Bleeding Roses

Chapter 3

Diagon Alley

"Hey!" a voice cried behind Hermione as she headed for History of Magic the next morning. "Hey Hermione!"

Hermione turned around to see Harry running after her, shoving a few people out of the way and getting quite a lot of glares. She stopped walking, waiting for Harry to catch up.

"Good morning," Hermione said when Harry arrived by her side.

"Good morning!" Harry said cheerfully. "Did you sleep well?"

Hermione arched an eyebrow and tried to conceal the small smile that was creeping up her face. "I did," she said.

"Good!" Harry nodded. "So... did you get the food I had Dobby send you last night?"

"Oh! Yes Harry." She smiled. "That was really thoughtful of you!" What is he up to though? Hermione wondered. "I'm sure that's not really what you wanted to talk to me about."

Harry sighed. "You're right," he said and swallowed visibly. "I wanted to talk to you about... well... your... severing of ties with... Ron. I know it hurts and everything, but... you guys are my best friends and... I don't want to see you guys, well... hating each other or something."

She stopped smiling. "So you want me to talk to him," she said, already knowing his reply.

Harry nodded. "I mean... you guys shouldn't be... angry with each other forever! I really hate to see you guys not... not talking anymore..."

"Did he tell you to say this?" she asked, a little angry. "Is he too scared to come up to me and tell me this himself?"

"No," Harry said hastily, "it was all me."

"Sure," she said sarcastically.

"So will you do it? For me?"

Hermione heaved a sigh. "Sure whatever, but only if he cooperates."

"He will."

Without realizing it, they had already walked outside of Binns's classroom. They entered along with the other students. Harry took a seat by Ron, but Hermione hesitated. She finally decided to sit in front of them both. She wasn't sure why she took History of Magic as one of her N.E.W.T. classes, but she took all of the N.E.W.T. classes available. A challenge was always fun for Hermione.

She took out her parchment, book, and quill, waiting for Binns to appear so that she could start taking valuable notes. Binns appeared out of the blackboard as usual, but this time, he wasn't carrying a book, much to Hermione's bewilderment. Another unusual thing was that he looked particularly happy today. No doubt the other students, even Harry and Ron, noticed the change.

"We have no lectures today!" Binns announced to the class. Everyone looked at each other, confused. Did someone possess Binns's body... or ghost? "We are starting a new class project that will be completed in about five classes. In groups of three, you must write a report on a famous witch or wizard. When I call your group, please come forward and draw a name from the hat on my desk. You must write the report on that person. I will not be assigning groups, so feel free to be with anyone you want. Also, please note that I trust that you will do your research in the library as your homework. Any questions before we begin? Yes, Mr. Thompson?"

"How long does the report have to be?" Dean Thomas asked.

"As long as you need to make it so that everything about this person, especially his or her accomplishments, are included," Binns answered.

A few people groaned, but Binns was oblivious to that. "Any other questions?" he asked. He looked around the room, but nobody had their hand up. "All right then. Get into your groups."

Hermione bit her bottom lip and turned around, facing Harry and Ron. "As usual?" she asked, her voice somewhat squeaky.

"Of course!" Harry answered cheerfully. "We're all best friends"--he looked at Ron and Hermione--"remember?"

Ron gave a curt nod, but Hermione didn't answer. She was looking out of the window, avoiding their gazes.

"Hermione," Harry said, "why don't you write down our names on a piece of paper? You have the best handwriting."

Hermione obliged and wrote down hers and Harry's names in her neat script. She paused at Ron's name, but finally, scribbled down his name. She took it up front to Binns. When she came back to her seat, she tried to ignore Harry, who kept giving her glances. She knew that he wanted her to talk to Ron, but she ignored his hints.

"I think Neville's got a new Remembrall," Harry said. "I'll go check it out while you guys, well... sit here."

He stood up and went over to Neville's desk. Hermione sighed. She really had no choice, did she? She coughed slightly to get Ron's attention.

"Ron," she said. "I know this hurts the both of us, but... we can't carry on like this anymore."

"I...um...guess," he said.

"We're probably not meant for each other," she said, "and I totally accept that!"

"Me too," he replied. "We're friends! We... have to move on! We can't let this destroy our... our whole friendship!"

