Dedicated to the Crazy Reviewer (Raine is Crazy) and Wildchartermage for being my first non-friend reviewer.
Oldies 1(Bex Drake, ElevenRareHunter, Cniamc, Raine is Crazy, Haystack): Bex I'm glad you think I'm keeping them in character, I'm sorry I confused you but hopefully it'll all be clear eventually. Holly I hope you find out soon enough for your liking and very glad you liked it. Naim I'm sorry I have disturbed you, I hope you find happiness in this slightly less bloody chapter. Raine, methinks you got a tad confused and I think you misread something... they weren't muggleborns and Malfoy posse killed them. In all my years doing karate I have never found a fatal karate chop but I will ask my sensei and discover the truth. Haystack I have my last day of school ever tomorrow!!! Trust me it's very scary leaving it! Appeciate before the real world comes in!
Oldies 2( Irishsodabread, Star, Shadders, Forestsong, Mel62): Irishy I am very annoyed at you. sniffs How dare you say that a white english girl cannot be in wid de hard hommies? And if you like J Lopez I might just have to stop talking to you! Star you are a star. Isn't it scary being the end of school isn't it? very scared Last day tomorrow! Shady, You need some antivirus software young lady! And converting you into a Draco fan is interesting cos no one else likes him. Apart form moi. Foresty Sorry I confuzed ya but I'm sure you'll know what the hell's going on in a couple of chapter's time. Mel Only five chapters now. And what is wrong with school girls? I am one until friday..... You are believing Draco... I doubt he has scruples about lying. I'm glad you like the characters relationship... I often find relationship in fics very clear cut... which with my cynical view of human nature is not something I always agree with.
Newie (hotpinkflamingo): Another interesting name! I hope you continue to enjoy and that you ikeep reading! I will attempt to read your story sometime.... exams coming up.. but yes. I will endevour to!
AN: I am sorry for the delay, my grandmother came to stay and took my room. However with some of the reviews making offensive comments mentioning no names Irishsodabread (sniffs) I think I could be justified. Nothing wrong with white english girls. As I have mentioned in several review replies it is my last day of school tomorrow (Thurs). I hope that means that I'll be able to update regularly still but I do start exams which will determine whether I am a failiure or not. Ha. Leading on nicely I may have time to start a sequel. I am considering doing it.. but bloodbath may make it complicated. Now as to some of your confusion Draco and Blaise (posse) went off to house and killed the occupents. As to why? Revenge... But if you're still confused (I think I clear it up slightly more in later chapters), this chapter will not make it any better methinks. Cos naturally the newspapers are wrong.
Chapter Eleven
Together never Forever
Draco strolled with Zabini into the Great Hall. Lithliya was on his arm and members of Lithliya's own were walking in a cloud behind them. They were greeted with the sounds of palms on tables, cheers and clapping all from the Slytherin table. Zabini laughed and took a bow, Malfoy gave a majestic incline of the head, Lithliya smiled serenely and they walked to the head of the table. Lithliya's owl glided in over the heads of the Slytherins landing elegantly on her arm. She took the Daily Prophet from the bird, stroking its feathers before paying him and giving him a push up into the air. She passed the paper directly to Draco.
He was pulling bacon onto his plate as he received the paper between two of his unoccupied fingers. When he'd taken a bite or two of bacon and a bite of toast smeared with marmalade, he glanced at the front page. There was an arial picture of a house with a large garden out the back cut off from most places. There were two long log like objects on the lawn and several people milling about trying to look important. The headline screamed 'Murder of Ministry Official's Family; He Who Must Not Be Named Strikes Again'.
In the early hours of the morning the Department of Unusual Wizarding Activities were awoken by strange readings from the Northumbria area. Agent Dott and Brown discovered the Zabini family murdered, the Unforgivables used. Mr Henry Neptune Zabini was a rising star in the ministry having taken up a job only last year, saying he needed to feel like he was really influencing the world. His previous employment was a trader often travelling between the Middle East and Africa.
