THE BET.
Chapter 4
"Aww.what the bloody-.!" Draco exclaimed as he bumped into someone while walking gloomily and staring at the floor. He looked up and saw Hermione, he drew back a little. He was stunned. Hermione was glaring at him with rage. He could clearly see she was still very angry. Draco thought of apologizing but he can't, he just can't bring himself to say sorry, it's just not him! So, he covered up his guilt by glaring back at her with his cold mean eyes.
"Watch where you're going, you filthy Mudblood!"
He didn't really know if he wanted to say that but he had to. He's mean and cruel; he doesn't give a damn about her. He should not give a damn about her. But then, he thought of taking it back but it was too late. Hermione's hands came from nowhere and then-
SMACK!
She had slapped Malfoy in his face as hard as she could. She burst into tears.
"How dare you!? You, you evil-. foul-... jerk! I hate you!" she shouted and ran up the stairs as fast as she could.
Hermione was crying so hard! She went straight to the girls' dormitory and sat on her four-poster. No other student was there so she was able to cry without anyone seeing her. She hated it when people see her cry, except of course Harry and Ron.
Harry and Ron went to the Gryffindor common room after lunch. As they entered the room they heard Hermione sobbing.
"Hermione?! Are you there?" Ron shouted looking up the stairs to the girls' dorm.
She did not answer but stopped sobbing and wiped her tears away.
"Come on Hermione! We know you're in there!" Harry said poking his head through the door. She opened it; her eyes were puffy and red with all the crying. "You know boys aren't allowed here!" she said.
Ron smiled "it's ok! No one can see us anyway!"
Hermione furrowed her eyebrow "Ron! Harry! Come on let's go down"
They went down and sat on the couch. "Why are you crying again?" Ron aked.
Hermione's lips curled into a fake smile "Me? Crying? This is nothing! I'm fine!"
Harry furrowed his eyebrow. "We know you! You can't lie to us!"
Hermione looked at them; tears were forming in her cinnamon eyes. She took a deep breath and started telling them everything that happened and she made them promise not to make any trouble and fight back. They agreed although they didn't like the idea of Malfoy getting away with his bad attitude. They still hated his Guts even more.
******************
Evening came. Hermione, Ron and Harry went down to the Great Hall to have dinner.
Ginny spotted them and offered a seat. "What happened to you Hermione? Where were you this afternoon? I was looking all over for you! I heard what Malfoy did. Don't mind him you know his a stupid jerk!" She said simultaneously as she starts to take another helping of the Muffin fudge she was eating.
Hermione just smiled at her "I'm ok! Ginny" She too took some of the Muffin fudge Ginny was eating.
After eating, they all went back to the Gryffindor Common Room. Ron stayed to walk Cho to the Ravenclaw Tower. Ron came back to the Common Room with a big smile on his face. He was smiling from ear to ear.
"What's up people?" He greeted Harry and Hermione.
"What's up? We're about to sleep." Hermione retorted.
"What's with all the smiling? You look so happy!" Harry asked him.
"It's Cho." Ron answered, still grinning widely.
"What's with Cho?" Hermione started to get curious.
"Oh! You did it?" Harry exclaimed, his eyes wide. Ron giggled.
Hermione, however still doesn't understand. "Did What? Is there something you two are not telling me?" She raised her eyebrows at them. "I can't believe you! You two better speak up! What is it?"
Harry laughed; he could see how eager Hermione is to know what's goin' on.
"I kissed Cho. We kissed. Finally, after two long months." Ron exclaimed.
"Oh! Congratulations Ron!" Hermione beamed at him. "Hey Harry! Can I borrow your cloak?"
"What for?"
Hermione grinned "I want to take a bath and it's too late to bathe here, I'll create too much noise! So, I'll try taking a bath in the prefects' bathroom. You told me about that last year and I thought it wouldn't hurt if I check it out right?"
Harry went to his four-poster, took the cloak out of his trunk and handed it to Hermione. "Please, take good care of it! OK?"
