A/N: Guys... I finished this chapter on the first of July but the chapter before this isn't even posted so I can't post this either. Didn't get the required reviews so I'll just you know chill... This chapter is long because Draco is becoming a person and getting so much perspective which is how his relationship with Hermione will blossom. I named this chapter for what Draco hears at the end.

IMPORTANT: GUYS I HAVE FINISHED THE STORY WITH EPILOGUE AND EVERYTHING!! I'VE STARTED ON A NEW ONE AND AM UNSURE ABOUT THE SEQUEL! I'M POSTING A NEW CHAPTER LIKE EVERY OTHER DAY IF I GET AT LEAST TWO REVIEWS!! CHEERS

Chapter 9: Bittersweet

He apparated back to the Malfoy Manner and walked into the ballroom for the children where he recognized the music playing as Sum 41. He smirked, walking over to Blaise.

"After term starts, our first Hogsmeade trip of term, you and I are going to my island." Draco bragged.

"Your island? Is that what your father got you after forcing you to become a Deatheater and making myself have the same fate in the process?" Blaise spat out rather bitterly.

Draco was taken aback and moved away from his best mate like he had just been slapped in the face. He recovered quickly and countered, "You would have to deal with becoming a Deatheater eventually!" He quickly lowered his voice, "If it hadn't been for me in the first place, you would have gone to Durmstrang and have the scar on your shoulder along with Lily.

"Our ceremony is in six months. The Potter boy will by then, along with Dumbledore, probably have defeated Voldemort. If they haven't, I have an un-plottable island that I can charm against letting my father in. We hide or we stand up and face the wrath and remember constant vigilance."

Blaise started to giggle under his breath, "Constant Vigilance! Remember how Crouch would say that always pretending to be Moody?"

"I had forgotten. That was always so annoying. I was walking the corridors one night and he comes up behind me and says, 'Constant vigilance, Malfoy! If I was someone else you could be dead now!' then the bloke curses me. He got a letter promptly from my father telling him if he cursed me one more time, cover or no cover, he would receive punishment from him." Draco reminisced, laughing at Crouch.

"He turned you into a pure white albino ferret!" Blaise exclaimed laughter plaguing all his words.

"You weren't there, were you?" Draco asked him.

"Are you joking? Up until sixth year I was everywhere. I was in the corners watching people. You hear a lot when you keep your mouth shut. Now you, on the other hand, like to be the center of attention." Blaise said coolly with an amusing expression on his face.

"I deserved to be the center of attention. Demonstrate your ways." Draco prompted as Blaise pulled him into a dark corner of the room. Draco was about to open his mouth when Blaise covered it with his mouth.

A few minutes later Draco got bored and started to open his mouth again. Blaise shook his head and covered Draco's mouth again. Malfoy huffed indignantly. He tapped his foot impatiently. Blaise stepped on it and pushed him against the wall.

"Honestly, Marijana, you can't be serious." Draco watched in the corner as Marijana Vila, a tall curly brown haired young woman with silver eyes walked with Lily.

He watched the brunette stop her dark haired friend and glare at her when she said, "You know you fancy him. I saw that kiss. It didn't look like it was just a 'hi how have you been this past year and a half' kiss. This was THE kiss."

"Draco is like a brother. I have known him since we were both children just like you have known him. We are all connected through family values and pure blue blood just like the cause the Dark Lord is fighting for." Lily recited in a dark tone, her eyes stinging red before turning back to their ocean color.

"Do not talk about such matters. This place is unsafe for any discussion. Even when we do get back home to Bulgaria, do not talk to me about the Dark Lord. Some of the choices made, and you do know which ones I am talking about, are not smart. I am starting to think Voldemort- I am glad to see you do not cringe at his name- is not the brightest out of two. Dumbledore might be blinded by his ambitions of what the Wizarding community could be, but I do agree with his views more than with our so called leader's. Despite what Father says, I do not wish to become a Deatheater, and I will not. Let everyone know if you must, fore, I would rather get killed in a fight with what I believe in than to pretend like I know some do." Marijana said in a rushed whisper looking around to where Draco and Blaise were hiding.

