Something unexpected

Ron started and opened his eyes. It took several moments for him to realise where he was exactly. He appeared to be lying next to what appeared to be an enormous carpet entirely comprised of something yellow. He looked around and then down to a girl who was sleeping next to him.

"Some party!" he thought.

The night before, he had been invited to a party on campus. He had met so many people here already. Some guy - maybe his name was Jean-Pierre had invited everyone to his party on the campus playing field. He vaguely remembered dancing wildly, limbs flying in every direction. It was apparent, that he had also slept on the field, along with many others. A shrill bell interrupted his thoughts and he immediately clapped his hands over his ears. The girl next to him - he thought she was called Abrielle - stirred and spoke in a deep, throaty voice.

"Zut alors! Je suis en retard pour mes études!"

Ron had no idea what this meant, but it sounded very poetic. The girl tried to get up, but this was marred by the fact that one of the buttons on her jumper appeared to be caught on Ron's watch strap. This, in effect, had them both back onto the floor, in the manner of a slapstick comedy routine. Abrielle rolled her eyes at Ron, as if he were the last thing she wanted to wake up to and lightly tapped his wrist with her wand. The button and watch strap sprang apart immediately. Ron bent down to help Abrielle up, but as he did so, he knocked his head against hers.

"Stupide eenglish," she said, contemptuously, swished her hair haughtily and walked as pointedly away from Ron as she could muster in igh heels.

******

When Draco finally made it back to his own room, this time, using an actual key, he realised that he really couldn't be bothered to go to his Defence Against the Dark Arts class. Instead, he mooched down the long corridors. He finally made it to the campus coffee bar and ordered a large cappuccino. He took his time drinking his coffee and perused his Potions textbook. He had Potions next and he was going to have Professor Oriana, or so his timetable said. Using his campus map, he navigated his way to the potions laboratory and pushed open the door. The Professor, who had been talking, stopped in mid-flow and looked at him quizzically with bright blue eyes.

"So nice of you to join us so late into the lesson, but who exactly are you?" her eyes danced with amusement.

"I'm Draco Malfoy. What do you mean, late?! If anything I'm early!" Draco responded.

"Bit keen aren't we? You students seem to be the ones who use university lectures as an excuse to catch up on some sleep! You're in the wrong lesson. Yours will start in ten minutes, don't worry!"

Draco blushed and tried to think of something witty to say back.

"Catch," she said and tossed something to him. He caught it. It was a compact mirror. "You might want to look at your face before you carry on with the rest of your day. The class sniggered. Draco opened the compact mirror and glanced at his reflection. Yes, there he was looking rather...hey! was that.......cappuccino froth on his upper lip?! It was! He snapped the compact shut and glared at Professor Oriana. He used one sleeve to wipe the remnants of his cappuccino from his lips and stated:

"I like it that way." He left the classroom and the class stared in astonishment at his retreating form before bursting into helpless laughter.

******

Hermione had just come from Defence Against the Dark Arts and was not in a good mood. Since the incident with Draco, her mind had decided to vacate her head and take a walk down Lust Avenue. She couldn't help but think of the faintly tanned skin and his sleek, toned body. This, inevitably meant that she had not really concentrated during her class. This, unfortunately had resulted in the teacher picking on her to answer a few of the many questions he had asked. Hermione, whose hand had always been the first to shoot up in Hogwarts and deliver the correct answer, was surprised to find that words failed her. Not only that, but at least fifty pairs of eyes had been staring at her as she said "Umm..." for what seemed like centuries before admitting she had no idea. Not only this, but, at the end of the lecture, she found, to her dismay, that the students behind her had been tearing up pieces of parchment and sticking them into her hair.

She wrenched open the door to the girls' bathroom and slouched in. She gingerly picked the pieces of paper from her hair and dropped them into the bin. She kicked the bin, which squealed in protest. A girl appeared from one of the cubicles.

"Bad day?" she asked.

"Yes, and I have only had one lecture so far!" Hermione grumbled.

"What lecture did you have?"

"I just had Defence Against the Dark Arts with Professor Sevilen. I don't think he likes me very much," Hermione explained.

The girl nodded sympathetically. "Well I'm Alina, I'm from Zosia Hall" she said and stuck out a hand.

Hermione took the proffered hand and shook it vigorously. "I'm Hermione and I'm lost," she replied.

The girl laughed gaily and her dark brown curls swished around her head, fanning out like a halo. "I know how you feel. This place is like a maze! Where are you going?"

"I'm going to my Potions lecture with Professor Oriana," Hermione replied and smiled. It felt good to have a friend.

