Harry Potter and everything else is not mine. Belongs to JKRowling and the Warner Brother. What you cannot take away from me though, is the madness in my mind. Enjoy.

~ Fire inside the Ice ~

Dear Ms. Granger,

You have been invited by the Icelandic Magical Research Facility for a presentation of our research in progress of the Magical Leak effects on the environment on May 5th to May 7th.

I sincerely hope that with our meeting we can estabilish a fruitful collaboration.

For further details and informations, we will contact your employer, Mr Malfoy.

I hope you'll both have a great trip, I'm really looking forward to meeting you.

Truly yours,

Ceasar Rektik

She looked with contempt at the owl that flew out of her window.

Two days can't be bad. Besides... such an opportunity, right? Right?

She slumped down in her bed and slammed a pillow over her head.

'Fuck my life.'

~SSSSS~

'Hermione, darling... you look very tired, are you sure you are getting enough sleep and food?'

She looked wearily at her mother. She knew deep down that she should look the best for her. However... it was really hard to pretend. She tried to change the subject.

'Remember me telling about the Magical Leak Project?'

Her mother sensed she was deterring her question on purpose, but she decided the best for now would be to play along.

'The one you won, sweety?' Jane Granger grinned proudly at her daughter. Her teeth showing considerable improvement.

'Yes, mom. That one' Hermione couldn't help, but to grin along with her. 'Turns out one of the most respectable wizarding research facility wants to collaborate with me on it. In fact' – she continued with a halfhearted smile – 'I am going to Iceland next weekend to meet some researchers.'

Jane Granger's eyes were wet with pride.

'I'm so glad, darling. Do you have everything settled? You'll have to pack some warm clothes! Oh... and take some pictures for me, will you? I heard Iceland is exquisitely beautiful.'

She spoke this all in one go, leaving her quite breathless. Hermione smiled at her mothers excitement.

'Mom, don't worry, I'm talented at packing for trips.' She gave her a gleaming grin.

'Haha, yes you are. You are always so organized. Will you go alone, sweety?'

Hermione fought the urge to drone out a loud 'yes'. She couldn't lie to her mother. And in the end why would she?

'No, mom. I'm going with my employer, Draco Malfoy.'

Her mother seemed to have taken a pensive look on her face.

'Draco Malfoy... yes... I think I remember reading something about him recently...' - she tapped her chin lightly with her index finger in thought – 'Oh! The bachelor of the year! Quite a catch I've read. Handsome, intelligent, rich and a very strong character. And still single! Imagine that.'

Hermione could feel herself getting nausiated.

'You know,' - she looked at her daughter with mischief - 'office romance is not that uncommon nowadays. In fact, some very meaningful relationships can estabilish between people with the same interests.'

Hermione felt as if she had to stop her mother right then and there, if she didn't want to puke all over the hospital floor.

'Mom, I know what you are implying. And no. It's not going to happen. Me and Malfoy can't even stand eachother's sight' – she wasn't lying there, though she felt she had to make a point of it – 'he would never look at me in that way. He has a hoard of girls at his feet, I am quite sure that the only reason of him being single is that his big head won't tolerate another human being standing close to him.'

Jane Granger looked at her daughter's outburst puzzled and surprised.

'Oh, isn't that a bit harsh, sweety?'

Hermione seemed to have noticed her mother's unease at her angry words. She tried it from a different angle.

'Mom, just drop it please. Me and Malfoy are polar opposites. It's not something worthy to talk or to think about.'

She quickly kissed her mother's forehead and rushed to the door.

'I've gotta go and pack. Take care, mom. And read less crappy wizarding magazines.'

'Oh, okay, okay. But remember, darling: opposites attract.'

Hermione closed the door behind her with a grunt. Of all the people her mother could take a fancy on, it had to be asshole extraordinaire Malfoy.

As she Disapparated, she couldn't help but think: My life's a complete irony.

~SSSSS~

'Ms. Granger, Mr. Malfoy is waiting on you on the rooftop. Didn't you get my owl?' - said mockingly Hannah Abbot. 'Mr. Malfoy won't be very pleased that you made him wait almost 15 minutes!' - she tutted barely managing to hide her grin.

