Chapter 5
It had been two months since the train accident and it seemed Hermione had forgotten it. That is, since she decided that what Malfoy had just been scaring her when he told her about her parents. Indeed, she didn¡¦t give it much thought, as their last year in Hogwarts proved to be a very busy year, and she plunged herself into her studies. However, studying was the last thing Draco Malfoy had on his mind.
He glared at the brown-haired beauty sitting with Potter and the Weasel at the Gryffindor table. He hated everything about her. He hated how she always beat him at everything¡Xlast year, he had been the second best d=student in the whole grade while she was, always the best, and she didn¡¦t seem to break the trend for six whole years. He hated how her hair had gone from bushy to elegantly wavy. He hated how she always had to be around those two pathetic puppies. He most hated how utterly desirable she was.
He hated how her skin looked so beautifully pure and he had the urge to cover it with bruises and bites. Of course, his bruises, his bites¡K He hated how she looked at Harry and Ron differently than she did him¡K how her eyes lit up when she was talking to them ¡K like now.
And right now, I really hated how she is always laughing with those idiots! sulkily, like a spoiled brat, he slumped into his chair, and accidentally knocked down his dish and goblet from the table in frustration. This caused a loud clang to ring throughout the Great Hall, and more than half of the school turned to look at him. Even Hermione.
Her chocolate eyes met his, and for a moment, he held onto her gaze fiercely. Her eyes were, he observed, flecked with gold. She quickly scowled and turned away, ignoring him. That angered him even more. What right does she have to ignore me!?
Through the years, Draco Malfoy was progressively became one of the most desirable man at Hogwarts. What-blond bangs framing his icy eyes, his pale skin not sickly but pearly. Years of working out and being a Quidditch Seeker had made him muscular. Granted, Potter and Weasley were also very popular with the ladies, but Draco had something they did not. He had power.
With the Malfoy name backing him up, he made Potter¡¦s fortune seemed like a child¡¦s allowance. He also had the bad boy, lone-wolf image. Out the three, he was the only one experienced with women. Potter and his messy black hair and stunning forest-green eyes was more known for his kindness, generosity and fame. Weasley, with his explosive temper, was also popular. He was always the one to crack a sharp remark. Girls found his flaming red hair extremely sexy.
Malfoy still felt the anger seeping through his veins. On the other hand, he just had Crabbe and Goyle, the human-gorillas. All they did is eat, and they were just too thick to string a sentence together¡X
¡§Draco dear, are you listening to me?¡¨ simpered Blaise Zabinni, who was clinging to his left arm.
¡§No.¡¨ Draco snapped. Although Blaise could be called pretty, she was so simple-minded that all she thought was make-up and boys. Draco knew that Blaise¡¦s father wanted him to fancy his daughter more, but¡Kno way, he was nor going to be forced around like that. Disgusted, he pulled his hand away from her abruptly.
¡§Darling, what are you¡X¡§
¡§I¡¦m not well. I wish to rest now.¡¨ He spat. Without waiting for an answer, he stood up and strode out of the Great Hall.
Another week past, and all the while, the Gryffindor Quidditch team were practicing very hard for the upcoming Quidditch game on Friday, which was Slytherin versus Gryffindor, of course. Harry was the captain of the Gryffindor team by now, Ron was the Keeper, and Ginny was one of the Chasers. If they won this game, then the Cup would be theirs.
Hermione sighed and looked out of the library window at the Quidditch pitch. Ginny was trying to control an over-enthusiastic and rocketing broom. Ron was scolding his Firebolt. And Harry was discussing the Wronski Feint with Flying Devil, his broom. The other Gryffindor Quidditch team members were also trying to get used to their squeaky broomsticks. Hermione couldn¡¦t help smiling. As soon as practice stared, Harry had requested that the whole team had to cast Living Charms on their broomsticks, so that they could work by memorizing certain positions and tactics so that the team members could concentrate more on fighting off the Slytherins.
