Power of the Quill

The Power of the Quill.

Chapter 07 Certainty and Shadows.

"Welcome, Mudblood," Draco said coldly, as the room filled with light from the tip of Goyle's wand. Pansy quickly spun around at the sound of his voice. Draco was disappointed to see the fear in her eyes lessen as she realized it was he, Goyle, and Crabbe that had pulled her into this room.

"What's going on, Draco?" she nervously asked.

Wanting to make sure she understood the situation she was in, Draco slapped her hard across the face with his right hand. "Shut up, you filthy Mudblood!" he shouted at her. Draco's own excitement grew as he saw the fear increase in her eyes once again.

"Why are you doing this?" she asked, while holding a hand to her face as her eyes began to water.

Draco quickly slapped her again, but with his left hand this time, "I said shut up, Bitch!"

Pansy began to openly sob; each one of her new tears brought just a little more pleasure to Draco. He knew Pansy couldn't keep her mouth shut for very long, it wasn't in her nature. He wouldn't have to wait long for her to make the mistake of speaking again.

"Draco, I thought we were friends. We've known each other since we were five," she said in a desperate voice.

A loud SMACK rang out in the small room as he struck her for the third time. "You were never my friend, Mudblood. You're just some disgusting piece of garbage sent to spy on us!" Draco shouted, as spittle flew from his mouth. Both Goyle and Crabbe were chuckling at the girl's ignorance. They both knew Pansy was never going to talk her way out of this room.

"Please, Draco. You know I didn't have any idea I was adopted. I have always been on your side; I have always been your friend," she frantically said.

SMACK! Goyle and Crabbe were almost bursting with laughter at the girl's continued stupidity. "Do you think I'm a fool, Mudblood?" Draco said angrily. "You knew you weren't one of us. You were probably reporting everything we said to that senile old fool."

"That's not true. You have always been able to trust me," she said anxiously. She actually braced herself this time for what she knew was coming. SMACK!

"So, it was just a coincidence that it was you who thought up the idea of the "Weasley is our King" badges. Every Slytherin wore those damn things for almost half a year. I bet you and your secret Gryffindor friends had quite a laugh about that after the Ravenclaw game. And now, by some great fluke, you just happen to be engaged to that very same Weasley," he said accusingly. Draco knew she really didn't have a clue she was a Mudblood until she heard that announcement. But, he wasn't going to let that little detail stop his fun. The Ministry had all but said they thought these Muggle-borns were better than him. He planned to show them just how wrong they were.

Just as she started to open her mouth to speak again, Draco gave her two hard preemptive slaps with each hand. The force of the two quick, unexpected blows caused her to stagger back a couple of steps. Draco closed the distance between them, keeping her within range. As soon as the shock of the two slaps wore off, Pansy stared straight back at Draco. This time the fear in her eyes was replaced by a hot anger. She had apparently realized that they really weren't interested in what she had to say. This was all about whipping the dog.

Draco knew she had a violent temper. The scene with Granger in the Great Hall at dinner confirmed that. Still, he wasn't worried. The girl was only five-foot-two and ninety pounds soaking wet. Without a wand, there was nothing she could do against three,

nearly full-grown, wizards.

"You think you're so damn bloody special don't you?" she shouted at Draco. He didn't strike her this time for speaking. He wanted Pansy to continue digging her own grave. "The truth is you're the real disgrace to the Slytherin name, not me. Every time you've tried to compete with Potter, you have fallen straight on your arse, always embarrassing the rest of the House. You will never be as good as Potter, so you should just stop trying. Look at that idiot father of yours; he couldn't even beat Neville Longbottom in a duel. It's no wonder your whole family is such a joke," she said heatedly, with a defiant look on her face.

Draco felt his anger explode inside him. He had expected her to insult him, but to say that about his father... His rage boiled passed the point of no return. Pansy braced herself once again for the strikes from Draco's open hand that would surely come.

She was taken completely by surprise when instead of a slap; Draco fired a vicious straight-right punch into her face. The force of the blow sent her flying backwards off her feet. She landed hard on her back as she hit the stone floor. Her eyes instantly glazed over and blood began to flow from both her nostrils. Draco, full of fury, rushed at her. He grabbed hold of her green and silver necktie with his left hand and lifted her head off the floor. With his right fist, he began to slam punch after punch into the left side of her face.

"DON'T-YOU-EVER-SPEAK-ABOUT-MY-FATHER-THAT-WAY-YOU-FUCKING-MUDBLOOD." Each word was accentuated by another punch. He finally stopped after about a dozen punches. He released Pansy's tie, letting her head bang against the stone floor.

