Price Of Education
I keep forgetting disclaimer so here it is, and I don't really feel like making one at each chapter so here is the one for the whole story!
Disclaimer: I do not own a thing in this story! All familiar characters belong to J.K Rowling, the ranch Clare Ville is owned by the city of Brampton as it is protected land. The two Horses named Zantar and Draco belong to my cousin, Chanda, Daniela, and Mark Cassar are all real people and Chyan is Chanda's dog. I think that is it now on with the chapter!
Chapter 3
Hermione never before worked so much, while having such fun at the same time. She woke at sit in the morning and helped feed and water the many trail horses. A few hours later she was cleaning and caring for the horses, she then helped saddle and kept the horses watered until the first trail. They even asked her to lead trails on her second day there.
After lunch she went to work with Draco and Malfoy (A/N: I'm sorry if that is confusing), for a few hours they would train the two horses, under a truce to be civil they made the first afternoon there. But even though they were being 'civil' it didn't mean that Hermione could stand him any more then usual, and is certainly didn't mean he was any less partial to her. They would bug each other about their riding technique and training. Hermione had been taught at a mostly English stable but the few Western riders there were ranked among the best in Britain, Malfoys (according to on Draco Malfoy) didn't approve of women doing a man's job. Hermione, in so many words, did not agree.
After training Hermione would go help feed the horses and scrub down the trail horses. She was surprised to receive the large responsibilities like leading trails and feeding the horses, but she supposed Professor Cassar had spoken to Chanda and told her about her determined way of working. What surprised her even more was the fact that Malfoy was also getting the jobs she was, and he didn't complain as she thought he would. In fact in the three days they had been there she often forgot it was Malfoy she was working with. However, Ron didn't seem to.
"How do you do it?" he raved on their third night there. They were sitting around a picnic table finishing up their 'dinner'. Another thing Ron seemed to notice was the quality of the food. Compared to the lavish feasts and home cooked meals he was used to; the cold pizza didn't seem to hit the spot. Not on the first, second or third night they were there that they had it.
"Do what Ron?" Hermione asked rolling her eyes. She knew what he meant but didn't feel like talking about it another time. It always turned out the same, they would talk for about five seconds until they started to fight and then they would stop talking to each other for the rest of dinner until Harry worked it out, again. It looked like that's where they were headed unless some miracle came along.
"How can you work with that git Hermione?" Ron said, tossing his now cold pizza across the table and grabbed his drink. Hermione thought back to Ron's first experience with coke cans as he eyed this one dangerously. One coke explosion was enough for Mr. Ronald Weasley. He continued once he had safely opened the can and took a gulp. "Why don't you go to Professor Cassar and tell him you have working with the slime ball and I'm sure he will let you have your lessons with us." He smiled broadly, 'yes Ron,' Hermione thought, 'let me go back on 16 years or hard training to go over basics'.
"Because, I have fun. It's not so bad. Ron I think you should just worry about yourself for once so I can get on with my life!" Hermione said, triggering the begging of the fight, she might as well hurry it up a bit so she wouldn't have to battle with him all night.
"Well sorry miss-what the bloody hell do you want you slimy git?" Hermione was sure the last part was not directed to her, unless Ron really wanted to start something huge. She looked crossly at him then turned her head where she caught the sight of Malfoy in another one of his sex god outfits. Two words, Tight and black.
"Well," he drawled in his casual 'do-I-really-need-to-answer-that' voice, shifting his arms across his broad chest, "I was sent over to see if Granger here wanted to lead a midnight trail." He turned his gaze from Ron to Hermione expectantly. She was about to answer when Ron cut in, rather rudely, and said something stupid that Hermione didn't catch, because a second later Malfoy coolly replied, "Yes, jealous?" and Ron lunged at him. It was all Harry could do to hold Ron down by the back of his Muggle shirt. His face as red as his hair, he seemed to be fuming from the ears. Hermione wondered what he had said that Malfoy's two words would make him so worked up so quickly.
