AN: OMGOSH! Thank y'all sooo much for reviewing! I'm starting this chapter (writing it, at least) with 101 reviews! lol, like my FAVORITE childhood movie, 101 Dalmatians! I have a Dalmatian! His name is Sam! Ok, yea, I'll have thanks at the end of this chapter!
Disclaimer: I don't want a fine because it's not mine! (REVIEW!)
Hermione kept her ears keen to what Dave was saying, giving detailed descriptions of trees and other greenery near the trail.
"The horse you're riding," Dave said, turning back to let Hermione know he was talking to her, their eyes locking briefly, "she was going to be trained to be a long distance race horse. Have you heard of the Magical Meters? Well, it's a race with magical horses, mind you they aren't magicked to run far, just not to be thirsty, and they race from England to Germany. It's a really fascinating experience, I've been on one."
Hermione's eyes sparkled. She hadn't ever heard of anything Dave was explaining, and her head was demanding more information. "Why didn't BB go?"
"BB was voted too big. She was ½ inch over sized, but I really thought she would've made a good horse. She's got big lungs and the perfect pacing. I was so disappointed when she didn't make it," Dave said, turning around to face Hermione. His blue eyes seemed anxious, his brown hair slightly curled and tousled from frustrated fingers combing it. "Sorry for getting a bit into it, but I would've been the one to take her on that Magical Meters ride thing. That's a once in a lifetime thing for a guy like me," He said, seeming perfectly at ease with his back twisted at the odd angle in the hard saddle.
Hermione smiled sympathetically. "I know the feeling of being let down. I've discovered this thing at work to help save Squibs from being, well, Squibs. I would go into detail, but I could go on for hours. We ran out of funding just a month back, and it was such a let down, knowing how you can help someone but not being able to. But thanks to Draco," Hermione said, pointing behind her shoulder, "I have all the funding I need to save all the non-magic people born from wizarding families in the world!"
"That's quite an achievement. And you saved one of my best friends who was bitten by a werewolf. He suffered seven full-moon rotations before you discovered it's cure. He personally wanted to meet you and thank you for your ingenious cure, but if he had known how beautiful you are, he'd ask for a date as well." Dave said, locking eyes with Hermione again and not moving, causing Hermione to blush with embarrassment.
"I wouldn't be able to accept. I don't date patients," Hermione said, causing Dave to laugh, his handsome face alight with happiness. Hermione smiled, recognizing how great it was again to have someone who's face can change with his or her mood. It reminded her of Ron, whom she hadn't seen since she was injured at work.
"I'm not a patient, just a tour guide," He said, his voice dangerously quiet. Hermione blushed furiously and adverted her eyes to the rocky path they were now walking across. She focused her attention on her numb inner thighs, the gentle clopping of her horse's hooves, and the mystic breeze blowing through the air, slightly thick with salt from the ocean.
"We're but a few paces from the ocean!" Hermione heard Alanna call. Dave abruptly turned back in his saddle, and announced it again after two other guides in front of them proclaimed it to their group of people, the chain ending with an excited whoop from George. Hermione stifled laughter, trying her hardest not to draw any attention to herself as she saw the trail opening into a barren beach. The horses instantly shook out their manes and pawed the sand anxiously, the excitement they shared for an ocean gallop thickening the air.
"Draw your horses in a circle," Alanna explained once everyone was within an earshot. A few people had difficulty maneuvering their horses, including Haley, who was having particular trouble with her black and white mare by the name of Matches. "Now, this is the time where you can go off with your horses and a few friends, or you can leave your horses with Michele or Henry, who will be staying behind. George, Dave, and myself will be riding along, making sure everything is ok, but keep in mind you don't have to be riding in a large group of eight people. Now if you don't have any questions, go ahead and ride to your heart's content!" Alanna said, breaking the circle as she rode towards George, a flirtatious glint in her eyes. Hermione smiled, glad to know that love still existed between married couples. Her own parents were on the brink of getting a divorce when Hermione stepped in with a free trial pass to a marriage counselor.
"Would you like to ride?" A familiar voice came from behind Hermione. She turned in her saddle to see Draco, gently at ease in his saddle as if he simply came with the horse.
"I'll come too," yet another voice said. Hermione looked to her right to see Dave, a white smile flashing at her as he winked.
"Wouldn't that be awk—"
"We'll come as well," Harry said, his horse walking up with his date, Lindsay. He gently turned to her. "You don't have to join us if you don't want to," Harry said, his voice hesitantly gentle. She shook her head slightly, her brown eyes large, gazing pleasantly at Draco. Hermione almost felt a twinge of something inside her, but shrugged it off and nodded.
"Now that we have a group of five, I think we can move on," Hermione said, trying to sit erect in her saddle, causing her bottom to ache and protest, "that is, after I stretch for a second." Hermione grasped the saddle horn, taking a deep breath to cool her nerves. She unhooked both feet from the saddle, and gently swung her left foot over BB's rump, causing herself to land gently on the sand. She quickly released the breath she had been holding without her knowing, and raked her fingers through her gentle curls.
"I agree," Draco said, getting off Sugar in one swift motion. Lindsay smiled at him with admiration and did the same thing, followed by Harry and Dave.
"I hurt so much," Hermione said, gently patting her backside as the others laughed, only Harry admitting the same pain.
For three minutes they stood in awkward silence. Harry was gently patting his horse's thick neck, telling him stories of Hedwig, since she was white as well. Lindsay stared at Draco, almost drooling on herself as he looked towards the ocean, deep in thought. Hermione stood, leaning against BB, fully aware of the blue eyes that bore into her face, trying to gain attention, which Hermione refused.
