A/N: Sorry for the slow update everyone! Had a month of exams that are the most important exams of my high school life, and it's only getting started! I have a few weeks of freedom before it starts again... So I apologize in advance for the fact that you probably won't be hearing from me again for a while! But I will come back, always!

Tell me what you think please!

Disclaimer: As usual, I own nothing, because truthfully, if I did, we all know I wouldn't be here!

XXX

Dear Blaise,

You're most probably right and yet, I can't help but worry about Harry. Why won't he answer? I know you've already blamed his lack of response on his Aunt and Uncle but I feel there's more to it than that. Ron hasn't received anything from him either, so at least I know I'm not the only one being ignored, though Ron's planning to go find Harry with Fred and George. Obviously, I told him it was a bad idea, what if they get caught doing under age magic? As expected, he didn't listen to my advice and some part of me is rather happy that I'll finally know what's wrong with Harry.

By the way, are we still on for tomorrow? I'm heading down to Diagon Alley at two in the afternoon with my parents where I'll be meeting up with the Weasley's however, I'm sure I can find a moment or two alone to sneak off to see you.

I miss you,

Love,

Hermione.

xxx

Dear Mia,

I've said it once and I'll say it again: I'm always right and Weasley is a fool for not taking your advice to heart but I'm sure everything will run smoothly for the four of them. They're going after the freaking Boy Who Lived, even if they were to get caught, they'd get away with it. Bloody favoritism if you ask me.

Of course I still want to see you tomorrow. Let's meet up in the small alley beside Florish and Bott's. It's going to be packed, so no one will look twice at us if we go back there. Speaking of, have you seen the book list for DADA this year? Bloody waste of money.

Can't wait to see you,

Blaise

xxx

"I do hope he didn't floo too far away, the poor dear will never find his way back here on his own," Mrs Weasley fretted once again, glancing at the door.

"I don't think you need to worry, Harry knows how to take care of himself Mrs Weasley," Hermione assured, glancing around the store.

"I can't believe he said Diagonally, instead of Diagon Alley!" Ron snickered as his brothers recounted the story over to him.

"Ron! How can you laugh about this?! Imagine where he might have turned up!" Hermione scolded.

"I know that 'Mione, but c'mon? Diagonally!" He burst out laughing again and despite herself, Hemione smiled slightly at the thought.

It was a rather ridiculous mistake to make. No doubt no one would ever let Harry forget it. At that exact moment she caught sight of Blaise standing outside the shop, watching her, he nodded his head and strolled out of sight.

"I'll go see if I can find him Mrs Weasley, perhaps he's wondering around lost at this very moment," Hermione informed her.

"That's quite a good idea Hermione, here let me take your books. Your poor parents have been hijacked by my husband," Molly stated, good naturedly while gathering Hermione's pile of books in her arms.

Hermione then skipped out of the store and hurried down the small alley.

"Blaise!" She called after the dark haired boy who was no-where to be seen.

It was a dark, humid alley with small alcoves up and down it. She stepped forward hesitantly and squeeked when a hand reached out and pulled her into a clean alcove. Her racing heart calmed when she recognized the warm chocolate eyes of her best friend. She hugged him quickly.

"It's so good to see you!" She exclaimed.

He chuckled. "It's good to see you too, Hermione," he said as well, pulling out of her grasp and leaning against one side of the alcove. "So how did Operation Save Potter go?"

"Brilliantly, according to them. I still have yet to see Harry," Hermione grinned.

He smiled. "Hmm sure does sound like a success," he agreed, mockingly.

Hermione shoved him playfully. After a moment of silence she asked, randomly. "Why are there alcoves everywhere in the wizard world?"

"Because magical folk understand the need for private conversations in public areas."

"This one's very clean, isn't it? Stark contrast to the alley itself," she observed, looking around it curiously.

Blaise shrugged. "I cast a few cleaning spells, I figured you wouldn't enjoy the moist, slimy walls."

"How thoughtful."

