Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews everyone! Sorry I didn't get this up sooner but it's crazy long and I needed to figure some things out. If you like it let me know!

As always, I love you and thanks for reading!

"Blaise," Hermione said darkly.

"Oh relax little sis, they're going to find out anyway," he said and he pulled open the huge doors.

"What is he talking about Hermione?" Harry asked and Hermione gulped.

"Nothing," she said unconvincingly.

"You always were a bad liar," Ron told her.

"Whatever, just come inside will you!?" Hermione took them both by the hand and dragged them into the Estate past a smirking Blaise. Ginny slapped him when she walked by.

"Whoa," Harry and Ron said together.

Hermione smiled, "Wait until you see outside," she said and she showed them the Quidditch pitch.

"No," began Harry.

"Way," Ron finished.

"How about three on three?" Came a distinctive drawl from behind them. The Golden Trio plus one turned to see a smirking Draco leaning in the doorway. The boys looked murderous, Ginny looked triumphant, Blaise looked amused, and Hermione was glowering at him. He shrugged his shoulders and walked over to stand with them. "Potty, Weasel, Weasel Princess," he said inclining his head at them in turn.

"Shut it," Hermione said as he walked around to stand behind her.

"What did I do?" He asked innocently.

"What are you doing here Malfoy?" Ron demanded.

"Ah, so you didn't tell them?" He said with a smirk.

"Shut it," she said again and he just shrugged. He decided that he would tell Ron and Harry in a more flamboyant fashion and now just wasn't the time or place.

Hermione was nervous as she looked at the smirk on Draco's face. You could practically see the gears spinning in his head and she knew that she wasn't going to get away with not telling Harry and Ron, he would make sure of that.

"So how about it, you three against us three?" Blaise said inclining his head to himself, Draco, and Hermione, on one team and the guests on the other.

"We don't have brooms," Harry noted, he never missed an opportunity in beating Draco at Quidditch. Draco just might get rammed in the shoulder and fall off his broom. By accident of course.

"I have a few extras in the shed," Blaise said and he led the two red heads and Harry to the other side of the pitch leaving Draco and Hermione alone for the moment. He wasted no time in wrapping his arm around her from his stance behind her as he kissed her neck seductively.

"Stop it Draco, they can see us!" she said.

"So?" he asked against her throat.

"They don't know yet, well except Ginny," she said.

"Of course they don't," he sighed. He was a little hurt to be honest with you. "Are you going to come tonight?" He asked.

"If I can, I will," she said and she turned her face to his and gave him a quick kiss before she saw the others come out of the shed.

Ginny had made Harry go get her one so she could observe Hermione and Malfoy, sneakily of course. He held onto her like she was the only thing keeping him from losing everything. Maybe she was his everything. Ginny didn't ponder long before Harry handed her a Nimbus 2000.

"Seriously Zabini, how many of those do you have hidden in there?" Harry asked.

"A lot more than that," he answered as he held his, Draco's, and Hermione's broom in his hands. He had to smack Ron when he told him that one of the Firebolt's was Hermione's.

"Can she even fly?" Ron asked incredulous.

"Watch and see," he said. Ginny frowned at Blaise. It was amazing how he could be so different when he was with herself, Hermione, and Dracp. When there were other people around, he turned into the arrogant Slytherin she knew he really wasn't.

Ron and Harry were marching toward Hermione and Malfoy because when they looked over they saw him put a hand on the small of her back.

"Blaise," Ginny said pulling on his hand to slow him down.

"Hey Gin," he said with a smile. He had done a complete 180.

"What is matter with you?" She asked without returning the smile.

"What do you mean?" He asked innocently.

"Stop being a git and act normally please," she demanded.

"Why? Do you like me like that?" He asked with a smirk and a cocked eyebrow to rival Draco's.

"You are truly obnoxious," she said and she stalked off leaving Blaise standing there by himself, hurt. He didn't think that she'd actually walk away.

