A/N: Hope to keep you in suspense…on the edge of your seats! I really hope that you like this chapter; it has some action that I enjoyed writing! D Anyway, thanks to all who have been so generous as to leave me a quick review. Have fun reading!

Chapter Three - Give me one good reason to help you, Mudblood

Still September 1st

- Draco's Story –

Nymphadora Tonks, female Auror, rather talented witch…blah blah blah. Didn't look too brilliant, hanging limply from the back of one of the most dangerous and powerful dragons in the world. smirk Granger had given me the letter written – very obviously – by my father, in Tonks' own blood. (I knew that for a fact: I had seen my father do dealings before with hostages and he enjoys making the captive's family suffer by the seriousness of the note, as well as the blood effect.) It looked like this method didn't fail him this time either, for I saw a stricken look on Lupin's face.

His darling little Tonks was now powerless to do anything. Lupin knew perfectly well, like everyone else in the room, that they weren't going to give up the All And Mighty Harry Potter for this practically good-for-nothing Auror witch. Even Lupin wouldn't allow his feelings to get in the way of their 'business'. sneer

I heard Granger let out a sob of regret and remorse, though I bet it was just out of mere politeness. Harry looked just as taken aback as McGonagall, though he seemed furious as well. With good reason to, too, because Tonks was, after all, a type of family for him.

Me? I just stood there, not caring the least, and wanting very much to return to reading Witch Weekly, for it had a special issue about the hottest witches in the world! grin "I suppose you're gonna have to kill it…" I drawled in a slimy voice. I loved the effect my special voice had on people, it made them go nuts! Lupin gave me a look that showed that I had said was obvious, for it was, and Potter glared at me some more. McGonagall was about to faint when someone burst into the room.

"How can I help?" a breathless Madame Pomfrey gasped, leaning heavily on the wall. "I came as soon as I heard!" Lupin said nothing as he nodded his appreciation to Poppy, and McGonagall walked over to her, assisting the panting witch. It was then that Lupin spoke.

"Harry, Minerva, and I will go and get rid of the dragon, and so, for your protection as well as that of your fellow students, I ask you," he looked at Granger and me in turn, "to place protection wards around the entire train. I know it is a difficult task, but one of great importance and we need your help. Hermione, you and Malf-, er, Draco, should manage. On my signal then," and with that he turned and Apparated outside.

Granger nodded solemnly after Lupin, and McGonagall spoke up angrily. "Remus, you can't expect Harry to risk his life for such-" but she was interrupted, rather rudely, by Potter: "I can help rescue her, and I will. She is my friend, and I need to help her like she helped me!"

McGonagall said, "Poppy, you stay here," then, with a helpless look on her face, exited with a small pop. Potter followed her, though, being underage, was forced to stalk out the door and meet them in front of the train.

"Harry, please be careful!" Granger tearfully yelled after him, to which he gave (what he probably though to be) a defiant smile. Watching the exchange, I wanted to retch, but my new Head Boy robes were too valuable to ruin on the first day back.

"Right, Malfoy, you heard her. On the count of three, say this spell," she commanded, pointing at a page of the book in front of her. "One, two, thr-"

"Give me one good reason to help you, Mudblood," I smirked challengingly. "Just one…"

"Okay, how about this one? As I'm sure you're aware, not much of the student population knows exactly what happened at the end of last term. Let's just say, I will kindly fill them in." Now it was her turn to smirk.

"I hate you!" I scowled at her, then turned to the book. "One, two, THREE!" We both yelled "Protectus Infinus", and, to her satisfaction, a reddish pink mist enveloped the train. Keeping up the charm was difficult and consumed energy, and Granger, who obviously agreed, had her face scrunched up in concentration.

Looking away, I saw the battle outside. The Vipertooth was reared back on it's hind legs, fire billowing from his snout. Fangs bared, he lashed out at McGonagall, who jumped out of the way just in time to save her life. Numerous Stunning Spells ricocheted off its scales, and with each one the dragon's anger grew.

Roaring loudly, he soared into the night air, his wings the size of entire train compartments. At the first opportunity so far, Lupin took aim at the dragon's stomach, which was reasonably less unprotected than the rest of its body. The spell hit, but unsurprisingly, bounced off, and Lupin swore loudly. I couldn't hear him, over the roars and fire, but could decipher his rude gestures and movements.

