The Hidden Lake

The Hidden Lake

Chapter 4: So it begins

Hermione had not slept well. Throughout the night she would toss and turn between odd dreams, and they were all the same. It would start out with Hermione either studying or walking the grounds. Then, she would suddenly be drawn away from the school until she was pulled into a pool and started to drown. The clear-blue water would close around her face as she sank deeper and deeper into darkness. Upon her last breath, someone would wrap their arms around her waist and pull her to safety. Before she could get a look at his face, she would wake up.

At six o'clock, Hermione quietly got dressed, grabbed her school bag and headed towards the Great Hall for breakfast. As she walked through the doors she was surprised to already find someone there.

"Hey, Harry, couldn't sleep?"

He shook his head. "Actually I slept great. I woke up about twenty minutes ago and decided to head out early. How 'bout you?"

"Weird dreams. I kept waking up, so I figured it was pointless to sleep any longer."

"I know what you mean." He suddenly looked nervous. "Hermione?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you remember what happened yesterday, after you got off the train?"

"No, not really. Pomfrey filled me in on the gist of it. Why, did you see anything?"

"No, did she tell you who brought you in?" Hermione nodded and Harry lowered his voice so no one else could hear. "Bit strange don't you think? Malfoy saving you after all these years of hoping you would die and whatnot...?"

"I know. I don't understand it either. I think he might just be trying to look good you know, butter up to the staff. Maybe he thinks it will put him ahead for head boy next year." While Hermione knew she could trust Harry with anything, she didn't really want him to know Malfoy stayed with her.

"Maybe. He has just been acting odd that's all. He never showed up last night to the feast, and I heard Zabini tell dumb and dumber that Draco went straight to the dorm and didn't want to be disturbed. It's just not like him to pass up an opportunity to insult people."

"Harry, does Ron know that Malfoy found me?"

"No, I didn't really know how to tell him. I know Blaise hadn't said anything to any of the Slytherin's and he was with Malfoy when it happened."

"But, Harry; how did you find out? I thought no one else saw me fall?"

"I didn't, I actually saw him carrying you to Pomfrey's. Blaise noticed I was watching, saw Ron and motioned for me not to say anything."

"And you listened? Harry, he's one of Malfoy's closest friends, how did you know he wouldn't...?"

"He may be Malfoy's best friend and Slytherin, but he is also an okay guy," Hermione looked at him skeptically, "alright, I'll tell you. Last summer, Blaise had been working for the Order, gathering information from the Malfoy's mostly. I guess he's been helping out Dumbledore for a while."

"Oh, wow. I had no idea."

"I know. Anyways, did you tell Ron about Malfoy?"

She shook her head. "I don't really think it would be a good idea. Ron would probably go ballistic, kill him, and then he'd be sent off to Azkaban."

"You're right. It's for the best. Let's just hope he doesn't find out."

Just then, Professor McGonagall walked over to them.

"Good morning, Mr. Potter, Miss Granger. How are you feeling?" she asked turning to Hermione.

"Better, Professor."

"Excellent. Would you two mind handing out the schedules today?" They nodded. "Alright, good day to you both."

Hermione found her schedule and glanced at it:

Monday: Double Potions, Arithmancy

Tuesday: Double Transfiguration, Charms and Herbology

Wednesday: Double DADA, Transfiguration, Arithmancy

Thursday: Double Potions, Charms, and Herbology

Friday: Double DADA and Arithmancy

Harry looked over her shoulder, "I've the same as you, only Care of Magical Creatures instead of Arithmancy. Why did you give that up?" Harry looked shocked.

"I talked to Hagrid and told him that I loved his class, but I might need Arithmancy depending on what I chose to do after school. He's fine with it, Harry, honest."

"Well, what ever floats your boat..."

"Boat?"

Harry and Hermione looked up to see Ron sliding into the seat across from them with a wide grin on his face. He pretended to put on a serious face as he said, "back off my girlfriend, Potter, or I will have to..."

"You'll have to what?" Harry glared at Ron jokingly. Ron laughed, chucked a muffin at Harry and sat down.

Hermoine spent the rest of breakfast thinking about her new classes while Ron and Harry talked about Quidditch. She caught sight of Draco leaving the Hall and wanted to thank him for taking her to the hospital wing. She just needed to think of an excuse to leave.

"Oh my, I seem to have left my Potions book in the dorms; meet you in the dungeons?"

"Actually, 'Mione, I dropped Potions," Ron looked relieved, "this totally blows off any shot of becoming an Auror, but I just couldn't put up with Snape again."

"Okay then, I will see you at lunch." She gave Ron a quick peck on the cheek and hurried out the door. She turned, saw Draco walking towards the staircase, and headed after him. She had almost caught him when he turned into the boy's bathroom. "Damn."

Not wanting to be late, she kept walking to class and took a seat in the second row. To her surprise, only three rows of seats occupied the usually crowded room. After a few minutes, Harry, a very nervous Neville, five Ravenclaws, two Hufflepuffs, and a rather bored looking Blaise Zabini joined Hermione. Blaise glanced down at Hermione while walking in and took the empty seat beside her.

