Disclaimer: I'll never own Harry Potter.

Under One Condition

6th Year- Present time

Hermione fiddled with her quill, sighing, she looked back down at her textbook then at her paper and then back at her textbook. She put down her quill and looked around the empty common room. It was eerily quiet and usually that was the best way for her to get her work done. But today for some reason, it bugged her. It was late so she expected no one to be down here, thinking it would be a great time to get done some of next weeks work. But her mind was elsewhere. She couldn't help but think about the conversation she heard Ron and Harry having, all week she wanted to go up to them and say something, anything, just to ease the void she was feeling without them. But her courage seemed to melt away every time she neared them and guilt took over. They did not care what she had to say to them. She sighed, knowing that she did not really know how they felt. She was just too scared of the rejection of her old friends.

She closed her textbook and put it next to her on the couch. Why did this have to be so difficult? She laid her head on the armrest, willing herself not to cry. This was her own fault. And this week she had barely talked to any of the Slytherins. Everything was so confusing. Hermione squeezed her eyes shut. Why couldn't things just be easier? Why did she have to be in Slytherin? She asked herself, questions that seemed to appear in her head everyday since she was put there.

"Late night school work?" She heard a male voice say. "Granger you are too predictable." Hermione opened her eyes and looked over at Draco who sat down on the other couch that was facing her.

"I tried to," she sat up, yawning. "What are you doing down here?"

"Couldn't sleep," he threw his legs onto the couch and leaned back on the armrest. "Unlike someone who looks like they are going to pass out." He gave her a smirk.

"Yeah," she picked up her schoolwork. "I guess I should be getting off to bed." She stood up from the couch. "I never did thank you," she cleared her throat, "for um saving me from my fall." Draco shrugged.

"Don't think too much of it," he told her. Hermione nodded.

"Alright, well I'm going to sleep." Draco watched her head over to the stairs.

"Hey, Granger," he called to her. Hermione turned around.

"Yeah?" Draco noted how she seemed a little nervous.

"You going to Hogsmeade on Saturday?"

"I completely forgot about that." She huffed. "I mean I guess not. I don't really have anyone to go with."

"Well that's miserable," Draco sat up on the couch.

"Yeah, thanks," she turned back around to head up the stairs.

"You can come with us," he called to her, trying to hold back an eye roll. Hermione stopped in her tracks and looked at him over her shoulder.

"Why?" She asked.

"Fine, don't go." Draco cracked his knuckles.

"I just mean, why are you asking me?"

"You didn't seem to question me asking you to join us last Friday?" This girl was insufferable. He wanted to knock her in the head with her books.

"Just simply curious," she told him.

"Alright simply curious, have a nice night." He was done with this conversation, if she was going to be a pain, then that was her problem. No wonder why she had nobody.

"I'll go with you guys," she said, barely loud enough for him to hear her.

"Fantastic," he mumbled, low enough for her to not hear him. He realized she was still waiting on a reply from him. "Sounds great, Granger," he smirked at her. "Run along now."

"Oh, okay," she bit her bottom lip. "Night," she mumbled before finally heading to her room.

Draco let out an annoyed breath and rubbed the back of his head. Why was she such a pain? A bushy-haired pain. He pulled out a folded envelope from his robe pocket and tapped it on his palm. He received a letter from his father asking how the task at hand was going, and if there was no progress yet with Granger, to get a move on it or the Dark Lord will not be pleased. He ripped it.

...

Friday night had gone on seemingly boring for Hermione, she spent most of the day just focusing on her schoolwork and she spent the rest of her night in her shared room, reading. She thought maybe she should go down to the common room and try to make an effort to converse with the group. She rolled her eyes, knowing full well they were not her group. Then decided against it, she did not know how much she could take of them and figured they felt the same about her. Hogsmeade would be enough for all of them tomorrow. It was nearing midnight and she put down her book and decided to call it a night. As she began to drift off to sleep, the door to her room swung open. She lifted up her head and squinted her eyes, trying to make out whom it was. The girl was giggling, she was sure it was Bella. And then she began humming. What had gotten into her? "Bella?" Hermione said. Bella turned to face her and flicked on a light.

"Go back to sleep, Granger," she told her.

"Why are you so… happy?" Hermione sat up in bed.

"I didn't know that was a crime. Send the dementors!" She giggled. Okay, Hermione knew the girl had to be a bit intoxicated. Hermione watched as Bella grabbed her bed pole and swung herself onto her bed, she rolled over and smiled up at the ceiling.

"Something is definitely up," Hermione was intrigued; she'd never seen Bella like this before.

"He is just gorgeous," Bella sat up on her elbows and smiled at Hermione. "And I finally got to kiss him!"

"Who?" Hermione asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I've kind of had a small thing for him for a while now and well it was just wonderful! He invited me to drink with him and one thing led to another and yes!" She giggled some more.

