Disclaimer: All the characters in this story belong to JK Rowling and no profit is being derived from the composition of this story. Thank you.
He styled his hair in a different way the next morning. Silver strands gathered up into numerous jagged spikes on his head to resemble a crown.
For Draco felt like a king today.
A king eager to put his plan into action.
He had got up at his usual hour of five and bolted the door of the bathroom at five past. As per routine, of course.
A dark jade towel hung tightly to the base of his large chest, absorbing the droplets of moisture dotting his milky skin that even gravity would not excuse from its power. He watched the glistening effect of his wet upper torse under the light with an air of bored arrogance before slipping into his clothes and bounding out of the Slytherin common room.
The dungeons were still cold and musty, still housing bright red fires in small prison-bar covered compartments along the ascending corridors. He saw the flames lick the columns, saw the metal shine orange and white from the heat. He had an urge to bend the bars, to distort them while they were still malleable.
Before he could stop himself, his hands were clutching the pipe-like structures and he was amazed to note how truly freezing the metal actually was. His hands turned a numb electric blue colour before his eyes, which were wide and filled with horror.
He staggered back from the sharp frostiness and grasped the neck of his robes with his pale hands.
Why did he have to do that in the first place?
He shook his head, trying to forget the pain, and continued on his journey, his gait brisk and head stiffly erect.
No one was up yet, he could clearly see, from the abandoned nature of the rooms and corridors he passed through. It was like this every morning, but Draco didn't mind. In fact, he rather enjoyed the lonesome feel of the mornings. Though he wasn't really a morning person at all.
His feet had led him to the Great Hall, where his head had automatically jerked to look up at the ceiling. The sky was indigo, but paling in the east to indicate the sun's coming presence. That meant it was nearly dawn. He spat on the floor.
And it was most probably at the particular moment that he noticed it.
Or rather, her.
There she was, her hour-glass figure perched precariously on a wooden chair, facing the far wall of the Hall near the Gryffindor table. Her earthy locks were wavy and hung like a curtain of soil on her back. Her robes were bunched at her elbows and knees, giving Draco a perfect view of her contoured legs. Her skin was so flawless and olive and beautiful, he longed to mar it.
He had always wanted to taint something as pure as her.
His legs moved towards the girl, as her slender arms stretched to hold a tenuous measuring tape.
Soon he found she was directly in front of him, her small body balanced on toes smeared with dark scarlet nail varnish. She was humming a tune flippantly, a song Draco recognised as having come from 'The Sound of Music'.
Girls really were corny.
He put out his hand and flexed it, wanting to smother her leg with his fingers and squish the skin until it bruised. But his hand halted as a jarring thought struck him.
What if this wasn't Granger?
He had already made one mistake, one blunder. Though he had skilfully righted his wrong, how could he be sure he was indeed right this time?
His fingers, though, had already made contact, as he began tracing intricate patterns on her calves. Lightly, at first, so she probably didn't feel anything. But Draco felt it. He felt her.
Her skin was so warm and smooth, but the touch sent shivers through his spine nevertheless, as though he had just jumped into the frigid waters of the lake in Hogwarts...
"What the-!"
The girl jumped off the chair and was facing Draco, her wand pointing menacingly at him. Her eyes were flashing, her hair seemed to be emitting sparks of fury.
"Malfoy? You?"
It was Granger, after all. He could breathe again, but not for long, as a wave of unadulterated rage swept through him.
Her eyes... they were now conveying bewilderment... disbelief... and so freely at that...
"Cover them!" Draco screamed, thrusting the girl's body roughly to the wall.
She yelped in surprise, but kept her eyes fixed on him.
"What do you mean?" she whispered fearfully.
Another wave of malice rippled through him. His limbs felt on fire, his hands wanted nothing more than to throttle the stupid girl in front of him...
"Your eyes!" he hissed.
"My eyes...?" she repeated, still not able to comprehend him.
He pinned her wrists to the wall, his own eyes glistening hauntingly, boring into hers. Their bodies were so close, he could feel her sweat trickling onto his skin... she smelled so fucking good...
"What are you doing here anyway?" Granger managed to gasp, trying to mask her uncertainty.
He released his grip on her slightly as a small smirk lilted his lips.
Good. She was learning.
"I could ask you the same thing," he responded, his gaze transfixed on the girl's moist chest under her robes.
She began to open her mouth, thinking he was asking her a question, but he merely chuckled to indicate he wasn't finished.
"I could ask you the same thing," he repeated, this time with emphasis, "but that would ruin the mystery of it all, wouldn't it?"
"Malfoy, just what do you want?" she said, her voiced patently indicating that she was irked and that he was the reason to account for her anger.
His gaze lifted so that he was looking at Granger in the eyes. Her eyes were warm but at the same time so hateful. And they were big, too. Another weakness, for he knew big eyes tended to be the ones that were the most expressive. He shook his head slightly in disappointment. Her nose was sharp and speckled, and her lips were rose pink and plump.
And that was when he came to the decision.
That Granger was in actual fact the most beautiful girl he had ever laid eyes on.
Pity she was a Mudblood.
"You," he answered, his voice so soft and hoarse that he was sure that the girl could not have possibly heard him.
