Chapter 9

She pulled her sweater around her as she made her way up to the seventh floor. It was chilly this February evening and she could almost see her breath in front of her even within the castle walls. Hermione passed by a large torch and felt its heat on her face for a moment, wishing she were back in the common room in front of the fire with Crookshanks and a good book.

Just ahead she saw a young girl holding a cauldron much too big for her and Hermione quickened her pace forward.

"Hi there," She said softly and the little girl looked up at her with wide eyes. "What are you doing all the way up here? Are you lost?"

The cauldron crashed to the ground making Hermione jump back in surprise. The little girl took no time at all darting past her and heading for the stairwell at the end of the corridor. Hermione sat the cauldron upright and turned back, worried that she had scared the little girl when she felt two strong arms snake around her body.

One wrapped over her chest, trapping her arm to her side and a cool hand closed over her mouth while the other slid around her stomach pinning her other arm down and hauling her back against something very firm and solid.

"Right on time," Malfoy's voice sounded in her ear. She struggled against his hold but it didn't do much. "Keep wriggling like that, Granger," Malfoy growled. "A little to the left."

"Malmoy!" Her words were muffled by his hand.

"Keep it down, at least until I get you inside, then you can scream all you want." He whispered and she felt herself being hauled backwards into a room. It was dark in here and she couldn't see anything but could feel Malfoy's body against her and his strong arms holding her.

His hand reached for something at her waist and Hermione tried to jerk away again but her attempt only brought a low chuckle from Malfoy. She felt something move and realized that he had just pulled her wand from her pocket before slowly removing his arm from around her middle and mouth.

She spun around and reached out in the darkness, hoping to grab hold of him and take her wand back, but her hands only closed over cold air. It was impossibly black in here and she couldn't see anything, not even her own hands in front of her.

"Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder…" She murmured.

"Very good, Granger," Malfoy drawled from somewhere off to the side of her and she spun, trying to find him.

"How can you see in this?" Hermione asked as she heard footsteps moving around her.

"I have my ways," Malfoy said smoothly, his voice closer this time. Hermione turned in his direction and held out her hand again, not liking the helplessness she was feeling. "And you're too cute to miss out on."

Hermione glared into the darkness. "This isn't funny." She crossed her arms over her chest. She wasn't going to give him the satisfaction anymore.

"Funny? No, I'm not joking."

"Malfoy, I want to be able to see-"

She felt him grab onto her wrist and pull her hand down. "What about feel?" He said in a low voice and shoved her hand against his trousers where she felt something very hard and very long pressing against her palm.

Hermione pulled her hand back quickly. "Ugh! You're such a… a…"

"At least I'm not a Mudblood," His voice was in her ear and his body against her back again.

Hermione spun around and Malfoy caught her hair in his hand, forcing her head back as he pressed his lips down onto hers roughly. She gave a little groan, and pushed against his chest but Malfoy captured her bottom lip with his teeth again and Hermione froze as he breathed out through gritted teeth, "Behave."

That one word sent shivers down her spine and she found herself doing just that. Her hands fell from his chest to hang by her sides and she relaxed the muscles in her neck so that she wasn't pulling her head away from him anymore.

Malfoy let go of her lip and licked it with the tip of his tongue.

"Good girl."

More shivers and these ones settled below her navel.

"Close your eyes." Malfoy ordered. "Stay right here." Hermione obeyed.

He released her and she heard him move off a distance then return. She could feel his breath against her lips and she breathed in the crisp mint scent.

"Open them."

Hermione blinked her eyes open to find that she was in… a classroom. It was strangely empty with only one long desk and two chairs at it. But there weren't any classrooms in this part of the castle, there was only…

"The Room of Requirement," Hermione breathed out.

"Nothing gets past you," Malfoy smirked down at her and she looked up into his hazy grey eyes. "Nothing except me." He reached his hand under her skirt and ran it up her leg. Hermione closed her eyes, letting herself get lost in the feeling of his fingers on her skin when he stopped suddenly and she opened her eyes to see him frowning. "I told you no knickers."

"I…" Hermione breathed out. "I forgot."

Malfoy tutted a few times and shook his head, grey eyes narrowing. "Seems like you need to be taught a lesson."

Hermione looked up at him apprehensively and Malfoy's eyes gleamed down at her. He pulled back one of the chairs and sat down on it.

