~~*
There is no God, no universe,
No human race, no earthly life, no heaven, no hell.
It is all a dream, a grotesque and foolish dream.
Nothing exists but you. And you are but a thought- a
vagrant thought, a useless thought, a homeless thought,
Wandering forlorn among the empty eternities…
~~*
Chapter Three: Eloquent Silence
"Good Morning Class" said Professor Figg that morning as she smiled widely at her students. She strode over to the windows and pulled the cords to reveal a bright cloudless sky.
Hermione who was sitting where the window was facing, smiled as she did this. The bright rays of the sun spread throughout the dark classroom and lightened things up a bit.
As the curtains flew open, she heard a slight shifting in the seats at the back part of the room and wasn't surprised to see non other that Draco Malfoy react almost violently to the sun reflecting through the glass windows when she turned around.
To Hermione, he almost seemed like a vampire who was allergic to the sunlight. But she brushed the thought aside, Malfoy may be diabolically evil in many ways but no matter how pale his skin seemed, that git just wasn't dead. 'If only he was…' Hermione thought. At first she regretted thinking that, but who was she to not?
Blaise turned to him for a moment before turning back to the Professor. She kept her face cool, unlike the night before when she had a careless outbreak of emotions. But that was then and no one but Draco had seen it, now, that she was before the sixth year population she could not be caught showing her concerns publicly.
"Now, I hope that you all feel comfortable in your seats," said Professor Figg as she faced the class once more. The four houses had their Defense Against the Dark Arts class altogether for that day because of the announcement for the creature study groups.
The Ravenclaws were sited next to the Gryffindors and the Hufflepuffs preferred to stand next to the Ravenclaws rather than taking seats next to the Slytherins who unpleasantly shoed them away.
Professor Figg's eyes darted to the Hufflepuffs. "Why aren't you seated? There's a lot of space next to this row…" she said. The Slytherins all set threatening looks at the Hufflepuffs that was telling them not to dare.
It was Hannah Abbot who spoke up.
"We prefer to stand Professor Figg, there is not much space to accommodate us in that row and we are sure this will only be a moment…" Hannah said quietly.
"Bravest thing a Hufflepuff said, " said Malcolm Braddock. The Slytherin table erupted in laughter at his words.
"Five points from Slytherin!" said the professor as she turned back to Hannah and nodded. A faint memory returned to her thoughts of her days back in Hogwarts. She sighed, 'nothing has changed'. The Slytherins sat glumly in their seats as the Professor turned to step back on the platform walking towards her desk.
Harry smiled a bit as he observed the Slytherin's smugness.
"Got what was coming to them," whispered Ron beside him.
"They sure did, " said Harry.
Hermione shared their content; for one thing, she was surprised that Professor Figg took away points. To Hermione, it wasn't really in the impression because she seemed to be a calm and rational person who doesn't jump to conclusions.
"Now, settle down students. I'll be reading out the groups in a moment…as soon as I find the list" Professor Figg fumbled through her desk's drawers to find the piece of parchment. In a few seconds, she pulled a scroll from her desk and unrolled it in front of the class.
"Here it is, now I believe I've told you that you all will be grouped in fours?" she asked and upon receiving a mumbled confirmatory answer from the class. She began reading out the names.
"Hannah Abbot, Justin Flinch-Fletchley, Dean Thomas and Orla Quirky, you will be working on the Kelpie"
"Lavender Brown, Malcolm Baddock, Ernie Macmillan and Terry Boot you will work on the Banshee"
"I'm working with that git!" Lavender scowled. "And we have to work on the banshee too!"
Ron sent her a comforting smile as her face filled with smugness. "It'll be you three against him Lav, I think he'll have the right mind to keep his head down" Ron's warm features became more prominent as his smile widened. Lavender could not help but think how cute he looked as her cheeks burned with a pink blush. "And besides… the Banshee is not that bad,"
"Harry Potter, Mandy Broklehurst, Parvati Patil and Ron Weasley— the Urisk"
Harry and Ron slapped hands in the air in delight that they were teammates, and that the creature assigned to them wasn't a little flesh-eating demon. Parvati smiled at Harry as he looked at her with anticipation. Mandy was delighted as well, he had once seen a urisk; they were faerie like creatures that was part man and part goat. They lingered at waterfalls most of the time and that would give the group view to an enthralling scenery while observing the Urisk.
Hermione was happy for her friends that they were in the same group, but that didn't burn down the sinking feeling that she had that she had wanted be in that group. Hermione noticed that she was yet to be called, so she listened intently. Professor Figg hasn't said her name yet, she wondered who her team-mates were to be.
"Millicent Bulstrode, Vincent Crabbe, Blaise Zabini and Neville Longbottom— the minator"
Blaise slapped her forehead as she heard this, an interesting creature and she gets stuck with the morons.
Neville's eyes widened in horror as the two big-bodied Slytherins sent him a threatening stare.
"Poor Neville," said Hermione as she took in the look of horror on his face.
"He'll be scared out of the museum without even getting to see the minator… Bulstrode and Crabbe's faces will scare him to death…" joked Ron. Lavender and Parvati giggled.
Hermione glared at Ron.
"Hermione Granger, Seamus Finnegan, Padma Patil and Draco Malfoy— you shall research on… the siren," continued Professor Figg.
Hermione's eyes suddenly widened as she heard this, she turned to Harry beside her who was almost as shocked as she was. Malfoy? She had to work with that evil, malicious—
"Tell me I just heard wrong and she didn't say Malfoy… Tell me there's something wrong with my ears…" Hermione almost shouted causing some of her housemates to look at her as if she was an outpatient at St. Mungos.
"Unfortunately Hermione, your hearing is perfect…" said Lavender with a hint of sympathy. The way she talked it was like Hermione was in for an early death.
Hermione felt a feeling of uneasiness as she turned to look at that one person who she had least wanted to work with.
Draco glared at her with such mirth; he never wanted to be near that mudblood and now they had to work together, for three long months. Malcolm and Goyle started laughing together and Hermione was almost sure that they were laughing at her. She heard a brisk and firm 'Shut Up" from Malfoy as the two quieted down a bit then he turned to her and glared at her once more.
Hermione turned back to Harry. "I can't work with him, I can't stand him!" said Hermione as she took a deep breath.
Harry put an arm around her and patted her back. "Don't worry, you'll have Seamus and Padma to work with…" said Harry reassuringly. "I don't think Malfoy would start on you while they're around,"
Hermione sighed; Harry made it seem like it was that simple. But the reality of it was; it wasn't. Malfoy wouldn't act civil to her just because they were working on something important. But Hermione didn't think that he would be uncooperative either, because he ranked a close second to her and worked for all the grades he got. Hermione realized that she was one of the few people that were aware of this, but when it came to grades, Draco Malfoy deserved every mark he got.
"Ask for a swap then," said Ron. Lavender rolled his eyes at him.
"Didn't you hear Mc Gonagall? She said that she wouldn't hear of it,"
Hermione groaned, "Just my luck, the most interesting activity this year and I get stuck with Malfoy…"
"It won't be that bad…" reassured Lavender.
"Lavender, 'bad' doesn't cover it," said Hermione.
~~*
But it's wrong; the way fate draws them together
They cannot share this warmth together… because they don't know of its existence.
They are forlorn and cursed to be together in this world… seemingly hating every moment of it,
Without even knowing that they share love
~~*
Hermione closed the thick Arithmancy book after doing her homework with an angry grunt. Ginny looked at her curiously and turned back to her work. The trio along with Ginny was sitting in the dimly torch-lit Gryffindor common room finishing all homework assigned to them that day.
"So, have you asked Professor Figg about regrouping?" asked Ron sitting across her.
Hermione looked at him with a hint of exasperation of her face and sighed. Harry sensed that she had been denied that fact.
"Guess not," said Harry softly as he scribbled a few more lines on his piece of parchment.
"She wouldn't hear of it, she said my reason was too shallow and the circumstances were not that grave to have a change of groups…" Hermione said miserably being once again reminded of the incident earlier that day. Right after their class, Hermione had approached the professor and had requested just that. Unfortunately, she was even scolded for being unreasonable. She had even told Hermione how disappointed she was in her for not being able to accept a challenge when these were one of a true Gryffindor's traits.
