Jealousy Games and Deadly Consequences

[Lissandra Sylvania]

Chapter 10-A Game So Real

Harry gasped and he looked at his hand; that was now stinging slightly. He was stunned and overwhelmed with guilt at what he'd just done.

Draco's amused expression had long since vanished, and was now replaced with a look of utter shock and disbelief. He didn't know why but he suddenly felt a strange feeling wash over him as he watched Harry's hand connect with Hermione's face, knocking her to the ground.

Potter just hit Granger? He gasped to himself. Part of him was confused by this sudden, strange feeling, but the other part seemed to want to dash out and beat Potter senseless. But ,why? Why would he want to do that? It's not like I care. He mentally scoffed. Of course, I would have never known Potter to hurt one of his own friends. He thought quirking a curious brow.

Harry stared down at the girl that lay before him. "Hermione...I....I'm sorry...I didn't mean to..." His voice cracked.

She slowly lifted her head and then pulled herself up to her hands and knees, breathing quickly. She sat there and lifted a hand to her now stinging cheek-the same cheek that Ginny had slapped. She winced as she felt it and her eyes traveled up to look at Harry.

Harry looked taken aback and was about to move towards her, when he stopped. There was now a cold, almost hateful gleam in her eyes that made him freeze. Slowly, she got to her feet and brushed herself off.

"Hermione I..." Harry began but couldn't find the words to speak.

Hermione shook her head. Then she bit her lip and looked down. He...hit me. I...I can't believe it. I'm so mad... She thought angrily grinding her teeth. No Hermione, don't get mad. You don't want to lose him now do you? Harry is so close to breaking now. came a little voice.

But Hermione just shook her head and ignored the little voice. She then sighed sadly. This isn't going to work. The whole plan is shot. I can't do this on my own! Without Malfoy here, this whole jealousy game won't work. she thought. Then she rubbed her cheek. Harry's too upset and he will never confess his love for me now. He thinks that I'm delusional and after what's just happened, I can't continue with this game. He seemed to almost admit to me how he felt but...once I started defending Malfoy he got so mad. Agh! And just why was I defending that ferret in the first place? I mean I know that it was part of the plan but...maybe I went too far. She then rubbed her cheek again. Yes I did go too far. I'll have to go about this another way. I don't want to get hit again.

"Hermione...I'm...sorry..." Harry muttered regretfully.

"Forget it!" She snapped as she turned and walked away.

Harry hung his head and turned his back to her, closing his eyes. d**n it, I didn't mean to hurt her. He thought as a tear fell from his eye.

Hermione forced back tears as she trudged along slowly. That was a disaster! She thought with a heavy sigh.



Draco saw her coming his way and raised a brow slightly. At first he thought about hiding from her but then he contemplated something else as he ducked behind the green Slytherin banner.

Hermione rubbed her sore cheek. She stopped walking briefly and glanced back to see Harry still with his back to her, staring off into the distance.

She then spun back around and continued on her way. But as she walked past the Slytherin banner, a hand reached out and grabbed her and pulled her behind it.

She gasped and froze as she came face to face with Draco Malfoy.

"M-Malfoy!" She snapped. "What are you doing here?"

"You invited me, remember?" He replied flashing his trademark smirk.

"Yeah well you never showed up to help me...and I had to deal with Harry on my own!" She hissed at him.

"Help you?" He chuckled. "Who said I was going to help you?" He asked raising a curious brow.

She bit her lip. Wait a minute...what am I saying? I'm trying to play out the lies that I told Harry! I'm with the real Malfoy now I need to snap out of it! She thought mentally scolding herself.

"So, Granger..." He chuckled stepping closer to her. "It looks like Potter got you pretty good." He added as he ran a finger lightly over the red part of her cheek.

"Ow!" She winced. Then suddenly, her eyes narrowed. "Wait a minute...how did you know that Harry hit me...unless...." Suddenly her eyes grew wide.

A sly grin crossed his face and he chuckled. "Oh I know everything that happened and I also heard every word that you said." He added arrogantly.

Hermione's face flushed red. She was really nervous and embarrassed. If he'd heard everything then he'd heard her shouting out that she liked him.

"I must say that I'm rather flattered." He said almost in a warm tone as he moved even closer to her. "I never thought you would like me in such a way." He added in a seductive whisper.

"Well...I..." She began then she thought. Maybe, I can somehow talk him into helping me with a little game to get back at Harry. Maybe I... but her thoughts were interrupted by his cold voice.

"Potter seems pretty sure of himself about me, doesn't he?" he scoffed.

She gave a slight nod.

"He thinks he knows me so well." He drawled. Then he smirked and looked at her. "Well, what do you say we give him a nice little shock?" He sneered mischievously as he leaned in towards her.

"Huh?" She asked shakily as she felt his hot breath against her ear.

She swallowed nervously at how close he was to her.

"Potter needs to be taught a lesson." He sneered as he took a step back from her.

She blinked. Malfoy seems to be willing to cooperate with me, so maybe I can put this plan into action after all. She thought.

"So, what exactly do you have in mind?" She ventured to ask.

"You'll see." He replied quickly. "Now, go on back over there and tell him off." he added slyly.

"Tell him off?" She gasped.

"Yeah, tell him off, cuss him out, kick him between the legs...whatever you want." He replied confidently.

"Huh?" She asked confused. But then she slowly looked at him. The look on his face was somewhat dark and mischievous and for some strange reason it intrigued her.

"But...what are you going to..." she began but before she could finish, he pushed her out from behind the banner.

"Go!" he urged impatiently.

"But..." She began.

"No buts, just go" He replied with a wink.

"Malfoy, just what are you planning?" she demanded.

"You'll see..." he sneered as he half smiled at her. "Trust me." He added arrogantly.

Trust you? She thought. Then she thought of what Harry's reaction would be if Draco appeared. If Malfoy's planning to show up then maybe it'll be easier to make Harry jealous. If I drool over Malfoy in front of Harry, then that may work. And Harry will definitely confess his love for me! She smiled slightly at the thought of it.

Then finally she nodded to Draco, and then turned and started walking back towards Harry who was still staring off into space.

What am I doing? How can I even trust Malfoy? What if he pulls some sort of cruel joke on me? What if he's up to no good? Why am I even going along with this? Why don't I just run? she continued mentally questioning herself until the dark haired young man spun around and looked at her.

"Hermione...you came back?" He mumbled with surprise.

"Uh...I..." She began then wondered. Maybe I should just come out and ask Harry if he loves me. Won't that be better than making him mad again?

"I'm really sorry I hit you, Hermione. But when you started cooing all over how you liked Malfoy I felt...angry...bitter...disgusted." he mumbled.

Emotions that meant he felt jealous. She thought triumphantly. And now maybe he will finally confess his love for me.

"What is it that you see in Malfoy?" He asked bluntly walking up to her.

Oh no, why is he asking me this? She thought as the urge to scream hit her very hard.

"I just want to know why you like him so much." Harry added calmly.

I don't like Malfoy! I like you! She thought looking desperately at Harry.

"Just tell me, please." He added. "Tell me what you like about Malfoy so much that you'd go through all you did for him."

She couldn't resist those warm green eyes. And so she knew she'd have to make up some things. Taking a deep breath and hoping for something to come to her, she said, "Well...I...think he's...cocky and arrogant..." She began.

He gave her a curious look. "You like that about him?" He asked with a confused frown.

She bit her lip. Oh no I'm describing things that I hate about him! I'm supposed to be telling him things that I like about Malfoy. Ugh! That's harder to do! Think quickly Hermione! She mentally snapped.

Harry's eyes were glued on her waiting for the answer. Little did Hermione know that a certain Slytherin also had his eyes on her, clearly interested in her response as well.

"Well...I...like..." She began after swallowing nervously. "I like that he's a good student." She said quickly as she remembered his high scores in Potions.

"That can't be all." Harry snorted. "Surely there are more things than just his academic achievements."

"Uh...Well..." Hermione swallowed again. This was very hard for her to do. She then took a deep breath and tried to think of something else. "Well...he's...smart...and...can take charge." She added stumbling over each word. "He...he is good at flying on a broom..." Suddenly strange yet romantic images of Harry began to fly through her head and she decided to use them to describe her so-called feelings for Draco. Now more confident in her response, she continued, "The way his dark...er...I mean blonde hair flows in the breeze when he's flying through the air chasing the golden snitch just makes me melt. And when his green...I mean grey eyes meet mine I am lost in them. He's so cute, smart,..." She suddenly sighed dreamily as she fell into her fantasy world unaware of what she was saying. "And every moment of every day I think of him, I am thankful that he notices me. He's so...nice."

Draco blinked rapidly and then stared confusedly at Hermione. She thinks I'm nice? He mentally gasped. She likes me and she thinks I'm nice! This must mean one thing. She's either under a spell or she's drunk! Draco thought. I know that she can't seriously like me.

Harry groaned and rolled his eyes."Hermione!" He growled, snapping her out of her dream world.

"Huh?" She replied, oblivious to anything that Harry might have said while she was off in her own little world.

"I said you can't say that Malfoy is nice! He's always mean to you and insults you! Are you saying that you find his insults nice!" He snapped with a disgusted frown.

"Mmm Hmm." She replied with a slight smile, and then she gasped and shook her head. Wait, what did I just say? she wondered.

"I don't believe you!" Harry's voice suddenly thundered. "You have lost your bloody mind! You're so delusional that I bet you think Malfoy actually cares about you the same way?"

Here we go again. I smell another fight coming. she mentally snapped. But this time she was more nervous because she knew now that Draco was watching and listening to every word they said. So she knew that she'd have to watch what she said from this point on.

"I...I..." She began but she couldn't speak as she knew Draco was listening to everything and she cringed as she realized the way she'd talked about him to Harry. She felt herself flush from utter humiliation of the fact that Draco must be rolling, hysterically laughing at her.

"Well, where's your wonderful caring Slytherin boyfriend now, Hermione? Huh!" Harry sneered sarcastically. "He didn't show up to take that slap for you earlier, now did he?"

"Harry, Stop it! I don't want to start fighting again!" She shouted irritably. But he seemed to ignore her as he ranted on.

"I can tell you why Malfoy didn't show up, Hermione! He's probably off screwing some Slytherin girl right now! He doesn't care about you like you care about him!" Harry snarled grabbing her wrist tightly.

"Please...let go of me! You're hurting me, Harry!" She cried out as real tears began forming her eyes.

"No! I won't let you go. Someone has to knock some d**n sense into you and it may as well be me!" Harry shouted as he grabbed her other wrist.

Hermione could feel that things were getting out of control now. Why did I bother to go along with Malfoy's plan? I bet he's getting a good laugh out of this! She thought angrily.



It's almost time for me to put my little plan into action. Draco thought with a menacing smirk as he watched the scene. I'd better get ready.



"Hermione, I hate being rough with you like this but you leave me no choice!" Harry snarled, as he tightened his grip on her wrists.

"Stop it!" She shouted as she struggled. "Let me go, Harry!"

The two were so busy fighting that neither saw the blonde headed figure moving towards them.

"Not until you come to your senses!" Harry growled.

"Harry, let go of me! I don't want to fight about this anymore!" She cried desperately.

"I'm not letting you go until you realize that I'm right about this, Hermione! You need to see the truth yourself! Get over this delusion of liking that git! Don't you realize that if Malfoy actually liked or even cared about you, Hermione, he'd be out here right now trying to prove me wrong!" Harry snapped angrily.

"Get your hands off her, Potter!" came a cold drawling voice.

Both Harry and Hermione gasped as they looked to see Draco stomping towards them. His grey eyes were narrowed, and his expression was dark. His hands were curled into tightly clenched fists and he looked as though he was going to explode with rage.

Hermione gasped as she looked the Slytherin over curiously. Malfoy looks really mad at Harry. she thought nervously.

"What the hell did you say, Malfoy?" Harry snapped in disbelief.

"I said, get your hands off of her! What? Are you deaf, Potter?" Draco repeated more forcefully as he stepped right up to them. He then reached out and grabbed one of Hermione's hands and firmly jerked her out of Harry's grasp. He pulled her behind him protectively and then stepped up to Harry.

Hermione blinked rapidly as Harry and Draco stood only inches apart, eye to eye.

"I saw you grab her hand and drag her out here." Draco growled at Harry. Then his gaze shifted to Hermione. "I also read her note that she wrote me saying that you were going to bring her out here and she begged me to come." He added quickly looking back to Harry with a dark smirk. "And now I see why. She was afraid of you taking advantage of her." The Slytherin sneered. "And by the looks of it, I'd say her fear was right!"

What is he saying? Hermione gasped hearing the words that had come out of Draco's mouth. Then she bit her lip. Maybe though, I can use this situation somehow. she thought.

"I didn't try to do any such thing!" Harry retorted defensively. "You can even ask her."

Draco nodded then turned to Hermione, and reached down and took one of her hands into his.

His touch was filled with such warmth that it suddenly made her feel surprisingly safe.

"Was he trying to take advantage of you, Gr-er- Her-Hermione?" He asked as gently as he could. Her eyes widened at the sound of her first name flowing from his lips so tenderly.

She opened her mouth to say no but suddenly saw him wink at her. It was then that she realized that this was his plan! He was playing along with her game from before! After studying his face a moment, she pretended to cry, putting her hands over her face. "Oh Draco..." She sobbed. "It was horrible...Harry was going to rip my clothes off if you hadn't of come!"

Seeing that she was playing along with him, Draco smirked.

Harry looked stunned and angry at the same time, which made Draco smirk even more. You've lost this time, Potter. He thought triumphantly.

Then he looked to the girl beside him and moved closer to her.

"Don't worry, I'm here now." He said gently wrapping his arms around her.

He said it so gently that it made Hermione gasp silently and shiver.

"What? No! That's a lie!" Harry shouted outraged, throwing his hands up in the air cussing. "I wasn't trying to do that, Hermione, and you know it!"

"You didn't think that I was going to stay out of your little game now did you, Granger?" Draco whispered into her ear as he pulled her closer pretending to comfort her.

"So this is why you wanted me to come back here?" Hermione whispered in his ear.

"Yeah, I thought it'd be funny to see Potter's face when I actually did show up and...hehe... prove him wrong." He replied proudly. "Besides, I thought that it'd be a rather entertaining situation...especially after what you said about me."

She bit her lip nervously. "Look uh...about what I said about my feelings for you...well...I..." She began but he put a finger to her lips.

"Shhh we'll talk about that stuff later, right now let's rub it all in Potter's face." He said slyly.

"I think he's already jealous so maybe we should st-" she began but he quickly cut her off.

"I can see that." He snapped arrogantly. Then he chuckled. "But now that I'm here, let's see just how mad we can make him." He sneered.

"Please Malfoy, don't do anything too crazy." She begged. "Don't blow this by getting all cocky and arrogant or else..." But he cut her off again.

"On the contrary, Granger I find being the good guy rather entertaining for once. And I like to mess with Potter every chance I get anyway so this has its double rewards. Really though, you should have told me your feelings earlier so I could have perfected my lines." He replied arrogantly.

"So, are you saying that you still want to continue?" She asked hesitantly.

"How could I not? When you said that you liked me, and Potter started bullying you; I couldn't help but play the 'caring boyfriend' role." He replied with a chuckle.

She then looked to him and smiled faintly. He surprisingly smiled back. "Come on, let's continue with our little game." He whispered. She nodded. He then pulled away from her and turned and smirked at Harry.

"Who would have thought that the famous Harry Potter would try to take advantage of someone as sweet...and kind as Hermione Granger?" he drawled, arrogantly strutting towards him.

"Look Malfoy, I told you that I wasn't trying to do anything like that!" Harry spat.

Draco then looked to Hermione and gently ran his thumb over the bruise that had now formed on her cheek. She winced slightly at his touch but welcomed it all the same. d**n, Potter really got her good. That bastard. He thought feeling just how big the bruise was beneath her skin. Then his eyes narrowed as he glared back at Harry.

"Do you see what you've done?" The Slytherin hissed gesturing to Hermione's bruised cheek. "Is this how you get back at me, Potter? By beating up...my....girlfriend?" He sneered.

"Girlfriend!" Harry gasped in disgust.

Girlfriend? Me, Draco Malfoy's girlfriend? Hermione gasped mentally. And then she found herself inching closer to Draco slowly.

"Taking your hatred out on someone that has supported you all these years." Draco added shaking his head disappointedly at the dark haired young man.

"Look, I wasn't taking out my hatred of you out on her!" Harry said firmly.

"Couldn't fool me, Potter." Draco drawled. Clearly, he was enjoying this but he was careful not to smile and break character.

"Well you were being very forceful with me, Harry. Especially when I told you my feelings for Draco. You even hit me!" Hermione chimed in as she gestured at her bruise. "There's honestly no telling what you would have done to me if Draco hadn't shown up." She added coldly as she absently leaned against the blonde Slytherin who smirked as he put his arm around her.

"Hermione, I told you that I'm sorry for hitting you, I know it was wrong and I'm so sorry!" Harry cried as real tears formed in his green eyes. Hermione saw this. That's it Harry, cry! Cry and feel like your losing me. she thought with a cold expression.

"Please Hermione, I'm so sorry I hurt you. Please, forgive me!" Harry sobbed, his voice now cracking.

There was a long silence.

Hermione looked at Harry for the longest time. If I forgive him...maybe he'll finally say that he loves me. She thought but then she looked to Draco and back to Harry. But for some reason I don't want him confessing his love to me here in front of Draco...Wait, why not? It's not like me and Draco really like each other. I know that Draco doesn't seriously like me. He's just playing along with my game. She then sighed. But his touch is so warm and he's being so sweet. I can't help but feel... No! Wake up, Hermione. The guy you want to be with is Harry, not Draco. Now accept Harry's apology! Her mental conflict went on for a few moments before she finally spoke.

"Fine then, I'm willing to accept your apology, Harry." She said softening her gaze.

"Well I'm not." Draco snapped bitterly interrupting the calm moment. "But I've always hated you anyway, Potter...more than ever now though."

"The feeling is mutual, Malfoy." Harry snapped glaring at the blonde Slytherin.

Draco smirked proudly and cleared his throat. "Now, if you are done trying to grope my girlfriend, you should run along back to the poor, dirty little Weaselette." He sneered.

Hermione couldn't help but smile at the Slytherin's remark. Hearing Draco insult Ginny was music to her ears and she couldn't help but join in.

"Yeah, go on and run back to that little brat, Harry!" Hermione sneered, and suddenly she found herself smirking in the same manner as Draco.

Harry stared at her a moment, then looked to Draco who was grinning proudly and finally back again at her.

"I can't believe this! How can the two of you be... together?" Harry said shaking his head. "This has to be a cruel joke. You put a spell on her, Malfoy!" He eyed him suspiciously.

"Trust me Potter; I have not put any spells on her." Draco replied coolly. Then he continued on in more of a drawl. "You see, we've been secretly seeing each other and since we share a dorm; well, I'm sure that you can only imagine the things that we've done together."

Harry looked disgusted. Hermione elbowed Draco for his last comment but managed to keep her cool.

But the Slytherin just nudged her back lightly and continued on. "And if you're still not convinced...you can always come and watch the action late at night in my room." He added as he pulled Hermione close to him and brushed his lips across her cheek briefly, causing her to gasp for real.

Harry shook his head glaring at them with a look that was filled with hurt, anger, and jealousy.

Hermione recognized that look. It was the same one she'd had when Harry had kissed Ginny right in front of her. She smiled slightly. Serves you right for flaunting your relationship with Ginny. she thought.

"So...the two of you really are together!" Harry said frowning and shaking his head. "I can't believe it...I..."

"Well believe it, Potter." Draco sneered at him as he let go of Hermione. "Watch this, Granger." He whispered into her ear.

She blinked as she watched him step towards Harry. I wonder what he plans to do now. she thought curiously.

Harry stood his ground as Draco walked up to him, their faces only inches apart; both glaring at each other with pure hatred.

"If I ever see you trying to hurt Hermione again...I'll kill you, Potter!" Draco snarled in such a dark, serious tone that it made a shiver run down Harry's spine.

Draco's cold grey eyes glared dangerously at Harry; who for the first time in his life; stepped back slightly afraid of the blonde Slytherin.

Hermione felt goose bumps on her arms as she heard the warning that Draco had given Harry. Wow, he's good at acting his role. She thought with wide eyes.

"Fine, I'm through here anyway." Harry muttered, his voice cracking slightly; as his eyes darted to Hermione coldly. Then without another word, he turned and stomped away.

Draco and Hermione stood there alone together in silence as they watched him go.



As soon as Harry was out of sight, Draco burst out laughing.

"Oh d**n, Granger that was too funny!" He said shaking his head laughing even harder.

Hermione too found herself letting out a little chuckle. "Yeah I have to admit it was." she replied. "It served him right for the way he acted too." She added absently rubbing her cheek. Not to mention the way he made that little scene with Ginny on the train. She thought.

"Did you see that look on his face?" Draco asked, nudging her, still cracking up.

"Yeah." She replied.

"I can't believe how stupid he is!" He drawled.

"Well Harry has lost some of his intelligence, especially after he started dating Ginny." She mumbled.

"Potter's never been all that intelligent in the first place though, Granger. He's just been lucky." He replied stiffly.

Hermione sighed then she suddenly remembered how Draco had insulted the red headed girl earlier that morning.

"You know, Malfoy, that insult you made about Ginny at breakfast this morning was funny." She said lightly.

He raised a brow as he glanced to her. "You mean the bit about offering to buy her some manners?" he asked.

She nodded. "Yeah, I have to admit, it was quite funny." she replied.

He arrogantly shrugged. "I know. I happen to have a talent for insults." he bragged.

You got that right. She agreed.

There was a brief silence between them and then Draco spoke.

"Potter was scared of that threat that I gave him. Can you bloody believe it? For the first time, I have finally made Harry Potter fear me!" Draco bragged.

Hermione smiled faintly and nodded.

Just then they heard the bell ring. "Oh, it's time for our next class!" Draco said happily. "Come on, I can't wait to get back and scare old Potter some more, maybe even Weasel this time too."

He then started to walk off but stopped as he noticed she wasn't with him. Instead she stood staring at the ground.

"Hey Granger, are you coming?" He called.

She didn't answer.

"Granger..." he muttered as he walked back over to her.

"Malfoy...I... can't do this." she mumbled.

"Huh?" He asked raising a brow.

"I have to tell Harry the truth." she replied softly.

"What do you mean by you have to tell him the truth?" He asked as he gave her a curious look.

She sighed. "Well, you know, about liking you." she replied.

Draco's smile faded quickly as she said this. "Oh?" He replied. "You mean...you really don't like me?" He asked in almost a cold whisper.

"Of course not!" She scoffed with a slight chuckle. "I was just saying that so he'd think he was losing me and fess up to his real feelings. But...he didn't. Probably because you really scared him."

He ran his hand through his blonde hair, fiercely chewing his tongue as she continued. "I just wanted to make him feel jealous and since you two hate each other so much I thought why not? I know how you like to taunt Harry every chance you get. So, I pretended to confess my feelings for you; just so I could piss him off."

He's not the only one you've pissed off. Draco thought bitterly. How dare you use me! To think I thought you really meant what you said and I felt...He then shook his head to get rid of what he'd thought. But he kept his cool, arrogant smirk. "Very clever, Granger." he replied dryly.

"I will admit though, you surprised me." She said with a faint smile.

"Oh?" he raised a brow. "How?"

"I didn't think you actually would play along at all being that you and I aren't exactly... friends or anything." she replied hesitantly.

We...aren't? He thought then he rolled his eyes. Of course we're not friends, Granger how dare you even think otherwise...especially after you lied about how you felt about me and...No Stop it Draco! Stop it! She's not worth thinking about especially after she just admitted that she played you! Then his soft expression was replaced by a cold smirk.

"Well it's like I said Granger, I like to taunt Potter every chance that I get, even stooping to the low of playing along with you!" He then paused as he noticed an almost amused expression on her face. "Besides," he continued, "it's not every day that wonder boy backs down from the Slytherin prince." he added arrogantly.

She let out a little giggle and nodded. "That's true, Malfoy...as much as I hate to admit it." She agreed.

Then they stood there in awkward silence.

"So..." Hermione said, rubbing her cheek, feeling slightly nervous now.

"So..." he echoed in a low, uneasy tone.

Another moment of silence went by.

Then she turned to walk away.

"Hey Granger..." he mumbled.

She turned back to him. "Yes Malfoy?" She replied, hesitantly.

"Just so we're clear on this..."He began slowly. "All that stuff you said about liking me, wasn't... really true, right?" he added hesitantly, keeping that last shred of hope alive before forcing himself to completely blow her off.

She blinked then felt her heart beat suddenly picking up. Why is he asking me this? Oh wait, this is Malfoy. He wants me to confirm my dislike for him so that he can rest easy. She thought.

Then quickly-a little too quickly- she replied, "Don't worry, Malfoy. Before you start getting all repulsed by me, I want to make things perfectly clear. All the things I said about liking you, having feelings about you; were all just lies, okay? I don't have any feelings like that about you. I only have them for Harry. So, you can rest easy now." she stated firmly, though part of her instantly regretted saying that to him.

Draco felt a sting in his chest, hearing this. He suddenly found himself feeling angry. "So...then all of this really was just to make Potter jealous and make him confess his feelings for you?" He asked, trying to keep his voice from cracking.

She nodded slowly. "Yes." She replied. "But I want to thank you for playing along with it. I know it was hard for you to touch me." She paused then continued. "And I wasn't exactly comfortable in your arms either so..."

Liar! You were too. You thought it was all real! Her mind snapped at her. She sighed then looked at the ground.

Draco's eyes lowered and he nodded silently.

[Lissandra Sylvania]

Chapter 11 -Back to Normal with the Trio?

She didn't even like me touching her! Draco thought as his frown became darker. He then shook his head.

"Then...I guess this is it." He said coldly; as he turned his back to her so that she couldn't see the hurt look on his face.

Hermione looked to him, desperately wanting to talk to him but she wasn't sure what to talk about. After all, they were enemies. But they had gotten along so well in the jealousy game that they had played on Harry, that Hermione was now wondering something. Could they become friends?

And then a strange sad feeling suddenly washed over her. It was the feeling similar to someone you really care about; breaking up with you.

But it was all a game and Draco and I weren't really together! No matter how real it felt I...her eyes watered but quickly she brushed the tears away. Why am I crying? she gasped. Then she took a deep breath. Get a hold of yourself, Hermione. It was just a game. She took another deep breath. But we actually worked well together. Maybe just maybe we can get along and possibly become friends.

