Recap
She had seen how he acted around Blaise when they were all in Ancient Runes. His horrible sneer was gone and replaced by a content smirk and occasionally the odd smile of happiness. Although Hermione flinched in embarrassment at the memory of when she had been observing the classroom individuals and he had just happen to look up when she glanced at him. He had simply raised an eyebrow at her. She'd quickly turned away blushing and feeling like she's just been caught staring at the crush who didn't know she existed. Both statements were in fact the total opposite. She had never liked Malfoy nor had she ever enjoyed his company and it was sure as hell that Malfoy knew she existed.
Just as she started to remind herself of all the reasons she hated Malfoy, there was a tap on her window and sure enough it was Malfoy's handsome eagle owl. She gave the owl a treat and scowled at the letter, no longer wanting to so desperately read what it said.
Hermione avoided the letter like it was the plague. She didn't want to hear Malfoy's smart ass comments or the word mudblood. She didn't want to have the flirtatiousness of her letter pointed out to her. She didn't like to feel stupid, and she knew that what she had sent to Malfoy was indeed, very stupid.
After she had completely packed everything, including her toiletries (which she later unpacked upon realising she would need them the next day), she laid back on her bed. Her watch told her it was nearly eleven o'clock.
Sighing to herself, Hermione buried her head in her pillow. Peeking up with one eye at the letter sitting innocently on the table, she mustered up enough courage to grab the letter and settle back on her bed. Scrunching her face up in distaste she yanked open the envelope and glared at the letter inside. She wrenched the letter open, maybe a little too harshly, and forced her eyes onto the spiky, aristocratic handwriting.
Granger
I hear from a source that the Headmaster has become aware of our conditions, so the Wizards Debt Oath will not be necessary, if I am correct.
As for the details I asked for, I simply meant details that might have an effect on our schooling. Which you should have understood. I apologise for assuming that since you 'kick my butt at being smart' you would understand such a simple sentence. Next time I shall word things more elaborately for you.
Also just to inform you, I will be getting better marks than you this year.
I believe we should leave this debt thing as a tie for now. I wouldn't want to see such a pathetic sight of you crying over losing a letter sending war. Because I would win.
Malfoy
Hermione suddenly felt very foolish. How could she have written such an open letter to Malfoy beforehand? She should have known it would turn around to bite her in the ass. However it seemed he was sparing her by softening the blow at the end with a laughable closing statement. It almost made her forget what an idiot she'd made of herself. Almost.
Malfoy's letters had a sense of smoothness that seemed as if he'd taken classes in the subject. Her own letters were inconsistent and were either lacking something or had too much of something else. She felt slightly envious of Malfoy's letter writing. She noted that there would have to be an out of school bit of study that she would have to find the time to do.
Then she thought to herself that maybe she should also work on her social skills to avoid another disaster like the one that had just happened. It was almost kind of Malfoy he had not pointed out how much she failed at social communication.
She decided not to reply as she already felt like enough of an idiot. She would see him soon enough anyway. Rereading the letter Hermione picked up more on the deeper importance of it rather than the social meaning behind it.
Dumbledore had been alerted of their 'conditions'. So that meant that her and Malfoy were in the same boat. Meaning, if her theories were correct, that they were both partially a humanoid creature that was still unknown to her.
Also according to the ministry representatives there were an odd number of... Hermione suspected there were others also in the same boat. She realised that the men had not come back so the Headmaster must have sorted everything out. She hoped as hard as she could, that she would be alerted to everything as soon as she was at school again.
Rechecking her watch, quarter past twelve, she decided to close her eyes and let sleep befall her.
Waking up the next day, she slowly opened her eyes, then jumped out of bed with a start when she realised it was her last day before school and she'd slept in! She instantly relaxed when she remembered that she had packed everything she needed yesterday out of boredom.
Wandering downstairs she took note that her father had already left for work. Deciding against breakfast she walked outside. It was her last day of proverbial freedom and she didn't want to waste it. Thinking hard about what she wanted to do, she came to the conclusion of spending the day in the nearby park.
Hermione reached the park and took it all in. There were so many memories from her childhood in this park. It was one of the best parks around with a wide open space to picnics and sport and a children's playground and beautiful gardens. Sighing to herself she ventured to a bench not too far away. She sat down with a content smile that only the feeling of being satisfied by yourself.
The green grass and the blue sky with fluffy white clouds in it, were almost too much to bare. How often was it that she could take in such a sight and actually have the time and frame of mind to enjoy it? She sat for hours. Letting different scenarios play out in her head, wondering about the world, sighing as content memories flickered across her mind. The shadows of the clouds on the field of green grass changed constantly and inconsistently, yet Hermione still sat there staring at everything in wonder.
She had no idea how long she'd been there until she began to notice the light of the sun fail. It was starting to get dark. Sighing as she rose from the park bench she started to make her way home. Tomorrow she would be back at school. Away from her drunken father, away from the painful memories of her mother leaving her. This time it was Hermione who was leaving. And if the plans in her head played out correctly, she wouldn't be coming back anytime soon.
