I sat in my bedroom, dozing slightly. It'd been a long day. The summer was over in two weeks and I had been studying my head off so I would be prepared for whatever was thrown at me. Not even Professor Snape would be able to take off points for my intelligence this year. It was also my final year at Hogwarts and I was sure, what with a war looming, that falling behind was not an option. Harry needed all the support he could get and I was determined to help in any way I could, and to do that I needed to be ahead of everyone else.
My bedroom was plain, comparing it to other 16 year old girl's rooms. My bedspread was a plain, pale blue and the walls were still as white as they had been when my family bought this house two years before I was born. I had a desk up against a wall and a dresser on another. I had my school trunk at the end of my bed filled with homework and potion supplies. I also had a small nightstand that I kept my wand in at all times, even though I couldn't use it except in emergencies. I was best friends with Harry Potter, so I assumed that one day there would probably be an emergency that warranted the use of my wand outside of school.
My parents were already sound asleep two doors down; they had a ridiculously early bedtime at 6:30. I was free to stay up as long I pleased, only I had to wake up as soon as my parents did. They always insisted that breakfast be the meal we ate together every morning, because they had such a busy day.
It was eleven at night and I was working away. I could feel the ink splatters all over my face and hands, but knew that the essay needed to be finished before I went to sleep. It was a goal of mine, finish the essay's within four days of it having been assigned. I'd been sleeping too much this summer, so I wanted to finish what was left of my school work and be done with it.
my parents knew nothing of the war I was in. I couldn't find a way to tell them, it wasn't that I was afraid they would demand that I stay in the muggle world, because they obviously couldn't make me. I was worried about causing them to worry and that if they knew anything about Harry and Dumbledore that it would make them a target. It might be ridiculous, but I wasn't taking any chances with my own parents.
I dotted my last ' I' and blew on the parchment so the ink would dry faster. I was tired from all the packing, studying, and the writing I'd had to do in less that 12 hours. When I was satisfied the parchment was dry enough, I put it away in a folder and placed it in my trunk. Feeling relieved, I pulled my t- shirt over my head and put on a clean one.
I pulled back the thick comforter on my bed and slid in with a sigh of contentment. Just two more weeks and I would be at Hogwarts.
I bolted upright when a crash echoed through the house. A groan of frustration could be heard faintly and I reacted quickly. I grabbed my wand from the nightstand just as my bedroom door flew open. I recognized the mask and cloak instantly.
Death eater.
Before I could even muttered a spell I felt myself fly into my desk, bruising my back horribly. I cried out from the pain, but knew my parents wouldn't hear, because of the silencing charm I'd placed on my room earlier. I wordlessly tried to disarm the death eater, but he was quick to block my spell. I ducked under his 'stupefy' and jumped over the bed to the other side.
"Stupefy," I screamed in annoyance. His body dropped with a thud.
I smiled with relief that I d successfully stunned him and cast a body bind curse just in case he woke too soon. I checked the house for any other death eaters, but found no one. They probably thought I wasn't worth more than one death eater and a bad one at that.
The protection wards on my parents room were still intact, so I knew they were safe. If only everyone knew just how talented I was with magic. How powerful I could be, they wouldn't underestimate me they way Voldemort did. He underestimated everyone, though, so I couldn't really single him out.
I looked back at the death eater and was tempted to remove the mask and see who he was, but I knew I needed contact Albus and then Severus Snape to inform them I'd been attacked. I'd never hear the end of it from Snape if I didn't.
I didn't have an owl with me, obviously, so my patronous was my last resort. My otter appeared effortlessly and went to carry out the message I needed.
I double checked that the death eater was still stunned and bound, before I went to check on my parents, as I needed something to do while I waited. My hands were shaking with adrenaline, but I took a deep breath to calm myself.
They were sound asleep and I thought about waking them, but figured they would over react and start yelling. I knew they were trying hard not to let me know they were having problems in their marriage. I could tell by how far apart they slept.
I closed the door and her a soft crack signaling the arrival of either Severus or Albus. My back just now started feeling the blow I took, so I limped down to my bedroom and stunned the death eater again for good measure.
