“Ron, if you don’t hurry up, we’re going to miss the train!� Hermione called up the stairs.


“I’m coming, I’m coming. Don’t get your knickers in a knot,� Ron said as he heaved his heavy trunk down the stairs. Every time the trunk went down a step, a loud clunk echoed around the dark stairwell of Number Twelve Grimmauld Place.


“You are way too eager to get to school,� Ron finally said when he had reached the bottom of the steps. “Just because you’re Head Girl doesn’t mean you have to get to the station before the rest of us. We have never missed the train because we were late. Anyways, why are you hurrying me? Ginny’s still not here,�


“I’ve been here for fifteen minutes,� called Ginny from the hallway.


“What about Harry? I don’t see him here,� stated Ron.


“He’s in the kitchen with Mum. At the moment, he’s having the breakfast that you were supposed to eat but were too late to get!� exclaimed Ginny.


“Damn it!! Why do I always have to lose?�


Hermione rolled her eyes. She glanced for the tenth time that morning at the shiny Head Girl badge that she had been holding. She had gotten it during the summer and the Weasleys, being the gracious family that they were, threw her a party. She smiled as she thought of all the good times they had had and, still grinning, headed towards the kitchen to tell the rest of the Weasley family, Harry and the guard, that Ron had finally decided to make an appearance and they could leave.


As she walked down the dark, musty corridors of the Black House, her mind wandered off to the coming year. The last year at Hogwarts. Maybe the last year that she would see Harry and Ron. That thought made her stop dead in her tracks. They had been friends for nearly seven years. The happiest seven years of her life. How could she lose them now?


‘You won’t lose them. Just because you’re leaving behind Hogwarts doesn’t mean your leaving your friends,’ This sensible voice in her head calmed her. They had been friends this long. After all they had been through, after all good and bad, they had survived. Their loving friendship could survive anything now. They would be together forever, like in those ‘70s love songs her parents adored.


It was this thought, more than any, that made her happy, made her glow. She could light up the entire Noble and Most Ancient House of Black. Even though she was surrounded by all kinds of mysterious Dark objects, she was cheerful. She could charge down all the evil in the world with that thought that they would be friends. Forever.


*************


“Oh great! You’re back!� Harry said as Ron and Hermione entered Harry’s compartment on the Hogwarts Express, “I thought maybe you forgot about us,� Harry joked sadly, gesturing at the compartment in which sat Neville Longbottom and Luna Lovegood. “Anyways, who’s the Head Boy? And why did you take so long? I need my questions answered!�


“Actually, I think Ronald would like to answer that first question,� Hermione said as she sat down, a small smile on her face.


Ron looked down at his large feet and mumbled, “I’m Head Boy.�


“You’re WHAT!� Harry, Ginny and Neville yelled. Ginny and Neville had just come in after the prefects.


“Head Boy.�


“And the reason the meeting took so long,� Hermione said her smile widening, “was because everyone was laughing so hard.�


“How could you not tell me about this? I’m supposed to be your best mate!� Harry said in shocked surprise.


“Well, I knew if I told you, everyone else would know and laugh. Especially Fred and George,� Ron said, a little bit louder but still staring at his second-hand shoes.


The entire compartment was laughing whole-heartedly and Ron said these very words.


“You still should have told me,� Harry said, a serious look back on his face, “I’m very proud of you.�


Again the compartment filled with derisive laughter. But it died down as Ron settled into a seat across from Harry.


“Anyways, how was your summer, Neville?� Hermione asked the small boy, trying to save Ron from even more embarrassment.


Still laughing, he replied, “It was pretty quiet actually. My Great uncle Algie came over for the first time since I started school. It was the first time in my life he didn’t try to throw me out of a window. He was really proud of me after what had happened in the Department of Myster…� he trailed off, watching Harry’s face as it went pale. Although it had been a little more than a year since the incident at the Department of Mysteries where Sirius had died, Harry was still sensitive to the subject.


“It was pretty quiet,� Neville finished lamely.


At the words ‘Department of Mysteries’, a small girl emerged from the shadows. She had long, dirty blonde hair, large blue eyes and a long necklace that seemed to be made of garlic and forget-me-knots.


“Hello there, Luna. Hope you had an interesting summer?� Hermione asked only out of politeness.


Luna then began telling all of them about her summer hunting Snargnuggets with her father. As Hermione leaned back into her seat and looked around the full compartment, she knew she was home.


*************

As Hermione and her motley crew that she liked to call her friends got off the train, they met up with none other than Draco Malfoy. He stared, dumbfounded, at the badge on Ron’s robes.

“Weasley’s Head Boy? God, this school is worse off than I thought!� he exclaimed to no one in particular. His friends seemed to have deserted him.



“Wouldn’t Malfoy already know you were Head Boy?� Harry questioned as they made their way toward an empty carriage to take them to Hogwarts. “Wouldn’t he have seen at the Prefect meeting?�



“Oh, I forgot to mention, Malfoy didn’t come. I don’t know why and I don’t really want to,� Hermione said quickly dismissing the matter.



Harry looked like he wanted to talk more about this startling piece of news, but Hermione shot him a ‘be quiet before I have to tell you something I don’t want to’ look and Harry desisted.



As they entered the Great Hall, they saw familiar faces already sitting at the tables. Most people either congratulated Hermione and Ron or else stared at Ron’s badge.





Malfoy was not the only one shocked at Dumbledore’s appointment of Head Boy. The rest of the school were whispering to each other or else staring at Dumbledore thinking this must be a joke. The name Ron Weasley never crossed their minds when they thought of Head Boy.



As they settled themselves into their respective tables, Dumbledore rose and quiet filled the hall.

“I noticed that many of you were discussing my appointment of Head Boy. I would just like to assure you that there has been no mistake. If Miss Granger and Mr. Weasley would come up here after the feast, I will give you the information about your dormitories and your duties.� Dumbledore said. “But for now, let the feast begin.� he said as he sat down to the mounds of food that had just appeared on the golden plates.



Although Ron had turned a brilliant shade of red at Dumbledore’s first words, he didn’t seem to care now that there was food to be eaten. He helped himself to more food than could fit on one plate, just as usual.



“At least he’s not taking it too badly. He could not eat at all,� Hermione whispered to Harry as she watched Ron stuff as much food into his mouth as humanly possible. Harry sniggered and helped himself to some chicken.





After dinner, Hermione dragged Ron up to the teachers’ table to find out the finer details. Dumbledore had told them there was a list of their duties in their dormitory, which was located behind the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy trying to teach trolls the ballet. The password was ‘Gillywater.’



They trekked up many flights of staircases with Harry until they had reached Gryffindor Tower.



“Wow, this is a little odd. You not sleeping in the same room as me. And I don’t mean that in a dirty way,� Harry said quickly.



“Yeah, it is weird. Well, goodnight!� Ron said and he and Hermione journeyed towards their dormitory.



Some one’s a little to eager to leave their best friend behind Hermione thought in her head as they reached the tapestry and Ron uttered the password.



The common room was painted a faint and pale gold. There were red silk curtains on the windows. The windows themselves had a remarkable view of the lake. There were comfortable armchairs and a long couch at one end of the room. Many tables were spread across the room, the largest of which had two pieces of parchment on them. On either side of the room, there were great mahogany doors with polished golden names plates, the one on the left reading Hermione Granger and the one on the right saying Ronald Weasley.



“This place is nice,� Ron said in awe. Hermione nodded. “Well, see you tomorrow!�



“Goodnight,� Hermione said and she went towards her room.



Her new dormitory reminded her greatly of her regular dormitory in Gryffindor Tower, except that there was only one bed. Exhausted, she changed into her nightclothes and settled down on her bed with the extensive list of duties.

*************

When Hermione awoke the next day, it took her a few seconds to register where she was. She was so used to waking up to the sound of others, the silence of her room scared her slightly. Then remembering she was now Head Girl, she headed to the bathroom to get ready for the day.



She went into the Common Room to find Ron sitting in one of the armchairs, staring at the dwindling fire. “I can’t believe I’m Head Boy,� he said to the fire.



“You seemed fine with it last night,� Hermione replied quite shortly.



“Well, I guess I am then,� Ron said, accepting defeat rather readily, and he went to go change.



Thinking he could make it down to breakfast without help, Hermione walked to the Great Hall without Ron. She quickly spotted Harry eating his breakfast at the Gryffindor table while talking with Dean Thomas. She quickly hurried towards them. Spotting Hermione coming, Harry made some space on the bench next to him.



“Good morning. Where’s Ron?� he asked cheerfully.



“He’s getting ready. I decided to leave without him.� Hermione answered quickly.



“Did he realize he’s Head Boy, or is he still fooling around?�



“I think he did. I hope so. It’ll be rather difficult doing both the Head Girl and the Head Boy duties at once.� Hermione spotted the pile of 7th year schedules near Harry’s plate. Grabbing one, she examined it, noticing she had only 10 minutes before her N.E.W.T. level Arithmancy started which Transfiguration followed. Quickly, she dug into her porridge.



Arithmancy passed fast enough, although she had received a fair amount of homework. She headed to Transfiguration, hoping that the boys had not forgotten to go. But, fortunately, they were there.



“Another year of things I won’t be able to understand or do.� Ron muttered under his breath. He seemed to have gone back to his normal irritating self, which made Hermione slightly happier. It seemed to make Harry happier as well, seeing the small smile on his face at Ron’s remark.



Transfiguration had gotten considerably harder from last year, but by asking Professor McGonagall to repeat the instructions again, Hermione achieved changing the shape of her nose. Ron had made a grave mistake when he made his entire face look like a badger’s, at which everyone laughed.



