Tonks did turn out to be indeed a good Defence Against the Dark Arts
teacher. During the first two weeks of September she began by introducing
them to all the defensive spells that they should know by now, watching
them practice. She gave Harry, Ron, Neville and Hermione excellent praise
for their Patronuses.
Neville's new wand seemed to be doing him wonders. He was excelling at almost ever class and had obtained a confidence that Harry never thought possible. Quidditch tryouts began the first week in September and the first match was drawing near. The Gryfindors were extremely busy with homework and quidditch talk, and no one, not even Hermione noticed the invisible dark cloud that was beginning to swirl overhead.
A very tall woman with long dark hair and beady black eyes paced a dimly lit room. Her features could have been what one would call beautiful, but right now they were dripping with anger.
"I still don't get it!" the woman cried placing her long narrow hands on her spindly hips.
She was extremely thin, to the point where it was ghastly. Her lip curled in outrage,
"Why not go for one of the Weasleys? They are like his family, and close to Dumbledore!"
"I realize this Bella," the cool, rather high voice of Lord Voldemort answered calmly, "But that is just the thing. They are too close to Dumbledore, but SHE, she is close, but not close enough," Voldemort's evil grin, grew more malicious.
Bella narrowed her sparse eyebrows and scowled in the fire light,
"But we know he cares for the young one!"
Voldemort stood quickly from his resting spot on a dusty couch. His eyes were glowing like embers from the nearby fireplace,
"Do not speak to me about Virginia Weasley, Bellatrix Lestrange. Do you not understand that this is just like killing two muggles with once spell? Can you, my most faithful and intelligent servant not see it? She's a mudblood, and Harry does care for her. Perhaps he does not care for her as he cares for young Weasley, but she is still his best friend. This makes her valuable, not only will her pain and absence cause the emotions of many to stir, but she will know valuable information,"
"Draco Malfoy, your newest servant, tells me that she is very clever," Bella protested.
"She is a mudblood Bellatrix, worthy of the pain and death we will give her. Her pain will put pressure on Harry, and further his guilt, hopefully guilt him enough into giving me the prophecy," Voldemort growled stepping closer to Bellatrix Lestrange, who held her ground,
"Besides, using Ginny would be pointless, she already knows what it feels like to feel my presence inside of her, haunting her every move," Voldemort reached out, caressing Bella's pale cheek, "Just like you,"
He watched in satisfaction as she let her eye lashes flutter down over her cold eyes,
"When shall I begin?" she whispered.
"I think we need to make this a slow process, Harry needs to build up his guilt, watch her suffer. Just give her a little warning as soon as possible," Voldemort whispered back, now stroking Bella's dark hair.
"A little warning..."
Ron dipped his eagle feather quill deep into the ink bottle as if trying to extract good answers from the black ink. He touched the tip to a bit of parchment and let out a sigh.
The Vampires of the sixteenth century were very-
He crossed it out angrily, dipped his quill into the ink and started again,
During the sixteenth century Vampires-
He was never going to finish this essay for Professor Binns. Where was Hermione when he needed her? He looked up and glanced around the common room. There was no sign of her. He supposed it didn't matter anyway seeing that it had been days since she'd cut her finger in Herbology and they'd had their little row and she still wasn't talking to him. He closed his eyes and let his head fall to the yellowing paper with a soft thud. He hated being angry with her, and he hated having her angry with him, but did she really have to act so childish? When would she realize that she was always right and own up to the fact that Viktor Krum was no good for her? When would she realize that he had been standing in front of her for nearly four years with open arms? When was Ron going to find the courage to tell her?
Ron let out a deep sigh. Hermione was the least of his problems, since the title of his essay was still staring up at him with no words written below. Harry would know, he must have the answers, where was he? Ron looked up wearily again, and couldn't spot Harry anywhere. Ron racked his brain. He was sure he'd seen Harry and Ginny playing Wizards' Chess moments earlier. He looked around the room; Ginny was nowhere to be found.
