Begin Again - Dramione

Task

Walking thrice in front of the wall, I waited as the door to the Room Of Requirements appeared. Checking for any watchful eyes, I quickly crossed over the threshold and let the door melt back to its wall-form.

Ever since that horrendous sixth year, I'd sought refuge in this isolated haven. Expressing my thoughts was never something I could achieve, in all my eighteen years of life. In this regard, I truly was a Malfoy, since the Golden rule in the Book of How to Behave Like A True Malfoy was to never show emotions. Whether it be love, affection or even hate. Aloofness was the armor that every Malfoy was raised to hide oneself behind. But I was still, only human. As much as Father had hated that fact.

Hence the exploration of this place. I moved down the narrow corridor, following the usual path I had taken, all year previously and the year before that too, and entered the room which the Room of Requirement had conjured up specially for me. With a sigh of longing, I lowered myself onto the plush armchair placed in front of the roaring fireplace and let the parchment that I was still holding, drop to the floor.

********
It had been a week since I'd visited Father in France. For the whole damned world, nothing was wrong. But I hadn't slept properly in what felt like eons. Thoughts of the mission I'd been forced to carry out plagued my mind at all times. The off chance of failing entirely, presented with ghastly thoughts of what the bastard has threatened to do.

Somewhere deep down in the grim bottom nooks of my heart, I knew it was going to happen anyways, it was just the matter of time and the right opportunity. Sitting in the dark room, which the Room of Requirement had transformed itself into, I gazed into the crackling fire, as my mind raced. To find a way, any way to accomplish the task at hand. But it was easier said than done and the possibility of getting caught was another issue.

But what really bugged me was the way Snape had started acting, as if he cared. Cared my foot, I knew he was just after the 'high reward and prestige' that would be given to anyone who performed this vile task. Snape had always been a sucker for power. Although he was my God Father and hell, I loved him more than I loved Lucius, but his constant nagging was driving me up the wall, but of course I would never admit that, out loud.

Then there was Potter, Holy Hell. If it were up to that git, He'd make it a saintly ritual to poke his chivalrous nose into everyone's business. I knew he had been suspicious of me joining the ranks, and yes, I did at some point, deliberately wanted for him to know. I don't like to think of the reasons why, but well stupid Potter, ever the oblivious one.

After a long night of delineating, the next morning had me up bright and early -though very very very grumpy and making my way to the owlery with a letter addressed to the one person who as much as I hated, might be able to help.

********

It might be difficult. Hell, I was damn sure it was going to be the worst decision, more so than ever agreeing with the initiation of the Dark Mark even, which had brought with it seven colors of bad luck but the Old Minister was right, maybe. Maybe, If I let the suppressed thoughts find their way out of my system, I'll be able to achieve my Nirvana? I might just be able to cut off all the strings with past and begin once again?

Having that thought in mind, I checked the time. Only 15 minutes left before curfew. With a sigh, I got up and made my way out of the room, having had signed the document and gone through it once again.

I slowly walked towards Mcgonagall's office when right before turning a corner, I was stopped by a lurking shadow, hiding behind the suits of armor by a large window on the second floor that had caught my eye.

Stopping dead in my tracks, I turned towards it only to find the dumb face of weasel, turning pink being caught. I stood before him, a good two inches tall, and sneered down at him, with my brow raised in question.

" What the hell are you doing here?" I drawled, which I knew irked the red head to no end.

" None of your business Malferret," he replied, turning pinker, if it was possible. He stood straight, coming out of behind his hiding spot and I could smell a faint odor of potions.

" What the fuck were you doing sneaking into the potions lab?" I asked, suspiciously. His head jerked in alarm. But before he could reply, Peeves went past blowing raspberries and creating mayhem.

" Damn Peeves," Weasley cursed, taking off before I could make any move to corner him. Staring at his retreating figure, I couldn't help but have the feeling that the Red head was up to something fishy. Shaking my head, being nosy was after all a pure Gryffindor trait. Finding it feasible to take off before the sodding care taker caught him standing the in the middle of the corridor.

When I entered the office, Granger- of course was already present, and in the middle of a serious discussion for what I could gather from her know-it-all way of getting engrossed in the conversation that she hadn't noticed my presence until Mcgonagall looked up to gesture me to take a seat. I sat down curtly and after a pause, handed her my document.

"Alright, its good to know you have agreed to this without much trouble. I apologize for the inconvenience anyways. But as I was asking Ms. Granger here what you both will do in order to compensate this task with your studies, I ask you the same. You both have to appear for the N.E.W.Ts in June, and I wouldn't want my top two students compromising study time like this." She asked.

" I think we should wait till the Ministry further sends us the criterion and details and then I'm sure we can devise a particular day and time to meet up and work together somewhere?" Granger suggested. I just nodded my head slightly. It wasn't my headache after all, and I was gonn' make it clear to her as soon as possible too. For you never know, by the end of this, the world might be Granger-less because her constant nagging had forced me to strangle her to death or something.

" Mr. Malfoy, I think you both should now retire to your dormitories and I'll notify you when I have any more information. Now shoo before the curfew bell rings." And with that, we were dismissed.

Walking out of the office, I decided to really head back for the dormitory instead of my haven- as I'd come to call it in my head all this time, but whatever deity it was up there, really was trying me out tonight for I was stopped by Granger calling out to me. I turned around slowly, as she caught up to me.

" Yes?" I inquired, trying my best not to scowl but failing.

" I-I just wanted to say that.." she trailed off, staring into my eyes. It was still staggering, the dark pools of her orbs. As I waited for her to continue, I couldn't help but notice the delicate facade of calm that she had conjured up to mask the horrors which lay beyond, for I saw the same but slightly better composed facade in my eyes every day.

" You might fancy spending the whole night standing in this corridor Granger, but I'd rather be somewhere else right now." I gritted out through my teeth, losing my patience because of her prolonged silence.

" I just.. Look, I know we've had too much bad blood between us to even try this, but I think in order to work as a team, we'll have to call a truce. I would try my best to not let the past incidents get the best of me as long as you keep your tongue and actions in check. Well that's all." She rushed through her words as if fluffy was after her and would jump out of a corner any minute now and strangle her. Well, I was thinking for strangling her a lot today, I thought to myself.

Staring at her was fun, the way she started squirming under my gaze uneasily was sure something worth watching but cutting her torment short, I gave a curt nod and without a word turned around to make my way to the dungeons and another night of restless sleep.

A/N : Like I promised, here's the new chapter! I hope you like it. Thank you so much for all the reviews and votes! Keep supporting this ickle piece of Dramione-ness ;)

Btw, if anyone's interested I'm writing another book (teen fiction) called Closure! Do check it out if you have time.

Special thanks to Pinecone_xox for the amazing book cover! I love it x

Thanks to Emiloo , CatLittleDermione , skywriter70 for the reviews x