Concordia Discors

"Father says no one can will inducted until they're of age. The Dark Lord says they're 'unworthy' and father doesn't want me to be killed. So we have to wait another two years! If my father was in charge, why... Granger, what are you doing?" Draco demanded angrily.

Hermione feigned innocence, trying desperately to hide her shaking hands. "Getting a book, Malfoy." She arched an eyebrow. "Is that a crime?"

Great, Hermione thought. Now I'm quoting Fred... So now I have it; genuine proof that Malfoy wants to become a Death Eater. But what do I do with this information?

"Well, Malfoy?" Hermione said, her superior air causing Malfoy to pale even more in rage. "I'm waiting."

"You can wait forever, you filthy little Mudblood. How dare you act superior to me? You're lower than the mud on my boots. You're not worthy to suck my--"

"Draco!" Theodore Nott interrupted urgently. "Madam Pince coming this way!"

Hermione turned and saw Madam Pince walking towards them. "Is everything all right here?" the ancient librarian asked them with concern.

"Fine, thank you, Madam Pince." Hermione replied with a smile. Hermione was one of Madam Pince's favorite students, so the librarian trusted her. With a nod and a smile, the old lady walked back to her desk.

With a cruel smile, Hermione turned back to Malfoy. "But you, Malfoy, aren't considered worthy of anything by the greatest hypocrite of our time. So who's lower than whom?"

Suddenly there was movement behind Malfoy. "Would you like to try it?" he sneered. "You can be lower than me, I promise I'll play nice..."

Suddenly a fist flew, and Malfoy's head snapped forward. He sp[un around angrily and saw Seamus and Dean standing behind him. Seamus was glaring at him- if looks could kill... And Dean grinned at Hermione.

"He bothering you?" Seamus demanded.

Hermione shrugged. "He doesn't matter enough to bother me."

"Well then," said Dean with a laugh. "May we escort you out, my lady?" He offered Hermione his arm, and she burst out laughing. With a smile, she slipped her arm through his, and her other through Seamus's, and they went back to Gryffindor tower together.

As soon as she entered the common room, Dean and Seamus bolted for chairs near the windows, and Harry and Ron waved her over. Hermione smiled as she sat down, her mind racing ahead of her.

With a wince she tried to hide, Hermione touched her stomach, her hand resting on the scar left by Dolohov's curse. Madam Pomfrey wasn't sure if it had left any lasting side effects, or if it would ever completely heal. Even Dumbledore didn't know what the spell that Dolohov used was, or what it did.

You're lower than the mud on my boots. You're not worthy to...

Was he really going to finish that sentence? Hermione wondered. Malfoy, making comments like that to HER? She knew he was just trying to unnerve her, and it had worked. But not because of what he said.

Because of how he acted.

They were at war, Hermione realized, within the walls of Hogwarts. No matter how much Albus Dumbledore tried to say otherwise, they were not safe here. Voldemort could reach them anywhere, through several of the students, and this illusion of security would not last.

Hermione's mind flashed on a phrase she had heard years ago... Discordant harmony.

She sighed, and then forced a smile when Harry and Ron looked up from their chess game. Discordant harmony, she thought.

That's our life.