Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or the Musical Lyrics I quote in each chapter.

Chapter Ten

I need a Minute Because It Has Begun

"Even a well lit place,
Can hide Salvation,
A map to a one man maze that never sees the sun,
Where the lost are the Hero's,
And the thieves are left to drown,
But everyone knows by now,
Fairy tales are not found,
They're written in the walls,

As we walk in a straight line,
down in the dirt with a landslide approaching,
but nothing could ever stop us,
from stealing our own place in the sun,
we will face the odds against us
and run into the fear we run from,
it has begun…"

It has Begun by Starset

Still Monday September 23rd, 1996

In the Hallways- After Dinner

Briskly rushing down the empty corridors that led to the Gryffindor common rooms, Hermione quickly made her way passed the occasional groups of wandering students and some of the rather chatty ghosts. Huffing as she ascended a set of stairs, she was feeling quite irritated by the disturbing thoughts of an obnoxious Slytheringit, which had been pestering her all day long. Said thoughts about him that she saw in her mind consisted of his mouth-watering scent that made her head dizzy from the mere memory and about earlier how she found herself looking towards his lips.

Just thinking about him yet again made her cheeks hot and her mouth go dry causing her to feel rather light headed. Inhaling a deep gulp of breath, she walked past The Fat Lady Painting, into the Gryffindor common rooms trying to clear the current thoughts clouding her mind. The only reasonable explanation she could think of as to why she was thinking about, him was that she was most likely nervous about meeting him within the next half an hour and without her wand nonetheless.

Once inside her room, she discarded her book bag along with her suddenly heavy dress robes onto her bed but remained in her sweater vest along with her plaid knee length skirt. With a sigh, she reached inside the pocket of her now unessential dress robes to retrieve her potion of Liquid Luck taking in hand to put it with her other potions inside her chest at the end of her bed.

'Don't want anyone who is nosey finding this, so charming all of my potions to look identical seems easy enough... Better safe, than sorry. That is, after I get my wand back…' Hermione thought to herself as she placed the potion down in a smaller box, before her. Just when she was about to close the box, she saw the Sleekeasy Hair Potion she had bought from Fred and George's shop just before the start of the school year. Lifting her hand to feel her hair gently, she rolled her eyes thinking about how Malfoy told her that her hair had been in quite the state and unfortunately, the prat was right about one thing.

Pulling at the lid of the potion, she then took in the wafting scent of peaches and cream with a small smile while closing her eyes. Looking over the small print upon the back of the potion, she read that it took fifteen minutes to take effect and that the potion had three uses total. Shrugging she took a rather quick sip of the potion, hoping that it would work on her monstrously frizzy hair; she then was startled by the dorms room door being throwing open harshly then shut behind the person.

"Hey I was just looking for you. I need to talk to you about…" the petite familiar voice started to say as Hermione promptly stood straight up with the Hair potion still in hand, and then turned to see Ginny looking at her in confusion. When Ginny's eyes went to what was in Hermione's hand, her eyes widened significantly, as she advanced forward in pursuit of the potion. "Is that a Sleekeasy potion? Why would you need that? Wait, are you gonna go spend some time with Ron?" with question after question, Hermione put the lid back on, shoving the potion back inside her chest and then proceeded to close it with soft gasp.

"Wait? Why on earth would you think I was using a hair potion just to go spend time with Ron?" Hermione wondered looking towards the youngest Weasley in puzzlement as her brows knitted together. Even though Hermione knew what her friend was on about, she still asked remaining silent because even though she had some feelings towards Ron, she also knew that he did not return said feelings.

"Well it is rather obvious that you have some sort of romantic feelings towards him, you know? It's not that difficult to see really… Hang on. If you're not using it to go see Ron, then who are you going out to see?" Ginny gasped yanking on Hermione's arm pulling her towards the bed, the two sat down as she tossed her red hair over her shoulder. The younger girl stared at her waiting for a response, her grip upon Hermione's arm tightened as Hermione thought about what excuse she could give her.

"I- Uh, well, you see Ginny... The thing is that, well I'm not actually meeting anyone. I'm just going to the library to study a bit for a quiz in charms. That's all, honestly…" she lied quickly then started chewing upon her bottom lip, knowing there was no way on earth the younger girl had bought it. Pulling away from Ginny, she stood up to fix her sweater vest along with her skirt while avoiding eye contact with her redheaded friend.

