The mud gurgled in a revolting manner as the boot entered its formless mass. Its owner tried to remove it, but the mud's grasp was too strong. Hermione looked in front of her and was confronted with a long stretch of marsh land. She took in a deep breath as she continued walking, each step a fight against the choking mud. She mentally berated herself knowing full well her decision to walk had been hasty. Turning around now wasn't an option; she couldn't let Malfoy get the better of her.
Maturity always failed her at Hogwarts where Malfoy was concerned. She always held back Ron- or at times Harry- from fighting Malfoy. She, however, attacked in subtle ways. Any opportunity given to show him up in class, she would take. And now she had allowed herself to once again try and prove him wrong. It was unthinkable that she could do this a time like this. Her friends were in danger and here she was picking a juvenile fight with her old childhood nemesis. It was almost as if they had never left Hogwarts. During Order meetings she never had any problem with him. At first she didn't fully trust him, until Mad Eye barked orders for everyone to keep their suspicions silent. Sadly, she expected him to have changed in all areas of his life. After learning he had lived with Tonks' family, the thought of a kinder, gentler Malfoy sprang to her mind. She was dismayed to find that he was still reserved, cold and aloof. Even though he stopped calling her Mudblood and other vile names, he still held himself apart as if somehow, despite the fact that he no longer cared about blood, he was still superior.
Pain shot through her legs, interrupting her thoughts. She had been walking for thirty minutes through the mud, slowly dragging her feet out of the slop. Her muscles, not used to the stress, cried out in pain. Luckily, she was almost out of the mud. All that was left were the lawns of Hogwarts to cross.
She had finally arrived at McGonagall's office. She entered slowly, her legs protesting any more movement. She quickly found the chair nearest to her and slid into it, comfortably closing her eyes.
"This is becoming a habit with you Ms. Granger," Malfoy's voice stated.
How on earth had he already arrived? She knew he couldn't apparate into the castle. There had to be a logical explanation.
"Hagrid arrived moments after you left," informed Malfoy, aware of her thoughts.
His eyes stayed on her slowly and moved down her legs. Her indignation rose. First he teased her while they are getting ready to save her two friends and now he had the gall to ogle her. Something in his eyes wasn't right though. She couldn't find lust in them. Instead, it was a look of disgust. She had encountered that look earlier with the students when she entered the castle. It was with that realization that she looked down. Her shoes and pants where covered in mud half way up her calf. A flush appeared on her face with the knowledge.
Before Hermione could respond or clean herself up, Moody entered the room.
"Malfoy, Granger, there is no time for pleasantries or discourtesies. Sufficed to say, our time here is limited." He took two folders from McGonagall's desk.
Hermione couldn't help but wonder if she was the cause for the limit of time. Yesterday, Mad Eye just asked them to arrive in the morning, which is what she had done. It had been hard to pull away from the Burrow quickly. Mrs. Weasley shifted between scolding everyone and fussing over Hermione.
No, she couldn't blame herself, it was just Malfoy's comments getting to her. After all these years, she couldn't understand how his words affected her so much. For the most part she could ignore anyone else's abuses, but with Malfoy it usually cut deep. She would have learn to put a barrier around herself if they had hopes of having any success in the assignment. Her thoughts halted as she accepted the folder Mad Eye handed to her. Her conscious burned as another similar folder was hiding within her cloak.
"Let me explain some things before you leave. There are better members then you in the Order, and much better Aurors. That is with out even mentioning the personality factors involved. Then there is the dilemma that your both very visible members of the wizarding world."
"Since there is so much going against us in this assignment, Sir, wouldn't it be best to send someone else?" Malfoy asked, slightly irritated.
"Here is the crux of the situation boy, I wanted to send someone who wasn't attached by family. Both of you live solitary lives, your jobs occupy most of your time; no children or spouses." Mad Eye's magic eye shifted from one to the other. Hermione wondered if Dumbledore were still he would do the same.
"One last thing. You can make it, despite your failings, both of you have reasonable strengths. But to do this you will need to put aside your past. Now, you are going to go to the Ministry where they will explain further and get you ready for your assignment." Mad Eye pulled out of his pocket a smooth stone.
Wordlessly, both of them reached out and touched the portkey.