Disclaimer: I own nothing. I also wanted to point out that Draco is going to be in this plot later on. Right now we're seeing what exactly tempts Hermione into choosing the Dark Side, but it will probably be a few more chapters before that rebellious streak mentioned in the summary is fully revealed. And unlike other stories, I don't think she should just immediately jump into that phase. I think there really needs to be a period of subtle change.

CHAPTER TWO

"Have you seen Katie?" I stopped walking through the hall when I spotted a girl Katie had introduced as Amanda. The girl looked at me for a moment before shaking her head. I smiled politely at her and then kept on my way. I had lost Katie in the crowded house twenty minutes ago and couldn't find her anywhere.

Katie had told me about the parties she liked to go to, how they were fun and filled with interesting people. I'd seemed interested and so she told me that I would have to go with her, and well now here we were and I wasn't having fun. Half the people I'd tried talking to looked at me as though I was plague. I just didn't see the allure now that I'd been introduced to it. And it wasn't like I was dressed badly, Katie had made sure of that, and my hair had been fixed and smoothed so it fell in nice curls instead of bushing.

I thought I saw Katie across the room laughing with someone and so headed in that direction. It turned out the girl in question was not my cousin. I just stood there for a moment unsure of what to do when I felt a hand touch the small of my back. I jumped, startled at the sudden contact. I turned around to tell whoever it was to please not touch me and found that I couldn't speak.

Those beautiful blue eyes I remembered from the airport were staring at me. Max had a small smile on his face. Titling his head to the side he looked me up and down. "You look out of place, if you don't mind my saying." I merely laughed.

"I'm trying to find my cousin." I said with a shrug. "These are her friends; I don't think they like me." I looked around with a somewhat pained expression. Max laughed and lightly linked his arm in mine.

"Yes, well, they don't tend to like anyone. No one here, except for a select few, knows your name, and you're not drinking which to them is considered highly odd. Who is your cousin?" Max steered me through the crowd. I noticed that now people were looking at me differently. The males had sudden interest in their eyes and the girls a glinting jealousy. Obviously Max was well known, well liked and well wanted in this crowd.

"Katie Leglin." Max stopped walking and turned to me, surprise written on his face.

"You're Katie's cousin?" I didn't respond right away and he just shook his head.

"That girl is twelve kinds of trouble. You be careful…if you're looking for her, try any of the three bathrooms in this place." His tone had turned slightly unfriendly. He looked at me once more before giving me a very small and forced looking smile. Then he was walking away.

I didn't understand what had just happened at all. One moment this guy is extremely nice, then he hears who my cousin is and it's like he doesn't even want to be near me. Katie hadn't mentioned she knew the guy from the airport after witnessing the exchange. And what exactly did he mean about her being 'twelve kinds of trouble?' This all wasn't making sense to me.

Taking his advice I asked the nearest person where the bathrooms were. They told me and I headed towards them. The door to the first was closed. I knocked on it with a closed fist. A muffled voice said, "be out in a minute!" I leaned close to the wood, listening. People inside the bathroom were arguing.

"Katie?" I called, knocking again. This time the door swung open and an extremely irritated girl stood there. Her heavily lined eyes looked tired and slightly crazed. I was beginning to wish I'd never agreed to come to this party.

"Katie isn't in here, doll. We're busy." And the door slammed shut in my face. I sighed and set off to find another bathroom. Max had mentioned three.

The second bathroom also had occupants, but these were much nicer, though I saw them hastily shove a few brightly colored candies, or were those pills, into their mouths upon opening the door. I didn't know exactly what they were, but Katie had informed me that many of her friends dabbled in drugs. I was glad that Katie didn't. I chose to just ignore their blatant drug use and moved on.

The third bathroom door was closed but not locked. I opened it and found Katie bent over the counter. I watched her in the mirror as she sniffed a line of white powder off it through a straw. The implication of this act was not lost on me. I wasn't an expert on drugs, and I didn't know what the hell she'd just put up her nose, but I wasn't a fool.