His eldest son, Blaise Prometheus Zabini, is still at Hogwarts under the careful eye of Albus Dumbledore. He stands to inherit his father's property and money as the last survivor of the Zabini family. It is doubtful that Dumbledore will allow this poor orphan boy to attend the funeral of his siblings; five year old Douglas Castor Zabini, four year old Elebreth Cassandra Zabini and seven year old Micko 'Striker' Polyduces Zabini. Mr & Mrs Zabini will be buried with their children on Sunday in the Malfoy private graveyard.
The only information the Ministry has been willing to give so far is that 'It was a hideous crime worthy of Lord... Thing, himself'. This double attack on two families with students at Hogwarts will certainly put Albus Dumbledore under strain.
"They do not think he is a Death Eater?" Zabini asked, reading the paper over Malfoy's shoulder. Malfoy wiped some crumbs from Zabini's toast off himself. Lithliya made to take the paper off Malfoy but he stopped her looking intently at the last line.
"They'll find out soon as the Ministry releases a statement. Unless the Ministry is foolish enough to try and hush it up; that they had a mole they did not know about. What does it mean by double attack?" Malfoy asked himself. He checked the contents before choking on his coffee. He hurriedly turned the pages to about halfway through. He scanned the article for five seconds before standing up and rushing out the hall. Zabini looked at the paper after him.
"Fucking hell." Zabini said quietly. He put the paper closed the paper keeping a finger inside the page whilst handing it to Lithliya. She read the full article before closing the newspaper and banging her head on the bench. Zabini stopped her with a forceful hand. Lithliya glared before storming out the Great Hall, 1st years diving out her way.
"Bloody women." Zabini muttered to himself flicking his wand so the newspaper caught fire and curled up in sodden black ashes on the table.
"Five points from Slytherin for swearing Mr Zabini, another five for the chauvinistic attitude and five for singeing the table." Professor McGonagall reprimanded as she walked passed. She stopped and looked at him care clear in her eyes. "And I'm terribly sorry about your family." Zabini nodded and turned back to the Slytherin table where the loud cheers from earlier had turned into quiet scheming of revenge.
--
"Planet of the Apes." Malfoy ordered as he reached the Gryffindor portrait. The Fat Lady surveyed him before opening with feigned indifference. He ignored her but with a sneer on his face. A little girl screamed as she saw him climbing in through the portrait. He ignored her and walked towards the right hand stairs. He got part of the way up them before they formed a slide and he slid down. Apparently Gryffindor had had a sense of humour.
He tried to ignore the raucous laughter from behind him. It didn't work. He spun round on his heel, his eyes flashing with bloodlust. The laughter stopped and he smiled his Malfoy smile at them. They ran from him. Malfoy turned back to the other staircase, which he had not tried and bounded up them.
"Granger!" He yelled as he reached the remaining door at the top. There was a figure outside them. The name engraved on the door was 'Harry Potter'. "Longbottom?" Malfoy asked thoroughly confused. Today was suppose to be a day of victory but it was turning out a lot more like defeat. How had Voldemort organised them so fast? It could have not been more than two hours.
"What-t-t are yo-o-u doing here Malffoy-y?" Neville choked out.
"Is Granger in there?" He knew she had been sleeping in his room and hoped she'd still be there.
"Yeah-h, she locked the door-r. But what are yo-o-u doing here?" Neville persisted. His question fell on dead ears. Malfoy was eying up the door. "It won't open to any spell I know. So I-I don't think-k-k it will open to- o-o-o anny yo-o-u know-w-w." By this time Neville's teeth were chattering and he was eying Malfoy's wand hand.
"Go away!" The hoarse shout from inside was ignored by both party save Malfoy noting in his subconscious that she was alive and in there.
Malfoy spared him once glance before charging at the door. His shoulder hit it full force. The door quaked but did not fall through. Malfoy charged again. This time the hinges gave way. He sailed through into the room. He straightened up, smirked at Neville who was gaping, grabbed his wand with a flick and a swish the door was back in place, hinges still broken.