Hermione quickly decided to get Malfoy out of there before Harry lost control of Ron and there was bloodshed. Grabbing her sprite, Hermione rose from her spot, ignoring the look of horror on Ron's face she nudged the smirking Malfoy towards the group of students selected to go on that night's midnight trail. It wasn't midnight yet, but they were a bunch of teenagers and according to professors, they need sleep, so as soon as it was dark, the trail would start. They were just now losing the last bit of light and decided it was time to tack up the ten horses that were going to be used.
"Would you two get Draco and Zantar," Chanda asked coming to walk with the two students, "I would like them to get used to walking trail, do you think you two will be up to keeping them in line?" Hermione looked to Malfoy who was nodding, she had her worst accident on a trail that put her on and inexperienced horse, she was thrown and stamped on when a horse ahead of her suddenly stopped and startled her horse. Three ribs were broken and her left arm. But that was years ago, and she trusted Draco's riding, he was a rodeo horse and used to other animals freaking out. He had cow smarts and wouldn't flip on her. She too nodded. "Good, go on then get tacked up I'll take care of things here until your back. Your on your own tonight kids." They left Chanda and moved to tack up their two horses. Hermione thought she was acting normally but Malfoy must have picked up on her hesitance with Chanda because she approached her about it.
"What Granger? You can't be afraid of the dark are you?" to this Hermione snorted, she had been afraid of the dark when she was younger, and even now she was easily frightened in the dark. But she expected that they would have a flashlight or something like that on the trail.
"No, It's no that. Its nothing just a stupid thing that happened a long time ago." She didn't look at him until the words were out, and she knew, by the look on his face he didn't believe her in the least. She turned back to the saddle she was putting on Draco and faked a smile.
"I don't think so Granger, what's up? Why the look?" Malfoy asked continuing on Zantar's tack. Hermione was unaware of any look she was giving, she could tell Malfoy was just fishing for answers, she often did it herself to get Ron to tell her something he was inclined to say.
"What look, I don't have any look. You must be imagining things." She said all this rather too quickly, giving herself away. She scolded herself, and waited for Malfoy to flip it around.
"That look that tells me that you are hiding something. Now spill or I will have to use force!" Hermione was mildly frightened until she saw the mocking look on his face. She decided just to tell him, it would probably be better if he knew so he would be prepared to handle Draco if anything happened.
"Its just that when I was 10 they put me on a green (inexperienced) horse while on trail and it freaked out and broke three of my ribs and my arm." She pulled up her sleeve to show him the scar just above her elbow where the milky white bone had pierced. "I had 20 stitches, it's a Muggle form of medicine, and I spent 8 month in a cast, another Muggle thing. So I'm a bit worried about Draco freaking." Malfoy looked somewhat impressed. He shocked Hermione by pulling up the hem of his top and revealing a scar over his belly button.
"I was thrown from my horse and scraped across a nail that was sticking out of a fence, no slitches, or whatever, by father just healed it and we finished our ride." He smirked and finished tightening the girth and started to lead Zantar to the tack room. "I don't think you have to worry about Draco though, he is a great horse and he can keep his cool, it's the cow smarts with rodeo horses. You'll be fine."
Hermione hesitated, was this Malfoy? Was Draco Malfoy reassuring her about something? Would someone inform her exactly how she wound up in buzzaro land, and when the next train out was? Hermione snapped out of her confusion and hurried to catch up with Malfoy who hadn't waited.
"I'm not worried, I know Draco can handle it, I was just a little bit on the nervous side." Hermione felt the need to stand up for herself a little; all this made her seem frail. She had to show Malfoy that she could handle this. "I can handle it even if he does get jumpy." Malfoy smiled. They had reached the others and Chanda was there with a flashlight as Hermione had expected. Before she could go to Chanda Malfoy spoke again.
"Ok, but I'll be right there if anything goes wrong, nothing to worry about. And it will be us students only so if there are any more broken ribs no Muggles to whiteness any magical healing. Ok?" Hermione nodded, in a sort of dazed way. There it was again, Malfoy being nice. Something was defiantly up. Hermione couldn't help note how sexy Malfoy was when he was assuring her, it was probably all about stroking his own ego, being all manly and helping the damsel in distress. But even so she couldn't help staring longingly at the back of his head as he turned to round up the riders.
