Chapter 1: The Assignment

Hermione glanced up from her book to see Draco Malfoy and his band eager followers make some fun out of Harry and Ron.

"Piss off Malfoy." Ron said as Harry just glared. Draco laughed.

"Oh, temper, temper Weaselbe." Ron's eyes narrowed.

Hermione was irrated. Not only did their quarrel interrupt her reading, but this was already the fourth time this week they had engaged in it. She huffed loudly and slammed her book shut. She figured the only way she would be able to get some reading time is if she handled the situation herself. She stood up from the stone edge of the garden and walked across the grass to where they stood. She grabbed one arm of both Harry and Ron and tried to lead them from the scene without a word. Draco called out as they walked away:

"So now the mudblood has to fight your battles for you?" His goons broke out in laughter. Hermione stopped dead in her tracks. She dropped their arms and turned around to Draco. She stormed straight to him, getting right up in his face.

"You can't go anywhere without having your posse follow after you, so don't talk to me about fighting your own battles you stupid prick!" With that Hermione strode away from him, grabbing their arms and once again leading them away. Draco and his followers stood in awe. Some let out a late gasp, while others giggled under their breath. Draco's eyes were wide. He couldn't believe she just said that to him. Him. To Draco Malfoy. He broke out of his trance to hear some goons still giggling. He snapped around to them.

"And just what are you laughing at!" He growled. They became silent quickly. He turned back around to the path where Hermione left, and stomped across the grounds back into the school. His goons trailing behind him.

"I can't believe you said that to Malfoy." Ron said as they entered the Gryffindor common room. Hermione plopped down on her usual chair by the fireplace while Harry and Ron sat on the couch beside her.

"I mean, no one dares to, not with his reputation." Ron continued. Hermione sighed.

"He had it coming, I was done with it." She said while leaning forward to take off her coat. Ron and Harry chuckled.

"Well, you sure made that clear." Said Harry.

"I mean, did you see the look on his face?" Harry and Ron began to laugh harder.

"He's probably still standing in the courtyard." Ron said while trying to catch his breath. Hermione smiled at their amusement. She didn't do it for a laugh, but she was glad they were getting a kick out of it.

"I knew he couldn't back it up, not with his pansyish deminer." She said.

"It was hilarious." Said Harry. Ron stood up and walked over to the coat racks with Harry following behind him. Hermione, still clutching her coat, gazed beside her into the fire. Getting lost in the flames.

"Draco!" Draco looked up from the twisting flames in the fireplace of the Slytherin common room. He sneered at the person who took him from his peaceful gaze.

"Professor Snape wants to speak with you." Draco got to his feet and proceeded to the door of the common room. He walked out of the room, passing the person without a backward glance. He walked down the dimmed hallways and turned left towards the potions room. He knocked on the door twice, then heard a low voice ring from inside.

"Come in." It spoke coldly. He turned the door handle and strode inside. Snape looked up from his papers to see him in the doorway.

"Shut the door." He said. Draco pushed the door around and closed it. Snape set down his quill and stood from his podium. He strode towards Draco and stopped abruptly in front of him.

"Come with me." He shooed Draco to a closet in the back of the classroom. Snape shut the door quietly when him and Draco were both inside. He turned back around to face him.

"Show me." Draco pushed up his sleeve of his shirt to reveal his forearm. Which bared the snake scar of the Dark Mark. Snape pushed up his sleeve to show his as well.

"He has an assignment for you." Snape said as he pulled his sleeve back down to cover his forearm again.

"It seems he thinks it is time to prove your worth so he has given you a new and important task." Draco glanced up at him as he pulled his sleeve down as well.

"What is it?" Draco asked.

"It seems that one such a student has been predicted to be a bigger threat than expected." Snape explained.

"One such a student who has begun training for the upcoming war." Draco displayed a look of confusion.

"But many students are training for the war, which one are you talking about?" He asked. Snape began to explain again.

"This student poses a threat to complicate our plans." Draco raised his eyebrows.

"He doesn't want me to kill Potter, does he?" Snape looked at him with what seemed like a smile.

"Please, that task is to large for you to handle." Draco scowled at him.

"Besides, our Lord has made it clear that he wants to finish Potter off and anybody who tries to before him will join Potter in death." He said. Snape's smiled faded just as quickly as it came.

"No, this task will be more your size." Draco was becoming impatient.

"What is the task?" He asked again. Snape looked at him with seriousness.

"You must kill this student." Draco sneered widely.

"But before you do, you must get as much information from them as you can. Find out where Dumbledore's army will be stationed, how many will be fighting. Information like that. Do whatever means necessary to find it out." Draco nodded.

"Who is the student?" Draco asked for the third time. Snape spoke;

"Hermione Granger." Draco let out a laugh.

"Granger? Nevel Longbottom could kill Granger! Snape gave him a diligent look.

"So are you saying you can't do it?" He asked him. Draco rolled his eyes.

"Well of course I can do it." He confidently said. "I just want something that is a challenge." Snape leered.

"Oh, trust me Mr. Malfoy, Granger will be a bigger challenge than you are expecting. You underestimate her." Draco scoffed.

"She is not even close to being a challenge for me." Snape scoffed as well.

"I'll believe that when you complete this assignment." He opened the door of the closet and motioned Draco out. They walked to the back of the classroom and just as Draco was about to turn the door handle, Snape quickly grabbed the back of his shirt. He whirled him around so their eyes met.

"This task must be completed as soon as possible. Do not doddle. Start it as soon as you step foot out of this classroom. Our Lord will not enjoy waiting long. Now get out."

Snape let go of his shirt and pushed him out the doorway. He shut the door behind him. Just as he was starting to walk back to his dormitories, Crabbe and Goyle approached him from behind.

"Where did you come from?" Draco asked.

"Oh, we were finishing eating in the Great Hall." Crabbe replied. A look of excitement was on their faces.

"So, what did Snape say?" Asked Goyle, still holding a cupcake.

"Did you get an assignment?" Draco appeared emotionless as he began to walk down the hallway again.

"Yeah." He said almost shakily. Crabbe and Goyle looked surprised.

"Really? What is it?" Crabbe asked this time. Draco stopped stared at them.

"I have to kill Granger." They looked at him in astonishment. Yet at the same time, in disbelief.

"Granger? Why would he give you Granger to kill. It's to easy!" Goyle laughed. Crabbe cracked up as well.

"Yeah, way to simple!" Draco loudly huffed.

"Well, Voldermort thinks it's a challenge for me." Crabbe and Goyle winced at his name.

"I guess I will just have to prove him wrong." He said. "This should be easy."

Crabbe looked down at the watch on his wrist. His eyes popped as soon as he saw what time it was.

"It is nearly 10:30, if Snape catches us out here he'll flip. We better go."

Crabbe and Goyle hastily ran ahead, while Draco strode at his own pace. He wasn't afraid of Snape's yelling fits. Snape was the farthest thing from his mind at the moment. He was more interested in figuring out how he would get Granger to spill information. How to get her to talk about Dumbledore's war plans. As he thought harder, he remembered how clever she really was. She wouldn't fall for anyone's tricks so easily. He realized as he approached the door to the Slytherin common room, that this assignment would be way more difficult then he first suspected.

Parting Words:

It has taken me a long time to get inspiration to start an actual chapter fanfiction. A very long time. My best friend never got off my back to start one. But now she has to! This is for you POASO! Hope you like it! Review!

Kjminame