He turned round to look at the window. It was open and large. "Accio Shadowfire." He grabbed Hermione whose shuddering form was collapsed on the bed and pulled her into his arms. He turned just as his broom floated into the room. Draco placed her gently sideways onto it his broom, keeping his arms out the balance her as she wept. He climbed on behind her, his arms holding the end of the broom behind her keeping her in balance between his arms, letting her use his chest for a pillow.
He flew her high above the school taking her to the slanted black slated roof above the Great Hall. The high hills and never ending green could be seen from miles on end here, Hogsmeade could even be distinguished from the folds of two curving hills. He let her go, leaning his broomstick against a chimney.
She was standing there with her deep brown eyes on him. And he could not look away. Her hair was unbound, long and lifting with the wind. Her eyes were red from crying, her lips swollen. She was pale. She was wearing a night-gown; mid thigh length creme, making her seem more ethereal.
He would debate with himself later whether that was the point of no return. When she looked at him, her face beaten by the wind, her body shivering with cold and sorrow. When those eyes were filled with nothing but sorrow, no anger, no hatred, just sorrow. When he knew and she knew that he, Draco Malfoy, was responsible for taking away her last bit of innocence.
When he could no longer say that his longing in the morning when he woke for her was because he wanted her body alone. When he could no longer say that his longing for her words in his ear was because of her knowledge alone. When he could no longer say that when he looked at her, her life meant nothing to him.
"Your family will be avenged." He said flatly removing all emotion from his face and voice. He kept his distance from the angel sent to tease and torture him. She shuddered at this and flopped gracelessly onto the slates. They made a hard thump.
"I don't want vengeance, Draco. I want my parents to be at home when I get home for Yule." She choked out. He rolled his eyes and looked out to the rising sun.
"Your parents are dead Granger. It is my fault. I did not think ahead. I would have had protection for your parents." Malfoy drawled out to the proud ball of fire. He heard a shuddered gasp behind him and changed his vision to some first years heading to their lessons by Hagrid's hut. "How did you find out without even coming down to breakfast?"
He turned to look at her. She was looking up at him as if in ore, her knees drawn up to her chest, one of her arms draped over them the other out to him. Just then she lost balance and skidded down a couple of tiles. He almost jumped after her but she managed to stop herself. He pulled her back up to the top ridge of the roof before pulling her down to sit with him. She sat beside him and he put an arm around her shoulders. He felt her rest her head on his shoulder staring out with him upon the never-ending hills. Someday, he thought idly, this will all be mine. He looked to Hermione who was gazing out with affection on both flora and fauna. And this already is. But I failed her. He squashed the later thought and turned back to the green.
"Harry dreamed. He woke me up in the night when he felt a bolt of pain. Lord Voldemort was angry. We went back to sleep but he began to dream, thrashing about and moaning softly. When he woke he told my Voldemort had had my parents killed. And that my mother had been pregnant." She wasn't crying. It was an improvement. Draco held her closed and rested his head on top of hers. He let his thoughts go for those few precious seconds.
"Draco?" The nondescript reply was irate as she had shattered his peace. That was only something he ever got with her and now she was ruining it. "Why do you have to take revenge?" Draco wondered temporarily if she actually knew her parents had been killed by Voldemort that morning. He discarded this when his thoughts took him back to the fact she was Gryffindor ergo believing in innate human kindness.
Draco knew he had never had much of human kindness. Draco knew that his mother being far more interested in fashion than him was not the kind of mother Hermione would have had. And he knew Hermione's father would not be constantly having visitors who never left the shadows of the corridors. Nor a father who used his cane when he was disobeyed; on animals, on people. Draco's tiny scar on the bottom of his left eyelid came from that cane. But whether or not she had found them amicable people it was more a question of war. If you let the enemy know you were willing to take their shit and not throw it back then they would just throw it harder.
