Boom!

"Professor Snape…I'm relieved to have run into you…," Hermione began, catching up to the cynical teacher as he made his way down the corridor.

He suddenly stopped, spinning around, dark cloak flying behind him as he gazed down his nose at her. He seemed to assess her for a few seconds before finally replying.

"Is that so?"

Only one thing was going through Snape's mind at the moment. What could Hermione Granger possibly have to discuss with him?

"I want to change partners-."

"I don't have time for your childish antics, Ms. Granger," he dismissed, immediately walking away.

Hermione clenched her jaw, expecting no less from the new DADA teacher and moved to follow him.

"Let me rephrase that, Professor. I need to change partners. I refuse to work with Malfoy for the rest of the year," she continued.

"Well, that's quite unfortunate because you are going to work with Mr. Malfoy for the rest of the year," was his clipped response.

"With all due respect-."

"With all due respect, you are not changing partners unless Mr. Malfoy is incapable of doing his share, I feel that another student needs your assistance more, or you feel as if you are in harm's way."

He faced her now and she glared at him.

"Is Mr. Malfoy incapable of doing his share?"

"No."

"Do you know of another student who could better use your skills?"

"No, Professor, but-."

"Do you feel threatened by Mr. Malfoy? Do you feel as if you are in danger from him?"

"…no," Hermione replied with a defeated sigh.

"Very well, then. There's nothing more to discuss," Snape drawled, dismissing her with a fling of his robes, walking down the corridor.

"No such luck, eh?"

"None. He wouldn't even hear it," Hermione grumpily replied.

"What did you expect, Hermione? It's Snape. You should have told him about Harry," Ron added.

"And say what, Ron? 'I'm pretty sure that Malfoy is the one who put Harry into the infirmary, and despite the fact that I have no proof of such occurrence, I don't feel safe around him and want to switch partners immediately'."

Ron bit his lip, playing around with his food while Harry sighed. Hermione turned to face Harry.

"…and you're sure that you didn't catch a glimpse of him?"

"I already told you, he came from behind. By the time I was even facing him, half of my face was already swollen," Harry replied.

Hermione mentally cursed, dreading the upcoming class period more and more. She didn't want to see Malfoy, let alone be within the same vicinity of him. She had done her very best to not think of either one of them over the past few days before finally deciding that she had to return to class at some point.

"I just wish that I had gotten something, anything… Now, I'm definitely going to have to lay low for a while. Wait for him to lower his guard," Harry said.

Hermione swallowed, glancing down at her food.

Hermione ran her lips up Malfoy's chest, delighting in the shudder that passed through him as her teeth grazed his skin. Blaise's fingers dug into her hips and Malfoy reached down, tangling his fingers in her hair, lifting her face. That was when she saw it.

It stood out like a sore thumb, the dark ink practically a neon sign against Malfoy's pale skin. Her heart skipped a beat as she stared at the dark mark, and she surprised herself, and Malfoy, by reaching out to brush her fingers across the skull. Somewhere, in the back of her mind, she acknowledged that Harry had been right. Malfoy was one of them now. He'd been right all along.

However, as she gazed at the evidence of Malfoy's true allegiance, she couldn't help but think that it suited Malfoy and that was her last thought on the matter before said man flipped them over…

Hermione suddenly stood, catching the attention of her friends. Her vision swayed and she was positive that she might faint.

"I'm not feeling very well. I'm going to rest my head a bit before class," she said, hurrying away from the table, not waiting to hear their replies.

Her legs were shaky as she made her way up the stairs and she grabbed ahold of the railing, closing her eyes and forcing out a few deep breaths. How could she ever justify her actions? How could she ever tell them the truth? This was the sole reason that she did not choose to dwell on what had happened.

She had not protested, had not said one word of protest. The minute the blindfold came off, she should have screamed at the both of them. She should have slapped Malfoy into next week and curse Blaise into hell. No, instead she had welcomed it all.

What else could have possibly been expected of you while you were in the throes of passion? That's what she kept telling herself and she honestly didn't know if it was because it was the truth, or because she wanted to make herself feel better. She sighed, reaching up to rub her forehead.

Merlin, how had it all gone downhill so fast?

"Granger…"

She stiffened, eyes flying open at his voice reached her ears. What in the fresh hell could he possibly want? She stood stock still, contemplating whether or not to acknowledge him or to just walk away.

"Granger…I think we need to talk."

She spun around and was instantly bombarded with memories from that night as she stared down at him.

Malfoy gazed at her through bright, piercing eyes, a few strands of hair grazing his forehead. The top two buttons of his shirt were undone and his tie was loose around his neck.

Hermione's eyes zeroed in on the dark marks that were scattered across his neck and a wave of shame washed over. She had done that.

"The two of us have done all the talking we are ever going to do. I think you've said more than enough…"

Draco looked up at her, unruly hair haloed around her head and eyes hard as she glared at him. Memories of how she felt, how she tasted, plagued his mind and he had to physically prevent himself from doing something stupid. Well, even more stupid.

Her anger was more than justified, he supposed. He and Blaise had done a terrible, sneaky thing. He could own up to it, acknowledge it, but what he felt about it was far from regret. The minute that he'd finally confessed to himself the reason for his less than stellar behavior as of late, he knew that he and Blaise would never move on until the truth came out.

He'd been determined to break them up, unable to stand them being together. His anger and bitterness wouldn't allow it. He had at least noticed her existence before Blaise even had. Granted, taunting may have not been the best form of acknowledgement, but Blaise hadn't even known who she was until third year, when she'd punched Draco in the face.

