Hermione and Ginny stopped abruptly when they saw a gang of Slytherins blocking their way to the Great Hall.
"Can you please move? We would like to eat sometime today" Hermione said, looking annoyed. The Slytherins sniggered, while two of them stepped forward. Ginny and Hermione both gasped when they realized that they were Severus Snape and Lucius Malfoy.
"What if we don't wanna move? What are you gonna do then, little mudblood?" Snape spat. Hermione's jaw dropped as she stared at the boy who was going to become her Potions professor. Her hand itched to grab her wand and hex them, but she knew that if she did that something bad would happen. She made a move to get past them, but Lucius grabbed a hold of her and pinned her up against a wall. Ginny screamed and made to run forward, only to be held back by Snape and Nott.
"Let go of me, you moron!" Hermione yelled.
"No, I wanna have a little fun with you first, mudblood" he sneered as his hand made to reach for her top, but she immediately whipped out her wand and yelled "Expelliarmus!" Lucius went flying backwards as everyone stared in shock. Lucius had never been attacked by a 'mudblood' before!
"If I were you, Malfoy, I'd advise you to leave me alone" Hermione growled as she aimed her wand at Snape.
"Let go of her" she whispered dangerously. Snape glanced at Nott worriedly and at the same time, they let go of Ginny. Lucius stood up, grinning.
"It's a shame that you're a mud-"
"Say it and I'll hex you into oblivion!" Hermione warned him, her wand mere inches from his chest. Lucius backed off, looking nervous, but then he regained his composure.
"It's a shame that you're a muggle-born, otherwise I'd fancy you" Hermione's jaw dropped as she turned to Ginny, who looked equally as shocked.
"You've earned my respect. C'mon guys, let's go find that other mudblood Evans" Hermione stepped in front of him and pushed him roughly to the ground. Lucius glared up at her.
"What?"
"Leave Lily alone!"
"Why should I?"
"Because, not only are you gonna have Ginny and I after your blood, but you'll have the Marauders after your blood also" she told him.
The Slytherins snickered heartily at this.
"The Marauders are a bunch of losers who think that pranking is the best thing in the world" Snape exclaimed.
"I don't think so" Ginny replied coolly.
"Anyway, we're off. See you guys later, oh and if I find out that you've been anywhere near Lily, I swear you won't live to tell the tale" Hermione told Lucius before walking off, leaving the Slytherins to stare at the Gryffindor in awe.
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"Hey, we've been waiting for you guys" Ginny smiled when she saw the Marauders and Lily. Sirius immediately sat himself next to Hermione, while Remus sat next to Ginny. Hermione grinned at Ginny as she hinted with her eyes that he liked her. Ginny blushed when she felt Remus' leg rub gently against hers.
"Gin, why are you blushing?" Hermione asked in an innocent voice.
"I'm not"
"Well, your face has gone bright red" James commented on seeing Ginny's face as red as her hair.
"Oi! Granger!" Hermione's head snapped up to see Lucius and Snape standing with their arms crossed over their chests and looking stern.
"Yeah, what do you want, Malfoy?" Hermione asked coolly.
"We want a word" Ginny looked worried, but Hermione shot her a reassuring glance before standing up and following them out of the Great Hall. The Marauders made to get up, but Ginny whispered something to them and they reluctantly sat back down.
"What is it?" She asked as soon as they were in a spare classroom.
"Why can't we bully Evans?" Snape asked. Hermione's jaw dropped.
"W-What? Why are you even asking me that? I actually expected you to completely ignore me!" Lucius' lip curled.
"Well, you're unlike any other female I've ever met. Most of them act helpless, but you're a fighter" Hermione didn't know whether to be flattered or horrified at the fact that a Slytherin, who just so happened to be a Malfoy was paying her a compliment.
"Uh, well, thanks, I guess"
"Go out with me" Lucius said so suddenly, that completely took Hermione off her guard.
"You what?! No way! You're a Slytherin!"
"So? I think that you'd be better in Slytherin than where you are now"
"Gryffindor" Snape sneered, looking disgusted.
"We Slytherins see something in you that no other Gryffindor has"
"The ability to fight back and curse anyone" Hermione snorted.
"Right. Well, what about Sirius Black and James Potter?"
"They hex people for the fun of it" Snape snapped "But you're different"
"How would you feel about joining us in a group called Death Eaters?" Lucius asked. Hermione's heart jolted. They were asking her to become a Death Eater.
"Death Eaters?" she squeaked "W-What are they?" Of course, she knew perfectly well what they were, but she wanted to hear it from them.
"A group of people who can receive an amazing amount of power for doing whatever Lord Voldemort does" Snape explained.
"Power? Is that it?" she asked in disbelief.
"And Lord Voldemort rewards you also if you do a good job of what he requires of you" Lucius added.
Hermione was panicking and she could feel it.
"Um, could I, ya know, think about it? It's the Christmas holiday next week, couldn't I spend my time thinking about it over that?" she asked. They both nodded and as they turned to leave, Snape put in.
"Think carefully about it. Once you tell us your decision, you can't change your mind" he told her, then paused "Lucius wants to know if you'll go with him to The Hogs Head on Saturday"
"Tell him I'll let him know tomorrow" she told him. She waited until they both left the classroom, before fleeing to the Great Hall. She had to tell Ginny about what she'd just been offered!
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"Ginny, I need a word with you now" Hermione whispered frantically in her best friends' ear. Ginny looked up surprised.
"I'm eating, Hermione"
"This is more important than food!" She squeaked. Without realizing it, Sirius had grabbed Hermione round the waist and pulled her onto his lap.
"Whatcha doin'?" he asked her, looking curious. Hermione shrugged.
"Oh, I just want a word with Ginny, that's all" Sirius raised an eyebrow.
"Can't you talk to me about it?" he asked, putting on a puppy dog face. She shook her head.
"Girl stuff" she told him. Sirius' face dropped.
"Aw man, well, pretend I'm a girl and just tell me anyway" he winked at her and she rolled her eyes.
"Remus, I'll be back later" Ginny said, giving him a peck on the cheek, before walking out of the Great Hall, with Hermione a few steps behind.
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As they entered the Gryffindor common room, they noticed that no one was there, so they settled themselves down onto the sofas, trying to make themselves comfy.
"Oh. My. God! You and Remus can't stop touching each other! I saw you two in the Great Hall!" Hermione grinned. Ginny blushed.
"Forget about that! What is it you wanted to tell me?" Hermione's grin faded, her expression turned serious as she told Ginny everything that Lucius and Snape had told her. By the end, Ginny looked horrified.
"You're not going to go out with him, are you? And, you're not gonna become a Death Eater?"
"Don't be so stupid, Gin! I wouldn't go out with Malfoy even if you paid me and you know very well how I feel about people who just want power!" she exclaimed.
"Sorry, but I'm just worried, that's all" Hermione sighed.
"I know and believe me. I never wanted Malfoy to start liking me. Sirius is so much cuter" she added with a smile. Ginny giggled.
"Let's go and try and find the guys, maybe we could talk to them about homework or Quidditch" Ginny said dramatically. Hermione laughed.
"Oh, there's no need to try and find us, we're right here" Stepping out from under the Invisibility cloak were Sirius, Remus and James and they didn't look too happy, although both Sirius and Remus did look slightly pink in the face. Hermione glanced at Ginny worriedly. They'd heard everything!