Chapter Twelve

Draco

As I walk back to the castle from Care of Magical Creatures- which took place at Hagrid's hut today- it begins to rain. My classes are over for today, so I have the rest of the day to myself- with Hermione, of course.

The last couple of nights, with the help of the potion Madam Pomfrey gave me, I haven't had any nightmares. I haven't had any regular dreams either; but as long as the nightmares are gone, I'm completely fine with that.

I am jostled around by my classmates as we reach the door to the castle. Of course, none of them apologize. I'm practically invisible to them. But as I finally emerge into entrance hall, someone slaps a hand on my shoulder.

"Hey, Draco," Clara, my neighbor at my apartment, greets me.

"Hello," I respond, "Haven't heard from you for a while."

"Yes, I know. I suppose your Head Boy life keeps you busy." She jokes. She is significantly shorter than I am, so when she speaks, she has to look up at me.

"Sure, you could say that." I answer. We both jog up the stairs. For a while, neither of us say anything. We reach the wall where my common room resides, and I'm about to tell her that I have to go before she stops me.

"Hey, Draco?" She asks, moving to stand in front of me.

"Yes?"

"I was wondering if you would like to take a walk around the grounds tonight?" She doesn't stutter or even show any signs of nervousness, which reveals her confidence.

Clara likes me? I never even noticed. And the feeling could never be requited; I've got Hermione. Beautiful, intelligent, sweet Hermione. And even if I didn't, Clara has always been slightly obnoxious. I just didn't notice that when she was the only friend I had.

I slowly shake my head, responding, "No, Clara, I've... got plans. I'm sorry."

She clasps her hands in front of her face and does a tiny hop. "That's okay! Don't worry about it! Goodbye!" Her voice was unusually high, and she scurries away, and I can't help but be reminded of a mouse. That was strange.

Shaking my head as if I can shake that whole incident out of it, I draw the pattern on the wall and the door appears. I step inside, expecting to see Hermione, but she is not in here. It's ten minutes past the time that we regularly meet. I sit down on the couch and pick up my book.

This book, , is a sequel to the one I finished last week, . It's very interesting and informative, despite the fact that it's a fictional book. I am so submerged in the book that it is not until forty-five minutes later that I realize Hermione has still not arrived.

I close my book and place it back on the table where it was originally placed. Should I go look for her? Maybe she's in trouble. Or maybe she's going to avoid me again, just like the last time this happened. I decide to search for her, putting my shoes back on and leaving the room.

* * *

Hermione

For the first time since last week, I am on my way to the library. There is an abundance of books in the Head Girl's and Boy's common room, but none on the particular subject that I am searching for.

I was supposed to meet Draco in the common room after classes ended, but I'm sure he can wait a few minutes. He knows my feelings toward the library anyway.

What I'm looking for is a book on Erickson Elias the Extraordinary for an essay in History of Magic. He was the wizard who created the spell which has been of such great use to wizards and witches since its creation- and many more of the common charms that we use today.

"Hello, Madam Pince," I say as I walk through the door to the library. Madam Pince, the librarian, gives me a soft smile and nods her head.

, I think, searching down the aisles for even a trifle of information on the man. Finally, I find the E's and a small, roughly used book along with them. It is called I pick it up, slide it under my arm, and sit down at a table in a far corner of the room.

There is a piece of parchment on the table in front of me and, looking around to assure that no one might own it, I grab it and a quill, opening the book.

Fifty minutes and one essay later, I exit the library, stuffing the parchment into my book bag. Now I'm very late to meet with Draco, and thinking back, I probably should have told him. He does seem to worry about me quite a bit. I increase my walking speed so I can get to the common room faster.

When I reach the common room, I am surprised to see that Draco is not inside, and there is no evidence that he has even been here at all. This is usually where he spends most of his time- I can't imagine the reason he's not in here now. I shrug and leave the room, having only been in there for a minute.

I'll just find Harry and spend time with him for a while. He will be in the Gryffindor common room, and if not there, the Quidditch pitch. The first game of the year is tomorrow, so he will undoubtedly be practicing today.

Barely anyone is in the corridor. Usually they would be outside, but today it is raining, so I suppose they're going to stay in their common room until dinner working on homework. It's almost the seventh week of school now, so the teachers have really started piling it on. Essays upon essays from areas ranging from old wizards to modern herbs. They're trying to prepare us for our NEWTS. They're called Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests for a reason.

"Oh, I'm sorry," I apologize as I bump into someone. But as I look up, I wish I could take it back. It's Ron.

"Hermione," He breathes, "Fancy seeing you here."

"Ron, I-I've got to go-" I stutter, trying to walk away, but he steps in front of me.

"Where's your " He spits, "Cut it off already?"

"This is so , Ron." I say, rolling my eyes.

"Can't say I didn't expect it," He continues, ignoring my remark, "I knew you wouldn't last." Finally, I decide that retorting will do nothing, so I try yet again to walk away, but he corners me, his arms propped on the wall on either side of my face.

"What do you want from me?" I ask, probably too loudly.

"I want things the way they used to be," He shouts, "You, me, and Harry, all joined together in a mutual subject of hatred: Malfoy." He smiles. There is a well-hidden tenderness behind his voice. I suppose this is supposed to be a calming gesture, but it makes me even more uneasy. This smile is very brief because Draco comes marching around the corner.

"Weasley!" He snarls, rushing over to us. Ron doesn't back away. Draco already has his wand in his hand, and it's pointed at Ron.

"Malfoy." Ron says with a sort of calm sense to his voice. He stays where he was before Draco came: arms on either side of my face, making me unable to move away.

"I swear," Draco begins venomously. Him and Ron are face to face now, and he has the classic Malfoy sneer plastered across his face. "if you don't get away from her, I'll-"

"You'll what?" He puts a fake look of fear on his face. "H-Hex me?"

Draco edges closer to Ron, and Ron actually stumbles backward.