1KESLER - Glad you think so!

MYSTERIOUSCHARM - It's probably going to stay that way, too..lol.

SORANI172 - Thanks! I'm not doing a fraternity thing for the ceremony, but I hope you like what I am going to do!

ZARROC - Glad you think so, hope you keep enjoying it and reading!

MISS KAY-CHAN - Aww , thanks! I thought it would make a cool twist...keep reading!

Chapter 4: Confrontations

The room seemed to be standing still. Did a Mudblood really just say that she would be joining their ranks? And not just any Mudblood, but the Mudblood. The one who used to be Harry Potter's best friend and girlfriend.

"Splendid to hear you're choice." cooed Lord Voldemort, "You may have you're wand after you receive you're Mark, to ensure you're loyalty."

"Loyalty to what, sir? There is no Order of the Phoenix anymore in case you hadn't noticed."

Now the breath had literally been sucked from the room. Nobody talked to the Dark Lord that way, especially a Mudblood ingrate!

Lord Voldemort, however, broke into a shocked smile.

"I think I can grow used to your company."

With a wave of his hand, the music started once more. Once again, Malfoy asked Hermione to dance.

"You know what, ferret, I really don't think so. Just because you called me by my first name..."

"Who are you calling ferret?" He interrupted hotly.

"Does not mean you have control over me!" She finished.

"What makes you think that you can call me ferret and get away with it!"

"The fact that you seem to think you can call me Mudblood!"

"I can call you Mudblood, or have you not noticed the Dark side won?"

"You are such a pig!" Hermione turned from the room and stormed off. Malfoy quickly jogged up to her.

"Do you not want to know where your new room is?"

"Have someone who isn't an asshole tell me!"

Malfoy put his hand over his heart.

"That one really hurt, Mudblood."

"I thought by accepting this insane offer I wasn't going to be called Mudblood anymore." Hermione said softly. Slowly, tears began to stream. She hadn't cried since Harry had died, and now she couldn't stop. She ran as fast as she could, not caring what Malfoy thought. She ran down to the dungeons where she'd been living since her side's downfall. She flung herself on the too-small bed, and cried the tears of a broken heart.

Malfoy followed Hermione as soon as she started running. She ran surprisingly fast for a girl who was so small. He watched as she cried her heart out on the bed. All the while, he found himself wishing he could help. He didn't know why. He was supposed to be heartless, never caring. But he cared about her.

Hermione felt a hand rubbing small circles on her back. She couldn't help but wail. It was as though every frustration she was feeling was coming out in these tears. Harry's death, her family's death, the fact that Dumbledore was gone, the fact that she was going to become a Death Eater, and that she was forever trapped in her promise. She couldn't say no to the Dark Lord once she had said yes once.

Her tears were hot on her face, and it felt as though the hand on her back was burning through her dress. Her sobs were coming to a stop now. She turned around and, hiccuping, looked into the face that the hand belonged to.

As much as she never thought it would happen, Draco Malfoy was comforting her.

She turned away from him.

"Just go away." She said in a whisper so scarce he only just heard it.

"I don't think that's-"

"Just go." She cut him off.

He slowly turned but not before giving her one meaningful look in the eye. As he left, he turned back one last time, and then said

"If you want me, just ask a house elf."

Hermione felt like killing him right then and there. Or maybe she'd bean him with her shoe. But he was already gone.

Almost at once, a house elf was by her side.

"Miss, Risty is supposed to show Miss her room."

"Ok."

Following Risty, she was led into one of the most beautiful rooms she had ever seen. There was a king-sized mahogany canopy with emerald sheets and comforters. The floor was a thick dark green carpet, and the walls were silver. It was, in a word, purely Slytherin.

On the roll-away desk was a dozen white roses, and with them was a note.

Granger,

I know you're life isn't the best right now. You don't have anything you love but that nightmare of a cat. I hope you feel better. If you need me, I'm a few doors to your life.

Draco Malfoy.

It was the sweetest thing a guy had ever given her.

Too bad it came from a total prick.