Dramione - Battle of the Pranks

Chapter 5 - Tide

Chapter 5 (Short Chapter)

The pranks grew half hearted as the weeks shot by, rain falling like bullets from the sky. September storms slipped into October drizzle and the world seemed as defeated as the sunshine. Halloween was the only event on horizon, holding promises of warmth and fun and holding them just slightly out of reach.

It was one in the morning when Hermione Granger decided to take a page out of Harry's book. She had been wandering through the halls of Hogwarts, innocently on her way to break into the Library, when the sound of footsteps stopped her dead in her tracks. At first, she assumed it was Filch and slid into the shadows; holding her breath and praying to Merlin that he would shuffle on by. However, the glimpse of blond hair in the moonlight sparked her natural curiosity and Hermione decided to do something she usually would not do. She followed Draco Malfoy.

Hermione darted after him, acting on pure impulse as she watched him creep through the halls. Draco was not one for illuminating his presence, striding through the darkness of the corridors with a confidence Hermione lacked as she stumbled after him as silently as she could; squinting to see the familiar glow of his hair. He placed both hands upon the windowsill of the courtyard, easily swinging his legs over and landing on the stone without a sound. Hermione waited for him to get halfway across the yard before following, grazing her knee as she ungracefully heaved one leg over at a time. She slid down the wall, wincing as the stone scratched against her skin. Hermione stuck to the shadows, tiptoeing behind the Slytherin who seemed to glide across the grounds and leaving no trace of himself behind.

The rain hammered down onto the pair as they headed towards the lake, Hermione's bare legs trembling as the icy water trickled down them unpleasantly. In nothing but her traditional Weasley jumper and some pyjama shorts Hermione followed Draco down the hill, bare feet sliding unpleasantly in the thick mud. Draco marched on ahead, moonlight casting an eerie glow upon his pale face as he headed towards the darkest part of the grounds where the forest overlooked the lake; trees looming over the water and casting dark shadows across the surface. Hermione didn't get too close, hiding behind a tree to conceal herself from the alert eyes of the Slytherin. She peered out from behind it, watching him summon a small rowboat from the depths of the lake. He hopped in with ease, throwing his arms out to balance himself as the boat rocked. He tapped it thrice with his wand and to Hermione's amazement it began to glide across the water towards the small island where Dumbledore's grave was located. Hermione didn't hesitate, trudging through the slippery mud and dipping her foot into the water. She covered her mouth with her hand to muffle the gasp that escaped her lips. Holding her breath she stepped into the shallows, casting a bubblehead charm around herself before slipping under the waves.

Hermione's body stiffened once she was submerged, the chill seeping into her bones. She could feel the raindrops hitting the water right above her, not wanting to venture into the unknown depths of the lake. Hermione cast a heating charm on the water around her, feeling the warmth for just a moment before it was stolen by the autumn cold once more. Hermione began to swim as fast as she could, ignoring the stiffness of her bones as she pushed herself to go further towards the island; casting warming charms around herself as she went. Hermione was careful not to make a splash as she arrived at the island, grabbing a fistful of the plants in each hand and slowly climbing up the bank to the land above. Her whole body was trembling from the cold, rain mercilessly pelting down on her as she crawled behind a tree; peering out to see any sign of Draco.

Hermione spotted him instantly, bent over a cauldron and muttering quietly to himself as he read from a potions book. The cauldron rested upon Dumbledore's grave, ingredients held in a narrow black chest beside it. He growled with irritation, casting yet another bubble head charm over the book before the ink began to smudge. The rain continued to come down with force on the pair, popping Draco's charm whenever it could. He stirred the potion one final time before shoving the book into the chest and slamming it closed; the locks clicking into place. The rain only grew heavier as he hid the box within the ferns, placing the lid on the cauldron and stowing it beside the chest. He cast protective charms around the foliage, circling the area to make sure it was entirely out of sight. The mud was getting thicker with every passing moment, Hermione's body following gravity and sliding towards the island's edge. She clutched onto the trunk of the tree, not once taking her eyes off of the curious blond only meters from her.