"Come out you two, fore I have known that you have been hiding and wished to stop here at this point for only that reason." Lily said her back still turned.

"Do not hide like cowards when you are confronted, but fight like men. Hide if you wish to listen not if you wish to spy." Marijana recited non-chantilly.

"I hope I can confirm that you two will not be our problems in having heard what you have. We see your eyes. You have lost your ice, my prince, and I see what you hold deeply buried in your soul. Feelings for another, more than you wish, and a newfound perspective you wish you hadn't gotten." Lily looked into Draco's eyes deeply and walked to touch his chin, tilting his head up to look into her eyes, "I do not need Dark Magic to see what you are thinking, nor will I forget what I see."

"Do not regret your thoughts and your actions. A new generation is being bred, and we are smarter than he wishes us to be. We are smart enough to be of use to He, but a bit to smart to not know better. I will fight in this war with my beliefs. Dumbledore is my supreme. I do not wish to be in these ranks that my friends have been bred in like narrow-minded sheep. I refuse to hide after tonight. I will be protected."

"You need not fear me, though I am on the side of the winning. I have the Dark Mark so I am spoiled forever. I will choose my fate closer to the end as I have both options technically open to me. Draco has already made his choice along with his friend. I am shameful and do not wish my fate or my thoughts on anyone." Lily looked into Draco's eyes and read his feelings, "Do not hide."

"I apologize for you being naïve enough to believe even if it was for a second that the dark side will win. I refuse to be a part of this any longer. I am getting my things and transferring as of now to Hogwarts. I hope we can keep in touch after this is all over. For now I must go before anyone gets wind of this. I will fight for what I believe in without dark magic.

"Blaise you have been in my heart for as long as I can remember as our parents are such good friends. I know their wishes for you, and I hope you choose to take my path." Marijana leaned over to give Blaise a chaste kiss on the lips before smiling, "I will see you once term starts hopefully, even if the chances for my survival in the end is slim. I will continue hoping. If anyone asks where I am tell them just that. Goodbye my dear friend Lily. Good bye Draco, and good luck with your choices." With a distinct crack Marijana apparated.

Lily walked away silently to talk to someone Draco couldn't remember the name of.

"This really ruined my night." Draco said bitterly, looking at the ring with the snake coiling around it. He blew a wave of hot air on the platinum and rubbed it against his robe.

"Are we still on for Quidditch tonight?" Blaise asked taking a grip on the broom he enlarged with a bit of wandless magic.

"I don't even think I'm up for seducing Granger after this. The painful part is, she's right. I feel like a coward."

"The bet's off then?"

"No. I just don't feel in the mood to do anything until tomorrow." Draco raised his eyebrow and smirked, "Shall we go to Weasley's rat hole?"

"And insult him by going anywhere else? Let's go. Alone." Draco added as he went out onto the balcony clutching his own broom, "Mount! Up!" Draco commanded as Blaise and he rose into the sky.

"Don't be going your seeker speed with me! While I'm pretty fast, I heard you and Potter can fly only a coupe of kilometers slower than Krum." Blaise said, beckoning his broom ward at a fast paced, yet slow for Krum, speed.

"Krum is good. He was only in seventh year when he got picked up by a national qualifier team! I mean, he flew twice my top speed at the World Cup. The man has skills."

"They're trying to get him to play for Ireland, but he'd have to move and live there! He doesn't want to move in the first place, and besides, Krum wants to play for his home team!" Blaise yelled as they picked up slightly more speed.

"It's ten degrees to the left!" Draco yelled as he and Blaise adjusted their broom angle, "I wouldn't mind playing for Ireland. They've won so many times now, and living there wouldn't be that big of a deal. Like I couldn't set up an estate there! It's really close to us anyway. Neighbor close! Don't veer off course!"

