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Chapter 4

Camping muggle style

"Come on," Malfoy said to Hermione when she finished eating. "We should find shelter over there," he pointed to the east, "There's a stream over there. We should stay near it so we have water. I'm sure there's a cave or somewhere we can stay tonight. We shouldn't attempt to build shelter or do much anything until your head gets better."

Hermione nodded and the two started walking towards the water. "Malfoy." She stared, "Just curious, but why are you being so nice to me? Not that it's not appreciated, or anything."

Malfoy stopped and looked Hermione in the eye. Hermione couldn't see any traces of emotion in his stormy gray eyes.

"It's not like I have a choice we're partners and we have to look out for each other. I figure the faster we do this the sooner we leave this place."

"Well trust me, I didn't want to work with you either. I think we should try and call a truce, just so we can survive this place. Truce?" Hermione stuck out her hand.

Malfoy just looked at her. Hermione wasn't sure if he was going to accept or not.

"Truce," he agreed and the two shook hands. It was a landmark moment.

Hermione and Malfoy after reaching that agreement walked silently until the sun had almost completely set.

"I think I see something!" Hermione exclaimed excitedly after the two had walked for a while.

Up ahead was a cave. The two children rushed into it. There was no sign of life in it so the children decided to stay there for the night.

"We should probably make a fire," Hermione stated.

"You stay here, I'll get some wood," Malfoy told her.

"I'll help," Hermione volunteered.

"No, you need to rest. Your head still hasn't healed. I'll get the wood." And with that Malfoy left.

Hermione sat down and waited. She liked Malfoy better now that they'd called a truce. Maybe there was some good in him.

No, No, Hermione quickly shook the thought out of her head. He's still a ferret. He's just trying to pass this project and get me out of his life, nothing more.

Outside in the woods Malfoy was collecting firewood in his sack. He had no idea why he was being so nice to Hermione.

I just want to finish this project and go home, Malfoy told himself. She's just a filthy little Mudblood bookworm.

As Malfoy said that he knew that wasn't true. She wasn't filthy. She wasn't as pretty as other girls he had met but since first year her bushy hair had become tamer and she had grown up more since she'd come to Hogwarts. Even now the fact that she was a Mudblood didn't seem to be the insulting term it had once been. His father had always told him that mudbloods were filthy and below him but even Malfoy had to admit that Granger was good with a wand.

Malfoy shook all thoughts about Granger out of his head and headed back to the cave.

Once inside the cave he saw Hermione sitting on the ground dividing some of the food they'd been given up.

"There you are," she said, "Do you know how to start a fire or do you want me to do it?"

"We don't build fires in the wizarding world," he stated, "You can build it."

Hermione took the wood from out of his hands and started to make a fire with the matches.

Malfoy looked impressed when Hermione managed to make the fire start.

"I learned how to do that when I was little," she told him. "My dad used to take me and my mom camping every summer and he taught me a lot of things about living in the wilderness."

Malfoy had a questioning look on his face. "What's camping?"

Hermione laughed. "Camping is something muggles do for fun. It's kind of like what we're doing now only muggles have these things called tents which are almost the same as wizarding ones only they are a lot smaller and don't have furniture inside. The best part of camping is telling stories and playing games around the campfire. I used to love going with my parents when I was little."

Malfoy who was now sitting on the side of Hermione looked intrigued. "Can you teach my one of the games you played?" he asked.

Hermione laughed again. Who would ever guess that Malfoy of all people would want to play muggle games?

"Sure," she laughed, "As soon as we have something to eat, I'm starving."

"So," Hermione said as she ate an apple that had been given before they'd left, "You've really never been camping?"

"Do, my parents seem like the camping type?" Malfoy asked.

"True, but as a kid what did you do during the summer?"

"Usually my dad would be off on business and my mom, well I love her and all, but she wasn't the type of person who would do stuff with kids. When I was little I always used to play with one of my house-elves, Dobby. But then my dad said that Potter," Malfoy spit that name out, "got him freed and I haven't seen him since."

"You used to play with Dobby?" Hermione asked, "but Dobby never seemed like he liked your family."

"Wait," Malfoy said confused, "You know Dobby?"

"Of course. Don't you know? He works at Hogwarts. I can bring you to visit him sometime, if you'd like."

"I'd like that," Malfoy said and for the first time ever had a smile on his face.

