Hey guys! I'm back…betcha thought I died or something…sorry about the late update. BTW, if you're enjoying my story you should read "Three Weeks" by CH127 – it's completely awesome! I don't own anything…so let's get on with the story, shall we? Ahem… (thanks to Alexa for the chapter title idea!)

Chapter 7 – The Snake's Lair

Hermione rushed into her dorm room and swept her eyes over the room – her heart beating wildly. She was already apprehensive about the task that lay ahead of her.

Why am I so nervous? I'm not even in the bloody bathroom yet!

She shook her head, chastising herself silently. Pulling out a rolled piece of parchment from under her robes, she unfurled it and studied its words intently.

STUDENT: MALFOY, DRACO

HOUSE: SLYTHERIN

PARENTS: MALFOY, LUCIUS and MALFOY, NARCISSA

Hermione shifted her eyes farther down the page until she found the section she was looking for…

SCHEDULE-

7:00-8:00   BREAKFAST                                                                                  GREAT HALL

8:05-10:00   DOUBLE ADVANCED POTIONS LAB                                     ROOM 66, BASEMENT

10:05-11:00   TRANSFIGURATION                                                                ROOM 7, 2nd FLOOR

11:00-12:00   LUNCH                                                                                        GREAT HALL

Hermione was growing more and more frustrated. So far, she had every single class with Malfoy – and she hadn't even realized it until that moment.

Could he really be with me ALL day? I can't believe I missed this…usually he's making fun of me all the time and I can't AVOID noticing him…but THIS year…

How could I not have noticed this?!

She shook her head in disbelief. Malfoy's schedule was certainly going to put a damper on her plan.

Oh, it's MY plan now, is it? Look how low I've gone…sneaking around…

"How am I supposed to sneak into his room if we have the same free time? His classes after the lunch are the same as mine, too…" She groaned to herself in irritation. "I guess I'll have to skip dinner…"

Hermione paced nervously across her soft, red carpet.

Why couldn't he just take Divination or something? At least then I would know how much time I have…

She anxiously checked her watch: 6:00…

He should be leaving soon for dinner…

She softly padded over to the bathroom and tried to peek through the small space between the curtain and the wall. She strained her eyes, attempting to detect any movement from the other side. Finding none, she cautiously pushed aside the heavy drape. She was struck suddenly with the sharp contrast of green against gold, and for a moment the two sides were joined and the borderline was indiscernible. She gasped in spite of herself – the two colors seemed to fit perfectly together. The dark, forest green that had seemed so eerie to her before was now beautiful when put next to the shimmering gold. She was lost in a daze until she remembered that she had a job to do…

She was on…the other side – HIS side…the enemy's side. She glanced back at the swaying curtain, knowing that she couldn't back out now.

Besides, I'm curious anyhow…

She pushed open the door leading to the Slytherin prefect's dorm room and put her cheek against the wall to peer through the crack. No one seemed to be there, so she opened the door farther…

It was amazing – truly amazing. The Slytherin room paralleled hers – only with different colors. She noted that the fireplace, instead of lions along the sides, had solid silver snakes. It was just as beautiful as her dorm – but it didn't looked "lived in." The floor was immaculate – almost sterile. There was a fireplace with a roaring fire, but no warmth. The Slytherin dorm was beautiful, but it was transcendent beauty. Cold. Empty. Hermione shivered.

She was thankful for the cleanliness and insane organization, however, when she started poking around Malfoy's drawers. His devotion to neatness made it easy to find everything. She eyed his closet and shut the drawer through which she had been searching.

Opening the double doors to the large closet, Hermione smiled to herself in satisfaction. There laid Malfoy's broom, with his Quidditch robes hanging beside it. On the handle of the polished wood rested the seeking gloves. She wasted no time in reaching for them and sticking her hands inside.