The owl. Yes... she got it. Five minutes ago! She suspected she did it on purpose. Sending the owl so lately. And she couldn't do anything about it. What is there to do? Scream at her for being a wench? Complain to Malfoy about his assistant?

With a snort she hurried up to the rooftop.

He stood there, his eyes closed, his hands smoothing his already irritatingly slick hair.

'I would complain about you being late, but... I suspect that's useless.'

She expected worse, she guessed. But it's bad enough that she had to see him and talk to him, so she reckoned it couldn't get much worse.

'I would apologize about me being late, but... I suspect that's useless.' she snapped back defiantly. 'Where is the Portkey, Malfoy?'

He looked at her coldly, deciding to ignore her cheek for once.

'There is no Portkey, Granger.' - he sighed as if dealing with an infant. 'Portkeys are not a very gracious way of travelling. We are going to fly there.' Having said this he took out his wand and flipped it around in a nonchalant way. A blue fog materialized and a hole appeared in the rooftop.

From the hole a jet black carriage had risen with four marvelous creatures tied to it, looking ahead of them defiantly. Pegasus. Their wings strecthed out and settled again with an audible swish of the air.

A small and chubby man seemed to have stumbled off of the carriage. Mumbling something grumpily.

'Mr. Malfoy... you know the carriage is ready, but please we could have done without the theatrics.' - he coughed an ugly and deep cough – 'All this smoke isn't doing good with me asthma, sir'

'My apologies, Ruckus.' - he said with a tiny grin. 'I'll try not to do it again.'

'I certainly hope so, sir. I certainly hope so.' - he said grudgingly. Remembering that they are not alone he turned to Hermione with a smile. 'What a pretty lady, you've got yourself here, Mr. Malfoy. May I take your baggage, Miss?'

Hermione smiled back at him. For some reason she liked this guys instantly, because he managed to act with such a nonchalance towards Malfoy. She gave him, her tiny magical bag. Upon taking it he seemed a bit startled at the actual weight of it, but said nothing.

'Mister?' - she had a question to ask, but thought it wiser to ask this fellow, rather than Malfoy – 'How long until we arrive there?'

'Oh, the Miss hasn't travelled on a Pegasus ride before?' She shook her head in answer. 'Well, if the currents are alright, and the beasts don't decide to take an unexpected break, it should take no more than two to three hours.'

'Unexpected break? What is that supposed to mean exactly?' - she was pretty much doubtful of this whole experience. 'Also, I thought a Pegasus, can't be quite tamed...'

Ruckus let out a hearty laugh, and with the corner of her eye, she saw Malfoy smirk at her.

'They can't be fully tamed, but they can be controlled. If they are in a good mood, that is. No worries, Miss. I've been doing this for all my life. No danger here.'

'Come, Granger. We should already be on our way.'

She climbed into the carriage, refusing to take Malfoy's hand for help. She was very pretty much doubtful about this whole Pegasus thing, but she was also quite sure that Malfoy wouldn't go, if he thought it was that dangerous.

Besides, she prided herself on her courage. Whatever happens she still had her wand. She smiled at the thought, but then all her courage dissipated as Malfoy closed the carriage door behind him.

An 'unexpected break' from the Pegasus she could handle. But being locked in a small space with Malfoy?

She prayed to whatever diety there might be to make Malfoy ignore her presence.

He didn't.

'So, Granger...' - he leaned in from his side of the carriage. 'Fancy the ride?'

Hermione gripped the sides of the seat she was sitting in, while she could feel the carriage rising up and leaving ground. She was not sure that the tension in her stomach was due to them ascending or due to Malfoy making her sick. She choose the latter and decided to ignore him entirely. If he wasn't going to be an adult and leave her be, she sure wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of answering his unveiled mocking.

She was a fool for thinking Malfoy would give up.

'I'm booored, Granger. Entertain me.' - he said in a sing song voice, stretching out, putting his legs on the arms of the seat.

'Stop being an idiot, Malfoy. I'm not here for your entertainment.' - she snapped back annoyed.

'Not even if I pay you, sweetheart?' - he said looking at her with vile amusement.

She looked at him sharply. Swallowing the pity for herself. She was not going down. Not without a fight. She promised him that.

'I could kill you now and make it look like a complete accident, you know.'- she spat with fury.

