Author's Note: Yay! Quick update! I was just on a roll today! This one is longer and better than Chapter 6 I think so of course read and review please. I'm not planning for it to be a drawn out story but I don't want to rush anything so we'll see... so enjoy. It's not beta'ed so if there are mistakes then my bad, I read through it a few times just to make sure but usually the writer doesn't catch all of the mistakes the first few times around.
I tried to do new line breaks that aren't the periods or the long line break but it's not showing up... how annoying.
Disclaimer: Same old same old, JK Rowling owns them all except Emily and Cain.
Chapter 7
Draco leaned against the wall with his hands stuffed in his pockets as he watched the students around him hustle and bustle to get to class, he wasn't really watching them but he wasn't in a hurry so he took to holding up the stone walls.
"So are you going to tell me what's going on with you?" the deep voice startled him back into reality and he blinked glancing at his friend who joined him and he only rolled his eyes
"You're not my mother" he muttered deciding to close his eyes hoping his friend would catch his meaning and leave him alone. Blaise might not talk much but he was stubborn when he wanted to be, Draco was thankful that he usually never bothered him but now all of a sudden he was constantly staring at him, his dark eyes asking the questions his mouth never did.
"No but something is wrong"
"How observant of you Blaise"
"Well you did come into the Slytherin dorms last week…" Draco opened his eyes looking to him wondering why that even mattered but Blaise only smirked, it was faint but Draco noticed, he demanded to know why that was a problem "You're Head Boy, you don't live in the Slytherin dorms anymore and you actually slept there."
Frowning Draco realized that he did run back to his old living quarters after leaving Granger in the closet, he wasn't even thinking, he completely forgot about his status as Head Boy and the shared dorm with Padma Patil. "Why didn't you say anything then?"
"I'm not your mother" Blaise answered his eyes falling on the students who gave them nervous glances, both were intimidating, they both were tall Blaise a bit more muscular and broader than Draco who was a bit taller and leaner but they both held cold expressions on their faces, Blaise's dark eyes piercing and Draco's grey storms mocking.
"Why do you even care?"
"I don't, just pointing out what I've noticed. You've been off since last year, and then it got worse when that new girl got here. If you're going off with her then whatever but don't be an idiot." With that, he pushed away from the wall disappearing in the crowd; Draco glared at the back of his head as he left. He knew nothing. Sure he was angry with Granger for her little ploy but nothing was going on between them, in fact more than anything he's been avoiding her or she was avoiding him. Who bloody cares! Glancing at the time, he made a face before making his way to his first class.
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After running into Ginny in the Common Room, Hermione really tried to avoid her as much as possible. In fact she just didn't want to be here anymore, things were much simpler with Harry and Ron… well alright not really simpler considering the fact they were running from Snatchers often, they faced many dangers more than when they were actually in Hogwarts. Hmm, maybe that's not true either. It didn't matter; Hermione should be used to all of this by now. Against her will she found that she was thinking of a certain blond haired, grey eyed person often and it was beginning to get on her nerves!
She was the first student in her Dark Arts class, she managed to stay unnoticed by the Death Eater who ran this class but something was nagging in her gut today and she felt that it wouldn't be a good day. More and more students filed in, Emily sat next to her and Hermione gave a small smile before watching as the Death Eater joined the classroom. He had cold pale blue eyes, facial hair and short brown hair that gave him a sinister look, he wore all black and it made him look much taller and skinner than he already was but Hermione could see the hatred in his eyes as he glared at them
"Separate" It came in a loud throaty whisper. The students jumped to their feet at the command and they began pushing the desks to the back of the classroom, this has only happened twice since Hermione had been there and it was a command that everyone knew the meaning of now. The Muggleborns stood to the left of the classroom, the Purebloods to the right and the Halfbloods stood in the middle. This was "Advanced" Dark Arts, whatever that meant but a quarter of the seventh year students were in this class. The schedule was stricter than usual. Each year had to attend Muggle Studies and Dark Arts; there was no choice in the matter so when they rotated another half would go to the Carrow siblings and the other half would attend whatever other classes they had. Hermione found it ludicrous but she couldn't object at least not loudly.
Amycus Carrow stood in the front of the classroom his arms behind his back as he appraised them all, his eyes fell on the halfbloods and he sneered
"Choose a side halfbloods" Another thing she noticed he enjoyed doing, making the halfbloods who weren't Pure but weren't completely from a muggle family; choose which they would rather be associated with.
