Author's Note:

'This is a contest entry for the Dracolov challenge! If you would like to enter you must e-mail Dracolov, her e-mail is in her profile. The last day to enter is 12/1/04. Please R & R (read and review) and thank you for reading my story.

Disclaimer:

I don't own any of the orginial Harry Potter character because I am not that creative...but I wish i was...I only own the plot and my characters.

Chapter 5: Get Out, These Voices in My Head

When they walked out of the club, Draco suggested that they go to the Leaky Cauldron and from there they could Floo to her house. Hermione agreed, while a series of nagging questions crept into her mind. Why is he being so nice and protective of me after practically shagging that girl on the dance floor less than a hour ago? Why had he warned her to stay away from his friend only to call upon him for help after her attack by other Slytherins? And why was he offering to escort her home when her friends were right there in the club and could have done it themselves? But most disturbing was her final thought: why had she been so quick to accept his offer considering everything that had already happened?

"Why are you being so nice to me, Malfoy?" she finally worked up the courage to ask just before they walked into the Leaky Cauldron.

"Consider this my act of good will towards you, for not believing I am a Death Eater," he responded without breaking his stride. He had been expecting this question since he first began attending to her following her ordeal.

"But my friends were still there, and they could have done this… Why would you want to do this?" she continued.

"Because I know Marcus and what he's capable of. Your friends could only have aggravated the situation and possibly gotten themselves hurt as well."

"I understand that, but I was more asking about you taking me home, not looking for Flint and the other guy," she pressed. For some reason, she wanted to know what his motives were, because she thought she saw something in his eyes and needed to know if it was real or imagined.

"Why do you have to ask so many questions, Granger? Why can't you just chalk it up to a random act of kindness?" he snapped.

"Well, with our past history, can you blame me for being skeptical?"

"I suppose not, but I guess it is how they say... 'May no good deed go unpunished'."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Well, for one thing, I had a sure thing that I just walked away from back at the club, and now I have to endure the third degree like a common criminal," he retorted.

"Please, don't let me keep you from your entertainment. I think I can manage from here," she grumbled and stomped away towards the fireplace.

"Wait, it still may not be safe..."

"I am a grown woman, I can take care of myself. Thank you very much."

"That's right, you did such a bang up job earlier, right, Granger?" he spat quickly and instantly regretted it. The hurt expression on Hermione face said everything he needed to know at that moment. Whatever trust he had gained by his previous actions was gone and all her defenses were back into place. Open mouth, insert foot, Draco thought to himself.

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"10 Carmandy Court, London," she pronounced clearly as the green flames transported her to her fireplace at home. As she stepped out of the fireplace and into her living room, her mind was reeling with a whirlwind of emotions. In her brain, the events of the attack and the rest of the evening played over and over again, while question after question beat her senseless.

Initially, all she could think about was Malfoy's 180 degree turn in attitude towards her. How dare he, she considered, hanging on some random girl one second and then playing savior to me the next. Then he chastised me for wanting to know why, like I was the ingrate. Hermione suddenly came to realize that she had been standing there in her living room waiting for him to arrive, but he hadn't, and it had been almost ten minutes now.

Understanding that he wasn't going to come, her indignation grew even stronger. Oh, sure he was so worried about me… it may not be safe here and he needed to check it out. Yeah right, one small dirty look and he ran back to the arms of the hoochie back at the club. Some hero. Then she heard herself and stopped at once, trying to figure out why she was thinking this way, let alone feeling this way. Oh, my, could Ginny and the others have been right?

Forcing herself into some other frame of mind in hopes of forgetting the nagging voice in her brain that was telling her it was true and that she'd fallen victim to his charms, Hermione turned her thoughts to the young woman who had saved her from Merlin knows what. She had looked so familiar to her but Hermione couldn't place from where. Earlier in the evening, she had seen her talking with the girl that Draco was practically shagging on the dance floor, so maybe they were friends. But if that were the case, then why would the girl have rescued her? Unless this was all some sick plan of Draco's, to mislead her in order to gain her gratitude and trust.

