Author's Note: Two chapters in the same day again, but I felt like I owed you guys another chapter since that one was so pitifully short. Hope you like this one!

Chapter 10

"Hello, Granger. You look well."

Her eyes move away from mine, and there's a strange twisting feeling in my chest. To hell with it, I want to be closer to her. I get to my feet and start to walk around the table.

She doesn't turn to look at me. "I heard that your family lost Voldemort's trust," she says.

Yeah, right. My father, maybe. I personally haven't lost anything.

I stop right behind her as she finishes speaking.

"What are you doing?" she asks me.

I gently place my hands on her shoulders. She stiffens just slightly, and I can't help but smirk. So she is affected by my presence. I lean down and inhale silently, and the flowery scent of her hair fills my nose, distracting me momentarily.

Then I place my lips near her ear and whisper, "I'm testing you."

She shrugs her shoulders, and I remove my hands.

"Get away from me," she says.

I take a small step back.

"The others have decided that I'll be your contact," she says when I don't speak.

I chuckle. "Yes, I see that."

She turns around to face me, and this stupid hope rises in my chest that she wants to see my face. More likely than not, she simply wants to keep me in her sights because she doesn't want to be attacked.

"Why can't you sit at the table like a normal person?" she asks.

"I'm hardly a normal person now, am I?"

"Well, it's nice to see that this war hasn't hurt your ego in any way," she says, her voice layered with sarcasm.

I take a moment to consider whether or not she could ever understand me. I'm not egotistical just for the sake of being egotistical—it's part of my self-defense. But she's a Gryffindor. They don't understand the way that we Slytherins think. They can't.

"We should probably set up some rules for meeting," she says.

I lean back against the wall. "Sure."

"Do you have a meeting spot in mind?" she asks.

I think about it. "Hmm, no. No, I don't."

"And how are we going to contact each other? It'll have to be something better than a Patronus or an owl—that's much too obvious."

I smile. "That I already have covered."

I reach into my back pocket to pull out the necklace that I chose for her, and in the blink of an eye, she has her wand out, pointed at me. I know that she's always this cautious—and she's right to be, seeing as I'm a Death Eater—but there's still this pang in my chest, and I realize that I want her to trust me.

I cover up my weak emotions with an amused smile.

"Calm down, Granger."

Then I pull out the necklace in my fist and hold it out in front of her face. She wears a guarded expression, but I can tell she's curious.

"What are you playing at?" she asks.

I grin and open my fist, dangling the necklace in front of her.

I bought it from Anderlini, a renowned dealer in Rome—Blaise introduced us several years back. Since he and his family were Purebloods, he was able to continue his work in peace. When I visited him last week, he did complain that he was losing a lot of business due to the war.

I knew that I couldn't pick an ostentatious necklace because she wouldn't wear it. I chose this one because Anderlini said it would bring the wearer "peace and clarity of mind". Sounded perfect for Granger. She's never at peace, and she thinks too much. I figured she could use some clearing of the mind occasionally. Of course, I've never tried anything from Anderlini's so I can't possibly know if his charmed jewelry works or not.

I brought it home and cast a few charms on it myself to prepare it.

"What's this for?" she asks.

"I got this idea from you, actually," I say. "A Protean Charm, like the one you did on all those Galleons for Dumbledore's Army in fifth year."

She reaches out for the necklace, but I pull it away, shaking my head at her.

I have to put the necklace on her myself, if the charm is going to take effect. There is not a charm or potion in the world that can create attachment between two people, so it's a good thing that that's not what I'm going for. As long as she's protected, I'm satisfied.

Fuck, I'm turning into a useless, besotted idiot. I'm going to have to do something about that.

"What?" she says, surprised. "Surely I have to have one, if that's how we're going to communicate."

"Stand up," I say, earning a glare from her.

"I'm not taking any orders from you, Malfoy."

I smirk. "Stand up, please."

She continues to glare at me, but she stands up. I gesture for her to turn around, and after a moment of hesitation, she does. I put the chain around her neck, and she pulls her hair out of the way so I can fasten the ends of the necklace together.

