All The Pretty Little Horses

Author: Rhapsody

Chapter Summery: Draco gets wet and Harry talks quidditch. Draco is kissing a girl who isn't Hermione. And Fred and George make an appearance.

Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

Note: This story was written before the release of Order of the Pheonix. It does not reflect OotP canon and any characters appearing from OotP may not be in character.

Harry was left in shock. Ginny, who he had just shared the most intimate moments of his life with had just left him, because she claimed she didn't love him. There's something wrong, he thought, There's something she isn't telling me. She's hiding something and I'm going figure out what it is.

Chapter 8 Crimson Snow

Draco lay in his bed, very contently holding a sleeping Hermione in his arms. He loved to look at people when they slept, he always had. Even Pansy was attractive when she slept. Hermione, who Draco found very attractive anyways, looked even more beautiful as she drifted softly through the land of slumber.

Her brown hair was strewn all over his chest, as if she had just fallen into place in his arms and not bothered to move. Her eyes were shut and a small smile played at her lips, which were red and swollen from kissing. Her cheeks had a light tinge of pink but her skin was fair.

Draco touched her ear lightly and ran his index finger down her cheekbone. He played with the fabric of her shirt collar, smiling. He stoked her cheek gently and ran his fingers through her hair. She smelled like vanilla. He inhaled her sweet fragrance and let his head fall back onto his pillow.

He shut his eyes and let his mind wander. It traveled down many roads. He remembered all the times he had laid in bed with Pansy. The only difference there was it was after senseless shagging; they were both sweaty and tired. Pansy usually fell asleep afterwards, and that was the only reason Draco liked to be with her. She was pretty when she slept.

Draco looked over to the figure next to him. There was Hermione, beautiful Hermione. He was suddenly repulsed with himself forever wanting to be with Pansy, even if it was meaningless. He sat up and Hermione stirred. He suddenly wanted to shower; to clean his body and wash his old self away.

But as he got up Hermione clutched his arm. "No, don't go," she said innocently before falling back asleep. Draco looked at her. Her eyes had gone shut again. He kissed her eyelids and whispered quietly into her ear, "I'll return."

He stood and pulled the curtains around his bed shut, leaving Hermione to her slumber. He knew she needed to sleep; she had seemed very unhappy when she was walking the corridors just an hour earlier. She seemed to change into a different person around him. She seemed happy, and he liked the thought of bringing her happiness.

He removed his shirt and his trousers and threw them into a pile next to his wardrobe. He opened the wardrobe and reached into the box at the bottom removing some boxers. He took out some clean clothes and threw them over his shoulder.

Draco carried his clothing into the bathroom with him. He pulled the door shut, wincing as it creaked loudly, for he didn't want to wake Hermione. He turned on the shower and discarded his boxers, throwing them into a heap in the corner. He placed his clean clothes in a semi-neat pile by the shower.

He stepped under the hot stream of water and immediately felt his muscles relax. He leaned against the tiled wall, lost in thought. He felt dirty. He reached for a bar of soap and rubbed his body with the sliver of white soap. He covered himself in a thin layer of bubbles. He rubbed it into his skin in a desperate attempt to cleanse himself. He wished he could purge himself of all of his path relationships by magic. None of them had been innocent, like his relationship with Hermione.

When he was with Hermione he was happy. He didn't feel like the old Draco who used girls for a quick shag. With Hermione it was different. He sighed and let the water beat down on his back, rinsing away the soap. He finally got out and toweled himself off. He combed his hair and didn't bother to gel it.

In the other room, Hermione stirred. She awoke to find herself in a dark cavernous place. She was surrounded by fluffy green pillows and blankets. She spent a few minutes trying to identify her surroundings. Then she remembered that she was in Draco's room. She parted the curtains and peeked her head out. The room was empty.

She got up and straightened her shirt. Her robes were sitting on a chair by Draco's bed and she was about to put them on when she heard a door open. Draco emerged from the bathroom looking very clean. His hair was still dripping and he was wearing new clothes. She smiled at him.

"I was wondering where you were," she said quietly.

"I was just taking a shower," he replied, "I'm sorry if I worried you."

"Oh no, not at all," she said sweetly, kissing him quickly.

Their lips touched for only a second, but Draco suddenly felt full of happiness again. He loved the way Hermione felt in his arms; he wished he could keep her there forever. He kissed her forehead lightly and she laughed against his chest. She looked up at him, her eyes full of happiness.

