Chapter Sixteen: The Beginning of the End


Ah! Heylowz once again. Thanks so much for reviewing! Damn school...took me a whole week to write this and it was for some reason particularly difficult it write...damned English class is sucking the fun out of writing. Blasted thing...Hope you all enjoy it though!

You can try to resist
Try to hide from my kiss
But you know
But you know that you can't fight the moonlight
Deep in the dark
You'll surrender your heart
But you know
But you know that you can't fight the moonlight
No, you can't fight it
It's gonna get to your heart

The drops of rain they fall all over
This awkward silence makes me crazy
The glow inside burns light upon her
I'll try to kiss you if you let me
(This can't be the end)

The dark, damp passageway lacked well-needed warmth and a good Scourgify. Thick cobwebs hid in unsuspected corners and some even stretched out across just far enough so that one who was unaware of their surroundings would walk right into it. Crunching beneath the thick soled boots of a certain pale skinned boy were sometimes bits of pebbles and dirt, and sometimes the discarded bones of vermin that no longer lurked about the unsustainable environment. The narrow corridor created a loud, chilling echo that carried on for miles down the tunnel.

A faint light glowed from just a few feet away from what appeared to be the side of the passage. Draco quickened his pace as he headed towards the light. From afar, he heard muffled sounds resounding from the opposite side. As Draco neared the light, he found it to be a low two inch gap where a small flagstone had been carefully pulled out from. His curious nature over-ruled yet again and he crouched down low to peer through the opening. A frown crossed his face as he strained to see the occupants of the room. As a loud groan emitted from beneath the covers upon the canopied bed, his corrupted innocence became even more so. What met his haunting gray eyes made his pure blood run colder than it already was. It caused his brain to cease functioning, and tremors to encase his every part. His throat seemed to tighten painfully as he tried desperately to breathe.

No, NO, NO!

I'M TOO YOUNG TO D- MERLIN JUST KILL ME NOW!

Draco cursed loudly as his leg buckled uselessly below him causing him to crack his head sorely against the cold stone floor.

A shriek erupted from within the room.

"I heard something?! Who's there!?"

Shit.

Hearing footsteps nearing his peephole, Draco fumbled back onto his feet and began to run blindly ahead, dropping his burnt out candle. Finally, as breathing became gradually impossible, he slowed down to a stop. Darkness shrouded his vision, all around he saw darkness; black.

Nice work Dumbass

You again…

How was he going to get out of here? No light, no sight, no clue! A slow rising panic swelled within him but he unwillingly kept his cool, determined not to break out screaming. A stream of swears rushed from his not-so virgin lips as he groped blindly around him and smashed his hand painfully against the solid stone wall. Draco bit his lip hard to keep from screaming aloud in agony. With his uninjured hand, he cradled the wounded one, gripping it so tightly the numbness overtook the pain. When he released his hand, the pain had died down considerably, but a dull pulsing pain still ached through it. The Slytherin scorned himself for his reckless actions and continued more leisurely along the passage with his unharmed hand sweeping across the inner wall. Gingerly, he wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead, still going forward, he silently hoped he'd find a way out soon. Just then, lady luck seemed to have heard his plea. His hand ran over an odd ridge against the side. Pressing his ear against it, he listened hard for any sounds of life.

Nothing.

Relief washed over him as he slowly and cautiously began to push the wall forward. Surprisingly, it made a bare minimum of noise. Feeling grateful, he slipped through the crack he'd opened for himself and stepped down.

Someone was standing just inches away.

.:.

Trembling from head to toe, the princess tripped over her nightgown as she began to back away from the dark figure. She landed hard upon her pride and it would have hurt but she was far too terrified to notice the pain.

"Who-who are you?" she stammered, fearfully gaping at the advancing intruder.

"I could ask you the same thing" replied the hooded man.

Hermione's heart seemed to calm at the sound of the familiar voice and she slowly stood back up. It was Hadrian. She knew it.

So that's how he's been getting into my room…

A shiver ran through her body, he had a secret passageway into her room. The thought unnerved her that someone could sneak into her room at any time and….and…

"H-Hadrian?" she asked uncertainly, squinting at him through the dim light of the candle that sat atop her bed stand.

