Part 21 : Interrupted Speech

It had been a week since the red haired strange Slytherin had disappeared. By now, it was all over the school. Everybody had heard different stories about what really happened. Some said Death Eaters had kidnapped and killed her and the teachers were trying to hide it. Others said Dumbledore had kicked her out of school for use of the Dark Arts.

Only a handful of Gryffindors and Slytherins knew the truth. Pansy Parkinson had once again fucked up and the redhead had lost control, giving to the darkness. They all had to swear to keep it a secret by the Headmaster.

On the seventh day after her disappearance, at dinner, Dumbledore stood up and interrupted several discussions among the students. After the talk with Draco and Hermione, he had to make choice. He would have like it better if it was a secret, but he wanted his students prepared for any eventuality. Things could go smoothly, or they could be under attack tomorrow.

"Your attention please. As several of you knows, one of your classmate hasn't been in class for a week now. We currently have no news of miss Rosenberg. But considering her origins, we must take in consideration any possibilities. From now on, curfew is at eight o'clock and no student is allowed outside after dinner." He paused, looking around the Great Hall. "It might not come to a surprise to any of you that we could be under attack. It is a possibility. Recent events forced me to take a more direct approach. Now, I don't want any of you to panic, but better be safe than sorry. Thank you." The Headmaster sat down once more.

"Is he mad?" Ron announced. "What could have possessed him to say that?"

"I don't know," Harry replied, then turned to the brown haired girl seated beside him. "Hermione, you're Willow's friend. Please, tell us something. I know you have some answers."

Hermione just watched helplessly as every fifth year Gryffindor looked at her, hope in their eyes. She sighed and nodded. "Willow comes from a place called Sunnydale. It's a very special town. It is a Hellmouth. She learned magic there, so she was tainted a bit by the Dark Arts." The Gryffindors gasped. "Yes. On the Hellmouth, you can die if you don't know curses and the like."

She closed her eyes, organizing her thoughts. "The problem is, when Willow lost control in potions, she unleashed all that dark power trapped inside of her. It acts like a beacon to any dark wizard around, which mean You- Know-Who. Lost and confused, he will use Willow like a puppet."

Ron sneered. "Malfoy must be pleased. His girlfriend his You-Know-Who's secret weapon."

Hermione glared at him. "Are you that blind, Ronald Weasley?! I almost had to break his nose so he would stop moping. He was the one to suggest we should go speak to professor Dumbledore."

"You're kidding us?" Seamus said.

"Absolutly not. He cares a great deal about her. And his parents might be Death Eaters, but it doesn't mean he wants to see the school blow up in a show of light by his girlfriend who had her strings pulled by an hypocrite." She looked across the Great Hall and the rest of the Gryffindors followed suit.

Draco was playing with the food in his plate and was ignoring the Slytherins that tried to talk to him. He was looking positively miserable. He sighed and looked up, his grey eyes locking imediatly with Hermione's brown ones.

The dinner was abruptly disturbed by an explosion coming from the front door. Seconds later, the doors leading inside the Great Hall were pushed open and dozens of Death Eaters walked inside, making the students scream their heads off. Dumbledore stood up, wand drawn, but an invisible force held him down. His eyes widened in surprise.

"Tsk! Tsk! Naughty professor! Trying to pull magic tricks on us."

The students gasped when they saw the missing student step inside, Voldemort and Lucius by her side. But she was quite different than the one they knew. This Willow had black hair and white veiny skin. She was dressed in black leather pants and a dark green blouse.

Hermione stood up. "Willow!" she cried.

The dark witch lifted her wand and with a single flick of it, the brown haired Gryffindor flew several feet back. "Silence, mudblood!"

Voldemort chuckled darkly. "You did very well, Willow. You can have her to play with later."

"Thank you, my Lord." She bowed and walked to the Slytherin table, Lucius' eyes following her every moves. He smiled in pride when she went directly at his son. "Hello, Draco."

The blond boy's eyes narrowed and his father frowned when he heard what he said. "Don't call me that! You don't have the right! You're just a monster with the skin of MY Willow!"

The witch slapped him. "That girl is gone!" She was angry. He hadn't acted like she wanted him to. She also didn't want to show it, but his words had hit home. She had slapped him to conceal the hurt look in her eyes. No matter what she was, she would always love him.

Draco hissed when his father grabbed his arm painfully. "You stupid boy! You should be proud to be chosen by the dark witch Willow, one of Lord Voldemort strongest fighters!"

"It's okay, Lucius. Let him go," Willow said calmly. "He's just confused by Dumbledore and still hangs on the other Willow. He'll see reason soon enough. Your son is no fool. He knows what's good for him." She turned her back on Malfoy junior and joined Voldemort who was making his way toward the head table.

Draco's legs were shaking so hard he had to hold himself to the table. He was breathing heavily and his eyes were squeazed shut. He opened them again when his father left his side. Chocolate eyes found his gaze. He fought hard against the tears, but one managed to slid down his face. He looked at Hermione for strenght and she mouthed him something that looked a lot like 'Be strong'. He nodded and took a deep breath. He would be strong.. for her.