A/N: Hehehe, I'm so evil. I'm sorry it has taken me longer than usual to update, I've been really busy with school and haven't had time to write. I'm also starting to work on another fan fic about the Lewis and Clark expedition, which will be posted on FictionPress.net as soon as I get a chance to type it up. I would like to send special thanks to my reviewers: IceLily: Sorry I kept you waiting, hehehe. Celeste: I knew you'd like the LOTR reference. Thanks for being a mellon, hehehe. Malfoychic: I actually wouldn't be updating so soon if I didn't have you as a fan, thanks for reading my story and reminding me what chapter I'm on. I'd also like to take this opportunity to say that we beat Axium Puzzles. Meggiebaby81: Thank you so much! I never thought I was good at writing cliffhangers, so thanks for the compliment. I've just started reading your Sailor Moon fan fic, and please continue it! Roswell4ever: I tried to make this one longer, thanks for the review! Me: (whoever me is, lol) I'm updating so you don't hurt me hehehe. Thanks for the review!
I'm *three* reviews short of my goal. So R/R and enjoy.
Chapter 12
The scream echoed through Gryffindor tower. Harry and Ron froze immediately, and in unison gasped out, "Hermione!" Together, they quickly got up and raced up the spiral staircase to the girl's dormitory. Ron got to the door first, and found Hermione kneeling on the floor. He slowed down and walked cautiously over to her. Ron gasped at what he saw.
Hermione was kneeling over the bleeding body of Crookshanks. One of her hands was covering her mouth, the other grasping a piece of parchment. The blood was beginning to spread, and it was obvious what had caused the damage. A silver dagger was wedged into the cat's heart. Harry took the parchment from her hands, as she began to shake Crookshanks.
"Crookshanks! Wake up! Wake up, please!" tears were beginning to fall as Hermione desperately tried to get a response from her cat. Harry began reading the words on the parchment.
" 'Leave Draco Malfoy alone you mudblood or your cat won't be the only thing that's going to die,'" Harry paused, then barley in a whisper said, "It's written in blood." By now, some other people had joined the scene.
"Someone go get McGonagall," Ron said. No one budged. "Go get McGonagall!" he shouted. The Creevey brothers were knocked out of their shocked expressions and headed back down the spiral staircase to find McGonagall. Ron started ushering the other onlookers out of the room. Once everyone was out of the room, he took the note from Harry and began looking it over.
"Who would do this?" Hermione suddenly whispered. An eerie silence fell over the group as they all looked to the dagger. On the handle, the Dark Mark was starring back at them.
McGonagall entered the room suddenly. "What is going on here? The Creevey brothers invented some sort of thing about a cat--" she cut off as she saw the bleeding cat. Hermione, Harry and Ron and turned to look at her.
"Someone threatened Hermione," Ron mumbled, showing the note into McGonagall's hand. She read it, looking from Hermione, to Ron, to Harry.
"Have you touched anything besides this?" McGonagall asked, looking at the Trio sternly through her spectacles. The three shook their heads.
"Any idea who is after you, Hermione? Anyone holding a grudge, perhaps infatuated with Mr. Malfoy, or simply doesn't want you seeing him?" The Professor asked. Hermione nodded, wiping the dry tears from her eyes.
"Yes, plenty of people want that. But Professor, look…the handle on the dagger…it bears the Dark Mark," Hermione said. The teacher looked down closely and let out a small gasp.
"The Dark Lord's supporters own them. They prefer using wands, of course, but to scare their Muggle victims even more, they use swords or daggers bearing the Dark Mark," McGonagall whispered. "We must get you all out of here. If You-Know-Who's supporter is still around, he can go after you this time, Miss Granger. I must inform the Headmaster of this. Now, all of you, out. Quickly," McGonagall said the last sentence with more force. Harry pushed himself up, and helped Hermione up, who was shaking now. The Trio headed out the door, followed by the Professor.
"What about Crookshanks? You can't leave him there…" Hermione said, looking back at the Professor.
"Professor Dumbledore should have a look, before anything is moved," Professor McGonagall responded. The rest of what was left of Gryffindor tower was in the common room, waiting for a report on what happened.
"Now, I am going to inform the Headmaster of this. A threatening note was left, and in fear of the safety of the entire school, I will ask you all to go to the Great Hall. Stay close together," the Deputy Headmistress said. The few Gryffindors quickly got up and headed out of the common room. Harry, Ron and Hermione stayed at the rear.
"How did anyone get into the school, the Gryffindor tower and then the girls dormitory without being seen?" Ron asked out loud. "If it was a Death Eater, it would have been impossible to get in, unless he apparated-- " through her tears, Hermione cut him off.
"You can't apparate or disapparate on Hogwarts grounds, haven't you read Hogwarts, A History?" she said desperately. Harry was still holding onto her by the arm, trying to comfort her.
"Then how else could someone get into Hogwarts then?" Ron asked.
"Maybe they attend Hogwarts?" Harry put in. The thought silenced the trio.
"How did they get into Gryffindor tower? They had to have known the password," Ron said.
"But no Gryffindor would do such a thing. It's like when Sirius broke in. Neville left the passwords laying around, maybe that's how," Harry said thoughtfully.
"Then the culprit is possibly an Animagus?" Ron said.
"The possibilities are endless," Harry said. The students reached the Great Hall, and a lot of other people were already there. Most of the professors where there, talking quietly to each other. As the Dream Team entered, Snape immediately rushed over to them.
"Miss Granger, did Draco's father approve of your relationship?" he quickly asked quietly. Hermione was taken back from the sudden question.
"N…no, why?" she asked worriedly.
"Let me see your left arm," Snape asked.
"Why do you need to do that?" Ron questioned suspiciously.
"Don't question me, Weasley and I was not asking you," Snape snapped at him. "Miss Granger, let me see your arm," he asked again, this time not waiting for an answer. He grabbed her left arm and rolled up the sleeve of her robe all the way. He cursed under his breath at what he saw.
On Hermione's shoulder, a blazing green Dark Mark was shining. It was not a usual Dark Mark, but a Dark Mark with a sword through the skull. The tip of the sword was covered with blood, but not just on the tattoo. It was causing Hermione's real blood to leak out.
"Bloody Hell…" Ron gasped under his breath.
"What does it mean, Professor?" Hermione said, her eyes wide with terror. Snape didn't respond.
"Bloody Hell…what does it mean?!" Harry raised his voice at Snape, running a hand through his messy black hair. Snape didn't yell at him for yelling.
"It means…" Snape cursed under his breath, "It means…it means the Dark Lord and the Death Eaters have chosen you as their next Muggle-born victim."
A/N: I hope you all enjoyed, don't forget to review :}