A/N: Sorry it took so long for me to get this chapter up; I had some problems…I promise that the other chapters would be added MUCH quicker! Special thanks to all those who reviewed, I was ecstatic to read them! claps Thanks, and Happy Reading!
Chapter 2 – Chaos On Cue
September 1st
- Hermione's Story -
I was just swinging the compartment door open to storm out of the tiny space, when the train suddenly rolled to a stop, wheels screeching almost as much as the students' voices. After regaining my balance, I stuck my head out the door to look down the hallway, and I was met by many pairs of questioning eyes. Stepping out, I started to head towards the front, when I tripped over something. I fell, landing sprawled with my nose on the ground, and was met by a malicious pair of grey eyes.
Malfoy! I had tripped over His Highness, Ruler of the World! I gave him my most evil look I could muster before standing, and shaking off the dust. I again started out to the head of the train when I was stopped by the booming voice of Professor McGonagall.
"Students and faculty, please remain seated in your various compartments until further notice. Nothing is wrong, just a slight problem with the train tracks. I repeat, stay in your compartments until further notice. Head Students and prefects, please come at once to the front of the train. Thank you."
Professor McGonagall met the rather scared looking prefects, Malfoy, and myself with a slight smile, then beckoned to us. We all crowded around to see what she was pointing to, and as people saw, gasps and some small shrieks were heard.
I just stared open-mouthed at the enormous creature sitting not more than twenty yards ahead of us, snarling and swinging its huge tail. I turned to see Malfoy's reaction, and the look on his face was priceless. Pure fright was pictured on his smooth features as he gaped at the dragon before us….
- Draco's Story -
September 1st
The only time I'd been this close to a real dragon was in our fourth year, at the Tri-Wizard Tournament. This one, maybe twice the size of the other ones, gazed back at us with huge turquoise eyes, never moving a single muscle except for it's gigantic swinging tail. Trees behind it swished and swayed with the force of the wind caused by the tail, and, straining, I saw that the train track had given way beneath the heavy creature.
Glancing at Granger, I was stunned by the look pasted on her unattractive face, one of pure amazement. Maybe the clueless Mudblood had no idea what this meant for the us, or what danger we could all be in. smirk Stuck-up little Mudblood.
Once everyone got over the initial shock of the dragon, nervous chattering started, and even some squeaks were heard here and there. I saw Granger talking quietly to McGonagall, who muttered something back to her, and I saw Granger cast a suspicious look in my direction, like I could have anything to do with the dragon!
Looking exasperated, I pivoted on my heel, to be met by none other than Potter himself. He had just stalked into the compartment, a look of pure anger on his face, with Professor Werewolf, too. Giving me a scowl, he made his way over to McGonagall, and after he finished talking, she raised her arm for attention. Not that every single eye wasn't on them already, or anything…
When McGonagall was absolutely certain everyone was focused on her and The Boy Who Lived, she began talking, "Students, I would like to ask you to please return to you peers, then continue to monitor everyone else. We would appreciate it if no one spoke of the dragon, for dragons often sense fear and are highly attracted to it. I know there will be a lot of prying questions, but it would be a lot easier to…er, get rid of this "problem" if everything was quiet and under control." With a final look, she dismissed the anxious prefects, and as I turned to leave, I felt a hand on my shoulder.
"It is your duty as Head Boy to assist us at this time," the person behind me mumbled, and turning around I was face to face with Lupin. Remus Lupin, former Defense-Against-The-Dark-Arts teacher, Potter's best friend. snarl Potter said in a commanding tone, "We need to find out what species of dragon this is. It could help with the, er, situation. Any ideas?" Lupin nodded, and taking out his wand, conjured up a enormously thick book. Going over, Granger took the book, and set it on a table, and was soon flipping through the pages. With a frustrated sigh, she pointed her wand at the pages and muttered a spell.
The book flipped open to a certain page near the back, and Granger had a satisfied smile on her face as she started reading, "Mmm…dragons…dragons…Ridgeback… Horntail… Peruvian…Opale- wait." She looked at the page, then glimpsed at the dragon outside, after which she turned back to the parchment. "Peruvian," she murmured, "It's a Peruvian Vipertooth. Know for it's vicious personality, um, has some magical ability, and its blood can be used for many potions. Also, it can fly to great heights and is very aggressive."
At that point the Mudblood looked up, and she saw my face. I couldn't help gawking, was fully aware that my mouth was hanging open. I'm was willing to bet that anyone else would be shocked, too, if they saw a gigantic Peruvian dragon headed straight towards them…..
- Hermione's Story -
September 1st
What the hell was Malfoy staring at? Turning around, looking to see what he was seeing, I saw it. The dragon was inching its way towards us, slowly but surely, putting one immense foot in front of the other. I distinctly heard Professor McGonagall gasp, as well as a string of curse words from Harry. Professor Lupin looked as bewildered as I felt, and Malfoy, the coward that he was, was gawking with an expression that could be matched with that of a mouse trapped by a cat.
The dragon continued his advancement, all the while Professors Lupin, McGonagall, and Vector, who had just arrived by way of Apparating, stood in front of us, all in an aggressive stance, with their wands at the ready. The dragon, obviously seeing this, stopped, and extended a clawed foot towards the train cabin.
Professor Lupin, raising his wand higher, moved closer to the window, and shattered the glass with a simple spell. Still, the dragon kept moving and finally, when he was an arms length away from the train's nose, he opened the claws that were curled around a white piece of parchment. He dropped it, then moved backwards without turning around, and when it arrived to the same place where it was before, sat down on its haunches.
Professor Vector said, "Accio parchment," and the paper flew straight at us. She handed it to Professor Lupin, who unwrinkled it and began to read it. After scanning it quickly, he handed to Professor McGonagall without a word, and she and Professor Vector read it together. Both looked appalled as they handed it next to Harry. Looking over his shoulder, I saw a message, scribbled in what looked like blood:
Hand over the boy, or she will be tortured
to death. This is the last time I will be civil
so do as I say. You cannot win.
Send him off the train, alone. Now, and she will
be returned.
I handed it to Malfoy, terrified of who their captive was, yet wanting to be assured it was not someone I cared for deeply. Then again, the news of whoever it was would be hard to take even if I wasn't that close to 'her'. I can't imagine what it must be like for her, to be a hostage of Lord Voldemort, and the horrors that she must have endured are too great for me or in fact, any of us, to ever comprehend. sob
I glanced at Professor Lupin again, trying to see what he made of the situation, and I saw a grave look on his face. He was fingering his wand anxiously, and he had his head bent down, looking towards the floor of the train.
"Professor, how will the dragon, um, present the captive? What I mean is, uh…how will we know who is at, gulp risk now?" I inquired quietly.
"Honestly, I don't know, Hermione…but as we can see, he is quite well trained, for um.. this work, by the Death Eaters. He obviously knows his duties, and will, in some way or other, communicate the hostage's identity…" he said, and sure enough, the Vipertooth, incredibly gracefully for such an enormous creature, got up slowly and turned around. Soon, we were all staring at its ugly scaled back and the menacing spikes at regular intervals that were jutting out of the skin.
Squinting out, I was able to make out a human figure tied between to of his neck scales, seemingly unconscious. Moving closer to the now broken window, I saw her… A heart-shaped face slumped to a skinny chest…Greasy brown hair was falling messily across her pale cheeks… I was staring straight at a very alive Auror…
A/N: Hi! Hope you enjoyed this chapter, and PLEASE leave me a quick review! I really appreciate it! P
Also, I want to thank my extraordinary betas, ArsFalcis and Scarletheartedlioness for helping so well with the development of this story! Thanks guys!