"Get over here." His voice was deep and commanding and Hermione found herself following it and her feet as they moved to stand in front of him.

Malfoy's eyes slid up and down her body before he reached out his long arms and grabbed her hips, pulling her forward. Hermione gasped and stumbled a little at the quick movement, but he held her in place easily.

"When you do what I tell you to," He said as his hands slid a little down on her. "You get rewarded. When you disobey me…" They moved back up to her waist. "You get punished."

"Punished?" Hermione barely got the word out before Malfoy had pulled her body down and over his knees. Hermione pushed her head up, curly hair falling around her face and tried to look up at him, but Malfoy had one hand on her back, holding her down while the other slid down over her ass then back and forth on the backs of her thighs.

"Malfoy, what are you-"

"No more questions." His hand came down on her ass, sending a shockwave through her. She let out a small gasp and was about to protest when he rubbed the spot where he had hit softly over her skirt and she realized what her punishment was going to be.

"Now," Malfoy said in that same low voice and his hand moved back to her thighs. "I told you not to wear any knickers. And what did you do? Hmm?" He asked, pushing her skirt up some. "I'm waiting, Granger."

"I wore knickers." Hermione answered.

"You. Wore. Knickers." Malfoy said slowly and then ripped her skirt back over her waist. Hermione gasped again at the shock of the cold air against her skin, but Malfoy's hand was back, rubbing over her and squeezing her ass hard.

"Did you think I was joking? That this was a game?" He asked, running his hand down the back of one of her thighs to bring it back up the other one.

Hermione's stomach clenched pleasurably. Why was this turning her on? Malfoy was talking down to her like she was a misbehaving child so why was she hoping he was going to slide his hand back up and in between her legs? Why was she aching for it?

"No." She answered.

"So you deliberately disobeyed me." Malfoy said and his hand moved over her ass again. "Did you want to get punished?"

"No." Hermione said snappishly. His fingers curled around the band of her knickers.

"Do you want to now?" He asked with a hint of impishness in his tone.

She could feel her blood heating up under her skin. In a way, she was glad he couldn't see her face right now and the blatant desire that was burning in her eyes.

"Yes."

She felt his cock twitch against her stomach. Good Godric, she liked how that felt. Liked that she could provoke such a primal reaction in him.

"And why's that, my little Mudblood?"

Hermione pressed her lips together. She didn't like the fact that she was almost beginning to enjoy being called Mudblood by him.

"Is it because you know you're a dirty little slut that needs to be spanked?"

What was happening to her? Hermione was biting her lip, fighting against the heat that was creeping from her lower stomach to settle in between her legs.

Malfoy ripped her knickers down to her thighs and she let out a little yelp as his hand smacked down on her bare ass.

"Answer me!"

It burned. It stung. It… felt right. She clenched her muscles tightly together to keep from crying out and closed her eyes tightly. Malfoy rubbed his palm over her ass, stimulating the skin there to keep the sensation alive.

Hermione finally gathered enough of herself back together to speak. "Yes," She breathed out. Yes, she wanted this. Wanted him. Wanted him to spank her again. Wanted to feel his hand come down hard against the soft skin and the pleasant buzz that radiated after.

"Yes…" Malfoy murmured and he shifted her on his lap so that his cock was pressed more into her. God, she wanted that too. "But you're not just any little slut, are you?" He said as he ran his hand down her legs and then back up again. "You're my little slut."

He ripped her knickers down to her knees and smacked her ass again. The crack of it echoed around the empty classroom and this time Hermione could not stop the short cry from coming out.

"Oh did that hurt?" Malfoy cooed as he rubbed her burning ass cheek.

Hermione nodded, tawny curls tossing with her head. "Mmm-hmm."

"Good."

Again and again, alternating cheeks, Malfoy's hand struck her sensitive skin. She gritted her teeth, only letting out a small whimper every now and then as he continued on with apparently no intent on stopping.

Malfoy's force increased. She could feel the skin warming under his hand, getting tender, softer, more sensitive with each strike. She tensed and Malfoy noticed, pressing her down harder as he continued his assault on her bare skin.

Hermione was screaming, twisting, crying. Malfoy was merciless, his palm hot against her skin as he slapped it harder and harder until she could feel the metal of his ring biting into her.

"Malfoy! Please!" Hermione cried out, bracing herself for the next strike, but it did not come.

