III. The Mustiladae Family

At first, Draco seemed to be more shocked and annoyed than concerned with the well-being of the now unconscious Head Girl. He could see that her hair was splayed out behind her head like a huge brown fan and that her chest was not moving. At all. Leave it to Granger to get herself hurt. Merlin. Now what do I do?! What's she think I'm going to do, save her? What do I look like, some blasted knight in shining armor? Heaving a sigh, he looked down at her and kicked her in the ribs. They had "business" to attend to for Dumbledore and they weren't going to get anything accomplished if she was going to decide to just lay there on the floor like a rag doll. Honestly. Women these days. Thinking they had all the time in the world when in fact time was of the essence. Nothing. He kicked her again, just above her hip.

"Oi! Granger! Wake up! We have things to do, this is no time for your Muggle nonsense," Draco snapped. Bending over, he pulled back one eyelid to find himself staring at pure white eye. Then he realized that Hermione wasn't pretending and that's when he started to freak. Merlin, what if Granger's two bodyguards blamed him for her sudden fainting spell? Draco blanched at the thought of Potter and Weaselbee chasing him down the corridors, swearing to avenge Hermione by hexing off the bits that made him a man. He looked down and a sudden feeling settled itself deep in his stomach. It was a strange sensation, this dizzying, fluttery movement in his gut. Placing one arm underneath her shoulders and the other behind her knees, Draco hoisted her up close to his chest and began walking towards the castle. The last bits of sky blue began to melt into dark shades of orange and purple and the faint sliver of a moon was visible high in the sky. Everything seemed more melancholy during the evening to Draco.

He could have levitated Miss Granger into the castle towards the Hospital Wing but a strange urge came over him to hold her close. Draco wanted to feel her body in his arms, no matter that she was out of it at the moment. He could smell her soft scent, something homely and comforting like warm cinnamon to match that restless mane adorning her head she called her hair. Her head was hanging behind her neck, dangerously perched so that it looked to Draco as if it might snap off. He pulled his arm up higher so that her head rested in the crook of his arm by his elbow. Trudging up the concrete stairs inlaid in the dark green foliage, Draco moved closer and closer to the castle as somewhere out in the forest, a werewolf howled and centaurs shouted a war cry.

Why was he caring for her? Because you're worried about her, you dolt. Malfoy scowled but knew that the little voice in his head (what the hell? A voice in his head? What was the world coming to that Draco Malfoy had people talking in his mind? Merlin, he needed help, fast) was right. He tried to tell himself otherwise but he knew that there was a smidge of his heart that was held by the bookworm and it pounded far too loudly whenever she was near. But still, was that an excuse for him to play the hero and carry her into the castle when he very well could have left her out in the cold? That's just cruel and you know it.

"So? I'm a Malfoy! Cruel is practically my middle name!" His voice echoed out in the corridor and Draco realized he had spoken those words out loud and no they were spoken, those spoken words were entirely false.

He walked faster towards the ever-changing steps, and his breathing became more and more labored. As he stepped onto the staircase that would take him straight towards the Hospital Wing, it moved with one foot on it. Yelping in surprise, Draco jumped and nearly dropped the Head Girl as his balance was momentarily lost. The staircase came to a booming halt and Draco knew it was safe to proceed. He snuck a glance at Hermione and his eyes widened in shock; her skin was now covered with goose bumps and her eyes fluttered. Running towards the double oaked doors that marked the entrance to the Hospital Wing, Draco used his shoulder to open the door and carefully laid her out on a bed.

"Madam Pomfrey!" he shouted out. The medi-witch ran out of her office and gasped at the sight of the Head Girl. She was now thrashing and her skin was pulsing. Madame Pomfrey's hands flew to her mouth and she ran over to them quickly.

"Out of the way, Mr. Malfoy! What happened?" she conjured a small vial filled with a green liquid that looked like pure, liquid metal. She looked over at him and bid him over.

"Hold her wrists! We can't help her if she's going to be thrashing like a fish!" she screeched. Malfoy rolled his eyes but complied with her commands. She needs a vacation. Merlin, the woman's going to die from screaming like a banshee every day. He wrapped his hands around her wrists and held her down as the nurse popped the vial open and poured its contents down Hermione's throat. The thrashing became less violent until it stopped altogether. Draco's heart pounded in his chest as he stared at her now still form. Had she died? What did the old hag to do her? Would she be all right? What the hell had she done to make herself faint so suddenly?