" Hardly fair Carrow, even if they did choose a side you'd still have something to say about it" a very familiar voice resounded in the classroom, Hermione turned to look at the door and couldn't help but to beam as he closed the door behind him. He was much taller than she last remembered, not as tall as Ron but maybe Harry's height, he was sporting a bruised cheek but his eyes held a fire in them that she watched kindle over the years.
"Mr. Longbottom, how nice of you to rejoin us, I see that you have made a full recovery from your last indiscretion"
"Fortunately" he said taking a stand in the group of muggleborns. Hermione felt a sense of pride, Neville certainly grew into that Gryffindor bravery that she always knew he possessed. Carrow narrowed his eyes to him once more before looking to the Halfbloods, some followed Neville's lead but the others stood in the Pureblood group but to her surprise, some of the other purebloods, mainly Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs came and stood with the muggleborns. This didn't happen the last two times but Neville hadn't been there, she didn't even know he was in her class, were the students looking to him these days?
"Today, we're moving on from the simple and silly hexes, today we will start with duels…" the door opened again and Draco walked inside, he didn't say a word or even look at the Professor. He tossed his bag on the desk where the others things were and at atop a desk, Carrow glared at him for a moment "Mr. Malfoy… you are not in this class at this time"
"Yeah well I figured I'd enjoy being in here more than listening to Flitwick's squeaks. So please continue" Making a sound of irritation, Carrow continued his eyes landing on green ones
"Miss. James, front and center." Hermione froze hearing her name, in all of his demonstrations she hadn't been called, she tried to not answer questions when they were asked in class but she couldn't help herself, it was in her nature but volunteering for demonstrations she kept from doing. Everyone looked at her and she took a deep breath before moving forward. Draco watched as Hermione moved forward, as far as he could tell no one recognized her yet, he felt a swell of pride that he was the one who convinced her to change her last idiotic attempt of disguise. The ebony hair and emerald eyes suited her. "And… Miss. Greengrass why don't you come forward as well" Hermione's eyes found the blue ones of Daphne Greengrass as she moved away from her friends and faced the Gryffindor.
Carrow looked between the two of them before taking a step back. "Alright Miss. Greengrass, attack. There can only be one winner"
"Wait! Aren't you ignoring the rules of a duel?" Hermione found herself asking just as Daphne raised her wand to attack, her own wand was clutched tightly in her hand but he had to know that this wasn't the way it was supposed to go
"Please James" Daphne said with a roll of her eyes "Just duel. If you haven't noticed things are different. Just because you're new doesn't mean a thing, get with the program. Expelliarmus!" Hermione understood even though she didn't want too, they were really going to have a duel right here and now… but that was alright. She was more than adequate.
Draco watched with interest as Daphne and Hermione dueled, he had to admit that Daphne was better than he ever thought, she was a fellow blonde but she seemed more or less like a bimbo so he never paid her much attention but here she was showing off. Hermione was agile he had to admit and graceful but if she won… Carrow wouldn't be praising.
Hermione grunted as her back hit the stone wall behind her. Daphne threw her back by saying spells that were a bit dangerous for a closed in setting but the students just moved out of the way and Carrow stood with amusement in his eyes.
"Protego!" she shouted, she didn't hear the spell with her blood pounding loudly in her ears but she wasn't going to let this Slytherin beat her. She and Daphne never spoke to each other but she knew of the other girl, she was always with Pansy Parkinson, Tracey Davis and Millicent Bulstrode. Her sister was Astoria Greengrass, yes she knew who she was but she never knew she could duel like this. Daphne smirked and closed in to deliver the final spell but Hermione quickly jumped to her feet "Avis!" Loads of yellow canaries exploded from her wand flying full force to the blonde and they began to attack her. It was a simple and harmless spell usually but Hermione made them attack once before so this wasn't anything new to her.
"Immobulus" Daphne shouted the birds stopping in midair her wand pointed but Hermione only smirked wanting to end this now
"Incarcerous" ropes appeared and wrapped themselves around the blonde causing her to fall to the ground awkwardly. They tightened, Hermione walked over to her and pulled the one that wrapped around the Slytherin's neck and lowered it to her shoulders so it wouldn't choke her. "Duel over" she muttered standing to her feet, pushing her raven curls from her face she met the eyes of Amycus Carrow who looked as if he could kill her right then and there.