She could hear him breathing hard. Her muscles twitched, trying to ready themselves, but when his hand landed on her this time, it was soft and gentle. His palm moved over her raw flesh, caressing it, massaging it until the pain turned into something deeper, something overwhelming. It was so tender and he moved his hand over it with a gentle grace.

Hermione slowly began to catch her breath, gulping down air as she listened to her heartbeat begin to slow down.

"Beautiful," He murmured as his hand slid over her again. "You did beautifully, Pet."

Hermione felt torn. Part of her knew that had gone farther than she was comfortable with. The things he said, the force behind his hand… but then why had she enjoyed it? If it was wrong then why was she secretly hoping for one more smack?

"You ass looks like a masterpiece," Malfoy said in a low voice and dragged his short nails over one of her cheeks causing her to hiss out as the tender skin flared to life. "I wish you could see it. The shade, it's…" He let out a low breath. "Gryffindor red."

She bet it was. It felt like it was on fire and the only thing keeping it under control were Malfoy's cool strokes of his palm as he rubbed it softly over her.

Hermione giggled a little, smiling to herself under her mess of tangled hair.

"Like that, do you?" Malfoy chuckled himself and gave her that last playful smack she had been secretly wishing for.

"Oh!" Hermione gasped out and squeezed her thighs together as another pulse of heat pumped through her. Malfoy's hand moved down and slipped in between her legs. "Ohh…"

"Yeah, you fucking loved it," Malfoy gave another low chuckle as he slipped his fingers in between her fold. "Mmm, so wet," He murmured and pushed them in a little farther.

"Malfoy…" Hermione said his name softly. The feeling of his fingers moving leisurely back and forth with the tingling sting left from his spanking was making her brain get lost in a cloud of arousal.

"See if you wouldn't have worn knickers I would have made you come like this," Malfoy said. "But since you did, you'll only get to come once and that," He pulled his fingers from her and grabbed her around the waist, lifting her up and tossing her on the desk behind them. "Is going to be on my cock."

Hermione looked up from her supine position on the desk to see the dark lust filled eyes of Malfoy staring back down at her. Her knickers were long gone and her skirt was still up around her waist. His breathing was speeding up as he looked down at her, his eyes slowly moving down her body.

He grabbed her knees and pulled her legs apart making a noise halfway between a hiss and a groan as his hazy grey eyes landed in the center of them.

Hermione shifted a little on the desk, feeling awkward about being so exposed.

"Don't." He said in that deep dominant voice, glancing up at her for a moment before letting his gaze drop back down.

She laid still then and let him drink his fill of the sight in front of him, staring at the ceiling and trying to remember how to breathe normally.

"Such a pretty little pussy," He said in a hoarse voice and Hermione felt his fingers graze along it. She fought against the moan that wanted to come out and closed her eyes, leaning her head back. "Open your shirt."

Her hands landed on each button, pulling it open as Malfoy watched more of her skin being exposed for him. She pulled her shirt open and looked up at him for her next instructions. He was right about her, she did like being told what to do. She liked that he directed her and pushed her boundaries, pressing her to do things she would never have done, but somehow knew she secretly wanted to.

Malfoy pulled open his trousers and pushed them down far enough to pull himself out, stroking his cock a slowly as he stared down at her with a curious expression on his face.

Finally he brought his eyes up to meet hers. She was surprised at how nervous she felt, as if he had just appraised her. "How's that ass feel?" He grinned.

The desk was rough against it, but at least it was cool. "Sore," She admitted.

"Yeah, the rest of you is about to be too." Malfoy grabbed her legs and pulled them around himself. Hermione breathed in sharply as she felt his cock slide over her. Malfoy held it in his hand and brought it down against her a few times. "Don't worry, Granger," Malfoy said, still grinning. "You've had your punishment for the evening. I'll make this feel good for you."

He pressed against her entrance and slid in. Hermione grabbed the sides of the desk, bracing herself against the pressure of him inside her.

"Oh fuck, Granger," Malfoy groaned as he pushed more of himself in her. "God, your pussy feels good."

He thrust in her a few more times, speeding up as he did so until he was pumping himself in her at a steady pace. His hands were on her hips, pulling her towards him as his hips slammed into her, pushing himself into her heat as the sound of skin slapping together filled the empty classroom.

