The Power of the Quill

Author's Notes:

Just when you thought I wouldn't update, here's another chapter. I'm starting to get into the meat of this story. There will be a lot of action in the upcoming chapters. I hope you will all enjoy it.

I want to thank all my loyal readers and reviewers. You are all wonderful and I couldn't do this without you.

Beta'd by Nakhash Makashefah. Her hard work on this story is what keeps me going. That and the fact she told me she'd cut my head off if I didn't finish it. Someone, please help me, she's so evil.

Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns Harry Potter and Co. I own nothing.



The Power of the Quill.


Chapter 22.The Devil In High Heels.

It was bright sunny Saturday morning in Little Whinging. Narcissa Potter Black stepped out of her taxi in front of number four, Privet Drive. This was her first venture into the Muggle world in many years. She wore a tight white and peach colored skirt and jacket. She liked the way she looked in these Muggle clothes. They showed off her figure a lot better than robes ever could. But most of all, she loved how her legs looked in four-inch heels. Narcissa took a hundred pound note from her purse, handing it to the driver and telling him to wait for her. He cheerfully agreed, staring at the note to make sure it was real. Narcissa smiled as she approached the small house. She knew the note in the taxi driver's hand would turn back into an oak leaf in twenty-four hours.

Narcissa couldn't believe how ugly and small all the homes on Privet Drive were. She thought the houses were better suited for house-elves than humans to live in. She knocked firmly three times on the front door.

"Dudley, see who's at the door. If it's the vicars, tell them we gave last week," a voice shouted from inside the house. The door opened; a hugely obese teenage boy had answered it. He had dirty-blond hair that looked like it had been slicked down with a stick of butter. He wore a Rolling Stones tee shirt at least two sizes too small for him. He took one look at her and smiled. Narcissa could tell the young pervert was undressing her with his eyes. It took some self-control not to hex the little troll right where he stood.

"Vernon Dursley, please," she said dryly to the fat boy.

"Dad, there's a lady here to see you," the boy shouted back into the house. A few seconds later, a large heavyset man came to the door. The boy had to move away because the doorway could not fit the both of them.

"Are you Vernon Dursley?" Narcissa asked.

"Yes, how can I help a pretty lady such as yourself, today?" the fat man asked with a lustful look in his eyes.

"My name is Narcissa Potter Black. I've come to talk to you about Harry Potter," she told him.

His smile vanished immediately. He gave her a contemptuous glare. "So you're one of them," he disdainfully said.

"Are you Vernon Dursley, Muggle, or are you not?" Narcissa forcefully asked now that the pleasantries were over.

"Yes, I am. And I have nothing to say to the likes of you. Leave now before I call the authorities," Vernon warned as his fat face started to turn pink.

"Mr. Dursley, I've come to speak with you about your treatment of Harry Potter. I'm not leaving until I have done so. I suggest that you let me in, Mr. Dursley," she threatened.

"You don't scare me, woman," Vernon said with a smile. "I know that none of your kind can enter my home unless you're invited first. That old codger Dingledork said so."

Narcissa simply stepped around the fat man and entered the small home.

"Wait just a minute!" Vernon shouted. "You're not supposed to be able to do that."

"The wards on this home are blood based. Any blood relative can come and go whenever they see fit," she told him.

"You're no relative of ours," Vernon angrily stated.

"Unfortunately, I am now. I married your nephew two weeks ago. Since I now carry his child, I'm considered blood by the wards of this house," Narcissa explained as she looked around the interior of the home. Narcissa approached the stairs. She walked around them to the cupboard door. It was a very small cupboard; an elf would feel cramped inside.

"Married? That's insane. The boy just turned sixteen a month ago," Vernon said.

"It wasn't his or my choice, Muggle. The Ministry passed a law forcing us to wed. You see, the Wizarding world needs new blood to mix with its old," she clarified.

"A bunch of perverted freaks is what you are," Vernon declared. "Married or not, I want you out of my house this instant!"

Narcissa responded by opening the cupboard door. There was still a small cot under the suitcases and cleaning supplies. "This is a very small place. It looks very uncomfortable, even for a child. Of course it's a lot better than Wizard's prison, but you'll find out for yourself soon enough," she said with a small smile on her face.