As Ron continued to stare at the warm common room in puzzlement, many students began to pour through the portrait hole. Ron glanced at his watch with a groan. It was almost nine, which meant he had his rounds. He rolled up his parchment lazily and collected his inkbottle and quill, running it up the stairs to his dormitory. While by his bed, he glanced at the small bit of parchment hanging beside his Chudley Cannon poster and noticed that Hermione was set to patrol the South corridors of the school by the Slytherin common room. He on the other hand was to patrol the area closest to the Ravenclaw end of the school.
Ron pinned his badge on hastily and made it back down the stairs, narrowly escaping collision with many first and second years.
When he was in the common room he noticed that Harry and Ginny were still nowhere to be found. He assumed Ginny must be off somewhere with Dean - Ron gulped – alone. He scowled before noticing a familiar blonde head not to far off,
"Hey Neville, have you seen Harry or Ginny?"
Neville looked up at the sound of his name. When he realized Ron was standing in front of him, he made a quick lunge for the various crumpled pieces of parchment that littered the table he was sitting at.
"Wasn't d-doing anything," he sputtered dumbly, his cheeks turning crimson.
Ron eyed him suspiciously. He noticed many of the papers that Neville was juggling were covered with tiny hearts and were written on in loopy red ink. He narrowed his eyebrows,
"Have you seen my sister or Harry?"
"Nope," Neville said with an irregularly (even for Neville) high voice, "Well I'm off to bed, nice chat Ron,"
And with that Neville dashed off to the stairs and disappeared into the darkness, loose parchment and all. Ron stared up after him questioningly, but shrugged after a moment and made his way out the portrait hole and into the empty corridors.
Ron had been wondering around for many long minutes outside of the Ravenclaw common room, when The Grey Lady decided to stop and talk to him. She congratulated him on his superb playing the year before and asked if Ron was still on the team for this year. Ron boasted about the Gryffindor team for several minutes until the Grey Lady's transparent eyes seemed to look glazed over. He decided to ask her about vampires instead and see if she could help him with his unfinished essay. She loomed over him, swishing back and forth for a few moments before deciding that she must go ask the Bloody Baron,
"He was friends with one in his day," she smiled, "Wait for me Ronald dear, I will be back,"
He grinned up at her and shouted his thanks as she glided off and disappeared through the far wall.
"I thought prefects were meant to be quiet?" A soft voice filled his ears.
Ron spun around. He was staring at Padma Patil, standing in the middle of the hall, he robes wrapped loosely around her thin nightdress, and puffy slippers adorning her feet.
"They are," he said uncertainly, shifting on his feet nervously.
Why was she staring at him like that, and why didn't she have her robes pulled up tighter.
"Shouldn't you be in your common room?" he asked pushing the long strands of red hair out of his eyes and glancing at his watch.
"Maybe I'm looking for a detention," Padma whispered stepping forward, "Don't do that," she reached up and pushed the long strands of his hair back into his eyes, "It looks very cute this way,"
Ron felt the heat rise up his neck and rest at the tips of his ears.
"Why would you want a detention?" He asked trying to keep a steady voice.
"Well do you administer them? Because if you did, I would get to spend time with you wouldn't I?"
"I suppose," He answered, feeling his throat tighten, "But only if I made your detention something that involved me."
"Do you think you would do that?" Padma asked, reaching out to dust off his chest.
"I d-don't know," Ron said breathing quickly.
"Ron..." she whispered huskily, falling towards him.
He reached out to catch her, but when he felt her lips brush the side of his neck, he pushed her away,
"Look Padma, you need to get back inside, before Mrs. Norris sees you, because I can assure you she won't be as lenient as me,"
"Or as cute," Padma sighed.
"Right, well I better be off," Ron said backing away slowly.
"Goodnight Ron," she whispered heading for her common room, swaying her hips.
He let out a deep sigh of relief. What was Padma's problem? Why was she coming on to him?
The Grey Lady suddenly appeared in front of him,
"So The Bloody Baron says that vampires – Ronald, what's the matter?"
"Padma Patil, from Ravenclaw..." Ron muttered.
"Oh yes, she does have such a crush on you, she's been talking about you non stop since she arrived at the start of term," The Grey Lady smiled down at him.
Ron stared at her. She'd been talking about him? Padma Patil, talking about Ron Weasley? Something major was going on? Was this some joke?