Draco stood up to admire his work. Pansy was lying almost perfectly still on the cold stone floor. Barely conscious, she let out a low hissing moan. "Ooooouuuuummmmmmmmmm." Blood was flowing freely from a large wound above her left eyebrow and from both of her split-opened lips.

Adrenalin was running rampant through his system. The sight of her blood only excited him more. He turned to look at his companions. Both were in mild shock at how quickly the violence had escalated. "Hold her down," he ordered. "NOW!!" He shouted to get Goyle and Crabbe moving.

Crabbe and Goyle kneeled down next to Pansy, one on each side. They each trapped one of her arms under them. They both placed a hand on one of her shoulders and a hand on her hips, making sure she couldn't move. Draco then kicked both of her legs apart and dropped to his knees between them. He reached under her skirt and began to pull her knickers down. Just as he pulled one of her feet through her underwear, she realized what he was about to do. "NOOOO!" Pansy screamed, then began to kick and thrash for all she was worth. But, with two, 200-plus pound wizards holding her down, it made little difference.

Draco unfastened his belt and began to lower his trousers. "Draco you can't," Goyle said, with a worried look on his face. "She'll tell."

"Shut up, Goyle," Draco said, with venom in his voice. He leaned forward until he was lying completely on top of her. "She won't say a word. Will you, Mudblood?" he said, as he stared down at her rapidly swelling face. He then reached over with his right hand and pulled back his robe's left sleeve, exposing his forearm. Even though her left eye had already swollen shut, Pansy's right eye grew large with fear at the sight of the Dark Mark.

"When did you get that?" Crabbe asked with amazement.

"It was a present from our Dark Lord on my sixteenth birthday. He said it was about time I joined my father by his side," Draco said with sick pride. Draco could see the fear that showed in Pansy's eye. "You see, Goyle, the Bitch knows that if she were to mess with us, she'd be as good as dead." He leaned down close to her ear to make sure she could hear him. "If anybody asks, Mudblood, you just tell them you fell down the stairs," he said with an evil smile.

Draco slid himself back down her body, repositioning himself between her legs, and then said, "If I can't have Potter's Mudblood, then I'll just have to have Weasel's." Once again, she began to thrash about trying to stop him from completing what he meant to do.

As he grabbed hold of both her legs and slightly lifted her off the floor, she started to scream.

"PROFESSOR SNAPE, PROFESSOR SNAPE!" Draco just laughed at the sound of her pleas. "Shout all you want, Mudblood. We placed a silencing charm on this room. No one is going to hear you. Besides, Snape already has a Mudblood of his own, now. He doesn't need you," Draco said, as he continued to laugh.

"PROFESSOR SNAAAPE, PROFESSOR SNAAAAAPE," she continued to shriek. Draco grew quickly annoyed at the sound of her bellowing. He raised his right arm up in the air and slammed a punch down into her stomach. Her pleas for help were instantly replaced with an attack of choking coughs. Not waiting for her to regain her breath, he quickly forced himself into her unwilling body.

She let out an ear-piercing scream as her innocence was stolen from her. Draco was slightly surprised by her scream; he looked down to see her blood begin to flow. "Well boys, it seems that Pansy wasn't the slut we all thought she was," he said with a smile, as he continued to violate her savagely. "No more rides on the unicorns for you," he said, evilly mocking her. All the life-force seemed to have drained out of Pansy. She only rocked slightly with the impact of the continued invasion of her torn body.

After only a minute, Draco finished with a loud gasp. He stood, pulled up his trousers, and started to refasten his belt. "Either of you two want a go?" he asked Crabbe and Goyle. Both shook their heads as they released her and stood up.

"No sloppy seconds, huh? I guess I can't blame you, she is kind of a mess," Draco said sadistically. He watched as Pansy slowly reached down and pulled her light blue knickers back up so that she was no longer exposed.

He walked over and knelt beside her. He leaned down once again to make sure she could hear him. "Don't worry, Mudblood. Once you get yourself cleaned up, we'll be back again. You'll get the hang of this pretty soon. After all, being a whore is in your blood."

Suddenly, Pansy let out a deafening scream. "BASTARD!!" With lightning speed, she slashed her hand across Draco's face, raking his skin under her fingernails.

Draco fell backwards in shock at what she had done. He quickly placed his hand on his left cheek to feel the wound. The blood began seeping though his fingers. He started to shake with fury and rage. Like a predator striking at its prey, he sprang at Pansy. Instantly, he began raining blow after blow down on her. Pansy instinctively curled up into a tight ball to protect herself. Draco continued to fire fists and elbows at her head and shoulders. After about twenty seconds, Pansy's body loosened and uncoiled, as she was knocked unconscious. Draco rolled her body over so he could strike at the parts he had missed.

