In the Mind of the Walking Encyclopedia - Chapter 9
Author: tainted black (penny@twistedcandy.org)
Disclaimer: Not mine.
------------------------------
Previous:
I chuck a stick at him, hitting right in the middle of his forehead. Score!
Rubbing his forehead, he tells me, "There's no need for violence, Granger."
My voice is dripping with sarcasm. "I'm terribly sorry."
He only glowers at me.
I smile. "I take it that we're tied now?"
"Never!"
"Current score: Hermione: two. Malfoy: two."
"You should take into account the--ahem--incident before that." He shakes his tie and smirks. "So I believe I'm still winning. Draco: three, Granger: two."
Drats.
-------
"I'm hungry," Malfoy states. "They must be having lunch by now."
"I'm hungry too, but I'm not complaining." I think about the lunch they are probably having at this very moment. Maybe some nice hot soup. Clam chowder? Chicken noodle soup? And some hot cocoa to drink... I snap out of it. Thinking about food will only make me hungry, so there's no point in thinking about it.
"Go out and kill something," he orders.
"I believe that's -your- job," I reply. "In ancient times, men brought home the meat and the women cooked it. You're the one with the tie and pants, so -you- go." I begin to smooth my skirt to support my argument.
"In case you haven't noticed, the times have changed. I believe -women- can now do anything they want to--even hunt." He smirks and takes a step towards me.
"Well, I don't want to hunt. I am not going to go out there, in the rain, screaming AYE-AYE-AYE like Xena," I say, looking up at him from the floor.
"Xena?" He takes another step towards me. I scoot back against the wall.
"Warrior princess," I explain. He gives me a quizzical look. "This... Muggle thing."
He squats down next to me. "Explain."
Sighing, I continue, "She wears this leather outfit."
He tilts his head to the side. "Kinky."
"And she has this battle call..."
"How does it go?"
"Aye-aye-aye," I say in a monotone.
"Aye-aye-aye?" He laughs. "You mean she just says 'aye-aye-aye' before she fights?"
"No, she screams it." So... -why- are we talking about Xena again?
"Do it," he commands.
"No," I say firmly. "There is -no- way I'm going to be doing Xena's battle call." He must be kidding me.
"Not even if I throw this snake at you?" He starts to pull something green from behind his back.
"You have a -snake-?" Malfoy has a -snake-!? Merlin, help me! Frantic, I try to think of a way to get around Malfoy before he can throw it at me.
"Do it, then." He has a smug look on his face. "Or else..."
Okay, what do I do? I am -not- going to do Xena's battle call! But I don't want that snake to bite me. Snake? Xena? Snake? Xena? Snake? Xena? Well, duh. Of course Xena. I would rather be caught doing something embarrassing than let a snake bite me.
"Aye-aye-aye!" I shout.
"With -feeling-," he says. "Like you're going to go into a battle. I want to hear it. Come on, feeling."
Feeling? What the hell?
He moves his arm threateningly again.
I become fearful. "AYE-AYE-AYE!"
He laughs and continues to pull out the green and silve--wait. That's not a snake. That's his tie! Grr! He's just playing around with me. This isn't funny! That was sadistic! Damn it! I'm going to get him back for all these stupid pranks!
While I am silently fuming, Malfoy quickly slips the tie over my head.
"What are you doing?" I shout at him. "Get away from me!"
Without a word, he begins to tie the tie around my neck. Putting my hands on his chest, I try to push him away, but he doesn't budge. I lean forward, trying to put my weight into the push, but he still doesn't move.
"Stop it! Go away! This is harassment!"
He casts me a disdainful look. "I'm not even touching you. You're the one touching -me-." Then he stands up and runs a hand through his now dry hair, smirking.
I look down. Great. I'm wearing his green and silver tie. What would Harry and Ron say if they saw me right now?
"Now -you're- the one wearing the tie. Go and find me food!"
I stare at him. "You put your filthy tie on me just because you want me to find -food-?" I begin to untie it. "No! You do it. Take your tie back and you find -me- food." Why won't this bloody knot slip loose?
"If you can untie it, then I'll go out. If you can't, then you go out."
"Okay!" I fumble with it. How on earth did he tie this thing? It won't nudge. I can't do anything to it. Why won't it come out?
