Editors Note - Sorry for the delay but I promise more chapters are coming very soon.

Chapter 15

Not Like Himself

After I stood there looking stupid for a few minutes I turned and ran into Harry who was standing right behind me.

"Oh, hi Harry. I didn't see you… I thought you were headed to the common room with Ron?"

"I was. I wanted to come back and wait for you." He smiles widely. Oh great I think to myself. That's all I need is for my other best friend to fall for me. I give him an unenthusiastic half smile.

"That was nice of you, Harry." He holds out his arm, I hesistate for a moment then take it anyways. He'll find out about Ron and I soon enough. We head down the hall. I ask about his holiday but he avoids my questions and keeps his eyes forward. I just figure he didn't have a great Christmas what with the detentions and all… I tell him about some of the nicer presents I receive but I get the feeling he's not really listening. His pace quickens some and we turn a corner quickly.

"Harry…" I give him a strange look. "Uhh… you missed the stairs. I thought we were going to meet Ron in the common room…" He flashes me another wide smile.

"I want to show you something first. It's a surprise." We round another corner, his grip is firm on my arm and I feel as though I'm being dragged around rather than escorted. I start to feel alittle uncomfortable.

"Harry… shouldn't we tell Ron where we're going first? I'm sure he's going to wonder when we don't show up right away and…"

"No. We can't tell him. That would spoil the surprise." We scurry down a flight of stairs and I realize that I am completely lost. We seemed to have gone under the castle and the tunnel walls are dark and wet. The floor is slippery and I start to get very worried.

"Harry, I don't think we should be down here… is this one of the secret passageways on your map?" He shrugs and keeps going. "I don't like this… small spaces make me nervous." He turns suddenly, a hurt look crossing his face.

"I just wanted to give you something. A very special Christmas present." He looks at me pleadingly. I laugh edgily.

"And you had to take me all the way down here to give it to me?" I allow the sarcasm to cover my shaking voice. He smiles again and I swear I see a glint of something in his eye… something I've never seen, in all the years I've known him. He grabs my hand and continues to pull me down the hall.

"Just a bit further now…" He says, more to himself than to me. We come to a small wooden door and he whispers something under his breath that I can't quite make out. The door opens slowly and he pulls me inside. The room is dark but there seems to be a strange glow coming from the center of it. I can see enough to notice there is no furniture. There is only a small round table in the middle of the room. On the table there is a beautiful snow globe. I move closer to examine it. It seems that this is where the glow is coming from. I hear the door shut behind me and then a soft click but I can't take my eyes off the mystifying orb. I reach for it slowly… As both my hands close on the base the room starts to blur and I feel a strange pulling sensation behind my navel. I realize too late that this item is a portkey and as the world blurs I have no clue as to where I'll end up.

I reappear in a small room with no windows and only a table and chair for furniture. I realize I am still clutching the snow globe tightly and set it gentley on the table. My eyes slowly scan the room. There is a small door on one side. Why would Harry want to bring me here? I wonder to myself. It's not in the least bit romantic. A large "crack" sound stirs me from my thoughts and Harry is standing there looking proud and smug.

"Harry, this is very mysterious and all but I do think we should be getting back and… I didn't know you passed your apparating test!" I begin to head for the only door but Harry grabs my wrist. He twists it painfully and I let out a small yelp. "Ow! Let me go!" I try to shake him off.

"You're not going anywhere." His voice is a soft growl as I try to pull my arm free.

"Harry, you're acting insane now stop it! You're hurting me!" His grip just tightens and my arm begins to tingle unpleasantly. I try pulling his hand off with my free one. I dig in my nails and he still doesn't let go. "Harry… please." He lets go suddenly, flinging me backwards. I lose my balance and topple over the chair, falling hard to the floor.

"I thought they said that you were the smart one." He laughs evilly. "You can't be that bright, you still havn't figured it out yet." I look at him through my tears of confusion and frustration.

"Harry… why are you…?"

"STOP CALLING ME THAT!" I wince and shut my eyes. I don't know what's going on and my arm is throbbing painfully. I look up at the thing that is passing itself off as Harry Potter. There is a sudden streak of white through his normally jet -black hair and I begin to understand.

"Polyjuice potion." I shake my head. Of course, how could I have been so stupid? He wasn't acting at all like Harry and I had seen him walking away with Ron… And now I'm stuck in a room, all alone with a lunatic. I have no idea where I am and neither does anyone else.

"Who are you?" I try to keep my voice from trembling. The streaks of white are becoming numerous and I think I can actually see his hair growing. His laugh is mocking and cruel.

"I thought it would have been obvious by now. After all… you and my son have become so close… and they do say, 'like father like son'." His voice begins to change as he utters these words. His face begins to twist, revealing the sharp pointed features of an older looking Draco Malfoy. I know before the transformation is complete.

"Lucius…?" I cannot conceal the surprise in my tone and my fear doubles. I leap up and bolt for the door. We reach it at the same time and he throws me aside. I fall to the floor again, scraping my elbows and hands painfully. I stand up again quickly and pull out my wand. Lucius Malfoy merely laughs at my small display of bravery.

"What are you going to do girl…? You are no match for my power. And, even if you could perform some small spell to disarm me… there are more waiting for you just outside this door. You cannot escape and you don't have the guts to even attempt an unforgivable spell, the only thing that might save your life. You are weak, afraid and completely helpless. Really, I don't know what my son sees in you."

"Well you are an ugly, heartless bastard who has to pick on teenagers to make yourself feel like a real man." I spit out the words before I can stop myself. In one swift movement he knocks my wand flying and slaps me hard across the face.

"Tsk tsk, you should know better than to disrespect your superiors." He pushes me into the chair and flicks his wand. I can feel coarse rope begin to wrap, snake-like around my arms and legs. "Now my son has disappointed me on more than one occasion but he is still my son and I am going to give him one last chance. Now we shall see how strong willed you really are, Ms.Granger."