Chapter 13: "The Deadly Game of Crossroads"
Over two weeks passed, but did not without incident. Harry and Hermione did find out about Pansy and couldn't look at Ron quite the same. On a worse note, many students' families were murdered, such as the Bones family, Abbot family, and the Creeveys. Poor Colin and Dennis were devastated. The Great Hall didn't have as many decorations that year. After the Halloween feast Helen went to Gryffindor common room. Only Ron, Harry, and Hermione were there with her.
"Alright let's get this thing resolved," Helen sat down.
"What is there to say? Pansy is a Slytherin. She can't be trusted," Harry said, trying to control his temper.
"She's actually different," Helen pointed out.
"Pansy's been nice I guess," Hermione mused.
"C'mon Harry, give her a chance," Ron looked at him imploringly. Before he could answer, the window shattered as a huge round object flew in.
"You guys okay?" Harry asked, shaking the glass off his robes.
"What was—OH MY GOD!" Helen screamed.
Bloody, rotting, and maggot infested, yet distinguishable…was Professor Trelawney's head.
"HOLY SHIT!"
Hermione started crying. Helen, Ron, and Hermione ran out of the common room but Harry walked over to the head. There was a piece of parchment attached to the back of it.
Before Harry could read it, Dumbledore, accompanied by Professor McGonagall, came in. Harry went to go comfort Hermione as the professors inspects the head.
"Where's Helen?" Harry asked.
"I don't know, she just took off."
"What's this?" Dumbledore noticed the parchment, "She is not the first and not the last," he read, "All who side with Albus Dumbledore will meet this fate."
Hermione uttered a cry and began sobbing all over again.
"What are we going to do?" McGonagall asked.
Professor Dumbledore thought long and hard.
"Alert the ministry. Let them know we found Sibyll, er, part of her."
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Draco hummed along to an unknown tune in the bathroom. BANG! There was a huge door slam. Draco wrapped a towel around his lower region and opened the door.
"Helen! God, what's wrong?" he asked, rushing forward.
"S-someone m-murdered Trelawney. Her…her head came through Gryffindor common room."
"Shit," Draco put an arm around her, "Are you okay? You're still shaking."
"I'll be f-fine," Helen tried to smile through her tears but failed miserably. He hated seeing her so upset.
"You don't have to pretend to be brave with me," Draco smoothed her hair back from her tear streaked face, "You've just seen something too horrible to even talk about."
Who would have ever imagined him consoling and worrying about someone besides himself? The need to get rid of all Helen's troubles consumed Draco,
I wanted you to know I love the way you laugh
I wanna hold you high and steal your pain away
but what more could he do except to assure her everything would be alright? Saying that would be lying though because the bad news was just getting started.
"Draco…" Helen looked down, "Is there anything under that towel?"
He'd forgotten he just finished taking a bath and wasn't clothed yet.
"Why don't you find out?"
Helen took a peek and smiled, "No clothes," and covered him back up, "Thanks for distracting me, Draco, but I think I'll go to bed. Goodnight."
Draco couldn't believe she actually looked and then was leaving him as if it was no big deal. How could she distraught one minute and a tease the next? Was she really supposed to be a Gryffindor?
The worst is over now and we can breathe again
I wanna hold you high, you steal my pain away
There's so much left to learn, and no one left to fight
I wanna hold you high and steal your pain
PAGE BREAK HERE
Draco hummed a silly little tune he'd heard Helen singing earlier as he walked over to the lake where a group of Slytherins were sitting.
"What's going on here?" Draco demanded to know.
"A YDLF meeting," Paige said coolly, "Didn't you get my owl?"
"No," Draco said with an icy tone that matched her own.
A/n: For those who forgot…YDLF means Young Dark Lord Follower.
"Well I called everyone here," Paige paused to glare at him, "Because I'm getting tired of sitting around here doing nothing."
"We have to wait for instructions."
"Which could be never! It's time we take this into our own hands. I'm so sick of seeing those little goody goodies prancing around as if they own the place, especially that brat Helen and her guardian Dumbledore."