Gently the ocean breeze blew back her hair, the coolness going through every crack in her cloths to caress her skin to goose bumps. Hermione pulled Draco's jacket tight, realizing it had been five minutes since they had dismounted.
"I'm ready now," Hermione said, causing a startled jolt from Lindsay, who instantly blushed in the faded sunlight. Everyone went to their horses quickly and mounted up as if they had been taught nothing but that. Hermione gulped and realized that everyone was waiting for her to mount up.
"Come on, Hermione," Harry said encouragingly, his green eyes sparkling. Hermione smiled at her best friend and approached BB, who was pawing the ground anxiously. Hermione gulped and grabbed the saddle horn, putting her left foot into the stirrup. She suddenly felt strong hands around her waist as she jumped, causing her to land in the saddle with a polite thump.
"I thought I'd help get the show on the road," Dave said, his voice teasing as he remounted his horse.
"I could've done it on my own," Hermione said stubbornly, pulling her curls into a pile on her head in one swift moment.
"I want to gallop!" Lindsay said excitedly, kicking her mare into a rhythmic horse sprint. Hermione grabbed the reins hard as BB lurched suddenly to join the fast pace with the others, pulling ahead of them all and looking at the other horses almost in a teasing sense as she rode past them. Hermione felt Draco's jacket whip in the wind, the escaped curls that hadn't made it in the hair tie whipping behind her. She felt millions of emotions all at once as her stomach tied itself in knots, the greatest one being fear.
"BB," Hermione tried to yell, but it came out as an exasperated whisper, "please, BB, slow down!"
Hermione looked ahead to see a stray log blocking their path, and groped down in the saddle to wrap her arms around BB's neck, holding on for dear life as she felt BB rise in the air momentarily, carrying them over the log.
"HERMIONE! GRAB THE REINS!" She heard Draco shout, who seemed to be gaining on BB. BB tossed her head back and saw Sugar. Hermione saw a terrifying glint in BB's eyes, which was only a playful fire of blue, as the mare turned around and thundered faster, if it was imagined possible.
Hermione felt hot tears burn in her eyes as she felt ocean spray sting her face, the salt making her feel odd and sluggish. She kept her eyes open, seeing couples from the date look at her oddly as they suddenly thundered past a familiar Clydesdale horse and the copper headed Alanna.
"HELP!" Hermione shouted to Alanna, who instantly kicked her horse into gear lifting her rump off the saddle in the formal stance of a jockey. Hermione heard the horse's hooves getting closer on her left side, followed by the ambitious look in Alanna's violet eyes. Hermione turned her head to see George on her other side, his green-hazel eyes plagued with seriousness.
"BB, slow down, this isn't a play time," Hermione heard Alanna say, her voice impossibly close.
It must be a spell, Hermione thought with interest.
Hermione heard a closer thunder of hooves on her immediate left. She turned her head again to see Draco, his white-blonde hair whipping in the wind. She saw the seriousness of his features, and how the new moonlight was gentle and good on his strong jaw and pale skin.
"Hermione, listen to me," Draco said, his voice breathy.
Hermione attempted to speak, but her voice went away with the wind as she dared to open her mouth. Instead she nodded hastily.
"Unwrap your arms and take a hold of the reins, Hermione. Do it," Draco said, his voice sounding oddly commanding and powerful. Hermione nodded once again and grasped the leather reins, her body still pressed against BB's neck.
"Gently," she heard George say from her right, "ever so gently start pulling back the reins and lean back. When you're forward on her like that she thinks you're saying, 'oh! Let's go faster!'." Hermione nodded and quickly leaned back, pulling on the reins too quickly, causing BB to abruptly halt. Hermione thought her fears were over until BB launched to her hindquarters, neighing her objections. Hermione instantly lost her balance and crashed to the ground behind BB, who turned angry blue eyes on her as she snorted.
"Bad BB!" Alanna shouted, distracting the horse's attention to Alanna as she rode up, her forehead glinting with the thought of perspiration. BB looked at Alanna, and almost like a dog, put her head down and whipped her long tail side to side in attempts of forgiveness. Draco hurriedly dismounted and helped Hermione to her feet, looking at her swelling wrist with a doctor's suspicion as Dave rode up, his horse breathing heavily.
"Good thing you're here, Dave," George said, Monster prancing up proudly. "You'll take BB back to Michele and Henry, and tell them no oats for BB for a week, just the old, dried out hay. Oh, and tell them she's not to do any running for a week. The only riding she'll be doing is with the children who come to play at the stable." George said. Dave nodded solemnly and took BB's reins, and led her at a walk back to where they came from.
"I'm eternally sorry that BB did that. I should have given you an older horse who doesn't like to play so rough. I hope you can find it to forgive us," Alanna said, dismounting to help Draco inspect her wrist.
"I think it's broken," Draco said, touching it gingerly as Hermione winced.
"Oh, we'll pay for the doctor bill, no doubt," Alanna said, looking him in the eyes.
"No need," Hermione said weakly, pulling out her wand from an inconspicuous place, "I am, after all, Hermione Granger, the famous witch Healer from St. Mungo's. It'll take me but a second to fix." Hermione tilted her head down, causing the freed curls to cascade down the frame of her face, hiding it from the others as she muttered a spell. Instantly the swelling died down.
