Harry and Ron hurried along the darkened corridors, knowing they were making more noise than was wise. By the time they had reached the classroom Hermione was in, both were short of breath and their foreheads damp with sweat. Ron cautiously pushed the door open and found Hermione on the floor, seemingly unconscious. He made to throw off the cloak and rush to her side, but Harry grabbed his shoulder.

"It could be a trap," Harry whispered urgently.

"The map said Malfoy wasn't in here!" Ron hissed.

"Oh damn, I forgot the map!" Harry muttered, hitting his head with his palm.

"Let's go in there Harry, We can't just stand here and stare all day," Ron whispered and tugged Harry's arm. Harry followed reluctantly, and after checking the room, wands out, they hurried towards Hermione. Her eyes were wide and glassy, but she didn't wake when they muttered "Ennervate!"

"If she's not stunned, what's wrong with her?" Ron asked, his voice on the edge of hysterical.

"I-I don't know. Let's take her to the hospital wing; Madam Pomfrey will know what to do," Harry said, standing up.

"I don't think that's a very good idea," Drawled a familiar voice from the doorway. Ron turned his head slowly and met the cold, gray gaze of Malfoy. "Accio Wands!" He yelled and Harry and Ron's wands soared into his hands.

"What did you do to her?" Ron growled. Hatred was pulsing through his body as it never had before.

"None of your business, Weasley. But she's fine, you don't have to worry about that," Malfoy said smoothly. He took a step farther into the room, his smirk illuminated by the moonlight streaming in through the opposite window.

Harry stood up and started for Malfoy, but he simply pointed his wand at Hermione. "One more step and she'll pay, Potter," He whispered. Harry stopped dead in his tracks, staring at Malfoy. His expression was a mixture of loathing and fear.

"He won't do anything, Harry, he fancies her too much," Ron said, his voice low with suppressed rage.

"Ha! Fancy her? I don't fancy that filthy, know-it-all mudblood. I can't stand her," Malfoy said, his voice dripping with arrogance.

"I knew it. I knew you were still the same shallow, worthless, disgusting piece of dung," Harry growled.

"Then why did you pretend to?" Ron asked. Maybe if he kept Malfoy talking, someone would hear and walk into the room.

"Special orders from the Dark Lord himself. He says I have to earn my mark, and the only way to do that was to weaken Potter," Malfoy explained smugly.

"How would fancying Hermione weaken me?" Harry asked blankly.

"The Dark Lord told me how to get to your weak spot. He told me just how stupidly you acted last year in the Department of Mysteries when your oh-so-precious Godfather snuffed it. You have no idea how much you taught him that night. You see, your weak point, Potter, is your heart. And the only way to really weaken you is to eliminate all those whom you've grown close to," Malfoy said.

"Than why not instead of killing my friends, you just kill me?" Harry growled.

"Because I was instructed not to. The Dark Lord wants you for himself. He's planning a nice little meeting for you two in the near future," Malfoy said. His eyes had begun to glitter maliciously. "Now, if you're done asking me questions, I'd like to get on with this."

He turned with his wand and raised it to Hermione. Ron flung himself in front of her to guard her from Malfoy's spell. "All right, Weasley. I was going to get to you anyways, so it might as well be sooner than later."

Ron's eyes widened in fear. Now what? As soon as he was dead, it wouldn't stop Malfoy from killing Hermione as well. Well, if he was going to die, he might as well do it fighting instead of lying here like a frightened child.

Ron leapt up and jumped onto Malfoy. Harry joined the scuffle a moment later. They were rolling around, punching every part of Malfoy they could, while the three wands lay abandoned two feet away. Malfoy's hands were inching towards his own, when Harry's foot made contact, snapping it in half. He kicked the other two away and continued to beat Malfoy into a pulp.

A moment later, the door banged open and Professor McGonagall stumbled in. She took one look at the situation and separated the three of them with a wave of her wand. "What is going on here?" she rumbled.

"It was Potter and Weasley, Miss. They came here in the night and attacked me," Malfoy lied quickly. His lip was bleeding, and both his eyes were swelling and purple. Ron smirked, even if they got in trouble, knowing they did that to Malfoy was worth it.

"We shall see about that, Mr. Malfoy. And what is Miss Granger doing on the floor?" McGonagall asked, spotting Hermione at last.

"Malfoy cursed her," Ron said quickly.

McGonagall's lips were the thinnest of lines, and her eyes were narrowed behind her spectacles. She waved her wand and Hermione began to hover in the air. McGonagall floated her outside the door and turned to the other three. "This is out of my hands. Follow me."

"Professor, where exactly are we going?" Harry asked.

"Professor Dumbledore's office. Now all of you get in front of me. I want you in my sight at all times."