AN: Hello! I know I haven't written in a really long time, but I've been kind of busy lately. Thanks to all the people who reviewed, I really appreciate it! Anyway this part of the story is mostly dialogue, which I've never really done so bare with me. On to the fic...

It was tempting, hiding in the corner of the room and hoping that know one would see me. It was pointless, but tempting anyhow. All eyes were on me once again as a walked down the stairs— if only I had gotten half this much attention at Hogwarts, it would have been a step up. I immediately spotted Potter's friends and intended to approach them, but thought better of it. Making a snide remark about them in a house full of Potter's devoted followers probably wouldn't be such a good idea. Instead, I opted to stand at the base of the stairs near the hallway, waiting for something, anything, to divert the attention of everyone in the room.

Suddenly, something– or rather someone– did. Hermione Granger walked cooly over to me (once again, the attention was in my general direction) and took a seat on the stairs. She remained quiet for a long while, merely sitting and staring blankly at the peeling wallpaper across the room. At first, I was confused by this– why come over here and not say anything?– but as people started minding their own business I rememberedthat she wasaclever littlewitch. Soon, nobody was even acknowledging my existence.

"So, Malfoy, how are you?" she causally asked.

Ah, yes, small talk– how lovely...except for not really. I felt like telling her to get to the interrogation I knew she was plotting, but decided against it. I was curious as to how she would get there. I went along with her game.

"Oh, I'm fantastic, and you?" I said in a sarcastic voice.

"The same, of course."

"That's good, that's good. And your husband?"

"He's fine."

"I'm glad to hear it."

The annoying small talk was beginning to wear on me at this point.

"Alright, Granger, cut to the chase. What did you really want to talk to me about?"

She looked a little surprised at my sudden outburst. Honestly, did she really think I was going to stand there and listen to her talk about everyone's welfare? But much to my disappointment, she ignored the sudden outburst and continued.

"You must feel right at home in this house, huh?"

"Please, this dump? I'd feel more at home in a garbage bin."

She rolled her eyes.

"I meant you must feel at home with all the dark magic around."

I thought back to the talkative portrait upstairs, the house was positively trickling with dark magic. However, these thoughts remained in their rightful place— my head.

"Yes, there is a lot of dark magic in this house, I can feel it. But it's nothing compared to the Malfoy mansion. If a good little witch like yourself ever wants to jump out of her skin, or perhaps just out of her clothes, that is the place to go." I raised my eyebrows to complete the suggestion.

As I expected, the fun flirtation was only one sided. She, once again, ignored my comments.

"Well, you haven't been in all of the rooms. We like to steer clear of the very dark ones, they haven't been entered in decades and barging in could awaken something quite unpleasant."

"What better place for an interrogation than a very dark room?" I smiled as her eyes widened. She unwittingly put the thought in my head and now it was time to pay the consequences.

Before Granger could say another word, I began to walk down the hallway, shopping for the right door at every new step.

"Malfoy, you idiot! Get back here!" I heard her calling me as quietly as possible.

"What's the matter, Granger? You're not scared, are you?" I hardly expected this cheap, predictable line to work. I didn't think for one minute that Granger would fall for something so unoriginal.

"I've been through a lot more than you think, this house doesn't scare me."

"Prove it," I prodded.

"I don't have to prove anything to you."

"No, I suppose you don't. It also doesn't help that you're scared." I couldn't believe she was actually rising to the bait. I could see that she was becoming increasingly irritated by the second.

"Fine. If it'll shut you up," she mumbled while walking toward me and putting her hand on a random doorknob.

"How's this one?" She asked, but before I could reply she had already turned the doorknob and had one foot in the door. I stood motionless, completely amazed that such a petty challenge could get a rise out of her.

"Are you coming?" Impatient, that one. I followed her into the dark, quiet room.

"Alright, I suppose the interrogation can now commence," I said.

