Author: Daunting Darkness

Disclaimer: Everything that you can identify strongly belongs to J.K. Rowling. This is a non profit story made only for my enjoyment - and hopefully yours as well.

Note: Bounds her hands and ties them to a pole to stop mobility. I beg you, have mercy! grovels ...

Life seemed to want to change this chapters posting date... so i'd take it out with him if you need too - good luck. I hear he's pretty nasty this season :o)

Extra Note: Some chapters will have less detail then others. This is because it helps the story move along quicker. Thankyou.

Chapter Five: Bitter Hatred

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies violence, and toughness multiplies toughness in a descending spiral of destruction....The chain reaction of evil -- hate begetting hate, wars producing more wars -- must be broken, or we shall be plunged into the dark abyss of annihilation.


--Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Seamus noted that the prefects of every house were dirrecting their students to their common rooms. With Lavender still holding his hand, he moved to take up the rear end of the Gryffindor body, which was being lead by Harry and Hermione.

"Put your arm around me, Seamus." Lavender commanded gently as a soft wind blew her blonde hair everywhere giving her an angelic appeal.

He complied. The warmth of her body was evident as his hand rested on her waist. "You're so beautiful." He stated honestly and stopped walking. It was now or never. With his other hand unoccupied he used it to cup her tanned cheek and direct her gaze to him. "I've loved you since the Yule Ball in fifth year, Lavender. I love the way you have grown and flowered into the smart and gorgeous woman you are today. Your kind and passionate, yet sometimes gullible I must admit," The last statement was rewarded with a friendly slap on his chest. He smiled and then continued. "Your kind and passionate nature are just few of your good qualities. You have many. I love everything about you and I have so for years." He stopped short of what he truly wanted to say when a finger gently came and lay rested on his mouth instantly putting a stop to his words.

"I love you too, Seamus. You've just been too shy to notice."

Her voice and words were like ice to his fire. His mind froze, he couldn't think or move. She had numbed him with eleven words. She has power over him. He did not know whether that was a good thing or a bad thing because at that moment he didn't care.

Lavender covered his mouth with her own and he parted his lips without realising. She loved him!

The kiss was soft and sweet and when she broke apart from him she realised that he could hardly register what was happening. She giggled and ran her fingers through his sandy hair. "Come on Seamus, let's get back to the others."

She didn't get a reply, instead she moved and he followed.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Hate. Violence. Destruction. Evil.

It is said that any man whose life walks on the path of darkness is an individual bound to fail. Yet mixed within the truth of that statement must be lies that breathe. For if a dark man can succumb to failure then surely he must have been remotely powerful before the downfall? If not, then why would there be a need for the statement to exist. Fear obviously. Because the men clocked in black were, and are, powerful which causes fear.

Draco absent-mindedly twirled a green pen between his fingers as his mind worked.

History has displayed that notion of evil falling many times. In fact, in mostly every event recorded those of the light succeed in having lived a more fulfilled and content life then the ones opposing them.

The pen snapped in half and a determined grin spread across Draco's face.

"But not this time." He muttered into the shadows of the lonely room.

A slight flicker of light told him that either Goyle or Crabbe, perhaps both, must have grown tired and chosen to retire for the night. Their heavy footsteps and silhouettes under the doorway confirmed that.

"Draco,"

There was hesitancy in Crabbes voice that fuelled Draco's ego. So Crabbe feared him. He smirked and ran his finger across the splintered shafts of the broken pen. Fear was one step away from power.

"Are you in there, Draco? Can we come in?"

Of corse they knew he was in there. The only destinations he could possibly be at this moment were either the Slytherin common room downstairs or the very room he occupied. Considering, he assumed, they had just come up from the common room it could only mean that he was inside the door they wished to enter.

With the call of sleep deepening in its intensity he let them in. Draco could hear the consistent sound of their snoring as soon as they hit the bed.