"Well, that was lucky of us," Alanna said, running a hand through her own coppery curls.
"That's only to dim the pain and reduce swelling. I'll have to fix it when I go into work tomorrow."
"Well, since that's taken care of, you can apparate home once you get your clothes from that woman," Alanna said, remounting her horse.
"If you need anything else, just shout," George said as he and his wife rode away at a brisk trot.
"That was as fast as I ever want to go ever again," Hermione said, wincing as she took a step.
"You plan on walking back?" Draco asked, his gray eyes shining with concern.
Well, they're not so gray. In fact, they look a bit more like blue right now, the way the moon shines on them like this. Hermione thought, her head feeling sluggish.
"Well, I don't really want to ride anything." Hermione said, sitting in the sand to take off her high-heeled shoes. Her pale feet looked delicate in the moonlight, her manicured nails sparkling.
"Here, you can ride behind me. I promise I won't go any speed above a walk. I'll be right in front of you if you get scared." Draco said, his offer looking fabulous to Hermione's aching feet. Hermione looked up at Draco, her curls framing her face, tempting Draco to want to reach out and tuck them behind her ear. Hermione brushed a few back, her attempt failing as they fell deliciously back into her face.
"I suppose, as long as you promise I won't get hurt." Hermione said, standing up and brushing sand off her butt and rolling up her jeans so she wouldn't be stepping on the hem. "Oh," Hermione said, quickly taking off Draco's jacket, "I'm pretty sure I'm not too cold anymore." Draco's eyes met Hermione's, discovering that they were betraying her words.
"No, keep it on. It'd make me feel like I used to be, you know, back at Hogwarts, if I took it back," Draco said, his voice soft and steady. Hermione lifted a puzzled eyebrow, which Draco chose to ignore as he mounted up easily, holding out a strong arm for Hermione to grasp.
"Should I trust you, now that you've mentioned your old days?" Hermione asked, falsely cautious. Draco's gray eyes glinted painfully, as if Hermione truly hurt his feelings, but his hand remained outstretched. Hermione grabbed it and hastily found balance as Draco practically pulled her up on top of the horse.
"Are you secure?" Draco asked as Hermione wrapped her arms, drowning in Draco's too large leather jacket, around his lean waist.
"Yes," Hermione said breathily in his ear, hoping she had the same effect on him as he had on her earlier in the evening. Draco nodded and kicked the horse into a quick walk.
"Uh, Draco? I'm sorry about my comment earlier. You seem to be withdrawn. I really didn't mean it," Hermione said, allowing her voice to sound gentle and truly apologetic.
"That's fine. I know I was a jerk in school. You wouldn't understand why unless you knew me. But you don't." Draco merely stated, offering no more of an answer. Hermione tried to toss her hair back, which had completely fallen out of its captive holder, the hair tie, and failed miserably. She huffed and tried to get comfortable while still having a good grip on Draco's middle.
"Hermione Granger, you skank!" Hermione heard someone shout at her from her left. Gently winding her head to face the name caller without pressing her body firmly into Draco's back, she saw the accused. Haley.
"What now?" Hermione whispered, causing a gentle laughter from Draco as Haley rode up, her date nowhere to be found. She dismounted in a rough manor, waiting for Hermione to do the same as she clumsily slipped off.
"I know you made your horse gallop by so you would get all the attention from all the guys. As if you needed it! My date said he needed to go back and tell the people collecting horses what happened. Sure enough, he's gone!" Haley said, getting dangerously close to Hermione. She stood a few inches taller than Hermione, who was barefoot on the dry sand. Standing at 5'6", Hermione estimated that Haley was 5'8", considering her heels weren't too big.
"I don't know what you're talking about. A girl in my group started to gallop, my horse felt provoked, and took off. Nothing I could have done to prevent it, except probably knowing how to control a horse." Hermione said, her face smug as she crossed her arms over one another. Hermione read Haley's face as it tightened. She's going to hit me, Hermione thought with laughter, ducking as a balled up fist came to collide with her face.
"Stand still and fight!" Haley cried wildly, her arms flinging. Hermione, silently thanking her kick-boxing trainer, rolled on the ground and held her fists in fighting position. She didn't think twice as her right wrist throbbed slightly, protesting it's misuse.
"Stop this now," Draco said, startling both women briefly enough where he could stand between them. "Stop being foolish, Haley, Hermione really didn't mean to do what her horse did. Honestly, that's immature. Hermione, I thought you were smarter than to fight, but then again, in school you always did pack in a good punch." Draco said, his voice tense. Hermione dropped her fists and stepped back, feeling Haley's green eyes upon her, wishing her to catch fire or something.
If her looks were knives, Hermione thought, I'd be long dead.
"I'm leaving, but only for you, Draco," Haley said, stalking stubbornly to her horse. Hermione watched her with dark eyes as she started to mount, her foot barely in the stirrup as she tried to swing her leg over, causing a misbalance in the equation and ending up with the product of pure embarrassment; her sprawled out on the ground, fallen from the stirrup. Hermione laughed openly as she glared, mounting up accurately, and trotted away, her back looking oddly stiff. Draco cleared his throat and held out an arm for Hermione, who took it and settled herself in the saddle, her arms wrapped around his waist again. The horse lurched forward suddenly, causing Hermione to grasp tighter to Draco, closing the minimal space between their bodies. Draco sent an inquiring look over his shoulder, causing Hermione to blush furiously, but not loosen her grip.
"I never did apologize for the way I acted at school," Draco said softly. Hermione could tell this was an uncomfortable subject.
