A/N: Alright I just want to explain a few things about this story. First off, I'm sorry the Hermione chapters haven't been as vivid and detailed as the Draco ones, it's harder since I have to stick to the book with those and she has more dialog. I'm going to try to get more in her head the next few chapters, I'm just such an impatient writer. Also some of the dialog will stray from the original since I want to get creative. While at other parts with the Trio it may seem copied(although it is not). I also want to warn that this story is a major **SPOILER** if you haven't read from the fifth book on.

The Draco chapters are much slower paced and a bit freer since most of the sixth book he isn't involved. I'm writing this at a decent hour in the day as well so hopefully everyone enjoys this... I also wanted to say that Microsoft Word isn't working on my computer so I will probably be going to the library to publish each chapter. But depending on how often I get there I may be posting a few chapters at a time(lucky you!)

Hopefully it will be often.

It will get more Dramione later on, I promise! I just need a few more filler chapters to get them a bit into their school year and then it will get started.

**I'm also hoping for reviews, PLEASE! I'd really appreciate it!**

And so it had started. His school year at Hogwarts had begun. Here came his responsibilities of being the Slytherin ringleader and making fun of Potter and causing harmful mischief. This year he was going to have to balance that with his task at hand. He wasn't sure how hard that'd be, but he imagined it'd take up most of his time.

Not that he didn't enjoy making fun, it was quite a nice pastime.

He was making his way into the Great Hall with Zabini and Crabbe, glancing over the heads to find a clear passing to the Slytherin table. Once they'd sat down the other sixth year Slytherins gathered around him, making room and sitting comfortably in a circle around him. "What's got that grin on your face?" Zabini glanced at him, an undercurrent of disapproval in his voice. Draco turned to him, after glancing around the hall to see if his plan had worked. "I smashed Potter's face in. After all those years as seeker he can't move fast enough for the life of him." Blaise smirked, "really?" and the Slytherins around then guffawed with laughter and approval. "Oh and it gets better," Draco grinned to himself, finally getting the whole attention of the crowd around him. "Care to do a demonstration with me, Goyle?" Not that Goyle had a choice. He got up and stood next to Draco, who made a big show of how he wasn't standing right because he couldn't quite capture how Potter stood with a stick up his royal arse.

Finally, Draco mimed slamming Goyle onto the ground and stomping on his nose. He then told the crowd that he threw Potters invisible cloak back over him and left him there so he wouldn't be found until the train got back to London. Using his own weapon against him.

"Do you think he was found?" one Slytherin he didn't recognize asked. (Probably a fifth year, by the look of him.) Just when he was about to tell him to get a brain and think a minute because how could Potter have been found in his old trusty cloak?), he caught a view of Potter just sitting down at the Gryffindor table with the She-Weasel nursing him worriedly. She was dabbing blood off his face and helping with his bloody nose, which was back to normal. He felt a pang of anger in his chest and caught Potters eye a minute, and then turned back to his crowd to put on the show all over again. Leaving the Slytherin unanswered.

In that moment, Grangers eyes were like fire drawn to his, their eye contact caused a zing of electricity to explode up his spine, tugging behind his eyes.

He converted that energy into a snotty eye roll and mouthed "mudblood" at her, with the best sneer he could muster until she turned away, shaking her head and flipping her hair as she did. By then Dumbledore had started up his beginning of year speech. Snickers were spreading out over the Slytherin table, which was customary and not unusual. Draco sighed, knowing in a moments time it was his duty to roll his eyes at his superiors to fulfill his housemates expectations. "To our new students, welcome, to our old students, welcome back!"

"Welcome back is right," Draco smirked at his peers, "why would anyone want to be educated at this loony bin?" chuckles from his friends and good mannered pats on his shoulder made his smirk grow and he chuckled to himself. He still had it.

Hermione shot him a glare. He pleasantly smiled back.

"No!" Potter cried across the Hall, and Draco looked at him. He sounded desperate, he must've missed something that Dumbledore had announced. "Snape's become DADA professor" Blaise said, acknowledging his confused look, and at that moment the whole of the Slytherin table stood up to applaud, Draco with them. "Finally, yeah?" Draco leaned across the table to Zabini as they erupted into conversation, just like the rest of the hall.

