"Bye, then." Justin said softly as we stood outside the portrait of the Fat Lady.

"Goodnight. And thanks...for walking me back." I blushed again, remembering the past few hours we had spent together. Justin only smiled.

"What're you talking about? It's only a few corridors!" He reached for my hand and squeezed it tight before turning to walk away. "Okay then. See you tomorrow." He smiled once more before he turned the corner and was out of sight. I sighed heavily. This had to be one of the best nights ever. The Fat Lady smiled knowingly as I gave her the password.

"Amortentia," I sighed again.

"Oh you won't need any of that, my dear!" The Fat Lady laughed to herself. I clambered into the Common Room and slumped against a wall. My heart wouldn't stop racing, I just can't believe what had happened.

"Oh Hermione, hi." Ginny called from one of the chairs by the fire. I glanced over at her but not really totally concentrating.

"Oh yeah. Malfoy was looking for you. He said to tell you to meet him tonight, but I was like she would never meet you...But Hermione? Is there something going on with Malfoy and you? 'Cause you guys are hanging out a lot, like you were going out or some...thing. Hello? Hermione!" I couldn't be bothered to listen to Ginny going on about Malfoy, so I just walked past her and climbed the stairs up to my dorm.

"It's only eight o'clock!" I heard Ginny call after me. Once I got into my room I fell on to my bed and lay there. Am I going to feel this nervous and excited every day from now on? I mean this is the first time I've ever had a real boyfriend...Oh Merlin! I'm going to be a nervous wreck...I crawled under my covers but I was never going to be able to get to sleep, my heart was beating way too fast...

xXx

Ugh. I hardly slept at all last night and now I'm late for breakfast, this isn't good. I've already lost it! I hurried down to the Great Hall and was nearly at the doors when...

"Ouch!" I cried as I fell to the floor.

"Oops. I must have tripped." A sarcastic voice drawled. I looked up and glared at Malfoy. He bent down so close our noses almost touched with a fake smile plastered on his face.

"I told you to meet me yesterday and you didn't."

My mind was blank. He told me to meet him yesterday? I don't remember that...Oh wait. Malfoy was looking for you. He said to tell you to meet him tonight...Ginny told me last night. Crap.

"Oh...yeah I guess I heard something like that...But I was...kind of out of it last night...and..." I muttered half heartedly. Malfoy carried on smiling, but it was quickly turning malicious.

"You know what happens to slaves who ignore their master's commands?" He asked leaning forward even closer. I moved further away, closing my eyes and putting my hands over my head in a weak attempt to protect myself from any stray hands.

"I'm sorry! Very sorry!" But why am I always sorry? Oh well. "But um, listen. I have something to tell you!" I didn't bother opening my eyes but I could tell that Malfoy was probably sneering.

"Hey. Would you mind leaving my girlfriend alone?" A cool voice said above my head. "She's taken, okay?" My eyes snapped open and I saw Justin stood next to me his hand resting on my shoulder. I couldn't help but smile, especially at Malfoy's stunned expression.

"Oh, Justin..." I sighed, quickly forgetting about Malfoy.

"Hi, I thought we could have breakfast together." He suggested as I stood up quickly and brushed myself down.

"I would love to!" My heart started to beat faster as Justin took my hand and lead me to the Great Hall.

"So you doing anything after lessons, we could take a walk?"

"Oh gosh, sorry I have homework." I said sadly, but I had to remember that school's important too even if I do have a boyfriend now.

"Oh well, I'll owl you tonight anyway."

As we entered the Great Hall I looked back at Malfoy who had now stood up but still had a surprised expression on his face. I grinned, that was one to Hermione, zero to Malfoy.

xXx

As the door closed behind the new couple Malfoy shook himself mentally. He didn't care if that Hufflepuff prat was her boyfriend, she was still his slave and that's all that mattered. He really didn't care. But suddenly he really wasn't in the mood for eating so he stormed down the corridor away from the Great Hall only to hear Weaslette and Potter's conversation echoing after him.

"Since when...?" Weaslette asked amazed, "It's not fair! Is this for real? No way! I mean, popular Justin and Hermione!?" Weaslette cried clearly upset.

"I think they make a great couple." Potter said sounding a bit confused but happy.

"They do not make a great couple!" She rounded on Potter, "I cannot believe Hermione has a better looking boyfriend I do!" Weaslette fumed while Potter chuckled at her. Their voices soon died down and Malfoy rubbed his aching head.

