In

One Word, Then in Three

by Believe-in-Teyla

Post DH/sans epilogue. Imagine a world where the gang do their 7th year post-war
during which Hermione goes crazy, Ron makes several mistakes and Draco
changes a lot . String in Salazar Slytherin's past & you've got some Dramione
goodness!
Rated: Fiction T - English - Romance - Hermione G., Draco M. - Chapters: 21 -
Words: 32,993 - Reviews: 67 - Favs: 125 - Follows: 18 - Updated: 2/3/2008 -
Published: 2/2/2008 - Status: Complete - id: 4049876
URL: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/4049876
Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Cake

Crazy

Betrayal

Shirtless

Christmas

Recovering

Memories

Clues

Breathe

Cravings

Love

Boundaries

Amortentia

Truth

Decisions

Kissing

Riddles

Uncertainty

Mirror

Prize

Eighteen Years Later

 Cake
Chapter One

Returning to classes after a year hiding out and hunting Horcruxes and Hallows was
certainly not the easiest thing Hermione Granger had ever attempted.

Suddenly being required to write six-foot-long essays on Arithmancy patterns, brew

complicated Truth Potions and also deal with both peculiar and repetitive duties as
Head Girl should have been simple for Hermione to get used to all over again.
However, every time she opened a book she had the feeling in her stomach that it
was The Tales of Beetle the Bard all over again – more tedious clues from
Dumbledore, more useless information as to how they might eventually defeat the
darkest wizard of the age.

Attending meals in the Great Hall weren't even the same. As she sat there, she
could picture the house elves directly below, slicing the backs of Death Eater's
ankles with massive stainless steal knives.

The war was still haunting her. The fear, the battle and the losses still washed
through her every vein, making it difficult for her to fully concentrate, fully accept that
Lord Voldemort was not going to glide through the common room entrance and send
the killing curse at her.

Hermione's quill quivered in her shaking hands and she immediately dropped it in
order to regain composure. The ink blotted on the parchment but Hermione did not
take notice.

It had been three months. Having returned to school for her seventh year (a Ministry
order that had been decided upon a week after Voldemort's downfall), Hermione had
noticed that a lot of students had already adjusted to life after the war. Most were
happy and others acted like that part of their lives had all been a long dream and had
never happened at all. Hermione had observed the behaviour of many and it
seemed that she was the only one who was suffering in the aftermath.

Harry, who had been through so much before and after the war, seemed much
lighter at heart. He had taken to making more jokes and laughing loudly with Ron
and his girlfriend Ginny. Hermione knew that the lives lost during the war were still
firmly in his head and his heart but he did not let it show the way she felt she did.
Hermione assumed that perhaps his experience with the resurrection stone had
eased the sadness.
Ron had also moved on. He and Hermione had begun their long-awaited relationship
as soon as Voldemort fell. However, due to Hermione's distance, it had been slightly
rocky. Ron seemed to understand that Hermione was having trouble adjusting and
he allowed her time alone to study and think. They still kissed on greeting for
breakfast and they still had regular snogging sessions in the Head Boy and Girl
common room.

Yes, this common room was one of the surprises Hermione had been greeted with in
returning to Hogwarts.

While the professors had wandered the castle during the summer, restoring it to its
magical splendor, they had found Salazar Slytherin's old study and in it they had
found an ancient map and three silver stones. With them, Professor's McGonagall
and Flitwick managed to locate Salazar Slytherin's old quarters.

It was in these quarters that Hermione now sat. The ancient furniture that had stood
in the common room and the four adjoining rooms had been replaced with those of a
more modern design and the teachers had decided to make the quarters the home
of the two top students of the school: Hermione and Draco Malfoy.

Hermione still could not understand how Draco Malfoy – after all his involvement in
the war - had come to receive the Head Boy badge, but he had. Perhaps it was yet
another standing legacy in Dumbledore's will. He had, after all, always seemed to
know that Draco had been frightened into supporting the Dark Side. And Draco was
intelligent and a strong leader, even if Hermione despised admitting it.

Hermione looked up as the bathroom door opened and the man of her thoughts
walked out in his weekend clothes. His silver-blonde hair was damp and neat on top
of his head, perfectly combed and shampooed. He gave Hermione a nod before
heading up the wide spiral staircase that stood in the corner of the room.

Hermione sighed. He had not made an attempt to talk to her, nor had he managed
an insult. He just wandered around, quietly studied and made little acknowledgement
of her presence. Although this did not bother Hermione she had to wonder whether
he was adjusting to the aftermath of the war as uselessly as her.

ooo

Hermione sat with her back against the arm of the couch, enjoying the comfort of the
fluffy emerald cushions that lined it. She was stretched out with her legs resting on
top of Ron's, the owner of which sat beside her. All was quiet, as Hermione read
from one of the many ancient tomes that had lined the bookshelf in Salazar's study.
"I don't get why McGonagall wants you and Malfoy to do this research," Ron
muttered. He was in one of those moods where he could not accept something and
was trying, by means of complaining, to have Hermione agree with him.

"We're the Head Girl and Boy, Ron," Hermione replied. "The teachers don't get the
time to do this research so they've asked us to attempt to fit it in with our studies.
Besides, both Malfoy and I showed an interest in the subject. Imagine if we found out
something really exciting and interesting about Slytherin or one of the other
founders? Our doing this research might finally answer the question of whether
Salazar Slytherin was the father of Helena Ravenclaw –"

"Who really cares?" Ron asked, disgruntled. Hermione went quiet and looked back
down at her book, not wanting to start an argument with the agitated redhead. He
crawled closer to her. "Hermione, we don't spend much time together anymore
because of these quarters and now with an extra project –"

"Ron, please understand that if I don't help with this research I will regret it, okay?"
Hermione asked quietly. "I'm really interested in this."

"Okay," Ron sighed and he too fell quiet as Hermione reached forward and grabbed
a silver stone from the side table to examine it against a sketch in the book she was
reading.

"Salazar's stones," Hermione murmured and she turned the page.

ooo

Two weeks following the start of school saw Hermione's mood having changed very
little. There had been nights where every time she attempted to look over her studies
or the research regarding Salazar Slytherin, she would find herself in a daze,
watching the war flash before her eyes.

Hermione was sure that Draco had noticed by now. Several times she had gone faint
while looking at him, the image of his frightened face obscuring her vision.

"I … maybe … yeah…"

The words filled her head and she was forced to look away, suddenly shaky as she
remembered what had followed soon after those words had left Draco's mouth. She
felt the blood pounding in her head as her mind relived the pain she had experienced
that night, Bellatrix's humored but angry face, Lucius Malfoy's light chuckle, Draco's
ghostly pale face framing his wide and terrified eyes…
It always took time before Hermione could look at him again and when she did he
was watching her carefully with an unreadable expression on his face. He never
questioned her. In fact, he was yet to direct a single word to her regarding anything
other than the research they were conducting.

Quite frankly, she was happy for it.

However, the silence of Draco Malfoy did not go on forever. On the evening of her
birthday Hermione invited Harry, Ron and Ginny over to share the cake Mrs Weasley
had sent. As the words of "Happy birthday to you…" rang throughout the common
room, Malfoy chose that moment to head through the entrance into the scene of a
giant homemade cake, 19 candles burning multi-coloured flames and four humorous
birthday hats.

He walked straight through to the bathroom door and locked himself in. When he
submerged, Harry, Ginny and half the cake was gone leaving one moaning Ronald
Weasley and a Hermione whose head looked like it would be crushed between the
couch and Ron's lips.

"Her room's upstairs Weasley," Draco sneered. "Go breed mudblood spawn up
there."

Ron broke away from her and raised his wand in seconds. He stood with it pointing
straight at Draco's face. "Say that word again and I'll make it so you'll never
reproduce, Malfoy!"

Hermione stood up calmly and put her hand on Ron's arm. "Ron, just go," her voice
was soft but Draco still heard it.

Ron looked at her, then back at Malfoy, opened his mouth to say something but
thought better of it. With a small but sloppy kiss to Hermione's lips he left, leaving
Hermione looking at Draco with an irritated expression.

"Why didn't you just keep your mouth shut, Malfoy?" Hermione snapped. "We
weren't doing anything to hurt you. You were probably just going to go straight up to
your room anyway!"

"I was doing him a favour," Draco sneered. "You'd obviously confunded him in order
to make him want you. Even Weasley wouldn't be attracted to likes of you,
Mudblood."

Hermione looked at the ground, willing the hurt away and concentrating on the anger
she had felt moments before. She would not let him get her down. Not now.
"You have no right to insult me or Ron, Malfoy," she said weakly, looking him straight
in the eye once more. "You are perhaps worse then us in comparison. After
everything last year, after everything you did, everything you saw –"

But Draco was gone. Hermione nodded to herself as she watched the back of his
blonde head disappear up the stairs.

Returning to her cake, Hermione soon fell asleep where she dreamt of fierce,
murderous flames in a massive hall, two broomsticks and Ron's voice screaming "IF
WE DIE FOR THEM, I'LL KILL YOU!"

The next day dawned with Malfoy sitting across from her on the second couch, a
piece of her cake in hand.

"Morning, Granger," he said as he greedily took another bite.

Hermione sat up. "I didn't say you could have any of that," she stated bluntly.

"No but it was waiting there so patiently, screaming my name," Draco's voice was
lighter than Hermione had ever heard it.

Hermione contemplated the young man across from her. "So you're being civil now?"
she questioned.

"Civil? Granger, if you walked in on me kissing a Weasley you'd have been as

disgusted as I was last night," Draco drawled.

"Funny, I thought you were disgusted by the image of someone kissing a mudblood
not a Weasley," Hermione stated blandly. "Or has your opinion of witches like me
suddenly changed over night?"

"I don't like Weasleys," Draco snarled. "He would never have saved Goyle and me in
the Room of Hidden Things last year had Potter not decided to."

"Nor would you have saved any of us," Hermione snapped. "Might I remind you that
you went in there to capture us so you could then hand us to Voldemort? You had
killing curses sent at us, Malfoy! You wanted us dead!"

Hermione didn't even realize she had stood up. She glared down at him. "You went
in there with the intention of having us killed! Ron Weasley is much a greater man
than you will ever be, Malfoy. He stopped to pick up Goyle even if he didn't like the
idea much. I highly doubt you would have done the same had we been the ones on
the ground."
Hermione headed to the bathroom door, swung it open and let it slam behind her,
her school robes already on the floor. Draco watched the door for a moment,
contemplating following her to continue the argument. He decided against it,
knowing she would be undressed by now and knowing that he wasn't entirely ready
for a heated argument with a fiery, naked Hermione Granger. She would be
positively murderous.

He instead cut himself another piece of cake.

 Crazy
Chapter Two

Hermione wandered the school in a heated temper. Why Malfoy chose to get to her
the way he did she didn't know. She did not see her being a muggleborn as a viable
excuse, nor could she see it merely being because she was friends with Harry and
Ron. No, she honestly thought he had taken to firing her up because either he was
bored, he preferred conversing with her when she was angry or she was in some
way the object of his cruel entertainment.

Several weeks had passed since she had nearly taken the bathroom door off its
hinges in her temper. He had continued to insult her and her friends, make cruel
comments and just in general annoy the hell out of her. She was so completely sick
and tired of it that she had taken to walking the halls in the hours between dinner
and Draco's scheduled evening shower time. She would then sneak into the study,
grab as many of Salazar Slytherin's books as she could carry and take them to her
room to read.

Her room was by far her favourite place to be. It was at the very top of the long-
winding staircase, directly opposite Draco's. It was decorated in Gryffindor's scarlet
and gold and she was positively in love with the King-size bed and the silk bed linen
that completed it. The room had a large armchair in one corner while in another
stood a large oak desk. The entire right wall as you entered the room was made of
glass, with a door heading out to the massive balcony that she and Draco shared
between their rooms.

Hermione took Volume III of Salazar's journal from her stack and had just begun
reading when suddenly her bedroom door opened to reveal Ron.

"Ron?" she questioned. "How did you get in here?"

"I – Malfoy let me in," Ron said. "The git told me you weren't here."

"Well I'm usually not," Hermione said. "Not while he is, anyway."

Ron frowned. "But where do you go?" he asked. "You never come and see me –"

"Ron, I just need time to think sometimes," Hermione said, not really meaning to
interrupt. "I've been having a lot of nightmares lately and sometimes…"

Ron gathered her in his arms. "What, Hermione? Sometimes what?"

"Sometimes I don't want people to tell me that it'll be okay or that I should stop
thinking about it," Hermione replied in a soft voice. "I hate the ones about last year
the most," she added, "and the weird dreams about Malfoy –"

"What weird dreams about Malfoy?" Ron asked quickly.

"Oh – nothing like that, Ron!" Hermione cried hurriedly. "No – I – Well, I have dreams
about the times when we saw him last year, the looks on his face, the situation
where we saved him. I –"

"What about it?" Ron scoffed, moving away from her. "He's an ungrateful git. We
saved his life – twice I might add – and he's never done a single thing to say thank
you. He still insults you and picks on my family and bullies Harry."

"I think he wears a mask, Ron," Hermione said very lightly, only realizing it herself as
she was saying it. He could barely hear her. "I think he only does that because that's
what we expect him to do. Ron, there's been times when he has attempted to be civil
and I snapped down his throat, defending myself too quickly. Ron, I think maybe the
war has affected him like –"

"Like it's affected you?" Ron snapped. "You think he's gone crazy like you have?"

"Crazy?!" Hermione didn't mean for her retort to be so loud. "The war has affected
me greatly, yes! I can't adjust the way you and Harry and everyone else have! I'm
still having nightmares! I'm still feeling the pain of the Cruciatus Curse! But that does
not make me crazy!"

"But you're defending Malfoy!" Ron cried loudly. "You're basically saying he deserves
a second chance! He wanted us killed, Hermione!"

Hermione went silent, remembering how she had accused Malfoy of the same thing
to his own face. "Yes, yes he did," Hermione said. "Now, Ron, if you would please
leave; I have some research to conduct."

Ron sat there silently for a moment as Hermione went back to Slytherin's journal. "I
don't really think you're crazy," he said softly. He snuggled closer to her on the bed.
"Hermione, I love you."

Hermione looked up and nodded before kissing him. Yes, she thought she might just
love him too.

"Prat," she whispered as Ron broke away and wove his hand around her waist,
laying her down so her head rested on the pillows.
After several minutes of more kissing, Hermione moved Ron's hand out from under
her t-shirt. "I really need to do some research tonight, Ron," she said.

Ron nodded and sat up, straightening his shirt and calming his breath. "Just give me
a moment."

As Ron headed out, she heard the door across the landing close with a slam.
Hermione continued her reading in peace.

ooo

Two weeks later and Hermione was in a panic. Ron had not returned to her room
since that night. True, they saw each other during classes and exchanged quick
kisses at meals but Ron seemed to not want to come and spend a moment in
Hermione's quarters. She did not know why and when she asked, he merely
shrugged and said he'd had lots of Quidditch practice.

Hermione wasn't quite sure she believed it.

"Maybe he's gone elsewhere for a shag, Granger," Draco announced one afternoon
as he came down the stairs to the common room where she had been sitting.

Hermione groaned. She could have sworn she had heard the water running in the
bathroom.

"What on Earth are you talking about?" she said, her tone clearly showing that she
was annoyed.

"Weasley," Draco said. "You've had that look on your face for days and as I haven't
seen Weasley's ugly face bopping around here for a couple of weeks I'd say he's the
reason."

"That's very observant of you," Hermione snapped. "Though, you are entirely wrong.
Ron and I are fine."

"No you're not," Draco smirked. "He thinks you're crazy."

Hermione looked at Draco with narrowed eyes. "You had no right to listen to that
conversation, Malfoy!"

"Listen to it?" Draco smirked. "It was kind of hard to block out – I'm quite sure that
my fellow Slytherins would have heard it from the dungeons." He put on an imitation
of Ron's anger, "'But you're defending Malfoy!'"
The atmosphere changed. Hermione's anger deflated and her cheeks flushed pink.
"Well yes I suppose we were rather loud," she said quietly.

A moment of silence passed, Hermione returning to the journal that lay open in her
hands. Despite trying, she was having awful trouble concentrating on it.

"I can look after myself, Granger," Draco stated calmly after a while.

Hermione looked up only to see his feet disappear up the stairs, leaving her to
ponder for the hundredth time how anyone could ever come to understand Draco
Malfoy.

ooo

"But Malfoy, all these stones seem to do is reveal secret entrances to places
Slytherin wanted to keep secret," Hermione argued as she and Draco flipped
through book after book together. "We know that all three of them open up this room.
We know that none of them work on the Chamber of Secrets but it has its own
defenses anyway and you've already tried them in the Slytherin Common Room –"

"What about inside the Chamber?" Draco questioned. "Maybe Slytherin had a secret
room within a secret room?"

"There is really no logic in that, Malfoy," Hermione responded bluntly. "The Chamber
of Secrets was the biggest of all Sltherin's secrets. What would he have possibly
have wanted to hide in a secret room that's been built within a secret room?"

"A nest of hibernating Basilisk eggs perhaps?"

Hermione felt a shiver run down her spine at the thought. "I doubt that very much,
Malfoy."

"Ok, so maybe the stones do something else?" Malfoy contemplated, looking at a

sketch in one of the many books they had out. "There's plenty of legend surrounding
stones of great magical ability – the Philosopher's Stone, the Babel Stone, the –"

"Resurrection stone," Hermione murmured.

"- I'd heard of the Stones of Salazar, or Salazar's Stones, for years," Draco said.
"There were stories of them killing Mudbloods if they touched them. Other stories
were a little bit more in depth such as the one about separating magic from a soul.
Salazar Slytherin always spoke of wanting his power to be preserved after he had
died and many believed that he used three stones of shining platinum to capture and
incase his powers at death so he would live on, immortal."

Hermione shivered as she tried to block out the memory that threatened to surface
within her mind as Draco spoke that final word.

Large statues of serpents flashed before her, the rotten remains of a massive snake
caused her stomach to churn in familiarity, a writhing, screaming golden cup and
then, so clearly, she could see Ron's shining blue eyes as they looked at her,
delightedly, followed immediately by the vision of a towering stone statue of a man.

Hermione looked at Draco who was watching her with a frown. "Are you having one
of those crazy moments again?" he questioned. Hermione did not respond in any
way. "Not thinking about Weasley are you?"

This time Hermione shook her head lightly. "I just …" she trailed off and shook her
head more vigorously. "I'm fine."

Draco sat back in his armchair, his arms folded, and contemplated her for a moment.
He watched her as she straightened her pile of books, her breath becoming even
once more. After a moment she sat up, looking her usual self once more. She saw
Draco watching her and blinked.

"I think you may be on to something," Hermione stated as though nothing had
interrupted. "Salazar Slytherin used these stones to preserve life and he probably
thought life could not exist without power so he discovered a way to keep his power
alive."

Hermione lifted one of the stones, waved it across the top of a vase that sat empty
on the side table beside her, it glowed red before it filled with water, another wave
and she saw a vision of beast-like flames within the contents.

She looked at Draco as they disappeared, stood and left the room.

Draco looked back at the vase and waited. The image of the fiendfyre had
disappeared and he saw nothing but still water. Leaning back in his chair once more
he listened carefully for the sound of Hermione moving around in her room upstairs.

He could have sworn that he heard a sob travel down the stairs.
 Betrayal
Chapter Three

Professor McGonagall had been very impressed by the first report regarding what
Draco and Hermione had discovered and theorized during their research. She had
requested that they continue researching on the basis of proving their theories and
Draco and Hermione had agreed with fervent nods that they would do so.

Each of them found the project at hand very fascinating and although they could not
assume that all their elaborate theories were true, they were each excited about
broadening their search for factual information that would either prove or disprove
the theories.

Hermione sat in the study one Thursday night while Draco was on his Head duties,
reading over their notes. Volume VI of Salazar Slytherin's Journal was open in her
lap to a page regarding Rowena Ravenclaw's personal crisis. She had been so
engrossed in what was in front of her that she hadn't heard the 3 separate knocks on
the portrait entrance.

She was startled back to reality when she heard Ron's voice.

"You in there, Hermione?" he called. "Hermione, can you let me in?"

Hermione paused after listening to his call. It had been over a month since Ron had
come to see her in her quarters and to tell the truth, she was a little suspicious as to
why he had suddenly decided to grace her with his presence.

