DISCLAIMER: I do not own any recognisable characters.

This story was inspired by AkashaTheKitty's Dramione story, The Bracelet. The story made me fall in love with Theo Nott, therefore creating this "Themione".

Chapter Four – Plaguing Thoughts

"Oh Herm, I was starting to get worried!"

Ginny ushered in her best friend out of the cold. Hermione allowed Ginny to push her in, and she shivered at the sudden warmth of the Weasley home.

"Sorry, sorry," Hermione muttered. "I… ah, forgot something and had to get it."

Hermione winced at the lie. But telling Ginny that she ran into Theo Nott wouldn't be a good idea. Ginny would probably scold her because of her recklessness, and probably end up telling Harry and Ron everything.

They hadn't even made it to Ginny's room when the redhead began her rant.

"Oh my gods, Hermione, you won't believe the bullshit I've had to put up with today."

Hermione sighed internally, but thanked her lucky stars that Harry seemed to have pissed Ginny so much that she temporarily forgot about Hermione's crush on a Durmstrang boy. Hermione resigned herself to hearing her best friend rant, and to lengthen that rant as long as possible to avoid the subject of Theo, when—

"But that'll have to do later. What is our plan with the Durmstrang boy? More exactly, what is your plan?"

Maybe Hermione had thanked her stars a little too soon.

"Absolutely nothing," Hermione said. It was true, in a sense—she didn't plan on doing anything until Theo did something first. Call her priggish, but she had no idea how to go about doing something like this; guys were never her forte. "There's a big chance this will just blow over anyway."

Ginny rolled her eyes as she opened the door to her room. Hermione inhaled the wonderful flowery smell from Ginny's room. It was the only place Hermione had ever smelled the scent; it was as unique as her best friend.

"Really, Hermione," Ginny said. "That guy looked like he was interested in you."

Hermione plopped on the rug by Ginny's bed, while her redheaded friend sat on the bed.

"Trust me, Gin," Hermione assured. "Something happened that morning, and he was just thankful."

Ginny's suspicious eyes narrowed. "What happened?"

It was Hermione's turn to roll her eyes. "Stop jumping to conclusions, Gin. He was on the tracks, and the train was coming, so I told him to get out. No big deal. He was just being a show-off, like most guys his age are."

At that, Ginny laughed. "You sound like such an adult, Herm. Honestly, 'most guys his age'… he's our age, Herm!"

Hermione sniffed disdainfully. "Matters not. My point remains. It's no biggie, trust me."

Ginny sobered up, and she looked apologetically at her brunette best friend. "Look, Herm. I do trust you, and I'm even happy for you that you found someone who could be interested in you, but… he's Durmstrang."

Hermione frowned for a moment. "I know that he's Durmstrang. Why is it such a huge deal with all these school rivalries?"

Ginny stared at Hermione. "Okay, well, obviously you haven't heard all the stuff that everyone's saying about everyone else."

"Okay, enlighten me." Hermione wriggled on the rug and readjusted her seat.

Ginny sighed. "Well, obviously a lot of kids, mostly Hogwarts', say Durmstrang are big bullies, and they think they're better than everyone else. Durmstrang kids hurt people; physically, mentally, and emotionally. Durmstrang kids think Hogwarts kids, especially girls, are pretty cheap and poor, just because we're a state school, and they're a private. Beauxbatons is supposed to be some elitist school and their students are snobs, but they're not really big on actively bullying. And Salem's shit doesn't count; they're an all girls school, and they don't really mind dating guys from any other school."

Hermione's mouth hung open. She'd been going to Hogwarts for three and a half years, and she never knew these school rivalries. Well, she knew they existed, just not that they were that serious.

"It got really big last year," Ginny continued. "Year 9 Colin Creevy got beaten up by two Year 11 Durmstrang guys. Have you seen Colin? He's like half your height."

Hermione sighed. Yes, she had seen Colin. He was a slight boy; thin and fragile looking. His face was so warm and trusting, always a ready smile. Curly golden hair. Sparkling sea-blue eyes.

Last year, when the Year 10s were having orientation day for the Year 9s, she had seen Colin after the beat up. He had a black eye, the left side of his jaw was bruised, and he had hobbled in on crutches. The only reason he came in was because he didn't want to miss the orientation day.

When his face healed, Hermione, and indeed everyone, could see Colin had changed. The smile was gone, replaced by a grimace. His eyes, once sparkling and happy, had become like a frightened animal's; always twitching around. He never walked or caught the bus home anymore after that. His parents always picked him up from the front of the school.

"Colin's trauma caused a violent outrage," Ginny said softly. "Hogwarts kids were furious, not to mention the authorities and the Board. Anyone who was dating a Durmstrang were forced by their friends to break up. Soon, fights broke out everywhere between Hogwarts and Durmstrang. That's why it's such a taboo to go out with a Durmstrang."

Hermione felt incredibly sorry for Colin. He didn't deserve what happened to him. "Did they catch the guys who beat Colin up?"

Ginny smirked coldly, her eyes frozen with her cold fury. "Oh yes. They caught them. And you know what they got? They got a warning of cancellation of enrolment, and a two week suspension. More like a two week holiday."

Hermione frowned. "That doesn't sound fair. Colin could have died."

Ginny laughed humourlessly. "Durmstrang isn't fair. Never has been. It was so big it got onto the news, but I guess you were always too busy studying to turn on the TV."

"Really?" Hermione asked, wide-eyed.

Ginny nodded. "National TV on school bullying, rivalries, and gang fights. They spared Colin fifteen minutes of their time, as well as the names of his attackers."

Hermione was horrified. "Did someone video the bash up?"

"Oh no," Ginny said, a cold smirk on her face again, "they're not that stupid. They knew more than two of them would get involved if they videoed it. No. The Durmstrang principal apparently threatened an official police investigation and report if the attackers didn't 'fess up."

"So they did?"

"Yes. I bet they even enjoyed their two minutes of fame on National TV. But a lot of people are saying the Durmstrang principal let the guys off lightly because they 'fessed up. Didn't even bother to get the police in. Didn't allow pictures of the attackers on TV. All they did was send a note of apology to Colin's parents."

"So who were the attackers?" Hermione asked.

"Draco Malfoy and his faithful sidekick, Theo Nott."

AN: So some people might ask why the punishment was so light. a.) Because Durmstrang is a private school, so basically the Durmstrang principal is in control of whatever. b.) Because the police weren't officially involved. c.) Because there was no hard evidence. Just... humour me, okay?

This chapter is dedicated to digigirl02 for reviewing every chapter, and kazorashi for reviewing almost every chapter ( I'm guessing you didn't get the update of the third chapter seeing as you're not a logged-in user =P ). I love reading your reviews; they make my day. :)

Review if you want to keep this story rolling.