A/N:Heloooo! Terribly sorry that I took so long, but I'm not sure I'll continue this story... Well anyway, here ya'go and it's shorter than usual but I still can't decide on the party of dear old Sluggy.

Joanne K. Rowling owns most of this stuff, so here we go.


Chapter 4

Interesting insights

"What's your problem, Granger?"Malfoy snarled and gripped his wand tightly, so that his knuckles turned even paler-than-usual, and my eyes momentarily lingered on his hands before I looked back up into his angry face.

"N-nothing." I stammered, fearfully meeting his icy gaze, and immediately started to regret my gallant actions.

What's up with me?

Malfoy let out a furious growl of frustration and started towards me vigorously."Granger, you're messing with the wrong bloody person here. I swear to Merlin, if you don't open these wrecked doors right now, I may do something you will most definitely not find amongst pleasant categories and-"

"W-why?" I interrupted his threats with a pathetic attempt to distract him, making him eye me quizzically. To be brutally honest, at that moment, I would have done anything that prevented Malfoy from nearing to me.

"What do you mean why?" He stopped and narrowed his stormy-grey eyes. "Just open the doors or-"

"I'm not scared of you, Malfoy!" I shouted at him, clenching my fists so tight that my fingernails dug into my palms, and then realized how petulant I sounded. This only made Malfoy angrier, and he closed the distance between us quickly, rushing past the multiple time-worn desks. He stopped when he was inches away from my face; so close that I felt his frantic breath on my lips, and, surprisingly, I noted with pleasure that he was taller than me. Of course I had known before( these past few weeks I even admired this, but my mind would never let me admit it openly, or at all), but only now I could truly feel what it'd be like and-

My mind drifted towards that day, against all my wishes and demands, and I reminisced how it felt and-no, don't,

But I was quickly shaken from thought once I felt painful fingers wrap around my right forearm.

"Not scared of me, are you?" Malfoy hissed and moved his pale face even closer, if that's possible. "Not scared of me? Well, you should be." He shook me violently.

Malfoy looked deep into my eyes with a challenging stare, and his own flickered between them. I could see that he must have gritted his teeth, because of the tension of his marble-pale jaw, and the way his neck muscles seemed strained.

"You should be." He whispered determinately, as if trying to prove a point.

"No."

"No?!" He drew back slightly, freeing my mind of deviant thoughts. "Your choice, stupid girl."

"I'm not stupid!"

"No?"

"No!" I breathed in and out, trying to calm myself, while in my mind I was ripping him to pieces.

"So, then, locking yourself with your enemy, one on one, in a room, while they are still armed with a wand and perceived to know very dark magic is considered smart for you Gryffindors? Wow." He sneered, trying to make out that he was relaxed and enjoying our little 'talk', but I could see he was tense and anxious.

He seems on edge, doesn't he? Usually he'd rather die than let someone else know what he's feeling.

"Tell me what's wrong with you." Malfoy's face slacked suddenly into an expression of surprise, and his irises dilated like a cat's when a source of light is switched off. A mixture of emotions went through his face, and it looked like he was tormenting himself for actually letting me see through his defences. Then a scowl appeared on his contours, suggesting I just maybe said the worst thing possible.

"Mudblood, what do you think this is?!" He asked vehemently.

"I don't know! And you could tell me." My voice utterly betrayed my need to know and this did not go unnoticed.

"I'm not telling you."

"Why not?"

"Because- screw you!" He scoffed an freed my arm from his grasp, turning his back on me, as if he was amused. When he turned around he had that tired mask on again and my heart sunk a bit, because, after that mask, his face became placid and controlled again.

Damn. I was so close.

"Those were not empty threats, Mudblood. I can barely stand the smell emitting from your un-pure blood, besides, I have places be, so unlock the door!" His pose gave no further doubt that what he said so viciously was true; his wand was pointing at me, although not fully raised, his platinum hair was falling incredulously across his eyes, and his eyes, God, his eyes, looked murderous.

Come on, be a Gryffindor.

"Why have you got to be so rude?"

