A/N I am so sorry for the delay, I am having such writers block. So any ideas would be greatly welcomed, I'm still trying to end, "A step too far" it's getting there. Thanks for your patience.

Disclaimer: I own nothing!

Chapter 2: A worthless Malfoy

Hermione slammed the portrait to the heads tower behind her, she was still riled up from her incident with Malfoy. Hermione found that she was continually reminding herself that he was under the Order's protection and it was her duty to make sure that he didn't come to any harm. But everyday it was getting harder for her not to inflict pain on him herself.

Professor McGonagall had said that she would reason with Harry and Ron, but Hermione had insisted in the end, that she should tell them herself, they were after all her two best friends, she needed to be the one to tell them.

Flashback

"You CANNOT be serious Hermione!" Hermione took a deep breath as she looked up to Ron;s very red face.

"Professor…I mean Headmistress McGonagall has trusted me with this task of protecting Malfoy" Ron snorted in disbelief as Hermione put a reassuring hand on his arm. "I understand how you feel Ron, I dislike him as much as you do…"

"DISLIKE? Hermione?! I hate that FERRET! He's the reason Dumbledore is DEAD! Surely you haven't forgotten?!" Hermione's eyes widened at his outburst. She slowly lowered her head looking towards the floor. Her voice quiet.

"No Ron, I haven't forgotten…"

"We know that you haven't Hermione…" Hermione whipped round as a hand rested gently on her shoulder, she was met with the emerald gaze of Harry. He had been so quiet she didn't hear him approach her.

"I understand what you have to do…what we all have to do. Malfoy could be of use to us. He could have information." Ron stared blankly at Harry, his mouth opening and closing like a Guppy fish. Harry glanced at him briefly before returning his gaze back to Hermione. "But he is NOT worth putting your life in danger, if anything happens Hermione, remember you're much more important than he is. Do what you need to do to stay safe."

Hermione nodded, grateful for his support she flung her arms around him and gave him a tight bear hug.

………………………………

Hermione focused on calming her breathing as she made her way to the Gryffindor tower. Seeing her boys always made her feel better, they would know what to do.

At least one of them will anyway…

Hermione smiled to herself at the thought and increased her pace towards the tower.

………………………………...

Draco Malfoy stormed into his room and slammed the door behind him, after he closed the door he heard a door opening.

Must be the Mudblood, going off to see Potty and Weasel no doubt…

Draco clenched his fists in rage, he hated every moment that he was here with her. It was going against everything he had ever been told. Not only was he living with a Mudblood, but he was under her protection.

If only father could see me now…

Draco let out a snort of disgust…he knew that his father would skin him alive. He was a disgrace to the Malfoy name. He really sank to the bottom of the barrel over the summer, relying on Snape to save his hide, by delivering him to the order. He grimaced at the memory of being told he had no other options left, he had disgraced his family utterly and completely.

Draco's gaze fell to his wrist, the Dark Mark stood dark and proud against his alabaster skin. He didn't know what he was thinking becoming initiated into the Death Eaters. He swore himself to a group of people who swore to rid the world of filthy muggles and mud bloods, but now here he was, the great Draco Malfoy, being protected by one. He laughed at the irony, although the laughter failed to reach his silver eyes.

He began to sneer at the thought of Granger. He truly loathed everything about her, he hated that she believed she was superior, when in reality she was not good enough to wipe the dirt from his boots. He hated her do-gooder friends. He hated that they were so bent in saving everyone, but at that moment he mostly hated himself for stooping so low.

One moment of weakness in that damned tower has lead to this weak, mindless existence, going against everything he knew. Draco pulled his sleeve down over the dark mark and sighed. What will his family and friends think of him now? A traitor? For once, the mud blood was right…at this minute he really wasn't worth it.

………………………………...

"He just drives me up the wall! I think I'm going to have to tell McGonagall to get someone else to do it, I mean honestly Harry, how can I protect him when he insists on being so vile all the time?" Hermione sighed as she started to wring her hands. Harry really did sympathise with her, he knew there was no way he would ever agree to staying anywhere near Malfoy, never mind protecting him.

" I understand Hermione, but McGonagall is right. Who else is strong enough? You're the smartest witch of our age, if anyone could do it then it's you…"

"Or you could do it Harry… you're stronger than I am…" Harry felt the colour drain from his face.

"Well Hermione…that would mean that you wouldn't be Head girl anymore…" Hermione's eyes widened in fear at the prospect of losing her Head Girl status.

"…and there was no way that I would have been able to set up those protection devices that you've made…" Harry trailed off, hoping he'd said enough to try and convince her that she was the one for the job. Hermione smiled back at him.

"Well had to set up sensors so I would know if…" Hermione stopped abruptly as her head shot up and she clenched her wand, she looked back at Harry her eyes wide and worried.

"Something's wrong…" with that she ran out of the portrait hole, with Harry following close behind.

………………………………...

Draco heard the portrait hole close loudly, followed by a series of bangs. Draco was in the mood for a fight, he pulled on his cloak.

That damned Mudblood will be sorry for getting me up…

As he stormed out of his room into the common room, the Mudblood was nowhere to be seen.

"Hello Draco…"

Draco whirled around to face the voice, then suddenly everything went black…

A/N Who got in? How did they get in all will be revealed…but please leave me a review, they do give me lots of motivation!