A/N: So so so sorry about the LATE update! It's just that I've been very busy in my first week of uni! I promise next chapter will be up this weekend as I've already written most of it!

Thank you to all my reviewers: angelina (u've finally got the update!)

snow-angel222 (well Draco reacted like he was always told to, violently and yes its a bit freaky! Ur guess is correct though!)

roguish muse (i read draco saying that mudbloods weren't even human in another fic and i thought it was perfect for blaise to say, hope u like it!)

poetic-symphony (i'm glad ur having fun and enjoy reading this!),

thatonechic (this fic will eventually become very dark, i mean gryffindors and slytherins just don't get along, right?)

mammakitten121 (i didn't mean to make Hermione sound like a wuss but hey maybe i over did it. I just wanted to show how shocked she was because she's terribly wrong about Draco being a nice guy. Its much more destructive when u think u know someone but in the end u don't and she's paying the price for it. Don't worry, she'll get her own back soon though!)

Ok, so this is Abby's POV! Trust me she is not becoming a softie, but hey someone has to help Hermione out, right! And she's also gonna pay the price for it in later chapters. Enjoy!

..~**~..

Chapter 12

Abigail had spent her weekend ignoring everybody. She had spent most of her time locked up in her dorm with the curtains closed around her bed. She had skipped a lot of meals during those couple of days and had refused to talk to anyone, especially Draco Malfoy and Blaise Zabini. The only pleasurable company she had had for the past few days, had been her roommates and Ginny.

The Gryffindor girl had spent most of Monday morning classes with her, trying to cheer her up and avoiding any subjects linked to Harry or Malfoy. Even their friendship seemed to piss off Malfoy and the rest of his goons, which cheered Abby up a bit.

Unfortunately yet another problem fell upon her that Monday morning. As she rummaged through her clothes, she suddenly realised that none of them fitted her anymore. They all seemed too big for her and when she had stepped out of the shower and seen her naked body in the mirror, she realised that she had grown incredibly thin.

Merlin's beard, I can see my ribs! Fine, I'll just have to eat more!

She had quickly brushed her health problems aside as classes started.

It was finally dinnertime and Abigail found herself once more alone, in the Slytherin common room, finishing her homework. Remembering her reflection in the mirror this morning, she cleared up her things and decided to go eat a healthy dinner in the Great Hall before it was too late.

As she walked up the stairs from the dungeons and across several corridors, she unwillingly saw Malfoy and Parkinson head down towards her from a nearby staircase. Walking on quickly towards the Great Hall, Abigail passed by without acknowledging their presence.

"Hey Serpent!" she heard Malfoy call after her.

"What do you want?" she asked, frowning deeply and crossing her arms.

The white-blond haired Slytherin walked up to her casually, leaving Pansy behind. "Can't the Slytherin prince talk to a pretty girl once in a while?"

"No. I repeat, what do you want?"

"Wouldn't you like to know," Malfoy whispered softly to her, licking his lips.

Seeing her roll her eyes at him, he chuckled to himself. "I just thought you'd like to know that Blaise is currently having a fun chat with Granger. You should go watch, I'm sure he'll know how to make it enjoyable."

She narrowed her eyes at him. "Riiiight and let me guess - even though you're Head Boy and supposed to take care of the student body - you're not going to stop this."

Malfoy shook his head at her sarcasm and smirked. "Nope. Unfortunately, I have other things to attend to than endangered Mudbloods," he told her, turning to Pansy, who was still waiting for him by the stairs.

What? Like getting laid, you sick pervert?

But Abigail sighed instead. "Fine, I'll go after dinner. Where are they?"

He chuckled softly. "Oh no, he'll be finished by then. They're near the Black Knight's painting, I think. Have fun!"

Abby cursed under her breath and pushed past him, running up the staircase where Pansy stood. Damn Granger, how did she always get herself into these situations, with Zabini no less and during freaking dinnertime? And why was Malfoy telling her about it? Surely, he would have wanted to join in...

All sorts of questions ran through in her head as she walked quickly up the stairs and made her way to the painting. If she was quick enough, maybe she could make it back in time for dinner, or the end of it.

As she reached the corridor, sure enough she saw Crabbe standing in her way. Immediately, she pulled out her wand and whispered "Stupefy!".

For the second time that night, Crabbe froze into place and collapsed backwards on the ground. Continuing down the dark corridor, she suddenly noticed the crowd of Slytherin boys, hovering over someone. There, among them, was Blaise.

