Over the next few days all she could do was wait by her window, staring over the top of the trees and pray that she would soon see Spike. Sere didn't go out of her room much, the heated arguments between Simon and Owen were so crazy that it was enough to drive her into the shadows. Jetta was to busy calming them down to even notice her absence from the table.
Ever so often, out of pure hope, she would check her D.A. coin. Hermione had given them to everyone, and she was just itching for something to happen.
Only the Daily Prophet seemed to have news on the prophecy, the chosen one, and the fight between everyone at the ministry. All rumors of course, they were still trying to prove it though.
Finally after two nights of waiting she received an owl, but was crest fallen when it wasn't one she recognized. Nevertheless she opened the letter and read it.
Miss Serella Gyles,
Even though
this is not by my request and was forced upon me by the school and my
mother, I am to inform you of the days set for tutoring in: Defense
against the Dark Arts, History of Magic, and Transfiguration. Your
best way to reach me would be to travel by the means of Floo Powder
to Malfoy Manner. Here is a schedule that I expect you to
follow.
Monday: 10am-3pm
Wednesday: 10am-3pm
Thursday:
11am-4pm
Saturday: 11am-4pm
If you cannot make one of these
please inform me before we start lessons. I will see you on Monday,
please don't be late.
Draco Malfoy
She let out a long, aggravated sigh. That was almost a whole week, way more than she had bargained for.
Five hours, for four days were going to be spent with the meanest, foulest, dirty mouthed male in the whole of London, maybe even all of Europe, but she couldn't really say for sure.
She only had two more days until she had to go to Malfoy Manner, and was determined to have something prepared so that it was in, study, and out, no need for unpleasentries.
She grabbed all her books, and notebooks, that took up at least half of the space on her bed that she was working on, and started. None of it was really that hard, not when you actually paid attention to what you were being taught. All she needed was her fifth year materials so that he would be ready for sixth term and to enter N.E.W.T. classes.
It only took her a few hours to complete a DADA lesson and was just about to get started on History of Magic when Jetta came into the room, holding the cordless telephone against her chest.
"Honey, Hermione is on the phone and needs to talk to you."
She nodded and thanked her grandmother before taking the phone into her own possession.
"Hello?"
"Hey Ser. How's your summer going?"
"Herms it's only been two days."
"Yeah I know, but I got a letter from Dumbledore, did you get one too about the tutoring program?"
"Yes, and you wouldn't believe who I have to spend my summer with."
"I'm stuck with Roger Davis, who is it?"
"Malfoy."
"You've got to be kidding me?"
"Even my sense of humor isn't that dark."
"Ser I'm so sorry. Have you told Harry yet?"
"I wrote him right after I got the letter, but I haven't heard back from him."
"He's going to go mental. Either that or do something rash and jinx malfoy into seventh year."
"One could only wish."
"At least you only have to do it for a month. We're going to the Burrow in the middle of July, so it's not the whole summer."
"I know, and I'm counting down the days. But here's the weird thing. When his family found out about it, they requested for me."
"Is it because of your background?" Asked Hermione, referring to her blood.
"I guess. I guess there is a Brightside,"
"A Brightside to spending time with the foulest creature from school?"
"It gives me something to do so I won't have to put up with the twins all summer."
Her friend laughed from the other line.
"That is true; I'm surprised you haven't cursed them yet."
"The thought has crossed my mind, but why sink to their level?"
"Just let them do the guys and you do what you're best at, study and be more than they'll ever be."
"Thanks Hermione."
"What are friends for?"
"Other than to poke fun of?"
"That's what Ron and Harry is for."
"Right, speaking of which. You and Ron were being friendly at the train station."
"You're one to talk. He was just apologizing, again. He seems to do that a lot doesn't he?"
"That's because he's the only one. And I already had to put up with Sibles comments about me and Harry, can't anyone get the fact that we're just friends."
"I still think something is going on with one of you, I'm not sure who it is though."
"Are you an expert in Legimacy now Herms?"
"No, not yet anyways, but that would be a fascinating thing to learn."
"Tell me about it. We'd never have to talk again and just read each others thoughts."
"Personally I'd like to know what some people are thinking at school, just too know."
"Yeah, I know what you mean."
She continued ignoring her lesson plans and talked to her friend. It was far less painful to do and didn't have to spend hours putting cramps into her hand for someone who wasn't even going to care about it.
She didn't have to worry about anyone else using the phone because neither of her sisters had muggle friends and her grandparents hated using the phone, they only got it upon her request so that she could keep in touch with her friends. But that was all before she got Spike for Christmas in her third year.
Hermione on the other hand had to go after only a few hours of being on the phone, forcing Sere to once again return to her lesson plans.
She was able to complete half of her History of Magic plans before finally deciding to call it a night and turn in just before midnight. Her eyes were already hurting from looking over so many facts and notes that she was lucky not to have fallen asleep on top of the piles of books.