"Hermione Jean Granger... You are frankly a worse liar than Ron is when Mum asks if he's gone and eaten before super…" Ginny jumped to her feet in what Hermione assumed was shock while she continued to nibble upon her bottom lip. Glancing down at her wristwatch, she noticed it was far past the time that she told Malfoy to meet her in the library and then suddenly felt her hair heating up lightly, which meant the potion, was working.

"I will do anything for you if you just tell me who it is you're meeting. I mean, we are friends aren't we? Friends tell each other things like secret meetings with boys…" Ginny explained while Hermione mentally weighed her options of telling Ginny that she was in fact, meeting none other than Malfoy in the library.

If she didn't tell Ginny, she risked the chance of someone attacking her again, with no one knowing where she was at, and ultimately upsetting her only girl friend greatly. Then if she were to tell Ginny on the account that she asked her not to tell Harry and Ron, she would not only have someone knowing where she was, but also could ask to barrow her wand until she got her tonight. Pressing her tongue on the inside of her right cheek, she sighed deciding she needed to tell her friend.

"Fine I will tell you, but you have to swear to me Ginny that you won't tell Harry or Ron, especially Ron… If it goes as planned then you have to promise that you won't tell them what it was I was actually doing in the library. They would try to talk me out of it or cause some sort of a scene that would be completely unnecessary." Hermione sighed, lifting her hand to touch her now smooth curls as she proceeded to brush them over her shoulder while Ginny nodded in agreement.

"Yes, alright, I promise that I won't tell them, but you're starting to worry me… Now, tell me just who are you meeting with? He honestly can't be that bad…" Ginny readily agreed to Hermione's conditions while crossing her arms and then progressed to give a rightfully deserved concerned expression. Looking around the room, Hermione shifted her weight onto her right hip, lifting her hand towards her face while lowering her head she reached upwards and pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration.

"Try not to be too cross with me, but I need to meet with… Malfoy…" she paused when she said his name, knowing just how her friend was going to react as she looked up to see Ginny's eyes widening, her jaw clenching while her nostrils flared. "Wait… just let me explain. Ginny I need to know what happened on Friday and just because he's a right git doesn't change the fact that he is probably the only person who actually knows what really happened during patrols and you know it. As soon as I know anything, I swear, I will tell you. I just can't tell Ron or Harry, and you know that too… I need answers, along with, well, my… wand…" Hermione practically growled when she said wand, still angry that he had her wand. Shaking her head, she turned to look towards her friends facial features was still hard, but somewhat softened as she rolled her eyes.

"What? That's why you're worrying about your hair, fixing it up to see him… You know what, no; I don't want to know about that… What I want to know about is why in Merlin's name does that Ferret even have your wand?" Ginny hissed through her teeth while her upper lip lifted then lowered quickly through the ire expression etched upon her face. Shaking her head, she threw her hands down in clenched fists as Hermione stood there waiting for her friend to respond. "Gods, we all knew that it was only a matter of time before he caused some sort of a problem. I don't see how it would ever be a good idea to pair you with him, as your lab partner… I will give you one hour before I tell Harry, and once you have your wand, I am with Harry and Ron on this. You can't trust him, bloody hell Hermione, he's Draco Malfoy, needn't I remind you of that..." Ginny spat furiously walking past her to the other side of the room over to where her bed was located.

"You have it all wrong; I was not, fixing my hair to see Malfoy, and if you must know I was doing it for me. Ginny, I know exactly who he is, and I would never, trust him, but you need to understand that I have to get some answers along with my wand back." She scoffed at her friend, and began chewing upon her bottom lip yet again while looking at her feet then glanced briefly at her watch. "I promise, after tonight, aside from Potions class, I will not talk to him. Now, I have to go. I'll be back within the next hour." Hermione sighed softly while she reached out to give Ginny's upper right arm a reassuring squeeze before heading out the door of the dormitories.

'That honestly could have gone a bit better…' she thought to herself while rolling her eyes as she approached the Fat Lady Painting, and headed down the stairs in the direction of the library. All she had to do was get though with talking to him tonight, while she attempted to tolerate the prat in Potions class and everything would be fine. 'That's right, everything will be fine…'

"I need a minute,
To get my head straight,
Just to hit it,
Before it's too late,

Welcome to the land of the fail,
I hope you brought your soul for sale,
The land of the smash,
And Fairy tale.