"And you think you've a shot at making the World Champion team?" Blaise asked him.

"If I can't fly as fast as Potter, and Potter can fly only half of Krum's speed… I doubt it. I am getting faster though. Quidditch isn't my career. Hear the music? We're getting close! Might as well get into some Muggle crap!" He yelled, taking his wand out and transfiguring his clothing into some khaki pants with a shell for a belt, a white shirt with a button up shirt over him and a white stone necklace.

"Potter can fly as fast as Krum could at the World Cup. I've seen one of their practices. Weasley has improved and Potter is as good as Krum. Maybe you've exaggerated your thoughts and you can fly that fast." Blaise transfigured his clothing into a pair of jeans, a button up shirt, and a dark necklace.

"Start decent." Draco ordered, ignoring Blaise's comments that still lingered in his thoughts. He had to improve and show up Potter.

He picked up his speed and dove for the ground quite fast and stopped an inch from it. Blaise followed his lead but fumbled, obviously not being a Seeker which he was never going to be.

"Oi! Look Harry! It's Malfoy. Look at the wittle bitty Dwaco. Firewhiskey?" Draco looked at the youngest Weasley male and had to smirk. He was drunk beyond recognition.

"Ron, what are you blabbering about? Malfoy wouldn't possibly be here!" Hermione turned around from having talked to someone he couldn't recognize at the moment. Loony something or another was her name.

"On the contrary Granger. I could possibly be here and do seem to be here." Draco stated in a very cold demeanor.

"Get out of here Malfoy. You're trespassing on Ron's dad's property. You have no business here. We have Aurors inside that will dispose of you if necessary." Hermione stated as Ron waved her off saying, "It's just ferret! It's Christmas. Let him stay and have a-" and fell to the ground, emitting a very loud snoring sound.

"You heard the chap. So how are you Granger?" Draco asked stepping over Ron's head and closer to her.

"Move away from me Malfoy. Even if he's incapable of doing anything, I will certainly curse you. I am more than capable. Harry's more than capable too. He's using the loo at the moment, but he will be back to curse you if for some reason I can't." Hermione spat at him, turning her back on him and grabbing a bottle of water from the table.

"Harsh." Blaise said clapping his friend on the back and moving toward Hermione.

"And you? How can you continue to be friends with such a git and still continue to see me? I am not in the mood for games, Zabini." She asked him harshly.

"I've known him for longer than I've known you. He has his faults as everyone else does. If you do not wish to go out or be my girlfriend, where this was heading, then leave me be." In Draco's opinion, this was the most loaded piece of rubbish he had ever heard of. Blaise was lying and he couldn't see how Granger could buy that from a Slytherin.

"I'm sorry. You are right, and I have no right to think of you what I do of him by association." She leaned in and kissed him. Parvati Patil and her sister along with Lavender Brown turned around and giggled.

She bought the bull crap Zabini fed her. Damn Merlin! How can one woman drive him so completely and utterly INSANE? He replaced his thoughts of jealousy when Blaise pushed Mudblood against a tree trunk with anger.

Screw Snape's timeline. He had the charm worked out for tomorrow, but he could use it tonight. Where was Ginny Weasley? Where the FUCK was Ginevra fucking Weasley?!?!?

Draco scanned around for her and damned himself for not having a magical eye like Mad-Eye Moody. The crowd outside was still thick with students, not even paying attention to him, most of them drunk beyond recognition.

"Screw the game." Draco mumbled as he took a bottle of fire whiskey and emptied the whole thing within seconds. He tossed the glass down on the ground somewhere near Weasley's passed out body.

He took a step forward, only to realize he had no idea what he was doing anymore. Fire whiskey. It had instant effects. He cursed himself and tried to keep his mind straight and alert.

