--ten forty-five pm, Thursday evening--
She was walking back to her rooms from the library, bookbag its familiar weight on her shoulder, when she ran into him. Literally. Her mind had been miles away, on the delightful thought of Ginny, and the upcoming weekend.
"You know, Granger, I'd be delighted to rub up against you, but you might ask first, " came his cool, superior drawl.
(Malfoy. Fucking great. JUST what I needed...) "My apologies, Malfoy. Now, if you don't mind...." She moved to go around him, but he stepped adroitly, trapping her between himself and the wall.
"I reiterate my offer, Granger," he said, a charming smile quirking his mouth. "There's a couple spots I've worked out for uninterrupted inter- House socializing, one not far from here, if you'd be interested in accompanying me."
"I'd sooner accompany a manticore, you git," she snapped. "Besides, I've got a date already."
"Do you," he said, with a smile that made her very nervous. "Ginny Weasley does have a damned hot body, I'll admit. And how convenient that you're older, with your own room. Tell me, is she any good in bed?"
He stepped closer to her, and she realized that he was taller than she was, and, by virtue of being male, most likely stronger. A small chill wave of fear coiled in her belly.
"Get out of my way," she said, and hoped that her voice wasn't shaking.
"Oh, no," he said, with rich appreciation. "Not when I've got you so very nicely where I want you. You've gotten a nice set of tits, you know, Granger... Half of Slytherin's staring at them when you bend over your cauldron in Potions.You really should consider expanding your horizons." His eyes dropped to her breasts, and then he touched her, pressing himself against her in a very intimate way.
She slapped him. His lids dipped, and when he raised them his eyes had seemingly gone dark, pupils widened with rage as the grey eyes went ice cold. "That was very stupid, you know," he said, and his fist crashed into her jaw. Her head snapped back, and she felt her vision grey out as she slumped against the wall, but she fought it, and lifted her head in time to see him stepping back. A deft movement had a wand in his hand, and she had just time for a small frightened gasp before it suddenly flew out of his hand.
"Accio," murmured Professor Snape, and with a deft motion he caught Malfoy's wand. Hermione felt relief wash over her. He might prefer the Slytherins, but he was a professor, after all. The small commentator in her head noted the wandless summoning he'd just done with admiration.
"Ah, Professor. I was just..."
"I suggest that you confine your attempts at romance to the ladies of your own house, Mr. Malfoy," Snape said, his voice bearing a great degree of annoyance threaded through its normal silken tones. "And before you attempt to take what is not offered again, consider, with what minimum of forethought you possess, where you will stand at the end of it."
Draco changed color, and looked at the floor.
"I suggest that you spend the weekend in your room, Mr. Malfoy. I shall return your wand later, and I will be writing your father tonight. In addition, I am removing one hundred points from Slytherin, for your stupidity." He turned to Hermione. "If I may walk you to Madam Pomfrey?"
"Actually, Severus," a voice came, "I'll do that." The corridor, which had been empty save for the darting shadow of a tabby cat, rang with the astringent tones of Minerva McGonagal. Her anger was visible in the flare of her nose, and the tightness around her eyes.
"Minerva," Professor Snape said, as Draco slunk off.
"All I have to say is that that young man is very lucky that you walked past here first," she said, with an air of keeping herself under control.
"Indeed," he said, and nodded to them both coolly before resuming his stroll down the corridor.
"Did he hurt you, dear?" Hermione realized the question was directed to her, and shook her head.
"Only...my pride." However, her legs weren't entirely supporting her, and McGonagall's sharp eyes noted it as well as the bruise blossoming on her jaw.
"I think you need to visit Madam Pomfrey, and go straight to bed," she said, wrapping an arm around Hermione and leading her off in the appropriate direction firmly. "Preferably with a Dreamless Sleep potion. I'll speak to your professors about tomorrow."
"But my work...."
"I'll see it gets turned in. Now, no more arguments, young woman."
Hermione had to admit that when McGonagall got angry, things happened fast. She found herself eating a piece of chocolate for shock, while a few passes with a wand took care of the incipient bruise on her jaw and mild concussion from hitting the wall. She was then tucked up in the hospital wing with a dose of Dreamless Sleep awaiting her. Under Madam Pomfrey's stern eye, she undressed, did her nightly ablutions, and drank it. She drifted off to sleep seeing McGonagall sorting efficiently through her bookbag.
Minerva McGonagall strode back to Gryffindor tower with long angry strides, working out some of her anger on the stone floor. Damn that Malfoy boy! Hermione didn't deserve this right now, really she didn't. Minerva made a mental note to make sure Hermione knew to come to her. It wasn't as if she could go to her parents. (Not that most girls would.... )
But she would collect the girl's assignments for her and send them around. It was something to help, at least. Most of it was in her bag, but Minerva knew perfectly well that Hermione had a paper due in Advanced Transfiguration, since she taught it, and it wasn't in the bag. Therefore, she was headed back to her room, to find it. (Who would know...ah. Ask Ginny Weasley. They study together, she probably knows where she keeps papers she's done but hasn't turned in yet. And it's less fuss than asking one of the boys to go in her room and look. )
She passed up the stairs and through the portrait hole, causing a stir in the Common Room.
"Something wrong, Professor?" asked Harry, looking up from his book in surprise.
"I need to speak to Ginny Weasley," she said, simply.
"Gin's up in her dorm, since Hermione's not back yet, " said Ron, looking up from the chessboard. "At least, I haven't seen her go out.
"Thank you, Mr. Weasley," said Professor McGonagall, and swept up the stairs to the girls' dormitory.
She found Ginny lying on her stomach on her bed, muttering potion ingredients to herself, with a large text open in front of her. Ginny did a double take when she saw Professor McGonagall.
"What..."
"If you would accompany me to Hermione's room, " she said.
"Hermione's not back yet."
"I know," was all McGonagall said before turning and striding out of the dorm. Ginny grabbed her robe off the foot of the bed and pulled it on as she followed. She watched with some surprise as McGonagall used a password that unlocked the door, and strode straight to the desk.
"What's wrong?"
"I need Hermione's assignments for tomorrow. I assumed you might know her filing system.
"The stuff she was working on for tonight would be in her bag," said Ginny, musingly, and then consulting Hermione's master project chart which hung over her desk. "But there's a paper to be turned in for Advanced Transfiguration...which would be...in....Here," said Ginny, turning and flipping quickly through the bottom drawer, and extracting a roll of parchment.
"Thank you, Miss Weasley. Would you do me the favor of feeding her cat?"
"Where's Hermione?"
"She's sleeping in the hospital wing tonight, Miss Weasley," said the Professor, and observed Ginny's tense face and the obvious worry in her eyes. "Madam Pomfrey gave her a potion."
"I...what...what happened to her?"
McGonagall looked at her and said, "I believe that discussion needs to happen elsewhere."
In her office, she offered Ginny tea, which the girl refused with barely any politeness, slender body quivering with tension. Oh, yes... thought Minerva, remembering the conversation she'd overheard down the hall with the superior hearing of a feline. Indeed, that was what had drawn her attention first. Draco's drawling, vicious tones played back in her head. ("Ginny Weasley does have a damned hot body, I'll admit. Tell me, is she any good in bed?" Ahhh... no wonder Ginny's so concerned. I had wondered...but no matter. First things first. )
"I suggest, Miss Weasley, that this go no further than between ourselves. Draco Malfoy...forced his attentions on Miss Granger this evening as she was returning from the library."
The girl went stark white, then iron controls slammed down, and she nodded. "Go on," she said in a low and composed voice, though a rage of epic proportions surged behind the frail barrier of control.