"No, really, it's ok. People change. I was a jerk to you too," Hermione said, trying to stop him from going any further. She held her breath, hoping for the best.
"No, it's not ok. Let me explain.
"When I grew up, I was taught that money and power can buy anything. And I believed it to be true. Coming to Hogwarts I had all I wanted: Crabbe and Goyle, my best friends, popularity for being a pure blood, and wits to get good grades. Most of all, I would hardly get into trouble because people feared my father. I thought I had the life of luxury.
"But in our 7th year, everything changed. Potter killed Voldemort, and every death eater was captured. I wasn't captured, of course, because I hadn't become one yet. To be completely honest, I couldn't wait to be a death eater. It fed me more fuel for power. Crabbe and Goyle weren't death eaters yet either, so when our parents got captured, my mother and father killed, I turned to them for support. But they were too stupid to understand. They weren't really my friends. I bought them everything they needed, and they repaid me by hanging out with me, but when I really needed someone, I mean, really needed someone, I had no one. When I went back to school after winter break, after the evil magics had been disposed of, I grew hotly jealous of you, Potter, and Weasley, because I knew you were all true friends. I knew that because you were there when he killed Voldemort. You were there to help protect him. I know how you helped, Hermione. You knocked out several Death Eaters, and almost got killed yourself once they discovered you were a 'mudblood'. You were in all the newspapers; the golden trio saves the world, Potter gallantly leading the way. I was so sickly jealous, because I had no friends. None.
"Then I discovered why. I was so crude and mean to everyone around me. Even as Head Boy, who's supposed to be an example of the perfect student, like you. Who was I to be the Head Boy? How much did my father have to pay?
"So I feel it's time I truly apologize, Hermione. You didn't deserve any of the things I said to you in school, or Potter, or Weasley. I hope all three of you will recognize that I've grown and changed." Draco finished. Hermione sniffled and felt a warm tear trickle down her cheek.
"It's ok," Hermione barely managed to whisper back without choking up more tears. The rest of the trip was silent.
When Hermione and Draco reached the Michelle, they dismounted and stood quietly for a moment.
"You going into work tomorrow?" Hermione asked sheepishly. Draco merely nodded his head, his eyes looking towards the never-ending ocean. Hermione listened briefly to the peaceful sounds of the waves crashing up, tickling the white sand before slinking back into it's body, pulling some sand with it every time.
"I hope that you'll come visit me. I'd like to show you the progress the grant of money will allow me to make. I'll be able to take my first patient in tomorrow, and hopefully take a look at the baby." Hermione said, still barefoot in the sand, making her at least five inches shorter than Draco.
"Thank you for this wonderful evening," Draco said, taking Hermione's hand in his and gently bringing it to his lips, giving it a sweet kiss. He straightened, and before Hermione could say anything, he was gone. The wind picked up speed, leaving Hermione still warm in Draco's jacket. She touched her left hand gently, the spot where his lips had been still tingling.
"And to think, I'll have to tell Ginny all about the wonderful events of tonight," Hermione sighed, disapparating to pick up her clothes, then home.
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WOW! That was one LONG chapter! lol, like I said, Hermione and Draco will be FRieNDS! Lol, sorry if it wasn't what you were looking for! There was a kiss though! (on the hand, but still a kiss!) Anyway, I REALLY need thanks in this chapter!
THANK YOUZ:
Paki- you were review number 100! Thanks SO much for reviewing! I hope you return for this chapter!
Sweet-77-Thang- I updated ASAP, so I hope you liked it!
Invisible2u- wow, I'm glad you likes my story! Thanks for reviewing from chap. 1!
Lioness821- sorry I didn't use Daine, I didn't really think about it. All I thought of was Alanna because uhh...I'm not sure, but Alanna satisfied my need.
Really Tired, Slightly Insane- lol, I LOVE Tamora Peirce. She's a dedicated author, satisfying her readers' needs!
NitenGale- lol, thanks! I'm loving this story too! Movies every two weeks, well, probably not, but as for triple dates (Ron and his wife, Harry and Ginny, Hermione and Draco), that's quite a possibility! Thanks for your review!
TennisPlaya278- thanks, I love the chapter title too : P ! anyway, thanks for reviewing since chapter uno! (I liked the wine part too, lol)
YourLuckyCharm- I don't think this chapter is as funny, but I try to input humor in each chapter! Thanks for your review!
CitCat299- all I can say is that it's all in the plan (the closeness factor) you'll see what happens, because I don't want to spoil anything. I promise it's all in the plan, though!
Emma Watson Rules- Thanks bunches, and I did update!
WeluvweKR- I don't get the Tennis authors thing...perhaps if you explain? lol, thanks for your reviews, you helped me get 2 steps closer to 100!
Hotpinkflamingo- lol, I hope this chapter blows (in the good way) too! And I do plan on having a fabulous time at those camps! Thanks so much for your review!
Dracosprincipessa- I hope this chapter is better than the last one! Thanks for reviewing from the beginning!
Innocentrose- lol, I LOVE song of the lioness series too! I'd have to say that's my favorite, then the Daine, then the new one she's making with Alanna's daughter Aly, then the Kel, because Kel didn't end up romantically with anyone. Anyway, thanks!
Applescm- and I can't wait to write more! Thanks!
Lillianna-Rose- Yes, I've read all her Tortall series, but not the circle of magic or any of the others. Thanks for reviewing!
Katie- perhaps I'll try the Daughter of the Moon series! Is it by Tamora Peirce?
