Chapter 4- Fear

Hermione couldn't have been more wrong. Ginny not only ignored her completely, but got up from her seat, dragging Luna with her and left the Great Hall the moment she sat down.

She felt her eyes sting, but willed herself not to cry with everyone watching her. Her appetite had disappeared, but she knew she would be hungry later if she didn't eat now. Hermione loaded her plate with food and started eating, willing the stares to stop.

They didn't.

She finished eating in record time before escaping to her room. It was too much for Hermione to deal with in one day and from then on Hermione decided to stick to herself. What kind of friend would Ginny be even if she wasn't mad at her? Hermione would do better without her causing drama and unnecessary fights.

The rest of the week passed easily, even Ernie was easy to handle. He put up a little argument out not having the time to patrol on, but Hermione would have none of it. The week was proving to be more tiring than she'd anticipated. She didn't like being wrong. Maybe it was because Harry and Ron weren't there to keep her company, or laugh off the stress with her. Maybe she just needed new friends. Surely someone in this magical school would want to put up with her.

"I'm going to patrol, Granger. Don't wait up!" Ernie called and the door shut behind him loudly. Hermione sighed, rubbing her temples. At least he was actually helping…for now.

Hermione hadn't made much progress on her Transfiguration Project. She'd checked the Library, but there were only a few books on animagus transformations. None of which were specific enough for Hermione to follow. She was up to date on her essays and hadn't been assigned any other projects, thank merlin. Hermione wasn't sure she could handle more than one at the moment.

Hermione woke up Saturday morning, feeling refreshed. She loved being able to sleep in-

"Granger! Malfoy is here at the door asking for you!"

Oh dear Merlin! She'd forgotten about Malfoy. Hermione jumped out of bed and rushed into the bathroom, slamming the door behind her. She opened it three seconds later,

"Let him and make him wait for me!"

She didn't really care if they heard her or not. The shower was warm and soothing, but she didn't have time to relax like she usually did. She spared little thought to what she through on, clothes from her muggle wardrobe, and met Malfoy down stairs within ten minutes. A special charm made her hair curl more naturally, so it wasn't frizzy like it used to be.

He was leaning against the far wall, next to the exit. His eyes narrowed on a stack of books on the large table. Ernie was such a slob.

Hermione opened her mouth to apologize for being late, but no sound would come out. Her heart still pounded from running down the stairs and getting ready in such a hurry. Now it sped up with nerves and maybe even fear.

Malfoy finally noticed her form standing there, wand stuffed awkwardly into her front pocket of her jeans. His eyes traced up and down her form before settling on her chest. One elegant eyebrow rose slightly. For one second Hermione was filled with disgust, surely he wasn't-

Then she looked down. Oh. There isn't another pair like this one, was very clearly displayed across her breasts in black lettering. Hermione flushed and flexed her fingers nervously, wishing he would stop staring. No, that he would just change his mind and decide he didn't need to go shopping.

"Modest much, Granger?" He smirked that old smirk Hermione remembered and then turned and left her fuming. He was so…Malfoy. Hermione couldn't even remember buying the shirt, let alone packing it. Where had it come from?

She walked hurriedly out into the hall, looking for Malfoy. He was walking down the steps and she raced after him, almost stumbling on the stairs. Hermione suddenly wished Harry or Ron were there. They would make her feel a whole lot safer than she did. Malfoy didn't say a word, or even look at her until they were walking outside.

Hermione glanced at him and watched his every movement. How his arms swung as he walked and how his extremely long legs took huge strides that were hard for her to keep up with. She noticed just how much taller he was than her. More than a full head.

"Would you kindly stop staring?" He bit out, his eyes lighting up fiercely. Hermione flinched and took a step backwards. He glared at her a moment before reaching for his wand.

Hermione fought hard against the urge to break out into a run and never look at him again. He looked at his wand for a moment before handing to out to her, handle first.

Hermione looked from his face to his wand blankly. What did he want her to do with it?

"Take it, Granger." He snapped harshly, which jarred her into action. She grasped the handle, feeling a slight shock at its texture. Much smoother than her own. A tingle raced up her arm. The same thing happened when she held her own wand.

"Why-

Her voice froze in her mouth and she just couldn't talk to him. She flushed with embarrassment, feeling like a coward. She knew so very well he wouldn't hurt her, but why couldn't the rest of her understand it?

"I know you're too much of a Gryffindor to steal it, Granger. You're so terrified of me you won't be able to escort me to Hogsmeade without pissing yourself. Now let's go."

She had never heard him speak so much at once, and it was then that she realized he was a complete stranger to her. She knew absolutely nothing about him other than simple facts.

Hermione slid his wand in her other front pocket and followed after him, trying to keep her staring to a minimum. It was only a week into September so it wasn't very chilly yet, which was why Hermione loved the start of school. It was so warm and like summer.

The first shop he entered was a shop Hermione had never seen or heard of before.

