Quick Note: Hello everyone!!! I updated earlier than planned!!! Yippeee!!! I'm so proud of myself! (Didn't you notice that "Yippeee" is starting to become part of my vocabulary? Hah! People might begin thinking I'm a lunatic. LOL!) Anyways, this is quite a long chapter so please be really patient with it. I hope you enjoy this chapter coz I really had a blast writing this down (in paper and in the computer). Please do review… Thanks so much and have a nice day… There will be 2 more chapters revolving on the "stunts", and then Oh my gosh, I hope you will love the next chapters after that… So there.. Til next time!
Disclaimer: As always, not mine!
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Chapter 7: Potions with Draco
Crash!
Hermione stirred in her bed and drew the blankets closer to her. "Stop it Crookshanks! Go to sleep!"
Crash!
The sound echoed louder pushing Hermione out of unconsciousness. Hermione's eyes immediately fluttered open. She wasn't lying on her own bed and the crash definitely didn't come from Crookshanks. At once, it all came coming back. Hermione turned her head to her left and found the single bed Draco's supposed to be in empty. Draco was missing!
"What - ? Where - ? " Hermione shot up in bed immediately feeling woozy.
Hermione scanned the room for a sign of Draco. There was none, except for a faint light coming from the closed bathroom door.
Quickly getting out of bed, Hermione grabbed her wand from her side table and tiptoed toward the bathroom. She pressed her ear toward the door and heard a soft humming from the inside.
"Maybe he's taking a bath - ," Hermione looked at the digital clock on top of the table and screwed up her face. "At midnight? That's odd!"
She made her way back to the bed and placed her wand back on the table.
"Ahhh, Damn it!"
Hermione ears shot up and she quickly rushed toward the bathroom door and pushed it open.
At once, Hermione found Draco kneeling over a boiling cauldron clutching his arm in pain.
"What - ?" started Hermione as she caught sight of an open Potions Book beside the cauldron. However, her words were lost as she saw ugly splinters and blisters sprouting out of Draco's arm.
"Oh, Thank Merlin you're here." whispered Draco squirming in pain.
Not thinking, Hermione quickly grabbed towels from the drawers and handed them to Draco.
"No, I need the crystal vial inside that blue bag, over there." said Draco refusing to accept the towels.
At once, Hermione dropped the towels on the floor and made her way toward the blue bag lying in the corner of the room. She quickly dug through different kinds of herbs, fungi, plants and seeds. In what seemed like forever, she caught sight of the crystal vial and rushed to Draco's side handing it to him.
"What can I do? Are you okay? Can I help?" stammered Hermione, feeling panic creep on her.
"I'm fine, I'm fine." said Draco calmly opening the vial and rubbing a greenish liquid into his blisters.
Hermione just stared dumbfounded, baffled at the sight unfolding in front of her.
At once, the red blisters disappeared and Draco looked fine once again.
"Thanks, now leave." said Draco sealing the crystal vial and covering the boiling cauldron. He closed the Potions Book and looked toward Hermione.
"Leave?" screamed Hermione. "Leave?" she repeated. "After I'm driven out of my wits with panic, you ask me to leave?" Hermione felt a mixture of anger, relief, disappointment, curiosity, numbness and all other emotions.
"You're over reacting!" stated Draco rolling his eyes.
This made Hermione even more frustrated.
"After I help you out? Without even an explanation, without please? Just plain 'LEAVE'?" continued Hermione anger etched all over her face.
"You're making a scene out of nothing at all!" said Draco shaking his head feeling bizarre. He didn't know why Hermione was acting the way she did. He did say thanks didn't he?
Hermione's brain was scattered all over the place. She was confused and sleepy. She raised her hands, placed it on her waist and flashed her eyes at Draco.
"One minute, you're actually glad to see me, without thinking ASK for my help, and after I help you out, - " Hermione stopped and inhaled deeply. "You drive me away?" She crossed her arms and whispered "Funny, I actually thought that maybe you and I could be friends… I thought maybe there's something inside you worth knowing. Maybe I just had to look deeper to bring out the good in you… Obviously, I was mistaken. The only thing I found out is YOU ARE A SICK SCHIZO."
Hermione walked out upset and proceeded to her bed. She noisily sat down and punched her pillow in anger. She lied down and placed the pillow over her head. She didn't know what triggered her sudden outburst but well, maybe she just didn't see it coming.
