In the Eyes of the Enemy

Disclaimeris sis story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

In the Eyes of the Enemy- Chapter Twenty Muggles in London


The castle was bursting with excitement. It was Friday October 30th and the 7th years with the exception of Harry were boarding the Hogwarts Express for a trip to London where for the entire weekend they would be without their wands and dressed just like any other muggles. After breakfast what looked to be the whole school came out on the grounds to say goodbye to their elder friends and house members.

Ron, Hermione, and Neville had found a carriage for themselves as Dean, Parvati. Lavender, and Seamus were sharing another. Professor McGonagall was asking each of the students for their wands and placing it on a scale, which was magically printing owners name on a label. The label was placed on the wand before being handed to Dobby, who was following the Professor holding a golden chest to store the wands until their owners returned. As each group of students’ wands where taken their carriage was allowed to leave the grounds and head to the train. With so few students going there was no lack of compartments to choose from.

Hermione reached into her bag and pulled out the itinerary for the trip and began read:

Dear Students and Faculty,

The following will be the schedules of events while in London please remember to adhere to the schedule as written unless told otherwise by myself.

Friday

10am-Board Hogwarts Express bound for Kings Cross Station. If you have not done so already please change into muggle attire, as you will not see your belongings until evening.

5pm- Arrive Kings Cross Station, board-awaiting transport to the Dorchester Hotel near Hyde Park.

6pm-Dinner will be held in the hotels “Grill Room” Restaurant, where room keys will be handed out. All belongings will have been transferred to your rooms by the conclusion of dinner.

8pm-You will be on your own until your 10 o’clock curfew it is suggesthat hat you use the time to rest as the following day will be extremely busy.

Saturday

8am- Breakfast will be held in the “Promenade” all students are expected to attend.

9am-Bus will depart for London Zoo

10am-2pm-Students will be free to enjoy the zoo’s exhibits. Students will be responsible for their own lunches while at the zoo.

2pm-Bus leaves for Covent Garden

3pm-Students are free to take in museums, shopping, and performances at Covent Garden

6pm-Students will met at “The Ivy Restaurant” on 1 West St in Covent Garden for dinner.

8pm-Bus will return students to hotel where they will prepare for costume ball.

9pm-12pm-Halloween costume ball will be held in the hotels main ballroom. Students and faculty will attend the ball, from several private muggle schools. You are expected to be on your best behavior, as you will be representing Hogwarts.

Sunday

8am- Breakfast will be held in the “Promenade” all students are expected to attend.

9am-Bus will depart for the “Tower of London” students will be conducted on a tour.

11am-Bus will depart for “Alton Towers” a muggle amusement park.

12pm-5pm-Arrive Alton Towers students will have lunch in the food court before having time on their own to explore the parks attractions.

5pm-Bus leaves to visit “London’s Imax Theater”

6pm-students will take one show at the theater before meeting for Dinner at “Chez Gerard” on Belveder St.

8pm-Students will be returned to the hotel were they will pack for return to Hogwarts.

Monday

8am- Breakfast will be held in the “Promenade” all students are expected to attend. Room keys will be collected.

9am-Bus will depart for Kings Cross Station.

10am-Train will depart for Hogwarts.

Sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall


Hermione neatly placed her itinerary back in her bag and took out a book to read while Ron and Neville entertained themselves with exploding snap.

As the train pulled into Kings Cross station the students and teachers that disembarked looked like any others in the station that day. Everyone quickly made their way to the bus labeled ‘Hogwarts Charter’ waiting right outside the station. It was a pleasant trip across town as students watched the bustling city around them.

The hotel was magnificent it extended at least eight stories high and overlooked the exquisitely manicured Hyde Park. As they entered the doorway they were greeted to a black and white checkered floor, which held a reception desk to the right. Professor McGonagall made her way to the desk to arrange their rooms and bags while Professor Flitwick motioned for the students to follow him though to the atrium and into the restaurant where they were seated at a long table which had been prepared for their arrival.

