Chapter 37 Only Draco's Mudblood
Hermione wrung her hands together, trying to figure everything out. "Alright, so… one thing I need to understand is, did Hashim have anything to do with Draco's fall?"
Ron and Harry glanced at each other but Ginny shook her head no.
"I don't think so," Ron said slowly. "He wasn't even near Draco when the buldger hit him."
Ginny frowned from her seat next to Hermione. "Hashim did look really shocked when Draco fell."
Hermione exchanged looks with her friend, noting that it was the first time she had actually used Malfoy's first name. She smiled in gratitude. Ginny simply shrugged and winked back at her.
"He looked horrified afterwards," Harry spoke up, not paying attention to the silent conversation between the two girls. "From the look on his face, I don't think he's ever seen a dead person before. There's no way he's a killer."
"Then why did he try to kill Malfoy before?" Ron asked.
"I don't think he did," Melina began slowly.
"Then what happened to Malfoy to put him in a coma?" Harry asked.
"Yeah, really," Ron rolled his eyes. "He didn't just get that herb in his system by falling out the tower."
"No," she agreed. "But that same herb that can put people in a coma and harden their veins is used as a medicine. Hashim was treating me, remember? He could very well have had it on him because of that. If Draco even had the smallest of cuts from falling, he would have been infected."
"So, you think it was an accident?" Ron double checked, still not certain.
"Yes, exactly."
Ginny pursed her lips. "I don't think Mal—Draco will by that."
"Me neither," Harry agreed. "He'll never believe Hashim's not a killer."
"I'm not sure, I do," Ron muttered.
"He's not a killer," Melina insisted. "Just a scared kid."
"Just a scared kid?" Ron interjected. "He's spoiled rotten, annoying, self centered, and a real nagging pain!"
"Sounds familiar," Ginny teased.
"Hey!"
"I'm just kidding, Ron," she smiled. "You're far from spoiled."
"Uh, thanks… I think."
Harry smiled at the brother and sister banter. "Malfoy will seriously hurt Hashim when he finds him."
"No," Hermione said suddenly. "Draco will kill him if when don't find Hashim first." She stood and looked around at them. "Let's put an end to this once and for all. Who's with me?"
Jacque led Draco towards the back of the quidditch field where he had seen Hashim. They ended up walking side by side because Jacque couldn't keep ahead of Draco at the pace they were going. He had enough of hard time keeping up with Draco at all.
Draco's grey eyes were hard and angry. His hair was slicked back from the rain that had once again begun to fall. Jacque couldn't help but think it reminded him of a warrior going off to a very serious battle.
Swallowing hard, Jacque spoke up. "Uh, out of curiosity… though I know mine usually gets the better of me… Why are we going after Hashim?" He quickly clarified when he saw the look on Malfoy's face. "I mean, what about Hermione?"
"What about her?"
"Well," Jacque said slowly, carefully. "She could be in serious trouble. I mean, aren't you worried about her? I know I am. Shouldn't we check with her before we go after Hashim?"
"Princess," Malfoy spat, "is the reason that she got hurt. He did this to her… He did it to us, and he will pay for it! I will not allow him to escape punishment any longer."
"But… Her—"
"Mione will be fine!" Draco snapped, his grey eyes turned and burned fiercely into Jacque, daring him to contradict the statement.
Jacque didn't dare disagree, but found that his curiosity once again got the better of him. "How do you know?"
This time, Draco didn't even bother to look at him. "Because." He paused for a moment before adding: "She doesn't have any other option."
Then it hit Jacque. Malfoy wouldn't even consider the possibility of something happening to Hermione. He refused to let the thought even enter his mind, so going after Hashim first wasn't a problem at all. She would be okay. He would see her afterwards and feel good about it. There was no option of anything else. Hermione had to be fine.
When the neared the end of the field, Jacque pointed and the pillar he had seen Hashim behind. A shadow came out from behind the pillar and froze to stare at them.
"Hello, princess," Draco called. "Miss me again?"
Hashim turned and took off away from the field, and Draco broke into a run after him.
Jacque watched, rooted in his place. He should be running, he knew that; he should be going to get Hermione. He should be putting a stop to what Draco was doing, but he couldn't move. It just didn't seem right, his hero, killing Hashim.
He wouldn't really kill him, would he? Jacque wasn't sure. He could feel the tears burning the edges of his eyes. He looked around helplessly. It was time for him to be his hero's saver. He turned and ran towards the hospital wing.
Draco was quicker than Hashim, but only barely. Outside the field, Draco grabbed Hashim by the collar and threw him to the ground.
Falling with a thud, Hashim rolled onto his back and faced Draco wand at his throat. His eyes widened in horror and he swallowed.
"Don't…"
"Shut up!" Draco snapped. He pressed his wand harder against Hashim's neck. "You don't deserve to talk. You don't deserve to live."
Hashim's face contorted in anger. "You don't deserve her."
"I said shut up!"
Hashim stopped and glared at him. Fear was still in his eyes, but there was something else in there as well. Something Malfoy grudgingly recognized.
"I hate you," he spat at Hashim. "I've always hated you. I knew you were trouble the moment you arrived. You've been nothing since."
"You owe me," Hashim retorted.
"I owe you nothing!" Draco snapped. "You are revulting!"
"I am just like you!"
Draco shook him. "No, you are nothing like me. You hear me? NOTHING!"
"She never would have stopped hating you if it weren't for me." Hashim whispered it, but he might as well have yelled. It pierced through Draco like a dagger.
(Author's note: I figured if I wrote at the end, some may actually read this. I might get an answer to a much needed QUESTION instead of just 'update soon'. This chapter is the third from the last. Yes, sadly, this story must come to an end. It cannot last forever.
However, shortly after this ends, I will be starting another story that I hope many of you will read. Really. It will take place after Hogwarts. IT will consist of Harry/Ginny and either Hermione/Draco and Ron/Luna or Hermione/Ron and Draco/Luna. I want your options on which. PLEASE?)