Author's Note: Greetings, Gentle Reader! I hope you've enjoyed the story thus far! Please remember to review…I try to take all reviews into account when writing! And now…on with the chapter! Enjoy! -Amanda

The Room of Requirement

After dinner, Hermione and Ginny hurried back upstairs to get ready. They'd already decided their story: they were going to tell Harry and Ron that they were going to patrol. Ginny had been made prefect this year, and as prefects, part of their duties was to patrol the halls on weekend nights until midnight, provided they had no homework to finish. They both knew Ron wouldn't want to patrol; he'd never much cared for this part of their duties. Ginny would come back alone at midnight, saying Hermione had wanted to go to the library because she forgot something. Hermione would take her bag with her, claiming there was something she needed to read for Ancient Runes. Neither of the boys took this class, and also knew that there seemed to be much more homework than in the normal classes, so they'd have no reason to doubt it. In reality, she would have the dark green top they'd picked out for her to wear in the bag, along with the Instant Darkness Powder and Decoy Detonators Ginny insisted she take along just in case.

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At ten, Hermione and Ginny started their act.

"Hermione, why don't we go patrol for a bit? I don't feel like staying holed up in the common room tonight," Ginny asked.

Hermione looked up from her book, then looked around the common room, which was thankfully still full of students making noise. "Well, all right. I'll take this with me to read. I'll never get it done with all these people around," she replied, putting the book in her bag.

Harry and Rom looked up from their game of wizard's chess. "So late?" Ron asked.

"It's only ten, Ron. Besides, it's past curfew. Students shouldn't be roaming the halls this late," Hermione told him.

"Well, I would come…but I've already started this game, and I think I feel a headache coming on," he added quickly, but not very convincingly.

Ginny and Hermione looked at each and rolled their eyes, though Hermione thought Good, that's one less distraction to worry about!

"All right. Stay here, we can handle it by ourselves, I suppose," Ginny said with a sigh. Hermione marveled at her acting skills.

The girls said goodbye, Ginny kissed Harry good night, and they left the common room.

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Hermione sighed with relief as soon as the portrait was closed. "Well, mission one accomplished," she said.

"Mmm," Ginny replied, looking a bit distant. Finally, she said, "Hermione, it's not too late to change your mind, you know. We can really patrol, then come back."

"No, Ginny. If I don't, I'll always wonder what would have happened. Besides, this might be the starting point for our houses to finally start getting along. You heard the Sorting Hat last year: we must unite inside her, or we'll crumble from within."

"How on earth do you remember those things?" Ginny asked in awe.

Hermione shrugged. "Because I'm a genius, I suppose."

Ginny rolled her eyes and grinned. "A genius would realize this is a bad idea. What do we do until midnight?"

"Patrol, just like we said we would. At midnight, I'll go in the bathroom and change."

"Didn't you say you'd meet him at midnight?"

"Yes, but I don't want to give him the impression that I'm too eager. It'll teach him a valuable lesson: patience."

"What if you miss him?"

"Then you'll be thrilled, and this whole thing may finally end."

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Where is she? Malfoy thought. He wasn't used to being kept waiting for anything. He looked at his watch again. Fifteen minutes past midnight. Maybe she's not coming, he thought anxiously. No, not anxiously, angrily. He didn't care one way or the other if she showed up or not. Right?

"Who am I kidding…I want her to come," he said to himself, sinking onto the plush couch the room had provided.

"Well, that's nice to hear," a voice said from behind him. He stood up quickly and turned. There she was. Looking gorgeous in a fitted dark green shirt and the jeans she'd been wearing earlier.

"I see you wore the jeans," he said with a smirk.

She shrugged. "I was already wearing them; don't read too much into it." But he saw the glee in her eyes that'd he'd noticed.

"I thought you said this couldn't happen," he said, coming around the couch toward her. She stayed where she was, which irritated him a bit. But she didn't move back, either. That had to be a good sign.

Another shrug. "I don't want to go through life wondering what would have happened. Besides, this could be an opportunity for our houses to finally start uniting."

He stepped closer until he was standing right in front of her. He reached up and hooked a hand around the back of her neck. She still didn't move back. "Is that the only reason?" he whispered, lowering his lips until they were just touching.

She swallowed hard and looked up at him. "Well, maybe not the only reason…" she whispered back with a slow smile.

He grinned and pressed his lips to hers softly. After a moment's hesitation kissed him back, placing her hands on his shoulders. He took the chance and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer.