Disclaimer: I don't own anything but my plot.

A/N: Here's chapter 12. Enjoy! And remember to review. I love to hear your opinions!!

The Bitter End

Chapter 12: A New Arrival

Hermione's vacation was fun. She went to go ski in the mountains with her parents and this kept her mind off of Draco for awhile. Then she had a feeling something wasn't right. She sensed trouble. She just wasn't sure where or who it was. She hoped that Harry or Draco were okay. She wondered about Ron but she would instantly get angry whenever she thought of him.

It was finally the day of arriving back to Hogwarts. She may have had a fun vacation but she missed that school dearly. Once she arrived everyone was happily greeting each other. But she spotted a girl that she had never seen. She looked something like herself but different. She had a darker look. The girl had brown curly hair, brown eyes, wasn't too tall, but not too short neither, had light skin, and looked in shape. When she caught Hermione staring at her she just smirked and left the room. Hermione's thoughts were cut off as Harry greeted her.

"Hello Hermione," Harry smiled.

"Hi Harry," Hermione said hugging him. "How was your vacation? Was it good? Did anything happen?"

"It was fine," said Harry. "But I did see something."

"What did you see?" said Hermione.

"Malfoy," Harry paused and looked at Hermione. "I saw him in what I think was a dream but then again I could be wrong."

"What kind of dream Harry?" Hermione asked sharply.

"He was getting the Dark Mark," Harry said quietly and slowly. "Hermione, I think that Malfoy's a Death Eater."

Hermione's eyes widened. Was Harry telling the truth? He wouldn't lie about his dreams, especially a dream like this would he?

"I'll find out...I guess. You know, about that dream of yours," Hermione stammered not wanting to believe a word of it.

"I also found out that his father broke out of Azkaban," said Harry. "Like I said it was a dream, but it felt so real."

"Harry, I should be getting a Daily Prophet today. So if we see that he did you would be right," Hermione said hoping that this wasn't true. Draco wouldn't become a Death Eater would he? She would just have to wait and see.

"Did you see the new girl?" Harry asked changing the subject.

"Yeah, I did. Do you know who she is?" Hermione nodded.

"No, didn't get a chance to," said Harry.

Hermione and Harry walked into the Great Hall and went to their seats at Gryffindor table. Hermione searched the Slytherin table and realized that Draco wasn't there yet. "Why is he taking so long?" Hermione thought.

Hermione then heard the Great Hall doors open and in walked Draco with all his glory. "He looks different," Hermione said out loud and Harry looked at her then at Draco.

"You think?" Harry asked. "Looks the same to me."

"Yeah I do. He looks darker, you know, powerful," Hermione said thoughtfully. Then came a big brown owl to their table. Hermione took the Daily Prophet from it and put a knut in its pouch. The owl then flew away and Hermione instantly opened the Prophet and gasped dropping the paper.

"What is it?" Harry asked looking at her reaction.

"Look at this," she said quickly and pointed at the front cover. The cover showed in big bold letters...

'LUCIUS MALFOY AND DEATH EATERS ESCAPE FROM AZKABAN PRISION ONCE MORE'

Bad news from Azkaban Prison. Lucius Malfoy, former Death Eater of He-
Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, and other Death Eaters have escaped from
Azkaban prison. Malfoy with many other DE's escaped last week without
the Azkaban guards noticing. Many think the guards are on He-Who-Must-
Not-Be-Named side and believe that's how Malfoy and co. have escaped.
The Ministry of Magic is also under fire for letting such a thing
happen...

Hermione stopped reading because of two things. All the main information she wanted to know was true and Dumbledore was about to say something.

"Good Evening students. I hope all of you had a great Christmas vacation. But over the vacation a new student has arrived from Durmstrang. Her name is Alexa Ortiz," Dumbledore said and then Hermione saw the girl she saw earlier stand at the Slytherin table.

"Alexa has been sorted into Slytherin. Let's welcome Alexa and hope's she enjoys her stay," Dumbledore nodded to her and she sat back down getting a few new greetings from her fellow Slytherins.

"Now," Dumbledore said extending his arms out. "Let's eat."