"What!" Everyone seated around her shouted.
"Silly me, I thought I told ya'll," Paige waved her hand nonchalantly, "I found out from a good source that our headmaster is in fact the guardian of Gryffindor's little princess, Helen."
No way. Was that true? Was Helen really…and if she was…didn't that mean she and Dumbledore were close and that she'd have valuable information on him and his plans? Hmm there are a lot of people who'd love to know about this…
"Where's Parkinson?" Paige asked.
"She quit three weeks ago…someone doesn't pay attention much."
"At least I can say I haven't gone soft," Paige dished back. Draco threw her a withering look.
"Maybe you'd like to explain that, and be careful what you say."
"You haven't allowed us to use any of the other houses as cursing practice."
"Because then points will be taken away from Slytherin."
"Don't give me that! And you don't even taunt Potter and that mudblood like you used to. Wouldn't have anything to do with my old buddy Cliff now would it? I don't think daddy dearest would be all that pleased. Wouldn't it be a shame if rumors started floating around about the two of you?"
"Don't you fucking threaten me, Paige Larson." Draco said cruelly. Paige's face burned with anger at the mention of her mudblood father's last name.
"My dad may be a loser but my mother and I are NOT so you better be a little more respectful, Malfoy."
"A Malfoy doesn't take orders from a Larson."
"It's only a matter of time."
"Hey, cool it," one of the Slytherins spoke up.
"Mind your business, Zabini!" Paige yelled.
"What the hell did you say to me?"
"Nothing, nothing, look…I say we get back at Potter, Weasley, and those little brainy bitches Granger and Cliff."
"And how do you propose we do that?" Draco yawned.
"I don't know yet but…"
"That's what I thought. You're wasting my time, I'm out of here."
"Where are you going?"
"To confront 'Gryffindor's little princess' about what you told me."
Paige rolled her eyes.
"Whatever. This meeting's over anyway."
Draco made his way back to the castle.
"Malfoy, there you are," Hermione stopped him in front of the Great Hall.
"Make it quick, mudblood,"
"What was that, ferret boy?"
"I said make it quick!"
"Oh really?" Hermione said in fake surprise, "I could have sworn you added another word to the end of that statement."
"Well you heard wrong."
"Did I? Are you sure?"
"WHAT DO YOU WANT!" Draco shouted.
"Now, now," Hermione shook her finger at him as if he were a child that needed scolding, "You mustn't get a temper with me."
"Granger," he growled.
"I put up a notice on the Great Hall's bulletin," she pointed, "about Trelawney's memorial tomorrow. There won't be any classes and anyone who wishes to attend the brunch can. Dumbledore will explain what happened to her then and only then."
"Uh huh, that's great."
"Don't you care at all?" Hermione looked at him in disgust.
"Oh yes it's all very sad, but I have more important things on my mind."
"You're a monster, Malfoy."
"Not really. Am I supposed to feel sorry for someone I care nothing about?"
"Anyone with a heart would so I guess that explains your lack of sympathy."
"I'm not as mean as you think I am."
"Well I congratulate you for a fine job of hiding that."
"Between that meeting and you, I think everyone's out to bother me with useless drivel."
"Meeting? What meeting?" Hermione questioned.
"Nothing. I was referring to tomorrow…the brunch thing or whatever."
The YDLF members were coming in from the entranceway.
"I see now," Hermione put the pieces together, "Slytherins have been planning something then."
Draco cursed his slip and Granger's overly large brain.
"You're right. Paige is dead set on purging the school of its filth…starting with you."
Hermione pulled out her wand in rage, "Let's see her try."
Draco laughed.
"It's twelve against one, not including myself. I'd run if I were you."
"I'm not running."
"Are you crazy? Did you not hear me? Twelve against one! You don't stand a chance."
"You won't let them do anything." Hermione gripped her wand tighter as the Slytherins were getting nearer.
"Why wouldn't I?"
"Granger!" Paige called, "Just the one I was talking about. TIE HER UP!"