"Coming, Ron," she called back, getting out of her chair and heading to the portrait.
Raising one of Salazar's silver stones, she waved it across the portrait. The portrait
faded immediately to reveal an entrance and a freshly groomed Ron.

Hermione opened her mouth to ask him why he was there when he suddenly
launched himself at her and she was cut off mid-gasp by his urgent lips. Several
minutes of frantic kisses later, Hermione placed both hands on his chest, wound her
fingers into the fabric of his robes and pushed him away, her hands still holding him.

"Malfoy's not here is he?" Ron asked anxiously, looking around. "I saw him up on the
seventh floor as I made my way down here. I know he can't have gotten back here
already…"

"He's not here," Hermione said calmly. "But I have to ask why you suddenly found
me interesting enough to visit."

Ron looked uneasy. "I've had Quidditch practice," he mumbled.

"Every night for over a month?" Hermione exclaimed. "I know Harry takes Quidditch
serious but Ginny sees him plenty –"

"Well she's on the team, isn't she?" Ron said, avoiding his girlfriend's eyes.

"Oh yes because they always get a chance to shag while all you idiots are flying
around them –"

"Harry and Ginny are shagging?!" Ron yelped. "I'll kill him."

"No!" Hermione exclaimed. "I don't believe they are but Quidditch isn't a good
enough excuse this time I'm afraid Ron! Why don't you come here any more?"

"Well I've - er –" Hermione waited patiently, loosening her grip slightly. "I've got
something to tell you," Ron finally said. "I love you, Hermione, but you know
Lavender – she gets a bit possessive and – well –"

"Well?" Hermione asked. Her heart had leapt into her throat. She swallowed and
tried to calm her breathing. He was not going to say what she thought he was going
to say. Her mind pleaded they he wouldn't say it.

"She kissed me, Hermione," Ron said. "A month ago. And I felt guilty so I've sort of
been – er –"

"Avoiding me?"

"Yeah," he said, looking uneasy. "But Hermione, it was just one kiss. She just sort of
came at me."

The tears that were slowly creeping down Hermione's cheeks were silent. She held
back the sobs and tried to process this news rationally.

"I didn't want to kiss her," Ron continued in a panic. "I – Hermione, I love you so
much; I would never do something to hurt you –"

"Please just – just leave, Ron," Hermione asked in a trembling whisper.

Ron stood there for a moment, watching her. "I pushed her away when I realized
what I was doing –"
"Please, Ron," Hermione pleaded hopelessly. "Leave. I'll – I'll see you later."

Ron let a single tear fall from his eyes before he turned and proceeded out.

Hermione stood silently for what felt like hours, though it was probably only a few
minutes. Her entire body was numb with what Ron had just told her and she honestly
did not know how to process it. As the tears silently continued to fall, Hermione
rushed up to her room and immediately proceeded out onto the balcony where she
broke down against the balcony's edge.

She thought wildly of how Ron would have responded to Lavender, how long it
would've taken him to realize just how wrong the situation was. Had it only been the
once? Why had he chosen not to tell her before now? Why had he chosen to avoid
her like he had?

Slowly, she began to calm; her breathing was becoming more even and the tears
slowly stopped flowing. She vaguely heard a door open and then close nearby but
she did not acknowledge it.

"I would have expected you to be out here with Weasley." Even without looking at
him, Hermione knew he was smirking. "Or has the weasel gone and found someone
else to mate with instead?"

Hermione felt tears well in her eyes once more but she willed them to not fall.
Turning around to face Draco, she saw the smirk fall from his face as he took in her
teary eyes. He hesitantly came up to stand by the edge of the balcony with her,
though he kept some distance between them.

"I should have known Lavender would come back and cause trouble," Hermione
muttered bitterly. Draco listened but knew that she expected no response from him.

Looking out at the lake and the mountains in the far distance, Hermione hurriedly
wiped her eyes and silently cast a quick refreshing charm. She looked briefly at
Draco, who was watching her out of the corner of his eye.

"If it helps, I won't let him in if he comes calling," Draco said.

Hermione nodded her appreciation and headed away but, reaching the door back
into her room, she paused and looked round at him, confused by his sudden
decision to help her in her troubles.

Draco could evidently feel her gaze on him because he turned his head to look at
her again. "I owe you my life, Granger. This is the least I can do."
Hermione nodded and gave a small smile before disappearing into the room. Not
bothering to use one of Salazar's stones to shield the room from the balcony's view,
she slumped onto her bed without changing and within moments she was asleep.

ooo

Hermione sat in her usual chair by the common room fire. The days were getting
colder and as she looked out the window to the misty sleet, she was thankful that
she had not joined the rest of school for the Hufflepuff versus Ravenclaw Quidditch
match.

It had been a long week.

It had started with Hermione breaking up with Ron. She knew that she loved him,
and felt like she always would, but there was something in his actions that Hermione
could not forgive at that moment: He had taken his time in telling her.

Hermione knew Ron had felt guilty and she knew that it would have been difficult
telling her at all but Hermione wanted an honest relationship, one where she could
trust her boyfriend with all her heart.

Ron had taken to it with understanding. He had been upset but he had understood
that although Hermione loved him, she needed time to forgive and forget. She
needed time to rationally consider the situation. Time where they could only go back
to being the close friends they had always been.

In heading back to the common room later that evening, she had found Draco sitting
in an armchair frantically scribbling notes and it had been that event that had lead to
the rest of her week being spent with the blonde Slytherin. They were getting closer
to proving many of their theories and the excitement was enough to keep
Hermione's head stuck in journals and her quill glued to parchment at every spare
moment.

Draco was being somewhat tolerable, which Hermione was highly grateful for. He
teased her occasionally but Hermione had come to understand that it was in his
nature to do so. He thrived off her witty responses and after scolding him for his
taste in woman (after a preciously disgusting narration about Pansy's eating habits),
Hermione had actually laughed, thoroughly amused by his retort.

Hermione looked away from the window as she was pulled out of her thoughts by
Draco's voice.

"Listen to this: Rowena and I have progressed to discussing the names of the child
she bears. We have agreed on Scorpius for a boy."

"Scorpius is a terrible name," Hermione stated bluntly, her nose scrunched up in

distaste.

"Scorpius is possibly the greatest name a young man could receive," Draco
responded rather indignantly.

"Yes and Hugo would fit in perfectly as a middle name," Hermione replied mockingly.

"Hugo?" Draco sneered. "Who in their right mind would ever want to name a toad
that let alone their child?"

"I think it's a name of character," Hermione sniffed.

"Well I pity any child of yours, Granger."

Hermione stood up and moved over to Draco's armchair, looking over his shoulder at
Salazar's scrolling handwriting.

"We have agreed," Hermione read, biting her lip. "If we think about it, Salazar
Slytherin really has no need to agree with Ravenclaw at all," she said. "That is
unless the 'child she bears' is his."

"But he never states it in so many words," Draco replied. "It's always her child, the
child she bears. I think we can only conclude that they were in love. But the child
isn't necessarily his. She might have been a –"

"I refuse to believe that Rowena Ravenclaw slept around," Hermione snapped.
"They lived a thousand of years ago. If she slept around, she would have been
killed. Such behaviour was treated with fatal punishment."

"But it could have been an affair," Draco suggested. "Helena Ravenclaw took the
Ravenclaw name not Slytherin's. Perhaps it was Ravenclaw's way of keeping her
affair with Slytherin a secret. She told people it was her husband's child."

"Rowena Ravenclaw never married, Malfoy," Hermione sighed impatiently. "That is

why there has been so much mystery surrounding Helena Ravenclaw. No one knew
who her father was. The information was never released and The Gray Lady
certainly refuses to speak of it. She respects her parent's secret which makes me
think –"

"That the father is someone who would have caused a lot of controversy judging by
Rowena Ravenclaw's persuasion on the magical community."

Hermione beamed. "Exactly and the concept of two Hogwarts founders, who each
had entirely separate views and separate qualities of influence, having a romantic
relationship would cause a lot of chaos."

"Slytherin's the father."

"Slytherin's the father," Hermione confirmed.

 Shirtless
Chapter Four

Professor McGonagall sat before them in stunned silence.

"You are sure?" she whispered.

"Yes," Hermione said.

"But Slytherin's views ripped the founders apart!"

"Which was even more cause to keep Helena's paternity a secret," Hermione replied
excitedly.

"Well I don't think this is something we can just release to the public," McGonagall
said. "I think we need to continue our research – find as much as well can…"

"Yes, Professor," Hermione said, nodding. "We certainly encourage that. The things
we have found in those journals though…" She paused in her excitement. "It would
make a brilliant publication."

Draco snorted beside her and Hermione glared.

An hour later, Hermione found herself enduring Pansy Parkinson's presence in the
common room while Hermione sifted through the large stack of notes they'd made
regarding Slytherin's journals.

"But then she said that Goyle wasn't her type and that she preferred Longbottom!"
Pansy squealed. "Who could possibly find Longbottom attractive?"

"Millicent apparently," Hermione heard Draco groan. "And what does it matter
anyway? You should be thankful she doesn't like Goyle. Now you have free reign on
him."

Hermione looked up at that, wanting to see Pansy's reaction.

She gave a squealing giggle and jumped into Draco's lap. "You love your little joke!"
she said. She kissed his cheek, causing his face to contort into a snarl.

"Pansy, you really should go," he snapped. "I have work to do."

He looked pointedly at Hermione who was smirking at him. She looked away as
soon as Pansy turned to gaze in her direction.

"How I pity you, Draco," Hermione heard her murmur, "Having to interact with the
filthiest Mudblood at Hogwarts."

And with what Hermione assumed was a sloppy kiss to Draco's lips, Pansy left.

"Trouble in paradise, Malfoy?" she questioned. "You didn't seem overly interested in
her presence."

"You certainly are a brainy witch, aren't you Granger?" Draco asked sarcastically.

Hermione met his eyes and blinked, slightly confused. She could almost decipher
that as a compliment.

ooo

Christmas rushed towards them in a vision of snow, baubles and candy canes.
Draco came over moodier than usual, hating the cold and Hermione chose to keep
her distance in order to avoid lighting his extremely short fuse.

"What you looking at, Weasley?" he barked as he approached Hermione at the

Gryffindor table at lunchtime the day before the holidays started.

Ginny closed her mouth and looked at Hermione, who was waiting patiently for
Draco to say what he needed to.

"Granger, I need to talk to you," he snapped. Hermione, not at all startled by his tone
nodded for him to continue.

Draco stared at her then indicated her friends.

"Oh!" Hermione said this time very much startled. "You want to talk alone?"

Draco started walking away and Hermione clambered to her feet. Ron grabbed her
wrist.

"Hermione, he might be tricking you so he can kill you!" he cried. He was staring at
Draco's back as he came to a halt. "Please don't go with him, Hermione!"

"He doesn't want to kill me, Ron," Hermione replied with one eyebrow slightly raised.
"And if it makes you feel any better, I'll just talk to him at the entrance. That way you
can watch his every move."
Ron stubbornly nodded and took out his wand. Hermione nodded and went to join
Malfoy.

"What is it, Malfoy?" Hermione asked as they reached the entrance to the Great Hall.
Three students sidled on past them out of the hall, looking at the two of them with
curious expressions.

"I just wanted to know if you were staying for the holidays?" he asked.

"Yes Malfoy I am," she said calmly. "And you?"

"I have to," he replied. "My parents are traveling and although the house elves make
brilliant meals they do not make the best company."

"Well then, I suppose we'll just have to endure each other's presence," Hermione
said. "That shouldn't be too hard."

Draco nodded and looked away. "Well that's settled."

And he left. Hermione stood there a moment before heading back to Harry, Ron and
Ginny.

"What did he want?" Harry asked.

"Just wanted to know if I was staying for the holidays," Hermione shrugged.

Harry raised an eyebrow. "Why'd he need to know that?"

"He wanted to work on the Salazar Slytherin research and wanted to know if I'd be
around to help," Hermione replied, assuming this was the reason why Draco had
asked her. She was not concerned by Draco's question. She knew that a year ago
she would have been, but now … now he was different.

"How come he doesn't walk around with Goyle anymore?" Ron asked.

Hermione looked at Ron. "He's not getting off with Pansy Parkinson anymore,
either," she said.

"How on earth do you know that?" Ron asked, bewildered.

"Oh please!" Hermione breathed. "It's obvious isn't it? He's repulsed by her!"

Ginny watched Hermione carefully. "We don't pay them enough attention to them to
know that, Hermione."
Hermione just looked at the red-haired girl and after a moment stood. "I'm due to
meet Professor McGonagall," she said, placing her napkin on her plate. "I'll see you
guys later."

ooo

The trek back to the common room was uneventful. She did not know why she had
suddenly felt like leaving her friends' presence but there was something in their
calculating looks that made Hermione uneasy.

Reaching the large portrait of Salazar Slytherin, Hermione raised her silver stone
and waved it across the surface. It faded to admit her and as she headed on
through, she came to a halt at the sight before her.

Draco stood in the study, running a finger along the spines of the books slowly,
obviously looking for one in particular. This would not have been unusual had he
been doing it fully clothed.

A fluffy black towel was wrapped around his hips, giving Hermione a thorough view
of his chest and arms. Although not toned with the muscles of a body builder,
Hermione could make out the lines and curves of his muscles quite well. A fine
scatter of fair hair scattered his chest and there was a single, perfect line proceeding
downwards from his belly button to whatever was below.

Hermione took an intake of breath, drawing his attention to her presence.

"Granger," he said, appearing quite startled. "I wasn't expecting you back so soon."

Hermione took very little notice of what he was saying. She was staring at his right
arm, her gaze lingering of the lightly toned muscle there.

Her face gradually got hotter and she turned away. "I'm sorry, Malfoy," she said,
staring at the carpet now.

"I was just going to have a shower," Draco said. Hermione raised her eyes to his.

"Then have it," she whispered.

Hermione could not read his facial expression but she knew that there was
something keeping him there for a moment longer than was allowed. Eventually, he
broke the gaze and headed to the bathroom door, opened it and then closed it.

Hermione listened carefully for the distant sound of the water being turned on before
moving an inch. Sinking into an armchair, she attempted to regain her composure. At
that moment, her brain was numb.

Draco Malfoy's half naked body should not have had that affect on her.

ooo

The next day, Hermione woke up to ice plastering the window that looked out to the
balcony. Shivering despite the heat of the room, Hermione got up and headed
downstairs for a shower. She looked around carefully before proceeding into the
large bathroom.

She began by turning on all the taps to the bath, pleased to watch it quickly fill with
water of a perfect temperature, the room filling with the musky scent of the bath
potions. Taking off the nightie she had worn to bed, she threw it into the dirty-laundry
hamper where it immediately disappeared. Hermione could only assume that it went
straight to the laundry.

Putting her hair up in a ponytail, she slid gracefully into the massive bath and
immediately relaxed. Sliding her soapy hands over her body in a massaging motion,
she felt the muscles loosen and she sighed, ignoring the thoughts that tried to come
to the surface.

Closing her eyes, she took deep breaths and tried to concentrate her thoughts on
Salazar Slytherin's journals. However, as she allowed the image of Rowena
Ravenclaw and Slytherin come to mind, she saw not the faces of the founders she
saw in pictures but of one Draco Malfoy and herself.

Shaking her head, Hermione slapped herself on the forehead for seeing such and as
she did so she was brought back to third year, her hand brutally slapping a pale,
pointed face that was twisted with hatred and then quite suddenly, the image of that
same boy, avoiding her eyes as his Aunt tortured her.

Hermione gasped and brought herself back to earth. It had been over a month since
Hermione had thought of terrors of the war. Swallowing thickly, Hermione dragged
herself out of the bath and proceeded to grab one of the black fluffy towels that
magically appeared on a rail nearby. Wrapping it around herself, Hermione threw
open the bathroom door and swept out of there, immediately clambering up the
stairs to her room.

She had not noticed the pair of wide grey eyes that had watched her glide across the
common room.
 Christmas
Chapter Five

The Christmas holidays began with a sudden decoration of the Head Quarters. Holly,
mistletoe and flashy baubles lined the high ceiling and there was a sudden
appearance of glittery candles, ribbon and tinsel lining the walls and furniture. A giant
Christmas tree, as large as those that decorated the Great Hall, stood peacefully in a
corner. It positively glowed with real life fairies, fake snow and even more baubles.

"I like it," Hermione said, noticing the snarl of disgust on Draco's face as he entered
the common room from the stairs. "It looks very festive."

"We're taking it down," Draco responded bluntly.

"No we aren't!" Hermione cried. "Just because your life ambition is to become the
grinch doesn't mean you have to spoil everyone else's Christmas, Malfoy."

Draco looked at her, waved his wand and a few of the decorations disappeared
before their eyes.

Hermione sighed, disappointed, and headed out of the room away from him.

Sitting at a table in the Great Hall, Hermione looked around to see that she was the
only Gryffindor staying back for the holidays. Looking around she spotted a pair of
twin, female second years from Ravenclaw who were taking it in turns to braid the
other's hair, three lonely students from different years sat at the Hufflepuff table while
the Slytherin table sat empty.

Moving her eyes back to the food in front of her, Hermione grabbed a piece of toast
and as she spread it with honey, she did not notice when Draco sidled into the hall
and took his place at the empty Slytherin table.

ooo

Over the first couple of days of the holidays, they made very little progress
concerning Salazar Slytherin's journals. Many of their theories still remained to be
proved or disproved and Hermione was getting quite agitated with Draco for reasons
she didn't know.

He sat there, pouring over books and notes while she did the same in the opposite
seat. She supposed that maybe it was too quiet for her liking or she preferred it
when they would argue one of the theories together. They had taken to doing that
often and Hermione had started to actually enjoy the fierceness in which he argued
an issue. It reminded her of the way she and Ron used to bicker and argue.

Hermione shook her head. "Ron," she muttered in disgrace in letting herself think of
the good moments with him.

"Aren't you over him yet, Granger?" Draco suddenly snapped.

Hermione looked at him and looked back at the page in front of her. "I didn't mean to
say that out loud – I – That's really none of your business, Malfoy."

"If it's affecting the work we're doing together than it is my business, Granger," Draco
sneered. "Is the red-headed Weasel affecting your ability to read? Wouldn't want
that, would we, Granger?"

Hermione did not respond and continued her reading. That wasn't the type of
argument she enjoyed having with Draco and therefore she wished not to encourage
it.

"What's the matter, Granger?" Draco snarled. "Missing Weasley? Tired of waking up
and finding that shagging him was only some disturbing dream?"

Hermione looked into Draco's face and knew through his eyes that somewhere
inside him he didn't mean his words.

"Don't say what you don't mean, Draco." His first name was foreign on her lips. She
felt like she needed to repeat it several times in order for it to sound right.

Hermione watched something flicker in those usually passive eyes and in that
moment she knew that she was right when she had told Ron that he had changed.

"What happened last year?" Hermione asked in a whisper. She knew he heard
because he shifted uncomfortably. "What was it like?"

"You saw me at the manor, Granger," he said, not looking at her. "You should know
what's going on in my head. You haven't been wrong yet."

"I know that you were scared," Hermione replied, still very quietly. "I know that you
were regretting having the beliefs you had."

"I couldn't kill Dumbledore," Draco said, his voice suddenly very low. "The Dark Lord
should have killed me –"

"But he didn't," Hermione said with a shrub. "Were you thankful for that?"
"He kept a death sentence on my family and me, Granger," Draco snapped. "He kept
us alive but we knew that if we didn't serve in a way that satisfied him, we would be
dead."

Hermione looked at him carefully. "In the Room of Requirement you told Crabbe and
Goyle not to kill us." Her voice was trembling now. "Was that only because of
Voldemort or – or something else?"

"I wanted him gone."

"Who? Harry?"

"The Dark Lord."

"Oh."

Hermione suddenly completely understood. He did not want to keep them alive in
order to give them to Voldemort. He just made it out as though that was the reason.
He knew Harry had to be the one who finally vanquished Voldemort. The only
mistake he made was that Harry wouldn't have been ready to kill Voldemort at that
stage. Not as the captured hero.

"I wanted to stop my aunt at the manor, too," Draco muttered. "I kept thinking about
the incident with Dumbledore, what he said to me –"

"You knew it was me but you tried to say that you didn't recognize me."

Draco and Hermione's eyes met. Silent tears were cascading down Hermione's
cheeks and Draco looked distressed.

"All that time and we thought you were cold and heartless," Hermione murmured.

