THANK YOU SOOO MUCH for all the ace reviews...they all put a huge smile on
my face: There were loads this time so thanks a lot :o)
In response to some questions I've received:
The Death Eaters are dancing to Six Pence None the Richer in Chapter 7 simply because I really love that song; and I'm sure Death Eaters have a wide variety of taste in music as anyone else :o)
Also about Voldemort's Occlumency ability: I know technically he should have realised the deception of Draco and Hermione by now but there are a few reasons why he hasn't I didn't completely think it through when writing it (It was added afterwards when I was typing the Chapter up so I didn't fully think it through but thought it would make sense) . There wouldn't be a story because both Draco and Hermione would have been killed by now. Draco has had special Legilimency training (I think that would be the right word) from his father since a very early age and Hermione received special training when she took on the mission (Also, they are both incredibly powerful so Voldemort can not penetrate any of their incriminating thoughts). Voldemort is so arrogant he can't see what's past the end of his nose: he would find it so hard to believe that his two favourite Death Eaters are deceiving him so he has made given no thought at all to the possibility.
Sorry for any spelling/grammar mistakes.
N.B. I don't anything you recognise.
Chapter 9-Of Snakes and Lions
Draco and Hermione made their way down to breakfast separately, not wanting to start any more gossip, and Draco wasn't in the mood for another punch from Harry.
After a series of announcements from Dumbledore, including a mention of the Yule ball, the schools settled into breakfast. However, it was soon interrupted again by the largest flurry of owls Draco had seen. They swooped into the Great Hall, all of them seemingly carrying a copy of the Daily Prophet and/or a letter.
Draco's own handsome, Eagle owl landed in front of him clutching copy of the wizarding paper and a letter written in green ink-it was from Lucius. He opted to read the letter first, breaking the family seal he opened it and began to read his father's elegant script:
Draco,
I thought this would give you a nice laugh first thing in the morning.
I bet those stupid muggles didn't see a thing coming and when they did notice I bet they didn't know what the hell had hit them.
It was Number 5 and 8 that did the job and let us hope that filthy Mudblood Granger's next.
We have much to discuss regarding her: I will call you to the Manor when I see appropriate.
Father
Draco crumpled the paper in his fist, secretly seething at his father's words about Hermione. Around him Slytherins were laughing maliciously as they read the Daily Prophet. Elsewhere around the room the other students were talking in urgent whispers, or sat in stony silence staring at the papers in front of them.
Draco reached over and took the paper from the owl, patting it affectionately before it took flight once more. He unfolded the paper and starred in horror at the article in front of him:
MASS MUGGLE MASSACRE Believed to be the work of You-Know-Who's' Death Eaters Words: Rita Skeeter
Last night 42 muggles were killed in the small village of Withnell Fold in the North West. Among those killed were whole families of men, women and children.
The attack appears to have no reasoning behind it and ministry officials are still investigating the situation.
The massacre is believed to be the work of Death Eaters, although ministry officials are telling the local muggles that the deaths are due to toxic fumes emitted from a local sewage plant.
Many of the dead had had the Crucio performed on them again and again. Large amounts of the muggles were so severely disfigured as a result of the torture that they were only able to be recognised by their dental records-a muggle way of identifying the dead by their teeth when they are exceptionally maimed.
Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Magic, had this to say about the event:
"Obviously the events of last night are devastating, both to the magical and muggle communities. There have been very few attacks recently and this unexpected blow falls after a time of uneasy calm on the side of He-Who- Must-Not-Be-Named.
Unfortunately this unforeseen show of aggression does propose a large set back to the Ministry's plans and actions concerning the dark side."
The article contained two large pictures; one of the Dark Mark hovering over a small village, shimmering in the night sky whilst masses of people ran around below. The other picture showed Fudge, manically gesticulating as he delivered his speech to the eager Rita Skeeter.
The article continued on pages 4, 5. 6, 8, 10, 12, 22, 23, 24 and 30 and Draco flicked through it, not really paying attention to what it said; it appeared to be giving a history of the rise and fall (and rise again) of the Dark Lord, along with a list of suspected Death Eaters. There were also a few gruesome pictures of the mangled bodies of the dead.
Draco sat still, pretending to be engrossed in the article-he knew who the Death Eaters had been; Bellatrix and MacNair. All Death Eaters were ranked according to their usefulness and commitment to the Dark Lord: Bellatrix was 5 and MacNair was 8. To be in the top ten of the Dark Lord's Death Eaters was a great honour-himself, Hermione and Snape made up three of the top five, as well as Bellatrix and Lucius.
