The entire room went silent as the Slytherin Prince and Gryffindor Princess walked into the Potions classroom together and sat down behind Blaise and Pansy. Hermione looked over at Harry and Ron and waved lightly. Harry smiled back with a gentle wave as Ron turned his head the other direction.

"You got her out of bed?" Pansy whispered, leaning back.

"Yeah," Draco answered, not really paying attention to her.

"It's good to see you, hun." Pansy smiled, setting her hand softly on Hermione's.

"Thanks," Hermione answered, confused by the difference in attitude. Last night Pansy was offering herself to Draco and today she was acting like Hermione's best friend. "It's quite strange actually, being in class again."

Just then, the new professor walked in causing Hermione to straighten up in her seat, paying close attention to every word the professor says.

"We will be reviewing Draught of Peace today, making sure all of you know how the potion is properly brewed." Draco caught the professor's words as he looked at the girl sitting beside him. "Make sure to pay close attention while brewing, a poor batch of this brew can be deadly."

"The Draught of Peace," Draco whispered in Hermione's ear, sending chills up her back, "relieves agitation and anxiety."

"Maybe you should sneak a batch for yourself, save your bedroom the misery of the abuse," Blaise laughed, nudging Pansy.

"Why, so he can pass out on your floor again?" She joked, grinning from ear to ear. Hermione watched as the group teased each other through the potion brewing. Maybe they weren't as dark as she had assumed. They were friends, witches and wizards. The only difference being that they cared of their blood status, as to where her, Ron, and Harry hadn't. She couldn't help but glance over at them, watching Ron put too much Valerian root in there. It's going to cement on you Ron, just like it always does.

"Granger, grind the porcupine quills to a powder," Draco said, bringing Hermione back to earth.

"Right, sorry," she answered, grinding the quills.

"We are to add a tablespoon of the powdered unicorn horn, Malfoy, not a teaspoon."

"Watch and see, Granger, I was taught potions by the best of teachers."

"He was my teacher, too," she barked back, frustrated at his inability to listen. Draco grabs Hermione by the arm, pulling her close enough that no one else can hear him.

"And you think the Death Eaters didn't have agitation? I can do this potion in my sleep, Granger. Don't doubt me."

"But-"

"But nothing. A tablespoon makes the potion, but if you simply use a teaspoon not only are you saving some ingredients for another potion, but you are taking the edge off. It's not nearly as obvious that the person taking the potion is no longer on edge, it's a gentle glide away from the agitation."

Hermione thinks about what Draco said as he slowly dusted the unicorn horn along the top of the pot, stirring it slowly. She watched as lowered the temperature, feeling the side of the cauldron and then adds the final ingredient.

"Very impressive, Mr. Finnegan, it looks like you have finally mastered this potion. Looks like Dean has been very effective at teaching you the measurements. Very nice, ladies, but if Miss Brown would pay more attention to her potion and less to Mr. Weasley she would realize that she forgot to grind the unicorn horn. Could use a little less Valerian root, Mr. Weasley, but I am to expect that with you and Mr. Potter working together." Suddenly, the professor stopped in front of Draco and Hermione's table, their cauldron filled with a glistening blue. "Fantastic, Mr. Malfoy and Miss Granger, way to master the potion." Draco smirked, causing Hermione to blush.

"I think I deserve an apology."

"Fine, you were right."

"You owe me something. For trying to ruin my potion, Gryffindor."

Hermione can't help but laugh, "And what would that be?"

"Sit with me at lunch. It gets rather lonely over there."

Hermione turned, looking at Harry and Ron. They were both staring at the concrete mixture bubbling in their cauldron. "Fine, but no funny business."

"I'm hurt, Granger," he answered sarcastically, putting his hand up to his chest. "After everything I've done for you?"

"Fine. Lunch." Hermione answered, shaking her head at him.

The Slytherin lunch table sat about the same as the Gryffindor. There was gossip and laughing, teasing and serious discussions. Girls sat together, snickering and flirting at the sight of their latest crush while boys talked of Quidditch and home. Hermione imagined her entire time at Hogwarts that the Slytherin table did nothing more than bash anyone less than a pure-blood but as she sat there she realized it was really only a difference of house.

Pansy sat across the table from Draco, next to Blaise, leaving her usual spot available for Hermione. As Hermione sat down she realized that despite all the other conversations going on around them and his usual snippy comments, Draco simply sat there staring off into space over his lunch.

"Malfoy?" She whispered, leaning in close to him.

"What?" he asked, his voice monotone.

"What are you thinking so hard about?"

"Draco never really talks during meals. He just kinda stares off into space and thinks. It's been that way since we first came here," Pansy butts in.

"But if you must know, Granger," he answered, "I was trying to think of how I would tell my mother."

"How you was planning on telling your mother? I don't understand."

"Of her first grandchild."

"Oh. Right," Hermione answered, her face falling. "Do you think she will be upset?" Blaise coughed on his lunch at the thought.

"Yes, Granger, I think she will be a little unease at the thought of her son impregnating anyone less than a pure-blood, but what can she do?"

"Hermione?" Harry asked, standing behind Pansy. Hermione hadn't even seen him walk up to the table because she was preoccupied with the conversation at hand. "Can I have a word with you?"

"Sure, Harry," Hermione answered, standing up and following him out of the Hall.

"I don't trust him," Draco snarled, looking at the closed door out which Hermione had just walked.

"Hermione, you realize that's Draco Malfoy in there right?" Harry asked as soon as the door to the Great Hall closed.

"Yes, Harry! I realize that!" Hermione barked back.

"So, why didn't you tell me?" The look in Harry's eyes told her he was sincerely hurt. She couldn't tell him the truth, he would walk back in there and hex Draco...possibly even kill him. Taking a deep breath, Hermione braced herself for the yelling.

"You would have told Ron," she answered, "I couldn't crush Ron like that." She wasn't lying, and Harry could see that. If she would have told him about the Manor, Ron would have known too. The three of them didn't keep secrets. The moment Ron found out, he would have been sick. He wasn't one to handle harsh emotions and seeing Hermione break down like that would have killed him.

"Do you love him?"

"What!"

"Do you love Malfoy?"

"First off, I don't see how that's any of your concern, Harry. Second, I think the fact that I am pregnant with his child says enough!"

"Did you love Ron?"

Tears welled up in Hermione's eyes as she thought of their first kiss, of how she held him while he cried over Fred's body at the funeral. She thought of the first time she had the nerve to sneak past Molly's room and climb into bed with Ron, how she jerked away crying whenever he started to lift her shirt so they sat up and talked all night never mentioning the setback.

"It don't matter, Harry. I am with Malfoy now."

"You can't even call him Draco. How can you love someone you still call by their last name?"

"I never said that I love him, you did. Besides, we are a family now. Me, him, and the baby. Now are you going to be a friend to me through this or not?" She stared at Harry, waiting for him to walk out of her life as Ron and Ginny already had. Instead he took a step towards her, wrapping her in his arms.

"You'll always be my best friend 'Mione. Congratulations," he said, even attempting a smile for her. How had he known it was just what she needed to hear? A tear streamed down Hermione's cheek as she heard someone finally congratulate her on the pregnancy.

"Thank you," she whispered, hugging him back.

Walking back into the Hall, Harry and Hermione went their separate directions. Harry sat at the Gryffindor table next to Ron while Hermione sat down next to Draco.

"What did Potter want?" Draco asked, not taking his eyes off of Harry.

To ask if I loved you. "To congratulate us on our family," she answered, looking across the Hall at her friend and deep down inside, Hermione finally felt an ounce of warmth.