Thankyou for the constructive and friendly reviews. I know that I have made some mistakes so far but hopefully I can work that into my story a bit. Also, I hope it is okay that this chapter is twice as long as the first.
The library smelled of putrid rot that evening as Hermione packed up her books. She'd been feeling neglected by her friends for some time now and it had begun to feel to her as though no one needed her anymore. Just before she'd risen from her seat, a hairy, bony hand rested a glowing lantern on the desk. She looked up to see Filch the caretaker; it wasn't much of a surprise, he was interrogating almost every kid around the school now for reasons unknown to her.
"Where did you get this book?" he snarled, lifting it up by its tattered spine. "It looks like it's from the restricted section..."
"It's my potions text book," Hermione sighed and held out her hand politely till he returned it. She ran her finger along the title. "See? It says 'Potions' across the front."
"Ah, very well..." Filch trailed off then took his lantern and strolled out of the library.
Hermione sat there dumbfounded for a moment. Something seemed very peculiar about Filch. She headed back towards the Gryffindor common room where she hoped her friends would welcome her with a warm and loving embrace, but she knew most wouldn't take their eyes off the fire or even acknowledge her.
"Hey Hermione, have you seen Ron?" asked Harry, an expression of worry spread across his face.
"No, not recently, why do you ask?" she felt a slight twang, he was always more interested in other people. She couldn't remember the last time he was excited or even happy to see her.
"Well, he had a detention with Filch yesterday and I haven't seen him since," Harry sighed, his forehead crumpled and his eyes watery.
"Maybe he killed him!" chuckled Dean. "The way he killed Seamus and Malfoy!"
"Don't joke about that," grumbled Ginny gently punching him in the arm.
"Stop worrying," Dean rolled his eyes at them, "they'll turn up."
Lavender suddenly poked her head through the doorway, looking quite distressed. "Everyone come quickly! You have to see this!"
"What is it?" asked a few of the others but Lavender was already running off before she could answer. Everyone followed along in blind curiosity.
The halls were packed with students chattering and rushing down to Hagrid's hut. Hermione saw almost every teacher making their way down as well.
"So what did you call us down here for Lavender?" Hermione prodded her, looking around at everyone huddled around.
"Look there, at the pumpkin patch..." she trailed off; it looked as though she was about to throw up.
Hermione took a few steps closer; she saw the face popping out of the dirt that everyone was staring at and her jaw dropped. There was also several other limbs tangled in the vine of the pumpkins.
"Filch?" Hermione muttered under her breath. "It can't be him – I – I just saw him just a few minutes ago."
While some of the students were weeping, others were just in shock. It was as if out of nowhere, Malfoy was across the crowd looking straight at her. When he'd noticed her returned gaze he gave a sly wink and slinked back into the crowd.
"Why does he have to be so arrogant?" she furrowed her brow at Harry standing next to her. "One of the staff has just been found dead and he's being his usual disrespectful self."
What an asshole, she thought to herself. Hermione looked over at all the teachers. Professor McGonagall's eyes were teary, Hagrid looked heartbroken (partially from his tainted pumpkins) and Dumbledore had a grave look upon his face.
"Students – back to your common rooms!" the wise old man boomed. Dumbledore needed to discuss matters with the other teachers and have the corpse removed from the school grounds.
Hermione was disappointed as she headed back to the dormitories with the others. She wanted to find out more about what had happened – and Malfoy – why had he been so strange? Had she imagined it all? Maybe Filch had been ambushed straight after his visit in the library... and left him half buried in the pumpkin patch in a rush. But it still didn't make sense. There wouldn't have been enough time for the killer to do it in broad daylight without being seen. Hermione needed to investigate. She separated from the others and instead of going back to the common room she snuck over to the library.
"Hermione, what are you doing here?" Draco ambushed. He had entered the library only a moment after her. His voice sounded strangely acquiescent and his actions different to the Malfoy she knew. "Why aren't you at the Gryffindor common room with everyone else?"
"I – I just needed to grab a few books for homework. Hang on, it's none of your business anyway, Malfoy," she grumbled and stood there with her hands on her hips to protest his presence. Hermione refused to continue her search with him watching.
"Hermione, go to the common room," he ordered, pointing to the door. He glanced towards the forbidden section and let out a sigh.
"No, why don't you go to your common room? Also, stop calling me Hermione. Coming from your lips it kind of creeps me out," she frowned. "What happened to 'snitch' and your personal favourite?"
"I think it would be for the best if you left. Didn't you hear that there is a killer running around Hogwarts? He could be right in this room at this very moment and you wouldn't even know it. Or worse," he warned her, and then once again glanced nervously over at the restricted section. "You don't want to become a 'suspect' yourself do you?"
Hermione hadn't stopped to think about that, and followed his line of sight out of curiousity. "What's over there Malfoy that you look so worried about?"
"Nothing," he mumbled and shook his head.
"Well then I hope you don't mind me having a look..." she trailed off sauntering towards the restricted section.
"No!" he snapped then gave her a swift kick to the shin. "I told you to leave!"
"Ouch!" Hermione screeched writhing in pain. "Oh Merlin, I think you broke something! "
She was surprised to see Draco trying to help her up but she quickly shoved him away. After all, he was the one that put her in this state in the first place.
"Come on, let me take you to the hospital wing," he insisted and continued trying to help her up.
"Get away from me!" she yelped and forced herself up, hopping madly away from him and back to the common room. Hermione was starting to feel very suspicious of Draco, she needed to come back later and see what he was keeping secret in the forbidden section.