"Ok!" he said loudly to the group of lounging students. "Lets get a move on. Mount and get ready to ride, anyone needing to use the bathroom, right this minute or else your doing it in the bushes!" Hermione laughed as two girls jumped up and sprinted to the bathroom. She mounted Draco and moved to the entrance to the trail. She could do this. She could, and she would.
*
They had been out for about half an hour when some of the guys asked for a pit stop. Hermione, who was in the front halted the procession and warned them to keep close to the horses. While they were waiting Hermione heard what sounded like a dog howling. She snapped her head to the side where Malfoy was sitting next to her.
"You hear that right?" she asked, he nodded and they heard it again. "That's no dog. It sounds like a wolf." She lowered her voice so the other wouldn't panic, though she wasn't sure she could keep from panicking herself.
"We should be alright, the horses should scare off the wolves." Malfoy said reasonably. "But we should call the others back, make sure they stay close to the horses." Hermione nodded her agreement and composed herself.
"Ok guys," she said calmly, "pit stop is over, lets get going again." She heard the rustling of the bushed and the guys stepped out of the brush and mounted their horses. They must not have heard the wolf, as they were laughing about something but now Hermione could see shadows moving in the brush around them and she was getting frightened very quickly.
"Right," Malfoy said sternly. "Lets get on not best to linger." Hermione nodded and nudged her horse on, instead of falling back to the end of the trail Malfoy kept next to her, eyes alert to the trees around them, ears sharp to the sounds of the night forest around them.
Just as Hermione was relaxing again a great white wolf jumped into the path and howled something awful. Draco reared up and pounded forward. Hermione gave a shriek but found herself off her horse and swung onto the horse next to her legs around Malfoy's waist and his strong arms wrapped around her waist.
For some reason Malfoy was whispering soothing words to her and rubbing her back. She could feel his heart pounding roughly against his ribs and she was afraid it would burst free at that rate. A raindrop landed on Hermione's hand that was clutching at Malfoy's shirt. But it wasn't a raindrop she realised, it was a tear, she was crying, sobbing actually.
She heard and felt Malfoy speaking. His chest was vibrating against her clenched fists, and she looked up to see his eyes boring into her soul. He look concerned, petrified almost. But then that all so familiar smirk returned and Hermione processed his words. "I told you I would be here. Are you ok?"
"I'll be ok, I just need a minute I'm still a little shaky." He was literally she was shaking like a leaf. Malfoy nodded and turned his head to Alex Nott, who was sitting next to him with wide eyes.
"Where did the wolf go?" he asked calmly and Alex shifted and pointed with a shaky finger ahead of them, in the direction they were planning on going.
"It went that way when her horse took off, I think it was scared of being stamped on." Malfoy nodded again and tightened his grip on Hermione as he manoeuvred his horse back the way they had come and started off.
"The horse will find its way back to the ranch, the property is fenced off, is cant leave, and it can take care of itself. Were going straight back so lets hurry up, it's a good thing we have two of these flash things," Malfoy was leading now and he picked up the pace a bit. Hermione relaxed a bit and closed her eyes to try and catch her breath, which was still coming in raspy whispers.
"Your going to be ok, just rest a bit and you'll feel one hundred percent better." Malfoy said rubbing her back, and she believed him. Resting her head on his chest she closed her eyes, a headache creeping up on her.
"Thank you Draco." Hermione said before falling asleep against the rhythm of Malfoy's heart, relaxing her grip on his shirt. She didn't realise she had called him by his first name. He had though.
"Your welcome, Hermione." Malfoy said kissing the top of her head, and breathing in her sent.
**
Ohh do I sense a spark? I think I do! I think this chapter wrote itself! I wasn't really planning on her falling asleep against anyone's chest, in this chapter at least. He he he, well I did plan some of it, like the trail and the wolf, but I do hope Malfoy is right and Draco cant escape the property! Well I'll decide that soon. I can't wait until the next chapter when they get back and Ron sees Hermione sleeping in Malfoy's lap. ;) I'll update soon I think! Sorry another short one, but I am updating frequently so I think it makes up for it.
Thank you Mya14, it helps that you like it so much and I think I'm writing the chapters so quickly because of you review. Love you!