At the end of class, McGonagall asked Hermione to stay behind. She wondered if she had done something wrong and walked up to the Professor’s desk, wringing her hands nervously.



Seeing the look on her face, she said calmly, “Do not worry Miss Granger. You are not in trouble. I would just like to ask you a favor.�



A look of great relief passed over Hermione’s face as she said, “Oh, alright.�



“You are one of the best students this school has ever seen. (Here Hermione blushed) It’s true. So that is why I am asking you if you would like to tutor Draco Malfoy.�



Hermione was stunned. Draco Malfoy? The person who thought she was lower than dirt? “I don’t know Professor. Draco Malfoy doesn’t really see me in the best of light.� she stated cautiously.



“I will see to it that he will not attack you with his words. I know he has a great soul with a great mind somewhere down deep, I just don’t know how to get out that goodness in him. So I thought perhaps you could help me. I understand if you do not want to. But just if.�



There was a begging look in Professor McGonagall’s eyes that Hermione feared to turn down. “Of course I will.�

“I can’t believe McGonagall thinks Malfoy has a great soul somewhere! I can’t believe she’d want you to try and tutor him! Do you think she knows the real Malfoy? Or has she finally lost it?� Harry fumed, rather loudly.

“Shhh! Madam Pince will yell!� Hermione said in a whisper. She was waiting in the library for her first tutoring session with Malfoy when she had told Harry what McGonagall asked of her. “I know it sounds crazy, but I think I should try. McGonagall wouldn’t ask me unless she was really desperate.�

“But…� Harry said but Hermione shushed him. “Fine. But I’m staying here. I swear if he calls you any names, I’ll kill him!�

“I’m not a child, Harry. I’m perfectly capable of fighting my own battles, thank you very much! All I ask of you is to keep Ron away from here. I haven’t told him yet, and I don’t really want to. I’m afraid he might….� Hermione trailed off.

“Be himself? Don’t worry, he never comes into the library anyway. I hope you plan on telling him though,� Harry said with a worried look on his face.

“I will. Just not – now. Now go, I can see Malfoy.�

Malfoy weaved his way through the tables, and, seeing Hermione, came to her table. He dropped his books on the desk and slouched in his seat, looking the other way. He reminded Hermione horribly of the bad boys in all the movies she had seen. The ones with the attractive bad boys who are tutored by the beautiful geniuses.
Too bad I’m not beautiful she thought to herself.

“Are you going to teach me, or stare at me?� Malfoy said after a few seconds of silence.

“Right, let’s get to work.� Some one’s a bit conceited, she thought to herself.

They went through a few Transfiguration lessons. Malfoy answered every question that Hermione shot at him correctly. Now she was confused. McGonagall was right Malfoy was bright.

“If you’re so smart,� she said, getting annoyed, “why does Professor McGonagall think you need tutoring?� Malfoy was silent.

Hermione took on a gentler tone. “Why don’t you ever get good grades? You’re capable of it.�

“I don’t feel like trying,� Malfoy mumbled, his face turned away from her. “Why do you care anyway?� His tone was fierce.

“I’d rather not waste my time trying to teach a Slytherin things he already knows but is too lazy to show!� she said in a huff. And with that, Malfoy walked away, his face unreadable.

“And don’t come back,� Hermione whispered, more to herself, as she put her books back into her bag.
*************

The next week, in the evening, Hermione was sitting in the library. She was not waiting for Malfoy to come for his lesson. She was doing her homework. This is what she told herself. But she couldn’t help it, whenever the door to the library opened. She always glanced upwards to see who came in.

Half an hour after their lesson was supposed to start, Hermione ha decided that he wasn’t coming. Just as she focused on the Transfiguration homework, a shadow came over her.

“Aren’t you supposed to teach me something?� a low voice said, the annoyance clear and defined. She looked up. There was Draco Malfoy, looking just as he had the week before.

“I didn’t think you were brave enough to come back,� she said, trying hard to keep no emotion in her voice.

“I didn’t think you were either. But I supposed… you are a Gryffindor.� His tone was so filled with deep sarcasm; it was all Hermione could do to not show angry in her passive face.

“Professor McGonagall told me to teach you, no matter how undeserving you are.�

“I’m undeserving? Granger, I didn’t know you could be so cruel!� He attempted to fake a sob and turn away, but his smirk over took his face.

“You’re smart, but you won’t show it. Why in the world should I waste my time teaching you?�

“The time you could waste saving worthless house elves, I suppose.�

Hermione anger was definitely showing in her face. More to stop her from saying something she would regret, she said, “Why don’t you try?�

“Why in the world would I waste my time trying?� he said cruelly, his eyes glinting, his smirk getting wider ever second.

Finding nothing to say to this last remark, Hermione flipped through her book. In her anger, she almost ripped a few of the pages. She assigned him some work, which he promptly finished.

“So you’ll try for the work I assign you, but you can’t try for the teachers whose job it is to make you try? Is that how this works out?�

“Fine,� he said, putting his hands up. “You caught me! Merlin, Granger, can’t you let me go for five seconds!�

Hermione couldn’t suppress her smile. He was funny.

“Look who made you smile!� Malfoy said, also smiling. Hermione’s grin instantly disappeared. “You don’t want to smile because it’s me that’s making you laugh. Draco Malfoy is making you laugh.� His tone was serious again, his voice lower so no one who hear.

“It’s not that….� Hermione broke off. “We’re supposed to studying now, anyways.� She looked back down at her book.

Malfoy shook his head in disbelief. But he continued the work Hermione assigned him. As he worked, Hermione stared at him, his blonde hair falling over his face, his grey eyes shining. He really was beautiful. Too bad he was an enemy. Too bad.

“I can’t believe you haven’t told Ron yet!� Harry almost shouted in the library.


“Oh shush, Harry! I’m going to tell him. I just don’t really feel like hearing his reaction everyday of my life. He’ll never shut up about this and you know it.�


“Why won’t he shut up about it? Are you doing something you’re not supposed to?� Harry asked slyly.


“Oh please, Harry!� Hermione said, smacking him on the back of the head. “Of course I’m not. But Ron’ll think he’s being cruel and he’ll stand guard over every lesson and that will make Malfoy cruel. You know that Malfoy just loves to annoy Ron and Ron just wants the best for me! It’s just sometimes, Ron has no idea what’s really going on.�


“I get it, I get it. No need to give me an entire lecture. But you have to tell him in the end.� Harry said, waggling a finger at his friend.


“I will… right after my lesson,� she said as she spotted Draco coming.


“What’s that, Granger? You haven’t told Weasley about our little lessons? Ooo shame on you!�


“Oh shut up, Malfoy,� she said, shoving his work toward him. Malfoy took the papers, and, still grinning, got to work.



*************


An hour later, Hermione emerged from the library with a confident look on the face. She was going to tell Ron and no one was going to stop her. And after she told Ron, she would run away, lock herself in her room with earplugs, and try not to hear Ron’s outburst of profanities. Well, at least she was telling him. Even if he did get mad, she would have told him. Right?


“Umm, Ron? Can we talk for a second?� Hermione asked as they were sitting in their Common room doing their homework. Well, Hermione was doing her homework.


“Yeah sure,� he mumbled, trying to get his card castle to stand up.


“Well, you see McGonagall asked me… Ron, can you at least try to pay attention to me!�


“I am paying attention!� Ron said, still focusing on his castle. Hermione shot him a dirty look, which Ron caught from the corner of his eye. “Fine.� He turned to face Hermione. And his castle fell down. “Oh, come on!�


“Ron, forget the stupid castle! Gravity is against you there. Focus on me! This is important.�


“Okay.�


"Professor McGonagall asked me to tutor Draco Malfoy. And I am,� she said quickly, wincing even though Ron didn’t say anything yet.


“You’re tutoring Malfoy? Are you crazy or something? Why’d you say yes?�


“A professor asked me to do this. I didn’t volunteer!�


“I swear on my life, if he says anything bad to you, I’ll kill him. And I’ll have a reason to do it. He hasn’t said anything, has he?� Ron asked, looking menacing.


“No, he hasn’t said anything. He really doesn’t say anything. He just does what I tell him to.�


“Are you sure it’s MALFOY you’re tutoring? Not the Angel of Good, or something?�


“Yes, I’m sure. Snape probably said something to him. He listens to Snape.�


“But why would Snape tell him to be nice to you? Snape doesn’t like you either.�


“Dumbledore probably told him to. Dumbledore likes me, right?�


“Right. Just let me know if this nice streak ever wears off, okay?�


“Of course I will,� Hermione said, crossing her fingers behind her back. That was just a promise she couldn’t keep. She might hate Malfoy, but Ron would get in trouble if he tried to hurt him.


“Well, I think I’ll go to sleep. Now that my castle’s dead, there’s nothing left for me to do!�


“What about your homework?� Hermione said as Ron got up.


“Oh that! It can wait until morning,� Ron said as he went into his room.


Hermione shook her head and smiled. She was amazed that Ron took it without really yelling. It was very unlike Ronald to react that calmly. Oddly enough, Ron’s calmness scared her even more than if he had yelled. She shook her head again and got back to her Potions homework.


The next morning when she came down, Ron was sitting on the couch, struggling to finish his Potions homework.


“If you had done your homework with me last night, then I could have helped. See what you get for procrastinating?� Hermione said.


“I know, I’m sorry. Now can you help me! I want to eat breakfast today. I was starving half to death yesterday!�


“Of course I won’t, Ronald,� Hermione replied sweetly and she headed down to breakfast.


