Thank you all so much, to whomever is reading this story. It means so much to see people actually liking where this is going, which I would like to add is my first story to ever reach above 50k words, and surprisingly not done. Not even, close. I also want to thank the four reviews I got last chapter, whether it was about grammar issues, bolding problems, or just plain nice reviews. I love each and every review so keep them coming. In addition, I tried to fix those problems, so just give me a review if you see any more. Much Love- Madi

Disclaimer- I do not own Harry Potter or the Lyrics that I quote in each chapter.

Chapter Thirteen

Hurricane

"Welcome to the inner workings of my mind,
So dark and foul I can't disguise,
Can't disguise nights like this,
I become afraid,
Of the darkness in my heart,
Hurricane…"

Hurricane by MS MR

Tuesday October 1st, 1996

After Potions Class outside in the Hallway

In a rather hastened set pace, Draco rushed past students whom casually walked down the corridor, as he watched the somewhat bushy hair from Granger's head bobbing rhythmically in-between Weasel and Potter. Huffing loudly, he swerved around a group of fourth years while he looked upwards towards her; he watched them closely as they seemed to be heading towards the library. For the past four bloody days, she had managed to avoid talking to him, even during potions class yesterday and today, which granted was an accomplishment in itself, but enough was enough.

In all honesty, as Draco thought about Friday after the dinner party, the more he thought it the more he could not even remember what he had been thinking at the time when he just told her about the attacker and about- her wanting him. Obvious or not, it was something that should not have been said aloud, ever, let alone to her face in the heat of the moment.

There just was something about her telling him to leave her alone that did not sit well with Draco, and no matter how much he thought about his task, it seemed far more suffocating without having some sort of a familiarity in his life. Such as bothering a certain know-it-all, ruffling her tamed feathers, like he use to in past school years, when things were far less complicated. On the other hand, maybe it had to do with the newly found cinnamon scent that he begrudgingly and gradually started to miss when she initially started to ignore him along with her fiery touch.

Rolling his eyes at his quite daft thoughts, he rounded the corner as he stood from a fair distance away, observing the 'Golden Trio' splitting ways, which left the witch all alone to head towards the library where she always went at this time. Taking two strides down that hallway towards her, Draco followed her around yet another corner and up a set of stairs just outside the library.

Once inside he pursued closely enough to see her but far enough that she would not see him, and with a shake of his head, Draco then headed down the aisle near the back and paused with only a singular bookshelf between them. Peeking through the small opening above the books to see her sitting at her regular table in the back, he inhaled softly and then let himself rub his pointer finger against the small scar upon his right palm.

Then right on cue, Granger pulled out a book that seemed somewhat familiar to him, and when she opened to her bookmark just before taking one brief glance at her wristwatch, he gulped. Slowly but surely, he tilted his head to his right while gritting his teeth together for a second and took two steps around the bookshelf, and the only sound he could hear was of their breathing and his dress shoes echoing against marbled flooring.

"D'you always have that bushy head of yours in a book, Granger?" He asked aloud as he stopped walking towards her when her brown irises tore themselves away from the page riddled with ink inside her book to look at him. Giving her a familiar fleeting glimpse of his signature smirk, he watched her roll her eyes and then go back to reading as if he was not here. Raising his eyebrows at her palpable effort in ignoring him, which he would like to add she had been doing for days now. Draco then shook his head, pulled out the chair at her table opposite of her and sat across from her.

"What do you want Malfoy?" she sighed, speaking clearly yet lowly at the same time while not even looking away from her book. Grinning at the sound of her voice for a slight second then realizing what he was doing he stopped and cleared his throat in order to get her eye contact. Once she looked up towards him, her curly hair strewn in a mildly tamed mess aside from a singular curl that hung in her face, Draco then ignored the urge to brush it behind her ear. After clearing his throat once more, he then scooted his chair forwards and turned to watch her blink twice as if telling him to get on with it.