There I go again. Not everything has to involve him, right? This is absurd, Hermione groaned, not everything is a conspiracy by the great Draco Malfoy and the world doesn't revolve around me. Maybe it was all just a coincidence, and I am overanalyzing it as usual. She just needed to get some sleep, and she'd re-examine it in the morning after she had rested. Yes, that's it, take a fresh look at it tomorrow and she would figure everything out then. With that, she got ready for bed and fell into a fitful slumber plagued by imagines and thoughts that made absolutely no sense.

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For what seemed like hours but was actually only about five minutes, Draco stood in front of the fireplace in the Leaky Cauldron trying to decide whether or not to follow her. He was formulating a rough sort of 'pros and cons' list of why to follow her, only to give in to his ego and return to the club. I am NOT going to grovel to a Mudblood. No amount of revenge is worth my pride, he told himself.

While walking down Diagon Alley, his mind was racing with questions about why Flint would have been so stupid as to try and hurt a member of the Ministry. Unless he really had intended to dispose of her completely once he was finished… but why even bother? Since leaving the magical world, Draco had lost touch with most of his former house and classmates, but he couldn't imagine anyone being so dense as to try to wage war on a member of the Golden Trio by sheer accessibility. Something else had to be brewing within the ranks of the former Death Eaters and Draco was going to find out what. To his delight, when he walked back into the club, Draco was met at the door by Blaise and so began his mission for information.

"You're back quick. No luck with bookworm?" Blaise chided him.

"Don't even try to go there, Zabini. I haven't heard from you in five years, and now you want to chat about my love life? Do you really believe that I, a Malfoy, could have changed that much?" Draco replied.

"Anything's possible in these times. You've been away too long to really understand the climate around here now. Things have went to hell in a hand basket, with no end in sight." Blaise began recounting the changes in the magical community since Draco had been gone.

"Look, old friend, I couldn't really care about the dating climate around here right now. What I really want to know about is what Flint and his cronies are up to with the bold attack on a Ministry member. Do you anything about that group?" Draco interrupted him.

"Well, after the defeat of the Dark Lord, they all went underground and no one heard anything out of them until recently. I guess the Ministry is no longer searching for them or something like that, but they're bad news."

"Do you know where any of them are staying?" Draco asked.

"No, why?" Blaise looked at him suspiciously.

"Well, he got in the way of something I'm working on, and I want to make sure that it doesn't happen again – if you catch my drift," Draco told him with his smirk planted smugly on his lips.

"What, the bookworm?" He laughed.

"That bookworm, as you call her, is my key to enacting my revenge on Potter and Weasley. I can't have her getting attacked on a daily basis while I'm trying to gain her trust."

"What kind of revenge?" Blaise was all ears now.

"The kind that will restore the Malfoy name to its former glory. But enough about that, who would know how to find Dumb and Dumber?" he joked.

"I don't know, Draco, but you may want to try Crabbe or Goyle. All their parents were pretty close until the final battle," Blaise offered, guessing.

"Right, well, I got to run and try to take care of this business now, but maybe I'll see you around again soon," Draco called to him as he headed for the door again.

Flashes of his days at Hogwarts began to run mercilessly through his mind as Draco recalled his former glory and the protection of his two goons. Those truly were the best days of his life but that was also taken away from him by Potter and the Ministry. Following his self-imposed exile from the wizarding community, he had fallen out of touch with the two men. He was going to try to find them through the Floo Network listing at the Leaky Cauldron.

After arriving back at the pub, Draco went to the fireplace and stuck his head in, calling out for "Vincent Crabbe". His whole body was tugged through the fireplace, and he landed in an old rundown shack that was utterly disgusting and unfamiliar to him. This obviously meant that that at least Crabbe had not done very well after the fall of Voldemort. Scanning the room quickly, he began to think that maybe it wasn't the best idea to just drop in on him.

"Who's there?" came a voice from another room.

"Draco Malfoy, where are you?" he called out.

"Dragon, is that really you?" Crabbe gasped as he walked into the living room. "I can't believe it's you. What are you doing here?"

"I came to visit an old friend. Where exactly am I?" Draco continued to look around for anything familiar.

"This is my home away from home. A sort of private place for me to go to when I don't want to be disturbed," he explained.

