XI) Superstitious

I have to do this. I can do this. I will do this. Maybe. Probably not. I HAVE TO! I can't! There is a one hundered percent chance that I will probably but maybe not do this. Just need to focus and breathe and just do it!

Hermione was walking towards the Entrance Hall to meet Malfoy. He had sent her an owl (a flashy sleek black tawny) that said that they should meet in the Entrance Hall at 1:30 while everyone was at lunch. She agreed but was slightly scared. They had had no contact sense on the train to Hogwarts.

The sun was shining bright through the window on the Sunday afternoon as she hurried down the staircase.

Suddenly a freezing hand grabbed her around her neck from behind her. Hermione tried to struggle but it was like fighting against a statue. It was too strong and it refused to move. Hermione was dragged backwards and thrown into the broom cubboard.

"Don't say a word. Don't scream. Let me do the talking." A beautiful voice whispered in the darkness. Though it sounded like singing it was cold, and Hermione shivered and automatically cringed away from the voice. "Your little friend Madeline will not be with you much longer. I have been told not to tell anyone. But the more fear in your group, the better for us. Do not say a word." And the voice was gone as was the freezing temperature in the cuboard.

Hermione slowly walked out of the cubboard again and turned the corner. She could now see Malfoy standing at the bottom of the staircase. What the hell just happened? A few students were milling about, just heading to lunch.

Malfoy didn't smile. He just glared at her with cold eyes and sneered. Hermione again wanted to flinch away from him but she kept her face smooth.

"You're late Granger. I told you to meet me half an hour ago. Just for that you have to do half of my work. Although," His faced twisted." I doubt that it won't be a problem for you sense your so used to doing Potty and Gingers work for them huh?"

Hermione gaped open mouthed at him. How dare he be so rude!?! She thought they had been getting along fine together. Why was he suddenly acting so hostile? So horrible? So much like he was before?

But then she noticed the handful of students that had been staring openmouthed as Hermione approached Malfoy. She understood. He wouldn't act all chummy with her until they were alone.

"Not going to happen Malfoy. You do your work. I do mine." Hermione threw back her head and folded her arms.

"And what will happen if I tell Professor Snape that you would purposely let me fail? I don't think he would like that very much."

The students lingering around rolled their eyes and continued to lunch. Same old same old argument they had heard a thousand times.

"Fine. But you owe me Malfoy. Swear to it. As long as I do your side of the work this once you will owe me a favor of my choice."

"Fine I swear that I will owe you a favor of your choice as long as you do my work."

"So it is said, so it shall be done." Hermione said icily.

"OK well now thats over with, there are no more students around so can we cut the crap?" Malfoy rolled his eyes and unfolded his arms.

Hermione shrugged. "Fine by me. I ran out of the things to say anyway."

The two of them started walking towards the double doors to go outside, that way they wouldn't be disturbed. As they stepped into the chilly afternoon, they could see that though it was sunny, it had snowed overnight and the ground was covered in a thick, smooth blanket of snow. A few foot prints here and there were the only thing breaking the smooth snow.

"So whats new in your life?" Draco asked.

"Well, my friends find out about my heritage, Madeline is keeping secrets, we had a disaster of a holiday in Canada, and Ginny won't speak to anyone because she is so pissed. What about you?"

"You got me. Nothing is new. You know, you never told me what your heritage was. I'm hurt," Draco teased, "No seriously though, maybe if you just tried to talk to Madeline she might open up."

"Oh nuh uh I know that won't work. I've tried a few times already and she has remained shut. Just keeps saying she's trying to figure out stuff. Always stuff." Hermione shook her head angrily. "Though why can't she just talk to us? We are her friends and she shouldn't be doing this! She technically is the big boss Heart holder and she has to tell us things! It's only right!"

"Woah back up! 'Big boss Heart holder'? What are you talking about?" Draco stopped walking to stare at Hermione.

"It's nothing," Hermione said quickly, "just something thats going on with me and my friends. I probably will tell you but at the present time, I can't and I am sorry."

"Can I try something?" Draco asked smiling at her. Hermione's stomache flipped.

"Anything." Hermione breathed, her heart pumping.

