Hermione screamed and threw her arms up to her face to shield herself,
as Fred pushed her out of the way of the charging animal. He
accidentally knocked her to the ground. The young Hagrid grabbed the
pup, inches from them. She looked at Fred who was still on top of her.
He smiled at her. George walked over and helped them off the ground.
"Er... sorry 'bout that." the boy apologized, struggling to keep the dog at bay.
The woman followed by Dippet came running over. They took him and the pup into one of the classrooms and slammed the door. Tom and Damien walked over.
"That's Rubeus Hagrid. He's always bringing exotic and dangerous animals into the school. Surprised he hasn't been expelled for it yet, though I bet he's going to be getting detention." Tom smirked. Hermione said goodbye to the twins then walked with Tom and Damien to their next class.
After dinner, Hermione went back to the Slytherin common room. Fred and George were in their own corner discussing pranks. She wasn't in the mood to listen in. She knew she'd just end up getting into another argument with them about rules. She rushed through her Charms homework, then went to the prefect baths for a shower. Tom had given her all the passwords earlier so that when she had a chance to sneak up to the third floor, she could get into the restricted rooms. She sat her towel down on a bench and stripped down.
She turned on the water in the shower and let the water flow through her hair. This was the first chance she had to be alone with her thoughts since the first evening they were there. Her mind started wandering off in thoughts about Viktor and Malfoy again. Finding herself getting annoyed again, she tried to focus on other things. She began to think about Tom Riddle. He'd seemed extremely eager to get her involved with the Chamber. She didn't believe his line about him being able to sense that she was smart. How did he know that she wouldn't run to tell the Headmaster what was going on? Why had she agreed to help him? She should've done more research on Theresa Ellis and Hogwarts in nineteen forty-two before they'd left. After she'd gotten into the argument with Malfoy after she caught him snogging Fleur in the hallway, she'd spent the rest of the night crying before falling asleep. She still had a few months before the Chamber was to be opened. She knew exactly where it was, but she wasn't about to run and tell him. She couldn't figure out how her and the twins being there could be of any good. Changing the future was going to be near impossible to avoid. But were they right? Everything they were doing was meant to have happened, so it didn't matter what choices she made.
Her thoughts shifted again. That night with Fred and George had been interesting. Was that meant to have happened as well? She'd never thought of either of them in that way before, so she didn't know how she'd let herself get so carried away. They'd even admitted to fancying her. They'd always just been Ron's, annoyingly talented in the art of prank, older brothers. Of course they were friends, but it was mere friendship through association. Now they were stuck on a mission together, and the strength of that friendship was being tested. Neither Fred nor George had mentioned anything else about that night. They were either pretending it'd never happened or just doing that for her sake. There was something odd about Fred though that afternoon when he'd tried to save her from the werewolf. The look he had in his eye and the way their bodies had touched. He had looked at her again the same way when she'd left the common room. It made her stomach flutter. Was she beginning to fancy him? If she was she knew she couldn't pursue anything. It was as George had stated, none of them wanted to do that to Ron. If he found out it would kill him. She loved Ron, but not the way he wanted her to love him. He'd gone ballistic when she'd ended up with Malfoy. She couldn't imagine how he'd react if she ended up with one of his relatives. She didn't want to ruin their friendship.
Hermione thought she felt something brush against her. She jumped and looked around but she was alone. I'm going crazy, she thought to herself. The warm water continued to flow through her hair and down her body. She felt something again, this time it wasn't just something, it felt like someone. She felt arms wrap around her and warmth breath against her neck. The invisible being had moved its hands up her legs and was caressing her. She pulled away quickly and turned around. There was nothing there.
"Who is it?" she asked, her voice shaking. There was no answer.
"Fred...George... this isn't funny!" still no answer.
Hermione left the shower on and threw her clothes on as fast as she could. She ran out of the bathroom and down the hall. She was almost to the entrance to the Slytherin Common Room when the invisible force grabbed her and threw her against the wall.
"Stop it you two! This isn't funny!" she shrieked.
"Shhhh." said a familiar voice. She felt a silky material brush up against her face. She knew what it was, an invisibility cloak. She grabbed it and pulled it off her attacker immediately.
"Oh my God! Malfoy!" she gasped. She broke out of his grasp.
"I said shut up!" he hissed. He pulled her into an empty classroom. She slapped him.
"What the hell, Granger?"
"That's for your little stunt in the bathroom!"
"What are you talking about? I just got here. I saw you running down the hall and grabbed you before you could get into the Common Room."
"So you weren't in the prefect's bathroom."
"No!"
"Sorry, it must've been- never mind. What are you doing here?" she actually felt relieved to see him. He seemed to be feeling the same thing, because he began to relax. She hugged onto him and he returned her embrace.
"I was worried about you, Hermione. We were researching when I came across Theresa Ellis. You're the one who's going to give the prophecy but I think you're murdered afterwards."
"Murdered? How do you know I'm the one to give the prophecy what did the book say exactly?" she let go of him.
"Theresa Ellis went into a panic attack before her O.W.Ls, the professors had summed it up to pretest stress. She died three days later in the infirmary. It's listed in Hogwarts, a History because it was considered the first death relation to the stress of the test. After that they made them easier and created the N.E.W.Ts... blah blah blah. The point is, I have a feeling that's when the prophecy was foretold. Seers are known to go into fits before they see a vision; it's more prominent in seers along the Greek heritage. Did you know your father was a squib?"
"What?"
"He comes from about eight generations of squibs. They are wizards, Hermione... barely, but still. I am almost certain your lineage can be traced back to the famous Seer, Cassandra."
"But Trelawney said that I didn't have the sight."
"Trelawney, Granger. Think about it."
"That's nice that you came to warn me, but you have to go. If your grandfather sees you something will happen. It could screw with the future. You're not supposed to be here."
"My grandfather?"
"He's friends with Tom Riddle, Voldemort. You two look so much alike, it's obvious you're related. You have to get out of here."
"I did not just go through muggle London with Potter in an automobile and nearly get captured by my father, meanwhile more than likely getting expelled when I get back, for you to tell me where I can and cannot be."
"Damn it Draco, now is not the time to be stubborn!"
"Well I'm not going back! Not without you!" he yelled back.
"Fine! We'll go to Dumbledore then. Stay here. I'll be right back." she turned to leave, but he grabbed her arm. She wheeled around, ready to start the argument again when he kissed her.
"No... Draco... we're not starting this again... I'll be right back." she rushed out of the room and down to the Slytherin Common Room. She found Fred and George sitting where they had been before she'd left. They weren't the only ones in the room though, to her dismay.
"You okay?" George asked as she caught her breath. She shook her head, negative.
"Why? What's up?" Fred asked, sneakily rolling up the parchment they'd been looming over, as if to keep her from seeing what was written on it.
"Racoday niay ogwartshay." she muttered frantically. The twins looked at each other in confusion.
"I think she's cracked." Fred commented.
"I'll have to concur with you, brother."
"Racoday niay ogwartshay." she repeated, more pronounced.
"Nope, not getting it."
"Maybe she's speaking in tongues?"
"DRACO IS IN HOGWARTS! GOD!" she finally shouted. The other Slytherin's looked at her oddly and started whispering.
"Well why didn't you say so?" George replied. They got up quickly and ushered her out of the Common Room, telling the confused Slytherin's that she had a few screws loose. She led them to the classroom where she'd left Malfoy. It was empty.
"Okay, Hermione. I think it's best you get on up to bed before you start seeing things again." George suggested.
"Oh shut up. He was here." as she said that, Malfoy removed the cloak.
"So what do ya know, she's not crazy after all." Fred beamed. Hermione hit him playfully.
"We have to go to Professor Dumbledore." she stated. They nodded.
Fred and George left the classroom first, making sure the coast was clear. There were two lost first years wandering the hallway. George went over to them and lead them off to distract them, while Fred quickly led them down to Professor Dumbledore's office. Hermione knocked frantically on the door. They were motioned in.
"Ah yes, I was wondering when you'd be to see me." a younger Dumbledore smiled.
"We've got a problem." Hermione told him and pushed Malfoy closer.
"Draco Malfoy is it?"
"Yeah... how'd you know?"
"I received a letter from myself yesterday morning saying that you would be joining us shortly. Come with me, we'll get you sorted."
"Professor, he can't stay. He needs to go back." she pleaded with urgency.
"Well technically he'd need to go forward." interjected Fred. Hermione shot him a glare.