"Wait Ginny!" He called and she stopped abruptly and turned with her arms over her chest, he almost ran into her.

"What?"

"I'm sorry," he said with puppy dog eyes.

"You should be," she said and she turned and walked away to save Hermione and Draco from her brother and her boyfriend.

Harry and Ron had come over to the side of the pitch where Hermione and Draco were standing. Draco dragged his hand along the small of her back as he let her go.

"Why were you touching her," Ron asked with acid dripping from every word.

"Don't worry about it Weaselbee," Draco drawled.

"But I am worried about it Malfoy," Ron said sizing Malfoy up.

"Ron relax," Hermione said.

"Hermione?" Harry asked. He had stayed quiet throughout their whole exchange and watched Hermione's reaction. She had moved about a fraction of an inch in front of him almost as if she was getting ready to shield him from Ron.

"What?" She snapped.

"What's going on?" He asked. Hermione sighed but couldn't answer because Blaise had come over and handed them their brooms. Without a word Hermione got on hers and flew up into the air.

"Malfoy?" Harry asked abandoning Hermione.

"Scarhead?" He said back calmly.

"Are you going to tell me what's going on?" Draco eyed Hermione but she was refusing to meet his eyes.

"Nope," he said with a smirk and he joined Hermione in the air.

Ron and Harry looked at each other and Harry knew Ron was contemplating pulling out his wand and hexing Malfoy into next week and he didn't blame him one bit.

Malfoy flew up next to Hermione, "You really need to tell them babe," he said.

"No I don't," she answered stubbornly.

"If you don't after we finish the game then I will," he said with a michevious look in his eyes.

"Oh really?" She said crossing her arms while maintaining balance. He raised an eyebrow but shrugged before he nodded. "I really want to kill you right now," she said, glancing murderously in his direction.

"You're pretty sexy when you're mad, you know," he said with a wink.

"Ah, and he's back. You know what Draco, you really impossible sometimes and it's pissing me off so stop being an ass and be nice," she ranted.

He smirked and came even closer to her, close enough to whisper in her ear, "You have no idea how much I want you right now."

Hermione threw her hands up in the air and flew away leaving a snickering boy in her wake.

"Are you alright?" Harry asked after he and Ron had joined them in the air.

"Yeah, Malfoy is just pissing me of but whatever," she said and flew to her brother.

"Ready?" He asked and everyone nodded. He threw the Quaffle up and they started to play.

Hermione swooped up over Ron's head and snatched the Quaffle out of the air completely taking him by surprise. She rolled under Harry and dodged a shocked Ginny to put the ball through the hoop.

She smiled sweetly at them and went to high five her brother and stare daggers at Draco. "Brilliant honey," Blaise said.

"Thank you," she answered.

"Hermione! I didn't know you could play!" Ginny squealed.

"And you're not on our house team because…" Harry asked.

"Hermione?" Ron said. His expression was just hilarious. Hermione was about to answer when she heard her father's voice from the balcony.

"Yeah?" She called back.

"Tell Draco to come here," he called. Hermione looked at Malfoy quizzically and saw the terrified look on his face.

"What's up?" Blaise said.

"Nothing guys, I'll see you later?" He said.

"Yeah," we answered and he left without even a backward glance. Hermione was a little hurt, he didn't even say goodbye to her and the look of fear in his eyes haunted her for days. Where was he going? What was wrong? Was it his father? Oh God. "Blaise," I choked out.

"He'll be fine honey," he said lowering his voice to nobody else heard. She nodded with tears in her eyes. "I have an idea, HEY GUYS!" He called. Harry and Ron had been messing around not caring what was wrong with Draco or if he left but Ginny looked nervous and sad.

"What?" They called back.

"Let's play laser tag," he said and Hermione gave him a small smile.

"No way!" Harry cheered but Ginny and Ron looked confused.