"Who?" Hermione asked again, getting irritated.

"God, I hope he will want to hangout with me again. You don't think it was just the liquor, do you?" Bella looked at Hermione, fear washing over her face.

"I don't even know who you are talking about." She said.

"Who else do you think? Draco Malfoy." She fell back on her bed, smiling. Hermione narrowed her eyes. But of course…

"Oh," Hermione laid back down. Bella was probably one of countless girls Draco has hooked up with for a night especially while drinking. Poor girl, she'll get her heart crushed. Hermione closed her eyes.

"Granger!" She called to her.

"I'm sure he will want to spend time with you again." Hermione mumbled, sleep already taking over her.

"Do you really think so?" Bella asked.

"Yes, you know Malfoy always that charmer with the women and swooning them and all that with the drinking…"

"What?" Bella snapped. And before she knew it, she had passed out.

…

Hermione stood nervously in the courtyard, hoping that Draco would seek her out instead of the other way around. Or maybe he forgot that he had invited her? Then maybe she should find him? She knew she was thinking too much into it, but she could not help it. If she was going to end up going to Hogsmeade alone, she rather not go at all. She saw Harry and Ron not too far from her and she lowered her head. How pathetic must she look right now? The wind picked up and Hermione wrapped her arms around her.

"Alright everybody, if you have handed me your permission slip, you can follow me!" McGonagall called to the students.

Shit, Hermione sighed and looked around. There was no way she was going to go by herself. Hermione shook her head and decided to head back into the castle.

"Granger! Where you going?" Hermione whipped around to find Blaise, Draco, and Pansy staring at her.

"Haven't changed your mind, have you?" Draco smirked at her.

"No, no, not at all," she headed over to them.

"Oh great, I didn't know how I would make it to Hogsmeade without Granger." Pansy sneered.

"Always so welcoming, Parkinson." She shot back. If the rest of the guys were beginning to warm up to her, she might as well give Pansy what was coming to her. They might enjoy the show anyway. Pansy rolled her eyes and walked in front of the group so she would not have to look at Hermione.

"What's up?" Blaise asked her.

"Oh nothing much, just the usual…" Hermione smiled at him.

"Schoolwork?" He chuckled.

"Pretty much," she shrugged.

"Someone needs a life," Pansy mocked, not turning to look at her. Blaise grinned at Hermione.

"Lovely, isn't she?" He joked.

"Just like the rest of the Slytherins." Hermione grinned.

"That's fair," he admitted to her. "But not me." He winked and caught up with Pansy. Hermione's eyebrows rose. Was he flirting? Hermione almost laughed at herself. No, of course he was not. No Slytherin would ever flirt with her. She was, as they would say "filthy blood". Hermione sighed; she should have just stayed with Ron and Harry. She always had a small thing for Ron, but the way she was being treated in school was her first priority over romance. And who was she kidding; there was no way she would ever be in a romantic relationship with any Slytherin. Hermione shuddered at the thought, they probably used whips and chains and-

"Keep up Granger," Draco looked over his shoulder at her. "Or we might forget you were even with us." Hermione realized now that she had been walking at a slower pace then the rest of them.

"Sorry," she said, trying to keep up with them. Draco rolled his eyes, she's always apologizing. The walk to Hogsmeade was quiet, well on Hermione and Draco's part. She only half listened to the banter coming from Blaise and Pansy before she tuned them out. Before long they were entering Hogsmeade, their classmates already hustling about the town.

"I have something to go do," Pansy looked at the boys. "I'll catch you around," her eyes lowered on Hermione and she grimaced at her before disappearing into the crowd.

"I do have to meet up with someone but I'll be back shortly also," he gave a small smile to Hermione and then his eyes met Draco. "I'm sure you two can manage not to kill each other while I'm gone."

"I'll make no promises," Draco joked, or at least Hermione hoped he did.

"Right then," Blaise nodded at them and also headed into the crowd. Hermione rubbed her arm nervously and stared down at the ground. What the hell were the two of them going to do? Would Draco realize he doesn't want to be seen with just her and leave her by herself? She bit her bottom lip.

"What's wrong with you?" Draco looked over at her.

"Nothing," she dropped all actions. "Um so… where should we go?" Draco seemed a bit irritated but if he was he held back from saying so.

"This way," he led her into a nearby café and all the way in the back to a table. Either he did not want to be seen with her or he was going to strangle her. He waited for her to take a seat, still standing up. "I'll be back," he said and walked to the front of the café. Hermione frowned. After five minutes Draco came back carrying two cups. "Coffee or tea?" He asked.

"Oh, tea please," he placed one cup down on the table and slid it to her, before taking a seat opposite of her. "Thank you," she looked down at her tea, clearly shocked.