"Look, I really ought to be going, its time for the other prefects to start their duties and I really have to finish that essay, thanks for your help!"
Ron broke off in a run.
"But I didn't get to tell you about the vampires!" The Grey Lady protested.
Ron never heard her; he had stopped running and was staring at a shoe. It was a lone shoe with a sock and bit of ankle. Why in the world would a sock ankle and shoe be standing by it self feet away from him? Not to mention the shoe looked an awful lot like –
"Shhh, Harry be quiet!" Ginny whispered, "He'll hear you,"
Harry tried to conceal his laughter, but couldn't help it, and the two of them fell on the floor laughing, only parts of their bodies showing, the others vanished under Harry's invisibility cloak.
"Ginny? Harry?" Ron asked disbelievingly, "Why are you two out of the common room, together?"
"We," Ginny panted, "Were playing some pranks on the Slytherins,"
Ron almost smiled at her, but remembered the badge on his chest,
"Pranks?"
"Well Fred and George are gone, and we thought we'd keep their legend going you know?" Harry asked with a laugh.
"You're not going to give us detention are you?" Ginny asked staring up at him with large eyes.
"Hurry up and get under the cloak, Mr. Filch is just around the corner," Harry cried.
He reached out and pulled a giggling Ginny towards him and threw the cloak around them, smiling at Ron just before he vanished. Ron groaned and kept walking, in the opposite direction.
Hermione walked slowly down the dark hall, stopping idly to stare out various windows into the starry sky. It had been several days with no reply from Viktor. She envisioned a large grey owl swooping down into the moonlight, carrying a small pink rose (her favorite) and a large letter from Viktor. The letter never came. It was a long time before Hermione realized that large tears had formed in the corners of her eyes. It was unlike Viktor to put off a letter to her. Should she write him again? Would she seem too dependent? She shuddered. Hermione Granger was not dependent on others. She was a big girl, able to deal with life by herself. It would just help if she had somebody on her side. Maybe if she patched things up with Ron, then she could stop being so suspicious of Harry. She paused; Ron was only trying to look out for her wasn't he? But it wasn't only what he said about Viktor that turned her away. She was turned away because of the feeling in her stomach every time she was close to him. She was turned away because he heart fluttered every time she met his deep brown eyes.
Slow, echoing footsteps from down the hall startled Hermione. She jumped away from the wall, and lit the end of her wand.
"Who's down there?" She called calmly, "I am a prefect and you should be in your dormitory, acts like this merit a detention,"
"Well, I guess I will scurry back to my little dorm then wont I?" Draco Malfoy's cold drawling voice rang in her ears.
It seemed ages until his loud footsteps brought him into the light.
"What do you want Malfoy?" Hermione said with disgust.
"Shut up Mudblood, I didn't come here for a conversation," Draco growled, his eyes flashing with anger.
"Oh, I suppose you came to call me foul names, and threaten me into despair?" Hermione asked sarcastically, batting her eyelashes, "Well Malfoy, there's only one flaw, I have my wand out already and I know enough jinxes to send you from here to the top of the Astronomy tower."
"You won't be needing your wand Granger," Draco whispered eyeing the thin piece of wood that stood between them, "Word has it that you and your idiot friends are to blame, for my respected father being in Azkaban!"
"Your father is despicable Malfoy, not respected, and yes, we sent him to his rightful destination," she said haughtily placing a firmer grip on her wand.
"You foul Mudblood!" Draco cried lunging towards her, but she backed up and pressed her wand against his chest.
"That's right Malfoy, a Mudblood was the demise of your father, and Crabbe and Goyle aren't here to flex their muscles for you, so what are you gonna do?"
Hermione let out a small gasp, as she felt her wand wretch out of her hand. It hit the stone floor with a clink and it was then that Hermione realized Draco had been holding his own wand under his cloak. His face grew into a grin as he reached towards her and grabbed her arms tightly.
"I will never forget how you sent my father to Azkaban," Draco yelled into her face, Hermione closed her eyes, "And neither will the Dark Lord,"
He pulled Hermione close and she cried out, frightened of what he might do to her. His breath hit the side her face, his grip on her tightening,
"The Dark Lord never forgets those who cross against him," Draco whispered in her ear.
