Draco was especially vicious the next day, calling Harry out for apparently, "being so ugly, your mom begged You-Know-Who to end her misery."

Then he tripped him and asked if his head was "getting too large" and if he needed a walking stick, because if so, there's one up his behind that he could benefit from.

The torment followed Harry into Hogsmeade and when Hermione tried to step in Draco took the opportunity to snarl, "Oh, look, he's sent his little girlfriend to do his dirty work – how long are you going to hide behind girls, Potter? First, your mother, now this m-mudblood." He stuttered at the end, given Hermione's history of violence, he didn't think it was particularly smart to insult her directly to her face. Especially when he was entirely within arm's reach, but his irritation at Harry gave him a boost of courage to utter the foul word.

"What's gotten into you, Draco?" She hissed, concerned. Seeing her kindness and the curiosity of his goons creeping up behind him, he backed away from her as though he repulsed her.

"Nothing's wrong with me. What's the matter with you?" He said it as though he couldn't believe she had the audacity to address him and she was stung by it, although she put on a brave face and continued staring after him.

Ron rounded on his two friends and made a rude gesture behind the Slytherin's back and gave Hermione a look that said, 'See? Friend my arse.'

"He's probably just stressed out," Hermione said in retaliation to Ron's derisive expression.

"Or maybe he's just a tosser."

"Ron!" Hermione watched as Draco whispered to Crabbe and Goyle before doubling back and disappearing from view. She knew what he was going to do and it made her blood run cold at the thought that something might happen to him. What if he got caught? What if he touched the cursed object?

All her fears were unfounded, as the parcel never found its way into school grounds. At Hermione's incessant nagging, the three of them found themselves hiding outside of the Hog's Head where Hermione was certain Draco was headed for, until a familiar face appeared.

"What are yeh lot doin' down 'ere?" The gruff growl was unmistakably Hagrid's, whose bushy mane bore down on them.

"Looks like yeh've been busy, too busy to see an old friend or take their classes..." He trailed off before picking up, "Suppose yeh have a new hobby now, spyin' and sniffin' 'round places yer not meant to be... Now come along with me..." The Care of Magical Creatures professor – it was odd to think of Hagrid as a professor, especially since neither of them were taking his lessons now that they've made their electives - beckoned to them and it took the three a while to straighten themselves out as their limbs and thighs were stiff from holding them up against the wall of the pub. 

They trudged after Hagrid who guided them to The Three Broomsticks and ushered them into a booth.

Harry seemed to struggle for a big before blurting out, "Malfoy's up to something–"

"'Arry, Aurors are stationed all over the place, Dumbledore's reinforced security not just in Hogwarts, but all over Hogsmeade. Nothing dark or dangerous would find itself anywhere near a hundred miles of here. Yeh best focus on yer studies. Sixth year is a big year." Hagrid nodded his giant head and slopped down three butterbeers and a firewhiskey.

"She isn't likely ter admit it, but Professor McGonagall stuck out 'er neck fer yeh she has. Yer on thin ice with Professor Snape, an yeh'd do better revisin' rather than playin' Auror if you ever want ter become one." It wasn't like Hagrid to nag, but he seemed to be more preoccupied than anything, and none like his cheery old self.

"Is anything the matter, Hagrid?" Hermione ventured, putting a small hand on his forearm.

"Nuthin's the matter, why would anything be the matter... 'cept..." Huge tears started rolling down his bearded cheeks, "Aragog's not been well." Hagrid gave a loud sniff and downed his firewhiskey, gave a hiccup, and waved at Madame Rosmerta for another pint.

"Er... The giant spider that tried to eat us?" Ron squeaked, face slightly tinged grey.

Hagrid waved a ham-sized palm at Ron's accusations, "Aragog's harmless... It's his 'atchings. They've been getting a bit rowdy and I 'av–'aven't been able to properly visit." A loud sob wracked through Hagrid's frame, slopping almost half a pint of the firewhisky Madame Rosemerta had just placed in his hand.

"That's horrible, Hagrid..." Hermione ventured, "Is there anything we can do?"

Ron gave a little squeak at the idea of going into the forbidden forest to visit an oversized spider. Before he could protest the idea, Hagrid gave a big honking blow into a rag that he pulled out from under his coat.

