Hey guys! I'm back! I don't own anything in the HP world y'all know that. Sorry it took me forever but I've been lazy for the past what months? Sheesh Anyways ON TO THE STORY! Lol
Between Insects and Angels
Draco dressed for bed and crawled in beside Hermione. Wrapping his arms around her and pulling her closer, he prepared himself for a new day.
Elsewhere in the castle, Eric and Harry met in a long forgotten corner.
"Phase one was a success I take it? Considering her screams were heard throughout the castle." Eric said chuckling sadistically.
"Yes. Everything was planned perfectly. The death of her bloody cat was a stroke of genius Eric! I never would have thought of that."
"Please the only thing she loves more than that cat is Draco and she'll soon think he's dead as well."
Harry nodded then asked "Eric, how'd you get the password?"
Eric sighed annoyed. The Boy Wonder wasn't all that he was cracked up to be, ignorant boy.
"House elves will tell you anything you want to know if they trust you. All I had to do was tell that big-mouthed Dobby I was doing something special for Hermione for helping me on my last Herbology test and he told everything I needed to know."
Harry was a but put-out that his friend had been used, but it was for a good cause wasn't it? He nodded anyways and looked down the hall to see if anyone might be coming and accidentally hear them.
"Harry, we can't do anything else before Christmas."
"Why not?"
"Snape may be onto us. I saw him going into Malfoy's room. You have an alibi right?"
"Yeah Ginny said she'd cover for me…..do you really think we'll get caught?
"No. Innocent until proven guilty. There's no proof." Eric said looking Harry in the eyes.
Harry never faltered on the outside. Inside he was worried. He'd lost the moon stone Hermione had given him for his birthday last year and he couldn't remember where he might have left it. He had it before he destroyed her room but not after. He wouldn't tell Eric of course. He'd kill him.
"Eric what if they use Veritaserum?" Harry asked starting to panic.
"It's not legal anymore. The Ministry banned it after Voldemort fell you know that. If they try we can get them sent to Azkaban. Besides it can be avoided I've done it and you can too." Eric said firmly.
Harry breathed a bit easier and relaxed a hair. A sound down the hall made him look quickly. He listened hard for the sound of footsteps but they never came.
"When do you plan on striking again?" Harry asked breaking the silence.
"The Yule Ball. The entire school is going this time and it will be easy to slip away."
Harry nodded in agreement, thankful it would be awhile before he would have to hurt his once best friend again. Eric glanced at his watch.
"Come on. Filch will be checking down here in a few minutes. Go left down the hall and follow it to the Gargoyle with one wing and go right. You'll know where to go from there."
Harry nodded before heading down the hallway. Eric sighed narrowing his eyes before heading to his own dorm.
Albus Dumbledore sat back. He looked every bit of his one hundred seven years. His normally twinkling blue eyes were veiled in disbelief and pain. He took off his half-moon glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose. Would he never get any peace? Yes, when you're dead. The thought came unbidden.
He sighed a heavy sigh as he picked up his glasses, cleaned them and put them back on his long nose. He sat in silence gazing at the fire. Finally he turned his troubled gaze back to the professor in front of him.
"You know this for a fact Severus?"
"Yes Headmaster. Malfoy told me everything."
"And you trust his word."
"Yes."
Albus sighed again. The thought of Ms. Granger being treated so shamefully was unbearable.
"Have you spoken with her?" Albus asked, no need to mention whom.
"No. She was asleep at the time and I felt no need to raise her and remind her of what happened. Especially after her cat."
"You say you went to her rooms and found everything to be as Draco had said?"
"Yes I also ordered the house elves not to touch it until you'd had a chance to inspect it.
Albus nodded, though he knew seeing didn't mean believing this time. He'd known Severus far too long to know he was not one to lie about such things. He knew too, that Severus would know when he was being deceived.
"This boy, Eric, you believe he is behind this?"
"Of course. Who else would be vile enough to do such things? He hates them both."
"I see, I see. The oldest story in history. Eric wants most that which he cannot have. Perhaps in time he will give up on Ms. Granger."
Snape nodded skeptically.
"As to the present though, what are we to do? Surely you will not allow this to go unmarked?"
"Since we have no proof he did this we cannot make allegations and push him."
"Then we should question him. I know in my heart he did this."
"But without proof we have no ground on which to accuse him."
"Veritaserum will give us proof enough."
"It's illegal now Severus. We would need permission from the Ministry and they're too cocky these days you know that."
Snape snorted in disgust. It was no secret he had no love for the Ministry and it's doings. He preferred doing things his own way.
"Very well. When should I begin this Inquisition?"
"Tomorrow. As soon as classes are over, call him to your office. Question him only. I want no action taken until I have heard your report."
Snape nodded and stood, already he was forming his plan.
