Disclaimer: Not mine, not mine, not mine.

I met you in a time of war, but was there really any other time? It's been the war to end all wars, a war of lost causes and unstoppable motions. Through all of the logic roaming around in my mind, I myself cannot make sense of this war any more.

You came into the room, a whirl of black cape and your wand raised into the air. We were quick to protect ourselves, rising immediately and holding our wands to your throat.

"Hey. Let's be reasonable." You said. You slowly put your wand on the ground and put your hands in the air.

"What do you want, Malfoy?" spat out Ron and you sneered.

And then an amazing thing happened. You smiled.

"I want to join your team."

My wand was in your gut immediately. You didn't move, didn't attempt to stop me.

"It's a trap." I heard myself say. An accusation.

Harry moved around me and put his hand over mine. Gently he lowered my arm and took my wand.

"Hermione, it's not."

"How do you know?"

"Because I knew he was coming."

There was an audible gasp-a group thing, and we spun around to face him. Which was when Harry began to explain the whole thing, the yearlong letters and meetings that had gone on between you two in secret. Every piece of information that we had gotten about "the other side", had come from you. You had been our secret spy, and now you were here.

"I don't believe it." Lavender, with her curly brown hair spiraling down her back, clinking bracelets and tight pants, shoved her wand back into your throat.

But you were calm. You remained very still, looking at all of us, even me. It enflamed me, the scar on my arm screaming at you: Mudblood!

"I'll do whatever you need." You assured us.

But none of us, except for Harry believed you. He welcomed you into our home, the little shelter that we had found on the side of New Zealand two years ago. But I couldn't sleep knowing you were so close. My blood boiled and I felt this unprecedented anger towards you that I had never been able to summon up before in my life.

My eyes barely shut when you were waking me up. Instinctively I reached for my wand and stood.

"What are you doing here?" I demanded.

"Calm down, Hermione. I made breakfast."

"What did you just call me?" I hissed.

"Hermione. You know…your name? Come and get breakfast in the kitchen, but be quiet. No one is awake yet and we have a lot to talk about."

You left the room, shutting the door behind you gently. I breathed heavily, looking around my room for something to throw, break or smash-anything to keep me from cursing you out of my life, once and for all.

Instead I picked up my sweater from the ground and pulled it over my head. It was a cold January; the coldest we had faced here in the war so far. I allowed myself to walk into the kitchen where you were taking a teakettle off the stove. You, Malfoy, were touching a Muggle thing in a Muggle home.

"I assume Chamomile is ok?" and you poured hot water into a cup, steam rising onto the ceiling.

I sat down at the table in front of the cup and took it in my hands. The warmth seeped into my skin, spreading like fire and burning a little. I took a sip and found it to be sweeter than the bitter brew normally was.

"This isn't-"

"I charmed it. That's natural cane sugar you're tasting."

"Oh."

And goddamn it, I hated you so much for making me feel grateful. How I hadn't thought of charming the tea before, I don't know, but sugar was scarce in the war and I had gone without it in my tea for at least a year.

"You're welcome."

"I didn't thank you."

There was a silence between us, unbelievably loud, as you placed a plate with a piece of buttered toast in front of me, eggs on the side just like I usually had them.

"Listen, Hermione-" I growled, "Get over it. We're a team now, and despite how much you hate me, I have been assigned by Harry to tell you all that I know."

"You can't mean-"

"Yes, I do."

It took all of the effort inside of me not to throw the remaining tea in your face. That smug smile I had grown up seeing appeared once again and you lifted toast up to your lips and tore off a huge bite. I wanted to murder you. I wanted to stuff that toast right up your hairy bum.

"Fuck you."

A slow smile crept onto that face of yours and you took my cup from my hands. You took a sip and while my mouth was open in disgust you leaned over close to my ear and said one thing:

"Eventually."

OOO

"I can't believe you, Harry. Honestly, of all the people that you could have stuck that little twat with, you decide that-"

"Hermione, listen, if you would just give him-"

"Give him a what Harry? Another chance to brand me or watch while someone else does? What?"

"A chance." He exhaled and reached out for me. I shrugged him off. "'Mione…please."

"You have five minutes to explain."

I sat down on the edge of the desk in Harry's room and looked down at him.

"Hermione, he's actually very intelligent. I'd go as far to say that he's as intelligent as you are."

I hissed and he flinched a little.

"So you're, what, teaming us together?"

"Yes. That's exactly what I'm doing. I'm at a loss for what else to do quite frankly. It's why I had him join us, finally. We are hitting dead ends at this point, and we need someone who isn't just intelligent, but knows how the Death Eater's operate."

"So you're saying he's better than me."

"Jesus, Hermione no!" he stood and slammed his fist down on the desk. "You aren't listening to me. Just…listen."

"Ok. Listening."

"Hermione, my wife died trying to kill them when they…when…" he cut himself off and buried his face in his hands. When I tried to comfort him he pulled away and shook his head. His eyes were red as they glared at me. "You will make this work. I don't really care how you do it, just do it. I don't like being the bad guy Hermione, but fuck. I'm the leader here and…I say get along. Play nice."

