Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the lyrics I quote in each chapter.

Chapter Eleven

Salty Sweet

"Problem lies in the answer I won't find,
to the question I know hasn't crossed your mind,

Heart beat a step,
Find it hard to catch my breath,
Put this one to rest,
Damned if I do it,
Bored if I don't,
No winners in this race,
When you're caught in this chase,

We fear rejection,
Prize attention,
Crave affection,
Dream of perfection…"

Salty Sweet by MS MR

Monday September 23rd, 1996

In the Hallway, Alone- Just Before the "Moment"

Crouching down to his knees in order to retrieve her stupid wand, Draco scoffed aloud, tossing a knowing look over his shoulder at Granger and he lifted his hand. Listening to her soft gasp, he watched her dive for the wand inside his hand, but for some reason a singular thought came to his mind. Said thought had to do with what he would tell her when he had to explain just how he knew her wand was here, and that would not do.

Seeing this as his opportunity to fix things, he pulled her wand just out of reach while clicking his tongue at her slow movements. His victory had been somewhat short lived as Granger who was so damned clumsy stumbled and then knocked right into him while gripping his dress robes, presumably to stop from falling flat on her arse, yet again. Somewhat aggravated by her, Draco then proceeded to step towards the wall inside the nook forcing her back against the wall behind the two of them while he placed his hands on both sides of her.

Staring down at her rather disconcerted expression, he clicked his tongue yet again, exhaling just as she whipped her face to the side so that his warm breath touched her cheek lightly. Smirking rather maliciously down at Granger, Draco saw her turning slowly to look up at him through her bare eyelashes and her doe like brown eyes. The second he saw her eyes looking into his, he could have cursed aloud at the rushing feeling she caused just by that, that damned innocent expression. Subtly clearing his throat, Draco turned away his gaze from her eyes by taking his time to look over her pale smooth face with freckles dusted carefully upon the bridge of her nose and across her cheeks.

"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, forcing his unique Malfoy smirk he looked her up and down briefly while his smirk left as quickly as it came. Letting his gray eyes, wonder towards her supple rosy lips that were pursed in thought, as she slowly sucked in her bottom lip and began to nibble.

'…Merlin… She has got to stop doing that…' he thought to himself as she stopped biting her lip, allowing them to part a little, while letting her tongue slip out to wet them briskly. Draco suddenly found it hard to swallow, as if it wasn't hard enough just trying to breathe because of the aroma of her and that intoxicating cinnamon tickling the air.

Watching her eyelids slow closing, while he found that he had moved closer towards her and if he was seeing right, she too started to move closer towards him. Feeling like he had been drowning in a pool of that damned Amortentia, Draco shakily lifted his hand, if anything, wanting to feel her skin underneath his fingers, just once more.

Trying to swallow the thick nerves rising like bile in his throat, he raised his right hand up slowly letting their skin meet in melding warmth. In a sharp gasp of air, Draco gradually allowed his hand to cup her jaw then allow his thumb to softly brush against her. He reveled in the stimulating smoldering feeling that overcame him from the feeling her skin as he glided his thumb from the corner of her mouth and across her damp lips.

Unexpectedly shuddering, wanting nothing more to feel them in a completely different way, with his own lips and he wanted it now. The sensation of her sucking in cool air from her intake of breath against his thumb, gently pulling at her bottom lip, he bowed his head wanting a taste.

Just before, he was about to lean down towards her, he felt smaller hands meet palm flat against his chest then shove him backwards roughly. At the sight of the strewn Granger before him caused, Draco to realize what he had done exactly while lost in the sensations that still tingled inside him because of her.

If it had been anyone else, he wouldn't have frozen shocked by his behavior but that was the thing, that it wasn't just anyone. The girl standing just before him just had to be the mudbloodthat he couldn't bring himself to hate no matter how much he wanted to, because why wouldn't it be the know-it-all Granger.

That being beside the point, he stared down towards her waiting for some sort of a negative reaction or quite a few choice words from the witch, but instead all she did was snatch back her wand and run. Standing there in the hallway, now alone, all he could do was think about how soft her skin felt beneath his fingers while his head still spun with cinnamon.

