During the rest of classes that day, Draco made subtle seating arrangements: strategically placing himself as close to Hermione as possible, without raising any suspicion. She noticed. His heart beat would temporarily increase every time he'd catch her glancing at him, because she'd always smile a little before looking away.

For their part, Potter and Weasley weren't nearly as thick as Draco had originally thought. They seemed to have noticed that Draco's interest in Hermione had abruptly changed, and if their expressions were any indication, they had no intentions of letting him anywhere near her.

He smirked. I guess it's just too bad for them that she shares the Head Dormitories with me, instead of Gryffindor Tower with them! Oh, what a shame!

The only bad part to all this was the fact that Blaise noticed the changes, too. And unlike the others, he had a good idea of why Draco was doing these things. Damn Blaise, anyway! He sees too much!

When the school year had first started, Draco had found himself a little disappointed that Crabbe and Goyle were in so few of his classes. They'd flunked out of all except the easiest of courses. No-one was quite sure exactly what their career goals were. Draco doubted they had any. Their whole lives, much like his, had been situated to prepare them for being a Death Eater. Now that option was gone, as were their fathers, they were pretty much left to drift through aimlessly.

But as lonely as he was without them, he'd been thrilled to learn that Blaise was in every class. If he'd had to chose one of his friends it would've been Blaise. Now, however, after listening to a running commentary of how hot Hermione looked, and all the stray thoughts her new look gave him, well, Draco was finding himself wishing that some-one else was in the class. Anyone else!

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As was her habit on Tuesday evenings, Hermione was late for supper. She entered the Great Hall cautiously. Many students had finished eating already, and were heading toward their dormitories.

Harry saw her and waved. "Hey 'Mione, there you are! You'd better hurry; I think we only have five minutes left."

She nodded and sat, but wasted no time talking, as her mouth was busy tearing into the food.

Ron looked on in amazement. "'Gore, Mione, were you starving?"

Harry laughed but didn't comment. Hermione used to be late for supper every night, that or she'd skip it altogether, due to the large work load she'd taken on. The boys had argued heavily, and even brought Professor's Dumbledore and McGonagall into the argument, because the poor girl had been working herself to death in classes that she didn't need.

Eventually, the adults had talked her into taking the core basics, plus two extras, as was the rule. Hermione had chosen Muggle Studies, and Arithmancy. Professor Vector assigned essays almost every Friday, due on Mondays. Thus, every Tuesday, Hermione stayed after class to learn about, and discuss her grade.

Harry didn't like this, but one night was a lot better than all seven, and she usually made an appearance, no matter how brief, so he didn't complain.

Hermione managed to inhale an amazing amount of food in the precious few minutes they had left and she was now in the process of shoveling in dessert. Ron had been in the process of reading his twin brother's letter out loud (they'd been searching for some-one to be a tester for their newest products, and evidently, some poor sap finally fell for it) and Hermione was laughing along merrily. Somehow, she managed to smear chocolate pudding all across her nose in the process, but no one noticed.

Ron was laughing so hard at the letter that it was difficult to understand him. "And…then, Fred told…George…'Hey, bro…what say you…we- What do you want Malfoy?"

Everyone's head swiveled around, and sure enough, there stood Draco, looking incredibly guilty and off balance. He didn't answer, so Ron demanded again. "I asked you a question, Malfoy? What do you want?"

That seemed to irritate the blonde. "Not that it's any business of yours, Weasel, but I was sent to get the Head Girl."

"Why didn't you say something instead of just standing there?" Ron's face was flushed. He hated it that Draco had an excuse to make Hermione leave.

"I was attempting to be polite and allow her to hear the end of the letter. Obviously, you Gryffindors are too good for manners, so next time I won't bother! Granger, you're needed in the Slytherin Common Room." With that, Draco stalked off.

Hermione gave her friends a reproving glare, but didn't stay to lecture. "I'll see you guys later!" She hurried after Draco.

There was really no need in hurrying, since he was waiting for her just outside the door. She'd been running so fast, she nearly collided with him, just managing to skid to a stop.

"Running, Miss Granger? Tut, tut! Here I thought the Head Girl would show more decorum than that. Of course," his lips twitched with amusement. "You look like a six year old with chocolate pudding spread all over your face, so I suppose you might as well act like one."

Her face flamed with embarrassment, and she wiped at her mouth frantically with her sleeve. "Oh, honestly, some-one could've said something!"

His lips twitched again. "I thought I just did."

He watched for a moment before sighing loudly. "Here, you're just making it worse!"

Gently, more so than she would've thought possible, Draco tugged on the edge of her sleeve, and used it to wipe her face clean. "There."

Draco was being so unlike himself, so gentle, almost tender even, that Hermione was afraid to move, let she break the spell. "Thank you." She whispered.

He started to nod arrogantly, but caught himself in time. "You're welcome."

They stood there a few seconds more, before he moved away. "Come on. A first year Slytherin girl is in the bathroom, and won't come out. Professor Snape thought we'd better send you, rather than he or I, but the girl was continuously wailing, and if we don't need to test Professor Snape's patience anymore today!"

……………………………………………………………………………………………

If she hadn't feared a hexing, Hermione would've laughed at the expression on her Professor's face. Snape obviously found nothing amusing about the situation judging by that look.

Hermione hurried forward. "I'm here, sir! What should I do?"

He snorted. "I don't particularly care, as long as you stop that infernal screeching."

Draco frowned. "She was merely crying, albeit loudly, so what happened?"

Another snort. "I merely had to check and assure myself the blasted chit wasn't in mortal danger, however, as soon as she caught sight of me, she started screaming hysterically."

Hermione knocked softly, and walked into the bathroom. The two males standing outside the door sighed with relief when it went abruptly silent. Draco could hear Hermione talking soothingly, but couldn't make out what she was saying.

When Hermione entered the bathroom, she'd planned on using the calm, soothing approach. It was apparent, however, that the girl was so upset she wasn't hearing anything Hermione said. So, she drew her wand, and cast a silencing spell.

The girl turned a wild look upon her.

"There! That's better!" Hermione sighed.

She walked over to the girl, who was curled into a ball on the floor, and knelt beside her. "Take a few deep breaths and calm down some. I can't help you when you're like this."

It took a few minutes, but eventually the girl's breathing calmed. Hermione lifted the silencing charm and asked her again what was wrong.

In the longest, most drawn out, rambling sort of way, the girl stuttered out her problem. Apparently, she'd started her period. Not at all unusual for a child of her age, but for some reason she was convinced she was dying, and she kept insisting that nothing happened. She also kept saying 'My mum! But my mum'.

That was all Hermione could get out of her. She decided that this was more than she could handle. Deciding the best course of action would be to get a teacher's help, preferably a female, since males seemed to terrify her right now, and take the girl to the hospital wing.

Leaving her still curled in the floor, for the moment, Hermione eased back out the door. Professor Snape and Draco were still standing there.

"Well, Miss Granger, what was wrong with the chit?"
Hermione smiled tightly. "I'm not exactly sure. She, um, well, she started her menstrual cycle, which isn't unusual, but for some reason, she's convinced that she's dying and is nearly hysterical, telling me something about her mum. I thought it best to send her to the hospital wing, maybe let Madame Pomfrey look her over. In order to this, I'll require a teacher's assistance, and no offense, sir, but she doesn't seem to like males right now, so I wondered if I might ask Professor McGonagall to assist me?"

Normally, Snape would've been reluctant to let any other teacher do part of his job, but this particular time, he was more than happy to hand over the responsibility. His ears were still ringing from the girl's earlier screams. "Not at all, Miss Granger. Allow me to floo her for you."

He strode to the fireplace and tossed in some powder. "Minerva! Could you come please, we require your…assistance."

Less than a moment later, Minerva McGonagall stepped out of the fireplace. "Yes, Severus?"

He gestured towards the bathroom. "I have a first year that is in need of going to the hospital wing-"

"Severus, just because you don't like the students very much, is no excuse for you not to take care of the members of your own house."

Hermione stepped forward quickly. "It's my fault, ma'am. I asked Professor Snape to floo you for assistance because this girl has started her cycle, and is nearly hysterical with fear, and being around a man, only seems to increase this fear."

Professor McGonagall immediately went into the bathroom. Hermione asked the two men standing there to please step into a different room for a moment, before she quickly followed her own Head of House.

The trip to the infirmary was thankfully uneventful and they made it in good time. Madame Pomfrey was as baffled as the others by the girl's strange reaction to a natural occurrence, and while she looked the girl over, Snape (he and Draco had followed) flooed the Headmaster.

Dumbledore appeared rather quickly. "Yes?"

Snape said. "Headmaster, you've proven time and again that you know all, and we require some information on a student."

Quickly Snape explained the situation and the girl's reaction. "She keeps babbling something about her mum." He finished.

Dumbledore's normally twinkling eyes were sad. "Alas, I'm afraid I do know what's wrong." He glanced around the small crowd of anxious faces. Madame Pomfrey had returned to announce that nothing else was wrong with the girl.

Dumbledore sighed. "I'm afraid that Miss Moore's mother was brutally violated by Death Eaters about a year ago. Unfortunately, the child witnessed this event. The mother was quite naturally bleeding heavily between her legs, and she died. Obviously, Miss Moore is remembering that, and is naturally quite scared and confused."

No one said anything for a moment, then the Healer hurried off to give her patient a calming draught, and some dreamless sleep potion.

Hermione felt like someone had knocked the wind out of her lungs. Oh, no! That poor girl! To have seen something like that, then, when she was trying to explain to me, I cast a silencing charm on her! Of course, Hermione was desperately blocking thoughts of her own mother: the one who'd been killed in a similar manner. At least I didn't have to watch, or see my mum like that! Against her will Hermione saw images of her own mother lying there, and she felt tears start to burn the back of her eyelids. She looked around almost desperately. I have to get out of here!

"Professors, if that is all, then I think I'll be going to bed now." Her voice wobbled a little, but no one seemed to notice.

"Of course," Professor McGonagall said. "Good night."

Hermione practically ran to her room, knowing it wouldn't be long before the dam broke. She slammed into the room, and collapsed on her bed, sobbing violently.

Draco had stayed for a few moments longer, but when Hermione had said 'good night', her voice had wobbled slightly, and she'd looked upset. He was slightly worried, and decided to go on to bed himself. I'll check on her before I turn in.

When he entered their Common Room, the only sounds he could hear was that of some-one crying.

He glanced around and noticed that Hermione's door was slightly ajar. Walking up, he peered in. She was lying on her bed, face first, crying as though her heart was broken. He walked to the bed and placed his hand on her shoulder. "Hermione? Are you okay?"

She stood up, but didn't say anything, merely took gasping breaths, trying to calm herself. It didn't work.

Her lower lip trembled and more tears spilled down her cheeks. The sorrow in her eyes was heart-wrenching. He held his arms open, and with a small sob, she flew into them.