"I feel we can use him here. He can stay. Headmaster Dippet is already expecting him. Come along." Dumbledore led them out of his office and up to the Headmaster.
"Good, good. You're here. Have a seat." they all sat down.
"Why does he have to stay, can't he go back?" Hermione wasn't giving up that easily.
"Nonsense. I'm not sending away a student. What's your name?"
"Er... Marcus Branor." Malfoy replied, using the name he'd made up at the Ministry.
Hermione groaned then looked at the twins for sympathy. Fred put his hand on her shoulder. Apparently Dippet had no idea of the truth and believed him to be another new student. He brought over the Sorting Hat.
"Now don't mind this, it's just the Sorting Hat. It will let you know which house you are to be in. I will have a course schedule written out and delivered to you tomorrow morning at breakfast. Now we just put this on your head..."
"GRYFFINDOR!" it yelled almost immediately.
"I think there's been some mistake." Malfoy told him.
"What do you mean?"
"I should be in Slytherin."
"Well sometimes we are sorted into a house other than that of what we wish. There's always a reason for it that becomes clear later in life. Gryffindor is a fine house. Albus, I'll have to ask you to show him to his quarters, I'm a bit busy at the moment. Professor Dumbledore can answer any questions you may have." Dippet said, rushly. They were escorted out of the office.
"You three best be off back to your own house, it's far past curfew and you have class tomorrow. You may show Mr. Branor around tomorrow." Dumbledore told them, then ushered Malfoy off in the opposite direction. Hermione looked up at Fred and George.
"It's like we've landed in some sort of odd paradox past." George commented, watching Malfoy and Dumbledore turn a corner.
"It's brilliant though. The tables have turned. Now he gets to see what it's like to be teased and tormented for being a Gryffindor. And I plan on personally allowing him the pleasure of experiencing that first hand." Fred smiled.
"Fred..."
"Oh come on, Hermione... er Theresa. If we're going to be in Slytherin we might as well make the best of it. We're EXPECTED to pick on Malfoy... er Marcus... er whatever."
"Don't do anything rash. And PLEASE don't do anything that would get you expelled. I really don't wish to spend the rest of my time here with him as the only familiar face."
"We never got expelled before, and we certainly won't now." George pointed out as they headed back towards the Slytherin Common Room.
"You would have been expelled two years ago for the swamp incident..."
"Yes but we left on our own accord, thank you. Besides you can't say that wasn't bloody brilliant. Gave Umbridge a run for her money at any rate."
"I'm not going to praise you or condone you for your past rash actions."
"You're not one who can speak of rash actions, as I can recall three night ago-" Hermione shot Fred a look so harsh, he knew that if he finished his sentence he'd be digging his own grave.
"No mentioning that around Malfoy either, you two. Don't be rubbing it in his face or anything else the two of you might do to use that against him. It'll get back to Harry and Ron for sure."
"Likewise." they told her.
Hermione went up to her dormitory, ticked off at both the twins and Malfoy. How dare he come back to rescue her after they'd gotten into a fight mere days ago. What had he expected would happen? He'd tell her the truth, she'd thank him and return home with him? She had a mission to do and she knew the risks when she took it. She was getting tired of all the boys around her trying to play hero. She was capable of taking care of herself and no one seemed to realize that. She threw herself onto her bed and pulled the draperies down. Her roommates was snoring loudly. She covered her head with a pillow. She didn't know what was going to happen the next day. One look at Draco and everyone would know he was related to Damien and their cover would be blown. She was uncomfortable with him being there. One of the reasons she took the mission in the first place was to get away from him. She wanted to deal with Viktor's death without him around to mock her. Hermione tossed and turned in her bed until she finally began to drift off to sleep.
She awoke to a warm sensation moving up her body. It felt like hands. They were caressing her body. She felt pressure upon her, as if someone had just moved on top of her. She felt herself being kissed and taken into a warm embrace. She opened her eyes and saw nothing. The invisible lips moved from her mouth to her neck. She tried to sit up but she couldn't. Her body was forced back down onto the mattress. She tried to scream but she couldn't. She fought back against the being and was able to get out of her bed. She pushed through the draperies getting tangled. Her arm was grabbed and she was pushed back onto the bed. She felt the person moved between her legs. She reached under her pillow and grabbed her wand. The force removed itself from her body, allowing her to escape out of the dormitory. She ran up the stairs to the common room, confused at what to do. She saw the stairwell leading down to the boy's dormitory. She ran down to Fred and George's room.
