A/N: Okay, next one out. Thanks a bunch to all my reviewers, Liv C. Wood, tom4eva, Dark-Queen, kawaii_s&s, Tabii, Sunflower-chan, PunkyPrincesss13 (Hehe… whoops, kinda had Scotland memorized, so I'll just refer to it more general in the future. Thanks!), and DazzilinAngel555.

Yeah, well, not much to say to that one, no big happenings whatsoever, I think. But you still gotta read it, now that you're there! And might I kindly ask you to review?

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Gasping desperately, I clenched onto my stomach to make me stop laughing, since I was in frantic need of oxygen. But all my attempts remained fruitless and I was close to just go green and die when...

When that fucking bastard entered my mind again and my giggling ceased instantly. Well, for once he'd been useful after all.

I looked up and did my best to glare at the three boys in front of me, although I had a hard time doing so. I didn't really see the Marauders anymore, I was seeing Ron and Harry, grinning and picking me off the ground. Then they proceeded to help Lily, who didn't seem to have caught herself just yet, to her feet as well. She was trying hard to look angry and pushed their arms away as soon as she was sure she wouldn't fall backwards again.

"Oh, I'm gonna get you bastards, bet on it!", The redhead spat out, but the effect was lessened considerably by her constant giggles, so all she got were simultaneous, good-natured grins.

"Suure, Lily."

James reflected Sirius' bright grin, turning around and letting his gaze travel before he frowned. So Harry.

"Hey, guys, where's Stowe?"

Okay, so not Harry. James sounded actually concerned and if anything, Harry would never be worrying over him. But I discovered that he was right, Draco was gone. I turned to face my new friends and saw Sirius scratch his head, looking around as well.

"He's not there anymore..."

"Oh, really?"

James was scoffing at his friend, who grinned sheepishly in return.

"We still gotta melt that guy. Mia, be prepared. I swear that by the end of your visit, I'll get that man to throw you into this lake."

Oh. What a prospect. I felt my eyebrow go up, but Sirius didn't seem to notice my gesture of derisive inquiring. Oh, yes, red hair or not, he was just like Ron. At that thought, my lips curled up into a small, pleasant smile.

"Don't dismiss it like that, Padfoot really means it!"

I directed my gaze up to see James grinning at me, poking a finger into Sirius' chest, who growled in playful warning.

"Yeah, and then you will be helplessly lost, you two vixens!"

Lily rolled her eyes at them and turned to me with a resigned smile.

"Don't worry, that's normal. They are like that all the time, you're gonna get used to it once."

Funny, that didn't really sound like she hated them. But on the other hand, you simply couldn't hate them. Too childish and cute, once again just like Harry and Ron.

"Come on, guys, let's get inside. Darkness will fall soon."

"Ah yes, moony, always the sensible one, huh?"

Sirius slapped his friend on the shoulder and grinned. Remus smiled back at him good-naturedly and hooked arms with Lily, heading for the Tower. Lily grabbed my arm and pulled me along with them, grinning.

"Come on, I can't leave you alone with these two idiots. Let's get back up."

"Hey, Lily, Mia, wait!" I turned my head to see James and Sirius catching up with us. James came up beside me and Sirius decided to accompany Remus. We made our way in silence, but it was companionable and not at all awkward. I already felt like I was one of them, like I had walked these few meters along with them for years, not just one day.

Once again the Gryffindors had proven how welcoming they were. Unlike other houses... and persons I might add...

Oh, damn it, Herm! What's happening to me?! Yes, of course I hate him, and I will forever, I'm sure, but he kinda manages to constantly enter my mind at the most inadequate of times... mostly when enjoying myself, and he always succeeds in putting a stop or at least a dimmer to it.

Like now. Instead of just walking on and avoid spending any thoughts to him, I find my hyperactive brain desperately trying to analyze his sudden and, for his means, pretty quiet exit. What would make Draco Malfoy leave like that? I mean, if he were a normal, heart-possessing person, I'd almost say he was hurt, with the way he- Argh!