Hermione nodded and grabbed her towel. She put on the invisibility cloak and crept out of the common room to the portrait hole. She made her way through the dark, quiet hallway. When she reached the statue of Boris the bewildered, she looked for the right door, leant close to it and muttered "Minty cool" just as Harry had told her. The door creaked open and she went inside and pulled of the invisibility cloak. She was amazed by the look of this bathroom. Harry was right. No wonder prefects are so lucky and they all want to take bath in here. There was a candle lit chandelier and white marble floor. She saw what looked like a swimming pool filled with water and bubbles of different colors. It was odd that the pool was filled with water and a tap was open. But she thought someone must've forgotten to close it after they took a bath.
So she placed Harry's invisibility cloak in the rock near the snoring Blonde mermaid and undressed herself. She lowered herself into the Luke- warm water. It was quite deep but it was refreshing and relaxing.
She was thoroughly enjoying her bath when suddenly, something moved beneath the water. She panicked; her heart was pounding hard against her chest as she hurriedly reached for her wand lying in the edge of the large bath. Nervous as she was, she leaned across the marble walls of the pool and looked around.
Hermione had swallowed a considerable amount of water in shock. She saw someone emerge from the water. A pail haired boy was pulling back his hair and wiping his face with his hands. Hermione Shrieked, her arms covering her body. The boy turned around eyes wide.
It was Malfoy.
"What are you doing here in the middle of the night?" She shouted.
"Shouldn't I be the one asking that? You're not a prefect!" Draco backed away and sank lower to the bubbly water, trying to hide his nakedness.
"You neither!" Hermione spat back.
Draco rolled his eyes. "I was here first! I was practicing my breathing skills"
Hermione glared at him looking really annoyed. "Fine! I'm going! Urgh! I really love to hurt you right now! Turn your back and shut your eyes. Don't you dare peek! I'm gonna Hex you!" She warned. Hermione lifted herself to the edge of the bath, dried her body and pulled on her robes. She turned around and saw Malfoy staring at her. She noticed him gaping at her with his mouth slightly open; she looked down and saw her robes pulled up revealing her legs and her soft, silky smooth skin. Hermione turned pink and so did Draco for she caught him gawking at her. She hurriedly pulled her robe down, took the invisibility cloak and went out shutting the door behind her without saying anything.
Hermione put on the invisibility cloak and ran back to the Gryffindor portrait careful not to make a sound. She whispered the password and crept back inside the Girls' dormitory to her four-poster.
She lay there breathing hard. Her face was still hot with embarrassment at what happened. "How could she be so stupid?" She asked herself. Her Heart was pounding hard against her chest again. It was nearly past midnight and as she felt her heart beat normalizes, she got up and changed to her pyjamas. She lied back down looking at the canopy of her bed. She imagined Draco, emerging from beneath the water, wiping his face. His hair was sleeked back, his red lips, well reflected by the pale color of his skin.
"God he's so cute.he's so cute."
She felt a sudden jolt that made the hair at the back of her neck tingle.
"Now what was that about?" She asked herself. She shook her head and took a deep breath as if to clear her mind off of everything that's been crowding it. She closed her eyes and felt the drowsiness swept through her. At that she fell asleep.
****************
It was a lazy Wednesday and Draco was not in a good mood. Crabbe and Goyle found his secret stash of chocolates and sweets and ate them all. He went down to breakfast grumpily with his two gluttonous cronies following him dutifully. After breakfast they went to their first class. They were sharing the class with the Gryffindors today. In potions, Snape pared up the students for their Potions project.
"Mr. Weasley, you will be with Ms.Parkinson. Mr. Potter will pare up with Ms. Bulstrode and lastly you Mr. Malfoy will be with Ms. Granger." Snape's voiced trailed.
"But professor... Can't you pair me up with someone else?" Draco complained.
Snape turned to him and reasoned out. "Mr. Malfoy that is the decision of the Choose-up Jar!"
Malfoy frowned "But Professor-."
Snape glared at him and roared "Mr. Malfoy! If you can't live with what I told you, you are now free to get the hell out of my classroom!"
Draco's eyes widened. He didn't think Snape would shout at him for he is his favorite student. He shut his mouth and slumped back to his seat.
