sekkoon

CHAPTER 10

“They’ve been a while.” Harry said, as he stared out at the blackening sky.

“Yeah. Hey whats that?” Ginny looked puzzled. There was a distant sound of shouting and someone banging loudly on a piece of metal. Ron was about to reply when Pansy and her little troop walked in, smug looks on their faces.

“You wanna know something?” Serissa laughed.

“It’s really good!” Theodora was still laughing too.

“Draco’s back with the Dark Side.” Pansy burst out, then put on a babyish voice, “Bwoke Hermiones wittle heart, it did!”

“Get lost Pansy!” Ginny scowled at her.

“Ooohhhh! Get you!” The triplet squealed.

“Very amusing!” Ron said, a look on his face that suggested there was a very bad smell under his nose.

“It’s true!” Theodora said matter-of-factly.

“Yeah, that’s right Potter!” Pansy shrieked “He’s gonna be back, and more powerful, the Dark Lord will rise again!” And as quickly as they came, the little group left again.

“Don’t listen, Harry.” Ginny told him, “Their trying to wind you up.”

“Pansy, you obnoxious cow, you better let us out of here now!” Hermione was screaming and pelting on the door of the compartment in some vain attempt to escape. It was failing.

“I wish you’d shut up, you filthy little Mudblood!” Pansy was back.

“Yeah, you might give us all Mudblood Disease. It might carry in the wind!” Theodora was laughing again.

“I swear Pansy, when I get out there, I will kill you!” Hermione kicked the door angrily.

“Temper, temper!” Serissa mocked laughing. There was a sudden out burst of very colourful language from Hermione.

“Miss Granger!” Professor McGonagall barked, “I hope you do not intend to keep on using those words in front of these first years!”

“Sorry Professor.” Hermione said sulkily. McGonagall unlocked the door. Hermione dived on top of Pansy, who started shrieking again.

“Get off me, you filthy Mudblood!”

“I said I was gonna kill you Pansy!” Hermione now had hold of Pansy hair, trying furiously to pull it out. A number of people had gathered round and were eager for the fight to continue.

“Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!” they chorused. Professor McGonagall was trying desperately to shut them up, and stop the war zone at the same time. Even Theodora and Serissa were standing back watching.

“I’m not risking my neck cos’ of Granger!” Theodora whispered to her friend.

A few of the other teachers had come down to help now, and most of the students had come to watch, including Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny.

“Poke her in the eyes, Hermione!” Ron was shouting.

“Yeah, go on Hermione!” Ginny was also cheering, “Oh, that’s gotta hurt!” She added, as Hermione gave Pansy a fierce whack, and burst her lip.

“Her-mion-e! Her-mion-e! Her-mion-e!” There was something about that voice that Harry recognised. He looked up from the fight. Sure enough, Cho Chang and her friends where stood on the outskirts of the action cheering. The teachers were still trying to move the crowds back, when…

“SILENCE!” Faith Whitby, who had been made Head Girl from Ravenclaw, was stood wide-eyed staring at the vicious fight, “What in Gods name do you think your all playing at?” The train went deadly silent. Even Pansy took to punching Hermione in silence. Faith was a large girl with black hair, streaked with pale ginger. Quite easily, she bent down a scooped Hermione up in her right arm, ignoring her fights for freedom.

“Yes thank-you, Miss Whitby.” Professor McGonagall said, sounding embarrassed and going slightly pink. “Now can we all return to our compartments!”

“No, no, no, no, no, Professor.” It was the first time Hermione had heard even Pansy answer back to a teacher, “You see, someone here has once again joined the Dark Side.” Pansy was looking smug; Hermione was shaking her head frantically. “Yes Hermione. I think now we tell them, tell them all, right here, in front of everyone…”

“Are you saying that Miss Granger is a Death Eater, Miss Parkinson?” McGonagall interrupted her, a disbelieving look on her face.

“Not Hermione!” Pansy smiled, very pleased with herself, “But Draco!” A few people gasped, others looked round worriedly at him, Hermione let out a scream and collapsed on Harry shoulder like she always did, sobbing away. Draco slunk away quickly, keeping his head down. But he couldn’t hide the whispers that followed him.

“Come back, Mr Malfoy!” McGonagall bellowed.

Serissa and Theodora had broke down into a fit of giggles.

“Calm down, girls!” Pansy said in a mock voice, “It’s very serious!” Then she too burst out laughing. Draco made his way slowly back through the crowds of anxious students.

“Come with me.” McGonagall said very slowly, as though he might not understand her properly now. People watched them disappear down the corridor, Hermione started crying even harder.