A/N: I just wanted to thank you to the people who have , and will review my story. Thank you so much! :D

Chapter Seven-Where?

Hermione and Draco considered their conversation that afternoon to be non-existent. They didn't speak about it again, and ignoring it was an advantage to both of them—being with each other wasn't so awkward as it would seem after having that talk. Hermione enjoyed being with Draco, because he had changed greatly. He didn't taunt any other people, and left that to his friends. He could talk intelligently about anything—wizard politics, Quidditch, books, tips on duelling, and other things. But Hermione liked it when he would randomly talk about love. Not many boys could talk about the subject as passionately as Draco.

"Love…I think I only experienced love once, and it was that moment when I saw you walk down the steps of the Great Hall, Hermione. I've had a schoolboy crush on you ever since, and it was growing day after day, year after year. I continue to bully Potter and Weasley because…I thought either of them had some intimate relationship with you. I was jealous. You weren't a Mud—I'm sorry—a Muggle-born to my eyes anymore. Seeing you performing so well in class, you were a genuine witch to me. And a beautiful, intelligent witch. Being with you, I've dreamed about it for two years now, and I just love the feeling when I'm with you. My heart does this dance and…I just feel so happy. Like my life's goal has been complete," Draco once said, when he and Hermione were hanging out in the courtyard one lazy November morning. The courtyard was empty, because most of the students have gone down to the Quidditch pitch to watch the Gryffindor team practice; now that Harry was team captain, the team was more popular than ever. Hermione's head was resting on Draco's lap, and he was stroking her hair gently. He smiled as he talked, and his eyes met Hermione's, and they both broke out into large, goofy grins. Her face was so beautiful, the sun's rays shining brightly, her cute freckles being emphasized.

But time with Draco was limited nowadays. In the early days of their relationship, Draco was by her side all the time, except during mealtimes and Arithmancy, the one class they didn't have together (thank Merlin Draco took up Ancient Runes). These days, he would randomly disappear in between class hours and meals, sometimes missing DADA, taking the subject for granted since he was Snape's favourite. Hermione often wondered where Draco disappeared to, and would ask Harry to check the Marauder's Map.

"He's not here, Hermione! We've checked a lot of times, and he just keeps vanishing off the map," Harry said exasperatedly one evening when Hermione asked him again for the umpteenth time. Ron turned to Hermione. "So have you found out anything about Malfoy?" Hermione raised an eyebrow.

"I'm sorry, what?"

Ron sighed. "You know, have you found out anything about Malfoy, about him being a Death Eater?" He paused to search for the right words, then continued. "I thought that was the only reason you agreed to be with him. To spy on Malfoy." Hermione looked at Ron in disbelief. "For your information, Ronald, I chose to be with Malfoy because I wanted to. I—I saw some good and sense in him, and maybe is he was a Death Eater, which he is definitely not, I'd seen his forearm a bunch of times, I could change him!" exclaimed Hermione. The boys became silent, and went back to what they were doing, which was a very complex essay on the best way to tackle dementors.

For the next few days, Draco was absent. Not just during meals and in between classes, but for the whole of those days. He was nowhere to be seen—Harry wanted to ask about it to Dumbledore, but the Headmaster was also away for some reason. He asked also asked Professor McGonagall, who gave him an honest but disappointing answer. "I do not know, Potter. The matter of Mr. Malfoy's absence is between Professor Dumbledore, Professor Snape, Mr. Malfoy's parents and Mr. Malfoy himself," said Professor McGonagall, before dismissing Harry out of her classroom.

"Maybe he's getting the Dark Mark," said Harry. The three of them were sitting in the common room. The common room was empty since it was a beautiful day outside, but Hermione has forced them to stay inside to catch up on homework and to study for exams ("They're months away!" Ron complained). The Jobberknolls (luckily Draco left both with Hermione) were snuggly sleeping in one corner of the common room while the trio pored over their books. Hermione shot Harry a disbelieving look. "Harry! I—I told you, he's not a Death Eater! I've seen his forearm—''

"I said maybe he's getting his Dark Mark. Maybe he's getting it this moment, or got it early this week…" Harry's voice trailed off as he noticed the look Ron was giving him: Mate-stop-it-you're-going-to-hurt-Hermione. Hermione's eyes were shooting daggers at Harry, but they were also brimming with tears. She blinked them back, hoping the boys wouldn't notice. Harry lightly touched her arm. "I'm sorry Hermione," he whispered, and got back to reading his, or rather the Half-Blood Prince's, copy of Advanced Potion Making. Hermione nodded and rest her chin upon her hand. Where was Draco? Could she send an owl to him? But if she did, where would she address it to? He could be at Malfoy Manor, but what if the letter would be intercepted by his parents? She decided against owling him, having this feeling in her gut other than the reason of his parents.