"I wanted to know if you've given what said on Friday a bit of thought." he scoffed, shifting in his seat, while crossing his arms and raising a singular brow in attempts to elicit an answer. Granger stared at him for a second, lifting her right arm up to rest her elbow on the table top while reaching to rest her hand against her forehead.

"You mean when you informed me about your ludicrous assumption that I want you, which is quite hilarious, really Malfoy… or are you asking if I have I thought about the other thing you said. You know the one where you said someone attacked us, which you did not tell a professor, and thus creating a lie of sorts, that could be potentially problematic to say the least." She hissed lightly dropping her hand to close her book roughly, as Draco nodded twice. Trying not to think about what else happened during their little encounter after the dinner party, he shifted in his spot and failed when the memories involving the sensation her skin against his and the feeling her breath against his face interrupted his thoughts.

"Well then yes, I surprisingly have thought about it, more about the second one though because the first one is completely outrageous. Anyways, how about I start by asking why in Merlin's name did you lie about what happened?" she added harshly and he shook his head before speaking.

"First of all, Granger, my assumption is far from absurd because it is the truth-" he clicked his tongue lifting his right hand to waggle a finger to stop her pointless protests before they began and then proceeded to continue talking. "-and you know it. Next, as I said before, I didn't tell anyone because that's what you do when you don't want others to know, isn't it? I lied because I want to find out just who attacked us- me, and why…" he leaned forward so that his chest pressed against the table while he stared right into her eyes, with a biting expression that dared her to tell him something different.

"Are you mad? Say that you actually find the person who attacked us, what then Malfoy, because I honestly doubt that once you find out who it is that you will tell a professor with that ridiculous personality trait you've inherited from what I can see is courtesy of your father. " She said stopping abruptly after she had said that as Draco watched her fold her arms upon the table in front of her while beginning to nibble upon her bottom lip. The second she realized she had brought up Lucius yet again made her feel a sudden wave of gilt wash over her while she looked over at him to see his jaw clenched while his fists balled up as if he were digging his finger nails painfully into the palms of his hands.

"This is now the second time this year you've brought up my father… Granger, and I remember my decision to let what happened between us on the train go once we had been partnered in Potions class. However, I will not allow you to talk to me as if I am so lowly dirty mudblood like yourself." He snarled hotly leaning closer towards her over the table with his teeth clenched in a fit of rant and rave.

"That's rich coming from a pompous ill-mannered git who refers to me as a 'lowly dirty mudblood'…" Granger growled followed by a singular sharp empty laugh as he saw her sitting straight up in her chair and then shoving her book inside her bag while she started talking again.

" I meant what I said, on both the train and just a moment ago. That if you cannot let go of your father's prejudices in order to form your own opinions, which I know you're quite capable of forming because I've seen you do it. You will end up like him, in Azkaban with no one… As for finding the attacker, you are not going to find out who it was alone, and seeing that you were not the only one the person attacked, the only way to keep me from telling Professor McGonagall, is by allowing me to help you. Think on that a bit and let me know what your decision is, Malfoy." Granger grabbed her bag, slung it over her shoulder, and then stalked away towards the entrance of the library leaving Draco to think about what she had just said to him.

Staring down the aisle she had just been walking down, he blinked himself out of the slight daze she had left him in, suddenly angered by the way she talked down to him. Standing up quickly causing the metal legs of his chair to scrape loudly against the floor, he angrily reached up to loosen his rather tight tie and then run a hand though his hair causing it to fall in front of his steely eyes.

'What does that witch think she's doing? Giving me, some sort of an ultimatum? One choice means having her close enough to find out something or just close in general. Then the other choice leads the professors closer. Knowing Granger, she already has a plan if I were to try and obliterate her memories…' he thought to himself acrimoniously while he started towards the same direction Granger had went but stopped when he saw a lone envelope in the middle of the walk way.

Bending down, Draco picked up the note somewhat puzzled when he saw a name written across the front in neat penmanship, his name. Pulling the flap out, he reached inside to find a small singularly folded piece of parchment, which he proceeded to take out and into his hand. Once he opened the paper, he began to read…

The Dark Lord is watching very closely, and so far, he is very displeased with the little to no progress you've made. Stop allowing yourself to become distracted or make no mistake Draco, there will be severe consequences. Start going about your second part of the task, however you do the deed, it needs to be done, and soon.

