A/N Okay so Draco is going to be almost extremely out of character in this fic. I am basing this on the fact that he comes to his senses much sooner than he does in canon. I don't know any teenage boy who wouldn't come to his senses watching his father be punished with torture. Not to mention the fact that he was branded and set a blatantly impossible task as punishment for his father's failure. Even with Draco's arrogance I really don't see him thinking he can take on Dumbledore by himself. He was a teenager, he might be cocky but he wasn't stupid. So in essence my version of Draco is already world weary and just done with the whole thing. If you don't like OOC Draco do not read. I don't mind if that's not your cup of tea, I have my own likes and dislikes just like everyone else. However I do not need to hear about how off my Draco seems or how you don't like it because he isn't his canon self. That is not to say he is going to be all new best friends with anyone and everyone. That's not going to happen. However as this is a Draco/Hermione story they will be close pretty much off the bat. Also I have no idea how often I will be updating this. This whole story started out as a one chapter plunny that upon starting to write it, turned into much much more. Anyway that's all for now. Hope you enjoy reading as much as I do writing.

Hermione stared at the head table with more malice than she had felt in her entire life. She had more disgust for the garish woman up there than she'd ever held for anyone else, even Lavender and Parvati. The borish woman had once again interupted Dumbledore's welcome speach making an absolute spectacle of herself. Hermione hid a growl under her breath but she couldn't hide the fact that her hair was sparking.

The overwhelming urge to protect what she considered hers was taking over her mind. These were Her students. She made prefect this year. This was Her school not the ministries! Why was this toad of a woman even back. It wasn't for moderation because even the ministry had admitted that Voldemort was back now. She was unable to take any more of the self-righteous Delores Umbridge. With a snort of disgust she made eye contact as she stood up. She held it for a few seconds, the pure unadulterated hated shining in her eyes, before she stormed out the doors of the great hall not bothering to wait for the feast. If she was that hungry later, Dobby or Winky would gladly sneak her food.

She made her way immediately up the stairs and to the Room of Requirement. The door was already waiting for her. She thanked the castle with her hand on the wall before entering the room. Dummies lined the entire room. She whipped out her wand and fired every spell she could think of at them. "What a foul, loathsome, evil, dispicable, irritating, arrogant, annoying, rude, horrible woman!"

She growled as she continued to release the excess magical energy that her anger gave her. It took her over two hours to expel it all. Finally collapsing in exhaustion she was grateful when the floor shifted beneath her and she was laying on a bed rather than the floor. "Thank you." She said it aloud this time knowing the castle was sentient and was listening. She smiled as she felt the magical energy of the castle give her a hug. "I'm so frustrated. My heart aches for the justice that I can't enact yet. She's already paid for last years discretions, but I KNOW she is going to do something else. Innocent first years will be terrified of magic because of that awful woman. These are My students. You are My school. How Dare she intrude." The school only used its magic to hug her tighter. She knew that it couldn't speak to her. Not in so many words any way, but she took comfort in what it did offer.

She lay there for another half hour before speaking, "I must go for now. The boys will be wondering where I've gone. Dinner is surely over by now and they will start to get worried. Will you give me an entrance to the common room? I'd rather not walk the hallways right now." She felt the magic of the room shift and a door appeared on one of the other walls. She opened it and smiled, the castle had not only gave her a way to the common room but it was in one of the studying alcoves that no one ever used. She touched the wall and gave another heart felt thank you to the castle. As she closed the door behind her it disappeared.

She walked out of the alcove and into the main part of the common room. She was instantly surrounded. Not only by Harry and Ron, but Ginny, Neville, Dean, and Seamus, as well. She was slightly startled by all of the attention. And before she could say anything a rush of things hit her ears all at once. "Where have you been?" had come from Harry. "What were you thinking," came from Ginny. "Blimey 'Mione," was obviously Ron. "Hermione that was so awesome!" Seamus and Dean apparently shared the same thought. Neville was rather quiet but there wasn't condecension in his face, more a quiet solidarity, and a wish that he had done it as well.

