Destiny of Morgan

Chapter 8

"You know . . . you're not so bad Malfoy," said Harry as the trio made their way towards Hagrid's hut.

"You're not bad yourself Potter," said Draco with the slightest smile on his face that most would never see.

Hermione just remained silent at the friendly exchange, glad that it had finally come down to this. It was just too bad that it had taken six years of being enemies to have one year of friendship at the school, but it was better than nothing. She also realized that it was basically only because of her that the two were even on friendly terms . . . maybe this whole thing was all for show for her? She seriously hoped it wasn't. She would just observe them until she knew for sure.

~*::-::*~

Cecily took in the ornate decorations, the tapestries and the silver and gold plate that gave a touch of color to the room, and then shrugged. "Lucius has built quite a place here."

"None in England like it," Lady North agreed, looking at the rich furnishings. "And it may be yours, of course."

"Oh? You're really thinking of Draco now?"

"Of course." Lady North cast a smooth glance at Cecily. "He's the heir to the most powerful pureblood family in England - next to your father - or will be, with the proper guidance."

"I see. And what about Larose and the others?"

"Not at all possible!"

"No, I can see that," Cecily agreed wryly. "But Draco - he has all the qualifications of a son-in-law?"

"Certainly!" Lady North said. Her smooth composure was broken by a faint surprise. "Surely you must have known that he was the only choice? The others were merely preliminary."

"Of course!"

"Well, now that it's settled-"

"But is it settled?" Cecily asked quickly. "What about father?"

"Oh Draco has enough dash even for him," Lady North said impatiently.

"Oh - and what about me?" Cecily asked suddenly. She picked up the dress robes the servant was holding up for her approval, then added, "Marriage is a little more than money and a title, mother!"

Lady North seemed to freeze. Her cold face focused on her daughter and she said in almost a whisper, "No - it is not, Cecily! You are engaging in some sort of romantic dream - a poetic fancy - " Her nose wrinkled slightly as if she smelled a fetid odor. "Your private affairs I will not inquire into, but your duty to marry within the realm where fate has placed you, that I must see too."

Cecily gazed into her mother's cold eyes and said almost in a whisper, "That is your way, Mother. That is not mine!"

For a long instant they stared at one another - mother and daughter, so alike, yet separated by a great gulf in mind and passion. Finally Lady North nodded slowly and said, "You will have your own way Cecily; your father has spoiled you. But in the end, you will do as I have done. You will consider what is best for your own destiny. Have your fling, but do not make the tragic mistake of throwing yourself away for some romantic dream. You are your father's daughter - and he is a romantic fool. I cannot help that. But you are my daughter as well. I know you do not love me, but it is my way you must follow if you are to survive. So - be cautious!"

~*::-::*~

She couldn't help but feel guilty because she was the one that caused this whole problem in the first place. If it weren't for her, they wouldn't have to put up with all this trouble from the flashbacks and having to get rid of them. It was all her fault . . .

"Hermione? Are you all right? You're being awfully quiet."

"Sorry," she mumbled. She didn't want them to have to feel more pity for her or worry about her, so she put a fake smile on and said, "I was just thinking about something."

"What were you thinking about?" inquired Harry.

"Umm . . . just thinking about what Dumbledore said."

Both could tell that something was on her mind and that she was lying, but they let it go with a shrug. Hermione heaved a silent sigh of relief at this along with silent thanks at their respecting her wishes. They walked in silence for a while longer and then students began to pour out of the front doors towards Herbology and Care of Magical Creatures.

"Draco! What happened to you during Potions?" came the shrill, high voice of Pansy Parkinson who was in the lead of the Slytherins going to Care of Magical Creatures. She stopped short the moment she noticed the presence of Harry and Hermione. "Draco, what is that doing here?" she said indicating Hermione. The others Slytherins began to glare at Harry and Hermione at this statement.

"Sod off Parkinslut, no body wants you here," said Hermione dangerously, her eyes like chips of hazel ice.

"Nobody asked you Mudblood, now go away before I do something to you for even going near Draco," said Pansy pulling out her wand and walking right up to Hermione. Pansy stood a good five or six inches above Hermione, which would usually be intimidating, but Hermione's rage was so close to exploding that it didn't matter if Pansy was just as big as Grawp.

