Hermione woke up the next day with a huge bruise across her cheek and a streak was across her back from where Gillwind had slashed the ruler across her back. Today was the weekend they would be going to Hogsmeade and she wasn't really sure she wanted to go along. She couldn't sleep well last night because of the wound on her back so everyone was still sleeping. She crawled across her bed and opened her trunk to get something out. Hermione dug through it and pulled out a makeup bag to cover her face wound with. She got up and headed straight for the bathroom. After a long and steamy shower she got dressed into a light baby blue sweater and long blue jeans. After covering up both of her wounds and putting her hair in a ponytail she decided to go ahead down to breakfast where the early birds would be eating.
Draco didn't sleep at all last night. First, he had a dream about snogging Pansy then somehow he was running away from a herd of leprechauns. Then, he was dancing with a giant marshmallow. So when he woke up he decided no more muggle cereal. He laid his head down on the table begging for sleep which never came. He couldn't sleep because of last night either. Hermione was hiding something this year she is… different. Draco himself couldn't believe he was even thinking about this. He knew something was up and because of this curiosity has taken over. The desperate look in Ginny Weasley's eye, Hermione avoiding everyone in the hallway, Potter shouting frantically, and the constant worry Ron Weasley was having last night. He couldn't help but be worried too.
His glance met Hermione's eyes who just walked in. He couldn't help but, stare right back into her chocolate brown eyes. Hermione on the other hand quickly looked away and ran straight to her table. Was it something he did? He would never ever know.
After, half an hour the Great Hall was bursting with laughter and chatter of the four tables. Dumbledoor walked up to the Podium to make direct all the students third year and above.
"First I would like to announce that everyone who is of age and is interested in the Tri Wizard Tournament may start to enter their names in the Goblet of Fire. Also, this year for all Hogsmeade trips we will start to have partners. We did not plan any of these you will simple come and pull a piece of paper sitting next to your plates and find your partner. When you have met your partner you may go." Dumbledoor said.
Hermione pulled the paper from right next to her plate and discovered the number '2'. She smiled this was her lucky number when she was younger, Hermione just chuckled at the thought.
"I'm number nineteen!" Ginny said enthusiastically.
Harry then raised his eyebrows for a moment he was silent and then said:
"Me too,"
"Really?" Ginny answered.
"Yes." He replied.
Ginny blushed a deep red almost as red as her hair.
"I'm number twenty-six." Ron announced.
"Why my dear brother that is also my number…partner." Fred Weasley said from behind Ron.
"Bloody Hell, literally." Ron commented before walking off with Fred.
Now Hermione was left alone. She couldn't help but, wonder who her partner was. So she stood up and mingled around. Until she heard someone say "Number two?". Hermione turned to see the one and only Draco Malfoy.
"What?" Hermione whispered as she gripped the petite piece of paper ripping it.
Draco rolled his eyes.
"Are you serious?" He said annoyed.
She looked up at him. He was the reason Gillwind beat her everyday after classes. He was the reason she can't tell anymore people. Harry, Ron, and Ginny are already having enough trouble keeping it a secret. He was the reason she is suffering and he doesn't even know it himself. Hermione's stare turned into a glare.
"Leave me alone." Hermione stated simply and walked off.
Draco followed her until she reached the outdoors and stopped. Hermione glanced to her left and saw Ron, Harry and Ginny sitting there waiting for her. The trio's eyes widened as they saw Draco Malfoy. He caught up to her and stood beside her.
"Why so feisty Granger?" He asked.
Hermione turned to look at him which turned into rage. She raised her fist hit him straight in the nose with all the strength she had, Wowing her friends. Draco held his nose as Pansy Parkinson and Blaise Zabini ran up to him.
"Trust me just leave me alone." She stated trying to contain her rage and stomped off.
Ron, Harry, and Ginny ran up behind her.
"Woah when did you have the guts to do that?" Ron exclaimed awed.
"Since he started to give me hell." She answered.
They stopped following her in shock. They had never seen Hermione this outraged. When Hermione arrived at Hogsmeade which has rushing witches and wizards in a bustle. She walked into a nearby store called Honeydukes. She bought a series of candies and continued to roam the streets. Until she came across a bookshop. She entered and browsed until she found book called "Most Powerful Wizards, All about Merlin" . She sat down outside at a table to read it. After awhile someone had tapped her shoulder, when she turned around she was Draco. Who sat down across from her.
"What do you want?" She asked.
"See that you have calmed down." He confessed.
Hermione stood up not wanting to deal with him at the moment. She walked back into the shop to buy the book while Draco followed.
"That'll be 14 Galleons." The cashier said.
Hermione handed the amount to her and took the bag which contained her book.
"Thanks you have a wonderful day." The cashier said.
"You too," Hermione replied.
She stepped outside as Draco followed her. Hermione noticed and rushed through the crowd to lose him, she eventually turned into an ally. Draco turned into the ally right behind her.
"What do you want from me!" She yelled.
Draco rolled his eyes.
"Nothing." He said.
"Then why are you following me around?" Hermione asked.
"I thought I would tell you I'm a huge snitch." He commented.
"Who did you tell." Hermione asked while turning around.
"Gillwind, yeah I noticed he seems to strike some fear in you when he notices you misbehaving Granger." He said smugly.
Hermione's eyes grew wide and she couldn't help but feel a whole entire weight on her shoulder enlarge again. Her eyes started brimming with tears before she slid down the wall dropping everything in her hands. She couldn't contain the tears and she just burst out crying. She didn't silently cry either, she couldn't help but whimper.
Draco stood there frozen, he couldn't deal with people crying. He never expected her to burst out crying like this.
"Why would you tell him!" She yelled out in between cries.
Draco didn't know how to reply.
"Are you that scared of him?" He spit out.
"Terrified!" She yelled out. "You know what just leave me alone. I can't stand having you around it makes me so stressed out. I feel like the whole world is tumbling down on me because of you! It's the reason I feel all alone! Just get out of here, I'm already in enough trouble!"
Draco couldn't help but feel hurt because of her words. He never heard or seen someone yell at him like that. To be honest he couldn't stand that. So he just stomped off.
Later, Hermione gathered herself up and wiped the tears that streamed down her face. She continued walking until she found her friends.
"Hey Hermione!" Harry and Ron yelled out in usion.
Hermione walked slowly while watching out for Gillwind over to them.
"Hey." She greeted.
"Guess what we found!" Ginny exclaimed.
"Hm?" She replied.
"A Muggle shop just down the lane we thought about waiting for you but I just got so excited I went straight in and found this." Ginny said and pulled out a music box that had flowers and tiny fairies painted on the side with a beautiful white painted as the background. It looked old but she didn't mind. It was wonderful. She noticed something quick though, it resembled the one her mother bought her in London. She lost it in her first year when going across the lake. She stood up off the small canoe and it fell into the black lake out of her pocket. She smiled and engulfed Ginny into a hug.
"Thank you so much!" Hermione replied.
"Your welcome Herms." Ginny replied.
"Not disrupt this lady friend moment but it's getting dark." Harry announced.
Ginny, Ron, Harry, and Hermione chuckled and they took off.