Chapter 7, arrival

Hermione had woken up with an immensely sore head and an aching back. She groaned when she moved in the slightest and winced whenever someone spoke. quite often the carriage would go over a bump and she would cry out, or try hold it back, choking on it as pain bloomed in her head. She had been there for at least three hours, probably longer but the owl sent to collect pain potions had not returned yet. Snape had been watching over her which she found deeply embarrassing and indignant about. Every now and again he would look up from the essays he was marking and check on her, not speaking, just muttering to himself as he checked her pulse rate and nodding when he had finished before going back to scribbling T's over the sheets.

Hermione had tried to go to sleep but had found it impossible as the carriage seemed to have a regular bouncing motion, jerking her sore body on the cushion. The scratching of Snape's pen had been oddly soothing, making her become drowsy but still unable to fully fall to sleep. Feeling calm and bored she had ran over the events of that day, blushing now that she had time to realise that she had been in a rather, umm... close position, as such, with her nemesis. She had wondered why he had even bothered helping her but didn't think that it really mattered. If she had been in his position she would've helped him, but Malfoy was nothing like her. She had mused over that for some time now, confused to the point of it becoming annoying and frustrating but finally the carriages had slowed to a stop and she heard the rattle of the bolts being drawn back.

Draco was totally bemused; why on earth had he helped her?? a small part of him said because he liked her but he laughed at that. No, he didn't like her and he was completely sure of that and the small part of his mind that had said that had also said that the reason he followed his father is because he loved him. He realised it was because he had not actually thought of who it was, thought of what he was doing, or why he was doing it. It was a shock seeing the blood seep from her head, flowing on to the floor, knowing that the know-it-all granger was actually in danger of being seriously hurt, but he hadn't thought of it like that.. it was just instinct, to help a lady was part of his upbringing.

When the carriages had stopped Draco had sloped out his carriage ignoring the bustling students looking in awe around them. Draco payed no attention to the large, snow capped mountains surrounding him, nor of the forests that were covering the base of them. He thought no more of the sun setting over the hills, making the sky look as though an artist had painted than off the fact that his fingers were attached to his hands. He had seen it all before, on the countless holidays his mother had taken him on when he was small, he had been to Africa, Asia, Europe, America, South America, even to the large continents of Fayta and Cloner that didn't exist on muggle maps. His father had never joined them on these trips, being far to wrapped up in himself to even acknowledge that his wife and child were gone from his manor at months at a time.

He made his way of to the bored slyhtherins, to pansy who had become interested in her new pink mittens, to Crabbe and goyle who stood there looking like part of the scenery – a rock or tree and to blaise and Theodore who were both leaning against their carriage, their expressions of boredom making other students look at them in exasperation. He strode over to them, his nose turned up snoopily. Some silly hufflepuff girls had began to watch him out the corners of their eyes the same for some raven claws. He rolled his own eyes; they were so irritating he thought. Yet the only difference between the looks that they were giving him and the slyhtherins were giving him were similar, the slytherin girls just being more obviously; Daphne green grass was looking at him from under her eyelashes the same for tiffany and her good looking cronies, all of them receiving murderous glares from pansy. He almost laughed out loud at the hopeful girls, but settled for a knowing smirk tugging the corners of his mouth familiarly. He leant against a bent tree and for the first time took in his surroundings and sighed when he found nothing new, and grew irritated by the other pupils' exited faces.

He could see pothead and weaselbee helping granger out of the potions teachers' carriage; again he smirked at how angry his teacher would've been at having to have her in his carriage. She looked pale and sickly but because of the effort of getting out she had a red tinge to her cheeks and her large amber eyes were narrowed in concentration. The golden boys had almost tripped over themselves in their haste to get to her, making Draco be glad that he would never look so ridiculous. They had fussed over her, pothead trying to tell jokes to make her forget the pain, but only receiving a feeble grin which had easily transformed into a grimace. They were now supporting her as they made their way over to the teacher's tent which had been setup. Weasel was looking pale as well, his hair and freckles standing out as he looked down at her worriedly.

Draco snorted and turned back to his group. They looked at him expectantly and he nodded while exchanging a brief glance from blaise before they all returned to whatever they were doing. He pulled a book from his bag and read while the other students were sorted into groups and bustled of like sheep to their designated tents.

Hermione had sent the boys away so they could join their groups and she had been escorted to her tent by hagrid. As he set her done on the bed he had told her to take the potion Snape had finally received in an hour as to hold back the pain. He had then left, smiling and waving before backing out the tent. She then took her time studying the tent that she had been set to share with Malfoy. There were twin beds, far too close for her liking and a small bedside table between them. It had been magically enlarged but not by much, leaving room for one armoire and a small table. A mirror was in the corner as well as a short bookcase full of their text book and rolls of fresh parchment.

She sighed as the lights dimmed, the sun finally setting behind the mountains. A candle besides her bed magically started, flickering uncertainly before becoming a strong flame, casting shadows over the tent. Feeling content and warm she pulled the covers up and felt her eyes get heavy she drifted off into a deep ocean of dreams.

Draco swiped the flap of the tent aside, only to grimace at the candle lit scene. He had already received work from that oaf, which was stupid; drawing pixies on their first night was not what students had been expecting. He threw his satchel onto his bed and flopped down onto the chair, pulling parchment from the bookcase and getting out his peacock quill. He frowned s he began to scribble the date and title, slowly relaxing in the rickety seat and working into the night.

After three quarters of an hour he felt satisfied with his work so he rolled up the parchment and tied it with a green ribbon. He began to get up but froze when he heard a gasp from behind him. He twirled on his heels, wand in hand to face a panting granger. Sweat was running down her face, her eyes wide and panicky. Her hands were fisted into the sheets as she searched the room with moist eyes. Draco quickly overcame his surprise and followed her line of sight. On top of the table next to where he had been sitting was a glass vial, full of a black potion. She reached for it but couldn't quite get it, her hands reaching blindly for it. He rolled his eyes and shoved his wand in his pocket. He strolled over to the table, feeling no rush even though granger was practically suffocating next to him. He picked up the bottle and held it just out of her reach.

'Well, what do we have here?' he asked slyly, a mock puzzled face on him. Granger just panted, a whine emitting from her throat.

'Oh, I see a calming draught? No, it can't be can it?' he slowly began to look at the small sticker on the bottle

'hmm, yes, here we have it... stops headaches and side effects from concussion and extensive bleeding, blah blah, stops throat closing up in panic or shock, yeh yeh' he said, turning towards her

'i don't see anyone in need of that here, i don't need it.. Oh, wait, ha,i almost forgot about the table... no it doesn't need a calming draught, nor the bookcase, or the dirt.. Actually there is a pretty sickly looking piece of mud just here,' he lent down and was tipping the bottle when he heard a breathless whimper come from granger. He looked up, mock concern gracing his features

'Woops, there's an even sicker piece of mud on the bed there' he laughed and tossed the bottle to Hermione who caught it and swallowed it all in one go. Her breathing slowed before an angry expression came over her, her lips curling. Snarling, she turned to him and threw the bottle as hard as possible. Malfoy, not expecting it ducked out of the way just in time, hearing it smash against the canvas behind him. He stood up, scowling but she had already turned over, her back receiving the dark muttering. He quickly undressed, pulling on a pair of pyjama pants before jumping into the un comfy bed. Even as he fell asleep he scowl never once brightened.