See? I'm doing it all over again! Stupid, stupid, stupid! He's not worth your time, he doesn't waste any thought on you, either!

I felt a lot less good now, and all I could do to keep my thoughts from just reverting right back to him was getting something to observe. After a little while I decided on Lily, watching her through my lashes. She was a lot more like Ginny that I had first thought. If she'd lived long enough, she would have probably been more similar to Ginny than Mrs. Weasley herself was.

I cast my head down when I saw she was looking up. I didn't like to be stared at, even if it was by a girl, and I couldn't imagine why Lily would think otherwise. But soon, I realized she wasn't looking at me- she was staring straight at James.

I felt a grin spread over my features. Of course she hated him, how could I even assume anything remotely different?

This may sound a little out-of-character for me, but yes, I loved to play matchmaker. And with both Harry and Ron, it had worked miraculously well. And besides, due to certain members of the Weasley clan, I was sure to know a lovesick redhead when I spotted one. But as I had learned they could be a little... well, uh, difficult in situations concerning their love life –or the lack of it- and that it needed an insane amount of convincing to get them out of their rabbit hole sometimes.

Ginny for example, being one of the more quiet young Weasley's, had admitted her love to whomever cared enough to ask her a few times, but never acted on it. She was the type for secret adoration. After everyone but Harry finally knew, I had spent three days straight trying to convince Ginny to tell him, and all I got was a hug. A tight one, but still. But whatever, ever since, Harry and Ginny were inseparable.

Ron on the other hand was more outgoing. Which is why he had yelled at me to shut up when I had first 'accused' him- his own choice of words- of being in love with Lavender. My first reaction was to just smile and wait for him to calm down, but sometimes, my subconscious is a lot faster and clever than my active mind is. And so I found myself stalking out of the Great Hall, pretending to be angry with him until he gave up two days later and confessed in front of the whole sixth year Gryffindors, even though on accident. Well, Lavender seemed to be impressed, and another happy couple had found together.

And if I could simply transfer my observations on Harry and Ginny to James and Lily, which I arrantly was doing right now, they had the exact same problems. James was suffering temporary emotional ignorance and Lily wasn't showing her feelings. Though I had a indistinct notion that she would react more like Ron when I asked her about it.

And then and there, I had my officially first ever 'Oh-My-God-I'm-Thunderstruck!' moment, suddenly beaming and exclaiming loudly:

"Of course!"

Then the moment wore off, and I saw myself confronted with the weird stares of my four companions, stuttering an explanation to keep them unsuspecting towards my person:

"Uh...never mind, I found the solution to a difficult Arithmacy assignment."

Still sceptical, but none the less satisfied with my excuse, they turned their gazes forward again and I let out a silent held breath. More caution, girl!

But still, I was damn proud of myself for finding the cause of our stay, which was surely more than Malfoy could say.

If I really transferred all my observations to the couple next to me, I had to act on the assumption that James and Lily would be helplessly lost without a nice, friendly matchmaker, since they would never even think of telling the other, or, in James' probable case, were to dumb to have noticed yet.

I nodded in satisfaction and fortunately, it went unnoticed. Now all I had to do was find Malfoy and let him in on this delicate subject.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Fucking colors. Fucking fire. Fucking chair. Fucking robes. Damn fucking Gryffindors. I growled lowly, clenching my jaw in anger at everything and anything.

I was sitting in this big armchair in that oh-so-secret room again, staring into the fire –which had the same fucking colors as anything around here and was hurting my poor, green-black adjusted eyes- and well... brooding.

I'll admit, this afternoon bothered me. Not bother in Gryffindor sense, of course, but it was everything but normal that a Malfoy spent seconds, even third thoughts on a bunch of pathetic Gryffindors. I mean, please, how often have I seen those three idiots joke around with each other while completely ignoring me? And how often has it bothered me? Never. Never before, I might add. Oh, fuck them! All of them!

