The Password Is...
"Out of the way, Granger." Pansy Parkinson's snotty voice echoed in the stairwell to the Hospital Wing as she pushed past Hermione, flanked by a group of glaring Slytherins. They disappeared down the stairs, leaving Hermione to stick her tongue out at their backs as the descended and then finish the climb.
Pansy turned and watched Hermione's back disappear before sneering and turning to Crabbe and Goyle, her dark eyes glittering.
"You two. I have to talk with you...privately." She inclined her head to the rest of them, a signal. The other 3 hurried away, fluttering down the stairs and out of their sight, their robes flying out behind them, giving them the appearace of a flock of ravens as they disappeared around a corner. Pansy waited until their footsteps completely died away before speaking to the two in front of her.
"Something's got to be done. Draco's reputation here, as well as with his father, the other Death Eaters, and even our parents is at stake. If he keeps hanging around that Mudblood, it's going to get around, and eventually to the Dark Lord himself. I can't let Draco embarrass himself like this." Pansy turned up her nose at the word 'Mudblood', and tucked some of her hair behind her ear.
Crabbe and Goyle were nodding and giving each other concerned looks as she spoke.
"What's so great about her, anyway?" Goyle said.
"Yeah." Crabbe grunted.
"Will you two Neanderthals shut up for a minute?" Pansy sneered. Her eyes narrowed as she moved closer, checking once more to make sure that no one was around to hear them.
"I have a plan."
'I hope Harry and Ron won't be too angry if I'm a little late. If they knew I was visiting Draco again... Ron is just an idiot. Malfoy is fine; dripping with sarcasm, but fine. He's not as evil when he's lying in a hospital bed.' she thought as she walked through the doors. Draco lay on the bed, and when she entered, he sat up, and Hermione noted that he looked a little...eager. There was more color in his cheeks than before. He looked better.
"Hey, Granger." he called, raising a hand.
"Hey, Malfoy." she replied, sitting in the chair near his bed. "I ran into your friends on my way up here...lovely bunch, they are." she continued sarcastically.
"Watch it, Granger." Draco said.
"I don't see what you see in them. They're not the most loyal friends, really. One wrong move and they turn on you. And they hate it that I talk to you now." Hermione said, brushing some hair from her eyes.
"They're loyal enough. Stop criticizing my friends just because you're in the Golden Trio and feel you have to step up and preach about who I associate myself with." Draco snapped. He regretted it as he saw her face fall a little.
'Oh no, I've made him upset.' she thought.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you upset." she said quietly.
"No, Granger, it's fine, I'm...I'm sorry I snapped at you." Draco said, staring at his blanket as interestedly as if it were showing him the solution to world hunger.
"Wow. I've upgraded to apologies already." Hermione said, raising an eyebrow and grinning.
"Don't get too used to it, Granger." Draco said, trying to smirk, but ending up with a grin himself. "So, shouldn't you be prancing around with Potter and Weasley, saving kittens from trees or saving some little first year from certain death?" he continued.
"I'm meeting them in the library later. They can wait." Hermione said. "I moved into the dorm last night. It's really nice, actually..." Hermione went on to describe it in excruciating detail to Draco. As she neared the end, she noticed that he was leaning against his pillows, breathing evenly, and even drooling. She grimaced and shook him by the shoulder. Draco snapped to attention and glared at her.
"That was a good nap." he pouted; it was soon replaced by another glare as she began to giggle.
"What are you laughing at, Granger?" he asked.
"You drool when you sleep." Hermione giggled. A small flush crept across his face.
"I do not." he said vehemently.
"Do too." she retorted.
"Do not."
"Do too."
"Do not."
"You do, just look at your pillowcase. Anyway, this is stupid; we sound like, I don't know, first years." Hermione said, smirking and leaning back in her chair.
"God forbid we ever sound like that again." Draco said, rolling his eyes.
"Well, you'll need the password to get in once you've been released from the Hospital Wing." Hermione continued. She grinned at the thought of what his reaction might be.
"Well, what is it?" he asked.
"I-it's..." Hermione began to giggle. Draco's expression took on a horrified air.
"What is it? Granger, tell me what it is." He sat up a little more, his eyes narrowing.
"G-Godric Gryffindor is m-my hero." Hermione giggled. Draco looked at her as if she were insane.
"Granger, have you lost it? I know that, the Gryffindor pride and whatnot, now tell me the bloody password."
"That is the password." Hermione said, regaining control. Draco gaped at her.
"What do you mean, that's the bloody password?" he asked breathlessly.
"I mean, it's the bloody password." Madame Pompfrey bustled out of her office with a stern look.
"Language, you two." she said as she hurried past them and to the supply closet.
"Sorry, Madame Pompfrey. Now, I've got to go meet Ron and Harry in the library, I'm sure they're wondering where I am." she said, giving him a smile as she headed for the door.
"Granger! Granger, wait! You're lying!" Hermione shut the hospital wing doors on his protests and hurried down the stairs. The tapping of her shoes echoed in the stairwell. Stepping off of that staircase, she approached the entrance to the stairwell that led to the Entrance Hall. The afternoon sunlight was filtering in through the high windows, casting odd shadows around her.
Suddenly, as she passed a statue of a knight, she was jerked backwards somewhat violently. A thick arm was latched around her throat. She struggled, but it was useless. She felt her back slam against something hard, and the arm released. Thick hands grabbed her wrists, pulling her back and wrapping her arms around whatever it was she was against. Her shoulders were starting to ache.
Craning her neck, she saw that she was against the statue of the knight, her face dangerously close to the jagged edge of his sword.
"What-" she began vehemently, but a hand closing over her mouth silenced her. Hermione couldn't move her head to see, but her peripheral vision showed her something moving in the shadows to her left. Suddenly, it spoke in a dangerous hiss.
"Well, well, well. Look who we have here."
+REVIEWS+
I've reviews! I am so happy!
devil'lil': hi im new and i love this story plz write more and can you do some stuff about what draco is thinking! pretty plz and i don't need cookies i need chapters!
Yay! I'm glad you love it, and yes, the next chappie will have more of Draco-my-love's thoughts in it.
TaurusGirl: update soon!
I'm workin on it!
Thanks for reading!
Charlotte
