A/N

See first author's note.

Chapter 5

Hermione groaned and opened her eyes. Her foot was aching and when she moved to sit up she winced.

"Lay down dear; the bone hasn't really mended yet."

Hermione turned her head and saw a younger version of Madam Pomfrey pouring something in a goblet. "Drink this."

Hermione accepted it and took a sip. It tasted bitter and Hermione frowned. "What is it?"

"Just a deflating draught so the swelling will go down."

Hermione looked down at her foot, it was bandaged but she could see if it was swollen or not but she took another sip anyway. She gave the goblet back to Pomfrey and laid down again to rest.

"Oh, I almost forgot to tell you," Madam Pomfrey said. "Your friends are at dinner but they said they'd come visit you afterwards. They will probably be here any minute."

As on cue, the door opened and Andromeda came in. "How are you feeling?"

Hermione sat up again. "I'm good, I just—" she stopped when she saw who also came in. "What is he doing here?"

Andromeda raised an eyebrow. "He came to see how you were feeling."

Hermione turned from them. "Well, now he knows so he can leave."

Andromeda lowered her voice. "I'm sorry, Lucius. I don't know what her problem is…"

Hermione turned back and pointed at him. "He's my problem!"

Lucius stepped closer. "I don't even know you for Morgain's sake!"

"But I know you! And I will not let you make my life a living hell, do you understand Malfoy!?!"

"I wasn't planning to!" he tried to defend himself but she ignored him.

"I want you to leave – now!"

He huffed and stormed out, leaving a shocked Andromeda alone in the room with a fuming Hermione.

"Look… I don't know what's going on here but you shouldn't have said that to Lucius, he hasn't done anything."

"I'm just preparing myself for what is bound to happen soon."

"And what is that?" Andromeda asked.

Hermione sighed. "I can't tell you."

"Why not?"

"Because I can't. Can you please leave?" Hermione asked pleadingly. "I'm tired."

Andromeda nodded and left quickly. Hermione sighed and closed her eyes. She didn't want to be here, she wanted to be back in her own time. She lay down and turned her back to the door. She felt tears beginning to slide down her cheeks. She just wanted to go home.

It was morning the next time she woke up and her foot and stopped aching. Madam Pomfrey must have heard her move because she came out of her office and removed the bandages and examined her foot once more. Concluding that the foot had healed she gave let her leave for breakfast.

Hermione walked down to the Great hall apprehensive. She didn't know if Andromeda and…Lucius had told anyone about her actions last night, but if they had the Slytherins probably hated her by now. Not that that would be anything new, they hated her in her own time as well.

When she reached the Great hall she considered just skipping breakfast and go hide somewhere for the rest of the day. She leaned against the doors, trying to make up her mind, when they suddenly flung open and sent her tumbling to the floor.

"…and I told him that he could—oh, are you alright?"

Someone rushed to her side and helped her stand up. "I'm so sorry! I didn't see you!"

Hermione brushed of her skirt and looked up to see two girls, one of which was Lana, the girl she met yesterday. "I'm alright; I shouldn't have leaned against the door like that."

"You're the new girl, right?" Lana asked. "Helen, was it?"

"It's Hermione."

"Sorry, I'm horrible with names. Ally, this is the girl I was telling you about, she's our new roommate."

The girl named Ally smiled and shook her hand. "Nice to meet you. Sorry about the door."

"No problem, I—"

Lana interrupted her. "Were you going to breakfast? Andromeda's still in there so you can sit with her."

"I don't know if—"

"We have to go now, but we'll see you around. Bye!" The girls left and disappeared down the stairs to the dungeons.

Hermione felt a bit happier. Lana and Ally didn't seem to hate her so Andromeda must have kept quiet about her outburst yesterday.

She pushed the door open and went inside. She looked around, uncertain if she should go and sit by Andromeda, who she saw sitting with her sister at the end of the Slytherin table, or just eat by herself. Then Andromeda spotted her and waved to her to come and sit by them. Hermione was relieved; she didn't seem to hate her either.

She walked over and sat down. "Look, I'm sorry for how I acted yesterday; I shouldn't have said those things."

Andromeda smiled and shrugged. "Don't tell me that." She motioned to the end of the table where he was sitting with his friends. Hermione groaned; she had to apologize to him too? "Come on," Andromeda encouraged her. "He doesn't bite."

Hermione took a deep breath and walk over on wobbly legs. She stopped behind him and waited a few seconds, gathering some courage, and then cleared her throat to get his attention. He turned around and seemed to be a bit shocked to see who it was standing behind him. He actually looked a bit frightened.

Hermione smirked on the inside, he was scared of her? Maybe she shouldn't apologize then, having him being scared of her was much more enjoyable.

She was about to excuse herself and just go back to her seat when he spoke.

"Did you want something?"

"Uh…" She looked over at Andromeda who was smiling at her, motioning to her to go on. She sighed and turned back to him. "Yes. I wanted to…apologize for behavior last night. It was wrong of me to say those things and…I'm sorry." She couldn't believe she was doing this, telling a Malfoy that she was sorry. It was just…wrong.

"You're forgiven." He turned back to his breakfast and Hermione walked back to her seat baffled. He forgave her? Just like that? Wasn't he going to hex her or something? Did Malfoys even know how to forgive?

"How did it go?" Andromeda asked when she sat down again.

"He forgave me."

"See, told you he didn't bite."

Hermione turned and glanced at him. He was laughing at something his friend had said. She frowned. She couldn't believe that he had just forgiven her like that… No, he was probably plotting his revenge right at that moment. Like he knew she was looking he turned his head and smiled at her. Hermione quickly turned away and began eating her breakfast.

Yes, he was definitely up to something.