Just a little about the history of this story... When I originally wrote it (I wrote it over a year ago, I'm just posting it now), I was going to end with this chapter, but I felt like there needed to be more. These first four chapters can be a light story about Hermione simply learning how to skip a rock from Draco and would make perfect sense to just stop at the end of this chapter, but if you read on, it gets more interesting... at least in my opinion, lol. Enjoy!

Chapter 4

It bothered me. The same place that I used as a retreat—to get away from my life and, at times, school—Malfoy used as well? It made me feel a little sick, but it made me think... Maybe he went there for the same reasons as I. Was that how he got so good at skipping rocks? Just standing there skipping rocks, and getting better and better at it, while I seemed to get worse?

How long has he been going there?

"Hermione?"

I jumped out of my thoughts and looked at Ron sitting next to me, with Harry on my right. We sat at breakfast the next day, and the scent of bacon wafted through the air. "What?"

"A bit spacy?" Harry asked.

"I just... I told you about my encounter with Malfoy at the lake. It's really bugging me... we shared that spot without even knowing it. And he can skip rocks expertly!"

"Are you actually jealous of Malfoy, Hermione?" Padma Patil asked across the table.

"I..." I snapped my mouth shut, then opened it again. "I just want to learn how to skip a rock, and he's too proud to teach me."

"Why would you want him to teach you anything?" Ron asked with a twerk of his nose. "C'mon, Hermione. Think."

"But I've wanted to learn how to skip rocks since I was little."

"Then find someone else. I'll bet there's loads of people here who know how to skip rocks."

"Maybe..." I said, even though I knew he was right.

"Or do you want to learn it just so you can beat him at it?" Ron asked, and the others nodded. I gaped at Harry after he nodded his head.

"You excel at a lot of things, Hermione," he explained. "Skipping rocks will just be another one of those things once you learn." He paused. "But try learning it from someone other than Malfoy. We all know he's bad news."

I sighed. Harry was right. I needed to not be so angry at Malfoy for not being willing to teach me something that I would eventually beat him at. Was that my problem? I just wanted to learn things for the sake of being better than everyone else?

No, I just like to learn.

The Black Lake seemed blacker than usual from my vantage point at a window near the south end of the school. I peered down at the spot I met Malfoy at, and saw a form down there. Was that him? The person was so tiny and wearing all black. But the head was white. Yes, that was him.

I pouted. We really have been sharing that spot. And considering how much he hated me, it was surprising to see him there again, after finding out that I always went there as well.

I noticed his body moving this way and that, mainly his arms. Was he skipping rocks? Probably.

Ron and Harry's voices sounded near me, as well as Shaemus's and Dean Thomas's. Hugging my books to my chest out of habit, I still stared at that spot on the rocky shore, Malfoy was still there. Harry's words rang in my ears, but the desire to learn how to skip rocks, and to set Malfoy straight, overcame me. I could kill two birds with one stone. I turned to my friends.

"Hey, guys, I'm going down to the lake."

Ron's face twisted. "When Malfoy might be there?"

"He's not. I checked from the window. I just... I need to clear my head."

"We can go with you," Harry suggested, and the guys nodded. I smiled graciously.

"Thank you, but... I would rather go on my own. You all enjoy your Saturday."

I left them, and thought myself a daft fool for actually wanting to go down there and meet Malfoy. But my mind was made up. I continued walking and walking, and finally came up to the large boulder that was near the water's edge, and was big enough to shield me. There he was—Malfoy, picking up a small rock, twisting it with his fingers, and flicking it off, making one, two, three, four, five, six skips on the water. My jaw dropped. He's good.

I watched him as he flicked another rock onto the water, and I counted five skips, then another rock, six, then another, five again.

My heart pounded. I needed to make an appearance at some point. I leaned my back against the cold rock and the cool wind tickled my hair. "Okay," I quietly whispered. "Why are you so scared? You're better than this, Hermione."

I took in a breath of courage and let it out. I turned and walked onto the rocks. Malfoy turned when he heard my steps. His eyes widened, then hardened when he saw me. He dropped the rock he had in his hands.

"What are you doing here, Granger?" he demanded.

I walked up to the water's edge and picked up a rock, fiddled with it in my hand, then sent it off. At the first leap, it sunk in the water. I faced Malfoy, his eyes glaring. "I'm here so you can teach me how to skip a rock, and I'm not leaving until you do."

His mouth turned into a flat line. "Then I'm leaving. And I'm finding a different spot."

"Then I'm just going to find it, too. And we'll be hopping all along the Black Lake. C'mon," I dared him. "Don't tell me that the great Draco Malfoy is not willing to teach something so simple." I shrugged a shoulder. "Hm. Maybe I just underestimated you. You're no good at all."

I walked on, but when I came close to that large boulder, I heard, "Hold on, Granger, who said I'm not good enough? I'm the only person I know who can make ten full skips in a row."

I gasped, then turned around, honestly surprised. "Ten? Are you joking?"

"No," he said, then smirked proudly.

I went and picked up a rock and held it in my hand. "Teach me."

He groaned, looked off at the school, then back at me. He frowned until his chin turned flat.

"No one can see us from here, so your precious reputation won't be tainted," I quipped. "Now, how do I hold this?"

He sighed and looked at the rock. "Drop it. It's not the right shape."

My eyes widened, and my heart skipped. I got through to him? Was he actually going to teach me? I had to keep myself from smiling with pride.

"Not the right shape?" I asked.

"Yes." He bent down, picked a rock, then stood straight and showed it to me. "It has to be flat like this, as to fly in the air better, and so the water can slide passed it easier."

He sounded like me when I tried to explain something academic to Ron or Harry. Strange.

"Then hold it like this," he said, and I watched his pale fingers. "And hold your arm back like this and flick your wrist like this."

I watched as he did so, and the rock went flying and skipped on the water five times again.

"Wow," I enthused, then searched for a rock. I found a flat one. "Okay, a rock like this one?"

"Sure."

"Then hold it like this, right?" He didn't say anything and frowned. "Right? C'mon, Malfoy. You might as well finish."

"Fine," he scoffed, and looked at my fingers. "Move your finger down a bit more." I did so, then angled my arm back. "No, more forward." I did so. "Move your wrist back like this." He demonstrated, and I followed. "And flick it like this."

I flicked the rock off and it skipped two times! "Oh! Oh my gosh, I got two skips!"

"Not that impressive."

I gave him a look. "That's two more than what I've been getting before. Is it remotely possible for you to be nice and say good job?" He stayed silent. "Why do I ask?" I muttered and picked up another flat rock and followed all the needed movements and sent the rock flying over the water.

One, two... three!

"Yay!" I squealed, and Malfoy took a step back. "Yes, that was three! Three less than your last one. I'm going to try it again and see if I can make five."

"Knock yourself out, Granger. And I mean it."

Draco left, his footsteps on the rocks audible. I glanced back at his blonde head. I shouted something I never thought I would...

"Thank you, Malfoy!"

He kept on moving up to the school, and I turned and continued my practice, on until the clock gonged dinner time. I later informed Harry and Ron of my success at four skips, but did not mention that Malfoy made it possible.