A/N: And the plot finally starts to reveal itself! I understand that the last chapter ended in a bit of a cliffy, but I couldn't resist. I hope this chapter is acceptable, it has a lot of explanation. And before you all tell me that they are OOC, remember that they're in the middle of a war, war tends to change people. Thanks to everyone that reviewed so far!

A/N 2 (added 2/16/06): This chapter has been slightly edited and is being reloaded so that it doesn't stretch horizontally. Anyone who actually reads this, well, they obviously didn't read the summary --wink--

Chapter Four: The Astronomy Tower

"You found me."

"It appears to be the case." She hasn't turned her face from the window. "Who are you?"

"You mean you haven't figured it out yet?"

I should have known it was her.

"Well, it seems that I've left Draco Malfoy, Prince of Slytherin, speechless."

"What do you expect me to say?"

"I don't know. You've been chasing me around the school for a while now. Why?"

"I had to know who you are."

"You didn't recognize me at the revel?"

"No, you weren't exactly the bushy haired know-it-all then, were you?"

"You make a fair point." She turns to look at me. I can see clearly that it is her.

"Granger."

"Malfoy."

"Why weren't you yourself at the revel?"

"Who said that wasn't who I am?" I raised an eyebrow at her. "I'm not all books and studying, you know. I do know how to have fun."

"So what happened to make you get caught by the Death Eaters?"

"I was at a party with some of my Muggle friends."

"And you didn't have your wand with you?"

"Do you really think I could have taken on all those Death Eaters whilst protecting my friends?" she asks with that same small smile gracing her small lips, then says, "One of my few Muggle friends that knows I am a witch convinced me not to take it."

"No." I go and sit on the other side of the window seat, answering her previous question though we both know it's not necessary. "So where do Muggles party?"

At this Granger raises an eyebrow and smiles. "Never thought you'd take any kind of an interest in Muggles or what they do."

"There's a lot you don't know about me."

"I figured as much." She looks at me hesitantly for a minute. "Can I ask you something, personal?"

"You can, but that doesn't mean I'll answer."

Wow, for some reason I am finding it very easy to just talk to Hermione.

"First, - "

"I thought you were only going to ask me one thing?"

She scowls at me. "First, I want to know if you have taken the mark." She puts a hand up to stop me from talking. "Not to ridicule or judge you, I just want to know. I mean, I already know that you plan to if you haven't."

Why do I feel compelled to answer her?

"I haven't."

"Why not?"

"They thought it best to wait until after I'd started school. My turn."

"Ok. Same goes though, you can ask, but I don't have to answer."

"Why didn't you fight back."

"He would have killed me. By not responding I had a chance to live."

"Where did you go?" I ask before I can even think about it.

"What?" She actually looks genuinely confused. Surprising, really.

"You were in that place at the revel, where did you go?"

She nods her understanding. "Here," she says simply.

"The astronomy tower?"

"No, Hogwarts in general. How did you know?"

"I go there too."

"Where do you go?"

"I don't want to answer that."

"Fair enough." She looks back out the window. "When I was there, but here, I was here with you."

"Why?"

"I'm not sure, but I think that it's because no matter how many names you call me or how much you say you hate me, I know you would never physically hurt me. I think it was more a psychological thing. I went where I was safe."

"But why not with Potter and Weasley."

"I'm not always safe with them."

We sit in a comfortable silence for a while, each of us lost in our own thoughts.

"Why do you want to become a Death Eater?" She asks me.

"Power."

She laughs, a heartless laugh that doesn't reach her eyes or soul. "You think that if Voldemort wins you will have any power? You can't really be that thick."

"And what power will I have if Dumbledore wins?"

She looks at me again.

"You're smart Draco, you can go far if you choose the right path. You haven't taken the mark yet, I am sincerely thankful for that. You could do anything you want. But if you take the mark and Voldemort does, as I suspect he will, lose this war, you will have that hanging over your head for the rest of your life. You'd do better to feign indifference."

I ignore the fact that she called me by my given name. "You aren't."

"Harry would prefer that I did, but I chose my place two years ago. You saw what your father did to me, is that what you want to become?"

"My path was chosen for me. I have no other choices."

"There're always other choices. I am intelligent, and I'm not saying that to be conceited, I could use my intelligence for the dark side, but I'm not. It is our choices that frame who we are, not our abilities or what others have chosen for us."

"You make it seem as if I could do it."

"Only because I know you can."

"Why do you care?"

"I don't know. So where do you go?"

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

"Try me."

I sigh, but I am -yet again- compelled to tell her. "My mother used to have this garden on our estate. It was enchanted to never need to be tended and to live forever. There were all sorts of rare flowers and trees. There was a spot in it where my mother and I would sit while my father was away on 'business' when I was younger, before Hogwarts. She would read to me or I to her and everything would be right in the world. She could pretend that my father wasn't off having affairs and it would just be me and her. That's where I go."

"What happened to it?"

"Father found out about it and destroyed it."

"Why?"

"Because my mother loved it. What was in that letter you got at dinner?"

"It was from my Dad. There's been another Death Eater attack."

"Who?"

"My parents. My dad wasn't home, but my Mum was."

Hermione blocked off all emotion from her face. She looks into my eyes. Desperation is showing in hers. I find that I am unable to say anything that may make her feel better; perhaps I need not say anything at all.

There is a sudden blaze in her eyes, though she speaks with the same level tone. "Don't you understand that if Voldemort wins this is all there will be, death, destruction, and pain."

Don't know what to say, change of subject is a good approach. "I have to go finish my rounds."

"I'll go with you." Neither one of us gets up to leave. She smiles humorously at me, then stands up and walks to the door. I follow her.

Granger and I finish the rounds, then separate to our common rooms. As I walk down to the dungeons I think about the conversation we had in the Astronomy tower. I don't know what to think now. For some reason now that I know that it was Hermione that was raped and tortured at that revel it doesn't seem right to me any more. I can't seem to shake the feeling that she is right about which side will give me what I so desire. Perhaps I should talk to someone else about it. Snape maybe? I reach the common room and go up to my room. I change quickly, then climb into bed and delve into a peaceful sleep. Her eyes no longer haunt me, instead it is a beautiful, intelligent witch named Hermione Granger.