"You're awake," she stated. "How are you feeling?"
"Like utter shit."
"It could have been worse," she said as she began searching her bag for the flask.
"Would have been better had you drowned," he sneered.
"I saved your life," she stated matter-of-factly.
"You would have been my murderer if you hadn't. I know you Granger, it's not something you could have lived with."
She finally pulled out the painkiller and perched herself on the side of the bed.
"Don't psychoanalyze me. You used me as a human shield and then tried to drown me. I wouldn't have reacted that way if I wasn't fearing for my life."
She got up from her bed and walked over to him, swishing the contents of the flask.
"Here," she said. "It'll help with the pain" she added when he didn't make a move to grab it.
"What's in it?"
"A mixture of Murtlap and Dittany essence."
"You combined them? Didn't anyone ever teach you not to play with drugs?"
"I couldn't care less Malfoy, either you take it or you don't."
Draco paused before becoming impatient.
"Well give it to me then, I can't bloody well drink it on my own with my hands tied can I?"
She pulled out her wand and vanished the ropes around his wrists, keeping the wand strained on him as she handed him the flask.
"One or two sips will do," she instructed.
Draco ignored her and took a full swing.
"I said a sip," she snapped as she yanked it out of his hand.
It was practically empty now. She creased her brows in anger.
"Now there's none left for either of us."
"I won't need anymore," he stated.
"And what about me?" She crossed her arms.
"I couldn't care less," he said as he started pulling ropes off his feet.
She knew it to be true.
"You're still my hostage," she stated, watching him.
"Sure Granger."
"I mean it; try to run and I'll be forced to stop you."
"I'm not going anywhere," he answered.
He was being awfully calm she noticed. They weren't yet yelling or tearing each other's heads off. It was unnerving.
"I mean it," she pushed.
"I'm sure you do."
He swung his legs out to the side of the bed and got up to stretch.
He stopped and looked at his open chest.
"Did you undress me?"
"You needed a wash."
His mouth curled in disgust, his eyes becoming angry.
"Don't touch me Granger," he snarled. "Ever."
"Your corpse was rotting the tent."
"So you left my shirt open to remunerate yourself for your hard work then?"
"No, I didn't want to touch you any more than necessary," she said uncomfortably.
"You're just sad Granger, you should have asked the Weasel or Pothead to get you off when you had the chance."
Her elbow snapped open as she fiercely threatened him with her wand.
"Piss off Malfoy,"
"Think I'm afraid of you? You won't do anything Granger. Your Gryffindor morals and ethics make you weak and predictable."
"Push me enough and find out" she replied.
"Please," he spat and stepped out of the tent. "Don't make me laugh."
She followed him.
"And where do you think you are going?"
"Somewhere you won't get a free show," he marched while buttoning up his top.
He noticed the cut in it and stopped in his tracks. He turned to her and pointed to it.
"What the fuck did you do to my shirt?"
She stopped.
"How did you think I got the stick out? I needed to see what I was doing."
"This shirt," he said, grabbing a fistful for emphasis, "costs more than you're worth."
"No object is worth more than a person Malfoy," she said, her cheeks flaming.
He stepped forward into her personal space.
"When the dark lord becomes supreme, you'll most likely be worth less than one of the hand-me-down robes the Weasley's keep sharing."
"There's nothing wrong with a good set of-"
"Fix this," he cut her off, pulling at the cut material.
"I…no."
"No?"
"I said no, Malfoy. Ask me nicely, thank me for saving your life and apologize for your rude behavior and I might consider it."
He sneered at her as he considered her words. Her audacity was outrageous. She truly had no sense of how little she belonged in his world.
"Useless mudblood," he said as he turned to walk away.
It stung every time she heard the phrase. Not only because it was demeaning but because it came from someone like him. A person who had never been shown the true value of another human being.
She had enough.
She outstretched her arm to him.
"Say that word one more time," she spoke quietly.
He stopped and turned halfway. His eyes fell to the wand in her hand.
"Or what, Granger?" He smiled before laughing. "Going to stab me again? Tie me up?"
He moved closer and held up his blistered wrist, "maybe burn me?"
She glared at him, anger filling her, but eventually dropped her arm.
He huffed as he turned back to walk towards the edge of her wards, "predictable."
Hermione took a few steps after him. Her anger boiled over as tears threatened to fall. He was such a bully. He hadn't changed at all.
He stopped at the edge of her wards and looked around.
She stopped as well.
He fidgeted with his burnt wrist while he stood there, as if he were waiting on the night bus to show up.
She waited silently.
He dropped his hands and huffed again.
Aggravation growing, he turned twice, looking more and more confused.
What was he doing?
"Where are we Granger?"
She kept silent.
He turned to look at her once more.
"No bother. It's only a matter of time before my father finds us," he said. "When he does I can't wait to see what'll become of you."
She bristled.
"Where did you get your newfound bravery from, Malfoy? As I recall you tend to run scared when you're alone and defenseless."
"I think I've proven I'm in not much danger," he smirked. Then as if another thought crossed his mind he waggled his eyebrows. "Besides, think of the fun we can have while we wait."
"Don't even think about it," she said, catching his double entendre.
He snickered, "in your dreams Granger. A house elf is more appealing."
She raised her wand to him and shot two ropes that wound itself around his wrist and legs.
He cried in pain as its coarseness grated against his burn.
"Recess is over," she stated. "It's time to go back inside."
"You fucking bitch."
"Wingardium Leviosa," she said, making the motions with her wand.
He twirled in the air as she struggled to control him. Levitating his body was a lot more difficult when it was squirming.
"I'm going to kill you," he howled. "I'm going to ensure you fucking beg for mercy while I torture you."
She finally got him inside the tent, despite all the wiggling and squirming.
"You and all your little friends are going to suffer," he continued to ramble as she laid him back down on Harry's bed.
"My father's-"
"Stupify!" She loudly pronounced.
The red light smashed into his chest and he was knocked out.
Hermione let out a repressed breath and tears ran down her cheeks.
What had she been thinking?
Let me know what you think!
-Mel