Disclaimer: Harry Potter or the lyrics that I quote in each chapter do not belong to me in anyway.

Chapter Three

No Way Out

"I'm a victim of my instinct,
Unraveling and reeling,
Think I'm wise,
I watch the walls around me,
Falling down,
So far away, from safe and sound,
I've lost control,
Where do I run now?
There's no easy way out,
when everything's coming undone…"

No easy way by Digital Daggers

Sunday September 1st, 1996

The thick whistle from the Hogwarts Express sounded loudly, as Draco dove in and out of the obnoxious bustling people, crowding platform 9 ¾ . Rushing towards the first door of he could actually get in, he boarded the train glaring at anyone who dared to get in his way. Quickly scanning each occupied compartment making his way down, he promptly entered the last empty one wanting to stew alone with his thoughts.

Hastily shoving his bags over head, he then unbuttoned his suit jacket, removed it, and placed upon the bench. He sat down with a huff, and glanced down at his pocket watch for a quick moment. Draco sighed as he looked out the window to his right allowing his tongue to trace the inside of his cheek, the gash now almost fully healed. With another howling scream from the train, it leached forward and began to move.

Draco decided these past few days had been extremely difficult, as he then glanced down at the black sleeve of his dress shirt covering his left forearm. Pursing his lips tightly, he recalled the two things he was trying so hard to forget about. One had to do with a deliberately near impossible task, and the other had to do with an annoyingly nosy witch with bushy brown hair.

Leaning his elbows somewhat upon his knees, he lowered his face into his hands with a moan. Wishing he could forget the encounter with her in that oh so narrow alleyway. Remembering what he saw, replaying in flashes from his memories, this continued to pester him greatly.

Flashes that had to do with the way she looked pressed against a wall, with her flushed cheeks as her small tongue darted out to wet her parted lips. He could almost still smell her scent of cinnamon and Granger. Wishing he had gotten just a taste of the spearmint toothpaste of which her breath smelt of.

The images in his mind were absolutely tantalizing, and they had been haunting him for almost five days now. The thoughts caused him to groan, whether it was in disgust or delight, he honestly did not know. With a sigh he briskly sat up right, fixed his dress pants, wishing something would distract him, and quickly.

'Get it together. You are a Malfoy. She's a filthy mudblood for Merlin's sake.' He scolded himself then looked out the window yet again, just to watch the passing green grass outside his window.

Suddenly the sliding door was shoved open by someone, who then closed the door roughly, yet in a proficient manner. The fact that the person in his compartment was the witch that had been in his haunting thoughts and memories for days now, startled him. She currently stood with her back pressed against the door, slipping down to the ground, most likely out of view from anyone passing by.

Staring down at her, seeing her eyes closed her face pink, and her features hard. She looked positively furious he noted, examining her closely.

"Do I want to know exactly why you're currently sitting upon the floor in my compartment Granger?" He watched her eyes snap open landing upon him. Draco proceeded to give her a perplexed, but slightly amused look with a quirk of his left brow.

Draco watched her climb to her feet again; quiet ungracefully he would like to add. She then glared at him fixing her skirt.

"Shove off Malfoy. I am in no mood for that unique charm of yours today." She bit out at him leaning back to peek out the small window behind the shades which lead to the hallway. "I thought the compartment was empty. I didn't even know you were in here, otherwise I would probably have just dealt with…" She stopped talking to drop to the ground yet again away from the window.

Draco could not decide whether he found her extremely uncharacteristic behavior annoying or amusing. Concluding that it was, in fact, extremely amusing, he stopped himself from almost smirking. With a snort, he noted to himself that she was after all, a Gryffindor, cowering and hiding from something. He then stood up, looked down at her, and sure enough, she was balefully glaring up at him.

Leaning over her to peek out the window, he saw some blonde girl laughing and talking to- ah, the Weasel. The redhead looked over and saw Malfoy. Weasley just shot a deadly glare at Draco, making the girl look in his direction as well. Sneering at the two outside the door, he rolled his eyes as they proceeded to walk away. Draco exhaled loudly as he dropped the blinds causing them to clink loudly against the glass.

