Disclaimer: Okay, I really am getting tired of writing this. If you do not
know that Harry Potter and Co. belong to one JKR, then WHY are you reading
this? You've obviously stumbled through one of the strange portals that
litter the web. I am sorry. Go back. Now. Heh, just kidding.
Double Trouble
Chapter Twenty-Four
Hermione slowly made her way to the dungeons, her mind racing with a multitude of possibilities. She, and a two year old child, were the deciding factor in the battle to come. But what of Harry? He was obviously the chosen one. . . why wasn't he mentioned in the prophecy? * Because he has one of his own.* Well, yes, that would be a good reason, but what about Ron? He IS Harry's best friend. "Why me?" She moaned, nearly tripping down the stairs to the Potions Classroom.
"Why you what?" A silky voice behind her startled her. She spun around to face the unknown person. When she noticed who it was, her lip curled in disgust.
"And to what do we owe this pleasure, Malfoy?" She addressed Lucius, her voice thick with disgust.
"Well, I thought that would be obvious, Miss Granger." He replied huskily.
"Oh, so I'm Miss Granger now? What's with the formalities? I was the 'Mudblood' Or the 'Granger Chit'. What's changed in the last, I don't know, couple of weeks?" She smirked at him, noticing the slight limp and the way he favored his arm. It was strange to see him alive when she was so sure the scag was dead.
"Yes, well, you are in possession of a grand power, so that does deserve respect, however grudging that respect is given. Even my Lord no longer identifies you as Potter's Mudblood. You are a Great Witch in your own right. My Lord is. . . very. . . eager to meet you. He only wishes to. . . talk."
"Yeah, well, I'd rather him have a stick shoved up his-"
"Ah, ah, Miss Granger, language my dear. A Lady of your stature should never utter such foul things. Who knows what sort of repercussions it could have?" He stalked forward suddenly, seizing her by the front of her robes. "Mmmm. . .I like it when I have the advantage." He purred.
"What advantage?" She purred back, faltering slightly, but drawing on her power.
"Oh, but I have a distinct advantage my dear. Y'see. . . I'm sure you wouldn't want one of your. . . precious. . . little friends getting hurt, now would you? I can. . . y'know." He leaned closer to her, smelling her fear.
"What if I killed you right here?" She wavered slightly, "Then you couldn't hurt anyone could you?"
"You mistake my motives, my dear." Hermione shuddered slightly. Then seemed to make some sort of decision.
"I am not going to go with you!" She spat, her white aura returning. "I might have to call my dragon back, Malfoy. Now, I'm sure that's an experience you do not want to repeat, eh?"
"Ooh, a feisty little wench, you are. I could rid you of some of your fire. . ." He tightened his grip, pulling her closer to him.
She grinned suddenly, "What would your Master think, Lucius?" He winced slightly, "I mean, you playing with what he obviously considers his toy? I know the reason he wishes to 'Speak' with me. . . I'm not a fool, nor am I blind. He wanted to speak to my cousins for that same reason. . . if I do recall correctly.
"You're pretty smart for a Mudblood." He growled.
"And you're pretty stupid for a Purebreed, or should I say inbreed?" She wrenched herself from his grasp. "You will not harm any of my friends, do you understand me, Lucius darling? I am apt to become. . . irritated, and I will retaliate. It is in my nature, as of yet. You see, I've not learned this little thing called control, y'know. And that, sir, will put a damper on any occasion."
Lucius nodded reluctantly, then grinned. "Ah, but I can take back what is legally mine. Y'see, I'm missing a little girl, about two. You may know her, her name is Melody."
Hermione returned his grin with one that was slightly feral. "And if I do, I'm sure to send her right away." She replied scathingly, "But unfortunately for you, I don't know a Melody Malfoy. Now, there is my little sister, Ari Granger. I'm sure you know her. Ah, and tell your Master that THIS girl is not for sale, her allegiances are chosen, darling, and they lie with a certain Gryffindor Keeper whom, if I'm not mistaken, has defeated your. . . 'Lord'. . . six times now? Six to what? Zero?"
"Hold your tongue!" Lucius stalked forward.
"Ah ah ah." Hermione tutted, waving a finger back and forth. "You see, darling, you are in the wrong place, at definitely the wrong time. I'm not a happy camper, and as such, you should be worried. You've faced a fraction of my wrath. You would not be so lucky this time."