"We should pick things up again, don't you think?" she said.

"Yes," Ron said and leaned closer. "What horrible thing did Snape make you do on the detention that you didn't deserve?"

"It's horrible! I have to make an antidote with Malfoy! And it's going to take a whole month!"

"What? Extra Ferret Boy and the Human Grease Ball for a whole month?"

Hermione laughed. She actually laughed at Ron's joke. It was a soft, short laugh, but it was still a laugh! It was like everything was back to normal! Or maybe it was... Ron was very cooperative... Her thoughts landed on Harry. The liar, she thought. This was definitely planned. But she decided to get him later.

"Yes!" Hermione said. "I even have to go to Diagon Alley and the Forbidden Forest to get ingredients with Malfoy!"

"Forbidden Forest with Malfoy?" Ron chuckled. "He'd probably be so scared that he'd jump in your arms when he hears the Forbidden Forest being mentioned!"

"Gross!" Hermione made a disgusted face. "Why would I want to touch that slimy git?" The image of last night flashed in her mind, but she pushed it away. No way! That was an accident, she thought. It didn't mean anything.

"I have to agree," Ron said and gave an overdramatic shudder. They both didn't see that Harry had arrived again.

"So you guys fixed the problems between you?" Harry asked.

"What problems?" Ron asked pleasantly and Hermione smiled.

Binns started to call names. He got through quite a few when he finally got to Hermione's group. Hermione walked up to Binns's desk. On top was a bowler hat, quite like the one Fudge had. It had hideous blue and maroon stripes. Hermione put her hand inside and withdrew a piece of parchment. She hoped that it was someone that she didn't know a lot about already. She unfolded the paper and the neat print read:

Loup Malfoy

A Malfoy? Nothing clicked in her mind like whenever she saw the name of a famous person. Who was he? What did a Malfoy accomplish that is memorable? Was he related to that git of a Draco Malfoy? She walked back to her seat, confused.

"Who is it?" Harry asked.

"Loup Malfoy," Hermione answered, still not taking her eyes off the parchment.

"What?" Ron asked incredulously. "I am not doing my report on him!"

"You have to, Ron," Hermione said.

"You know this Loup Malfoy?" Harry asked.

"You can say that." Ron was fuming. "He was the one who started all this pureblood craze. He was the one who invented the words 'Sang de Bourbe', or 'Mudblood'."--Ron's ears turned red--"He was also the one who tricked my ancestors to bankruptcy!"

This was too much information for both Harry and Hermione. Hermione's jaw dropped and Harry was staring at Ron with wide eyes. Loup Malfoy was the reason a lot of the purebloods thought that they were better than everyone else? He invented the word "Mudblood"? He caused the bankruptcy of the Weasleys?

"When did he live?" Harry asked.

"Dad reckons it's sometime in the fifteenth century," Ron answered, "but he's not positive."

The Weasleys were poor for over five centuries? At once, Hermione felt so sorry for Ron. What a horrible man that Loup Malfoy was! Her thoughts were interrupted when the bell rang. She quickly packed her things and exited the classroom, still thinking about the bastard. He was the reason why some people in the Wizarding community always looked at her in a strange way. That man was the reason why some people always thought that she was inferior to them. He was the reason why she had to endure verbal abuse from people like Draco Malfoy. He was the reason for so many bad things that are happening in the world. Hatred flared in Hermione's heart. This report was going to be very long.

*****

The Golden Trio sat in their Transfiguration class, trying to turn their partners into either a cat or a dog. It was like the old times again. Hermione and Ron were getting along fine, except that they were bickering about Hermione's cat again. Ron had told her that as long as she didn't turn him into Crookshanks, he was fine with whatever Hermione decides with. Hermione had asked why and Ron had told her that the cat was too ugly. And as usual, Hermione jumped to Crookshanks's defense. And also as usual, they bickered incessantly. Everything had been settled when Hermione turned Ron into an adorable orange kitten, earning Gryffindor House twenty points.

However, a rapping on the door, which was quite unusual in any of McGonagall's classes, had interrupted the class. When the professor had opened the door, a girl, and second year by the looks of her, had requested for Hermione's presence in the Headmaster's office. Confused, Professor McGonagall had complied. That was why Hermione was walking along the familiar corridor to the Headmaster's office now.

