Happy Thanksgiving to everyone in America!

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Chapter 3

The American

To talk to Draco about the bushy haired girl wasn't why Roddy was here. He wish his boss as just given him time off to come and socialize with an old friend. No such luck. He really needed to talk to Draco about something going on in his own country. It was important and Draco was the only one he could think of that could help.

"Draco. Draco. DRACO! Dude, stop staring. She can see you!"

"I wasn't staring and no need to shout." Draco said as he snapped his head around and glared at Roddy.

"Oh you were staring with your mouth chillin open. She probably even noticed and so did her friend."

"You saw that, did you?"

Roddy just laughed and took a sip of his drink.

"Man, you'd think with magic it wouldn't be that hard to make a good glass of sweet tea, but this stuff is awful!" Roddy said with a twisted expression on his face. "I need to get back to America and Southern America at that, fast."

"It can't be that bad. We, after all, did basically invent tea." Draco grabbed Roddy's drink and took a swig. "Oh that is awful. I don't even know what that is." They both just laughed and Roddy ordered another safer drink. Firewhiskey.

"So Roddy, what made you decide to come visit me this time. I know this isn't a social visit as much as I would like it to be. It has been over two years since we've seen one another but I don't think you're here to catch up."

Roddy groaned and said, "I really do wish this was just a social call, but it isn't. Can't we talk about your reaction to the bushy hair girl instead though? I think I would find that topic much more to my liking."

"Absolutely not. I will not be talking about Hermione Granger."

"Ah, that is the one and only Ms. Granger. I can now have a face to go with the name I've heard about in so many stories. That can't be Ron, and it isn't Harry. I know his face. So who is the guy?"

"Roddy." Draco grumbled with his mouth half full of food.

"Fine. Fine. Fine. Okay, so have you heard anything about what's going on in America?" Draco shook his head to indicate that he hadn't as he was chewing a bite of his blackened salmon. "Good, at least we've been able to keep it quiet, so far. Well, there is some maniac on the loose. He is just going around killing random wizards. It isn't based on blood status at all. There have been 2 pure-bloods, 2 half bloods, and a muggleborn killed so far. Five people so far, and that's just in the States. We think he has been killing in other countries in the western hemisphere too. We know it's the same person or group of people because they always kill the exact same way. It's not a commonly known spell. It's one that you've been the victim of though. You said it was the worst experience of your life. Even more painful than taking the dark mark."

At this Draco's head shot up and he spit salmon across the table onto Roddy and said, "Sectumsempra?"

Roddy wiped Draco's dinner off his face, nodded, and said, "That's the one. Next time can you please swallow your supper before you try to speak."

"I didn't know that anyone outside of Hogwarts or the Order knew about that spell. Sectumsempra is dark magic. The only people I know that know it are either dead, in prison, or would never use it randomly. Sorry about covering you with my dinner. I was just surprised."

"That's why we are worried. I was the first to figure it out and only because of what you had described to me and the awful picture you sent me. No one in the Americas has even heard of Sectumsempra. We've been in contact with every person we can think of, and no one knows anything about it. Whoever is using this spell came from Hogwarts. They were either a student here when Snape was or they fought for Voldemort during either of the wars or they were a member of the Order. That's why I'm here. My boss knew that I knew someone who had been a victim of it and thought maybe I could gather some information from you."

Draco sighed and put his head in his hands and shook his head. "This can't be happening again."

"I know man, I'm sorry." Roddy paused for a few minutes and let Draco just take it all then continued, "Do you know any death eaters that are awol, or just anyone sadistic enough to want to kill random wizards for no good reason? Even anyone who has been to the States recently. We have nothing to go on. We haven't been able to come up with any similarities between the victims. They haven't even been in the same state. The first one was half-blood female from Kansas, 2nd was a pure-blood female from Ohio, 3rd muggle born male from Washington State, 4th was a half-blood male from Florida, and the 5th was a pureblood female from Virginia. The last one hit close to home, that's where I live, man. I live in Virginia, that's where I grew up. It's my home and now people are just going around slicing others open for no reason. I think that Voldemort was wrong but at least he had some logic to his madness, as twisted as it was."