"As you wish headmaster." Snape said a bit tartly and went his way. Albus frowned after him, not sure he had made the best decision.
In the Gryffindor Tower, Ginny Weasly lay awake thinking. She was getting restless waiting for Harry to come back. When he'd asked her to cover for him, she hadn't thought it would be so long. He was definitely going to owe her. She smiled thinking of different "payments". A noise to her back caused her to sit up from where she lay stretched out on a couch by the fire.
"Harry?" she called, a bit uncertain.
"Ginny? Why are you up so late?" Harry answered stepping into the light.
"Waiting for you of course." She said smiling seductively. He smiled back, leaning over to kiss her soft lips. She held his kiss a moment before withdrawing.
"Where were you that kept you out so long?" She asked eyes narrowing in suspicion. Harry sighed, having a jealous girlfriend could be tiring.
"I had some thing to work out. People to talk to." He answered evasively. Ginny's chocolate eyes glowed in anger. She refused to be evaded.
"What things? What people?" Harry what is going on?" Harry grew impatient and again captured her mouth in a searing kiss. It lasted an eternity. Harry lifted her easily into his arms and she wrapped her legs around his waist. He carried her to his room and Ginny's questions died.
Hermione woke up with a start. She sat up dazed and disoriented. She looked bleary eyed around the room remembering where she was. A clock on the wall read 4 am. She groaned to think she had class in a few hours. Maybe Madam Pomfrey will write me an excuse. She thought. She yawned and looked to her left and saw Draco sleeping peacefully. He was on his side and his hair was splayed across his face making him seems angelic.
She smiled softly and stroked the silky locks emanating a sigh from his lips. She leaned over and tenderly kissed him. He shifted slightly but didn't seem to wake. She slid out of bed to go in search of his bathroom. Finding it, she took care of business and slid beneath the covers to find Draco awake. He held out his arms and she eagerly cuddled up to him nestling her head on his chest. He lightly stroked her arm saying,
"I had the most wonderful dream…."
"Hmmm?" Hermione said relaxing at his touch.
"I dreamt an angel kissed me and when I opened my eyes she was gone." At this he squeezed her hand and pressed his lips to her hair. Hermione smiled sleepily.
"Even angels need to use the bathroom."
Draco laughed and twisted so he could look her in the eye.
"You're so funny." He said kissing her nose. She smiled and moved her hand to caress his cheek and then his hair. She slowly slipped back into slumber wrapped in Draco's protective embrace with her head on his shoulder. He kissed her closed eyes and let himself fall into a well of black.
Between Insects and Angels
Draco dressed for bed and crawled in beside Hermione. Wrapping his arms around her and pulling her closer, he prepared himself for a new day.
Elsewhere in the castle, Eric and Harry met in a long forgotten corner.
"Phase one was a success I take it? Considering her screams were heard throughout the castle." Eric said chuckling sadistically.
"Yes. Everything was planned perfectly. The death of her bloody cat was a stroke of genius Eric! I never would have thought of that."
"Please the only thing she loves more than that cat is Draco and she'll soon think he's dead as well."
Harry nodded then asked "Eric, how'd you get the password?"
Eric sighed annoyed. The Boy Wonder wasn't all that he was cracked up to be, ignorant boy.
"House elves will tell you anything you want to know if they trust you. All I had to do was tell that big-mouthed Dobby I was doing something special for Hermione for helping me on my last Herbology test and he told everything I needed to know."
Harry was a but put-out that his friend had been used, but it was for a good cause wasn't it? He nodded anyways and looked down the hall to see if anyone might be coming and accidentally hear them.
"Harry, we can't do anything else before Christmas."
"Why not?"
"Snape may be onto us. I saw him going into Malfoy's room. You have an alibi right?"
"Yeah Ginny said she'd cover for me…..do you really think we'll get caught?
"No. Innocent until proven guilty. There's no proof." Eric said looking Harry in the eyes.
Harry never faltered on the outside. Inside he was worried. He'd lost the moon stone Hermione had given him for his birthday last year and he couldn't remember where he might have left it. He had it before he destroyed her room but not after. He wouldn't tell Eric of course. He'd kill him.
"Eric what if they use Veritaserum?" Harry asked starting to panic.
"It's not legal anymore. The Ministry banned it after Voldemort fell you know that. If they try we can get them sent to Azkaban. Besides it can be avoided I've done it and you can too." Eric said firmly.
Harry breathed a bit easier and relaxed a hair. A sound down the hall made him look quickly. He listened hard for the sound of footsteps but they never came.
"When do you plan on striking again?" Harry asked breaking the silence.
"The Yule Ball. The entire school is going this time and it will be easy to slip away."
Harry nodded in agreement, thankful it would be awhile before he would have to hurt his once best friend again. Eric glanced at his watch.