"Sugar quills," she said when she arrived in front of the ugly stone gargoyle. It came to life and stepped aside to let an elegant spiral staircase to enter Hermione's vision. Being a Head Girl certainly has its advantages, she thought as she stepped on a stair and let it carry her up to Dumbledore's office. In front of the door, she knocked.

"Ah, Ms. Granger," Dumbledore said as he opened the door. "I was expecting you. Come inside and make yourself comfortable."

"Thank you Headmaster," Hermione replied, stepping inside. She stopped in mid-step, seeing who was there. Malfoy. She just couldn't get away from him, could she?

Dumbledore smiled, seeing her expression. "Don't worry," he said. "This meeting will only take a few minutes."

Hermione certainly hoped so as she took a seat on the chair next to Malfoy.

"Professor Snape had just informed me of the content of your detention," he said. Please no lectures, Hermione thought. However, Dumbledore continued, "Professor Snape had also informed me that it seems that you must go to Diagon Alley and the Forbidden Forest to obtain the complete set of ingredients required for the antidote that you are making."

"It is correct, sir," Hermione said.

"As you might know," he said, "Hogsmeade weekend is this week. Instead of going there, you two may spend the day at Diagon Alley to buy your supplies. You may go to the Forbidden Forest the following day, Sunday, or any time you wish, as long as it is within curfew and you are not missing your duties as Head Boy and Girl."

"How are we going to go to Diagon Alley, sir?" Draco asked.

"Come to my office in the morning and I will give you a portkey," Dumbledore answered. "Any other questions?"

Hermione shook her head and Draco remained silent.

"All right then." Dumbledore smiled. "You may go."

They left together, not speaking to each other. After they went out of the opening behind the gargoyle, they ended up going in the same direction. Their pace was the same, so it looked as if they were walking together. A third year hurried past them, looking at them strangely.

"We still hate each other!" Hermione shouted behind him. "Stupid kids..." she muttered under her breath.

"You didn't feel that way last night," Draco said abruptly.

"I shouldn't have let that happen," Hermione said.

"But you did," he retorted.

"Why did you hold me so close then, huh?" she asked.

"I was giving a donation to charity," he answered curtly. "Bet you enjoyed that didn't you?"

"Malfoy, you...!" Before she got to finish her sentence, he had already quickened his pace and left with a swish of his cloak.

"I'll see you Saturday!" she shouted after him, her voice in mock excitement.

"I can't wait!" he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm, but he didn't turn back.

Before she could add her own sarcasm, he had already turned a corner and disappeared from her sight. Little bastard, she thought. She didn't know why, but she had been a little hurt when he said that the hug was a "donation to charity". Whatever. She shook the thoughts from her head.. Suddenly, "having feelings for Malfoy" popped into her head.

"No, no, no," she said to herself. "No, no, no. That's gross. That's just wrong."

Slightly calmed down, she walked back to her Transfiguration class, seeing that Harry and Ron were practicing, and it was Ron's turn. He only arrived to give Harry whiskers, making Harry scream out as he felt his face. Hermione chuckled and took out her wand. She performed the spell himself on Harry and he became a sleek black cat. Ron looked at his own wand rather stupidly. Hermione laughed out loud and just then, Ron saw her and smiled. She joined them, and had fun turning each other into dogs... or at least Hermione did. Harry and Ron's spells were always incomplete, making their animal selves look mutilated. Nevertheless, it was one of the first fun Transfiguration classes they had ever had. Hermione completely forgot about her previous thoughts about Malfoy.

*****

With dread, Hermione awakened on Saturday, as a bright ray of sunlight touched her face. She groaned. She wanted to sleep and avoid going to Diagon Alley with Malfoy, but oversleeping wouldn't work as an excuse, since she slept early last night. She got up, pulled her hangings apart, and stretched. Every minute that she cleaned up and dressed, she was getting closer to her meeting with Malfoy, which was bound to be awful. Joining the rest of the school for breakfast, she only drank a goblet of pumpkin juice and headed straight for Dumbledore's office. Might as well get this over with quickly, she thought.

She was a little early as she entered Dumbledore's office. Malfoy wasn't even there yet and Dumbledore was just setting up the portkey, which turned out to be an empty can of Coke.