"As amusing as your odd behavior may be Granger, the Weasel and the blonde left." He wanted to sneer at her for her quite ridiculous behavior but refrained. When he looked down at Granger, he saw obvious confusion in her eyes, while she got to her knees. Watching her peer out the window, allowing her to confirm what he had just said. Draco rolled his eyes yet again, upon seeing her. "I said they're gone, you may leave now." He scoffed, and then went back to his spot near his window.

"Right." She mumbled, as he watched her using the bench to stand up. Their eyes met briefly, as he noticed she quickly shied away from his gaze. "I... uh, was just... Didn't want to…" she stumbled over her words, closing her eyes she huffed. "Never mind." His brow frowned at her quiet manner, he was suddenly curious, as to why she was acting this way. Pausing at that thought, knowing keeping her here was not what he should do. He just could not stop himself as she awkwardly turned to leave, and he spoke.

"Merely out of curiosity Granger, why exactly are you hiding from Weaslebee?" He inquired, observing her as she stopped, and gradually spun to face him. With narrowed eyes, she crossed her arms, and he raised a brow, noticing she was biting her bottom lip.

"A part from the obvious fact I have absolutely no desire to sate your curiosities Malfoy, it is none of your business." She declared with an arched brow, and a somewhat sudden curious look. "Are you asking because you're genuinely 'curious', or do you want to make polite conversation me, Malfoy?" Draco chortled for a second aloud, and then shook his head, turning to see her almost smirking. "Either way, I would be particularly interested in the subject of last Wednesday. If you recall, it had to do with a certain alleyway, and your family gathering at Borgin and Burke's."

'She is positively the most infuriating witch I know, well almost. At the very least a close second to Pansy Parkinson...' He thought to himself, glancing down at his watch once more. Then looking up at her, seeing her eyebrows knitted in obvious puzzlement, he tilted his head slightly to his right. She was probably attempting to decipher his facial expression, as to whether he would explain. 'Like I would give any real information to just anyone, let alone her.'

"You should know better than to think I, a Malfoy, would make polite conversation with anyone naturally beneath me Granger." Draco said with a smirk, reading her like one of books when he saw her jaw clench, and her eyes flourish with anger. "Without regarding your blood status, I asked only out of curiosity. As for last Wednesday? I haven't the faintest, to what you may be referring to." Laying it on thick, hoping she understood he was saying, leave it alone. Draco knew asking her a question was a bad idea, regretting it more and more, the longer she stayed. With a loud scoff and a click of her tongue, she shook her head down at him and glared yet again.

"You are actually going to sit there, insult me, pretending like none of it happened?" She asked him, which was defiantly annoying. All he gave her was a raised eyebrow, and a shrug. "You are nothing more than a foul narrow minded pureblooded partisan Malfoy. The only thing you will ever amount to with that particular Malfoy attitude, would be a ten-foot-by-ten-foot cell in Azkaban. Just, like your father…You disgust me." She hissed gritting her teeth, then her features immediately softened, suddenly looking like she was about to run.

She turned for the door, as Draco gnashed his teeth together, jumping to his feet when he saw red. Reaching out, he grabbed her shoulder yanking her backwards, towards his chest, roughly pressing her against him drawing out a delectable gasp. The abrupt scent of cinnamon and Granger invaded his sense. His hand slid down her arm to just above her elbow, as he gripped her tightly. Reaching with his other hand, he tossed her hair from her shoulder, dipping his head so that his lips could brush against the shell of her ear from behind.

"What, did you just say?" He spat heatedly in her ear, his voice was quiet and cold. Draco then felt her shiver against his body and beneath his hand, not bothering to stop and think as to why she did. "I am nothing, like my father!" Growling into her ear venomously, tightening his grip, causing her to wince. "You would do well to remember your place, mudblood. You came into my, compartment. You required my help, not only once, but twice now. Should you feel anything towards me, it should gratitude, you unappreciative, little, filthy-" as he was puncturing his words, about to call her a mudblood again when she scoffed, and he knew she found amusement at something he had said.

"What?" She paused to give a throaty laugh, causing him to freeze, because her voice was, dare he say, husky as hell. "Are you going to call me a mudblood again? Malfoy, it's gotten a bit old, don't you think?" She asked turning her head towards his slightly, her breath touching his face.

Dumbfounded, Draco loosened his grip on her arm, as she took two steps away from him and towards the door. With one last look at him, she opened the door, pausing for a second, with an almost guilty look.