“So did you tell Ron?� Harry asked her as soon as she sat down.


“Of course I did,� she answered and reached for the porridge.


“And?� Harry was getting anxious, and Hermione could tell.


“He reacted just like you. He said if Malfoy said or did anything to me, he was going to get it. Except he was a bit quieter about it. I don’t even know why. It scared me yesterday, but now I guess he’s finally becoming a little more mature.�


“Right. Ron, mature? In your dreams, Hermione. He's probably yelling his head off in his room right now.�

Their lessons continued for the next two months. Malfoy acted very unMalfoy-like and did everything he was told to. Hermione knew something would have to go wrong. Nothing stayed perfect for long.

It was only when there was snow on the ground and you could sense Christmas coming did Malfoy not come to his lesson on time. He sidled in fifteen minutes after the lesson was supposed to begin and said nothing. His face was unreadable. Hermione waited for an explanation that she knew wouldn’t come. So she asked.

“Where were you?� Her voice was quiet, but defiant. She had learned that if you showed Malfoy your fear, he would look down upon you. It was the Malfoy way to be strong and never show weakness. It was how they were bred.

“Sorry,� he mumbled. There was no strength in his voice. He wasn’t even trying. Hermione stared at him for a full minute before he decided to expand.

“I was writing a letter to my mother and I lost track of time.� This was a downright lie and they both knew it. Hermione smiled but Malfoy didn’t look up. He didn’t even try to defend his lie.

“Draco?� she said tentatively. He looked up slightly, but all Hermione could see in his stormy eyes was confusion. “What’s wrong?�

“I know you may think we’re friends now, with all these lessons, but we’re not that kind of friends. You can’t help me at all. Even if I wanted you to. Even if I told what was happening.�

“Fine,� she said, picking up her bag and standing up. “You don’t have to tell me.� As she walked away she turned around, met his eyes and said, “I could try and help but only if you tell me what I can’t help with.�

With that, she walked away, feeling less defiant than she had sounded. Throughout the whole evening of studying, she couldn’t concentrate on anything. The image of Draco’s eyes kept invading her mind. Draco’s eyes. That look of confusion and doubt grabbed at her insides every time she thought about it.

Wait; did she just call him Draco? In her head? Since about the first month of their lessons, Hermione had started to call Malfoy by his first name. Only in their lessons, but they didn’t talk to each other much in regular school, so there was nothing wrong with that. But whenever she thought about him, which wasn’t much, she always used his surname. It was a force of habit and she didn’t expect it to change. But here she was, subconsciously calling Malfoy, Draco. She mentally kicked herself.

‘He’s not was you need right now. Just keep on thinking of him as Malfoy. Cruel Malfoy.’she told herself.

That night Hermione lay in bed, thinking about the day. It was very confusing to her. And those eyes just wouldn’t get away from her. Those perfect, perfect eyes.

*************

Meanwhile in the Slytherin dormitories

Draco Malfoy was also lying in his bed, green curtains closed around him, thinking about eyes. But the eyes in his mind were brown and filled with hope and laughter. The eyes he was thinking of belonged to Hermione Granger.

From they first day of Hogwarts, Draco had thought Hermione was a know-it-all. But as much he had said about Muggleborns and Mudbloods, he had never meant those insults to Hermione. The only reason he didn’t like Hermione was because she was too smart for her own good. And most people got annoyed with that anyways, even her friends. So he wasn’t really at fault. But he had acted the way he did as per his father’s bringing up. That was the only way he was ever taught, so it was the way he acted.

But now, with the lessons, he couldn’t keep up with his attitude. He was finally getting to know the Hermione behind the genius girl who always had the answers.
“And now,� he whispered to the ceiling, “I understand why Weasley is still friends with you.�

*************

At the same time in the Hog’s Head…

Two hooded men with black cloaks sit in the corner of the hardly occupied pub, whispering quietly. With every passing word, their voices get softer and softer as though they are losing hope.

“The Dark Lord thinks she will be too much help for the boy. She is a very smart girl. But she is a Gryffindor. And they can be easily deceived,� the first man said, leaning closer to other.

“I don’t know if he would be up to the job. I haven’t taught him enough. He won’t be able to conceal a murder from Dumbledore.� The second man’s voice quavered.

“Well, he will just have to try, won’t he?� the first man said, his teeth clenching.

“But if he is caught, we have just lost our spy in that school! Surely you could wait a little? At least until after the winter break? I could teach him then! He is a very quick learner.�

“Fine. I don’t care how he does it, she just has to be dead before the end of the school year!� And with that the first man left, his cloak whipping the other small man in the head. Putting his head in his hands, the second man ordered a very large bottle of Firewhiskey.

*************

Hermione awoke the next morning exhausted. Frightening images in her mind had kept her up the entire night. Pictures of people being tortured into madness filled her mind. But, none of the people had faces. They just had piercingly grey eyes.

Hermione meandered into the common room to find Ron sitting on the couch, trying to finish his Defense Against the Dark Arts homework.

“Hey Hermione, what’s the spell for Vanishing things?� Ron said without looking up.

“And a good morning to you too, Ronald!� Hermione said sarcastically.

“Come on, Hermione. Do you want me to fail?�

“Alright, I’ll help you. But you have to pay attention in class today, okay?�

“Sure, whatever you say,� said Ron, distractedly.

As she helped Ron with his homework, Hermione caught Ron staring at her. ‘I need to get some more girlfriends,’ Hermione thought to herself when she went to get some breakfast.

*************

A/N: In case you haven’t noticed yet, I really like eyes. They’re like a fetish for me. I promise the next chapter will be less filled with eyes.

After their last odd lesson, Hermione didn’t know whether or not to go to the library. She hadn’t told Harry or Ron about what had happened in the last week, so she couldn’t even ask them for their advice. Not that their advice would be extremely helpful. They would just say to forget about him.

But she couldn’t forget about him. She didn’t even know why. As much as she tried to concentrate on her schoolwork, Draco just kept invading her concentration. She felt as if she was letting Professor McGonagall down by not going to tutor him, which made Hermione feel even worse. Laden down with guilt, Hermione trekked off toward the library, pretending she had to finish her Defense Against the Dark Arts homework. It was a terrible lie because she had finished that homework last night.

When she entered the library, she saw Draco sitting at their customary table, waiting patiently. As Hermione approached him, he said, “I thought you forgot about me!� And with that, he pretended to cry.

‘Well at least he’s back to normal. Or as close to normal as Draco can be,’ Hermione thought to herself.

As they laughed, joked and finished their schoolwork, Hermione could sense a difference in him. He was evidently trying very hard to hide it, but, having spent nearly seven years in the company of friends that didn’t always say what they were feeling, Hermione could tell something was wrong. Whenever they weren’t talking, Draco’s face fell back into depression as it had their previous lesson. He brightened up when Hermione said something funny, but it didn’t convince her. Something had come between their would-be friendship, and she wanted to know what it was. But she also didn’t want to make Draco angry again. She didn’t want to watch him fall again.

Draco was also sensing a change in Hermione, but it was not like his change. Beneath her happy shell and joking face, he sensed she was trying as hard as she could to understand what was bothering him. But even she, the brightest witch of her age, couldn’t penetrate his stony face. Not showing your real emotions was a gift. It was a skill he had inherited from his father.

‘No, Draco, don’t think about Father. It’s not healthy,’ he thought to himself. But it was too late. The letter he had just received from his mother was swimming through his mind’s eye.

Dear Draco,
We have a job for you. The Dark Lord needs someone at Hogwarts, and, seeing as this is your last year, we need to hurry. This job will put you in the inner circle, and it will help get your father back on the Dark Lord’s good side. It will be explained to you when you come home for the holidays, and your Aunt Bellatrix will help you for as long as you are at Malfoy Manor. Destroy this letter as soon as you are finished reading it.
Love from,
Mum
The Dark Lord had released his father from Azkaban, but he was still mad about the entire Ministry fiasco. The Malfoys needed him to help bring their name to good terms. But somehow Draco knew that this job might include Hermione. Hermione, in the Dark Lord’s eyes, was a very important asset to Potter. Being the fool that he was two years ago, Draco had told the Dark Lord about Harry Potter’s genius best friend. With those arrogant words, he had condemned the girl sitting across from him to death.

“Hey Draco? Are you listening?� Hermione said, snapping her fingers in front of his face.

“Oh, sorry. I was… thinking.�

“Wow, that’s surprising,� she said with a smile. He smiled back at her, but it did not reach his steely eyes.

*************
That night, Draco stayed up late, thinking again about his mother’s mysterious letter. However hard he tried to keep it out of his mind, it just kept coming back, connected to everything he tried thinking about. He tried to ponder over today’s lesson, and he wondered if Hermione had figured out what was bothering him. He thought of Hermione and his heart leapt. It was an odd feeling he had never encountered before. His heart usually wasn’t part of his day-to-day activities. It was just there.

A sudden image swam before his mind’s eye. It was of Hermione during one of their lessons. Her brown hair was falling over her eyes and she was laughing. The picture abruptly changed. It was the Dark Lord with his red eyes, laughing like there was no tomorrow.

Draco jerked awake. He was on the verge of sleeping until that terrible picture came into his mind. He tried to ignore it and tried to sleep again.

*************
Hermione has departed from their lesson that evening with her brain whirring. She was dying to know what was on Draco’s mind. She thought they were friends now and she at least deserved some of the truth.

‘We are friends, aren’t we?’ she asked herself. ‘We have fun together, don't we?’

