Day20

"You've got no place to hide.

And I'm feeling like a villain, got a hunger inside.

One look in my eyes,

And you're running cause I'm coming going to eat you alive. Ah ah ah oh

Your heart hits like a drum, oh, oh oh

The chase has just begun, oh, oh, oh

Monsters stuck in your head

We are, we are, we are

Monsters under your bed

We are, we are

We are monsters "

Song: Monsters - Ruelle

Hermione shook Draco's shoulder, trying to wake him, it was dawn and it was time for them to move on once more, Anthony was watching her every move, he unnerved her.

They had shared watch duty, Draco and Maria sharing their watch, neither trusting the other at all, so it panned out with the shared watches.

"How do you do it Hermione?"

His sudden question caught her off guard, she glanced back down at Draco, who only grunted in his sleep and turned away to resume sleeping, she also took in Anthony's lack of urgency, not even bothering to wake up Maria yet, so sitting back on her haunches she lifted her gaze to look guardedly.

"Do what exactly?"

She lifted an enquiring brow at him, then sat back against her tree and lifted a bar from next to her, opening it and taking a bite without once taking her quizzical gaze from him, he smiled jovially at her and finally responded, seemingly perfectly happy and at ease.

"Well, being so close with a Slytherin? I mean you've always been such a typical Gryffindor, same with me, I was Gryffindor too, two years your junior actually. So, how do you do it? They tend to be cowardly."

Hermione felt her hackles rise once more with this Gryffindor, gods, had she always been just as jovially judgmental? Just as irritatingly chirpy?

Her eyes narrowing in the coldness of her regard towards this wizard in front of her, she replied rather harshly.

"The key term being, used to be, Now I'm starting to realise, being a Gryffindor is not necessarily something to be proud of, especially since it goes seemingly so well with judging others so harshly. So how do I do it? Easy. Draco Malfoy is more noble than you could ever hope to be. And being cunning, with ambition to rather live than die, does not make you cowardly. It makes you bloody smart."

With that she raised her brows slightly, daring him to continue with this conversation, Anthony grinned widely, then excitedly sat forward to lean in closer to her, seemingly in an intense subject matter discussion, which Hermione felt was not what was currently the situation at all.

"So you're saying you are not so Gryffindor anymore? And that you actually admire Malfoy?"

Hermione realised she would have to cut this pesky wizard short, he obviously didn't realise that she did not appreciate unwanted conversation at all.

"Anthony, I suggest you keep your muzzle to yourself. I do not wish to converse with someone as obviously prejudiced as you."

Her voice was the coldest it had ever been, her eyes shooting ice sparks, any lessor person would be cowering by now, but not this clueless muggleborn, his eyes sparked even more lively.

"So you are now saying I'm prejudiced, yet you have been consorting with the biggest prejudiced bigoted bully from school?"

Hermione snapped, in a fluid move she was up and bending over him, her knife out and pressed against his throat, she was so smooth and fast that he didn't even realise what was happening till the sharp point pricked the skin of his neck.

"Listen well Anthony, we are here due to a mutual need. Not because we are friends. Now, say one more negative thing about Draco Malfoy, and I'll dismember you before you can even say shag."

She twisted the blade, watching in interest how a drop of blood trickle down his throat, she was sure her message had sunk in now, since the jovial smile dropped and he swallowed nervously up at her.

"Geez Granger, do not kill him yet. We still need them."

Hermione straightened up slowly when she heard Draco speaking behind her, steeping to the side in order to see both wizards, he sat upright with a very satisfied grin, she wondered how much of their exchange he had heard

Then Maria spoke up as well, but she was softer, a more pliant personality.

"Let's just promise not to start killing each other till the other three are dead first."

She had stepped next to Anthony, and was offering her hand to help he stand up, Draco had also in the meantime come upright and came to stand next to Hermione, effectively showing exactly the divide between the four tributes.

"Agreed. So Granger, no killing Anthony. Yet."