Hermione stared at him with her large fearful eyes, but before she could question him he thrust her as has as he could against the nearby wall. Her head cracked against it and bright lights sprang out in front of her eyes. She slid down the wall slowly tasting blood, realizing she must have bit her lip. She knew she was screaming but she couldn't hear anything but Draco's laughter. He pulled her up from the floor and cast her against the ground.
"You'll think next time you cross the Malfoy family won't you?" he cried kicking her shin, "Won't you Mudblood?"
Hermione whimpered, crawling across the floor, feeling for her wand. Draco stepped on her hand.
"Answer me!" He cried raising his wand arm, pointing his ebony wand at her.
She let her mouth fall open as his cloak slid back and revealed a dark skull tattooed into his skin. Draco was a death eater.
"Alright then," Draco smiled, beginning to flick his wand. Hermione clamped her eyes shut.
"Expelliramus!" A deep voice shouted.
Draco's wand flew out of his hands joined by Hermione's which flew up from the floor and Ron caught both of them tightly in his hand.
"What are you doing here Weasel?" Draco asked calmly.
"What the hell did you do to her?" Ron raged, his face, eyes and ears all red enough to match his hair.
"Oh I was just preparing her for the worst to come, the filthy little Mudblood," Draco grinned.
"Stupefy!" Ron shouted.
Draco was stunned mildly and fell against the wall. Ron raced forward, grabbing at Draco's robes and lifted him up off the floor against the wall.
"Apologize," he bellowed.
"Make me!"
Ron stared at Draco, and Hermione watched his grip tighten as he clasped Draco's collar. She tried to sit up as she spat and coughed blood.
"You're a nasty wizard Malfoy, and mark my words, if Voldemort doesn't kill you first I will!"
"Do you dream about her a lot Weasley?" Draco whispered vehemently nodding towards Hermione.
Ron glared at him.
"Not up to your usual standard, usually you dream about things you can't have, things of worth, not rubbish like that."
Ron slammed Draco against the wall, and watched with satisfaction as he winced it pain.
"Best keep dreaming Weasley, because pretty soon dreams is all you will have left," Draco sputtered.
Neville's new wand seemed to be doing him wonders. He was excelling at almost ever class and had obtained a confidence that Harry never thought possible. Quidditch tryouts began the first week in September and the first match was drawing near. The Gryfindors were extremely busy with homework and quidditch talk, and no one, not even Hermione noticed the invisible dark cloud that was beginning to swirl overhead.
A very tall woman with long dark hair and beady black eyes paced a dimly lit room. Her features could have been what one would call beautiful, but right now they were dripping with anger.
"I still don't get it!" the woman cried placing her long narrow hands on her spindly hips.
She was extremely thin, to the point where it was ghastly. Her lip curled in outrage,
"Why not go for one of the Weasleys? They are like his family, and close to Dumbledore!"
"I realize this Bella," the cool, rather high voice of Lord Voldemort answered calmly, "But that is just the thing. They are too close to Dumbledore, but SHE, she is close, but not close enough," Voldemort's evil grin, grew more malicious.
Bella narrowed her sparse eyebrows and scowled in the fire light,
"But we know he cares for the young one!"
Voldemort stood quickly from his resting spot on a dusty couch. His eyes were glowing like embers from the nearby fireplace,
"Do not speak to me about Virginia Weasley, Bellatrix Lestrange. Do you not understand that this is just like killing two muggles with once spell? Can you, my most faithful and intelligent servant not see it? She's a mudblood, and Harry does care for her. Perhaps he does not care for her as he cares for young Weasley, but she is still his best friend. This makes her valuable, not only will her pain and absence cause the emotions of many to stir, but she will know valuable information,"
"Draco Malfoy, your newest servant, tells me that she is very clever," Bella protested.
"She is a mudblood Bellatrix, worthy of the pain and death we will give her. Her pain will put pressure on Harry, and further his guilt, hopefully guilt him enough into giving me the prophecy," Voldemort growled stepping closer to Bellatrix Lestrange, who held her ground,
"Besides, using Ginny would be pointless, she already knows what it feels like to feel my presence inside of her, haunting her every move," Voldemort reached out, caressing Bella's pale cheek, "Just like you,"
He watched in satisfaction as she let her eye lashes flutter down over her cold eyes,
"When shall I begin?" she whispered.