"Because they have to realise that we are a force to be reckoned with and we will not be weak." He left her to add to that statement what she would. He took his right unused by Hermione arm, and placed it round her waist, holding her tightly to him. He bent his head down and kissed her forehead. He knew he was behaving like an idiotic first year, or at least thinking like it. Enjoying the first flushes of young passion. But he did not want to stop. To feel her next to him was like no magic man could ever work. She brought to him a feeling of right, honestly, strength, intelligence that he could only crave. And I'm turning into a fucking Gryffindor...
But he would not crave it. Because he knew that the world she lived in was very different. In her world there was very little margin between right and wrong and whatever margin there was he was treading on the bad side and she would not understand what he would have to do. To her the war would be won through innocent people's sacrifice, through right people fighting for the right reasons against people who deserved the deaths they so freely gave.
But how different this was from his world. His world there was black and very little else. Malfoy always suspected the worst in people and was very rarely surprised. She surprised him. To him the war would be won through little people's deaths, through traitors, spies, killers and rapists killing other traitors, spies, killers and rapists. There was no such thing as innocent people. In war you were all murderers. Except Hermione.
He was becoming a fucking pussy. He sniffed and kissed her head once more. His mind turned to revenge. Something spectacular. Something that would wake Voldemort up to the idea that Draco Malfoy was going to be his new archenemy.
--
Lithliya met Hermione on the Quidditch pitch. It was midday but neither of them were in lessons. Lithliya had spent the morning walking in the Forbidden Forest hoping to get attack or spotted by Draco. Both options would mean that she would have a chance to get some of her pent up anger out with a wand for a reason. However the dark creatures in the forest had had respect for another dark creature in their midst and kept a respectful distance. Hermione had just returned from the roof of the Great Hall with Draco.
Hermione was following the Marauder's Map looking for Lithliya. Lithliya hailed Hermione from across the pitch. Hermione answered both girls inexplicably happy to see each other. They met smiling. Lithliya eyed the map with interest and Hermione hid it promptly, she had not told Harry she had taken it. They both smiled and headed round the grounds in a comfortable silence. Now Hermione had met her she felt awkward asking what she had intended to. "Look." Lithliya said from beside Hermione.
Hermione followed Lithliya's gaze and found Hagrid first. She then spotted the midget at his feet. The fact was the girl was the tallest in her class but next to Hagrid all the 1st years were dwarfs. They both laughed. Hermione, who had changed out of her nightie into jeans and shirt, did a cartwheel on the grass. When she had righted herself she noted her companion was no longer level with her. Lithliya was standing back, arms crossed, face haughty. Hermione had barely time to note this before Lithliya hurled into a cartwheel then some kind of flip, landing perfectly upon the green grass. Hermione mumbled something beneath her breath and both girls laughed.
Hermione collapsed with Lithliya, some twenty minutes later, under the shade of a tree fast losing it's leaves. Both girls were gay of spirits; Hermione having her parents pain dulled by the comforts of Harry, the presence of Draco and the humility of Lithliya. It lay dormant for the darker hours to come, when it would ravage her very soul. "You want to know something about Malfoy." Lithliya told Hermione who looked shocked then nodded.
"I don't want to know how you know. You're already way too Darren Brown- like." Lithliya raised an eyebrow and motioned to her chin were the lack of a goatee was evident. Hermione stopped her with a dramatic sigh and rolling of eyes. "What happened to make him change? Why did he suddenly hate Voldemort after... after the summer? He went away last year all ready to become a Death Eater. And now... now he's killing Death Eaters. The Zabini's were Death Eaters, weren't they?"
Lithliya nodded. "That question you'll have to ask him yourself, for I do not know... I know Draco came out of it with a black eye and broken nose, though you could hardly tell to look at him. And I know that his father did not come out of it unscathed. It was an argument I know that much. Over what... Lucius told Draco to get out of the family home. The upshot of it was Draco spent the last four weeks of the summer in one of the Malfoy castles...in Scotland I think. Draco already owns quite a few properties in his own right." Lithliya picked a flower from the grass.
"The Malfoy's keep their business quiet. No doubt the death of Narcissa had something to do with the argument." Lithliya added, her flower now part of three joined together.