Draco nodded. He understood what Roddy was getting at. Voldemort did believe in his fight even though it was twisted beyond belief. He sat there thinking of all the people he knew were aware of that spell. Most of them were dead or were members of the Order. Snape, Lupin, Moody, Potter, Weasel, the not dead twin, the dead twin, Mr. and Mrs. Weasel, the girl Weasel, the oldest Weasel that got attacked by a werewolf, (why are there so many of those darn Weasels?) the dragon chaser Weasel, and that stuck up Weasel, Tonks, Sirius, Slughorn, Granger, Dumbledore, Bellatrix, his father, his mother, Voldemort, Dolohov, and Jugson, he was sure a few of the other death eaters had been aware of the spell as well but really, most of the death eaters were either dead or in Azkaban. Crabbe, Goyle, and Blaise knew of the spell, but he didn't think Goyle knew the spell or would ever be able to figure it out and he didn't think that Blaise would use it even if he did figure it out. There was Pansy and Daphne but again he doubted either of them could have figured out the spell or even use it if they did.

"Once we get back to my flat I'll write down all the names I can think of that would know that curse even the ones who are dead or wouldn't use it unless it was completely necessary. I am sitting here trying to rack my brain for anyone that would do this and I'm coming up empty. I am sorry all of this is going on over there. I was really hoping that these issues wouldn't cross the Atlantic."

"I don't think this has anything to do with blood, just think that this person is just down right sadistic. I think he is twisted and warped and needs to be locked in a hospital or a prison. Let's try and not think about it right now. Let's talk about Granger. She's cute, even with that bushy hair. Is she dating that fellow?" Roddy said with a laugh in his voice.

"I hope she isn't dating that Ravenclaw. She can do way better than him. I had heard she wasn't with Weasel but I hadn't heard she was with anyone else. She is cute, I think her hair gives her character." Draco paused, then add "We are NOT talking about Granger! You almost pulled one over on me, Roddy."

Roddy and Draco both laughed and paid for their meal. As they were walking out they walked past the table where Luke and Hermione sat. Briefly Draco and Hermione's eyes met and a mutual understanding passed between them.

Draco was considering what just came out of his mouth. Granger is cute? Since when? Why wouldn't he talk about Granger? I don't care if she is dating that Ravenclaw, do I? She can do better. Since when do I like her hair? I need a drink.

Hermione tried to pay attention to Luke and their conversation, but really she was much more interested in what Draco had to say to his friend, Randy? Roddy? Ronnie? something like that. First, Draco's friend had heard stories about her. What had Malfoy been telling him? Oh, she could only imagine what kind of stories Malfoy had told his friend about her and her friends. This rather angered Hermione so she tried not to listen. That was until Draco covered his friend with his dinner. She almost laughed out loud at that one, but caught herself. Luke looked at her funny and she said something about choking on her salad. What was said that made Malfoy react that way? She was going to have to pay attention now. Sorry, Luke. I need to know she thought. Sectumsempra. Is that what Draco just said? Oh shit.

Luke tried to involve Hermione in conversation but failed, so he let her listen to what Malfoy and his American friend were saying. What ever it was it had Hermione looking rather curious, scared, nervous, and intrigued all at the same time. He wondered how someone could express all of those emotions at one time on one's face without looking ridiculous. She didn't look ridiculous though, she looked cute. Luke wanted to have Hermione's full attention but he guessed he'd have to share it with ferret boy over there. Who would have thought? Draco frickin' Malfoy would be here. So not in his plan.

Once Draco and his friend left Luke and Hermione finished their meal and left. Neither one was quite ready to go back to the castle so they wandered around Hogsmead for a while before making their way back. They were head girl and boy and were allowed to be out of the castle when they wished even during the week. Going to Hogsmead was something the older students were allowed to do a lot more of on the weekends since the defeat of Voldemort. Seeing that it was a Thursday Hogsmead was very quiet. The shops were open but they weren't busy. Hermione just enjoyed being out of the castle. She was thinking about what Draco had said. Why did his friend know about that spell. No one outside of Hogwarts knew that spell. This wasn't good.