The days passed by, and still, Draco was a no-show. Hermione tried approaching his Slytherin pals, Crabbe and Goyle and even Pansy (which was quite awkward) but their answers were all similar: "We don't know where he is, sorry." Professor Dumbledore wasn't back either, and Hermione, now desperate for answers, thought of approaching Professor Snape.

"Hermione, you know he'll just say he doesn't know, or that he won't tell you where Malfoy is, even though he does know," Ron reasoned out when she told them she was going to Defence Against the Dark Arts early. Hermione rolled her eyes. Ron continued, "And what if he does something to you? You know, he could report to You-Know-Who that you've been asking around for Malfoy, and then he will get suspicious…"

"Ron! Really, you're jumping to conclusions fast. And it's not like Snape will really hurt me, or any of us, he's part of the Order…"

"But what if it's just a façade, Hermione?" said Harry.

"Well, Dumbledore trusts him, and that's enough for me." Hermione scribbled something quickly on the parchment in front of her, bookmarked a page of Standard Book of Spells 6 and left through the portrait hole without another word to Harry and Ron, who were left looking astonished at her.

Hermione walked fast, taking steps two at a time to get to the dungeons. It was quite tiring, since the staircases were changing courses and she had to go down five flights of stairs. Not to mention Sir Cadoggan was following her, jumping from portrait to portrait, up to the second flight of stairs. "Why in such a hurry, m'lady?" he asked of Hermione. Pausing slightly, Hermione caught her breath and murmured, "Need to get to the dungeons."

"The dungeons? A taciturn and obscure place to be at during such a fine, jolly day! What are thou reasons for destining to wanting to go to the dungeons?"

"None of your business, Sir Cadoggan."

"I believe every body's business, is a business of mine," Sir Cadoggan pompously replied.

"That's very big-headed of you to say," Hermione retorted. Sir Cadoggan raised an eyebrow, and passed the painting with a giraffe's legs, but no neck and head. "I think I know of your motives, mademoiselle." Hermione paused, and looked incredulously at Sir Cadoggan.

"Oh yeah?"

"Definitely, young Gryffindor! Portraits have eyes, too, and ears. You are searching for the Malfoy lad."

"Do you know where he is?"

Sir Cadoggan smirked. "Indeed, miss."

Hermione gave Sir Cadoggan a look that said Tell-me-or-you'll-suffer-consequences, a look she acquired from Draco. "Spill it, knight-in-not-so-shiny armour." Sir Cadoggan pointed downwards. "The dungeons, m'lady, check the dungeons!" He chuckled mischievously and ran off to the opposite direction. Hermione rolled her eyes and continued for the dungeons. She arrived there, and sure enough the place was cold and deserted. She turned left and right, trying to remember the illustration of where the Slytherin common room was according to the Marauders' Map. It was farther away from the rooms Snape used. She decided to go left, when she ran into Professor Snape.

"Ms Granger, what an odd place to find you on a free afternoon," he drawled. Hermione cleared her throat to speak, but Snape kept going. "Maybe you should go upstairs, get some fresh air…" His beady black eyes travelled to the top of her head. "…your brilliant brain cells might freeze off here." Hermione's eyebrows raised, surprised of hearing the teacher give her an insult like that. Compared to the other taunts she's heard from him, this was quite lame.

"Professor, I was just wondering whether you knew where Draco Malfoy was…"

"Your little blond boyfriend? No, I do not, Ms Granger. Now, move along," Snape said, and gently pushed her to the side. Hermione sighed, and continued down the hall, when Snape called out to her. "Ms Granger, I think I may have found Mr Malfoy." Hermione turned around, and there was Draco, standing fifty feet away from her and a yard from Professor Snape. She grinned widely, glad Snape's robes were sweeping out of sight. She ran into Draco's arms, and he held his arms out.

They enveloped each other in a tight hug, and it suddenly felt warm inside the dungeons. Draco's arms were gently wrapped around Hermione, creating some sort of comfortable barrier blocking out the rest of the world from her. The moment was only hers and Draco's. And it felt good.

Draco inhaled Hermione's sweet, apricot scent, and he sighed. "I missed you."

Hermione broke apart, and gazed into his silver-grey eyes. "Where've you been? You didn't tell me you were going away, your friends didn't know where you were, nothing! Not even an owl from you, I was worried sick!" She said all of this with a trace of anger in her voice, hitting Draco's chest quite hard. Draco winced, and took hold of her hands. "Stop—Hermione, I'll explain." Her hands stopped trying to break away from Draco's grasp.

"Explain then!" Hermione exclaimed. Draco looked around, even though there was no sign of other people. He tugged on Hermione's hand. "First, I'll take you to somewhere comfortable."

"Where?"