Chapter 16: Their Duel
Hermione and Draco had learned to work together harmoniously. They were almost friends in their tutoring sessions. Outside of this though, things were different. There was an urge to fight, to make fun of the other person in front of everyone else.
"So, what are you doing this weekend," Hermione asked drinking her hot chocolate she got on the way there.
"Nothing much," Draco asked while cleaning his quill.
"Not going away or anything. No death eater business," Hermione said looking at her nails.
"Yeah there's a party or some... hang on," Draco said abruptly.
"Remember the letter I read. I know you're going to become a death eater, but I don't care. I'm going to die one day anyway," she said stirring her drink. Draco looked at her in awe.
"So are you one yet? Do you have the mark?" she pressed on.
"How dare you ask me such questions? I ought to kill you now," he said in shock.
"Go for it. I know you won't do it. You don't want to blow your cover," she said smartly.
"Have you told anyone," he said very quietly though no one could hear them.
"No. I don't think it's that's important. We'll win either way. You suck at duelling," she said.
Draco creased his brow. "I could beat you any day," he said proudly.
"Let us see. If I win, you have to show me your dark mark and I dock 50 points of Slytherin. If you win, um," Hermione thought lost for words.
"You have to dock 50 points off every house but Slytherin," he said nastily.
"Fine," Hermione said. "Let's begin."
The room swirled for a minute and when it stopped they were standing in a barren and plain room.
"Expelliarmus!" Hermione yelled. Draco who was not expecting this felt his wand fly out of his hand and land 10 metres behind him. He sprinted towards it and just as his fingers closed around the wand Hermione yelled out "Rictusempra!" Draco doubled up in fits of laughter. Hermione walked towards him.
"Had enough," she said smirking over him.
Draco muttered something while laughing. Hermione screamed out in pain and grasped her arm. A long gash had appeared in her forearm and blood was gushing out of it. She kept mumbling the counter curse but her eyesight was blurring. She was losing too much blood. She heard Draco stop laughing.
"Can't handle the sight of blood can you, and it's only an illusion. I guess I win then," came Draco's voice from next to her. She kept her breath steady. 'One, two, three,' Hermione jumped up.
"Petrificus Totalus!" she yelled. Draco hit the floor stiff as a board.
"No, you don't win. Give up?" Hermione said.
"Blink once of no and twice if yes," Hermione said smirking.
He blinked once. "Ok then. I'll just go to the kitchens and bring up some food. It's going to be a long night," she said and walking towards the door. Draco mumbled and she turned around. "Yes, what is it," Hermione said knowing full well what he would do. She looked at him and her eyesight swayed in and out of focus.
Draco blinked twice. "Very well," Hermione said sighing and removed the body bind.
"Fine, you win. But if it was a real duel, and I didn't use just the illusion charm, I would have won," Draco said getting to his feet.
"Ah, but you didn't use an illusion charm. You said the wrong thing," Hermione said as she pulled up the sleeve of her cloak. There was a long gash running down her forearm with blood surrounding it. Draco opened his mouth in surprise.
"I can't believe I did that. It's never worked before," he said astonished.
"You're a bastard, you know that," Hermione said. Her arm was chalk white now and she was swaying dangerously on the spot.
"You might want to heal that you know," Draco said sweeping the dust off his cloak. The room had returned to normal.
"I'll do whatever I feel like," Hermione said before falling to the floor in a dead faint.
'Great. Now I have to take you to the stupid hospital wing, and they're going to pin it on me,' Draco thought. 'It was you who did it dearie,' a voice sounded in his head.
"Oh yeah," Draco said before picking her up and walking to the hospital wing.
TWO DAYS LATER
"Hey look, she's waking up," a voice said quietly above her. Hermione groggily opened her eyes and saw Harry and Ron standing beside her bed.
"Hey guys," she said smiling at them.
"Hi. How are you?" Harry asked.
"I'm fine. How much work have I missed?" she asked.
Ron and Harry grinned at each other rolling their eyes.
"She's definitely back," Ron said.
"How long was I out for?" Hermione asked them.
"Two days. What happened? We just heard that you had lost a lot of blood and were in the hospital wing," Harry asked.
"Oh, you're awake at last. That's enough boys. You can talk to her tomorrow," Madame Pomfrey said as she came bustling out of her office. "Now, I want to hear what really happened. Mr Malfoy said that you tripped up on the rug and fell into a suit of armour carrying a sword, but that sounds a bit far fetched for me. So what really happened?
