Chapter 2

Confusions

When Hermione reached the open field, almost every student turned around, and looked towards her direction… even the teachers.

She cleared her throat, "Hi…" She said timidly as she gave off a smile.

"Ms. Granger, why are you late? We've been starting-" Snape was interrupted.

"I talked to her, Severus." Dumbledore said.

Snape said nothing. Feeling so ashamed, he turned to look the other way, but then Dumbledore called for his attention.

"Do you have any problem with that, Severus, violent reactions maybe?"

"None," he snapped.

"Very well then, Draco will be coming a little bit-"

"Professor, I'm so sorry I'm late… I just fixed up," Draco said as he tried to catch his breath in between his words.

"It's alright. Please proceed to the field. I will leave you now. I'll be in my office if you need help." Dumbledore left after saying these words.

Afterwards, the trainer introduced himself as Professor Pram dare Poitere.

"You are?" He said, addressing his question to Draco.

"Draco… Draco Malfoy."

"And this young lady is?"

"Hermione Granger, sir." She shot.

"Ah, yes. I've heard so much about you." He paused, "Seeking revenge for those who had taken away your best friends' lives?"

She did not say anything. She was starting to get pissed off with Professor Poitere. He isn't supposed be asking such personal questions. She looked at him with sharp eyes, but kept silent.

"Professor, excuse me for interrupting, but I do not thing that it is proper to ask such questions. We should just all be thankful that she came here to train with us- For whatever reasons she's got." Draco stated… he tried to say it in the most polite way that he could.

"Very well then," Poitere said, "Mr. Malfoy and Ms. Granger, you will be partnered together for all the activities that we will be having. The rest of the class already picked their partners."

Hermione didn't want to be his partner. She didn't even want him there in the first place!

"I know that you are all familiar with the unforgivable curses, Right?"

Everyone obviously answered "YES…"

"Very well then, Let us begin your training. One should jinx, the other one, repel… Am I understood?"

"Yes professor," They all said in chorus.

"Alright then… Find your place. I'll be calling for everyone again after 15 minutes."

They all proceeded to their places. Then they started exchanging spells.

"You perform a jinx, then I will shield, okay?" Hermione stated.

"But I would want to-" He asked.

"No," She shot, "In three…two-"

"IMPEDI-"

"Protego!" Hermione exclaimed. Draco got thrown away three feet from where he was before she performed the charm. When she realized what she's done, she walked over to where he was, extended her hands over to his then shot, "Sorry. Get up now."

He held onto her hands as he helped himself up. "If I break a bone in this thing, Granger you're-"

"Nice one Ms. Granger. I saw you perform your spell, very powerful indeed." Professor Poitere interrupted.

She wasn't really very sure if he was insulting her, or what he was saying was true, so she preferred not to utter any word. She rolled her eyes then looked at Draco, who was smirking.

"What?!" She fumed. Annoyed with the way Draco looked.

"Nothing, He just seemed to be noticing you so much."

"Yeah, every little thing that I do!" She replied, in turmoil with Draco's observations.

"Let's start again. We came here to train for the battle." Draco suggested.

"I am not going to forget that, don't worry." She shot. She then stood three meters and a half away from him.

"Who-"

"Let's swap. You do the shield charm, and I will cast the counter-jinx spell… " She said sharply. Not even listening to what he was supposed to say.

"Alright, "In three… two…"

"Sectum-"

"No!!!" Draco exclaimed, startled.

Hermione froze. She could have killed him.

"Malfoy! Oh, Damn! Good Heavens, I could have killed you! Why did you not perform the shield charm?! Malfoy, you could have gotten hurt! Moreover, who's to blame? If you were killed, then I'd be sent to Azkaban for murder! Their going to blame me because of your stupidity! You'd rather go screaming 'No!!' like an uneducated wizard, than to cast a counter-jinx to protect yourself!" She exclaimed. She was saying all these things really fast. Fear was obviously seen in her eyes. Even if she was angry with him, she didn't want to kill him.

He didn't have a comeback for this statement…, which was unusual. He just stood there, looking at Hermione… his eyes full of fear. Hermione had never seen him this way before. There was something that she felt… pity maybe…

She got shocked, and so did he. However, realizing her mistake, she walked towards him.

"Malfoy, I'm… sorry… I did not-"

Looking at her he stated, "You scared my life out of me!"

