Disclaimer: I don't have any rights over anything Harry Potter etc.

Lock Down

"We're going to be in so much trouble," moaned Hermoine. She was fidgeting anxiously as she tried to keep as close to Harry and Ron as possible. The trio was not only out after curfew and without the infamous invisibility cloak—Hogwarts was under a self-afflicted lock down; meaning that there was a deadly beast roaming the school and students were supposed to stay in their dormitories until the teachers said otherwise.

"Stop being such a baby," whispered Ron hoarsely.

"We're going to be expelled," continued Hermoine blithely ignoring the red head. "The smartest witch for my age and I'm going to be expelled! Why do I let you two drag me into these things? So you forgot something in the library—that's no reason to stalk about the school when a deranged beast is on the loose."

"A deranged beast?" squeaked Ron. "I thought you said it wasn't that serious, Harry."

"I lied." Harry turned back to look at Hermoine with a large grin on his face. "You're only with us because you love us so much. You'd hate to see us killed."

"Oh yes," agreed Hermoine sarcastically. "This is why I left my wand behind in the common room."

"What did you go and do that for?" asked Ron making a face.

Hermoine scowled. "That's it. You're both getting coal for Christmas this year," she quipped.

"Now, Hermoine—" Ron's words died in his throat as heavy footsteps came from further up the corridor, headed straight towards them. "What was that?"

"Possibly the deranged beast," murmured Harry with a quiver in his voice.

"We're gonna die!" squeaked Ron again. "We should never have come. Screw the library!"

"A lot of good that does us now," hissed Hermoine as she peeled Ron off of her arm. The three friends huddled close together as the footsteps became louder and louder. Hermoine opened her mouth to let out an ear piercing scream when none other than Draco Malfoy came around the corner with a smirk on his face.

"Well, well, well. What have we here?"

"Well, I was right about the deranged part. Not so much on the beast though." Harry sighed in relief.

"Not unless you consider a ferret a beast," muttered Hermoine darkly.

"Just look at it this way, Hermoine," replied Harry with a small chuckle. "It doesn't look like we're going to be expelled tonight."

"Some consolation. Instead we're wandering around after hours with Malfoy and a deranged beast on the loose." Hermoine shook her head in disgust.

"Out after curfew, eh, Potter? You're going to get it this time. Just wait until one of the Professors hears about this." Draco was practically glowing in delight as he contemplated the new edge he now had over his archrival.

Harry rolled his eyes and retorted, "You can't possibly tell anyone, Malfoy. You're out after hours too, you know. None of the Professors are dumb enough to let you get by without some kind of detention."

Draco frowned and seemed intent on saying something back when another sound came from further down the hallway. The four teens peered into the darkness, straining their ears for another sound. It came as a low rumble, one normally made from deep within a beastly chest. Draco whipped out his wand the same time as Harry and Ron.

Hermoine gave a small shriek at the sight of Ron's wand. "You can't use that, Ronald! We want to defend ourselves, not harm ourselves!"

"The mudblood's right," said Draco.

"Oh shove off!" snapped Hermoine glaring at the white haired boy. "No one asked for your opinion, you bloody idiot!"

"Well done, Hermoine," cheered Ron stuffing his wand back into his pocket. He gave Harry an apologetic shrug. "Sorry mate, looks like you're going to have to work with Malfoy on this one. I'm not very good anyway."

"Thanks," replied Harry turning to look into the darkness once more. Harry and Draco kept their wands at the ready just as a large creature loomed into view. It was a monstrously hairy beast with a broad chest of fur; it stood on four large paws with claws sharp as could be; all that could be seen of the head was the large snout breathing out fire, razor sharp teeth, and two very sharp horns above its red rimmed eyes. All in all the deranged creature did not look very forgiving.

"What is that thing?" asked Draco lowering his wand briefly to stare at the creature with wide eyes.

"Whatever it is—run!" cried out Harry. Hermoine and Ron didn't think twice as they turned around with Harry to run back the way they had come. Behind them Draco was doing his best to keep up as the beast started after them.

"We'd best split up—we might lose the creature that way," hollered Hermoine. Harry nodded and pulled Ron down an empty hallway. Hermoine glanced behind her and paused long enough to grab Draco by the hand and tug him down another empty hallway. Loud roars of resentment filled the castle as Hermoine and Draco continued running as fast as they could.

"In here!" ordered Draco after a while, yanking Hermoine to a sudden halt. Hermoine didn't have time to protest as Draco pulled her into a broom closet, shutting the door tightly after them. The two were silent as they fearfully listened for the beast. They could hear the clicks of the claws as the creature moved down the hallway slowly, searching for its fleeing prey. It snorted angrily and finally made its way down the hall, until Hermoine and Draco could no longer hear it.

"I think it's gone," said Hermoine, her breath ragged from all the running.

"Did you think of that one all by yourself?" sniggered Draco reaching for the doorknob. He tried to turn it open, but the knob wouldn't budge. "Hey now, what's this? It's locked."

"Locked?" repeated Hermoine. "What do you mean locked? Unlock it!"

"I can't," replied Draco evenly. "I dropped my wand."

"You must be joking. I am stuck in a broom closet with you? How is that even possible? I don't deserve this kind of punishment." Hermoine pushed Draco aside and tried with all her might to pull the door open, but to no avail. It was locked, and they were stuck.

"Where's your wand?" asked Draco glancing at her jeans and long sleeved shirt suspiciously.

"In the common room. I wasn't planning on leaving this evening," retorted Hermoine hotly. She crossed her arms in front of her chest and glared at the door. Harry and Ron would have to find her eventually. If not, well, she supposed Filch would be by in the morning to get out some of the supplies inside.

"This is just great," muttered Draco to himself. He looked around the closet and quickly found a bucket sitting nearby. He turned it over and took a seat as Hermoine took a seat on an empty crate. "I'm stuck in here with you of all people. My day couldn't possibly get any worse."

"Believe me, this wasn't my brilliant idea. It was yours. So it's no one's fault but your own, you imbecile. And here I thought you actually had a brain. Apparently you don't use it often enough to even call it that."

"I'm not the one who left my wand in the common room," snapped Draco.

"No, but at least I didn't drop it running from a deranged creature roaming the walls of Hogwarts!"

"Well…well…" sputtered Draco insolently. "At least…I…oh forget it!"

"Gladly." Silence reigned over the pair as each pouted the unexpected outcome of being out after curfew. Finally Draco glanced over at Hermoine and broke the silence.

"Why don't you start looking for a way out of here?"

"Why can't you?" retorted Hermoine warily.

"Because I'm the superior one here, that's why."

"Superior my ass. You're a spoiled, foul mouthed, ferret."

Draco glowered at the insult. "At least I don't have bushy hair."

"Compared to yours that will more than likely fall out one day as a result of all the hair gel you used to use? I'll take my bushy hair, thank you very much."

"Don't be a smart ass."

"Then don't say stupid things." Hermoine tossed out her words in frustration glancing over at the door in hopes that someone would eventually open it. Unfortunately, it wasn't meant to be,

A/N—Alright, so I saw the latest movie like a week ago, and it's been ages since I've written a HP ficlet, so I thought I'd try my hand at one. I'm not sure how long it'll turn out; I guess it depends on what people think.