Hermione finished her essay just seconds before she heard the whistle blow, announcing the start of the match. She folded it and stuck it neatly in her bag, happy with the finished product. She grabbed her cloak and her scarf and pulled them on quickly. She shut her bedroom door, and then turned toward the fireplace. She let out a small scream when she saw a figure standing in front of the fireplace, the light creating a creepy silhouette.

At first she thought it was Draco, but this figure had shorter hair and stood a few inches below Draco's height. When the figure spoke, she recognized their voice immediately.

"Hello Mudblood."

Theodore Nott stood before her, his wand in his hand. It took Hermione a few seconds to understand why he was here, but she soon remembered his warning in Potions class, and she knew that Theo wasn't here for a polite conversation. She slipped her hand inside of her robes and fingered her wand.

Stay calm. Hermione told herself.

"How did you get in here?" She was proud that her voice didn't give away how scared she really was.

"Pansy told me the password. She said she overheard Draco say it when he brought her and Blaise here. It didn't take a lot to get it out of her."

Hermione cursed Pansy and her big mouth internally.

"You look scared." He said.

Hermione tilted her chin up to look down on him. "I'm not."

He smiled at her stubbornness. "Do you know why I'm here?"

"I'm guessing you're angry because you got kicked off the Quidditch team, and you, for some reason, think it's my fault."

He smiled wider. "Wrong. I thought you were smart, Mudblood." Hermione narrowed her eyes.

"Well, since I'm missing something painfully obvious, then why don't you fill me in." Her words dripped with sarcasm.

He looked at her like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "I'm here to teach Draco a lesson."

She blinked. That was not what she had been expecting to hear.

I don't understand…

"Why? What has Draco ever done to you?"

Theo began to pace in front of the fireplace, the light casting scary shadows on his already scary face. The rain outside fell even harder than before, and Hermione prayed that the Quidditch game had been called off.

"Draco has always been the favorite, and I have never understood why. Why does he get the special treatment? Why does everyone fawn over Draco Malfoy while more capable people get pushed aside?"

Hermione raised her eyebrows. "Is this about Quidditch? Draco was made Captian because-"

"This isn't about Quidditch, Mudblood." He twirled his wand in his right hand. "Draco was chosen to finish off the old fool, but he couldn't do it! He failed! And it was Snape who had to come in and do his dirty work for him!"

Hermione couldn't believe what she was hearing. "You…you wanted to kill professor Dumbledore?"

He smiled menacingly. "I could have done it. I would not have failed."

Hermione pulled out her wand now, wishing that Draco would come to her aid. Draco, please hurry! Hermione thought.

Theo smiled and motioned toward her wand. "That's not going to help you."

Stall him. I have to stall him, I have to get him talking. I just need to give Draco some more time…

Hermione's heart pounded in her chest; it was so loud, she would be surprised if Theo couldn't hear it. She kept her voice as steady as possible as she spoke. "Why did you want to kill Professor Dumbledore?"

He shrugged, as if the question was something unimportant. "For respect, I suppose."

"Respect…" She repeated.

"I could have done it." He repeated.

"So why kill me? What does that do?"

He shrugged again. "It hurts Draco. He got my mission, and failed. Now is the time for payback."

He began to advance on her. Quickly, Hermione sent a silent spell his way, but Theo easily blocked it. She hadn't realized that he was so skilled; it sent a shiver down her spine.

He shook his head mockingly. "You're gonna have to do better than that, Mudblood."