Hermione's breathing was heavy and turned into small moans as he drove himself into her, leaning his head back and sucking down his own large breaths. His hands moved from her waist to behind her knees and he pulled her legs up to rest on his shoulders, leaning farther over her and groaning loudly as he reached a new depth in her.

Hermione cried out sharply, unable to hold it back as he filled her, pushing himself deeper into her. She grabbed onto the edges of the desk; now that he wasn't holding her down, her body was shifting with the force of his movement. Malfoy grabbed her wrists and held them to each side of her, pulling her arms down as a way of pulling her back towards him.

"So fucking tight," He grunted. "So wet for me."

Hermione was losing control of herself. She was trying to stay still like he had told her last time, but her hips were moving, meeting his movements and she couldn't stop because every time they crashed it sent a wave of pleasure through her blood all the way up to her fogged brain that was shutting everything down that wasn't the feeling Malfoy was giving her.

"Fuck yeah, Granger," Malfoy growled. "Fuck me back!"

Hermione let loose. She let her body do what it so badly wanted and was rewarded with fiery thrills going off inside of her. She felt her muscles tighten and Malfoy groaned again as he drove himself on, pushing harder, faster, deeper in her.

"Come." He ordered in that controlled voice again. How he was in control of anything right now, Hermione had no idea because she was lost in a swirl of chaos, but Malfoy certainly was not as leaned slightly forward, increasing his pressure on her. "Come on my dick."

She didn't need the order, but she followed it. Hermione's body began to tremble and shake and she wondered if she would be able to contain her bones in it much longer because they felt like they might just vibrate right out of her. She cried out, arching her back as something extraordinary overwhelmed her, blocking out everything and everyone, except Malfoy, Malfoy, Malfoy…

"Draco…" She moaned softly as she collapsed back onto the desk, head falling to the side and into her tangled curls.

"Oh shit, oh shit!" Malfoy pulled himself from her and swallowed a deep breath. Hermione looked up at him through half closed lids to see him stroking himself with one hand, the other grabbing onto her leg over his shoulder and his cock spurting itself over the length of her.

Malfoy groaned again, almost using her leg to hold himself steady for a moment as he breathed heavily, coaxing a few last drops from himself onto her thigh.

She laid her head back on the desk, letting her body come back down and her brain turn back on.

She glanced back up at him and saw him staring down at her exposed body with a look of awe on his face.

"My wand," She said softly, pushing herself up on her elbows.

"What?" He asked, still dazed.

"My wand, Drac-" Hermione caught herself, but not before his grey eyes shot to hers. "Malfoy. My wand so I can clean-"

He pulled his wand out of his back pocket and waved it over her, erasing the evidence of himself on her before tucking it back in and pulling out hers. Hermione sat up and felt her head spin a little. She pushed her skirt back down and started buttoning up her shirt as Malfoy adjusted himself back into his trousers.

She slid off the desk and onto legs she could barely feel before saying, "I still need my-"

Malfoy crashed his lips onto hers, kissing her roughly, urgently, but with a precision that impressed her. His hand wrapped around the side and back of her neck and his thumb pushed her chin up towards him. Hermione kissed him back, opening her mouth to slip her tongue out and let it taste his before he pulled back and swallowed hard.

"Your wand," He said in a low voice and Hermione opened her eyes to see him staring down at her with her wand in his hand. She tucked it safely away in her pocket.

Malfoy looked at her for a moment longer from behind guarded eyes then turned to leave.

"Any rules for next time?" Hermione had said the words as soon as she had thought them.

Malfoy turned and smirked at her from over his shoulder. "I'll let you know, Pet."

Hermione flipped a few pages of the book she was balancing in her arms as she tried to read and walk down the corridor to Ancient Runes. Students passed by and she pulled the book up farther, trying to find the section on cursed artifacts, hoping there might be some mention of Horcruxes somewhere in there. She hadn't had much luck with her research so far and was getting increasingly disturbed by the things she had found instead.

She saw something move over the top of her book and looked up just in time to stop before she ran into the arm that had shot out in front of her, hand landing on the stone wall and blocking her path. Cormac McLaggen leaned in front of her, smugly smiling down at her.

"Hey there, Granger," Cormac said as Hermione slowly lowered her book from her face. "Haven't seen you around in a while."