Hermione considered telling her what Malfoy did and getting him into trouble, but these were not the words that came from her mouth.
"He's telling the truth. I did trip on the rug. I was carrying too many books and didn't see where I was going," she lied.
Madame Pomfrey gave her a cynical look and placed a tray of food on her bedside table.
"Very well. You may leave tomorrow. Your teachers have left your work here," she said pointing to a small stack of parchment.
"Thanks," Hermione said and began to eat her breakfast.
It was about 3.00 in the afternoon and Hermione had finished her homework. She was sitting up in bed reading a book when Lavender, Parvati, Harry, Ron, Neville and Ginny came in to see her.
"Hey. This was the only time we were all allowed in so we all came together. How are you feeling," Harry said.
"I'm fine," Hermione said flattered by her well wishers.
"So, what happened Hermione?" Neville asked.
"Well, I was on my way back to the common room from the library when I tripped on a corner of a rug and fell into a suit of armour. The knight tried to catch me off course, but forget about the sword in his hand," she said. She had rehearsed this during the day.
Everyone winced. "We all thought Malfoy had something to with it because of that little fight we had earlier," Ron said sheepishly.
"No, it was my clumsiness," she said laughing. She looked past them and saw Draco standing at the door. As soon as he saw her, he turned around and walked off. Hermione smiled to herself.
"What is it?" Ginny asked.
"Oh nothing. I'm just thinking of how stupid I was that night," she said.
They talked for a few more minutes before the boys left for Quidditch practise accompanied by Neville.
"So, I heard that Draco Malfoy carried you up to the hospital wing because he found you first," Lavender said excitedly.
"How romantic," Parvati sighed clasping her hands together.
"How unromantic you mean! That git touched me," Hermione said.
"Every girl in Hogwarts would love to be rescued by Draco Malfoy," Parvati said dreamily.
"Yes, well then every girl in Hogwarts is mentally retarded and I was not rescued by Malfoy. He just didn't want to get in trouble in case Filch or something came along," she said.
"How do you know? Did he come here and talk you at lunch?" Lavender asked.
"Yeah come to think of it, I didn't see him at lunch," Ginny said smiling.
"Ginny! You of all people should understand me! And I'm judging by his personality that he didn't want trouble," she said starting to get slightly annoyed.
"We're just pulling your leg Hermione," Ginny laughed.
"Yes, well it isn't funny. I'm sickened to even think of that bastard," Hermione spat.
"Well, we have to go now. Padma found something in Hogsmede and we need to go see it," Lavender said.
"Ok, I'll see you in class tomorrow," Hermione said.
"Bye little princess in distress," they laughed as they left.
"Those two," Hermione said angrily.
"Yeah I know. At least you don't have to listen to their squeals all day long in the common room," Ginny said sighing. "So anyway, what really happened," Ginny said sitting on the edge of the bed.
"I told you what happened," Hermione said adamantly.
"No, you made up a story. I'm not going to tell anyone. You should know that by now," Ginny said hurtfully.
"Fine. I had a duel with Malfoy, and we made a bet. I won in the end, but his charm was powerful, so I lost consciousness from loss of blood," she said.
"Gees Hermione! I should hex that bastard into next century. I hope this bet was worth it," Ginny said.
"I think it was. I get to dock 50 points of Slytherin," she said smirking.
"Nice going. That puts them at the bottom of the ladder," Ginny said slapping her hi five. Hermione purposely didn't tell her about the dark mark, even though Ginny was very trustworthy.
"Well, I have a lot of homework to do, and I'm not a lightning fast writer like you," she said standing up.
"Ok then. I'll see you tomorrow," Hermione said settling back into the bed.
"Oh, and these are for you from all of us," Ginny said placing a basket full of Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans, some of those cream filled chocolates she loved, and a copy of a book she loved from the library.
"You didn't have to do this you know," Hermione said.
"Yeah we knew. But it's been kind of empty without you for two days," Ginny said winking.
(A/N: Damn my hand is very sore)
A/N: Ok, I'm going to finish this here coz it's not a cliffy. I'm writing this way in advance. I've just posted the 14th chapter. I know I have spelling mistakes! Bear with me! I'm in my last year of skool, so I shouldn't be doing this, but I'm not going to waste my time reading back over this. I'm sure you get the gist of it. Keep those reviews coming!!!
