~Chapter 3- Fatal Attractions~

Lucius groaned. What had happened last night? He remembered going out to the cemetery like every night... And then... Oh god! How embarrassing... Serverus had come to his aid... And then he had mistaken him for...

Lucius glanced upwards to see that his wrists were bound to the posts. No! They couldn't have! He wouldn't have! But if they had, why was he still fully clothed? Grey eyes blinked at the ceiling trying to piece together last night.

Snape rushed down the hall, pushing teachers and students out of his way. He must explain himself to Lucius before the man thought worse of him now..

"Serverus! Wait!!"

Snape froze. Oh no. For the love of anything, not now.

"I kept calling and calling out your name back there, and you didn't hear me!" Lockhart said, ensnaring Snape's arm. The glimmering man looked out of breath, and some of his perfectly styled hair had gotten messy. He beamed up at the dark man, affection dancing his light eyes.

"There's a reason for everything, Lockhart." Snape said, trying to shake his arm free from Lockhart's grasp. The man was a human vice! "Please, I need to be getting back to my chamber!"

"Oh good! Maybe you can show me where mine is too." The blonde man just held tighter as Snape tried to continually pry himself free. "I'm afraid I've gotten myself lost again."

The ditzy professor was trying his patience. His chamber was coming closer, and he still wasn't able to shake himself free. "Come now! You've been here before! You must know your way around!"

"I haven't been here in three years, Serverus... Please help me? Pllleeease?" Lockhart said, pouting and trying to worm his way closer to him.

Snape felt a twitch beginning to form on the left side of his face. "Okay! Okay! I'll take you to your room! Just let go of me!"

Lockhart seemed satisfied with that, and let go of the frustrated professor.

Snape quickened his pace, trying to deliver the moron to his room as fast as possible. "There! You even had your name engraved in the door in gold!"

"Oh! Silly me. Thank you for you help, Serverus..." Lockhart said, trying to sound seductive. "Won't you join me for a couple of drinks?"

"No. Good night."

The blonde man still hadn't gotten the hint, and tried a move no one was ever brave enough to try. He blocked Snape's path, and said, "Aren't you going to give me my good night kiss?"

Snape's eyes grew wide as he felt Lockhart's arms circle his waist. "This isn't proper behavior for staff members!" He barked, praying that no one would come down the hallway.

"You're so cute when you play hard to get..." Lockhart reached up to kiss him..

Lucius had wormed his wrists from the bindings, and was working on locating his shoes. He did not want to be there when Snape returned. He couldn't face him. Though... he never truly figured out what had happened last night.

Snape stormed into his room, looking extremely angry and scaring Lucius.

"Serverus!!! What did I do?!" Lockhart whined, rushing for the chamber door with a large red handprint on his cheek.

Snape slammed the door in the other's face. "GO AWAY. I DON'T LIKE YOU." When it was quiet, he turned to face the frightened Lucius. "Lucius! You're awake!"

"Serverus.. What did he do to you?"

"I DON'T want to talk about it." He snapped, but then regretted it. "Look, I'm sorry. I shouldn't take my anger out on you. You've got to be wondering what you're doing here."

Lucius found his shoes, putting them on quickly. "Yes, that thought crossed my mind a bit."

"I was afraid you'd hurt yourself in your condition, and brought you back here. I force fed you a sleeping potion and tied you to my bed so you wouldn't be a threat to yourself till the potion started to kick in. Merlin Lucius, don't tell me you're going back there again now."

"No, I'm not. I'd better get back before the house elves question me leaving not on official business." Lucius sighed, reaching for the door. "Thank you for your help." And with that, he walked out, leaving an agitated Snape alone.

Lockhart was more than upset over Snape not returning his affectionate kiss. He was slumped up against the wall, waiting for the dark man to open the door. But as his eyes lay upon Lucius as he shut the door, he forgot all about Professor Snape...

The next morning~

Harry was dreading classes. Things went from improving, to stuck in the bowels of hell, with Draco.

"Harry? Something wrong?" Ron asked his depressed friend. "Upset about missing the first match?"

"Well, no. Not really." He frowned. "Let's just go to class......" How was he going to face those cold gray eyes? Draco hated him more than ever.

Ron frowned. Harry was in dire straights ever since he had left the hospital wing. I told him Draco Malfoy was trouble... Why does he never listen?

Hermione was in her glory; today was the first day of school! The summer holidays always went by horrendously slow. "Ron! Harry! What are you two doing up there? We're going to be late for class you know!"

Rom smiled to himself. Hermione had a one-track mind. "We'd better get down there before Hermione throws a fit. Things will get better, just keep your head up."

Harry gave his friend a weak smile. "Thanks Ron." No amount of helpful advice could brighten Harry's mood. He shuffled behind his two best friends, his mind drifting to thoughts of a certain pale somebody.

"Come on Harry! Pick up your feet! We've got defense against the dark arts next! I'm dieing to know who the new teacher is." Hermione said excitedly.

No student knew who.. or what... to expect. It was apparently a big surprise. Not even a list of supplies was given. Ron bit his lip. Hogwarts surprises weren't to be taken lightly.

The class was alive with anticipation. Murmurs of hope that maybe the reason for not needing new books was because the teacher would be doing all sorts of hands on experiments. Others hoped that no books meant no work outside of class.