"Oh! Me too! I have a map here, let's see if we can find it together!"

Hermione walked along with Alina. She observed that these hallways were not at all like Hogwarts. They were a lot quieter. The hallways at Hogwarts were always heaving with students.

"Here we are," Alina said and pushed open the door.

They were late. There were only a few seats left in the class. Alina motioned for Hermione to come and sit next to her on an empty table.

"Just a minute!" Hermione jumped violently. She hadn't realised the Professor was behind her. "I want you all to sit in you lab partner pairings," Professor Oriana said. "You must be Alina Malackey and Hermione Granger, correct?"

Hermione and Alina nodded and Professor Oriana ticked off the names on her list. "Alina, you are partners with Xavier," she indicated towards an extremely attractive dark-haired boy and Alina went to sit down. "Hermione, your partner is Draco," she said and both Draco and Hermione scowled. Hermione went to sit down, aware the the person with the body that had been on her thoughts all morning was sitting right next to her. She gulped and took her textbook out of her bag, her hand accidentally brushing against Draco's thigh. The effect was electric; Draco jumped and sneered at her.

"Looking for cheap thrills, are we Granger?"

"If I wanted cheap thrills, I would just call one of your many tarts," she replied sharply.

"Speaking of tarts," said Draco, "was it suspenders and fishnet stockings I saw in your drawer this morning...?"

******

Ginny sighed and stared unhappily out of the window. She wasn't really friends with the people in her year. She had enjoyed Hogwarts when Hermione, Ron and Harry were here. Especially Harry. The Yule Ball would be coming up soon and she had a slight inkling that the only possible person who would ask her would be Colin Creevey. Ginny wished she was a flame-haired temptress; then she could have any guy she wanted. Outside, the rain lashed unrelentlessly down and she watched as the Gryffindor Quidditch team attempted to have a practice on the pitch. She had to get out. She opted to go to Hogsmeade.

She slipped away and ran through the rain, with her hood up on her cloak. She reached The Three Broomsticks and stepped inside. The warmth hit her like a wave and she was grateful for it. She smiled at Madame Rosmerta.

"One butterbeer, please," she said.

Madame Rosmerta handed it to her and Ginny edged around the packed tables of the pub, looking for somewhere to sit. Unfortunately the only table which was not packed had a sinister looking man sitting at it, all alone. He glanced in Ginny's direction and Ginny held his gaze for a moment before flushing to the roots of her red mane. She decided to sit at a barstool. Eventually the man came over and sat beside her. Ginny was extremely uncomforatable at this arrangement, and even more so when he lowered his hood and proceeded to talk to her.

He had the most beautiful eyes she had ever seen; it was like you could drown in them, they were so deep. His features were sharp but perfect and his face flawless, punctuated by his brown eyes.

"Your father must have been a thief, because he stole the stars and put them in your eyes," he said, with a half-smile on his face.

Ginny snorted and almost spat out her mouthful of butterbeer. "Oh please! That is a muggle chat-up line," she said, "try to think of something more original."

"Would it help if I said I thought you were beautiful?" he replied.

Ginny wrinkled her nose and contemplated this. "Perhaps." she said. "You had better tell me your name."

******

Hermione had dined with Alina and her friends. They were very nice and even invited her to come out with them afterwards but she declined. During dinner, Alina had confided to Hermione that she thought Draco was "kinda cute". Hermione mimicked Alina's brassy American accent. Hermione was surprised to find a rush of jealousy surge through her veins. "Get a grip, Hermione," she said to herself. Perhaps she really was losing her head. She walked up to her room and changed into her pyjamas. She sat in bed for a while, reading a book about Ancient Runes. The dorm was too quiet: most people were at parties. She delved to the bottom of her trunk and found a bottle of Centaurian Wine. She took this, a blanket, a magazine and some parchment and quills with her down to the Common Room where she sat herself on one of the sofas in front of a blazing fire. She uncorked the wine and began to drink. It didn't take her long to start feeling light-headed. Still, she drank more and eventually fell asleep.

When she awoke, she had no recollection of where she was. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but something had woken her up. She heard the door shut and she cried out shrilly:

"Who's there?"

She glanced at the clock, on the mantelpiece above the now glowing embers which were once the fire. It was 1:10 am. She saw a figure walk past. Her mind swirled from the alcohol and she attempted to get up.

