THANK YOU FOR THE REVIEWS!!!KEEP THEM COMING!!! This chapter is very long so be very comfortable when you read it. I brought Hermione and Draco a small step closer but not so much. They've still got issues.

I DON'T OWN ANYTHING!!!

Timeline: Sort of last week of November. Friday/Saturday

Chapter 6

Accident

"So you are actually willing to go with me to Hogsmeade?" Draco asked smirking at Hermione. She looked at him. "Me, Draco Malfoy son of the most hated man alive?" She laughed and shook her head at him.

"Look it's November and I want to get some stuff. Are you coming with me or not?" She asked. They were in the library. It was their second week at being secret friends. They were still touchy sometimes but not too much, Hermione found someone who enjoyed books like she did and Draco found someone who he could have a deep conversation with. Life was good for him. "Well?"

"Fine but we'll go to the Three Broomsticks. It's the only place where Pansy won't be." Draco said turning a page of his potions book. She rolled her eyes at him.

"Harry and Ron are using the Quidditch fields for practise." She said confidently. "But we should leave one at a time. To avoid suspicion." Draco let out a small sigh. "What? I don't want to lose my friends."

"Because of me?" Draco said finishing the unsaid sentence. "Works well for me." Hermione smiled gratefully at him and carried on studying. Within the hour they were testing each other on their studies. "Now tell me in Where There's a Wand, There's a Way. What does Tergeo do?"

"Easy, Siphons material from a surface such as blood, ink...wine." Hermione answered correctly. "Now you. In Magical Theory. What is the theory on Apparition?" Draco bit his bottom lip. "Come on Draco we just went over this!"

"Apparition is a magical form of teleportation, through which a witch or wizard can disappear from one location and reappear in another. It is sometimes accompanied by a distinctive cracking or popping sound, though this is associated with ineptitude rather than success; the most skilled wizards can Apparate "so suddenly and silently" that they seem to have "popped out of the ground." Draco said glaring at her. "I do know it."

"Never said you couldn't." She muttered under her breath. "My turn."

"Ok. What does Relashio do?

"It's a charm used to force someone or something to release that which it holds or grapples by means of shooting fiery sparks out or when underwater it shoots hot bursts of water."

"You'll pass your charms exams!" Draco said happily. "Unlike me I know I'll pass." Hermione whacked him over the head with her book. "Ouch! Hey that hurt!"

"Did I hurt you big head?" Draco let out a small growl. "Alright. What is the theory on Muggle studies?" She eyed Draco's reaction, he looked at her.

"And you were expecting what?" Hermione smirked while Draco grinned. "Muggle studies help us witches and wizards to better understand the muggle world." Draco replied. "What time is it?"

"Nearly four. I better get going. I'm meeting them after they've had Quidditch practice. You've got the grounds afterwards." Hermione said trying not to sound disappointed. She enjoyed quizzing someone or being quizzed by someone who was as intelligent as her. Draco nodded trying not to show his regret.

"Tomorrow then?" He asked. Hermione nodded. "I'll bring some chocolate frogs." She nodded and ran off. Draco waited for ten minutes then left the place. No one knew about their meetings.

--

"You are coming to the Quidditch match?" Harry asked as he settled down into an armchair. "We never see you at practice and you're always studying." Hermione looked away guiltily.

"Sorry...I've just been studying but I promise you I'll be there." She said smiling at him. "How's Ron coping?" She glanced towards Ron who was facing the window, Lavender was tugging at his arm and encouraging him.

"He's stressed and it's taking its toll on his performance. You remember last year? When all the Slytherins sang that song...I don't want it to be a remake of last year." Harry said racking a hand through his hair.

"I'm sure that'll never happen." Hermione said confidently. I'll have to speak to Draco about that. "He just needs a way to battle his nerves."

Harry sat still for a few minutes then a small smile flickered on his lips. "I think I know how." Hermione eyed him curiously. "Never mind." He added quickly. "Anyway are you still planning to go to Hogsmeade?"

"Yea why?" She said not looking at him.

"Practice is cancelled." Harry muttered. "You can thank Malfoy's father for that. He's at school at the moment. He declared that Slytherin needed more practice to train their new keeper. We get the grounds afterwards." Hermione sat down beside him her dark robes fanning out around her. "Is it ok if-"

"You don't have to ask. We always go together." She said grinning at him. "Now Harry have you done your potions essay?" The groan she got in reply answered her question. "I'll help you but only a little bit."

--

"You're getting sloppy Draco." Hissed Lucius. "Remember what the Dark Lord asked of you. You are a Malfoy. And we owe our service to him. If it wasn't for him then I'd still be in Azkaban." He circled his son like a vulture about to strike its prey.

"I know father." Draco replied.