"That's really unfair," said Ron sharing her desolation "Having to work with Malfoy is a grave circumstance enough for a switch"
"I know but, my final grade depends on this project and I really have to do my best even if I do have to work with Malfoy," she grumbled.
Harry looked at her sympathetically, he suddenly felt the need to walk on over to the other side of the table and give her a comforting hug, but prudently restrained himself.
"I'll be up in my room," Hermione mumbled quickly as she turned to climb the steps to the Prefects Quarters.
She heard a prim G'night from her friends at the table in the common room and practically ran up the stone steps.
~~*
Ginny sat in her prefect's quarters quietly reading sonnets from a muggle writer called Shakespeare that night. She had finished her charms essays right after Hermione had gone up to her room a few moments ago in the Gryffindor common room. It was getting late and she knew that in a few moments it would be midnight but she still kept herself awake.
Earlier that night Harry and Ron had arranged Quidditch Practice the very next morning, which was a bright Saturday. The very first Hogsmeade weekend of the year. Ron insisted that Ginny watch them along with Hermione of course. Her older brother had also suggested that she persuade Lavender Brown to watch as well.
The young Weasley caught the slight glint in her brother's eye and it confirmed her suspicions. As abhorrent as it sounded to her… she knew very well that her brother was very much in love with Lavender Brown.
Ginny was not really all so happy with that fact for she had developed a slight dislike for the girl ever since her fourth year. She found Lavender too spurious, too flirty to deserve any good man's attention. But she thought, who was she to interfere in with Ron's delight and contentment. He was her brother after all, and she really didn't want to make Ron feel bad.
Ginny decided that she would not, for as long as Lavender kept him happy and as long as her 'love' for her brother was not as illusory as Ginny thought she was, she would be satisfied as well.
Satisfied… When would she be ever completely satisfied with her self? Now, she thought of Ron and his satisfaction when she had yet to think of her own.
She knew that there was one person who could satisfy her completely. But she had decided a long time ago that it would be impossible for ages. She had known that fact since she was in her second year and now as the times passed, she had to conclude; a whirlwind romance between her and the boy who lived; Harry Potter would be forever impossible…
Ginny grunted in frustration. She drew her bedcovers aside and pushed herself out of bed. She determined that it was useless to torment herself with such foolish thoughts.
She stepped in to her bed slippers placed at the side of her four-poster bed and walked to the door of her room. Grabbing her crimson robe hanging on the side of the wooden entrance, she slipped it on her bare shoulders and pulled her door open.
~~*
The illuminate lamplight which dimly lit the small desk at the end of one of the single beds burned a dim orange that threatened to but out in but a few minutes. In the darkness, quill scrawls were heard. They seemed hurried and quick; the strokes of the feather tip seemed to be chasing the fading lamplight before it burned out.
Finally, the letter was done. And Harry, who struggled to write the hasty sentences in the dark, potted the lightly colored envelope, which concealed the letter with a seal of a small snitch forming upon the red wax.
It was a letter to Lupin, a short note of events that had been happening during the past two months. After all he had asked Harry to write as often as possible last summer. He was sending it now that he was in Hogwarts because he had failed to send the last one as Uncle Vernon had decided to install a surveillance camera in his room monitoring all Harry's tasks. Harry had found a method to stop the camera's clock movement so he would be given a chance to do his homework once in a while but the time was unfortunately limited. And if Harry would unwisely choose to cast the spell again, it would be detected by the ministry and he would receive another inquiry as he did in his second year and just last year, when he was on the verge of being expelled by Fudge and that complete toad Umbridge. But before Harry had got down to writing letters to Lupin and his friends, Uncle Vernon had discovered that the camera's clock had been stopping occasionally and as usual, he blamed Harry for it.
In his letter, he had also mentioned that he would love to meet with him soon. And also with Tonks, Mad-eye and the rest. And Harry was sure, that if the circumstances were not that grave, his little request would not be impossible.
Harry stood up and laid the letter on the desk as he went over to her trunk and collected his invisibility cloak. He could not wait 'til the next day to send the letter; he had thought that it had been delayed enough already and so he decided to take it to the owlery at that very moment. He had silently slipped out of the boy's dormitory and rushed in to the hall with the letter, there he had slipped the invisibility cloak upon his shoulders.
He walked though the hall, passing by the door, which led to the stairwell leading to the prefect's dormitory. He had thought of Dumbledore's offer to sustain him as prefect and had hesitantly decided to accept the offer. That way he would not be having trouble sneaking out at night worrying that he would wake one or more of his dorm mates. But Dumbledore had been rather busy that first week and Harry had not gotten a chance to tell him of his decision.
Harry stopped at the door for a second as he noticed a shadow travelling down the spiralling stairwell leading down to the Gryffindor common room. Harry decided to stop for a moment and let the person pass on ahead as not to sense his presence before he walked down the stairs himself.
~~*
Ginny held the hard stone banister of the stairwell as she made her way down to the common room. At first she had been hesitant to descend the stairs in worry that someone might be out like her and catch her. In the middle part of the stairwell, she had realized that she had forgotten her wand. She cursed herself inwardly for being so absentminded but then, decided that she would just take an oil lamp from the common room when she decided to return to the prefect's tower.
Though the blackness was all she could see, she was not that alarmed. She had known those steps by heart as she had climbed it five years now. There were nine more steps to the turn then the longest flight down to the common room twenty steps more.
Wind whistled around the cylindrical walls and a sudden icy gust swept upward as though someone had opened the door to the third year girl's dormitory situated to the right of the landing. As she reached the turn, Ginny passed the open door leading to the third year dormitories. Beside it, was the life-size statue of a winged devil towered on a pedestal, looming grotesquely monstrous in the dimness.
Ginny turned to the opened door to her right and turned back to the long flight of stairs in front of her. Suddenly, she heard the loud closing of the door behind her. In surprise, she jerked forward and tripped on the first step from the turn. With a cry, she plunged headlong down the twenty steps. She heard a sickening crash as her head struck the hard stone floor of the base of the stairs before her vision blurred and saw nothing but darkness.
~~*
Harry jerked his head as he heard a loud slam of a heavy wooden door and following it shortly, a fearful cry. He took out his wand and muttered 'Lumos' before darting down the steps of the Gryffindor tower.
A sprawled gowned body of a girl lay at the landing as he could see with the dimness of the wand light. He hurried down the steps and kneeled down before her body.
Harry gasped in horror as he saw that it was Ginny. Harry made an attempt to wake her up as he shook her gently and called her name softly.
Ginny stirred slightly as she struggled to move her arm aside from where Harry held her back upright. Her eyes flickered half open as she caught Harry in her sight. She stifled a few whispers as she tried to speak but her words were illegible. Her eyes slowly closed themselves again as she lost consciousness.
"Ginny, Ginny" Harry persisted again as she lay unconscious in his arms.
He figured that she might have fallen down the stairs in the dark. He had to get some help. He thought of bringing her to her hospital wing, but he could not carry her that far without running in to someone, and though that was an emergency; he would still have to explain what he had been doing up at midnight. He figured he would have to explain things for Ginny as well but, he, unfortunately did not know her side of the story. Harry decided to get Ron, but first he had to bring her up to her room.
~~*
The walls of the usually dark prefect's room were filled with many oil Lamps lit around Hermione's room. Knowing very well that it would be a Saturday the next morning, she decided to do something she wouldn't normally do.
Hermione sat awake in her room; she was writing a small passage she remembered reading from her book, The Land of Nall. She whispered the words as she wrote them.
'You were always my fallen angel… you were destined to be lost to me, but, once in my lifetime, you found me… and together, we found this unfathomable invention called love…"
Hermione placed her quill back the inkbottle as she blew softly on the words written on the carefully creased piece of parchment. She remembered those words from a letter of the young sorceress of aristocratic blood to her dead lover, the general of the army of her homeland's enemy.
The tragic love story reminded Hermione of the last words of a sonnet she had fondly read as a child. 'And, if God choose, I shall love thee better after death,"
Suddenly, there was an urgent rapping on her door. Hermione set down the parchment as she strode over to her door coming to open it. She wondered who could possibly be knocking on her door at such a late hour.
She was almost startled as she saw Harry's worried face looking at her from outside her doorway.
"Harry! What are you doing here? It is the dead of night," she said startled.
Harry drew in a faint breath as he began to speak.
