A/N: Chapter 3 is here, not as soon as I would have liked, but alas, I've been going over it again and again. For some reason I wasn't very happy with the long introspective parts of the chapter, especially at the beginning, so I keep on modifying it. Anyways, hope the final result is good and that you'll enjoy it. Besides, I made it in time for the 31st of July, which is Harry Potter day in my book given that it's both the author and Harry's birthday. Who else will be binge watching the movies on the 31st? I know I will :)))

Remember to leave a review if you liked this chapter – oh, and constructive criticism is welcome as an important part of writing is to create something people like (just as long as it's constructive because nasty comments really don't have their place here – I think it's enough not to continue reading if you don't like it).

Oh, one observation: although it's not canon that Luna and Neville end up together, I like that they were a couple in the last movie, so I'll go along with that idea. There won't be an official pairing or anything but there might be some hints there, just so you know.

Last thing: I had to shorten the word "something" in the title of the chapter... and I probably will have to shorten other chapter titles as well because unfortunately there is a restriction on number of characters in the title and I really want to follow the song lyrics... but I'll figure out a way and I'm sure you will all understand it, especially if I explain it in notes ;)

Chapter 3 – You're something beautiful, a contradiction

(Hermione p.o.v.)

"Why the heartfelt sigh?" Luna asked Hermione, as they were both in the stands, watching the Gryffindor Quidditch tryouts.

Hermione looked at the younger Ravenclaw and wondered why she thought she could keep something from her. While Luna appeared distracted and in a completely different world most of the time, she actually had a very keen intuition and great power of observation, and she wasn't afraid to state things bluntly.

"It's nothing really, Luna, just that this school year might prove to be too challenging even for me, and I'm pretty ambitious."

"Are you saying that because you are stressed about the person who keeps sending you gifts?" Luna asked serenely, managing to hit the nail on the head as usual.

Hermione watched as Ron saved yet another penalty and tried to put some order in her thoughts before replying.

"That is a big part of it… he or she – because I can't rule out any possibilities at this point – is a stalker. I think 'secret admirer' as most of our colleagues are calling this person is not the right word for it – you saw some of the inappropriate notes I was sent along with the gifts and I really resent being the talk of the school, especially with the rumors getting wilder by the day."

"Oh, yes", Luna readily agreed, "I noticed how everyone is talking, but that's just because they have nothing better to do, so you shouldn't pay them any attention."

"I know, and I am trying but it's not easy. And besides, this stalker isn't my only problem. The entire wizarding world has a problem with Voldemort and the Death Eaters out there, doing who knows what evil things… you saw how they checked our luggage when we entered the castle…"

"Well done!" Luna shouted all of a sudden, and Hermione turned her attention back to the try-outs, where Ron had successfully saved all the penalties.

Next in line for the Keeper position was Cormac McLaggen, whom Hermione had caught looking at her quite intensely lately… she had a feeling he might be her stalker, and the thought was unnerving. He was staring at her now so she averted her eyes and looked at Luna, who was waiting for her to continue.

"I also have tons of homework to do - not to mention Harry and Ron keep asking me to help with theirs, and there is also the issue that what with all the other school subjects, none of us continued with Care of Magical Creatures and we haven't spoken to Hagrid about it yet."

"Hagrid's OK", Luna reassured her. "I love magical creatures so I am taking his class, and so is Neville, right?"

Neville, who was sitting next to Luna, was oblivious to what they were discussing, having been completely immersed in the quidditch tryouts.

"I… what?" he asked, and Hermione almost laughed at the comical expression of his face. She would never understand his passion for Quidditch given that he wasn't a great a flyer.

"Luna was saying that you're taking Care of Magical Creatures this year."

"Oh, yes, I am."

Neville seemed confused that Luna knew that – they didn't have the class together due to being in different years, but Luna had a way of finding out things, especially as most people didn't take her seriously so they spoke freely around her.

Hermione let them talk and thought about another one of her worries that she wasn't going to share with Luna. Harry was using that suspicious Half Blood Prince potions book with no intention of giving it up – and it didn't help that Hermione could find nothing about its former owner.