"I love you," she said very simply.

Draco was at a loss for words. He suddenly didn't know how to answer, or if he even should. He had never actually verbalized his feelings for her, other than their play acting only an hour previous.

The two stood there in silence and Hermione's face fell. Had she said something wrong? What if he didn't really love her? Suddenly she felt tears welling up in her eyes, against her will. She pulled away from him and grabbed her cloak from off the chair and rushed quickly to the door.

"I have to go," she mumbled and in a flash she was out the door.

Draco stumbled over to the chair and fell into it. What had he done?

~*~*~*~*~*~

Harry wanted more than anything to follow Ginny, but he knew that would do no good. He couldn't approach her yet; he knew he had to wait. He looked at the large grandfather clock in the corner of the room and noted that it was about half an hour before quidditch practice.

I'd best go get into my Quidditch robes, he thought. Even if Ginny isn't there, I am captain. It's still my job to run practice.

He found his broom next to his bed, right where it belonged, and carried it over his shoulder as he descended the stairs. He got into the common room and saw a couple of the younger players sitting around the fire talking.

"It's almost time for practice!" he said halfheartedly. He needed to stay ambitious if they were to win the Quidditch cup.

The younger Gryffindors looked at him apprehensively. They obviously noticed that something was weighing him down. Harry frowned.

"Come on! Let's go!" he said anxiously, "I'll meet you on the pitch in a few minutes."

They got up one by one and ran up to their dorms to get their brooms. Harry left the common room and made his way lazily outside. He knew Ginny wouldn't show up to practice, but he still had some hope that she would. It's just hope for a lost cause... he told himself, but that didn't stop him from wishing.

He stepped outside and felt a gust of cold. Snow was falling lightly and was accumulating on the ground. The soft blanket of cool white snow made the ground slightly slippery. It'll be harder to kick off now, Harry noted, his mind back on Quidditch.

Footprints in the snow trailed behind him. Another gust of wind came up and blew his hair into his eyes. He brushed it out of the way and looked up to see two red haired figures standing by entrance to the locker room.

"Hello!" called the first, who was wearing a blue jumper with an F on it.

The second redhead ran to meet Harry and clapped him on the back. "Good to see you, mate!" he said.

Harry forced a smile. "Fred, George, nice to see you."

Fred grinned at him, apparently oblivious to Harry's melancholy mood. "Quidditch practice, I presume?" he asked mildly.

"Yup," Harry replied, changing the subject, "But I have a question. Not to be rude, but, why are you two here?"

Fred stood up very tall, "You see, Harry, you are now looking at Hogwarts' newest flying instructor."

"Instructors," George corrected, holding up a whistle, "See? We even get whistles like Hooch had!" He blew it and Harry cringed at the loud noise.

"I assume you have to go get ready for practice," Fred said suddenly, "We won't keep you."

Harry nodded, "It's perfectly alright."

The two redheads grinned at him, "Have a good practice, mate! We'll see you around. Good day!" Then they both bolted in the opposite direction.

Harry looked after them, perplexed. Then suddenly he heard a series of loud explosions from within the locker room. He sighed. That's Fred and George for you.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Lucius Malfoy sat in a dark room with green hangings. It was a small room with no windows. This was his new prison. He had escaped Azkaban easily enough by making a bargain with the dementors. It was an easy enough trade. In exchange for his freedom he gave them his son.

Draco was an insolated boy anyways. Lucius didn't dislike him, but he wasn't fond of the boy. Draco never seemed to follow orders in a timely manner. Although he was useful as a spy within the school.

He would give up his son in February, after Christmas. He needed to wait at least until then if he was to get all of the information on Hogwarts' new Auror training course. He knew Dumbledore was up to something. The old man was obviously trying to train the students for war. In that case he needed Draco there to send him information.

Lucius heard a tapping noise at the door and opened it cautiously. A young woman who was very scantily clad stood before him. She had dark brown hair that fell in loose curls around her shoulders and she wore a very heavy amount of makeup.

" 'Allo, Mista Malfoy," she said sweetly, "Oi 'ave a letta fo' ya. It came abou' a week ago. Oi fo'got to give it to ya. But, if you'll come ova to ma room tonigh', sir, Oi could give it to ya then," She winked at him and turned to leave.

Lucius grabbed her arm. "Give me the letter," he said, his tone dark.