"Potter and Weasley will always think of me that way," Draco snarled. "Just because
they testified for me in the courts doesn't mean they actually believed that I had
made a massive realisation and changed. You heard Weasley that night –"

"Yes I did," Hermione nodded somberly, looking away from Draco as she
remembered the way Ron had spoken to her that night.

"Are you over him yet?"

Hermione looked up at him and felt a flip in her stomach region. "I – I don't know."
And with that Hermione went back to the work in front of her, even though she knew
that she would not be able to concentrate on anything but Draco Malfoy, whose eyes
she could feel burning into her.

ooo

The next morning was Christmas. Hermione greeted Draco and all the presents
merrily. Draco seemed to have cheered up and even spared her a "Merry Christmas,
Granger" as he headed into the common room where Hermione was already tearing
paper from her many presents.

Hermione groaned as she opened a small dainty box to reveal a silver necklace with
a heart pendent. Draco, looking around, gazed at it with a snarl.

"That looks like the cheapest silver I have ever seen, Granger," he sneered. "I can't
say I share Weasley's taste."

Hermione closed the box, ignoring Draco's comment. "He shouldn't have gotten it at
all. Jewellery's something you get for a girlfriend."

"Or an ex-girlfriend you want back," Draco said.

He was watching her closely again and Hermione sincerely wished he wouldn't.

"Do you mind if we sit together at meals today, Granger?" Draco asked suddenly. "It
is Christmas after all."

"I – that would be lovely," Hermione said, swallowing an unusual lump that had
appeared in the region of her throat.

It was awkward going to breakfast together. This was quite understandable; they
weren't really friends as such and there was very little they could talk about. After
several minutes of walking in silence, Hermione gave in and asked a question
regarding a subject she very rarely chose to bring up.

"Why aren't you playing Quidditch this year?" she asked.

Draco looked at her. "Juggle Quidditch, NEWTs and Salazar Slytherin all in one
school year? I think not, Granger."

Hermione nodded absently. "What were you wishing to do once you've left
Hogwarts?"

"Law," Draco responded promptly.

"Really?" Hermione asked, interested. "What has inspired you to go in that
direction?"

"I enjoy arguing with you, Granger," Draco stated bluntly, as though he wished it
weren;t true. "So you were the one who inspired me."

Hermione smiled rather smugly. "How many NEWTs do you need for magical law,
though?"

"Very few really," Draco replied. "They encourage charms, potions and
transfiguration to gather knowledge on magic and they also require history of magic.
A thorough knowledge of Muggle life is also encouraged under Shacklebolt's law,
too."

"Are you doing Muggle Studies?" Hermione asked, shocked.

"No but I'm learning about them slowly," Draco responded with a shrug. "They
actually seem to be quite smart, creating electricity and building things by hand.
Those nuclear bombs, they put Avada Kedavra to shame."

Hermione looked at him incredulously. "Well yes I suppose," she agreed as they
reached the Great Hall and noticed the large round table in the centre of the hall. "If
you need any assistance in understanding it all –"

"Thanks, Granger."

Draco took a seat next to the Ravenclaw twins, who were both whispering excitedly
to each other. The eldest of the Hufflepuff girls was staring at Draco and Hermione
with wide eyes, obviously not believing her eyes.

Once they had eaten, Draco and Hermione went their separate ways. Hermione
grabbed a muggle novel and headed out onto the grounds to read it, while Draco
took refuge in the common room, sorting once more through all the notes they had
collected regarding Salazar Slytherin.

Hermione did not think a lot about the newfound tolerance she had in Draco's
presence. She only knew that she quite liked it. Harry and Ron had been rather
distant with her recently and as a result Hermione found she felt quite alone. She
refused to spend hours alone in her room and instead took to reading novels just as
she was now. In a way, it reflected her actions of early first year but Hermione did not
mind.
From atop the balcony they led out from their rooms, Draco stood, looking down at
Hermione's sitting figure by the lake, although Hermione did not notice. So absorbed
in her novel, she had little ability to wonder exactly what was making her accept
Draco as something other than the enemy he'd always been.
 Recovering
Chapter Six

"You think she fancies him?"

"He's Draco Malfoy!"

"Where are Potter and Weasley?"

"Why's she with him?"

The comments started to circulate the moment the new term began. Hermione
walked patiently alongside Draco as they headed to the library for further information
on the Hogwarts founders. She tried desperately to ignore the many loud whispers
by passes by, knowing that rumours would soon spread and she would have a lot of
people to answer to but part of Hermione did not mind.

Draco's presence had been quite enjoyable at times during the remainder of the
holidays. True, he had teased and argued with her about various things. Her hair, for
example, was something he never grew tired of mentioning but in the end Hermione
got the idea that he just liked getting a rouse out of her and that her hair was just one
way of getting at her.

Reaching the library, Hermione took from the shelves many tomes: The Four
Founders, The Secrets of the Hogwarts Founders and Hogwarts: A History were
included in the stack.

Opening the closest one, she scanned the contents and flipped to a page headed
Salazar Slytherin.

Quickly reading the page and frowning in annoyance, Hermione muttered a quiet
"useless" and pushed the book aside only to grab the next in her pile. Opening it,
she began to scan its contents page but looked up when she realized that Draco
was not copying her actions.

"What do you think you're doing, Malfoy?" she snapped, looking across the table at
him. "You don't honestly think I brought you along with me only to have you watch
me. Grab a book and research!"

"Yes, ma'am," Draco smirked but he just leaned back in his chair, watching her
easily, his smirk widening.
"Malfoy, I assure you that these books are far more interesting than my hand
slapping your perfect cheek!"

"Perfect, am I?" Malfoy's smirk widened, if possible, even more. "Can't resist my
flawless looks and devilish charm, Granger?"

Hermione stared at him, mouth open and unmoving.

"It's good to see your taste has improved. I mean to go from a Weasley to a perfect
prince like myself is one hell of an achievement.

Hermione closed her mouth, clenching her teeth and narrowing her eyes. "Perfect
prince?" she scoffed. "Whom might you be referring to? Neville? Because I must say
I agree. I'd let him place the glass slipper on my foot any day!"

That did its job. Draco sat forward and looked at her in slight confusion that he
quickly covered with a smirk. "You and Longbottom share a foot fetish? That's the
best news I've heard all day!"

Hermione couldn't help but smile at that. She grabbed a book from the stack and slid
it across the table at him.

"Now Granger I'm not going to find lonely doodles in here expressing your attraction
to socks, am I?"

Granger gave a fake chuckle and went back to her research. As she finished writing
a single note on the many myths associated with Salazar Slytherin, Hermione could
feel Draco's gaze on her once more. Taking a deep breath, she did not look up but
from then on she found her concentration was very much diminished.

ooo

Hermione sat quietly in the common room going through a box of old photos of
herself, the Weasleys, the Gryffindors, the DA and Harry. Coming across one of Ron,
she placed it in a pile to her right. This pile was dedicated to the photos she would
store in a different box, one that would be stored away for as long as was needed.

"Getting rid of old photos, Granger?" Draco asked from behind her, startling her
slightly. He picked up the pile containing the photo of Ron and sat in the armchair
beside her. Hermione made no move to stop him.

Hermione looked down at a photo of her and Harry, laughing happily at the camera.
"Granger, you look ready to dash away," Draco said, holding up a photo of her and
Ron from the summer holidays. The image of Hermione was trying desperately to
find a way out of the photo. "Did Weasley stink exceptionally bad that day?"

"Photos have a way of reflecting people's feelings even after the photo is developed,
Malfoy," Hermione informed him, standing up and heading over to the fire when she
dropped a practically familiar one of Ron. "I broke up with him. The image is
reflecting that by showing me trying to get away."

"Are you over him yet?" Draco asked. He was approaching her from behind as she
watched the photo of Ron's grimacing face shrivel and melt as the flames licked at
the sides.

Hermione turned and looked at Draco. He seemed too near and Hermione's breath
caught. As Draco handed over the other photos, his fingers grazed her own and
Hermione gasped slightly, looking right into his eyes. His fingers lingered for a
moment before he took a slight step towards her.

Hermione's brain went into overdrive and with lightning speed, she looked away and
headed back to her armchair to sift through more photos.

"I'm over him. But I'm still recovering," Hermione murmured and she knew, though
his retreat was silent, that Draco was gone.

oooooo

Draco could not believe it: he had wanted to kiss Hermione Granger. He could not
explain it nor did he want to see reason.

He just knew that at that moment, as she stood burning away her memories of
Ronald Weasley, he had wanted to kiss her. And he hated the very thought. Was he
developing feelings for her? Were all his urges of asking her if she was over Ron
really some strange way of his heart screaming "Oi! Pea-Brain! I like Hermione
Granger! Can we make a move yet?!"?

Draco shuddered. He would not believe it. He refused to even think of it.

And yet he was thinking it and he did believe it. All those moments where he
watched her and forced an argument from her were his way of getting her attention,
getting her to notice him and that very idea was something he hated (absolutely
hated) to consider.

Normally when he liked a girl he felt it in a region other than his head and heart but
this time was different and Draco wanted to shut the thoughts out and have them
never return.

He had feelings for Hermione Granger. It was not going to remain this way.

oooooo

Hermione's thoughts were a little less self-hating and much more skeptical than
Draco's.

Sitting in the common room, she assured herself that she had imagined the whole
ordeal. Draco had not been moving in for a kiss, he just moved his footing and it had
seemed like his intentions were on a totally other plane of existence all together.

Shaking herself, she went back to her photos and started once more dividing them
into piles. She ripped up one of her and Lavender from fourth year, which Hermione
found very satisfying and proceeded to sift through the large collection of memories.
It wasn't until she came across one of herself and Viktor Krum at the Yule Ball that
her concentration shifted and she found herself thinking of Draco again.

In the back of the photo and to the left of Hermione's periwinkle blue figure was a
blonde boy of fourteen with his arms crossed as he leaned back in his chair.
Hermione could just make out a frilly bit of pink lace beside him that brought a
terrible vision of Pansy to her mind's eye before it concentrated on Draco's younger
image. He looked sulky, but at the same time, proud. His high collared black dress
robes made him look mature for his young age and his hair, although always well
groomed, sat comfortable and neat upon his head. This however, was not what first
caught her eye. No, it was the direction his eyes; they were looking straight at the
Hermione in the photo, blinking lazily on occasion but never leaving her.

"You looked good that night," Draco said from behind her, making her jump and look
around. He was watching her every move again and although Hermione knew that it
should unnerve her like it once had, she now found herself comfortable under his
gaze.

"Yes well cosmetics and potions are manufactured for that reason," Hermione
retorted.

Draco walked round the couch and sat at one end of it. Hermione took a deep breath
and bit her lip, the air suddenly feeling heavy on her senses. She reached inside her
bag and grabbed the first book she felt. Pulling it out, she placed the Yule Ball photo
in it and went to place it back in her book bag only to have Draco stop her.
"The Darkest Art…" Draco read, staring at the book in shock. "Granger, what the hell
are you doing with a book on Horcruxes?"

"Voldemort," Hermione said simply, frowning at his expression.

"What about him?"

"Are you the only wizard in the known universe that ignored the many interviews
Harry, Ron and I conducted after Voldemort's death?"

"I have little reason to take note of anything Potter and Weasley say to the media,
Granger," Draco sneered.

"Well that's a first when you pay attention to what everyone else says about Harry,
Ron and I in the media!"

Draco shrugged. "What the hell does the Dark Lord have to do with that bloody
book, Granger?"

"Voldemort made Horcruxes," Hermione said simply. "Seven of them – well eight if
you include the fragment of soul that resided in Voldemort's own body."

"So that's why he didn't die the first time!" Draco realised rather excitedly. He rather
reminded Hermione of a puppy who'd just gotten its first chew toy.

"Yes," Hermione nodded. "I re-opened this one trying to find clues on other ways in
which wizards might preserve their life. Like Salazar Slytherin may have with his
power and the stones."

"You were going to tell me this when?" Draco snarled. "All this time I've been pouring
over love notes to Rowena Ravenclaw and you've been playing around with
information on Horcruxes and life preserving methods!"

"Well I really shouldn't have this book, that's why I didn't mention it," Hermione
replied. "I could get into real trouble for so much as looking at the cover!"

Draco, mouth open in awe, snatched the book from her and skimmed through it, the
photo falling out onto the floor. He picked it up and gave it a quick glance.

"Hiding this photo away for a reason, Granger?" Draco sneered. "Going to give
Viktor Krum another go now Weasley's out of the way?" He did not provoke her.

His gaze had fallen on the image of himself and he mentally gulped, closing the book
over the photo.
Even Horcruxes would not be able to shift his thoughts at that moment.
 Memories
Chapter Seven

"Should now be the time I raise my concerns about your fascination with
Horcruxes?" Hermione asked Draco late one evening.

"They are a extremely complex strand of wizardry, Granger," Draco said. "If you look
outside the fact that they are seriously 'The Darkest Art', they really are quite
fascinating."

"That coming from someone who has not been tortured by one the way I have,"
Hermione said, wishing her tone sounded snappier than it did. "You'd feel differently
if you'd experienced one's presence first hand."

"Granger, I'm tortured by you every day," Draco retorted. "I honestly think I could
endure a lifetime with Lord Voldemort's soul strapped around my neck."

"Yes you could exchange jokes and sip expensive tea together," Hermione joked
sardonically.

"I'm impressed, Granger, that was almost funny," Draco stated. "Go less on the
sarcasm next time and you might get half a chuckle from me."

Hermione smiled and Draco looked away. It wasn't just his brain and heart that were
singing Hermione's name in joy, anymore. That smile made other parts of his
anatomy physically stand up in applause.

Draco cleared his throat. "So, Granger, where did you find such a book like this?"

"I summoned them from the Headmaster's office at the end of sixth year," Hermione
responded absently.

"Them?" Draco repeated, looking at her again quickly. "There are more?"

Hermione looked at him. "Yes. About ten or so. Some are really vague. The Darkest
Art was by far the most detailed."

"So you don't think they will help us any?" Draco asked offhandedly.

Hermione was silent for a moment. "I can go get them if you really want…"

"I'll be here when you get back."

Hermione stood and headed up the stairs. Draco took a deep sigh and sat back,
stretching, mentally banging his head into a wall of lead.

"Why? Why? WHY?" he muttered to himself. "She's bloody Hermione Granger!"

Frustrated, he grabbed one of Salazar' Stones from the coffee table and
aggressively swiped it through the air. He had not expected to see a small vision of a
woman standing by a mirror suddenly appear in midair. The woman had long, curly
black hair and pale skin. She wore blue robes that hugged at her figure in a very
delightful way. As she ran an antique brush through her hair, she spoke words to
either herself or someone outside Draco's line of vision. The smile on her face
suggested that they were words of affection.

"Here they –" Hermione halted, staring at the vision as it disappeared. "Draco, what
was that?" Hermione voice seemed shocked for a moment as she stared at where
the image of the woman had been a moment before.

Draco looked down at the stone in his hand and twirled it between his hands. "I just
–" he repeated the action he had used before and a new image appeared, this time
of a dark man writing on a scroll of yellowed parchment.

"I've done that a hundred times and it's never done that!" Hermione exclaimed. "That
night with the vase was the only time I got anything!"

Hermione ran forward and snatched up the stone. She raised it into the air and made
the same swiping motion Draco had previously demonstrated. This time, they saw a
baby rocking in a cradle; a large window was in the background, displaying several
large trees.

Hermione looked at Draco, brow furrowed. "I – maybe – there's really only one way
to know –"

She picked up a different stone and swiped it through the air.

Nothing happened.

Draco grabbed it and did the same.

Again – Nothing happened.

Looking at each other, Hermione, still frowning him, bit her lip and turned her
attention to the vase she had used previously. Moving over to it, she swiped the air
before it with the stone. The vase filled with water, gliding it through the air again, the
water filled with the image of a photo melting as flames licked at every side.

As the image disappeared, Hermione looked at the stone and back at the one Draco
now held.

"Where's the other stone?" Hermione asked urgently. "The one we haven't tried?"

"It's over on the desk," Draco said, getting up. He headed over to the study and
grabbed the final platinum stone. "What do you think this one will do?"

"Show the future," Hermione whispered. Draco frowned at her. "There is a legend
about stones having clairvoyant properties," Hermione explained. "They are each
connected in some way to elements and personal DNA. The one with the man and
the baby were Salazar's memories. We see them through air. This one –" Hermione
held up the stone she had just used "-it reacts to water and shows the user's
memories."

"What makes you certain this one will show the future?" Draco asked, holding up the
third stone.

"It will react to fire," Hermione said, ignoring his question.

"But how do you know it won't just show more memories?" Draco questioned.

"I don't," Hermione shrugged. "It's just a theory."

"Well let's test it then," Draco said, heading over to the fire place.

"Are – Are you sure you want to do that, Malfoy?"

"Why not?"

Hermione took a deep breath as Draco leaned over and used the same sweeping
motion before the flames.

At first, nothing happened, but a moment later they were looking at themselves,
flames dancing around them. In the vision Draco stood a foot from Hermione and
they were holding a book between them. Hermione watched herself shift slightly
before looking down at the book. She took it from his hands and turned to place it in
her bag, a blush on her face. Draco licked his lips, looking uncertain before turning
away. The vision faded.

Draco and Hermione looked at each other, uncomfortable.

"I'd say we'd just fought," Draco said, trying to reassure himself.

"Yes that's likely." Hermione agreed hurriedly. She turned away, still biting her lip,
trying not to think about the image that had just moments ago swum before them.

A silence grew between them as they each retook their places on the couch. It was
obvious that they were both thinking about something although it was not as obvious
exactly what they were thinking of.

Suddenly Draco looked at the stone in his hand.

"Shouldn't there be another stone?" he asked Hermione abruptly.

"What – why – What makes you say that, Malfoy?" Hermione watched as he turned
the stone in his hand.

"You said these stones each react to an element," Draco said slowly. "We've got
stones that react to air, water and fire. What about one that reacts to earth?"

"Well I – Well I suppose you're right," Hermione said, sitting up. "But then if we look
at other properties of these stones, we have one that shows Salazar's memories,
another which shows the user's memories and then one that shows the future. What
could a fourth stone possibly show?"

That question was followed by silence.

Then Draco had a thought: "Why do two of them show memories and only one show
the future? Surely the fourth stone would be related to the future stone?"

"Not necessarily," Hermione replied. "One shows the user's memories, another
shows the user's future and then one showed Salazar's memories. The fourth stone
could be related to Salazar."

"Salazar's future?" Draco suggested.

It hit Hermione fully and completely like a tidal wave. "Ravenclaw loves riddles.
They're all about wit and the ability to put two and two together. We know that she
was there when Slytherin died, we know that she loved him..."

"Where are you going with this, Granger?"

"These three stones are a riddle," Hermione said, excited. "You have to solve the
riddle to find the fourth stone and that stone is Slytherin's power, his life. It is
Salazar's future. His life after death!"
"You are brilliant, Granger," Draco said lightly, picking up the stones.

Hermione grinned and grabbed the air stone, waving it through the air, she saw the
image of the woman in front of the mirror. Draco watched her as she seemed to take
in the entire picture.

"Err, Granger," Draco said lightly. "How do our memories and future come into a
riddle that was created a thousand years ago?"

"The stone chooses the memories and displays the future the way it feels,"
Hermione stated as though it was obvious.

"So us fighting over a book and you burning Weasley's picture is going to help us
solve a thousand year old riddle?" Draco asked incredulously. "You said you thought
Potter was crazy for jumping straight to the conclusion that he possessed two of the
Deathly Hallows and that Voldemort wanted the Elder Wand."

Hermione sighed. "But Harry was right."

Draco snarled. "Doesn't mean you are."

"I think this riddle goes beyond fighting over a book and the burning of a picture. It's
a riddle. It won't be that obvious."
 Clues
Chapter Eight

"So we have fire, a mirror, a letter, a baby and a book," Hermione said.

"It could be a fire, a photo, a letter, a baby and us arguing," Draco suggested.

Hermione swiped the stone through the air before the vase of water. Within it viewed
the common room with Hermione curled up before the raging fireplace in nothing but
her underwear, writing a long letter, tears dripping from her nose.

"More fire," Hermione stated smugly as the image disappeared.

"You do realise I could have walked down the stairs at any moment and seen you in
your underthings don't you Granger?" Draco asked. Hermione looked at him, a blush
covering her face. Draco moved away from the subject quickly. "Okay so your past is
filled with fire. It seems we're back on elements."

