Weeee new chapter xD. Read and Review please(:

The next morning, Hermione woke up and felt excited for the first time in a long time, although she didn't know why. She quickly and quietly got dressed, as everyone else was still asleep. Before making her way down, she decided to take a book along just incase he wasn't there yet. She arrived at the lake, and sure enough, he wasn't there yet. She sat under the tree and started to read, just to past the time away.

"You're early. Couldn't wait to see my face or what?"

She looked up to see him smirking at her. "Sorry to let your hopes down, but no. I just woke up early."

"Why?" he asked, taking a seat next to her.

"I don't know why," she lied.

He looked at her as she sighed. "Excitement, I guess."

"For what?"

"Again, I don't know. And I'm being honest this time"

"There must be something."

"Yes, but I don't know that something. I don't know a lot of things, actually."

He snorted. "I always thought the phrase 'Know it all' was an understatement for you."

"Then you thought wrong. Why are you always up so early?"

"No reason, really."

Now it was her turn to look at him. "I was always an early riser. A habit of mine even before I came here to Hogwarts."

She nodded. "Old habits die hard."

"Exactly." He paused. "Sorry about yesterday in the library, anyway. Just ignore Blaise. I do."

She laughed. "But isn't he your best friend?"

"He is, but we do have our moments. So, uh, where are you going after this?"

She shrugged. "Probably stay at the Burrow until I can find a place of my own. How about you?"

"Just go back to the manor." He paused again, thinking. "Can you promise me something?"

"Depends on what it is."

"Don't worry, it's nothing dangerous like swearing to be a death eater. Of course, I personally think it's not half bad."

She rolled her eyes and said, "Fine, what is it?"

"Before you leave, can you tell me?"

She looked at him in shock. "That's it?"

He laughed. "Were you really expecting the death eater thing? Because I don't think the offer still stands anymore."

"No," she laughed. "I'm just surprised that you actually want to know about it. Why?"

"Why wouldn't I want to know when a friend of mine leaves?"

"You consider me as a friend?" she said, shocked.

"And you don't? Tell me something, Granger. After all that happened yesterday, you still wouldn't consider me as a friend?"

"Well, I haven't thought of it, really. But now that I do, I guess I can. But shouldn't friends call each other by their first names, Draco?"

They both laughed. "Face it, Hermione," he said, putting emphasis on her name, "It's not easy calling each other by our proper names after seven years of calling each other something else."

"Again, old habits die hard. But on the other hand, things change and people change, like you said."

He nodded in agreement. "So, promise?"

"Promise."

"Good. So er," he paused, thinking of something else to say, "How are you and Weasel doing?"

"Fine, I guess."

"Really? You two didn't look fine yesterday."

"Which is why I added the 'I guess' at the end."

"Are you really happy with him?"

She looked at him skeptically. "Why are you asking me questions about my love life?"

He shrugged. "Curiosity. Are you going to answer it?"

"No."

"No you're not happy or no you're not going to answer it?"

"No, I'm not going answer it."

"Why not?"

"Why should I?

"I'd appreciate it if you do. Besides, you've answered all my other questions. What makes this one so different?"

"Because," she paused, "I should go."

She stood up to leave. But he, being quicker, stood up and held her shoulders.

"I'd appreciate if you'd let me go."

"I'm not going to let you go without an answer."

She looked down. "I can't answer it."

"You can't or you won't?"

"I can't."

"Why not?"

"Because I don't know the answer yet."

He let her shoulders go and looked at her skeptically. She took the moment of freedom and quickly walked away, her eyes avoiding his.

The feel of excitement was quickly replaced with anger and confusion. And on top of that, she was completely annoyed. Thoughts like 'Why does he care?' to 'This is probably just one of his little games' circled her head as she headed to the common room.

She was surprised to see that not a single person was in the room, and all the anger she felt on her way up was replaced with confusion when she entered the dorm she shared with Ginny. The redhead's trunk was opened and the girl was folding her clothes on her bed.

