Hermione goes on a couple little excursions through the forest...

Chapter 6

We three, the usual trio that everyone is used to seeing together, rounded a corner in the corridor on the way to lunch the next day. The sun shined through the windows, but my mood was nowhere near bright and cheerful like the noon-day sun. My temple pounded because of the rate my pulse was going. The nerve of Ron to insinuate my anger with... infatuation! Ha!

We came to the Great Hall, only at the same time as Malfoy and his posse. Of course. My heart pulsed when I saw him, and he went in. I sucked in a breath of shock.

No. NO! Why did my heart react like that?! No!

We sat down at our table in the exact center of the large room and my glance drifted over to Malfoy, talking to Crabbe. Malfoy looked in my direction, but I quickly looked away. What was I doing? I needed him to think I was still mad at him. I locked gazes with him and gave him a scowl. He returned it and turned to Crabbe again.

After lunch, then after classes, I watched Malfoy and his posse leave ahead of us out of the classroom. I noticed him say something to his group and left them. Was he going to his new spot by the lake?

I turned to Harry and Ron. "Hey, I'm going to go to the library. Don't wait for me for dinner, alright?"

"Alright," Harry said. I've done this several times before, so they thought nothing of it and walked on as I went in the direction Malfoy went.

I was barking mad, but I was determined. Ron would make the same argument like before, but he would be wrong. I had to get Malfoy to teach me more. I just had to. The desire to become better was eating at me.

Malfoy walked off through a corridor in a direction that wasn't to his common room. He went out the south entrance! I followed a ways behind, but stayed out of sight. I hid behind bushes and trees, rocks, and Hagrid's hut. Malfoy went on into the forest down a path cleared away, most likely from people constantly walking on it. I followed, hiding behind trees.

And on he went, and I was panting at the amount of time we've been walking. Was he going to the other side of the lake?

After twenty minutes, and tripping over roots, and getting my hair caught in branches, he stopped and looked up at a tree. The sun shone through the top branches, and my senses filled with the scent of wood and leaves. Malfoy turned down another pathway. I followed.

I hid behind another tree and noticed him walk out onto a rocky shore of the Black Lake, and I awed at the spectacular view of the mountains around, as well as the distance from the school. He chose somewhere far away, on account of the school being a sliver in the distance, and far away from his previous spot. My heart pricked. He did that on purpose, obviously.

He picked up a rock and threw it at the lake. It skipped six times. I pursed my lips. Why did he need a secret spot? What was going on in his blonde, pale, arrogant head? Did I want to know?

I accidentally stepped on a twig and winced. Malfoy immediately turned around, his wand out. Heart pounding, I hid more behind the tree. I glanced back and Malfoy was facing the lake again. And then he sat down. Thinking that he would be there a while, I sat down in the brush, carefully, as to not snap anymore twigs.

I sat and sat. As did he. Probably two hours passed, on account of the sun starting to set behind the mountains surrounding the lake. Yet he and I still sat. I watched as he looked up at the sky, then back at the lake, the sky again, then at the lake, several times.

What was he thinking about?

The sun was gone behind the mountains, and all became dark. Malfoy got up, and I gasped. I clapped a hand over my mouth, hoping that he didn't hear me. He started walking my way! I hid in the darkness of the trees. Malfoy said "Lumos" and the tip of his wand lit up. I followed close enough so I could see the light of his wand. My heart pounding, I followed him in the darkness, reminded of detention the previous year in the Forbidden Forest. My heart jumped in alarm. Was Lord Voldemort in these trees like before?

In disparity and fear, I tried to keep sight of Malfoy's wand. I felt tears roll down my cheeks. I didn't want to be stuck in the dark forest all night. I quickened my pace until I was only a few meters away from Malfoy, and I could see his lanky form and blonde hair.

Never, never in my life would I have dreamed that I would be following Draco Malfoy in a forest like some stalker. But... I also never thought I would have to rely on him so much, and the light his wand radiated... just to calm my fears of getting lost or stuck in the forest.

The small, lit windows to the castle came into view above the treed, and I let out a quiet sigh of relief. As soon as we were in the castle, I went straight to the girls' lavatory to assess the damage. I looked into the mirror and gasped at my reflection. My hair bushed out more than usual, and it had a few leaves and a twig in it. And my robes were dirty. I quickly fixed my hair and brushed off my robes and headed to dinner. I saw Malfoy in there, clean as a whistle. I sat at the table next to Harry and Ron.

"Thought you'd never show," Ron said, then sniffed me. "Why do you smell of wood and outside?"

My heart lurched and I glanced at Malfoy and then back at Ron. "I went to the library, checked out a book, and went outside to read it against a tree. So what?"

Ron nodded, thankfully buying that lie. No one would know that I followed Malfoy out into that forest, and followed him out.

The next day, every time I saw that blonde head, my heart would jump to my throat. Ron's accusation continuously ran through my mind like whirlwind, and the more I tried to push it away, the more... I felt it to be true.

And that made my stomach roll, making me feel sick.