"What's going on?" she demanded.

Blaise was the first to spot her and she was surprised to see his cold eyes soften at her sight. "Abby, what a surprise to see you here," he lied.

At his words, the others fell silent and all turned to face her, gathering closer to hide the person behind them.

"Who's that on the floor? What's happening?" she asked Blaise with more authority.

"We're giving the filthy Mudblood a lesson that Gryffindors will remember for a long time," he admitted proudly, smirking back to his fellow Slytherins.

"Don't you mean 'Granger'?"

Several boys laughed at her words and turned back sneering at the person behind them. Confused, she looked up at Blaise for an explanation and sighed in exasperation. Merlin, didn't they have anything better to do than to bully Granger?

"Blaise, I think you should let her go," she stated.

"What?" Her words had obviously come as a shock to him.

"You heard me, let Granger go!"

"Why?" He seemed very confused that Abigail wanted to stop him.

In response, she glared back at him.

Damn, now what? How am I going to convince him to let her go? Should I tell him that she's part of my family?

Pushing Blaise aside, Abigail peered into his sparkling blue eyes, making him understand that what she was about to say was very important.

"Listen Blaise, to tell you the truth, Granger is somehow - related to me," she told him slowly, trying to be all Slytherin about it (which meant sneering and showing strictly no emotions about the situation) as would be expected. "She's like some distant cousin or something and I'd greatly appreciate it if you didn't tell anyone else. I don't want anyone knowing that that Gryffindor bitch is related to me."

She then smiled brightly to him, knowing that he couldn't resist her smile and would gladly keep her secret to himself.

"But the fact remains, that if anything should happen to Granger, my family will blame me for not taking care of her," she complained to him. "I'll get in a lot of trouble if she gets hurt. Merlin forbid me that I actually care about the Mudblood, it's just that I have no choice in the matter," she finished dramatically.

Truth was, her Pureblood family couldn't care less what happened to Granger. She was a Mudblood after all and neither Granger nor her Muggle parents had been recognised as part of the prestigious Serpent family. Abigail's own parents had protested against such ancient beliefs about Purebloods being superior to others, but nobody had listened. So then why was Abigail helping Granger out? After all, the Gryffindor girl was responsible for her mother's imprisonment in a Muggle hospital! But still, Abigail didn't like what the Slytherins were doing to her, a bully was a bully after all and if she were ever going to get revenge on Granger for not taking better care of her mother, then she would do it herself!

"Look, just find another Gryffindor to traumatise and leave Granger with me," she countered, catching a glimpse of Granger's limp body on the floor.

Blaise's lips curved into a smirk, which caused her stomach to squirm uncomfortably.

"And what's in it for me?" he breathed softly in her ear, twirling a strand of her jet black hair with his fingers.

Abigail suddenly realised how close he was and felt her heart beat faster. "Well - I won't get angry for a start and Dumbledore won't be on your back," she stated lamely, inhaling his overwhelming cologne. How could she still react to him like this? And why was she leering at his body when instead, she should be remembering what an arrogant prat he was!

"You know what I want Abby."

He paused.

"I want you to go out with me again. I want you to be mine."

I knew it! I knew he'd bring 'us' up again!

She glared at him, coldly, determined not to give in. "Well that's too bad because I don't want to go out with you anymore! Once was enough, don't you think? And besides, aren't you shagging Pansy?"

"She means nothing to me," he noted dully. "I think Draco has claimed her back now anyways."

He smirked seeing the disgust on Abigail's face and lifted an amused brow. "That's my offer Abby and if you're so willing to save the Mudblood, then I don't think you have much choice."

He turned his head sharply to the other Slytherins and ever so slightly tilted it, motioning to the lump on the floor. They immediately dangerously closed up on Granger.

"Blaise, I don't believe you! You're about to hurt a girl, don't do this!" Abby cried out. She lunged towards them, but Blaise grabbed her around the waist from behind with one hand and her arm in the other, holding her back tightly. His fingers softly began to caress her stomach through her shirt. She fought against him defiantly, but he only held on to her more firmly.

"So what will it be, Serpent?" he drawled in her ear, kissing her exposed neck lightly as they watched a couple of sixth-years grab Granger roughly off the floor. "Come on, all I want is to be with you again."

