A/N: Hey guys! I've got another chapter here for you. Pay attention, theres some things you need for the future.

Enjoy!

Mon Amante

Unknown

Chapter 9

Hermione walked up to McGonagall's desk. She was nervous; she couldn't have heard of the tutoring session. Fear was etched across her face as opened her mouth to speak. "You wanted to see me, Professor?"

McGonagall looked up, nodding. "Yes, Miss Granger. From the looks of it, Miss Morgan is doing excellently under your supervision. I'd like for you to continue the lessons, she has improved immensely."

Hermione was sputtering like a fish out of water. "She improved?"

"I don't see why you're so surprised," said McGonagall, taking off her glasses. "I thought you would be the first to tell me. You didn't seem happy to take up this position."

Hermione froze. This school knew everything about anything. "I am perfectly fine with this position, Professor. Abby isn't too horrible."

She arched her eyebrow. "Believe what gets you through the day, Miss Granger."

Hermione's eyes widened further, completing her look as a fish out of water. She walked out numbly, unsure of how her Professor had figured she wasn't happy to tutor Abby. She was happy to do anything the Professors asked. This, to her, was more of a challenge than anything else she was assigned, but she managed.

She marched into her Tower, completely livid. How could Abby be giving her such a hard time when she was improving in class? Someone else must have been doing her work for her; there was no way that Abby Morgan was improving so quickly on her own. She must be paying this person a lot of money; Abby's grades weren't too easy to bring up.

"Abby Morgan, you get your ass down here this minute!" Hermione cried up the stairs, draping her cloak over the chair. "Unbelievable," Hermione muttered to herself.

Abby sprinted down the stairs, obviously scared. She had no idea what had caused Hermione to look so mad. "Yes, mother?" Of course, she had to keep up the façade.

"Who could you possibly be paying to do your work?" Hermione accused, hands on her hips.

"I am paying no one," Abby answered, folding her arms crossly.

Hermione snorted. "Oh, please. You expect me to believe you improved all on your own in Transfiguration?"

She nodded. "Obviously I improved, you're tutoring me."

Hermione raised her eyebrows. "You mean to tell me that you brought your grade up on your own?" She asked.

Abby nodded. Hermione walked by, patting her on the back. Abby flinched slightly, backing up. Hermione furrowed her eyebrows. "Why did you flinch?"

Abby wriggled out of her grasp. "I didn't flinch," She argued.

"Abby, I felt you flinch. Did I hurt you?" Hermione asked. She couldn't have gotten any stronger in the past few days.

Abby shook her head furiously. "You didn't hurt me. Just get away from me," She shook Hermione's hand off, walking into the common room.

"I don't understand," said Hermione, following her into the common room. "If I didn't hurt you, then why did you flinch? Are you that repulsed by a mudblood?"

Abby groaned. "If you must know, then yes. I hate mudbloods so much, I flinch at their touch," She answered sarcastically.

Hermione sighed. "Talk about rolling with the punches."

"Look, Granger. Stop sticking your nose where it doesn't belong," Abby scoffed, stalking towards her room.

"It belongs there if I'm the one who hurt you!" Hermione screamed after her, sighing in frustration. That girl always had to do something to get on her nerves, there was never a moment of peace between them.

What she couldn't believe was that Abby was actually learning from their little tutoring sessions. Every time they met together, she never showed any signs of improvement. But miraculously, she was improving in her studies. She should have found out before McGonagall; she was completely embarrassed when McGonagall confronted her. How could Abby not have told her, it was her job to tell McGonagall when she was improving in whatever field she needed help in. Something must have been up; Abby wasn't the most attentive student when it came to learning.

She walked upstairs, eager to get some sleep from her long day. Classes had been a bore; she had learned nothing. Everything her Professors had lectured them about today, she had already learned beforehand from a book or dictionary. She was about to unlock her door when she heard small knocking sound come from inside her room. Abby found a man-whore this quickly? She wondered as she opened the door carefully. She peered inside and let out a surprised gasp.

"Oh my," Hermione squeaked, her hand placed on her chest.

"Granger," Abby barked, pointing an accusing finger at her. "How many times do I have to tell you to keep your nose out of my business?"

Hermione giggled. "Draco, I never saw you as the home-wrecking type."

Draco looked down at the floor, shifting back and forth on his feet awkwardly. "Granger," He acknowledged her. "I see you've done the rounds. Care to leave?"

Hermione disagreed. It was her room, she had the right. "I was actually coming here to sleep. Do you mind?" She asked sweetly, gesturing towards the door.

Abby smirked. "It's my room too, Granger."

"Ah, but I've got the upper hand here, Abby. News around the school is Blaise is your boyfriend, am I right?" Hermione shook her head, laughing to herself. The situation was too funny. "This situation would look just darling from his perspective, don't you think?"

Abby blushed a crimson red. "You wouldn't…" She warned, looking back at Draco.

"Draco, I'm not sure little Draco wants to be on life support anytime soon. Surely we can keep this between us?" Hermione looked back and forth between the pair.

Abby flinched. This woman meant business. "You're signing your death wish with one word of this," Abby threatened, leaving the room.