"You should give up right now. There's way you can untie one of -my- knots," he tells me. "Looks like you're going to be going out in the rain..."
"If you can tie it, I can untie." This goes under here...but why won't it slide under?
"Give up and just go!"
"Not until I untie it." Come on, go under the other one! Just -slide- under. Come on!
"Granger. Go." He grabs my wrist and begins to drag me out.
"Hey! Cheater! I didn't say I give up yet!" I am still struggling with the bloody tie.
Malfoy, ignoring me, continues to drag me out of the warm den. When we're just about a step out, he shoves me into the rain.
I stumble out and immediately begin getting soaked. I suddenly remember about my Oxford shirt. Oh shit, it's white! Trying to be as inconspicuous as possible, I cross my arms over my chest, hoping he didn't see anything.
"Go find food. I suggest you find it soon, before the nundu comes and gets you..." He has this gleam I don't like in his eyes. I briefly consider running into the den, but he's blocking the entrance with his body. Damn him. And it looks like he's not going to be going anywhere for a while.
"Some provider -you're- going to be!" I shout at him. Hmpht. I feel sorry for his future wife already. Imagine, having to bring home the bacon and live with -him-! How horrible. Poor future Mrs. Draco Malfoy.
I turn around and walk east, wondering just what to do. My wand is obviously out of the question. I don't have any gun, knife, or even a pole. I don't have any weapons as all. -How- does he expect me to do this? There's nothing here except bushes. Lots and lots of bushes. I lean in closer. With berries. I continue to walk away. Bushes with berries. And small animals are running around.
...
Back up! Bushes with berries. Food! It may not be meat, but it will provide -some- nourishment, and it's better than nothing. If Malfoy wants something else, he can go look for it himself. Myself, I'm perfectly content with berries for lunch, although I -do- wish I could find some more food.
Let's see now. I remember that baneberry is poisonous. What kind of berries are these, hm... I gingerly pick one up and examine it. Blueberry! I look at another bush. Raspberries, and over there are some thimbleberries. I hope Malfoy doesn't have a big appetite. I break off about five branches of each bush. That looks about enough.
"Ahh..." I feel a sneeze coming on. Oh, no! "Ahhh..."
Please, no, Merlin! I don't want to be sick!
"Achoo!"
That was one. It might be allergies. Or dust! Yes, that's it, dust. Except there's no dust around here. But since that was only -one-, I'm not si--
"Achoo!"
Sick. And I know -why- too. If I wasn't out here in the rain, I would be well. But then Malfoy just -had- to drag me out. I yank on the tie. And this bloody tie! I'm freezing, soaked to the bone, my shirt is probably entirely see-through by now, and I'm sick. This is just peachy.
I sneeze again, and I place a hand on my forehead. It doesn't feel too bad. Maybe it'll go away soon... I see Malfoy still standing in front of the den with his arms crossed.
"Here," I say, handing him the branches. "Take the bloody branches."
He grabs them. "This isn't meat."
I slide under his arm. "If you want meat, you go get it your--achoo!"
He glares at me, but then his eyes wander down. What's he looking--MY SHIRT! I cover up with my arms again.
"You pervert."
He shakes his head. "You're soaking wet."
"Did you think I would dry in the rain?" I sneeze again.
His eyes seem to soften as he looks back at my face. I must resemble a dog with my wet hair. Wonderful. He feels bad for me because I look like a dog.
"Stop looking at me," I say, digging my heels into the ground. He's making me uncomfortable. "And eat the berries. I didn't bring them here for decoration, you know."
"Go sit next to the fire and dry up."
Sounds like a good idea. Sneezing, I walk past him and sit next to the fire. That's much better. I can almost feel my hand again. I hear his footsteps behind me.
"Are these poisonous?" He holds one branch in front of my face.
"Of course not," I answer. "Those are thimbleberries."
"Mmm. Want one?"
Taking a couple, I toss them in my mouth and return to warming my hands. What will I ever do about my hair? It takes -forever- to dry. And I'm so tired... No, I must keep awake. It's only the afternoon. I wonder if Harry and Ron have noticed my absence -yet-. I absently begin to comb my hair with my hands. Would they think I'm in the library?