"Nothing here to see,
Just a kid like me,
trying to cuss and see,
trying to figure it out,

Nothing better to do,
When I'm stuck on you,
And I'm still here,
Trying to figure it out,

Getting hard to sleep,
But it is in my dreams,
But it's killing me,
To try and figure it out…"

Figure it out by Royal Blood

Thursday September 26th, 1996

In the Courtyard- Eleven in the Morning

The chilled autumn breeze twirled around carrying fallen leaves casually while Draco continued walking alone through the courtyard with his hands tucked inside his jacket pockets. Pausing just beside the tree he usually found himself at, he inhaled a cold breath of air tilting his head back to look into the sky. It was a dull gray blanket of bitter clouds, while the sun did not shine through nor did he see any of the baby blue color, just, gray.

Today had been the first time he attended potions class since Monday, it had also been the first time he had seen her, since Monday and he was still not sure how he felt about all of it. Thankfully, during potions they had a quiz so they had individual seating and could sit anywhere in the classroom as long as they were to stay quiet. Granger had sat near the front of the classroom beside Weaslebee and Potter, which had been a relief, but when she didn't even look it his direction it had been a bit of a disappointment to Draco for some unbeknownst reason.

That being somewhat irrelevant, he sighed aloud and thought about the only thing he had been able to think about since the moment they had shared in the hallway with Granger. Figuring out why or what it all meant had proven to be an unnecessarily difficult challenge in itself and that alone irritated him even more.

Naturally, he would brush aside what happened with a girl, but what happened was anything but natural and that was to put it mildly. Sudden scuffling of shoes against the stone ground sounded behind Draco yanking him from his thoughts causing him turn to see Zabini standing there with his arms crossed and his head tilted.

"Now how did I know just where to find you?" Blaise chuckled softly under his breath making Draco lift his eyebrows while turning to face his friend completely. Unfortunately, Granger had not been the only person he had fought shy of this week, and now that Blaise had him cornered meant, talking. Draco watched his friend reach into his pocket and pull out a cream-colored envelope with a red stamp upon the back and his name sprawled across the front. "Here, Slughorn asked me to give you this. I presume it is to his dinner party tomorrow night for his top students that he believes are worthy for the Slug Club."

"Right… So it seems like you've got a bit of luck if you ask me Zabini." Draco mumbled leisurely with a click of his tongue, causally shrugged and taking the note in hand to slide it into his dress ropes pocket. Watching his friend nod in agreement, Draco could not help but think about how much he was keeping to himself lately, and how heavy he suddenly felt.

"Not sure luck has anything to do with it mate, and I would like to think you've recently just become rather predictable as of late. Would you care to share as to why that may be?" Blaise asked with a loud sigh that made Draco nod slowly without actually looking at his mocha friend, and thought about how true that was. Now he needed another place he could go to think by himself without someone interrupting his many thoughts and still get the cool fresh air that he wanted.

"Me? Predictable? See I think you've confused me with Nott or Parkinson, because I am not predictable nor is there anything to share." Malfoy scoffed quite vociferously pulling out his pocket watch to briefly check the time and then turned his gaze back towards the sky like earlier before Blaise had arrived. Pursing his lips together tightly, Draco thumbed his Malfoy ring that sat upon his left hand whilst thinking about how he honestly didn't have someone to talk with.

"Be that as it may, Draco, but I want you to know that my offer still stands. If you feel like talking with someone, I am here to listen. We are mates after all and there is no way you could convince me that you are just, okay. I won't just accept it, not when I see otherwise written upon every action, choice or expression of yours these days." Blaise said evenly while Draco just stood there mouth ajar in some sort of lost expression, knowing that his friend actually cared.

With a singular nod, Blaise took a step towards Draco, placing his hand upon his shoulder to give two distinctive pats and spoke softly. "Good luck with the dinner party mate, I hear Potter is going along with Granger and Longbottom. Now, I have to go meet with Theo in the owlery, so I'll talk to you later." Blaise snickered quietly, turning to walk back towards the castle doors as Draco groaned and then reached inside his pocket to read the letter.

Mr. Malfoy,

I am delighted to inform you that I cordially invite you to attend a small dinner party with a few other hand-selected students. We are celebrating the accomplishments of each of you by joining the Slug Club and would love you to attend. Please wear your best dress robes and go to my private office beside the classroom tomorrow night at six.

