Is It Worth Remembering?

Chapter 1: Bang!

He hadn't seen her. She was sure of it! Hermione Granger walked as silently as she could well behind the person she was following. Her cloak swished softly, but apparently the person wasn't in hearing range to have noticed. He was one of Voldemort's followers. All of Hogwarts speculated that Draco Malfoy, arrogant little rich boy, was a Death Eater. Only he wasn't so little anymore. He had grown out of his ferret like face and scrawny excuse for a body. Malfoy was now lean and tall. His face still had the sharp qualities to it, but now it also held a more masculine frame. His blond hair that once used to be gelled back now was short and fell freely about his head. His gray eyes were said to be the things that occupied many a mind at Hogwarts. Not to mention so did the rest of him. Malfoy had gotten muscular too. Quidditch had been a great help toning and firming his now apparent muscles. No one doubted that Draco Malfoy had definitely turned out into a handsome man.

Malfoy had it all. He had been named Head Boy of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardly, came from a well known wealthy pureblood family, and was known as one of the best students and duelist the next generation of graduates Hogwarts could offer. No one doubted anymore that he was a good student either as they had did in earlier years. His father didn't buy him the marks that he received and Malfoy had made that apparent to everyone as well. He had taken every chance to prove his intellect and didn't mind showing it either. His classmates did doubt his abilities before, but after the school saw that it was Professor McGonagall who had nominated him rather than Professor Snape, for the position of Head Boy, all the speculations were put to rest. McGonagall was known to be firm, but fair. During the nomination time frame, Snape had been off on a special research assignment otherwise he would have selected the young Malfoy as well.

Draco Malfoy appeared to be a model wizard in many ways, but Hermione Granger knew better. Hermione was named Head Girl as well and shared the quarters with Malfoy during their seventh year. He had been civil at first and they had made a silent pact to avoid each other's company. Though Malfoy rarely ever got into a childish argument or fight anymore he still hadn't changed. He only got crueler. He wasn't what everyone else thought him to be and this opinion was held firm by the Gryffindors. He was a cold hearted, pompous ass. His acid-like tongue left many in shambles and he didn't spare it on anyone. Only difference was now that most of his quips were true and hit their targets rather brutally. She'd catch him tonight. 'How dare he!'

Hermione had gotten into an argument earlier in the week with Blaise Zambini, another Slytherin girl in their year, and had quite efficiently 'cut her down to size' as Ron had put it. Her tongue had gotten better too. She couldn't believe the Slytherin apathetic attitude towards the muggle killings that had occurred. There had been another attack over the weekend due to Death Eaters. Malfoy having seen the entire argument, had bumped into Hermione purposely while commenting, "Careful Granger. Treat more purebloods like that and your parents might just be next. Better watch over them best you can. You never know -- these things just happen." He had sneered and walked around the corner leaving her shaken.

No one had heard him say it. She had no proof he had said the haunting words and therefore no way Malfoy could be punished. He had said it in a dead whisper, just for her ears alone. 'The coward!' Hermione's fingers dug deep into her hands creating small red half crescents against the smooth flesh. 'How could someone so apparently evil walk around being respected and praised?!' She had ran and sent several owls to her parents afterwards to make sure they were okay. Hermione kept doing so each day. 'Damn Malfoy! He had to make me paranoid!' It wasn't that one comment had made her so infuriated, but it was the gradual build up of all the things she had put up with over the years. Now, with the war, the stress was piling up faster than ever. No one had the right to say things like that. She'd catch him tonight! Hermione overheard Malfoy talking with his father through the fire in the common room they shared. She knew he was up to something and she was going to catch him red handed doing whatever evil deed his bastard of a father had commanded him to do. Maybe she could even get him expelled! It was this thought that had inspired Hermione to leave her bed that night and into following Draco when she had heard the portrait entrance to their common room open and close around 2 am.

Malfoy made his way through the school and onto the grounds without being caught. He walked swiftly, but quietly through the dead of the night and into the Forbidden Forest, but he didn't stop there. He made his way through most of it with out the aid of a lamp or his wand. The moon was exceptionally bright that night, but it didn't guarantee their safety. If Hermione wasn't so infuriated, she would have thought his actions to be rather brave. She knew he wasn't that foolish. It couldn't be stupidity that could compel anyone enough to roam about the Forbidden Forest at night and with no light no less. Hermione knew the dangers of the creatures that called the forest their home and she was sure Draco was informed of this as well.

'I will not lose my nerve! I will catch him if it's the last thing I do.'

Hermione kept repeating similar phrases although she had started wishing that she brought Harry and Ron along. 'Why didn't I at least ask Harry for his cloak? If Malfoy catches me ...' Hermione's blood started to boil again. She was a capable witch. She had no reason to fear the ferret. 'WHO CARES! LET HIM SEE ME! Besides, Harry and Ron would have started asking questions about why I needed it and the last thing I need is those two in trouble again. He hasn't seen me and I'll make sure he won't!'

Hermione had disillusioned herself as a precaution earlier, but it didn't stop her from being nervous. 'Just what is he doing out here at this hour?' Hermione sensed Malfoy stopping and it pulled her out of her nervous thoughts. He pulled out his wand and at first she couldn't figure out what he would need it for. Fear filled her heart as she heard a noise and gathered her cloak around her as though the soft material would keep her from harm. Hermione suddenly had a devastating thought along the lines of 'creatures not needing sight to know she was there'. 'How could I have been so stupid?!' They could tell she was there by her scent. The disillusion charm wouldn't protect her as well as she first assumed. 'Still it's probably nothing and at least Malfoy hasn't noticed me.' She reasoned with herself with a greater calm then she felt at the moment. Malfoy had stopped all movement. Hermione figured out why a moment later. She saw it through the trees and it made her heart stop. The white glow of the creature was unmistakably that of a unicorn. She had seen unicorns before in her Care of Magical Creatures class, but never at night. It's beauty was surprisingly illuminated and displayed ten times greater than in the daytime. Malfoy raised his wand. 'What?.... But why... unless .... NO! What would compel him to do something that would leave him damned? No... he wouldn't ...' Hermione felt paralyzed! 'I have to do something! I have to stop him! NO!' Her mind screamed as Malfoy began to say something. Hermione lunged at him suddenly. BANG! 'No ........!!!!!!!!! He wasn't going to kill it! HERMIONE YOU DOLT! DAMN!' Malfoy had apparated!