The five students, the four Heads of House and at least one parent for each of the children were all gathered at the gates of Hogwarts. They were going to apparate to the transport that would take them to the first location near to Beuxbatons Academy of Magic.
She had sent Fabien to find Camellia, who hadn't shown up yet and he had been quite a while so she was beginning to get anxious. It wouldn't look good showing up late!
Hermione had not seen or spoken to Draco since the tie breaker so she kept her gaze away from him, not wanting to speak to him. She'd been completely fair with her annoyance, sharing it evenly between Harry and Draco.
"I commiserated with Ella!" Harry had protested.
"I should hope you did! She's twelve years old!"
"Maybe I shouldn't have said what I did about Malfoy cheating but in my defence he wasn't meant to hear it," Harry sighed. "I promise to be on my very best behaviour at the competition."
Thankfully, Harry and Draco were standing opposite sides of the gate, despite their sons standing together. They were completely ignoring each other, which didn't exactly make for a great atmosphere but Hermione knew it was the best she could hope for. When they had waited for quite a while, Draco approached Hermione. As always, he seemed oblivious to her giving him the cold shoulder and spoke to her in his usual, blunt way.
"Why are we still waiting? What's the problem?"
"Camellia isn't here - Fabien...Professor Lang is looking for her." She kept her answer polite but only just.
"Where is she then?"
Hermione turned her eyes on him. "If I knew that, then we wouldn't have a problem would we?"
"We're going to be late!" Draco didn't take the hint to be quiet.
"Do you think I need you to point that out to me?"
"Well, isn't it your responsibility to make sure all the pupils are here?"
Hermione grabbed his arm, roughly and dragged him to one side, lowering her voice but still managing to sound annoyed. "Are you purposely trying to annoy me? Do you think we can try and make this as painless as possible because I'm not sure I can stand it otherwise! We can't expect the children to do well if there is a constant atmosphere."
Draco looked down at her hand that was still on his arm and the up to her face. She had expected him to snap straight back at her but he didn't. Draco's eyes held hers and then she saw him look to one side and back again before he finally spoke. "Okay."
His answer surprised Hermione so much that she stared at him open mouthed. "Okay? Just like that it's okay?"
"You're right."
Hermione shook her head, bewildered. "You're bloody ridiculous!"
"I'm agreeing with you! Why are you still angry?"
"I can't keep up with your moods!" Hermione shook her head.
"We have a problem," Fabien interrupted them and they both turned to look at him.
"What sort of problem?" Hermione asked, her voice sharp.
"Camellia has come down with Dragonpox overnight - it's a pretty bad dose of it, she won't be able to come."
"Will she be okay?" Draco asked and in light of the information Hermione had recently received she could understand the anxious tone to Draco's voice.
Fabien nodded, reassuringly. "Oh yes, she just won't be over it enough in time to join us. She was understandably very upset, I stopped with her for a few minutes to try and help."
"Poor Camellia!" Hermione said.
"What's the problem?" Professor Corbin joined them. "Neville is trying to keep them all in line but they're getting restless."
"Camellia has Dragonpox so she can't come," Fabien explained.
Hermione sighed and addressed Fabien. "As Camellia was representing Slytherin, then you need to chose a replacement."
"How do I do that fairly? Who came second?" Fabien asked.
"I think we all know who should be chosen," Celia said and they all turned to look at her. "Ella was in the student vote - she's who they want to represent us. It should be her who gets this chance."
Hermione seemed to think for a minute and then nodded. "Celia is right - Fabien, you need to go and fetch her quickly, tell her to just come as she is and we'll send for a suitcase for her later."
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
Beuxbatons Academy could be seen in the background from where Hermione was standing. She had allowed herself a few minutes alone, taking in the beautiful scenery around where they were staying. It had been a busy and stressful day and Hermione knew there were more of these to come.
