Anmarie Island

Draco awoke to the sound of rain drizzling steadily over his head. The entire week had been rainy and the weather had been steadily getting worse. Rolling out of bed, he shivered in the cold, dank air. He pointed his wand at the fireplace, muttering, "Incendio" and it suddenly burst into flames, which crackled merrily, as if they had been burning for hours.

His stomach rumbled loudly and he suddenly realized he was famished. He hadn't eaten since breakfast of the previous day. He looked doubtfully out his window at the sky, then slipped on a raincoat and hurried to the breakfast hall. He found most of the other students there, chattering away as they slowly made the food around them disappear. Sitting down, he chanced a glance at Hermione. Her gaze was fixed on him, and she blushed as she realized she'd been caught staring. He grinned slyly at her before pulling a plate of sausages closer and beginning to eat.

Harry, who had just entered the room behind Draco, had witnessed the exchange and gave Hermione a queer look before silently starting to eat. He was just about to ask Hermione what he had seen when the doors banged open. The students turned to see their teachers enter the room; Snape arguing with Seedly, who seemed to be trying to gently persuade him that he was in the wrong about something, and Mme. Bargs following distractedly at their heels. Snape ended the conversation with Seedly abruptly, and faced the students.

"Well, as I hope you all have noticed, it is raining outside," Snape began dryly, the lightest touch of sarcasm in his voice. "As I have just been informed by Professor Seedly, a consequence of the anti-muggle charms surrounding this island is that it seems to..." he paused and his glance flickered to Bargs for a moment, "attract hurricanes. Apparently these are storms that last for a few days..." he was cut off by Seedly, who interjected with, "Extremely violent storms, actually. They cause utter devastation sometimes."

"Sometimes," Snape repeated, looking at Seedly mockingly. "However, I have decided that a little rain will not defer you from today's work. You have probably noticed that around your cabins there are rather large cleared areas. Each of you is to use this area for a garden, filling it with useful magical plants you find on this island. When you return to Hogwarts, they will be presented to Professor Sprout, who I am sure will be delighted."

Professor Seedly, sure that Snape was now finished (as he had been glaring silently at the students for a full 20 seconds now) continued nervously. "There will be a two hour reprieve in the weather, expected to begin very shortly, during which you will inspect the current contents of your gardens and search for some new additions. However..." and here he blanched, his face turning two shades paler, "immediately following the break in the weather, we will be hit by the full force of Hurricane Natalie, one of the worst storms to hit Anmarie Island in over 80 years. I will be performing protection charms on all of our buildings to help withstand the force of the storm. They will merely help, but it is absolutely vital that everyone remain in their huts until you are notified by a teacher that it is okay to leave."

Hermione, who had been listening avidly to her teachers, glanced at Draco worriedly. He nodded his head toward Mme. Bargs, who had a slightly amused look on her face as she studied Seedly's concern. Snape looked bored, as usual, and didn't seem to think hurricanes were much to worry about.

Harry once again spotted Hermione's slight glance to his worst enemy. His expression molded into one of confusion and anger.

Snape and Seedly had turned their gaze upon Bargs, who wore a blank expression as she stared at nothing in particular. Seedly let out a slight cough to indicate her turn to talk. She looked up in surprise, as though her concentration had suddenly been broken, then nodded and began addressing the students.

"For your gardens," she began in a very mystical tone, "only collect plants you are familiar with. Some of them are very dangerous and we, of course, don't want anyone...injured." She looked around the room mysteriously. Hermione started to look at Draco, but her gaze was intercepted by a very stern looking Harry. She realized he had seen her occasional glances, but could not say anything. Mme. Bargs was continuing her strange speech. "Along with each plant you collect and each plant already there, we will expect an essay describing their uses in defenses against the dark arts and a demonstration of these uses to be performed at Hogwarts." She looked at her fellow instructors and smiled to indicate that she was finished.

