Disclaimer: ((Chapter One))
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Chapter Three
¡§So. How¡¦s it going, Herm?¡¨ asked Harry as they settled in the compartment that Hermione had found. Hermione tilted her head sideways. ¡§Um¡K¡¨ she pondered out loud, pursing her lips together. ¡§Nothing much I guess. Just that I only managed to memorize the Standard Book of Spell Grade Six, Care of Magical Creatures Book Six, Warm Charms Book Six, Arith- ¡¨
¡§Hey hey HEY, Hermione! Stop! Are you meaning to tell us that you¡¦ve memorized basically every book that¡¦s on the list???¡¨ gaped Ron as he stared at his best friend. ¡§And did I hear you said the word ¡¥only¡¦???¡¨ put in Harry, whose facial expression rather resembled the red head¡¦s.
Hermione giggled. ¡§Um, yeah,¡¨ she admitted, then frowned, and argued, ¡§but that¡¦s not the point! I could¡¦ve memorized five other books ¡V self study ones, mind you, but I went and wasted all the time by sleeping till seven each day and going bed at two! And -¡¨ She stopped, realizing that she¡¦d been ranting. She looked at the other two.
Ron recollected himself, then said slowly, ¡§You¡Kyou seriously have a problem, Herm.¡¨ ¡§I know,¡¨ said Harry, rolling his eyes. ¡§I mean, heck, when I was staying at the Burrow, heck, we woke up at eleven each day! And went to bed early as twelve! And you¡¦re saying you¡¦re wasting time by, what, waking up at seven and going to bed at two? You¡¦re nuts!¡¨
The girl glowered at them. ¡§It¡¦s YOUR problem that you¡¦re so lazy that¡¦s all!¡¨ she said heatedly. Harry shrank back, knowing immediately that he¡¦s gone slightly too far. ¡§Sorry!¡¨ he said, holding up his two hands, then turned to Ron, with whom he started to discuss¡KQuidditch. Hermione went and dug out a thick book (to which both Ron and Harry goggled at when she told them it was for light reading, for the book looked as if it had at least five hundred pages), and began reading.
It wasn¡¦t long before the compartment door suddenly slid open, and all three of them looked up, startled. And there stood, none other than the one and only¡K
Hermione sighed. ¡§What do you want NOW, HERE, and AGAIN, Malfoy?¡¨ asked Ron, thoroughly annoyed. ¡§It seems as if each year you have a tradition of paying us a delightful visit when we go back to Hogwarts AND when we go away from Hogwarts!¡¨
Malfoy looked at him, a sneer on his face. ¡§Oh I¡¦m sorry, Weasley,¡¨ he spat. ¡§But I just happened to be looking for a compartment. Apparently you¡¦ve twisted the truth a bit too far, Redhead. You in love with me or something?¡¨
Ron stood up in anger, but Harry and Hermione jumped at once, each placing a hand on one of his arms, prepared to pull him back if he started to lunge at Malfoy. ¡§You keep your mouth shut and leave us alone, Malfoy! Or should I say ferret?¡¨ asked Harry, referring to an incident which had happened in their fourth year.
¡§Why should I?¡¨ retorted Malfoy, the sneer enlarging on his face, apparently ignoring the latter part of Harry¡¦s question. ¡§Because we all hate you to death and are doing our best drying not to curse you!¡¨ yelped Hermione through gritted teeth.
The famous trio thought they had seen a fleeting second of what seemed like the feeling of hurt and sadness pass in Malfoy¡¦s eyes, but dismissed the thought immediately as Malfoy¡¦s eyes narrowed, filling themselves with venom and hatred.
¡§Why don¡¦t you shut your traps, Weasel, Mudblood and Golden Boy?¡¨ he snapped, before whirling around and leaving the compartment, his robes swinging behind him.