"Come on, we'll show you," he said and he flew down to the door. Hermione and Blaise knew what to do so they transfigured the room quickly and showed them the guns. They smiled impishly at the rules and the game began. It was Blaise and Hermione against the other three.

"You're all done, Ginny!" Blaise called but then swore loudly when she tagged him from behind. She smirked into the dark and ran away from him only to be followed. He stalked her like a panther and crept up behind her once she thought she had shaken him. "Surprise," he whispered in her ear from behind and he shot her in the back.

"Not funny Blaise!" She screamed and they chased each other around like 5 year olds.

Ron and Harry however, were trying to sneak up on Hermione to no avail. She was crouched behind a couch and had to stifle a laugh when they looked right at her but didn't see her. She waited until they passed to jump out and scare them. They groaned when she added a lot of points to her and Blaise's score.

The game ended a little while later and the teenagers made their way up to Hermione's room. Ron and Harry transfigured themselves beds and Ginny jumped into Hermione's. Blaise took a seat at Hermione's desk. Hermione put her head down on her pillow exhausted.

"Are you going to sleep on me little one!?" Blaise asked putting a hand to his heart.

"You tire me out Blaise," she chuckled.

"Alright, I'll leave you guys to it then, night everyone," he said and he waved and left through the passageway.

"Where does that go?" Ron asked.

"Blaise's room," Ginny answered. Harry looked up briefly but only Hermione caught it. She could understand why Harry might be nervous, one couldn't deny the chemistry between her best girl and her brother.

"Goodnight everyone," Ginny said and she got sleepy groans and grunts in response. Hermione sighed and turned on her stomach and slid her arms under her pillow only to be met with a piece of parchment.

The lights had been turned out a few minutes ago so she couldn't read it there. Well, she wouldn't have been able to if Harry and Ron weren't already asleep.

"Just read it already," Ginny whispered from the other side of the bed. She leaned up on her elbow to see both boys snoring like nothing else, she had no view to Hermione or the letter.

"How did you know?!" She asked.

"Just open it," she said with a light laugh.

Hermione,

I'm not going to be able to stay at your house. I'm not supposed to leave before school starts. My father has some things that he needs me to do for him before I go back.


But you know me, screw the rules. Meet me in Blaise's room at one, I assume people will be in your room and an explosion could happen in Blaise's room and he wouldn't wake up.

I miss you… Draco

Hermione handed it to Ginny and smiled. "I don't think I can wait that long," Hermione whispered and Ginny smiled.

One o'clock couldn't come fast enough. Ginny had fallen asleep to she was just looking at the ceiling waiting for him. She looked at the clock and smiled before slipping from under the covers and going to the door. She had hardly opened it when arms pulled her into a rock solid chest. He reached over and shut the door behind her.

"Are you okay?" She asked. When he didn't answer she was going to look up at him but he had already put his fingers under her chin and brought his mouth to hers.

She knew something was bothering him but he didn't give her time to say anything more. Her arms rested on his chest and moved their way up around his neck. His kisses became frantic and she pulled him closer to her. She knew he didn't need a snogging session right now so she stroked his cheek, he just needed comfort.

He released her lips and buried his head in her shoulder. She was terrified when she felt wetness on her shoulders, tears betrayed him and fell onto her skin. "Oh my God baby, what's wrong?"

"Draco, your parents want you home," Peter said as he wrung his hands like he was nervous.

"Okay, er, thanks Mr. Zabini," he said. Peter nodded and Draco grabbed some floo powder, "Malfoy Manor," he called.

Draco shut his eyes and held his stomach. He didn't do flooing very well. He came out of the fireplace and was met with a frantic looking Narcissa.

"What's wrong Mum?" He said nervously.

"You need to go see your Father, the Dark Lord is there also," she said. Draco's eyes widened in shock and fear.

"How was I supposed to do anything yet?" He asked.

