Chapter 5: A Boy, A Man, A Monster

Disclaimer: It utterly annoys me to do this. Everyone here knows I don't own the characters. But anyway, I don't own any of the characters, just the plot.

That wasn't what he planned on happening. Actually, he really hadn't planned anything. Malfoy thought that he was going to walk in on Hermione and Weasley screwing each other. He never in his right mind thought he would have ever seen Weasley hit a girl, let alone Granger. Then again he never thought a lot of things that happened would happen. He never thought he kiss Granger (though he didn't mind it), he never thought his father would have gotten killed, and he sure as hell, never thought he'd ever see Voldemort fall. The world was just full of surprises.

He checked his watch. It was close to three by now. The day had past by in what seemed to be a matter of minutes. He had already missed two classes, well two and a half if you include potions, and lunch. With one class left what was the point of even attempting it. He headed towards his bedroom. He threw the dirty towel he was holding into the laundry basket as he left throw the door connected to his room.

Since the beginning of the summer Draco had been praying for his last year to be drama free. He quickly figured out that living with the Gryffindor Queen was going to put a damper on that. He really wanted to just wanted to start over. He tried his best to be nice, well, except to Potter and Weasley just because they're asshole. Weasley was ahead of Potter now a days though. The difference between the Golden Duo and Granger was that Hermione seemed to have let old grudges fall, while Weasley and Potter held onto the past. Granger had no problem helping a Slytherin in the hallway or saying excuse me to them. Weasley and Potter still acted like Slytherin was the enemy, when there were no enemies.

Harry and Ron still fought with Draco incessantly. They always bickered and attacked each other. Hermione tried to avoid Draco as much as possible. If she could avoid being in the same room with him, she would. And if she couldn't, she just tried not to talk to him. The only time she talked to him was when he couldn't be avoided. Like earlier today, she couldn't avoid him. Draco couldn't stop himself from smirking at the thought of earlier today.

The way she tasted and the way she felt against him was like a slice of heaven to him. The fact that she didn't resist added to his pleasure. He licked his lips, he could still taste her, and he still wanted her.

Draco was standing at the window in his room looking down at the lake. Technically, it was still summer. It wasn't too warm though. The weather was beautiful and the sky was brilliant. Draco felt a cold draft fall over him. It was the draft of jealousy. As he stared down at the lake he saw couples sitting, talking, kissing, and just being generally happier than he was. That's something that Draco had been longing for, for quite awhile. Sure he was still young and had plenty of time, but he had all been done with being a player. He wanted something he could be stable with.

But as it stood, he could barely get a girl to look at him. With the summer's events everyone knew who he was even worse than before. No girl would look at him without disgust in her eyes. He still had his good looks and charm, but that was ruined with reputation. As much as this was destroying his sex life, Draco really didn't mind not having the Ministry breathing down his back 24/7.

Draco closed his curtains and walked away from the window. His room was now completely dark. He lit a few candles carefully, as to not burn himself. Then sat down at his desk to hopefully complete the assignments that had been sent to him via owl. For a few minutes he just stared at the mound of books. He knew he would never be able to concentrate long enough to finish any work. His mind was full of too many distractions. Okay, it was mostly Granger, but you know how that goes.

She was the first girl since the end of last year that Draco had had any physical action with. Now, his body and mind was begging for more. Anything.

He blew out the candle that sat on the desk before him. He thought it would be better to get out of the Heads' Tower. He needed to straighten out his thoughts. The only person that could help him with that was the unthinkable. He made sure he looked his bedroom door before he left, as if Granger couldn't get in if she wanted. By the time Draco got to the Slytherin Common Room he was relaxed, well, sort of. He was still slightly shaken by the days events. But Draco knew he would need a clear head to talk to Pansy.

Though she came off as dimwitted and slow, she was actually very intelligent and witty. Her act had been put on since the first year of school. She always told him it was better to be underestimated than overestimated, and so far that worked out for her. Pansy always managed to keep his reality in check when it began to slip. Others didn't easily notice it, but Draco and Pansy's relationship was strictly plutonic. They used the rumors and gossip to keep their reputations safe.