Hermione and Draco had learned to work together harmoniously. They were almost friends in their tutoring sessions. Outside of this though, things were different. There was an urge to fight, to make fun of the other person in front of everyone else.
"So, what are you doing this weekend," Hermione asked drinking her hot chocolate she got on the way there.
"Nothing much," Draco asked while cleaning his quill.
"Not going away or anything. No death eater business," Hermione said looking at her nails.
"Yeah there's a party or some... hang on," Draco said abruptly.
"Remember the letter I read. I know you're going to become a death eater, but I don't care. I'm going to die one day anyway," she said stirring her drink. Draco looked at her in awe.
"So are you one yet? Do you have the mark?" she pressed on.
"How dare you ask me such questions? I ought to kill you now," he said in shock.
"Go for it. I know you won't do it. You don't want to blow your cover," she said smartly.
"Have you told anyone," he said very quietly though no one could hear them.
"No. I don't think it's that's important. We'll win either way. You suck at duelling," she said.
Draco creased his brow. "I could beat you any day," he said proudly.
"Let us see. If I win, you have to show me your dark mark and I dock 50 points of Slytherin. If you win, um," Hermione thought lost for words.
"You have to dock 50 points off every house but Slytherin," he said nastily.
"Fine," Hermione said. "Let's begin."
The room swirled for a minute and when it stopped they were standing in a barren and plain room.
"Expelliarmus!" Hermione yelled. Draco who was not expecting this felt his wand fly out of his hand and land 10 metres behind him. He sprinted towards it and just as his fingers closed around the wand Hermione yelled out "Rictusempra!" Draco doubled up in fits of laughter. Hermione walked towards him.
"Had enough," she said smirking over him.
Draco muttered something while laughing. Hermione screamed out in pain and grasped her arm. A long gash had appeared in her forearm and blood was gushing out of it. She kept mumbling the counter curse but her eyesight was blurring. She was losing too much blood. She heard Draco stop laughing.
"Can't handle the sight of blood can you, and it's only an illusion. I guess I win then," came Draco's voice from next to her. She kept her breath steady. 'One, two, three,' Hermione jumped up.
"Petrificus Totalus!" she yelled. Draco hit the floor stiff as a board.
"No, you don't win. Give up?" Hermione said.
"Blink once of no and twice if yes," Hermione said smirking.
He blinked once. "Ok then. I'll just go to the kitchens and bring up some food. It's going to be a long night," she said and walking towards the door. Draco mumbled and she turned around. "Yes, what is it," Hermione said knowing full well what he would do. She looked at him and her eyesight swayed in and out of focus.
Draco blinked twice. "Very well," Hermione said sighing and removed the body bind.
"Fine, you win. But if it was a real duel, and I didn't use just the illusion charm, I would have won," Draco said getting to his feet.
"Ah, but you didn't use an illusion charm. You said the wrong thing," Hermione said as she pulled up the sleeve of her cloak. There was a long gash running down her forearm with blood surrounding it. Draco opened his mouth in surprise.
"I can't believe I did that. It's never worked before," he said astonished.
"You're a bastard, you know that," Hermione said. Her arm was chalk white now and she was swaying dangerously on the spot.
"You might want to heal that you know," Draco said sweeping the dust off his cloak. The room had returned to normal.
"I'll do whatever I feel like," Hermione said before falling to the floor in a dead faint.
'Great. Now I have to take you to the stupid hospital wing, and they're going to pin it on me,' Draco thought. 'It was you who did it dearie,' a voice sounded in his head.
"Oh yeah," Draco said before picking her up and walking to the hospital wing.
TWO DAYS LATER
"Hey look, she's waking up," a voice said quietly above her. Hermione groggily opened her eyes and saw Harry and Ron standing beside her bed.
"Hey guys," she said smiling at them.
"Hi. How are you?" Harry asked.
"I'm fine. How much work have I missed?" she asked.
Ron and Harry grinned at each other rolling their eyes.
"She's definitely back," Ron said.
"How long was I out for?" Hermione asked them.
"Two days. What happened? We just heard that you had lost a lot of blood and were in the hospital wing," Harry asked.
"Oh, you're awake at last. That's enough boys. You can talk to her tomorrow," Madame Pomfrey said as she came bustling out of her office. "Now, I want to hear what really happened. Mr Malfoy said that you tripped up on the rug and fell into a suit of armour carrying a sword, but that sounds a bit far fetched for me. So what really happened?