"Now have you been a good boy?" Draco's eyes widened when he felt part of his memory leave him. "Good Boy." He placed the memory back and Draco was relived he saw what he did in Defense Against The Dark Arts earlier that day. "Now let's go over muggles. What are they?"

The reply left his lips without hesitation. "They are people, who aren't magical and posses nothing." He felt a sudden pain in his neck.

"No! They are worthless! They are below us!" Lucius roared raising his wand again he stung his son again making him fall to his needs. "What is a Mudblood?"

Draco coughed. "People who are beneath us." Deep inside him he felt guilt rise up as he thought of Hermione. I'm sorry.

"Good. Now Purebloods." Lucius demanded. Draco was silent for a few seconds. Another sting hit him.

"We are like royalty after the Dark Lord." Draco uttered, he thought of Hermione again, they were in the library together laughing. He ignored what his father said or did. All he saw was him and Hermione in the library.

"You must kill Albus Dumbledore. Orders from the Dark Lord. You do this and you will be given the dark mark and join us as the Dark Lord rises into power." He said placing his wand in his large black coat. Draco lay on the floor, a purple mark above Draco's eye showed signs of a bad bruising. His lip was the size of a grape. He watched as his father left the gazebo.

--

Hermione had sent a note to Draco requesting that they meet earlier. She was in the library flicking through an old book waiting for him. He arrived but kept his face down. "Draco? What's wrong?" Draco shrugged his shoulders but didn't look up. "Draco what's wrong?" She tugged at his arm and caught a quick glance at his black eye. "Draco! Who did that to you?"

"It's nothing. It was a Weasley prank thing. Doesn't matter." He said quickly. "Forget about it." Hermione frowned at him but said nothing about it.

"Ok...well I need to ask you something." Draco nodded. "Can you ask your team to stop singing that Weasley song?"

"I'll try. Don't count on anything." He replied still not looking up. Hermione bit her lip.

"And I know that you've got practice today." She said swallowing hard. "But you can still come. Hidden of course." Draco shook his head. "Draco look at me. Draco this is getting annoying. What the hell happened to you? And don't lie to me!"

Draco lifted his head up and Hermione gasped at him, his black eye, is fat lip, a small cut on his nose. "My father happened."

"Oh Draco!" She reached out to touch his hand, he drew it back quickly. "Now what? Did he tell you not to be friends with a Mudblood?"

"You have no idea what happened! Drop it." He hissed back.

"Then tell me! But Draco don't be angry with me for worrying!" She snapped back.

"Who asked you to be worried for me? No one that's who!"

"You are my friend! I want to help!" Hermione pleaded. "Let me help!" Draco shook his head.

"Leave it be." He uttered quietly.

--

The road to Hogsmeade was not pleasant, the bitter wind reminded them all that winter was coming, Harry and Ron wanted to go to Zonko Joke Shop but it was boarded up. "They got worried and went away." Hermione said looking at the boarded shop. "Honeydukes is still open thank god!" They hurried into the warm sweet smelling shop.

"It's nice and warm thank god!" Ron said taking off his thick gloves. He hurried towards the Acid Pops and Sugar Quills section. "Sugar Quills! They'll last!" He exclaimed happily as he rushed over.

"Harry!" Harry turned to the voice then turned round. Horace Slughorn was approaching them. He was wearing an enormous furry coat and a matching hat in his hands was a large box containing crystallized pineapple. "Harry! I'm planning on having a small Christmas bash before the holidays. You and Miss Granger are invited of course."

"But sir we've got the winter dance on." Harry said. Hoping to avoid the man.

"Ah yes. Don't worry. It'll be before. I'm planning on bringing Heathcote Barbary; he's from the Weird Sisters you know." He said beaming at Harry and Hermione. "You can bring whoever you want." He added glancing quickly at Ron who was engrossed at the different types of Sugar Quill.

"Maybe sir. We'd love to come." Hermione said before Harry could say anything. "Remember what Dumbledore wanted." She whispered to him. Harry nodded. Since the start of term Harry had been having extra lessons with Dumbledore, well that was a cover up, he was showing Harry what may have turned Voldemort or Tom Riddle into the mass murderer he was today.

"Yea' we'll be there." Harry said glaring at Hermione.

"Good. See you there m'boy!" He gave a regal wave and left the shop. Ron rushed up to them his arms filled with Sugar Quills.

"What did he want?" He demanded looking at his best friends.

"He invited us to his Christmas party." Hermione said uncomfortably.

"Well Harry won't be going. Will you?" When Harry didn't reply. "Oh I see now. Hope you have fun together." He was about to move away from them when Harry grabbed his arm.

"I'm only going for Dumbledore. We can bring someone if we wanted to." Harry said roughly. Ron gave a faint smile.