Vernon slammed the front door shut and stalked up to her. "Don't you threaten me, witch!" he menacingly said. "Neither my wife or I have ever done anything unlawful. We don't have anything to fear from the likes of you."

"Your wife might not have anything to fear, but you most certainly do. Stealing money from an underage wizard is frowned upon by the Ministry courts. And you put yourself under their jurisdiction when you took in little Harry and the trust money," she told him.

"I've stolen nothing," he spat at her. "I read the trust contract. It said we could spend that money anyway we saw fit, as long as we made sure the brat had a roof over his head, clothes, food to eat and went to school. We have done all that and more. They should give us a medal for all we've had to put up with."

"You're quite right, Dursley. Technically, you did nothing legally wrong in how you spent the money from the trust, even if you were being immoral at the time. However, like most men, you got greedy. Taking Harry's hard-earned wages from his summer job for room and board, which you were already being paid for, is illegal. It amounts to fraud and forced enslavement in the Ministry's eyes," Narcissa casually told him as she closed the cupboard door.

"You can't prove a thing," Vernon firmly said.

Narcissa chuckled. She couldn't help but laugh at the fat Muggle's ignorance.

"Come now, Dursley. We are wizards, after all. We can prove anything we want. With just a wave of our wands, we can stroll through ever memory in that fat head of yours. There's nothing you can hide from us. When the Ministry courts see how you've treated the beloved hero of the Wizarding world for nearly fifteen years, well, let's just say that the light of day will become a fond memory for you. Don't worry, Dursley. Muggles rarely live more than a couple of years in a Wizard's prison. Your suffering won't last too long," Narcissa informed him with a wicked smile.

"What is it that you want from me?" Vernon asked with a defeated look on his face, a look that Narcissa loved to receive from men.

"I knew you would see thing my way, Dursley," she said as she patted his fat cheek with her right hand and gave him a warm smile. "We have business to discuss. Could you have your elf, um, I mean servant, bring me some tea?"

"Dudley, tell your mum to bring some tea for our guest," Vernon ordered with a resentful look on his face. The fat teenage boy, who had been eavesdropping on them, headed for the kitchen. "Have a seat, Mrs. Potter," Vernon said with false sincerity.

"I prefer Mrs. Black, if you don't mind. But seeing how we're family now, you may call me Narcissa," she told him as she took a seat on the couch.

"So just what is it you want? Money?" Vernon uncouthly asked.

"No, no, Vernon. You don't mind if I call you Vernon?" she sweetly asked, but didn't wait for his reply. "I'm not here to take your money. Quite the opposite, in fact." Narcissa reached into her bag and took out a large envelope. She then handed it to Dursley.

"What's this?" Vernon asked as he took the envelope out of her hand.

"Fifty thousand Muggle pounds," she told him.

Vernon's eyes grew large as he looked inside the envelope to confirm she was telling the truth. "Fifty thousand quid? For what?" he asked, giving her a suspicious look.

"You own a small tool company, do you not?" she asked.

"Yes, what's that got to do with any of this?"

"I want you to sell me a third of it," she explained.

"WHAT! Are you insane?" Vernon demanded, losing whatever composure he had left.

"It's a fair offer, Dursley," she defiantly told him.

"A fair offer? It's highway robbery!" he angrily stated, but Narcissa noticed the firm grip he still had on the envelope full of money. Greedy men were so much easier to manipulate than men of principle.

"Come now, Vernon. I'm not a fool. Grunnings has shown a loss for six straight quarters. I doubt you'll find a better offer anywhere on the market today. You should also consider that the trust money is no longer available to you. Harry has already instructed Gringotts to discontinue its monthly deposits into your account," Narcissa informed him.

"He can't do that. That money's ours for another twenty-two months," Vernon angrily stated.

"Harry is considered of age now that he is married. It is well within his rights to cancel the trust. You should feel grateful he hasn't asked for an audit of the account," she told him. "Dursley, you need this money, and I need some solid investments. I suggest you take the money and keep your freedom, as well."

Vernon wrinkled up his fat brow as he thought about her proposal. She knew he would take it, but his pathetic male pride was causing him to hesitate first.