"You can let go now Mr. Malfoy. She should be coming to in a few moments." She did. Malfoy let go and Hermione woke with a loud gasp. Her eyes flew open and she bolted up and fell back down as her head began to spin. She groaned. Her head felt like it was filled with iron and her throat was dry. Looking from Malfoy towards Madame Pomfrey, Hermione gulped and bit her lip. They would have questions, she was sure of it but how would she tell them she tried to turn into an Animagi? It was impossible. Malfoy would think she was loony- but oh wait, he already did, didn't he? And Madme Pomfrey…oh dear Merlin. She would have a fit and proceed to tell Dumbledore. No, it was best to play stupid.

"Granger, what the hell happened? Why'd you go and faint on me like that?"

"Miss Granger, do you mind if I run some tests? I need to know what's going on."

"Tests? What the hell does she need bloody tests for?" Draco snapped. Looking back at Hermione, she thought she saw a glimmer of concern in his eyes but it soon vanished. "What happened, Granger?"

"Mr. Malfoy! I will not be spoken to that way! I need to know if Miss Granger is ill or if it is another matter entirely! Sit down!" Draco scowled at the nurse and sat back down, seeing as he had risen up in a fury at the thought of Hermione going through tests. Touchy, aren't we? Walking over to Hermione he sat on the edge and looked her in the eyes, gray meeting brown.

"What happened?"

She stared at him, her mouth open ever so slightly as if she was confused. Apparently the process had worked, seeing as how she fainted just as the book said she would. Hermione looked down and licked her lips. She couldn't tell him, not now. Leaning in, she whispered in his ear not knowing that the little motion sent shivers up his spine and flutters through his stomach.

"Animagi."

Madam Pomfrey came back with yet another potion and a wand. Glaring at Mr. Malfoy, she set the potion down and muttered a spell whilst pointing her wand at the Head Girl. Smoky whisps flew out of Hermione's head and a smudged animal form flew out. The witch gasped and stared at the girl sitting in the white bed. She pursed her lips and handed Hermione the potion who promptly downed it in one gulp, ignoring the sour taste as it flowed down her throat.

"That should keep you from fainting anymore though I highly doubt you will. You must speak with the Headmaster at once, Miss Granger. What you have done is serious indeed and I can't believe you of all people would do that. Go. Both of you." And with that, Madam Pomfrey kicked the two out (mainly Malfoy, Hermione left with flamed cheeks and her head down while Draco lounged about until the witch picked him up and threw him out the doors). The pair walked down the silent hallways, their footsteps echoing off the marble floors in the quiet night.

"Really, Granger? You turned yourself into an Animagi? Merlin, I thought you were smart."

"Shut it, Malfoy. I have sharp claws and teeth, you know."

"That's not how you should be treating your savior, Granger." Draco was having fun with this. He now had something to hold over the seemingly perfect Head Girl.

"Savior? Please. Don't think I didn't feel those kicks you aimed at me. I saw you, you git. What a man. Kicking unconscious girls out in the dark."

A small silence ensued as they wound their way through the castle, the dark finally consuming the light and noises began to emerge from the dark.

"So, how'd you manage to do it, Granger?"

"I'd rather not dive into the details Malfoy but I will tell you that it did involve plenty of potions and spells that would drive Ron and Harry crazy." Draco stared at her, trying to decipher his feelings at the moment. Why had she gone and done that? Why did she feel it necessary to turn herself into an Animagi at this age? Her eyes were full of mirth and life and her hair seemed to float in the air as if it were surrounded by water. Sexy. Whoa, what the hell? (Draco seemed to be having a lot of those "Whoa" moments, wasn't he?) Why was he noticing Hermione Granger's looks? He had known her (or tortured, which ever way you put it) for nearly 7 years and all of a sudden he found her attractive? Merlin, he was going crazy.

"So what is it?" he asked.

"What's what?"

"You did it again."

"Did what again?"

"That! That thing where you answer a question with another question! Merlin woman, can't you just give me a straight answer?"

"What do you want from me, Malfoy?!"

