It Bites When Provoked

I am scolding myself for not writing so soon, it's been months and months and I feel super bad…well until I realized that nobody reads my stories, because otherwise I would have more reviews…who the hell doesn't review after they read a story…whatever…maybe I'm only writing this because. I could do other things and maybe I should just start on that rather than wasting my time with this, it serves no benefit for me unless people read it and actually review to tell me if they liked it or not, it's the practice round before I publish my book that's almost done, and it's gonna be EPIC.

Hermione walked from class to class in a semi-haze, thinking about what had happened this morning. Oh that was a fine kettle of piranhas. How do you explain to yourself that you are starting to like your rival? It shouldn't happen, it doesn't happen. He is a git and no one, especially her should be falling for him. Oh god, falling for him. No…that can't be it, can it? She had started to notice tiny things about him that no one would pick up on except her. In the morning before he got ready, he would always have those few strands of tousled hair hanging over his forehead, he always had pressed shirts and never had a wrinkle in sight on any of his clothing. She supposed that it was refreshing to see a guy who actually cared about his appearance and had the air of being nonchalant.

As she reached the Tower, she shifted her weight to adjust the pile of heavy books that she lugged around so that she could climb through the portrait with ease. After muttering the pass phrase, she stepped inside and headed for her room to get her Astronomy chart for tonight's class.

Outside the sun had begun to set, and she stood at the edge of the balcony gripping its edge with paled uncertainty. Would she be able to seal up this chimera? Her hands trembled at the thought of seeing it again, that dreadful, fear-inspiring vision. A brief shiver coursed throughout her body and she held her arms against her chest.

A cloak covered her shoulders and she started.

Draco was behind her placing the warm material on her shoulders.

"Thank you." She breathed.

"Are you ready?" He asked stepping towards the railing and looking out at the scene and then back at her.

They stood in silence for a moment before she answered with a deep breath.

"Yes."

Once they reached the Astronomy Tower, they trudged up the high steps to get to the top. Hermione and Draco separated when they opened the door. Most of the students were there already, chattering away while pointing at various constellations that were beginning to appear in the pinked-navy sky. A few minutes later, Harry and Ron walked in and headed for Hermione when they spotted her. She had been staring out of focus at the sky and blinked a couple of times when she heard her name called.

"Hey Hermione." Harry said enveloping her in big hug.

She was vaguely aware that he was even talking to her. He frowned and ducked his head to look her straight in the eyes.

"Hermione, what's wrong?"

Her eyes had closed for a split second before snapping open with tears on the verge of trailing down her cheeks.

"Harry. I need to…I need to get back to my room. I don't feel well." She whispered weakly before falling unconscious on the stone.

"Hermione!" Harry panicked, propping her up and trying to wake her.

"That isn't going to work Potter." Draco drawled, hiding the extreme concern in his voice.

"Shut up and go away Malfoy." Ron snapped as he turned his attentions back onto their sleeping friend. Well at least she was not alone; there were plenty of people around.

"We have to take her back to her room!" Harry quickly said as he picked her up.

"I'm coming to Potter." Draco replied watching them carry her.

"No you are not!" Ron answered back.

"Yes I am Weasel, there's a password to get into the Head Tower you thickheads."

Ron glared at him but then gave up because he was right.

The four of them made it to her room rather rapidly, and Harry laid Hermione onto the bed.

"I'll stay here to look after her." Harry said, not taking his eyes off of her.

Draco inwardly cursed at Potter's interference.

He was suddenly distracted by Hermione's form starting to stir, but not out of sleep. She was spiraling into the nightmare and she was helpless in the state that she was in.

"Shit!" Draco cursed loudly. He turned around to run out the door, before stopping and turning back for a slight moment to throw his cloak onto the ground.

"You stay here, and awake. Do not leave under any circumstances. I know you are both twits and can't process that direction, but for once just sit still and keep your eyes open." With that he left, leaving the two staring wide eyed at the door frame in disbelief.

Draco ran as fast as he could towards the kitchens to find that passage they had run out of when they first had encountered that monster. Ripping open the curtain he sped through the darkness with absolute determination.

Meanwhile, Hermione cringed in her dreams from fear of where she was trapped and her best friends watched helpless to save her from the unknown pain.

He had managed to find his way after a few minutes of running around, he could hear noise through the door that now was standing between him and the nightmare turned reality. He breathed in and steadied himself for what he was about to face. There was no time for research, no time to gather up the senses, no time for waiting. He was done with waiting.

Withdrawing his wand he burst open the door, and immediately was met with the chimera's massive bulk. It was standing in the room, breathing heavily as its head twisted to meet his nervous gaze. It screeched an unholy noise as it started to move towards him. He readied himself by going through each and every single spell he knew.

He tried a spell head on but it merely bounced off the creature's thick hide. The only thing he managed was to increase its anger as it stomped towards him. Every inch of its body steeled to attack, and here he was with a stick. Great. Draco backed up and tried a different approach.

Elevating his strength, though this would only last a short span of time. He pointed the wand at himself and shouted the necessary spell. His entire self glowed blue for a second before the light faded. He felt the newly acquired strength invigorating and began to think of how he would use it to his advantage.

If only he had a weapon, a nice, sharp weapon. Again, he thought maybe he could pull one out the air, as he raised his wand arm to create the needed object of salvation, the chimera slashed its tail at him and knocked him to the wall. He felt his spine crack and his head clunked against the stone wall. White hot pain flashed in his mind and before he could open his eyes, the creature had another go at him. He went flying in the opposite direction, this time losing hold of his wand and it sailed into the shadows. He landed among some rocky debris, his forehead meeting some very unfriendly edges. Blood ran down into his eyes and with strained effort he wiped it away before it blinded him. Most of his body was useless, but if could at least get his wand…

He scrambled to his feet, swaying with dizziness as he scanned the floor. His wand had made its way into a crevice in the wall and the only part he could see was the handle sticking out. He dove narrowly avoiding another full blow from the chimera but its claws had managed to find a target. The talon-like nails ripped through his pant legs and dug into flesh. He yelled in absolute pain as he hit the floor, simultaneously reaching for his wand and inching away from the beast. He yanked it out with the draining strength he still had and shouted the spell with his hoarse throat.

A light shot out of the wand and transformed itself into a thick blade. It hovered in the air briefly before clattering to the ground. As the monster drew itself for another attack, Draco grabbed the sword by the hilt and got up. Suddenly everything seemed as if it was in slow motion.

With his last remaining bit of strength, he ran forward to meet its attack straight on. As its razor-bladed teeth sunk into his shoulder and arm, he thrust the cool metal of the weapon into the soft underbelly of the horrible thing that had done so much damage. It clamped down onto his skin more, ripping into muscle and bone as he weakly drove the sword further in. He twisted the blade and withdrew it quickly before slashing its throat. With its vocal chords cut, it couldn't screech that horrific screech anymore. It let go of him, but not without taking a large amount with it. It silently flailed about the room and then collapsed in a heap, twitching until its breath left its body for eternity.

Draco fell to his knees. He had beaten it. He had won. Hermione would no longer be attacked. They were safe.

He fell forward onto the hard ground, his wounds seeping into the cracks of the stone.

Well…that's all I have to say about this chapter. It is my choice whether I leave it at that or continue. Let's see, shall we.