"I think we need to make this a slow process, Harry needs to build up his guilt, watch her suffer. Just give her a little warning as soon as possible," Voldemort whispered back, now stroking Bella's dark hair.
"A little warning..."
Ron dipped his eagle feather quill deep into the ink bottle as if trying to extract good answers from the black ink. He touched the tip to a bit of parchment and let out a sigh.
The Vampires of the sixteenth century were very-
He crossed it out angrily, dipped his quill into the ink and started again,
During the sixteenth century Vampires-
He was never going to finish this essay for Professor Binns. Where was Hermione when he needed her? He looked up and glanced around the common room. There was no sign of her. He supposed it didn't matter anyway seeing that it had been days since she'd cut her finger in Herbology and they'd had their little row and she still wasn't talking to him. He closed his eyes and let his head fall to the yellowing paper with a soft thud. He hated being angry with her, and he hated having her angry with him, but did she really have to act so childish? When would she realize that she was always right and own up to the fact that Viktor Krum was no good for her? When would she realize that he had been standing in front of her for nearly four years with open arms? When was Ron going to find the courage to tell her?
Ron let out a deep sigh. Hermione was the least of his problems, since the title of his essay was still staring up at him with no words written below. Harry would know, he must have the answers, where was he? Ron looked up wearily again, and couldn't spot Harry anywhere. Ron racked his brain. He was sure he'd seen Harry and Ginny playing Wizards' Chess moments earlier. He looked around the room; Ginny was nowhere to be found.
As Ron continued to stare at the warm common room in puzzlement, many students began to pour through the portrait hole. Ron glanced at his watch with a groan. It was almost nine, which meant he had his rounds. He rolled up his parchment lazily and collected his inkbottle and quill, running it up the stairs to his dormitory. While by his bed, he glanced at the small bit of parchment hanging beside his Chudley Cannon poster and noticed that Hermione was set to patrol the South corridors of the school by the Slytherin common room. He on the other hand was to patrol the area closest to the Ravenclaw end of the school.
Ron pinned his badge on hastily and made it back down the stairs, narrowly escaping collision with many first and second years.
When he was in the common room he noticed that Harry and Ginny were still nowhere to be found. He assumed Ginny must be off somewhere with Dean - Ron gulped – alone. He scowled before noticing a familiar blonde head not to far off,
"Hey Neville, have you seen Harry or Ginny?"
Neville looked up at the sound of his name. When he realized Ron was standing in front of him, he made a quick lunge for the various crumpled pieces of parchment that littered the table he was sitting at.
"Wasn't d-doing anything," he sputtered dumbly, his cheeks turning crimson.
Ron eyed him suspiciously. He noticed many of the papers that Neville was juggling were covered with tiny hearts and were written on in loopy red ink. He narrowed his eyebrows,
"Have you seen my sister or Harry?"
"Nope," Neville said with an irregularly (even for Neville) high voice, "Well I'm off to bed, nice chat Ron,"
And with that Neville dashed off to the stairs and disappeared into the darkness, loose parchment and all. Ron stared up after him questioningly, but shrugged after a moment and made his way out the portrait hole and into the empty corridors.
Ron had been wondering around for many long minutes outside of the Ravenclaw common room, when The Grey Lady decided to stop and talk to him. She congratulated him on his superb playing the year before and asked if Ron was still on the team for this year. Ron boasted about the Gryffindor team for several minutes until the Grey Lady's transparent eyes seemed to look glazed over. He decided to ask her about vampires instead and see if she could help him with his unfinished essay. She loomed over him, swishing back and forth for a few moments before deciding that she must go ask the Bloody Baron,
"He was friends with one in his day," she smiled, "Wait for me Ronald dear, I will be back,"
He grinned up at her and shouted his thanks as she glided off and disappeared through the far wall.
"I thought prefects were meant to be quiet?" A soft voice filled his ears.
