The Bikedium Thread

The Bikedium Thread has long been a source of mystery to wizards. Some think it is merely legend but there is enough mention of it in tales of forgotten wars that to say it is is a figment of imagination would be wholey incorrect.

The Bikedium is a piece of thing thread-like cord made of both silver and gold. The witch or wizard utilises the Bikedium by tying knots at different intervals along the cord. Each point on the cord has a different function and different combinations of knots will do different things, ranging from the ordinary to extraordinary.

The Bikedium thread can create do ordinary magic such as moving objects or unlocking but it can also do much worse. It can be used for destruction, bombs, etc. It can make still images of people and things, it can destroy even the most powerful witch or wizard, but the reason it is most sought is it's ability to fiddle with death.

No one has any idea where the Bikedium Thread is to be found despite many search attempts. It is seen as the most powerful and most elusive magical object and in the wrong hands the Bikedium thread could just about destroy civilisation.

Hermione closed the book and rubbed her eyes. Glancing at the clock she realised she'd been reading for 5 hours. It was very late, or maybe it was very early? What did you call 3 a.m.? It was the second time she had stayed up late reading Philus Phortegue's Handbook and despite knowing that she would be wrecked the next day she couldn't put the book down. When she'd picked it up from where Malfoy had left it she had expected it to be filled with advice on how to harness the dark arts but much to her suprise it had turned out to be more of a guide to dark objects, many of which she had never heard of.

The Bikedium Thread interested her the most. How had she never heard of it? But more importantly, why was Malfoy looking at this particular book? She couldn't see how it was of any use to him. So that left the burning question of what was Malfoy up to?

The following day Hermione went to return the book to the library. Madam Pince greeted her as she came in, "Ah, Miss Granger. Returning Phortegue's? Could you just pop it back under 'P'? i'm a little busy at the moment," she said, just as a scruffy lookin book snapped at the ruffles on her shirt.

As she wandered through the aisles Hermione thoughts drifted back to the interesting paragraphs in the handbook. In fact she was so wrapped up in her thoughts she didn't notice Draco Malfoy walking up the aisle from the opposite end, scanning book spines.

However, he noticed her. When he saw the red cover of the book in her hand he moved towards her. Just as Hermione's hand pushed the book onto the shelf, Draco's hand pulled it off it, their hands brushing in the process.

Startled, turned to find intent grey eyes on her.

"Checking what I'm reading Granger? Since when was that any of your business?"

"Never and I'm not. I was not. The book looked interesting that was all," she replied defiantly.

"And that I left it behind the other day, didn't influence your decision to read it in the slightest?", Malfoy raised an eyebrow.

"Well, I..." she trailed off. How could she defend herself form the truth?

Malfoy smiled a small smile of triumph and with one last searching look, he sauntered off.

Hermione let out a deep breath and leaned against the wooden shelves. That was an...interesting conversation, she thought to herself. She could feel herself all flushed but she didn't know why. She remembered the tingling sensation when his hand had brushed hers. It had felt like she had been electrocuted. She thought back to the last look he'd given her. It had been almost questioning, as though there was something about her he couldn't quite figure out. But what?

Down in the Slytherin dormitories this was the exact same question Draco was asking himself. Why had he suddenly been struck with the thought that Hermione looked pretty when she was nervous? And when their hands had touched... Well he must be going mad if he actually thought there had been a spark. And anyway, a spark of what exactly? Attraction? It couldn't be...