A/N: This was originally 15ish pages, but my beta and I decided to divide it into two chapters for sake of length and give the readers time to rest their eyes. Part 2 of this chapter will be out within 3-4 days so during that time I'm hoping to rake up a little more reviews. //smiles// Review please, and thanks so much for the story alerts! They make me happy.

P.S. my beta is probably going to hate me because I removed first scene of this story right before I published it, but I realized it wasn't really needed anyway, so I'm hoping she won't be too mad. if i don't update for awhile... you know why.

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, or Draco Malfoy- and if I did, he'd be tied to my bed so you wouldn't know about it anyway. //wink//

Chapter 2
Part I: Duels and Revelations

It was quite easy luring the feline away from Granger's probing and overanalyzing eyes since Weasley fodder were keeping her busy. First of all, I know I'm an animal person. It's the one thing no one knows about me except father ever since I rescued an injured owl on the side of The Three Broomsticks and nursed it back to health in secret… he now knows I have a knack for secretly caring for injured pets around the manor. I guess animals can sense it too in a person, since it's probably why it was so easy for me to just smile at the orange cat and before long it was purring and rubbing against my robes.

I picked up the domestic house pet without much effort, and looked at its flat face. Pansy would love this pet, not only did it seem to be a sweetheart, it also was a very rare type of cat bred only in the wizarding world- it would only be fit for a purebred magical cat to be with a pureblood family. Perhaps after I kill Granger, I'll give this precious animal to Pansy as an anniversary gift two weeks from now.

I walked away with the cat, my suitcases and trunk have already been sent to Hogwarts since my house elves always pulled them into the train, naturally, and I didn't have to worry about it. They'd be in my room by nightfall.

I moved down the length of the railway, and took a detour down a separate corridor. Now all I had to do was wait.

By the time Granger walked around the corner, her cat was already sleeping soundly in my arms. She took her time, enough. I must've been there for an hour, or maybe two, before she finally decided to scout this area for her missing cat. I looked down at my watch and noticed it had only been 27 bloody minutes. No matter. I watched her for a bit, her form small and far seeing that the room I so happened to be in was an empty station down the way, but not too far to discourage her search here. I was about to make my presence known when my plans were foiled,

"Hermione, you should really start heading off to Hogwarts with Arthur," said someone I couldn't see. I frowned. Honestly, how long must one wait to introduce oneself?

"It's okay, Mrs. Weasley," said Granger in a voice so sweet to the person behind the wall out of my view that it made my insides curl at its meek politeness, "I'll make it in time for the opening ceremonies, at least."

"Look, dear, how about I look for Crookshanks myself, and you run along to Hogwarts. If we find Crookshanks, we'll bring him to you personally at the grounds."

Crookshanks? Horrible name for a cat, in my honest opinion, especially for one of this animal's lineage. It sounded like road kill ran over by the Knight Bus, and then Knight Bus backed up to run over it again. Whatever.

"No, he doesn't trust people that easily. You know how he was at the Burrow…" started Granger.

I nearly snorted at that comment. I had no idea what "the Burrow" was, but I'm quite sure that Crookshanks found a liking to me. I petted the large cat again along his spine, and he purred half-heartedly in his sleep.

"All right, Hermione, we'll search here, but after this, we have to go back. I need to cook lunch, and you'll need to be sent off to Hogwarts!"

From this angle, it was obvious that Granger didn't like the idea at all- she was fidgety,

"Mrs. Weasley, you don't have to help me. I'll be fine. I'm sure there's no Death Eaters around here. All the students left for Hogwarts already. No one knows we're here."

"That's what I'm afraid of," said the older female voice quietly as if to herself.

I couldn't help but smirk, and had to cover my mouth to remind myself not to laugh out loud at the irony. The pause that followed made it obvious that Weasley beta was in a hurry, but didn't want to leave Granger unattended. Good move on her part.

"Okay," Weasley beta finally said, "But make sure to contact Arthur within the hour, or he'll come back from the Ministry in an hour and a half whether you're ready or not."

"All right, Mrs. Weasley," said Granger with a nod. "Thank you again."

