Disclaimer: After a long night of reading I came to the conclusion that there is no way I won Harry Potter….
Author's Note: HI EVERYBODY! I hope you're all enjoying the Half-Blood Prince! I did, after staying up until about 3:30 this morning, I finished it! I just couldn't put the book down! So if you finished it I hope you enjoyed it, and if not then I hope you are enjoying it and I thank you for taking time out of your reading to read my fic!
After some cough er--events that occurred in the sixth installment, I became a little, well I don't know, worried? Well, that's not the exact right word, but oh well. That I wasn't going to be able to tie in those certain events into my story, but then I realized that this is fan fiction, and well it's my fic and what I make happens, happens….right? So I won't be changing anything significant in my story. In fact, I now have information I can use to help me do something that I didn't know how to get to. But anyways. I will be adding little things here and there that happened in the Half-Blood Prince, but nothing that will truly alter the plot. The things will be coming in later chapters, I guess you could call them spoilers if you haven't read the entire thing…so just be prepared, I guess. Enough rambling on my part, on with the story!
525,600 Minutes: In Truths That She Learned, or in Times That He Cried-
-Chapter Sixteen
Their friendship was an odd one. For it was neither public nor conventional. They kept their friendship hidden, knowing full and well that if people knew, they would most likely loose their special bond.
They threw rude remarks and glares at each other whenever in passing during the day. Making it seem, if possible, that they hated each other even more. But during their patrols on Friday nights, their quick meetings in the library, and when they met in the kitchens every Sunday they laughed at the obscure, and might I add, new remarks that they came up with, or the ice cold glares that they were caught giving each other. In fact, their seemingly unending hate turned into a new game for the new found friends. Each trying to out do the other. They would then argue when they met about who had topped the other on that day. Even when they were caught together, in the library or if they found a student out of bed, no one seemed to notice they had become friends. Which was what made the friendship odd.
They still seemed to insult each other, but not out of hate. It was out of sarcasm, a playful manner that they kept between the two of them. And they had yet to stop calling each other by their surnames, like most friends do. Why they did this they did not know. Perhaps calling each other by their last names was because they had never called the other by their first name, ever and they were so accustomed to using the others surname. Or perhaps the use of the surname was a way to identify their relationship, or a way to remind the other who it was, exactly, that they had become friends with. Or maybe, they simply chose not to call the other by their respected first names. For the last names became their thing, something that made the bond closer, stronger. The use of surnames became a sort of pet name, you could call it, that they unknowingly gave to the other.
Neither was exactly sure how it happened, or why, but it did. Something had happened in the kitchens that night. Something they couldn't explain, but they knew that the hate the held for each other could no longer rule over the bond that had unwillingly formed.
They held each other's gaze for a moment after Hermione had spoken her last words, Hermione's hand still placed delicately on his shoulder.
Malfoy finally tore his eyes from Hermione's, letting his tears finally stop. "You're parents have been in St. Mungo's for a month now, haven't they?" Hermione nodded.
"Yes," she paused, wondering if she could confide in Malfoy like he had done in her. "They were moved to a different ward today. A long-term resident ward." He didn't say he was sorry, he just nodded his head. Even though he hardly showed sympathy, Hermione felt a small weight being lifted off her shoulders. When she had told Harry, Ron, Ginny, Luna and Neville, they had constantly apologized saying how sorry they were. But that weight was still there. But Malfoy didn't need to say how sorry he was to here the news, a simple nod of the head was able to take that horrid knot out of her stomach and they weight off her shoulders. He truly understood.
"How did- well, I mean-" Malfoy didn't know how to ask his question.
But Hermione understood, "After finding out that Annabeth was Ryn-" she told him the story. "-I suppose I was lucky the Order got there when they did." she finished. "I can't help but imagine-" she broke off, the tears that had been forming started to slowly leak from her eyes.
"Yes, Death Eaters are-"
"Cruel." Hermione finished the sentence with Malfoy.
"I can't believe it's already a month." she whispered again, now looking into the mesmerizing flames of the fire. "It's gone by so-"
"fast." Hermione and Malfoy said. They let out a small laugh at the fact that they had just completed the other's sentence twice.
"Yes."
"I can't believe it's already been five months."
"Malfoy, you, you said that your mother was crying because your father had killed their friends. The friends, where they-?"
"Yes, Jacob and his family."
Another silence followed. Both staring into the fire, the flames dancing in their eyes. Finally, Hermione let out a small yawn and checked her watch. "I suppose we should be going back to our common rooms. It's getting late."
"Yes," Malfoy said in agreement.
They both left the kitchen in silence, arriving in the entrance hall minutes later. Hermione went to the grand staircase and Malfoy turned to the door that would lead to the dungeons.
"Granger." Hermione was about to step on the bottom most step, but turned to Malfoy, who called her name.
"Yes?"
"I-I-well. It's-"
"I know, Malfoy. The same goes to you." he gave her his trade mark smirk and disappeared through the door. They had found the backbone of support that they had both been searching for.