The man gave her a short, sardonic laugh.

"Please, Granger. Don't insult me." he drawled while slipping off his hood.

A blinding platinum met her eyes.

"Malfoy!" she hissed. "What the bloody hell are you doing here?"

Draco smirked at her. "You make it sound like I did this on purpose." Hermione shot him a glare. She hated when he acted so superior (which happened to be 90 percent of the time). " Believe me, Granger, I have better things to do with my time than steal into your bed chamber."

The princess huffed haughtily and crossed her arms. "Pray tell than, Ferret. What are you doing here? At this time of the night."

The Slytherin strutted across her room examining her jewelry boxes. "Hey, this stuff is pretty valuable" he mused, fingering an emerald ring.

Hermione spun around and slammed the lid down on his fingers.

"Shit!" he cursed delicately nursing his throbbing fingers.

"Don't-touch-my-stuff, Malfoy." She glared angrily at him and stepped away. "Tell me why you're here." She paused. "NOW!"

Draco eyed her, irritated. "Possessive bitch" he muttered.

"What was that, Ferret? A little louder, I didn't quite catch that." Quickly, he turned away.

"Nothing. Nothing at all." It was Hermione's turn to smirk.

"Answer my question" she said venomously.

"I am here, Granger, because my parents decided one night that they wanted a stunningly handsome offspring and so as the process goes, the male st-" Hermione cut him off immediately.

"Malfoy! You know what I mean, you bloody twit!" she gritted out, smacking him over the head.

"Fine, fine, no need to get violent you know." he said raising his arms in surrender. "Violence is not the way."

At this, Hermione began to laugh. "You-you- THIS coming from a deatheater?!" she choked out, tightly holding her stomach.

Draco looked away from her, his expression became eerily solemn. "I'm not a deatheater."

She ceased her laughing, but turned to him with a look of disbelief on her face. "Not yet you aren't."

Silently, he walked over to the terrace doors. "Why do you presume such a thing now."

"Hm, this could take a while you know, Malfoy. Are you sure you want to know?" she asked, still not taking him seriously.

"Go on, Granger. Tell me," he said stiffly.

"Let's start with the obvious, Number One, You're father is V-Voldemort's-" Draco winced at the sound of his name but she took no notice. "-right hand man. Two, you're constantly talking about how Muggleborns should be killed. Three, you're forevermore calling me the M-word. Four, you're a Slytherin- not to be stereotyping because there is a chance not all Slytherins are deatheaters but you're obviously one. Five, Malfoy is a notorious deatheater family name; everyone knows all Malfoys were and are deatheaters despite how hard your father works to try and cover that up." She paused and thought for a moment. "Need I go on?"

Draco's expression remained indifferent. "You know, Granger. You have no proof to enforce any of your allegations."

"Malfoy, you are proof enough" she countered.

He turned his back to the moonless night and looked the cynical princess straight in the eye. She was taken back by his strange actions. His liquid silver eyes seemed to bore into her own as if trying to tell her something. He didn't seem angry, but he didn't seem too pleased either. Hermione knew very well that she was treading on dangerous grounds.

"Would you believe me," he said still locking his eyes with hers. "if I told you I didn't want to be a deatheater?"

Hermione hesitated a moment before replying, but her answer was firm. "No. No, Malfoy, I wouldn't."

Draco nodded and turned away from her once again. "Then we have nothing more to discuss, Granger."

He wasn't about to tell her how the idea of an army of purebloods following the orders of a halfblood was completely absurd in his mind. Or how, it was foolish for him, Draco Valerian Malfoy to follow anyone- especially a lunatic halfblood. Draco Malfoy made his own rules. No one would order him around. No one. His father may have controlled his actions, but he could not control Draco's mind and beliefs. He knew he had power, charisma, charm, influence, looks. He had everything, and best of all, he knew how to use it to his full advantage. He knew how to manipulate people. He always got what he wanted. Always.

Hermione was unnerved by his emotion or rather, lack thereof towards the subject and decided not to pursue it any longer. There would be a time to find out more about him, but perhaps now wasn't it.

"You still haven't told me what you're doing in my room" she stated, subtly changing the subject.

There was no doubt in his mind as to whether he would tell her about his notion of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.