"Professor Snape happened along the corridor, however, and I was not far behind him. I assure you that Malfoy is recieving some consequences for his behavior. They are lighter than perhaps you or I would give him..."
There was a mutter, which Minerva tactfully ignored, and continued speaking. (Did I hear something about using his balls for Quidditch practice?)
"...but the matter has been and currently is being attended to. Miss Granger has been given a potion to help her sleep, and I would appreciate her having some peace and quiet when she wakes. As her...closest friend...I feel that you will be able to materially assist in that."
Ginny nodded. "It's a good thing you didn't tell Harry or Ron. They'd go remove his balls through his nose and feed them to him." She clapped one hand over her mouth, and flushed red.
Professor McGonagall raised one brow, laughing inwardly. (Just like her older brothers...speech before thought.) "The sentiment is shared, but we do recognize the impracticality of such a course of action, I believe, Miss Weasley."
She looked at her Head of House for a moment and said, "What IS being done? if she asks."
"He confined him to his rooms for the weekend, removed one hundred points from Slytherin, and I believe that Professor Snape is currently composing a letter to Lucius Malfoy."
Ginny nodded.
"For what it's worth," the Professor continued, "I suspect that Lucius Malfoy will be more than a little upset with his son."
Ginny nodded again, smiled a little, vicious smile, and stood up. "I believe that's all I need to know, Professor," said the girl, and, still a little pale with suppressed emotion, she walked to the door. "Thank you for telling me."
"You, of all people, needed to know," said Minerva, and nodded at Ginny's look of surprise. "Oh, you're quite well within the rules in terms of public affection, and I refuse to begin bedroom checks on anyone, least of all the Head Girl, within my House on the basis of an ugly statement from a...Malfoy." Her tone dripped distaste, and then she smiled. "I do wish you both all the best."
Ginny nodded, and left.
Minerva McGonagall sighed, and drained the last of her tea, before walking over to her fireplace and tossing in a bit of Floo powder. "Albus, if you're available, something has come up that you need to be informed about..."
.
She was walking back to her rooms from the library, bookbag its familiar weight on her shoulder, when she ran into him. Literally. Her mind had been miles away, on the delightful thought of Ginny, and the upcoming weekend.
"You know, Granger, I'd be delighted to rub up against you, but you might ask first, " came his cool, superior drawl.
(Malfoy. Fucking great. JUST what I needed...) "My apologies, Malfoy. Now, if you don't mind...." She moved to go around him, but he stepped adroitly, trapping her between himself and the wall.
"I reiterate my offer, Granger," he said, a charming smile quirking his mouth. "There's a couple spots I've worked out for uninterrupted inter- House socializing, one not far from here, if you'd be interested in accompanying me."
"I'd sooner accompany a manticore, you git," she snapped. "Besides, I've got a date already."
"Do you," he said, with a smile that made her very nervous. "Ginny Weasley does have a damned hot body, I'll admit. And how convenient that you're older, with your own room. Tell me, is she any good in bed?"
He stepped closer to her, and she realized that he was taller than she was, and, by virtue of being male, most likely stronger. A small chill wave of fear coiled in her belly.
"Get out of my way," she said, and hoped that her voice wasn't shaking.
"Oh, no," he said, with rich appreciation. "Not when I've got you so very nicely where I want you. You've gotten a nice set of tits, you know, Granger... Half of Slytherin's staring at them when you bend over your cauldron in Potions.You really should consider expanding your horizons." His eyes dropped to her breasts, and then he touched her, pressing himself against her in a very intimate way.
She slapped him. His lids dipped, and when he raised them his eyes had seemingly gone dark, pupils widened with rage as the grey eyes went ice cold. "That was very stupid, you know," he said, and his fist crashed into her jaw. Her head snapped back, and she felt her vision grey out as she slumped against the wall, but she fought it, and lifted her head in time to see him stepping back. A deft movement had a wand in his hand, and she had just time for a small frightened gasp before it suddenly flew out of his hand.
