A/n: So, I guess I was wrong with the tragic part being in this chappie! I always wanted a little warmth between Draco and Hermione! Anyway, this chap's just going to get you ready for the high dive. Warning: Someone will DIE! Not Draco/ Hermione definitely! Their my main characs here!!! Well usually I'd say enjoy! But this chaps not actually enjoyable, so I'll just say, please leave reviews or else! LOL!

Chapter 18: Undaunted Shadow

The next morning, very few people were to be seen eating breakfast in the Great Hall. Most of the students went home to their families for the holidays. Hermione decided to stay for Christmas since her parents were in Paris and clearly, she wasn't in speaking terms with Ron and Harry at that time.

She woke up at 8:00 that morning, only to realize that Harry and Ron had already left. She took a steamy, hot bath and put on a blue turtle neck long-sleeve, a knee-length skirt and a hand-knitted red sweater, since it was a little chilly. She proceeded to breakfast, which was served on a single long table, and ate a bowl of hot rice porridge. An owl arrived with her daily subscription of the Daily Prophet. She was so immersed with her reading that she didn't notice a pair of cold, gray eyes staring at her from the other end of the table.


Draco didn't know that she was staying over the holidays; he was eyeing her very curiously. Last night, while he just couldn't sleep, he resolved to drain his heart of all feelings for her. Let's face it, they're just not for each other; or that was what he thought.

He wanted to avoid her with every possible chance he would get. He just wanted to obliviate all the thoughts and memories he had with her, but he cherished those memories more than anything and wiping them away from his mind would only pain him more.

After breakfast, Draco decided to just lock himself away in his dorm, where he could be alone and peaceful. After realizing how long it'll take him if he used the usual route, he took a short cut he knew; which, he took in was a very wrong thing to do, when he met Hermione along the way.

"Hey." She greeted him casually. He wondered whether she was out of her mind. He remained silent.

"I knew what happened last night is pretty uncomfortable for you, but will you please talk to me."

Silence.

"Okay, I admit it. I screwed up. Big time." Hermione sighed in exasperation.

"It wasn't your fault." Draco spoke out at last. "I was the one who, who kissed you."

"But I let you, disregarding the consequences it might bring. I should've controlled myself." Hermione explained as she smacked her temple.

"So, you're saying you regretted ever kissing me?" Draco asked, not looking her in the eye.

"Surprisingly, no." Hermione said with such casualness in her voice. "What I regret was kissing you in front of Harry and Ron."

Draco chuckled at her unusual reply.

"So given the chance that they both weren't there, you wouldn't have regretted kissing me?" Draco questioned her with ease, now.

"Hmm, maybe yes or maybe no." Hermione replied in a teasing voice. "But I guess I can't take that first kiss back now, can I?"

"I thought Krum was your first kiss?" Draco asked with a soft chortle.

"No he wasn't. Well, technically speaking he's the first guy to kiss me other than my dad. He kissed me on the cheeks; it wasn't anything torrid, really." Hermione responded matter-of-factly.

"As I always say, great timing! It was mine too." Draco answered with a smirk.

"Shut up!" Hermione exclaimed. "You're kidding! No way!"

Draco smiled and folded his arms, with an expression no one would've ever guessed he could muster.

"I always thought you were one of those guys who're too corrupt to function and have snogged hundreds of women." Hermione cried out in awe.

"Well, I guess you thought wrong." They both grinned happily at the warm, comfortable atmosphere they built with their genuine sincerity and friendly gestures towards each other.

"You know, I've noticed that whenever Harry and Ron aren't around, we get along…pretty well." Hermione remarked in an interesting tone of voice.

"I think so, too-," Draco was cut short by an eerie shadow he caught behind Hermione. It was very odd, the shadow was so dark and it definitely wasn't Hermione's.

"Malfoy, what's wrong?" Hermione questioned him inquiringly.

"We better get out of here," Draco whispered in an anxious voice. "Something in this place is just not…right."

"What is it? You're creeping me out!" Hermione murmured softly.

"Sssshhhh! Be quiet. Let's go" Draco grabbed her by the arm and started to break into a run. He was getting pretty dizzy and his arm began to sear. (Left or right or wherever, I'm not sure) He was hearing a voice, all too familiar to his ears. Once out of the deserted, eerie corridor, they stopped and gasped for breath for a while.

"What was that all about?" Hermione asked incredulously. Suddenly, Draco let out a loud pained scream.

"Arrrrrrrrggggghhhhhh!" he grasped his arm tightly, while writing in pain.

"Malfoy, what's happening!?" Hermione attempted bravely. She tore open the sleeves of Draco's shirt which revealed a horrendous sight; the Dark Mark. He was thrashing about the place; Hermione was panicking but still managed to cast a spell on Draco.

"Tollo Poena!" Hermione muttered. It was one of her self-made spells (she has taken the habit since succeeding in making the countercurse for the Cruciatus curse.)

Malfoy calmed down a little, but the mark on his arm was still glowing brightly.

"He's here!" he panicked. "He knows I'm the only one left! He's come to get me!"

"Malfoy stop, calm down! Get a hold of yourself! Draco!" Malfoy stopped abruptly after hearing Hermione say his first name. "Listen to me. You are not a killer, and you no longer serve Voldemort. He will not come to get you! I mean, be logical! How could he just casually waltz in to Hogwarts? Security's been tightened a hundredfold since last summer."

"I'm the only free Death Eater he currently has!"

"Malfoy," Draco was alarmed by the sternness in her voice. "You are no longer a Death Eater."

"You don't understand this, Hermione. Once you're a death eater, you will always remain a Death Eater!"

"Since when have you called me Hermione?" Hermione said in an attempt to make the situation humorous.

"This is no time for silly jokes, Granger!"

"I don't believe you're still a Death Eater…Draco."