'That's very ambitious of you, babe. But you and I both know it's not going to happen. You have too much of that moral mishy mush in your little head for that.'

At this moment Hermione Granger considered that only a very little part of her 'moral mishy mush' would protest if she slayed Malfoy and threw him out of the carriage.

She snorted in return. 'Keep believing that, Malfoy.'

Silence envelopped them as she pulled out a book and tried hard to concentrate on the letters there. It felt like this ride would never end. And this blasted book wasn't helping her. She started to turn the pages just for the sake of doing something.

'Granger, you don't have to pretend to read. It's getting pathetic.' - he droned out with a yawn.

'Let's play a game.' - he continued.

'No.'

'Let's discuss your research.'

'No.'

'I'm your boss, Granger. I could fire you for being so cheeky with me.'

'Go ahead.'

Malfoy sighed in a very frustrated manner.

'This won't do. Let's make a truce, Granger.'

She looked at him, blinking slowly. Suspicion grazed her eyes.

'I'm serious, as unbelievable as it sounds. It won't do if the icelandic researchers thought we are two quarrelling children.'

She considered this for a moment.

'Then don't talk to me.' - she said coldly. 'You are the last person on Earth I want to get friendly with.'

'Don't be an idiot, Granger. I never suggested we should be friends.' he snorted. 'Don't be mistaken, Granger. It's just because I'm bored that I talk to filth like you.'

'Then don't talk to me.' - she repeated in the same cold way, dully noting the attempt to insult her.

He paused gathering his thoughts.

Why is he insisting on talking to me anyway?

On the other hand Malfoy was completely perplexed by her. He kept thinking that there is something he missed about her personality. Something so obvious, yet so out of his reach. It frustrated him to no end. He was used to reading people like the back of his hand.

Greed. Lust. Power. That's what most people were driven by. In every little action, it was painfully obvious. He couldn't judge them. He was motivated largely by the same things. But it became so boring. The same patterns all over again. He had proof that Granger was like that, too. That night... she made it clear she had nothing extraordinary about her. But... what was he missing for fuck's sake?

Then it hit him. He never found out why she needed the money. What made Granger act out in such a way? What made her drop all the saintly act?

He guessed he'd have to find out.

'Granger... Can I ask you something?' - he played an unsure tone, thinking that she would pay attention instantly to him. Though he wasn't so sure that he was acting. There was something unbreakable about her. Even if he kept reminding himself, that he managed to completely break her once.

'If I say no, I believe you'll ask it anyway. So just hit me.' - she said looking up at him with a frown.

'Why did you need the money?'

She let out a tiny gasp of shock. Then looked him in the eye. His eyes were curious, but also that cruel ice never left them. His face was unreadable.

I could tell him. I could tell him everything. And he'll have to feel like shit. And he'll regret everything. And it will change everything. And the tables will turn, won't they? And finally I can feel peace. He'll leave me alone.

He raised an eyebrow in waiting. She opened her mouth to speak.

'I believe, Malfoy, that's none of your bloody business.' - she managed to add to her words a saccharine smile.

She could practically see him fuming inside. She could see how his face had become considerably redder and how he had biten his cheeks to refrain from speaking whatever he had in that rotten mind of his.

Hermione sincerely doubted that the truth could make everything better. In fact, she was convinced she'd be much more vulnerable. At his will, with him teasing about fucking him for her half-dead mother. She couldn't bear that.

Malfoy wasn't going to let this one go. He always got what he wanted. And if he didn't get it, he took it with force. That was his life's philosophy. And that was what made him be on top of everything.

In a swish he took out his wand, pointed it at Granger, and whispered a confident: Legilimens.

Brown teeth. Neon green figures rushing. Potter hugging her saying she'll get the money somehow. Hermione puking in the bathroom. '300.000 thousand'- the voice of a blurry green figure gravely speaking. Hermione almost destroying her apartment. A corridor. A seemingly endless corridor. Him on top of her. Numbness. Fear. Panic. Guilt.

FINITE INCANTATUM!

She screamed on the top of her lungs. She was bewildered. Tears were freely flowing from her eyes.

'Expelliarmus!' - she managed to incant, while he was clearly in shock. She grabbed his flying wand in her hands, and looked at him with contempt.

