Hey everyone! Just because I couldn't resist, here is a very Draco heavy chapter. First, a recap of the last scene from quite a different perspective (because I love twisting things up a little). And secondly, in the words of Citan from Xenogears (any fans?) "Um... and so the plot thickens..." Enjoy!

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Draco's Point of View:

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Even as he kissed her, he had the reassurance that he would not have to face her. The owl had reached him as he'd left the ballroom, and he'd know then and there that he had to find her. For the very next morning, at his mother's request, he would leave Hogwarts early for Winter Break, to help 'settle' certain matters at home. He knew it was a matter of time before his father showed up for him if this was indeed the case; knew he'd have to make a run for it and not return for his final semester at Hogwarts. So as he set out to find Hermione Granger, he made up his mind to take the leap for there was no longer anything to lose and a single moment worth an eternity to gain.

He found her sitting by the lake, having spotted her through a window as he searched the building. She recognize him instantly, asking about the results of the night's venture. He tried to keep his tone light, pushing away the worries that, come morning, he would be gone.

"They're fine. Probably snogging in some corner of the campus, if the Weasley snot trait is genetic. I keep hoping him and that crazy psych... him and Luna would just get a room or something". She laughed, and he relished in the beautiful sound. Merlin, how I'll miss that sound, he thought to himself.

"If that's the case, the evening didn't turn out all that bad" she replied with a smile, though he quickly noticed how her teeth clattered from the cold. Helping her up, he placed his coat over her slim shoulders and they both began to make their way back to campus, side by side. He wondered if they would ever be like this again: walking together as if they didn't have a worry in the world. If they ever did see each other again, they might very well be different people and he doubted his hands would be clean. Will you be able to risk the man I will become for the man you once knew?

"I had figured the ball would be pretty terrible considering I wouldn't have a date, but watching everyone tonight... it was a beautiful evening". She continued which nearly made him stop dead in his tracks.

"You went alone?" he barely managed, wondering what in Merlin's name was wrong with the male population of Hogwarts if they had let this fine catch go. For that matter, what had been wrong with him to miss that chance..."I figured someone had invited you. I mean, I knew of a few people who were considering you. And, well, I didn't... well... I'm sorry".

"Whatever for?" she asked, though her steady voice and calm composure was betrayed by the flickering in her eyes and the smallest trebling that could no longer be attributed to the cold. But she continued, as though nothing was amiss"I mean, you had a good time, or so it seems. And it was entirely my own fault, really. I kept denying offers thinking, well, I don't know what I was thinking. Let's just said all the head girl business made me less than eager to start bothering with guys." To this, despite the circumstances, he burst out laughing.

"Oh, keeping the guys at bay takes too much effort, Granger?" he teased, wanting to make her smile once more, shatter the tension that his own failing had created. It should have been us dancing together tonight, he thought, wanting to turn back time, duty be damned, and never have accepted Weasley's proposition. They walked silently for a moment longer as he pondered the next step. He wanted to get it over with, have the moment he'd been waiting for, but even if he knew he had nothing to risk, he wanted her good opinion of him to remain untarnished even once he was gone. Taking it slowly as if treading through deep waters, he asked: "Can I ask you something?". His voice was shakier than he would have liked, but there was no helping him. Despite years of training, his Malfoy composure was not serving him well that night. "Before the Finnigan... incident... had you ever been kissed before?"

"Yes" she replied, and he urged for details, though he dreaded the reply. "My very first kiss was stolen by...shall we say... a less than sane Ron". He clenched his fists at the thought of the stupid red head with Hermione, and that he had claimed her lips before anyone else. "Not his brightest moment and, rest assured, I let him know. That was followed rather closely by, well, the Hogsmead fiasco, though at least at the time it didn't seem so bad. I mean, my subconscious, while we were ...ehem... at it... wouldn't let me think it was him. Thought afterwards... I don't think I've ever felt so utterly ... used... I rather not remember it." She gave him a small, somewhat sad smile. "Not the best of memories for my first kisses. How about you?" The words must have slipped out for he immediately recognized the regret in her eyes.

"Yes, I've kissed. And been kissed, I guess" he replied, wondering what would be the most tactful way of stating what he would much rather keep from her. "Helps the reputation, I guess" he joked bleakly, moving quickly to change the subject . "Do you forgive them? Weasley and Finnigan?"