"Miss Granger?"
Severus was the one to come then. I sighed just a bit, before calling out I was in her bedroom. I knew it was really him and not an imposter. I didn't think anyone could pull of Severus Snape. His tall, muscular form appeared in my doorway and I pointed to the body laying on the floor. My whole body ached from being thrown into the desk…which was now crushed. No wonder I felt so horrible. Did he really need to have thrown me that hard?
"I see, were you injured?" He asked shortly, but with an expression I 'd never seen before.
"No, just bruises. He threw me into the desk. My very nice desk, that is now ruined." My lips pulled down and I could already hear my parents voices yelling at me about it.
Severus's lips thinned out in amusement, though I pretended not to notice since I was too busy frowning at the broken desk.
He waved his wand over the desk it looked as though it had never been damaged.
"Thank you." I said sincerely. It was too bad I couldn't do it myself for another…18 days. I would be 17 in 18 days. That thought was enough to pull me out of my bad mood completely.
"I don't see why you didn't do it yourself." He pointed out.
"I'm underage and repairing my desk couldn't really be counted as defending myself." I explained, waiting for his sarcastic remark about being such a Gryffindor and everything else he thought about me.
"Fair point. You should get your things."
I frowned; why would I need my things when the train didn't leave until the first of September?
"The headmaster isn't going to risk your safety by insisting that you stay here when there is barely two weeks until term starts. You should wake your parents as well."
I froze and considered a way out of that. I would finally have to tell them that I was part of a war.
"Is there a problem, Miss Granger?" I shook my head and left to wake my parents. It wasn't as if I could refuse.
"Mom, wake up." my mother mumbled something and turned over causing her father to fall right off the bed.
"What the hell was that for Mary!" my father boomed and I knew that this would cause and argument.
I silenced them both, even though I knew they would ground me for it.
Once I had their attention I explained that I'd been attacked and that they all needed to leave.
My father called me a lair and wanted me to go back to bed. Why is he treating me like a little girl?
"Dad, don't make me force you." I pleaded and me father calmed enough to agree.
Severus was waiting with the death eater and he handed me an object covered in a green cloth.
" A portkey, to take you and your parents to Hogwarts." He explained while my father sent nasty glares at him. I couldn't even guess why. Severus noticed and sent me a questioning look before addressing my father.
"Is there a problem Mr. Granger?" Severus asked with one eyebrow raised. My father's face flushed red in anger.
"Of course there's a problem. You're in my daughter's bedroom at 3 in the morning."
The look on Severus's face was priceless. He was torn between being horrified and shocked at such a suggestion.
"Dad, Professor Snape is 25 years my senior, you've nothing you worry about." I said soothingly but Mary interjected surprising me.
"Your father is 15 years my senior. You know you aren't supposed to have a man in your room let alone two." She snapped harshly. I couldn't believe my ears. The second 'man' had been my attacker? I was furious at my mother. How could she say such things to a well respected teacher and her own daughter?
"You bitch!" I knew the mistake I made as soon as the words left my mouth.
A slap connected with my face and I acted before thinking.
"Oblivate!"
My mother's eyes grew unfocused and before my father could scream and hit me as well, I erased his memory too. I couldn't worry about having performed the spell wrong and damaging their minds at the moment. I silently lead them to their bedroom, feeling like I'd been kicked in the stomach. I kept telling myself that I 'd only reacted that way from all the tension from being attacked. I was just over reacting.
" I guess they are not coming then?" I nodded, holding my tongue. Getting a detention wouldn't help matters.
I unwrapped the portkey and felt myself being pulled in every direction, then I was in the headmaster's office, clutching my side. my back did not like that sensation and every part of my body throbbed with pain.
The headmaster greeted me happily and sent me down to the infirmary, ignoring my protest. I replayed the recent events of the night and wondered just who came to attack me.
I pushed open the door to the infirmary and saw Severus standing over a bed. Why would he be here?
Severus moved out of the way and I could see who he'd been looking at. The death eater that attacked me. Carefully, Poppy pulled the mask off his face to reveal…..
Draco Malfoy.
A/N:Let me know if I should continue with reviews!