"I don't know honey but go now!" She said and she put her hands on his shoulders and pushed him. He turned around when he got to the door and looked at his mother she gave him a watery smile. He took a deep breath and turned to knock.

"Enter," came Lucius's drawl. Draco opened the door and bowed before his Master sitting by the fireplace before he could curse him like last time.

"My Lord," he said respectfully.

"Ah, Draco, I see you learned your manners," he said with a cold smirk.

"Yes, my Lord," he said carefully.

"Well, I just wanted to see how you are doing with my project?" He said steepling his fingers.

"I have ideas sir," Draco answered even though it was a total lie. He quickly shielded his mind via occlumency.

"Ah, well I see Snape has been teaching you occlumency," he said.

"Yes, sir," Draco said.

"What do you want to hide from me Draco?" Oh shit he thought.

"Nothing master, I just er," there really wasn't an end to Draco's answer, he just didn't want Voldemort to know how he really was spending his time. Voldemort came to Draco and backhanded him in the eye before throwing a quick Cruciatus curse at him.

Draco put a hand to his face and could feel a bloody trail from his cheek to his eye where Voldemort's ring cut him.

"Go to Knockturn Alley and find things to assist you," he said with finality, "You are to stay here and work on this, you are dismissed."

Draco jumped up and practically ran out of the room without a look at his Father. It's that bastard's fault he was in this situation in the first place. Narcissa was at the door the second he left the room. She dragged him to his bedroom.

"Oh honey, are you okay!?" She asked looking him over as if to find evidence he was hurt in any way. The last pace she looked ironically, was his face. There was the cut that was about three inches and relatively deep. He wasn't loosing enough blood for him to die but it was pretty brutal.

"Yeah Mum, I'm fine," he said disentangling himself from her grasp and laying down on his bed.

"No you're not! Look at your face!" She cried. She whipped out her wand and tried everything in the book. "Why isn't this working!" She screamed.

"The ring was probably cursed or something," he said and that gave him an idea. Not that it was a very good one.

"You can't go back to Blaise's you know," she said rather sadly.

"I know," he whispered trying to think of every possible way to sneak there just so he could tell her he'd see her on the train, just to tell her he was okay.

She pushed a piece of hair off his head so she could put a healing potion on his cut that she conjured from the cupboard downstairs. It didn't heal it completely but it wasn't bleeding so much. "How's Hermione?" She asked and a smile crept onto his face and that made Narcissa's heart sing. She wanted so much for Draco to find love, for him to feel whole.

"I don't know what to tell her Mum," he whispered and let his mother pull him to his chest.

"The truth, tell her you love her and you'll do everything to keep her safe," she reasoned.

"What if it's not enough?" He asked in a small voice.

"If she loves you she'll know it's all you can give," she said and kissed the top of his head before leaving with the grace that encompasses everything Malfoy.

Draco's eyes closed and he thought of a way to reach Hermione, then took a deep breath and it hit him. He bolted upright and ran to his desk pulling out a piece of parchment and a quill. His owl was waiting for him and he tied it to his leg and told it to bring his letter to Hermione.

When he was gone he sighed and looked at his clock, one o'clock was a long way away. Deciding to do something to pass the time he went to the library and sat in a chair with a book not really paying attention to what he was reading. His mind was going a million miles an hour. He had to think about how he was going to carry out the Dark Lord's mission and how he was going to keep Hermione out of it. There was nothing he wouldn't do to keep her safe.

When it was about time to go Draco stood up and peeked out the hall, nobody was there. He slid back into the hallway and cast a disillusionment charm on himself. When he was satisfied he snuck down into the living room and threw some floo powder into the fireplace and whispered, "Zabini Estate."

He was in the Zabini's sitting room and was relieved that Peter was in bed. He undid the charm and ran to Blaise's room. There really wasn't reason to be silent because Blaise slept like a champ. Draco could have screamed in his ear and he wouldn't wake up. Smiling to himself he opened the door and waited for Hermione. That's where things got dicey, when he was able to think, thoughts of the mission hit him like a mack truck. It was all that clouded his mind and he wondered if that wasn't an accident. He was horrified to feel tears starting to form behind his eyes and was grateful he was in the dark where Hermione couldn't see his weakness.