I winced and stood up myself. We were almost the same height, but I still had to look up at him a little bit.

"Ok." I said.

"Ok."

OOO

"The first thing you need to know is that these," I gestured behind me to a good stack of books lined up on a shelf. "Are mine."

"Yours."

"Mine."

You sighed and then nodded.

"Ok. Yours."

"And you won't touch them without my permission. Ever."

"Right. Even if you die. I'll go toy our grave and ask first. Leave some flowers maybe."

"That would be appreciated, thanks." I tried not to smile, but despite myself a little grin came over me.

"So what's the second thing?" you asked, becoming serious.

You folded your hands together, and you had these long fingers and clean-cut nails. It was almost…feminine. I allowed myself to look at you for the first time in God knows how long. You no longer used gel in your hair, but it was too short for gel, a little longer than a buzz-probably for the convenience. It showed off your eyes, which were actually a pleasant pale color, not quite blue or gray.

You weren't bad looking-aren't, really. But I wouldn't give you the satisfaction of staring, so I looked away and cleared my throat.

"Alright, well we don't know very much, truthfully. Most of the information that we did have, which of course you knew I guess, turned out to blow up in our face. About a week ago we went on a mission to London where the Death Eaters were living amongst Muggles. Unfortunately, it was hard to distinguish between them and we ended up…"

My throat hurt and I closed my eyes. I wouldn't let myself think about it, I wouldn't cry, I'd stay strong. I pressed my fingers against my eyes until I was sure that they were dry and then opened them again. You were looking straight at me, almost…concerned.

"Well, it's an easy mistake." You justified and I wanted to slap you.

"It's unfortunate, not easy."

"I'm sorry."

I glared, and to your credit you didn't avoid my gaze. Finally I relinquished a bit and you smiled.

"So, we're back at square one. Again." I continued.

"Jesus." You put your head in your hands and exhaled loudly.

I didn't want to ask you what was wrong because I didn't care. Instead I looked out the window and into the yard.

I remember when I was a kid, really young, before magic and Hogwarts and war, I used to run freely, letting the wind catch in my hair and drag it around. Now I couldn't go outside without somebody else there, and no one was ever in the mood to let loose.

"That's all you have to say?" I caved.

"I just thought I was coming into this with…more. I don't know."

"Yeah, well, sorry I'm not sorry Malfoy. This has been my life for three years now."

You stood and shook your head.

"Alright well, I'm going to go and talk to Harry. I'll see you later."

"Yeah, unfortunately." I grumbled quietly as you walked away, but I swear you heard me as you laughed a bit in the other room.

OOO

You were here a week before you decided to encroach upon my space. There was a room on the very first floor in, which a mock porch existed. There was a swing, which faced a large window overlooking the most beautiful lake in the world.

So many nights I would find myself there, rocking back and forth with a cup of tea, looking at that lake and wondering ho it would feel to swim in it.

I heard you walk in and then you were on the swing, setting my rocking out of rhythm, pushing back and forth in a jerking motion.

"Your company is unwanted."

"It's too quiet downstairs. Everyone is asleep or gone."

"It's quiet up here as well."

"Not right now."

I shut my mouth and resisted the urge to sock you in the face. But with someone else there I was acutely aware of every little noise-the sound of my lips sucking in tea, my throat swallowing it and the creak of my body when I moved positions.

"Fine, I'll bite. What do you want?"

"I told you. Company."

I sighed and forced myself to keep my gaze off of you. I couldn't tell if you were being sarcastic or truthful.

"I'm not very good at talking to people, Malfoy."

"Funny, the way that I remember it, you never shut up."

I smacked you then; just a light one on the shoulder, but your response-a sharp slap back-surprised me. Were we acting like friends? Never.

I stood up and starting walking out the door. Halfway out I felt your hand on my arm.

"Don't touch me." I seethed.

"I wish you'd just-"

"No."

"I understand what you're going through, Hermione."

I whipped my arm from your grasp and closed my eyes. You would never understand me, you couldn't even try. And why you were trying, I didn't know. Didn't care.

"Stop calling me that."

I left.

OOO

A knock on my door interrupted my reading. I'll admit that it was just a pleasure read-Little Women, once again-but I pretended to be irritated.

"Busy."

The door opened anyway and you came in. I refused to look up from my book once I saw that it was you. Maybe you'd just leave.

"Hey teammate." I kept my eyes down and focused on the words. They were blurring with anger though, as you sat down next to me on my bed. "Good morning."

"Leave." I said between my teeth.

"I have a gift for you."

I shut my book and sighed. Ignoring was proving fruitless; maybe I could just play along and speed up your leaving.

"What is it?"

You didn't answer but instead took something out of your pocket. Quickly you put it behind your back, along with your other hand. You grinned and said, "Pick a hand".

"No."

"Than I'll take it for myself."

"Good."

I opened my book again and tried to resume reading. You didn't leave, your stance remained as stiff and expecting as ever.

"Fine." I shut my book with a bit of a slam and put it down. "The right one."

"Clever girl." You smiled and held the hand out to me.

