The Internet and Hogwarts Don't Mix, Hermione!
By: Mari Riddle-Potter
(a.k.a. Malfoys_Girlfriend)
Chapter 8:
Harry walked slowly back to Gyffindor tower with his head down. He was fully aware that Ron was waiting for him in Hermione's room but couldn't bring himself to care. The only thing that was on his mind was Hermione. He knew it was partly his fault she left and he felt horrible. Harry found himself missing her voice nagging him to do his homework, telling him to study harder, and always reminding him about the rules. The rules. In the end she didn't mind breaking a school to get out of Hogwarts, to get away from her problems. A thought struck him that was very surprising. Maybe Hermione ran away from him. Maybe she didn't want to see him again. Maybe she hated him. This was not what he would expect from her. He quickly shook the thought out of his head. It was nonsense.
He reached the portrait hole and opened it, mumbling the password to the fat lady. He paused in the common room and stared at the tables in which were a lot of memories of Hermione studying late into the night. She would never study with them again and would never stay up late figuring out complex spells. He continued his walk towards her room and only paused momentarily to regain his composure. Harry swung the door open and there was Ron, sitting on Hermione's bed, looking sad. He shot up from his seat when Harry walked in. He could tell by the look on Harry's face that all had not gone well.
"What happened?" asked Ron.
"Dumbledore read the letter and said the only thing he could do was tell the ministry and the muggle police that she's missing. They will try and look for her," said Harry.
"Any guarantees they'll find her?"
"None whatsoever."
"They'll find her, don't worry," said Ron, walking over to stand next to Harry.
"No they won't. I have a feeling they won't."
"Why aren't you a bright little ray of sunshine," said Ron giving Harry a fake smile.
"I'm going to bed," said Harry, and he walked out of Hermione's room. Ron stared after him and shook his head.
"He needs to sort out his priorities," he said to himself and left the room, shutting the door firmly behind him.
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When Hermione woke up she felt a sharp pain in her head. She opened her eyes slowly, unable to remember anything that happened. She looked around slowly and found herself to be in a prisoner's cell. It looked like one out of the movie "Gladiator". She got up slowly and grabbed the bars on the doors and shook them roughly, gaining nothing but a complete feeling of helplessness. As if the bars rang a bell she remembered what had happened. She backed up against the wall and sank to the floor shaking with fear. She shouldn't have left Hogwarts. Hermione looked at a dark doorway a good distance away from the cell. She saw someone slowly approach, covered by a black cloak.
"Hermione, how nice to see you again. You've been out like a light for the past 3 hours," said a voice from under the cloak she recognized as Mike's.
"Why did you do this?" she asked coldly.
"Because evil rules the world, baby," he said, and she was briefly reminded of Draco Malfoy.
"Evil doesn't rule the world, it just pesters it," she shot back.
"Ouch. Watch what you say, Hermione. Torturing is an activity I enjoy," he drawled out.
"Why you mother-"
"Watch it Granger," he interrupted, taking out his wand. Hermione clamped her mouth shut and stared at him.
"We don't want to have to kill you. After all, a dead hostage is no hostage at all…" he continued.
"What do you mean?" she asked, looking at him with disgust.
"You are Harry Potter's friend. When he sees you are missing he will go looking for you. Right into our trap," he said.
"Well, you got the wrong hostage. He won't go looking for me. He hates me."
"You better hope he comes or it's your neck instead."
"But you know Harry, he's stupid enough to come," she said quickly.
"Pray that he does." Mike turned around swiftly and left. She looked down at her hands and cried. If Harry came he would be killed and god knows she loves him with all her heart. Instead of praying for her life she was going to pray he didn't come to rescue her. After all, she knew she wasn't worthy of it. Not after what she did.
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Harry didn't sleep at all that night. He couldn't get his mind off her. He wondered if she was in any danger. If anyone hurt her he would kill them, even if he got sent to Azkaban. It didn't matter without her. He would stay in Azkaban for 1,000 years just to have her safe and sound. This revelation to himself startled him. He looked around his room and frowned. Sleep was out of the question so he got up and dressed in his Hogwarts. He went down to the common room to wait for Ron. He waited three hours until finally, at 9 A.M., Ron came down the staircase looking refreshed. Harry felt quite the opposite.
"Harry, I thought you were at breakfast," said Ron, rubbing sleep out of his eyes.
"No, I've been waiting here since 6 in the morning. I didn't want to go to the Great Hall by myself," said Harry. They walked to the Great Hall in silence, aware there was someone missing who was supposed to walk between them. Hermione.
Harry sat down next to Ginny Weasley, who was eating toast and reading a magazine. She looked up and smiled at him, putting down the magazine. Harry just waved at her and picked up a piece of sausage. Sensing there was something wrong she looked at Ron. Ron was trying hard to look at though he didn't notice her staring at him.
