DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter.

Chapter 7: Fourth Year

"You're insecure,

Don't know what for,

You're turning heads when you walk through the door,

Don't need make-up,

To cover up,

Being the way that you are is enough.

Everyone else in the room can see it,

Everyone else but you,

Baby you light up my world like nobody else,

The way that you flip your hair gets me overwhelmed,

But when you smile at the ground it ain't hard to tell,

You don't know,

Oh, oh,

You don't know you're beautiful,

If you only saw what I can see,

You'd understand why I want you so desperately,

Right now I'm looking at you and I can't believe,

You don't know you're beautiful.

Oh, oh,

You don't know you're beautiful,

Oh, oh,

You don't know you're beautiful.

Oh, oh,

That's what makes you beautiful."

-What Makes You Beautiful (One Direction)

Hermione Granger frowned as she read the morning paper, Daily Prophet. Ten Azkaban escapees were still at large, including Mrs. Malfoy's estranged sister, Bellatrix Lestrange; her husband, Rodulphus and brother-in-law, Rabastan Lestrange. These prisoners and those who helped them were believed to be the ones behind the attack on the Muggles during the Quidditch World Cup in summer. Hermione remembered the commotion that night after the game and they were in the Malfoy tent. Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy went to help the Ministry officials. Hermione and Draco were ordered to escape by calling Billy, but she was worried for her friends: Neville, Vince and Greg who were staying in another tent. They went to find them and saw four Muggles hanging in the air: two adults, the parents, and two toddlers. Hermione wanted to puke. There were hooded and masked figures below them who were raising their wands and toying with the Muggles. They were laughing, as if watching a show at the circus. Draco instantly grabbed her and called Billy. Next thing she knew, they were back at the manor.

That was few months ago. Now, strange things were happening at Hogwarts. They've got guests from other magical schools such as Beauxbatons and Durmstrang. The Triwizard Tournament is happening and though only students of legal age were allowed to join, how in the world did Harry Potter's name made it to the Goblet of Fire and made him another Hogwarts champion?

When the Aurors and staff investigated, it was found out that someone wrote the names of Harry Potter, Neville Longbottom and Draco Malfoy under a different school name- a made-up school. Harry Potter was the chosen champion for the non-existing school. Hermione felt relieved that it wasn't Draco nor Neville. What the Aurors and staff found out wasn't announced to the school population but to their families only. That's how Hermione knew. Of course, Draco would tell her. She was his girlfriend, after all. Draco, Neville and Harry have something in common: they're all sons of heroes and Order members.

Harry Potter, only fourteen, was being bullied and accused of being a cheater by their schoolmates. Neville finally softened and reached out to his best mate. Hermione, being Neville's best friend, volunteered to help and assist Harry on his Triwizard tasks by tutoring him. They instantly became friends again, much to Draco's displeasure. He still haven't forgiven Harry for what he did in first year.

The first task of the tournament was to collect the dragon's egg from the dragon. Each champion- Fleur Delacour from Beauxbatons Academy of Magic, Viktor Krum from Durmstrang Institute, Cedric Diggory and Harry Potter, both from Hogwarts- were assigned one dragon. Harry picked the Hungarian Horntail and quickly Summoned his Firebolt broom and flew, as if he was playing Quidditch and the dragon's egg was the snitch. He caught the egg and was ranked first place because of his quick thinking, thanks to Hermione.

Before the first task, the champions were only given one clue: to think of the thing they're good at, and it will help them with the task. Harry did not get this at first and needed Hermione's advice. She made him realize that he's good at flying and he's a good seeker even if Draco would always beat him during Quidditch matches.

The problem was, Harry was not good at Charms and had a hard time with the Summoning Charm. Hermione tutored him patiently before the task, so he could Accio his broom. After the task, since parents and family members weren't allowed yet to visit, Hermione got a 'thank you' note from Mr. and Mrs. Potter for helping their son survive the task.

Hermione, Draco and their friends agreed that whoever put the heroes' sons names in the Goblet of Fire want them to die; to make revenge to their parents. According to Draco, Mr. Malfoy and the other Order of the Phoenix members suspected that there was a Death Eater in Hogwarts. That Death Eater might be one of the Azkaban escapees and put the names of the younger wizards in the Goblet.

