Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. J. K. Rowling does.

Warning: I do believe my story might end up being a wee bit dark.

A/N: Thank you to all my lovely readers, and reviewers. Your kind words really do motivate me. I'm so glad you take the time to give me some feedback. Even if you don't review, thank you. You're all awesome! Truly, you are. I hope you like this chapter! Please review! I'd love to read your opinion. [Lilly, your quirky comments are quite humorous, haha.]

Chapter Five

Draco stood in front of his vast closet and quickly acquired a new silk shirt that hadn't been tainted by the mudblood. As he lifted his hand and looked at his dagger he became immersed by conflicting emotions. He was torn between fury and slight amusement. Did she really think she could harm him with his own weapon? He chuckled darkly, carelessly threw his dagger inside the closet, picked up Blaise's blue wand from his bed, and exited the room.

Theo was waiting in the living room with a sleeping Blaise when Draco finally emerged from his bedroom. He had intended to watch his friend's reaction with the light protruding from his wand, and give him a well-deserved berating and interrogate him about his back, but the recent epiphany he just experienced had swept all his initial thoughts aside.

He had never once been bothered by his actions before, yet there he stood, with his hand frozen in place, staring at the dried blood with a look of disbelief. He was bothered now, but he wasn't too certain if he wanted to figure out exactly why he felt such a way.

Instead, he quickly snatched his wand from the sleeping figure, extinguished the light, uttered a cleansing spell, and turned away to look into Draco's general direction. He couldn't quite make out the blond's facial expression across the darkened room, but he could somehow sense that he was in a foul mood.

"Sorry for-" began Theo as he ran his hand through his hair.

"Don't apologize to me if you haven't done anything wrong," interrupted Draco in a cold voice.

Draco hated when people apologized to him. It meant weakness. He couldn't exactly make out Theo's face in the darkness but the slight paranoia that tinged the nervous boy's voice only amplified his annoyance. His friends should know better than to unnecessarily apologize for nonexistent wrongdoings.

Theo gulped and nervously fingered his wand. Draco was definitely in a bad mood.

"Um, Blaise forgot his wand in your bathroom again, and we just came to retrieve it. I honestly didn't think you'd be here," explained Theo in a timorous voice.

"Of course not. What could possibly make you think I would be in my own bedroom at such an hour?" asked Draco in a sarcastic voice from across the room. He was still angry from his disturbing encounter with the witch. An encounter that would have never taken place if it weren't for his impatient friends. It was their fault it had transpired. He had no regard for his friend's feelings at the moment. He only wanted someone or something to take out his anger on. Unfortunately for Theo, he was that closest someone.

Theo glanced in his direction. He nodded absentmindedly, feeling the dart of annoyance radiating from the blond's shadow concealed form. He knew from personal experience that it was never wise to press Draco when he already appeared to be aggravated.

"It won't happen again," said Theo in an anxious voice.

Draco simply stood there, making no comment.

"Well, I decided we're not leaving for the weekend, so I'll tell Blaise to come back, and to get it later in the day," he hastily added, looking away from the bedroom door where Draco silently stood.

Draco again didn't respond.

Silence permeated the air between them.

Theo then turned his back and started to walk towards Blaise's form on the couch, intent on rousing him from his slumber.

Stealthy movements in the room made Theo once again return his gaze to the bedroom door. He tried squinting in the darkness searching for the Draco's hidden eyes as he now seemed to be approaching him.

"I want you both out of here, and don't bother to show up unannounced again," Draco said, now standing over him.

Barely breathing, Theo nodded and felt Draco give him a wand. Blaise's wand.

"Thanks," murmured Theo grabbing the wand. The menacing aura surrounding Draco made every cautionary instinct within him scream. There was something very off about Draco, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. Without another word Draco stepped back, turned around, and began retreating to his bedroom.

He took a deep breath, and then proceeded to wake up his companion. It took him a while, but he eventually got a reaction out of Blaise.