"What happened? What's wrong?" she asked, looking from Harry to Ron. They remained quiet and she spoke again.
"Where's Hermione?" she asked. Harry dropped his sausage and looked at her. Realization dawned on her. Sad to say it was the wrong realization.
"She's dead? She killed herself? OH MY GOD!" Ginny was about to throw a fit when Ron got up and clamped a hand over her mouth, dragging her out of the Great Hall. Harry stared after them and tried to grin at the people that were around him, trying to discourage what Ginny said. Just then the mail arrived and everyone looked up as usual. Harry saw a strange black owl flutter in and wondered whose it was. It was a few seconds before Harry realized it was for him. The owl landed with a thud on his empty plate. Again, he attracted stares. He ignored the people who were staring, though didn't blame them. It was such a weird owl. Harry untied the letter on the owl's leg and read the outside of the envelope it said:
To: Mr. Harry Potter
From: Do You Really Want To Know?!
In any other circumstance he would've thought this was a hilarious way to write an anonymous letter, but now was not the time. He got up and rushed out of the Great Hall, ramming into Ron who was coming back in. Harry grabbed Ron by the shirt and dragged him out with him. They didn't realize Draco Malfoy was following them. Harry kicked open the door of an empty classroom and pushed Ron inside, closing the door and leaning against it.
"What's the big idea?!" yelled Ron furiously.
"I got a mysterious letter," said Harry quietly.
"You think it's from Hermione?" asked Ron, his anger fading away quickly.
"I don't know."
"Well, open it already," said Ron impatiently.
Harry looked down at the envelope and hoped it was from Hermione, though something told him Hermione would not write herself in as anonymous when mailing something to him or Ron. He tore the envelope open and read aloud:
Potter:
We have your little girlfriend, Hermione Granger. If you want her to live you will have to come and get her. Don't send the ministry with you or anybody who worked for it or its curtains for Hermione. Let the games begin.
Signed,
Anonymous
Inside was a map of a place Harry had studied a while back. The place was called Eves Hollow. It was an odd wizarding place where only the darkest witches and wizards lived. Harry had heard that the most tragic freak accidents in the world have happened there. He knew Hermione was in big time trouble. Harry didn't care about his own safety, he was determined to save her.
"She's kidnapped in Eves Hollow. We have to save her," he said.
"Are you kidding? I could go, but you? You're hated there! They'll kill you and use your bones to start a fire!"
"I'm going. Oh, and you can't start a fire with bones, Ron," said Harry, grinning.
"That's not my point! This is obviously a trap you-know-who set up for you. He wants to take another hack at you!" argued Ron.
"He's not going to kill me. He's tried to kill me for about 5 or 6 years and hasn't achieved anything. It's obvious we're dealing with a character like Dr. Evil in Austin Powers," said Harry.
"Part one or two?"
"Either part, he's still an idiot."
"And let me guess, you're Austin?"
"I guess. I mean, didn't he escape Dr. Evil?"
"Yeah, but who am I, then?"
"Fat Bastard," said Harry, holding in a fit of laughter. Ron gaped at him.
"Am not!" said Ron, indignantly.
"Or you could be Number 2," said Harry.
"Shut up already. Let's get down to business," said Ron.
"You're right, let's go."
Harry pulled open the door and in stumbled Draco, who had been listening in on their conversation. Draco looked from Ron to Harry, trying hard to maintain a neutral expression. Ron and Harry looked shocked, then worried, and then homicidal.
"What the hell do you think you're doing, Malfoy?!" yelled Ron.
"Listening to your conversation," replied Draco coolly.
"Eavesdropping," said Harry.
"Don't use that word. It sounds messy," said Draco.
"Which fits you perfectly," shot Ron.
"Exactly how much of the conversation did you hear, Malfoy?" asked Harry, ignoring Ron's comment.
"Enough to know Granger is kidnapped at Eves Hollow."
"Why don't you just forget what you heard and go back to your common room?!" yelled Ron, furious with Malfoys intrusion.
"Because I'm coming with you," replied Draco.
"What?" said Harry and Ron in unison.
"I said I'm coming with you."
"No you're not," said Harry, shaking his head.
"Potter, do you want me to tell the whole school that you and Ron are playing hooky to save Granger when you knew perfectly well you should have informed the teachers about that letter?"
"You wouldn't" said Ron.
"Try me." There was a long pause.
"Fine. You can come with us," said Harry reluctantly.
"Why do you want to come with us anyway?" asked Ron. Draco looked at him blankly.
"Well, because I want to be a hero for a change."
"Bullshit. You like Hermione, don't you?"
"Do not."
"Sorry Draco, Hermione's taken. Harry is going to ask her to be his girlfriend, aren't you Harry?"
"Maybe," said Harry, reddening.
"We're wasting precious time, lets go," said Draco.
"Ok," said Harry, glad for a chance to escape the conversation.