Despite the danger they're facing right now, Hermione was still calm. Mr. Malfoy made sure that his only son and his girlfriend were being watched over by their elves. House-elves can hide themselves; make themselves invisible. So, Hermione and Draco were being followed everywhere, even when they sleep.

"Oi, Granger!"

Hermione looked up and glared at his boyfriend in the other table. She placed down the paper. "What?" she asked with a tone of annoyance.

He stood up but did not leave the Slytherin table. He was wearing his conceited smile. "Go to the ball with me!"

The entire Slytherin table cheered and the girls giggled. All were waiting for her answer, but just to annoy Draco, she sneered, an imitation of her boyfriend's, and looked away.

She heard 'boos' from the other tables. Draco walked towards the Gryffindor table and to her surprise, he knelt on one knee and Conjured a pink rose. "Hermione, my love, you know that you're the only witch I want. Will you go to the Yule Ball with me?"

She smirked and snatched the rose playfully. "Yes," she said, pinching the tip of his nose.

That day, Hermione heard from Neville that several boys were mad at Draco because a lot of girls wanted the kind of Draco's proposal.

"The Ravenclaw boys were annoyed and looks like they wanted to punch Draco for... I quote, 'demonstrating high standards'. It wasn't just about what he did today but also about your first anniversary," Neville told her.

For their first anniversary, Halloween evening, Draco brought her to the Hogwarts kitchens and prepared a dinner for two with the help of Polly. Of course, only their friends know about that, but the entire Hogwarts population saw her receive a dozen of pink roses and a box of dark chocolates during breakfast.

And even after a year of being in a relationship, Draco was still acting like a suitor, doing his best to win her heart. With Draco, every day is a courtship day.

"I wonder what it will take for you and Draco to fight and break up," joked Harry during lunch, causing her to drift away from her musings.

She hit him on his shoulder with a book. "You're insane!"

"Hey, I was just kidding!" he whined.

"Don't dream about it, Harry," said Neville disapprovingly. "Nothing can tear them apart."

"I wish I also had a female childhood friend," said Harry, returning to his food.

"You mean, you wished that you and Cho grew up together," she said with a raised eyebrow.

Harry looked down. "I'm dating Ginny."

"Ginny who?" she asked with a real shock expression.

"Ginny Weasley," replied Harry and gave her an offended look.

"But last week, all you talked about was Cho Chang!" exclaimed Neville.

Harry took another bite of treacle tart. "I don't know what came to me to fancy Cho and ask her to the ball. Ginny's been there since second year. I was so stupid for not noticing her."

Hermione pressed her lips and wore a confused look. Harry has fancied Cho since last year when they played Quidditch against each other and took him almost a year before he finally had the courage to initiate a conversation with her. Neville was actually the one who helped him. She was about to say something when...

"Hey, Harry," came a sweet girlish voice from the other side of the table.

Hermione tilted her head. Ginny Weasley. "Do you want more treacle tarts?" the younger witch asked.

Harry's face brightened like a lovesick puppy. "Of course!" He reached out for the plate of treacle tarts from Ginny. "I knew that we're really compatible! We both love Quidditch and treacle tarts!"

"Oh, Harry! Thank you for noticing," She Weasley said affectionately.

Hermione watched Harry intently. He looks like a lovesick puppy, but not like Draco's look when he's blushing and happy.

"Can I have a treacle tart?" she asked.

"No!" exclaimed She Weasley.

"Ginny, it's fine," said Harry. "Hermione is my friend and she likes this, too."

"But I made them especially for you!" Ginny said quickly.

Hermione quirked up an eyebrow. "Oh, you can bake?"

"O-of course," the younger witch stammered. "I know that Harry loves them..."

"That's so sweet of you, Ginny," said Harry gently. "But I can't eat all these and I really want to give some to Hermione and Neville. She tutors me everyday."

Ginny Weasley stood up angrily. "I said, made them all for you! Only for you! Why are you not listening? Perhaps you don't really love me!"

Hermione and Neville exchanged confused looks. "Love?" she mouthed.

"What the hell?" Neville mouthed.

She pressed her lips together and stole a piece of tart from Harry's plate. She wrapped it with a napkin and watched Harry and Ginny leave the great hall. Harry was running after the angry redhead.

