Cold (Hermoine X Draco)

Chapter Ten

HERMIONE POV

"You know something?" I say, arms folded tightly, leaning on the wall. "I don't care if he is your brother in law. Lucius Malfoy is more of an arse than Ronald Weasley!"

I've been ranting for possibly a good half hour and Bella, bless her, has been exercising the patience of a saint and listening politely.

"Yes, dear." she sighs. "But why do you care so much?"

"He hit Draco! He slapped his face, the---" I bite my tongue before any more insults escape.

Bella sighs again. "It is his nature. There's nothing we can do now."

"Who killed Pansy? Who really killed Pansy?" I change topics suddenly.

Bella throws up her ghostly hands in exasperation. "I already told you, I don't know."

"So we find out."

I've been unsettled all morning, ever since last night's incident. Not just because I saw a dead girl with her neck snapped. Anyone who's fought Voldemort has been there, done that. Because of the circumstances. Because of Lucius Malfoy. Because they're accusing me now, since it would have cleared the way for me to be with Draco. Because the whole school somehow got it in their heads that we're an item. I blame Zabini.

"Hermione, everyone's trying to solve this. Every capable witch and wizard is looking, what good will we do? And in case you've forgotten, I'm dead."

"We need a---" I stop. Someone's screaming again. Oh, dear God not again!

I race down the stairs, Bella's invisible presence hot on my heels.

This time, I stop halfway up the stairs. I'm above the crowd, with a decent vantage point. No bodies, this time, thank heavens, and no immediate threat.

Then Bella whispers in my ear. It once would have scared me, having her mocking, pouting lips so close to me. Now I don't flinch.

"Look on the wall."

I search frantically, and then my eyes land on the white parchment scrap, fluttering like a banner of surrender. It takes a quick spell to enhance my vision to actually read it, since I'm so far away. When I do, my blood runs cold.

Not because of the words, although they're concerning. Draco Malfoy, I'm coming for you. Well, to be honest it's not even a very imaginative threat. But the hand that wrote them is as familiar as my own. I suddenly remember an ink soaked parchment, a ruined piece of homework that I returned to hand-in worthy quality. The work wasn't great, perhaps earning its owner an Acceptable. But the handwriting covering that ink stained parchment is the same as the words pinned to the wall with a dagger.

And suddenly I know who killed Pansy Parkinson. I know whose hands closed over her throat, whose arms jerked her neck and broke it.

I turn, heedless of the fact that poor Bella is right behind me, and vomit. Sure, I've seen it before. But, before, it was Voldemort behind the murders. Not...oh, lord, why? Why?

Bella makes a discreet sound of disgust and I imagine her ghostly feet daintily sidestepping the mess I've made on the stairs. I cast a charm to Vanish it and calm my stomach, and thankfully no one has noticed.

Then a hand lands on my shoulder. My stomach clenches in fear before a familiar voice reaches my ears and I turn. Someone did notice.

"Hey. You okay?" asks Draco.

I don't even know how to respond. How do I begin? "Um...I...I think I know who killed Pansy."

"Who?"

I shake my head.

"Who?" He presses gently. "Hermione..."

Tears slip down my cheeks at the thought of what will happen when the truth comes out.

I shake my head harder, turn away suddenly, and run. Run back to the common room, back to my bedroom, back to where the only person who cares right now can't get to me. Where I can mourn for all that's lost in peace.

Ron. Why? What happened to you this year? What did Pansy ever do to you?

DRACO POV

Hermione, what did you know?

"Hermione!" I shout out of her as she bolts. I don't think she wants to hear me, or maybe is too far in shock to notice my pleas. "Hermione, please!"

I take a few steps after her, before a cold hand stops me. I immediately freeze, stopping in my tracks. Aunt Bella.

"Just leave her be for now, love." She murmurs. "She'll tell you when she's ready. Something tells me whatever she just realized shook her pretty hard."

"Guessing the tears were a give away to that, huh?" I say jokingly, turning to face her. She raises an eyebrow, her ghostly feet hovering right above the floor.

"I guess so."

I nod, looking back down towards the mass hysteria unfolding. By now the Head Mistress was here, attending to the matter. She gracefully raises her hands, her stern expressions immediately silencing the room. Ripping the note off the wall, she quickly examines it. I lean forward on my tiptoes, studying her features as she reads the words. I'd yet to see what had been written, but given what her face was giving away, it was alarming.

"Draco Malfoy," She says, raising her voice. My stomach drops, my heart starting to beat unnaturally fast for someone standing still. "Draco Malfoy, please report to my office."

Almost simultaneously, all eyes turn towards me. My legs go weak, and I feel like I want to fall to my knees and almost weap. I try to put on a stone face, slowly backing up before turning around and rushing out of there, down the stairs, and towards McGonagall's office.

"Draco, what have you been up to lately and what do you know about Pansy's death?"

"I haven't been up to anything, and I'm just as clueless as the rest of you." I say, trying not to scream at her.

Even though she's in human form, her eyes pierce my like a cats. I find it hard to look her in the eye, which probably didn't reflect my innocence well. Her continual stare makes me squirm in my seat. I try to play my response down, which of course just makes her eyes narrow.

"Then why does this-" She holds up the piece of parchment. "Mention you?"

I open my mouth a bit in shock at the words.

Draco Malfoy, I'm coming for you

I knew I'd been making enemies, especially recently with the whole death eater thing. Hell, even recently, with the whole Hermione thing, I'd been making some enemies. I'd never really been liked outside of the Slytherin house, so it wouldn't surprise me if someone hated my guts. But enough to send public threats after killing my ex-girlfriend? What was going on?

A nagging voice at the back of my head told me that Hermione just might be onto something. A part of me is tempted to bring this up to McGonagall, but another part screams not to and just try and get out of here.

Thankfully, I don't have to bring it up.

"Head Mistress McGonagall, I think I know who killed Pansy and left the note."

A red eyed Hermione meekly walks into the room. She shakes a bit, and I visibly see her gulp.

"Well, who?" Says McGonagall, clearly still a bit befuddled over her sudden entrance.

She takes a deep breath before she dares to speak. I could hear a pin drop in the room as the tension build. What was she going to say, and would mcGonagall believe her? Would I believe her?

"Ron Weasley. Ronald Weasley killed Pansy and threatened Draco."