As he entered the common room he got stares of pity, mockery, and disdain. All in thanks to the lovely Lucius. Nothing would ever erase the opinions of the public. They would never forgive Draco for his father's mistake. Draco attempt to repent for his father demise. He did as much as he could to help the Order when the time came, but not even that was enough to help him. Not to mention it made the Slytherin's hate him.

He found Pansy sitting by the fire with a book propped up on her knees. Like most women, she was multitasking. Dust was flying everywhere as she swiftly moved the emery board back and forth. The expression on her face was impassive and bored, but Draco saw what most others did not. He saw the sparkle in her eyes that told him she was enthralled with the book. When he saw what she was reading he couldn't help but laugh. He leaned on the back of the couch as she looked up.

"What is so amusing?" She asked with her snotty attitude.

"You are reading and enjoying a muggle romance novel!" He was still laughing.

She shut the book and promptly smacked him in the shoulder with it. "If you must know it's a very good book. Now what do you want?" He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. She nodded knowingly. "My room."

Draco followed Pansy up the stairs and into her room. She locked and silenced the room, allowing others to think what they would.

"So what's so important that you feel it necessary to interrupt my reading? Wow," she saw his face. "Who did that patch job, we both know Pomfrey just cleans? And she doesn't even do that well."

"I just had the weirdest day ever." He paused and she gave him the 'I want an explanation look'. "You can't say anything to anyone, because of you do I'll be killed two or three times over." A nod was her response as she went back to filing her nails. "Granger bandaged me up." Pansy's mouth dropped. "But that's not even the tip of the ice berg."

Draco explained what happened in the bathroom with him and Hermione. Thinking it was better if he left out the snog session part. So it was fair enough that Pansy was losing interest. It was a boring story, but he hadn't gotten to the part with Weasley yet.

"So after an hour or two in my room, minding my own business I hear this scream. I honestly thought I'd go down and see her screwing Potter." Remember he left out the part where he came down after Harry left. "What I found was a deranged Weasley strangling a bloody and bruised Granger. He beat the living shit out of her." It was at this point that Pansy's jaw dropped lower than before.

"No way!" Draco just nodded. "Wow, did she the Headmaster?"

"No. In fact after I broke it up, she fucking defended him!"

"Why did you break it up?"

"I'm an asshole, but even I know men shouldn't hit women!" She shrugged it was understandable. After years of Lucius beating Draco's mom, of course he would be against it. Plus, Draco has been trying to prove he isn't psychotic like Lucius. Ever since Lucius killed Fudge, Draco has been trying to be the next Harry Potter, it hasn't been working so far.

The whole incident happened last April. Apparently, Fudge wouldn't give Lucius what he wanted. And Lucius being the rational, loving human being he was Avada'd him. Fudge died on the spot. Lucius was apprehended and later executed by the Dementors.

Pansy wasn't the heartless bitch she played. But she played it, just like everyone else plays a role. Draco always came to her when he needed advice, and vice versa. Right now though, she wasn't sure what he wanted.

"Draco, just stay out of it."

He looked at her with a certain sadness in his eyes, "He looked so empty when I pulled him away. As if he was heartless."

"Absence of heart makes a boy, a man, a monster."

He started towards the door. "I know."

Pansy watched his retreating back. She knew he knew. He lived with a monster, and if it hadn't been for last year, he would have become a monster. But they would never be the same as last year. She also knew he was hiding something. It didn't add up. He didn't tell her everything. But she didn't ask and he didn't tell.

A/N: So those of you that did read and like this story, I'm all apologizes. I've been having some major drama, and it's kept me from my updating. I have the next chapter started and almost finished. So hopefully there is less of a wait. Once again I'm sorry.

This is basically a filler chapter, with some important details. It helped me push through some of what's going on with Draco, if you didn't like it. Once again, all apologize I hope you like the next chapter better. It'll have more Hermione and Draco scenes and fluff, and drama, and maybe a little action.