Disclaimer: If I had as much creativity as Miss Rowling, I wouldn't have to deal with the onslaught of academic tests and whatnot sob
A/N: Sorry my updating frequency is terrible I've been pretty busy! And unlike most authors, I don't write everything out at one go and take my time to upload chapters...which probably explains certain discontinuities in the stories, but I hope they're not too obvious!
Gwinna: Thank you awfully for reviewing, and I'm really glad you're enjoying the story so far. I don't know about reviews haha I think it's also the time difference factorbecause when I write, more than half the world is still asleep or sth. Lol. Here's the next chapter to satisfy your craving!
pinkicing101: Here's the update; thanks for reviewing!
queenofthelameos: Well...is it her plan? I don't know! Read on to know more:)
blueeyedchibi: I'll definitely review your fics when they come out. Thanks so much for supporting my fic and reviewing so faithfully!
pocahantas: Thanks so much for the compliments, here's the next chapter for you to enjoy!
The doors of the Great Hall burst open, and Draco Malfoy strode in, the classic smirk on his face taunting everyone in the Great Hall to say anything against him. Behind him, was an equally-smug Pansy Parkinson, who brushed back her black curls in a huge action for effect.
Harry glared at the duo as they made their way to the Slytherin table, amidst the chuckles and thumbs-up that the Slytherins were giving them. His chest was burning, and so was his head. He had just spent the entire night looking after Ginny at the hospital wing, and now his head was throbbing madly. He cast a glance at Hermione, who was sitting in front of him, and a pang of pain hit him as he watched his best friend pick at her food listlessly.
"I'm not eating," said Hermione, finally.
"Is it because of Malfoy? Hermione, you don't have to care about him."
"I don't care tuppence for him."
"Oh yes you do, Hermione. If not, you wouldn't have had covered up for him in the whole Slytherin-Gryffindor Quidditch saga, you wouldn't have not told us about your telepathy with him till so late, and you wouldn't have been so dazed all the time."
"Shut up, Harry."
Harry did shut up. But as he looked back down on his food, he knew he couldn't swallow another mouthful either.
Is the mudblood angry? Ooh, the mudblood's angry.
Hermione's fists clenched; the fork in her grip shook hard. Harry didn't notice it as he was busy trying to figure out his thoughts while staring at his food, but Neville did. He stared wide-eyed at Hermione's fists.
How is the dear weasel girl? Is she still in her shocked state? Maybe she was too shocked at seeing – you know…
Hermione gritted her teeth; the fork shook harder.
Did the potty boy say anything? Oh he's reminded you of how wonderful I am, hasn't he? I suppose darling Granger has more to add, doesn't she? Remember how she succumbed to my kiss in the library? Aww, didn't Granger love it?
Hermione's eyes were filled with tears as she heard his voice echo in her head. Then she pushed back her chair and walked out of the Great Hall, to the surprise of the Gryffindors. Harry made no attempt to go after her, merely stabbing at the peas with his fork. Neville watched her brown bouncy curls disappear from the door of the Hall, and then his eyebrows furrowed together, trying to make sense of the situation.
On the other side of the Hall, a pair of grey eyes flickered momentarily, before locking with Pansy's, and both smiled.
---
Harry sat between the beds of Ron Weasley and Ginny Weasley. His eyes flitted from one to the other, and his heart sank heavier with each look.
Ron, Ginny, I wish you two would wake up soon and tell me who did this to you.
"Harry?"
Harry jerked from his reverie, and his eyes focused onto the figure at the door. "Professor Nell?"
The quirky-looking Professor smiled and made his way to Harry. "Having a nice chat with your friends?"
Harry didn't know what to say.
"I do suppose so," remarked Professor Nell, as he took a chair over and sat down rather clumsily in it. "So, how've you been so far? Haven't got to talk to you a lot. Still missing your parents?"
"I think they're right at the back of my mind now," muttered Harry. "Not to sound unfilial, but yeah."
Professor Nell turned his gaze to Ginny. "It's a crying shame this had to happen."
"Professor, you're skilled in the Dark Arts. Can't you figure out who could have come into possession of the Aldor Poison in school?"
"Harry, as far as I know, only one person is capable of brewing the Aldor Poison."
"Who?"
"Only one person is capable of doing so," continued Professor Nell, ignoring Harry's question. "because it is he who has the final ingredient, the most lethal. The Chroker's Eye."
"Chroker? What's that?"
"A particular bird with bright blue feathers, very pretty. Its eye contains elements that have the ability to mutate the genes in a person's body and basically, this mutation is highly lethal to people with wizard blood as the chemicals in the blood often respond very adversely to the mutation as they cannot adjust quickly enough to the changes. That's why the Chroker's Eye is the most dangerous ingredient in the Aldor Potion."
"But –"
"However, only one person in the entire wizarding world owns a Chroker. The reason for this is because Chrokers are a dying breed. There was only one left in the world due to the rest's inability to adjust to the changing climate of the world. He managed to extract its DNA and cloned it while the real one died. Therefore no other person has managed to get their hands on a Chroker."
