The stone wall to the Slytherin common room opened and Draco hurried in. He desperately needed a cold shower. He needed… he needed something. Merlin if she'd rubbed her thigh on his just one more time he could've — would've… fuck!

"Draco!" Someone yelled.

He stopped short on the way to the boy's dormitory and turned. "Nott."

"Where the hell have you been?" Theo demanded.

"Later," he mumbled, turning back around. "Need a shower."

"No," Theo ordered. "What the actual fuck, do you realize I spent hours looking for you yesterday — in the library, on the grounds, the Quidditch field, the Hall, everywhere!"

"Why?" he asked anxiously. Had something happened, maybe to his mother?

"Why?" he repeated incredulously. "Are you serious? Because you just disappeared and didn't come back and… Hell, I don't know what you're doing for him."

"I was… detained. I didn't think—"

"Where were you?"

"I-I can't say, you know I can't talk about it."

Theo was combing his hand through his hair furiously. "Well fuck Draco! When I woke up early morning and you still weren't back, I was really worried. I didn't know what to do, I sent your mother an owl."

"You did what?" he hissed stepping toward Theo — to kill him.

"Well what the hell was I supposed to do?" he shouted, waving his arms wildly in the air. "You were just gone!"

"It's fine," said Draco closing his eyes. He'd just write to his mother, calm her down. "I'll owl her now, tell her I'm alright."

"Err, yeah," Theo said apprehensively. "Except I'm fairly sure she told Snape, he was just in the Great hall looking for you."

Draco released a litany of curse words.

Theo held up his hands trying to calm him. "I'll go to his office right now and tell him you're fine."

Shaking his head with irritation Draco headed to the bathrooms. He stripped and stepped under the running water. The anger he felt toward Nott dissipated leaving him with guilt for having been so careless. Of course, he would've been worried. And what had he been doing while Theo was running around the castle looking for him? He'd been lounging around, cuddling up to a Mudblood. Then he'd lied and made it seem like he was busy doing something for the Dark Lord. What a fucking joke.

He was suddenly feeling exhausted; right down to his bones. Lying, plotting murders, evading death, all these things were wearing on him. Everything seemed to have become infinitely more complicated with Hermione Granger in the picture. Next time he saw the witch he wouldn't walk away, he'd run — before she'd have a chance to smile and beguile him into her den of torture. Because that's how he'd best describe what waking up this morning was like… psychological torture.

Why? Draco lamented. Why did it have to be her of all witches?

Hermione... Hermione... Hermione... her name alone started a Fiendfyre within him.

If he could just be rid of her, wrap his hands around her pretty little neck and — and… would she have let him kiss her? The thought of her hot breath on his neck was making him hard.

Draco turned the taps on cold.

He shuddered.

He was losing his grip. He already wanted to be with her again, just to be near her.

The foundations of his Occlumency were collapsing. He knew it, could feel it. Whenever he tried to close his mind, his body wouldn't let him. There was this yearning... like his skin longed to be touched by hers... like it ached for her.

Merlin, he'd only just been with her and he missed her.

His eyes stung.

It would only ever be like this. He could never have her. And he needed to be numb to the pain of it, needed to stop feeling it.

But he couldn't shut it off, he was trying and it wasn't working.

Then suddenly he was crying; panicking; gasping; bracing himself against the tiles.

He was in love with her and he could never have her and he couldn't close his mind and the Dark Lord would see it and kill him and his mother and his father and he hadn't fixed the Vanishing cabinet and he was lying to Theo, and Pansy had left him to be with Blaise, and Blaise was part of the Slug Club and he wasn't, because his father was a Death Eater and he was a Death Eater and he Imperiused Madam Rosmerta and he almost killed Katie Bell all while trying to kill Dumbledore and if he didn't kill Dumbledore the Dark Lord would kill him and his mother and his father and then he'd be dead and he couldn't breathe.

He was going to die and he couldn't breathe.

Draco squeezed his eyes shut.

He thought only of the running water.

He inhaled deeply. Felt it drip down his back.

He exhaled, feeling stillness fall on him like rain.

He inhaled, listening to the sound of it, retreating inside, delving deep, deeper, and deeper still.

He exhaled. The water rising.

He inhaled, imagining it fiercer, a cascading waterfall, flooding his mind.

He exhaled.