"Not necessarily Malfoy," Hermione stated. "Fire can be symbolic of war or tragedy."

"If you say so," Draco muttered. "What about Salazar's memories of Rowena's
vanity, his love notes and a baby?"

"It could symbolize family or in his case, secrets," Hermione suggested, "and our
future, could symbolise … well… books?"

Draco stared at her blankly. "Books? Maybe we should use the fire stone again?" he
made to stand up.

"Oh – I don't know, Malfoy," Hermione said, getting up and grabbing a book off the
shelf. "I don't really like the idea of knowing what my future holds."

Draco stood before her. "I don't think Sense and Sensibility is going to answer this
riddle, Hermione," Draco muttered, putting his hand out for the book.

"You – You know of Sense and Sensibility?" Hermione murmured, wondering if she
had imagined his use of her first name. She kept a firm hold on the book.

"Yes," Draco said, grabbing the edge of the book with both hands. "I find it a
complete waste of brain power."

Hermione nodded absently, looking into his eyes. "I suppose it is," she said quietly,
"but this actually belongs in my room so I might just put it in my bag so I don't forget
to take it up later –"

All of a sudden, Hermione was struck with the image from the fireplace and she
knew that this was it unfolding. Shifting on her feet to break the moment, she looked
down at the book and lightly took it out of his hands. Turning, she ignored the flush
on her face and placed the book in her bag slowly, taking her time before looking
back at Draco.

Turning around, she saw him standing by the fire, staring at the stone uncertainly. It
seemed his original desire to use it again had slipped away.

"Fighting isn't the clue from our future then, is it?" Draco said quietly. He looked
around at Hermione who shook her head quickly, taking deep breaths. "We best get
this over with then."

Swiping the stone over the fireplace, Hermione watched an image of Draco and
Pansy materialise in front of them. They walked into the common room and Pansy
stood crying. Draco looked annoyed and they were talking somewhat heatedly. The
scene produced no noise so they could not hear what was being said but just as
Hermione read the name "Granger" on his lips, an image of Hermione appeared on
the scene. She and Draco looked at each other for a long moment and then the
image faded.

Draco looked at Hermione. "Maybe what just happened wasn't the vision from our
future. Maybe we are still going to fight. I mean Pansy and I were certainly –"

"Why would the vision show me, though?" Hermione snapped. "Why?"

"Okay, we'll try another vision then," Draco said. He swiped the stone across the
entrance to the fireplace again and before them they saw themselves sitting silently
on the couch. Neither of them moved nor looked at each other. The Draco in the
image's hand gave a twitch but he recomposed himself quickly.

The vision faded.

"Well that was helpful," Draco stated sarcastically, "Lots of clues there."

He raised the stone again. "No, Malfoy," Hermione said from the couch. "No more."

They gazed at each other and Draco understood: she was scared. Scared of what
the future might hold.
Hermione grabbed her bag and headed up the stairs, knowing full well what the fire
stone was telling her.

She had feelings for Draco Malfoy.

ooo

The initial shock of realizing that she now saw Draco as more than a hateful ferret
took a long time to wear off. She saw it in his eyes that he too had made a similar
realization about his own feelings and that fate was certainly not on their sides.

No, fate wanted them kissing in front of fireplaces. Hermione was certain that if she
used that stone again, them kissing would be the next image to appear in front of
her. So she would cheat fate. She would avoid Draco's every presence, she would
get back with Ron and she would just stay the hell away from what the fire told her
would unfold if she didn't take control.

But she couldn't get back with Ron. She did try to fall back in love with him. Over
breakfast they held hands but the entire time she felt disgusted in herself. Lavender
was always around and Ron's hands just weren't as warm as they had once felt to
her.

So she looked elsewhere instead, much to Ron's disappointment. She considered

Neville and she spoke to Ginny about Dean but Dean was with Luna Lovegood and
Hermione didn't find Neville overly appealing. When she attempted to watch Neville
as he ate, her eyes always ended up flickering back to the Slytherin table, where
Draco sat with his eye on his pie, obviously deep in thought and oblivious to the
world.

"Hermione," Ginny said for the ninth time, concerned about her friend. "Why are you
staring over there?"

"He's changed you know," Hermione murmured. "He's not the same."

"Who isn't the same?" Ginny questioned, following Hermione's gaze. "Oh. Yes, I've
noticed too."

"You have?" Hermione asked quickly. "Ron thought I was crazy for thinking it."

"I never said he'd changed for the better, Hermione," Ginny said bluntly.

"Ron told you I defended him, did he?" Hermione asked through clenched teeth. "It
was months ago!"
"Hermione," Ginny whispered, looking at those around them cautiously. No one was
paying them any attention. "Are the rumours true? I mean I haven't believed a single
one up until now. Hermione, are you interested in Malfoy?"

Hermione stood up. "I have to go," she declared loudly and stormed away. Ginny
gave a false grin at a couple of Ravenclaw students that were now staring at her.
Leaned back in her chair, Ginny's eyes turned to watch Draco, whose eyes had
followed Hermione out of the Hall.

ooo

Draco and Hermione were each brainstorming ideas about the riddle to themselves
as they sat in the common room a week later.

"You've been avoiding me, Granger," Draco said suddenly.

"Have I?" Hermione asked warily, not moving her eyes away from her work. Her
voice automatically dropped to a whisper as she wrote down new ideas. "Ashes?
Smoke?"

"Yes, Granger, you have."

"Hmm." She could not muster a different response.

It was silent for a moment.

"There are rumours about us," Draco stated, "Pansy was in a frenzy when she heard
them."

"Yes I know about the rumours," Hermione responded blandly. "My own friends are
stupid enough to believe them."

"Really?" Draco drawled, a wide smirk appearing on his face.

Hermione looked up at him.

It was a mistake; she knew it the moment her eyes found his grey ones. Her
stomach did a violent flip, plummeted and somehow ended up in her throat.

Quickly, she shook herself and looked back down at the parchment in front of her.

Draco was silent from that moment on but Hermione could feel his eyes burning into
her flesh. Goose bumps rose on her skin and she shivered though not from cold.
She abruptly stood, avoiding looking at him. "Shower," she muttered. "No, a bath. I
need a bath."

And Hermione dashed across the room, shakily pulled open the bathroom door and
hurried in, slamming it behind her.

Leaning against the door, she stared at the empty bath. She didn't really need one;
she'd had a shower two hours previous. She had just needed to get away from
Draco.

As Hermione pulled her hair up in a clip and sank into the hot, relaxing water, she
was not aware of the eyes that had appeared as the door was pushed open slightly.

Draco watched her nude form from behind, licking his lips lightly as he did so. With a
tiny sigh, he closed the door and headed back over to his seat on the couch, where
he proceeded to stare at the fire, swirling one of Salazar Slytherin's stones in his
hand.

Turning towards the vase, he waved the stone through the air. Within the watery
contents, the scene with Sense and Sensibility played before his eyes only this time
from a different angle. He could see only Hermione, see only her reaction to him, the
mixed feelings in her eyes.

Draco sat back, running a hand through his hair.

What the hell was he turning into? Fancying Hermione Granger?

Draco looked back at the vase, where Hermione's naked back was disappearing into
a swimming pool of bubbles.
 Breathe
Chapter Nine

Hermione felt alone. As she sat in the Great Hall for lunch, waiting for the signal to
head off to her Arithmancy class, she felt very alone. Harry sat snogging Ginny four
seats down, Ron was busy mashing his own potato, Neville had a new plant that he
was poking with a quill and Parvati and Lavender had their heads together,
whispering. Hermione certainly didn't miss the glances they kept sending her way.

"You know, Granger, it's nice to answer someone when they say your name."

Hermione whipped her head around and her eyes met Draco who was, she couldn't
quite believe it, guiding himself down onto the seat beside her.

"Malfoy, what do you think you're –"

"Relax Granger," Draco drawled. "I just thought I would come and tell you that Pansy
is on the war path."

"And why should that affect me?" Hermione asked him, narrowing her eyes.

"Well I finally told her that I don't fancy her," Draco smirked.

"I don't understand?" Hermione said, swallowing.

"Well she thinks that I don't fancy her because I fancy you," Draco answered, smirk
still firmly in place.

"You told her that?!" Hermione cried.

"Sorry, let me rephrase that: she thinks I don't fancy her because she thinks I fancy
you," Draco said calmly, smirk flickering on his lips slightly.

"Why on earth would she think that, Malfoy?!" Hermione exclaimed.

"The rumours," Draco drawled simply. "Don't tell me you've forgotten Granger;
everyone is talking about it. Like Laverne and Shirley over there –" He indicated
Parvati and Lavender.

"How do you know who Laverne and Shirley are?"

"They were really famous witches when I was young," Draco said with a shrug. "My
mother listened to their Wireless shows all the time. Rather a bore if you ask me."

Hermione stared at him with her mouth open, not moving.

Draco smirked as he stood. "Breathe, Granger," he said lightly. "The colour purple
doesn't flatter your appearance any more than that hair does."

Hermione shut her mouth and looked around at the Gryffindor table. Several people
were staring at her.

Letting out a growl, Hermione stood up and stormed from the Hall, leaving her
raspberry pie lying untouched on her plate.

Hermione was thoroughly pleased when Arithmancy was over. She had been having
trouble concentrating since lunch and all she wanted to do was head back to the
common room, curl up on the couch and let her thoughts take over her existence.

However, in reaching the common room, she only felt worse; Draco would be back
there at any moment and then her thought process would either be halted into
numbness or sent into chaos. Dumping her bag beside an armchair, she sat down,
her back to the entrance, and pulled out Rosemary's Baby by Ira Levin, a muggle
novel her mother had sent her the previous day.

"Draco, that mudblood is scum! How can you like that thing?"

Pansy's tearful shriek from outside the room was loud enough to reach Hermione's
ears as though she were right beside her. Hermione had to assume the entrance
had been opened before she spoke again, because her voice grew tremendously
louder.

"All that hair! And the teeth! Do I need to remind you about her teeth?!"

Hermione felt fury well up inside her. Pansy obviously didn't know she was there or
otherwise did not care. Hermione closed her book and placed it beside her on the
chair, ready to jump in and defend herself if she needed to.

"Look Parkinson, I really don't want to talk about Granger –"

Hermione had stood. She watched the scene before her and as Draco's eyes met
Hermione's she realized that she should have expected this event to unfold
eventually anyway; the fire should have prepared her.

"YOU!" Pansy cried, tears staining her face. She ran forward, her arms raised as
though ready to strangle.

Hermione was too quick for her. In one swift movement Hermione had her wand out
and a protection charm between herself and the raging woman. Hermione composed
herself and gave Pansy a large, toothy grin.

Pansy doubled back in surprise.

Hermione moved her eyes away from Pansy and instead looked at Draco who was
watching the scene with a smirk.

"I assure you Pansy," Hermione said smoothly, "he's all yours."

With another grin, this time in Draco's direction, Hermione disappeared up the stairs
to her room.

Once there, she paid little attention to the explosion that was taking place beneath
her and instead grabbed Oliver Twist off the shelf to read. She managed to read for
several minutes before there was a knock on her door.

"Come in," Hermione called, not looking away from the book. She heard the door
open and waited.

"Here I was expecting you to be naked and waiting for me," Draco smirked.

Hermione looked at him, a light blush covering your cheeks. Draco watched as the
blush spread over her cheeks and as she looked away bashfully, Draco was
mesmerised.

"I went and saw Snape," Draco said after a moment. "He has a collection of books
that used to be in the Slytherin house common room. They're all on Salazar
Slytherin."

"That sounds promising," Hermione replied, still not looking at him.

"They're all down in the study," he informed her. He put a smirk in place. "Don't you
want to sift through them, cuddle them and kiss them?"

Hermione nodded and listened as he walked away. Slowly, she closed Oliver Twist
and followed him down the stairs. Reaching the study, she saw Draco sitting at a
desk watching her. She gave a small smile and moved her gaze to the pile sitting
beside him on the desk.

Walking forward, she sifted through the titles, grabbed one and started heading for
the living area when Draco grabbed her hand and swung her around. Looking up
into his eyes, Hermione felt her heart quicken and her breathing stop.

"Pansy's not going to hurt you," Draco said, his voice light. "I made sure she
wouldn't."

"Did you commit cold-blooded murder, Draco?" Hermione did not mean to let his first
name spill from her lips; it had just come out on its own. Hermione blamed the
situation and his closeness.

Draco shuffled slightly closer to her and Hermione bit her lip. He was leaning forward
before her hand rose to sit on his chest.

"No," she said in a strangled whisper. "No."

She lightly pushed at his chest as she took a step back.

"No."

She ran up the stairs and back to her room, the Salazar Slytherin book still in her
hands. She did not hear Draco words as she left.

"I take it you're over Weasley, then."

ooo

The next days presented a lot of awkwardness between Draco and Hermione.

Horace Slughorn, who had always loved Hermione's talent, had decided to grant his
favourite witch a real treat: working with Draco. As the two of them took turns in
preparing the ingredients, Hermione was having a lot of trouble demonstrating her
usual skill in potion making.

"Granger, if you're not careful you're going to make a Polyjuice Potion designed only
for killing the drinker," Draco muttered as Hermione's hand shook, ingredient in
hand.

"I know what I'm doing," Hermione replied firmly. "I've done this several times
before."

"Yes – impersonated my dear late aunt at all lately?"

"Just last night," Hermione replied lightly. "Ron finds it a real turn on in the bedroom."
"My, my," Draco drawled lazily. "Did I just hear Hermione Granger's mind enter the
gutter? Who ever would have thought?"

Hermione turned and glared at him but relaxed instantly at his smirk.

"Don't be ashamed, Granger," Draco continued. "I assure you that my presence has
that affect on every woman."

Hermione pretended as though she did not hear.

"I also happen to know that you are over Weasley," Draco said. "And I doubt the two
of you ever shagged. I mean you're a smart little witch and you would've known just
by kissing him that his –"

"Pass me the lacewing flies, please, Malfoy," Hermione snapped.

"Dear Hermione, you know the words that get me going," Draco drawled in her ear,
passing her the jar.

Hermione caught him off guard at that. Turning her face towards his, he suddenly
found himself staring very closely into massive pools of dark cinnamon.

Hermione blinked bravely. "I didn't know Malfoys had such bizarre fetishes.
Lacewing flies I ask you?"

"Watch that filthy month of yours, Granger," Draco retorted, "Or I'll get what I wanted
from you last night."

Hermione backed away, bumping into their cauldron, her robes catching fire.

"Hermione!" Came Ron's frightened call across the dungeon but Hermione had
already withdrawn her wand and extinguished the flames, composing herself.

Draco gave her a wicked smirk of triumph.

Hermione looked dazed for a moment before moving to the desk, casting a side-
glance at Draco, who was still watching her.

Heart beating furiously, Hermione smiled while mentally kicked herself.

"Breathe, Hermione," she scolded herself quietly. "Breathe."

 Cravings
Chapter Ten

Draco decided that he rather liked to tease Hermione about her obvious attraction to
him. True, he was quite sure that he himself had lost all the brains in his head to ever
consider kissing her. If his mentally challenged brain had any sense whatsoever it
would stay the hell away from her.

But instead, he initiated to be around her whenever possible. At the end of

Arithmancy, he would stay behind as she slowly put her books away. As she left the
room, he followed close behind before passing her and taking an obvious whiff of her
long curls. Not only did this keep Hermione on edge, it also helped ease some of
Draco's many cravings for the essence of Hermione Granger.

He especially enjoyed the fast tongue that was used when she finally went insane
from his teasing.

"For the name of Merlin, Malfoy, what could possible be so interesting about my
ear?!" she screeched as he sat right beside her on the couch in the common room
and stared intensely at her ear lobe, where a single silver earring was glittering in the
light.

Draco leaned closer and breathed in. The smell of her hair sent shivers down his
spine in the most pleasant way.

Hermione shot up out of her seat and looked at Malfoy wildly. Draco smirked up at
her. He loved a raging lioness.

He didn't quite listen to what she had to say. He only knew she was furious; the flush
on her face did wonders for a certain part of his anatomy and her thick curls seems
to prickle with currents of electricity. Once finished, Hermione slumped back down in
her chair in a huff.

Draco noticed that she hadn't even tried to move further away from him; instead, she
seemed to have moved closer. Draco smirked.

Hermione, noticing, merely glared.

ooo

Hermione was unscrewing and screwing the lid of the tub of Sleekeazy's Hair Potion
that sat in her hand. She didn't know why she suddenly had the desire to use it; she
certainly refused to believe Draco was the reason.

There was a knock on her door and Hermione hurriedly stuffed the tub in a book bag
that lay nearby.

"Yes?" she called, turning to the door.

Draco opened the door and sidled in a few steps, a plate in his hands. "Not ready
and waiting for me, Granger?" he drawled.

Hermione frowned. "I – What?"

"Innocence," Draco whispered to himself. He thought it would turn him off, but
instead it did the opposite. "You weren't at dinner."

"So you assumed I was waiting for you?" Hermione asked, confused.

"Granger, if I said the word 'sex' would you scream and cover your ears like an
immature eleven year old?"

"Sex? You want sex?"

Hermione scolded herself. Why was she not thinking straight?

Draco merely stared. Something was seriously wrong. He wanted to see fire in her
eyes.

"I bought you back a plate," he said. He indicated the food in his hand. "You want it
in here or downstairs?"

"Downstairs," Hermione replied. She stood, grabbed the plate from Draco's hand
and headed on down the stairs.

Draco took a deep breath and looked around the room, trying to find evidence to
what had gotten her in her current state.

Just as he was about to turn and head out of the room, his eyes caught a flash of
bright purple protruding out of the book bag that sat on the floor beside where
Hermione had been sitting a moment before. Heading over to it, he pulled it out.
'Sleekeazy's' stood out in red on the label.

Draco pocketed it, not quite sure why.

Heading down the stairs to the common room, he noticed Hermione was only
pecking lightly at her food. He took a seat next to her and stared blankly ahead.

"What's up, Granger?" Draco questioned.

Hermione took three tiny bites of pie before answering. "You."

Draco sat back and finally made the realization: this was no longer a game.

"You're everywhere," Hermione continued after a moment.

"No I'm not," Draco said with his voice coming out in a slight snarl.

"You're everywhere I am," Hermione retorted, looking at him closely. "You follow me,
you stare at me. That day in potions, the night before that day in potions…"

"What are you saying, Granger?" Draco snarled, sitting up. "Are you saying I'm a
stalker?"

"Well maybe I am!" Hermione exclaimed, glad for a reason to raise her voice. "You're
constantly there, by my side, annoying me! You nose into my business! You're
making me lose my head! Why Malfoy? Why?"

Hermione didn't know why she asked it – she knew the answer. Their presence
together had the same affect on her. Just arguing with him created a fire in her that
had never been associated with arguing with him before this year.

Draco said nothing. He merely sat back. Hermione picked up her fork and made to
throw it down again. Draco grabbed her hand to stop her.

"Didn't know you were the violent type, Granger," he said, taking the fork from her
with a swift movement of his other hand.

Hermione took one look at his hand holding hers, wishing he would pull it away but
at the same time hoping that it stayed.

"Why?" Hermione could feel tears building but forced them not to.

"Sometimes things get out of control, Granger," Draco said. "I thought you were the
wise one here?"

"You're just as wise," Hermione replied, drawing her hand away from his and sitting
back. "If we don't get it into control soon then –"

"I am in control," Draco drawled confidently. "I was in control of my body when I was
following you and staring at you, Granger!"

Hermione looked him in the face. "Why would you want to follow and stare at me,
Malfoy? You're supposed to be repulsed by me!"

Silence fell between them. Hermione slowly shifted to her right, creating some
distance between them.

"I'm supposed to be repulsed by you," Draco murmured finally. "That doesn't mean I
am."

Hermione just sat there silently, staring at the wall ahead, just as Draco was doing.
Several minutes passed and neither made much movement. Hermione thought she
felt Draco's hand twitch beside her but ignored it. After a while, the awkwardness got
too intense and Hermione stood and headed for the stairs.

"Thanks for the food," she said softly before she disappeared.

Draco shifted and pulled the tub of Sleekeazy's Hair Potion from his pocket.
Unscrewing the lid, he smelt the contents before closing it again. Aiming for the bin
in the study, Draco threw the tub and it landed with a light thud against the many
screwed up pieces of parchment within it.