"I'm sorry I told you. And if you just went against my spell-" she said, not looking straight into his eyes, though.

"I don't want explanations. You better-"

"I did not know!"

"You did not know that the Sectumsempra spell could not be repelled except by the one who made the spell? Then they call you a straight A- student?"

She did not say anything. She really did not know.

The sound of the whistle echoed across the field. They all gathered again.

"I believe that 10 minutes was enough for that," Poitere stated, "Everyone please, come here now." He added, addressing it to those who were still exchanging spells. They came instantly after the call, though.

"Go back to your positions, students!" Snape hissed. He obviously wanted to put an impression that Hogwarts' students are very well disciplined.

When everyone got back to his or her places, Professor Poitere mentioned something that was quite inaudible to where Hermione was, but it seemed to be something that Snape wanted to hear since he smirked after Poitere said it.

Hermione turned to look at Draco and as surprised to see him looking at her. She looked the other way. Draco did the same thing. He obviously did not know what to do after being caught.

"Damn," he thought…

Afterwards, they had to practice on the use of non-verbal spells, but then they seemed to be having some troubles. A fifth year was sent to the Hospital wing after being hit by the impedimenta spell. Snape also had to UN-petrify a sixth year who was hit by the 'Petrificus Totalus' spell. Obviously, there were quite a number of students who were thrown backwards by different spells. Then no major injuries were experienced.

Concentrating too much on this could give anyone a headache, but Hermione and Draco seemed to be enjoying hat they were doing.

"Last three?" Hermione asked.

"Your call," He stated.

"Alright then… in three… two…-"

Then she looked straight into Draco's eyes as if she was searching for something.

"Levicorpus!" He said in his mind. He was stunned to have seen her get thrown away in an instant. "Granger-" He went to her.

"Ouch," she said in a hushed tone. She was quite in the state of partial shock. It was the very first time that she missed a non-verbal jinx, "This is your fault, Malfoy," She thought.

"Is everything alright, Ms. Granger?" Poitere asked.

She did not say anything. She couldn't. Draco looked at her, but she seemed to be staring blankly… in the vacuous space before her.

"Ms. Granger, do you wish to go to the hospital wing?" Poitere asked.

Realizing Poitere's presence, she said coldly, "If I will be permitted to go there, Professor… Well then, Yes…"

"Mr. Malfoy, Please accompany Ms. Granger to the wing."

They both nodded, and then proceeded to the wing.

"My apologies, Granger." He sounded cold, but he knew when to apologize.

"Malfoy, it wasn't your fault. I don't know what happened; I didn't have the presence of mind… that's why." She explained… though just awhile ago, she was blaming him for the injury.

"Did you get hurt badly?"

"Just the arm, I guess..."

"Alright… Granger-" He stopped walking when he realized that she stopped.

She held Draco's shoulder for balance. "I feel dizzy," she stated. Her world seemed to be spinning and her surrounding was getting darker.

"Need a lift? I'll carry you over to the Wing." He said with concern.

She wanted to say something, but then her surroundings became jet black. She lost her consciousness.

Her eyes opened and saw Draco seated beside her bed (in the Hospital Wing), talking to Madame Promfey.

"Malfoy," she whispered.

"Granger, are you feeling better now?" He asked with concern as he looked at her straight into her eyes.

"I guess so… I don't feel that dizzy anymore, but my arm hurts… still."

"Ah, yes, Ms. Granger. Your arm got a bit swollen, but it is okay now, though pain will still be felt until tomorrow." Madame Promfey stated.

"I am allowed to leave the wing tonight, right?" she asked. She did not really want to stay overnight in the wing.

"Yes, Ms. Granger. You may leave tonight."

"Thank you," she got to her feet, "I will have to take dinner now. I still have research works to finish."

"Alright then." Madame Promfey said.

They then left.

Draco accompanied Hermione down to the dining Hall.

"Have you eaten your dinner yet, Malfoy?"

"No… I was hoping… maybe I could join you…"

"No… not now… I wish to be alone." She said, "But I'll wait 'til you're done eating, then I'll lead you to your room. Wherever Professor Dumbledore wishes to make you sleep."

She grabbed a seat as Draco went to the other table, and then she noticed Pansy running towards Draco.

