'But I'm fine.' Hermione said against her better judgment catching up to Malfoy.
'You may be smart, but you suck at lying.' Malfoy sneered looking at her.
'For your information Malfoy, I can lie very well. I just choose to not waste my breath on you.' Hermione said pushing past Malfoy and walking faster.
'Waste your breath on me? I'm wasting my time on you!' Malfoy shouted.
'You know what Malfoy?' Hermione said stopping and turning around 'You are an arrogant little bastard with no feelings.'
Malfoy stopped walking and stared at her. 'Is that really the best you can come up with?'
'I'm not even starting.' Hermione dismissed.
'Then start. Go on, I want to see you at your best.'
'Like I said, I'm not wasting my breath on you.'
Just as the two were staring angrily at the other, something pounced out of the shadows, causing Hermione to squeal, and Malfoy to yell in surprise.
A figure, about the size of Harry stood between them, panting heavily. It was covered in thick black hair, and had saliva dripping from two, long, pointed teeth.
'Bloody hell!' Malfoy growled. 'You're meant to be guarding the perimeter!'
in response, the creature howled loudly, tossing its head back.
'GO!' Malfoy barked. The animal bowed its head and jumped off into the bushes growling deeply.
'What…what was that?' Hermione asked softly, staring at the dark trees were it had gone.
'Erm…well, I'm not really sure, but father says it guards the perimeter of the manor so I leave it be.' Malfoy said walking on.
'Oh okay…not like its dangerous or anything.' Hermione said sarcastically.
'Well if it wasn't Granger, what good would it do guarding the manor?' Malfoy asked from in front. Hermione could hear the smirk in his voice.
'Drrrraaaaccccooooo!' someone cooed from behind them.
Hermione and Malfoy turned around and saw Pansy Parkinson walking towards them, her hips swinging dangerously.
'Bloody hell.' Hermione heard Malfoy mutter.
'What?' Hermione asked.
'She never leaves me alone!' Malfoy explained.
'But surely, some female attention wouldn't bother you Malfoy.' Hermione said smiling sweetly.
'Yeah female attention doesn't, but pansy's something else…something that…' he tried to think.
'Something that belongs to hell-oo.' Hermione said quickly when pansy stopped in front of them.
Pansy ignored Hermione completely and turned to Malfoy. 'Draco, why are you walking with this…thing?'
'Pansy, it is rude to talk to other people's house guests like that.' Malfoy said in a mocking disapproving voice.
'Well, I would hardly think that counts as a guest.' Pansy said slowly.
'Well, not just any guest. A guest of honor.' Malfoy said, clearly happy that pansy's face was falling.
'A…A…guest…guest of honor?' she stammered. 'But…It's a Mudblood…'
'Excuse me, but Parkinson, please make up your mind. First I was a "thing" then "that" and now an "It".' Hermione interrupted.
'You forgot "Mudblood"' Malfoy pointed out innocently.
'Be quiet Draco.' Said pansy, just as Hermione said 'Thankyou Malfoy, I was getting to that.' And tried not to smile.
'Granger, you are not a guest here, you are an "it", "thing" and "Mudblood". There is no denying it.'
'You forgot "That".' Malfoy said pointed out, again looking innocent.
Pansy again told him to shut up, but Hermione was only managing not to smile. She really didn't care that pansy was calling her names, but it was funny because if they forgot something, Malfoy would point it out, aggravating pansy.
'Well pansy, technically, I cannot be an it and thing and that ' she looked at Malfoy 'because according to you, I am a Mudblood. Now that says I am something, and that's not an it or that.'
'You forgot "thing"' Malfoy's comment was unnoticed.
'Draco, do you know what its on about?' pansy asked turning to Malfoy.
'Yes.' Malfoy answered.
'What?' pansy asked. 'That thing is stupid, repulsive and-'
'Pansy, I would ask you not to insult my family's guest of honor.' Malfoy said quietly, though there was something in his eyes that told pansy and Hermione quiet clearly that he was angry. 'She is smarter then you will ever be, she is less repulsive then you, and if you say another word not to my liking, I'll have Drake deal with you.'
Pansy's eyes widened.
'Now, there is a house elf at the front door with a cup of tea or something. Go and bother him.' Malfoy said and wouldn't say another word.
Pansy turned to Hermione and whispered in her ear. 'Do not think he is yours. You are clever…I am sure he is under a spell…I will figure you out.'
'Ooooo im terrified.' Hermione said sarcastically.
After narrowing her eyes, pansy left, swinging the hips again.
'Erm Malfoy…who's Drake?' Hermione asked as she started walking.
'Another guardian.' Malfoy said smirking.
'I thought you and pansy were friends?' Hermione asked.
Malfoy laughed. 'Me? Friends with her? HA! You're funny Granger, that's a good one.' He chuckled. 'She hangs around me, and I can't tell her to bugger off because father will be mad.'
'Are you a daddy's boy?' Hermione asked.
