Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter

Chapter 19

"Draco!" Hermione exclaimed. "You scared me half to death!"

He grinned. "Sorry."

She eyed him then looked around. "What are doing here? I thought you and Harry had detention with Professor McGonagall right now?"

He shrugged. "She let us out early. Imagine that."

Hermione continued to stare at her. Something wasn't right about him. Just a couple of hours ago, he was a nervous wreck and now, he was acting as if he didn't have a care in the world. What was wrong with him? And since when did McGonagall let students out early from detention?

"Well then, go back to the Dormitory. I don't need you here considering that I'm almost done with my shift." And with that, Hermione turned to leave. However, The blonde grabbed her arm, none to gently might I add, forcing her to look at him.

"Wait, Mud-Hermione." He quickly corrected himself. Hermione stared at him in disbelief. Was he just about to call her a Mudblood?

"What did you say!" Hermione snarled snatching her arm out of his grip.

"I said Hermione."

"No. You were about to say Mudblood! That's sure of a nice way to get me back! Well guess what Malfoy, you can just go to hell!" exclaimed angrily turned around to march off.

She heard Draco sigh behind her. "Bloody hell! You Mudbloods are so touchy."

Hermione finally spun around to face him, her eyes full of hurt and anger. "What is the matter with you? Why are you acting like this?"

Draco smirked at her. "Lets just say, I'm not myself today." He started walking closer to her, causing the brown haired girl to move back. "In fact, this isn't my body at all." He moved closer. "I'm just using it to get to you, my dear, sweet, powerful Mudblood."

The amused tone in his voice startled her. This isn't Draco. He wouldn't do anything like this. Is he under a spell? "If you aren't Draco, then who are you?"

Her back finally hit the wall as 'Draco' pressed his body against hers, placing one hand on the wall behind her. "As much as I would love to share my identity, this hallway doesn't seem to be an appropriate place. This conversation would rather be more suitable in the presence of the Dark Lord, wouldn't you say?"

"W-what?" Hermione began to reach for her wand. "No! Get off me! Stup-"

"Stupefy!"

Hermione fell stiffly into his arms. "I hate it when they fight back, makes everything so damn difficult. Interesting, but difficult." He sighed. A sudden smirk appeared when he heard growling behind him.

"Well good evening!" he said with a smile staring at the creature behind him.

The large sun colored feline continued its growling at the imposter. It crouched down low ready to attack at any second. Amber eyes glanced at the human with fire practically in them. "Listen you over sized hairball, I have no time for you, so why don't you just be a good kitten and tell Dumbledore I was here?" The lion gave an angry roar and started to charge. The imposter sighed. "When are you people ever gonna learn…" with a snap of his finger a giant wall of fire blocked the charging lion. It skidded to a halt, but was not fast enough. The creature gave a loud cry as its front paws went into the fire. Fake Draco gave a devious laugh as he saw the lion retreat to a safer area. "I guess I will take my leave then." He picked up the fallen girl in his arms. "And I will see you on the battle field." And with that he fled.

The lion tried to go after him, but the pain as too much. Deciding he had no choice the lion turn back to his original form of Ricardo. His burnt hand grabbed his wand as tightly as he could as he chased the imposter.

"Expelliarmus!" The spell just barely missing its target. The imposter Draco stopped and stared at the animagus with fire in his eyes.

"You attack while I'm defenseless?" He asked with a hint of amusement in his voice.

"I'd hardly call you defenseless." The auburn spat back.

The fake Draco gave a wicked smirk. "I guess you're right about that." He placed Hermione down. "Aurora." He said calmly.

"Hehe. I though you didn't need my help, Eric." A cheery voice in the darkness said. Ricardo instantly spun his wand towards the voice.

"I'm not asking for help. This is our mission together and you need to pull your weight." He nodded towards the frozen girl. "Take her back. I'll be there in a few."