Malfoy just gave me a nasty look, and kept silent, so I tried again.

"Why are you even worse today? You've been sending me hateful glares all lessons, don't think I hadn't noticed!"

Silence. Long, morbid silence. So he was going to play that game, was he? I decided to change my tactics.

"Say please." Okay even I knew I was toying with him.

"What?!" Came Malfoy's reply.

"I won't open those doors until you ask nicely." I demanded.

Bit childish, don't you think?

"Then I'll make you! Stupefy!"

"Protego! You can try, Confundo!" But my hex bounced of his shield spells and he threw himself at me; we landed on the stone stairs leading to a hidden alcove, and I was sure my ribs would bruise heavily. He took my wand from my hand while I winced and tried hurriedly to recover from our fall.

"Give... That... Back... Mal... Foy..." I wheezed while trying to wrestle myself from underneath Malfoy, but to no avail. He was much stronger than me and he pinned my hands to the floor, above my head, in no time;his face was so close I could see each tiny blond eyelash framing his crystal-like eyes. I felt warmth emitting from his skin, and, for a moment, I wanted to, well... Whatever I wanted was swiftly shoved to the back of my mind, as outrage swelled in my chest.

"Are you scared now?" He asked, "Huh?" His tone was littered with dangerously seductive notes that instantaneously went to my head, and once more I concentrated on how ragged his breathing was... How close his soft lips were from mine-

Focus, Hermione, focus.

"Gerroffme!" I did a half-hearted attempt to wiggle out of his grip.

"No."

"Why'd you ki-" The words left my mouth before I had even began to contemplate what I was saying, however, the words 'kiss me' were muffled as I felt lithesome fingers over my mouth, and before I had time to blink, all I heard was the clatter of my wand on wood and the ear-wrenching bang of the old, simply designed door on the stone wall.

Trembling I picked myself up from the floor and slowly rubbed my painful ribs.

My curiosity was gonna be the death of me.

Stupid Ron, stupid, dumb, arrogant, selfish Ron!

"Hermione?" Harry asked, "So what do you think, hmm?"

"Well, Harry, once again I think you should stop obsessing over Malfoy! -Oh, kinda like you are right now?- This is really becoming unhealthy-"

'But Hermio-nee," Harry wailed petulantly, " he's been acting even worse lately! -Oh, trust me, I noticed.- And how can you say that- he might be really dangerous!" We were walking to the Great Hall for lunch, and once more Christmas scents filled the air, thickly. I ran my hand through my disobedient hair.

" I don't believe that, Harry. -Don't you?- Besides, I really don't think Malfoy would do anything in Hogwarts; you said so yourself Slytherins are cowards and only worried about self-preservation."

Harry eyed me with distaste as we made our way down the stone steps. "This is really important though! And of course they're cowards, but that just supports my idea, not contradicts it! Malfoy thinks Voldemort will win, so he joined him and became a Death Eater! It all-" I interrupted Harry with a smack on the head, "Shush, Harry! Keep your voice down; people might hear you!"

'Oh all right," We passed the doors; luxuriously decorated with extravagantly-made angel ornaments. "But it all makes sense!" Harry continued his rant in a furious whisper, "What we saw in Borgin and Burke can be explained; Malfoy was issued an order and went there to gather resources. He used an accomplice to curse Katie and slip her the necklace-"

"Harry, I don't want to hear it. What is the reason you can't stop thinking about it?" I sat down quickly. "I know! Why don't you focus on who you're taking to Slughorn's party? Like I told you before, you should hurry up. Girls are pretty dangerous."

"Well, I don't really-"but Harry was cut off as I dashed from him expertly. Ron, Malfoy and Cormac had come in at once; Malfoy walked to the Slytherin table, Ron struggled to get to Harry (with Lavender clinging to his left arm) and Cormac went to his dumb group of friends. He winked at me before he sat down, and I did my best to smile dazzlingly. However, my gaze quickly began to seek out a platinum-haired boy in the mass of snakes on the enemy table, and, once spotted, I couldn't take my eyes of him as I sat down next to Ginny and Luna. His chin was resting on his hand, and his stare seemed to be determined to burn a hole in the table. Malfoy looked angrier than usual today. I stole a look at Harry, who, of course, was gawking openly at the object of my interest.