Weasley. Screw her! He'd grab the first witch he saw and fuck her that night. He could do his whole Weasley whatever it was he was doing with her tomorrow.

"Draco?"

"That's me name!" He said without thinking. He swung around quite clumsily to look at who was talking to him, "Lily Jerkins! What are you doing here? I thought I left you at my place with some other people my mum and dad invited!"

"You're drunk. How can you be drunk after leaving your place just under an hour ago? No matter. I was taking my broom out for a ride when I heard music. Never seen this place before so I thought I'd see what was happening. Here we are!" She rambled, taking a look at what everyone here was wearing and transfiguring her clothes into a pink skirt with a long white belt that went down past her skirt and onto her knees, a plain white tank top, and she added an extra touch by taking down her dark straight hair and streaking it green magically.

"Muggles have the right idea! You'd look even nicer if your top got wet I bet!" Draco yelled rather loudly causing a lot of guys to turn around and stare, willing something to happen while some drooled.

"Say that again and I will stick my broom up your arse!" She said very loudly and venomously, taking her normal Firebolt and pointing it threatening as she stuck her wand in her hair, taking some hair from each end and making a small bun at the back of her head.

"Aren't you cold though?" Draco asked her kicking the snow and realizing he wasn't cold with short sleeves.

"They've cast a warming charm around their property you dolt. You step into the forest and you'd be freezing. You really are drunk."

"I'm not that bad off. I'm just not that fast a thinker." He replied flashing her a smirk.

"Never mind you, Draco. You're not completely out of it at least. Is that Ron Weasley?" She asked pointing at the ground.

"Yeah. He passed out just after welcoming me and Blaise…" Draco trailed off pointing to the tree still outside of the forest where Blaise and Hermione were still at each other, Blaise's hand up Hermione's skirt.

"Blaise and Hermione Granger?" She asked, not wanting to say Mudblood with so many people still watching her so hungrily.

"You know her. That's right you know everyone. Yeah that's them. Long story. Doesn't matter now. I'm going to go look for… I remember who I'm looking for." Draco said leaving Lily alone to pursue his looking for Ginny Weasley.

He sat down in fear of falling while he tried to remember a sobering up charm.

"Gods, Ron! Enervate!" She yelled taking her wand after shrinking her broom and replacing it with her wand. The Weasley awoke and looked at her, fully sober.

"Lily. What are you doing here?" He asked grasping his head.

"Here." She said summoning a Hangover potion out of the house. She handed it to him and he drank gratefully, "I came to see where Draco had gotten off to."

"Malfoy. You refused my Christmas invitation because you were at Malfoy's?" Ron asked in a quiet tone. Draco listened in immense interest.

"It's not like that, Ron. You don't understand how it is with us, why we are the people we are. We don't have the opportunity you do." She said, her voice showing bitterness the way it had when she was in conversation with him back at his house.

"Your family is in with the Dark Lord isn't it?" He asked so quiet that Draco had to strain.

She grasped her shoulder and looked down at the ground, "I am sorry. I am tainted now, and I do not wish to taint you. I am where I belong with my family values and traditions. If it were different, I would not choose him, or this." She said with such honesty that Draco had to feel bad for her.

"I've known you for so long, and I thought I loved you." Ron said quietly as he got up.

He shouldn't be overhearing this. She did what she did with him because she had to. She did mean she was tainted. She was tainted from being in contact with him. How she knew Weasley, Draco didn't want to find out.

"I am bleeding inside, Ron. I cannot show fear nor can I show pride. Zee road I have taken vill be my un-zoing." She said, trembling hard enough to get her Bulgarian accent back.

Draco apparated back to his manner and straight into his bed.

A/N: Hope you guys enjoyed! Thanks for all the reviews and I will get Hermione Draco action in. The two characters I introduced (one has my name and one ahs my friend's name) will play big roles for Draco's transformation. I am still playing with the idea of whethere I should have a happy ending or not. Muahaha