Hazardous Wager

Nobody told me what you thought,
nobody told me what to say
Everyone showed you where to turn,
told you when to runaway
Nobody told you where to hide,
nobody told you what to say

Everyone showed you where to turn
showed you when to runaway.

-- Blurry, Puddle of Mud.

Chapter 3 -

"Hermione!" a voice she recognized as Parvati Patil's called her name and pushed her a little, forcing her to come back into reality and to snap her eyes open. She was having such an intriguing dream. Something about her in a long and narrow passageway with someone... Who had it been? Details were blurry in her mind, and she couldn't remember.

"You finally woke up, you sleepy-head," Parvati said teasingly.

Hermione stifled a yawn and got out of her bed, rubbing her eyes. "What time is it?"

"Already past breakfast-time," Parvati replied.

Hermione sighed, trying hard not to show much disappointment. "Oh well, I wasn't very hungry, anyway." But her lurching stomach gave her away. Parvati giggled, and shook her head.

"Knew you would be hungry. I saved you some toast." She handed her a piece with strawberry jam on top, Hermione's favourite. She smiled gratefully at her friend as she took a large bite.

"Thanks."

"Don't mention it," said Parvati as she glanced once more at her wristwatch impatiently. She was running late.

Noticing her impatience, Hermione said between bites. "Don't wait up for me, Parvati. I'll catch up with you in a while." Parvati nodded, and hurriedly left the room.

Stifling yet another yawn, Hermione finished her toast, and proceeded to wash her hands and face, wondering why in the name of Merlin she was that tired. Damn you, Malfoy, she thought as she tried to somehow smooth her hair, which was definitely not cooperating. Cursing, Hermione wondered when was the last time her hair had been as bushy and as tangled. Probably before fourth year, when she had discovered everything related to styling charms and tonics, courtesy of Parvati and Lavender, who were experts in anything related to making oneself beautiful. Where did I leave Sleekeazy's again? she thought, with some effort, whereas her brain was still in the middle of waking up.

Looking inside of one of the top drawers of her closet, she found it, and applied some on her damp hair, which immediately lost all previous fuzziness, allowing Hermione to comb it and braid it.

The next step was getting dressed, but luckily for her (whereas she was nearly ten minutes late) Hermione never took much time on that particular task. She put on a simple grey pleated skirt and a white polo shirt, along with the Gryffindor tie and the mandatory black robes. Tying her shoes, the matter of her lack of sleep of that day came to her mind.

Aside from the fact that she had reached the common room at midnight, (Ron and Harry were indeed waiting for her, asleep of course, in the most curious position. Her laughter had woken them up, and cursing, they had both gone to their dormitory, without asking her anything. Fortunately.) Hermione had been unable to sleep until the early hours of the morning thinking about Draco Malfoy and his odd behaviour during the detention. Could it be his real self? Or just another one of his various masks? For all she knew, there could be lots of reasons for his sudden friendliness (or interest?) towards her, even some dark plot to get at Harry. Malfoy's father isn't a rumoured Death Eater for nothing, she reasoned, gathering her school things and placing them into her bag.

Glancing at her watch, she discovered she was fifteen minutes late, and as she left the room hurriedly, she thanked any superior force in charge of the order of the world, because her first class that day was Care of Magical Creatures with Hagrid.

* * * * * * * * * *

"What class do we have right now?" Draco asked Pansy Parkinson, who was sitting by his side on the Slytherin table, as he ran his fingers through his hair one more time. While he did so, he quickly scanned the Gryffindor table, and noticed that Hermione was missing.

"Care of Magical Creatures with the Gryffindors," Pansy replied promptly, flashing a smile at him. Draco nodded inattentively at her. Where is she? He wondered, picking at his sausages with his fork, clearly not hungry.

"Why are you staring at the Gryffindor table, Draco?" Pansy asked, eyebrows raised.

"What?" Draco said, facing her, "I am most definitely not staring at those pillocks. Why would I bother?" he replied. "They don't even deserve to be stared at by me."

"If you say so," said Pansy, clearly unconvinced. "Anyway, we should go, we're running late," She added as she rose from the table.

"Let's go, boys," Draco told Crabbe and Goyle, his two permanent companions, who were still eating their fourth serving of porridge. Before closing the doors though, Draco spared one more look towards the noisy Gryffindors, but she was still not there.

* * * * * * * * * *

"Missed anything important?" Hermione asked her friends as soon as she reached Hagrid's hut. She took a few deep breaths to calm her heartbeat, which after running non-stop all around the castle was racing.

"No. Hagrid just went to get the... what did he call them, Ron?" Harry asked, poking Ron, who seemed elsewhere. "Ron? Are you here?"