"You pick the time and place, sweetheart, and I'll set the date. I want to see this famous. . . 'Wrath' of yours." He swept his cloak about him majestically.
"Strong words for a man who wears his hair in a bow!" She called at his retreating back. "Sweetheart! Honestly! Creepy old coot, thinks he can scare me! Hah, that'll be the day." Hermione stalked into the classroom, where Snape glared maliciously at her. She halted for a second, turned chalk white, and promptly passed out, much to her chagrin. *Who're ya trying to kid? He scared the piss outa ya! * The niggling little voice in the back of her head exclaimed, as the darkness closed in on her.
***
"Mione?!" A voice close to her ear startled her to full awakeness. "Mione, are you alright?"
"G'way, Mum, just five more minutes, please?" Hermione batted at the persistent voice.
"What is she mumbling about, Weasley?" A very displeased voice broke into her fuzzy consciousness.
"Oh Dear!" She sat straight up, knocking her head against something very hard, and then sunk back to the floor, the fight with Malfoy Senior replaying in her head in every minute detail. * At least he has nice teeth.* "Shut up, You!" She told the voice.
"I most certainly will not, Miss Granger!" That perked her right up.
"I wasn't talking to you, Professor, I was talking to. . . well. . . it wasn't you." She answered, opening her eyes a shade.
"So, what made you faint?" Draco asked in an almost conversational way, handing Melody his quill to keep her occupied.
"Your Father." She mumbled, so that only Draco, Ron, Harry, and Snape heard her.
"What?!" They gasped simultaneously.
"Yeah, your daddy dearest told me in no uncertain terms that he wanted me to talk to Voldemort. . ." She told them the tale in all it's verbal glory.
At the end of it, Harry and Ron chuckled. "You told him that? That it was very strong words coming from a guy that wears his hair in a bow?!" At Hermione's nod, they began tittering again.
Draco just stared at her, and Snape rushed off to talk to Dumbledore.
"Hermione. . .what are we going to do with you?" Harry patted his friends head.
"I want to know what my Father is going to do to her." Draco responded quietly.
Hermione nodded, "You and me both. . . you and me both."
***
"She's a regular little spitfire isn't she?" Voldemort held a sort of grudging respect for the girl. But then again, she was a child after his own heart. She just didn't know it yet. But she would, soon.
He turned his attention to the yard, where a blood red dragon was sitting, looking at a rather large black dragon was sitting. The red dragon sniffed lightly, then scowled at the black, but somehow, it seemed it's heart wasn't in it, especially when the black dragon pushed a rather large pearly object to the red dragon. "Ah, young love. . ." Voldemort grimaced slightly, then turned to glare at Lucius.
"Is the boy being enrolled, Lucius?" He hissed.
"As we speak sir, as we speak."
***
Dumbledore gazed at the teen before him with an odd look, then shook his head, something was amiss, but he'd be buggered if he could figure it out. "Well, welcome to Hogwarts young William."
The boy smiled, "It's my pleasure, Headmaster." He brushed a strand of dark hair from his face, his dark eyes large and gleaming with. . . malice, perchance?
"It seems that your class is in the dungeons for Potions now. I could perhaps call a guide?"
"No. . . that's all right, I think I can find my way." And with that, the boy sauntered out of the office.
Dumbledore patted his phoenix on the head. "By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes!" And Fawkes let out a tiny mewl.
***
Hermione stumbled up the stairs, holding onto her pounding head. She felt as if she were going to be sick, "Bugger this all!" She let out a harsh cry as she fell forward, closing her eyes, certain she was about to meet her doom. Instead, she landed on something soft, warm, and rather likeable. Opening her eyes, she met dark ones.
"Oh, I'm so sorry!"
"No need to apologize, it is my pleasure to rescue a damsel in distress. I don't get to do it often. I'm William, by the way, William Blakely."
Hermione blushed, "I'm Hermione Granger, Gryffindor." She saw a strange look of hunger in the young man's eyes that caused her to blush more. "Well, uh, I need to be getting off to the infirmary."
William smiled, making her melt. *Think about George! Think about true love! Think about. . . * Hermione ignored the voice, opting instead to think how this boy's voice gave her shivers.
***
A/N: Uh oh, do we sense trouble a'brewin on the Horizon? Who is this mysterious William to have stolen our Heroine's heart so fast away from the Weasley twin she promised to love forever? Ah, If I told, that would be telling, and I'm not going to do that. Suffice to say he is part of a BIG plan. Don't forget to RR.