"Stay safe, m'dear."

An old, short, woman with flaming red hair appeared from behind the wall and kissed her on the cheek quickly, before disappearing entirely. Granger seemed to be watching her retreating form, because long after Weasley beta had disappeared from my line of vision, she was still standing in the same position.

She looked different. Now that she was alone, without the familiar 50 or so pounds in the form of books gathered in her arms, and without the usual duo flying around her like moths to candlelight… she looked older, straighter- more serene. It was weird seeing her then, as if I was looking at a part of a body instead of the whole picture.

At first, I didn't understand what was so intriguing about Weasley beta that would cause Granger to stand there for so long. Her hair was still the same length as it had been in 1st year, and the bush had mellowed to "thicker than normal," but then again, I couldn't imagine her with thin, fine hair- that was for the rich who cared about self-maintenance. I smiled as I thought of Pansy momentarily before assessing Granger further. The cut-off fabric didn't suit her at all, she looked better in school robes than Muggle clothing… perhaps wizarding attire in general, but the brown "sweatshirt" (Pansy had told me once when we were strolling down a shopping center in downtown London that a thick shirt with long sleeves was called a "sweatshirt") she sported looked nice at least. So was the clip in her hair that gathered some of her frontal waves to the back.

It was then, while I was deciding whether to shock her or just slowly make my appearance, that I noticed something was strange. She was shaking. Not like, shaking as if she was wrecked with spasms, more like, shivering. But she was wearing a bloody sweatshirt and I was close enough now to note that there were no goosebumps on her legs to give away the fact she was cold.

I hadn't noticed I moved from the shadowed cornered I had leaned upon and was close enough now to see the delicate weaves on the back of her sweatshirt. Yes, she was definitely shaking- what the hell? What just happened? Why did she collapse?

She was covering her face and sniffling. Crying. Hermione Granger showing weakness- how absurd.

"Stop," I heard her whisper, "Shut up, Hermione. Stop it now!"

It never struck me that she would be the third-person talker type. Then again, I was learning a lot about Granger that I could've done without. I know I'm about to kill her, but I'm not without a conscience- when I kill her it would be so much easier if she was screaming loathsome foul things and furthering motivation, not depressed. Come on, Granger, you slapped me in third year, at least live up to your reputation of being a Gryffindor queen. Suck it up! Okay, I also realize I'm a Death Eater and shouldn't be worried about such fickle things, but it always bothered me when strong women showed signs of vulnerability.

Mum used to cry every night when father was sent to Azkaban, and that pissed me off because I couldn't do anything- I couldn't even comfort her because she was too proud a woman to admit she was crying, she was the type to make excuses for her flaws- like, loving my father. Or Professor McGonagall in 4th year when I came by her office to ask if it was possible to do any extra credit papers to raise my grade further, I actually found myself five minutes later comforting the foolish woman for whatever reason she was crying. I never bothered to ask, and after that day, I never came by her office again. It was okay for other girls, like Pansy, who was as frail as a rose, or Auntie Bella, who always told me crying was a, "great emotional outlet," (of course while she was sobbing), but never someone like Granger. That was just so… so…. So out of character!

All right, it's decided then.

"Granger!" I said loudly.

Immediately, she stiffened. I strode up out of the shadows and she looked up and around at me. Merlin, she looked so small and weak on the ground.

"Up, Granger."

"Wha….Wha… Crookshanks?" She seemed at a lost for words, "What are you doing here Malfoy? You found Crookshanks?" Then as if she just remembered who I was, she wiped her tears away quickly, "Give back Crookshanks."

Ah yes, Granger. There it is- anger.

"No, I think your cat likes being in my arms."

"You put some sleeping charm on him!" She accused, her eyes flashing with their familiar malice reserved for me.

"Yeah, what if I did?"

"You bastard!" she said angrily, "Give him back!"

"Tsk tsk, Granger," I said slowly, "I said UP."

Immediately, in a sort of painful, crippled way, Granger stood up. Dark Arts had its advantages… like learning how to do simple spells without the use of a wand- Granger's sudden "submission" to me, for example.

