Author's Note: This chapter hasn't been beta-read. I was too anxious to post it. It has been quite a while…This chapter is actually somewhat funny…At least I think so. Draco has a fine sense of irony, you know. There isn't really much of a plot yet…I promise I'll have one eventually. If you have any ideas, feel free to share. I also promise that someday I'll stop ending chapters with Hermione losing consciousness. And, Ron will wake up next chapter. Cross my heart. Please Review. Even if it's flames. I am desperately jealous of those lucky authors with high review counts. So, I have cursed this page…If you read without reviewing, may you be trampled in a stampede of raging hippogriffs, then nibbled by skroots. Thank you.
Disclaimer: Not Mine.
Chapter 3
Hermione always woke up slowly. Harry used to tease her that she'd be half way through her shower before she even opened her eyes. She always retorted that she really didn't want to see herself before she had showered, anyway. Right now she didn't want to see anything at all. She was in a warm, comfortable bed instead of the cold, miserable dungeon, and that was all that mattered. There was something large and warm next to her, which, she vaguely realized, must be a person. She turned into his warmth and pressed her face against his chest, nearly purring with contentment.
"I'm sure Weasley appreciates the sentiment," drawled a voice, "but he's rather indisposed at the moment." **
Hermione's eyes flew open, and she bolted upright. Ron, still unconscious, lay beside her. Draco was lounging in a chair across the room, his long legs stretched out in front of him. He seemed faintly amused at her discomfiture. "Where are we?" she demanded crossly.
"Don't you recognize Hagrid's excuse for a cottage? You three used to spend enough time here." When she didn't reply to his taunt, he continued tenaciously, "I hope there aren't any of those skroot things around. Nasty creatures."
Hermione ignored Draco and looked around the cottage. The once warm and inviting home had obviously been abandoned for some time. Apparently, no one had had any use for it after Hagrid had moved to France with Madame Maxime. Dust covered every surface, and startlingly large spider-webs clogged the corners. She silently gave thanks that Ron wasn't awake to see those. He had never really overcome his fear of spiders.
As if reading her thoughts, Draco chuckled. "Too bad Weasley isn't awake yet. He could have helped me clean up the cobwebs." Hermione just glared him into silence.
Through the grime-covered windows she could see that it was still night. "How long have I been asleep?" she asked.
Draco heaved an exaggerated sigh. "You have been slacking off for about two hours, Granger," he said, "Really, you're so lazy."
Hermione's eyes narrowed. "And what, exactly, have you been doing, Oh Industrious One?"
Draco smiled at the chill in her voice. This was the Hermione Granger he remembered. "Well," he drawled, "You know me. I started by tormenting small animals, then I moved on to practicing some curses on your friend Weasley there. I contemplated having my wicked way with you, but that didn't seem like much fun…at least not while you were unconscious," he amended with a leer. "I've been quite busy."
Hermione realized that he was baiting her, and was livid. "Thank you so much," she said, voice dripping with sarcasm, "for finally convincing me that you really are Draco Malfoy. You were acting so nice…so out of character that I was worried you might be an imposter, but your sneering, conceited, sick sense of humor would be impossible to fake. Now I know who I'm dealing with. What a relief!"
"I live to serve," murmured Draco, with a slight, arrogant inclination of his head.
"Ooh!" Hermione fumed, "You wretched, pitiful excuse for a human being! You always were a smug little bastard, weren't you? Always so sure that you were better than everyone else. Well, you can just take that self-important, condescending attitude and stick it where the sun don't shine!"
Draco's coldly sardonic façade vanished. For the briefest instant he just looked at her in shock. Hermione mentally braced herself for the explosion that was sure to follow. Rationally, she knew that she had gone somewhat overboard with her insults. He had only been teasing, after all, and she was relatively resigned to the tongue-lashing he would deliver.
When the explosion did come, it was unlike anything she had imagined. He didn't yell, or curse. He laughed. Not just a chuckle, or his customary snide snicker, but a full body, doubled over, uncontrollable belly laugh. Hermione just gaped in astonishment as his whole body shook with the force of his laughter. Several minutes later when he had finally gotten control of himself, he grinned up at her, still gasping for breath. "Lord, Granger," he panted, "I haven't had that much fun since we left Hogwarts!" And because she too remembered the sheer exhilaration of their youthful battles, Hermione found herself smiling back.
"I shouldn't have said those things," she murmured, "I'm sorry."
"No you aren't, and neither am I."
Hermione stifled a yawn. "Go back to sleep," he commanded, "We'll have a long day tomorrow, and I don't need you collapsing on me again."
"No," Hermione argued sleepily, "I should take care of Ron, and I-"
Draco cut her off. "I'll be here," he promised, "If Weasley needs anything I'll wake you up. Now go back to sleep."
Giving in gracefully, Hermione snuggled deeper under the covers. "Draco?" she asked, "No one has heard anything about you for years…where have you been?"
"Oh, here and there," he answered flippantly, "I went to Evil Medical School; I'm Doctor Malfoy now."
Somewhere, deep in her sleep-fogged mind, Hermione realized that that sounded familiar. "Malfoy…you of all people…living in the muggle world…" she mumbled as sleep claimed her.
**Bet you thought It was Draco she was snuggling with. HA! I do not use such cheap plot devices! (well, I do…but I didn't there!)
A/N: Please Review. The skroots know where you live.