Okay! I'm totally healed!! I am BACK!! So! Get ready for some serious ACTION!!!

Chapter 6

"So, Malfoy," Hermione said slowly, over pronouncing every syllable. "Do you understand how to put spells on yourself to give you extra powers?"

Malfoy rolled his eyes and sneered. "Yes Mudbl—" he stopped, checking himself. "Yes Granger." He said sweetly, forcing a smile onto his face.

"Good. Recite the twelve uses of dragon blood." Hermione said abruptly, startling Draco.

"Wha—What?" he stuttered, fumbling with his notes. "We learned that in first year!"

Hermione smiled innocently. "Yes, I know. However, it is related to the next subject that we're studying."

Draco snickered. "And what's that? 'How to be a Brainless Dragon Breeder'?"

Hermione slammed her book shut. "If you don't want me to tutor you, I'll leave."

Resigned to the worst, Draco confessed. "I don't remember." He said, gritting his teeth.

Hermione smiled. "Well, Mr. Malfoy, I guess you'll just have to learn them! I want you to remember them by tomorrow, and be able to tell me not only what each is used for, but who discovered it."

Draco's eyes widened with disbelief. "What are you playing at, Mud—Granger?!"

Hermione eyed him and beamed at him as if he were a toddler who needed to be taught how to walk. She stood up and said, "See you on Friday!" and left Draco Malfoy sitting there in utter incredulity.

"Ha!" Hermione thought, as she walked out.

"Stupid Mudblood." Draco thought, as she walked out.

"Good morning!" Hermione said cheerfully, as she sat down at the breakfast table the next morning. Harry and Ron were both disheveled and tired from their Quidditch practice the night before, and grumpily replied a 'morning' before slumping onto the table and getting some well needed sleep.

"Granger."

Ron and Harry immediately sat straight up again, and glared at the intruder.

Hermione turned and stood up. "Malfoy."

Draco narrowed his eyes. "I know what you're doing." He hissed vehemently. "If you think you're so smart by doing this, you're dumber than I thought you were."

Hermione smiled pleasantly. "I don't know what you're talking about, Malfoy." She said, and headed off to Astronomy.

Hermione was full of rapt attention as Professor Sinistra explained the star's alignment.

"Tonight, my children." The Professor announced. "The earth and the moon will align in a manner that has been unknown to mankind for centuries! Tonight, my children, will be the night of an eclipse!"

The class gasped.

"Yes!" the excited Professor exclaimed, clapping her hands. "It shall be most incredible! I want you all to draw a picture of the eclipse, to be handed in next Monday. Don't forget, my children, this has not happened for centuries! You may be witnessing history!"

Hermione raised her hand quickly. "Please, Professor," she called out, quivering with excitement. "How long will this eclipse last?"

The Professor looked pleased that at least someone was interested. "Three days, Miss Granger." She replied. "But take heed: tonight would be the best night, for it will be the strongest tonight! Class dismissed!"

After dinner, Harry, Ron, and Hermione sat in squashy armchairs by the fire, doing their homework.

"Ah, I give up!" Ron exclaimed, throwing down his quill.

"Me too!" Harry cried, shutting his book.

They looked pleadingly at Hermione.

"Can't we copy one sentence?" Ron begged, clasping his hands.

"Please, Hermione?" Harry said, positively drooling.

Hermione looked up. She'd already been done with her homework for an hour, and was only writing a letter to Victor Krum. She looked at her watch; it was half past eleven.

"Sorry!" she cried, jumping up. "I've got to go!"

Ron eyed her in amazement. "It's eleven thirty, Hermione. What are you going to do at eleven thirty at night?"

Hermione grabbed her cloak. "My Astronomy homework! Are you coming?"

Harry snorted. "It's due next Monday! We have plenty of time!"

Hermione rolled her eyes, and headed to the portrait door. "Suit your selves," she said, and left the common room.

Ron stared after her. "Mental, that one!" he whispered.