"Where have you been?" she asked as the brunette sat on her own bed across from her.

"At the lake, thinking. What are you doing?"

"What were you thinking about?"

"I asked a question first."

"We're leaving tomorrow. I was going to tell you last night but you weren't here and I fell asleep. I was going to tell you this morning, but you went missing again."

"Oh, okay. And it was nothing important. You know, what I was thinking about."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure," she said as she started to gather her own clothes as well.

"If you say so," the girl muttered, going back to her clothes. "This is taking longer than I expected."

"Why aren't you using your wand instead of doing it yourself?"

Ginny looked up and slapped her hand on her forehead as Hermione laughed. The girls then continued to pack. After they were done, Hermione decided to write a letter to Draco to tell him about her departure.

"I'll meet you guys there," she said as they left for the Great Hall for dinner, "I have to take care of something first."

They nodded as she quickly walked to the Owlery, the letter in hand. She looked down and counted the steps to herself on the way up, not noticing a figure coming down. They bumped into each other and the girl looked up, only to see a familiar, smirking blond.

"You know, you should really watch where you're going," he said, laughing.

"Sorry about that," she said, turning red.

"It's fine." His eyes then met the letter in her hand. "Who's that for?"

"For you, actually," she said, giving him the letter.

"And you're not going to tell me yourself?"

"I thought that I might not see you again today. You know, after what happened earlier. And I think it's better for you to read it, anyway."

"Alright. And I'm sorry about earlier. I can't help being so curious. One of those old habits, I suppose."

"It's fine. So I guess I'll see you around, then?"

He nodded as she turned to go back down. "Make sure you keep your head up!"

"Shut up, Draco."

He laughed, looking at the letter. He decided to wait until he got to the Slytherin common room before opening it. Unfortunately, he found Blaise still sitting there.

"What are you waiting for?" he asked, sitting next to him.

"For you so that we can go to dinner."

"Why didn't you go by yourself?"

"Well, me being who I am, thought it wouldn't be a good idea to go somewhere public alone. Who is that from?" he asked, pointing at the envelope.

"No one," he said, putting it away. But Blaise quickly grabbed it out of his hand.

"Well would you look at that? Looks like Draco does have a dirty little secret," he said, examining the letter.

"Not funny, Zabini. Give it back."

"But what fun would that be?"

"I promise to let you read it after I do."

The boy sighed in defeat as he gave the letter back.

"Thank you." He grabbed the letter and quickly opened it.

To Draco,

You're probably wondering why you're receiving a letter from me, even after what had happened this morning. I'm sorry about that, by the way. It's just hard for me to open up to people, especially you. Eventually I will learn to, though. But again, old habits die hard. So again, I'm sorry.

Anyway, the main reason for this letter is to tell you, like I promised, that I'm leaving tomorrow morning. I don't really know what that means for our friendship, but hopefully we can keep it once I leave.

I end this letter by saying that I had a good time talking to you these past two days, and hopefully we can have more of these days in the future.

Sincerely,

Hermione

"Hey, are you done yet? You read really slow, you know."

"Shut it, Blaise," he said, handing him the letter.

The boy read it and looked up. "So, the mudblood, eh?"

"Don't call her that."

"Right, sorry. So, Granger, eh?"

"What about her?"

"Are you two a thing now?"

"No, we are not a 'thing'. We're just friends."

"That's what they all say. Just wait, in about a month, you two will be all over each other."

"Dream on, Blaise."

"I know you do," he said, smirking as he made a face.

After a moment of silence, Blaise said, "You want to go home tomorrow, don't you?"

"Do you mind?"

The boy laughed. "No, I don't. It's about time to get out of here, anyway."

"Thanks, mate. Thanks a lot."

"Whatever. Can we go eat now?"

Draco laughed and nodded before they both stood up and left for the Great Hall. Even though he didn't show it, he was glad that he was going on that train tomorrow morning.