The woman looked at him and bit the end of her finger and ran it over her red pouty bottom lip. "Oi dunno, Mista Malfoy. Are ya sure ya don' wanna come to ma room tonigh'?"

"My patience is running thin, Mistress Moon," Lucius said sharply, "and I don't believe your husband would be terribly happy if I showed up in your room tonight."

"Bu' 'e's outta the country for three more weeks," she replied slowing pulling up her skirt and exposing her leg.

Lucius' eyes were filled with rage, "I also don't believe your mother, or your father, or your sister would approve either. And after your rendezvous with, shall we say, Mister Goyle, 'tis a miracle your family took you back. Now give me the letter or I'll put you under Imperius and make you give it to me!"

"Fine!" she said dropping her skirt, "'ere it is." She reached into her blouse and removed the letter from her cleavage.

Lucius snatched it from her hand and shut the door in her face. He returned to his chair and fingered the letter. The parchment smelled of perfume. He was almost sickened by the scent. How had a girl from such a noble family turned into such a...whore?

Eden Moon, the elder of the Moon sisters, had been the only person who could offer their home to Lucius for hiding. The Malfoys and the Moons had been very close families. Their younger daughter, Lucius couldn't remember her name, had played with Draco when they were children. Narcissa and Demeter Moon were close and that brought their families together.

Lucius brushed the thoughts of the vulgar woman away and opened the letter.

Mister Malfoy,

The plan is going well, but I fear the immortals are trying to assist your son in your downfall. He has not yet begun to follow their orders. He must be convinced it is all a joke. The immortals' third child has visited him, and the girl is having dreams of our plan. You must act quickly. The book and time turner must be planted as soon as possible. The girl will be the most vulnerable in October of last year. If all goes well, Potter will be disposed of in no time. It will be like he was never born. The time is near.

            Sincerely,

           

            T. M. R.

Lucius smiled to himself, "So even they're concerned," he laughed cruelly, "Well, they should be..."

~*~*~*~*~*~

Ginny was in her dormitory, crying softly. She was slumped over, and her cold tears fell into her lap. Her skin was pale as fresh snow. Her eyes had returned to their normal appearance, soft brown orbs, save the tears that run uncontrollably out of them. Her lips were red and her hair fell haphazardly down her shoulders.

There was a noise, and Ginny looked up to see Lizzie poking her head into the room. "We have practice!" she said.

Ginny felt a lump forming in her throat. Quidditch meant Harry. "I'm not going," she replied.

Lizzie entered the room and sat down on the edge of the redhead's four-poster, "What's wrong, love?"

Ginny just lowered her eyes and continued to weep.

"Tell me, Ginny, please," Lizzie inquired further.

Ginny opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out.

"You can trust me," Lizzie pleaded, "Ginny, I'm your friend."

Ginny looked at her, "No, I can't tell anyone."

Lizzie placed a warm hand on Ginny's shoulder, "Please, Ginny..."

There was a pause, "You wouldn't understand..."

The younger girl laughed, "Then you had better tell me, so I do understand. I hate being in the dark, you know that."

Ginny inhaled slowly, "Okay..." she sighed, "It's Tom..."

"Tom? Who's Tom? Is he in Ravenclaw?"

Ginny looked solemn. "When I was a first year, someone opened the Chamber of Secrets..."

~*~*~*~*~*~

Hermione sat down outside of the Slytherin Common Room. She was crying uncontrollably. She didn't know what was wrong with her. "Why can't I stop these damn tears? Why am I always crying now?"

She began to feel dizzy. The images of the room swam before her eyes; she shut them. Slowly new images began to appear...

*** Ginny was drinking a soda, which had been given to her by Nataku. She sipped it and listened to the muggles' conversation, laughing when appropriate. She smiled at Nataku the whole time. Draco, on the other hand, was sulking and stood in a corner, trying not to pay attention to the muggles. The salon where the party was taking place was clearing as couples left to the bedrooms.

Ginny had left the room with Nataku and they were sitting in the hallway, just talking. Draco was still standing in the corner when Sakura approached him. She smiled and tossed her pink hair over her shoulder.

"You look lonely," she said quietly.

He didn't meet her gaze, "So what if I am?"

She smiled meekly, "Perhaps you want to talk about it?"

"Not to you," he said disgusted.

"Oh," she replied, looking at her feet, "In that case I'll leave you be." A lock of hair fell into her face and Draco inadvertently brushed it away. His finger brushed her warm cheek and he suddenly pulled his hand away as if he had been burned.

