A Very Draco Columbine

A Very Draco Columbine

It was a beautiful Friday afternoon. Everyone inside the castle, even teachers, wished to be done with their classes so they could go outside and bask in the sunlight. One student, however, was not in class. Draco Malfoy was standing in the boys' bathroom; his hands clutched the side of the sink so hard that his knuckles were turning white. His pale face stared back at him from the mirror. They had crossed him for the last time.

***

Hermione Granger's hand shot through the air, "The Polyjuice Potion," she recited clearly.

"That is correct!" exclaimed Slughorn, thoroughly excited. "Ten points for Gryffindor. However, it is my regret to announce the end of the lesson. We will continue tomorrow," Professor Slughorn's voice shouted over the uproar of students eagerly packing up to leave.

Once finally given the okay, the sixth year Potions class filed out of the room.

"Hermione!"

Hermione turned her head to see a fifth year red-head motioning her forward. Ginny. She jogged up the corridor to reach her. "What is it?" she asked.

"It's a free period for you isn't it?" Of course it was, Hermione thought. By now Ginny shouldn't have had to ask. Hermione sighed.

"Yes, it is."

"Will you walk with me down to class?" she asked. Another no brainer, Hermione thought, but then reprimanded herself. Ginny had seemed pretty insecure lately; they all had. Ginny didn't really have to ask, but Hermione would answer anyway, instead of dragging her along to her classes as she usually did. Merlin knows Ginny always stopped in the halls on her way to class, and Hermione would have to help her along. Today would be just like any other day, Hermione was sure of it.

"Okay, I guess I can."

They walked down the corridor, and eventually up the staircase that led to the third floor, where she would push Ginny along to class. A few times Ginny attempted to stop, but Hermione led her right along. Once they reached the correct hall, Hermione let go.

"All right," Hermione said with finality, "You should be able to make it from here." Hermione gave her a pat of the shoulder and a small push when she started staring at the group of Ravenclaw boys.

Ginny smiled. "Okay. Bye Hermi-" A flash of bluish-gold skimmed Ginny's left ear. What the? Ginny turned around and what she saw made her heart stop. Colin Creevey was lying on the ground, his body writhing. There were many more flashes of colored light surrounding her, all of them missing by inches. Everyone was screaming. Ginny found herself unable to move or make a sound.

"Crucio!"

Before she knew what was happening, Hermione was on the ground. Screaming and twitching.

It seemed like forever before Ginny could find use of her legs. She turned. Draco Malfoy was standing ten feet away, his wand still aimed at Hermione.

"Malfoy, stop!" she screamed. Draco glanced up at her, a slow smile descended upon his face. The Cruciatus ceased, and Hermione was no longer writhing, nor was she moving. At all.

"Funkaro Monita."

Ginny fell to the ground. She felt being torn, cut open, and ripped, ravaged, sliced and bruised. She knew she would be forever different. Forever. Forever for her would not come. She knew it was over, and even as she knew these would be her last moments, she fought. She fought until her body had no fight left within itself. She looked up at him, her eyes pleading him to cease, a desperate flame all but burnt out.

Something in his gaze changed, no longer cold, but distant still, as if some horrid recognition had come upon him within that swift moment. He dropped his wand, the moment of its clattering upon the stone floor bringing about a darkness. A darkness that saw its victim, and swallowed Ginny Weasley, destroying her world.