Enjoying the scene before me, I casually sat in the armchair made for the conductor, when I noticed something was missing. Actually, someone was…

Glancing around, I didn't see Pompfrey's body anywhere, and knowing it wasn't outside with the dragon, was curious. Where had the woman gone, especially at a time like this? Casting a meaningful look at Granger, then at the spot where she had collapsed, I conveyed the message. The Mudblood gave a gasp, then, forgetting the spell for a moment, lowered her wand, nearly tucking it away, making the reddish pink mist paler.

"Excuse me, but if the dragon decides to attack the train, I don't wanna die," I drawled. With a flustered look, Granger muttered the incantation, and the mist regained its color. Walking to the door, she stuck her head out to look down the hall, then mumbled to herself. She was only drawn back to the room when we heard loud screams from outside.

Both of us ran to the window, pieces of glass cutting into the sole of our shoes. Stopping, Granger drew in a sharp breath, then nearly screamed when I clamped a hand over mouth. "Will you shut up!" I bellowed at her. Whimpering, she slumped to the ground.

It was Pompfrey who had issued the shrieks, for she was outside along with the rest of the Rescue Party. The dragon, now sprawled on the ground, was dead, and the group was encircled by black hooded figures. They advanced quickly, their masked faces probably filled with lust to kill. I heard a laugh, now that the roars had died down and recognized it to be that of my dear Aunt Bella.

If she was here, then I imagined that Father was among them as well, but after checking the Death Eaters, I didn't see the tall figure of my proud father, and knew that he was just waiting to strike at the right moment. I would be there with them, if it were not for my loving mother. She insisted that I continue my education, and now that Dumbledore no longer resided there, I reckoned it wouldn't be such a nuisance.

Closing in with growing excitement, the five or six Death Eaters raised their wands high in a threatening manner. Aunt Bella took a step towards Potter, and I would have given almost anything to be the cause of his downfall. Surely the Dark Lord would reward me beyond belief…sigh

But to my astonishment, the stupid boy escaped death once again. Summoning Tonks with a hurried Accio, he then leapt backwards towards the train. Groaning under her weight, he yelled a spell, which hit a man in the chest (it was Avery, I saw when his mask slipped) then darted to the side of the Hogwarts Express, narrowly missing countless spells that were aimed at him. Flashes of green, red, purple, and every imaginable color were seen, like fireworks, but none of them hit Potter.

I watched in amazement as Lupin staggered under a spell, and McGonagall attempted to repel hexes and jinxes meant for Potter. With growing horror, Granger turned to me, saying, "I have to help them…" and left the train. Again, the mist grew paler, and I realized I was the only one holding up the charm. Oh, God! We were all going to die! My mind raced, thinking that the Death Eaters surely wouldn't kill Lucius's only son… Then again, I had failed to kill Dumbledore last year….

Granger leapt through the door firing spells left and right. I had never seen such anger in her before, well, except maybe when she punched me in our third year. That had hurt! frown Getting on his feet, Lupin ran to Potter, and freed him from his burden. He carried Tonks up the train steps in a heroic way (sort of like those romantic scenes in the Muggle movies my Mother liked to watch), and set her in a wooden chair. Then he disappeared once more with a CRACK and I was alone again.

Pompfrey was down, as well as McGonagall, though Granger stood her ground. Father cast a green jinx her way, which she narrowly ducked, then she reciprocated with a Petrificus Totalus that was shielded easily. Such childish spells, so amateur! smirk All was quiet, except for the occasional screams of pain, or yelling of spells, and I could clearly hear my Father yell, "Pull back, the Dark Lord is summoning us!"

All at once the Death Eaters Disapparated, though I saw Aunt Bella pause. With a laugh, she slashed her wand through the air, yelling something that sounded very much like Bleedus Rapidus and a purple spell erupted from the end. Yelping with pain as the curse hit her leg, Granger toppled to the ground before Bella disappeared too.

A/N: Well, again, please review, I love reading your thoughts. And I'd like to thank these people who helped this story become better: scarletheartedlioness (my beta) and Emmalenagranger, who made up the spells! Oh, and thanks to those who reviewed! D