He thought of only water; clear and cool; washing it all away.

The doors to his mind were locked. A moat of water surrounded them, drowning anything that tried to enter.

It had almost been three days since Hermione had seen Draco and she was on edge. She had kept an eye on him using the Marauders Map, although it didn't help much. Bizarre thing was, that at first, she couldn't find him on it anywhere. Then she realized that it had to mean one of two things; either he wasn't at Hogwarts or he was in the Room of Requirement. It did cross her mind that perhaps he had left to do something at Hogsmeade. That is after all where Leanne said Katie had got the necklace, but considering that she'd caught him going to the Room of Requirement before, she guessed it was the latter.

Yesterday evening she'd sent him a message on the coin suggesting they play a game of exploding snap. He'd never replied.

She hadn't tried to contact him again after that. She spent the evening sulking in bed feeling far too much like a girl who'd been snubbed by the boy she liked. And it hurt.

Which was mad. Absolutely ridiculous.

She sighed wondering just what she'd gotten herself into. Part of her wished she'd never found Draco that night on patrol. That's when this whole thing started.

Classes were beginning again in two days. Harry, Ginny and Won-won would be back tomorrow. If she couldn't help Draco, she'd have to tell her friends.

Unable to concentrate on what she was reading, she slammed the book shut. No, she would help him. She would find him and force him to stop being a Death Eater. It was that simple. With fierce determination, she left the library and marched up to Gryffindor Tower.

He thinks he can ghost me, she thought, well, we'll see about that.

She couldn't find Draco on the map, which meant, to her chagrin, that he was in the Room of Requirement again. She sat on Harry's bed trying and failing, for the tenth time in the last few days, to figure out what he was doing in there.

A plan of action, that's all she needed. Harry was a wizard of action. She just needed to follow his example. She was leaving the room, a plan formulated when she stopped to check her reflection in the mirror. She let down her hair, fiddling with it a little and then chided herself because just what the hell was she doing.

Hermione hurried down to the kitchens and got what she needed, then she went back to the seventh floor to check the Marauders Map again. Draco still hadn't left the Room of Requirement. She grabbed her Ancient Runes book and walked down the corridor. She sat against the wall where the tapestry hung and waited.

It was a little over an hour later when a door began to appear. She put her book down calmly on her lap as Draco slid out. Upon seeing her, he froze. She caught a glimpse of the room behind him before the door began to disappear.

"Hello," she smiled, raising herself off the ground. "You didn't respond to my last message… did you get it?"

"Yes," he said flatly.

Hermione felt a pang of hurt and hoped she didn't look as disappointed as she was. She had to stick to the plan, no allowing any angry or wounded feelings to get in the way.

"Well anyway, I was thinking we could study together, maybe practice non-verbal spells. I'm not as good as I'd like to be at—"

"Can't," Draco deadpanned. He tried to step around her but she blocked him.

She barked a humourless laugh, digging into her bag. "Look, I even got you a sugar quill," she said presenting it proudly. "AND… jelly slugs!"

Draco didn't even blink. There was something off about him.

"Thank you," he said, pushing past her. "But, no thank you." Hermione's shoulders sagged. He was making this so difficult. Screw the plan of action! Hermione pointed her wand at him and cast a weak, non-verbal stunning spell. He was going to practice with her, whether he liked it or not. It hit Draco lightly on his back, he didn't even bother to look back at her before rolling his shoulders and continuing to walk away. She herself was stupefied. She'd just initiated an altercation and he hadn't taken the bait. What the hell was wrong with him? Pointing her wand at him again she whispered under her breath, "Stupefy."

This time it hit him hard enough for him to trip forward. He turned, his eyes narrowing at her and then thought better of it and continued to walk away.

Just how far could she go before it went too far?

She cast another stunning spell and this time he fell forward on his hands and knees. Hermione smirked, extremely pleased with herself because as far as she was concerned, he deserved it, he was acting like an absolute prat and... and he was stalking toward her looking vengeful.

Uh-oh.

"Protego!" she yelled, deflecting a disarming charm. "Impedimenta!"

