Forbidden Paths

Chapter 5

“So how was it with Malfoy last night?” asked Harry when they caught up with Hermione on their way to Care of Magical Creatures class.

“It was productive,” Hermione said with a slight smile.

Ron and Harry both exchanged glances but decided not to question her any further. They walked up to Hagrid’s Hut and they saw that once again he had planned on taking them into the Forest.

“ There yer are Harry. Been looking fer ya. I got summit to show yer. Hermione and Ron you can come too. It’s a new Creature called an Augurey. Yeh’ve read about them haven’t you?”

Hermoine squealed, “Oooh! Hagrid those are really rare aren’t they?”

“Nah you just don’t see them much. Not really friendly creatures, yeh see. They like to keep to themselves mostly.”

“So why don’t we let them keep to themselves,” said a nasty drawling voice that was coming up the hill.
“Because they will come up on yer N.E.W.T.s. So shut up and follow me inter the forest if you know what’s good for your grade Malfoy.”

“But don’t they predict death?” asked Parvati nervously.

“Nah, that’s just a silly superstition,” said Hagrid with a slight chuckle, “They predict a big storm is coming. Come on let’s get goin.”

They walked into the forest in a tight knit group. Hermione could feel someone pressed up real close against her and she was pretty sure that it was a boy.

Draco smelt that smell of strawberries as they walked into the forest. He knew that he was behind Granger. He started breathing quickly again as he remembered all the times that he had been in the forest. Last year they had been in the forest they learned about Thestrals, and in his first year he and Potter had run into the Dark Lord.

Suddenly the whole class stopped dead in their tracks as they heard a thr throbbing cry. The whole class looked up and saw a thin and mournful looking bird that looked quite like an underfed vulture that was a greenish black color.

“This here is an Augurey,” he said pointing at the bird that was continuing to make some noise, “Who here can tell me what the Augurey eats?”

Hermione’s hand flew up into the air almost hitting Draco in the face. “Go ahead Hermione said Hagrid,” with a caring smile.

“It eats mostly large insects and fairies. Flies in heavy rain, otherwise it remains in its tear shaped nest that’s made from bramble and thorn.”

“Good girl ten points to Gryffindor. Now for homework I would like you to read up on Uric the Oddball and his association with Augurey’s and for extra credit you can read Why I Did Not Die When The Augurey Cried by Gulliver Pokeby. I want a foot essay on why he came up with the conclusion that it’s cry was not a death omen. You’re dismissed,” he finished as they heard the lunch bell ring.

“Nice one Hermoine,” Harry said patting her on the back. Draco rolled his eyes and walked back to the castle with Crabbe and Goyle.

After Quidditch practice that day he walked into the Library so he could that book for Hagrid’s class. That stupid oaf, He thought, Assigning extra credit. But I have to do it if I expect to be named Head Boy next year. I need to have top grades in all my classes. He walked into the section where he knew he would find the book and as he found it on the shelf he reached for it but someone beat him to it. He turned to his left and saw Hermione standing next to him with a smug look on her face.

“Come on Granger, I need that book for the half- breeds class,” Malfoy snarled.

“Come on who?” Hermione said with her eyes narrowed at the comment Malfoy had just made about Hagrid.

“You know what I mean… Hermione,” Malfoy drawled.

“Well, I ‘m sorry I can’t help you Harry, Ron and I need this book to do the extra credit assignment for Hagrid’s class. Well, I could make an exception. You and I could work on it right now then when your done I can take up to my common room and finish with Harry and Ron,” she said with a hint of annoyance in her voice.

“How ‘bout not,” Draco said cocking his head to one side and raising his eyebrows.

“Fine, your loss,” Hermione said with a look of triumph on her face.

Before she could get far Draco grabbed her arm with all his might and swung her around. The look of triumph had flown form Hermione’s face and it had been replaced with a look of fright. “Give it here Mudblood,” Malfoy said his teeth bared and his nostrils flared.

“No,” Hermione said her voice shaking tears welling up ir eyr eyes, “Let go of me Malfoy you’re hurting me.”

“I’ll say it one more time. Give me the god damn book Mudblood,” Draco said with a heartless look on her face.

“No,” she said and Malfoy swung his hand back as if he were going to hit her and her eyes widened in fear. Malfoy looked at her and saw the look that his mother had on her face when his father would be threatening to hit her. He dropped Hermione’s hand and sank back into his chair and put his head in his hands.

“Malfoy… I mean Draco, are you alright,” Hermione asked timidly rubbing her arm where Malfoy had had a hold of her.

“Leave me the Hell alone Granger!” Malfoy said in a hoarse voice. Hermione knew that he was on the verge of tears so she kind of blushed and then made up her mind and sat downt tot to him. She repeated her question.

He looked up at her with blood shot eyes a single tear trailing down his pale face. He said, “Do I look alright? I said leave me alone.”

“No, I won’t,” she put he books on the counter and leisurely put a hand on his back and gave it a couple of pats.

“What do you care? My feelings usually, no let me rephrase that, my feelings never mean anything to you,” he said in the hoarse voice that he had adopted when he dropped Hermione’s hand.

“I just want to know okay!” she snapped, “I don’t have to explain myself to you.”
“Oh and I have to explain myself to you?” Malfoy said disbelieving Hermione’s niceness to him of all people.

She sized him up and bluntly said, “Yes, you do.”

She stared at him as if she was waiting for an explanation. So he slowly said, “When I saw your face I reminded me of someone that I don’t ever want to be,” he finished and when he look at Hermione’s inquiring eyes he said, “My father.”

“Oh I see,” said Hermione but she really didn’t see. But then it occurred to her that Malfoy’s dad must hit his mom.

“Well, now you’ve heard what you want. Go and run along to your little friends so you can have your little study party with the Potty and the Weasel,” Malfoy said.

“Shut it Draco. Here’s the book. I can start while you start and finish,” She opened the book and started reading.

He muttered thanks and they started reading