Hermione and Daphne spent a few minutes looking for Potter and Weasley when they spotted them coming out of Hagrid's hut.
Hermione walked over to the pair, interrupting their hushed conversation. "You two owe me a favor."
"Why the bloody hell do we owe you a favor?" Weasley demanded.
Hermione smiled sweetly. "The troll, taking the blame for it, helping you with your dog problem. I'm sure by the end of the term you'll owe me more, so I'm collecting now."
"We don't owe you jack-" Weasley started, but Potter stepped in.
"What do you want?"
"I want to know who let the troll into Hogwarts." The two blanched, minds visibly racing. She rolled her eyes. "You have your suspicions. So tell me."
"We think it's Snape," Potter muttered while avoiding Hermione's intense gaze. Hermione groaned.
"I knew you two wouldn't be of any help! Professor Snape isn't out to get you, Potter!" Hermione paused. "Is there anything you two could possibly know that I don't?" Hermione mumbled, even though she knew she already knows the answer. She purses her lips, but then she brightens.
"You're on the Quidditch team, right? Malfoy wouldn't shut his bloody trap about that."
Answering cautiously, he said, "Yes…? Why do you ask?"
She huffed impatiently. "When do you play next?"
"Next week. Before break."
Hermione nodded. "You still owe me, Potter. Eventually, I'll collect." She walked away, Daphne beside her. Once the two girls are out of earshot, Daphne commented on the exchange.
"It doesn't seem like you got what you needed."
"I didn't, but hopefully during the match I will," Hermione said.
"How?" Daphne asked.
"It's a crowded place. Most of the student body is there, including the professors. Potter is vulnerable on that broom. If this really is a ploy to get to Potter, it might happen then."
"But how do you know?"
"Well, isn't that when you would attack someone? Where there is less of a chance for someone to catch you?" Hermione reasoned.
Daphne nodded. It made sense.
"I guess we're going to the game!" Daphne exclaimed.
"We?"
"Granger, dear, you'd end up falling asleep waiting for something to happen. You've made your disdain for the game very apparent. So I'll be accompanying you."
Hermione laughed. "You make it sound as though you weren't going! We both know you like to watch the players in that uniform!"
Daphne blushed, but didn't argue.
Hermione was in the library once more, poring over a potions tomb. Most of the students here weren't very fond of Professor Snape, but she couldn't be more thrilled about being taught by such an accomplished potioneer. So far, potions was her favorite subject. The chemistry and precision needed for potions called to her. An exact science for an exact person.
She always picked the library because she hated the mindless drivel of the other students. Therefore, when a timidly hopeful voice interrupted her peace ("Hey-Granger?"), she exhaled sharply and snapped her eyes up fiercely towards the perpetrator.
She looked up to see the "dynamic duo" in front of her. She leaned back into her chair and crossed her arms, waiting for the inevitable request they would force upon her.
"Where would- uh, where would one read about dragons?"
Hermione gave them a dead look. "Go bother Madam Pince. I'm not your slave, so stop treating me like one."
The two blinked at her, not recognizing the dismissal.
"I don't feel like talking to you right now, so..." She trailed off and gave them a look. Weasley turned a light pink at the ears and Potter just frowned. After giving each other significant glances, they abruptly walked away with an occasional furtive look back.
Once they turned the corner, Hermione decided to follow them. Only God (or was it Merlin?) knew what they were up to. Packing up her books quickly, she glanced around the corner and saw them heading towards the groundskeeper's hut. When they went inside, she stealthily walks around to the back of the hut and sits beneath the window. Listening, Hermione couldn't help but purse her lips as she listened to the annoying small talk. She was beginning to contemplate leaving when she heard someone behind her.
"What the bloody hell are you doing?"
Hermione glares up at Malfoy, quickly she reaches up and tugs him down by the collar. "Shut up! Don't be so loud, I'm trying to figure out what those two idiots are doing."
Malfoy sneers at her and brushes the place off that she grabbed him. "First of all, filth, don't touch me." Hermione scoffed at the unimaginative insult. "Secondly, what are Scarhead and Weasel doing?"
Hermione huffed. "Don't you listen?" Malfoy opened his mouth but before he could say anything they both jumped when Weasley yelled.
"What in Merlin's name, Hagrid! The egg is moving, I thought it was a fake!"
"'Course not, I wouldn'ta had it on the fire this entire time." Hermione's eyes widen, mind racing at the possibilities. There were several species that required extreme heat, and there was no way to tell.
"Wow, a dragon's egg. What kind is it?"
"It's a Norwegian Ridgeback. Mind you, don't go 'round tellin' everyone."
He really was an idiot. Hermione crawled away from the window. She grabbed Malfoy by his sleeve and started to drag him behind her, righting herself when she was away from the hut.
"What in the bloody-" Malfoy had started but Hermione whirled around and slapped a hand to his mouth.
"Shut up, you prat! We've heard all that we need to. I'm leaving and I am not letting you stay here to do something stupid and ruin the plan! If you want them to get in trouble, then follow me." She took her hand away, wiped it on her skirt and started back towards the castle. She needed to make sure they were away from the hut.
"I told you not to touch me!" Malfoy said as he stalked up besides her.
"And I didn't listen. We Mudbloods are bad at that." Hermione said with a glare shot towards the annoying blonde. He sneered and sent a quip at her, causing the two to argue back and forth until they were both standing in front of Professor Snape's office door. Hermione paused long enough in her arguing to knock.