That thought really interested her. To start with, I should try to talk to him more on his level but...what do I talk about with him? The only thing we have in common is...well was our game we pulled on Harry. Hmm...maybe I can start with that. Malfoy never misses out on a chance to insult Harry. I'll start with that. She thought. Then she took a deep breath and said, "Well...uh...Harry was quite...stupid, wasn't he?" She said, trying to start a conversation with him.

He turned to her, now with a cold look; raising a brow, but said nothing. "You know, I was surprised we actually pulled this off." She added with an impressed sigh hoping that would at least get him to talking.

But unfortunately, it had the opposite effect.

Draco grinded his teeth silently. He'd had enough of this. He was leaving.

"Yeah well, it's over now Granger, so I'll see you around." he replied in a cold tone as he started to walk away.

"Hey...Malfoy..." She said quickly.

He turned slightly to look at her.

"You know... you were quite a convincing actor." she commented. "You actually made it all feel so...real."

He raised a brow then quickly flashed his trademark smirk. "Yeah, well what can I say? I'm a pro." he replied arrogantly. Then he turned and walked away.

Hermione sighed sadly. What was I thinking? He clearly doesn't like me. We'll never get along so why should I even bother trying to be his friend? She thought as she watched him go.

----------

“I really need something to eat, I feel like I’m starving.” Ron complained as he and Ginny leisurely strolled down the corridor.

“No you aren’t starving! As a matter of fact, mum said that you needed to cut back on food just a bit.” Ginny remarked as she gave him an annoyed look. “You were nearly eating us out of house and home.”

“Oh be quiet, you eat just as much as I do.” He snapped.

“I do not!” She snapped back defensively.

“Oh yes you do. Even Harry noticed how much food you had for breakfast.” Ron chuckled.

Ginny’s face flushed red from embarrassment as she really didn’t want Harry noticing her eating habits. She’d tried to impress him over the summer by demonstrating semi-proper manners, and was very careful not to make a mess all over herself while eating. Ron; on the other hand, hadn’t bothered to learn any new manners and had been just the same as he’d always been minus his avoidance of the happy couple. And then he thought about how things had been when Harry and Ginny had started dating. He shook his head then sighed as he looked to his sister.

“You know, you don’t have to act perfect in front of Harry. I mean, he’s Harry; not some stuck up snob that you have to impress.” Ron blurted out.

Ginny stopped and gasped at him. “Excuse me? What are you talking about?” She snapped.

“Well, I didn’t want to say anything but ever since Harry came to stay with us over the summer, you’ve been acting well…different.”

“I have not!” She stomped her foot this time, making her brother chuckle briefly.

“Yes, you have and to be honest, it’s really annoyed me.”

“No, I think I know what annoys you, and it’s not me or my relationship with Harry.” His sister replied sharply.

Ron raised a brow at her. “What?”

“The thing that is annoying you is that you are too afraid of taking a chance. You want Hermione but you’re too scared to even take your friendship to the next level. You want what Harry and I have, but you aren’t willing to step out of your comfort zone to get it.”

Ron lowered his head and stared at the floor quietly.

“I’m sorry to tell you this but it’s very obvious. And I think you should at least try.”

“I will, just later. Besides, I need to talk to Harry and Hermione about it first to make sure it wouldn’t mess up our friendship.” He stumbled over his words.

“Well, now’s your chance. Here comes Harry.”

Glancing ahead, Ron raised a brow, seeing that the Boy-Who-lived was walking-no rather stomping and very loudly- down the corridor towards them.

“Harry, are you alright?” Ginny asked as she noted the angry look on his face.

“What’s the matter, mate? Did Malfoy start his usual garbage to get on your nerves.” Ron asked.

“Oh, it wasn’t just Malfoy.” Harry growled through gritted teeth. “Guess who was helping him?”

“Crabbe?” Ron guessed.

“Goyle?” Ginny asked curiously.

Harry shook his head at both of them.

“Blaise?” Ron asked.

“Pansy?” Ginny said after a moment of thinking.

“No, neither of those two.” Harry replied stiffly.

“Then who?” They both asked in unison.

“Hermione.”

Ron’s jaw dropped as did Ginny’s for a moment.

When neither could find the words to say, Harry began telling them the short story of the events that had taken place out at the Pitch.

“And…I told her that Malfoy doesn’t even care about her. I told her that you did though, Ron. But she didn’t seem to care. She was just annoying me with going on and on about that ferret and I lost it when she called me a coward.”

He paused and then took a deep breath, continuing now more slowly. “I know it was wrong for me to do it, and I felt terrible as soon as I did; I still do. But I got so angry.” Harry added.

“Harry, just what did you do?” Ron asked cautiously.

Harry’s green eyes had started watering and his face was contorting into the most remorseful expression.

“Harry?” Ginny rubbed his elbow trying to coax him to continue on with the story.

“I-I hit her.” Harry finally whispered hanging his head.

Silence immediately washed over the three Gryffindors.

Ron’s face slowly twisted into an angry scowl. His hands that had been dangling freely at his sides were now clenching up into tight fists.

Ginny swallowed slowly as she watched her brother closely.

Ron took in a couple of slow, deep breaths as he forced himself to remain calm.

The three stayed like that for a few minutes until Harry couldn’t stand the silence any longer and ventured to speak.

“Look, I really didn’t mean to lash out at her like that. It’s just when she said that she had feelings for Malfoy, I couldn’t control myself and well there’s more to the story-“

“I don’t care if there’s more to the story! You’re a lucky git, Harry.” Ron suddenly interrupted in an angry whisper. “If you were any other guy, I would pummel you. You’re bloody lucky to still be standing here.”

Harry knew that now would not be a good time to finish the story about what had happened so he nodded slowly and fell silent.

Ginny glared at her brother. “Calm down, he already feels bad enough.” She snapped.

“That’s not the point.” Ron snapped at her, and then he looked to Harry. “You’re still my best mate, Harry, but I’m not too happy with you right now. So, I think it best that you stay away from me for a good bit.”

Harry frowned as Ron gave him a final stern look, and then turned and walked away.

Ginny watched her brother go then turned to the dark-haired young man beside her.

“He’ll be okay, he just needs to calm down. He’s just upset that you hit Hermione.” She said, not sounding all that concerned.

“I know and I can’t blame him. Not one bit.” Harry replied sharply. “I never should have let myself lose control like that.” He paused and bit down on his quivering bottom lip.

“But you had a good reason-” She began but he quickly cut her off.

“No, Ginny. Don’t try to defend me. There was no reason for me to do what I did to her.”

Ginny sighed then nodded. After a moment she cleared her throat. “We’d better get to our last class. I’ll see you at dinner, okay?”

“Yeah, sure.” He replied quietly.

She then kissed his cheek lightly, turned on her heel, and walked down the corridor.

Harry didn’t bother to watch her go and he turned and stomped off in the opposite direction.



The rest of Hermione's day had gone by quickly, though through most of it she found herself replaying the events of the game that she and Draco had played on Harry, in her mind.

Draco was really good. She thought to herself. The way he'd threatened Harry was so real. The way he held me like that...She sighed dreamily but then shook her head. No, what am I thinking? She snapped at herself. Draco doesn't like me! I need to realize that! Besides...I still have a chance to be with Harry. After all he is the reason that I played that jealousy game in the first place.

Then she suddenly felt a slight pang of guilt wash over her. She didn't know why but now she was starting to feel really bad that she'd hurt Harry like that. What have I done? She asked herself mentally.

It was that moment that she realized just how awful she had been. She'd used Draco to make poor Harry jealous, and then she'd been cruel enough to accuse Harry of something so vile that it made her sick.

She shook her head. I can't do this. I have to go to Harry and tell him the truth. I have to tell him that it was all just a game. I'm sure once I tell him the reason why I did it, he'll understand. And maybe...just maybe he will actually confess his feelings for me.

She then decided that at dinner, she would go to Harry and tell him the truth. She'd tell him that she'd only used Draco and that it was all a game to make him jealous. And when he asked why, she would tell him how she felt about him. This would be the right way to do things. Yes, she had it all planned out now.

---------

For the students, the last class of the day seemed to drag on for hours. Of course, once it was over, the students would be heading down to the Great Hall for dinner; and for many that was what kept them motivated.

Harry was sitting in Transfiguration class and hoping for the last ten minutes to fly by for he did not wish to be called on to answer any questions. Professor McGonagall, who taught the class, had noticed the dark-haired young man had been unusually quiet. She had purposefully avoided calling on him because he seemed to be in some sort of distress.

“That will be all for today, class.” She said as she concluded her lesson. “Have a pleasant dinner.”

With those words, the students grabbed their things and began filing out of the classroom. Harry was almost to the door when he heard McGonagall’s voice.

“Mr. Potter, could you please stay for a few moments?”

Harry froze but after taking a deep breath he turned and walked over to her.

“You wanted to see me, professor?” He asked in a polite, low tone.

“Yes.” She replied slowly as she folded her arms across her chest. “I noticed that Mr. Weasley was not in class today. Is he ill?”

Harry knew better than to lie; especially to McGonagall. She was a very perceptive witch and there was no getting away with lies around her. So, after a moment of hesitation, he spoke. “Ron needed some time alone to deal with some important matters.”

“Oh? And he thinks that coming to class isn’t an important matter?” She replied sternly.

Harry didn’t know what to say so he just shrugged. McGonagall studied him carefully for a moment and then continued. “Is there anything that you’d like to talk about?” Her voice softened just a little.

“No ma’am.” He replied quietly as he stared at the floor.

“Very well, you may go.” She said rather disappointedly.

Harry nodded then turned and made his way towards the door.

As he exited, he nearly ran into Ron who had been standing outside of the classroom waiting for him.

“Good class?” Ron asked, quietly.

“Same as ever.” Harry replied.

There was a long silence and then Ron spoke.

“Look Harry, I’ve had some time to get my thoughts collected and calm down, so I’m not as angry as I was.”

“Thanks, Ron.” Harry replied slowly.

“No, don’t thank me yet.” Ron said sharply. “Even though I’m not as angry as before, I am still really disappointed at your actions.”

“I know and so am I.”

“You know, you really need to get your anger under control, mate. Take this from me because I can get really angry myself.” Ron managed to chuckle but then his expression turned serious. “Harry, I know that You-Know-Who has a lot of strong, negative emotions and I worry about you. Since you are so connected with him, I get worried about you becoming so angry. If you start to rely on your anger then it’s possible that it will turn into hate. And…that would make you just like You-Know-Who.”

Harry nodded slowly and was taken aback by the serious wisdom that had just poured from his friend’s mouth. Ron wasn’t usually so deep, yet his words gave Harry something more to think about now. It was amazing to hear such maturity in the red headed boy’s voice.

Of course, the moment was suddenly interrupted by a loud rumbling sound that could have only come from one person.

Harry chuckled as Ron made a quirky face.

“I uh think my stomach is telling me we should go eat.” The red head said; his voice returning to normal.

“Good idea, let’s go.” Harry replied.



----Dinner----

Hermione took a deep breath as she entered the Great Hall. She saw Harry, Ron, and Ginny all sitting at the Gryffindor table. She had avoided talking to them all day but she was quite certain that Harry had told them what had happened. As she started towards them she glanced over at the Slytherin table to see Draco sitting silently, pushing food around on his plate. He glanced to her briefly with a cold glare and then looked away. She raised a brow at him then shrugged.

As she reached the Gryffindor table, Harry, and Ginny glared at her. Ron however gasped as he looked at the bruise on her cheek.

"Hi guys..." Hermione said trying to sound friendly.

"What do you want?" Harry snapped at her. He still regretted hitting her but he was also still hurt that she had teamed up with Malfoy of all people and had betrayed him.

"Look...there's something that I have to tell you...about today...Harry...I..." She began.

"Save it, Hermione!" He snarled glaring at her. "Malfoy already told me the truth."

"What?" Hermione gasped. "Just what did he tell you?" she asked, wondering what kind of things he'd said.

"Let's see, where do I start?" Harry snapped bitterly. "Well he told me all about the little ‘game' that the two of you played on me. You know, where you had me convinced that you two were actually together? Yes, he told me all about that and how the two of you had a good laugh after I left." Hermione gasped. Draco had really gone and told Harry most of the truth.

Why would he go and do that? She thought.

"How could you do something like that, Hermione?" Ron mumbled shaking his head at her. "It's just not like you to go that far."

Ginny just shook her head and looked down at her plate silently.

"Why would Malfoy tell you about all of that?" Hermione muttered more to herself then Harry, ignoring both Ron and Ginny for the moment.

"Obviously, you must have said or done something to piss him off enough to blab to me." Harry shrugged not really caring. "If you don't believe me, then read this!" He said shoving a folded parchment at her. She took it and opened it.

Dear Potter, It began. Hermione took a deep breath and then began to read it.

Dear Potter,

Hopefully you can stop trembling in fear of me, long enough to read this. I thought I'd be generous and tell you the truth. First of all, the whole incident at the Quidditch Pitch was a game. A funny game I might add, but still it was just a game- set up by myself and Granger. She was trying to make you mad for some unknown reason and spouted out that she liked me, which really made my skin crawl but I couldn't resist the urge to team up with her to humiliate you.

The truth of the matter is that Granger and I are not together. We never were. Though it was very funny to see that look of disbelief on your face. After you stomped off, Granger and I both had a good laugh over the whole thing. I quite enjoyed the game being able to play the 'oh so caring boyfriend saving his girlfriend from the big bad evil Potter' Hahahaha! But as real as we made it seem, I wanted to let you know that none of it was true. In fact we absolutely hate each other which is why I'm writing this to you to let you know that we're not even friends so I have no remorse about going behind her back and doing this. Besides she pissed me off and I had to pay her back. So, that's it.

Draco Malfoy.

She bit her lip and looked down. What did I do to piss Malfoy off? She wondered in confusion. She reread it again and stopped, letting out a slight sigh of relief. For some reason Malfoy didn't tell Harry that I had feelings for him. He knows that's the reason but he didn't say it. All he put was 'unknown reason'. She thought.

"So, let me guess; since you've gone and pissed your so-called boyfriend off, to where he won't talk to you; I suppose you're here to make up and be our friend again?" Harry asked coldly interrupting her thoughts.

Hermione sighed sadly and slowly nodded.

"I don't think that's such a good idea, Hermione." Harry sneered. "After all I don't want everyone to think I would take advantage of you."

Ouch! Those harsh words stung. But Hermione knew that she deserved them.

"I'm...sorry..." was all she could muster up to say, but her apology fell on deaf ears as Harry and the others got up and walked past her. She turned to see them leave and then shook her head. She could feel tears welling up in her eyes and then turned and rushed out of the Great Hall.

Draco looked up to see Hermione running out of the Hall. At first he thought about going after her but then he recalled what she'd said to him earlier. "I want to make things perfectly clear. I don't have any feelings like that about you. I only have them for Harry." He scowled. I have news for you, Granger, I don't have any such feelings about you either! He thought bitterly.

"Drakie, are you alright?" asked Pansy as she scooted closer to him.

"d**n it, Pansy! Stop calling me that name!" Draco snarled as he jumped up. Then he turned and stormed out of the Great Hall.

Hermione tore through the corridors and didn't stop running until she made it to the Head's common room. As she rushed in, she burst into tears.

How could this happen to me! Why did Draco tell Harry the truth? Why! she thought as she rushed up to her room and leaped on her bed burying her face into her pillow. She lay there for the longest time. And then as she lifted her head, she saw the black book that she always liked to read, lying on a small table beside her bed. Hastily, she grabbed it and opened it. She flipped through it muttering angrily when she suddenly stopped on one particular page titled, 'Are You Ready to Dabble With Darkness?' An Introduction to the Forbidden Arts.'

At first she frowned seeing such a heading, but then she smirked. "Forbidden Arts huh? I wonder..." She then flipped through the back of the book to find several spells that had been listed as forbidden to learn at Hogwarts.

Death Fire; a spell used by dark wizards and witches to burn a living being alive without them dying. No burns appear but the subject feels tremendous pains. It's a spell used to torture a soul to the point of almost death. Hermione stopped reading and smirked. She turned a few more pages to find even more forbidden spells listed under one word that seemed to interest her. Revenge. She began to read more intently, as a strange new excitement began to build within her.

A few hours later, Draco walked into the Head's common room. He stretched and then yawned as he looked around. She must have already gone to bed. He thought not seeing Hermione anywhere in sight. He then walked up to his room. But suddenly he stopped as he looked at Hermione's door. He then sighed and went to knock on it. There was no answer. He assumed that she must be asleep so he just went into his own room.

Hermione had indeed fallen asleep. The day's events had been too much for her and she'd turned to the book for comfort. Once she had started reading about the section on revenge, she hadn't been able to put it down and she'd fallen asleep with it in her hands.

The following morning she opened her eyes and sat up looking around. Then she smiled as she looked to see that the black book was still in her hands. She gently placed it on the small table beside her bed and got up.

She stretched and then walked into the bathroom-that she and Draco had to share-and washed her face. She looked at the mirror in front of her and sighed. She looked terrible. She had dark circles under her eyes caused from her staying up all night reading. Just then the door to the bathroom on the opposite side swung open and Draco groggily stumbled in. Hermione frowned darkly at him. He yawned then rubbed his eyes and looked to her. "What are you staring at, Granger?" He grumbled.

"Nothing." she muttered as she turned and quickly walked back into her room. She slammed the bathroom door and plopped down on her bed. She couldn't help but feel angry that Draco had told Harry about the game that she and Draco had both played. She then quickly got dressed and flung her bag over her shoulder.

As she stepped out of her room, she thought about how Harry and the others would treat her and decided that she'd make this a quick breakfast. So, she went downstairs and then hurried out the portrait door.

She scurried down to the Great Hall and went right over to where the Gryffindor table was. Harry, Ron, and Ginny were there and they saw her right away. But she didn't even acknowledge them and went to the opposite end of the table and plopped down. She grabbed a plate and loaded it up with eggs, bacon, and toast. Then without saying a word to anyone she began to eat.

"It looks like Hermione isn't even going to talk to us." Ron muttered as he spread butter across his roll.

"Yeah." Harry replied glancing to the lonely Gryffindor. "But that's her problem, not ours. Not that I want to talk to her anyway..."

"Come on, Harry. Don't be like that. We've had some time to cool down. I thought this morning that we should try to make up with her..." Ron began.

"Do you honestly think we can trust her again?" Ginny remarked looking from her brother to her dark haired boyfriend. "I mean after what she did to you, Harry?"

Harry adjusted his glasses. "I don't know, Ginny." he replied with a heavy sigh.

"It was rotten, I agree." said Ron. "But Hermione is still our friend. I mean maybe if one of us goes and talks to her..." He was suddenly cut off by Harry.

"You go talk to her then, Ron!" he snapped.

"Huh? But, why me?" Ron asked weakly.

"Well you're the one who's just dying to go over there! You're the one who has the crush on her and you just suggested that one of us should talk to her. So, why not let it be you?" Harry snapped irritably. Ginny gently rubbed his tense shoulders.

Ron nodded slowly. "Alright mate, calm down. Look I'll do it but... I don't know what to say." he added.

"You'll think of something." Ginny said confidently.

Ron nodded then rose to his feet and slowly walked down to the other end of the table.

Hermione sat there, twirling a piece of bacon around in her eggs. I really screwed everything up. She thought with a heavy sigh.

She didn't notice as a certain blonde Slytherin entered the hall. Draco glanced over at her and glared bitterly. Then he strolled over and sat at the Slytherin table.

Hermione looked up slowly and her eyes locked with Draco's. And for a brief moment, she was taken back to the scene of earlier that day. His threatening words ringing in her ears. "If I ever see you trying to hurt Hermione again...I'll kill you, Potter!" He had said to Harry.

It all seemed so real...he seemed so serious...the way his touch was so warm and how he held me so close...if only...

She felt her eyes water then turned away and put her head down on the table.

"Ahem...er...Hermione." came a voice.

She lifted her head to see Ron standing there.

"Uh...hi can I join you?" he asked hesitantly.

She nodded slightly and he sat down beside her.

"So...how are...things?" he asked, trying to start a conversation.

"Fine." she replied dryly.

He nodded then cleared his throat. "So...um...do you feel like talking about it? I mean...well...you know..." He mumbled.

"There's no point talking, Ron. Harry hates me now." She replied bitterly.

"Well um…not hate exactly...I mean...er... Harry doesn't exactly hate you...He's more like really mad and well...He's hurt with you, Hermione. As a matter of fact, we all are hurt with you. I mean I don't hate you..." He paused to take a breath and then continued. "I'm just disappointed that you'd do something so low as to team up with Malfoy though. Hearing about that was quite disturbing. I mean I thought you would have known better after the way the git has always treated you." He said, trying to keep his voice calm.

She raised a brow at him then looked down. "I really messed up huh?" She asked regretfully.

"Well...yeah you did but so did Harry." He replied bluntly, nodding slowly.

"I'm really sorry...I...don't really know what else to say." she said blinking back tears.

"Look, if you...I mean....I know that with Harry and Ginny dating... it's easy to feel lonely...and I was wondering if that's why you did this." he replied stumbling over his words.

She blinked rapidly. Then found her eyes slowly drifting to the Slytherin table to see that Draco was glaring right at her. She quickly looked down at her hands that were now folded on top of the table.

"Am I right, Hermione? Did you do this to Harry because you felt lonely?" Ron asked gently, as he looked at her watery eyes.

She nodded slowly. "Yes...I'm lonely...and when I saw how Harry and Ginny were together I-" He quickly interrupted her.

"I knew it! See? I tried to tell Harry about you feeling lonely but he wouldn't believe it." Ron muttered triumphantly as he shook his head.

Hermione frowned slightly at him. He wasn't even listening to her! But before she could open her mouth to speak, He quickly said, "Hermione, I know how you feel and I want you to have someone so...do you want to...go out with me?" He asked quickly as he stared down at the table.

Her eyes widened. She bit her lip then looked away, her eyes once again falling on a certain blonde Slytherin. Why are you so mad at me, Draco? She wondered as she saw him giving her the dirtiest look.

She mouthed the words 'What did I do?' to him.

But he just rolled his eyes at her and looked away.

"Hermione?" Ron said as he looked to her. She tore her eyes from the Slytherin table and looked to Ron as he reached over and took her hand into his. "I know this is a big step but let's try dating. What else do we have to lose?" he asked casually.

No way! Her mind shouted but instead of speaking her mind she simply nodded. "Alright..." She replied hesitantly.

He smiled widely then kissed her cheek and turned and waved wildly to Harry and Ginny; who both reluctantly got up and started walking down to them. Ron got up and met them half way smiling widely.

"So, what's going on?" Ginny asked curiously with her arms crossed tightly.

"I asked her out and she said yes!" Ron said happily.

Harry nodded slightly then glanced over at Hermione who sat looking down at the table.

"She doesn't look all that happy about it." He commented.

"No it's not that, she was just lonely, like I told you before, Harry. She even admitted it just now. When she saw you and Ginny together and she was so lonely that it made her want to get back at you. That's why she acted that way and teamed up with Malfoy. And she regrets it! She's really upset thinking that you hate her, Harry." Ron stated firmly. Then he gave a nervous look at his friend. "You don't, do you?" He asked hesitantly.

"No." Harry muttered. "I don't hate her."

"Why don't you go talk to her then? Let her see that you're still her friend." Ron coaxed.

"Well, I suppose I should now that she's your girlfriend..." Harry said straightening his glasses.

"Do you really think that we should forgive her so easily?" Ginny asked suspiciously.

"Well, I mean she will be dating me after all and with some time, I can straighten her out." Ron replied confidently.

"Fair enough. Alright, I'll go talk to her." Harry said. Then he walked over to where Hermione was sitting.

She looked to him emotionless.

"Hey..." He muttered.

"Hey..." She replied.

"Can we talk?" he asked.

She nodded and scooted over as he sat down beside her.

Draco once again looked over at Hermione but raised a brow as he saw Harry now sitting beside her.

"Hermione, you and I have been friends for a long time; since first year really and well...I know that we've been through a lot together. And I know why you agreed to team up with Malfoy and play that little game on me."

She looked at him with an uneasy feeling. "I know now that you were lonely. Ron told me before but I didn't believe him. He noticed it right away, but I didn't. As a best friend I should have seen how lonely you were." Harry said warmly putting his hand on hers. Slowly, she smiled at him. "But I didn't and...I'm sorry." he added gently.

Hermione gasped silently. Is this what I think it is? Is Harry about to confess his feelings for me right now? she thought. Maybe there was hope. Maybe he was going to dump Ginny and confess to her his undying love. Or...maybe not.

"Hermione, please forgive me. I'm really sorry about hitting you and yelling at you. I just didn't understand." Harry mumbled regretfully.

"I'm sorry for hurting you and for playing along with Malfoy." She replied in the same regretful tone.

"Hermione," he began now with a slight smile. "I'm willing to just drop the whole thing."

"Really?" She asked looking at him with a faint smile.

"Yes." he replied with a nod. "I'm even going to trust you again. But please never act like that again. I know that you were doing it because Ron and I weren't paying attention to you but..." He moved closer to her. "But I want you to promise me something right now."

She nodded fully paying attention to his every word.

"I know that you and Malfoy are forced to live together but I want you to promise that you will never side with him again." He said firmly.

"Why?" She asked curiously.

"Well, because he's an up and coming Death Eater! And if he had the chance he'd use you to get to me so that he could turn me over to Voldemort. I was surprised that this little game didn't entice him to do just that, but I guess it was luck that he didn't think of it. My guess is that the thought had never crossed his mind. If it had, there could have been real danger." Harry stated firmly.

She swallowed nervously as she looked into his emerald green eyes. "No good can come out of him, Hermione. Just remember that." Harry stated sternly. "And promise me that you'll never side with him again."

"I promise." She said quickly, now feeling even worse at the thought that she could have been responsible for bringing danger to Harry.

He then nodded and slowly smiled as he put his arms around her.

She smiled and returned the hug.

"Welcome back, Hermione." He said smiling at her.

She smiled back. "Thanks, Harry." she replied.

Then Ginny and Ron went over and sat by them. Ginny of course was sitting on the other side of Harry, as Ron sat by Hermione.

"So, I take it we're all friends again?" Ginny asked hesitantly.

Hermione nodded with a bright smile.

"Welcome back, Hermione!" Ron said as he leaned over and lightly kissed her lips.

She hesitantly kissed him back.

"Well, well, well, it looks like the Golden Trio are back together again." Draco muttered under his breath, as he glared coldly at Hermione and the others sitting at the Gryffindor table. Then as he watched Ron kiss Hermione, he scowled. So, she's with Weasel, now huh? He thought, rubbing his chin. We'll just see how long that lasts.

After dinner, Hermione said goodnight to Harry and Ginny, and then took Ron's hand as he began to walk her to the Head's common room.

"So, it looks like everything is back to normal now." He said smiling proudly.