He needed her. He needed her right then, he couldn't wait a moment longer. She was the only thing keeping him grounded and they had only not-hated each other for a few days. How he came to need her so much was a mystery to him.

He was going to barge through her door but he saw the sliver of light alerting him to her presence. Without thinking he grabbed her wrist while shutting the door with his other hand and bringing her into his arms.

"Are you okay?" She whispered and Draco was going to answer but the words wouldn't go past the lump in his throat so he lifted her lips to his and kissed her like he would never see her again.

She put her arms around his neck and pulled her closer, too terrified to let her go. Her hand came up and ran down his cheek lightly. He knew this was it and he buried his head into her shoulder and felt a tear go onto her shoulder.

"Oh my God baby, what's wrong?" He knew he wouldn't be able to say it, he couldn't tell her yet so he shook his head and he cried.

-

They stayed like that for several minutes, Hermione held him close to her and wasn't intending to let him go. Ever, if she could help it, as a matter of fact. She put both hands on his face and turned it to hers. The little light there was didn't do much but his gray eyes stood out against the darkness. She took a good look at his face and gasped. "What happened Draco?"

"I'm fine, but listen, I'm not going to be able to write, I'll see you on the way to school," she nodded and he went to leave but not before a quick peck on the lips.

"Draco wait, I don't not like you," she whispered and he laughed roughly, crackly.

"I don't not like you either," he said. She smiled and kissed him lightly. "I have to go," he said.

"I figured, I'll see you on the train," He nodded and kissed her again, not ever being able to fully get enough. He never knew when the Dark Lord would lose patience with him. "Are you going to be okay?" she whispered.

"As long as you're there," he said. "Bye Hermione," he kissed her forehead and went back out the way he came.

"Bye Draco," she said but he was already gone. She waited to cry until he was gone. There was clearly something going on that was scaring him, bothering him, and she just wanted to take away his pain.

What was wrong with her?

Draco Malfoy was scared and she cared. Not only did she care, she wanted to help him.

She crawled into bed and didn't get a wink of sleep.

Hermione spent the next two days with her friends having much less fun than she anticipated. She told Blaise her concerns but he told her not to worry about it, he knew what was going on but wouldn't tell her.

She didn't talk to him for a few hours but when he went and found her friends playing Quidditch without her, he went looking for her. She was crying and he took her into her arms and cradled her to his chest.

"What did they do to him?"

"He needs to tell you that," he said and Hermione nodded with a sick feeling in her stomach that her Slytherin might be worse the next time she saw him.

"Hermione wake up! The train leaves in fifteen minutes!" Hermione nodded and rolled over but Ginny kept shaking her. "Get up!" She had finally been able to sleep and it was already time to get up. Not going to happen. Ginny had had enough, "Blaise!"

"What's up Gin?" He asked and she pointed to Hermione.

"She won't wake up, I'd tell Harry and Ron to do it but they already left," she said apologetically.

"Anything for you. Plus I have the perfect incentive," he said with a smile and he jumped on top of Hermione.

"WAKE UP HERMIONE!" He screamed in her ear. She pulled her pillow over her head but he removed the part by her ear. "Fine, I guess you don't want to see Draco," he said and she sat up real quick. He smirked in Ginny's direction and she rolled her eyes but he was sure he heard a 'why didn't I think of that.'

"I'm up," she said and she wiped her eyes. "Let's go!" She said and bewitched everything to jump into her trunk and came out of the bathroom about .2 seconds later, changed and ready to go. Ginny and Blaise looked at her with mouths open. "What?" She asked innocently, pulling a curl out of her collar.

"How did you do that?" Blaise asked.