"I thought so too," he nodded.

"Have you got your books yet?"

"Let my mother take care of it, she's obsessed with that author bloke," he paused, eyeing Hermione warily. "Please tell me you aren't too."

The small girl blushed beat red and ducked her head. "I wouldn't say obsessed, I merely admire him for his work," she muttered, embaressed.

"He's a fraud!" Blaise exclaimed.

"He is not! You're just jealous!"

"I'll be jealous of him the day pigs fly," he shot back.

Hermione pulled out her wand. "I can make it happen you know."

"You wouldn't," Blaise tried.

"Find me a pig and we'll see, won't we?" She challenged.

"I don't know why I wanted to see you," he stated.

"Because you looove me!" She sang back.

"I wouldn't go as far as love, Mia... Acquaintances maybe," he joked.

Hermione moaned. "I thought you promised to only use that nickname on paper!"

He shrugged again. "Changed my mind, Hermione's a mouth full."

Their conversation went on for a few more minutes before Hermione excused herself, explaining that she had to go search for Harry. She ran out of the alley, looked left and right, grinned and raced up to her friend.

"Harry! Molly's been worried sick!" She claimed, stopping just short of knocking into him. "Hello Hagrid!"

"I'll leave you 'ere then Harry, seems you're'n good hands," Hagrid stated, tapping his belly in a way that reminded Hermione of shopping mall Santa Clauses'. "See you kids at 'Ogwarts."

Hermione pulled out her wand, smiling at Harry affectionately. "Reparo."

"Thanks, I'll have to remember that one," Harry said, sheepishly.

Hermione reached forward to take his hand and then tugged him excitedly into the book store. "Mrs. Weasley, look who I found wandering around with a dazed expression on his face."

"Oh thank goodness, Harry! I had hoped you had simply gone one fireplace too far," Molly said, wiping the boy's face clean. "I'll take care of your books, my boy, Ron and his brothers are around somewhere and Authur too, of course."

Hermione and Harry thanked Molly once again, then squeezed through the throng of people, trying to spot Ron.

"He's over there with Ginny and Mr. Weasley!" Hermione exclaimed.

When they finally reached their other best friend who was standing at the foot of a staircase, Ron laughed at the sight of the dark haired boy.

"Diagonally!"

"Really Ron?"

"For the rest of your life, mate," he chuckled, calming down.

Harry was suddenly roughly taken by Lockhart himself for a quick photo shoot. Harry strolled back towards his friends with a dazed expressions, not comprehending what had just happened.

"Bet you loved that, didn't you Potter. Famous Harry Potter can't even go into a bookshop without making the front page," a snarky voice spoke from behind them.

"Leave him alone," Ginny stated.

"Oh, look, Potter, you got yourself a girlfriend," Draco sneered.

"Mr. Potter!" A soft and very snobbish voice said, attracting the groups full attention. "Lucius Malfoy. We meet at last. Forgive me, your scar is legend. As, of course, is the wizard who gave it to you."

Harry scowled. "Voldemort killed my parents. He was nothing more than a murderer"

"You must be very brave to mention his name. Or very foolish," Lucius observed.

"Fear of a name only increases fear of the thing itself," Hermione bravely quoted.

"And you must be Miss Granger. Yes, Draco's told me all about you. And your parents. Muggles, aren't they?" He turned to Ginny and Ron. "Let me see. Red hair... vacant expressions... tatty second hand book," he picked up a second hand book from her cauldren and dropped it back into the cauldren. "You must be the Weasleys," he concluded in disgust.

"Children, it's mad in here. Let's go outside," Arthur exclaimed, hurrying over.

"Well, well, well. Weasley senior."

"Lucius," Mr Weasley said, stiffly.

"Busy time at the Ministry, Arthur, all those extra raids? I do hope they're paying you overtime. Though judging by the state of this, I'd say not. What's the use in being a disgrace to the name of wizard if they don't even pay you well for it."