She gave a slight nod. "Yes..." She replied slowly.

"I'm glad. I couldn't stand seeing Harry so upset last night." Ron admitted bluntly.

Hearing this made Hermione's eyes widen. "What do you mean upset?" She asked curiously.

He shrugged. "Oh you know, saying things like he didn't want to lose you and that he cares about you so much." He replied.

Harry felt like he was going to lose me? She thought. Then she bit her lip. This means that soon he will actually confess his love for me. He loves me! I know he does!

"Does he...talk about me a lot?" She asked hesitantly.

"Oh yeah, all the time." Ron answered. "Sometimes I can't even get the silly git to shut up. He loves you so much...which I can't blame him. I...well...I love you too."

Hermione gasped and stopped in her tracks, and looked at him. Harry said he loves me! But why can't he tell me himself instead of me having to hear it from Ron? She thought as her face flushed red.

"Sorry Hermione, I shouldn't have said that so bluntly...I mean I don't want to scare you off or anything." He mumbled, shuffling his feet.

"Uh...no it's okay." She said as she began walking again, not even listening to him as he babbled on about how long he'd loved her and things of the sort.

"Well...?" He asked after a good five minutes had passed.

"Well what?" She asked pulling herself out of her own little world long enough to look at him.

"Well...what do you feel about me?" He asked bluntly.

"Oh...well you are very nice...and everything." She managed to say.

Ron's face fell. He looked hurt. Though he'd stood there and openly confessed his love to her, she seemed to not have noticed.

Just then they stopped in front of the Head's portrait. The phoenix looked down at Hermione as if it were waiting for the password.

"Well, I guess we'll have to talk some more later." He mumbled to her.

"Yeah, that'd be fine." She said quickly.

"Okay...well goodnight, Hermione." He said and then leaned over and kissed her lips lightly. Then he turned and walked away.

"Ugh! He's unbelievable..." She groaned quickly wiping her mouth. Then she turned back to the phoenix.

She opened her mouth to speak the password, but before she could; a cold voice said, "Phoenix Blossoms"

Hermione frowned as Draco stepped up beside her.

The portrait squawked and opened, and the two went in.

"So, repulsed by Weasel's kiss that much?" He drawled as he lazily tossed his books to the floor and plopped onto the couch.

She just rolled her eyes and stomped upstairs without saying a word to him. Angrily, she went into her room and slammed the door.

[Lissandra Sylvania]

In this chapter: To Hermione's surprise, a dangerous secret is revealed about her book and by the most unlikely person...

Oi kui palju Draco eksib lõpus!

Chapter 12-Tome of the Death Eaters

Draco sat on the couch, twirling his thumbs for a good while as he glared into the fire.

d**n that Mudblood, how dare she play me like that! Nobody plays a Malfoy! And that means nobody plays me! He stood up and began to pace slowly as he recalled the events of the day. To think that she's back with her little friends; I’m surprised that Potter took her back. I wouldn’t have. I would have just told her to stay away from me. But then again, I do that anyway. And it’s ironic that she claims to be after Potter, yet she’s dating that filthy Weasel. It's disgusting! I could just vomit! He mentally scoffed. Then he stopped pacing and folded his arms as he sat back down.

Of course if I were her, then I wouldn’t have given Potter or Weasel the time of day. I can’t believe that she is so stupid when it comes to social situations. She may be a know-it-all when it comes to school, but other than that, she’s practically helpless. She would probably fall for any fool who gave her any positive attention. He paused to think for a moment and then chuckled out loud. Maybe, even me. He grinned widely. Imagine if I started to show her a little attention when Weasel and Potter were around. The looks on their faces would be worth the inconvenience. He rubbed his chin and chuckled again. And her reaction would be priceless. She wouldn’t know what to do and that would make it easy for me to split her and the Weasel up. It will teach her to never use me again plus it will crush Weasel like a bug! But just then in the midst of his wicked plan, Hermione’s image flashed in his mind. She was smiling and her hair was blowing in the wind. Her eyes were twinkling in the sunlight and her arms were outstretched towards him. “Draco…” came her whispered voice. Then her image faded away.

All of a sudden he gasped and then shook his head. Why the bloody hell was I thinking about her? It's not like I care about her. He thought quickly trying to forget about the image he had just seen. After all, it was all just a stupid little game. My father would have a fit if he even knew that I had teamed up with such filth as her. He shuttered at the thought. However, he replayed that event in his mind a couple more times.

But it was rather funny especially when Potter backed down from me when I threatened him. But then suddenly once more Hermione flashed in his mind, and he remembered the part she had played in their game. I do have to admit that we made a good team. I think it's the first time that we've ever really cooperated on something. Of course, we both had our motives. And that's probably why we were able to get along. I wanted to taunt Potter and she wanted to make him jealous-hoping that he'd get all mushy and express his feelings for her. He let out a chuckle and then rolled his eyes. “Silly little Mudblood.” He mumbled aloud. Then with a heavy sigh he leaned back against the couch, closing his eyes.

The room had become eerily silent, except for the crackling flames of the warming fire. After a few minutes, Draco slowly stood up and stretched his arms.

It looks like she's not coming back down tonight. She's probably still pissed off that I wrote that letter to Potter and told him the truth. Well it serves her right for using me like that! Nobody uses me! He thought, with an angry scowl. He then reached down and picked up his books and went up the stairs to his own room.

But just as he was about to speak his password, Hermione's door opened and she slowly walked out.

She walked right past him without a word.

He turned and watched her as she went down the stairs to the common room.

She let out a deep sigh as she plopped down on the couch; in much the same manner that he had when he'd come in.

He stood looking down at her from the balcony for a brief moment. Then shifting his books in his arms, he slowly went back down the stairs.

As he rounded the couch, he saw her sitting there reading the same black book he'd seen her reading before.

He rolled his eyes as he went over and sat on the other side of the couch, purposefully dropping his books on the floor loudly.

However, she didn't acknowledge him or the loud sound. Instead she kept her eyes on her book.

Draco gave her a disgusted look. "You're still reading that old book? I thought you would be finished with it, and on to another one, by now." He drawled.


Hermione just pretended to ignore him.

"Still pissed huh?" He asked with a light chuckle.

She didn't say a word.

"Yeah, I guess I can't blame you really. I mean, if Weasel kissed me, I'd be pissed off too." he sneered, waiting for one of her nasty comeback insults.

However she stayed silent as she turned the page in her book.

Draco rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. She's so annoying. She won't even speak to me. All she wants to do is read that d**n book. He thought as he bit on his bottom lip.

Then he uncrossed his arms and ran his fingers through his blonde hair while he began humming the 'Granger is Our Queen' tune.

But Hermione did not say a word to him or even acknowledge that he was bothering her in any way.

When Draco saw that his antics weren't working, he decided to take a more direct approach.

"Okay, I see you're still pissed about me writing that letter to Potter." he stated bluntly.

Hermione glanced to him briefly but then quickly returned to her book. That got her attention. He thought proudly and continued.

"You really don't have any reason to be mad at me." he said in sharp tone. "I mean, it's not like I promised you that I'd keep it all a secret, you know?" He added.

"That little episode is over and forgotten now, Malfoy. Harry and I are friends again." She replied calmly as she turned the page in her book.

"Well there was obviously no harm done, as I noticed that the Golden Trio is back together again." He stated matter-of-factly.

Then he glanced to her and let out a bitter chuckle as he crossed his arms. "I was actually surprised that you'd go crawling back to Potter though, Granger, especially after the way he treated you." He said bluntly. "But then again, I know that you want more than just friendship out of him. That's why you played that little game with me. You wanted him to see you with me and get jealous and suddenly express his undying love for you!" he added overdramatically.

She shifted uneasily as he said this, but refused to let him get to her.

"Whatever, it's over, so just drop it already." She said with a shrug.

"No it's not over until I say it's over!" He replied coldly as his eyes narrowed at her.

"Look Malfoy, why don't you go find your little pug of a girlfriend and screw her brains out so that I can concentrate!" Hermione said coldly now glaring at him.

He was taken aback by this and glared right back at her.

"She's not my girlfriend!" He stated firmly. "I put up with her but I don’t like her." He said simply.

Hermione didn't seem to care as he rambled on.

"I can't possibly tie myself down to something as ugly as Pansy, even though father has arranged for her to be my fiancé`. I don't want that pug! I need someone that is good enough for me by my standards. And Pansy isn't anywhere close." He boasted.

"Does it sound like I care, Malfoy?" Hermione replied hatefully.

"d**n Granger, you certainly seem to be a lot colder now days." Draco retorted glancing to her briefly.

"I don't care." She found herself saying. "Maybe it’s because you bring out the worst in me!" She added bitterly.

He quirked a brow then smirked. "You're more grouchy than usual." He pointed out. "I thought everything was fine now that the Golden Trio has reunited."

"For now." Hermione replied bitterly. "Until she tries to take over again..." she hissed in a lower, darker tone more to herself than to him.

Draco raised a brow at her.

"Who's the 'she' that you're talking about?" He asked curiously.

"None of your business!" She snapped at him.

"Oh yeah, you mean Weaselette, don't you?" He asked with a sly grin.

Hermione just snorted.

"I'll take that as a yes." he chuckled.

Then he put his hands behind his head and leaned back smiling. "I seem to remember that day; you got so pissed off because I happened to insult her instead of you." He let out a chuckle at that. "And then she went to slap me and you jumped in and took it." He chuckled again. "Sometimes you amaze me, Granger." he remarked.

She lifted her head glaring at him, opening her mouth as if she were going to say something.

But then she shook her head and looked back down at her book intently, which really annoyed Draco.

"Why do you keep reading that ugly old book? You've barely put it down!" He growled.

Hermione rolled her eyes and then looked at him. "Why is my reading bothering you so much? I thought by leaving you alone you'd be happy! I mean, what do you want me to do? Do you want me to pay attention to you or something?" she snapped irritably.

"Y...No!" he snapped back coldly.

"Okay then." She replied and went back to reading.

There came a few more moments of silence. Draco sighed and leaned back against the couch.

It was then that he noticed the title of the book for the first time. "Discovering Your True Worth and Finding Where You Belong?" he mumbled aloud. "What the bloody hell does that mean?" He then looked at those words again, thinking. I've seen that title before. He scrunched up his face thinking. I can't remember where, but I swear I've seen that title somewhere before. He thought.

She glanced to him, noticing his scrunched face but stayed silent and went back to reading.

Draco fidgeted as he sat there. Finally he spoke again.

"So, what's so d**n interesting in there anyway?" he asked curiously.

"You wouldn't understand." She replied coldly.

"Oh yeah!" He snapped. Then he quickly grabbed the book from her hands.

"Hey, give that back!" She snapped trying to snatch it away. But he held it tightly as he started to flip through it.

"Give it back, Malfoy!" She hissed trying to wrestle it away from him.

"Let go!" he snapped, pulling it towards him.

"No, you give it back, it's mine!" She yelled pulling it towards her.

"Hahaha! Can't ignore me now, can you?" He sneered jumping up, completely ripping the book from her hands.

She fell forward onto the floor as he jumped back, waving the book at her. "I have it now!" He taunted dancing around arrogantly.

"You give it back!" She shouted as she lunged at him, tackling him to the floor.

He fell down on his stomach as she landed on his legs. The black book had fallen and now lay just in front of Draco. Hermione quickly made a grab for it.

"Oh no, you don't!" Draco said as he rolled over on top of it, preventing her from getting it.

"It's under me now Granger, so you can't get it." he drawled as he now lay on his back smirking proudly.

"Oh yeah?" She replied and then she did the most unusual thing. She pounced on his stomach and with both hands she reached down and tickled his sides.

"Hey what are you-ahh-Hahaha-stop-that-Mudblood-Get your dirt hands off me-Hahaha Stop it!" Draco shouted between laughs.

"See, I bet you didn't expect me to do that!" She replied proudly as she stopped tickling him and sat on his stomach.

He breathed rapidly as he looked to her. "That's true..." he replied taking in a few quick breaths.

Then suddenly he put his hands on the floor and pushed his body up, knocking her off him and onto the floor.

Then quickly he rolled over, and sat up on his knees as he reached for the black book.

Hermione sat up, breathing hard as she saw Draco grab for the book again.

"I win." he bragged triumphantly as he took the book over to the couch and plopped down again.

Hermione rubbed her sore bottom as she got up off the floor and walked over to him.

He grinned at her and held the book against himself as she approached. "Okay...Malfoy,...you win. I... give...up." She said holding up her hands while trying to catch her breath.

Then she plopped down on the couch beside him-a little closer than usual where their elbows were touching- and sighed.

"I'm a bit too fast for you, huh?" he drawled.

She nodded and took a brief moment to catch her breath.

"Well this should teach you not to mess with me." he added arrogantly.

"Whatever." She replied with a slight giggle as she lightly slapped him on the arm.

He raised a brow at her and then looked to the book in his hand.

"Now, let's just see what's so interesting about this old thing." He mumbled as he opened it slowly.

"Fine, we can both read it, okay Malfoy?" She snapped as she scooted over closer to him.

He raised a brow at her a moment. She was so close to him that she was practically almost in his lap.

He bit his bottom lip, suddenly feeling a bit uneasy about how close they were. She's so close that our bodies are actually touching. He thought. The last time we were this close I was on top of her, pinning her down for calling me that foul name. But...I was so close to her, like now. But this time I kind of want to be. For some strange reason, this time I feel like I want to do something out of the ordinary like...maybe kiss her? He thought.

"Well, what are you waiting for then?" She asked impatiently.

"Huh?" he gasped snapping out of his thoughts. He looked to her with wide eyes. "What do you mean by that?" he asked quickly.

She rolled her eyes. "What do you think I mean? Now, open the book so that we can read it, together." She said anxiously.

Together? he thought. She wants us to read this...together?

"You'll see all the really interesting things that I've been reading about." she exclaimed.

He nodded then slowly opened the book and started flipping through pages as she continued on.

"There's a lot of things in there, including some good stories and information...Oh and it even has a list of spells that are forbidden here at Hogwarts." She then started feeling a bit cramped and scooted away from him a bit. He looked to her out of the corner of his eye, slightly disappointed. But at least she was still paying attention to him, and he felt better about that though he didn't know why.

He nodded as he continued flipping through it.

Then he blinked and stopped on a page as a few particular words caught his attention.

"Blood sacrifices? Darkness within? Discovering your true dark power?" He mumbled with an uneasy look on his face. Then he looked to her. "Granger? Why are you reading a book with this kind of stuff in it?" He asked curiously.

"Well because I think it's absolutely fascinating, especially the part on getting revenge." She replied.

He raised a brow at her then began flipping through the book again.

Then suddenly he stopped on one particular page towards the back of the book. On it was a black serpent with tiny red eyes. Below it there were a couple of paragraphs.

Curious about the nature of it, he started to read the last paragraph on the page.

If you have reached this final chapter then you know where you belong. You know now what you are. You are one of us, a great witch or wizard with a strong desire for power. You're ready to receive our mark of honor. You're ready to answer your calling. You are our ally. You belong with us. You are one of us. You are a Death Eater! Draco gasped and his eyes widened.

Now he remembered where he'd seen the title of the book. In his father's study! Lucius had tried to make Draco read it many times in the past.

It was a handbook on dabbling into the Dark Arts and how to become a Death Eater. Suddenly, Draco's eyes narrowed at her. "Why do you have a book like this?" he growled, now glaring at her.

She blinked at him oddly. "What do you mean?" she asked innocently.

"Don't play dumb with me! I know what kind of book this is, but why are you so fascinated by it?" He replied coldly.

"Listen Malfoy, if you must know I find it interesting to read." she replied simply.

"Really?" He asked now smirking at her. "Well, you have no business reading this book!" he added coldly.

"Excuse me but it's my book, Malfoy. I paid for it and I'll read it if I want to. Now, give it back to me!" She demanded.

"I can't do that, Granger." He snapped, his expression darkening, as he clutched it tightly.

She eyed him suspiciously. There was something about his behavior that was unnerving. His eyes weren't as cold as usual and they clearly showed something that puzzled her. Fear.

"Something's up." She mumbled suspiciously staring at him. "There's something in there that you don't want me to read, isn't there? You're hiding something!" She accused.

"Look, why don't you just go back to reading your cute little happily-ever-after stories. Those are more on your level." And they're safe. He thought.

"Oh Please!" she scoffed. "I don't just read cutesy, little stories all the time, Malfoy. I like variety and I like this book, so give it back!"

Draco raised a brow at her. It was obvious that she hadn't read that last page of the black book yet.

He stifled a chuckle as he smirked at her. "You say you like this book, huh?" He asked as he slowly walked towards her.

"Yeah...so." She quirked a curious brow as he moved towards her.

"Well what if I told you, that I know something about this book that you don't?" He drawled.

She looked at him puzzled for a moment. "What are you talking about?" She asked cautiously.

He snorted and then smirked. "Well, if you ask me nicely, I might just tell you." he bragged.

She scowled then shrugged and rolled her eyes. "I'm not going to beg so forget it. Whatever you know about the book you can just keep to yourself." She snapped.

"I don't think you mean that." He sneered in a low tone as he stared hard into her soft brown eyes.

She cringed and found herself unable to look away as she was captured by his piercing gaze.

"You're just dying to know, aren't you?" he taunted.

"No!" She snapped.

"Your eyes say different. I can see the curiosity burning in them." He replied, speaking just above a whisper.

She wanted to look away, but she couldn't seem to escape his hypnotizing stare. She felt as though he was searching for something that lay deep within her. And this was a most uncomfortable feeling.

Having her enemy staring into her eyes; peering into her soul, made her very nervous and afraid. Because sooner or later, he would break through the wall that she had built to protect herself. And once he did that, her weaknesses would be exposed and he would crush her.

But as she stared back at him, she discovered that she could explore his soul as well. The storm that raged in his eyes was reflected in his heart. Many years of pain, hatred, and anger, was bottled up inside him. The walls around his soul were thick, and not easy to break. Over the years, he'd learned not to succumb to weak emotions; love being the number one.

Suddenly realizing, that she was playing his game he quickly tore his eyes from her.

She took a deep breath, as she found herself able to think clearly once more. She then looked back to him to find his eyes now studying the floor.

"Malfoy..." She began slowly. "Will you...please...tell me what you know about that book?" She asked, forcing the words to come out politely.

He looked to her again and then smirked. "Very well, since you begged me." He replied with such arrogance that it was all Hermione could to do keep from slapping him.

"I'll have you know, Granger that the spells in this book are forbidden for a reason. You see, they are used among Death Eaters." he exclaimed. "This book is not what it seems. It's known as the Tome of the Death Eaters."

She looked skeptical so he rolled his eyes. "Don't believe me?" he snapped.

"Not really." She scoffed.

"Fine, then I'll prove it. Look at this." He snapped as he held it up and flipped to the last page of the book.

Hermione blinked at the black serpent with red eyes. "Are you serious?" She snapped, in disbelief.

He nodded. "I'll tell you about it." He replied.

"Okay..." She mumbled suspiciously as he continued.

"First of all the title 'Discovering Your True Worth and Finding Where You Belong' has a hidden meaning. The first letter of each word stands for something else."

She looked confused.

"Here," he said as he pulled out his wand. "I'll show you."

She blinked as he wrote 'D.Y.T.W. F.W.Y.B.' in the air with his wand.

"What does that mean?" She asked quirking a brow.

"Dark Young Witches and Wizards, Tortured Blood Forever." he replied slowly. "Father told me long ago, before the rise of Voldemort, there was a band of dark witches and wizards around our age, causing havoc in the Wizarding World. They were muggleborn and were jealous of all pureblooded wizards. So they formed a group called 'Blood Eaters'- who later on changed their name to the Death Eaters- and went on a killing spree."

"Killing spree?" She replied hesitantly.

"Yeah, they went around killing pureblood witches and wizards, and would drink their blood."

"Drink their blood?" She gasped.

"Yeah, they drank their blood, hoping that if they drank enough of it, they could become pureblood eventually. They even killed the children to try to accomplish their goal." he grimly replied.

Hermione grimaced. "That's horrible!" She gasped.

"Yeah..." he mumbled with a slow nod. Then he cleared his throat and continued. "Anyway, this book was written by several of them, one in particular that you've probably read about was Cremella Ridgespire."

Her eyes widened. "Yeah, I read a little about her." She replied quickly. "She was muggleborn and started out with a rough life. Her muggle family was mean to her and her father beat her. She got good grades and was always picked on for being intelligent."

"I see you have been reading." he commented with a chuckle. He then continued. "Cremella was one of the most powerful dark witches that ever joined the Blood Eaters. There was only one person that could match her power and he was her rival, Greyson Mixby." He paused as he watched her nod. "So you read some about him too, right?" He asked raising a brow.

"Very little. I mean I read that he was the one who broke Cremella's heart by sleeping with her best friend." She said slowly. "She ended up killing both of them in the end though."

He nodded. "Yeah, she used the Killing Curse on them, which made her become even more powerful." He replied.

Then suddenly he realized that they had strayed off subject, "So anyway, this book was created to help lonely witches and wizards learn and use the Dark Arts. There's a lot of mystery behind it though, not even my father knows that much about it. But he told me that Lord Voldemort, well back then he was Tom Riddle; got a hold of it back in his first year at Hogwarts. He was already practicing the Dark Arts, but supposedly this book helped him enhance his power quickly. And this is where he learned about the Killing Curse and how to use it. He then began to gather a group of witches and wizards together who became his followers. He started referring to them as Death Eaters because the book intrigued him so much and he even had copies made that he distributed only to Death Eater families. My father has one in his study."

"So, this is a copy?" She asked curiously.

He nodded. "Yeah, supposedly the Dark Lord still has the original one." he replied.

She nodded then bit her lip. "I see." She mumbled.

"So, you see now why I can't give it back to you." he sneered, his voice turning cold once more.

"No." She retorted.

"No?" He questioned curiously.

"No, I don't see why you can't give it back to me. It's still mine. I paid for it." she retorted.

He rolled his eyes and smirked. "You mean you still want this back?" he asked raising a brow.

"Yes." She answered.

"Well, I'm not giving it back." he snapped arrogantly.

"Why not? I find it kind of interesting. Besides, what harm can come from learning about the side that you're on?" She asked bitterly.

"And who said that I'm on their side?" He snarled defensively.

"Well it's obvious. Only a loathsome, evil, Slytherin like you, would be!" She hissed hatefully.

"Look, just because I'm in Slytherin doesn't mean a d**n thing!" He shouted at her.

She just rolled her eyes. "Whatever! Now give me back my book." She demanded.

He stared at her in disbelief. "You actually want to continue reading it?" he gasped.

"Sure, why not?" She replied with a smirk. "After all, I'm sure I can learn enough about your people to come up with a clever way to get rid of them when I become an auror." she stated clearly.
"Stop calling them my people!" He snapped. Then his eyes narrowed. "And anyway I still want to know how you got your mudblood hands on this!" He demanded.

“Well being one of them, I figured you would want to know that, now wouldn't you?” Hermione taunted bitterly.

"d**n it Granger, tell me where you got this book right now! I'm not playing!" He sneered.

She sighed and then shrugged. "Look, I bought it at an antique store just before school started." she replied slowly, watching a very menacing look creep across his face. "But I don't remember the name of the place." she added.

He studied her intently for a moment and then sighed deeply. "Well, you'd better be thankful that I'm the one who caught you with this, and not my father." He said sharply holding the book tightly in his hand.

"And why is that?" She asked slowly.

" Because I am not a Death Eater...yet. But had my father seen you with this, you'd be lying on the floor dead right now!" He snarled in a low tone; leaning towards her.

Hermione cringed as she suddenly realized what he was saying. She looked at him and nervously took a step back.

"Has Potter or Weasley seen this?" He demanded quickly moving towards her.

"No." she answered cautiously as she backed away another step.

"What about anyone else? Does anyone else know that you have this?" He snarled as his grey eyes narrowed.

She shook her head. "No." she repeated.

"Good." he sneered, nodding as he stopped advancing towards her. "And this is going to stay between the two of us, right Granger?"

She swallowed nervously and nodded.

"Don't play games with this. If anyone else knew that you had it, you'd be dead!" He growled.

She felt herself shudder and hated to admit it but she was scared now. Not just at the thought of being killed for having the Death Eater's book, but also because of the way he'd warned her. His voice had held no trace of sarcasm or arrogance in it this time. And the seriousness of his tone had sent a shiver down her spine, because she realized that he was telling the truth.

I could die if a Death Eater sees me with this? She thought as she remembered how she'd strolled along reading it out in the open in Diagon Alley, and Hogwarts, along with other places. All this time, when I was carrying this book around I could have been killed by Death Eaters! She thought as it all finally sunk in.

Then she stood up and wrapped her arms around herself nervously. "Look, Malfoy I...I didn't know." she mumbled shakily.

"Of course, you didn't know." He scoffed rolling his eyes; his voice returning to his normal drawl. "Otherwise, you would have turned it in to a teacher; being the goody-goody, know-it-all- that you are."

"I am a goody goody, aren't I?" She mumbled to him, as if she wanted confirmation.

"Yes Granger! And I doubt that will ever change. You've always been a goody-goody and you'll probably die as one." he scoffed with a smirk.

[Liz-Miia Parker]

heh...

[Lissandra Sylvania]

Chapter-13 Harry's Choice

Just then, there was a knock on the common room door.
Draco quickly tucked the book into his robes. "Remember what I said. Don't tell anyone about this!" he warned as he strode over to the door.
She nodded slowly.
"Who the bloody hell would be knocking on the door, at ten’ o’clock at night?" He mumbled.
Then as he flung the door open, he raised a brow to see Ginny Weasley standing there, tears pouring down her face.
"Malfoy...is...is Hermione here?" She sobbed.
Draco took a step back, "Uh...yeah." He muttered then he turned to Hermione.
"Hey Granger, Weasley's sister is here to see you."
Hermione frowned as she walked up to the crying girl. "What's wrong, Ginny?" She asked coldly.
"Oh Hermione, Harry and I just had a terrible fight! And I think...I think he's going to dump me..." Ginny sniffled.