A friend

Then the note levitated out of his hands along with the envelope, and started to shred itself before his eyes while a fire then claimed the remains shortly after, leaving only ash that immediately scattered across the room. Standing up quickly, Draco looked around the aisles at his right, following them down only to find that he was completely alone, and then looked at the shelves to his left.

Shakily running a hand through his hair yet again, in a panicked rush, he fled out of there and into a suddenly full corridor as the clocks chimed signaling passing period. Spastically looking around at the passing students, he swallowed the fear in his throat like acid, looking sharply and briskly at each face that passed him. Whomever left the note, knew where he was, and what he was, consequently meaning there was another death eater here at Hogwarts. That thought then begged the question if the Dark Lord even trusted him to complete his task, and if not then how was he going to make sure his mother was okay.

"Ladies and gentlemen,
To those among you,
Who are easily frightened,
We suggest you turn away now,
To those of you,
Who think you can take it,
We say,
Welcome to the Mad House,

Come on,
Come on in…"

Mad House by Rihanna

Still Tuesday October 1st, 1996

Just outside the Prefects- after Lunch time One in the Afternoon

Leisurely opening the door to the Prefects personal bathroom, Ginny pushed past the door to find the boy sitting upon the ledge of the bath looking upwards at her with the same smirk from the other night. Other than the fact that she could not talk about being under the imperious curse or anything related to it, including the boy in front of her, she still felt the same, while at the same time she felt as if she was floating, forced to be happy. Sure, she had tried telling Hermione about it, among other things having to do with her current Slytherin lab partner who was most likely a death eater right along the boy sitting in front of her, but had a bit of unfortunate luck.

"So s'there an actual reason we're meeting in a lavatory, mid day?" she scoffed aloud tossing her scarlet hair over her shoulder, taking a few steps towards him before plopping down to sit upon the cool tile flooring and then moving to crisscross position. Looking up at the boy, she looked over his facial features closely deciding even though he officially topped Malfoy as probably the worst git in school, he was honestly still rather attractive, in a sinister and beautiful kind of way.

"Yes there is a reason as to why we met here, to be alone, and seeing as I needed to make sure that the spell wasn't wearing off yet. I've pegged you, as a strong will type, so better to be safe than sorry I'm afraid." He shrugged lightly then exhaled in a huff while reaching inside his pocket for most likely his wand to strengthen the spell for secure measures. Ginny glanced around the room, suddenly thankful that Harry wasn't too keen on sharing things that had to do with Dumbledore or anything important for that matter.

"Right, so other than forcing me to keep your dirty secrets, I don't understand what you want with me exactly. I mean you've haven't told me do anything or to tell you anything of importance, so may I ask why that is?" Ginny inquired trying to see what the boy was up to while pursing her lips together tightly, leaning backwards upon her arms just before laying flat upon her back looking up towards the ceiling. Blinking a few times before she heard the word Imperio, feeling the spell rush over her like freezing water filled with ice shards stabbing her repeatedly then the spell calmed to a warm rush of happiness causing her to want to smile.

"It's only been a couple day's luv, but to be honest that was actually the second reason that I wanted to see you today. Seeing as I've waited long enough to ask you things. So what do you know about what Dumbledore and the famous Harry Potter are planning for the Dark Lord?" The boy asked loudly standing up to his feet just before walking towards Ginny whom looked at him out of the corner of her eyes hoping he could see her resentment. Watching him bend down towards her into a crouched position, Ginny sighed in annoyance as she still lay upon her back on the bathroom floor and then shot him a newfound smile because he was in for a disappointment.

