One Destined Summer
Chapter 4Author: Cornette
Disclaimer: All belongs to JK Rowling
A loud clanking noise woke Hermione up. She jumped to a sitting position, and began wondering immediately. Where on earth am I? Awed her. She was not in Hogwarts, she was not in Grimmaulds Place, and she wasn't in her house either. She happened to sleep on a king-sized bed with laces and all. Sunrays lit the bedroom as a white French window right in from of her was wide-opened.
"Good morning, Miss. Master Malfoy wishes to breakfast with you."
That name brought back every necessary memory. Hermione cursed under her breath. So, she was the ugly duckling –wait, she prefers Cinderella- who was unfortunate enough to tutor Draco Malfoy this summer holiday. A maid…Mary, if she was not mistaken, stood at her bedside carrying a silver tray.
"So early in the morning?" asked Hermione reluctantly. She was never a morning person. Nothing could drag her away from her bed in these hours. Judging from the dim scenery, it must have been seven or less. Mary laid the tray in Hermiones lap carefully, smiling. There was a cup of something like tea on it.
"Master Draco is an early riser, Miss."
"Really?" asked Hermione, rather shocked. And didn't everyone in school thought he always get whatever he wants a.k.a spoiled? He didn't act like a discipline one should. Absent-mindedly Hermione put the cup in her lips, sipped.
She gagged. The tea-or perhaps it was not tea after all- burned her throat, leaving foul spicy tastes in her tongue.
"What is this?" demanded Hermione, half-shrieking. Mary looked so worried and guilty that Hermione felt her anger waded instantly.
"It is a mixture of ginger and Eastern herbs our cook made, Miss. Master Draco suggested this, thinking you might like it. It makes you healthy, he said." stuttered Mary.
Hermione stared blankly at her.
"Malfoy."
Dracos silvery head shot up from the Daily Prophet. He greeted back, looking almost innocent. Hermione examined him as he stood to help her pulling the chair. Thank God she changed her faded t-shirt and jeans. Malfoy was as prim and proper as usual. He could've gone and meet the Queen with his recent outfit.
"It's a fine morning, isn't it?" commented Malfoy brightly, stretched his legs under the table and reached for his Daily Prophet again. Since Hermione never wake so early and they had breakfast in the garden, she had to agree that this was a fine morning. Birds were chirping and singing. Trees were green and vivid. Hermione could feel dews soothed her feet.
"Are you trying to threaten me?" Hermione asked point-blank. The Daily Prophet was lowered.
"You can't help keeping me surprised, Granger. What do you mean by that?" said Malfoy, arching an eyebrow.
"That poisonous brew you gave me by Mary." answered Hermione curtly, crossing her hands.
"Poisonous? No! You're over reacting, Granger." answered Malfoy, sniggering.
"It tastes horribly!" shouted her. "It's a hidden effort to intimidate me."
"So what? That brew warms your throat and gets rid of your sleep. Don't you Gryffindor fools ever learn anything from Prof Snape? Poisonous brew kills you!" said Malfoy, his voices rising also. Hermione was not a person who stood still when her intellectual was being insulted.
"Now you deny that you had tricked me?" she attacked back.
She knew Malfoy was not a person who stood still when his nerve was being insulted.
"Fine. I have pulled a prank on you. Fine. But if you think that I did that to intimidate you, think again. I can do better things." In one-way or another, Malfoys confidence while she spoke annoyed her.
"Such as?" she provoked him. Hermione suddenly grew fearful as Malfoys eyes squinted dangerously.
"Watch me."
A polite throat clearing froze them. Alfred was already standing nearby, ready to served the breakfast. Perhaps Alfred sensed the fight, he tried to caught Hermiones eyes over the marmalade toasts. Hermione ignored him. She ignored Malfoy, who read Daily Prophet the whole breakfast, by the way. When she paced back alone to the Manor: she was fed, she wore good clothes, and she lived in a grand house. Yet she felt she couldn't be worse than this.
Hermione tapped the door twice.
"Come in."
She pushed the mahogany door only to found Draco Malfoy alone. They were at the small library, which Hermione first met him. Malfoy sat behind a large table in the corner. Large piles of papers and parchments nearly hide him from view. He was holding some kind of papers himself, with a quill in the other hand and a deep frown. Few locks of silvery hair fell smoothly over his brows.
