Chapter 7

Rabastan Lestrange looked at the young witch lying on the bed in the hospital wing. She didn't seem crazy as she looked up at him studiously. Perhaps Abraxas was right. Perhaps she would be very helpful to the Dark Lord.

Hermione watched the young Slytherin, wondering what he was doing. He was short and had a slim build. His brown hair fell into his piercing green eyes as he watched her back. Next to Hermione, Malfoy stood, in front of Rabastan. He had to warn her! She hadn't recognised him!

"Hermione", Malfoy hissed, "Do you know who that is? Do you recognise the name?"

Hermione shook her head slightly, making it look as though she was shaking her hair out of her eyes so Rabastan didn't think anything of it.

"That's Rabastan Lestrange. Future Death Eater! Tortured Frank-"

"and Alice Longbottom", Hermione muttered, finishing Malfoy's sentence and speaking aloud for the first time since Rabastan had entered the room.

"Excuse me?", Rabastan asked, puzzled.

"I-", Hermione faltered. What was she supposed to do? Next to her bed stood a future Death Eater. Was he already a Death Eater? No, he couldn't be. He only looked as though he was in 3rd year. Surely Voldemort wouldn't want a 3rd year.

Rabastan sneered at the girl, "So you are mad then?", he smirked, trying to get a rise out of the witch. "You have no idea how you came here do you? "

Hermione's eyes narrowed, "Have you come here just to insult me?"

As she spoke, Hermione lifted her arm to brush her hair out of her eyes. Her sleeve rolled down and exposed her forearm to Rabastan's unforgiving gaze. The "Mudblood" scar, which Hermione refused to cover up out of pride, was clearly visible as the early morning rays of sun began to light up the hospital wing. Rabastan recoiled as he noticed the scar.

"You're a mudblood?", he spat at her.

Hermione looked shocked as the young boy's anger spread across his face.

"I can't believe it, he said, sounding eerily like a younger Malfoy as he spoke, "I spoke willingly to a mudblood. Mother would murder me if she knew. What exactly are you doing here and how did you access the castle?"

"I-"

"Forget it", he said shortly, "A worthless mudblood would never be able to help my Master. I'm wasting my time", and with that the Slytherin turned abruptly and strode out of the hospital wing without a second glance.

"He was pleasant", Malfoy said dryly after the door had closed behind Rabastan.

"What was he doing here?", Hermione questioned, worriedly.

"Well", Malfoy said slowly, "My guess would be that he came here to speak to you".

"Really, Malfoy?", the witch snapped, "I hadn't worked that one out funnily enough!"

"Granger, calm down", Malfoy rolled his eyes at her, "You worry too much. What exactly do you expect a second, maybe third, year student to be able to do to you?"

Although his words clearly reassured Hermione, as shown by her relaxed posture, Malfoy regretted saying them almost instantly. Being raised in a pro-pureblood household he knew exactly the things that Rabastan could be capable of. After all, his father had taught him how to conjure a poisonous snake at the end of his first year (a feat which had earned him no end of detentions after he had performed the spell in front of half the school), the imperius at the end of his second year and he had nearly mastered the cruciatus curse on his second house elf - Tibby - at Christmas third year. And, although he couldn't be sure, he had a strong feeling that the Lestrange's would have taught their son a lot more than Lucius Malfoy had taught his.

Just as Malfoy was about to voice his concerns to Hermione, the Matron entered the room from her office where she had been sleeping. She walked over to Hermione's bed and entered through the curtains.

"I see you're awake", said the Matron curtly to Hermione.

"Yes, ma'am", said Hermione nervously. She wasn't sure why, but the stout woman scared her, with her cold, hard eyes and her thin mouth looking constantly disapproving.

"Jewellery?", the Matron questioned looking at the bracelet on Hermione's left wrist, "Jewellery can interfere with magical healing, girl. I insist you remove it at once".

"You won't be able to", Malfoy warned, "Make up an excuse"

"I-I can't" Hermione stammered.

"Since when has jewellery interfered with healing?", Malfoy questioned, "If that was the case she'd have removed it the first time she cast spells. I bet the idiot just wants to steal it".

"I insist", the Matron said at the same time as Malfoy, her eyes flashing as Hermione began to shy away from her.

"It didn't affect anything before!", cried Hermione, "It's nothing special, it's muggle!"

The Matron glared at Hermione, before walking over to the potions cabinet where she pulled out a bottle to give Hermione to drink.

"Drink", the Matron instructed.

Hermione took the bottle reluctantly and downed the purple liquid. As the potion began to take effect, Hermione's eyes closed and she went to sleep.

"What?", Malfoy said incredulously, "She doesn't need to sleep! She needs your help! You can't just put people to sleep you stupid bitch!"

The Matron smiled down at Hermione, her cruel eyes lighting up as she eyed the bracelet. "Muggle bracelet or not, this thing is real gold", she reached down to grab Hermione's wrist. As she did so, the bracelet began to burn and the Matron screamed as her hand touched it. She couldn't let go. It was burning her hand! After what seemed like hours, the Matron finally managed to let go of the bracelet which instantly cooled. The Matron looked at her hand in horror. The pale skin had peeled away and had blistered, leaving dark red patches which festered when touched. The Matron left the room hurriedly, wiping her eyes furiously and failing to notice that the bracelet hadn't burned Hermione's skin at all and hadn't even left a mark on the girl.

Malfoy watched the Matron leave, a smirk on his lips. Served the bint right, treating Granger like that and attempting to steal from her. How dare she? Malfoy paused in his thoughts. He couldn't be. He couldn't be defending Granger! Again! Malfoy's eyes narrowed as he realised exactly what was happening. The time travel was making him soft. Yes he needed to be nice to Granger. That's why he was defending her. He was just acting. Malfoy refused to let himself consider the possibility that, when left alone with Granger and they were being cordial, he didn't have a problem with her at all.

A/N: Hi! Thanks ever so much for reading. seems to be glitching and it won't show any views so I hope people are still reading this! Fingers crossed they'll fix it soon. Any constructive criticisms or questions about the story will be gratefully received :)