6:35.

It was the first morning in the castle. The wood in the fireplace was softly glowing and producing little heat. He kept his blankets pulled close to his body, feeling himself shiver from the cold. The stone walls surrounding them preferred the damp and dreary so Draco decided to embrace it. He let his mind wander towards sad thoughts: his mother, the unwelcoming guests, how this school year was going to play out...he was not quite sure what to do with these feelings. He was used to hatred and disappointment but these were different. They were not produced by his father, he created these emotions on his own. By this time his mother would be silently opening up the blinding light from the sun but below the lake no such light was to be had. He let out a silent sigh and rubbed his icy grey eyes with the heels of his palms. He dreaded the next few moments but he knew it had to be done. He threw the sheets off himself and ran quietly to the bathroom. He pulled on a slim black shirt before putting his uniform on. He never liked the feeling of the white shirt against his skin and figured he could get away with wearing the shirt underneath, especially as a third year. He grabbed his cloak and pushed his arms through the sleeves. He looked in the mirror at his reflection and fixed his hair. After finishing his morning routine he tip toed out of the dormitory picking up his socks and shoes on the way out. He had a letter to deliver.

He entered the common room and was surprised to see how many students were already awake. Classes wouldn't start for another few hours so he was expecting people to still be sleeping. He walked towards the door but he was stopped again by the prefect. "I'm sorry, Draco, but I can't let anyone wander the castle until the sun rises. Once there is daylight you can visit the Owlery." Draco let out a solid exhale but gave her a stiff nod and went to a dark corner where he could blend into the leather chair and emerald tapestry, only seeing his face with the occasional flicker from the fire. He was not able to fall asleep so he had to find a way to occupy his mind. He then remembered the stone. Where did I put that stupid thing? he said to himself. He realized he left it in the dormitory and decided to slink himself back. He reached the door but heard a stir on the other side. He grunted while slowly opening the door then walked towards his desk. He could not find the stone and began to panic. He was sifting through the parchment and quills on his desk but it was still nowhere to be seen. "Missing something?" Draco jumped at the sound of Blaise's voice.

Draco tried to keep his composure when he saw Blaise leaning near the wall with a glowing stone in his hand. He was letting the stone roll around his hand feeling the weight transfer between his fingers. Draco slowly adjusted his posture and allowed his shoulders to relax. "Alright then, enough games. Just give it back." He tried to keep his tone even and cool. He did not want to seem desperate for it. He knew Blaise could not see the glow but he was suddenly itching to feel her voice. He closed his eyes then shot an icy stare at his dorm mate. Blaise released a small chuckle and began tossing the stone in the air. "I just want to know who it belongs to," he began to drawl. "It's just a par-" Draco began but was abruptly stopped. "Oh, don't give me that! I'm not an idiot. I know exactly what this is. And I just want to know who's the lucky recipient of the other half." Draco could tell Blaise was not going to give it up that easily. He wanted the full details to this treasure.

Think quick, don't let him start guessing. His mind was racing. His heart felt as if it were going to jump out of his chest. He felt his palms begin to sweat as he clenched his fists that were resting on his desk. He pushed away towards his bed frame. He leaned along the bed post with his shoulder and began to slowly massage his hands with his thumbs avoiding eye contact. "Look, Blaise. If you were supposed to know don't you think I would tell you?" He tried to sound more confident than he felt. He smirked and allowed his arms to drop to his side. He shifted his weight between his feet and sat on the edge of his bed. All he wanted was to hear her voice but Blaise was making this very challenging. "Well, is it who I think it is?" Blaise whispered to Draco with a grin across his face and leaning towards his buddy. Draco smiled and let out a faint laugh. "It's whoever you want it to be, Blaise. I really don't care what you think but I do want it back." Draco rose to his feet and purposefully stepped towards his friend. Blaise noticed his movements but it was too late. He was already against the wall. He sharply inhaled as his back touched the bare, cold, damp wall. Draco placed his hand next to his head and was inches away from Blaise's face. Blaise felt as if the Immobulus Charm had been cast. "This is not a game you want to play with me." Draco said plainly as he picked the stone from Blaise. He pushed off the wall and tapped his friend's shoulder before walking out of the room. He doesn't know. All is fine. Just keep walking out of the room. He was trying to remain calm so he shoved his hands into his pockets and disappeared into the dark hallway towards the common room. He could feel the sweat begin to bead on his forehead. He gently rubbed it off using his shoulder and continued walking. He was hoping for daylight so he could escape the living nightmare of the past twelve hours.

After thirty minutes the prefects allowed the Slytherins to leave the common room. "Always have a buddy!" He heard them shouting as they all began to drift towards the Great Hall. As he travelled closer he could smell the eggs, sausage, and toast fill the air. He let out a satisfying sigh as he made a left to head towards the Owlery. He felt a stiff grab on his shoulder that almost knocked him backwards. He followed the hand up to the face of Percy. "As Head Boy, I am not allowing you to travel anywhere beyond the Great Hall. Please return at once." He dropped his shoulder and turned to face Percy. Another Weasley thinking they are better than a Malfoy, he mumbled to himself. "Excuse me, Mr. Malfoy? That will not be tolerated!" Percy was losing his temper and Draco was loving it. He tried to smile but knew he seemed sarcastic. "Come on, chum, I just need to get this note off to my mum." Percy crossed his arms and shook his head. Clearly the power is going to his head, Draco thought. Draco shoved his hands in his pockets and began to look for another way out.