"Hello, Granger. Have a nice summer?" He grinned at her like they had been lifelong friends.

While Hermione wasn't one to converse with Slytherins on a regular basis, Harry was right, Blaise was different. When the other Slytherin's would torment anyone outside of their own house, Blaise would just stand by and roll his eyes looking dead bored. He was never rude or pushy, but instead seemed calm and easy going.

"Pretty good, you?" she returned his smile.

"Alright. So did you have a nice trip?" he stressed the last word and Hermione remembered that he had been with Draco at the time.

As she opened her mouth to ask him about Malfoy, he breezed into the room causing her to quickly shut her mouth as he walked towards the front of the classroom.

"Why don't you ask him? I don't really understand it myself," Blaise leaned in and whispered.

Hermione nodded at the boy and a hush fell over the students as Snape walked through the doors.

*~*~*

Two hours later, Draco and Blaise were walking towards the Great Hall.

"Worked like a charm, Mate. Told her to talk to you about it. Looked like she would burst with anticipation. I tell you, girls are so easy to fool. Give 'em a bit of what they want and leave them begging for more. Works every time."

Draco smiled. "We have Arithmancy next right? It's perfect. There are only eight people taking that class and the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs always sit together."

"And Vector always has us work in partners. I know the perfect way to get you two together."

"Great. So, what's up with your cousin? Is she in?"

"Relax, Mate, all in good time. School just started and I haven't got a chance to talk to her yet," he rolled his eyes, "you're too impatient. Give me a bit and I will have her eating out of the palm of my hand. So, did you see...?" Draco drowned Blaise out as he saw Hermione across the hall. She was talking to the stupid Weasel again.

"So, Ron, what did you do with your free period today?"

"I went to the Quidditch field to practice." He turned towards Harry and his face lit up. "Oi, Harry, you won't believe what happened. Oliver is back!"

"What? I thought he was playing for Puddlemere?"

"He was, but Madame Hooch's husband got transferred to America. I guess Dumbledore had asked Oliver if he would like to teach here. He said as much as he loved playing, he didn't like the politics of it. Too many bad deals I guess, like cheating and whatnot. Can you imagine what Malfoy will say when Oliver is the ref for all of the games? Boy, I can't wait. Think of all the penalties Slytherin will get." He got a dreamy look in his eye.

"How do you know all of this Ron?" Harry asked.

"Well, as I said, I went down to the pitch and Oliver was out there. He offered to help me a bit since I became the new keeper. I asked him what he was doing here and he told me."

"Wow."

Hermione rolled her eyes. One simple question and the boys go off on Quidditch - again. As Harry and Ron continued to discuss their favorite sport, her mind drifted off as she thought back to what Blaise had said earlier.

'Odd. I wonder what's up with Malfoy.'

As if she had signaled him with her mind, she looked up to see Draco staring right into her eyes. Then, he did something very out of character; he smiled. A genuine smile that Hermione had never seen him give to anyone before. It had crept up his face into his eyes and he looked as though he had never been happier in his life.

"I don't think you should be doing that, Mate," Blaise jerked Draco out of his stupor. He had been staring at Hermione almost the whole lunch period and realized he only had ten minutes before Arithmancy.

"Why not?" he asked between hurried bites of chicken.

"Because if Weasel thinks something is going on between you two, our plan won't work. You have to make him look like the bad guy. Get him to dump her for another girl so when Hermione moves on, no one will think its wrong."

"Whatever. Lets go." Draco and Blaise stood up to leave and they both looked over at the Gryffindor table before walking out the door.

Hermione saw them get up to leave when Blaise winked at her and nodded to Draco. "Well, I best be off. I want to ask Professor Vector something before anyone else gets there."

"You know, Hermione, sometimes I worry about you."

"Likewise, Ron, likewise." She grinned at him, gave him a quick peck and made after Draco and Blaise.

"Oi, Mate," Blaise whispered, "here she comes, ah, and here is my darling cousin. Perfect timing, as always." Draco smirked as Luna walked by. "Hey Luna! Cuz, mind if I have a word?"

As Blaise turned the opposite direction, Draco took that moment to bend over and tie his shoe. Hermione, who had not seen him duck down around the corner, tripped over him. Had he not caught her, she would have collided with the floor.

"Better watch it, Hermione. Don't want to have to rush you to Pomfrey again," he smirked and let her go, "then again, maybe if you have another concussion, I will be able to beat you in class this year." There was that smile again.

Hermione was stunned. 'Hermione? No mudblood, no insults? Is he teasing me?'

"About that Draco; I wanted to thank you."

"Your welcome. I couldn't have you lying at the station all day, could I? Anyone could have found you."

Smile.

Now Hermione was thoroughly baffled. 'Couldn't he just stop smiling like that?'

"Alright, Malfoy, what's up? You treat me like shit for five bloody years and now all of a sudden you are concerned with my welfare?" She crossed her arms over her chest. "Why are you being so nice?"