At that moment he too decided to call it in. But sleep's soft arms did not embrace him this night - she had abandoned him again.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Hogwarts seemed too glow in welcome to the first day of the school year (2nd of September) by a blue, cloudless sky brightly lighting the grounds below. Yet unfortunately for one class, the rays of the sun could not penetrate through the stone of the dungeons.

The seventh year students sat motionless as Professor Snape entered the classroom. His dark, greasy hair and sallow complexion had not changed throughout the years - as well as his leaden mannerism.

Snape started the class by taking the register. His black eyes, cold and empty, lingered on Harry with a dark expression, as his name was read, before he moved on to the next student.

"I will be having no disobedient actions or stupid mistakes this year." He stated in a monotone voice that dripped with boredom. "Feel free to right that down, Mr Longbottom. I'm sure you'll be forgetting."

Neville sank in his chair. He slid further down when he heard all the Slytherins sniggering and hurling harsh comments towards him.

"I trust everyone of you has your required books?" Snape drawled and when everyone nodded he turned towards the board. "Copy this down."

The room went silent with the exception of the sound of pens on parchment.

"And what is the definition of the gillyweed?" Snape questioned as he stopped writing and faced the students.

Hermione stretched her hand high into the air and looked around the classroom to note if anybody else had done the same. Nobody had.

"Miss Granger, what a surprise. Go on then. Hurry up."

"Gillyweed," She began and recalled the information from a book in the library she had inquisitively read in fourth year. "Is native to the Mediterranean. It's a water plant that looks like a bundle of slimy, greyish-green rat-tails. When eaten, it gives them webbed hands and feet for swimming... The duration of the gillyweed effect is approximately one hour."

"Tsk tsk. And here I thought you knew everything. You seemed to forget stating that gillyweed, when consumed, can allow a person to breathe underwater. Perhaps instead of increasing your intelligence this year, Miss Granger, you're loosing it." He retorted and a satisfied smirk plastered onto his pointed face. "Two points from Gryffindor for your lack of knowledge."

Hermione looked up at him horrified. "But…" She began but was cut of as Snapes hand flew down and hit her desk.

"May I remind you who is the teacher here? Another three points to be taken away from Gryffindor for answering back." Snape quickly turned his attention away from Hermione and walked back to his desk and continued writing on the board. The white chalk scrapped loudly against its rough surface.

Both Harry and Ron put a comforting hand on Hermione's shoulder. "Cheer up Hermione. He thinks you know everything, that's a compliment." Ron said softly and smiled.

"He said he thought,Ron. That's not much of a compliment."

"But it is one. You may be the very first person Snapes' ever said something even remotely nice about. You just made history, Hermione!"

She giggled at Ron's attempt to make her feel better and smiled for his sake. "I don't think he meant it like that. But thank you for trying to cheer me up." She turned to Harry whose hand had taken her own in a friendly gesture. "Both of you."

Potions ended without any more predicaments.

The rest of the morning past slowly which seemed, to Rons dismay, to be a continual pattern for the remainder of the week.

"Three assignments and two essays." Harry said mournfully, on Friday afternoon, as he helped Ginny sit onto his lap. He sat on a large, red couch that was opposite to where Hermione, Ron, Seamus and Dean were seated. Lavender and Neville occupied the remainder of his couch next to him.

"Bloody hell! They're trying to kill us." Ron stated and through his hands up in the air dramatically which effectively flew into Seamus' face.

"Ouch!" Came the muffled replied as Seamus clasped his nose with both of his hands. "That was on purpose!"

"Now why would I want to do that?" Ron replied innocently and winked at Hermione. He knew Seamus would not hesitate to retaliate when he got the chance. It would not be normal if he did not. Their game of jokes and pranks being pulled on each other had started at the end of sixth year. So far Ron had gotten Seamus twice now. He laughed inwardly at the memory of his friend looking like a girl.

Seamus laughed and soon everyone followed.

It was time for dinner before the group broke up.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Hermione, Ron and Harry descended down the seven stairways to the ground floor that would lead them to the Great hall. As they reached the bottom though a familiar face unintentionally awaited them.

"Well if it isn't Potty, Mudblood and the Weasel." Draco drawled and looked at them with empty, grey eyes.