She glanced up and saw my reflection in the mirror. Hastily she straightened and turned to face me. Her hand rose to her nose and wiped at it, sniffing hard, hoping to get any power that may have fallen. There was none; she didn't need to worry.

My arms were crossed in front of me, and the look on my face was that of pure stone. I just looked at her. She looked like she was searching for words to say but didn't know how to say them. I just watched her. I guess it wasn't against Katie's ethics to like to her cousin about certain things she did. And this gave me a hint as to what Max had meant.

"What are you doing?" I demanded. Katie said nothing. I looked from her to the straw lying on the counter. "What the hell was that?" I stared at her, my eyes openly daring her to try lying.

"It was just once." Katie insisted, but I didn't believe her.

"I want to go now." I said shortly. Katie looked at me with pain in her eyes, then she turned picked up the straw and walked out of the bathroom. When she passed me, I could see her features harden. I just followed her silently.

On the way home we didn't talk about anything. I didn't mention my witness of her drug use and she didn't ask how I thought the party had been. I felt just like I had back home. I felt isolated and in a world I didn't want to be. I felt like I was in a place I didn't understand.

Once we got to Katie's house, she waited until I opened the door and walked up to the front door before driving off. I stood there for probably five minutes willing myself not to cry before I finally turned the knob and walked inside. Neither of her parents was home, and I let the tears that had been threatening to escape fall down my cheeks. I locked myself in the room I was staying and didn't emerge for days.

When I finally did emerge from my room, I found Katie sitting on the couch watching TV. She watched me walk past her into the kitchen. I didn't say anything to her. As far as I was concerned I had nothing to say to her. I didn't approve of what she had done, and I wanted her to know that. But it was killing me to stay silent. I was homesick and lonely.

I could hear her stand up and walk after me. I was bracing myself for the conversation I knew would come. I didn't know anything about drugs or Katie's party life, and I didn't want to know. I didn't want to ruin the image that I had of Katie from my past. I didn't want to think of her as something bad when all my life she had been something good.

She'd told me, that first day, about how she drank occasionally. She'd told me about the piercing she had gotten, on her nose, that she'd taken out because her parents had hated it. She'd told me about the tattoo on her right hipbone of skull and crossbones. She'd even told me about all the drugs her friends did and how she'd been tempted to try them but wouldn't.

"Annie," Katie said, walking into the room, pulling a chair back from the table and sitting down. "We need to talk about some things." I blanched at her use of the childhood name she had always called me. I didn't want to talk. I didn't know what to say. I didn't want to look at her.

I remained silent for a moment, then continued with what I was doing: preparing myself lunch. Staying locked in your room for several days on end can leave you famished. Katie just watched me. "Fine, if you won't talk, then I will." She said, more than a little coldly. I turned to her slowly.

"Then talk." I continued to prepare my food.

"I'm sorry I lied to you about certain things, and I'm sorry you had to find out that way. I was going to tell you, I just didn't know how!" Katie's voice sounded slightly desperate now. It disgusted me in a way; I never thought I'd feel this way about my own cousin. "Please, just listen to me and believe me when I say it won't happen again!"

I turned to Katie, my eyes narrowed. "It shouldn't have happened in the first place. I thought you were better than that." And with that I left the room, my perfectly made sandwich lying uneaten on the counter. I wasn't hungry any more.

I slammed the door to my room and quickly locked it behind me. I didn't want her to follow me into what had become my safe haven. Inside this room I could hide from my problems. I could forget my mother was still on the verge of losing her job and that my father would probably be soon forcing us into debt. I could forget that the cousin I once had thought was so much like me; so good and pure? She was now taking drugs up her nose through a straw.

In the mirror on the wall in front of me showed me just how distressed I looked. I didn't know what to do. I needed something to keep my mind off of everything. I thought about writing to Harry, Ron or Ginny but felt that I would just be burdening them with my frustrated venting. Instead I chose to rummage through my bag until finally I just dumped the entire contents onto the bed.

