Chapter Four: The Task
Disclaimer: Use ur imagination.
After his little chat with Lupin, Draco thought about going to the Owlrey.
She probably isn't even there anymore, Draco thought. I'll wait until tomorrow. I've got loads of work to do.
So he hurried off to the Slytherin Common Room, just praying that she would come to see him.
But she didn't. After an hour or two, he went to look for her. But she was nowhere to be found.
"HERMIONE!" Draco shoved aside a couple of small Ravenclaws the next morning. Hermione stopped in her tracks, realized who it was, and started walking again. Draco caught up with her quickly, and grabbed her arm to make her stop.
"What?" she snapped. Draco let go of her.
"What's the matter?" Draco whispered. Hermione shrugged. "Hermione, I can tell when something's bothering you. Just tell me."
"I'm just a bit worried," she said truthfully. Draco noticed the note of panic in her voice. "About - something… It's a bit personal. You wouldn't understand - "
"Hermione," Draco said soothingly, "you can tell me." Hermione looked up at him with big, hazel eyes. Her pupils were so large that they made her eyes look almost black - except for the rim of green, brown and gold.
"Well," she said hesitantly, then she seemed to break. She fell into his arms, sobbing. Draco saw that a lot of people were glaring at him, as if he had insulted them. So he opened the door to the nearest empty classroom (the Ancient Runes room) and sat her down at a desk. She looked up at him finally, her eyes watery, her face scarlet.
"It's all right, 'Mione," Draco said gently. "Tell me."
She wiped her eyes on her sleeve and cleared her throat, as though she was trying to regain her poise.
"Well there are two things, really," she said in a strangely high voice. "I'll tell you one. . . I'm really worried about Harry. Professor Dumbledore won't let him stay with me or with the Weasleys - he's forced to stay with those wretched Dursleys - who are a disgrace to the Muggle kind. . . You really must understand how I feel about Harry." She blinked down at the ground. "I never felt about anybody the way I have about him. I really - "
"I thought he was like a brother to you," Draco said hopefully. Hermione gave him a watery smile.
"That's because I thought you would tease me if I said otherwise and got all soft on you," she replied. The bottom dropped out of Draco's stomach. But he remained very cool under her gaze. "But I really do love him. I love him." Draco's heart shattered. "Just like I love Ron. They're more than brothers. They're my best friends, my soulmates, and my family. I can't put it into words. Around them, I feel. . . safe. Protected. Loved." Some of the pieces of Draco's heart flew back into place.
"So you don't like them. . . that way?"
Hermione wrinkled her nose.
"No! I know them too well!" she shouted. But then she looked at him thoughtfully. "I never really thought about it. Hmm. . . Maybe." Draco suddenly felt hope rising up in him - brimming over the edge. All he knew is that he wanted Hermione Granger. And everybody knows that a Malfoy always gets what he wants.
"You will be divided into groups of two or three to complete the task," Professor Dumbledore said to the assembly. "You do not get to choose your group, and I would advise that those of you that are not a good outdoorsmen, you might want to suggest we team you up with someone who is."
Draco glanced at Hermione and raised his hand.
Lupin raised a graying eyebrow shrewdly.
"I need a good outdoors-person to partner with, Professor Lupin," he said.
Lupin eyed him, understanding.
"You will team with Hermione, then," he said, writing something down on his list. Draco smirked.
Hermione smiled.