"I've been busy," She said, trying to sound civil, but direct. She didn't have any time for Cormac what with schoolwork, research on Horcruxes, and trying to maintain normal relationships with her friends. Not to mention whatever it was that she had with Malfoy. Did they have something? This was all so foreign to her.

"That's why I wanted to talk to you," Cormac smiled again and Hermione returned it flatly. "What are you doing for Valentine's day?" His blue eyes shone brightly.

Valentine's day? She hadn't even given the holiday a single thought with everything else going on. There were much more important things than planning a date for that silly day such as her research to help Harry and she needed to make a new study schedule to prepare for end of year exams.

"I had a feeling you might be free," Cormac went on, clearly taking the blank expression on her face in place of an answer. "Let's lock down plans."

Hermione gave him a frowning smile. She had never really turned anyone down before. Things with her and Viktor had just kind of… fizzled out. They still exchanged letters occasionally, but just as friends. Then of course things with Ron had spiraled too fast for them to even have had a conversation about maybe being more than friends and Malfoy… Well, Malfoy was Malfoy and there wasn't anything real there. It was just…

"Cormac, look," Hermione started, closing her book and tried to shove it in her already full bag. "I'm really flattered that you thought of me, but-"

"Come on," He took a step closer to her. "You don't really want to spend the evening shut up with a musty old book do you? Not when you can spend it with me," He tilted his head in what he must have thought was an endearing way.

Hermione grimaced. "I really am busy though, and-"

He grabbed her hand and Hermione glanced down at it as he twisted his fingers with hers. "You sort of owe me a date though," He said and she looked back up at him. "We never finished ours at Slughorn's party."

"Cormac-"

"Valentine's is this coming Saturday and I know you'll have more fun with me than working on your 'special project' with Malfoy."

Her eyes widened a little and she swallowed dryly before saying, "I don't think-"

"You know you want to." Cormac released her hand and gave her a wink before leaving her standing in the corridor. Hermione looked around and caught the eye of Parvati Patil before quickly looking away. Parvati was watching her with interest and Hermione wondered if the other girl had heard the conversation.

She heaved her heavy bag farther onto her shoulder and walked quickly the rest of the way to Ancient Runes.

Professor Babbling was talking quickly and Hermione's quill flew across the page as she took notes, furiously focusing on the lesson. She had to. If she let her mind wander she wasn't sure where it would take her right now. Probably back down into the recesses of her mind where Malfoy was waiting for her.

She could still feel his hand coming down hard against her skin and the sweet sting of his palm again and again. She shifted in her seat, crossing her legs.

There was something… exciting about doing something that she knew was wrong. After years of following and enforcing every rule it was a little appealing to misbehave. And the fact that no one knew, that it was just a secret between her and Malfoy, well… that made it all the more thrilling.

Her quill stilled and Hermione pressed her lips together before she risked it and glanced over to where Malfoy was sitting. He had his arms crossed over his chest and a dark expression on his face. Normally he was very well put together, clothes pressed and hair combed back, but today he looked… rough. His shirt was wrinkled and his tie loose around his neck. A few locks of white blonde hair fell over his forehead and his lids hung heavily over his rain grey eyes.

He looked so different than he had a few days ago, but still his demeanor was calm and composed. Something might be going on with him, but he was still controlling himself meticulously.

Then his cool grey lifted and met hers. His expression was guarded, as it always was, but she was surprised when she saw it tighten in annoyance. His eyes darkened and his lids lowered slightly before he cast his eyes back to the front of the classroom as if nothing had happened.

Hermione turned back around and frowned down at her notes. What was that about?

Draco ignored everything around him, letting himself sink down into his dark thoughts. Having Granger again had been… incredible. There was no other way to put it. He had fantasized about her many times, but those paled in comparison to what it was like to actually have her. He had meant this to be a one-time thing, get it out of his system and move on but it hadn't worked out that way and after this past weekend… well, Draco had resigned himself to the fact that he wasn't going to be done with her for a while.

She was delectable. A lifetime of following the rules had given her a beautiful submissive nature but that fiery Gryffindor streak combined with it was simply perfection. Granger was his. And until he was finished with her he wasn't going to share her with anyone.

So when he had seen fucking Cormac McLaggen holding her fucking hand in the corridor something dangerous had slithered around him, coiling tighter until all he could hear was his hot blood pumping in his ears. He had wanted to curse that stupid little smile off his stupid little face, but as Draco gripped his wand, McLaggen had let go of her hand and walked off, saving his sorry ass from a face full of boils.