He suddenly felt a nudge on his arm-it was Pansy Parkinson.
"Isn't it funny Draco?" She simpered, "I noticed you, Granger and your family aren't on the list-I suppose your father paid someone."
"Yeah, after all that hassle a few years ago all he had to do was pay a few dodgy officials and everyone gets off Scott free." Laughed Draco: God he sounded like an idiot.
The talk at the breakfast table did not waver at all from he subject of the muggle slaughter, and by the end of it Draco was feeling decidedly ill and the insensitivity of his fellow house mates. But he couldn't escape yet- first lesson was double potions; Slytherins and Gryffindors.
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Draco was one of the last to arrive at the classroom, but he could hear the raised voices from the end of the corridor before he'd even turned the corner.
When he entered the classroom he knew the reason for the yelling: The two houses were at opposite ends of the rooms, desks over thrown as barricades as the two houses angrily shouted at each other, waving copies of the mornings' paper.
"How can you agree with it?!" Screamed Seamus, "It's murder...pure and simple."
"The filthy Mudbloods deserved everything they got...and much more besides." Retorted a very angry Blaise Zabini.
"But they're innocent." Cried a hysterical Parvati.
"WERE innocent don't you mean?! They aren't very much now are they-except DEAD!!!" roared Pansy, laughing.
"NO Mudblood's innocent, dead or alive." Shouted Crabbe, and Goyle grunted his agreement.
Draco stayed in the doorway-none of the arguing students seemed to acknowledge his presence. He felt someone's presence and turned to see Hermione and Snape. Surprisingly, Snape did not continue into the room.
"Aren't you going to stop them sir?!" Asked Hermione.
"No." Came Snape's response, "I feel there is very little point yet-they are all much too argumentative and angry to listen to anything I've got to say. It's a draw back of both houses really; stubbornness and pride-even an evil potions master can't control them now."
"So what should we do?!" Asked Draco, as a shot of coloured light flew past his head, catching his hair slightly.
"Well it appears that our friends in there have evolved past childish insults and verbal abuse, and are now trying to hex each other to the Gods themselves, therefore I feel it would be best to fetch Dumbledore and allow him to deal with the riff-raff." Snape smiled, before sweeping away down the corridor.
"Evil old bat." Muttered Hermione, keeping her voice as loud as she dared with the savage students in the next room. She leant over and kissed Draco before grabbing his wrist:
"C'mon." She said briskly, before dragging the protesting Draco into the midst of angry students.
----------------------------
It was true chaos in the potions room, considering theses were seventh years they were behaving like infants. The arguing had indeed progressed from the mere yelling at enormous decibels, and now multiple streams of light were being shot haphazardly across the room as each house tried to hex the other.
Hermione remained composed and simply yelled:
"Finite."
The hexes stopped and the two houses turned to face Hermione and Draco; angry that they had been interrupted.
"What did you do that for?!" Yelled Harry indignantly, his face flushed and his hair flopping around. He had obviously been enjoying standing up for the good of the world (as usual) and pushed his glasses back onto his nose, all the while fixing Hermione with a put out stare.
"You are behaving like children." Retorted Hermione, equalling his angry stare. Harry shrank back.
"Stuck up Gryffindors deserve everything they get, just like those filthy Mudbloods did-imagine sticking up for them...they deserve to be dead." Shot back Blaise. This caused a fresh wave of insults and hexes from both sides.
"How can you think it's right for innocent people to die?!" Screamed Parvati. However her brave comment achieved little in the way of compromise and was soon followed by a terrified squeak as a brand new set of hexes flew close to her dark head.
"Finite." Muttered Draco lazily and the sides stared. "Listen to her." Draco continued and Hermione gave him a grateful look.
"You have to stop this behaviour now." She said, "It's pathetic and worrying. Those muggles did not deserve to die. Times are dark, and we should be sticking together as a school and as a wizarding community. We should not be fighting like petty three year olds, and it scares and concerns me when I see Hogwarts strongest houses fighting against each other. Don't you think it's high time to put the differences apart?!"
"Ha ha." Scoffed Blaise, "No chance. A Slytherin and Gryffindor on the same side?! That'll never happen."
"Oh you would be surprised Blaise." Sneered Pansy, slowly walking towards Hermione.
"What do you mean Parkinson?!" Called up Crabbe, and one or two Gryffindors seconded the question.