Suddenly, the door burst open and my head snapped around, startled. Granger was standing in the doorway. Of course, who else could run in when not needed or wanted with such a fascinating precision? She was still unbeaten in that category.

"Man, I searched for you the past hour! Can't you be somewhere more obvious?"

I felt my lips curl into an almost automatic, derisive sneer and I lifted my eyebrow, responding in a monotone voice:

"Where could I be in Gryffindor Tower where I know barely more than three rooms?"

Oh, she was blushing! Little miss prefect was blushing at such a banal retort. I seriously thought I'd never seen anything as pathetic in my whole life. It looked for a moment like she was about to scowl at me, but she shrugged me off with a surprising nonchalance:

"Oh, right. Whatever, doesn't matter. I found the solution!"

And again she was beaming with this repulsively cute expression of satisfaction, like she did every time she-

Holy fucking SHIT! Had my bloody insane mind just called her cute?! The Potter-obsessive, bossy, know-it-all troll Granger, cute?! Oh my god, I needed to go to St.Mungo's now. What happened to me, to the great Draco M-

"Uh...Malfoy? Are you listening to me?"

I looked up and glared at her hatefully, spitting through clenched teeth:

"No, of course I'm not! Why would I?"

"Because maybe I've found a solution to our location problem."

"And that would be?"

"I'll tell you if you manage to sound at least a tiny bit interested."

Oh, why can't you morons just all go and commit collective suicide?!

"Why would I be? I don't give a fuck if I'm here or twenty years into the future. It's the same anyways."

"Oh, really? And what about you being Gryffindor? And let me tell you one thing, git: In case you weren't aware, if you are planning to spend your life in this time, then be sure of one thing: You will never again be Draco Malfoy. As long as you are here, you are Darius Stowe, without family, without history, without future, but what is probably most important to you, without even an ounce of power. All you can do is watch your younger self grow up into the same complete social failure you are and dwell on the fact that you are simply nothing. Is that what you want?"

Okay, point made. Fuck, she was right! I couldn't stay here. The only advantage I would ever really have of being a Malfoy was owning the Malfoy fortunes, which would never happen if I stay in this time. My pensive frown turned into the usual sneer again when I faced her.

"Okay, for once I have to agree with you, I'd rather not stay here."

"See? I'm always right. But whatever. I told you two minutes ago that I believe we have a task here."

"Talk about a newsflash. You said that already three and a half hours ago."

"Fine, so I repeated it, okay? See, I was the one that convinced Harry and Ginny they were meant for each other. Otherwise they would have never gotten this far."

"Interesting, really. And oh-so-touching."

My expression, displaying disinterest in heavy masses, made her frown in annoyance. Oh, it was too easy to get her upset, really.

"Oh, will you listen to me for a second, dumb ass? Harry was emotionally deaf. He didn't know a thing of Ginny's affection despite the fact that it was common gossip for about two years. And I strongly believe that James is just as bad. So what are we gonna do? We hook him up with Lily."

What?! This chick honestly believes I'm that dumb? That I would hook up Harry 'Oh-I'm-So-Great' Potter if I have the chance to forever leave that bastard in the netherworld?! All I managed to launch out was a short, very much mirthless laugh.

"And you expect me to cause Potter when I have the chance to get rid of one of the worst mortal enemies I ever really had without landing in Azkaban? Honestly, Granger, I knew you were insane!"

She growled and fixed me with a lethal glare, only adding to my dry amusement.

"Shut up, idiot. What are you gonna do if we don't 'cause' Harry? We'd probably bound to stay in this time together -and I am too angry to recite my speech of consequences for you right now- and what's way worse, the Dark Lord would have no one to fight him, he'd be able to take over both the Muggle and the Wizarding World in the blink of an eye! You don't want him to rule, you said so yourself. So, as much as I hate you and you hate me and we both know it, you also know I'm right on this one. This is our only choice to have things go back to what we want them to be. We have to try it."