After completing fine dinners of everything from wild smoked Scottish salmon to Roast loin of lamb wrapped in Cumberland ham with mushrooms the students listened as Professor McGonagall hand out room keys. After all the keys had been allotted the students left the restaurant making their way to the 5th floor where their rooms were located.

In the elevator to their rooms Hermione noticed Draco and Pansy holding hands, and though she had heard the rumors of their dating she had never witnessed them together for herself. She felt sick to her stomach watching him move his arm around her waist pulling her closer to him. As the elevator came to a halt she quickly found her room and closed the door behind her without even noticing Ron and Neville waving goodnight.

The room was made up of a large four-poster bed in the center of the room with a comfortable looking chair and table near the window. At the foot of the bed were a dresser and large TV resting above. Hermione didn’t bother to change or shower she simply undressed and slid under the covers of her bed allowing her tears to flow onto her pillow.

The next morning the students poured into the Promenade for a quick breakfast before being rushed off to board the buses. Once on board Ron asked “Hermione is everything ok? You don’t look so well today and last night you didn’t even say goodnight to Neville or I even though we were standing right beside your door.”

Hermione frowned and replied “I’m sorry Ron, I just didn’t feel well after dinner last night and I’m still not 100% maybe it was something I ate.”

Ron smiled at knowing it was nothing he or Neville had done wrong and said “We’ll take it easy this morning at the zoo and hopefully you’ll feel better as the day goes on.” Hermoine nodded and turned to look out the window.

The afternoon passed by quickly as Ron and Neville, who had never been to a zoo, were fascinated by all the animals in the exhibits. Hermione’s spirits lifted as she watched the two boys having so much fun. At Covent Garden Hermione insisted the boys try to see as many as the museums as possible. Though completely bored by the exhibits in most of the museum they were happy to see Hermione return to her normal self and begrudgingly allowed themselves to be dragged around at her whim.

Dinner was a flurry of commotion as waiters and waitresses passes through the busy restaurant taking orders. Parvati and Lavender had decided to sit next to Hermione so the three could discuss getting ready for the ball. During the coarse of dinner much against Hermione’s requests to the contrary, it was decided that the girls would get ready in her room. In their opinion, she would need the most help getting ready for the evening. They insisted, “Just because your boyfriends not here it’s no reason to let you looks go, you looked dreadful this morning and will need a serious makeover before the ball.”

True to their word the girls worked their magic on Hermione even if they had to use what they called “barbaric muggle methods.” She was beautiful. She had chosen to go as Juliet to Harry’s Romeo before he had been told he couldn’t attend, and there hadn’t been time to arrange for a new costume. She wore a dazzling sapphire dress with an open chest on which she displayed the butterfly necklace Draco had given her for her birthday. had had never stopped wearing it but until tonight it had always remained hidden underneath her robes. Lavender and Parvati thought it apiece of costume jewelry and luckily hadn’t asked where she got it. They put the finishing touches on her by placing glitter on her eyes, lips, and in her hair, which cascaded down her back in soft ringlets under the pointed hat she wore.

As the girls entered the ballroom it was alive with costumed figures gracefully dancing under the soft blue lights of the ceiling. Hermione had taken only a few steps inside the room when a hand caught hers and pulled her out onto the floor. The pirate before her she immediately recognized as Ron. He bent down in her ear and whispered “you look beautiful tonight Hermione.” She smiled as they danced together.

Hermione found herself being handed from partner to partner, some she knew but most she didn’t, as they were most likely from muggle schools in the area. Towards the end of the evening chills ran up her spine, as a particular pair of arms held her. She hadn’t even needed to look up to see that they belonged to Draco. Unless she wanted to cause a scene in the middle of the dance floor she had no choice but to dance.

Draco wea wearing all black with a cape and sword at his side. His face was covered in a cloth mask. He had a fake black mustache and appeared to be disguised as Zorro. As they danced Hermione decided to enjoy the moment for what is was a stolen moment that wout lat last. They matched each other step for step and moved about the floor gracefully in each other’s arms.

I hear... a voice say \"Don\'t be so blind\"...
it\'s telling me all these things...
that you would probably hide...
am I... your one and only desire...
am I the reason you breathe...
or am I the reason you cry...

