Hindsight

Consequences

'I hate sitting in Defence, knowing about Crouch, and not being able to do anything about it,' Harry complained under his breath as they transited in the corridors between Defence and Potions.

Hermione squeezed his hand. 'We will do something about Crouch,' she reminded him, 'He'll help doom his master. Unwittingly, but all the same.'

'It really is fitting that – '

Harry was interrupted by a girl's scream from somewhere off to their left and in front of them. He and Hermione exchanged a look.

'What's going on?' Hermione gasped. 'You heard that scream, right?'

Harry nodded. 'That sounded like…someone getting tortured, did it not?'

Hermione blanched. 'You don't think…'

'I don't know,' Harry replied, 'But I'm going to investigate.'

He grabbed Hermione's hand and tugged her forward. They turned the corner to the sight of Crabbe, standing right in front a tapestry as if he were guarding something. Harry, with a jolt of comprehension, realized that the tapestry concealed a hidden corridor behind it.

'The secret passageway!' Hermione breathed. 'If Crabbe is standing outside…'

Harry and Hermione exchanged another look. The silent understanding that Draco No-Name was somehow involved passed between them. Both their wands instinctively shot into their hands.

Before Crabbe even knew they were there, both had shot a silent Stunning Spell at the enormous Slytherin. Crabbe gave a girl-like yelp of surprise as he collapsed.

'Something bad might be happening in there,' Harry breathed heavily. 'The scream…Crabbe keeping watch…we need to investigate.'

'I agree, but what if Draco heard us Stun Crabbe?'

Harry snorted. 'No-Name's pathetic in a duel. Besides, Crabbe barely made a sound before we took him down. If we burst in there, we can surprise him in the middle of whatever he's doing.'

Hermione nodded. 'Take the other side,' she said, 'We'll go in from opposite sides of the tapestry. He can't aim at both of us at once.'

Harry and Hermione's battle instincts took over. They worked as a team without thinking. The two of them lifted the tapestry and charged into the passageway.

Hermione gasped. On the ground was Daphne Greengrass. The top of her robes was completely ripped open. Over her stood No-Name. His trousers were off and he was on the verge of removing his boxers…

'Stupefy!' Hermione shrieked. The red spell hit Malfoy square in the chest, knocking him unconscious immediately.

Harry followed up with a silent Petrificus Totalus and an Incarcerous. Seeing No-Name attempt to violate another woman – or rather, a girl – had Harry's blood thundering through his head, remembering that day in the future with Hermione. He forced his temper down, for he was already feeling Avada Kedavra dancing on his lips. As much as he wanted to, he could not use the Killing Curse, especially not on another student at Hogwarts. Not that Draco No-Name deserved the painless death that curse caused.

He immediately turned to look at Hermione. Her face was extremely pale, like it had no blood left in it. Harry knew that she, too, was recalling that fateful day in the future. She nodded at Harry, silently telling him that she was okay, and cocked her head in Daphne Greengrass's direction.

Harry looked down. Her lips were moving, but she was making no sound. Harry quickly undid the Silencing Charm on the girl.

'Th-Thank you!' she said weakly. Even in the dark corridor, he could see tears in her eyes. She struggled to cover herself up. 'H-He was ab-about to – '