Safe

Chapter 5: Caught

The morning sun always intrigued Hermione. The rays that spread across the land like a blanket, the way the atmosphere doesn't break the red rays to make the sky look like it's on fire, and the signs of everything coming to life. The sun's rays used to always gleam through Hermione's windows. That was how she knew it was time to wake.

But in the darkness of the library, she couldn't see the sun. The black walls blocked all natural light from entering the room. She longed for the breaking sun. The only thing Hermione could do in the library was read. Yes, she loved doing it, but she was aching to help her friends defeat Voldemort. She didn't know anything about their progress, and she was nervous.

Hermione knew that Malfoy would be accessible to Harry and Ron's whereabouts. She hoped that he would tell her if he received any information on them. She missed them so much. She would do anything and everything to run with them again.

Missing the morning sun and eager to hear anything about the boys, Hermione turned the knob on the door, relieved to find it unlocked. She opened it and found Malfoy sleeping. Unable to stop herself, she smiled at his sleeping form. He was on his back facing the ceiling, with his arms spread out in all directions. Without laughing, she found the window on the back wall and opened the curtains. She sat on the window seat, and stared out at the rays that usually beat through her own window.

What Hermione didn't know was that the sudden brightness in Malfoy's dark room woke him. She jumped when he cleared his throat. She turned and saw him sitting up, wearing a pale white shirt, which very closely matched his hair. She forced her eyes to his face, not a single inch below his chin.

"What are you doing in here?" he hissed.

Hermione shrugged. "Wanted to see the sun."

If Malfoy could've groaned any louder, she was sure he would have. "You've got to be kidding me, Granger."

"I'm not joking," she said softly, staring back out at the fields of Malfoy Manor. "The sun is beautiful."

"You'd better hope that no one goes outside and peers up."

"I think I'm prepared for that, don't you?"

Hermione heard him get up and his bare heels hitting the floor as he walked around the room. She did not turn around; she had gotten up to see the sun, and that's what she was going to do.

Once she was satisfied, Hermione turned around. She must have been watching the sunrise for some time, because Malfoy had dressed. While she was in the room. She found that very uncomfortable. He leaned against the wall next to the door, with his arms crossed and that smirk she despised so much stretched over his face.

"Done yet?" Malfoy asked in an aggravated tone.

"Yes," Hermione scoffed as an answer, stood up, and strode from the room. That was, until the door swung open.

"Mum!" shouted Malfoy.

Hermione stood rooted to the spot, the door to her library halfway open. She turned her head to see the older Malfoy staring at Hermione in utter shock. Hermione did nothing but stare right back. She didn't know what else to do. Narcissa Malfoy had seen Hermione Granger, the most wanted Mudblood, alive.

"Draco," whispered Narcissa scoldingly, "what is going on?"

Malfoy and Hermione exchanged a look that lasted about a second, and he turned back to his mother. "I..." he trailed off, looking nervous. "I might have saved... Granger from Bellatrix."

Hermione narrowed her eyes at Malfoy. She didn't say anything, but the word "saved" really dug itself into her brain. Malfoy had "saved" her? From Bellatrix? Now, Hermione was more determined to discover what happened to her on Monday.