"We have a very different idea about what disgraces the name of wizard, Malfoy"

"Clearly. Associating with muggles. And I thought your family could sink no lower."

Hermione went to speak to Draco unnoticed by the others during Mr. Weasley and Lucius' conversation.

"Why do you always have to pick a fight with us, honestly, you could do well to learn a few things from Blaise," she snapped.

"I'm curious, mudblood, what gives you the impression that you can talk to me?" He questioned.

She pretended to think it over. "Must be my superior status, gives me the right to do whatever I wish, like talk to imbeciles like yourself."


"Why were you so upset Hermione?" Blaise inquired, wrapping his arm around Hermione's shoulders.

She shrugged, resting her forehead on a window pane. "I suppose, a part of me grew used to hearing him call that in private, when it was just us two or us three. I guess I thought he would keep that insult between us. Then he called me a mudblood in front of so many people, it was more humiliating than anything I've ever experienced."

"I see," his eyes lit up when he saw Draco walking over. "Perfect! Draco, mate you have something to say?"

Draco frowned. "Not that I know of."

"An apology."

"Why would I apologize for something that I'm not sorry for."

"I don't care apologize right now!" Blaise growled.

"Don't even try forcing him Blaise! There is no point in him apologizing if he doesn't mean it! It would be a waste of time. Besides, I wouldn't forgive him."

"For once Granger and I are on the same page," Draco said, crossing his arms smugly.


Hermione waited for Blaise on the window seat, hidden in the farthest corner of the library. No one ever used this seat and no one except Ravenclaws ever came this far back in the library. Even when they did, they rarely noticed Blaise and Hermione and if they did, they just assumed it was another one of their mandatory buddy meetings. Word of this new programme had spread quickly during the pairs first year, no one dared question it, all thankful that they weren't the ones chosen for the test run. Blaise finally took a seat beside her, keeping a safe distance away, which, to anyone with strong blood prejudices, would appear like the closest acceptable distance between a pureblood and muggleborn.

"What did you want to talk about so urgently?" Blaise asked, getting right to the point.

"The Chamber of Secrets," she took a deep breath knowing Blaise wouldn't be pleased with her next few words. "Is Draco the one who opened it?"

Blaise froze for a moment, half a smile stuck on his face until he realized that Hermione was asking in all seriousness.

"How can you ask me such a question? Are we not friends? Don't you think I'd have done something if I knew that Draco was opening the Chamber? He's as good as a brother to me, but if he were up to something as terrible as that, I'd turn him in anonymously."

"I know that. But has it ever crossed your mind that, if he was the one controlling the monster, he wouldn't tell you because you're friend's with me?"

"Of course he wouldn't tell me. I wouldn't tell him either if I were the one but Draco's more talk than do, if you catch my meaning. Besides I'd have noticed if he was escaping my company."

"So you're sure? A hundered per cent?"

"Yes, Mia," he rolled his eyes.

"I trust your jugement, Harry and Ron will need convincing. They're having me make a polyjuice potion."

"Polyjuice? That's a Newt level potion!" He exclaimed.

She nodded. "They want to use it to question Draco when his guard is completely down."

"It's only down completely when he's talking to Theo and I. I'll give you my hair if you want?" Blaise offered.

"No, Blaise, I can't accept. If Malfoy were to find out, it could jeopardize your friendship. I won't let that happen because of me," she sighed. "And I couldn't risk him bringing up our relationship with you and revealing everything to them."

"Alright, I respect that and I see your point, though might I recommend a pair that will allow your friends to chat freely with Draco, even if he won't be completely himself?"

"You'd be really helping me out."

"Crabbe and Goyle, for you I'd suggest Milicent Bulstrode."


"When are you going to be let out?" The tan boy inquired.

"When I stop spitting out hair balls," Hermione replied grumpily.

"Never realized Milly's cat was so soft," he murmured, stroking Hermione's head which was still partially covered in fur.