Snape opened the door and immediately sighed. "Would you two imbeciles care to tell me why I'm being disturbed?"
Hermione immediately turned her attention to her favorite Professor. Biting on her lip again at having been scolded at by him. "Sorry Professor, but may we come in? I have something I wish to discuss with you."
Snape glared but opened his door wider, allowing the two students access already knowing it would just go by quicker if he listened to the girl. He closed the door behind them and stalked over to his desk. Sitting down he just looked at the two waiting.
"Professor, Malfoy and I were walking past the groundskeeper's hut when we heard Weasley yell about a dragon egg, and since I read in this book about dragons I know that they are heavily endangered and protected. It's also of course illegal to have a dragon's egg in one's possession. So I decided I would walk up to see if I could peak inside of the hut, and there it was! Right in the fire. What's worse is that he said that it was a Norwegian Ridgeback and those are so incredibly rare; it needs to be protected and safe! Keeping it in a hut, there is absolutely no way he'll be able to properly take care of it and-"
"Enough, Miss Granger." Hermione closed her mouth, and Malfoy snickered. Hermione shot a quick glare in his direction but went back to looking at the professor. "You really want me to believe that there is a dragon's egg in that hut?"
"Yes sir! Malfoy and I saw it wiggle and everything! The school is in danger, especially the students!"
"I'm going to tell my father about this! He'll make sure the dragon and that oaf are properly taken care of!"
Hermione angrily got out of the chair, "You can't have the dragon killed! It's an endangered species! We need to keep them safe! Protect them so that way they can thrive once more!"
"We don't need dragons! They're dangerous beings."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "And I thought you were supposed to have been born in this world Malfoy. Dragons are obviously important! We use them in potion ingredients! Don't be so ignorant, you sound like Potter and Weasley." Hermione leaned over her chair and got directly in Malfoy's face. "And if you have that dragon killed Malfoy you will regret it." She said, fire in her eyes and a sneer on her face.
Malfoy glared at her. "You don't scare me mudblood." Hermione opened her mouth to continue the back and forth when Snape put a stop to it once again.
"Shut it both of you. Mr Malfoy you will not use that kind of language in this classroom. Now Miss Granger please stop the yelling and tell me exactly what you would like for me to do about this so called dragon problem."
"But god-father-" Snape glared at the blonde boy and he shut his mouth and just sat glaring at him.
Hermione crossed her arms. She was hurt he didn't believe her yes, but she wasn't going to show that, so instead she glared at Professor Snape. "Professor, you have to know of someplace that deals with the care of dragons! You have to get the supplies from somewhere!"
"I get them from St. Mungos. Now leave me be with this nonsense and go bother someone else if you wish to be such a bleeding heart."
Hermione glared at him. "Fine I will! I'm right Professor, and I will save this dragon's life with or without your help." Hermione twirled around and stalked out of the room. She will show Professor Snape, she'll show him and get his approval.
Hermione walked into the Slytherin dorms, and smiled as she spotted Daphne sitting down talking with another girl that slept in the same room as them. Parkinson. Hermione and Parkinson didn't really talk, she didn't like her because surprise, surprise she was a muggleborn. Hermione didn't really care to talk to Parkinson anyway because alls she wanted to do was talk about that idiot Malfoy.
"Daphne, when you're done. Meet me up at our rooms!" Hermione said as she walked towards the hall that lead to the dorms. Hermione saw Daphne nod just as she was turning the corner.
Just moments later Daphne walks into the dorm room and joins Hermione on her bed. "What is it?"
"Please tell me that there is some sort of Dragon holding facility." Daphne frowned and blinked.
"I think so, but I'd have to ask my mother to be sure."
"Oh please, can you? I need to get a dragon out of here before Malfoy tells his father and tries to get the poor thing killed!"
Daphne raises a brow. "Why don't you catch me up first please?"
Hermione blinked in surprise. "Oh! Yes of course!" Hermione begins to excitedly tell Daphne all about what happened since she left this morning to go to the library. Hermione could tell at first Daphne didn't believe her but with a little persuading Daphne picked up a quill and parchment and began to pen her mother.
With the letter sent to Daphne's mother the two decide to head down to the Great Hall to get seated for dinner. Once there Hermione sits at the far corner of the table, like normal. She learned quite early this was the easiest place for her to be so she was able to eat in peace. Usually she sits alone, but Daphne decided to join her today. Not bothering to ask Daphne why the two sit in a comfortable silence, Hermione begins to people watch, she starts by looking at the Great Hall entrance but she quickly puts a stop to that when Malfoy and his little group of followers enter. Rolling her eyes at the arrogance radiating off of the boy she looks over at the Gryffindor table and is surprised to see that the dynamic duo is already looking at her. Hermione raises a brow and smirks when Weasley turns an ugly shade of red at having been caught while Potter just blinks and turns his attention to his friend. Shrugging her shoulders but still curious as to what that was all about, Hermione is brought out of her people watching by Daphne. Who has started talking to her she notices because Malfoy is finally making his way over to the Slytherin table.
"Daphne, you don't have to try to keep my attention away from Malfoy. I really don't feel the need to talk to him. I've done enough of that to last a lifetime."
Daphne giggles since just as Hermione said that, Malfoy walked right past the two who just huffed and glared. Hermione looks over at Daphne and the two start giggling again. Finally the food appears and the two dig in.