30 minutes later, Hermione was still seething in anger. How could she have thought that there was a possibility for them actually being friends? How could she actually think that Draco had a good side to him? Maybe she was just blinded by the thought that there is still good in people. Maybe she just felt the urge to 'save' him.
"It's not Schizophrenia, just misunderstood priorities." a voice suddenly said interrupting Hermione's trail of thought.
"Huh?" said Hermione's muffled voice.
"I'm sorry."
Upon hearing this, Hermione removed the pillow from her face and stared at Draco sitting on the edge of his bed. Was she dreaming? Did he actually say 'SORRY'? She tried to look interested and urged him to go on.
"I had to rush an important potion, I'm a healer. Bet you didn't know that. I used to work at St. Mungo's but I decided to switch to private healing. I have my own clinic near our Manor." Draco said staring at his pillow. "I had a little accident, it's good you found me. I could have lost my hand. That solution is very similar to acid; it could melt metal in minutes."
Hermione stared at Draco shocked. Did she really save his hand or he was just bluffing to save face?
"But it's all worked out now, my owl Dragoon is going to pick it up and deliver it for me later… Thanks." Draco quickly got up and made his way out the door.
"Where are you going?" asked Hermione leaning her weight on her elbows.
"Out, I guess. I have to think."
"Don't you want to talk?" urged Hermione encouraging him to stay. "I'm sorry I blasted at you a while ago, I was just shocked and scared. Come on, let's talk. You can trust me."
Draco unexpectedly made his way back to his bed. He sat down and looked Hermione in the eye.
Hermione sat up and hugged her legs toward her. "I want you to understand me clearly Draco, I don't want to hate you, I'm tired of fighting with you, it's stressful," Hermione blushed, she was spilling her guts out to Draco Malfoy! "Besides, it's hard to spend every minute of every day for 2 weeks fighting right?" added Hermione catching herself, she didn't want Draco to think that she 'LIKED' him. "It's good to have someone to talk to, you know? It gets lonely sometimes... I can't believe I'm admitting this but I NEED a friend."
"You're right." nodded Draco. "I guess I could use a friend."
Draco stretched his body on his bed and tried to sleep.
"So, what potion was that you were doing?" Hermione said curiosity winning over her.
"Not so fast Granger! I have to get used to this 'friend' thing…. Besides, I'm getting sleepy!" said Draco stifling a yawn.
Hermione's eyes again flashed and she scowled at Draco. This boy was a real thick, hard-headed one!
Observing the change in Hermione's features, Draco said, "Relax HG, it's a Slytherin thing."
"A Slytherin thing? That's the most pathetic excuse I have ever heard in my life!" aimed Hermione at Draco.
"You'll understand. After all, you're my friend, right?"
Draco turned to the left and Hermione found herself facing Draco's back. She gave a loud frustrated sound. She turned the other way and again gave out a loud sigh.
"I can't believe you." whispered Hermione as she drifted into sleep. Until then, she didn't realize she was very tired. The events of the day took its toll on her. She closed her eyes and lost herself in her dreams. But before she actually floated out of consciousness, she heard a small but unmistakable chuckle coming from Draco, and at that she smiled.
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Dragoon
In the morning, Hermione noticed a slight change in Draco. She didn't know if it was just her convincing herself that there was a chance for them to be friends or it was really Draco sounding cheerier and more relaxed than usual.
He refrained from calling her 'Granger' the whole morning and when he did slip, he corrected himself immediately by smiling lightly and saying 'I mean, HG'.
Hermione never saw Draco that way, ever! Was the potion he was doing creating miracles?
She just kept quiet, raising her eyebrows occasionally when Draco made a comment about how they were a strong team and how they were going to win the 1 million pounds.
At 11:15 am, Hermione and Draco found themselves with the other 4 couples standing in an open field with a plank hoisted high up in the air with several lines and ropes around it.
Damian Antonelli, their Threshold Representative left them there saying, "Hope you slept well last night, you'll be needing your strength."
"Good morning everyone!" Jonah's voice boomed from above the plank.
He climbed down the ladder that led to the plank and approached the 5 couples. "Today, will be a difficult day."