She didn't blame him for not joining her. What she had done was dangerous, and recklessly stupid. She'd made an enemy out of Umbridge, but in all fairness the woman already hated her. If she could keep the attention on herself rather than those she wanted to protect all the better. She smiled softly at the awe and concern of her friends. "I went to the Room of Requirement Harry, I needed to let off steam. Gin, I was thinking that if I could keep her attention focused on me maybe the first years would have a chance at escaping her midieval torture methods. She already hates me from what I did to her at the end of last year." She didn't mention that she wanted to keep her from focusing on the rest of the people standing around her as well. Harry and Ron were her brothers. Ginny the little sister she'd always wanted. Neville was another brother. And Dean and Seamus were the crazy cousins you couldn't help but love. "Ron, er... well I can't really respond to just Blimey. So yeah. Dean, Seamus, thank you." Then she turned to Neville and hugged him. "Nev, I don't blame you for not doing what I did. It wasn't bravery. It was foolish, and dangerous." She leaned forward then and whispered so the others didn't hear, "I don't want her focus on you guys. With all of us having been in DA together all of us would have been first on her list to damage. Now maybe I can keep her focus on me. You all are my family. I'm doing this to protect you, maybe even more so than the first years." She stood back up then, "So what did I miss?"

Another influx of words met her ears. "Snape is the defense against the dark arts teacher!" "Some guy named Slughorn is taking over potions." "Umbridge is taking a new position. Laws of the wizarding world." "She's not got as much power as last year thankfully. She can't make decrees any more." "Isn't it awful!" "Isn't it great!"

Her head spun for a few moments before she managed to piece it all together. "Okay so let me see if I got this right." She turned to Harry, "Snape is the DADA teacher, and its awful." She turned to Ron, "Horace Slughorn has returned to take the potions position." She eyed Harry at that telling him they would talk later. He had sent her an owl over the summer that Dumbledore wanted him to meet with the guy. He had said Dumbledore hadn't wanted anyone to know at all but ever since third year he didn't hide ANYTHING from Hermione. She'd been there for him when literally no one else was. Harry nodded at her in acceptance. Then she turned to Neville, "Oh goody, wonder who she screwed, or screwed over, to get that made into a class." There were gasps around the circle at Hermione's wording. Didn't they get it yet? She really didn't like the woman. Next was Ginny, "Yes that great that she doesn't have as much power, maybe she won't get away with as much, but I doubt it." She then turned to Dean and Seamus, "Wait what did you two say?" They shrugged she'd pretty much covered it all. She nodded, "Right then, anything else?" Everyone shook their heads. "Okay, then I'm going to go lay down. I'm exhausted now."

They all seperated and left her to go do whatever, except Ginny. "Don't think I don't know what you are doing Hermione Jean. The boys might all be fooled but I'm not. You are not going to take the brunt of the punishment for all of us. My brothers were the kings of mischief if you don't think I can attract her attention just as well as you, you're dead wrong."

Hermione sighed, "Fine a pact with just us two then. Neville knows but I won't let him be involved." Ginny nodded. "Gin, you know I trust you but I want a wand oath. Not an unbreakable vow, not anything that severe, just a wand oath."

Ginny nodded in total understanding, "I Ginerva Molly Weasley swear on my wand and my integrity as a witch, that I will not disclose this pact unto anyone than those who already know it. I also swear that I will be discreet in my ways of getting Her to focus punishments on myself. I agree that the breaking of this oath will allow Hermione Jean Granger permission to choose any punishment she deem fit." The silver bond wrapped around her wrist twice before disappearing completely. She'd been careful with her wording. She was willing to bet that Luna would figure it out sooner rather than later. And Luna being the soft soul that she is would want to join. "I understand Hermione, with a wand oath they can't use legilimency or veritaserum to make me reveal it. Anyway go get some sleep. See you at breakfast."

Hermione nodded and headed to her dorm room. She didn't even bother greeting Lavender or Parvati. They didn't really get along anyway. She walked over to her bed, slipped through the curtains, and collapsed into it. Not even bothering to change clothes. She looked over at the table hidden inside her bed curtains and smiled at the plate of sandwhiches there. She whispered her thanks to both Dobby and Winky, unsure of which of them had made them. As she did so, an iced glass of pumpkin juice showed up and she again whispered her thanks. She grabbed one of the sandwhiches and ate it. After using so much magic she was ravenous. She still managed to keep her manners however and not eat like Ron. She shuddered. Brother he might be, but someone needed to teach that boy manners. She finished another sandwhich and her juice before finally succumbing to sleep.

