A/N : The final chapter of "A Step too far" should be up within the next week, here's just a story to pass the time. I have turned "Phoenix Rising into a one-shot. I have yet to decide if this will be a Hermione-Draco story, see how the characters develop. Feedback and comments much appreciated.

A/N: Not mine!

You make me scream.

Chapter 1: The worst in me.

Well it was no surprise to anyone that Hermione Granger became Head Girl, it was expected from everyone, however when Hermione opened her Hogwarts letter and rejoiced at being chosen as Head girl, she looked over to Ron and Harry, her eyes eager with expectation, which soon became disappointment, when neither of them received the Head Boy badge. Hermione's thoughts raced with possibilities of who the Head Boy might be, but to her disappointment, it turned out to be someone she least expected…

………………………………...

Hermione was on her last nerve, she had officially had enough, wand in hand, she strode up the being, that was currently the bane of her existence. "Don't you dare walk away from me Draco Malfoy! Or I swear…"

Hermione was forced to step back as Draco forcefully turned around and took a giant step towards her, his face inches from hers, "You swear what Mudblood? Your words are nothing! You wouldn't do anything to me and you know it!" Hermione's gaze hardened at his words, she moved her body forward, unwilling to being bullied by the big-headed slytherin.

"May I remind you FERRET!" screamed Hermione, "That YOU are HEAD BOY! You have RESPONSIBILITIES and I'll be damned if I will let you fob them off on me any longer!" Malfoy rewarded her with his trademark smirk, that she longed to swipe off his arrogant features, she clenched her fists trying to curb that impulse.

"And as Head Girl, shouldn't you be off being a round nosed goody-goody and handing out punishments to everyone who isn't reading twenty text books a day?" he sneered at her, his face twisting in contempt.

"I am NOT here to do your job for you Malfoy…" she began, her words being forced out between clenched teeth.

"Actually Mudblood, as you are clearly beneath me…" he looked down his nose at her, "…in every way that is possible, I think you should consider it your duty to do ALL that you can for me."

At those words, Hermione began to shake with rage, the grip on her wand was beginning to pain her hand, she knew that if she stayed in his presence any longer, she would most likely kill him. So she decided to take a deep breath and smile sweetly at him,. "Clearly, the demanding task of being Head Boy is too much for you, seeing as you have been so incompetent at it. Must be hard for you Malfoy, that I'm besting you again,in class and in our duties so it seems…"

Malfoy moved dangerously closer to her, his body tense, his fists tightly clenched, Hermione knew that calling him incompetent would push his buttons better than any punch would.

"You filthy little Mudblood…" before the words finished coming out of his mouth, Hermione thrust her wand into his neck painfully, forcing him to push his head back as she advanced on him.

"You really should come up with some new lines Malfoy. You've been using the same material for years. If you think that calling me a Mudblood any more upsets me, you're clearly mistaken, all it does is piss me off, and right now, I would like nothing more than to hex you into oblivion."

Malfoy just stared at her, his head tilted to the side with wisps of his hair falling into place, his eyes filled with a deep seated hatred, his breathing was barely audible as he kept his eyes trained on her. Hermione moved her wand away from him, but never lowering it completely.

"But your not worth that Malfoy…you're really not worth it…" With that she backed away from him and made her way into her room, slamming the door behind her and casting several locking charms. Hermione sank to the bed and held her head in her hands, she felt sick to the stomach at the behaviour that she just displayed, it seemed that no matter how much she tried, he brought out the worst in her, regardless of the circumstances.

Hermione thought back to her meeting with Professor McGonagall, on the evening after the first day of term.

Flashback

"Miss Granger, congratulations on your Head Girl position, Professor Dumbledore always had the greatest confidence in your ability to lead the younger students, he would have been very proud…" Hermione smiled

"Thank you Professor…" Professor McGonagall, or Headmistress McGonagall, as she was now, gave her a fleeting smile in return before her face became more grave.

"But I have called you here not to discuss Head Girl duties, Hermione, but a mission, as such, for the Order" Hermione nodded. Harry, Ron and Hermione had been participating in missions for the order since the beginning of Summer, Harry decided to finish his time at Hogwarts, before he felt he would be ready to face Voldemort.

"The orders I'm about to give you are very serious, and quite frankly Miss Granger, you will not like them." Hermione nodded, eager to hear more. "Over the summer the Order has been protecting Draco Malfoy and his mother." Hermione let a shocked exclamation leave her throat, as she sat up abruptly in her chair, not quite registering what she had just heard. "I'm not unaware of your resentment towards Mister Malfoy, and if I were to be perfectly truthful, I would not personally blame you. However, it was Dumbledore's wish that the Order was to protect Mister Malfoy, even in the event of his death."

Hermione stared at her professor, her eyes wide, she shook her head in disbelief, "But surely professor, after all he has done… He's a…he's a…a…DEATHEATER!"

"Miss Granger, Dumbledore was aware of Mister Malfoy's predicament. I understand your shock and your disbelief, but I am afraid there is more to this. I am trusting you Miss Granger with a grievous task." Hermione nodded gently, encouraging the professor to continue.

"This year Mister Malfoy will be allowed to return to Hog warts, however, he will not be able to live in the Slytherin dungeons any longer. He will be your charge, Miss Granger, he will be given Head Boy status, but it will be your duty to protect him."

Hermione sat motionless, her mind absorbing what she had just been told, "But surely Professor, wouldn't he be safer elsewhere? And why me?"

"Miss Granger, he will be amongst those who can protect him, he will be safer here than anywhere else, and to answer your other question Miss Granger, you are the strongest Witch these walls have seen in centuries. I have complete faith in you." Hermione smiled at these words, it was rare to receive such a complement from her professor.

" I don't mean to rush you Miss Granger, but I need an answer from you and I need it now…"

"What about Harry and Ron?" Hermione asked quietly.

"I shall speak to them. Will you do it Miss Granger?"

Hermione breathed deeply, if she accepted this she was accepting the fact that she would be helping someone she hated, someone who caused her, and her friends nothing but pain and suffering, but if this was what Dumbledore wanted…

"I'll do it…"

End Flashback

Hermione twisted her long curls around her fingers, all was quiet outside her door, she assumed that Malfoy had gone to his room. Hermione took off the locking charms off her door and made her way to the Gryffindor tower to find Harry and Ron, she needed them. They would make her feel herself again.

A/N Rating may go up. Please review. Critisism welcomed