"Oh, my apologies. I'll go then." Draco replied and started towards the fireplace again but Crabbe stopped him before he made it.

"No, that's all right. I haven't seen or heard from you in so long. Please have a seat and tell me what's been going on with you. You look the same as you did in school, and I heard that you're very successful in your new business."

"Yes, thank you. How have you and your family been?" Draco returned the pleasantries.

"Dad went to Azkaban after the final battle, but Mom's ok, and I've found things to keep me busy." Crabbe answered vaguely, without looking directly at him.

"Are you involved in anything illegal? Maybe something with Marcus Flint?" Draco stepped closer to Crabbe as he started his interrogation.

"Ah… well... how could you possibly know that?" he stammered.

"Flint is becoming reckless and will have the Ministry breathing down your neck soon if you don't get away from him. If it's a question of money, I can find some place for you in my company." Draco warned.

"What do you mean? Why would you think that this has anything to do with money?"

"Everything has to do with money in some way, shape, or form, but Marcus has decided to target Ministry personnel for attacks and not very subtly, if you ask me," Draco divulged.

"Who?" he asked nervously.

"Hermione Granger that I know of, but probably others, too."

"Why would you know about an attack on that Mudblood know-it-all?" Crabbe asked suspiciously.

"Because she has a pivotal role in my revenge on Potty and the Weasel. You have to get away from him, do you understand? I will help you in any way I can, but only if you cut all ties with him now." Draco offered.

"It's not that simple, but I'll think about it." Crabbe told him.

"How can I find him? Don't tell me that you don't know, because I know you do."

"Why?"

"Because I need him to back off Granger, or I'll never get what I need from her."

"Like what?"

"That's my concern. Now where can I find him?"

"Can't tell you that, but I'll let him know you're looking for him and then he'll find you."

"Fine, but make sure he gets the message tonight. Do we have a deal?" Draco confirmed.

"Yeah, now you'd better go. It was good to see you again. Don't be a stranger." Crabbe bid him goodbye and Draco Flooed back to the Leaky Cauldron. He didn't like the sound of the arrangement, but it was far too important to get Flint to back off for him to argue. As soon as he called for his driver and was safely on the way back to his hotel, Draco allowed his thoughts to return to his plans and devised a strategy to get Hermione to contact him again. Now to let the fun begin and get the Mudblood to squirm.

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The next morning when Hermione walked into her office, she had two visitors waiting for her. Surprises were not her best friend after the previous night's events, and she jumped back in shock involuntarily. Not having known about the attack, the two girls looked at her skeptically wondering why she was so jumpy.

"What's wrong with you, Mione?" Whitney asked first.

"Nothing, you just scared me, that's all. I wasn't expecting visitors, especially since I left you all only about twelve hours ago. So, why are you here, waiting for me no less?" she replied half-heartedly.

"Well, we saw Malfoy leave shortly after you did and wanted to see if you had any ideas where he might have went. His play thing looked less than thrilled at that development," Ginny teased.

"Speaking of Malfoy and girls, did either of you get a good look at the short, dark-haired girl that was at his table? She looked familiar to me, but I can't place from where. Did she seem familiar to either of you by chance?" Hermione posed the question as a little bit of misdirection.

"Well, look at the properly timed change of subject. What's really going on?" Whitney questioned.

"Yeah, you leave, then Malfoy disappears, and you're avoiding even acknowledging the circumstances. Did he follow you and you fell passionately into his arms for the start of a lustful and forbidden love affair?" Ginny rattled off dreamily.

"You should really stop reading those Harlan Quinn romance novels, you know that?" Whitney interrupted her happy trip to la-la land. "So, tell us straight. Did you see Malfoy after you left us last night?"

"What is this, the Spanish Inquistion? I was under the impression that you two were my friends." Hermione was dancing around the questions, trying to avoid telling them about the attack by Flint plus one. "But to set your minds at ease, no, I didn't go home with Draco or do anything with him, ok?"

"Spanish Inquisition?" asked a confused Ginny.

"Draco?" repeated Whitney. Oops, thought Hermione, that was an unfortunate slip.

"I said Malfoy." Hermione tried to cover it up but failed.

