Draco knelt down and picked her up by the waist- one hand around her bottom and the other around her back as he slung her over his shoulder. Her knee-length skirt rode up her thighs, and Draco let it. There are far more important factors at hand than modesty, he thought viciously. He strode up the driveway, kicking up gravel along the way as he entered through the open door into the hallway. Bellatrix was nowhere to be seen. Good. He continued on his path, aware of the many portraits lined up in the hallway, with each and every single one of their eyes trained upon him and the mudblood. The chandeliers above gave just enough lighting to find the steps down to the cellar. Damn those house-elves! Letting the candles die out instead of replacing them!

Draco started down the steps, lighting his wand with one hand, as the darkness grew more and more penetrating. At last he reached the medium sized room where the mudblood had been locked up; a day prior to the meeting with The Dark Lord.

He set her down in the furthest corner of the room and conjured up shackles for her wrists and ankles. She moaned slightly and turned her head sideways, but otherwise remained still. He stared at her for a moment, he had to find out if she knew anything incriminating, but before then at least he could enjoy himself a bit. Draco concentrated on her mind, willing for any romantic encounters to come into light...


Hermione- Memory one

"Herm-own-ninny" came a deep low voice to her right. She quickly sat up, blushing about being caught gazing at the stars so openly. Of course Astronomy being a strong subject, she had no problems identifying several constellations..of course Orion, the shape of a hunter and Leo, in the shape of a lion...Her mouth deepened into a scowl when she noticed the constellation Draco, and abruptly turned to face Vicktor.

Vicktor's eyebrows had furrowed together to make one thick line and to anyone else they'd have mistaken it as surliness. Hermione knew better and she knew he was thinking hard.

"What's wrong?" she asked softly. Vicktor looked at her, his eyes softening as she saw her worried about his well-being. "Are you sure zat you are not seeing that Potter boy?" he burst out, apparently very insecure.

Imagine that! Hermione marvelled, A famous person insecure about my affections?! She decided to dispel any doubts and moved over to the edge of the stand, where he had just very clearly landed moments before, his thick black hair ruffled and a broom tucked under his arm. She daringly pulled him to her and kissed him. It wasn't the first time they had kissed, but times like these became rare and in-between. Just as it seemed as he was really getting into it, licking her bottom lip to make her open her mouth, she stepped back.

"Is your question answered for now?" she asked.

"Yes, i am satizfied, zust az long az you do not go kissing ozzer boys like thiz also..."

"I assure you," she laughed as Vicktor looked at her, a grin forming on that usually serious face. "Zen i think iz best to fineesh vot we started.."


Hermione's eyes shot upon, fury overtaking her as she saw his glazed open eyes reflected by the light coming from his wand.

Draco stared at her, his eyes oddly blank.

" You have NO right!" she yelled. "How DARE you go through MY private memories.."

Draco's lips opened, and a cold voice spoke. "You make the mistake in believing I have morals Granger...It just shows how ignorant you are..Now shut up and let me see your other memories..."

Hermione looked at him as he closed his eyes. Wishing to make him react to anything. She didn't know much about legilimency except for the things she learnt in books. She had tried reading the mind of Neville (after asking for his heartiest of consents). She had failed numerous times but had succeeded all but three. She wanted to turn the tables around on him, when he was least of all expecting someone to attack his mind. He probably thought she was too incompetent to do that...well, we shall see...


Draco- Memory one

He didn't look back as he dragged her along the floor, by the arms nonetheless. At least he wasn't dragging her by the feet. He checked both ends of the corridor to see if his Slytherin classmates had snuck back, intent on seeing some form of gruesome torture...He dragged her back to the dungeon and shut the door firmly knowing Snape was in his office doing something utterly useless. True, the door wouldn't be much effective against ghosts but most of them had a fear of Snape and usually steered well clear of his classroom.

He lifted the charm on her and watched in fascination as she slowly got up. She gingerly felt her head, and blood came away on her fingertips. She inspected her leg to find a bruise already forming on her shin. She glanced up and glared at Malfoy, watching him watching her watching him. She looked down again at her shin and back at his eyes, not at all liking the way he was analysing her and the fervent look in his eyes. She limped to the far end of the room, keen on getting a couple of metres and desks inbetween them; which would not help her at all, if he chose it to be.

He took a step forward and Hermione stepped back, banging her already sore head against the wall. He took another step closer. Her bloodied hands scrambled into her robes and found her wand was gone. She glared at him...she couldn't run faster than him, she was weaker than him, so now what? She thrust out her bloodied hand and gestured him to come to a halt.