After potions, they all headed to the green house for Herbology. Draco was walking briskly with his faithful cronies when he heard someone call his name. He looked back and saw Hermione trying to catch up with them. He didn't bother to stop; he continued walking and pretended he couldn't hear her, until she finally caught up with them.
"Malfoy!" she cried "Why won't you stop?"
Draco slowed down and turned to her. "Why should I? What do you want anyway?" He asked, looking irritated.
"Since we're stuck together in potions I think maybe we could search later to prepare for our project"
She answered in a we-have-to-pass-our-project-early-or-Snape-will-jinx-us tone.
Draco lifted his eyebrow "What? Granger, it's not until the week after the dance!" he snorted.
"But it may take us a long time to-." she appealed but Draco interrupted her.
"Duh! If you really want to search do it yourself." Hermione glared at him and said.
"Fine! I'll do it myself! I don't want to depend on a good for nothing ferret boy anyway." She shouted and walked away.
It was the day for them to harvest their Venus fly trap. Ron was having a hard time taking his plant out because it keeps on biting him. The sleeves of his robe are half-way torn. Neville accidentally poured gyros powder on his plant and now it's already seven feet long, luckily it also made it less dangerous. As Hermione take her plant out she spotted Draco looking at her. She glared at him and Crabbe and Goyle saw her.
"Look at that Granger! How she glared at you!" Goyle murmured.
"What if we played a little trick on her? You know just for fun." Crabbe suggested with a slick sneer on his mouth.
"What do you mean?" Draco looked at him quizzically. Goyle was all ears.
"It's like this, you're gonna tell her that you changed your mind about not researching with her for your project and that you want to meet up with her to the astronomy tower to study tonight. Then when she agrees then that's when the fun starts."
Draco smiled "your right! Then when she comes, she'll find out that I wouldn't show up! Good idea! I never thought you have a brain to think of a brilliant plan like this! But wait, why the astronomy tower?"
"Because since the astronomy tower has these dark alleys and corridors we can scare the wits out of her."
Draco looked unsure. "I don't know you guys. That Mudbloods a little too smart for that." Goyle was surprised.
"What's wrong? Can't take a silly little Mudblood? Looks like Malfoy is Chickening out!"
Draco frowned "I'm not! Fine! I'll do it!"
"OK! Here's the deal, if that Mudblood showed up we'll pay you 5 galleons, but if she did not your gonna pay us double!"
Draco's eyes widened "What? A bet?" Crabbe smirked.
"You got it! So, are you in?"
Draco finished fixing his plant "ok! IN! You better prepare your money because you're gonna be stomped!"
They all sniggered as they finished planning their deed. Professor sprout notice them.
"Mr. Malfoy's group! Pls. keep it down!"
After Herbology, Ron, Harry and Hermione were about to go to the Great Hall to have Lunch, When a cold voice called upon Hermione.
"Hey Granger! Can I talk to you for a minute?" She turned around and saw Draco.
"What do you want? You can talk now!"
He shifted awkwardly. "Uhm. I mean alone."
Harry and Ron looked at each other, with their eyes wide. Hermione nodded.
"Harry, Ron, You go ahead" Ron curled his eyebrows
"But Hermione."
"Ron. go!"
So, Ron and Harry left them. Draco and Hermione went far from the great hall for others not to hear them.
"What is it Malfoy? You have a mouth so talk!"
"Uhm, I just want to say that I'm sorry for how I acted awhile ago and I was wondering if you still want to study with me tonight." Hermione eyed him curiously unable to believe what she heard.
"I thought you don't have time for such rubbish stuff?"
Draco rolled his eyes. "Look, I changed my mind ok? I'm trying my best to be kind here! Can't you stop acting like that for once and take my words seriously?"
Hermione didn't know what to say, she was surprised by what he said, so she just agreed.
"Ok... tonight, eight o'clock at the library."
Draco eyed her and flashed an uneasy grin. "Wait! Can't we not use the library? I mean there's so much people in there and it won't be easy for us to research. I'll meet you at the Astronomy Tower instead."
Hermione thought for a minute and then answered. "Ok. but of all the places Malfoy. why the Astronomy Tower? There's hardly anyone there!"