Lanna1186- thanks for the review! You were the first to review for ch. 6!
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That's all ladies and gents! Until next time
VBC
Disclaimer: I don't want a fine because it's not mine! (REVIEW!)
Hermione kept her ears keen to what Dave was saying, giving detailed descriptions of trees and other greenery near the trail.
"The horse you're riding," Dave said, turning back to let Hermione know he was talking to her, their eyes locking briefly, "she was going to be trained to be a long distance race horse. Have you heard of the Magical Meters? Well, it's a race with magical horses, mind you they aren't magicked to run far, just not to be thirsty, and they race from England to Germany. It's a really fascinating experience, I've been on one."
Hermione's eyes sparkled. She hadn't ever heard of anything Dave was explaining, and her head was demanding more information. "Why didn't BB go?"
"BB was voted too big. She was ½ inch over sized, but I really thought she would've made a good horse. She's got big lungs and the perfect pacing. I was so disappointed when she didn't make it," Dave said, turning around to face Hermione. His blue eyes seemed anxious, his brown hair slightly curled and tousled from frustrated fingers combing it. "Sorry for getting a bit into it, but I would've been the one to take her on that Magical Meters ride thing. That's a once in a lifetime thing for a guy like me," He said, seeming perfectly at ease with his back twisted at the odd angle in the hard saddle.
Hermione smiled sympathetically. "I know the feeling of being let down. I've discovered this thing at work to help save Squibs from being, well, Squibs. I would go into detail, but I could go on for hours. We ran out of funding just a month back, and it was such a let down, knowing how you can help someone but not being able to. But thanks to Draco," Hermione said, pointing behind her shoulder, "I have all the funding I need to save all the non-magic people born from wizarding families in the world!"
"That's quite an achievement. And you saved one of my best friends who was bitten by a werewolf. He suffered seven full-moon rotations before you discovered it's cure. He personally wanted to meet you and thank you for your ingenious cure, but if he had known how beautiful you are, he'd ask for a date as well." Dave said, locking eyes with Hermione again and not moving, causing Hermione to blush with embarrassment.
"I wouldn't be able to accept. I don't date patients," Hermione said, causing Dave to laugh, his handsome face alight with happiness. Hermione smiled, recognizing how great it was again to have someone who's face can change with his or her mood. It reminded her of Ron, whom she hadn't seen since she was injured at work.
"I'm not a patient, just a tour guide," He said, his voice dangerously quiet. Hermione blushed furiously and adverted her eyes to the rocky path they were now walking across. She focused her attention on her numb inner thighs, the gentle clopping of her horse's hooves, and the mystic breeze blowing through the air, slightly thick with salt from the ocean.
"We're but a few paces from the ocean!" Hermione heard Alanna call. Dave abruptly turned back in his saddle, and announced it again after two other guides in front of them proclaimed it to their group of people, the chain ending with an excited whoop from George. Hermione stifled laughter, trying her hardest not to draw any attention to herself as she saw the trail opening into a barren beach. The horses instantly shook out their manes and pawed the sand anxiously, the excitement they shared for an ocean gallop thickening the air.
"Draw your horses in a circle," Alanna explained once everyone was within an earshot. A few people had difficulty maneuvering their horses, including Haley, who was having particular trouble with her black and white mare by the name of Matches. "Now, this is the time where you can go off with your horses and a few friends, or you can leave your horses with Michele or Henry, who will be staying behind. George, Dave, and myself will be riding along, making sure everything is ok, but keep in mind you don't have to be riding in a large group of eight people. Now if you don't have any questions, go ahead and ride to your heart's content!" Alanna said, breaking the circle as she rode towards George, a flirtatious glint in her eyes. Hermione smiled, glad to know that love still existed between married couples. Her own parents were on the brink of getting a divorce when Hermione stepped in with a free trial pass to a marriage counselor.
"Would you like to ride?" A familiar voice came from behind Hermione. She turned in her saddle to see Draco, gently at ease in his saddle as if he simply came with the horse.
"I'll come too," yet another voice said. Hermione looked to her right to see Dave, a white smile flashing at her as he winked.
"Wouldn't that be awk—"
"We'll come as well," Harry said, his horse walking up with his date, Lindsay. He gently turned to her. "You don't have to join us if you don't want to," Harry said, his voice hesitantly gentle. She shook her head slightly, her brown eyes large, gazing pleasantly at Draco. Hermione almost felt a twinge of something inside her, but shrugged it off and nodded.
"Now that we have a group of five, I think we can move on," Hermione said, trying to sit erect in her saddle, causing her bottom to ache and protest, "that is, after I stretch for a second." Hermione grasped the saddle horn, taking a deep breath to cool her nerves. She unhooked both feet from the saddle, and gently swung her left foot over BB's rump, causing herself to land gently on the sand. She quickly released the breath she had been holding without her knowing, and raked her fingers through her gentle curls.
"I agree," Draco said, getting off Sugar in one swift motion. Lindsay smiled at him with admiration and did the same thing, followed by Harry and Dave.
"I hurt so much," Hermione said, gently patting her backside as the others laughed, only Harry admitting the same pain.
For three minutes they stood in awkward silence. Harry was gently patting his horse's thick neck, telling him stories of Hedwig, since she was white as well. Lindsay stared at Draco, almost drooling on herself as he looked towards the ocean, deep in thought. Hermione stood, leaning against BB, fully aware of the blue eyes that bore into her face, trying to gain attention, which Hermione refused.