Even with your long fingers covering most of it, I could still see the red skin, like a wax heart, coming through the spaces. I gasped and allowed my eyes to fill a bit with tears.

"Where…"

I didn't allow myself to take it. A tear spilled over the edge and fell down my cheek. I rubbed at it stubbornly and sobered myself up. It was just a fucking apple. It wasn't a big deal.

"I went out today to get supplies and saw it. I thought you'd like it."

You put it in my hands, and I felt how warm your skin actually was. I had expected it to be cold like a corpse but instead it felt…nice. Like Ron, or Harry.

"Thank you."

I hated being grateful, yet again, to you of all people, but my manners took a hold of my pride and forced it out of me. Apples, like sugar, were a rarity. When they were available they were expensive…I couldn't imagine how much this had cost you or why you had wanted to spend it on me…on a fruit.

"Be ready in half an hour. I have some new ideas."

You left and I stared at this little fruit, nestled in my hands. I thought about the last time that I had an apple, sitting on the porch with Ginny, a year ago.

"God." She said, crunching on a bit. "I can't wait for this war to be over."

We looked out over the expanse of water, that beautiful lake, and then she handed me the apple. I took a bite, a bit of juice escaping my lips.

"I don't think I can take this much longer." I whispered. "I feel so trapped."

She stood up, and I'll never forget the way her red hair trailed in the wind, a couple of strands covering her eyes and lips as she smiled.

"There's only one way out of this war, baby." She winked and took the apple, threw it as far out as she could, then wiped her hands on her bare legs.

A week later she was murdered. Dead. Cold.

And now this apple, this gorgeous red thing the color of blood, sat in my hands and I couldn't eat it. Instead I opened my drawer, put it inside and closed it.

OOO

"Malfoy, I've been thinking."

"As opposed to what you usually do, yes. Go on."

I whacked you with the book in my hands and you smiled. It had been two weeks since your arrival, and I still hated you. I hated you so much that it hurt. Just being in this room with you made me want to drag you over to the freezer and lock you inside. But two weeks was a long time here in the war zone. Every day was a gift because tomorrow was never promised to any of us. At any second we could be fighting for our lives, we technically already were.

And so each day that I had to spend with you was still another day that I got to live; fourteen days felt like an eternity. We were, if nothing else, teammates now. I respected that.

"What if we're going about this all wrong?"

"I'm listening."

I paced nervously, threading my fingers together. I didn't want to say anything in case I sounded stupid, but I had a feeling…I wondered, if maybe I could be right.

"Malfoy, we've been trying so hard to find out where the core group of Death Eaters-the leaders, if you will, are. It's led to mistake after mistake, and maybe that's because they know where we'll try to look. Maybe they're setting it up and maybe…maybe they aren't in Europe."

"Because they're in outer space. Right."

"Stop. I'm serious. What if they're…in the United States?"

You didn't say anything, you just looked at me, and I knew my feeling was right. Why hadn't we thought about it before? Europe was small, the United States was huge and there were so many people that they could use against us; so many potential soldiers.

"God damn."

OOO

"Alright, I'm listening you two. Go on."

Harry sat in front of us, rubbing his temples. Though he was only twenty-one, a bit of gray had appeared in the last couple months. We were all so stressed, him especially. I felt awful.

"Well in the past week we've been scouring the atlas, trying to figure out which place the Death Eaters could be located. We realized they wouldn't be in places such as Alaska, because it's cold and sparsely populated. They'd stick to places that have both a higher population and density. It's easier to hide that way."

Harry looked at you and nodded. I knew he was waiting for the punch line-the kicker. I had been waiting for it as well.

"So we've narrowed it down to three states." I interrupted. "I mean, there are 50 states, and we'll check them all if we have to, but we could at least start with these three."

"New York, New York for starters." You said. "Austin, Texas and Los Angeles, California."

He nodded again, silent in thought.

"So you're proposing what, exactly?"

"We're proposing sending teams out to these three states. We'll stay in direct communication with those coins from fifth year, and message each other if something comes up. We can easily apparate to the others side if needed. And we take them down."

We waited for Harry's response. He seemed nervous but finally shrugged.

"It's flawed, this plan. But it's the first new thing that we've come up with in ages. What do we have to lose?"

OOO

I saw it coming, but I was still hurt when it happened. Harry paired himself with Ron and Lavender for New York. He put Neville, Seamus and Luna together for Texas. Which left you and I, together…alone. I was devastated that he hadn't wanted me to come along with him, considering we might not ever see each other again.

"Hermione, I'm sorry. But Malfoy…trusts you."

"Excuse me?"

"He trusts you. He requested you. I think it's a smart match. Look what you two already came up with."

I winced and buried my face in my hands. He put his arm around me and pulled me close.

"I don't want to lose you."

"You won't." he assured me. "We'll win this thing Hermione."

But I didn't know how he could be so sure. We had already lost so much…

A/N: I'm back! It's been awhile since I wrote a Dramione :]

Basically, here's the deal. This was too long to be a one-shot, but it's not going to be really long, either. That is, if the plot bunny doesn't run off with me again...

Reviews are so appreciated!