Chapter 10

It had been three days. Hermione and Draco had been playing boring games until they no longer could. "Do you think the stars will reveal something to them tonight?" Hermione whispered as Draco glared at the group of centaurs.

"I don't see why tonight should be any different than the last ones," he said. "We shouldn't get our hopes up."

"We'll know as soon as this curse happens, if we were the blessing," Hermione said.

Draco rolled his eyes. "There might not be a curse. It's all in their minds anyway…"

Hermione sighed. "I know," she said. "I know."

The light was slowly fading from the day and they both prepared for the night. If she had been with anyone else she might have spooned with the person, Hermione thought, but she wouldn't dare suggest it to Draco. The nights were cold though and he had not wanted his jacket back. Hermione was grateful for his chivalry however much she could have argued against it in a different setting. He could be kind if he wanted to, she had come to realize. But only to his own, only if he actually wanted it, not simply for goodness' sake.

As she heard him snoring Hermione felt lonely. No one to talk to. Draco fell asleep so easily; it rather made her jealous. He was much more used to this, she mused. To living on the edge, sleeping even when the world is scary and unpredictable. Tricks of the trade, no doubt.

She turned around and looked at the herd. They were focused on the stars. The past few days Hermione had tried to build alliances, to make contact with at least one or two of them, but she had had no such luck. Mallo and his two wives – she'd discovered that – had control over the group and made sure no tentative friendships would form.

One of the mares made a sudden sound, of pain it seemed. Hermione sat bolt upright. It sounded like she was in agony.

"The foal is coming," she heard them whisper. "It's too early."

The mare was assisted by a few of her friends while the others kept staring at the stars. From her pen, Hermione watched the birth unfold. It did not seem to go well. She should help. She knew she could. But would it be wise?

"Draco, Draco," she woke him up. "Look what's happening."

Draco was groggy with sleep and clearly not happy about being disturbed.

"Should we assist them?" Hermione posed. "If we can help, it will help our cause…"

"But should you fail," Draco warned. "They might hold you accountable and Merlin knows what they'll do then."

"I have no choice," Hermione said, as she stood up. "I can't watch this." She called out to the group of female centaurs that had surrounded the one in labor.

"Let me help," she said. "I have some basic medical skills. Please let me see if there's anything I can do."

"I'll allow no such thing!" Mallo's voice boomed across the field. "No human shall touch this foal."

"Please…" Hermione begged. "I'll just look then. No touching. Just assistance, if I can…"

The female centaurs began to plead with Mallo as they saw the distress the mother was in. Finally he relented. Hermione was allowed to leave the pen, but Draco wasn't. He was doomed to watch from afar.

It was a scary half hour where much could have gone wrong, but eventually, with some help from Hermione, the foal was born. A little too young, but healthy, though worn out from the birth. The mother fell asleep soon after too.

The mares that surrounded Hermione were impressed and thankful for her help. Mallo and his mare begrudgingly admitted that she had done a good job. The white mare spoke up: "Perhaps you are the blessing that was to befall us."

Mallo was not as eager. "We will wait until the night is over. The stars shine bright tonight. Bright with tidings."

Hermione stumbled back to the pen where Draco was waiting. She was so tired that she, for a moment, forgot who he was; who she was. Hermione couldn't help herself and began to sob, resting her head against Draco's shoulder. It startled him a little but he soon found himself awkwardly patting her back.

"I don't mind you crying, Granger," he finally said, "just don't spoil my suit, will you?" He laughed a little cynically as his suit was already stained with green grass.

Hermione looked up at him, teary-eyed. "Sorry," she sniveled, "so unprofessional." She wiped her eyes and smiled apologetically.

"I guess it's been a bit… emotional," he reluctantly admitted.

Hermione smiled. "A little? We saved a child, a foal. Perhaps they will finally trust us and negotiate!"

"Don't count your blessings just yet," Draco warned her. "Just because they won't kill us, doesn't mean we'll get anywhere in the negotiations."

"I refuse to be gloomy tonight," she was adamant. "It's worth a celebration!"

Two of the mares that had assisted in the birth approached them. "I've brought some food," the youngest one said. "You must be hungry."

"Thank you," Hermione replied. "I'm so glad it all went well."

"As are we," the second, much older mare said. "Birth is often difficult and with so few of us left, every foal spared is a blessing indeed."

"I would wish for you to grow in numbers again," Hermione said, as Draco narrowed his eyes. "To roam these places that were once yours."

"You have a kind heart, human," the old mare said. "So unlike most of your kind."

"Not all of us are…"she began. "Please believe me."

The young mare looked at Draco. "Do you have our best interests at heart as well?" she asked, as he hadn't spoken one word.

"I am a neutral party," he said, "as I'm supposed to be. A peaceful solution that all parties can live with is what I seek, and have sought these past years."

"There is a darkness inside you," the old mare spoke. "Our leader has sensed it too."

Draco coughed uncomfortably. "I have done some things I regret," he said. "During the War. It is why I chose to fight for peace instead."

"Don't let his darkness trap you," the younger mare said to Hermione. "You are too light for him."

"We are colleagues," Hermione said, defending him. "We are striving for peace together."