Why is Percy wasting his time on him? Luckily I already got permissions from Dumbledore to go to the Owlery. Ha! Shows him right...

Draco could tell he was about to regret what he heard. He tried to figure out a different plan but it continued to come back to the same scenario. "Well why is Granger going then?" Percy's face turned white and snapped his head to catch Hermione's gaze burning on Draco. "How did you know that I am-" He had to cut her off before too many questions were asked. "Look she's heading the same direction as the Owlery. I really need to get this to my mum. Just let me go?" He began to hate himself. Malfoy's don't beg for permission. He could see the thought rolling in Percy's brain before he exhaled. He dropped his arms and pointed where to go. "Do not take any detours. We must be vigilant of the other guests near our school. Report anything out of the ordinary to me as soon as you return." Draco gave a slight nod and a smirk. He beat a Weasley at his own game. As he walked down the corridor he heard one last phrase that stopped him in his tracks, "Stay with Hermione! Do not get separated!" He froze and slowly turned around to see a pissed off brunette stomping his direction.

The walk up the West Tower was a long one. Draco kept his hands in his pockets and shook as the cold air brushed their skin. It was not supposed to be this cold in September yet. Every few minutes he could hear her voice in his head and he couldn't help but allow a soft smile to form on his pale face.

Why did Percy agree to this? He knows how Draco is...

Why does he keep smiling? What a git.

I mean, he was kind at the Leaky Cauldron. Of course, no one was looking then either...why is he-

"Why do you keep smirking!? What am I doing that is so funny to you!?" Hermione was getting upset. She was feeling very mixed regarding her defenses towards Draco. Was it okay to let them down every once in a while? "It's nothing, Granger. It's just...nothing. You are heading to the Owlery, right?" Draco tried to avoid eye contact as they walked down the narrowing corridor. "Yes, I am sending a letter to my parents explaining how to send me letters back. They aren't used to owl post, you know, being muggles and all." She held the letter close to her heart and swiftly turned her gaze away from Draco. The fragrance from her hair followed the cool fall breeze in Draco's direction. He faltered with his steps as he tried to wrap his head around it. The smell of vanilla and marshmallow hugged his nostrils as he tried to regain his composure. "What is wrong with you, Malfoy?" He heard her voice and realized he had stopped walking. He opened his eyes to see the frustrated Gryffindor a few steps in front of him. He immediately felt disgust. Why was he feeling this way? Why was a mud blood making him feel this way? His warm smile quickly turned to stone and he took his hand out of his pockets. It's the stone, it's the stone making me feel this way. He convinced himself that was the case and decided he needed to be in front of her so he couldn't see her, so he couldn't smell her. The Slytherin common room smelled similar so he knew it was just a girl-thing and he probably liked the smell of most girls. Yes, it was not her scent that he liked. It was just the scent most girls like. "Forget it," he said coldly as he walked past her up the staircase to the owls.

After a few minutes of observing the landscape Draco attached his parchment to one of the school owls and sent it on its way. He leaned against the brick wall waiting for Hermione to choose an owl. His mind began wandering again but towards his father. He never thought he would actually miss his father but his lacking presence in the manor the past few months was starting to take its toll. If Lucius would have been around more he probably would never be feeling the way he does now. He opened his eyes just in time to watch Hermione's face light up as the owl flew away. A slight breeze blew her hair into a mess but she just kept smiling. As she stepped away from the window she began to fix the strands that had gone awry. Time felt awkward as Draco tried to push off the wall. She was about to pass by him when he placed his arm out to stop her. A sudden jolt of electricity went through his body as her eyes glared into his own.

What do you think you are doing? Trying to stop me from leaving? Who do you think you are?

Draco could feel the anger building up but he had to try and resolve some of his emotions from yesterday. "Look, Hermione. I didn't mean to shove you so hard yesterday." He let his arm drop so she could pass by but she stood still. He looked at the ground as he continued. "It's just...the past two years have been...trying for all of us and...I don't know, I know what is expected of me and I'm trying to fulfill that role but..." Too many thoughts filled his head. He could feel the weight of the world on his shoulders again as he exhaled and attempted to look at Hermione. Her face was no longer angry. Instead the same expression from the Leaky Cauldron was there. He hated himself for wanting to stay in the tower for longer. He quickly stood up straight and rolled his shoulders back. "Look, Granger. I'm going to pick on the Golden Boy and Weasel, okay? It's just going to happen. Don't get caught in between or I may say things that could hurt you, alright?" He quickly began to descend down the stairs trying to avoid anymore conversation with her. She quickly caught up and he felt her gentle touch on his shoulder. "Look, Malfoy," she said mocking him for his previous statements. "You can't be both people. When others aren't around you seem kind and thoughtful but once you are around other Slytherins you become this person who is mean and cruel. If this is the real Draco I don't think I'd mind getting to know you." Draco couldn't help but let a small smile form on his face. He could feel his cheeks gaining color but he couldn't stop it, not now anyways. "I'm going to pick on Potter today, it's just going to happen, so be prepared and don't get in between it. I don't want to hurt you." Hermione's face began changing shades of pink as they walked back down the corridors together. The entire way back neither would make eye contact so Draco found a better way to hear what she was saying.

Does he really mean it? If he really is not this terrible person from the past few years then maybe...