"I only own fifty-one percent of the company. My sister owns another thirty percent. If I sell you thirty-three percent, you will own more than either of us," he said with a worried look on his chubby face.

"Yes, but together you will still have nearly fifty percent of the company between you. It will remain in your family's control," she explained. "You know as well as I do that your company is heading downhill fast, Vernon. You should consider this offer as a very lucky turn of events."

"If you're looking for solid investments, why bother with my company?" he asked, giving her a suspicious look.

"Necessity, I'm afraid," she answered. "We have a law in our world preventing us from investing in Muggle companies. They don't want wizards using magic in this world to get rich. But there is a small loophole in this law. We are allowed to invest with family, even if that family is Muggle."

"There probably won't be any return on this money for quite some time, if at all. You could lose everything," he warned.

"Let me worry about that," she said with a smile. "I have a feeling Grunnings is about to have a very good fourth quarter."

Vernon gave her a very nervous look. She knew he wanted to tell her that he didn't want her or magic helping his company out. But his pride was no match for his greed. She wondered what he would think if he knew she had already arranged to buy his sister's shares of the company. The great thing about owning a Muggle company was, it could buy other companies.

"You won't regret this, Dursley. Soon, you will be a very rich man."

A hint of a smile appeared on his fat face. The money he held in his hand seemed to soften his opinion of her.

A tall thin woman with a tea tray in hand came into the room. Narcissa studied the woman's features, trying to see what traits her daughter might inherit. The woman's long, thin face looked very familiar to her.

"This is my wife, Petunia," Vernon introduced. "Petunia, this is Mrs. Black. She's your nephew's new wife."

"What?" Petunia said in surprise, turning to look at her. She took one look at Narcissa, and then abruptly turned away. "I have to check on Dudley's tarts," Petunia said as she hastily left the room.

"Is that Lily Evans's sister?" Narcissa asked.

"Yes, my wife was the normal one. It's a tragedy she had to grow up with that kind of person in the family," Vernon said, apparently forgetting he was talking to a witch.

"So Lily was the only witch in her family?" she inquired.

"Yes, thank goodness. One freak in the family is enough. That sister of hers should have been given away to your lot as soon as she was born," he stated.

"Where did your wife go to school?"

"Nowhere your kind would know of, I'm sure. She went to a small private school in France. She speaks French fluently. She finished her education right here in Little Whinging. That's where we met," Vernon said proudly.

"I bet your wife is a marvelous cook," Narcissa said.

"The best in Surrey. No one can beat her blood pudding or shepherd's pie," Vernon boasted.

"You don't say. I think I'll go ask her for the recipes," Narcissa said as she put down her teacup and headed for the kitchen.

She entered the kitchen to see the tall woman washing a breakfast plate in the sink. The plate was spotless, but she continued to wash it just the same. Narcissa could tell the woman was lost in thought; she hadn't even noticed her when she came in.

Stealthily, Narcissa walked up beside her and whispered in her right ear. "I know who you really are."

Petunia jumped at the sound of her voice; she almost dropped the dish in her hand. She quickly turned to face Narcissa. She had a look of both surprise and anger on her face. Composing herself as much as possible, she said, "I don't know what you're talking about. With the exceptions of that freak sister and nephew of mine, I have never associated with your kind."

"Come now. I may have only been in my second year, but I still remember the most notorious witch to ever been expelled from Beauxbatons Academy," Narcissa said with a knowing smile on her face. "To think, here stands the leader of the once-proud Feminitus Sisterhood, playing Muggle with that fat oaf for a husband."

"You are mistaken," Petunia angrily spat in a low whisper.

"If I'm mistaken, why are you whispering?" Narcissa asked. "Just show me your right heel, Mrs. Dursley. The sisters would always put the mark of Morgana, Queen of Avalon, there. It should be in the shape of a bird, like this," Narcissa said as she took off her shoe and showed Petunia her heel.

She stared at the mark but said nothing. Finally, after Narcissa put her shoe back on, Petunia said, "I was told they disbanded the Sisterhood. No one was even allowed to speak its name."