‘Of course you’re friends. He probably won’t die for you, but you are friends.’ Another voice woke up inside her head. It was the practical voice that she usually listened to most of the time.

As she fell asleep that night, a thought crossed her unconscious mind.

‘I want to be more than friends.’

*************
A/N: If anybody wants to contribute to what happens next, please email me or something. Sadly, my muse is still on vacation.

“Ginny, I need to talk to you,� Hermione whispered to Ginny as they were eating breakfast. It was winter break and Ron had invited Harry and Hermione to spend Christmas at the Burrow.

“Preferably without Harry and Ron around,� Hermione added when Ginny looked around at her friends.

“Okay. Let’s go to my room after breakfast.� They then returned to the conversation as if nothing had happened.

*************
“I don’t know what wrong with me!� They were in Ginny’s bedroom. It was small but rather cozy like the rest of the house. Ginny, of course, had already known about Hermione’s tutoring sessions, but it never occurred to her that Hermione might actually like them.

“It’s unlike me to like him. I know that sounds crazy, but it is crazy.� Hermione sat up. “I think I might have an actual disease! Yes, that’s it! That’s the answer.�

“I don’t think you have a disease, Hermione. I think you’re just in love.�

“I can’t be in love! Not with Malfoy! That’s not how it’s supposed to work!�

“Okay, Hermione you need to calm down. And you need to be a little bit quieter, love. We don’t want the whole world to hear you.� Ginny gently led Hermione to her bed. “Now just sit here and try to calm down.�

Hermione tried to take some deep breaths while Ginny rummaged through her closet. She withdrew from the messy closet clutching a bottle of Firewhiskey and two shot glasses.

“Fred and George nicked these from one of our Christmas parties. They hid it in my room because that was the one place Mum and Dad wouldn’t look. I guess they forgot about them.� She walked over to the door and placed an Imperturbable charm on it. “Might as well put the stuff to good use, right?�

She sat down on the bed next to Hermione and poured out two glasses. “Bill told me it’s a little difficult to get used to, but I think we can handle it.� She lifted her glass. “Bottoms up.�

Hermione downed it at once. It burned her throat, but it was oddly comforting.

“Have you calmed down a little?� Hermione nodded, not looking Ginny in the face. “Do you want to talk?� Hermione said nothing. Ginny took her silence as a ‘yes.’

“You know, it’s okay if you love Malfoy. It’s not against the law or anything. You just hated him to seven years. It’s hard to change after that long of a time.� Ginny turned Hermione’s face toward her. “Sometimes first impressions aren’t always right. You never tried to get to know Malfoy because he seemed like an evil git. But now that you have gotten to know him, what do you think?�

Hermione pondered over her question for a bit. “I think he’s more like Harry and Ron than they know. But he’s so different from them as well.�

Ginny looked disappointed. “And how do you feel about this same-but-different Ron/Harry?�

“I don’t know,� Hermione said slowly. “I consider him a friend, but there’s just something about him that makes me want to…. I don’t know.�

Ginny poured them both another glass of Firewhiskey. “To mixed feelings,� she said as she lifted her glass. That was a toast fit for the moment.

*************
It was Christmas morning. Hermione and Ginny were sitting in their beds, opening the sizable piles of presents beside their beds. Hermione had gotten the traditional Weasley sweater from Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, and a giant box of sweets from Harry. Ron had gotten her a beautiful bracelet.

“Wow, I didn’t know Ron had such taste!� Hermione said, putting on the bracelet. Ginny was smiling into her lap. Hermione, seeing Ginny’s grin, said, “He didn’t pick it out himself did he?�

“Well, of course not. He didn’t even try to. He just told me to pick something out for you.�

“It’s still beautiful, though. Thank you, Ginny.�

Hermione was nearing the bottom of her pile when she saw a small present wrapped in green and gold. They were odd colors for Christmas but Hermione opened it anyway. It was a crystal pendant. The crystal was molten silver and red. It was absolutely gorgeous. A note fell out of the bottom of the package. It was written in the comforting full script she had grown to love this year.

Thanks for you help. I’m sorry I was such a pain in the beginning. I’m sorry.
Malfoy Draco

“That’s so sweet!� Ginny said.

“But I didn’t give him anything. I’m going to write a letter to him right now!�

*************
Meanwhile at Malfoy Manor

It was a rather dreary Christmas for the Malfoy family even by their own standards. They had had a little Christmas tea and Draco had opened his presents, but their was nothing really interesting. It was also quite disturbing to have his Aunt Bellatrix around him. He had never really spent much time in her company and now he was glad for that. Bellatrix was very cruel and laughed at the very mention of killing and torture. It was awkward to have her around, and Draco Malfoy wasn’t used to awkward.

After an hour in his aunt’s company, he had retired to his room. He was lying on his bed, fully clothed, staring up at the highly decorated ceiling of his room. It had only been a few nights ago that his father had come out of his study to talk with Draco. Aunt Bellatrix had been there as well, but she did nothing of consequence.

“As you well know, The Dark Lord is extremely angry with our family for not being able to hold the boy yet again. So to get back on good terms with him, you have a job to do. The Dark Lord needs a student at Hogwarts and since this is your last year, we must act quickly.� His father had repeated his mother’s letter. “You’re mother doesn’t want to put you in danger, but I think it’s high time you started taking control of this family’s future. You must kill the Mudblood, Hermione Granger.�

Draco had known this was coming. It was far too obvious that Hermione was a valuable asset to Harry Potter. But now, thinking about Hermione and all the fun (if you could call it that) that they had had, it was difficult to envision her death, let alone he, himself, killing her. It was crazy.

“I know this may seem a daunting task for you, but it will help you in the long run. If you complete this task, you will be honored with the Dark Mark.�

Draco chose his words carefully, not wanting to sound cowardly. “Can’t Snape kill her?� he said slowly.

“If Snape kills the girl, he will have to leave the school. And then at the end of this year, you will be gone as well. There will be no one in Hogwarts. And that is not good. You must do this. Please.�

His father had never said anything to polite to him at all. His father had hardly spoken to him when he was a boy. His father saying please meant that they were in deep trouble and that he, Draco, was their last hope.

“I’ll do it,� he said quietly, his eyes downward, and his heart ripping apart.

“Good.� His father sounded happy. “Your Aunt Bellatrix will train you. You may go now.�

He had walked out of the room at a normal pace, but once out of eyesight, he ran into his room and locked the door. He leaned against the door and closed his eyes. He had just agreed to kill someone he was starting to love.

Draco awoke of reliving his memories at a soft tapping at his bedroom window. It was rather dark outside the window. He opened it and a snowy white owl he recognized as Potter’s flew inside. She looked rather angry to be giving a letter to him, so she flew away the second the letter came off her leg.

The letter was from Hermione.
Dear Draco,
Thank you, thank you, thank you for the necklace. It’s beautiful! I’m sorry I couldn’t get you anything, but instead I thought I’d write you a letter. I hope you’re having a good holiday. I can’t wait to see you again. Happy Christmas and have a good New Year as well!
Love from,
Hermione

Hermione’s closing was a little more than he could take. He pressed his burning forehead against the cool glass of the window. He just couldn’t kill her.

Draco woke up the next morning to the sound of Bellatrix Lestrange rapping on his bedroom door.

“Get up, you lazy lump! There are things you need to learn before you leave!� she said in her hoarse voice.

He slowly got up. He must have fallen asleep at his desk. Hermione’s letter was still in his hands. He couldn’t bear to look at it, so he stretched and went to go get dressed, all the time, a red hot fire was burning a hole in his heart. He just couldn’t kill Hermione. He couldn’t kill anyone, no matter how much he hated them.

These were the feelings that he had felt since he had learned his father was a Death Eater. When he had spied on one of his father’s ‘secret meetings’ when he was seven, he knew he would, eventually have to take his place. But when he learned what a Death Eater actually was, which was shortly afterward, he knew he couldn’t do it. He wasn’t a follower of Lord… the Dark Lord.

I suppose I’ll have to call him that from now on, he thought to himself as he dressed.

A little while later, downstairs, his aunt Bellatrix was yelling.

“What do you mean you can’t do it?� she said, when Draco confessed his fears.

Seeing the wild look in her eyes, he quickly changed tact. He forgot that fear was not in his vocabulary. “I’m only kidding,� he said, forcing a smile.

“Yes, well, you better be. You have to… Wait!� Bellatrix’s face was alive with malice and hate. “You have an unnatural talent to joke around, don’t you?�

“Well… if you say so.� Draco didn’t know where this was going.

“You will lure her into a sense of security, even a sense of … love. The Dark Lord says that love Dumbledore’s one answer for everything, correct?� she turned to Lucius, who was sitting on the couch in the room.

“Yes, it is,� he replied curtly.

“Then let’s use it against him! Pretend to fall in love with her. Every girl her age just wants to love!� Bellatrix said, although she looked as though she was going to be sick.

Draco was feeling the same way. Make her fall in love with him? How cruel was this world? The second Hermione actually figured out that he wasn’t as evil as everyone said, he was plotting to kill her with his Death Eater relatives. Aunt Bellatrix was explaining more about her evil plan, her face gleeful, but Draco wasn’t listening. His stomach was in knots and he was fighting hard not to show it. Showing even the slightest grimace of disgust at the thought of death would disgrace his whole family.

“I’m sorry, Aunt Bellatrix,� he said politely, trying to keep his emotions hidden, “but I really have to go and pack if this whole plan is going to work. Perhaps, we could discuss this later?� He was waiting on tenterhooks, hoping she would understand.

