𝔖𝔢𝔠𝔬𝔫𝔡 ℭ𝔥𝔞𝔫𝔠𝔢 (18+ ℭ𝔬𝔪𝔭𝔩𝔢𝔱𝔢)

Forward and Backward We Go

     Walking out of Defense against the Dark Arts class, Zabini grabbed my elbow and drug me into an alcove.

     His brown eyes darted around like a wild animal, the last time I'd seen him like this was when Voldemort was alive. He let go of me. "The Ugly-one's slut-friend just told me that she's getting a time-turner from Greengrass!"

     My heart jumped into my throat. "Shit!"

     "Ya think?"

     Running my hands through my hair and pacing in front of Zabini, I said, "The last two months flew by, and she seemed like she was backing off. I'd hoped she changed her mind."

     "What?"

     "And I thought she was smart enough to keep her mouth shut."

     "MALFOY, tell me that you didn't know she was going to do this!"

     My mind raced. "I better let McGonagall know right away."

     "McGonagall? What in Salazar Slytherin's name is going on?"

     I kept pacing. My breath hit the cold air and puffed out in front of me like I was the Hogwarts Express.

     "Draco?" Zabini slapped my chest.

     I double-checked to see if anyone was within earshot. "Blaise, do you know when she's going to get it?"

     He glared at me. "Yes, the two vipers are on their way to deliver it to the Ugly-one as we speak."

     "No! Why didn't you start with that?" I trembled as cold-fear coiled around my spine, and I backed out of the alcove.

     "Pff, I'm trying to process, and this just hit me in the face like last year's fashion blunders less than ten minutes ago!" Blaise fussed with his cloak, a clear sign the exquisitely dressed man was distressed.

     "Okay, okay, sorry. Where is she?"

    "The Enchanted Forest, Slytherin hazing grounds."

     I quirked a brow. "How did you get her to tell you that?"

     He scrunched his eyes closed. "I committed a sin and told the Slutty-one she was cute."

     "You what?"

     He shuddered violently. "Then she gushed all over me, and I know the Ugly-one is going back to tell you something. But I don't get why she thinks going back a few hours will make any difference where your relationship is concerned."

     I started running and yelled over my shoulder, "Go tell McGonagall everything you just told me. I don't have time to explain right now—literally!"

     "This is so fucked!"

     "You have no idea!" I yelled as I turned down the hallway and bounded up the stairs three at a time. Once past Hagrid's hut, my lungs ached, but I kept running.

     Black robes darted through the trees ahead. Grabbing my wand, I commanded. "Stupify."

     The dark figure grunted then dropped to the ground.

     My hope of catching Pansy so easily was crushed when seeing it was the Slutty-one. I unjinxed her red-painted mouth. "Where is Parkinson?"

     "You're too late, traitor!" She cackled like the crazy witch she was.

     "She's going to die if I don't stop her."

     "You'd say anything to keep your precious Potter."

     "I don't want to hurt her."

     "She's going to kill him." She glared at me. "And I hope the Dark Lord kills you."

     "Fuck you!" I roared and took off for the nearby clearing. The stupid girl's laughter faded as I flew over the bushes and plants. Sweat poured down my face, and my legs burned as I entered the circular space.

     Pansy's finger flicked the gold time-turner as I raised my wand.

     Out of the corner of my eye, a dark figure moved, lightning zipped in front of my face.

     Dropping to the ground, I rolled and aimed it at the dark mass—Daphne Greengrass. "Expelliarmus."

     The blonde dodged and sent two bolts in my direction, completely missing me.

     Pushing off the snow-covered ground, I flew towards Pansy. With one last spell, I begged everything in the universe to let me save her. The green flash from my wand connected. A loud crack shattered my eardrums, and blinding light filled my vision as I flew back. The air was knocked from me as I hit a tree and slid to the ground.