Chapter 6
Hermione Granger had never run so fast in all of her life. She kept her eyes shut and just kept going, god how stupid could she have been. Slowing her pace down, she kept walking. Opening her eyes just in time just in time to see a first year dash out of a compartment and crash right into her. Whoever had collided with her was currently sitting on top of her. She looked into the face of a very nervous first year. But before she could say anything the kid was hauled off her chest by a pair of very strong male arms. Then in the next instant she herself was also hauled off the ground and found her self staring into Draco Malfoy's nose. He instantly released her and turned to the first and threatened him with death unless he left. Turning back to her he did something that made her hate him even more, he curled his lips into his trademark smirk. She could have slapped him if not for the anything else than for being a prat.
"Well Granger I would have thought you'd have liked to be on top. You being such a control freak and all. And a first year none the less?" Oh how she hated him.
"What the hell are you talking about, Malfoy?" She was getting really annoyed, not to mention the fact that he was still smirking at her. She moved to the side and tried to get around him but he stopped her by slamming his hand in to the wall few inches away from her head.
"You're a prefect tell me where the new Slytherin ones are, I want to extend my congratulations." He was so close to her that she could feel his breath on her face. She shoved him away from her and crossed her arms across her chest.
"They're in the last compartment before the baggage car. Oh and Malfoy 5 points form Slytherin for harassing a prefect." With that she smirked at him and continued down the hallway. The new found solitude made memories that she didn't want to surface float I her mind's eye.
Thoughts of Viktor suddenly flooded her mind, and she unconsciously brought her hand up to chain that she wore around her neck. On it hung the beautiful silver locket that he had given her for fifteenth birthday and next to it hung a big gold band that held a row of tiny amber stones. A ring that that she had given him for his birthday and he had pledged never to take it off. Next to Viktor's ring hung the promise ring that he had given her on their one year anniversary.
It really was a beautiful ring, she thought as she unclasped the chain and slid it off. She put it on her left hand ring finger where it had resided for the previous two summers. It glinted up at her happily. It was a simple design in silver. It was two hands holding one heart and a crown hung above the heart. The heart was a garnet and the crown was encrusted with tiny little diamonds. And yet it was so delicate. Looking at it on her hand reminded her of the day Viktor had given it to her.
Viktor had flown to Paris to be with her on that night. As if showing up wasn't enough he had taken her to the Lourve and to the café in the Eiffel tower and seated there she had given him her gift.
"I have something for you too." Big black eyes looked into hers earnestly. He reached into the pocket of the coat he was wearing and drew out the small heart shaped box. He had slid across the table until it resided in front of her. With trembling hands she had picked up and opened. That was when he taken the box from her and took the ring from its resting place in the velvet. He slid it on her finger with an eloquent promise of his undying love.
"Herm-o-ninny, we haff had amazing year together. I realized that you are the only person ever to look at me as me. You had no care for the fact that I was famous quiditch person you love me for me and that is why you have my love. No matter what happens I will always love you." With that he had slipped the ring onto her finger and kissed her forehead then lightly on the lips.
He never pushed her in that aspect of that aspect of their relationship. It had always been her who had taken the next step and he always made sure that she was absolutely ready to take that that step. That was one of the reasons she had loved him so much. He had also taught her that despite her misgivings about herself he had always been there to tell her that she was perfect.
And she was already lusting after some guy? That just wasn't right. Not to mention that said boy was most likely dating the balloon girl. She stopped. Wow she was actually thinking that train of thought. She had to admit even she had her moments. Ron was the most likely out of their trio to come up with insane thought patterns, but she did have her moments. Or Ronald moment as she liked to call them.
Hermione realized that she had never checked on Crook shanks and headed back in the direction from which she had come. Heading back down the hallway she decidedly kept her eyes forward. Until she tripped over something on the floor. Down she went, standing herself up she dusted off her robes and looked back to see what she had tripped over. It was Draco Malfoy lying in the middle of the hall way in a bloody disheveled heap. Not caring how he had gotten that way she just started walking again. When she reached the baggage compartment she let herself in and went to the familiar wicker basket. Letting Crookshanks out she picked him up and went back to her compartment and read for the rest of the journey to Hogsmeade.