"Can't I just sleep here?" asked Blaise in a sleepy whisper as he tried snuggling into the couch again.

"You could, but I won't be held accountable once your corpse is retrieved from this room," he replied in a quick whisper. He really didn't want to disturb Draco again.

Blaise wasn't conscious enough to thoroughly process the warning, and instead stood up on clumsy feet.

"Let's go," said Theo as he put his arm around his friend's shoulder to steady him. Blaise heavily leaned into him and merely nodded. It was now clear that Blaise was definitely sick. They made their way back to their dorm in record time, with only one small detour made by Theo.

Blaise quickly went back to sleep on his bed once they reached their dorm room, but Theo went to sit on one of their couches in their living room. He was looking at his hand again, but this time he was staring at shattered pieces of a destroyed wand.

. . .

Hermione was facing the wall, slumped on the floor, with her head hung low when she heard a familiar voice speak behind her.

"Do you think you can remain silent and obedient if I set you free?" asked Draco. She nodded, but didn't turn to look at him.

"Good, I never could stand the wailing of witches," said Draco as he dissolved the chains and lifted the silencing curse.

Hermione briefly closed her eyes, and raised a trembling hand to smooth out and push away some strands of her wavy golden-brown hair that had stuck to her face because of her tears.

"Now turn around and look at me," commanded the blond boy. She hesitantly turned around, hiding her nearly naked body with her thin arms, and lifted her gaze to his silver one. His piercing eyes made her shudder.

He grabbed her by her upper arms and made her stand up, unintentionally making her expose her petite body to him. She tried to jerk free, but he merely tightened his grip.

"Don't you dare touch me again!" she screamed at him.

"Touch you?" he asked in a sharp voice.

"Do you honestly think I would want to touch you, mudblood?" he added, repulsed.

"Yes..." she quickly whispered while turning her head away.

He grabbed her chin and forced her to look at him as she backed away until her back hit the wall. He put an arm above her head and looked down at her. Her eyes were wide. He stared at her for a moment longer before she whispered something again. She was so vulnerable. He was so lost in her big, alluring eyes that he completely missed her words.

He leaned in closer to her face. "What was that, mudblood?" he questioned in a husky voice.

A blush stained her cheeks due to his proximity. "I said I never did anything to you. I don't deserve this," she repeated.

He let out a malicious laugh. "If you hadn't stolen that bloody min, we wouldn't be in this mess. It's your fault this blood bond was created. Because of you I have no choice but to keep you alive. I need you." Draco replied, his words tinged with extreme bitterness.

"A blood bond? How?" she asked in a shaken voice. Her eyes started to glisten with unshed tears. She had no idea what he was talking about, but it didn't sound good. Hermione did not want a single thing to do with the cruel wizard, much less share a bond with him.

"Yes, a blood bond. When we gave our blood to the min we created a blood bond between us. That's why I brought you here, not to defile you. Haven't you noticed anything different about yourself?" he asked sarcastically.

"No..." she said in an unconvincing voice. She tried covering her body in a self-conscious manner, but he halted her movements.

His gaze, against his will, lowered to her exposed body. Her creamy chest, bright pink cheeks, and the rest of her pale perfect skin caused his trousers to begin to tighten.

"Liar," he accused.

His low husky voice made her belly clench. She looked up into his silvery grey eyes. Draco gazed into her teary brown eyes. Something in his expression made her heart race and her face burn again. Her mouth suddenly became dry as he began pressing his body into hers.

"Stop, please," she whispered. Tears now started trickling down her cheeks. The Slytherin in front of her was her captor, he wasn't someone she loved or wanted. Hermione was helpless against him. She couldn't breathe. She pushed at his chest with her small hands.

The feel of her velvet soft hands on his chest made him unexpectedly groan in pleasure. Her touch was electrifying. He lowered his head slowly inch by inch to her trembling lips. He simply had to taste her again. He couldn't help himself. He wasn't in control.

