***I am really sorry again for the delay! My studies are getting harder and harder and I don't have much time. I am sorry.
The weeks after everyone went back to Hogwarts passed quickly and without any problems. This year Dumbledore had set few new rules. One of them was that the prefects would share a common room like the head students. Gryffindor and Slytherin would be sharing one common room at one of the right towers while Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw would be at one of the left towers. This new rule was made because Draco would be in great danger if he stayed at the Slytherin common room. However one of his best mates Blaise Zabini had stayed by his side. Blaise was against all those prejudices. The same went with Theodore Nott and Adrian Pucey. Even if their fathers were the best death eaters they didn't want to be a part of that team. Those three stayed with Draco even if some of the other Slytherins were sending daggers towards them. Due to the prefects sharing a common room, Hermione, Draco, Ron and Blaise were staying together.
One day at the end of September Draco was sitting on the sofa in front of the fireplace and was looking the dancing flames. Blaise was at they Slytherin common room with Theo and Adrian while Ron was at the quidditch pitch with the Gryffindor team. Hermione had mentioned that she would be visiting Remus to have a chat with him. He took the book from the table in front of him and started to read.
While Draco was at the prefects common room, Hermione had knocked at the door and was waiting for Remus to open it. She smiled when he opened the door and came face to face with her. ''Hey Remus'' she said and hugged him. She had missed him. Yes she was seeing him at their lessons but for two weeks they hadn't spoke like they used to.
Remus gave her his best smile and a kiss to her head ''Hey cub! I missed you!'' he said and the two walked inside. ''Want something to drink?'' He asked her when she sat at the sofa.
''Tea would be great! Thank you!''Hermione said and Remus nodded and went to make the tea.
Once he returned he sat beside her and gave her the cup of tea. ''How have you been Mia?'' he asked her and took a sip of his tea.
Hermione copied his movement and said ''Things are okay here. For some reason I just feel safe here and with you here I can cope better!'' She smiled and Remus chuckled
''I am always here for you cub! You know that don't you?'' He asked her and took hold of her hand
''I do Remus! Don't worry!'' Hermione said and he smiled. For few minutes they stayed in silence but Hermione asked ''What plans do you have for tonight?
Remus chuckled ''You wouldn't believe me'' he said and put his cup at the table.
Hermione looked at him ''Okay now I am more curious'' she said and smiled
''Albus gave me his permission to invite some friends here.'' Remus said and looked at Hermione
''Oh right! Harry would love to see Padfoot!''Hermione said and Remus nodded
''Yeah but Padfoot won't be the only one here.'' Remus said and looked at Hermione
''What do you mean? Who else will be here tonight?'' she asked clearly not understanding who the other were.
''Severus and Lucius will be here as well tonight.'' Remus said when Hermione went to take a sip from her tea. She started to cough and Remus patted her back ''You alright Mione?'' he asked her with worry
Hermione coughed few more times, put the cup to the table and looked at him without talking. Suddenly she started to laugh and Remus joined her. When both of them calmed down Hermione said ''I just can't imagine Padfoot sitting here and chatting like old friends with Snape and Lucius.''
''Neither can I but what can I say? People can change!'' he said and smiled
''People can change but Sirius is the exception to the rule.'' Hermione said and smiled again
The same time on another part of Hogwarts, Harry, Ron and Ginny returned to the Gryffindor common room after their quidditch practice. Harry and Ron stayed to the common room while Ginny went to her dorm.
''I was thinking about all those changes we faced this summer.'' Harry said and looked at Ron who was making the chess board.
Ron looked at him with his full attention ''What about it?'' he asked and put the last piece to the board and because he had the white pieces he made the first move.
''I just think all the time- I mean for 5 years we were enemies with the Malfoys but know we are friends. And sometimes I think that I am going to wake up from a dream.'' Harry explained and made his move.
''Yeah, you could say that all this is a little strange. But really we are in the middle of one of the worst battles. Others becomes traitors and others becomes allies. That's what dad always said. You can't trust a lot of people in a battle.'' Ron said and Harry nodded
''Yeah I know. It is just feel so- all this –it feels so weird. I mean the three of us, we were fighting Voldemort from our first year here and still it feels like we are hundreds of steps behind him. I just don't know what to think anymore really.'' Harry said and took a deep breath
''Oh mate, you know that Hermione is for the big thoughts. We are going to destroy our minds if we think too much.'' Ron said and to his luck Harry started to laugh and he too joined after few minutes.