She saw McLaggen was about to save the last penalty after saving all of the ones before, so she quickly cast a nonverbal Confundus… it wasn't very ethical of her, Hermione realized it, and she wasn't proud of doing something like that but she didn't think she could put up with Ron's moping if he didn't get his place on the quidditch team. Plus, McLaggen seemed like he'd make trouble for Harry, so it was all for the best…

"I know this might be an unpopular opinion, I mean, I know Harry is captain this year and Ron just won the keeper position, but I don't really care about quidditch – it's such a useless thing to waste time on. I have plenty of house pride and support Gryffindor team at every game, but this year it just seems like there are so many other important things to take care of", Hermione said, ignoring the shocked looks around her.

However when the tryouts were over, she did congratulate Ron – it was hard not to rejoice with him, he was so excited for being Keeper.

"You were brilliant, Ron", she told him, trying not to smile knowing that she had lent him a helping hand.

She hoped no one would figure out what she did but Hermione had an inkling that Harry was on to her. Not that he'd snitch her to a professor, but she felt even more embarrassed, especially when Ron was so obliviously smug of his prowess, wondering why McLaggen had missed that last shot.

And what if Harry hadn't been the only one to notice? Her spell had been nonverbal, but she still worried.

After the tryouts they went to Hagrid's and Hermione felt immensely relieved when they managed to patch things up, even if it was over the controversial subject of Aragog's impending death.

As they returned to the castle they saw McLaggen entering the Great Hall. It took him two attempts to get through the doors, as he ricocheted off the frame on the first try. Ron laughed and strode off into the Hall after him, but Harry caught Hermione's arm and held her back.

"What?" she asked.

"If you ask me, McLaggen looks like he was Confunded this morning. And he was standing right in front of where you were sitting", Harry said and Hermione knew she'd been caught.

She could feel her cheeks growing hot with embarrassment, so there was no point denying it.

"Oh, all right then, I did it," she said in a low voice, not wanting to be overheard. "But you should have heard the way he was talking about Ron and Ginny! Anyway, he's got a nasty temper, you saw how he reacted when he didn't get in — you wouldn't have wanted someone like that on the team."

"No, I suppose that's true. But wasn't that dishonest, Hermione? I mean, you're a prefect, aren't you?"

"Oh, be quiet," she snapped, ignoring his smirk.

On their way to the Gryffindor table they were intercepted by Professor Slughorn who wanted to invite her and Harry to another one of his parties. It didn't help his cause that McLaggen was coming too, and Harry had a detention with Snape so it looked like Hermione would have to go alone.

"I doubt you'll be alone, Ginny'll probably be invited," snapped Ron, and Hermione couldn't blame him for his dark mood – the professor had been a tad rude not to even acknowledge Ron.

After dinner they went up to their common room, and Hermione browsed through the Evening Prophet.

Mr. Weasley was featured in the newspaper, as he had searched the Malfoy's house a second time in search for dark magic objects.

Harry told them he'd been the one to tip-off Mr. Weasley thinking Draco Malfoy might have taken home whatever it was that he bought from Borgin and Burke – althought he thought it was also likely that he brought the object to Hogwarts.

Hermione explained how students had been searched when entering the castle, and that owls were also searched, so the possibility that Malfoy sneaked something in was slim.

Hermione was getting exasperated with him but she didn't get to express it out loud because Ron was there before her.

"Oh, drop it, Harry," said Ron.

"Listen, it's not my fault Slughorn invited Hermione and me to his stupid party, neither of us wanted to go, you know!" said Harry, firing up.

It didn't take long for the boys to get into an altercation – they were all stressed.

"Well, as I'm not invited to any parties," said Ron, getting to his feet again, "I think I'll go to bed."

He left towards the boys' dormitories.

Demelza Robins, a new chaser on the Gryffindor quidditch team came to Harry just then with a message from Professor Snape so Hermione left them to it as she hurried towards the library, wanting to do a bit more reading before it closed.

Madam Pince frowned when she saw Hermione, and warned her not to tarry, as the library would close in half an hour.

She had just identified the book she wanted to read and was reaching to take it from the shelf when someone else got to it before her.

"This what you want, Granger?" a voice drawled next to her ear and she turned quickly only to find Draco Malfoy standing so close to her she could feel his body heat.

"As a matter of fact, it is", she said calmly, extending her hand in a silent demand for him to give her the book. She wasn't going to vocally ask for it if she could help it.

Hermione was sure Malfoy was up to no good, but she hoped he wouldn't be able to do a lot of mischief in the library of all places.

"Oh, you think I should just give you the book? What if I need it too?"

"Then just say so and I'll read it some other time", Hermione said tersely.

"It's not the book I'm interested in, Granger."

"In that case, what do you want, Malfoy? I don't have time to play games, the library is going to close in thirty minutes and unlike you, I am interested in reading that book."

He leaned casually against the bookshelf, while turning the book in his hand.

Hermione crossed her arms, fuming silently that he was taking his time with the answer when she'd made it clear she was in a hurry.

"Did you ever find out who has been sending you gifts?"

That again! Hermione wondered whether he had nothing better to do with his time than think of such things.

"Is it so incredible for someone to send me gifts?"

"I didn't say that."

"Why do you want to know?"

"Just curious…"

She didn't believe it for a second, but decided not to waste any more time and answer him, perhaps that would determine him to give her the book and then go away.

"I don't know who is sending me gifts, but I suspect it's Cormac McLaggen", she said, watching Draco closely for his reaction. Perhaps it was a Slytherin after all, and he knew who it was.

Draco was surprised to say the least – his expression showed shock.

"McLaggen? That prat who tried for Keeper?"

"You were at the tryouts?"

Hermione hadn't seen him, but then she'd had a lot on her mind and hadn't really looked around.

"I was. Why would you think McLaggen is sending you those gifts?"

She sighed, unwilling to explain but knowing it was her only chance to get some reading done before the library closed.

"His family is well off so he could certainly afford these gifts, and also…." she hesitated, imagining the cruel teasing Malfoy could subject her to if she finished her sentence.

"He's been staring at me", she finally concluded.

"He's been what?!"

Hermione actually flinched at Malfoy's harsh tone, backing up as much as the bookshelf behind her permitted. His gray eyes held a murderous glare and she wondered what his problem was with McLaggen. The boy was annoying by all accounts, but his behaviour couldn't have warranted such intense dislike.

"Staring… you know, gazing intensely and meaningfully in a very unpleasant way", she added in a whisper as Madam Pince had looked in on them when Malfoy had raised his voice with his previous question.

He muttered something but Hermione couldn't catch what he said. She didn't think it was anything nice and she almost called Madam Pince back to tell her she'd changed her mind about reading that evening but the librarian was already nowhere in sight.

"What do you say we end the suspense?" Malfoy said to her, making her look at him instead of searching for her only salvation – there weren't any other students in the library as far as she'd seen when she'd entered the library.

"It wasn't McLaggen sending you those gifts. I sent them to you."

Hermione had always thought it possible for Malfoy to be her 'stalker' but still, those messages suggested that the author wanted her … in a very physical way too, and Malfoy had never made a secret of the fact that he considered Hermione to have dirty blood… so would he really want to touch her?

The thought made a shiver go all through her.

"You?" she asked, hoping that somehow she had heard him wrong.

"Want me to prove it?" he asked. He took his wand out of his robe and chanted something so silently that Hermione didn't quite catch it, but it sounded like "obfoco".

She instantly felt her choker tightening around her neck and she clasped it urgently, trying to pry it off her neck.

"Neat trick, right?"

"What are you doing?" Hermione gasped, as she struggled with the choker.

"Just showing you what that little piece of jewelry can do. Finite!"

Hermione sucked in air greedily, but she continued to struggle to get the choker off.

"You might as well save your strength – it won't come off, not unless I want it to, and I do not want it to. It's been enchanted that way."

She couldn't believe her ears.

"That's impossible – such an enchantment would be dark magic and the Headmaster as well as Professors McGonagall and Snape have checked the choker and haven't been able to find any traces of danger…"

Malfoy laughed nastily which made her hair stand on end.

"That's because it was a very powerful object to begin with, and I've enhanced it with all sort of charms of my own", he boasted. "It cost me a pretty galleon but I consider it an investment that I won't regret making. Want to see what else it can do?"