"That's the point! I don't want anyone to see me with you! I'll see you later. I've got better things to do than have a worthless chit-chat with you."
He answered and he marched out of the room and left her alone. Hermione got confused, she didn't know if she would believe him or not. But she thought it's for her grades so she decided to go.
*******************
Dinner came, Harry, Ron and Hermione went to the Great Hall for supper. But before they can all eat, Professor Mcgonagall gave an announcement.
"Attention everyone! I am very sorry to tell you that the spring dance has been moved." Murmurings and sighs of disappointment was starting to build up. "The dance will proceed before the end of spring"
They were very disappointed on the cancellation of the event. When they all started to eat, Ron noticed Hermione carrying her books to the table.
"What are you bringing those for? You'll still study in here?"
Harry looked at her. "Are you worried about the exams again? I mean, it's not until after the dance"
Hermione just smiled at the two boys. "What? This? No, this is for my research in our potions project. I'm gonna meet up with Malfoy in the Astronomy Tower"
Ron almost choked at his steak and Harry spit out his juice all over Neville's face.
"Malfoy? In the Astronomy Tower?" They both said at the same time. The two were stunned Hermione however was paralyzed with laughter.
"Are you two ok?" Ron turned to her with a confused look on his face.
"Why? I mean, of all the places why the Astronomy Tower?" Ron asked.
"That's what I asked him too and he said he wouldn't want anyone to see us together. Don't worry, everything will be ok."
"I don't know Herm; maybe we should go with you." Said Harry feeling unsure. But Hermione insist on going alone.
It was almost eight o'clock and she still wasn't finish with her food. Her gaze fell on the Slytherin table and saw that Draco's seat was empty. She figured, he probably came early. So, she struggled to finish the last of her potatoes, said goodbye to Ron and Harry and rushed to the Astronomy Tower.
Hermione entered the tower. It was really dark and Eerie in the corridors. In a corner, she saw an open room with the lights on. She went in and looked for Draco, but he wasn't there, so she decided to sit down and wait for him. It was nearly passed midnight, and Draco hasn't come yet. She decided to go back to the Gryffindor Tower, very irritated. As she opted for the door, the lights suddenly went out, sounds of eerie scratches are heard from not so far and creepy voices filled the room. Hermione began to feel fear.
"Who's there? Who are you?" tears began to form in her eyes. Then she reached the door but it was locked. She started to panic, she reach to her pocket for her wand but it slipped from her hand and fell. She went down on her knees and started feeling for her wand. While struggling in the dark she heard someone laugh on the other side of the door.
"That'll scare the wits out of that stupid Mudblood! Crabbe, Goyle give me my money! I won!" said
"Ok Malfoy! We'll give you you're money later! Let's get out of here."
Hermione felt her face burn with anger, Malfoy and his cronies had played a prank on her. She immediately grabbed her wand and shouted. "Alohamora!" The door swung open and she spotted Malfoy walking away. She turned to him and pointed his wand.
"Not so fast Malfoy!" She was glaring at him, the rage of anger swept through her whole body. Malfoy turned to face her. She walked towards him still pointing her wand at his face. At first he didn't know what to say, there was a sinking feeling inside of him as he saw the saddest look on her face. He tried to shake the feeling of pity off him and spat.
"What?!"
Hermione's eyes widened, she felt her tears coming but tried her best to stop it from falling. She didn't want Malfoy to see her cry. "How could you do this?! How dare you,? You-you .you bastard!"
Draco forced a smile, "What? It's just a bet!" He said casually.
At the 'Was just a bet' remark, She exploded and-
PAK!
She had hit Malfoy so hard on his face (again!).
"Just a bet? My bet? My Fucking bet?! Damn you Malfoy!!!"
Hermione's nose was flaring with so much anger, she was glaring at him and as much as she wanted to stop her tears from falling she can't, it just kept on hurting. She was shaking with rage, she pointed her wand at them and shouted, "Petrificus Totallus!" Malfoy and he's cronies fell frozen on the floor. Hermione was still crying, tears were flowing in her cheeks.
"You know what Malfoy? I thought I saw something in you. but I was very wrong!"
She stared at them for a moment still crying and hurriedly stormed out of the tower.
