Cold (Hermoine X Draco)

Chapter Fourteen

HERMIONE POV

I don't think---I just react. I grab Draco's hand and forcibly yank him toward the door in a dead sprint. We crash through the doors, a good portion of my flying hair singed off by a spell thrown after us. A green jet of light explodes on the stone wall, and Draco swears loudly. Someone threw a Killing Curse at us. I run faster, dragging him with me.

A killing curse. What was this place coming to?

"Hermione!" he shouts. "Where are we going? We need a plan, they're going to---"

"We're going to the Headmistress!" I shout back. "Hurry your sorry arse up, Draco Lucius Malfoy!' I drag him behind me, his heels squeaking across the floor. He is being horridly slow.

He looks at me in faint amusement and lets go of my hand to run in a more coordinated fashion. "Yes ma'am, hurrying my arse."

"Oh, shut up!" I pant, with just enough breath left to laugh at his pathetic imitation of my voice. I really hope I don't sound that whiny.

The gargoyle poses a problem. We skid to a halt, crashing into one another, breathless, and begin calling for McGonagall. The gargoyle is clearly unamused with our efforts, so Draco starts running through candy while I am struck by a sudden inspiration--perhaps a cat breed? It's her Patronus, after all! And her Animagus form.

"Cockroach clusters!"

"Maine coon?"

"Acid pops?"

"Uh...sphynx? Tabby? Tortoiseshell?"

"Godric."

We both turn.

Unimpressed, Professor McGonagall stands behind us with her arms crossed. "There are many things more befitting your time than trying to break into my office! What is so urgent?"

Draco looks guilty.

I quickly jump in. "It's an emergency, Professor. May we come up?"

-

McGonagall paces anxiously. "Mr. Malfoy, you do realize you could go to Azkaban for this? The use of a Killing Curse was quite unnecessary!"

We've explained the situation, and had our memories viewed, and now we sit, awaiting our--well, Draco's--sentence.

"I'll have to call Minister Shacklebolt. And your father, Mr. Malfoy." she shakes her head at us. "We are, of course, quite glad that Miss Granger is unharmed, and I'm sure your intentions were noble, however I cannot argue with the facts. My hands are tied, Malfoy! At the very least, I'll have to expel you!"

"No, you won't."

"How did you get up here?" I gasp, while Draco shouts, "Oh, it's just a bloody party in here, isn't it?"

Bella floats up onto the desk, looking smug. "You can't keep a ghost out with passwords."

Professor McGonagall clutches her throat. "You knew of her existence? That'll have to go against both of you, oh, Malfoy, Miss Granger! I'm shocked, I, Bellatrix Lestrange!"

"I'm harmless." Our favorite ghostly Death Eater drawls lazily. "Not only am I incapable of doing any damage, I have no desire to wreak havoc on anyone's life. I'm quite reformed. Say, the house elves are making sandwiches. Shall I ask them to bring some?"

Poor Professor McGonagall looks near to fainting with the shock.

"As I was saying," Bella elegantly crosses her legs, leaning on the desk with one hand. "Draco will be neither expelled nor arrested. Ronald Weasley was a murderer. He deserved what he got."