Always... always... always... always... always... always... always...
I just can\'t live without you...

I love you...
I hate you...
I can\'t get around you...
I breathe you...
I taste you...
I can\'t live without you...
I just can\'t take any more...
this life of solitude...
I guess that I’m out the door...
and now I’m done with you...

I feel... like you don\'t want me around...
I guess I’ll pack all my things...
I guess I’ll see you around...
Its all... been bottled up until now...
as I walk out your door...
all I hear is the sound...

Always... always... always... always... always... always... ys..ys...
I just can\'t live without you...

I love you...
I hate you...
I can\'t get around you...
I breathe you...
I taste you...
I can\'t live without you...
I just can\'t take any more...
this life of solitude...
I guess that I’m out the door...
and now I’m done with you...

I love you...
I hate you...
I can\'t live without you...

I left my head around your he.. ..
Why would you tear my world apart...

Always... always... always... always...

I see... the blood all over your hands...
does it make you feel... more like a man...
was it all... just a part of your plan...
the pistol\'s shaken in my hands...
and all I hear is the sound...

I love you...
I hate you...
I can\'t live without you...
I breathe you...
I taste you...
I can\'t live without you...
I just can\'t take any more...
this life of solitude...
I guess that I’m out the door...
and now I’m done with you...

I love you...
I hate you...
I can\'t live without you...

I love you...
I hate you...
I can\'t live without you...
I just can\'t take any more...
this life of solitude...
I pick myself off the floor...
and now I’m done with you...
Always...
Always...
Always... (1)

When the song ended and the next eager dancer reached out for Hermione’s hand Draco snapped at him “We’re not done yet go find someone else.” The nervous young man scurried away and Hermione gave Draco an angry look as he pulled her close and continued to dance. The next song had a softer melody than the first and he held her tight as he whispered in her ear “Don’t pretend to be angry with me you wouldn’t have worn that necklace if you didn’t want me to find you.”

Hermione straightened and tried to pull away from him before saying “If you want it back take it, I tried to give it back once before. Why don’t you just go back to dancing with your pug nosed girlfriend Pansy?”

Draco smiled “The necklace is yours and for your information you’re the only person I intend danced with tonight.”

Hermione’s eyes widened as she said, “Why?”

Draco smiled “because you and I my dear have unfinished business. You can hide from me all you and at school but at least for tonight your mine.”

Hermione froze in shock and Draco took the opportunity to kiss her. Despite her best efforts her resilience broke as she folded into his lips. Her mouth opened to his and their tongues met. Their kiss continued until Hermione was jerked back by Pansy who had pulled Hermione’s hair and slapped her across the face before saying, “What the hell do you think your doing with my boyfriend mudblood?” The reality of what had just happened hit Hermione and she ran from the hotel and out into Hyde Park.

Hermione stumbled across the park until she came to the lake where she collapsed on a bench in tears. Her sobs were broken by gnarled voice asking “What’s a pretty little princess like you doing out here so late at night?” Hermione stood up and saw three hulking figures approaching her. The man on the left a grisly character wearing greasy brown pants and a black shirt that said, “Oi mates look at that pretty bobble she’s got floppin around on her chest.” Hermione looked down at the necklace and protectively covered it with her hand. What appeared to be the leader of the motley gang replied, “It’s you or the trinket missy but truth be told I think I’ll take them both.” The three men drew their knives and ran towards her, Hermione screamed and tried to run to the left. It was useless, the greasy man with the black shirt, grabbed her and pressed a knife to her throat.

The three men pulled Hermione off into a small clearing of trees. There they forced her down to the ground and tore off her dress and undergarments. The leader pressed his lips against Hermione who spit in his face while trying to struggle to free herself from her attackers. He laughed and said “you’ll get it now missy and if you scream I’ll kill you.” The man slid down between her legs and unzipped his pants.

Hermione decided it was better to die, than allow this bunch of filth touch her any further. She bit down on the hand of the third brute that had been wearing overalls and reeked of smoke. The man howled out in pain while the man between her legs aimed to plunge his knife into the side of her body. Moments before the knife struck a blinding white light threw the man hurtling into the tree behind him. The other two were so terrified by what had happened they ran off into the park.