To be continued.
Chapter 4
"Aww.what the bloody-.!" Draco exclaimed as he bumped into someone while walking gloomily and staring at the floor. He looked up and saw Hermione, he drew back a little. He was stunned. Hermione was glaring at him with rage. He could clearly see she was still very angry. Draco thought of apologizing but he can't, he just can't bring himself to say sorry, it's just not him! So, he covered up his guilt by glaring back at her with his cold mean eyes.
"Watch where you're going, you filthy Mudblood!"
He didn't really know if he wanted to say that but he had to. He's mean and cruel; he doesn't give a damn about her. He should not give a damn about her. But then, he thought of taking it back but it was too late. Hermione's hands came from nowhere and then-
SMACK!
She had slapped Malfoy in his face as hard as she could. She burst into tears.
"How dare you!? You, you evil-. foul-... jerk! I hate you!" she shouted and ran up the stairs as fast as she could.
Hermione was crying so hard! She went straight to the girls' dormitory and sat on her four-poster. No other student was there so she was able to cry without anyone seeing her. She hated it when people see her cry, except of course Harry and Ron.
Harry and Ron went to the Gryffindor common room after lunch. As they entered the room they heard Hermione sobbing.
"Hermione?! Are you there?" Ron shouted looking up the stairs to the girls' dorm.
She did not answer but stopped sobbing and wiped her tears away.
"Come on Hermione! We know you're in there!" Harry said poking his head through the door. She opened it; her eyes were puffy and red with all the crying. "You know boys aren't allowed here!" she said.
Ron smiled "it's ok! No one can see us anyway!"
Hermione furrowed her eyebrow "Ron! Harry! Come on let's go down"
They went down and sat on the couch. "Why are you crying again?" Ron aked.
Hermione's lips curled into a fake smile "Me? Crying? This is nothing! I'm fine!"
Harry furrowed his eyebrow. "We know you! You can't lie to us!"
Hermione looked at them; tears were forming in her cinnamon eyes. She took a deep breath and started telling them everything that happened and she made them promise not to make any trouble and fight back. They agreed although they didn't like the idea of Malfoy getting away with his bad attitude. They still hated his Guts even more.
******************
Evening came. Hermione, Ron and Harry went down to the Great Hall to have dinner.
Ginny spotted them and offered a seat. "What happened to you Hermione? Where were you this afternoon? I was looking all over for you! I heard what Malfoy did. Don't mind him you know his a stupid jerk!" She said simultaneously as she starts to take another helping of the Muffin fudge she was eating.
Hermione just smiled at her "I'm ok! Ginny" She too took some of the Muffin fudge Ginny was eating.
After eating, they all went back to the Gryffindor Common Room. Ron stayed to walk Cho to the Ravenclaw Tower. Ron came back to the Common Room with a big smile on his face. He was smiling from ear to ear.
"What's up people?" He greeted Harry and Hermione.
"What's up? We're about to sleep." Hermione retorted.
"What's with all the smiling? You look so happy!" Harry asked him.
"It's Cho." Ron answered, still grinning widely.
"What's with Cho?" Hermione started to get curious.
"Oh! You did it?" Harry exclaimed, his eyes wide. Ron giggled.
Hermione, however still doesn't understand. "Did What? Is there something you two are not telling me?" She raised her eyebrows at them. "I can't believe you! You two better speak up! What is it?"
Harry laughed; he could see how eager Hermione is to know what's goin' on.
"I kissed Cho. We kissed. Finally, after two long months." Ron exclaimed.
"Oh! Congratulations Ron!" Hermione beamed at him. "Hey Harry! Can I borrow your cloak?"
"What for?"
Hermione grinned "I want to take a bath and it's too late to bathe here, I'll create too much noise! So, I'll try taking a bath in the prefects' bathroom. You told me about that last year and I thought it wouldn't hurt if I check it out right?"
Harry went to his four-poster, took the cloak out of his trunk and handed it to Hermione. "Please, take good care of it! OK?"