"I found a secret passageway from my room. I just happened to stumble onto your room. Don't flatter yourself, Granger. I wasn't looking for you."

Hermione gasped, she was too excited at the idea of a secret passageway to be agitated by the Slytherin.

"Wow!" she squealed. "That is so neat! How'd you find it?!"

Draco frowned, he was reluctant to answer. "Through my uh, wardrobe."

She gave him a funny look. "That's like…from that Narnia series…or something like that. What was it called? The…Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe!"

He suddenly acquired a great interest in his charcoal black boots.

"But…why would you look into the back of your wardrobe in first place…unless…" she furrowed her brows.

Please don't let her come to a conclusion PLEASE!

Her eyes widened and she stared at him with an amused expression. "You've read The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe!" She exclaimed, pointing a finger at him accusingly.

"I did not!" he retorted indignantly.

"You are such a liar!" she chuckled.

"I am not! You- what are you doing?" he questioned as she turned to her vanity drawers.

Hermione stood up and revealed two honey sweets from the drawer and held them up to his face triumphantly.

"Admit you read a muggle book and you get one" she grinned, popping one into her mouth.

Draco glared at her half-heartedly. "That's bribery."

"I'd prefer to call it an exchange." she reasoned. "Now, did Lil Ferret read a muggle book?"

"How degrading!" he exclaimed.

"I repeat. Did Lil Ferret read a muggle book?" she cooed, waving the sweet under his nose.

Draco fumed and snatched the candy from her hand. "Fine, yes, I did. But to be fair, it was about Magic."

Hermione cheered victoriously as he crammed the treat into his mouth hastily. "I knew it!"

"Granger, shut up." He said with a bare amount of annoyance.

She ignored him and headed towards the opened mirror. "Where's this lead to?" she asked sticking her head into the tunnel.

"How should I know? You live here" he said shrugging. She shot him a look. "Around the castle." he replied quickly.

"This is so exciting! I bet you prisoners used this passage to escape from execution!" she exclaimed happily.

"Yea, yea. Granger? Do you mind not tell uh…anyone that I read that book?" Draco asked trying to sound unconcerned.

Hermione ignored him deliberately and began walking down the tunnel.

"Granger! Get back here!" he cried. When she didn't reply, he quickly snatched her candle and ran after her.

.:.

Nice going, you forgot your candle. You're SUPPOSED to be smart!

Will you shut up? You sound like Malfoy.

As she made her way down the hall, she realized how stupid she'd been in her act of rashness. No source of light! And it was oddly drafty in there. A blanket of icy blackness enveloped her. It was impossible to see. Fearfully, she stuck out her hands and ran them along the sides of the stone walls to try and guide her way out to the nearest exit. Then suddenly, a strange, soft, almost cotton-like feeling reached her hand. It was strangely sticky. Candy Floss? She smiled at the silly thought. Just as she was taking her hand away. She felt a light, ticklish feeling crawl up her arm. What in the world? Having no idea as to what it could have been, she ran her hand up her arm and closed it upon the an odd lump on her arm. It began to move about in her hand. Hermione began to scream, horrified as she realized it was some sort of spider. Throwing the spider onto the ground, she turned whipped around and began to run she saw a faint glowing light ahead; she never made it very far as she slammed forcefully into a solid figure.

"Whoa, Granger. Slow down. What the hell happened to you?"

Hermione looked up at the illuminated face of Draco Malfoy. She gripped his arms tightly.

"Disgusting-thing-spider-touched me!" she sputtered, releasing him and running her hands roughly up and down her arms.

Draco chuckled amusedly. "Granger's scared of iddy biddy spiders!"

"It was a huge spider for your bloody information!" she spat back, still feeling the spider crawling about on her.

"Mudbloods get scared so easily" he said a little more darkly.

With one swift motion, she kicked him hard in the shin and turned around, striding ahead of him

And yet again, you deserved that.

Cursing under his breath and rubbed his shin tenderly before jogging up behind her.

"You cannot get anywhere without the light" he said pointedly.

"I know, that's what you're here for. You're stupid, shiny head can light the way." Hermione replied, slowing her pace the slightest bit.

Rolling his eyes, Draco followed her. "So where we going?" he asked still sucking on his sweet.