I keep forgetting disclaimer so here it is, and I don't really feel like making one at each chapter so here is the one for the whole story!
Disclaimer: I do not own a thing in this story! All familiar characters belong to J.K Rowling, the ranch Clare Ville is owned by the city of Brampton as it is protected land. The two Horses named Zantar and Draco belong to my cousin, Chanda, Daniela, and Mark Cassar are all real people and Chyan is Chanda's dog. I think that is it now on with the chapter!
Chapter 3
Hermione never before worked so much, while having such fun at the same time. She woke at sit in the morning and helped feed and water the many trail horses. A few hours later she was cleaning and caring for the horses, she then helped saddle and kept the horses watered until the first trail. They even asked her to lead trails on her second day there.
After lunch she went to work with Draco and Malfoy (A/N: I'm sorry if that is confusing), for a few hours they would train the two horses, under a truce to be civil they made the first afternoon there. But even though they were being 'civil' it didn't mean that Hermione could stand him any more then usual, and is certainly didn't mean he was any less partial to her. They would bug each other about their riding technique and training. Hermione had been taught at a mostly English stable but the few Western riders there were ranked among the best in Britain, Malfoys (according to on Draco Malfoy) didn't approve of women doing a man's job. Hermione, in so many words, did not agree.
After training Hermione would go help feed the horses and scrub down the trail horses. She was surprised to receive the large responsibilities like leading trails and feeding the horses, but she supposed Professor Cassar had spoken to Chanda and told her about her determined way of working. What surprised her even more was the fact that Malfoy was also getting the jobs she was, and he didn't complain as she thought he would. In fact in the three days they had been there she often forgot it was Malfoy she was working with. However, Ron didn't seem to.
"How do you do it?" he raved on their third night there. They were sitting around a picnic table finishing up their 'dinner'. Another thing Ron seemed to notice was the quality of the food. Compared to the lavish feasts and home cooked meals he was used to; the cold pizza didn't seem to hit the spot. Not on the first, second or third night they were there that they had it.
"Do what Ron?" Hermione asked rolling her eyes. She knew what he meant but didn't feel like talking about it another time. It always turned out the same, they would talk for about five seconds until they started to fight and then they would stop talking to each other for the rest of dinner until Harry worked it out, again. It looked like that's where they were headed unless some miracle came along.
"How can you work with that git Hermione?" Ron said, tossing his now cold pizza across the table and grabbed his drink. Hermione thought back to Ron's first experience with coke cans as he eyed this one dangerously. One coke explosion was enough for Mr. Ronald Weasley. He continued once he had safely opened the can and took a gulp. "Why don't you go to Professor Cassar and tell him you have working with the slime ball and I'm sure he will let you have your lessons with us." He smiled broadly, 'yes Ron,' Hermione thought, 'let me go back on 16 years or hard training to go over basics'.
"Because, I have fun. It's not so bad. Ron I think you should just worry about yourself for once so I can get on with my life!" Hermione said, triggering the begging of the fight, she might as well hurry it up a bit so she wouldn't have to battle with him all night.
"Well sorry miss-what the bloody hell do you want you slimy git?" Hermione was sure the last part was not directed to her, unless Ron really wanted to start something huge. She looked crossly at him then turned her head where she caught the sight of Malfoy in another one of his sex god outfits. Two words, Tight and black.
"Well," he drawled in his casual 'do-I-really-need-to-answer-that' voice, shifting his arms across his broad chest, "I was sent over to see if Granger here wanted to lead a midnight trail." He turned his gaze from Ron to Hermione expectantly. She was about to answer when Ron cut in, rather rudely, and said something stupid that Hermione didn't catch, because a second later Malfoy coolly replied, "Yes, jealous?" and Ron lunged at him. It was all Harry could do to hold Ron down by the back of his Muggle shirt. His face as red as his hair, he seemed to be fuming from the ears. Hermione wondered what he had said that Malfoy's two words would make him so worked up so quickly.
