Hey guys!

It's me again! And with a quicker update, lol... I cant believe I wrote and updated two fics today, lol. I hope you enjoy it... this story is moving a bit slowly, I know... but I settled a quiet pace and I don't want to rush it now. Enjoy!

Chapter 29

Hermione's pov

The wind is whistling under the windows. It's annoying because I'm trying to study, and of course, it's impossible. I really have to talk to Mrs Pince about this inconvenience. The library is a place in which it should be easier to work, and thus plunged in complete silence. And don't come tell me that you can't do anything about that when the headmaster of the school is Albus Dumbledore, a guy that is supposed to be incredibly good at waving his wand.

"Maybe he thought he would piss Granger off," someone says behind me.

I turn on my chair to come face to face with Blaise Zabini. I raise my eyebrow.

"Some people here are trying to study, Zabini. Go to the Great Hall if you want to chat," I drawl.

"How can people study with you talking alone in the middle of the library?"

I shut up at that because I hadn't realized I was thinking out loud. Blaise smirks as I blush furiously. He laughs and makes some comment about how easy it is to make me feel embarrassed.... Which of course makes me blush a deeper red. His laughter stops quickly though. He asks me if we can go for a walk. I don't know why I accept but grab my jacket, leaving all my things scattered on the table.

We get out in the windy halls and wander in silence for a while. I feel he's thinking about what he wants to tell me, so I just wait, looking at my shoes as we walk slowly. When he speaks, it's hardly a whisper.

"Where do you think is Lucius Malfoy?"

I shrug. For all I know, he could be in Fudge's office right now, bribing the man to get to come to Hogwarts see Dumbledore...

"I don't know... it's not like he's officially considered a danger so I guess he can go wherever it pleases him, Hogwarts included."

I shudder at that thought. I know Malfoy often comes to Hogwarts but now, different thoughts turn in my head. Out of all these times, how many times did he abuse his son? How many times did he pretext some important business just to come punish Draco?

My reflex is to look out the window, expecting to see him walking toward the castle.

Blaise obviously saw my distress and puts his arm around my shoulder. Who would have thought that me, a Gryffindor, I'd ever let a Slythetin do that? But I do, and I don't care what colour his tie is.

"Look Granger, even if he comes here, Dumbledore will watch his every move. And he wants Draco, not anybody else... so all we can do is look out for him. It's gonna be ok."

I nod softly but I cant push worry away. And even if Malfoy is not around, Draco's state is enough to worry anybody. Blaise and I continue to walk. The only person we meet is Pansy and we she spots us, it looks like her eyes are about to fall out of their sockets. I suddenly remember Blaise's arm around my shoulders and laugh outright while Blaise singsongs "Paaaaaaaaaansy Duuuuuuucky".

Lucius' pov

I sneak into the castle through one of the secret passages that come from Hogsmeade... How ridiculous, you would have thought they were guarding them! Actually, I know they're watching the one behind the statue of the witch, but it's not that one I'm using. That stupid squib thought this one couldn't be used because the way was blocked with rocks and such... but what is nature to magic? Mere amusement. It was easy to clean the path and get into the castle.

I wander around under an invisibility cloak. I got it when I was 13 and used it throughout my Hogwarts years to spy on James Potter, Sirius Black and their little gang. Why do you think they got so many detentions? There was always some noise or something that would alert Filch's cat... Curiously, they never made a noise.

I find Draco in the astronomy tower. Heights were always places where he would go. I told him a million times it wasn't a good idea because you get trapped too easily. Now I'm going to prove it. I grimace when I see him. He's skinnier than Potter and looks sick. Freckles mar his face and his hair is untidy. A weakling, a disgrace.

I shove my cloak away and stand tough in front of him. He's sitting on the floor, doodling in a dirty notebook. I see panic settle in his grey orbs when he spots me. I laugh.

"Oh, shame, your little girlfriend is not here. The Dark Lord wants both of you. But I'm not in a hutty, I know she will come."

I kick my foot in his notebook and send the item flying against a wall. Draco holds his hand in pain, I guess I crashed my foot in it. I seize his hair and make him stand up. I look at his exhausted features, his empty eyes. Such a failure... I don't get why my master wants him. The sight of him is sickening. But I know what I have to do to make the little wench come... so I start.

He doesn't even struggle. And he's a lot lighter than before. I easily send him flying against the rough walls of the tower. I hear the bones crack and his pathetic whimpers. The violence is exhilarating, liberating. I keep kicking and beating him till I hear footsteps in the stairs... I'm sure it's the Weasley girl. I can only hope she didn't bring too many people with her, but I know how people work. Impulse tells them to hurry at all costs, forgetting everything else. She won't have thought of bringing teachers.

But the door opens on the astronomy teacher, followed by a class. Looks like the 3rd years or something. They scream as I run past them, forgetting a bit my dignity and flushed that I was caught so stupidly. Now the truth is out and there is no way the same plan will work again.

Colin's pov

I scratch my bald forehead in front of the Lady of the portrait. Damn password, I keep forgetting it.

"Get your hair back young man, it seems your braincells are freezing," chants the Lady.

I glare at her and finally drawl the password and step into the common room. My body relaxes as the warm air of the tower seeps through my clothes. I take off my cloak and collapse in an armchair with a book. It's an advanced book of spells and though I don't understand half of it, I will get my hair back. Oh yes, I'm not being pranked by two ghosts and a pathetic poltergeist and especially not when they're defending such a freak as Malfoy.

As I sink lower in my armchair, I hear a feeble sob. I think I'm imagining things, but the sound of broken glass makes me think otherwise. I look around but see no one so I get up and stroll around the room. That's when I see her. Ginny, kneeling on the carpet, coughing up something red on the floor, hugging herself and crying. I'm scared to go closer, but I still approach her.

"Ginny? Are you ok?"

She looks up and suddenly passes out. I freak out and call for help. It's not long till I hear footsteps descending from the dorms. Harry and Ron arrive running, followed by others. Ron cradles his sister in his arms and quickly heads for the door. Suddenly he spins around.

"Harry, I think you'd better find Malfoy quickly."

Harry nods and the whole house just looks at them. They don't understand anything and the pieces don't put themselves together till the 3rd years enter the common room, out of breath and all shouting different things at the same time. I see Hermione Granger enter the common room and mutter something while directing her wand at her own throat.

"SILENCE!"

Everybody screams, jumps three feet in the air and looks at her in awe and actually silent. She undoes the spell.

"What's going on here?"

The 3rd years start to relate what they saw in the astronomy tower. It's confused, but I basically understand that Lucius Malfoy was there and his son was in a pretty bad state. Hermione and Harry look horrified.

"Harry, where is Ginny? If Draco was again hurt, she probably suffered too."

I have a flashback of Ginny sobbing on the floor. I vaguely hear Harry answer that Ron brought her to the hospital wing but the tumult in the common room is impossible to calm. Of course, some development in the "story of the year" would have that effect on everybody. The noise hurts my head and I climb to my dorm. But I make a mental note to ask info to Hermione tomorrow.

I'm sorry, I'm too lazy to reply to reviews lol... and it takes an awful lot of time and place :p