"What do you want?" asked Malfoy briskly, his eyes didn't even leave the papers. She felt uneasy to speak to him, especially after that hot breakfast. But Malfoy showed no grudges or animosity, just coldness.
"Erm…uh…I think its time for morning study… you know. " she said slowly.
"Is it now?" asked Malfoy, distractedly. Took times until he put down whatever he was doing to check his watch. His watch was, Hermione noticed, not a usual wristwatch, but an antique looking silver pocket watch with a cord on it. It was ten to nine, guessed Hermione.
"Well, you are free to look for books you will needed. Sit anywhere you please." answered Malfoy, placed his opened pocket watch on the table.
Hermione gulped in disappointment. She liked teaching a lot; she did several tutoring programs in Hogwarts. This lack of learning spirit was heartbreaking. While Hermione needed to know how far was his knowledge and ability, Malfoy made no effort on this process. He was one of the most difficult human Hermione ever met. Hermione couldn't understand him at all. He was mysteriously untouchable, with a keen sense of words and pride great enough to fill Milky Way. Cold, unemotional, yet an infamous playboy who had a lot of fans in junior classes. Six years of Hogwarts brought no difference to their relationship, not to mention Harry and Malfoy hated each other.
With a sigh Hermione started to stroll around to bookshelf, more to cheer her up than anything. This private library was stocked with seven shelves on well-selected corner, each full of books. A heaven for book lovers like her. Their genre varied from history, popular sciences, potion and dark arts, philosophy, ancient looking books, to fictions. Hermione was hooked with The Effects of Time-Turning, and grinned when she founded a wide literature of Tolstoy. What was this supposed to mean? Malfoy read Muggle fictions? At that point Hermione remembered she didn't even know whether Malfoy was a vast reader or not. But whoever owned this library must be.
After made a mental note to borrow several books after this, Hermione dragged herself to one of the sofa. It was located near the window so they'll have full light when they studied. Hermione glanced at Malfoy once. He was writing something amidst the paper chaos. Hermione waited then, turning Advanced Herbologys pages lazily. She had read at least five pages when she questioned hesitantly.
"Malfoy, can I start studying right now?"
Malfoy looked at her just long enough to say. "Of course."
"I mean the two of us." said Hermione, puzzled. That was why she stayed here in Malfoys Manor, wasn't it?
"Im busy, Granger." said Malfoy with an impatient tone, never stopped scribbling.
"Sorry?" She misheard his words.
"I am busy. It means I have no time to do nice little studying with you." said Malfoy, now practically sneering.
"But…but it's for our NEWT…" trailed Hermione off.
"Im capable in passing NEWT without your help." sniffed Malfoy. Hermiones brain worked so hard it hurts her head.
"You've promised!" cried her, when his words took their forms in her head.
"I did promise to spend five hours with you every single torturing day this summer. I don't quite remember to let you disturb me." said Malfoy so calmly Hermiones temper raised.
"What will I say to your mother?" asked Hermione in disbelieve.
"She won't ask if we spend enough time together in this library. How could you be so oblivious?" said Malfoy, now an irritated frown hung impressively in his face.
"I can't take your mother's money while I don't do anything!" argued Hermione bluntly.
"Get used to it." said Malfoy coldly. Hermione bit her lip to prevent her from yelling. An idea popped up in her brain when she stared at Malfoys overloaded table.
"What are you doing? Perhaps I can hel-"
"None of your business." cut Malfoy, with a sharpness enough to quiet her instantly.
That's the end of their conversation. Hermione sat in silent afterwards, surrounded by books she intended to study earlier. Malfoy paid no attention to her, drowned in his own work. Hermione couldn't stand the sight of him that she looked at nowhere outside the window. So this was it, her first tutoring session. Great, thought Hermione bitterly.
To be continued….
Hi guys! Whoaaa, Im free at last! Woohoo! My mid test is over! -. Well, anyway, here is chapter four. Hope you like this one. Its rather long, right? I think I tend to make a lot of Grammar Mistake in long chapters, so take it easy if you find some And thanks for you reviews! Your reviews meant a lot to me. Keep reading! (Chapter 5 will be updated very very soon, heehee.)
