.-.-Chapter 4-.-.
Hermione woke up abruptly due to the fact that Crookshanks was licking her face.
"Argh! You silly cat!" she mumbled as she stifled a yawn.
As she looked around, she realized that she had fallen asleep on her script book.
"I must have lost track of time," sighed Hermione. Last night, she had had trouble memorizing the rest of her lines because of what Draco had told her about Ron. His words seemed to echo in her head. 'Don't come to me when Weasley won't ever talk to you again because you've shattered his heart.' She didn't understand what he meant by that. Did he mean that I should go talk to him first, questioned Hermione, or did he say that as a warning? She shook her head, catching a glimpse of the time.
"Ohmygosh!" I'm going to be late for Transfiguration!" screeched Hermione as she hurriedly fixed her hair and ran to the Great Hall.
When Hermione reached the Hall, she ran right into Harry.
"Ow. Where's the fire?" questioned Harry good-naturedly.
"Fire?" asked Hermione. "Oh. I'm going to be late for class!"
"Relax. There's still a good 20 minutes until they start," stated Harry reasonably. "Besides, there's something I need to talk to you about. It involves Ron."
"Oh yes. How is he doing? Is there something wrong with him?"
"Ah. So you actually do care about him!" declared Harry.
"Of course I do. Now tell me. What did you want to talk to me about?" Hermione asked curiously.
"It also…erm…involves you," stuttered Harry.
"Go on," said Hermione looking dully at Harry. "I don't have all day. So whatever you need to say, you need to say right now."
"Fine. You know what you said about Ron yesterday?" started Harry.
"What? What did I say about him?" asked Hermione puzzled. "I never said anything about him yesterday."
"Don't lie Hermione. I know that you were talking to Malfoy yesterday," spat out Harry. "Ron said that you said that…wait…he said that you—"
"Oh really? Is that what Ronald said yesterday?" shot back Hermione heatedly. "Well, I was talking to dear Malfoy, and I was just telling him that Ron was my friend. Is there something wrong with that?"
"Um…no?" said Harry, taken back. "It's just that…Ron really does like you. He likes you a lot. I was just wondering…if you felt…erm…the same way?"
"Sorry to break it to you, but Harry, I really don't," said Hermione quietly. "I can't. It's not possible. I can't endanger my friendship with you. And I seriously don't like himas anymore than a friend."
"Oh," said Harry sadly, although Hermione could tell by looking into his eyes that he wasn't sad one bit. Instead, he looked slightly…happy?
"C'mon. We better get going to class or else McGonagall is going kill us," said Hermione shaking her head.
" 'Kay. Just let me go get my books."
After Harry collected his books, he and Hermione made their way to the Transfiguration classroom. When they entered the room, Hermione gasped. The room had undergone a huge change. Instead of the usual formal arrangement of desks, they were replaced by ramps leading up to large blocks, balance beams, pylons placed precariously on the floor, and other random objects lying around on the floor.
"What in the world--?" started Hermione
"Settle down now class," interrupted Professor McGonagall. "Gather around now. Today instead of the usual Transfiguration lesson, I've decided to give a lesson on trust and respect." This she said while eyeing the group of Slytherins on the left side of the room, and the group of Gryffindors on the right side. "I will pair you up with a student from the other house and then we will begin a series of exercises. Let's see, Potter with…Zabini, Granger with Malfoy, Lavender with…"
Those words hit Hermione like a train going full speed. Her jaw dropped open. She felt slightly dizzy. This couldn't be happening. She felt…content? How could this be? she thought furiously, how am I happy about the fact that I was partnered with Malfoy? Before she could think anything else, she felt her knees go weak and as she fell back, a pair of strong arms supported her from behind.
"Geez, Granger. Are you that happy about being paired with me?" drawled Draco.
Hermione felt her heart flutter. "Erm…no. I was just thinking…"
"Isn't that about all you can do?" he sneered.
"No! I was just—"
"Excuse me Miss Granger. Is there a problem?" questioned Professor McGonagall impatiently.
"No, Professor," replied Hermione curtly, and slightly embarrassed.
