Okay, Witches & Wizards alike,
Hold onto your seats. We are about to take a fucking dive in madness….
Tap. Tap. Tap. Hermione could not stop tapping her quill against her thigh and it was driving Harry absolutely insane…They had gone over their questions for Ronan several times, as well as means to mentally disarm him and carry out a swift and bloodless justice. Harry narrowed his eyes at her, as she bent over a book. She had been purposely ignoring him and giving him clipped, one-word answers since he had found her in the library an hour ago. He sighed and looked to the clock. He just wanted to get this damn thing over with. She suddenly looked up.
"Have you talked to Ginny?" Harry looked to her with exasperation.
"No. I haven't." She set aside her book.
"Why not?"
"Because I have nothing to say." He muttered, taking off his glasses and rubbing his hand over his eyes. "It's over Hermione, finished." She nodded once and looked down. "And you?" Her eyes shot back up to his in panic.
"What?" She breathed nervously. Harry looked at her with uncertainty.
"Ron. He said you two made up."
"Oh. Yes. Well, not like that. But, we…apologized and talked about things. I think Pansy might actually make him happy."
"How nice for them." He spat bitterly. She quirked an eyebrow but remained silent. Then she went pack to tapping. Harry clenched his teeth…it was now or never….
"Finished." Snape proclaimed as he waved his wand expertly over the cauldron. The potion turned clear and he smirked in triumph.
"That's it!" Pansy squealed. "We've done it!" She turned her beaming face to Draco only to find that he did not appear to be feeling joyous. Not that he ever felt that way, but she thought he might at least look smug. Instead he looked disheveled…and distracted. She leaned over and put her hand on his shoulder. He jumped and looked down to her quickly, giving her a ghost of a smirk.
"Yeah. Brilliant." Snape turned to look at Malfoy, his tone was nothing like his usual, confident drawl.
"Are you….feeling alright?" Draco glared at Snape. He jumped immediately into defense mode at the slightest show of concern.
"Fine. Just bloody glad this is over with. It's been nothing but mistake after mistake." Snape narrowed his eyes but Pansy jumped in.
"The important thing is that it's finished now."
"Well isn't that such a positive disposition you've got there, Pans."
"And it wasn't easy. I personally, think I did a remarkable job." She grinned widely, ignoring his nasty comment.
"Stop being so fucking disgustingly happy, Pansy. It's nauseating." Draco sneered at her before turning back to the potion to inspect it. Her grin quickly slid off of her face.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't know we had to all walk around on eggs shells because big bad Malfoy is too much of a pissy little girl to own up to his feelings." He slammed his hands down on the table and Snape gave him a startled look.
"That's enough, Miss. Parkinson."
"Why?" She taunted. "It's true. Draco can't stand for anyone else to be happy or satisfied but he does everything in his power to ruin the chances at happiness that he has for himself!" Draco turned his furious gaze to her, ready for battle.
"And what's your happy place, Parkinson? Sitting on Weasely's freckled, ugly face?"
She drew her wand immediately hissing with menace. Draco reached for his but Snape grabbed him by the arm, forcing him back. He looked steadily at the Queen Ice Bitch.
"Miss. Parkinson. I understand you are feeling emotionally fragile after your… near death experience, but I must ask you to desist your ranting and lower your wand…immediately."
"Or what?" She hissed, stepping closer to the two men. "Or what?"
Hermione was staring at Harry, her mouth hanging open in shock. He stared back at her with determination.
"What?" She breathed barely capable of comprehending his words.
"Be with me." She started to laugh and his eyes hardened instantly. She only stopped once she realized he was not joining in with her.
"You're not kidding."
"No."
"Are you insane?"
"Possibly. I guess that depends on your answer."
"Harry, you're my best friend."
"What's wrong with that? What's wrong with loving your best friend?"
"I do love you, Harry, I do. You know that you'll always have a piece of my heart."
"I want more." She closed her eyes to escape his relentless stare. What had she gotten herself into?
"It's impossible."
"Why?"
She sat up a little straighter, ready for a proper debate.
"For one thing, you're still technically set to marry Ginny Weasely. I know for a fact that the Wedding date has not been cancelled. So, there's that."