“Yes, of course!� Bellatrix said, distracted from her delusions of Hermione dying. “I will send you an owl at your school explaining more, using the code of course. But you understand the main plot, correct?� she said, staring him down with her black eyes.

“My son is not a dimwit!� Mr. Malfoy stood up quickly. “Of course he understands! There will be no need for secret messages that can be tracked to you!� he said through gritted teeth.

Before the eminent argument could hit full steam, Draco slipped away from the sitting room, but that was a far as he could get. He collapsed against the wall, and released the moan he had been holding back all this time. This was, by far, the most trying winter break ever, and that was very surprising, seeing as he was a Malfoy.

*************
Hermione was not surprised. She hadn’t expected Draco to send her a present in the first place, so when she did respond to the present she thought Draco would be nice and reply back. But who was she kidding? This was Draco Malfoy she was writing to!

Hermione tried to hide her disappointment the next morning when she woke up to the delicious scents of breakfast, courtesy of Mrs. Weasley. There was no owl at her window, tapping the glass to get into the warmth, just emptiness. She tried to move on, but that wouldn’t stop her from wearing the beautiful pendent around the house. Harry was not very observant so he did not notice it, but Ron, who had taken sudden interest in anything having to do with Hermione, said, “Where’d you get that necklace?�

Ginny, sensing impending danger, said quickly, “I got it for her. Isn’t it beautiful? I saw it and I just thought of Hermione!�

Hermione gave Ginny a silent glance of thanks. Getting something from Malfoy and actually wearing it would have caused another terrible rage in Ron. That wouldn’t be very pleasant, especially since it was still the Christmas holidays.

Hermione, lost in her thoughts, missed the momentary look of grief of poor Ron’s face. With the whole concept of Draco giving her a present, she had completely forgotten about the bracelet given to her by Ron that was now lying on the floor of her and Ginny’s bedroom.

After breakfast, Hermione went up to her room instead of playing indoor Quidditch in the dining room. She was never one for Quidditch, whether indoor or outdoor, so Ron and Harry weren’t surprised when she turned them down. And when she told them she was going to read, it was even less of a surprise. What would have actually shocked them is that she was going up to her room to think about Draco Malfoy and await a letter from him that Hermione wasn’t sure would come.

“Hey, Ginny,� Ron said quickly when Harry was looking away. “What’s up with, Hermione?�

“What do you mean? There’s nothing up with her,� Ginny replied curtly, not looking directly at her brother.

“Why didn’t she wear my bracelet? You said she would like it! But, she wore what you gave her instead!� Ron said, clearly angry with his insensitive sister.

“She did like it! My necklace just matched better with what she was wearing today.� Ginny still spoke with the same calm voice.

Ron did not look convinced so Ginny, looking straight at him now, said, “Maybe she just likes me better than you.�

“Come on, Gin, look at what I’ve done for the girl! How can she still not like me?�

“I’m just kidding, Ron! Relax! I promise she’ll wear your bracelet in the next five days.�

“You better be right.�

*************
Later, back in Ginny’s room

“Hermione, you have to wear that bracelet tomorrow, or I think Ron’ll cry,� Ginny said, the second she sat down.

“What bracelet?� Hermione asked, looking confused. And then it dawned on her. “Oh my goodness, I completely forgot about that! I’m terrible!� She then began to search feverishly at the foot of her bed for the forgotten bracelet. After a few minutes of hurried looking, she finally found it underneath her bed. “I’m going to wear this right now. I can’t believe I forgot! It’s really beautiful.�

“I think I know why you forgot,� Ginny said, her grin getting broader by the second.

Hermione threw a pillow at her.

Ron woke up the morning of their return to Hogwarts with a groan. Harry, who was already awake and dressing, looked at him. “What’s wrong?� he asked.

“Apart from the fact that it’s back to school and studying, oh no nothing at all!� Ron replied pulling the covers back over his head.

“And a happy, happy to you too, Ron,� Harry said smiling. “I thought you would be glad to go back to school. You could make your move on Hermione.� Harry nudged the lump that was Ron.

“What are you talking about?� Ron said in a tone that deceived no one.

Harry smiled again and headed down for breakfast. He stopped at the door. “You know exactly what I mean, Ronald.�

Ron didn’t even try to defend himself this time. He simply turned over, and tried to go back to sleep.

Meanwhile in Ginny’s room, Hermione was trying to gather her things into her trunk before they departed for Hogwarts. She usually had everything packed the night before, but this time she had completely forgotten about going back to school.

Ginny woke up to find Hermione hurrying around, trying to find the remainder of her possessions.

“Do you know where my other sock is?� Hermione asked Ginny the moment she saw that she was awake.

Ginny propped herself up on her elbows and pulled the sock out from underneath her covers. As she did, she said, “I found it when I was asleep last night, I just had know idea what it was in the dark.� She handed the sock to Hermione and slumped back into bed. “Who knew Hermione Granger could be so unorganized?� Her eyes were wide with mock shock.

Hermione didn’t seem to notice the apparent sarcasm in her voice and replied, “With all that’s been going on with Ron and his present and Draco and his present, I completely forgot we have to go back to school.� Ginny stared even harder at her.

“Do I know you?�

“Very funny Gin, but can you please help me here?�

Ginny slowly got out of bed and began to help Hermione with her packing problems. Ten minutes later, they were ready to go.

“Oh wait,� said Ginny pulling something out of Hermione’s trunk. “You’d better wear this, or Ron’ll have a heart attack.� She handed the bracelet to Hermione who put it on. She let Ginny walk out the door in front of her while she admired the bracelet. It really was very pretty. With her other hand, she touched the pendent that she now wore underneath all her clothes. ‘Boys,’ she thought.

And so they returned. Nothing of extreme interest happened in the first few days after the holidays; all the students were still caught in the holiday spirit. Hermione was usually the one whom you could count on for notes and constant studying, but she sometimes found her mind wandering off to think of trifle things, such as the weather, and more important situations like the Ron versus Draco fiasco.

After one week of mindless talk about their N.E.W.T.s, Hermione had her first lesson with Draco since the holiday. She was already sitting in the library, trying desperately to finish the homework that was due tomorrow that she had conveniently forgotten about until about five minutes ago. As she feverishly turned pages, Ron sidled up to her.

“How can you be doing this now, Hermione? Flitwick assigned it last week!� Ron said as he looked down at what she was doing.

Hermione looked up from her work to Ron’s smirking face. “I can see you’re having a splendid trying to be me, but I really have to finish this before Draco comes…� Hermione said as Draco Malfoy walked into the room.

Ron saw him too and his fists clenched as he heard Hermione call him ‘Draco.’ “I think you’ve bitten off a little more than you can chew with him,� Ron said trying desperately not to show his pain and anger. Before Hermione could think up a snappy retort for this remark, Ron stalked off, keeping his fists clenched.

Draco walked up to the table Hermione she was working at and said, jerking his head toward Ron’s back, “ Having some marital difficulties?�

“Ha, ha, ha, very funny,� she said, glad that Draco was back to normal.

As they settled back into the normal routine of their lessons, Hermione had a strange whooping feeling in her gut.

The sun was setting off in the distant, casting a faint red shadow over their work and laughter. As the light hit Draco’s face, Hermione realized what the whooping sensation was. It was longing.

For the duration of winter break, she had felt strangely empty inside even though she was near those whom she loved most dear. At that moment, Hermione realized why.

Before she had gotten to know Draco, really know him, she would have never thought she’d be missing Draco and his unique ways. But after spending so much time with him, she’d realized the truth: She was in love.

Hermione had fallen still mid-sentence then, for Draco had leaned over and was shaking her hand.

“Hello… Hermione? You in there?� he said, an impish grin on his lips.

Hermione awoke from her reverie. “Yes, sorry. I was a little…� She blushed. “Never mind.�

They went back to their work, Draco’s smile still in place. The strange thing was that Draco didn’t move his hand from atop hers. He seemed to be quite comfortable where he was.

What Draco didn’t know was that Ronald Weasley had never really left the library. He was sitting behind some shelves, his face red with fury. A sneaking, slimy Slytherin git was stealing his girl!

Well, she’s not actually your girl, you know, said the rational voice inside his head. It sounded a lot like Ginny. Sadly he rarely ever listened to this voice. He immediately flared up again. Ron had the mad urge to jump out from behind the shelves and pounce on Draco like a lion for it prey, but he resisted. Instead, he silently got up and snuck out the library, repressing his anger by clenching his fists and teeth.

He had finally done it. He’d taken control of his anger. Ginny had told him once that Hermione might just like him if he stopped overreacting to everything she did. So he didn’t overreact. Ron decided he would calmly, slyly, talk to Hermione when she came back to their dorm.

Ron couldn’t take the anger anymore. He ran all the way to his room and yelled at the top of his lungs.

Ron rushed down the hallways towards the Gryffindor Tower. Where was Harry when he needed to have a manly chat? He got all the way up to the portrait of the Fat Lady when he realized that he had no idea what the password was anymore. Anytime he came to Gryffindor Tower he usually came with Harry or one of his other Gryffindor friends and he never paid much attention to what they said to the portrait.

“SHIT!� yelled Ron.

“There’s no need for language like that, mister,� said the Fat Lady reprovingly, staring down at him.

“Hey, Ron, you okay?� Dean Thomas had just appeared.

“Hey Dean! I was just going to talk to Harry when I realized that I don’t know the password anymore. Can you let me in?� Ron said as he tried to slow his heart.