Giving a little chuckle as Ron¡¦s broom threw a temper by flyinf around and refusing to stop, Hermione stood up and gather her books. She had been researching on the history on her family, but so far, she was unsuccessful. She would have to go down ad join her friends for dinner somehow. Maybe I¡¦ll come back after dinner. she thought. Turning towards the exit, she saw Draco Malfoy sitting in an armchair in a dark corner, his silver eyes gazing at her. Damn, he¡¦s doing it again!
For the past week, she had felt Malfoy¡¦s eyes on her, watching her every move, studying her, stalking her, like a predator stalking a prey. At first, she tried to ignore it, but lately his stares had grown more intense and disturbing.
¡§Arrrrgh!¡¨ Hermione muttered to herself. ¡§I can never work like this!¡¨ She started marching towards him. He was confident that he wouldn¡¦t try anything¡Xnot in the library with Madame Pince and all those students. She was Head Girl, and any sort of disruption would not go unnoticed.
¡§Malfoy, may I talk to you for a minute?¡¨ she asked with forced politeness. He set down his book with appeared boredness and looked at her lazily in the eye. Personally, Hermione thought he was not reading at all. Damn¡K I don¡¦t like this when he¡¦s looking at me like this¡Kher instincts told her. She gripped her wand in her pocket a little tighter.
¡§What is it, Granger?¡¨ he asked coolly.
¡§Erm¡Kwell, I think¡K you¡K should really¡Kuh¡K¡¨ she started, but as soon as she did, she realized that she had no idea how to do it. What am I supposed to say? Stop staring at me? He would instantly turn the bookcases on me. Shit! It seems so pretentious to demand someone to stop staring at you, even though if it¡¦s true.
¡§You really should listen to yourself, Granger. You sound as stupid as Longbottom,¡¨ he drawled.
Her eyes narrowed. ¡§You don¡¦t have the right to make fun of Neville!¡¨ Her house pride overcame her. Neville was her friend¡Xhow dare this¡Kgit talked about him like that?
Malfoy¡¦s eyes darkened at that. Hermione gulped, but went on gravely. ¡§And what lacks in skill, he makes up in heart! He¡¦s twice the man as you are, Malfoy!¡¨ At this he stood up sharply, flinging his book on the ground. The library grew quiet, and everybody stared at them.
¡§You think he¡¦s better than me? It sounds like you like the little fool.¡¨ He hissed and stepped closer with cat-like grace. She instinctly stepped back, stumbling a little.
¡§Compared to you¡K¡¨she spat, unable to control herself. ¡§ I likr him ten thousand times more than you!¡¨ With this breathless outburst, she sprinted out of the library.
Still standing Malfoy stared at the direction she had gone, disbelief distantly flashing in his eyes, Then with a curse, he kicked the arm chair with his combat boots and stormed out of the library¡Xhe looked angry enough to kill.
The moment the door slammed close behind him, exited murmurs broke out in the library, and some girls even ran back to their common rooms immediately to gossip on the frightening conflict between the Head Boy and Girl. Rumors spread like wildfire across the school.
Back in her private chamber in the Gryffindor tower, Hermione breathed harshly and placed a hand on her heart, to make sure it was still there. She hated how she was frightened of him. Somehow, she couldn¡¦t quite connect the dangerous young man with the annoying little boy. Sighing, she walked through the deserted corridors and into the Great hall.
As soon as she pushed open the double doors of the Great Hall, everybody (excluding the Slytherins) stopped what they were doing and stared at her, then a loud cheer rose up, and she was congratulated before she was allowed to sit down between Harry and Ron. She glanced at the Slytherin table and saw nothing but glares. Blaise Zabinni even stuck up her middle finger at her. Seeing that Malfoy had not come to dinner, she relaxed and began to calm down.
¡§Hermie, tell us the whole thing,¡¨ Harry pushed a goblet of pumpkin juice towards her. So she told them the whole thing.
¡§But Ginny told us that you kicked him in the balls,¡¨ said Ron seriously.
