Revenge of a Slytherin

Chapter 2

Draco stood in his father's study at Malfoy Manor, he had just brought home his latest school report, and it was not good.

'What the hell do you call these?'

'My grades father' Draco mumbled as he stared at his feet

'I can see that, do you think that I am as stupid as these grades indicate you are?'

'But father, it's that new Professor'

'New Professor? You mean that muggle?'

'Yes, she hates me, she marks me down and that affects my whole grade'.

'I thought I told you never to make excuses Draco?'

'Father, it's not an excuse, that damn muggle professor keeps giving me detention and she down grades all my papers' Draco tried his best to look innocent.

'I suppose you never did anything wrong to get the detention?' Lucius raise one eyebrow quizzically 'I know you are not really worthy of much higher grades than these, but don't worry, I will meet with Dumbledore and make sure that muggle is removed from Hogwarts!' He turned his back to Draco to show the boy he was now dismissed and should leave the room. As he left his father spoke again 'you deal with these grades and make sure you do not get caught and I will deal with the muggle'.

The following day Lucius Malfoy strode into Professor Dumbledore's Office. 'I was not aware we had an appointment to meet today Mr Malfoy?' Professor Dumbledore tipped his spectacles down his nose and glanced at the younger wizard who had just walked into his office unannounced.

'We don't, I have come to speak to you about that muggle you have employed to teach here'

'Professor Reynard? You have a query about her classes or curriculum?' Dumbledore asked calmly.

'Neither' Lucius hissed, 'I have come here to insist that this woman be removed from Hogwarts forthwith; I will not have my son being taught by a muggle you have the nerve to call professor!'

Dumbledore tried not to look amused; he had been waiting for a visit from Lucius, he had expected this to occur once he heard about the new professor. 'What might I ask is the problem with Professor Reynard's lessons? 'What is wrong?' spat Lucius 'what is wrong is that you have no damn right to bring a muggle into this school and yet you allow this woman access to the children'.

'Ahhh' said Dumbledore 'so your concern is for the children is it Lucius?'

'Of course it is, I only care for this school and the welfare of its pupils'

'This would have nothing to do with the fact that Draco has been receiving less than favourable report cards and grades?'

Lucius scowled 'of course my sons grades are a factor in this, but the safety of the student body as a whole are being put into jeopardy by the exposure of this school to a muggle'.

Without showing a hint of annoyance Dumbledore stood 'Lucius I can assure you that Professor Reynard has my full confidence and trust, furthermore Lucius might I assure you that she is also under my protection'.

'Protection?' Lucius attempted to look aggrieved 'I am frankly stunned that you would think that she needs protection and I am not sure I like the inference you are making'. Turning on his heel Lucius strode out of the office and did not see Professor Dumbledore smiling knowingly behind him.

Lucius was just about to exit the main doors of Hogwarts when he overheard some pupils speaking 'are you going to Hogsmeade today?' 'I can't' replied the unseen student 'Professor Reynard is going there, I just saw her leave, I have not done the homework she set so if I am seen I will be in huge trouble'.

'So' pondered Lucius 'the muggle is off to Hogsmeade is she?' deciding on the spur of the moment that it might be a good day to visit Hogsmeade himself. He walked towards the main hall, checked around him and dissapparated. Within seconds he was walking down the main street in Hogsmeade thinking to himself how amusing it is that the magic that prevented persons being able to apparate and dissapparate into and out of Hogwarts did not apply to him as a school governor. He almost laughed to himself as he thought about how the rules of the Ministry of Magic usually managed to contradict themselves 'fools' he muttered.

At the end of the street he saw the Hogwarts carriage pull up and several students stepped out followed by three professors that he knew by sight and one he had never seen before. Smiling to himself he watched as he saw her smile and thank one of the older students who had helped her from the carriage. Tilting his head to one side he sighed as he saw a shaft of sunlight across her face, he was amazed to see the greenest eyes he had ever seen. He realised he was standing on the spot and staring he gave himself a telling off 'for fucks sake Lucius, she is just a muggle bitch and a problem, you will sort this all out, get her out of Hogwarts and if you want take her, then she is gone, possibly permanently if she gives you too much trouble'.