Draco could feel the power in his fists as he slammed them into unprotected flesh. He had never felt more alive than he did right at that moment. Images from his early childhood began to run through his brain as he intensified his vicious assault. The image of a warm summer's day when he seven years old came to mind. He and Pansy were playing together in his family pool. He could still see the one-piece blue bathing suit she wore that day as they joyfully splashed water at each other. Instead of causing remorse, these images of Pansy only excited him more. His father had always told him it was more fun to torture someone that you knew. The more feeling you had for them, the greater the pleasure and the greater the reward.

Finally, near complete exhaustion, he stopped and fell backwards on his hands to catch his breath. After half a minute of deep breathing, Draco slowly rose to his feet. He held up his numb hands and looked at then. All of his knuckles were split open and bleeding, but he didn't care. A sudden calm ran through his body. He hadn't felt this peaceful in a very long time.

His anger returned quickly when he turned to face his companions. Both Goyle and Crabbe stood there with looks of absolute horror on their faces. They kept shifting their eyes from Draco to Pansy's pulverized body.

"What the hell are you two staring at?" Draco yelled, as his anger continued to grow. Neither Goyle nor Crabbe answered him. "Is that pity I see?" Draco cruelly asked. "Pity for this piece of shit?" he said, then turned and kicked Pansy in the left leg as hard as he could. Draco turned back around and stood, back straightened, in front of the two teenagers. "Listen you two dumb-asses. THAT! is the enemy," he said, pointing back at the body on the floor behind him. "Mudbloods and Mudblood-lovers are already in control of this school. They control more than half the Ministry. If we don't do something about it, soon you will be asking a fucking Muggle what magic you can and can't do. Is that the kind of world you want to live in? IS IT?" Draco shouted.

"No," both boys said weakly. "Good, because the Dark Lord will never let that happen," Draco said confidently. He then reached out and grabbed both boys by the fronts of their robes and pulled them close. "Listen you two, there is a war coming, a war that will wash away the stink of Mudbloods and Muggles. So, you better decide what side you want to be on. Because anyone that doesn't serve our Lord to the best of their abilities will wish they had died along with the rest of the filth," Draco said, as he continued to stare at each boy with his cold gray eyes. At only five-foot-ten and 145 pounds, physically he was no match for either Goyle or Crabbe. But mentally and ruthlessly he was their Goliath.

Draco released them both, then took a step back and started to straighten his robes in an attempt to calm himself. Looking at the two in a less agitated mood, he said, "I want you two to pick up this piece of shit and take her up to the Astronomy Tower. Use the secret passageways. Once you get up there, throw her down the stairs. We want her story to be believable," he said in a wicked tone of voice.

"But Draco, she's nearly dead. If we throw her down the stairs that will kill her for sure," Goyle worriedly said.

Draco quickly reached out and snatched hold of Goyle's tie. He violently pulled the boy close until they were nose to nose. "Then that will be just one less Mudblood to worry about, won't it?" he said coldly through his clenched teeth. "Now, you two get to it," he said as he released Goyle.

Crabbe and Goyle walked over to Pansy's still form. They reached down and took hold of her arms and lifted her easily off the floor. With their cargo secured, they headed for the back of the room where the secret entrance lay. "STOP!" Draco shouted, as Crabbe was about to open the entrance with his wand. Draco walked up to them and stood in front of the limp figure. He then bent down on one knee, reached under her skirt, and pulled her knickers back off. He stood up, holding his trophy in his right hand, and sneered, "Something to remember the occasion by."

...........................................................................................

Hermione set the bucket of soapy water down next to the four suits of armor that lined the fifth floor corridor. Ginny dropped the brushes, mops, and rags next to the bucket. Filch had decided it would be a good idea if they were to clean and mop the whole fifth floor west-wing corridor.

This was Hermione's second detention of the week. She was lucky on Tuesday; all she had to do was help Madam Pince in the library. The loss of forty points and two detentions were all caused by the same problem - Parkinson. Hermione didn't know what she would do the next time she saw the evil little blond. But, she had a feeling more detentions were in her near future.

Hermione unbuttoned her robe and pulled it over her head, she then removed her jumper and necktie. It was still early September and, while the nights were cool enough, you could still easily work up a good sweat. Ginny removed her robe and jumper as well. Both girls neatly folded up their clothing and set then off to the side where they wouldn't get dirty. As she set her them down she heard a loud thud echo through the hall. Hermione looked both ways down the corridor but didn't see anything.

"So where do you want to start?" Ginny asked.

Hermione quickly surveyed the hall before she answered. "I think it would be best to start with the suits of armor. After that we can do the Portraits, and then finally the floor, so we don't track footprints on it."