"Don't be too surprised Granger, what the hell else were we going to do? Stand outside for an hour waiting for Blaise to get back? Not bloody likely." He sipped his coffee. Hermione eyed him curiously and picked up the tea, the steam warming her face. She was fascinated, what exactly had she done that made him want to include her in his group? It's not like she beat up Harry or Ron for him or became a follower of You Know Who. It surely could not just be her charming personality that he decided to give her a chance? She sighed as she drank her tea. Maybe she should just let things be but this was just too weird? Hermione hoped Draco didn't have something up his sleeve. She placed her cup down. "See something you like?" He smirked.

"What?" Hermione squinted at him.

"You keep staring at me… I mean I know I'm great looking and all." Draco noticed a blush creeping up her face.

"Sorry, um, I was just shocked by the gesture." She motioned at the cups in front of them.

"Oh," he took another sip of his coffee.

"What are you playing at, Malfoy?" Hermione asked.

"Who says I'm playing at all?" He grinned.

"You don't have to say anything," she drank her tea.

"If I just got myself something that would be rude. I mean my mother did teach me manners, Granger."

"I've never seen any manners," Hermione informed him. Draco rolled his eyes playfully.

"Just keep drinking your tea," he told her. He watched her grab her cup and bring it up to her lips. "What's that?" He said.

"Hmm?" Hermione asked as she swallowed her tea. "What's what?"

"Those few cuts on your wrists? Granger, don't tell me you were a cutter." Hermione's face went pale. She pulled down her shirtsleeve and sat on her hands.

"No, no it was from an accident." Draco cocked an eyebrow at her.

"How dim-witted do you think I am?" He leaned in. Their eyes met and Hermione opened her mouth, but no words came up. "Well?"

"Why should I bother telling you?"

"Because here we are drinking coffee and tea together so you might as well tell me." Hermione stood up from her seat.

"It's non of your business." She looked down at him. "But thanks for the tea." She made her way to the front of the café and walked out the door. Draco grimaced. What the bloody hell was her problem? He shook his head. Maybe he was too forward. But, what did he care? He was only doing this because he was ordered too. Sure, he had gotten to know her better since he started hanging around her, and he wouldn't admit it but he felt somewhat bad for the girl. She probably had it rough the past couple of years at Hogwarts. The Slytherins were no saints. Quite the opposite, really.

Draco stood up after downing his coffee and decided to head back outside, not caring to find Granger.

…

Hermione opened the door to the café and stepped outside. There was a slight chill to the air, but Hermione enjoyed the coolness, the café seemed to get stuffy all within a minute. She stepped out of the way to let a few people inside and looked at a girl standing next to her. It was Bella. "Oh hey," she said, surprised to see her. Bella turned to face Hermione, her face red.

"What the hell were you doing?" She asked.

"Excuse me?" Hermione shook her head. "What do you mean?"

"With Draco!" She screeched. Hermione's eyes widened and she grabbed Bella's wrist and pulled her away from the door.

"Would you relax?" She told her. "Nothing is going on between us! I mean ew, gross," she shuddered at the thought. "We were just waiting for some people together and-"

"He bought you a drink!" She pulled her wrist away from Hermione. "You're a slut!" Hermione's mouth dropped open, the girl could not be serious.

"Well that was rude." Bella crossed her arms, if looks could kill, Hermione would be ten feet under the ground right about now. "You know we hangout it means absolutely nothing." She tried to reason with the younger girl. The door from the café slammed shut and the girls looked over at it. Draco stepped outside, eyeing them curiously.

"Ladies," he said. Bella turned to him.

"What were you doing with her?" She demanded to know. Draco looked over at Hermione then back at Bella, a smirk threatening the corner of his lips.

"Getting a drink together, what's it to you?" He asked.

"Well what, what about our night?" Hermione couldn't help but roll her eyes, the poor girl. Fallen for the Malfoy charm.

"It was a one time thing, sorry love, I don't do relationships." Bella's mouth dropped.

"I thought it meant something." She said, barley above a whisper. Draco shrugged.

"It didn't mean anything," Bella breathed out a heavy sigh and looked at Hermione.

"But you do-do her!" She shook her head at Hermione. "A Mudblood non-the less." She stalked off without another word. Hermione stared blankly at the now empty space in front of her. Draco took a step near her.

"A bit rude of you, don't you think?" Draco shrugged.

"The girl is naïve, she'll get over it." Hermione ran a hand down her face, knowing full well she would have to deal with her roommate later. Bella couldn't possibly believe something was going on with her and Malfoy. Voldemort would be Headmaster at Hogwarts before that happened.

"Well that's just great, you make the mess and I have to clean it up." She sighed.

"Leave it alone, what is the girl going to do to you? Nothing," Draco said simply.