After that fateful night Hermione and Malfoy avoided each other as much as possible, until they could no longer. On their patrols the following Friday they did not meet the other's gaze, and they did not talk. Finally towards the end of the patrol Malfoy took a bag of sweets out of his pocket, and began to munch on them. Unbeknownst to him some one had switched the bag of sweets he had bought with a bag of Weasley Wizarding Weezes.
He threw a purple taffy into his mouth and began to chew. While he did he slowly held the bag in Hermione's direction, silently asking her if she wanted one. She nodded and took what looked like a peppermint hard candy. She was about to place it in her mouth when Malfoy fell to the ground with a loud umph.
"What happened?" Hermione asked.
"Does it look like I know." he tried to stand but realized that his legs felt like jelly and he could not longer support his body. "What in bloody-" he tried to stand again but fell once more.
Hermione looked at the scene before her. Malfoy kept trying to stand, his arms flying about as he fell over and over, the candies scattered over the floor and the shimmering green bag with Malfoy's initials on it lying on the ground. The green material faded to a bright orange and Malfoy's initials were replaced with Weasley Wizarding Weezes. Realization dawned on Hermione and she began to laugh uncontrollably.
"What are you-" Malfoy fell, "-laughing-" he stood and fell once more "at!"
"Looks like you've been victim to someone's joke, Malfoy." she said, laughing a little harder as she picked up the bag and handed it to him.
Malfoy realized that he was loosing the battle of trying to stand so remained sitting as Hermione handed him his pocket bag. But it wasn't his.
"Looks like someone switched your bag of sweets." she said, going into another fit of laughter.
He glared at the lettering on it, and the candies around him, "When I find out who did this." The look of hate, frustration, anger, and confusion on Malfoy's face made Hermione laugh her hardest and clutch her side.
"I wouldn't be laughing," he paused and tried to stand, finding that he could, once again. "if I were you."
She waited for her laughter to die down before replying, "Oh? Why?" she looked at him, an amused smirk on her face. "It was quite funny."
"We'll see who gets the last laugh."
"Really now? And why is that?"
"Revenge is sweet my friend."
Yes, neither knew exactly what happened, but it did.
Ever since confiding in Malfoy, Hermione's mood had become better and better during the days. For some reason that talk with him and the idea of him as her new friend eased Hermione's weariness. She had someone who cold fully understand what she was going through, someone finally understood, and she no longer carried the burden by herself. Other's were out there doing that with her, and she became happier and happier with each passing day.
Hermione sat in potions, the next Wedsnesday, vigorously mixing her Strength Potion. "Fluxweed, Ron. Fluxweed" she said as she saw that Ron was about to put the wrong ingredient into his potion.
"Five points from Gryffindor." said Snape as he passed by their table. He didn't give a reason, but Hermione knew it was because she had helped Ron. She heard Malfoy snigger from across the room. She turned her head towards him and gave him a deadly glare. He smirked in return.Hermione turned back to her potion.
CRASH!
The lour sound of shattering glass filled the room, and everyone snapped their heads to where Annabeth Littledon sat, next to Malfoy. Her face had turned pale and she looked like she was trying very hard not to clutch her left arm, he face was contorted in absolute pain.
As Hermione looked from Annabeth, then the shattered glass and back she saw Snape out of the corner of her eye. He soon gained her full attention. He was slightly hunched over his desk, his eyes wide in surprise. But he quickly regained his full composure and turned towards Annabeth.
"Sir, I think Annabeth is ill." someone said in the back of the class.
"Annabeth." he said. "If you are not feeling well I suggest that you go to the hospital wing. Tell Madame Promfrey what happened, I shall be along shortly to check on you." Everyone in the class looked from Annabeth to Snape and back again, everyone except Hermione. Her eyes were fixed on Snape. There was something in his eyes, and the tone of his voice that was telling Hermione that Snape was not instructing Annabeth to go to the hospital wing, but somewhere else.
Annabeth seemed to fully understand what ever message Snape was telling her, for she quickly nodded, and stood saying "Thank you, Professor." and left the room quickly. When the door closed behind her everyone turned towards Snape.
"Class dismissed." everyone looked astonished, there was still an hour and fifteen minutes left to class. "I said, class dismissed." Snape repeated his command as no one moved.
"But, Professor." Ernie McMillan of Hufflepuff started. "We still have just over an hour over class left until dinner."
"I am well aware of the fact that there is still a significant amount of time left in class Mister McMillan." Hermione could tell that his temper was rising. "However, I have dismissed all of you. NOW OUT!" Without further initiative the twelve students began to pack away there things and leave.
"Well, that was odd." Ron said. As they emerged out of the classroom last.
"I hope Annabeth's ok." Hermione nervously stated.
"What!" both Harry and Ron exclaimed, turning on Hermione.
"Hermione, you realize your talking about Annabeth, Annabeth Littledon."
