Hi, sorry for the long wait. I already have the next chapter planned so I'm almost ready to get it up. As for Curse of Eternity, I wrote the next bit in my exam but still need to type it up. I will get that done soon, I promise. Anyway, sorry for the short chapter and I hope you enjoy it
Chapter Eleven
Nott
Hermione walked with Harry and Ginny as they headed to Dinner. The two older Gryffindors had met up with Ginny on the way down from Transfiguration. Ginny shivered slightly as thunder roared, echoing around the Castle's old walls. A second later, lightening lit up the dark sky. She looked up at the window beside her, which was rattling from the force of the wind outside. "Nothing ever good happens on a night like this." She muttered. Ginny could never know just how true those very words were.
The three entered the entrance hall and caught sight of a commotion by the doors. Hermione huffed in annoyance. "Time to do my duties as Head Girl. You coming?" She sighed in a resigned tone. The other two nodded and the three cut a path through the students.
Ginny let out a horrified gasp and covered her mouth with her hand. "Merlin!" Harry gulped. Hermione knelt down beside the figure that was on the steps, the cause of the commotion. He was badly beaten, there was a large pool of blood around him, and he was barely breathing. Hermione didn't even feel compelled to kill this person even with the blood.
Debating whether to turn him over or not, Hermione chewed her lip. Deciding to just turn his head, Hermione reached out and softly lifted the person's head, which was face down on the ground. She gently turned it to one side to make it easier for the person to breathe, make it more comfortable and to see who the person was. "It's Nott!" She gasped.
"Someone grab Madam Pomfrey. Hurry!" Hermione yelled, the reason she was chosen as Head Girl shining through as she took charge of the situation. Ginny turned and ran to the Hospital Wing. Harry left too, to grab a Professor. Hermione cradled Theodore Nott's head on her lap, stroking his matted hair.
The boy woke for a second and looked up at Hermione. "Am I dead? Are you an angel?" He rasped, pain written on his face. Hermione smiled softly and stroked his cheek. "No, you're alive. Don't worry, Ginny Weasley and Harry Potter have gone to get help. Relax, you're safe now." She cooed.
Nott grimaced. "I'm never safe. Never. Granger, they…they…w…want…." He passed out before he could finish his sentence. "They want what?" Hermione whispered, worry creasing her marble forehead and sparking curiosity in her topaz eyes.
Harry skidded as he ran into the Great Hall. The teachers were all sat at their table, having used the Teachers' shortcuts to get to dinner to avoid the rush. They looked confused as to why no students were in the hall. "Professors! Theodore Nott, he's hurt." Harry gasped. The teachers all stood at once. "Where is he, Potter?" Snape snarled. "Front steps."
The Professors all fought through the crowd and made their way to the front. Madam Pomfrey was already there, taking Nott from Hermione. Hans narrowed his eyes at Hermione, confused as to why she hadn't attacked anyone yet. After all, there had been a hell of a lot of blood. His attention was diverted to Nott as the boy was taken past him. He was in a really bad way and Hans doubted he would survive the night.
Later that night, Hermione crept into the Hospital Wing. She decided to sit with Nott seeing as no-one else would and she would hate to wake up alone after whatever ordeal he had gone through. She pulled up a chair and sat down by him, looking at his face as the poor young man slept.
He was quite handsome really. His thick black hair fell into his brown eyes, he had high cheekbones, a smooth nose and full lips set in a strong jaw. Hermione smiled sadly as she saw all the bruises that littered his face and the two legs and arm that were in plaster. Nott let out a groan and opened his eyes.
Nott blinked as he looked up into the face of Hermione Granger. "Granger? Wha…what are you doing here?" He gasped, wincing slightly. "Shh. I came down to see you. I couldn't sleep." Hermione soothed, taking his firm hand in her own.
"Why?" Nott asked. No-one had ever been that kind to him in his entire life. And now that his father had joined them, it looked like he never would. He knew, deep inside, that he was dying.
"You don't deserve to be treated like a monster. You never were, not even in school. Who did this to you?" Hermione smiled. Nott gasped again in pain. "I don't have much time. They're worse than the Deatheaters, way worse. They want….they want…." His voice began to fail as his life slipped away.
"They want who? Theo, tell me!" Hermione begged, trying to keep him awake. "You." Nott sighed as his left breath escaped him. His eyes slid shut and he became still. Mournfully, Hermione pulled his covers over the body and left the room. Theodore Nott was dead, killed by someone that wanted her. The Letter Writer.
Please Read and Review. The Plot thickens, and someone ends up dead because of the Letter Writer. Next Chapter: Hermione's power is revealed as Hans tries to kill Edward.