Gently the ocean breeze blew back her hair, the coolness going through every crack in her cloths to caress her skin to goose bumps. Hermione pulled Draco's jacket tight, realizing it had been five minutes since they had dismounted.
"I'm ready now," Hermione said, causing a startled jolt from Lindsay, who instantly blushed in the faded sunlight. Everyone went to their horses quickly and mounted up as if they had been taught nothing but that. Hermione gulped and realized that everyone was waiting for her to mount up.
"Come on, Hermione," Harry said encouragingly, his green eyes sparkling. Hermione smiled at her best friend and approached BB, who was pawing the ground anxiously. Hermione gulped and grabbed the saddle horn, putting her left foot into the stirrup. She suddenly felt strong hands around her waist as she jumped, causing her to land in the saddle with a polite thump.
"I thought I'd help get the show on the road," Dave said, his voice teasing as he remounted his horse.
"I could've done it on my own," Hermione said stubbornly, pulling her curls into a pile on her head in one swift moment.
"I want to gallop!" Lindsay said excitedly, kicking her mare into a rhythmic horse sprint. Hermione grabbed the reins hard as BB lurched suddenly to join the fast pace with the others, pulling ahead of them all and looking at the other horses almost in a teasing sense as she rode past them. Hermione felt Draco's jacket whip in the wind, the escaped curls that hadn't made it in the hair tie whipping behind her. She felt millions of emotions all at once as her stomach tied itself in knots, the greatest one being fear.
"BB," Hermione tried to yell, but it came out as an exasperated whisper, "please, BB, slow down!"
Hermione looked ahead to see a stray log blocking their path, and groped down in the saddle to wrap her arms around BB's neck, holding on for dear life as she felt BB rise in the air momentarily, carrying them over the log.
"HERMIONE! GRAB THE REINS!" She heard Draco shout, who seemed to be gaining on BB. BB tossed her head back and saw Sugar. Hermione saw a terrifying glint in BB's eyes, which was only a playful fire of blue, as the mare turned around and thundered faster, if it was imagined possible.
Hermione felt hot tears burn in her eyes as she felt ocean spray sting her face, the salt making her feel odd and sluggish. She kept her eyes open, seeing couples from the date look at her oddly as they suddenly thundered past a familiar Clydesdale horse and the copper headed Alanna.
"HELP!" Hermione shouted to Alanna, who instantly kicked her horse into gear lifting her rump off the saddle in the formal stance of a jockey. Hermione heard the horse's hooves getting closer on her left side, followed by the ambitious look in Alanna's violet eyes. Hermione turned her head to see George on her other side, his green-hazel eyes plagued with seriousness.
"BB, slow down, this isn't a play time," Hermione heard Alanna say, her voice impossibly close.
It must be a spell, Hermione thought with interest.
Hermione heard a closer thunder of hooves on her immediate left. She turned her head again to see Draco, his white-blonde hair whipping in the wind. She saw the seriousness of his features, and how the new moonlight was gentle and good on his strong jaw and pale skin.
"Hermione, listen to me," Draco said, his voice breathy.
Hermione attempted to speak, but her voice went away with the wind as she dared to open her mouth. Instead she nodded hastily.
"Unwrap your arms and take a hold of the reins, Hermione. Do it," Draco said, his voice sounding oddly commanding and powerful. Hermione nodded once again and grasped the leather reins, her body still pressed against BB's neck.
"Gently," she heard George say from her right, "ever so gently start pulling back the reins and lean back. When you're forward on her like that she thinks you're saying, 'oh! Let's go faster!'." Hermione nodded and quickly leaned back, pulling on the reins too quickly, causing BB to abruptly halt. Hermione thought her fears were over until BB launched to her hindquarters, neighing her objections. Hermione instantly lost her balance and crashed to the ground behind BB, who turned angry blue eyes on her as she snorted.
"Bad BB!" Alanna shouted, distracting the horse's attention to Alanna as she rode up, her forehead glinting with the thought of perspiration. BB looked at Alanna, and almost like a dog, put her head down and whipped her long tail side to side in attempts of forgiveness. Draco hurriedly dismounted and helped Hermione to her feet, looking at her swelling wrist with a doctor's suspicion as Dave rode up, his horse breathing heavily.
"Good thing you're here, Dave," George said, Monster prancing up proudly. "You'll take BB back to Michele and Henry, and tell them no oats for BB for a week, just the old, dried out hay. Oh, and tell them she's not to do any running for a week. The only riding she'll be doing is with the children who come to play at the stable." George said. Dave nodded solemnly and took BB's reins, and led her at a walk back to where they came from.
"I'm eternally sorry that BB did that. I should have given you an older horse who doesn't like to play so rough. I hope you can find it to forgive us," Alanna said, dismounting to help Draco inspect her wrist.
"I think it's broken," Draco said, touching it gingerly as Hermione winced.
"Oh, we'll pay for the doctor bill, no doubt," Alanna said, looking him in the eyes.
"No need," Hermione said weakly, pulling out her wand from an inconspicuous place, "I am, after all, Hermione Granger, the famous witch Healer from St. Mungo's. It'll take me but a second to fix." Hermione tilted her head down, causing the freed curls to cascade down the frame of her face, hiding it from the others as she muttered a spell. Instantly the swelling died down.
"Well, that was lucky of us," Alanna said, running a hand through her own coppery curls.
"That's only to dim the pain and reduce swelling. I'll have to fix it when I go into work tomorrow."
