Malfoy made it to the Lake without anyone noticing. McGonagall would skin him alive if she found him outside at this time of night. Throwing money at various charities and fundraisers had kept the Malfoys out of Azkaban. McGonagal was practically forced to let him return to school at by the Ministry of Magic.

She did not trust him however. None of them did. McGonagall had taken Malfoy aside on the first day of school and made it perfectly clear that if he broke a single school rule, neglected to hand in one piece of homework or so much as thought the word Mudblood in Granger's direction… she'd throw him out on his ear.

But he still took the occasional night walk. Malfoy hadn't had a decent nights sleep in about two years and he had nothing better to do.

At least that's what he told himself.

The walk to the Lake was hardly a pleasant one during the day. You could see the damage inflicted on the castle by the Death Eaters, the sections of missing wall, the scorch marks…

At night only the Lake was visible. A still, glass mirror… reflecting the night's sky. He had gone to the Lake every night for the past few months but tonight was different.

"Voldemort," said Malfoy quietly.

Nothing happened. No Death Eaters swarmed around him. He wasn't struck by a bolt of lightening. The ground didn't open and swallow him up. His Aunt didn't come back from the dead to torture him into madness.

Nothing.

"Voldemort!" he said a little louder.

Still... nothing. The giant squid didn't even rise up out of the Lake to drag Malfoy to his watery death.

Malfoy began to laugh. He hadn't felt this happy in years. He ran to the edge of the Lake and let insults fly.

"Voldemort!" he bellowed. "You epic failure! Potter made you scream like a girl! VOLDEMORT! Neville-bloody-Longbottom of all the blood traitor scum got the giant bloody worm of yours! You were defeated by love… you colossal pansy of a dark wizard! VOLDE-"

"Malfoy?"

Malfoy froze. He slowly turned around and found Hermione Granger standing there with her eyebrows raised. The Head Girl badge on her robes glinted. Malfoy found himself turning red. Oh crap...

He steeled himself for his impending expulsion but Hermione only smirked.

"Get to bed, Malfoy," she said smugly. "Before McGonagall turns you into a throw rug."

Hermione turned on her heel and left. Malfoy waited before she was a good distance away before scowling.

"Get to bed, Malfoy," he mimicked in a somewhat exaggerated and nasally version of Hermione's know it all voice.

He then grudgingly set off in the direction of the castle, muttering darkly as he walked.