Hermione and Harry both turned around to see who was calling for her attention...though Hermione already knew who it was by the sound of the familiar voice...

"Yes, Malfoy?" she asked...trying an almost unconvincing rude tone.

"I would like a word with you...in private...about the Ancient Runes project we have" he added quickly trying to make it sound that he really didn't want to talk to her

"Whatever" she said "I'll catch up with you later Harry" She said giving her friend a hug and quickly followed Malfoy so that Harry couldn't stop her and ask what was going on, or offer to go with her.

She turned away from Harry and started walking with Malfoy...Harry was contemplating whether or not to run after her, to make sure he didn't do anything, but Ron had called him over to where he was sitting and he didn't want to make Ron do anything rash, so he just went and sat down, and though he was quite worried, he didn't show it.

As soon as they were out of site, Hermione turned around and gave Draco a huge hug.

"I'm sooo sorry that I haven't talked to you sooner Draco!" he started to laugh

"Don't worry hun, I understand, our friends wouldn't excatly be thrilled that we've become so close" He said with an understanding smile, She smiled back...

The two friends decided to walk to the library, since it was dinner it would be empty and they could have some privacy to talk. Besides the rare time they could actually talk in public...Hermione and Draco had to share the head dorms together, which had made them very happy when they found that out, now if the past summer had gone differently Hermione was sure that she would have despised the fact that she had to share a dorm with Draco Malfoy. She smiled as she recalled the events of the summer and how the two worst of enemies, became the best of friends.

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Flashback

It all happened quite quickly actually, Malfoy, being of age both in the wizarding world and in the muggle world, decided once and for all to be rid of his father and his awful cruelty and with the help of Dumbledore, bought a flat in the muggle world and moved out on his own.

The flat that he bought just happened to be just at the end of Hermione's block.

They first found out about how close they lived to each other while Hermione was look down the block for a missing Crookshanks and Malfoy was taking a walk to get acquainted with his new neighborhood. At first Hermione was furious at the fact that of all the flats at the end of all the blocks in the entire world he had to choose the one at the end of hers.

Then, out of no-where, he offered to help her look for her missing cat, she was so shocked that she just nodded her head yes. They walked and looked for almost an hour before anyone had said anything.

It was her who broke the uncomfortable silence.

"So, why a muggle flat?"

"Hmm?"

'Why did you buy a flat in the muggle world?'

"Oh…Dumbledore thought it would best, with the help of his protection spells on the flat, and the unknown area he thought it would be best and that my father wouldn't find me here."

"You're trying to stay away from your father?" she asked, now with honest curiosity.

"You would to, if your father did the things mine did."

"Oh." was all she was able to reply.

They continued to walk and look in silence…until…

"mmeeeoowww"

"He's up that tree!" Hermione exclaimed.

"Here, ill get him" Draco volunteered.

Hermione was about to yell at him for duing magic in a muggle populated area, then she noticed that he actually started climbing. She watched in amazement how fast he climbed and how quickly he got Crookshanks and got him down. The next thing she new he was handing her, her cat.

"Here"

"T-thank you" She looked up at him.

Then they both heard and strange growl, coming from a now red-faced Draco.

"What WAS that?" Hermione asked, stifling a giggle.

Draco's faced went a bit redder… "My stomach, I haven't eaten since I moved in, I've been living off water"

"When did you move in?" Hermione asked, almost feeling sorry for him.

" um…about 3 days ago?"

"YOU HAVEN'T EATEN IN THREE DAYS?! WHY?!"

"I can't use magic…and I don't know how to cook in the muggle world, so I drink lots of water."

"Oh." She said, now really feeling sorry for him.

"I help you, if you want." The words just slipped out of her mouth, almost feeling foreign to her.

"I – I would really like that… Gra- Hermione." He looked at her, with a half smile, honestly really appreciated what she was going to do for him, even after all the things that have been said between the two.

after teaching him how to cook simple meals, she then realized he needed to learn to be independent from magic, so she offered to help him get along like a muggle.

Well, needless to say, after spending so much time together the grew to enjoy each other's company. They quickly became close friends. She showed him how to cook more advanced meals, and the uses of muggle things in a normal day life, seeing as he was a wizard, he was totally clueless most muggle things and wouldn't have made it with out her help. However he was a fast learner, but often need her help, and had her come over almost everyday, soon, though, they were meeting up to talk over coffee that he would make (after she taught him how to perfect it of course.)