"Don't you feel any remorse?" she hissed, "Aren't you disgusted and ashamed to be preying on defenceless women? Are you scared that you won't come better off if we had a fair fight?"

Malfoy paused, a short bark of laughter issuing out of his throat. "I could finish you with two hands tied behind a my back Granger...but hey, when an opportunity presents itself to me where I gain advantage... I'm not going to say no, am I? I thought you knew better than to believe I'll play fair...and that defenceless women crap? Cut out the bullshit! You were listening into my conversation for a lengthy amount of time, with a perfectly functional wand I might add...You had ample opportunity to curse the living daylights out of me...but what do you do? Tuck your furry tail behind your stouty little legs and flee...so much for Gryffindor bravery! I think Hufflepuff may have suited you better, surrounded by nitwits, and cowards and no brains whatsoever...it'd have been right up your street...where are you going?" he snapped.

Hermione while listening to his little tirade had been inching towards the door, at the last statement she froze and turned to face him. Now only Snape's desk separated her from that evil maniac...

"Answer me!" he demanded.

"Firstly, I'm getting away as far away from you as possible. Secondly, Why did I flee? Contrary to your bigoted beliefs, I DO have courage whatever you say, so just back off! I admit, I didn't exactly think cursing you was the most brilliant idea of the century..I mean, You're a deatheater, for Christ's sake! You have probably participated in the deaths of hundreds of people and know lots of Dark curses...You were with other Slytherins who were not at all surprised by the dark mark! Now why was that?! Maybe they were deatheaters too! I just didn't think it wise to challenge six against one, since I'm not indestructible and have never been...Excuse me if I wanted to report to a senior member of staff as they are better qualified at this than I am!" she said in a sarcastic tone of voice.

He stared at her in shock. Aware that her chest was heaving up and down due to the urge for more air. His eyes disparagingly looked at her, aware his breath wasn't as steady either..

"You are not going anywhere, " he said his voice oozing superiority. " I know it may come as a surprise, but I'm not all that favourable of you walking out of here and destroying what self-made reputation I had...with the students of this school and alongside my fellow partners in crime..You see, we have a plan and lest of all are YOU going to jeopardise it!"

They stared at each other once again, before he started slowly rounding the desk. Hermione started moving clockwise as well, intent to keep him 180 degrees opposite her. Of course against the wand it'll be useless but it seemed he had no intention to end the chase so soon.

"How are you going to do that?" she whispered.

He gave a smile so wide that it almost dazzled her. "Wipe your memory of course! I am a VERY apt obliviator! Second to only Gilderoy Lockhart, if I dare to say so...But of course, you had a crush on him, didn't you?"

Hermione gasped as she stared at him. "You read my mind didn't you? You bastard! You had no flipping right!"

"Well, actually you're wrong there Granger...I had EVERY right. It comes in form of a marriage contract.."

"What?!"

"We got married mudblood, remember? Well now I know you do, it's plain to see in your mind...the dreams are REAL...you must also surely remember you signed a piece of paper? Binding you as MINE and no-one elses? To use at my disposal...hmmm, it's funny what a simple Imperio could do to someone...including to sign over mind, body and soul over to yours truly.." He produced a ring out of his pocket, a smaller version of what he currently had on HIS finger except with different initials.."HM.." He whispered.

She looked at his smug face, and wanted nothing better to do than rip that pale blond hair out of his arrogant head. Oddly, everything he said felt true..or familiar...

"Why?" she choked out.

"Well seeing as you won't remember this it won't hurt to give an inkling.." he looked at her. This time he jumped onto Snape's desk, crushing some poor first year's potion as he walked over too her. Hermione was too shocked too move or yell.

"You see, I...or morelike The Dark Lord...needs your brain.." He ran his eyes over her. "The others are optionary of course..."

He wrapped his fingers around her throat and pressed slightly, so darkness clouded at the edge of her vision. He placed the tip of the wand against her temple.

"Goodbye Granger.." he smirked and then uttered "Obliviate!"


Draco- Memory two

Draco stared at the owl in front of him, fluttering weakly on the table. It lay there, a damaged wing by it's side and hooted softly as it gazed up at him...almost pleading for help. His father swept into the room and cast a withering glance at the boy and the bird before him.

"Draco! How many times do I have to tell you...do not bring animals into the house! What do we have here?"

His black robes cascaded behind him as he lent over the table, prodding the Elf owl with his wand. The bird hooted angrily but in it's weakened state it sounded distant and faint.