"I think a light would help, and I'd rather our little chat be thought of as a conversation, you know, between two old friends."

I let out a mirthless laugh. "Oh yes, old friends, of course."

I could hear her stumbling in the dark.

"Have you thought that maybe you should help me find a light so we don't have to wander around hoping not to trip?"

"Not really, and last I checked, you were the one doing the wandering, I'm just staying here until you can remember something that I already know. Oh, and just so you know, I don't think I'd mind it all that much if you did trip, so feel free to do so at any time." Pushing buttons— fun, even in the dark.

I could imagine her beautiful brown eyes flame with annoyance and anger, just like they did at Hogwarts not long ago.

She tightened her jaw and grinded her teeth to hold in her anger as she spoke. "Okay Malfoy, what do you remember that I don't?"

"That you're a witch, or at least something that passes for one. I still wonder how you were ever thought to be the brightest witch in our year."

Hermione took out her wand. "Lumos." The room immediately filled with light.

"Good job, Granger! I'm glad you finally realized that you can use a wand for light."

"Shut it, Malfoy, before I realize what else I can use my wand for!" She pointed her wand at me menacingly, daring me to push more buttons. I remained silent, preoccupying myself with observing the room that we had stumbled across.

The furniture was more than a bit dusty; what was left of the hardwood floor lay below us, creaky and perilous. The wallpaper was peeled in giant flower-print curls and, though there were many frames on the wall, none of them held any portraits. They had, no doubt, gone to other more joyous rooms. Despite all of it's shortcomings, the room had a slight appeal to it. The room's appearance revealed that it was once a grand parlor, used to entertain the most honored guests. Many important dark wizards had been in this room.

"You call this a 'dark room,' Granger? This room has about as much dark magic as Madame Puddifoot's."

"Appearances are deceiving, you should know that by now."

"Somehow I don't think a room is all that mystical. It's just a parlor, by the looks of it. Besides, who puts flower-print wallpaper in a room that is supposed to be packed with dark magic? It's a definite faux pas."

She was staring at me with amused brown eyes.

"What?" I asked.

"Faux pas? You sound like Lavender and Parvati!" She laughed at the thought.

I had heard them talk while at Hogwarts and, from that little experience, knew that this was an insult. But at the same time, I could not deny it. After all, they did have a good sense of style.

"Okay, I'll give you that one, but there's a difference between them and me..."

"I should hope so," she interrupted, still giggling.

I ignored her and continued.

"They are not half as bright as I am."

"And what makes you so bright?"

"You may have been the brightest witch in our year, but didn't you know that I was the brightest wizard. That's right, I was right behind you and if it wasn't for that last transfiguration assignment I would have beat you."

"But you didn't, oh well."

She was actually smiling when she said this. I couldn't recall the last time I saw her smile and laugh so much. It should have made me happy that she wasn't snapping at me every chance she got, but the truth is that it made me uneasy, it was unnatural.

"What puts you in such a good mood?" I asked.

"Honestly? I don't know. It's just, well, this room is so beautiful and it makes me happy just to look at it. I can't explain it."

The second I heard this I felt panic rise in me. With desperate speed I turned toward the exit, but it was just as I suspected. Instead of the door that belonged there, there was now a wall, just as thick and sturdy as the rest of the room, as if it had always been there.

Hermione followed my panicked movements toward the wall.

"What did you do! Where's the door!" Right away she snapped at me, so much for her good mood. But we had other things to worry about.

"Bloody hell! You may not be able to explain your good mood, but I think I can."

AN: I hope you liked it. I'll try to write more soon, but I'm not saying when. I will say that I won't just leave this unfinished, I'm determined to finish it. By the way, this I don't know if this is going to be a D/Hr fic. I like reading them but I'm not sure if I can write them. I still don't know what to do with Draco (i.e. if he'll die or live, become good or bad). Any opinions are always appreciated. Anyway, thanks for reading, please review.