Chapter One

Ron's Grudge

When Harry's name flew out the goblet a few weeks ago, Hermione had to say she hadn't been completely surprised. Even since she heard about the Triwizard Tournament she'd been on tenterhooks, waiting for something bad to happen. It was hardly possible that they'd make it through a year without something bad happening. It was almost like she could feel it in her bones.

Yes, Hermione could always trust herself. She knew when something wasn't right. Even before she found out she was a witch, her parents would tell her she was ahead of her years. Of course, she'd always been highly logical which allowed her to see things other people couldn't. Which is why she couldn't ignore her gut when it told her that something was wrong. Seriously wrong.

She had considered the possibility of You-Know-Who but the thought chilled her to the bone, so she tried not to think about that too much. You-Know-Who was gone. He would be back, but he was gone. And yet she still found herself lying awake at night, staring up at the patterned curtains of her four-poster bed, unable to shake the feeling of terror.

But if one thing comforted her, it was that Dumbledore was at Hogwarts. And with Dumbledore at Hogwarts, Harry was safe. With Dumbledore there, he couldn't be touched. And if they get through Dumbledore, they'd have to get through me too, thought Hermione grimly. And she wouldn't let them touch Harry. Neither would Ron. That's if, he were actually on speaking terms with his best friend again.

"Harry hasn't come to lunch today," she said tentatively, as she watched Ron shove pickled sandwiches into his mouth. Speaking about Harry was always a touchy subject.

Ron didn't say anything, as she already predicted he wouldn't. He just swallowed his sandwich and shovelled more into his mouth.

"I hope he's okay," she continued, when she saw his mouth was empty.

Ron grunted and picked up a pumpkin pasty. Hermione stared down at her own pasty, untouched and probably cold by now. How she hated it when they fought like this. She would give anything for them to make up so both of them could help Harry. He needed their help more than ever right now.

"Don't you feel guilty at all?"

Ron shrugged. "What should I feel guilty about? It's not my fault the git put his name in the Goblet, is it?"

Hermione lowered her voice to a whisper. "I think we both know Harry didn't put his name in the Goblet."

"Then how do you reckon it got in?" he snapped.

"I don't know," she snapped back.

An icy silence fell between them. Ron had stopped eating. Instead, he was glowering at his food like it was Harry himself. Hermione took a tentative sip of her pumpkin juice, trying to calm herself. Maybe she would be a bit more understanding if Ron wasn't being so selfish. He knew full well that Harry didn't put his name in the Goblet of Fire. The truth was, someone else did it. Someone with mysterious and possibly murderous motives. If Ron didn't apologise to Harry and Harry died-

Well, it didn't bear thinking about.

It would have to be a very powerful wizard to be able to hoodwink Dumbledore, that was for sure.

Hermione chewed on her lip. A headache was starting to form in her temples. The pumpkin pasty in front of her looked even less appetising, verging on disgusting. She pushed her plate away and it scraped along the wooden table.

"Oh, go and talk to him if you really want to," snapped Ron. "I'll talk to Dean."

"Ron-"

"Go on. Go."

Hermione could tell by the way his ears were turning red that now was not the time to argue. So she gathered her books into her arms, threw her bag over her shoulder and stalked out the great hall, listening to the chatter of students disappear behind the doors.

The corridors were deserted. It was a nice day for November - the sun, unusually warm - and everyone was making the most of it. Not Harry though, she thought with a sinking in her chest. He was probably locked up in the common room, trying to work out how to face the dragons.

Dragons. She shouldn't have been surprised. Dragons were dangerous, albeit fascinating to watch. The thing was, how would one get past them? Probably with a type of complicated magic they hadn't studied yet. The spells they'd been studying in Charms would only take them so far.

She started making her way to the library, but turned in her tracks. She had Defence Against the Dark Arts in an hour, and she wanted to talk to Harry before the lesson. Maybe he'd found something. At least, she hoped.

Clutching her books tighter to her chest, Hermione sped off to the Gryffindor common room. She'd just reached the moving staircases when a voice she knew all too well made her turn around.

"If it isn't Granger."

She should have ignored him. She should have kept walking as if he hadn't spoken - that's what she'd tell Harry to do - but the argument with Ron had set her on edge and she really was not in the mood.

"What do you want, Malfoy?" she spat as she spun on her heel.

He was striding towards her, arms thrown out, robes flowing behind him. Crabbe and Goyle were hot on his heels, following like the lovesick puppies they were.

"Oh, nothing much. Just wondering how Potter plans to get past the dragons."

"How do you know about the dragons?" she asked, but realised the moment the words were out. His father. "Never mind."

She turned and started to make her way up the staircase. She'd hardly taken the first step when the scuffle of feet told her they were following closely behind. She turned around again to see them climbing up the staircase. With a jolt that threw them all sideways, it moved. Hermione gripped onto the bannister.

"You still didn't answer my question," Malfoy shouted up at her. "How's Potter going to get past the dragons? Without dying, that is."

"He's not going to die," she yelled back. She wished the staircase would hurry up moving so she could get off the stupid thing and away from him.

"I wouldn't be so sure, Granger. He won't have a mudblood like you helping him during the task, will he?"

Hermione reached for her wand. She had to stop herself, though her fingers itched to hold it. It wasn't because he'd beat her. She knew she'd win. She could curse him into an oblivion before the words 'My father' appeared on his snivelling, smug lips.

But she was better than that.

"Oh, hi Professor Moody," she called instead.

She couldn't help the way her lips curled into a smile at the way his eyes blew open in fear. She knew what was going on his mind. That truly terrible (and awfully funny) time when Professor Moody turned him into a ferret. Hermione knew he shouldn't have done it, and she knew that it was wrong in every way. She even mentioned to Harry and Ron that it was worrying, he could have hurt Malfoy, but it satisfied her. It may have been wrong but Draco Malfoy deserved it.

Malfoy threw a terrified glance over his shoulder. Crabbe and Goyle ran into each other in an attempt to get away as fast as possible. Laughing to herself, Hermione climbed the rest of the stairs.

"You'll pay for that, you filthy mudblood."

Just like that, her smile disappeared.

"Really!" the Fat Lady said, frowning in the direction of Malfoy. "Language like that."

"Balderdash," said Hermione glumly.

"It most certainly is!" cried the fat lady, and swung forward to let her climb through the portrait hole.

Harry wasn't anywhere to be seen, so she sunk down into the armchair by the fire and pulled one of her books out of her bag. Dragon skin and other Magical Wonders of the Wizarding World. With a heavy sigh, she let it fall open on her lap and got to work.

Hi there! First I'd like to thank you for reading, if you got this far! I've been re-reading the Harry Potter books and I've only just realised how badly I ship Dramione. I NEEDED something to happen between them and I can't quite pin-point why. Maybe it's because I heard a rumour that J. K Rowling was going to put them together - but I don't know if it's true.

I have so many ideas and plans for this. I hope you like it! I'm trying to keep it as realistic as possible to the books. I know school Dramione has probably been done many times before, but this is my take on it! Anyway, let me know what you think! I've never written Dramione before and Draco is such a complex character, so I hope I do him justice. I hope you enjoy it!