Just One of Those Days: Part Two

Chapter Seven

~*~Angel~*~

Last time:

          "I mean you're mother is also a target."

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Tory's POV:

          I didn't believe him…what he said just couldn't be true…well—okay, actually it was quite possible, but still…my mother?  I knew that she was disliked among many, just because she was the head of the Ministry of Magic, but to use something as awful as the Exanguis

          I walked out of Snape's room in a bit of a daze, ignoring his demands that I get back there this instant, when realizing I had no intentions in doing so, he followed me.  "Ms. Malfoy, would you stop for just one moment and listen to me?" he was making sure not to sound too harsh.  When I kept walking, he grabbed my arm, forcing me to stop.  "Ms. Malfoy!  I am ordering you to stop!" he almost yelled.

          But I wasn't really feeling up to par and that just pissed me off, "What!?  Huh!?  What do you want?  Come to stick your abnormally large nose into my business again?  Come to tell me that I should forget it?  That one less mudblood in the world makes it a better place?  Huh!?  Well guess what?  That mudblood is my mother!  Do you hear me?  My mother!  And no sick, twisted, perverse Voldemort wanna-be is going to take her away from me!"  I was shouting, right in his face too.  And the funny thing was that he didn't seem to mind.

          He sighed, "Ms. Malfoy, you are overreacting.  No one is going to take your mother away from you and I wasn't going to stick my, what did you call it? 'Abnormally large nose' in your business.  I was simply, and oddly enough, worried that you might go off and blow something up.  Not to mention worried that you'd hurt yourself.  You shouldn't forget it, but you shouldn't lose a lot sleep of it either, your mother is one of the brightest witches of all time; she knows how to take care of herself."  He was smiling, I couldn't believe it.  Snape was actually smiling.

          So I nodded, he was right after all.  Mum was the smartest witch around and I couldn't see her getting ambushed very easily and drinking the potion, but I still couldn't help but be terribly worried about her, "Professor, you don't have any idea who could be doing this?" I asked, finally calming down.

          He shook his head, "We have no ideas, whoever it is, is very good, he's managed to get the most guarded information from the Ministry without them even noticing…"

          Just then Professor Lucera turned the corner, "¡Hola!  And how you Professor Snape?" she asked, cheery as usual.  I smiled.

          His upper lip curled a bit and he made some kind of noise, either way, he was looking quite annoyed, "I'm fine Ms Lucera, but I was also just leaving," he looked at me, and I wasn't sure if he wanted to tell me something else before he left.  "…If you'll excuse me.  Ms Malfoy, if you need to speak with me again, do not hesitate to come and find me…" his voice trailed.  He gave Lucera one more suspicious glance and then went on his way.

          Well…that was odd, why would I need to speak with him again?  Lucera was looking as puzzled by Snape's actions as I was, "He's always like that with me!" she said, crossing her arms and huffing.  "Every time I come near him, he glares at me and his tone changes nasty!"

          I smiled, "He's always like that.  So, how are you?" I asked, shifting topics.

          If she was even remotely upset, she immediately stopped acting like it, "I'm just fine dear! And how are you?" she replied.

          "I'm alright, things have been up and down, ya know?" I said.  I wanted to desperately tell her about the whole 'plot-to-kill-my-mother' thing, but I knew that I couldn't.  This had to be kept under wraps.

          She tilted her head, "Up and down, how so my dear?" she seemed genuinely concerned.

          "Oh you know, the usual stuff, my ups are Quidditch and school and all that, my downs are hate letters that the Ministry and Mum have been receiving, it's getting so annoying now.  I mean Mum's been in charge for ages now, I don't see why people can't just get over it…" I said, making up something hastily.

          But Ms. Lucera didn't even notice my could-have-been faulty tone, "¡Oh mis pobres queridos!" she blurted out in Spanish.  I raised an eyebrow and she quickly translated, "Oh my poor dear," she continued, "That's so terrible!  You're still getting those horrible letters?" she asked. 