"Wake up!" she shook Fred until he finally opened his eyes.
"What's wrong?" he yawned.
"Someone just tried to rape me." she whispered frantically.
"Who?"
"I don't know, they were invisible... Whoever it is snuck up on me in the shower earlier as well. I thought it was just you or George playing one of your pranks-"
"We'd never do something like that to you, Hermione."
"I know that now. I... I don't know what to do. I can't go to the Headmaster, because I have no proof that someone was there."
"Well you can't go back to your dorm either." Fred looked over at the clock. It was just past one in the morning. He motioned for her to join him. She climbed under the covers with him and he put his arms around her.
"Could it have been ferret boy?" he whispered.
"No, he wouldn't do that to me."
"You sure?"
"Yeah, I know Draco. He can be a prat, but he wouldn't have traveled back in time just to rape me." she told him, sternly.
Fred pulled the draperies down around his bed then settled back down next to her. She felt safe. He rested his head against hers and moved himself closer to her. The heat of his body was comforting. She settled in comfortably with him and breathed out the rest of her fear. His heart was beating fast. She could feel it as her head lay against his chest. He lifted her head with his hand and kissed her softly. She just looked at him with confusion.
"I'm sorry." he began to move away from her. She clung to him tightly.
She was woken up the next morning as the sun was coming up. Fred told her she ought to head back to her own room before the others began to stir. If they were supposed to be playing the roles of brother and sister, it wouldn't look right if she was discovered in his bed. She nodded and quickly left the boy's dormitory. Her room felt cold and she wearily crawled back into her bed for an extra hour of sleep. Her first plan of action was to figure out who'd been sneaking up on her, then she'd deal with Malfoy.
When she came up from the dungeon with Fred and George later that morning, she was distracted by commotion coming from the other side of the corridor. It sounded as if someone was in trouble. They rushed over to a group of people huddled around.
"I just thought I'd be one of the first ones to welcome you to the school." stated Damien and he punched the kid he was talking to. Hermione moved in closer. It was Draco, but he didn't completely look like himself. He'd apparently received the same charm she had for her hair, turning it brown instead of the silver blond it normally was. She hadn't recognized him at first, but once she did she jumped in.
"Damien, leave him alone." she pleaded.
"Excuse me?"
"Since when has a Slytherin cared what happened to a Gryffindor?" Tom butted in from the other side of the huddle. Before she could answer, Professor Blackthorne and Dumbledore came rushing over and broke up the crowd.
"Everyone off to the Great Hall now for breakfast before I start handing out detention." Blackthorne snapped at the students. Hermione helped Draco off the ground.
"Thanks." he muttered as she handed him a handkerchief to use for his bloodied nose.
"What's the meaning of this?" Blackthorne asked.
"He started it. He bumped into me in the hallway, then decided to get smart with me." Damien snarled.
"I don't care who started it. Nothing gives you the right to start wailing on another student like some pathetic uneducated muggle. Come with me!" Blackthorne took his arm and led him off to her office. Dumbledore felt no need to punish Malfoy and simply ushered everyone back to the Great Hall.
"So you've met your grandfather." George smiled.
"Shut up, Weasley." Malfoy sneered before heading off to the Gryffindor table.
"He better get used to it. Karma's a bitch." Fred sniggered as they headed over to the Slytherin table.
Hermione just shook her head in disappointment. She sat down next to Fred and began filling up her plate. He looked at her and she blushed slightly. Tom and Damien joined them a little while later. Tom sat down on the other side of her. She moved closer to Fred, slightly.
"So what happened?" she asked, pretending she was interested in Damien's punishment.
"I have to do lines for the rest of the week." Damien replied, depressivly.
"Why'd you jump to the aid of that filth?"
"Because I know what it's like to be new here. I don't think it's right for you to be jumping down his throat just because he's in Gryffindor."
"How noble. You sure you were sorted into the right house?" Tom smirked as he grabbed a scone.
"Yes, I've met the kid before. I can't stand him, but like I said I know what it's like to be new."