Hermione didn't get to protest before he chanted "Accersio!"

She flinched, anticipating pain of some sort, but instead she only felt the choker heat up so much so that it warmed her skin. She blinked, confused.

"Don't breathe easily just yet", Malfoy said, observing her relieved expression. "When you'll feel the choker heat up around your neck…" he touched the choker over her skin but she slapped his hand away, she was so mad at the situation she found herself in.

"…you'll know that I'm calling for you."

Hermione gaped at his audacity.

"Malfoy, you're crazy if you think I'll be at your beck and call!"

"You'd be wise to come, because if not, the choker will keep heating up until it will sear your skin off and then your flesh too", he warned darkly.

She was too stunned to say anything – Hermione was sure he wasn't bluffing.

"Of course, I can also choke you to death, but I figured I'd be nice and summon you in a less painful way, especially as I don't want you to give yourself away if I call you when you're with other people."

"Give myself away? You can be sure I'll run to Dumbledore this very instant and he'll make you take this blasted thing off."

He laughed again, though there was no mirth in his laughter.

"You sure didn't seem to think of it as 'blasted' given that you haven't taken it off since you first put it on. Although I have to admit, that's probably because the choker is also imbued with a compulsion enchantment that makes you not want to take it off. Sure, had you tried, you would have discovered that you were unable to take the choker off – I made sure of that too!"

Hermione was astounded at how thoroughly he had spelled the choker. She still couldn't find her words although a million questions were going through her mind.

"And about going to Dumbledore, you'll find that the compulsion enchantment I was telling you about will also make you unable to tell anyone about what this choker really is."

"That's no enchantment, it's a curse, no less depriving people of their freedom than the Imperius curse. In other words, unforgivable!" she finally said through clenched teeth. She was going to try telling Harry and Ron the first occasion she had – maybe Malfoy was only bluffing after all, though she didn't really dare to hope such a thing.

"Good thing I don't want your forgiveness then", Malfoy replied, and his face actually showed that he couldn't care less.

"I hope you realize that you're at my mercy now, Granger, and I don't have a lot of that, so you'd do well not to provoke me", he added and Hermione could feel her blood boiling with indignation.

"What do you want from me, Malfoy?" she asked boldly, though inside she was terrified of hearing his answer.

"Oh, I want a lot of things… but there's no reason why we should get into that tonight. I'd rather let you fret over it all night".

Hermione couldn't believe how malicious he was… or rather, she could believe it, but to do something like this… it was a whole different level than what he'd done the previous years. Was it possible Harry had been right all along and Malfoy had become a Death Eater?

She plucked up the courage to ask.

"Did you become a Death Eater over the summer? Because I can't explain how else you could have done something so horrible to me."

"I haven't actually done anything yet, Granger. But here's the answer to your question", he said, raising his left sleeve to reveal skin. And there it was, the dark mark, just like Harry had thought, on his forearm.

She was more afraid of him than ever, of both his statement and his mark. Hermione didn't want to think what he could ask her to do or do to her now that he practically had complete control over her.

He interrupted her gloomy musings by snapping his fingers in front of her, demanding her attention.

"And talking about this summer, it reminds me of our encounter at Madam Malkin, and also of something Borgin told me. Did you really spy on me and try to find out what my business was at his shop?"

Hermione lifted her chin defiantly – there was no reason to reply give that she'd been caught spying on him. It had been well deserved given that he'd taken the step into the dark side by becoming a Death Eater.

"I can tell by your face that you did. And you had the gall to say you were a friend looking for a birthday present", he said with a sneer. "You didn't get me any gifts and my birthday has long since passed. And speaking of…Did you keep any of my gifts? Because I was considerate enough to give you presents."

"When you sent them wish such unpleasant notes? No, I didn't keep them. I burnt the notes, as for the gifts, I gave them to other students who needed them", Hermione said bluntly.

A horrible thought occurred to her.

"Were any of them cursed?! I can't believe I gave them away, putting other people at risk… oh, I should have just thrown them away!" she lamented.

Malfoy certainly didn't seem pleased she'd given away his gifts, but he didn't look surprised either, not that Hermione cared at this point – she had so many other new and horrible things to worry about.

