That night Harry, Ron, and Hermione watched the clock in the common
room. Eight O'clock was approaching. Harry watched Hermione as she
nervously shifted in her seat. They'd been trying to come up with some
sort of excuse to get her out of the tutoring session, but with no
prevail.
"I wish there was a quick way to get a hold of Fred and George. One of their Skiving Snackboxes would come in real handy right about now." Ron said, hopelessly. They continued to watch the clock, until Hermione stood up.
"Well, I have to go tutor, thanks for all the help guys. It's been splendid." she remarked sarcastically.
"I have an idea!" Harry announced. We'll come with you again, using the cloak. If Malfoy does anything rash we'll jump out and get him."She smiled at them.
"Thanks you guys. I hope you don't mind though, it's going to be a really long two hours. He sleeps through most of it." she told them. Harry dashed up the stairs and grabbed the cloak. Then off they were to the transfiguration room. Draco was waiting outside, making out with Pansy Parkinson. He saw Hermione approaching and pushed Pansy aside.
"All ready then, teacher." he smiled and followed her into the classroom. Pansy tried to kiss him goodbye, but he pushed her face out of the way. Harry and Ron had just enough time to sneak past him and into the room before he closed the door. They then went over to an empty desk and sat down to guard Hermione. Draco sat down next to Hermione, pretty close, and asked her what the study plans were for the day.
"Well you seem to be falling way behind in Care of Magical Creatures." She commented quietly looking over his grades.
"Well with a dumb ox like that game keeper, how do you expect me to learn anything. Ever since that experience with that foul horse thing, I've been staying clear away from anything that oaf brings near us. Blast- Ended screwts the next year. He's completly off his rocker, Granger."
"Shut up, Malfoy. Hagrid's new at this. He just sees beauty in creatures that we don't. Just because they're not completly safe and by regulations, doesn't mean we can't learn something from them." she stated, her voice starting to trail off. She was staring at him again. Ron looked at Harry to see if he caught any double meaning in what she'd said. He looked back at Ron and shrugged.
"You know, Malfoy... you're failing every class except Potions and Defense Against the Dark Arts. How'd you become prefect, anyway? Did your father pay?"
"No, I'm just the only one in Slytherin who can actually think for themselves. Let's get to work." he replied. So Hermione began to go over the course with him. Harry and Ron had been sitting there for an hour and a half, listening to Hermione go on about Unicorns and Cenetaurs. Malfoy reminded her how he'd been there that night in their first year, and didn't need reminding of Unicorns or Cenatuars. So they moved on to Dragons. She had his full attention up until the point where she was talking about how to train a dragon. He was falling asleep again.
"Don't use the charm again Hermione. Please don't be stupid." Ron and Harry, prayed quietly. She flogged Malfoy over the head with her wand to wake him up.
"I'm listening! You don't have to hit me!" he snapped at her.
"It's almost ten anyway, let's call it a night." she told him. He nodded. They got their things together and headed for the door. He stopped her and pushed her up against one of the cabinets. Ron and Harry got up to charge him, but found they couldn't move. Malfoy had his wand pointed in their direction. Did he know they were there? Hermione struggled against his strength. He had her arms pinned to the cabinets. He began to kiss her, and as soon as he did, she relaxed a bit, still trying to free herself. He bit into her lip and kissed her again. Then let go of her with force. He wiped the small amount of blood off of his own lips.
"Thirty points from Gryffindor for Weasley and Potter, who are sneaking around where they don't belong. And ten for you, Granger... just because I feel like it." and he left the classroom. Ron and Harry came out from under the cloak.
"How did he know we were there?"
"I don't know. I thought only Mad-eye could see us... and Dumbledore... I don't know." Harry stammered. They went over to Hermione. She was crying again and wiping the blood of her face.
"I'm telling Dumbledore." Ron said and moved towards the door.
"No!" Hermione yelled.
"Why not?! He's hurt you!"
"Because he'll tell on me."
"For his idea of attempted rape? I'm sorry, Mione, but it's the other way 'round." Ron told her. While she'd told Ron not to go to Dumbledore, Harry she'd failed to mention. As soon as she made sure Ron was okay taking her to the prefects room, Harry made his way to Dumbledore's office. He was stopped on the way there. Malfoy pinned him up against the wall.
"Breath a word of it, any of it, to the headmaster, and I will turn and tell Voldemort everything. It's a matter of trust, Potter. I trust you not to go poking your nose around every corner and acting like a tattling little first year, and you can trust me to help against Voldemort."
"Only if you promise not to touch Hermione again, Malfoy."
"Yeah, ok. whatever." he absentmindley agreed as he walked away from Harry. Sure, Malfoy was mean, but even Harry didn't think Malfoy would stoop that low. He had to look out for Hermione's safety.
"Hermione!" Ron called after her. She was walking towards the Great Hall. Harry followed behind Ron. She stopped.