"So, did you already know? I take it you didn't." A smooth voice asked Malfoy from behind an archway. Blaise appeared from the shadows with a smirk on his handsome face. "I must say you look quite unfazed by this all." Malfoy gave him a narrowed look; he could not be bothered with this right now.

"No, I didn't know about those two. But why should I care? I don't give a shit." Malfoy replied as he carried on walking down the corridor. Blaise fell into step next to him with his sly grin still on his face.

"I couldn't care less about those two." Malfoy said again with a scowl.

xXx

"Well... that was a surprise." I said as a buttered some toast at the Gryffindor table, Justin sat next to me and I could feel the rest of the schools eyes upon us.

"Huh? What was?" Justin asked, obviously he was oblivious to all the stares.

"The way you came out and just said that...right in front of..." Malfoy was what I was going to say but then thought better of it. "I mean, with everyone knowing...think about the gossip!" I added.

"So? Who cares?" Justin asked as he ate his way through some cereal.

"I do! The whole schools going to be talking about it, I think they already are!"

Justin smiled at me, "Sorry, I couldn't help it." He said apologetically. Huh? "I just thought Malfoy should know...That I'm behind you. That was the best way."

I put my toast down and just stared at him. I couldn't believe it. I felt the blood rise to my face and I knew I was blushing yet again.

"Now you need to avoid being alone with him. I don't know what he's got on you, but you don't have to do whatever he says." So now I have to do what he says because otherwise if I annoy him...He remembered. He remembered everything I told him yesterday. And not just that...

"You'll be okay."

He's trying to protect me.

Justin went back to eating but I can't stop my smile. I felt like nothing can go wrong now. Oh Merlin! It's just so sweet. He is so sweet! It's a great thing to have a boyfriend! It's great.

xXx

"I am so lucky!" I whispered excitedly to Ginny whilst in the library.

"Well, duh! That's obvious!" Ginny replied with a roll of her eyes. "With a boyfriend like Justin, anybody would feel pretty damn lucky. I mean, Merlin! He's only gorgeous, smart and super caring. Don't you know what that means?" Ginny asked. I stared blankly at her, wondering where this was going.

"You know, Hermione...you always act like you're so shy, but now it turns out you're like, Little-Miss-Sure-Of-Herself!"

"Eh?" This conversation was getting more confusing by the second.

"Well, come on!" Ginny cried but quietened as I made a shh-ing sound. "I mean, you totally have to be sure of yourself to go out with a guy like Justin. He's only super popular and surround by all the pretty Hufflepuff girls like, all the time." As she said this I put down my quill and chewed on my lip. I hadn't thought about it this way before. Is Ginny right?

"If it was me, I'd be so insecure all the time. I don't think I could do it." She continued. "I'd be like, Oh Merlin, he's going to get sick of me and dump me...Or like, oh, I'm just one of a whole bunch of girls he's seeing..." The more Ginny went on the more nervous I got. Justin wouldn't be like that, he isn't like that!

"Plus! What do you even wear when you go out with a guy like that? I'd be like, what if he ditches me on a date 'cause I don't look cool enough?" Ginny rambled on and I was beginning to get tired of it, Justin just wouldn't do something like that I know it.

"Justin...Would never do that." I told her, trying to convince myself a little at the same time.

"Wow! He must really be crazy about you! (I am so jealous!)" She exclaimed and I clamped my hand over her mouth as Madame Pince glared at us.

Well at least...I don't think he would do anything like that...

xXx

"Where is the book that we need?"

"I don't remember who it was by..."

"Man, Professor Vector is such a pain. I hate Arithmancy sometimes."

"What's the title of the textbook?"

"Hey, Malfoy," Theodore Nott called, "what was the title of that textbook-"

At the sound of his name Malfoy whipped around and yelled, "'Bridget Wenlock's clear-and-easy Arthmancy vol.4'! Don't ask me again!" then resumed reading his book. Theodore jumped back with a scared look on his face.

"Whoa man, what's wrong with him. He's more of an asshole than usual." He commented to Blaise who was stood nearby flipping through his own textbooks.

"He's been in a shitty mood all day, earlier he yelled at some first years in the Common Room and had a go at Professor Sinstra for no reason, nearly earned himself a detention too."

"What's up, Malfoy? You've been in a bad mood since this morning." Theodore asked placing a hand on Malfoy's shoulder. Again, Malfoy turned around viciously.

"Bad mood? Who, me? Who says that!" he asked with a murderous glare. Theodore backed down in fright whimpering, "No one, no one says that!"