"Wait, what's the plan?" asked Ron.
"Well, we'll meet back here in an hour to take off in our brooms from that window," said Harry, pointing to a rather large window across the room.
"Yes sir," said Draco mockingly.
"Pack a duffel bag with necessary things only. We don't want to carry heavy loads," continued Harry, ignoring Malfoy.
"Ok, lets go," said Ron, and they all walked out, each taking a separate route.
Harry walked down the empty hallway quickly. In his heart he was happy that he had received that letter from that person, whoever that was. He knew this all had something to with Voldemort. He was ready to face him once more, no matter what it took. He took a sharp turn and crashed into Cho, who was obviously waiting for him, arms crossed.
"Harry, you left so suddenly. What happened?" she asked.
"Nothing," replied Harry plainly.
"Nothing? That didn't look like nothing," Cho said with an attitude.
"Cho, I don't have time for this. Hermione-"
"Oh, so that's what this is about! That muggle-born know-it-all!" she interrupted.
"You have serious issues you need to sort out," said Harry, glaring at her.
"I refuse you moon over her like she were your girlfriend! In fact, I refuse you to be near her at all!"
"You think that?"
"Yes."
"Really? Are you sure about what you just said?" said Harry, looking at her with utter distaste.
"I'm sure."
"I've been waiting for you to say that for years. You want to know a secret?" said Harry, smiling sweetly at her.
"Sure," said Cho, taking his arm.
"You know that dance next week? The one for the sixth years?"
"Yeah."
"The one we're going to together?"
"Yeah, get on with it already," she said giggling.
"Forget about it," he said, and yanked himself out of her grip.
"What! But we're supposed to go together! We're the couple of the year!" she whined.
"Oh well," said Harry, and he continued his walk down the hall. Cho gaped after him and after he disappeared from sight, gave out a scream. She collapsed against a wall and screamed some more.
"Hermione Granger will pay for this! I will get revenge if it's the last thing I ever do!" she screamed out into an empty hallway.
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Harry entered the empty common room and found Ron already marching down the stairs, duffel bag at hand. He tossed it onto the couch and turned to face Harry, who was wearing a grin.
"What happened to you?" asked Ron curiously.
"I just dumped Cho."
"Congratulations!" said Ron, shaking Harry's hand.
"Yeah, thank you."
"What happened though? Did she say something to make you mad?"
"Yes, she insulted Hermione."
"Thank god for that."
"You're weird, Ron."
"Why? Because my two best friends are finally going to hook up?"
"You don't know that."
"I can feel it. You two are like Romeo and Juliet, Ren and Stimpy, Jack Dawson and Rose, Julia Roberts and-"
"Ok Ron, I get the point. It's all up to Hermione whether we hook up," said Harry, chuckling.
"Whatever. Now, go upstairs and pack, quickly."
Harry nodded once and ran upstairs. He threw open the door and pulled a duffel bag from under his bed, stuffing it with necessary items. He closed it up and swung it over his shoulder running back downstairs. Ron was already holding the portrait open. They leapt out and ran to the classroom where they agreed to meet Malfoy. They opened the classroom and found Malfoy sitting on one of the desks, arms crossed and black duffel bag next to him.
"Hello," he said.
"Damn, you got here quick," said Harry panting.
"I'm afraid I have bad news for you," said Malfoy, standing and walking up to them.
"What?" asked Ron, afraid to ask.
"Did you know that Eves Hollow is dragon country?" he said, smiling.
"Umm…no. What does that have to do with anything?" asked Harry.
"Well, there's a very big chance we might get our legs charred when we are flying over them so…"
"So what?"
"So we have to wear leather pants," he finished.
"You're kidding," said Harry.
"I have three pairs here for us to wear," said Malfoy. He took the pants out of his duffel bag and handed a pair to Ron.
"No! No way!" said Ron, backing off.
"You know Weasley, legs are not the only thing they can char off. You want to have children, don't you?" Malfoy said, concealing a grin.
"Give me those," said Ron, snatching the pair out of his grip.
"Thought you'd want them, Weasley. How about you Potter?" said Malfoy, rounding on Harry.
"Ok, I'll wear them," said Harry, also taking a pair.
They each took a corner of the room and pulled them on with effort. They turned out to be skin tight and actually very sexy. Malfoy grinned at the uncomfortable looks of Harry and Ron. They each picked up their brooms and duffel bags and headed to the window.
"Malfoy, why do you own leather pants?" asked Ron.
"Girls just love them," he replied, and they took off into the afternoon sky.
To Be Continued(A/N: There you go leather pants and Malfoy. My favorite combination. If you want the next chapter I'm going to have to start asking for more reviews, at least 30 before I post again. This chapter took me a week to write and I would appreciate at least 30 reviews. And remember, if you want to be informed when there is an update, leave your e-mail address in your review.)