Hermione Granger and The Secret Fire

Chapter 20-Let's Get It Started

Hermione tried to only look at her book and the ingredient list for the Wound-Cleaning potion as she sat down at the table she was sharing with Draco. She knew Harry had used some of the potion back in their fourth year from his bout with the dragon in the first task of the Triwizard Tournament. While she wanted to make amends with her suite mate, she was still feeling quite irritated with him for ignoring her and, when she felt like being honest, a bit embarrassed by her own behavior. Working next to him was going to be a challenge.

Draco, she noted, was also willing to look everywhere in the classroom but at her. He was looking through his personal potion ingredients and kept glancing up to stare daggers at their Professor, who kept smirking back at him. Snape looked a little too happy with his pairings for Hermione's tastes.

'Well, I guess Professor Snape does know about our falling out and, in fact, wants to torture us both. Why doesn't that surprise me?' Hermione thought as she began to make a list of the ingredients needed from the storage closet. She was slightly entertained by the obviousness of Draco's unhappiness. 'At least he's going to be miserable, too!'

"Okay, Malfoy, these are the ingredients we need from Professor Snape's closet. Why don't you go get them and I'll start crushing the spine of lionfish," Hermione said in a curt tone, after it appeared that she was the only one ready to work on the potion, as she was already cutting up the first ingredient.

Draco spun to glare at her before he finally said, "Don't talk to me, Granger."

Sighing and trying not to get angry, Hermione responded, "I don't want to, believe me. But we have to get through this and we can keep the conversation to a minimum if you'd just go and get the ingredients."

Draco smirked and said, "I am not going to get the ingredients. That is a menial task, and Malfoys don't do menial tasks. You go get them. Considering how you grew up, you should be used to menial tasks by now."

"Well do Malfoys fail Potions? Because that's what is going to happen if you don't at least cooperate with me," Hermione scowled, her anger rising at his words, as she threw the knife down that had been cutting the lionfish spine. She wasn't missing the fact that Draco was insulting her the best he could without referring to her being a 'Mudblood'. She knew he wouldn't give her the satisfaction of being right about his true feelings towards her.

"Is there a problem between my Head Boy and Head Girl, Mr. Malfoy?" Snape voiced as he slid up to their table. "Imagine that, the two of you not getting along after you were so...cozy...with one another."

Draco had the good nature to look at his Professor with all the anger and distaste that Hermione felt. He grabbed the knife and the lionfish before saying, "Nothing is wrong, sir. Granger is just going to get our missing ingredients."

Hermione huffed but stood to go to the closet.

"I am sorry, Hermione," Neville said as he met her reaching for the powdered Bicorn Horn, "I wish we could have worked together. Malfoy looks like he's ready to kill. Be careful!"

Hermione thanked him for his attempt at kindness and returned to her desk. She began working on chopping the daisy roots as Draco grabbed the scarab beetles and used his mortar and pestle to crush them. They worked, side-by-side, adding ingredients to the cauldron until it began to turn the telltale color of royal purple.

She looked up from her tenth time reading through the directions to see Draco about to add the Ginger root before the needed step of stirring counter clock wise while whispering the enchantment.

Without thinking, she reached out, grabbed his arm and said, "No, Draco, don't do that, yet. It's too soon."

Draco turned and glared at her with such hatred, Hermione was surprised she hadn't been killed instantly. "Don't touch me. Don't you dare touch me." He threw down the board with the root and rubbed his arm as if Hermione had burned him with her touch.

"Oh, it's 'Draco' now, huh?" Pansy Parkinson cooed as she walked up on the couple. "How cute, the two of you living together, working together. One wonders what else you're doing together. We're getting mighty comfortable with the Mudblood, aren't we Draco?"

Hermione opened he mouth to defend herself, but Draco beat her to it, adding more castigation than was necessary. "Do not call her that, Parkinson! You are really starting to show your ignorance lately. Somehow I doubt your betrothed would appreciate that trait in you. Understand this, it is none of your business what I do and with whom I choose to do it."