Nichol stepped from the carriage in Hogsmeade, she this was only her second visit here, she still found it strange to see all of the adult wizards and witches walking around in robes. Most of the kids around were from Hogwarts and they greeted her with the customary nod and 'professor…' they tended to be wearing sweaters and jeans with trainers. But she still felt that she stood out amongst the adults with their flowing robes and tall hats, she glanced down at her long navy blue wool dress and long cream cardigan 'oh man' she mumbled 'I stand out like a hooker in a convent'.

Spotting the sign for Flourish & Blotts she wandered over, once inside the store she looked around at all the beautifully bound books on the shelves 'most of these are older than me' she thought 'actually no, most of these are older than my grandmother'. Walking to the counter she gave her name and the stub for her ordered books, the wizard behind the counter bent and picked up the books from beneath the counter. Books tucked under her arm she turned to leave and walked right into someone. 'Oh my, I'm so, sorry' she said putting out a hand to steady herself she looked up to see that she had her hand on the chest of a wizard standing in front of her. Even though she is quite tall she found she had to look up to see whom she had almost knocked on their arse. Meeting her gaze she saw stunning grey eyes, as her eyes focused more she noticed the wizard before her had long white blonde hair, as she looked at him she felt as though an electric shock pulsed through her entire body, snatching back her hand 'I'm sorry, I really should look …' before she even finished her sentence the wizard spoke 'yes, you should look where you are going'.

'How rude' she thought as the wizard turned on his heel and stalked away. 'Rude but very handsome … oh man what am I thinking?' she felt like she wanted to smack her head on something. She did however watch the retreating figure, he was very tall and slim, he made a very stunning picture with his black suit and cloak and his long blonde hair 'pull yourself together you idiot' she chided herself.

More than once she wondered if he was following her, when she was browsing he always seemed to be there, either in the store or outside looking in. He is so handsome and aristocratic she thought, then she shivered, looking into those eyes there was no warmth, this is a man who could be very dangerous she decided.

Nichol spent rather more than she had planned in Hogsmeade, she bought some gorgeous scarves, and some lovely dress robes for wearing to the events coming up over the winter at Hogwarts. She had bought various strange looking sweets from Honeydukes, chocolate frogs sounded very good, chocolate anything was good, unless of course it was an actual frog covered in chocolate.

With time to kill before the next carriage back to Hogwarts so she decided to have a drink while she waited, so she headed for the Three Broomsticks and ordered a large mug of hot chocolate. Finding a table near the fireplace she flopped into a large overstuffed armchair and sighed. A couple of the wizards and witches in the pub nodded in their direction as though they knew her, a few others gave her strange looks as though she were not supposed to be there. On the whole the pub was a friendly place, she sipped her chocolate and glanced through one of the books she had bought. She was so engrossed in reading about the history of Hogwarts she did not even notice the entire pub had fallen silent…

'Is this seat free?' it was a very smooth and yet sharp male voice. Nichol looked up and once again found she was looking into the very same face she had found herself looking into earlier. 'No, I mean yes, sorry, please help yourself' she gestured to the chair. 'Oh I think I will help myself to more than just a chair' he snarled. 'I'm sorry?' she said not really sure if she had heard him correctly. 'Let me introduce myself' he said holding out his hand 'Lucius Malfoy' he took her hand and nodded towards her. He held onto her hand for slightly longer than necessary and once again Nichol felt the electricity shoot through her; she could not take her eyes from his face or retrieve her hand. 'Nichol Reynard pleased to meet you'.

Lucius let go of her hand and pulled out the chair to sit. 'Malfoy, don't I know that name?' she asked. 'Oh really?' he raised an eyebrow 'nothing good I'm sure'. Nichol looked confused 'I'm sorry you lost me'. 'It was just a silly joke, nothing really' damn it Lucius pull yourself together man, how the devil can you be this flustered by a fucking muggle?

'I believe you may know my son, he is a student at Hogwarts'.

'Ah right, that's it, Draco?'

