Author's Note: So guys I hope you enjoy this chapter, if mind games or twisted mind control freaks you out then proceed with caution! Thankyou all again for your unwavering support even though I know I havn't written much recently, I will try to keep updating as much as possible. Hope you like it...

Hermione was walking back from her third visit with Draco that week since she had upset Harry. She was feeling truly despondent. She'd thought she was breaking through to Draco's 'inner shell', finding the real him; but she wasn't at all. Nothing felt right because he didn't care about her at all. He didn't want her with him and she felt like the stupid tag-along little girl that had no friends; it was very humiliating. Just to make things worse Hermione could see Ron sat on the steps by the main doors, right in her path, no doubt ready to shout at her again. God I don't think I can take that today, I really don't.

"Hi Mione."

"Hi." She looked down at him awkwardly. It was true she barely knew Ron anymore. He looked awful though, not in a shouting sort of mood, maybe now was the time to get to know him again?

"Wanna go for a walk?" He muttered,

"Yes actually."

"I've seen you with Malfoy. I wish you could tell me what's going on with you two."

"When have you seen me?" Hermione was genuinely shocked; she thought her meetings with Draco had been discrete to say the least, if not secret.

"I've been walking a lot recently, I've got a lot to think about." Hermione raised an eyebrow, she didn't doubt what he said. "Look, I know what you think, I've screwed everything up the last year or so. I'm failing nearly everything. I've drunk too much, I've stopped caring about the things that matter. I've hurt people I like, I've pushed away girls who like me. I'm not proud of what I've done." Hermione nodded again, searching for comforting words that she could mix in with the truth.

"I think you have made a lot of mistakes. All three of us have. Doesn't mean that you can't change now though." Ron grunted and dug his hands deeper into his pockets. "Who out of those girls did you not actually mean to hurt?" She asked sceptically,

"None of them." When she raised her eyebrows, "Seriously, I never meant to hurt anyone. I just wanted a bit of fun. The reason I said to you 'you don't know what you're doing' is because I know how it feels to be messing with two people at once. I don't know what I'm doing either."

"Explain."

"Me and Padma got off on the wrong foot when I wouldn't dance with her at the Yule ball. Then when Harry dumped Cho, do you remember? Seamus liked Cho. So Padma got all upset because she was into Seamus so I was there for her. Then it became a really close friendship, but in knowing her I got to know Parvati and started to like Parvati in a different way to the way I liked Padma. So I cause an argument there. Me and Parvati split and I liked Cho but Padma was still into me. And then there was Lavender…it's so confusing. And now I've pushed everyone away."

"Oh Ron." Hermione reached out and caught his arm gently, "You've been such an idiot. But it's never too late. We'll get all the gang back together, then you can find your girl, or not, without hurting anybody."

"I don't know Hermione. I wish I could go back, you don't know how much I wish that. Things were simple once weren't they?" His voice sounded a little thick, like his nose was running.

"I know Ron. Believe me, I know how you feel." They had stopped and now without warning Hermione collapsed into Ron's strong grip, the safety and warmth was reassuring, his hand in her hair, their heads close. She buried herself as close into his chest as she could and one of his hands gripped the back of her robes.

"We had something between us once, didn't we?"

"We did. So long ago Ron. We've gone too far to go back to that now."

"I know I didn't expect us to…I just thought…why not add to the list of things to be sad about while we're at it. At least we get all the tears out of the way in one go." Hermione managed a choked giggle and leaned closer still.

--

Harry couldn't figure out why he suddenly felt so isolated from Hermione. They had only been at school a couple of months and already he'd plummeted through emotions at top speed being dragged head first by Hermione. So it was rather warily that he returned her smile in the common room that night. His nerves mounted as the room began to slowly drain of people and him and Hermione seemed to be drawn closer in the gently darkening room, it wasn't comforting. He was suddenly terrified. She was a magnet and he was metal, if he got too close he knew they couldn't repel and then he'd be straight back on his emotional roller coaster.

He got up to leave shortly after Ron had departed, uncomfortably aware that they were now alone.

"Don't leave me Harry."

"Hermione you know what's going to happen. I just can't go there again. You're hurting me." Hermione looked at him with an expression to confusing for him to even begin reading. He turned to go, calming his heavy breathing. Without warning Hermione jumped up, grabbed his arm in a painful grip and dragged him round to face her.

"I'm sorry." She choked out, her eyes desperately begging him for something. What though? He nodded and tried to move away. But before he could go more than a pace Hermione had pulled him round again; she kissed him. Impulsively, roughly, their lips joined together. He pulled her closer, wrapped his arms around her fragile body, enjoying the feeling of her hands on his face. It was a mistake, the passion again but he didn't care; he just needed her.

"Hermione at the party in Hogsmede next week can we go together?"

"I don't know Harry…what if people…what if they see that we're…?" She sounded hesitant, as if she was already regretting the kiss. Her tone brought back all the anger in Harry, all the reasons why he shouldn't be with her, all the thoughts that had been haunting him for weeks.

"It's like that is it?"

"No Harry. Wait, it's not-"

"I see how it is Hermione. It's fine, don't worry about me. I'm sure there are other guys; in fact I know there are. Just leave me alone if you're going to play me."

"Harry, stop it. You're being really unfair. Do you have any idea how bad you've made me feel over the last few weeks!"

"I don't believe what I'm hearing Mione. How bad I'm making you feel? What's happened to you? You know what? Forget it. If I'm making you feel bad you can just stay away from me." This time he did walk away. Fast. His blood was pounding in his ears, his face hot with anger. How can I be making her feel bad? This has nothing to do with me. I didn't use her. I didn't use her. I didn't use her. I can't have done. This isn't my fault. He told himself that all the way up the stairs to his dormitory.

