All The Pretty Little Horses

Author: Rhapsody

Chapter Summery: Ron isn't acting normally. Ginny meets an old acquaintance. Hermione and Harry juggle with their pasts and Hermione recites Shakespeare.

Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. Hermione's muse is by Shakespeare.

Note: This story was written before the release of Order of the Pheonix. It does not reflect OotP canon and any characters appearing from OotP may not be in character.

Yesterday,

Love was such an easy game to play.

Now I need a place to hide away.

Oh, I believe in Yesterday.

Chapter 7

Violated By Fate

Hermione climbed the stairs towards her dormitory. She dragged herself into her room and crawled into bed, not even bothering to take off her clothes. She had been reading for longer than she had thought. Harry and Ginny had yet to return to Gryffindor Tower. Or at least Ginny wasn't in her room.

Hermione felt sleep taking hold of her and dragging her eyelids shut. She slowly drifted off to sleep.

***Draco stood in the middle of the street dumbstruck. He had just been ditched by the little Weasley. He examined his surroundings. He was in the middle of a paved road in a muggle city, wand-less. Now what do I do? he asked himself silently.

Fear flooded him. He looked around madly, the city was full of muggles. They were looking at him and gawking at his robes. He took them off. A little girl standing on the street pointed at him and yelled, "Look Mum! That boy is taking his clothing off!" Draco scowled and reluctantly decided to follow Ginny.

He broke into a run in the direction that she had went. He saw her entering a house with very loud music coming from it. He waited about ten minutes before he walked up to the door and rang the bell. The pink haired girl, Sakura answered.

"Umm, hello," was all he managed to say.

But it was enough as Sakura began talking immediately, "You must know Ginny. She's in the bathroom with the others."

Draco cocked an eyebrow, "Why is she in the bathroom with 'the others'?"

Sakura just laughed and grabbed his arm pulling him into the house. Draco scowled and muttered, "muggles" under his breath, but no one noticed.

Ginny was in the bathroom explaining to Yukito and Nataku, with some help from Anju and Keoshi, about magic. She had suggested just doing a memory charm on the two of them, but Sakura said that the two could be trusted.

Ginny groaned, knowing she had broken about fifty laws and would probably get put in Azkaban once she returned home.

Moments later Sakura returned to the lavatory, dragging a very angry and very confused Draco. He glared at the group like they were criminals. He found it rather disgusting to be in the presence of so many muggles at one time.

Ginny seemed to be enjoying herself slightly, despite the lingering look of dismay in her eyes. She was talking amiably with a blond boy, Yukito. She was dressed in muggle clothes. Draco scowled, Some people have no honor. I swear, if I didn't know any better I'd say she was a mudblood.***

Hermione turned over and the scene dissolved. Her eyes popped open and she reached over to her bedside table to get her diary to write down what she had dreamt. The only thing on her table was the book she had been reading before she went to bed. She groaned and got up to check her bag.

Ginny was asleep in bed. Her curtains were still open and she was wearing her knickers and a bra. Wet towels were in a pile at the foot of her bed, but her clothes were nowhere to be found.

Hermione went through her bag, but she didn't find the journal. She checked under her bed and around where her trunk was. She figured she had just left it in the library and would find it tomorrow. She climbed back into bed and was soon asleep again.

A new scene appeared before her eyes and she sunk into it slowly...

***Hermione had a time-turner on a silver chain in her hand. She fingered it curiously and slid it around her neck. She slowly lifted the small hourglass and tipped it upside-down. The room around her swirled and she felt her stomach churn.

Then suddenly she was back in the room, but there were four boys looking at her. Her eyes widened. In front of her sat Harry. Or at least an exact look-alike of Harry.

"H-Harry? What are you doing here?" she stuttered.

The Harry look-alike eyed her like she was mad, "I believe we should be asking you the same question."

Hermione shook her head, "Aren't you Harry?" she asked.

The brown-haired boy answered instead, "I believe you are mistaken, miss. This is Prongs, and these are Padfoot and Wormtail... oh, and I am Moony."***

~*~*~*~*~*~

Professor Lupin was sitting in his office sorting through the essays the sixth years had written. Despite the late hour, he had yet to retire for the night. The painting above his desk looked at him with concern.

