Chapter 6

Nov 21st 1994

"Dragons, I can't believe they have actual dragons for each of you to face" Hermione ranted as she piled through one of the stacks of books on the table.

Harry sat opposite her going through his own stack of books. As soon as he found out about the dragons he knew he needed Hermione's help. As soon as harry told Hermione, she rushed them to the library and began searching for every book on dragons they can find, they hadn't left the library since. Hermione kept getting frustrated and ranted every now and then.

Harry groaned while closing a book and pushing it to the side "How can it be this difficult to find a spell that effects dragons?" he asked.

"I don't know Harry but keep looking" Hermione replied in her bossy tone that she normally acquires when something has to be done for one of her friends safety. Wasting no time in doing what he was told, Harry opened another book and started reading.

The two wasn't sure how much time had passed. They went through countless books and hadn't found as much helpful information as they would of liked. Hermione's hair was all over the place because of the amount of times she had frustratingly dragged her hand through it.

Harry looked like he was ready to throw a book or two in to the nearby fire place "Is it too late to change strategy and look for protection spells?"

Hermione's head shot up, a glare aimed at her best friend "You haven't been looking for protection spells at the same time?" her voice dangerously low. His eyes widened with panic and he quickly picked up a previously discarded book and started going through it again. He firmly believed only Hermione could install this kind of fear in him.

"Doesn't sound like it's safe to approach today" A sarcastic voice called from behind them.

"Malfoy, today is not a day I can handle your sarcasm so either grab a book and help us or I will see you after we're done with this" Hermione ordered. She didn't even look up from her book, if she did she would of seen Harry looking at her and Draco confused.

"I love it when she's bossy" Draco whispered to Harry as he passed the boy who lived and sat down at the edge of the table, between the two Gryffindors. If Harry was confused before, he was even more now. What was with that comment? What kind of relationship did his best friend have with Malfoy?

"What am I helping with then?" Draco questioned while he inspected a book from one of their discarded piles.

"We are -"

"Hang on Hermione" Harry interrupted. She looked up questionably at her dark haired friend, a hint of irritation still on her face "Are you sure we should tell him? What if he goes back and tells his team?" Harry asked.

"I wouldn't even think about telling him if I didn't trust him" Hermione replied sharply. If she wasn't staring at Harry, she would of seen the surprised look on Draco's face. She trusted him.

"You haven't know him that long" Harry insisted, tentatively glancing at Draco before carrying on "Are you sure?"

Hermione knew what he was being hesitant for. It wasn't just that Malfoy was from Durmstrang, it's because he is indeed a Malfoy. She had known Harry long enough to understand the look that was currently in his eyes.

Her eyes bore into Harry's in a way that told him they would talk about this later. "Yes I am sure" her voice steady. Harry nodded.

"Are you done talking about me like I'm not here yet?" Draco asked, recovering from his shock of hearing Granger admit he trusts him. She was the first person to ever admit that.

Hermione turned her glare towards him then "When I said I couldn't handle your sarcasm today, that is what I was talking about, now shush and open a book"

He fought as hard as he could but his smirk broke through and caused her glare to harden, something he didn't think that was possible. He quickly threw his hands up in fake surrender and asked "What am I looking for?"

"A spell to fight dragons and a spell to get protection from a dragons fire" Hermione answered.

Draco turned to Harry and asked "The first trial is to do with a dragon?"

Harry noticed something in his voice "You don't sound surprised by this information" his own voice had a hint of an accusatory tone.

"I heard master Karkaroff talking to Krum about dragons yesterday, seemed a strange topic for them to talk about for them" Draco explained with a shrug.

"Sounds like you aren't the only one who knows about your upcoming challenge" Hermione said to Harry before turning to Draco "Did you happen to hear anything about how Krum plans to deal with the dragon?"

"Sorry" Draco answered with a shake of his head "Knowing those two, they will probably go down the same route you two are trying too"

Hermione didn't miss the shift in his tone "You don't think we should be going down this route?" she asked.

Draco could see how emotional she was right now, he'd have to be blind not to see it so he knew that what he was about to say, he had to say it calmly and logically "No I don't think you should be going down this route. Krum is a few years old than us, he has more experience with complicated spells. Spells that master Karkaroff will know and can help him with. Even if we find these spells, I don't see how Potter can learn them and use them safely in just a few days"

There was a silence over the table. He hoped he got across what he wanted too but he knew he hadn't when Hermione hissed "So what? We shouldn't do anything to prepare?"

"That's not what I said" Draco argued back.

"Then what are you saying?" Her voice still angry.

Draco took a deep breath to keep his calm "What I'm saying is" he turned to Harry "You got to go at this with your own strengths, your own way of things. You can't learn two high level spells in such a short amount of time"

Harry stared back at him with a hard look, one Draco couldn't recognise. He got the feeling that he didn't like what Draco was saying either. He looked to Hermione and saw her brown eyes soften slightly but she looked away, not wanting to look at him right now.

"If you aren't going to help Malfoy then you can just leave. We don't have time to waste on someone doubting our plans" her voice was soft but also firm. She was making it clear she wanted him to leave.

