A/N: Well cheesey petes, I suppose this one is pretty short as well. I have through chapter 7 written already, but I'm trying to edit them before posting. Thanks to everyone that reviewed so far! Also, if anyone knows how to get the italics, etc to work, can you please let me know? Thanks!
Fate's Hand
Chapter Three: A Glimpse or Two… or Three
I leave the room that held the Prefects meeting smirking. These fools think they know what they're doing. Dumbledore has canceled all Hogsmead trips except for one right before the winter holidays and one at the very end of the year after exams. Apparently he thinks it too dangerous what with the Dark Lord around. I don't think the Dark Lord is foolish enough to attack Hogwarts students and he would surely punish any Death Eater that did so without his prior consent.
I make my way to the loo and do my business, then I come out and begin my rounds for the evening. An hour or so later I am about half way done with my rounds and I near the Astronomy tower. I turned to go down a corridor, and maybe it was just my imagination, but I swear I saw her. The girl who has haunted me day and night since that revel. I couldn't have mistaken her long brown hair braided neatly down her back. I don't know if it is for sure her, but I try to follow her. I round the corner, but she is already gone.
~
First Quidditch match of the season, Slytherin versus Gryffindor, like every year. I don't know why they do this, they know we can't stand each other. Maybe they're looking for a miracle. I shake hands with Weasley (how he managed to become Gryffindor Captain, I don't know) and the game begins. I search for the snitch, but it doesn't matter. Potter catches the snitch 20 minutes into the game. 200-40, a terrible loss, well, not that bad. We were only down by 10 when he caught it. That doesn't matter though, whether we win or lose is all that matters. Father would surely punish me if he were here.
Millicent Bullstrode tries to "console" me because of the loss, like I want her hanging all over me. Sure, we used to have a thing going last year, but that was then. All she wants is to end up marrying me so she can have the Malfoy money. Not only that, but there has only been one girl on my mind. I don't know her name, I probably never will, but I can't seem to shake her out of my thoughts. Her eyes still haunt me in my waking hours and my sleep.
I can't stand to be in the common room any longer. I leave, intending to make my rounds, hopefully I'll catch some Gryffindors out. I find that I am no longer controlling where my feet lead me. I reach the end of the corridor; I can either go left or right. I look down the left corridor, apparently a dead end as well. I look down the right corridor. I see a beautiful girl with long chocolate brown hair braided down to her waist rounding a corner.
It's her. I hurry after her, hoping to catch up to her. I see her dark hair swinging after her around another corner and I run faster. I am determined to catch up with her. I have to know who she is. She seems to know I am following her. I round the next corner, not too far behind her. Where'd she go? I can no longer see her. She's won this round, but I am more than determined to find her now that I know that she is for sure here at Hogwarts as well.
~
Halloween. No doubt the Death Eaters are enjoying themselves at a revel while I am stuck here. These pathetic people have no idea what is really out there. The poor, hopeless people, who is going to save them when the Dark Lord comes to his full power? Potter? Doubtful. Dumbledore? The old man's loosing his touch. I won't fear, not like they will. The Dark Lord will destroy them, but I will be here still, because I am on the winning side, the Dark Lord's side.
I decide that I should grace the Dining Hall with my presence. I take my seat at the Slytherin table and glance around the room to see who has received stuff from home. My eagle owl brings me a bag of sweets from Mother. I look around the room again and my eyes fall on Potter, Weasley, and Granger. They are talking and laughing. I wonder what – never mind, it doesn't matter. An owl lands in front of Granger and she takes a letter from it.
Granger opens the letter and quickly reads it. At first she looks happy, but as she nears the end something changes. I look into her eyes. The moments-ago joy-filled orbs flicker for just a few moments with pain that I've only seen in one other. I wonder what could have been in that letter that would take all the joy out of Hermione's eyes.
Granger finishes reading the letter and with a forced calm, she puts it in one of her robes' pockets and says something to Potter and Weasley, then heads out of the Great Hall. I consider for a moment following her, but decide not to. She can take care of herself.
"Mr. Malfoy." I hear a voice call from behind me. I turn and see Professor Snape.
"Yes Professor?"
"Mr. Rodney is ill. You need to take over his rounds for the night."
I groan inwardly. "Yes Professor."
Snape nods at me then walks away. I finish my dinner and desert, then go to my room to get some sleep before I start my rounds. I wake promptly an hour later and pull my cloak on over my robes. I go through the common room and into the dungeons. This being my third year of having rounds, I pretty much know where to find the couples. I head to the unused room next to the trophy room. I open the door and walk in.
"I told you that I wasn't ready! Why do you keep pushing?"
"If you weren't ready, you wouldn't have agreed to meet me!"
"You said you wanted to talk!"
"Well I'm done talking! That's all you ever want to do, talk, talk, and talk. You are so boring, it's no wonder no one else wanted you."
"Lumos," I whispered.
"Miss Bones, Mr. Boot." They jumped at my voice and turned to face me. "20 points from Hufflepuff and 20 from Ravenclaw. You two know you aren't allowed to be out after hours."
I waited a minute.
"Well?" They didn't move. "It'll be detentions if you don't go back to your common rooms now!"
They hurried out of the room and I leave, closing the door behind me. I head along the corridors of the 8th floor when I see her again. I walk after her, she is heading up. I am so close to her when a hear a timid voice behind me.
"Draco Malfoy?"
I turn around in irritation. "What?" I snap at the little girl. She's one of the new first years. A Hufflepuff.
"I'm sorry to bother you, but I was hoping you could help me. You see, I haven't quite figured the castle out yet and I can't seem to find my way back to my common room."
I take a deep breath to calm myself. "You are on the 8th floor. Hufflepuff is on the 4th, by the picture of Merlin."
"Thank you so much." She turns to leave.
"Oh, and 10 points from Hufflepuff." The little girl glances at me before scurrying off.
I turn and leave, hoping to be able to find her. I still have to check the Astronomy tower, so I head toward it. 10 minutes later I find myself at the base of the tower. I open the door and head up the stairs. At the top there is another door. I open it and peer inside. I don't need to light my wand, the moon provides enough light, even with the figure sitting in one of the window seats.
"You found me."