I knew that Hermione always had the best intentions but sometimes I felt like her cautiousness hurt her. I continued down the aisle without being concerned about the people that I might have been running in to. I looked in every compartment and every bathroom but Harry wasn't in any of them, and now that I had stopped I realized that almost the entire train was completely empty.

Closing my eyes I reached out with my mind to try and find Harry. I went through each of the corridors until I stumbled upon a stream of any curse words flowing out rather loudly. Opening my eyes in shock I took off in a run further down to the back of the train. I flung open the door as soon as I entered the compartment that Harry's thoughts were coming from only to find it completely empty.

"Harry?" I said, looking around aimlessly.

"The Invisibility Cloak!" Harry's thoughts barked out at me.

Instinctively I looked to the ground and started reaching out around me until I made contact with what I was pretty sure was Harry's foot. Gripping it firmly I gave a thorough yank and off came the cloak. Harry's cheeks and lips were completely covered in blood, and his eyes had started to water from the pain. Pulling out my own wand I quickly muttered the counter curse, releasing Harry from his state of paralysis.

"Are you alright?" I asked him, pulling him swiftly to his feet.

"Yeah. Stupid Malfoy. I guess I jiggled the suitcase or something when I got into the luggage compartment up above. He stunned me then stomped on my nose with his foot."

Instinctively I felt the anger and hatred start to fill every pore of my being.

"Let's go," I said, hiding the anger. "Everyone will be worried."

I took a hold of Harry's hand and walked him out of the compartment, before leading him down the steps off of the train, and down the rather dirty path. We had missed all the carts with the thestrals so we were stuck to walk the way.

"You're being awfully quiet," said Harry, giving my hand a little squeeze.

"Just thinking," I said with a little smile.

"You know Malfoy isn't worth it," said Harry, looking at me with a slightly concerned expression.

"I know he isn't," I said, my step hurrying slightly as I obtained a visual of Draco's bleach blonde hair.

"And really, if anyone should hurt him, it should be me."

"Oh, of course," I said, practically power walking at this point.

Filch, Professor Flitwick, and Professor Snape were all standing by the luggage, giving it a thorough scan, as Malfoy stood looking somewhat oddly at Snape.

"Glad to see you two have decided to join us," said Snape in his usual drawl.

Completely ignoring Snape I walked right up to Malfoy, so close that he had no where to move without bumping into either Snape or the luggage.

"Do you mind if we have a word?" I asked him, taking hold of his arm before he had a chance to respond. Harry stood back at the gate, a little smirk on his face.

"Miss Carson?" said Snape, not yet moving as I quickly dragged Draco to a rather secluded spot in the surrounding woods. I could hear Snape calling after me, but I didn't care.

"What the bloody hell do you think you're doing?" barked Malfoy, trying to yank his arm from my grip but having no luck.

Once we got to a good spot I shoved him forcefully, sending his crashing into a tree.

"Oh I see how it is. Sticking up for your pretty little boyfriend, are we?" said Malfoy, dusting off his suit.

I took a couple of steps forward, taking Malfoy's face into my hand and pinning him against the tree. Malfoy was taller than me, so instinctively I pulled him down lower so that he was at perfect eye level with me. Rather than making another comment Malfoy had come completely silent, his entire body shaking under the feel of my now completely frozen hand. I could see the ice starting to form on the bark of the tree that he was firmly pressed against.

"Let's get one thing straight here Draco, do you understand? I know that your father is stuck in a tough position since I know Voldemort would kill you and your mother in a flash if your father refused to do what he asked him to do. I know that he had no choice but to go to the Ministry and fight against us, but let's get one thing clear, your father is a horrible man that will pay for what he has done. You see I don't appreciate that your father gave Ginny Weasley the diary that nearly ended her life, and I don't appreciate that your father nearly had my boyfriend killed last year and the ministry, and I certainly don't appreciate you breaking his nose with your foot. Now you know what I could do to you Malfoy; you're smarter than people give you credit for, but don't for one second thing that because we're in school grounds that I won't do it."

Malfoy's skin had started to turn an even paler color with a tint of blue to it as I spoke to him, void of emotion.

"If you so much as think of laying a hand on my boyfriend or any of my friends again, I will personally see that you know what it feels like to feel pain. Do we understand each other?"

I loosened my grip on his face so that he could nod. "Yeah, yeah," Malfoy stuttered out.

"Good. We're done here then," I said, letting him go before turning around and heading back towards where Snape and the others were. I could feel Draco's shaky body following behind me, too petrified to even try and pull his wand to try and retaliate. We walked out to find Snape, Harry, Filch, and Flitwick standing and staring at us, Flitwick's mouth slightly open, Harry's in a victorious grin, and Snape and Filch's one of anger.

"Is there a reason you didn't listen to me Miss Carson?" Snape growled at me.

"Last time I checked Professor Snape, we haven't officially started the term yet, and the business between Draco and me didn't really concern you."

Taking a hold of Harry's hand I led us away from the group. Snape wanted to retaliate but he was too concerned with Malfoy who was shivering violently.

"Wow," said Harry, wrapping his arm around my shoulder and giving me a kiss on the forehead. "What did you say to him?"

"Just that he needed to watch his step," I said with a shrug.

I knew Malfoy was up to something, and I knew it wasn't just me that had him shaking. Voldemort was up to something and I needed to find out what.