His hands are so big…whoa…

Her small, slender fingers were lost in the fabric, but suddenly she felt something cold and hard in the fabric of the palm in the right-hand glove. She grasped the tiny object and withdrew her hand to reveal a small flask with a syringe as a stopper.

So THAT'S how he planned on doing it…

She examined the clear liquid and carefully removed the syringe, trying to smell the solution.

It smells almost…SWEET ...what poison smells sweet…?

Hermione furrowed her brow in thought and tried to remember something about pleasant-smelling potions from Snape's lectures.

"Looking for something, Granger?" a lazy voice murmured from behind her.

Hermione froze and winced.

Is he EVERYWHERE?!

"You know, I could have you removed as prefect for this. In fact, I suggest you start explaining yourself…" Malfoy crossed his arms and stared at her tense shoulders.

Hermione slowly turned around with an accusing look on her face. "I think I'm justified," she asserted coldly, holding up the vile in two fingers for him to see. He merely chuckled.

"Well, aren't you the clever one, Granger?" He grasped the tiny container and rolled it around in his palm, smirking. "Did you figure out what it is?"

She shuffled her feet, embarrassed. "Well…no…but I will! And then you'll be kicked out of Hogwarts for trying something so stupid! Did you actually think-?"

She stopped and watched, shocked, as he removed the stopper and poured some of the liquid onto his finger. He held it up to her lips and pursed his own, hinting at a mocking smile. "Taste it."

Hermione shifted her weight uncomfortably and backed away. "Fat chance, Malfoy."

He smirked knowingly and rubbed the liquid between his fingers before placing one of them on his own tongue. He simpered again. "Still don't trust me?"

HELL no!

"Oh, give it here, Malfoy!" She grabbed the flask and pressed her finger to the rim, wetting her skin. She put her finger to her lips and tentatively tasted the liquid.

"SUGAR WATER?! You've got to be kidding me! But, I heard you saying-"

Hermione smacked her hands against her head, realizing that she had said too much.

Great…just great…

"No worries, Granger. I knew you were there."

"But…how?" Hermione stared at him with an incredulous look on her face.

"Heard you breathing. You really breath too hard when you're nervous, Mudblood," he noted, eyeing her heaving chest. "Anyhow," he added, "Did you actually think I would go so low as to harm your precious Potty right before a game?"

"Yes," she replied without hesitation.

"You underestimate me," he whispered coldly, moving closer to her. She tried to back up further but found her back against the green wallpaper. He placed his arms on either side of her head, trapping her against the wall.  She shrunk down under his piercing gaze. He bent his head so that his lips almost brushed her ear and she tried to squirm away.

"One thing you need to learn about me, Granger…I'm no cheater."

She pushed his arms away and snorted. "I'll believe THAT when I can see it for myself."

She brushed past him and headed toward the door to the bathroom. Malfoy stared after her retreating figure, amused. Hermione glanced back as she pushed the door open to reveal green was still meshed with gold- red still interlaced with silver. She mentally noted Malfoy's expression.

What just happened THERE?

A/N!!!

Kasumi Izukawa: Heh heh…interesting twist, huh? Glad you liked the last chapter!

CindyLea: lol…sorry no underwear, but I think they made some progress, don't you?

Alexa: hee hee…condoms…rotfl!!

Devin-Jamie: Don't worry…plenty of that after they actually get together…it's rated like it is for a reason!

Aindel: I'm glad you liked the plot idea! I was trying to go for something that would get them together without being a repeat of the "share a dorm" fics…but I love those too!

Cinnamon: J'aime bien ton histoire aussi! Pauvre Draco…heh heh…! Je suis heureuse que tu aimes la partie des pensées de Hermione! J

Hildie: Thanks so much!

Sierradogbaby: I'm sorry I'm so bad at writing longer chapters….I suppose I'm just very unskilled at focusing…lol. Thanks again for beta-ing for me! Have fun on your trip!

That's all for now! REVIEW!

Xoxo…Kate