"I- I shouldn't have…" She whispered but could not finish her words for some reason. Then she was gone before he could even close his mouth. Blinking twice, he snapped his jaw shut, pursing his lips tightly.

Draco then inhaled deeply, trying to stop the bubbling anger, as his fists tightly wound, nails digging into his palm. Reaching up to his tie, he loosened it, and then running his fingers through his now disheveled platinum blonde hair. With a biting huff, he kicked the bench as hard as could, twice. He hated the feeling of losing control of his emotions.

As he tried to calm down, he cursed under his breath, and decided could not calm down. Still needing to rid of some of his anger, he looked up, and proceeded to punch the wall as hard as he could. The ringing pain traveled up his arm, stinging just enough to distract him, if only for a minute.

'How dare that mudblood talk to me like that! Compare me to my father!' He growled to himself, leaning towards the door, throwing it open. Startling some second years, with wide eyes, they raced back into their compartment as he started down the hallway. He needed his mind off, of her, now, but honestly, had no idea where to go.

"I'm steady in the deep end of despair,
So far away, from safe and sound,
I've lost control,
I've lost control,

Where do I run now,
There's no easy way out…"

Not Much Later

Stepping inside the loo, Draco made his way to the mirror, examining his messy exterior, while he turned on the freezing water. With a splash to his face, he rubbed his eyes, shaking his hands of the excess droplets. He then looked at his reflection, patting his hair down slightly. Fixing it the best he could, tightening his tie, he huffed.

His brow frowned, still contemplating storming out to find the stupid mudblood whom he actually let get away. Shaking his head, he pulled out his wand, muttering a drying spell, leaving the loo. He then went back to his compartment, collecting his bags and his cloak. Walking over to a different open car on the train, he saw two of his, almost friends, sitting at a table together.

Promptly he slid across from them, into the open booth, resting his elbows on the table. Knitting his fingers together, he leaned his chin against his hands, as one of them, the boy with his mocha skin, looked up at Malfoy with a grin.

"Draco. This is, quiet the pleasant surprise." He chuckled lightly, and Draco just raised a brow at him. "I didn't think we'd see you until we'd already arrived at school." With that the person next to him turned from a conversation across the aisle way. With delighted gasp from the girl, she sent an obnoxiously wide smile at Draco, with a laugh.

"Draco!" She almost squeaked gleefully upon seeing him, which was downright irritating. "Where have you been hiding? I was sure you'd come sit with me- I mean, us." She added fixing her mistake, her eyes twitching to glance at the boy next to her.

'Pansy Parkinson is without a doubt the most irritating and obnoxious witch I have had the displeasure of meeting.' He thought to himself, as he sneered slightly, trying to forget the witch who came very close behind in second.

"I needed some time alone Parkinson. It hasn't exactly been the easiest, or the most pleasant summer, as you should already know." He replied with an eye roll. Draco glanced towards the mocha-dusted boy, nodding lightly, and proceeded to rest his hands upon the table. "Zabini." Draco said acknowledging the boy, then turned back to see Pansy upset.

"How many times must I tell you, to call me Pansy?" She scoffed, crossing her arms pouting a little. Draco found her pouting, child-like and completely annoying. "I'm sorry about your father though…" She added quietly, offering a sympathetic look, extending her hand to touch his.

Pulling his hands away, off the table, he locked his fingers together and ignored her hurt look. With his thumb, he began to fidget with the Malfoy head ring that rested on his pointer finger upon his left hand. He did not want her sympathies, or her attempt to comfort him, because frankly, Draco hated his father.

'Getting locked up in Azkaban was his own stupidity, whatever happens to him in there, he rightfully deserves it…' Draco thought sourly looking out the window.

"I do not; want to discuss my father Parkinson." He drawled, gritting his teeth for a second, as he remembered Granger's words. Angered by the still stinging memories, he inhaled deeply turning towards Blaise. "I assume your summer was better than mine." He said causing the other boy to raise his eyebrows.

"If by better you mean a needlessly boring one, you assumed correctly. "He answered monotonously, and sighed. "I just stayed at the house with my witch of a mother. She is currently is on a hunt for yet another wealthy husband. You'd think the Ministry of Magic would start to question how many times she's been widowed." Draco started a smirk, but it dropped quickly.