"Congratulations Miss. James, you have successfully disabled your opponent." With a flick of his wrist the ropes disappeared "Thank you Miss. Greengrass" Daphne winced as the ropes disappeared and she was pulled to her feet by some dark haired boy who massaged her shoulders. Hermione nodded preparing to move back "I didn't say you may go" Everyone looked to the man as he stepped forward his wand drawn and Hermione's eyes widened.
"Sir surely you don't mean too…"
"Wand at the ready" He snapped making her jump in surprise. He was angry because she defeated another student? That was the point right? Draco watched with narrowed eyes, Carrow never liked when a Pureblood student was defeated by someone lesser than them, the point was to show the Muggleborn or Halfblood that they were beneath the rest of them. But Hermione of course had to show out. He shook his head, now things were going to get ugly. He wasn't in this class but Cain informed him how Neville Longbottom, of all people, fought diligently to be used as a target and Carrow himself sent him to the Hospital Wing.
"Professor" Hermione started but the man only laughed casting a spell but he never even moved his lips. Hermione screamed in pain as the spell clutched her bones and muscles, it felt like someone struck her with lightening. Never before had she ever felt something so painful, she fell to the ground her arms around her waist as she tried to keep herself from screaming any louder than she already was. It seemed to go on forever
"STOP!" Gasping as the pain continued to cocoon her she saw Neville standing in front of the Muggleborns "Release her! She did nothing wrong other than do what you asked! That's not fair!"
"STAY BACK LONGBOTTOM" the man hissed out his eyes never leaving the girl but Hermione stopped screaming even though the pain continued. Finally it ended and she lay there, her face still screwed up in pain, Neville ran to her side and rolled her over "I said stay back Longbottom" the man glowered but Neville ignored him. Grey eyes watched the scene, to be honest, he hated that spell and to witness it more than once was one of the worst things in the world and he felt his own body clench when she screamed out the first time.
"I uh, I don't know your name…" Neville started looking down to her; Hermione's green eyes looked to him "But I'll take you to Madam Pomfrey" he slipped his arms under her and lifted her into his arms. Carrow started to speak but he figured there was no need, that girl was new…so he could have given her the benefit of the doubt but she'd been here for almost a month now. No, no mercy. Draco watched as Neville left with Hermione, that Gryffindor with the glasses watched and moved to follow but Carrow dared her to do so and she stayed behind.
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Hermione jerked suddenly in her bed, her eyes snapped open and she looked around.
"Hey, how do you feel?"
She looked to her right and saw that familiar face smiling down at her, Neville looked solemn but he smiled through it, Hermione lay silently for a moment before clearing her throat "I feel as I have been electrocuted" he tilted his head to the side and she had to remember, he was a Pureblood, he didn't know about electricity "Nevermind, it still hurts"
"Lingering effects, Madam Pomfrey said it should go away by tonight. You were under that curse a bit longer than he has done anyone"
"I don't understand why. He said we were going to duel, we dueled and I won… why should I get into trouble for that?"
Neville leaned back in his chair and frowned looking away from her. He had to explain how things were done around here, she was new so she had to understand and make the choice for herself to abide or to rebel just as he had done early on. "Well, as you can see Death Eaters run Hogwarts, You-Know-Who has control of everything and they just follow his orders. Muggleborns are considered dirt and both of the Carrows, those foul bastards, make it their personal mission to make sure the muggleborns know that and never forget it" Hermione furrowed her brow at his words
"So you're saying that because I defeated Daphne Greengrass that he felt the need to put me in my place?" He nodded and she rolled her eyes "That's just ridiculous"
"Welcome to Hogwarts." His hazel eyes appeared distant as he stared at her, for a moment Hermione didn't mind but eventually it began to make her feel slightly uneasy
"Um… Neville?" he blinked and asked her how she knew his name and she blushed "Oh um… well Carrow said your last name and I heard someone say your name together before. Wasn't hard to piece it together"
"Right"
"Is something wrong?" she winced at the random spasm that coursed through her body and he ran a hand through his short hair and shook his head
"You remind me of someone is all, I was just thinking of her and my other two friends" clearing his throat, he stood "Well I'll let you rest up; Emily stopped by and told me your name. So I'll be seeing you around Mia" she nodded and watched as he left the Hospital Wing. Hermione let out a small gasp of pain at the second spasm but attempted to allow her body to relax.
