Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.
Waiting is a trap. There will always be reasons to wait. The truth is, there are only two things in life, reasons and results, and reasons simply don't count. -Robert Anthony
Ginny looked up from her place in the chair and watched as Bellatrix slipped into the old Potions room, her black robes billowing behind her.
"Draco seems pretty bent on letting you live," Bellatrix said silkily, her cold dark eyes watching Ginny as she folded her arms across her chest and placed her feet on Snape's desk.
"I assume he has a reason," Ginny replied coolly, not wanting to let the woman see the fear that had been coursing through her veins the moment she woke up.
Bellatrix stopped before the desk and crossed her arms as well. "I'd rather see you in pain," she growled.
Ginny stood up and walked over to Bellatrix, a smile on her face. "To bad, because as long as Malfoy doesn't get Harry, you can't touch me."
Bellatrix shook her head and started to circle Ginny, sizing her up. "You are so naïve. Just because I can't touch you does not mean Draco won't." She stopped right behind Ginny and leaned in so that her lips grazed Ginny's ear. "You've grown up, Weasley and no matter how much you might not realize it; you've caught the physical eye of Draco Malfoy."
"If I have his physical eye, what do you have?" Ginny asked softly, noting the miniscule hint of jealousy in Bellatrix's voice.
Bellatrix smiled, running her hands through Ginny's red hair. "His heart… just like you own Potter's," she whispered into Ginny's ear before pulling away and leaving.
"We were able to stop the bleeding in time," Healer Grossman told the Weasleys and Ron as they all stood in the waiting room of St. Mungos. "But it seems that the curse infected other parts of the body-"
"Is she ok?" Ron interrupted for the second time since the Healer had stepped into the room.
Grossman sighed. "Mr. Weasley. Ms. Granger is lucky to even be alive at this point. If the curse had actually hit its target she would have died on the train."
"But she's alive?" Harry asked.
The Healer nodded. "Barely. We've started her on blood replenishing potions and some other potions to relieve the pain, but like I said, the curse was not just to cause the outer pain. It's moved throughout her entire body-"
"So what are you saying Healer?" Mrs. Weasley cut in, growing anxious with the prolonged banter.
Grossman looked at them all and took a deep breath. "Hermione might not make it. Even after we've stopped the bleeding the curse has already done enough damage to render her helpless to fight against any infections she might have picked up on the train due to the dead bodies that had been transported on it. We'll know by tomorrow."
"What do you mean?" Ron asked, not liking the way he said it.
"Hermione… Hermione might not make it through the night," Grossman told them before turning to leave.
Harry reached out and stopped him. "Wait… can we see her?" he asked, his voice hoarse from shock.
Healer Grossman shook his head. "She's in critical care. You won't be able to see her. I'm sorry," he apologized before leaving.
Draco lounged in the Slytherin common room, eyes closed as he listened to the people mill around, laughing and whispering. The news of the Hogwarts Express arriving at Kings Cross had angered him and he had sent several men out for Warrington. The young man was now in the dungeons along with all the other students and would be left there until he learned his lesson.
"Draco."
Not bothering to open his eyes, he sighed, annoyed that she picked this particular moment to talk to him.
"What?" he asked in a deceitfully calm voice.
Pansy plucked up her courage and sat down next to him, glancing around at the other younger people hanging out.
"We need to talk," she whispered.
"By talk, I suppose you mean…"
"Why do you allow Lestrange to control you?" she asked quickly.
Draco's eyes flashed dangerously and Pansy backed up a little on the couch, knowing that his temper was likely to change at any moment.
"Is that what they say? She's controlling me?"
Pansy shrugged, masking her fear of him with the coldness she felt for the woman who had taken her place in Draco's bed.
"I'm not the only one who thinks she's using you for her own gain, Blaise thinks-"
"I don't care what you all think," Draco growled, his stormy grey eyes boring into her. "And you have no business thinking about it."
"I used to be the woman in your life, Draco."
"And now I am."
Pansy turned in horror to see Bellatrix standing there with two older men around her age. She was glaring at Pansy through dark mad eyes. Draco smiled and stood, moving over to her.
"I'll be in later," he whispered before leaving the common room with five others. Pansy stood up and instantly a group of hesitant girls surrounded her out of loyalty, though three of them looked as if they'd rather not be there.
Bellatrix moved over to the fire where she stopped. "Now, if you have a problem with me, then I suggest you talk to me about it and not Draco."
"Ok. I think you're a bitch," Pansy started, feeling a sudden sense of anger come over her, which, at the moment, outweighed her sense of fear for the dangerous woman near the fire.
Bellatrix smiled and turned towards Pansy. "I can see why Draco didn't like you. Not very nice manners," she said in a voice too sweet to be real.
Pansy looked Bellatrix over in disgust. "Well, Draco did like the occasional whore."
Bellatrix shook her head, giving Pansy a pathetic look. "Sticks and stones, my dear, are for juveniles. Draco's moved away from little girls to a woman who can handle him."
"You don't care about him, though."
Bellatrix let out a laugh. "Do you think I shag Draco because I love him? He's seventeen and still green. He knows I'm not interested but knows that I'm the only one who can help him."
"You trade sex for information?" Pansy asked, disgusted.
Bellatrix raised an eyebrow. "I would have pegged you for a girl who just shagged for fun," she said with a smirk.
"Well, at least I don't use my whole body as a bargaining chip," Pansy shot back.
Bellatrix approached Pansy, shaking her head. "You poor little rich girl…" she whispered before leaning in so that only Pansy could hear. "The next time I catch you near Draco, I will peel the flesh off of those pretty little fingers of yours," she growled before leaving.
Moody looked up when an Auror entered his office.
"Any news?" was Moody's automatic question.
The Auror nodded. "We've gotten news from some officials that Draco Malfoy contacted them and told them to tell the Minister that since the Hogwarts Express was stolen from them, that we're running out of time to save the captives."
Moody slammed his fist down. "Running out of time! We don't even know what they want!" he roared.
"What do we do?" the Auror asked hesitantly.
Moody sighed and looked down at all the papers on his desk. "We wait…"
A/N: I hope you like this!
Chapter Tease:
"You're that scared?" he asked, genuinely surprised by Ron's feelings towards the whole Hermione thing.
Ron looked up, confused. "What?"
Bill pointed at Ron. "Hermione. You're scared that she might die."