Hermione had flashbacks of what he had almost done before he was interrupted earlier, and in a panicked frenzy she slapped him across the face.

Hazily, as if far away, Draco felt a slight sting on his face, and then, very slowly, his senses returned to him. He growled and his eyes narrowed as it finally dawned on him that she had struck him.

She gasped in fear as he returned the slap full force. He hit her hard. The pain that shot through her cheek and jaw was momentarily unbearable.

"Don't you ever touch me, mudblood," he threatened. He finally stepped away from her as she crumbled to the floor holding her hand over the red cheek.

He began talking to her as if nothing had happened.

"Well then, let's get this over with. Do you know what a blood bond created by a min does?" he questioned in an exasperated voice. She didn't reply. He took a threatening step forward and then another until she answered.

"I...I don't," she replied in a watery voice. She didn't want him to hurt her again.

"Because of this bond, in time you'll supposedly be more aesthetically appealing to others, even though I'm sure you'll still be highly unattractive. We'll both heal quicker when we're physically close, and only I will be stronger and faster. The markings on our bodies will indicate when our bond has fully taken affect. My life is tied to yours. If I die, you die. If you die, I die." he explained.

"Why do you need me, then?" she asked in a horrified voice. Her face had visibly drained of color.

He laughed at her fearful expression. "I only need you to stay alive, but the more I do touch you, the more my newfound abilities will increase. The less I touch you, the more they decrease. I need you stay alive for my benefit," he said.

She looked down at her markings and noticed they were no longer faint. They were complete. It was done. She was bound to him. He was bound to her.

He followed her gaze and darkly chuckled. "Don't worry, Mudblood. I'd rather sacrifice these so called 'abilities' that I don't require than to be forced to endure your disgusting touch. All I need you to do is stay alive, understood?" he asked with a snicker.

"Yes," she softly answered.

"You will not tell anyone about this, either. If you do, I will make you regret it every day of your miserable life," he threatened.

"I won't tell," she said.

"Excellent, now you may go to your room. You are dismissed," he replied.

Hermione finally got up from the cold marble floor and hugged herself as she made her way outside of his bedroom, and was almost out of the dimly lit living room when she felt a rough hand on her shoulder.

"Remember, don't tell a soul," he whispered in her ear.

She didn't say anything and merely allowed him to guide her out of the living room.

Draco pushed her with force out of his private dorm room and then returned to his room to sit on his upholstered chair. Inappropriate images flooded to him as he recalled her semi nude petite body pressed against him, so open and ready.

He shuddered with disgust at his disturbing thoughts. He hadn't told her everything about the bond, but in his opinion she didn't deserve to know. Maybe he should have at least told her about how the bond blood created tremendous sexual attraction, well for the male at least, but he thought too highly of himself to succumb to the charms of a filthy mudblood. Besides, he didn't find her attractive at all, he reasoned. Ironically, the more he tried to convince himself, the more his mind began wandering to the mudblood.

. . .

Hermione fell hard onto the hallway on her hands and knees when Draco finally threw her out of his lavish dorm room. Her knees were ablaze with pain, but she ignored it. She got up and tried her best to conceal her shivering body. The small girl wanted to run as fast as she could back to the safety of her bed, but that meant possibly bringing unwanted attention to her near naked body. Instead, she carefully hurried along the hallway, casting anxious glances here and there.

When she arrived to her dorm room, she quickly took a shower and took a sleeping potion to help her finally acquire some severely needed rest.

. . .

Later that day, Draco left his elegant dorm room very late, and then went to sit on a comfortable couch in the Slytherin common room. He was lost in his thoughts when he turned his head to casually look over his shoulder, seeing a multitude of Slytherin witches huddled together, whispering.

He knew something was amiss. He couldn't make out their fierce whispers, but if facial expressions were anything to go by... something terrible had happened. They kept glancing in his direction. He noticed that one of them began approaching him.

"Hey, I'm sorry for your loss," said the random witch as she finally stood before him.