Hermione packed her things. "I'm going to the library," she told Neville and quickly left.

After an hour of finding answers to her questions, Hermione knocked on Professor Snape's door.

"Miss Granger," drawled Professor Snape when he opened the door.

"Professor, I apologize for disturbing you at this hour. I'd like your opinion on a certain matter," she said with urgency.

He quirked up an eyebrow. "I do not see the need for extra credits, Miss Granger."

She shook her head violently. "This is not about extra credits, Professor. This is about Harry Potter, being fed of a love potion."

He stared at her a d surprisingly, he opened the door wider. "Very well then. Come in."

"Thank you, Professor." She sighed in relief and sat on the visitor's chair.

"Well? Your evidence?" he asked sternly.

Hermione reached for the napkin-wrapped treacle tart in her pocket and handed it to the professor. He accepted and opened it and inspected the food with a few waves of his wand and tested it with a purple potion. It took him a while and Hermione patiently waited.

"Indeed, this tart is laced with a love potion. Who gave this to Mr. Potter?"

"Ginny Weasley, Professor. Neville and I saw her hand it to Harry at dinner earlier."

He nodded. "I shall inform the headmaster as soon as possible and we will give Mr. Potter the antidote. Please know that the headmaster might ask you to confirm the story and seek the truth by looking through your memory of the incident."

"Legilimency, Professor?" she asked curiously.

"Yes, Miss Granger, but only after the headmaster asks the permission from your parents. You may go now. Take twenty points to Gryffindor." He wasn't still smiling.

But she offered him a small smile. "Thank you, Professor. Good night."

He did not say a word. Instead, he picked his quill and continued writing on a parchment which appeared to be an essay. She left without a word, too.

.

"I can't believe it!" Neville said with a shake of his head. "How could Ginny do that?!"

"Obviously, she didn't do it alone," said Draco behind his book. "Her mother encouraged her. Come on, we're not allowed to brew love potions. Who else could make one for her? Of course her mother."

Hermione stared at the lake. "Is there something like a loyalty potion, Nev?" she asked.

He frowned, trying to remember something. "I think there are, but it's illegal, according to Mum and Dad. Why?"

She looked at the two boys. "Do you remember in first year when Harry left you for Ronald? You said, it started when Weasley shared his mother's homemade sweets to Harry. Then, he was very fond of Weasley and left you. Do you think they fed him with something like a loyalty potion?"

Draco's brow furrowed. "That's a possibility. The Weasleys didn't seem to care about Harry's mother. All they cared about was that he's a Potter, 'cause Potters are very rich."

"You think they want Harry for money?" asked Neville.

Draco shrugged. "Could be."

She sighed. "And now, Cho accepted Cedric Diggory's invitation to Yule Ball. She was hurt when Harry left her."

"Someone should tell her the truth!" blurted Neville.

"The thing is, she doesn't want to speak to any of us. She was truly hurt," she replied.

"Weepy girl, she is," muttered Draco. "And Diggory is a wizard any girl could wish for: intelligent, loyal, hard-working, patient and a true gentleman... just like me," he said the last words with a tease.

Hermione faked an annoying look. "Must you really talk about yourself all the time?"

He smirked. "Would you rather prefer that I talk about Vince of Greg all the time?"

"Conceited prat!" she accused.

"But you love me," he said with a wink.

Neville turned around. "Alright, I'm going to meet..." and he trailed off and sighed. "No one. No girlfriend. I'm all alone," he said dramatically, causing Draco and Hermione to snuggle and laugh.

That evening after dinner, Hermione was approached by Professor McGonagall before she could leave the great hall and asked her to come to her office for a moment. She assured her that she wasn't in trouble. Clueless, she was; but still she obliged and went to her head of house's office. She was surprised to find two older people: a witch with long auburn hair and green eyes like Harry's and a bespectacled wizard with raven-black ruffled hair.

"Hello, Miss Granger," greeted the woman. "I'm Lily Potter, Harry's mother."

She took the woman's offered hand. "It's nice to finally meet you, Mrs. Potter," she replied politely.

The wizard approached her and offered his hand, too. "James Potter, Harry's father. How do you do?" he said, not taking his eyes off her.