He preferred her hair without it.

ooo

Hermione was herself again by the next morning. She overslept slightly despite
going to sleep earlier than normal but she had found that she had been coming over
more fatigued than usual due to an increase in her emotions and her overly active
hormones.

As she headed down the stairs, she noticed a large plate of pancakes sitting on the
coffee table with several of Salazar Slytherin's books.

"I hope you don't mind, Granger," Draco said, "but I got us some food from the Great
Hall. We need to get stuck into this bloody riddle. A few more months procrastinating
and the year will be over."

"I don't procrastinate, Malfoy," Hermione said stiffly. "I take my time in theorising."

"Well no theories have proven helpful yet."

Hermione glared and grabbed a pancake. Tapping her wand against it, it smeared
with honey.

"There is maple syrup on the table, Granger," Draco drawled, pointing at the bottle
as though the bright orange label should have been more obvious for her eyes.

"Thank you, Malfoy but I had a craving for honey," Hermione said. "The house elves
aren't likely to miss a tablespoon of honey."

Draco shrugged and sat down beside her. The last thing he wanted was the smell of
honey on her lips.

"I think fire is our clue," Hermione said after having a mouthful.

"What does fire have to do with a baby, Granger?" Draco asked rather harshly. "We
know Helena Ravenclaw didn't burn to death as a child."

"Love."

"What?"

"All the clues represent love."

"How do we represent love, Granger?"

"The book, Malfoy: Sense and Sensibility, followed by Pansy fighting with you
because she believed that there was something go on with us and then … last
night."

"Last night?"

"The scene we saw with us on the couch. We fought and tried denying our feelings
for each other. But it's obvious. They are there."

Draco was silent. He was not ready for this conversation. He hoped Hermione would
change the subject.

"A baby is created by making love," Hermione continued and Draco breathed out a
sigh of relief. "Slytherin was writing a letter – a love letter perhaps?"

"What about the mirror?" Draco asked. "Rowena Ravenclaw was in love with
herself?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "You said she was talking to someone in that vision."
"You think it was Slytherin?"

"Yes. Okay so what about the fire? How does fire represent love?"

"It represents passion," Hermione replied promptly.

"And passion represents love?" Draco drawled in disbelief.

Hermione merely nodded.

 Love
Chapter Eleven

"So how do we test this new theory of yours, Granger?" Draco asked. "If the answer
to the riddle is love, how do we get that bloody stone? Do we have to dance naked in
a circle chanting the bloody word?"

"I think an act of love would be more successful than that, Malfoy."

"Granger!" Draco cried sardonically. "Are you asking me to shag you?"

Hermione flushed red. Of course he would draw that conclusion.

"No – I – that's not my point, Malfoy."

Draco raised an eyebrow and made to untie his robes.

"What are you doing?" Hermione cried, jumping away from him on the couch.

"Well I prefer to shag naked," Draco smirked, "but if you have a fetish for fine cotton
rubbing against your skin, I'm happy to grant your wish."

Hermione gaped at him. "That is not necessary."

Draco thought that anything that sounded so much like Professor McGonagall would
turn him off for the rest of his years as a pureblood wizard. He was wrong.

Draco stopped and stared at Hermione for a moment. She had his body in a
complete twist.

Hermione recomposed herself. "I think maybe it goes beyond just doing something,"
she said. "I mean, you and Pansy have probably shagged down here –"

"Pansy may have dreamed of it but it never happened – Ever."

Draco didn't quite understand the sudden need to assure her of this.

"Never?" Hermione asked.

"Not with her," Draco replied.

"Who…?"
"Mandy," Draco said with a shrug. "Sixth year."

"Sixth? You found time to –"

"I needed it, Granger," Draco breathed. "Especially around the time of Potter's
Sectumsempra accident. It took my mind off things."

"You were dating Pansy –"

"Not during the later half."

Draco and Hermione looked at each other. "I don't know why I wanted to know –"

"Merlin, Granger," Draco said suddenly, his tone slightly strangled. He suddenly
moved closer to her, startling her. "Why are we even bothering?"

"Bothering?" Hermione's breath was coming out fast and uneven.

Draco moved his head forward and gave her a light kiss on the lips. It was so soft
and it was over so quickly that Hermione never got a chance to let it register.

Hermione's hand scooted to his chest and she pushed him away slightly. They
looked into each other's eyes. Hermione bit her lip.

"It seems like the right thing to do," she whispered, hoping he would understand.

The last thing she had expected at that moment was for Draco to kiss her. Last night,
they avoided admitting their feelings completely. It seemed that now all they wanted
to do was have them out and clarified. It confused Hermione beyond belief.

Draco frowned at her words, not knowing what she had been referring to.

"Denying it seems like the right thing to do," Hermione elaborated, noticing his own
confusion.

Draco picked up the fire stone abruptly and headed to the fire. With one swipe
across it, an image of them kissing arose from the fire. They were surrounded by
darkness but Hermione knew that they were at the entrance to the forbidden forest –
she could make out a single branch of a tall tree.

"Denying it might not be effective enough in the future, Granger."

With that Draco left, heading up the stairs to mull over his thoughts.
Hermione sat back in the cushions of the couch in disbelief.

He actually seemed to want something to happen between them.

Brushing her fringe from her eyes, she stood and hurried out of the common room.

ooo

"Hermione, you can't have feelings for Malfoy!" Ginny cried.

"Why not?" Hermione questioned. "I'm human. He's human."

"This goes beyond humanity, Hermione."

"How so?"

"He's Malfoy."

Hermione took a deep breath. "A changed Malfoy." She put a great deal of emphasis
on the word 'changed'.

"A few days ago you were complaining about him following you," Ginny said, "and
teasing you."

Hermione nodded. "Yes but I only complained because it made my whole body go
haywire. I was going mad, Ginny!"

"Hermione, you're not thinking of…" Ginny hesitated for moment "…having sex with
Malfoy?"

"I –"

"Who's having sex with Malfoy?" Harry had arrived.

Hermione panicked and quickly came up with an alternate conversation.

"I was just telling Ginny that Malfoy has never had sex –"

"Malfoy's a virgin?"

"No," Hermione snapped. "If you'd let me finish. He's never had sex with Pansy."

"So he does have taste then?" Harry asked, chuckling.

"Apparently," Ginny said with a twinkle in her eye as she pointedly gave Hermione a
side-glance.

Harry was oblivious; he grabbed a banana and started unpeeling it.

"Speaking of shagging," Harry said, looking at Ginny. "Ron –" He looked at Hermione
suddenly.

"Ron what, Harry?"

"Ron shagged Lavender," Harry replied after another moment of hesitation, "last
night apparently."

They both waited for Hermione's reaction. She merely nodded and dropped her fork.
"Well at least he has better taste than Malfoy, right?"

Ginny stood as Hermione stood. "I wouldn't say that if I were you, Hermione," she
said, looking at her friend carefully.

Hermione looked at Ginny for a moment. She may have just shared her feelings with
Ginny but she had not spoken a word of Draco's. Did Ginny possibly know? Was
Draco possibly showing more outward signs that Hermione had noticed?

After a moment, Hermione gave Ginny a small nod and started to leave.

Ginny looked at Harry who was frowning, having just watched the scene before him.
"Sorry Harry," she said and she started to follow Hermione. "Hermione!" she called.

Hermione didn't turn back.

ooo

Hermione stood hesitantly at Draco's bedroom door. Mustering up some courage,

she raised her hand and quickly knocked.

Receiving no response, Hermione breathed out deeply and knocked again, her hand
shaking.

Again no one answered. Summoning her courage, Hermione hesitantly turned the
doorknob and opened the door a crack. When she still got no response, she pushed
it open wide.

She had never seen Draco's room. It was exactly the same as her own only Draco's
linens were silver and green rather than scarlet and gold. To her right sat a collection
of issues of The Daily Prophet, all of which appeared to be from the summer
following the end of the war.

Grabbing the top one, Hermione saw a photo of herself, Harry and Ron gazing up
with small plaques in their hands. Gracefully crossing his room, she headed out onto
the balcony where she stood at the railing, the newspaper open in her hands.

After several moments of pleasantly reading interviews she and her friends had
conducted regarding the war, Hermione was startled to suddenly hear a voice behind
her.

"I see you let yourself into my room, Granger."

Hermione hurried turned to look at Draco, the newspaper falling from her hands onto
the balcony floor.

"I was looking for you," she explained hurriedly, scooping up the newspaper. She
stared at the front page for a moment. "I thought you said you never read any of
this?"

"I did after you told me to, Granger," Draco replied.

"I never told you to do anything," Hermione said. "I was just surprised is all…"

"Granger, we need to talk," Draco said abruptly. "We need to put up some good
strong boundaries because I don't want this morning to repeat itself."

"Agreed," Hermione said with a nod. "However, I honestly don't think boundaries will
do us much good. We've tried them before. I've tried avoiding you, I've tried to stop
these feelings and I've most certainly tried to prevent anything like this morning from
happening."

"Is there any brilliant ideas in that bushy head of yours then, Granger?" Draco
watched her closely. She was standing quite confidently before him as though she
had a bright idea in that very clever head of hers.

"We don't avoid each other," she said simply. "We remember how much we used to
hate each other and go back to that."

"No," Draco said.

"No?" Hermione said. "Can I ask why not? We were both happy then."

"These feelings make me enjoy getting your knickers in a twist Granger," Draco
replied simply. "Hating you would only make you all the more desirable."
"Well that's only because you're a disturbed little boy," Hermione snapped.

"I can assure you Granger, I am far from little," Draco smirked.

"Well then Mr Malfoy," she said smartly. "You're as wise as I am. What do you have
in mind?"

Draco did not respond because if he said what were on his mind at that moment it
would certainly break the boundaries they hadn't quite set yet.
 Boundaries
Chapter Twelve

By the next day, unspoken boundaries had been put in place.

Draco and Hermione each sat in separate chairs; if Draco was on the couch,
Hermione was in an armchair. They also chose to completely avoid talking of
anything but the riddle and kept the riddle's answer as a passing word only with very
little discussion whatsoever.

At lunch, they left for the Great Hall separately and they avoided looking at each
other at all. Hermione even told Ginny not to bring up Draco Malfoy or any other
Slytherin, therefore allowing her brain to rest and think of something else for the first
time in weeks.

"But this is serious, Hermione!" Ginny stated impatiently through clenched teeth.

"I don't want to talk about it even for a second, Ginny!" Hermione retorted in a hiss.

Ginny shut her mouth and changed the subject.

"What about Ron?" she asked. "Are you upset he slept with Lavender?"

"I wasn't surprised," Hermione said, relieved at the change of subject. "He and I
broke up months ago. I haven't thought about it much."

"Because of Mal-?"

"I said no, Ginny!"

And with that Hermione got up and headed out of the Great Hall towards her
Arithmancy class.

Reaching the corridor, she slowed her pace and continued onwards hesitantly when
she saw Draco leaning on the wall by the door.

"Granger," he acknowledged as she reached him.

"Malfoy," she nodded.

"Have a good lunch?"

Hermione looked at him, pursing her lips tightly. "The pie was especially tasty today."

Draco nodded.

"Look, Granger," Draco pulled himself away from the wall, "I r-"

Lavender Brown's squealing laughter traveled around the corner at the end of the
corridor, immediately followed by the blonde girl herself.

"Won-Won, don't tease me like that!"

Hermione looked away and avoided Draco's eyes.

"I'm not teasing, I'm promising," came Ron's much quieter tone.

"Ooooh I can't wait!"

"Hermione." Ron's voice cracked in noticing her and he came to a stop.

"Hullo Ron," Hermione said in a scathing tone. "Best not tease; poor Lav-Lav will go
purple with anticipation."

"I – yeah – right," Ron said, his ears red. "I'll see you later at dinner? Yeah – later…"

The redhead continued down the corridor with his girlfriend clinging to his arm and
whispering in his ear.

"I thought you were over him?" Draco said, wishing at that moment that his smirk
would obey him and appear on his lips.

"Not that it's your business but I am," Hermione snapped. "I just don't need the
constant reminder as to how it went wrong in the first place."

"He's a Weasley," Draco sneered. "It was bound to go wrong."

Hermione looked at Draco with narrowed eyes. "The Weasleys are my friends –"

"That doesn't mean they have to be mine, Granger."

They gazed at each other a moment before looking away abruptly when a new group
of students came round the corner towards them.

ooo
"… How about the Astronomy Tower?" Draco suggested. "A secret closet?"

"Salazar Slytherin and Rowena Ravenclaw make a secret closet?" Hermione

repeated disbelievingly. "I think they would have had more taste than that."

"Fine – Ravenclaw has secret quarters like these ones," Draco said impatiently.
"Granger, we're pulling ideas out of thin air here –"

"That's precisely what brainstorming is, Malfoy," Hermione snapped. "All the ideas
are within reason. I mean a closet is a little unflattering for them but being a closet
connecting to the Astronomy Tower I suppose it's quite romantic."

"I never thought of you as the Astronomy Tower kind, Granger."

"That's because I'm not," Hermione retorted. Her tone relaxed as she continued in a
mumble. "Lakes and trees do it for me."

"Really?" Draco smirked. "How very alike you and I are, Granger."

"I thought we agreed not discuss these kinds of subjects, Malfoy?" Hermione
questioned uncomfortably.

"I don't remember us coming to any agreements, Granger."

These words were followed by silence. Hermione sat there, scribbling ideas onto
parchment while Draco laid back on the couch, his ankles crossed and his hands
crossed behind his head.

In between thoughts of the riddle, its answer and where Salazar Slytherin and
Rowena Ravenclaw may have hidden a stone containing Slytherin's power,
Hermione thought of the one thing she had been trying desperately not to think
about: Draco.

As she sat in the armchair grabbing random ideas out of the air, she couldn't help
but realise that her relationship with Draco had become exactly how she could
imagine Ravenclaw's and Slytherin's would have been. True, she and Draco had
never held a friendship like the one described in books on the founders. But they had
always had their differences in opinion, beliefs and mannerisms.

It was now that Hermione realized how she and Draco had seemed to have put the
majority of that behind them. She no longer felt the need to slap his face or laugh at
him about being turned into a ferret. In fact, Hermione realized, Draco had helped
her to grow up, accept the past and look only to the future.
"Oi, Granger," Draco suddenly said, "have you still got that mirror that got fried by the
basilisk?"

"No, I don't," Hermione said tiredly. "Do you honestly think I wanted to keep that as a
reminder of what I saw?"

"Just thought maybe it might help us," Draco replied offhandedly.

"How could it possibly help?" Hermione questioned, looking at Malfoy with narrowed
eyes.

"Well it's related to Salazar Slytherin and there's a mirror in one of the memories –"

"It's related to Slytherin because I made it be!" Hermione snapped. "Now if you're not
going to be of any help – leave!"

Draco smirked and only made himself more comfortable.

ooo

A week later Hermione was in ruins. After months of slowly adjusting to life after the
war, Hermione found herself falling back into misery. Her world was once more filled
with images of Voldemort, Harry's presumed dead body lying at Hagrid's feet, Fred
lying lifeless covered in debris from a crumbled wall and Draco lying on the ground,
coughing and spluttering and choking out Vincent Crabbe's name.

Hermione often contemplated what was causing it. The images appeared in her
mind so clearly, as though she was watching it all over again. She had stopped
carting one of Salazar's stones with her, believing that perhaps it was these that
were causing her to relive them so vividly.

"I thought you'd stopped having crazy moments, Granger," Draco suddenly said,
noticing from across the common room.

"Why don't you hang around with Goyle anymore?" Hermione asked abruptly. "He
hasn't been here for ages…"

"Well after Crabbe –"

"He's dead," Hermione said, "Goyle isn't."

"I still hang with him in class –"

"But not as much as you once did."

"Granger, is it really your business?" Draco suddenly snarled. "The war changed
everyone even if some of us can't admit it. I changed. I don't want to be part of any
of it anymore."

Hermione fell silent and allowed the memory of the Room of Requirement from the
year previous filled her head.

"Don't kill him! DON'T KILL HIM!"

The words were followed by the scene with Draco hiding behind a wardrobe and
then Draco dragging Goyle's stunned body as quickly as he could, away from the
fiendfyre. Then she saw him clutching Goyle on top of a tower of charred desks.

Hermione came back to earth and saw Draco standing over her, looking at her
closely.

"You asked them not to kill Harry," she said softly, looking at him.

"Granger –"

"Whose side were you on?" Hermione whispered. "You told me you wanted
Voldemort gone but did you really want Harry to succeed?"

"Yes," Draco said firmly. "From the moment I pointed my wand at Dumbledore on the
tower, I was on Potter's side. I was just too scared."

Hermione watched him as he slumped down onto the couch beside her.

"I was a coward," Draco continued. "You saw me at the manor; I didn't know what to
do. In the Room of Hidden Things, I was caught between seeing you, Potter and
Weasley die at the hands of my friends or handing you to the Dark Lord and hoping
you'd escape and kill him. You call me wise… Well I'm not, Granger."

"You are," Hermione insisted. "The war has helped you mature, Malfoy. You stand on
your own two feet now."

Draco looked into Hermione's eyes again. "Weasley's not wise at all."

"You know to stay clear of that subject, Malfoy," Hermione warned.

"I was just stating the obvious, Granger," Draco replied. "His every action reflects it."

Hermione smiled as she tried to block out images of herself and Ron from the last
three years. She was unsuccessful; her mind flashed from images of watching him
make out with Lavender in the common room days after she asked him to Slughorn's
Christmas party, to the night he abandoned her and Harry the year before, to the
time they kissed in the Room of Requirement. Finally her mind paused on watching
him walk away with Lavender clinging to his arm outside her Arithmancy class.

"I should have shot birds at him again..." As the words left Hermione's mouth, Draco
laughed, causing Hermione to do nothing but stare, surprised.

He stopped abruptly when he noticed her gaze and as their eyes connected, they
each looked away.

The unspoken boundaries had been broken again.

 Amortentia
Chapter Thirteen

"Something's going on."

"What do you mean?"

"Where's that Parkinson girl, then?"

"She's a Muggleborn Gryffindor!"

"So? People say he's changed…"

"He is Head Boy..."

Hermione rolled her eyes. Every time she and Draco left the common room together,
people jumped to conclusions.

On this particular day, she and Draco had accidentally run into each other in the
library where they each separately gone to work on their current Potions essay.

"Granger," Draco acknowledged, taking a book from the shelf and quickly flipping
through the pages.

"Malfoy," she said, scanning the shelf. "You haven't seen Moste Potente Potions
have you?"

Draco held up the book in his hands.

"Oh," Hermione said. "Were you planning on using it?"

"Yes, Granger," Draco replied gently. "No book is better in explaining the effects of
Amortentia."

"That's true," Hermione nodded. "Well do you mind if I borrow it after in the common
room?"

"Sure," Draco replied, "I was heading there now."

"Oh." Hermione hesitated a moment. "Okay."

Together they headed out of the library, Hermione awkwardly playing with her hands.
Classes had only just ended and there were still quite a number of students in the
corridors.

"I heard they share living quarters," whispered one staring second year.

"Maybe they're just doing one of their duties, Clarissa."

"Duties? They still have their bags."

Draco and Hermione looked at each other and walked slightly faster, Draco nearly
bumping into a fifth year girl who was watching them with narrowed eyes.

"He is so hot," she muttered to her friend after they had passed. "What on earth does
he see in her?"

Hermione stared daggers at the girl, who quickly dashed away.

ooo

"Granger, tell me what you smell," Draco demanded over the misty cauldron where
the smoke was rising in hypnotizing spiral shapes.

"New parchment, freshly mowed grass and – oh this is ridiculous. It's working. That's
all we need to know. We shouldn't have to answer these silly questions!"

"Granger, if you don't say it I'm just going to write my full name and keep the rumour
mill happy," Draco threatened.

"What do you smell then?" Hermione demanded.

"That's my business, Granger," Draco replied.

Hermione glared at him before looking at the next task. "We have to try it?" she
hissed. "It's illegal!"

"The Ministry believes it safe under controlled conditions, Miss Granger," Slughorn
called merrily. "I have the counter-potion right here."

Hermione and Draco looked at each other. "Well it's got my hair in it Granger and I'm
already quite fond of myself so why don't you take a sip?"

Hermione narrowed her eyes and looked around. Many students had already taken
the plunge. Neville was currently running around his cauldron avoiding Pansy's
advances.
"Okay," Hermione sighed to herself, filling a small glass. "One sip."

She hesitated for a long moment, Draco watching her closely. Quickly, she took a
sip.