He whirled her round and cupped her face in his hand. "It'll be just like before."

His lips were suddenly on hers and Abigail didn't know whether to kiss him back or to scream. Realising Granger was still in danger, she pulled away.

"Blaise, just let her go already. I know better than to make deals with you!" she told him, slightly out of breath from the kiss. He chuckled darkly and raised his eyebrows at the others, causing Goyle to point his wand at Granger's neck whilst the others held her.

Abigail immediately froze. She couldn't believe her eyes, since when did Blaise have so much control over the other boys and since when had he become so cruel?

"Fine, I'll do it," she finally said in a defeated tone, "but tell them to let her go!"

"Done."

Blaise stepped aside and signalled to the others to let her through. Abigail made her way to Granger, who had fallen back on the floor. She couldn't see her well because of the dim lit corridor, but she could hear the girl's pathetic sobs.

"Granger, stop crying!" Abigail told her impatiently.

But as she looked down closer at Granger and noticed her battered breathing, ghostly white face and the blood trickling down from her head, she gasped.

"Oh shit! - Hermione? Are you alright?" She bent down to take a closer look at her face. "What happened to you?"

Hermione fluttered her eyes open and tried to look up at her rescuer, but instead winced in pain.

Abigail whirled around to face Blaise. "Who did this to her?"

Crossing his arms over his chest, Blaise shrugged. "Malfoy. He decided to give her a lesson to remember."

"Malfoy?" she thought out loud. She stared back at Hermione, her eyes wide with disbelief. She repeated the name over and over again in her mind, but somehow it wouldn't sink in. She had never thought Malfoy would purposefully harm a student while in school. This could get him expelled!

"Hermione, can you hear me?" She brought her hand to touch Hermione's face and make sure that she was still breathing. Immediately, Hermione's eyes flew wide open as she sensed Abigail's touch, and she scrambled painfully to her feet, pushing the Slytherin away from her.

"Don't touch me," she hissed, limping away from her. Her eyes were filled with fear and her body shook like a leaf. "Stay the hell away from me!"

Covering herself the best she could with her cloak, Granger turned around and quickly disappeared down the corridor, sobbing in pain. Abigail rose to her feet, dumbfounded. She quickly regained her senses as Blaise approached her, smirking and about to say something.

"How could you?" she gasped, looking straight into his eyes.

"Calm down, she's only a Mudblood," he reminded her, frowning slightly.

She looked back at him in disbelief and pushed him hard out of her way as she strode after Hermione. She would deal with Blaise later. Merlin, how could he still believe in all that Pureblood superiority bullshit?

Abigail followed the drops of blood left behind by Hermione and suddenly caught up with her near the Gryffindor tower. The Head Girl was sitting against the wall, one leg propped up, supporting her elbow, whilst the other was sprawled in front of her. Her right hand grasped tightly what was left of her shirt. The other, held up by her knee, supported her head as she cried violently. Her whole body trembled as Hermione cried desperately, her hair falling into her face.

Oh Merlin, she's breaking down! Malfoy, what have you done to her?

Hermione instantly noticed Abigail's presence. "Please - leave me alone - oh God! Harry - and Ron -" she barely whispered between her cries.

"Mal - Malfoy!" she continued, before a new wave of tears spilled down her cheeks. "I - I can't go back!"

Abigail quickly understood what she was trying to say. It was obvious, she was afraid of Harry and Ron's reaction if she went to the Gryffindor tower and she couldn't go back to her own dorm because of Malfoy!

She bent down to Hermione and petted her hair. "It's over. Come on, stop crying. Everything's going to be okay now," she said reassuringly.

Abigail wrapped her arms around her awkwardly to comfort her and Hermione clasped the front of her robes desperately in response, as she cried in her shoulder. Abigail felt strange comforting Granger, but she took pity on the girl. Seeing her break down like this made her feel uneasy as she knew it was partly her fault. Malfoy had wanted revenge on Harry for befriending her, but she had never thought he would get back to him like this!

Suddenly, spotting a couple of first-years heading towards the Gryffindor Tower, Abigail pulled away from Hermione and hurried up to catch them before they disappeared behind the portrait of the Fat Lady.

"Hey you!" she called out, grabbing a girl by the collar. "Get me Ginny Weasley and make it quick."

The terrified girl whimpered in fright, but did as she was told and Ginny quickly walked out of the portrait door.