Malfoy sure is quiet all of a sudden. Did he leave the den? I turn around and see him standing behind me, eating the berries. So -that's- why he's so quiet; he's too busy eating to talk. I laugh to myself. Boys, hah, they're all the same--once you give them food, they shut up and eat.
I sneeze. Ugh. I hate being sick. I hate letting someone see me when I'm most vulnerable. I close my eyes. Just for one minute...
--------
I wake up. Funny, I don't remember falling asleep in the first place. My hair is in a braid. I don't remember putting my hair in a braid. I prop myself on my elbows and take in the surroundings. The fire is still going. I feel something on my back and I turn my head. It's Malfoy's robe! What, how, uh? I'm lost for words.
"I see someone has decided to get up."
I look to my right and see him sitting Indian-style a few centimeters away from me. "You."
"Me, what?"
"You...you braided my hair?" I ask stupidly.
"No, a ghost came and did it," he responds. "And then my robe magically flew to you."
I crack a grin. He's not bad at all. "Thanks."
Instead of responding, he puts his palm on my forehead and I shrink back.
"You're just a little sick. Nothing to worry about. Go back to sleep." He says softly.
I yawn. Mmmm...sleep. "Thanks..." Yawn. "Dra...co."
Mr. Sandman then takes me to the land of dreams.
--------------------
4.2.o3 - If someone thinks I'm moving too fast, tell me. xD Is it too clichéd? Too predictable? Is Draco -too- out of character? (Well, he's still not being overly nice to her...). I hope not!
And you might be wondering why Hermione doesn't have her red and gold tie before... Well, let's just say the girls don't wear ties. They have the women Oxford shirts as well as the vest and robes, but that's it. :) Hmm. Well, the berries might be a -little- out of season, but *shrugs* their school starts around early September, so they still might be around for a couple weeks.
Thanks to DarkflamesSolitude, Krissy, Mistress Moony, Elfmoon87, and sgt pepper for reviewing. :) You guys are the best!
And to others - Reviews make me happy. You have no idea just -how- happy they make me. *grins* I would really like you to review. *nudge nudge nudge* I have enough dignity to not go down on my knees and beg. ... *goes down on knees and beg* Pretty please? ^^;
Author: tainted black (penny@twistedcandy.org)
Disclaimer: Not mine.
------------------------------
Previous:
I chuck a stick at him, hitting right in the middle of his forehead. Score!
Rubbing his forehead, he tells me, "There's no need for violence, Granger."
My voice is dripping with sarcasm. "I'm terribly sorry."
He only glowers at me.
I smile. "I take it that we're tied now?"
"Never!"
"Current score: Hermione: two. Malfoy: two."
"You should take into account the--ahem--incident before that." He shakes his tie and smirks. "So I believe I'm still winning. Draco: three, Granger: two."
Drats.
-------
"I'm hungry," Malfoy states. "They must be having lunch by now."
"I'm hungry too, but I'm not complaining." I think about the lunch they are probably having at this very moment. Maybe some nice hot soup. Clam chowder? Chicken noodle soup? And some hot cocoa to drink... I snap out of it. Thinking about food will only make me hungry, so there's no point in thinking about it.
"Go out and kill something," he orders.
"I believe that's -your- job," I reply. "In ancient times, men brought home the meat and the women cooked it. You're the one with the tie and pants, so -you- go." I begin to smooth my skirt to support my argument.
"In case you haven't noticed, the times have changed. I believe -women- can now do anything they want to--even hunt." He smirks and takes a step towards me.
"Well, I don't want to hunt. I am not going to go out there, in the rain, screaming AYE-AYE-AYE like Xena," I say, looking up at him from the floor.
"Xena?" He takes another step towards me. I scoot back against the wall.
"Warrior princess," I explain. He gives me a quizzical look. "This... Muggle thing."
He squats down next to me. "Explain."
Sighing, I continue, "She wears this leather outfit."
He tilts his head to the side. "Kinky."
"And she has this battle call..."
"How does it go?"
"Aye-aye-aye," I say in a monotone.
"Aye-aye-aye?" He laughs. "You mean she just says 'aye-aye-aye' before she fights?"
"No, she screams it." So... -why- are we talking about Xena again?
"Do it," he commands.
"No," I say firmly. "There is -no- way I'm going to be doing Xena's battle call." He must be kidding me.