Hermione nodded and grabbed her towel. She put on the invisibility cloak and crept out of the common room to the portrait hole. She made her way through the dark, quiet hallway. When she reached the statue of Boris the bewildered, she looked for the right door, leant close to it and muttered "Minty cool" just as Harry had told her. The door creaked open and she went inside and pulled of the invisibility cloak. She was amazed by the look of this bathroom. Harry was right. No wonder prefects are so lucky and they all want to take bath in here. There was a candle lit chandelier and white marble floor. She saw what looked like a swimming pool filled with water and bubbles of different colors. It was odd that the pool was filled with water and a tap was open. But she thought someone must've forgotten to close it after they took a bath.
So she placed Harry's invisibility cloak in the rock near the snoring Blonde mermaid and undressed herself. She lowered herself into the Luke- warm water. It was quite deep but it was refreshing and relaxing.
She was thoroughly enjoying her bath when suddenly, something moved beneath the water. She panicked; her heart was pounding hard against her chest as she hurriedly reached for her wand lying in the edge of the large bath. Nervous as she was, she leaned across the marble walls of the pool and looked around.
Hermione had swallowed a considerable amount of water in shock. She saw someone emerge from the water. A pail haired boy was pulling back his hair and wiping his face with his hands. Hermione Shrieked, her arms covering her body. The boy turned around eyes wide.
It was Malfoy.
"What are you doing here in the middle of the night?" She shouted.
"Shouldn't I be the one asking that? You're not a prefect!" Draco backed away and sank lower to the bubbly water, trying to hide his nakedness.
"You neither!" Hermione spat back.
Draco rolled his eyes. "I was here first! I was practicing my breathing skills"
Hermione glared at him looking really annoyed. "Fine! I'm going! Urgh! I really love to hurt you right now! Turn your back and shut your eyes. Don't you dare peek! I'm gonna Hex you!" She warned. Hermione lifted herself to the edge of the bath, dried her body and pulled on her robes. She turned around and saw Malfoy staring at her. She noticed him gaping at her with his mouth slightly open; she looked down and saw her robes pulled up revealing her legs and her soft, silky smooth skin. Hermione turned pink and so did Draco for she caught him gawking at her. She hurriedly pulled her robe down, took the invisibility cloak and went out shutting the door behind her without saying anything.
Hermione put on the invisibility cloak and ran back to the Gryffindor portrait careful not to make a sound. She whispered the password and crept back inside the Girls' dormitory to her four-poster.
She lay there breathing hard. Her face was still hot with embarrassment at what happened. "How could she be so stupid?" She asked herself. Her Heart was pounding hard against her chest again. It was nearly past midnight and as she felt her heart beat normalizes, she got up and changed to her pyjamas. She lied back down looking at the canopy of her bed. She imagined Draco, emerging from beneath the water, wiping his face. His hair was sleeked back, his red lips, well reflected by the pale color of his skin.
"God he's so cute.he's so cute."
She felt a sudden jolt that made the hair at the back of her neck tingle.
"Now what was that about?" She asked herself. She shook her head and took a deep breath as if to clear her mind off of everything that's been crowding it. She closed her eyes and felt the drowsiness swept through her. At that she fell asleep.
****************
It was a lazy Wednesday and Draco was not in a good mood. Crabbe and Goyle found his secret stash of chocolates and sweets and ate them all. He went down to breakfast grumpily with his two gluttonous cronies following him dutifully. After breakfast they went to their first class. They were sharing the class with the Gryffindors today. In potions, Snape pared up the students for their Potions project.
"Mr. Weasley, you will be with Ms.Parkinson. Mr. Potter will pare up with Ms. Bulstrode and lastly you Mr. Malfoy will be with Ms. Granger." Snape's voiced trailed.
"But professor... Can't you pair me up with someone else?" Draco complained.
Snape turned to him and reasoned out. "Mr. Malfoy that is the decision of the Choose-up Jar!"
Malfoy frowned "But Professor-."
Snape glared at him and roared "Mr. Malfoy! If you can't live with what I told you, you are now free to get the hell out of my classroom!"
Draco's eyes widened. He didn't think Snape would shout at him for he is his favorite student. He shut his mouth and slumped back to his seat.