They really had started to enjoy each others friendship, and Hermione actually helped to meet new people and eventually he got a muggle girlfriend, whom he was still dating, but when the end of summer came, they had both decided that it would be best to still act as thought they hated each other because of what had happened in the past between them and their friends, but they agreed that when the time was right they would tell there friends, because they didn't want to lie to them. they talked quite often late into the night in there head common room They also both agreed to set aside one day a week, to just hang out and talk, but sometimes Malfoy would ask her for "homework help" when he was having a problem and wanted her opinion on what to do, and he didn't want to wait till after curfew, incase Harry and Ron were in there common room ( which they often were, because they didn't want to leave Hermione with him) to ask her.

End Flashback

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"What's wrong Draco" Hermione asked with a comforting but knowing smile as they sat down in a hidden corner of the library.

"Well, I just wanted to talk, I've been having a bad few weeks, my dad keeps trying to get me to come back home, and to his side" He wrinkled his face in disgust and the last few words… "he keeps threatening me and I know if I don't do some thing to protect myself soon, he's going to do something drastic!" he said, starting to shake with rage and worry.

"Oh, Draco, We have to tell some one! I know if Harry and Ron knew about this..."

"'Mione. No! They hate me you know that..."

"Yes but they don't know that your on our side now and that your also one of my closest friends!"

"They would still hate me…"

"No they wouldn't I know them...even if Ron is a prat at times..."

Draco smile at this... "Still has no clue how you really feel about him, does he?"

Hermione looked down... "No...no idea" She sighed "you have no idea how bad I just want to tell him I love him...but I don't think that I could face his reaction..."

"We'll I've learnt...through someone quite smart -'She blushed'- that love and light always prevails and I see the way he looks at you...so please don't worry alright?"

She sighed deeply again. " alright...but we still have to figure out something about you father, Draco I don't know what I would do if something ever happened to you, besides, Mandy would be so upset at the fact that after falling in love with you, you die."

Draco smiled at the thought of his girlfriend. "I can't thank you enough for hooking us up Hermione."

"Anything for a best friend Draco," she said with a smile "but I think I have a plan!"

Meanwhile in the great hall

"Harry where's mione?" Ron asked looking around the hall.

"For the tenth time Ron I DON'T KNOW" He said with a slight grin.

"Oh...well you don't have to get so bloody rash about it...I'm just worried about where are friend is...that's all"

"Or do you want to see her for a different reason..." Harry said while Ron blushed

"Harry I don't know what you talking about"

"YES you do Ron and I think its about time you tell our little bushy haired friend how you really feel about her before its too late.."

"But Harry I don't know what your talking abo-"

"YES YOU BLOODY DO RON! Stop acting like you don't love her, everyone can see how you feel about her, the professors even have a pool going on when you finally come to your bloody senses and ask her to be your girlfriend!" at this Harry turned to a first years "Please mind your own business" They blush, apologizing over and over for easdropping and ran down to the other end of the table.

"They have a pool!"

Harry sighed. "Did you hear anything else I said Ron?"

"Yes but I...- he looked around- ...umm could we finish this later, the topic of our discussion just walked in"

Harry looked and sure enough Hermione was running to sit with them..

Hermione smiled at her friends, Ron blush and smiled back Harry smile back with a laugh at Ron's behavior, and was just about to ask her what had happened when Ron beat him to it..

" 'Mione where have u been?"

"Oh I was just in the Library" she said

Ron smiled to himself, i should've known, he thought to himself, while Harry gave her a questioning look.

When Ron wasn't looking she whispered to Harry "We'll talk later you know how he gets when anyone talks about him" she nudged her head towards the Slytherin table.

"Fine later tonight comes to the Gryffindor common room."

"No, come to the head common room, it'll be easier to talk, and to explain."

He's raised his eyebrow but nodded.

And after that nothing else about the Draco incident was mentioned. When Ron was finally full the boys made there way to the Griffindor common room, and Hermione to her Head Dorm.

Before she left the boys, Harry look at Ron and Hermione, then laughed to himself, this is going to be one hell of an interesting night... he thought.

This chapter was dedicated to smallvillechick25 — go read her story "Be Mine" it's amazing!

R&R please:)

- LittlePixie