"Hermione, It's Ginny, she fell down the stairs leading to the common room…"
"What?!" Hermione gasped, "Where is she?"
"In her room, I carried her there,"
"Why didn't you bring her to her hospital wing? She could
have broken her bones!" cried Hermione frantically. She grabbed her robe hanging from the side of her doorway and
rushed out of her room.
"I figured I'd get Ron first… stay with her while I get him," said Harry firmly as he went down the corridor towards their dormitory. Hermione nodded and rushed to the third door from hers and pushed it open.
Ginny was lying unconscious on her bed with her silk light yellow nightgown on her slender body. Hermione approached her and observed a slight gash running from her forehead towards her right temple. Crimson blood had been amassing from it and had flown down to a white handkerchief by her pillow side. Hermione had figured that Harry had put it there before rushing to her room.
Hermione took the white cloth and then pressed it to her temple. Ginny slightly enthused her head away from Hermione as she applied pressure on the slight incision.
The door burst open and in came Ron and Harry.
"Ginny!" Ron exclaimed at the sight of his unconscious sister. He rushed to Ginny's bedside and held her shoulder firmly shaking it slightly.
"He has a gash on her head Ron, we have to bring her to the hospital wing. She might have broken her skull," said Hermione worriedly.
"Let's go," said Harry from behind them. He offered to carry Ginny all the way but Ron had said that he would do it. He had added that Harry had done enough and thanked him for his troubles.
~
The trio brought the young Weasley to the hospital wing that night in worry and fret. Ron fearing the worst had been completely upset. Hermione felt for her friend, though she had not a sibling she knew the agony of worrying for someone you love.
Harry apparent to Hermione could not well hide his concern and worry over the accident. Hermione was sure that Ginny would have him to thank for anything once she had recovered.
Ginny was to stay in the hospital wing for three days. Madame Pomfrey had diagnosed her with a twisted ankle, and numerous bruises and a cracked skull that caused her reoccurring headaches. Every day was a better one for her as she confidently recovered.
Professor Mc Gonagall had asked Ginny what had happened and naturally, Ginny had relayed the incident. How she tripped on the stairwell as the door of the third year dormitories closed behind her. The Professor was not so sure about the door for everyone knew that there were no windows in the third year's hallway and theorized that someone might have closed it on purpose.
But she dismissed the thought quickly concluding that what had happened was an accident.
The morning after the accident, Harry had sent Lupin' letter. He had a little chat with Hermione about him when the both of them were walking to the library. Harry had relayed being restless in the night before and excited to send that very letter. Hermione told him a very familiar phrase that made him shake his head in irony; Patience is a Virtue…
Ron and Harry occasionally visited Ginny during that week, seldom accompanied by Hermione who was alternatively at her extra classes or at prefect's meetings now accompanied by Harry who had recently accepted the offer of being a sixth year prefect. Hermione had been happy that he had, for she needed the company while Ginny was unwell. She could not bear having to go to prefect's meetings and have no one to talk to but Parvati the only other prefect from her house. She was fine, but Hermione knew that all she did was gossip about every other person in the school, so why bother carrying on such mindless conversation.
~
Hermione was walking out of Ancient Runes and was heading for Potions. She unfortunately had three classes straight in the afternoon and double Potions was a great way to lift her tired spirits up, she thought sardonically.
Walking down the stone steps leading down to the dungeons, she took a turn and entered the landing that led to the Potions classroom. Entering the stale–smelling room, Hermione could see that Harry and Ron weren't quite in yet. She worried that the duo would be late, she envisioned them entering the classroom quite hesitantly while the lesson was going on and loosing ten points a piece for not being on time.
Just as Hermione sat down on one of the tables, she decided to reserve seats for her renowned friends. As if on cue, Ron and Harry happily walked in to the room talking vociferously about Quidditch. Hermione called to them and they went over to her taking their seats.
"Where have you been?" she asked, " I thought you would be late— AGAIN!"
Ron clicked his tongue meticulously as he shook his heat slowly. "Hermione, Hermione, Hermione, Don't you ever have any faith in us?" he said with a glint in his eye. Harry laughed. "Honestly Ron, You're becoming more like Fred and George every day,"
"Faith?! I certainly do, I have faith in you enough that I trust you to win the next Quidditch match… and as you are so seemingly confident in yourselves, I don't think I have to state that simple fact"
Harry sighed paradoxically. "Hermione, the next Quidditch match is against Hufflepuff… We really do not need any support for that," Harry looked at Ron and they laughed.
Hermione shook her head in slight annoyance; she pursed her lips tightly to keep from grinning. She did not want to make it obvious that she silently shared her friends' pity for the Hufflepuffs.
Professor Snape had just entered the room and the class had grown silent.
"I trust you are all done with your essays on the concealment potion?" he said acidly turning specifically to the Slytherins. They answered in the affirmative diligently as the Gryffindors groaned in annoyance. As if reacting violently, Professor Snape turned to the Gryffindors.
"And I hope," he started "That they are not that faulty. For your own sake," The Professor turned back to his desk and drew out several pieces of parchment. He began to list various ingredients followed by instructions on the vast blackboard as the students murmured discreetly in their seats.
"What a git," said Ron hatefully. "He thinks our essays contain the faultiness and the all Slytherins' work is supposed to be perfect,"
The trio glanced to the back seats of the Slytherin sides and caught Crabbe and Goyle grunting simultaneously.
"Then again… Maybe not," said Ron, Harry and Hermione giggled along with him.
"Now," said Snape firmly, glaring at the trio "You will now concoct; the quiescent potion. Which is as you know— Yes Mr. Malfoy…"
Draco rose lazily. "The stronger version of the common sleeping potion" he said dryly.
"Very good! Five points to Slytherin," the Gryffindors groaned in exasperation at this. Hermione turned to look at Draco who sat contented in his seat. She was extremely annoyed at him, for she had her had up first and Snape simply ignored it. Draco glanced at her and smirked mirthlessly.
"Now, the ingredients are on the board. Instructions as follows," Snape turned his gaze to the fearful Neville who froze at his stare. "I am warning you now, to make sure that the mass of shredded beetle eyes is limited to the written number. Too much can lead the person to never wake up again," he said dryly. "And too little can cause him to never sleep," His voice was like a chilling wind rising up the Gryffindor's spines.
The stern Professor signalled them to begin.
~~*
Twenty minutes in to the time, Hermione had already finished her potion. Snape eyed her wearily as she presented her potion to him. He asked her to pour five drops on a black rat that had scurried across the back of Snape's teachers table and was kept in a cage.
Hermione almost felt sorry for the rat; it looked that it regretted ever crossing Snape's path. But then Hermione remembered Peter Pettigrew and thought 'Who cares?'
Hermione's potion proved to be effective and Snape still looked at her with unfavourable blankness. He drew his cloak aside and moved over to Draco Malfoy's potion. Hermione grunted in annoyance, she had done a perfectly good job and was not a bit praised for it. Oh how she hated Potions.
~~*
"We'll wait for you at the Quidditch Pitch Mione," called Harry as he rushed out with Ron bolting out of the room in an attempt to get as far away as possible from Snape as possible.
Hermione nodded as she sat down to gather the scattered pieces of parchment that had fallen from her books as Ron suddenly stood up at the strike of six. Hermione insisted that she stay to pick up and Ron happily obliged.
Hermione, on all fours reached under the table to get the piece of parchment that had fallen under it and then reached to the opposite side of it grabbing another. But crawling for the last one, she saw a pair of black boots stepping on it. Hermione hesitantly looked up and found herself staring in to the steely gray eyes of none other than Draco Malfoy.
Hermione pulled out the last piece from under his foot when she pushed herself to stand up.
"Are you done worshiping me Granger?" he sneered; "I really appreciate it…" his sardonic tone was evident in his sneering voice. Hermione glared at him with hateful displeasure.
"I do nothing of the sort Malfoy, what do you want?" she said finally standing upright. It annoyed her that though she stood erect he still looked down on her. She felt that it would always be that way, he looking down on her like she was some sort of reject; unfit to be admitted in the wizarding world.
Draco smirked, he had a pretty good idea what this mudblood before him was thinking.
Hermione had turned around and had seen that she had failed to realize that they were the only people left in that room. She turned her glare back to Malfoy who was looking at her with vacuity in his eyes. For a moment Hermione wondered how he had gone through his life with having to look at everyone emotionlessly. To her, the disturbing fact made her think of him as… inhuman.
