It was three days after Mr Greenwick had left. He was planning to return when they had got a little further is deciphering the clues. And now they didn't just have the Verse of Six to work out. Mr Greenwick had used a charm on the Legend and revealed the clue to find the Key. Not surprisingly, it wasn't exactly helpful, just a set of confusing characters not that Hermione hadn't expected anything else.

She was down by the lake trying to clear her head because she couldn't stop thinking, all the time about the clues. She needed an afternoon off, doing something else. From tomorrow Draco and herself were resuming their teaching and studying timetable because despite all the other responsibilities they now had (just a little thing like vanquishing evil for all time) they still had to pass their professor's exam. They had studied for four years and they couldn't throw all that away. So Hermione was ridiculously busy and about to become even more so.

"Hermione!" She heard Draco's voice calling her and groaned, not because it was him as he'd been a lot more reasonable since the Legend had happened. She didn't take this train of thought any further not wanting to dissect her strange and new relationship with Draco Malfoy. She didn't want to see him because he was bound to want to talk about it though and she was trying to have a break. Nevertheless she stopped and waited for him. He practically ran up to her and she resisted the urge to analyze his appearance which, despite his exertion, was still drop dead gorgeous. He pushed his hair out of his eyes unconsciously and then stopped, picking up on her demeanour. "What's the matter?"

"Nothing." Hermione lied.

"Yes there is. You look like you used to when I approached you – all annoyed," Draco's eyes were questioning and Hermoine felt a little part of her soften towards him.

"No, it's fine honestly. I was just clearing my head, that's all. I'm a bit overloaded with all these clues."

Draco folded his arms in front of him. "Well, I wasn't coming to talk about the clues. I thought we should discuss this joint lesson we have to run the day after tomorrow."

"Oh, right, yes! I hadn't given that a thought," Hermione said, putting her hand to her mouth.

"Calm down! I wasn't trying to give you a heart attack," Draco grinned at her reaction. "I'll write the lesson if you like, you can assist me."

"As if I'm going to let that happen," Hermione said, dryly. "I can't believe you're still trying to manipulate the situation with everything else that is going on."

"I was being helpful and nice."

"Yeh, right! How about we work on it after dinner?" Hermione suggested.

"Okay," Draco seemed to hesitate for a moment before continuing. "So, I'll see you later then."

Hermione watched him with interest, noticing his hesitation. He was acting in a very un-Malfoy way lately and it took some getting used to. Could someone really mature so much in four years? Then she remembered how he had been when he had first returned and she realised he had changed even since then. Changed towards her. He had started walking back to the Castle and she realized she hadn't answered him.

"Malfoy!" without thinking she called out to him and he turned back to her.

"What's up?"

She walked over to him, not wanting to conduct their conversation at full volume. "You can walk round the lake with me if you want to. I'm not planning anything exciting..."

Draco's eyes sparkled mischievously at her and she knew she had phrased it wrong. "Well, maybe I can spice it up for you then?"

"Stop it."

"Anyway, I don't need your permission to walk round the lake..."

"Fine! Please yourself then. I was just being polite!" Hermione turned and stormed off and then she felt him behind her.

"Stop...Granger...Hermione! Stop!" He grabbed her arm and she stopped. "I was joking! I'm always joking lately, I thought you'd noticed," Draco said. "Remember your lecture about acting like adults and all that?"

"It wasn't a lecture." Hermione shook her head at herself. Why did he make her so defensive? She tried to change her tone. "So why are you suddenly listening to my advice?"

Draco shrugged. "Because sometimes you're right..." Hermione giggled and he held up his hand. "I said sometimes! Until we solve this Legend thing we're stuck with each other and if old Greenwick is right, that could be a very long time. I thought I should try and be co-operative."

Hermione grabbed his arm and pulled him over to a bench by the lake. He sat by her with no protest and they gazed over the lake in silence for a few minutes.

"So what are we going to teach those pesky, little 2nd years then?" Hermoine asked.

"Maybe we could get them to Tranfigure each other into 7th years and the lesson will run a lot smoother," Draco joked.

"I don't know about that, there's all those raging hormones with 7th years," Hermione said.

"Ah yes. All the girls would be fancying their handsome professor instead of concentrating on their studies," Draco wiggled his eyebrows at her.

"Just how much do you love yourself?" Hermione asked.

"Not very much most of the time," Draco's tone had dropped and he was looking down at the floor and Hermione stared at him in surprise. What did he mean by that? She had been expecting a silly, sarcastic answer.

"What do you mean?" Hermione was unable to stop herself asking.

Draco seemed to shake himself. "Nothing, ignore me."

"I do try to." Hermione joked and he looked up at her from under his lashes and gave her a small grin. Try as she might, she couldn't stop her breath catching and she would have challenged any female to not let him affect her when he was like this. His usual arrogance was gone and he was fixing those gorgeous, grey eyes on her from under his ridiculously long, pale lashes. "But you've said it now so I want an explanation," Hermione demanded.

"No, let's change the subject," Draco shook his head.

"Why wouldn't you like yourself?" Hermione asked.

Draco turned in his seat to look at her. "How long have you got? How about being on the wrong side in the most important war there has ever been? How about walking round here like an arrogant and sinister idiot making everyone's life a misery? How about being so weak that I wouldn't stand up to my Father?" Draco undid his sleeve button and Hermione watched with a mixture of fascination and horror as he revealed the mark on his arm. "How about letting them do this to me instead of fighting against it? Pathetic!" Draco's voice was angry but she knew it was only aimed at himself.

"But..." Hermione went to speak but he shook his head vigorously at her.

"No! I know what you're about to say – I've changed, I'm not like that now, we all make mistakes...blah..blah...blah. It doesn't make any difference, Hermione. I have this mark forever and nothing can change that," Draco pointed at his head. "And even if I didn't it's up here! Forever in my head."

"You're helping with the Legend now. I think that makes up for almost anything," Hermione said, wondering why she was so keen to reassure him. He had been vile, especially to her, he didn't deserve forgiveness.

"Wasn't like I chose that was it? I just happened to be there." Hermione didn't have an answer to this so she remained silent. She hated seeing him like this but she wasn't sure how to handle the situation. Draco stood up, running his hand through his hair again. "I'll leave you in peace. See you after dinner."

Hermione watched him saunter away, because even now in his despondent mood, he was still unconsciously sauntering. He was so difficult to understand, full of conflicting moods and traits. She knew she liked him now though because when he had appeared so miserable all she had wanted was to make him happy again. Happy and annoying - but happy.

Reviews are lovely...x