Disclaimer: Hey, you know what, today I sort of passed by 4 Privet Drive, and I think I saw Harry Potter waving to me! Think I'm nuts? Let me tell you something else, I wrote the Harry Potter books! How's that? ... alright I must be rather deluded. J.K. Rowling, thankfully, has not descended to any similar delusive state.
A/N: I am SO sorry this took SUPER long because I was so busy with stuff! 2 whole months -apologises profusely- never mind, I wrote a rather long one to make up for it, and it's packed with tension! So hope you enjoy it very much!
terra: Thanks for reviewing - hope you continue enjoying the story!
queenofthelameos: Ooh rather frightening wasn't it? This one gets a notch up on the tension scale!
blueeyedchibi: Sorry for the really late update! Anyway I hope you like this one )
glitterglow: I really have no idea, Draco is so unpredictable S but then again, to find out, read on!
"I think if Ron was here, I'd not be the only one doing this essay!" said Neville, woefully, as he twirled his quill round, obviously not knowing how to start the essay. "Has anybody got a clue on the properties of the Shultzen Potion?"
"You know I get by Potions on a daily basis based on fluke results," muttered Seamus, raising his hands in objection.
Everyone else then looked at the bushy-haired girl sitting by the window, looking out with a glassy expression plastered on her face.
"Does anybody have the faintest idea what is wrong with Hermione?" asked Dean, at last. "She's been like that ever since she came in." Then he looked at Harry. "Has something happened to Ron?"
"Ron's still the same," whispered Harry, who was looking at Hermione as well. "Still…still not awake."
"Then what's she worrying about?" asked Neville, putting aside his quill. "Why just now, she made a bit of a fuss, didn't she, when Seamus remarked about Malfoy? Has…has she gone a bit nutty over that boy?"
"I wouldn't be surprised, Draco Malfoy is really quite a handsome boy!" cooed Lavender, dreamily, and got a thwack on her head by Seamus, who got a scowl in return. "I mean, apart from the fact that he is a Slytherin."
"How about, the fact that he is a Slytherin totally plays down the cool factor?" demanded Dean. "I mean…"
He didn't finish his sentence as at that very moment, a very scared-looking first year came whizzing through the portrait hole, right in front of the sixth-years. Harry immediately recognised the first year as a very cheeky-looking boy called Roger Andrews, but Roger was no longer the cheeky kid who declared to everyone around him that he was going to turn one of the Professors into a toad one day. His hair was in a complete mess, his cheek was a little swollen, and his arm was quite bruised. His eyes lost its sparkle; instead fear clouded over them, and his chest heaved greatly as he tried to catch his breath. His knees looked like they were going to buckle any moment, so Seamus swiftly fetched a chair for the boy to sink into.
"Roger, what's gotten to you?" asked Lavender, in amazement.
"I…I…Harry Potter…" Roger looked fearfully at Harry. "He…he wants to…he wants to see you outside…I…I don't want to go out…I…I'm afraid of him!"
He was definitely no other than Draco Malfoy, Harry was certain, and now Harry was nearing boiling point upon seeing the mildly battered state of Roger. First he Petrifies Ron, then he nearly kills Ginny, then makes Hermione upset, now he starts upon bullying others!
Neville got up rather violently, his essay and quill and everything else on his lap crashing to the ground. "Harry, I'll go with you!"
"Shut up, Neville, I'll handle it," muttered Harry, though secretly grateful for Neville's valour. "I want to do this on my own. I've had enough of that ferret!"
Harry made his way out of the common-room, only to see Draco Malfoy leaning over the banisters, staring at the constantly-moving staircases below. His tousled silvery blond hair seemed to have lost a bit of its sparkle, and he almost looked weary, leaning over so heavily. There was a fleeting sense of pity that came over Harry, but passed quickly as Malfoy got up and turned around.
"Hello, Potter." Draco Malfoy smirked.
"Malfoy, I've had enough of this. What gave you the right to hit Roger?"
"Who ever said I did? Did he tell you? No? Then Potter, I am sure you must know it is not right for one to accuse basely. It is not very polite," laughed Draco, his eyes glittering dangerously. "Perhaps, I thought you might want to enquire as to why I asked you out?"
Harry glared at Draco. "What do you want?"
"A little chat."
The mere idea of chatting away with Draco Malfoy was so ridiculous that Harry couldn't help smirking, then bursting out with laughter. Draco remained stoid as he watched the Boy with the Scar laugh away helplessly, clutching onto the banisters in order to steady himself from all the rocking. When Harry finally took a deep breath and stopped laughing, he couldn't help giving Draco an incredulous look. "You want a chat with me? Go on, I'd like to hear what you have to chat about."
"Your friend, Potter. That Mudblood."
As far as Harry knew, the so-called truce that Hermione and Draco seemed to be having had obviously disintegrated.
"Her name is Hermione Granger, which I'm sure you know very well."
"Whatever," said Draco, shrugging his shoulders. "I just wanted you to tell her something from me."
"Why can't you tell her yourself?" demanded Harry.