"Hey look," Goyle pointed out thickly ignoring Malfoy's shouts, "There's that Hufflepuff guy that thinks he's so great, and look who he's with."

Quickly, Theodore, Blaise and Malfoy were all peering through the bookshelf to get a better look at Justin. And sure enough he was stood a few rows away with a beautiful girl with long dark hair clinging to him.

Malfoy sneered at the two and went back to reading his book, with only a small bit of satisfaction. The question was how to use this to his advantage...

xXx

"We've done so much homework; in fact, I think that's the most I've ever done in one sitting!" Ginny laughed, but I wasn't really in the mood. "Hey, Hermione? What's the matter, you seem kind of down?"

"Can we just go back to Gryffindor Tower now?" I sighed, but Ginny didn't seem to be listening to me anymore, in fact she had seen something more interesting.

"Hey, is that...Hey, Hermione over there!" Ginny pointed past a couple of shelves and I followed her gaze. Oh great...

"It's Malfoy!" She stage whispered, "This could be my chance...and ooh, look he's with his friends...not too bad!" She then walked over to the group swaying her hips as she went.

xXx

"Ooh, look its Weaslette!" Theodore cried rubbing his hands together, "She's quite cute isn't she. Is she coming this way?"

Malfoy looked over his shoulder and saw the small redhead coming towards them. He marked his page and closed his book; he wouldn't be able to read here anymore with all these annoying distractions. As he stood up he saw Hermione hovering behind Weaslette asking to leave. The image of Justin with the dark haired girl rose in his head as did what Justin had said this morning, 'Would you mind leaving my girlfriend alone? She's taken okay?' He scowled at the memory and clenched his fists. What was that guy trying to do? Stupid Hufflepuff prat. He was really beginning to piss him off!

xXx

"Please Hermione, I know you have a boyfriend, but I still can go out with these guys, right?" Ginny smiled at me. No way was I going to let her go out with any of these...these...Slytherins! They were all bad news! And then, as if trying to appeal to me she whispered in my ear, "Malfoy will be going too." That was the last straw! I was definitely not going to let her now! I grabbed her arm and pulled her away from that idiot Nott, deciding now was the best time to leave when Malfoy said my name.

"Hermione," I felt all my insides tighten with dread. "Go take a walk with them. Or whatever they want to do...That's an order." I blanched, I seriously felt like I was going to be sick. Everyone around me stopped what they were doing and looked around confused.

"Huh?"

"An order..?"

"What?"

"What are you saying?" I cried trying to get him to change his mind; he couldn't order me around in front of people. Not again!

"It makes no difference if you have a boyfriend or whatever," he said matter of fact with a deadly smirk on his face. I felt a cold shiver run over me. "You still have to do what I say, like we agreed." He then turned on his heel, picked up his book and left.

"Hey, so...Hey!" Theodore exclaimed excitedly. "You're the personal slave he was talking about? No way!" he grabbed my arm and pulled me close, whispering in my ear, "Malfoy said I could borrow you sometime."

I pulled out of his grasp, sickened. "Excuse me!"

"You do whatever he tells you to do, right?" I couldn't believe this was happening. "So do you want to get out of here, Granger?" he asked tugging on my arm again, "Weaslette seems pretty busy herself."

I glanced around and was partly relived to see that Ginny wasn't listening to any of this but was being distracted by Blaise's smooth advances.

"Come on, let's go." He pulled me around one bookcase and then stopped. "Oh wait, not that way. That Hufflepuff prat was over there earlier and I really can't stand him!" He muttered to himself. I stalled...Hufflepuff prat? Could he mean...

"Justin...Justin Finch-Fletchley?" I asked with a speeding heart.

"Yeah...Yeah that's his name. Know him, Slave Girl?"

"Uh...Well...Actually I..." I just couldn't speak, maybe Justin was still near. He could save me again!

Suddenly a strong arm grabbed me from around my waist. Justin?!

"I changed my mind." Malfoy's voice said from behind me. "We're going."

"What? Malfoy! No fair!" Theodore shouted receiving a glare from both Malfoy and Madame Pince.

Malfoy dragged me out of the library and down many corridors, not slowing down at all. I scratched at his hand and tried to pull him off, but it was no use.

