A Slither and A Pounce

Chapter 8

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Hermione was not looking forward to the day. She would have a couple's class at noon and then therapy, it being only nine in the morning left her feeling anxious. She was obviously nervous for the couple's activity (of which she had no idea what they would be doing) but therapy with Mrs. Malfoy was what she really was beginning to dread.

Part of her wanted to think that Mrs. Malfoy would pretend to be ignorant, but the other part of her wanted to see the lady Malfoy break her cover, she wanted to see if her therapist was the same person even when supposedly becoming her mother-in-law.

Harry was seated on the couch in the Common Room, Ginny lay on his lap perpendicular to him, he was reading Quidditch Through the Ages and Ginny was playing with his hair. They were the picture of love. Ron was nowhere in sight so Hermione walked over to the love-struck couple to ask about his whereabouts.

"Harry, Ginny, have you seen Ron?"

"Nope —" Ginny popped, but then looking up to Hermione saw that her friend was serious, "I think he went to walk with Dean or Seamus. Something about the lake."

"Right, thanks," Hermione said hoping that they were keeping her friend good company. For the third time that morning she checked her watch; 9:16 AM.

"I suppose I will go to the library then until counseling, see you then," Hermione made her hasty retreat feeling nerves tickle her stomach. It was going to be a very interesting day, whether it would turn out good or not was to be decided.

The library was strangely occupied, many of the students seemingly finding comfort in the quiet and calm of the books. Hermione walked through the isles, not really looking for anything but simply scanning the colors, the thickness, the age of the books. A particularly thick book cover caught her eye, it was really quite ginormous, what topic would have been so interesting that it required these many pages? She pulled it out a crack but was disappointed to see it was just a catalogue of charms.

"I didn't think you would fancy a dull charms book Granger, I took you for a more aspiring witch,"

The voice made her jump, her wand whipped out and ready to stun who ever it was that spoke. Being met with the cold grey eyes of Draco Malfoy though, her wand lowered and she recollected herself, "Malfoy," she addressed coolly. The blond threw her a book, small and black, "I figured you would be here, pity you are so predictable Granger," he said it with a sneer, but his eyes betrayed his emotions, he was relieved.

Despite better reasoning, Hermione looked down and the book in her hands. The book was made of leather, dyed black. The title was nonexistent and there were no words on the pages, "Charmed I presume? I don't understand," Hermione asked.

"I thought it would be the wizard equivalent for texting, that is to say, if you need something, or if I am needed for some ridiculous couple training, you can write me a message, I have the mate," He flourished out another identical book from behind and tucked it out of view seconds later. He pushed off the bookshelf and sauntered past her without so much as another word.

Hermione had to head to counseling soon enough, as such she left the library early. Her thoughts were a little muddled and she felt some leaden dread fill her stomach, why on earth would Malfoy give her something like this? It had to be a trap of some sort, goodness knows what he could be planning. She turned a corner and felt fear and paranoia begin to take hold. The book could be charmed, it could kill her. But Malfoy would have to be more careful than that, so it would kill her based on her own actions, perhaps if she were to write in it then it would kill her.