A/N: Sob! no reviews!! I my story that bad!!??? Oh well, I'm going to finish it anyway! I never leave something I start unfinished!

Chapter 10

Malfoy made his way down to the Great hall for breakfast looking forward to executing his devious plan that weekend. He realized of course that he would have to work extra hard to gain Potter and Weasley's trust, but the way things were going with Granger, he could have her eating out of the palm of his hand before the weekend arrived and, if the rules of friendship ensued, Potter and Weasley will trust him too, just to be doing it for her.

He smirked to himself as he sat down at the Slytherin table, looking over at the Griffindor table, he spotted Granger and Potter, who were looking at Weasley with disdain as he scarfed his breakfast down, like it was his last meal. Malfoy smirked to himself with the latter thought. Of course this won't be his last meal, that would be soon, though he didn't yet know it.

Glancing around at his friends, he decided he'd better take things a step further. He excused himself and got up and proceeded over to the Griffindor table.

As he approached the trio, other Griffindors gaped and some gasped audibly. Neville took that opportunity to jump up, knocking over his pumpkin juice into Hermione's lap. "Oh, time to go!" he said almost cheerfully before peeling out of the Great Hall like a bat out of hell.

When the iced juice landed in Hermione's lap, she let out a small scream and stood up hastily.

Harry and Ron gave her pitying looks and offered her their napkins.

This was a wonderful opportunity for Malfoy, who gallantly stepped forward and smiled at Hermione, most charmingly.

"Please, allow me!" he offered smoothly, as he pointed his wand at her soaking robes and skirt, before saying a warming and drying spell to dry her robes.

Harry and Ron exchanged glances before turning their attention back to Malfoy and Hermione.

"Why, thank you Malfoy!" Hermione exclaimed, surprised by his sudden appearance.

Malfoy flashed her another charming smile, before bowing and kissing her hand lightly. "You are most welcome, Hermione!" he said, his voice like velvet.

Hermione, in spite of her friends' presence, blushed furiously.

Malfoy noted this, pleased with his progress. He then turned to Harry and Ron, bowing slightly. "Potter, Weasley, may I be permitted to join you for breakfast?"

Harry and Ron, still gaping at Malfoy, nodded dumbly.

Malfoy smiled and took a seat beside Hermione.

And so, Malfoy, Harry, Ron and Hermione breakfasted together, chatting about quidditch and classes. By the time the day ended, Harry was warming up to Malfoy considerably and Ron was more willing to give him a chance.

The only problem in this flawless plan, was that Malfoy more than once had to push aside warm fuzzy feelings, which were particularly strong around Hermione. He just had to remind himself of the task at hand.

Harry, Ron and Hermione were sitting in the Griffindor common room, enjoying the peace and warmth of the room, when Hermione suddenly sat up straight and gasped, a look of pronounced horror on her face. She had been rummaging through her bag just before this occurred.

"Where is it?!!" she said worriedly. "I could have sworn I picked it up!"

"What's wrong, Mione?" Harry asked, concerned.

"My potions Homework assignment!" she cried "It's not here! I must have forgotten to pick it up off of Snape's desk! Oh, he's going to be so mad at me!! I have to go down and get it!" With that said, she got up and dashed for the portrait hole.

Harry and Ron watched her go, frowning. It wasn't like Mione to forget to pick up a homework assignment.

Hermione ran as fast as she could towards the dungeons, her hair and robes flying wildly out behind her. The castle seemed quite deserted, so she could run with ease.

When she arrived at the dungeons, she was gasping for breath. She paused to catch her breath before continuing to run towards Snape's classroom. Suddenly, something black obscured her vision for a second before she was knocked to the ground, where she landed with a cry of pain as she felt her tailbone collide with the stone.

A few seconds later, a hand reached down and pulled her up and she looked up to see whom she had run into.

"Oh!" she wimpered. "Professor Snape! I am sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going!"

"Apparantly not, Miss Granger!" Snape sneered. "we really must stop meeting in such a manner!" he added sarcastically, referring to the time she had run into him before. "What brings you to my classroom at such a late hour?" he asked.

Hermione faltered, examining her shoes as she responded to her Potions Professor's question.

"I- um, I forgot to pick up my homework assignment from your desk at the end of class today, professor." She said, shamefully.

Snape frowned as he thought back to the end of the potions class in reference. "No, Miss Granger, you did not." He finally said, quite abruptly.

Hermione shook her head. "I did Sir, it's not in my bag!"

Snape shook his head too. "No, I distinctly remember you picking it up and you asked me something about it."

Hermione was thinking back to class now too, and nodded slowly as the memory returned to her, before looking up at Snape with a lost expression on her face.

"Then where could it be?" She asked no-one in particular.

Snape regarded her with frown of confusion. "How would I know, Miss Granger? I merely hand the homework out, once it is in your hands, it is solely your responsibility." He said disdainfully. "If you –"

There was a noise behind them and both professor and student turned to peer into the darkness of the dungeon corridor.

Hermione's heart was beating fast, both from anguish over her lost potions homework, and the noise that had startled her. Everything in her body was screaming at her to leave the dungeons and go back to the safety of Griffindor tower.

Snape stared suspiciously into the darkness of the corridor, before turning back to his student, who stood there staring into the blackness, looking positively terrified.