They all stared at her, unsure of what to do. Half of them could talk and talk about doing something to Gryffindors but when it came down to it, they just didn't have the guts.
"I said tie her up!"
Draco leaned against the wall, wondering how little miss perfect was going to get herself out of this one.
"EXPELLIARMUS!"
Two of the Slytherins nearest to Hermione fell on the ground. The others shot spells at Hermione but the Great Hall doors opened and all the charms ricocheted off the wood back at them. Only Paige and three others weren't hit with their own spells.
"What's going on?" Luna asked, shutting the door.
"Duck!" Hermione shouted as Paige threw another spell their way.
"Stupefy!"
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH" Luna screamed. Draco covered his ears but even that couldn't block out the ear-piercing scream that practically blew out his eardrums.
"Damn!" he yelled, "What are you? A fucking mandrake?"
"Stupify! Stupify!" Hermione knocked out the last two, leaving Paige standing alone. Draco laughed. The mudblood was got lucky this time but could should go against Paige head on?
"What the hell?" came the voice from someone he'd been thinking about minutes earlier. Hermione turned to look at Helen, giving Paige the opportunity to stun her. Hermione fell to the ground.
"STUPIFY!" Paige cast a spell at Helen next but she flew out of the way, just in time; stumbling into Draco.
"Draco what are—"
"STUPIFY!" Paige yelled again. Helen and Draco dove in separate directions.
"SECARE!" Helen shouted, giving Paige a bloody gash across the cheek, "Stupify!"
The second Paige hit the ground Helen raced over to Hermione's side.
"Enervate" Helen whispered. Hermione slowly opened her eyes.
"Wha—"
"Shh, don't talk. Let's just get out of here." Helen helped Hermione up.
"You're just going to leave them all there?" Draco stepped in front of them.
"You!" Helen glared at him, "Why did you just sit back and watch them fight Hermione?"
"Why wouldn't I? The mudblood deserved whatever they were going to give her. You're just lucky I didn't join in."
"You're Head Boy! It doesn't matter what opinions you have of her! YOU DON'T LET PEOPLE GANG UP ON THE HEAD GIRL! Have you lost your mind! Can you imagine what the professors are going to say when they hear about this!"
Draco stared at her incredulously, "You're not going to tell them are you?"
"Malfoy, you are so stupid," Hermione cut in angrily, "Of course we're going to tell! If not then the Slytherins will go straight to Snape and we're the ones who are going to get in trouble."
"I didn't fucking ask you!" Draco yelled in Hermione's face. He turned back to Helen, "You won't tell."
"Hermione's right. They'll tell Snape all the Gryffindors attacked them or something. Besides you aren't the one who'll get in trouble because you didn't do anything. Hermione and I are going to go see Dumbledore now."
"You can't."
"Why not?"
"Because then the Slytherins will say he's favoring you because he's your guardian."
Helen froze.
"Paige told them?"
"So it's true then?"
"Shit!" Helen yelled, "Fine, we'll just have to convince Snape then."
"Good luck with that." Draco shook his head and walked away. So it was true. Dumbledore was Helen's guardian. So what did that mean for him? The dark lord would be ecstatic if he brought him that piece of information, but if he did that…Helen would hate him forever. There was no way she'd ever forgive him. But what if she didn't find out? After all, the other Slytherins knew already and pretty soon the whole school would. So he was in the clear, right? Somehow the truth always comes out and Helen would find out. No, he couldn't risk it yet. Helen was already pissed off at him for not defending Granger. How the hell can she be a mudblood lover anyway? He was a Malfoy! Malfoys don't help mudbloods no matter what the cost. Somehow he was just going to have to make Helen see things his way. But how?
A/n: Sad Sad. This is my last post for a while since I'm going on vacation (I'll be still working on it from there but just in a notebook or something). I'll be back on June 27th and it will probably take me a day or two to type up a chapter so expect to see a new post on the 29th or possibly later or earlier. I'll miss you guys! muah! Oh and the bold words were from the song "Broken" by Seether.
--AngellicHuntress