Day Five
Due to Bob's snoring, we're all up with the sun as usual. It's going to be a hot day, as it's already almost uncomfortably warm this morning. Kiki and I head down to our mailbox and bring back a hideous wooden roach with a rhyme written on the belly. I've watched the show enough to know that this will probably be the gross-food-eating competition. It's an early one; we only have enough time to cook breakfast before we're told to head into the jungle.
As we trudge through the trees, I think about how I'll be treating Malfoy. I know that it's dangerous to make assumptions, but I can only work with the facts I have at hand. He's in the Muggle world, when all he's ever done is hate Muggles. He wasn't in the Ministry, and I didn't hear his name as being on our side in the war. I'm left to guess that he was on the losing side, and was banished or run off. If it was banishment, I may have an even better advantage -- it's possible they broke his wand, and he's stuck here without magic. But for safety's sake, I'll consider it a given that he has some kind of magic working for him, until proven otherwise. Meanwhile, I was on the winning side of the war, and he HAS to know that. I would have died before joining Voldemort's side. So since I already know about his presence on the island, I've decided to act like I'm shadowing him. As soon as Marcus says my name or identifies me so that Malfoy knows who I am, then I'll smirk at him and stare him down. I've got to keep him confused; am I here to play the game, or am I here to keep an eye on him? Did I just find out he's on the island, or have I been watching him for months? We won't have a chance to speak until the merge, which is still a full two weeks away. I have no doubts that he'll make it to the merge; he was always charismatic, even when he was being an evil little git. But if I play my cards right, I can spend that two weeks turning him into a nervous wreck. All we get are glances between the two teams at this point. I've got to make every bit of eye contact count.
Plastic Marcus is waiting in a clearing in the woods, standing in front of a table. Our colored carpets await us, and I see all of the Fetia Rai team studying us to see who was voted out. My eyes are drawn to Malfoy; that blond hair is like a beacon. He looks us over, and his eyes graze over me. Actually, I can tell where his eyes graze, and it's a certain area where I'm wearing my wand these days. He must see something he likes, because his eyes linger on my chest for a moment before they move on. The dirty scumbag didn't even look at my face; it fills me with enough loathing that I'm more than ready to start my plan.
Marcus announces the game, which is indeed the traditional Eating of the Gross. We'll each take a turn at the table, consuming a yet-to-be-named item. Some of them will be familiar, some of them will be disgusting. The other team has to sit out a member to bring us even, and a short woman identified as Sheryl leaves her mat and sits on a rock at the side. As soon as Marcus calls up the first pair, I know that today will be my unmasking day.
"Okay, first up! Pete from Miti Matai and George from Fetia Rai!" Pete is up against a broad-shouldered and VERY hairy guy. They're both served plates containing a single grub, and both down them admirably. As the competition continues, I move myself back one place in line so that I'm up with Malfoy. After two more pairs, we step up.
"Draco from Fetia Rai and Hermione from Miti Matai." As Marcus reaches under the table for the next food, I turn my head and look directly at Malfoy. The shock in his silver eyes is delicious. I put on my best smirk and turn calmly back to Marcus, who has brought up two covered plates. Marcus tries to put us on edge about the contents of the plates, but I'm feeling so smug at Malfoy's shock that I could probably wolf down anything right about now. It turns out to be a ruse, as the covers are removed to reveal a piece of chocolate. I grin and grab my piece of chocolate. I eat it slowly, licking my fingers to get every morsel, and turn to Malfoy again, giving him another broad smile before returning to my team. They clap me on the back, commenting on my luck with the food. The next pair up has to choke down five roaches each, and the girl from Fetia Rai doesn't look too good. Bob wolfs down his roaches like a trouper, but his challenger runs over to a bush and is promptly sick. The teams finish the rest of the foods together, giving us the challenge by one. Our reward item, ironically, is fishing gear: a mask, snorkel, spear, fishing line and some hooks. Guess I won't be needing my fish-luring spell anymore, unless the members of my team prove particularly inept. I spend the rest of Marcus' speech staring straight ahead, but as my tribe starts back for our beach, I turn my head and find Malfoy's confused eyes again. I pause for a moment, then give him a tiny nod of my head, circle back around and leave with my tribe.
If today was just a taste, the next two weeks are going to be a lot of fun. I'll most likely have to reorganize my plans after the merge, and we can speak to each other. But I'll worry about that later. Right now, I'm so pleased with Malfoy's reaction, I can barely keep from skipping back to our beach.
I'm still happy at dinner that night. Pete sidles over next to me and gives me his best "I'm a handsome fellow" smile.
"Hey, Hermione. You sure look happy. What's up?" He wiggles a bit closer.
"Oh, just pleased that we won the challenge today, I guess." I give him a winning smile, because I can't afford to alienate anyone this early in the game. But I could probably spit in Pete's face and he wouldn't get the hint, he's so into himself as Mr. Perfection.
"Aw, I thought it was just because I was nearby." I give him my best fake "you're brilliant" laugh, turn to Kiki and roll my eyes. She grins back, because Pete's been giving her the same suave routine.
Kiki and I make sure we're the last to turn in for the night, so we can pick a spot on the opposite side of the shelter from Pete. He pouts at us, so I give him a shrug, indicating that the only open spaces are over here on this side. We then lay down and stifle our giggles.