"Sadly, for you that it, all I know is that Harry goes to see Dumbledore sometimes, not very often but when he does it's for a fair bit of time. I also know that Harry thinks Draco Malfoy is a death eater, although I'm not sure that's news to you, is it?" she asked with a small grin looking in the eyes of the boy that held no emotion that she could see, suddenly thankful for being out of the loop. "By the way, I know that I've seen you before, but I can't seem to remember where, so can I ask you what your name is?" Ginny sat up so that she was sitting not but two feet away from him, tilting her head towards her left letting her smile falter somewhat as she tried to understand his expression at all.

"That has got to be the most useless tidbit of information I've ever heard before, do you know anything at all that I could use? As for your question, I don't see why my name in any way is pertinent to this conversation, so no, you may not ask…" he growled through his teeth down at her before she watched him swiftly stand and then walk towards the mirror where he started to fix his hair. Using the edge of the bath beside her to stand Ginny patted down her robes with a scoff and then she walked over to the sinks where the boy stood who then looked at her in the mirror.

"Well I don't know anything that has to do with Harry, but I do know that Malfoy thinks he has the real Liquid Luck when… H-Hermione actually does. It… could prove to be rather useful in your attempts to get whatever it is you are trying to get-" she hastily said just as she roughly bit upon her tongue to stop talking, but found that it was in fact, already too late.

The boy turned to look at her with a right grin of the sadistic kind while she gnashed her teeth together wanting nothing more than to spit upon him or cast a nasty spell upon him. Swallowing her anger, she watched him take a step towards her as he reached up to touch her cheek as she whipped her head away from him before he could causing him to laugh aloud brashly.

"Now, now, that is something that I could in fact use, and it just so happens that you're not only in the right house, but you also are close friends with her putting you in the perfect place to get it for me. So you will, do, just that luv…," he said softly to her causing her to glare with a huff, while she tried not to think about what would happen if he were to actually get his grubby hands upon the potion.

"You're dreadful in the worst way possible, and don't think my friends won't find out what you're up to before you can actually do it." She snarled making sure, that he could read the pure abhorrence in her features while he just smiled softly and then nodded before patting her shoulder. "They will find out about the things you've done, which you will probably end up receiving a Dementor's kiss and you know what… I hope it bloody hurts." She whispered haughtily to him before brushing past while running her shoulder into his as she headed towards the door not even giving him one last look, but still hearing his last statement.

"Don't worry about that because I assure you I've had worse, and just so you know, the things I've done already won't even compare to what I have planned once I get that potion!" he shouted stridently just as Ginny let the door swing shut behind her, shivering at the thought of what he had planned. Whatever was about to ensue, she knew that she had to some way make sure he never saw that potion, or everything that was happening, was going to end very badly.

"Someone should teach you some manners,
I think you've got more nerve than you've got tact,

What do you see when you close your eyes,
Do you sleep,
I know you do and I'm not surprised,
While your ego keeps you warm,
It's burning,
All the bridges that you start…"

Manners by We are the in Crowd

Still Tuesday October 1st, 1996

Gryffindor Common Rooms- Just after midnight

No matter what Hermione attempted to think about, her mind kept coming back to the one person who kept invading her thoughts as if someone gave him some sort of permission to do so. Just thinking about those deep gray eyes that had a rather unsuspected tiny glint inside them that caused her heart to beat quicker, and making it somewhat more difficult to breathe. Scoffing as she then thought about his fancy over-priced cologne that made her mouth water at the memory, along with that stupid smug smirk that was now his official signature, which practically screamed Malfoy.

Rolling her eyes as she shut her book inside her hands, she then remembered how her curiosity had gotten the best of her while he bothered her during her free block earlier this morning. If she had not been there to hear herself say it, she would not have believed that for some unknown reason, dealing with him seemed worth knowing who had attacked them. Then again, that wasn't the only reason she bothered to give him the option because she was rather intrigued to know just what he was hiding from, well everyone.

Tucking her legs beneath her, Hermione sat her book down beside her as she looked down at the dim embers left over from a small fire inside the fireplace with a sigh. Ignoring him over the past few days had been quite easy, aside from potion class when she couldn't stop herself from thinking about his touch or the feeling of him so close to her. Biting down upon her bottom lip, she tilted her head to her right in wonder.

