Disclaimer: From chapter one to this point of the story I have yet to obtain to rights to Harry Potter. So I don't own Harry Potter….
Author's Note: Omg! Can you believe that this is already chapter ten! I know I can't! How time flies….anywho. I've been thinking about this plot line a lot these past couple of days as I was lying on my couch doing nothing, waiting for my mouth the heal. And I've come up with how I want certain things to go, but I don't know how to lead to them, so you'll have to bare with me. As always, I have no idea how this chapter will turn out….guess we'll just have to see!
525,600 Minutes: In Truths That She Learned, or in Times That He Cried-
-Chapter Ten
A month had passed and autumn was swiftly approaching Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The green leaves of the Forbidden Forest were quickly changing into colors of brown, red, orange, and gold. Their soft texture became a course one. With one simple touch a leaf would break into a million pieces.
With the month of October brought the first Hogsmeade trip for the third years students and up. So there was no doubt that Hermione would be walking the streets of the small wizarding village. Two new books were placed nicely under her right arm as she made her way towards The Three Broomsticks.
Even though it wasn't the coldest of days out Hermione was glad to be met by the warmth of the small tavern. She checked her watch, 11:45. Harry and Ron, who were currently in Zonko's Joke Shope, would be meeting her in fifteen minutes. Hermione let out a small laugh at the thought of the joke shop. As much as she liked the joke shop, book stores were more her thing. She had tried to convince Harry and Ron to come with her to the new book shop, but they had readily disagreed to go. As Hermione sat down at the table she had found, she let out another small laugh at the looks on her two friends faces when she mention spending the morning in a book shop.
"Laughing to yourself Granger? Or was it at yourself? Either way I think the Headmaster should be informed about it. He wouldn't want a Head Girl who talks to himself, now would he?"
Hermione looked up from the book that she had just opened to find Malfoy staring at her, his arms crossed against his chest, the usual smirk plastered on his face. "Malfoy." was all she said, while placing her book on the table.
"Ah, how typical. The book worm spends her Hogsmeade day sitting inside the Three Broomsticks reading a book. You know, you can do that at the castle Granger, why waist a perfectly good table when the place is so full." he motioned his arm around to show how full the Three Broomsticks really was.
"Go away Malfoy. You really get annoying, you know that?"
He chuckled. "I thought you'd be glad to see me Granger. After all Potter and Wearsly aren't with you. You know, I never thought I'd see the day that the three of you stopped being friends."
"Don't let the thought flatter you Malfoy. You know, I could ask the same of you. You haven't been flanked with your usual crowd lately. Had a bit of a row with them? And now, here you are alone. Not even your girl friend is with you." just then, another figure joined their group. "Speak of the devil." said Hermione, looking at Annabeth as she made a mental note of the pure look of surprise on Malfoy's face at the thought of Annabeth being his girlfriend.
"Granger." she sneared.
"Annabeth." Hermione glared back.
"Where's your boyfriends Granger? Decided they've had enough with you?" Annabeth asked, a smirk almost more cynical than Draco's on her face.
"Why you-"
"What the bloody hell are you to doing here!" the enraged voice of Ron interrupted Hermione.
"Just having a nice chat, Weasly." Malfoy sarcastically drawled.
"Yes, care to join us?" Annabeth asked, equally sarcastic.
"Shove off." said Harry.
"It would be our pleasure." Malfoy said, as the two began to walk away. "Oh, and Granger. See you tonight Granger."
"You better not be late!" Hermione yelled, as Malfoy and Annabeth made their way across the Three Broomsticks to another table.
"Late? For what?" Ron asked, setting down the Butterbeers that he and Harry had already gotten.
"We have to patrol tonight."
"But I thought you two patrolled on Fridays?"
"We do, but Lily Joon and Aiden Finister,-"
"Who?" Ron asked, while Harry looked at Hermione perplexed.
"You both know them. The two Ravenclaw fifth year prefects that always walk around saying that when the moon is in the seventh house and Jupiter aligns with mars then peace will fill the planets, and what not."
"Oh, them."
"Yes, well. Last Saturday when they were patrolling they came across a fifth year Hufflepuff and a fourth year Slytherin dueling. They were both hit with a couple of nasty spells before they could stop the duel. They've been in the hospital wing for the past week. Since they are there, Dumbledore asked Malfoy and I to take their patrol tonight." she finished with a very deep sigh.
Hermione stood in the Entrance Hall of the castle, tapping her foot impatiently. Five minutes till nine and Malfoy had yet to show up. True, they didn't start patrols until nine, but Hermione always thought it to be very sensible to always be early. Plus Malfoy had been late the past three patrols.
"You can stop that annoying foot stomping. I'm here." Draco said, as he emerged from the dungeon entrance.
"It's about time."
"At least I'm on time."
"Let's just get this over with." Hermione said, as she turned on her heel and walked up the grand stair case, with a reluctant Malfoy following her.
An hour had passed and Hermione and Malfoy found themselves on third floor corridor. The odd, uncomfortable, tension building silence that always accompanied their patrols filled the air.
"You're wrong you know." Hermione nearly jumped ten feet into the air, when she heard Malfoy speak to her.
"Excuse me?" Hermione asked, while placing her wand back in her robe. She had instinctively grabbed it when Malfoy spoke up.
"I said that you were wrong."
"About what, might I ask?"
"Annabeth being my girlfriend. Despite what you may think."
Hermione stopped dead in her tracks. She couldn't believe that Draco Malfoy had just said that to her, let alone willingly talk to her.
"She's not?"
"No."
"Could have fooled me. The two of you are always together. In fact she's the only one you are ever around anymore. And you didn't expect me to think something?"
"Well, she's not. So don't even think it again. Got it?"
"Why does it even matter if I think she is or not?"
"It doesn't. I just don't want people getting the wrong ideas. Got it. Her being my girlfriend is absolutely out of the question. Understand me?"
Hermione, stood completely perplexed. She had seen the surprised look on his face earlier that day when she, Hermione, had made the comment about the girlfriend. But she didn't think that her comment would plague his thoughts to the point that he had to clear the subject with her. Besides, it was Draco Malfoy that was proving his point.
Suddenly Malfoy began walking again, and Hermione had no choice but to follow.
10:30 p.m. "I tell you someone is following us." Hermione whispered as she heard footsteps behind them, as they made their to the Hufflepuff tower.
"Don't start this again. For the last time Granger, no one is following us."
"Yes there is. There is a student out of bed. I'm sure of it." ever since their first patrol, Hermione had heard someone following them. She was positive about it. She always heard footsteps behind him. Every Friday it was the same thing.
"You're hearing things, now come on. We're almost done with out patrols. And the sooner I get away from you the better."
"The feeling is mutual Malfoy." Hermione said, as she reluctantly turned her heard from the shadows in which she had been looking. As she did, she was positive that she heard the swish of and saw the end of a cloak.
Author's Note: Well, what do you all think? I guess it turned out pretty good? How about you? People, slightly out of character, but that's what you get when you write a Hermione/Draco fic, right?
Ok, so this is the part were I usually thank reviewers. But at the moment my mouth slightly hurts, and I'm very tired, so I won't be personally thanking reviewers….sorry. So here's one to everyone!
To everyone who reviewed: Thank you all so much for your reviews! And I'm so glad that you like the story and that you take time to read it! Thanks again!
More to come soon!
The Lonely Goatherd