As she began to walk away Draco put his hand on her shoulder, "No, wait, I didn't mean to offend you."

"No, it's fine," she answered, "I understand."

Draco felt his anger rise. "Don't act like you understand me."

Sakura glared at him. "And you shouldn't act like you understand me either."

"I won't," Draco replied softly, "I'm sorry."

She smiled again, "You're new at this; I can tell."

He cocked an eyebrow at her.

"Talking to girls..." she said.

Draco glared but held his tongue.

"Let me show you something," Sakura said suddenly and took Draco's hand.

They walked out the French doors and onto the back deck. She walked with him around a bush where there was a small garden. There was a little bench and a small pool. Wildflowers grew around the bench and the pool and it looked as if it were there by magic. Draco noticed that there was a charm around the garden making the pool glow.

"When we moved here," Sakura explained, "This garden was here. I used to sit on this bench at night and stare into the pool for hours. It was like magic. I told my mother and father about it and they thought I was just pretending, but I always believed it was magic, because one time when I was staring into it a woman appeared out of the water. She was wearing a blue gown and she told me that one day I would meet a strange boy who would help me unlock my destiny."

Draco just stared at her.

"I think you are that boy, Draco," she said softly.

Draco met her gaze for the first time and then leaned in and kissed her.***

Hermione's eyes flew open. She suddenly felt jealousy build within her. Draco had been kissing another girl, even if it was only in a dream. She got up and ran back to her dormitory to write it down.

Her quill scratched over the paper in her diary. She smiled inwardly thinking about what Sakura had said about a maiden in a blue gown. Hermione immediately knew that that garden was a fairy garden and that that woman must have been Sapphire.

~*~*~*~*~*~

A large black bird swooped in over the gates to Malfoy Manor. It perched near a drop box for letters and released the letter it carried within it. A house elf soon picked up the letter and brought it inside to Narcissa Malfoy.

The tall blonde woman opened the letter and read it to herself. She smiled inwardly. She had already known the contents of the letter years earlier and praised herself for her foresight.

Narcissa,

This is a letter to inform you that Edward Black and his muggle wife have been removed. Their possessions have been seized by the Dark Lord Voldemort and their daughter, Hermione, shall be left in your care. You may feel free to inform her of this when you see fit.

Lucius

Narcissa tossed the letter and watched it burst into flames. "Always one for fancy charms," she muttered to herself. Although she regarded her husband with nothing short of dislike, she was thankful for his respect of her. He was one to follow formalities, and he regarded her with more respect than most pureblood women received. On the other hand, she was quite a lot stronger than most pureblood women, but she wouldn't let just anyone know that.

She returned to the library where she had been reading a book and shut the door behind her. She intended to write to the Le Fay girl a week previous to the Christmas vacation. She knew that the girl would have no remaining possessions at her home, as it had been ransacked by Death Eaters. Thus she intended to send out a servant to purchase the girl some clothes.

Narcissa smiled and thought of going to purchase the clothing herself. She had always wanted a girl, but had only been blessed with a son. It had made Lucius happy to have an heir, though.

Narcissa stood and walked to a nearby window and peered out onto the estate. The gardens had fallen dormant and snow dusted the lawn. She rang a bell and a house elf entered the room.

"Fetch me my winter cloak," she said, "I wish to go out."

The house elf nodded and quickly retreated to its task. Narcissa stepped into the corridor and checked herself in one of the large mirrors as she pulled the cloak over her shoulders and Apparated to Diagon Alley.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Cypris pored over a large black volume in her dormitory. She was reading into purges made by Voldemort in the past ten years. It was obvious to her that Hermione hadn't had a fit for no reason. She soon found what she was looking for, a passage on the Le Fays.

Morgan Le Fay was regarded as one of the most powerful pureblood witches in history, the daughter of The Duke of Cornwall and the half sister to the late King Arthur. She resented both of them for rising in power and claimed that they stole it from beneath her. Although in her lifetime she did not rise to great power, she was a shape shifter and one of the rulers of the Fortunate Isle. As she died she placed a charm upon herself that she would reincarnate as a female in her family line and rule the magical world.

