A/N: This is the chapter I've been waiting so long to upload! I can't
believe it took me five chapters to get Draco and Hermione scalp each
other. Anyway, after this, things are really bound to speed up in this
story, I SWEAR!!! (for the umpteenth time, I know). Thanks for keeping up
with me this long! Please try to review!
Disclaimer: All of this belongs to J.K. Rowling except for the plot, which is mine!!
Chapter 6 - Battle of the Wills
"What the.." Hermione was saying when Draco placed a finger on her lips to silence her. She looked indignantly at him and noticed that his eyes were focused on the wall behind her as if he was trying to listen to something. Then she heard Snape's faint voice from behind her.
"Are you sure this is where you heard the cry Filch?"
"Pretty sure Professor. I am never mistaken sir."
"Until now Filch. There's no one here Filch. You've been having troubled dreams. I suggest you go back to bed."
"But sir! I am definite there has been a disturbance!"
"I'm leaving you to it then. I'm going to bed."
Hermione heard Snape's footsteps grow fainter and after a few moments of pacing back and forth, Filch finally followed him with much audible grumbling. Hermione heaved a great sigh of relief but after noticing the penetrating look Draco was giving her, cold shivers ran down her spine. She was too stunned to speak, let alone move, so she just stood there gaping at him. She watched his gray eyes stare coldly at her then shifted uncomfortably as it met her own chestnut-brown iris. She could feel intense dread sweeping over her. Finally, his eyes lowered and settled at her ankle- her swollen ankle.
"OUCH!" whimpered Hermione, the pain in her ankle piercing at high intensity. She crouched down and rubbed it gently. But instead of going away, the pain grew to an unbearable level that left Hemione streaming with tears of mixed pain and dread. What a night it had been. With Ron making irritating her his favorite past time and with Harry playing cold brick. And now she even managed to get herself in a stupid situation like this, with her worst enemy standing an inch away from her and her broken ankle. Things couldn't get worse.
She was crying full-time now and she could already feel her nose go red. Hermione was expecting to hear a nasty laugh from Draco soon but to her surprise, he bent down to her now fully swollen ankle.
"Tut, tut." he said pulling out his wand and reaching for Hermione's ankle. Dread surged through Hermione once more so she moved her ankle away (much to her agony) Draco looked at the incensed look Hermione was wearing and fought the urge to call Snape back and hand her in. He had just saved her neck and this was certainly not the way he expected her to thank him. She could have at least pretended to be grateful. Not that he wanted her that way, he was quite satisfied with the fact that she loathes him. After all, he would rather be fed alive to Hagrid's Blast-ended Skrewts than have relations of any sort with a Mudblood like her.
Hermione's ankle seared with more pain. She narrowed her eyes at Draco, gesturing him to move back. But apparently, he didn't get it.
"I was thinking if you could move a little so I could have space to stretch out my broken ankle, if you don't mind of course." she snapped scathingly.
But before Draco could make out what he would say to her, the words just slipped out of his mouth,
"I do mind Granger. And if space is what your blasted ankle needs, then I'd make sure you don't get the luxury of having it" he hissed back, still not bothering to move. Hermione looked at the sneer plastered on Draco's face.
"What a git!" She would have hit him square in the face if she just wasn't feeling this weak.
But all of a sudden her ankle roared with pain again and without knowing it, Hermione started pleading (much to her disgust) to Draco.
"Please Malfoy...I am hurt. Please move." She gasped, still rubbing her broken ankle.
Draco watched Hermione's face twist in pain. He quietly moved back and continued staring at her. She was looking quite different tonight with her cheeks stinging red but it wasn't just her face that distracted Draco. It was the way her eyes bore down on him a while ago. It was not only burning with loathing, there was something melancholic glinting in them. He had never seen her wear that look before. Well of course, counting the fact that they were enemies, he can't really expect her to give him a look other than plain disgust. Draco was still musing about the change when Hermione's fresh squeal of pain jolted him back to reality. And sighing heavily and fighting the drive to just leave her alone to rot, he pulled out his wand and aimed it at her ankle. In a stream of green light, Hermione watched, or rather, felt her ankle warm up. And even before the light had gone out, she already felt the pain in her ankle go. She tried rotating it and her suspicion was confirmed. She gaped at Draco and stammered,
"You cured my ankle? How did you.... I mean Why did you?"
