Disclaimer: Yeah don't own Harry Potter characters. Sad day.

Author's Note: AGH! Don't kill me guys! I know it is like I dropped off the face of the earth. I promise I have not abandoned this fic, and I have already written more. I was super busy and was only writing a sentence like every month. Don't be mad! Please share this fic and continue to read, review, favorite, and follow. I always love feedback!

His Sixth, His First

Chapter Three: An Unfortunate Encounter

Hermione was starting to lay off the insane studying hours. After almost losing Snape's homework and Ron almost seeing her naked in the prefect's bathroom, she decided, for her own sanity, to decrease her hours of NEWT review. She could wait awhile, NEWTS are not until seventh year, besides she had all summer break. Hermione's mood improved, to Harry and Ron's delight, and her health did as well. She started to take strolls by the lake after supper before bed to unwind and reflect on the day.

Malfoy was pissed. Last night, his parents had found out about his break up to Pansy a month ago. They were also pissed. So pissed that Lucius paid him a visit during the school's weekend visit to Hogsmeade. It got so ugly, Madame Rosmerta through them out of the Three Broomsticks. Malfoy decided to go for a walk by the lake to clear his head after his heated argument with his father. He was under so much pressure from school, his family, and the Dark Lord. He was afraid he would not be able to go through with his mission, but he had to if he wanted to live. So he stalked off by the lake in the crisp evening air. He was so lost in thought he didn't even notice when he ran into a certain brunette. "Watch it ferret," Hermione coolly said.

"What are you doing here?!" replied Malfoy. His pale cheeks started to grow pink from the cold and seeing Hermione as he took a couple steps back and tripped over some loose rocks. He was sprawled across the ground sitting in the dirt.

"Walking. Same as you," she said with an unimpressed gaze at his undignified position on the ground. Malfoy's face steeled as he got to his feet and regained his composure, and as dignified as he could, wiped the dirt from his backside. It was just the two of them out by the lake; the castle loomed in the distance as a scarlet and pink sunset cast a dim light over the grounds. The two would have to return to the castle soon if they were to make it back before dark.

Both realizing this, they begrudgingly walked up to the castle together. An awkward silence was evident as every nighttime sound could be heard around them. Owls hooted and toads croaked as the two made their way back. Finally, Hermione broke the silence, "I heard about your father. I'm sorry."

Malfoy sneered, "What do you know Granger?"

"Quite a bit more than you, and I was attempting to be kind, but I guess that is too foreign a topic for a Slytherin like you," she retorted. Hermione quickly strode off up to the castle leaving Malfoy's mouth hanging open. Hermione was being nice to him. The girl he loved, and he just assumed she was poking fun. He felt like such an idiot.

Halloween was approaching and the castle was getting ready; jack-o-lanterns were scattered about the castle with red, orange, and gold leaves decorating every inch. The evenings were getting colder and darker. Malfoy was starting to get more and more sleep deprived due to his daunting task drawing nearer. It was taking a serious toll on his health. He spoke less and less with his friends as he spent all his time in the room of requirement working on that blasted vanishing cabinet. Merlin! Why won't it work? He let out a low growl. His breath pushed his silvery white hair out of his face.

This task was too much for a boy of sixteen, but he was branded by the Dark Lord and there was no going back now. He couldn't even find comfort from his parents. They pushed him into this, killing Dumbledore, joining the Death Eaters, and the prejudice against blood traitors and mudbloods. If he did go crying to mom and dad, Lucius Malfoy would show him no mercy. He would be bruised up and down. So, Draco would have to do it. He had to fix the vanishing cabinet to let the Death Eaters in. He had to kill Dumbledore. He had to, or he had to die at the hands of Voldemort.

Malfoy decided to leave the room of requirement for the day. He had accomplished nothing, as he couldn't even make a quill return with the feather undamaged. He looked at the time. Shit! There is a prefects meeting in five minutes! Malfoy sprinted out of the room of requirement and down the halls. The heads had threatened to revoke his prefect powers if he missed another meeting, so here he was busting his arse trying to make the meeting.