Hermione considered telling her what Malfoy did and getting him into trouble, but these were not the words that came from her mouth.
"He's telling the truth. I did trip on the rug. I was carrying too many books and didn't see where I was going," she lied.
Madame Pomfrey gave her a cynical look and placed a tray of food on her bedside table.
"Very well. You may leave tomorrow. Your teachers have left your work here," she said pointing to a small stack of parchment.
"Thanks," Hermione said and began to eat her breakfast.
It was about 3.00 in the afternoon and Hermione had finished her homework. She was sitting up in bed reading a book when Lavender, Parvati, Harry, Ron, Neville and Ginny came in to see her.
"Hey. This was the only time we were all allowed in so we all came together. How are you feeling," Harry said.
"I'm fine," Hermione said flattered by her well wishers.
"So, what happened Hermione?" Neville asked.
"Well, I was on my way back to the common room from the library when I tripped on a corner of a rug and fell into a suit of armour. The knight tried to catch me off course, but forget about the sword in his hand," she said. She had rehearsed this during the day.
Everyone winced. "We all thought Malfoy had something to with it because of that little fight we had earlier," Ron said sheepishly.
"No, it was my clumsiness," she said laughing. She looked past them and saw Draco standing at the door. As soon as he saw her, he turned around and walked off. Hermione smiled to herself.
"What is it?" Ginny asked.
"Oh nothing. I'm just thinking of how stupid I was that night," she said.
They talked for a few more minutes before the boys left for Quidditch practise accompanied by Neville.
"So, I heard that Draco Malfoy carried you up to the hospital wing because he found you first," Lavender said excitedly.
"How romantic," Parvati sighed clasping her hands together.
"How unromantic you mean! That git touched me," Hermione said.
"Every girl in Hogwarts would love to be rescued by Draco Malfoy," Parvati said dreamily.
"Yes, well then every girl in Hogwarts is mentally retarded and I was not rescued by Malfoy. He just didn't want to get in trouble in case Filch or something came along," she said.
"How do you know? Did he come here and talk you at lunch?" Lavender asked.
"Yeah come to think of it, I didn't see him at lunch," Ginny said smiling.
"Ginny! You of all people should understand me! And I'm judging by his personality that he didn't want trouble," she said starting to get slightly annoyed.
"We're just pulling your leg Hermione," Ginny laughed.
"Yes, well it isn't funny. I'm sickened to even think of that bastard," Hermione spat.
"Well, we have to go now. Padma found something in Hogsmede and we need to go see it," Lavender said.
"Ok, I'll see you in class tomorrow," Hermione said.
"Bye little princess in distress," they laughed as they left.
"Those two," Hermione said angrily.
"Yeah I know. At least you don't have to listen to their squeals all day long in the common room," Ginny said sighing. "So anyway, what really happened," Ginny said sitting on the edge of the bed.
"I told you what happened," Hermione said adamantly.
"No, you made up a story. I'm not going to tell anyone. You should know that by now," Ginny said hurtfully.
"Fine. I had a duel with Malfoy, and we made a bet. I won in the end, but his charm was powerful, so I lost consciousness from loss of blood," she said.
"Gees Hermione! I should hex that bastard into next century. I hope this bet was worth it," Ginny said.
"I think it was. I get to dock 50 points of Slytherin," she said smirking.
"Nice going. That puts them at the bottom of the ladder," Ginny said slapping her hi five. Hermione purposely didn't tell her about the dark mark, even though Ginny was very trustworthy.
"Well, I have a lot of homework to do, and I'm not a lightning fast writer like you," she said standing up.
"Ok then. I'll see you tomorrow," Hermione said settling back into the bed.
"Oh, and these are for you from all of us," Ginny said placing a basket full of Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans, some of those cream filled chocolates she loved, and a copy of a book she loved from the library.
"You didn't have to do this you know," Hermione said.
"Yeah we knew. But it's been kind of empty without you for two days," Ginny said winking.
(A/N: Damn my hand is very sore)
A/N: Ok, I'm going to finish this here coz it's not a cliffy. I'm writing this way in advance. I've just posted the 14th chapter. I know I have spelling mistakes! Bear with me! I'm in my last year of skool, so I shouldn't be doing this, but I'm not going to waste my time reading back over this. I'm sure you get the gist of it. Keep those reviews coming!!!