“Yeah, sure. The password’s, ‘new beginnings.’� Dean said and the portrait swung open. As they climbed through the portrait hole, Dean whispered, “Personally I think the Fat Lady’s starting to spend a little too much time thinking up passwords. They’re starting to get very philosophical.�

Ron laughed and stared around the room looking for Harry. He saw him sitting on a couch talking to Ginny and hurried over. He was moving so fast he knocked over a few first years in the process. Only when he reached him did Ron begin to notice that he was in the Gryffindor common room once more. His last year here and he wasn’t even spending much time relaxing in the squashy armchairs with Harry and hurrying to finish his homework with the assistance of Hermione. But that didn’t matter now. There were more pressing problems.

“Harry, we’ve got a big problem.�

“Again? Ron can’t you just stay out of trouble?� Ginny said, exasperated.

Ron turned to Ginny. “Can’t you see that I’m trying to voice a rather large problem here? What are you doing here anyways? Don’t you have something to do?�

“Well, Harry and I were just discussing Quidditch when you rudely interrupted.�

“You’re welcome,� Ron said as he seated himself between the two. Ginny, finding very little room left on the couch, voiced her annoyance and moved to a nearby armchair.

He turned to Harry. “I think Hermione’s fallen for Malfoy. And Malfoy’s leading her on!�

“Merlin, Ron! Can’t you just leave Hermione alone to make her own choices? She’s a big girl now!� Ginny said, throwing her hands in the air.

“Who was asking you? I’m pretty sure that I was just talking to Harry. But thanks for your input!�

“Um, Ron?� Harry said, not at all anxious to interrupt sibling rivalry. “I kind of agree with Ginny as well.�

“What?� Ron rounded on Harry.

“You know Hermione. She wouldn’t make a stupid decision without thoroughly thinking it through. Especially in the bloke department. I mean, I definitely don’t approve of her choice,� Harry added, seeing the look on Ron’s face, “but she wouldn’t make her decision without a little logic.�

“Thank you, Harry,� Ginny said happily. “Why can’t you be more like Harry, Ron?�

“Maybe she’s not really falling for him. Don’t go drawing conclusions on your own. If you’re really worried about this, ask Hermione when she comes back to your dormitory,� Harry said, his logic winning.

“But she’ll yell at me if I’m wrong. I’m not really up for that tonight,� said Ron as he gave one of the fakest yawns ever. “You ask her Ginny; you’re a girl.�

“They’re your suspicions. You man up and ask her yourself. What exactly gave you this idea anyway?�

“I was kind of spying on them in the library. Hermione was laughing at all his jokes. And he had his hand on top of hers.� Ron’s face turned red as he spoke and his hands clenched into fists.

“Just go back to your room and calm down before Hermione comes back,� Harry said quickly, his air of tranquility fading away a bit.

Ron wandered out, his fists still clenched. Harry watched him leave. Once he has passed through the portrait hole, Harry growled angrily. “What is she doing, enjoying her lessons with Malfoy? After the things he called her?� Harry stood up and started pacing in front of the couch.

“Wow, unexpected anger from Harry Potter. What happened to all the stuff you just said to Ron?� Ginny grinned in his direction.

“Well, that was just to keep him calm. Ron’s a little bit worse than me when he gets angry, don’t you think?�

“Yeah, well, still…� Ginny smiled wider.

“Oh, shut up.�

*************
Meanwhile, Ron sprinted back up to his dormitory, hoping that Hermione hadn’t finished her lesson yet. Actually, it would be better if her lesson was finished and she was doing her homework in the library. He muttered the password to the door, trying to catch his breath.

He entered the room and took a quick look around. Neither Hermione nor her giant bag of books was there.
“Thank goodness,� Ron muttered under his breath. He sat down on the couch and faced one of the pillows.

“Hermione? Um… I kind of saw you and Malfoy during your lesson? Are you guys… No, that’s way too direct.� Ron shook his head. “Hey Hermione! How was your lesson?�

Just as he said these words, Hermione entered the room.

“Great, thanks for asking!� Hermione replied dropping her bag on a chair.

“Oh, hi Hermione! Guess you’re finished huh?� Ron said, turning around quickly.

“Yes. That would explain why I’m here Ron,� Hermione said, noting Ron’s nervousness. “Is something wrong?� she said, peering curiously into his eyes.

“No, no! Everything’s fine!� Ron said trying to avoid her gaze. Hermione shot him a look of deep suspicion, which he saw out of the corner of his eye. “What’s up with you and Malfoy?� he blurted out quickly.

“Nothing, Ronald!!! How dare you suggest such a thing?� Hermione said, her faux anger masking her fear. She picked up her book bag again and stormed off to her room.

“But I saw,� Ron said as Hermione shut the door. “Just forget it.� He sat down on the couch again. “Damn it! I hate it when Ginny’s right.� Ron whispered to himself.

Hermione shut her door with a bang. Oh no, she thought. Am I really that obvious? That Ron, who never notices anything, can tell?

She flopped onto her bed and tried to calm down. So what if Ron suspected? The Draco I know is completely different from the one he knows. He shouldn’t be judging him or me. Ron doesn’t know him.

And you think you do? It’s Draco Malfoy, Hermione, said the reasonable voice in her head. This voice had not recently been listened to. How can one person been a complete prat for six years to everyone, and then suddenly change to be kind to you? When has that ever happened before?

He changed! It’s as simple as that.

Some people can never change.

Hermione woke up in the middle of the night, the sheets twisted around, trapping her in her nightmare. As she untangled herself, she tried to remember what her terrible dream was about. But the harder she tried to remember it, the faster it seemed to slip away from her. All that was left of her sleep was a blur of colors and the necklace Draco had given her.

Hermione tried to get back to sleep, keeping her mind off of Draco Malfoy. After half an hour of tossing and turning she decided sleep had definitely left her room, so she went to her desk. Might as well do some studying so she could sleep in the morning. She determinedly avoided her Transfiguration book since she was studying it last with him. She decided to catch up on her History of Magic. As she pulled the book out of her ginormous bag, a note fell out.

She picked up the note and smoothed it out. It was written in very familiar handwriting.

Meet me tomorrow in the Room of Requirement after dinner. I need to talk to you.

Draco

Hermione frowned at the note. So much for keeping Draco out of her head. She didn’t even know that he knew the location of the Room of Requirement. Apparently, he had stumbled across it once or twice. She could just imagine Draco running away from some teacher, hiding a forbidden object in the vast expanse of the room…

Show some control, Hermione. Stop thinking about him. She was getting really bad at doing that. Maybe she should just stop. She let the memory of their last lesson flow over her, trying to pick up small details that she may have missed in the spirit of the moment. When did he slip the note into her book? She closed her eyes, trying to recall the exact setting of their lesson. Draco had seemed a little sad when he first sat down, but cheered up as they started on Potions. She knew this was a favorite subject, not only because of Snape’s favoritism, but because he found it thrilling. When Hermione said it was very similar to the Muggles’ chemistry. He laughed, but yearned to know more. They had then moved onto Charms, which came to easily for him so they proceeded to Transfiguration. Only after Hermione could no longer contain her laughter at Draco changing the shape of his nose, did they stop the lesson.

She opened her eyes with a snap. She hadn’t even had her History of Magic book out yesterday! How the hell did he get the note in there? It wasn’t even casually wedged into the front cover. It was in the very center of the book. There was no way he could have gotten it in there without opening the book. They had only briefly glanced at the book… last week.

“Oh my goodness!� Hermione quickly put on her dressing gown and hurried out her door. She slowed down a bit when she got to the Common Room so she wouldn’t wake Ron, and tried to calm her racing heart.

No wonder he had been sad at the beginning of our lesson. I didn’t turn up! Oh, I really hope he hangs around the Room of Requirement all night. She quietly snuck out of the room, closing the door carefully.

If Hermione ran into any teachers, she would say that she couldn’t sleep, so she decided to do some patrolling. This was a moment she was glad that she was Head Girl; she could make up lies like this and they would be completely believable. Unlike Ron, she took her Head Girl duties seriously, something all the teachers at Hogwarts were aware of.

When Hermione reached the seventh floor corridor, she stopped and stared at the blank stretch of wall that would become the Room of Requirement. What did this mean, going to meet him? What if he wasn’t there anymore? What if it’s all an elaborate trap? What if Malfoy is just putting on a show to torture me even more?

Why can’t I trust my heart just this one time?

“I need to meet Draco. I need to meet Draco. I need to meet Draco,� she whispered quietly as she paced in front of the wall which transformed quickly into a door. Taking a deep breath, Hermione reached for the handle, hoping that Draco would still be there.

The door opened to reveal a common room much like the one she had left only minutes ago except that it was furnished in silver and gold. Strategically placed windows allowed the light of the quarter moon to fill the room with brightness Hermione had never seen before. As her gaze passed around the room she noticed Draco lounging in one of the golden chairs apparently asleep. She couldn’t blame him. He’d probably been here all night and many nights before that.

Fighting the other voice in her head she tried to walk as quietly as she could on the hard marble floor towards Draco. But her footsteps echoed loudly around the high-ceiled room and Draco stirred slightly and woke up. His eyes roamed a little around the room before settling on Hermione.

“Sorry I’m so late. I only just found your note now,� Hermione said quietly, knowing her voice would echo as she continued to walk toward the Slytherin.

Draco sat up a little straighter in his chair and smiled. “What were you doing reading your History of Magic book in the middle of the night?�

“I couldn’t sleep,� Hermione said as she settled herself into one of the chairs near Draco’s. “This room is absolutely amazing. How did you ask for it?�

“Oh, so you know how the Room works? I thought you were delayed but not knowing what the hell I was talking about.�

“No. I guess I just didn’t do my History of Magic homework since last week.� Hermione smiled, knowing that a reprimand was coming.

