Sorry it took me so long to update. Everything has been really hectic lately. I hope to have another chapter up with in a week but I can't make any promises. I hope you all enjoy this chapter and please review to let me know what you think so far.

Ch. 3: When Tragedy Strikes, Engage In Competition

Draco woke with the intent of apologizing immediately. He rose from the uncomfortable couch where he had spent the night. He surveyed the area for Hermione and found her still sleeping quietly in the bedroom. He decided to put his cooking skills to the test and attempt to make her breakfast. It would be an excellent opportunity for an apology and to impress her with his quick learning. He opened cabinet door after cabinet door looking for something that he could make for breakfast. He settled eggs and toast. How hard could eggs be to make?

He took out a pot like they had done the night before and placed it on the burner. He had to decide what temperature to put it on so he chose high since he wanted it to cook quickly before she woke. He cracked open half a dozen eggs into the pot and let it cook. Next he took the loaf of bread and looked around for something to cook it with. He eventually decided on using the other burners of the oven. He turned the burner on and placed the bread directly on the burner. He smiled in accomplishment but another less triumphant look quickly replaced it.

He smelt smoke in the air and looked at his eggs. There was black smoke billowing out of the pot. He looked at it unsure what to do but was distracted when his bread caught on fire. He looked back and forth between the two ruined foods and then ran. He entered the bedroom where Hermione was still sleeping. He ran to her side and shook her in a panic.

"Granger wake up." She groaned and swatted his hands away. "I think I am about to set the cabin on fire. Get your ass up out of bed." This got her up. She jumped out of bed and pushed past him. Draco followed closely behind. She grabbed a big red contraption on her way to the smoke filled kitchen. She pointed a hose at the fire and then squeezed a lever. White foam covered the fire on the stove and it was instantly extinguished. She turned to him with a menacing glare before pointing at the disaster zone that was their kitchen.

"Clean up this mess and don't even think about turning that stove on. I will be cooking from now on. How stupid can you be? We are in a wooden cabin." She made sure to stress the word wooden. "What were you think? No don't answer that, you obviously weren't thinking at all. I am going to take a shower and this had better be cleaned up by the time I get out." She stormed out of the kitchen and back into the room from which she came.

Draco somberly grabbed some rags to clean up the mess. He was just trying to make her a nice breakfast as an apology but he had gone and ruined everything. The mess had been cleaned by the time Hermione exited the bathroom. She was in a much better mood after showering and decided to simply ignore Draco. She passed him and entered the kitchen to make them breakfast. Hermione would not be letting Draco touch the oven or stove again without her being present.

Draco watched her walk right by him as if he weren't even present but he refused to let it bother him. If she didn't wasn't willing to listen to his apology or even an explanation about what happened that morning them it was her own problem. He went to the bathroom to shower and get ready for another day of doing nothing.

Hermione hummed to herself as she bustled around the kitchen. She wore a sundress and her mood had improved immensely. When breakfast was ready she looked around for Malfoy but found Dumbledore instead. The look on his face immediately made her stomach flutter. She knew that something was wrong before he even opened his mouth. It was the same look she had seen on so many occasions during the war. She had hoped the fighting would end with the demise of Voldermort but she knew it was foolish of her to assume that the free death eaters would simply give in.

"Good morning Professor…" She greeted him hesitantly and feared the worst.

"Hello Ms. Granger. How has your stay been thus far?" She ignored his question and got straight to the point.

"Not that I am trying to be rude but may I ask why you are here Professor?" He chuckled lightly to himself before answering.

"Always the observant one aren't you Ms. Granger? Well you are correct there has been an incident. Last night there was an attack on your home. Your father was unharmed but your mother sustained some minor injuries. She has been taken to St. Mungo's for observation. Lucky the Order received information about the attack and the Weasley's were present when the attack took place. Ron was harmed in the attack but will be well enough for school the begin in three weeks." Hermione covered her mouth in shock.

"Professor, were the attackers caught?"

"We were able to capture Lucius Malfoy and he has been taken to Azkaban to be held for trial. I do not believe he will be freed again. I do warn you though Ms. Granger not to take out your anger on the younger Mr. Malfoy. I do not believe that he harbors the same hate as his father. Please try not to blame him for his fathers mistakes."

"He is just like his father. I know from experience with the both of them. The Malfoys are a horrid lot that should all be shipped off to Azkaban to rot in their pureblood filth." She fumed at Dumbledore's naivety. She bid him adieu before storming outside.

