Chapter 3 Him, why him?

Hermione lied there, in shock. This could not be happening. Finally she finds someone she could relate with, and it turns out to be Draco Malfoy! How??? How could both of them turn into cats???? Why!?

Draco smiled a strange cattish smile. "Surprised?"

"Yes," she whispered without thinking. Draco let out a small laugh. "Uhm... so... what do you think that we should do? I mean, personally, being a cat and all, well, I prefer being human."

Draco stared at her with his deep gray eyes. There was something about them. Hermione had never really taken the time to get to know him or studied his features. She couldn't now, but his eyes were still human. They seemed to relax her and yet made her jumpy at the same time. His eyes weren't cold, like they were at school. It was strange, for once she felt as though she was with someone like Ron or Harry, not her hated enemy. Of course at the moment she couldn't say that she really hated him.

"I don't know, maybe we should... find someone we know," Draco suggested.

"You know, Malfoy, you've said something smart for once," Hermione grinned.

Draco smirked in his cattish way. "Let's go then, Mudblood- I mean... Hermione." Hermione was a bit shocked at this. Draco Malfoy was correcting himself for calling her a Mudblood. Now how often does that happen? Hermione stood up and Draco made an attempt to follow. But as soon as he stood, he collided back to the ground.

"Dang leg!" he growled. Then looking up at her, he sighed, "Well, I'm not going to be too much help. Go ahead and leave me." He said it a bit over dramatic not meaning it. Hermione smiled, "Ok." And she got up and walked away slowly.

"Hey!" Draco called almost sounding distressed. Hermione stopped and turned. "You're not seriously thinking of leaving me now, are you?" Hermione smiled and shook her head. Gracefully, her slender brown body slid next to him.

"So... what do we do as we wait?" Hermione said stretching herself out in the shade. Draco lied back a bit too. "Draco, are you sure that you can't remember anything about your attack?"

Draco glanced at her then towards the sky. "Well, uhm... now that I think of it there are a few details that I remember. I was conscious when attacked. My attacker... he... he was dressed fully in black with a mask covering his face. He muttered some curse or something. Next thing I know I'm a whole lot smaller and on the edge of consciousness. I tried to fight. Then he... he pulled out a long knife! And slashed it at me. And... I was... out."

"Well, if you can't stand of it without a whole lot, most likely the tendons and muscles have been severely damaged. You'll need medical attention," Hermione said calmly.

"Well!" Draco hissed, "That's great, Hermione, just great!" Hermione was taken back by his sudden loss of temper. "Now what am I to do!? Oh here's an idea, we walk into a bloody hospital and have them fix me!!!" Now Draco was practically yelling at her.

"Fine!" Hermione yelled back, "Go ahead and blame everything on me! Well, news flash Malfoy! I'm the one who can understand and help you! So what are you going to do! To tell you the truth I had an idea too!" The she strode away with her tail held high along with her nose.

"Hermione!" Draco called distressed. But Hermione continued to ignore him. Then she heard Draco yowl quietly in pain. Hermione faltered in her paces. There was a soft thud and a small, petty voice. "Hermione, I'm... sorry, I didn't mean it. Please, please come back."

Hermione turned. Her soft amber eyes were engulfed. Cool, pleading gray eyes locked her's where they were. The eyes were gentle and kind, nothing like the eyes of a Draco that she knew once. The way that the sun hit them just right, the way that they took you into a deep emotional place, the way that they comforted her and caused her anger with him to disappear.

Hermione walked back to Draco. He was lying helplessly on the ground. Once again Draco's paw was bleeding. Draco was staring at the ground trying to hide the pain on his face. Hermione lied back down beside him and sighed.

"We need someone to help us," Hermione whispered aloud. "I doubt that we'll survive another night in the open." Hermione looked up the trunk of the oak they were laying under. With lightning speed, Hermione jumped up, extended her claws and climbing up.

When Hermione reached the top branches, she peered out across the flat land. "There's a farm not to far ahead!" she yelled down. Noting the direction, Hermione climbed down.

"How'd you learn to do that? Have you been a car before or something," Draco asked.

"No," Hermione laughed, "I've seem my cat do that plenty of times. I was thinking that I could lead the farmer or whoever is there here and they'll take you and fix you up." Draco smiled and agreed to stay there.

Hermione trotted through the long grass. Now, all she had to do was get there and get someone to come with her. The walk was longer than she had guessed. The ground was very tough on her shorter legs and shoeless feet. Hermione held back the pain and continued on.

After a very long walk, the grass began to shorten around her. Soon, Hermione approached a young man. He was hitching two oxen to a plow. He had a square jaw and very black hair. He wore suspenders and a pale t- shirt. Hermione noticed a wallet sitting next to a rifle on a stump. Prefect. Slowly, Hermione approached the stump. "Well, it's now or never," Hermione whispered.