Hermione quickly decided to get Malfoy out of there before Harry lost control of Ron and there was bloodshed. Grabbing her sprite, Hermione rose from her spot, ignoring the look of horror on Ron's face she nudged the smirking Malfoy towards the group of students selected to go on that night's midnight trail. It wasn't midnight yet, but they were a bunch of teenagers and according to professors, they need sleep, so as soon as it was dark, the trail would start. They were just now losing the last bit of light and decided it was time to tack up the ten horses that were going to be used.
"Would you two get Draco and Zantar," Chanda asked coming to walk with the two students, "I would like them to get used to walking trail, do you think you two will be up to keeping them in line?" Hermione looked to Malfoy who was nodding, she had her worst accident on a trail that put her on and inexperienced horse, she was thrown and stamped on when a horse ahead of her suddenly stopped and startled her horse. Three ribs were broken and her left arm. But that was years ago, and she trusted Draco's riding, he was a rodeo horse and used to other animals freaking out. He had cow smarts and wouldn't flip on her. She too nodded. "Good, go on then get tacked up I'll take care of things here until your back. Your on your own tonight kids." They left Chanda and moved to tack up their two horses. Hermione thought she was acting normally but Malfoy must have picked up on her hesitance with Chanda because she approached her about it.
"What Granger? You can't be afraid of the dark are you?" to this Hermione snorted, she had been afraid of the dark when she was younger, and even now she was easily frightened in the dark. But she expected that they would have a flashlight or something like that on the trail.
"No, It's no that. Its nothing just a stupid thing that happened a long time ago." She didn't look at him until the words were out, and she knew, by the look on his face he didn't believe her in the least. She turned back to the saddle she was putting on Draco and faked a smile.
"I don't think so Granger, what's up? Why the look?" Malfoy asked continuing on Zantar's tack. Hermione was unaware of any look she was giving, she could tell Malfoy was just fishing for answers, she often did it herself to get Ron to tell her something he was inclined to say.
"What look, I don't have any look. You must be imagining things." She said all this rather too quickly, giving herself away. She scolded herself, and waited for Malfoy to flip it around.
"That look that tells me that you are hiding something. Now spill or I will have to use force!" Hermione was mildly frightened until she saw the mocking look on his face. She decided just to tell him, it would probably be better if he knew so he would be prepared to handle Draco if anything happened.
"Its just that when I was 10 they put me on a green (inexperienced) horse while on trail and it freaked out and broke three of my ribs and my arm." She pulled up her sleeve to show him the scar just above her elbow where the milky white bone had pierced. "I had 20 stitches, it's a Muggle form of medicine, and I spent 8 month in a cast, another Muggle thing. So I'm a bit worried about Draco freaking." Malfoy looked somewhat impressed. He shocked Hermione by pulling up the hem of his top and revealing a scar over his belly button.
"I was thrown from my horse and scraped across a nail that was sticking out of a fence, no slitches, or whatever, by father just healed it and we finished our ride." He smirked and finished tightening the girth and started to lead Zantar to the tack room. "I don't think you have to worry about Draco though, he is a great horse and he can keep his cool, it's the cow smarts with rodeo horses. You'll be fine."
Hermione hesitated, was this Malfoy? Was Draco Malfoy reassuring her about something? Would someone inform her exactly how she wound up in buzzaro land, and when the next train out was? Hermione snapped out of her confusion and hurried to catch up with Malfoy who hadn't waited.
"I'm not worried, I know Draco can handle it, I was just a little bit on the nervous side." Hermione felt the need to stand up for herself a little; all this made her seem frail. She had to show Malfoy that she could handle this. "I can handle it even if he does get jumpy." Malfoy smiled. They had reached the others and Chanda was there with a flashlight as Hermione had expected. Before she could go to Chanda Malfoy spoke again.
"Ok, but I'll be right there if anything goes wrong, nothing to worry about. And it will be us students only so if there are any more broken ribs no Muggles to whiteness any magical healing. Ok?" Hermione nodded, in a sort of dazed way. There it was again, Malfoy being nice. Something was defiantly up. Hermione couldn't help note how sexy Malfoy was when he was assuring her, it was probably all about stroking his own ego, being all manly and helping the damsel in distress. But even so she couldn't help staring longingly at the back of his head as he turned to round up the riders.
