A/N – Hey guys and welcome to my story. I hope you enjoy it and please don't base your judgements of me on my previous stories because, to be honest, they are rubbish. I'm quite pleased with this one and I hope you will really like it.

Now, I know the prologue is quite short so I'll make a deal with you…. If you review I will post chapter 1 on Thursday. How nice am I!

Anyway, I just want to say thanks to my wonderful beta larubinita who by the way has a BRILLIANT Hermione/Draco story called The Beast Within if you're into that kinda thing. Anyway, please review, it will make me so happy

Prologue

Hermione Granger walked through the halls of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry with a purpose. Her eyes sparkled with fire and determination and her long, dark curls bounced with every purposeful step. During the six and a half years that she had spent in this school she had grown familiar with every corner and every passage and this was a great advantage to her in this moment. She was so focused on her task that she just allowed her legs to take her where she needed to be. She paid no attention to the other students around her who were quick to jump out of her way as she walked by. This was not the Hermione Granger she had been when she first walked through the school's massive doors as a first year, hands trembling but body filled with excitement. This was not even the same Hermione Granger who had squealed with excitement upon receiving a letter the previous summer indicating that she was to be Head Girl for her seventh and final year. No, this Hermione Granger was a girl hardened by circumstance. Her face showed no emotion, only a cold mask, and she radiated a power that made even her fellow seventh years step back occasionally in fear.

It was getting late, just before curfew, and the lamps that lit the hallways were dimming. The little sunlight that remained outside glinted off the rapidly melting snow which covered Hogwarts' grounds. Had the feisty brunette been paying any attention she no doubt would have found the view beautiful. As it was, however, she paid it no heed. She had more important things on her mind. A deathly important task that could help save the life of the only person in the world who she loved, the only person in the world who loved her.

As she approached her destination she did not even allow herself a moment to take a deep breath. She could not let her mask or demeanour waver for even a second. She stepped before the portrait of the Fat Lady and stated the password.

"Ah Hermione dear, how are you?" inquired the painting, "I barely see you anymore. Where have you been hiding yourself?"

Hermione laughed inwardly at the picture's ironic use of the word 'hiding'. She had no idea. "I know, Madam, I apologise. I have just been busy with other matters. Anyway, the password is hippogriff."

The Fat Lady narrowed her eyes slightly at the once so friendly girl's stiff and formal response. There was definitely something different about her. She shook her head and allowed her to enter.

Not bothering to thank the portrait, Hermione climbed into the Gryffindor common room silently and did a quick scan around. It was almost deserted at this time of night as it was a weekday so most students had an early start in the morning and had already retired to bed. However, Hermione smiled slightly as her eyes rested on the person she had come here to see. She knew he would still be up, gazing into the fire looking as though he had the weight of the world on his shoulders. He also didn't look as though he had noticed her presence. This was good, it gave her the advantage.

"Potter," she said sharply. The dark haired boy whipped around quickly at the sound of the unexpected voice and Hermione was momentarily pleased with herself at having startled him. He looked surprised for a second before regaining his composure and narrowing his eyes into a glare.

"Granger, what do you want?" he asked, the hostility dripping from his words.

Hermione lifted her head up high and maintained her blank expression, completely managing to hide the stab of pain she felt through her heart at the look her ex-best friend was giving her. Come on Hermione, she chastised herself inwardly; you've got to be over this by now. He means nothing to you! She shook her head to help clear it and regain her focus.

"I need your help," she answered, her voice was cold and uncaring.

Harry Potter laughed, "And why would I want to help you?" His emphasis on the word 'you' expressed intense disgust, as though she was merely a 'thing' not worthy of his attention.

Though he had meant this as an insult it helped her more than he would have imagined. See, her inner voice continued, he is an arsehole. Why would you want to be friends with him? This thought gave her strength and she smirked a smirk that reminded Harry so strongly of someone else that he could no longer see the girl who had been his best friend for six years.

"Because Potter," she spat, "it's mutually beneficial."

Harry tipped his head to one side slightly, examining the girl, no woman, before him. "Go on," he said, "what's this favour?"

To his surprise Hermione smiled, though it didn't quite reach her eyes, "I want you to help me to kill Lucius Malfoy." At her words, Harry lost all control over his features and his jaw dropped.

Thirty minutes later, Hermione exited the Gryffindor common room feeling quite pleased with herself. Mission accomplished, she thought, well at least the first part. She jogged down two flights of stairs, not caring that it was well past curfew. She was Head Girl after all. She spotted the door of the room she was heading for and, with one last look to check there was no-one around, she turned the handle and slipped inside. She blinked a few times as her eyes adjusted to the dark until she could just make out the shapes of the unused desks that were piled around the walls but she spotted him immediately.

He stepped forward, close enough so that she could see the look of concern on his face. Aww, she thought, bless him. He was worried about me.

"Are you okay?" he asked quickly.

Hermione smiled up at him, "I'm fine," she assured and relief washed over his features.

"So," he continued, "what did Potter say?"

"He agreed," explained Hermione. "It would seem that he hates your father almost as much as we do."

Draco Malfoy nodded stiffly and pulled the girl before him into his arms. As he breathed deeply, taking in the scent of her hair, he couldn't help but smile. He knew that she could look after herself but Potter was very unpredictable these days. He had wanted to go with her but she argued against it, saying that Potter would be even more unlikely to agree if he was being threatened by Draco while she was explaining the situation to him. She was right, of course, isn't she always? But it didn't make him any less worried about her or any less pleased that she had come back to him safely.

He took her head in both his hands and moved it off his chest so he could look her in the eyes. "I love you, Hermione," he said, pushing every bit of his heart into the words in the hope that she would understand how he was feeling.

She smiled brightly, "I love you too, Draco." With that she allowed herself to relax for the first time in days and let herself be drawn back against her boyfriend's chest. He held her like that for a long time, until the sun was rising again behind the Forbidden Forest. Both were thinking about how different their lives had become over the past six months and both were thinking that regardless of all the troubles that they had faced, they wouldn't change things for the world.

A/N Hope you liked it, please review!