Draco shrugged and stood up.
"I was going to cure it all along had you shut your big mouth and left me to it." he answered.
Still not believing what she just heard, Hermione took a quick look around the place. She thought she must be inside the Slytherin Tower although she couldn't make out where exactly the common room was. The space looked so much like a dungeon with green candles floating in the walls.
"So that's why Snape didn't bother to check behind the wall! Because he thought the transgressor was a Slytherin. That biased bloke!" Hermione thought. Then squinting at a narrow corridor at her front, she noticed that there was a huge warm light glowing at its end.
"Perhaps you have to go through that alleyway to reach the common room." She was still thinking when Draco grunted at her side. She turned to face him and quickly uttered 'thanks'. But after seeing the ugly look in his face, she felt a sudden urge to kick herself for doing so.
"That's it Granger?" Draco hissed.
He waited until Hermione's jaw dropped a couple of inches down.
"This is my big chance. She came into my hands without me even trying." Draco thought, narrowing his eyes at her.
"What do you mean that's all? I meant it-thanks."
"Oh, Granger. You still have a lot to learn about this world. Everything comes with a price. If I haven't saved your neck out there..." he paused, then stressing out each word, continued, "you wouldn't live for yet another day-I meant in this school of course.", he hastily added seeing Hermione's raised eyebrows.
Hermione stifled a laugh. "What made you think, Malfoy, that this school is ready to give up the cleverest witch of all time?" she retorted, her words dripping with sarcasm. "You haven't forgotten that, have you?" she added.
"'Course I haven't. But I also haven't forgotten your rather ill track record. And counting, this would be your-umm-thousandth time to get caught breaking the grounds of Hogwarts, am I right?" He smiled at the blanched face of Hermione. "But you're right in saying that you are the cleverest and also the fo...(he was about to say 'foulest' but caught himself in time) er-fairest."
Hermione's face darkened. She obviously wasn't taking any of Draco's words seriously but he continued anyway,
"So I think it would be a fair bargain if you teach-er-educate-er-help prepare.."
Hermione watched Draco's mouth open and close as he searched for the perfect word to address the matter and she felt her temper rise through every turn.
"What is it Malfoy? Spit it out, I haven't got all night!" she exploded.
Draco looked really annoyed with the interference.
"I want you to help me recognize the great stretch of my inborn potentials and aid me in using them for the NEWTs." he said in a rush of words.
Hermione gaped at him. "You're not making sense! What is it exactly? And in English, if you mind." Hermione snapped.
"Make me pass the NEWTs so I can make it to the League!" he said finally.
"What do you mean make you? You know I can't..there's no way anyone can...And why should I in the first place...you're a scum under my.." Hermione was talking (and cursing) so fast that Draco was only able to catch the words 'scum', 'filth' and 'absurd'. He wanted to shake her hard in the shoulders and make her shut up but he didn't dare touch a slimy Mudblood like her.
"What I meant is that you are to teach me or anything to make me pass it. That's what you will do in exchange for this-er-great favor you owe me."
Hermione watched Draco's stubborn face in horror. She didn't spot his usual idle grin and its absence meant only one thing-he was serious, dead serious.
"I WILL NEVER!"
"Yes you will! And you should because Snape would be very glad to see you in his office soon, and next thing you know he's already filed you with something so heinous, you'll be gone for good! You know, we're very good friends."
Draco knew he got her that time. Hermione's jaw opened and closed in muted protest. But he could see that she was also thinking very hard on how to work her way out of the deal, but of no recourse.
"But then, that would mean working with me Malfoy-in close contact."