After lunch, and really being hungry for it, I walked along the corridor with Harry and Ron as they talked about... something. My attention was on the view of the Black Lake out the windows as we passed them. I wanted to find that spot again.

Classes passed, and I refused to look at Malfoy. At the end of classes for the day, I told Ron and Harry, "I'm going outside to that tree and continue reading the book I checked out yesterday."

"What book's that?" Harry asked.

I pulled out a book that I got from the library, just in case they questioned me. "This one. It's one of more charms and spells. I found this one charm that..."

"Okay, okay, Hermione," Ron stopped me. "Have fun."

I smiled graciously. "Thank you."

As I walked away, I heard Ron ask Harry, "Why does she have to be so absorbed with books all the time?"

Harry muttered something, but I didn't hear what. If only they knew what this "book" really was.

I went outside into the sunshine. It was warmer out, just the weather to walk through the forest... like the day before. I traipsed through along the path, and eventually made it to the spot where Malfoy was the evening before. I walked out onto the rocks, and basked in the sun for a moment, and took in the scenery of mountains and sky around me. I took in a deep breath of fresh air and let it out.

"Lovely. I can see why Malfoy likes this spot."

I bent down and picked up a flat rock. I went to the water's edge and flicked it. Three skips. "Well, at least that's something."

For some time after that, maybe an hour, I skipped rocks. I dropped a rock when I heard rustling in the forest behind me. My pulse rose in alarm. I about went for my wand, but stopped at the familiar voice.

"What the...?" I heard footsteps on the rocks. They stopped not far behind me. "How the devil did you find this place?!"

I turned to face a red-cheeked Malfoy. He glared at me menacingly, yet there was confusion in his eyes.

"I told you I would find it, Malfoy, and we would be hopping all around the lake. I can see why you like this spot so much. Nice sunlight and open air... and the view of the mountains around is spectacular."

"Get out of here, Granger," he growled.

He was mad. Really mad. I stood my ground. "Not until you tell me what's wrong with me."

"I can tell you loads of things wrong with you."

"I mean why I'm only getting a few skips."

His face scrunched up. "You're still hooked on that? Get over it!"

"No! I'm just as stubborn as you are, so tell me!" I picked up a rock and angled my body and flicked the thing off at the lake. Three skips. I heard Malfoy sigh in defeat. He stood beside me.

"Alright, first of all, you're too limp, and you need to use more swing. That's why the rock's sinking. You need to flick it harder."

I blinked, not expecting him to cooperate. "Alright, so..." I picked up another rock and prepared to flick it. "More flick."

I swung harder and the rock flew over the lake, and I counted one, two, three, four... five skips!

"Oh my, five! You were right!"

"Of course I was," he scoffed. "Now can you leave?"

"Why?" I looked over at him, curiosity in my eyes. "Why is this place so special? What do you think about when you spend hours here?"

His brows pushed together. Shoot. I didn't want him to suspect my trailing him the day before.

"I mean, I assume you spend hours here," I corrected.

"Like that's any of your business, Granger."

I looked off at the lake again, at the shimmering water in the sunlight. "I assume it's for the same reason I need a quiet spot—to clear my head, forget about my troubles... I assume you have a lot, considering you never seem happy."

Silence ensued, which startled me. I looked over and studied his face. He looked... sad. Was I right?

"What do you know, Granger?" he demanded in a thick voice, then he turned away. My mouth opened surprise.

"Malfoy, are you...?"

"Just get out of here!"

My lips pursed. Malfoy was suffering more than I thought he was. More than anyone thought he was, probably.

"Look I..." I began in a gentle voice. "I know I already apologized for this, but... I'm really am sorry I insulted your parents. I don't know them. But that doesn't give you a right to insult mine, either."

"Will you just leave, Granger?"

The sun started to set behind the mountains. Maybe leaving would be a good idea. But...

"You'll be walking in that forest alone," I said. "In the dark."

"I don't care."

"Even after last year and our detention?"

Silence.

"You know that the Dark Lord might be in there, Malfoy. Yet you risk going in there alone?"

"I did last night!" He belted out, his back still to me. "I left here in the dark, and walked alone the whole time and came back alive. I can do it over and over."

My hands clenched into fists. My heart beat hard at my ribs, and it took every shred of will and courage to reveal, "You weren't alone."

He turned this time, and stared at me in bewilderment. "What?"

I took a breath. "You... you weren't alone last night. I was there. I followed you all the way down here, and then followed you all the way back to the school, only guided by the light of your wand. Sometimes, I walked only a few meters behind you. That's... how I knew about this place."

I couldn't breathe as I waited for his reaction. He took a few steps closer. His glare could fry an icicle. "You... followed me?"

"Yes. I did. I wanted to get back at you for not wanting to teach me more about skipping rocks. And, I wanted to prove my point when I said I would find every one of your spots."

His cheeks filled with pink, and it contrasted drastically with his pale skin and hair. "You dare, Granger," he growled.

"I do! I dare! But only because..."

I stopped. What on earth was I about to say? Ron's accusation again rushed through my thoughts. No! Not that!

"What?" he egged.

"Nevermind. But—I'm waiting here as long as you are since neither one of us is walking back alone."