If she had been a Slytherin, a Pureblood, Draco would have made sure the entire school knew that Granger belonged to him and him alone. That she was off limits, out of bounds, taken. But she wasn't. She was a Gryffindor and a Mudblood. So he couldn't exactly mark his territory out in the open, even if she was his Mudblood.

Draco shoved his hands in his pockets as he walked heavily down the stairs. Granger was already at the base, headed to the Great Hall for dinner where she would take her place at the Gryffindor table with all her little goody-good friends and talk and laugh and smile at them. He scowled. If he had his way he would pull her down into the dungeons with him, shove her onto his bed and have her for dinner.

He sank down into his seat, glaring at the golden plate in front of him. Crabbe and Goyle were already shoveling food onto their plates but Draco found that he didn't have much of an appetite tonight, at least not for the roast chicken in front of him. He did however, find a hunger for something else.

"Goyle, Crabbe," Draco said in a low voice and they looked up at him.

"We're doing something special tonight," His grey eyes glittered dangerously.

"Come on, Draco," Goyle groaned. "I'm tired of guard duty."

The corner of Draco's mouth turned up slightly. "Trust me, you're going to like this."

Crabbe and Goyle shared a look and grins began to spread across their large faces.

"Eat up, boys," Draco instructed. "You're going to need your strength for this."

Crabbe grabbed the whole chicken with both hands, pulling it onto his already full plate. Draco chuckled at this and he lifted his head to look over at the Gryffindor table. Granger was sitting with Potter, talking and smiling at each other. Her coffee colored curls fell around her face as she turned more towards Potter, crossing her legs like she had in class today. He smirked, knowing that under the skirt there were the marks he had left on her. Maybe no one else could see that Granger belonged to him, but at least he knew she could still feel it.

She could sit there with Saint Potter and pretend she was just like him, but he knew the truth. Next time, and oh yes, there would be a next time, he was going to show her just how unlike her sweet little friends she really was, the little slut.

With a satisfied smirk, Draco's eyes moved down the table, past Weasley and Brown who were eating each other's faces, to… McLaggen. He might not be able to tell the world that Granger belonged to him, but he could show one person that they had no chance with her. No chance at all.

He glanced back at her for just a second and saw her deep brown eyes on him again. Draco let her watch him for a moment and she shifted nervously in her seat. How long had she already been watching him? What was she thinking of in that little head of hers? Draco would have liked it to have been dirty thoughts of him, but the look of nervousness on her face told him otherwise. He wasn't worried though, there was no way that such a good little girl like her could figure out the dark thoughts that he was planning for his evening's entertainment.

Draco leaned against the cool stone, arms crossed over his chest and waited in the darkened alcove. He could hear Crabbe and Goyle shuffling around from their hiding spot a little way down the corridor and rolled his eyes.

Idiots.

Half the time he didn't even know why he kept them around, but good help was hard to come by and they were easily convinced. There weren't many people who would drink Polyjuice potion almost every night and stand guard with only an open line of credit at Honeydukes as thanks. At least they were cheap.

Draco scowled. Where was McLaggen? He should have come down this way by now and since he had given Crabbe and Goyle the night off after this little escapade, he planned on spending his own free evening drowning himself in the bottle of fire whisky Nott had smuggled in. If Filch thought he was watching all the routes in and out of the castle he was sadly mistaken and gold opened many doors, some of them hidden.

It wasn't much longer before Draco heard footsteps coming down the corridor and peered around the side of the alcove he had tucked himself into. The curly blonde hair of McLaggen came into view and Draco's scowl turned into a smirk.

McLaggen was a bigger idiot than Crabbe and Goyle combined if he thought that Granger would be spending an evening on his arm. No. She wasn't going to touch another man, not while he had anything to say about it. And he did have a say and Granger was so good at doing what she was told. Draco's smirk widened right before he stepped out into the corridor.

"Hello, McLaggen."

McLaggen stopped short and his face curled up as he recognized Draco.

"Malfoy," McLaggen glanced around. "What are you doing?"

Crabbe and Goyle appeared on either side of Draco and he let himself enjoy the uneasiness on McLaggen's face.

