Disclaimer:

I do not own anything, but the plot.

"Come here Hermione, don't be scared."

"No, I don't want to come," she replied.

"Come now," demanded a bone chilling voice.

"No, please don't make me, please." Hermione begged trying to run away, but she found that she could not move backwards. "Look see I can't even move."

"Step forward."

"I can't, I told you I can't move!" exclaimed Hermione.

"I told you to step forward!"

Hermione tried to step forward and to her surprise she could, but when she tried to step back she couldn't. Sheer panic ran through her veins.

"Now Hermione, are you going to come to me, or do I have make you?" As he said that, sharp pains as if she was being stabbed over and over again, pierced her body.

"Please stop, please, someone help me please, someone!"

Hermione was in so much pain, she knew if it continued she would surely go mad. Then a hand wrapped around her neck and began to squeeze tighter and tighter. She tried to fight the person off, but they were much stronger, nothing she did stopped the hand. She was starting to feel faint, then she blacked out.

Hermione bolted up from her dream, gasping for air, a small scream left her lips. Her sheets were wrapped around all of her body including her neck, sweat was dripping down her face, and she was terrified. Hermione unwrapped herself and tried to fall back asleep, after an hour of tossing and turning she gave up, and got dressed. Hermione walked down to the lake, it was dawn and the sun was just beginning to peak over the tops of the trees. She had a lot of thinking to do. As she sat there she tried to make sense of the dream.

"If only I could have seen the persons face," Hermione said out allowed to herself.

The dream had scared her to her core. The more she thought about the dream, the more she came to the conclusion that it was just a horrible nightmare, and she prayed that, that was all it was. She had been a bit paranoid lately, the things Draco had said to her where horrible, he had never been that mean to her before. Sure he had spent six years calling her a mudblood, but that didn't really bug her anymore, she had grown above the childish name calling. His threats were so uncalled for and she wished that they were empty ones, but she knew that they weren't. She hated him, whole heartily hated him. He was so cruel to her. Something inside of Hermione snapped, standing up she grabbed a rock and threw it into the lake as hard and as fast as she could.

"I hate you Draco Malfoy," she screamed out loud to herself.

She dropped to the ground and started bagging her fists into the mud below her. The tears were streaming down her face and she was sobbing. The ground was wet and muddy she was getting dirty, pieces of grass got stuck in her hair, but she didn't care. She just laid there and cried. If she had been looking to her right instead of her left she would have seen a blonde haired Slytherin walking away from his spot hidden behind a large rock, looking almost as upset as she was.

After awhile her sobs stopped, and she went in for breakfast, she said a quick charm so she would look decent, and not covered mud. She had never been that dramatic before, and she hated it. She vowed to herself that she would not let Draco get to her like that again, she was much stronger than that.

"Hermione, why do you have grass in your hair?" Ginny asked, brushing away a piece of grass.

"Oh I was down by the lake and I slipped and fell, I tried to clean myself up a bit but I must have missed a few spots," she lied quickly, sure she had been done by the lake, but she hadn't exactly fallen.

"Why were you down by the lake?" The young red head asked.

"I had a nightmare and couldn't sleep so I went down there to calm down a bit."

"Want to talk about it?"

"You know what, I'm fine, I can hardly remember it, it just rattled me up a bit, that's all."

"If you are sure…?"

"I am."

Ginny looked at Hermione as if she wanted to say more, but she let it drop, and started talking to Harry about Quidditch. Hermione realized that she didn't have any of her books for her first class so she excused herself and got up to leave.

"Look at the mudblood, she is covered in mud, she is really living up to her name," Pansy said, laughing.

"Pansy, if you are going to say something, think about it first, before you make you, and the rest of us look stupid." Draco said slightly irritated.

Hermione heard them both, but chose to ignore them. When she got to her room, she changed her robes, and went to grab her books, when she noticed a letter sitting on her bed.

Dear Miss Granger,

Once again I would like to congratulate you, on your position as head girl, although I'm sure it came as no surprise. This year along with your normal Head Girl duties, and the annual Christmas ball, I want there to be another major event. I will leave it up to you to figure out what you want to do. I expect that you will have a perfects meeting very soon, and yes Miss Granger, you have to invite the Slytherin perfects. I would like a full report on your meeting as soon as you have one, which I suggest you do sooner then later.

-Dumbledore.

P.S. Do not forget that you are expected to patrol tonight. Keep your head up for serpents roam free at night.

Hermione sighed, she had forgotten that she had to patrol tonight, she just hoped that the teachers would be nice and not give out too much homework.

Draco had seen Hermione crying by herself at the lake that morning, and it broke him up inside. He had unfortunately grown a conscience and it pained him to see someone in so much pain. He longed to run out and tell her that he was sorry, he hated himself, for feeling this way, he was the Slytherin king, he hated muggle borns but he was, almost starting to care for one. It was way past curfew but he didn't care let them expel him. He couldn't sleep, him and Pansy had a fun night, and she was still sleeping in his bed naked, but he didn't want to lay beside her. So here he was roaming the castle at night in nothing but his boxers and pants. He stopped to look out a window which was facing the lake, the moon lighting up his pale skin. He was fairly built, he spent a lot of time running, and working out. His eyes were a blue-ish gray, but these days were more blue, and now because of the lighting they stood out more then ever. He looked down and saw a huge scar that now was a permanent blemish on his once perfect body. No one knew how he got that scar, he never told anyone, and never would. For him it was showing that he wasn't as brave and strong as everyone believed him to be.

"You should be in bed, Malfoy."

Draco turned around and saw none other then Hermione Granger.

"I should say the same for you."

"I'm doing my head duties."

"Well then I suggest you get to them before Dumbledore sees you talking to me," Draco said turning around to look out the window again, behind him he could hear her sigh.

"Malfoy, I know you hate me, and I know your threats were real, but could you just go to bed?"

Draco didn't answer, and he didn't move either, he just wished she would go away.

"Please Malfoy?"

Draco turned around and looked Hermione right in her eyes, he could see the fear deep inside of them, and he saw them glance down to his arm, where his Death-Eater mark should be. He smirked.

"I'm not a Death- Eater Granger," Draco said bluntly.

"I never said you were."

"But you thought I was, right? Don't lie."

"I did."

"Exactly, not everything is as it seems, you're smart Granger you should know that."

Hermione shook her head, "did you just complement me?"

"No, I stated the truth, I would be an idiot if I didn't accept the fact that you are indeed somewhat intelligent." Draco then saw Hermione look at as his scar, and gasped, it looked a lot worse in the moon light.

"Malfoy…" Hermione began before Draco cut her off.

"Good night Granger," Draco said as he turned and walked off to his room, leaving a very stunned Gryffindor behind him.

I know, I've updated everyday so far, lol and I'm rather proud of that fact. Please review, they really make my day, and I write more. As you can see this chapter is even longer than the last. I'm still looking for a beta so if you are interested message me.

Have a good evening.

--Nickie Thorn