Granger's cat had woken up by then, and he stretched fully in my arms, his attention focusing on his mistress. He mewed in recognition, and leapt easily from my arms. I let him, and for a moment, I saw Granger was momentarily relieved.

"Don't let your guard down, Granger." I said, now pulling out my wand, and pointing it lowly at her to keep her standing, "You don't think I'd let you go that easily."

She was obviously attempting to resist whatever I placed her in, but her attempts were futile. Finally, after watching her shake painfully against her invisible constrictions keeping her upright, she said,

"What do you want, Malfoy?"

I laughed. I don't know why, but it seemed appropriate. I almost thought to humor her and suggest rape, but I wanted to get straight down to business. One hour and a half before Weasley alpha would be looking to pick her up, anyway.

Instead of answering her amusing little question, I subjected to something we both understood,

"Come on, you're a brilliant witch, you should be able to fight this off," I easily maneuvered so I was closer to her, and I noted that Crookshanks seemed to have found a dark spot in the corner to sleep in once more, "Think. You're at my mercy, and you know I'm not very patient."

She did some little struggles, and looked at me, if possible, with even more contempt, "This isn't funny."

"Yes it is," I said with a half-smile, "You should know what to do in this situation. They don't teach you it in Defense Against the Dark Arts… but I'm aware that you should know what to do when encountering a childish spell like this."

Granger strained harder than ever against my binds, but to no avail. I was getting impatient now,

"Damn it, Granger," I snapped, "Page 436 of Leviathans & Abyssal Remnants. You read that bloody book."

"What're you talking about," she gasped.

"Well, damn. Don't you think it's a bit too late to act like a goody-two-shoes? You want to hex the living daylights out of me, so do it. Page 436- 'Wordless Magic,' ring a bell?"

Suddenly, she was set free, and stumbled onto the ground on all fours unceremoniously.

I smirked, "Good job. Now pull out your wand before I do something not as kind."

She was breathing heavily- obviously she hadn't been practicing wandless magic as much as I thought she would've which made me rather upset, but Granger managed to pull out her wand without much effort.

"That's a good girl, Granger," I said mockingly.

"What's your deal?" she yelled, getting up once again and aiming her wand carefully at me.

"Oh honestly," I heard myself mutter, as I ignored her shallow attempts to threaten me. She was tearing up once more, "Do you always let yourself be an emotional wreck?"

"Shut up, Malfoy!" she screamed, and I couldn't hide the grin I set on my face, acknowledging that I knew I was stretching her patience.

"Tsk, Granger, did I hit a nerve? No… I didn't do this… perhaps some petty family issues… you found you're cat so that's not a problem. Maybe Weasley's taking advantage of you?"

"What's it to you?" she said, now tears streamed down her face. Wow, I meant that last statement as a joke.

"Weasley's taking advantage of you?" I said again.

She shot a spell in my direction, and I dodged just in time to counter her next Expelliaramus.

How intriguing. Gryffindor drama. Who would've thought someone had the balls to force the proud woman onto her knees? Sickening that it had to be Weasley though, it'd be much more fun if it had been Potter with the fatalist flaw of control freak fetishes. Granger broke my train of thought once more when she cast Flumen on me, bouncing strongly off my altered Protego I had cast a split second before.

"Granger, such a foul spell. That one isn't even in the Restricted Section. McGonagall would be displeased to know you used a Tranfiguration mediwitch book of hers with intent to kill."

"For your information," she did a swish flick that removed my Protego, "She suggested I read it during 5th year for extra credit- Cunctor!"

I stepped to the side as the slowing spell flew past me.

"You should play Wizard's Chess, creates strategy you poorly lack."

That seemed to piss her off because I had just enough time to renew my Protego shield before she tried Flumen again.

"You don't know anything about me!"

"Sure I do," I easily cast an enlarged version of a bubble charm around her and did my infamous vine bind on her that held her in place- plant vines wrapping dangerously around her body and threatening to constrict her at my word. She dare not move, and her breathing shuddered to shallow.

"For one," I said more leisurely than I felt, anticipation welling in my throat, "you commit yourself to work so much you overlook the necessity."