He had nothing to say in response. "And then there's Ron. Who would absolutely never speak to either of us ever again if we did such a thing."
"Ron's not speaking to me anyway, Hermione! Haven't you noticed? He blames me for all his hardships and then has the audacity to come crawling back here and right in between Parkinson's legs. He disgusts me."
"Don't judge him." She snapped back. "He's human. Just like the rest of us."
"The rest of us don't go preaching about how innocent we are before turning around and being a total fucking hypocrite." He eyed Hermione's sudden silence with panicked alert. "Or do we?" He added. She looked away from his gaze, blushing slightly. Harry got up slowly, circling around the back of the couch. "What's the real reason, Hermione? What the real reason you don't want to be with me?" She shuddered at his dangerously soft tone.
"I never said I didn't want…It's just that, I did. And now…Everything is different." He took in her words, she could hear his ragged breathing from behind her.
"That bastard. He didn't listen, did he? He just couldn't stay away from you, huh?" He slammed his fist into the wall causing Hermione to jump to her feet.
"Harry, I can explain-"
"I don't want to hear you fucking explain Hermione! I don't want to hear anything you have got to say." He raged pacing across the floor. Tears sprang to her eyes instantly.
"You're being massively unfair Harry Potter! I am your best friend, you said you would stand by me no matter what. You promised in fact, you promised that whatever happened between us out there, during the hunt, you said it wouldn't affect our friendship ever. That we would always have each other. I trusted you!" She sobbed collapsing against the wall, her mind heaving with stress. He stood there, looking at her, numbly. Feeling nothing and everything all at once. He wanted to kill Malfoy, he wanted to rip him limb from limb; he wanted to comfort Hermione, he wanted to drop to his knees and beg for her forgiveness…he wanted to….
Pansy Parkinson sat fuming as Draco twirled her wand between his fingers, in the other hand, he was clutching a Bezoar; Snape handed her a vial of the Veritiserum. She gave him a very sour look before tipping the glass up to her lips.
"If this kills me," She snapped. "I am going to haunt you until you both go insane."
"I believe you have already accomplished that feat." Snape spat in his most spiteful tone, thankfully Malfoy had disarmed her before she had almost caught the entire potion's lab on fire, along with Snape's hair, in her fury. Severus' locks were still smoking lightly. Draco thought it was probably the grease.
They watched Pansy intently for signs of distress. She sat there calmly, staring back at them. Although she had not been cursed with Dark Magic, Snape had assured them that the altered Veritiserum would act completely the same as its counterpart if tested on a human. As long as Pansy wasn't choking to death or seizing up, it was very likely that they had succeeded.
"What is your name?" Snape asked after several moments of silence.
"Pansy Parkinson."
"And how many wizards have you slept with?" Interjected Draco with a evil smirk. She gave him the finger before the words passed through her lips.
"Ninety-Two and a half…."
"Half?" Draco was beyond amused. She snarled at him with contempt.
"It was a midget, threesome…thing, okay? Fucking Hell, Draco. You're such a prat." Snape threw Draco a venomous glare.
"What? It was the fastest way to find out if it worked." Snape turned back to the potion and began bottling it quickly.
"Going to fuck Weasley tonight?" Draco taunted her. He was in a foul fucking mood. All he could think of was Potter and Granger up in that library together, doing God knows what. It was making him sick. She wouldn't though, would she? She wouldn't. She very well could be. Right now. He forced himself back to the present, just in time to be slapped across the face by an enraged Pansy.
"No! I am fucking not! I am bleeding like a fucking slaughtered swine, my cramps are killing me and I've been stuck down here with you two instead of getting my aching breasts rubbed by Ron. You are such a fucking asshole, Malfoy. I can't stand your face right now." She was screaming like a shrew and then bursting into tears. She turned swiftly blasting a table out of her way and took off up the stairs. She needed chocolate and wine. Now. Fucking asshole men. Slytherin men. The worst!
Snape turned his head to Draco with a look of supreme exasperation.