Ron spun around. He was staring at Padma Patil, standing in the middle of the hall, he robes wrapped loosely around her thin nightdress, and puffy slippers adorning her feet.
"They are," he said uncertainly, shifting on his feet nervously.
Why was she staring at him like that, and why didn't she have her robes pulled up tighter.
"Shouldn't you be in your common room?" he asked pushing the long strands of red hair out of his eyes and glancing at his watch.
"Maybe I'm looking for a detention," Padma whispered stepping forward, "Don't do that," she reached up and pushed the long strands of his hair back into his eyes, "It looks very cute this way,"
Ron felt the heat rise up his neck and rest at the tips of his ears.
"Why would you want a detention?" He asked trying to keep a steady voice.
"Well do you administer them? Because if you did, I would get to spend time with you wouldn't I?"
"I suppose," He answered, feeling his throat tighten, "But only if I made your detention something that involved me."
"Do you think you would do that?" Padma asked, reaching out to dust off his chest.
"I d-don't know," Ron said breathing quickly.
"Ron..." she whispered huskily, falling towards him.
He reached out to catch her, but when he felt her lips brush the side of his neck, he pushed her away,
"Look Padma, you need to get back inside, before Mrs. Norris sees you, because I can assure you she won't be as lenient as me,"
"Or as cute," Padma sighed.
"Right, well I better be off," Ron said backing away slowly.
"Goodnight Ron," she whispered heading for her common room, swaying her hips.
He let out a deep sigh of relief. What was Padma's problem? Why was she coming on to him?
The Grey Lady suddenly appeared in front of him,
"So The Bloody Baron says that vampires – Ronald, what's the matter?"
"Padma Patil, from Ravenclaw..." Ron muttered.
"Oh yes, she does have such a crush on you, she's been talking about you non stop since she arrived at the start of term," The Grey Lady smiled down at him.
Ron stared at her. She'd been talking about him? Padma Patil, talking about Ron Weasley? Something major was going on? Was this some joke?
"Look, I really ought to be going, its time for the other prefects to start their duties and I really have to finish that essay, thanks for your help!"
Ron broke off in a run.
"But I didn't get to tell you about the vampires!" The Grey Lady protested.
Ron never heard her; he had stopped running and was staring at a shoe. It was a lone shoe with a sock and bit of ankle. Why in the world would a sock ankle and shoe be standing by it self feet away from him? Not to mention the shoe looked an awful lot like –
"Shhh, Harry be quiet!" Ginny whispered, "He'll hear you,"
Harry tried to conceal his laughter, but couldn't help it, and the two of them fell on the floor laughing, only parts of their bodies showing, the others vanished under Harry's invisibility cloak.
"Ginny? Harry?" Ron asked disbelievingly, "Why are you two out of the common room, together?"
"We," Ginny panted, "Were playing some pranks on the Slytherins,"
Ron almost smiled at her, but remembered the badge on his chest,
"Pranks?"
"Well Fred and George are gone, and we thought we'd keep their legend going you know?" Harry asked with a laugh.
"You're not going to give us detention are you?" Ginny asked staring up at him with large eyes.
"Hurry up and get under the cloak, Mr. Filch is just around the corner," Harry cried.
He reached out and pulled a giggling Ginny towards him and threw the cloak around them, smiling at Ron just before he vanished. Ron groaned and kept walking, in the opposite direction.
Hermione walked slowly down the dark hall, stopping idly to stare out various windows into the starry sky. It had been several days with no reply from Viktor. She envisioned a large grey owl swooping down into the moonlight, carrying a small pink rose (her favorite) and a large letter from Viktor. The letter never came. It was a long time before Hermione realized that large tears had formed in the corners of her eyes. It was unlike Viktor to put off a letter to her. Should she write him again? Would she seem too dependent? She shuddered. Hermione Granger was not dependent on others. She was a big girl, able to deal with life by herself. It would just help if she had somebody on her side. Maybe if she patched things up with Ron, then she could stop being so suspicious of Harry. She paused; Ron was only trying to look out for her wasn't he? But it wasn't only what he said about Viktor that turned her away. She was turned away because of the feeling in her stomach every time she was close to him. She was turned away because he heart fluttered every time she met his deep brown eyes.