Through the pens, makeup and various other collected items I spotted a white piece of paper with the name Max on it. With a trembling hand I reached out and grabbed it. I stared at it for quite a while before taking in a shaky breath and deciding to make that call.

"Sorry for calling like this…when we met again at that party you didn't seem too interested in talking to me after finding out who my cousin was." I apologized. Max just shrugged and continued to walk beside me. It was a little chilly outside, with clouds spotting the sky. The sun was shining weakly and seemed to mirror my own lack of strength, lack of will to breathe.

"You sounded upset. You sounded really upset. And it wasn't you I didn't want to talk to or be around…I was just surprised." He looked at me briefly before continuing. "I shouldn't have said what I did about her…telling you where to find her, I mean." He said quietly. I stopped walking and looked at him.

"I'm glad you did, otherwise she would have continued to lie!" I exclaimed. He followed suit and stopped walking. He looked at me and I found that I was losing myself in his eyes. I had to look away. I didn't understand how someone I hardly knew could make me feel this way.

"It wasn't my place to do that. She should have told you, yes, but she would have told you when she was ready. That's just how she works." I frowned in response. Was I missing something? How would he know how she works? My impression was that the two knew of each other, but didn't really know each other. Max seemed to sense my sudden confusion.

"My sister. She knows your cousin very well and because of that I know more about your cousin at this point then you probably do and she and I have only exchanged words a handful of times." I nodded in understanding, but it seemed like he was avoiding looking at me, I pushed the thought away and started to walk again. We were in a deserted park and he followed me to an empty bench. I sat, waiting for him to sit beside me. He didn't.

"Thank you for coming to meet me." I said again. He simply shrugged.

"Like I said, you sounded upset. I figured if you're going to call a complete stranger when you're that upset, something is definitely wrong. I just didn't feel right about not coming." He sat down beside me. I had the urge to hug him but refrained. Why did he make me want to do things like that?

"Well it was very nice of you." I realized I was blushing and staring at my feet. I shook my head and looked around me. The park was beautiful. I didn't have much time to think about my surroundings though, because his voice caught my attention.

"Are you doing anything tonight?" I turned to look at him and he was watching me nervously. I was surprised. Why would this beautiful boy be nervous around me? I was nothing to be nervous about at all.

"I'm just going to be sitting at Katie's pretending she doesn't exist." I offered with a small smile. He grinned at me. I couldn't help but let my smile widen to mimic his.

"Well, then would you like to escape from that fate and go with me to a party? There will be some kids using drugs, there will be drinking, but I promise I will show you a good time." His smile looked so wonderful, and he seemed so great that I couldn't say no. And so, that night I would be attending my second party. I had no idea what to expect, or what to wear. All I knew was I was determined to have a good time, and stay as far away from any drugs that might be around me.

There was a knock on my door much later that night. I jumped, completely startled. I had finished getting ready to go out quite a while ago, and had sat down to read a book. I wasn't expecting for anyone to be disrupting me. I set the book down slowly and took my time answering.

I opened the door to find a very confused looking Katie at the door. "Max Harding is here?" she posed the statement like a question, one eyebrow raised. I looked at her, looked right through her.

"Thanks." I said dully. With one hand I flicked the light switch on the wall, pushed by her and pulled the door closed behind me with the other hand. I walked down the hall without another word to her. I heard her hurry to catch up.

"Max Harding, the boy from the airport. You're going out tonight with him?" She asked, her voice seemed a little frigid. I stopped suddenly. She ran into me from behind. I turned very quickly and she stepped back, her face showing fear for only a few seconds.

"Yes. And why does that matter?" I demanded. She looked at me with her pretty blue eyes and I had to look away. I couldn't control the feeling of disappointment I had whenever I looked at her.

"I don't want you to." She said flat and simply. I laughed. Then I walked away.