Hermione tried petting herself to see what he was talking about and discovered that the fur was indeed very soft. "That might be because of my shampoo."

Zabini stood up. "I'll go check right now."

Hermione giggled. "Keep me posted. Oh and Blaise?" She called after him as he parted the curtains to leave. "Don't mention any of this to Malfoy or else I can be sure he publicly mock me once I'm out of the hospital wing."

"I wouldn't even dream about it, I keep his secrets and I keep yours. That's what friends are for."

"Thank you Blaise, you're the best."

"Don't you forget it," he winked.


Malfoy peeked around the shelf, checking that the brunette was still where she had last been. Of course if anyone were to ask he was simply perusing the library in search of a certain textbook he was in need of for potions. Not that anyone would dare ask anyway, but it made him feel more comfortable to have an excuse for being in the same area as the mudblood. He watched as she pulled out yet another book, flicked through it briefly before huffing and pushing it back into it's place.

She glanced at the other books on the shelf, shook her head and walked out of the aisle and went in the direction of the restricted section. Draco curiously hurried over and glanced at the title of the book she had been looking at. Creatures from Here and There, he grimaced. How droll! Surely even a bookworm such as Hermione could find a better read than that.

He decided to continue following her, it wasn't like he had anything better to do. He found her in the library section closest to the restricted section. It was rarely used, dimly lit and dusty. No one ever came here. The books were dark, just not dark enough to be placed in the restricted part. Hermione was standing, her back turned to Draco, with an open tome in her arms, nibbling on one of her quills. She sighed and looked up.

"I don't know whether to be honoured or creeped out by the fact that you're stalking me," she stated.

"Don't flatter yourself Granger, I'm merely looking for a good book to read," he sneered.

She rolled her eyes, snapping the book shut. "Of course you were, Malfoy. I'm not daft you know, contrary to what you seem to believe. I notice when a boy is following me. You are not discreet."

A quiet noise was heard, as if wet skin was slapping against the stone floor. This caused Hermione to jump and glance around warily. She quickly opened the book again and Draco could see her eyes flying over the words anxiously.

"What are you doing anyway? Shouldn't you be fawning over Potter? He's playing today, isn't he?" He mocked.

"I don't fawn Malfoy and if you must know, it's not my job to follow him around all day. Don't you have better things to do? People to insult, teachers to suck up to?"

"Actually, I've discovered that annoying you is much more amusing," he tried.

Hermione ignored him, hearing a slithering noise. "Did you hear that?" She asked, her voice filling with dread and her body tensing.

Malfoy rolled his eyes. "There was nothing to hear," he stated, his face scrunching up in disgust, obviously believing she was delirious.

Muttering to herself, Hermione flipped a few more pages. "Of course! Spiders flee before it! A roosters cry!" She exclaimed.

"Gone mad, Granger, mumbling nonsense to yourself," Draco leered.

"How is it moving around? Surely someone would have noticed it before now, if it's as large as the book says..."

Suddenly a loud hissing noise echoed throughout the library. Hermione jumped, dropping the book in fear. "You don't have a mirror on you, do you?"

"Do I look like a girl to you, mudblood?"

"Yes." She said the word so plainly, as if that were the only answer possible, making the blond haired boy scowl. "Never mind about that for now! This is serious. Come with me!"

She tried to grab his sleeve, to pull him along with him, but he snatched his arm away. "I'm not going with you! What would people say if they saw me with you?"

"Just tell them you're insulting me, that'll work! We don't have time to argue!"

The hissing became louder, as if getting closer. Hermione widened her eyes. "Hurry!"

She raced through the aisles, Malfoy close behind her as if some of her fear and urgency had seeped into his mind as well. She carefully glanced around a corner, much like Draco himself had done.

"Hey!" She whisper yelled, when she spotted a fifth year Ravenclaw girl, reading a book intensely. "Do you have a mirror on you?"

