A/N: Thanks to shailafter, Because-I-Got-High, Shdwcat27, sexy pancake, NumbuhZero, Bslehofer, and marisa (thanks for leaving your email address this time!) for their reviews!

All right, I apologize for this, I promised myself I would NEVER respond to reviews in a chapter itself, but I really want to tell the following people some things. If you want to ignore it, feel free to and go on to the story.

Because-I-Got-High: I know the scene with Draco in the last chapter was short, but it wasn't pointless. And please don't put pink bunny stickers all over me...pink bunnies and I don't mix very well.

Shdwcat27: Don't worry too much. Hermione will get help soon, I promise.

Bslehofer: Sorry it's taking so long to reveal what's wrong with Hermione. I feel it's dragging, too, but I have planned how it's going to happen and when and how you'll learn everything.

Disclaimer: I don't own it. I'm not claiming to own it. I'm only borrowing.

I thought I could see my breath rising before me in a mist, though it was probably just my imagination. But I was cold. Very cold. So cold, in fact, that I couldn't stop shivering.

The corridors are pitch black at night, and without the torches, you might as well be outside, as it's probably warmer there than inside. My school robes were inadequate for traipsing through the halls.

If a teacher found me, I would tell them I was making sure no one was out after curfew. They made me Head Girl, and I'm allowed to do that, after all. It's not encouraged, but the rules state that I'm still allowed to. Even if that's not what I'm doing. In reality, I'm planning things down to the last detail for Christmas break. McGonagall had finally gone around with the list to find out who was staying, and I cheerfully passed by. Apparently, though, Harry and Ron were both going to be staying at the Burrow, which meant I needed to plan for any odd questions they (meaning Ron) might have.

Hence my reason for wandering the halls in the pitch black and subzero temperatures.

I cupped my hands over my mouth, blew into them, heating them slightly, and then rubbed them up and down my arms frantically. They were warmed for a moment before the cold seeped back in. I sighed, hopped up and down for a few seconds, then turned swiftly and began making my way back to Gryffindor Tower.

Nearly there, feeling warmth in my cheeks from practically running, and I stopped. I could hear voices coming from a nearby classroom. They were quite loud, almost yelling, but obviously trying to keep quiet at the same time.

"-doing it!"

"You will, Pansy! I order you to!"

"No, Draco!"

I felt my blood go cold at his name and scurried away, towards the safety of the tower and my own warm bed. The night in the Prefect's bathroom was still too close, and I found I was inexplicably afraid of him like I never was before.

§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§

Once in bed, I lay awake, thoughts washing over me, keeping me from falling into the blissful escape of sleep.

Draco Malfoy, seventeen years of age, not even out of school, is a Death Eater. He has no problem with inflicting physical pain upon others. He most likely participates in everything the other Death Eaters do. Murder. Torture. Destruction.

Harry Potter, forced to live without his parents and grow up in a home with the Dursleys. He will have to go face to face with the most powerful wizard in the world and has a good chance of losing everything.

Nicholas Granger, dead at six years of age.

The world is so unjust and wrong it makes me want to throw up.

A/N: As always, constructive criticism is extremely welcome! I want to improve in any way I can, even if most of you give me positive feedback, which I'm quite thankful for, by the way.