When they calmed down Harry said ''Yeah you are right Ron. My head has already started to hurt from the thoughts.''
After a while Ron stood up and yelled ''Checkmate'' Harry groaned and Ron laughed again.
All the while Remus and Hermione were sitting and chatting about random things. Suddenly the fire at the fireplace turned green and one after one Severus, Lucius and Sirius walked inside the room.
When Hermione saw Sirius she stood up and he opened his arms and she walked inside them. ''Hey love! I missed you!'' he said and kissed her head
She hugged him a little tighter and said ''I missed you too pads!'' She then turned around and walked to Lucius and kissed his cheek''Good afternoon Lucius! How are you?'' she asked him and he smiled
''I am better my dear! How are you?'' He said and touched her cheek
''A lot better!'' she said
''Great can we sit now?'' Sirius said and took Hermione's hand and the two sat at the sofa beside Remus.
''Sirius this is a men's night. I will see you some other time. You can come and visit us whenever you want at the Prefects room.'' Hermione said trying to get free from his arms
''Nonsense! Just stay for awhile! I just want to know how all of you are!''Sirius said and smiled
''I would like to hear how are things going here as well! Draco doesn't like to send letters at home and that means that both Narcissa and I don't know how our son is!''
''Alright, alright!'' Hermione said and they smiled
''Great'' Sirius said ''Tell me how are your studies? Do you study very hard? Are your professors good with you?'' Sirius asked and glared at Severus.
Severus glared back and said ''I am good to those who deserve it Black and Hermione is one of those who do.''
Sirius shook his head and said ''What do you mean by that Snape?''
''Nothing Black'' Severus said with the same irony Sirius used
''Oh don't start now! Please!'' Hermione said and touched Sirius arm.
''Fine'' The two of them said and stopped glaring at each other.
''Mione tell me! How are things with the Slytherins and Draco?'' Lucius asked Hermione
''I don't really know! Most of them are just staying away from everything! Other send glares at his way and others have stayed by his side. I really don't know. However Draco is watching his every step. No one can trust easily the Slytherins. No offence!'' Hermione said and watched Lucius and Severus
''None taken'' The two Slytherins said and nodded
''I should have know that something like this would have happened'' Lucius said and looked down
''Lucius you did what you thought best for your family and you were right. Things like that always happen.'' Remus said trying to make his friend realize that everything he did was for the happiness of his family.
''Thank you Remus'' Lucius said and for a while they talked about things for the Order.
Hermione suddenly yawned and Sirius looked at her ''Someone is sleepy.'' He said and Hermione nodded ''Yeah I am. I will head back to my dorm. Good night everyone'' She said and stood up.
''Give me a minute'' Remus said and followed Hermione to the door. He hugged her and gave her, a kiss to her head ''Good night cub!'' he said and Hermione hugged him back ''Night Remus'' she said and left.
At the prefects sommon room Draco had nearly fallen asleep when suddenly someone knocked at the door. Draco stood up and went to open the door. However before he could say something he fell to the floor unconscious.
When Hermione walked towards the Prefect's tower she was shocked to find that the door to the common room was opened. She walked inside and saw that it was dark ''Draco'' she called. She pulled her wand out and said ''Lumos'' and immediately the whole common room lit. She looked around and her eyes fell on something which was on the floor. She walked towards it and gasped when she saw what was it there ''DRACO'' She cried out and fell to her knees beside his bloody and unconscious body. Beside him it was a note. With shaking hands Hermione took and started to read it 'That is what he really deserved for betraying his Master and loving a mudblood!'
Hermione started to sob again and started to shake Draco ''Drake wake up, please, please wake up. Don't do this to me. Please Draco, open your eyes. DRACO!''
That moment Blaise, Theo and Adrian run inside the common room and Adrian kneeled beside Hermione and tried to find a pulse. When he found one he said ''Come on he is alive. He has a faint pulse. We have to take him to Madam Pomfrey.'' Theo run towards them and with Adrian they took Draco to their arms and started to walk as quickly as possible to the Hospital Wing. Blaise helped a shaking and bloody Hermione up and the followed their friends to the Hospital Wing.
***Please, leave some reviews! I want to know what you think. I am not going to post any more chapters If I don't have at least 5 reviews... ***
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