"Oh, hey Abby -"

"Ginny, it's Hermione!" Abigail cut in. "She's not doing well."

Walking back to the Head Girl, Ginny gasped in fright as she saw her friend lying on the ground. "Merlin, Hermione! We have to get her to the hospital wing!"

"No, it'll only make matters worse," Abby told her, watching as Ginny pulled Hermione against her in comfort. "We have to get her back to her dorm. Do you mind staying the night with her?"

"No, of course not. But once we're there, you're going to have to tell me what the hell happened to her," Ginny said, petting her friend's hair anxiously and noticing the blood.

Picking her up from the ground and placing Hermione's arms over their shoulders, the trio walked back silently to the Head's quarters, pausing only to hide from students or teachers. It was quite late now, so fortunately not many people were out in the corridors. Reaching the Head's quarters, Hermione whispered the password and they quickly walked to her room, putting her on the bed and locking the door behind.

"Now, you have to tell me everything," Ginny demanded, wringing her hands. She seemed extremely upset and worried for Hermione.

Abigail willingly obliged and told her friend what she knew.

"I don't know what Malfoy did to her," she finished angrily, "But I'm about to find out. Stay here with Hermione and if you know any healing charms, use them! I'm going to give the Slytherin Prince a piece of my mind!"

She left and crossed the common room, heading towards Malfoy's bedroom door. Once there, Abigail angrily knocked on it. There was no answer.

She went to knock again, but stopped. She could hear giggling behind the door and then - was that moaning? Leaning in to hear better, Abigail's jaw dropped open as she heard loud banging and little high-pitched shrieks, similar to some wild animal.

Pansy!

You have got to be kidding me! They're having sex in there and Malfoy hasn't even bothered putting a silencing charm on the room! Aaargh! Fine, let's see if you bothered to lock the door.

She pulled her wand out. "Alohomora!"

To her surprise, nothing happened. Unsure if her spell had worked or not, her hand went for the doorknob, but as soon as her fingers reached it, she was pushed backwards by an invisible force.

Damn, Malfoy's actually using dark magic to protect his bedroom door!

Anger seeped through her and she took a deep breath to calm herself down.

Well, we'll just have to see if his magic is any good!

Her eyes gleaming deviously, she pulled out her wand again.

Bombarda!

Unfortunately, Abigail watched in horror as her spell bounced right off the door and back towards her.

Fuck!

..~**~..

"What the hell happened to you?" Ginny asked confused. "Did you get in a fight or something?"

"It's nothing! I think I'll talk to Malfoy tomorrow."

Abigail couldn't blame Ginny's reaction. Walking over to the mirror, she examined herself and laughed. After being slammed into the opposite wall by her first spell, Abigail had sent a few more spells at the door in pure anger and they had all turned against her. Her hair was a complete mess, it now actually had an uncanny resemblance to Hermione's bushy hair and her face was covered with cuts and dust. Her robes were partially torn, but Abigail quickly muttered a "Reparo" spell on them.

However, she was no good with healing charms for small injuries and so she racked her brains to remember the ones her mother had taught her. Fortunately, Ginny took her own wand out and with a flick of her wrist, she healed most of Abigail's cuts and bruises.

"Thanks, so how's Hermione doing?" Abby asked concerned.

"She should be fine. She was bleeding slightly at the back of her head. I didn't find any other wounds so I guess she was mostly in shock. We'll have to wait tomorrow morning to know for sure."

..~**~..

The next morning, Abigail woke up in Hermione's room, in the bed she had magically conjured for Ginny and herself. She was startled to see Hermione awake and looking perfectly normal. Ginny was stirring next to her.

"How are you feeling?" Abigail asked, getting up on her feet.

"Much better thanks," she answered softly, peering at the Slytherin girl intently.

Abigail avoided her gaze and a heavy silence followed until Ginny woke up.

"I'd better get going," Abby told them sharply. "People are going to wonder where I am."

By people, she actually meant Blaise and her Slytherin friends. Muttering a quick cleaning spell on her school uniform and herself, she quickly disappeared in a corner of the room to change out of her borrowed pyjamas. She preferred not to go to the bathroom to change, in case she bumped into Malfoy so early in the morning. She would deal with him later. However, turning around, she thought both girls would have the decency to look away as she got changed and therefore, did not notice both Hermione and Ginny stare at her body with wide-open eyes.

..~**~..

