Reckless ~ Tomione

Golden

Update! :D

"No, this isn't working!"

"Hermione, relax," Draco mumbled, although it seemed that he was just as exasperated as she. "We still have a few weeks before the next challenge."

"We have to work out this clue, and then we probably still need to find a way to beat the next Task, if you remember how the Second Task went in our fourth year," Hermione whisper-yelled, her voice rising with each syllable. "Harry would have never figured out how to get the clue if Cedric Diggory hadn't helped him. How in Merlin's name was he supposed to know to put that darned thing in water?"

"Actually, since you brought it up, I knew nothing about that." Draco turned to look at her from his spot on the desk, where he was examining the golden substance in the vial. "As I recall, you were best friends with Potter and I was the evil snake in the evil snake house. He had to put it in water?"

"Yes," Hermione replied, her voice rising in octaves. "I don't know what we should try next, if it's that specific. Gosh, do we need to feed it to a chimaera or something?"

Draco raised an eyebrow. "Hermione Granger in hysterics? Not something I ever thought I'd see."

"Why aren't you freaking out? It's the Triwizard Tournament, and if we don't work out this clue, we'll be so far behind every other team!"

"Hermione, I get participating to save everyone we know, but we've been working on this for weeks! You haven't even started on your Herbology essay, and it was assigned six days ago. Normally you would be done by now!" Draco sighed loudly.

"To Azkaban with the essay! We need to work this clue out!"

"You should go ask your boyfriend, what's-his-face." Draco leaned back and laid down on the desk.

"Who?"

"Who, indeed." Draco turned to look at her. "Oh, wait. My grandfather."

"Abraxas?" Hermione dropped her voice to almost a whisper at the mention of Draco's grandfather. "In what world?"

"I don't know, you were the one getting cozy with him by the lake the other day."

"Who's getting cozy, now?" A third voice joined their conversation. Hermione whipped around to the door just as Draco sat up in one quick, fluid motion.

"Hermione, with some Fifth-Year," Draco snarked. "They were by the lake, completely un-chaperoned."

"I-" Hermione blanched. "Abraxas, no."

"Ooh, tell me more." The older Malfoy pulled out a chair and sat down, leaning back expertly without tipping it over.

"Well, see, he was about yay high-" Draco motioned with his hand, hold it to his waist, "and ginger..."

"Oh shut-"

"A Weasley, Hermione?" Abraxas asked thoughtfully. "No judgement or anything, but isn't he a little young for you?"

"He's just kidding, Brax." Hermione glared at Draco. Draco grinned cheekily. "I wouldn't be seeing a Fifth-Year."

"Of course not, not after I caught you leaving the empty classroom all red faced- mmmphrMMM!" Draco's muffled voice yelled from beneath Hermione's hand. 

"Hermione, you really break my heart." Abraxas held his chest in mock pain. "I thought you and I had something special."

"Brax-"

"Aha! I knew it!" Draco pointed a finger triumphantly. "You are seeing him!"

"No, Draco-"

"Yes, she is-"

And with that, Draco leapt off the desk and sauntered out the door. "I'll give you guys some space, no need to get all emotional around me."

"Draco! Get back here, we're not done!"

He poked his head back at the pair. "Hermione, we both need a break, and you need to spend some time with your boyfriend or he will start believing that you left him for someone better." 

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Fine, but we're coming back to this tomorrow."

Draco left without hearing what she said. The witch sighed and turned to the other wizard. He looked at her innocently.

"We're dating?"

"Aren't we?" he drawled. Hermione sighed and turned to the vial Draco had left on the desk.

"Darned thing," muttered the blonde-haired wizard. "Rather confusing clue, isn't it?"

"You've worked it out?" Hermione asked hopefully. She didn't need him telling her the answer, though that would be helpful, but she need to know that there was indeed a clue, and that she wasn't just wasting her time.

"Actually," he looked around and lowered his voice, "No, and it's not looking good. You've researched the properties of it, right?"

Hermione sighed. "I've looked through every book to try to find out what it could possibly be, but I can't find anything that matches!"

"Yeah, that's because they pretty much invented a whole new substance for this challenge," Abraxas snorted. "Riddle's been looking into this, and I can't say more without giving it all away, but let's just say that I doubt the other schools are going to find much either."

What? Well at the very least, it put them on an even playing field. All of them, with the exception of Tom and Abraxas. Which didn't help, seeing as the two of them had beat her team's and the Karofiev twins' time by just under four minutes, and now had a huge advantage. 

"Well, thanks," Hermione said, offering him a smile. "I'm gonna go do some more reading on this. I'll see you and your glorious hair around, Boyfriend."

"See you, Darling."