"I… I… I…" But nothing came out of Hermione's mouth.
"What? Is Hermione Granger at a loss for words?" teased Nott, "I don't think anyone, let alone me, has ever witnessed this."
"It's just that… well… you startled me," she said searching through the room, for anything she could find to use as an excuse for why she was there.
"Is that so?" He said slowly approaching her. "Tell me," he then whispered, as he stood behind her, "Whose demise did you witness? Anyone we know?"
"I… no. No one we know." She said, trying to think of what the former Slytherin boy was getting at.
Nott leaned in closer, this time moving the hair off her neck. "Did it turn you on, mudblood?"
Hermione felt sick and unclean, as if the boy had just doused her with a bag full of trash. "It turned my stomach!" she told him indignantly.
Nott smiled and backed away… "I don't know what he sees in you. I really don't."
"Now what is that supposed to mean?" Hermione asked, trying to keep the boy off the trail of her snooping.
Nott suddenly grabbed Hermione's hand and held it tightly in his. She fell to her knees, but keeping silent, she refrained from screaming out loud.
"You…" Nott said in a matter-of-fact way, "I want to see what he sees in you. I want to see what he likes. Tell me what you do to him that makes him forget-"
"Am I interrupting anything?" Draco's voice echoed as it filled the dark room. He walked into his aunt's room and looked at Hermione on the floor. His eyes then rose to Nott who was still holding onto her hand, and said, "Is she pleasing to you?"
Nott released his grip on the witch and threw her hand down. "She could never satisfy me." He said in a tone of superiority. "I found her with her head in the pensieve." He said to Draco.
"Because I asked her to look into something for me." Draco answered him. "Get up." He said to Hermione without looking at her. "In my room, now. Make sure all your clothing is removed and you are waiting on the floor by my bed."
Hermione realized Draco was trying to protect not only himself, but her as well. She thought about what he had asked her to do and decided to answer accordingly. "Yes, Master." She answered him obediently and holding on to her wrist, she left the room.
Draco waited until she left the room and looked at the boy he called his friend. "Can we reconvene in the sitting room?"
Nott nodded, and with his hand, pointed towards the entry way. The two Slytherins walked out of the room. Draco stopped in the entryway and pointed his wand at the pensieve. Four strands of memory came out and placed themselves in the open vile. His wand then guided the cork and sealed the vile shut again.
Hermione, who had been trying to eaves drop outside the room, kept a few steps behind the two Slytherins. She wanted to follow them and see what they knew about Ron's death and Harry's whereabouts.
Neither of them spoke as they made their way to the Malfoy sitting room. Each held their head high and walked with a steady pace. Hermione followed them trying to make no sounds at all. It's at times like this that I wish I had Harry's invisibility cloak, she thought.
As they arrived at the entryway to the sitting room, Draco raised his wand and the door opened. Hermione stood outside behind the statue of a snake that adorned the entryway.
With wand still in hand Draco pointed to the fireplace and said "Incendio." The wood that was sitting in the rack of the fireplace caught fire as if on its own. Draco turned towards Nott, who'd just taken a seat on a chair, and smiled as he leaned against the mantle.
"What, Malfoy?" Nott said annoyed. "What is it? Upset I was playing with one of your toys?" He teased.
"Not in the least," he told him, "In fact, if you would like to take her with you once I've broken her in a bit, you have my permission."
"I don't need your scraps!" He said, letting his anger bring him to his feet again. "The Dark Lord may have graced you as his favorite, but that won't last long. So you can stop acting as if you were superior to me." Nott pulled up his sleeve revealing the dark mark branded into his forearm, "I'm just as honored as you, Malfoy!"
At that moment, Crabbe, Goyle and Pansy walked by the statue Hermione was hiding behind and made their way into the sitting room. They froze as they saw the two purebloods in mid argument.
Nott looked to his arm and began covering it. "At least my girlfriend didn't leave me for a goon!" He said in a low voice and began walking towards the other Slytherins. He was about to greet them, when Draco, smiling, said "No, you watched her die before you, while someone else avenged her death."
Nott stopped in his tracks, raised his head high and took a breath. He then walked past the others and left the room.
"That was a little heartless, Draco." Pansy said holding onto Goyle who grunted in agreement. "Gregory! I told you to stop grunting! Use your words." Goyle looked down ashamed "Sorry…" he whispered.
"I apologize, princess," Draco said in a sneer, "next time I'll aim to be completely heartless. Get out, all of you!" He ordered. The three Slytherins again were frozen in place not knowing what had happened to him to make him so angry.
"I said get out of my house, NOW!" Draco yelled.
Draco then grabbed the first thing he found and threw it against the fireplace. The item smashed in little pieces. He stood looking at the fire, with his back to them. Pansy turned around and shook her head. The group began making their way out of the sitting room. As they passed the entryway, Pansy turned to Goyle and said "Ever since he killed Weasley and got into the Dark Lord's good graces, he's been just intolerable."
Hermione's jaw dropped and her eyes widened. The words killed Weasley reverberated in her head. Pansy must have seen her there and made the comment to draw her out. Draco wasn't a nice guy, but he wouldn't have killed Ron.
Hermione stepped out of her hiding place and screamed after Pansy, "Liar, you're a disgusting liar!"
Pansy turned and smirked raising an eyebrow. "Hey Draco!" she called, "Your mudblood was eavesdropping."
Draco walked out of the sitting room. If it were possible, you could have seen the fire coming off of his shoulders and head. She'd never seen him this angry, but she didn't care, not in the least.
"Tell her, Malfoy!" Hermione screamed with tears streaming down her face. "Tell her she's a liar!"
"Filthy mudblood," he said in anger, "I told you to return to my bedroom." He removed his wand and cast a silencing charm on her. Her tears would not be stopped though. "You do not talk to my friends in that manner." Draco added.
Pansy laughed "Draco, did you not tell her you killed Potter's best mate?" Goyle and Crabbe grunted in amusement.
Draco's expression didn't change. "Is that what you wanted to know, mudblood?" He said looking at Hermione, "You needed confirmation?" He pulled her close to him. "Yes, I killed Ronald Weasley!" He said as he looked into her bloodshot eyes.
Hermione couldn't speak but the others could tell she wanted to hex and curse Malfoy, right then and there. She fell to the ground crying and beating the floor. Pansy laughed watching her.
"See, mudblood," Pansy said kneeling to her, "Draco killed him, he ran a spear through him and let him suffer, like no one else would. He made his aunt Bellatrix very proud. When the dark lord found out, he announced that Draco could have anything his heart desired, which is a privilege reserved for the Dark Lord's favorite." Pansy was enjoying recounting the story. "And his heart desired you." Pansy stopped and realized what she had said. It was as if she had never realized Draco chose Hermione.
"Draco," she began saying, "You realize, if you had asked the Dark Lord for me, I would have come back to you." Goyle seemed surprised at Pansy's comment.
Draco laughed out loud, "Pansy, why would I have wanted you? You're damaged goods now. I wouldn't take anything that was used by Goyle, or anyone else for that matter." Draco knelt by Hermione. "My little mudblood had never been defiled by anyone… until last night."
Pansy stood up bitterly. "Come boys." she ordered and began leaving. Goyle followed her saying, "Pansy, would you have really gone back to him?" Pansy just kept on walking. Crabbe followed them shaking his head.
"Hermione…" Draco said sweetly as he caressed her face, but she pulled away from him and continued crying. He stood up and walked away. "You'll understand soon enough." He told her as he left.