"How would I know? You found this place first" she said with a bit of lingering irritation.

"A bare 10 minutes ago, Granger, and I came from the other end" he countered. "Run your hand against the wall otherwise you won't find another exit."

"No bloody way! Last time I did that a spider crawled onto me. YOU do it!"

Draco sighed, "If you put your hand lower, you won't run into anything. Spiders don't usually build webs along the wall, Granger. You're supposed to be smart."

Hermione did the slightest double take at his words. Merlin, he was really influencing her.

She gritted her teeth against her sweet. "Shut up, Malfoy."

"Is that the best you can come up with?" he said sounding slightly disappointed.

"Just shut up! I- let go of me"! she cried as he suddenly grabbed her arm.

"I found a door, Smart ass" said Draco, holding the light up against the wall.

The candle light shone to reveal a similar ridge along the stones. Carefully, Draco pressed his ear against it.

"Ferret, what are you-" he glared at her and slapped a hand across her mouth.

Upon hearing no sounds of life, he carefully pushed against the stones that soon revealed a crack and the two slipped through.

"Don't question me, Granger" he said irritably.

She ignored him yet again, and glanced around the room. "The kitchen" she concluded.

"Nice work Captain Obvious! Now move, I'm starving" said Draco ambling over to the nearest dish.

Hermione smiled at his comment, it reminded her of Ron. Walking over to the nearest counter, she found a bowl that contained a creamy white substance. Curiously, she stuck her finger in and licked it.

"Mmm… icing" she said helping herself to another dollop.

"What kind of bloody kitchen is this? No refrigerator to raid!" he cried exasperatedly.

Chortling, she strolled over to him. "Of course there's no fridge you dimwit. They don't have any machinery. Wait a second, a refrigerator's a muggle appliance! How do you know what it is?!" she questioned, grinning at the fact that she'd just caught him.

Draco merely shrugged. "Actually, wizards do have refrigerators, except they run on magic; much more resourceful."

Darn, almost had him…

"Share the goods, Granger" he said dipping his own finger into her bowl.

She quickly slapped his hand away. "Get your own icing!"

Ha I was right, she IS possessive.

"Come on!" he whined, reaching for another taste.

"No wa-" a mischievous gleam sparked in her eyes suddenly. " Entertain me, Malfoy. Then I'll consider sharing."

Draco frowned at her. "How? I refuse to dance or sing."

Taking another glob of the icing, she thought for a moment. "Let's play Guess Who. Except I'll do all the guessing and you do all the acting" she said finally.

"Granger, this is demoralizing you know" he said flatly.

She grinned widely at him. "I know. Now start or you don't get any icing."

Draco pouted a moment then dropped to his knees a in begging stance. "Please, Potter" he squealed in a high-pitched voice. "Let me lick your completely out of fashion 1919 model trainers clean! Please! Potter! I love you! Let me shag you senseless like I did the other night! I'm a slave for you!"

Hermione frowned at him, "Who's that supposed to be? Cho doesn't act like that…and did you just quote Britney Spears?"

Draco smirked and stood back up. "Creevy or Weasley, take your pick, and yes, I did, that particular muggle is an exception…." He paused and a strange look came over his face. "I wouldn't mind shagging her senseless now…"

"Malfoy!" she cried.

"What?" he asked innocently.

Hermione gave him a disgusted look and flung a blob of icing at his face.

"Thank you, Granger." He said wiping a off a fingerful and eating it.

"Harry is not gay!" she cried in indignation.

"Oh yea?" he said, dunking a finger into her bowl as she was off her guard. "Then do tell, Granger. What were him and Weasley doing snogging in the dungeons on the second day of school?"

She stared at him unseeingly as he swiped another taste. "They did not!"

"How would you know?" he asked licking his finger. "You weren't there."

Hermione opened her mouth to retaliate but nothing came out.

Maybe they were…they DO spend an awful lot of time together…alone…

WHAT? They do not! Malfoy is SUCH a liar!

Do too, like when you go ff to the library ,remember that weird look they give each other and then go rushing off towards the dungeons?

SHUT UP! You're just making this up!

I am not.

But he has a girlfriend!

It might be a cover up you know.

You're as bad as Malfoy for Merlin's sake!