She shook his hand. "I'm fine, thank you, Mr. Potter."

Mrs. Potter invited her to sit on the sitting area and offered her tea and biscuits which she politely declined since she has just finished eating dinner. When they settled, Mrs. Potter finally told her what the meeting was about.

"Severus told me about your suspicions when you saw changes on our Harry," Mrs. Potter began. "Thank you for watching over him. You saved my Harry's life twice now. First, during the first task and now... If not for you, he will still be fed with food laced with love potions."

She smiled. "Harry's my friend, Mrs. Potter. I care for him," she said sincerely.

Mrs. Potters eyes became glassy; she was about to cry. "You're such a kindhearted young lady, Her- Miss Granger. We know what Harry did to your best friend in first year; yet here you are, helping him with the tournament and saving him."

She shrugged. "That's what friends do, in my opinion, Mrs. Potter- save and help each other."

Mr. Potter was quiet the whole time but he was looking at her quizzically. It was different from the look Madam Pince and Mr. Dumbledore used to give her, but still, it bugs her. She was very thankful when the conversation ended and went back to her dormitory.

Honestly, what's with these people? she thought. Among the members of the Order of the Phoenix I met, only Draco's parents and grandfather would look at me normally.

.

Fortunately, Neville came across a Ravenclaw third year in the library who looks very friendly and not one of Potter-haters of the year. Her name was Luna Lovegood. Hermione heard from Neville that she was very kind, though she speaks of weird things like 'nargles' and 'crumple-horned snorckacks'. But Neville was very polite, so Luna agreed to speak with Cho to explain about what happened to Harry. Though, it was too late now to have her as Harry's Yule Ball date.

On the last day of the term before Potions class, Hermione, Harry and Neville found Draco, Vince and Greg verbally insulting Weasley because of what his sister did to Harry.

"I don't blame your mother, Weasley, for choosing Potter as your sister's boyfriend," said Draco in his usual sneering and mocking tone. "Harry's father is very rich and he's the only Potter heir. I wonder what your Mum's reaction will be if she sees the Potter vault full of gold."

"Amorentia was their only solution to poverty," snickered Vince.

"Shut up, you, moron!" Weasley said angrily, drawing his wand and chanted something Hermione didn't hear for there was already commotion and people were shouting.

Fortunately... Or unfortunately for them, the spell missed Draco. It hit Hermione instead. Hermione felt that her two large front teeth were growing until it reached her chin. She covered her face with her books.

"You'll pay for that, Weasel!" she heard Draco shout.

"The beaver deserves it," said Weasley who was laughing hard. The Slytherins and Gryffindors weren't amused. They all glared at him.

"What's going on here?" came a silky voice.

"Sir! Weasley tried to hex me but it hit Hermione!"

She met Professor Snape's eyes. She gave him a pleading look; asking him silently to help her. To her horror, her favourite professor quirked up an eyebrow. "I see no difference," he said with a tone of insult.

Draco stepped forward and shielded her from the professor. "And you're supposed to be our teacher? My father will hear about this!" he said angrily and Hermione cried silently.

"Fifty points from Slytherin for disrespecting your professor and head of house," said Professor Snape dangerously.

"I don't care. You should not be teaching here for insulting a student. You should be fired!" shouted Draco. "Come, Hermione. Let's go to the infirmary," he said to her gently.

.

Madam Pomfrey Floo'd to the headmaster's office after fixing her teeth. She couldn't believe what she heard from Draco about Professor Snape. Hermione had to stay for few hours at the hospital wing to take some potions for her teeth. Draco left her to write to his father. To her surprise, after staying for two hours at the hospital wing, Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy arrived at Hogwarts, demanding to see the headmaster and Professor Snape, according to Harry and Neville.

"Of course, he wasn't fired," said Neville grimly. "All Snape got was a written reprimand."

"I'm not expecting him to be fired just because of what happened," she told them.

"Hermione! Your teeth got smaller!" exclaimed Harry.

"Well, Madam Pomfrey took the chance to make my teeth good looking," she said with a shrug.

.