"Good morning Ms. Granger." Dumbledore smiled.

"Morning," she muttered.

"I believe Mr. Malfoy will be here soon," he said.

"Great," she replied sarcastically.

"You might even enjoy each other's company," he said, as his eyes twinkled. "You do have a few things in common."

Hermione widened her eyes in shock. "I mean no disrespect, sir, but... how did you ever get that idea? We have nothing in common! Even if we did, then it's just a meaningless coincidence."

"As you say Ms. Granger," he said, smiling.

What in the world does he mean by all that? Hermione wondered. Then, much to Hermione's displeasure, Draco entered the room, sneering at Hermione. She gave him a deathly glare. Dumbledore watched this silent exchange with amusement.

"You have arrived Mr. Malfoy," Dumbledore said pleasantly. He held out the can for them to take. "Your portkey..."

Hermione took one end and Draco took the other end. They made sure that their fingers were as far away as possible from the other's fingers. They glared at each other and both grabbed the can more tightly than necessary, which resulted in small dents on the aluminum. Suddenly, the portkey began to work and they both felt a familiar tug behind their navel as they traveled in a swirl of colors. Hermione closed her eyes firmly, hoping that she wouldn't get sick. A car was much more comfortable, even if it did take a while. Just as suddenly as they lifted off the ground, their feet were pulled down by gravity once again. Hermione stumbled slightly as she landed and opened her eyes. The crowded Diagon Alley and its strips of shops came into view.

"Very convenient," Draco said. "We landed right outside of the Apothecary."

Hermione looked up at the store next to her and saw that he was right. "Dumbledore probably knew that we'd kill each other if we stay here too long," she said.

"I won't resist the temptation," he said.

"Do worry," she retorted. "I won't either."

Another exchange of glares was made. They entered the store and looked around. The store itself was dark and everything was crammed on large shelves. Hermione even saw what looked like a human eyeball rotating inside a liquid-filled jar. She tore her eyes from it and reached into her pocket to retrieve the ingredient list.

"Good, you brought it," Draco said. "For a Mudblood, you really do have a little common sense."

"I see that you didn't bring anything with you," Hermione said.

"I brought money," he said smugly, "something that you apparently didn't bring."

As much as she hated to admit it, he was right. She completely forgot her money. But she definitely wasn't going to tell him that. Suddenly, the word "teamwork" popped in her mind. I have no choice, she told herself..

"What a great opportunity for you to show off!" she said. "Like you needed to inflate that big head of yours even more."

"Oh just shut up, will you?" He sneered. He didn't want to argue, especially since he wanted to leave as soon as possible. Hermione glared at him and he glared right back.

"May I be of assistance?" a young clerk asked them, bringing them back to reality.

"Yes please," Hermione said and held out the piece of parchment with the ingredients. "We were wondering if you have any of these ingredients."

The young man took it and frowned slightly at times. "We do hold most of these," he said, "but I don't know how you are going to get the others."

"We'll manage," Hermione said simply.

His face held skepticism, but he went to get the ingredients nevertheless. He gathered an armful of things and deposited them on the counter.

"Do you mind if I check off some ingredients?" he asked.

"That would be most helpful," Hermione answered and he did so.

"All right..." he said, still looking down the list. "That will be five Galleons."

He held out his hand toward Hermione, but Draco elbowed her out of the way and put the gold in the clerk's hand. He grabbed the bag full of merchandise and pocketed it. He exited the store, with Hermione following close behind. Hermione's stomach growled. Draco turned around a smirked.

"Did you eat anything this morning?" he asked.

"No," she answered. "I just drank some pumpkin juice. Did you eat anything?"

"No," he said. "Breakfast will already be over when we get back."

"I know," Hermione said.

This time, it wasn't her stomach that growled. She couldn't conceal a smile, but she didn't say anything. It was a very awkward moment. They knew that they had to eat, but they would be seen together in public. However, their stomachs were protesting, so they had to give in.

"Where do you want to eat at?" Draco asked stiffly.

"Maybe the Leaky Cauldron?" Hermione replied uncertainly. "Well, it's so dark that hardly anyone will be able to see us anyway."

"All right," Draco said. He had to agree with that.