Due to Bob's snoring, we're all up with the sun as usual. It's going to be a hot day, as it's already almost uncomfortably warm this morning. Kiki and I head down to our mailbox and bring back a hideous wooden roach with a rhyme written on the belly. I've watched the show enough to know that this will probably be the gross-food-eating competition. It's an early one; we only have enough time to cook breakfast before we're told to head into the jungle.
As we trudge through the trees, I think about how I'll be treating Malfoy. I know that it's dangerous to make assumptions, but I can only work with the facts I have at hand. He's in the Muggle world, when all he's ever done is hate Muggles. He wasn't in the Ministry, and I didn't hear his name as being on our side in the war. I'm left to guess that he was on the losing side, and was banished or run off. If it was banishment, I may have an even better advantage -- it's possible they broke his wand, and he's stuck here without magic. But for safety's sake, I'll consider it a given that he has some kind of magic working for him, until proven otherwise. Meanwhile, I was on the winning side of the war, and he HAS to know that. I would have died before joining Voldemort's side. So since I already know about his presence on the island, I've decided to act like I'm shadowing him. As soon as Marcus says my name or identifies me so that Malfoy knows who I am, then I'll smirk at him and stare him down. I've got to keep him confused; am I here to play the game, or am I here to keep an eye on him? Did I just find out he's on the island, or have I been watching him for months? We won't have a chance to speak until the merge, which is still a full two weeks away. I have no doubts that he'll make it to the merge; he was always charismatic, even when he was being an evil little git. But if I play my cards right, I can spend that two weeks turning him into a nervous wreck. All we get are glances between the two teams at this point. I've got to make every bit of eye contact count.
Plastic Marcus is waiting in a clearing in the woods, standing in front of a table. Our colored carpets await us, and I see all of the Fetia Rai team studying us to see who was voted out. My eyes are drawn to Malfoy; that blond hair is like a beacon. He looks us over, and his eyes graze over me. Actually, I can tell where his eyes graze, and it's a certain area where I'm wearing my wand these days. He must see something he likes, because his eyes linger on my chest for a moment before they move on. The dirty scumbag didn't even look at my face; it fills me with enough loathing that I'm more than ready to start my plan.
Marcus announces the game, which is indeed the traditional Eating of the Gross. We'll each take a turn at the table, consuming a yet-to-be-named item. Some of them will be familiar, some of them will be disgusting. The other team has to sit out a member to bring us even, and a short woman identified as Sheryl leaves her mat and sits on a rock at the side. As soon as Marcus calls up the first pair, I know that today will be my unmasking day.
"Okay, first up! Pete from Miti Matai and George from Fetia Rai!" Pete is up against a broad-shouldered and VERY hairy guy. They're both served plates containing a single grub, and both down them admirably. As the competition continues, I move myself back one place in line so that I'm up with Malfoy. After two more pairs, we step up.
"Draco from Fetia Rai and Hermione from Miti Matai." As Marcus reaches under the table for the next food, I turn my head and look directly at Malfoy. The shock in his silver eyes is delicious. I put on my best smirk and turn calmly back to Marcus, who has brought up two covered plates. Marcus tries to put us on edge about the contents of the plates, but I'm feeling so smug at Malfoy's shock that I could probably wolf down anything right about now. It turns out to be a ruse, as the covers are removed to reveal a piece of chocolate. I grin and grab my piece of chocolate. I eat it slowly, licking my fingers to get every morsel, and turn to Malfoy again, giving him another broad smile before returning to my team. They clap me on the back, commenting on my luck with the food. The next pair up has to choke down five roaches each, and the girl from Fetia Rai doesn't look too good. Bob wolfs down his roaches like a trouper, but his challenger runs over to a bush and is promptly sick. The teams finish the rest of the foods together, giving us the challenge by one. Our reward item, ironically, is fishing gear: a mask, snorkel, spear, fishing line and some hooks. Guess I won't be needing my fish-luring spell anymore, unless the members of my team prove particularly inept. I spend the rest of Marcus' speech staring straight ahead, but as my tribe starts back for our beach, I turn my head and find Malfoy's confused eyes again. I pause for a moment, then give him a tiny nod of my head, circle back around and leave with my tribe.
If today was just a taste, the next two weeks are going to be a lot of fun. I'll most likely have to reorganize my plans after the merge, and we can speak to each other. But I'll worry about that later. Right now, I'm so pleased with Malfoy's reaction, I can barely keep from skipping back to our beach.
I'm still happy at dinner that night. Pete sidles over next to me and gives me his best "I'm a handsome fellow" smile.
"Hey, Hermione. You sure look happy. What's up?" He wiggles a bit closer.
"Oh, just pleased that we won the challenge today, I guess." I give him a winning smile, because I can't afford to alienate anyone this early in the game. But I could probably spit in Pete's face and he wouldn't get the hint, he's so into himself as Mr. Perfection.
"Aw, I thought it was just because I was nearby." I give him my best fake "you're brilliant" laugh, turn to Kiki and roll my eyes. She grins back, because Pete's been giving her the same suave routine.
Kiki and I make sure we're the last to turn in for the night, so we can pick a spot on the opposite side of the shelter from Pete. He pouts at us, so I give him a shrug, indicating that the only open spaces are over here on this side. We then lay down and stifle our giggles.