As soon as Abigail said goodbye and left the room, Ginny jumped on her bed, hugging her friend.

"How do you feel then?" she asked smiling brightly.

"A lot better, thanks," Hermione admitted quietly.

"Oh no, you should really thank Abigail, although I bet she'd rather cut her own head off rather than admit that she helped you. I guess she is a Slytherin after all."

She paused and her smile soon faded into a frown. "Um, Hermione, did you notice her body -"

"Yes," she cut off.

"I don't remember what the Muggle term is for this, but isn't Abigail alonex- "

"Anorexic? Yes, she seems to be," Hermione corrected softly. Along with Ginny, she had also noticed Abby's skeletal features and somehow it upset her.

..~**~..

Abigail opened the Head's common room door quietly, hoping to leave the place before Malfoy caught sight of her. As she swung the door open, ready to walk out, she came face to face with Harry and Ron instead, both standing on the other side of the portrait. She jumped back in surprise and then quickly decided to walk pass them and ignore them, but their worried faces made her think otherwise.

"Um, hello," she greeted confused.

"What are you doing here?" Ron demanded hotly. The worry on his face had transformed into anger. But suddenly, Abby noticed his expression change to embarrassment as he drew up his own conclusions. She watched, confused, as his freckled face flushed red along with Harry's.

And then, it hit her.

"Oh no, no, no!" Abigail cried out, as realisation dawned upon her. "No, I did not spend the night with Malfoy if that's what you think! On the contrary, I was here for Hermione."

"That's why we're here," Harry spoke up. "We didn't see her at dinner or the rest of last night."

"What happened to her?" Ron asked faintly, all anger having faded away.

"Oh - er, she's just not well at the moment and really doesn't want to see you," Abigail answered uncomfortably. She watched as Ron narrowed his eyes at her and Harry frowned deeply.

"What are you talking about? Of course she wants to see us!" Ron finally exclaimed.

"She's scared you'll overreact!"

"Overreact? Overreact?"

"Ron, shut up!" Harry cut in. "Abigail, please, we have to see her."

Surprised to hear him call her by her name, she obliged and they charged towards Hermione's room.

"Hermione, are you alright?" Harry asked as soon as they entered her room.

Ginny stared back in fright and discreetly pulled Abigail to the side. "What are they doing here?"

"I tried to keep them out, but I think it's best if she has her friends, Gin. Just be careful what you say about last night and for Salazar's sake, leave Malfoy out before they try to get him back for it!" Abigail explained before walking back out of the door.

As she heard Ron ask his sister what exactly happened to Hermione, Abigail suddenly stopped outside of Hermione's door, eavesdropping on their conversation.

"Well, from what I gathered, Hermione was apparently ambushed by Slytherins on her way back here," Ginny began slowly. "We found her in a distressed state outside of the Fat Lady's portrait, brought her back and spent the night watching over her. She's fine now, really."

"Bloody hell! Those Slytherins are going to pay for this," she heard Ron cry out.

"No, Ron," Hermione told him sharply. "Really, I just want to forget about this whole thing rather than seek out revenge."

"But 'Mione!" he retorted, annoying the hell out of Abigail.

"Hermione's right Ron! We don't even know who exactly did this to her," Harry said firmly.

"Just because you fancy that Slytherin girl, doesn't mean -"

But he was shortly cut off by Ginny. "Ronald Weasley! I'll have you know that if Abigail had not been there last night, things could have been far worse."

Ungrateful git! But Abigail couldn't help but smile at the same time, remembering what Ron had said about Harry liking her. Almost instantly, her heart sank as she remembered what she had promised Blaise the night before. Begrudgingly, she left the common room, heading back to the dungeons before the Slytherins awoke.

"Big deal!" she heard Ron shout out loud as she left. "So she used a bit of magic and -"

Abigail was already half down the stairs as the Gryffindors continued to talk amongst themselves.

"No Ron, there were quite a lot of them, she never could have stopped them all," Hermione continued in a softer voice.

"Then how did she manage to get you out of there?" Harry asked, confused.

"Zabini made her a deal she couldn't refuse," Ginny answered quietly.

"And what - what was that?" Harry gulped nervously.

Hermione answered the question for him. "She had to promise to go out with him again."

With a final "oh" muttered by Harry, a heavy silence fell upon the four Gryffindors.

..~**~..

The plot thickens, hahaha! Review!