They pushed open the door of the Leaky Cauldron and stepped inside the pub. Tom the bartender immediately came to greet them and led them to a table for two, much to both Draco and Hermione's annoyance. He handed them menus and left to pour some water for the witch at the next table. They looked at the menu and decided in an instant. Tom came back with a notepad and a quill to take their order.

"French toast with scrambled eggs," Hermione said. "And I would also like some milk." After all, it was her favorite breakfast combination.

Draco glared at her. "Same thing," he said.

Tom smiled and left. Hermione stared. Did he just order exactly what she had? That was not possible.

"Why did you order that?" she asked.

"Because it's what I eat every morning," he answered coldly.

Great, she thought. She really did have something in common with that git. Dumbledore was right, as usual. But liking the same food didn't matter. It wasn't like they were soul mates or anything! The food arrived. Hermione took her fork and knife and cut her toast into small, square pieces.. She looked across the table, just to see that Draco's toast was also cut into small, square pieces, but he was already eating. That doesn't matter either, she thought defiantly. Placing her knife down, she switched her fork to her right hand and started to eat in silence.

"I know you admire me and everything, but that doesn't mean that you have to copy me!" Draco said, smirking smugly.

"What gives you that idea?" Hermione asked indignantly, although she already knew the answer. Not only do they cut their toast into little square pieces, but they also licked their milk from their upper lips in the same way, and they ate their toast soaked in syrup first and left the eggs for last. "I'm not copying you and I don't admire you!"

Draco still smirked.

"I know this is really creepy, but I have no control over this!" Hermione said. "They're my habits and too bad if they are yours too!" She fumbled in her pocket and drew the piece of parchment out again. "We need to get some Unicorn blood, phoenix tears, and leaves of the Twisted Willow," she said, in an attempt to change the subject and it worked. "I say we should go tomorrow."

"And why so, Miss Bossy?" he asked.

"Because I want to get this over with as soon as you do," she said as-a-matter-of-factly.

"Then that's settled," he said.

They had both finished eating and Draco put down two Galleons. Hermione knew that he was also paying for her share. She knew that it was a very bad idea to forget to bring money. She had to pay him back somehow, even though she despised the very thought. They stood up and left the Leaky Cauldron, reentering Diagon Alley. A cold breeze made her shiver involuntarily. She was so stupid as to have forgotten to wear a cloak over her uniform, especially since it was November. The trees were barren and the sky was gray. The first snowflake was bound to dance down one of these days. Another breeze blew and she shivered again, feeling her teeth clatter a bit. However, this time, Draco noticed that she was practically freezing.

He didn't want her to freeze to death, because that would cause many problems, especially when people start suspecting him of murder. He also felt something else for her. Was it... pity? He glanced at her again. She was rubbing her arms, trying to warm herself. He was actually feeling a little too warm under all the layers of clothing. He took off his cloak and wrapped it around her shoulders. Even if she did pollute it with Mudblood slime, at least he could scrub it off... or let some house-elf do it for him.

Hermione looked up into his gray eyes, searching for an answer to this rare and unexpected gesture of kindness. They still looked cold and forbidding. Suddenly, a flicker of sympathy and... warmth... broke down Draco's barrier. But it was gone as soon as it showed through. She smiled at him.

"Thank you," she said sincerely.

"Yeah whatever," he said.

Their eyes met again, but they turned away quickly, avoiding an awkward situation.

"So... so... w--we should... really get back... y--you know..." Hermione stuttered.

"We should," he said calmly.

Hermione took out the empty (and dented) can of Coke and waited for him to take the other end of the can. When he did, they were both waiting for the tug behind their navel, but nothing happened. They waited for a few more minutes. Still nothing happened. Hermione thought that they must look really ridiculous, standing there in the middle of the street, holding a can of soda.

"Um..." Hermione cringed. "I don't think that this portkey was our round-trip ticket..."

"You think?" he asked sarcastically. He was getting very irritated. Not only were some shoppers looking at them curiously, but he was also stuck with Granger in Diagon Alley with no way of going back to Hogwarts. Great, he thought. Just wonderful. Hermione was thinking along the same lines as she unconsciously pulled the cloak tighter around her shoulders.

"What are we going to do? What are we going to do?" she asked to no one in particular.