After potions, they all headed to the green house for Herbology. Draco was walking briskly with his faithful cronies when he heard someone call his name. He looked back and saw Hermione trying to catch up with them. He didn't bother to stop; he continued walking and pretended he couldn't hear her, until she finally caught up with them.
"Malfoy!" she cried "Why won't you stop?"
Draco slowed down and turned to her. "Why should I? What do you want anyway?" He asked, looking irritated.
"Since we're stuck together in potions I think maybe we could search later to prepare for our project"
She answered in a we-have-to-pass-our-project-early-or-Snape-will-jinx-us tone.
Draco lifted his eyebrow "What? Granger, it's not until the week after the dance!" he snorted.
"But it may take us a long time to-." she appealed but Draco interrupted her.
"Duh! If you really want to search do it yourself." Hermione glared at him and said.
"Fine! I'll do it myself! I don't want to depend on a good for nothing ferret boy anyway." She shouted and walked away.
It was the day for them to harvest their Venus fly trap. Ron was having a hard time taking his plant out because it keeps on biting him. The sleeves of his robe are half-way torn. Neville accidentally poured gyros powder on his plant and now it's already seven feet long, luckily it also made it less dangerous. As Hermione take her plant out she spotted Draco looking at her. She glared at him and Crabbe and Goyle saw her.
"Look at that Granger! How she glared at you!" Goyle murmured.
"What if we played a little trick on her? You know just for fun." Crabbe suggested with a slick sneer on his mouth.
"What do you mean?" Draco looked at him quizzically. Goyle was all ears.
"It's like this, you're gonna tell her that you changed your mind about not researching with her for your project and that you want to meet up with her to the astronomy tower to study tonight. Then when she agrees then that's when the fun starts."
Draco smiled "your right! Then when she comes, she'll find out that I wouldn't show up! Good idea! I never thought you have a brain to think of a brilliant plan like this! But wait, why the astronomy tower?"
"Because since the astronomy tower has these dark alleys and corridors we can scare the wits out of her."
Draco looked unsure. "I don't know you guys. That Mudbloods a little too smart for that." Goyle was surprised.
"What's wrong? Can't take a silly little Mudblood? Looks like Malfoy is Chickening out!"
Draco frowned "I'm not! Fine! I'll do it!"
"OK! Here's the deal, if that Mudblood showed up we'll pay you 5 galleons, but if she did not your gonna pay us double!"
Draco's eyes widened "What? A bet?" Crabbe smirked.
"You got it! So, are you in?"
Draco finished fixing his plant "ok! IN! You better prepare your money because you're gonna be stomped!"
They all sniggered as they finished planning their deed. Professor sprout notice them.
"Mr. Malfoy's group! Pls. keep it down!"
After Herbology, Ron, Harry and Hermione were about to go to the Great Hall to have Lunch, When a cold voice called upon Hermione.
"Hey Granger! Can I talk to you for a minute?" She turned around and saw Draco.
"What do you want? You can talk now!"
He shifted awkwardly. "Uhm. I mean alone."
Harry and Ron looked at each other, with their eyes wide. Hermione nodded.
"Harry, Ron, You go ahead" Ron curled his eyebrows
"But Hermione."
"Ron. go!"
So, Ron and Harry left them. Draco and Hermione went far from the great hall for others not to hear them.
"What is it Malfoy? You have a mouth so talk!"
"Uhm, I just want to say that I'm sorry for how I acted awhile ago and I was wondering if you still want to study with me tonight." Hermione eyed him curiously unable to believe what she heard.
"I thought you don't have time for such rubbish stuff?"
Draco rolled his eyes. "Look, I changed my mind ok? I'm trying my best to be kind here! Can't you stop acting like that for once and take my words seriously?"
Hermione didn't know what to say, she was surprised by what he said, so she just agreed.
"Ok... tonight, eight o'clock at the library."
Draco eyed her and flashed an uneasy grin. "Wait! Can't we not use the library? I mean there's so much people in there and it won't be easy for us to research. I'll meet you at the Astronomy Tower instead."
Hermione thought for a minute and then answered. "Ok. but of all the places Malfoy. why the Astronomy Tower? There's hardly anyone there!"
"That's the point! I don't want anyone to see me with you! I'll see you later. I've got better things to do than have a worthless chit-chat with you."