The doors opened, and everyone turned. Lockhart fluttered into the room, wearing robes of silver. Some groaned, others dropped their jaws in horror. "Hello all! Look at these bright and happy faces! Did you all miss me?"

Hermione beamed. Professor Lockhart was back, and better looking than when he had left. What had could he have possibly done to make his teeth even whiter?

Draco's upper lip was curling, his fingernails scraping into the desk. Why was Lockhart back? Can't those nitwits at the mental institute tell that he's not ready to be taken out yet? Bloody incompetence...

Harry was at the breaking point now. How could he survive yet another year with that idiot, and having Draco being incredibly pissed off at him?

Ron muttered something low, that Harry had to strain to hear. "I bet Hermione's happy..."

Lockhart clapped his hands together with glee. "I bet you're all wondering why I had no books issued for this year! It's all because I know what big fans you all are of me! You already have all the needed books from the last time I taught here!"

Ron's head collided with the desk. He'd burned those first thing when he got home from his second year...

"Oh! And I see Miss Granger is reading the new edition of Magical Me. 10 points to Gryffindor for a wonderful choice of summer reading!"

Dear god, let's hope he hasn't brought the pixies again... Draco thought darkly, remembering the nasty bite he'd gotten from the infamous incident during his second year. Of all the creatures he hated, pixies were number one.

The class when with out problems, but was horrendously boring. Most students were actually looking foreword to going to potions for a change.

As the end of the session ended, Lockhart noticed something about one of his more blonde students. That face... those eyes... The man from last night! Of course! They must be related some how!

Lockhart spent most of the night thinking of the flaxen haired man from the night before. Who was he? Why was he in such a hurry to leave? And most of all, why did he not want an autographed picture? "Mr. Malfoy, hold on a second. I need to speak with you a moment."

Draco went ashen. What could he have done wrong besides nod off a bit? It was only the first day!

Harry stopped on the way to the door. Speak to Draco after class? Why?

Curious to find out himself, Ron whispered to Harry "Let's listen outside the door."

The pair left, hiding right outside the door, straining to hear any piece of conversation.

"There was a man here last night.. Speaking with Professor Snape in his chamber. He was somewhat tall, and bore a striking resemblance to yourself.. Do you know him off chance?"

Draco scratched his head, confused. "Well-"

Lockhart looked up suddenly, and spotted some black hair by the door."Is that Harry Potter I see hanging outside of my door?"

"Go Ron! He saw me, but you can still escape!" Harry hissed to his best friend.

Lockhart rushed over to the doorway before Ron could flee. "Come in, come in! Here for an autograph I see! Oh, I see you trying to get away, Ron! We'll have no shyness here! But that is common, you know." He said, pulling both unwilling boys in. "I'll be right with you, I just have to finish up some business with Draco here."

Ron gave Harry a pained look. They should've just went to potions...

"Well Draco? Are you related?" Lockhart asked while moving the confused blonde boy to the other side of the room.

"Yes, he's my father. But why is that impor-"

"Wonderful!" The air headed professor said with glee, moving to his desk. "I need to request a parent teacher conference." He said while scribbling down a quick note addressed to the Malfoy household.

Ron and Harry looked at each other puzzled. It was the first day of class! Draco didn't do anything that bad...

"Wh.. What?! What did I do?! I was good! I sat and-"

"Now, now! You'll find out after I speak with your father-In person- of course." Lockhart winked, ushering Draco back over to the boys. "Now, I'll go sign those pictures for you two."

Harry wasn't even paying attention to Lockhart any longer. He was too busy looking at how horrible Draco looked. The boy was pale, but no one should be that white!

Ron quickly said, "Um, we'll have to decline sir. We're going to be late for potions."

Lockhart's face lit up quite a bit more than before. "I'd be more than happy to escort you all down to the dungeons! How silly of me to be keeping you from potions with the charming professor Snape!"

Draco looked up at Lockhart. Why was he so suddenly interested in Snape? ...Oh no.... No! Lockhart couldn't have Snape! Never! This man was beginning to ruin his life. Once his father gets a hold of that note, he'd be in deep trouble. And now this! Something must be done about him.. Draco thought bitterly.

The three boys were quickly ushered down the hall by a very eager Lockhart. Harry noticed how upset Draco looked at the moment. "Hey.. Malfoy.. Are you al-"

"Don't talk to me, Potter! Right now, you don't exist!!" Draco spat, refusing to even turn around.

Harry's face fell. He had to do something to make it up to Draco... Maybe he could buy him something. But, having spent most of what he had taken out already, and figuring that Draco most likely would want something unbearably expensive, was out of luck. Maybe, he could find a job.

Lockhart burst into the potions room, scaring half the students, and making Snape drop an empty beaker on the ground. "Serverus!"

Snape felt the twitch return as Lockhart came up to his desk. "Lockhart! I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't call me by my first name during a class if you please. This had better be important, you're interrupting my lesson.." He hissed.

"Oh it is! I just dropped off these students.." He said, turning around and pointing to Harry, Ron, and Draco. "I kept them a little late after class. And I wanted to ask you if you'd-"

"Thank you for dropping them off. You'd better be going now!" Snape quickly began pushing Lockhart towards the door.

"But.. But..."

"No buts, Lockhart! I've got a class to teach!" And with that, he threw Lockhart out, and locked the door.