Love,
~Me~
Double Trouble
Chapter Twenty-Four
Hermione slowly made her way to the dungeons, her mind racing with a multitude of possibilities. She, and a two year old child, were the deciding factor in the battle to come. But what of Harry? He was obviously the chosen one. . . why wasn't he mentioned in the prophecy? * Because he has one of his own.* Well, yes, that would be a good reason, but what about Ron? He IS Harry's best friend. "Why me?" She moaned, nearly tripping down the stairs to the Potions Classroom.
"Why you what?" A silky voice behind her startled her. She spun around to face the unknown person. When she noticed who it was, her lip curled in disgust.
"And to what do we owe this pleasure, Malfoy?" She addressed Lucius, her voice thick with disgust.
"Well, I thought that would be obvious, Miss Granger." He replied huskily.
"Oh, so I'm Miss Granger now? What's with the formalities? I was the 'Mudblood' Or the 'Granger Chit'. What's changed in the last, I don't know, couple of weeks?" She smirked at him, noticing the slight limp and the way he favored his arm. It was strange to see him alive when she was so sure the scag was dead.
"Yes, well, you are in possession of a grand power, so that does deserve respect, however grudging that respect is given. Even my Lord no longer identifies you as Potter's Mudblood. You are a Great Witch in your own right. My Lord is. . . very. . . eager to meet you. He only wishes to. . . talk."
"Yeah, well, I'd rather him have a stick shoved up his-"
"Ah, ah, Miss Granger, language my dear. A Lady of your stature should never utter such foul things. Who knows what sort of repercussions it could have?" He stalked forward suddenly, seizing her by the front of her robes. "Mmmm. . .I like it when I have the advantage." He purred.
"What advantage?" She purred back, faltering slightly, but drawing on her power.
"Oh, but I have a distinct advantage my dear. Y'see. . . I'm sure you wouldn't want one of your. . . precious. . . little friends getting hurt, now would you? I can. . . y'know." He leaned closer to her, smelling her fear.
"What if I killed you right here?" She wavered slightly, "Then you couldn't hurt anyone could you?"
"You mistake my motives, my dear." Hermione shuddered slightly. Then seemed to make some sort of decision.
"I am not going to go with you!" She spat, her white aura returning. "I might have to call my dragon back, Malfoy. Now, I'm sure that's an experience you do not want to repeat, eh?"
"Ooh, a feisty little wench, you are. I could rid you of some of your fire. . ." He tightened his grip, pulling her closer to him.
She grinned suddenly, "What would your Master think, Lucius?" He winced slightly, "I mean, you playing with what he obviously considers his toy? I know the reason he wishes to 'Speak' with me. . . I'm not a fool, nor am I blind. He wanted to speak to my cousins for that same reason. . . if I do recall correctly.
"You're pretty smart for a Mudblood." He growled.
"And you're pretty stupid for a Purebreed, or should I say inbreed?" She wrenched herself from his grasp. "You will not harm any of my friends, do you understand me, Lucius darling? I am apt to become. . . irritated, and I will retaliate. It is in my nature, as of yet. You see, I've not learned this little thing called control, y'know. And that, sir, will put a damper on any occasion."
Lucius nodded reluctantly, then grinned. "Ah, but I can take back what is legally mine. Y'see, I'm missing a little girl, about two. You may know her, her name is Melody."
Hermione returned his grin with one that was slightly feral. "And if I do, I'm sure to send her right away." She replied scathingly, "But unfortunately for you, I don't know a Melody Malfoy. Now, there is my little sister, Ari Granger. I'm sure you know her. Ah, and tell your Master that THIS girl is not for sale, her allegiances are chosen, darling, and they lie with a certain Gryffindor Keeper whom, if I'm not mistaken, has defeated your. . . 'Lord'. . . six times now? Six to what? Zero?"
"Hold your tongue!" Lucius stalked forward.
"Ah ah ah." Hermione tutted, waving a finger back and forth. "You see, darling, you are in the wrong place, at definitely the wrong time. I'm not a happy camper, and as such, you should be worried. You've faced a fraction of my wrath. You would not be so lucky this time."
"You pick the time and place, sweetheart, and I'll set the date. I want to see this famous. . . 'Wrath' of yours." He swept his cloak about him majestically.