"Well, since that's taken care of, you can apparate home once you get your clothes from that woman," Alanna said, remounting her horse.
"If you need anything else, just shout," George said as he and his wife rode away at a brisk trot.
"That was as fast as I ever want to go ever again," Hermione said, wincing as she took a step.
"You plan on walking back?" Draco asked, his gray eyes shining with concern.
Well, they're not so gray. In fact, they look a bit more like blue right now, the way the moon shines on them like this. Hermione thought, her head feeling sluggish.
"Well, I don't really want to ride anything." Hermione said, sitting in the sand to take off her high-heeled shoes. Her pale feet looked delicate in the moonlight, her manicured nails sparkling.
"Here, you can ride behind me. I promise I won't go any speed above a walk. I'll be right in front of you if you get scared." Draco said, his offer looking fabulous to Hermione's aching feet. Hermione looked up at Draco, her curls framing her face, tempting Draco to want to reach out and tuck them behind her ear. Hermione brushed a few back, her attempt failing as they fell deliciously back into her face.
"I suppose, as long as you promise I won't get hurt." Hermione said, standing up and brushing sand off her butt and rolling up her jeans so she wouldn't be stepping on the hem. "Oh," Hermione said, quickly taking off Draco's jacket, "I'm pretty sure I'm not too cold anymore." Draco's eyes met Hermione's, discovering that they were betraying her words.
"No, keep it on. It'd make me feel like I used to be, you know, back at Hogwarts, if I took it back," Draco said, his voice soft and steady. Hermione lifted a puzzled eyebrow, which Draco chose to ignore as he mounted up easily, holding out a strong arm for Hermione to grasp.
"Should I trust you, now that you've mentioned your old days?" Hermione asked, falsely cautious. Draco's gray eyes glinted painfully, as if Hermione truly hurt his feelings, but his hand remained outstretched. Hermione grabbed it and hastily found balance as Draco practically pulled her up on top of the horse.
"Are you secure?" Draco asked as Hermione wrapped her arms, drowning in Draco's too large leather jacket, around his lean waist.
"Yes," Hermione said breathily in his ear, hoping she had the same effect on him as he had on her earlier in the evening. Draco nodded and kicked the horse into a quick walk.
"Uh, Draco? I'm sorry about my comment earlier. You seem to be withdrawn. I really didn't mean it," Hermione said, allowing her voice to sound gentle and truly apologetic.
"That's fine. I know I was a jerk in school. You wouldn't understand why unless you knew me. But you don't." Draco merely stated, offering no more of an answer. Hermione tried to toss her hair back, which had completely fallen out of its captive holder, the hair tie, and failed miserably. She huffed and tried to get comfortable while still having a good grip on Draco's middle.
"Hermione Granger, you skank!" Hermione heard someone shout at her from her left. Gently winding her head to face the name caller without pressing her body firmly into Draco's back, she saw the accused. Haley.
"What now?" Hermione whispered, causing a gentle laughter from Draco as Haley rode up, her date nowhere to be found. She dismounted in a rough manor, waiting for Hermione to do the same as she clumsily slipped off.
"I know you made your horse gallop by so you would get all the attention from all the guys. As if you needed it! My date said he needed to go back and tell the people collecting horses what happened. Sure enough, he's gone!" Haley said, getting dangerously close to Hermione. She stood a few inches taller than Hermione, who was barefoot on the dry sand. Standing at 5'6", Hermione estimated that Haley was 5'8", considering her heels weren't too big.
"I don't know what you're talking about. A girl in my group started to gallop, my horse felt provoked, and took off. Nothing I could have done to prevent it, except probably knowing how to control a horse." Hermione said, her face smug as she crossed her arms over one another. Hermione read Haley's face as it tightened. She's going to hit me, Hermione thought with laughter, ducking as a balled up fist came to collide with her face.
"Stand still and fight!" Haley cried wildly, her arms flinging. Hermione, silently thanking her kick-boxing trainer, rolled on the ground and held her fists in fighting position. She didn't think twice as her right wrist throbbed slightly, protesting it's misuse.
"Stop this now," Draco said, startling both women briefly enough where he could stand between them. "Stop being foolish, Haley, Hermione really didn't mean to do what her horse did. Honestly, that's immature. Hermione, I thought you were smarter than to fight, but then again, in school you always did pack in a good punch." Draco said, his voice tense. Hermione dropped her fists and stepped back, feeling Haley's green eyes upon her, wishing her to catch fire or something.
If her looks were knives, Hermione thought, I'd be long dead.
"I'm leaving, but only for you, Draco," Haley said, stalking stubbornly to her horse. Hermione watched her with dark eyes as she started to mount, her foot barely in the stirrup as she tried to swing her leg over, causing a misbalance in the equation and ending up with the product of pure embarrassment; her sprawled out on the ground, fallen from the stirrup. Hermione laughed openly as she glared, mounting up accurately, and trotted away, her back looking oddly stiff. Draco cleared his throat and held out an arm for Hermione, who took it and settled herself in the saddle, her arms wrapped around his waist again. The horse lurched forward suddenly, causing Hermione to grasp tighter to Draco, closing the minimal space between their bodies. Draco sent an inquiring look over his shoulder, causing Hermione to blush furiously, but not loosen her grip.
"I never did apologize for the way I acted at school," Draco said softly. Hermione could tell this was an uncomfortable subject.
"No, really, it's ok. People change. I was a jerk to you too," Hermione said, trying to stop him from going any further. She held her breath, hoping for the best.
