The Good Side of Evil

Chapter 3

"You haven't touched your food"

A/N Ok Ginna, you win. Thanks for letting me bounce ideas off you and for coming up with some of the more minor details.

Disclaimer: I don't own thing but the plot. Enjoy.

"Hermione?"

Hermoine jumped at the sound of Ginny's voice.

"I've been looking all over for you! I'm all better, though the nurse said I should be more careful. 'I've seen more broom related injuries...' Ginny mocked the stern nurse who had fixed her broken ankle.

Hermione gave a slight smile.

"Are you alright?" Ginny asked in alarm, noticing Hermione's red eyes.

"I'm fine. I... I just don't like hospitals. Lets get out of here."

"Yeah, lets go." Ginny was stilled worried, but something told her not to push it.

The two hurried off down the corridor to find the rest of Ginny's family.

******************************************************************************************

Draco finally looked up from his mothers dead body at the sound of voices outside the room. He hoped it was the doctors. he didn't want to have to leave his mother... his mothers body to find them. He held back the tears and walked to the door, wanting to tell off the doctors for not doing their jobs.

"I'm fine." Hermione's voice crept through the slightly open door.

Draco stopped short. What was that stupid mudblood doing here? How dare she stand outside the door to his mothers room. Good, he thought, she's leaving. Draco stepped out of the room. He glared at Hermione's retreating back, as if she had caused all his present problems. He had never hated anyone more than he hated Hermione at that moment. It was her fault. Everything was her fault. the damn mudblood!

Hermione's blood turned cold as she glanced back and caught Draco's eye. It was all she could do to keep from crying.

******************************************************************************************

"You haven't touched your food Draco."

Draco glared at his father. "Sorry sir" he said quietly having not forgotten his promise to his mother. In the month since her passing he had kept his word and listened to Lucius. his mother had been right. Lucius only wanted what was best for Draco.

"Are you coming with tonight?" Lucius asked between sips of pumpkin juice.

"Of course." Draco had come to love these nightly raids on muggle homes. The thrill of hearing those muggles scream... it made him feel alive again. For that brief bit of time he was happy.

Lucius smiled to see the joy in Draco's eyes at mention of the raids. Draco would be a good servant for the Dark Lord. He had so much pain in his heart and a deep hatred of muggles that Lord Voldemort would find him very useful.

"He wants you to take the mark before you go back to school."

"Really." Draco felt his heart race at the prospect of taking the dark mark, but he tried to act cool and detached. The Dark Lord didn't care for enthusiasm, and neither did Draco's father.

"He feels it will be useful for us to have someone inside of Hogwarts." Lucius was proud of his son's self control at this happy news.

"Why? Snape's there."

"There are suspicions about where Severus' loyalties lie."

Draco was shocked at this accusation. He had always looked up to Snape. How could something like this happen?

Lucius gauged Draco's reaction to this news carefully. He still wasn't sure that Draco could keep watch on Snape without his liking of the teacher coloring his judgment.

"If he's working with those stupid Muggle lovers..." Draco couldn't put into words what he'd do to his beloved teacher if he was conspiring with the enemy.

Lucius smiled.

******************************************************************************************

"You haven't touched your food." Ginny was worried about Hermione. Ever since that day at the hospital she just hadn't been herself.

"Yeah, what's wrong Hermione?" Ron asked.

"Nothing! Why don't you all just leave me alone!"

Ginny held Ron back as Hermione stormed from the table. "She'll tell us when she's ready Ron. Don't push it."

Ron looked about ready to kill his sister, but he stayed seated toying with his food.

"Starving yourself won't help her." Harry added.

Ron just pushed his plate way and left the table.