Dumbledore looked to the other side of the room where Draco was listening to the tail end of their conversation. He tried futilely not to look hurt by the girl's comments about his family. He approached the wizard slowly.

"What is going on Professor? Granger seems a bit testy this morning, not that she isn't normally…"

"Well I shouldn't be telling you this but I guess you will find out eventually. There was an attack last night. The Granger household was targeted and there were some injuries. Ms. Granger's mother was taken to St. Mungo's along with Ron Weasley who was there for protection."

"Was my father involved in the attack?" His façade was slipping and the anger was clearly visible in his face. Dumbledore looked down and Draco knew that he had been there.

"Your father was leading the attack. He was captured and sent to Azkaban. There will be a trial but I highly doubt that he will be released." Draco nodded curtly before walking out the back door. He was secretly glad that his father had been captured. It meant his mother would be safe. He also was extremely angry that his father had led the attack on the Granger household. He didn't care for muggles and especially Ron Weasley but he knew that Granger did. If he had any chance of apologizing after the breakfast fiasco this morning it had disappeared with the news of the attack.

Draco found Hermione sitting on the dock with her feet dangling in the water. She looked as if she had been crying and he instantly felt guilty for the major part his father had played in her sorrow. He was thankful no one had been killed. He stood on the shore just watching her for sometime. He thought that she was unaware of his presence but he had been gravely mistaken. After sometime, Hermione stood and marched towards Draco. He didn't even have time to react before she kicked him in the shin and then pushed him to the ground.

"You greasy little ferret. Did you purposely send your father to attack my parents because you had to spend the rest of your summer here with me? Or did you slip out a message to him last night after I had kicked you out of the bed?" She kicked him lightly in the side again since she didn't have the malice to really hurt him. "Answer me!" Tears streamed down her face as she looked at him for a response.

"I didn't know. I swear I didn't know."

"Sure you didn't, all you death eaters are the same. Leave me alone. Haven't you caused enough damage already?" She kicked him once again in the shin but he didn't react. He simply rolled up his sleeve to show her his blank forearm.

"Best get your facts straight before you accuse people of certain things. You may think that I am simply a clone of my father but if you took the time you would realize we have only our looks in common." He turned to leave but at the sound of her continued sobs he stopped and turned back to face her.

"Please stop crying. I apologized, isn't that enough? I even tried to make you breakf…" He stopped midsentence and looked away embarrassed.

"Is that what you were doing this morning? You just about burned the house down in your foolishness." She didn't meet his eye but took a seat on the grass shore.

"No need to beat the ego into the ground any further then I already have." He took a seat beside her. They sat in a comfortable silence for a while.

"I don't even know why I am such a mess… I mean no one died. I should be used to death now that I've been in war."

"No one ever gets used to death. I am sorry about my father attacking your family." She looked at him strangely before smiling.

"Are you saying that you feel bad for a couple of muggles? I never thought I'd see the day."

"Oh shut your gob." He pushed her in the shoulder and she fell to the grass in giggles. A pair of knowing eyes watched them from the cabin with a smile. Perhaps this plan would work out after all.

They sat together in silence for the majority of the morning before the rumbles of their stomachs sent them back into their wooden shelter. Hermione made her way into the kitchen but Draco stayed far away from the stove. He didn't want to be anywhere near the contraption.

"It isn't going to bite you know…"

"I am just following orders. You told me never to go near the stove again." He gave her a cheeky grin.

"Don't be a smart ass Malfoy."

"Ooo watch your mouth Granger. There are innocent ears present." His smirk widened.

"Your ears are by no means innocent I am sure of that."

"What ever could you be talking about?" She smacked him in the shoulder and instructed him to help make lunch. She collected lunchmeat and condiments from the fridge while he searched for bread.

"It is in that cupboard over there." She point to the closed door he hadn't checked and he opened it to find the loaf of bread he had been searching for.

"How is it that you know where every thing is and yet we have only been here for two days?"

"I pay attention and a photographic memory helps. Besides you should have know where the bread was since you used it in your plot to bring the house down in flames just a few hours ago." He scowled at her look of amusement. They made themselves sandwiches and each grabbed a bottle of soda before heading outside to eat on the picnic table.

"I am surprised you are willing to sit at the same table as me to eat."

"Well it gets boring always eating by yourself. I get enough of that at home." She gave him a questioning glance but he ignored her. "Shouldn't you be at the hospital checking on your mother?"

"Why do you care about my mother?"

"Never said I did… She just seemed like a nice lady."