"You'll need to wait here Granger, they rather dislike muggleborns here."

Hermione wanted to protest but her thoughts were stuck on his use of muggleborns. Not Mudbloods. What was he playing at? She stayed at the door, outside, peeking in to watch what he was doing. An arrangement of tools, some much like muggle metal tools, were on display. Hermione frowned, wondering just what kind of shop-

It was a tattoo parlor, or the wizarding equivalent. The concept seemed foreign to Hermione, who hadn't even seen on in the muggle world. Malfoy talked to the young black haired girl at the counter for a few moments, before they both disappeared into the back. What the bloody hell was he doing back there? Surely he would mar his prefect pure white skin?

Hermione sat down on the bench just outside the store and waited impatiently. She hated not knowing things, really hated it.

Malfoy appeared again after about twenty minutes, looking paler than he had before, but pleased as well.

"Thanks Marie, it's been a pleasure." Malfoy placed a kiss on the girl's cheek, which she returned easily as if they were old friends. Maybe they were.

A sarcastic retort was on her lips, but she couldn't seem to get it out when he looked at her expectantly.

"Come one Granger, I'm starving." He walked towards the Three Broom Sticks without waiting to see if she was following. Git.

Hermione sat down as far away from him as she could get and still be considered sitting with him. He ordered for himself while Hermione just shook her head at every question the waiter asked. She was going to have lunch with Malfoy. Not ever.

He didn't seem to care she was just sitting there, waiting for him to finish eating.

"Well it was probably a waste of your morning to do this, as that's all I needed done." He said after paying. Hermione tripped over the ledge as she went out the door to follow him. He caught her elbow and released her quickly, but not before a shiver of fear raced through Hermione.

Her thank you caught in her throat. What was wrong with her?

"I need my wand." He said suddenly. Hermione gave it to him without hesitating, wondering at the magical tingle it caused when she held it. He whispered a spell Hermione couldn't understand and he lost his tense stand. His shoulders relaxed and he smiled, not at her, just smiled at nothing. That she could see anyway. Hermione struggled to keep up with him as he stalked back towards the castle. He was so strange! She watched him walk through the gates and down the hall, without a backwards look.

When Hermione made it back to the heads room, two letters were waiting for her. She picked up Harry and Ron's letter first, feeling a jolt of nerves by just looking at her parent's letter.

Mione,

You know that prick of a head boy you were telling us about? Well he sent us a letter, 'apologizing' and saying he wished you the best with MALFOY. What the bloody hell was he on about? Malfoy isn't in school is he? You shouldn't be there if he is. It's not like you'd be going with him if he was, right? That's disgusting!

Anyway, it is really hard, training here, but Harry and I are doing great. He's top of the class. I think I'm fourth or something. It's a lot more work than I thought it would be, but I want to be an Auror so I'll deal.

Harry says he'll come see you soon before the holidays. Or we will.

Ron

Hermione was furious; no she was seething with rage. That unbelievable bastard! She pulled out a piece of parchment and started scribbling fiercely.

Ron,

Don't believe a word that git says. Minerva had me escort Malfoy to Hogsmeade and he let me have his wand the whole time. I won't ever see him again unless she asks me to do it again. I won't leave school just because he's here, Ron. He doesn't even have any classes with me.

Good luck training, hope I see you both soon.

Hermione.

Hermione flexed her fingers and took a deep breath. Ron and Harry would believe her over Ernie any day. Her eyes looked over at her parent's letter, wanting to open it desperately, but what if they were still angry and didn't care what was happening in her life?

She opened it with shaking fingers and read it quickly.

Dear Hermione,

We're glad you've settled in. Sorry it's taken us a few days to reply but we're putting a pool in the back yard. Isn't that nice? What exactly is this Ginny so mad about. Surely you weren't vindictive in punishing her. Aren't you longtime friends? Perhaps she's angry about something else and is using this situation as an excuse. Try and talk to her about it. I hate to think of you all alone there without trustworthy friends.

Let us know what's happening, we love to hear from you.

Love,

Mum and Dad.

Hermione let out a sigh of relief, they weren't angry with her at all. She wrote out a reply saying she would take her advice to heart. Maybe Ginny was mad at her about something else.

It was nearing four so Hermione grabbed her bag and shut her bedroom door behind her. Maybe she could research some more about becoming an animagus. Her closed the flap of her bag and ran into something hard and warm.

She looked up to apologize, but rough hands reached out and pushed. The air left her lungs in a rush as she tumbled backwards and lost her footing on the edge of the stairs. Her bag caught on the railing and was ripped off her shoulder as she tumbled backwards down the stairs.

"Hermione!" She knew that voice, but her whole body ached and she just couldn't recall who it belonged. Hermione felt something warm seeping down into her eyes and her legs wouldn't move.

"Dear? It's Minerva. Are you alright?"

She fell into blackness.

A/N: She'd definitely not dead. Any idea who pushed her? Reviews Please!