Professor Slughorn

Pocketing the letter, he sneered while rolling his eyes knowing that if he did not attend then it would draw attention, but as Zabini had said Granger was going and that was less than ideal. What made it worse was he still did not even know what that was on Monday. Mudblood or not, touching Granger had been definitely electric, it had been everything he had wished for in that moment and it meant that either magic had been involved or he felt something for the witch. Something, whether it was lust or just a small temporary fixation that obviously had nothing to do with Granger herself, but with her being a girl.

'Magic is the obvious answer, some sort of a love potion… but there is a possibility that magic is not involved… ' Draco thought to himself sighing because there was no way in Salazar's name that he felt something, for, Granger. Figuring out whether it was just magic or plain attraction would be simple; all he had to do was get her to admit it to him tomorrow night during or after the dinner party, he thought while clicking his tongue and headed for the castle.

"Sir, excuse my for interrupting,
Taking care of business,
In these bases steps,
Into all those places,
What I face is my Lord's thesis,
Writing it based on those pieces,

Wanna know more,
Pay the price you will,
Then likely to cry in grief,
Guilty like a thief,

Collection of enemies keep to play,
Placing target on steep tray…"

The Dark Crow Smiles by Iwasaki Taku

Thursday September 26th, 1996

At the Malfoy Manor- Eight at night

Fingering the Black's coin in her hand, Bellatrix allowed her lip to curl into a sneer while thinking about her nephew, Draco. It was a surprise when she found out the true nature of his task to say the least, and she was still not convinced that he had the brass to do what needed to happen. Whipping her head to her right as she then stalked towards the dining room threshold and proceeded to push the doors open. At the head of the table sat the Dark Lord talking with the sniveling Peter Pettigrew standing at his side, as the two both stopped talk to look up towards her.

"My Lord…" she said in a debauched manor swiftly bowing her head towards him and then walked down the length of the table towards them. "Might I have a word with you regarding my nephew's first task as a death eater my Lord…," she asked raising her chin just as she narrowed her eyes to look at Wormtail hoping to convey the massage loudly and rather clearly. Staring down into Voldemort's snake like eyes, she watched Pettigrew scamper away like the rat he was, shutting the doors softly behind him with his wand.

"While I admire your persistence Bellatrix, I have already stated my opinion on the matter about his task. If he is incapable of finishing his set task, than there would be no reason to keep him alive, or would you care to disagree with me." The Dark Lords voice slithered icily in cutting words that dared her to disagree with him. He rose his hand in a delicate like manor with his fingers extended to express his words ever further more and then allowed his head to sway to the side as if he rolling his shoulders.

"No my Lord, I do not disagree with you, I just think that it would be best to have the other boy helping things along smoothly. During his interdiction as a death eater this summer, he seemed more than capable of doing the deed, which is unfortunately more than I can say for Draco… All I want is for things to go according to plan and if we entrust another, Malfoy, we could ruin our chance-" she snarled with a short glib snort followed by a smirk but was cut off by Voldemort shaking his head.

"I have another task for the other boy, he has his orders, but even if he did not, I would still keep Draco with his set task. Your lack in faith for the boy speaks volumes Bellatrix and makes my decision to go with Draco feel more appropriate. Now, that is all I have to say about the topic and I do believe Wormtail had informed me I received a letter concerning rather imperative information." Voldemort stated to Bellatrix whom nodded with her head hung in an obedient manner.

"Yes my Lord." She agreed begrudgingly heading just outside the door where she found with her sister, Narcissa standing in the empty hallway with her lips pursed tightly. "Cissy, a bit of eavesdropping are we? Making Severus take the vow seems to have been the right choice after all. You must be proud with your selection…" she chortled through her teeth with a squeak as he walked past her sister before she could get a response.

"A sudden spark,
Ignites,

And from the dark,
A light,
Breaks the silence,
We made a tear,
In time,

A simple spark,
Ignites…"

Feel Like Falling by Digital Daggers

Thursday September 26th, 1996

Gryffindor Common rooms- Quarter past ten at night

Sitting with her legs tucked to her side, Hermione watched fascinated by the flames that sat inside the fireplace lapping at the crackling burning wood. Tilting her head to her right, with a quill between her fingers, she began to chew upon her bottom lip jumping with a gasp as she bit down slightly harder than she originally meant to. A small amount of crimson tang claimed her taste just as she tore her gaze from the fire before her reaching to wipe the droplet of blood from her lip with her thumb.