The night of the Yule Ball came. She wasn't surprised when Billy arrived with the gown from her mother and shoes from Mrs. Malfoy. Hermione wore her periwinkle blue tiered ombre gown with elastic straps, exposing a bit of her cleavage. Her hair was pulled to a side pony to compliment with her dress. Her heeled shoes weren't uncomfortable; perhaps it was charmed.

"Missy is stunning!" gasped the elf, looking at her with toothless smile.

She bent down to pat the elf's shoulder. "Thank you so much, Billy. You've done a good job!"

"Billy wants everything perfect for master Draco and Missy Mynee!" she said proudly.

At exactly seven o'clock, she went down with Parvati and Lavender who did not recognize her at first. They complimented her with her stunning look and she thanked them. Ever since she started tutoring the two girls, they became nicer and kinder and she realized thar she could actually be friends with them.

"Where's Malfoy?" asked Parvati when they made it outside the portrait hole.

"Waiting down the stairs near the great hall," she replied.

"Harry's waiting there, too," Parvati told them. Harry had no other choice since Cho won't speak to him, but to ask Parvati to be his partner to the ball. Lavender was going with Neville.

They did not rush. They took their time walking down the stairs and chatted merrily. However, before they could make it down the stairs and find their partners, Cho Chang was waiting at the third floor stairs. She was wearing a cream coloured dress robes similar to a yukata Hermione used to see on Asian films. Her raven black hair was pulled to a bun with few strands hanging. The Ravenclaw witch's eyes were fixed on her.

Lavender and Parvati paused at looked at her questioningly. She gave them a smile. "You go ahead and find your partners."

The two girls nodded and left without a word.

"Hermione," came Cho's small but affectionate voice.

"Cho." She nodded and stepped forward to move closer to the older girl.

"Luna spoke to me and said something about love potion. Is it true? That Weasley girl gave Harry sweets laced with Amorentia?" she asked with a tone of sadness.

She nodded gently, feeling sorry for the girl. "Yes. Professor Snape inspected the treacle tart Ginny gave to Harry. But he's fine now. He's been given antidotes and his parents made sure that it won't happen again," she said with aassurance.

Cho's eyes were glassy. "Oh, please don't cry," said Hermione to comfort the girl. "Your makeup will be ruined."

"I just feel bad... For Harry."

She placed a hand on her shoulder. "Know what? He might ask you to dance with him. That's your chance to talk and patch things up."

Cho smiled. "I will dance with him if he asks me to."

Cho thanked her and then left for her partner, Cedric, was waiting. Hermione continued walking down, feeling anxious.

She could already see people entering the great hall from where she is and some who were waiting outside. She spotted the familiar platinum blonde hair wearing black and grey dress robes. Her heart began to beat faster.

What if Draco won't find me pretty? she asked in her mind.

But he likes you since you were six; loves you since you were ten, the other part of her mind contradicted.

Draco turned around, as if he knew she was there already. His eyes widened and then sparkled when he saw her. Hermione's heart leapt when she saw the look in his eyes. He was looking at her with admiration. He smiled and stepped forward to meet her.

She gave him a timid smile. "Hello, beautiful," he greeted.

"Thank you. You look handsome as well," she said.

He offered his arm. "May I take the radiant witch to the ball?"

She took his arm. "Of course," she replied.

Hermione Granger was a head-turner that night that even the part-veela champion from Beauxbatons glared at her when her partner and fellow champion, Viktor Krum (who was a professional Quidditch player and celebrity) asked her to dance with him.

"Malvoy is a very lucky vizard," he said kindly in his Bulgarian accent when they were dancing. "You are one ov a kind... Intelligent and kind. I haff seen you tutor your friends."

"Thank you, Viktor," she said appreciatively. "Harry is my close friend and I would be lying if I say that I don't want him to win. But I wish you all the best in this tournament."

After their dance, Draco came to politely get her back but instead of sitting down and get their drinks, they went to their favourite spot by the lake. He sat leaning on the tree while she positioned between his legs. Draco enveloped her to his possessive arms and kissed her neck, her temple and her cheeks.

Hermione moaned and closed her eyes. Even after a year of dating and four years of sharing a bed, they still haven't explored each other's bodies, afraid of disappointing their parents and ruining their trust. They only kissed and touched each other fully clothed. Tonight, Draco was going a bit beyond the usual limit. He shifted her, pulled her to his lap and nipped her exposed cleavage, making her curl her toes and feel something strange between her thighs. She knew that moment that she's aroused and wet already. She raked her hands to his platinum blonde hair and straddled his legs. Draco moaned when their private parts touched. She bent down to kiss him on the lips, but they were stopped by two male voices arguing.