"Come on. Filch will be checking down here in a few minutes. Go left down the hall and follow it to the Gargoyle with one wing and go right. You'll know where to go from there."
Harry nodded before heading down the hallway. Eric sighed narrowing his eyes before heading to his own dorm.
Albus Dumbledore sat back. He looked every bit of his one hundred seven years. His normally twinkling blue eyes were veiled in disbelief and pain. He took off his half-moon glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose. Would he never get any peace? Yes, when you're dead. The thought came unbidden.
He sighed a heavy sigh as he picked up his glasses, cleaned them and put them back on his long nose. He sat in silence gazing at the fire. Finally he turned his troubled gaze back to the professor in front of him.
"You know this for a fact Severus?"
"Yes Headmaster. Malfoy told me everything."
"And you trust his word."
"Yes."
Albus sighed again. The thought of Ms. Granger being treated so shamefully was unbearable.
"Have you spoken with her?" Albus asked, no need to mention whom.
"No. She was asleep at the time and I felt no need to raise her and remind her of what happened. Especially after her cat."
"You say you went to her rooms and found everything to be as Draco had said?"
"Yes I also ordered the house elves not to touch it until you'd had a chance to inspect it.
Albus nodded, though he knew seeing didn't mean believing this time. He'd known Severus far too long to know he was not one to lie about such things. He knew too, that Severus would know when he was being deceived.
"This boy, Eric, you believe he is behind this?"
"Of course. Who else would be vile enough to do such things? He hates them both."
"I see, I see. The oldest story in history. Eric wants most that which he cannot have. Perhaps in time he will give up on Ms. Granger."
Snape nodded skeptically.
"As to the present though, what are we to do? Surely you will not allow this to go unmarked?"
"Since we have no proof he did this we cannot make allegations and push him."
"Then we should question him. I know in my heart he did this."
"But without proof we have no ground on which to accuse him."
"Veritaserum will give us proof enough."
"It's illegal now Severus. We would need permission from the Ministry and they're too cocky these days you know that."
Snape snorted in disgust. It was no secret he had no love for the Ministry and it's doings. He preferred doing things his own way.
"Very well. When should I begin this Inquisition?"
"Tomorrow. As soon as classes are over, call him to your office. Question him only. I want no action taken until I have heard your report."
Snape nodded and stood, already he was forming his plan.
"As you wish headmaster." Snape said a bit tartly and went his way. Albus frowned after him, not sure he had made the best decision.
In the Gryffindor Tower, Ginny Weasly lay awake thinking. She was getting restless waiting for Harry to come back. When he'd asked her to cover for him, she hadn't thought it would be so long. He was definitely going to owe her. She smiled thinking of different "payments". A noise to her back caused her to sit up from where she lay stretched out on a couch by the fire.
"Harry?" she called, a bit uncertain.
"Ginny? Why are you up so late?" Harry answered stepping into the light.
"Waiting for you of course." She said smiling seductively. He smiled back, leaning over to kiss her soft lips. She held his kiss a moment before withdrawing.
"Where were you that kept you out so long?" She asked eyes narrowing in suspicion. Harry sighed, having a jealous girlfriend could be tiring.
"I had some thing to work out. People to talk to." He answered evasively. Ginny's chocolate eyes glowed in anger. She refused to be evaded.
"What things? What people?" Harry what is going on?" Harry grew impatient and again captured her mouth in a searing kiss. It lasted an eternity. Harry lifted her easily into his arms and she wrapped her legs around his waist. He carried her to his room and Ginny's questions died.
Hermione woke up with a start. She sat up dazed and disoriented. She looked bleary eyed around the room remembering where she was. A clock on the wall read 4 am. She groaned to think she had class in a few hours. Maybe Madam Pomfrey will write me an excuse. She thought. She yawned and looked to her left and saw Draco sleeping peacefully. He was on his side and his hair was splayed across his face making him seems angelic.
She smiled softly and stroked the silky locks emanating a sigh from his lips. She leaned over and tenderly kissed him. He shifted slightly but didn't seem to wake. She slid out of bed to go in search of his bathroom. Finding it, she took care of business and slid beneath the covers to find Draco awake. He held out his arms and she eagerly cuddled up to him nestling her head on his chest. He lightly stroked her arm saying,
"I had the most wonderful dream…."
"Hmmm?" Hermione said relaxing at his touch.
"I dreamt an angel kissed me and when I opened my eyes she was gone." At this he squeezed her hand and pressed his lips to her hair. Hermione smiled sleepily.
"Even angels need to use the bathroom."
Draco laughed and twisted so he could look her in the eye.
"You're so funny." He said kissing her nose. She smiled and moved her hand to caress his cheek and then his hair. She slowly slipped back into slumber wrapped in Draco's protective embrace with her head on his shoulder. He kissed her closed eyes and let himself fall into a well of black.