"Sounds like a plan," Ginny said, as she picked up a rag and brush. There were four suits of armor standing next to each other in a single rank. Hermione walked up to the far left one with a wet rag and brush in her hand. "I'll do these two and you do those two," Hermione said, and she started to use the brush to remove all of the cobwebs from the armor.

"Fine with me," Ginny answered, as she began to clean the far right suit of armor. "Hermione, do you think Snape is actually going to punish Pansy for the fight at dinner?" Ginny asked.

"No," Hermione said angrily.

"Me neither," Ginny said.

"She'll just lay some stupid sob-story on him, about how everything that happened was all my fault," she said, sounding very annoyed.

"I can't believe how off-her-rocker she has gotten. Do you think she would have actually stabbed you with that fork?" Ginny asked.

"I don't know if she would have gone for the heart or the throat, but, I think she was definitely going to try and pin me to that table," Hermione answered.

"I don't know 'Mione, she had the craziest look in her eyes. I think she might have been going for the kill," Ginny said seriously.

"I guess I was lucky that you were there to save my butt. Did I thank you for that yet Ginny?" she asked.

"No need to thank me. I'm always glad to help kick Slytherin arse," Ginny said with a smile.

Both girls worked in silence when Ginny finally asked, "So have you decided who it's going to be yet?"

"What do mean?" she asked, knowing perfectly well what Ginny meant.

"You know exactly what I mean, Granger. Who have you decided to give the golden ticket to?" Ginny asked, sounding a little annoyed.

"I haven't actually thought about it that much," which was a lie. Hermione hadn't gone five minutes without thinking about it. She sized up every adult male above the age of fifteen that she came across.

"Oh come on Hermione. You at least have to have a list of possibilities," Ginny said.

"Well they're a couple of people I have considered," Hermione answered.

"Who?" Ginny asked sounding a bit overly enthused.

"Well, there is Victor," Hermione said.

"Victor Krum? I thought he was in Romania," Ginny asked.

"No, he's sharing a flat in London with a teammate of his. He'll be there until Pro season ends in February," she answered. Hermione had really given the idea of asking Victor a lot of thought. She just didn't know if he could handle it being only a one-time thing.

"Who else?"

"Neville."

"Neville Longbottom? You've got to be joking," Ginny said.

"What's wrong with Neville? I think he's really sweet," Hermione said defensively.

"He's too sweet and far too nervous," Ginny answered. "He can't make a simple sleeping potion without blowing something up. Imagine what he'll do if he has to have sex for the first time."

"Probably faint as soon as I ask him," Hermione said. Both girls began to laugh. "Actually, Ginny, his confidence has gotten a lot better this year. I think facing those Death Eaters in the Department of Mysteries has really helped him deal with what happened to his parents. I think he knows now that he can be brave if he wants to."

"Great. All you need is a Death Eater standing next to the bed and he will be ready to go," Ginny jokingly said. "Anyone else?" she asked.

"I was thinking about someone with a little more experience." Hermione hesitated a moment before answering, "I was thinking about Professor Lupin."

"REMUS LUPIN! REALLY?" Ginny shouted.

"Ssssssshhhhhh," Hermione said, trying to quiet Ginny before she let the entire school knew she was thinking of shagging a werewolf. "Yes, really. I have always admired Professor Lupin. Even under the worst circumstances he has always been able to look at things logically. I think he would understand why I might not want to be a virgin on my wedding night."

"I have always admired Lupin, too," Ginny said with an evil smile. "I have always admired that tight little backside he has."

"You're perverted, you know that Weasley?" Hermione replied.

"I bet old Snape would have a stroke if he found out that you slept with Lupin before him," Ginny said.

"That's another plus for Professor Lupin then," Hermione cheerily said.

"You know there is still Ron?" Ginny said with a hopeful look on her face.

"Ginny, I still don't think it would be a good idea. He's my best friend and I don't know if he could handle me marrying Snape right after I slept with him," Hermione said, trying to sound as diplomatic as she could.

"Come on Hermione, you have to. I saved your life tonight. You owe me one. I can't stand the thought of my little brother losing his virginity to that cow, Parkinson," Ginny said seriously.

"Ginny, Ron is both older and bigger than you. Just how is he your "little" brother?" she asked.

"Well, everybody always says that I'm much more mature than him. Since I don't have a little brother or sister, I decided to make Ron one." Hermione had to admit it. It sounded pretty logical.

"Tell you what Ginny. I won't make any promises, but I won't scratch him off the list yet," she said, hoping that would satisfy Ginny.

"Good. But let me know what you decide pretty quickly. I've got Luna waiting just in case you chicken out," Ginny said.