I just nodded.  She scoffed, "Someone really needs to find out who's sending those!  I'm so sorry that you have to deal with this…" her voice trailed.  "Well, I should go, but I'll be here if you need me…" she patted my shoulder and began walking away. 

Just as I went to walk away myself, she turned around quickly and stopped in front of me, smiling, then said rather quickly, "¿Usted no habla español,  usted mi querido? Eso es bueno… porque quisiera que usted supiera que vaya a matarle. No va a estar pronto, sino que sucederá, usted pagará, y me cercioraré de de él. Tenga un día agradable." I don't know why, but the fact that she kept smiling at me and speaking to me in a language that I didn't know, was creeping me out.  And then she didn't even translate, she just walked away.

          "Hmmm…" I said to myself.  "That was……odd…" With that, I headed back to the girl's dormitory.  I started humming the same song I was singing when Snape found me.  And then it hit me.

          I stopped dead in my tracks.

          How is it that Mum doesn't know…?  When I had talked to Snape, he said that she didn't…

          "…You're the youngest target, all the others have been people who work in the Ministry or someone at least graduated from Hogwarts, you're the only student named.  And after the letter with your name, every other letter coming in has been your name.  That's why the Ministry and Dumbledore feel that you are in the most danger," he explained.

          "Does my mother know?" I asked.

          Snape shook his head, "No and she won't until this afternoon, the Headmaster felt that it be best if he told her himself."

          "Why?" I raised an eyebrow. 

          "Because, you're letter came right after hers," he said.

          "You mean—"

          "I mean you're mother is also a target."

          My mother, Hermione Malfoy, was the head of the Ministry of Magic…she was the boss.  There was no one higher up on the food chain.  How could she not possibly know…?  Unless…

          Oh my God…

          I began to walk faster, so many thoughts flooding my head.  Before I could even process the thought I was running, full speed, down the corridor in a desperate attempt to find my mother.  I wasn't paying attention, I hit something and fell to the floor, but I didn't even realize it until I noticed I wasn't moving any more.  I looked up just in time to see everything go black.

AN: heh…wouldn't it be cruel of me to stop here…

          I woke up with my head pounding, like some midget with a hammer was wreaking havoc inside my cranium.  The upper left side of my forehead hurt a lot and then I realized it was bleeding; I could feel the blood tinkling down the side of my face. 

Man…that's a creepy sensation…

          I went to touch my wound only to find that my hands were bound above my head.  My eyes shot open in both fear and surprise.  "What the fuck!?" I said loudly, looking around.

          And if I thought blood streaming down my face was disturbing, the laugh that filled the room I was in was even freakier.  "Such language Ms. Malfoy…" the voice scowled.  With my brilliant deducting skill I figured out it was a guy.  Woohoo, Sherlock Holmes, look out!

          "Who the bloody hell are you and where am I?" I demanded quite viciously.

          My captor took a step forward, but whoever it was was still too far in the shadows for me to identify.  Despite that, I knew that stupid bastard was smiling.  "Why Ms. Malfoy, you're in the safest place you could ever be…" he said.

          "Gringotts?" I asked sarcastically.

          He lost his temper for a moment, "Don't play stupid with me, you Mudblood!" he snapped callously.

          I smirked, "What are you trying to prove, Garrett?" I asked.

          He laughed again, which was really beginning to freak me out, "Well done Malfoy, way to piece together the puzzle," he applauded me.  Ass. 

          I repeated myself, "What do you want?" I asked firmly.

          He pulled out his wand, "To teach you a lesson…" his voice trailed and he walked closer, now standing over me with his wand pointed between my eyes.  Oh you little shit, we already played this game back at the hotel and you lost

          I glared right back up at him, "I don't think so…ferret…" I said, not even giving him a chance to get mad.  With as much force as I could muster I planted my left leg on whatever I was lying on and sent my right foot flying into his face.  Heh…good thing I was flexible. 

