Disclaimer: This series is SO not mine. I mean, how could it possibly be MINE?! That’s why this whole
stupid disclaimer thingy is so unnecessary! It’s laughable really – yes, a high schooler would actually TRY
to claim she owns Harry Potter. Riiiigggghhhhhtt…….

A Dragon's Feast

by spiffytiffi
 
 

Chapter 1
 

They were in their 7th year at Hogwarts, and He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was rising in
power. Oh, the press wasn’t saying anything about it, and on the surface nothing has changed.
But ask any high-ranking wizard or witch and they’ll tell you: the Dark Times were coming.

Harry, Hermione, and Ron were on the train, sharing a compartment. Harry had just spent
another lovely summer at The Burrow, and Hermione met them at Diagon Alley.

“Oh, good job on being Head Girl, Hermione. It really was a big shock you know – never
saw it coming,” Ron said with a grin.

She shook her head in mock annoyance. “And good job to you, Ron, for being the most
sarcastic git ever to grace this train.”

Harry chuckled at this and reached for another Chocolate Frog. Suddenly, the compartment
door flew open, causing everyone to jump in surprise. A scowling Draco Malfoy reluctantly
stepped in, looking very much like a man walking off a plank.

Immediately the trio were on their feet, wands in hand. “Put those damn things away. I’m
here for Granger.” He turned his icy eyes to her, meeting her warm chocolate eyes.

“Why is that, Malfoy?” Ron spat out, stepping in front of her, raising his wand slightly higher.

Draco heaved a heavy sigh in annoyance. “Look Weasel, she’s needed at the back of the
train. Some sort of stupid meeting with the professors.”

“Why would you be coming for me?” Hermione asked, curiosity getting the better of her.
She poked her head around Ron’s arm. Ron had grown over the years; he was even taller
than Harry, though only by a few inches.

Draco looked at her if she was stupid. “I was passing through Granger, gods! Come on,
they’re waiting for you.” He turned around and started to walk out.

She looked at her best friends but they were as befuddled as she was. Shrugging her
shoulders, she jogged out to catch up with him. “Hey, wait up!”

He apparently didn’t hear, or he chose to ignore her because he didn’t slow down his pace.

“Wait a minute! Hold on, you moron!” she panted, as she tried to keep up. Finally they
reached the end of the train. He turned around to see her bending over slightly, her hands
on her bent knees.

“Stupid…..,” she managed to gasp out. “Long legs……can’t……keep up….”

“If you would exercise more instead of spending every waking hour studying, you wouldn’t
be such a mess,” he stated nonchalantly, looking down at her.

“Shut….up……..”

Suddenly, he slammed her into wall of the train, griping her shoulders bruisingly. She let out
a pained cry as her whole body was pinned to the wall.

Through her pain, she managed, “What the – ?!”

He pressed her shoulders more firmly into the wall as he leaned closer. His eyes looked
intently into hers. He was so close his lips were only a fraction of an inch away from hers.

“I’m only going to say this once, Mudblood,” he hissed dangerously. “The Dark Lord is
rising – scum like you won’t be safe. Not even at Hogwarts. If you know what’s good for
you, you’ll stay away from that scarred freak and his sidekick.”

She was petrified with fear. His eyes……..they seemed to burn right into her own. Closing
her eyes shut, she tried, vainly, to release herself. He was too strong and too large however,
and barely seemed affected by her struggles.

“Let go!” she shouted, trying to fight off his hands, looking down the hall frantically for help.
<Someone….! Anybody, Help me!!>

When some compartment doors opened, he cursed silently. <Stupid bitch!>

With a last bruising push, he released her. He walked away, but not before saying,
“Remember my words Mudblood. It’s for your own good.” He disappeared into one
the many compartments.

Wincing in pain, she slid ungracefully to the floor. Frightened, she found she could not utter
another sound. She gingerly touched one of her shoulders and recoiled slightly. There were
bound to be bruises. <What…..what’s going on?!>

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

Harry and Ron were still standing, wary of what Malfoy wanted. Grimacing, Harry inched
closer to the door to try to hear what was going on.