"What was it you were saying Granger?! We should stick together; is that what you're doing?!" A deathly silence had descended on the room as Pansy prowled towards Hermione like a cat stalking it's prey.
"I...I don't know what you mean Pansy." Stammered Hermione, her eyes filled with dear, and she began to back slowly away from the advancing witch.
"Back down Pansy." Draco warned, "It's not worth it...she's Head Girl, save it for another time."
"Oh I don't think I will...it's so much more fun with everyone around." Replied Pansy, her pace never speeding up but never slowing down as she advanced on the Head Girl.
No-one was moving. All eyes were on Pansy and Hermione. No-one shouted and no-one cast a spell. This was too interesting.
"Pansy." Warned Draco again, "Leave it. Back down."
"NO!" Pansy yelled, wheeling to face Draco, "I think it's time everyone knew what our fantastic, prim and proper Head Girl is really like."
"Ifen..." Began Draco, but Pansy was quick off the mark.
"Petrificus Totalus." She yelled and Draco keeled over, frozen, staring at the two witches.
Pansy looked down at him:
"You're going soft Malfoy." She spat, before returning her gaze to the shaking Hermione who was trying her best to remain calm and collected although she, like Draco, knew what was about to happen.
"Pansy," she started, raising her wand. "Shut it Granger." Pansy snapped, "Accio Wand."
Hermione tried to hold on and perform the counter spell but it was too late; her wand flew to Pansy's outstretched hand. That action caused the first outcry the room had made as the Gryffindors protested Pansy's action. But before even one of them could mutter a single spell their own wands were Accio'd to the Slytherins, who turned them on the Gryffindors.
The Slytherins knew as much about this whole affair as the other house did, which was nothing at all, however if it was going to result in the humiliation of Granger then they were perfectly willing to unquestioningly assist Pansy in her scheme.
"So," Pansy continued, now circling the wand-less Hermione, "Our Head Girl thinks those filthy Mudbloods were innocent and deserved to live...is that right?!"
"Of course." Snapped Hermione, standing her ground.
"Well, that's what our 'Head Girl' thinks, but what about your....alter ego?!"
"No...Pansy...don't." Whispered Hermione.
"Why not Granger?! Ashamed of you true colours?! Green and Silver aren't they?!"
"What the hell are you on about Parkinson?!" Called Parvati.
"Well, it appears that our ever-so-holy, butter-wouldn't-melt Head Girl isn't so much lioness as serpent."
There were looks of puzzlement all around the room-Slytherins and Gryffindors.
"You're talking crap Parkinson." Yelled Dean, standing up.
"Oh am I?!" Pansy retorted, squaring up. "Well, if I'm talking such crap then what's this?!"
She turned on Hermione and waved her wand; a shot of silver light flew from the end, encasing Hermione and transfiguring her school robe. When the white mist faded away, Hermione stood before the class in a low slung skirt and tiny top. Her whole body was on display, and the whole class gasped at the figure now rooted to the spot at the front of the class: Not only was their Head Girl practically naked, but she stood before them with the Dark Mark branded on her left hip bone; perfectly clear and dark on her smooth, pale flesh.
"What the hell?!" Cried out Dean, and a chorus of yells erupted with him.
"Always knew you were one of us Granger." Yelled Blaise, punching the air.
"Shut it." Shot back Harry.
"Oh how the mighty have fallen." Purred Pansy, bathing proudly in the chaos of her actions.
Draco watched helplessly from his position on the floor as Hermione tried to run from the room. Pansy shot a spell at the wooden door and it swung shut in Hermione's face, causing her to skid across the floor in an attempt to not run into it. She fell, and lay, bedraggled at the foot of the door, staring vulnerably around the room at the angry glares. She looked at her housemates for some kind of understanding or sympathy: to say they were angry would be an understatement; confusion and upset mingled with the hatred that they all had in their eyes.
Hermione lowered her eyes:
"I'm sorry." She whispered.
"You're...one of THEM?!" Accused Dean, nodding his head at the Slytherins.
"No...I'm sorry for keeping everything from you....but it's just so complicated. I..."
"Shut up....Slytherin!" Spat Seamus, looking at Hermione as if she were a piece of dirt, dragged through by Salazar himself.
Pansy stood still, admiring the result of her handiwork: Draco wanted to knock her head off at the smug look she now wore on her face.
Hermione looked at Harry for support; he provided it.
"Look," he began, "Hermione's telling the truth, she..."
"You're one of them too aren't you!" Cried Lavender, accusingly.
