The next week passed and we were into the chilly month of November. Since it was a Saturday, Malfoy I took a seat down on the damp grass outside by the lake.
"When do you think she'll get the blasted key?" I asked leaning back on my elbows as far as I could go with the cuffs still on.
"With our luck, not until the beginning of next year." He grumbled.
I couldn't help but grin at his statement while a brief wind nipped at our skin, coloring it with a slight tinge of pink.
"Have you gotten word from your father?" I asked suddenly.
This clearly wasn't the question he was expecting as he turned quickly towards me and replied in a defensive voice,
"No, he has no idea of the happenings so far as he is on business in Europe."
I nodded my head slightly and began twirling blades of grass around my fingers as he stared at me in a manner almost like scrutiny.
"What?" I asked exasperated turning towards him.
I watched with awkward fascination as the curve of his lips curled up into a grin.
"Nothing Granger."
I turned away and heard footsteps coming our way.
"DRACO! I FOUND A SOLUTION!" The voice yelled.
We both looked up and saw Pansy running towards us with a happy grin on her face.
"Oh God, her with an idea is a suicide mission." I muttered to Malfoy as he pulled me up to my feet.
When she reached us she was smiling happily while trying to catch her breath.
"I found a way to get those things off of your wrist." She said happily.
Malfoy raised an eyebrow as if telling her to go on.
"Stand back." She said.
My eyes widened and before I could even open my mouth she drew her wand, muttered some words, and everything went spinning.
I could feel the ground beneath me falling away as Malfoy and I were flown backwards. A second later I felt the painful stinging of cold water and gasped as it flooded into my lungs.
I couldn't see in the darkness but could feel Malfoy trying to pull us up as I tried to kick upwards. There was a burning sensation in my lungs and I felt like my heart was going to explode any minute as I began to see painful black dots.
There was a violent tug on my wrist and I began to kick in that direction. Through the murky waters I could finally begin to see the surface as I kicked with everything I had left. Looking to my left I could faintly make out the image of Malfoy kicking as well with all he had. Things began to get dark once more and I realized I had absolutely on more air left. Panicking I gave a strong kick and emerged through the surface.
"HERMIONE!" A voice was yelling panicked.
My eyes were closed and I could feel my head lolling from side to side as I was easily lifted out of the water while Malfoy was being pulled free as well.
"C'mon breathe Hermione." A voice said propping me up.
There was a jab into my stomach and everything came spinning back to me as I gargled water out of my mouth and breathed in gulps of air.
"Malfoy." I breathed reaching for his hand.
He clasped it and gave me a reassuring squeeze as I breathed in deeply once more. When I opened my eyes I saw Blaise, Malfoy, Harry, Ron, and Dean all hovering over me while Pansy stood fuming across the way.
"Are you alright?" Dean said brushing my hair away from my face.
I didn't have time to answer as I turned on my side and spat out a bitter fluid from my stomach.
"I'm going to murder her." I whispered as I breathed in deeply again.
It was then that I noticed my muscles were contracting sending shivers down my body from the cold.
"Murder her later, we need to get inside." Malfoy said standing up and pulling me up with him.
I could feel the water dripping from him onto me as I placed an arm around my waist to help support me. I could feel tingles shooting through my body at the contact and unconsciously leaned into his strong chest.
"She's turning blue!" Ron cried and we all picked up our pace.
I looked up weakly at Malfoy and saw him slightly chattering his teeth; jaw clenched with determination, as his lips as well began to turn blue.
"We need to get them to Madame Pomfrey." Blaise said as we walked through the Great Hall, that was luckily empty.
I remember everything being a blue of white and gray as the six of us hurried up the stairs towards the infirmary. I began sagging against Malfoy, as I grew weaker from the cold and shock of events.
"Come on Granger, stay with me." Malfoy said readjusting me against him.
Five seconds later we were walking through the doors and being placed on a bed together.
"I'm…s-s-so…c-c-cold." I chattered as I curled up into a ball next to Malfoy who was rubbing his arms to try and create friction.
"Madame Pomfrey isn't here." Blaise said walking towards us.
"Go find her." Malfoy said angrily.
Blaise and Ron took off while Harry and Dean stayed and waited with us.
"WHERE ARE THE BLANKETS?" Harry yelled frustrated.
I began to shake slightly as it caught Malfoy's attention when he looked over towards the movement.
"Come here." Malfoy commanded opening his arms slightly.
Without hesitating I moved into his arms and buried my face into his chest while he pulled me in closer to him.
"We should remove their robes." Dean said walking towards us with the blankets Harry had finally found.
I closed my eyes as Dean and Harry moved towards me and stripped off my wet robe while Malfoy removed his with his free hand. I curled up closer to Malfoy and shook while he rubbed my arm with his free hand and placed his chin on the top of my head.
"Why can't we use magic…" Dean began but Malfoy tensed and practically shouted,
"No magic!"
He turned back towards me and pulled me closer to him and I could feel him beginning to slightly shake from the cold, but luckily Madame Pomfrey came inside with the two boys moments later.
"Out of my way!" She shouted holding a green vial in her hands.