My fingers burn where they come into contact with the warm skin of her neck. She stiffens again, much like she did when I touched her shoulders, and I wonder if she feels it too.

As soon as I finish putting the necklace on her, she takes a step away from me and turns.

I give her a small smile. "Perfect length."

The necklace really is the perfect length—it has to be long enough for her to lift up the charm and see the date without having to find a mirror or take it off.

"A heart, Malfoy?" she says, lifting an eyebrow.

"Girly enough for you to wear, Granger?" I retort.

"Sure. What's your object?"

Instead of replying, I pull out my own necklace. I've been wearing this silver chain for years—it was a gift from my mother. I feel a twinge of guilt as I recall that I'll be using the necklace that my mother gave me to betray her side. I don't like being a traitor. Puts a bad taste in my mouth.

But the only way for Granger to be safe is if the Light side wins. I honestly don't give a fuck about all the killing, as long as I don't have to participate in it. But if the Dark side wins, she'll be captured, or tortured, or killed trying to turn the tables. And I can't stand the thought of any of those three fates befalling her.

"So, how are these going to work? Will a date appear on the back?"

Her voice takes me back to the present. Damn it, she has no idea what kind of mental torment she's putting me through.

I fist my hand around my charm and close my eyes. I focus on tomorrow's date, midnight. The charm burns my hand lightly, and I open my eyes up to see that she's pointing her wand at me again, eyes narrowed.

"So tense, Granger."

I open my fist and let the charm fall back against my chest. She lifts up her small golden heart and appears satisfied with the date and time that are etched on one side. She glares at me and lowers her wand.

"That solves date and time," I say. "As for the place… I think I know the perfect place."

"Where?"

"I'd rather just take you there."

"I'm not going to just Apparate somewhere with you," she says.

"Well, I can't take you anywhere by Apparition anyway—I don't have a wand. Come, let's go."

I start to walk away from her, and her hand shoots out to grab my arm, stopping me.

"We're not going anywhere until you tell me where we're going," she says.

I feel like flames are blazing their way up my arm from the place where her hand comes into contact with me, even though I'm wearing a long-sleeved shirt and our skin isn't touching. I turn back to look at the hand that's setting me on fire.

Fuck. No one should ever be able to affect me like this. Just a touch from her, and my blood is boiling.

Thankfully, she releases my arm quickly.

"Follow me, Granger," I growl. "I won't ask twice."

"I already said this once—don't make me repeat it again. I am not taking any orders from you, Malfoy."

"All right, then. I'll leave, and that'll be the end of it," I say.

"Fine. Leave."

I walk around the table and start toward the door, but my feet stop taking orders from my mind before I can leave the room. I hate not having a choice. Reluctantly, I turn around.

"Fine, you win," I say. "There's an Imperturbable Charm on this door, right?"

She nods.

"All right then. I'm going to take you to a cottage in Bradford on Avon, in Wiltshire."

"Wiltshire? Isn't your home in Wiltshire?" she asks.

I nod. "Yes, but we're obviously not going there. Now come on."

I start toward the door, but still she doesn't budge.

"Why do we have to go now? Can't you just give me the location?" she asks.

"As I said before, I'd much rather just take you there."

"That makes me think you have an ambush awaiting me there," she says.

"What are you, scared?"

This earns another glare from her.

"I am not scared," she says defensively.

Aha, I'm still just as good as I used to be at pissing her off. I smirk. "That's exactly what you are. You're scared of me."

"Fine, let's go."

She walks toward me, tucking the charm under her shirt as she comes closer. I turn and pull the door open, waving for her to go ahead.

Potter and Weasley are in the hall, along with Shacklebolt, McGonagall, Lupin and Nymphadora. They seem surprised that we emerged so soon.

"We're going for a walk," I say, following Granger out of the kitchen. "I'll let her return unharmed, on my honor. But I myself won't be back for a long time, so I suppose this is goodbye."

