Chapter 8. News Spreads

"Did you hear about what happened with that Gryffindor girl?"

"No"

"She was attacked by a Slytherin for no particular reason, he just lashed out at her"

"I heard that the Slytherin guy tried to rape her"

"Most likely, we all know what those Slytherin types are like"

"Ssssh, here he comes"

A group of first year Ravenclaws fell silent as Draco made his way down towards the great hall. News of what happened with Hermione had spread like wildfire through the school thanks to Harry and Ron. As he walked down the halls everyone would fall silent and watched him until he was out of sight.

As he strode into the Great Hall he made sure to avoid the glares of fellow students. His greeting at the Slytherin table was far different. No sooner had he sat down and what felt like the whole of the Slytherin house where clapping him on the back

"Good on yer mate!"

"We all knew you'd put that mudblood in her place sooner or later"

"That really showed them Gryffindors what we're really made of"

"Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!"

"As soon as I heard what happened I knew it must have been you!"

"Well done!"

Draco sat listening to their congratulations. In his head he was screaming at them all "SHUT UP. ALL I WANT IS TO EAT MY BREAKFAST IN PEACE. SO COULD YOU STOP CONGRATULATING ME ON SOMETHING I DIDN'T EVEN MEAN TO DO" But in reality he didn't have the energy. All he wanted to do was eat his breakfast and leave but as more Slytherins were piling up to talk to him and a mob of angry Gryffindors made their way towards him, he didn't think that was going to be happening.

He sat tight and carried on eating as Gryffindors screamed insults over the masses of Slytherin cheering. Pretty soon the Gryffindors gave up on trying to annoy Draco and turned on the Slytherins crowded around him. Within moments there was a full-scale fight going on in the Great Hall.

"BE QUIET" Dumbledore's voice echoed around the Hall. Immediately everybody fell silent some scared of disobeying the headmaster and some in awe that such a small man could let of such an amount of noise.

"Gryffindors please return to your own table and Slytherins please resume your seats at yours." He gestured to each of the tables "This sort of behaviour is not acceptable especially when other students and members of staff are trying to eat. I will be taking 100 points from each of your houses" as he said this 100 emeralds and 100 rubies vanished from the large hourglasses "If I or any other member of staff finds members of your houses fighting we shall take 50 points per person, place you in detention and write to your parents explaining what has been going on. Do I make myself clear? I said, Do I make myself clear?"

A few mumbled yeses scattered around the hall

"Very good, now Mr. Malfoy if you could please come this way I need to have a talk with you" Dumbledore walked through a small side door with Draco following.

Draco bowed his head as he entered the small room, convinced he was going to be in trouble

"Mr. Malfoy seeing as Miss Granger-" Draco flinched at the mention of her name "-is unable to carry out her Head Girl duties we have arranged for a substitute to take her place until she has made a full recovery. I was intending to pair you up with Miss Brown from Gryffindor but after witnessing the events of this morning I believe it would be unwise to pair you up with anybody from Gryffindor. Also considering the close bond between Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff with Gryffindor I have decided the best option would be to pair you with a member of your own house. That is why as of tomorrow Miss Parkinson will be sharing your dormitory and helping you to fulfil your responsibilities."

With that he strode out leaving Draco alone in the room. The room was quite bland with only a small fireplace and an empty picture frame hanging on the wall for decoration. As Draco sighed a 12th century maiden appeared in the frame

"Oh, its you is it?" Her voice startled Draco. She let out a cruel laugh before saying, "didn't expect you to be scared of me! After all you are a woman beater"

Draco's already fragile temper rose dramatically "SHUT UP" he screeched before running over to the frame and ripping it off the wall "SHUT UP, SHUT UP, SHUT UP" he yelled repeatedly as he smashed the frame against the floor

"Help! Help" he's killing me!" The picture's high-pitched voice squeaked. Draco whipped out his wand and started hexing the frame like mad until all that was left was a few ashes.

"MR. MALFOY! I EXPECTED BETTER OF YOU" Professor McGonagall was livid as she strode through the door closely followed by Snape

"THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS MORNING YOU HAVE INTERUPTED MY BREAKFAST"

"To be fair to the boy he didn't provoke the fight this morni-" Snape fell silent by the look on McGonagall's face

"Not only have you twice interrupted my breakfast-" Her voice was quiet by deadly menacing "- but you have also ruined one of the oldest and most expensive pictures in the entire wizzarding world. What do you have to say for yourself?"

"Ummm, Sorry?" Draco managed to whisper

"SORRY? YOU'RE SORRY! IS THAT IT!"

"Look, Minerv-" Snape was cut of once again as he tried to defend his favourite student

"Mr Malfoy I'm putting you in detention, I'll be writing to your parents asking then to pay the price of the picture and also to pay for the repairs to the wall. And-" she added just as Draco thought he was getting off fairly lightly "I am stripping you of your heads duties for the remainder of this month. And if you do anything else to annoy me it'll be the remainder of the term."

OK. That's the end of that chapter. Sorry I haven't updated for a while but I just wasn't really in the mood to write the next chapter if ya get what I mean. And if you don't well… I hope you enjoyed the chapter anyway :)

Please review and tell me what ya think :)