A/N: Yay! We made it to Chamber of Secrets! This was a more exciting book to write for since more is happening and a lot of it concerns Purebloods and Mudbloods. And I am so glad you are all enjoying the story so much; thank you for reading, reviewing, following, and favoriting! This took a little longer for me to get out, but only because I've been writing ahead; so forgive me!

Previously on The Affair- Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger complete their first year at Hogwarts and forge a friendship in secret. Their feelings grow throughout the school year and they promise to keep in touch over the summer.

Chapter Six

Malfoy Manor stood dark and tall against the rolling green hills that surrounded it. A tall hedge surrounded it and led to alabaster columns which lined the entrance. White clouds passed over the manor quickly as the wind whipped through the land. It was warm, being late summer and Draco Malfoy was just landing his broom back on the ground after an afternoon of soaring in the clouds.

It wasn't by chance that he decided to come in now, but the fact that he had seen an owl when he was flying. His heart jumped and he dove down to the ground, landing gracefully. Throwing his broom to the side, Draco darted inside to his Father's study. Any owls who visited threw straight into the study and perched, waiting on the Master of the Manor.

Draco stopped short as he entered the empty study, there was no owl in here. he frowned and turned, where else would an owl go? Draco took off at a brisk walk through the long halls of his home. Portraits of dead ancestors hung on the walls and fine vases stood polished on tables.

Draco ran up the stairs to his room and checked inside. A large bed covered with an embroidered black duvet stood in the middle of the room. A mahogany desk with a leather chair sat next to a bookshelf while a tall decorated wardrobe stood across the room. Two floor length windows bordered each side of his bed where light came streaming in. Draco looked around bored and slammed the door behind him.

It had been a week since his Eagle Owl returned from delivering a letter to Hermione and Draco had been waiting in cold anticipation. Writing to her over the summer was a dangerous excursion; if his Father found out he was corresponding with a Muggleborn he would beat Draco. This would be considered besmirching the Malfoy name and if he knew how Draco really felt his Father might disown him for being a Blood Traitor.

Having the last name of Malfoy didn't just mean that shopkeepers bowed to him when he entered a store or having the newest and best of everything. It meant keeping the reputation of his family impeccably clean. He must never wear his heart on his sleeve, Malfoys didn't let common emotions rule their actions. He had to have proper etiquette at all times. But most importantly, he could only associate with Purebloods. A Halfblood could be kept as company if they rose from their meager beginnings, but these were few and far between. Being friendly with a Mudblood would dirty your reputation and that of your whole family. Having a relationship with one was unheard of, he wasn't a Weasley after all.

Draco frowned as he scanned up and down the hallway. He bang to get anxious, hoping his Father or Mother hadn't intercepted the owl.

"Dobby!" Draco barked loudly.

A loud pop sounded in front of him and a small elf wearing a dirty pillowcase appeared. His large green eyes were wary and held a twinge of fear as he looked at his young master. Dobby did not meet Draco's eye, he was not allowed that familiarity.

"Young Master called?" Dobby squeaked out in a high voice.

Draco was disgusted by the elf, he always had been. His large ears flopped over and his nose ran too long down his ugly face. His knobbly knees made his legs seem too thin compared to his large feet and hands. Draco had a look that he smelled something foul on his face, "Did you see where that owl went off to?"

Dobby's eyes got even larger and Draco wasn't even sure that was possible. He nodded slowly.

"Well?" Draco snapped at him. "Do you know where the letter is?"

Dobby looked like he was in pain. A small whine escaped his throat before he nodded again.

"Bring them to me." Draco ordered darkly. Dobby snapped his fingers and disappeared. Just a second later, he was back holding a stack of letters tied together with thin twine. Hermione's writing was on the top letter, but it wasn't addressed to him. It had Harry Potter's name on it.

Draco snatched them from the elf and dove back into his room. Quickly he tore the twine off and the letters scattered across his bed. Ones from Hermione, Weasley, and Hagrid, all addressed to Harry Potter. Draco's mind raced; what the hell was Dobby doing with Potters letters? And why were there so many from Hermione?

He picked one up, hands shaking and opened it. It was clearly Hermione's small, neat writing on the parchment. She asked how he was and why hadn't he written back. She said she was worried and hoped that the Dursley's weren't abusing him. Draco tore into one after another, all of them the same just increasing in worry.

His fists were white with rage as he held the latest one. Next week she would be going to Diagon Alley to pick up her new school supplies and hoped she would meet him there. His breathing was fast and shallow. Never in his life had Draco been more enraged than he was now.

How dare she barely write to him while sending multitudes of letters to Potter who didn't even write her back! He could only imagine how many times she had written to Weasley. Draco threw the letter down on his bed and called for Dobby again.

Right now, he didn't care that Dobby was intercepting Potter's mail. Good. At least he's not getting to write back to her. Draco thought darkly. Dobby appeared in his room,cowering. His large eyes were glued to the letters on the bed. "Get these out of my sight." Draco hissed through clenched teeth.