Malfoy shot her a dirty look. 'No. if I was, you wouldn't be here. You'd be locked in that tower thing.'
'But you said your mother…'
'Yes, exactly. My mother, not my father.' Malfoy pointed out.
'What would your father say if he caught you out here?' Hermione asked. She hated him, but she didn't want to get him punished…but, it wasn't her fault…she hadn't asked him…though this was nice…
'He'd…I don't know…probably make me lock you up again and then yell at me…I don't know.' Malfoy answered. 'Actually,' he checked his watch. 'We should head back.'
He mounted his broom and waited for Hermione to follow. 'Erm…' she swallowed. 'I think I'll just walk back.'
Malfoy sneered. 'Oh come on Granger. You'll take forever, and the guardians roam throughout here at night.'
'Oh…oh alright then…just, promise not to crash.' Hermione begged as she climbed on.
'I wont.'
He took off. Hermione squeaked and held him tighter around the waste. Malfoy smirked as the wind brushed through his hair.
He flew past Hermione's bedroom window and kept on flying until he reached his balcony. He landed smoothly, with a soft bump and got off, helping Hermione so she wouldn't slip.
The curtains fluttered into the room, and then were sucked back out by the wind. Hermione looked and saw that they were a dark green. It was amazing to watch them…for some reason, she felt calm and safe…though she had no idea why she felt safe.
Hermione looked around the green and silver room. There was a mahogany bed, with green curtains ,a desk, bathroom and a walk in closet.
'What is it Granger? Does the bed strike your interest?' Malfoy asked smirking.
'Yes of course.' Hermione rolled her eyes.
'Well you can lie down, I promise ill stay over here.' Malfoy said winking mockingly.
'Oh please, don't stay over there for me.' Hermione said sarcastically.
Even though they were talking like he was on the other side of the room, they were in fact only meters apart. Malfoy walked past her and put his broom against the wall. When he turned around, he had knocked Hermione over.
He smirked then held out his hand and helped her to her feet, accidentally bringing them closer.
They were centimeters apart now.
'Well…I should get going.' Hermione said quickly and walked over to what she prayed was the door out of there. It lead her into the corridor. All was good. Now she had to find her way up into her room.
Harry sat in Dumbledore's office arguing.
'Can't we send her a letter back?' Harry asked in frustration.
'No Harry, we cannot. We must pretend like we haven't yet got a letter.' Dumbledore argued over and over.
'I cannot believe we are just sitting here.' Ron said softly.
'At the moment there is nothing we can do.' Dumbledore said… 'Unless…' he looked at Lupin who was still standing by the fire. 'Could it work?'
'Could what work?' Harry and Ron asked, looking from one to the other.
'Would she understand what's happening?' Lupin asked.
'I do not know…but it's worth a try isn't it?' Dumbledore said thinking.
'But surely Voldermort would have thought of that and put a charm on her…' Lupin pointed out.
'No, not necessarily…He might have been to busy to do that…putting more complicated charms you know…but I think its worth a try.'
'Anything is worth a try, but tell us what's going on!' Harry said angrily.
'Okay Harry, sit down and listen.' Dumbledore said, that old glint back in his eye.
Hermione somehow got into her room and looked around. This was definitely lower then Malfoy's room…but it was at least a roof over her head.
The dust had gathered on the floor, and when Hermione moved, little clouds followed her.
Later that night, while Hermione was lying on her bed, asleep, a dream filtered into her mind.
'Come on Hermione, we need to go!' someone was yelling pulling at her sleeve.
'Wait, I want to talk to him!' Hermione shouted at the person.
'Talk to him? He'll kill you!'
'Then let him kill me. I love him…I can't let him condemn himself. I have to try to save him!' Hermione shouted, pulling free of the person's grip and darting into the darkness.
Suddenly, the image of darkness was replaced by fire. A tall dark figure was laughing, staring down at her.
'You loved me!' Hermione screamed.
'Yes, loved you. I do not love you. I did once.' The voice was familiar but from where?
'Please! I love you! Stop this madness…Draco, I am begging you, please stop this! Draco don't throw your life away! Its not to late!'
the eyes under a black hood glowed red and bored into Hermione's chocolate ones, making them melt from the heat.
Hermione rolled off the bed, covered in sweat and breathing deeply. Had she just said she loved Draco? She coughed into the dirt, but inhaled some of it. It caught in her throat and in her lungs. Hermione coughed and coughed, hitting her burning chest. Breathing became hard, like her throat was closing in and was refusing to let any air in.
Though when any air did get in, it was useless to her. She had stirred up the dirt, and it was now mixing with the air. Coughing over and over, tears falling down her cheeks, Hermione's brain suffered from lack of oxygen. Suddenly the air was gone, she was no longer coughing. She was no longer aware of anything or anyone around her.
Hermione's body hit the floor of dust at an odd angle and didn't move.
'Draco!' Narcassia banged on her son's locked bedroom door. 'Draco!'