"No, you said Draco. Didn't she Ginny?"

"Yep. So it's Draco now, huh?" Ginny raised an eyebrow.

"You must be hearing things." Good one Hermione, they're really going to buy that one.

"Both of us?" Whitney shot back.

"All right, maybe I said it by mistake, but I am telling the truth. Nothing has happened between that arrogant, self-centered ferret and me. Got it?" she fumed.

"Fine. I think we've out stayed our welcome, Ginny. Let's go meet the guys." Whitney snapped while walking out of the office. Ginny turned to follow when Hermione grabbed her arm.

"I didn't mean it that way. Please tell Whitney, and I'll try to explain everything later," she pleaded.

"You're not yourself right now, Hermione. Work it out and then come talk to us," Ginny told her before leaving to catch up with her sister-in-law.

Why didn't I just tell them, she scolded herself. Because they would have pressured her to report the incident and then she would have had to explain about Malfoy and it would have ruined everything. But was this worth losing the trust and faith of her friends? Was it worth losing herself?

Her savior from last night was the key, she decided. If Malfoy was incapable of answering her questions, then she would find someone who could. Then she would know if she could really trust him or not. Damn him for doing this to me and damn Mr. Weasley for being so set on Malfoy's guilt. With that last thought, she set off for Hogwarts to talk to Professor Dumbledore. Maybe he would have some answers for her.

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Under a mountain of research, notes and memos, Draco had just spent the last two hours trying to figure out what Jacques was helping the Priory to cover up. He had discovered that someone has made Voldemort's exploits an obsession of sorts with all kinds of investigative reports and interviews from the Ministry hidden in various files. One interview in particular caught his eye.

Six months after the final battle and Voldemort's downfall, the son of one of Voldemort's most loyal servants was brought in to determine the location of his father. Having graduated from Hogwarts the year before, this man had no verifiable employment, which left Ministry investigators believing that he was deeply rooted in the Death Eater organization and maybe even one himself. Arthur Weasley handled the interrogation personally.

"The date is February 18, 2001 at 7:34 p.m. I am Arthur Weasley, Minister of Magic, interviewing Marcus Flint. Mr. Flint are you participating in this interview of your own free will?"

"No."

"Are you participating under hostile circumstances?"

"Yes."

"Do you know why you're here?"

"Yes."

"Do you know the whereabouts of your father?"

"No."

"Do you have the Dark Mark?"

"No."

"Are you a loyal follower of the deceased Tom Riddle, a.k.a. Lord Voldemort?"

Silence.

"Do you understand the question that was asked of you?"

"Yes."

"And your answer?"

Silence again.

"By your silence, we will take that as a 'yes'. Did you help Lord Voldemort in his efforts to take over the magical community?"

Silence yet again.

"Do you intend to answer any of our questions that relate to Lord Voldemort, the Death Eaters, or your parents?"

"No."

"Do you realize, young man, that failure to cooperate will result in your immediate arrest and incarceration in Azkaban?"

"Fine. What would you like to know? I don't know where my father is, nor do I care," he finally relented.

"What do you know about Lord Voldemort's plans?"

"He was supposed to switch bodies with Harry Potter and then kill him while Potter was in the Dark Lord's weakened body. Then he planned to rule the wizarding community under the guise that he was still the Boy Who Lived. Once he rose through the ranks to ultimate power, then he would reveal his true self."

"Anything else?" Arthur pressed.

"Yeah, he failed."

"Do you know why he failed?"

"He underestimated his opponent. And Potter's followers as well."

The interview went on and on for about thirty more pages, but nothing else useful was in it. Pieces of the puzzle were coming together for him, but he didn't like who the puzzle makers were. It appeared to Draco that Flint was at the club tonight for a reason other than Hermione or any other woman for that matter. Now he was looking forward to his talk with Marcus even more, because he knew that Marcus held a key to what was happening with the Priory, even though he might just be a pawn in the game.