He answered and he marched out of the room and left her alone. Hermione got confused, she didn't know if she would believe him or not. But she thought it's for her grades so she decided to go.
*******************
Dinner came, Harry, Ron and Hermione went to the Great Hall for supper. But before they can all eat, Professor Mcgonagall gave an announcement.
"Attention everyone! I am very sorry to tell you that the spring dance has been moved." Murmurings and sighs of disappointment was starting to build up. "The dance will proceed before the end of spring"
They were very disappointed on the cancellation of the event. When they all started to eat, Ron noticed Hermione carrying her books to the table.
"What are you bringing those for? You'll still study in here?"
Harry looked at her. "Are you worried about the exams again? I mean, it's not until after the dance"
Hermione just smiled at the two boys. "What? This? No, this is for my research in our potions project. I'm gonna meet up with Malfoy in the Astronomy Tower"
Ron almost choked at his steak and Harry spit out his juice all over Neville's face.
"Malfoy? In the Astronomy Tower?" They both said at the same time. The two were stunned Hermione however was paralyzed with laughter.
"Are you two ok?" Ron turned to her with a confused look on his face.
"Why? I mean, of all the places why the Astronomy Tower?" Ron asked.
"That's what I asked him too and he said he wouldn't want anyone to see us together. Don't worry, everything will be ok."
"I don't know Herm; maybe we should go with you." Said Harry feeling unsure. But Hermione insist on going alone.
It was almost eight o'clock and she still wasn't finish with her food. Her gaze fell on the Slytherin table and saw that Draco's seat was empty. She figured, he probably came early. So, she struggled to finish the last of her potatoes, said goodbye to Ron and Harry and rushed to the Astronomy Tower.
Hermione entered the tower. It was really dark and Eerie in the corridors. In a corner, she saw an open room with the lights on. She went in and looked for Draco, but he wasn't there, so she decided to sit down and wait for him. It was nearly passed midnight, and Draco hasn't come yet. She decided to go back to the Gryffindor Tower, very irritated. As she opted for the door, the lights suddenly went out, sounds of eerie scratches are heard from not so far and creepy voices filled the room. Hermione began to feel fear.
"Who's there? Who are you?" tears began to form in her eyes. Then she reached the door but it was locked. She started to panic, she reach to her pocket for her wand but it slipped from her hand and fell. She went down on her knees and started feeling for her wand. While struggling in the dark she heard someone laugh on the other side of the door.
"That'll scare the wits out of that stupid Mudblood! Crabbe, Goyle give me my money! I won!" said
"Ok Malfoy! We'll give you you're money later! Let's get out of here."
Hermione felt her face burn with anger, Malfoy and his cronies had played a prank on her. She immediately grabbed her wand and shouted. "Alohamora!" The door swung open and she spotted Malfoy walking away. She turned to him and pointed his wand.
"Not so fast Malfoy!" She was glaring at him, the rage of anger swept through her whole body. Malfoy turned to face her. She walked towards him still pointing her wand at his face. At first he didn't know what to say, there was a sinking feeling inside of him as he saw the saddest look on her face. He tried to shake the feeling of pity off him and spat.
"What?!"
Hermione's eyes widened, she felt her tears coming but tried her best to stop it from falling. She didn't want Malfoy to see her cry. "How could you do this?! How dare you,? You-you .you bastard!"
Draco forced a smile, "What? It's just a bet!" He said casually.
At the 'Was just a bet' remark, She exploded and-
PAK!
She had hit Malfoy so hard on his face (again!).
"Just a bet? My bet? My Fucking bet?! Damn you Malfoy!!!"
Hermione's nose was flaring with so much anger, she was glaring at him and as much as she wanted to stop her tears from falling she can't, it just kept on hurting. She was shaking with rage, she pointed her wand at them and shouted, "Petrificus Totallus!" Malfoy and he's cronies fell frozen on the floor. Hermione was still crying, tears were flowing in her cheeks.
"You know what Malfoy? I thought I saw something in you. but I was very wrong!"
She stared at them for a moment still crying and hurriedly stormed out of the tower.
To be continued.