Borrowed Time (Part 1 of the Time Turner Trilogy)

On Borrowed Time by Emaleth

GENRE: AU, Darkfic, Unresolved Sexual Tension.
ADT\'L(This Chapter): Nothing much going on yet... so eh.
RATING: PG-13... for now.
SUMMARY: Seventh Year, post Harry-defeats-Voldemort: Harry and Hermione became a couple the summer before their 7th year. Their romance went along well... until they went back to Hogwarts. The first day of class, Hermione was given an ultimatum to go back in time in order to change something that had just happened... and of course, her actions had consequences. Some might consider it bad, but she doesn\'t.
PAIRINGS: Harry/Hermione... then transforms to Draco/Hermione
DISCLAIMER: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
E-MAIL ME: manticorechimera@msn.com

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Chapter 5 - Hermione’s New Friend (Monday- September 10, 1996)

\"And finally, I would like you all to pay attention to this potion. Doxycide. Bottles of this potion are sold in stores for a fairly decent price, but why buy one when you can make one more effectively? It is used to put Doxies to sleep so that we may get rid of them or capture them. Now, can anyone tell me the ingredients needed to make one?\"

Most of the students were looking dazed and confused, and more than a few were yawning from the early morning, still not having quite woken up. Hermione was the only one to have her hand in the air. Half the Slytherins were rolling their eyes or scoffing under their breaths while Snape, from behind his desk, tried to hide his disgust for Miss Know-It-All.

\"Yes, Miss Granger,\" he said, signaling to Hermione.

\"The ingredients for the Doxycide potion are a vial each of daisy roots and dried tentacula vines, a sprig of alihosty, and finally, a teaspoon of powdered dittany.\"

\"Can anyone tell me how the potion should be…yes, Miss Granger?\"

\"The dried vines and the dittany have to be stewed at exact temperatures until the combination of the two red ingredients turns bright blue. Seconds after that, you have to take your cauldron off of the heat and add the rest of the ingredients. Taking the potion off too late and adding mentioned ingredients would cause the potion to explode.\"

The silence of the musky dungeon made the scratching of quills against parchment, alongside the sighs of those who were still trying to wake up, echo around the room.

\"Is there anything else you want to add, Miss Granger?\"

\"Yes, if I may. If brewed correctly, the potion should not affect any other species but Doxies. If it is done wrong, a drop of the potion on the skin can cause boils.\"

\"Very good,\" he said sarcastically before continuing. \"Now, I will pair you all off. Crabbe and Goyle, Potter and Weasley, Patil and Bullstrode, Malfoy and Granger.\"

Hermione heard both Ron and Harry send a loud gasp of pity her way. She knew they were already troubled by the change in Draco’s attitude these past few days and the fact that she seemed to have had something to do with it. Her being paired with Draco apparently caused them to be a bit more paranoid and skeptical of the boy.

\"One of you will collect the items mentioned from the cupboards while the other will start your cauldrons. Now, I want you all to mind what you are doing. I don’t want any of you sprouting boils.\"

Hermione was about to stand up, but Draco pulled her arm and motioned her to sit down.

\"No, you sit down, and I will get the ingredients. You set up the cauldron.\"

\"If you say so,\" answered Hermione weakly before starting a fire. A few moments later, Draco returned with the vials of the needed items.

\"Can you repeat how much of each ingredient is needed since you seem to know them all by heart?\" Draco asked her with a chuckle as he started uncorking the bottles on their desk.

\"I really hope you don’t expect me to do all the work,\" complained Hermione. \"I’ve already been with those two, and I always end up doing all the work.\" She nodded pointedly at Harry and Ron.

\"I don’t. Just tell me how much of each item is needed and when I need to get them out of the fire. You don’t even have to lift a finger.\"

\"If you say so.\"

\"I am not kidding. I am going to treat you like a queen.\"

\"Why?\" she giggled as she placed the dried vines and the dittany in the cauldron.

\"Because you saved my life and I owe you one.\"

Hermione nodded, letting what he said pass. \"If you say so, then.\"

They watched as the potion turned purplish, watching it to turn blue before Draco began to speak again.

\"There’s more to what I said, you know.\"

\"Do you care to elaborate on that?\"

\"Because I like you… a lot.\"

\"What?\"

Hermione’s surprise caused everyone around to look at her curiously. She felt her face turn beet-red as she hurriedly gathered potholders to take the cauldron off the fire.

\"Could you repeat what you just said?\" she asked as Draco continued.

\"I said I like you, and I do not mean I like you as a friend. Well, I do, but I was expecting more of a friend-friend. I want to be friends with you like how you and Harry are friends.\"

\"Like Harry and Ron are friends with me?\"

\"Sort of like that,\" he stressed.

Hermione’s heart started to pound wildly against her ribcage. She finally comprehended what he meant: Draco wanted to be in a loving relationship with her. She shivered at the thought, yet tried to retain her cool composure.

\"I don’t understand, Draco.\"

\"You know quite well know what I meant,\" he said before pouring the rest of the ingredients into the cauldron. He then reached for her hand.