Hermione was shocked. She'd made Malfoy smile. Something strange was going on here. But as soon as she looked up it was gone and Malfoy looked just as Malfoy-ish as ever.

Then Malfoy got a mischievous look on his face.

"What?" Hermione asked.

"We're done eating," He said, "Now you have to teach me some muggle campfire games."

"Well, there's always ghost stories but it's not dark enough yet so we can play that later. What about truth?"

"It's sort of like truth or dare without the dares. I used to play it with my friends. It's sort of a game to get to know people better."

"What the heck," Malfoy stated, "I'm stuck here with you anyways, I mine as well get to know you better."

"I'll go first," Hermione told him. "I'll start with a basic question. Umm, what are your favorite colors?"

"Green and silver."

"Let's see… Ah! I know, what's going on between you and the weasel?"

"Nothing, he's like a brother to me,' Hermione stated firmly.

"Yeah? I don't think he thinks that way, don' tell me you haven't seen the way he looks at you."

Hermione started laughing. "Ron doesn't like me like that. He's fancied Lavender since fourth year. What about you and Pansy?"

"Same, Pansy is like a sister to me. We always played together as kids. Her and Blaise are my best friends.

My turn. Have you ever had a real boyfriend besides Krum?"

"No, I'm not like Lavender or Parvati. I don't need to waste my time on guys I don't really like.

Ok, your question. What's the worst thing you've ever done, like that you got punished for?"

Malfoy got silent. "When I was little my mom took me to the park with Blaise and Pansy. We met these twins there, Jacob and Riley. All five of us became great friends even though they were muggles. My mom and Blaise and Pansy's parents encouraged our friendship. Blaise and Pansy's parents aren't involved in the dark arts and they didn't mind us playing with muggles. Then one day my dad found out about them. He punished me and forbid me to ever see them again. We haven't seen Jacob and Riley since."

Hermione was shocked. Malfoy had been friends with muggles.

"If you were friends with muggles before," Hermione said in confusion, "Then why do you treat muggles and muggleborns so awfully?"

"I guess," he started, "It was easier to believe what my father said than to get hurt again?"

Hermione nodded. "It's not too late you know," she said quietly. "You could still find Jacob and Riley again."

Malfoy's face got harsh again. "Just never mind," he said. He didn't notice the look of hurt that flashed across Hermione's face before disappearing again. "How about we tell ghost stories now instead?" she suggested trying to change the subject.

Malfoy's face calmed down again. "Alright," he said.

"Let's see. Olay, I have one. This is the story of a young man named Bailey. Bailey was a musician by trade and he spent many nights at local clubs playing songs on his guitar late into the night. Bailey lived out in the country far from these clubs. Most nights he would catch a ride home from local villagers. One autumn night though, Bailey couldn't get a ride home so he had no choice but to walk home. The quickest way home was though the old wood, which was said to be haunted. Bailey paid no attention to this myth though. As he walked through the woods he started playing a tune on his guitar. As he was playing the tune he heard a noise Bailey started to grow scared. Then he saw something in the distance. Bailey's heart started beating faster and faster. As the thing got closer Bailey realized it was just a man.

"Hello," greeted the man.

"Hi," replied Bailey.

"I heard you playing and I was wondering if I might try playing for a moment."

The man started playing. As his fingers flew from chord to chord Bailey became entranced.

When the man stopped he handed the guitar back to Bailey.

"Wow," he said amazed. "That was amazing!"

"You think so?" said the man.

"If you thought that was good you should have seen me when I was alive."

"That wasn't scary." Malfoy told Hermione. "Ghosts aren't scary. Well except maybe the Bloody Baron."

"I know but that was a muggle story and muggles aren't used to seeing ghosts. But it's getting late and we should probably get to sleep."

Hermione wasn't positive but she thought she saw Malfoy looking, just for a second disappointed.

"Yeah, right. It's getting late. The fire's almost died down anyways."

Hermione nodded and pulled out her spare cloak for warmth.

Soon Malfoy and Hermione, who were laying side be side, fell into a deep sleep.

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A/N: Sorry if the characters are way out of character. Don't worry they aren't going to fall madly in love and get married in the next two chapters or anything crazy like that. Please review I need to know if you think this chapter is good or crappy. Also thanks so much to anybody who reviewed. Well I can't say much more now because I have to go study for a French test and go to bed. Until next time,

Kaydotsidot