"Oh look the new Deluxe Sugar Quills are in!" Hermione said rushing to the new Sugar Quills. "They'll last for weeks!" Harry was glad that Hermione changed the subject. "I'll buy a few. Oh Pepper Imps!" She took a few of the Pepper Imps for Draco and a few Deluxe Sugar Quills for herself.

"Let's go to the Three Broomsticks. That'll be warm." Harry suggested as they exited Honeydukes with their confectioneries. They bundled their red and gold scarves around their faces to stop the bitter wind getting to them. Just as they walked past the Hog's Head, the pub they used to hold their DA meetings. A cloaked man exited the pub in his hands was a large black sack.

"Hey it's Mundungus!" Ron said recognizing the long straggly ginger hair. The man jumped and turned round dropping his large bag. Mundungus was the worst Order of the Phoenix member, he nearly let Harry get captured by Death Eaters.

"Oh...'ello 'Arry..." He said looking at Harry nervously. "Don't let me keep ya all waitin'!" He picked up his bag and in his hurry some silver spilled out. He scrabbled on the ground picking them up in a hurry.

"Are you selling this stuff?" Hermione said picking up a grubby looking object.

"Gotta keep a livin' somehow!" He replied chuckling nervously. Ron took the grubby object from Hermione's hand and looked at it funny.

"Mundungus...this is familiar...where did you get it?" He said slowly. Mundungus froze on the spot.

"Someplace..." He said nervously. Harry looked at the object and a small growl escaped his lips. Within seconds he had pinned him against the wall of the pub, his wand pressing on his throat, his hand holding it.

"Yea' that someplace wouldn't be Sirius's place? Would it?" He hissed almost nose to nose with him, he inhaled his nasty breath of tobacco and alcohol.

"HARRY NO!" Hermione screamed as Mundungus's face changed into a dark purple.

"You took that from Sirius's house! They had the Black crest on them!" Mundungus whimpered at Harry's anger. "What did you do? Go into his house and steal it the night he died?"

"No!" He spluttered. "I-" He started turning blue now.

"Come on mate!" Ron said starting to get worried. There was a sudden bang and the trio found that Mundungus had Disapparated. Harry swore at the top of his voice. "Harry...there's no point. He's gone."

"Harry!" They turned round to see Tonks rushing up to them; her normal curly pink hair was replaced by lank brown. "You seem to be using some colorful words there!"

"Mundungus has stolen Sirius stuff!" Harry yelled.

"I know. We've got someone tailing him." She replied sadly. "Now you better stay out of trouble!" She said watching them. Harry scowled and stormed inside the Three Broomstick. Hermione looked back and saw that Tonks had vanished.

"Not only was he stealing off me but of Sirius too! Can't the order control that bastard?"

"Harry!" Hermione hissed at him. She looked round nervously. "Calm down."

"She's right mate. Tell Dumbledore. He's afraid of him." Ron advised. Harry took a deep breath.

"You're right." Hermione smiled at Ron happy that Harry was calming down. "I'll get us some Butterbeers." As they drank their Butterbeers in silence Harry thought about Mundungus and how he'd to beat him up, Ron was staring at the barmaid, Madame Rosmerta and Hermione wondered what Draco was up to and if he was ok.

"Shall we go back?" Harry asked as he placed his drink on the table. They nodded and paid their bill and left the pub. They pulled their cloaks and scarves tighter around them as the weather got worse, a light drizzle had started. As they walked back they noticed Dean and Ginny in Madam Puddifoot's teashop. Haunted by the happy couples they hurried past.

They were halfway to Hogwarts when Katie Bell was heard shouting at her friend Leanne. "Drop it! It's got nothing to do with you!" She shouted. Harry looked up and saw a black box in her hands and wondered if they were arguing over it.

"Just let me have a look at it!" Leanne shouted back. She made an attempt to grab the box. Katie tugged it back sending it falling to the ground.

"Now look what've you've done!" Katie hissed. She touched the box but something went wrong. She rose into the air not like Ron had, her arms were outstretched gracefully. She looked like she was going to fly.

"Harry!" Hermione squeaked. Something wasn't right, she looked eerie, her dark hair was whipped behind her by the wind, her eyes were closed with no emotion, she rose up and suddenly she opened her eyes and screamed. Then everything went slow. As she screamed everyone nearby ran to her.

"KATIE!" Leanne screamed hysterically as whatever her friend was feeling made her scream in agony. "DO SOMETHING!" She screamed at Ron.

"Ron get help!" Hermione shouted. Leanne jumped up to grab hold of her ankles, Hermione and Harry did the same they tugged her with all their strength. Katie fell on top of them but something wasn't right, she was withering and foam was coming out of her mouth. "Oh my god!"