Draco had tried to follow Hermione out of the ballroom but he had been detained, by Pansy who in a winy voice said, “If you go after that mudblood bitch we’re done Draco.”

To which he replied, “Fine Pansy we’re done.”

The bellman had told him she had headed in the direction of the park, but where. He ran as fast as he could, looking in each direction for her. When he heard a scream his stomach lurched and he said, “Please don’t let it be her,” but his heart told him it was. He ran in the direction of the scream but when he got to the lake there was no one there. It was then he heard a louder morspersperate scream followed by a burst of light in the woods and ran as fast as his legs would allow.

Draco’s heart stopped when entered patcpatch of trees and found Hermione’s naked body sprawled out on the ground her clothes torn and scattered along the ground. He ran to her and was relieved to find her still breathing, all be it very shallow. He gathered her clothes and wrapped them about her as best he could before picking her up. As he passed the unconscious man who was slumped against the tree he noticed Hermione’s necklace in his outstretched hand. Draco reached down and tore the necklace from his hand before kicking him soundly in his still exposed genitals.

The ball had ended by the time Draco was able to return to the hotel and he found a nervous looking Professor McGonagall waiting in the lobby. Seeing the condition of Hermione and her clothing she choked out the words “what happened?”

Draco quickly explained, ”She was attacked in the park. When I found her, the attacker was unconscious against a tree and she was barely breathing.” The Professor ordered the clerks at the desk to call the police and motioned Draco to follow her to her room.

Once inside she asked Draco “I have a portkey but it’s not safe to use with her not being able to touch it if our timing is off she could be sent alone and would drop to the ground. You could maybe floo into the headmaster’s office, but even that has risks. If you were to lose your grip on her, she could be thrown anywhere in the floo network.”

The women looked scared but Draco said “I won’t lose her, we need to get her help as soon as possible.” McGonagall nodded “it’s a protected fireplace so the only way to enter is to be let in from the other side. I’ll need to portkey to the castle and have the Headmaster open it. Wait here as soon as you see the fireplace turn green and the headmaster gives you the all clear you can step through.”

In and instant she was gone and Draco anxiously waited for the portal to be opened. In a matter of minuets the fireplace turned green and Draco heard the Headmasters voice say “Draco hurry.” Without being told twice Draco firmly gripped Hermione and headed though to the headmasters office.

The three hurried down the stairs and headed straight for the hospital wing. Madame Pomfey looked terrified at the state Hermione was in. The mediwitch shooed the other three out before using a cleaning charm to clean her and placing her in a hospital gown.
Her examination of Hermione yielded some startling results, which she would need to speak with the Headmaster about.

Madame Pomfrey told the three anxious individuals before her “Hermione will be fine. She is unconscious from what hor horrible ordeal she has been though. It’s just her body’s way of dealing with the stress. She has no lasting damage from her attack so all we can do now is let her rest.” The three nodded in understanding.

Professor McGonagall pulled the box containing the portkey from her pocket and said, “I think it’s time we get back Mr. Malfoy you first.”

Draco shook his head “I’m sorry Professor but I’m staying here with Hermione.”

She nodded and replied “As you wish we’ll bring your belongs home with Mrs. Granger’s on Monday. You won’t be able to have your wand until then as the chest is set to remain locked until then.” Draco nodded and headed though the doors.

In an instant Professor McGonagall was gone.

Dumbledore turned to head into the room when Madame Pomfrey grabbed his arm “Sir there is another matter which I must speak with you about.”

Dumbledore nodded and said “Yes Poppy what is it?”

Madame Pomfrey carefully looked up and down the halls before saying “she’s pregnant.”

Dumbledore’s eyes widened at hearing the news and asked, “Are you sure Poppy
Sh
She nodded “I checked three times just to make sure.”

He then asked, “Do you think that’s that saved her?”

The witch nodded “judging from the way she looked when he found her I’m almost positive, but we’ll have to wait until she wakes up to be certain.”

*****************
A/N (1) Saliva-Always