"Oh come off it." Snorted Harry, "As I would be one of them-does that REALLY make sense?!"
Lavender realised that her theory obviously didn't make any kind of sense and so returned to her silent state. Harry continued:
"Hermione's a sp..."
BANG!!! The potions classroom door shot open and Dumbledore strode in, closely followed by Snape.
"Silence!" He commanded and Harry stopped talking. Dumbledore waved his wand around the room and muttered an illegible incantation before turning on Draco:
"Finite." He said, and Draco stood up, stretching his stiff limbs and looking around; only himself, Dumbledore, Hermione, Harry and Snape were moving; everyone else seemed to be frozen in time.
"What the..." He began.
"A selective freezing spell Mr Malfoy; most appropriate in situations like this." Dumbledore replied, waving his wand again, "Miss Granger-your clothes." The revealing outfit Pansy had conjured up was now replaced one more with Hermione's school robes. She smiled gratefully at the wizened Headmaster.
"Now," Dumbledore continued, turning to the frozen students, "What to do about these awful students. It is true what they say-youth is wasted on the young: if they knew the horrors of what were to come they would put apart their petty differences and stand side by side, strong and united. Ah well, I suppose it is too late for one side to extend their hand and for the other to eradicate their minds of the poison which the old have implanted."
"It's not always too late sir." Hermione spoke up, looking at Draco who returned her smile, along with Dumbledore.
"That is true Miss Granger; however I fear that many people here are a lost cause." Unfallen tears glistened in the old wizards eyes as he stared at the young magical folk: Draco knew what he was thinking; nearly all the students in the room before them would fight in the war in less than a years time; and some of them would die. Dumbledore suddenly snapped out of his thoughts and turned to the small group:
"Now, these students shave been most disruptive. I was enjoying a nice game if Gobstones with the Fat Friar before Professor Snape came for me."
"Please Sir, it was the Slytherins; they were saying..."
"Now now Miss Granger, there is no room for blame in today's spectacle. The trouble between these two particular houses has been brewing for many centuries and indeed, it appears that, unfortunate as it is, today is the day for all that tension to erupt in the impressive display we just witnessed."
"What happens now?!" Asked Snape, "We can't have students walking round shouting about their Head Girl being a servant to the Dark Lord."
"Indeed we can't Severus." Replied Dumbledore, "I think a little memory modification is in order. They will simply think they wasted the entire lesson fighting about this morning's article in the Daily Prophet. All memories of Miss Granger's marking will be wiped from all students memories."
"What about punishment?!" Questioned Harry.
"That Mr Potter, will be up to Professor Snape as it is his lesson that was disrupted, and unfortunately you yourself will have to attend; Mr Malfoy and Miss Granger will be exempt due to the fact they did try to stop this escapade-the students will remember that much."
"I'm not on about that; I don't care about some bloody detention; what about Hermione?! Parkinson just completely humiliated her. You can't just leave that unpunished."
"Unfortunately I have to as I can not punish any of them for an event which they are unable to remember, no matter how cruel the act may be."
Harry, Hermione and Draco nodded, understanding.
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That evening Draco lay on his bed writing his History of Magic essay-three and half feet on the uprising of the Anti-Goblin-Rights Movement of the 1860's. It was by far the longest and most boring essay they had been set this year, but Professor Binns had claimed that it was to help prepare them for the NEWT exams next June.
It had certainly turned out to be an interesting potions lesson and as a result the entire class had been given punished to a detention for a week of learning particularly nasty, smelly potions to help cause and cure boils and warts and other horrid forms of fungi, and no-one was allowed to leave until they had all been successfully brewed and tested it out on each other.
Draco felt it was a very harsh punishment for a duel between he two houses, especially as Snape was normally so lenient on is own house. However Draco suspected that the harshness of the punishment did indeed have something to do with Hermione's suffering.
He began to think about Hermione: He really did love her, but their relationship was going to be difficult to say the least. He'd known that from the moment he'd taken her into his arms at the Halloween ball, but today's display of the houses rivalry had reinforced the fact even more.
They were now living a triple life of hating each other in public, loving each other in private and working together for The Order and Voldemort.
He groaned heavily and, throwing his work onto the floor with abandoned hope, he rolled onto his back, staring at the ceiling. He was in a relationship of three-himself, Hermione and Hermione the Death Eater.
"A rather deadly combination he thought."
Gods this relationship was going to be hard work, especially for the next few months.