"Isn't it a bit late, Remus?" the maiden asked him.

He smiled at her, "If I go to sleep now I will have to grade all of these tomorrow, in addition to all of the other work I have to do."

"Yes, sometimes work can be overwhelming," she commented, "But I'm off to bed. Goodnight, Remus."

"Goodnight," he replied as she walked out of the painting.

Just then there was a sharp knock on the door. Remus got up to answer it, but by the time he had risen Minerva McGonnagal was already in his office.

"Remus, we need to talk."

He nodded and offered her a seat. She sat down and placed a letter on his desk. He picked it up and looked at the name and address.

He looked at in astonishment, "This is addressed to The Marauder's Cave. Who gave this to you?"

Minerva smiled, "I thought you would find the address peculiar. It was not, however, as peculiar as the messenger who gave it to me."

Remus eyed her suspiciously and broke the seal on the letter. He removed it from the envelope, but he did not unfold it. He waited for her to continue.

"She had brown hair and a green dress. She identified herself as Sapphire. Do you know of her?"

"Yes," Remus said slowly, "I believe I have heard that name. But it was only in myth... I don't think she can possibly be the same person."

His voice was curious, as was his gaze. He rose and walked across the small room towards a bookshelf full of reference books. He ran his finger down the spines of a few books before removing a large black volume.

He paged through it before stopping placing his finger at the top of a paragraph and motioning for Minerva to read it.

Her eyes darted across the page, "Sapphire is the youngest child of the immortals... It all fits," she said finally.

Remus nodded, "Well then, I had best read this letter."

Minerva stood, "I'll leave you to your letter. If it is anything pertinent feel free to come and see me. I'll be in my office. I have yet to grade some papers."

"I must as well," he replied, "Must prepare them for their NEWTS."

"That's our job," said Minerva as she stepped out of his office and closed the door.

Remus closed the book and returned it to his bookcase before seating himself at his desk. He shuffled a few more papers and sighed. He picked up the letter and slowly opened it.

~*~*~*~*~*~

The sun peaked through the windows in the 7th year boys' dormitory. Ron had gone to bed early the previous night and sat up stretching. He rubbed his eyes and stood. He began going through his trunk in search of clothes.

He pulled out his tie and a pair of pants. As he was removing his shirt from the jumbled mess that was his trunk, a purple bound book fell onto the floor.

Ron picked it up and looked at it suspiciously. Where the hell did this come from? he pondered, opening the book. In neat cursive it read "Hermione Granger". Ron decided that he would give it to Ginny. He was still sore about seeing Hermione and Draco together and he wasn't about to give it to her in person.

He sat down on his bed again and tried to remember where he got the diary. He racked his brain for a few minutes, It's like there's a hole in my memory. He couldn't recall any of the previous day. He finally made up his mind to just give the diary to Ginny. He figured the sooner he did it the sooner he could stop thinking about Hermione, a subject that brought bile to the back of his throat.

He left his dormitory, the door clicking softly behind him, and descended the stairs. He continued on to the dormitory that his sister and Hermione shared. He hoped Hermione wouldn't answer, for obvious reasons. And although he wasn't too keen to see his sister, he found it a better alternative to seeing his bushy haired ex-girlfriend.

Ginny responded to the rapping at the door. She open it a crack and stepped out to face her brother. She had grabbed her cloak to cover herself.

"What is it Ron?"

"I found this..." he said harshly, "It belongs to her."

Ginny nodded and took the purple bound book that he had thrust at her. She turned to go back to bed. But suddenly her brother put his hand on her shoulder to stop her. His grip was unusually strong.

"You think you can just leave me?" he said.

Ginny froze, the voice that was coming from his lips wasn't the voice of her brother. She turned around to look at him and noticed a change in his face. He seemed suddenly paler and his eyes were darker.

"Ron, what are you doing?" she asked in consternation.

He smirked, but remained silent.

"You aren't Ron..." she said, her voice trailing off with fear.