But Pansy was not going to stand for her housemate choosing a Gryffindor over her. "You're defending her now? Really, what are you two doing together on all those cold, lonely nights in your tower?"

"Parkinson, she's the HEAD GIRL! And in case you missed it, I have been protecting the integrity of that position all year. I am not going to allow someone as thick and offensive as yourself to deface the position we worked so hard to get," Draco spat.

"Whatever, Draco. You are getting weaker the longer you work with that...that...Gryffindor. Just don't forget who your real friends are," Pansy said, returning her voice to the cooing, sweet tone.

"Oh, I suppose like you?" Draco growled, "You'd best remember how much I have done for you this year; use of my personal rooms, support against the others. You'd better think about that before you attempt to mess with my mind. I have more information to bury you than anyone else here. "

Pansy paled at the reminder of his cooperation and she walked away, shaking her head in fear.

Hermione sat watching the interaction between the two in stunned silence. 'Did Draco just defend me? Did he just protect me from a Slytherin? Granted, it was Parkinson, but still!'

As Pansy sat back down with Harry, Hermione whispered, "Thanks Malfoy. I appreciate..."

"I didn't do it for you, Granger. Even you can't be too dim to remember that I have been less than tolerant of my true friends' behavior toward our positions. Don't bother thanking me and STOP talking to me!" Draco interrupted and stormed off to talk to Nott who was hiding in the closet, leaving Hermione to finish and bottle the rest of the potion.

~*~

Hermione followed her Gryffindor friends back to their common room after her experience in Potions. They were all laughing and goofing around, sharing stories about what they were going to do over the Yule/Christmas break. Hermione was surprised to hear that Harry and Ron were going to the Burrow. She had to remain at the castle because Draco was required at home. At least one of the Head students had to remain on campus during the break. This would be the first year in a long time that the three friends did not spend their holiday together. It was another reminder of just how far apart they had grown.

But what surprised Hermione the most was the secretive way in which Ron and Harry were talking. If anyone asked them a direct question they gave a sketchy answer, and volunteered no extra information of their plans. Hermione had been friends with them for long enough to know when they were arranging something. As soon as she got a chance to talk to the two boys alone, she confronted their strange behavior.

"So, the two of you are going to the Burrow? That'll be nice for you, Harry, getting to spend the time with Ginny," Hermione said.

"Um, yeah, um, it'll be nice," Harry said looking at Ron.

Hermione knew he was hiding something. "I bet she's excited. I'll have to ask her what the two of you will..."

"NO!" Harry said, rather loudly. "I mean I am not sure she wants to talk about it."

"Not talk about it?" Hermione said, fishing for information. "Why wouldn't Ginny want to talk about how she'll get to spend her holiday with her sweetheart?"

"Well, um, you see, Hermione, um, we're not exactly going to be spending it with Ginny," Harry said.

Hermione knew he was not being completely honest, so she pressed him. "Whatever do you mean, Harry?"

"Hermione! You know we can't tell you all of our plans. You're Head Girl and could get us into a lot of trouble," Ron explained in an exasperated tone.

'Well that never seemed to stop you before, Ronald," Hermione snapped. "I have always been aware of your adventures and it has never caused you to get in trouble. I am simply trying to figure out why my two friends have decided to exclude me from their lives after seven years!"

Harry looked miserable at hurting his friend and said, "We're not trying to exclude you, Hermione. We just thought the less people know the better."

"I am not 'people' Harry," Hermione said, her pain and sadness radiating in her voice. "In case you forgot, I have always been on your side, even when I wasn't sure that what you were doing is right."

"Hermione," Ron whispered, "we just don't want to get in trouble. We told my Mum and Ginny that we're staying here. We told McGonagall that we're going back to the Burrow. See why we don't want anyone to know anything?"

Hermione was shocked at their blatant lie and stared at the two in wonderment. "How, exactly, do you plan to get away with this? Won't Professor Dumbledore see your parents over the holiday, since they are in the Order together and all? You don't think it'll come up with any of them as to where you are?"