Draco leaned toward her slightly and then paused, giving her plenty of time to move out of the way if she wanted to. Which she didn't. He kept leaning toward her.

She could see the sun reflecting in his eyes. Feel his hot breath on her face, his just inches from hers. She closed the distance.

It was like something exploded in her mouth. Hermione could suddenly feel everything around her. The earth. Suddenly it wasn't gravity holding everything down, it was the earth holding the two of them together in this single, endless moment, where nothing could go wrong as the blood rushed to Hermione's lips, and it wasn't quite that chilly out anymore...

They both jumped apart as they heard footsteps. Ginny was just turning towards them as she walked back from the Quidditch pitch. Hermione read they emotions that went across Ginny's face as she caught sight of the two. Shock, pain, anger, more pain. And then she was pissed. Really pissed, and storming quickly toward them.

"Oh no!" Hermione whispered under her breath. Had she seen them kissing? One look said she had.

As Ginny headed toward them, her anger was creating fire that was under her feet and in her hands, melting all the ice and snow around her. Hermione shot a fearful glance at Draco, wondering if her notice. One glance proved that he did.

"What the hell is going on with Weasley? She demented or something?"

"So you've been keeping secrets to huh? Why am I not surprised. Let me guess just meeting up before heading upstairs for a little snack huh? Playing the bookworm while acting the slut! Have you done anyone else too? Or are you and Madeline in on this together and gonna share it all? I don't think I can trust any of you anymore!" Ginny all but yelled at Hermione. Obviously she had already been ticked off and seeing Hermione kissing Malfoy had just thrown the switch.

"I am not a slut! How dare you suggest that! You know that I am still a virgin," Hermione said in a low voice so only Ginny could hear.

Ginny threw back her head and laughed. "Oh please! You think you can throw that rubbish at me! How am I supposed to believe you! We all hate Malfoy and here you are just sneaking around with him!"

And with that she stormed away. But not before bumping into Harry and Ron. They both looked up and saw Hermione still holding Malfoy's hand and scowled. Well Ron did, Harry's face remained blank. Ginny grabbed each of their arms and started dragging them towards the castle, without saying a word. As they neared the doors, however, they opened and Madeline came out and bumped into those three. They all stopped and started saying words Hermione couldn't make out. She headed towards the group.

"Are you ready to talk to us?" Ron asked. He had his arm around her and Madeline rested her head on his shoulder and nodded.

"Yes but Malfoy has to go away. No offense." She added smiling slightly at Draco.

"Thats fine. I have some Charms homework to do anyway."

As soon as Malfoy was gone the four pounced on Madeline.

"Talk."

Slap!

"Shut up. Just shut up!" she screeched.

"I didn't do anything wrong!"

"Oh of course you didn't. You never do, it's always the little ghosty that does all the messing up!" Rosalie's deep purple gown trailed behind her as she paced back and forth in front of her vamp sister. Bella stayed in the corner, half hidden in the shadows and glaring at Alice trembling in the chair.

"Why would you say anything. Do you have a death wish?"

"Over my pile of ashes bitch." suddenly Alice wasn't trembling anymore. She was standing straight up and was pretty angry. Of course she was so short that Rosalie just fixed her with a cold glare and didn't even flinch.

"Then why did you say anything? Do you honestly think that would have made things better?" Bella trilled sadly as she went to Alice's side in barely a moment of a heartbeat... well if there had been a heartbeat around at least.

"My sisters!" Rosalie turned dramatically, and gracefully, away from them and towards the giant window, where outside it had started to snow again, hail actually and a large wind had picked up. "It has come the time when vampyres must start to show. Perhaps we can have a little fun tonight." she turned back to them, an evil smile playing at her mouth.

"It would be horrible to be a muggle right now. I would hate to be caught in a storm like that." Ginny said, curled up on the couch and reading the Daily Prophet, though currently looked out the window at the storm outside.

"Yeah I agree." Madeline said, coming back downstairs with a giant bag in her arms. "OK boys it's time us girls had some fun!" Giggling she pulled out makeup, nail polish and accessories, obviously going to be put on Harry and Ron. Those two paled while the girls laughed.

A few miles away the screams of those poor muggles had started.