Draco brushed the few strands that had fallen on to his eyes before finally speaking.
"I was wondering if you and what'shisname had worked on our research so far," he drawled.
Hermione was thinking of various ways to peel off that annoying smirk off his face before she answered him.
"Seamus and Padma have been having study sessions in the library for about three days now. I join them occasionally to add pieces of my research…" she told him primly before taking her books and bag off the table preparing to leave. Draco strode before her quickly before she made an attempt to abscond.
"And me?" he asked firmly. He fought the urge to storm out in front of her for leaving him out of the research. After all, he was not about to let his outstanding record fall in to the hands of Granger and those other fools.
"You? What about you?" said Hermione as firmly as she could to show him that she was not afraid of him.
"You don't expect me to sit around while you do all the work," he told her. Hermione was almost sure that he was on the verge of anger by the look of irritation in his eyes.
"I was to tell you Malfoy, that if you want to help, I'd advise you to check your sources and write down your results. Give them to Padma or me if you have the time… or you can just…" said Hermione hesitantly as she stopped to take a breath. She had made sure that the words she chose were stressed as to make him aware of her impression on him
"Or I can just what?" he said. His eyes were darkening and as Hermione looked in to them she felt that her heart was beating at an alarming rate. Hermione was suddenly aware of the immediacy between them. Draco held the table behind her and prevented her from passing. He stood so close to her that their bodies almost touched.
"O-or you can just do nothing and let us to the work," she said uncertainly. Draco's lip narrowed in to a thin line as she said this. It made her regret saying it at all.
"I don't like that idea Granger…" he said angrily. Hermione was aware of the seriousness in his voice. "I have earned every mark that I ever got. I think you're under the impression that I'm a slacker, are you?" She shivered with fear. His angry tone sent chills up her spine and she didn't like it. Hermione looked up at his face studying his sharp features as she did. His pale white skin intimidated her; it was; as she could see, as flawless as she had thought it would ever be. She tried not to so what she did next but it seemed almost irresistible, she transferred her gaze upon his eyes. She looked in to the pools of liquid silver. Seeing them from that close a distance, she observed that they weren't purely gray, she saw long shards if a dazzling blue streaming outwards from the inner iris. She found his eyes, as she had before, as beautiful as they always were. Hermione was left mildly breathless by the tension that was rising in her head. It took every piece of energy left in her to keep her from falling over at that moment. The moment when his blank eyes, which looked at her with a faint emotion a moment ago, had now regained their steeliness and unemotional stature.
"I'm not Malfoy," she said feebly. She couldn't help but hear a tad of guilt in her own voice. Hermione looked away from him as she found herself unable to speak when she looked at his eyes resting on her fearful face.
"Fridays," she said faintly as she took a step away from him.
"Fridays at six, after class" she said a little more vigorous this time. Hermione looked back at him. Draco looked at her with the seriousness she had seen in him earlier. "Is that alright with you?"
Draco's lip twitched unwillingly before he answered her in a forced affirmative. He studied her as she stood there, uncertain of what she would do.
He managed to set his sight on her perfectly curved jaw line and her slightly prominent cheekbones. He observed her creamy completion; her cheeks slightly dented with rosy pink spots. His gaze travelled on to her lips, which were rosy and moderately lush. They were slightly parted and to him… they almost seemed… sexy.
At that thought Draco shook his head. How could he correlate that compliment with the likes of nerdy, know-it-all, mudblood Granger?
Hermione perceived Draco's stare upon her and felt extremely uncomfortable. She wanted to leave the room that very moment but then she found herself frozen. It was like his gaze glued her to where she was standing.
It was a few moments before she gathered herself and mustered the energy to rush past him leaving the classroom.
Draco looked after her and grumbled. He grabbed his bag from the table and walked out of the room heading for the Slytherin dungeons.
~~*
Pushing the lightly colored curtains of the infirmary aside to reveal the room, Ginny smiled to Hermione as the older girl entered the room.
"Ginny, how are you doing?" asked Hermione as she sat down on the periwinkle sheets that covered Ginny's bed.
The youngest Weasley had been in the infirmary for the last two days from when the accident happened and was now acting as strong as she was two weeks before.
Harry and Ron were thankful that Ginny would be out of the Hospital wing the very next day and so was Hermione.
Ginny shifted her head uncomfortably on her plump pillow in an effort to sit up. Hermione kept her down motioning not to even try.
"Fine really, fine enough to sit up," she said reassuring Hermione.
Hermione sighed. "If you really want to be out of here by tomorrow, be sure to abide by Madam Pomfrey's orders not to do too much stressful things,"
"You take that seriously? I'm almost sure that if I do follow her orders I'm gonna be here for quite a longer time" said Ginny. Hermione gave a slight laugh at Ginny's retort and grinned at the younger girl.
"So, how's the project going?"
Hermione's smile suddenly vanished at the remembrance of what had happened earlier that afternoon. "Is that an implication that I shouldn't have asked that?" said Ginny after noticing Hermione's expression.
"Actually, it's fine. I just haven't given that much time to it," she answered promptly.
The younger girl smiled at her and slowly turned her head away turning to the window across from her bed. It was a glorious afternoon and the sun was beginning to set. The distant sky was illuminate in pink and orange waves spreading across the horizon. Ginny sighed silently.
"I hear your leaving three weeks from now for France…" she told Hermione quietly.
Hermione caught the hint of sadness in the younger girl's voice. She was sure that Ginny would miss them dearly during the span of time that they would be away from Hogwarts. Hermione placed her hand on Ginny's and rubbed it comfortingly. Ginny looked at her and Hermione saw the lonely look in her coffee tinted eyes. They were very much like her own, but Hermione's eyes were much lighter and were a delicate shade of hazel while hers were a darker brown.
"Don't worry, it'll only be for a month. You'll be alright in that time," she said reassuringly.
"I know but I really prefer conversing with you and Harry and my brother than any other one in my year…"
"Ginny, It's just four weeks. We'll be back before you know it… Now promise me you won't worry"
Ginny smiled at Hermione. "Alright, I promise. It's just that I have this sinking feeling that something will go wrong… Hermione, promise me you will be careful, "
Hermione grinned weakly, she could not ignored the feeling that she may be right but chose to keep herself quiet about all of it. She nodded conformingly.
Just then, the curtains to the side of Ginny's bed opened suddenly. Hermione turned in mild surprise as she faced a rather mousy haired boy she knew very well. She fondly remembered their second year when she grew quite annoyed of this boy who followed Harry around with his trusted camera taking numerous shots of the boy who lived.
"Ginny, Hermione…" said Colin Creevy briskly. Hermione smiled at him acknowledging him politely. He had a stack of books in his hands and pieces of parchment slipping out of his bag. He placed the books on Ginny's side table as she sat up.
"Here's all the homework for this day, Professor Snape says the essay should be nine scrolls long and in fine print," he told Ginny. Ginny smiled weakly at him. To Hermione, it was as if she was trying to hold back telling him to spare the bad news. Ginny had told Hermione a few days ago that Colin had given the liberty of bringing all their assigned homework to her almost every night. Hermione couldn't help but think that he was not just doing it out of friendship, in fact; the thought made her happy for Ginny, even though Ginny was not yet happy for herself.
"Thank you Colin, for bringing it all up. I appreciate it…" she said. Colin took a wooden stool from the far side of the bed and positioned it to sit by her side. Hermione sat up briskly and decided to take her leave.
"Mione, leaving already? But you just arrived," said Ginny. Hermione sent a knowing smile at her younger friend that said; it's about time you two had some time alone.
"I have work to be done in the library," she said a quick goodbye to Ginny and Colin as she left the infirmary.
~~*
Almost breathless, Hermione climbed up the winding stairwell leading to her dormitory. She had been in the library for almost three hours as she could see. The brass wall clock on the wall of her room had read fifteen minutes after eight. Hermione closed her door behind her and walked slowly to the bathroom to take her shower. It had certainly been a long day as all other schooldays before her had been.
She had remembered that a year back she would have been happy to have lived that day over and over again, but now, she would have thought twice before even thinking that. The first weeks of the sixth year had been very stressful for even Hermione. She was grateful to think that in a few weeks they would be on their way to France, finally getting a load of work off their backs. Hermione never thought she would be thinking as carelessly as she had been but then, when she was tired and frazzled, she did not care to bother what she would think.
