#prat

Chapter four: post 3/10 “lifted spirits.”

(Small side bar: this has been one of my favourite little interactions I wrote early on in story development. It’s the main reason this chapter exists as I couldn’t really squeeze it in anywhere and now here we are enjoying silly little slices of life at the manor together.

I haven’t slept well in a few days so my mood is 📉 but I already feel a bit better sharing this absolute brat behaviour on Draco’s part. I hope you enjoy. onwards we go.)

⋆｡ ﾟ☁︎｡ ⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡ ⋆

Hermione and Draco stood before the entrance to the hedge-maze on the manor’s expansive grounds.

Draco had promised Hermione a tour late that afternoon. As they wandered through the maze he reminisced about his childhood.

“I got lost in the hedge-maze when I was just a boy.” He said as they turned another corner in the seemingly unending maze. “Father couldn’t find me due to the anti apparition wards.”

Hermione was heartened to see him smiling at the memory. She reached forward to brush her fingers lightly along the dense leaves of the maze, feeling the wards vibrate under her touch.

“This magic is quite impressive.” She muttered, turning back to Draco who watched her with intrigue.

“How long did it take you to find your way out?” She asked.

“Oh, almost a full day.” Draco said and took a slow step back. A grin pulled at the corner of his mouth as he folded his arms and slowly began disappearing.

Hermione watched him confused. “What are you-“ she began, but then caught the way his eyes glittered mischievously. “Wait!” She yelled, realising what was happening.

Malfoy let out a low chuckle as he continued to fade away. “Watch out for the chimera.” He said as he vanished completely with an infuriating wave of his hand.

Hermione spun around. He’d left her in the middle of the maze with Schrödinger’s chimera and no idea how to get out.