Ron looked like he had swallowed a Kneazle and said, "Oh Gods, Harry! We didn't think about that possibility!"

"How could you not think about that possibility? It's highly likely that they'll run into each other at some function and ask how you're getting along. Especially with your Mum, Ron, she'll definitely ask Professor Dumbledore!" Hermione explained in her best authoritative voice.

Harry looked sheepish and admitted, "We hadn't really thought through all the possibilities of what could go wrong if people started talking to each other."

"What were you planning to do?" Hermione's curiosity got the best of her.

Ron looked all around the common room for some wandering ear before scooting up in his chair to be able to whisper, "We're going to go to see Charlie in Romania. Of course he doesn't know we're coming, so it'll be more of a surprise visit. And then we'll have to convince him not to floo home to Mum and tell her where we are."

"He isn't coming home for Yule?" Hermione asked. She was feeling very confused on how the whole plan would work. "And what is in Romania that is so important you have to go secretly? And how are you paying for this? Ron, you don't have the money for a trip!"

Harry rolled his eyes and explained, "I am paying for the trip, Hermione. I consider it an investment in my future. But, no, Charlie's not coming home. Apparently he has a new dragon called a Peruvian Vipertooth that is supposed to fly at speeds up to 50 km per hour! It's not as fast as my broom, but it's great for a creature!"

"We need to see it because Harry might be able to use it in a fight against You-Know-Who. Besides, we're in our last year and we deserve a little holiday," Ron said defensively.

"Are you two mad?" Hermione said, obviously a little too loudly as she was shushed by the boys in front of her.

"No we're not mad! We're adventurous, and daring and..."

"Crazy. You're both nutters if you think you are going to get away with this! Besides all the normal things that could go wrong like your parents finding out, or Dumbledore hearing about it, or Charlie flipping when you get there and flooing home, or..." Hermione ranted.

"Okay, we got that you don't agree," Ron interrupted.

"But what about Voldemort?" Hermione said getting a wince from Ron and a look of annoyance from Harry. "Voldemort would come after you if he knew you were away from the castle without Dumbledore and without your blood-protection. You're walking in to a situation just ripe for an attack!"

" This isn't up for discussion, Hermione. Ron and I know the risks and we're willing to take them," Harry explained.

"Even if it's stupid? Even if it gets you both killed? I don't know if I can let you two do this. I think you'd better cancel..." Hermione said shaking her head in disgust.

"NO, Hermione!" Ron interrupted. "This is why we didn't want to tell you. We knew you'd be against it and we have worked really hard to get our plans together."

"We have to try, Hermione. Even you can understand that," Harry implored. "We have figured out how to get there from Kings Cross Station and we have booked a hotel room in Bucharest."

"But it's cold there, this time of year," Hermione said as if that explained every reason why not to go.

"You just don't get it Hermione," Ron said, standing up and starting to turn red with anger. "You'll never get it. That is why we don't tell you anything any more. All you are concerned with is the rules and the "right" thing to do."

Hermione, who was already wearing her heart on her sleeve from her rows with Draco and Misten, was angered by Ron callousness. "I am the Head Girl, Ron. Of course rules are important to me. I wouldn't have this position if I didn't follow the rules, go to class and work at being a role model to the younger students."

Ron rolled his eyes and said, "Oh, sure, you have always been 'Little Miss Perfect.'"

"I never said I was perfect," Hermione defended herself.

"No, you don't have to because you'll just show us. You show us every chance you get," Ron spat as he stormed out of the common room.

Hermione sat dumbfounded by Ron's comments. None of this made sense. Harry looked terribly uncomfortable and made an excuse to Hermione so he could leave. His final words were the most hurtful, though. "If you are my friend, Hermione, or ever were my friend, you'll keep this news quiet. I need to do whatever I can to make certain we have all the weapons we can have for this fight. This is something I need to do. I just hope you understand that."

~*~