She stuck out her tongue, as he fell back against the sidewall. By the furious look on his face, taunting him was probably not the best idea. Before she could think of what to do next, Draco shouted Expelliarmus and her wand flew out of her hand hitting the wall. He stood twirling his, stepping toward her. He looked absolutely predatory. Her gut told her to flee. She ran into the nearest room and locked the door. She could hear him laughing. Her heart was racing. He wouldn't actually hurt her, would he? She had to think, outsmart him. She crouched down behind the desks and chairs. Then she heard the door open.

"Come out and play little witch," he chuckled. Hermione listened to his footsteps carefully. If he used homem revelio to find her she'd have no chance, but he seemed to enjoy the game of cat-and-mouse. She bit her lip wishing she wasn't the mouse. He was in the room near the back wall. She began to crawl quietly toward the door. When she was close enough she made a dash for it, almost getting hit by a petrificus totalus. She ran out searching frantically for her wand. Where the hell was it, had he taken it? She didn't think he'd picked it up. Turning around she came face to face with her opponent.

"See how you like it," Draco smirked. "Stupefy!"

His spell was strong and she fell to the floor near the tapestry. She saw it then, tucked neatly against the wall, just underneath the fabric, her beautiful vine wood wand. It was too far to reach.

Approaching, Draco looked down at her seemingly in deep thought. "Maybe I should tie you up," he hummed.

Hermione screamed "Accio!" and her wand flew into her hand. She made quick work to cast a trip jinx and Draco fell, his wand falling behind him. He tried reaching for it but Hermione dove on him getting to it first.

"Got you!" she exclaimed her wand at his throat and his in her other hand. She was panting over him filled with exhilaration.

Draco was staring at her with dark hooded eyes, breathless and disarmed.

"You're on me."

"I know," she said softly. Her lips tugged into a coy smile. "I used wandless magic, did you see?"

"Get off."

"Not till you say you're sorry," she teased.

"Hermione," he rasped. "Get off."

Her smile faded. He'd said her name. It sounded... he looked... hungry.

She stood up quickly and offered him his wand.

Draco took it and raised himself off the floor. They were both flushed from the duel and something else. Hermione averted her eyes trying to look anywhere but at him.

"See," she said licking her lips, trying to sound nonchalant. "Knew you could use the practice." His jaw clenched, probably sore that she'd bested him. "Classes start the day after… we should do something fun... while we still can." Hermione hoped he understood what she was trying to say. Everyone would be back tomorrow and things would be different. They only had so much time to… to…

His eyes were dancing over her face.

She watched him swallow and ask apprehensively, "Want to go to the Three Broomsticks?"

She nodded slowly. "Okay."

"Okay," he echoed, looking a little dazed.

She pursed her lips. She was walking down that road again, the dangerous one.

As he had hoped for, he and Hermione had the pub to themselves. He imagined it would be empty considering everyone at Hogwarts were off enjoying their Christmas holidays and the usual residents were visiting family. This was fine though. They were just talking. Nothing that would get him into trouble, at least, not a lot of trouble. It comforted him that Madam Rosmerta was under the Imperius. She wouldn't report seeing them to anyone. Thinking about having cursed the barmaid he decided he needed another drink. That and the fact that he was doing exactly what he set out not to do, but Hermione had baited him with a fight. He thought he'd constructed a strong guard but she showed up and suddenly it was fragile, penetrable.

He had just started on his third goblet of mead while she was on her second and so far, it had been amusing, for him at least.

"You were running around with those badges," he mocked. "And those awful hats."

"It's slave labour!"

"They like it—"

"Dobby certainly didn't like it, your family used to punish him!"

"Oh please, that mad elf practically punishes himself. He's completely looney! If you ask me, freeing Dobby is the only thing Potter's done right. Useless wizard," Draco muttered taking a swig from his goblet.

Hermione gaped at him. "How can you say that? Harry is a great wizard, he was even in the Triwizard Tournament."

Draco stopped short because he couldn't really argue with that. After all, the twat had fought a dragon and escaped.

He laughed remembering the badges he'd made in Potter's honour. "Oh yes, I recall," he smiled smugly. "See Granger, I can make badges too."

"You're a real git," she admonished no doubt referring to the slogan, 'Potter Stinks'. "You even told Rita Skeeter I was dating Harry, the nerve of you, honestly!"

"I thought you were," he shrugged innocently.

Hermione slammed her hand on the table. "You know I wasn't!"

"If I'd known Weasley was in the equation I'd have told her that too."

She almost choked on her drink. "There is no equation," she sputtered.