"Hey, how'd you guys do on your transfiguration exam?"
"We failed." Harry and Ron said in unison.
"What? You've been studying all week! How'd you fail?"
"Well we figured if we failed the test, then you'd have to tutor us too. That way we can keep an eye on Malfoy." Harry explained to her. They walked through the great doors and waved to Nearly Headless Nick. He nodded at the curtly, then went over to scare a couple of first years.
"I don't know if that's such a good idea." She said as they sat down. She looked over at Malfoy who was staring back.
"What are you talking about, it's a brilliant idea! He won't have the nerve to pull something like that if we're all there."
"He knew you were there before."
"But that was different. We're not hiding anything, and he knows we have every right to tell McGonagall, because we weren't wrongly out of bed."
"No, I just mean. One of us, he can deal with. Not well, but I'm actually getting through to him with this work. He hasn't pulled anything since Tuesday night. I think that you being there is just going to land us back at square one and we'll be fighting the whole two hours. He hates you Harry, he might try and duel you."
"We fail on purpose so we can be there for you, and now you're telling us you don't want us there? What's going on with you Hermione? Are you falling for Malfoy? After what he did?" Ron accused.
"No! It's just the sooner the tutoring is over, the sooner we can all go back to our everyday lives. I can't stand being in the same room as him, but I have to. You two don't."
That night they caught up with Hermione as she headed to the Transfiguration classroom. Malfoy was already inside, reading a book.
"What are you two doing here?" he asked, throwing the book aside onto the desk. He stood up.
"We failed the exam too. Hermione always helps us, and since she's been too busy with you, we got permission to join in." Harry replied, cooly. They all sat down and opened their Transfiguration books, except Malfoy, who just scowled at Ron and Harry.
"Come on, stop being a baby."
"Shut up, Granger."
"Don't talk to her that way!" Ron stood up.
"Or what, Weasley?!" Malfoy stood up to face him. Ron pointed his wand at him.
"You made a great ferret, how would you enjoy that lifestyle again?"
"Ron, stop. Draco, sit down." Hermione jumped between them. As the boys sat down, Harry fell over, screaming in pain.
"Harry! What's wrong!"
"My scar." Harry clutched his head, huddled on the ground. Malfoy just stared, wide eyed. None of them knew quite what to do. Hermione ran to Harry's side.
"It's you! You're working for Voldemort!" Ron accused and lifted his wand again.
"Shut up! I didn't do anything!" was the last Harry heard before blackness took over him and he slipped into the unconscious world.
"I wish there was a quick way to get a hold of Fred and George. One of their Skiving Snackboxes would come in real handy right about now." Ron said, hopelessly. They continued to watch the clock, until Hermione stood up.
"Well, I have to go tutor, thanks for all the help guys. It's been splendid." she remarked sarcastically.
"I have an idea!" Harry announced. We'll come with you again, using the cloak. If Malfoy does anything rash we'll jump out and get him."She smiled at them.
"Thanks you guys. I hope you don't mind though, it's going to be a really long two hours. He sleeps through most of it." she told them. Harry dashed up the stairs and grabbed the cloak. Then off they were to the transfiguration room. Draco was waiting outside, making out with Pansy Parkinson. He saw Hermione approaching and pushed Pansy aside.
"All ready then, teacher." he smiled and followed her into the classroom. Pansy tried to kiss him goodbye, but he pushed her face out of the way. Harry and Ron had just enough time to sneak past him and into the room before he closed the door. They then went over to an empty desk and sat down to guard Hermione. Draco sat down next to Hermione, pretty close, and asked her what the study plans were for the day.
"Well you seem to be falling way behind in Care of Magical Creatures." She commented quietly looking over his grades.
"Well with a dumb ox like that game keeper, how do you expect me to learn anything. Ever since that experience with that foul horse thing, I've been staying clear away from anything that oaf brings near us. Blast- Ended screwts the next year. He's completly off his rocker, Granger."
"Shut up, Malfoy. Hagrid's new at this. He just sees beauty in creatures that we don't. Just because they're not completly safe and by regulations, doesn't mean we can't learn something from them." she stated, her voice starting to trail off. She was staring at him again. Ron looked at Harry to see if he caught any double meaning in what she'd said. He looked back at Ron and shrugged.
"You know, Malfoy... you're failing every class except Potions and Defense Against the Dark Arts. How'd you become prefect, anyway? Did your father pay?"
"No, I'm just the only one in Slytherin who can actually think for themselves. Let's get to work." he replied. So Hermione began to go over the course with him. Harry and Ron had been sitting there for an hour and a half, listening to Hermione go on about Unicorns and Cenetaurs. Malfoy reminded her how he'd been there that night in their first year, and didn't need reminding of Unicorns or Cenatuars. So they moved on to Dragons. She had his full attention up until the point where she was talking about how to train a dragon. He was falling asleep again.
