Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. Everything belongs to J.K.R and WB and whoever is involved with the editing + publishing + distributing of the books.

Pairings: Harry/Ginny, Draco/Hermione, Ron/OC

Rating: R (for future)

Setting: Story starts summer before 6th year.

I hope in the previous chapters, people have read what I put before each chapter, that this fic will be somewhat of an alternate universe, because of the 5th Harry Potter book (Order of the Phoenix).  I started this story on January 31, 2003 and so when the fifth book came out on June 21, 2003, I wasn't finished with the story.  I decided to keep some things I read in the fifth book but also mainly take stuff from books 1 through 4 (for example: the sorting hat's warning that I built my sorting hat song on and ron being a prefect are from the fifth book) Hope that clear things up a bit. And yes, I did read the fifth book. And I cried a lot too. ~sniff

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

"Lemon drops." Nothing happened.

"Sugar quills." Silence. {I can't believe how stupid this is!}

"Chocolate Frogs, Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, goddamn it, cockroach clusters!"

Draco crossed his arms and tapped his foot at the gargoyle.  {It's laughing at me. It's taunting me.} he thought angrily. "Look you miserable chunk of stone.  You better move and stop mocking me or else I'll-"

"I doubt the poor gargoyle deserves your anger, Draco."

Draco looked behind him and saw Dumbledore, with an amused expression.

"Dumbledore." He acknowledged with a nod.  "I need to speak with you," he glanced around and added, "privately."

"Very well, Draco."

{It's Mr. Draco Malfoy now, to you old man.} Draco kept his smirk from showing.

"Earwax." The gargoyle moved to allow them up to the office.

{Earwax? Are you shitting me…}

They entered the office in silence and Dumbledore gestured for Draco to have a sit in front of the Headmaster's table.

"You wished to have a word with me?"

Clearing his throat, Draco nodded.

"As you know, my father has past away.  He has left me everything and complete control of Malfoy finances, household, and affairs.

Dumbledore nodded.

Draco hesitated. Did he really want to do this?

"Look old man," at this Dumbledore raised an eyebrow, a corner of his mouth lifting up in amusement, "the Malfoy name has been cleared of all charges regarding the Dark Lord and the practice of the Dark arts."

"That's correct."

Clearing his throat, Draco glanced around nervously, as if Death eaters are going to jump out at him from any corner.  "My father did not die of an illness.  The Dark Lord killed him.  And it's all because my father did not successfully apprehend Potter." He spat out the name.  God, he hated Potter.

Dumbledore was silent.  He folded his hands as he leaned forward, suddenly solemn, eyes focused on Draco.  "It was the ball, wasn't it?"

Nodding, Draco continued. "I know you are wondering why I am telling you this, and so I'll get straight to the point.  I want revenge for my father.  I am willing to work with you and…Potter against Voldemort."

A minute passed with a staring contest between Dumbledore and Draco.  Finally, Draco looked down and muttered, "Well, say something."

"This is quite unusual. I must admit I am at a lost for words."

Draco looked up and smirked habitually. 

"Draco, I hope this won't offend you, but I feel that the Veritaserum should-"

"Yes, of course. I understand." Draco interrupted swiftly.  Just because he is going to work with the old man doesn't mean he has to be courteous.  His gray eyes narrowed even as he gave his consent.  He hated when things aren't under his control.  Being under the Veritaserum meant he won't be aware of what he is saying. "For all you know, I could be coming to you with intentions of helping the Dark Lord."

"I appreciate your understanding."

"One question, Dumbledore."

"Yes?"

"Snape. Is he-"

"Professor Snape, Draco.  We can discuss this after a meeting with Harry.  I'll send you both an owl."

Irritated that Dumbledore had returned the favor of interrupting his sentence, Draco curtly nodded and left.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

"5 points from Gryffindor for Weasley's smart mouth."

Ron turned redder and Hermione groaned.  From Ron's inability to control his temper, the House lost 20 points so far in Potions today. 

"He acts like he has a blast-ended skrewt stuffed up his smelly arse.  No wonder Dumbledore won't give him the position of the DADA professor. He'll be flinging curses at us left and right." Ron muttered to Harry.

Hermione heard and gave Ron a stern look.  "Ron shut up before-"

"Since I can't be flinging curses at you, you best be watching what you drink from now on, Mr. Weasley."  Snape's quiet, silky voice interrupted.  Ron gulped and stared wide-eyed at the potions master.

Snape was silent for a moment, letting the red-haired teen become more and more uneasy, waiting for the sentence.

"Detention, Mr. Weasley. Tonight at 8pm, you will scrub the cauldrons."

Snape passed Neville's vacant spot and paused.  Then he turned away and went back up to his desk.  "Clean up now. Class is dismissed."

Chewing her bottom lip, Hermione glanced down at the paper she had gotten back earlier in class.  Cringing at the grade marked in red at the top of the paper, she decided to ask for some extra work from Snape.

She shuddered.  She had received a B! B! This would not do. Nope it would definitely have to change.  This grade HAS to go.

"I'll catch up with you guys later." Hermione said to Harry and Ron.  It was lunch right now so it didn't matter if she stayed after class or not.  Approaching the desk, Hermione found that Draco was there already.

"What are you doing here, Granger?"

"None of your business."

