That Ship Has Sailed

Draco & Hermione I

"How's studying going?"

"Not well," Hermione huffed, "You?"

"Please, you know I don't like to study. It's going worse than yours," Harry chuckled as he sat down beside Hermione.

"Where's Ron?"

"Out with some of the guys, I think. Why?"

"No reason," Hermione replied quickly, "What are your plans for tonight?"

Harry shrugged, fiddling with his wand and casting pointless flickers of light and steam from it. Hermione watched the light sparks for a few seconds, then shut her book, "Well, I think I'll go for a walk. Get out of my head for a while."

"I'll come with you," Harry said, standing to follow her.

"No!" Hermione said quickly. Too quickly. She paused, "I mean. I'd rather be alone. I need to clear my head and I don't want to talk to anybody."

"I won't talk. You won't even know I'm there."

"I'd rather go alone, Harry. I'll see you when I get back."

Harry scratched his back with his wand, "You seem to be going for a lot of 'walks' recently and won't let me come along. What's up with you? Are you meeting someone or doing something you don't want me to know about?"

Hermione paused, her mind racing for an excuse.

"Never mind," Harry said, "I'll just go find Ron and the guys and see what they're doing. Enjoy your walk," he said, walking past her and out the door.

Hermione sighed and scratched her head with both hands before following Harry out the door, though parting ways with him in the hallway. She made her way stealthily through the hallways, avoiding passing teenagers and first years as she did.

Finally, she reached a tower and started down the staircase, hurrying as fast as she could. When she reached the bottom, she looked around to make sure the coast was clear before opening a window and climbing out of it, dropping to the ground carefully. She then began running through the fields, wishing she'd brought her jacket and scarf. She hadn't wanted to notify Harry that she'd be leaving the castle, so she hadn't brought them, but as she ran through the light snow banks, she cursed herself for not bringing them anyway.

Finally, she reached the edge of the lake and began walking again, hugging her arms around her as she walked toward the far edge near the woods.

When she reached the first cluster of trees, she stopped and waited, rubbing up and down her arms to keep warm.

"Draco?" She whisper yelled, "Draco, where are you?"

Finally, a head peaked out from behind some trees and Draco whispered back, "Is the coast clear?"

"Yes," Hermione replied with a smile, walking toward him.

He stopped when he saw her, "What are you doing?! You're going to freeze!"

"I'm fine, just come closer and keep me warm."

"Why didn't you bring your coat and scarf?" Draco scolded as he opened his jacket robes to pull Hermione into them to warm her.

"Harry left at the same time as me and I didn't want him to know where I was going or that I was leaving the castle."

Draco scowled, "So you'd rather freeze? You're so prideful sometimes, Hermione."

Hermione looked up at him, "We don't have long. It'll be dark soon. Let's not waste our time arguing. I'll wear my jacket next time, okay?"

"Or we can choose a warmer place--say, inside the castle?"