Just wanted to warn everyone that this is obviously an AU fanfic because of dramione, but I have and will use quite a few different headcanons not related to the ship. You'll see what I mean once you've read this. Its just my way of progressing the change in Hermione's feelings toward Draco.

Hope you enjoy :)


True to her word, Ginny did not tell Harry and Ron about how Malfoy had carried Hermione back to the dormitories the night of the Yule Ball. In exchange, Hermione did end up having to tell Ginny what had happened - about how Ron and Malfoy had acted that night. When Hermione was finished, the ginger witch had called her brother a few horrid names that Molly Weasley would have scolded her daughter for, much to Hermione's amusement. Ron had been acting like a jerk lately, not asking her to the Yule Ball and then having the nerve to act jealous when she showed up with Krum. It's not like Hermione hadn't dropped hints either – she thought she had made it blatantly obvious that she wanted Ron to take her to the ball, and Ginny agreed with her. The boys acted if she wasn't a girl, a girl that just like the rest, fantasized over boyfriends and crushes, fretting over looks and dresses. She wasn't as open about those kinds of things as some girls, but that didn't mean she didn't think about them.

Of course, after the anger aimed at her brother had worn off, Ginny had also turned the conversation back to Malfoy. Somehow, the younger witch had gotten into her head that Malfoy had some kind of crush on her. Hermione naturally thought that was just preposterous, even more so when Ginny claimed that sometimes people had a love/hate relationship. The idea that sometimes the people you argue with are sometimes the ones you like was also mentioned. Hermione didn't need to say what she thought of that. Her glare was communication enough.

In the beginning, she had planned on confronting Malfoy about what had happened that night, so confused by his actions as she was. However, Malfoy didn't treat her any differently than he had done before, acting as if him consoling her that night had never happened. Hermione was fine with that. It was definitely easier that way, not having to think about the implications if Malfoy suddenly ended up being nice, out of all things.

Moreover, the events that occurred at the end of the year were enough to distract her from Malfoy's out of character behavior. As soon as Harry had appeared kneeling over Cedric, Hermione knew in her gut something was wrong. When Harry didn't stop screaming about You-Know-Who being back from the dead, tears rolling down his cheeks as refused to leave Cedric's body; Hermione had felt the coldest fear she had in her life.

Some would even say that was the year the war started, which Hermione couldn't help but agree with. As soon as Cedric was announced dead, their childhood had ended, all of them thrust into a conflict that they had no control over.

That was the day when they had become soldiers.

During their fifth year, Hermione didn't notice Malfoy much. As usual, he did his best to annoy and belittle Harry to his best abilities, adding another large heap of torment to her already grieving best friend. Most of the time she was too busy trying to train in the Room of Requirement or trying to fool Umbridge to notice any more than that. However, when Malfoy joined the Inquisitorial Squad, Hermione could not say she was surprised. To be fair, no one could.

What did surprise her though, was a conversation she overheard between Malfoy and Luna Lovegood that year.


Hermione silently left the Room of Requirement, many of Dumbledore's Army still inside. Luna had left only minutes before her to retire for the night and Hermione intended to catch up to the blond girl so that she could borrow the girl's transfiguration notes. Hermione had repeatedly gotten more and more distracted in class that year, and even though she'd never admit it to the boys, even she was struggling to keep her grades up while Umbridge ruled with an iron fist. Hopefully, the blond haired ravenclaw could offer Hermione the help she needed.

Sending cautious glances down both ends of the corridor, Hermione finally set off, quickening her pace in an effort to catch up with Luna. She only just spotted the ravenclaw turn the corner, opting not to call out to her in case someone heard them. Instead, she began to run to catch her up in fear of loosing sight of her.

When Hermione rounded to corner, she couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief when she saw Luna was still there, quietly walking down the corridor, oblivious to Hermione's presence.

However, much to Hermione's shock, a hand suddenly appeared from inside one of the alcoves, along with a flash of platinum blonde hair, just before Luna was grabbed and hauled into the alcove the arm had popped out from. It was so fast and so sudden that Hermione barely registered the yelp Luna had made when she'd been grabbed.

