[curlie_angel]

Danke ihr zwei :herz:

Chapter 5:

“Miss Granger, you should leave now. Curfew starts in 20 minutes.” Madame Pince said and Hermione looked up. She didn’t realize that it already was that late. She came to the library after Dinner because Harry was with Professor Dumbledore and Ron was in the common room with Neville and the other boys. She was looking for the halfblood prince because she wanted to know something about this guy. What if Harry’s potion book was just like Riddle’s diary in their second year? She was sure that the halfblood prince wasn’t Voldemort or Tom Riddle but that didn’t mean that the book was safe. She didn’t care that Harry cheated … okay, she did care because it was unfair because she learned hard to get her good grades and he just had to open his book and read – but she felt that something was off. Something wasn’t right about the book. The handwriting seemed so familiar but she couldn’t place it. Who would just leave his potions book behind? And why? Because of all that questions she went to the library and had been looking for the halfblood prince but nobody knew something about him. She searched through a lot of books but even the enchanted books that were listing all students that ever were in Hogwarts didn’t list a Halfblood prince. It was as if this guy never existed and her mind was playing tricks on her.
Sighing Hermione stood up and left the library. She had to be back in the common room before Filch was starting his rounds. Curfew was 20 minutes away but she didn’t want to be late and get detention. Especially not with Filch. And you could never be sure where he or his stupid cat was lurking. She had heard that he had even given detention to a boy from Hufflepuff who couldn’t get inside the common room because the painting wouldn’t move.
She was walking along 7th corridor when suddenly at the end of the hall a door appeared and opened. Hermione wondered who was in the Room of Requirement at that time. Not many people knew about it. The members of the D.A. and Malfoy. She looked at the door again and saw Malfoy coming out. He was starring at the floor and just walked straight ahead. What was he doing in the Room of Requirement at that time? Why was he even in there? Was he planning something? Hermione shook her head. Just because he was in the Room of Requirement didn’t mean that he was planning something. She was right in front of Malfoy now and stepped left to avoid crashing into him. She was also hoping that he didn’t see her.
“Look, who’s there. Granger.” He said and smirked. She should stop with her wishful thinking – it clearly wasn’t working. “Let me guess, you where in the library again?”
“Yes, I was. But not because I was learning. I was looking for something private.” She answered and looked at Malfoy. He had deep circles under his eyes and looked tired. Something wasn’t right.
“I think you were there because Potter was better than you in Potions.” Malfoy said.
“Harry was just good. It’s okay that he was better than me. I am happy for him.” Hermione answered but she knew that he wouldn’t believe her lie. She didn’t even believe it herself.
“Come on, Granger. Don’t lie to me. You know that it’s all because Slughorn adores him and he cheats with his potions book. Just because Potter thinks that nobody realizes that he cheats, doesn’t mean that it’s true. But let me tell you something, don’t bother about him. Because you were good all these years and he just cheats to get his good grades.” He said and looked in her eyes. He wanted to make her feel better. He didn’t like her but he knew that her grades were everything for her. And he was angry for Potter for taking that away from her. He was supposed to be her friend.
Hermione was looking and Draco and rethinking his words. He was right. Harry was just good because of this stupid book. She was good because of her hard work. She wanted to thank Malfoy but stopped herself. While she was thinking Draco wondered why Granger was so silent. Maybe he was too nice to her.
“But whatever, mudblood.” He said and walked away leaving a stunned Hermione behind him.

The next morning she had double potions again. She went there with Harry and Ron not really listening to Harry about his lesson with Dumbledore. He was talking about memories of Voldemort when he was younger. Dumbledore probably wanted Harry to understand Voldemort better. But right now she didn’t really care. She hoped that today she would be the best again. Maybe the half-blood prince didn’t write something to every potion in that book.
She sat down next to Ron and saw Malfoy entering next to Blaise Zabini. He looked like yesterday evening. Tired and worn-out. Something wasn’t right. She wanted to think about a little bit more but Prof. Slughorn entered the room.
“Good morning. Today we’ll make a potion that requires two people working at it. I have divided you into pairs. Potter and Zabini, Weasley and Brown, Granger and Malfoy” Prof. Slughorn was dividing the rest of the class while Hermione sighed. She clearly wasn’t lucky at the moment. Working together with Malfoy. But one the other hand it wasn’t so bad. Malfoy was just 0.5 points behind her. Maybe she was just a tiny bit lucking today.
She moved her stuff to Malfoy’s desk and sat down. She didn’t meet his eyes but he felt his gaze burning into her head. Why was he looking at her like that? She didn’t have anything on her face, did she? Prof. Slughorn was explaining which potion they would make – the polyjuice potion. Hermione hat to stop herself from rolling her eyes. She had mastered that potion in second year. She turned to Malfoy and saw that he was still staring intently at her.
“What?” she asked annoyed.
“I know that you’ve already made that potion. So have I. Potter and Zabini are nothing without Potter’s little book. That’s why we’ll be the best again. At first I was angry that Slughorn had placed me with you but on the other hand – you’re the best student in this class and I’m the second best. So all we can do is win.” He said and smiled. It wasn’t a real smile but it wasn’t his smirk either.
Hermione was stunned. How did he know that she already made the potion? Did he know that they had tried to trick him back in 2nd year?
“Okay, so why don’t we start. You start chopping the ginger, okay?” Hermione said and Malfoy nodded. Maybe working with him wasn’t so bad.
They were brewing in silence for a while now and it unnerved Hermione. She wanted to say something. She didn’t like the silence. It was eerie and akward.
“Malfoy? Can I ask you something?” she started and didn’t meet his eyes.
“What?” He asked and looked at her.
“Did you really think that I would’ve told anyone about the incident in Knockturn Alley?” she said quietly. She didn’t want to risk someone overhearing them.
“I don’t care anymore. Potter probably already told anyone. Now stop talking, mudblood.” He said and smiled in satisfaction when he saw Granger furrowing her brows in annoyance.
“Listen carefully, Malfoy. Either you say sorry or you can make that potion alone and I’ll tell Slughorn something that will make Slytherin loose 150 points. Do you understand me?” She looked at him and he just nodded. Damn, Granger really was scary sometimes.