"What… What's going on here?" McLaggen said, voice raised, as he took a step back.

"No use in running, McLaggen," Draco said smoothly as he pulled his wand out from his robes.

"Stay back," McLaggen's voice had a wonderful hint of fear in it.

"No, I don't think I will," Draco said in a low voice, taking a step towards his prey.

McLaggen glanced down the corridor the way he had come, trying to find a way out of this, but Draco had chosen his position well. There was no way that McLaggen would be able to make it back to the stairwell and then up it before Draco either caught him or cursed him.

"What do you want?" McLaggen asked and Draco saw a faint sheen of nervous sweat on his forehead as the Slytherins pressed in closer to him.

"You're asking a lot of questions for someone who doesn't like to listen."

"What are you talking about?" McLaggen backed up another few steps.

Draco merely tilted his head. "It's almost a shame I have to mess up that pretty face of yours, McLaggen. Without it, I don't think many girls will be interested. Your personality certainly won't be able to make up for it. Looks like you won't have a date for Valentine's day after all."

"Valentine's day…" McLaggen was breathing heavily. "Wait… Is this about-"

Draco slammed his fist into McLaggen's mouth before Granger's name could come out of it. The Gryffindor fell back, clutching his mouth as blood ran down his chin.

"What the fuck, Malfoy?!" McLaggen looked up at him from the ground as Draco advanced on him, grey eyes cold.

He kicked out at him, his foot connecting with McLaggen's stomach and the sound of his painful grunt was like music to Draco's ears. Already, he felt soothed by the choking gasps as McLaggen tried to force air back into his body.

Draco crouched down next to him, leaning his face in close. "Leave her alone."

McLaggen's stared up at Draco, fear clear in his hazel eyes. "This…" He forced out, "This is about… Granger?"

Draco growled as her name passed through his lips. "Leave. Her. Alone. She's not for you." He said through gritted teeth, low enough that Crabbe and Goyle could not hear them.

"Fine, okay! Whatever you say Malfoy," McLaggen gasped, pressing his hand on the floor and trying to push himself up.

Malfoy grinned nastily as he stood up and brushed his hands off. "Well, we got that cleared up easily enough," He said cheerily.

McLaggen coughed a few times and tried to stand.

Draco placed his foot on McLaggen's hand.

The Gryffindor looked up at him, confused.

"But the fact that remains that you touched what doesn't belong to you," Draco said in a cool voice, slowly putting weight down on McLaggen's hand.

"Malfoy," McLaggen winced. "Please! I'm a Keeper! I need my-"

Draco pressed down harder and McLaggen cried out in pain.

"Please, Malfoy," McLaggen begged. "Don't-"

Draco closed his eyes and smiled as he heard the crunch of broken bones and then the anguished cry that escaped McLaggen. He took his foot off the mangled hand and McLaggen pulled it up against his chest, cradling it.

He could let him go. He looked down at the pathetic whimpering excuse for a human at his feet. McLaggen had learned his lesson and Draco doubted that he would even look in Granger's direction now, let alone speak to her. But just in case he forgot…

"All right, boys," Draco chuckled as Crabbe and Goyle appeared at his sides. Crabbe cracked his knuckles and Goyle's dark eyes gleamed. Draco's smirk spread wide over his face. "Get to work."

Hermione held her book to her chest as she descended the stairs down from her dormitory and back into the common room. She stopped at the bottom of the stairs as loud voices reached her.

"I can't believe you haven't planned anything!" Lavender shouted.

"Just because I haven't doesn't mean I won't!" Ron argued.

"You don't care about me!" Lavender said as fat tears welled up in her eyes. "If you did you would have planned out a special night for us weeks ago!"

"I do care!" Ron reached a hand out to her. "There's still plenty of time!"

Lavender shook her head, blonde curls shaking around her. "How… How are you even going to get me a gift by this weekend?" Her cheeks turned red. "Some boyfriend you are!"

"Lavender!" Ron called after her as she pushed past Hermione, tearing up the stairs.

Hermione stood very still; staring up after her before slowly turning and saw that Ron was looking right at her.

"I suppose you loved that, didn't you?" He snarled.

She blinked and took a deep breath. "No, actually." She answered truthfully. As disappointed as she was with Ron, she still didn't want to see him unhappy.

Ron's face changed from angry to… tired. He sighed and sunk onto the couch in front of the fireplace.