For the past three days, she had been doing nothing but thinking about what had happened with, him, and honestly, it had made her lip biting habit worse. It probably had to do with how she ended up running from him with no choice words shared, and no anger of any kind where there should have been considering who she had allowed to touch her affectionately. Malfoy was a right prat that she should have yelled at, should have told him all about how he was going to end up behind bars alongside his father, but didn't.

'How could something from someone so dreadful, feel so good…?' she wondered to herself before she could stop the thought and the memories of his touch along with his musk made her head spin. Hermione then cleared her throat whilst not listening to Harry and Ron bickering about Quidditch tryouts this Sunday behind her. Twirling her quill between her thumb and her middle finger, Hermione looked down at her notes realizing there was no way she was going to get any studying done when she knew just who was attending tomorrow night's dinner party alongside her- well aside from Harry, Ginny, and Neville of course.

"What do you think 'Mione?" Ron asked pulling her from her rather overwhelming thoughts while she closed the lid to her ink bottle. Looking towards her two friends she blinked twice somewhat confused by the question she tilted her head and squinted her eyes at them.

"Sorry, I didn't exactly hear the both of you. What about?" Hermione inquired as she licked her lip, wincing lightly and then sighed. She knew that he would most likely be somewhat irritated with her for not paying attention to their conversation, but tried to remain oblivious as she straightened her stack of books smiling.

"Quidditch tryouts. You know how Ron here wanted to have a go at a spot on the team. We were talking 'bout what position you'd think he'd best at. I was just sayin' he that I think would make an excellent Keeper." Harry grinned widely as his head bobbed slightly then stopped with his brow frowned and he reached up to mess with his glasses. Hermione smiled lightly towards her two friends in agreement, standing up to collecting her things while she looked up to see Ginny entering the room.

"Well you know, how I feel about flying, therefore about Quidditch, it's ghastly but, I would have to agree with Harry. I think it's a somewhat of a brilliant idea. Now I need a book from the library before it closes, so I'll be right back." She quickly lied, eyeing Ginny as she quickly pushed past the group of Gryffindors standing by the Fat Lady painting, and out into the hallway. Her undetected escape had been rather fleeting when she heard footsteps behind her along with a familiar laugh and voice.

"Would you stop it already? You… have been dodging me for three whole days now, and while I commend how long you've managed to actually avoid talking to me. But if you'd remembered, you promised answers, and I intend to have them if you don't want Harry or Ron about your little secret meeting with that Ferret." Ginny tapped her foot while Hermione slowly turned around towards her as a feeling dread and guilt wash over her to see her friend with a pinched expression. With an exaggerated huff, Hermione rolled her eyes and hugged her books closer to her thinking about what happened.

"Alright, as you probably know, I got my wand back, but… I didn't get any answers about what happened. I left before I could because, he was being more of a git than usual and as promised; I haven't talked to him since. He hasn't even been to class since he got that stupid Liquid Luck potion anyways." Hermione said quickly looking around the hallway to make sure that no one was listening to them while she heard Ginny scoff.

"He's up to something, and with his hands on something like that, who knows what will happen…" Ginny sighed while she shook her head in worried manor then rolled her eyes. Feeling relived that her friend believed her, Hermione relaxed and thought about what she had said, because in all honesty, it wasn't a lie, it just left out some relatively unimportant details that had no need to be said aloud. "Have you told Harry that Malfoy has the Liquid Luck yet?" Ginny wondered, letting her arms drop to her sides and exhaled loudly. Hermione took to steps closer towards her friend, looking around once more, and then leaned closer.

"Actually, he doesn't really have it, he just thinks he does, for now. I'm really hoping that it stays that way for a while because I don't want to imagine him actually having something like that." She whispered quietly, stepping backwards away from her friend to look around yet again. Ginny gave a smile lopsided smile shaking her head slightly with a giggle as Hermione grinned raising an eyebrow towards her friend.

Hermione continued to smile at her redheaded friend, as the two of them started back towards the Gryffindor common rooms while talking. Hermione then found herself thinking about Malfoy once more, about what happened, and then allowed her mind to wander to what was inexorably going to happen.

Inevitably she would have to face him, tomorrow night along with talking about why she reacted the way she did. Sure she wanted answers just as much as she had the other night, if not more, but there was so many questions that she doubted that one conversation would be enough to sate her new found curiosity concerning Malfoy. She also knew that whatever was happening, between not only them, but also out in the wizarding world, was just beginning.