Disclaimer: Again, I don't own the HP characters, just the OC ones!

~Slytherin's room~

"Want to tell us why you're cooped up down here instead of being in the Head's dorm?" Blaise asked testingly at the blonde that was recently discharged from the hospital wing and was playing chess with Theo. He knew Draco hadn't told them the entire truth about his curse, some hidden agenda with Ron seemed to be at play as well. He had debated whether he should mention it to Snape about his suspicion but decided to test his friend first.

*Flashback*

They had strolled down towards the Great Hall, intending to finish their lunch before the game, and that's when the pain hit again. Theo was reaching into the bag for a vial when they heard Ron yell, "Malfoy!"

Draco turned around to see the golden trio. Draco sneered as he tightened his fists, trying to bite down the pain, "any reason you're disturbing my peaceful day with your mere existence?"

"Stay the bloody hell away from Hermione."Ron warned waving a finger before the blonde.

Draco snickered, "What? Is the little Mudblood afraid of the deatheater?"

"Watch your tongue ferret!"Ron growled, prepared to launced but was held back by Harry and Hermione.

"He's not worth it!"Hermione reprimanded Ron, who was about to pull out his wand.

No one but Blaise and Theo noticed that Draco had begun to flinch, a bead of sweat had formed, running down his forehead due to the pain. You could hear him gritting his teeth, his breath escaping through his teeth as he attempted to hold back his scream of pain.

"I'll let this one slip, Malfoy."Ron hissed, "you might be head boy, but you're still a filthy deatheater. One slip up and you're gone."

Without giving Hermione a chance to reprimand him, Ron quickly turned and marched into the Great Hall.The golden duo followed their friend, at shock at what their friend had spouted. However, no one but Ron was aware of the tiny vial hidden in his pocket.

Theo caught his friend as he tumbled over in pain and Blaise quickly passed him the vial. "What was that all about?"

"It was nothing."Draco said as he wiped his mouth and threw the vial back in his bag.

"That was not nothing."Blaise frowned, "Granger and you were acting civil towards each other and Weasley suddenly felt the need to attack you?"

Theo frowned at his friends silence, "I think you should skip this game mate, you can't play like this. What if the pain hits in the middle of the game?"

Draco shrugged as he pushed through the front door, "I"ll be as fine as I can be."

*End Flashback*

"I don't want to be there in case Weasel shows up and the golden couple starts acting all lovey-dovey in the common room," Draco replied as he moved another piece, "you know how it sickens people."

"Well, it's almost midnight. I'm sure you'll be safe." Blaise replied as he laid back on his bed, "knowing Granger, the ever prude, she wouldn't let him stay overnight."

"Maybe until this game is over."Draco shrugged.

"Then you better start packing," Theo smiled as he moved another piece, "checkmate."

As they watched Draco leave, they could only curse at how well their friend is at hiding his emotions and how accomplished he is as an occlumist.

~Head's dorm~

Hermione slumped down on the couch in the head girl and head boy common room. She had been through nearly every book in the Hogwarts library so far, however, her research was unsuccessful so far. She wasn't able to ask Malfoy about anything related to his curse for he was still confined to the Hospital Wing. She was about to flip open a book she borrowed from the library when the portrait door slammed open. Draco wandered in and looked at her with alert.

"What are you reading?"Draco snarled as he headed towards her, "you haven't been touching my things have you?"

Hermione rolled her eyes, not planning on answering him.

Draco frowned as he began to pick up some books on the table. That was when she noticed that the whole common room was scattered with books. She was about to help Malfoy pick up several books when he snapped, "I can do it myself, Granger."

Hermione paused with her hand still reaching for the book and snapped at him, "what's your problem Malfoy? I thought we had come to a truce towards the end of the war."

"Doesn't mean I have to like spending time with you."Draco frowned as he finally remembered that he was a wizard and took out his wand to collect his books.

"Malfoy, there's actually something I wanted to talk to you about," Hermione said she played with her fingers nervously.

Draco tensed up, "Granger, I will only tell you this once. What you saw was none of your business."

"I'm just merely curious about-"

"Leave it at that Granger."Draco cut off her and hurried towards his room with his books trailing after him.

That's when she noticed the title of several of the books- Sacred 28: Blood Curses, Cures for Dark Spells, Outdated Spells

~Great Hall~

She should have stopped looking for the curse. It was obvious Malfoy doesn't want her to know about his curse. With his wealth, it wouldn't have been difficult to find a wizard willing to find a cure for him. However, she can't stop being curious about it, searching for scrolls, text and books that might have a connection to it. She wrote it off as her thirst for knowledge. That's why she still has her nose deep in a book by the next morning in the Great Hall.

"Hermione." Hermione jumped as she heard someone call her. She turned to see Luna smiling dreamily behind her. The dreamy blonde slipped into the empty space next to her,

"how is your research so far?"

Hermione looked at her in surprise, "how did you-"

She didn't remember telling Luna about it, however, Luna did always have a way of knowing things.

"Did you check the Black library?"Luna asked, "Blaise did say they have quite the collection."

She smiled at Luna, how could she forget. The Black library would surely have a book on Mudifest. She was about to thank Luna when they heard Ginny calling them.

"Hey Hermione! Hey Luna!" She quickly greeted them and sat down next to Hermione.

"Hermione, I wouldn't have brought this up. But, Kreacher kept asking for the book that you had borrowed from the Black library and it was driving Mum crazy." Ginny said as she began buttering a piece of toast.

"I borrowed a book from the Black library?" Hermione blinked in confusion. She tried to recall if she had done so over the past months, but nothing came up to her, except for a pounding headache.

"You borrowed what?"Harry asked as he sat down next to Ginny, followed soon by Ron who nudged Ginny out of the way to sit next to Hermione.

"Apparently I borrowed a book from the Black library,"Hermione replied, "but i don't remember doing it."

Ron frowned, "I don't remember you borrowing anything."

"Ginny shrugged, "maybe Kreacher is getting old and had finally gone nuts."

Ron shared a look with Harry before snaking an arm around Hermione, "maybe we should help you search for it later, just in case. You have been overworking yourself lately."

Hermione nodded as she leaned back into Ron's warmth. Maybe she had been too hard on herself lately.

~Head Girl's room~

Ron frowned he ruffled through Hermione's shelf, "I don't think I see anything you could have borrowed from the Black library."

Harry nodded, "maybe Kreacher did have his memory jogged up."

Hermione shrugged and went through her bedside table. She paused when she noticed a red hard covered book -Dark Spells Throughout the Ages

She quickly flipped through the context and her finger landed on the word she had been trying to find- Mudifest.

Silently, she tucked the book away. She would come back to it later.

"Hermione, since we can't find the book, "Ron said as he walked up to her, ruffling his hair shyly, "do you want to take a stroll by the Great Lake before dinner? I was kind of hoping we'd get to talk."

She knew where this was heading. They haven't gotten to speak about the kiss during the Battle of Hogwarts, and why they haven't gotten to it baffles her. However, she was thrilled that they were finally going to put a label on what they were.

With a bright smile, Hermione responded, "I'd love to."

Author's Note: Hi there! Thank you to A fan and Kasy2112 for your review! I hope this keeps you curious enough to find out more about the book! I've finished this chapter early, so wanted to upload it for you guys earlier, hope you enjoy!Again, I'd love to hear all your thoughts! So don't be shy in leaving a review~ :)