"Harry, why are you reading that?"
"What?"
Hermione sighed exasperatedly, "You know what, our potions textbook. You told me you'd finished with our last assignment on Friday"
"I'm just trying to get ahead, that's all"
Hermione raised an eyebrow unconvinced but turned away from the sofa where Harry sat. She decided instead, to go over and read the patrol schedule on the bulletin board again. She was on edge today more than usual. It was Sunday and over a week since night patrols started. Of course, nothing had changed besides having to account for several fewer hours of availability in her schedule. Today, however, she would have to patrol with Draco Malfoy. She dreaded the thought of having to deal with his snobbish, condescending, melancholy for the majority of the night. She had been planning on asking Neville to switch with her, but as it turned out, he had been paired with Parkinson. And despite Malfoy's unpleasant demeanor, Parkinson would inevitably be worse to her.
Hermione sighed and leaned her head against the wall, waiting for Neville to join her from the boy's dormitories. As she stood there, she waved at Ginny and Dean, who were just returning. They'd begun dating this year, which surprised Hermione, as she knew Ginny had set her sights on Harry years ago. Hermione noticed smugly that Harry grimaced a bit when he noticed the two of them together. But once they started snogging on a plush bench in the corner he turned away.
It wasn't long before she saw Neville's feet at the top of the stairway. He looked about as unhappy as she felt; anxious, and dragging his feet on every step. The two of them then began the trek to their temporary purgatory.
When they arrived, Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson were talking about something. Though Parkinson seemed to be doing most of the talking, Malfoy listening with mild interest.
When they caught sight of Hermione and Neville, they both visibly cringed.
Neville turned to Hermione with a groan and muttered, "Good luck". They both took a deep breath and walked over to meet the Slytherins.
Immediately Parkinson started in, "I can't believe they made you two muppets prefects"
Neville rolled his eyes, and ignored the comment, "Come on"
She scoffed but immediately started down the stairs ahead of Neville, keeping her nose as high as possible all the way.
"We should start with the sixth floor" Hermione stated quickly and paced over to the stairwell, half-aware of Malfoy dragging along behind her, hands in his pockets, looking like he'd rather be anywhere else. Well at least we agree on something, she thought crossly.
It was probably a half-hour before either of them said a word. The two just meandering through the hallways, checking the empty rooms as they went.
"This is ridiculous," Malfoy said, "We shouldn't be forced to take time out of our lives to look around the school. As if the dark lord would be hiding in the Arithmancy classroom. Besides most of us can't stand each other"
Hermione bit her lip. He had a point, but she knew the professors were probably at a loss, and just trying to do something. With the little information they had, it would be hard to more properly protect students.
"It's not about that. It's about covering all our bases since we don't know anything about their plans. It's better to be prepared"
He huffed, "Are we? Right, I'm sure when Abbot and Macmillan run into a group of Death Eaters in a broom cupboard they'll be able to handle it by themselves"
Hermione scowled exasperatedly. Of course, she had considered this. But when putting herself in the shoes of a professor, or someone else trying to prevent any security breaches at the school, having prefects help out on this smaller scale did make sense.
"What would you have us do then? Nothing?"
He rolled his eyes but didn't respond. Hermione could tell there was something he wanted to say yet she couldn't figure out what.
Another while passed silently, the tension from their short argument still hanging in the air.
Not knowing what Malfoy was thinking was slowly getting to her. Could it have been important? He was connected to death eaters through his family, and if Harry was right, he might also be one of them. Did he know something no one else did? Probably. She should try to figure out what he knew, right?
Finally, she couldn't take it anymore and broke the silence, "I understand your point. If there were death eaters here, there's no way most students in the school would be able to do anything. And for all we know, they already have someone on the inside posing as a teacher or something" like a student, she thought. Hermione looked at Malfoy, hoping to see some sort of reaction.
He just raised an eyebrow impertinently.
Still trying, she continued, "For all we know, in a few weeks half the students will be gone. Likely the youngest ones first, since they're so less experienced"
"What are you trying to say, Granger?"
Hermione bit her lip again, worried that she may be pushing too much, "I just mean that it's a tough situation to be in, being threatened by you-now-who and having those you care about being threatened too, but not knowing what to do or how to protect anyone. I guess everyone's just doing the best they can"
Malfoy grimaced, responding simply, "I guess" and continued down the hall.
Well, that wasn't exactly helpful, Hermione dejected. She sped up to him, and took a deep breath, thinking of how to start next.
Malfoy began tiredly before she could, "Will you please stop badgering me? I get it alright? It's an essential job and all that rubbish. Just, let's get this over with."
Hermione smothered her words and nodded.
She spent the rest of the time thinking about what seemed to bother him so much about the conversation. Was he worried like the rest of them? Or was he a death eater now? Maybe he felt guilty about something he'd done- or something he had yet to do.
These were worrying thoughts, and she decided she'd better keep an eye on him when she could. Of course, Harry was watching him too, but Harry tended to be quite paranoid and over-reactive to anything Malfoy did. Not without reason of course, but Hermione felt that she might have a better perspective on whatever was going on.