“…..stupid Malfoy……,” Ron muttered, obviously displeased. “What the bloody hell would
he suddenly play messenger for the professors? I swear if he does any funny business I’ll hex
him so hard! Consequences be damned!” There was more to come, but they suddenly heard
Hermione’s panic induced voice.

“Let go!”

Without hesitation, both boys bolted out, running to the sound of her voice. “Hermione!!” they
both shouted, seeing her on the floor at the end of the train. There was no one there but her.

“Hermione! What happened?” Ron asked, kneeling. Hermione turned to them and shakily
stood up.

Ron’s eyes narrowed. Softly, he gently brushed his finger across her bruised shoulder.
Cursing her choice of attire, a gray tanktop, Hermione jerked her shoulder away. A blush
crawled across her face. Speaking with bravado she knew she didn’t have, she tried to
brush the occurrence aside.

“That ferret tricked me, that’s all!” she said with honest indignation. “He pushed me against
the wall and called me a Mudblood! Honestly, as if he doesn’t have anything better to do!”
Though annoyed, she was also thoroughly terrified. His eyes had changed, and she was
frightened.

<Before he was just a spoiled brat, annoying, but not dangerous. What happened over the
summer? Maybe…..maybe I just imagined it, that’s all.> She thought to herself, biting her lip
slightly.

She was interrupted when Ron punched the wall near her head. He raged, “He WHAT?!”
Finding many choice words for Malfoy, Hermione was shocked at Ron’s range of language.
Growing up in a Muggle home, the word ‘Mudblood’ did not have as much impact on her
as it did on an old Wizarding family like Ron’s.

Hoping to appease Ron, and so that they wouldn’t have to confront Malfoy again, <Not,
because I’m scared to>, she added softly to herself, she tugged on Ron’s sleeve. Looking
up at him with her best pleading eyes, she said, “Let’s just go back, okay Ron? I don’t
feel like looking at his ugly face again. I don’t care what he calls me – it doesn’t bother
me. Okay? Please Ron?”

Ron stopped mid-sentence, and looked at her, and blinked. First he was going to yell at
her – why didn’t she want revenge? But then he faltered, looking hesitantly at Harry. Harry
shrugged, indicating for Ron to just drop it.

“But… .your bruises, ’s not right…. .,” he mumbled distractedly, brushing his finger along
her bruises again. Hermione knew she had him. She put her hand atop of his.

“Oh, don’t bother – it doesn’t hurt. I want to enjoy the rest of my vacation! Won’t you play
a game of chess with me?” she smiled winningly.

Ron coughed uncomfortably, having trouble deciding whether to remove his hand or not.
“Erm, I-If you say so ‘Mione. I still think we should –”

“Great, winner gets the last bar of chocolate!” Pulling on his sleeve, she started to drag him
back to their compartment. She flashed a cheeky smile at Harry as she passed him. He
shook his head amusedly. He watched them walk down the aisle a bit before smiling and
following them.

A few students grinned to themselves as they saw the famous trio walk down the train.
Hermione was chattering along comfortably, while still hanging on to Ron’s sleeve. As she
was shorter than he was and walking much faster, he had to bend down like an old
man. Sighing, he allowed himself to be dragged along, wondering how he agreed to let
Malfoy go.

Meanwhile, Draco was lounging in an empty compartment. He looked at his inner left
forearm. <Stupid thing, I hate it when it throbs.> He grumbled before covering it again.

<And stupid Granger! I was trying to warn her, and this is the thanks I get?> He had heard
the trio’s exchange and saw them walking back to their room. He gripped his armrest tightly.
A surge of anger rose within him for no apparent reason. He saw the blush on Weasly’s face
as she dragged him along.

<Mudblood whore…..> he thought angrily. He turned his attention to the window. Only a
few more hours until Hogwarts.
 
 
 

That’s it for now- I’m not too pleased with this chapter. The fun stuff will come later, I promise.
Well, how was it? I hope I got everyone’s character down. Since I’m NOT from England, I’m
really trying to NOT Americanize it, with, you know, phrases like, “You go girl!” and “Damn
Dawg, you gotta busta few moves, ya heard?” It’s hard. Peace out yo.
 

Chapter 2