******

Draco was thirsty. He walked dazedly through the Common Room. He had heard something, like someone crying out "Who's there?" but put it down to someone in the ground floor dorms. He failed to notice the figure on the sofa by the fire, but he did hear a soft padding of feet after him. Something bumped straight into him, and despite himself he screamed out loud. The lanterns in the room all lit up at once and he once again found himself staring face to face with Hermione Granger. Her eyes were bright, her hair in disarray, and she walked, swaying from side to side. It dawned on Draco that she was much more than just a little tipsy.

"Granger. What are you doing here?"

Hermione raised her chin defiantly. "I have as much right to be here as any."

Draco noticed she looked disturbingly sexy in her pyjamas, and he had felt the sparks when she had accidentally brushed his leg earlier that day.

"Didn't they check if you were a mudblood or not before you came in, then?"

Hermione suddenly became very angry very quickly. She slapped Draco hard across the face. "There's more where that came from," she hissed.

Despite her anger, Hermione's eyes inexplicably moved down to Draco's smooth torso. She noticed he certainly wasn't wearing very much. Just some boxers. Hermione felt herself flush. Draco, still reeling from the slap noticed this and smiled, unbeknown to Hermione.

"Granger, I suggest you run off home to your little mudblood family where you belong," he drawled.

"I have hated you since the day I met you," Hermione replied with real hatred in her voice. Draco was amused to note she sounded like she was going to cry.

"Gee, thanks! Damn I should have tried harder!" Draco said.

Hermione raised her arm for another slap and Draco caught it neatly, closing the gap between them as he did. They were now very close to each other. Hermione could smell Draco's expensive aftershave. She felt a flutter in her stomach, but was determined to be resolute.

"Let me go!" she whined.

"You are free to go," he said smoothly, "but I don't see you going."

Hermione glared at him and started to cry angrily. Draco was at a complete loss as of what to do. She started wailing. This soon turned to physical abuse, as she attempted to paw and scratch him in her drunken stupor and rage. She pummelled his chest with her fists. Draco pinned her arms down and she collasped in a soggy heap on the floor, snuffling quietly. He sank down next to her and fought the urge to hold her. She looked up at him and he glared at her vehemently. Suddenly, he lunged forward and kissed her firmly on the mouth. He could hear her muffled cries and struggles, but pushed her firmly onto her back in the middle of the kitchen floor. She eventually kissed back, almost hungrily. He could taste her tears. Forgetting who she was, he pushed down one of the straps of her camisole and started to slide one practised and manicured hand up her smooth leg.

******

Hermione suddenly realised what she was doing and wave after wave of repulsion hit her. She felt Draco's caress, and she knew her legs were entwined around his waist, pulling him closer to him. She couldn't stop herself. Draco's ham-handed attempt to undress her was the last straw for Hermione. She brought her knee up quickly between his legs and he immediately recoiled, taking his slimy hands with him.

"I refuse to let you treat me like one of your....whores!" she yelled at him, whilst he was curled up breathing ragged gasps on the floor. "Don't you dare touch me again," she lowered her voice to a near whisper and started to walk from the room.

"But, mudblood, admit it, you enjoyed it!" he gasped in her wake.

Hermione shot a furious glare over her shoulder and stormed from the room. Draco, from his position on the floor, groaned and put his hands behind his head. He just hoped he wasn't impotent.

******

Harry vaguely heard footsteps coming down the hallway, which must have woke him from an unaccountably bizarre dream, in which he had to interview a roast chicken and mayonaise salad which spoke fluent Polish. He could hear heavy breathing and cursing nearby. He looked up and into a pair of bloodshot eyes.

"Hey-" he said, before a hand roughly covered his mouth.

A voice spoke "Keep guard of 'im whilst we go an' check the premises. We gotta find it. It's 'ere somewhere."

Harry instantly felt the ice cold feeling of dread hit his stomach. The alarm to the mystical artifacts room wasn't on. He was working late. His ruminations were halted, however, when a large blow, delivered to the back of the head from an unknown assailant knocked him out cold.

When he came to, all he could see were pink spots in front of his eyes. He appeared to be tied up. The large angry face of Cornelius Fudge looked down at him.

"Harry, what made you think you would get away with it?" Fudge hissed.

"With what?" Harry asked confusedly.

"Don't try and pull the wool over my eyes, boy. We all know you did it. Now come on, where have you stashed the Orb of Macrinus?"

"Wha--?" said Harry, attempting to sit himself upright.

"Harry Potter, we are arresting you on suspicion of having stolen the Orb of Macrinus. Anything you say herewith can be used against you in Wizarding Court. Take him away."

Harry could not believe it. He COULD NOT believe it. The Daily Prophet would have a field day. He was bundled into a van and felt the van jolt as it started to move. He could hear the guards' conversation in the front seat.

