Hermione

Chapter Five - Hellfire

Blaise looked around. "Hello? Anyone in here?" he called. No one, good. He sighed and trudged to the couch in front of the fire hearth.

Why did he get a warm feeling inside when he looked at Hermione? What changed his true feelings for her? What were his true feelings for her?

He closed his eyes and placed his face in his hands. He groaned, and that was when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked up to be greeted by the gray eyes of Draco.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

Blaise shook his head. "Nothing's wrong."

Draco snorted and sat down next to him concentrating on the fire. "You rushed out of there before we could say one word to you. Something must be wrong."

Blaise sighed, and stood up, facing the hearth.

Draco walked up behind him. "Confiteor Deo Omnipotenti (I confess to God almighty), Beatae Mariae semper Virgini (To blessed Mary ever Virgin), Beato Michaeli archangelo (To the blessed archangel Michael), Sanctis apostolis omnibus sanctis (To the holy apostles, to all the saints)," he sang slowly and softly.

Blaise shook his head. "Beata Malfoy, you know I am a righteous man. Of my virtue I am justly proud," he sang slowly.

Draco nodded. "Et tibit Blaise (And to you, Blaise)."

"Beata Malfoy, you know I'm so much purer than the common, vulgar, weak, licentious crowd!"

"Quia peccavi nimis (That I have sinned)."

Blaise bent down in front of the fire. He gasped once he saw the flames seeming to dance around like Hermione did the night before.

"Then tell me, Malfoy. Why I see her dancing there? Why her smold'ring eyes still scorch my soul?

Malfoy nodded. "Cogitatione (In thought)."

"I feel her, I see her! The sun caught in golden-brown hair is blazing in me out of all control!"

He stood up, and turned his back on the fire, looking at Draco with murderous eyes. He hated that he felt this way about Granger...a mudblood! It was all Draco's fault for bringing her to join in with the Slytherins.

Malfoy sighed, and place a hand on Blaise's shoulder. "Verbo et opere (In word and deed)."

Blaise shook off the hand and walked to the couch and fell onto it, closing his eyes so he wouldn't have to look at the dancing fire. "Like fire, Hellfire. This fire in my skin. This burning desire is turning me to sin." He looked up at Draco. "It's not my fault!"

Draco nodded. "Mea culpa (Through my fault)."

Blaise stood up. "I'm not to blame!"

Draco nodded once again. "Mea culpa (Through my fault)."

Blaise turned from him and shook his head. "It is the mudblood girl; the witch who sent this flame!"

Draco nodded for a third time, trying to get him just get to the point he was trying to make. "Mea maxima culpa (Through my most griveous fault)."

Blaise shook his head and held his head in his hands. "It's not my fault!"

Draco sighed. "Mea culpa (Through my fault)."

Blaise took his head out of his hands and stared at his hands, examining them. "If in God's plan..."

Draco bobbed his head. "Mea culpa (Through my fault)," he said, trying to get Blaise to understand that Draco was trying to get him to realize that it truly is his fault for starting to feel this way about her.

Blaise looked back at the fire. "He made the devil so much stronger than a man!"

Draco stood up. "Mea maxima culpa (Through my most griveous fault)!"

Blaise stared back at Draco with pleading eyes. "Protect me, Malfoy. Don't let this siren cast her spell. Don't let her fire sear my flesh and bone. Destroy Hermione! And let her taste the fires of hell, or else let her be mine and mine alone!"

Pansy and Millicent sauntered in. Pansy smiled at Draco. "Draco, we are ready."

Draco blinked as he came out of a daze. "What?"

Pansy sighed irritably. Millicent stepped in. "We are awaiting your decision on where to meet. Mudblood is most anxious."

Draco nodded. "Good. I'll be out in a few. Just wait for us."

Pansy and Millicent nodded and left. Draco turned back to Blaise.

"She will be ours," he said.

Blaise nodded. "Hellfire! Dark fire!" he sang loud.

Draco cleared his throat. "Now witch, it's your turn!" he sang to the fire.

"Choose me or..."

"Her pyre..."

Blaise banged his fists on the fire hearth. "Be mine or you will burn!"

Draco looked shocked. He knew what Blaise wanted he usually got it, but Draco didn't think Blaise would go this far. "Kyrie Eleison (Lord have mercy)," he sang in a low whisper.

Blaise shook his head, and softened his tone. "God have mercy on her," he sang softly.

Draco nodded. "Kyrie Eleison (Lord have mercy)."

Blaise bit his bottom lip. "God have mercy on me," he sang as though he were on the verge of tears.

Draco walked up to him, placing a hand on Blaise's shoulder. "Kyrie Eleison (Lord have mercy)."

Blaise's face grew warm and flushed. "But she will be mine...or she will burn!" He held the "burn" for a long time, singing upwards towards the ceiling. When he stopped, he looked at Draco.

"I didn't realize you wanted her that bad," he said.

Blaise shrugged. "I know."

Draco nodded. "But...she will be ours. You can count on that. Once she hexes Weasel and Potter, she will be completely formed to one of us. She will be yours, my friend."