Dobby quickly gathered the letters and vanished from in front of him. He couldn't even think straight; everything was swirling inside his head. He should write to her and tell her never to talk to him again. He should just cut off all correspondence with her and pretend that nothing ever happened between the two of them.

No, she would like that too much. Draco stormed through the house and onto the terrace. White peacocks paraded along the grounds, a favorite of his mother. His chest felt hot and he thought it much burst open because of the pounding rage inside of it. He could wait until school started again and call her out in front of everyone, including her precious Potter and Weasley. See how much they like you when they know your dirty secret.

Draco felt betrayed by the world around him. The sun was shining as white fluffy clouds passed lazily through the sky. The ground were trimmed and decorated lavishly as the peacocks strode through the hedges. He wanted to destroy all of his. He wanted to rip out the hedges and strangle those peacocks. Everyone needed to feel the pain he was feeling inside.

Lucius walked onto the terrace behind his son. His two great Wolfhounds bounded off down the stairs to chase the peacocks. Draco gave a small smirk at their misbehavior. Lucius watched his son's body heave with each breath and could see him seething with anger.

"Draco," he drawled, "What ever is the matter with you?"

Draco wanted to turn and spit into his Father's face. As his grey eyes met ones almost identical he tried to calm himself. Malfoys should never exhibit this kind of behavior especially not in front of others.

"I'm fine." He said through gritted teeth.

"Come now, don't lie to me." His Draco hadn't known better, he would almost seem that his Father cared that something was wrong with him. But all he wanted to do was belittle any problem Draco had and tell him to uphold himself in a gentlemanly manner.

"It's… someone at school." Draco looked back over the grounds as the Wolfhounds barked at one of the peacocks. "They need to learn how to treat their betters."

Lucius smirked. "One of your little friends, hmm?" He unbuttoned his jacket and sat down in a large white chair. "And what are you going to do about this?" Lucius wanted to see how his son would handle a situation such as this; he wanted to see if he was weak.

"I'll show them who they ought to respect." He spat. "I give you my word and swear to keep it."

"The best way to keep your word," Lucius drawled, "Is never to give it. I am sure whoever this is will no longer be a problem for you once you are the Slytherin Seeker." Draco turned around quickly, Seeker? "Yes, I am planing on buying you a new broom when we go to Diagon Alley next week. And five more to match for your new teammates." His eyes were as cold as steel.

"Thank you, Father." Draco said almost breathlessly. This was exactly what he needed to get ahead. Hermione would not be able to ignore him if he was Seeker and playing against Potter. He would show her just how good of a Quidditch player he was.

"Father?" Draco asked. Lucius nodded, allowing him to speak. "Do you mind if we go next Wednesday?" Hermione had written to Harry that she would be in Diagon Alley that day and he was eager to run into her. He wanted an explanation or he would seek revenge.

"I suppose so. Why?" Lucius asked curtly.

"No reason." Draco said quickly and bowed to his Father before turning to head back inside.

Hermione sat alone in a compartment on the Hogwarts Express on her way to her second year at school. She was reading Break with a Banshee by Gilderoy Lockhart because neither Ron nor Harry were on the train. She had no idea where else they might be and was worried about them. They were prone to trouble.

She had just finished changing into her school uniform when the compartment door slid open. Hermione's heart skipped a beat as she recognized the tall blonde who stood in front of her. She broke into a large smile and threw her arms around his neck. But his body felt stiff and he did not move to hug her back.

Hermione pulled herself off of him and composed herself. "Draco, how have you been?" She tried to be pleasant since she was genuinely glad to see him although not too happy about his and his Father's remarks in Flourish and Blotts. His eyes were colder than usual and he scanned the compartment.

"Alone?" He asked. Hermione nodded, for the first time today she was slightly glad Ron and Harry were not there. "Where are Scarhead and Weasel?" Draco's voice was cold and cruel.

Hermione's face fell a little as she sat back down. "They aren't on the train. I don't know where they are."

Draco smirked. "Some friends you have there, Granger."

Granger, its like he doesn't know me. Hermione flinched at the use of her surname. "I am sure they are getting along fine." She sniffed.

Draco sneered and sat down across from her. He was also in his robes and never before had Hermione noticed the green striped tie or the Slytherin emblem on his chest more than now.

"What's going on?" She cut to the chase.

"Absolutely nothing." He spat, glaring at her. Draco felt himself waver; his anger was still boiling inside of him, but the sight of her in front of him weakened his resolve. He missed her- her eyes, her smell, her face… He tried to banish the thoughts from his head, but couldn't. His anger abated as pain settled in his chest in its place. "How was your summer?" He said almost politely.

Hermione sized him up in her eyes. He sat stiffly in front of her, obviously uncomfortable. Why? What had happened? His hair was still slicked back and he had grown some over the summer. He was still Draco. But his eyes were harder, more like steel. They didn't shine like they normally did; they were too dark for that.