"I thought you were the smart one," Draco said.

She ignored his remark. What to do? What to do? Automatically, she brought her fingers to her mouth and began to chew on a nail. She had developed this habit during her summer between fifth and sixth years, waiting for her O.W.L. results. Naturally, she received all O's, but since she became so stressed these past years, she was always chewing on her nails. Draco obviously noticed this and pulled her finger away from her mouth.

"Don't," he said.

She obeyed. Back to the real problem now... what did they have to do to leave Diagon Alley? Then, it clicked. Well, it was so obvious!

"The Knight Bus!" she shrieked and would have jumped into Draco's arms if he hadn't backed away. "The Knight Bus would get us to Hogwarts!"

She thrust the can of soda into Draco's hands and pulled out her wand. She pointed it in front of her and waited. However, she didn't need to wait long. The purple triple-decker suddenly appeared out of nowhere, and several shoppers screamed and ran into the stores for safety. The bus stopped in front of them and Stan Shunpike stepped out. Just when he was about to start with his professional speech, but Hermione silenced him by telling him that they were going to Hogwarts.

"Fourteen Sickles for the both of you," he said and extended his hand.

Hermione turned around to Draco and made the puppy eyes. He sighed and dug into his pocket for the money.

"I'll pay you back, I promise," Hermione said as Draco handed the money to Stan.

"I really don't need the money you know," he said.

They boarded and took a seat in the back. They didn't sit close to each other, but they didn't sit far away from each other either. To a stranger, they would have looked like new friends, but they would laugh in their face..

The Knight Bus began to move and Draco immediately felt sick. Hermione also felt sick, but she had already ridden on the Knight Bus in her fifth year, so she felt slightly better. His pale face was starting to grow green. She couldn't help but chuckle at his expression. She knew that in his normal self, he would have spoken, but Hermione knew that he was trying to keep his mouth shut, not trusting himself enough to open his mouth. This caused Hermione to laugh harder.

The bus pulled to an abrupt stop and Draco really felt relieved, especially when Stan announced "'Ogwarts!" to them. They got off in a hurry. The moment they stepped off, the bus left. Draco swung open the gates and finally walked on the Hogwarts grounds again. In the middle of their walk, Hermione's foot suddenly got caught on a root and she fell forward, taking Draco down with her. He fell face first on the grass. Hermione couldn't help but laugh as she apologized. She got up when Draco did and he didn't look very happy.

"You clumsy little..." he said.

"Mudblood?" Hermione finished his sentence for him and pushed him down again. She pinned him down, ignoring the curls that had fallen on his face. "Is that what you were going to say?"

Draco didn't respond, but he wouldn't let Hermione pin him down. Soon, they were rolling on the grass, trying to wrestle each other. Hermione knew that she would lose sooner or later, but she didn't care. His finger accidentally poked Hermione's side and she broke out in laughter. So she is very ticklish...he thought wickedly, smirking. He tickled her sides and belly, until Hermione laughed so hard that no sound even came out of her mouth. He was certainly enjoying this. Taking advantage of Hermione so weak from laughing, he pinned her down and smirked.

"Ha!" he said. "I win."

"That... wasn't... fair!" she choked out in her laughter.

"We Slytherins don't play fair," he said, still smirking.

He stopped tickling her and Hermione gasped for breath. She actually had fun with Malfoy! That was truly unbelievable! Draco looked at her flushed face. That was actually... kind of... fun! He never got to play silly games with his fellow Slytherins. This was so strange and new for the both of them. Suddenly, they realized which position they were in and Draco quickly got off her and she quickly stood up. It was awkward.

"You know Malfoy," Hermione finally said. "You're not so bad..."

"You're not so bad either Granger," he said softly.

They stared for a few short minutes, but finally tore their eyes away from each other. It was still awkward, if it didn't get worse.

"I--I'd better go," she said.

"Me too," he said. "I'll... see you tomorrow."

"I'm looking forward to it," Hermione said, devoid of sarcasm.

He turned and gave her a nod. She gave him a half smile. With that, he walked up the stone steps of the castle and disappeared through the doors. Hermione remained there, looking at the dark waters of the lake. She smiled, before entering the castle, forgetting that she still wore Draco's cloak.... with the Slytherin emblem on the front.