Harry slammed the door rather forcefully and threw his schoolbooks down by his bed. The dormitory remained silent, the other boys pretending not to notice. He threw a few more things and did everything with twice as much force as he usually did but still no one said anything. Most people had learnt to keep away from him when he was angry. Still, this was possibly the one time when he might actually have liked some sympathy; but he knew no one was brave enough to try and give him any.

--

Mione let her hand drop as she watched his back retreating. She turned and walked in a ghost like state towards the dormitory. What am I doing wrong? This dare was supposed to be easy. Quietly she shut the dormitory door behind her and dropped her school things in a heap. Very suddenly she collapsed on the floor and began to cry. Very quietly, she could still her the gentle breathing of her sleeping roommates, but still loud enough to give herself some satisfaction.

"Hermy what's the matter?" A hand reach out to her shoulder and shook her gently. It was Ginny.

"I've done everything all wrong Ginny." She choked out.

"Ok sshh, come with me." Ginny tugged her gently up and took her into the bathroom where they could talk more loudly. She handed Hermione a rather large wad of tissue and disappeared briefly before returned with a chocolate frog. Hermione hiccupped and then managed a quiet giggle. "So what exactly have you done wrong Hermione? You don't usually tell us because you're bright enough to get out of your own scrapes but I'm sensing this is different?"

"Yes. I've done something bad, got myself into something bad, only I can't tell you who with. And I have to do this horrible thing to a boy, or I get a forfeit. I didn't mind at first but now I've…well…I think I'm getting feelings for him and I didn't mean to. He was just a tool, but now he's more."

"That's pretty elusive Mione. You can't tell me any more?" She shook her head vigorously. "So this forfeit, how bad is it?" Hermione faltered,

"I- I don't really know. I never asked the details."

"Hermione for someone so smart you are greatly lacking in the common sense department. Just ask the asshole who dared you exactly what you'll have to do. It's ridiculous, get out of the dare and then get with the guy you're getting feelings for." Hermione sniffed and nodded. She'd have to face Draco in the morning.

Hermione felt extremely spaced out as she left the main doors at lunchtime looking for Draco. She couldn't see him in his usual spot by the cherry trees and was almost relieved, until she saw his silver-blonde head retreating towards the forbidden forest. She knew she'd have to follow him or she wouldn't get another chance today and she'd keep putting it off if she left it any longer. She ran after him right to the edge of the forest and still wasn't catching up with him; she didn't hesitate before stepping into the dark trees but once inside felt uneasy. She couldn't see Draco anywhere ahead of her but she carried on slowly anyway.

"Draco…" She called uncertainly into the dark. Once she heard a rustle behind her and spun round, but she could see nothing and daylight was still visible in the distance so she carried on a bit further. There was another rustle, something brushed past her and a shadow moved ahead.

"Boo!" A voice whispered right in her ear. Hermione screamed as loud as she could and whipped her wand out. "Jesus it's only me, and I heard you were the tough girl." Draco leered. He had been playing with her all this time.

"Draco." Hermione breathed a sigh of relief, realising she looked quite mad. Her hair had caught across her face, only highlighting her wide, fearful eyes and her breathing was heavy. "What are you doing?"

"Just messing with you Granger, what did you want?" His voice still had the leering undertone so Hermione took the defensive.

"Not to see you or anything, so don't worry. I've had enough of your stupid games Malfoy and I want to know exactly what'll happen to me if I refuse to go through with this dare?"

"Oh I can make you go through with it Granger, there are things I can make you do." He smiled,

"Oh please!" She scorned a little louder than her normal voice to give herself confidence. The quieter and more threatening his voice became the louder and more hysterical hers grew; it was like a sick party trick. "What could be worse than going through with this pathetic dare?"

"You ever hurt anyone real bad Granger? I mean physically hurt…you done that before?"

"No! Who do you think I am Malfoy?"

"Well I can make you."

"Make me what?"

"Hurt someone. Hurt someone really bad, I could make you kill someone Granger."

"Stop it."

"You'd know you were killing them…"

"Stop!"

"You wouldn't be able to stop yourself."

"Shut up! Stop it! You're scaring me!" She was screaming now.

"You want to know how? I'll show you…Imperio!" Hermione felt a warm tingle spread up from her finger tips through her limbs and into her body, it made her feel numb and floppy yet not out of control; someone else's thoughts had her movement entirely now. The feeling began to seep into her brain, making it limp, soggy, she tried to fight it. She tried to shake the groggy feeling but it dragged on her, heavier and heavier until her brain stopped trying, then stopped thinking altogether; it was close to bliss. She knew she was reaching out, taking something from Draco, it felt heavy for its size but she gripped the handle comfortably. Is it a wand? No…wands aren't like this, it's a…I know what that is…I can see it but I can't think what it's called… Her brain wandered off to a land of its own while her body continued. She spun the object in her right hand then rested a cool part of it to her left upper arm. Then she remembered the word: Knife! It stirred panic within her, she tried to regain control; Draco had her holding a knife. Hermione tried to pull the knife up but she felt like it weighed a ton at least and it was inching closer to her skin. She gasped as pain shot up her arm and blood began to trickle towards her hands. Then the control dropped from her body and she staggered for a second,

"You're sick." She whispered, dropping the knife in disgust. "You're totally sick."

"Oh yea, well if you don't do the dare how about I get you to kill a few of the girls in your dormitory? Or…wait…hang on, you want to stop the dare because you have feelings for Potter, don't you? Oh yes! If you don't do this I'll make you kill Potter."

"Stop it! I hate you! You're sick!" She screamed and turned away, starting to run as the terror rose within her. Malfoy had her good and proper now, she had to do it, she would never ever be able to stop now she'd seen his power over her. It made Hermione feel sick; she hated him and yet still found the power attractive, she disgusted herself.