Just want to make a shout out to the eleven people who reviewed the first chapter. I myself am quite guilty of not reading shorter fics, so you guys are pretty much awesome. Here's Chapter 2, just for you! –M
"Professor Dumbledore!" Malfoy shouted, and then thrust his blonde head into the fire.
Hermione couldn't hear his conversation with the headmaster. Since he had been the one to floo, his head was all the way in Hogwarts, in whatever part of the country that was. No one knew for sure. Every once in a while he would gesticulate wildly with his hands, despite the fact that the headmaster was in no position to see their movements. However, when he emerged from the flames, his head and neck covered in ash and soot, he looked expressionless and there was no way Hermione could fathom in the least what he was thinking.
They sat together on the sofas, Hermione wondering what was going to happen to her, Malfoy appearing as though he were deep in thought, waiting for someone to appear or something to happen. After nearly twenty minutes of sitting silently on the sofas ignoring each other before the fire, only the popping of the logs to break the monotony, Hermione heard the sound of the great oak doors at the far end of the library slowly creak open. There was the sharp tic tic tic of someone's feet in high-heeled boots treading upon the cream-coloured marble floors, and Hermione saw Professor Dumbledore striding confidently down the aisle towards them. As he reached where they were sitting, Malfoy stood, and a few stunned seconds later, a very confused and curious Hermione Granger followed suit.
"Good morning, Headmaster." Malfoy said, and then nearly instantly echoed by Hermione.
"Good morning Master Malfoy, Miss Granger." She seems to be taking it rather well.
Hermione started violently, and then looked up at the Headmaster. "I'm sorry?"
"I said 'good morning'." He eyed her curiously. Malfoy does seem to be over exaggerating the danger that she's in. I wonder what his ultimate plan is.
Hermione stared at him. Why is she gawking at me like that? Did I forget to get porridge out of my beard this morning? Professor Dumbledore looked down at his chest self-consciously.
"Miss Granger, are you alright? Master Malfoy, have you had her looked at by a real nurse yet? I'm sure you had the servants give her the once over, but was there any professional care involved?" The Headmaster looked rather worried.
"I'm quite fine. I—I just think… Maybe I—Yes. I should perhaps go lie down for a spell."
"Oh of course." I wonder what could possibly be the matter with her. If she's going to be staying with Malfoy I want to make sure that he keeps a vigilant eye on my star student.
"Her—Granger, do you know how to get back up to your room?" Malfoy asked, with no hint of hatred or malice in his voice. Hermione wasn't caught off guard, however. She didn't even notice. She was looking at the Professor inquisitively
"Up two flights, is it not?" She returned, whilst staring at Dumbledore.
"Yes; fourth door on the right. Watch out for Rocky."
"Rocky?"
"He's err—my pet raccoon that likes to roam the fourth floor. Just take care not to step on him. He's a disagreeable little bugger in the morning."
"Well, alright then. I'll be sure to look out for… Rocky. I thank you. I do think I'll lie down a bit and try to—try to clear my head. It still seems to be full of cobwebs." She shook her head viciously and began to walk towards the far oak doors, completely forgetting her manners, neglecting to bid adieu to her host as well as her Headmaster. Once she had the chance to lie down and think, she'd be much better. She just needed to work through all this new information, hoping to come to some sort of conclusion.
The two men watched her retreating figure with very different thoughts on their minds.
Hermione reached the doors, waited for the stone guards to open them up, and headed up to her room without taking a second look at any of the intriguing items upon the walls. She didn't want to think, because if she did, she knew the answer that would get. And that wasn't something she wanted.
Opening the door to her bedroom, although she didn't think of it as such, it wasn't hers, she wandered slowly to the bed, removing her dress at the same time. She draped it over the back of the chair that was coupled with the vanity. It would be best not to wrinkle it, and besides, it wasn't comfortable to lie under covers with clothes on.