He nodded slowly, his grin widening evilly.

Her eyes widened, "Who are you? What have you done to my brother?"

"Who am I?" he asked mockingly, "You mean you don't remember? Honestly I'm hurt. Maybe this will help spark your memory."

Suddenly his hand was around her waist and he had pulled her into a kiss. Ginny squirmed to get away. She shuddered at the thought of kissing her brother that way. He released her and she stepped back.

But in front of her wasn't a freckled red head. A boy the same age as her, who had black hair and cold eyes, stood before her. A chill ran down her spine.

"Tom..."

The sides of his mouth curled into a smile, "Yes, I knew you would remember me."

~*~*~*~*~*~

Hermione awoke from her dream to find that Ginny had gone. The sun now shown brightly into their room, illuminating the light stones walls, making them have a soft glow.

After getting dressed and packing up her books she made her way to the Great Hall for breakfast. She entered the large room hesitantly and inadvertently her eyes darted around the room in search of Draco. She approached the Gryffindor table and sat next to Harry who was looking flustered and very tired. Her dream came flooding back to her the second she looked at him.

"Harry," she said in undertones, "I had a strange dream last night that I need to discuss with you."

He cocked an eyebrow, "What do you mean?"

"Come with me," she replied, picking up a few pieces of toast and rising.

Harry got up slowly and followed her. She walked swiftly down the corridors in search of the staircase, which would lead her to the mysterious room she had been in just a day ago.

She remembered the way out of the strange room and quickly turned corners, winding quickly through the school. They were turning a corner when Hermione bumped into someone, causing her to squeak in dismay.

"Oh, I'm terribly sorry," she apologized to the figure.

Professor Lupin, looking about as tired as Harry, just smiled. "That is quite alright, Hermione. Although I must ask, why are you venturing this deep into the school?"

"Well, there was this room I stumbled upon yesterday that I wished to show Harry," she explained.

The older man smiled, "Ahh, I see."

Hermione returned the smile, "I figured he would like to see it, with his dad and all..."

Professor Lupin gave a wry smile, "Hermione, perhaps it would be easier if I showed it to him. Why don't you go back to the tower?" he whispered.

"But..." Hermione started, but then stopped and nodded.

The Professor motioned for Harry to come with him and Hermione began to walk back to the Great Hall to get more toast.

Her pace began to slow as she got closer to the Hall and by the time she had entered familiar corridors she had decided just to go to the library. She walked drudgingly down the dreary corridors. The thought of talking to Harry had driven her fight with Draco out of her head, but now that she was alone her mind had begun to dwell on it. With a sigh she entered the musty smelling library and took a seat at a table. Within a few minutes she was engrossed in a book and the argument had once again fled her mind. She had read for about ten minutes without interruption when a blond haired girl approached her table.

"Why hello Miss Granger, or should I say..."

"Go away Cypris!" Hermione snapped, not even looking up from the book.

Cypris frowned, "Fine then don't talk to me, I was just going to ask you about Drac..."

"It's not going to work on me! You may be able to lure other people into conversation, but I'm not an idiot."

Cypris gave an angry sigh, "You know what? I think I was wrong, I think you are a filthy little mudblood!"

Hermione finally looked up, "What?"

"I said," Cypris restated angrily, "You are a filthy little mudblood!"

Hermione threw her book down onto the table and stood up. She was nose to nose with Cypris. Her eyes glazed over in irritation and she opened her mouth to speak.

Cypris made a pouty face, "Oh, what's wrong? Cat got the mudblood's tongue?"

Hermione had had enough. She slapped Cypris square across the face. "Bitch!"

Cypris gaped at her. "Well, that was quite a display. I guess I was right after all. Anyways, I need to speak with you."

"Why would you want to talk to a mudblood like me?" Hermione snapped back, coldly.

"Actually, that is exactly why I need to speak with you. Now if you can suck it up for 5 minutes maybe we can have civil conversation."

Hermione sighed angrily, "Fine."