Until the Dark Lord was defeated it seemed that there would be hard times ahead for the Snake, the Lioness and the Raven.
In response to some questions I've received:
The Death Eaters are dancing to Six Pence None the Richer in Chapter 7 simply because I really love that song; and I'm sure Death Eaters have a wide variety of taste in music as anyone else :o)
Also about Voldemort's Occlumency ability: I know technically he should have realised the deception of Draco and Hermione by now but there are a few reasons why he hasn't I didn't completely think it through when writing it (It was added afterwards when I was typing the Chapter up so I didn't fully think it through but thought it would make sense) . There wouldn't be a story because both Draco and Hermione would have been killed by now. Draco has had special Legilimency training (I think that would be the right word) from his father since a very early age and Hermione received special training when she took on the mission (Also, they are both incredibly powerful so Voldemort can not penetrate any of their incriminating thoughts). Voldemort is so arrogant he can't see what's past the end of his nose: he would find it so hard to believe that his two favourite Death Eaters are deceiving him so he has made given no thought at all to the possibility.
Sorry for any spelling/grammar mistakes.
N.B. I don't anything you recognise.
Chapter 9-Of Snakes and Lions
Draco and Hermione made their way down to breakfast separately, not wanting to start any more gossip, and Draco wasn't in the mood for another punch from Harry.
After a series of announcements from Dumbledore, including a mention of the Yule ball, the schools settled into breakfast. However, it was soon interrupted again by the largest flurry of owls Draco had seen. They swooped into the Great Hall, all of them seemingly carrying a copy of the Daily Prophet and/or a letter.
Draco's own handsome, Eagle owl landed in front of him clutching copy of the wizarding paper and a letter written in green ink-it was from Lucius. He opted to read the letter first, breaking the family seal he opened it and began to read his father's elegant script:
Draco,
I thought this would give you a nice laugh first thing in the morning.
I bet those stupid muggles didn't see a thing coming and when they did notice I bet they didn't know what the hell had hit them.
It was Number 5 and 8 that did the job and let us hope that filthy Mudblood Granger's next.
We have much to discuss regarding her: I will call you to the Manor when I see appropriate.
Father
Draco crumpled the paper in his fist, secretly seething at his father's words about Hermione. Around him Slytherins were laughing maliciously as they read the Daily Prophet. Elsewhere around the room the other students were talking in urgent whispers, or sat in stony silence staring at the papers in front of them.
Draco reached over and took the paper from the owl, patting it affectionately before it took flight once more. He unfolded the paper and starred in horror at the article in front of him:
MASS MUGGLE MASSACRE Believed to be the work of You-Know-Who's' Death Eaters Words: Rita Skeeter
Last night 42 muggles were killed in the small village of Withnell Fold in the North West. Among those killed were whole families of men, women and children.
The attack appears to have no reasoning behind it and ministry officials are still investigating the situation.
The massacre is believed to be the work of Death Eaters, although ministry officials are telling the local muggles that the deaths are due to toxic fumes emitted from a local sewage plant.
Many of the dead had had the Crucio performed on them again and again. Large amounts of the muggles were so severely disfigured as a result of the torture that they were only able to be recognised by their dental records-a muggle way of identifying the dead by their teeth when they are exceptionally maimed.
Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Magic, had this to say about the event:
"Obviously the events of last night are devastating, both to the magical and muggle communities. There have been very few attacks recently and this unexpected blow falls after a time of uneasy calm on the side of He-Who- Must-Not-Be-Named.
Unfortunately this unforeseen show of aggression does propose a large set back to the Ministry's plans and actions concerning the dark side."
The article contained two large pictures; one of the Dark Mark hovering over a small village, shimmering in the night sky whilst masses of people ran around below. The other picture showed Fudge, manically gesticulating as he delivered his speech to the eager Rita Skeeter.
The article continued on pages 4, 5. 6, 8, 10, 12, 22, 23, 24 and 30 and Draco flicked through it, not really paying attention to what it said; it appeared to be giving a history of the rise and fall (and rise again) of the Dark Lord, along with a list of suspected Death Eaters. There were also a few gruesome pictures of the mangled bodies of the dead.
Draco sat still, pretending to be engrossed in the article-he knew who the Death Eaters had been; Bellatrix and MacNair. All Death Eaters were ranked according to their usefulness and commitment to the Dark Lord: Bellatrix was 5 and MacNair was 8. To be in the top ten of the Dark Lord's Death Eaters was a great honour-himself, Hermione and Snape made up three of the top five, as well as Bellatrix and Lucius.