She shifted in her seat. "It was well. Yours?"

"Not bad." Draco drawled.

Hermione was getting annoyed by his behavior. Why had he come to find her if only to be rude to her? And why was he doing that in the first place? "That's good." She said to break the silence. "I was hoping our encounter at Flourish and Blotts would have gone a little more… civilized."

Muggles aren't civilized company. Draco wanted to say but bit his tongue. This would be the long game with Hermione. "My Father holds himself to a certain standard and adheres to old values" was all he could offer.

"Maybe he could work on being more evolved."

Draco couldn't help but let out a little laugh. His Father, change? Hermione smiled up at him and he felt a pang in his chest. That, there, that was what he had missed most over the summer. He opened his mouth to tell her so, but the train whistle sounded.

"We must almost be there." Hermione glanced at her watch. "I should gather my things."

Draco stood up and Hermione echoed him. "I'll see you around." He started to close the door behind him and felt sorry that he had to go.

Hermione gave him a sort of sad smile. "You too."

Draco walked back up the train to his compartment filled with Slytherins. People his father would approve of. People that he shared a house and bloodlines with. People of his status.

People he found utterly boring.

Draco's leg was bouncing up and down as he pretended to read. In reality he was watching Hermione out of the corner of his eye. Draco cared about school and doing well, but who the hell spent the second night back in the castle holed up in the library? They had only had one day of classes so far.

This fact didn't stop Hermione from collecting a rather large stack of old looking books beside her. Draco frowned; she hadn't bothered to look up in the last half hour and she had no idea he was in there, watching her.

Hermione had grown up a little over the summer, Draco noted. Her hair was still bushy, but not quite as much as the previous year. She was taller too, but the amount Draco had grown made it seem like most other people were shrinking. Her front teeth were still too large, but Draco had almost grown fond of this quirk of hers.

No. He told himself firmly. This will not be like last year where you pine after her and nothing comes from it. She left you waiting in the astronomy tower, albeit she was trying to save the school, but still. You are not going to fall head over heels for this girl- she's a Muggleborn! What the hell do you think you're doing?

Draco wrestled internally, his grey eyes had storms in them. But Hermione's head finally popped up. She ran her hands over each side of her head, trying to relax. That's when she saw him; dark expression and even darker eyes staring straight at her. Hermione's own face hardened and she set her jaw.

Draco cursed himself as she returned to her books without a second look at him. He grabbed a piece of parchment from his bag and quickly scribbled a note to meet him in the astronomy tower the following night. I'll just get it all out in the open and if she wants nothing more to do with me, then so be it.

He pulled his chair back and stood to leave. Hermione's body tensed and she fought to not pay any attention to what he was doing. Annoying and frustrated, Draco walked past her and dropped the not onto the table she was using. Hermione chose to ignore it until he was out of the library and he had no chance of seeing her read it.

About an hour later Hermione finally closed up the books she was using and started to place them back on the shelves. It was only then that she remembered about Draco's note. Glancing around at the empty library, Hermione sat down to read it.

Did he think that everything would be just like it was last year between them? Because too much had happened. The way his Father treated her parents and the Weasley's at Flourish and Blotts was enough to set her teeth on edge, but then he found her on the train and continued to make fun of her.

She didn't know what had changed over the summer, but something surely had. She found it hard to find things to talk to him about. Between her parents and worrying about Harry not writing back Hermione had been rather distracted this summer. But Draco seemed to have changed as well. He was cold and dark now, his face didn't break into a smile when he set eyes on her. Instead he seemed distant and watchful.

He wanted to meet in the astronomy tower with her again. Hermione bit her lip and looked at the exit where Draco had departed. As much as she was unhappy with Draco, she missed him even more. His letters had been weeks apart this summer then abruptly stopped altogether. She had worried that his affections had waned. And after seeing him in Diagon Alley… Hermione shook her head and crumbled up the paper, tossing it across the empty library.

Draco stood looking out over the grounds, waiting on Hermione. She will come, she will come! He repeated to himself as he replayed the night where Hermione left him waiting on her last year. Draco started to feel anxious as he stood silently, watching the stars move across the sky. He felt his heart ache in pain as he realized, once again, that Hermione was not coming. Draco breathed in deeply and closed his grey eyes; when they opened again, there was a storm brewing behind them.

Next Time on The Affair- Draco becomes the seeker for the Slytherin Quidditch team and enjoys popularity and praise from his house. Draco calls Hermione a Mudblood, and they share something special together. Hogwarts is marked by an attack.

A/N: I was so sad to write this chapter after the way their first year ended. They had such promise! :( This year will be rougher on our favorite pair and some tough choices to be made. I am trying to create more scenes with them in them instead of just blatantly following the storyline from the books. Let me know how you like the beginning of their second year!