PART FOUR

How could he be here? Here, in this sudden realm of uncertainty? The Wizarding World was my haven… my secret place… the world of my dreams, the place whereunto I could divest myself of that blackest taint my lineage had swathed so brutally upon my soul.

I caught Draco's glittering silver eyes, where he stood half-cloaked in inky black shadows across the room, and for a moment, I swore I saw compassion glinting in their enigmatic depths.

Suddenly, I longed for him to come rescue me… Rescue me from this shame, rescue me from the horror of my life…

But reality stood before me like an unflinching sentinel. My father was here, here, in front of all my fellow witch and wizards. He would expose his brutality, his depravity—and thus, mine.

Good God, why was this happening to me?

It couldn't be happening!

My father fixed me with a steely gaze, his lips set in a thin line rife with condemnation.

"Hermione," he said ominously, "You must come with me. Your mother and I have much to discuss with you."

I eyed him warily as his hand crept down towards his pocket, where I knew he kept three different machine guns.

"I am not in the mood to tarry, my daughter." He cast a disdainful glance at my fellow students, who stood there watching awe, horror, and in some cases, boredom.

"No, father!" I cried. "I will not follow you! I am happy here! I've found all the love you've denied me… all the happiness and security that you've selfishly squandered while smiting down your foes!"

Suddenly, the one thing I had dreaded most of all, the awful horror that haunted my dreams, occurred.

"Hermione," my father said, "Just because your mother and I are gangsters and thus kill many people, does not mean you are any better than us. I know you killed someone, too! There is Blood on Your Hands, too, young lady!"

I heard horrified gasps and screams all around me, like a symphony of gasps and screams—filled with condemnation, replete with my impending banishment from the society of my fellow students.

I felt my shoulders droop, and my head dropped with heavy shame. I could not bear to see the horror on the faces of my classmates. I could not bear to stand here, exposed before them like a shameless wanton, or a Lady Godiva on an infamous ride through the countryside.

I withered with shame.

But then something amazing happened.

"Mr. Granger!" Boomed Draco's voice. "You leave Hermione alone!"

Like a knight from my dreams, Draco emerged from the stock frozen crowd, and approached in a swift canter, his wand erect and imposing.

"And who are you, young man?" my father hissed, his eyes narrowing upon Draco like a vulture's keen instinct for prey. "I warn you… you will not care for what happens to you if you tangle with me and mine… You will not care for it at all."

Draco laughed mockingly. "I laugh mockingly at your idle threats!" he cried.

Oh, no, Draco! My heart screamed.

I knew what was going to happen. And it did.

My father brandished his machine gun from his pocket, firing it directly into Draco's heart

"Nooooo! Father!" I screamed, vaulting across the room, and leaping into the path of the bullets, my wand drawn as I whispered a spell to make sure that Draco was knocked out of the way.

Pain, unlike anything I had ever experience, hit my heart.

I stared numbly at the blood gushing from my chest. I was dying!

I'd been shot!

My life energy drained out before me onto the floor, and the world went dim. I felt my legs give out from under me, and the last thing I glimpsed was Draco's stricken face.

To Be Continued

THERE! I gave you guys a longer chappy just like you wanted! ;-D So gimme gimme gimme more reviews! I LOOOOVEEE YOUUU ALLLL!

AND NEXT CHAPPY IS GONNA HAVE SOMEONE KISSING HERMY! WHO DO YOU THINK IT WILL BE? xD Yay! And PLEASE review!