"Just a minute, Mr. Malfoy," Shacklebolt says, blocking our way.

Granger steps aside, as though she'd been in the way of our conversation.

"Where do you think you're going?" the tall, dark man asks me.

"To set our rendezvous point," I reply, noting from the corner of my eye that Weasley has one of his paws on Granger's arm. Anger flares up inside me, but I tamp it down. It won't do to explode now.

Shacklebolt eyes me suspiciously. McGonagall gives me a small smile. I suppose Shacklebolt shared the story of the Patil family with her—one of those twins was from her house, after all.

"Very well," he finally says. "Go on."

I put my hand on her shoulder but don't feel that burning sensation. Maybe she has to initiate contact. Hmm, maybe I don't understand myself as well as I thought.

"Come on, Granger," I say. "We don't have much time before I'm expected back home."

She starts walking toward the exit, but Weasley grabs onto her arm again. I want to pry his fingers off and break them one by one, but she tugs her arm away from him, and the surprised look on his face makes me feel better.

Fuck. I'm jealous. That's why I was pissed to see him touching her. Jealousy is not an emotion that befits a Malfoy. Now I'm furious with myself.

I hear my name.

"Oi, Malfoy," the weasel says. "If you lay a finger on her, I'll hunt you down."

I reach out and open the door for Granger. She exits, and I follow her out. Before closing the door, I consider replying to Weasley, but I find that I just can't bring myself to care. I pull the door shut and reach into my pocket, taking out an emerald-green pouch. I reach inside and extract my Nimbus 2001. My father offered to buy me a Firebolt, but I actually rather like this broomstick.

I'm about to mount the broom when I see the look on Granger's face. I can't hold back the laughter.

"Shut up, Malfoy," she says, cheeks reddening. "Can't we just…"

She stops, and I wonder what she would propose as an alternative.

"Well, if you want me to take you there by Side-Along Apparition, I won't object, but you'll have to lend me your wand," I say.

When she doesn't reply, I figure she's running circles in that giant brain of hers, trying to think her way out of getting on a broom. Grinning, I tuck the green pouch back into my pocket and mount.

"Malfoy, isn't there any other way?"

I smile. "Is poor Granger still afraid of flying?"

"Still?"

"Sure. Everyone at Hogwarts knew that Granger the bookworm couldn't fly a broom to save her life."

She looks positively livid, but she's still quivering a little with fear. She mounts the broom behind me and puts her hands on my shoulders, barely touching them. I fight the urge to shiver as all the hairs on my back stand up. I bark out a short laugh and move her hands to my hips—she's going to fall if she holds onto my shoulders like that.

"You should probably cast a Disillusionment Charm over us, so that we're not seen," I remember.

I feel that odd sensation of having an egg cracked over my head and know that she's cast the charm. Her hand touches my hip again lightly, and I draw a long, quiet breath, thinking furiously of Vince's big mother in an attempt to suppress the immediate reaction down below.

"You might want to hold on a bit tighter," I say.

Then I kick off, and she makes a sound that I find—oh, fuck me—adorable.

I bring us up above the roof of Number 12 before slowing down. Her fingers are gripping me almost painfully, and I don't think I'll be able to stand having those nails digging into me through my clothes for the whole ride.

"Granger, either put your arms around me or just tell me to touch back down. I won't have you boring holes into my waist," I say.

I slow to a stop and wait. Her hands slowly slide around to my front, and her fingers clasp together just below my navel. Then she pulls herself forward, and I feel her small, warm body pressing against my back. My heart rate increases, and I have difficulty swallowing.

Fuck! Mrs. Crabbe, Mrs. Crabbe, Mrs. Crabbe…

"Hold on tight," I manage to say.

Then I lean forward, and we glide off toward the west. Her arms tighten around me, and she leans forward as well, closing the distance between our upper bodies.

I try to pretend she's holding me because she wants to, but I know that she's just caving to her fear of heights.

Still, the hopeless idiot inside of me, the culprit behind all these recklessly stupid decisions, wishes that she has some inkling of feeling for me.