Draco stood in the middle of the room awkwardly, unsure of what to do.

Hermione decided to interject. "Would you like to tell me what that was all about?"

Draco shrugged. "I can't say I'm complaining."

Hermione groaned. "Draco, she's your best friends girlfriend. This was a low blow."

"And? It's not like Abby isn't to blame either," He pointed out.

"She is just as responsible," Hermione agreed. "But you're the main target here. He'll think to blame you first."

"Oh, and why is that?" He asked mockingly.

"You aren't the one he wants back," Hermione snickered. "He'll blame you because he wasn't dating you."

Draco furrowed his eyebrows. He had never thought about that. "I don't find it such a big deal, Blaise won't do anything to me."

"Oh, and he will," Hermione smirked. "Think like a girl. Blaise will be mad at Abby for betraying him. As a best friend, he will be mad at you because you know Abby was the cheating type. He'll be even more pissed off because she decided to be the cheating type with you," Hermione snickered at the look on his face.

Draco groaned. "Is this some form of a joke?"

Hermione shook her head. "Just merely pointing out the facts," She looked up at Draco, sighing. From his facial features, she figured he didn't really mean to do this to Blaise. Hormones. Boys. Two distinct things she would never understand. She decided to mention what had happened with Abby before, since he knew her a little better than she did. "Something weird happened before I came in here."

He looked up, intrigued. "Really?"

She nodded. "Well, first off. I think McGonagall somehow found out about the disastrous tutoring sessions Abby and I have," She moaned unhappily. "Abby is supposedly improving in her studies."

"She must be paying someone," Draco remarked. "She couldn't have done it on her own."

"But that's not what I noticed as weird. When I patted her on the back, she flinched," Hermione frowned. "I had no idea I hurt her. It wasn't that hard of a pat."

"How does this concern me?" He asked distractedly.

Hermione shrugged. "I figured since you two were getting chummy and all, I thought I would ask you."

"We obviously don't talk much," Draco muttered, playing with the end of his shirt.

"I've noticed," Hermione groaned. "I just wanted to see if you knew, that's all."

"We're equal in intelligence," Draco answered. "What you know I know," He left with that parting word, leaving Hermione confused.

Hermione shut off the lights as soon as he left. An array of questions filled her head she laid down to sleep that night. He was being impossible; he didn't seem the least bit intrigued about the situation. She couldn't think of reasons as to why Abby had been so vulnerable that afternoon; something must have happened. To her, this was another Arithmacy problem that needed solving.

Oh, how silly the teenage mind could be.

--

Hermione grabbed her Transfiguration book and shoved it into her school bag, running out the door. She was late with her session with Abby. If McGonagall somehow got wind of this she would have her head.

She scurried to the Room of Requirement, walking past it a few times before the door appeared. She walked inside and saw Abby sitting at one of the many chairs.

"Abby, I'm so sorry I'm late, I got caught up with my Head duties and I completely blan-"

"Granger, I don't care," Abby sighed. "Let's just get this over with."

Hermione sat down, pulling out her book. "Where did we leave off?" She asked.

Abby shrugged. "You're the teacher, you should know."

"Since you improved so drastically in your studies, you should know the exact spot where we left off," Hermione snapped. She was not in the mood to be here with Abby.

Abby yawned. "I have no idea, Granger. Play the teacher and find out where we were."

"Abby, you are impossible," Hermione muttered, flipping open the textbook. She was about to speak when she heard a loud knocking on the door.

"Who could that be?" Abby asked curiously.

"Don't be such a dolt," Hermione sighed. "How could they be knocking on the door if it's a concealed room?"

"I don't know, maybe they were thinking of seeing one of us," Abby shrugged innocently.

"I find that unlikely," Hermione remarked.

"Abby Morgan, get out here right now!" The voice demanded, knocking even harder on the door.

Hermione looked over at Abby curiously. Abby had her eyes fixated on the door, widened with surprise. "Abby, who is that?"

Abby shook her head in denial, walking backwards.

"Abby, who is that?" Hermione asked, this time more forcefully.

Abby turned to Hermione, obviously frightened. "Granger, get him out of here, please! I know I'm not that great of a person, but please do me this one favor. I don't know how he got into the castle…" Abby trailed off, panicking.

Hermione caved. She had never seen Abby so worried about a boy before. She figured this was no boy; he must have been really mad to be banging down the door like a beast. "Alright, Abby. I'll be right back."

Abby sighed. She sat back down on one of the chairs, her head falling into her hands.

Hermione walked over to the door cautiously. She wasn't sure if she should open the door. If only there was a way to contact a teacher, she could get out of this without having to face the monster standing on the other side of the door. "Who are you?" She asked.

"Who are you?" The voice retorted.

"I'm Hermione Granger," She added, her ear against the door.

"You sound so professional," Abby muttered from her seat.

Hermione turned around, glaring at her. "I'm doing you a favor, Abby. Be glad I'm not making you do this just to test your knowledge."

Abby shut her mouth, averting her attention elsewhere.

"Where is Abby?" The voice asked, getting closer to the door.

"I'd advise you to stay away from the door," Hermione warned, taking her wand out from her back pocket.

