McGonagall's POV

"Miss Granger, will you stay after class?" I asked.

"Of course, Professor."

When all other students were gone, Miss Granger and I took our respective seats across from one another at my desk. She looked poised as always, but her appearance was not the concern I wished to speak of.

"Professor, is there an issue with my work?" she smiled, but concern filled her eyes.

"Miss Granger, I have never, and I suspect will never have an issue with your work. I need to speak with you about a rather personal matter."

"This is about my helping Draco Malfoy with his studies isn't it?" she asked.

"Yes and no. I am more concerned with the state of your relationships with Mr. Potter, Miss Weasley, and of course Mr. Weasley."

"Ginny hasn't had much to do with me since she made the team. As you know she is completing her studies abroad. Harry is busy with his auror orientation, and as for Ron we speak daily have agreed to spend holidays together." Hermione said very matter of factly.

"What do they have to say about this... alliance with Malfoy?"

"I don't understand."

"Miss Granger, I feel you are forgetting about everything that Malfoy put you four through."

"I apologize, but I feel the need to interrupt you. I remember better than anyone who Draco is and what he has done. If I choose to forgive him, and to help him through his schooling," her face was red and hair disheveled," that is my choice. Not Ron's, Harry's, Ginny's, or even yours."

"Hermione, I am not trying to upset you. I am just worried. The other students don't trust Malfoy; not even his own house. I hear they are trying to force him out. I don't want you to end up in the crossfire." I warned.

"They are targeting him?! What are you doing to stop them?" Granger was standing rigid, arms propping her up on my desk.

"MISS GRANGER! Sit down," I would not be respected in my own office," I assure you any student caught attacking Malfoy or any other student will be severely and swiftly punished. However, Malfoy made this bed and I assure you he will lay in it."

I hated being so abrupt with Miss Granger, but I had to warn her. Other students were talking about attacking her as well; because she was friendly with Malfoy. Between that and Mr. Weasley contacting me about visiting, I was certain her friends didn't know about this new friendship.

Granger angrily crossed to the door," I hope that is all, Professor."

"Hermione," I apparated to her side lest she run too quickly," I think of you as a daughter. I don't want to see you get hurt, or lose the people most important to you."

Tears filled her eyes," I haven't told Ron. I haven't told any of them, but Draco isn't who they think he is."

I kissed her forehead and hugged her tightly," Perhaps, you should start with telling Ronald this weekend. I have given him permission to visit the castle."

"I will," she cried,"thank you, Professor."

Guess what? I still don't own any of these characters or any of this HP stuff!

Hermione's POV

"Ron!" I exclaimed as my boyfriend entered through the castle doors," I've missed you so much!"

He spun me around and planted a kiss firmly on my cheek. Ron had grown a beard since I last saw him. It tickled my face, and his shaggy hair now covered his ears.

"My love," he said before burying his face in my neck again," mmmm, I can't wait to head to Hogsmeade. I've rented us a room above the 3 broomsticks."

"Ron! There are first years around. Hush!" the first years were the least of my concern. Draco was standing in the door of the great hall watching us with a hurt look on his face. I know that he thinks I will ignore him now that Ron is here.

"So let's get your bag packed and get going. Oh, but I need to do some research for work. Do you mind if we stop by the restricted section in the library?"

"Of course not, but I don't think I'll be able to stay over in Hogsmeade. I have plans I made before I knew you were coming." I glanced back at Draco.

"Oh, I didn't realize. McGonagall said I could stay in the guest dorms. I guess that will have to do," Ron glanced over my shoulder at Draco," Wow, I didn't think he'd make it first quarter. Why did that blodger even come back? Can't he live off of Daddykins wealth?"

"Ron!" I chastised," I need to talk to you about something. Can we talk in private?"

"Sure let's hit the stacks."

We worked our way to the library. Ron spent our walk filling me in on policy updates, the behind the scenes of the dark wizard trials, and about my parents status in Australia. I couldn't bring myself to say a word. As chatty as he was being I could tell that Ron had stopped off on his way for a couple of drinks. Ginny's letters had warned that he wasn't coping with the trials very well.

Upon reaching the stacks I set about to find the book Ron was looking for. Ron was clearly doing research on some of the darker spells that were used during the war. He had been very successful in catching several of the harder to locate death eaters.

"Hermione," Ron was behind me," I think that's the book just above your head."

"Ron, I need to tell you something,"

"Okay, but grab that book and turn around here." he said.

I grabbed the book from the shelf," Ron," my back still to him,"Hogwarts has changed since you were last here. People have changed. I have changed."

"I've changed too. Turn around."

"Hold on, I have to get this out. I've become friend with Draco Malfoy and I've been helping him with his NEWTS." I blurted as I turned around book in arms.

Ron was down on one knee, open ring box in his hands. The look on his face was one of bewilderment and pain. He snapped the ring box closed, and placed it on the desk next to him. I reached to help him up, but he batted my hand away.

"Malfoy. You've made friends with Malfoy. Draco Malfoy?" he asked shaking his head and pacing.

"Ronald, you don't understand. He isn't who you think he is." I pleaded.

"He is the man who stood by and watched this happen," he lunged for my arm and pulled up my sleeve.

When the mudblood scar he was looking for wasn't on my arm, Ron panicked. His face turned white and he dropped my arm. The only marks remaining were the faint bruises already showing up from his fingers.

"Wha-where"Ron's confused stuttering.

"Draco made a salve. He's developing it as a treatment for cancer."

"YOU LET DRACO MALFOY PUT SOME SORT OF POTION HE CREATED ON YOUR SKIN" Ronald came at me red faced, one fist balled, and the other clutching his wand.

I was backed up against the stacks when Ron raised his wand. Draco jumped in front of me at what appeared to be the last second.

"YOU! This is all your fault you blonde bobble headed evil little git. You touched her. How dare you touch her? How dare you talk to her?"

"And how dare you raise your wand to her!" Draco's wand was at his side unlike Ron's.

"I wasn't going to hurt her," Ron stammered lowering his wand, " I wouldn't hurt her. I-I am not you. I wouldn't HURT HER! SECTUMSEMPRA!" Ron screamed aiming his wand squarely at Draco's chest.

Draco didn't even raise his wand. He simply closed his eyes and accepted whatever curse Ron was lobbing his way. As he fell to the ground bleeding from so many ribbon cuts on his body, Ron stood over him and mocked. I couldn't hear what he was saying. I didn't care what he was saying.

"RONALD BILIUS WEASLEY! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?" I shrieked.

"I gave him a taste of his own medicine," Ron swigged from a flask," 'Bout damned time too. Filthy traitor."

"Go." I said as I silently cast the healing charms over Draco.

"What?" the small command seemed to pull Ron out of his hate filled trance,"What do you mean 'go'?"

"I mean: go. Leave. Take your ring. I can't imagine saying yes to spending my life with anyone that thinks this is justice."

"I'm not leaving. I'm not leaving without you. We are in love. Are you really going to throw all of that away on a Malfoy?" Ron reached for me and I shrugged off his advance.

Tears freely flowed white hot down my face," Don't touch me."

"You let that foul beast stroke your arm and who knows what else, but I can't touch your shoudler? You filthy little bitch."

"Go, Ron. Leave before I notify McGonagall or the ministry directly that one of their aurors is going into a primary and assaulting students... while drunk no less."

"Here," he tossed the ring box at the unconcious Malfoy," seems like this is better suited for the two of you than the two of us."

Ron, being an auror and one of the few authorized to do so, apparated out of the library. I cradled Draco's head in my lap and sent a message to McGonagall for help getting Draco to the hospital wing.