The castle was very dark and silent at night. Hermione, who had only been out at night with Harry and Ron, was quite afraid. The silence was eerie! Finally, after climbing at least two hundred stairs, she reached the Astronomy Tower.

Hermione gasped with pleasure when she saw the eclipse. Immediately, she drew out her parchment and quill, and began sketching it, admiring the beauty. She carried on like this until she finished. Feeling reluctant to leave, Hermione decided to sketch the scenery around the eclipse as well. Just as she was drawing a tree, she heard something.

"Oh Drakiebaby!" a female voice squealed.

Hermione stiffened, feeling tense.

A male voice spoke, sounding...drawl-like. "Do you like it?"

"Oh Drakiebakiewakie!!" the female voice giggled. "It's so cuuuuute!" Hermione winced as the girl's voice went up several octaves at the 'cuuuuuute'.

"Look!" the male said, drawing closer to Hermione's spot. "It's an eclipse!"

Hermione could feel the pair a few feet away from her. She decided to clear her throat.

"Uh-hum!" she rasped as loudly as she could.

The two people stopped whispering to each other and stood stock-still.

"Who's there?" the girl mewed.

"Go back to the common room, Pansy." The boy said, sounding firm. "I don't want you to get into trouble. It's too late anyway."

The girl sighed. "Okay, Drakiecakie." Hermione listened for a few minutes, and then heard the girl leave.

"Granger." The male said.

Hermione groaned. She could never escape Malfoy, could she?

"What are you doing up here, ruining my date?" Malfoy accused, stepping into the light.

Hermione stepped into the light as well. "I wasn't planning on ruining it." She said defensively. "It's not my fault you and Parkinson can't go somewhere private."

Malfoy sneered. "What were you doing up here?" he asked, glancing around suspiciously. "Where's Potty and Weasel King?"

Hermione sniffed. "No, Harry and Ron are not here. And for your information, I was doing my homework, like a good girl."

Malfoy smirked and leaned against the wall. "My God, Granger. You are duller than I thought. Can't you do something other than homework?"

Hermione's eyes widened, as if she'd never heard of a thing. "I am not dull!" she protested, drawing herself up. "I'm just prudent."

Malfoy muttered something underneath his breath. "Whatever." He said, finally. "I'm going to bed."

When Malfoy had gone, Hermione finished her sketch and left as well. As she passed by the library, she spotted Malfoy in the Restricted Section, and grimaced to herself.

"It looks like Mr. Malfoy is going to loose some house points!" she said to herself, entering the library as well.

Draco moved among the shelves, muttering, "Wasp...wasp.... where is it? The W section doesn't have wasp...."

Hermione sat down in a chair and watched him search. Finally, she spoke. "Do you have a note, Mr. Malfoy?"

Draco jumped; he thought it was McGonagall. He turned and saw Hermione, and his surprise turned to anger.

"That's not funny." He snapped and stalked off to another section.

Hermione, enjoying how much he was annoyed, followed him.

Neither of them saw a figure outside the library pull out a wand and mutter a spell at the door. The figure, when it was done, left.

"Malfoy, I distinctly remember Madame Pince saying that we must have a note!" Hermione said in a dangerous tattletale voice. "And I don't think you do!"

Malfoy cursed and headed to the door. He grabbed the handle and yanked, but nothing happened.

Hermione stopped her teasing immediately. "What?" she asked, already knowing the answer.

Malfoy grabbed the door handle again, but it did not give. "It's locked!" he cried, banging his fists against the door.

Hermione pulled out her wand. "Alohomora!" she whispered urgently. Nothing happened.

Draco banged his fists against the door one last time and faced Hermione.

"We're locked."

Ooolala! Sorry about the cliffie, but I had to! I'm sure you understand? Anyway, please review!! Thanks to the reviewers:

sundaym0rning

Storywritter10791

Lisi

Eniyou

crimsonpacific

Kigomae

Yay! Thanks guys! I think this may be the longest chapter I've written yet...but I'll try to write even longer ones! heh heh, bubs!

-enjorli