"Why don't you go back to Griffindor tower, Miss Granger." He suggested. "The dungeons are Slytherin territory, and you aren't safe here after hours."

The look in Snape's eyes told Hermione to run for her life, there was someone lurking in the darkness that made the noise, and Snape was merely trying to warn her of that fact without making it obvious to the fact that he knew someone was there.

"Yes Professor!" she said before turning and fleeing in the direction of Griffindor tower.

Professor Snape watched her go before turning back to the person he knew to be hiding in the shadows.

"Mr Malfoy, come out here!" Snape said sharply.

Slowly, Malfoy slunk out of the darkness to stand in front of Snape.

Snape gave him a suspicious look. "What were you doing hiding there?"

Malfoy feigned an innocent look. "I was just out for a walk, Professor."

"Don't lie to me, Mr Malfoy, you were waiting for someone!" Snape snarled. Then he turned his head in the direction in which Hermione had sprinted off in, before turning back to Malfoy. "I do believe you were expecting Miss Granger's presence this evening." He said in a quiet voice.

Malfoy didn't break eye contact with his potions master. He clenched his fists in to balls at his sides. Why did Snape still have to be here? He'd gone and ruined everything!

Snape raised an eyebrow at Malfoy. "It is not like Miss Granger to forget to pick up her homework, Mr Malfoy, and I clearly remember her picking it up earlier today." Snape said in a fake thoughtful voice. He held out his hand. "Hand it over, Mr Malfoy." He suddenly demanded.

Malfoy glared at Snape before reluctantly pulling a piece of parchment out of his robes and handing it to Snape.

"You may return to your dormitory Mr Malfoy." Snape said coolly. "I won't mention this to Miss Granger, however, next time you decide to attempt to accost her in a corridor, I won't be so lenient!" And he turned and walked out of the dungeons, Hermione's homework in hand.

When he was sure Snape was out of earshot, Malfoy let out a cry of fury and kicked the wall. The kidnapping of the homework would have sealed the deal for the plan! And now Snape had ruined it! Now he was going to have to come up with some other way to get Hermione in his territory and away from Potter and Weasley. And so, Malfoy skulked away to his dorm room to hatch a new method of attack.

Meanwhile, Snape headed for Griffindor tower, all the while trying to figure out what Malfoy had been planning to do. There was something odd about the way Malfoy had taken quite a shine to the Golden trio, particularly Miss Granger.

Being a former deatheater, Snape was familiar with how the Malfoy's worked. But he had never had to deal with Draco Malfoy plotting and scheming before. This was new to Snape, but he was for sure up to something!

His train of thought ended when he arrived at the portrait of the Fat Lady at the entrance to Griffindor tower. He didn't know the password, so he knocked instead.

Inside, Harry, Ron and Hermione heard the knock and looked at each other with questioning looks.

"Who could that be at this time of night?" Ron asked curiously.

Harry cast the opening a suspicious look as the rapping came again, this time more impatiently.

Harry got up and went over to it. "Who is it?" he called.

"It's Professor Snape!" Snape called back, indignantly.

Harry raised his eyebrows at his two friends, who returned the gesture.

"Mr Potter, I don't have all night, let me in this instant!" Snape called again.

Resisting the temptation to ask Snape what he wanted, Harry opened the portrait door and Snape stepped in.

"Is there something wrong, Professor?" Harry asked as Snape looked around the warm cozy room.

"No, nothing wrong, Mr Potter, I seek Miss Granger." Snape replied.

Hermione stood up and walked over to where Snape and Harry stood. "Yes Professor?" she asked timdly. It was very odd having Professor Snape standing in the Griffindor common room.

Snape produced the parchment he had recovered from Malfoy and held it out for her. "I came across this...in my classroom." He lied. "I was merely returning it to you."

Hermione took the parchment, sighing with relief. "Thank you, Professor Snape!" she gushed. "I was so worried!"

Snape nodded curtly. "Make sure you hand it in on time, I won't have it being late!" he snapped before turning and exiting the common room in a flurry of robes, leaving behind two very confused and one relieved Griffindors.

"Is it just me," Ron said, breaking the silence. "or is this whole school going off it's rocker?"

In his dorm, Malfoy was losing his cool. He didn't have much time left to seduce the trio. He had to somehow lure them out into the forbidden forest on Saturday night, but he didn't have a clue how he was going to do it!

He ran a hand through his blond hair in frustration, trying to think hard.

"Hallo Potter! How are you old bean? How about you three accompanying me into the forbidden forest for a picnic, What?!" Malfoy said aloud before snorting a laugh. That approach wouldn't work at all! He tried something else. "Hermione, dearest! I would be so happy if you and your two wonderful friends would like to walk with me through the forbidden forest this fine evening!". He let out another snort. It was laughable. Potter would hex him right there and then if he suggested such a thing.

Then something occurred to him. It could be that easy to get them out there. If he said he was passing on a message from Snape, saying that the Potions professor required some ingredients for his store, and had asked that Malfoy and the trio go fetch the ingredients from the forest! It might just work!

At his new plan, Malfoy began to chuckle then laugh evilly (Like some mad scientist!).

Oh the Dark Lord was going to be so pleased with him!