Draco threw up his arms and scowled at the Head Girl; it took Hermione all of the little strength she had not to laugh at Draco Malfoy who now looked like a pouting four year old child. He was shaking his head and gritting his teeth so as not to snap at the girl in front of him. She was, however, very confused at the moment. What was what? Honestly, the things Malfoy asked. And excuse her if she couldn't understand his extraordinarily vague questions, and resorted to asking questions to answer his.

"What. Is. Your. Animal?" he asked her slowly, enunciating every words as if she were an incompetent fool from an asylum. Hermione just scoffed; what did he take her for? A blithering idiot?

"I'm not telling you. You don't deserve an answer." She turned on her heel to walk back to her room in the Heads' tower when Draco grabber her by the elbow and twirled her back so that she was staring at his chest. His broad, muscular chest hidden underneath a thin white shirt and a dark sweater embroidered with a green and silver serpent. Hermione had a strange urge to stroke his cheek.

"Don't walk away from me Granger. I asked you a question. Didn't your Muggle mother ever teach you that it's rude to ignore someone when they are speaking to you?" he whispered in her ear, his warm breath tickling her nick. She grit her teeth and tried (unsuccessfully) to ignore the sensations that were coursing through her like tidal waves. Butterflies flitted in her stomach and she cursed. Bloody hell, Hermione! Get a grip on yourself, honestly! You shouldn't be having these feelings around the ferret! And then she lost it. Her small was soft at first, a soft thing and then it grew until her body rocked with silent laughter. Yes, the Head Girl's laugh was inaudible. She could barely breathe from her hysterics while Draco merelY stared at her with wide eyes and an arched eyebrow. He let go of her arm as she continued to erupt with noiseless laughter. What was wrong with her? What had he said? Nothing! And yet, while his outward expression made it seem as if he thought her a loon, inside, a little sprig of happiness burst. Her laughter made him want to laugh, even though he didn't get what was so bloody hilarious and her laughter was quiet.

"I'm a-a-a haha! I'm a p-p-pine," here she snorted. Draco was starting to get confused and annoyed. What the hell was so funny that she couldn't even talk? "I'm a pine mar-mar-marten! Haha!" Oh. Well then.

Draco dropped off Hermione at the Heads' tower so he could go to the library and find out what in Merlin's name had made Granger laugh so bloody hard. Did he have something on his otherwise flawless face? She had been sniggering the entire way back; it was certainly a possibility...He felt his soft cheeks and his rough chin to find nothing out of the ordinary. Nope, not his face...Opening the mahogany doors to the library, he made his way towards the Muggle section and grabbed a book on Pine Martens before returning to the wizard aisles. He looked towards the animal transfiguration section and scanned the old bindings. He finally settled on a rough blue book titled The Basics of Your Life as an Animagi by Swenson Gurdhop. Seating himself at a cedar table, he flipped open the book and scanned the contents until he came upon a chapter called Your Animal Form. He flipped to the page and began to read.

Your animal form, contrary to popular belief, cannot be chosen of your own free will. Rather, the animal form you take on is determined by your character, personality and nature. Strong loyalty results in the form of some dog species or other domesticated canine and slyness can result in a cat form or some other feline. The traits are numerous but people rarely know what form they shall take on until the process is actually complete. (See page 123 for more information about the process)

Draco set the book aside and pondered. Character, huh? He imagined himself as a beautifully deadly cobra or even a dragon as him name suggested. Merlin, he'd die if his form would be that of a ferret as he was rudely called by the Head Girl's bodyguards. His patronus, unfortunately for him, was exactly that. He had nearly cried (like a baby, one might add) when he had seen his corpeal patronus. Flipping open the Pine Marten book, the poor Head Boy tumbled backwards out of his chair (and onto his back so that Draco resembled a poor turtle waving his arms and legs in the air [and unlucky for him, a group of 3rd year Hufflepuff girls had decided to be in the library the same time as the Prince of Slytherin had (coincidence? I think not)]) after reading the first sentence he saw.

The Pine Marten is a member of the Mustelidae family, along with the Wolverine, Mink, Weasel and Ferret."

AN: Sorry about the long wait you guys! I hope you liked this chapter. I enjoyed writing it. :) Butterbeers to you all and sugar quills as well! Please review and recommend this to your friends! I love you all and thanks for reading my first fanfic!!!!