The girl's attention was easily captured and the look of utter terror on Hermione's face caused an immediate reaction from the girl, who asked no questions about Hermione's odd request. She started fumbling through her bag, finding her hand mirror and handing it to Hermione.

"Don't go anywhere without this mirror! The monster from the Chamber of Secrets! It's a Basilisk!"

"You mean to say, there's a Basilisk in the school Granger?" Malfoy questioned.

She nodded grimly. "And how exactly has it been getting around?" The Ravenclaw wondered.

"I haven't figured that out yet..." Hermione sighed, tiredly.

"The plumbing," Draco said, calmly making the two girls stare at him in shock. "That is, if there actually was a Basilisk, which there isn't. The teachers would know if a Basilisk were around," he added, defensively.

"The pipes," Hermione murmured. "That's brilliant."

She quickly wrote the word on the page about Basilisks and proceeded to rip it out, crumpling the paper in her hand. Another, hissing noise ressounded in the empty library. Everyone else having already gone outside for the Quidditch match.

"Malfoy, close eyes," Hermione breathed, taking the mirror and looking around the corner with it, the older girl doing the same.

"Honestly Granger, you're being ridiculous! You've gone mad, though that's expected with mudbloods such as yourself," Malfoy mocked, though he found himself complying with her order as she gasped.

He started insulting her when he paused, realizing that it was erily silent all of a sudden. No one was moving, no one was even breathing. He squinted open one eye, only to find Hermione frozen along with the Ravenclaw, both with expressions of absolute terror on their faces as they stared into the mirror. He gasped, his mouth agape.

"Oh shit," he breathed, walking up to the pair.


Blaise stood beside Draco outside of Snape's office, anxiously awaiting news of Hermione.

"I don't see why you're so bloody worried," Draco sneered.

"Of course you don't understand," Blaise scoffed. "She's nothing to you and if she was, she'd be the bothersome dirt under your foot, she's a simple mudblood. In your mind she's barely a human. You don't understand," he spat, glaring at his closest friend. "You don't understand how I feel about her."

"Merlin, don't tell me... You don't mean to say you're in love with her!" Draco exclaimed, outraged.

"Bloody hell, Drake, I'm twelve years old! Though it's far beyond your realm of comprehension, I'll admit to caring for her very much. However, the idea of being in love with her disgusts me. I feel something more akin to... Brotherly affection for her."

Draco grimaced. "You're quite right, I don't comprehend it, nor do I wish to. She deserves no such attention from someone like you. Still I suppose I can't stop you, I can only hope that one day, you will see reason."

"Don't hold your breath," Blaise replied.

Finally, the man the pair had been waiting for strode over to his office door. He looked at two of his most promising students, stiffly as he opened his office door.

"What are you two doing here?" He inquired, dryly.

"We've-" Draco cleared his throat, remaining a few feet behind Blaise. "I've come to ask about Miss Granger."

"And why would that be? Haven't been mixing with mudbloods have you?"

"The..." he hesitated. "What I mean to say is, Dumbledore assigned her as my "buddy" and I was wondering what would happen now that she couldn't be my "buddy" anymore."

"The Buddy Programme experience is hereby suspended until such a time that Miss Granger can participate once again."

Blaise ducked his head. "Thank you, Sir. Would you happen to know when that would be?"

"Once the remedy is ready, I suspect," was Snape's response, completely lacking any type of emotion, except perhaps boredom. "We should be quite thankful indeed that both Miss Granger and Miss Clearwater were merely petrified."

"Of course," Blaise agreed, glancing at his friend.

This drew the professor's dark gaze away from Blaise and towards Draco.

"Ah Mr Malfoy, I hear you're the one to thank for alerting the staff about what happened to those young ladies."

Draco did not waver under the intense stare he was receiving and did not answer. Blaise looked over his shoulder, noticing how his bestfriend avoided his gaze.

"Good evening to you both," he stepped forward in his chambers pausing briefly. "Might I recommend you head back to the Slytherin common rooms? I do not enjoy being disturbed in my chambers by others because my students were caught wandering out after curfew."