"I have no wish to talk to that snivelling Mudblood anymore!" Draco spat, rather ferociously. "You can jolly well tell her that I've only been toying with her feelings, and if she ever thought I actually stooped so low as to like her, she's just been deluding herself." He proceeded to smirk even more after that, looking rather pleased with himself.
Harry was nearly hitting the brink of rage; he clenched his fists and made sure it wasn't going anywhere near his pocket, although his fingers were itching to make a grab at the wand there. "You beast, what have you done to her!"
The portrait door suddenly opened again, and both boys swung around to see a rather pale-faced Hermione rush out of the Gryffindor common-room. She looked at Harry to Draco, then Draco to Harry, and her face became even more ashen-coloured. "You two…"
Then suddenly Draco's eyes lighted up, and he began to grin rather evilly. "You want to know what I did? I'll show you!"
With that, Draco suddenly lunged forward and grabbed the shocked Hermione by the waist and pressed himself against her, violently slamming his lips against hers. Harry gasped, and tried to jump in, but Draco's grip on Hermione was too tight. Hermione whimpered loudly, and immediately, Draco let go.
Hermione fell to the floor, panting heavily. Draco backed against the banisters, looking at her, his eyes a mix of triumph and something rather incomprehensible. Harry rushed forward to help Hermione up, looking around for any trace of people, but there were none. Hermione was shaking as Harry helped her up, her eyes looking at nowhere else but the floor.
"I hope you're satisfied, you beast!" hissed Harry.
All of a sudden, the portrait door swung open once more, and a completely horrified-looking Lavender with tears pouring down her cheeks appeared, her hair in a complete mess. "Harry! Hermione! Something's happened to Ginny!"
Losing no time, Harry left Hermione to Lavender, and he rushed into the common-room, where there was a crowd gathered below the staircase to the girls' dormitory. He squeezed through the people, and dashed upstairs to the dormitory, flinging the door open without a care that there was another crowd of girls in there, some crying and some screaming.
He pushed past the hysterical girls, and before him, on the bed, was Ginny.
She was still.
"Ginny!" Harry cried out, horrified. He flung himself forward to shake her. "Ginny, wake up! Ginny!" With a terrible feeling rising up within him, he grabbed a crying fifth-year beside him by her wrists, causing her to shriek a little. "Ella, what's wrong with Ginny!"
"I…I don't know!" wept Ella. "I just came into the room and there she was, lying there like that! Pam…Pam says one moment Ginny was sitting on her bed, reading her book, and the next, she just fell backwards…fell like a puppet with its strings cut!"
"She…she drank something just now!" Pamela offered, the only one who seemed less hysterical in crying, but was somewhat very excited. "There, on her drawer!"
Harry grabbed the cup, and his heart sank. Seeing the traces of sparkling black in it, he knew immediately that it was the Aldor Poison, one of the most lethal poisons in the wizarding world that could easily wipe out a life within milliseconds. The only problem was that it was hard to get it, and it had to be someone skilled in the Dark Arts in order to gain access to the Poison.
He turned his attention back to Ginny, whose breaths were as small as almost non-existent, and he feared for the worst.
---
"This is absolutely atrocious! How did the Aldor Poison make its way into the grounds of Hogwarts?" demanded Professor McGonagall. "It is a banned chemical that only those very skilled in the Dark Arts could access!"
"How is she, Poppy?" asked Professor Dumbledore, gravely.
Madam Pomfrey looked jittery. "Not very good, I'm afraid, sir, she's been looking darker and darker; I'm afraid the Poison has gotten deep into her veins. It is rather strange though; the progress of the Poison is slightly more dangerous-looking than usual…it usually doesn't spread so fast! Professor, we must have the antidote soon, or we'll lose her!"
"Professor Snape?" Dumbledore looked at his Potions master, who returned his inquiring look with a stony expression. "I'm sorry to say that as of yesterday, I am unable to locate the antidote that we have in the storeroom."
"What?" Professor Nell jumped up, in amazement. "Not have it? What happened to it?"
"Pesky kids, I do suppose," said Professor Snape, matter-of-factly. "Or, I could have just used it for my own purposes yesterday. As far as I know, the Shultzen Potion that I am teaching the sixth-years requires a small amount of the antidote for its final touches. Although I am skeptical, because so far Hermione Granger is the only one who has successfully completed the Potion to the stage whereby I have lent her the antidote for her final touch."
"Are you saying, Severus, that Miss Granger is the thief?" Professor McGonagall demanded.
"I am not saying anything," said Snape. "But I was just offering a suggestion."
"Minerva, would you kindly tell Miss Granger to see me in my office once we are done with this meeting?" asked Professor Dumbledore, rather placidly. Then he turned to the rest of the staff. "We must find out where the antidote is. For the moment, please keep on your toes, and keep a closer lookout for the students. Ginny Weasley is in a critical stage, and we must not let things worsen at all."
"Professor Snape, I am beginning to doubt how anyone could have stolen the antidote so coincidentally before Ginny Weasley's unfortunate attack," mused Professor Nell, as the staff made their ways back to their respective classes.