What? No!

The words 'you should be' blazed afresh in my mind, and I remembered the closeness of Malfoy; I thought about considering Harry's idea, but... It seemed foolish. Malfoy simply wanted to seem bigger and more important than others and Harry let emotions cloud his better judgement.

Malfoy, a Death Eater?

Ha, I'm more likely become one myself, I think.

Damned Granger, who does she think she is?

"Stupid Mudblood." I grumbled to myself as I gracefully fled the Arithmacy corridor. What did she think she could make me do?

Spill your dark mission and probably attempt to help to guide you onto a 'better' path.

Ha, no way was I even going to let her have a chance. I hurried to the seventh floor. I have already been delayed by enough; pointless babbling and bickering with the Gryffindor Mudblood was such a waste of time. Besides, I was having troubles with the Vanishing Cabinet and I really needed to spend my time focusing on fixing it. I didn't even care about the school work any more, because it seemed pointless. It was a miracle that I still turned up for classes, since I was so exhausted and worried I could barely think about anything else, but that would not go unnoticed, and I couldn't have him suspecting anything. Still, why did Granger even care?

Of course, she wanted-wait, no-needed to know everything. Damn, why'd she have to focus on me?

Too bad Crabbe and Goyle weren't here to help, but I wasn't going to whine. Malfoys never whine.

I quietly crept into the 7th floor corridor, and looked around surreptitiously to see if anyone was present; the corridor was entirely empty so I placed myself in front of the boring wall and closed my eyes.

I need a place to hide things, I need a place to hide things.

I heard a brittle creaking and once I've opened my eyes, the grand wooden doors appeared before me out of pure stone. I pushed one of them open slowly, and crept into the room silently, taking care to shut the doors behind me noiselessly. I passed masses and masses of various objects piled up high; old furniture, rusty brooms, torn clothes, tonnes of yellowing books, and lots of other small, antique trinkets. The piles reminded me of a muggle landfill; towering hills of junk collected over generations of Hogwarts, but I was grateful for this, it didn't remind me of the neatness and perfection of the pristine 'home' of mine. Once I've reached my spot, I started on mending the blasted cabinet.

Crying. Damn, what was it? It sounded so hurt and alone...

No, get yourself together Draco, you need to get to your Dormitory and find Crabbe and Goyle. Maybe Myrtle was having one of her episodes again?

I sped up so I could get rid of the disturbing feeling bugging me. Really, was today classified as a day of weird-ism and oppositeness? When had I, Draco Malfoy, even cared who was crying, except when I was there to gloat? I huffed, annoyed at myself.

More crying.

Against all my wishes and demands, I changed direction into the direction of the noise and slowly walked over. It seemed that whoever was crying, was inside the girls toilets; I crept right until the door frame in front of which I stopped and pressed myself into the wall. The altitude of the noise increased, and I felt a pang of sadness go through me. I dared to lean around the corner of the door so I could see what was going on inside; luckily for me, the doors were left open. I could see long, curly hair, nearly the white gold shade of mine, but not quite there, and a mane of bushy, brown locks I knew the owner of. Damned Granger, and that there was probably one of her friends, well, since I was there, I decided I might as well listen to why she was in tears, even if to just keep for future use. I leaned a bit further so my neck was comfortable and listened earnestly. It was the mudblood's voice.

"...I don't know-w why he has to be so cruel to me... I've never... a-anything t-hat bad to h-him.."

"It's okay Hermione, he might not feel like himself, or something..." Came a light, airy voice, and the way she spoke reminded me of my great-aunt Loretta, who was suspected as not exactly having the mental capacity any more. I always though she was a bit loony-

That's it, the blonde hair and the lightness of the tone clicked in place- Loony Lovegood. A Ravenclaw fith-year, who could be bullied real easily.

At this, Granger made a wail and sobbed harder.

"He's always... b-been like that... t-thou-gh... Especially late-lately... It-'s so un-unfair!..."