"Stop what you're doing, Karkaroff! You don't want me as your enemy," came a warning voice.

They pulled away a little from each other and looked behind the tree. Professor Snape Durmstrang Headmaster Igor Karkaroff were facing each other.

"They are getting stronger, Severus! I cannot fight them! They are watching me closely," croaked the headmaster.

"Then tell the Aurors. My side won the last time against the Dark Lord. This time, we will win again. Those people you're afraid of were idiots."

Karkaroff shook his head violently. "You don't understand. They are more prepared this time. They have learned a very dark and ancient magic the Dark Lord did not have the last time."

Professor Snape was speechless for a moment and stared at the headmaster. "Still," he said slowly. "Dark wizards have no place in this world as long as Dumbledore is alive."

"I'd be careful, if I were you, Severus. You might've picked the right side the last time. But this time, we never know," said Karkaroff with a hint of fear.

The Durmstrang headmaster left the potions master. Suddenly, he tilted his head to look at them. "Fifty points each from Slytherin and Gryffindor for the public display of affection. Off to bed, you two!"

They didn't say a word and got up to their feet, leaving the scowling professor behind.

That night, they decides to sleep at Draco's room. They asked Billy to Apparate them there directly after securing Hermione's four-poster bed. As much as they botj want to continue what they've started by the lake, they were both thinking of what they saw.

"Do you think we should tell your father?" she asked, staring at the canopy and resting her head on his chest.

Draco played with her curls. "Yes, but it should be face to face."

She thought for a moment. This year, because of the tournament and Yule ball, they decided to stay at Hogwarts for the holidays, like majority of the fourth to seventh years. How could they speak with Draco's parents?

"How about asking Billy to bring us to the manor?" she asked.

"Dumbledore would know," he said. "It's not something written in your favourite book, but once we leave the castle, the wards will alert the headmaster."

"Then let's ask Billy to ask your parents to come," she said in her bossy tone.

Draco yawned. "'Kay. Tomorrow. But for now, let us sleep."

And she felt his kiss on the crown of her head before closing her eyes and snuggling even closer to the one she loves.

.

"Do you think, Karkaroff's the one who put our names in the Goblet, Father?" asked Draco when Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy arrived the next morning and asked the headmaster's permission to bring Draco and Hermione in Hog's Head Inn and booked a room for the four of them.

"That is a possibility," said Mr. Malfoy. "But I know, Igor was a coward. He will do whatever those dark wizards will tell him to do. He's too easy to blackmail, especially if the ones he was talking about includes Rosier and the Lestranges."

"Aunt Bella," whispered Draco.

Mr. Malfoy let out a heavy sigh. "Yes. Bella. She considered herself as the most loyal Death Eater and she was crazy."

"But she won't lay a finger to our family!" said Mrs. Malfoy sternly. "Andromeda and I will not allow."

"Do you think Professor Snape has already told the headmaster?" asked Draco again.

"Yes," his father replied. "Severus is loyal to the light side. He was the one who urged me to be a spy instead of being a real Death Eater... him and another girl."

"You mean, the witch he only loved?" she asked, remembering the scene at the Forbidden Forest a year ago."

Mr. Malfoy looked at her with sad eyes. "Yes," he quietly replied.

"Enought of that," interrupted Mrs. Malfoy. "They are children, Lucius! And Severus will not be happy if he knew that we were talking about him again." Then, she turned to Hermione and Draco. "Tell us about the Yule Ball, dears."

And so, they spent the rest of the morning talking about the Yule Ball and their friends. If Mrs. Malfoy was making them forget about the Death Eaters by asking a lot of fun questions, she did a great job.

When Hermione and Draco finally left the room to go back to Hogwarts, she noticed that her shoelaces were undone. Before she could bend down to tie them, Draco knelt on one knee in front of her and tied her shoelaces.

She smiled timidly and ruffled his platinum blonde hair. "You are the sweetest."