Hermione continued to watch Alexa. She was sitting right next to Draco and they seemed to be in a deep conversation. Hermione felt jealousy watching the two talk. Maybe she had to meet this girl and see what she was all about.

Draco's Pov:

Draco was exhausted as he arrived at Hogwarts again. So many things stayed in his mind. He also couldn't sleep due to the initiation. Every time he closed his eyes he saw and heard that innocent man pleading for his life. He still didn't know what to think. He hope he found out soon because it was eating his sanity up. Once Draco arrived he saw Hermione and a small smile came to his face. Maybe now his bad dreams would go away. Then he saw Potter walk to her and his smile faded. He felt the hate that he created on the day he became a Death Eater. His anger was so strong a picture frame shattered. Luckily no one was in it. As Draco walked towards the Great Hall a girl he's never seen before walked up to him. She was very pretty. She had the brown curly hair, big brown eyes, and nice body. She sort of reminded him of Hermione but was different, very different.

"Hello," she said and her voice sounded oddly familiar.

"Hi. Um, have we met?" Draco asked.

She then smiled. "Yeah, you can say that."

"Where? When?" Draco asked again.

"Christmas vacation," she said.

"Christmas vacation," Draco repeated and she nodded with a smirk. Then he remembered that night. He was introduced to a girl. What was her name again? He knew it began with an A but forgot.

"I remember you," Draco nodded. "What was your name again?"

"My name's Alexa Ortiz," she said extending her hand out.

"Nice to meet you Alexa," Draco shook her hand. When he did this he felt a surge of energy go through him. "What was that," he thought.

"Same here," said Alexa and they both walked in the Great Hall together.

Draco felt holes being burned in the back of his head and he knew who was staring at him...Hermione.

Once Alexa was introduced to the school Draco welcomed her into Slytherin. As they continued to talk he glanced towards Hermione and she looked as though she would attack him. It looks like they needed to have another talk.
When dinner finished and everyone was heading back Hermione felt it was time to show Harry her dormitory. As they walked towards the portrait Hermione spotted Alexa. Let's just say Hermione wanted to greet the new Slytherin. Hermione grabbed Harry's hand and they walked faster towards her.

"Alexa! Hey Alexa! Wait up!" Hermione yelled at who Alexa stopped and turned around.

"Hi and welcome to Hogwarts," Hermione said and extended her hand. Alexa however didn't go for it.

"I'm Hermione Granger and this is Harry-"

"Potter," Alexa cutting Hermione off and her eyes darted towards his scar.

"Yeah, it's nice to meet you," said Harry politely.

"So why did you switch schools?" Hermione asked.

"I've got my reasons," Alexa said coolly.

"Oh, I understand," Hermione nodded but was getting angry by Alexa's attitude.

"So Potter, that's your girlfriend," Alexa said nodding in Hermione's direction.

"That?" Hermione asked and Alexa nodded.

"You heard me," Alexa snapped. "I know what you are Granger."

"Oh yeah," Hermione said with anger boiling in her blood. "What am I?"

"A Mudb-" Alexa started.

"Hermione, didn't we have to go somewhere?" Harry cut Alexa off knowing what she was going to say.

"Yeah as a matter of fact we do," Hermione scowled looking at Alexa.

"Nice meeting you...Granger," Alexa said with venom.

"Yeah, nice meeting you," Hermione snapped.

Once Harry and Hermione reached the portrait and entered, it looked as though Draco were waiting for her. As soon as he saw Harry he reacted.

"What's he doing here?" Draco snapped.

"Oh no," Hermione thought.

A/N: That's the end of this chapter. I hope you liked it. As for why Draco became a DE, you'll find out in the next chapters which are already typed up. So that should be posted soon. Now on to my lovely reviewers...suy-taliban, to tell you the truth, I didn't want to make Draco a DE but a voice in the back of my head told me to so I did, you'll find out why I did this. spychick989, you can find my other story by looking in my profile, I believe it's there. orero69not96, it was wasn't it,lol. american-devil909, thanks. Herm-n-Draco, thanks. Kara Black, Draco is being stupid, I admit that, but eventually he'll come to his senses, he just dosen't know when. dramaqueen72, I'm glad you loved it, Draco has his reasons why he's a DE, you'll find out soon. Thank you again!! Love ya!!