"Ladies, ladies . . . this is a little unfair . . . Mione, you're too powerful for that tart . . . she doesn't stand a chance, so why pick a fight with her?" said Harry stepping in between them and giving Hermione a look that seemed to be saying 'watch it, we don't want to get in trouble right now.'

"Shut up Potter! You don't know who you're talking about, I could beat this bitch any day of the week with my eyes closed," shrieked Pansy indignantly.

"Hermione, Potter, let's just go," said Draco lowly so that only they would here him. So they all turned around and started back on their trek to Hagrid's 'classroom.'

"D - Dra - Draco. . . wh. . . where are you going? Draco!?!" Pansy frantically ran up to him as though he was leaving forever and never coming back.

"Get away from me Pansy," Draco said in a deathly calm voice almost betraying his annoyance of the ugly, high-pitched, pug-faced, tramp in front of him.

"What are you saying Draco? What are you talking about? It's me Draco, not that Mudblood, who do you think I am, I'm not her!" she cried in a frightened voice.

"You're absolutely right. . . she'd never be you, you'll only be one thing ever."

"What is that Draco? Beautiful? Hot? Gorgeous?" she began hopefully even though she knew that Draco was betrothed to some rich and powerful supporter of Voldemort, but he could always mess around on her if need be.

"No. . . you really want to know what I think of you Pansy?" she nodded her head at this, "All you'll ever be is a whore, a harlot, a prostitute, a trollop, a jezebel, bimbo, streetwalker, tramp, lady in red, tart, cat, wench, slut, woman of the night, strumpet, floozy, hooker, scarlet woman, broad, nymph, midnight cowgirl, nymphet, lewd, moll, pickup, bawd, trash; take your pick because I can keep going all day if you'd like or if you don't know what any of those are then maybe you'll understand this; GET THE HELL OUT OF MY FACE BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOU!" by this time Draco's eyes looked so dangerous, he probably could have efficiently replaced the basilisk in the Chamber of Secrets without any complications. Pansy began to cry hysterically, which just caused Harry and Hermione to cover their ears, as did many of her fellow Slytherins because her cry sounded like two cats in a very bad fight more or less.

Hermione had to bite back a laugh that was threatening to escape at the look of confusion on Pansy's face that mingled with her tears of ignominy. "Gee Parkinson, still don't understand it? Do you want me to clarify?" asked Hermione finally giving into the laughter, which consumed her wholly.

Pansy had had it finally and jumped on Hermione and began to viciously claw at her in her anger at being humiliated like she just was, by a Slytherin no less. "I've had it with you, you Mudblood bitch! I'm going to kill you, I swear it!" she screamed while scratching Hermione's face with her sharp nails, which left a trail of blood to follow. Hermione, though much smaller than most of the girls at Hogwarts, was much stronger than she looked; she was able to free her left arm (which happened to be her strongest) and slapped Pansy so hard that she flew to the ground holding her cheek, spiting up blood, and whimpering at the pain that had just been caused her.

Hermione looked about ready to kill. All she did though, was walked to class letting her anger cool down before it cost her the education she had been receiving for the past six and a half years. Harry and Draco and the rest of the Gryffindors all hurried over to Hagrid's. Then the Slytherins, minus Pansy and Millicent, followed suit. All of them had never thought that Hermione Granger (or Morgan in the case of Harry and Draco) could possess so much strength, and they didn't want to be there when Pansy came out of her daze because she could be absolutely inhuman when she was pissed off.

"It's okay Pans . . . he . . . he didn't mean it," offered Millicent feeling sorry for her friend.

"I'm going to kill that Mudblood bitch if it's the last thing I do Millicent, nobody slaps Pansy Parkinson and gets away with it," said Pansy in a deep, demonic voice quite unlike her own.

"I can think of something better to do to her," said Millicent with an evil smirk.

"Talk to me."

"Tell her of our 'dear' Draco's betrothal. . . I mean it's obvious she has feelings for him isn't it?"

"Oh Millicent, you always were a genius in disguise, it's brilliant, absolutely brilliant. . ."