The next morning she woke up with a stretch and a yawn. She didn't even need to set an alarm anymore. She woke up on her own. She sat up in bed and excited the privacy curtains. Lavender and Pavarti weren't anywhere near awake at 6 am. She grabbed a change of clothes and slipped off to take a bath in the prefects bathroom. When she stepped into the bathroom the pool sized tub made her squeal in excitement. She waved her wand to start the water and a rose-vanilla bubble bath while she stepped into a shower stall to rinse off. She sighed in bliss as the hot water washed over her. Then with admittedly girlish excitement, she ran and jumped into the bath.

She had been in for about fifteen minutes and was starting to wash when someone else entered. She was about to freak out when she saw it was Draco. He seemed so preoccupied he didn't even notice her until he'd already had his shirt off. She managed not to gasp at seeing the dark mark on his skin. She did immediately have her wand in hand, however. Draco tried his best to sneer at her but he really was just too tired to keep up the act. "Put the wand down Granger, I'm not going to attack you." She looked up at him in shock but seeing the sincerity in his face she set her wand down. She didn't relax fully though, until his wand was in her sight on the ground and he was in the water with her. He noticed her stiff posture and rolled his wand further away from him. "Honestly Hermione I'm too tired for this. It's just barely after 6 am. I was dealing with the Dark Lord living in my house for the past year, and to top it all off as punishment for my dad's failure, i've been forcefully branded and have to complete the most ridiculously impossible task ever. Yes not only was my father punished for his failure, but apparently according to that nutcase the sins of the father are also the sins of the son. So can we, just, not do this now?"

Hermione relaxed and nodded, "Yeah." She instantly regretted what she was about to say, "Er Draco, do you want any help? I mean I'm not exactly your best friend or anything but maybe I can keep you from dying at least. It doesn't seem like you chose that mark."

Draco stared at her with incredulty. "You don't even know what the task is and you are offering to help? What's the catch?"

Hermione smiled softly at that. Always thinking like a slytherin. "No catch, not really. I just want you to help keep Umbridge focuse on me and off the younger students."

Draco looked at her like she was insane, but shrugged anyway. "Your funeral."

Hermione smirked wickedly, "Or hers." Draco cocked an eyebrow at her, but didn't say anything. "What I really don't like the woman. Geez, you'd think people would get that after I led her into a heard of centaur. I mean what else do I have to do poison the bitch?"

Draco smirked at her. "I think I may have drastically understimated you before, Hermione."

She smiled an innocent smile, "Everyone does." She shrugged, "I don't generally correct it so count yourself lucky. Anyway what DO you have to do?"

Draco quickly became solemn. "An unbreakable vow first. Then I'll tell you." It was Hermione's turn to raise her eyebrow with out saying anything. "I mean it. You either swear an unbreakable vow not to tell anyone or we forget the whole deal."

Hermione shifted, she was slightly uncomfortable doing so but figured it was better to prepare for whatever was coming than to go in blind. "Fine but who is going to seal the bond?"

Draco shook his head. "I know of a different way. Its not as serious either. It won't lead to death but a magical coma if you break it."

Hermione sighed but nodded, "okay, how do we do this?"

Draco stayed solemn. "We need to kneel with our arms crossed. Both of us holding our wands."

Hermione nodded, "Er can I finish washing first and then you close your eyes so I can get dressed?"

He smirked at her, "What's the matter, you don't mind being naked in the same tub, but you don't want me seeing it is that it?" Hermione turned bright red realizing that they were indeed both naked. She squeaked out something that sounded like bubbles and he chuckled. It was a deep velvety sound. She found she kind of liked it. "Don't worry Hermione, I won't look."

She nodded and washed quickly. When she finished she didn't even have to say anything he just turned around and faced the wall. She smiled, well at least he knew how to be a gentleman. She was dressed in her school robes rather quickly. "Okay Draco you can turn around now." A wicked smirk crossed his face as he did so. He'd been washing while she was dressing. Without saying a word he pushed off of the wall of the tub and got out. Hermione squeaked, turned red, and instantly closed her eyes. "Draco!"