Perplexed and caught off guard Draco merely asked, "What?"

"Pansy Parkinson. She jumped from a window last night and plummeted to her death," explained the girl in a saddened voice.

Now Draco didn't know Pansy very well because he never cared to pay attention to her, and quite frankly her death didn't bother him in the least. However, he did know she wouldn't willingly throw herself from a window.

She was far too narcissistic for that. He also knew that he had personally seen another girl attempt to mindlessly throw herself out of a window not too long ago as well. The only thing that could explain the correlation between the two witches was the min's cloud.

He quickly got up and made his way to the Hufflepuff dorm rooms. He had to make sure she was safe, not because he cared about her on any sort of personal level, but because his life depended on it.

. . .

Hermione awakened with a start, not really knowing whether if what she had been put through for the last couple of hours of her life was a ghoulish nightmare or actual reality.

For the first time since the incident with the min, she went to look into the mirror. The reflection that looked back at her bewildered her. She didn't want to think about everything she endured so far and simply pretended she hadn't witnessed her new body, soft manageable hair, and more refined face.

She dressed in loose fitting clothes, and went to see if Luna was still in her room. She hoped Luna might possibly know more about mins and blood bonds since she had recently restudied them.

As she went to other side of the dorm, Hermione was mildly surprised when she saw a note on Luna's bedroom door stating that she was leaving for the weekend. She thought it was a bit strange since Luna always stayed with her, but didn't think much of it. Maybe the library could possibly have some information about blood bonds created by mins. There was only one way to find out, and with that thought she went outside into the hallway.

As she walked towards the library she missed the leers that were sent her way by wizards and the jealous glares that many witches directed at her.

Draco kept carefully following at a distance and he, on the other hand, had not missed any of the desire-filled looks that were thrown her way. He couldn't understand why, but seeing other males look at her in such an open manner made his blood boil.

How could she be so oblivious?

When he saw her get a book from a shelf and sit down in a table in the library he visibly relaxed and was about to turn away, until he saw a lone wizard approach her. He saw red.

Hermione was about to open up the book she had chosen to read when she felt someone loudly sit across from her. She ignored the other person until they cleared their throat. The small girl finally lifted her gaze and saw that a wizard was staring at her.

"Your name is Hermione, right?" questioned the boy sitting across from her. He had black wavy hair, slightly tanned skin, and light brown eyes that seemed to glitter. Overall, he was quite handsome.

"Yes," confirmed Hermione in a timid voice.

The boy smiled.

"Well, I'm Tyler. We have Deadly and Rare Magical creatures together. It's nice to properly meet you," said Tyler in a silky voice. He extended his hand toward her.

She reached out to shake his hand when a chilling voice behind her made her spine stiffen.

"She's mine," said Draco in an angry voice.

Tyler looked stunned, and quickly retracted his hand. He knew Draco Malfoy was an extremely prejudiced wizard, but he also knew he was an extremely dangerous one, too.

Draco smirked and said, "Well, at least in bed she is." He purposely said it loud enough so that the other wizards within hearing range also heard the bold insult.

By the look on Tyler's face he believed the lie because he cast a defeated glance at Hermione, got up, and wordlessly walked away.

Hermione quietly watched the interaction and finally spoke. She could feel all the eyes of the wizards and witches in the library on her.

"After everything you've done… You're going to make others think I'm your whore," she desolately whispered, her eyes trying to avoid his.

Draco caught her gaze, and gently cupped her cheek, looking into her glistening orbs.

"No, you could never be a whore," he said with a tender voice and softening eyes.

She blinked up at him in confusion.

"A whore at least has some value, and you have none," he said in a harsh voice as his glacial eyes hardened.

She gasped and pulled away from his touch.

"You really are pathethic, mudblood," he sneered.

He looked into her shocked big brown eyes and let out a cruel laugh. To Hermione's horror other people joined in the laughter until the librarian told them to keep it down.