'You thought it would be so easy to read my mind?' - she said still gasping between sobs. 'Did you like what you saw?'

A silence followed. The carriage started shaking, as if in tone with her feelings.

Crucio.

It was short. But it was effective. He instantly started to coil in pain. Hot suffering coursed through every little inch of his body.

'I asked if you fucking liked what you saw?'- she cried in his face.

He stood shocked and fearful. He managed to silently mumble something.

'What did you say?'

'I asked... what was that?'

She seemed to instantly calm down. So he didn't figure it out. At least she was quick enough to break his wretched spell. Hermione looked at him with contempt and hatred.

'You thought that you could just break into my mind and take whatever you wanted?' - she said poking him violently with her wand. 'I really should kill you now, when I have the chance.'

She noted with satisfaction that Malfoy's eyes seemed to panic beyond control.

A thud has broken their fight.

A voice was cheerily yelling from outside. 'We have arrived, Mr. Malfoy!'

'Make no mistake. Whatever you think about me, I told you before, I don't kneel before scum.'

Of all the things Malfoy could have said to make the situation less severe, he stupidly decided to voice the one idiotic joke he could come up with.

'I distinctly remember' – he said still gasping from the after pain the curse caused him - ' you kneeling quite willingly before a scum like me.'

Hermione looked at him in bemusement.

'Kneeling...' – he continued shamelessly ' among other things'. Amazingly he managed to pull out one of his acidic smirks.

She punched him.

~SSSSS~

As they greeted the Wizard and Witch meeting comittee, curious gazes were eyeing Malfoy's hand as he barely managed to stop the flow of abundant blood.

Hermione, contrary to what Malfoy expected her to do, didn't seem amused. She was chatting animatedly with researchers, while he was trying to explain that during the Pegasus ride a minor accident happened, because the beasts were not tamed well. He had to silence Ruckus, who was going on and on about how he managed to to work without accident with the beasts almost his entire life.

Malfoy gave him a warning look, before the little man could tell that he didn't remember any accidents during the trip.

He still couldn't place the images he saw. He supposed it was his every right to know. Yet, for some unexplicable reason he felt ashamed. So ashamed that he didn't even think about getting back at Granger, for crucioing him, then promptly ruining his face with that damn hard punch.

Finally, his nose stopped bleeding. And they were led into a big, underground crystal room. He was rarely surprised by grandeur or luxury. But this place was something else. It breathed magic.

He glanced at Granger. As angry as he was with her, he couldn't help but admire the ray of excitement that envelopped her whole being. She took notice of everything. Asked about each and every exposed thing. And she stopped before a crystal. It was spectacular. And intricate pattern was inside of it. The pattern danced around in the cold blue hexagon. The pattern was made of fire.

'What is this, Ceasar?' - she asked the man, who was their main guide in this palace of magic.

'You like it, Miss, don't you?' - he added smiling a little too much in Draco's opinion. He didn't like how excessively friendly this man was. Especially excessive with Granger.

'I've never seen something more beautiful. But you didn't do this, did you?' - she asked looking inquisitively at the man's unshaven, yet charming face.

'Very observant of you, Miss Granger. But then again, I didn't expect anything else from one of the greatest mind's in our world.'

Malfoy decided to interrupt this sickly exchange.

'So what is it?' - he asked unpatiently, moving closer. The man looked unphased, by Malfoy's rude tone.

'This...' - he paused as if trying to find the right words - ' is an unique example of natural magic. We found it in the glaciers. Well this is not exactly the only one, but collectors have bought them mostly.'

'It must cost a fortune.' - Hermione said laughing.

'It does.' - Ceasar continued – 'A veritable fortune, and it's puzzling because it hasn't really any use.'

She looked at it pensively.

'Nature doesn't always create things we should use. Sometimes, it just creates beauty for the sake of it.' - she said with a somewhat dreamy sigh.

'Quite true, Ms. Granger.'- he said admiringly – 'Well, I think you both need to rest.'

He glanced at a very irritated Malfoy.

~SSSSS~

This trip wasn't going as planned. He made an elaborate plan to drive Granger crazy. To make her pay. To make her miserable. Instead... she seemed to actually enjoy herself. She took photos, had lengthy debates with the local researchers. And seemed to get real cozy with that Ceasar dude.