The first part of the competition - Charms - was being held at a large mansion house near to the Academy. It was already occupied by the competitors from both the other schools and Hogwarts students and parents were settling into their rooms. Several prestigious wizards had been invited to set the tasks to test the competitors and to offer the pupils advice. Hermione had seen two of the wizards and even she felt intimidated by them. The one had a long, white beard and was small with wise old eyes. His companion had been very tall and thin with a large hat and a short, dark beard. She gave a little smile as she imagined the expression on Ella's face when she saw them!
Ella hadn't seemed her usual self on the way here, she was unusually quiet and subdued. Hermione supposed it had been a bit of a shock to be told suddenly that she was now included in the competition. Draco, surprisingly, had said very little about her inclusion.
"Professor!"
Hermione turned to see Ella approaching, followed by Draco. He looked ruffled and Hermione did a double take because she was so used to his smooth, calm exterior being on display.
"Yes, Ella?"
"I want to go home now."
Hermione widened her eyes at her student. "Why?"
"She's not going home!" Draco said. His mouth was set into a stern line.
"I can't do this! I wasn't chosen the first time for a reason and I know I can't do it!" Ella insisted, giving her Father an upward stare.
"How do you know you can't do it?" Hermione asked.
Ella leant closer to Hermione, her small face earnest. "You've seen my grades!"
"This isn't an exam, Ella. It isn't just about who gets the best grades."
"I told her that!" Draco said but Hermione ignored him.
"They're all your sort!" Ella said to Hermione who raised her eyebrows.
"My sort?"
"You know what I mean."
"Actually, I don't," Hermione said. "But it doesn't matter because you can't go home. Your name has been entered as our competitor now. If you leave, we can't replace you."
"I don't care. I'm not making a fool of myself - definitely not!"
"I've told you Elladora that you cannot let your school down. I forbid you to try and leave," Draco said and Ella turned to face him fiercely.
"You can't stop me - I'll go if I want to."
"Ella..." Hermione tried to jump in before father and daughter continued their argument.
"Of course I can stop you!" Draco snapped.
"Well I just won't take part - you can't make me do that!"
"Ella..." Hermione said again.
"You wanted to do this!" Draco insisted. He glanced over at Hermione who tried again.
"Ella!"
"Professor - you must understand..."
"What I understand, Ella is that you're a very talented student who deserves her place here. We're here to help you and all that is expected of you is to try your best..."
"Gryffindor baloney!" Ella said.
"Ella!" Draco cautioned her.
Hermione stood up and looked at Ella. "I won't tolerate rudeness, Ella. You have to learn to control your emotions and think what you are saying." Ella looked at Hermione but didn't say anything. Hermione could tell she was surprised that her normally tolerant professor was being more forceful. "You have been chosen to take part - you will do it. Your participation isn't up for debate."
"Then I'll fail," Ella said sulkily. She kicked a stone.
"That's your choice but I expect you to try."
Ella sighed loudly. "I haven't had time to get ready or anything," her tone was less aggressive now and Hermione sat back down, pulling Ella to sit next to her.
"I know it was a rush and a surprise. Stop worrying and have some faith in yourself. You'll be surprised what you can do if you really need to."
Ella twisted her lips, obviously not convinced but she was now calm. "I don't know."
"Go and meet some of the other competitors and try to relax. If you still want to leave tomorrow then we'll discuss it again," Hermione said.
"No we won't !" Draco said and Hermione shot him a glare.
"Yes we will, but I'm sure Ella will wont to stay."
"I doubt it," Ella mumbled but she stood up, put her hands in her pockets and walked back towards the house. Draco stared at Hermione.
"I will not allow her to leave!" he said and Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Neither will I!"
"You told her to talk to you again tomorrow."
"Once she's met the other competitors and they've all settled down she won't want to leave," Hermione said. "Do you really think I'd allow her to give up? She's not in the mood to listen to reason right now. I was just stalling her."