Draco rolled his eyes. "Let me guess. You probably got a mark on that essay that you aren't happy with and so, you want to beg for more work from Snape."

Miffed that he was right, Hermione pretended that she didn't hear him.

Draco smirked. "I'm right, aren't I?"

"Hmmph.  At least I am motivated enough with my studies, unlike you…boys who are preoccupied with girls, sleep, fights, sex, and more girls."

Hermione glanced at Draco, who looked offended. "What's wrong with thinking about girls and sex?"

"I don't obsess over boys and sex."

"Does that mean you like girls? Damn, Granger, I didn't know-"

"Shut up, you prat. I'm straight ok?"

"Sure, Mudblood, whatever you say."

Hermione felt anger flare up in her and she stomped down onto Draco's foot.

"OW!"

"DON'T CALL ME THAT!"

"It's a fact, so why shouldn't I call you a Mudblood!?"

Pain exploded on Draco's left cheek.  Speechless, Draco looked back at Hermione, who was shaking her hand to get rid of the stinging feeling.  He raised a hand and rubbed his cheek. 

"Do you get some kind of sick pleasure out of slapping me!?" Draco said, narrowing his eyes.

"No! What is your head made of!? Bricks?! Oww…"

"What's going on here?" Both looked up at Professor Snape and pointed at each other simultaneously.

"He/She started it." They glared at each other and tried to speak again to defend themselves.

Snape held up a hand to silence them.

"40 points from Gryffindor for physically harming another student."

"But, Prof-"

Snape smiled coldly. "Ms. Granger, I am sure even you can see that Draco's left cheek has 5 red streaks on it. Should I add detention as well?"

Hermione fumed. "I apologize…Malfoy. I realize my wrongdoing Professor Snape." {How am I going to explain this to the rest of the Gryffindors?!}

"Now that's over with, what are you doing here after class, Ms. Granger?"

"Erm…Professor, you see, may I request some extra credit work from you to improve my grade?" Hermione said.  She heard Malfoy snicker and shot him a glare.

Snape moved his eyes down to the essay Hermione was clutching in her hands. "What, Ms. Granger? A B did not satisfy you? You should be grateful that I gave you such a high grade in the first place.  Your fellow Gryffindors were not so fortunate."

Hermione kept silent, her grip on the essay in her hands tightening.

"Very well, Ms. Granger. I will expect 2 rolls of parchment about the Mandrake Restorative Draft by the next class.  Besides the obvious, you must also remember to include how each individual ingredient contributes to the restorative properties of the draft.  If this assignment is satisfactory, then I'll…consider raising the essay to a B+."

Deciding that a B+ is already a miracle coming from Snape, Hermione nodded and thanked him.  She shot a venomous look at Draco and left.

"Now, Draco, what did you want to talk about?"

{Ok…how do I start this?} (A/N: hmm I agree, Draco)

Draco first placed an Imperturbable Charm on the door to the classroom.  Snape frowned and gripped his wand tighter.  After all, this is Lucius Malfoy's son, the person the Dark Lord is counting on to be the right-hand man.  "What's with all the secrecy?"

Draco glanced back at Snape. "Relax.  I'm not going to attack you.  I just want to make sure if you work for the Dark Lord or not.  My father had mentioned you once or twice but I need to make sure for myself."

Snape took a step back from Draco and for the first time, was glaring at him.  "I don't know what you are talking about."

"Come on, Professor.  You can't lie to me about this.  The Dark Lord speaks of one of his followers at Hogwarts.  You were a Death Eater back then weren't you?  You must still be loyal to him."

Snape nodded hesitantly.  He'll agree and see where young Malfoy is going with this.

"I have to be sure, Professor Snape. Let me see your mark."

Snape flinched and narrowed his eyes at Draco.

"Draco Malfoy, you are in no position to give orders."

Draco sat down at a desk.  Damn it this is frustrating.  "I'm getting my mark at the end of this school year."

The irritated expression cleared away on Snape's face.  He just stared at Draco, as if Draco has sprouted tentacles.  "This early!?"

Draco nodded.  "Yes, I know that the earliest the mark is suppose to be given at the end of the 7th year at school."

"But…why?"

Draco shrugged. "I don't know.  He has been pressing the matter since I was in my 4th year.  My father hasn't agreed until he asked again a few months ago."

Snape made his decision and lifted up his robe sleeve to show Draco his forearm.

A scar in the shape of a skull with a snake coming out of its mouth was there.

Draco felt apprehension, looking upon the mark.  "How is it done?" he found himself asking.

"It is burned into you.  Not a normal branding, you must understand, Draco.  The Dark Lord puts one single drop of his blood onto the fresh mark, performs the Protean Charm…and you are his.  It can never be removed."

Draco shuddered.

"Thank you, Professor."  Draco gave Snape a nod and left the potions master deep in thought.

~*~*~*~*~

Dumbledore hummed to himself as he looked out the window, over the school grounds.  He watched the students walk around the lake, some chasing each other around, others reading a book.  He saw Draco sitting on a rock shaded by a tree overlooking the lake.  Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle accompanied him, though they wisely left him alone to think, sitting on the grass eating some snacks.   Dumbledore's mouth twitched and his eyes shone with hope at Draco.

"It is our choices which determine who we are."

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