Chapter 15

Zarina Vavier raised her wand, smiled her twisted smile, and said two words.

"Avada Kedavra."

The blinding green light struck Hermione square in the chest. She did not have a chance.

Draco had just come out of Quality Quidditch Supplies when he heard screams from down the street. He vaguely remembered Hermione making her way in that direction, muttering something about buying his present. The happy smile vanished off his face. She had gone off alone. She was alone in one of the least guarded areas in Wizarding Britain.

He set off towards the commotion at a sprint, terrified of what he might find.

He found Hermione lying dead on the ground, with a slightly shocked expression on her face. Zarina was still there, bound by Wizarding rope laughing manically, but Draco barely noticed her as he dropped to Hermione's side. Tears welled up in his eyes as her lips began to lose their vibrant red tint, and the rosy blush faded from her cheeks like a dead flower wilting.

'You're a Slytherin.' he thought to himself. 'Pull yourself together.' And, by some supreme strength of effort, he did. He wrenched his eyes, still misty with tears, away from the still body and turned his attention to Zarina. She giggled under his stare.

"You betrayed her, Draco! You led me to her!" Draco did not even flinch at her words, just continued to watch her. But she didn't even notice, she was so far gone into her mind. Draco stared in horrid fascination as she began to tear at her clothes, reliving past conversations before his eyes. He seemed so detached from it now.

"Find out about her for me, little dragon…He loves her?…I will, Master…Come to my room, James, I have something to show you…betrayed her!" Her clothes became more and more ragged, her words turning into shrieks as she grew increasingly agitated. "I have done it, My Lord…I won…He's yours…You're mine!"

Draco turned away in disgust, and only then noticed a group of five Aurors holding back from the scene. He motioned them forward, refusing to look at the body of the young girl on the ground. He spotted his mother weaving her way foreward through the surrounding crowd, and picked his way over to her.

"Was that your girl?" She asked, throwing a glance over the scene. Draco shook his head and couldn't meet his mother's eyes.

"She was nothing, a mud blood. Serves…Serves her right!" he half shouted, trying to convince himself. But every word cut him to the quick. His mother looked at him through narrowed eyes, then flicked her gaze back over the body. He knew she could see right through him.

"Well, it looks like they have it under control. But I think it is up to you, son, to tell the Grangers." It was more an order than a suggestion. Draco hung his head and began to gather his courage.

Draco returned to Hogwarts, outwardly his old, nasty self, inwardly…well, he was nearly there. He did not have the worst holiday ever. He did not see his girlfriend and first love lying dead among rubble. He watched a mud blood's parents' faces crumple as he relayed the news, and then informed them that he would not be attending the funeral. He had almost convinced himself it had never happened. He was the Slytherin Prince, and he was in charge. He was in control.

As he entered the Great Hall on his first night back at school, there was silence. Every head in the room followed him as he strutted his way over to the Slytherin table. He pretended not to notice the scuffle as Potter and Weasley had to be physically restrained from leaping over the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw tables to reach him. And then, his table started cheering. He stopped in his tracks as his housemates banged their chalices on the table and shouted their admiration. It made him feel sick to his stomach, but he threw his shoulders back, and carried on walking. Pansy smirked up at him and knocked a younger boy out of the seat next to her. Draco sat down, and pushed the feeling of nausea aside. Nothing had happened. He was back where he belonged.

A/N: A huge thanks and hug to all who reviewed, far more than this story deserved!

I apologise for a) the shortness, and b) the rubbishness…my other ones are better!