"I'm not walking with you," he said with disgust.

"I don't want to walk with you, either, but we have to get back to the castle at some point."

He pursed his lips and looked off at the lake. I waited for a response, and I got one- Malfoy sat down on the rocks, knees up, and his arms resting on them. I sat down as well, criss-crossed, a tad uncomfortable on the rocks.

"Well, I suppose we'll just stay here all night, then," I said.

Malfoy was silent. And he kept silent, even when it became pitch dark and pretty cold, and the only lights around were the stars above, and the moon, which shined on the lake. I stared up at the sky, utterly awed.

"Wow, look at all those stars... there must be billions up there. It's so beautiful."

The water sounded a little against the rocks, and the stars twinkled. I couldn't think of a more romantic scene, with the open lake and mountains around us, and the wind rustling the trees...

And I was with Malfoy. Who remained silent.

"They're probably frantic looking for us," I said, cutting the silence. "I know Ron and Harry would be. They probably thought I fell asleep under a tree."

I looked in Malfoy's direction. Why was he so silent?

"You can stop being mad at me," I protested.

"That's not going to happen," he quipped, the first thing he's said in like two hours. "I'll always be mad at you, mudblood."

That name stung, but I quickly let it subside. "Why do you have to call me that? And why does your family hate non-purebloods so much?"

"It's just the way it is," he said. I didn't expect an answer. "It's been that way since the beginning, back when Hogwarts started."

"So... it's just something your family went by for hundreds of years?" He said nothing. "That doesn't mean you have to believe it, you know. You don't have to hate non-purebloods. You don't have to hate... me."

"Why?"

That one word caused my insides to roll over. "Because... we're in the same year. We could be... and by we, I mean we all could be friends."

"Psh, not likely. Forget it."

"Don't you want to be friends with us?"

"No."

"Why?"

"Just be quiet, Granger."

"Not a chance." I huffed. "Alright. If you won't tell me that, tell me what's been rolling through that blonde head of yours for hours on end."

"Not a chance. It's none of your business."

"Then I'll guess. Does it have to do with schoolwork?"

"No."

"Your family?"

"No."

My sweaty hand bunched in my lap and dug into my skirt. I gulped before I asked, "Me?"

He remained silent, and my pulse heightened. Now way...

"Malf-" I started, but abruptly stopped when I heard rocks clack together. Malfoy stood up, as did I. I could see his face faintly in the darkness.

"Stop asking questions, Granger."

"Then just tell me and satisfy my curiosity."

He remained silent again. I waited, but while doing so, something rustled in the forest. I gasped, and grabbed onto something—Malfoy's arm. He shook it loose. That something moved about again in the trees, and I grabbed hold of Malfoy's arm with both hands. He didn't shake me off since he stood, frozen. That something was walking onto the rocks.

"M-Malfoy..." I muttered, my heart hammering in fear.

I heard him gulp, and noticed him shake. That something came closer, and I noticed a large, dark form. Like a horse. A horse with a large head.

I eased off of Malfoy's arm. "Frienz?" I pulled out my wand and muttered, "Lumos."

Standing there, was in fact, the centaur Frienz who met the year before in the forest, who saved Harry from Lord Voldemort. I let out a sigh of relief.

"I have found you, Miss Granger and Mr. Malfoy," he said.

"What?" Malfoy said in a bewildered voice. "You know him, Granger?"

"Remember the centaurs from the forest last year?"

Malfoy looked to the centaur. "Oh."

"Professor Dumbledore requested that I look for the two of you after Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley came to him, worrying about their friend. It was at the same time that a young Miss Parkinson came, requesting a search for Mr. Malfoy."

"Pansy?" Malfoy said in an unbelieving tone, and my chest pricked. Why it did, I didn't want to think about.

"Now, let's get you both back to the school. It is close to ten o'clock."

"Golly, we've been out here that long?" I asked with a gasp.

"Indeed. Now both of you, hop on my back."

He knelt down and I got on. "C'mon, Malfoy."

He huffed and got on. My cheeks heated up furiously when Frienz stood up, and Malfoy instinctively held onto my waist since it was the only thing he could hold onto while Frienz trotted through the trees. The school came into view in minutes, and soon, we were let down by Hagrid's place.

"Please hurry," Frienz said. "Do not make your friends and Professor Dumbledore worry more than needed."

"Thank you, Frienz," I said, and he was off through the trees. I began walking up the path to the school, my wand lit up. I looked back when I noticed Malfoy not following.

"C'mon, Malfoy."

"I can't believe you, Granger. Why couldn't you just go when it was still light out?"

I stopped and pointed my wand at him. "Why couldn't you just come with me when it was still light out?" I sighed and let out a small chuckle. "Golly, we're both too stubborn for our own good. At least it was beautiful tonight."

We made it back to the castle and walked under a torch in a back corridor. I looked over at Malfoy. My breath caught up in me. Since when has he become... handsome?

People rounded the corner in the corridor—Harry, Ron, Pansy, Dumbledore, and Professors Snape and McGonagall.

Oh, we were in so much trouble.