"I can assure you Professor, we won't be getting caught," Blaise promised.

Snape eyed the pair, a glint in his eyes showing he knew perfectly well where his students wished to go.

"Be sure that you don't," he spoke slowly, before slamming his door.

Without wasting a second Blaise hurried in the opposite direction of the Slytherin dorms.

"You're not actually going to see her, are you?"

"Of course I am, she's my friend."

"Yeah but she's not worth risking getting caught," Draco defended.

"When are you going to learn to stop saying things like that to me?" Blaise said, pausing to smirk at his friend. "Besides, we're Slytherins, we won't get caught."

Draco smirked back and followed his friend to the hospital wing. They sneaked behind the curtains hiding her from the rest of the room. "We should be careful, Pothead and Weasel might show up soon."

Blaise did not answer, he simply stared at his frozen friend. "What did Snape mean, when he said that you're the one who was to thank for alerting the staff?" He wondered aloud.

"Exactly that," Draco shrugged. "I was in the library, you know, fitting in some last minute studying, when I came across Granger and some Ravenclaw frozen."

"So you went to tell the teachers?" Blaise checked, a smile slowly growing on his face.

"Logical thing to do," the blond replied carelessly. "Why are you smiling like that? You look like you're in pain," Draco sneered.

"No reason."

"You can't throw me a constipated smile and say it's for no reason. Tell me," he ordered.

"Just," he paused, searching for the right way to explain his thoughts. "Well if you cared as little about her as you say, you wouldn't have fetched the Professors," Blaise stated, smugly.

"You're deluded. I don't care for the Mudblood at all."

"You can say it all you want, but I don't believe you," Blaise teased, still grinning.

"Fine, believe whatever the hell you want to believe, but you're wrong."

"If I'm wrong, why did you go get teachers when you saw her petrified?"

"Because if someone had learnt that I had been there and hadn't alerted the Professors, then I would have had detention," Draco attempted to justify his actions.

Blaise continued to smile, letting his friend believe he had won the argument. He knew very well that Draco could care less about getting a detention. Hell they had already had three detentions since school started. Blaise watched the boy he considered a brother closely. Despite everything the pale blond tried, Blaise knew the truth. Somewhere deep down Draco Lucius Malfoy considered Hermione a human being. The lowest, most unworthy human being in the world, but a human being none the less. And for now, Blaise could ask for nothing more.


The end of their Second year found the two of them sitting on the window seat in the far corner of the library. Hermione and Blaise were both lying down, their legs crossing over one another. Blaise was falling asleep and Hermione was thoughtfully staring at the ceiling.

"This was a horrible year wasn't it?" Hermione asked.

"The worst," Blaise agreed through a yawn. "I have a hard time conceiving how Harry bleeding Potter went up against Voldemort again. And survived again!"

"He's Harry," she responded, as if his name was an answer for everything.

"I'm starting to think that Voldy ain't all that powerful if he can't kill a baby or a pre-pubescent kid."

"Joke about it while you still can."

"Won't be for long..."

"According to Harry he was stronger this time than the last. Which means..."

"Next time he tries, he might just succeed."

Hermione sat up straight, turning towards her secret bestfriend. "Blaise swear to me, no matter what happens, even when Voldemort is in full power, that we'll stay friends. Vow that nothing will ever change that."

He moved up as well, facing her gravely. "Hermione Granger, I promise that my feelings for you will never change, even when we can't show it or if we haven't talked for decades. You will forever be my little sister. Always," he reached a hand out.

She stared at it for a few moments before reaching for it as well. "Always," she agreed.

They shook on it, Blaise pulling her into a tight hug. "It was the cat by the way," he murmured, jokingly.

A/N: Blaise's last comment is refering to a short they had earlier in the chapter, if you've forgotten. Please tell me what you think!

Sorry again for the slow update! Show me some love anyway?

Thank you and forgive me for typos and spelling mistakes: they happen!