It tasted like the world's greatest tasting hot chocolate. It melted in her mouth and
spread through her every vein. She felt completely calm and relaxed.

Draco watched her as she turned to him, knowing he would have to stop her
advances to avoid people knowing about his feelings for her.

"You're beautiful," Hermione said breathlessly, raising a hand and touching his
cheek.

Draco froze. She had him completely in her bind the moment she touched him.
"Granger," he croaked. "Don't do this."

He knew it was hopeless; she was under the power of the potion. He could not stop
her unless she was given the counter-potion right that moment.

"Draco…" she whispered, stepping closer.

Draco could feel people watching them, feeling Ron's glare and Harry's wide eyes
penetrating him.

"Granger –" he warned. "You don't want to do this. You would normally refuse to do
this…"

And she stopped. Looking at him carefully for a moment, her brain was in a fog.
"Malfoy?" she said, looking confused. She took a step back. "Surely it hasn't warn
off…"

"Miss Granger, you fought it!" Slughorn announced tremendously. "So much talent –
I'm not surprised! Wonderful, wonderful…"

Draco and Hermione looked at each other for a minute, giving each other calculating
looks.

"I still feel weird," Hermione said, frowning. "I still feel like the potion made me feel."

Slughorn stopped his chants of 'wonderful' and looked at her. "Still feel –?" he looked
from Draco to Hermione. "Then how…? What were you saying to her Mr Malfoy?"

"That she didn't want to do it," Draco replied.

Slughorn looked confused and then looked at Hermione. "Oh."

It seemed the large professor had realized the answer to his own question. "Very
well," he said. "It is possible to fight it the way you did. Yes, very possible that the
potion couldn't take complete control of her…"

The entire class was watching him, waiting for an explanation. But it did not come.
With one last look at Draco and Hermione, he turned to the rest of the class.

"Class dismissed for today. You can get a early start on homework."

The class filed out, leaving Draco and Hermione with Slughorn.

"What caused me to resist, Professor?" Hermione asked.

"Amortentia is a powerful love potion, Hermione," Slughorn explained. "But it seems

it was not really required for you."

Hermione frowned. "Feelings, Hermione," Slughorn elaborated, looking between her

and Draco. "Strong feelings for the person whose essence resides in the potion will
render the potion much less effective as the love is already beginning to build
naturally."

"Oh." Hermione looked at Draco. He was already heading for the door.

She followed him silently to the common room. She knew he was tense and she
knew he had something to say so she felt the need to get it out of the way sooner
rather than later.

"Dammit, Granger!" he yelled, throwing down his book bag. "Why the hell did that
happen?"

"Professor Slughorn said –"

"Yes I heard what Slughorn said," Draco hissed. "He said you have feelings for me.
How could he know, Granger?"

"He knows because it's obvious, Malfoy!" Hermione retorted. "Feelings are the only
thing that could have possibly have caused that potion to have such a small effect.
Why are you so upset about Professor Slughorn knowing? No one else knows!"

"Yes they do, Granger!" Draco snarled. "The whole bloody school knows! The
rumours have to come from somewhere, Granger!"
"The rumours have come from people suddenly seeing us being civil to each other!"
Hermione cried. "They watched us for years, fighting against each other! Then
suddenly we come back from the war and we can tolerate each other! People are
going to talk and come to wild conclusions, Malfoy!"

"The Weasley girl looks at me weird every time I see her," Draco said. Hermione got
the idea that he was not going to let up. "Have you told her you're falling for me?"

Hermione remained silent for a moment. "Yes, I have," she said calmly. "And I trust
she hasn't said a word. Harry would be the first to know if she had said anything and
I know Harry. Harry would confront me about it if he knew. And he hasn't."

Draco nodded. "Maybe we should stay clear of each other from now on –"

"Malfoy, we've tried that and we were unsuccessful," Hermione insisted. "With us
working on this Slytherin project together and then Professor Slughorn making us
Potions partners…"

"Fine," Draco snapped. "We'll just have to make do with the rumours…"

"Why are you so afraid of the real feelings getting out, Malfoy?" Hermione
questioned as he went to retrieve his book bag.

Draco looked at her a moment. "The same reason we're denying them."

Hermione considered him a moment. "Because if we admit them we will act on

them?" she suggested. This was the only explanation she could come up with that
explained the situation. "Not because of your father?"

Draco looked at her. "My father is in prison," he sneered with narrowed eyes. "I'm
sure you were there when that got decided."

"We reduced that sentence for him, Malfoy," Hermione stated in defense. "He was a
Death Eater and he escaped his original prison sentence. Time needed to be served.
If I remember rightly, your mother thanked us for that –"

"She thanked you from getting me out of serving time," Draco hissed. "She did not
thank you for putting my father back in that place."

Hermione took two steps towards him, scanning his face. "I'm sorry," she whispered.
"But there was nothing else we could do for your father, Malfoy."

Draco relaxed. "I know." He pulled his bag onto one shoulder. "See you in
Arithmancy, Granger."

Hermione nodded and watched him disappear through the exit.

 Truth
Chapter Fourteen

"Harry," Ginny said nervously, "there's something I have to tell you."

Harry stopped midway through his story about Hermione, Draco and the Amortentia.

"What is it?" he asked.

"It's about Hermione," Ginny said slowly. "Harry, I really need you to stay calm but
Hermione –"

"Is in love with Malfoy?" Harry finished for her.

"Well love is a very strong word, Harry," Ginny said, sitting up. "Love is what you and
I share. Hermione … Hermione has feelings for Malfoy."

"She told you this?" Harry asked, his eyebrows raised.

"Not in so many words," Ginny explained. "It was more a conversation about her
thinking she had feelings for Malfoy –"

"The day Malfoy's sex life was discussed?" Harry asked, remembering the day.

Ginny beamed at him. "Yes, exactly –"

"Hermione's shagging Malfoy?" Harry asked incredulously. "What the hell is she
thinking?!"

"Calm down, Harry!" Ginny cried, looking around the Gryffindor common room
carefully. Thankfully the few students that were there weren't paying them any
attention. "Hermione isn't shagging anyone. She just has feelings for Malfoy."

Harry scanned his girlfriends face. "Why are you telling me this Ginny?"

Ginny sat back slightly. "Because if the Amortentia story you were telling me is true
than I thought you ought to prepare yourself for unpleasant news."

Harry groaned. "Why Malfoy?" he asked. "Her and Ron were –"

"A disaster," Ginny finished for him. "Besides, Malfoy's changed."

oooooo
"Oh, Lav, just a little bit longer…"

Draco and Hermione stood quietly, staring at the door to the closest room to the
Ravenclaw common room.

"I think I am going to be sick," Hermione breathed.

"Please, Ron, my jaw is starting to seize up," a female voice whined from the same
room.

Draco gagged slightly.

"Just a couple more minutes, Lavender. Please…"

"We should go," Hermione stated bluntly, looking at Draco. "Please can we go…?"

As they headed away, Draco looked at Hermione. "Please tell me you didn't give
Weasley that same treatment."

"Whatever that treatment was," Hermione stated, her tone dripping with disgust, "I
didn't come close to giving it to Ron."

"That treatment was –"

"I know what it was, Malfoy," Hermione snapped. "I just don't like thinking about Ron
receiving it."

"Brown's rubbish at it anyway," Draco assured her.

"How would you know?!" Hermione cried, staring at him in a panic.

"Nott told me last year," Draco explained. "Apparently he was all in the mood and yet
it took him ages to c-"

"Stop right there, Draco Malfoy!" Hermione exclaimed.

"Granger, stop being a prude," Draco complained. "You'll ruin my fantasies."

"You have fantasies about Lavender Brown?!" Hermione screeched. "I thought your
fetish for lacewing flies was disturbing enough –"

"Not Brown," Draco said quietly, avoiding her eyes. "I am a healthy male with healthy
images in my head about an apparently prudent witch."
Hermione flushed. "Well I'll just have you know that all fantasies are to remain within
that head of yours."

They had reached their common room and Hermione raised her stone to allow them
entrance.

"We'll have to head back there some night Weasley isn't getting lucky," Draco
yawned, gracefully taking a seat on the couch beside Hermione.

Hermione nodded, reaching for a book when suddenly there was a knock from the
entrance.

"Hermione, it's me!" Called Ginny's voice. "Can I come in?"

Hermione looked at Draco who, sneering slightly, nodded his head.

"I'm coming, Ginny!"

Hermione opened the entrance and there stood Ginny looking extremely happy with
herself.

"I just shag-"

"Two Weasleys and Potter are getting laid tonight?" Draco cried aggressively,
looking over in disbelief. "This is far more information than my head can handle,
Weasley!"

"Shut up, Malfoy," Ginny snapped. "I'm talking to Hermione. Just because we're
getting more than you ever have."

"You were saying, Ginny?" Hermione asked, guiding her into an armchair and sitting
back down in her seat at the couch.

"I shagged Harry," she said. "It just happened. We were just snogging and then
Harry started to undress me. It was really nice too. Harry was so careful –"

"Only because he wanted to beat Weasley's two second average –" Draco
interrupted. Ginny ignored him.

"- But it still hurt a little. But Hermione, after a while it feels really good."

Hermione flushed. The subject of sex was flying around a little too much for
Hermione's liking.
"Have you -?" Ginny started.

"No, Ginny, I haven't," Hermione sniffed. "I don't feel I'm really."

She looked at Draco, who was looking back at her, suddenly speechless. Ginny, who
was not oblivious to the tension, decided a subject change was in order.

"Dean and Luna broke up today," Ginny said. "I thought I'd let you know because you
were –"

"No, Ginny, I wasn't," Hermione said quickly. "But please – go on – why did Dean
and Luna break up?"

"Well they were always an odd couple anyway…"

Draco blocked out the conversation entirely. He looked up occasionally when

Hermione moved in her seat or accidentally nudged him, but all in all he was content
with his thoughts. The girl beside him was becoming positively breathtaking. She
was so unlike any other girl he had ever known. She was intelligent and she was
wise, she was beautiful and she was strong.

He certainly admired her ability to understand her own feelings, her own thoughts
and he own intentions. As Ginny said goodbye and sent a contemptuous look
Draco's way, he came out of his thoughts. Hearing Hermione sigh heavily beside
him, he moved his hand so it covered hers.

Hermione jumped and looked up to be greeted with Draco watching her again. She
was suddenly struck with just how beautiful he was. His white blonde hair looked soft
and inviting, while his face was almost flawless and highly attractive, though
Hermione could see a very faint scare running across the right side of his face.
Hermione understood that it was from Harry's Septumsempra curse two years
previous and felt a lump rise in her throat. She immediately shifted her gaze so she
looked straight into eyes which, at that moment appeared to be calculating and
content.

"You're better off waiting until you're ready, Granger," he said lightly. And in his head
he realised that he admired her for being so proud, so determined and so decided.

"Thank-you, Malfoy," she said as Draco pulled his hand away.

That moment between them kept Hermione's brain busy all night.

ooo
"You honestly think the rumours are true?" A third year hissed.

"Of course, look at them!"

"Since when have Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger had breakfast together?"

"They did at Christmas!" A Hufflepuff chimed in.

"Yes but no one was here then! Why now?"

"Draco Malfoy is not dating Hermione Granger!"

"Oh please, Kaia, just admit you're jealous already!"

Draco sat beside Hermione at the Gryffindor table, causing a great deal of stares
from all tables.

Harry coughed, exchanging a glance with Ginny. "So – err – Malfoy," he said, "how's
your mother doing?"

"She's doing well, Potter," Draco replied rather awkwardly. "She's taken a liking to
golf. Never would have thought she would consider trying a muggle sport but it is
becoming common with us wizard folk."

"Golf?" Harry repeated, nodding in a way he hoped showed interest. "Really?"

"Your uncle likes golf doesn't he Harry?" Ginny piped in.

"No, Ginny," Harry said, directing his gaze to her. "He likes his Japanese Golfer joke.
Not playing golf."

"Oh," Ginny frowned. "And Hermione, you're well?"

Hermione, who had been frowning at Harry and Ginny for the past ten minutes
merely narrowed her eyes. Ginny shifted uncomfortably under her gaze and grinned
at Draco nervously.

Draco twitched and looked at Hermione. "I'm going to go, Granger," he stated
blandly. "Thanks for keeping me away from Parkinson."

"Just keeping the rumour mill happy, Malfoy," Hermione muttered, not looking at him.

As he headed away, Hermione turned on Harry and Ginny. "What was that?!" she
cried in a whisper.
Harry sighed in relief. "Ginny told me you're falling for him –"

"Ginny told you, did she?" Hermione hissed. "She really had no right to say –"

"Hermione, everyone knows anyway," Ginny said hurriedly. "They're not just rumours
anymore. People know it's the truth."

"The truth is that everyone should stay out of my affairs!" Hermione snapped,
standing up. "Including you two!"

Hermione threw down her napkin and headed for the exit.
 Decisions
Chapter Fifteen

The next week saw things grow substantially between Draco and Hermione. Parvati
and Lavender were beside themselves in excitement at seeing Draco at the
Gryffindor table not once during the week but twice. The second time had been
dismally interrupted by Pansy coming over and tearfully screaming at him about his
betrayal.

This had caused Draco to realise that this method wasn't the best method of hiding
from the Slytherin girl's wrath. So he spent all meals at the Slytherin table once
more, gloomily listening to Pansy's many complaints and putting up with her hand
constantly stroking his thigh.

"The Mudblood's friends are looking at you again, Draco," she simpered, causing
Draco to look their way. Harry and Ginny were each giving him glances as though
waiting for him to do something they didn't approve of. "It's almost like they think you
and Granger are together. Like they're checking up on you…"

Draco nodded, not realizing he had just agreed with Pansy. Though he had to admit
it was very rare for her to ever use her brains the way she just had.

"You're not with Granger are you, Draco?" Pansy simpered in a whisper, moving in to
lick his ear.

Draco flinched away. "Yes," he said and he stood. Pansy was gaping at him.

"Yes it looks like they're checking up on me," Draco elaborated.

"So you and Granger –" Pansy started.

Draco turned his eyes to the back of Hermione's curly head. He simply shrugged
and headed off towards the exit. He was completely oblivious to the many gaping
mouths that followed him from the Slytherin table.

ooo

"Malfoy," Hermione sighed heavily as she headed into their common room that night.
"Why is there a bunch of gossiping girls outside this room?"

"They followed me, Granger," Draco replied from the study.

"Why?"

"Bloody Pansy!" Draco exclaimed. "The witch got the wrong idea from something I
said this morning."

"Did you tell her you like fifth year girls running around in your wake?" Hermione
questioned, smirking.

"No, I didn't reply to her question in a way that satisfied her," Draco said.

"Malfoy, please explain!" Hermione snapped. "They'll have cameras out there soon!"

"Well first she noticed Potter and the Weasley girl looking my way as though they
were checking on me," Draco drawled, "and I said 'yes', meaning I agreed with her
but that was after she asked the question whether you and me are together. I then
told her what I meant and she asked me again..."

"And…?" Hermione asked testily, narrowing her eyes at him. "What did you say?"

"I – nothing," Draco said, avoiding her gaze. "I may have shrugged but no words left
this delicious mouth of mine, Granger!"

"So the girls outside…?"

"Pansy's been making rumours out of the conversation," Draco growled. "Apparently
I've been cheating on Pansy and you and I are together 'in a manner of speaking'."

"You're back with –"

"No, Granger," Draco hissed. "Pansy's a bloody drama queen – she created rumours
out of other rumours."

"What other rumours?" Hermione questioned. "What other rumours?"

"The ones about me and Pansy – the ones that have been circulating since third
year," Draco explained.

"Oh – those ones." Hermione smiled innocently.

"Don't flatter yourself, Granger," Draco sneered. "Not all the rumours circulating this
castle involve you."

"They all seem to involve you," Hermione stated dryly.

"Not the one about Susan Bones," Draco snapped.

"Really because I'm quite sure I heard Lavender considering you as the father of
Susan's unborn child," Hermione retorted.

"I'm a popular man, Granger," Draco smirked. "Women love me for being bad and I
have to keep my reputation somehow when I'm Head Boy and you're in the picture.
People might think I'm losing my touch."

"Are you saying you're feeding the –"

"Joking, Granger," Draco stated plainly. "People just want me to be at the middle of a
scandal."

"Right," Hermione breathed. "So tell me why you didn't answer Pansy?"

"Because I wasn't about to lie about it."

"But we're not –"

"That's not the point –"

"What is then?!" Hermione cried. "You wouldn't have been lying had you said no."

"One day it will be a lie, Granger."

"One day -?" Hermione stopped and stared at him, realizing what he meant. "OH!"

Draco headed to the stairs. "I'll be in my room, Granger," he told her. "Knock three
times if you need me."

Hermione nodded and collapsed onto the couch, staring at the empty fireplace,
Draco's words filling her head.

"One day it will be a lie": To Hermione it sounded as though he wanted them to be

together, that he saw them together in the future. This thought made Hermione bite
her lip. She had considered it – several times in fact. The moments studying and the
moments on the couch, she often imagined that they were already together, bonded
in some significant way.

Now, as she thought about his words, she almost believed they were an invitation.

Hermione thought about the way they had each responded to the moments where
they had temporarily lost control of their feelings. Had they not gained control again,
would Hermione have to even think about what he had said? Would she need to
even consider what might come for them in the future?

Hermione continued to stare at the fireplace. She thought back to some of the things
the fire had showed them, the moments that had passed and the moment that was
still to come. What else could it possibly show her?

Hermione sat forward and grabbed the fire stone from the coffee table. Twirling it in
her hands, she considered, just for a moment, lighting a fire and seeing what it had
to show. Her eyes caught sight of one of the many candles floating in the room and
she hesitated. What if it showed something she was not willing to know about?

Closing her eyes, she stood and headed over to the candle, the stone in her hand.
Taking a deep breath, she swiped the stone through the air before it and jumped
back. The flame exploded, growing bigger until it was large enough to show what it
had to show:

Draco stood before her on the doorstep to her parent's house, running a light hand
through her hair; she was wearing muggle clothes and she was smiling. Smirking,
Draco leaned forward and captured his lips with his.

As the picture disappeared, Hermione came to her decision. That vision was still
about three months down the track. For her to be at her parent's house she must
have graduated and it was currently only March.

Standing, Hermione thought about the vision that had come before this one. She had
been in muggle clothes in that one also. Running to the stairs, Hermione skipped
them two at a time and reached the top in moments. Flinging open her door, she
started stripping off and rummaging through her drawers. Pulling out a jumper and
jeans, she pulled them on, looked in the mirror and breathed a sigh, suddenly
nervous.

"You know, Granger, I have never seen a witch dress so damn quickly," Draco stated
from the door.

Hermione spun and looked at him, flushed. "What are you -"

"Relax, Granger, I only saw the jumper go on," Draco smirked. "You weren't even
facing me."

"I didn't say you could watch –"

"Next time, close the door then," Draco drawled, a smirk evidently trying to fight its
way onto his lips.

Hermione opened her mouth and looked at the door. "Oh," she whispered in
realisation.

"You're liking that word at the moment, aren't you?"

Hermione numbly stood there, a hand nervously running through her hair.

"I'm heading out to the lake," she announced, her voice slightly broken and a blush
spreading over her cheeks.

"The lake?" Draco repeated, taking in her flush. "I didn't realize you were seeing
anyone…"

Hermione blushed brighter. "Oh, I'm not."

"That's what Susan Bones said," Draco said, trying to keep his voice casual. "You
know it's alright, Granger, we all move on in our different ways. In fact, I was
considering going off and shagging Mandy –"

Hermione grabbed his hand to stop him. "I'm headed out to the lake," she repeated
very softly. "I'm going to sit by the forest and wait for my future to catch up with me."

Draco frowned before her words until they made sense to him. As it dawned on him,
he squeezed her hand. "Oh."

Hermione smiled nervously, released her hand from his grip and headed out of the
room and down the stairs, not knowing exactly where this idea, and the courage
involved, had come from.
 Kissing
Chapter Sixteen

Draco stared at the place Hermione had disappeared for several minutes.

He couldn't quite believe that the moment had finally come where he finally received
what he had been waiting for all year. She was waiting for him.

Quickly deciding he was going to follow her, Draco descended the stairs and crossed
the common room without looking back. Outside stood a single fifth year, who
gasped and ran away when she saw him. Rolling his eyes, he made his way to the
entrance hall, where an unforeseen interruption was met.