"Not even if I throw this snake at you?" He starts to pull something green from behind his back.
"You have a -snake-?" Malfoy has a -snake-!? Merlin, help me! Frantic, I try to think of a way to get around Malfoy before he can throw it at me.
"Do it, then." He has a smug look on his face. "Or else..."
Okay, what do I do? I am -not- going to do Xena's battle call! But I don't want that snake to bite me. Snake? Xena? Snake? Xena? Snake? Xena? Well, duh. Of course Xena. I would rather be caught doing something embarrassing than let a snake bite me.
"Aye-aye-aye!" I shout.
"With -feeling-," he says. "Like you're going to go into a battle. I want to hear it. Come on, feeling."
Feeling? What the hell?
He moves his arm threateningly again.
I become fearful. "AYE-AYE-AYE!"
He laughs and continues to pull out the green and silve--wait. That's not a snake. That's his tie! Grr! He's just playing around with me. This isn't funny! That was sadistic! Damn it! I'm going to get him back for all these stupid pranks!
While I am silently fuming, Malfoy quickly slips the tie over my head.
"What are you doing?" I shout at him. "Get away from me!"
Without a word, he begins to tie the tie around my neck. Putting my hands on his chest, I try to push him away, but he doesn't budge. I lean forward, trying to put my weight into the push, but he still doesn't move.
"Stop it! Go away! This is harassment!"
He casts me a disdainful look. "I'm not even touching you. You're the one touching -me-." Then he stands up and runs a hand through his now dry hair, smirking.
I look down. Great. I'm wearing his green and silver tie. What would Harry and Ron say if they saw me right now?
"Now -you're- the one wearing the tie. Go and find me food!"
I stare at him. "You put your filthy tie on me just because you want me to find -food-?" I begin to untie it. "No! You do it. Take your tie back and you find -me- food." Why won't this bloody knot slip loose?
"If you can untie it, then I'll go out. If you can't, then you go out."
"Okay!" I fumble with it. How on earth did he tie this thing? It won't nudge. I can't do anything to it. Why won't it come out?
"You should give up right now. There's way you can untie one of -my- knots," he tells me. "Looks like you're going to be going out in the rain..."
"If you can tie it, I can untie." This goes under here...but why won't it slide under?
"Give up and just go!"
"Not until I untie it." Come on, go under the other one! Just -slide- under. Come on!
"Granger. Go." He grabs my wrist and begins to drag me out.
"Hey! Cheater! I didn't say I give up yet!" I am still struggling with the bloody tie.
Malfoy, ignoring me, continues to drag me out of the warm den. When we're just about a step out, he shoves me into the rain.
I stumble out and immediately begin getting soaked. I suddenly remember about my Oxford shirt. Oh shit, it's white! Trying to be as inconspicuous as possible, I cross my arms over my chest, hoping he didn't see anything.
"Go find food. I suggest you find it soon, before the nundu comes and gets you..." He has this gleam I don't like in his eyes. I briefly consider running into the den, but he's blocking the entrance with his body. Damn him. And it looks like he's not going to be going anywhere for a while.
"Some provider -you're- going to be!" I shout at him. Hmpht. I feel sorry for his future wife already. Imagine, having to bring home the bacon and live with -him-! How horrible. Poor future Mrs. Draco Malfoy.
I turn around and walk east, wondering just what to do. My wand is obviously out of the question. I don't have any gun, knife, or even a pole. I don't have any weapons as all. -How- does he expect me to do this? There's nothing here except bushes. Lots and lots of bushes. I lean in closer. With berries. I continue to walk away. Bushes with berries. And small animals are running around.
...
Back up! Bushes with berries. Food! It may not be meat, but it will provide -some- nourishment, and it's better than nothing. If Malfoy wants something else, he can go look for it himself. Myself, I'm perfectly content with berries for lunch, although I -do- wish I could find some more food.
Let's see now. I remember that baneberry is poisonous. What kind of berries are these, hm... I gingerly pick one up and examine it. Blueberry! I look at another bush. Raspberries, and over there are some thimbleberries. I hope Malfoy doesn't have a big appetite. I break off about five branches of each bush. That looks about enough.