So because he'd realized that Granger was indeed an attractive witch before Draco had, that made it fair?

"I'm not sorry."

Hermione felt like she had been slapped in the face. To be perfectly honest, she didn't even know why? What else did she possible expect from Malfoy? He had never liked her, and he sleeping with her didn't mean that he suddenly did. Like Ginny had pointed out, you didn't need to like someone to be attracted to them.

"Maybe I am sorry about how we went about it, but I'm not sorry that it happened…"

"I don't care. What is the point of this? I already figured that you felt no regrets about what happened. You got what you wanted. You got everything that you wanted. You completely destroyed what I had with Blaise and you proved your infamous point in the best way possible; getting me to sleep with both of you at the same time. You had your cake and ate it too. Why would you be sorry? You won," she bitterly spat.

Malfoy chuckled, climbing the rest of the steps, forcing her to take a few steps back as he towered over her. He slid one hand into his pocket, gazing down at her.

"That's where you're wrong, Granger. I didn't win…"

Before Hermione could question him on that statement, the sound of talkative students reached their ears as everyone began exiting the hall, no doubt heading to class. He held her gaze for a second longer before brushing past her, a shudder passing through her frame as his arm grazed hers.

"Duels? Duels? Has Snape gone mad? Nott is going to crucify me," Ron complained, unaware that said boy was right behind them.

"Watch your back, Weasley," said Slytherin chuckled as he walked past them.

Ron glowered, face beginning to match his hair as he glared at the back of the dark haired boy's head. Hermione too glared at him, eyes narrowing even further when he was joined by a familiar blond Slytherin.

"Although…I supposed it could be worse," Ron said, a hint of something in his voice.

It was only when Harry glanced at her did Hermione catch on.

"Oh, I'll be fine you guys…"

"Pretty sure that Malfoy might actually attempt to kill you," Ron replied.

"Guys, come on. There are rules, you know. Snape was very adamant about those rules too," she said.

"Not everyone's like you, Hermione. Not everyone follows the rules," Harry seriously said, glaring at the younger Malfoy's back.

"Harry…"

Harry knew where she was going, but he didn't care. After what Malfoy had did to him, it was safe to say that Harry didn't think Malfoy being in the school was safe. He wanted him gone.

"One of them or not, he's dangerous, and I wouldn't put it past him to maim you."

As if on cue, Malfoy suddenly glanced over his shoulder, glaring at her dark haired friend, before his eyes flickered to her. He gave her a very obvious once over before turning back around, something that did not go unnoticed by either of her friends.

"What the bloody hell was that?"

Hermione swallowed.

"I don't know…," she trailed off, the lie easily falling from her lips.

"Did he just…?"

Harry said nothing, instead narrowing his eyes at the blond Slytherin. Hermione watched as Malfoy leaned into Nott, his words having the desired effect as Nott glanced over his shoulder at her. Hermione frowned, an uneasy feeling settling in her stomach as the dark haired boy turned back around.

She could feel Harry's eyes on her, but she refused to look his way.

"I don't like this. What if this is about last week? You know, when you confronted Malfoy about Harry?"

It was plausible, but Hermione was almost certain that this had nothing to do with that. Malfoy wouldn't tell anyone would he? He couldn't possibly be that cruel, could he? Plus, she was sure that it would be just as bad for him as it would be for her. She didn't have a mark on her arm that pledged a loyalty to someone who hated her kind.

"I'm sure it's nothing…"

Despite what Hermione said, her mind couldn't help but to disagree.

"Granger!"

Hermione stopped, turning around to stare in wonder as Theodore Nott approached her. The sunlight made his slight tan glow, his blue irises standing out even more. He didn't look happy as he approached her and he flicked a dark lock of hair out of his face.

"Don't look at me like that, Granger. I come in peace…"
Hermione eyed him, skeptical, clutching her books tighter to her chest.

"What do you want?"

Nott sighed, scratching the back of his head, looking almost embarrassed.

"I'm pretty much failing Muggle Studies…," he began.

Hermione started to put two and two together, but something within her gut kept her cautious. Nott suddenly let out a heavy sigh.

"I was forced to put on my big boy knickers and just ask for your help," he complained, looking anything but happy about it.

"My help?"

"Look, I don't need your help specifically, so don't go getting a big head. There are many other muggle born students at this bloody school…," he trailed off.

Hermione saw right through his pride. She was sure that she was, in fact, his only option. She was almost positive that any other muggle born student would be too afraid to accept.

"…and that's what this is about? My helping you with Muggle Studies?"

"Yes," he said with a roll of his eyes, exasperated.

"Forgive me if I'm skeptical. It's just…I saw you talking with Malfoy yesterday…"

Nott scoffed.

"He was the one who suggested I come to you in the first place," he threw out.

Hermione's heart skipped a beat and she narrowed her eyes.

"Did he now?"

"Do you have an answer for me or not? I do have a life you know," he said.

"Sure. I'll help you," she finally agreed.

He grinned, looking much better with a smile.

"Brilliant. We can meet up in the library at seven tomorrow," he said, backing up.

Hermione's eyebrows furrowed, going over any possible deception she could think of, when Nott spoke.

"I almost forgot…," he began.

His grin turned sinister, mocking as he shoved his hands into his pockets, head tilted to the side.

"Draco wanted me to tell you something…"

Hermione's uneasy feeling grew.

"The game starts now, and Slytherins never fight fair. He'll be seeing you," Nott quoted.

Hermione clenched her jaw, glaring at Nott's amused face.

"See you tomorrow, Granger."

He left with a chuckle.

Let me know what you think!