Hermione's heart raced. She wasn't very tired and sleepy, but she also wasn't what she would call 'well rested'. Draco, on the other hand had the usual smirk on his face. He looked excited and ready.
"You're stunt for today would, as you can see, focus on that 40 ft. long plank, suspended 100 ft. from the ground." Jonah pointed toward the plank. "The couple must make their way across the plank."
Relief washed over all 10 faces looking eagerly at Jonah. Hermione marveled why this stunt was so easy. Just walk across the plank? That would be a stroll in the park!
"Sounds easy enough?" said Jonah. "Catch is, the couple will be tied together in the arms and in the legs, back to back. The key is you should be able to move together!"
Suddenly, the stunt didn't seem too easy anymore. Anxiety made its way towards the couples' faces in an instant.
"The couple with the fastest time will win a 2 week all expense paid trip to Venice, Italy." exclaimed Jonah.
Fiona, the mean girl who hated Hermione clapped her hands and jumped up and down. "I love that place!" She turned to Hermione and added dangerously, "Let's see how well you do! Of course, it won't be good enough because Karl and I are going to win this! I know it!"
"Unfortunately, the couple with the slowest time will have to leave." Jonah then placed his hands together and turned to Draco and Hermione. "And with that said, Draco, Hermione, you're lucky number 1!"
Hermione caught her breath, Draco and she didn't even have a plan yet! Draco marched toward the ladder that would lead them to the 100 ft. high plank and turned to Hermione, "Well, Come on! Let's do this!"
Hermione followed Draco toward the ladder and hissed at him. "We haven't worked out a plan yet."
Draco laughed confidently. "We'll just coordinate our steps." Draco quickly stood up straight placed his hands loosely on his side and turned to Hermione. "Side!" he shouted lifting his right foot to the right. "I move my right foot, you move your left. Or vice versa…. Together!" cried Draco again while bringing his legs together. "Of course, we have to do it as fast as we could. I'll do the shouting. Just move your feet and keep your hands steady. We have to have balance!" He clapped Hermione on the shoulder and added, "We're going to win this, I'm completely positive! Just don't fall."
Hermione perceived a hint of coolness in Draco's voice, a hint of confidence. That actually gave her assurance. Draco climbed the stepladder toward a square board connected to the plank and immediately Hermione followed without delay. As they reached the top, the man waiting on the ledge quickly bound them together at the arms and legs, pausing slightly to strap a rope onto their backs for protection in case they fell.
"Are you guys ready?" called Jonah from below. "In 3, 2, - ,"
"Wait!" screamed Hermione. She turned sideways to Draco, fear all over her features. "Why do we have to walk sideways? Can't you walk forward then I'll be walking backward?"
Draco turned his head and looked at Hermione like she was crazy. "In case you haven't noticed, that plank is only 1 foot wide. We'd surely fall in seconds. Besides, doing it sideways would get us across faster."
"But if we do it sideways I'll be able to look down." Hermione's eyes strayed down below and involuntarily shuddered. She was dreading every second of this stunt. "I'm afraid of heights." she whispered looking fearfully in Draco's eyes.
Draco's eyes softened in understanding and whispered back to Hermione. "Just don't look down. Do as I say and you'll be fine. We won't fall down, believe me." He patted Hermione's leg. He would have patted her on the shoulder, but since they were both tied together back to back, her leg was all he could reach. "Believe that you can do it."
Upon hearing Draco's words, Hermione was instantly filled with courage and confidence. She became determined to see this stunt through, no matter how scary it seemed. After all, she wasn't a Gryffindor for nothing. She straightened her back, gave a nod and called out to Jonah, "We're ready!"
"Okay, in 3, 2, 1, GO!"
Draco suddenly arched his back and started chanting. "Side, Together, Side, Together, Side, Together. Don't lose the timing. Side, Together, Side, Together. Don't look down, you're doing great! Side, Together, Side, Together. A few feet more! Yeah!"
"Time!" bellowed Jonah from below.
Hermione immediately breathed a sigh of relief. She didn't notice that they already made their way across the narrow plank. Her heart was pounding erratically, adrenaline surging through her body. She was just looking straight out the whole time concentrating hard on Draco's voice.
"We did it!" said Draco as the man on the square board untied them. He made a move to hug her but hesitated. Instead he wiped the sweat off his face then smacked Hermione lightly on the shoulder. "I told you we could do it!"