He caressed her hands in between his two palms and massaged her fingers. He looked at her all googly-eyed, and Hermione did not mind what he was doing at all. She liked his showing affection.

\"I like you,\" he continued. \"I have liked you for ages. If I was not busying myself being the bad guy, I would have been the first one to befriend you.\"

Hermione giggled nervously. She turned towards Harry, but he did not seem to be very keen on Draco having his hands on hers. The look on his face explained it all. He was alternating glares at Draco and at her. She knew that allowing Draco to continue would cause Harry to jump him

\"Let’s be serious now, Draco,\" she ordered in a stern voice as she pulled her hand away. \"No more silly antics, understood?\"

\"Lighten up.\" He then made another attempt to reach for her hand.

\"Stop holding my hand.\"

\"But…\"

\"Just stop it Draco!\"

\"Hermione…\"

A loud stuttering came from the behind them, and there was a terrified look on Neville’s face. The cauldron in front of him had started to boil over the edge, and Draco knew what he had to. He pushed Hermione out of the way, startling her as a loud bang signaled the explosion. Draco hugged her tight, preventing the rest of the potion splattering on her.

\"Thanks,\" she said as he pushed her away from the mess. When she turned to face Draco, she screamed.

\"Draco! Your hands!\"

\"Aah!\"

*****

Neville had apparently waited too long for the concoction to brew and then had added the rest of the ingredients while it was still under the flame. About a dozen students were on their way to the Infirmary, screaming as the boils on their arms and faces grew by the second.

Hermione did not notice that her left hand was splattered with a few drops of the potion, but Draco did, and he made sure she was tended to before himself. When Madame Pomfrey was done with her hand, she stayed to watch her attend to Draco.

\"You don’t have to stay,\" said Draco, wincing as he took off his white shirt. He kept his left arm inside the sleeves, rolling the rest of his shirt around his arm.

All Hermione could do was cringe at the sight of the huge boils on his back.

\"I will be fine, really.\"

\"No, no, no,\" she answered. \"I would be in your position now if you did not push me away. Let me stay. It’s the least I can do.\"

\"Alright. OW!\"

\"Oh, stop wincing Mr. Malfoy. This antidote is sting-free.\"

\"It still does hurt a bit,\" Hermione heard him mutter under his breath between winces.

Hermione knew there was not much pain involved with the diminishing of the boils since she had been treated only minutes before, but she could not help but feel thankful that Draco was there.

\"Thank you,\" she told him as Madame Pomfrey started to bandage his back.

\"It is not a big deal. I owe you.\"

\"You don’t owe me anything.\"

\"Yes, I do,\" he insisted. \"I owe you everything.\"

\"Hey,\" said Harry. \"Ron and I decided to gather your things before coming up here. He has our bags, so I decided to fetch you. Are you alright?\"

\"Yeah, I am doing fine. Draco took most of the…\"

\"Let’s go then,\" he interrupted insistently.

Hermione turned around and thanked Draco silently before waving goodbye. Harry grabbed her hand and dragged her out of the infirmary angrily.

As they reached the staircase, she pulled away from his grasp and slapped him on the shoulder.

\"What was that for?\" he shouted.

\"That was for being rude.\"

\"You just waved goodbye to Malfoy!\"

\"He saved my life Harry.\"

\"He copped a feel, Hermione! I saw him touching your hand while the two of you were creating that potion. I also saw him hug you when…”

\"He tried to protect me from the explosion, Harry. You would have done the same.\"

\"I would, but I thought I was your boyfriend.\"

\"You are. He was just being nice.\"

\"You seem to be enjoying this little parody he is playing on all of us.\"

\"Parody? Can’t you just believe that people can change?\"

\"Malfoy? Change? You might was well expect pigs to fly!\"

\"Pigs can fly.”

\"I did not mean magically. I meant in the Muggle World. Just don’t change the subject.\"

\"I was not.\"

\"Just… just stay away from him, alright? No matter how friendly he is and all.\"

\"He just needs a friend.\"

\"Stay away from him. Do it for me?\"

Hermione let out a defeated sigh before nodding her head. Harry placed his arm around her shoulder and kissed her on the forehead.

\"Thanks, Hermione.\"

\"No problem.\"


**********END OF CHAPTER**********


~@~ PLEASE REVIEW!!! Or at least leave some lovin\'! VOTE!!! ~@~

A/N: This fanfic was written for for the Contra Veritas : Dr/Hr Fanfic Challenge AKA Livejournal\'s \"The Enemy\'s Valentine - Dr/Hr Fic Gift Exchange.\" The rules were a bit restricted (I had to include Time-travel, Love triangles and a Happy ending... and NO Harry/Ginny romance) and so was my fanfic. The second part of the Trilogy would have a bit more freedom but I\'ll just play it by ear, k???

Sorry about that LOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG ass hiatus. Sooo much writing to do, so little time.
Again, I apologize. Don\'t hurt me ;_;