"No, it's not ok. Let me explain.
"When I grew up, I was taught that money and power can buy anything. And I believed it to be true. Coming to Hogwarts I had all I wanted: Crabbe and Goyle, my best friends, popularity for being a pure blood, and wits to get good grades. Most of all, I would hardly get into trouble because people feared my father. I thought I had the life of luxury.
"But in our 7th year, everything changed. Potter killed Voldemort, and every death eater was captured. I wasn't captured, of course, because I hadn't become one yet. To be completely honest, I couldn't wait to be a death eater. It fed me more fuel for power. Crabbe and Goyle weren't death eaters yet either, so when our parents got captured, my mother and father killed, I turned to them for support. But they were too stupid to understand. They weren't really my friends. I bought them everything they needed, and they repaid me by hanging out with me, but when I really needed someone, I mean, really needed someone, I had no one. When I went back to school after winter break, after the evil magics had been disposed of, I grew hotly jealous of you, Potter, and Weasley, because I knew you were all true friends. I knew that because you were there when he killed Voldemort. You were there to help protect him. I know how you helped, Hermione. You knocked out several Death Eaters, and almost got killed yourself once they discovered you were a 'mudblood'. You were in all the newspapers; the golden trio saves the world, Potter gallantly leading the way. I was so sickly jealous, because I had no friends. None.
"Then I discovered why. I was so crude and mean to everyone around me. Even as Head Boy, who's supposed to be an example of the perfect student, like you. Who was I to be the Head Boy? How much did my father have to pay?
"So I feel it's time I truly apologize, Hermione. You didn't deserve any of the things I said to you in school, or Potter, or Weasley. I hope all three of you will recognize that I've grown and changed." Draco finished. Hermione sniffled and felt a warm tear trickle down her cheek.
"It's ok," Hermione barely managed to whisper back without choking up more tears. The rest of the trip was silent.
When Hermione and Draco reached the Michelle, they dismounted and stood quietly for a moment.
"You going into work tomorrow?" Hermione asked sheepishly. Draco merely nodded his head, his eyes looking towards the never-ending ocean. Hermione listened briefly to the peaceful sounds of the waves crashing up, tickling the white sand before slinking back into it's body, pulling some sand with it every time.
"I hope that you'll come visit me. I'd like to show you the progress the grant of money will allow me to make. I'll be able to take my first patient in tomorrow, and hopefully take a look at the baby." Hermione said, still barefoot in the sand, making her at least five inches shorter than Draco.
"Thank you for this wonderful evening," Draco said, taking Hermione's hand in his and gently bringing it to his lips, giving it a sweet kiss. He straightened, and before Hermione could say anything, he was gone. The wind picked up speed, leaving Hermione still warm in Draco's jacket. She touched her left hand gently, the spot where his lips had been still tingling.
"And to think, I'll have to tell Ginny all about the wonderful events of tonight," Hermione sighed, disapparating to pick up her clothes, then home.
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WOW! That was one LONG chapter! lol, like I said, Hermione and Draco will be FRieNDS! Lol, sorry if it wasn't what you were looking for! There was a kiss though! (on the hand, but still a kiss!) Anyway, I REALLY need thanks in this chapter!
THANK YOUZ:
Paki- you were review number 100! Thanks SO much for reviewing! I hope you return for this chapter!
Sweet-77-Thang- I updated ASAP, so I hope you liked it!
Invisible2u- wow, I'm glad you likes my story! Thanks for reviewing from chap. 1!
Lioness821- sorry I didn't use Daine, I didn't really think about it. All I thought of was Alanna because uhh...I'm not sure, but Alanna satisfied my need.
Really Tired, Slightly Insane- lol, I LOVE Tamora Peirce. She's a dedicated author, satisfying her readers' needs!
NitenGale- lol, thanks! I'm loving this story too! Movies every two weeks, well, probably not, but as for triple dates (Ron and his wife, Harry and Ginny, Hermione and Draco), that's quite a possibility! Thanks for your review!
TennisPlaya278- thanks, I love the chapter title too : P ! anyway, thanks for reviewing since chapter uno! (I liked the wine part too, lol)
YourLuckyCharm- I don't think this chapter is as funny, but I try to input humor in each chapter! Thanks for your review!
CitCat299- all I can say is that it's all in the plan (the closeness factor) you'll see what happens, because I don't want to spoil anything. I promise it's all in the plan, though!
Emma Watson Rules- Thanks bunches, and I did update!
WeluvweKR- I don't get the Tennis authors thing...perhaps if you explain? lol, thanks for your reviews, you helped me get 2 steps closer to 100!
Hotpinkflamingo- lol, I hope this chapter blows (in the good way) too! And I do plan on having a fabulous time at those camps! Thanks so much for your review!
Dracosprincipessa- I hope this chapter is better than the last one! Thanks for reviewing from the beginning!
Innocentrose- lol, I LOVE song of the lioness series too! I'd have to say that's my favorite, then the Daine, then the new one she's making with Alanna's daughter Aly, then the Kel, because Kel didn't end up romantically with anyone. Anyway, thanks!
Applescm- and I can't wait to write more! Thanks!
Lillianna-Rose- Yes, I've read all her Tortall series, but not the circle of magic or any of the others. Thanks for reviewing!
Katie- perhaps I'll try the Daughter of the Moon series! Is it by Tamora Peirce?
Lanna1186- thanks for the review! You were the first to review for ch. 6!
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That's all ladies and gents! Until next time
VBC