"Move Malfoy, or I'll curse you until you cannot recognise your own ugly mug in the mirror." Ron growled and stood in front of Hermione - much to her annoyance.

"A spell from you, Weasley, is bound to backfire. Pathetic really." Draco retorted and then turned his attention away from Ron to Harry. "I really would have thought you'd kill yourself by now, Potter. I mean how many people are going to die protecting you? Who's going to be next? Weasley? Granger? Black... no wait, he's already dead because of you isn't he?" His usual smirk became apparent on his face. "Oops, my mistake."

Ron's face resembled that of a lunatic. He went to punch Draco but Harry, unfortunately, held him back. "Harry, didn't you hear what he just said?" Ron said dumbfounded.

"He's not worth it Ron." Harry stated simply.

"I hate to brake our little chat, but the library calls," Draco began to ascend up the first staircase. He turned back around sharply to add a final comment. "I remember... what's her name?... Ginny has some sort of ties with the Dark Lord. Perhaps she'll be next?" He flew up the staircases to the fourth floor.

Ron once again nearly went after Draco to punch him. He would have done so this time if it wasn't for Hermione holding him back.

Harry didn't move. "I'm not very hungry guys. You two go on without me." He whispered as he drew back within himself.

Ron stiffed as he saw his best friend withdraw. He remembered fifth year and how hard it had been to bring Harry back to reality after Sirius's death.

Hermione pulled Harry into a tight embrace. "Going back to the common room are we? Ron, Harry come along then." She said carefully. Harry immediately began to protest and mentioned that it was she and Ron who wanted to eat in the first place. Hermione uttered not a word but stared at Harry plainly.

"Blimey Mione, you look like my mother!" Ron cried and shook his head in denial playfully.

Hermione grinned. "I'll take that as a compliment, Ronald Weasley. I quite like your mother," She looked up to the flight of moving staircases. "Come along then."

The Golden Trio recovered their steps and headed once again up to the seventh floor to the Gryffindor common room. Food forgotten leaving all but a friendship, bound since first year, remaining.

'Slaps Draco on the hand' Naughty Draco, naughty! Yeesh! Did the temperature drop in here or what! 'Runs to go grab a blanket.'

Reviews:

scarlet-knight13: I'm sorry for the delay. I was really worried people would think the Seamus "problem" in the last chapter would be lame. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thankyou.

RisRiss: lol! Thankyou for the nitt-picking. I hope I've cleared it all up now. Sometimes mistakes go right through me. hehe.

Sever13: Thankyou for your nice comment. Hope you enjoy this chapter.

Melted Ice: Thankyou for putting me on your favorite list. I really get affraid of writing certain characters... I want them to stay as much to J.K's version as they can be.

Tinkering: Why thankyou. I'm glad to have you on board. :)

Nitengale: Sometimes your best work can be produced after writers block. Keep writing cause I love your work!

eye-candy 56 : Thankyou for writing a review for every chapter. I am very flattered. I hope you go well in your exams too! I did - ok. No more talk on the exam topic. ;) hehe.

Sakura luvs anime: Wow, what a compliment. Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou.

Crystallized Snow: I'm glad it made you laugh! seriously! You are so sweet to have followed me through this story as well. hugs Thankyou so, so much. Keep smiling.

chocolate345: Oh no I feel so bad. You call me a professional and then i go and rub it in your face. I'm sorry for the delay. It couldn't be helped but I hate to disapoint you. Thankyou for your very kind words.

water demon: Ok, i've posted mine... your turn, missy! hehe. Ack! I'm sorry I betrayed you.. how about a cookie? offers cookie... take it... take it... ;)

a: I understand what you mean. The pace is now starting to quicken... and I am SO an angst lover. Believe me - this story is going to be angsty! shivers at how dark it's going to get hehe.

I am truly sorry about the delay of this chapter and if I've forgotten anyone in the review replies. I've tried to keep them as short as I can.

Next Chapter: 19th December. (next Sunday) - It will be there.