Draco's expression changed and Hermione felt a little pang of triumph. He knew she was right and that she'd handled the situation better than he had. He nodded slowly and unwittingly mimicked his daughter, putting his hands in his pockets. "Okay," he took a few steps back towards the large house so Hermione shook her head and turned away from him. He was so unresponsive! Okay! She'd just completely diffused the situation with Ella and all she got was an okay?!
Suddenly, she realised that he hadn't walked away and that he was actually taking the seat next to her on the bench. She stared at him, feeling annoyed that he was still here.
"I find it difficult," he said and he lowered his head. Hermione watched, sensing a change in attitude. "You seem to know what to say to her ."
Hermione paused for just a moment, not trusting that if she engaged in this seemingly civilised conversation that Draco wouldn't suddenly change back to his normal sarcastic self. "That's because she reminds me of you."
Draco turned and looked at Hermione, the surprise showing on his face. "Me?"
"Yes - you! She's much nicer than you were..."
"Thanks a bunch, Granger."
" but the bravado and inflated sense of importance is identical."
"Self importance!"
"Thankfully, Ella is also happy to show her vulnerable side. It's not a weakness, it's good that she can recognize it in herself but she needs to not let her doubts override everything else." Hermione watched Draco, wondering how he'd take her comments. He gave a little sniff and then turned to look into the distance, as Hermione had been doing earlier.
"You do know that you're beginning to sound like McGonagall," Draco said, out of the blue and Hermione turned swiftly to him, in surprise. To her utter astonishment, she was met with a wide smirk and she looked at Draco suspiciously.
"How do I sound like Professor McGonagall?"
Draco's smirk widened. "All wise and profound," he now gave a little chuckle, "actually, maybe its Dumbledore you sound like."
Hermione shook her head and couldn't help but let a small smile reach her lips. His amusement was infectious and what he was saying was funny. His insult was said ironically and without a hint of malice. "Very amusing, Malfoy," she said but she didn't let her smile slip.
Draco nodded at her. "You could try Trelawney next." He lifted his hands over an imaginary crystal ball and almost crossed his eyes. Hermione burst out laughing, totally astonished by his sudden show of humour. Draco slipped out of his Professor Trelawney impression and grinned. "Or Flitwick..." he jumped up, came behind Hermione and lifted her arm at the elbow with his hand. "Don't wave your wand - flick it!" he said, accenting the flick with a long 'f' sound and ending it on a crisp, sharp 'k'. Exactly how Professor Flitwick would have said it. Hermione now really laughed, a hundred memories flooding back to her. Draco used his hand on her elbow to move her arm in a flicking motion again.
"Stop it!" Hermione protested with another giggle and she heard Draco laugh behind her. The problem was that she also felt him laugh because his chest was against her back as he lifted her arm. Suddenly, and completely out of the blue she was totally aware of him. She'd felt this before, just once and just for a split second but now he wasn't just looking at her; now he was pressed up against her and she could now feel the heat of him spreading across her back. She should have been moving away, jumping out of her seat but somehow she couldn't.
Draco had stopped waving her arm but he hadn't moved away, in fact he seemed to be leaning closer and now she could feel his breath on her neck, his chest moving up and down as he breathed. His hand had slipped along her arm a little, touching her wrist. Without consciously doing so they had lowered their joined hands and now Draco's arm was around Hermione's shoulder, his head bent low.
A moment later the warmth was gone as Draco stood up and took a step backwards. Hermione could tell from his expression that she wasn't the only one who had felt something. She looked down at her hands, not sure what to say or do.
"I should get back to Ella..." Draco's voice held none of its usual deep, drawling confidence and Hermione barely glanced at him before nodding.
"Of course," she mumbled, then felt annoyed at herself for becoming a dithering wreck because of a man whom the majority of the time made her want to kill him. Draco was already on his way back to the house so she made herself call after him.
"Draco..." He turned around quickly and looked at her enquiringly. She tried to speak normally and stood up, looking directly at him. "I'm sure Ella will be fine in the morning - it's just first night nerves."
"Yeh...thanks." He didn't move for a moment, holding her gaze, before walking back to the house