This party was less crowded than the initial one I'd been to. The people here were friendlier, but perhaps that was because I came in with Max. People I had seen at the other party who had looked me up and down and dismissed me now wanted to talk to me. It was an interesting feeling. At school no one wanted to talk to me this much, but I wasn't at school. At school I was never with such a beautiful person who was so well liked either. I was very glad I wasn't at school.

Max introduced me to everyone and there was one girl in particular who stood out in my mind. She was beyond beautiful and extremely friendly. Her name was Sam and she immediately suggested we hang out again. She shared my interest in reading and learning and carried on a conversation better than most of the others around us.

I didn't learn until later that she was Max's younger sister. I assumed that this was the sister who was friends with Katie, but found that the name Katie Leglin was not greeted warmly when mentioned. Sam scowled momentarily and then apologized for the rude gesture.

"Your sister and I were very close at one point…but that changed when she decided she liked Max." Sam said softly, her eyes flitting to her brother for a moment. She smiled at me and shook her head. "No offense, but your cousin is a vindictive little bitch who loves to eat boys hearts." The smile fell from her face. I didn't like where this conversation was going.

I remember how Max had avoided my eyes in the park when talking about Katie, and now it made sense. They had dated, or come close to it, and she'd ripped his heart out. It seemed odd that Katie hadn't mentioned it at the airport, that they knew one another. It did however explain Katie's wish for me to not go with Max tonight.

"I'm beginning to think there's a lot to my cousin that I don't know…" I said and Sam put a comforting hand on my shoulder. She smiled warmly at me.

"Don't worry about it sweetheart, your cousin's a good kid deep inside…she's just going down a bad path right now. You really should try to help her stay clear of it though…you know, nudge her in the right way. You seem like you'd be good at that." I thought about that for a second and realized that she was right. By pushing Katie away I was probably only pushing her into wanting to use drugs more. I made a vow that I would not ignore her anymore, and that I'd try to talk to her.

"Do you want a beer?" someone to my right offered. I looked at the extended cup, shaking my head automatically. They shrugged before taking a large swig for themselves. I looked around me and realized Sam and I were the only ones who were not drinking. For some reason that made me like her even more.

I saw Max standing across the room talking to a girl I'd been introduced to and told was Emily. Though his attention was on the girl, I noticed his eyes kept straying to me, and every time they did he smiled at. I smiled back and tried not to let the blush I felt creeping up my face stain my cheeks. Sam noticed too and smirked. When Max began his way towards us, Sam picked up a cup from nearby, mumbling something about getting a drink before walking away.

"Are you having fun?" He asked, setting down his own cup on the table next to the couch I was sitting on. I looked up at him, hoping he'd sit.

"Your sister is really nice, I'm glad I came tonight." I told him. I was pleased when he sat down. I didn't really know what else to say. I was surprised at how relaxed I was even with all the drinking that was occurring around me. I hadn't seen anyone doing drugs or noticed anyone acting like they were on them, and that made me feel better about being here. I don't know why, but I trusted Max to not put me in a situation I would be uncomfortable in.

"Are you sure you're glad you came?" He asked. The look on his face seemed slightly nervous, like he was afraid I was just being polite. When I smiled at him and nodded, yes, he was positively beaming. I wanted to kiss him right then and there for being so damn beautiful but I didn't. I didn't have that kind of confidence. What if I wasn't very good?

"Hey, it's getting late. You ready to go Max?" I heard Sam call out from behind us. They started talking to one another and I drifted into my thoughts. I was staring blankly at the wall when I heard a whisper in my ear.

"Hello, Hermione." The voice was soft, cold and frightening. I felt a rush of heat flow through my body, starting at the center of my chest and extending outward until it reached every point on my body. I shivered despite the warmth.

"Did you hear that?" I asked, turning to Max with a frown. Max shook his head absently before turning back to his conversation with Sam. I shivered again and touched one hand to my chest. My fingertips brushed the necklace that lay against my skin beneath my shirt, but my mind didn't even notice I was wearing it. And the memory of that voice floated easily from my mind.