A/N: (for those of you who saw my earlier A/N, i apologize. I was cracked-out on sleep deprivation.) Soooo here it is! I'm sorry for not uploading sooner, i realized that i had to do some Major changes before going forward, (and i got into pottermore, but aaanyways). I played around with some POv, hopefully it's understandable =P Enjoy! and Review! Tell me what you think pleeease! =D

Slughorn's return from his "much needed week of relaxation" was a welcome one among the students, seeing as they didn't have to spend the extra time with Snape. Unfortunately, his overwhelming favoritism was no less irritating than Snape's.

"Excuse me, Miss Granger?" he said, I was so close to the door…ugh.

"Yes?" she kept her reply short; fearing her irritation with the potion's professor would show through.

"Do you know Mister Potter's Quidditch schedule? I fear it is interfering with my party-planning."

"You'd really have to ask one of his team mates, I don't know." She took as step towards the door, only to be followed by Slughorn.

"Come now Miss Granger, I'll award Gryffindor house 30 points if you give me Potter's schedule."

The old man is really set on this… she sighed. "I'll have it by Thursday."

"Wonderful!" the potions master all but jumped up and down in delight. "thank you, Miss Granger."

"Yeah, sure. I've got to go." She hurried out before he could say anything else, half-running; trying to not be late to her last class of the day, Astronomy.

But that was the only reason why she wanted to be on time; it in no way had to do with the fact that they had that very class with the Slytherins today.

Oh shut up, you're not fooling anyone

Except my best friends

Only for now, though. They'll be told about it soon…

But when is soon?

Well, maybe as soon as Ron stops being a wanker, will there ever be a day when I spend more than a few hours NOT having a row with him?

Such an infuriating…Oh look it's Draco, did he just smirk at me? Or was it a sneer…

It was a smile, veiled by a sneer… Gods he looks good…

I need to stop staring… I need to figure out what to do…

Her thoughts kept consuming her as she got ready beside her favorite telescope; her internal debate interrupted when she realized an arm was around her.

"We seem to be in need of a chat, Miss Granger." Harry's mock-serious voice mirrored his expression. Hermione's anxiety began to increase.

"Am I in trouble?" she tried to sound as playful as her friend, who merely let go of her shoulders and sat down beside her.

"Why are you so sure you're in trouble when I want to talk to you?" he asked, amused by the witch's thinly-veiled nervousness.

"Because I usually am; especially when it's just you." She stated simply, "So what have I done now?"

"I just haven't really talked to you in a while, you're always cooped in the library; and Ron's been a pain without you around." She noticed the hesitation coloring his face before he continued, "He really misses you, Hermione."

Many thoughts presented themselves in her psyche, one after the other, each as irritating as the next.

Oh, so the twat of twats misses me? Well, too bad, I don't care.

Who am I kidding? I miss my best friend….both of my best friends.

But I can't say why I've been distant, and I don't think I can lie to Harry for much longer

And it's not like I WANT to lie to them, they're just not ready to know about—

And I don't even know what this…relationship is! I have to figure things out before anything else happens.

When is that going to be though?

Damn it Draco! I mean, Malfoy! I mean… Oh Jesus Christ this is maddening!

"Um, Hermione?" Harry's voice once again snapped her out of her mental rantings. "What's—"

"Well, I've just been trying to find information concerning hor—"

"What's with the secret meeting?" Hermione looked up to find a slightly offended-looking Ron, surprisingly alone and looking very disheveled.

"What are you talking about, mate?" Harry asked, his face full of genuine confusion.

"Never mind." he whispered, rolling his eyes as Professor Sinistra's flowing voice ordered them to take their seats.

By the time the bell rang, Hermione bolted out of the tower with the eagerness of an Olympic runner, once again leaving Harry to deal with Ron by himself. She would have to make it up to him somehow. But that was a far-away thought in her mind as she went down the path to the Common Room. However, that was not her destination.

She knew he took a different path than the rest of the Slytherins; passing by the corridor she was currently on. And she was planning on thanking him for the bracelet he'd given her the other day. Leaning against a tapestry, Hermione waited; taking this time to further examine the intricate braid of silver—or gold, or something—and the rather large emeralds—or rubies, she really didn't know. Making a mental note to ask him about all of this, she continued to wait…

After counting to about sixty, she finally saw him turn the corner and strut down the corridor in his usual manner, seeming not to notice her right away.

One really has to appreciate the way he walks, commands attention, that walk.

Focus! You have a reason to be here!

Yes, and that is to watch him walk…

"Granger." His voice was guarded, but his smile resembled a young boy's.

"Malfoy." She smiled back, pulling him towards an empty classroom If Ron can get away with it, why can't I?

A low chuckle escaped him as he leaned against the empty teacher's desk, watching her put a locking spell on the door.

"Hi." She sighed, turning to look at him. Suddenly all of her Gryffindor courage left her as she stared into twin moons, who looked very amused.

"Hello, I see you're wearing it again." He said, nodding at her wrist, her face felt licks of flame under his gaze, like being under a very bright light.

"Y-yes, it's lovely, thank you." Shifting her weight, she managed to look into his eyes. "It's enchanted."

He smiled his smile again, looking somewhat proud. "It is, it was made by Romulo Malfoy. He gave it to a woman named Julia, or June…or something like that, I forget." He shook his head, giving up on remembering, "she was a Gryffindor, and he charmed it so that it looked like gold and rubies to those who belonged to her house." His pale complexion took a shade of rose that Hermione decided quite suited him

Floored by the romanticism of the story, she struggled to string together some thought. "Wow, how long have you had this?"