Malfoy, Malfoy, Malfoy, is that all you ever talk about?

What are you talking about? I've only mentioned him ONCE!

I keep count you know. And I'm not just talking about this time.

SHUT UP!

No.

HARRY IS NOT GAY AND I DO NOT KEEP MENTIONING FERRET!

Hey, if you keep telling yourself that it may just come true!

ARGH!

"Granger, are you okay?" Draco questioned, clearing his throat loudly as she hadn't replied for almost 3 minutes now.

"HARRY IS NOT GAY!" she yelled suddenly.

"You're awfully presumptuous."

Hermione glared at him and reached for another taste of the icing.

"My turn!" He said suddenly and swiped the bowl from her hands.

"That is SO not fair! I had it first!" she protested.

Draco promptly ignored her and scooped up his treasure. "Go on. I'm waiting."

And yet again, that evil glint sparked within her. Draco frowned at that. It couldn't be good.

She began to flutter her eyelashes in an utterly ridiculous fashion. "Oh Drakie-Poo!" she squealed in an annoying voice.

He groaned loudly.

Pansy.

"Come here Drakie-Poo, I missed you for a whole 2.5 minutes! Where did you go?! You aren't trying to hide from me are you, Drakie-Poo? Come here so I can flaunt my obviously magically enhanced breasts and my it's-so-tight-that-I-might-as-well-be-wearing-nothing shirt in front of your face!"

"Granger, stop!" he surrendered the icing bowl to her. "At least mine was exaggerated!"

Hermione snorted at him and held to bowl out towards him. "Here, I can't and won't finish it all. And I think you've endured enough torture….Drakie-Poo."

"Quit trying to make me lose my appetite, Granger" he scolded, digging into the icing.

"I am not!...Drakie-Poo."

Draco glared at her and flung icing at her.

"Hey!" she cried loudly as the icing hit her. "I just had a bath!"

"Strawberries?" he asked suddenly.

"Where?"

"You."

"What?"

"You-used-strawberry-scented-soap-Granger" said Draco speaking ever so slowly, as if she were a child; or Pansy.

"Oh, yea. How'd you know?" she asked trying to wipe off the icing.

"I can smell it" he said simply.

"Ah, and here I thought you were some kind genius. Silly me." Draco grinned slyly at her.

"You are so mature."

"I know I am."

Hermione rolled her eyes and finished wiping herself off.

"Nice going. Now I'm sticky" she huffed.

"Hey, you started it" he countered, sucking his finger.

Cocking her head at him, she jabbed him playfully in the chest. "You, made me."

"Of course I did, Granger. I took your hand,-" he suddenly grabbed her wrist and sunk her hand into the half-eaten bowl of icing. "and flicked icing at myself."

"HEY!" she cried, and hurled the sweet mixture at him.

"Like that."

"That-" she said, still flinging the icing at him, "was not-"

"Quit it!"

"-nice!"

Draco glared at her with his lower lip stuck out. Hermione giggled at the icing covered Slytherin.

Not exactly the deatheater image…

Again, he yanked the bowl from her hand and cornered her.

"You're going down, Granger."

The princess squealed and retreated across the room on the other side of the table. Draco quickly trapped her. She wouldn't be able to escape.

"You think you can get away?" he teased, not giving her a way out.

"I will escape the big, bad, ugly Malfoy!" she joshed, giggling madly. Then when she thought he was off guard, she made a break for the left side, but he was too quick for her and so she returned to the center.

"I resent that! Big yes, bad…in some ways; but ugly?NEVER!" With incredible speed, he dove across the table and grabbed her by the shoulders. But with all the force he put into thrusting himself across the table, he propelled himself a bit too far and ended up sending them both tumbling to the ground.

"Ugh, big you are; big and FAT!" Hermione laughed breathlessly as he lay atop her.

The two laughed endlessly, unaware of the compromising position they were in.

"Malfoy, you're really sticky" she said finally as she caught her breath.

Grinning impishly, he brought his sticky hands up to her face and began to pinch her flushed cheeks.

"Now you are too."

Hermione groaned, "That is so…MALFOY of you!"

He looked down at her and tilted his head "You say that as if it were a bad thing now."

