Chapter 1- A Silent Friendship

Many thoughts were running through a seventeen-year-old girl's mind. Like how could she have ended her relationship with what everyone said was her perfect match?

How the most powerful evil wizard of her time be killed so easily, and how could her friends go behind another's back to keep their relationship secret?

There was one simple answer to each of these questions; love.

Hermione sighed and she again pondered this magnificent emotion, she smiled as she noted it was love that kept her from running away from the sight of Ron. She figured it just wasn't meant to be. Yes, she loved him, just not in the way he wanted her too.

She looked into a mirror and saw a girl on the brink of becoming a woman. She ran her fingers through her mass of silky brown curls. She frowned when she noted she was about even height with the mirror, she was only a little over five feet, four inches or so.

Hermione had never been slender, she had curves and a well-matured chest. Her favorite physical trait were her eyes, they were a dark brown with flecks of gold. Hermione's lips trembled as again tears began to cascade down her rose stained cheeks.

She shook her head and bit her lip as she tried to calm herself. Love had so many emotions in it; it was confusing, painful, hopeful, faithful, tender and caring. It needed time, devotion, and care; like a seed that could grow into something so beautiful and innocent.

She froze as she heard footsteps, 'Oh, Merlin,' she thought.

Hermione actually wasn't supposed to be in the Gryffindor girls Dormitories, she had made Head girl, and that meant her new room was in the heads dormitories, but she didn't feel like facing Malfoy just yet.

She grimaced at that thought, she couldn't believe he had made Head boy, why not Harry… or even Ron?

As the footsteps grew even closer, her heartbeat began to accelerate, what if it was Ron? She couldn't face him just yet…

Then she calmed herself with the fact that only girls could enter the dormitory, for the steps up to the Gryffindor Girl's Dormitories would transform into a slide, the boys would never make it up, so she knew it wasn't Ron.

She assumed it was either Lavender or Pavarti, for they were the only other seventh year girls left.

"Hermione, you have some explaining to do," Hermione whipped around and sighed as she came face to face with Ginny Weasley.

"Why did you brake up with my brother?"

Hermione stared at her friend, Ginny's eyes were blazing with anger, that could only mean that Ron was not taking it so well. The Weasley's were a protective lot.

Then Hermione began to explain it to Ginny exactly the way she explained it to Ron, "Ginny, I don't love him like a person should in a relationship. I love him strictly as a brother, since I love him in that way I couldn't bare to keep up this farce relationship. It would be to painful for him and I, can't you understand?"

Ginny's face constricted from anger to concern, "Why didn't you tell Ron?"

Hermione rolled her eyes, "I did, but I guess he didn't feel the need to relay this information to everyone else."

Ginny nodded, "Figures, we're are talking about Ron, he can be a straight prat!"

Hermione looked around and then faced Ginny, "I should probably get back to the Head's common room, I'm sure Malfoy's looking for me,"

Ginny watched her go with a frown, something other than Ron was bothering her friend.

As Hermione ducked out of the portrait hole, the thought of facing Malfoy so soon was something she'd rather avoid, so she then made her way to the great castle doors. When she reached her destination, she made her way to the Black Lake.

Normally she wouldn't be allowed out here, but since she was Head girl she could make an excuse, for example, she was looking for students.

She collapsed on the ground close to the lake. She looked at the reflection of the moon in the water. It was almost full, her thoughts wandered to Remus Lupin, a man she greatly respected.

He was a werewolf and a man with many lost, but was filled with unconditional love. He was extremely intelligent, and now he finally got what he deserved a wife and peace from Lord Voldemort. A tear fell into the lake's seemingly endless water.

"What are you doing out here Granger?

Hermione jumped and quickly stood, she turned around with her wand at the ready, she froze as her eyes met Draco Malfoy's.

Draco sighed impatiently, "Please don't make me ask you again."

Hermione dropped her arm and pocketed her wand as she pondered Malfoy's odd behavior, his voice was usually filled with a snobby, 'I'm better than you,' tone, but right now he just seemed detached.

She looked up again and their eyes met, her brown to his grey, she took a step back, and really looked at him, he was about six feet tall with platinum blonde hair that fell into his cold grey eyes. He was lean and fit, thanks to all his efforts in Quidditch, he had on a plain white t-shirt and black jeans.

Hermione bit her lip when she realized that she could see his abs threw the fitted plain tee.

She ran her eyes down his long muscular legs, and then pack up again, she blushed when she caught Malfoy staring at her with his eyebrows raised. She noted his pale complexion and smiled, some things never changed.

He spoke again, "Fine, I'll ask you again, what the hell are you doing out here?"

Hermione rolled her eyes as she finally replied, "I could ask you the same thing, Malfoy."

He smirked at her, "Ask no question and I shall tell you no lies."

She put her back to him, "Same thing here, Malfoy."

He sighed and sat down a couple of inches were she had been only moments ago, she took his queue, and sat back down.

Their eyes met once again, and neither said a thing.

They returned to looking at the water. Hermione could tell something was bothering the Slytherin prince, but respected their earlier conversation and continued to wonder. They were both amazed that this was happening, they had spent six years hating each other, because that was how it was supposed to be.

Now, they felt an odd comfort in each other that neither could describe.

"It's beautiful tonight" came Draco's soft voice.

"Yes, it is" agreed Hermione.

"This is odd. When I was first became head boy I immediately knew who I was going to work with."

Hermione blushed but continued to seem nonplussed.

"I thought we would spend our last year fighting and hating each other more so then usual, but now sitting here, I'm not so sure. I feel like I've never hated you, and that I've known you forever. I know that it's just wrong, I mean look at who we are, whom we come from. We were practically meant to hate each other, and we always have, from day one, because that's how it was meant to be, and that's how it happened, but for just once I'd like to think for myself, you know?"

Hermione turned to look at him, her eyes were filled with nothing but understanding and she simply stared at him.

Moments later she spoke, her voice think with revelations and emotion, "That's exactly what I've wanted everyone to hear. That it doesn't have to be like this. That we can just maybe think for ourselves. And maybe it's just not all black and white, wizard and muggle, pureblood and mudblood, but maybe there's a middle ground. That maybe it's all grey, and also just maybe we're not supposed to understand, but we're not supposed to accept it without question either. We're gifted with minds to think. To think for ourselves."

And suddenly Hermione and Draco regarded each other with newfound respect.

They smiled not at each other not quite ready for that step but well towards it. They continued to look out the lake. They parted with out harsh words but only a silent agreement of a newborn friendship than was bound to fly higher that any other.

TBC

A/N- This story is already completed so updates will be quite frequent! I actually started this around two years ago, and I also have a second installment. Both are posted on

Any questions you may have I'll be happy to answer (:

Remember to leave a review!