"WHAT! THAT SLUT?" Hermione shouted, before she could clamp her hand over her mouth.

"I knew it, I knew you had a thing for Ron," Ginny said with a gigantic grin on her face.

"I do not. I just...I just...oh shut up, Weasley," she angrily said.

Ginny continued to wear a grin as she cleaned her suit of armor. After another minute she said, "I noticed that Harry wasn't among any of your choices."

"That's because I wanted to get out of this corridor alive without being beaten to death by a mop handle," Hermione said mischievously. She thought it was about time Ginny started to sweat.

"Is it that obvious?" Ginny asked.

"I'm afraid so," Hermione answered. "Ginny, you're not really going to ask Harry, are you?"

"Why not? There's no reason why his first time has to be with someone he hates. I think it would be better for him if it was with someone who actually cares about him," Ginny said seriously. "He will only be married to that stuck-up, middle-aged bitch until she gives birth. After that, he'll be free again. There's nothing in the contract that says he has to be faithful. I won't mind being the other woman for a year."

Hermione could think of a couple of reason why this was still a bad idea. But, she decided, it would be best if Ginny figured it out on her own. She was surprised by her reaction to the knowledge that someone besides her might be after Ron. She knew there was nothing she could do about Pansy, but there was no way she was going to let Luna Lovegood have a go at Ron. Not until she decided whom she would pick, that is.

"Do you hear that?" Ginny said, as she stopped scrubbing.

"What?" Hermione asked, as she lowered her own brush.

"Listen, its some kind of scraping noise," Ginny said.

Hermione listened. The old castle made lots of strange noises at night; it was hard to identify any particular one. Then she heard it. It was coming from the far end of the corridor that led to the Astronomy Tower. When she looked down the hallway, she saw something moving slowly along the left side of the corridor.

"What is it?" Ginny said in a whisper.

"I don't know," Hermione answered. "We'll have to wait until it passes under a torch."

"HELLO!" Ginny shouted at whatever it was that was making its way toward them. The thing at the end of the corridor didn't answer.

About thirty yards away, it made its way under the first torch. Both girls gasped at the sight of the hideous creature.

"What is it?" Ginny asked again, with a look of disgust on her face.

Hermione studied the creature for a moment. It was small and had a basic human shape. The head was all swollen, distorted, and dripping blood from multiple wounds. It had sticky-looking dark red hair, as if someone has purposely poured a bottle of syrup on it. Both of its eyes were swollen shut and looked as if grapefruit halves were shoved under each eyelid, giving an almost insect-looking appearance to the head. The dragging of its useless left leg along the corridor floor caused the scraping noises. It was also cradling its left arm as if it were broken. With its right hand it continued to feel its way along the corridor wall as it slowly made its way toward them. Obviously blind, the ghoulish vision used the wall as a guide and to support itself on its one good leg.

"I believe that's a Blood Phantom," Hermione finally answered.

"A phantom? You mean like a ghost?" Ginny asked.

"A phantom is a lot different than a ghost, Ginny," Hermione said. "A ghost is a full spirit that can actually interact with you. A phantom is more a recording of a very bad event. It usually has something to do with someone's violent death. I heard that the Tower of London has more than a dozen phantoms in it."

"So, it won't respond to us at all?" Ginny asked, giving the creature a suspicious look.

"Nope. It may look solid, but you can walk right through it and it won't even notice," she answered.

"So this thing limps its way down the corridor every night?"

"No, not necessarily. There is a phantom in the dungeon that only shows up once a month. I think most phantoms only make an appearance on the anniversary of their death," Hermione said, trying to remember what her "Ghost and Ghouls" textbook had said.

"It looks like it's wearing a school robe. Do you think it was a student here?" Ginny asked.

"Maybe, but I haven't heard of any students dying at Hogwarts since Moaning Myrtle. If it is a student, it must be pretty old," Hermione said. "It came from the Astronomy Tower. There's an old story about a student that jumped off the Tower after he got his O.W.L.'s back."

"That thing looks way too messed up for just a drop off the Astronomy Tower. If it were wearing Quidditch gear, I'd say it had been hit by at least twenty bludgers," Ginny said, while giving the creature a look of pity.

"Phantoms are meant to draw your attention, so they're usually pretty exaggerated. I heard that Lady Jane Grey's phantom, at the Tower of London, is pretty gruesome, but she died of a quick chop to the neck," Hermione said, as she picked her brush back up and resumed scrubbing.

"So, what does your mom and dad think about you marrying Snape?" Ginny asked, as she returned to work on her own suit.

"I don't know yet. I only owled them about it last night," she answered.