Draco nodded his head in disgust. He had foreseen this to happen.
"But you wouldn't, I'm a Muggle! What about the 'don't touch me now, I don't want my hands slimed up' flick, huh?"
"Of course my sanitary is still my prime concern but we could do some arrangements 'bout that."
"NO! I don't want to teach you anything your too hopeless brain, if you have any, but I doubt it-can't comprehend. And you can't force me! It doesn't work that way." Hermione barked.
This time it was Draco's turn to get enraged. His gray eyes narrowed at Hermione and he gave her the same murderous stare he had always reserved for Harry. Hermione reached for her wand just in case. But it wasn't necessary. He simply settled for the 'You're-a-Big-Foul-Shit-Under-My-Nose' look and continued talking.
"I am not forcing you to do it, Granger. I am blackmailing you. Two weeks of your brains and you could go on with your night strolls and I won't even bother you."
"Not two-a week!" Hermione insisted hopelessly.
"Three weeks and ask again and it will be for the whole bloody semester." Draco hissed.
For a while, they just stood there staring at each other with complete loathing. Draco couldn't wait to get out of the room and get farthest away from Hermione and Hermione was again feeling helpless and weak with frustration. Hot tears of fury sneaked down her cheeks as she stared unblinkingly at Draco.
Draco was surprised at this. If this was another of her tricks to get her out of the deal it wouldn't work. It was downright pathetic and stupid. And besides, the idea of staying even ten feet near her was to him as pleasing as marrying Eloise Midgen-even less. He was on the verge of telling her this when she started speaking again.
"On one condition." he heard her say.
"What?"
"Tell me why the hell you wanted to enter the League when it is plain to see that it was established to protect Muggles like ME and enemies of You- Know-Who like Harry?" she said, then adding quickly, "Of course you know that, don't you?" There was a look on her face that told him she thought he didn't know. She was really starting to get into his nerves.
"I know" he replied coolly. "But it's also the most descent spot you could get in the ministry, if you could call that a ministry."
"But it's for Harry!"
"I said I know!" Draco barked, infuriated by the thought.
"Then why, Malfoy? And answer me now before I change my mind." said Hermione, still not giving up. There was confidence in her tone that told Draco he should give her a very good reason.
"I hope I knew."
There, he said the truth. That was what was really bugging him nowadays-why his father would want him in the League. He glanced at Hermione and saw her give him a stupid measuring look. Perhaps he looked convincing though because she just shrugged her shoulders.
"Well, is it a deal? Not that I think I should take your part of the bargain in consideration, no. It's not like that at all."
"'Could have figured that out myself." Hermione hissed back.
Draco grinned satisfactorily. He didn't want her running off with ideas like that. He had done her a great treat tonight by saving her neck. But he is not that indulgent.
"Good. After classes, from tomorrow is fine with me (Draco was careful not to say 'how 'bout you?'). So?"
"Right." she sighed, finally giving up. If it would mean getting out of Draco's sight then it should be worth it. But there was still something bugging her.
"So.get out." Draco said pointing at the wall that was now opened midway.
"Umm.Draco, one last question."
Draco felt annoyed with Hermione's hesitance but he also can't help noticing that she had just called him by his first name.
"What is it?" he said, hoping it sounded annoyed enough.
"Where did you learn how to heal bones? I mean, they don't teach that here, do they?" Hermione's question was void of sarcasm, only plain curiosity. He should have just told her the truth. But why should he though? He's her worst enemy and it was to remain that way.
"It's something I find very handy." he said simply, glancing at her fully- healed ankle.
Hermione smirked. But she half-hoped her smirk looked grateful because she really was. It wasn't actually a nice thought to go all the way back to the Gryffindor Tower limping. She turned and slid hastily on the other side of the wall. But before she could get away completely, Draco called her back. She looked at his pale face between the half-open wall of the Slytherin Tower and for a moment she thought she saw him smile mischievously.
"And Herm-er-Granger, you don't have to cry. I'm not that bad company." he said coolly, slipping inside as the wall hid his smile. "I'm terrible company."