"What? Oh, sorry, what were you saying?" Ron asked, blinking a couple of times, as if realizing that Harry was still talking to him. "Hi Hermione," he added as an afterthought, seeing that Hermione was already there, too.

"Are you okay, Ron?" Harry asked concerned, to which Ron nodded and quickly changed the subject.

"You were asking...?"

Harry, clearly unconvinced, asked him again about what kind of creatures Hagrid was bringing, throwing a sideways look at Hermione.

"I think he said he was getting Clabberts. Hell knows where he could get those kinds of creatures."

"Oh, I've read about those! They're the ones that look like some cross between a frog and a monkey. They're so incredibly interesting!" said Hermione cheerfully, getting her copy of Magical Beasts and Where to Find Them out of her bag. "Look, it says that it usually -"

"No offence meant Hermione, but I think Hagrid is perfectly competent of teaching the class, and he's going to do so in a couple of minutes, as a matter of fact," Ron said with a grin, which Hermione responded to and closed her book.

"Oh look!" squealed Parvati Patil, pointing at the cages Hagrid was bringing on a cart. Inside of the cages, Hermione was able to see one of the weirdest creatures she'd ever seen. Up close, the Clabberts looked nothing like the pictures she'd seen in books. Each skin colour of the four or five specimens Hagrid had brought were different shades of mottled green, and the pustule they had on the middle of their foreheads (which was not in alert mode at the moment and was a clear shade of grey) actually complemented the creature, which seemed to be grinning.

"Here they are!" said Hagrid proudly, placing the cages one by one on the ground. "Pretty, aren' they?"

"That big oaf thinks every bloody creature he brings is pretty. Gods, what is he thinking? Those half-bred monkeys are hideous," Draco Malfoy whispered at Crabbe, loud enough for Hermione, who was standing just in front of him to hear.

"Oh, shut up, Malfoy! If you don't like the class why don't you just drop it and do us the favour of not having to look at your ferret-face for two hours straight?" Hermione muttered, unable to restrain herself.

Draco said nothing, but looked at her straight in the eyes for a whole minute, until she forced herself to look at the Clabbert Hagrid was getting out of the cage. Why didn't he say something? She couldn't help but wonder.

"These are tree-dwelling creatures," Hagrid was saying, while the Clabbert climbed to his shoulder. "If yeh can see, its arms and legs are long and flexible, which allows 'em to climb trees more easily. Now, can anyone tell me, what does the Clabbert eat?"

Hermione's hand shot up first, as usual. Hagrid, smiling, nodded at her.

"The Clabbert feeds mostly on small lizards and birds," she said promptly.

"Very good, Hermione," said Hagrid, stroking the small animal. "Now then, these Clabberts are goin' to be our term project. I'll assign each to a group an' the group must take care of 'em properly, meaning some extra-curricular work, o'course. Since they live in trees, we'll be doin' most classes in Greenhouse Six, where the tropical trees suitable for Clabberts are. Grades will go accordin' how much yer Clabbert will be able to grow, an' how healthy yeh can maintain it."

Some groaned, including most of the Slytherins. For Hermione's part, she was sure it was going to be at least interesting. And besides, she didn't mind the extra work much.

"Isn't she cute?" Ron asked, nudging her. Seemingly, he'd already gotten their creature, which was a very small one, light green with darker spots. Its pustule, which was still small, was already glowing scarlet, which meant it was sensing danger. "Her name is Morgana." Ron added, stroking her.

"Morgana?" Harry asked, puzzled, placing a small and smelly bucket on the floor, full of dead lizards and chicken entrails.

"Is there a problem with Morgana?" questioned Ron defensively. Harry shrugged and shook his head, looking sideways at Hermione who snickered softly.

"For now, yeh can just feed 'em some of the lizards' yeh have in yer buckets, and bond with 'em for the rest of the lesson." Hagrid added, giving the last cage to Lavender Brown, "We'll be learnin' about their habitat and ways next lesson at the Greenhouses, don't forget!"

Draco was eyeing the small creature Goyle had in his huge hands with disgust. "Are we supposed to feed the little brutes?" Goyle nodded uncertainly, stroking the creature. "So what are you waiting for, you two?" Draco added harshly, still repulsed. Goyle nodded once again, as Crabbe brought the bucket, getting out a couple of small lizards and offering them to the Clabbert, who ate them immediately.

"Should we give him a name?" asked Crabbe, looking for another lizard as spoilt as possible to give him.

"Name it?" asked Draco, backing away from Goyle and the stinking smell that came from the bucket. "Why should we have a reason to name that smelly creature?"

