The Enemy

PROLOGUE (Flashback):

Seventh year started out wonderfully for me. My life was assured; I just had to pass school this year and hell--I was an automatic death eater, and all I had to do was kill a few muggles and mudbloods and I could relax in a false world of riches. I never really thought about that word--false. But during that year, I truly began to realize the immense impact it had upon my life. My entire life was one big lie. Every time I watched a muggle die, I didn't feel elated that we had freed the world of "dirt" as my father oh-so-kindly put it. In fact, I felt a horrific sense of dread, as if what I had just done came under the category of wrong. But anyway, the year had started out easily. I had everything going for me--good looks, a girlfriend, second-best student (damn that Granger). And then my father sprung it on me. In a letter, he explained my impossible and haunting task.

Draco---

Today has come the opportunity for you to prove yourself to the Lord. You will show him just how valuable an asset you are. I always knew my son had this fire within him and this year the time has come for you to unleash it. In order for us to succeed, we must---and I am sorry, this will be a revolting task---have you befriend the mudblood who adores Potter, and eventually dispose of her. As you probably can guess, this will weaken Potter immensely and we will win.

Your father,

Lucius.

When I received the letter, I had been shocked. For the next few days, I stared at Granger, suddenly overwhelmed at this task that I was supposed to undertake. As she swotted over her Arithmancy homework, I knew that her life was in my hands. But although unwilling and unsure, I dutifully began the task that my father had set for me. I was going to be a death eater, after all. That was my life. I could not change it, so I might as well do my best.

I didn't know quite how to start. Granger--Hermione, I suppose, if I was to befriend her--and I had never had a decent conversation. Luckily for me, Prof. Snape assigned her to be a potions partner for me. I stared at her, nervously. Just a few days ago, I would have been both disgusted and overjoyed at having her for a partner---she was a mudblood in close radius of me, and she would do all the work so I could just kick back and relax. But now, a sick, unexplained feeling washed over me. I had to kill her. I shook my head, trying to rid myself of the thought. I had killed before. The only thing that was different was that---well, I really knew Granger.

"Okay, get me powdered root of horntail and a devil's snare leaf," she said, bossily, bringing me back into the present. I smirked at her.

"Why don't you do it?" I replied lazily. The easiest way to get to her was seduction, I guessed, and it would be a whole lot harder than the likes of Pansy or Blaise.

"Because I am already pouring in three other ingredients. This is your potion too, so you better get your lazy arse off that chair and help." I looked at her, pleasantly surprised that she was clever in comebacks as well. After years of conversations with girls like Pansy or Blaise ("Oh, Draco, I lo-o-ve you!") I enjoyed having a real conversation with a girl. Without bothering to reply, I got up and brought back the ingredients, then watched as she mixed them in almost effortlessly.

"So, a passion for potions?" I asked her as we watched the potion simmer gently, just the way Snape had described it would (if done correctly, of course.

She scowled at me. "At least I don't suck up to Prof. Snape."

"I don't 'suck up', as you put it, Granger. Snape just happens to like me."

"You egotistical bastard," she said softly, almost under her breath, but I pride myself on my hearing.

"Where did that come from, Granger? What right do you of all people have to call me an egotistical bastard?" Surprised, she took a step away from me, and I realized I was probably giving off the wrong impression. I moved closer to her and stared into her brown--no exotic colorings here--eyes.

"I mean it, Granger. Since when have we ever spoken enough for you to call me...egotistical...and a bastard to on top of that," I said slowly, breathily, and what I like to think, seductively. It worked. She looked taken aback.

"Malfoy, don't be an ass," she said crossly, turning back to the potion. A slow smirk plastered itself across my face. I had gotten to her. The plan was working. A part of me felt elated---I was finally proving to my father and Voldemort (I refused to call him Lord. Nobody is my master except for me) that I too, could do the duties of a death eater, but yet I knew, that the closer I got to Granger, the closer she got to the end. All because of me. Right then, however, Snape announced that class was over, but he also made another, rather unpleasant announcement. "Will Ms. Granger and Mr. Malfoy please stay after for a second," he said. I sighed. Yes, I needed to work my passion upon Granger, befriend/seduce her, make her trust me, and then kill her, but I didn't want to spend time with her because every moment she spent with me was one moment closer to her death. I saw Potter and Weasley shoot sympathetic looks towards her, and only then did I realize that I didn't really need to worry. The hatred that the three possessed for me was valley deep and there was a possibility that Hermione would never leave the valley; that she would always hate me. A part of me really, really hoped that she would.

Two minutes later, the room was empty except for the three of us. Snape looked at us, his black eyes coldly glittering. I almost snorted. While many, like that idiot Longbottom for example, may be terrified of Snape's icy stare, it really wasn't anything to be afraid of. In fact, if you took the emphasis away from his eyes, his expression would be rather comical. I made a mental note to tell this to Granger sometime. I knew she hated Snape. Speaking of the devil, he finally began to speak. "Ms. Granger, Mr. Malfoy," he said softly. "You two are the best students in this class."

We both waited in silence; this was common knowledge. "So," Snape finally continued, pretending to be slow so that his words would sink in, "I have something for you to do." Once more we waited. I noticed Granger was twitching a little bit. Maybe she had an itch. Finally, Snape went on. "Nobody at this school has ever attempted to make a Firehorn potion. It is a very dangerous, and very powerful potion. It will take you about four months of diligent, hard work to complete. I have compiled a heavy list of ingredients you will need as well as step-by-step instructions as to how to make it. I expect you to start tomorrow."

"Please, Professor," Hermione cut in, "What does the Firehorn potion do?"

"Really, I'm surprised, Granger," I mouthed, "that you of all people don't know." She turned bright red, although I had meant it as a joke. She really did take it all so seriously.

"The Firehorn potion---and here, Snape paused for dramatic effect---is a potion that allows you to experience life as another person, in essence. Basically, after obtaining an eyelash from the person you desire to experience life as, you can tune into their thoughts, and make them do anything you wish. Many people ruthlessly used this potion to murder, and it would always come off looking like a suicide." I stared at Snape. I knew I had heard of the Firehorn potion somewhere, but at that moment, I really couldn't remember.

Beside me, Granger was looking at the packet that Snape had for us in awe. "Why do you think he wants this?" she whispered to me.

I shrugged. "Who gives a damn?" I replied.

Both of us walked out of the room together, but immediately separated as we entered the sea of students. And here I was painfully reminded of my goal. At some point, I had to enter the sea with her, and eventually drown her.

A/N: This just sort of came to me. It's dark, will involve Draco/Hermione romance. This was all in Draco's POV, but I might do a Hermione's POV too if I need to. I'm only going to continue this if I get enough reviews, so if you like it, please review it. Also, I suck, suck, suck at summaries so if any of you have a good summary format for this piece, please tell me!