The truth of life,
Is close to Hell,
The best you'll be,
Is nearly dead or failed…"

I need a minute by Imagine Dragons

Still Monday September 23rd, 1996

Just outside the Library- Right after dinner

'She had better be here soon… I'd rather this be over quickly, and it would be nice if she stopped being so, so damn inquisitive. I don't want to have to do something, drastic in order to get her to back off….' He mentally contemplated to himself as he stood in the entrance of the library while he couldn't help but still try thinking of what he would tell her about Friday. Reaching his right hand up to his face, he rubbed his mouth along with his jawline and pinched the bridge of his nose in irritation.

Pushing the thoughts of what he would say to Granger, he remembered the relatively thick confrontation he had with Pansy just after Potions class. Draco honestly would never fully understand her incessant need to bother him with every little thing that she doesn't completely agree with, like having Granger as a lab partner in Potions class for example.

Remembering exactly what happened in the hallway, he had scoffed when she had pulled him into a nook, lecturing him about talking so casually with the 'Mudblood'. She even had the nerve to accuse him, for some delusional reason, of fraternizing with her, as if, he would lower himself to sully around with her, ever. Then before he could ask her about what she had meant the night of the attack, she left him standing alone, with quite a bit of a headache.

Shaking his head in annoyance, he proceeded into the library, pushing away any obnoxious thoughts of, Parkinson, and that left him with just ones of Granger. Ones that involved her rather curious look she had given him right before she walked out of the door earlier, because he could have swore that she was looking at his mouth, but was most likely wrong. This was Granger after all; she was the high and mighty Gryffindor Princess whilst holding the title of 'Brightest Witch of their Age'. There was no way she was looking at him like that- Not that he even wanted her to, ever, at all.

'Stop… thinking about… her…' he practically growled to himself as he walked past several book shelves towards the back seat he usually saw her sitting at. With a sigh, he sat his bag down, then progressed to look down at his pocket watch he held inside his dress robes, finding that it was almost half past the time she said to meet her.

Rolling his eyes, he huffed loudly, somewhat relived that she was late because he was still not exactly sure what he was actually tell her. Several factors played into what he should say about what happened with the attacker or the reason as to why he had an idea of where her wand was located. Every plausible lie he could think of, seemed too farfetched, especially for her, which meant all he could actually do was sneer to while clenching his teeth together in frustration.

'Let's see, I have a prying know-it-all inquiring questions, a slightly problematic, yet extremely obnoxious Ex sticking her nose in my business as well, whom might have been the bint to attack me the other night and a task that needs tending to discreetly while not, drawing attention. Splendid job so far… At least I have the Liquid Luck… That should help…' Draco thought to himself in a huff while he saw none other than Granger advancing towards him from the aisle way between several bookshelves. When she reached the table, he watched her cross her arms whilst chewing upon her bottom lip and looking down at him.

"You're late Granger…," he stated monotonously as he raised his left eyebrow and observed her nod then shrug lightly. When she reached for the chair next to him probably to sit down, he lifted his left hand to grab the chair before she could pull it out while shaking his head no. Rolling his eyes, he stood up, fixed his robes, then grabbed his bag and motioned for her to fallow him. "I'm taking you to where it all happened, to see if you can recall anything else that happened before I explain." He said to her as she took a step towards him causing his jaw to tense.

'Damned cinnamon…' he thought stalked in the direction of the library threshold while she followed him out of the library into the surprisingly empty corridors, and down a set of stairs. Whatever he was going to come up with in the next ten minutes, it had better be good he thought, or he would end up with having to tell her what in actuality happened that night.

"It has begun,
Into the dark below,
Evading shadows,
Blind in a rabbit's hole,
We fall beneath the earth,
And watch the shell come unraveled,
As the seeds begin to rise,
Awaking a starlit fate as we wait in the night,
It's written in the walls…"

It has Begun by Starset

Still Monday September 23rd, 1996

In the Hallways- Forty-Five minutes since supper

Following Malfoy down a set of stairs, Hermione couldn't help but think about what Ginny had said to her, accusing her of doing her hair just to meet with, him. It was completely absurd to presume that she, Hermione Granger, would ever look at him in a romantic light. There were so many things wrong with that sentence that she didn't even know where to begin.