Hermione's head shot up from where she had been lying down in the grass. "Narcissa Malfoy? She's dead? What happened? Why didn't I know?" A couple of 3rd years, who had recently been released from lessons as lunch began, stared at them as they wandered past.
"No doubt Draco did not want the pity. I would not." Lithliya's laxed voice made Hermione uneasy. "Narcissa died a week and a half into the summer. She died of food poisoning, according to the inquest. She died with relatively little pain and in her sleep. If one knew anything about food poisoning..."
"Dying with little pain would seem strange." Hermione completed, her own mind going back to her parents deaths. "He poisoned her then? Malfoy. And then leant on the people investigating to find food poisoning or one of the house elves at fault?"
"I think it was more the thousand galleon donation to the Coroner's Quidditch team and being buddy buddy with the ministry officials." Lithliya commented idly completing her chain and placing it on Hermione's head. "Any and either way Draco was not happy with this. He did not want his mother dead and so much so he argued with his father. Or like Ginny said. There's another reason. Something to do with what Voldie wanted or something. No use to conjecture though. Especially as whatever it is Draco surely won't tell and knowing the Malfoy's it will be something that will require three different explanations involving tradition and history to explain."
Hermione nodded and collapsed back onto the grass. She had not collapsed for long before she heard a male voice calling her name. She looked up and saw Harry striding down the grass towards them. He looked tired. "Where've you been all morning? I've been bloody worried sick! I was wandering round the entire school looking for you, I thought you'd been kidnapped or worse." Hermione paled. "And then the map was gone." Lithliya smiled at the ground as if it were suddenly performing a play. "And then Snape gave me a bloody detention for skipping his class! But McGonagall said looking for you was an ample excuse. He moaned then still took twenty points of Gryffindor."
Hermione looked abashed and coloured a little. "Sorry. I was thinking." Not lying. Just neglecting information. "I've got the map, don't worry." Harry came round and sat between the two girls looking at Hermione with concern. "I'm okay. I really am. I know I have you and Ron." Harry snorted a little and smiled.
"Maybe not Ron. He's up with Luna again." Hermione looked at Harry startled. "Apparently he's the only one that can get her to speak. And she'll only speak to him. She's improving according to Ron too."
"Good. It'll be nice for Ron to be the centre of attention." Harry grimaced and rolled his eyes before taking in Lithliya for a moment. Hermione took her time to study the young lovebirds as they looked at each other. There was something tender and something sweet in the way Harry looked at Lithliya. Like there was his love written on his face. Something Draco would never....
"Hello" Harry said to Lithliya smiling.
"Hi." She returned before looking away into the dark forest. Harry took a second longer to look away but looking instead to Hermione. "This is the last day of summer weather. Enjoy it." Hermione looked up at Lithliya who was rising groggily from her sitting position. She nodded a goodbye then disappeared into the throb of students now heading down to do exactly as she had advised.
"Why are you two not the most talked about couple in school?" Hermione asked following a small bird's flight over Hogwarts roof.
"Because we're not a couple." Harry answered. "Can I have the map back, please?"
Hermione handed it to him. She heard a shout from across the lake. It was just some younger years mucking about. When she looked back her bird had disappeared over Hogwarts. "Why are you not a couple, Harry Potter? You like her and she likes you. Granted your Slytherin and Gryffindor but really in this day and age there are far more pressing things to worry about."
Harry looked at the sky. It really was the last day of summer weather. It wasn't actually summer weather; it was too cold and there was a damp feel to the air, an ice to the brush of the wind. "Because I have more important things to worry about than dating a girl. I might well be dead at the end of this year, less you forget." Harry added seriously.
"You might well be alive and kicking. But Harry you need something, someone to fight for. You need to, in your darkest hour, think of someone who you know if relying on you and you alone to save the world." Hermione said, her mind not in the least on Harry.
"I have you don't I?" Harry asked smiling. Hermione did not answer.
--
Now chickies that was a lil fluffy for my liking. However Draco has not lost his balls just temporarily misplaced them. He'll be back causing mass mayhem asap.