Crabbe shrugged and looked at Goyle, who in turn looked at Draco, and muttered something inaudible.

"Could you please repeat that, Goyle?" demanded Draco, exasperated, while Goyle nodded meekly.

"Well, since we, we liked the creature an' all - er - we'd like to give him a name, that's - that's all. Can we?"

Draco rolled his eyes in annoyance. "Oh well, do what you like. I'm leaving at any rate, I can't stand that stinking smell anymore." And turning around, he left for the castle, unnoticed

* * * * * * * * * *

Muttering the password ("Auratum Filum"), Hermione entered the Gryffindor common room. As it was expected at that time in the afternoon, it was full of people, and much to Hermione's chagrin, also full of noise. Just when she had wanted some peace and quiet.

"Hermione!" following Ron's voice calling her name, she walked in the direction of the farthest table, where he and Harry were sitting, apparently doing homework. She sat on one of the chairs, sighing heavily, and closed her eyes. She was totally drained.

"Where were you, Hermione? We've been looking all over for you," Ron asked, closing the book he had in front of him.

"Well, that's not strictly true, Ron was with-" Harry was saying, but was elbowed by Ron before he could finish the sentence. Luckily for him, Hermione seemed not to notice.

"Oh, I was helping Professor Vector with something," Hermione was able to mutter the quickest excuse she could think of before a huge yawn interrupted her train of thought. "I'm so tired, you have no idea. Finally, the day is over."

"Did you finish the Charms essay?" Ron asked. She nodded lazily. "Could I borrow it?" Hermione's eyes opened instantly, any early tiredness forgotten.

"How will you learn if you keep copying from me, Ron?"

"Oh, c'mon Hermione, it's not a big deal. You've lent me essays before and spared me of lectures of any kind," he replied casually, flashing a grin at Harry, who rolled his eyes.

"I'm not lecturing you!" she alleged, perhaps a little bit louder than she'd intended. "I'm just saying that you ought to stop being the lazy bum you are."

"Please, just this time, I swear," said Ron, "That's what friends are for Hermione!"

Hermione blinked twice. "What. Did. You. Just. Say?" Ron raised an eyebrow, clearly not understanding the reason of her sudden stiffness. "Are you implying that I only serve for doing your homework? Is that it?"

"No! Of course not," Ron replied as soon as possible. "I'm only saying that friends usually help each other."

But clearly, Hermione was not satisfied. "And that's the only way, isn't it? By letting you copy." Ron, clearly not understanding her sarcasm, nodded, looking quizzically at Harry.

"God, I can't believe this! First, you're hiding things from me, and then you have the nerve to say such a thing. And you call yourself my best friend!" She rose from her seat, tears already swelling her eyes, and left before either Harry or Ron could react.

"What the hell just happened?" Ron wondered, as soon as Hermione was out of earshot. "Was it something I said?"

Harry shrugged and said nothing.

* * * * * * *

Lost in her own thoughts as she opened the door, she missed a brown leather bag lying on the floor near the table she always used for studying in the Restricted Section in the Library. With a loud thud, Hermione stumbled and dropped the books, the parchment and the bottle of ink she was carrying. Typical things to happen just when she was not in the mood, of course. Swearing softly, she bent down to collect the lost items, and raised an eyebrow as she noticed a small Slytherin emblem embroidered on the back of the bag.

"Need some help there?" a too familiar and expected voice asked behind her. She turned around to see Draco Malfoy with a concerned expression on his face, something she was truly surprised to see. Hiding her amazement, Hermione nodded, and immediately he was by her side, picking up a roll of parchment she had missed. "Stumbled with my bag?"

"Yes. Truly convenient place to leave it, by the way. Just by the door," she replied, not without sarcasm. He chuckled, but said nothing. "What are you doing here, anyway?" Hermione asked as she stood up, leaving the three books on the table, and extended her hand to him.

"You don't actually think you're the only person in this school that needs reference books for studying from the Restricted Section and that find the space comfortable enough to stay, do you?" Draco asked, taking her hand. This brought them close enough to have the chance to realize that her eyes were bloodshot, probably from crying. "Is something wrong?" he asked.

She broke the eye contact, just as he anticipated, and looked down. "No, it's nothing" she said, barely above a whisper. He placed his hand under her chin, tilting her head up. This was a good opportunity and he wasn't about to let it slip by that easily.

"I'm not blind, you know," he whispered. "I can see you've been crying."

Defiant, she shook his hand off her chin. "And why should I trust you with my problems, Malfoy?" she spat. "And anyway, why are you suddenly interested in my problems at all? Did you just turn into an all-good knight in shining armour when I wasn't looking?"

