((A.N. Chapter 7. Things really start to get interesting. You know, it's been seven chapters and yet still there is no hint of a plot. There's a plot around here somewhere... I think.))
PART I: COME TO ME IN DREAMS
Watch the slow door
That opening, letting in, lets out no more.
– From "Echo" by Christina Rosetti
Chapter 7; Academic Accusations
Dinner was a bit of a quiet, subdued affair compared to the events of the day before, but it gave Draco time to think.
As far as he was concerned, Krum had tried to kill them all that afternoon. The way he had calmly steered the ship, the maniacal glint in his eye, and the indignation in his voice all convinced Draco of this fact.
There was something off about Viktor Krum, that much he knew.
A nameless someone had cast the most powerful freezing charm that Draco had ever witnessed, and the only two people that he knew had not done it were Krum and himself. And Potter, because Potter was a moron.
Speaking of Potter . . . Draco was failing miserably at the whole friend thing. He had tried, believe it or not, but Potter hated him, if anything, more than ever. How am I supposed to befriend the pathetic prat? Draco thought irritably.
He still did not have a Really Cunning Plan. Why couldn't he think of one when he needed it the most? He felt as if he was a failure as a Slytherin. Then again, this was Potter he was dealing with. He hated Potter.
Finally, he had actually saved a shipload of people from sticky and gruesome deaths. Did this make him some kind of hero? Certainly not. And his name, in Witch Weekly! Since when had he become a national celebrity?
Things were happening that he was not quite sure he liked. He actually thought that Granger was prettier than Hilda, which was understandable, except that before this he had believed that everyone was prettier than Granger. Exempting the time she had dressed up for the Yule Ball, of course, but that incident was not of consequence.
Yes, many unexpected things were happening that Draco did not like at all.
Hermione filed into what looked like a large study, Harry by her side. On the left the Beauxbatons group was draped elegantly yet primly over the sturdy furniture. They reminded Hermione of a painting right out of eighteenth century France. To the right, Krum and his crew were chatting in low, deep voices, but they looked up as the Hogwarts' Ambassadors entered. They had all seemed mistrustful of each other since earlier in the afternoon.
It was nine o'clock or so. From the window at the far side of the room, cold moonlight filtered through the frosty windowpanes.
Malfoy took a seat on a couch next to Fleur. It was a small couch, and they were closer together than Hermione believed was necessary.
"Now that you are all settled," Igor Karkaroff said from the front of the room, "we can discuss the Advanced Study Courses you will all be taking. I, too, wish that you had merely come to relax, but these courses will prove very efficient in developing teamwork and trust between the Ambassadors of different countries. You will be split into five groups, and each group will take a separate course. There will be three Ambassadors in each group. The courses will be self explanatory, meaning that you will not receive instruction from a professor. You will merely be given a set of instructions, and asked to complete the course in a designated amount of time. These courses are difficult, mind you, and will probably take a good deal of your time every day."
Draco rolled his eyes, and Hermione shivered with excitement.
"There is a catch," Karkaroff continued. "You will not be placed in the same group with anyone from your own school. There will be one Ambassador from each school on a team. With that said, let us assign courses."
Next, he pulled out his wand, and with a flick fifteen small slips of paper had appeared on the table.
"They are charmed so that you cannot draw someone from your own school. Come, now, and choose."
Krum was the first to stand up. He pulled out his wand and Accio-ed the nearest slip of paper to him. Everyone else followed his lead, Ginny and Ernie Accio-ing the same slip of paper. It whizzed back and forth before landing dejectedly between them.
Hermione opened her own slip and saw a clear roman numeral 'II' written on it. She glanced around just in time to see Fleur looking up.
"Who 'as 'II'?" Fleur said lightly, holding her slip. Hermione's mouth dropped open in shock. No. This is not happening.
"Harry," Hermione said urgently. "Can we trade?"
Wordlessly, they traded slips, and Hermione opened her new one, relieved. To her absolute horror, there was a roman numeral 'II' written boldly across it.
Harry and Hermione exchanged glances.
"They're charmed," Hermione whispered with a stricken look. Resigned to her fate, she stood up and walked over to where Fleur was sitting.
"Two," Hermione said firmly, putting her hands on her hips.
Fleur's eyes narrowed, and she quickly looked away. Suddenly a large boy with dark features appeared in front of them.
"I vill be on your team," he said, his voice deep as he held out a slip of paper, "I am Ivan."
"My name is Fleur," the part Veela intoned, sticking out her hand to the dark-haired boy. "It is a pleasure to meet you." She smiled beautifully.
"I'm Hermione," the other girl said simply, nodding her head. "Nice to work with you."