"Yeah, so tell me THERESA... who's Fred and George?" Tom looked her straight in the eye. She knew then who'd been in the shower and her bed the previous night.
"Er... sorry 'bout that." the boy apologized, struggling to keep the dog at bay.
The woman followed by Dippet came running over. They took him and the pup into one of the classrooms and slammed the door. Tom and Damien walked over.
"That's Rubeus Hagrid. He's always bringing exotic and dangerous animals into the school. Surprised he hasn't been expelled for it yet, though I bet he's going to be getting detention." Tom smirked. Hermione said goodbye to the twins then walked with Tom and Damien to their next class.
After dinner, Hermione went back to the Slytherin common room. Fred and George were in their own corner discussing pranks. She wasn't in the mood to listen in. She knew she'd just end up getting into another argument with them about rules. She rushed through her Charms homework, then went to the prefect baths for a shower. Tom had given her all the passwords earlier so that when she had a chance to sneak up to the third floor, she could get into the restricted rooms. She sat her towel down on a bench and stripped down.
She turned on the water in the shower and let the water flow through her hair. This was the first chance she had to be alone with her thoughts since the first evening they were there. Her mind started wandering off in thoughts about Viktor and Malfoy again. Finding herself getting annoyed again, she tried to focus on other things. She began to think about Tom Riddle. He'd seemed extremely eager to get her involved with the Chamber. She didn't believe his line about him being able to sense that she was smart. How did he know that she wouldn't run to tell the Headmaster what was going on? Why had she agreed to help him? She should've done more research on Theresa Ellis and Hogwarts in nineteen forty-two before they'd left. After she'd gotten into the argument with Malfoy after she caught him snogging Fleur in the hallway, she'd spent the rest of the night crying before falling asleep. She still had a few months before the Chamber was to be opened. She knew exactly where it was, but she wasn't about to run and tell him. She couldn't figure out how her and the twins being there could be of any good. Changing the future was going to be near impossible to avoid. But were they right? Everything they were doing was meant to have happened, so it didn't matter what choices she made.
Her thoughts shifted again. That night with Fred and George had been interesting. Was that meant to have happened as well? She'd never thought of either of them in that way before, so she didn't know how she'd let herself get so carried away. They'd even admitted to fancying her. They'd always just been Ron's, annoyingly talented in the art of prank, older brothers. Of course they were friends, but it was mere friendship through association. Now they were stuck on a mission together, and the strength of that friendship was being tested. Neither Fred nor George had mentioned anything else about that night. They were either pretending it'd never happened or just doing that for her sake. There was something odd about Fred though that afternoon when he'd tried to save her from the werewolf. The look he had in his eye and the way their bodies had touched. He had looked at her again the same way when she'd left the common room. It made her stomach flutter. Was she beginning to fancy him? If she was she knew she couldn't pursue anything. It was as George had stated, none of them wanted to do that to Ron. If he found out it would kill him. She loved Ron, but not the way he wanted her to love him. He'd gone ballistic when she'd ended up with Malfoy. She couldn't imagine how he'd react if she ended up with one of his relatives. She didn't want to ruin their friendship.
Hermione thought she felt something brush against her. She jumped and looked around but she was alone. I'm going crazy, she thought to herself. The warm water continued to flow through her hair and down her body. She felt something again, this time it wasn't just something, it felt like someone. She felt arms wrap around her and warmth breath against her neck. The invisible being had moved its hands up her legs and was caressing her. She pulled away quickly and turned around. There was nothing there.
"Who is it?" she asked, her voice shaking. There was no answer.
"Fred...George... this isn't funny!" still no answer.
Hermione left the shower on and threw her clothes on as fast as she could. She ran out of the bathroom and down the hall. She was almost to the entrance to the Slytherin Common Room when the invisible force grabbed her and threw her against the wall.
"Stop it you two! This isn't funny!" she shrieked.
"Shhhh." said a familiar voice. She felt a silky material brush up against her face. She knew what it was, an invisibility cloak. She grabbed it and pulled it off her attacker immediately.
"Oh my God! Malfoy!" she gasped. She broke out of his grasp.
"I said shut up!" he hissed. He pulled her into an empty classroom. She slapped him.
"What the hell, Granger?"
"That's for your little stunt in the bathroom!"