Vaguely I could feel someone tipping my head back as the liquid was poured down my throat. I could instantly feel my insides beginning to warm up and breathed a sigh of relief when my muscles stopped quaking. I opened my eyes and looked up to see a pair of steel silver ones staring back into mine. The intensity of his orbs caused me to blush under his gaze until someone pulled me away by a gentle tug on the shoulder.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Dean asked framing my face with his hands.
I distantly could hear Malfoy growl next to me as he pushed up from his lying position and said tensely,
"She's fine Thompson."
I watched as Dean's eyes narrowed at Malfoy until Blaise pushed through and took my hand.
"You two gave us quite a scare." He said good-naturedly.
This didn't help to improve Malfoy's mood as he stood up from the bed and got in front of me, blocking me from all eyes.
"We're fine." He said tersely.
Harry and Ron pushed through and wrapped the blankets around my shoulders tighter while handing me some warm robes Madame Pomfrey had found. I was confused when I noticed Malfoy not reacting briskly towards their actions however.
"You four need to leave now, Mr. Malfoy and Miss Granger need their sleep." Madame Pomfrey said pushing them out the door as Ron and Harry promised to bring me up some dinner.
I sighed and closed my eyes as I fell backwards onto the bed again.
"How are you feeling?" Malfoy asked as he crawled into the bed next to me.
"Tired." I whispered closing my eyes and trying to push back the feeling of almost drowning.
"Granger?" He asked softly causing me to open my eyes. What I saw in his eyes surprised me even more; concern.
"I'll be fine, how are you?" I asked trying to switch the subject off of me.
"Never was bad to begin with." He answered with a careless shrug.
I nodded my head and closed my eyes, but all I was able to see were the dark and murky waters of the lake, trying to encompass me and keep me to their depths.
"You almost drowned." Malfoy noted.
I snapped my eyes opened and turned towards him while slightly nodding my head.
"Blaise wasn't lying when he said you scared all of us Granger." He said making sure to place emphasis on the word 'all'.
I grinned and replied,
"My deepest apologies, next time I'm flung into the lake I'll make sure to ask the waters to gently push me back to surface."
"Well your sarcasm is back so that must be a good sign." He replied smirking at what I had said.
I nodded my head and closed my eyes once more beginning to fall asleep.
I woke up to two strong male voices but kept my eyes closed, as it seemed like they were in a heated discussion.
"Tell Markinson to stay away from Granger, Zambini or else I assure you he will be receiving a personal call from me." Malfoy warned in a threatening voice.
"Why do you think Markinson wants anything to do with Hermione?" Blaise asked frustrated.
"I know he knows Granger saw his dark mark, he'll do anything to keep his secrecy of his allegiance to the Dark Lord secret. Anything." Malfoy said knowingly.
"She saw it?" Blaise asked surprised.
"She hasn't said anything to me about it, but I know she did, she's easier to read then Lockhart's text books." Malfoy said sarcastically.
So Markinson was the person's last name, I need to find a way to tell Harry about this.
"Why are you so suddenly concerned for her?" Blaise asked curiously, as this peaked my interest as well.
I could feel Malfoy go rigid next to me.
"Just tell him to stay away from her, even after these flaming things come off." Malfoy warned.
"Do you have plans of your own for her?" Blaise asked and to my utter horror I could tell he was grinning as he asked this.
Before Malfoy could answer two more people came through the infirmary doors.
"Is Hermione up yet?" Ron asked bitterly.
I felt a shake on my shoulder and pretended to slowly wake up.
"You're friends are here." Malfoy said spitting the word 'friends' out like it contained a disgusting disease.
I looked over and caught Harry's eyes making sure to look at him intently. He nodded his head in recognition and walked over towards me with Ron and a platter of food.
"We brought you a bit of everything." Ron said smiling and sitting down next to me on the bed.
"Thanks." I whispered smiling happily at my true friends and looked up at Harry.
He took this moment to go through my memories and I did my best to hide what I was feeling as he watched what had happened moments before.
"C'mon Ron, we need to go." Harry said pulling a startled Ron up while I began to breathe in deeply trying to hide my lack of breath.
"What? But we just got here!" Ron complained.
"We. Need. To. Go." Harry said leveling his gaze at our oblivious friend.
Ron seemed to catch on as he rose his head in acknowledgement and after a brief goodbye they left. Malfoy slowly turned his accusing eyes onto mine as Blaise bid goodbye.
"Potter did it again didn't he?" Malfoy asked turning towards me.
I shook my head and turned on my side trying to get away from his prying eyes.
"What recap of your memories did he see that was so important he and Weasley needed to leave?" He asked once more but I decided to ignore him.
"Don't make me use Occlumency." He warned.
When I wouldn't answer I was roughly pulled aside and moved so when I looked up my hands were pinned above my head while he was hovering over me with angry eyes. The intimate position instantly had me squirming and blushing, looking everywhere except at him. Thinking quickly I answered,
"He went in to see what exactly happened at the lake with Pansy."
Making sure to keep my eyes impassive and my shaking exterior as cool as possible, he seemed to relent and pushed off of me while my heart was beating frantically against my chest.
As we ate in silence, finished our studies, and fell asleep against one another, I couldn't help but think, whoever knew something so dangerous could feel so right and good?