Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and not copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Disclaimer in Layman's Terms: Harry Potter, the characters and the plot do NOT belong to me. Just this fanfic, and the original characters mentioned in it. Thank you.
On Borrowed Time
Chapter 05 - Hermione's New Friend (Monday- September 10, 1996)
"And finally, I would like you all to pay attention to this potion. Doxycide. Bottles of this potion are sold in stores for a fairly decent price but why buy one when you can make one more effectively? It is used to put Doxies to sleep so that we may rid of them or capture them. Now, can anyone tell me the ingredients needed to make one?"
Though everyone else was either dazed, yawning or have already dozed off to a half-peaceful slumber early the next morning, Hermione was the only one who was alert and the only one to have her hand in the air. Half the Slytherins, who were still awake of course, were rolling their eyes or scoffing under their breaths while Snape, from behind his desk, tried to hide his disgust for Miss Know-It-All.
"Yes, Miss Granger." he said as he signalled Hermione.
"The ingredients for the Doxycide potion are a vial each of daisy roots and dried tentacula vines, a sprig of alihosty and finally a teaspoon of powdered dittany."
"Can anyone tell me how the potion should be… Yes, Miss Granger?"
"The dried vines and the dittany have to be stewed at exact temperatures when the combination of the two red ingredients turns bright blue. Seconds after that, you have to take your cauldron out of heat and then add the rest of the ingredients. Taking the potion out too late and adding mentioned ingredients would cause the potion to explode."
The silence of the musky dungeon made the scratching of quills against parchment alongside the sighs of those who were still awake echo around the room.
"Is there anything else you want to add, Miss Granger?"
"Yes, if I may. If brewed correctly, the potion should not affect any other species but Doxies. If it is done wrong, a drop of the potion on the skin can cause boils."
"Very good," he said in his sarcastic voice before continuing. "Now, I will be pairing you all off. Crabbe and Goyle, Potter and Weasley, Patil with Bullstrode, Malfoy with Granger---"
Hermione heard both Ron and Harry let out a loud gasp of pity her way. She knew they were already troubled by the change in Draco's attitude these past few days and the fact that she somewhat had something to do with it. Being paired with him apparently caused them to be a bit more paranoid and sceptical of the boy.
"One of you collect the items mentioned from the cupboards while the other start with your cauldrons. Now, I want you all to mind what you are doing. I don't want any of you sprouting boils."
Hermione was about to stand up but Draco pulled her arm and motioned her to sit down.
"No, you sit down and I will get the ingredients. You set up the cauldron."
"If you say so," answered Hermione weakly before starting a fire. A few moments later, Draco came back with vials of items at hand.
"Can you repeat how much of each ingredient is needed since you seem to know them all by heart?" Draco asked her in a chuckle as he started to uncork the bottles on their desk.
"I really hope you don't expect me to do all the work," complained Hermione. "Since I've been with those two, I always end up doing all the work."
"I don't. Just tell me how much of each item is needed and when I need to get them out of the fire. You don't even have to lift a finger."
"If you say so."
"I am not kidding. I am going to treat you like a queen."
"Why?" she giggled as she placed the dried vines and the dittany on the cauldron.
"Because you saved my life and I owe you one."
Hermione nodded slowly, just to let what he said pass. "If you say so then."
They then watched as the potion turn purplish, waiting for it to turn blue before Draco started to talk.
"And there's more to what I said, you know."
"Do you care to elaborate on that?"
"Because I like you… a lot."
"What?"
Hermione surprise caused everyone around her to look at her as if she had just sprouted horns on her forehead. She felt her face turn beet-red as she hurriedly gathered potholders to take the cauldron out of the fire..
"Could you repeat what you just said?" she screeched as Draco added
"I said I like you. And I do not mean I like you as a friend. Well, I do, but I was expecting more of a friend-friend. I want to be friends with you how Harry and you are friends."
"Like Harry and Ron are friends with me?"
"Sort of like that." He then stressed his words.
Hermione's heart started to pound wildly against her ribcage. She finally comprehended what he meant: Draco wanted to be in a loving relationship with her. She shivered at the thought yet she tried to remain in a cool composure.
"I don't understand, Draco."
"You know quite well know what I meant," he said before pouring the rest of the ingredients into the cauldron. He then reached for her hand.