"Malfoy," Ginny Weasley called from the top of the marble staircase. "I want to talk to
you about Hermione."

"No time, Weasley," he replied, though he came to a stop, looking at her. "Someone
is waiting for me."

"Malfoy, Hermione's my best friend and I'm worried about her sudden –"

"No need to be worried, Weasley," Draco insisted. "You can trust me more with
Granger than you could have trusted your own brother with her."

Ginny gaped at his sudden openness. "So this is really happening?" she gasped.
"You and Hermione are –"

"Yes, Weasley," Draco snapped. "We are. Now, someone is waiting for me."

"I'll see you later than," Ginny said, dazed. "And Malfoy, isn't the whole 'Granger'
thing a bit old now you guys are –?"

"Even in the throws of passion I will still call her 'Granger', Weasley," Draco sneered.

"Oh-Kay," Ginny drew out uncertainly and she headed out of sight.

Draco stood silently for a moment before he headed for the doors and walked
smoothly out onto the grounds. Running his hand through his hair, he made straight
for the lake, where he could already see Hermione seated by the forest. He walked
faster.

When she noticed him, she stood, leaving beside her a book. She took a few
hesitant steps towards him until they were finally in front of each other.

"Granger," he growled and his lips were on hers. He knew that for a moment the kiss
would have been rather harsh, demanding but once he relaxed and realized that he
was finally – FINALLY kissing Hermione Granger, the whole kiss relaxed and he
drew his arms around her gently.

If he was honest with himself and not wanting to sound too much like a romantic fool,
he'd say it was the best feeling of his life – her lips kissed his in such a unique and
wonderful way it made his body sing, his breath hitch and his heart to do a thousand
somersaults. His entire body tingled and itched from the sensation and the warmth of
his blood rose to feverish levels.

"Gods," he heard Hermione gasp as he repositioned his lips. Hermione seemed to

be clinging to him for dear life. Her kisses were pleading, as though she thought she
might die if he moved his lips from hers.

Draco slowed the kiss, allowing himself to breathe but it was still too much. Pulling
away carefully, he looked at Hermione, who opened her eyes and looked at him.

"That was –"

"Yeah."

"Malfoy," Hermione started. "I really want this."

"Finally we agree, Granger," Draco breathed.

Hermione scanned his features and was suddenly familiar with the man she had
seen in the vision. The affection she had seen in the doorstep vision was suddenly
pooled in his eyes and on his face.

"You're beautiful," she whispered.

When Draco did not respond, Hermione made to apologize, only to find her words
were blocked by Draco's lips once more. He guided her back slightly, pinning her
gently to a tree nearby. He quickly drew back and checked that she was fine with this
position before taking her mouth with his once more.

Across the surface of the lake, the sun was slowly setting, casting an orange glow
over them but they were completely oblivious. They just continued kissing.

"Granger?" Draco asked after several more moments, pulling away and looking at
her. "Why did you bring a book with you?"

He looked around at the book that lay on the ground beside where Hermione had sat
before his appearance.

"I – Well I didn't know if you'd show," Hermione said innocently. "So I brought myself
something to do while I waited."

"And…?" he questioned, not quite knowing exactly what he was referring to in saying
it.

"And I know where Slytherin and Ravenclaw hid the stone," she said.

Draco stood back, surprised by her response. "Where?"

Hermione smiled and looked behind her. "They have a cottage in this forest."

"How do you –?"

"I considered the clues. Above the babies head was a window –"

"And the window showed nothing but trees," Draco finished for her

Hermione grinned, nodding. "Shall we let Professor McGonagall know?"

Draco smirked. "Not just yet."

He swooped down and captured her lips once more.

ooo

Hermione couldn't help but laugh at the looks they received from the students as she
and Draco headed into the Great Hall for a late dinner that night. Spotting Harry and
Ginny doing homework over pudding, Hermione made towards them, dragging a
stubborn Draco with her.

Harry and Ginny looked up at them in unison, taking in their appearances, question
on their faces.

"Malfoy, when you said –"

"We are," Draco drawled.

"Your lips look bee-stung –"

"I assure you I am harmless, Weasley."

"Watch out, Pansy's just entered the Hall," Harry said, looking at the entrance. "She's
been popping her head in every three minutes."

Draco picked up his fork and used it to play with his pie.

"You're going to have to let the rest of the school know eventually, Malfoy," Ginny
hissed. "Start with her – the word will spread like wild fire."

"Pansy won't take kindly to confirmation of her fears, Ginny," Hermione said, staring
at the Slytherin from across the room. Her eyes widened. "Oh no – she's coming
over!"

Harry and Ginny dropped their quills and grabbed their wands from the table.

"Draco," Pansy simpered, reaching the table, "why are you sitting with them?"

Draco looked at her. "What do you want, Parkinson?" he snarled.

"Well I wanted to talk to you –"

"I don't believe there is anything to be discussed, Pansy." Draco's voice dripped with
venom; Hermione suddenly realised exactly why she did not miss having such
harshness directed at her.

"But this morning –"

"You spread rumours about me and Granger," Draco finished for her, standing up.
"Rumours that are really based on the truth so we don't really mind."

"Based on the –?"

"Truth, Parkinson!" snarled Draco. "Granger and I are, in a manner of speaking,

together. Now relieve me of your presence!"

Pansy stood stiffly, gaping at Draco as he continued eating the pie in front of him.
She mouthed wordlessly for a moment before letting out a great sob.

Harry looked up at her. "You heard the man, Pansy," he said. "Relieve us of your
presence – this pudding isn't going down smoothly as it is."

Ginny snorted and Pansy dashed away, a series of noisy sobs following her out of
the Great Hall.
Draco looked at Hermione. "You seriously owe that witch a flock of mad birds,
Granger," he said lightly.

"Make it vultures this time will you, Hermione?" Ginny asked, a serene smile gracing
her lips.

ooo

News of Draco and Hermione spread like wild fire the next day. Gasps were heard
aimlessly around the Great Hall at breakfast and the teachers seemed oddly
interested in speaking to any student who was 'in the know' about the whole
situation. Pansy came over looking entirely bee-stung with swollen red eyes and
cheeks and unkempt knotting hair. She'd obviously spent the night in ruins.

Draco sat pleasantly at the Slytherin table, testing his boundaries and wondering
how his housemates were reacting. He was surprised, however to have very few
insults shot his way about his relationship with the Head Girl.

Many greeted him as they always would, some shot him curious glances and others,
like Goyle, even managed to openly accept his choice.

"So he just kissed you?" Lavender questioned breathlessly at the Gryffindor table.
"He just ran up to at the lake's edge and kissed you?"

"Well he knew I was going to be there and he had an idea that I wanted him to –"

"Is he as flawless as everyone says?" Parvati asked, her voice as breathless as

Lavender's.

"Completely so," Hermione replied, sounding sardonic even to her ears. "He's the
best kisser to ever walk the earth."

Lavender and Parvati looked at each other excitedly and thoroughly breathless from
her words. Apparently they had missed the mocking in Hermione's tone.

"I hope your speaking kindly of me, Granger," Draco's voice came from behind her. "I
believe we have a study period to attend?"

"Study?" Lavender repeated, looking at him. "Surely not?"

"We, unlike you, Brown, find learning just as satisfying as you find Weasley's penis,"
Draco sneered.

Lavender frowned, obviously confused.

Draco looked at the girl incredulously. "Come on, Granger, we haven't got all
morning…"

Hermione waved goodbye to the girls and gathered up her things.

"I thought we were going to see Professor McGonagall this morning?" she asked as
they headed out of the Hall, people's eyes following them as they left.

Draco nodded. "Yes but after you went to bed last night, I found something that you
might want to see…"
 Riddles
Chapter Seventeen

Draco rummaged through the books on the table in the study, obviously looking for
one in particular.

"Did you find a map, Malfoy?" Hermione asked him, watching his stack of unwanted
books build higher as he continued to rummage. "Did you find a map to the
cottage?"

"No, Granger, but I do think we need to look more closely at that map the teachers
found in Slytherin's study," Draco said. "I've been trying to find it for weeks…"

"Professor McGonagall never gave it to us," Hermione said lightly.

"What's the use in that?" Draco hissed as he continued to rummage, this time
through a large stack of parchment. "McGonagall should have given it to us. She
knew we were looking for the stone…"

"Malfoy, what is it that you're looking for?" Hermione pleaded. "Let me help."

"I'm –" Draco turned to look at her. "I'm looking for The Darkest Art."

"The Darkest Art?" Hermione repeated incredulously. "How could that possibly help
us, Malfoy?"

"The book used to be Slytherin's," Draco stated absently. "He must have got when
he was looking for ways to preserve his power."

"And…?" Hermione was growing impatient.

"Here it is," Draco said, picking it up. He headed into the common room with
Hermione in his wake.

He flipped to the back of the book, where the cover leafing was peeling away.
Peeling it back easily, he withdrew an old piece of parchment and handed it to
Hermione.

Hermione stared at it with her mouth open. She cast Draco a curious look before she
unfolded it. The parchment made a cracking sound and she sat it flat on the coffee
table and read:
In this word, four letters for you to choose
To feel this word, it really must be true
In one word this is merely just a thing
But in three words, it's magic what it bringsTo find our treasure you must feel
The magic word, though it must be real
Hold out your hand and whisper thee:
In three words, we'll forever be.

"In three words, we'll forever be," Hermione whispered the last line to herself and
looked up at Draco. "This must be connected to the clues in the visions. This is the
riddle itself."

"It's a pretty obvious one," Malfoy said. "It's obviously love."

"Well yes but to find the stone, you must feel love," Hermione declared. "It's really
quite clever because true love isn't something everyone can feel."

"So what do we do Granger?" Draco asked. "Find the cottage, work out where the
damn thing is hidden, summon some true love and raise a hand and whisper 'we'll
forever be'. That's sounds disgusting and ridiculous."

"Disgusting and ridiculous, Malfoy?" Hermione repeated in a snap. "It doesn't sound
disgusting at all. It might sound rather ridiculous but it most certainly does not sound
disgusting."

"It sounds like something from one of those bloody romance novels of yours that I
saw in the study a few weeks ago!" Draco sneered. "It is bloody disgusting!"

Hermione flushed. "You had no right –"

"Merlin Granger, I read one chapter!" Draco snarled. "I hardly went through your
things."

Hermione took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. "That's quite alright," she
sniffed, picking up the piece of parchment. "We best take this to Professor
McGonagall. I'd like this out of the way so I can concentrate on revising for the
NEWTs."

"Granger –" Draco started.

Hermione looked around. "Are you coming, Malfoy?"

Draco walked forward and headed out of the room with her. "I still think it sounds
disgusting."

"That is your opinion," Hermione replied, smiling. "Though, I admit, I did not expect
Salazar Slytherin to be that wimpy."

ooo

Professor McGonagall was, as always, pleased with their discovery. She hurriedly
grabbed the map when Hermione mentioned that she believed there was a cottage
in the forest and sure enough, the aging professor found it within moments.

"So you are done," McGonagall said. "The teachers will take over from here."

"But Professor," Hermione said pleadingly. "Draco and I have worked so hard on this
and we're both so very curious about what might be found. Please Professor…"

McGonagall studied the two shrewdly from behind her glasses. "Well I suppose,
considering your involvement with the project…"

Hermione beamed and looked sideways at Draco, who had sat back in his chair,
satisfied with her answer.

"We will not be able to enter the forest for another two weeks," McGonagall
continued briskly. "I will not enter without Hagrid present –"

"But Hagrid's here, isn't he?" Draco questioned, sitting forward again.

"No," Hermione said, answering for McGonagall. "Hagrid's in France at the moment."

Draco just stared at her and as they were leaving, he turned to her.

"That oaf, in France?" he sneered. "Why is he in France?"

"He's preparing for his wedding with Madame Maxime of course," Hermione stated,
grinning.

Draco stood absolutely dumbfounded for a moment before catching up with her on
the stairs.

ooo

"Really, Draco, I would have thought that after all the teasing and hating you two
would get together," Theodore Nott was saying as they stood outside the
Transfiguration classroom. "Are you doing this just for the NEWTs? I mean the whole
year would love to have Granger as their study partner at this time of the year…"

"Nott," Draco snarled. "I am with Granger because Merlin wanted it that way."

"Merlin? Surely you don't believe in that git?" Nott questioned. "I mean the guy was a
complete joke!"

Draco rounded on him, an incredulous look covering his features. "I wasn't serious,"
he snarled. "I'm with her because I want to be."

Behind them, a great sob echoed through the corridor; Pansy had obviously been
listening.

"You know, Draco," Nott continued. Draco gritted his teeth in annoyance. "I don't
really blame you. I mean when you look past the Mudblood thing and the fact she's a
Gryffindor she's really quite attractive. I mean that chest of hers is just –"

"Nott, if you finish that sentence, you won't live to take the NEWTs," Draco snapped.

Nott fell silent. After a moment of awkward silence, the weasel-like boy looked
around.

"Where do you think she is?"

"Where who is, Nott?" Draco snapped.

"McGonagall," Nott replied. "The bell went ten minutes ago."

"Maybe she finally –"

"This is your Headmistress," rang a voice from the overheard magical speaker
system. "Would Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger please report to my office
immediately. Could my class please proceed back to their common room; your
lesson has been cancelled."

The Slytherins looked round at Draco, who shrugged and made for McGonagall's
office. He met Hermione at the entrance. She looked nervous.

"You don't think something's gone wrong, do you?" she questioned, twisting her
hands in front of her anxiously.

Draco shrugged and said the password. Silently, they headed up the revolving
staircase to the office, where McGonagall sat at her desk.
She studied the two for a moment.

"In studying the riddle," she said, "I've noticed something that may cause difficulties."

Hermione looked at Draco before returning her gaze to the professor. "What sort of
difficulties, Professor?"

"We do not have any two people who are capable of gaining access to the stone,"
McGonagall replied. "This riddle is clearly something Dumbledore would have
appreciated and I'm afraid that although many staff members have partners who we
love, we are not willing to bring them on our journey into the forest."

"What about Harry?" Hermione suggested. "He has been in the forest many times
before and he has a lot of love within his heart. Let him bring Ginny along – they
would surely gain access to the stone."

"I am not going to interrupt Harry Potter's current relaxed life, Miss Granger,"
McGonagall sniffed. Hermione slumped in her chair and nodded. "I have instead
brought the two of you here to discuss the possibility that you can acquire the stone
together."

"Us?" Hermione said weakly. She looked at Draco.

"You two are in a relationship are you not?" McGonagall questioned testily.

Hermione and Draco stared at each other a moment.

"Yes, Professor," Hermione said, "we are. But I cannot know for sure if our
relationship has progressed enough to break a powerful enchantment and grant
access to Salazar Slytherin's power."

"Do you not love each other?" McGonagall asked testily.

Draco and Hermione stared at her with wide eyes and an open mouth, shocked at
such a question.

"We –"

"I –"

"Well you see –"

"We can't quite answer that right now, Professor," Draco chimed in. He cast a glance
Hermione's way.
McGonagall studied the two of them for a moment.

"Well when you can, Mr Malfoy," McGonagall told her, "come and see me. I don't
think I need to inform you that this is rather an urgent matter?"

"Not at all, Professor," Draco replied.

When Hermione and Draco had left the office they headed silently back to the
common room, where they found themselves staring at each other from across the
room, thoughts running wildly through their heads.
 Uncertainty
Chapter Eighteen

"People's contribution to our relationship is becoming stranger by the day, Granger,"

Draco said as he revised his notes on Amortentia.

"Why do you say that?" Hermione asked. "Professor McGonagall had real reason to
ask us that."

"Do teachers often ask you if you love me, Granger?" Draco drawled.

"Well, no," Hermione replied, "but it does cause difficulties not having someone who
can break that enchantment, Malfoy. She had real reason for asking."

"Nott was weird today too," Draco stated offhandedly. "Asking me all these questions
about why I was with you."

"I've always found him weird though," Hermione said. "The other day in the library,
he came over to borrow a book and he was staring at my stomach. It was very
disconcerting."

"From what he was saying today, Granger, I'd say he was looking slightly higher than
that," Draco smirked.

Hermione flushed. "Well that's even more disconcerting, thank you, Malfoy."

"Pass that book on Love Potions, Granger," Draco said.

Hermione obeyed and handed it to him, her brain processing thoughts that were
totally unrelated to the notes in front of her.

ooo

"She asked whether you love him?" Ginny asked with raised eyebrows. "That's a bit
personal, isn't it?"

Hermione shrugged and nodded.

"What did you say?" Ginny said, leaning forward.

"Nothing," Hermione replied. "I didn't know what to say."

"So you don't love him?" Ginny questioned.

"I don't know," Hermione said with another shrug. "It's much too soon to say; a week
ago he and I weren't even together, we were still dancing around the subject thinking
it would disappear eventually."

"I don't think you do love him then," Ginny announced. "I mean normally you would
know."

Hermione nodded. "He told McGonagall we'd get back to her."

"Really?" Ginny said, her eyebrows rising into her fringe.

"What?" Hermione asked, looking at Ginny with a frown.

"Well Hermione, it seems that maybe Malfoy thinks…" she trailed off.

"What does Malfoy think, Ginny?" she asked, still frowning.

"Well it seems that maybe he thinks it's possible that you do love each other."

"How so?" Hermione asked, her stomach doing somersaults. "I mean he's as
uncertain as I am…"

"That's true," Ginny nodded, "but he said he'd get back to her, almost like he thought
that if he considered it hard enough he'd find that he did love you."

"But he can't speak for me, Ginny," Hermione said, shaking her head and trying not
to think about it too much. "And it's silly really because I honestly don't think he loves
me. It's been a week."

"Technically it's been all year, Hermione," Ginny said in response. "And that poem
thing –"

"Riddle," Hermione corrected.

"Yes, the riddle," Ginny continued, rolling her eyes, "from what you explained about
it, well, it really only says one of you have to feel love and say those words. Malfoy
loving you might be enough for you to get that stone."

"Malfoy doesn't love me, Ginny," Hermione replied skeptically. "He's – well – he's
Malfoy."

"And you're Hermione," Ginny said, grinning. "No one would have ever predicted
you'd develop feelings for the git!"

Hermione smiled guiltily.

ooo

"Attention all students, Professors Flitwick and Sprout are required in my office
immediately." McGonagall's voice ran through the halls. "Substitute teachers are
currently on their way to relieve you. Could the Head Boy and Girl also excuse
themselves from classes and attend this meeting also."

Hermione stood. She was currently in Charms with Professor Flitwick, who was
already hurrying to the door on his short legs.

"After you, Miss Granger," he said, holding out an arm to guide her through the door.

"Thank you, Professor."

Together they silently hurried towards Professor McGonagall's office. Heading in,
they knocked twice on the ornate doors and made their way in. Professor Sprout and
Draco were already seated at the desk in front of McGonagall.

"Mr Malfoy has just informed me that he will undertake the task of gaining the stone,"
McGonagall said happily.

Hermione sharply turned to look at Draco; he was avoiding her gaze.

"I am still awaiting word from Hagrid regarding the day of his return," McGonagall
continued. "He has unfortunately been quite vague regarding his exact return date.
But no matter, I have brought you here to start devising a plan despite not knowing
precisely when we will undertake our trip into the forest."

While the others nodded, Hermione continued to watch Draco. He was undertaking
the task of gaining the stone. Did that mean what Hermione believed it meant?
Surely Draco was mistaken? It is true that their feelings were quite strong at that
point in time but love? Hermione honestly could not comprehend how such a thing
could have happened.

"Technically it's been all year, Hermione."

Ginny's words rang in Hermione's ears and she only vaguely took in what the
professors and Draco were saying. Looking away from Draco, she considered it
herself. Throughout her entire relationship with Ron she had believed that she loved
him, but she had also known him and admired him for years. Draco … Draco had
been her enemy and although there had been several months of change, their
relationship was still so new, still so unfamiliar.

"Miss Granger, I am sorry to interrupt your daydream but we are requesting that you
listen," McGonagall snapped. Hermione looked up, startled.

"Yes," Hermione said. "Yes of course. Sorry Professor."

With one last glance at Draco, whose piecing grey eyes burned through her with a
wild intensity, Hermione moved her gaze to the map on the desk and listened
carefully to the plan that the group was developing.

ooo

Later that evening Hermione sat, trying to go over the plan in her head, though it
proved unsuccessful. Looking up at Draco, she saw him staring at her from across
the room as though he knew where her thoughts were traveling.