Hermione looked around and saw that other groups were forming. Harry had been grouped with Myra and Hilda, and looked content. Ginny was standing near Franz, another boy from Durmstrang, and Jaime, the French Ambassador. Ernie, Iva, and Michael all stood around the main table, shaking hands. Hermione's stomach dropped as she realized that there were only a few people left. Renae, the red-haired girl from Beauxbatons, looked unreasonably upset. Hermione followed her gaze, and found out why. Draco and Krum were glancing disbelievingly from their slips of paper to one another.
"Oh, no," Hermione said aloud. "This is beyond ironic."
Krum threw his slip down vehemently and stepped on it, glaring at Draco the entire time. Draco said something softly and smirked. Krum looked about ready to kill him.
This is going to be a long night, Hermione thought.
The pairings and courses were dealt out as follows:
Hermione, Fleur, and Ivan were assigned the ancient study of Anagrams.
Draco, Krum, and Renae had Trigon Theorem Arithmancy.
Harry, Myra, and Hilda were assigned Ancient Relics.
Ernie, Michael, and Iva had been given Weather Manipulation.
Ginny, Jaime, and Franz had been dealt a course called Origin of Wizarding Legends.
Hermione got out of her own meeting at coincidentally the same time as Draco. Hermione, Fleur, and Ivan had been briefed on their course, which was the ancient study of Anagrams. Though Fleur looked bored and Ivan looked mildly interested at best, Hermione could not have been more excited.
Krum and Draco had obviously not looked at or talked to each other during the entire meeting.
"I'm sorry," Hermione said, laying a consoling hand on Renae's shoulder. Renae, upset with her draw in partners, walked off dejectedly.
Hermione turned to see Malfoy leaning against the corridor wall, arms crossed. He was staring at her with catlike eyes.
"You're sorry that she has to work with Krum?" Draco clarified for her. "So am I."
"You might as well get over your grudge, Malfoy. You'll have to work with him every day if you want to complete your course. I don't know about you, but we've been assigned Anagrams and this course is going to take a great deal of work."
"Oh," said Draco in a noncommittal tone, "we've been assigned Arithmancy beyond the NEWT level . . . Trigon Theorem. Luckily, I've already solved five of the ten major equations."
"You've what?" Hermione asked lightly. She was getting into a bad habit of zoning out during conversations.
"Are you deaf, Granger?" Malfoy asked, looking irritated. "I've solved them."
"You've . . . you've already worked them out, full equations and everything?"
Hermione knew a bit about the Trigon Theorem, and the method behind it was so complicated that it took an entire semester to master. It was used for things as complicated as creating new charms and hexes.
"Well," Draco started, "I haven't written them out yet, but I did them in my head. I'm sure they are correct."
Silence. Then she said, "That's . . . that's . . ."
More silence.
"Stop gaping like a fish, Granger. You look like you've seen the Mona Lisa frown," Draco drawled, obviously amused. He began striding toward the stairs, and seeing as she had no other choice, Hermione followed him, keeping a safe distance behind. It was dark, and no one was around. Draco began ascending the stairs, and Hermione walked quickly, a few steps behind him.
"That's impossible! I don't believe you!" Hermione said, raising her voice a bit because he was farther up the staircase. Draco kept ascending.
"You didn't believe me when I told you Krum was trying to kill us, either," he retorted evenly.
"So?" she was huffing as she trailed up behind him. "For all I know, Malfoy, you're trying to kill us! That clever trick you pulled with your arm last night didn't fool me, because I'm not that stupid. And frankly, neither are you!"
They had reached the top of the stairwell, and now stood in the corridor that led to their rooms.
"Are you implying," Malfoy countered, taking a step toward her, "that I am, in fact, smarter than you?"
He made a quick maneuver that cleverly blocked her route to the stairway, and she realized that he was trying to back her against the wall.
"You may be clever, Malfoy," Hermione replied calmly, "but don't be getting any ideas that you are as smart as me."
She stepped deftly around him and he frowned ever so slightly. His back was to the wall and she could tell that he did not like being cornered.
"Check," she said, as if they were playing chess. "I have an inkling suspicion that you've still got something up your sleeve. Literally."
"Frankly, I don't care what it is that you think, Granger. But I think that you've met your match."
He slid suddenly to the side of her and turned their positions around. Hermione felt her back hit the wall. The sound pealed down the corridor with a sickening thud.
"Checkmate," he whispered with soft malice. He was standing far too close. I never was good at chess, Hermione thought absurdly. Her heart was pounding. Was it from fear?
He leaned closer and spoke into her ear. He was so close that his mocking voice tickled the skin on her neck, and she felt suddenly intoxicated. Draco spoke in a clear and icy tone.
"It's amazing how someone who knows so much can see so little."
And then he was gone.
((A.N. A review would be greatly cherished forever and ever. Next chapter: The situation between Draco and Krum escalates dangerously, the Ambassadors act even more suspicious, and Draco and Harry have a rather promiscuous conversation about licking things.))