"What are you talking about? I just got here. I saw you running down the hall and grabbed you before you could get into the Common Room."
"So you weren't in the prefect's bathroom."
"No!"
"Sorry, it must've been- never mind. What are you doing here?" she actually felt relieved to see him. He seemed to be feeling the same thing, because he began to relax. She hugged onto him and he returned her embrace.
"I was worried about you, Hermione. We were researching when I came across Theresa Ellis. You're the one who's going to give the prophecy but I think you're murdered afterwards."
"Murdered? How do you know I'm the one to give the prophecy what did the book say exactly?" she let go of him.
"Theresa Ellis went into a panic attack before her O.W.Ls, the professors had summed it up to pretest stress. She died three days later in the infirmary. It's listed in Hogwarts, a History because it was considered the first death relation to the stress of the test. After that they made them easier and created the N.E.W.Ts... blah blah blah. The point is, I have a feeling that's when the prophecy was foretold. Seers are known to go into fits before they see a vision; it's more prominent in seers along the Greek heritage. Did you know your father was a squib?"
"What?"
"He comes from about eight generations of squibs. They are wizards, Hermione... barely, but still. I am almost certain your lineage can be traced back to the famous Seer, Cassandra."
"But Trelawney said that I didn't have the sight."
"Trelawney, Granger. Think about it."
"That's nice that you came to warn me, but you have to go. If your grandfather sees you something will happen. It could screw with the future. You're not supposed to be here."
"My grandfather?"
"He's friends with Tom Riddle, Voldemort. You two look so much alike, it's obvious you're related. You have to get out of here."
"I did not just go through muggle London with Potter in an automobile and nearly get captured by my father, meanwhile more than likely getting expelled when I get back, for you to tell me where I can and cannot be."
"Damn it Draco, now is not the time to be stubborn!"
"Well I'm not going back! Not without you!" he yelled back.
"Fine! We'll go to Dumbledore then. Stay here. I'll be right back." she turned to leave, but he grabbed her arm. She wheeled around, ready to start the argument again when he kissed her.
"No... Draco... we're not starting this again... I'll be right back." she rushed out of the room and down to the Slytherin Common Room. She found Fred and George sitting where they had been before she'd left. They weren't the only ones in the room though, to her dismay.
"You okay?" George asked as she caught her breath. She shook her head, negative.
"Why? What's up?" Fred asked, sneakily rolling up the parchment they'd been looming over, as if to keep her from seeing what was written on it.
"Racoday niay ogwartshay." she muttered frantically. The twins looked at each other in confusion.
"I think she's cracked." Fred commented.
"I'll have to concur with you, brother."
"Racoday niay ogwartshay." she repeated, more pronounced.
"Nope, not getting it."
"Maybe she's speaking in tongues?"
"DRACO IS IN HOGWARTS! GOD!" she finally shouted. The other Slytherin's looked at her oddly and started whispering.
"Well why didn't you say so?" George replied. They got up quickly and ushered her out of the Common Room, telling the confused Slytherin's that she had a few screws loose. She led them to the classroom where she'd left Malfoy. It was empty.
"Okay, Hermione. I think it's best you get on up to bed before you start seeing things again." George suggested.
"Oh shut up. He was here." as she said that, Malfoy removed the cloak.
"So what do ya know, she's not crazy after all." Fred beamed. Hermione hit him playfully.
"We have to go to Professor Dumbledore." she stated. They nodded.
Fred and George left the classroom first, making sure the coast was clear. There were two lost first years wandering the hallway. George went over to them and lead them off to distract them, while Fred quickly led them down to Professor Dumbledore's office. Hermione knocked frantically on the door. They were motioned in.
"Ah yes, I was wondering when you'd be to see me." a younger Dumbledore smiled.
"We've got a problem." Hermione told him and pushed Malfoy closer.
"Draco Malfoy is it?"
"Yeah... how'd you know?"
"I received a letter from myself yesterday morning saying that you would be joining us shortly. Come with me, we'll get you sorted."
"Professor, he can't stay. He needs to go back." she pleaded with urgency.
"Well technically he'd need to go forward." interjected Fred. Hermione shot him a glare.
"I feel we can use him here. He can stay. Headmaster Dippet is already expecting him. Come along." Dumbledore led them out of his office and up to the Headmaster.
