Author's note: Could it be? An update! 00...wow essenceoffantasy! haha, just playin with u all. Here is chapter 13. I hope you all enjoy. I've been going through a lot of stuff lately which is why my updates are more spaced out. But I do enjoy this chapter. And I have planned already what is going to happen next. Please review. I enjoy reading them and it makes my day. really, it does. Constructive Cristism is welcomed!
Thanks to the BEAUTIFUL firefly phoenix for beta-ing!
Draco woke up late the next morning. The sun was shining feebly through the window. He stared at his ceiling, thinking.
It was almost like last night had been a dream. Of course, he remembered every part of it and knew that it wasn't, in fact, a dream. Hermione's words 'can we just forget about it' floated in and out of his head, causing him to wince at his stupidity and boldness.
Reluctantly, Draco pulled himself out of bed. After he showered, he made his way downstairs to the kitchen when he heard someone humming. Narcissa Malfoy came floating up the stairs, a smile plastered on her face.
"Good morning Draco." She chanted.
"Good morning…mother." Draco said, surprised. It was on rare occasions that he met his mother other than dinnertime. He could hardly guess what she did all day. "Are you feeling all right?"
"Oh, much better. Had a bit of a headache from last night so I decided to ask the house elves for some potions." She smiled. Draco couldn't see why she didn't just summon them in her room. "You're up quite late. Are you tired from yesterday?"
"Um…yes." Well, it wasn't entirely lying. His mother gave a nod of approval and continued to her bedroom.
"Oh, by the way. Can you tell Hermione that she will need to go out to the stables and groom the horses? It'll rain by dinner and I won't be able to see her…have a dinner date with the Parsons…" Narcissa disappeared from sight, leaving a slightly unhappy Draco behind.
Sighing, he headed back towards the kitchens and ate some of the already-made bacon and eggs on the table. The house elves spent the whole night cleaning and were now off to sleep, making breakfast before they turned in.
Draco sat alone in silence for quite a while, until Hermione came in the door.
"Morning," she said softly. Apparently Draco wasn't the only one who slept in. He gave her a small nod and continued eating his food. Hermione silently took her plate and began to eat quietly too, her eyes focused on the food in front of her.
"Mother said something about grooming the horses later." Draco said after awhile, not looking up.
"Oh, ok." Hermione said, taking the hint. She was, after all, still supposed to help support the family. It was like Draco to simply mention something about a task without getting his pride hurt. "Well, I suppose that makes sense. They haven't been out for a while. They'll probably need their exercise too…."
They continued eating in silence. When Draco was finished, he got up and placed his plate in the sink. "Going to practice some Quidditch." Hermione gave a distracted nod and played with her food.
"So this is what its resort to." Draco thought bitterly. "Five word sentences and awkward silences." Draco reached the back door and headed outside. "Let's just forget about it, ok?' Right! Like that's ever going to happen!" He grabbed his broom from the shed and pushed off the ground.
The small rush that he got from flying chilled his bones. A bittersweet smile appeared on his lips. Gliding slowly through the air, he could feel the threat of a new storm arriving in several hours. Draco looked down. He could see Hermione cross the lawn towards the stables.
A small pang of guilt and regret hit straight through his heart. His friendship between Hermione would never be the same again. Draco refocused his eyes in front of him. He couldn't possibly imagine them laughing at the same stuff they laughed before.
Draco spent another hour on his broom. When he was done, he dismounted and put his broom away. In the far distance, he could see Hermione still working steadily on the horses. His feet slowly gravitated towards the stables. Strong smells of hay and horse sweat filled his nostrils and mixed with the dampness of the air.
Draco walked up right beside Hermione and studied her as she saddled a deep brown mare. He remained silent as she guided the horse back outside and mounted onto its back. Another ten, fifteen minutes later, she came back on a trot and finished grooming the horse.
Draco nodded at her and left her to the remaining horses. Neither of them said anything. They didn't smile, nor laugh, nor pass brief glances. In fact, you could have cut the thick air with a knife.
Several hours later, Draco sat unsuccessfully in front of summer homework, staring at an almost blank parchment entitled "Uniform History of the Ministry of Magic". He heard Hermione climb up the stairs a while ago, after watching her from his window. Grooming the horses was tough work, especially if she was going to ride them as well. She still had four left.
The door down the hallway opened again and Draco heard a distinctive sigh as footsteps returned back downstairs. A little while later, he saw Hermione appear back outside to the remaining horses.
Soft dribbles of rain patted against the windowsill. Draco looked back up again. Dark clouds rolled under the sun and a small wind picked up. Glancing down at the busy Hermione, Malfoy quickly dropped his quill and left his room.
Outside, the trickling rain came down more steadily, wetting Draco's hair and clothes. He trotted over to the stables and was surprised to see that Hermione wasn't there.
"Hermione!" He searched around the small barn. The rain was now a strong shower, emitting the shack with large echoes against the rooftop. "Hermione! Finish the horses later," he called, continuing to the back of the stables. "It's just going to rain harder! It won't let up until tomo-" Draco stopped in front of an empty stall, his eyes wide and round. Thunder clapped in the sky.
"HERMIONE!" He roared, darting out into the pouring rain. He slipped on the wet grass and fell in the flowing mud. Draco struggled back up again. He desperately looked for the one horse he had never let anyone else ride alone-Thane.
A scream came from his far left. "HERMIONE!" He ran towards the noise, straining his eyes against the dark sky. Lightning struck and he briefly saw where they were.
"DRACO!" A voice screamed, fear in its tone. Hermione came into view, struggling and grasping Thane with all her might. The horse was galloping fiercely into all directions, confused and angry. "DRACO HE WON'T STO-" the rest of her voice was hidden behind another loud clap of thunder. Thane charged right into a clump of trees and bushes, with Hermione on his back. Another loud scream issued from her lips.
"HERMIONE I'M COMING!" Draco hollered, wishing with all his might that he had his broom with him. Thane came barging back out of the trees, branches and leaves dotting his tail and coat. Hermione was still feebly clinging to his reigns.
The horse gnashed his teeth and headed straight for Draco. Then it hit him. He was a wizard! Thane was drawing closer. He whipped his wand out of his soaking robes-what spell would he use? What if he hit Hermione instead? He couldn't bear to think it…thunder roared again…Thane was less than ten feet from him….he had to act now…the horse reared up and banished its legs, Hermione fell off his back…"STUPEFY!"
The mare froze; it's legs still in midair.
Teetering, it slowly… fell backward.
"HERMIONE!" Draco cried, running at once to the body crushed by the horse. "Oh no!" He thought, bending as low as he could. Her eyes were shut, she was unconscious. Choking back the lump in his throat, Draco ignored the flash of lightning and got back up. "Wingardium Leviosa" he said in a clear voice. The horse slowly rose up and was placed on the muddy grass beside the girl.
"Hermione." Draco moaned, falling to his knees and examining her face. His heart literally burst out of his chest. Wind howled and blew fiercely at their clothes. He looked at the girl he kissed last night, pale and unmoving. "Hermione, Hermione, Hermione." Her body was soaked through, her hair was lifeless. Draco looked at her soft face. It was covered with scratches and bruises from the trees. All he wanted to do was to pick her up and carry her back to the manor. But he knew that was a risk he wouldn't dare take. What if she broke her bones? What if her spine or neck was broken and she was de-
But Draco wouldn't think it. He couldn't think it. He stood back up. "Wingardium Leviosa" He said in a wavering voice, tears flowed down his face.