Draco stood outside of the Hospital Wing, when class dispersed he saw that Neville left both his bag and Hermione's, he took her things but left the idiot's. He had to give it to him, he was a lot braver than he used to be so he must be trying to refill Potter's shoes and that thought caused him to roll his eyes. Preposterous. During the lunch period, he skipped and went to the Hospital Wing, he hadn't seen the girl yet so he figured she must still be resting and he silently hoped no one would be there to see him. Now that he stood just outside he had to decide whether or not to go inside.
"Bloody hell" he muttered before pushing open the door and walking inside. It wasn't completely empty but no one was coherent to know he was in there visiting a Gryffindor muggleborn girl who just been tortured by a Carrow. Running a hand through his blond locks he found her bed, she looked as if she was sleeping which was good in his mind, no questions for him to answer. He sat her bag next to the bed and turned to leave
"Thank you" he turned and was met with green orbs, Hermione looked to him but he only nodded curtly before turning and leaving quickly.
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Draco sat with his head on the desk, bloody hell school was just so unimportant these days, he would rather go home You can't, don't forget your self-proclaimed mission Damn, he forgot all about that. Just as he sat up, he saw her sit a few desks in front of him, so far they only had three classes together; this one, Advanced Potions and Advanced Charms but she was beginning to hold his attention. He told himself it was because he was trying to read her so he can figure out how to get her to tell everything. Just how he was going to do that was the main question in his mind. The short, round woman with messy brown hair walked into the room after slamming the door shut
"GET YOUR BOOKS OUT!" the students scrambled to retrieve their books from their bags "YOU KNOW THE RULES, ALREADY HAVE YOUR BOOKS ON YOUR DESK BEFORE I ENTER THE ROOM! Ten points from each house"
"Why?" the woman stopped looking surprised that someone dared to question her decisions. She turned to the culprit and grinned the look terrifying
"Ah my brother talked about you. Apparently you were insubordinate in his class yesterday"
"I did exactly as he said and dueled, clearly he's sore because I actually beat her. I wonder what would have happened if I lost because winning clearly wasn't supposed to be an option for me" Draco raised his eyebrows at her defiance. Was she trying to spend another day in the Hospital Wing? The Carrows were hardly people to play with. The woman's smile grew wider and she leaned on the desk crowding Hermione's space
"You'll come to learn that I am different from my brother girl, I am much crueler than he is. Continue to defy the rules of the school and Headmaster"
"Snape is not the Headmaster and he never will be" Hermione was angry, her feelings about losing her best friends always lingering, the feeling of Snape being Headmaster after murdering the TRUE Headmaster, Amycus Carrow using an Unforgiveable on her yesterday… it all just came out at once. "All of you have only been able to get into this school because he murdered Dumbledore! Dumbledore was the best thing that ever happened to Hogwarts and we all know it but apparently everyone is too scared to say it, only a few have ever stood up-"
The woman snarled "Shut your mouth mudblood before I do it for you!" Hermione flinched at the loud screech that came from the woman and her pounding heart sped up but she opened her mouth to shout a retort. Draco stood quickly from his seat and pushed the older woman backwards "Excuse me Professor… I'll handle this." He took hold of Hermione's upper arm. Grabbing her bag he pulled her from the room, Hermione stumbled after him
"Let go of me" she snapped pulling at him but he didn't. He dragged her down the corridor until they were far enough away from the classroom before releasing her "What is your problem Malfoy?"
"What is your problem James?" Hermione's eyes widened when he snapped her false last name and she realized what just happened and covered her face in her hands "That's right, you could have blown your cover. You're such a bloody idiot getting mad like that, you're supposed to be from another school and yet you know all of the crap that happened like you was actually here."
"Well I was…" came from the muffled reply and he rolled his eyes.
"Perhaps but Mia James wasn't so get your act together before you find yourself in trouble." He stood silently for a moment "You should tell me why you came here in the first place, what happened between you and Potter and I could-"
"No, I'm not telling you anything." Draco sighed growing annoyed at that damn answer, all she had to do was tell him the truth… not that he would actually help her considering his plans but… damn.