He suddenly felt a nudge on his arm-it was Pansy Parkinson.
"Isn't it funny Draco?" She simpered, "I noticed you, Granger and your family aren't on the list-I suppose your father paid someone."
"Yeah, after all that hassle a few years ago all he had to do was pay a few dodgy officials and everyone gets off Scott free." Laughed Draco: God he sounded like an idiot.
The talk at the breakfast table did not waver at all from he subject of the muggle slaughter, and by the end of it Draco was feeling decidedly ill and the insensitivity of his fellow house mates. But he couldn't escape yet- first lesson was double potions; Slytherins and Gryffindors.
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Draco was one of the last to arrive at the classroom, but he could hear the raised voices from the end of the corridor before he'd even turned the corner.
When he entered the classroom he knew the reason for the yelling: The two houses were at opposite ends of the rooms, desks over thrown as barricades as the two houses angrily shouted at each other, waving copies of the mornings' paper.
"How can you agree with it?!" Screamed Seamus, "It's murder...pure and simple."
"The filthy Mudbloods deserved everything they got...and much more besides." Retorted a very angry Blaise Zabini.
"But they're innocent." Cried a hysterical Parvati.
"WERE innocent don't you mean?! They aren't very much now are they-except DEAD!!!" roared Pansy, laughing.
"NO Mudblood's innocent, dead or alive." Shouted Crabbe, and Goyle grunted his agreement.
Draco stayed in the doorway-none of the arguing students seemed to acknowledge his presence. He felt someone's presence and turned to see Hermione and Snape. Surprisingly, Snape did not continue into the room.
"Aren't you going to stop them sir?!" Asked Hermione.
"No." Came Snape's response, "I feel there is very little point yet-they are all much too argumentative and angry to listen to anything I've got to say. It's a draw back of both houses really; stubbornness and pride-even an evil potions master can't control them now."
"So what should we do?!" Asked Draco, as a shot of coloured light flew past his head, catching his hair slightly.
"Well it appears that our friends in there have evolved past childish insults and verbal abuse, and are now trying to hex each other to the Gods themselves, therefore I feel it would be best to fetch Dumbledore and allow him to deal with the riff-raff." Snape smiled, before sweeping away down the corridor.
"Evil old bat." Muttered Hermione, keeping her voice as loud as she dared with the savage students in the next room. She leant over and kissed Draco before grabbing his wrist:
"C'mon." She said briskly, before dragging the protesting Draco into the midst of angry students.
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It was true chaos in the potions room, considering theses were seventh years they were behaving like infants. The arguing had indeed progressed from the mere yelling at enormous decibels, and now multiple streams of light were being shot haphazardly across the room as each house tried to hex the other.
Hermione remained composed and simply yelled:
"Finite."
The hexes stopped and the two houses turned to face Hermione and Draco; angry that they had been interrupted.
"What did you do that for?!" Yelled Harry indignantly, his face flushed and his hair flopping around. He had obviously been enjoying standing up for the good of the world (as usual) and pushed his glasses back onto his nose, all the while fixing Hermione with a put out stare.
"You are behaving like children." Retorted Hermione, equalling his angry stare. Harry shrank back.
"Stuck up Gryffindors deserve everything they get, just like those filthy Mudbloods did-imagine sticking up for them...they deserve to be dead." Shot back Blaise. This caused a fresh wave of insults and hexes from both sides.
"How can you think it's right for innocent people to die?!" Screamed Parvati. However her brave comment achieved little in the way of compromise and was soon followed by a terrified squeak as a brand new set of hexes flew close to her dark head.
"Finite." Muttered Draco lazily and the sides stared. "Listen to her." Draco continued and Hermione gave him a grateful look.
"You have to stop this behaviour now." She said, "It's pathetic and worrying. Those muggles did not deserve to die. Times are dark, and we should be sticking together as a school and as a wizarding community. We should not be fighting like petty three year olds, and it scares and concerns me when I see Hogwarts strongest houses fighting against each other. Don't you think it's high time to put the differences apart?!"
"Ha ha." Scoffed Blaise, "No chance. A Slytherin and Gryffindor on the same side?! That'll never happen."
"Oh you would be surprised Blaise." Sneered Pansy, slowly walking towards Hermione.
"What do you mean Parkinson?!" Called up Crabbe, and one or two Gryffindors seconded the question.
"What was it you were saying Granger?! We should stick together; is that what you're doing?!" A deathly silence had descended on the room as Pansy prowled towards Hermione like a cat stalking it's prey.