"AW! I wanna fight too!" she whined. With a glare from the Eric, still disguised as Draco, Aurora quickly hushed up. "Fine!" She sighed. "Don't get your undies in a bunch. I'll take the little wretched girl." With strength you would think a woman like her wouldn't possess, she picked up Hermione. "Come love, I believe you have date with our lord." With that she ran off.

The imposter stared at the fleeing women before turning his attention back to his prey. "Now, where were-" He stopped mid-sentence as a ray of light few past him and disappeared through the dark halls.

"I've just sent a signal to Dumbledore. In a minute or two, he will know that you're here and what you did to Hermione." He said with a weak but smug grin.

"That's plenty of time to take care of you."

Ricardo's grin slowly disappeared. Before he could compose himself, the dreaded Cruciatus Curse hit him. He fell to the floor nearly screaming at the top of his lungs.

Eric with a look of boredom, stalked closer to the helpless young man. "I would love to kill you right now, but I need a messenger." After canceling the curse, he knelt in front of the young man, fire burning in his eyes. Grabbing a fist full of auburn hair, he pulled Ricardo head up to face him. " Look at me." When thee animagus wouldn't look, he pulled tighter causing the young man to groan in pain. "Look at me." he repeated.

Ricardo finally looked up and was overwhelmed by images. Pictures of muggles being tortured, pictures of burnt down villages. Chaos was everywhere. No matter what image appeared, someone was always suffering. Suddenly an image of a large mansion was shown. It was dark and eerie with no proof of life. He could faintly read a sign posted in front of the mansion. Hell's Grip

The images suddenly stop. "That's where we are and I except you to tell them as soon as you wake up."

"W-wake up?"

Eric only smiled and pulled out a knife he had in his robe. He flicked his wand and the knife started to move on its own. "I have to go now. It's been a real pleasure." And with that he disappeared.

Ricardo's attention fell back to the mobilized knife swing itself erratically. He tried to move but was just too weak from the Cruciatus Curse. The knife finally stopped its movements and dove straight into Ricardo's back. He screamed in pain and tried with all his might to move, but couldn't. He felt the searing pain as the knife cut through his skin, creating god knows what. His screams so died out as darkness overtook him. With one more weak shout, Ricardo past out.


Draco and Harry walked quietly together through the hallways. If someone who has never seen the two before, one would think they were friends. Though they didn't speak to each other, neither one sneered at the other or said something foul.

The two were about to part, when they heard the sound of someone yelling. "What was that?" Harry asked in alarm.

"I don't know. Sounds like someone is in trouble."

"Well c'mon. It sounded like it came from the dungeons." Harry started running with Draco right behind him. Oh great, I'm becoming all Gryffindorish… Draco thought to himself.

When they reached the dungeons, the sounds of the screaming became louder. When both young men pulled out their wands, they cautiously made their way through the halls, following the cries. They stopped when they saw a large heap lying on the floor. "What the bloody hell is that?" Draco asked as Harry quietly muttered, 'Lumos'. The tip of his wand started to glow, spreading light on the mysterious figure.

"Oh my god!" Harry gasped and rushed over the person. "M-Malfoy, this is Ricardo!" He stood there, horrified. The auburn haired man laid there, unconscious. His hands were burnt and his robes were ripped to pieces. The knife was stabbed into his skin and all over the floor, there was blood. "We have to get Dumbledore, now. If not, Ricardo could bleed to death."

"There's no need Harry…"

The two boys turned their head to see Dumbledore standing there, the twinkle in his eyes no longer there. "Mr. Potter. Please go to Madam Pomfrey and tell her to get a bed ready. Mr. Malfoy, please find Professor Snape and tell him to me in the hospital wing. He should be somewhere on the first floor. As for you two, I want you up in my office as soon as you're done." The two boys nodded before running off to warn their professors.

(End)

A/N: This one is extremely short and I'm really sorry, but I just can't think anymore. I've been having some writer blocks for a few months that why I haven't updated anything, but I think I know where I'm going with this story….hopefully….

Review please!