"Is…is that person Voldemort?" asked Harry, his voice shaking.
Professor Nell turned to Harry. "I'm afraid so."
Harry's breaths came out ragged. "It was Draco Malfoy who did it for him. He gave Malfoy the Potion to kill Ginny."
Professor Nell looked at Harry. "Yes, I don't doubt that he had asked Mr Malfoy to carry out this task of getting rid of Miss Weasley. But Harry, I am rather puzzled. The Chroker's Eye has never failed to kill off anyone. Why is it that Miss Weasley is still vaguely alive?"
Harry shifted his gaze to Ginny. "I don't know. But she's one tough girl."
Suddenly, something clicked in Harry as he was looking at Ginny. He turned back to look at Professor Nell. "But Professor, how did you know that Voldemort keeps a Chroker? Nobody even knows where he is now."
"It's quite a well-known fact," replied Professor Nell.
Harry could have sworn he heard a quiver in his voice.
"He wouldn't have let anyone know he owns a Chroker. He would have done it on the sly."
"Harry, what are you trying to get at?" asked Professor Nell, a little dangerously.
"All I'm saying is, Sir," said Harry, rather haltingly. "How would you have known if he couldn't have told anyone…anyone but his – his followers?"
"Are you doubting me, Harry?" Professor Nell's eyes gleamed. Suddenly Harry didn't see the kind man whom he could relate with because both of them had lost their parents when they were young. Suddenly he didn't see the Professor whom he had trusted dearly and had chats with him when he was free, making him feel at ease. All he could see was a rather twisted smile on Professor Nell's face, his eyes narrowing at Harry.
"Sir, I don't wish to."
With that, Harry pushed aside his chair and walked out of the Hospital Wing, leaving Professor Nell eyeing him as he left.
Glaston Nell turned back to the two still teenagers on the beds before him. A sad smile formed on his face.
---
"Well done, Draco, well done…"
Draco Malfoy bowed his head in the dark grey mist, not wanting to look up.
"Look up, Draco." The curt voice echoed around.
He hesitantly lifted up his head. Through the mist, he could barely make out the haunting skullface of the Dark Lord floating within, dangerously…
"My Lord, it is my pleasure to serve you."
"Pity she's not wholly dead, is she?"
Draco's heartbeat nearly stopped as he heard the familiar voice ring from the back.
"What is it, Severus?" the Dark Lord's voice was laced with irritation.
"I'm just saying, my Lord, that the girl is not wholly dead yet."
"I am well aware. It is best off that she is in this state, then we can torture…Potter (he said it with such relish that Draco closed his eyes hard) so well…and then finally, get rid of her."
"Is it with such coincidence that the Aldor Poison fails to kill off its victims at one shot?" said Severus Snape, his eyes glinting as he glared at Draco.
"You must remember Ginny Weasley is not wholly of wizard blood – she is what they call a treacherous breed," said Draco, stoically. "The poison may not affect her as adversely as normal."
"Am I the Potions expert, or you?" asked Snape, menacingly, but he was stopped by the Dark Lord. "Enough! We will not discuss such matters at this point in time. Triviality, at most! What matters now is that two of Potter's close ones are down, as I hope you are clearly aware, Severus."
"Yes, my Lord," said Snape, grudgingly.
"I will forgive you on the grounds that you managed to shift the blame of the loss of antidote onto Hermione Granger quite successfully."
When Draco heard that name, his eyes fluttered a bit.
"My Lord, she is no more than a fool. It couldn't have been better that she spilt what I gave her and failed to clean up thereafter," laughed Snape, sinisterly. "She is so stupid to not know that I have the rest of the antidote still well and safe with me."
There was laughter ringing from all sides. The rest of the Death-Eaters, thought Draco, as he kept his eyes fixed on the floor.
"Draco."
"Yes, my Lord."
"Severus is not without point…your mission, however successful, has a glitch. But since the Weasleys are down, I suppose the next one, Draco, as you must know, is the mudblood."
Hermione Granger.
"You mustn't kill her – she is highly useful to us, what with her level of intelligence. But once you get her, you will be fully redeemed, and you will be my most trusted minion!"
Draco Malfoy's eyes glittered harshly as he raised them to meet the Dark Lord's.
"Oh my Lord, I have come a step ahead then. I've got her with me."
Lord Voldemort raised his head, and behind Draco Malfoy, in the mist, was an unconscious girl, her brown curls in a heap…on the floor…still breathing, but barely…
Snape raised his eyebrows in amazement. "You…"
Draco Malfoy couldn't help but smirk at his Potions master. "Sorry, Professor, but I think I'm doing much better."
The Dark Lord began to laugh, not a hearty one, but a dangerously evil one, almost reverberating around the place, shaking everyone who was standing around.
"Well done, Draco, very well done…"