He schooled his face to keep it from showing how he felt "Fine" his voice cold. She'd never heard it like that before. He stood up letting his chair scrape across the floor "guess your trust doesn't mean much" he spat and left.

Harry made a move to follow him but was stopped when Hermione reached out and grabbed his hand. He looked her way and instantly his annoyed face melted into a concerned one.

Hermione looked at her friend with a desperate expression, her eyes moist but she refused to let anything fall "Come on Harry, we have to find something" her voice tight.

Sitting back down and taking her hand in an effort to support her "Hermione I…"

"Don't worry about it Harry, I'm fine" an assertive tone back in her voice but her eyes showed her sadness. She took her hand from his grip and looked back down at her book. Harry looked at her with worry and he honestly had no idea what to think. How close was she with Malfoy for this to effect her this much.

/

Draco marched down one of the corridors of Hogwarts confused but very much annoyed. How could someone admit they trust someone but then tell that person to leave just because he had given a different suggestion.

He was also pissed that this was bothering him so much. He couldn't remember the last time he had been this upset by something like this. His mind was all over the place and thinking straight wasn't easy right now, all he did know was that he needed time alone to sort his head and feelings out and he knew just how to do it.

"Draco" Pansy called happily. This was not something Draco needed right now "How are y… what's wrong?" her voice turning to concern. She had never seen Draco look so down.

"Pansy, I can't right now" he grunted, walking past her and not slowing down.

Normally she would follow after him but she couldn't, the look on his face shocked her that all she could do was hope that he was going to be ok.

He made it back to the ship and quickly made it to his room. Throwing off his cape, he headed for his wardrobe and pulled out his broom. He knew he needed to clear his head and the best way for him to do that was with a fly. Appearing back on deck with his broom in hand, he mounted it and took off without a second thought.

The sun had just started to set, lighting the sky is a hue of orange and yellow. The wind blowing back his hair as he picked up speed over the great lake, heading for the fields of green away from Hogwarts.

Nothing felt better than this for Draco. His body relaxed as the tension started to leave his body. As he cleared the great lake he started to do some manoeuvres that Durmstrang set their students to learn. It wasn't the same level that Krum does but Draco was well above average.

His mind went blank as he let his body rely on nothing but it's own instincts. He lost track of time as he dipped, dived, spiralled, and more. The sun fully set by the time he finished.

In darkness he could see the lights of Hogwarts in the distance. He found himself hovering motionless staring at the castle across the lake, he didn't know how high up he was, the ground beneath him disappearing in the darkness.

No longer in motion his mind came back to focus on the problem that got him out here in the first place. He was pissed but to his surprise he wasn't pissed at Granger, he was pissed with himself. Sure, he was upset with what Granger had said to him and what she did but he was more mad at himself for letting it upset him.

He couldn't deny it any longer. He care about what Granger thought about him, he wanted to spend time with her, he cared about her. He hadn't expected this to happen and with what had happened, he had no idea what he was going to do about it.

/

Nov 23rd 1994

"What? Harry are you sure?" Hermione asked in surprise. The last two days it had felt like she lived with a book in her hand. All of her free time was spent in the library or with books around her for research.

Even now it was late in the night and Hermione was in the common room with books scattered all around her when Harry came in and told her the plan he had decided on for the dragon.

"I'm sure, I spoke with Professor Moody about it" he explained. He felt bad, he knew how hard Hermione had been pushing herself to find anything to help him the last few days. In the last few days they had found no solid spells that would help much and only little bits of information that would be of help.

Hermione looked like she accepted what he said as she closed the book she was currently reading "You better head to bed then. You will need as much rest as you can get before tomorrow" her tone giving off that motherly authority it sometimes did.

Harry hesitated momentarily, he looked like he wanted to say something but he knew Hermione was right and he wasn't completely sure it was his place to say what he wanted too anyway so he smiled and said "Goodnight Hermione and thank you for everything"

"Night Harry" she replied softly, watching him ascend the stairs to the boys room. She gathered up her books and decided to make her way to the girls room. After putting her things away, she got ready for bed and soon found herself underneath her blanket. However sleep had been avoiding her recently and she found herself staring at the ceiling with her mind on the same thing it was the last few nights, Draco bloody Malfoy.

She felt guilty. She should be worried about Harry fighting a dragon tomorrow and she was but she figured that would consume her tomorrow. Right now the blonde from Durmstrang was the focus of her mind. She also felt guilty about the way she treated and spoke to Malfoy.

She hadn't seen Malfoy since she basically told him to get lost. He was one of the main reasons she didn't have a breakdown, one of the only people who treated her like an ordinary witch and she had told him to go away because he had made a different suggestion? Her being emotional wasn't a good excuse for how she acted and of course. He had been right.

Hermione knew she had to be the one to go apologise, not just because it was the right thing to do but she wanted too. She didn't want to lose his friendship.

She rolled on to her side with a groan, she had been distracting herself with research to avoid thinking about it all but it was hitting her now. She missed his smart ass smirk, she missed their time together but most of all, she missed him.