Hermione held the girls hand. "HELP!" Harry roared. "ANYBODY THERE?"

"Harry!" They turned to see Ron rushing over to them, behind him was Hagrid rushing up to them.

"Get back! Lemme see her!" He shouted. Hermione got up to let Hagrid see to Katie. He scooped her up and looked at Leanne who was still sobbing if less hysterically. "Leanne yes?" She nodded. "What 'appened?"

"It was when the package ripped open and she touched it!" pointing at the sodden box. Hermione got close to it.

"Stay back!" Hagrid said. "Don't touch it!" She crouched down and saw that it was an ornate opal necklace. Hermione's hand hovered over it and felt something horrible under it. She moved away before she could end up like Katie.

"Will she be ok?" Ron asked.

"Dunno but I'll take her back." Hagrid said using the package to hold the box. He carried the girl back with Leanne, Ron, Harry and Hermione following them. As they entered the building students gasped at them. Professor McGonagall rushed down the stairs and let out a small scream.

"What happened?" She demanded looking at the four students. She looked at Katie and any colour that remained was gone. "Get her to the Hospital wing!" Hagrid hurried with the Katie and Madame Pomfrey. Hermione looked up and saw Draco, his face white and his black eye looked worse. He looked at her then moved away. "You four with me."

Harry, Ron and Hermione explained what they saw and what they did up to the moment when Hagrid came. "Then she started withering and foam was coming out of her mouth." Harry finished.

"Thank goodness Hagrid was there or else we'd be sending her into a coffin rather than to St Mungo's." She said nervously.

"Will she be ok?" Leanne sniffled. McGonagall stared at her.

"Yes. Now what were you arguing about?"

Halting and pausing as she attempted to control her tears, she told McGonagall what had happened. "Well we were at the Three Broomsticks and Katie went to the bathroom...and when she came back...she had this box."

"Go on." McGonagall said trying not to sound annoyed at the sniffling and the tears.

"I asked her who gave her the box and she told me it was none of my business...I thought that it was a little odd but didn't say anything at the time...then we started arguing about the advisability of agreeing to deliver a box...then I wanted to have a look at it and..." Leanne trailed off, she had started crying again.

"All right." McGonagall said gently. "Go up to the hospital wing with Professor Sprout. Madame Pomfrey will get you something for the shock." When Leanne was out of sight she turned to the trio. "Now what happened?" Hermione re-explained what had happened, while Ron re-explained when he went to get Hagrid. "Now off you go. We'll discuss this more tomorrow once I've spoken to Professor Dumbledore."

--

"Who do you think gave her that box?" Hermione asked them as they walked back to the common room.

"A Death Eater? It could've been for Slughorn or Dumbledore." Harry suggested. Hermione bit her bottom lip.

"It's possible. But Katie wouldn't have taken it knowing what was inside it or accept it from a total stranger...it was like she was under the Confundus Charm." Hermione said as she stopped suddenly. "You know what this means..."

"This won't be the first time. Who knows what could happen next time?" Harry said, Hermione nodded agreeing with him.

"But who could've done it?" Ron asked. For once Hermione couldn't answer.

"I have a hunch." Harry said looking at his friends. "Draco Malfoy. Come on you know what he's like."

"But Harry...Slytherin were having Quidditch practice today." Hermione said, she didn't want to think that it was Draco and for some bizarre reason she felt herself go pink at the mention.

--

"NO! NO! NO!" Draco sobbed rocking himself on his bed. "No one was supposed to get hurt!" He started hitting his head with his fists. Grabbing a parchment he wrote to the one person he could rely on.

Granger.

Don't ask me questions when we see each other. But use this as a warning. Hogwarts is no longer safe. Protect yourself at all cost!

Draco.

With a flick of his wand he sent it to the Gryffindor common room via the small owl Pansy had bought him to apologize to him. He had named his tawny owl Angel. In a way it went well. Angels were sent to protect and send messages to the people they cared about.

The reply came back ten minutes later.

Malfoy.

Was it you? Did you give Katie that box? Don't lie to me.

Hermione.

Draco paced the rooms, if he told the truth his friendship with Hermione was over, if he lied there would always that huge elephant in the room.

Granger.

I was at Quidditch practice. I can't be at two places at once? Was anyone else there that looked suspicious?

Draco.

Draco lied. He had too much at stake to lose everything.

Review me your thoughts on the chapter!!! Draco life is gonna get worse,well he lied about it. I didn't know if Draco already had an owl, if not then he's got one if he's already got one then he' got a special one for him and Hermione. Next chapter: Draco is consumed with guilt and dates for the winter dance start to happen + Slughorn's party. Have fun!

Witchgal

It all started with...