"Please," he scoffed. "We go to the same school, Granger."

He watched as she glanced down embarrassed. "Ron and I are just friends."

"Is that why you were crying?" he asked, his tone gentle. "Because he kissed Lavender Brown?"

By the look on her face, he had obviously caught her off guard. She tried feigning indifference.

"I don't care who he kisses," she lied. "We're just —"

"Friends," he supplied. "Then riddle me this, if you're just friends, then why is he so angry that Krum gave you a bracelet?"

"You gave me the bracelet," she countered, ignoring his question.

"Right," he purred, a teasing smile playing across his face. "Does that mean I'm part of the equation?"

She blushed, licking her lips. He liked it, in fact, he liked it a little too much. Draco pushed his glass away. He really shouldn't be 'under the influence' anywhere near Hermione Granger.

"What — no — I don't... I don't know what you mean."

It must've been the way she was sitting close to him in a shadowed corner or the glint of gold dangling off her wrist, tempting him to touch it, but he wanted her to know what he meant... maybe she already did.

"Don't you?" he swallowed. Because if he was sure of one thing, it was that Hermione Granger knew everything.

He brushed his fingers against hers. Her breath hitched. He wanted to take her on this table.

"Hermione…" Her name sounded like a confession.

Her eyes were dancing over his face, "It's not possible," she whispered suddenly looking terrified and he was about to tell her it was — it was living and real, it, the feeling, like a throbbing pulse — when suddenly he thought he heard someone else call her name.

"Hermione," the wistful voice said again. They snatched their hands away. "I didn't know you were at Hogwarts."

"Luna!" Hermione exclaimed taken aback. Draco released a muffled curse. It was that barmy Ravenclaw and she was here with — well, well, well — Nott. His sneaky Slytherin friend was standing behind Lovegood, his eyes narrowed on him. Just what exactly was Nott doing with her? he wondered.

"We're discussing an assignment," Hermione said suddenly. "For Arithmancy." Dear Merlin, help him, no one had even asked what they were doing.

"That's funny," Theo said with a stony expression. "Draco isn't in that class."

"No," she stuttered. "Of course, I—"

"McGonagall said it'd get me out of detention if I helped Granger with a divination project, explain the constellations significant to the Malfoy family. What are you two doing here?" he asked looking pointedly at Nott.

"Hello Draco Malfoy," Luna smiled warmly. "Theodore was in need of a drink."

"Actually, Luna, if you don't mind, I need to have a word with Draco," he said evenly.

Hermione was looking nervously between the two boys. She stood abruptly and said to Lovegood, "We're finished here… Luna, would you mind walking back with me to the castle?"

Draco watched the two witches as they left the pub. Opening the door, Hermione glanced back at him from across the empty expanse. He could've sworn he saw her cheeks go crimson before she bolted out. As soon as the doors swung shut and they were alone again Theo rounded on him.

"What the hell were you saying to her?" he asked. "Why in Merlin's name was she even here with you?"

Draco said nothing.

"We discussed this," Theo said trying to calm himself. He did it whenever he knew the wrong approach was to get angry. "I told you it needs to stop. Just, tell me, what were you saying to her."

"It's none of your business," muttered Draco. "Don't know why you're in my face when you're secretly traipsing around with Lovegood."

Theo was shaking his head ignoring him completely. "You're going to get yourself killed."

"I said it's none of your business—"

"If you know what's good for you, you'll stop."

"I can't!" he snapped knocking his glass off the table. "Don't you think I would've fucking stopped if I knew how?" Putting his elbows on the table, Draco held his head in his hands. He muttered a curse under his breath because he hadn't meant to admit to anything but there was only so much a person could take.

Nott quietly pulled out the chair opposite him and sat down.

Theo bent his head close to Draco's and began speaking in whispers as if they were in a crowded room and someone might hear. "You can still fix this," he was saying. "All you have to do is stop. Nothing is irreversible, right?"

And he was nodding, in complete agreement with Nott, admitting that he was right, promising to stop because he could oblivate her, he could fix this, he could make everything go back to the way it was. He could do what he needed to do — repair the Vanishing Cabinet, complete the mission. Except he wouldn't do any of that, he only wanted Theo to think so, believe he'd do so, but he was in too deep.

Like he'd said. He couldn't stop, he didn't know how.