A/N: Oh god. Another update! What? I am just as surprised.

I do hope you find this one in your liking. The shifting in power at the castle is becoming evident. And I don't know what it is, but something is telling me about 6 or 7 more chapters until Henria's story is finished. You know me, I like to go into detail about too many things and get long winded in my speeches. :D This one might be the last one for a week or so. I have a bowling tournament this weekend and the best thing to do when you are bowling is drink. And I do like to partake in consuming adult beverages. :D So, I have a feeling I will be distracted this week. So, sorry in advance if you were getting used to more frequent updates.

Happy reading!

Henny, that lucky Penny!


A Lesson to Understand

When our rounds end, it is two in the freaking morning. I am feeling drained, but not tired. I hardly ever feel tired these days. It could be the stress thing, or it could be that I cannot turn my brain off. Thoughts of Draco, fighting, essays due and Draco swirl in a jumbled mess in my subconscious. Tonight was no different while Zabini and I walked the castle in silence. The effort to think and walk zapped most of my energy.

Zabini had insisted on going to the Common Room. I thought nothing of it since I was done thinking for the rest of the week, so I trailed after him as he led me down to the dungeons. I let him say the password and I mindlessly meandered after him. It took someone coughing for my attention before I caught sight of the seventh year Slytherins along with the Head Boy and Girl in the room, waiting for us.

"Well, Sownbinder displayed some magnificent wand work. Even some that didn't require a wand." Zabini reported to Draco. I cautiously eyed everyone in the room and felt like I was being evaluated for a test. The feeling rolled in my gut and made me really uneasy.

"Oh, she did? Now that is interesting." Draco drawled. His gaze landed on mine and he sent me a knowing smirk. I curled my lip in mild disgust.

"I'm going to bed. I'm too tired to play mind fuck games." I huffed before I turned towards the Common Room door. But there were two bodies blocking my path.

"Not so fast, Sownbinder." the calm of Draco's voice had my back rigid. It sounded like the calm before the storm in my ears.

"What?" I snapped.

"Temper, temper Henria." a sick tone of glee entered his voice, "It has been brought to the attention of the Headmaster that you don't feel safe in your dormitory. He has also been informed that you have taken up residence elsewhere in the castle and he regrets to inform you that you cannot be allowed to do that. So, this leaves the option of you sleeping in the girl's dormitory here." I felt the blood drain from my face as I processed his words. His smirk just got wider.

"B-But my clothes. I need to get my trunk from my mysterious sleeping quarters." I stammered. I honestly could care less about my clothes. I needed to talk to Neville. Or Seamus. Or Ginny. Just someone in that tower.

"I am sure that an escort to this hidden location can be provided." he responded. I swallowed a frustrated groan.

"I can manage by myself." I said tersely, "I'm not some damsel in distress. Ask Zabini." I made to push my way through the two bodies blocking my exit, but a hand gripped my elbow hard and stopped me. I looked down and saw dark fingers holding me in place.

"Can't let you do that, Sownbinder." he whispered. I looked into his dark eyes and saw amusement. I am amusing to them.

I am not sure if it was the stress of finding me alone in this fucking castle again, or the fact that it makes me almost physically ill to use magic against innocence, but my mind snapped. I pushed saliva to the front of my mouth and spat in his face. I honestly did not think it was a great idea to do it, but I was so done with everything.

What made my thought concrete was the extremely pissed off look I received from Zabini.

I will admit it; I flinched when he brandished his wand. I had a brief idea that he was going to kill me, slowly. But all he did was wave it in front of his face and vanish my spittle. A happy dark heat blazed in his eyes. If I were a weaker woman, I would be cowering. But no, my father and uncle instilled stubbornness and resilience in my body. I meet his nasty gaze with glittering defiance. There is a shift in the atmosphere as someone casts a quiet 'muffilato'.

That area silencing charm has me feeling nervous.

"Henria, darling, why would you go and do something like that? We are now going to have to punish you, as we see fit." Draco quietly admonished me. I felt Zabini's iron grip increase in pressure and a small, breathy gasp expelled from my lips, "What spells did she use tonight, Blaise?"

"Disarming, banishing, shielding and the pimple jinx." the tone was surprising calm. Like he was commenting on the good weather we were having. But a look in his eyes quickly dispelled any notion that he was calm.

"See, Miss Sownbinder, we were hoping for something more...horrifying." Draco drawled. He nodded his head in a silent command and as if it did not happen enough since my stay began in Europe, I was thrown to the floor. I scrambled to my feet after catching my body with my hands. I kept my vision trained on Draco, "And here, we will be demonstrating exactly what we are looking for."

When he did not move for his wand, I had one second to wonder who would be demonstrating such a disgusting show of wizardry when a hiss met my ears and pain erupted out of nowhere. It felt like someone was poking my eyes with hot needles. The rest of my body felt like hot, long daggers were penetrating my flesh. My muscles tensed like someone was holding exposed wires to my chest. I felt hot and cold. I felt stabbing and electricity. It seemed as if I could feel everything.

Having private lessons with grown Death Eaters slightly prepared me for this almost amateur onslaught. I could tell that I was writhing and convulsing on the stone floor, but I did not make a sound. The scream that was crawling up my throat threatened to leave my lips. I swallowed as best I could, but it only made the sound go halfway back down. Then the assault stopped.

My defiant nature prevented me from gasping for breath. I took a long pull of air to quell my racing heart. I had just managed to get my palms under me and was trying to push my body up when Draco hiss 'Crucio' and this time I did scream. The hot blades burned hotter and my skin felt like it was melting off. My eyeballs felt like they were steaming from heat while the blazing needles stabbed holes. My muscles were contracting and shaking so hard, I almost thought my lungs would never work right.

I do not know how long I writhed on the floor, but it felt like hours. Long past my voice became to raspy too scream. I had to revert to grunting to express my pain and agony. As the curse was lifted, I laid on the floor panting. My throat was on fire from lack of moisture and from overuse. My long gone screams echoed in my ears. They were the only thing I could hear as I tried to steal myself to get my bearings. I could not tell which way down was or if I was cradling my hand or foot. I think I was crying, but my face was stinging so bad from the scrapes on my cheek, that I could not tell.

"Understand now?" an annoying drawl cut over the ringing in my ears.

"F-ffuck y-you." I stammered out in between pants of air.

"Henria, Henria...Henria." Draco said in disappointment, "What ever will we do with you?"