Disclaimer: As it happens, I am not JKR. If someone could send me some of her hair and the ingredients for Polyjuice Potion...

A/N: Another chapter for my devilishly attractive readers. Portions of the dialogue taken from Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 12.


Hermione listened to Leanne's story in Professor McGonagall's office, trying not to remember the sound of Katie Bell's scream ringing in her ears. She held on tightly to Ron's arm as Harry described the way Katie had gracefully risen into the air.

"I think Draco Malfoy gave Katie that necklace, Professor."

Only the graveness of the situation prevented Hermione from rolling her eyes. She worried that this theory, this Draco Malfoy is a Death Eater theory, was becoming an obsession for Harry. It wasn't healthy. She tried to listen passively while he told Professor McGonagall about spying on Malfoy at Borgin and Burkes. She even resorted to biting her tongue, but when Harry mentioned the necklace, she absolutely could not refrain from interrupting.

"But Harry, Borgin asked him if he wanted to take it with him, and Malfoy said no—"

"Because he didn't want to touch it, obviously!" said Harry angrily.

Hermione continued to argue, trying desperately to make Harry see reason. Her relief was palpable when Professor McGonagall gave her final, irrefutable argument:

"Mr. Malfoy was not in Hogsmeade today."

Harry's mouth was left hanging open. "How do you know, Professor?" he asked.

"Because he was doing detention with me. He has now failed to complete his Transfiguration homework twice in a row. So, thank you for telling me your suspicions, Potter," Professor McGonagall said, striding past them, "but I need to go up to the hospital wing now to check on Katie Bell."

Hermione made her way back to Gryffindor tower with Harry and Ron. Harry was obviously upset, so, in an effort to break the tension, she started discussing who the necklace could have been intended for with Ron. Harry seemed interested in the topic, but he continued to mention Malfoy's name, as if he hadn't heard a word Professor McGonagall had said. Hermione gave Ron an incredulous look, which he returned with a look that plainly said, "He's hopeless, don't bother trying to argue."

Making an excuse about wanting to go to bed early, Hermione made her way up the steps to the girls' dormitory. Thinking through the events of that day, she still couldn't figure out who could have given the necklace to Katie. She was almost positive that there weren't any Death Eaters who would casually walk into the Three Broomsticks in the middle of the day. Even with the recent kidnappings, destruction, and death, they were still operating primarily by stealth, and a crowded bar full of witches and wizards didn't seem like the best place for a covert mission. There was only one thing she knew for certain: Draco Malfoy did not give Katie the necklace.

After a few fitful hours of sleep, Hermione sat bolt upright. She couldn't seem to get the sound of screaming out of her head, or the image of Katie's hair blown back, framing her horrified face. She left her dormitory, although logic told her it was probably the safest part of the castle. Hoping to distract herself, she climbed out of the portrait hall, ignoring the Fat Lady's admonishments, and made her way to the library. Once there, she grabbed a large stack of back issues from Potions Today, hoping to find something about the Half-Blood Prince. Mostly, she just hoped to distract herself from the likelihood that more people she cared about would become casualties of the war.

Hermione made her way through the shelves of books more carefully this time. Hearing footsteps, she tread softly in the direction of their source. Nox, Hermione thought, turning the corner. Draco Malfoy was there, on another late-night research spree. She stayed in the shadows, watching him. He was pacing, clearly agitated, his customarily impeccable hair in disarray. He sat down and began flipping furiously through the book in front of him. Quickly making up her mind, she crossed the space between them and sat her hefty stack of periodicals on the opposite side of the table.

Malfoy looked up. He attempted a sneer when he saw who had sat down across from him, but couldn't seem to muster it. He refocused his attention on his book.

On further inspection, Hermione noticed that he was reading Moste Potente Potions. "Shouldn't you be finishing your Transfiguration homework?" she asked.

Malfoy looked up again. He regained his ability to sneer. "Is it really necessary for you to sit so close to me? There are other chairs, you know."

Unfazed, Hermione replied, "It's dangerous to be alone in the castle at night. Even for you, Malfoy. Katie Bell was a Pureblood."

Malfoy flinched at the mention of Katie Bell. Hermione observed him closely, and noticed an almost haunted look about him. His eyes were bright, but they had circles forming underneath of them. Hermione was slightly unnerved by his silence.

"Well, if it's Potions you're studying, feel free to use these," she said, nodding at the stack of Potions Today issues.

"Thank you," he replied stiffly, after a brief hesitation, and turned back to Moste Potent Potions.

Hermione stared at him. Draco Malfoy—champion of snide and disdainful comments, staunch supporter of all things Slytherin, and fierce indoctrinate of Pureblood superiority—was being somewhat civil to her. Well, on the bright side, this meant she might be able to get some work done. She hunted through each edition, glad to have a diversion from current events. As she neared the end of her pile, she noticed that Malfoy's head was on the table. He had begun to snore softly.

"Malfoy," she whispered. He didn't respond, so she spoke his name a little louder. Finally, she reached over and prodded his shoulder with her wand.

"Mmmhmm," he mumbled.

"You fell asleep," Hermione said.

Malfoy sat up, unsuccessfully trying to maintain his dignity while peeling a page of his book from his face. "I'm fine," he replied, vainly attempting to smooth his hair.

"Maybe you should get some rest," she suggested.

"I don't need rest," he snapped tiredly. "I need coffee. Kreacher!"

The house elf appeared with a loud pop.

"Get me a pot of coffee. Make sure it's Arabica," Malfoy ordered, shamelessly identifying himself as a coffee snob.

"Yes, Master Malfoy, anything for a son of the Noble House of Black," Kreacher said in tones nearing worship. He disappeared for a moment, and returned with a steaming pot of coffee and a large mug.

Hermione watched the exchange incredulously. "That's Harry's elf!" she rebuked.

Kreacher's eye's bore into hers. "Master Malfoy is with the Mudblood, she will taint his Noble Blood, oh yes—"

"Enough, Kreacher." Malfoy dismissed him with a wave of his hand. "Yes, it's Potter's elf, even if he rightfully belongs to my aunt. Potter ordered him to work at Hogwarts, where he now brings me fresh, hot coffee at any hour of the day or night," Malfoy said, spitting out Harry's surname with contempt.

Hermione started in on a tirade about his unfair treatment toward house elves, but Malfoy cut her off. "You can have some, if you like," he interrupted, producing a second mug and waving it enticingly in front of her.

Hermione gave Malfoy a look of severe displeasure that could rival Professor McGonagall's, and pointedly returned to her research.

"Suit yourself," Malfoy shrugged. He set the extra mug next to her, and filled it to the brim with the steaming liquid.

At this point, the part of Hermione's brain that concerned itself with the fair treatment of house elves engaged in a fierce battle with the part that had barely slept in the past twenty-four hours. She gave the coffee a longing, sideways glance.

"You're drooling," Malfoy observed.

"I certainly am not!" Hermione returned. Malfoy had already finished his first cup and was pouring another.

She ventured a small sip. Malfoy smirked. Hermione briefly thought of suggesting to Harry that he order Kreacher not to serve any more coffee to Malfoy, but decided that would require too much explanation of her recent nocturnal activities.

In spite of the caffeine, Hermione fell asleep. When she woke, light had just begun to stream through the high windows, and she was alone.


A/N: Knut for your thoughts? Please review!