'Yes' he nodded then gestured for service 'Draco'.

'Hang on, how did you know I was from Hogwarts?' Nichol was suddenly puzzled, 'I never said I was from Hogwarts'.

'Shit' thought Lucius. Keep it together man. 'Sorry, I think I recognised your name' he glanced at the table and spotted the books, the history of Hogwarts was at the top of the pile and he had an idea. 'I also saw you reading and I kind of assumed' the gestured towards the books 'forgive me?' inwardly he was kicking himself, you ask a muggle to forgive you? What the hell is happening here?

Nichol glanced at her books and realised she had been a little sharp 'no, please, forgive me, I guess I am still a little twitchy about being at Hogwarts'. The waitress came over to the table and Lucius placed an order for a hot chocolate and then gestured to Nichol's mug 'would you please join me?' 'Oh, thank you, hot chocolate for me also, thank you'. Nichol smiled at the waitress and Lucius could not take his eyes off her, she was so much more genuine than anyone he had ever met before, when she smiled her whole face glowed and her eyes twinkled 'twinkled? twinkled? What the hell are you on Lucius?' he asked himself.

'So, how are you finding things at Hogwarts? It cannot be easy being a muggle?' his question came so out of the blue that Nichol barely knew how to answer, but she recognised the tone in his voice as he said the word muggle, it was as though the word tasted foul in his mouth. Nichol tried to ignore this as the waitress placed their drinks on the table, 'Oh I love Hogwarts, it is so, magical' she laughed. 'I guess to you it is all so mundane, you have always had the magic around you, but to me it is so wonderful'. Even Lucius had to smile at her enthusiasm. The clock in the corner of the bar chimed and Nichol glanced over at it, 'I' sorry, I really should go, I have to catch the carriage back'.

'Please' Lucius placed his hand on hers 'please stay, finish your drink, I can get my driver to drop you back at Hogwarts'.

'I don't want to be a bother' said Nichol, unsure about staying, but really not wishing to leave.

'Really, it is no bother' said Lucius.

They sat and drank their hot chocolate, chatted about nothing at all really. When their drinks were finished they both rose to leave. As they approached the door Lucius did something with his wand that Nichol did not recognise. By the time they arrived outside the pub there was a carriage waiting for them.

Lucius helped Nichol into the carriage with her shopping, but once the door was closed and they set off his entire demeanour changed.

'You know that you, a muggle, have no place at Hogwarts'

Nichol was stunned 'what?'

'Dumbledore is a bumbling old fool, and he has gone too far this time, he will not see reason, and for this his days at Hogwarts are numbered'.

Nichol had no idea what to say

'I know that you are supposed to be under his protection, but once he is gone what do you think will happen to you then?'

'Are you threatening me Mr Malfoy?'

'Did I say I would do anything to you Miss Reynard? I am just trying to warn you to leave Hogwarts, things are changing in our world, things are dangerous and you have no place in all of this, I advise you to go home and forget about all you have seen here'. Lucius was staring into her eyes.

'I will not be chased off from Hogwarts!' she said.

The carriage had just pulled up outside Hogwarts and Nichol moved to climb out, but Lucius grabbed her wrist and pulled her towards him, she had been trying to stand at the time and fell into his lap. 'Let go of me!' she pushed him back into the seat and tried to stand. But his grip was firm and he did not let go, but pulled her harder against him before grabbing the back of her head and pulling her mouth to his. Kissing her deep and hard he felt Nichol start to relax and melt into his arms, before realising and stopping herself. She bit his lip and this time he let her go with a grin.

She made it to the door of the carriage when he grabbed her wrist again and pulled her back 'you might want to reconsider my advice Miss Reynard, you do not want to find out the hard way what happens to muggles who get in my way, also you will never punish my son again, if I hear you graded him less than favourably or gave him detention again I will be paying you another visit, is that clear?'

'Yes, it is' she replied, 'it is also clear that rotten little apple did not fall far from the family tree!' Nichol ran up the steps to Hogwarts, but she could not fail to hear Lucius laugh loudly as he waved his wand and the carriage moved on and vanished into the dusk.