"Draco…You are becoming too much like your cousin, Sirius. I'm afraid to be the one to have to tell you but this is not….a redeemable…quality." He packed up several of the vials with a wave of his wand. "I'm heading straight to the Ministry, there is paperwork to be done before any of this can be performed. They must know that it is safe. Alert Mr. Potter and Miss. Granger that they are to leave as soon as possible." Snape moved to the massive fireplace; the flames basked shadows across his scowling face as he spun back around suddenly, piercing Draco with his dark and penetrating eyes.
You're the one who taught me, Godfather. Draco taunted in his head, easily blocking the man from his thoughts. As if he wasn't prepared for Snape's little inspections of the mind. Severus was annoyed but satisfied.
"And don't leave this house." He was gone with the roar of the fire and a swish of his cloak. Draco rolled his eyes in annoyance, stalking towards the stairs and out of the dungeon, anxious to see Granger…
Hermione wiped at her eyes as the tension in the room strained beyond belief. She was terrified to look up at Harry, she could feel his wild gaze on her and her heart was jumping up into her throat, doing double time. What was he thinking?
She didn't have to wait long to find out. Suddenly, he was grabbing her roughly by the arms and swinging her around to face him. She stumbled slightly reaching for his shoulders to keep her balance. She looked up at him. His eyes were so green, so distraught but so determined. It was the look she had seen him wear every time before he faced a tremendous task. She took a deep breath.
"Harry this isn't right. As much as I…love you-" He cut her off as his hands wrapped around her face pulling her lips to his.
Draco was just pushing open the door when he heard:
"I…love you." He looked up quickly to see Granger. In Potter's arms. Together. Then he was kissing her fiercely. Draco's rage imploded throughout his body, his mind was seething with sickness and suddenly a beast of epic proportions roared to life within his chest.
He was back. Malfoy was fucking back. He slammed the door as hard as he possibly could, just as Granger shoved Potter off of her and stepped back in alarm, her gaze falling to Draco. Her eyes widened in horror at the deadly calm look on his face.
Inside, he was ready to kill. But no. He could not let them know. Not let Potter have the satisfaction of seeing him snap. But oh, to be sure, he was most definitely snapping, splintering if you will. From the insides out and it would only be moments longer, that he would be able to control the sick, sweet poison of jealously infusing itself into his veins.
"Well, well, well…" He drawled in the most awful sneer he could muster. "What do we have here? Don't get your hopes up Potter, Granger here moves pretty quickly between the men in this house…If you do manage to catch her, it might only be for the night. She's slippery like that. Slippery like mud." Hermione flinched at the fury he was hiding so hard to mask. She took a deep breath and raised her eyes to his. The betrayal she saw there, cut her deeper than she cared to admit.
"Draco, I was just telling Harry-" But it was soon apparent that Draco had disappeared for the evening. Malfoy was out of control, and Hermione, was suddenly scared.
"You were?" He laughed with no emotion. Harry reached for his wand and Draco turned to him, arms spread. "Go ahead Potter, you've taken everything else." He walked towards them. "My family…my wealth…my job….my freedom…what else do you want? My life?" He stopped directly in front of Potter, his fists clenching and unclenching.
"I believe I have just taken that, as well." Harry whispered savagely, so only Malfoy could hear. He stared at Potter for several moments. That smug fucking bastard. He was going to finally get what was coming to him. Draco swung back and punched the man as hard as he could, feeling his nose crack against his knuckles. Hermione gasped in horror and Malfoy spun on his heel, his hand bleeding, and his entire body shaking as he stalked back towards the door. He turned when he reached the exit, flinging a look of pure loathing in their direction. Harry was swearing and getting his feet, Hermione was clutching onto the side of the couch.
"Draco, please-" He snarled at her with disgust.
"Draco please." He mimicked. "Draco, please what? You want me to fuck you again? Before or after Potter gets his next turn?" Shocked slammed through Harry's features as he turned to Hermione.
"You didn't." Draco growled as Harry went to grab her again but she jumped out of his reach.
"Enough!" She screamed. "This is insane! Draco, just let me explain-"
"No. I think I've had quite e-fucking-nough of you and your pathetic excuses to last me a lifetime." He glanced back at the clock. "By the way, you're late for your meeting." He sneered before slamming through the door and out of sight.