          He fell backwards, but he was far from being knocked out.  I tried to loosen my restraints to no avail.  He was back up in seconds and wasted no time punching me hard across the face.  "You dumb bitch!  For that…it'll be even worse for you…" he promised.  He pointed his wand once again and before I could retaliate he said, "Crucio…"

          I couldn't even prepare myself for it…nor could I have ever imagined that it would be this bad.  It felt unreal…my muscles twisted and turned in directions they were never meant to go, my insides ripped in two, my heart was stopping slowly, my bones were being pulled away from each other at an excruciating pace.  I was screaming so loud, but I couldn't even hear it.

          And then it all stopped.

          I nearly passed out if water hadn't been poured onto my face.  I was breathing deep, but trying not to…it hurt too much.  I noticed Garrett was sitting next to me…on whatever I was lying on.

          I tried to gather my voice, but I could only manage a harsh whisper, "Where am I?" I asked for a third time.

          He ignored my question, "I love seeing you suffer…it's addicting…like some kind of drug…" his finger grazed my cheek.

          "Where am I?" I asked again. 

          He was still smiling, which I suppose, what better than him being angry because I didn't need him to pull another stunt like that.  "Is that all you're going to say?  Why don't you beg for mercy, or for my forgiveness…?  I'm in a good mood now, maybe I'll let you go…" he laughed at the thought.  "Though…I wouldn't count on it…" he added sinisterly.

           "Where the fuck am I?" I repeated.  There was no way in Hell he'd ever hear me beg for his mercy.

          His smile faltered a little, "That wasn't the right answer…" he said, looking straight in to my eyes.  I was beginning to panic, but I couldn't let him know that.  His hand traveled down my bare legs, I suddenly wished I had chosen to wear pants today instead of shorts.  He caressed my calf, smiling as he saw me try to fight back.  Then his hand came to my foot, promptly joined by the other, and, without warning and a quick twist, he broke my ankle.

          I cried out in pain, "You fucking shit!" I cursed.  Oh dear…Tory, you may wanna hold your tongue…I thought as he glared at me and went for my right foot.

          "Would you like a matching pair?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

          As much as I didn't like the idea of actually answering the little pile of puke, I had to.  I shook my head, "No, that's alright thanks, one black and blue ankle is enough of a fashion statement, don't you think?" I said with a laugh, trying to ignore the blazing white pain in my foot.

          He brought his face very close to mine, another inch and we'd be Eskimo kissing.  At first, he didn't say anything, just studied me, which, might I add, I wasn't too fond of.  Then again without warning he leaned in and licked my lips slowly and seductively.  I almost didn't react at first, but then my mind caught up and I quickly turned my head, "What the bloody hell do you think you're doing!?" I demanded.

          He grew very angry, very fast.  He straddled my hips, gripping my arms as if he thought I was going to get away.  Then I felt it.  Something pushing at my stomach.  Something I never wanted to feel in this kind of situation. 

          I knew what it was, I may be inexperienced, but I wasn't stupid.  Although right now I kind of wished I was.  I almost laughed at the situation, it sort of reminded me of when I was little.  I remember when I was five and a half, my American cousin Joe was staying with us for the week while my aunt and uncle went off on their anniversary.  Being the adventures, no-time-for-knocking-on-the-door kind of gal that I was, I decided to visit Joe went he was making a pee break.  I burst and noticed him holding something in his hands.  And, seeing is how I was only five, I had no idea what it was.  So, as usual, when you don't know, ask Daddy.

          He had been quite unprepared for my question and told me simply it was like an elephant trunk.  You can imagine how embarrassing I was at our next trip to the zoo.

          "Do you see what you do to me!?" he demanded, taking me away from my some-what fond childhood memory.  He was looking madder at himself than me.  Hmph…apparently getting a woody because of me was a bad thing.

          I didn't say anything at first, I mean, what was I suppose to say, "Oh yeah, nice tent?" That'd go over well.

          "You're a fucking mudblood!" he shouted in my face.  "You're not suppose to do this to me!  I'm suppose to do this to you, and then turn you down and break your heart!" his voice calmed down a little.

