"W-what?" Hermione barely stuttered.
"Oh, and you lot say it like it's so bloody surprising!" Malfoy snickered.
Hermione really couldn't stand him at the moment and the more he spoke, the more she felt like hexing him to misery. The situation at hand was complicated enough, and she really didn't need any of his foul commentary. So…screw him.
The brightest witch of her age twisted her face toward him and sneered, "Malfoy…GET OUT BEFORE I LITERALLY CUT YOUR BALLS OFF!"
Of course, the blond didn't even flinch. He simply snarled and replied, "It's not my fault you people are behind."
Hermione used as much energy as she could muster to not smack him in the head. Her blood was scorching and the itch behind her throat was not from a cold. The wizard didn't even realize how utterly aggravating he was and it was irritating her to no end. She gritted her teeth as she responded, "Malfoy, I really don't have time with your pointless insults. I suggest you get back to your little 'prison hole' unless you want to be personally escorted by one of the aurors."
The man didn't even blink. "I'm not scared of your little Order lot."
She smirked and tilted her head slightly as if she was finding his reply amusing.
"Malfoy," she said very coolly. "Did you forget? YOU DON'T HAVE A WAND… and the aurors around here know more hexes and firing curses than you will in a hundred years. So to be safe, I think you should consider heading back to your room."
He seemed to be a bit uncomfortable now. She could tell- with his eyes widening in trepidation and his shoulders were no longer foremost and bold but sagging. With nothing better to come up with, the Slytherin scowled at her before stalking off to his room.
Remus cleared his throat softly, trying to get remind her that he was still in the room.
The witch jerked around and smiled apologetically. "I'm so sorry, he's been very hard to handle and I don't know what else to do with him."
Her previous teacher simply nodded. "It's alright, Hermione," he reassured. "I understand. I just wanted to inform you about the news going on."
"Thanks so much, Remus," she replied. "It was quite unexpected actually because I just recently discovered about the Ministry and sent Harry to notify you and the others."
The older man seemed very surprised. "Oh?" he questioned. "How did you figure this out?"
"Malfoy," Hermione answered simply.
"Has he been much help lately?" he asked.
"Very, in fact," Hermione admitted. "I think he would be a great source for figuring out the death eater actions. I'm sure the Order will decide keep him."
"Good," he nodded. "We have to be very careful with him, though, Hermione. His parents are one the wealthliest in the Wizarding World and we obviously don't need anyone discovering our location and snatching him back. Keep an eye on him at all times."
"I got it, Remus" she reminded. "I just hope everything will turn out alright."
"Yes well, You-Know-Who is getting stronger and his followers are determined to win" he warned. "Just be careful, Hermione." And suddenly, his tone became very stern and succinct. "He's after you, too."
The thought of having the darkest wizard of the decade on her back was quite terrifying. She felt paranoid every where she went because she always had a strange feeling like some death eater was going to pop out and attack her. Her eyes were like a hawk ever since the hunt for horcruxes began and she was getting restless. Sleep didn't seem important for a while in the beginning. Now, having to work more and practice her spells, sleep became her best friend. Of course, when there's a war, no one ever completely sleeps. It must have been hard for Harry. He probably has this feeling all the time- a feeling of misery, pure fear, and anxiety. To stay positive in a negative world like this was too difficult to accomplish. She owed Harry some props.
"Hermione?" someone called out.
The worried witch snapped her head around to meet the eyes of Ron Weasley. "Hey," she greeted with a small smile. "I haven't seen you all morning. Where have you been?"
Ron sauntered over to her and gave her a firm hug before responding, "I was at a meeting with the aurors and…they have some news."
"More news?" Hermione asked. "It's only noon and we have so much to keep up with!"
Her best friend laughed. His mellow mood was soothing and Hermione considered speaking to him more in the morning to ease her fretfulness. "They just told me that we need to start hunting again. Their next bet is at the Gringotts."
"Oh," was all Hermione could gather.
"The head aurors are still planning out the details and whatnot. I think we'll start in a couple days."
"Alright," she bobbed her head in agreement. "But, I'm supposed to be on-watch for Malfoy and-
"Malfoy?" Ron asked, dumbfound. "I forgot about that prick….Hm, I guess you'll have to ask Shaklebolt about it."
Hermione nodded as if mentally noting it down on her agenda for the day.
"Why do you guys think it's at Grignotts?" she asked curiously.
She had no idea why or how they could sneak in. Getting in to the most advanced protection system is nearly impossible, or so she heard. But then again, it's been done before. Honestly, Hermione has never felt more nervous in her entire life. I mean, getting the locket from the Ministry was beyond challenging, how could they manage Grignotts? The butterflies in her stomach were aching with pain; this happens to her every time before a mission. Strangely, however, it reminded her that everything was real and so were her nerves.
"Harry said something about Bellatrix and we think it maybe in her vault." Ron stated. "I hope we don't have to be polyjuiced again. That potion tastes bloody awful!" He chuckled gently and patted her on the shoulder, "Please pray that they don't make me drink that again."
She laughed with him and was blessed with the fact that he kept things so composed and serene around a time of danger. Merlin knew what would happen if he ever left her. Nothing would feel safe anymore.
She always wondered how Ron was so calm when it came to missions. He would talk about the simple things instead of the risky ones that are on everyone's minds. Hermione cleared her throat as a lingering question bursts from her lips, "Ron," she started. "Are you afraid? At all?"