"I joined when I was in my fourth year. It's kept secret by a blood oath, now. Twelve sisters still remain in power at Beauxbatons, and now Durmstrang," Narcissa informed her. "Someday soon, Hogwarts will follow."

"I don't care about that anymore. I gave up that freak show world for a normal life. What happens in that vile, abnormal, immoral world of yours is no concern of mine, " Petunia said with resentment, while still keeping her voice low.

"You were expelled from our world. You didn't have a choice but to leave. Tell me, was it really worth throwing away your future as a witch?" Narcissa asked. "Most people still think what you did was a act of pure madness."

"I don't regret it one bit," she said firmly. "Morgana's private scrolls were meant for witches' eyes only. Those wizards were going to break her translation spells. I know Morgan le Fey would have preferred that I burnt them before any man laid eyes on them."

"You know some in the Sisterhood think what you did was traitorous. But others, like myself, think you didn't really burn the scrolls at all. You burned some fakes and hid the real ones," Narcissa suggested.

"I can assure you that the Scrolls of Avalon were destroyed," Petunia forcefully stated.

Narcissa wasn't an expert at Legilimency, but she knew right away that the woman was lying through her teeth. The fact that she once led the Sisterhood and was now overplaying the Mary Muggles housewife role meant that she had something big to hide.

"Does Potter know you're a witch?" Narcissa asked.

"I'm not a witch!" Petunia said in a raised voice. "That part of me is dead and forgotten. My parents were fools for sending my sister into that world after what happened to me. Look what it got them. Dead, all of them."

"So Harry doesn't know?" Narcissa, inquired.

"No, he doesn't. Lily didn't even know. I was expelled before she got her letter from that infernal school. My parents were just so proud of her. She was going to be the witch I never could be," Petunia said with bitterness and hatred in her voice.

" Lily Evans?" Narcissa curiously asked.

"Evans is my mother's maiden name. They didn't want their precious new witch to be burdened with my last name," Petunia answered.

"I take it Petunia is your middle name, Cassandra?" she asked.

"Yes it is. I gave up the name Cassandra Rowlett when I became a normal, decent member of the human race," Petunia told her. "Now just what is it you want with my husband?" she demanded.

"Just a simple financial transaction. Completely of mutual benefit, I assure you," Narcissa said with a smile.

"Your type doesn't fool me, witch. I know you're up to something," Petunia said in an angry, threatening voice, as she stood face-to-face with Narcissa. Even though the woman towered over her, Narcissa continued to just smile. This day was becoming far more profitable than she ever expected it to be.

"Tell me something, Petunia. Do you think your fat Muggle husband would understand that his normal shepherd's pie-cooking wife was really a witch?" Narcissa asked with a malevolent look on her face.

"You wouldn't dare," Petunia furiously said.

"No, of course not. My sister's oath will keep me from telling your little secret. Even to that fat Muggle. But I will expect the same consideration in return. I will stay out of your business, if you stay out of mine," Narcissa told her.

Before she could agree, Vernon came into the kitchen.

"She's not trying to steal all your recipes, Petunia, is she?" he asked, a merry grin on his fat face.

Narcissa guessed that he must have considered his options and knew he'd receive a great deal for a third of his worthless company.

"No, of course not, Vernon," Petunia answered curtly. "Her kind wouldn't know what to do with a real recipe. Their lot is far too lazy to put good food on anyone's table."

Vernon suddenly looked uncomfortable. He was caught between his greed and wanting to agree with his wife.

"If you will both excuse me, I need to be on my way. I have several other appointments this day," Narcissa said, letting Vernon off the hook. "I will have my solicitor come by tomorrow with the necessary papers, Mr. Dursley."

"Do you want a receipt?" Vernon asked.

"Not necessary, Vernon. I trust you. You're family now," she answered, and then lightly patted him on his fat cheek.

Half a minute later, she was back in her cab heading for London. She took out a small piece of parchment and looked at the list of names on it. Next on her list was Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes.

............................................................................................................

This would be the first official meeting of the Defense Against The Dark Arts Club this year. Hermione checked her list to make sure everyone was there. They had lost half a dozen members to graduation last year. In their second meeting, they would discuss recruiting new members. This meeting was to discuss an old member, and that member was the last to arrive with Cho Chang at her side. Marietta Edgecombe. Hermione filled two small goblets with her Loyalty Oath Potion as the girls approached. Marietta was looking very pale and nervous.