Thinking fast, Hermione instantly pulled her wand out from her pocket, quietly muttering a concealment charm. It was no invisibility cloak, but it would at least give her the element of surprise. Then, fully intending to save Luna from whoever had grabbed her, Hermione slowly crept forward. As she got closer, the sound of hushed voices greeted her ears.

"What exactly do you think you're doing, Luna? Do you have a deathwish?" A familiar voice asked, though Hermione couldn't place it. She knew by the tone it was male, and although he more or less growled the question out, Hermione couldn't help but notice the concern that laced the words.

"I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about, Draco." Hermione stopped in her tracks at the sound of Luna whispering Malfroy's name. Not believing her ears, she craned her neck to see round the corner of the wall, finally getting a glimpse of Luna's captor.

Sure enough, Malfoy was there, his hands holding Luna's arms in a vice like grip. His features were not set in their usual sneer, but rather an expression of frustrated anger, his hair hanging over his furious eyes. Luna didn't look scared though and she certainly was making no move to escape Malfoy's grasp. It was then that Hermione remembered Malfoy had called Luna by her first name and not the usual 'Looney Lovegood' nickname everyone had bestowed upon her. Malfoy hadn't even called her by her surname, which only served to confuse Hermione more.

"Luna, you do realize you're a very bad liar." Malfoy commented in response, his grip loosening a bit. Luna just raised an eyebrow at him, a small smile tugging at her lips.

"Just like how you're a bad liar?" She countered, much to Hermione's surprise. Malfoy had seemed a little taken aback by that too and finally let go of Luna altogether.

"Since when was I a bad liar?" He asked, folding his arms across his chest. Hermione, although it pained her to admit it, had to say she agreed with him. Slytherins were known to be very good liars and had a reputation for getting out of detentions because of their cunning nature.

"You lie with your face, Draco, but not your eyes. Your eyes always tell a different story." Luna explained, shrugging afterwards. Although Hermione had turned back to hide behind the wall, her vision of both of them lost, but she could still feel the glare Malfoy had sent Luna's way.

"I know about Dumbledore's Army, Luna. I also know Potter has been training everyone in the Room of Requirement after class hours." Malfoy stated after a few seconds of silence, his voice stern and much colder than before.

"And you want me to show you the way in?" Luna guessed, rather timidly. Hermione had instantly thought the same thing, knowing Malfoy would try and force Luna to open the door up for him.

"No."

Wait, what?

Hermione blinked, her mind trying to process what she had heard. She craned her head round the corner of the wall again, glimpsing Malfoy's face. His fingers were rubbing his temple now and for the first time in her life, Hermione actually thought Draco Malfoy looked tired.

"Look, I'm not going to rat you out to Umbridge, Luna. You should know that." Malfoy locked eyes with Luna then, his eyes softening. "Even if you weren't my cousin, I'd never send anyone to answer to that bitch's mercy."

Hermione blinked. Then she blinked again. Luna was Draco Malfoy's cousin?

"Technically, I'm your disowned cousin, Draco." Luna innocently pointed out. Malfoy glared at her but this time Hermione noticed the way his eyes flickered with amusement. He eventually shook his head, running his fingers through his hair.

"Look, Luna I'm just trying to warn you. Sooner or later the Inquisitorial Squad are going to find a way into the Room of Requirement and then I can't protect you. You need to be careful."

"Yet you don't want me to stop going?" Luna asked frowning, head tilted slightly. Malfoy didn't answer, making Luna frown harder, before her eyes widened slightly.

"Harry is right, isn't he? He is back." Luna asked this time. At the mention of You-Know-Who, Malfoy visibly tensed, his eyes avoiding Luna's face altogether. His reaction was all Luna needed to know. Hermione watched as she looked down to the floor, the two of them dissolving into silence.

A silence, that Hermione realized, was heavy with fear.

"Can I go now?" Luna whispered after a while, not looking up from the floor. Malfoy instantly moved out of her way.

"Be careful, Luna." He whispered to her, making the blond girl pause momentarily as she left.

"You too, Draco." She whispered back, sending Malfoy a worried glance of her own before leaving.

Malfoy stayed hidden under the cover of shadows for a while longer, waiting until Luna's footsteps disappeared altogether before stepping out and walking away himself. When his footsteps finally grew too far away for Hermione to hear them, she finally dropped the concealment charm.

What in Merlin's name was going on?