"Easy for you to say! You don't room with her!" She was already furious enough with him from his cutting comment and now this. He put a hand behind her shoulder and guided her in the direction he wanted to walk. She shook her shoulder so he would drop his hand but kept up with him.

"Just let me know if she gives you any problems." Hermione looked over at him

"Why? What are you going to do? Get her drunk again and make-out with her?" Draco smiled.

"Jealous, Granger?" Hermione scoffed.

"Please, get over yourself." She shook her head. "Out of all the girls in Slytherin you choose one of my roommates. What? Have you gone through them all already?" Draco didn't like her tone, her voice was getting higher and drawing looks from people.

"She happened to be there last night and she asked for a drink. I wasn't going to turn her down."

"Well that's not the only thing you gave her last night." Hermione was pissed and she did not want to be in the presence of him anymore. "I'm walking away now and I would appreciate it if you did not follow." Hermione turned to look at him. Draco's nose flared and he leaned in closer to her. Hermione couldn't help but hold her breath.

"What gave you the impression that I would ever follow a Mudblood?" Hermione met his eyes and she frowned before pushing him away from her.

"Get lost, Malfoy," she was livid. How dare he demand her to tell him something very personal and then get her roommate pissed at her and then call her a Mudblood! Despite his recent efforts, how could she be so thick to forget that he was a Malfoy after all? Cold-blooded snake.

"Already gone," he told her and strode off. Hermione crossed her arms, willing herself to take deep breaths. How she couldn't stand him. In fact, she wanted nothing more to do with those damn Slytherins. She cursed under her breath and decided to make her way back to the castle. As she squeezed her way through the crowd she knocked shoulders with someone.

"I'm sorry," they said, Hermione looked at the boy, it was Harry. Her mouth went dry. "Oh," he looked behind him as Ron came up next to them. He saw Hermione and managed the same thing as Harry.

"Oh," Hermione gave them a small smile.

"Hi guys," she tried. She was face to face with them now. No use in running or pretending they weren't there. She missed them, anyway. "H-how are you guys?" She asked, generally curious. They looked at each other; Harry shrugged, and looked back at her.

"Alright I guess," a few people walked in between them and Hermione stepped back.

"Maybe we should," she motioned her head towards the side of a building. The guys nodded and followed her to the open space. "So," she turned back towards them. "What about you, Ron?"

"Fine," he gave her his infamous pout face.

"What about you?" Harry asked.

"I guess I'm okay," she shrugged. Things sucked, liked they always did, just not as bad. "I've missed you guys." She admitted.

"Whose fault is that?" Ron could not hold back. Hermione looked down, her lips forming a line.

"You're right," she confessed. "I do miss you guys. And I want to see you both more." Harry and Ron exchanged a look.

"I don't know Hermione," Harry started. "You've been hanging out with the Slytherins, we don't know what's been going on with you."

"Well of course I've been hanging out with the Slytherins. I am one!" She breathed out a heavy sigh. "You can't possibly think that I am now," Hermione lowered her voice, "working for You Know Who."

"Now we didn't say that," Ron told her. "I don't think you are."

"But," Harry interjected. "We can't take risks. This is a war we are talking about here. People cross people all the time."

"Listen," Hermione looked behind them, grabbed Ron and Harry's wrists and pulled them in between the sides of two buildings. "Yes, I'll admit I have been hanging out with that prejudice arse. But I haven't heard a single thing about Voldemort. Nothing!" Harry looked over his shoulder, making sure no one was snooping around.

"Well he's up to something," Ron leaned closer to her. "We know it and it's got to do with Voldemort. He's just being very sneaky about it."

"Well what do you want me to do?" She looked at both Ron and Harry.

"If you want to be on good terms with us again Hermione, you need to bring us back some information on what Malfoy is exactly up to."

"How do you propose I do that?" She crossed her arms.

"You need to get close to him as possible." Ron looked over at Harry.

"What?" Hermione and Ron asked in unison.

"It's going to be risky and you have to be careful. But it's the only way to prove that we can trust you and you would be doing a great favor to us all."

"No, no I don't-" Ron was cut short.

"I'll do it." Hermione said simply. "For the sake of our friendship and the war and just everything." She was beyond relieved. If the boys would take her back, under this condition, she was sold! She was already hanging out with the Slytherins so it was not like she had to make a great deal of effort with that. She would just have to try and get Draco alone more often. Ron frowned at her, clearly displeased by this plan. "It'll be alright," she told him. "I can do this," she was confident.

"Glad to hear it," Harry told her.

"I'm not too sure about this plan but it's glad to have you back," Ron smiled, touching her arm. Hermione finally felt happy.

"I'm glad to be back."

A/N- Thanks for spending sometime reading this stuff... I would love to hear from you guys, so don't be afraid to review!

Until next chapter...

Brittany