"I...I don't know what you mean Pansy." Stammered Hermione, her eyes filled with dear, and she began to back slowly away from the advancing witch.
"Back down Pansy." Draco warned, "It's not worth it...she's Head Girl, save it for another time."
"Oh I don't think I will...it's so much more fun with everyone around." Replied Pansy, her pace never speeding up but never slowing down as she advanced on the Head Girl.
No-one was moving. All eyes were on Pansy and Hermione. No-one shouted and no-one cast a spell. This was too interesting.
"Pansy." Warned Draco again, "Leave it. Back down."
"NO!" Pansy yelled, wheeling to face Draco, "I think it's time everyone knew what our fantastic, prim and proper Head Girl is really like."
"Ifen..." Began Draco, but Pansy was quick off the mark.
"Petrificus Totalus." She yelled and Draco keeled over, frozen, staring at the two witches.
Pansy looked down at him:
"You're going soft Malfoy." She spat, before returning her gaze to the shaking Hermione who was trying her best to remain calm and collected although she, like Draco, knew what was about to happen.
"Pansy," she started, raising her wand. "Shut it Granger." Pansy snapped, "Accio Wand."
Hermione tried to hold on and perform the counter spell but it was too late; her wand flew to Pansy's outstretched hand. That action caused the first outcry the room had made as the Gryffindors protested Pansy's action. But before even one of them could mutter a single spell their own wands were Accio'd to the Slytherins, who turned them on the Gryffindors.
The Slytherins knew as much about this whole affair as the other house did, which was nothing at all, however if it was going to result in the humiliation of Granger then they were perfectly willing to unquestioningly assist Pansy in her scheme.
"So," Pansy continued, now circling the wand-less Hermione, "Our Head Girl thinks those filthy Mudbloods were innocent and deserved to live...is that right?!"
"Of course." Snapped Hermione, standing her ground.
"Well, that's what our 'Head Girl' thinks, but what about your....alter ego?!"
"No...Pansy...don't." Whispered Hermione.
"Why not Granger?! Ashamed of you true colours?! Green and Silver aren't they?!"
"What the hell are you on about Parkinson?!" Called Parvati.
"Well, it appears that our ever-so-holy, butter-wouldn't-melt Head Girl isn't so much lioness as serpent."
There were looks of puzzlement all around the room-Slytherins and Gryffindors.
"You're talking crap Parkinson." Yelled Dean, standing up.
"Oh am I?!" Pansy retorted, squaring up. "Well, if I'm talking such crap then what's this?!"
She turned on Hermione and waved her wand; a shot of silver light flew from the end, encasing Hermione and transfiguring her school robe. When the white mist faded away, Hermione stood before the class in a low slung skirt and tiny top. Her whole body was on display, and the whole class gasped at the figure now rooted to the spot at the front of the class: Not only was their Head Girl practically naked, but she stood before them with the Dark Mark branded on her left hip bone; perfectly clear and dark on her smooth, pale flesh.
"What the hell?!" Cried out Dean, and a chorus of yells erupted with him.
"Always knew you were one of us Granger." Yelled Blaise, punching the air.
"Shut it." Shot back Harry.
"Oh how the mighty have fallen." Purred Pansy, bathing proudly in the chaos of her actions.
Draco watched helplessly from his position on the floor as Hermione tried to run from the room. Pansy shot a spell at the wooden door and it swung shut in Hermione's face, causing her to skid across the floor in an attempt to not run into it. She fell, and lay, bedraggled at the foot of the door, staring vulnerably around the room at the angry glares. She looked at her housemates for some kind of understanding or sympathy: to say they were angry would be an understatement; confusion and upset mingled with the hatred that they all had in their eyes.
Hermione lowered her eyes:
"I'm sorry." She whispered.
"You're...one of THEM?!" Accused Dean, nodding his head at the Slytherins.
"No...I'm sorry for keeping everything from you....but it's just so complicated. I..."
"Shut up....Slytherin!" Spat Seamus, looking at Hermione as if she were a piece of dirt, dragged through by Salazar himself.
Pansy stood still, admiring the result of her handiwork: Draco wanted to knock her head off at the smug look she now wore on her face.
Hermione looked at Harry for support; he provided it.
"Look," he began, "Hermione's telling the truth, she..."
"You're one of them too aren't you!" Cried Lavender, accusingly.
"Oh come off it." Snorted Harry, "As I would be one of them-does that REALLY make sense?!"
