Chapter 21: The bird stopped singing
Hermione tells Harry and Ron about the Malfoy family heirlooms. They tell her that they went looking for her in the library but that she wasn't there. Of course they want to know where she was instead. She tells them that the library was too crowded and that she took some books up to the room of requirement for some peace and quiet. The two boys raise their eyebrows and look at each other.
"But Mione," Ron starts hesitantly "When we were there, there couldn't have been more than five people there"
"Well maybe they left before you guys came. The place usually clears out at that time."
"Well okay then" Ron says but they aren't a hundred percent convinced. Because it's Hermione they are talking about, they will let it go.
That night:
"You're doing that wrong"
"What do you know about it Granger?"
"I've read all the books I could find about vanishing cabinets and I know that what you are doing right now is wrong."
"What should I do then?"
"I'm not going to tell you"
"You're telling be I'm making a mistake and then you won't tell me what it is?"
"Yes"
"That's just cruel."
"I can't help you with this you know that"
"I know you don't want to but you could at least give me one or two of those books so I could get one very angry dark lord off my back!"
Hermione doesn't reply. She has a troubled look on her face. He smirks at her.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Tell me. Why are you looking at me like that?"
"You want to tell me. You want to show you are better than me in something and now you can't. It's bugging you."
"That is so far from the truth Malfoy you don't have a clue what I'm thinking"
"Don't I?"
"Don't you dare read my mind Draco Malfoy! You promised me you wouldn't."
"I'm not doing anything."
"Right"
"You don't believe me?"
"Why would I?"
"Because I'm telling the truth"
"That's what you say. I have to go. I'm not giving you those books. Figure it out for yourself."
"I will, don't worry."
The next day they have only one class together. Potions. Hermione also has ancient runes, advanced transfiguration and advanced herbology. Harry and Ron are lucky to have only potions that they. As usual they will spend the rest of the afternoon on the quiddich field. In two days they'll have a match against Slytherin. Although they practically always win they do have to prepare for the match. Slytherins aren't known for their fair playing. Hermione is glad not to have the afternoon off too. Her friends would force her to come watch them practice and then talk through every detail about it afterwards. That is not something she'd enjoy. At dinner Harry and Ron are still telling each other how they are going to kick some Slytherin butt. Hermione and Luna are talking together, glad to have each other and not have to listen to quiddich again.
When Harry, Ron and Hermione are walking back to the Gryffindor common room Hermione notices Draco going towards the room of requirement. The entrance is at a wall you don't walk by every day and classes are over so the room of requirement is the only place he could be going to. She wonders what he'll be doing there. It isn't eight O'clock yet. He could be working on the vanishing cabinet some more. Maybe the dark lord has been complaining about how long it's taking.
"I think I forgot to do something" Hermione tells her friends and stops walking. They turn around to face her. "You two go ahead, I'll see you later okay?"
"Sure Mione, But you are going to help me with my potions essay tonight right?" Ron asks her hopefully.
"Yes of course" Ron nods and he and Harry continue on to the common room. Hermione follows Draco to the room of requirement. When she looks around the corner she can see him enter the room. As quietly as possible she runs over there and slips into the room. On her way she stops to look at the birdcage in the hall. That's weird. I could have sworn there was a bird in here yesterday. Oh well. Maybe I imagined it.
Inside the room Hermione hides herself from his view. She can't exactly see what he's doing. He put something inside the vanishing cabinet. He is now waiting. She decides he is probably just doing another one of his experiences and walks towards him. He doesn't seem to realize she is standing behind him and jumps when he hears her speak.
"What are you doing?" She asks him.
"Bloody hell Granger, What are you doing here?"
"I saw you going this way and I was wondering what you would do."
"Are you stalking me now?"
"No I was just curious"
"It's not eight yet. Shouldn't you do something else right about now?"
"Are you okay? Why won't you tell me what's going on?"
"Nothing. I'm just doing another test that's all."
"What are you testing?"
"Nothing. Just leave."
"No I want to see"
"Fine. But I can't help it if you won't like it."
"I'm a big girl Malfoy. I'm sure I can handle seeing an apple."
Draco opens the door but remains in the opening so Hermione won't be able to see. He closes the door again.
"What is it? Didn't it work?"
"The experiment failed."
"What is it Malfoy? Let me see." She pushes him aside and opens the door. On the floor lies the bird from the birdcage in the hallway. It's dead. Hermione covers her mouth with her left hand and quickly closes the door again with her right.
"See Granger, I knew you wouldn't want to see it."
"The bird is dead Malfoy. This is just cruel. What were you trying to do?"
"I was testing if you could get living creatures through there. It didn't quite work as it was supposed to"
"You can say that all right."
"Look Granger. I was doing this now so you wouldn't have to know. It is not my fault you followed me up here you know."
"So now it's my fault? I'm not the one who put the bird in there!"
"I had to test it didn't I?"
"You could have just let the deatheaters die"
"You know I couldn't do that Granger"
"Yeah I suppose so. I'd better go before Harry and Ron will get suspicious. I'll see you tomorrow"
"I won't be here tomorrow"
"Why not?"
"Quiddich practice. It's the last practice before the game against your house."
"Couldn't you practice some other time?"
"No. potter booked the field the entire day. It's pathetic really."
"Well Malfoy, if you do win, feel free to rub it in when Harry and Ron are around."
He smirks. "Do you want me to win?"
"Yes. It would be really good for Harry and Ron to lose for once. They've been driving me nuts!"
"If we win I'll make sure to remind them for the next week or so." He smirks. She smiles at him.
"Thank you"
"Oh believe me. It would be my pleasure." He smirks at her.
"I can imagine" She smiles some more.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing." He raises an eyebrow and she leaves he room before he can say anything to her.
"Hello Hermione. What did you forget?" Ron asks her.
"Nothing. Is that my potions essay?" she points at the paper in front of Ron.
"Well yes but you were gone for so long and it's due tomorrow and I was just checking my answers with yours." Hermione snatches her paper out of his hands.
"You know I don't want you copying my answers Ron. You can figure out the answers on your own now"
"You're not even going to help me?"
"No. Looks like you've had enough help from me already."
"I told you so." Harry tells Ron and laughs.
"Don't you start too harry! I know you looked too!" And then she storms off to the girls dormitories.