"I knew you were coming back," Pansy stated as Draco held her in his arms. They were only about five feet away from Hermione, so she could clearly hear their voices. "I missed you Draco."

These words were followed by a kiss.

"Pansy, not here," Draco pulled back.

"So, you didn't miss me, huh??" Pansy demanded.

"It's not that Pansy… It's just that… this isn't a good place to…" Hermione knew that he felt awkward… after all, who wouldn't? Kissing in the dining hall, who would ever do that?

Pansy heaved a sigh, "Will my apology be accepted if I say sorry?"

"Yes…" He whispered as he gave her a smile.

Hermione didn't know what she felt. She was starting to feel awkward, seeing their affection towards each one. She dropped her utensils on the table, and then left without him noticing.

After Draco finished his food, he and Pansy were walking on the empty hallways. They then met McGonagall.

"Good evening students," She stated. Pansy and Draco stopped to greet her.

"Mr. Malfoy," McGonagall pause, "according to the Headmaster, you will be sleeping in the Head's Dorm-"

"Head's Dorm?!" Pansy was raging, "How could he be-"

"Ms. Parkinson, will you let me finish first?"

She looked at Draco. He gave her the "it's-okay" look.

"As I was saying, you will be sleeping in the Head's Dorm. By the way, where is Ms. Granger?" She asked, noticing her absence.

Then he remembered that she promised to wait for him after he's done eating… but she wasn't there anymore.

"She said she'll wait for me 'til I'm done eating, but she went ahead of me."

"I reckon you did not eat together?"

"No we didn't-"

"Draco ate with me. And I wouldn't want that mud-"

"Please don't call her that," Draco requested, interrupting her.

"Okay, okay." Pansy stated, though rather annoyed.

"Please inform Ms. Granger about this. Professor Dumbledore was the on who decided on this. Here's a note for Ms. Granger. Hand it over to her. I'll be leaving you now… Good night to both of you." She then left.

They walked over to the head's Dorm.

"Draco, why can't you just sleep in the Slytherin's Dorm tonight?"

"You know it is not I who fixed this matter."

"Maybe it's Granger who-"

"That's ridiculous, Pansy. Everyone knows that we both are uncomfortable having each other around." He paused," I guess I will have to kiss you goodnight now," He bent lower to kiss Pansy… then…The door opened behind them then Hermione stood there, not knowing what to say.

"Mudblood," Pansy whispered, "Aren't you going to apologize?"

"Sorry then. I didn't know-"

"Of course you wouldn't know... unless you could see who's behind the portrait." Pansy snapped.

Pansy looked at her sharply.

"Never mind that, Goodnight," Draco stated, realizing that Pansy was already getting in turmoil with Hermione. He kissed Pansy a goodnight.

"You couldn't bade me a good night after this. I'll see you around tomorrow, Draco." She snapped. She then gave Hermione a sharp stare. She walked away.

"I'm sorry about that, really. I did not know." She uttered, turning to Draco.
He did not say anything, but he handed her the letter.

"You're sleeping over my place?!" Hermione exclaimed after reading it. "No wonder there's an extra bed in my room. How could this be?"

"Why don't you go and ask professor about this?? Don't go blaming me Granger. I did not want this either."

She did not have a comeback anymore.

"Aren't we going yet??" He asked impatiently.

Hermione and Draco proceeded to the Head's Dorm.

"Uhm… which staircase will lead us to-" He asked her.

"Left," she replied, without letting him finish his statement.

When they reached Hermione's dorm, Hermione uttered, "Sorry about the mess. I did not know Dumbledore was going to make you sleep here,"

No one spoke afterwards. She grabbed a book and then started reading… while he stayed in the balcony drinking Fire Whiskey.

After scanning her notes, she went to the balcony to check on him.

"It's late now Malfoy."

He turned to look ay the clock. "It's only half past ten. No big deal, Granger."

"Alright then. Suit yourself, but if they catch you drinking here we're both busted."

"You won't tell on me. Will you?"

"No," She paused, "Or else they'll ask how you got it in here."

"Things are fixed then. Go and get some sleep… Like what you said, it's late now." He said as he brought the mug to his lips than drank some more.

"Aren't you-?"

"Sleep now, Granger. Leave me."

She turned her back on him, and then went to her room.

She fixed up, and then slept.