As she walked in to the shower, she remembered her library work, which she had just done but a few moments ago. She had been able to read up many facts about the creature they were about to research about: the legendary siren. The siren as said in one of the books she had uncovered; had the face of a woman and the body of a bird. Of course Hermione had known that before, but it was only then when she attained the chance to see the actual moving portrait of it as printed on the page of the book she had read. The name siren originated from Greek mythology; literally, it meant to bind. Hermione also found that the sirens were fond of singing, which was quite acceptable except for the fact that their voices were great attractors of attention. The sirens lived at seas and often sat on rocks like mermaids, and if sailors were in the area, the magnificent siren's voice would undoubtedly seduce them.
Hermione, upon reading that fact had wondered if the songs of the siren would seduce Seamus or Malfoy when they had to study the creatures first hand. Hermione silently wished it would seduce Malfoy, for when the siren gets hold of his prey; she would undoubtedly devour them. Hermione smiled at the thought of Malfoy being crushed inside the mouths of the creature and pieces of him slipping down its throat. The siren would definitely do a good job of ridding the world of a nuisance like Malfoy. Unexpectedly, after thinking about that, Hermione felt that familiar pang of guilt that she had felt before. She tried to convince herself that it was nothing, for how could she ever learn care for someone like him.
Suddenly, an impulsive memory of the earlier hours of that afternoon returned to her. She remembered leaning against the desk of the potion's classroom with Malfoy standing before her looking at her with such intensity. And she remembered that hard expression on his face; controlling, manipulative, cold and in a way… but she also remembered, that for a split second he looked somewhat… vulnerable.
It was as if she had seen a long hidden part of him no one had ever uncovered. But then, she had not looked long enough to prove it. Because before she could read that emotion he had faintly had, it had disappeared, as if it had never been there.
Maybe it had never been, because she was thinking about Malfoy; the one who had done nothing but harass and taunt her all those long years of being at Hogwarts. Maybe she had just imagined that fact. Because she knew very well that she was supposed to be one of the last people who would want him to have an agreeable side to things.
But maybe at that moment, though she forced herself to push the disturbing thought from her mind; she actually wanted to think of the fanciful illusion that Malfoy would ever find it in himself to change.
~~*
"Now, all yer keep quiet," said Hagrid on bright morning as he stood in front of a wooden crate out on the Hogwarts grounds. The sixth year Slytherins and Gryffindors were having their care of magical creatures lesson that morning as Hagrid stood before them. The Slytherins had expressions of irritation on their faces obviously uncomfortable about spending a day under the hot sun with none other than the Gryffindors. Naturally, the Gryffindors did not like the idea either as the group made sure they stayed a good deal away from the other unpleasant lot.
The trio stood right in front of Hagrid anxiously listening as he talked about creatures they were about to study in a few seconds. The crate behind him shook uncontrollably. Hermione, Harry and Ron stood in eagerness as Hagrid began to open the crate.
"Now stan' back. Snotlings er' frisky creatures, they er'" he said. The students took a few steps back as one of the many nails that held the package together.
Draco looked nonchalantly at the crate that big oaf Hargid was opening. He had never shown interest in this subject; in fact he downright hated it. He was sure that he was not alone in disliking that specific subject either. His distaste for the Care of Magical Creatures teacher Hagrid had never died down ever since the third year. That incident with the Hippogriff was enough for him to conclude that as long as he still walked the halls of Hogwarts, he would hate that dratted subject.
Malcolm Baddock from behind him touched him lightly on the shoulder and Draco turned to him sharply.
"Let's hope that's not a hippogriff, for your sake Malfoy," he said with a smirk.
Draco glared at the other Slytherin boy. "If you don't want me to castrate you right here, you will shut up," he warned curtly.
Malcolm took a step away from Draco as he took in his friend's deadly glare.
"It's a joke, can't you tell," he said.
Draco turned back to the crate and Hagrid. "Apparently not."
The last nail came off the crate and one side of it crashed down on to the grass. The students took a look at the now lit inside of the enclosure. From the large box, five small creatures emerged. The small things had green slightly wrinkled skin framing their big hideous faces.
They reminded Harry of Dobby who had the same large bulging green eyes. But they were much smaller than any house elves or goblins he had seen.
Hagrid had said earlier that Snotlings were actually slaves of the elves. And considering how low house elves think of themselves, these creatures must be increasingly pathetic.
The Snotlings waddled along the grounds towards the students. The Slytherin girls seeing how hideous the little devils looked, started shrieking. From what Hermione could hear, Pansy's scream was the loudest, it was almost deafening.
Ron crooked his nose as one of the little creatures approached the trio. He started running around Hermione who found it rather amusing.
"Doesn't it get dizzy?" said Ron turning to Harry.
"Obviously not," he replied looking at the sight of the creature.
Hargid walked through the crowd of fascinated and disgusted students.
"Don' be fraid ter hold em' critters. They don' bite" he bellowed taking one on to his arm. The Snotling on his shoulder started crawling down his trench coat and then climbing back up again.
"Harry, would you mind being the pole this time? This little thing is starting to make me sick," called Hermione.
"I don't think it switches victims that easily Herm," said Harry. Ron gave a slight laugh as Hermione glared at him.
As if in cue, the Snotling got dizzy itself, circled one last time, and fainted.
"Oh, poor little thing…" said Hermione.
~
A few meters from where the trio was looking over the fainted Snotling, Draco Malfoy stood casually wondering why he got stuck in a class full of fools, not to mention the oafish instructor. Pansy just passed by shrieking that one of the Snotlings were pulling her skirt. Draco rolled his eyes in irony. What overacting idiots he thought.
From across the distance, he noticed the renowned trio, squatting on the grass looking upon a Snotling that had evidently passed out. He observed Weasley with his red hair so annoyingly bright probably laughing over something futile and Potter who smiled at Ron's little joke. They seemed annoyingly happy over such shallow matters. Draco pitied them for being so trivial.
But that was until he set his eyes on the third member of their group.
Granger. Hermione stood up higher than the two who were crouching down on the grass. Her hands were rested on her knees and her back was bent as she looked at the little Snotling as well. She was laughing again.
Draco hated it when she laughed; her voice was like a bell ringing in his ear, reminding him of something that he seriously wanted to forget. He hated her laughter, her smile, and her happiness.
But he could not do anything about it. Every time he saw the trio happy she wanted to do nothing but find a way to strip that pleasure off their faces. But nothing he tried hardly ever worked, and when it did; it would not last long.
Draco grunted and shifted his gaze away from the wonder team, the sight of them were beginning to make him sick.
~
Hermione almost cried out in surprise as the Snotling opened its eyes suddenly as Hagrid rung a small bell that seemed to be the summoning call for him.
"Professor," said Lavender from behind Dean Thomas who stood aside to let her pass. "What exactly do these things eat?" he asked curiously.
"They eat pretty much anything..." he started "en' considerin' that them wer' slaves f' goblins en' orcs… Tha' isn' much to go fer…"
Lavender nodded with a smile of acknowledgement.
Harry raised his hand slightly, "Professor?"
"Yes Harry?" said Hagrid turning to the young boy.
"Is it legal to take these things in as pets?" he asked.
From his opposite side, Malfoy and his group snickered.
"Plan on taking in a Snotling Potter? Couldn't blame you, you've got two of them already," he scoffed eying Granger and Weasley "Why stop there?" he sneered. His fellow housemates snickered at the contemptuous remark.
It took Dean and Harry to stop Ron from lunging on Malfoy right there. Hermione glared at him hatefully. Draco looked at her raising an eyebrow with a superior smirk on his face.
"Thas enough Mr. Malfoy," said Hagrid as he turned to Draco with a warning look.
Draco remained indifferent to the teacher's stare. Even if his father was no longer a school governor, he did not care to pay respects to Hagrid. Because to him; Hagrid would never be a professor. He wasn't fit to be that privileged. How could a Hogwarts drop out ever be considered a professor? Draco concluded that if he compared him to any school faculty, he would be a concierge, in level with Argus Filch, possibly lower.
Hagrid turned back to the students before he deemed to dismiss them.
"Now, next lesson we'll be havin' a little treat fer ye all," he said. He dismissed them without a moment passed.