"Ron, all things aside, was easy to forgive" she replied as they entered their common room. "After all, I can't very well blame him for his feelings, misplaced as they might have been. He was just a little too... impulsive, but that's one of his best qualities too so I can't hold that against him either. Seamus was,... well... somewhat harder to forgive. But as flawed as his reasoning might have been to lead him to such actions, I couldn't very well hold a grudge for something led by what he believed to be love. Granted, he very clearly lost all my trust and that will not be easily fixed. But hate him? No. I would hate myself every day if that's how I lived my life."

"You are an infinitely more forgiven person than I am" he replied, letting out a deep breath as he got the answer he had sought. Now or never Draco, he thought as he gather all the composure he had left and forced himself to continue: "I'm glad you are that way though. Makes things easier, I guess" She smiled at his words and he took it as all the encouragement he needed. Grabbing her by the arms, he pulled her to him, and kissed her quite thoroughly on the lips.

Draco Malfoy had kissed plenty of women during his years at Hogwarts. However, nothing could have prepared him for the moment their lips met. Her initial shock quickly faded as she clung to his shirt for support. He eventually pulled away, trying to capture her image and engrave it into his memory.

"Forgive me" he managed to add, claiming her lips once more with renewed passion, hoping he could express what he knew he couldn't voice:

Forgive me love, for I am leaving.

Forgive me for kissing you as though I could promise you eternity when all we have is this moment.

Forgive me for tears I know you'll cry come morning.

Forgive me for ever having dared to have some claim in your heart just because you had settled in mine.

Forgive me for never having told you before, because I was afraid.

Forgive me for leaving without saying goodbye.

He finally let her go, turning quickly towards his room away from the eyes that threatened to shaken his resolve. For so long he had sought for a sense of self, finding himself despite the constant tugs of his name, his father, the dark lord, Dumbledore, the school, his peers, and every expectation the world had damned upon his shoulders. And now, as he finally saw himself at his rawest in the eyes of one Hermione Granger, he knew he would never see it again.

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Mid Chapter Author's Note: I was ever so tempted to just end the story here, but figured I might get a wee bit too much hate mail if that were the case. Plus I'm a sucker for romance and want to see more myself P. Regardless, the phrasing "Can you risk the man I am for the man you once knew" comes from Diana Gabaldon's Voyager. Strongly recommended for mature readers! D

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The small train that awaited for him outside of Hogsmead was minute next to the Hogwarts Express that would be taking the rest of the students home in a few weeks time. 'Small but not empty' he thought grumpily, having learned earlier that morning that none other than Dumble-dork himself would be accompanying him on his journey to King's Cross Station. 'Probably time for his visit to the loony bin', he jokingly considered, though he had more than once pondered on the bizarre behavior of the lemon-pastry-loving headmaster.

"Good morning Mr. Malfoy" intoned the bearded old man as he pushed his trunk besides Draco's before the train. "We best be making our way inside before the train departs. I've reserved the front cabin for the both of us". The boy swore under his breath, not at all pleased at the prospect of having to share an entire trip with the aged loony bin. However, presenting an unwavering composure, he nodded respectfully to the headmaster and did as he was told.

The ride began quietly, much to his relief. He had dreaded having to listen to stories on the latest muggle pastry the old man had discovered. Instead, he was presented with an uncomfortable silence that was only breached by the steady pace of the train and the food cart as it made it rounds up and down the corridor. He would welcome those small mindless interruptions, glad to have his thoughts distracted from the bleak future that awaited him. However, as they began the last leg of their journey, Dumble-dork finally saw to it that it was time to speak up.

"We should be arriving within an hour" he declared, though his eyes seemed deep in thought on other matters. "You know Mr. Malfoy, I know you are not the least bit fond of me and would much rather keep to yourself, but indulge an old man and listen" It was an all too drastic change in the old man's demeanor, and Draco swore to himself for what had clearly been a less than perfect composure. As if sensing his thoughts, the old man added: "And, for the record, though you may in fact be a perfect picture of obedience now, I see more than I let on. Even an old man like me knows when they are... less the appreciated." Malfoy neither nodded in agreement nor moved to contradict the man, but rather stayed silent and listened as he had been told.