"Accio," murmured Professor Snape, and with a deft motion he caught Malfoy's wand. Hermione felt relief wash over her. He might prefer the Slytherins, but he was a professor, after all. The small commentator in her head noted the wandless summoning he'd just done with admiration.
"Ah, Professor. I was just..."
"I suggest that you confine your attempts at romance to the ladies of your own house, Mr. Malfoy," Snape said, his voice bearing a great degree of annoyance threaded through its normal silken tones. "And before you attempt to take what is not offered again, consider, with what minimum of forethought you possess, where you will stand at the end of it."
Draco changed color, and looked at the floor.
"I suggest that you spend the weekend in your room, Mr. Malfoy. I shall return your wand later, and I will be writing your father tonight. In addition, I am removing one hundred points from Slytherin, for your stupidity." He turned to Hermione. "If I may walk you to Madam Pomfrey?"
"Actually, Severus," a voice came, "I'll do that." The corridor, which had been empty save for the darting shadow of a tabby cat, rang with the astringent tones of Minerva McGonagal. Her anger was visible in the flare of her nose, and the tightness around her eyes.
"Minerva," Professor Snape said, as Draco slunk off.
"All I have to say is that that young man is very lucky that you walked past here first," she said, with an air of keeping herself under control.
"Indeed," he said, and nodded to them both coolly before resuming his stroll down the corridor.
"Did he hurt you, dear?" Hermione realized the question was directed to her, and shook her head.
"Only...my pride." However, her legs weren't entirely supporting her, and McGonagall's sharp eyes noted it as well as the bruise blossoming on her jaw.
"I think you need to visit Madam Pomfrey, and go straight to bed," she said, wrapping an arm around Hermione and leading her off in the appropriate direction firmly. "Preferably with a Dreamless Sleep potion. I'll speak to your professors about tomorrow."
"But my work...."
"I'll see it gets turned in. Now, no more arguments, young woman."
Hermione had to admit that when McGonagall got angry, things happened fast. She found herself eating a piece of chocolate for shock, while a few passes with a wand took care of the incipient bruise on her jaw and mild concussion from hitting the wall. She was then tucked up in the hospital wing with a dose of Dreamless Sleep awaiting her. Under Madam Pomfrey's stern eye, she undressed, did her nightly ablutions, and drank it. She drifted off to sleep seeing McGonagall sorting efficiently through her bookbag.
Minerva McGonagall strode back to Gryffindor tower with long angry strides, working out some of her anger on the stone floor. Damn that Malfoy boy! Hermione didn't deserve this right now, really she didn't. Minerva made a mental note to make sure Hermione knew to come to her. It wasn't as if she could go to her parents. (Not that most girls would.... )
But she would collect the girl's assignments for her and send them around. It was something to help, at least. Most of it was in her bag, but Minerva knew perfectly well that Hermione had a paper due in Advanced Transfiguration, since she taught it, and it wasn't in the bag. Therefore, she was headed back to her room, to find it. (Who would know...ah. Ask Ginny Weasley. They study together, she probably knows where she keeps papers she's done but hasn't turned in yet. And it's less fuss than asking one of the boys to go in her room and look. )
She passed up the stairs and through the portrait hole, causing a stir in the Common Room.
"Something wrong, Professor?" asked Harry, looking up from his book in surprise.
"I need to speak to Ginny Weasley," she said, simply.
"Gin's up in her dorm, since Hermione's not back yet, " said Ron, looking up from the chessboard. "At least, I haven't seen her go out.
"Thank you, Mr. Weasley," said Professor McGonagall, and swept up the stairs to the girls' dormitory.
She found Ginny lying on her stomach on her bed, muttering potion ingredients to herself, with a large text open in front of her. Ginny did a double take when she saw Professor McGonagall.
"What..."
"If you would accompany me to Hermione's room, " she said.