"Don't use the charm again Hermione. Please don't be stupid." Ron and Harry, prayed quietly. She flogged Malfoy over the head with her wand to wake him up.
"I'm listening! You don't have to hit me!" he snapped at her.
"It's almost ten anyway, let's call it a night." she told him. He nodded. They got their things together and headed for the door. He stopped her and pushed her up against one of the cabinets. Ron and Harry got up to charge him, but found they couldn't move. Malfoy had his wand pointed in their direction. Did he know they were there? Hermione struggled against his strength. He had her arms pinned to the cabinets. He began to kiss her, and as soon as he did, she relaxed a bit, still trying to free herself. He bit into her lip and kissed her again. Then let go of her with force. He wiped the small amount of blood off of his own lips.
"Thirty points from Gryffindor for Weasley and Potter, who are sneaking around where they don't belong. And ten for you, Granger... just because I feel like it." and he left the classroom. Ron and Harry came out from under the cloak.
"How did he know we were there?"
"I don't know. I thought only Mad-eye could see us... and Dumbledore... I don't know." Harry stammered. They went over to Hermione. She was crying again and wiping the blood of her face.
"I'm telling Dumbledore." Ron said and moved towards the door.
"No!" Hermione yelled.
"Why not?! He's hurt you!"
"Because he'll tell on me."
"For his idea of attempted rape? I'm sorry, Mione, but it's the other way 'round." Ron told her. While she'd told Ron not to go to Dumbledore, Harry she'd failed to mention. As soon as she made sure Ron was okay taking her to the prefects room, Harry made his way to Dumbledore's office. He was stopped on the way there. Malfoy pinned him up against the wall.
"Breath a word of it, any of it, to the headmaster, and I will turn and tell Voldemort everything. It's a matter of trust, Potter. I trust you not to go poking your nose around every corner and acting like a tattling little first year, and you can trust me to help against Voldemort."
"Only if you promise not to touch Hermione again, Malfoy."
"Yeah, ok. whatever." he absentmindley agreed as he walked away from Harry. Sure, Malfoy was mean, but even Harry didn't think Malfoy would stoop that low. He had to look out for Hermione's safety.
"Hermione!" Ron called after her. She was walking towards the Great Hall. Harry followed behind Ron. She stopped.
"Hey, how'd you guys do on your transfiguration exam?"
"We failed." Harry and Ron said in unison.
"What? You've been studying all week! How'd you fail?"
"Well we figured if we failed the test, then you'd have to tutor us too. That way we can keep an eye on Malfoy." Harry explained to her. They walked through the great doors and waved to Nearly Headless Nick. He nodded at the curtly, then went over to scare a couple of first years.
"I don't know if that's such a good idea." She said as they sat down. She looked over at Malfoy who was staring back.
"What are you talking about, it's a brilliant idea! He won't have the nerve to pull something like that if we're all there."
"He knew you were there before."
"But that was different. We're not hiding anything, and he knows we have every right to tell McGonagall, because we weren't wrongly out of bed."
"No, I just mean. One of us, he can deal with. Not well, but I'm actually getting through to him with this work. He hasn't pulled anything since Tuesday night. I think that you being there is just going to land us back at square one and we'll be fighting the whole two hours. He hates you Harry, he might try and duel you."
"We fail on purpose so we can be there for you, and now you're telling us you don't want us there? What's going on with you Hermione? Are you falling for Malfoy? After what he did?" Ron accused.
"No! It's just the sooner the tutoring is over, the sooner we can all go back to our everyday lives. I can't stand being in the same room as him, but I have to. You two don't."
That night they caught up with Hermione as she headed to the Transfiguration classroom. Malfoy was already inside, reading a book.
"What are you two doing here?" he asked, throwing the book aside onto the desk. He stood up.
"We failed the exam too. Hermione always helps us, and since she's been too busy with you, we got permission to join in." Harry replied, cooly. They all sat down and opened their Transfiguration books, except Malfoy, who just scowled at Ron and Harry.
"Come on, stop being a baby."
"Shut up, Granger."
"Don't talk to her that way!" Ron stood up.
"Or what, Weasley?!" Malfoy stood up to face him. Ron pointed his wand at him.
"You made a great ferret, how would you enjoy that lifestyle again?"
"Ron, stop. Draco, sit down." Hermione jumped between them. As the boys sat down, Harry fell over, screaming in pain.
"Harry! What's wrong!"
"My scar." Harry clutched his head, huddled on the ground. Malfoy just stared, wide eyed. None of them knew quite what to do. Hermione ran to Harry's side.
"It's you! You're working for Voldemort!" Ron accused and lifted his wand again.
"Shut up! I didn't do anything!" was the last Harry heard before blackness took over him and he slipped into the unconscious world.