When Dumbledore started talking about how You-Know-Who was once more at large, Draco knew it was his time to exit the path of a good listener and he decided to distract himself, he wasn't going to listen to this bollix when he knew more than the half of what the headmaster knew. And just looking at Dumbledore gave him a stomach ache. saying. He levitated his fork into the air and his whole place set soon followed. The Slytherins around him soon erupted into silent laughing fits. Triumph flared his features.

After Dumbledore's speech was over he and Zabini made their way through the crowd, bumping first years into each other and quickly passing through.

They received their schedules from Snape and Draco was happy to find he had two free periods until DADA. If it was going to be like that all year he would have everything under control in no time.

Defense Against the Dark Arts proved to be entertaining with Snape as their teacher. Now Draco knew he'd excel in both potions and defense against the dark arts since they finally had a decent teacher.

But Draco was anything but fond towards Snape at the moment since his mother had made him promise to watch over him. He wasn't a child anymore, he could handle what he had to do. It was his honor. Snape wasn't going to take that away from him, and so...

"The Dark Lord had used Inferi in the past," said Snape, "which means you would be well-advised to assume he might use them again. Now..." Draco rolled his eyes and snorted, looking at his friends and shaking his head. Snape had no idea what he was talking about, he wasn't as close to the Dark Lord as the Malfoys. If they wanted a real DADA class they might as well hire Draco to teach them everything the Dark Lord has done and will do, because he actually knew. His friends caught on fast and sniggered at Hermione just a moment after. Her eyes slid over to them and Draco raised his eyebrows at her, smirking. If Granger didn't always have that indignant look on her face he supposed she might actually be pretty. But before he got a good look she turned away to glare up at Snape who had continued to lecture her on how she needed to control herself. That was Draco's cue to flail his arms around like Granger when she knew the answer. He jumped up from his seat.

Potter and Weasley Caught the movement from the corner of their eyes and turned to look at him. Draco slammed back down into his seat, avoiding eye contact. He hated to admit it but Weasley looked a bit too menacing for his own tastes, not that he cared to say that out loud.

After class Draco bumped his way past the Gyffindors and away from a confused Blaise. He made his way towards the dungeons to make him think he was heading to the dormitories. But Blaise caught up with him. "what's up, Mate? Why the hurry?" Blaise had almost managed to look concerned, so Draco decided to cut him some slack. "I've just got something I need to take care of." Right, now bugger off. Now that he didn't need to explain himself anymore Draco dashed off in the opposite direction, hoping to work his way through lunch and into sixth block.

The library as nearly empty, since it was just the first day of school and no one was worried about O. or N.E. yet. All except Gryffindor' bushy know-it-all; Granger. Draco rolled his eyes and shook his head as he barreled past her, colliding with her elbow. She tuned to mouth him off but not before he pushed through her and practically ran to the restricted section, flashing Madam Pince the signed not from Snape- their alliance had come some what in handy- not in the mood to be scolded, and made his way through the gates. He headed all the way to the back and worked his way up the Dark Magic row. The first book he picked up "Wizardry Traiceret," traiceret meaning "transport." Draco wasn't even sure what to do, after rifling through the book there seemed to be no way to travel some place that blocked apparation and didn't have any sort of connecting link. Running his hands through his hair he sat exasperated, surrounded by the other books he had gone through including one that had screamed some very obnoxious words in his face and earned him a reproachful look from Pince. Slytherin almighty, Draco's brow furrowed as he sat, a strong headache coming on, and shook his head. Nearly everyone had cleared out of the library now that it was past lunch and the only student left seemed to be Granger.

The girl who'd driven him crazy since first year. She thought so highly of herself even though she didn't have much talent, just a photographic memory. Her life was consumed by her studies that she left no time for anything fun(unless you count the shenanigans that Ron and Harry got into every year). She had absolutely nothing Draco desired, except for true friendship, he'd always been jealous of the trio's bond. On the other hand she also seemed to be very brave….

Draco shook his head to drive his thoughts away. He needed to get back to work before sixth block was up and he had to head to Charms.

Professor Flitwick was a respectable professor. The type that knew when to live and let live; he knew when to look the other way and turn his nose. Or perhaps he was just scared of Draco… But that he would never know.