"Don't get your knickers in a twist, Granger, none of the other gifts were enchanted – or cursed, as you prefer to call it. Did you also give away the paper lion I sent you this morning?" he asked and Hermione considered lying, but what was the point?

"Actually, no, I didn't have time…" she hedged, though in truth Hermione had considered keeping the origami lion. It was very skilfully done and she'd placed it on the nightstand next to her bed, thinking it was one thing she could keep, given that it hadn't come with a note.

"Good, then don't. That one is enchanted – much like you enchanted those galleons in order to organize your hidden meetings last year: when I call you, the location where you have to go will appear written on the lion."

Hermione couldn't help admiring his proficiency with spells, even the dark ones he'd used on the choker. It was undeniable that he was an extremely talented wizard, but it was so very sad that he used those talents for evil.

She also had to admit he was pretty fair to look at with his blonde hair, silver eyes and the aristocratic features of his face…it was a face more suited to an angel than a devil yet he was devilish, no question about it.

"You're something beautiful… a contradiction…" she whispered, not realizing she'd voiced her thoughts until seeing his expression freeze.

"I'm shocked you'd admit you find me beautiful, Granger, but I already knew that, so don't think that flattering me will get you anywhere…"

He sounded uncertain and Hermione was glad she'd let her thoughts slip, at least that way she's managed to chip away at his extreme self-confidence.

"I'd die before I tried flattering you of all people! Anyone can see that your features are aesthetically pleasing, there's no meaning in denying it, but remember I also said you're a contradiction because despite the nice exterior, you are rotten on the inside!" she spat.

He laughed another one of his mirthless laughs that made her take a step back, only this time Malfoy caught her arm to prevent her from getting away.

"Like I said before, I don't seek your forgiveness, and I don't seek your approval either, so your low opinion of me doesn't matter to me… I'm just amused that you, a mudblood, would dare to think low of a pureblood like me."

"Just because you were born in an old wizarding family doesn't mean you're better than other people – in fact, I consider you worse than pretty much everyone in this school. Much worse!"

Hermione flinched when Malfoys's fingers on her arm squeezed painfully – he was sure to leave a mark, another one.

"You might want to shut it, Granger, before you make me do something you will regret. You didn't get me a gift for my birthday despite saying you would, so I chose my own present – you! I own you now, so you might start behaving nicer towards me."

He shoved the book into her arms and released her.

"You may go now, but remember not to make me wait when I call for you – and it will be soon enough."

He left before she could say anything, but Hermione didn't think she could have said something in any case… she felt drained and she slipped to the floor, holding on to the book as if it was a shield of some sort that could save her life.

It was far too late for that, Hermione realized. She could try to oppose Malfoy, but how long could she last before giving in? She was brave, but Malfoy could burn her or choke her or both… and he'd made it so that she couldn't talk to anyone about it… she was all alone with one hell of a predicament.

"Miss Granger, are you quite all right?"

Madam Pince was standing over her and Hermione had no idea for how long the librarian had been there, calling out to her.

"You look as pale and gaunt as the Bloody Baron, my dear. Do you want me to take you to the hospital wing? Poppy can give you a tonic or something."

Hermione could barely focus on what the older woman was telling her.

"No, thank you, Madam Pince, that won't be necessary", she managed to say, getting up from the floor on shaky legs.

"I'm just a bit fatigued. I will return to the Gryffindor tower and go straight to bed – a bit of rest will work wonders", she added, trying to assuage the worried look on the librarian's face.

"Well, all right then, if you're sure."

Hermione exited the library as if in a trance… she walked towards the grand staircase and was glad that something in her face must have made people not approach her, because she was incapable of conversation at the moment. She never would have thought it could be a positive thing to be compared to the Bloody Baron but apparently the resemblance was so strong that even fellow Gryffindors gave her wide berth as she went through the Common Room up to the girls' dormitory.

She would probably have some explaining in the morning as her friends had cast worried glances her way… Hermione was sure she could find a reasonable explanation by then.

At the moment all she wanted to do was to sink into the oblivion of sleep – that was, if Malfoy wouldn't torment her in her dreams too…