¡§I did not!¡¨ Ginny shot back. ¡§Take that back!¡¨
¡§Ay, I wish I could.¡¨ Hermione beamed. ¡§But I¡¦m still Head Girl, and I¡¦d prefer to enjoy my privileges more before I¡¦m expelled.¡¨
¡§Uh, Hermione?¡¨ a soft voice called to her from behind. She turned to see Neville behind her.
¡§Oh, hi, Neville.¡¨ she said softly, smiling a little.
¡§I¡KI heard what you said in the library. Thanks a lot.¡¨ he said sincerely. Hermione¡¦s smile widened. ¡§Don¡¦t thank me; I was only speaking the truth. It would be like¡Klike thanking me for saying your robe is black.¡¨
He chuckled a little at that, but his face turned into that of concern. ¡§Will you be okay? Malfoy, after all, is a brat.¡¨
¡§Oh, don¡¦t you worry about me. I¡¦m Head Girl after all, I can take care of myself,¡¨ she said, not feeling as confident as she sounded. Remembering the terrible encounter on the train, she remembered how physically strong Malfoy could be. She brushed her hand on her shoulders. Then she said goodbye to her friends and hurried away to prepare the meeting with the professors she had requested.
It was ten o¡¦clock at night when Dumbledore called the meeting to a close. The past hour had been a terrifying debate between the Potions Master and the Head Girl. All the professors had taken refuge behind the Headmaster when the stubborn professor and the determined girl started waving their wands around, while they shouted to each other like three- year- olds, ten feet apart. Dumbledore had watched them with an amused smile under his beard as they argued.
¡§Professors, you may go.¡¨ said Dumbledore. All of the professors sighed in relief as they trooped out. Hermione started to pack up her things too, but Dumbledore indicated her to stay.
¡§So, Miss Granger. Are you worried about your parents?¡¨ asked Dumbledore kindly.
¡§Most certainly, sir. I love then and I will not let them come to any harm.¡¨
¡§Well, I have some bad news.¡¨
Hermione stayed silent.
¡§Professor Snape had come back from Voldemort¡¦s meeting and found that your parents are not held captive there anymore.¡¨
Hermione just looked blankly at Dumbledore. ¡§So are you trying to say that they might be dead already? Is that what you wanted to tell me?¡¨ Dumbledore nodded.
¡§Then I should let you see this, sir.¡¨ Hermione unclasped her watch from her wrist and handed it to Dumbledore.
¡§I don¡¦t understand, Miss Granger.¡¨ said a bewildered Dumbledore.
¡§Turn to the back, sir.¡¨
So the Headmaster turned the watch over and saw yet another watch. But instead of numbers, words such as ¡§HOME¡¨, ¡§DENTAL¡¨, ¡§GRANDMA¡¦S¡¨ could be seen around the brim. In the middle, the shortest hand, having the words ¡§ME¡¨ on it, was currently pointing to ¡§SCHOOL¡¨. The other two hands, Dumbledore noted, with words ¡§MOM¡¨ and ¡§DAD¡¨ engraved on them, were both pointing to ¡§PLACE UNIDENTIFIED¡¨.
¡§The Arachnis charm! How clever!¡¨
¡§I made it last year, when I knew that Voldemort was again raised from the dead. I¡¦m worried about my parents.¡¨
¡§Thank you, Miss Granger.¡¨ Dumbledore handed the watch back to Hermione. ¡§I know I didn¡¦t make a bad choice choosing you as Head Girl.¡¨
Hermione smiled proudly.
¡§As for the issues made tonight, I will announce them at breakfast tomorrow. Now off you go.¡¨
¡§Thank you Professor Dumbledore. Goodnight.¡¨
Dumbledore nodded and Hermione left his office.
¡§Ah, Fawkes, off to bed now¡XI¡¦m mighty tired.¡¨ he blew out the candles and headed to his private quarters.
He too was unaware of a dark figure spying from outside the windows with silver eyes.
That¡¦s it, guys! Like it?
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