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Chapter 6 - The Chase

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After a day of extensively researching the possibilities of becoming an animagus, she concluded that she wanted to take the new method of using a potion that would take half as long as the other methods. It would normally be very difficult, but she wasn't normal by any standards.

Slowly, year by year, she had gotten more and more known by the world, and not just because she was one of Harry Potter's best friends. It was strange, having people she had never met, come up and ask her if she was THE Hermione Granger. Schools knew her from her grades when Dumbledore would rave about her. Viktor Krum knew her from when they dated shortly in her 4th year, which meant that the Irish National Quidditch team sure knew her. Cornelius Fudge, ex-Minister of Magic knew her, as did the semi-newly instated Minister, Rufus Scrimgeour. This also meant that a lot of people in the ministry, countless aurors, and all the people from the Order knew her as well. Not to mention, of course, all the death eaters and Voldemort himself. Hermione, being the-boy-who-lived's friend, was rapidly becoming almost as well known as he.

Knowing all these people had a purpose, for the potion wasn't going to be as hard to brew if she knew people like Alastor Moody and Mundungus; therefore, she could easily get hard-to-get items. This way, it might not take as long, although it would still take months to complete.

After she had copied down all the ingredients out of the book, she closed it just as Lupin waltzed in. This, of course, meant Hermione's shift was up and she was exceedingly nervous that somehow, someway, Draco would catch her again. She still didn't know he did it the first time, so how was she not supposed to make the same mistake twice?

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When she got to the manor, she took a inordinate mount of time getting to Draco's room. She looked in every room that didn't have the drapes drawn, looking for any sign of Lucius or Narcissa. She was also looking for signs that Lucius knew she was watching them. Nothing seeming out of the ordinary, but if anything, that made her more paranoid. When she finally decided that she could waste no more time, she grudgingly made her way to the little weasles corner room. When she got there, the window's were already wide open and she took extra precaution not going near them. She backed up far enough that she collided with some branches hanging down from a large red oak tree nearby. She tensed up, afraid that Draco may have heard and she scooted up slightly so she wouldn't get in the leaves again. There was no way he could have heard that, is there?

Suddenly, Draco came close to the window; she didn't know how he got there or where he came from because she was too preoccupied with disturbing the branches. He sat down on the satin covered window seat with a knowing smirk on his face. 'Had he heard her?' she thought wildly.

"You know, Pansy got these new underwear... they're very.. sheer, to say the least. Of course, everyone always wondered about you... my bet was always on those big cotton granny panties. Am I right Granger, please tell me I am," Draco drawled lazily out the window in her general direction. Hermione fumed, but did nothing, she wouldn't give him the satisfaction, after all.. there was still that slim chance that he was bluffing.

"Of course, you never would wear anything less than a circus tent around school. It's no wonder you're so pale. You were always covered up whether you were inside or out, usually the former, AKA the library. Are you training to be a nun or something? Trying to take over for Madam Pince, perhaps?" Hermione lost control -- she had never been very good with controlling her temper, not that she would ever admit this simple fact to anyone. She kept silent all the while directing herself quietly towards the window where the little ferrett was still rambling on about her.

Smack

An invisible hand came crashing down, momentarily stunning Draco. Unfortunately for Hermione, Draco's reflexes were impeccable, what with having Lucius for a father and quidditch training for 6 years. Before she could retract her hand from his now-pink cheek, he reached out and snatched her invisible wrist and yanked her forward. With his other hand, he grabbed wildly at the invisibility cloak and ripped it off, revealing a rather shocked and panicky Hermione. His eyes glistened maliciously and he turned to throw her cloak back into his room. "You stupid Mudblood!"

In the split second that he took his eyes off her, she took the quill that she had in her hand and brought it down hard on his hand in the fleshy part between his thumb and forefinder. He yelped in pain and his eyes narrowed malevolently as he jumped away back into his room. She didnt know why he ran back into his room, and frankly, she didn't care. She took this time to fly as fast as she could, stuffing her notebook back in her backpack. She had only gotten just as far as the property line when she heard a cackle from somewhere behind her. On a pure white broom with a reddish-brown tail, came Malfoy. The broom he was on, if it was really Malfoy's, then it had to be the best. He came at her at a rapid speed and she knew there was no chance of her getting away uncaptured -- unscathed.

Using her quick thinking, she turned around swiftly, facing Malfoy who was too into the chase to notice how quickly she dropped into a dive and soared under the speeding Draco and back in the direction of his manor.

Appalled at the thought the he wasn't quick enough when she dived, he turned sharply and plunged after her, closing in on her fast. He saw her reach his window and fly inside (that little wench is in my room!), the frays on the sides of the rug hitting the window panes. He darted in after her only to see her disappear in the swish of her cloak.