"There is no use in saving it..we must put it out of it's misery and kill it.."

Draco stared up at his father, hate washing over him as he stared into those cold eyes of his father. Draco's eyes were still innocent as those of a 8-year-old boy. His grey showing empathy for the bird. Lucius looked upon his son with disgust, his son was soft and it was be preferable if he started hardening up sooner rather than later.

"Go on, son...kill the bird, with your own bare hands if need be. A twist of the head would do it.."

Draco stared up at his father. "But father, I do not have a wand...won't it be better if a healing spell was performed..?"

"SILENCE!" his father yelled. "I am the master of the house and you'd do well boy, if you respect that. Now stop being such a coward and kill the god-damned bird!"

Draco didn't want to disobey or gain the displeasure of his father. For some reason, he always had a feeling that his father was displeased and disappointed by him and as a young boy he wanted to be like his father...to have respect and wealth and most importantly- to make his father proud of him..

His eyes hardened as he looked upon the poor creature. As if aware of it's impending doom started squawking and fluttering as much as possible. He didn't have a wand yet, seeing he was three years younger than the required age for a wand...the Avada Kadavra spell seemed almost humane compared to giving the bird excruciating pain even though for a second..at least the former way, no pain was involved.

He took a deep breath, he would do this...because if Draco Malfoy did have one fear, it was the fear of failure...especially in the eyes of his father.


Draco- Memory three

This time he was older...Maybe his second year at Hogwarts. He sat by his mother's bed watching as her chest rose up and down under the covers, Reassuring him that his mother was alive. He placed his head in his hands, now he could let his barrier down, even for a moment. Of course he wouldn't cry, tears were an unnecessary amount of time and space, but he was concerned for his mother's health. She was the only one in the world to get past the facade but then she hadn't done for a while.

"Draco..?" a voice rasped. Dracco's head shot up and regarded his mother with stony eyes. She looked at him, a wane smile playing on her face. "My, haven't you grown...You are becoming more handsome by the year..pretty soon, girls will be flocking around you.."

Draco gave an impatient smile. He had no time for girls and he wasn't planning in getting romantically involved anytime soon, that was for sure.

"Whatever you say mother," he replied in a hard voice. "Do you need anything?"

Narcissa gazed at her son, befuddled by his cold tone but touched by his question. Even Lucius didn't bother with such things..

"No, " she croaked, "You are a good son Draco, please remain that way."

Draco bowed his head. He felt a twinge within him and he felt a emotion he couldn't describe..a cross between gratitude and mockery. If there was anybody in the word he'd choose to love, it'd be his mother...But to oblige his father he needed to sever any connections that might weaken him...


Hermione slowly opened her eyes into the vision of a grey whirlwind taking place within Malfoy's eyes. She recoiled, the knowledge that this was the most amount of emotion, angry or otherwise that had ever been directed towards her unsettled her greatly. He didn't say anything, and the fact that she couldn't fight back if he attacked her played on her mind. Anger. That is what she had expected. Lots of it. The silence was getting a bit scary now.

She didn't know what had just happened. She had been furious when he invaded her mind and out of all the memories , he saw the one with Vicktor Krum! It could of been worse, it could have been a memory of taking a bath in solitude but she had been so angry that somehow she closed her eyes and imagined delving into his mind to show the anger. He mustn't have been well guarded as she thought, or else she'd have never been able to do that...

She wanted him to leave instead of sitting there scaring her like shit. So she could contemplate what she'd just saw...

Suddenly cold fingers tipped her head up, so the majority of her throat was visible. She felt really vulnerable as he drew a thumb across her neck.

"I'll be back..." he hissed as he stood up abruptly and strode off. She listened to the pounding of his feet and then it stopped. "And next time, I won't be as kind.." came a menancing growl.

Hermione didn't open her eyes until she was certain he was gone...


A/N: three guesses to where I got the catchphrase 'I'll be back' from...hint: It's a movie, or shall I say there are three, with the fourth one coming out soon. Another hint? The lead actor in all three is now an actor turned governer...with a really long surname...

Reviews are most welcome! So now you know some of Draco's vulnerabilities. 1. Fear of failure...maybe that's another reason why he hated Hermione..a muggleborn cleverer than him...ouch. 2. Concern for his mother's health...despite whatever he tells himself, you DO have to care if you sit by your mother's bedside...You also find out he's good at wiping memories...which is a totally useless piece of information but is information all the same...;)