"Just promise me it won't happen again.", Malfoy said, clutching his arm.

"I promise.", Hermione whispered and wiped her eyes.

"I'm sorry for crying..", she sniffed.

"It's alright.", Malfoy slightly nodded.

Hermione noticed he was shaking and cursed herself for letting her emotions get the better of her. She sighed quietly and they continued on their way, as she helped him get to the Hospital Wig. By the time they arrived, Malfoy was hardly keeping his eyes open, for all the blood he has lost that night. Hermione worried if they came in time, but Madam Pomfrey convinced her that he will be just fine.

That night, when Hermione laid in her bead, a new decision went through her head, as she closed her eyes, falling into a dreamless sleep.

'I will, at least try to help Malfoy, what ever he's going through... I owe him that much...'