Hearing this was music to Hermione's ears. "Really?" she asked trying not to smile.
"Yes and...I think that he may like someone else...I...I think...he likes you, Hermione!" sobbed the red headed girl.
Draco scowled at Ginny, then brushed past her and went up the stairs towards his room.
"Me? Really?" Hermione gasped after he'd walked away. She had to force herself not to laugh in the girl's face. "How do you know this?" she asked.
"Because all he's been doing is talking about you, how he wishes that you two could be close like first year, and how happy he is when you help him with his problems. Honestly, I don't know what to do! He won't shut up about you!" Ginny whined.
"Really?" Hermione gasped.
"Yes, but I know you don't feel the same way about him and so I want you to tell him that so he will get over you!" Ginny replied calmly.
A sudden bitter gleam flashed in Hermione's eyes at this.
Draco; who had gone upstairs, stood on the balcony looking down at the two; listening to their conversation with mild curiosity.
"I'll send Harry here to talk to you, okay?" Ginny said quickly.
But before Hermione could reply Ginny rushed out.
"d**n that pregnant dog!" Hermione snapped as she slammed the portrait door closed. "She wants me to tell Harry that I don't have feelings for him when I do? What the hell! I will do no such thing! In fact..." She paused and shouted. "I'm going to confess my feelings to Harry when he gets here!"
I wouldn't do that, Granger. Draco thought shaking his head slowly.


Hermione was so busy ranting that she didn't even notice Draco leaning over the balcony, staring down at her. His eyes lowered as he watched her. Granger seems awful hateful towards Weaselette, just because she came here in the middle of the night for help. He thought. Oh but wait, Granger hates her because she's with Potter; the guy that Granger is after. And now she's even more pissed because Weaselette wants her to tell Potter that she doesn't have feelings for him. He then chuckled to himself Hmm...that would be nice to hear. He then shook his head and his eyes turned cold as he glared down at the brunette below him.

But Granger does have feelings for Potter! She even stooped as low to use me to try to get to him! Argh! He chewed his tongue furiously as he remembered the jealousy game that he and Hermione had played on Harry. I never should have gotten involved with it. He thought.
Just then there was a knock on the portrait door and Hermione quickly flung it open to see Harry standing there.
"Harry!" She gasped unable to control her excitement.
"Uh... Hi Hermione." Harry replied, as he stood there looking awkward. "I...uh... know that Ginny came here and told you about our fight and well, I guess she explained it all to you."
Hermione nodded quickly. "She did. And Harry..." she began but he cut her off.
"I tried to tell her that she was getting upset over nothing, but she wouldn't believe me. I mean I know that you don't have any feelings for me and I tried to tell Ginny that but she..." He began but this time she cut him off.
"No Harry, you're wrong! I do!" She quickly blurted out.
Draco just groaned silently, rolling his eyes and shaking his head as he watched the scene. You shouldn't do this, Granger. He said to himself.
Harry's eyes widened in shock. "Wait...what?" He gasped wondering if he'd heard her correctly.
"I said that I do have feelings for you, Harry! I have had them for quite a while now. And I was going to tell you at the beginning of this year. I mean I had a lot of time to think about this over the summer and I decided that I'd finally confess to you the way I feel about you so that we could finally be together." She said. "I went so far as to plan that little scene with our enemy Malfoy, to make you jealous so you'd come right out and express your love for me!"
Don't remind me! Draco growled mentally.
"Huh? Uh wait Hermione I think you..." Harry tried to speak but Hermione continued on.
"I mean I knew that we had something special all along Harry, and now that you've gotten rid of Ginny; we can finally be happy together!" She said enthusiastically.
"What? Look Hermione I do think you're special, but I my feelings..." Harry couldn't finish because Hermione had lunged forward and pressed her lips to his firmly.
Draco's eyes narrowed and he scowled at the two below. d**n Potter, he always gets everything! He sneered as he felt a pang of jealousy in his chest.
But seconds later Harry reached up and forcefully pushed Hermione off him. "Hermione! d**n it, will you listen!" He snarled at her, causing her to stumble back.
Draco blinked as the scowl left his face and was now replaced by an amused grin.
"Harry, what's wrong?" She asked confused.
"Look Hermione, I think you got the wrong idea. I didn't come here tonight to confess my love to you or anything like that." Harry snapped wiping his mouth quickly.
Draco smirked at hearing this.
Hermione however looked at him with confusion. "I...I don't understand...I thought...you wanted to be with me..." she said her voice shaky.
"I love you like a best friend but nothing more." Harry replied.
"But Ron told me that you said you loved me that you always talked about me! He said that you told him how much you missed me and that you wanted us to be close." Hermione said trying to remain calm.

"Get over it, Hermione, he doesn't love you, he loves me!" Ginny said sharply as she walked in. "I never would have thought that you would stoop so low as to try to steal my boyfriend like this!"
Hermione scowled as the red headed girl stalked towards her. "Hermione, I came here, tonight because I thought that we were friends again! I thought that everything was back to normal. I mean you and Ron just started dating, for crying out loud!" Ginny hissed angrily.
The bushy-haired brunette glared daggers at the red headed girl as she ranted on. "I can't believe you would do something like this! You're such a pregnant dog, Hermione!"
"You're the one who's a pregnant dog, Ginny!" Hermione hissed.
"Ginny, Hermione...look calm down. Let’s talk about this." Harry interrupted stepping between the two angry females.
"Butt out, Harry!" Ginny snapped, "This is between me and Hermione."
"Yeah, stay out of it, Harry!" Hermione hissed, never taking her eyes off of Ginny.
"Uh...ooookay." Harry replied as he took a step back from the two.
Draco smirked as he watched. Better watch it, Potter. It's not wise to get between two pissed off females. he thought.
"Hermione, I came here earlier asking for your help and what do you do? You confess your love to my boyfriend and then jump on him and kiss him! Did you think that I wouldn't find out?" shouted the red head.
"I didn't care if you found out or not!" Hermione shouted matching Ginny's angry tone.
"I wondered why you haven't been talking to me lately. But now that I think about it, you've been acting cold to me since the train ride, when I told you that me and Harry were dating."
"That's because I had planned on telling Harry how I felt about him!"Hermione hissed. "And then you rub it in my face that you two are together!"
"I didn't rub it in your face!" shouted Ginny.
"Yes you did!" Hermione snarled. "You were all over him on the train!"
"Well he's my boyfriend!" the red head shot back. "And I had every right to be affectionate to him!"
Harry just stood there looking back and forth between the two. He wasn't sure what to do in this situation.
"I am not stupid, Hermione! I have seen all of the evil looks that you've been giving us and quite frankly, I'm tired of it!" Ginny snapped as she went on a rant. "And on top of all of this, I now have to go tell my poor, heartbroken brother about what you did! He loves you and for you to do this to him just makes me sick!"
"You make me sick, Ginny!" the brunette shouted. "I waited all summer to tell Harry how I felt about him and you had to go and ruin everything for me!"
"You never said anything about liking him before!" Ginny retorted. Then she smirked as she added, "But even if you had, I would have still gone after him because I love him!"
Harry looked to Ginny warmly, but he did not smile. Then his green eyes shifted to Hermione, disappointment and confusion now played upon his face.
"You are the lowest human being I know. Hell, even lower than Malfoy, I believe!" hissed the red headed girl.
"I hate you, Ginny!" Hermione shouted out with such malice in her voice, that it caused Harry, Ginny, and even Draco to feel uneasy.
After a brief, awkward silence Ginny shook her head as she glared daggers at Hermione.
"You're just jealous of me." She snapped. "You've got my brother to feed your loneliness, Hermione. So you should be grateful that he feels so strongly about you. Of course, after tonight, you won't have him. Not after he finds out what you've done. Face it, you've screwed up. And after tonight, you'll have no one. You will be all alone!"


Hermione didn't know what to say to this.
Harry shook his head frowning and looked away from the bushy-haired girl.
Ginny then walked over and grabbed his hand tightly. "Come on, Harry let's go." She snapped.
Harry slowly nodded and began to follow Ginny as they walked towards the door.
Hermione's eyes narrowed and she rushed over and stepped in front of them. "No!" She snapped at them.
"Get out of the way, Hermione." The red headed girl sneered.
"No. I am not letting you take him away from me!" Hermione hissed at her.
"He's not yours!" retorted Ginny. "He doesn't like you as anything more than just a friend! Tell her, Harry!" she added as she nudged the dark haired young man.
"Oh now you want me to say something!" Harry snapped at her.
"Don't try to force him to say things that aren't true! I know Harry loves me!" Hermione hissed.
"No, he loves me!" Ginny sneered.
Hermione glared at her.
Ginny glared back at her and then slowly smirked.
"I know how to settle this." She said, calming down a little.
"How?" Hermione snapped folding her arms.
"We'll let Harry choose between us." Ginny replied.
"What?" Harry snapped. "Now wait just a minute...I'm not going to..."
"Fine with me!" Hermione retorted.
This should be entertaining. Draco thought stifling a chuckle.
"Okay Harry, let's hear it. Who will you choose? Me or Hermione?" Ginny demanded.


"I'm not doing this..." He began. "I mean I can't pick between the two of you!"
"Why not? It should be an easy choice!" Ginny replied sharply.
He glared at her.
How was he supposed to pick between his girlfriend and his best friend?
His long silence annoyed the girls and Ginny spoke up first.
"Harry, you have to make a choice. So who will it be? Who do you really love?" She demanded.
"Yeah Harry, who do you really love?" Hermione echoed.
He looked to Ginny.
Then he looked to Hermione.
Then back to Ginny.
And back to Hermione.
Who was he going to choose?
"Harry..." Hermione said softly.
"Come on, Harry!" Ginny snapped impatiently.
Follow your heart, Harry. If you make a choice, then choose the one who's been in your heart. Choose the one you love! He thought.
Hermione and Ginny stood there, staring at the dark haired young man intently.
After a moment he took a deep breath. "Fine, since you two are refusing to let this go," he mumbled as he looked to them. "I will make my choice."
And then his emerald, green eyes sparkled as he looked to Hermione.
She looked back at him hopefully. Please Harry, tell me you love me. She begged with her watery eyes.
"Hermione..." he began as he stepped towards her.


She swallowed nervously, her palms were sweating, her heart was racing, and the tears in her eyes were ready to fall.
"I...I love you..." Harry said slowly.
Hermione gasped.
Ginny fumed.
Draco scowled.
"But not in the way that you want me to." He added regretfully. "I love you as a best friend but nothing more. I'm sorry, but I'm in love with Ginny."
Ginny slowly smiled.
Draco raised a brow.
And at that moment, Hermione felt her heart shatter to pieces.
Triumphantly, Ginny strolled over and wrapped her arms around Harry kissing him deeply. He returned her kiss in the same manner though hesitantly.

After a moment, they parted, and Ginny looked to the heart-broken brunette and smirked slightly. "I win." She stated proudly. Then she turned back to Harry. "Let's go, Harry." she added, grabbing his hand.
He glanced to Hermione, who quickly turned away from him; and then looked to the red headed girl that was now holding his hand and slowly nodded.
Hermione glanced back to see Ginny swiftly exit through the portrait door, pulling Harry behind her.
Draco sighed and looked down at the heart broken girl below him, shaking his head.
Then he slowly started down the stairs towards her.

[Lissandra Sylvania]

Chapter 14-The 'Soft' Side of a Slytherin

Hermione stumbled a few steps and then dropped to her knees, covering her face with her hands.

"It's...over. It's all over..." She mumbled shaking her head. "To think I went through all of this to get Harry and...He didn't even want...me...He never...did..."


I knew that she shouldn't have confessed her feelings to Potter. Draco found himself thinking but then he shook his head slowly. But what's done is done. He thought as he continued down the stairs.

Hermione stared sadly at the portrait door, as she folded her shaky hands in her lap. She still couldn't believe what had just happened. She sat there, entranced, replaying the whole painful moment over and over again.

"I'm sorry, but I'm in love with Ginny." Harry's voice echoed over and over.

Tears rolled down her soft, flushed cheeks. Why? She found herself asking. Why didn't he pick me?

Draco slowly walked up behind her, not making a sound.

But she was oblivious to him. She didn't even know he was there until...

"Granger?" He spoke hesitantly.

Tears were pouring from her soft brown eyes, as she spun around and looked to him.

"Oh sorry, Malfoy I-I didn't mean to wake you up." She said sniffling and wiping her eyes as fast as she could; embarrassed that she was crying in front of him.

"You didn't wake me I...I saw the whole thing." He replied in a low tone.

She cringed as he said this and suddenly she felt uneasy, as she realized that she was alone...with the enemy.

She quickly looked down at the floor in front of her; now stained by her tears. "I guess you enjoyed seeing that, huh? You got to see this little, mudblood make a complete fool of herself. Well have yourself a good laugh, Malfoy." she said in a shaky voice.

This was quite awkward for Draco, because he had seen the whole thing, yet for some reason it wasn't funny to him. What's wrong with me? I should be laughing like crazy over this, shouldn't I? He thought as he stood looking down at her. That mudblood got the ultimate rejection and lost Potter as her friend as well as the Weasel's sister. The Golden Trio has finally broken up. Potter is pissed, Granger is in tears and I got to see it all happen right in front of me. So...I should be laughing, right?

But he couldn't laugh now. He didn't know why but he just couldn't.

So, instead he shook his head and then slowly knelt down in front of the heart-broken girl.

"Granger..." He said in a low voice.

But she didn't look at him. She knew that if she did, he would look in her eyes and see the hurt she was feeling. She didn't want that. He was already seeing more of her than what she wanted him to and it made her feel weak and vulnerable.

"Look...um...maybe...uh..." he tried to speak but for once, he was stumped. He had no idea what to say to her.

"It's because of my curse...I know it." She mumbled staring at the ground.

"Curse? Huh?" he asked, raising a curious brow.

"My curse of being a Mudblood." She replied wiping her eyes again, still continuing to study the floor.

He raised a brow at her as she continued on.

"You've been saying it all along, Malfoy... and now I guess it must really be true. I mean...that's why Harry picked Ginny over me, right? Because she's a pureblood!" She wiped her eyes. "And I'm...a..." She stopped unable to finish and became silent.

Draco stared at her a moment and then slowly moved closer to her. "Granger..." he mumbled gently.

"Go on and say it, Malfoy. Call me a mudblood all you want...it's what I am."

"Uh...I...don't think that would be a good idea." He replied slowly. "I mean I don't really want to be called...well you know... every time that I turn around." He added quickly.

"Don't worry; I won't call you that anymore. The deal's off so you can call me whatever you want from now on. I don't care." She said in a shaky tone.

He just rolled his eyes. I can't believe how pathetic she is. It's sickening seeing her crying over Potter like this.

She lifted her head and looked at him. Seeing all the pain and hurt in her eyes made him very uncomfortable and he quickly looked away.

"You're so lucky...you don't have to worry about people telling you that you're nothing. You don't have to force yourself to prove your worth. You don't have to prove to everyone that you are good enough to live." She sobbed as she looked down. "You have the perfect life..."

His eyes narrowed at her and then he reached over and tilted her chin up. "You're wrong!" He growled trying not to sound so harsh, though it still came out that way. "I have what my family has provided for me. I have money, yes but sometimes...that's not enough." he mumbled that last part.

After a few moments of silence, Draco stood up.

Hermione sighed deeply and then wiped her eyes.

He studied her for a moment and then let out a deep sigh.

"Granger..." He said as he offered his hand down to her.

She blinked rapidly, and hesitantly took it with a confused, uneasy look on her face.

He gently pulled her up and then immediately let go of her.

She looked at him in disbelief.

Draco too, was surprised by his own actions. Clearly, he wasn't sure why he'd helped her up but at the moment it just seemed like the right thing to do.

However, he was quick to avoid eye contact with her and stared hard at the floor.

She too cast her eyes downward.

There was a moment of silence and then Hermione's voice broke it. "He picked Ginny over me." She mumbled sadly; more to herself than Draco.

He nodded but said nothing as she slowly continued. "I can't believe it. Harry didn't want me."

Draco stood listening to her, not saying a word; which was odd because he wasn't usually quiet like this.

But it wasn't that he didn't want to say something. It was because he had no idea what to say.

"Harry and I have been through so much together these past six years. How could he pick Ginny?" Hermione asked as she went on and on with her pity party.

Draco shook his head as he listened; growing more annoyed by the minute. Get over it already, Granger! he thought letting out an irritated sigh. Big deal. He picked Weaselette over you. He silently scoffed.

"I thought that he wanted to be with me but now I've lost him and I don't know how I am going to live with this." She stated as her eyes started to water again.

Draco's face twisted into a disgusted frown as he looked at her. Oh great! She's going to start crying again.

"I still can't believe that he didn't pick me. Now, I'll never be happy." She sobbed. Then she sniffled a couple of times and continued to babble on about how long she'd wanted to be with Harry and how now her dreams with him would never come true.

I think I'm going to throw up hearing this mush about Potter! Draco thought rolling his eyes. This is too much! I can't stand hearing anymore of Granger's pathetic whining!

But just as he was about to open his mouth to snap at her, she suddenly became quiet.

He noticed this and sighed silently in relief, as he looked back at the floor. Finally, she shut up! He thought.

And then came silence. A good ten minutes worth to be exact.

And of course, Draco became annoyed again. Not the bloody silent treatment again! Argh! I hate it! He mentally snapped. But he wasn’t sure what to say to break it.

This is ridiculous! He thought. I'm dying to insult Granger, but I can't think of anything to say!

"I wonder why Harry picked her." She mumbled aloud.

Draco scowled. d**n it, not this again! Argh! She's going to start whining over Potter again!

But as soon as he thought this, she became silent once more.

For a moment, the two just stood there staring at the floor.

Then Draco lifted his head and slowly looked to Hermione. She was still staring sadly at the floor. He shook his head with a somewhat disappointed frown at the pained expression on her face.

That's it! I can't take this anymore! I cannot deal with her like this. She's too...pitiful. Too pathetic. This is not the Granger that I know. Then his eyes narrowed. I have to get her mind off of Potter. He thought chewing his tongue fiercely.

Hermione could feel his cold, grey eyes on her but she refused to look back at him.

Unable to endure the awkward silence any longer, Draco finally spoke.

"Well, at least now you won't have to worry about Weasel kissing you again." He announced, saying the first thing that came to him. Unfortunately, it was the wrong thing to say.

She slowly lifted her head, her eyes narrowing at him coldly.

Seeing that he'd gotten her attention, he cleared his throat and then continued. "You should be glad though. He's too poor to be seen with anyway."

She was now glaring at him. "I'm not in the best mood, Malfoy." She grumbled.

"Oh yeah, I can see that. I mean Potter just dumped you so I don't expect you to be." He replied bluntly. Again, it was the wrong thing to say.

"Malfoy, I really don't feel like getting into an insult war with you right now." She snapped.

"Why? Because you know you'll lose?" He sneered.

She just rolled her eyes. "I'm in no mood for this." She mumbled as she turned away from him.

"And you think that I care what mood you're in?" He scoffed bitterly.

She huffed and then stomped over and sat on the couch. He smirked and then followed her.

"So, it looks like our little jealousy game we played on Potter was all for nothing." He drawled as he lazily plopped down beside her.

She turned her head and glared daggers at him.

He chuckled coldly and then continued on. "You know, I'm not surprised that Potter picked Weaselette. He prefers to surround himself with filth. I mean his best mate is Weasel."

She raised a brow at him then turned and gazed into the fire.

And then came a moment of silence.

Draco quickly broke it though. "So, how about another game?" He asked curiously.

"Huh?" She asked as she glanced to him.

"Well if you want to get revenge on Potter and Weaselette...I can allow myself to stoop to the low of...well you know...pretending that we're together again." He suggested.

She blinked rapidly. But then shook her head. "There's no point because Harry's made his choice to be with Ginny. It won't make him jealous." She retorted as she got up and started towards the stairs.

Draco got up and followed her. "It might." He replied.

"I highly doubt it." She said bitterly. "He's too stuck on Ginny. I'll never have another chance with him again."

"Okay, well then we could still flaunt it in their faces." He said, hopefully. "I mean think about it. Potter would flip out seeing you with me." he added arrogantly.

She stopped and then turned around.

He raised a brow as she walked up to him.

"Malfoy, I...I appreciate it but...I can't. I don't want to use you like that again...and I just want to forget about tonight...so please...can we just drop it?" She asked softly.

He raised a brow at her statement. Wait, what did she just say? He rubbed his temple. She doesn't want to use me again? Does that mean that she feels bad about using me from before? he wondered curiously.

He wanted to ask her about it but thought better of it. She's gone through enough for tonight. Maybe, I should give her time to cool down. He thought then nodded slightly to her.

"Look, I'm going to bed. I don't feel very well, goodnight." She mumbled as she turned and went up to her room.

He raised a brow as he watched her go into her room. Then he sighed as he too went up to his own room.

He plopped down on his bed, deep in thought about what had happened that night.

I feel strange about the things that just happened. I mean for a minute there I was actually going soft on Granger. But...the way Potter treated her...was cold and he actually picked that filthy Weaselette over her? If it had been me I would have picked...

He growled and then shook his head quickly. Stop it, Draco! Don't you even think of that! It's bad enough that you're feeling sorry for that mudblood. He mentally scolded himself.

Then he yawned and closed his eyes. I shouldn't concern myself with her or those other Gryffindors. Let them deal with their own problems. What do I care? Besides, they've had little spats before so I'm sure they will all make up by tomorrow. And with that final thought he drifted off to sleep.

Hermione however was still wide awake. She glanced at her clock. It read 1:43 am. I can't sleep. After all that's happened tonight...I feel so...crushed. She thought. The way Harry came here and I poured my heart out to him. He was so cold and ...heartless. And Ginny... She felt that dark feeling inside her as she thought of the red headed girl. I'll get that pregnant dog! She thought. Then she remembered that Draco had taken her black book. That book was made for Death Eaters? She thought. Then she sighed and turned over onto her side. But no matter how she tried, she couldn't go to sleep. So many thoughts were swimming around in her head.

The images of how Harry had chosen Ginny, Ginny insulting her, and then suddenly the image of her and Draco talking together after all of that had happened.

I knew that Malfoy would tease me. But I'm surprised that he didn't say more. I mean I thought for sure that he was going to laugh at me but he didn't. He seemed somewhat decent. I could have sworn that he'd find the whole hilarious. Of course I should watch out because at breakfast he may go around bragging and telling everyone in Slytherin about how he got to watch the fight that I had with Harry and Ginny. She then sighed and closed her eyes. In moments, she was asleep.

~*~Dream~*~

The wind was softly through Hermione's elegant brown curls, again as she stood in the exact same meadow with the beautiful flowers. She was staring off into the distance, wearing the same light blue dress as before. And then suddenly, she heard someone step up behind her.

She turned to see the same young man as before; standing there. Hermione's eyes watered as Harry reached down to take her hand. She knew that this would never happen and held back her tears as he kissed her hand lightly.

Then he slowly lifted his head and straightened back up to meet her gaze once more. However, there was something different about him this time.

As he slowly embraced her, she noticed that his touch seemed empty, emotionless, and cold; nothing like she had felt before. It was like he was just a mere shell of himself now.

An odd, uneasy feeling came over her as he pulled away slightly.

And then he leaned down to kiss her. She closed her eyes, and prepared for it.

But as his lips touched hers, she noticed that his empty touch suddenly became a lot warmer. His embrace was more firm and a lot tighter.

She opened her eyes slowly and watched as strangely, Harry began to change.

His green eyes slowly faded to grey, his brown hair turned to a white blonde, and his features turned pale and pointy.

And suddenly Harry was gone. Hermione's eyes widened in horror as she found that she was now kissing Draco Malfoy!

Quickly, she pushed away from him.

At that moment, the meadow burst into flames, burning away the beautiful dream scenery. Then moments later, darkness surrounded her and she found herself falling from a starlit sky.

She soon landed on hard ground, surrounded by dead trees and vegetation. She slowly stood up and found herself in a cold, dark forest.

Moments later, Draco stepped out of the shadows.

He looked her over and then flashed his trademark smirk. "What's the matter, Granger?" He sneered as he stalked towards her.

"Malfoy, where's Harry? And what are you doing here?" she hissed shakily as she looked around frantically wondering which way to run.

"Potter has deserted you. He's gone now, just like everyone else." He drawled as he continued towards her.

"No!" She shouted as she backed away from him.

"You can't escape." He sneered.

"Harry! Ron! Ginny!" She cried out, but no one answered.

"Why call for them? They hate you!" He hissed, now in a menacing tone.

She suddenly tripped over a tree branch and fell backwards.

"Get away from me!" She snapped at him as she scrambled to her knees.

"If I leave then you won't have anyone around." He stated with a bitter chuckle.

She jumped to her feet and braced herself against a dead tree, nervously watching him stalk towards her.

She swallowed fearfully and then cringed as he moved in close to her, so close that their bodies were touching.

"Poor Granger, Potter rejected you." He sneered with mock sympathy as he lightly ran his fingers down the side of her cheek.

She shuddered at his strangely warm touch.

"And now," his voice a sinister whisper, "you've got nobody to help you. You're just a poor, pathetic, lonely Mudblood."

She bit her lip as she was forced to realize that he was telling the truth.

"I'm...I'm all alone now." She mumbled nervously.

"No Granger, you're not completely alone. I'm here." He sneered with a malicious gleam in his cold, grey eyes.

That did not make her feel any better. In fact it made her feel worse because she was alone with the enemy.

~*~End Dream~*~



------------------------------



It was the next morning and Hermione had barely had any sleep. She had tossed and turned and had finally awaken from her nightmare of being trapped by Draco. She was breathing heavily. That was a horrible dream! She thought, trying to get herself to calm down. But then, as she sat up in her bed, there came a knock at the door.

With a slight groan she walked over and opened it. There stood Draco, with his bag over his shoulder.

Seeing him, she gasped silently and took a step back.

"Oh you're up, I see." He said casually. He was about to ask her how she was feeling but thought better of it.

"Yeah..." She replied weakly.

"Get dressed; you're going to be late." He snapped and then he walked away.

She blinked. He actually checked to see if I was awake? That was something I never expected. She thought.

Then she quickly got dressed, grabbed her bag and opened her door.

From the looks of things, Draco had already left for breakfast in the Great Hall. She walked down and opened the portrait door to the common room and walked out.

A few minutes later, she entered the Great Hall and looked around.

Draco; who sat with his normal crowd, looked up to see her and he watched her intently as she strode over to the Gryffindor table.

But just as she approached, Hermione noticed several pairs of cold; Gryffindor eyes including Harry's, Ginny's and even Ron's, glaring right at her. She felt uneasy as she walked past them to the other side of the table and sat by herself.

Draco shook his head as he saw what was going on. That's strange. I thought for sure they would welcome her back with open arms this morning. After all they've had fights before. Maybe they'll make up in Potions. He thought to himself.

Hermione sat alone, quietly eating what scraps she could get that were leftover from breakfast. Her head stayed down most of the time, avoiding the three pairs of Gryffindor eyes that continued to watch her through the whole breakfast.

"Look at her, trying to play all innocent." Ginny snapped as she finished her eggs.

"I still can't believe that she threw herself at you, Harry, knowing that you were with my sister and she was supposed to be dating me." Ron grumbled.

"Well she did." Harry said shaking his head in disgust.