Slow, echoing footsteps from down the hall startled Hermione. She jumped away from the wall, and lit the end of her wand.
"Who's down there?" She called calmly, "I am a prefect and you should be in your dormitory, acts like this merit a detention,"
"Well, I guess I will scurry back to my little dorm then wont I?" Draco Malfoy's cold drawling voice rang in her ears.
It seemed ages until his loud footsteps brought him into the light.
"What do you want Malfoy?" Hermione said with disgust.
"Shut up Mudblood, I didn't come here for a conversation," Draco growled, his eyes flashing with anger.
"Oh, I suppose you came to call me foul names, and threaten me into despair?" Hermione asked sarcastically, batting her eyelashes, "Well Malfoy, there's only one flaw, I have my wand out already and I know enough jinxes to send you from here to the top of the Astronomy tower."
"You won't be needing your wand Granger," Draco whispered eyeing the thin piece of wood that stood between them, "Word has it that you and your idiot friends are to blame, for my respected father being in Azkaban!"
"Your father is despicable Malfoy, not respected, and yes, we sent him to his rightful destination," she said haughtily placing a firmer grip on her wand.
"You foul Mudblood!" Draco cried lunging towards her, but she backed up and pressed her wand against his chest.
"That's right Malfoy, a Mudblood was the demise of your father, and Crabbe and Goyle aren't here to flex their muscles for you, so what are you gonna do?"
Hermione let out a small gasp, as she felt her wand wretch out of her hand. It hit the stone floor with a clink and it was then that Hermione realized Draco had been holding his own wand under his cloak. His face grew into a grin as he reached towards her and grabbed her arms tightly.
"I will never forget how you sent my father to Azkaban," Draco yelled into her face, Hermione closed her eyes, "And neither will the Dark Lord,"
He pulled Hermione close and she cried out, frightened of what he might do to her. His breath hit the side her face, his grip on her tightening,
"The Dark Lord never forgets those who cross against him," Draco whispered in her ear.
Hermione stared at him with her large fearful eyes, but before she could question him he thrust her as has as he could against the nearby wall. Her head cracked against it and bright lights sprang out in front of her eyes. She slid down the wall slowly tasting blood, realizing she must have bit her lip. She knew she was screaming but she couldn't hear anything but Draco's laughter. He pulled her up from the floor and cast her against the ground.
"You'll think next time you cross the Malfoy family won't you?" he cried kicking her shin, "Won't you Mudblood?"
Hermione whimpered, crawling across the floor, feeling for her wand. Draco stepped on her hand.
"Answer me!" He cried raising his wand arm, pointing his ebony wand at her.
She let her mouth fall open as his cloak slid back and revealed a dark skull tattooed into his skin. Draco was a death eater.
"Alright then," Draco smiled, beginning to flick his wand. Hermione clamped her eyes shut.
"Expelliramus!" A deep voice shouted.
Draco's wand flew out of his hands joined by Hermione's which flew up from the floor and Ron caught both of them tightly in his hand.
"What are you doing here Weasel?" Draco asked calmly.
"What the hell did you do to her?" Ron raged, his face, eyes and ears all red enough to match his hair.
"Oh I was just preparing her for the worst to come, the filthy little Mudblood," Draco grinned.
"Stupefy!" Ron shouted.
Draco was stunned mildly and fell against the wall. Ron raced forward, grabbing at Draco's robes and lifted him up off the floor against the wall.
"Apologize," he bellowed.
"Make me!"
Ron stared at Draco, and Hermione watched his grip tighten as he clasped Draco's collar. She tried to sit up as she spat and coughed blood.
"You're a nasty wizard Malfoy, and mark my words, if Voldemort doesn't kill you first I will!"
"Do you dream about her a lot Weasley?" Draco whispered vehemently nodding towards Hermione.
Ron glared at him.
"Not up to your usual standard, usually you dream about things you can't have, things of worth, not rubbish like that."
Ron slammed Draco against the wall, and watched with satisfaction as he winced it pain.
"Best keep dreaming Weasley, because pretty soon dreams is all you will have left," Draco sputtered.