"She is the best. Always understanding no matter what happens. Even after everything that happened in the war she was never angry. My father has always been over protective but I am daddy's little girl so what can I expect."

"Then why aren't you visiting them?"

"Dumbledore said my mother was still too fragile for visitors. He said he would come get me when she is awake and able to see people. Until then I have to wait." Her calm façade was slowing slipping and Draco wasn't sure how to handle a girl when upset.

"Uh… I'm sure it will be fine…"

"I hope so… Let's do something to keep our minds off of our parents. Do you know how to play football?" His confused expression reminded her that football was strictly muggle. "Well I can teach you, I usually play with my friends in the summer. It is a muggle sport but don't let that steer you away. Let me just go get the ball from my trunk. Wait right here." When Hermione returned, Draco wasn't seated at the picnic table.

"Of course he wouldn't listen to me when I tell him to stay put. Good for nothing…"

"Well some girls think I am very good for something." She jumped and her face blushed red. "Talking to yourself is never considered healthy Granger."

"I thought you were going to stay here?"

"I decided to pick up our dishes while you went inside."

"Oh. Thanks." She led him out onto the soft, grassy lawn. "Ok. This is a football ball." She held the ball up before dropping it to the ground. "If you could tell from the name the entire game is played with your feet… well unless you're the goal or if you head it or if you trap it…"

"Alright. How about we stick to the basics."

"Of course. So basically, you have two teams and you kick the ball around trying to get it in the other persons goal or net. We can play a little game and see how that goes. My goal will be between those two trees and yours can be between that bush and rock." Hermione pointed out the landmarks that would mark the boundaries.

"I am going to be kicking this ball between those two trees?"

"Exactly!" She smiled in excitement.

"Well that seems rather simple…" Hermione kicked the ball to the side and ran off in the direction of where she would be shooting. Draco didn't move but instead he watched her score. She did a victory dance and returned to the center of their 'field'.

"Is it my turn now?"

"You don't take turns. We are competing. It's like quidditch in a way. We are chaser and we are both trying to score in opposite directions with the same ball. Now do you understand?" He nodded and went to kick the ball away from her but she was too quick. Hermione did a quick pin move before flying past him once again.

The game remained rather one-sided while Draco figured out the art of dribbling while running. After Hermione had scored dozens of goals Draco finally got possession of the ball and took off towards the other side of the field. He kicked as hard as he could in the directions of the trees. As the ball past the invisible barrier and smile victoriously but when Hermione laughed he turned fuming.

"What are you laughing at? I just scored on you, you should be weeping in defeat." She rolled her eyes before explaining.

"You didn't score. Those are the wrong trees. You needed to kick it over there." She pointed in the correct direction and his shoulder sunk.

"You couldn't just let me think I had scored could you. I quit, this is a stupid game." He dropped to the grass in defeat.

"I guess we should finish up it is already dark out. We must have been playing for hours." She sat beside him. "That was fun! I missed playing football, plus I annihilated you." She smirked at him and he rolled his eyes at her antics.

"I had an obvious disadvantage seeing as I've never played before, besides it was a dumb muggle game, you probably cheated."

"I did not cheat!" She stood furious.

"Tomorrow I will beat you in a real game. I brought two brooms, we can play quidditch."

"Football is a real game you brat." She nearly growled in frustration before stomping her way inside.

Draco remained on the lawn for sometime before retreating to his couch. He was frustrated with himself for making her angry again. He didn't want to end up like his father, that he was sure of. He had made fun of her game because he was frustrated with himself more then anything. He was use to be being beaten my Granger in school but sports were something he excelled in and she didn't. Now she had bested him in everything.

He had actually had fun with her that day. They had been civil for part of the day and he had enjoyed himself. She wasn't all bad for a know-it-all Gryffindor. He was determined not to waste his final year focused on old prejudice. He had spent enough time listening to his father and wouldn't waste anymore. In the morning he would make it up to her without burning down the kitchen.

All I know

time is a valuable thing

Watch it fly by as the pendulum swings

Watch it count down to the end of the day

The clock ticks life away

It's so unreal

Didn't look out below

Watch the time go right out the window

Trying to hold on, but didn't even know

Wasted it all just to

Watch you go

I kept everything inside and even though I tried

it all fell apart

What it meant to me, will eventually/ be a memory

of a time when I tried so hard

And got so far

But in the end

It doesn't even matter

-In The End by Linkin Park

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Well there it is. I tried to make this chapter a little bit longer in order to make up for the delay in updates.

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REVIEW Please!

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I will update as soon as possible

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