"Slimy git." Hermione said before she hurried back to the Gryffindor Tower.
Disclaimer: All of this belongs to J.K. Rowling except for the plot, which is mine!!
Chapter 6 - Battle of the Wills
"What the.." Hermione was saying when Draco placed a finger on her lips to silence her. She looked indignantly at him and noticed that his eyes were focused on the wall behind her as if he was trying to listen to something. Then she heard Snape's faint voice from behind her.
"Are you sure this is where you heard the cry Filch?"
"Pretty sure Professor. I am never mistaken sir."
"Until now Filch. There's no one here Filch. You've been having troubled dreams. I suggest you go back to bed."
"But sir! I am definite there has been a disturbance!"
"I'm leaving you to it then. I'm going to bed."
Hermione heard Snape's footsteps grow fainter and after a few moments of pacing back and forth, Filch finally followed him with much audible grumbling. Hermione heaved a great sigh of relief but after noticing the penetrating look Draco was giving her, cold shivers ran down her spine. She was too stunned to speak, let alone move, so she just stood there gaping at him. She watched his gray eyes stare coldly at her then shifted uncomfortably as it met her own chestnut-brown iris. She could feel intense dread sweeping over her. Finally, his eyes lowered and settled at her ankle- her swollen ankle.
"OUCH!" whimpered Hermione, the pain in her ankle piercing at high intensity. She crouched down and rubbed it gently. But instead of going away, the pain grew to an unbearable level that left Hemione streaming with tears of mixed pain and dread. What a night it had been. With Ron making irritating her his favorite past time and with Harry playing cold brick. And now she even managed to get herself in a stupid situation like this, with her worst enemy standing an inch away from her and her broken ankle. Things couldn't get worse.
She was crying full-time now and she could already feel her nose go red. Hermione was expecting to hear a nasty laugh from Draco soon but to her surprise, he bent down to her now fully swollen ankle.
"Tut, tut." he said pulling out his wand and reaching for Hermione's ankle. Dread surged through Hermione once more so she moved her ankle away (much to her agony) Draco looked at the incensed look Hermione was wearing and fought the urge to call Snape back and hand her in. He had just saved her neck and this was certainly not the way he expected her to thank him. She could have at least pretended to be grateful. Not that he wanted her that way, he was quite satisfied with the fact that she loathes him. After all, he would rather be fed alive to Hagrid's Blast-ended Skrewts than have relations of any sort with a Mudblood like her.
Hermione's ankle seared with more pain. She narrowed her eyes at Draco, gesturing him to move back. But apparently, he didn't get it.
"I was thinking if you could move a little so I could have space to stretch out my broken ankle, if you don't mind of course." she snapped scathingly.
But before Draco could make out what he would say to her, the words just slipped out of his mouth,
"I do mind Granger. And if space is what your blasted ankle needs, then I'd make sure you don't get the luxury of having it" he hissed back, still not bothering to move. Hermione looked at the sneer plastered on Draco's face.
"What a git!" She would have hit him square in the face if she just wasn't feeling this weak.
But all of a sudden her ankle roared with pain again and without knowing it, Hermione started pleading (much to her disgust) to Draco.
"Please Malfoy...I am hurt. Please move." She gasped, still rubbing her broken ankle.
Draco watched Hermione's face twist in pain. He quietly moved back and continued staring at her. She was looking quite different tonight with her cheeks stinging red but it wasn't just her face that distracted Draco. It was the way her eyes bore down on him a while ago. It was not only burning with loathing, there was something melancholic glinting in them. He had never seen her wear that look before. Well of course, counting the fact that they were enemies, he can't really expect her to give him a look other than plain disgust. Draco was still musing about the change when Hermione's fresh squeal of pain jolted him back to reality. And sighing heavily and fighting the drive to just leave her alone to rot, he pulled out his wand and aimed it at her ankle. In a stream of green light, Hermione watched, or rather, felt her ankle warm up. And even before the light had gone out, she already felt the pain in her ankle go. She tried rotating it and her suspicion was confirmed. She gaped at Draco and stammered,
"You cured my ankle? How did you.... I mean Why did you?"