"Good, good. You're here. Have a seat." they all sat down.
"Why does he have to stay, can't he go back?" Hermione wasn't giving up that easily.
"Nonsense. I'm not sending away a student. What's your name?"
"Er... Marcus Branor." Malfoy replied, using the name he'd made up at the Ministry.
Hermione groaned then looked at the twins for sympathy. Fred put his hand on her shoulder. Apparently Dippet had no idea of the truth and believed him to be another new student. He brought over the Sorting Hat.
"Now don't mind this, it's just the Sorting Hat. It will let you know which house you are to be in. I will have a course schedule written out and delivered to you tomorrow morning at breakfast. Now we just put this on your head..."
"GRYFFINDOR!" it yelled almost immediately.
"I think there's been some mistake." Malfoy told him.
"What do you mean?"
"I should be in Slytherin."
"Well sometimes we are sorted into a house other than that of what we wish. There's always a reason for it that becomes clear later in life. Gryffindor is a fine house. Albus, I'll have to ask you to show him to his quarters, I'm a bit busy at the moment. Professor Dumbledore can answer any questions you may have." Dippet said, rushly. They were escorted out of the office.
"You three best be off back to your own house, it's far past curfew and you have class tomorrow. You may show Mr. Branor around tomorrow." Dumbledore told them, then ushered Malfoy off in the opposite direction. Hermione looked up at Fred and George.
"It's like we've landed in some sort of odd paradox past." George commented, watching Malfoy and Dumbledore turn a corner.
"It's brilliant though. The tables have turned. Now he gets to see what it's like to be teased and tormented for being a Gryffindor. And I plan on personally allowing him the pleasure of experiencing that first hand." Fred smiled.
"Fred..."
"Oh come on, Hermione... er Theresa. If we're going to be in Slytherin we might as well make the best of it. We're EXPECTED to pick on Malfoy... er Marcus... er whatever."
"Don't do anything rash. And PLEASE don't do anything that would get you expelled. I really don't wish to spend the rest of my time here with him as the only familiar face."
"We never got expelled before, and we certainly won't now." George pointed out as they headed back towards the Slytherin Common Room.
"You would have been expelled two years ago for the swamp incident..."
"Yes but we left on our own accord, thank you. Besides you can't say that wasn't bloody brilliant. Gave Umbridge a run for her money at any rate."
"I'm not going to praise you or condone you for your past rash actions."
"You're not one who can speak of rash actions, as I can recall three night ago-" Hermione shot Fred a look so harsh, he knew that if he finished his sentence he'd be digging his own grave.
"No mentioning that around Malfoy either, you two. Don't be rubbing it in his face or anything else the two of you might do to use that against him. It'll get back to Harry and Ron for sure."
"Likewise." they told her.
Hermione went up to her dormitory, ticked off at both the twins and Malfoy. How dare he come back to rescue her after they'd gotten into a fight mere days ago. What had he expected would happen? He'd tell her the truth, she'd thank him and return home with him? She had a mission to do and she knew the risks when she took it. She was getting tired of all the boys around her trying to play hero. She was capable of taking care of herself and no one seemed to realize that. She threw herself onto her bed and pulled the draperies down. Her roommates was snoring loudly. She covered her head with a pillow. She didn't know what was going to happen the next day. One look at Draco and everyone would know he was related to Damien and their cover would be blown. She was uncomfortable with him being there. One of the reasons she took the mission in the first place was to get away from him. She wanted to deal with Viktor's death without him around to mock her. Hermione tossed and turned in her bed until she finally began to drift off to sleep.
She awoke to a warm sensation moving up her body. It felt like hands. They were caressing her body. She felt pressure upon her, as if someone had just moved on top of her. She felt herself being kissed and taken into a warm embrace. She opened her eyes and saw nothing. The invisible lips moved from her mouth to her neck. She tried to sit up but she couldn't. Her body was forced back down onto the mattress. She tried to scream but she couldn't. She fought back against the being and was able to get out of her bed. She pushed through the draperies getting tangled. Her arm was grabbed and she was pushed back onto the bed. She felt the person moved between her legs. She reached under her pillow and grabbed her wand. The force removed itself from her body, allowing her to escape out of the dormitory. She ran up the stairs to the common room, confused at what to do. She saw the stairwell leading down to the boy's dormitory. She ran down to Fred and George's room.
