The Debutante Ball
A fanfiction novel by sizzleberrylicious
Chapter Thirteen
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"Draco!"
Hermione broke out into a grin as Draco made his way towards her, completely ignoring Ron's death glares from the bed beside her.
"Are you feeling better, Hermione?" Draco inquired, summoning a chair and gently grasping her hand.
"Oh, yes, I'm feeling a lot better," Hermione reassured him before her smile turned into a scowl. "Madam Pomfrey doesn't seem to think so, though. She plans to keep me in at least until dinner time to perform more check-ups on me. Thinks I'll suddenly faint again if I walk around." She rolled her eyes helplessly.
Draco smiled, brushing a wayward brown curl out of her eyes and watched with amused silver eyes as it fell back into place, obscuring part of her vision again. Hermione heaved a frustrated sigh and swiped it aside. "Any news?"
"I've informed Dumbledore about what's been happening," Draco informed her, his face suddenly serious. "He told me that attempting to poison another student is good enough to land Grislen on a one-way trip to St. Mungo's or even better, Azkaban."
Hermione's eyes widened in horror. "Draco! No! I'm not even sure if it truly is Grislen. She could be.. well.. Oh, Draco!"
"He should be here any moment," Draco stated, ignoring her last sentence.
Hermione crumpled back against her pillow. "Draco.."
"He's right, you know, 'Mione," Ron piped up. "As much as I hate to admit it, Malfoy's actually done something right."
Draco scowled. "Thank you, Weasel," he said through gritted teeth. He smirked. "Can't say the same for you, though."
Ron's face darkened. "Malfoy - "
"Ron, please, don't. Not again," Hermione strained, letting her eyelids flutter shut to block out the images that swam before her.
Just then, the doors to the Hospital Wing burst open and Dumbledore came in, his brilliant purple robes billowing. With worry lines creasing his already aged parchment-like face, he made his way over to Hermione. "Good morning, Miss Granger."
"Good morning, Headmaster," Hermione replied.
"Mister Malfoy has just informed me of a certain wrong doing commited by Miss Marchetta Grislen. Miss Granger, attempted poison is a very serious case," Dumbledore bore a very grave look and the twinkle in his eyes had disappeared. "It could have lead to immediate death, which was obviously the attacker's intent, therefore transfering the case under murder."
"Headmaster, I think that Grislen isn't necessarily the one in charge," Hermione said helplessly. "She could be following orders.. Or maybe it wasn't even Grislen at all.."
Dumbledore's features softened, "Miss Granger, it warms me to see that you are defending your attacker. I, for one, too believe that Miss Grislen isn't responsible for your attacks."
Draco and Ron's jaws dropped simultaneously.
"For one, it would be nearly impossible for Miss Grislen to attain such a deadly poison," Dumbledore reasoned, oblivious to the boys' shocked expressions. "Ergo, it is possible that an older, wiser, and more cunning person supplied it to her. Your second theory is also possible. Maybe Miss Weasley mistook the intruder's identity, seeing as she did not stop to question them. Therefore, it could easily be someone else entirely."
"My point exactly, Headmaster," Hermione nodded, agreeing.
"Of course, I'm going to have to look into these chain of events. Mister Malfoy, would you be so kind as to ask Miss Grislen of her whereabouts at sixteen minutes past seven on the night of two days ago?"
Draco nodded, discarding Hermione's horrified stare. The old dragon was finally starting to get useful. "It would be my pleasure, Headmaster."
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Draco sped down the crowded corridor, his long legs moving so fast they seemed to be merely a blur. Growling, he clutched the strap of his book bag tightly in his hand as his smokey grey eyes scanned the groups of giggling girls for a Marchetta Grislen. He knew how she looked like, having to endure her flirting just half a year ago; tousled blond hair, big blue eyes, freckled skin. The likes.
"Draco! Draco, wait up!"
Draco slowed down his pace but didn't fully stop, his eyes still roving the corridor. He waited patiently for Pansy to catch up, and when she did, shot off again.
"Draco, what's wrong?" she inquired, her voice dripping with concern as she rushed to catch up with his stride. He suddenly stopped and turned to face her, his face set.
"Have you seen Grislen anywhere, Pans?"
Pansy delicately wrinkled her upturned nose. "Grislen? That Slytherin third year who was all over you at one point?"
Draco gave her a curt nod, urging her on.
"No, I haven't seen her lately - Draco, wait!" she called as he started to walk again, running after him. When she finally managed to catch up, she panted, managing to voice a breathless, "Why are you looking for her?"
Draco scowled. "Hermione thinks she's the one behind all this shit that's been happening lately," he stated, balling his fists by his sides. "So I plan to call to order a small interrogation.."
