You Don't Know

Chapter 8 - Untitled

**I*

Hermione stormed off down the corridor annoyed with herself for letting Draco get to her like that. She kept up the speedy pace and reached the common room in no time at all. Harry and Ron were beginning their fifth game of wizards' chess when Hermione entered the common room. The score was two all, and this would be the deciding match. Ever since their first year Harry hadn't been able to beat Ron, although he had come close many a time. Now was his chance. Hermione came over and plopped her self down beside them with a sigh.

"I take it your library time didn't go well," asked Ron clearing off the remains of Harry's pawn.

"What makes you say that?" she asked angrily.

"Come on Herm, we know you. You're either very angry or upset at something," said Harry.

"Was the book you wanted borrowed out?" added Ron strategising his next movie.

As Hermione heard Harry's words it made her think. Did they really know her, the real her. She thought so. Did she really know her self? Yes, well she believed she did. The events prior in the evening with Malfoy had confused her. She thought she had Malfoy pinned as a spoiled brat, but he seemed to be trying to convince her otherwise. Does anyone really know who he or she really is? Why did this bother her so much? It should mean nothing to her. She was supposed to hate Malfoy, why would she even consider thinking about him, it was absurd!

"Hermione, anyone home?" asked Harry jokingly.

Hermione snapped out of her thoughts.

"It looked like we had lost you there for a moment," said Ron.

"I'm... just tired. I've had a eventful day."

"Ah yes, the secret meeting with Dumbledore that you won't tell us about," said Harry slyly.

"I told you it was nothing," said Hermione.

She didn't really like lying to them, but it would cause less trouble than if she told them that she would be tutoring Draco Malfoy.

"Okay if you say so," said Ron and Harry in unison.

"I'm heading off to bed," declared Hermione

"Yeah I'm sure all that studying really warn you out," said Ron with laugh.

"Good night" said Hermione with a quick turn on her heels.

"There is definitely something going on with her," said Harry once Hermione had disappeared up the passage to the girl's dormitory. Ron nodded in agreement.

Hermione contemplated if she had made the right decision in agreeing to tutor Malfoy. Was Head Girl really worth it? Only time would truly tell.

***

As the night dragged on Harry ended up being alone in the common room. Ron had already gone up to their dorm room and Hermione before him. Harry didn't mind the time to himself. The past year or so Harry hadn't been getting tired that earlier and spent lots of time thinking and pondering in the late hours of the night. At the Dursleys nighttime was the only time he had to himself, so he began to treat it as his friend. The pain in his scar that he had experienced last night lingered in his mind. The thought of it grew as the night progressed. It was as if the night itself was calling it. Although the pain wasn't as strong as it had been the other night, it was still strong enough to alert distress in him. He began to wonder if it did mean something. What it meant he didn't know. All he knew was that it wasn't good.

***

Draco quietly and cautiously made his way to the dungeon and the Slytherin common room. He dumped his books on his desk and head off to the bathroom. He loosened his tie and undid the top button on his shirt then leaned over the washbasin and let the cool water run over his head. He flicked his head back letting the lose water fly. He then smoothed out his wet hair. He looked across at his reflection in the mirror and saw his father looking back at him. Everything about himself reminded him of his father. His cold grey eyes, his pointed features, even his slicked back blonde hair. He was his father's son. For so many years he had tried to be someone he didn't want to be, his father, and now that's who he saw staring back at him.

Without realising it Draco took a hold of a clump of his hair and in his other hand he held a flick knife he had taken out of his pocket. With the knife he cut off the clump of hair. He continued to do this over and over again until his hair was roughly an inch long. He stood staring at the knife in his hand and all the hair strewn all around him. He had no idea why he had done it, but once he started he couldn't stop. In some way he felt that in changing the way he looked he was in detaching himself from his father. He ran his fingers through his newly cut short hair. There was no way he was going to turn out like his father. This was just one step in many that he would have to take.

***

Dumbledore was ready to retired for the night and was closing up his office when at the end of the room someone moved in the shadows. He turned to the darkened corner of the room. Out of the shadow came Sirius Black.

"Do you think it wise to freely show yourself around while you're still wanted?" asked Dumbledore

"Has it ever stopped me before?" answered Sirius. Dumbledore gave a short quiet laugh.

"So what brings you here?" he asked taking a seat then offering one to Sirius, which he declined.

"I have news about the Reapers, which I thought should be delivered in person. I was right. They were heading here. A unicorn was killed four nights ago, and it didn't look like something any animal would do," he paused for a moment,

"and then three nights ago a wave of terror was felt in Hogsmeade and it upset the people as well as the animals. They're probably here now, in the forest, waiting." finished Sirius.

"Yes, an unpleasant shadow has fallen over the castle in the past two days. I feared that it would be true."

"So you took precautions?" asked Sirius.

"A protection spell. I also notified the staff of a possible attack. I believe we should wait a little longer to see how things develop before telling them of this new information."

"Very well, you know how to contact me if I'm needed," said Sirius as he made to leave.

"Will you be letting Harry know?" asked Dumbledore before he left.

"Not yet," he replied.

"Take care," said Dumbledore as Sirius disappeared in to the maze of dark passages imbedded in the castle.

***

In the darkened corners of the forbidden forest the shadows became restless. Every time they attempted to pass the forests edge they where stopped by a great light. They where stronger at night and even then they couldn't pass. If they couldn't go to the castle, they would need to bring what they want to them.