Draco Malfoy stalked the hallways in the dungeons, his ears still wringing with his new orders. Not long ago his father had decided that it would be a good idea for Draco to go on assignments for the Dark Lord, so he could build up his status before becoming a Death Eater. The Dark Lord himself seemed please that another Malfoy would soon be joining his ranks, and liked the idea of having an unmarked man in Hogwarts. That wasn't what was bothering him, what was bothering him was what he was expected to do.

His robes swished as he rounded the corner and came to the entrance of the Slytherin common rooms. Before he said the password it burst open and someone came flying out.

"No Gryffindors allowed," Draco heard his best friend Blaise Zabini yell.

"Well Professor Snape sent me here!" The person yelled back.

"Yeah right!" Blaise yelled.

"Fine I'll go get him," it was only then that Draco realized who the person was.

"Granger," he said as the common room door closed. She swung around fire in her eyes.

"What do you want?" She asked angrily.

"You thought that you could just waltz right in and tell them what to do like little Gryffindors?" He asked smirking at her.

"Professor Snape sent me to give you a message," she replied hotly.

"Really and what would that message be?" Granger handed him the envelope, he looked at her smirking yet again. "Did you read it?" He asked slyly, he laughed to himself what he saw her turn bright red.

"Of course not!" She squealed defensively. "Are you accusing me of…"

"Hold it Granger, I was only teasing," he grinned at her confusion. Interestedly Draco flipped open the envelope and quickly scanned its contents scowling all the while. Snape had been present when he had been given his instructions.

Mr. Malfoy,

I do not think that I have to tell you the seriousness of your assignment. Do not fail the Dark Lord this assignment is crucial. There are some things that you will find out after you accomplish this task. Come straight to me after you are finished.

Professor Snape

Draco looked up to see the retreating back of Granger. He really didn't want to do his task, he felt as though it were some mere child's play compared to what he could do. One question was on his mind, what did the Dark Lord want with Hermione Granger?

Hermione was royally pissed. Not only had she been thrown bodily out of the Slytherin common room to deliver a note, but Malfoy hadn't even given her so much as a thank you. She scowled as she headed up to Gryffindor tower. It wouldn't kill him to be nice every once and a while. Would it? Maybe it would she thought bitterly to herself as she came to the Fat Lady.

"Password!" She shrieked out.

"Founding fathers," she said and entered the common room.

"Hermione!" Ginny squeaked as she entered. "Dumbledore has just sent word; he wants to speak to you in his office immediately." Hermione sighed and turned around, it figured just as soon as she got in she had to go back out.

She had just rounded the corner to Dumbledore's office when she ran into someone.

"Oww!" She said rubbing her forehead.

"Watch where you're going," drawled a voice Hermione knew all too well.

"What are you doing here?" She snapped at him.

"Granger is that you? The question isn't what I'm doing here; it is what are you doing here?"

"None of your business," she said and stepped past him and began walking to Dumbledore's office. Malfoy jumped into step right next to her grinning wickedly.

"Dumbledore send you a letter too?" He asked.

"Yes he did, did he send you a letter?"

"No," he answered smirking at her.

"What? Then how did you… Arrrr never mind!" She said spinning away from him in disgust.

Suddenly she felt him grab her wrists and pull her into a passage way. She was rammed up against the wall and she heard his voice somewhere close to her ear. She shivered silently.

"Don't you walk away form me Granger," he hissed in her ear.

"Let go of me Malfoy," she said tugging her hands against his hold. He didn't let go.

"Just answer me one question," he took her silence as permission to ask the question. "Why is the Dark Lord so interested in you?" Her mouth hung open and he let go and disappeared into the darkness.

He grinned to himself. Stage one was complete, now Granger would ask Dumbledore about it. That was what the Dark Lord intended. He of course wouldn't answer, then Draco would whisk her away to the Dark Lord he would probably threaten her onto his side and that would be the end of it. After that Draco would come back to Hogwarts and talk to Snape. What Snape wanted to explain to him was a mystery, but who cared? He could prove his worth to his soon to be Lord.

Hermione rushed to the statues in front of Dumbledore's office. "Sherbet Lemon," she said and went onto the spiraling staircase.

"Ah Miss Granger, please come in and have a seat," the head master motioned to her to sit down.

"P-Professor Dumbledore," he looked at her fearful face startled.

"What happened my dear girl?" He asked worried, he couldn't let anything happen to her. She was much too valuable.

"S-Something h-happened, h-he told me that… W-What does Voldemort want with me?" She asked the one question that he was hoping she would never ask.

"Who told you that he was interested in you?" He asked alarmed.

"Draco Malfoy," Dumbledore made a mental note to ask Severus what was going on.

"Let me assure you, Mr. Malfoy was just trying to startle you," she looked into his eyes and knew it for a lie. "Now I think it best if you went and had a good night sleep." She nodded and left.

It was only when she was back in bed that she realized he had never told her why he asked her to his office. She fell into a fit full sleep.