"Fine, doesn't matter anyway. You have made enemies with both of the Carrows so you better pay close attention to your back when you're walking around here."
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Hermione sat across from McGonagall who only looked at her for a long time. Hermione shifted uncomfortably before speaking "Professor…"
"I'm sorry Miss. Granger, I wish I could do something, keep them from…"
"It's alright Professor, Neville explained it to me and though I hardly agree I understand but that doesn't mean that I'll just roll over and let them tarnish Hogwarts, Albus Dumbledore and Harry. I lost my temper earlier that's all, Alecto Carrow just managed to get a rise out of me and it could have ruined everything but I won't be pushed around. I just can't… I still plan on rejoining Harry and Ron once I hear word about them but for now, Mia James isn't going to be invisible"
McGonagall stared to the young woman for a moment, she could see the defiance and determination in her eyes and she nodded, in all honesty, she was proud of the students who continued to stand up for their school and what they believed in. There were times when she was terribly worried because they were after all children but they made her proud and she along with the other Professors aided in whatever way they could. She smiled "And that is why you are in Gryffindor and not Ravenclaw but I still want you to be careful, do not do things that will cause you to be hurt beyond healing. Do you understand Miss. Granger?"
Hermione couldn't help the smile that leapt across her face at the compliment. Ravenclaws often asked her in the past about that but she was proud to be in her house, she was a bit surprised when she was sorted but she was proud. "Yes ma'am."
She walked through the corridors, it was late but that was the only time McGonagall could spare to speak with her. After her talk with Draco she knew he was right but she didn't say that to him, he already held knowing her secret over her head, no need to give him anymore ammo to use. Speaking of the Head Boy, she tried to keep him from invading her thoughts but ever since that day in the closet he's been… there. Just there and it's been irritating her. No she didn't like him or anything surely but maybe it was the fact that because he knew her secret he was the only normal thing around here. He was different from when they were younger, she noticed the change last year but gave him the benefit of the doubt no matter how much Harry believed that he was up to no good. She was wrong but Draco Malfoy couldn't possibly be that cold… he was a spoiled and whiny brat, always will be no matter what.
He did slightly scare her that day in the closet though, the strength and anger that rolled off of him in waves, all of it directed at her, surprising and frightening. CRASH! Hermione jumped hearing loud metal clanging, she turned seeing a statue of armor dropped its shield and she frowned. Pulling her wand from her bag, she held it tightly and continued on her way back to the towers, she was not an idiot and was not going to go and investigate but if someone was following her- well then she'd fight. The Gryffindor continued walking her senses waiting for another sound but nothing. Suddenly
"Do you know you're being followed?"
"Ugh! Will you stop showing up out of nowhere?" He smirked and walked next to her after glancing over his shoulder
"No, it's what I do best. So I can assume that you know otherwise you wouldn't be holding your wand like it's your lifeline"
"Well it is actually. What do you want? Come to see if someone has found me out yet?" Draco shook his head and explained that he was just patrolling, he heard the clatter and came to investigate thinking it was some younger years trying to meet up and do something stupid but he saw that it was just her but he also noticed a dark figure not too far away. "So you've come to protect me? Not sure if I would want you too, I can handle myself"
"Sure you can. If you could, you wouldn't have come back to Hogwarts"
Hermione rolled her eyes at the jab but inhaled slowly trying to keep her temper in check. After earlier, she was ready to explode at the smallest of insults and she was working hard to keep it under control, the entire day had been a tense one but after Transfiguration she asked if she could see Professor McGonagall and the thought of venting to the only other person whom she trusted with her secret made her feel slightly better. But the thought of someone following her wasn't comforting.
"Let that go, I know that you're fishing for answers and you're not going to get them."
They walked together in silence; Draco only deciding to walk with her because he wanted to know who the person was that was trailing behind them. Whoever it was must think that they wouldn't know but he knew. Hermione stopped before the portrait of The Fat Lady and turned to him "If you're expecting a thank you…"
"I don't need one from you." He didn't say anything else but turned to leave, Hermione making sure he was far enough away whispered the password and disappeared inside. Draco glanced over his shoulder seeing her go inside before continuing his rounds, maybe he'd come in contact with the creeper following a student. Regardless if it's Granger, no one should be following the students unless given probable cause… he clenched his fists at the thought or maybe… pfft not at all.
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Review please! Much love!