He paused and looked taken back by the bizarre question. It took a minute or so for him to finally gather his thoughts and answer with the simplest, "Yeah,"
"But you just seem so…oblivious to the risks and all,"
"I know there are risks," he said very clearly. "But I need to be supportive and brave- for my family…for everyone…for you." A small smile followed and Hermione sensed the same feeling behind her throat where the butterflies usually showed up and extended her arm out for a big hug.
"Thank you," she muttered as she latched her arm around him and tightened the embrace.
"FINNEGAN!" Draco roared with annoyance. "I DON'T NEED YOUR BLOODY CHECKUPS OKAY?"
Seamus Finnegan looked like an idiot standing in front of him with his pathetic wand right pointed straight ahead. The nerve the Gryffindor had. The blond glanced around the room to inspect the damage.
It had only been five minutes and everything was fucking everywhere. The rough bed he had slept in last night was in an even worse state with ripped up blankets and pillows. The russet, feathered pillows looked like they were attacked by some kind of animal and the covers were The carpet floor was burnt from Finnegan's attempt to turn his room into flames. The lamp on the side of his bed was no longer a lamp but a piece of coal- dull and useless. Finnegan must have failed Transfiguration as well.
"I DON'T EVEN WANT TO BE HERE YOU DIGUSTING DEATH EATER!" he screamed. "I DON'T KNOW HOW HERMIONE CAN KEEP UP WITH YOU, YOU ARE BLOODY BONKERS!"
"AT LEAST I KNOW HOW TO WORK A COUPLE SIMPLE SPELLS YOU STUPID BINT!"
"Why you little-
And then a familiar, feminine voice interrupted them, "What is going on her-
But Finnegan didn't seem to have heard because a shot of purple light erupted from his wand and Draco was pounded back from the knockback jinx Finnegan somehow mastered and then everything was black.
"Malfoy!" Hermione yelled as she saw the man fly backwards, hitting the stone, pale wall.
She walked into the room to see Seamus, face burnt red from anger or something else, and a ripped up mess.
The witch did her best to remain calm when she all she wanted to do was scream at the two most irresponsible, immature-
"It wasn't my fault, Hermione!" Seamus tried to cover up his attempt to murder the young death eater. "He was just so infuriating and I- I-
"Stop it," Hermione ordered.
Seamus immediately froze and waited patiently for his punishment.
"What did you hit him with?" she asked very seriously.
"Just the knockback jinx, nothing really…I didn't think-
There was a secluded silence and Hermione was instantly impressed with the fact that Seamus managed to knock out Malfoy with a spell that was only supposed to have them fall backwards. Although in a state where she didn't know when Malfoy would wake up, she remained professional and turned over to Seamus.
"Get me the Wide-eye or Awakening Potion," she demanded. "That will wake him up."
"Why can't we just let him stay like that?" Seamus questioned. "It's not like he has much to do anyways."
"Malfoy is going to be staying for a while. Shaklebolt is requesting to meet him soon." Hermione informed. "And soon was five minutes before you attacked the man!"
Seamus raised his hands up in defeat and muttered, "Fine, fine- I'll get the stupid potion."
"Quickly," she reminded.
He nodded was about to head out when Hermione stopped him, "Hey, Seamus," she truncated. The wizard waited for her to continue with a look of terror and edginess. "That spell was very impressive by the way. You're getting better."
The comment made him smile and the man nodded again before leaving with a positive attitude for the day.
Draco woke with a foul taste in his mouth. He felt groggily but energized, both, at the same time. How odd. He slowly lifted his eyelids; not wanting to see what was going to be in front of him.
And the sight right in front of him wasn't very alluring either. Ugh, he should have never woken up.
"Malfoy?"
He quickly shut his eyes again as if trying to erase everything in at the moment.
"Closing your eyes won't make me disappear," Granger said as a-matter-of-factly.
"Bugger off, Granger" Draco muttered, not daring to open his eyes just yet.
He heard a subtle groan and some mumbling about "being so stubborn", "can't seem to do anything right", and "never listens".
"Malfoy," Granger said very sternly now. "Get up- you have to meet with Shaklebolt. Now."
The wizard snapped his eyes wide open and growled. "I don't need to do all your bloody business meets, Granger. I shouldn't even be here. When my parents find me-
"Your parents are not-
"When my parents find me," Draco continued, not even caring that he interrupted her. "Your little Order and DA lot is going to suffer. And, I'll be there to make sure you suffer the most."
"Oh Malfoy, I'm so scared!" Granger dared to use sarcasm in the importance of the situation. He was being very serious about this.
"Granger…Don't tempt me."
"Malfoy…Don't underestimate me."
There was a silence considering their comments and Draco wondered where Granger got her sharp tone. Normally she would spit something with the same amount of fire and then the heated discussion would turn into a heated argument. It was enough to scare someone out of their wits and although he wouldn't ever admit it aloud, he found it quite impressive. No one ever kept up with his testing conversations.
He gave the witch a critical glare before replying, "Always bitchy…"
"WHAT?" Granger looked taken back by the response and shot back, "You foul, loathsome little cockroach!"
A flash of a smirk was found on his face. "You've got to come up with better comebacks, Granger. I specifically remember that insult during third year."
"Wh-hat?" she asked, completely shocked again.
"But I got to say Granger," he continued. "You're getting better. It's kind of fun to anger you. If you keep this up, I might actually start to tolerate you."
A/N:
Gah! Thanks so much for everything guys. It really means a lot to me. I'm sorry that this chapter is sort of a filler but it's needed at the moment. I start school tomorrow and I'm probably not going to be able to update very soon. I'm so sorry for that. But, thanks for reviewing and I hope to see you guys soon! :D