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It was an incredible fall day on the grounds of Hogwarts as Hermione arrived to talk to Dumbledore. Students were everywhere, having fun and talking with friends; it reminded her of the good old days when everything was so much simpler and fit into its proper place. More than anything, she just wanted to get away from Malfoy and all of his hyperactive mood swings. She could handle him being cruel or kind, but the constant back-and-forth was wearing her thin. Hermione had been so lost in her thoughts that she didn't even realize that she was standing idly in front of the gargoyle leading to the Headmaster's office.

"Well, Miss Granger, I was beginning to wonder if you'd forgotten how to get here," Professor Dumbledore greeted her.

"Sorry, Professor, but I was just reminiscing about my days here. I wish I could visit more often, or maybe even come back for good. It seems that my parents were right; those were the best times of my life," she told him solemnly.

"Don't worry, you still have a lifetime ahead of you. What is it that possessed you to call upon me?"

"You see, sir, some recent events have brought me here to pick your brain for some answers or advice. Last night I had a run in with a former student, Marcus Flint, and I was wondering what you knew of his dealings since he'd graduated?" she inquired.

"Are you sure you wouldn't be more interested in Mr. Malfoy?" Dumbledore questioned.

"Why is everyone asking me that? Malfoy has nothing to do with this!" she exclaimed.

"Ah, but that's where you and he are both mistaken. Circumstances have put you both on the same path and you will need each other more than you can imagine before the end. Not everything or everyone is what they appear to be. Take your anonymous savior, for example. You believe that she's connected to Mr. Malfoy, but that is not the whole truth. She has loyalties to another, and could end up providing you with some most valuable information – if you can find her and persuade her to trust in you," he implored her.

"And how would I go about doing that?" she demanded.

"Mr. Malfoy will be the key to that. Beware, however, as he is on a mission of his own. Unknowingly, you are both looking for the same person and same information, but for different reasons. Please understand, Miss Granger, that I cannot give you any more specific information, as there is a prophecy in place and a road that must be traveled to fulfill the prophecy. This is the journey that you are destined to take," he informed her regrettably.

"Why can't you tell me more? You told Harry his," she whined absentmindedly.

"You must learn and grow from the journey itself, or you will fight its progress. All good things come in their own time and way. It is not our place to question the how, who, or why. Just remember that Mr. Malfoy is fighting demons of his own and the choice to change must be his, but don't give up on him. He is the key to disarming the new threat to magic and mankind alike." the Headmaster warned.

"So, I have to go to him to find my mystery girl, and take a journey with him to help him change?" she repeated in layman's terms.

"Not necessarily. You've already noted a change in him, but he's on shaky ground and has a tendency to revert back to his old self, does he not?"

"Yes, and its driving me crazy," she confessed.

"But your unwillingness to take him at face value is partially to blame, as well. Give him time and room, and the real Draco will find his way home," he reassured her. "'Trust is as trust does'. You give him yours without fear and it will be returned in kind."

"Well, thank you sir, for your advice. I will take it under advisement. Good day," she said as she turned to leave, but was stopped by him with one last piece of advice.

"Oh, and Miss Granger, others will not be so eager to accept Mr. Malfoy as anything other than what they believe him to be, so use great caution when announcing your plans, thoughts, and observations. Before this is over, you may well have to choose between him and your closest friends."

His last statement raised many questions in Hermione's mind. She thought back to her first dinner with Malfoy and wondered if she should tell anything of the evening to Arthur – or anybody else for that matter. But she was especially bothered by the voice in her head that warned her that she would end up choosing Malfoy over Harry and the others before long. No, she chastised the voice, I would never betray those who have always stood by me.

But haven't you already? Remember the fight with Whitney and Ginny? Whose side were you on then?

Oh, just shut up and get out, you evil little voice... Get out of my head and leave me in peace... Please, for the love of Merlin and all that I know to be right in the world...

Author's Notes: thanks for thereviews regina, Inkedwallpaper and Blood-Red and a special thanks to my new beta...Kat...you're awesome...she's going through the first few chapters so any corrections will be made soon...if anyone has any specific questions on the new characters, please include them in the review and I will answer in the next update...but you will get to know them all more along with their intentions as the story progresses...once again, I beg anyone reading this to post a review as they are all very appreciated and helpful......also a special thanks to Dracolov for the contest and sorry for the confusion on the anonymous review thing.....