The Dark Lord sought out the reincarnation of Morgana and was referred to Caperia Le Fay, the wife of Edward Black. After the Dark Lord concluded that Caperia was the sought after reincarnation he intended to take her as his wife. Thus, after Edward disowned her as his wife, The Dark Lord and Miss Le Fay took part in a binding ceremony. Three weeks following the ceremony Miss Le Fay committed adultery by partaking in sexual intercourse with her former husband, Edward Black. The Dark Lord ordered his death, but he killed Caperia and fled into hiding, along with his four children.

The Dark Lord ordered the purge of the entire family a week following and three of children, Markus, Henry, and Edward II, were purged. Edward Senior and the third child were not killed. The Dark Lord was satisfied and called off the purge. The family remains in hiding to this day.

 "Well, that's interesting," Cypris commented, closing the book with a thud, "Looks like our little Hermione did have a reason to fret."

~*~*~*~*~*~

"May I have a word?" a weary voice asked.

"Yes, certainly," another voice replied, "You know you need not ask."

"It's common courtesy," the other responded lightly.

The female opened the door, "What is it you need?"

"My memories are coming back, Minerva."

She placed a hand on the man's shoulder in attempts to comfort him.

Remus smiled wryly. "It's not just my normal memories, but memories of things that I don't think even happened, yet I remember them as clear as day."

The older woman sighed, "What are they of?"

***Remus sat with his comrades in the small room. The table was illuminated and jokes lied about on the floor. Then suddenly there was a knock on the door and Sirius entered with a girl, she had red hair and freckles and bright green eyes.

"Hello, Lily," Remus said courteously.

James just smiled dumbly at her.

"What are you looking at?" she asked him sharply before greeting Remus politely.

"Why did you bring a girl here Padfoot?" James asked with sudden contempt.

Sirius replied sharply, "You're just angry because she's the only girl you can't get your hands on Prongs."

James turned a shade of crimson and shut his mouth. Remus continued to examine the map and then suddenly stood up.

"The corridor is clear!" he said triumphantly, "Let's go!"

The room soon cleared and they soon found themselves on the way to Hogsmeade through a secret passage. Remus and Peter waited in the tunnel as the other three quickly gathered a supply of treats from Honeydukes and reentered the tunnel. Lily was given the task of returning their supplies to Gryffindor tower and hiding them.

"Why me?" she protested.

"Because," James replied, "you're a girl and all the teachers suspect us!"

Lily scoffed at him and ran off with their plunder beneath James' invisibility cloak.

The four comrades returned to their hiding place and were plotting to get some food from the house elves when suddenly there was a pop and a girl appeared.

"H-Harry? What are you doing here?" she asked, stuttering.

"I believe we should be asking you the same question," James replied.

"Aren't you Harry?" she shook her head.

Remus looked at her with kind eyes, "I believe you are mistaken, miss. This is Prongs, and these are Padfoot and Wormtail... oh, and I am Moony."***

"They are old school memories, but there is a mysterious girl in them," Remus said shaking his head, "A mysterious girl with a striking resemblance to Hermione Granger."

~*~*~*~*~*~

There was a clatter in the locker rooms as the Gryffindors pulled their Quidditch robes over their heads and strapped braces around their arms. Harry fetched the boards of game plans he had made and called the male members of the team to the joint part of the locker room. He called into the girls' area and soon the very springy April and Megan emerged in their robes.

"Fred even talked to me!" April was saying excitedly.

"Well, George gave me the look!" Megan replied.

Harry shook his head, "Can we get on with practice?"

They continued to chatter until Leo called out, "Hey!"

They both glared at him. "What?" they asked in unison.

The rest of the team was just staring at them and they looked at their captain.

Harry smiled, "Thank you, Leo. Now have either of you seen Lizzie or Ginny?"

Megan shook her head and April said, "Nope."

Harry sighed, "We can practice without Ginny, but we need Lizzie. We can't practice without our keeper. I'll go fetch her and hopefully Ginny as well. You all get out your brooms and practice a little with the quaffle. We'll go over game plans when I get back."

Harry left his broom in the locker room and threw on his cloak as he made his way back towards the castle. The snow wasn't deep but it made the ground slightly more slippery than usual and Harry was having a difficult time walking properly.

The wind blew snow up into his face and stuck to his glasses, blinding him. He removed his glasses and was cleaning them off on his robe when he tripped on something. He fell to the ground. Returning his glasses to his face, he brushed the snow off of his robes.

He stood up and noticed that where he had fallen there was crimson snow. His eyes widened in shock as he realized he had tripped over the body of Elizabeth Wood.