Draco was back on his feet and gave his sweetest smile. "Anything for you."

Hermione leaned on tiptoes to kiss Draco's lips. "Thank you."

Draco smiled and offered her arm. They were about to step away from the doorstep of the room when they heard Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy's conversation unintentionally.

"Lucius, I am worried for Severus," came Mrs. Malfoy's voice. Albus said that he's been spending most of his time in the Pensieve. He couldn't get over her."

Hermione and Draco exchanged curious looks and listened even more.

"Yes," came Mr. Malfoy's sad voice. "Albus mentioned. I tried diverting Severus's attention, but he won't speak to me. He was still cross; he was blaming me for encouraging the pair."

"Poor Severus. You know that she is not coming back, don't you?"

"I kept on reading her letter years ago. It was clear: she wanted to start back at one and let Severus to move one. She didn't want him to wait, but instead, have a life without her."

"Now, all he has were memories. I'm scared for him, Lucius. You know the effects of too much use of the Pensieve."

"He's like a brother to me, Cissy. I will still do my best to help him. I owe him the kind of life we have right now. If he hadn't dragged me to the light side, maybe I am one of the Azkaban prisoners who escaped and being hunted."

Mr. Malfoy's words were followed by silence. Hermione and Draco quietly left the inn and went back to Hogwarts.

"Have you seen a Penseive before?" she asked when they arrived at their favourite spot by the lake. She sat between Draco's legs and leaned her back on his broad chest.

"Yes," he replied. "Father has one in his personal library."

"How do you use it?"

Draco continued raking his fingers to her hair lovingly. "You extract the memory you's like to see again and put it on the silver stone basin and then you dive into it. It's like watching a movie. No one can see nor hear you there."

"Therefore, Professor Snape can see the woman he loves again and again... But it's not healthy."

"That's right. Too much extraction of your memory can deplete your magic."

She sighed. "Being left by someone you love and seeing her but knowing that she's not coming back is worse than death."

"Agreed," he murmured against her bushy mane. "That's why I am lucky, because I know you won't leave me."

She tilted her head and caressed his cheek. "Gone, I will never be, for I want it to be always you and me," she whispered before leaning to initiate a kiss.

.

"Hermione, relax!" exclaimed Draco beside her. "You're crushing my bones."

She quickly let go of his hand. "Sorry," she said nervously.

Draco rolled his eyes. "Honestly, what are you? Harry's mother? You look more tense than his mother up there!"

"I'm worried for Harry, alright?!" she snapped.

Draco raised his arms to show he surrendered. She looked back at the maze, wondering what was happening to the four champions.

"Hermione!" came a female voice. She turned around and saw Cho with Luna Lovegood making their way to their bleacher.

"Cho!" she called with a smile.

When the two girls reached them, Cho gave her a hug. "Oh, I'm so worried for Harry! What's taking them so long?"

"I don't know," she replied. "Hey, Luna!" she greeted the other girl.

"Hello, Hermione," came her dreamy voice. "Are the nargles bothering you and making you more tense? I'll tell them to stop of you want," she said very innocently.

Hermione wanted to laugh, but Luna was a very nice girl and she needs a friend. "Thanks, Luna. No. They aren't bothering me that much."

She heard Draco snickering beside her, so she hit him with her elbow.

"Hello, Neville! It's nice to see you here. I thought they will get you again and use as a bait for the third task," said Luna matter-of-factly and they all laughed, including Cho.

Neville paled and scowled. He did not like the second task. He was taken as a hostage down the lake. Headmaster Dumbledore assured him and the other hostages that they will be safe while under the sleep potion. Harry's task was to retrieve something he'll 'solely miss'. Being his best mate since they were toddlers, the role fell on Neville, much to Cho's disappointment. But when Harry explained his friendship with Neville, she was alright.

After an hour, Fleur Delacour and Viktor Krum came out of the maze, escorted by Professors McGonagall and Lupin. Clearly, they lost the game. The Hogwarts students cheered because it meant that Harry and Cedric were still there and Hogwarts already won. However, they weren't happy when Harry and Cedric appeared out of nowhere, both holding the Triwizard Cup and both shouting: "Death Eaters! They are back!"

Hermione's heart was pounding so fast and she felt Draco's arms tightened around her protectively.