“Hermione Granger! Not doing her homework! Perish the thought!� They both laughed freely, something they rarely could do in the library. Their laughter reverberated around the room leaving a shining happiness behind it that covered the whole room.

“So,� Hermione said leaning back into her chair with a smile, “what is the reason you brought me down here. The note said you needed to talk to me.�

“Yes,� Draco said, his smile fading a little. With a rush, it seemed like the jollity had zoomed out of the room, leaving Hermione and Draco in an awkward, cold silence.

“When all this tutoring stuff happened, I wasn’t too happy about. Something I’m sure you noticed,� Draco began, hoping his beginning would work out like he had planned.

“Yes, I did.� Hermione smiled again.

“Well, after a while, I got used to you ‘teaching’ me and I think I really got to know you. I think I’ve stopped thinking of you as the smart-ass Gryffindor. Now you’re just Hermione to me.

“I think I really know you now. I wish I could have stopped being an arse to you sooner. But we were from different sides and I wasn’t raised that way. I’m trying to break the mold I’ve been put in.�

During this whole speech, Hermione noticed that Draco was oddly uncomfortable. He kept on pausing and shifting in his seat. He refused to meet eyes with her. He took a deep breath and tried to start again, but Hermione stopped him.

“Draco,� Hermione said so loudly that he started. “Shut up for a minute and look at me.�

Squirming in his seat he looked up into Hermione’s chocolate brown eyes. But all Hermione could see was the pain etched in every inch of Draco’s face.

“I’m sorry, Hermione, I really am. But with all that’s going on with… everything, I think it would just be best if we didn’t have anymore of these lessons. If we just stop all together and go back to the way things were before. I promise I won’t slack off in school. I just can’t do this anymore,� Draco had turned away.

“You don’t believe that at all! Even you can’t handle your own lie. What is happening in your life that you can’t handle being around a Gryffindor anymore again?� She stood up and strode over to his hunched form. “What?!�

He shook his head, unable to form words properly. Hermione reached over to comfort him, but he jerked away. After several deep breaths he tried to speak again, but stopped.

Getting angry, Hermione swung him around to face her. “What is wrong with you?�

The next words Draco spoke, even though she was standing right next to him, were barely audible. “I don’t want to hurt you.� He looked up, gray meeting chocolate brown. “I can’t hurt you.�

Hermione stepped away from him, her face scrunched up in concentration, trying to understand the words that had come out of Draco’s mouth. Then she smiled.

“Draco, I don’t really think you can hurt me anymore. I’ve sort of grown immune to your jibes.�

Malfoy suddenly got up, the anger in him boiling over. “Goddamn it, Hermione! I don’t mean emotionally!�

Hermione backed away, frightened by the look of fury on Draco’s face. His screams echoed around the room as Hermione stared in shock. Draco, breathing fast, backed up and collapsed back into the chair. There was silence. Draco was now curled back into the chair, his face hidden.

Slowly, Hermione edged back towards Draco’s chair. As she reached out to touch his shoulder, to attempt to comfort him, he sat up straight.

“No matter how hard I try to forget it, I am a Malfoy. With that title comes frightening tasks. I’ve been blind for too long to back out of this now. I’m too far in. But I don’t want you tangled up in this as well.

“So can we forget that all this happened and go back to the way things were? It was so much less difficult when you hated me with a fiery passion. It will make my job much easier. Please, just forget about all this.� Draco continued on like this for several minutes.

Hermione stared at his back for a long time, digesting the words that poured out of his mouth. She processed them, understanding each individual word, but never putting the meaning together. His first words had pierced her soul and rendered her incapable of absorbing more. With a deep breath, Hermione left the room. Though she closed the door quietly behind herself, the small sound echoed weirdly through the room, reverberating in the depths of Draco’s heart.

But Hermione hadn’t left. She was leaning on the other side of the door, breathing deeply. Though every part of her felt like crying, her eyes refused to tear. Steadying herself with the doorframe, she thought about what just happened.

What did he mean, make his job easier? What would hating him do? And then it clicked. Draco had gone over.

Hermione fought off the urge to yell and instead started running back toward Gryffindor Tower. When she reached the portrait of the Fat Lady, she realized that she no longer slept here. Breathing heavily, she started walking in the direction of her actual dormitory, where hopefully one of her friends would be soundly sleeping.

*************
But Ron wasn’t sleeping soundly at all. He wasn’t even in his ever-so-inviting bed. He had awoken in the middle of the night, freezing cold even with his blankets on. Something had told him that Hermione was missing. He had ventured over to her room, and, without touched the door, listened for the sound of her gentle breathing. He couldn’t hear it at all, even with his pair of Extendable Ears.

Ron sat in their Common Room, worrying, for almost half an hour. Finally, he had opened Hermione’s door a crack to find her bed empty and her lamp extinguished. He slowly walked back into the Common Room, thinking to himself, She’s probably gone out for a midnight stroll. Wait, that’s not like Hermione at all. Maybe she had a stroke of inspiration and had to run to the library? Yes, that would be it. She’ll be back soon then.

When Hermione reentered the Common room, she saw Ron sitting on one of the couches with his back to the door, twisting his hands in his lap. When he heard the door open, he quickly turned around. He looked tired and worried at the same time. Hermione had never seen this look on Ron, and it thoroughly frightened her.

“Where have you been?� Ron asked while standing up and striding toward her. His voice was a little higher than usual.

“I couldn’t sleep, so I decided to patrol the corridors a little. Did I wake you up?� Hermione said and she walked Ron back to the couch and sat down.

“No, you didn’t.� He tried to think of a story on the spot. “I realized I hadn’t done my Potions essay and I was going to ask you for help, but you weren’t there. So I got worried.� He smiled weakly.

“It’s okay, Ron. That essay isn’t due for another week. Let’s just go get some sleep.� Hermione got up and headed in the direction of her room.

Ron grabbed her wrist and pulled her back down to sit on the couch. “Look Hermione, I have to talk to you about something.� Hermione looked at him quizzically. “About your lessons with Malfoy.�

Ron, who was expecting something along the lines of “I can take care of myself, thanks!� was thoroughly disappointed. Hermione didn’t say anything. Her expression, which had been very casual during their conversation, changed and she looked away. She knew what Ron was going to say. And this time, it would sound very logical.

Ron, who had noticed nothing, continued on his with his speech. “I realize that you’re only tutoring him because McGonagall asked you, and I know you can’t turn down a teacher, but hanging around with Malfoy won’t do you any good. You seem to be spending more and more time with him. He just going to use you and hurt you!�

Hermione listened to Ron intently. He said everything she thought he would, but he was much quieter about it. She smiled to herself. Maybe Ron was getting more mature.

“Hermione? Are you even listening to me?� Ron was waving his hand in front of her face.

“Yes, I am Ron. I appreciate your concern but…� she was about to say, “I can take care of myself,� but she stopped herself. Draco had gone over and she didn’t know what he was ordered to do. But revealing that to Ron wasn’t a good idea. So she merely said, “Good night, Ronald.�

As the sun’s early rays crept through her window, Hermione was lying in her bed still awake. She hadn’t slept much that night, and the little rest she had gotten was interrupted by dreams of Draco, and Dark Marks, and gorgeous grey eyes that were so full of pain. As she got out of her bed to get dressed, Hermione decided she wasn’t going to give up on Draco. He meant too much to her now. He had been forced to the Dark side and she was determined to bring him back where he rightly belonged. She would talk to him again after Transfiguration.

Hermione walked out of her dorm and into the sunlit common room to find Ron sitting there as usual. But he wasn’t scribbling last minute homework. He was just sitting there, staring at the empty couch, his back to the weak sun. Hermione recognized it as the couch they had been sitting in a few hours ago. As she walked further into the room, Ron started.

“Where did you go last night? Really?� He spoke quietly, very unlike Ron.

“I already told you!� Hermione said, trying to sound exasperated. She turned and started walking towards the door, afraid her face would give her away. “I couldn’t sleep, so I went out to do some patrolling.� As she neared the door, she turned back to face Ron’s disbelieving countenance. “Aren’t you coming to breakfast?�

Ron seemed to awake from his reverie. He looked down at himself to discover he was still in his nightclothes. “Yeah, I’ll be there in a second, just let me change.� And he dashed off to his room.

“Hurry, or you’ll have to skip breakfast altogether and go straight to Transfiguration on an empty stomach!� Hermione called after him, smiling slightly.

The threat seemed to have work though, since Ron fell out of his room seconds later, pulling on his trainers and heading for the door. He had disappeared through it before Hermione could heave her heavy bag onto her shoulder and head to breakfast herself.

Ron had caught up with Harry and Dean, who usually came through the seventh floor corridor to try and catch Ron and Hermione for breakfast. The group hadn’t noticed her coming out of the door, and she didn’t try to catch their attention. Hermione needed some time to think.

Hermione knew that both she and Draco had a break after Transfiguration, but she guessed Draco wouldn’t wait up for her. Not that he did before, since they kept their friendship under the radar, but now he would just run away. She was going to have to catch him and try and talk to him again. But what would she say?

�Hey Draco, I know you’ve joined the Dark side, but I still want to be friends with you.� Not only was that blunt, it was also a complete lie. She didn’t want to be friends with someone who was trying to kill her own friends. But that look on Draco’s face last night. Hermione knew he didn’t want to do whatever he was doing, and she severely wanted to help him get out of it.