"Maybe she's sorry now." Ron said with a hopeful look. "Maybe she realizes what she's done."

[Liz-Miia Parker]

Kõige veidram fic , mida ma lugenud olen...aga kiirusta lisamisega..tahaks enne itaaliat lõpuni lugeda

[Lissandra Sylvania]

On jaa veider fikk Aga siiski hea Asjad lähevad veelgi veidramaks, ainult oodake


Chapter 15-Are You Kissable?


Hermione was halfway to the dungeons when she felt a tap on her shoulder.

She spun around to see Draco Malfoy.

"Hey Granger." He mumbled keeping his voice low as he walked along with her. She gave him a funny look but then shrugged.

“So, I see there’s trouble in paradise.” He commented.

She nodded slowly. "You got that right." She replied bitterly. "I'm almost tempted to skip Potions today to avoid Harry and Ron." she added.

"You? Skip class? Ha! That’s funny.” He chuckled.

She gave him a dirty look then rolled her eyes. “If you’re going to start insulting me, then don’t bother talking to me.” She grumbled.

“Calm down.” He mumbled, rolling his eyes as well. “I can’t blame you for wanting to stay away from those two.”

“They have some nerve…” Hermione grumbled.

“Come on Granger; don't let them get to you." He said casually. “Neither of them are even worthy of being at this school in the first place.”

“Yes, well I’m not worthy either, according to the upper-class wizard families.” She muttered.

Draco fell silent for a moment.

“Anyway, I am seriously thinking about skipping class.” She said now changing the subject.

“You know, if you do that, then those idiots will know that they are getting to you. Like I said, you really shouldn’t let them get to you.”

"That's easy for you to say." She snapped as she picked up her pace.

"You know, if you want to play our little game again of pretending to be together to piss them off, I'm all for it." He said with a chuckle as he was keeping pace beside her.

She thought a moment then quickly shook her head. "No. As tempted as I am to take you up on that, I don't think I should." She replied.

"Why not?" He asked. "We could really get them. Remember how much fun we had before when we made Potter jealous?"

She nodded then sighed sadly. "I also remember what happened later on. You sent a letter to Harry and ruined everything."

He gave her a funny look.

"I can't honestly trust you, Malfoy." She said disappointedly. "I mean I still don't know what I did to piss you off last time- to where you'd do something like that." She gave him a quizzical look then shook her head.

He raised a brow. "What are you talking about? You've never been able to trust me, so you shouldn't be so surprised about me turning on you and spilling the truth to Potter." He snapped arrogantly.

"I guess I just thought that we had worked things out." She mumbled absently causing him to raise a brow at her statement.

"Worked things out?" He scoffed."You're talking like we're friends, Granger." He replied somewhat uncomfortably. "You seem to have forgotten that we're enemies and that enemies have the right to go behind each other's backs and ruin each other's lives." He added matter-of-factly.

She stopped abruptly and turned to face him. "I have enough enemies, Malfoy." She stated firmly, looking into his cold grey eyes. "What I really need now...is a friend." she added as her voice cracked slightly.

Draco stared at her with both curiosity and confusion as he saw the pained look in her eyes. He quickly looked away, and shook his head staring at the floor as they walked the rest of the way to the dungeons.

A few minutes later they had made it to Potions but as they entered the classroom, Hermione noticed that her usual seat had been taken and there was no room for her to sit near any of the Gryffindors.

"Great! Now where do I sit?" She mumbled aloud more to herself than anyone else.

Draco brushed past her and stepped in front, looking around the classroom briefly. Then he took a few steps forward before glancing back at her.

She was looking at him hopefully. He sighed and then motioned his head for her to follow him as he made his way to his seat on the Slytherin side.

She hesitantly followed him. All of the Slytherins smirked at her as she silently followed Draco. There was a vacant seat next to his so she sat down in it.

"Um...thanks Malfoy." She whispered as Draco slid into his seat.

He smirked then leaned over and whispered, "I'm only doing this for today. Tomorrow, however, you'll be on your own, Granger."

She nodded slowly.

The rest of that day was horrible for Hermione. She was constantly given dirty looks by both the Gryffindors and most of the Slytherins- all day.

It was finally dinner time but Hermione didn't go to the Great Hall. Instead she ran right to the Head's dorm and plopped down on the couch in the common room. She put her head in her hands and glared down at the floor. I've lost my friends. I've lost the one guy that I wanted. I've lost everything. she thought, as her eyes filled with tears.

"For the last time, Pansy I am not in the mood! Now leave me alone!" came Draco's angry voice as he stormed in, slamming the portrait door behind him.

Then he stomped over to the couch but stopped as he saw Hermione sitting there. "Oh...I didn't know you were here." He muttered as he took a seat at the other end of it.

He glanced over at her and then quirked a brow. "What are you doing here?" he asked curiously.

"I didn't feel like going to the Great Hall. I don't want to see...them." she mumbled coldly.

"Yeah, I didn't want to go either. That d**n pregnant dog Pansy won't leave me alone so I came here to relax." he grumbled tapping his fingers on the arm of the couch.

She nodded then sat up straight and wiped her eyes. "If you want to be alone, I'll go." She said softly.

"Nah, it's alright, you can stay, Granger." he muttered waving a hand at her.

She nodded then sighed.

"Um...thanks for finding me a seat in Potions today." She mumbled.

He just shrugged and leaned back against the back of the couch. "It was no big deal, besides it pissed Potter and Weasel off seeing you sitting by me." He replied proudly with a light chuckle.

She nodded slowly.

They sat there in silence for a while listening to the crackling flames of the fire.

After a few minutes, Draco cleared his throat. "So, um...I guess that...Weaselette has taken your place in the trio now, huh?" he mumbled but quickly realized it was the wrong thing to say.

She looked at him a moment and nodded as she started to cry.

He cringed and waved his hands frantically. "Uh...err...look, I didn't mean it like that I just meant that it's what I observed." He said quickly waving his hands.

She quirked a brow at him, sniffling.

"What I mean is that she's going to have a rough time filling your shoes, you know; with all the bossiness, and useless knowledge that she has to learn." Noticing that she was contemplating what he'd just said, he sighed in relief. "Really Granger, I doubt she can handle that tough of a task." He added now chuckling lightly.

She looked at him with surprise and blinked a couple of times. "That sounded almost...nice." She mumbled tilting her head.

He glanced to her quickly then away, and cleared his throat as he wasn't sure how to respond to that. So instead, he rolled his eyes then sighed, "I do have to admit that Potter made a stupid choice of choosing Weaselette though." He muttered.

She raised a brow at this. "Oh?" She asked. "Why do you say that?"

"Well...because she's poor...and filthy." He replied with a disgusted look. "She's ugly too-as are all of those Weasleys. No wonder Potter wants her. He's the type who just has to feel sorry for the ugly ones. My guess is that since he had to choose between you and Weaselette, he chose the ugly one." He added simply.

This made her look at him with curiosity. He called Ginny the 'ugly' one but he didn't say that about me. I wonder...

He sighed then added, "Potter has never been all that bright when it came to women though. Had it been me I would have..." He stopped as he saw her looking at him oddly and quickly shook his head and looked away.

"I mean...the bottom line here is that he chose to go with Weaselette because she's ugly and he fell in love with an ugly girl because he's ugly himself." He said, trying to somehow make a point out of all the things that he'd just spouted out.

"Maybe she is ugly..." Hermione began but then frowned. "but even if she is; she's still a pureblood where as I'm...well you know..." She said sadly looking down.

"Yeah, that's true. She is a pureblood and she can always hold that over you, just like I can." He boasted with a cocky grin.

"Don't remind me." She grumbled.

Seeing the annoyed expression on her face, he cleared his throat and continued. "Of course... poor purebloods are sometimes more disgraceful than well-off mudbloods." He stated matter-of-factly.

She blinked at his comment. "Is that so?" She commented.

"Well I mean it would make sense to the muggle loving wizards." He said shrugging.

She nodded then smiled slightly as she realized something. "You know, Malfoy we're finally having a decent conversation for once. I didn't know that someone like you, an upcoming Death Eater who had ice for blood; would ever have a civil conversation with me."

"Well as difficult as it is for you to believe, my blood is as warm as yours, Granger." Draco replied defensively.

She nodded then frowned, "Maybe so but my blood is tainted." she mumbled bitterly.

Draco looked to her but said nothing. "Since I’m muggleborn, I have dirty blood. I can't help that though, Draco." she said sadly.

His eyes suddenly widened at her. For the first time-not counting their game they'd played on Potter- she'd called him by his first name.

She called me Draco? He wasn't quite sure what to make of it.

"I didn't ask to be born into this world as a...Mudblood!" she added as she looked directly at him.

Draco looked hard into her eyes and saw the pain and anger in them.

His eyes lowered and then he looked down. "Look, I can't help that I was born to a pureblood family with a Death Eater as a father." he snapped. "And you never seem to let that go!" he added bitterly.

"Well, you haven't let it go that I am muggleborn, in fact you always like to call me that foul name associated with my blood." she retorted.

"I told you that was my Slytherin Greeting for you." He retorted arrogantly.

"Yes but I don't like it!" She stressed firmly.

He groaned then rolled his eyes and sighed. "Listen, we both use harsh terms to throw at each other." He exclaimed slowly. "I mean I call you a Mudblood and you call me a Death Eater. We've been doing it for so many years now." He said as if that explained the reason. "So let's not make a big deal out of it."

"Draco..." she said softly as she scooted over closer to him.

"What?" he replied slowly with an uneasy look on his face.

"I want to know something. I mean I know that right now we're being somewhat civil to each other, so I want to ask you a question." she said slowly.

"Ooookay." He replied cautiously.

"What do you personally have against me?" she asked in a soft, calm voice.

"Well, what do you have against me?" He snapped defensively.

"I asked you first." She snapped back.

He rolled his eyes. "I...uh...because everything is your fault! There!" he growled. "Now, you answer the same question!" he added quickly, relieved to be the one to put her on the spot.

"But you didn't give me a good answer." She replied disappointedly.

"Hey! I gave you an answer, you never said it had to be good." He pointed out.

"Fine." She mumbled not wanting to argue.

"So, now answer my question." He demanded. "What do you have against me?"

"Nothing really." She replied coolly.

"What?" He asked unprepared for that. "What kind of answer is that!"

"It was just that. An answer just like you gave me." She retorted.

"Argh!" he growled.

"I have another question for you. Why do you always act so mean and nasty towards me?" She snapped quickly.

"Well...because...it's what I do. Simple as that." he replied bitterly.

"Come on Draco, for once..." she scooted even closer to him to where their elbows were touching. "For once just please give me a true, honest answer." She said softly.

He froze as he realized how close she had moved to him. He shifted uncomfortably then lifted his head to meet her gaze.

"I...I don't know why I do it." he replied slowly realizing that he didn't have an answer.

She nodded then leaned against the back of the couch.

"I guess it's because you're the only Mud-" he stopped then corrected himself. "I guess it's because you are the only muggleborn person here at the school that gives me a challenge. I mean we both have high marks and let's face it...we ended up being Head Boy and Girl this year."

"True." she replied slowly nodding.

Then he took a breath and continued on.

"And...Well because my father...He hates anything to do with muggles. He's raised me to hate them along with poor wizarding families and any others that the Malfoys don't like. I've been raised to either listen to him or else...A few times I tried to stand up to him but he overpowered me and his punishments were severe. If father didn't approve of someone that I was hanging around, then he'd tell me to ditch them or he'd make them disappear. I got punished severely many times to the point where I stopped defying him. He told me that if I wanted to become a strong leader, I would have to follow his example. Finally, the summer before I was to start my first year here at Hogwarts, I stopped disobeying him." he said with a bitter sigh.

Hermione hadn't been expecting him to give a true explanation yet he'd done just that. And she couldn't help but feel the urge to comfort him.

"Draco, I'm sorry...I never realized just what you're life was like. It all seemed so perfect." she said with a sympathetic look on her face.

He quickly cleared his throat. "I don't care about it anymore though." he said bitterly. "He's in Azkaban and I can finally live my life the way I want."

"At least you've been able to escape him." she replied. "I, on the other hand will never be able to be a normal pureblood like you, Draco. I'll always be a...a filthy, dirty Mudblood." she said coldly.

Then she noticed that the black book was lying on the floor at her feet. It had fallen out of Draco's robes earlier. As she reached down to pick it up, she winced slightly as one of the pages cut her finger.

"Ow..." she whimpered clutching her index finger as she dropped the book in her lap.

"Don't tell me you still want to read this book after knowing what it is!" He drawled.

Then he saw her finger and thought a moment.

Quickly, he grabbed the book from her lap.

"Draco, give that back!" she snapped reaching for it.

He quickly opened the book and purposefully ran his index finger across the corner of a page.

Moments later his finger began to bleed a little.

She gasped at him. "What are you-"

"Let me see your finger." he said cutting her off.

She hesitantly held out her finger to him.

He held his out to her.

"Look," he replied as he allowed the blood from his finger to flow out.

She blinked and looked at her own and then his.

"Your blood bleeds the same shade of red as mine, does it not?" he said with a light smirk.

Hermione smiled weakly, with a slow nod.

He then closed the book and tossed it back in her lap.

"You’ve... changed." she commented slowly.

"Everything changes, Hermione, sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worst." Draco replied in a low tone.

Hermione hadn’t realized just how close they were to each other once again. Neither had Draco. The moment was awkward.

Then Hermione cleared her throat.

"I...I guess I'd better get to bed, it's rather late." she mumbled.

"Yeah, me too." He replied nodding.

Hermione looked to him with sparkling eyes. "Draco..." she began.

"Yes Hermione?" he asked in a low tone.

"I just want to say thank you for well...not being too mean to me." she said.

"Same here." he replied with a half-smile.

They both stared at each other.

"Ahem, look let's keep all of this between the two of us ok?" he mumbled.

"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone." she said.

"Good and I won't tell anyone either." he replied.

"So..." he began, feeling awkward just sitting there staring at her.

"So..." She said, also feeling the same awkwardness as he was. She bit her lip nervously, unsure of what to do or say next.

He looked at her, smiling slightly to himself as he stared at her. I never thought I would ever be civil with Hermione Granger, and I especially never expected her to be so nice to me. He thought but then frowned. I wonder...what would it be like to kiss her? Is she even kissable? He then looked down at the floor. But would she ever let me find out? The question was eating at him and he really wanted to find out. He didn't know why he just felt he had to.

"Shall we shake on it?" She asked.

"I have a better idea." he replied. Then he looked to her. "Hey Granger, are you kissable?" He asked bluntly." Instead of shaking hands let's do something else. Let's kiss on it." he added quickly.

"What?" she gasped with an uneasy look on her face.

"I was thinking that instead of shaking hands we could just kiss on it. That is if you are kissable?" He drawled.

"How dare you suggest such a thing? Ugh!" She snapped, as she remembered him kissing her in her nightmare.

"Well how can I trust your word? After all you might go blabbing if you get mad at me again." he scoffed arrogantly, now sounding like his old rude self again.

"You want to kiss on that?" she asked quirking a brow.

"Yeah, why not? I figure if we do something as disgusting as kiss then we will both be so repulsed that we won't dare tell a single soul about how civil conversation." he replied.

"Absolutely not!" she snapped firmly.

"Oh come on, Granger, unless you're too scared to kiss me?" he sneered.

"Scared?" she replied rolling her eyes. "I am not scared to kiss you!" she stated firmly.

"Then what's the problem, Mudblood?" he said in his usual drawl manner.

"I don't have a problem, Drakie!" she snapped nastily.

He grabbed her hands and quickly pinned her down to the couch as he had done before.

Hermione stared up at him in surprise, but this time she didn't struggle at all.

Draco glared down at her. "You told me you were going to stop calling me that!" he snapped, though his voice wasn't all that cold this time.

"Well, I...I told you about calling me a Mudblood." she replied weakly.

"No, you said that the deal with that was off." He emphasized.

She suddenly realized that he was right and let out a frustrated groan.

"So, are we going to kiss on it or what?" he asked changing the subject.

"Why do you want to kiss me so bad?" she asked nervously.

"Relax Granger, I'm not going to try anything." He said noticing the worried look on her face.

"But..." She started to hesitate but he quickly cut her off.

"Look, I'm just curious to know what it'd be like to kiss you is all. You know, to see if you're even kissable." He said like it was no big deal.

She still looked uneasy. "Come on, I'm sure you're just as curious to know what it's like to have the privilege of kissing me." he bragged.

"Not really." She lied because deep down inside the thought of kissing him intrigued her.

"Oh..." he said, frowning slightly.

Hermione couldn't help but want to be close to him. But she didn't want to let him know that. She knew that he would just treat her like he did the other girls, if she even hinted that she had a slight interest in him.

"Fine Draco we can kiss on it." she said trying to sound like it was no big deal.

He nodded. "Don't worry, it'll be a quick one." he said trying to reassure her.

She nodded slowly, though she couldn't stop trembling as his hot breath brushed across her cheek as his face inched closer and closer to hers.

A shiver ran up her spine as she felt his weight shift slightly on top of her.

"Relax..." He whispered as he moved in.

Then she felt his soft lips touch hers. She gasped silently and closed her eyes as she felt a strange feeling come over her.

It was soothing and comforting. And in that moment, Hermione felt the pain from her broken heart disappear. She felt as if new life had been breathed into her, a new door had opened, and her life was worth living again. And she found herself wishing that she could stop time right at this moment. This perfect moment.

At that same moment, Draco felt too was overcome with a sense of renewal. It was the awakening of new feelings and new emotions for him. Ones that he'd never had before. Ones that scared him, ones that warmed him, and ones that had found a way to break through the cold walls of his heart. In this moment he found peace, warmth, and happiness. And he found himself wanting to stop time for never had he felt anything so strong before. He wanted to stay in this moment. This perfect moment. He only hoped that she wouldn't push him away.

And somehow Hermione didn't want to push him away. She wanted to stay like this with him forever.

Draco slowly released her hands as his own hands slowly moved down her sides.

She slowly moved her hands up and ran her fingers through his soft white blonde hair; and then finally moving her arms around his neck drawing him closer to her.

Draco felt her arms around him and he deepened the kiss as his body rested heavily on hers. This warm, passionate, kiss went on for several minutes until they both opened their eyes.

Suddenly, they were jolted back to reality.

The look of shock was on both of their faces as they stared wide eyed at each other.

Draco saw that his hands were just under her shirt, on her sides and Hermione noticed that both her arms were around his neck.

Quickly they let go of each other and Draco slid off of her and sat on the other side of the couch, rubbing his head.

Hermione sat up and looked at him, unable to speak.

He looked back at her also at a loss for words.

"Draco..." she began

"Hermione..." he said at the exact moment.

"What just happened here?" they asked at the same time.

"Well you...you were kissing me...and groping me I might add." she said sharply as she straightened out her wrinkled shirt. She suddenly felt a rush of emotions as she looked away from him quickly. Fear. Happiness. Anger. Content. Warm. These were just a few of what she was feeling. And she panicked, latching on to the one she was most familiar with. Anger.

"How dare you do something like that!" She snapped loudly. "Trying to turn a simple little kiss into a full blown make out session!"

"Excuse me?" he snapped back "You were putting your arms around my neck!"

"Well you're the one who took it further by sticking your tongue down my throat!" she replied now raising her voice as she glared at him.

"You did it too!" he replied smirking.

"Well it was your idea to kiss me in the first place, Malfoy!" She snapped.

"Yeah and you went along with it, Granger!" He growled irritably noticing that they were back to calling each other by their last names again.

"But you're the one who went further by putting your nasty hands up my shirt, you pervert!" She hissed.

"You weren't exactly fighting me off, Granger." he sneered.

"I tried to but you were holding my hands down!" She shouted at him.

"No I wasn't! Your hands were free because you were putting your arms around my neck!" he shouted back at her.

"That was only after you stuck your filthy tongue down my throat!" she yelled.

The two who were sitting at opposite sides of the couch, had now moved closer to each other, both glaring each other down.

"This is all your fault!" she screamed at him.

"Oh no you don't, Granger!" He snarled as his eyes flashed with anger. "Don't you dare make this out to be all my fault!"

"Why not? It is all your fault!"she replied nastily.

"How dare you blame it all on me you disgusting, filthy Mudblood!" He shouted.

"Oh you want to go back to name calling now huh, Drakie!" she taunted.

"You said the deal was off and that you weren't going to call me that foul name anymore!" He growled.

He was about to lunge at her when she held up a finger. "Well the deal is back on, Drakie!" She snapped.

He stayed in his place, but pointed his finger at her. "Stop calling me by that name! And stop trying to blame everything on me!" He snapped, his tone much lower now.

"Well stop doing things to get yourself in trouble." she retorted. "Because all you'll do is end up destroying your life."

"How dare you be all preachy to me? You don't know anything about me!" he growled.

"I know enough about you. You're mean, cruel, evil, vile, wretched, hateful, a murderer and a future Death Eater who will side with the Dark Lord the moment he beckons you!" she hissed at him.

A truly evil gleam flashed in his eyes, as his face became dark. Then he lunged at her and pushed her back onto the couch, once again pinning her arms down, this time more roughly.

"So, you think I'm evil? Cruel? Vile?" He sneered, moving one of his hands to her cheek, stroking it lightly. "You think I'm Hateful?" He asked slowly moving his hand down the side of her neck.

Then suddenly he grabbed her around the throat.

She cringed as a wave of fear washed over her.

She had not expected him to do that. But trying to stay calm she coolly replied. "Obviously you are evil and once you kill me, you will be a murderer!" She said in almost a whisper.

"Who said I was going to kill you?" He asked with a smirk.

"Well...I assumed..."She began but he quickly cut her off.

"See there, you assumed I would. I never said that I'd actually do it, now did I?" He replied trying to make a point as he let go of her throat.

She rubbed her neck where he'd grabbed her.

"You only released me because you knew that you couldn't get away with killing me." She snapped, making a last ditch effort to get the upper hand.

He chuckled as he looked down at her. He could see the fear in her eyes. He leaned down closer to her where their faces were only inches apart.

"Something you need to know about me, Granger is that once I plan to kill someone, I'll do it. I'll never spare them. I'll never get scared by their idle threats or the thought of getting caught. Once I plan on killing someone, I'll follow through with it. They can cry, beg, scream, or plead for mercy all they want. But once I've marked them for death, I won't back down. I don't care who they are!" She shuttered as he gently ran the back of his hand down her cheek. "If I had wanted to kill you, I would have done so just then." He sneered dangerously.

She swallowed nervously and stared up at him in horror. She was too scared to move or speak.

"So, just remember this. You may get the best of other people. You may be smart, cunning and clever. And you may be used to having the final say." His tone was now lower and more menacing. "But you're no match for me. I'm Draco Malfoy and I'm not about to back down to you!" he snarled, his cold eyes glaring into hers.

She let out a faint whimper as her body was now shaking slightly. No one had ever spoken to her in such a way before. She was used to always being right, always having the last word. But now, here she was pinned down by her enemy, put in her place. Her sarcasm and taunting had ceased, and now she found herself filled with nothing but fear.

"So Granger, what do you have to say to that?" He asked, lightening his tone, prepared for one of her snide, hateful remarks.

"N-Nothing." She replied in almost a whisper.

"What?" He asked raising a surprised eyebrow.

"I-I said...n-nothing. I-I have nothing to say." She stuttered. "Now will you please get off of me?"

He got off her and stood there with a baffled look on his face. She slowly stood up, meeting his gaze for a brief moment and then quickly looked down.

He then realized that he'd really scared her. d**n it, maybe I was a little too harsh. He found himself thinking. Then he thought about the kiss that they had just shared earlier. I felt so alive then. I never felt that feeling with any other girl before. He then took a step towards her. "Granger I..." he began, but as he reached for her hand she shuddered and quickly backed away.

Then before he could speak she turned and ran to her room.

-----

She deserved it. He thought trying to fight away the feeling of guilt that kept creeping up inside him. Then he went to his own room and went to bed.

But he couldn't sleep. Every time he closed his eyes he saw her face filled with fear. When he did finally get to sleep, he had nightmares about that night, about her. He groaned and tossed and turned all night until finally he had worn himself out enough to fall asleep.

[Lissandra Sylvania]

Ja ma ametlikult ei salli enam Harryt, Ron´i ja Ginnyt!

Chapter 16-Dinner with Draco

The next morning Draco woke up and looked at the time. It was almost eight. "d**n, I overslept! Why didn't Granger wake me up?" He grumbled as he scrambled out of bed. Then it dawned on him. She was probably still shaken up from last night. How could she not be with the way he'd acted. He sighed heavily as he rubbed his head. "Maybe I was a little out of line..." He began but then shook his head quickly. "No I wasn't. I had to put her in her place. I had to..." You had to scare her? A scolding voice echoed in his head. He then shook his head again and got dressed. He grabbed his bag and stepped out of his room at the same time as Hermione.

What? She's still here? Usually she's already gone. He thought as he walked towards her. He noticed her face was slightly red, it almost looked like she had been crying.

Seeing him walking towards her stopped her in her tracks. She froze as he approached her. "Uh...morning." He mumbled, staring at the floor.

"Morning..." She replied in a low voice.

She turned to go when she felt his hand on her shoulder.

She gasped at his touch and backed into the wall.

He saw the fearful expression on her face and it bothered him for some reason.

"Look...I...I'm sorry about last night...you just made me angry and...I..." he began.

"It's fine." She replied not really meaning it.

And then she rushed down the stairs and out the Heads portrait door.

Draco shook his head frowning as he too left for class.



All that day, Hermione stayed to herself. The Gryffindors still wouldn't have anything to do with her and most of the Slytherins gave her menacing stares. She'd been sure to avoid Draco for she was still shaken up at his actions from last night. He'd seemed so completely evil. But then he'd apologized to her that following morning, which she'd blown it off in order to get away from him.

She was confused because she'd just started getting along with him earlier that evening. And they had even kissed; but the night had ended with him almost choking her. She didn't know what to make of it. She'd never seen so many sides to Draco; let along all in one night.

But despite her slight fear of him, she couldn't help but watch him with great interest from afar. His words were harsh and cold most of the time, as was his behavior; but there was a certain air about Draco Malfoy that made him different than the other students, including Harry. The blonde Slytherin was strong, smart, and confident. He knew how to manipulate, coax and deceive those around him.

Hermione couldn't help but notice that there was much more to him than even Draco, himself could see.

As she went from class to class, she watched him every chance she got. She watched the way he flaunted his power. She watched him bully people. She watched him taunt Harry, Ron, and Ginny. She watched how all the Slytherins obeyed him. He was a natural leader.

And then she thought back to a few days ago, when he'd played along with her in their game of making Harry jealous. She remembered how well they had gotten along together and it made her actually smile. And then she remembered something else. Draco had been able to scare Harry.