"Nearly six and a half years ago you boarded the Hogwarts Express and since day one you made it your business to fit the role you had envisioned for yourself" began the man, not once breaking eye contact. Malfoy could just hear the upcoming Death Eater accusatory speech in his mind and forced himself to remain impassive despite his rising anger. "You knew you were to be in Slytherin, all too aware of your own ambitions. What you didn't know was that young Mr. Potter, the boy-who-lived who stood up against you that very first day was also destined to enter Slytherin. The Sorting Hat makes the lists before you guys arrive, you see, all to aware of your natures before he ever settles on your heads at the ceremony. Granted, he has been known to change his mind if something new is revealed, but most predictions can be seen from miles away, even by those of us who aren't naturally inclined to Sorting Ceremonies. Young Harry, however, though he was told that he could be great in Slytherin, asked the hat despite his obvious ambitious streak to be placed elsewhere. Now what does this prove to you, Mr. Malfoy?"

"That Potter's stupid side won over his Slytherin leanings?" he replied dryly, growing annoyed with any conversation regarding the Golden Boy, especially when coming from the king of the fanclub himself, Dumble-dork. To his surprise, the headmaster laughed.

"Not quite, Mr. Malfoy" The old man seemed unfazed by Malfoy's growing glare. "What it does prove is that though Harry was destined to be in Slytherin, he could change fate through choice. Choice! Such an obvious but novel suggestion all at once! To think that a boy who shares the brother-wand to Lord Voldemort, can speak parseltongue, and possesses an uncanny grasp for the dark can so distinctly take a different path with no more than the power of his choice". The old man paused, sitting up a little straighter as he peered into Malfoy's eyes.

"I see rage in you boy" he concluded. "And ambition. A thirst for power. An inclination towards evil. But I also see nobility, pride, and loyalty. You walk a dangerous road, Mr. Malfoy. The path you are leading will take you to some difficult crossroads. We all face them, every day,

because we all inherently have the ability to become Lord Voldemort. After all, he too was but a boy once, a student of Hogwarts no less, who simply choose the wrong path. It is all, in the end, a matter of choice."

"Is there a point, Professor?" he snapped, angry at what was clearly yet another person who condemned him as a death eater. To his surprise, the old man smiled.

"You are not a Death Eater, Mr. Malfoy" declared the bearded man much to the young boy's shock, dispelling all the anger in the young Slytherin's eyes. "That is one choice you have already made. I only sought to warn you that some paths are bumpier than others, though the prize at the end may be great. I take it that you have foreseen certain... inconveniences... that may arise during your visit home. Certain ... family matters ... that you may be forced to attend to. I would hope that if you were to be able to steal yourself from such affairs and, say, within a reasonable margin were to contact me, I would feel reassured in that you had successfully... settled such matters. I keep hoping that all my students are safe, you see. Not hearing from them leads me to jump to some dire conclusions and I do tend to act impulsively. Comes with all the sugar, I guess. So if you could contact me, the password to the Flo line in my office, my private secure line, is lemony snaps, bubble gum, and cheese."

"Lemony snaps, bubble gum, and cheese?" repeated the boy dumbly, still in shock. So, if he understood the crazy coot correctly, Dumbledore knew of his plans to run and simply wanted some confirmation that he had indeed made it so as to not stage a rescue attempt.

"Simple password. My favorite muggle treats, strongly recommend them" explained Dumbledore as though nothing had transpired. "Though I must say, that bubble gum has never been particularly good for my digestion". And with that, they continued the rest of the trip in silence. Draco stared at the man before him in wonder. The headmaster apparently was more than willing to take up arms to save Draco without demanding anything in return. Moreover, he was willing to let Draco run away with knowledge that could prove invaluable to the Order on nothing more than the confirmation than he was safe.

So this is what it feels to be with the good guys, he concluded. Crazy lot.

Author's Note:

Sorry it isn't as long as the last one, but I'm starting to work out the details of what troubles our young protagonist will encounter -evil grin- which means I have some heavy writing up ahead. Keep sending in your reviews and criticism!

Also, like I said last time, I want to see what the general feel would be for a Draco-someone pairing taking into consideration the events of "Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince". It would require of me to reread the last book at least twice more so I want to see if I have support for it before I get cracking on it. It would be a WHILE though, since this story won't be ending any time soon.