"Let her out, I'm her father!" The voice demanded, pounding a few more times on the door.

Hermione turned to Abby, furrowing her brows curiously. "Abby, he's your father. Why are you so stressed out about this?"

Abby's eyes widened. "Oh, well…" She paused. "I didn't know it was my father. I thought it was someone else," She laughed nervously, her hands fidgeting behind her.

"Well, Abby. It's no big deal if it's your father," Hermione made for the door. "I'll just let him in, I'm sure he just wants to see you."

"No!" Abby cried, lunging for the door. She stood in front of it, blocking it from Hermione.

"Abby, what is the matter with you?" Hermione asked, laughing at the look of shock on her face. "It's just your father, it's only polite to say hello."

"What I meant was…" Abby looked down at her feet. "Oh, just let me greet him," Abby shuffled to the door, stepping outside.

Hermione waited patiently behind the door. She didn't want to be rude and intrude on the conversation. She thought back to how Abby had reacted to the man. She looked so petrified. How could her father cause her to be so scared? Even after she found out it was her father; she was avoiding greeting him at all costs. Something was up; her curiosity was getting the best of her.

After a few minutes, she didn't hear the occasional sound coming from outside. She opened the door, peering out into the hallway. There was nobody there. Maybe they went somewhere secluded to talk. Oh, Hermione wondered. She took one last look into the hallway before disappearing into the room. She gathered her things, placing them in her bag. She was going to get McGonagall. She wanted to make sure Abby was alright, since she had no idea where she had disappeared off to; Abby was her responsibility when they were having their tutoring sessions. McGonagall would fire her from her job if she knew Abby somehow disappeared under her supervision.

She reached McGonagall's a few minutes later, knocking on the door lightly. She heard shuffling behind the door and out popped McGonagall's head. "Miss Granger? What are you doing out so late?"

"I was tutoring Abby, Professor," Hermione replied. "I just wanted to bring up something that happened during the session."

McGonagall sighed. It was quite late at night to be hearing stories. "If you must," She let Hermione in, closing the door behind her. "What exactly happened?"

Hermione sat down on one of the many wooden chairs and began to explain. "Abby's father came and interrupted our class halfway through. Abby was a bit skeptical to answer the door herself; she was petrified, really."

"We received no word a visitor, Miss Granger," McGonagall grew worried.

Hermione furrowed her brows. He couldn't have gotten in on his own; someone must have helped him. "He came, nonetheless, and demanded that Abby be let out. Abby didn't do it at first, but after some pushing from me, she went out and greeted her father. A few minutes later, when I opened the door to leave, they weren't there."

"Where did they go?" McGonagall asked, assuming Hermione knew.

She shrugged. "That's why I came here. I had a gut feeling something had happened. After seeing Abby and how scared she was, I thought maybe something was wrong with her father."

"I'm glad you came to me, Miss Granger. Her father has no business to be on the school grounds without permission; he could get arrested," McGonagall explained. "I advise you to keep an eye on Miss Morgan. I've noticed her family history isn't something to be proud of. She's come from a long line of Death Eaters, her parents being the last to join."

"Death Eaters?" Hermione asked. "But Abby is just a teenager, she couldn't possibly be thinking of joining the Dark Side."

"I'm sure it hasn't crossed her mind yet," McGonagall handed her a small slip. "This is to get you back to your common room without penalty."

Hermione took the piece of paper. "How are you going to find her, Professor?"

"I'm sure we'll manage," McGonagall replied, ushering Hermione out of her office. "Have a good night, Miss Granger."

Hermione nodded, leaving the classroom. I'm sure we'll manage? She scoffed. Hogwarts was such a prestigious school; there should be better security than what she just witnessed.

She reached the Head Tower. She looked up at the portrait, smiling slightly.

"Good evening," Hermione greeted the portrait.

The portrait consisted of morphing creature, called the Unknown. It would morph into whatever feeling or event it could sense going on around it. Hermione furrowed her eyebrows. The picture consisted of Abby and her father, Abby being backed into a corner by her father.

The image replayed over and over again, sometimes something different happening every time it played. Sometimes Abby would make a clean escape, and sometimes the picture would just fade out after Abby got backed into the corner.

Hermione stepped closer to the portrait, examining it a bit further. If the portrait could mirror what was going on around it, was this actually happening? She squinted her eyes, searching the background of the picture for anything that would let her know where Abby was.

She saw a tapestry, but she couldn't quite make out what it was. Then it dawned on her; the Room of Requirement! Abby was in the small alcove behind in front of Barnabas the Barmy!

Hermione gave an elated sigh and looked up at the portrait, which had morphed into a field of flowers. "Thank you."

She set off running towards the Gryffindor Tower, hollering as loud as she could. "Professor, I've found Abby Morgan!"

Oh, how naïve she had been earlier today.

A/N: Ok, so I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Appreciate it, because it took me a while to finish. Trust me, these chapters are easy to think of, but hard to get on paper; so I hope you appreciate them. Leave a review, for I need all the encouragement I can get! I'm leaving a quota of 12 reviews, so don't expect a chapter until there are 12 reviews in my inbox.

Be a trooper and help reach that goal!