"Oh, it's the worst" she said smiling widely.

Draco's heart seemed to sigh at her smile; she could only be described of as one thing.

Beautiful

Despite the face that was stick and covered in icing, her golden honey eyes seemed to sparkle relentlessly. Her laughter seemed so free and innocent. And the best thing was, she was the way she was now, because of him.

"At least I don't have icing on me," he said poking her cheek.

She quickly wiped off her cheek only to find that there was nothing there. "I do not!"

"You do too, just not on your cheek." Draco replied with a tiny smile.

"Then why'd you poke my cheek?!"

"Because I felt like it" he said, sticking his tongue out again.

"Then tell me where it is?!" she exclaimed.

"Right…there." Draco gently wiped the spot of icing off her nose with his thumb and licked it.

"That is so unhygienic." Hermione chided, giggling once more.

"Oh yea?" he questioned, leaning his head closer to hers.

"Yea!" she shot back smiling.

The smile slowly slipped off her lips as she found Draco's lips less than an inch away from her own. Her heart beat began to pound like mad within her chest as she looked straight into his enchanting silver orbs. Ever so slowly, her own closed and she tilted her chin up to meet his lips.

"Just give me a minute, I have to put away the icing first."

"Fine, but hurry. I still have to go and wipe the table down."

Draco jerked up suddenly and leapt to his feet.

"Get up, Granger! We have to go-NOW!"

Hermione's mind spun around in circles as she shot up after Draco. He quickly seized her hand and shoved her back through the passageway, following just seconds before the kitchen door opened and swung the trap door shut.

The two ran down the tunnel; their hearts beating no where near as fast as it had been when their lips had almost met. As they ran, Draco could distinctly hear the words, "What on earth happened to the icing?!"

"We're almost there! Just a bit further. See the light? I forgot to close it after you ditched me." Draco panted.

"Light! Oh shi- ah! The candle! We left the candle inside the kitchen!" Hermione cried stopping suddenly. Draco, unaware that she was going to stop so abruptly, crashed into her.

"Shit, Granger! Did you have to do that?" he exclaimed crossly.

"The candle!" she repeated.

"Who cares! They won't know it was us."

"If I get caught I'm bringing you down with me." Hermione said stubbornly as she began to walk towards the light.

"You are too kind."

"I know."

Luckily, as she entered her room, it seemed that no one had discovered her disappearance.

"Phew," she sighed in relief as Draco clambered out behind her.

"I have to go take a bath now. Thanks so much, Granger." he said sarcastically.

"You're not the only one!"

She slowly turned to him and they stood in an awkward silence for moments passing. Neither one knew what to do or say seeing as they'd been mere seconds away from kissing. Two mortal enemies, a Gryffindor and a Slytherin. a Pureblood and a Mudblood. It was like they had almost broken the most essential rule in the unwritten code of Purebloods and Mudbloods. What could they do?

"So…"

"So…."

Their poor attempt at breaking the silence failed dismally.

"Good night then, Granger" said Draco finally.

"Good night, Malfoy" she replied.

As Draco headed towards the passageway again, Hermione stopped him.

"Wait-" she stepped towards him and closed the distance between them.

Draco's eyes widened in surprise. He was still dazed from their first near encounter.

"Yea?" he said quietly, inhaling her sweet, sugary, strawberry scent.

Hermione leaned towards him then suddenly stopped. Instead, she reached over and fingered a smear of red on his collar.

"Is that lip colour?" she asked softly.

His eyes traveled down to where her fingers were, and sure enough, there were the remnants of his earlier snogging session with Thaleia.

"Er-yea" he said not knowing exactly how to answer her.

A hardened look pasted itself upon her face and she turned away from him.

"Goodbye" she said stiffly.

Draco bit his lip uncomfortably, and stepped into the passageway, certain she wasn't about to stop him. As he closed the panel behind him, he could have sworn he heard the faint sound of sniffling.

A/N

Ah! 7 pages! What'd you think?! REVIEW! Eager to hear feedback on this particular chapter!

Don't kill me, this is DHR remember?

Songs by: LeAnn Rimes- Can't fight the Moonlight and Blink182-Down (Don't we all just LOVE their newest cd? lol STOCKHOLM SYNDROME RULES!)