"Why did you –?"

"I'm not sure if I will succeed in getting that stone, Granger," Draco interrupted.

"Than why did you –?"

"Because the most we can do is try," Draco said. "You and I are both uncertain of
exactly how deep and developed our feelings are. This will help me answer the
question that's in my head."

"McGonagall won't be happy if it doesn't work, Malfoy…" Hermione stated carefully.

"I don't think it will matter," Draco said casually. "I honestly think that riddle needs
more answers to be solved."

"What do you mean?" Hermione asked, frowning. "Why didn't you say something
before?"

"Granger," Draco said, standing up and coming to sit beside her on the couch. "We
worked out love was the answer ages ago, even without the words to the riddle. I
mean, the vision told us as much…"

"Yes…" Hermione trailed off. "So you think the riddle runs deeper than that?"

"Feel love, hold out your hand and whisper 'we'll forever be'?" Draco said
incredulously. "This is two of the greatest wizards to ever exist that we're talking
about. You honestly think they'd make it this easy to find their power?"

Hermione looked at him. "Dumbledore would have thought it was ingenious," she
said indignantly.

"Well I think it's not as easy as the riddle makes it out to be," Draco replied. "I think
the riddle is more complicated than that."

Hermione nodded her understanding and pulled a piece of parchment towards her.

"In this word, four letters for you to choose"

Hermione read aloud. She thought about it for a moment.

"Well that would be L, O, V and E wouldn't it?

"To feel this word, it really must be true.

"True love, right?

"In one word this is merely just a thing

"Love. It needs more than just one word to mean something. Love is just love. 'I'm in
love' means something…"

Hermione looked at Draco, he was watching her contently, nodding his head for her
to continue.

"But in three words, its magic what it brings"

"I love you," Draco said with a shrug.

Hermione looked at him wildly.

"Granger, I meant 'I love you' is three words and it brings a feeling like magic to
those involved, doesn't it?" Draco explained himself hurriedly.

"Well yes…"

"Just keep going, Granger,"

Hermione cleared her throat.

"To find our treasure you must feel - the magic word, though it must be real.

"It has to be real. You can't fake it," Hermione defined. "Love is a unique thing;
people are bound to fake it if they wanted Salazar Slytherin's power.

"Hold out your hand and whisper thee: In three words, we'll forever be."

"There are no quotation marks, Granger," Draco pointed out, indicating the words
'we'll forever be'.

"So what other three words have the same meaning?" Hermione questioned, staring
at the words.

Draco merely shrugged.

 Mirror
Chapter Nineteen

Draco and Hermione waited at the edge of the forest for Professors McGonagall,
Flitwick and Sprout and Hagrid. It was daybreak and the birds in the trees behind
them were beginning to wake.

In the distance, they heard the front doors of the castle close and they looked at
each other. The time had come.

Draco and Hermione looked at each other. Hermione felt suddenly nervous.

"We'll be fine, Granger," he said calmly, lightly rubbing her arm.

"What if we can't get the stone?" she asked anxiously. "What if the enchantment
doesn't break? Might I remind you that you still don't know what three words to say
when the time comes?"

"I have a feeling I do know, actually, Granger," Draco said, still remaining completely
calm. "Now stop worrying."

He leant down and kissed her lightly. Hermione smiled sheepishly.

"We're not walking out without that stone," Draco said firmly.

Hermione nodded just as the teachers came around the lakes edge, looking into the
forest.

"Good, we're all here," McGonagall said. She nodded to Draco and Hermione. "You
have your wands?"

"Yes, Professor," Hermione replied lightly, holding hers up.

"We shall head in now," McGonagall instructed. "Hagrid, if you would please lead the
way…"

"Certainly Professor," Hagrid said in his gruff voice, raising the crossbow he was
holding. "Though, I mus' admit I haven't bin in this part o' the forest in a while…"

Hermione watched McGonagall and Sprout exchange worried glances.

As Hermione looked around, she wondered what it had been like for Harry the last
time he had entered. She had heard him explain it on one occasion but he had been
so vague about it. She knew that he had had the comfort of the resurrection stone
with him at the time and knew that no harm had come to him on the way to the
clearing where he had confronted Voldemort.

Beside her, Draco was looking around; he had told her earlier that morning that he
had not stepped into the forest since first year when they had served detention
together. He gave a slight jump when a bird left a tree close by and caused a strange
sound. Hermione smiled at him, amused and grabbed his hand. It was Draco's turn
to look sheepish.

"We're gonna have to stay on the path, Professors," Hagrid called. "I jus' saw
somethin' moving over there by that stump."

"Whatever you feel is safest, Hagrid," McGonagall said, looking around carefully. "I
don't mind if it takes us all day; I do not want to put or lives in danger."

"Wasn't she in Gryffindor?" Draco muttered to Hermione.

"Do you honestly want to wander off the path and meet some hideous beast,
Malfoy?" Hermione hissed incredulously.

Draco looked alarmed at her suggestion.

"I didn't think so," Hermione stated with a shake of her head. "We Gryffindors are
brave but we do not enjoy putting our lives at risk. That's what Slytherins are for."

"Because we're cunning and daring, right Granger?" Draco said contemptuously.
"You don't honestly believe we all have that trait?"

"And you honestly believe all Gryffindors share the traits that are described?"

Draco fell silent and tightened his grip on her hand.

The forest grew dark after half an hour of walking. The trees were become more and
more dense and after a while, not a single strand of light found its way through the
trees' foliage. All their wands were lit, following the path ahead, making sure they did
not lose each other.

In the front, Hagrid was reading the map, while looking around for movement that
would indicate an attack. After nearly an hour and a half of uneventful walking,
Hagrid came to an abrupt stop. He had his crossbow raised and ready to fire when a
harsh growl sounded somewhere to the left.
It sounded very close.

Draco dropped Hermione's hand and held his wand in the hand that had been
holding hers, raising it to waist height, pointing in the direction of the noise.
Hermione's hand sprung up and pulled his wand down, knowing that the light would
cause the creature to attack, and sure enough, it growled once more and bounded
forwards.

They all raised their wands and shone it in the direction of the beast. They could
really only make out its silhouette.

"I've got it!" Hagrid growled and he pulled the trigger on the crossbow, hitting the
beast fair in the chest. It keeled over instantly.

Hermione, stunned, looked at Hagrid.

"Manticore," he said. "It got loose during a lesson four years ago. This ain't their
natural habitat so it should be the only one."

Hermione breathed a sigh of relief, looking sideways at Draco. "Why did you shine
the light at it? Didn't you know it would've made it attack?"

"No, Granger, I didn't," he said plainly.

"Not much further and we'll have to move off the path," Hagrid called. "We're almos'
there!"

They walked for a further five minutes before Hagrid lead them into the trees. They
had to carefully watch for roots and debris as they followed the giant of a man
guiding them. Hermione nearly tripped three times before grabbing a firm hold on
Draco's hand and letting him guide her.

After what felt like another hour, they reached a clearing. They watched Hagrid as he
examined the map, waiting to be led in the next direction.

"We're 'ere," Hagrid called uncertainly. "The cottage should be 'ere."

"Of course," McGonagall whispered. "Of course there'd be enchantments."

The professors all raised their wands and started walking around the clearing,
whispering charms and enchantments to the thin air. Slowly, a cottage materialized
in the middle of the clearing.

Hermione had imagined it to be a ruin by now, a thousand years having past since
its owners lived, but it seemed that there was a charm upon it that stopped it from
aging; it looked newly built despite the old fashioned materials it was built with.

The professors each headed to the door, while Hagrid started patrolling, his
crossbow raised.

"Well go on in, you two!" Hagrid called gruffly.

Draco and Hermione looked at each other before heading to the door also.

McGonagall nodded as she turned the handle and the door creaked open. One by
one they filed in and Hermione was automatically reminded of the year previous; it
had the same magic their old tent had. Although appearing small on the outside, the
inside of it was monstrous. To their right there was what appeared to be a kitchen
larger than any Hermione had ever seen before (except for perhaps Hogwarts).
Whereas to the left and beyond, in an entirely open design, stood a living area and a
bedroom. Hermione noticed a closed off room in the far right corner and she
presumed that it must be the bathroom.

All the furniture was ornate and antique. Hermione knew that they must be charmed
also as, even after not being used for so many years, they should have aged in
some manner. There was also very little dust. The place was in perfect condition.

"Where do you think the stone is?" Hermione asked. She stopped suddenly when
she noticed the cradle by the window, recognizing it automatically from the one in the
memory.

Draco shrugged and walked slowly around like the other teachers were doing. "You
once told me a story about a mirror, Granger," he said after a moment, catching sight
of the mirror they had seen Rowena brushing her hair in front of. "You called it –"

"The Mirror or Erised," Hermione finished for him, heading over to the mirror. "It is a
mirror that shows your true desire."

"It is a mirror that was created by Rowena Ravenclaw," Draco said. Hermione looked
at him, surprised. Draco went on to explain, the teachers watching them. "After you
told me about it, I did some research and I found that Rowena Ravenclaw was a
dreamer. Before she founded Hogwarts with Gryffindor, Hufflepuff and Slytherin, she
had desires that she believed would never come to pass. So she developed a mirror.
It didn't turn out the way she wanted it to, though. She had wanted it to make her
dreams come true, not just to show them."

Hermione headed over the mirror and stared at her own reflection. She hadn't quite
expected her reflection to change, but she felt quite disappointed when it didn't.

"We're drawing conclusions out of thin air again, Granger," Draco said. "We can't
expect to be right every time."

"But I think you've got a point, Malfoy!" Hermione cried. "Rowena Ravenclaw had a
likeness for mirrors, she would have been the one to ultimately hide the stone after
Salazar Slytherin's death. That mirror was in that memory for a reason, Malfoy…"

"The cradle was in it, too and I can't think of a reason why –"

"The memory with the cradle showed the forest outside, Malfoy!" Hermione
exclaimed. "I think that was most certainly the reason it was part of the memory."

"Okay, okay," Draco snapped.

He and Hermione stared at each other for a moment. The time had come. It was
time for them to try and gain access to the stone. Hermione walked towards him and
grabbed hold of his hand, suddenly oblivious to the professors who were watching
them.

Hermione leant up and placed a soft kiss on his lips. "That potion didn't work
properly for a reason, Draco."

It was the first time she had deliberately used his first name to his face and it was
also the first time she realised the significance that day in potions may truly have
had.

Draco looked into her eyes and nodded before walking over to the mirror, starring at
his own reflection. He pulled Hermione close to his side so she was also reflected
within the flawless glass.

"I love you," he told her reflection.

Hermione watched, mesmerized, as there reflections suddenly moved closer

together. And with a kiss, Hermione's reflection placed a platinum silver stone within
Draco's reflection's hand.
 Prize
Chapter Twenty

Draco and Hermione, in unison, looked away from the mirror and down at Draco's
hand. With a swirl of his fingers Draco felt the familiarity surface and clenched it
sight.

It felt oddly warm.

"Goodness me," McGonagall said, sounding breathless as she hurried forward.

"How very surprising – Dumbledore – He –"

"Yes Professor," Hermione said, looking at the elderly witch. "Dumbledore used the
same idea for hiding the Philosophers Stone."

"Surely he wouldn't have known?" McGonagall questioned incredulously. "Known

and not told anyone?"

"Dumbledore had always been mysterious, Professor," Hermione smiled. "But he

was an endlessly powerful and clever wizard. I would not be surprised if this is a
mere coincidence."

"Well this is true," McGonagall said, taking the stone from Draco's hand and placing
it in a velvet bag that she pulled from her pocket. "Shall we be going then?"

Draco and Hermione nodded, pleased to have finally come to the conclusion of their
research.

"What do you plan on doing with the stone, Professor?" Draco asked as they headed
back into the clearing.

"We will have it carefully examined," McGonagall replied. "I daresay we shall not
unleash Slytherin power."

Hermione smiled at Draco, who looked thoroughly disappointed at this news.

As the teachers stood with Hagrid as they left the clearing, Hermione hung back with
Draco so they could talk privately.

"It seems you got your answer," she said, looking at him closely.

Draco did not move his eyes from its place straight ahead. "Yes Granger, I suppose I
did."

"Were you surprised?" she asked attentively.

"Surprised that 'we'll forever be' is the equivalent to 'I love you'?" Draco considered
for a moment while Hermione sighed exasperatedly. "No not really. That riddle could
have been harder though. I mean really –"

"Malfoy," Hermione interrupted, drawing the word out long to make it evident she
was annoyed.

"We'll talk about it later, Granger." Draco kept his eyes cast ahead at the teachers
and Hermione fell silent.

The trek to the cottage had seemed long and tiresome but the walk back thankfully
seemed much shorter in comparison. In reaching to the edge of the forest, Draco
and Hermione fell back even further as they headed back to the castle.

"You think they'll ask us to produce that publication you've been dying to do,
Granger?" Draco smirked as they headed into the Great Hall for lunch.

"It will be on shelves by Christmas!" Hermione announced before laughing happily.

Ginny noticed them and waved them over to the Gryffindor table. Hermione noticed
Ron watching them before hurrying to get up and leave. It seemed he wasn't ready
to accept that Hermione's replacement for him was someone they had hated since
they were eleven.

"You're smiling," Ginny acknowledged when they arrived. "Does that mean you got
it? You got the last stone?"

"Yes," Hermione said happily. She looked at Harry. "You won't believe how we got
it…"

"Malfoy declared his love to you?" Ginny asked looking from Hermione and back to
Draco expectantly. Draco stared avidly at the teacher's table.

Hermione did not move her gaze from Harry who was examining her face intensely.
"A mirror? But that's what Dumbledore did with the Philosophers Stone … Surely he
didn't know?"

Ginny's mouth dropped open in amazement. "How can you know anything by just
looking at her, Harry?"
"You do it all the time, Ginny," Harry replied, grinning widely at Hermione.

"I can read emotions, not whole explanations!" Ginny exclaimed in wonder. "Please
explain on my behalf!"

"Rowena Ravenclaw's mirror worked the same way the Mirror of Erised did in giving
Harry the Philosopher's Stone," Hermione enlightened her friend. "Only a person
who was truly in love could receive Salazar Slytherin's power stone."

Harry and Ginny gazed at Draco for a moment. He was still deliberately avoiding
their gazes and the discussion.

"It was amazing!" Hermione cried, a smile wide on her face. "It was a random theory
we suddenly thought of and we tried it. And … and it worked."

"So where's the stone now?" Harry inquired.

"McGonagall has it," Hermione said, her smile falling slightly. "She wants to have
tests run on it."

"Well that's important," Ginny said seriously. "Salazar Slytherin was never the most
… innocent of the founders. That stone could be terribly dangerous."

Hermione shrugged and looked at Draco, who hadn't said a thing since they had
come over. She knew he wasn't overly comfortable around Harry and Ginny; he had
blatantly refused at becoming their friend (which Hermione was not surprised about;
Harry and Ginny certainly weren't opening up their arms to him after all).

"So now you've got time to help me with the NEWT revision!" Harry's voice floated to
her ears and she returned her gaze to him.

"Oh – yes," Hermione replied, smiling once more. "We'll make study timetables
tonight if you want."

Harry cast a look of dread Ginny's way.

"Don't worry, Harry, I'll leave time for snogging sessions! Or is it shagging sessions
now?"

Harry turned beet red and turned to Ginny, who was suddenly very interested in her
avocado.

ooo
That night, Harry, Draco and Ginny sat in the common room. The silence was quite
awkward as Hermione poked and prodded a piece of paper, devising NEWT revision
sessions for Harry. Harry and Draco had just finished a heated argument about who
was the better seeker statistically.

"Boys and Quidditch," Ginny had cried when the argument got too heated for her
liking. "Really, I could've joined that argument; I think I'm the better seeker compared
to both of you! I've certainly got bigger balls!"

Hermione did not know where Male genitalia came into the discussion the boys were
having, but it had a desired effect; both boys seized talking immediately.

Ginny grinned and knelled down beside Hermione, drawing her own wand to help
her.

"If you ever want to stop a major male ego fight, Hermione," Ginny said
enthusiastically, "either threaten their fertility or suggest that they don't have the right
bits anyway."

Hermione laughed, poking her wand at a square labeled seven o'clock.

"Done," she said, handing the timetable over to Harry.

Harry took and looked at it. "Thanks, Hermione," he said. He looked intently at Ginny
for a moment. When the pretty redhead grinned and nodded slowly, Harry stood.
"We'll see you later."

Harry glared down at Draco before he and Ginny left Draco and Hermione to
themselves.

Hermione immediately rounded on Draco. "Are you ready to discuss today yet?" she
questioned, sitting up beside him on the couch.

Draco took her hand in his but did not respond. He was staring at the fire, deep in
thought.

Hermione relaxed against him and copied his actions, going over the year in her
head. She wondered if she and Ron would ever be the same friends they had before
their relationship, she wondered if Draco would ever turn back into the person she
had hated. Hermione could confidently answer no to both of those ponderings.

Feeling Draco shift beside her, she looked at him, only to see him grab one of
Salazar's stones from the coffee table in front of them.
"Future or memories?" he asked quietly.

"Memories," Hermione said, already knowing enough of her future to keep her
content.

Draco waved the stone across the vase that sat on the coffee table. As it was
already filled with water, the memory appeared before them immediately.

They saw themselves standing before their own reflections, affection in each of their
eyes as their reflections acted on their own accord. As the Draco in the memory
opened his mouth to speak the words Hermione looked away and instead at the
Draco beside her, who was considering the memory with interest.

"It really happened then," Draco said lightly.

Hermione nodded. "You got the answer to your question."

"Don't get used to it, Granger," Draco said, smirking at her. "I may be a changed man
but I am not a man who whispers 'forever' a thousand times while kissing you."

Hermione gaped at him. "I thought you said you only read one chapter!"

They fell silent again and Hermione snuggled into him. They hadn't really done this –
they usually kept some distance and merely enjoyed each other's company.
However, Draco did not protest. He instead willingly removed his hand from hers and
replaced it around her shoulders.

"You have one word to describe what this is, Granger," Draco said suddenly. "It could
be anything: passing, crazy, adventure…"

"In one word?" Hermione asked, looked at him and frowned. "I think today pretty
much clarifies what this is, Malfoy."

"Say it."

"Love," Hermione whispered. "My answer is 'love'."

"Then in three?"

"Love that's crazy?"

Draco sighed. "In one word, I call this a prize."

"That's two words, Malfoy," Hermione laughed.

"Well in three then," Draco muttered, disgruntled. He softly kissed her cheek and
leaned into her ear to whisper, "You're my prize."
 Eighteen Years Later
Eighteen Years Later

"Dad? Dad? Why's mum over with that Hairy man?" Young Scorpius Malfoy asked
his father as they made towards the scarlet red steam train that would be taking him
to his first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

"His name is Harry," Draco smirked to his son. "Or Potter if you prefer."

"I don't like him," Scorpius sneered. "He scares me. Why is mum talking to him?"

"You know they're friends, son," Draco smirked. "Besides, here she comes now…"

"I can't believe how much hair Ron has lost!" Hermione Malfoy cried as she
approached her waiting family. "It's quite a worry…"

"Why worry? You have a husband with a wonderful head of hair, Granger," Draco
drawled, running his hand through his hair, which was still the same platinum blonde
it had been when he was younger. Both he and Hermione doubted that he'd had a
single strand of it fall loose and never re-grow. "Maybe he's earning extra money
testing muggle shampoo."

"Draco, you know very well that Ron is not the poor boy he was in school," Hermione
chided, looking around the crowded train platform. "Now where is Aurora?"

"She's already gone off with that James Potter," Draco hissed. "Do we really have to
encourage her to hang around with Potter and Weasley's kids?"

"I will not have my children associating with the Zabini children, Draco!" Hermione
cried. "Those children are very disrespectful – I'd prefer my children to not turn into
that."

"Granger, I'll have you know I often hung around with Blaise and I turned out
perfectly fine," Draco stated with a sneer ready to bite. "Aurora is in third year. That's
the year –"

"I think James is very worthy of her affection, Draco."

"Granger, my only daughter is not –"

"Oh I see you haven't broken your word at all, Malfoy." Ginny had come over to see
Hermione again, wanting to escape the boys discussion of the muggle vehicles they
would like to purchase. Grinning, she put on a deep voice to imitate Draco. "'Even in
the throws of passion, I'll still call her Granger'."

Hermione looked at Draco, eyebrows raised. Draco merely smirked.

The End