Draco arrived fifteen minutes late to class, and as he slipped quietly into the back row of desks he gave Flitwick his best nod and a piercing Malfoy look that demanded attention. He set his book bag down against the desk leg and took out his quill and a piece of parchment, ready to pick up on his slack. Although he thought he deserved a nice long break.. maybe in the Prefect's bathroom. He sighed at the thought and tried to inconspicuously stretch out his aching back. Damn those books. Giving up his normal haughty look he decided to stretch, and when he cracked his back quite loudly he heard a very deliberate cough come from the right of him; his seating partner. 'Bloody hell, I didn't know I had Charms with the Gryffindor!" He mocked whispered. He was actually quite surprised to see Granger there as well as the rest of the lot. Lucky him, potions and defense against the dark arts and charms, oh my! "Well if you weren't so busy cutting class and napping maybe you would've taken a glance at your schedule!" Hermione raised an eyebrow at him and almost looked concerned. "tsk-tsk, Granger," he clucked at her, "I was just in the library the last few periods. By the way, how to you manage to be hunched over books all day? I can barley sit up straight! Besides," he added as an after thought, "how would I have gotten here if I hadn't at least glanced at my schedule, hmm?" She gave him her best sneer, "Shove off, Malfoy."

"Nice chat, mudblood." He swiveled in his chair back towards the front of the class room.

The students enjoyed the rest of the class in peace.

At the end of the class Draco felt a tap on his shoulder. Knowing who it would be he pointedly paid more attention to Professor Flitwick assign their homework for the night.

"Two feet of parchment on-"

"I know you felt that, Malfoy.". Draco clenched his jaw in concentration and mimed jotting down the homework- which he had no intention of doing.

"...the cleaning charm and the sweeping charm are both very-"

"What? Too upset about your father being thrown into Azkaban?" That got him. A trickle of cold harsh anger ran through is forehead. "Don't you dare talk about my father like that!"

But she had already gone. Banging his book on the table before picking them up again, he ignored the startled looks from students around him and headed to Transfiguration with the Hufflepuffs.

He couldn't even believe the nerve of her… talking about things like she knew every side to them. It was his business, and even though her goody two-shoes friends had gotten his father where he was now that gave her no insight on the whole situation.

Draco stalked through the rows of books in the library trying to find more texts on travel but hardly succeeding. He couldn't concentrate on anything; his head too jumbled with words like mudblood and ignorant. He rounded the corner of the row and ran right into her. "Sweet Slytherin, Granger!" They almost knocked foreheads; a rush of skin and an intake of breath later Granger had cocked out a hip and placed her hand dutifully upon it, comeback resting on her lips. "Maybe YOU should watch where you're going Malfoy!"

"Granger-" a snarl of breath furled from his mouth but was sliced in half by her words. "What? Haven't been sitting around the common room all day coming up with nicknames for me with your big goons? Why are you even-"

"Granger! Don't speak to me like that you filthy, little-"

"Mudblood." she finished for him, solidly. "We know you're up to something,"

"We?"

"Harry, Ron and I. We know. And I don't like what you did to Harry on the train either, just because your father got himself thrown into Azkaban with Harry at the scene-"

"Not twice in one day Granger." His words hissing out his mouth like a snake tasting the air, "You and your little friends are dimwitted Gryffindors who-"

"Watch your back." Her tone caught him, the earth rushing up to his ears and his demeanor snapped. It had been all talk, surely? But the look in her eye and the slice of her chin sternly cautioning him- "We know you're up to something. And don't put it past us to find out." She ground out the last word, emphasizing it; echoing in the air.

Draco thought better of himself for a moment. Putting aside his prejudices, he figured he had better watch his back, as the mudblood had put it...

Shaking his head at her wake he turned lightly on his heel, heading back down the row he had come.

Only a few hours later did he realize that he had searched this row many times before, caught up in Gryffindor hues and cocked out tips and indignant a words, he hadn't even noticed.

Back in his dorm, tossing a quad file around with Blaise and Theo and breathing Gryffindor-free air, Draco was at ease: The easy grip on the ball, sweat and stamina sticking to it, the light sticking sound as it passed through his fingers in a swift motion to Blaise...

"So you've seemed quite distracted recently," Blaise's easy conversational tone hitting the air and causing Draco to loose connection with the calm. Fighting the static invading his thoughts, he tried to ignore Zabini's words.