He chuckled again and she couldn't help the small smile that crossed her face. He was quickly dressed as well. "You can look now." Hermione shook her head no, not trusting him. This time he flat out laughed. "Hermione, I promise, I'm dressed now." She slowly opened one eye, seeing that he had told the truth her other eye opened immediately. "Now come here." He knelt first so she wouldn't feel threatened.

She balked at the order but once she saw him kneeling she grabbed her wand and walked over to him. She knelt in front of him her wand arm extended slightly. "Like this?"

Draco nodded. "Just like that." He then crossed his arm with hers. "Okay now what we'll do is you'll state your part agreeing that if I hold up my end of the bargain you will assist in the best of your abilities and not tell any one. I will do the same. After which we can both fully disclose what we are doing without fear." Hermione nodded

Hermione spoke clearly, "I Hermione Jean Granger, swear to help Draco to the best of my ability with whatever task he has been set, I also swear to tell no one anything he discloses that he does not wish others to know, without his permission, all of these hinge on Draco Lucius Malfoy holding up his end of the agreement."

Draco raised an eyebrow at her wording. Apparently she did know how to hang with slytherins. Her wording had enough loopholes that she could possibly convince him to let her tell someone without suffering the consequences of breaking the vow. Smart. But they also required his approval so he wouldn't object to it. "I Draco Lucius Malfoy, swear to help Hermione to the best of my ability with whatever she may ask. I also swear to tell no one anything she discloses that she doesn't wish others to know, without her permission. All of this hinges on Hermione Jean Granger upholding her end of the agreement." Golden flames wrapped around their wrists and seared the inside of the wrist with a matching mark. A small animal. One that stood for selflessness and service. A rainbow colored crow.

Hermione stared at the inside of her wrist, "Er... was that supposed to happen? And can it be glamoured?"

Draco looked as stunned as she did, well that answered one question. "Uhm no, and I don't know?"

Hermione slapped her hand to her forehead. "You have done one of these before right? Please tell me I wasn't a guinea pig."

He looked away from his wrist and glared at her. "Of course I've done one before. do you really think I would leave my life in your hands with only the assurance of something I hadn't tried before. I'm a slytherin!"

Hermione giggled at his incredulty. Draco surprisingly liked the sound of it. "I didn't mean it as an insult." She giggled again.

Draco wanted to scowl but found himself smiling with her instead. "Well, it sounded like it. And to answer your unasked question, no nothing like this has ever happened before when I've done it. Most of those were only about secrecy though. So maybe the helping each other out did it. I don't recognize the symbol."

Hermione smiled brightly, "I do. Its a Lenape Legend. It's callled the Rainbow crow. A long time ago the earth was covered a beautiful place, then one day the ice and snow decided to come and cover the ground. The animals were freezing and scared of dying. So the wise owl suggested that they send an animal to heaven to plead with the Creator to stop the ice and snow. They all debated on who should go up. Until the Rainbow Crow volunteered. It was an incredibly long journey and he had no where to rest for three days. He flew up to heaven and tried to get the creators attention but the creator was lost in thought. So the Rainbow crow sang, he sang the most beautifully of all birds you see. When the creator was brought out of his thought by the song of the Crow he asked for what he could give to him in return for the beautiful song. The crow asked him to stop the snow and ice from spreading so that the animals didn't die. The Creator informed him however that the ice and snow had thoughts and souls of their own and he couldn't control them. The crow worried that they all would die spoke up. 'What shall we do then?' he asked. 'My friends and I shall all surely die.' The Creator thought for a few minutes, 'No you won't for I shall give you fire. It will melt the snow and keep you warm and give you light in the darkness."

Hermione took a breath and continued the story, "The crow agreed and the Creator pulled a large stick and put it to the sun. The stick quickly caught fire and the Creator handed it to the crow. 'You must fly quickly now. You must reach earth before the fire goes out.' The crow worried that it was a three day flight up there so he flew as fast as he could back to earth. However the speed made the fire smoke. And it covered his beautiful rainbow feathers with soot until they were black. In his hurry he also inhaled the smoke and his throat became heated and dry. When he finally got down to earth he no longer had the beautiful rainbow feathers, they were a dull lifeless black. He could no longer sing beautifully either for the smoke had damaged his voice beyond repair. The other animals celebrated but the crow depressed by what he had become hid himself away from the others. The creator however seeing what had become of the crow had an idea. The Creator approached the crow, 'Do not fret my dear friend. I have made your meat taste of smoke and death so no human shall hunt you for their food. And your new voice makes them unwilling to hunt you to cage you and force you to sing. You will be a free bird.' Then he did the only other thing he could for the crow. He took the bird in his hand and changed his feathers from the dullness they were to a shimmering beautiful black. When the fire hit the crows wings it showed a hidden rainbow in every single black feather. The creator had granted him his beauty again, while still insuring he would not be hurt by the humans. 'The rainbow in your feathers will remind all who come across you the selflessness of your heart. That you gave up yourself to save your friends."