Taken aback from the sudden outburst, Draco took a little more time than he expected to come up with a retort. "And what if I did change when you weren't looking? Or is it so unbelievable that there might be another side of me you just don't know?" he snarled. Her expression was totally blank, clearly meaning she wasn't going to answer anytime soon, so he explained, this time using a more soothing tone.

"The thing is, I'm kind of tired of my current company, whose biggest challenge of the day is to breathe. I want to have real friends, Hermione, and I just thought you could, perhaps... you know, be one." There, he had used her given name, and the reaction was, at least, satisfactory. She looked surprised, and a slight gleam of delight in her brown eyes, which was soon gone.

"And why me, Malfoy, of all people? It's quite absurd, if you look closely. You, being friends with a Muggle-born?" she replied, once more on her guard. "And nothing is assuring you that I'd like to be your friend, anyway. Have you asked my opinion on the issue?"

"This has nothing to do with pureness of bloo-" Draco said, but was interrupted before he could finish the sentence.

"It doesn't matter, in any case. How can I know you're truthful? You've been nothing but a bloody sneering bastard -" she stopped abruptly, refusing to meet his eyes. "You know what? I don't even know why I'm still having this discussion with you." Glaring, she grabbed all of her things and motioned to leave, but his hand was already around her thin wrist.

"Won't you give me a chance, Hermione?" he asked, making his best pleading expression, playing his last card. Hermione's narrowed eyes softened, and she sighed, murmuring something he wasn't able to catch on the way, and sat in front of him.

"I will give you one chance, but just because you're begging," she said softly, letting go a small smile, which quickly turned into a broad smirk. "Who would have thought I'd live to see the day when Draco Malfoy would humble himself to someone and actually beg?" She somehow seemed very pleased with herself.

Draco refrained from saying anything on the subject. "Would you tell me what was bothering you?" he asked once more.

She stared blankly at him, while a moral fight was taking place inside. Part of her urged her to trust the blond wizard, who was waiting eagerly for an answer, but there was still a small nagging voice of warning in the back of her mind which was telling her to just stand up and leave. Anyway, she didn't owe him any kind of explanation.

But why shouldn't I give him a chance? He's been nice enough, and seems changed, she thought. And he did beg.

"Hermione?" His soft voice brought her back to reality. A small smile toyed with her lips as she replied.

"The thing is, I'm getting tired of feeling like a walking brain all the time, Draco," saying his name brought new and weird sensations to her, although she wasn't sure if she liked it. The whole situation was still a bit bizarre. "And Harry and Ron's attitude do not help. One would think that at sixteen they'd have matured at least to the point of acknowledging me as more than a source of information. It's always 'Hermione, could you help me with this?' or 'Could I copy from your essay?' I know they care for me, in their immature brotherly kind of ways, but honestly, I'm sick of feeling like this." Draco broke the eye contact, which he'd been holding all along, biting his lip, as if immersed in deep thought. "I fought with Ron on that matter this afternoon, and Harry, as usual, is siding with him," she added. "He didn't even say a word in my defence. He's always with Ron."

"Do you have feelings for either of them?" he blurted out, finally finding the opportunity to ask. He was very satisfied with her opening, the friendship approach finally taking shape. Quite a good report for Blaise, once he had an answer.

"I beg your pardon?" she replied, amazed at his nerve. How could he ask such as question? She'd never even answered that to Parvati, Lavender or Ginny, who were the closest thing she'd ever have for girlfriends, and Draco, barely minutes after somehow convincing her that he could be trustful, was asking the same thing.

"Do you feel anything other than friendship towards Potter or Weasley, Hermione?" he repeated, touching her hand, calming her. "It's the only way I'd explain your discomfort on their attitude towards you, because, if you look closely, it's not really the huge problem you're making it to be," he added. Hermione looked down, breaking eye contact.

"The truth is, I don't really know," she said, shakily. She had never shared her feelings on the matter with anyone but herself, and it was complicated to put it into words. "I did have some kind of crush on Ron last year, and I'm sure you know all about our little date that ended disastrously. I'm still hurt, and I bet anything that he is, too, but we're both hiding it. For the sake of the friendship," she paused, still not daring to meet his eyes. "But Harry... Harry is another matter entirely, he's -" Hermione stopped talking in mid-sentence. Draco raised an eyebrow, urging her to continue.

"Wait, I - I don't think this is a very good idea. You know what? I'd better go," she said, standing up suddenly, grabbing her books before Draco had the chance to react. "I'm sorry, Malfoy," she added, leaving hurriedly through the door, leaving a very confused and annoyed Draco behind.