"I guess you'll find out Saturday, then," Ginny said.

"What do you mean?" asked Hermione, sounding a bit puzzled.

"Oh, I guess you don't know," Ginny said.

"Know what, Ginny?" Hermione asked.

"I received a owl from my mum this morning. She's coming here Saturday to see Parkinson," Ginny said.

"So?" Hermione said anxiously

"So my mum kinda invited your parents to come along with her," Ginny said hesitantly.

"WHAT!" Hermione shouted.

"I told you, your mum and mine talk a lot. They're probably coming here to meet Snape," Ginny said.

"This is going to a complete disaster," Hermione said, while shaking her head. "With my dad's Irish temper and Snape's snotty sarcastic blather, they are going to kill each other."

"I'll put five galleons on your dad," Ginny playfully said.

"I just hope Dumbledore is there when they meet him," Hermione said. Unfortunately, the mention of the Headmaster caused the disturbing image of Mr. Saddlebag-arse to appear in her mind once again. She was relieved that it was happening a lot less today.

"That's disgusting," Ginny suddenly said.

"What?" Hermione asked, hoping she hadn't sent the image telepathically to Ginny.

"This suit of armor, it's disgusting. I think every first-year since the school was founded has wiped a booger on it. I swear, first-years are the most disgusting creatures on the planet," Ginny said, sounding annoyed.

"You're just saying that because you're a prefect now and you have to look after the little bastards. But I bet you wiped a nose-nugget on one of these suits when you were a first-year," Hermione said with a smirk.

"That different, I was being possessed by an evil force that year. I couldn't help myself," Ginny said with a smile. Hermione was glad to see Ginny could joke about what happened to her at Hogwarts her first year. For a long time she was very sensitive about Tom Riddle's diary and the Chamber of Secrets. She always seemed more embarrassed about it than afraid.

"Bloody hell, are we going to have to clean up after that stupid thing?" Ginny asked angrily.

"What thing?" Hermione asked.

"That damn phantom thing. It left a trail of blood on the wall and floor all the way back to the Tower."

"Ginny, phantoms don't really bleed. It's just an illusion."

"Well, this illusion is going to have us scrubbing and mopping for an extra couple of hours," Ginny said, putting her hand on her hips and looking very irritated.

Hermione turned around to look at the creature again. She knew the blood couldn't be real. The phantom had nearly reached them; it was turning the corner at the corridor junction that led to the main staircase ten feet away. Sure enough, there were bloody handprints and drag-marks all the way down the hall. Hermione looked back at the creature trying to find some kind of explanation.

Then she saw it . The shock of it felt like she had just plunged through the surface of a frozen lake into icy subzero water. Hanging from the creature's right wrist was a blood-covered, gold bracelet with little metal pink bunnies on it. "It can't be," Hermione said, as she dropped her brush and ran over to it.

Standing only a foot in front of it, Hermione could see now that the creature didn't have dark red hair, but blond hair that was soaked with blood. Reaching out gingerly, Hermione was afraid that her hands would just pass through it. Finally, she placed her hands on the beaten girl's shoulders and said, "Parkinson, is that you?"

"That's Pansy?" Ginny asked in shock, standing next to Hermione with a brush still in her hand.

"Look at the bracelet," Hermione said.

"My God! What happen to her?" Ginny asked with fear now in her voice.

Hermione tried to recognize something familiar in the girl's horribly beaten face, but there was nothing there. "Pansy, what happen to you?" Hermione shouted at the girl, not knowing if she was as deaf as she was blind. The girl slowly lifted her head as if she was trying to look Hermione in the eye. Instead of words she only made a low gurgling sound. Bubbles of bloody saliva leaked out of the left corner of her mouth. They also leaked out a large gash in her left cheek.

Suddenly the bubbles stopped and Pansy fell forward into Hermione's chest. Hermione grabbed her in a bear hug to keep her from falling to the floor. With Ginny holding her arms, she slowly lowered herself and Pansy to the floor. Looking up at Ginny she said, "Ginny, we need to get her some help right away."

"I'll be right back," and, without another word, Ginny dropped her brush and sprinted down the corridor at full speed.

Not wanting Pansy to suffocate, Hermione slowly turned her over until Pansy was face up. Pansy's head fell limply as if it were attached by string instead of muscle. Hermione carefully watched the girl's chest for any sign of rise and fall, but there were none. She placed two of her fingers on the side of Pansy's neck to try and feel a pulse. Every time she tried to press down, the blood on Pansy's neck would make her fingers slide off. Feeling frustrated, she placed her whole hand on the side of her neck. Pansy's skin felt like it had been dipped in ice water. She couldn't feel a pulse. She couldn't feel anything at all.