"Good. Then allow me to continue. The exercise that you and your partner will be expected to complete is one that requires full concentration and full trust in each other. One of the partners will be blindfolded and the other partner is expected to lead their partner through a series of obstacles. Once all the obstacles are overcome, the other partner must be blindfolded and the obstacles must be overcome again. You have an hour for this task to be completed. Do not disappoint me," Professor McGonagall finished, ignoring the dark glares being exchanged between the houses.
"Well Granger, I supposed we better get started," said Draco blandly. "So should I be the one blindfolded first? Or do you trust me enough to be blindfolded first?" As he said this, his lips started to curl up at the thought.
"Um. I think I should go first so that I can get back at you for anything that you do to me," said Hermione wisely.
"Fine by me."
Hermione quickly tied the blindfold over her eyes. Her whole world was now dark. It was a sort of weird, new feeling for her. She could still touch. She could still hear. Yet she had lost her sight, as well as some sense of balance. She felt herself stumble upon an unknown object and the same pair of strong arms hold her up again. She could not help but smile.
"Hey! Watch it Malfoy!" she said in a mocking tone. "I might decide to conveniently push you into a wall when you are blindfolded."
"Right. If I weren't here, you'd be lying on your face. You should be grateful, Granger."
"Whatever."
After that little incident, Draco led Hermione safely and carefully through the entire course. Now it was Draco's turn to be blindfolded. Hermione gingerly took his arm and started tugging him around a pylon. Meanwhile, Hermione was absentmindedly studying his face. He looks…so vulnerable, she thought, it almost seems as though he might actually be nice. She frowned. She shouldn't be thinking thoughts like that. But she could not help but feel happy about the fact that she got partnered up with him. They got through the rest of the task without anymore words exchanged.
"Well done Miss Granger and Mr. Malfoy! It seems as though your partnership worked out the best and you were able to complete your task the fastest. You both get an O!" beamed Professor McGonagall. "Class dismissed!"
Hermione couldn't believe it. She had actually worked well with Draco. She felt all bubbly on the inside.
"Hey Malfoy! I guess you and I make a great team," said Hermione excitedly.
"Yeah. Right. As if," said Draco coldly. "I just wanted a good mark."
Hermione's face fell. "Oh. Well, I'll see you tonight at rehearsal."
Draco walked away without replying. Harry went up to Hermione.
"What was that all about?" asked Harry.
"Nothing," replied Hermione, with hurt written across her face.
"C'mon. Let's go back to the common room. We can go relax there before we go to our next class," said Harry, practically dragging Hermione from her spot.
"Alright," she replied. Hermione could not help but feel slightly lost. What is going on?, she asked herself, I'm not usually this upset over the stupid things that Malfoy says to me. I don't understand. She tried to force a smile onto her face and concentrate on what Harry was saying to her, but the image of a vulnerable Draco kept making her mind wander.
.-.-
"Art thou gone so? love, lord, ay, husband, friend!/ I must hear from thee every day in the hour,/ For in a minute there are many days:/ O, by this count I shall be much in years/ Ere I again behold my Romeo!" said Hermione emotionally.
"Farewell!/ I will omit no opportunity/ That may convey my greetings, love, to thee." replied Draco from the other side of the stage, flourishing his makeshift cape as he did so.
"O think'st thou we shall ever meet again?"
"I doubt it not; and all these woes shall serve/ For sweet discourses in our time to come."
"O God, I have an ill-divining soul!/ Methinks I see thee, now thou art below,/ As one dead in the bottom of a tomb:/ Either my eyesight fails, or thou look'st pale."
"And trust me, love, in my eye so do you:/ Dry sorrow drinks our blood. Adieu, adieu!" finished Hermione as she and Draco both left the stage.
"Well done you guys!" said Parvati, tapping her clip board. "Next rehearsal is same time same place next week!" She turned to Hermione. " I'm glad you actually learned your lines this time."
"I didn't forget my lines last time," insisted Hermione. "I just got distracted."
"By what might I ask?" questioned Parvati curiously.
Hermione looked over at Draco.
"I'm not sure."