A/N: Hiiiiiiiii guys. Thank you to every reviewer who took the time out to review. It meant a lot. Sorry I got a few days late on the update. MI sent the chapter to my Beta last week but she just sent me the proof read chapter back so here goes.

A thank you to Stephanie Soprano :**************************

Onwards with the storyyyyyy!

Oh and there is slight swearing in the chapter below because Draco has a potty mouth.


Chapter seven: Grey Area.

"Draco Malfoy is my mate."

These words confirmed it. Although Draco had known somehow very deep down before she had said it, his mind had started working on alternative answers. But then she said it, so firmly, and the Know-It-All couldn't be wrong: she never was. He stood very still, thinking about what those words she had just said could mean for him.

Meanwhile, Ron's face was turning even more of a curious colour, and Harry's fingers dug rather painfully into Hermione's hand. She didn't even notice though. Her eyes were fixed on the grey ones. They seemed to be clouded, stormy and dark. He seemed to be looking right through her, his mind elsewhere. She could hear his heart pounding loudly in his heart.

Ron opened his mouth to let out what was going through his mind when Headmistress McGonagall spoke, "Would every one please step out and give Mr Malfoy and Ms Granger a moment please?"

"We can't leave her alone with him!" Ron yelled, his fist shaking.

"Draco hasn't done anything, will you stop inferring that he has?!" Pansy screeched.

"Bull-" Ron began, but a very tired voice spoke from behind him.

"Ron." Hermione said, "It's okay. And Harry?" She turned to meet the brilliant, familiar green eyes. "My hand is hurting." Harry looked down at their clasped hands and blushed as he let her hand go.

"Follow me out." Headmistress McGonagall firmly, and this time everyone knew not to mess with her.

Draco's eyes were still cloudy, but as the door clicked shut and she spoke, they focused back into reality.

"Malfoy." Hermione said moving her hair out of the face. Draco's ice cold grey eyes locked into her warm amber ones.

"I-" Draco sputtered, even if Malfoy's never sputter, this one time was the Half Veela's fault.

Hermione waved him away with her hand.

"Malfoy, I know you. I know you'd leave someone like me for the dead and you'd skip happily away so can-"

Draco seemed enraged at her words, his cheeks flushed and his eyes dilated. "How dare you pretend you know anything about me?!"

"Oh please. Don't act so high and mighty we all know who you fought with in the war." Hermione said rolling her eyes. Draco almost sneered at the action.

"Then you don't act like a little Know-It-All bitch!"

Hermione gasped, "How dare you?" She stood up, anger coursing through her.

"How dare I? You have absolutely no right to imply that you know me at all!" Draco snarled at her.

"Oh I know you, you filthy cockroach! You're a coward and a bully. You're prejudiced and a spoiled brat! You're an arrogant, evil man!"

Draco let out a long huff of annoyance and then masked his face to conceal the irritation he felt at the bushy haired girl in front of him. Hermione blinked at the sudden change in demeanour. Draco locked his eyes with hers and cocked an arrogant grin.

"And yet, Granger, I'm apparently a perfect match for you. Says a lot about you doesn't it?" He spoke.

Hermione blanched at that.

"There's a lot of grey area in wars, Granger, and it would do you well to think about that before you go on inferring that you know me." He spoke his head held high.

"Stop talking in riddles Malfoy." Hermione spoke narrowing her eyes.

"War isn't black and white Granger. There is a lot of grey area. Your side killed innocents too." He spoke leaning extremely casually against the wall. He seemed unaffected, almost bored as he laid down the controversial bomb on Hermione.

"I don't think anyone on Lord Voldemort's side was even a little innocent, you prejudiced scum." Hermione answered firmly, like she truly believed what she was saying.

There was a flash of miniscule anger in his eyes that Hermione's heightened gaze didn't miss. She could hear his heart beating loudly but his face gave no indication of the anger other than the small flash his eyes had exhibited. He lifted his head and walked towards her. He stopped right in front of Hermione, his height looming over her small frame. She stuck out her nose and didn't back away.

She was momentarily distracted by the very light brush of icy blue in his grey irises, but otherwise she met his gaze with equal heat.

"Brightest witch of our age, my arse." He sneered at her. "Zoe Accrington, was a year older than us. She was terrified out of her wits when she got her mark, so much so she fainted. Her mother forced her to go to war in her place as she was paralysed from waist below. She hid during most of the battle having lost her wand in the first minute, as well as her arm, a gift from the Light side. She died of excessive blood loss."

Hermione now looked a little pale, but Draco continued.

"Evan Rosier, a ministry worker. He went to war to save his wife and children from torture. He died from a curse by Kingsley Shacklebolt, who he probably knew personally." Draco listed this as if he was citing a grocery list.

"Malfoy-"

"Gertrude Meads was a tiny girl who was imperiused by a Death Eater to fight. She was killed by an Avada from your side."

Hermione let out a tiny gasp.

"I've attended several funerals after the war. I saw many weep and cry out for loved ones, same as you have." Draco said this unfeelingly. "There may have been many evil people on the Dark Lord's side, maybe you are right in thinking I'm one of them, but not for a second should you pretend to act like you aren't a prejudiced, bigoted woman too." There was an implicit rage beneath his words, a sorrow that she had not expected him to have. "There is grey area in war Granger, and it would do you well to remember before you peg me down as a murderer."

She was silent. He knew his words had hit home. He turned and walked out, closing the door behind him loudly.


A/N: Zoe Accrington, Evan Rosier and Gertrude Meads are all actual people in Harry Potter. They were all Slytherins, but I made up their stories and ages.

I know this chapter was small. But I think this point was heavy. I mean there is grey area in war. There are lots of acts that people do which they only do for survival. I think a lot of people tend to forget this small detail and I think it matters a lot, especially in the case of Draco. I needed time to kind of gauge what Hermione's reaction should be hence I finished this earlier then I thought I would.

Please review and tell me what you think and how Hermione would react. Looking forward to the response.

Ciao for now, Alexia.