He in turn was feeling more and more out of it. Friday and Saturday went by in a blitz of confusion and anger for him. It was Saturday night that he made a resolve. If the plan didn't work he'll improvise something. He'll do whatever it takes to finally see her crumble a bit. Even a little tear would suffice. But he needed some sort of result, goddammit!

Saturday night a ball was held in their honour. That should give him an opportunity to make his move. Whatever it may be. They would leave tomorrow morning, so this was technically his last chance to corner Granger.

~SSSSS~

She had a great time. Well as great as it could be, trying to ignore Malfoy's eyes following her everywhere. She became paranoid even going to the loo. If she didn't know any better, she'd suppose that Malfoy has gone mad.

However, she knew better. She didn't have to suppose that. She knew it.

Every step she took was a bait for him to get vengeance on her. She knew him. He couldn't stand the thought of him being bested by her. So he will move. And hopefully... she'll be ready to face him.

She put on the final touch of her light make up, and headed for the ball. She'd be damned if she didn't at least try to enjoy herself.

~SSSSS~

'Hermione, dear, you look absolutely stunning!' Ceasar envelopped her in a warm hug.

'Ceasar, you shaved your beard!' - she said giggling lightly.

'Well I had to! My bosses were mumbling something about me looking like a cross between a mad scientist and a caveman. I really had no choice...' - he said stroking the smooth skin on his jaw with pretense sorrow.

Hermione broke out into a gleeful laughter.

Of course, Malfoy had to make an appearance and ruin the gleeful moment she had.

'Mr. Rektik, Miss Granger.' - he came very close for her to be comfortable. Then again, she would feel uncomfortable even if he stood yards away.

'Mr. Malfoy!' - Ceasar was the one to break the ice, with his usual cheery tone. 'What a pleasure. I was just telling Ms. Granger how becomming she looks tonight, don't you agree?'

Malfoy looked her up and down with contempt clearly radiating from his face. She was pretty enough in her own simple way. She had a certain elegant grace about her, that could make her likeable to most people. Still she was clearly no super model, and her clothing choices looked boring and plain at their best.

However... he took a bow, grabbed her hand and raised it to his lips.

'You look astonishing, Miss Granger.' - his tone was sweet, and his eyes were gleaming of something unreadable. He softly touched her knuckles with his lips.

She blushed.

Damn it. She blushed. The music started to play harmoniously.

'May you grace me with this dance, dearest lovely Miss Granger?' - he continued, smiling charmingly and leaning in, as if he couldn't hear what she was saying.

Hermione's mind frantically searched for an escape route.

'Um... I believe I already promised this dance to Ceasar.' All three of them knew she was lying. Yet, the only one confused by this seemed Mr. Caesar Rektik himself. He began to stutter something, and tell that it's okay, Hermione felt bad for taking him into this sick game. But she was desperate.

Malfoy turned one of his sickly smiles at Mr. Rektik. Who instantly cowered and decided that whatever this was, he wasn't sure he wants to be a part of it. So he excused himself and promptly left.

Malfoy led her to the floor, twirling her around gently, as the violins were starting to play a more upbeat tone. To Hermione the soft music sounded violent. And his sweet smiles looked as promises of death.

He pulled her closer, and leaned down grazing her ears with his lips.

'Enjoying the night, are we?' - he breathed in gently.

'Until I saw you, I was, in fact.' - she grunted out as he spinned her again and brought her back into his arms.

'Oh, really?' - he said in false surprise – 'That's really cruel of you Hermione.'

As he was saying this his thumb gently stroke her spine.

She managed to unwittingly blush. Again. She was so angry, it made her heart race painfully.

'So this is your move, Malfoy?' - she leaned in, warmly breathing into his neck – 'You trying to seduce me?' - she ground her hips into his, pushing her breasts into his chest – 'Well two can play this game, baby.' -she started stroking his arm rythmically.

He was startled by her move. He never expected her to be such a strategist. She may be clever, yes. But he was cunning. And no one can beat him at that particular game. He noticed that more and more eyes started to follow their peculiar dance.

He leaned in and silently moaned into her neck.

Hermione felt a rush. It was like a shot through her nervous system. For the first time in a long while, she felt like a woman. A woman capable of seducing a man. A woman capable of being in control of this proud, arrogant prick. She could sense the effect she had on him. She could even grab it, if she was bold enough to slide her hands down to his bulging pants.

Malfoy lost - she noted victoriously. He was out of it. With his eyes closed and an expression of rapture covering his face. He was beaten. At his own game.

He looked down at her and smiled. He was considerably taller than her, he leaned down to her face. Inches away.

He needed just the right words to say. And the game would be complete. Just the right words.

'Hermione, please, don't do this to me.'

Hermione noted the look of vulnerability in his eyes. For the first time ever she decided to throw all common sense out of the window. She could be victorious. Have him at her mercy. She wasn't thinking. She really wasn't. That's why she leaned in and kissed him.

Malfoy briefly entered her mind, sending her a short message: I've got you now, Mudblood.

It all happened so fast. And it was too late. Malfoy pushed her away almost gently. But the brief cruel smirk he gave her was enough to understand that something bad had just happened.

The alarms should have gone off long before in her head. But she was too caught up. Too much of her had given in to her pride as a woman.

'Miss Granger,' - he said in a loud, clear tone - 'I am flattered by your advances, but I am after all your boss. And this is very much inappropriate. Please, try to remain professional and stop throwing yourself at me.'

And it hit her.

It was more like a painful feeling of her bones breaking. Her muscles contracting. Her skin was aflame, as if acid was thrown on her.

Clever of you, Malfoy. Really clever. You don't need to shout it out. Rumour will fly around in no time. Rumour of me being a slut.

She looked around. The whispering had started. She looked at Malfoy. His expression was grave, but his eyes danced in mirth. Her ears began to buzz. And the world seemed to darken slowly. Excruciantingly slowly. The last things she saw were those cruel eyes. Unreadable and cold.

~SSSSS~

The next thing she knew she was laying down in a bed. Soft silk managed to calm her flaming skin.

'Miss Granger.' Unknown voices seemed to call her. Should she answer? Was it safe?

She opened her eyes and saw an elderly doctor leaning over her.

'Are you alright, Miss?' - said the soothing, deep voice.

'Yes... I just... I think I was tired... I'm fine. Really.' She blinked a few times. Carefully. She wasn't so sure she was alright. But she was also confused.

'Mr. Malfoy here brought you as soon as you fainted.' she looked around and saw Malfoy looking at her amusedly. The nerve of that man!

'Yes, well Mister Malfoy is always the one who takes care of me.' - she shot him a look of spite, her entire body struggling to not stand up and kill that bastard.

'That he does, I'm sure. I'm Alfred Plight, by the way. And it's an honour to finally meet you Miss.'

'Likewise.'- she managed to grunt out uncovincingly. She didn't mean to be rude, but she wasn't in the best of her moods.

'I intended to contact you sooner, Miss Granger. Through Augustus Pye.'

Augustus? What does he have to do with this?

She felt more than a little confused.

'You see,' - the elderly man continued in a somewhat cheery manner – 'Augustus told me all about you, and your support of his work. I am the leader to the Magical Leak caused Plagues research in Iceland.'

Things seemed to have slown down for Hermione once again. Her mind screamed for her to do something, but in her dizzied state she wasn't quite sure what that something was.

'I'm really glad that the cure had worked on your mother, Miss. This gave us great hope to continue our work. Your mother was one of the first successes we had.'

Oh... That... This man really needs to stop talking. Now.

'Yes... well, I owe you nothing but thanks.' She was sincere about it, but this was threading on thin ice. Very thin ice. She took a glance at Malfoy, who was listening intently to what the old man was saying.

'Though I must admire you, Miss Granger' – she suspected what followed, she should stop it now... but it was too late – 'on such short notice you managed to gather 300 thousand Galleons.'

From the corner of her eyes, he saw Malfoy's body tensing up. He snapped his head from the doctor to her. If she couldn't read his expression before, now it was ultimately undecipherable.

'But I guess' – the doctor said chuckling lightly - 'a great many things can be done to save your own mother's life.'

You better review this chapter, if you want me to hurry up. *smirks*