AN: Once again I am not JK Rowling. If I was I would not be a receptionist. I changed the title and the summary. Please tell me if you hate it and think I should change it. Happy reading.
I walked down to the great hall and hoisted my bag higher onto my back. Ron, Harry and Neville were circling me. They had been hovering ever since the truth had come out when we were in the Room of Requirement. It had been two weeks and they were really starting to get to me.
"Guys will you quit it?" I asked glaring at the boys. They shuffled nervously but didn't move away from me.
"No can do Mione," Harry said throwing his arm over my shoulder. "Besides I don't think Sirius would be too pleased if we left you alone."
"Speaking of Sirius are you going to see him at the Hogsmeade trip tomorrow?" Ron asked sitting at the Gryffindor table. I sat next to him and Neville and Harry sat across from us. Ron immediately grabbed some bacon and shoved it in his mouth. I grimaced and looked away.
"Yes Sirius and I need to work through some wedding plans. Tonks and I finally agreed on a cake and a blue bridesmaid dress." I said pulling out a wedding magazine.
"I think I'd rather elope." Ginny said sitting next to me.
"Me too." I said grimacing at a page covered in neon colors. What the hell?
Breakfast passed without much incident and I found a lilac flower arrangement I adored. Now all I had to do was convince Tonks. Easier said than done. I pulled out some parchment and a quill.
Tonks,
I love this lilac bouquet. Tell me what you think. Have you found a dress yet? I still haven't found the right dress. Maybe I should just pick one and wear it. I still love the idea of the wedding being in the library at Grimmauld Place.
Sirius and I have been talking about our future on our rounds together. Sometimes it makes me nervous when I think about the possibility of bringing a child into this war. I can feel the change in the air. Something is different in the halls here. Some of the pure-bloods have started to go after muggleborns. I'm not the only one who has been getting hexed in the halls. The Creevey brothers were found bleeding in a corridor with an M carved into their backs. Dumbledore was furious when he found out. Things have been bad. Hogwarts is changing and I don't know if it would be better if Sirius and I should just get married now. Or maybe even at Christmas. At least it would make me feel like I was protected in some way.
Please send me a letter as soon as you can.
Hermione
I sent the letter off with Hedwig and left the great hall with Hannah. She and I had Ancient Runes together.
"So do you think you'll change the date of the wedding?" She asked tightening her pigtails.
"I hope so." I said blowing a strand of hair out of my eyes. "It seems like it might actually be better if we got married. At least that way he would know if something ever happened to me when I'm stuck in this school." I kicked the nearest wall.
"It's not that bad here." Hannah said as we turned a corner. A small scuffling sound was going on behind a tapestry and Hannah and I stopped. I slipped out my wand and pulled the tapestry aside. Crabbe and Goyle were in there pushing a first year Hufflepuff girl against the wall.
"Get off her!" I screamed and pointed my wand at them. Goyle turned to me and gave me a lewd smile. Hannah was trembling beside me. "I said get off her."
My wand flew out of my hand but neither Crabbe or Goyle had sent a hex. I turned and stiffened my breath coming out in a strained breath. Theodore Nott was standing there a dark look on his face.
"I had a feeling I would be able to get you two alone if I had them attack a first year." My mouth didn't seem to be working and I stood there as if a snake was there. No sudden movements. He would attack if I tried anything. "Do you know why I hate you so much mudblood? It's because my father was there during the battle in the Department of Mysteries. He was battling your fiancee when he was put in a body-bind curse and fell down over a hundred steps. Do you know where my father is? He's in Azkaban."
My stomach dropped at the dark glint in his eye and I took a step back. He pulled out his wand and whipped his arm through the air. I grabbed Hannah's hand and pushed her against what looked like a solid wall. She slipped behind it and disappeared from sight. I whipped out my wand and stunned Goyle. He fell and hit Crabbe on the way down making him hit his head against the wall. Both were unconscious before they hit the ground.
Theodore snapped his hand and a yellow light flew through the air. I flicked my hand and sent a hex back. He ducked and hit the ground hard.
"You stupid mudblood BITCH!" He yelled his eyes wide a slightly crazed look on his face. "Crucio!" I fell to the ground and screamed in agony. My muscles constricted and the pain intensified. Fire licked over my body and I screamed louder.
As suddenly as it started the pain stopped. My body twitched with the aftershock of the curse. Theodore was standing above me a mad smile on his face. He closed his eyes and breathed in a deep breath a wide smile on his face. I knew I only had one chance to get away. His eyes were still closed and I lunged forward and kneed him in the groin hard. He fell to his knees and I ran back the way I had come with Hannah. Only one person could go through that passageway at a time.
I ran as fast as I could to where Dumbledore's office was around the corner. Footsteps echoed behind me and I pushed myself faster. I was almost there and I yelled at the top of my voice.
"HELP!" The gargoyle hopped aside and I was on the first step when a voice shouted.
"MOODUSHIO!" It felt like a rusty knife was cutting into my back. My scream echoed around the walls and I fell into a pool of my own blood. Footsteps sounded above me and I vomited in a corner of the staircase. Black billowing robes swooped towards me and my vision slipped in and out of focus. I tried to grip onto the stone step but I slipped and hit my head hard against the stone. A hiss of pain escaped my lips and the darkness engulfed me.
AN: Please Review! Moodushio is the branding spell and it is my own.