He sank his teeth into the slender hollow of her neck and she cried out, struggling to pull her arms out of his domineering hold. His tongue entered her flesh slowly, his mind striving to permeate the girl's very borders of sanity. He suckled her sweet blood slowly, hating the metallic taste in his mouth but devouring the girl nevertheless. He wanted to drink her until she was empty but he didn't want theirs to be a short courtship.
He wanted to prolong his need for her, his only drive to live and breathe, until it could be completely sated.
And that time, he knew, had not yet come.
He retracted from her at an agonisingly slow time later, his lips wet and dark red from the blood. The girl was panting, gasping for air, and Draco found that the sound seemed like music to his ears.
"Let that be a warning to you," he threatened, releasing his hold on her slightly. "This is not the end; it is merely the beginning. For the beginning is a very good place to start, isn't it, Granger?"
His own taunt still ringing in his ears, he let out a cruel laugh before slamming her once more against the wall and exited the hall, mouth pulsating with the pure juices of his obsession.
A/N: Okay was this chapter crazy or what? I hope I didn't go over the top. It was freaky to write, you know. I'm still freaked out ;) Note he didn't kiss her, but instead tried to practically kill her. Meaning he is a sadistic weirdo, in other words. Anyways - I can't thank you enough for being so kind about last chapter. Really. You all are the best reviewers I've ever had the privilige to have review my story. Please remember to review this one, and if I get enough I'll post again real soon. I changed the summary to this story and I was wondering what you all think of it now. Better, worse? Comparisons to the previous summary are welcome, if you can stretch your memory to a few days ago (and if you can't - I totally empathise and will let you off the hook this time :-D) Also if you want to know when I update next then feel free to leave your email address and I shall notify you of updates. Have fun and until next time friends :)
crystalviolinist: Always intrigued by your nickname. I luv it! I bet your fear of Draco only intensified with this chapter, and hey - I don't blame you! He needs to see a goddamn shrink, and pronto.
lilred-07: Thank you so much for your review. I was initially going to have it as Hermione and then I thought - nah. I think its better this way, and I'm truly glad you agree :)
slytherinswn: Ooo, a fellow slytherin-er. Niiiice. Yes, I like the title to, it just popped into my head, really. Thanks for your detailed review and I appreciate your views on everything. As for your question - sorry, but it cannot be answered. It is kind of the essence of the story, in a way, so you have to figure it out by yourself. Also I haven't completely decided whether or not Hermione will fall for Draco, but we'll see.
lena: Hi and welcome! I certainly will think about adding it to if you believe I should :)
Callisto Callipsi: Nice long review. My favourite kind :). And wow, your so nice to say all that stuff about me and my story. luv ya!
Windweaver: Don't worry, we all get silvery white hair in the end ;).
Rachel: Thanks! Yeah it is different and thats why I wanted to explore it. But I'm glad you're embracing it :)
carolyn: Thank you for your review... reviews. lol. Now it looks like I have more than I really do ;). I like the idea of hexing all the brunettes but I gotta tell you, being a brunette myself, I wouldn't like Draco to do that to me!
Rose Zeller: mhmm... moving away from you now... hehehe just kidding, thank you!
KC: Yes I am glad about my computer also. You know how freakin' hard it was to do my projects without the aid of the internet?! Okay, so maybe I was just pissed about not going on Same difference. I hope you enjoyed this chapter.
melody: Ta. Yes, and the angst is only going to heighten but I hope you stick with me nevertheless!
demetor: oy yourself. lol. brilliant? me? two words that dont go together my friend. come and see the result of my latest math exam and you'll see ;)
dracos-girl-4evr: Yay, my buddy reviewed :-D. I actually live in Perth now! That's wicked, we're like soulsisters ;). Glad you liked the chapter and I hope Draco doesn't seem to out of character here.
Yoss: Ah, hello again! I'm glad you liked my other story too, its a lot different to this one isn't it? I'm starting to see reviewers for this story that have also reviewed my other story and I luv seeing you all again! Thank you for your review.
Maya2000: The one with the name :). Thanks for the review. As for my other story - I really really needed a break from it. To tell you the truth I was kind of sick of it. Though I want to continue it, I am having so much fun with this one you know? But I'll see what I can do.
sugar n spice 522: Yes it is all a part of the story, Draco being weird. And obsessed. And insane. And crazy. But you gotta luv it don't you? :)
beautybunnymouse: Cute name. Glad you liked the storyline, its very weird and winding.
Windweaver: didn't you just review before?! lol, anyway, here is that H D interaction you've been waiting for.
shirls: Wow, you're my nicest reviewer! I am really glad you're enjoying it and I give a standing ovation to you, my lovely reviewer :).
Minion: Epic? As in Odyssey and LOTR? Well, thats very kind of you to say!
ILikeTheWayYouMove: Hey, nice to see you again! Yes I will most definitely be continuing this and I can't wait to see what everyone thinks of this chapter.
Sum-41: haha, ur review made me laugh. you don't know how many ppl so far have said my story is freaky. but i like it, don't u ;)?
Jonelle: And another who reviewed twice ;). Thanks.
BeastieBoy10101: I hope I got the right amount of 1-0's :). Thanks for your review. I hope the update was soon enough for you.
Wowee: Don't we all wonder? But, like Draco said, we wouldn't want to ruin the mystery of it all, would we?
slyswn28: I hope this chapter lived up to your anticipation.