Draco shrugged and stood up.
"I was going to cure it all along had you shut your big mouth and left me to it." he answered.
Still not believing what she just heard, Hermione took a quick look around the place. She thought she must be inside the Slytherin Tower although she couldn't make out where exactly the common room was. The space looked so much like a dungeon with green candles floating in the walls.
"So that's why Snape didn't bother to check behind the wall! Because he thought the transgressor was a Slytherin. That biased bloke!" Hermione thought. Then squinting at a narrow corridor at her front, she noticed that there was a huge warm light glowing at its end.
"Perhaps you have to go through that alleyway to reach the common room." She was still thinking when Draco grunted at her side. She turned to face him and quickly uttered 'thanks'. But after seeing the ugly look in his face, she felt a sudden urge to kick herself for doing so.
"That's it Granger?" Draco hissed.
He waited until Hermione's jaw dropped a couple of inches down.
"This is my big chance. She came into my hands without me even trying." Draco thought, narrowing his eyes at her.
"What do you mean that's all? I meant it-thanks."
"Oh, Granger. You still have a lot to learn about this world. Everything comes with a price. If I haven't saved your neck out there..." he paused, then stressing out each word, continued, "you wouldn't live for yet another day-I meant in this school of course.", he hastily added seeing Hermione's raised eyebrows.
Hermione stifled a laugh. "What made you think, Malfoy, that this school is ready to give up the cleverest witch of all time?" she retorted, her words dripping with sarcasm. "You haven't forgotten that, have you?" she added.
"'Course I haven't. But I also haven't forgotten your rather ill track record. And counting, this would be your-umm-thousandth time to get caught breaking the grounds of Hogwarts, am I right?" He smiled at the blanched face of Hermione. "But you're right in saying that you are the cleverest and also the fo...(he was about to say 'foulest' but caught himself in time) er-fairest."
Hermione's face darkened. She obviously wasn't taking any of Draco's words seriously but he continued anyway,
"So I think it would be a fair bargain if you teach-er-educate-er-help prepare.."
Hermione watched Draco's mouth open and close as he searched for the perfect word to address the matter and she felt her temper rise through every turn.
"What is it Malfoy? Spit it out, I haven't got all night!" she exploded.
Draco looked really annoyed with the interference.
"I want you to help me recognize the great stretch of my inborn potentials and aid me in using them for the NEWTs." he said in a rush of words.
Hermione gaped at him. "You're not making sense! What is it exactly? And in English, if you mind." Hermione snapped.
"Make me pass the NEWTs so I can make it to the League!" he said finally.
"What do you mean make you? You know I can't..there's no way anyone can...And why should I in the first place...you're a scum under my.." Hermione was talking (and cursing) so fast that Draco was only able to catch the words 'scum', 'filth' and 'absurd'. He wanted to shake her hard in the shoulders and make her shut up but he didn't dare touch a slimy Mudblood like her.
"What I meant is that you are to teach me or anything to make me pass it. That's what you will do in exchange for this-er-great favor you owe me."
Hermione watched Draco's stubborn face in horror. She didn't spot his usual idle grin and its absence meant only one thing-he was serious, dead serious.
"I WILL NEVER!"
"Yes you will! And you should because Snape would be very glad to see you in his office soon, and next thing you know he's already filed you with something so heinous, you'll be gone for good! You know, we're very good friends."
Draco knew he got her that time. Hermione's jaw opened and closed in muted protest. But he could see that she was also thinking very hard on how to work her way out of the deal, but of no recourse.
"But then, that would mean working with me Malfoy-in close contact."
Draco nodded his head in disgust. He had foreseen this to happen.
"But you wouldn't, I'm a Muggle! What about the 'don't touch me now, I don't want my hands slimed up' flick, huh?"
