The words erased themselves, yet he could still see them burned into his eyes. He had known she would find him out. He had handed her the answer. Pointed her in the direction. Yet to see the words so plainly in sight, to see the proof that she knew a part of what was going on sent a rock into the pit of his stomach. The smartest witch of their age had taken no time in finding out his riddle. She would tell now, how could she not? She knew he was finding a passage into Hogwarts, a way for someone to travel quickly without being detected.

He let the paper fall from his hand as his head tilted towards the sky, taking the cold air around him into his lungs as he balled his hands into fists. This whole situation was infuriating, couldn't trust her, couldn't trust himself, hell couldn't even trust the man who held his life in his hands. Like a pawn. The game of life that he had always seen himself as being the leader of showed him that he was nothing but a game piece in the bigger picture of hell. He shook his head as the room created a door in the rear of the room. Apparently, it was time for him to leave. He packed his bag, gently folding the scroll and slipping it into place, he would respond to her later. Give himself time to think. Tucking his head he opened the door and took a step out.

"You know, you're really bad at looking at your surroundings." Draco stopped dead in his tracks as he walked out the back door of the Room. The door slammed shut behind him, before disappearing into the wall "For someone doing so much sneaking around you would think you would be better at it." Pansy stood against the corner wall looking at the chipping paint on her fingers.

He took a deep breath and walked towards her, continuing past her. The words of the parchment still running in circles in his mind.

"I'm a bit preoccupied Pans, what are you sneaking around for anyways?" She shrugged her shoulders and walked in stride next to him. He glanced down at her as they walked, she had thrown herself at him something fierce this morning. Apparently the whispers of the first years had made their way to her.

"So you still not telling anyone what's going on?" It was his turn to shrug and look away. "The ever-silent Draco, remember the good old days? Before all this mysterious shit when all we had to worry about was not getting caught snogging in the corner?" She wrapped her arm in his and sighed. He smiled in return.

"The good old days?" He shook his head and laughed.

"That shipped sailed, but a girl can dream. Speaking of ships that have sailed, Granger was looking rather cross this morning Mr. Malfoy. Is there something to these whispers I keep hearing among the first years." He groaned, knowingly, and she laughed in return.

"Damnit Draco you really have a way of fucking things up." She grabbed his arm again and continued walking. "So was she at least a good lay?"

"Enough Pansy, you know I would never." He rolled his eyes at her as they continued their walk down the corridor.

"Draco, at least tell me something, when the time comes. When whatever it is you think you have to do alone comes to an end, where does that leave the rest of us?" He turned and looked at Pansy, sweeping a lock of her short hair behind her ear and kissing her forehead before walking away. He had enough of his own problems to solve.

She had been avoiding him again. A vanishing cabinet in Hogwarts made her stomach crawl, this was supposed to be a safe haven. The one place the bad guys could never get into, but within the walls was a cabinet that could be used for undetectable travel. She had spent the weeks following his simple reply hiding within the library. Smart. Was the only word he had sent back to her. How could she be so smart yet so dumb at the same time. Someone who was smart would have gone running to the headmaster. Instead she found herself hiding away. Some Gryffindor she was.

"Oh thank god, Hermione there you are." Hannah Abbott came running through the library out of breath.

"Hannah are you okay?" She said closing the book in front of her.

"Hermione you need to go to the hospital wing. There's been an accident." Her heart dropped in her chest as she took off running past the girl. He feet pounded along the paved steps, those who were in the halls stepped out of her way as she ran through the castle.

She saw the red hair on the bed and froze at the doorway. Ginny's tear stained face looked up and met her eyes as Madame Pomfrey placed another towel on Ronalds forehead.

"What happened?" the words felt forced as she grabbed his other free hand, it was cold as ice, if not for the faint moving of his lips she would have thought the worse.

"Poison, in my office, by gods it was in the Meade. That was to be a gift too. Bless it all." Slughorn murmured around his fist as Harry nodded in affirmation when she met his eyes.

"Will he survive?" Ginny squeaked out looking around the room.

"Harry thought to give him an antidote, he should hopefully rouse soon. We will know more in the morning. I am curious however to know where you came about that Meade Horace." Dumbledore walked into the room taking Slughorn by the hand and leading him away.

"He needs his rest all. Please, I understand but you must give him some space." Pomfrey waved her hands to clear them from the room. Squeezing his hand tightly. Hermione rose and followed Harry out the door.

"How?" Hermione said walking next to Harry back up to the corridor.

"Slughorn told the truth. It was just a drink, a toast of sorts. You've been hiding so I haven't had the chance to tell you anything. Half the Gryffindors have been looking for you. What were you doing?" Harry stopped her crossly.

"Hey, being cross at me isn't going to change anything." She said poking him in the chest. Harry softened and she could see him deflate at her words.

"I'm sorry Hermione, just a little tense. Me and Ron saw him on the map before I left Ron and he went a little cooky…. Another story" He said at her confused look. "Malfoy was on the seventh floor."