"Let go!" I screamed, "You're hurting me!" But he took no notice, "Hey! Let go off me!" Then I suddenly realised I had left Ginny alone with Blaise...who knows what they would get up to! "I can't leave Ginny back there by herself. Plus, there's something I need to...Oh...were you there? That Nott guy said he saw Justin in the library-"

"Don't go talking to other guys!" Malfoy hissed at me, scaring me into silence. "You tramp." I flinched as if I had been slapped. Never in my life had I been called a tramp, and I had done nothing to deserve it. What was wrong with this guy?

"You're my slave, got it? I don't want you talking to other guys! Or touching them! Or holding hands with them!"

"Holding...Hands?" What is he going on about, he's actually gone mad. This is not the usual Malfoy at all. Even his usually neat hair is going all over the place. He looked wild.

"He was all over you!" he yelled into my face.

"Yeah but you were the one who said that he could have me..." I answered back, slightly terrified at what he might do to me.

"Shut up!" He yelled again.

"Look...I-"

"I said, Shut up!" he then opened a door at random and pushed me in and stumbled onto one of the unused desks. He closed the door behind him and sat down next to me on the small desk. We sat in silence for what seemed forever, all I could hear was his short angry breathing. I didn't dare say a word or move a muscle. But I was so sick of it. What was with this guy anyway? He was completely insane. The desk was so small that the entire sides of our bodies were touching and I could feel the heart radiating from him. I started to get nervous about what he was planning.

Suddenly he got up and stood in front of me. I watched him, wide eyed. He faced me with a completely blank face and then quickly leant forward putting his hands on either side of me on the table. I was caught in between. Trapped. As his arms tightened I could feel them touching my chest. I let out a squeak and tried to wiggle away.

"Please..."

"Hmm?"

"Let me go...you're touching my breast..." I pleaded lamely, ducking my head so I didn't have to look into his face. I really didn't like this, I wanted to leave and to my horror I realised I had left all my stuff including my wand in the library. I was totally screwed. But Malfoy just stared at me still, not moving his arms.

"So it's not like..." He started.

"Not like what?" I asked slightly hysterically.

"It's not like they're that big...Not much there to feel." He finished. I gasped. Not that...not that big? Oh. What an insult. I felt the blood rush to my face in embarrassment. I looked up to see if he was joking, and his face was merely inches from my face. He looked intently into my eyes and my embarrassment intensified. My heart started racing and my breath left me as he put his arms around me and hugged me tight. I put my arms up to push him away.

"Hey...wait...stop..." But he wasn't listening to me.

"Let go of me!" I said a bit louder. "Hey, stop!"

"Shut up." He hissed quietly. I tried to get away but he was just too strong. I pushed at his arms again but that just made him hug me tighter. Then as quickly as he'd started to hug me he let me go. I sagged back onto the table and let out a sigh of relief.

"We're leaving." He said in a strained voice. He grabbed my hand once more and pulled me off the table.

"Huh? Wait a minute!" I didn't understand what was going on. "Where are we going?"

"Anywhere...Anywhere we can do it."

I stumbled to a halt and wrenched my hand out of his grip.

"Are you kidding me?!" I yelled, my blood boiling. This was it, it was now or never.

"You have to do what I say." He said lowly glowering at me.

"Not anymore!" I screamed angrily. Malfoy looked at me with surprise. Yes, that's right; I thought smugly, I'm standing up to you!

"Go ahead! Blab my secret! See if I care!" I continued, "I QUIT being your slave, so there!" I breathed deeply. I'd...said it. I'd said it! I'd finally done it! It was like a dream come true. Like a huge weight lifted off my shoulders.

"You're pretty sure of yourself." Malfoy smirked. I stared at him...Wait...What?

"You think you're safe because you have Justin." His smirk grew larger and his eyes gleamed nastily. "You moron." He laughed to himself. "Yeah, I saw Justin back there. With a girl. She was all over him." My heart stopped beating and I couldn't breathe. This couldn't be true. "'Girlfriend'. Right. He's probably going out with half the school." He sighed to himself as if the very conversation was boring him. "I did say you were stupid, you moron."

I felt tears form in my eyes but I blinked them back, I wouldn't let him see me cry.

"It's none...of...your business..." I said slowly fighting the tears. I didn't want to hear that about Justin...I didn't want to hear that at all. I couldn't look at Malfoy. I was so angry. I hate him. I hate him! I really hate this guy!

"I don't accept." Malfoy said quietly. "You can't quit being my slave. I won't let you!" He shouted. I ran off down the corridor, tears streaming down my face but I could still hear him yelling behind me.

"I 'm not letting you quit!"

I hate him.