~*~*~*~*~*~

Draco was still sitting in the Great Hall with a plate of food in front of him. He had nothing better to do. Cypris had run off, not that he had wanted to talk to her. Hermione was nowhere to be found. And the prospect of being with the other Slytherins wasn't terribly pleasant. He pushed a piece of bacon around on his plate with a fork. A little trail of grease was left on the plate. He stared dismally off into the distance at nothing in particular.

Finally he got up from the table and decided to mope somewhere else. He walked through the school until he found an empty corridor. He sat on the floor next to a gargoyle, hidden from view.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Hermione and Cypris sat glaring at each other. An angry silence had filled the space between them. Hermione waited impatiently for Cypris to tell her what she intended to tell her.

"Well?" Hermione snapped impatiently.

Cypris sighed, "I don't know how to put this..."

"Put what? Just tell me what you came to say, so I can leave!" Hermione began tapping her foot.

"Fine," Cypris replied hotly, "I'll be frank. You aren't who you think you are!"

Hermione shut her eyes, she had heard those words before, but she couldn't remember where. "What?"

Cypris sighed, "You aren't who you think you are... You aren't a mudblood... You're one of us."

A memory hit Hermione in the stomach, like a brick.

She was sitting in a rocking chair in her grandmother's lap. And her grandmother was talking to her in a quiet raspy voice. She was telling a story.

"When your mother was little, she used to look just like you. She had rosy little cheeks and a cute little smile. It is such a pity she went over to the Dark side. It wasn't her fault of course. Then she died. I do miss her, if only your father hadn't killed her. But your muggle mother is such a dear, you will probably grow up and be very happy with her. Our family had to go into hiding, after your mother betrayed the Dark Lord. Your father remained loyal to him. But he is busy doing work for him, so he took a muggle wife to raise you properly. Oh my dear little granddaughter, I wish you could understand me. I hated hiding this all from you, my Hermione," the old woman stroked the baby's wispy brown hair, "Some day you'll understand. Some day you'll find out and set things right. You are good. Your mother was good too, but she wasn't strong enough. You're strong, I can see it in your eyes."

Realization flooded into Hermione's head. She was flooded with memories of her father. The man who she had thought to be a loving muggle. He was a wizard, a wizard who had killed her real mother. Then she thought of her mother. The kind muggle woman who had raised her. She wasn't her real mother, her real mother was dead. Dead at her father's hand. Hermione began to shake.

Cypris eyed her looking mildly amused.

"Why are you so damn smug?" Hermione asked, still shaking.

"I don't see why you're taking it so hard," Cypris said haughtily, "You're lucky I even bothered to tell you."

"You're lucky I haven't cursed you to oblivion!" Hermione said, louder than she intended to.

Cypris edged a bit away, "Why are you overreacting?"

Hermione glared, "Overreacting? How would you react if you just found out your father killed your real mother and the lady you've been calling 'mum' is just a muggle off the streets!"

"You're mad," Cypris replied, "I didn't tell you that..."

"You didn't have to," Hermione smiled wryly, "Goodbye Miss Moon."

Cypris seemed puzzled, "Goodbye Miss LeFay."

Hermione stood and left Cypris sitting there. Let her be confused, I don't care, she thought with contempt. Half of her was filled with a wretchedness that she couldn't quite describe. She suddenly understood how Harry felt. She had been violated by fate.

And yet, another half of her didn't care. She was happy for the first time she could remember. Love and hate are very similar, she said to herself, I hate him and I love him. Is it that I love him because I hate him or that I hate him for making me love him?

Hermione walked the empty corridor, the sound of her footsteps echoing in her ears. With every step a bit of anxiety seemed to shed off her, like dead skin. She didn't need to think of her family right now. That was in the past, she couldn't change it. She was more concerned with her current problems. She was in love with Draco Malfoy. Hermione continued walking the deserted hall and mused aloud.

"Ay me!" Sighing she turned a corner and began descending a staircase that would lead towards the Entrance Hall. The corridor below wasn't used very often and there were no paintings on the walls.

"Draco... Draco... wherefore art thou Draco?" she stopped and giggled at the childishness of what she was saying, but continued nonetheless, "Deny thy father and refuse thy name, or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, and I'll no longer be a Granger."