Hermione saw that the skin under the blood had a slight blue tint to it. Sadness suddenly gripped her, as she was rapidly beginning to fear that she was no longer cradling a live girl in her arms, but the body of a very dead one. "Pansy, PANSY!" she shouted, trying to find some sign of life, but there was none. Tears began to flow down her cheeks as the reality of the situation dawned on her. Without knowing it, she had witnessed the last painful breath of Pansy Parkinson's short life.

She started to cried for this girl that had hated and despised her for the last six years.

Hermione knew Pansy wasn't dead because of their differences, she was dead because of the one thing they had in common; they were both Muggle-born. All the hatred and all the insults meant nothing to her now. She would give anything just to see Pansy take another breath, because she knew this girl's fate could easily have been her own.

Somewhere in Hogwarts tonight, Pansy had met her end, alone, afraid, and without even a wand to protect herself. Hermione suddenly realized that she, too, was alone, afraid, and without a wand to protect herself. Pansy's killer or killers were probably still in the school. They could be just down the corridor in the Astronomy Tower where Pansy came from. Hermione started to listen carefully for any sign that someone else might be in the corridor with her. It was difficult to hear if anybody was approaching because she was beginning to shake and her teeth were starting to chatter as shock set in.

The sound of something tapping caught her attention. It was coming from behind her,

down the corridor that led to the main staircases. The same corridor Ginny had traveled only minutes earlier.

Hermione saw something move near the floor. It was Mrs. Norris running toward her.

She then realized that the tapping sound was the noise made by someone's footsteps running up the stairs. Ginny suddenly shot around the corner with Mr. Filch not far behind her.

Ginny reached Hermione a good thirty feet ahead of Mr. Filch. With tears in her eyes,

Hermione looked up at her and said in a broken voice, "Ginny, I thinks she dead." Ginny placed one hand over her mouth as her own tears began to fall. As soon as Filch reached them he bent down on one knee and said in a soft voice, "Give her to me child." He quickly scooped Pansy's body out of her arms and stood up. He then turned and said, "You two follow me to the infirmary."

Ginny reached down and grabbed hold of Hermione's arm, then helped her up. Seeing that she was still shaking, Ginny picked up their clothes and handed Hermione her robe. "Put this on," she said. They put their robes back on as they followed Mr. Filch, who was walking quickly toward the stairs.

Within minutes they arrived at the infirmary. Sitting at a small table at the far end of the empty hospital wing was Professor McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey with cups of tea in their hands. Dropping their cups on the table, they both rushed forward to meet Mr. Filch.

"Put her here," Madam Pomfrey said, pointing to one of the beds. As gently as he could,

Filch laid Pansy's body on the bed. "What happened?" Pomfrey asked, as she ran her wand over the girl.

"We don't know," Ginny said. "We found her in the fifth floor corridor, she came out of the Astronomy Tower like this."

"Who is this?" Professor McGonagall asked, unable to recognize Pansy.

"It's Pansy Parkinson," Hermione answered, finally finding her own voice.

"She's in deep anemic shock," Pomfrey said. "Minerva, bring me the A-Positive blood potion I have in the Mediwitch cabinet." McGonagall raced out of the room and into Madam Pomfrey's office.

ALIVE! Hermione couldn't believe it; hearing that Pansy was still alive brought fresh tears to her eyes.

McGonagall quickly return with a bottle of dark red potion. Pomfrey took the potion from her, but, instead of trying to make Pansy drink it, or injecting her with it, Pomfrey pulled up Pansy's jumper and tore open her blouse. She then poured the potion directly onto her chest above her heart. The potion almost instantly disappeared through her skin and into her chest. Only seconds later the blue-gray skin on her chest started to turn pink.

"Minerva, I need you to find Severus. I will need all the A-Positive Potion he has in his stores if we are to have any chance of saving her," Pomfrey said. The look on her face was anything but positive. "I will try to close as many of these wounds as I can, but I will need that potion right away."

McGonagall turned to face Filch and said, "Argus, I need you to go find Hagrid. I want both of you to search the Astronomy Tower to see if there is anyone else hurt or if her attackers are still up there."

"Don't worry Professor, we'll find the bloody bastards that did this, mark my words," Mr. Filch said in a very cold voice, and then headed out of the infirmary.

"Come girls, follow me," McGonagall said, as she passed them and headed for the door. Both girls hurried after her. Before leaving the infirmary, Hermione looked back one last time at Pansy. Madam Pomfrey was still leaning over her with a small golden glow coming from the tip of her wand.