"Hermione's not back yet."
"I know," was all McGonagall said before turning and striding out of the dorm. Ginny grabbed her robe off the foot of the bed and pulled it on as she followed. She watched with some surprise as McGonagall used a password that unlocked the door, and strode straight to the desk.
"What's wrong?"
"I need Hermione's assignments for tomorrow. I assumed you might know her filing system.
"The stuff she was working on for tonight would be in her bag," said Ginny, musingly, and then consulting Hermione's master project chart which hung over her desk. "But there's a paper to be turned in for Advanced Transfiguration...which would be...in....Here," said Ginny, turning and flipping quickly through the bottom drawer, and extracting a roll of parchment.
"Thank you, Miss Weasley. Would you do me the favor of feeding her cat?"
"Where's Hermione?"
"She's sleeping in the hospital wing tonight, Miss Weasley," said the Professor, and observed Ginny's tense face and the obvious worry in her eyes. "Madam Pomfrey gave her a potion."
"I...what...what happened to her?"
McGonagall looked at her and said, "I believe that discussion needs to happen elsewhere."
In her office, she offered Ginny tea, which the girl refused with barely any politeness, slender body quivering with tension. Oh, yes... thought Minerva, remembering the conversation she'd overheard down the hall with the superior hearing of a feline. Indeed, that was what had drawn her attention first. Draco's drawling, vicious tones played back in her head. ("Ginny Weasley does have a damned hot body, I'll admit. Tell me, is she any good in bed?" Ahhh... no wonder Ginny's so concerned. I had wondered...but no matter. First things first. )
"I suggest, Miss Weasley, that this go no further than between ourselves. Draco Malfoy...forced his attentions on Miss Granger this evening as she was returning from the library."
The girl went stark white, then iron controls slammed down, and she nodded. "Go on," she said in a low and composed voice, though a rage of epic proportions surged behind the frail barrier of control.
"Professor Snape happened along the corridor, however, and I was not far behind him. I assure you that Malfoy is recieving some consequences for his behavior. They are lighter than perhaps you or I would give him..."
There was a mutter, which Minerva tactfully ignored, and continued speaking. (Did I hear something about using his balls for Quidditch practice?)
"...but the matter has been and currently is being attended to. Miss Granger has been given a potion to help her sleep, and I would appreciate her having some peace and quiet when she wakes. As her...closest friend...I feel that you will be able to materially assist in that."
Ginny nodded. "It's a good thing you didn't tell Harry or Ron. They'd go remove his balls through his nose and feed them to him." She clapped one hand over her mouth, and flushed red.
Professor McGonagall raised one brow, laughing inwardly. (Just like her older brothers...speech before thought.) "The sentiment is shared, but we do recognize the impracticality of such a course of action, I believe, Miss Weasley."
She looked at her Head of House for a moment and said, "What IS being done? if she asks."
"He confined him to his rooms for the weekend, removed one hundred points from Slytherin, and I believe that Professor Snape is currently composing a letter to Lucius Malfoy."
Ginny nodded.
"For what it's worth," the Professor continued, "I suspect that Lucius Malfoy will be more than a little upset with his son."
Ginny nodded again, smiled a little, vicious smile, and stood up. "I believe that's all I need to know, Professor," said the girl, and, still a little pale with suppressed emotion, she walked to the door. "Thank you for telling me."
"You, of all people, needed to know," said Minerva, and nodded at Ginny's look of surprise. "Oh, you're quite well within the rules in terms of public affection, and I refuse to begin bedroom checks on anyone, least of all the Head Girl, within my House on the basis of an ugly statement from a...Malfoy." Her tone dripped distaste, and then she smiled. "I do wish you both all the best."
Ginny nodded, and left.
Minerva McGonagall sighed, and drained the last of her tea, before walking over to her fireplace and tossing in a bit of Floo powder. "Albus, if you're available, something has come up that you need to be informed about..."
.