"Of course my sanitary is still my prime concern but we could do some arrangements 'bout that."
"NO! I don't want to teach you anything your too hopeless brain, if you have any, but I doubt it-can't comprehend. And you can't force me! It doesn't work that way." Hermione barked.
This time it was Draco's turn to get enraged. His gray eyes narrowed at Hermione and he gave her the same murderous stare he had always reserved for Harry. Hermione reached for her wand just in case. But it wasn't necessary. He simply settled for the 'You're-a-Big-Foul-Shit-Under-My-Nose' look and continued talking.
"I am not forcing you to do it, Granger. I am blackmailing you. Two weeks of your brains and you could go on with your night strolls and I won't even bother you."
"Not two-a week!" Hermione insisted hopelessly.
"Three weeks and ask again and it will be for the whole bloody semester." Draco hissed.
For a while, they just stood there staring at each other with complete loathing. Draco couldn't wait to get out of the room and get farthest away from Hermione and Hermione was again feeling helpless and weak with frustration. Hot tears of fury sneaked down her cheeks as she stared unblinkingly at Draco.
Draco was surprised at this. If this was another of her tricks to get her out of the deal it wouldn't work. It was downright pathetic and stupid. And besides, the idea of staying even ten feet near her was to him as pleasing as marrying Eloise Midgen-even less. He was on the verge of telling her this when she started speaking again.
"On one condition." he heard her say.
"What?"
"Tell me why the hell you wanted to enter the League when it is plain to see that it was established to protect Muggles like ME and enemies of You- Know-Who like Harry?" she said, then adding quickly, "Of course you know that, don't you?" There was a look on her face that told him she thought he didn't know. She was really starting to get into his nerves.
"I know" he replied coolly. "But it's also the most descent spot you could get in the ministry, if you could call that a ministry."
"But it's for Harry!"
"I said I know!" Draco barked, infuriated by the thought.
"Then why, Malfoy? And answer me now before I change my mind." said Hermione, still not giving up. There was confidence in her tone that told Draco he should give her a very good reason.
"I hope I knew."
There, he said the truth. That was what was really bugging him nowadays-why his father would want him in the League. He glanced at Hermione and saw her give him a stupid measuring look. Perhaps he looked convincing though because she just shrugged her shoulders.
"Well, is it a deal? Not that I think I should take your part of the bargain in consideration, no. It's not like that at all."
"'Could have figured that out myself." Hermione hissed back.
Draco grinned satisfactorily. He didn't want her running off with ideas like that. He had done her a great treat tonight by saving her neck. But he is not that indulgent.
"Good. After classes, from tomorrow is fine with me (Draco was careful not to say 'how 'bout you?'). So?"
"Right." she sighed, finally giving up. If it would mean getting out of Draco's sight then it should be worth it. But there was still something bugging her.
"So.get out." Draco said pointing at the wall that was now opened midway.
"Umm.Draco, one last question."
Draco felt annoyed with Hermione's hesitance but he also can't help noticing that she had just called him by his first name.
"What is it?" he said, hoping it sounded annoyed enough.
"Where did you learn how to heal bones? I mean, they don't teach that here, do they?" Hermione's question was void of sarcasm, only plain curiosity. He should have just told her the truth. But why should he though? He's her worst enemy and it was to remain that way.
"It's something I find very handy." he said simply, glancing at her fully- healed ankle.
Hermione smirked. But she half-hoped her smirk looked grateful because she really was. It wasn't actually a nice thought to go all the way back to the Gryffindor Tower limping. She turned and slid hastily on the other side of the wall. But before she could get away completely, Draco called her back. She looked at his pale face between the half-open wall of the Slytherin Tower and for a moment she thought she saw him smile mischievously.
"And Herm-er-Granger, you don't have to cry. I'm not that bad company." he said coolly, slipping inside as the wall hid his smile. "I'm terrible company."
"Slimy git." Hermione said before she hurried back to the Gryffindor Tower.