"That 'Arry Potter, wouldn't 'ave expected 'im in years!" said the first guard.

"S'always the quiet ones, I think e's guilty," said the second.

The van lurched to a halt and Harry was bundled out of it and down several long, cold corridors and into a cell.

"Sweet dreams, princess," said the prison guard and slammed the door shut.

******

Hermione stared at the copy of the Daily Prophet which had been left outside her door that morning. There, on the front page, was Harry, grimacing into the camera, with his hands bound. The headline read : "THE BOY WHO LIVED CAUGHT IN MINISTRY HEIST". Hermione read the article, leaving her bowl of cereal untouched.

"So, you've seen the wonderful he-who-can-do-no-wrong Potter finally got caught!" said a voice over her shoulder.

Hermione jumped and knocked her bowl of cereal over. She spun around furiously, but Draco had already gone.

******

At a similar kind of time, in a completely different country, Ron was equally as shocked. The Chudley Cannons had lost the Quidditch National Cup to another rival team. IT was then that he dropped the Daily Prophet disgustedly onto his bed and saw the front page.

"Bloody hell, Harry," he said quietly, "bloody hell."

******

Harry awoke in the cold cell around about 6:00 in the evening. Someone had left him some revolting looking slop on a plate and had deigned to call it food. He was aching and cold and the prison guard watched him owlishly. A bell chimed, indicating it was time to leave the cells and proceed to the excercise yard. Harry's door was opened and he made to follow the other prisoners.

"Not you, Potter, you're coming with me," a gruff voice intoned.

Harry was led into a small room, in which sat a small, rumpled man. Harry sat down and the man looked up and smiled at him. The guard left the room. The man spoke.

"Hello, Harry," he said timidly, "I am your lawyer, Herman Alfonse."

"Great," Harry thought, "I might as well pack my bags for Azkaban now."

******

Ginny hummed to herself as she got ready to go out and meet her mystery man. She smoothed down her dress and ran a comb through her hair. She considered using an enlargement charm, but then dec ided against it. She put her cloak on and glanced one last time in the mirror. She was to meet him in Hogsmeade. She slipped out of the dormitory, taking care not to be seen.

******

Hermione had had the incident with Draco on her mind all day. Part of her mind was inwardly cursing her for not carrying on, and the other part was tuning somersaults and singing "Congratulations!" His touch made her tingle, but he was such a bastard to her. Perhaps that was what made it all the more exciting. She wanted to breathe in his scent again and feel his skin on hers. She sighed and made her way back up to her room, only to find Draco outside.

"What do you want, Draco?"

"I wanted to say, that if you say anything to anyone about what happened last night, Granger, you can kiss your university scholarship goodbye!" Draco snapped.

"If you had kept your hands to yourself, then none of this would have happened!"

Hermione flounced into her room and slammed the door shut.

******

Draco smiled. All he needed to do now was aggravate her. She would come back for more, he was sure of it. Draco walked down the corridor and, upon rounding a corner found a stunningly attractive girl, having trouble with the floor's snack charmer. He saw her kick it in anger and stepped forward.

"Need any help?" he said.

The girl looked up. She had beautiful blue eyes and black hair which tumbled down her shoulders.. "It won't let me get a chocolate frog," she said petulantly, and pouted.

Draco found this adorable and smiled winningly at her. "My name is Draco. Would you like a coffee?"

"I'm Camille, and I would love a coffee," she said.

Draco took her hand and they walked down to the coffee bar.

******

Dumbledore paced his study nervously. "Nothing like this has ever happened before, Minerva, it shows we have failed our duties,"

"Do you think I don't know that, Albus? She was under my care, and now she has gone missing. We searched the grounds and Hogsmeade when one of her fellow students raised the alarm." Professor Mcgonagall snapped.

"When the Daily Prophet hears of this..." Dumbledore paused and rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"When the Daily Prophet hears of this, we could be banished!" Professor Mcgonagall interjected.

Albus Dumbledore laced his long fingers together and said, quietly, "Send an owl to her parents."

Professor Mcgonagall nodded, her face pale, and left the room.

******

Harry picked up the Daily Prophet that had been left on the table by another inmate began to read. The headline read: "HOGWARTS STUDENT MISSING." Harry's curiosity was immediately aroused and he read further.

"Albus Dumbledore speaks of the mysterious disapperance of Virginia Weasely, a last year student of Hogwarts as "baffling"Is this the end to Hogwart's reign on the world of education in sorcery?"Updates tomorrow.

Harry knew he had to get out. He had to save Ginny, but how?