"Glaston, I would be very interested to know why you are so concerned. I think you should know fully well whose side you are on."
"Yes, Severus, that I know for sure. But I am just curious…"
"I prefer not to disclose any information regarding any of my practices. As far as I know, I have been diligent in handling whatever I do, so there is no room for any doubt, Glaston. Now if you please, I have a lesson to attend to."
With that, Severus Snape swung his ominous-looking black cape around him and departed swiftly, while Glaston Nell stood musing. Then he gathered himself and began to walk in the opposite direction.
---
"I don't believe I asked for you, Mr Potter?"
Harry felt his face flaming red as he stood before the Headmaster with a trembling Hermione Granger by his side. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to intrude, Professor. But I thought I had better come, given…given Hermione's state."
"What has happened to Miss Granger?" Professor Dumbledore looked at Hermione, his face not betraying any emotions.
"I…she…oh Professor, I fear Draco Malfoy is becoming a greater threat than before!"
"Draco?" And this time the Professor did frown. "What about Mr Malfoy?"
Harry felt tongue-tied. Then he finally brought himself to say it. "Malfoy's been atrocious – he's Petrified Ron, he's beaten people up, he's – oh god, he's been toying with Hermione's feelings and leaving her in this state! He just violently…violently assaulted her just now! He's a Death-Eater for goodness sake, Professor, he needs to be dealt with!"
"As far as I am concerned, Harry, Mr Malfoy is not…"
"DAMN IT HE'S MADE MY TWO FRIENDS BECOME ALMOST SENSELESS, HE'S LEFT ME WITH ALMOST NOTHING AND NOW GINNY WAS PROBABLY NEARLY MURDERED BY HIM WHY THE HELL IS NOTHING BEING DONE?" Harry suddenly burst out, enraged. He left Hermione standing where she was, ran forward and slammed his fists against Dumbledore's table. "I can't take it anymore, Professor! I can't see my friends get taken away from me one by one by that bloody Death-Eater!"
"Will you calm down, Harry!" Professor Dumbledore said rather fiercely, but somehow gently. "You have absolutely no evidence against Mr Malfoy for any of these things!"
"I saw, with my own eyes, how he kissed Hermione forcefully, and from his own mouth confessed it was the second time!"
Professor Dumbledore looked at Harry, then he turned to Hermione. "Miss Granger, will you come up please?"
Hermione remained where she was. Exasperated and desperate, Harry grabbed her arm and pulled her forward.
"Miss Granger, is it true – what Mr Potter has said?"
Hermione raised her hazel eyes to Dumbledore's, and the Professor saw the weariness that shadowed the youthful pretty look of Hermione's. Poor girl, having to endure so much at her age, thought Dumbledore.
"Hermione!" urged Harry, but Dumbledore raised a hand to him. "Miss Granger?"
"Yes."
"There, you see it, Professor!" Harry leapt up, angrily. "And why is it so coincidental that I should be outside with Hermione – when we recognise Dark Arts traces better than the rest – with Draco Malfoy, when Ginny is being attacked indoors? He must have arranged this somehow!"
"That will come later, Mr Potter. I asked Miss Granger here for a more serious matter on her part," said the Headmaster, gravely, as he turned towards Hermione. "Miss Granger, Professor Snape has reported loss of the antidote to the Aldor Poison, which he says he has given you for the last touches of your Shultzen Potion. Is this true?"
"Sir…" Hermione's voice was almost in a whisper. "I took it from him…and I spilt it."
"You what?" Harry was bewildered, but Professor Dumbledore looked very gravely at the shaking girl. "Miss Granger, this is very serious. Did you not clear the antidote back into its container? It contains the only possible way that Ginny Weasley may revive once again. Otherwise, her condition may deteriorate terribly!"
Hermione shook her head slowly, and sadly. "Gone…it was gone…I didn't dare tell Professor Snape – I … I was too scared…"
Harry looked completely despaired, as he sank to the ground and clutched at his robes. Hermione just stood there, her eyes completely blank, with a sad expression on her face. Professor Dumbledore looked from one to the other, his eyes narrowing down in particular at Hermione.
This was not going to be easy at all.
---
"Draco, I see everything went as planned…" she laughed, twirling her hair around her fingers as she sauntered across the common-room to sit beside the stone-faced boy, whose gray eyes darkened with every word she said. "Now…Granger will have to answer to the lost antidote – and she will deny it of course…when it's here…"
She lifted the shiny green vial from the table and swirled its contents lightly. "So brilliant, Draco…so brilliant…not a single drop lost at all!"
He looked at her triumphant face, and her sparkling eyes. A smirk spread across his chiselled face, and he shifted his gaze to the fire. It seemed to be roaring with glee; its orange sparks darting about in a gay dance, with yellow flames licking the edges of the fireplace…yet…within it…he could almost see a face…
He tore himself away from the frightening image. He was a Death-Eater, yet he couldn't stand looking at the horned figure the flames had outlined. The Devil. It was destined to be his role, always.
She deserved it.