"Ok!" he said loudly to the group of lounging students. "Lets get a move on. Mount and get ready to ride, anyone needing to use the bathroom, right this minute or else your doing it in the bushes!" Hermione laughed as two girls jumped up and sprinted to the bathroom. She mounted Draco and moved to the entrance to the trail. She could do this. She could, and she would.
*
They had been out for about half an hour when some of the guys asked for a pit stop. Hermione, who was in the front halted the procession and warned them to keep close to the horses. While they were waiting Hermione heard what sounded like a dog howling. She snapped her head to the side where Malfoy was sitting next to her.
"You hear that right?" she asked, he nodded and they heard it again. "That's no dog. It sounds like a wolf." She lowered her voice so the other wouldn't panic, though she wasn't sure she could keep from panicking herself.
"We should be alright, the horses should scare off the wolves." Malfoy said reasonably. "But we should call the others back, make sure they stay close to the horses." Hermione nodded her agreement and composed herself.
"Ok guys," she said calmly, "pit stop is over, lets get going again." She heard the rustling of the bushed and the guys stepped out of the brush and mounted their horses. They must not have heard the wolf, as they were laughing about something but now Hermione could see shadows moving in the brush around them and she was getting frightened very quickly.
"Right," Malfoy said sternly. "Lets get on not best to linger." Hermione nodded and nudged her horse on, instead of falling back to the end of the trail Malfoy kept next to her, eyes alert to the trees around them, ears sharp to the sounds of the night forest around them.
Just as Hermione was relaxing again a great white wolf jumped into the path and howled something awful. Draco reared up and pounded forward. Hermione gave a shriek but found herself off her horse and swung onto the horse next to her legs around Malfoy's waist and his strong arms wrapped around her waist.
For some reason Malfoy was whispering soothing words to her and rubbing her back. She could feel his heart pounding roughly against his ribs and she was afraid it would burst free at that rate. A raindrop landed on Hermione's hand that was clutching at Malfoy's shirt. But it wasn't a raindrop she realised, it was a tear, she was crying, sobbing actually.
She heard and felt Malfoy speaking. His chest was vibrating against her clenched fists, and she looked up to see his eyes boring into her soul. He look concerned, petrified almost. But then that all so familiar smirk returned and Hermione processed his words. "I told you I would be here. Are you ok?"
"I'll be ok, I just need a minute I'm still a little shaky." He was literally she was shaking like a leaf. Malfoy nodded and turned his head to Alex Nott, who was sitting next to him with wide eyes.
"Where did the wolf go?" he asked calmly and Alex shifted and pointed with a shaky finger ahead of them, in the direction they were planning on going.
"It went that way when her horse took off, I think it was scared of being stamped on." Malfoy nodded again and tightened his grip on Hermione as he manoeuvred his horse back the way they had come and started off.
"The horse will find its way back to the ranch, the property is fenced off, is cant leave, and it can take care of itself. Were going straight back so lets hurry up, it's a good thing we have two of these flash things," Malfoy was leading now and he picked up the pace a bit. Hermione relaxed a bit and closed her eyes to try and catch her breath, which was still coming in raspy whispers.
"Your going to be ok, just rest a bit and you'll feel one hundred percent better." Malfoy said rubbing her back, and she believed him. Resting her head on his chest she closed her eyes, a headache creeping up on her.
"Thank you Draco." Hermione said before falling asleep against the rhythm of Malfoy's heart, relaxing her grip on his shirt. She didn't realise she had called him by his first name. He had though.
"Your welcome, Hermione." Malfoy said kissing the top of her head, and breathing in her sent.
**
Ohh do I sense a spark? I think I do! I think this chapter wrote itself! I wasn't really planning on her falling asleep against anyone's chest, in this chapter at least. He he he, well I did plan some of it, like the trail and the wolf, but I do hope Malfoy is right and Draco cant escape the property! Well I'll decide that soon. I can't wait until the next chapter when they get back and Ron sees Hermione sleeping in Malfoy's lap. ;) I'll update soon I think! Sorry another short one, but I am updating frequently so I think it makes up for it.
Thank you Mya14, it helps that you like it so much and I think I'm writing the chapters so quickly because of you review. Love you!