Draco looked at her stunned, "That's a beautiful story Hermione, but, who are the Lenape?"

Hermione smiled, "They are a group of people in North America. They are classified as Native American's."

Draco nodded and Hermione thought he was satisfied until an odd look crossed his face. "Wait. Why do you know this? North America? That's across the pond."

The awe on his face was palpable. Hermione couldn't help the blush that stained her cheeks. "I'm interested in learning EVERYTHING."

Draco, unlike Harry or Ron, actually appreciated knowledge. He was second in classes only to Hermione. "That's amazing." Hermione's blush deepened. Her pride in her knowledge was one of the few things that still kept her ostracized inside her own house.

Instead of allowing herself to continue down this path she steeled herself, "Okay Draco time to spill. What do you have to do? You share your's first as its much more likely to be shocking than mine."

Draco nodded and rather than sneak his way around the subject like he normally would he all but blurted out, "I have to kill Dumbledore." Hermione barely managed to not drop her jaw. No wonder he wanted an unbreakable vow. She fought the urge to run. Her fight or flight instinct had always been stronger than other Gryffindors. When Hermione didn't visibly react he decided to put the icing on the cake. "Oh and I have to find a way to get Death Eaters into the castle."

That time she clenched her jaw to keep from letting it drop. She took a few deep breaths. "Well, okay then."

Draco looked at her like she was stupid, "Okay then? OKAY THEN?! Is that all you have to say?!"

She sighed, "Well what else am I supposed to say? I swore that I would help and wouldn't tell anyone didn't I? Its not like I can go run and inform Dumbledore. Not that I at all think he is unaware. That man has eyes and ears everywhere. I suppose I could incarcerate you and trick the bond into thinking that I was helping you by trying to save you from yourself, but I rather think that you missing would cause quite a disturbance anyway. At least I know and I can prepare my friends for battle." She didn't bother adding the again, to the end of that sentence. "So now for my decidedly much less shocking news. I plan to keep Umbridge as focused on me for her torture as possible. The woman is an awful excuse for a witch, why she was even allowed around children again is beyond me. Do you know the muggle born first years last year almost didn't come back to school? Even some of the half and pure-bloods were debating it. She used a Blood Quill to make students write lines!" Her hair started sparking again as she thought of it.

Draco realized the danger and reached out and gently grabbed her wrist. Something in their magic reached out for the other, his magic having an instantly soothing effect to Hermione's vengeful magic. Hermione stopped ranting mid-sentence as her temper broke. At least she wasn't the only one who had felt it. She looked at him shocked and he looked back at her just as stunned. "Er. Right then," Hermione started again although her magic was much calmer than before. "Anyway I want to protect this years group of first years from the same fate. No one should fear magic. Least of all students."

Draco couldn't help but agree. It was true after all.

All of a sudden Hermione's wand started buzzing. "Crap. I have to get to the Great Hall. Ginny will be there shortly. We are supposed to discuss our plans. Oh by the way she knows about the Umbridge pact she is in the same boat. She refused to let me do it alone. Neville knows but he is not participating. I won't let him."

She went to rush out but was stopped by Draco, "Hermione wait, when should we meet again?"

She thought about that for only a minute. "Meet me tonight in the room of requirement. I'll be there after curfew. 10:30. Don't be late and don't get caught." With that she was gone. Draco left staring in her wake.

Final A/n Okay so just incase anyone is curious the legend mentioned with in is a real Lenape legend called the Rainbow Crow. I remembered it from childhood while writing and it's become an important part of this story. I did downsize it a little. If you wish to read the full legend all you need to do is google it. Until next time.