A Thorn-Torn Soul

Chapter One

Hermione Granger always lived her life with joy because she had her family, friends, and the magic. Until Christmas came around and so did the young man who took it all away from her...

Hermione tossed and turned in her bed. She couldn't sleep any longer, so she decided to get ready for her class. Oh great, Hermione thought as she remembered what class she had first, Potions with Snape and the Slytherins.

"What a great way to start my day," Hermione said sarcastically.

Hermione could tell this wasn't going to be a good day. And on top of that, her relationship with Victor Krum wasn't going as planned. Hermione was fed up with boys. She didn't understand them at all.

At one moment they were so sweet and charming and the next, they are mean and cruel. Her relationship with Krum had started off so well, and than he colder and started to forget about her. And Hermione could have sworn she saw him with Laura Medley a couple of times.

Hermione sighed as she climbed into the shower, trying to leave her thoughts behind her. But she knew it was going to be a long day.

* * * * * * * * * *

It was a cold, crisp morning among the Hogwarts grounds as a cloaked stranger made her way towards the ole castle. She knew exactly what she had to do; she had to complete her mission for her master. This would prove her loyalty to her master once and for all and she would rise higher, higher than all the other Death Eaters, but Lucius Malfoy.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Hermione made her way to the potions classroom eagerly a waiting her long day with Snape torturing the Gryffindors again. As she walked into the classroom, Hermione didn't see Snape, but instead a young woman teacher standing in his place. When all the students had assembled into the classroom, she spoke.

"Good morning students," she said cheerfully. "My name is Professor Sinistra and I'll be your substitute teacher. Snape was called away on a little emergency, so I'll be taking over this class for today." The Slytherins scowled. This new teacher ruined the Slytherins' morning happiness.

"Well, for today you'll be learning how to make the potion Trichifism. When the Trichifism potion is placed over someone that has been injured, it will cure any of the injures they might have. Now you will need a partner for this exercise, but before don't go looking for someone just yet. I will assign you a partner." The class groaned.

"Well, let's see here. How about Mr. Potter and Mr. Goyle."

Harry groaned and Goyle just looked confused. Hermione wasn't happy that she didn't get Harry as her partner, she really wasn't happy about what happen next. Hermione heard her name called next.

"Miss Granger," Professor Sinistra announced. "And Mr. Malfoy."

Hermione put her head in her hands and Malfoy looked as if he could kill someone. Seeing him was just enough, Hermione thought, but being partners with him was too much to handle. Hermione always had to have things her way. Professor Sinistra finished assigning partners and than everyone set to work.

"Malfoy." Hermione scowled, opening her textbook. "This isn't going to be the pleasantest class, but I'm not going to let that stand in the way of letting me get a good grade."

"Don't worry Granger, the feeling is mutual," Malfoy replied, smiling sarcastically. The rest of the class went on and Hermione had to admit, it wasn't so bad working with him.

"Um, Draco," Hermione said as Malfoy was about to pour a purplish liquid into the caldron. "If you do that, the potion is going to blow up in your face."

"I know what I'm doing Granger," Malfoy sneered.

"Fine, pour it in there and find out what happens." Hermione scowled.

Malfoy poured the purplish liquid into the caldron and a big bang went off. The room filled with a green smoke and the smell of bad eggs. Hermione was trying not to laugh at Malfoy because his face had turned green.

"I told you so," Hermione laughed.

"Shut up, Mudblood." Malfoy scowled.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Later, after potions had finished, Hermione found herself walking alone towards the great hall for lunch. Ron and Harry had been at Divination, but Hermione was rather thankful for that. She and Harry weren't really on speaking terms. Hermione was glad she hadn't signed up to stay during Christmas break. It wouldn't have been any fun since Harry wasn't talking to her.

Hermione sighed as she took her usual seat at the Gryffindor table. The Great Hall was almost empty since most students were at their classes. But Hermione was thankful. She wasn't in the talking mood.

Hermione started to eat her sandwich. To her, it didn't really seem much like Christmas. As she looked up, she noticed Malfoy sitting over at the Slytherin table by himself with his head in his hands. She felt an urge to go over and ask what was wrong, but Hermione put that out of her mind. When she looked up again she noticed Malfoy staring at her with a green face and sad blue eyes. She quickly looked down afraid she was going to laugh.

"Granger," Malfoy yelled to her.

Hermione looked back up at him. Malfoy walked over to the Gryffindor table and sat in front of her.

"Why didn't you tell me my face was going to turn green?" he asked.

"I didn't know, but it should fade tonight." Hermione almost laughed.

"Go ahead, laugh."

Hermione started laughing and Malfoy joined in with her laugher.

"You're not mad?" Hermione stopped laughing.

"Was, but not now," he replied.

"What are you doing over here, Malfoy?" Ron asked who was standing behind him.

"I was just leaving." Malfoy left.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Professor Sinistra made sure there was no one around and than opened up the door to a closet revealing Professor Snape all tied up and gagged with a handkerchief.

"Now Snape," she said to the man who was wriggling around desperately trying to loosen the ropes. "The more you move, the tighter the robes become. Now be a good boy and stop moving. It's useless."

Snape glared back at the woman he thought he had known so well. It didn't make any sense.

"Now Severus, I'm going to need some hair of yours for my little potion," she said smiling evilly. "I want to get this potion exactly right so I'll look just like you."

* * * * * * * * * * *

It was the next morning and Draco was dreading this day more than any other day. Today, he was going back to his home at the Malfoy Manor. But to Draco, it was more like going back to hell. And so the prophecy said; on a Malfoy's seventeenth birthday, he will prove his loyalty to his family by devoting his life to the dark arts. In Draco's case, that meant becoming a death eater and he certainly didn't want to devote his life to working with Voldemort. Voldemort had caused Draco so much pain and grief that he would never work for him. Draco would die before turning over to his father's side and he had a bad feeling that he might never return to Hogwarts again.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Hermione had finished parking her things and saying her good-byes. She was about ready to leave Hogwarts when she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Hermione," said Professor Snape. "May I have a word with you?"

"Okay," Hermione said wondering what Snape had to say.

She followed him in his classroom and than all of a sudden she felt something hit her over her head and everything went black.

* * * * * * * * * * *

An evil grin flitted on the lips of the tall figure cloaked in black. From his patent black shoes to the silvery black hair which framed his face, he was a picture of perfection...had it not been for his cold, cruel heart, which was as dark as a moonless night. The stars outside the Malfoy Manor appeared to tremble with fear.

* * * * * * * * * * *

It was a dark and stormy morning as Hermione awoke, only to find herself chained up to a cold stone stonewall. Her head ached terribly as she tried to recall what had happened earlier, but everything was foggy. As her brain cleared a little, she strangely remembered being at Hogwarts and than getting ready to go home for Christmas break.

"Good girl, you remember what you were doing." A dark voice came from the shadows.

Hermione looked through the fog in the tower dungeons, but saw no one. A tall dark cloaked figure walked out of the shadows.

"You're-Vold-e-mort." Hermione breathed.

"Not even close," the figure replied.

He took off his hood revealing silvery black hair, glacial-blue eyes, and a small scar running down his left eye to the down of his left cheek.

"Malcom Goshawk, Miss Granger. Or should I say Miss Goshawk." He laughed an evil laugh and left the room.

Hermione looked down at the stone floor with tears falling to the floor.

"I wish I was with Harry," Hermione whispered.