Enraged, he threw his Starlight 360 --newly bought broom-- across the room, causing it to collide with his owls' stand. It hooted indignantly and flew on top of the tall dresser, behing the scattered skulls, looking like a hunter watching over its previous conquests. Its large amber eyes gleamed in the light of the moon through the window.

He swung his arms around dangerously close to where Hermione stood stock still, in shock. When his hand suddenly collided with the side of her face, she snapped out of it and ducked. Clutching the axminster rug under her right arm, she pulled her foot out from underneath her and kicked as hard as she could at his exposed shin. He yelped in pain and instinctively clutched his hands over the injured area. His right hand was still bleeding slightly from when she stabbed him with the quill. She took this oppurtunity to rush out the window. It wasn't until she passed the 2nd floor that the rug responded to being in the air. Sweating rather a lot, the cool air stung her body as it reacted to the chilly night weather. Salt stung her eyes and she blinked back tears at the pain and at the speed she was going. 'How had she escaped that?' She thought all the way back towards the cabin. When she finally touched down, she glanced warily around, convinced that Malfoy had followed her all the way here -- he hadn't.

She didn't bother to waste time breathing a sigh of relief as she ran up the steps and crashed through the door, slamming and locking it behind her. She slid her back against the wooden door and started to try to calm her panicked, unsteady breaths. Lupin had heard the commotion from his room down the hall and came screeching out of it, in only his night things.

"Hermione, whats wrong! You've only been gone a little over an hour! Talk to me! What's wrong?" Hermione was breathing heavily from panic as well as the adrenaline now currently coursing through her body from the chase. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she was thrilled.

Being a bookworm did have its drawbacks, she had to admit. Though, it made having an adrenaline rush 5 times as great as it would normally be. Not that she wasn't terrifired, of course. When she was certain that she could speak without her voice wavering or anything of the like. She told him MOST of what occured back at the Malfoy manor and about the very narrow chase. She didn't mention about how he provoked her, just simply that he did. When she stopped talking, she took a deep breath and looked up at Lupin expectantly, waiting for some sort of reasurring words as to what she should do. Suprisingly, he laughed.

"Hermione, that sounds like something James, Sirus and I would do -- just as foolish anyway. Don't get me wrong, that was a very close call you just had... too close, in trust. But you escaped didn't you? You escaped! Doesnt that feel good?" Lupin finished, beaming. Hermione sat there in stunned silence. What the hell was this lunatic talking about? Though, he did have a point... wait, no!

"What are you saying?" she asked, still dazed and confused. He was starting to sound a lot like Ron and Harry, all excited about near death experiences.

"Well, I'm trying to lighten the mood and the situation. Unfortunatly, you've just had two very bad run-ins with him in the last two days, but we still have to keep going back. We'll have to put up extra security and precautions, that's all. You haven't been caught yet, and with a brain like that, I doubt you will be. Just think! You're helping the order with every close call you have, I'm sure everything will be fine. I understand you're scared to death right now, but from the looks of it, since Lucius wasn't with Draco, or seemingly in the house at all at the time of the chase, its my guess that he didn't tell his father afterall. Anyways, we have to go back, just be more careful next time. I'm off to bed now, good night Hermione." And with that he turned on his heel and stalked back to his room, shutting the door behind him leaving Hermione in shock and if not a little miserable.

When Hermione woke up the next morning, she was greeted with a snowy white owl perched on the edge of her bed. She got up quckly, ignoring the pestering thoughts of last night and scrambled to snatch the letter. "Thanks Hedwig" she said, patting her on the head gently before untying the letter and unrolling it.

Dear Hermione,

Found another one, right under your nose. Ron says his mom says Crookshanks is fine. When he got back from St Mungo's for pets, they said he probably just ate something funny... not suprising. He's taking care of the garden gnome problem anyhow. How are you? I know you don't like where you are... well, write back! Love Ron and Harry

She quickly reread the letter, smiling, and wrote a vague letter of return. She knew she couldn't send anything of importance in a letter in case it was intercepted and as she knew so well -- that was definately plausible.

Journal,

Had another run-in with Granger tonight. I knew she was going to come back, she's too proud and nosy not to. The stupid mudblood know-it-all. My hand JUST stopped bleeding from when the wench stabbed me with a damn quill. My shin is also currently resting on a towel soaked in Murtlap Essance, but I won't get into that. The new broom father got me was out run by Granger and most obviously, I am quite displeased. On a RUG, did I mention? In happier-not-really news, Pansy's coming over tonight -- she decided, not me. Not that THAT'S a big surprise. She's definately a bit loose as of late... I wonder who else she's banging? No matter, I could care less. Thoughtfully yours (or mine.. seeing as though I'm the only one that reads this) Draco

P.S. If Granger comes again I might beat her to a pulp with her own arm and you can hold me to that.