Chapter 11 – Success!...Or Something
A/N: Thank you so much to all my reviewers. I really appreciate your support, and it makes my day to read what you guys have to say!
Recap:
"Why are you talking about Hermione?"
All three Slytherins turned their heads to see a curly-haired first-year boy standing their, watching them.
"Grab him!" hissed Draco. "If he says anything to Hermione, everything will be ruined!"
The boy's eyes went wide, and he started to run, but Crabbe's long arms reached him before he could escape, and hoisted him into the air.
"Woah – hey! Hey, put me down! Help, help!" cried Tyler.
As Hermione rounded the corner, she heard someone crying out. What's going on? Then she recognized Tyler's voice, and all traces of sleepiness vanished. She sped down the hall, drawing her wand.
She gasped when she saw her brother writhing in Crabbe's grip, and her fury rose in a burning wave when she saw Malfoy standing there and smirking.
Throwing down her books, she pointed her wand at Crabbe and ordered, "Put him down."
"Expelliarmus!" called Malfoy triumphantly, and Hermione's wand arced through the air and landed in his outstretched hand.
Hermione spun to face him. "What is this, Malfoy? You get your gorillas to let him go."
Malfoy's grin only widened. "Ah, so he means something to you, does he? I thought he was merely an insignificant eavesdropper, but this is so much better."
"What do you want?" Hermione demanded.
"Simple." Malfoy procured a steaming mug of an unidentifiable substance. "Drink this, and Crabbe won't wring that kid's neck."
The last thing Hermione wanted to do was ingest something that Malfoy offered her, but she glanced anxiously at Tyler. Was it her imagination, or was his face starting to turn blue…?
"Fine," she replied, holding out her hand. "Give it here. And give me my wand back, while you're at it."
"First the drink," said Malfoy, offering the mug. Hermione snatched it away, enjoying as Malfoy winced when a few hot droplets spilled out and splashed his robes. The cloth didn't go up in flames, at least…so it probably wasn't lethal…
Hermione held the mug to her face and gave it a precautionary sniff. Then she felt a bizarre combination of confusion and relief. What was Malfoy trying to pull? She'd had enough hot chocolate before to know exactly what this was. She drank it quickly, not caring as it scalded her throat.
"There," she said, giving the mug back. "Now, tell Crabbe to put Tyler down. And hand over my wand."
"A-all right," said Malfoy, confused. He motioned to Crabbe, who replaced Tyler on the ground. The boy scampered around the corner.
The mixture must take a minute to work, he decided. "Um – just stay here for a minute, will you?" he said to Hermione. She reached over and grabbed him by the wrist; he gasped in pain as she twisted his arm, forcing him to drop her wand.
"Thanks," she said sarcastically. "Oh, and by the way – that hot cocoa was really good. Have you been reading Muggle cooking magazines?"
Oh, fuck, no! The magazine he'd taken the article from was – a – Muggle magazine?!?!
He bent over and gathered Hermione's books, in order to hide his flaming red face. He offered them sheepishly, and she took them, staring him directly in the eyes. Motioning to Goyle and Crabbe, he stalked off down the hallway, feeling Hermione's eyes drilling in the space between his shoulderblades.
"Hermione?"
She turned. "Tyler," she said, relieved.
"You – saved me," he said. "I was so scared! I don't know what they were trying to do, but –"
"It's all right," Hermione replied. "I would never let them hurt anyone – including you." More than you know.
"Hermione – will you be my friend?" he asked, abruptly.
"Wh-what?"
"I mean, my parents wanted me to get to know you – and you just saved my life, practically, so I thought that – I mean, if you don't want –"
"Of course I would like to be friends with you," Hermione assured her brother soothingly, but sighing quietly to herself.
We are siblings! Siblings! she thought. Then she sighed again.
But friends – it's a start.