She reached the bottom of the staircase and stopped, sitting upon the last step and thinking of the irony of what she was saying.

"'Tis but thy name that is my enemy; - thou art thyself though, not a Malfoy. What's a Malfoy? It is not hand, nor foot, nor arm, nor face, nor any other part belonging to a man. O, be some other name! What's in a name! That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. So Draco would, were he not Draco call'd, retain that dear perfection which he owes without that title: - Draco, doff thy name; and for that name, which is no part of thee, take all myself!"

Hermione leaned her head again the cool stone wall. She shut her eyes and pretended to be standing on a balcony, richly dressed, with Draco standing below. Suddenly a chill ran down her spine as she heard someone sit down next to her. She felt warm breath against the side of her neck.

Draco's voice whispered in her ear, "I take thee at thy word: call me but love, and I'll be new baptized; henceforth I never will be Draco."

Hermione turned her head to face him and opened her eyes. She was blushing a deep scarlet. Draco smiled and touched her cheek with his fingertips and ran his hand down her jawbone. He kissed her lightly on the mouth. She melted into him, but he pulled away.

"Shakespeare... he was a beautiful writer..." he said. She looked pleadingly at him. All she wanted was to kiss him and let all of her troubles disappear. He kissed her again and pulled away. "Speak again bright angel."

Hermione looked at him with longing. "I've lost all ability to speak," she said, kissing him with all the passion she had ever felt. Her heart soared away and she forgot all about her father and her conversation with Cypris. She forgot about Harry and falling through the stairs. She forgot everything; all she cared about was that moment, that kiss.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Ginny wasn't accustomed to the lighting of the dark chamber. She hadn't wanted to follow Tom into the bathroom and down into the chamber, but it was as if some force more powerful than she had forced her there. Tom had led the way through the vast maze of pipes into the main chamber.

Ginny shuddered at the dried twisted body of the basilisk that was still in the main chamber. Tom led her up and behind one of the large statues to where there was a carving on the wall. He said something in parseltongue and the carving had transformed into a door. He opened it and led Ginny into a small room. It looked like an office with a small sitting room. There were a couple of couches made of what looked like leather and an armchair surrounding a fireplace. There was a desk and a bookshelf and a painting of Salazar Slytherin hanging above the desk. The entire room was covered in dust and it felt cold.

Ginny gasped at the sight of the painting, it's cold eyes looked just like Tom's. She inhaled a hefty amount of dust and began to sneeze. Tom reached into her pocket and removed her wand. He waved it and suddenly the room was free of dust and fire was burning in the fireplace. Ginny looked at him in wonder. He had so much power.

Tom took a seat in one of the armchairs and Ginny sat on a couch. She would have rather stood but something inside of her beckoned her to sit down.

"You didn't have to follow me," said the boy slyly, "why did you?"

Ginny shuddered, "I don't know."

"I believe you do know, Virginia, and you aren't telling me," he replied his cold gaze falling over her.

"I d-don't know," she repeated, meeting his gaze with her own.

"You look at me with those eyes," said Tom, "so full of contempt, and yet you follow me here. You want something."

"I don't want anything from you," Ginny said in a rush, "I want to go back to the Gryffindor common room and I want you to leave my brother alone. I don't know why I followed you here."

"I'm sorry, Virginia, I am unable to fulfill your request."

"Fine, just let me leave, Harry will be looking for me!" she pleaded.

Tom shook his head, "Things aren't that easy. You will stay here until I tell you to leave. You followed me here when you were not wanted, and you will pay the consequences."

Ginny tried to get up but suddenly felt dizzy. The images in the room swam before her eyes and she felt herself slowly slip in and out of consciousness. She sat back down and suddenly everything came back into focus.

Tom smiled evilly, "You will obey me, Virginia, I have much more power than you think. I own you."

Ginny nodded slowly and looked at the floor.

"Look into my eyes, Virginia," he said slowly, "and give me what is mine."

Ginny continued to look at the floor. Tom stood up and stood before her. He placed his hand on her chin and lifted her head so she looked directly into his eyes. Ginny stood and found herself kissing the black haired boy. She had lost all control of her body, it was as if she was a marionette. Someone else had control of the strings.