She remembered how Harry had backed down from him. His green eyes filled with disbelief and fear as he and Draco had faced off.

Suddenly, her fear of Draco turned into admiration.

She wanted to be just like him, feared, respected, and admired. She frowned to herself.

Draco sees me as a goody-goody. And a goody-goody isn't respected by those with power. I'm tired of being the one everyone comes to for homework help. I want to be powerful too. I want my foes to fear me. I want Ginny to fear me. I want Ron to fear me. I want...Harry to fear me! She thought as that dark feeling washed over her once more.

----------------------------------

It was now dinnertime once again, and Hermione was heading down to the Great Hall.

I really want to impress Draco. She thought as she walked along. I'm through with Harry, Ron, and that pregnant dog Ginny! I want to be accepted by Draco! I want him to see me differently. I want to show him that I am not a goody-goody anymore. I want to become friends with him. I want... She was so caught up in a her daydream of impressing Draco and wasn't watching where she was going. Then suddenly she bumped into someone. Harry.

"Uh...aren't you going to apologize for knocking me down?" he asked her frowning slightly.

Suddenly, she looked up to see Draco walking her way. She wanted to impress him so she smirked down at Harry and put her hands on her hips. "Why should I apologize? You were in my way!" She said loudly, coldly glaring down at him.

"Well you weren't watching where you were going!" Harry snapped at her.

"Maybe you should fix your glasses, Harry. Then you might be able to see where you are going." She replied bitterly.

Hermione and Harry's argument had caught Draco's attention. With his trademark smirk he strolled over to them. He chuckled at Harry who sat on the floor with his books scattered around him.

Hermione then flipped her hair over her shoulder and looked down at Harry who was trying to gather his things up. "Here let me help." She said as she reached down and picked up a small pile. Draco frowned slightly as he watched her help Harry. He was about to say something when she smirked and suddenly threw down Harry's things. "Oh wait, I can't help you. We're not friends anymore!" She sneered and then laughed lightly. Draco cracked up laughing as he looked down at Harry.

"Serves you right, Potter." he drawled.

Then he briefly glanced to Hermione and winked at her before continuing on his way.

Hermione smiled. Draco had winked at her and though she didn't know what it meant, she couldn't help but get the feeling that she had impressed him. And with that, she turned and strolled on down the corridor.

"Bloody Hell, Harry what was all of that about?" Ron asked as he and Ginny rushed over and helped Harry pick his things up.

"I don't know." Harry replied glaring after the bushy-haired girl.

---------

Hermione had stopped inside the girl's bathroom and was laughing hysterically at the way she'd treated Harry. I know that I impressed Draco by that wink he gave me. She looked at herself in the mirror and sighed. "Things are changing, Hermione. You are changing." she said to her reflection. Then she turned and walked out.

She walked on down the corridor and into the Great Hall. She noticed Draco sitting with the Slytherins talking and laughing. She smiled to herself as she saw him and then strolled right up to the Gryffindor table, grabbing a plate and started filling it with food.

Just then Harry, Ron and Ginny walked in and sat down, glaring at Hermione. She just flashed them a smirk and then finished filling up her plate.

"Well, I think I will go eat this up in my dorm. After all, I don't want to lose my appetite from the foul stench of Weasel, now do I?" She said wrinkling her nose at Ginny.

Harry and Ron gasped at this Malfoy-ish insult, while Ginny stood up angrily.

"It seems the foul one here is you, Hermione!" Ginny retorted.

"Please Ginny, don't make me laugh." the bushy haired girl sneered. "You're just upset that you're so ugly."

"Oh, I beg to differ!" Ginny snarled.

"Oh I know that you beg, Ginny. As poor and filthy as you are, I can see why you beg!" Hermione sneered.

"That was a low blow!" Ron snapped, but Hermione just ignored him.

"At least, I am not so desperate that I would run to a Slytherin for help!" Ginny retorted.

"Yes well, at least I didn't let a stupid diary control me!" Hermione hissed.

"How dare you say such cruel things like that?" Ginny hissed. Then she shouted back, "Well since you want to go there; at least I didn't let myself be petrified by a Basilisk!"

"Well that’s because you're the one who sent it after me as well as quite a few others! And you were the one who was responsible for opening the Chamber of Secrets!" Hermione snarled.

Hermione had succeeded in getting the attention of the Slytherins as well as Gryffindors by now. The noise in the Great Hall had died down as everyone watched the confrontation between Hermione and Ginny.

"Look there's no need to bring that up. That was in my first year when I was tricked by...You-Know-Who!" the red headed girl screamed as tears welled up in her eyes.

"What's wrong, Ginny? You can't stand the fact that you trusted the one who turned out to be Voldemort?" Hermione sneered as she set down her plate of food.

There was a series of fearful gasps as Hermione spoke the Dark Lord's name.

"Hermione...you... you are just mad because Harry picked me over you!" Ginny said changing the subject quickly. "You are still mad because things didn't go your way! You can't handle the fact that Harry picked me over you. That's why you are so hostile towards me! Admit it! Go on admit it!"

"Fine!" Hermione screamed out. "At first I was upset about Harry picking you and not me, but now..." she glanced to Draco briefly, smiled slightly, and looked back at Ginny. "But now I'm glad! I'm very glad that he didn't pick me!" Harry gasped at her as she glared at him. "That's right, Harry. Did you hear me! I'm glad now that you didn't choose me!" She shouted at him slamming her hands onto the table causing him and Ron to jump.

Ginny shook her head at the bushy-haired girl. "You're still upset...still jealous. I can see it." She said bitterly.

Hermione spun around to face her, a dark smile crossing her face.

"No, Ginny, I'm not jealous anymore. In fact, I can see why he picked you over me." She let out a dark chuckle.

"Oh, really?" Ginny asked curiously.

"Yes and it's not his fault." Hermione sneered, with malice in her eyes.

"It's not?" Ginny mumbled.

"No, it's not. I can't blame Harry for choosing you over me. After all, I'm sure he wanted his chance with the Gryffindor very *friendly* person!" Hermione snarled.

Ginny gasped in horror.

Draco and the Slytherins all stared wide-eyed before cracking up.

"Hermione!" Harry growled rising to his feet.

"Take that back!" Ron demanded jumping up too.

"No." Hermione sneered at them.

Then she turned back to Ginny and laughed as she picked up a cup of pumpkin juice. "You poor, dirty little thing, here let's give you a much needed bath!" Hermione sneered as she flung the juice onto the red headed girl; who screamed and jumped back.

Harry and Ron were infuriated as Ginny rushed over to them crying.

"Now I shall take my leave seeing as how the sight of you three has almost caused me to lose my appetite!" Hermione sneered as she grabbed her plate and walked away.

Draco and the Slytherins were in hysterics as they watched Harry and Ron trying to comfort a very drenched and angry Ginny.

"d**n, that mudblood is more gutsy now." mumbled Blaise Zabini to another fellow Slytherin who was nodding and seeming impressed.

Draco glanced to his group a moment, and then smiled as he watched Hermione walk out of the hall. "See you later guys." he said as he stood up and made his way to the exit.

Hermione proudly strolled along down the corridor towards the Head's dorm. That will teach her to mess with me! She thought.

Just then she heard footsteps moving at a fast pace behind her. She turned and saw Draco hurrying towards her. "Gra-Granger, wait up!" he said almost out of breath as he caught up to her.

She blinked and then smiled slightly at him.

"That was hilarious...what you did to Weaselette; the whole Slytherin table was talking. Blaise and the others are really impressed." He said breathing rapidly.

"Really? Well...thanks." She replied as she started towards the dorm again.

"Hey, are you going back to the dorm?" he asked noticing the direction she was going.

"Yeah." she replied.

He then looked down at her fully loaded plate and chuckled.

"Are you actually going to eat all of that?" he asked incredulously.

She smiled then shrugged, "I don't know, depends if you want to join me." She replied with a playful smirk.

"Oh? Are you implying that you want me to have dinner with you, Granger?" he asked smoothly.

"Well, only if you can take the time out of your oh-so-busy schedule, Malfoy." She replied in the same manner.

He chuckled and then shrugged, "I think that can be arranged." he replied as he walked with her.

"Phoenix Blossoms" they both said at the same time as they reached the painting to the Head common room.

The door opened and they walked in.

Draco plopped down on the couch while Hermione put the plate down on the small table in front of them.

Then she sat down in the middle of the couch instead of at the very end. Draco scooted to the middle as well, looking over the food.

"Dig in." She said cheerfully as she grabbed a slice of roast chicken.

He did just that, grabbing a handful of fries and then eating them one by one.

"This is rather nice." she commented.

"Hmm?" he asked, nibbling on his last fry.

"Being able to sit down and have dinner together without fighting." she mumbled.

Draco raised a brow, then after a moment he nodded. "It is, isn't it?" he replied in a pleasant tone.

As she reached over to pick up a slice of roast beef, his hand moved towards it too and they ended up grabbing it at the same time.

"Uh sorry..." she mumbled with a slightly chuckle; letting go of it. "You can have it."

He slowly picked it up and then ripped it in half and handed a half to her. "Here." he said.

"Thanks." she replied taking it. He simply nodded.

"Um...I..." he began but then cleared his throat, and decided not to say anything.

She looked at him then back at the plate of food and picked up a couple of carrots.

He glanced to her and tried to speak again. "Uh...Granger...I'm...uh...so..." He then stopped as she looked at him.

"You're what, Malfoy?" She asked curiously.

He looked down and sighed. "I was out of line last night...and well I'm...s-s-s-sorry." he struggled to get that last word out.

But she just shrugged and smiled slightly. "You already apologized for that. And...it's okay." She replied.

He nodded and sighed as he grabbed a couple of carrots too.

They sat there silently for a while, enjoying their meal and secretly each other's company.

"Mmm good." he mumbled quickly grabbing another handful of fries.

"Mmm Hmm." she replied with her mouth full as she grabbed a second slice of roast chicken.

"So...I take it that it's really over with Potter and his group?" he asked curiously.

She took a moment to swallow her food. "Yep, I'm through with the lot of them." She said calmly.

"Well that's good." He said-a little too quickly.

"Oh?" she asked turning to him.

"Yeah now you can relax and rid yourself of them. I mean surely you know now that they're beneath you." He said with a pleasant grin.

"Yeah...you're right." She replied nodding slowly.

"Of course I am." he snapped proudly. "And now since you've gotten rid of the dirt, you should associate yourself with people who are above the level of filth."

"You mean like...you?" She asked with a slight sound of hope in her voice. This made him fidget nervously but he tried to answer her question matter-of-factly.

"Ahem...well yeah...I mean not me in particular, but people like me." He answered.

"But...there's nobody at this school who's just like you." She replied bluntly.

This response caused his cheeks to flush slightly. "Oh, there are you just...well have to look for them." he said, picking up a cauldron cake.

"I highly doubt that. I mean I don't know anyone else who's taunted and tormented the former 'Golden Trio'- that I used to belong to; longer than you. Nor do I know anyone who's been as clever yet cunning, wise but sneaky, creative yet cruel." She noticed the funny look that he was giving her and continued. "I don't know of anyone who can send chills down ones spine with just mere words." Her words were deep and serious; something that made him shift uncomfortably.

"Oh come now, Granger. Surely you do know of someone like that. The idiot known as Potter." he scoffed trying to blow her words off.

She laughed lightly but then leaned slightly closer to him and said. "That's where you're wrong."

"Huh?" he raised a brow at her.

"You've surpassed Harry, now." She replied.

"Oh really? And how exactly have I done that?" He snapped rolling his eyes.

"You've done the one thing that no one else had been able to do." She said firmly. "You've made him fear you. That day when you were playing along with me at the Quidditch Pitch, remember? You threatened to kill him if he hurt me. That warning really scared him."

His eyes slowly widened at her and he rubbed his chin nodding slowly as he remembered the day that they'd played the game to make Harry jealous.

"I really did scare him, didn't I?" he nodded as he remembered the look on Harry's face when he'd threatened to kill him.

"Yes." She said now smiling slightly. "It really surprised me as well." She took a breath and continued. "Of course he may not be afraid of you anymore since he found out the truth about what we did, but when he thought your words were real he backed down from you."

"I scared Harry Potter." He said with a dark smile.

She nodded. "You're a born leader as well as a very powerful wizard, Draco." She said softly. "I would dare to say that you and Harry might be equally matched."

He frowned slightly at this. "Equally matched? With Potter?" he scoffed. "I'm probably more powerful than he is." he boasted.

She sighed then shrugged. "It's quite possible that you are more powerful than Harry but you've not been able to show it yet." she stated matter-of-factly.

"Tell me something, Hermione." He said firmly.

She blinked at him, rather surprised he'd used her first name.

"If Potter and I were to get into a Wizard's Duel, who do you think would win?" He asked curiously.

"Well...to be honest at this very moment it would be Harry because of the advanced magic that he's learned so quickly." She replied hesitantly.

"I see." Draco growled as he crossed his arms, frowning as he chewed on his bottom lip.

Hermione sighed silently, worried by the cold expression on his face; another fight was brewing between them.

"So, do you still have a crush on him?" He muttered coldly.

She shook her head firmly. "No." She replied bitterly. "I want nothing to do with him or the others."

He nodded with a slight smirk and then looked to her.

She was looking down, her eyes lowered as if she were thinking about something.

He raised a brow. "So, what's on your mind?" He asked curiously.

She sighed deeply. "Just thinking about how much I hate them...Harry...Ron... and especially Ginny." she mumbled.

"Ah I see." he chuckled. "Well I hate them too..." he said bitterly.

Hermione looked to see him now leaning against the back of the couch, with his arms behind his head. And suddenly she couldn't stop the next question from flying out of her mouth.

"What about...me?" she asked hesitantly.

His arms dropped as he quickly looked to her raising a suspicious brow. "What about you?" he asked sharply.

"Well...do you still hate me?" She asked.

His eyes narrowed slightly. "That depends." he said running a hand through his blonde hair.

"On what?" She replied.

"Well...it depends on if we're...enemies anymore." He answered coldly.

"Oh, I see." She said hesitantly unsure of how to respond.

"So Granger, tell me; what do you want?" He asked curiously.

"You." she answered immediately, and then cringed as a sly grin crept across his face. "I mean I want you...err...I want to stop being enemies with you." She added quickly stumbling over her words.

"I noticed." He replied as his grin got wider.

"Well...what about you? What do you want?" She asked defensively as she didn't like the way he was looking at her now.

He sighed deeply then shrugged. "Oh I don't know. I mean being enemies for all these years has somewhat gotten old so...let's just say that I'm bored with it." he said.

His round about answer made her giggle. "So, you're saying you'd rather us be...friends?" She asked.

"No!" he snapped quickly. "Friends is...well...too strong of a word. We're more like um...civil enemy allies." He stated matter-of-factly.

"But weren't we enemies...before?" She asked, trying to keep from laughing at his silly response.

"Well before we were archenemies. But see we've made it up from there and can now be called civil allied enemies." He exclaimed.

"Uh...but didn't you just call us civil enemy allies?" she replied with a confused giggle.

"Well whatever Granger, it was close enough and you know what I meant!" He scoffed.

"You're too cute." She mumbled stifling a laugh. Then suddenly she gasped. Did I just say that thought out loud?

"Oh really, Granger?" He asked as his trademark smirk crept across his face. "So, you actually think I'm cute huh?"

"Uh...look that kind of slipped out the wrong way...what I meant to say was..." She began but he cut her off.

"So, you actually have a crush on me now, huh?" He said as he scooted closer to her.

Oh no, now he's going to think he can shag me and I'll be just another conquest on his list. She thought.

"Listen Malfoy, I think you got the wrong idea..." She mumbled.

"Oh no Hermione...I think I got the right idea." He sneered emphasizing on her first name.

He started to lean forward but she quickly jumped to her feet frowning at him coldly.

"What's wrong?" He asked, with a slightly concerned look on his face.

"Look...on second thought maybe...maybe we should just stay enemies. It would be...safer..." She snapped as she turned and started towards the stairs.

"Huh? Wait, what did I do?" He asked as he got up and walked over to her.

"I...I know the games you play with girls, Malfoy." She snapped bitterly. "I know how you manipulate them, I've watched you. You will be nice and say anything just so you can get what you want from them and the next morning you treat them like dirt all over again. And don't tell me that you don't because that would be a lie!"

"Look...okay you're right. I have treated girls that way. I admit it." He replied hesitantly. But then he took a deep breath and his eyes lowered. "But...I wasn't going to do that...to you." he added in a lower tone.

She shook her head. "How am I supposed to believe that? I mean don't get me wrong, I want to but...I can't... even with the way I...feel about you..." she suddenly stopped and gasped at what she was saying.

Oh no, I just made a big mistake! She thought as she watched that familiar trademark smirk creep across his face once more.



But before either one could speak, a shrill voice made them both jump. "Drakie! Oh Drakie!" came Pansy's voice.

"d**n it." Draco groaned. Then he stomped over and opened the door.

"Hello my sweet Drakiekins!" Pansy shouted as she threw her arms around him.

"Pansy, d**n it, what do you want?" he growled shoving her off of him.

"Well, I just wanted to give you some good news!" She squeaked. Then she glared as she saw Hermione standing there. "But I'm not saying it in front of her!" she added bitterly.

"Whatever it is can wait till tomorrow." He groaned as he tried to push her out.

"Oh no Drakie, this can't wait!" She then leaned in close to his ear. "It's about your father...He's escaped from Azkaban and wants to see you at midnight tonight in the forest." She whispered.

He gasped and his eyes grew wide. "Wh-What!" he snapped.

"You heard me and you'd better not tell anyone or else he may punish you severely." She added.

He thought a moment then turned to Hermione who was looking at them oddly. "Hey Granger...can you give us some time alone?" he said coldly as he looked to the floor.

She blinked and then slowly nodded. "O-Okay." And then brushed past Pansy on her way out. As soon as she was out, the portrait door slammed shut behind her.

With a heavy sigh, she hung her head. Looks like he hasn't changed. I guess he just wants to spend time with Pansy. I can't blame him though after all she is his fiancé`. She then trudged down the dark corridor. I was fooling myself thinking that I could ever get him. Someone like Draco would never want someone as impure as me... She then wiped a tear as she continued on. "I guess I'll just go to the library." she mumbled out loud.

As she rounded the corner she heard voices whispering. It was so dark that she couldn't see anyone. She stopped a moment to listen but all she heard was the sound of her own breathing. After taking a moment to look around, she slowly continued on her way.

"Wandering the halls so late at night, Granger?" came a cold whisper.

"Huh?" She gasped as she spun around. But she saw nothing. "Draco? Is that you?" She whispered. But then frowned as it didn't sound like his voice and he was in their Head room with Pansy. She took a moment to listen for the voice again.

Nothing but dead silence. She shuddered slightly as she turned and continued on her way. She then suddenly bumped into someone or so she thought. But no one was there. She recomposed herself and picked up her pace as she walked on.

"Well well well...little miss-never breaks-the-rules...is wandering the corridors late at night." came the same whisper from behind her.

She spun back around and gasped. "Who's there? Draco...you'd better stop messing around!" She snapped shakily.

"Draco?" the voice laughed. "So...it's Draco again huh?"

Then Harry, Ron, and Ginny appeared from beneath the Invisibility cloak.

"Harry!" She gasped.

"So, I take it things between you and Malfoy have heated up huh?" Ginny sneered.

"What?" Hermione snapped.

"Well Hermione, it's clear that you're no longer after me." Harry snapped with mock jealousy.

"Bloody Hell, I can definitely say that you've gone mental." Ron said in a low tone.

"Look, what do you three want anyway?" Hermione hissed angrily.

"That's easy." Harry said as he circled her slowly. Then he reached up and grabbed a handful of her hair. She gasped and winced as he forcefully pulled her head back. "I want you to apologize to Ginny." he growled.

"I'll do no such thing!" Hermione retorted, but Harry tightened his grip on her. "Apologize to Ginny for what you said and did to her at dinner time!" he demanded. "I'm not letting go until you do!"

The pain was excruciating. She felt that at any moment she'd feel blood start seeping out of the roots of her hair. She had no choice. She'd have to apologize to the red headed girl.

"I...I'm sorry Ginny." She mumbled bitterly.

"And you are to stay away from Malfoy. If you don't you will be sorry!" Harry added, his emerald green eyes flickering dangerously. "Don't forget, I have the Marauder's map and I will be watching you!" He snapped as he slowly let go of her.

"Come on, let's go." He said looking to Ginny and Ron who just nodded. Then they turned and walked down the corridor and disappeared behind the corner.

Hermione slumped down to her knees rubbing her head slowly.

------

"I didn't think Hermione would actually apologize, after all, that was just a lame excuse." Ron mumbled as the three walked away.

"Yeah, but it worked. Of course I doubt that she's going to heed the warning about staying away from Malfoy." Ginny said.

"Well if she doesn't listen then she's going to end up in a lot of trouble. Malfoy will see to that." Harry replied. So, did I sound mean enough or what?” he asked.

“You were very convincing.” Ginny complimented.

"So, did you get the hair?" Ron asked anxiously, when they were half way to the Gryffindor common room.

"Yeah, I got it." Harry replied as he looked at his hand that was curled into a fist, holding several strands of Hermione's brown hair.

"Just what we need." Ginny added proudly.

[Lissandra Sylvania]

Aga nüüd hakkavad asjad huvitavaks minema...

Chapter 17-Pansy's Contract

"But how did my father escape?" Draco snapped now pacing in front of Pansy nervously.

She smiled sweetly and then shrugged. "Oh I don't know...maybe someone was nice enough to apparate and bust him out and then come back to give you the good news." she said proudly.

"Wait...you...you mean that you apparated, helped him escape and came back here? But how? Dumbledore has spells to prevent that!" he said sharply.

"Oh not to worry Drakie, I knew that. But you see; I’ve got this.” She pulled out a small black coin that was surrounded by a dark red aura. “The dark lord gave this to me and told me how to use it. He said that with it, I could apparate from the forest with no threat of the wards reaching that far. In fact, the wards no longer extend to the forest itself. That is why your father wants you to go speak with him tonight.”

Draco shifted uneasily as Pansy continued. “Your father was quite pleased to see me and signed a contract before he left to report to the Dark Lord." Pansy cooed.

Draco raised a brow. "Whoa wait a second...signed what contract?" He asked curiously.

"Oh just this..." Pansy said as she pulled out a folded piece of parchment and handed it to him. He raised a brow as he took it and then opened it.

"What is this?" he asked.

"Oh just read it." She replied with a sly grin.

He shrugged then started to read:



This parchment is to recognize the following:

Mr. Draco Malfoy, -the son of Lucius Malfoy, and son of Narcissa Malfoy,- has now been bound by this contract following:

Draco Malfoy now belongs to Pansy Parkinson in all of the following titles:. Boyfriend, Lover, Fiancé`, Husband, and Father to the future offspring.

Pansy Parkinson will be the only female that Mr. Draco Malfoy will date, love, and spend the rest of his life with. This contract is upheld by the Ministry of Magic and is hereby notified and approved of by Mr. Lucius Malfoy as signed by him personally. Lucius Malfoy.

Should either Draco or Pansy become deceased, this contract will be void and cease to exist.

Draco's jaw dropped and he gasped as Pansy snatched the parchment out of his now shaking hands.

“Not bad, huh? I drew it up myself.” She smiled proudly.

"How could you do that!?" He snarled at her.

"Now now Drakie, I know that you'll miss your rendezvous with the other girls but trust me, this is for our future." She cooed.

"Our future! No Pansy, I don't want a future with you!" he shouted.

"Well that's just too bad. Your father already signed you over to me!" She bragged.

"I can't believe that you would do something like this!" He growled, his hands slapping to his forehead, as he suddenly began breathing hard.

"Why not?" She replied, tucking the contract away as her eyes narrowed. "Oh that's right; you didn't think that I had any intelligence." She added now in a darker tone. "If I remember correctly you said that I'm just a stupid, little obedient girl who worships you and obeys your every command."

Draco cringed as he had indeed said that to Blaise last year, but he didn't know that Pansy had actually heard him.

"Pansy-" he began but she cut him off.

"Shut up, Draco! It's my turn to talk now!" She hissed.

He looked at her with wide eyes. Never, had she dared to tell him to do such a thing before.

"As I was saying, I'm not as stupid as you thought. And this contract should prove it. You belong to me now, Draco. Forever!" she sneered.

He was now glaring hard at her.

"Get out!" He shouted.

She laughed then shrugged. "Alright I will go for now." She said and turned to go but stopped. "Oh and there is one more thing." She added hastily. "If you try to do anything with another girl, the spell on the parchment-which is now on your hands-will kill her. And I'm sure you don't want to go around killing all the girls in the school. Hahaha!" She sneered. And with that she tossed the coin at his feet, then turned and strolled out.

"No!" he screamed as he spun around and punched the wall. "d**n her!"

Then suddenly the portrait door flung open and Hermione stomped in.

"d**n him!" She shouted as she stormed over towards the stairs that led up to her room.

"Granger? what's wrong?" He asked trying to calm his shaking voice.

"Nothing!" She shouted as she stormed up to her room.

He rolled his eyes and then looked down at the black coin on the floor. He snatched it up, shook his head and went to his room where he slammed the door loudly.

"d**n him!" Hermione screamed. She was so loud that Draco could hear every word.

"How dare he threaten me!" she shouted.



"d**n her!" Draco snarled kicking the side of his bed. He was so loud that Hermione could hear him as well.



"Making a contract like that! And my own father signing me over to her like I'm some sort of bloody property!" He shouted.

Then suddenly he looked at the clock. It was almost midnight. "Just wait until I speak to my father." he muttered aloud. “How could he do such a thing to me?”

"Must you whine so much?" asked a cold voice.

Draco turned around and gasped as Lucius materialized in front of the window.

"Father?" he gasped. “How-how did you get in here? The wards are-“

“They are no match for the power of the dark lord, Draco. You should know this.” Lucius held up a black coin similar to the one that Draco was holding.

“I will not be able to stay undetected for long as that old wizard will notice something off about his beloved protective wards.”

"You really did escape." Draco replied.

"Yes thanks to your...fiancé` who so kindly helped me after I signed you over to her." Lucius bitterly replied.

"Father, how could you do that?" Draco growled, angrily.

"Well, the only way to escape was through her and naturally when she presented that contract for me to sign, I did so without hesitation."

"But I don't want her! She's beneath me!" grumbled the young Slytherin.

"Well...you can always kill her..." he chuckled menacingly. "You'd be free then."

"Kill her?" Draco gulped. He didn't want to do that. He didn't want to shed unnecessary blood unlike his father who didn't care about who he killed.