After getting trapped by a slow-moving huddle of first years, Draco came to a stop in front of the classroom door. He checked the time. He was late by ten minutes. He opened the door and immediately caught Hermione's disapproving look. His face went even paler and he couldn't look away. Quickly, he came to his senses and looked away. His jawed hardened as he sauntered over to the empty seat and plopped down. The heads rolled their eyes and continued droning on about something or other. Malfoy didn't really care.

It was eight o'clock sharp and everyone but Malfoy was at the meeting. Hermione was not surprised; he had already missed half of the meetings so far. She knew Malfoy did not want the responsibilities that came with being a prefect, just the power. The heads had started the meeting anyway and were discussing plans for Halloween and upcoming password changes because Peeves had figured them out and was wreaking havoc in the common rooms.

Suddenly, a certain most unpleasant blonde burst open the door. Hermione almost let out a groan as she shot daggers with her eyes. Typical, he only shows up to keep his privileges and even then shows up late. He was unbelievable. She still couldn't believe he was the best candidate for prefect. Although he was bright, he was very bright, and if it was not for her he would be top of the class. She smiled to herself about that, even perfect pureblood prince of slytherin couldn't beat the mudblood. She watched as he sat himself down in a very undignified manner. Cho Chang, the Head Girl, cleared her throat and continued on the topic of password changes.

After the meeting, Hermione tried to catch Malfoy before he left. He practically leaped out of the classroom once it was dismissed and Hermione was struggling to catch up. He abruptly stopped and wheeled around, "Why are you following me mudblood?" he said through gritted teeth.

"We have a potions project due soon, and we need to discuss what we are doing," she answered.

"I thought we agreed that we were capable of working alone."

"Yes, I remember. I just wanted to check in on your progress."

"Do you think that I am a clueless first year that can't tell a cauldron from his own ass? If you must know, I haven't started."

"You haven't started?!" she roared, standing mere inches from him.

"No, I haven't," he said grinning. Hermione's hands balled into fists; her arms and legs grew rigid and her nostrils flared. Her right hand flew out and slapped his pompous smirk right off his face. She looked in shock at her hand as Malfoy clutched his cheek and let out a low growl.

"You'll pay for that mud-" Draco said before he was cut off.

"What? Mudblood? Is that what you were about to say? Do you think that silly word bothers me anymore?" Hermione questioned.

"I know it does. I can see it in your eyes. Every time I say it stings and it looks almost like you hoped I wouldn't say it. It's like you thought that I would be kind to you, scum that doesn't deserve your magic, and you know you don't. That is why you work so hard so you can make yourself believe you deserve it. When deep down you know you don't. You know you don't deserve any bit of your magic."

"And how about you? You deserve your magic? You deserve it on the basis that your parents are wizards? Your parents are evil, and so are you. You use your magic to serve you-know-who, and kill people!"

"You don't know anything about me or my family!" Malfoy screamed and pushed passed her. His footsteps echoed down the halls and the stairs. Hermione was left standing there still in a rage. He was right. She knew she deserved her magic, but some part of her still believed that one day she would wake up and be whisked away magic-less.

After some time, Hermione turned to go back to the common room. She wiped the tears she hadn't even noticed and walked back down the halls.

Malfoy collapsed in a heap in his four-poster bed. He was exhausted from working on the vanishing cabinet and fighting with Hermione. I'm not really evil, am I? He will kill me if I don't do it. That's not being evil. That's just survival. Right? His head was throbbing. It was too much to think about. Blaise and Teddy came into the room laughing and chatting away.

"We heard you fought with Granger from some third year," gushed Teddy. Malfoy groaned into his pillow.

"Potter and Weasley will have your hide tomorrow," Blaise snickered.

"Well I'd like to see the two knuckleheads try," said Draco. Teddy and Blaise sat down on their beds and continued talking amongst themselves. Malfoy thought of the many things he still had to do: fix the cabinet, start on his bloody potions project, finish his transfiguration essay, train for quidditch, write his mother… He fell fast asleep with his clothes still on and lost in thought.

Author's Note: So, thoughts? I don't know when I will upload the next chapter. I want to get a little more written before then. I know I said that this won't be exactly sticking to HBP plot, and I want to stress that. In the next chapter you will notice that one of the teachers isn't accurate, but I really wanted to play with it some. Please review!

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