"Ahh..." I feel a sneeze coming on. Oh, no! "Ahhh..."
Please, no, Merlin! I don't want to be sick!
"Achoo!"
That was one. It might be allergies. Or dust! Yes, that's it, dust. Except there's no dust around here. But since that was only -one-, I'm not si--
"Achoo!"
Sick. And I know -why- too. If I wasn't out here in the rain, I would be well. But then Malfoy just -had- to drag me out. I yank on the tie. And this bloody tie! I'm freezing, soaked to the bone, my shirt is probably entirely see-through by now, and I'm sick. This is just peachy.
I sneeze again, and I place a hand on my forehead. It doesn't feel too bad. Maybe it'll go away soon... I see Malfoy still standing in front of the den with his arms crossed.
"Here," I say, handing him the branches. "Take the bloody branches."
He grabs them. "This isn't meat."
I slide under his arm. "If you want meat, you go get it your--achoo!"
He glares at me, but then his eyes wander down. What's he looking--MY SHIRT! I cover up with my arms again.
"You pervert."
He shakes his head. "You're soaking wet."
"Did you think I would dry in the rain?" I sneeze again.
His eyes seem to soften as he looks back at my face. I must resemble a dog with my wet hair. Wonderful. He feels bad for me because I look like a dog.
"Stop looking at me," I say, digging my heels into the ground. He's making me uncomfortable. "And eat the berries. I didn't bring them here for decoration, you know."
"Go sit next to the fire and dry up."
Sounds like a good idea. Sneezing, I walk past him and sit next to the fire. That's much better. I can almost feel my hand again. I hear his footsteps behind me.
"Are these poisonous?" He holds one branch in front of my face.
"Of course not," I answer. "Those are thimbleberries."
"Mmm. Want one?"
Taking a couple, I toss them in my mouth and return to warming my hands. What will I ever do about my hair? It takes -forever- to dry. And I'm so tired... No, I must keep awake. It's only the afternoon. I wonder if Harry and Ron have noticed my absence -yet-. I absently begin to comb my hair with my hands. Would they think I'm in the library?
Malfoy sure is quiet all of a sudden. Did he leave the den? I turn around and see him standing behind me, eating the berries. So -that's- why he's so quiet; he's too busy eating to talk. I laugh to myself. Boys, hah, they're all the same--once you give them food, they shut up and eat.
I sneeze. Ugh. I hate being sick. I hate letting someone see me when I'm most vulnerable. I close my eyes. Just for one minute...
--------
I wake up. Funny, I don't remember falling asleep in the first place. My hair is in a braid. I don't remember putting my hair in a braid. I prop myself on my elbows and take in the surroundings. The fire is still going. I feel something on my back and I turn my head. It's Malfoy's robe! What, how, uh? I'm lost for words.
"I see someone has decided to get up."
I look to my right and see him sitting Indian-style a few centimeters away from me. "You."
"Me, what?"
"You...you braided my hair?" I ask stupidly.
"No, a ghost came and did it," he responds. "And then my robe magically flew to you."
I crack a grin. He's not bad at all. "Thanks."
Instead of responding, he puts his palm on my forehead and I shrink back.
"You're just a little sick. Nothing to worry about. Go back to sleep." He says softly.
I yawn. Mmmm...sleep. "Thanks..." Yawn. "Dra...co."
Mr. Sandman then takes me to the land of dreams.
--------------------
4.2.o3 - If someone thinks I'm moving too fast, tell me. xD Is it too clichéd? Too predictable? Is Draco -too- out of character? (Well, he's still not being overly nice to her...). I hope not!
And you might be wondering why Hermione doesn't have her red and gold tie before... Well, let's just say the girls don't wear ties. They have the women Oxford shirts as well as the vest and robes, but that's it. :) Hmm. Well, the berries might be a -little- out of season, but *shrugs* their school starts around early September, so they still might be around for a couple weeks.
Thanks to DarkflamesSolitude, Krissy, Mistress Moony, Elfmoon87, and sgt pepper for reviewing. :) You guys are the best!
And to others - Reviews make me happy. You have no idea just -how- happy they make me. *grins* I would really like you to review. *nudge nudge nudge* I have enough dignity to not go down on my knees and beg. ... *goes down on knees and beg* Pretty please? ^^;