A/N. I know this chapter is ridiculously short, please review anyway. I promise to make it up to you in the next chapter, which will be the Astronomy tower chapter. I have a feeling that the next chapter will be very long, or I might divide it into two chapters, depending. Let me know your feelings on that. Happy reading and don't forget to review.
Hermione left her lunch with Draco feeling very optimistic about the future. She found Draco's company to be quite pleasant. On her way up the steps she ran into Harry. Ron ran past them not stopping or saying hello.
"Rude." Hermione remarked.
"Why weren't you at lunch Hermione? You look nice, what's the occasion?"
"I had lunch with Draco. So we could get to know each other before we leave, you know. I only just got finished."
"I see." Harry said in an accusatory tone.
"What?" Hermione said innocently.
"Oh, nothing, just you and Draco having lunch in his private quarters, what's weird about that?"
"Oh don't tell me you are going to start acting like a prat about this as well?"she spat.
Harry laughed. "I was just kidding Hermione, stress much? I actually think this is going to be great for the both of you. He can stop being so serious about Voldemort and you can stop being so serious about schoolwork. You both can have some fun. Besides the grades you get in that muggle school won't count for anything, so have fun and relax, leave the books behind." He put his hand on her shoulder reassuringly.
"It's going to be difficult but I will try." She said smiling.
"Are you nervous about Friday?" Harry asked.
"No, I think Dumbledore has the details fine tuned." Hermione replied.
"I'm hoping you will change your mind about telling Ron by then." Harry remarked.
"Not a chance. He needs to move on. We are not and will never be together. He only wants me if someone else is showing some interest, then suddenly he's attentive and caring. I'm tired of it and I'm moving on. I'm going to meet someone who cares about me first. If my death makes him realize how badly he treated me, maybe he'll treat the next girl he's with better. So no I'm not going to change my mind and you had better not break that un breakable vow you made."
"Well duh Hermione, if I break it I'm dead, so I'm not going to." He said quickly.
"Good."
" I can't believe you are going to miss seventh year for Mal...I mean Draco."
" it will be worth it. I'm helping to save two lives, maybe more. Plus I have a feeling my own life will be 'saved' in the process."
"But is he worth missing N.E.W.T.S and all the fun of seventh year?"
"It's not about him. It's about doing the right thing. Besides, he's not that bad actually. We had a very nice lunch, and he was very pleasant company."
"Yeah, but how long will it be before he's back to his old self? You will be trapped in a house with him calling you Mudblood very five seconds, without any way to contact any of us for help."
"He won't say that. Trust me."
"How can you be sure?"Harry asked.
" because."
"How?"
"Because Dumbledore put a Taboo on it. If Draco or his mother say it they are out of the program."
"Well that makes me feel a bit better." He said relieved.
"Everything's going to be fine Harry, relax. Trust Dumbledore."
"I will, I do." He replied. "Well I have class, so I will see you later Hermione."
"Bye Harry."
Just then she heard a familiar voice behind her, Pansy.
"Draco, there's The Mudblood Granger. What in the name of Merlin are you wearing?"
"Jeans Pansy."
"Well they look awful."she said wrinkling her pug nose at him.
"Not to everyone."he replied. Hermione couldn't help but smile as she watched this little exchange. Draco caught her eye and winked at her. She felt her knees go weak at this simple gesture
"Draco, the mudblood is watching us. "Pansy whined.
" So what." He replied not taking his eyes off of Hermione.
"Well aren't you going to do something? She's a mudblood."
"Why don't you shut up Pansy? She's just standing there, I'm sure she could care less what we have to say."
Pansy's shocked look was priceless.
"What?" she squeaked.
"Just drop it." He sai turning towards the front door."I'm going for a walk."
"But I have class." She whined again.
" Then you had better go."he said. Pansy turned and stomped past Hermione on the steps. She muttered something that Hermione didn't understand as she passed. When Hermione turned back, Draco was still standing at the doors looking at her. He jerked his head towards the door in what looked like an invitation to join him. Surely she had misunderstood, so when she turned to go up the stairs his loud cough brought her attention back to where he wanted it. This time he decided to be a little clearer so he pointed at her then himself then the door.
Hermione mouthed the word me?
He nodded and she headed down the steps. He held the heavy door open for her. And she started towards the bridge. He caught up with her just as she reached it.
"Hey."he said smiling.
"Hi."she returned.
"Thanks for coming with me."
"Why am I coming with you?"
"I just didn't want to be alone. And everyone is in class, just the two smartest people in the school have the afternoon off."
She couldn't help but smile at that.
"How can you stand to be around Pansy, her voice is so whiny and annoying." Hermione asked him.
"I guess I never really noticed until now."was his reply
"Thanks for almost sticking up for me back there."
"I...uh, I did what now?" He said mockingly.
She couldn't help laughing. He wasn't anything like she had thought, or was this an act? Right now it was as easy to talk with him as Ron or Harry, well Harry now, not so much Ron.
"You are quite the charmer Mister Malfoy."
"Please don't call me that, it reminds me of my father." He said quietly.
"Oh, I'm sorry Draco. I didn't mean to..."
" it's alright. Do you think they will give us new names as well?"
"I'm pretty sure that's mandatory."she answered.
"Good. I'm so damn tired of this name and what it represents."
"I can understand that. I will be glad to be rid of my name for a while as well, I get tired of telling new people how to pronounce it." She said turning to look at him.
"Well only two days till California Hermione. I hope you are ready." "I am." She whispered her reply. And as she looked at him the world around them faded away for the briefest of moments.