Draco's angry stride followed the creek's flow. He figured the further away he got, the less magic she could siphon from him. He sneered. It explained so much. She might have been the teacher's pet, but no way could she have pulled off the imperius curse without additional bewitchment. Resentment shimmered beneath his stormy grey eyes. But all that could end up irrelevant. His family was under enough scrutiny. And the mudblood knew he wanted out. If she were to open her mouth at the wrong time…
His strong stride lost its confidence and he slowed into pensive footsteps.
She could get him killed.
"Oh my God," he realized, completely stopping and ran and frustrated hand through his drenched hair.
She could get his mother killed.
"Dam it!" he roared into the rain, picking up a rock and hurling it at a nearby shrub, breaking some branches in the process. He had to find a way to keep her mouth shut.
His feet moved on their own accord and he continued his path down the stream. As the terrain began to slope, he had to grab onto the tree's to avoid losing his footing. As the ground finally leveled, he looked up to a broad and large pound, impressively spanning the length almost half of a Quidditch field. He lifted his head, closed his eyes and listened as the rain calmed into pitter-patters across the water. Kicking off his shoes, he didn't bother rolling up his already soaked pants and stepped into the water until he reached his waist. He took his time, letting his body adjust to the temperature, and slowly laid back, stretching out his arms and letting the rain hit his face, lulling him.
Hermione's sigh echoed off the walls of the cave. She had long ago relieved her bladder, dried off and ate yet another snack. She pulled knees to her chest and rested her back against the moss. Malfoy had been gone for quite some time now. She figured he'd come back. He's wandless and hungry, she had rationalized.
She rubbed at her shoulder where she had landed. He had been so angry he hadn't noticed the wand escape from her hand, well out of her reach. Had he paid attention, their situation would have turned out very differently.
But the rain had slowed and there was still no sight of him. She started doubting herself. Malfoy had been very confident about his back up. Like he had known they would know where they were. She rubbed her knuckles over her lips. What if he somehow came back with snatchers? She had no idea how he had pulled that off in the first place.
The cons were quickly outweighing the pros of waiting for him.
She stood up and gripped her wand firmly before walking out of the cave to the narrow stream. She followed the path of the water, knowing it would eventually lead to a larger water source. She was just as aware that the path could also lead to Malfoy, who could be coming for her. Wand still in hand, she braced herself on the nearby trees to keep her balance and took careful steps as the land slanted, watching as a couple of unsteady rocks crumbled underneath her feet and rolled down the hill.
There, through the woods and into a pond, she saw him. Walking down a couple more steps, she found a large tree sprouting a "v" formation. She crouched behind it and looked around. He seemed to be alone but she couldn't be sure. So she watched him float for a while.
It was uncomfortable really, playing a peeping Tom. This was more something he would have a tendency to do. Her eyes fixed themselves upon him down below. His calm demeanor mixed with his platinum locks gave him an almost angelic aura. It irked her to know that the image was incredibly deceiving.
Deciding it was safe, she came out of her hiding spot and approached the shore.
"Hey," she called softly. But he didn't notice, his ears submerged and his conscious lost in thought.
"Malfoy," she said a little louder. This time he heard her. He bent forward in the water and stood up, his back facing her. His broad shoulders, accentuated by the wet cloth of his shirt, clung to the muscles underneath. She tried hard not to notice.
He turned and saw her. "What do you want?" he asked, noting she was completely dry.
"Well when you didn't return to the cave, I assumed you attempted an escape" she lied, crossing her arms. Well, it wasn't a complete lie.
"In my dreams, Granger" he said, starting to make his way out of the water.
"Oh wait!" she said in a way that made him pause. She pulled at the strings of the bag tied at her waist and shoved her arm inside before pulling out a small object.
"While you're in there," she pitched it to him, "you might as well wash up."
He lifted a hand out and caught it, eyeing her suspiciously before looking down on a used bar of soap.
"These should probably fit you as well," she continued, pulling out men's clothing and letting them drop to the ground, "if not I know some minor modification spells."
He considered telling her off but decided to inwardly agree. His hygiene needed some attention.
He settled on telling her to get lost instead.
She was taken aback.
"I beg your pardon?" she said warningly, watching him unbutton the top of his shirt.
"You heard me Granger," he said skipping a couple missing ones, "you don't get a round two," and pushed through the last one.
Oh.
He balled his shirt, squeezing the water from it and chucked it on to the shore before bringing his hands to the edge of his pants.
"Granger," he waited.
"Yes of course!" she all but squeaked before turning around and heading back uphill.
He turned his back to her and waded a little deeper into the water.
Maybe she'll find herself a better view, he thought, a smug smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
Hermione made her way to the top of the hill and refused to turn around. She palmed her face and kept her hand there, completely embarrassed with herself. She had just stood there staring at him like some blonde bimbo. Sure she had seen him without his shirt before, and quite recently. But for some reason this was different. Her eyes seemed to have paid more attention to detail.
She let out a muffled huff and took her hands off her face, placing them on her hips as her gaze unfocused into the distance.
A flashback of his soaked silk shirt caressing his shape resurfaced across her vision.
"Ridiculous," she exclaimed, becoming annoyed with herself. With a shake of her head, she leaned against the bark of a nearby tree and stood watch while she waited.
Draco finished washing and walked out of the water with his pants in hand, and made his way to the pile of clothes Hermione had chucked to the ground. He picked up a modest shirt with the Gryffindor emblem embedded on the left breast. Underneath it laid somebody's underwear.
Fuck that. He let it drop back to the ground.
He put his old shirt back on, unfazed by its dampness. He would walk around stark naked before he wore a Gryffindor emblem. Same goes for the unknown, most likely used underwear.
He did, however, grab the pants. He put a leg through it and paused when it jingled. Reaching inside the pocket, he pulled out five golden galleons.
Who the hell did she travel with that held galleons in their pockets? Sure as hell wasn't Weasley.
He bounced the coins in his hand coming to the only other logical conclusion. Who knew Potter had money?
He put the coins back into his pocket.
"Hey Granger!" he shouted into the woods, "I'm done."
Author's note : Sorry it took so long. My beta reader was sick and still is... so if this one is a little rusty I apologize in advance.