When Hermione finally arrived at breakfast (she had taken the long way to get there to give herself thinking time), she glanced at the Slytherin table. Her one glance told her that Draco was sitting at the far end of the table, alone. She walked toward the Gryffindor table, keeping Draco in sight from the corner of her eye. She watched as Crabbe and Goyle edged into the seats across from him, but he said nothing. His eyes were fixed on his barely-touched breakfast.

Hermione sat down across from Ginny, her back to the Slytherin table. Harry, Ron, Dean, and Seamus were a little farther down the table, but they slid up to talk to her. Hermione chatted amicably with them all so no one would notice the lack of interest in her food.

“We should probably get to Transfiguration. The bell will ring soon, I expect,� she said, getting up. The boys followed her. A few minutes later they arrived at the classroom, Hermione a little ahead of the rest of the group. She took a deep breath and opened the door. Draco was already there.

Draco usually caught her eye and vaguely smiled in her direction nowadays when she walked into Transfiguration with Ron and Harry in tow. But today, he faced the complete opposite direction and didn’t even glance at her. Nor was he talking to Crabbe and Goyle. Pansy Parkinson was trying to catch his attention, but he paid her no heed.

Professor McGonagall came into the classroom and the lesson began. Hermione did everything McGonagall instructed them to, and she did it well, but her mind was focused on the lesson. What kind of task has he been assigned? How can it be so bad that he won’t even talk to his fellow Slytherins? she wondered as she helped Ron with the spell.

Before she knew it, the lesson was over. Draco was first to get up. As Hermione struggled to get her things back into her bag, he had disappeared out the door. Hermione speed-walked after him. She didn’t want to seem like she was following him on purpose.

She finally caught up with the back of Draco’s head turning onto the seventh floor corridor. The hallway was empty, so Hermione practically ran to level with Draco just as he entered the Room of Requirement. He took one look at her, but said nothing as she entered the Room with him. The door shut.

“Hermione,� Draco said, his back to her, but his voice was pleading, “why can’t you just let go?�

“No!� she said, striding over to him and yanking him around. “I want to know!�

They stared at each other for what seemed like a minute, grey on brown. Then, without warning, Draco kissed her. Hermione was not at all surprised and leaned in. After what seemed like hours, they broke apart. Draco took a step back. He was shocked at what he just did.

“This is what I was afraid of,� Draco murmured under his breath as he staggered into an armchair.

“You’re afraid of snogging?� Hermione said, trying to bring back some humor. Draco didn’t smile.

With his head in his hands, staring at his shoes, Draco finally confessed, “Look, Hermione, I am now The Dark Lord’s only spy in Hogwarts. Everyone else is gone. He’s depending on me! My father’s depending on me! I don’t think it’s safe to let them down.� He looked up at her, begging for her to understand.

“But what do you have to do?� Hermione yelled, hoping the Room of Requirement remembered to make the walls soundproof.

“I can’t tell you that.� And with that, Draco got up and walked to the door, leaving Hermione alone in the high-ceilinged room, the sunset sneaking in the window.
*************
Hermione awoke to a bolt of lightning that seemed to strike the school itself. She could hear the rain pounding on her window as if the lake itself was washing into her room. Had it all been a dream? A Draco-filled dream? Had she imagined the Room of Requirement altogether? She put her fingers to her lips. They felt different. As she slowly got out of bed to observe the storm further, the thunder crashed, bringing more rain. She crossed to her window and stared at her reflection in the rain-splashed glass. She no longer saw a never-been-kissed bookworm. She just saw a confused girl filled with conflict.

Hermione awoke the next morning, more tired than she had been the night before. The storm seemed to have washed itself out. The sun was trying to peek through the clouds just as desperately as Hermione was trying to forget what had happened yesterday. She lay in her bed, staring at the canopied ceiling, wondering what would happen today. She and Draco had another lesson today. Would he treat her any differently because of their kiss? Would he even show up?

Well, you’ll never know if you don’t get out of bed, said the reasonable voice in her head. Though she had recently been ignoring this voice, she reluctantly pulled the covers off and started to get ready for the day.

When Hermione finally entered the common room, Ron had already left. She hadn’t spoken much to Harry or Ron recently although they were nearly always together. Much of their time was spent studying, or in Hermione’s case, helping them finish their work in time. She needed someone to talk to about this whole Draco situation, but neither Ron nor Harry were up for the job. She didn’t even want to imagine Ron’s face if she told him that she had kissed Draco Malfoy. While she walked down to the Great Hall for breakfast, Hermione decided it was time to have another womanly chat with Ginevra.

Hermione entered the Great Hall to find Ron seated with Harry, Seamus and Neville, while Ginny was sitting a little way away. Hermione smiled and waved sweetly at her friends, but seated herself next to Ginny.

“I need to talk to you,� she whispered to Ginny as she helped herself to some toast. Ginny looked intrigued. “But not right here. Somewhere private.�

“I have a free period before lunch. How about you?� Ginny replied, equally hushed.

“So do I. We can talk in my dormitory. But what about Ron?� Hermione said, looking over at her dear friend, shoveling scrambled eggs into his mouth.

“He and Harry are planning to go down to the Quidditch pitch. We’ll be fine.�

“Okay good,� Hermione muttered just as the bell rang. Hermione quickly wrapped up her toast and got up to walk to Potions with Harry and Ron.

She could hardly concentrate in the dungeons though. Hermione was thinking of ways to phrase her situation with Draco so as not to surprise Ginny too much. Before she knew it, the bell had rung that signaled the end of the class. Quickly, Hermione gathered her things and hurried out of the classroom and up towards her dormitory.

Ginny was waiting for her by the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy. They entered the common room quickly, Ginny admiring the view out of the window.

“I’d love to live here,� she said as she stared out the open window.

“It is a rather nice view, isn’t it?� Hermione said, walking towards the window herself and staring through the glass. “But I do really need to talk to you.� And with that Hermione recounted exactly what had been happening since Christmas. Ginny smiled gently as Hermione told her about the kiss, but was not as shocked as she should have been when the subject of Draco being Voldemort’s spy came up.

As she ended her tale, Hermione threw herself onto the couch and pressed her face into a pillow. “Oh Ginny,� she said, her voice muffled. “What am I going to do??�

As Ginny perched herself on the end of the couch, Hermione flipped over to look into Ginny’s knowing eyes.

“You like him, don’t you?� Ginny asked quietly. Hermione nodded and closed her eyes. “And from what you’ve told me, I’m pretty sure he likes you too. Do I even need to tell you what to do? Hermione, I think you’ve uncovered the soft heart beneath the smirks. You should be proud of yourself!� Ginny proclaimed as she leaned in and shook Hermione till her eyes opened again.

“Did you even listen to half the words I said? He’s working for Voldemort!� Hermione said exasperatedly, sitting up.

“I know!� Ginny said, with the same inflection. “But from what you’re telling me, he doesn’t really want to do whatever he’s supposed you. And he likes you. You are now supposed to bring him to the good side and marry him.�

“You’ve been reading my Muggle romance novels, haven’t you?� Ginny nodded shyly. “It just doesn’t work like that in real life!�

“How are you supposed to know if you never try it?� Ginny said reasonably.

She paused. “But what if I get hurt?� Hermione whispered, looking back at the window.

Ginny slid down to sit next to Hermione and put her arm around her. “If you spend your entire life not taking chances because you’re afraid you’ll get hurt, you’ll never gain anything but a bunch of cats.�

“What?� Hermione said, looking up.

“You’ll be a barmy old cat lady,� Ginny explained. Hermione looked at her with a bemused expression on her face. “It sounded a lot better in my head!� Ginny said defensively.

Hermione got up and wandered toward the door to her room, thinking hard about Ginny’s words. She couldn’t just ignore him, not now that she knew was a spy. But she couldn’t turn him in either. Her heart wouldn’t let her.

“So… what are you going to do?� Ginny said after a long time.

“I just need to talk with him right now,� Hermione answered, her voice quaking a little.
*************
Hermione attended the rest of her classes unfeelingly. She did everything she was told to, she just didn’t think about it. Deciding how exactly to talk to Draco was more important that paying attention right now.

What if he didn’t come to the lesson? Even if he does, you can’t talk to him in the library, not where people will hear! The Room of Requirement, then. But how? Questions rushed through her head as quickly as she could answer them.

How quickly the day passed by? Soon enough, Hermione was at their usual table, waiting for Draco to arrive. Her foot was tapping nervously against the leg of her chair. She had seated herself facing the entrance to the library so she could see Draco as soon as he arrived. If he did arrive.

At promptly seven o’clock, Draco Malfoy entered the library and sauntered over to Hermione table, his old smirk in place. Hermione greeted him with a weak smile and started their lesson. It was as if they had never had a friendship. Draco didn’t treat he unkindly, he just didn’t speak much at all. Their humorous banter had disappeared. The lesson finished at eight, and Draco rushed off as quickly as he could, but Hermione managed to slip a note into his bag.

Please meet me in the Room of Requirement at eleven. I really need to talk to you. Please.

Hermione

Hermione hurried straight to the Room of Requirement after leaving the library, taking her books with her. It immediately transformed into the room it had been when she had first met Draco there, the last rays of violet sun visible through the high arched windows. Hermione attempted to write her Potions essay, but her mind was elsewhere. Her head bent over her Potions book, eyes averted from the door, Hermione waited for some sound that Draco had heeded her pleas.

Centuries later it seemed, the door opened almost soundlessly and she looked up to see Draco’s tall frame as a shadow in the doorway, his blonde hair glistening in the torchlight.