Draco got out of bed slowly and lazily and unlocked the door and looked at his mother.
'What's wrong?' she asked looking him up and down.
'What? You're the one who was banging on my door and you're asking me what's wrong?' Malfoy asked looking annoyed.
'But I thought you were coughing or something…' his mother's face went pale. 'Hermione!'
'What are you on about woman?' Malfoy asked, not bothering to be polite- it was the early hours of the morning damn it!
His mother didn't reply as she ran from his room, her dressing gown billowing behind her as she raced through the manor to Hermione's tower.
Malfoy followed her, quickly throwing on a dressing gown himself.
'Narcassia, was it Draco?' Lucius asked as he met his wife in a corridor.
'No, its Hermione.' Narcassia said barely stopping.
Lucius rolled his eyes and went back down the corridor, away from his wife and son.
Narcassia whipped out her wand and blasted the door off its hinges as she ran towards it.
She looked frantically on the bed and all around the room before she noticed a small heap on the floor.
She ran over and knelt down beside the unconscious Hermione.
'What the bloody hell happened to her?' Malfoy asked entering the room and seeing Hermione on the floor.
'She's collapsed or something! She must go to St. Mongo's!' Narcassia said quickly checking Hermione's pulse.
'What? Mother, she's been kidnapped. We can't just arrive at the hospital and say "here, take care of her, but we'll be back because the dark lord has plans for her"' Malfoy said rolling his eyes.
Lucius walked in, looked at Hermione and said pointedly to Draco, 'Your friends are here.'
'What?' Draco asked confused.
'You have a Quidditch game today Draco.' His father said. 'Go, or they'll start digging around for drinks.'
Draco took one more look at Hermione then walked out and back into his room.
He had a shower and dressed into pants, shirt and cloak. He then met his mates and they headed outside and played in a small Quidditch pitch near the back of the manor.
When he came back , he was all sweaty. He took a shower and looked for his mother. She was in Hermione's old guest room, the nice one. Hermione was in the bed, her arms lying motionless beside her. Her breathing was steady but her fingers twitched every now and then.
Narcassia was standing by the window, opening it up and then bustling around making sure there was no dust in the room what so ever.
'So…what was wrong with her?' Malfoy asked closing the door behind him.
'Stupid idea…oh Draco, apparently that room she was in…well, it was quiet dusty and some of the dust got caught in her lungs…she couldn't breath and fainted because her brain was lacking oxygen…I feel so guilty.'
'Its okay mother. She'll be fine right?' Malfoy asked coming up beside the bed.
'Oh yes…I think so. Just some rest and…well, a dust free room.'
'See? There you go. Don't worry. I've been with this girl for seven years and trust me, she's made of strong stuff…' he had no idea why he said that, but his mother smiled so he didn't dwell on it for too long.
Hermione had been unconscious for five days.
Draco walked through the manor after playing another sweaty game of intense Quidditch. He strolled into his room, thinking of a nice shower when he blinked twice to make sure he wasn't seeing things.
His bed was were it had always been, but directly opposite that, there was another replica of that bed. Last time he had checked, he only had and needed one bed. But now there were two.
Deciding a shower might help him think, Malfoy walked into his bathroom when he got another shock.
His large, swimming pool size bath was filled. And it wasn't just water. The surface was covered in bubbles and a girl with brown hair.
'Granger?' Malfoy asked shocked.
'Oh, hello Malfoy.' Hermione said rubbing the bubbles from her face.
'I thought you were like…unconscious.'
'I was thank you for reminding me.' Hermione said sharply. 'but people can wake up.'
'Oh right…but why are you here in my bathroom?'
'I don't know…your mother said I need to be watched or something…' Hermione ducked under the water and came back up covered in bubbles.
'Why me?' Malfoy asked slowly becoming aware that Hermione was naked.
'I don't know…ask her.' Hermione said. 'Trust me, you weren't the top of my list but hey…I can't argue can i?'
'I want a shower.' Malfoy said.
'Well fine. Its over there.' Hermione replied pointing.
'thank you, I know the way around my own bathroom, but I am not having a shower while you are in here.'
'Fine, ill get out. Turn around.' Hermione said narrowing her eyes.
Malfoy rolled his eyes and turned around playing with the door knob.
He heard her swim to the edge of the water then the splashes as she climbed out.
Hermione wrapped a towel around her body tightly making sure that it wouldn't fall off or anything.
She walked up to him and waited. 'You can move.' She said.
Malfoy turned around and tried not to look at her as he quickly moved across to the shower and waited until he heard the door close before he turned around again.
I bet you thought I was dead didn't you? Well im not. Im alive and kicking. Sorry I haven't updated in like a month. But I've been having some problems, no not author blocks, but yeah. Okay, I hope this makes up for it.
Now, ill say it now, I apologize in advance if my description of Malfoy's room before doesn't match the one I gave in this chapter. Sorry!
Okay, next one sooner then this one I hope…
Please don't hate me
aj