Late Night Encounter

Sorry guys! Sorry it took me so long to add this. Forgive me!

Thanks for the reviews. I hope you're going to like this one. As always, I love to know what you think. Please review!

When I write a new chapter, I never know what's going to happen in the next one. So if you have anything you'd like to add, please review and let me know. I would love your input before I start the next instalment. Thanks.

Anyhoo, on to the story...


**************************************************************************


Draco could do nothing but scream as the pain tore through his body. He had no idea the weasel was capable of this. He prayed for the pain to end, but the feeling that it never would lurked at the back of his mind.

Hermione, Harry and Ginny were racing along the corridor when they heard the screams nearby. Hermione stopped and looked at her friends, the same look of panic etched across their faces as was on hers. Hermione knew Draco should be round here somewhere and dread filled her at the thought of what could be happening round the corner.

They raced round and saw Draco writhing in pain on the floor with Ron standing over him, a look of fierce anger across his face. They all instantly recognised what was happening to Draco, but none wanted to believe that Ron could actually use the Cruciatus curse on someone.

'Ron, NO!' Hermione screamed as Harry pointed his wand, shouting, 'Expelliarmus!'

Ron's wand fell to the ground as Hermione raced to Draco, kneeling beside him as the spell broke. Tears streamed down Hermione's face as she looked down at Draco, the pain still visible on his face.

'Draco?' Hermione whispered tentatively. The pain eased in Draco's mind at the sound of her voice and he opened his eyes.

'Hermione,' Draco gasped, the relief he felt as he gazed into her eyes. Hermione cradled his head in her lap, lightly stroking his hair, all thoughts of Ron and what he had done, forgotten. They were all that mattered to each other at that moment and nothing would destroy their love.

Ron stood back and watched the two of them, the way Hermione touched Malfoy driving him mad, the love he had felt for her for years turning to jealousy. All rational thought had left him as he stalked towards them and, gripping Hermione's shoulder, pulled her back, away from Malfoy and slapped her across the face.

'WHORE!' screamed Ron, this time punching her, sending her flying to the ground. Harry ran at Ron, tackling him to the ground as Draco crawled towards Hermione to help her. Ginny knelt beside Hermione, helping Draco to pull her away from Harry and Ron. Ginny watched Ron fight with Harry, struggling to get away from him. Ginny didn't recognise her brother anymore. The fact that he had used an Unforgivable Curse on someone had destroyed the love she felt for him. He had let his anger turn him into a monster and she knew what had to happen now.

'Hermione,' Ginny whispered, 'I have to go get Professor McGonagall.' Hermione looked at her before nodding solemnly, the tears falling down her face. Ginny felt the tears burn in her eyes, but she knew she couldn't afford to waste time as she turned and ran to the headmaster's office.

Harry struggled to keep Ron calm, having seen Ginny run off in the direction of the headmaster's office.

'Harry, let me up,' Ron shouted, fighting Harry's grip on his wrists.

'No, Ron, I won't let you hurt anyone else. Please just stop struggling.' Harry saw the wild look in Ron's eyes and knew if he managed to get free, he would try and hurt Hermione again.

With that thought, he glanced over to Hermione, who was sitting against the wall, trying to stem the flow of blood coming from her nose. Draco had his arm round her shoulders, trying to comfort her. Hermione looked up at Draco, her nose bloody and tears flowing down her cheeks. It hurt his heart to see her like this and rage filled his body. Hermione nestled into the hollow of his arm and rested her head on his shoulders.

Draco hugged Hermione to him before turning towards Ron and Harry to check on them. Ron was still trying to break away from Harry and Harry was starting to lose the struggle.

'Hermione, I think we better help Harry, quick,' Draco said, turning Hermione's attention towards Ron and Harry.

They made their way towards Harry to help him, but before they could reach them, Ron gave one last push and broke free of Harry. Ron punched him, sending Harry flying backwards, smacking his head as he landed.

Ron then turned his attention to Draco and Hermione. They stood facing him, Draco having pulled Hermione to her feet after seeing what Ron had done to Harry. Hermione had managed to stop her nose bleeding and now stood defiant with her lover against Ron. Draco had his arm round her, giving her the strength to face the monster her friend had become.

Ron chuckled at the sight of them.

'You know, Hermione,' Ron said, spitting out her name with such venom, 'I never thought I would agree with Malfoy but he's right.'

Hermione couldn't conceal her look of confusion at Ron's words. Draco also felt uneasy about what the Weasel meant and tightened his grip on Hermione's waist.

'Hermione Granger, you are nothing but a filthy mudblood whore. I don't know why I ever wasted my time on you. If I'd have known that all it took to get in your knickers was treat you like shit like he did, I could have done that ages ago, instead of wasting years pretending to be your friend.'

Hermione felt tears burn in her eyes but fought against them, determined not to let Ron make her cry anymore. Draco, meanwhile, was shaking with rage. He couldn't believe that the little shit had spoken to her like that. He felt a tinge of guilt at having called Hermione a mudblood, but he hadn't called her that for years.

'Don't you ever fucking speak to her like that,' Draco shouted, the anger boiling inside of him, 'you're the pathetic one, Weasel. You thought Hermione would come running to you?! You obviously have no fucking clue about who she is. She needs a strong powerful man, someone worthy to match her power, not a petty little half-wit. She is too full of passion and intelligence to lower herself to let someone like you touch her. Why don't you do everybody a favour and just fuck off.'

Hermione had watched Draco as he said this, and, if it was possible, her love for him grew. He understood her, knew her better than anyone and she knew he loved her. She leant up and kissed him on the cheek. Draco looked at Hermione, his anger easing as he saw the look on her face, a look of love and adoration. His heart swelled, feeling the same for her and he kissed her back.

Ron felt sick as he watched the two of them, the bile rising in his throat. The anger took him over again as he pulled his wand from his robes and pointed it at the couple.

'Well, you two fucking deserve each other,' Ron spat out as Draco and Hermione turned back to face him.

Ron's mind went clear, knowing now what he had to do. He had used the Cruciatus curse so it didn't bother him to use this one. Hermione knew what was coming, the look of calm on Ron's face sending a chill down her spine.

Hermione saw movement out of the corner of her eye, as Harry reached for his wand. She looked back at Ron, his wand now pointed directly at her chest. She closed her eyes, waiting for Ron to say those words.

'Avada...' 'AVADA KEDAVRA!' Hermione's eyes shot open at the different voice, relief spreading through her body that Ron hadn't finished his curse and then sadness that someone else had said it instead.

Ron lay dead a few feet away from them, his eyes blank and his body still. Fear crept through Hermione's body at who had killed Ron. Draco was still at her side and she knew he didn't have his wand in his hand. She looked round and saw Harry frozen, his wand still pointed at where Ron had stood, tears rolling down his face.

Hermione walked towards Harry, placing her hands on his shoulders, turning him round to face her.

'Harry,' she whispered quietly. With no response, she tried again. 'Harry, look at me, it's ok.'

Harry shook his head before focusing on Hermione. 'How is it ok, I JUST KILLED RON!' Harry shouted.

Hermione watched as Harry's face crumbled, his body shaking with sobs before he collapsed in her arms, pulling them both to the floor. Draco knelt beside them, rubbing Hermione's back , trying to soothe her as the tears started to fall down her cheeks. They were all in shock as they huddled on the floor.

This was how Professor McGonagall and Ginny found them, Ginny's screams echoing down the corridor.

*************************************************************************


hope you liked it - let me know!