Chapter 12
"So," Draco growled. "So."
Hermione stood her ground and coolly met his gray eyes.
"I don't need this kind of sabotage, Granger. Especially from you."
"Excuse me? Sabotage?"
"You heard me. Playing juvenile practical jokes on me is not the way to ensure MY optimum health, which ultimately decides the fate of this mission!"
Hermione's temper rose. "Correct me if I'm wrong, Malfoy—correct me if I am wrong—but which one of us started it?"
"You—"
"You have the nerve to speak to me in such a manner! You were the one who pranked us first, and you dare act so high-and-mighty! And don't even TRY to attempt to justify your actions. You not only attempted to sabotage your partner, you also jeopardized the health of your charge!"
"I—"
"Harry might've broken a leg or an ankle, you lousy git! With a bodyguard like you, Malfoy, Harry doesn't need Voldemort's cronies. In your clumsy, vindictive hands, he'll be a goner in a second!"
She turned and started to storm away…but Draco's hand on her arm stopped her.
"Anyway, that's not important," he snapped. "The important thing is that…"
He broke off and whipped out his wand.
Hermione whirled, drawing her own.
"Death Eaters," he hissed. "They're camouflaged."
Hermione nodded as she kept her eyes on the walls. "There are two of them."
"Ah, just right."
Both students reflexively ducked as the wizards suddenly shot blasts of red light at them.
Draco shot a Disarming Curse at one of them.
The Death Eater leapt out of the way, but Hermione was ready. She hit him full on with a Full Body-Bind, at the same time Draco tackled the second, wrenched off the guy's wand before he could react, and knocked him out with another Disarming Curse between the eyes. Pointing, Hermione neutralized the Death Eaters' Disillusionment Charm.
"Oh-kay." Draco peered at the figures that materialized before them. "Big threat."
The assassins were clearly naught but lowly lackeys, close to or at the bottom of the Death Eater hierarchy. One, the one Hermione hexed, was small and wiry, while the other was short and stout.
"We ought to Obliviate them, just in case," Hermione suggested.
Draco nodded.
"So, what were you going to say earlier?" she asked as she and Draco began dragging the prone assassins to Dumbledore's office.
"Oh. Yeah. Anyway, I think that we should…call a truce for the moment." Draco made a face, as though the words left a bitter taste in his mouth.
"What!"
"Very simple, genius. I don't touch you; you don't touch me. No hexing. No pranks," he explained snidely.
"Fine," she shot back. "I'll keep to it. But this is—"
"Only for the sake of the mission," Draco finished. "Once it's done, Granger, you and Pottyweasel had better brace yourselves."
Hermione returned the smirk. "Same goes for you and the shaved gorillas you lug around."
They stopped and shook hands briefly.
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They didn't bother to return to Arithmancy. After all, Draco reasoned, they were already extremely late. No point in going back in there to face the questioning gazes of their fellow students.
"At least if we skive off, we earn coolness points," he concluded.
"But we lose points for our houses," Hermione countered.
Draco shrugged carelessly. "So? They're not important to me. Besides, Potter earns it all back for you with his heroic feat of the year."
Hermione started to head back to the classroom.
"Fine; go ahead," Draco called. "I should've known—you haven't got a centimetre of the famous 'Gryffindor spine'."
He went on his way, whistling.
Hermione froze, her hand on the doorknob.
Draco slowed down and grinned, knowing he had struck a nerve. As if on cue, Hermione charged up beside him, her brown eyes burning fire.
"Excuse me? I haven't got spine? I have broken far more school rules than you ever will. I've skived off my share of classes."
(Accidentally, but she would never admit that to Draco)
"So, good. I'm heading to the kitchens. Coming?"
The challenge in his eyes was too difficult to turn down.
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Draco stopped outside the painting and tickled the pear. The secret door swung open to a kitchen full of chattering house-elves.
Hermione stopped at the doorway, hesitant to enter.
She had finally given the S.P.E.W thing a rest the past summer to focus on the task at hand. But she knew that the house-elves were still displeased with the Gryffindors—at last report, Dobby was still cleaning Gryffindor Tower by himself.
Draco cocked his head at the door. "Well?"
"Erm…I can't go in."
"Why? Oh…Well, who asked you to make enemies of the house-elves?"
He grabbed her arm and dragged her inside.
The house-elves stopped chattering.
"Yes, I know I've got the bad hat-knitter with me, but she's not giving out any woolly bladders today. We'll just have some treacle tarts and be on our way," Draco announced.
Hermione struggled to bite back her pep talk as she watched the diminutive creatures rush around to get Draco's order.
"Don't even try it," Draco snapped as he grabbed the treacle tarts and quickly pushed her back out.
"You have much to learn, Granger."
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A/N: Let's pretend that Draco knows about the secret door to the kitchens and about Hermione knitting the clothes for the house-elves.
MY DEEPEST THANKS AND PRAISE TO THE LORD!
And to my reviewers:
MeLiO- Thanks:)
Sacagawea- The bad guys just don't give up. :)
Ehlonna- You bet he is. :)
BlackDiamond4- Yes, there will be some romance for our favorite bespectacled hero. :)
Crimson Girl- It might take a little while for our fave couple's hormones to start reacting, but I tell you, they definitely will soon. :) Patience is a virtue… :)
Marauderbabe289- Thanks:)
Delayed Action Ninja- This isn't exactly romantic yet, but things will progress very soon… :) I hope I have, at least to a certain extent, satisfied your craving.
Alcapacien- Well, the Slytherins have never really actually directed attacks at her, that much I can say… :)
MissDitzy- If she was really very pretty, well, can't blame him… :)
Flavagurl- Sorry, but there won't be any kissing anytime soon. I'm saving that, you see… :)
Up next: Hermione cries…and who just happens to be there to comfort her? ;)