I walked toward her, well aware she couldn't move, my vines still growing and engulfing her body, and the look of discomfort and fear on her face was quite lovely,

"For example, you memorize the spells and know them better than most of the Hogwarts staff, but fail to apply and don't know when to use them. Which is why Potter does so much better than you during Defense Against the Dark Arts and back during Lockheart's dueling club." I stopped neatly in front of her, polishing my wand idly with my sleeve. "Another, is you're preference of tactile and auditory learning. You excel in Charms, Transfiguration and Potions because they are hands on, and History because you sit, listen, and absorb, but it wasn't a surprise when Pansy told me about your drop out in Divination because you needed an imagination. You don't visualize much, you just do…"

She looked terrified now with some vines were reaching searchingly up her garments, "Speaking of doing, that's why you were crying. Weasley and his uncivilized tactics to turn you on."

"You don't know anything," she choked out. Something about the way she said that gave me a feeling she was a lot more than the books and grades. I smiled grimly.

"Well, then, enough foreplay." I aimed my wand at the roots of the indulgent plant, "Finito Incantatem."

My plant seemed to cripple on itself and then disappear entirely, leaving Granger once more on all fours. She had dropped her wand somewhere in between my recital of her minute flaws as the plant crawled on her, and it had rolled near my foot. I kicked it none too enthusiastically in Granger's direction, where it stopped near her right hand.

"Pick up your wand, and let's duel properly," I said.

She got up shakily, her wand gripped tightly in her hand.

"Duel?"

"Yes, I've always wanted to duel you."

"I don't have much choice, do I?"

"No. Rhetorical questions never suited you, Granger." I rolled my neck and shoulders respectively, stretching my muscles, "Here's my dueling rules: Dark Arts, in your case, spells, charms, curses, and hexes not taught in school can be used. All strategy accepted, but duel can not be forfeited unless both duelists agree. Duel can not end until one can no longer pick up their wand and use it," I waved my wand slightly to set up barriers around the station. "The dueling grounds is the obvious physical boundary- hallways and anything leading off to separate stations or the like, excluded." I smirked, "I'd say the rules about flying, but we both know your expertise on that, so I won't mention it."

"Sarcasm not appreciated, Malfoy."

"It's settled then, no brooms permitted within this particular dueling ground."

"Who'd fly in such a limited space, anyway?"

"Potter would. If you had strategy, you'd know that you'd use something you're familiar with to defeat your opponent. Hence the first rule- spells not taught in school can be used." I knew she caught the meaning in my words.

"And if I don't agree with these rules?" she asked.

I smiled. I was hoping she'd ask.

"If any of these rules are broken, the effect… will be disastrous. My barriers and dueling ground do not accept cheaters so lightly in their arena. Let's just say stakes are high, and death is likely."

I smirked when she paled.

"I do not play in my duels, so I expect the same in return. But under these… sordid conditions, I'll go easy on you and use pure Dark Arts form. You, Granger, are now at an advantage knowing my limited amount of stratego. So please, give me something to brag about when I say, 'I dueled Hermione Granger and won.'"

She smiled grimly,

"Won? You'll be sorely disappointed, Malfoy."

I held my wand vertically in front of my face, the signal in which duelists do to accept terms in the dueling arrangements. It was a less formal version of bowing, which did the same in the sense that it meant the duel would start as soon as the opposing duelist followed the first duelist's example.

"Challenge accepted then?"

I couldn't stop the small smile that formed on my lips when she returned the signal.

"Never knew you were so strict on rules," she said.

"Only if they're mine," I replied.

A/N: First of all- Hermione may seem a little out of character. This was done because I'm writing this from a Slytherin and Ravenclaw perspective, so this is kind of how she's incorporated through their eyes. Please tell me if it's bothersome or completely off though as I've always had a love for writing Draco more than Hermione. Part 2 is lots of action. It's the most important chapter so far and a personal favorite. Oh! If you read Rated M fics, please check out my other fic "Dark Pact." It's still D/Hr, but it's a side project so I'll work on it a little less than Lux Margo. Anyway- please let me know if the POV shifts bother you! Thank you, again!
yoshi09