Chapter 1

Christmas was approaching at Hogwarts and the snow swirled in the air while it disguised the paths leading away from the castle. Although daytime, there was a shade of icy darkness in the midst. Dumbledore had decided to treat his students with a trip to Hogsmeade despite fearing that a snowstorm might fall.

Hermione, although wanting to spend time with her friends, had more important things on her mind- for example the upcoming tests and assessments. Though being knowledgeable on the subject and having successfully brewed one of the hardest potions she'd came across in her second year, the Polyjuice Potion, Hermione wasn't dealing so well with Professor Slughorn's recent assignments. She had positioned herself at the largest table in the library with ancient books covering all the space. She was racing back and forth trying to figure out the equation to this potion and why it hadn't worked when she had precisely followed the instructions. Hermione was not one for mistakes so it infuriated her that she could not get a simple thing like this right.

Draco had insisted that Crabb and Goyle enjoy themselves without him at Honeydukes. He didn't want to spend time among filthy mudbloods and half-bloods while he could spend his time in the Room of Requirements coming up with a plan to escape the deal his father had made with Voldemort. He didn't want to be a part of Voldemort's army, even though he badly wanted to defeat obnoxious Potter and his peasant friends, he did not want to risk his precious life for it.

Draco sashayed theatrically through the grand staircase and into the library. He was prepared to enter the restricted section if it came to that, he needed to find a book that dealt with deal-breaking magic so he could head to the room of requirements and perform the spell. It wasn't a brilliant idea, but he had none other that wouldn't put himself or his family at risk and he didn't want to go face to face with Voldemort. He knew he couldn't win. Although he'd never admit this to anyone, he was afraid of Voldemort, and was right to be too.

The halls were empty, there were no filthy Gryffindors or Hufflepuffs walking and snickering at their senseless jokes, and this is just how he liked it. He walked past the towering bookshelves filled with ancient leather bound books. Although it didn't seem like it, Draco admired these volumes of books, they inspired him and gave him intelligence although he wouldn't be caught dead reading one. He was a very private boy and did not want to reveal himself to the outside world as he felt that no one would understand.

He reached the study tables and much to his surprise he spotted brunette locks of hair spilling over a grandiose amount of books.

Hermione heard feet shuffling towards her and she peered up intently wondering who else besides her had more important thoughts on their mind than candy canes, Pygmy Puffs or the Weasley's love potions.

"Well what have we here, Granger's natural habitat?" Draco sneered with a little smile.

"What are you doing here, Malfoy? Mind you, this is a library. Have you lost your way?" Granger retorted. She stood straight with hands on her hips, flustered seeing that she had wished to spend time by herself not with Slytherin's little brat hovering with snide remarks over her shoulder.

"No, I haven't lost my way, Granger, I have some research reading to do." He emphasized on her name almost flirtatiously. Draco walked over to her table, leaned against the edge and with a grim look on his face said, "You're not the only one who appreciates a quiet library." He gazed into her glistening hazel eyes almost forgetting why he was here. He pulled away quickly and staggered towards the other end of the library.

Hermione wondered what all that was about. Draco had always despised her and although he was being as obscenely loathsome as always, she had seen something in his eyes, if only for a split second. She brushed it off, deciding that she'd been too preoccupied with her potion studies and had been imagining things.

A couple of minutes later Draco sauntered to the table opposite her carrying a book wrapped in fur with which he was having problems as it was almost as huge as him. "Where'd you get a book like this here?" Hermione exclaimed, "Were you just in the restricted section?" She raised her eyebrow in wonder.

"Oh calm down Granger it's not a big deal." Draco rolled his eyes, as Hermione rushed with curiosity to get a glimpse of the prohibited book. She was all for following the rules but she wouldn't deny that breaking them excited her.

She read "Dark Spells: Binding Curses" on the spine of the book, "Well I suppose you're not taking that out simply for a little light reading, so what's it for?" questioning him as she sat down and intently placed her hands on chin.

"What makes you think that I don't read?" he threw his legs up to the table, ignoring her and got comfortable opening his newly acquired volume of spells. Seeing that Hermione had nothing else to do besides fail at her potion skills, she shifted eagerly in her chair and watched him flip the pages. "What are you doing?" he said, taken aback by her decision to continue interacting with someone who'd never been amiable to her before.

"There is obviously something bothering you judging by the stern look on your face. Are you looking for a spell?" Draco nodded without looking at her. "I know my way around books, and you don't, you could use my help." She said smartly crossing her arms and squinting her eyes, waiting for a snappish reply.

"I wouldn't be caught dead with you, Granger, I don't want your help," Draco glared at Hermione, slightly bothered "but I'm forced to need it." He ruffled his hands through his hair and sighed. Hermione was delighted that she finally had something more interesting to do than figuring out Slughorn's potions.

"What do you know about breaking or unbinding a deal?" He questioned, eagerly waiting for Hermione to have the answer he'd been waiting for.

"Do you mean like an unbreakable vow?" Hermione's eyes widened wondering what Draco had gotten himself into.

"Not entirely, it's in many ways like the unbreakable vow, but it's a two sided deal, if one of the parties doesn't keep their loyalty and oaths, they will die. I need to know if there is a way to break this deal without suffering the consequences."

"I've heard of spells but they require very powerful wizards and precise application of dark magic, yet it's not confirmed that they might work." A look of concern washed over her face. "What exactly is this about?"

Draco was not certain if he should share this secret of his with the muggle-born girl that was sitting beside him. He couldn't trust her because he didn't understand why she was offering to help; he'd been so awful to her over the years. He sat uneasy in silence trying his best to avoid answering Hermione's questions.

She was staring at him, gesturing for an answer with her hands. "If you're talking to me about this it means that you have exhausted all your options and you have no idea what to do. Let me help." she concluded.

Draco leaned in, although there was no one nearby, he couldn't risk anyone hearing this. "My father made a deal with Vol.. you-know-who. I have to.. to...do something for him.. and he'd give us back Lucya, my sister.." he trailed off into silence.

"Is it something dangerous?" Hermione paused and pondered with worry. She didn't like Draco very much but she didn't want to see him in a pool of his own blood, either.

"It might be. I don't want to be on his.. his.. Army. I don't want to kill the people that he wants me to. " Draco whispered this so softly as if saying or considering it was a sin.

"You don't have to do anything you don't want to do!" Hermione blurted out.

"He has my sister in custody and has forced my father to bind the deal with magic. If I don't do this, they all die." Draco groaned in despair.

They sat in silence for a few minutes before Hermione finally made her decision.

"That's okay, I'll help you to find a way to break this bind, there's always a way around magic." Hermione suggested. She stood up and started to drag the book across the table.

Draco grabbed her hand and she spinned around, hand dropping the book on the table as she found Draco's face centimeters away from hers and his hand tightly squeezing her own. "Why are you doing this for me?" Draco's questioningly stern eyes pierced deeply into hers. She trembled a little under his hold; he was strong and wouldn't let go. "I'm helping you because I want Voldemort defeated and by the looks of it, so do you." Draco let go of her once he heard the reply and decided it was reasonable enough. He wasn't going to trust her, but he wasn't going to brush away any help he could get. He needed it.

;i;