Professor McGonagall brought them to the Fat Lady's portrait at Gryffindor Tower. "Miss Weasley, Miss Granger, I want you to inform the rest of your housemates that no one is to leave Gryffindor tonight under any circumstances. I will be sealing the portrait as soon as you enter. Everyone will wait here until I return," McGonagall said, calmly as she could. But it was quite apparent to Hermione that her Professor was highly disturbed by tonight's events.

It was only about 8:45 when they entered the Gryffindor Common Room. There were nearly a dozen students in the room studying, talking, and playing games. Harry and Ron were at their usual spot by the fireplace, playing a game of chess. "You two are back early, don't tell us old Filch is going soft," Ron said as they approached.

When Harry looked up into Hermione's eyes he could tell something was wrong. "What happened?" he asked, with a look of concern on his face. Ron was also looking at her now with a worried expression.

"P..Parkinson," was all Hermione managed to say. Frowns instantly appeared on both boys' faces.

"What did she do," Ron said, sounding very angry.

"It's not like that, Ron," Ginny said.

"What's it like then?" he asked, still very agitated.

"Just shut up and listen for a minute," Ginny said to her brother. She stood up on one of the many padded footstools that littered the Common Room and said, "Everybody, listen up. Professor McGonagall has sealed the portrait. No one is to leave Gryffindor until she returns."

"Why?" Seamus Finnigan asked from across the room.

"A student was attacked tonight in the Astronomy Tower. Hagrid and Mr. Filch are now searching the school for her attackers," Ginny said.

"Who was attacked?" Neville asked anxiously.

"Pansy Parkinson," Ginny answered.

Hermione became sick to her stomach when she heard all the sighs of relief that it was just Pansy and not a real person who was attacked. Comments like, "Serves her right," and, "She got what she deserved," were thrown around the room. Hermione felt disgusted by the whole thing. What really bothered her was that she knew she would have said the same thing if she hadn't been in that corridor tonight.

"These people are unbelievable," Ginny said, sounding very annoyed as she hopped off the footstool.

"Gin, you can't expect anyone here to feel sorry for Parkinson. Not after everything she has said and done," Ron said seriously to his sister.

Ginny just glared at her brother. Finally, she said, "I would expect you to feel sorry for her, Ron. For Merlin's sake! You're going to marry her in less than a month."

"Just because I'm being forced to marry her doesn't mean I have to start feeling sorry for her. The rest of Slytherins may hate her, but that doesn't mean she stopped being one of them. To me she was born a Slytherin and she'll die a Slytherin," Ron said heatedly to Ginny.

"SHUT UP RON!" Hermione screamed at the redheaded boy.

Ron looked at her with shock on his face. "Hermione, you can't be serious. Pansy has treated you like dirt ever since she first laid eyes on you. Have you forgotten that she tried to stab you with a serving fork only two hour ago?" Ron said, trying to make her see his point of view.

"You just don't understand, Ron," she said, almost in a whisper as she turned her back to him. She stared at the fire trying to picture Pansy's face. Every time she tried to see the blond girl clearly in her mind, the image of the bloody phantom took its place. Hermione listened as the conversations quickly changed from Pansy to more pleasant topics.

After standing in front of the fireplace for a couple of minutes, Hermione began to feel hot and a little sweaty. She pulled her robe back off, folded it up, and placed it on the table next to her. Just as she started to sit down in the large chair next to the table, she heard loud gasps from some people in the room. Harry and Ron jumped to their feet, knocking over their chessboard. Everyone in the Common Room was staring at her.

"Merlin Hermione! Are you all right?" Harry asked, with a very worried look on his face.

"I'm fine Harry," she answered, confused by his question.

"Hermione, your blouse," Ginny said from the seat next to her.

Hermione looked down. The entire front of her blouse and skirt were soaked in blood. She quickly got up, grabbing her robe and holding it in front of her. Seeing the confused and worried looks still on Ron and Harry's faces she said, "Don't worry, it's not my blood."

"Is Parkinson going to be alright?" Harry asked.

"Madam Pomfrey said that if they can get enough blood back in her, she might have a chance," she answered in a soulful voice. "I'm going to go take a shower. Harry can I ask you a favor?"

"Sure Hermione, anything," he answered.

"I want to borrow your map," she asked.

"Hermione, you're not thinking of going out tonight, are you?" Harry asked with a note of concern.

"No Harry, I just want to check something," she answered.

"Sure thing Hermione, I'll send Ginny over with it when you're done with your shower," Harry said.

"Thanks Harry, I'll bring it back in the morning," she said, as she started for her dorm room.

Before she could leave, Ron placed a hand on her shoulder and, with an apologetic look,

said, "Hermione, I didn't know."

"Knowing makes all the difference doesn't it?" she said back to him, and then headed up stairs.

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