"Yes. I'm surprised you two are-OH!" in all the events of the past month and her inner strife Hermione had forgotten one very important thing. "I forgot to tell you!" she quickly dove into the story of who Annabeth Littledon really was.
"Blimey," said Ron, when they finished. "So you mean, whoa--well, it's understandable why she would be here to protect Harry, but what about you? And Malfoy!"
"I don't know, that's what I was wondering too." Hermione said, "I mean M-" she paused, she wondered if it was wise to tell her friends about why the Death Eaters where after Malfoy. Finally deciding that she did not want to loose the new friend that she only had for a just under a week, if he were to find out, she decided not to. "I don't know."
"It's all odd. Doxy Wings," Harry said the password to the Gryffindor common room. They walked to the corner by the fire and placed their book bags down, before sitting in their favorites chairs. They sat in silence for five minutes before someone spoke.
"What do you say we go down to the Quidditch Pitch before dinner and practice before the practice tonight?" Ron asked.
"Alright," Harry shrugged. "Want to come Hermione?"
"All right, let me just grab a book."
An hour later the three friends sat down at the Gryffindor table, Harry and Ron with broomsticks in hand. All three were starving and hungrily shoved food onto their plates. After Hermione began eating her eyes scanned the Slytherin table. Malfoy sat at his new spot at the end of the table, reading the Evening Prophet. Annabeth, however, was no were in sight. Her respected spot next to Malfoy was empty. Hermione then looked to the staff table and found that all of the teachers were there except for one: Snape.
"We're going to head back to the Pitch before practice starts, want to come Hermione?" asked Ron as he and Harry stood after finishing their plates.
"No, I don't think I will. I should start my homework."
"Suit yourself."
"Hey Ginny, Dean, Demelza!" Harry called to the people half way down the table. "Pitch, one hour. Don't be late, I've got some new plays to try." the three Gryffindor Chasers nodded. Hermione watched as her two friends left the hall, stopping to remind the Beaters, Peakes and Coote, about practice.
Hermione finished her meal and left the hall, but instead of going back to the Gryffindor common room she went to the Hospital Wing. She was there within five-minutes. She opened the door to see Madame Promfrey standing over a sickly looking first year.
"Excuse, Madame Promfrey?"
"Yes, dear."
"If Annabeth Littledon here?"
"No, I'm afraid she isn't."
Odd, Hermione thought. "Ok, thank you."
There was something amiss. Thinking of only one more place that Annabeth could be, she set of at a fast walk to find the one person who could tell her.
"Malfoy?" she whispered, looking in the library. "Malfoy?" She found him towards the back, looking in a book. She quickly grabbed his arm and pulled him farther towards the back of the library.
"What in the h-Granger?"
"Yes."
"What do you think you doing? Trying to scare me to death?"
"Look, is Annabeth in the Slytherin Common Room?"
"No, wh-"
"Is she in her dormitory?"
"No-"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I made a first year check. What's all this about? I've told you once before that's you're going insane, you seem to be proving me right." He smirked and she gave him a glare before returning to why she was here.
"She isn't in the Hospital Wing-"
"What?" Malfoy asked, Granger must be going crazy. "Of course she is, where else would she-"
"No, she isn't. I just came from there."
There was a silence while Malfoy took in the news and thought.
"Do you have any idea where she could be?" Hermione asked. She didn't like the idea that Ryn had disappeared so suddenly, and Snape's odd behavior.
"No," he paused. "Come to think of it. This isn't the first time she's done this."
Author's Note: And that's what I leave you with today.
StarPheonix: Thank you for the review!
GuardGirl07: lol. Did you end up going to get your book at midnight? Thanks for the review!
Draco's-Ice-Princess666: Thanks! I'll be sure to check out your story! Thanks for reviewing!
lovely ravenclaw: Hope you enjoy book six as well! Thanks for reviewing!
Exploded toilet bowl: Glad to hear that Draco wasn't too open. I think I might have dared to leave a cliffhanger…bad me….lol. Well, Thanks for the review!
phylicia13: Same with me! I want to see it so bad! Well, thanks for reviewing!
stephanie: Hope you have fun out of town! Thanks for reviewing!
Spork Princess: I know what you mean! I couldn't believe it! It's like fan fiction writers where right in thinking that he does have a heart. I too wonder what will happen to him, hope nothing to serious….Guess we all just have to wait…darn. Like I said before, I won't be changing anything, though I wondered what I was going to do. But I won't be. Thanks for reviewing!
meghan: Thanks for your review!
HarahettaMonkeyKing: I've been trying for sometime to come up with a different summary…but I'm having a hard time so if you have any ideas of how I could write it, then by all means let me know! And yeah, I'm aware of my grammatical errors, I get so involved in writing that I don't realize what I'm typing. Perfect? Wow, what a compliment, thank you. And thanks for adding me to your favorites. Thanks for reviewing!
Hazelocean: Thanks for reviewing!
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More to come soon!
The Lonely Goatherd