Ginny looked at Hermione again, holding the note firmly in her fist.

"Who's this from?"

"I'm not sure." Hermione stammered.

"It's from Goyle, isn't it?" Ginny gave Hermione one of her fierce glances again.

"I honestly have no idea.Who do you think it must be?"

"It can't have been Harry." Ginny stopped to look at Harry laughing with Fred, and then answered, "No. And who else likes you? So, it draws the conclusion back to Goyle." Ginny passed the note over to Hermione again and she took it gratefully and folded it up, putting it inside the pocket of her robes.

Waiting for lunchtime to call, Hermione strolled down to the Great Hall after her long and tedious class of transfiguration. She had never thought that transfiguration was boring, but with the reminder of the scented note at the front of her brain, it seemed one of the most fatuous classes of all time. Entering the Great Hall, she noticed Fred and George motioning for her to sit down, and also perceived a large parcel wrapped in glittery foil at her place. She hurried towards it and saw a flowery card and she opened it quickly.

Dear my sweet Hermionekins, Here is a book full of the tragedies of Shakespeare. Enjoy. Love from Gregorykins

Hermione's heart leapt, and she carefully unwrapped the parcel finding a thick, leathery book. Hugging it to her chest, she glanced towards the Slytherin table and looked at Goyle who was grinning stupidly. Malfoy looked up from his book and saw Hermione and Goyle smiling at each other and also caught sight of the leather book clutched in Hermione's arms. Casting an evil glare at both of them, he reluctantly went back to his book, hiding his pink face behind it. Ginny and Harry came strolling through the door and Hermione quickly hid the present from the sharp view of Ginny's.

"Hi." Harry greeted brightly to her before settling down in his seat.

Ginny gave her a funny look and Hermione saw parts of the shiny wrapping paper out of the pocket of her robes. Stuffing it back in, Hermione smiled at her and took out a piece of parchment, thinking of writing a reply to Goyle.

*

Malfoy could kick himself for being so stupid. Darn the stupid mudblood. When he looked up again his owl was pecking at his ear.

"What?!" he exclaimed angrily.

His owl handed him a parchment. Draco recognised the seal - all too clearly. "BR" - Black Ring - his father's organisation to destroy all Mudlboods paving the way for the Dark Lord to greatness.

Draco, my boy, (it said) The BR has been successful yet again. We have destroyed Alessandro Aless. Wormtail drank polyjuice potion and 'died' under Aless' identity. The same plan Barty Crouch used. Our next victim (due to popular demand) is Hermione Granger. This way we can catch Harry Potter and perhaps, Dumbledore off guard. Draco, my boy, follow in you father's glorious footsteps and make the vows of the BR. I await your owl no later than midnight tomorrow. That's my boy.

Luscious Malfoy ^BR^



Harry potter ought to die, thought Draco, so ought Granger. But you like her, said a little annoying voice in his mind. He decided to go to his dorm and empty out his thoughts with a penseive.