"Is everyone here?" Cho asked as they reached the doorway to the Room Of Requirement.

"Yes, you're the last ones," Hermione told them.

"I thought it best that we were last," Cho said. "How many people know Marietta's coming back?"

"Only about half. Harry will tell them all about the vote, first thing," Hermione answered as she handed the two girls the goblets.

"What's this?" Cho asked, looking at the dark green liquid in her cup.

"It's the Loyalty Oath Potion. Read this and drink," Hermione said as she handed Cho a small piece of parchment. Both girls began to read.

Oath Of Loyalty, D.A.D.A Club 1996 A.D

I hereby swear that I will never reveal or repeat anything
said, written or seen during club meetings. I will also not
discuss any plans or proposals made by my fellow club
members and never reveal anything that might be harmful to
the club or its members. I will never tell anyone about who
is a current or past member of the club. I will guard all
club secrets, even when I am no longer a member of the
D.A.D.A club. I understand that breaking this oath will
result in a very harsh punishment of Petrifaction and the
immediate expulsion form the club. I understand that even
after I am expelled from the club, I will still be under oath
to never betray the club or its members.


Cho drank as soon as she finished reading, but Marietta hesitated and looked at Hermione with a worried expression on her face.

"What?" Hermione impatiently asked, giving the Ravenclaw a very suspicious look.

"Hermione, there's no chance this could hurt my baby, is there?" Marietta asked as she stared at the goblet.

"You're pregnant?" Hermione asked with a surprised look on her face.

"Yep, Flint knocked her up their first night together," Cho told her. "But he's still been sneaking into the castle every other night to be with her.

Marietta stared to blush.

"It won't hurt your baby. But being petrified for a week might," Hermione warned her.

With a trembling hand, Marietta raised the goblet to her lips and drank the potion. As soon as she was done, Hermione took back the two goblets and followed the girls into the Room of Requirement. Hermione quickly warded the door as best she could. The inside of the room looked like a small theater. Everybody was sitting in the first two rows with Harry onstage.

"WHAT THE HELL IS SHE DOING HERE?" Michael Corner shouted as soon as he saw Marietta approaching with Cho and Hermione by her side.

"I invited her," Harry forcefully said from the stage.

"Are you insane, Potter? That bitch betrayed us all. What possible reason could you have for bringing her here?" Corner angrily asked.

"She's here to plead her case for reentry into the club. I promised her we would all listen to what she has to say," Harry informed the irate Ravenclaw.

"You can't be serious, Potter. How can you even think of letting Fudgepacker back into the club?" Corner crossly asked. "She'll turn us all in to the Ministry the first chance she gets."

"She could have already done that, Corner," Harry informed him. "She didn't at a very high cost to herself. I think we should at least hear what she has to say before judging her. After she speaks, we'll put it to a vote whether or not she rejoins."

"What about Flint?" Corner asked. "She could tell that Slytherin rat everything."

"She took the oath, Michael. She can't tell anyone anything, even if we don't vote her back in," Ginny told him.

"How do we know Flint won't force her with the Imperius Curse? I wouldn't put anything past that creep. We should use a Memory Charm on all her memories of the club and everything else in the last year, to be safe. Let the traitor do her sixth year all over is what I say," Corner suggested.

"Shut up, Michael," Cho said angrily. "You're just mad because Flint shoved your head in a toilet your second year."

"You shouldn't be here either, Chang!" Corner shouted back irately. "You're the one that brought that traitor to us in the first place. And you're still acting like her friend. It's no wonder I dumped you."

"I DUMPED YOU, YOU SLIMEY TWIT," Cho screamed. "My mother didn't raise a fool. I know all you wanted was to get into my pants."

"I dumped you first, Chang. I just didn't tell you," Corner said with a sneer on his face. "I don't know who you're are saving it for, Chang. Potter's already got a hot new wife; he doesn't need, or probably want, the likes of you anymore."

"You pig!" Cho screamed.