~
"What do you think that's about?" asked Ron as the trio headed up the stairs of the main doors. Hermione loosened her red and golden striped muffler strapped around her neck.
"I think it's another creature, something rare and illegal," replied Harry.
"I don't think that whatever it is would be illegal, Hagrid wouldn't go that far for his lesson," said Hermione.
"Oh yeah? Remember Norbert? If that's not illegal, I don't know what is…"
Hermione sighed. "He wasn't a professor then, remember…"
"It makes no difference," retorted Ron defiantly. Hermione looked at him and rolled her eyes. She looked at Harry and he smiled at her incongruously.
"Honestly, boys can be so stubborn," she sighed once more.
"Hermione, what time is it?" asked Harry as the trio was headed up the moving staircase leading up to the Gryffindor tower. Hermione took out a small pocket watch indicating it was five minutes to twelve noon. She told that to Harry.
"There's a prefect's meeting after lunch, Cho told me to tell you," said Harry. Hermione and Ron looked at him at the mention of the head girl's name. Ron and Hermione have been aware that ever since the third year, Harry had had a crush on the older girl. And as Hermione had observed at that moment, as she saw Harry's cheeks slightly blushing, that his emotions haven't changed one bit.
"Cho? When did she tell you that?" asked Ron, who had taken the words right out of Hermione's mouth. His tone was teasing. Hermione had looked at Harry in anticipation of his answer.
"Yesterday afternoon, I met her, on the Quidditch pitch…" he said.
Ron rubbed his chin in a satisfied manner. "What would she be doing there?" he asked. Cho Chang had given up her position as a seeker for the Ravenclaw Quidditch team when she was elected Head Girl. She claimed it was too stressful to be holding both responsibilities at once. Her reasons were considered, and the head of Ravenclaw house; Professor Flitwick, had given permission for her leave of the team.
Harry sighed as he realized what Ron was getting at.
"Probably, waiting for you…" said Ron slyly as he grinned at Harry. Hermione chuckled gaily as Ron teased their best friend.
"I don't know, it was just a coincidence," said Harry uncertainly as the trio entered the common room.
"I'll go get my note pad in my dorm, I'll be back soon. Wait for me, we'll go down to lunch together," said Hermione as she raced up the dorm.
Ron looked at Harry. "What does she need a notepad for every different subject? Including the prefect's meetings?" he said.
Harry shrugged his shoulders and continued to enjoy the fact that Ron had changed the topic.
~~*
"Can you believe that oaf?" said Blaise as she walked to the Slytherin table at the Great Hall right after Care of Magical Creatures along with Draco, Malcolm and Pansy. "Showing us something as useless as a Snotling…"
"And look what it did to my hair!" whined Pansy as she tried to tame her mass of blonde locks which was as messy as a haystack after that Snotling feasted on it. Malcolm smirked.
"Actually Pansy, it gives you a new look… It makes you look rather pretty," said Malcolm contemptuously. Draco smirked at him. Blaise smiled in silent mockery.
Pansy stopped fixing it for a bit and batted her eyes at Draco sickeningly. "It does, doesn't it? Don't you think so Draco?" She said, stupidly fooled by Malcolm's sarcastic remark. Draco sneered.
"Stupid Bitch, he was being sarcastic. Do you honestly think that will be passable as a hair-style?" scorned Draco. Malcolm looked at her and laughed. Draco's smirk grew wider.
Blaise rolled her eyes as Pansy whined in annoyance. She was really an idiot to have ever believed such an obviously sarcastic remark like that. Blaise was thankful that she wasn't born like Pansy… a thick–headed slut.
"Oh, by the way Draco, prefect's meeting at one after lunch…" said Blaise turning to her boyfriend. Draco nodded in agreement. Leisurely, he slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her to him as they continued to walk. Pansy gave a slight gasp at the sight before her but as Blaise turned to her with a mocking smile, she decided to keep her thoughts to herself. She knew then that Draco and Blaise was already an item, and that they were together as lovers now. She understood perfectly, there was no place for her in Draco's heart. There would never be, she was almost sure of that.
~~*
Draco walked swiftly up the winding staircase that leaded towards the Prefect's Common Room. He was due there for about two minutes ago but was sure that they haven't started yet. Malfoy pushed open the hidden sliding stonewall which was the nearest entrance to the meeting room.
Entering the room he caught the sight in mild bliss. The meeting hadn't started just yet. Blaise who was sited at the end of the long rectangular table was motioning to him to sit beside her. Draco strode over to her.
"What took you?" she asked in a mildly indifferent voice.
"I went to talk to Professor Snape.." he muttered. He looked at her firmly as if telling her not to question him further. Blaise turned to her notes of the piece of Parchment before her and began to scribble some sentences on it with her quill.
Draco looked around the room he almost automatically spotted Harry Potter and his emissaries, Mudblood and young Weasel, Virginia Weasley. They were laughing again over what, he did not know. He turned his attentions to the girl on Harry's side, who was leaning over his shoulder and looking at a piece of parchment they were grinning at.
Draco noticed her chocolate colored hair falling over her shoulders cascading over her back. The mild rays of sun peaking through the row of windows behind them made Hermione's hair seem a lighter shade of what it really was. Strangely, Draco noticed that the mild glow around her brought out the color in her eyes. It made her look… salient.
As if on cue, Hermione looked up at him with a mild expression. He was surprised to see her look at him suddenly. Her eyes flickered slightly as if not willing to believe that his gaze was on her.
Hermione glanced at him coolly. She did not know what to do as she found herself looking deeply in to his eyes. He was struggling to remove the surprised expression on his pale face as he forced himself to look away from her. But he couldn't.
Draco found himself unable to tear his gaze away from her eyes. It was at that moment when Hermione had found that expression she had seen him in when they were in the train, she had confirmed that it was not her imagination. Yet as that moment before, he had looked away from her face turning to Blaise beside him, who continually wrote with her quill on the pieces of paper. She did not notice him, fortunately for him. Nor did she see the cross expression on himself.
What are you doing? He asked himself angrily. He had just taken notice of a mudblood, and had thought her salient. Such a word she didn't deserve. He tried to repeat that over and over again in his head. And to think he had looked at her in a way where his face was so softly contorted. Even he could not have known that he was capable of such poignant expressions. He relaxed a little and then turned to glare at her. Before that he had been aware of her eyes on him.
She looked surprised to see him with the angered expression; it was the complete opposite of what she had seen a while ago. She looked away from him and turned to Harry's hilarious caricature of Snape.
Just then Cho Chang and Marcius Flint, the head boy and a younger brother of Marcus Flint who had graduated a few years ahead of him, stood in front of the assembly of prefects in the room. Marcius had presided over the table. He had begun to talk of matters concerning the portrait of the drunken maidens situated in the western wing of the castle. In a corridor which was the frequent passageway of students leading to the great hall.
"Students have reported to have been insulted, harassed, verbally abused and offended by the said painting. Any suggestions to this problem?" asked the head boy.
Draco lazily raised his hand. "Isn't that the hallway which leads to the Hufflepuff tower?" he drawled. The Hufflepuffs looked at him as if in awe that someone like him knew the way to their common room.
"I think so." Replied the head boy turning to Cho who nodded in conformity.
"Why don't we just leave it be, mind you it will teach the Hufflepuffs to be a lot less craven… and it would flatter the Snufflepuff boys (if there is such) I wager that all of them live thought their life dateless…" he said. The Slytherin Prefects started snickering as all the other Prefects glared at them.
Cho caught Marcius grinning right along with them and nudged him in the ribs. Marcius glared at her. For a girl she certainly had the muscle of a lightweight wrestler.
"Alright that's enough. Mr. Malfoy I hope you would come up with more logical suggestions…" said Cho.
"Apparently for Malfoy, That's as logical as you can get," said a voice from her right. It was Harry. Cho smiled at him.
"That goes to show how dim-witted you are Potter, let's see you at a solution…" Draco sneered as he glared at Harry murderously.
Harry was about to retort when Cho called Hermione to speak as she unnoticeably was raising her hand while Harry and Draco was uselessly bickering.
"I say we make a petition, to change the portrait. If possible have it thrown… or simply relocate it in another part of the castle where it would be less… in the way of students," said Hermione.
"An excellent suggestion Hermione. We shall start work on it today, and if we have the larger favour of the student body, we shall pass it on to Dumbledore for approval…" concluded Cho.