"No! I don't want any of yeh near the forest, yeh hear?" He hollered the last bit, causing all three of them to jump. "Appreciate the sentiment, I do, but it's not safe, especially fer yeh." He jabbed a thick finger at Harry. "The lengths that Dumbledore has gone ter in order ter keep yeh safe, don't yeh go looking fer trouble."

"I don't look for trouble–" Harry started mumbling but Hagrid waved him off.

"What's this I hear about Malfoy? What have yeh lot got against him? If anythin' ever goes sideways, he's always the firs' name out of yer mouth. I s'pose some just can't get along, eh?"

Ron snorted and said something sarcastically under his breath that sounded like, "Some find snakes easier to get along with than others." But it was such a vague statement that it went over Hagrid's head and he didn't stop to ask for further clarification. Hermione got the message loud and clear, and added a short retort that had Hagrid looking at the two quizzically.

"Wha's this? Yer fightin' abou' summat?"

"Ask Hermione." Ron sniggered.

Hagrid seemed a little taken aback by this suggestion, because he remembered how incensed Hermione was when Buckbeak was sentenced to die. How many nights did she spend holed up in his little hut, trying to work up a case against the ministry's verdict? He tilted his head away from her, as though trying to figure something out.

"I believe that everyone has the capacity for change," Hermione said haughtily, and in a smaller voice, hissed, "Even if you don't." There was a little smirk on her face that looked vaguely similar to Draco's.

"I-I think Hermione's got the righ' idea," Hagrid said, flummoxed at the expression on her face, "Grawp is coming along quite nicely if I say so meself."

"Okay, well, Hagrid, we'd love to stay and chat, but er... we're headed up to the castle now." Harry interrupted before Hagrid could go on. The last thing they needed to hear was how he wants to train Grawp to be a gamekeeper.

"Well, I'm heading up there meself," Hagrid said, standing up and dropping a few golden galleons on the table, "Shall we?"

The three got up reluctantly and trooped out of The Three Broomsticks with Hagrid. Hermione kept looking around, hoping to catch a glimpse of a certain blond-haired figure.

"He did say he'd give me the parcel, didn't he?" She said softly to Harry who was trudging through the snow beside her.

"Did he?"

One thumbnail caught between her lips, Hermione cast one last glance around before leaping to attention, "Harry!" She grabbed his arm and gestured towards a figure who was shrouded in black and Slytherin green.

"Where's the package?" She looked quizzically, trying to discern whether there was anything under his winter coat.

"Hermione, think. How are you going to get it past Filch and his stick?"

"Your map!" Hermione gasped, "Where is it? Didn't you use a map to sneak into Honeydukes in our third year? We could–"

Harry started fumbling through his pockets and shook his head.

"Come along!" Hagrid's loud voice boomed ahead of them. Neither he nor Ron stopped when Harry and Hermione did.

"Just drop it Hermione, I don't think he's going to try bringing anything into Hogwarts today."

"But we–" She was cut off as Harry took her by the arm and started dragging him towards where Hagrid and Ron were waiting.

She took another look at the figure moving slowly in their direction and steeled her resolve. Yanking her arm out of Harry's grip, she ran towards Draco.

When she got close enough, the boy looked up in disbelief. Robbed of words, he waited as she stopped in front of him and grabbed his scarf to steady herself.

"Draco," Hermione breathed, "Where is it?"

"I'm not giving it to you!" The boy said, taking a step back.

"Look, Hagrid's right there. He can–"

"I'm not trusting that oaf!"

Stung and feeling awkward holding onto the ends of his scarf, Hermione dropped her hands, "But you're not going to get past the Secrecy Sensor–"

"Flitch is not getting anywhere near it..." He almost spat, " Don't you know by now? The world works differently for people like me."

She looked up beseechingly into his face, "Return it, Draco. You don't have to go through with it. You could say I stopped you–"

"And they call you smart. Don't you think Selgentar would wonder why I told you my plans?"

"Draco, please. Think of a lie."

A slow, sad smirk spread across his face, "Lie?"

"Lie." Hermione said firmly.