"Thanks," squeaked Hermione. "Thanks a lot for believing." She hugged Draco as tight as she could. "Oh, sorry," she laughed as Draco stiffened on her embrace. "I didn't realize I was so sweaty."
"Hey, Draco, Hermione, you can go down now!" yelled Jonah from the ground.
Hermione and Draco made their way back to the ground via the ladder and proceeded directly to a waiting Jonah and the other 4 couples.
"Wow! That was very fast! 15.5 seconds! Impressive!" said Jonah clapping his hands. "How did you do that?"
"I was listening to Draco the whole time… He took over." said Hermione smiling at Draco.
Jonah turned to Draco, "Well? How did you have that kind of balance? Don't you have a fear of heights?"
Draco looked at Jonah surprised. "I'm a seeker, in Quid - ,"
Draco's words were lost into air as Hermione elbowed him in the ribs willing him to stop. "He means he's a THRILL seeker, he's gone sky-diving, bungee jumping and the like. Heights doesn't really scare him, I however, am the exact opposite… That's why he took charge. He just did the commands and I obeyed." Hermione said quickly in one breath making Jonah and the cameraman shift from Draco to her in an instant.
Jonah looked satisfied with Hermione's answer. "Very well, Congratulations to you both. You've set a very high time. Let's just hope that Brian and Fiona could do better than that." Jonah quickly turned to Brian and Fiona, "Let's go!"
Out of the blue, Hermione had an insurmountable urge to irritate Fiona. She has been really unbearable for the past few days, Hermione thirsted for payback. "I hope a bird swoops by and takes you far far away. Back where you belong." called Hermione smiling sweetly at Fiona.
Fiona scowled at her and followed Brian to the ladder.
As soon as they reached the top, Brian and Fiona were immediately tied together at the legs and the arms.
"In 3, 2, 1, Go!"
Brian and Fiona used the 'sideways technique' imitating Draco and Hermione. They were trying to move really fast. In 10 seconds, they were halfway through the plank.
Suddenly, a loud screech was heard out of nowhere. Jonah, Hermione, Draco and the other 3 couples looked up. Hermione gasped as a large black eagle owl flew toward Brian and Fiona crying loudly. The owl flew past Brian and Fiona, pecking Fiona slightly on the head. Fiona screamed in fright. She tried to wriggle away from Brian, but since they were tied together, she lost her balance instead.
In slow motion, Hermione watched as Brian and Fiona fell from the plank.
"Gggggrrrrrangggger!" screamed Fiona as she and Brian were dangling on the rope.
The men at the square boards who tied and untied the contestants took the ropes and eased Brian and Fiona toward the ground.
"What happened?" asked Jonah as Brian and Fiona reached them.
"That ruddy bird!" fumed Fiona glaring at Hermione. "You ordered it to come after me."
Hermione was taken aback. "What?"
"You ordered the bird to come after Me." repeated Fiona.
"Oh please! I didn't do anything!" argued Hermione.
"It's all your fault! You - ,"
"Okay!" said Jonah trying to break up the imminent fight. "It was nobody's fault. It's not like Hermione has powers now right?" Jonah chuckled at his own joke and continued. "Unfortunately, Brian and Fiona, you fell down. You reached 35 feet in 16.8 seconds. Just hope that another bird flies over Marty and Darla making them fall so that you can still stay in the game… Marty and Darla, are you guys ready?"
Marty and Darla both nodded and made their way to the ladder climbing as soon as they reached it. They were quickly tied together and soon enough, Jonah was shouting his usual "In 3, 2, 1, GO!"
Marty and Darla opted to do the 'forward/backward technique' instead of the 'sideways technique' Draco and Hermione used. They were having so much trouble, unable to synchronize their steps. The time was already 20 seconds, they still haven't gone halfway.
Suddenly, out of the blue, another screech was heard in the air. The same owl flew toward them, forcing Marty and Darla off the plank.
Hermione was shocked. What happened? This wasn't her fault, was it? She looked around. Nobody seemed to notice she was bothered. She scanned the skies and saw that there wasn't a sign of the owl anymore. What happened?
The next couple was Adrian and Georgia, peculiarly, the same owl came flying toward them again as they reached the 20 ft. mark. Again, forcing the pair off the plank.