Hermione sank to her knees but Harry was pulling her up before she hit the floor, dragging her defeated body to the fireplace. He wrapped his arms around her and her head fell against his chest, tears streaming freely now. Oh God. She was so sick to her stomach it was almost unbearable. But before she had time contemplate the seriousness of the situation, she was spinning.
"Hold on tight." Harry's breath caressed her ear and she shivered. Flecks of his blood landed on across her cheeks as the fire took them away.
Draco smashed his way through Grimmauld Place, kicking and punching everything he came into contact with. He had purposefully woken every single portrait and then proceeded to hex and harass them all the way down three flights of stairs. He barged into the kitchen like a raging bull ready to take on Kreacher and his savage obsession with cutlery, when he stopped dead to see a very devious redhead sitting at the end of the table, examining her nails.
Ginny Weasely looked up and smiled. It was truly the most evil thing he had seen since Voldemort lived at the Manor.
"Hello, Ferret." She cooed, her wide eyes taking in his furious form. "Tough day?" He snarled at her, his mouth close to foaming.
"What the fuck do you want Weasel? Came crawling back with your tail between your legs for another shot at wealth and fame? Or are you here for the Professor?" The grin widened on her face.
"Actually, both." He looked at her in shock. Had she finally gone mad? Insanity sometimes ran in the pureblood lines… She continued after several moments. "I'm waiting…are you the only one here? Where is everyone?" He arched an eyebrow, as if he would amuse her. Her smile widened some more. It looked unnatural. "I have an urgent message."
"What?" He snapped.
"Yes, Kingsley just popped into the fire a few minutes ago." She jerked her head towards the end of the kitchen.
"What did he say?" He was seething.
"The message is for Severus."
"Severus. How cozy it is when you say it, Weaslette." She just smiled blandly up at him. Apparently drastic measures were to be taken; he was on a bloody rampage. Done with her annoying bullshit, he pulled his wand and pointed it at her threateningly. "What did he say?"
"Oh…." She paused, her eyes flickering to his wand and back to his face. "Just that…Dolores Umbridge has been sighted."
"Where!?" He practically screamed. Draco needed anything, anything at the moment to erase the words of love Granger had whispered to that stupid fucking scar face. Ginny smiled at his desperation.
"Why should I tell you?" He was beginning to shake. "What? Are you going to go after her?"
A sudden, dangerous excitement crept through Malfoy's bones. Yes. Yes that was exactly what he was going to do. Fuck it all. What did he have to lose? He wanted to kill. He wanted to destroy. He no longer wanted to feel. Just the thought of fucking Potter, touching her…he was squeezing his eyes shut, his wand sparking furiously. He was losing it.
"Just tell me, Weasely. Now." He ground out through his teeth.
"And what's in it for me?"
"I won't inform Potter that you have been withholding information from an Auror and stalling an extremely important mission. Some might even call it an obstruction of justice." Fuck Granger and her stupid fucking law books. His mind screamed in pain as her eyes flashed in his head. He shut it down quickly, focusing on the bitchy, little tart in front of him, now considering her options. As soon as she scowled, Malfoy knew he had won.
"Fine. Get yourself killed. I doubt anyone would care." She replied flippantly, but when she made contact with his gaze she drew back in her chair slightly. The sight of an unhinged Malfoy was very unsettling. She gave up the coordinates to a undisclosed location on the outskirts of London and he tore from the kitchen with the fury of a monstrous storm.
Ginny sat back in delight. She had just lightened Harry's casework for him. Now he would have time for her. Let Malfoy be the one to risk his neck for once in his miserable life. She smiled happily, retiring to the Drawing Room.
The clock ticked on and she waited. Around 8pm she heard the creak of a door opening behind her.
"Harry? Is that you-?" She turned quickly and terror shot through every fiber of her being. Ginny was momentarily stunned. She was looking into eyes of someone she had thought she would never see again. A scream rose violently in her throat as hands slapped wickedly over her mouth before moving to her neck; dragging her at wand point towards the fireplace. Ginny struggled but couldn't break free; she had dropped her wand in alarm.
"Don't worry. Your filthy, little friends will come get you. It's not your blood I'm after." A voice whispered in her ears. Ginny closed her eyes, the fear consuming her, drowning her in panic… and then she let the darkness take her.