'Although… he really does have a set of nice lips, and that, that mouth watering, musky cologne is so-' Hermione felt her cheeks heating quickly as her eyes widened at the thoughts that swam in her mind. 'Wait! What in Merlin's name am I thinking? This is Malfoy! Git extraordinaire! He calls you mudblood… he- he tells lies- he will probably end up a death eater in the long run…' she chastised herself, nibbling upon her bottom lip, as he turned to look back at her for a second.

"What's the matter with you Granger? You're usually so chatty, but I haven't heard a word from you since, well potions class." Malfoy remarked pulling her from her thoughts as she shook her head and inhaled deeply.

"Just waiting for you to explain things… anything… or maybe everything. I don't have all night you know…," she snapped at him slightly irritated, and surprisingly her anger was not towards him, but with her stupid thoughts. He stopped walking to turn towards her to give her a rightfully earned sneer and a look of sheer arrogance. "Well go on then, don't stop now. Show me where it all happened." She encouraged lackadaisically watching his eyes go from annoyance to what she had recently come to know as, a raw anger.

"What gives you the idea you think you can talk to me like that Granger? Filthy mudblood…" he growled walking over towards a small nook in the corridor next to a window and bent down to grab something. Hermione eagerly watched him to see what he was doing when he scoffed aloud and then looked over his shoulder at her while waving her wand inside his right hand. With a gasp, she lunged for her wand when he pulled it just out of her reach clicking his tongue causing her knock into him while she grabbed the wall to steady the both of them.

Panting, slightly out of breath, she suddenly realized their current position and looked away from the beginnings of his signature smirk at her eye level. Her cheeks flushed a little while she felt his toned chest brushing against hers while she stood sandwiched between him and the stone inside the nook. The musky scent surrounding her made her head spin wildly as she attempted to move, but was stopped when he place hands on either sides of her, essentially entrapping her.

Malfoy clicked his tongue yet again, his warm breath touching the left side of her face lightly, as she saw her wand alone with his inside his left hand next her face. Seeing the small pink flash of skin in the palm of his hand, she sucked in a mouth full of air and turned to look him in his steely eyes.

"See here's the thing Granger, I don't owe you anything. I don't owe you an explanation anymore because I already have what I wanted. What's to stop me from erasing your little so-called memories of that night completely and be on my merry way? Honestly, I mean I do have your wand…" he mumbled lightly, his smirk sharp and cutting as she just stared up at him trying to think of a way to get it from the git, while his smirk left as quickly as it came.

Blinking twice, she began to chew lightly upon her bottom lip watching his eyes go from hers, to what she assumed was her lips. Hermione felt her heart beginning to race somewhat erratically, as the warmth of him covering her completely made her feel lightheaded. Looking into his gray eyes, she stopped biting her lip, allowing them to part a little, while letting her tongue slip out to wet them briskly. Swallowing the sudden lump in her throat, frozen in anticipation as she could have sworn that he was leaning downwards towards her.

Hermione couldn't think, let alone breathe as her eyelids felt suddenly heavy and she found her head moving closer towards his. Inhaling his scent, through her half-lidded eyes she watched him, raise his free hand to cup her jaw then allow his thumb to softly brush against them. She reveled in the electric burning feeling of his cool silky skin touching her, gliding from the corner of her mouth and across her damp lips.

Gasping as his thumb gently pulled at her bottom lip causing her heart to skip a beat at the same time as she shivered from the contrasting temperatures of his hands. Trying to breathe she felt him getting closer, if that was even possible she thought to herself, letting her nails dig into the palms of her hands. Her fists clenched together tightly while she let her eyes close, not wanting the feelings he invoked inside her to end.

'Malfoy…' the single word came to her flustered mind as she felt her eyes snap all the way open, and reach up to his chest to shove him backwards. The two of them stood panting, eyes wide in shock at the intimate moment they had just shared. Hermione reached for her wand, ripping it out of his burning hand, and sharply spun on her feet away from him. Answers be damned, she needed to get away from him, and she needed to scratch the image of his flushed face from her mind along with the hot fiery memories of him and his damned touch.