After pretending to eat breakfast and forcing a smile as she and Harry saw Ron to the train, Hermione escaped to her sanctuary for some much needed alone time. She walked through the doors and pulled a book off a shelf at random. Her favorite armchair beckoned, tucked into the farthest corner of the library and she sank into it, wrapping the comfort it offered around her to try and chase away her unsettling emotions.

This is completely unacceptable, she scolded herself, You can not allow yourself to be attracted to Draco Malfoy. She rubbed her forehead as if that would help the mental command sink in. Not only is it ridiculous, it's dangerous to your emotional well being.

Hermione knew that no matter what he said now, as soon as he regained his memories he could go right back to the way he was before. And even if by some miracle this new persona is in fact his true self, it still won't help you. He would be furious at her for tricking him.

If you let yourself get tangled up in this now it's only asking to have your heart trampled. She tried to tell herself she could handle it but she had a felling it was already too late.

Why does he have to be so nice? She thought a bit angrily. She could deal with a teasing Draco. She could deal with a suddenly gorgeous Draco. But a genuinely kind Draco? She had no defenses against that.

She started a bit at her thoughts. And when, for the love of Merlin, did I start thinking of him as Draco?

The devious side of her mind decided to join in at that point.

I believe it was around the time he thanked Dobby as if he were a friend instead of a servant, it reminded her, or it could have been when he pulled you into his lap and you started to think about how good he felt pressed up against you, just like in your late night fantas-

"Stop!" she shouted at herself causing the other occupants in the library to eye her strangely.

Great, she thought, whispering an apology and burying her nose into the book she had forgotten about, now I'm arguing with myself. This is so not good.

She finally noticed which book she had picked out and she groaned in frustration. Pride and Prejudice. Hermione decided the library was not helping and she was just about to stand when Harry walked around a bookshelf and spotted her.

"There you are." he said, "I was wondering where you'd gotten to. It's almost time for lunch."

The frivolous ball of butterflies that was calling itself her stomach jumped. Draco was meeting them for lunch. She was contemplating the idea of running away to hide in her room when Dumbledore walked straight out of the wall. Her eyes widened in shock and Harry fell back into a chair. "Blimey!"

Dumbledore just smiled. "Secret passageway." he pointed to the wall behind him, "To anyone but me it is quite solid." Harry regained his composure and stood to greet the headmaster.

"Good afternoon, sir. Did you need something?"

"I just wanted to inform you that young Mr. Malfoy has been released from the hospital wing and is looking for you. He came to speak to me in my office just now and asked me a great deal of questions." He looked directly at Hermione.

"What are we supposed to tell him sir?" she asked and a very amused smile preceded his response.

"Well, I think I'll leave that up to you my dear, as every question he asked was about you."

The look on her face must have been quite humorous because Harry burst out laughing.

"What?" he said in response to her glare, "You have to admit it's kind of funny. Malfoy's in love with you!"

In his mirth he didn't see the way her eyes sparkled for a moment at the idea of Draco being in love with her. Nonsense, she thought forcefully and pushed the feeling away, he's joking! She was grateful Harry had missed her foolishness.

Dumbledore, however, missed nothing.

His knowing smile unnerved her and she opened her mouth to change the subject when Dobby apparated onto the small coffee table in front of her chair. Well, I'm glad I wasn't enjoying my alone time, she thought dryly, eying the collection of people that surrounded her.

"Dobby is sorry to interrupt, but Mr. Dumbledore said to tell him if Mr. Draco asked Dobby any questions."

"They weren't about me were they?" Hermione asked in horror.

"No, Mr. Draco was wanting to know about his father." Dobby replied and a slightly guilty expression came over his small face. "Dobby didn't tell Mr Draco anything," he continued, but the way he shifted his weight back a forth and started ringing his hands didn't bode well for their secrets.

"What exactly do you mean by that, Dobby?" Dumbledore asked.

"Well, you see," Dobby began, "Dobby didn't say anything to Mr. Draco, but when he mentioned his father, Dobby might have... made a small face, sir. One that would make it easy to see Dobby's... distaste for his old master. Dobby knows Mr. Draco saw because he said to Dobby-," the small elf pulled himself up and did remarkable impression of Draco, "I gather you don't care for him much either."

Dumbledore's smile was decidedly smug but Harry was quick to jump in. "That doesn't mean anything for sure." But the headmaster was not dismayed in the least at Harry's protest.

"Thank you, Dobby," he said to the elf, "That was most helpful."

Dobby bowed, "Dobby is always happy to help Albus Dumbledore, sir," and with a smile and a wave to the two Gryffindors he dissapparated.

"Well," Dumbledore clasped his hands in front of him, "That was enlightening! I think I'll leave you two to your thoughts." And with a wink to Hermione he walked back through the wall.

"I still say it doesn't mean anything." Harry grumbled.

Hermione decided silence was her best option.