Ginny and Tom kissed fervently for what seemed like forever. Ginny's mind was muddled. She couldn't think, all she could do was give in to his every whim. Her brain was as cloudy as the orbs in Divination class.. But then suddenly one thought emerged into her consciousness as she pressed her body again Tom's. She liked it.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Harry stood alone in the common room. Hermione was gone, Ron had disappeared, and Ginny was nowhere to be found. He had checked the library and both dormitories. He suddenly remembered the Marauder's Map.

He had just spent the morning in what Lupin told him was the Marauder's Cave. They had sat at the table in the middle of the room for a couple of hours, Harry listening to Lupin tell stories of his father like a child listening to a bedtime story.

Lupin had told him about the times that they had spent in the forest after he had transformed. They would all run together through the tree in the dark forest, fearing nothing.

"It was like nothing could stop us," Lupin had said, "An animal instinct was awake in all of us. Before I had your father and Sirius and I were alone. I thought I was the only one who felt that jolt inside. But James felt it too. He told me how he felt when he transformed into Prongs he felt the same thing I felt when I transformed, except not so painful... James was like my brother... Harry, if you ever want to know anything else about your father, I'm here."

Harry didn't know when he was going to take up the offer, but he knew he would. Professor Lupin was one of the only people who had ever offered to share things like that with him. Harry was overwhelmed with gratefulness.

Harry climbed the stairs to retrieve the Map. He opened his trunk on dig through it until he found the old piece of parchment. He spread it out on his bed and tapped it with his wand, meanwhile swearing he was up to no good. He quickly found the dot labeled "Ginny Weasley" and noticed it had just entered Gryffindor tower. He watched as it climbed the stairs towards his dormitory and quickly whipped the map and threw it back in his trunk.

"Harry, I need to talk to you," said Ginny's shrill voice from outside the door.

Harry shut his trunk and opened the door. Ginny looked very disheveled and her pupils were dilated so that the brown in her eyes was only a miniscule ring. Her robes hung off one shoulder and her tie was untied and hung around her neck. She looked expressionless.

"What's wrong?" Harry asked, concerned.

"Harry, we can't be together anymore," she said simply.

Harry gaped at her, "What do you mean Ginny?"

"Harry, I can't be with you anymore, no more relationship," she replied and then began crying.

"Why? Is it Ron?" Harry asked, "If it's him I can talk to him, Ginny, he's my best mate. If he got mad--"

"It's not Ron!" Ginny said cutting him off, "It's me!"

"What?"

Tears were streaming down Ginny's face, "I don't love you Harry, I never have."

Harry's face fell, "That, that can't be true..."

"It is!" Ginny said loudly, "I don't!"

Harry looked at her, her pupils looked like they had consumed her irises. Tears ran steadily from her bloodshot eyes. Her hair was a mess and he cheeks looked swollen. Harry placed his hand on her shoulder.

"I don't believe you," he said, "The Ginny Weasley I know wouldn't lie about something like that."

She pulled away from him, "Well I did!"

Harry frowned, "You're going to stay here and tell me what's wrong."

"I told you!" she said, "I don't love you that's what's wrong. We can't be together anymore; it's all a lie!"

"Unless you can look me in the eyes and tell me you don't love me, I'm not going to believe you and you'll have to stay here until you're willing to tell me."

She looked him straight in the eyes. "I don't love you!" she said, and got up and left.

Harry was in shock. Ginny, who he had just shared the most intimate moments of his life with had just left him, because she claimed she didn't love him. There's something wrong, he thought, There's something she isn't telling me. She's hiding something and I'm going figure out what it is.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Author's Note: Thank you for reading my fic, this far! There shall be another update soon. Because many have been requesting that I e-mail them with updates, I have decided to start a yahoo group and I'll sent out e-mail updates on all of my fics through the group. If you are interested, please e-mail me: rhapsody8769@yahoo.com and I'll put you into the group. The group will also be the way I will be archiving fanart! Have a lovely day! ~Miss Rhaps~