Hesitantly, Hermione took a few steps forward and then, with a surge of old emotions picked her way over and sat down next to him on the couch. They didn't speak for a few moments as Hermione held her book closely against her and Ron ran his hand through his bright red hair and let out a low breath.

"Lavender is…" Hermione began, trying to find words to comfort him, but surprised at how difficult it was.

"Crazy," Ron muttered.

He glanced over and caught her eye. For a moment she saw the same boy she had been friends with for years in the bright blue looking back at her. The same boy who made her laugh, who stood up for her, who argued back with her even when he knew it was a losing battle… She missed him.

"I'm sure she'll forgive you once you show up with flowers and… a giant teddy bear or something."

Ron gave a small laugh. "Yeah… but it seems we spend half our time making up these days."

Something in Hermione jumped to attention. She wasn't entirely sure what to say to that. It wasn't like Ron and her were on speaking terms really and she didn't really want to hear the details of their relationship. Even if it was maybe starting to fall apart.

"But I guess it's better than being alone, right?" Ron asked as he leaned back into the couch. "Shit, sorry, Hermione, I didn't mean…" He rubbed his hand over his face.

She looked over at Ron. He had been careless with her feelings and said and done hurtful things, but he was still the same person who she had been best friends with.

"You know that's the first apology I've gotten from you all year," Hermione said before she could stop herself.

Ron quickly looked over at her, his blue eyes clear. His mouth fell open slightly and she noticed the way the firelight played off of the bright copper of his hair.

"I never meant to…" Ron started and then trailed off. "It just sort of… happened, you know?"

"I know," Hermione said softly and she did know. How could she blame Ron for kissing Lavender when that same night she had almost kissed Malfoy? Honestly, which was worse? She understood that sometimes, things like this just… happened. Just like Ron said. It was an easier excuse than dealing with the foreign feelings she was having, and avoiding, for a certain Slytherin.

Ron turned towards her. "Hermione, I-"

"Oh My God!" Lavender's shrill voice cut into the air between Ron and Hermione. "What is this?!"

Hermione jumped up off the couch, holding her book tightly against her.

Ron looked up between the two girls. "Lav, it's not what it looks like-"

"Not what it looks like?!" She hissed. "You think I don't know what's going on? You think I don't see the way you look at her?"

Hermione's heart stopped beating.

"I told you it's not like that!" He argued.

Lavender scoffed loudly. "I might not be in Ravenclaw but that doesn't mean I'm stupid!"

"Lavender-" Ron started.

"Oh so now you know my name," Lavender glared at him. "Because you said hers last night!"

Hermione stopped breathing.

Ron's eyes cut over to her and he held them there for a moment, the truth undeniable in them.

"I can't believe this!" Lavender screeched and stormed past them, heading for the portrait hole.

Ron cast one long glance back at Hermione before running after her. "Lavender!"

Ron and Lavender disappeared through the portrait hole as Neville came through it.

Hermione was still staring after them as Neville made his way over to her.

"Hermione, did you hear?" He asked quickly.

"What?" Hermione asked, only half paying attention to him.

"Cormac McLaggen was attacked," Neville said seriously.

"What?" Hermione gasped.

"He's in the hospital wing," Neville went on. "I just came in from helping Professor Sprout harvest more Dittany. I saw him when we brought it up to Madam Pomfrey."

"But… who would do something like that?" She asked, nonplussed.

"I don't know, but whoever did messed him up bad." Neville's expression was dark. "It's getting dangerous out there, Hermione," He added seriously.

Hermione's head hurt. She had spent too much time and energy worrying about her own personal life when she should be putting more energy into researching Horcruxes for Harry. There were more important things than boys and relationships, weren't there?

Too many thoughts. She desperately wanted to shut her brain off for a little while. To let it rest, give it a reprieve. The Daily Prophet was full of reports of senseless attacks, but to have one here at Hogwarts… She wanted to not think about this; Cormac, Ron, Death Eaters. She wanted… Malfoy.

Malfoy.

Malfoy's dark expression in class.

Malfoy's staring at Cormac during dinner…

Suddenly, she knew who had attacked him, who had hurt him, who had done those awful things to him. Her hand twitched on her book, gripping it tighter. And more importantly, she knew why.

A/N: Two update in the same week? You know I deserve a review after this one...