Hermione wondered if Cho and Corner would petrify themselves if they hexed each other. She was careful to word the oath so that no one could hurt another club member, but it might not apply if it had nothing to do with the club. Hermione was eager to see the effects of her oath firsthand. Maybe she'd get lucky with these two.

"THAT'S ENOUGH!" Harry shouted from the stage. "Fudge and Umbridge were trying to do a lot more that just get us all expelled last summer. They tried to send us all to Azkaban as traitors. Marietta is here to tell us what they were up to and what they tried to make her do." Harry motioned for Marietta to join him on the stage. "I won't tell you to vote Marietta back in. All I ask is for you to listen to what she has to say and keep an open mind," Harry told them, and then let Marietta have the stage.

Hermione joined her on the stage, handing her a phial of potion.

"What's this?" Marietta asked.

"Veritaserum. We want everyone to know you're telling the truth," Hermione answered.

Marietta quickly drank the potion and handed the phial back to her.

For the next fifteen minutes, Marietta told her story. She told about how her mother had ordered her to help Professor Umbridge weed out the undesirables at the school, even before her sixth year began. Marietta recounted how Umbridge would call her into her office at least five times a week to find out what Potter and the others were up to. Marietta had held out for as long as she could, but finally Umbridge brought Marietta's mother to the school. Her mother threatened to disown her if she didn't tell everything she knew about the D.A. club.

Hermione knew she hadn't said anything about the D.A. club before that. The word SNEAK shows up less than twenty-four hours after the oath is broken.

Marietta explained that her Muggle father left when she was just a baby, after he found out that he had married a witch. Her mother has hated Muggles and Muggle-borns ever since. She told Marietta that having a half-blood daughter was the only thing keeping her from finding a decent pureblood husband.

It was after the members of the D.A. club fought Death Eaters in the Ministry of Magic, that Fudge had her mother bring her in for interrogation. Marietta said she knew she was wrong about Dumbledore when he selflessly took the blame for starting the club and let Fudge try to arrest him. She was so ashamed that she had betrayed him and the club members. Marietta was determined not to betray the club again. She hexed her own throat, so that she couldn't speak, before she went to the Ministry. She knew her mother would let them use Veritaserum on her. She refused to sign the statement saying Harry and Dumbledore were planning to overthrow the Ministry using Hogwarts students.

Her mother responded by promptly throwing her out to live on the streets. Marietta learned that her father had drunk himself to death three years earlier. She went to stay with her father's younger sister, Aunt Mattie. Aunt Mattie had five children ranging in age from ten months to twelve-years-old. Mattie saw Marietta as a free nanny and maid service. Worst of all was Mattie's husband Bart. He wanted something completely different from Marietta. She had to ward her bedroom door every night to keep him out. Finally, after spending two months cleaning, changing diapers and being groped by a middle-aged pervert, Marietta ran away. She spent a week on the streets of Muggle London. It was Cho's family that finally gave her a place to stay when they got back from visiting China.

Hermione thought the story was quite sad and moving. It made her feel lucky to have wonderful parents that truly cared for her and wouldn't force her to do anything she didn't want to. She knew the club members would be eager to give Marietta another chance. She had Ginny pass out small pieces of parchment to everyone in the room.

"If you think Marietta should be allowed to rejoin the D.A club, just put a check on your piece of parchment. Put an X if you don't want her to rejoin us. Marietta can only rejoin the group if she gets two-thirds of the votes. The votes are completely anonymous, so you don't have to sign them," Hermione explained to everybody. She then set a small hatbox on the edge of the stage.

One by one, everyone put their vote into the hatbox. Hermione and Harry quickly read the votes. Only three votes were for letting Marietta back into the club: Harry, Hermione and Cho. Eighteen were against, and one parchment had a circle on it; Hermione knew it was Luna's. Harry gave Hermione a worried look. She knew he didn't want to be the one who told Marietta and Cho that she couldn't return. Hermione looked at Marietta. The girl looked very tired. She had probably been through the worst year of her life and was holding onto some small hope that it was finally going to get better. Hermione handed Harry the hatbox and went to the front of the stage.

"It was very close, but you just made it. Welcome back, Marietta," Hermione told the very nervous Ravenclaw.