The head girl sat down and had once again begun to shuffle through her stack of papers to look for more matters to discuss.
~~*
"I'll see you in the common room then," called Harry from the far side of the meeting room as Hermione nodded to him. Harry turned to leave with Ginny.
She was shuffling though her tote bag, looking for the list of complaints listed by the first years she had talked to the morning before. She wanted to submit them to Cho but seeing as they had been left in her dormitory, she decided to hurry on after Harry and Ginny who were headed to the Gryffindor common room. She had only been a few steps to the door when she heard she clapping of boot heels on the stone floor of the common room.
"Granger," said an impassive voice behind her. Hermione closed her eyes; she dreaded to look behind because she knew exactly whom it was.
She turned to look at him, raising an eyebrow. "What do you want Malfoy?" she asked calmly. She had taken the time to notice that the few people who were left in the room began to leave. So apparently, they were alone… again. Like they had been a hundred hours before.
"I'd just like you to know," he started off coolly eying her with evident scorn and derision. "That I won't be available for our little study session later…"
Hermione sighed with an impeccable perceptiveness. As if she knew he was going to try to get out of it somehow.
"And what's you're excuse Malfoy?" she asked him sharply failing to act impassive.
"If you have to know, I'm having tea with Voldemort and Wormtail in my common room later, care to join me?" he said sarcastically. Hermione gasped at his sudden retort. Although she knew he was mocking her, she could not remove the wavering feeling in her throat that he could have been serious at that moment. "Oh, Did I scare little Grangie Waingie?" Draco said in a contemptuous tone.
"Does a little bit of dark talk scare you so? I thought too highly of you Granger, and I thought Gryffindors weren't scaredy cats…"
Hermione glared at him scornfully.
"Funny, I thought you weren't as illogical as you seemed…" she muttered. Hermione turned to leave the room when he caught her arm and forced her to face him. His fingers dug in to her flesh that she whimpered in pain. He looked at her closely, he could see that her look was firm and she had no indications of being fearful of him. He felt a slight feeling of esteem for her, which he chose to ignore. Normally any girl would have screamed while she was held in a violent way, but she didn't.
"If you have to know Granger, I have Quidditch practice tonight. And I insist on not missing it," he told her resolutely "because I intend to beat the crap out of your precious Potter and Weasley" he spat at her.
Hermione remained indifferent to his impertinent insult. She tried to ignore the spasms of pain that she felt throughout her arm as he held it tighter. She was sure that there would be bruises later.
"And if you ever do Malfoy, it wouldn't matter," said Hermione. Draco looked at her and had a momentous expression of perplexity. But then it disappeared; he never wanted to look confused because just like her, Draco was a critical thinker.
"What are you saying Granger?"
"If you ever beat Harry, it won't matter to him, because it would just be another match. The one circumstance in which you see his weakness, and the one chance you see to beat him. Even if it would ever happen, he wouldn't make a big deal out of it," she stated. "Harry is different from you Malfoy, because he's not as vain as you are. In everything he does, he doesn't think like you who wants to win just because he wants to prove that he's the best. Harry thinks that if he can play one game the best he can and to his limits, he knows that he has done enough. And he is contented"
Hermione looked at her arm where Malfoy gripped her. His grip loosened, he looked at her. Hermione noticed that their faces were inches away. She caught the site of his tightly pursed lips and she knew that she had definitely struck a nerve. He dropped her arm and took a step away from her.
"I'm tired…" he said coolly. Hermione looked up at his face refusing to meet his eyes. "I'm tired of hearing everyone praise Potter like he is some savior of the entire wizarding race,"
Hermione said nothing.
"It is so sickening to hear so many good compliments for someone so pathetic…" he sneered at her.
"Harry's not pathetic Malfoy! If there is anyone here who is, it's you," she retorted hotly.
"Oh really now Granger, am I really? I told you I was sick of hearing praises for Potter, because I don't see what is so bloody great about him,"
"Do you know what your problem is Malfoy?" said Hermione slowly.
"And what would that be?" he asked her. His glare remained as hard as it always was.
"It's that you cant accept the fact that there's someone better than you, who can prove himself to me much more of a useful being than you can ever be… You can't get that through your head and it kills you," she said coolly finally turning her back on him and bolting out the door.
Draco looked at her as she left, suppressing an intensifying sentiment within him that told him that all she had said moments ago were unambiguously true.
~~*
Hermione rushed out of ancient runes class as she decided to take a little trip to the bathroom. She walked up the winding stairs leading to the third floor. It was the closest prefect's lavatory to the Ancient Runes classroom.
A marble chimera guarded the entrance to the bathroom. He looked pissed, as he always was and moved aside as she muttered the password.
The stone partition opened up to reveal the marvellous bathroom. In the middle was a large empty pool behind the stone partition behind the cubicles. And to it's right was the column of sinks.
Striding over to the circling column of sinks, she lay down her tote bag at the side of one sink. Hermione looked at herself in the mirror taking a deep breath. It disturbed her not being able to concentrate in her last classes since the incident in the prefect's meeting room earlier that day. The throbbing sensations in her arm had barely subsided, and all throughout the time she had been disturbed by it; she had ignored it.
Rolling up her white sleeves after removing her school robe, she was almost shocked by what she saw. A ring of bruises ran around a part of her upper arm like a horrid birthmark. She massaged her arm to ease the lingering pain. 'Malfoy must be very proud of his handiwork' she thought. She never thought he would go that low and hurt her like this. In someway she wanted to get him back.
Grabbing her wand from her tote bag, Hermione muttered a concealing spell to hide the dark patches underneath her skin. It hid them perfectly, though the pain was still there.
It eased the tension, for at least; she wouldn't have to explain anything to explain to anyone who ever saw the bruises.
Rolling her sleeve down, she buttoned her cuff and slipped on her robes. With one last look at the mirror, she lifted her bag off the floor and left the Prefect's bathroom.
~~*
Draco returned to his room sullenly after Quidditch Practice. He put his broom aside and stored it in a closet beside the door of his bathroom. Taking off his Quidditch robes, he went inside the bathroom and took a quick shower.
Malfoy stepped out of the shower in a green towel after taking his quick shower, his well-toned chest exposed. It was a sight that any girl in Hogwarts would have died to see, because no body could ever deny that he was one of the hottest men in Hogwarts. And as vain as he was, he had to conclude that he was the one atop that list.
Remembering the incidents that night, his thoughts remembered the practice.
The Slytherin's practice session that day was wonderfully promising. Draco remembered that he had flied like he had in the Quidditch pitch at the manor some weeks before. Though he had never tried to fly recklessly on purpose, he found out that night at the manor that that specific manner of flying was rather useful especially if you were a seeker. His team-mates wondered perplexingly what had gotten in to him but even he could not answer their simple question. Blaise who was one of the Slytherin chasers was exceedingly awed and a bit surprised by what her new dexterity her boyfriend had shown during their practice session. Draco smiled at the thought of her giving him a much-needed reward right after the practice. He found it rather pleasant to gain praise from his team-mates that night.
His thoughts shifted to the earlier happenings that day. That one specific incident made him scowl at the memory. The brightly lit wooden walls of the prefect's common room flashed repeatedly in his mind like a surreal dream that he woke up to repeatedly. He remembered his absurd thoughts ringing in his ear, his impossibly unreal thoughts about Ms. Perfect, Hermione Granger. Draco ran his fingers through his platinum blonde hair as he stood up in front of his wooden mahogany trunk forcing it open. He slipped on an emerald shaded robe and slipped it on his bare shoulders.
Draco cursed himself inwardly at the thought of that moment. He remembered how eminent she looked as the light shown on her delicately colored hair, and her bright eyes as she looked at him. Draco swore as he realized he was doing it once again. He was giving a mudblood compliments for such things that she not deserve. He hated her at that moment; he hated her for making him think things he was not supposed to think. It was ironic how she could make him feel miserable with out even meaning it. It was infuriating, and his frustration was doubled by the fact that he could not do anything about it.
His thoughts shifted to the later happenings in that room. The way he called her name, and those things she told him, when her hazel eyes blazed with fury as he spoke of Potter so negatively. And he thought of how she defended him so strongly, how she spoke as if he was nothing compared to the great Harry Potter.