What was going on with her down in the library? She crawled under the covers and her head sunk into the down-filled pillows. What was this weird phenomenon occurring in her head? If she didn't know better, she would have believed that she was hearing the Headmaster's thoughts! But that was manifestly absurd. Why would she be able to hear them? But then, she realized, she didn't know what kind of trauma she had been through in that episode in Knockturn Alley. Anything could have happened to her. So, hypothetically, it was possible. But there was nothing remarkable about her, she noted. She had no special talents besides her nearly photographic memory. But anything was possible… Her eyes began to droop slowly.
The next thing she knew, there was a heavy weight depressing the side of the bed. Her eyes slowly opened, the light causing her pupils to contract painfully. Once they had adjusted and she shook away anything that was left of her sleepiness, she realized that Draco Malfoy was sitting on the edge of the bed.
She sat up sharply, inching back towards the headboard with the covers gripped tightly in her hand, pulled up to her chin.
"Can I help you, Malfoy?" She spat.
He looked taken aback at her anger. "I just wanted to check on you and see how you were doing. You didn't look all that great downstairs this morning."
"Did you forget how to knock?"
"Please, Granger, don't get so angry and rude. You are in my house after all. I was concerned about you, and yes, I did knock. You were asleep, so I didn't want to wake you. I just wanted to check and make sure you were—that everything was okay."
"I'm sorry." Her apology was genuine. "You mean you wanted to check to make sure I was alive?"
"I suppose. Anything was possible after that turn back in London. Can't have you kicking the bucket on me now. Everyone will have thought I killed you."
She smiled at him. "I'm fine. I just thought—I mean, I had a headache earlier."
Malfoy could see that this isn't what she wanted to say, but he wanted to earn her trust, so he didn't push the matter. The only way he could do that was to make sure that she was comfortable around him, and he realized that even that would be an ordeal after all that he had inflicted upon her over the years.
"What did the Headmaster have to say? I feel horrible that I had to leave right when he arrived." She grinned apologetically. It was rather endearing.
"Well, we talked about what had happened to you. He seemed to think it was rather significant that it occurred in Knockturn Alley rather than in some secluded location. But we discussed that and came to the same conclusions that I had. We also discussed what is to become of you…"
"And? What did he say?"
"He agreed, although rather reluctantly, that this is the best, most secure location for you to stay. He wanted you to stay up at Hogwarts, but he knew the Governors would never approve. No student has ever been allowed to stay in the castle after term is over." Well, maybe that's not the exact reason that the Headmaster gave, but there was no reason for her to know that. "But don't forget. No one is allowed to come onto the grounds. I've taken back all the invitations that have ever been offered in the history of the Manor. That is, of course, yours and now the Professor's. No one will be able to get to you here."
"I couldn't just go back home?" It was a shot in the dark, but hopefully something would come of it.
"I'm sorry, but I just can't let you go there. We discussed that too. While it is secluded and remote, the wards on it are perfunctory and would let even the most inept wizard through." He shook his head. "No."
"I feel horrible imposing upon you for the whole summer though."
"Don't worry about it. Maybe if you don't piss me off, I'll let you have a friend or two over."
"Well, I guess I won't see them until classes start. You don't honestly think we'll be able to do this do you?"
"I was hoping, but it does take two for a friendship to work out."
Did he say friendship? They couldn't be friends. They were diametrically opposed! "So, no one else lives here?" She wanted to change the subject to something less… volatile.
"I might have a few of my best mates over, but that's about it. I'm not really the 'social butterfly' type."
"Who are your friends?" She didn't know he had friends. Cronies, of course, but friends?
"Theodore Nott, um, Blaise Zabini's older brother Calvin. He went to Beauxbatons because he had a godfather or something that taught there."
"Oh. I didn't know he had a brother. I thought he was an only child."
"They're not close." He smiled as he heard Hermione's stomach give an almighty roar. She must've been hungry. It was half past two in the afternoon and she hadn't eaten since the previous day. She grinned sheepishly and blushed.
"Shall I show you into the kitchens, Miss Granger?" He grinned back at her, and held out his arm in mock chivalry.
She blushed even deeper. "Could you please hand me my dress first?"
Well, I am quite aware this is a rather short chapter. But I wanted to get something up there for those who had commented on my first chapter. I promise I will work on this some more; it's rather fun! Now, review that way I'll know what you're thinking!