He shrugged, "I told my mum in an owl that I fancied a Gryffindor, and she just sent it to me." His gaze looked very interested in the floor, and Hermione took the opportunity to let herself smile stupidly.

He facies me... And his mother knows? huh.

"That's awfully sweet of her." She said, unsure of her own reaction to the woman's thoughtfulness.

"Yes." He said shortly, still gazing at the floor. She felt her courage coming back, (whether it was that or her overflowing emotions it really didn't matter at this point).

"I didn't get a chance to properly thank you for it." She began to make her way towards him, smirking as his eyes widened a bit.

"Yeah?"

"Mhm"

"So is that what you're doing now?"

"It is, and I love it so much more now that I know how it came to be.." she had locked her arms around his neck, and she noticed his heartbeat quickening.

"Good." He said, snaking his arms around her waist, seeming to regain his confidence.

Their lips met with unforeseen urgency, causing Draco to growl against her mouth. She was unsure of exactly how she was supposed to be thanking him, but Draco seemed to have ideas of his own. Making his way towards her neck with shallow kisses, not bothering to take his time; seeing as they might get caught. She began pulling at his shirt, whether by instinct or urgency she wasn't sure. She was never really sure of anything when she was under his influence. Then, an idea popped into her head, a very mischievous idea… She began to kneel, looking up at him, the look of utter bafflement on his face was motivation enough.

"What are-what are you doing?" his breathing was ragged, she smiled.

"I'm thanking you." Her innocent tone the polar opposite of how she was slowly bringing down the zip of his trousers; Draco bit his lip and raised an eyebrow.

"Alright then." Smirking as she finally reached her goal after removing the thin green boxers. She moved her hands as she watched Draco gasp and sigh. Enjoying his reactions almost as much as he seemed to be enjoying her actions.—

Bangbangbang!

They quickly separated and Draco pulled up his trousers hastily at the sound. They listened closely to a pair of muffled voices.

"I thought you promised me that you wouldn't go after him!"

"Well I didn't! He came on to me! So obviously I kept my promise!"

Bang bang!

"Will you stop trying to hex me? You're not even good at it for Godric's sake!"

She gave him an apologetic look before making her way toward the door. "Duty calls."

Draco sighed, he didn't seem to be angry… "go on."

She opened the door with a huff. "I'll still see you tonight."

Those children will shudder to even think about having a spat like that when she was through with them.

Harry had been looking for Hermione in the library for nearly ten minutes. He really had to give his friend credit; the girl knew how to find a good reading nook; though it was getting ridiculous.

"Oh hello Harry." She seemed to come out of nowhere, but then again, that was how she was.

"Where have you been? Hiding under the table?" he gave a small laugh, seeing Hermione's hair was bushier than usual.

"No, I've…just put a spell on the table I was using, that's all." She tucked a few strands of hair behind her ear. She was lying, but he wasnt going to question her, he was here for a reason.

"Come on; we need a talk." He put an arm around his friend and guided her towards an empty table. She began to take her school things out, a force of habit.

"Tell me, anything new with Dumbledore?" she glanced up at him while unrolling a half-full roll of parchment.

"Not really, but that's not what I want to talk to you about." He watched her dig around for an inkwell, and decided to empty his own schoolbag on the old wooden table. He had always felt awkward when she was hard at work and he just sat there. Handing her his own inkwell, he continued. "Ron's been worried about you, he says you're acting a bit funny—"

"Oh, he thinks so, does he?" her voice more spiteful than she'd meant for it to be, she was still upset with what happened with Draco earlier…

"He's your friend, or at least he cares about you." She gave him a look, but he sat up straight and continued. "and just because he's with Lavender doesn't—"

"He is at perfect liberty to be with whomever he likes, I really couldn't care less." She was beginning to get annoyed with her dark-haired friend, on top of her already brewing frustration; she managed to poke a hole through her Arithmancy essay. She looked up to see Harry's almost-smug face, trying to hide it behind—

"You should be careful with that." She nodded towards the tattered book he was holding, one of his new obsessions. And one of her new irritations.

"Oh come now, don't change the subject." He seemed set on making some kind of point, and though she almost admired her friend's determination, his point was moot.

"Harry, I'm being honest. I don't care." She looked dead into his eyes; two green orbs full of old pain, hidden behind friendly concern, and somehow, a twinkle similar to Dumbledore's never failed to be there.

"Fine, then." He said, he knew she was being honest, though it's something she's failed to be lately. "Just sort things out, yeah?"

"I make no promises." She was already back to her writing, scribbling steadily, her eyes strangely out of the complete focus they usually had when she was doing schoolwork.

"Good enough." He got up, gathered his things (Hermione had found her inkwell), and left for the Common Room.

Hermione let out a sigh.

Great, now Harry had to go play peacemaker. It's not my fault Weasel's a wanker.

I did NOT just call my best friend Weasel.

Damn it Draco!

She put her head down on the table, deciding it was time to catch up on the sleep she'd been losing to the blond wizard.

"Miss Granger?" said an uncomfortable voice.

"Am I in trouble?" Hermione mumbled, her eyes taking in the environment that was very much not her four poster bed. Weird images of weasels and ferrets fighting were projected in her mind.

"The library's closed."

"right." She murmured, gathering her things and getting up slowly. "Sorry, I'm going"

Rubbing her eyes, she noticed it was barely nighttime, around 9pm by her watch. She could still meet Draco. And with that she broke into a full sprint for the old Charms classroom.