"You'll have to learn to kill someday my son; after all you will become a Death Eater soon." Lucius chuckled. Then he cleared his throat and said. "Now, as for the reason I came here. The Dark Lord and I have taken up refuge in the Forbidden forest. Tomorrow night, we would like you to come to a meeting. At nine’ o’clock go to the heart of the forest. The meeting will be held there."

Draco cringed then nodded. Lucius turned to go but Draco suddenly spoke. "Father, wait!" he said. Lucius half turned.

"Can't you break that contract with Pansy Parkinson?" he begged.

"Certainly not! A Malfoy never breaks a contract! However, there are ways around it as I have mentioned..." he said with a smirk.

"You're talking about killing her...right?" he replied with an uneasy frown.

Lucius nodded with a twisted smile. Then he turned and vanished.

"d**n it!" Draco groaned as he plopped on his bed. "I can't believe this!" he growled.



Hermione gasped in horror as she'd heard what sounded like Lucius and Draco talking. She'd leaned close to the wall listening in and was now horrified to learn that not only was Draco becoming a Death Eater that following night but that he belonged to Pansy Parkinson. "I can't believe this..." she mumbled as her eyes watered. Harry threatened me to stay away from him...maybe he knew something....Then she shook her head firmly. No...Harry couldn't have known about this...I...I need to go talk to Draco. She thought. But she knew that as soon as she went to knock on his door Harry would see her on the map. What could she do? Then suddenly she remembered something that she'd read in the black book. Wait...wasn't there something in it about deceiving the eyes of your enemies? She thought. Then she got up and hurried out of her room.

She rushed over and knocked on Draco's door.

He slowly opened it to see Hermione. Remembering what Pansy had said about him being around other girls he gasped and jumped back leaving a big space between himself and Hermione. "What do you want?" he snapped.

"The black book, give it to me, I don't have much time." She demanded talking as quickly as she could.

"What? No way! You know what that book-" he began but she cut him off.

"Hurry Draco, I don't have a lot of time. Harry's watching me. Just do it, please! I have an idea on how to deal with our communication problems. Please! I really need it!"

She spoke so quickly and urgently that he reached over, grabbed the black book and tossed it to her. "There, now go away." he grumbled slamming the door in her face.

She quickly rushed back to her room with it and sat down on the bed. "Where is it?" She mumbled flipping frantically through the book.

Draco scratched his head puzzled at Hermione's desire for the book but he knew that he couldn't be near her or else the spell from Pansy's contract would kill her. Maybe father's right. Maybe I should kill Pansy. At least then I could be around Hermione again. He thought then shook his head. Wait what am I saying? He gasped. I have no desire to be around that mudblood. For Merlin’s sake, I’m a Malfoy!

Hermione flipped the pages quickly, a determined feeling tingling inside her.

Eyes of the enemy….The eyes of the enemy….

Hermione gasped as she heard that familiar whispering voice again. But this time she didn’t think twice and concentrated on finding the words that the voice had spoken. And then she stopped on a certain page. Scanning over it, she nodded. This is it! The eyes of the enemy incantation.

"Found it!" she shouted loud enough for him to hear her.

"Found what?" he shouted through the wall.

"You'll see!" She replied not wanting to give a long explanation.



Then she pulled out her wand and waved it in a spiral shape as she chanted,



"Eyes of our Enemies we shall deceive,

Maps to our destination I command to take leave.

Eyes of the enemies shall be closed

To keep our plot from being exposed!"



Just then a grey cloud appeared and encircled her room.

"Draco, quickly come here!" She shouted to him.

"What? Huh?" he shouted through the wall.

"Hurry up!" She snapped.

Then she heard his footsteps hurrying across his room and out. Moments later she spoke the word "Angel Dust". The door opened and Draco stumbled in.

"What's...going on?" he asked, and then he looked at the grey smoke that had encircled the room.

"Granger, what did you do?" He gasped.



"I've prevented Harry and Pansy from seeing us together." She explained. "I used one of the spells in the book."

"But...Hermione-" He began but she quickly cut him off.

"Now, we only have an hour before the spell wears off, Draco so let's cut to the chase." She said firmly. "I know that your father was in your room."

He cringed. "But rest assured I will not tell anyone else." She added quickly.

"You...won't?" he asked suspiciously.

"No, I won't." She repeated. "Now, tell me what's going on."

He didn't hesitate and quickly explained everything dealing with Pansy, the contract, his father, and the meeting for the following night.

When he had finished he looked at her with an uneasy frown. I just know she's going to get mad at me. We were getting along so well before. But I just know she's going to hate me more than ever now. He thought nervously. She slowly looked at him a moment then sighed deeply.

"I understand, Draco." She finally said with a warm look. "On the contrary I have to deal with Harry, Ron and Ginny threatening me now."

He blinked surprised by her reaction ignoring the latter dealing with Harry and the others. "You mean...you're not mad?" He asked.

"Oh I'm furious!" She suddenly snapped. "But, not at you. At Pansy!" She hissed the girl's name so bitterly that Draco felt rather uneasy.

"Father told me that I could easily kill her and that would destroy the contract, but...I...I can't. I mean I don't really want to go as far as kill her. I don't want to kill anyone...I don't want to be a murderer like my father." he mumbled.

She nodded understandingly and then smiled slightly. "You actually do have a soft side." She said warmly.

His cheeks flushed a slight red and then he chuckled lightly. "I guess...maybe I do. But don’t you dare tell anyone!" he added sharply.

She then looked at him a moment. He looked back at her.

"Draco, maybe...maybe I can go talk to Pansy and see if I can change her mind." she said confidently.

He just shook his head. "I doubt that you could change her mind. She's so set on me and her together forever that she won't listen. And I honestly can't stand her!" he growled pacing back and forth angrily.

Suddenly, the familiar dark feeling that had come over her when she'd been jealous of Ginny, washed over her again. This time though it was stronger than she'd ever felt. She blinked rapidly and rubbed her head.

Draco noticed something was wrong and forgetting about the spell- he walked over to her."Hermione, are you okay?" He asked as he reached out for her but as soon as his fingers touched her shoulder, she went flying back against the wall.

"Hermione!” he gasped as she lay there groaning for a moment.

She then coughed and slowly stood back up rubbing her shoulder that now she could feel a bruise on.

"nuts! I forgot I can't touch you. That d**n Pansy!" He snarled as he punched the wall angrily. "Maybe...maybe I should kill her!" he shouted now rubbing his knuckles.

Then he took a few breaths and looked back to Hermione. "Are you alright?" He asked trying to calm down.

She slowly lifted her head. Suddenly images of her killing Pansy flashed in her mind but just as quickly they disappeared.

"Yeah, I'm okay." She mumbled forcing a slight smile on her face.

"Look, I'd better get back to my room...before I hurt you again." He mumbled heading towards the door.

"Draco, wait!" She said quickly.

He turned and looked to her.

"Is...Is your father hiding out in the Forbidden forest?" she asked trying to sound casual.

"Yeah, why?" He asked raising a brow. "And before you tell me to try talking to him, I'll tell you right now that he won't break the contract. He told me that earlier." He added quickly.

She simply nodded.

He sighed then frowned. "I fear we may become enemies again, Hermione. Though, I kind of wish we didn't have to be." He said in a low voice.

She nodded slowly as she looked to him. "I don't want to lose you, as my friend, Draco. I mean we’ve actually been able to get along for once." she began then looked down.

He bit his bottom lip as he looked at her. Then he cleared his throat. "I know it doesn't matter now but...I was actually going to tell you that...I...I..." he stopped and looked away. It hurt too much to say what he felt especially since he couldn't have her. It wasn't fair to admit the feelings he had for her because he couldn't be with her. And this made him feel cold and bitter.

"I wish that I could do something about this, Draco. I really do." She said as a few tears fell from her eyes.

"It's not your fault, Hermione. This is just the way that things have to be." He mumbled sharply.

Then he turned and walked out, closing the door behind him.

"This isn't fair...Pansy has no right! I...I wish...I wish that there was something that I could do to stop her!" she mumbled as she plopped onto her bed.


Draco sat down on his own bed in his own room and put his head in his hands. "d**n you, Pansy!" He mumbled as his eyes watered slightly with tears but he refused to let them fall.

He wiped the unshed tears away and scowled at the floor. Crying like an idiot won't help a thing, Draco! You need to use your brain and try to think of some way to get out of this! Now think! He scolded himself.

[Liz-Miia Parker]

Oba, me like it !! - niiet harry...hakkab luurama, juuksekarva oli vaja..selle joogi jaoks, ei tule nimi meelde

[Lissandra Sylvania]

Selle mögina jaoks XD
Aga nüüd hakkavad alles asjad huvitavaks minema, näeme kaugele on meie kallis Hermione võimeline minema, et Draco sellest lepingust vabastada..

Chapter 18-A Dangerous Meeting

Hermione lay on her bed, her teary eyes staring up at the ceiling. This is so unfair! Just when Draco and I are actually becoming friends, something like this has to happen!

She thought. Then with an angry huff, she sat up. "There's got to be something I can do. But what?" she mumbled just above a whisper. She then looked over at the Death Eaters book that was lying on the edge of her bed. She lazily made a grab for it, but her movement, caused the book to slide over the edge and fall to the floor.

She was about to grab it when she stopped and looked down at it. The book was opened on a page she'd never seen before. There was an incantation, scribbled in what looked like, red ink. And below it was a picture of a lovely young woman. She had bright red hair, sparkling sapphire eyes and wore a long, dark purple robe that fit her long slender figure.

Hermione was awestruck by her and couldn't help but smile. She's so beautiful. I wonder who she could be. Then she looked back at the top of the page where the incantation was written and skimmed over it. After she was done her eyes were wide and she was smiling widely. "I may need this spell someday." she mumbled. And then she closed the book, and put it down, as her mind returned to thoughts of one thing. How she was going to help Draco.

He's already said that talking to Pansy won't do any good. She thought and then sighed in frustration. And he talked to Lucius but he refused to break the contract. She let out a groan as she flopped onto her back. Ugh! Think Hermione, think! She mentally scolded herself. There's got to be something that I can do. She thought as she closed her eyes.

Just then she gasped as the strangest most unfathomable idea hit her. Instantly, her eyes flew open and she jumped up. Wait a second! Lucius...he's out in the Forbidden Forest. She thought now rapidly pacing back and forth. Then she squint her eyes thinking.

Maybe...just maybe I can go talk to him and convince him to break the contract by striking up some sort of deal with him if that's at all possible? She wondered then suddenly frowned. Oh wait; since I helped put him in Azkaban, he may not even give me a chance to talk. He may try to kill me the minute he sees me. But then again maybe, just maybe I can actually talk to him...or something. I don't know. First I have to find him then I'll decide what to do! She told herself firmly.

Then she slowly walked out of her room and quietly went down the steps and out the door down the corridor. She turned the corner and continued on her way.

But then suddenly she stopped.

Wait, Harry's got the Marauder's map and he might be watching me. She thought. I need to do the Eyes of the Enemy spell again. So she pulled out her wand. Then she tried to remember the spell.

However before she could chant the incantation, she heard distant footsteps.

"Hey Harry, aren't you worried about us getting caught?" came Ron's voice down the corridor.

Hermione silently gasped and looked around. Oh no, Harry and Ron are wandering around under the Invisibility Cloak. I can't see which way they're coming. She thought as she frantically dove into an alcove.

"Ron, keep your bloody voice down!" snapped Harry.

"Sorry but you know I always worry about getting caught." his freckled-face friend replied nervously.

"That's nothing new. Now, will you relax? We'll be back to the common room soon." Harry snapped sharply.

Hermione stayed perfectly still as the two passed by her.

"Well this is the last time that we should sneak out so late at night." Ron complained.

"Ron, you say that every year." Harry chuckled, his voice now fading.

Hermione waited until she heard their footsteps die away.

And then quick as a flash she bolted from her hiding place and ran down the opposite corridor. She was halfway around the corner when suddenly she heard the unmistakable hiss of Snape's voice. She stopped dead in her tracks, seeing his lit wand at the other end.

But luckily for her; his back was turned and he was busy scolding a couple of first year girls. He was unaware of her as she ducked down another corridor.

With all of the detours that she had to make to avoid people, she felt it would be hours before she could even make it outside. However, Hermione wasn't going to let that discourage her. She didn't care how long it took, she was going to the Forbidden Forest and that was final.

Finally, she made it outside, only stopping momentarily to take a few quick breaths.

Out into the night air she bolted. Breathing heavily, she ran faster and faster. She could see that the entrance to the forest lay just ahead. She knew that what she was doing would be considered treacherous and dangerous. But she was determined to find a way to break Draco free of Pansy and if going to Lucius was the only way, then so be it!

She stopped at the entrance of the forest, breathing hard.

What I'm doing is probably the worst thing that I could ever do. It may even fall under the category of betrayal. But...if there's a chance that I can talk Lucius into breaking Pansy's contract, then I'll take it. And with that, she stepped into the dark forest.

She slowly walked along, cautiously looking around. She knew that she had to be very careful, for the forest was filled with dangerous creatures and she had to keep her guard up.

There were screeches and howls and other sounds of the night, but they didn't seem to unnerve her as much, for she had willingly come into this place with one simple thing on her mind.

The eerie wind howled through the trees, as if it were warning her to go back; but she continued on. I'm not scared. I'm not scared. She repeated over and over in her mind. She then stopped as she came to a fork in the path. She looked to the left, then to the right. Which path was she going to take?

She looked up at the gnarled trees. They seemed to be pointing her to follow the left. And so she chose to take that path.

She picked up her pace now, as if she knew where she was going. She had been in this forest quite a few times and so she was almost certain that she was going in the right direction. As she continued on her way, she kept looking around at the trees; their branches seemed to mysteriously move in the direction that she was to go.

Deeper and deeper she went, until nearly most of the moonlight was shrouded by the eerie canopy of darkness that lay within the heart of the forest.

And then, she suddenly stopped. Slowly, she looked around and then took a deep breath and spoke the name of Draco's father.

"Mr. Malfoy!" She called out. "Mr. Lucius Malfoy!"

Her tiny voice echoed into the night, breaking the eerie silence of the forest.

But unfortunately, the hoot of an owl was the only reply she got back and she let out a disappointed sigh. Maybe he's not here anymore. Maybe he left. She thought.

Then suddenly, a black gloved hand flew out of the darkness and slapped over her mouth. She gasped as she spun around to see a pair of sinister, grey eyes glaring down at her.

"Well hello, Miss Granger." Lucius hissed menacingly, as he emerged from the shadows.

She gasped and firmly pulled away from him, taking a couple of steps back.

"Mr. Malfoy." She gasped in a low whisper.

"I take it you knew that I was here by the way you were shouting my name for the whole of Hogwarts to hear!" he sneered.

"I...apologize sir but I came looking for you..." She began but he cut her off.

"That foolish son of mine must have let it slip that I escaped Azkaban and was hiding in here." he remarked bitterly. "And then you decided to come looking for me on your own without your friends in hopes of possibly capturing me yourself?" His eyes narrowed. "Or perhaps you were spying on me and hoping to run back to Dumbledore to tell him of my whereabouts?" He chuckled darkly. "How very foolish."

"Please sir, I didn't come here to try to capture you on my own or alert Dumbledore." she said quickly.

"Is that so? Well then what did you come out here for?" He sneered.

"I wanted to...talk." She said hesitantly.

"And just what would a dirty little mudblood like yourself; want to talk to me about?" he snapped coldly.

She cringed but then took a breath and replied. "I...I came to talk to you about your son...Draco."

"And just what is it that you want to discuss about him?" He asked suspiciously.

"I...I wanted to ask you if you would...release him from the contract that you made with Pansy." She said hesitantly.

"Oh?" He looked taken aback by this. "And just why would you want me to do such a thing?" He hissed.

"Because...I....I want to be with your son!" She stated firmly.

"Ah, so you've developed a crush on my son have you, Miss Granger?" He chuckled. "Well, I can assure you that my son wants nothing to do with a Mudblood like you."

"But...we've been getting along quite well lately; since Harry and I had a fallout and well I've gotten to a friendly point with Draco to where we-" She was suddenly cut off by Lucius.

"Do you actually think that I would want my son associating with you! A dirty, filthy, Mudblood!" he snarled drawing his wand.

She cringed and stepped back. "Look, I'd be willing not to tell anyone else about you being here!" She said quickly.

Lucius look stunned for a moment, and then he gritted his teeth in disgust.

"Well you won't be able to tell them anyway, because you'll be dead!" He snarled pointing his wand at her.

"Lucius!" hissed a cold, sinister voice.

Lucius quickly took a step back as a familiar figure stepped towards them.

Hermione gasped as it came closer. She knew exactly who it was.

"So...Harry Potter's young female friend has taken a liking to your son, has she?" hissed Voldemort as he stepped up beside Lucius.

"She says that My Lord, but I'll kill her before she can even go near him!" Lucius replied hastily.

"Patience, Lucius. Let us hear her out first."

"Yes my lord." Lucius replied humbly as he put his wand away.

"Now Miss Granger...please continue." Voldemort hissed as he turned to her.

Hermione nodded slowly. "Well...I...I was hoping that I could convince Mr. Malfoy to break the contract he made with Pansy Parkinson so that I...could have... Draco." She replied nervously.

Her shaky tone made Voldemort smirk.

Lucius just frowned. "If I remember correctly Miss Granger, you and my son have always been... enemies...why now do you wish to be with him?" he asked coldly. "I can assure you that he does not feel the same way."

She frowned and looked down. "Well we've been getting along together lately and we have some things in common. I mean I think we were even forming a friendship..." she then paused as her eyes narrowed, “until Pansy got in the way." She hissed coldly.

Voldemort smirked at the hatred in Hermione's tone as she spoke the pug-girl's name.

Lucius quirked a curious brow as he too noticed this.

"I take it that there is a rivalry between yourself and Miss Parkinson?" Voldemort questioned.

Hermione scowled. "I hate her." She hissed.

Voldemort and Lucius exchanged interested looks.

After a moment, Lucius slowly looked back to the bushy-haired girl.

He studied her a moment as he rubbed his chin. And then with a smirk, he spoke.

"Suppose I did give you permission to be with Draco. What makes you think that you can trust him? What if he decides to turn on you and try to kill you? You haven't thought about that, have you?"

No, Hermione hadn't thought of that, but she was not about to let his statement scare her.

"I'm willing to take that risk, sir." She replied firmly, looking Lucius right in the eyes. "And if Draco does try to kill me then...so be it. I am willing to do anything for Draco...even die for him!"

He looked taken aback for a moment, but then he just scoffed. "Such brave words, Miss Granger. But even if I did approve of you being with my son, I still wouldn't break the contract!" He sneered proudly.

Hermione looked at him coldly. He seemed to like her cold expression as he let out a cold chuckle. "So, you came out here for nothing." He added cruelly.

Hermione nodded as she lowered her head disappointedly.

Just then Voldemort spoke. "It won't be necessary for you to die for Draco, Miss Granger." He hissed smiling wickedly at her. Then he turned to Lucius.

"Lucius, I'd like a word with you."

"Yes, My Lord." Lucius replied.

"Miss Granger, wait here." Voldemort said as he and Lucius took a few steps away to talk privately.

Hermione nodded and stood there, watching them curiously.



"She seems quite determined, Lucius. I can see that there is something different about her." Voldemort said in almost a whisper.

"I must agree, My Lord." Lucius replied. "I was rather disturbed to hear that she and my son have actually been on friendly terms."

"Yes, but perhaps she can be useful." the Dark Lord hissed.

"I don't know if we can trust her. After all, she is one of the ones that helped Potter imprison me in Azkaban!"

"Maybe so, but she said that she and Potter are not on good terms. Perhaps we can use this to our advantage."

"But she could be lying, My Lord. We cannot trust her. For all we know, she could go running back to Potter at anytime." Lucius replied.

Voldemort glanced to Hermione again and then back to Lucius. "Maybe, but I can feel a darkness within her and it is growing stronger. It's possible that she might turn on Potter, especially if she and your son join forces." He said with a pleased smile.

Lucius however was not pleased to hear this. However before he could say anything, Voldemort quickly continued. "If she actually breaks the contract, will you find her good enough for your son?" He asked curiously.

"But my lord she is a lowly mudblood...and I thought we killed her dirty kind without question." Lucius replied quickly.

"Yes, but in this case, I think we can make an exception, don't you?" Voldemort asked sharply.

"Yes my lord." Lucius replied hesitantly. "But surely my son doesn't have any feelings for this girl. They have been enemies since they first met. Even if she does break the contract; most likely he still won't accept her! He might even turn around and kill her."

"Well then, either outcome should be fine, shouldn't it?" Voldemort replied with a wicked grin. "Think about this Lucius; this girl was once a faithful friend to Harry Potter! But now her feelings for your son have caused her to waiver enough to bring her here to us. Can't you see the power that your son already has over her? Can't you feel the darkness radiating off of her? She's come to us all on her own, because she wants to be with Draco. Perhaps, she will be useful. Besides if she is willing to kill someone to be with your son, then I would think she is worthy of him, don't you?"

Lucius nodded with an uneasy look on his face as he contemplated what the Dark Lord had said. Then his eyes shifted to Hermione and he walked over to her. "Very well, Miss Granger, with the consent of the Dark Lord, I will allow you and Draco to be together; that is if he actually wants you. But only if you can break the contract that binds him- on your own!" He sneered darkly.

She swallowed nervously. "How exactly do I do that?" She asked hesitantly.

"You simply kill the one who made the contract in the first place." He replied with an evil grin.

"You mean I have to kill Pansy?" She gasped.

Lucius nodded. "Yes, Miss Granger." He chuckled. "After all, you claim that you'll do anything to be with my son; even die for him. So I'm sure that you're also willing to kill for him just as easily, correct?" He sneered glaring at her.

She slowly nodded. "Y-Yes." She hesitantly replied.

"Well then, killing Miss Parkinson will certainly prove it, now won't it?"

Hermione nodded slowly as a sickening feeling hit her. Would she actually kill someone to be with the guy she wanted? Was she really willing to go that far for Draco?

"Take some time to think about it, Miss Granger." Voldemort said as he turned and disappeared into the forest.

Lucius looked at her suspiciously for a moment, but then turned and vanished into the trees.

Hermione stood there all alone. The eerie silence had returned and only the sound of her footsteps crunching over the dry leaves was heard, as she turned and made her way back to the castle.

[Lissandra Sylvania]

Või siis kui kaugele Draco on võimeline minema, et olla Hermionega

Chapter 19-A Wicked Plot

Hermione quickened her pace as she hurried into the castle. As she made her way down the corridors, she was thinking about the meeting that she had just had with Lucius and Voldemort.

Oh my gosh! I can't believe that I just talked with both Lucius and Voldemort! And I'm also surprised that Voldemort stopped Lucius from killing me! She was shaking as she turned the corner and went up the first set of moving staircases. I was surprised that Lucius agreed to let me be with his son. Of course that is, if I kill Pansy. Her was racing as she went up another two flights. She then stepped through an archway and hurried down another corridor. Kill Pansy; that is all I have to do.

She then gasped and abruptly stopped. Wait a minute! What am I thinking! Kill Pansy? I can't do that! I'm not a murderer! I'm not evil! And I am certainly not a Death Eater! She then started walking again. She turned another corner and was now walking down the corridor towards the Head's room. Take deep breaths. Relax. I just need to relax. I'm not going to kill Pansy! I could never do that! She thought to herself. And then taking a final deep breath, she stopped outside of the Head's door. She was about to speak the password when suddenly a hand grabbed her sore shoulder. She winced and spun around quickly.

"Hello there, Hermione." Ginny sneered. Then soon two more faces emerged from behind her. Harry and Ron.

"So, what were you doing outside at two ‘o’clock in the morning?" Ron asked as he moved closer to her.

"What do you mean?" She asked innocently.

"Don't play dumb, Hermione! I saw you on the map!" Harry snarled. "You were running outside towards the Forbidden Forest and then your name just disappeared!"

"What I was doing is none of your business!" She sneered at them.

"Yes it is, especially since you were going into a place like that!" Harry snapped.

"So, what were you doing?" Ron asked.

Hermione knew that she couldn't tell them the truth. No way, was she going to.

So, forcing herself to remain calm she spoke in the most authoritive manner that she could.

"You three need to be in bed. You have no business wandering around at night!" She snapped.

Ginny rolled her eyes. "Oh and like you do?" she snapped back.

"Yes I do, because I am Head Girl." Hermione bragged.

Harry scowled. "Come off it, Hermione." He grumbled. "Just because of what happened there's no reason to be acting so childish towards us."

"Childish? Pfft! I have not been acting childish!" She snapped.

"Oh yeah? Then what do you call that little jealousy game that you and Malfoy played on me?" Harry sneered.

"And what do you call that little insult war?" Ginny added bitterly. "Oh and throwing pumpkin juice on me?"

"Yeah and...and...the way you jumped on Harry and kissed him after we had started dating just a couple of hours before?" Ron growled.

"Uh actually Ron, that was called cheating." Ginny exclaimed.

"Oh..." Ron mumbled.

"Look, I don't have to answer any of you. Now, go back to your dormitories this minute!" Hermione ordered.

"No." Harry said as he got right in her face. "Not until I get some answers."

"Yeah and we're waiting to hear them." Ginny chimed in.

"Look, I told you three to go back to your dormitories!" Hermione snapped now raising her voice.

"And I said not until you give us some answers!" Harry shouted.

"Yeah, tell us what's gotten into you!" Ron demanded, trying to sound forceful.

Hermione scowled. She had no intention of telling them anything.



Just then the Head's portrait door opened and a groggy looking Draco emerged.

He took a second to wipe the sleep from his eyes and then scowled.

"What the hell is going on out here?" he demanded now glaring at Harry.

"None of your business, Malfoy! We're having a talk with Hermione." Ron snapped.

"Yeah? Well it sounded more like you three were bullying her to me!" Draco snapped back.

"Well we were suspicious about what she was doing. Especially after we saw her running off into the Forbidden Forest for some reason." Ginny chimed in.

Draco's eyes suddenly widened and he quickly looked to Hermione. "You did what? But Granger you know that my..." He began but she shook her head at him furiously and he got the hint to shut up.

Harry and the others eyed the two suspiciously.

"Hey is something going on with you two?" Ginny dared to ask.

"No!" Draco grumbled quickly. "I was just wondering what..." Hermione quickly mouthed the word 'Mudblood' to him and Draco caught on. "I was just wondering why you and the...Mud...blood were making all this noise out here! I was trying to sleep, d**n it!" He added coldly.

"Well..." Harry began as he felt relieved, noticing the animosity between Hermione and Draco had returned.