Instantly, Marietta and Cho embraced each other then started screaming and jumping up and down.

"Remember, everyone. These votes are to remain anonymous. Don't tell anyone how you voted; we don't want any hurt feelings," Hermione said to the stunned-looking members of the club.

"Now, on to more important business. We need to talk about the biggest threat to the school and to us: that threat being one Draco Malfoy and his two stupid henchmen," Hermione told them.

"What makes that runt Draco such a threat?" Seamus Finnegan asked. "I don't think that twit could take on any one of us in a duel. And his two sidekicks barely know which way to point a wand."

"They are much more dangerous than you think," Hermione seriously told the group. "How many of you know what happened to Pansy Parkinson?" she asked.

"I heard that you and Ginny caught her in the fifth floor corridor and beat the snot out of her for what she pulled in the Great Hall earlier that evening," Corner said.

"No, I heard she tried to commit suicide by jumping off the Astronomy Tower after Draco broke up with her for being a Muggle-born," Susan Bones told them.

"I heard she faked the whole thing and the Headmaster expelled her for it," Ernie Macmillan chimed in; most seemed to agree with him.

"None of that true," Hermione told them. "I could try to explain what really happened to Parkinson, but I think it's best that I show you."

Hermione motioned to Harry. He and Ron brought a small table to the center of the stage. On the table sat a shallow stone basin.

"This is a Pensieve," she announced. "The Headmaster has graciously allowed me the use of it today. I will be placing the memory of what Ginny and I witnessed the night of Parkinson's attack. I will also place a memory of a package Pansy received while I was visiting her in the hospital wing the next day."

Placing her wand to her head, Hermione removed the memory of what happened in the fifth floor corridor that night, placing it in the Pensieve. She then removed the memory of Draco's sick present to Pansy and placed it in the basin, too. She made sure the memory started just as the professors entered Madam Pomfrey's office and ended before she went into the office herself.

"Ok, one by one each of you come up and touch the liquid in the basin," Hermione ordered. "I'll go first."

Hermione touched the silvery liquid. Very quickly, she found herself standing in the middle of the fifth floor corridor. Seconds later, Harry appeared, followed by Ron. It only took a minute for everyone to join her. They all watched as Hermione and Ginny entered with the cleaning supplies in their hands. Suddenly, a loud thud rang out.

"What was that?" Hannah Abbott nervously asked.

"Just wait and listen," Ginny told her.

As soon as Hermione heard herself and Ginny begin to speak, she realized that she had completely forgotten what she and Ginny were talking about before Pansy showed up. All she could do was bury her head in her hands and listen to herself discuss her sex life in front of everyone.

"You wanted to shag Professor Lupin?" Colin Creevey asked. Hermione wanted to crawl into a hole and just die.

"You wanted Longbottom, too?" Corner asked. "You should have come to me if you needed to be shagged that bad."

"No one's that desperate, Michael," Ginny angrily stated.

"Hermione, did you sleep with Professor Lupin?" Susan Bones asked with a smile on her face. Hermione just shook her head.

"Do you hear that?" the Ginny in the memory asked. Everyone stopped talking and listened.

"What?" Hermione's other self asked.

"Listen, it's some kind of scraping noise," Ginny said.

Hermione looked down the corridor to where she knew Pansy was. Everyone was deathly silent.

"What is it?" Ginny asked.

"Yeah, what is that thing?" Lavender asked.

"Quiet, Lav, just listen," Ginny told her.

Everyone watched as Pansy slowly made her way down the corridor. Hermione felt guilty as she watched the pitiful figure approach. She suddenly felt someone take her hand in theirs. She looked to her right to see a very sad-looking Ginny standing next to her.

"I've seen this so many times in my dreams," Ginny told her as a tear ran down her face.

"Me, too," Hermione said.

"I believe that's a Blood Phantom," her old self stated.

"A Blood Phantom, cool," Dean Thomas said.

"It's not a phantom. That's Pansy Parkinson," Harry told him.

Several people gasped as they realized that it was Pansy's beaten and bloodied form moving towards them. Some of them rushed over to her.