Lavender realised that her theory obviously didn't make any kind of sense and so returned to her silent state. Harry continued:
"Hermione's a sp..."
BANG!!! The potions classroom door shot open and Dumbledore strode in, closely followed by Snape.
"Silence!" He commanded and Harry stopped talking. Dumbledore waved his wand around the room and muttered an illegible incantation before turning on Draco:
"Finite." He said, and Draco stood up, stretching his stiff limbs and looking around; only himself, Dumbledore, Hermione, Harry and Snape were moving; everyone else seemed to be frozen in time.
"What the..." He began.
"A selective freezing spell Mr Malfoy; most appropriate in situations like this." Dumbledore replied, waving his wand again, "Miss Granger-your clothes." The revealing outfit Pansy had conjured up was now replaced one more with Hermione's school robes. She smiled gratefully at the wizened Headmaster.
"Now," Dumbledore continued, turning to the frozen students, "What to do about these awful students. It is true what they say-youth is wasted on the young: if they knew the horrors of what were to come they would put apart their petty differences and stand side by side, strong and united. Ah well, I suppose it is too late for one side to extend their hand and for the other to eradicate their minds of the poison which the old have implanted."
"It's not always too late sir." Hermione spoke up, looking at Draco who returned her smile, along with Dumbledore.
"That is true Miss Granger; however I fear that many people here are a lost cause." Unfallen tears glistened in the old wizards eyes as he stared at the young magical folk: Draco knew what he was thinking; nearly all the students in the room before them would fight in the war in less than a years time; and some of them would die. Dumbledore suddenly snapped out of his thoughts and turned to the small group:
"Now, these students shave been most disruptive. I was enjoying a nice game if Gobstones with the Fat Friar before Professor Snape came for me."
"Please Sir, it was the Slytherins; they were saying..."
"Now now Miss Granger, there is no room for blame in today's spectacle. The trouble between these two particular houses has been brewing for many centuries and indeed, it appears that, unfortunate as it is, today is the day for all that tension to erupt in the impressive display we just witnessed."
"What happens now?!" Asked Snape, "We can't have students walking round shouting about their Head Girl being a servant to the Dark Lord."
"Indeed we can't Severus." Replied Dumbledore, "I think a little memory modification is in order. They will simply think they wasted the entire lesson fighting about this morning's article in the Daily Prophet. All memories of Miss Granger's marking will be wiped from all students memories."
"What about punishment?!" Questioned Harry.
"That Mr Potter, will be up to Professor Snape as it is his lesson that was disrupted, and unfortunately you yourself will have to attend; Mr Malfoy and Miss Granger will be exempt due to the fact they did try to stop this escapade-the students will remember that much."
"I'm not on about that; I don't care about some bloody detention; what about Hermione?! Parkinson just completely humiliated her. You can't just leave that unpunished."
"Unfortunately I have to as I can not punish any of them for an event which they are unable to remember, no matter how cruel the act may be."
Harry, Hermione and Draco nodded, understanding.
------------------------------
That evening Draco lay on his bed writing his History of Magic essay-three and half feet on the uprising of the Anti-Goblin-Rights Movement of the 1860's. It was by far the longest and most boring essay they had been set this year, but Professor Binns had claimed that it was to help prepare them for the NEWT exams next June.
It had certainly turned out to be an interesting potions lesson and as a result the entire class had been given punished to a detention for a week of learning particularly nasty, smelly potions to help cause and cure boils and warts and other horrid forms of fungi, and no-one was allowed to leave until they had all been successfully brewed and tested it out on each other.
Draco felt it was a very harsh punishment for a duel between he two houses, especially as Snape was normally so lenient on is own house. However Draco suspected that the harshness of the punishment did indeed have something to do with Hermione's suffering.
He began to think about Hermione: He really did love her, but their relationship was going to be difficult to say the least. He'd known that from the moment he'd taken her into his arms at the Halloween ball, but today's display of the houses rivalry had reinforced the fact even more.
They were now living a triple life of hating each other in public, loving each other in private and working together for The Order and Voldemort.
He groaned heavily and, throwing his work onto the floor with abandoned hope, he rolled onto his back, staring at the ceiling. He was in a relationship of three-himself, Hermione and Hermione the Death Eater.
"A rather deadly combination he thought."
Gods this relationship was going to be hard work, especially for the next few months.
Until the Dark Lord was defeated it seemed that there would be hard times ahead for the Snake, the Lioness and the Raven.