Witnessing this, Hermione became worried. What did she do wrong? What happened? She noticed Tanya, the dorky girl, staring at her and Draco. Maybe she smelled something fishy going on.
"This is a very weird situation!" stated Jonah as Adrian and Georgia reached the group. "It's like the owls conspired against you guys." Jonah's eyes strayed towards Hermione questioningly. "Adrian, Georgia. If Karl and Tanya does better than 23 ft. in 33 seconds, you're off back home."
Immediately, Karl and Tanya made their way toward the plank. The man immediately tied them together checking their safety rope to make sure that there would be no accidents.
"Karl and Tanya, good luck!" yelled Jonah. "In 3, 2, 1, GO!"
Karl and Tanya made their way across the plank as fast as they could. Hermione was holding her breath, praying silently the black owl wouldn't show itself and it was mere coincidence that it attacked Brian and Fiona, Marty and Darla, and Adrian and Georgia.
"Eeeeek," a familiar screech sounded in the air.
Hermione's heart dropped. She was totally confused.
The black owl made its way to Karl and Tanya but stopped suddenly. The owl quickly turned back and flew away leaving Karl and Tanya in peace.
"What the - ," murmured Draco under his breath.
Hermione quickly turned her head toward him and glared at his blond head long and hard.
"Time!" called Jonah as Karl and Tanya reached the opposite end of the plank! "Finally, another couple makes it across without falling down!"
Karl and Tanya kissed each other as they were untied and immediately made their way toward the waiting group.
"Your time is," Jonah looked at Hermione and Draco, then to Karl and Tanya. "16.4 seconds."
Karl and Tanya dropped their heads in disappointment.
"Draco and Hermione, you're on your way to Venice, Italy! Congratulations!" cooed Jonah. "Unfortunately, Adrian, Georgia, you're journey towards the million pounds ends here. It was nice having you guys!"
Adrian and Georgia nodded and shook hands with the remaining contestants.
"Tomorrow will be another day! Ready yourselves! See you guys soon!"
The remaining 4 couples made their way back to the waiting limousines leaving Adrian and Georgia behind.
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"What was that about?" asked Hermione as she and Draco entered the limousine.
"What?" answered Draco innocently.
"The OWL!" Hermione said irritated.
"Oh, Dragoon? I just asked him to help us out in case we have an outdoor stunt. And it worked didn't it?" Draco chuckled. "But it's weird though that he chickened out with Karl and Tanya."
"That was cheating!" Hermione said furiously.
"Oh please, we won, didn't we?" Draco said coolly. "You're just guilty because you said that silly owl comment." Draco laughed and amusedly looked at Hermione.
Hermione rolled her eyes. She couldn't believe Draco's sneakiness.
"HG!" said Draco when Hermione didn't answer. "It's not a big deal. We did what we had to to win."
"Victory is sweeter when you win it FAIRLY. But I guess you wouldn't understand that because," Hermione imitated Draco's drawl "it's a Slytherin thing."
"Come on, if we're gonna win this competition, we'll need all the help we can get. Dragoon is more than willing to do just that. He's been there for me ever since and he'll do anything for me. He's what you call a real friend." Draco looked at Hermione. "You do want to win right?"
Hermione had an urge to explain that 'friends' didn't help friends cheat. She had an urge to correct Draco's mistaken understanding of 'friends'. But she didn't. "Yeah, I do want to win, but not like this."
Draco kept quiet the whole trip back to the hotel. As soon as they arrived in their room, he made his way straight to the bathroom.
Hermione didn't have the heart to argue so she just let him go.
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Callie() - Thanks so much for your review… I really appreciate it! Here, I uploaded one more chapter sooner than I thought… Hehehe, so that you can figure out already if what you're thinking is what I'm doing… Hope you enjoyed this chapter!!!
kawaii&crazy - There! I updated sooner than I thought I could!!! Aren't you proud of me??? LOL… Just kidding!! Hope you liked this chapter… Thanks soooo much for your review! Appreciate it a LOT!
Zalexiya - Hi!!! I'm so glad you like the Reality TV show plot… LOL… it just came to me while I was watching Fear Factor… LOL!!! What do you think of this chapter? I hope you enjoyed it!!! Thanks so much for your review!