"Strong words for a man who wears his hair in a bow!" She called at his retreating back. "Sweetheart! Honestly! Creepy old coot, thinks he can scare me! Hah, that'll be the day." Hermione stalked into the classroom, where Snape glared maliciously at her. She halted for a second, turned chalk white, and promptly passed out, much to her chagrin. *Who're ya trying to kid? He scared the piss outa ya! * The niggling little voice in the back of her head exclaimed, as the darkness closed in on her.
***
"Mione?!" A voice close to her ear startled her to full awakeness. "Mione, are you alright?"
"G'way, Mum, just five more minutes, please?" Hermione batted at the persistent voice.
"What is she mumbling about, Weasley?" A very displeased voice broke into her fuzzy consciousness.
"Oh Dear!" She sat straight up, knocking her head against something very hard, and then sunk back to the floor, the fight with Malfoy Senior replaying in her head in every minute detail. * At least he has nice teeth.* "Shut up, You!" She told the voice.
"I most certainly will not, Miss Granger!" That perked her right up.
"I wasn't talking to you, Professor, I was talking to. . . well. . . it wasn't you." She answered, opening her eyes a shade.
"So, what made you faint?" Draco asked in an almost conversational way, handing Melody his quill to keep her occupied.
"Your Father." She mumbled, so that only Draco, Ron, Harry, and Snape heard her.
"What?!" They gasped simultaneously.
"Yeah, your daddy dearest told me in no uncertain terms that he wanted me to talk to Voldemort. . ." She told them the tale in all it's verbal glory.
At the end of it, Harry and Ron chuckled. "You told him that? That it was very strong words coming from a guy that wears his hair in a bow?!" At Hermione's nod, they began tittering again.
Draco just stared at her, and Snape rushed off to talk to Dumbledore.
"Hermione. . .what are we going to do with you?" Harry patted his friends head.
"I want to know what my Father is going to do to her." Draco responded quietly.
Hermione nodded, "You and me both. . . you and me both."
***
"She's a regular little spitfire isn't she?" Voldemort held a sort of grudging respect for the girl. But then again, she was a child after his own heart. She just didn't know it yet. But she would, soon.
He turned his attention to the yard, where a blood red dragon was sitting, looking at a rather large black dragon was sitting. The red dragon sniffed lightly, then scowled at the black, but somehow, it seemed it's heart wasn't in it, especially when the black dragon pushed a rather large pearly object to the red dragon. "Ah, young love. . ." Voldemort grimaced slightly, then turned to glare at Lucius.
"Is the boy being enrolled, Lucius?" He hissed.
"As we speak sir, as we speak."
***
Dumbledore gazed at the teen before him with an odd look, then shook his head, something was amiss, but he'd be buggered if he could figure it out. "Well, welcome to Hogwarts young William."
The boy smiled, "It's my pleasure, Headmaster." He brushed a strand of dark hair from his face, his dark eyes large and gleaming with. . . malice, perchance?
"It seems that your class is in the dungeons for Potions now. I could perhaps call a guide?"
"No. . . that's all right, I think I can find my way." And with that, the boy sauntered out of the office.
Dumbledore patted his phoenix on the head. "By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes!" And Fawkes let out a tiny mewl.
***
Hermione stumbled up the stairs, holding onto her pounding head. She felt as if she were going to be sick, "Bugger this all!" She let out a harsh cry as she fell forward, closing her eyes, certain she was about to meet her doom. Instead, she landed on something soft, warm, and rather likeable. Opening her eyes, she met dark ones.
"Oh, I'm so sorry!"
"No need to apologize, it is my pleasure to rescue a damsel in distress. I don't get to do it often. I'm William, by the way, William Blakely."
Hermione blushed, "I'm Hermione Granger, Gryffindor." She saw a strange look of hunger in the young man's eyes that caused her to blush more. "Well, uh, I need to be getting off to the infirmary."
William smiled, making her melt. *Think about George! Think about true love! Think about. . . * Hermione ignored the voice, opting instead to think how this boy's voice gave her shivers.
***
A/N: Uh oh, do we sense trouble a'brewin on the Horizon? Who is this mysterious William to have stolen our Heroine's heart so fast away from the Weasley twin she promised to love forever? Ah, If I told, that would be telling, and I'm not going to do that. Suffice to say he is part of a BIG plan. Don't forget to RR.
Love,
~Me~
