[[a/n- I'm adding another chapter so soon in the hope that it will encourage a few reviews (constructive critics welcome) and if there is some genuine support out there for this story I might post another chapter ASAP

Draco hadn't taken Hermione's advice. When his brain was sprinting through his lifetime of memories- evaluating, discarding and wincing- how was he supposed to just snuggle calmly on a sofa all night? No, Malfoys didn't react by giving up- nor did they snuggle. Mentally, Draco recoiled; after tonight did he know that Malfoys didn't give up at the first sign of danger? Draco didn't know who he was meant to be anymore, but after tonight he could safely say this Malfoy didn't give up.

About an hour after the light under Hermione's door went out Draco got up and paced into the Head's library. So Draco didn't know anything in life was real anymore- that didn't mean it had to stay that way. Categorically and logically Draco went through the books he'd dismissed before. As light was just starting to filter through the window Draco moved on and started reassessing Hermione's horrid mudblood books- wait, her muggle books.

He was reluctant; hours of consideration had opened his mind to the acceptance that he, or at least his motives, were bad but reading mudbl-damn, muggle books was what caused this whole problem to begin with. If he hadn't picked up Hermione's book from the library, originally with the purpose of freaking her out by reading it when she arrived back in the dorms, then would he ever have caught on that his life was upside down? Was he really that blind, short-sighted and just stupid? Was it him? Had he just been an idiot for the completion of his formative years?

Draco flung down the book he was reading- none of it made sense anyway. It was stupid for Draco to trust these books anymore than he could trust his parents. Sullenly, Draco went upstairs to the two doors leading to his and Hermione's rooms and sat down directly before her entrance. As much as he hated to admit it, in a way he could trust her. Hermione hated him and clearly had no reason to spare his feelings and last night she was genuine, even helpful, when he was ranting at her.

Slowly he watched the sunlight drift further down the stairs until sleep must have come; the next thing he saw was Hermione's shocked face before she unceremoniously tripped over his sprawled body. "Ahhhhh!"-she landed with a thud beside her door, "I thought you were asleep!" The mass of curls shouted from their place on the floor before rolling over to face him.

"If you thought I was asleep why were you looking at me?"

"To see if you were asleep!"

"That doesn't make sense." Draco replied but the sheer shock of his awakening made him start to laugh after the building stress of the night before. Hermione stared sullenly before a giggle escaped her lips- she was defiantly the best person to ask his recent questions to. He swung his legs around so he was sitting at the top of the stairs.

"I have a few more questions."

He saw her compose her face once more realising this was going to be a serious conversation; "Would it be quicker if I wrote a report? Didn't you already read the books you found about Harry?"

He paused, "Well, a report would be useful or at least flash cards… Seriously, I just have a few questions." He waited for her to move beside him at the top of the stairs and was surprised that she complied; last night she had seemed annoyed at his ignorance now she simply looked amused. Honestly, after reading what he'd done to her friends and her over the past years, in black and white, he felt almost as if he deserved some of her hexes- the less vicious ones at least.

Hermione turned to him and smiled, she was trying to be nice but Draco couldn't help but notice that she was purposefully not touching him despite the tight proximities of the staircase. It was easier to begin the questions, just because he wasn't quite such an idiot this morning couldn't make them friends. "Okay. Do you have any idea why McGonagall made me Head boy after what I did- what I caused last year?" He didn't want to repeat his actions in sixth year aloud.

She shook her head and a few curls flew through the air hitting his shoulder, it was only then Draco noticed she was still wearing her pyjamas- long-sleeved flannel; he couldn't help but admire her modest clothes and ability to ignore her inappropriate covering and focus on the bigger picture right now. All admiration faded when she opened her mouth, "Obviously I can't understand why they made you head boy, and it should have been Harry if he'd been here this year… Really, I think I made it quite clear since we arrived here that I didn't exactly consider you head boy material."

"Thanks." Draco grunted.

"Don't act like that, you can hardly expect me to rejoice when one of my enemies is put in a position of power especially one which means I have to see and work with them regularly." Draco would have laughed if the situation hadn't been so completely unfunny so he settled for giving her an aggrieved look. "Oh stop. I know your only just realising the world is upside down and all but it wasn't like you were happy about me being Head girl."

The sadistic monster in Draco felt he ought to even the uneasiness before the conversation continued; "Next- is Krum a better kisser than Ron?"

For the second time that morning Hermione was completely shocked but Draco's apologetic hand on her shoulder stopped her from falling down the stairs and she contented herself to slap his hand as punishment. She considered hexing him as she no doubt would have reacted to that comment yesterday but remembered that even if he wasn't good he was no longer the enemy. She hit him harder in the chest again for good measure before he put up his hands in surrender.

He made sure not to laugh, even though her face made it difficult. "Fine, I don't want to know." Hermione couldn't help but be shocked by Draco's humour now it was no longer a weapon against her. "But I do need to know something far more important from you- last night you said you were sure this book was dark magic, how?"

"I don't know the purpose of the book but it could be done a number of ways; maybe Dumbledore enchanted the books to write themselves, there is a spell to transfigure memories into books but I don't know how that could be done without Harry, Ron and my knowledge. Maybe Dumbledore needed the book to be entirely real so he Imperious-ed a muggle to really write it; Death Eaters would never read a muggle book."

"No, Dumbledore would never use an unforgivable on a muggle." Hermione stopped and simply stared at Draco for a minute, "Well, from what I know and have, well, read he just wouldn't, right?"

Hermione nodded, "Right, I agree. I was just a little-" she hesitated not wanting to offend him, again, "I was shocked you said something nice about Dumbledore and said muggle in the same sentence." Draco looked down at his hands abruptly so she moved on. "I just don't understand the purpose for them."

"Well, what if they were written for me to read?"

"Yeah, Draco, the world revolves around you." He glared.

"Well, that's what McGonagall said. Dumbledore was really into inter-house relationships, good-will to all men, etc. You really think it's too much of a stretch to say he put a couple of books in our room so my horizons might widen a little?"

Hermione leant forwards so her hands were on her knees, Draco started to speak but she held up her hand for him to stop; she was thinking. "But how would he know you would react this way?" Draco shrugged. "It would be a major risk but I want to believe it."

"What?" Draco asked. Hermione thought about what she'd said before replying.

"Well, first; it would mean the book wasn't a threat. Effectively, the whole problem with the book just goes away, right?" She stopped talking but he looked on expectantly.

"Secondly?"

"What?"

"You said "first" so I assume there is a second?"

"Oh, right." A rose blush swept over her checks and Draco couldn't help but be intrigued; "Well, it would mean Dumbledore had known you wouldn't give the books to Voldemort, that you were good, really." She looked up quickly and down before he could catch her eye. "I'd like you to be good is all…"

Draco rested his hand on her shoulder once more, "Thanks." He stood up and wandered along the short corridor to his room to get changed for class.