Chasing a Dream

Chapter 18

Eavesdropping

"What did you tell Malfoy, Hermione?"

Harry asked her again. Hermione looked up from her Charms essay, agitated.

"Nothing of concern to you, Harry."

"You told me other secrets."

"This is different."

"How?"

"It just is!"

Hermione stood up and gathered up her parchment and marched off to the girl's dormitories. Harry couldn't stand not knowing. It was driving him crazy. He knew what he had to do if he wanted to know. He had to ask...

"Parvati!"

Harry raced across the Great Hall to where Parvati Patil was sitting at the Gryffindor table. Parvati looked up at Harry, surprised.

"Yes, Harry? What can I do for you?"

"I need a favor."

One of her eyebrows shot up.

"What?"

Harry sat down next to her. He scooted next to her so no one else would hear.

"Hermione went up to see Malfoy in the Hospital Wing to thank him for saving her and she whispered something to him. Can you find out what she told him?"

Parvati broke into a mischievous grin.

"Anything for you, Harry. I'll find out what she said... for a price."

Uh, oh.

"What?"

"Meet me in the Astronomy Tower at midnight."

Harry's eyes widened. Parvati was grinning very, very wide. Harry was about to say "No way." when Malfoy walked into the Great Hall, smirking.

"All right."

"It's a deal?"

Parvati held out her hand.

"It's a deal."

Harry shook hands with her and got up to leave the Great Hall. As he was walking out the door, he thought to himself. What have I gotten myself into!?

_-_-_-_

Harry glanced around the common room nervously. Why!? Why did I go to Parvati!? Who knows what she'll do to get that information! Harry thought miserably. It was too late now, however.

She had somehow snuck up on him while he was searching for her. She grinned mischievously at him. He moaned.

"What is it you know, Parvati?"

Her smile somehow managed to widen and she seized his hand. She dragged him across the room and through the portrait hole, away from the questioning eyes.

"Ok, Harry, here's the scoop."

She planted her hands on her hips.

"After badgering her relentlessly, I got her to cave. She said she just asked Malfoy if he'd be up to a chat or something. She is supposed to meet him in the Library in fifteen minutes. He just got out of the hospital wing today."

Harry pondered this information, and then realized that if he wanted to get to the Library and find a good eavesdropping spot, he'd better hurry.

"Thanks allot, Parvati!"

He called as he began to race down the hall. Parvati called to him.

"Don't forget about midnight!!!"

Harry cringed as he turned the corner.

-_-_-_-

Harry was hiding behind a strategic bookcase, so he could see the entire library. Hermione had just walked in and was sitting at a table on the other side. Through the books he could see the top of her semi-bushy head.

She was reading something, but Harry couldn't see it, he only heard her turning its pages. Aha, here he comes, the man of the hour, Malfoy. Harry shrunk back so he wouldn't be seen.

"What did you want, Granger?"

He heard Hermione stand up and walk over to him.

"I wanted to thank you again, for saving my life."

"That's all!"

"Well, no, actually."

"What then?"

Malfoy was beginning to sound impatient.

"I'm tired of this, Draco."

"Please do not address me like that where people can hear you."

Malfoy hissed.

"No one can hear us."

She waved a dismissive hand.

"I'm sick of it. You need to start being... nicer."

Hermione said, choosing her last word carefully.

"Nicer?"

"Yeah, don't pick on me anymore! You've known for about a year and a half now and you still mock me! I'm sick of it!"

Malfoy made an indistinctive grunting noise.

"Life would be so much easier if we could just get along!"

Hermione said, tired and pleading.

"I don't have to obey you just to make your life easier."

"It isn't an order, just a request. Please, Draco, lay off."

Harry heard Malfoy's robes shuffling as he shifted.

"Please."

Hermione begged again.

"All right. I'll back off. But people might think it strange if I stop calling you 'Mudblood' or 'Granger' all the time."

"People will think it's weird if I call you 'Draco' in front of them, but you know what? I don't really care, anymore!"

Harry caught a glimpse of Malfoy's face. He looked slightly alarmed and angry.

"What do you mean 'you don't care'?! I wouldn't even be involved in any of this if it weren't for you, so you damn well better 'care'!"

"Don't blame your difficulties on me! Look, I said I was sorry that you have the responsibilities that you do and the danger you're in, but it isn't my fault!"

Malfoy muttered something that Harry couldn't hear.

"Don't you start on my grandmother, it's not her fault either!"

"Then whose is it?!"

Draco said in a rather raised voice.

"You're only in this situation because of your mother!"

"Leave her out of this."

"Oh, shut up."

"You shut up."

Hermione threw her hands up in the air.

"Forget it. You just remember what I said. We have to start getting along from now on. Despite what people expect from us."

She extended her hand.

Harry watched anxiously as Malfoy reluctantly extended his hand and shook hers. Harry thought he was going to pass out. What the hell is going on!?!?!?!