A/N: This and the next chapter are finished, I'm planning on updating again later tonight, and reviews are great motivators

Draco sneered at Snape. "What did I say in our earlier conversation? I'll remind you, I said leave me alone, now if you don't mind I'm particularly excited for potions this morning." He smirked thinking of how Hermione would behave around him during class; he was so looking forward to some good natured teasing. He loved how she blushed at his words, at his touch. He had so much fun playing with her.

"You won't be attending classes today." Snape drawled.

Draco's stomach dropped. "Why?" he asked already knowing the answer.

"You'll be leaving with me, to take the mark."

Millions of emotions flooded his tired mind. He had gone from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows in a mere second all because of fucking Voldermort. How he wished he could just avada the bastard. He felt his chances with Hermione slip from his firm grasp. He'd never be with her in any way now. It was just impossible. He would now truly stand for everything she hated. He wished he'd never made an effort. It would be horrible for him to retreat from her now. He was almost positive she wanted something with them too. Now he would never know. He couldn't know it would be too dangerous for both of them. He wouldn't let anything bad happen to her because of him. His thoughts remained on her, as he became used to the fact she would probably occupy them until the day he died. His thoughts of what could've been if his life was, if not in the literal sense, being taken today.

Soon he found himself standing in a dark room. He was surrounded by death-eaters, all people he had been around before from the time he was born. It was different now; he was being looked at with sneers. They all knew he was being sent on a suicide mission because of his father's imprisonment. He saw his mother standing with his barking aunt Bellatrix, the look on her face was of utter terror. She didn't want this for her son, she never did. He could remember being hushed by her, after his father had struck him for talking kindly about Hermione.

"You can tell me about her Draco. Just make sure your father doesn't hear ok?" He remembered her smiling down at him.

The room became eerily quiet as he watched Voldermort's snake like figure saunter into the dark room towards him.

"Draco." He hissed.

"My lord." Draco said through his teeth, how he hated being around him.

"I trust your aunt has explained to you your mission as I instructed her to do."

Draco nodded. It was then that he felt indescribable pain pulsating throughout his body. Voldermort was inflicting his Cruciatus curse upon him. He was writhing on the floor in pain, but he would not make a sound, he wouldn't give him the satisfaction. He held onto her, she made him strong. He thought of how he felt kissing her, playing around with her, watching her blush from him, he remembered how she smelled like white roses. The curse was lifted and everyone in the room seemed to be surprised.

"Hmm not many can withstand that without so much as a whimper. How unlike your father you are. You're tough that's good, you'll need it for what you must accomplish. Hold out your arm."

Draco did so while looking down at him arm. He had never felt angrier with himself. He hated himself for allowing this to happen to him, but he felt powerless to stop it.

Hermione sat at her desk expecting Draco to sit beside her shortly. She felt her heart beat in her throat in anticipation. Most of the students had already taken their seats. He was usually here by now. By this time he would've already teased her about five times.

Class started right on time, No Draco. She felt disappointment in the pit of her stomach. She clearly must've looked worried because Professor Slughorn's voice pulled her from her thoughts.

"Ms. Granger what seems to be the problem, you were supposed to start gathering your ingredients."

"Oh well um I was just wondering where Draco was." When she said this she saw the backs of her two best friends whip around to face her.

Shit. That was a mistake. She thought to herself, she would most definitely be hearing about that after class.

"Oh yes, yes Ms. Granger your partner will not be in class today, I received a note from Professor Snape. I suppose he is needed for something in his classes. I'm sure you can fill him in later on." He said with his crooked smile.

She nodded with a weak smile, before she went over to gather ingredients for her potion. She wondered what Snape needed with Draco.

Throughout class she thought of him, how she liked how he made her felt. She was mentally psyching herself up to be able to ask him to kiss her. She liked that he had made this promise to her. She felt respected by him, and also incredibly turned on. He must know that she would eventually give in; otherwise he would've kissed her right then and there.

She went through class making meticulous notes to give to Draco; he was concerned with grades like she was, even if not to her high degree. She had always liked that about him, he was focused. Class ended and she gathered up her things and headed for the door hoping to avoid her two best friends, who would surely be questioning her calling Draco by his first name.

Her hopes were quickly dashed as she was confronted by both Harry and Ron.

"Did we hear you right in there calling Malfoy Draco?" harry asked raising a suspicious eyebrow.

"That's his name Harry." She replied coolly.

"So you woke up today and decided to suddenly call the ferret Draco?" Ron asked his face turning the same shade as his hair. "And wouldn't you be happy he wasn't in class to bother you?"

"He's my partner Ronald, so no I was not happy about having to do more work than necessary. He's rather good at potions; I've become accustomed to the lighter load of work." She said hoping her use of his full name and reasonable explanation would end the conversation.

"Ok." Harry said looking at Ron. "I still say it weird." He finished.

"Yeah, and it makes me want to vomit." Said Ron.

"Don't you two have a class to get to?" she asked raising an eyebrow.

"I think we're being dismissed." Harry said.

"Rather rudely if you ask me." Ron piped in.

"If it was rudely I'd say Ron don't you have to go shag Lavender?"

That'll do it. She thought triumphantly.

She walked down the corridor leaving her friends stunned at her remark.

TBC- dramione action next chapter