Mott coughed. "Leave it Zabini." Draco made no eye contact. For a person who very little ever showed emotion, his friend was good at detecting it and he did t want to attract anymore interest. Not in front of Nott. When the soft passing sound of the ball being passed between them came to a halt, Draco finally looked at him. "Leave it." he said. Direct eye contact and it passed between them, a slight nod from Blaise; hardly noticeable, and a confused look at them from Nott and the ball continued to be passed between them. As difficult as Blaise could be at times, he knew the life of a death eater-even though he wasn't one. He had grown up with his family members smack in the ring of Voldemort and had been influenced heavily by that and his family. He planned on joining Draco on the other side after he graduated from Hogwarts to begin a shiny new life full of, he hoped, power. Draco passed the ball back into Nott's arms and exited the circle of their game, holding up his hands in surrender, but his dark expression said the opposite. "I'll see you guys later," he made his exit fast before anyone could ask questions, and swooshed out of the room.

The footsteps approached fast and furious in his memory: A swish of a cloak around a corner and a light pant of breath. Fifth year. Professor Umbridge and Dumbledore's Army. His cause was lost, and so was the Room of Requirement, right? Hoping not to run into any sentimental Gryffindor he glided down the hall way until he reached the seventh-floor corridor. Looking over his shoulder he walked by the entrance three times.

I have a lost cause and I need somewhere to fix it- somewhere safe. He repeated that three times under his breath and then he too, slipped around the small, inelegant door that he didn't remember from fifth year, and shut the door firmly behind him.

Inside a large but cramped room stood Draco, glaring up at the high ceilings and the clutter that went high above his head. This was not what he had been looking for: He had wanted an answer, not a search.

He sighed, causing a current of air to blow the dust off the rubbish, Draco coughed violently on the dust and then looked about, frantically hoping for some sort of explanation.

Scraps of paper long lost from organized notebooks swirled in the updrafts and streams of dusty light shone down between the clutter that blocked the windows. A smell of musk and dust and.. Christmas? Filled Draco's nostrils and he stamped over the mess, pushing tapestries that were filled with bat droppings and trying not to nudge books that mumbled at him.

He came out into a clearing surrounded by the confusion of the rubble. Draco began to work through the piles that at least looked like something and wondered why the door to the room had been different... Probably because of the different destination, of sorts... When he had finished with the piles all along his clearing he pushed the hair out of his face and rubbed at his cheeks with sweat coated fingers. He knew accomplishments came with hard work. But when he had been assigned this task he hadn't pictured THIS. Draco had lived in his father's shadow all his life. Watching him work and knowing what came from it. He had reveled in his success and become frustrate with his losses, knowing that they would take him somewhere, someday. This was finally his chance to step out and make his own legacy; become his own Malfoy.

For the first time his task felt real. More realistic than his aunt's insane laughter and the burn of the Dark Mark on his forearm. He had known the consequences or the gain that would come from this. People who had failed the Dark Lord before- he knew the Cruciatus Curse etched into their backs like ants knew the paths through an ant hill. He had memorized their screams and had woken. In the night with them screaming in his mind, he could've been one of Voldemort's victims just by being present. He knew the smell and the taste and the touch of the Cruciatus just like them. But he was on the predator's side and had no intention of knowing all of that for real.

The terror consumed his mind and he knew he had to find a way to complete this thing that had seemed so simple a week ago. he had known then that Dumbledore was one of the greatest wizards of all time(dare he admit it), he wasn't ignorant or stupid. But it had seemed so unreal.

Now looking back he hadn't paid much attention but to the pain of his newly branded tattoo, and Bellatrix's squeaks of encouragement and whispering. He had no idea except that he was to kill Albus Dumbledore. Or die trying. Only the fear and the thought that there was no way out now. And the corners seemed to taunt him.

His future was set in stone.

Draco was honored to be a Death Eater; the youngest of all time in fact. But he hated that this was what everyone had predicated of him. He hated to be predictable.

The rubble swam before his eyes and the earth came back crashing around his ears, the Vanishing Cabinet in Borgin&Burkes... That's what they had been discussing: it's twin was broken... And lost.

A/N: Hi guys, I'm sorry this is going so slowly.. I worked to make this chapter long and my fingers are cramped from trying to get into the fic. When it starts to get closer to Christmas in the fic it will get a bit more angsty… im going to try to hurry it up though since I'm very eager to start writing that bit. Hope you're enjoying and expect an update soon(: