Chapter 9: The Black Letter and the Blue Tongue

Hermione woke with the worst headache she had ever had. There was something nagging at the back of her mind but she just couldn't grasp at anything substantial. It felt like her skull was threatening to split.

Sitting up, she pushed the red comforter and gold sheets away from her. It was way too hot for them. Leaning forward Hermione groaned aloud as she placed her palms over her eyes. The sunlight leaking through the windows was most unwelcome and she chose to stand before she gave into the urge to just roll back over and die.

As soon as her feet met the floor and she found balance an overwhelming nausea swept through her. The floor seemed to shift from under her feet as she ran to the door of the girl's dormitory and down the steps. It was with great relief that Hermione saw the common room was empty right before she threw herself into the girl's lavatory where she began retching upon arriving at an open toilet.

"Out late and suffering from a hangover? Why miss Granger, one might assume the worst." Said the calculating female voice of Parvati Patil, one of Hermione's roommates. "I waited up for you until midnight but finally went to sleep… Where were you?" The voice was from outside the stall but it echoed inside Hermione's head like she was saying the same thing over and over again.

"I, I was at detention. It took longer than expected." Hermione rasped as she felt tears come to her eyes. Every time she tried to stand she felt the nausea return with a vengeance and her blood was beating in her temples, making her ears hurt terribly from the pounding.

"Detention from nine to one? Hermione, come on, it's me you're talking to. You can feel safe sharing the details." Parvati said sweetly. "Now who is he?"

"No one, there is no he-" Suddenly bits and pieces of memory returned to her and she bent over the toilet again, wave by wave of vomit doubling her over in pain.

"Right…"

Fifteen minutes later Hermione left the bathroom and walked back up to the dormitory. She dressed slowly and uncoordinatedly while trying to recall the events of the night before.

She remembered the detention but she remembered more than that alone. She remembered Draco's cold gray eyes looking into hers and for fleeting moments, she felt feelings rushing back to her, like she was reliving pieces of the night. But none of these images or sensations led to answers about where exactly she had been at one O'clock in the morning and she was just now considering the possibility that she had been with a certain Slytherin.

Looking into the mirror she yawned loudly and screamed. Looking closer at her reflection she saw that her tongue was a dark shade of blue. Hermione scraped it against her teeth to see if it was some kind of dye but nothing changed.

Keeping her mouth clamped shut Hermione walked down the stairs, through the common room, through three hallways and corridors and finally into the great hall where she saw her friends.

Ron immediately stood when he saw her and began launching into a defensive conversation but Hermione stuck out her tongue and he smirked. "It's not funny, Ron!" She said guardedly and he put a hand over his mouth.

"What on earth happened?" Harry asked what Ginny, Ron, and Hermione wanted to know and she shrugged.

"Where were you last night?" Ron asked suddenly and Hermione rolled her eyes. "What? It's a simple question."

"I was at detention. Since you sabotaged my second detention I was forced to serve another. Now help me out! What kind of spell can cause this because I'm pretty sure I wouldn't do it to myself-"

"You had detention with Malfoy, right?" Harry asked suspiciously and Hermione rolled her eyes once again.

"Honestly Harry, I don't know what that has to do with it-"

"Everything! That git has everything to do with it Don't you see?" Harry laughed crazily as if she were mad not to see it. "You go to detention with Malfoy the first time and end up in the hospital wing, the second time-"

"How'd you know about me being in the hospital wing?" Hermione asked and Ron crossed his arms over his chest, a look on his face that said he was curious as well.

Harry looked fleetingly at her then to Ron. "Hermione told me yesterday." He said and the look on his face told Hermione that that was the story.

"Oh, yeah!" She said quickly and Ron looked back and forth between her and Harry suspiciously. "It completely slipped my mind. Harry and I were… erm studying in the Library before first class and… T-that's when I told him."

"But Harry was with me the whole time before first class-"

"No!" Harry butted in. "Remember when I went to the restroom? I really wanted to see how Hermione was doing." He finished in a rush.

"How she was doing? She broke up with me!" Ron said in disbelief and as his voice faded away as Hermione tried to read Harry's face. "Bloody hell! You'd think you'd be trying to console me, but-"

"It's all right Ron, he was completely on your side, but once again we are completely off subject!" She exclaimed and Harry nodded. "I remember going to detention, I remember completing it, and I remember Malfoy getting really defensive over something I said -no you don't get to hear it- and then… that's it." She lied with a gulp. She had just gotten a new string of incoherent and unfamiliar memories.

"He must have done something, I just don't know what…" Harry sat down at the table and Hermione did the same, helping herself to a piece of toast and a cup full of pumpkin juice that tasted oddly warm.

Suddenly a very large and majestic eagle-owl was swooping towards them and Ron ducked just in time for it looked as if it had aimed to take off his head, making a perfect landing.

"What the-"

Hermione reached forward and carefully untied the envelope from its leg. It nipped at her arm again and again but only after she cooed it softly did it let her take the green envelope.

As soon as she held it in her hand it took flight again taking a large piece of bacon in its beak.

Hermione looked at the envelope, a puzzled expression on her face. She had never seen that bird before. It wasn't McGonagal's, it wasn't hers, it definitely was not Ron's… She opened it slowly and took out a small folded piece of black parchment. She felt dread fill her as she looked at it but she unfolded it all the same.

Inside, the writing was silver and for a moment she was unable to concentrate on the words. Thank you, then at the bottom of the page… Twinkle-bee. The words hit Hermione with the force of a brick. Everything came rushing back at once and as she sat there, she began to swoon. Ron and Harry both spit out their food and reached out to help her sit back up.

"What is it?" Harry asked as he read it over her shoulder and Hermione held it up to make it easier for him to read. "That's our password… who's this from, Hermione?" He asked and all she could do was shrug.

"I remember what happened." She said shortly and stood.

"Hermione where are you going?" Harry asked, jumping up after her, Ron right behind him.

"I have to talk to McGonagal!" Hermione said while hastening her steps across the hall.

"Why? What's the matter?" Harry grabbed her arm to turn her around and she ripped her arm away having a sense of déjà vu.

"Let go of me!" Running through the doors she ran as fast as she could to the transfiguration classroom. She broke through the doors and stood in the doorway panting. McGonagal looked up while pushing some papers aside inconspicuously.

"Yes, Miss Granger?" McGonagal asked, her face displaying confusion.

"What spell can cause this?" She asked while she opened her mouth and pointed to her tongue. "I woke up this morning with a terrible headache, I don't remember anything from last night, and my tongue is blue!"

"I see that. Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, please leave miss Granger and myself in privacy." She said as her lips formed into a tight line and her cheeks paled.

Ron and Harry reluctantly turned from the door and McGonagal motioned for Hermione to shut it and come closer.

"You don't remember anything, Granger?" McGonagal asked as Hermione stuck out her tongue once again and she inspected it more closely. Hermione shook her head quickly and McGonagal grunted. "Nothing odd happened at the detention you were supposed to serve last night? You did serve it?"

"Yes, Professor. Professor dark put Malfoy and I in a group and we cleaned the trophy room muggle-style. That's all I remember. I think he did something to me, professor." McGonagal nodded slowly and walked to her desk.

She scrawled quickly on a piece of parchment and attached it to the leg of her brown owl with the lazy eye. It hooted kindly as she patted its head and took off out the window.

"You need to come with me this instant." She said turning back to Hermione but there was not a trace of that kindness on her face now that the bird had gone and Hermione was suddenly apprehensive. McGonagal led her out of the classroom and down the opposite corridor.

"Professor, where are we going?" Hermione asked in a very small voice as she followed closely on the teacher's heels.

"Dumbledore will wish to speak with you and hear your explanation before you are punished." McGonagal's reply was short and simple and Hermione almost stopped dead in the hallway.

"Punished? What for? And Dumbledore's not here…" Hermione started up after McGonagal again when there was no response. "Professor," She began. "Where are we going?"

Twenty minutes later Hermione found herself in Hogsmeade outside the Three Broomsticks, McGonagal next to her. "Profess-"

"Quiet." Was all she said before firmly rapping on the door three times. Hermione jumped backwards as the door was flung open and McGonagal stepped comfortably inside the small pub, Hermione on her tail.

"In the back, Minerva." Said Madame Rosmerta through cupped hands and Hermione rubbed her hands together. Who was in the back?

"Keep up, Granger." McGonagal snapped quietly and Hermione hurried after her. She had no idea whatsoever about what was going on and it just got more and more confusing as it unfolded.

"Go in, I'll get us some drinks." McGonagal said and Hermione did as she was told. She pushed the door open with a loud creak and stepped inside a small, lavishly furnished empty room with a welcomely warm fire. She stepped towards it and took off her gloves with numb fingers. Holding her hands near the fire to gain the feeling back she sighed with gratification.

"Good morning, miss Granger. How are you faring this term so far?" Hermione jumped and turned around to find Dumbledore sitting in a chair in front of the fire. How she had passed over him was beyond her… He was wearing something a tourist would. He had small sunglasses over his eyes, a red ball cap on his head, he wore a tropical t- shirt that had parrots all over it and even more comically were his shorts and sandals. The only thing she recognized besides his small but strong frame was his waist long silvery beard.

"D-Dumbledore…" She stuttered dumbly. "Good, sir. Just great and yourself?" She finished with a forced grin.

"Well, that would depend on my health, which I must say could use some work. Caught a cold last weekend in Poland, nice facilities there…" He smiled warmly at her and Hermione could not help but feel relieved that she was here with someone they all trusted so closely. "Well? Have a seat, we can talk more comfortably." He said and Hermione nodded, the knot in her stomach loosening a great deal.

Hermione sat in the purple chair on the other side of the table and Dumbledore studied her very closely. "I heard you had an unfortunate accident that left you with a blue tongue…" He said and Hermione smiled while nodding. "I suppose its better to have one's tongue turned blue than to have none at all. Happened to one of my friends in our first year at Dutston's higher school for magical education… sad story, that one." He gave a soft chuckle that turned into a violent cough.

"You all right, Professor?" Hermione asked while leaning forward to help him. He waved her away and composed himself.

"No, no, I'm fine. I'll be better once Minerva brings that drink." He rasped. "So tired these days. Always having to stay one step in front of the ministry. I taught a lot of witches and wizards in my days, brilliant witches and wizards…" His voice trailed off and Hermione leaned back into her chair, settling.

"Professor?" Hermione asked in a small voice.

"Yes, Miss Granger?"

"Why am I here? McGonagal said I was to be punished yet I have no idea that I've done anything wrong." Dumbledore removed the sunglasses from his eyes and set them idly in the table. He rubbed his eyes and sighed loudly.

"I don't think it is fair of me to interpret Minerva's actions, Miss Granger, but I will say that unless her suspicions were founded you would not be here." The look on his face was one of great sincerity and Hermione could only bow her head contritely. "Now, would you like to tell me what has been going on?"

Hermione nodded slowly and found herself telling Dumbledore of all her frustrations. How she had only meant to get McGonagal the night she got detention but had been unable to defend herself in Malfoy's presence. How she and Malfoy had interacted that first detention, how he loathed her blood and everything that she was. But most of all she told Dumbledore about her worries about Harry. He had been places he shouldn't have been, knew things he should have had no idea about, and that no one ever saw him outside of classes anymore. This seemed to have Dumbledore on the edge of his seat for his focus was not even interrupted when McGonagal stepped into the room, three butter beers in her hands.

"Minerva, thank you." He said as if he had suddenly woken from a trance. "Come sit and join us. It seems there have been a great many misunderstandings between head of house and prefect." Dumbledore said slowly and McGonagal nodded taking a seat next to Dumbledore on the couch. After she set the drinks down, Dumbledore began relaying Hermione's side of things to her.

"What I don't understand is how Mr. Malfoy got our password Miss Granger." She said. "It seems highly improbable that Mr. Malfoy used force, seeing as how you are unmarked." McGonagal finished and Hermione flushed.

"What about spells, potions! He's good at that sort of thing!" Hermione absolved in a rather loud tone. "I mean, it makes perfect sense. He does a spell, gets the answers he wants and I wake up unable to recall one coherent memory. It's too convenient to be unbelievable!"

McGonagal narrowed her eyes but this did not deter Hermione, not in the least. "And what kind of spell or potion could Malfoy have used to get past your self-cast memory charms? You are a brilliant witch, Miss Granger and no doubt went through only the greatest security measures to ensure your friends' safety." Dumbledore interfered tranquilly.

"I don't know! Veraxus, probitus, a Veritaserum potion? I can't tell! But he did something. I would never have told him our password and if you believe me capable of such betrayal then you might as well send me home today." She finished as she crossed her arms over her chest and glared tearfully at her shoes.

"That will not be necessary." Dumbledore professed in an exhausted tone after he took a long swig of his butter beer. "I will make sure that this occurrence is well-investigated and as always, I encourage you, Miss Granger, to delve into your memory as well, for we all know things that are never spoken hide deep within our minds waiting for the moment we will shed light upon them once again."

Hermione nodded as did McGonagal, who had surprisingly enough accepted this. "If you bring me one shred of evidence incriminating Mr. Malfoy, Miss Granger, he will be punished as our laws see fit." Dumbledore said and Hermione stood, sensing that their meeting was over.

"Yes, sir." Hermione replied with a short smile. McGonagal stood and walked towards the door. As Hermione stood Dumbledore called after her.

"Miss Granger!" He said.

"Yes, professor?" She asked while turning towards him and putting her gloved back on her small hands.

"Remember that despite differences, every witch and wizard is born with heart enough to be tolerant." Hermione nodded slowly and the worth of his words stuck in her mind as she left the Three Broomsticks.

She had been rather harsh with Ron about the whole thing and the fact was he had acted just as she would have had Malfoy said that to her. She hadn't meant what she said, not completely anyway.

As they walked through the small cobblestone streets of Hogsmeade McGonagal began talking. "I would hope that you learned from this whole unpleasant business and for at least a few days I would like to see you acting with discretion towards your and your house's reputation." And McGonagal did not speak another word until they entered the Great hall. "Dinner's already begun, sit with your fellow Gryffindors."

Hermione watched after McGonagal, who walked straight up to the staff table and sat down, not looking back at Hermione's stricken face once.

Hermione felt dirty, unworthy, as she made her way to Gryffindor table where Ron and Harry were waiting eagerly for news.

"What happened?" Ron asked putting his fork down.

"Yeah, is your tongue still blue?" Ginny added while craning her neck as if to see inside Hermione's closed mouth.

"I doubt it… McGonagal would have fixed that by now." Hermione replied briskly, a bit more harsh than she had meant.

"What's happened with the password? Who sent you that letter this morning?" Harry asked aloofly right before he shoved a large piece of bread in his mouth and took a swig of pumpkin juice.

"I think it was Malfoy, McGonagal doesn't believe me, and –for goodness sakes Harry, this is not the last meal you will ever eat! Slow down before you choke on your own tongue!" Hermione exclaimed her mouth hung slack in disgust.

"Finish what you were saying quickly, I have to go up to the library." Harry said through a mouth full of food.

"Well, like I was saying, McGonagal doesn't believe that Malfoy had access to anything that was powerful enough to break my loyalty to Gryffindor-

"Wait! You told him our password? And he sent that letter?" Ron asked in utter shock.

Hermione gulped. She had not thought this part of the story out that thoroughly. The look on Ron's face could have been applied so many adjectives that Hermione stopped thinking of them after angry, betrayed, flabbergasted, and incensed. "Well… It wasn't my fault!" She shouted suddenly feeling the need to defend herself.

"How is that not your fault? What could Malfoy possibly have had access to to make you tell him that." He paused as a new idea formed on his tongue. "And who knows what else you told him! About Harry, about me!" Hermione saw the look on his face and it made her want to cry. It said, "look at the Slytherin spy in Gryffindor robes…"

"I don't remember!"

"Convenient." Ginny interrupted.

This had to be a nightmare, Hermione decided as she looked at her three closest friends' faces. These were not the faces of the Gryffindors she knew and loved. These were Slytherins in red and gold, these were Slytherins glaring at her, staring her down. These were Slytherins for only Slytherins had the heart to listen without hearing, Gryffindors were always fair and loyal, Gryffindors always saw the truth no matter how farfetched the idea. Gryffindors knew eachother well enough to believe without proof.

Hermione met each of their eyes with a glare of hurt and frustration. From green to blue each pair of eyes said the same thing. "Look at the Slytherin spy in Gryffindor robes…"

Hermione turned rigidly and walked away from the table, her head held high despite the internal meltdown she was experiencing. She walked towards the large doors but slowly her direction shifted to a new destination. The Slytherin table.

Walking up behind him, Hermione shoved Draco's head forward and he leapt up, turning, ready to strike the person behind him that obviously had a death wish.

"What did you do to me?" She shouted. "What did you do to make me betray my house? A probitus spell? A sip of Veritaserum? Or could it be that you were fool enough to use the Imperius curse?" She knew she was ranting but at this point she did not care, all she knew was revenge, that same revenge that was causing red and purple spots to appear in front of her eyes.

"What the hell are you talking about, mudblood? I had nothing to do with whatever you're ranting on about." He said with a cool arrogant smirk that suggested just the opposite of what his words meant.

"You know you did it, I know you did it! I just want to know how, that's all!" Hermione yelled oblivious to the fact that more than half of the great hall was turned in her direction. "No words? That's got to be a first-"

"No, believe me, I have plenty to say, I just have to word it in a way that won't get me expelled." He growled through gritted teeth.

"Let's hear it then. I'm sure all your friends want to hear how you seduced a mudblood into confessing anything you wanted to hear… I'm sure they want another reason to praise Draco the great! The child death eater, destined for greatness." She spat. She saw Draco's hand twitch and for a second she thought he was going to hit her, but to her surprise and relief he held back.

"You're the one who took the fucking potion you filthy mudblood." He whispered dangerously so only she could hear.

"What potion, Draco? What did you give me that I can't remember a whole single moment from last night? Just bits and pieces like shattered glass." Hermione's voice was low and she was glaring at him with such loathing that she felt as though not even he could match it, but she was wrong.

"If I told you that," He began with a maniacal grin. "I wouldn't be able to do it again…" Hermione reached over the table and grabbed a pitcher of pumpkin juice. With only a second's hesitation she tipped the pitcher over his head and orange liquid ran through his hair, over his face, and down his robes making a satisfying splash as it hit the floor and puddled around his feet.

There were gasps and spurts of laughter throughout the entire hall and Malfoy was pissed. He shook his hands, flinging the orange liquid in all directions and stepped forward, his eyes screaming murder. But right at that second, Hermione felt invincible, Malfoy couldn't hurt her, he wouldn't dare.

"I would say you're a waste of my time, but I think it would be wiser and more truthful to say that you're a waste of oxygen as well, and space, and overall existence." Hermione uttered before turning away and walking out of the hall.

Like Dumbledore had suggested she would investigate and peruse her memories while she did it. She needed to go to the trophy room. That, after all, was the last real thing that she remembered and as good a place as any to begin her query.

It was with rushed steps that she made it up the stairs and through three corridors and entered the trophy room. Looking around the large room she realized very suddenly that she had no idea what she was looking for. She knew she was looking for evidence but what kind of evidence would Malfoy have left behind? A bottle perhaps? A misplaced object, or even a thought…

Hermione pulled out her wand and flexed her wrist. This was a new spell she was learning and she had never tried it in a real situation before but it was a useful spell, difficult to learn -even harder to perform-, but useful.

Waving her wand fluidly she executed the hand motions perfectly while saying, "Acclaro grattia veritas de exuviae!" Her voice echoed in the small room and it went suddenly dark.

Hermione felt as if her body was being lifted from the floor and she began spinning so rapidly that the room around her became only blurred flashes of light and color. She felt her stomach rise into her throat and the nausea was threatening to overwhelm her when it suddenly just stopped. Everything went still and her vision cleared. She was slowly set back onto the floor and she wanted to fall to her knees but all of the sudden, her frame did not want to listen.

Then Hermione realized with a pang of horror; it was not her frame. It was Malfoy's and she was actually seeing through his eyes the night before.

Without her consent she began to move forward… where was she? Looking around cold scenery met her eyes. This had to be the Slytherin common room, no other place in the castle besides Snape's dungeons were this desolate or uncomfortable.

Just as she stepped through the doorway and out into the corridor a still image flashed in front of her eyes. In the image was a platinum blond boy with cold gray eyes… it was Draco before Hogwarts. He had an innocent smile on his face but his eyes, with their gray, empty depths told a different story… she could tell this child knew more than any child should know. With a stab of guilt Hermione felt something like empathy for that little boy and what he had become.

But as suddenly as the image had come it was gone and she was halfway down the corridor on the way to the DADA classroom she would assume. Draco made no stops on the way and ten minutes before detention started Draco arrived inside the dark empty DADA classroom.

Hermione watched herself enter the classroom and sit at the back. With a frown she realized how transparent she had been. How naïve she was to think that no one would have a clue that she was upset with tear-tracks down her face and red puffy eyes.

Once the detention started, Hermione just sat back and watched the show as it unfolded. They were partnered and began walking towards the trophy room.

As they walked random images met her eyes but there was one that chilled her from the inside out. There was Lucius towering over Narcissa Malfoy, his cane raised high over her head. But the thing that touched Hermione, made her choke back emotion, was the look on the young Narcissa's face and the small bundle in her arms. Did Draco have a sibling? It seemed highly unlikely considering there had been no younger Malfoy enrolled or sorted at Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry but there Narcissa was holding another child as Hermione could imagine she had once held Draco.

But before she could ponder anymore she realized that she was already in the trophy room. She allowed her attention to wane while they cleaned but as soon as their argument began she snapped to attention. She remembered this, it was what happened afterwards that had her confused.

Hermione watched in satisfaction as her other self yelled at Malfoy and got up to leave, but what happened next made her cringe, her blood turning to ice in her veins. She lunged forward and took herself by the hair, pouring blue liquid down her own throat. Her and Draco then dragged Hermione to a chair. They measured out a bit of clear potion- Veritaserum! Hermione could have screamed in elation had she been in her own body but she settled for watching in excitement and horror as she watched herself take the potion handed to her.

Then came the questions. They asked Hermione questions but the ones about Harry she refused to answer. How ridiculous, Hermione thought as anger filled her blood. What a filthy little mudblood… Hermione stopped thinking when those words formed in her mind. What was going on? But the anger was not subsiding. Hermione felt frustrated. They had planned this so very well and here the muggle-born was ruining everything… I am the muggle-born, she reminded herself silently.

After a few more unanswered questions Hermione took the situation into her own hands. They poured the whole thing down her throat and watched her squirm. There, that should make the whipped Gryffindor speak, Hermione thought in satisfaction and fear. She didn't know where these thoughts were coming from but she could not control their coming and worst of all, part of her liked them.

After more questions the muggle-born began to act strange. That was enough. It was time to end this quick and clean. She wouldn't remember anything if they left her here but as he began to walk away Hermione felt something, a flutter in her stomach and they turned around.

The Gryffindor was speaking and her words tugged at his- her heart. Hermione was all the sudden very confused. Was she her or was she Draco? Draco, said a cold voice in the back of her head and she mentally nodded. She must be Draco. You're Hermione… No, Hermione was a filthy mudblood who couldn't keep her trap shut.

All the sudden Hermione lost all sense of herself as she and Draco's personalities merged, his taking over, dominating her. She could still see but she had no idea who she was or what she was doing with a mudblood at her side walking towards Gryffindor tower.

Leaving the teenage girl behind Hermione- Draco turned and walked down the steps. Walking down the corridor she stopped outside an unfamiliar yet cognizant stone wall. They felt the words form on their tongue and she- he opened her mouth to speak. "Vlad-"

" Terminus defixium. Enough!" Hermione felt herself slam from Draco with the force of nothing she had never known before. She suddenly knew herself, she was Hermione, not Draco, never Draco.

Hermione turned to face him. This was the most angry she had ever seen him before. His eyes were just narrow slits, his face was tinged with red and he looked like a drowned rat. She composed herself and said the first thing that came to mind, a sly smile and the words, "We're even now, Malfoy. You know more than you should and I know more than I should…" But this, she realized was not the right action to take at all.

"That is NOT even!" He yelled crazily. His face abruptly flushed and his eyes were infused with so many emotions ranging from unbelievable rage, betrayal, hurt to sadness. "How dare you! How dare you, you filthy little mudblood!" He walked forward slowly, a crazed gleam in his eyes and Hermione backed fearfully away. "You have no right-"

"I have every right that you do, Malfoy, and you… manipulated me, gave me sedatives and a truth potion to make me tell you things no one else knows." She paused for a minute breathing hard through her apprehension.

"I know what that spell does!" Draco yelled and Hermione cringed. "Every thought I have had since last night, you saw… my thoughts… They deserve to be left with me." He said and his voice went quiet. "I have much more to hide, so much more to protect than the son of a mudblood St. Potter. I have secrets that would make your hair curl…"

"You don't think I know that? Remember me? I'm one of Harry Potter's closest friends! I know things that could endanger every student at this school including yourself." She said in a tone that was formidable to Malfoy's. "And believe it or not, I know a lot more about you than you could ever imagine."

Silence fell over the hallway as they both adjusted to the fact that they needed one another's silence more than anything.

"So…" She began and Draco's eyes met hers, a coldness emanating from their gray abyss.

"So what?" He asked. "This doesn't change a thing. You're still a filthy mudblood and I'm the son of one of the most influential men in Europe. Don't expect star treatment just because you invaded my privacy, in fact, you should expect things to get worse." He said with a thoughtful look.

"No, really? Is that possible?" Hermione asked in a sarcastic tone. "I wasn't expecting anything from you, not a damn thing." She said as she turned to walk away.

"Hey, Granger." He called after her and she turned back to him wondering what on earth he could possibly want from her now. He rummaged through his pockets and when he found what he was looking for he tossed it in her direction. Out of reflex she caught it in her left hand and looked at it. "You dropped it…" He said and then disappeared around the corner.

Hermione looked at the necklace that was now in her hands. It had been given to her by her mother the year she had been accepted at Hogwarts. Hermione's grandmother had given in to her mother when she was married. It was a silver moon pendant with a golden star above it and on the outside was the phrase our only daughter, our little girl in Russian characters.

Hermione carried it with her everywhere she went and she felt extremely guilty for not noticing that it had been missing… She felt a fleeting sense of gratitude towards Draco for returning it to her but in a whole other sense she blamed him.

"Thank you…" She whispered before turning around and making her way up towards Gryffindor tower where she would not doubt feel extremely partial to sleep. But, life works in mysterious ways and this time it seemed Hermione was fighting an uphill battle.

By the time she realized she was being followed it was too late to avoid confrontation. "Why are you following me?" She shouted as she turned around and to her surprise a sixth year Ravenclaw girl stood in front of her.

"I just wanted to say that what you did to Malfoy was bloody brilliant. I only wish someone would have done it sooner." She said and Hermione smiled. "The name's Amber-Lynn Solitaire." She added holding her palm outward for a handshake.

"I'm Hermione Granger and it is a pleasure to meet you." She said taking the girl's hand in hers.

"So, where're you headed?" Amber asked and Hermione shrugged with a sigh.

"I was going to Gryffindor tower but now I think I'll go to the library, and you?" Hermione inquired.

"Library too I guess, I have nothing to do." Hermione nodded. As they walked down the corridor Hermione discovered that Amber was a British muggle-born who moved to from West Chester England when she was seven. Her father abandoned them when he found out her mother was a witch leaving them with no money and no way to make a living.

Amber had three sisters, two of them were squibs but the oldest, the one who had graduated from Hogwarts two years before and became manager of the International Wizards department, was now one of the youngest witches that held such an influential position within the ministry.

Amber was proud of her family, Hermione could tell, and when they finally reached the library it seemed as if they had known eachother for years. It wasn't long before Amber got to hear the story about the other Gryffindors who were mad at her and why but it didn't feel like betrayal.

"Did you really use that spell? I heard it was really dangerous, the personalities start to merge and then your mind doesn't end up back in your body…" Amber saw the expression on Hermione's face and stopped talking. Hermione had been looking at the shelves across the library when her eyes fell upon Draco Malfoy.

"What's he doing here?" Amber asked.

"To read probably." Hermione replied and Amber smiled.

"Slytherin's can read?"

"A few of them can but only really easy things like first year stuff. Well, I should probably get up to the tower. I had a very long night last night." Hermione said and Amber nodded.

"Yeah, it's almost nine, I better get back to the commons so I can get some help with my astronomy homework, astronomy's a bitch." She said with a laugh and Hermione smiled. "I'll see you around, Hermione. I'm here to talk even if your other friends aren't." Amber gave Hermione a short wave and walked out of the library.

Hermione followed suit and went to Gryffindor tower. Upon entering though she got many stares that weren't exactly welcoming. Ignoring the glares she made her way down the steps and into the sixth year girl's dormitory where it was unusually quiet as she dressed and slipped into bed.

After a while the talking started again. "Is she asleep?" Asked someone from the other side of the room and someone bent over Hermione who closed her eyes and tried to breathe evenly.

"Yeah."

"Did you hear? She gave to password to a Slytherin!" Someone else contributed and Hermione rolled her eyes into her pillow.

"I heard she and Malfoy met in the trophy room for some action and she let it slip." Said the voice of Parvati Patil and Hermione bit her lip in anger.

"Well, Hermione always struck me as the type that couldn't keep up the innocence charade for long. I always knew she was a little wh-"

Hermione put the pillow over head. She didn't want to hear what they were saying about her. They were telling vicious loathsome lies, spreading rumors that would ruin her.

Hermione felt tears burn behind her eyelids but she refused to let them free until she couldn't hold them back anymore and began to sob. She had no friends, she had no house. She was nothing, had nothing, no one except for Crookshanks who she hadn't seen since yesterday…

Hermione buried her head into her pillow and tried to drown out their voices by remembering a song.

You say you wander your own land

But when I think about I don't know how you can

You're aching, you're breaking

And I can see the pain in your eyes

Says everybody's changing

And I don't know why

So little time

Try to understand that I'm

Trying to make a move just to stay in the game

Trying to stay awake and remember my name

Because everybody's changing

And I don't feel the same

You're gone from here

Soon you will disappear

Fading into beautiful light

Because everybody's changing

And I don't feel right…

Hermione sighed and let go, allowing herself to sleep through the anguish she felt and held onto the possibility that tomorrow would be a better day.

Author note: That is not my song and anyone who knows awesome music will know that. Big thanks to Keane for being the magic musical gurus they are! (in case you haven't caught on, Keane's the band that wrote the song!)