Falling for the Enemy||Draco Malfoy Love Story Fanfiction

Chapter 44

Chapter 44: I don't want you

They all stormed in, and Merielle couldn't help but feel a rush of elation as she saw the students' faces light up with hope. Against her better judgement, her eyes raked over them all as Professor McGonagall duelled Snape. She scanned the faces until she saw a flash of blond amongst the sea of green. Her heart lurched painfully, but her head snapped back round as there was the sound of glass shattering and she witnessed Snape flying out of the broken window in a blur of black. The students let out a great cheer, feeling freedom land on their shoulders.

"Mr Potter, do you mind telling me what you're doing here, which, I trust you realise, is an act of complete and utter lunacy?" questioned McGonagall.

"I'm a Gryffindor," grinned Harry, and even Merielle couldn't help but chuckle. She kept her eyes firmly averted even when she felt cold grey eyes stabbing into her back.

"I thought it might have something to do with that." Her Head of House smiled slightly. Suddenly, Harry pressed his fingers to his temples, wincing.

"Harry?" asked Merielle anxiously. A chilling breeze swept throughout the Great Hall as it dimmed. There was a girl's scream. Then another scream, followed by another. Merielle gasped as she herself felt a stabbing pain in her head, which had nothing to do with the stabbing stare on her. A voice hissed across in a deathly whisper.

"I know that many of you will want to fight. Some of you may even think this wise. But this is folly," Voldemort's cold voice lashed into her mind.

"I wish you no harm. I have great respect for the students of Hogwarts. I was once one myself after all. I ask for but one thing and if granted no magical blood shall be spilt. Give me Harry Potter. Do this and none shall be harmed. Give me Harry Potter and I shall leave Hogwarts untouched. Give me Harry Potter and you shall be rewarded."

And with that, the whispers receded. Silence hung in the air for a moment. Then:

"But he's there! Potter's there! Someone grab him!" Exclaimed Pansy Parkinson in a high-pitched shriek. Merielle's eyes narrowed. She had never particularly liked the Slytherin girl, but this was testing it too much. Ginny stood in front of Harry, shielding him. Then Merielle joined her, standing before Harry protectively. She felt the same pair of cold grey eyes narrow at her and Harry, but she kept her glare firmly on Pansy Parkinson. As one, the Gryffindors assembled around Harry like a protective bubble. Moments later, the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs did the same. Just then, Filch barged in.

"Students out of bed! Students in the corridors!" 

"They're supposed to be out of bed, you blithering idiot!" McGonagall exclaimed in exasperation.

"Oh, sorry," mumbled Filch.

"As it turns out, your arrival is most opportune, Mr Filch. If you would, I'd like you to lead Miss Parkinson and the rest of Slytherin House out of the Hall."

"Right away." He paused. "Er, where exactly would I be taking them?"

"The dungeons will do," announced the professor, and the other houses cheered again. Merielle frowned. Surely that was a bit too far? Yes, they hadn't be willing to protect Harry, but it was Parkinson who'd suggested turning him in, not the others. And she knew that prejudice against the Slytherins was involved in her Head of House's decisions. Merielle would've stood up against this if not for far more pressing and urgent matters on her mind at the moment.

"Professor McGonagall, Harry needs to find something hidden in the castle," she pressed.

"Of course. Exactly what is it you need, Mr Potter?"