"I think, the Ministry of Magic is somewhat occupied at the moment." He quipped with a glib chortle. "Quite the storm's coming, or so I've heard."

Draco watched the expressions upon their faces change to a mix of horror and puzzlement. He was not going to tell either of them about his task, nor about the singular burning mark upon his left arm. Which, he still had no ideas how to even go about accomplishing said task.

'Of course, the Dark Lord was just punishing me for father's horrendous failures. By giving me such an impossible task, probably expecting me to fail…' Malfoy thought bitterly with a swallow. 'I'll show them what it means to be a true Malfoy…'

When a sudden thick black smoke filled the whole car, Draco whipped around trying to see, but could not. With a cough, it started to clear up, finding he was on his feet looking for the culprit. With all the bustling from other students, he sat back down with an eye roll.

Pansy started to reassure him that it was most likely a second year messing around with Peruvian instant darkness powder. Mentally agreeing with the second part, he still found it hard to believe it was some sort of prank.

"Back to what you were saying, what did you mean by, a storm is coming? Do you know something?" Blaise questioned softly, leaning across the table a little. Looking over the boy, Draco sighed loudly.

"Let's just say, I won't be returning to charms class next year." He said with a sneer, looking up as a bag moved just above them.

'Sneaking around Potter? Bet Granger couldn't wait to tell you and Weaslebee about everything she saw...' He thought to himself sneering, looking down and out the window. His anger towards everything that happened earlier with Granger returned full force, causing Draco to inhale sharply. The train then whistled loudly, notifying the students that they would be nearing Hogwarts within the next few minutes.

The train slowed to a stop, hissing loudly as Draco remained in his seat as his friends paused for him.

"You guys go on ahead. There's something I want to check out." He said, taking his jacket in hand, and then put it on. When they were gone, he stood fixing the buttons, and grabbing his things. He walked to the door, pulling down a shade so no one would see, and with a flick of his two fingers, the rest fallowed in suit.

"Didn't your mum ever tell you it's not polite to eavesdrop on people's conversations?" He spit out, pulled his wand out, and spun around. "PetrificusTotalus!"

The light from the tip of his wand formed, flying towards the invisible Harry Potter, hitting its target. With a loud thud, it fell into the aisle, as Draco walked towards him. Throwing back the invisibility cloak, he saw that his correct assumption, which currently lying frozen at Draco's feet.

"Oh yeah, she was dead before you could even wipe the drool from your chin." He said to him. "Whatever Granger may have told you, I will say it to you too. Leave it, alone Potter, or you will regret it." Draco stood up, angry, and then kicked the almost lifeless face; quiet sure, he had broken the nose. "Might as well enjoy the ride back to London…" He threw the cloak back down covering the body.

Leaving the train, presuming he was the last student, other than Potter, he made his way to the gate. He felt somewhat better about himself now that he had gotten someone to take his anger out on. It was actually quite easy to hurt Potty, simply because Draco purely hated him. Potter was an ungrateful sniveling failure, and to be candid, pathetically unintelligent really.

Granger on the other hand, was far from unintelligent and he wanted to hate her, but did not. After everything, she had said earlier, he should hate the stupid presumptuous mudblood. Draco saw his father as a weak follower and a complete waste space, even at Azkaban. Although, he did hate what she said. That he would end up as pathetic, in the same way his dad was. The thought disgusted him, made him want to prove how much better he could be.

Draco would be better; he would accomplish what the Dark Lord asked without hesitating. Failing the Dark Lord would not only endanger himself, but his mum as well. Since Lucius' arrest, Draco now held the title as the head of the Malfoy family for now. With that, he felt as if it was his job to make sure the both of them were safe.

Hating Granger would have made everything so much easier to deal with, and to be honest, it frustrated him that he did not. She insulted him, belittled him into a single-minded weak follower, which he was anything but. Proving to her and everyone for the matter, just how wrong they were.

In the end of the conversation, he remembered she had not even flinched when he called her a mudblood. She had the cheek to actually laugh, and turn to tell him as if it was no longer an insult. He huffed loudly, passing the gate, and made his way to the professor at his right, with one last thought.

'Stupid Granger… I will show you… And get out of my head…' He bit stopping to check in his bags.