"Wake up!" she shook Fred until he finally opened his eyes.
"What's wrong?" he yawned.
"Someone just tried to rape me." she whispered frantically.
"Who?"
"I don't know, they were invisible... Whoever it is snuck up on me in the shower earlier as well. I thought it was just you or George playing one of your pranks-"
"We'd never do something like that to you, Hermione."
"I know that now. I... I don't know what to do. I can't go to the Headmaster, because I have no proof that someone was there."
"Well you can't go back to your dorm either." Fred looked over at the clock. It was just past one in the morning. He motioned for her to join him. She climbed under the covers with him and he put his arms around her.
"Could it have been ferret boy?" he whispered.
"No, he wouldn't do that to me."
"You sure?"
"Yeah, I know Draco. He can be a prat, but he wouldn't have traveled back in time just to rape me." she told him, sternly.
Fred pulled the draperies down around his bed then settled back down next to her. She felt safe. He rested his head against hers and moved himself closer to her. The heat of his body was comforting. She settled in comfortably with him and breathed out the rest of her fear. His heart was beating fast. She could feel it as her head lay against his chest. He lifted her head with his hand and kissed her softly. She just looked at him with confusion.
"I'm sorry." he began to move away from her. She clung to him tightly.
She was woken up the next morning as the sun was coming up. Fred told her she ought to head back to her own room before the others began to stir. If they were supposed to be playing the roles of brother and sister, it wouldn't look right if she was discovered in his bed. She nodded and quickly left the boy's dormitory. Her room felt cold and she wearily crawled back into her bed for an extra hour of sleep. Her first plan of action was to figure out who'd been sneaking up on her, then she'd deal with Malfoy.
When she came up from the dungeon with Fred and George later that morning, she was distracted by commotion coming from the other side of the corridor. It sounded as if someone was in trouble. They rushed over to a group of people huddled around.
"I just thought I'd be one of the first ones to welcome you to the school." stated Damien and he punched the kid he was talking to. Hermione moved in closer. It was Draco, but he didn't completely look like himself. He'd apparently received the same charm she had for her hair, turning it brown instead of the silver blond it normally was. She hadn't recognized him at first, but once she did she jumped in.
"Damien, leave him alone." she pleaded.
"Excuse me?"
"Since when has a Slytherin cared what happened to a Gryffindor?" Tom butted in from the other side of the huddle. Before she could answer, Professor Blackthorne and Dumbledore came rushing over and broke up the crowd.
"Everyone off to the Great Hall now for breakfast before I start handing out detention." Blackthorne snapped at the students. Hermione helped Draco off the ground.
"Thanks." he muttered as she handed him a handkerchief to use for his bloodied nose.
"What's the meaning of this?" Blackthorne asked.
"He started it. He bumped into me in the hallway, then decided to get smart with me." Damien snarled.
"I don't care who started it. Nothing gives you the right to start wailing on another student like some pathetic uneducated muggle. Come with me!" Blackthorne took his arm and led him off to her office. Dumbledore felt no need to punish Malfoy and simply ushered everyone back to the Great Hall.
"So you've met your grandfather." George smiled.
"Shut up, Weasley." Malfoy sneered before heading off to the Gryffindor table.
"He better get used to it. Karma's a bitch." Fred sniggered as they headed over to the Slytherin table.
Hermione just shook her head in disappointment. She sat down next to Fred and began filling up her plate. He looked at her and she blushed slightly. Tom and Damien joined them a little while later. Tom sat down on the other side of her. She moved closer to Fred, slightly.
"So what happened?" she asked, pretending she was interested in Damien's punishment.
"I have to do lines for the rest of the week." Damien replied, depressivly.
"Why'd you jump to the aid of that filth?"
"Because I know what it's like to be new here. I don't think it's right for you to be jumping down his throat just because he's in Gryffindor."
"How noble. You sure you were sorted into the right house?" Tom smirked as he grabbed a scone.
"Yes, I've met the kid before. I can't stand him, but like I said I know what it's like to be new."
"Yeah, so tell me THERESA... who's Fred and George?" Tom looked her straight in the eye. She knew then who'd been in the shower and her bed the previous night.