"I thought I saw him today," Hermione stopped her steps and turned her back slowly to Draco.
"Who?" Him? Hermione never mentioned that she was looking for a man. How did he-
"Ronald Bilius Weasley," Her heart sank when he mentioned Ron's name, but she tried to conceal it.
On the other hand, Draco could see it as clear as a day, it was indeed that man whom she was looking for. His cybernetic eye whirring softly, seeking another shift in her eyes; but Hermione averted her eyes to another direction.
"Judging by your reaction, it's indeed him that you are looking for," Another surge of anxiety gripped her chest, but she kept her composure, "If only you had mentioned his name earlier, it would have been faster for me to find him."
Noticing how Draco addresses Ron, Hermione couldn't help but glance at him. As usual, he was looking at her with a cold stare; but somehow, Hermione could feel that his scrutiny intensified today. He looked like a hawk; cataloged and analyzed her movement with meticulousness.
"I always had been suspicious of him. Coming here three months ago, gaining much recognition in the Upperworld realm, and The Master seemed fond of him. It's too easy unless he had something to offer," hearing that, Hermione couldn't help but harden her jaws. She remembered the chaos that happened that night and how Harry cursed Ron over the whole situation, causing him to leave the Underworld.
"I can help you. But are you sure that this is what you want?" Draco placing his hand on her right shoulder took her back to the present time. Hermione became aware of how close he was and smacked his hand, abruptly creating distance between herself and the source of the sudden intrusion.
"Don't," her voice was firm while Draco was taken aback by Hermione's aggression, "touch me."
Draco was confused, but also curious about Hermione's reactions. He could see Hermione was troubled by his statements about Ron and thought the right action was to console her. "You seemed upset."
"And?" a tone of disbelief came from her short reply.
"Isn't that what people do? They offer comfort to those in need," Hermione knitted her brows in confusion when she heard his reply. She couldn't believe that the creature in front of her who was barely a human could refer itself as one of the people.
"People? What do you mean as people? There's only one person in here and it's not you!" she barked her frustration before leaving the living room. Her mind raced with thoughts of danger, betrayal, and anxiety. Now Draco knew that the person she was looking for was Ron, she had tons of scenarios running through her head and most of them left her with a dreadful feeling.
She wished Harry was here with her, he must had an idea of what she should do in this situation. But it was impossible. Harry hated Ron, especially with all the accusations about Ron's involvement that night. She only had herself to save Ron before he drowned himself in an atonement for something that he didn't do.
Hermione sighed and stood before the door to the room designated for her. She knew that she gradually turned her guard down as she never found something unusual in the room, at least until last night.
Last night, she slipped out of her room to see if she was able to eavesdrop on any information from Draco's colleagues who came to the premise. Then, the realization hit her hard as she was reminded that she was now in the residence of Draco Lucius Malfoy, the true allegiance of The Master and the one with a high status in the Upperworld.
I'm still loyal to the Master, but I'm a believer that our realm is better than the Underworld. That's why, knowing this ideal world will be tainted by the presence of humans, filled me with disgust. We are superior beings, and it is our divine right to reign supreme. Humanity shall bow before us or be cast aside like the insignificant vermin they are.
Hermione could feel the hair on the back of her neck stood up when she remembered it. She knew whose voice it was.
She heard that the true color of someone will emerge in their natural habitat and it's rarely pretty. Now, she proved that it had not only happened among people but also artificial beings like Draco.