Fuck, why did this bloody bitch always have to be right?! I could have wrung her neck right then, but I decided to wait for Crabbe and Goyle to be around again. They were more fit for the dirty work.

"Hello? Anyone in there?"

I snapped back into reality and slapped the hand before my face away, growling and looking up to the ceiling. Well, what did I have to loose? It was either trying and succeeding, or trying and failing, or voluntarily staying here. Here where I was nothing. A nothing with Granger by my side, even worse.

"Alright, fine, but give me so much as one order and I'll lynch you."

She raised a bored eyebrow.

"Wow, I'm frightened."

"Fuck off."

That smug grin of hers appeared yet again and I scowled once more, passing her and leaving her standing behind me to indicate that this conversation was clearly over. I didn't bother to turn around, just went to the common room and took on my favourite stance by the wall again, left alone by everyone and concentrated on my thoughts.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Hey Mia! Come on, we're heading down for breakfast."

Granger smiled and linked arms with that redhead, heading for the portrait while three pairs of eyes followed them. I was watching them to make sure Granger didn't screw up, Black was undoubtedly planning his next prank and Potter seemed to be slightly fascinated with the brunette troll. Ugh.

"Sirius?"

"Huh?"

"What do you think of her?"

"Lily? She's okay-"

Potter was frowning in annoyance and I was growing suspicious.

"No, not Lily. Why would I ask you what you think of Lily? She's been in the same year for what? Seven years?"

Why did he want to know? Wrong woman, idiot!

"Oh, you mean Mia. She's nice, friendly and helpful, and kinda cute. Why?"

"Oh, no reason."

Black was busy eying Potter with a questioning frown, and Potter was busy avoiding his friend's gaze, so they missed my reaction. My eyes were narrowed and I glared at the black haired bastards with all my might. Oh, I hate Gryffindors! And I hate fucking Granger! My only chance to get out of this bloody hellhole and she blows it!

 "Oh, don't tell me you have a thing for the bitch."

James looked up sharply, shooting me a warning glare.

"Don't call her that."

Amazing how much he and his spawn were looking alike, defending the Mudblood and all. Oh, I'm beginning to miss him!

Call me cynical, but the only response I knew to so much dumbness was sarcasm. I raised my eyebrows and retorted:

"I call her whatever I want, and believe me, she is one. She's bossy and the teacher's pet and an absolute know-it-all. You have nothing but trouble with that damn woman."

"Oh, I don't think so. She seems really nice to me, and cute and beautiful, but if you treat her this way, it's natural for her to act bitchy towards you!"

"Look, Potter, I know we don't agree on this one, but as much as I won't change your mind, you won't change mine. She's a complete, utter bitch."

"Yeah, whatever. Oh, wow, you spoke... wait, let me count...six grammatically correct sentences! You're improving."

"Fuck off."

 "Okay, that makes it seven."

Oh, did I mention lately that I hate Gryffindors?!

"Come on, you two, postpone your little lover's quarrel until later, or we'll miss out on breakfast."

"Shut the hell up, Black."

 Potter cleared his throat and grinned.

"Yeah, that's my train of thoughts, too, but you could try to express yourself a little less... drastic."

"Why? He looks like Chesire Cat anyway."

James looked at Sirius, who was grinning brightly at my demeanor, and nodded.

"Okay, good point."

"My point is always good."

"Come on, guys, I'm starving!"

James grinned and patted Sirius on the head.

"Alright, Padfoot, let's go get your dog food."

Sirius made a panting noise and his friend's grin widened, while I merely raised a significant silver eyebrow. Really. So pathetic.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Sirius plopped down in the seat next to Lily's, grinning at her and me and greeting:

"Good morning, Ladies! Why, your beauty has already made my dim world a brighter place!"

Lily rolled her eyes at him while I mustered up a good-natured smile, dismissing his teasing.

"Oh, be quiet, you."

"You'll have to get used to it, because from him, you never get anything else."

I smiled up at James who sat down opposite of me, then gave Draco a quick acknowledging glance when he sat down in the next seat.

"So, Mia, what classes do you have today?"

I smiled again and answered James:

"Oh, I won't go to classes today. I have to go buy new stuff with Darius here because they had problems with the Apparition. Our things just kinda... vanished, so we don't have anything on us right now."

"Oh, you're going with her?"

James threw Draco a questioning glance at which the silver haired adolescent nodded lazily. The other boy eyed him and shook his head in exaggeration.

"Man, do you ever talk if it's not really necessary?"

Nope, of course he didn't. Only if he was to taunt somebody.

"Waste of energy."

What did I say? I'm always right.

"Says the Master Of Sentences Consisting Of Less Than Ten Syllables."

"Fuck. Off."

Ha, gotcha! I grinned along with my new comrades while Draco's expression darkened dangerously.

"Ah, come on, Darius, she's just kidding."

"I don't give a fuck what she's doing."

James sighed and turned to me, sending a discreet glance back to Draco to make sure he wasn't listening before whispering in a low voice:

"Ah, don't mind him. He's not all that bad. I think if he loosened up a bit he might make quite a good friend."

What?!

I raised my eyebrows incredulously, at a temporary loss of words. My god, what would Harry say if he sat next to me right now, listening to his own father trying to convince his best friend -and constant target to the git- that Draco Malfoy wasn't a bad person. He'd probably fall of his chair laughing at the insane suggestion. But I knew myself. I knew that my damn logical mind was just now considering James' words, giving Draco the honor of a revision to test if his words were correct.

It really sucks being sensible, believe me.

There's times when I really hated being all that thoughtful. I knew Harry and Ron would just brush this off as impossible and not brood over it half a year, and I knew that I should think the same way, but somehow couldn't. I guess I would never find out if this had to do with Draco himself or the general workings of my mind, but I damned whatever was responsible none the less.

"What exactly are you staring at, Stewart?"

I snapped out of my stupor to find Draco eying me with annoyance. Wait, since when was I referring to him as Draco?!

"Wondering if plastic surgery could be your rescue, but sadly, I don't see it happening."

"What the bloody hell is plastic surgery?!"

I hid my smile. I knew Malfoy didn't really give a damn if he was being insulted, but if he didn't know what he was saying, it was probably a lot less fun for him. Draco didn't really mind being insulted, but if he didn't know what she was saying it was a lot less fun. And that damn grin indicated that if he knew, he would not like it at all.

"Oh, never mind. Wouldn't help you anyway. A muggle thing."

I resumed to eating my breakfast, still smiling subtly and mentally giggling at the anger that was radiating off the silver haired teen in powerful waves. 

"Okay, guys, I'm out! Are you finished, Remus?"

"Yeah, almost!"

The boy shoved another piece of egg into his mouth and nodded at Lily, indicating he was ready, but due to the huge amounts of food in his mouth absolutely unable to properly state it. Lily rolled her eyes and grabbed his elbow, pulling him along with her while James and Sirius were finishing up as well.

"Well, see you at dinner, Mia. And have fun with your... companion over there."

I sent her a mocking scowl.

"Out of my sight!"

Lily giggled lightly and waved at me.

"Bye!"

"Later!"

The quartet made a rushed exit and once more, I was left with Draco and a heavy silence. I sighed, turning around to him and was startled to find him look at me, though never losing this infuriating air of total indifference.

"What, are you going to stare at me all day or get your damn Gryffindor ass up to Dumbledore?"

"Hey, watch out, pretty boy, this table is full of Gryffindors, and they don't take lightly to others insulting their kind."

"Yeah, I know. You should see you three idiots through my eyes once. Each sticking up for the other, and each sounding more dumb and innocuous than the other. You lot are so pathetic."

"Well, at least I have someone I can stick up for. Like, maybe, friends? They ain't so bad, try it sometime."

"Sod off, Granger!"

Ouch. I hadn't expected to get such a heated, almost aggressive reply, but if he wanted to be in a bad mood, then please, no prob. I decided to taunt him nonetheless, considering he would not stop either if we switched places now.