He hated her for those things as well, because who was she to say such things when she herself had nothing to even stand for herself. She was a mudblood, her insults were not supposed to affect him. Because ever since he had decided to make Potter's and all the lives of those that surrounded and supported him a living nightmare, he had handed it to himself to speak of what he could see as their weaknesses, knowing that he was someone who had none, and knowing that he was superior to them.
But now, as he encountered Granger who spoke with her dignity and uttered what she could observe and see and admitted to her weaknesses, he found that she had probed him of his weaknesses and used them against him. How could he now comprehend what was the factual truth when she questioned everything he was raised to believe in? How could he comprehend Hermione Granger when she made him feel a trace of something he never thought himself capable of; when he made him feel so guilty.
No! Draco thought strongly. What ever Granger told him earlier that day was not true, she was just jealous. She was jealous of the fact that she could never hike herself up to his level; no matter how hard she tried. But then again, was she really?
Draco could not help but think that no matter how he tried to convince himself of it, Hermione could not care less about his influence, his power and wealth. But it did not matter; for he knew he told himself repetitively, that he could never care for someone like her. Ever.
~~*
Lavender had roused Hermione from her sleep that misty Saturday morning to beckon her out to the Quidditch pitch. She told her that Harry and Ron were out on the Qudditch pitch practicing once again along with her best friend Parvati who was one of the chasers. Hermione protested saying that she had better things to do… like read. But her petty excuse did not go unnoticed to Lavender, who reasoned with her until Hermione was fed up to even argue.
They were now sitting outside on the Gryffindor stand watching the team flying around in the thunderhead formation with Harry leading the lot before manoeuvring out of formation and diving towards their places.
Ron smiled at Lavender from the air before moving towards the goal hoops. Lavender squealed in excitement. Hermione rolled her eyes at this and turned back to the book she was reading.
"If I'd known you were bent on watching Ron show off this morning I would have intended to stay at the library for the entire day," muttered Hermione as the other girl scowled at her.
"Come on Hermione, have a little enthusiasm. Your friends are playing out there…" she told her. Lavender pulled Hermione's book from her grasp and closed it on her lap.
"Hey!"
Lavender looked at her firmly. "I'd like to ask you something," Hermione raised an eyebrow at her.
"And that would be?" she asked.
Lavender looked up at the team practicing as Harry dove in for another attempt at a perfect Wronski Feint. Hermione followed her gaze; she couldn't help but admire Harry for the attempt. She had admired Harry's flying style for a long time, admiring his careless strokes as he guided his broom in the air as if it was his natural element.
"Amazing isn't he?" asked Lavender suddenly. Hermione realized that the other girl's eyes were on her.
"Huh?" she said uncertainly.
"Harry, isn't he just the perfect flier?" asked Lavender in an effort to hide her teasing tone. She had always suspected Harry to have liked Hermione ever since their fourth year, but she wasn't sure of her sentiments for him. Lavender decided to hold her tongue; maybe she shouldn't push it just yet.
To a girl like her, Harry was a pretty easy guy to read. But ironically, others realized his emotions before he, himself did.
"Of course, he's practically the best flier in Hogwarts. Don't you think so?" replied Hermione.
Lavender smiled. She nodded but not after noticing the faint blush that crept up the other girl's cheek.
"What is that you wanted to ask me?" said Hermione as she looked back at the pitch.
"Nothing," said Lavender.
~~*
Walking down the stone steps from the great hall, Draco caught a glimpse of his eagle owl perched on a window to his left. Malcolm, beside him turned to ask him whom it was from.
Draco pulled the letter from his owl's foot and mumbled "My father" upon seeing the Malfoy seal.
He turned out the window to give his owl a curt acknowledgement but had seen that he had left, for there was nothing on the ledge. Through the window, Draco could see the Gryffindor Quidditch team practicing out on the Quidditch pitch and he turned away in annoyance.
"What does he want?" asked Malcolm coolly as they continued to walk down the stairway. Draco pocketed the letter quickly. "I'm sure you know."
"Probably something to do with the Dark Lord, I don't know…" he answered nonchalantly. Malcolm looked at his friend in perplexity. Funny, he thought, it's like he doesn't care.
He cleared his throat before speaking. "So it's true huh?"
Malfoy turned to him blankly. "What?"
"What Blaise said, about you," he stated. "It seems to her that you are not the least bit interested in the future your father has planned for you,"
Draco shrugged "How can I be? When he sets it two years earlier. I'm not ready…"
"Why is that?"
"Because I'm just not." He answered firmly. Malcolm sighed. The wall to the common room was before them; Draco muttered the password. 'Prejudice'
"It's an honor you know…"
Draco smirked slightly. "Easy for you to say…" he sneered. "You'll be in front of that damned dark council two years from now and I'll practically be a veteran by then. Looking down on my peers," The two took a distanced seat from each other on the leather couches in the bluish-lit chamber.
"Listen Malfoy, Blaise is worried about you. She seems to conclude that you will never listen to reason, why not try pleasing her for once," said Malcolm. Draco looked at him coldly. His gaze was met with equal firmness. He could say by the look on his friend's face that he meant it.
"I want to please her," he said finally. "But, I'll miss pleasing myself,"
"Then forget yourself, It won't just be her Malfoy. You'll gain the respect of many it you do this, including your father's"
Draco breathed as he reclined upon the couch. His father's respect; it was the one thing that he had tried to gain for so long but had failed miserably. As he grew older, he began to realize that the task was next to impossible. Now the opportunity was dancing right in front of his eyes, but why was he reluctant to grab it?
Maybe it was just too late. And maybe he was afraid; he had failed in so many attempts maybe he was just afraid to try this final one. Because her thought that it would be better for him not to try than to fail once more.
Draco felt the rough envelope in his pocket inkling to be opened. He stood up abruptly.
"I'll be in my dorm," she mumbled softly as he turned his back to Malcolm and headed to his dormitory.
~~*
Draco grasped the letter opener in the shape of a small dagger and tore open the envelope.
He took the folded pieces of parchments out of their incarceration and started to read the words scripted in a familiar sharp hand.
Draco,
It has disturbed me to grasp the knowledge that you have refused in corresponding with me
In the last few weeks that you have been at school. Therefore I shall be forced to take drastic measures if you still decline to collaborate amid me.
I have received word that you along with the sixth year population of Hogwarts are to embark on a trip to Orne, France as a part of your partial fulfilment of requirements for your sixth year. At first I thought it a disturbing idea, as it would definitely ruin my plans for the next month concerning matters that I know you are very familiar with. But then I have concluded that this trip you are to have will not be a hindrance to all that is to happen within the next months. I ask of you to be alert at all times during your stay at Orne for you will play a part in all this my son, mark my words.
I also ask of you to abandon the proposed search for the book; The Path of Daggers which was to be a portkey to the manor when all of this began. I shall have a new portkey planted at the Brentenoux Castle where you will be residing for your entire stay in France.
I shall keep in touch.
Lucius Malfoy
It was very like Lucius to turn every occasion into an opportunity for his plans, thought Draco. His father was awfully sinister, in many ways he would pass off as the perfect heir to the Dark Lord's throne. Maybe he could just go ahead and be that, thought Draco, and then he would have the perfect excuse to make Draco's life the perfect living nightmare, which it was already threatening to be. Grumbling, Draco threw the letter on the floor and walked out of his room.
~~*
Severus Snape walked through the dark dungeons of the Slytherin's dormitories headed to that one specific room. The heels of his black leather boots clapped loudly on the stone floor of the landing and stopped as her stood in front of the door.
The room was peculiarly open, it seems as if Draco had just walked out carelessly, thought Snape as he entered the grim dimness of the young boy's dormitory. Blue flames were ablaze upon the hung torches of the room. The fireplace was burning just as brightly and the flames lit up the floor of the room.
Snape observed the neatly fixed covers of Draco's bed and had concluded that the boy had not been in here for a rest in a while. The Professor walked over to the fireplace and was about to leave through it but had heard a soft crumpling sound of parchment. He saw that he had stepped on scattered pieces of paper, he picked them up and started to turn them over, reading the sentences scribbled upon them.
It was the letter.
Snape rushed out of Draco's dormitory and headed towards the headmaster's office.
~~*
"Every man has his own destiny: the only imperative is to follow it, to accept it, no matter where it leads him."
-Henry Miller, The Wisdom of the Heart