"Why not?" he asked as he mimicked her movement and tilted his head to the side - still smiling.

"What do you mean 'why not'? After all these years, you suddenly decide to change? I can hardly believe--"

Draco cut in stepping closer to her, "well believe it, Hermione. People change and I just happen to be one of them. Now, you can accept or not, but I'm a different person," he took another step forward, "and I really hope you do because --"

WHACK

Hermione gasped as she saw Ron wheel Malfoy around and deck him in the face - hard.

"Ron!"

"What was he trying to do, Hermione? I'll kill him if he tried to hurt you." He raised his fist to Draco, who was currently lying unconscious on the floor, but she grabbed his wrist.

"Actually, Ron, I came up to him. McGonagall asked me to give him his list of prefect duties earlier and I told her I would. Now get out of here before Snape shows up and takes points away from us. Go!"

"Alright, but if he tries anything..."

"I will hex him into oblivion. I'm fine, Ron, really."

"Well, alright, I just wanted to ask you to meet me in the Library after class."

"Okay, I'll see you later." She kissed his cheek before he went to walk away. He turned to her before rounding the corner and gave her a weak smile.

"Malfoy, are you okay?"

Draco slowly raised himself up off the floor and wiped away the blood from his nose. "That was really decent of you, Hermione. You didn't have to lie on my behalf."

"No problem. Besides although you are an annoying, rude and inconsiderate," she stopped when Draco held up his hand.

"All right, all right. I get it, he doesn't know that I found you yesterday, does he?"

"No, and you are probably better off, too. He would kill you."

"Ha! The Weasel, kill me? That's a laugh."

"He would try at least. Now what were you trying to tell me before, about changing?"

"Nothing," Draco looked a little upset, "it's not important. OWW!" He reached up and covered his nose. He tried to wipe the blood away, but it started to bleed heavier.

"Here let me look at that." She knelt down next to him and took his face in her hands to look at his nose. "Well, it's not broken. Here let me fix it." Hermione muttered a quick healing spell and the bleeding stopped and then carefully rubbed the end of his nose with a tissue she had pulled from her schoolbag.

Draco sat there transfixed. He had always thought that Hermione was a loving person, but he never imagined that it would have such an effect on him. If she hadn't still been holding his face, he would have floated away.

"Better?" Draco nodded and she smiled at him. "Well, we better get going. Wouldn't want to be late for class."

Hermione made to move, but Draco still stayed kneeling on the floor.

"Are you sure you are alright? I can take you to Madame Pom..."

"I'm all right. Go on ahead; I'll be along shortly." He waved her away and she disappeared with one last worried look at the end of the corridor. Not a second later, Blaise was at his side.

"What a show, Mate. If I hadn't known any better, I would have thought that you were about to kiss her." Draco looked up with a guilty face. "Oh come on. Get a hold of yourself."

"That's what I'm trying to do right now." Blaise shook his head half in disgust and half in pity. "She grabbed my face. She was two inches from my lips and I could practically taste her she was so close. I wanted to kiss her so badly. It was like she actually cared about me." Draco held his face in his hands and mumbled, "Merlin, I don't think I will be able to do this."

"Fine then, I will be her partner for Arihmancy, and you can stand by and watch me with your woman, okay?" Draco leered at him. "See, you can do it. Now, let's go. We are going to be late."

Draco finally raised himself off the floor and walked with Blaise to class. When he got there, he noticed that there was a seat next to Hermione and one next to Padma Patil. Draco was about to sit next to Padma when...

"My, my, Padma, you are looking wonderful today." Blaise had pushed passed Draco to use his Zabini charms while kissing her hand. He sat down next to her and Draco was forced to go sit with Hermione at the front.

"So, I see you finally decided to join us," she said, "are you sure you're alright?"

Draco nodded as Professor Vector addressed the class. "Good afternoon everyone. This year we are going to do something a little different. To make class more enjoyable, I have decided to partner you all up to research different branches of Arithmancy. For the rest of the semester, you will spend class time working on your projects and every week you will turn in a summary of all the information you collected.

"Outside work will also be required. Should you have any questions, I will be in my office or in this classroom to help you at any time. Upon Dumbledore's request, partners will be randomly chosen from houses different from your own. So, in this bucket I placed a parchment with everyone's name. Ahem. Mr. Boot with Miss Bones; Mr. Corner with Mr. MacMillian; Miss Patil with Mr. Zabini; and Miss Granger with Mr. Malfoy."

Hermione and Draco both looked at each other unsure of themselves.

"Well, what are you waiting for?" the professor asked the class, "you and your partner may go to the library. Topics for your research need to be approved by me before Friday. That is all."

Hermione didn't know what to think. She had to work with Draco, her archenemy for a whole semester, yet only twenty minutes before he had completely thrown off her view of him.

'He hasn't changed; he is just trying to trick you.' She almost had herself convinced when a tiny voice popped in the back of her head,

'Well, believe it, Hermione. People change and I just happen to be one of them. Now you can accept or not but I'm a different person. And I really hope you do because...'

'Because why?'

"Hey Draco, wait up."