"Oh, did I hit a sore spot? You do seem a little touchy, Malfoy."

"Don't call me that out here."

"Don't worry, nobody's listening."

"Oh, right, like anyone would listen to you. How could I forget that?"

Don't bother, girl, he just wants to get you upset.

But, of course, when did a girl ever listen to herself? I did bother, felt myself grow irritated at the stupid git again despite all reason. Felt my face scrunch up into a mask of annoyance. Saw his smirk spread.

Asshole.

"Come on, I don't have time for your bickering."

"Malfoy's don't bicker."

Oh, of course. I sighed derisively and pushed my chair back, progressing to stalk out of the hall. I didn't bother to wait for him since he'd catch up anyway with those long legs of his. But of course I didn't care if he caught up.

"Sure they don't. It would be too normal, huh? Too banal, too muggle-like. Malfoy's don't do anything remotely normal, they're special. They can't act as if they're actually alive. Come on, I know you're not like that."

"Would you do me a favor and just fuck off, bitch?"

His irritated scowl was evidence enough for me. I was getting to him, at least a little bit. Despite my still eagerly blossoming anger, I quirked my lips into a lopsided smile.

"See? That's what I mean. Your father would have stayed completely calm. I bet there's a rule stating 'Malfoy's don't get angry over anything else than fellow family members' or something. And you tend to react to my, for a lack of a better word, provocations quite un-Malfoy-like lately. I mean, not that I want you to not react, but trust me, if you fight back, the effect of scaring me wears off completely."

"Oh, so I scare you?"

Shit. Bad, bad girl. Why can't I just shut up for once?! Now he thinks he's the Messiah again!

"No, you don't."

But he didn't listen to my anyway, just smirking in a self-assured manner as we made our way up to Dumbledore's office. I grumbled incomprehensible, but surely not friendly things under my breath as I threw him a sideward glance. He looked like he'd wanted to hear that all life long.

"Ah, what a useful bit of information, Granger. You're scared of me. Why, I'm flattered, really."

"Bugger off, idiot. You're pathetic, you know that? You practically get off at the fact that I was, on seldom occasions, a little scared of you! I mean, okay, I don't really want to know what else could cause this reaction since I'm not very thrilled at the idea of invading your twisted, perverted mind, but please! Get a life! Whoever within their right minds would be this... gleeful about the fear of others?"

"Well, me, obviously."

Helpless case! I threw my arms up in defeated frustration.

"Whatever."

Finally, we reached the big chamber that housed Dumbledore's office. The old man was waiting for us, his eyes sparkling and his mouth twisted into an amused smile.

"Ah, there you are, my children. I almost thought you might not come."

"I'm sorry Professor, we had a small fight and-"

"Oh, it is nothing grave, Miss Granger. Do not worry about such a minor thing. But please, you two, would you come over here so I can Apparate us to Diagon Alley?"

"Sure, Professor."

I stepped forward to the man and watched Malfoy doing the same.

"Would you please take each other's hand? It makes it easier for me."

What? Not for the life of me! I glared up at the ferret in pure disgust and he reflected my expression.

Dumbledore cleared his throat. All right, we have two possibilities: Taking Malfoy's hand and be forever unclean or get reprimanded by a teacher. Needless to say I picked number one, sighing and grabbing Malfoy's hand.

And yes, I know this sounds clichéd, but I read romance novels, too, and I can't think of another way to express it. When we touched, a small electrical impulse was set off in my hand, going straight for my brain and puzzling me to no end. I stared up at Draco, who had an equally bewildered look on his chiselled features, but before I could think any further, we were gone from the office.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

A/N: Okay, that's it for now. I know, pretty boring and not much action on either side here, but still, I had to write it. I think it'll take another while until the real D/Hr action is to come, depends on my mood. Oh, and if you find any logical mistakes, this was first written in third person and then I changed it, so I might have overlooked something. Once again, tell me what you think.