Draco stood smirking, he obviously thought it was funny, Hermione didn't think so really, she didn't kill for the fun of it, so why did he act as if she did, but then she saw the contemptuous look Anthony gave Draco, and she realised, she could kill him...

Xxx

They traveled mostly in silence, Hermione at the front as she knew the way already, and Draco at the back, as he had certain trust issues regarding who he has behind him.

Hermione was amused, since she knew she had traveled behind him numerous times, obviously his mistrust was with Maria and Anthony.

Every now and then Maria or Anthony would break the silence with some pesky comment, it mostly served to irritate Hermione and Draco, Hermione would mostly respond with silence, whereas Draco would make his displeasure known without room for doubt, the spoiled brat.

It was as the afternoon sun sat high, and Hermione knew they were close to the castle that Maria spoke up once more.

"So Draco, I can call you that right? Anyway, my brother told me you were a real sodding prat in school? He was in Ravenclaw in your year."

Hermione stopped and turned to watch the scene, she knew Draco was still a prat, but he was her prat, she knew him now, they didn't, so they had no right to call him on it.

"Well Maria, if your brother suffers from some superiority complex, I could understand him thinking I'm a prat."

Hermione almost barked out a laugh at his come back insult, but bit it down in time, she smirked at him over their heads, showing him she approved.

"Beg pardon? Superiority complex? Hoe had that to do with you being a prat?"

Maria seemed genuinely interested, she was such a nice witch in truth, but nice would not let her win this game.

"Well, only someone who wants to be in charge but lacks the lustre, would see my natural leader personae and elevated status as pratish."

Hermione then did laugh, he was such a true haughty brat!

But seeing the flushed face of Anthony, who glared at Draco in obvious loathing, and the now disdainful face of Maria, Hermione spoke up in her usual bland face and tone of voice.

"You did ask Maria. Can't take it, don't dish it. As it is, I'm one of the few that can take a verbal sparring with Malfoy, so I'll recommend you refrain from engaging him in future. Now, I suggest we move on."

She meant to turn around to start moving again, but Draco spoke up with a serious voice.

"As it is, Granger is the only one that can take it and dish it with me. So take it from her and follow her advice."

Hermione nodded at him, the slightest of smiles playing at the corner of her lips, then she did turn and start to lead the way once more, she felt strangely proud knowing that she is the only one that could engage Draco.

Maria and Anthony had remained silent since after that, apparently they either were to angry to talk, or heeding the advise, either way, Hermione was glad for the blessed silence.

Xxx

Another hour later and Hermione stopped, causing the other three to also halt behind her, turning to face them she spoke placidly.

"We're here. The castle is beyond the next trees. I suggest we watch them first to get a feel of their movements."

Draco nodded in affirmation, as did Maria and Anthony, but it was Draco who spoke eventually.

"Let's get into the trees, but make sure you have visible sight of the castle."

They didn't wait for the other two, instead they immediately went and started to climb a tree that was as close to the edge of the jungle that they dared.

They ended up staying in those trees for the rest of the day, watching and waiting, Anthony and Maria still maintained their new found silence, much to the pleasure of Hermione and Draco.

When night fell, they silently tied themselves to their respective branches, Hermione and Draco in the same tree.

"You don't need to defend me Granger. I know what I am. But thank you any way."

The whisper was only loud enough for her to hear where she say just above him, so she couldn't see his face.

"Only I'm allowed to mock or offend you. They don't know you, so they have no right."

Her own whisper was also just enough for him to hear, but she was satisfied when she heard his grunt.

"Granger, just admit it, you love me."

Hermione rolled her eyes at him, even though he couldn't see it her own chuckle was indication enough.

"No Malfoy. I'm merely keeping us from liking them or anything, that is easier with less interaction."

She heard his disbelieving grunt, obviously her come back was weak, but she was tired and not in the mood for some smart word sparring.

Also the part that was the truth of her statement, neither could get themselves to talk on either, the part that they would have to kill Maria and Anthony at some point if the others doesn't, and that it would be easier done if there were no attachment involved.

"Good night Granger."

Hermione smiled in the darkness, before whispering back at him,

"Good night Draco."