"Don't hurt her, Draco," Pansy warned him, ignoring the curious eyes that followed them as they hurried down the corridor, barrelling unsuspecting students out of the way. "She's only a child - "
"She's one devious, murderous child, then!" Draco barked. "Nobody - and I mean nobody - messes with Draco Malfoy's girl and gets away with it."
Pansy let out a defeated sigh as she halted in her tracks, watching as Draco continued to make his way down the corridor.
"I hope he doesn't do anything too serious.."
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"Professor McGonagall!" Draco nearly shouted as he burst into the Transfiguration classroom, ignorant of the chain of whispers that broke out after his impromptu entrance. He quickly jumped down the steps to where the flustered Deputy Headmistress was seated at her large desk. "Professor McGonagall, I'm terribly sorry, but I need to have a word with Marchetta Grislen."
McGonagall frowned down at him as she stood up, her eyes disapproving. "Mister Malfoy, students such as yourself are not allowed to disrupt other classes! Shouldn't you be in class as well, Mister Malfoy?"
Draco brushed off her questions, lying clearly, "Dumbledore wants to see her."
It wasn't completely a lie. Dumbledore would want to see her if she was responsible for Hermione's recent attacks.
Giving him one last stare, McGonagall nodded. "Very well, Mister Malfoy, if Headmaster Dumbledore wishes to see her, she may leave."
"Thanks, Professor," Draco muttered before searching the rows and rows of wide eyes for Marchetta, immediately recognising her as she bounced out of her seat, grinning. "Come on," he hissed, wrenching her out of the classroom with him.
Once the door had closed behind them and they were safe from prying eyes and ears, Marchetta turned to face him with a smirk. "Hi, Draco. What's so important that it couldn't wait till lunch?"
In one fluid movement, Draco roughly grabbed her shoulders and pushed her up against the wall, growling. "What do you think you were doing, Grislen? Poisoning Hermione's pumpkin juice? Failing all her classes? Sending her Howlers?"
Marchetta's syrupy tone was immediately abandoned once she realised that he hadn't just lied to a professor to rendezvous with her. Her blue eyes flashed under their lashes. Her voice was deathly quiet when she murmured softly, "I did it for you, Draco. I did it all for you. I didn't want her disgusting blood to taint yours. You're too pure, too handsome, too rich. You deserve someone more worthy of your presence. Someone like me - "
"Shut up!" Draco roared. His face inched closer to hers, his eyes glaring daggers into her own. "Don't you ever talk about my girlfriend like that, Grislen."
Suddenly, Marchetta burst out in wracked sobs, her form going limp in his iron grip. Taken aback, Draco released her, watching with disgust as she slumped down to the floor in a shivering heap.
"It wasn't me, Draco!" she wailed, her eyes trained on the floor. "I - I was forced to do it..! He said he'd d - date me if I did it..!"
Draco turned rigid, narrowing his eyes suspiciously.
"Who forced you to? Who!? ..Answer me, damnit!"
Losing his control, he kicked the stone wall an inch from Marchetta's trembling face. Letting out a yelp, she dived to one side, her hands shaking.
"Tell me who it was, Grislen! Don't make me - "
"I'll tell you!" she cried. "I'll tell you. Just please.. D - don't hurt me..!"
Draco waited patiently, folding his arms to prevent himself from lashing out at the vulnerable girl in front of him who had caused so much pain.
She took several moments to compose herself, gingerly rubbing her hands across her eyes. "It was.. It.. He.."
She let out a hopeless sigh and turned her face to stare up at him.
"Forgive me, Draco. Please? I've always liked you.. And it was the perfect opportunity.. Please.. Forgive me..?"
Draco tried his hardest not to turn his wand on her, his fury manipulating. "Grislen. Tell. Me. Now."
"Zabini made me do it, Draco," she finally uttered, her voice so low he barely heard her. But he had heard enough. "Blaise Zabini made me - Wait, Draco!"
Leaving a shaken Marchetta Grislen behind, Draco raced down the empty corridors towards the Slytherin dungeons, the demon inside him rearing its ugly head for revenge. "I'll deal with you later!" he shouted back at her. His shoes pounded the stone floors as he whizzed by the unsuspecting students that loitered around, deliberately choosing to get in his line of fire.
"Move out of the way!" Draco yelled, his anger rushing past boiling point.
I warned you, Blaise Zabini… You can't say I didn't... And now, you're going to pay...
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Disclaimer: Not mine, and never will be, sadly.
Author's Note: Looks like Zabini better call for back-up! Draco sure is angry. Read on to find out what Zabini's in for! Well, press that little blue button down there to submit a review, folks, I'd really appreciate it! Ttfn, su yin. xx
Author's Note #2: I'm terribly, terribly sorry for the short chapter and the long break in the story. I've been so caught up with school and extra curricular activites and whatever that I completely forgot about this story. I'll be wrapping it up soon, maybe in the next few chapters. Sorry again for the delay in updating!