Chatter began to spread amongst the students, but ceased at Snape's hissing voice. "You will finish breakfast and then begin this project immediately. Are there any questions?" He waited no more than two seconds for questions before finishing up with, "Do not forget that after tending to your gardens you will report straight to your cabins and remain there until instructed otherwise." And with that Snape, Seedly, and a distracted Bargs swished past the silent students and out the door.

Hermione suddenly became very interested in her eggs and stared at them curiously. She did not wish to face Harry right now.

"All right," Harry said in a constrained voice, "why were you staring at Malfoy?"

She sighed and finally stared Harry in his fierce green eyes. "I wasn't staring at Draco, I was looking at Hannah," she lied.

Hermione realized her mistake all too soon "Draco?" Harry gasped. "He's Draco to you, is he?" Harry lowered his voice dangerously. "What's going on, Hermione? You better tell me."

"Look, Harry, it's nothing. We're partners, we have to communicate don't we?"

Harry shook his head in disbelief, his hair messing up more so than it already was. "I saw him smile at you. Since when does Malfoy smile at you?"

Hermione rubbed her temples in frustration. "We get along better now, we've talked more. He's not the same as he used..." Harry cut her off sharply.

"Yes he is," he said matter-of-factly. "Anything he's told you, anything kinder about him is a lie. You've known him for almost six years and he's been a prat the whole time. You really think he's different now? Think, Hermione. You're smarter than this. He's a liar."

Fear wrapped itself around her steadily beating heart. Maybe Harry's right, she thought. Maybe he's trying to get to me. Maybe he is just a liar. Her mind traced over all the horrible things he had said and done to she and her friends. The word "mudblood" echoed continuously in her mind.

"Look," she sighed, "we're not best friends, okay? We just have to get along better since we're partners for everything. I can take care of myself if he tries anything."

"What if he steals your wand or something?" Harry insisted. "How will you protect yourself then?"

Hermione, eager to end the discussion, said, "Just let it go. I don't want to talk about this anymore. I honestly don't think he'd steal my wand or try to kill me with 3 teachers and 12 students always around."

Harry, still in disbelief and filled with anger, felt a sudden pain in his scar. He instinctively touched his forehead and winced. It was not the worst he had felt, but instilled gut wrenching fear in his heart. He knew it would one day hurt again, but not this soon. After all, Lord Voldemort was still around. He suddenly felt very unsafe and as though someone was watching him. Glancing around nervously, he wished he were back on Privet Drive. Safe. He clenched his fists, willing himself to ignore the pain, which was steadily transforming into malice. He was tired, so tired of living his life.

"Are you all right?" he heard a concerned voice ask.

"Huh?" Harry looked up at Hermione in surprise.

"I'm sorry, Harry. But I'm not replacing you with Malfoy. It's not like we're buddy-buddy. You'll always be my best friend," she smiled.

Good, she thought I was just angry about her and Malfoy, Harry thought in relief. If Hermione knew his scar was hurting she would never stop dishing out the motherly advice. "Yeah, okay," he responded to her before beginning to wonder about Voldemort's whereabouts, a tortuous pastime that only stirred more poisonous emotions.

Harry had tried to enjoy the summer and his frequent communication with his two best friends had made it more bearable. Being made a prefect and getting to practice DADA, a subject he definitely excelled at, had sincerely brightened his life. Things would never be the same, but he tried to make them seem that way...at least for a bit. He needed a break, if even a small one. But though sometimes he appeared happy and like a normal teen, deep down his thoughts never left Voldemort.

He was pulled from his reverie by Hermione's voice. "Harry," she tapped his shoulder. "It's time to start our gardens. Let's go."

He nodded and stood, gathering his things. Malfoy glared at him as he brushed past. Harry shot him a fierce glance and yearned to grab his wand and shoot jinxes at Malfoy all day long. He resisted, though, at a pleading look from Hermione. Sighing, he headed off toward his hut to do some gardening like the rest of the grumbling students.