'No matter how many times he has proved that he was a sodding prat, I can't seem to stop thinking about him, for more than a few minutes at a time…' she scoffed brazenly at the thought while shaking her head reaching for her book about to head to bed when she heard scuffling behind her. Turning around, Hermione saw Harry standing there in his pajamas, fidgeting with his glasses while giving her a worried expression that she immediately understood.

"S'there something the matter? You're usually never awake this late 'Mione.." he said softly as he walked around the sofa then sitting beside her while he grabbed her book. With a smile, she shook her head just before tucking a lock of her hair behind her ear and leaning forward to give his shoulder a nudge.

"I could say the same, you…"she laughed quietly before looking towards the embers yet again, and then back towards her Harry who was currently giving an awkward lopsided grin. "A bit of late reading, and I lost my train of thought, that's all." She sighed reaching for her book just before taking it out his hands and looking into his eyes with a fairly wide smirk.

"Couldn't sleep." He nodded looking away from her down at his feet while shifting in his spot before he continued talking. "I saw you, you know? At Quidditch tryouts, using a confundus charm to help Ron make Keeper instead of McLaggen." Hermione's eyes widened slightly feeling her cheeks warm slightly, as she watched him start to smile while still looking at his feet. Harry then looked upwards to shoot her a grin, a soft chuckle, as he then reached to push his glasses up the bridge of his nose. With a small nod, she cleared her throat hoping a change of subject would soon happen because she was still unsure why she had done it in the first place.

"Alright then, so have you talked to Ginny since Friday?" she asked with a rather evil smirk causing him to throw his hands up in defeat while laughing and awkwardly looking away from her. With a giggle, Hermione gripped her book inside her hands slightly just before shaking her head knowing that she should tell Harry about everything that has happened with Malfoy, but couldn't bring herself to do it.

"Fine, I see how it is, new topic, yeah?" he lifted a hand to run it though his extremely messy darker brown hair and sighing. "So, how's things goin' in Potions class with Malfoy? I mean after what happened during professor Slughorn's dinner party, I figured he'd have to agree to you changing lab partners." He asked in puzzlement while leaning backwards into the sofa and then yawning deeply.

"Well, you see Harry, he might have asked if I wanted to change on Monday, but I think if keeping Malfoy, as a lab partner, it could help stop one of the biggest reasons for the animosity inside the school. He is defiantly a git, and I already know how you and Ronald feel about him but I told you, he wouldn't do anything to me. For some reason he really doesn't want the professors attention, and I want to know why that is…," she explained to him as he shook his head as she rolled her eyes.

"'Mione, its bloody Malfoy! You know he won't change his views on purebloods or muggleborns, just because Slughorn's forcing him to work together with you in one class. It's stupid to think otherwise!" he sneered somewhat assertively, standing up while shaking his head down at her. Hermione gaped widely just as she threw her feet out from underneath her and jumped up to go after Harry who was now walking away.

"Oh for goodness sake Harry, no matter what Malfoy says or does, you know he grew up his whole life to believe that purebloods are higher than any other witch or wizard. People can grow, form opinions of their own, and just because of what his parents taught him to believe, does not automatically make him a death eater like his father!" She spat suddenly angered by her friends reaction to her still collaborating with the Slytherin who was in fact a part in all of her current problems. "That is a choice he has to make on his own, and I don't think he has made it just yet contrary to your theory." She snatched her book just before passing Harry in the directions of her dormitory without so much as a goodnight.

Once inside her room, she walked right over to her bed and tossed her book onto her side table trying to calm down from the intense quarrel she just had. On one hand, she couldn't believe Harry would call her stupid for trying to figure out things, but on the other she was still stuck on the fact that she had just stood up for, well Malfoy. Scoffing loudly at the ridiculousness of the situation, she slid under her covers and curled her legs upwards towards her while slipping one arm beneath her pillow. The last thing that played in her mind was a singular name followed by his steely eyes that made her breathless.