He caressed her hands in between his two palms and massaged her every fingers. He looked at her all googly-eyed and Hermione did not seem to mind what he was doing at all. She actually liked his show of affections.
"I like you," he continued. "I have liked you for ages. Had I not busied myself with badgering Potter, I would have been the first one to befriend you. If you weren't Muggleborn and if you were in Slytherin, I would have treated you like a queen."
A nervous giggle came from Hermione's mouth and when she turned towards Harry, he did not seem too keen about Draco having his hands on hers. The look on his face explained it all. He was alternating glares at Draco and at her. Knowing that if she were to allow Draco continue on, Harry was ready to jump him
"Let's be serious now, Draco," she ordered in a stern voice as she pulled her hand away. "No more silly antics, understood?"
"Lighten up." He then made another attempt to reach for her hand.
"Stop holding my hand."
"But---"
"Just stop it Draco!"
"Hermione---"
A loud stuttering came from the behind theirs and the look on Neville's face it all. The cauldron in front of him had started to boil over the edge and Draco seemed to know what he had to. Before a loud bang was heard, Hermione was startled when Draco pushed her away from the explosion, hugging her and preventing the rest of the potion splattering on her.
"Thanks," she said as he pushed her away from the mess. When she turned to face Draco, she screamed.
"Draco! Your hands! Your---"
"Aah!"
So, a quarter of the class was sent to the infirmary. Neville apparently waited too long for the concoction to brew and then added the rest of the ingredients while it was still under the flame. About a dozen students were screaming on the way there in fear as the boils on their arms and faces grew by the second.
Hermione did not notice that her left hand was splattered with a few drops of the potion, but Draco did, and he made sure she was tended on before thinking of himself. When Madame Pomfrey was done with her hand, she stayed awhile as to watch her tend to Draco.
"You don't have to stay," said Draco as he wincingly took off his white shirt. He kept his left arm inside the sleeves, rolling the rest of his shirt around his arm.
All Hermione could do was cringe at the sight of the huge boils on his back.
"I will be fine, really."
"No, no, no," she answered. "I would be on your position now if you did not push me away. Let me to stay. That's the least I could do."
"Alright. OW!"
"Oh, stop wincing Mr. Malfoy. This antidote is sting-free."
"It still does hurt a bit," Hermione heard him say under his breath in between winces.
Although Hermione knew that there was not much pain involved with the diminishing of the boils for she herself had been treated only minutes before, but she could not help but feel a bit guilty and thankful that Draco was there.
"Thank you," she told him as Madame Pomfrey started to place bandages his back.
"It is not a big deal at all. I owe you."
"You don't owe me anything."
"Yes, I do," he insisted. "I owe you everything."
"Hey," said Harry. "Ron and I decided to gather your things before going up here. He has our bags so I decided to fetch you here. Are you alright?"
"Yeah, I am doing fine. Draco took most of the---"
"Let's go then," he interrupted insistently.
Hermione turned around and thanked Draco silently before waving goodbye to him. Harry pulled her hand and dragged her out of the infirmary angrily.
As they reached the staircase, she pulled away from his grasp and slapped him on the shoulder.
"What was that for?" he shouted at her.
"That was for being rude."
"You just waved goodbye to Malfoy!"
"He saved my life Harry."
"He copped a feel, Hermione. I saw him trying to touch your hand while the two of you were creating that potion. I also saw him hug you when
"He tried to protect me from the explosion, Harry. You would have done the same."
"I would. But I thought I was your boyfriend."
"You are. He was just being nice, that's all."
"You seem to be enjoying this little… parody he is playing on all of us."
"Parody? Can't you just believe that people can change?"
"Malfoy? Change? You might was well expect pigs to fly!"
"Pigs can fly---"
"I meant not magically… I meant in the Muggle World. Just don't change the subject."
"I was not."
"Just… just stay away from him, alright? No matter how friendly he is and all."
"He just needs a friend."
"Stay away from him. Do it for me?"
Hermione let out a defeated sigh before nodding her head. Harry placed his arm around her shoulder and kissed her on the forehead.
"Thanks, Hermione."
"No problem."
End of Chapter
AUTHOR NOTES:
No, I am NOT a Neville hater. I was just keeping him canon.
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