"Shhh, it's okay." Looney said and patted Granger on the back.

Is she talking about me? Have I really been that bad lately?

I felt a weird sort-of emptiness form in my chest and stretch down to my stomach. I racked my brain feverishly, but I didn't seem to do anything so bad though. True, from October I have tried to re-double my efforts in bullying the trio, but that was to recuperate for that one night I had my defences down, and, anyway, it was not worse than all these years-

Was that what she meant? That I've always been like this?

And true, she has never done anything really horrible to me, and I've been a jerk always-

What are you saying Draco? A hiss echoed in my mind, and that was enough to shake me from my pondering. It was her fault for being a Mudblood, anyway. Why was she questioning it? Was it not obvious?

I tuned in to the conversation again, and Granger seemed to have calmed down slightly.

"...Sometimes I hate him so much, and I don't even understand why, but other times I wish it could be different..."

Okay, now this is definitely not about me! The hate, sure, I've given her enough reason to, but the other part, uh-uh.

" R-ron j-just..." And she erupted into a new fit of sobs. That was when I felt something hot and ugly unfurl in my gut and suddenly, I wanted to find Weaslebee and rip him to pieces. Trying to control myself, like my father taught me to do, I left to the dormitory, not waiting to hear another word.

All dinner, I glowered at Weasel pointedly, and that damned Potter seemed determined to stare a hole through me. Well, since he was looking, I sent him a Malfoy-appropriate smirk, and, damn, the result was totally worth it.

Why did I stop annoying the boy who lived?

Ah, yes, the mission. The cabinet was absolutely refusing to be mended. What could I do?

In desperation I covered my face with my hands and lent on the table. I couldn't take this pressure any more; Potter finally getting a good reputation; I, a perfect boy, was having to commit murder to protect myself and my family, and not just any murder. He was one powerful wizard. It was impossible, too. What could I do?

On top of that, Granger asked McLaggen to the party and-

WHAT?!

Draco! What the bloody heck?!

I sunk my head to the tabletop, and pushed my hands through my hair with vigour, trying to rid my mind of thoughts. No.

No, No. Nononono.

This isn't happening. This is NOT happening! WHAT do I care?

I don't, and such a thought is not welcome in my mind.

"Grrrrr..." I quietly grumbled to myself from frustration. I was tired, exhausted from the pressure and completely not myself.

I focused on my mission trying to calm myself. I was Draco Malfoy, and Malfoys never give up, so I racked my brain for ideas.

"Filch doesn't recognize the love potions sent." That was what the mudblood said wasn't it? Love potions, liquids, potions, poisons-

That was the answer! I could slip him a poison! I could use Rosmerta too, of course, the chance was slight that he was actually going to receive it, but, hey, better than nothing, right? I sat up, just in time to see McLaggen leering at Granger.

Aaaaaaaand my mood was officially ruined again. Sticking my gaze into my untouched plate of delicious spaghetti bolognese, I took deep breaths and barely kept from running up to the blood-traitor and bashing his face in.

No, I needed to focus. Damn, how was I going to successfully poison-

"Dracoooo. Are you even listening to me?" It was Pansy. Damn, the girl was good, no one I knew could sneak as successfully as her. Well, maybe except me.

"Er, -no."

She glared at me disappointingly before brushing her long hair out of her face.

"Well, I was just asking if you wanted to hang out tonight? The common room's gonna be empty sooo-" Pansy batted her eyes. God, she's so obvious. I know exactly where she was going with this.

"I have to go."

I stood up curtly and went without waiting for her response. She could make Blaise jealous if she wanted to, but I wasn't going to be a part of it.

Besides, I have places to be.


Again, shorter than usual, but I can't decide on the ending to this build up, so I hope you're satisfied with the Granger-Malfoy contact here enough. I wanted to develop the insight on Draco's POV and Hermione's starting to think differently of Draco maybe? I hope they're not out of character or anything :)

Yes I did use the bathroom part of Half-Blood Prince.

Please Review if you feel like it and stuff.

Cheerio.

Nox