Hermione Granger

September the first, 1998 (cont)

I just came back from the feast. My last Hogwarts feast! They have the best food. Now all I have to do is work at getting the house elves paid for it… I think that Harry and Ron and Ginny are really going to miss me at Gryffindor tower this year, because I'm going to be living with—blech—Malfoy for the whole year. What idiot puts a Slytherin and a Gryffindor in the same dorm for an entire year? Not to mention that said Slytherin is a past Death Eater. Whatever. I'm sure Professor McGonagall had her reasons.

The Head Dorms are truly spectacular in every way. I've just finished unpacking, and my room looks pretty nice. I've put all of my pictures up with a Sticking Charm and the closet in my room is huge! I've put all of my clothes and uniforms in there. Right now my desk is really neat, with my extra parchment stacked in a corner and spare inkwells lined up on the hutch. I highly doubt that it's going to stay like that—I am a very disorganized studier.

Now onto a new subject. Draco Malfoy, also known as Ferret Boy, Slytherin Prince, Junior Deatheater, and current Head Boy, as previously stated. I am still shocked that McGonagall picked him.

But it seems like he's just a shell of what he used to be. He looks sleep-deprived and half-starved, and he doesn't have the same Malfoy elegance. I mean, it's still there, but more toned-down and weary. I walked into the Prefect Compartment that today to find him screaming Aguamenti! Over and over again in his sleep. It had something to do with the burning at Malfoy Manor, I know it. But the whole thing was so terrifying… and you should've seen him at the Prefect Meeting. He didn't say a word, just glared at the wall across from him. Nearly made a fifth year Hufflepuff wet his pants. Clearly, something is wrong, and I am determined to find out. And then, if I can, I'll help him.

There was no sign of Malfoy when I walked in the common room, so I suspect that he's in his room. It doesn't sound like he's doing anything, so my gue

If this comes out illegible it isn't my fault. It's all Malfoy's. Draco bloody Malfoy. God, forgive me for asking you this, but send him to hell for me, please.

I broke off two paragraphs up because of a scream. Malfoy's scream. It was like a banshee scream, and it nearly scared me to death. So naturally, I jumped out of my chair and ran towards his room. I whipped open the door to see him literally writhing on the little chaise lounge in the corner of his room, back arched and face screwed up in agony… Not something I want to relive.

His expression killed me. It felt like something died inside of me. I don't know why Malfoy, of all people, had this affect on me. But I wanted it to stop. The nightmare, the screaming, the writhing… I couldn't stand to see that much pain. Even if it was at his expense.

So I ran over to him and shook his shoulders, trying to wake him up for the second time today, and I think—no, I hope—that he was still asleep because he round his hand around my neck and squeezed with all his might. He was strangling me in his sleep!

I think I had screamed sometime, and then I pounded at his chest with the bottom of my fists. I could feel myself turning blue, and I gasped for breath but none came… And then his eyes flew open and he sprung away from me, breathing hard. "What the hell are you doing, you filthy Mudblood!" he had roared at me, and I backed up against the door.

"You were screaming you're bloody head off in here, Malfoy, and I thought I might come in and wake you up. But then you went and nearly killed me…" I retorted.

"I did not!" He argued.

"Oh yeah?" I said, and I pointed to the marks that I knew were some where on my neck. "What are these then? Disfigured hickeys? Bloody well likely."

"Merlin, Granger…" he had murmured, and for a moment I thought he was going to apologize. But then he looked up at me and his eyes were cold and hard, but vacant. "That's your own fault, you filthy sneak."

I was speechless. I don't know what happened then—I just blew my top. I started screaming things at him, things that I can't quite remember now. A few things about his dad in Azkaban, maybe on or two about his mum, and quite a lot about him being a slimy coward and cruel, heartless bastard, I think. But whatever it was it must've really upset him because he pushed me out of the way, slammed the door open, and shoved me out before I could shriek anything else.

So here I am now, writing this all down. Do you think I should report this to Professor McGonagall? That would surely get his Head Boy position stripped. But is that what I want? I mean, sure, he'd be out of my hair, but then I would have less chance at finding out what's up with him. What kind of dream would he be having that would make him attempt to strangle me in his sleep? Was it truly that the terrible?

Screw "helping" him. Right now what I needed was answers.