"My God, this can't be Parkinson," Cho said as she stared into the beaten girl's unrecognizable face.

"Why are you two just standing there?" Padma Patil angrily asked. "Why aren't you helping her?" she demanded.

"We don't know yet," Ginny explained.

Hermione found it very hard to witness the next couple of minutes of her memory. She wanted desperately to run over and take the wounded girl in her arms again.

"Bloody hell, are we going to have to clean up after that stupid thing?" Ginny asked.

"What a bitch," Michael Corner said.

"Shut up, Michael," Ginny angrily said to the Ravenclaw.

Hermione felt a small sense of relief when her other self finally ran to Pansy's aid. After Ginny left to get help, everyone gathered around the two figures on the floor.

"Pansy, PANSY!" Hermione heard herself scream.

This caused her to lose control and start crying the same way she was doing on the corridor floor in front of her, with Pansy's broken body in her arms. Ron pulled her close in a comforting hug. She laid her head on his shoulder and let the tears come.

Minutes later, everyone breathed a big sigh of relief when Madam Pomfrey told them Pansy was still alive. As soon as she, Ginny and McGonagall left the hospital wing, the memory faded.

The new memory quickly took its place. Hermione saw herself standing at the foot of Pansy's bed.

"Who's that?" Terry Boot asked.

"It's Pansy. This is the next day," Hermione answered.

"Parkinson doesn't clean up half bad," Corner stated.

"You're disgusting, Michael," Cho told him.

Everyone watched as the owl delivered Draco's gift. They gathered around the small bed as Hermione carefully opened the package.

"SON OF A BITCH!!" Ron furiously shouted as he read the parchment from the box.

A few seconds later, the memory faded. Hermione suddenly found herself standing on the stage with the rest of the club. The girls were all crossing their arms in front of them, as if it had suddenly become very cold in the room. A few had very angry looks on their faces.

"Are you sure it was Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle that did that to her?" Hannah asked.

"I'm sure. I used a Time-Turner to make sure," Hermione told her.

"What are we going to do about them?" Dean Thomas asked Harry with an angry look on his face.

"I don't know, Dean. That's what we're here to figure out," Harry told him.

"I say we kill the bastards," Michael Corner suggested.

"I agree," Dean quickly said. "My sister is in her third year here. I don't want her to be Malfoys next Muggle-born victim. If that sick bastard would do that to one of his own, I don't even want to think what he might do to her."

"We're not going to kill anyone, Dean. Well, not unless we have to," Harry said. "Our first concern is getting rid of Malfoy and his two thugs. We have to keep a close eye on the bastards until then. What we really need is a spy in Slytherin to help us. Does anyone know someone in that house we might be able to trust?" he asked.

"I might know someone," Susan Bones told them. "Daphne Greengrass."

"What makes you think Greengrass will help us?" Hermione asked.

"She's my cousin. We grew up together. She always stays with my family during breaks. She keeps telling me that the Sorting Hat made a big mistake by putting her in Slytherin. She hates everyone in her house. The truth is, the Hat was spot on. She's as sneaky as they come. She doesn't let anyone stand in the way of what she wants," Susan told them.

"Do you think you can trust her?" Harry asked.

"I trust her more than I trust any of you," Susan quickly answered.

"Good," Harry said. "That brings up something else. We lost six members over summer. I think we should always have at least thirty members. That means we need to recruit seven more this year. I would like to have eyes and ears in every house; hopefully, Susan's cousin can help us with Slytherin. Remember, the D.A club has nothing to do with house rivalries. We are all in the same house when we're at these meetings or doing D.A business. This isn't a game, my friends. It's up to us to make sure what happened to Parkinson doesn't happen to anyone else. The staff can protect the school from the outside world's threats. It's our job to protect it from whatever dangers lie within."

"What do we do about Draco, for now?" Neville asked.

"Make Malfoy and his two goons' lives a living hell," Harry ordered. That brought a smile to everyone's faces.

.........................................................................................................


Next chapter coming soon.

As you all can tell, I really like to keep my beautiful Narcissa slightly on the evil side. I love the bad girls, what can I say?

The club will be keeping Malfoy busy by making his life as miserable as possible. I would love to know what you think they should do to the twit?