"Now, just for wandering the halls, I'm taking fifty points off of all three of you."Draco said now smirking at Harry, Ron, and Ginny. "And an extra ten points more for harassing a Head student. And five more for...well just because I hate you!"

"You can't take five points off for hating us!" Ron grumbled.

"You're right, make that twenty-five!" Draco sneered, causing Ron to grimace.

"Now go back to your dorms before I take off even more!" Draco threatened.

Harry just glared at him and shook his head. Then he, Ron, and Ginny stormed off.

"Bloody idiot!" Ron mumbled as they walked away.

"That's ten more for insulting a superior, Weasel!" Draco called after them.

Then he and Hermione went inside.

Draco slammed the door behind them and then spun around and glared at her. "Why did you want me to call you a mudblood?" He asked scratching his head.

"Just so Harry wouldn't get suspicious of us. I have enough to deal with right now without adding him to my stress!" She snapped.

"Oh." He mumbled then suddenly his eyes narrowed and he frowned. "Now...what the hell were you doing going to the Forbidden Forest? My father's there!"

"Voldemort's there too." She replied quickly, causing his eyes to widen.

"You saw them?" He gasped.

She nodded, "Yes, and I..." but he cut her off.

"d**n it, Hermione! What were you doing? They could have seen you!" he growled.

"They did!" She replied calmly.

"What! nuts!" he shouted.

"Draco, please calm down. Look, I-" but he cut her off again.

"You are lucky that you escaped with your life!" He cried.

"Draco! Calm down!" She shouted over him, causing him to fall silent.

"Please let me explain." She replied softly.

He quirked a brow.

"Let's sit down, okay?" She said gesturing to the couch.

He rubbed his forehead, taking a few quick breaths and nodded. "Fine." he said dryly as he walked over and sat at his usual end of the couch.

Hermione sat down on her side.

"Hermione, what were you doing in the Forbidden Forest?" he asked, trying to sound as calm as he possibly could, but his words came out in a harsh tone.

She looked at him. How could she tell him the truth? How could she actually tell him the reason that she went? She fidgeted as her nerves began to get to her.

"Hermione?" he asked noticing the slight red flush that was now on her cheeks.

"I'm...I'm sorry." She finally mumbled.

"Huh?" he asked, quirking a confused brow.

"I can't tell you." were her words.

He blinked rapidly. "What? But..."

"I can't explain it right now." She interrupted.

But before he could say a word she went on.

"But everything's going to be fine now, Draco." She added with such a calmness that it made him feel uneasy.

She didn't think it was a good idea to tell him about her talk with his father and Voldemort yet, for she wasn't sure how he would react.

That didn't matter though, because only one thing was on her mind now.

Then without another word, she walked up to her room, grabbed the black book and tucked it in her robe. Then she grabbed her wand off her table and tucked it into her robe as well. She then went back down to the common room where Draco was still sitting. He was looking rather confused.

When he saw that she had returned, he got up and walked over to her. "What's going on?" He demanded, but in a calm tone.

"I can't tell you." She repeated causing him to frown.

"Why not?" he snapped advancing towards her.

"Look, I'll tell you about it later, I promise. Right now though, I have to go somewhere. I'll be back in a bit." She said hurrying towards the door.

"Whoa wait, just where are you going? It's almost three in the morning!" Draco snapped.

"I know but I'm...I'm going for a walk. I need to clear my head. I'll see you later, Draco." She added and hurried out.

Draco stood there, rubbing his head. What's with her? He wondered as he went over and plopped down on the couch. I don't understand her sometimes. He then shook his head. Why did she go to the Forbidden Forest? Argh! I should go after her and make her tell me! But if I do, I would have to be careful not to touch her. He then sighed and got up and walked up to his room. He sat down on his bed and frowned. That d**n Pansy! This is all her fault! I can't even get close to Granger without hurting her! He then shook his head. I never thought the day would come when I would want to be so close to that know-it-all mudblood. Yet here I am, wanting to be near her but trapped by that ugly sleeper Pansy! He let out an angry growl and then cracked his knuckles. That pug is so d**n lucky that I'm nothing like my father. If I were, then she wouldn't be alive right now. But I'm not evil enough to actually kill her! And then he saw his wand lying on the table beside his bed. Or...am I? He wondered as his eyes narrowed.

Hermione shivered as she crept along the corridor that led to the dungeons. She knew that the Slytherin common room was just ahead. She wasn't sure how she was going to do it but she had to somehow get Pansy to come out alone. She stopped a few steps before reaching the large Slytherin crest and then quickly pulled out the black book and chanted the same spell that she'd used earlier.

"Eyes of our Enemies we shall deceive,

Maps to our destination I command to take leave.

Eyes of the enemies shall be closed

to keep our plot from being exposed!"



Now those idiots won't be able to see me on the map for an hour. But how will I be able to coax Pansy out alone? She thought.

Just then she heard footsteps moving towards her. She quickly ducked into a dark alcove as the footsteps moved closer.


I'm going to do this. Draco said to himself as he walked down the corridor. He held his wand tightly in his hand; his narrowed eyes were cold and menacing as he glared straight ahead; with a look that was ready to kill. I will show Pansy that she doesn't own me! I'll do it and won't regret it! He thought as he stopped at the Slytherin common room door.

Hermione gasped as she peeked out to see him. Draco? What's he doing here! She wondered nervously. Her first thought was to jump out and ask him what he was doing. But she decided to stay put and watch him for the moment instead.

I'm doing this for you, Hermione and no one else! Draco thought as he spoke the password to the common room.

"Pureblood"

The door opened and he tucked away his wand as he slowly walked in. To his surprise, Pansy was sitting on the couch doing what looked like homework. She slowly lifted her head to see him.

"Drakie, what are you doing here?" She gasped rather pleasantly surprised.

"Oh I was kind of missing you and felt like dropping by." He said in a cold dark tone. She giggled and jumped up and threw her arms around him. He smirked as he let her though he did not hug her back.

"I missed you too Drakie, I was afraid you'd still be mad about that contract." She cooed.

"No, I'm not mad about it at all." he replied with a chuckle. "In fact I realize just how much I want to be with you." He forced the words out of his mouth in the kindest manner he could muster. Pansy squealed in delight and then jumped onto him and kissed him hard on the lips.

Hermione slowly slipped out from her hiding place and tip toed over to the Slytherin common room and peeked in. She frowned as she saw Draco and Pansy kissing.

She looked down at the wand in her quivering hand. No...I can't kill her now. Draco's kissing her which means he must like her in some strange way. And...he most certainly doesn't like me. I mean I'm a mudblood after all. Tears began to form in her eyes and she turned and ran down the corridor.

"Enough Pansy!" Draco growled as he pushed her off him. But then remembering his plan he forced a quick smile on his face. "So, how about we go for a little walk out under the stars in the moonlight?" He suggested.

"But Drakie it's three ‘o’clock in the morning. We'll get caught!" Pansy protested.

"Aw come on Pansy, I'm really in the mood now" He lied trying not to show any disgust as he said it.

"You mean you finally want to have sex with me!" She gasped.

"Shhh not so loud." he snapped. "We don't want the other Slytherins to hear. This is just a special...er... moment between the two of us."

She gasped again and then started trying to grope him.

"Hey not here. Like I said let's go outside under the moonlight." He said swatting her hands off.

"Okay!" She said excitedly grabbing his hand.

He chuckled lightly as he turned and led her out into the corridor.



As they walked along Pansy began her usual cooing over Draco; who just rolled his eyes but let her babble on-as long as she wasn't too loud seeing as it was so late.

"So, what do you think, Drakie? When we get married should we have five children? Or six?" She asked happily.

Draco cringed at this and he looked to her with a disgusted frown. You have to be kidding me. He thought, watching her stroll along, dreamily gazing off into space.

"Well?" She asked now looking to him.

"Well what?" He snapped.

"Well, how many kids do you think we should have?" She asked.

"Uh...er well let's discuss that tomorrow." He replied hoping that he could keep himself from being nauseous as they turned the corner.

"Okay." She replied. "So, where are we going?" She asked.

"We are going for a...r....r....romantic..(he choked the word out) walk in the moonlight, Pansy." he replied hesitantly.

"Oooooo and then we're going to have sex!" Pansy added with a loud giggle. Draco cringed and tried to shush her quickly.

"Geez Pansy, you want to wake up the whole castle?" He snapped at her.

"Oh, sorry." She giggled. "I just got so excited at the thought of us finally having sex in the moonlight." She added dreamily.

Draco's face scrunched into an expression of ultimate disgust as she said this. No way! I will not do that with her! No NO NO! He thought trying to rid himself of the horrid image that had crept in his mind.

But then suddenly another image appeared. A beautiful girl wearing a long sparkling white dress with long brownish golden curls appeared. She stood there at a distance so that Draco couldn't see her face. "Draco, I love you." she whispered. He blinked as he thought he recognized her voice. Could it be possible...he started to wonder and then suddenly was jolted out of his dream at the sound of Pansy's voice.

"Drakie!" She snapped.

"What!" He snapped back; annoyed that she'd ruined his daydream.

"For the third time, I said do you want to name our first born son after you?" She asked.

"Ugh...yeah sure whatever." He muttered absently as his mind longed to see the image of that lovely young woman again. Then he shook his head and sighed.

"What was that?" Pansy suddenly gasped as she abruptly stopped.

"Huh? What?" Draco asked, quickly coming to a halt nearly knocking her over. d**n it Pansy! he thought.

"I heard someone's faint footsteps just now, Drakie." Pansy said firmly, nervously looking around.

Draco rolled his eyes and then frowned slightly as he realized just where they were.

"It could have been one of those stupid Gryffindors sneaking out, after all their common room is right down there." He grumbled as he saw the Gryffindor flag colors shining in the moonlight that poured in through the corridor windows.

"Do you think any of them are spying on us?" Pansy whispered.

"No, but come on." He snapped grabbing her hand. "Let's get away from this area, it's unnerving." He added as he led her away.

She nodded and they picked up their pace as they continued on their way.



A pair of eyes peered out from an alcove, as a few strands of red hair fell over a certain Gryffindor's face.

Ginny Weasley slowly peeked out to see Pansy along with Draco's blonde hair disappearing around the corner.

I wonder what they're doing out this late at night? She thought as she stepped out of her hiding place. I'd better go tell Harry and Ron. She thought as she started towards the Gryffindor common room. But halfway there a sudden light appeared from behind her and she turned only to come face to face with a very disgruntled Professor Snape.

"What have we here?" He sneered in a low tone. "A young female Gryffindor is out of bed."

Ginny swallowed nervously.

"Tell me, what were you doing wandering the corridors at night?" He snapped.

"Well I...I was...I saw..." She stammered but couldn't get a single sentence out.

"I'm not surprised really. After all your brothers have always had a tendency to break the rules, and I see that you are following in their footsteps." He said bitterly.

"I...I..." She began but he cut her off.

"Let's go see what Professor McGonagall has to say about this, shall we?" He said.

She nodded and began walking as he followed behind her.


Hermione had ran out to the same spot in the Quidditch Pitch; where she and Draco had played their game of making Harry jealous. With a sad sigh she sat down in the grass. Why did things have to fall apart like this? she thought as she silently sobbed. Why didn't I realize how I felt about Draco sooner? And where does my loyalty lie now? I can't say that I'm truly apart of Dumbledore's army anymore because I...I made a deal with the enemy!...But just because I made that deal doesn't mean that I've become a Death Eater! I certainly don't consider myself a follower of Voldemort! She took a deep breath then sighed. Of course...I'm not friends with Harry anymore...and I can't even be with Draco now! She wiped her eyes and then bit her bottom lip glaring at the ground. I've gotten myself in a mess now but...maybe there's still time to undo it. Maybe if I go to Harry and the others and tell them where Lucius and Voldemort are, Harry will forgive me and we'll all be friends again. But...somehow I don't really want to do that. Maybe because Voldemort spared my life, and Lucius actually agreed to let me be with his son if I killed Pansy...But I can't because I saw Draco kissing her just moments ago! I can't kill her if he wants to be with her!

"Just a little further, Pansy." came a familiar voice. Draco!

Hermione scowled and jumped up. She could see Draco and Pansy walking her way. d**n him! She thought as she got up and ran across the field hoping that they wouldn't see her. To her relief they didn't. She hid behind the nearest banner and stayed quiet as she watched the two approach holding hands.

"It really is nice out here, Drakie." Pansy cooed looking around. Then she shrugged, "Oh well, let's take our clothes off now!" She squeaked quickly.

Hermione's eyes narrowed as she glared at the two bitterly. I can't believe him! He brought her out here to shag her! She felt a pain in her chest as she bit her lip to keep from crying.

Pansy giggled with delight as she started to undo her blouse. "You know Drakie; I'm really going to enjoy this!" She said excitedly.

Draco slowly looked around, making sure that they were alone.

And then he looked back to her, a menacing gleam appearing in his eyes. Then that familiar trademark smirk crept across his face as he reached into his robe and pulled out his wand. "I will enjoy this too." He sneered evilly, now pointing it at her.

"Drakie? What are you doing?" Pansy squeaked nervously.

Draco just chuckled darkly. "You'll see." He sneered maliciously.

Hermione's eyes grew wide. Could it be that Draco had tricked Pansy to get her alone so that he could kill her? Was he actually going to do it?

"Drakie, what's wrong?" Pansy whimpered.

"Call me 'Drakie' one more time and I'll make your death slow and painful!" He snarled coldly, as he walked towards her.

Pansy shuddered. "What's wrong? I thought you-" She began but his voice drowned her out.

"Release me from that contract!" He demanded.

"What?" She gasped.

"You heard me! Either you release me from that bloody contract or I will kill you!" He warned.

"Oh...now I see what you're up to." Pansy snapped; her fear washing away.

She squinted at him and then smirked as she crossed her arms. "No!" She snapped. "I won't release you because you are mine, Draco, now and forever whether you like it or not!" She hissed at him. "And if you think that you can kill me then go ahead!" She added as a wicked smile crossed her face.

Draco raised a brow. Something wasn't right. Pansy was up to something.

"I know you won't do it." She said now confidently strolling up to him. "I'm the one who loves and adores you with every fiber of my being, Draco. And I know how you really are. You're not like your father. You don't have it in you to kill."

Draco's hand began shaking violently. "You want to make a bet?" He growled trying to sound threatening; but there was hesitation in his tone which the pug-faced girl noticed right away.

"I can hear the hesitation in your voice. You're not going to kill me." She added confidently. "And even if you were to try, you still couldn't."

"What makes you think that?" he sneered.

"Maybe because I forgot to mention to you and your father one minor detail about that contract." She said now giggling.

"What minor detail?" he growled through clenched teeth.

"Oh just the fact that I took the liberty of preventing both you and your father from killing me; by enchanting the parchment that the contract was written on. So if you even try to use that killing curse on me it will work, but it will also bounce back and kill you too! Which that would be a shame, but if you are stupid enough to do it then so be it. I don't mind dying with the love of my life!" Pansy sneered.

Draco glared as she moved closer to him. "So, any plan of trying to kill me should be gone now as I'm sure you don't want to kill yourself too. And now...how about you just accept me and let me give myself to you." she whispered seductively as she slapped his hand, causing him to drop his wand.

He was now shaking with rage. He had no way of escaping this crazy woman. Ever! He would be doomed to spend the rest of his life with her!

[Lissandra Sylvania]

Tõehetk!

Chapter 20- When She Finally Snapped!

Hermione couldn't stand it anymore. Draco looked so hurt, so angry, so defeated.

No...I can't let this happen! Even if Draco never had any feelings for me, I still have feelings for him and I just can't let Pansy do this to him.

"Face it Draco, you are mine and no other girl would dare try to steal you away from me!" Pansy sneered triumphantly.

"That's what you think, Parkinson!" snapped a cold voice.

Draco and Pansy looked to see Hermione now stomping towards them.

"What does she want?" Pansy grumbled in almost a whisper.

Draco just shrugged.

"Well well Granger, out and about spying on people, I see." Pansy sneered at her. "You Gryffindors can never stay out of other people's business!" She added rolling her eyes.

"Oh but Draco is my business!" Hermione snapped back sharply.

Pansy raised a brow. "Just when did you start calling him by his first name? And why are you claiming that he is your business?" She demanded.

Hermione looked to Draco nervously then glared at Pansy. "He's...my friend!" She stated firmly.

"Your friend? Hahaha! Very funny, Granger. I happen to know that that is a lie! Draco despises everything about you. And do you want to know why? It's because you are nothing but a dirty, filthy, nasty little Mudblood!" Pansy hissed hatefully.

Hermione cringed. Draco's eyes narrowed at Pansy with fury. "It's true...Granger is my friend, Pansy." he stated firmly.

This wiped the smile from the Slytherin girl's face and she scowled at Draco. "You mean to tell me that you have stooped to the level of becoming friends with this Mudblood? Draco what's wrong with you!" She demanded.

Hermione looked at Draco who half-smiled back at her.

Pansy clenched her teeth in disgust as her eyes narrowed at the bushy-haired girl. "I see what you're doing, Granger. You're thinking that you can somehow steal Draco away from me...But you can't! I won't let you."

Hermione's cheeks flushed red and she looked down unsure of what to say.

Draco raised a brow at her curiously.

The looks that the two were exchanging annoyed Pansy. Hastily, she reached in and pulled out the folded parchment from her robe.

"Do you see this, Granger?" She asked with a smirk.

Hermione's eyes narrowed at her.

"This contract ensures my victory!" the Slytherin girl bragged, waving it around.

The bushy haired girl shook her head. "What you're doing is wrong!" She hissed. "Draco isn't some sort of property, he's a person! He's a human being!"

"Spare me your little lectures, Granger. It's not like you have any say in this matter."

Hermione could feel anger boiling inside her as Pansy continued to taunt her."You might as well give up on him, because he belongs to me. Whatever little crush you developed on him, you need to get over fast because he can never leave me! He can never break the contract and therefore he can never be with you!" Pansy shouted.

Suddenly, amidst her anger, Hermione felt something else. It was strong, stronger than what she'd ever felt before. The dark feeling that she had forced away so many times, had now returned. But it wasn't a feeling of jealousy. It was something different this time.

And then she felt something warm tucked in her robes. She reached in and pulled out the black book.

Pansy scoffed at seeing it. "Hahaha, can't go anywhere without one of your books, now can you?" she laughed.

Draco, however, knew that the book in Hermione's hands was no ordinary book. He knew exactly what it was.

As Hermione held it, a strange new sensation began to wash over her. And then she heard a soft, whispering, voice.

"Hermione...the darkness you've found is your calling..."

With a start, Hermione spun around, but saw no one else. Then quickly she focused her attention back on Pansy.

"Are you afraid of something?" the pug-faced girl taunted.

"No, I'm not afraid of anything!" Hermione retorted bitterly as she gently placed the black book down on the grass.

Draco eyed her curiously. He didn't know why but he was starting to get a very uneasy feeling.

"Hermione...the darkness you've found is your calling..." the voice whispered again.

"What?" Hermione cried out, spinning all the way around now.

There was no one there.

"I think you're flipping out, Granger." Pansy hissed as she pulled out her wand. "Maybe, a little sleep would help!"

"What?" Hermione snapped, turning back around.

"Stupefy!" Pansy shouted sending a red bolt of light at the bushy-haired Gryffindor.

"Hermione, watch out!" Draco shouted.

Hermione gasped and dove to the ground as the stunning spell flew over her.

"d**n it, Pansy!" Draco growled, as he raised his hand and slapped Pansy's wand away.

"Drakie! How dare you!" she hissed as she dove for it.

As she did so though, the folded parchment fell out of her robes.

Seeing it, Draco reached down and grabbed it.

As Pansy spun around she scowled at the parchment in his hand.

"My contract! Give it back to me!" She demanded.

"No!" He sneered. "This contract is over!" And he held it up with both hands, ready to rip it in half.

"Fine! Go ahead and kill both of us!" Pansy sneered.

Draco raised a brow at her. "What?" he snapped.

"If you rip that parchment, you will kill us both!" She stated sharply.

His eyes narrowed.

"The contract clearly says that unless one of us dies, it can't be broken. And the spell on that parchment will kill us both if you try to rip it." the pug-faced girl said firmly as she snatched it away from him.

Hermione had gotten back to her feet and was now glaring at Pansy. What do I do? she thought desperately.

Suddenly, she heard the whispering voice again.

"The sensation you've been feeling is the sign..."

She tried not to be as obvious as before as her eyes scanned the area, hoping to find where it was coming from.

And then, she looked down.

The book.

The book was oddly opened to the page with the young red-headed woman's picture on it.

Can it be? She wondered as she reached down and picked it up. She stared down at the page.

"Only Granger would take time out in an argument to read a stupid book!" Pansy scoffed as she pointed her wand at the bushy-haired girl again.

However, Draco grabbed it out of her hand.

"Give that back!" the pug faced girl demanded.

"No!" snapped the blonde Slytherin as he held it up out of her reach.

He risked a glance at Hermione and frowned. She was standing there, deathly still, intently staring down into the book.

He shook his head and shouted, "Hey Granger, wake up!"

His voice jolted her out of her daze and she looked to him.

"Draco?" She murmured.

"Hermione...what are..." before he could get the words out, Pansy snatched her wand up off the ground.

"Expelliramus!" She hissed, blasting the book out of Hermione's hand.

The book hit the ground as the bushy-haired girl staggered back a few steps.

"Pansy, d**n it, that's enough! Look, just stop it!" Draco snarled.

"Why? I'm having fun humiliating the mudblood!" Pansy sneered back at him.

Hermione blinked and then glared back at the pug-faced girl. It would be so easy to actually kill her, wouldn't it? She found herself thinking and then she gasped. No! What am I thinking? I am not going to kill Pansy!

"The darkness you've found is your calling...Hermione." came the whispering voice again. And again, images of her killing Pansy flashed through her mind.

"The darkness...your calling....kill her....kill her...The darkness you've found...your calling..." the voice was now echoing in her head.

It was all around her, yelling, chanting over and over.

Her heart was racing, she was sweating, and vivid images of her killing Pansy were flashing along with the words of the whispering voice.

She put her hands to her head, staggering slightly.

"Hermione, what's wrong?" Draco asked, but she could not hear him.

All she could hear was that voice; all she could see were those vivid images.

If I kill Pansy, Draco will be free. He will be free from that contract! She thought.

And then she lifted her head, and looked at the two Slytherins.

Slowly she pulled out her wand and pointed it at Pansy whose eyes narrowed.

"Release him from that contract Pansy or...else..." Hermione warned in a cold tone.

Draco gasped but stayed quiet as Pansy let out a chuckle.

"Oh this is so sweet. Little miss goody-goody is actually making a threat? Hahaha." Pansy cooed.

"No Pansy, I'm making a promise. Now free Draco from your contract for the last time or you will be sorry!" Hermione warned.

"No way, Granger! I am not letting something as filthy as you touch my pureblood, boyfriend! He is way out of your league! So run on back to Potter and Weasley, surely they will take you back if you bow down to them!" Pansy laughed.

"Those close to you have abandoned you, betrayed you, hurt you, and ridiculed you for the last time. It's time you make them pay." the voice whispered in Hermione's head.

"I don't want them!" shouted the now enraged Gryffindor.

"Oh that's right. You want Draco now! Hahahahaha!" Pansy cackled. "You...You want this handsome, pureblooded, blonde, Slytherin who's always treated you like dirt, right?" she continued to laugh hysterically. "You want what you can't have. But sorry, Draco is mine forever, Granger!"

Hermione's eyes watered and a single tear fell down her cheek.

"That's it, Pansy!" She shouted now raising her wand and fiercely pointing it at the pug faced girl.

But Pansy just scoffed. "Really Granger, you can't hurt me. You're too much of a goody-goody to harm anyone. Now, if you will excuse us, Draco and I are going to have some fun with each other, so run along!" she said as she tried to kiss Draco on the lips.

He growled and tried to push Pansy away but she wouldn't let go. "Stop fighting me, Draco!" She snapped as she forcefully grabbed his face in her hands, trying to kiss him once again.

"Get off of me you ugly pregnant dog!" Draco snarled at her. But she clung to him.

Then just as Pansy's lips were about to meet Draco's something snapped inside of Hermione.

"No! Let go of him NOW!" She screamed, startling both Pansy and Draco.

Seeing his chance, Draco pushed Pansy back as hard as he could.

She staggered backwards but then stopped herself and started towards him again.

"Pansy Stop!" Hermione snarled in a demanding tone.

Pansy would have simply ignored her, but something about Hermione's cold tone and now hateful expression stopped her in her tracks.

"I won't let you have him, Pansy! I won't let you!" the busy-haired girl cried out. "I'm not going to let you trap him like this! I mean it! I'm his friend whether you like it or not and I'm willing to do whatever it takes to free him!"

Draco gasped wide eyed at Hermione's words and his heart began to race.

"I’m willing to die for him! And...I'm also willing to kill for him!" Hermione sneered darkly slowly walking towards the blond girl, whose face was suddenly full of fear.

Pansy cringed as she noticed a different air about Hermione. Draco noticed it too.

There was no sign of warmness or kindness in her eyes, instead what was there was coldness, bitterness, and hatred.

"Wait...Granger...you...you wouldn't really kill me...would you?" she whimpered backing away.

Hermione stopped and looked at the trembling Slytherin girl, and suddenly a dark smirk crossed her face.

Draco backed away slowly, his eyes darting from Hermione to Pansy and back to Hermione again. Will she really kill her? He thought, swallowing the nervous lump in his throat.

"Goodbye, Pansy." Hermione hissed coldly.

"What? No....please..." whimpered the Slytherin girl fearfully.

But Hermione simply pointed her wand at the girl.

“That’s it, Hermione…Avada Kedavra…Avada….Kedavra….Avada Kedavra…..” the voice repeated.

Then it seemed as if everything around her fell silent and she could only hear the voice.

Her body began trembling as she felt a strong wave of anger wash over her.

It was strong; hard to fight and empowering.

“Speak the incantation, Hermione and all your problems will go away. Draco will be free…”

I can’t..I…I… She thought but something was pushing inside her. And she found herself no longer able to fight against it. It was sucking her in; like a wicked vortex; tearing her conscience apart and filling her with something that she’d never truly felt before.

And then……..

"AVADA KEDAVRA!" She shouted with such hatred in her voice, that it echoed around them.

Pansy gasped in horror as green light flew out of Hermione's wand and came hurling towards her.

"No!" came the blood curdling cry of the pug-faced girl.

Draco shielded his eyes and jumped back, as the green light whished past him and crashed into the female Slytherin.

Then moments later, the screaming ceased.

Hermione and Draco slowly looked to the ground.

There lay the dead body of Pansy Parkinson.

The contract was broken.

Draco was free.

[Liz-Miia Parker]

OMG !!!!!!!! LAHE!