          He stared into my eyes for a long time, and I didn't dare move.  I could tell he was arguing something out in his head, his eyes kept flickering with emotion. 

          Finally, he took a deep breath.  "No matter…mudblood or not, I can't deny that you are physically attractive…" Oh shit… "And, not to mention, quite sought after…" he stroked my cheek again, smiling now.  "Are you still a virgin Mudblood?" he asked.

          "I'm not a Mudblood!" I spat, glaring venomously.

          He shrugged it off, "Close enough…your father's a disgrace to his kind and your mother is a disgusting whore.  Looks like you received their best qualities…" he said, licking my cheek.

          "Don't you dare touch me…" I warned.  Though I knew it was useless, I didn't have my wand, my left ankle was broken and my hands were tied tightly above my head.  I couldn't escape.

          His hand moved up and down my side, "I'm going to do much more than just touch you…Victoria…" he twisted my name to sound like something dirty.  He started kissing my cheek and my neck, lightly at first, but then he started to sink his teeth into my skin.

          I struggled, pointlessly, but I couldn't just lie here.  "Why are you here so early any way Zabini?" I asked, hoping to pull him away from his displeasing task.

          He looked up briefly, "I don't think that's what you should be concerned with right now, but to answer your question: that's none of you business."  And with that he started kissing me again.

          Oh shit Malfoy, what are you gonna do now?  He's obviously not going to stop any time soon…hmm…I could always try a spell without a wand.  Right…cause that worked so well last time…oh well, it's worth a shot.  Actually, it's my only shot.

          I concentrated really hard, come on Tory…you can do this, you have to do this.  Hmmm…isn't that what you said last time and failed!?  Oh!  Come on!  Positive reinforcement!  And then as l loudly as I could, I shouted, "Stupefy!"

          Garrett froze and for a second I thought I might have done something right.  But, of course, I didn't.  He looked up at me, glaring, "Trying to do some magic without you're wand Mudblood?" he asked.  Great…he wasn't looking too pleased with me.  "Why don't I show you how it's done, hm?"

          He put his hand flat on my chest, hate boiling in his cold eyes, "Crucio…"     

          I tried to scream in pain, but I couldn't.  I soon realized that he was strangling me, and to add to my pain, his mouth clamped down over mine, biting fiercely on my lower lip, drawing blood.

          I hated myself for it, but I started to cry, I could feel tears streaming down my face.  Oh God…PLEASE!  Make this all STOP!

          And He must have been listening, because it did.  I opened my eyes, "What the hell…" I gasped looking around the room.  Garrett was lying on the floor, next to the bed, breathing scarcely.

          Then, out of the shadows, who should appear, but none other than Tawny.  I would have kissed her if I weren't strapped down to this pile of metal.  "Fancy meeting you here…" she said, almost smiling.

          "Heh…yeah, what a coincidence," I smiled back.

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          Okay, I'm going to be mean and end it here.  Sorry for the massive delay in the update, but some stuff was happening here that I don't wanna get into cause it's long and sad and I'm not gonna say.  Thanks for everyone who continued to review, even if I was being yelled at to hurry up.  I still appreciate it.  And to Nad, or Nat, the Undead-Unborn, whatever the hell your name is, author of Sticky Fingers: don't be pissed cause I didn't like your fic and I said the same stuff that everyone else who reviewed your fic said.  Giving me a nasty review cause I'm not a fan of your work seems a bit immature.  Can we say childish?  Not everyone's gonna like you're work, I happen to be one of them.  Get over it. 

To everyone else who is past the intellectual level of a six-year-old and can give me constructive criticism, you're quite welcome to it.  Thanks, love ya all!

Peace

Angel

PS: oh yeah, and to any one who knows Spanish, please don't tell review telling others what Ms. Lucera said.  It's a surprise, the point of me not translating is so that others don't find out until later! Yay (you know you love it)!  I'd appreciate that!  Love ya still!