"Do what?" She asked.

"Oh, nothing we're going to be late!" Ginny said and she pulled Hermione and Blaise by the hand out the door. She tried to ignore the jolt she got when Blaise's huge hand squeezed hers ever so lightly. Oh boy.

They flooed to the train station at a safety checkpoint for wizards and booted it onto Platform 9 ¾. "Ginny, Hermione!" Harry called from one of the windows.

"Oh I see how it is," Blaise whispered and both girls slapped his chest. He pretended to look indignant, but only for a minute though. "I'll see you later little one," he said giving her a kiss on the cheek, "Bye Ginny," he said but she put a hand on his chest to stop him from giving her a kiss too.

"Don't even think about it," she said and he smirked at her before leaving them there. "Blaise is quite the kid," she said shaking her head with a smile.

"Tell me about it, let's go I want to find Draco," Hermione said and ran onto the train and went to find the compartment Harry and Ron were in. They found it easily enough and found that Neville and Luna were there too. Neville was holding some new plant and Luna was reading the Quibbler upside down, as usual.

"What took you so long?" Ron asked as he helped put the girls trunks on the shelf.

"Not important but I'll be right back," Hermione said.

"Hermione, hold on," Harry said and Neville and Luna turned to stare at him.

"Hermione?" Neville asked.

"Oh er, yeah that's Hermione," he said.

"Long story guys, I'll be right back," she said and she ran out the door but not before she heard Luna say dreamily, 'it was probably a flying fumdinger, they change appearances you know." Hermione giggled and went down the hall trying to find the Slytherin prince.

She found the Slytherin compartment easily enough. Blaise, Pansy, Crabbe, and Goyle were in there but no Malfoy. Blaise caught her eye and motioned his head left. She nodded and went to where the trains connected forming a little alcove.

She hadn't even walked by when someone grabbed her around the middle. Draco's arms pulled her to him and she sighed in contentment. She wound her arms around his neck and held him close.

"Are you okay?" She asked almost afraid to look at his face.

"Look at me babe," he said. She took a deep breath and looked up. His gash wasn't as swollen and the bruise was yellowish. "Looks like I lost a fight huh?" He said with a smirk.

"Don't joke! Are you okay!? Seriously." She added.

"I'm better now," he said pulling her a little tighter.

She chuckled and kissed his chest on his shirt, "You're just using every line in the book today huh?"

He laughed and his chest rumbled, "I am," he said, "But I mean every word." He said it so sincerely that she had to believe him. She smiled and used the grip on his neck to pull him down to her.

He smiled and kissed her gently. Apparently though, that wasn't what she wanted. She ran her tongue along his bottom lip and he shivered into her. She took this as invitation to continue and she tangled her fingers in his hair and deepened her kiss.

He followed suit and dipped his tongue into her mouth. She sighed and he turned her around and pushed her against the wall. His hands moved her waist to dip under her shirt to rest on her bare back. She shivered at the contact.

"I'm sorry," he said into her lips.

"Don't be," she said, "Leave 'em there," she said and she captured his lips again. He groaned a little and Hermione couldn't help but be turned on. His lips moved to her throat and she tightened her grip on his neck. He sucked under her ear and she smiled. She turned her head so she was practically hidden in his blonde hair.

All she could see and hear and taste was Draco and all she could feel was his lips on her neck. There was simply nothing else in the world that mattered more than that simple fact.

"Draco," she said softly and he smiled into her neck.

"Oi!" Someone screamed from the hallway. Hermione felt Draco's lips leave her neck. Oh shit. Draco kept his back to the intruder and pressed her against the wall with his face in her hair.

"Who are you molesting today Malfoy?" Ron said and Draco took a breath but didn't turn around.

Hermione peeked around Draco's head and saw Harry and Ron staring at the scene in front of them. If they looked disgusted before, it was nothing to the murderous glances they gave when they saw it was Hermione. They glanced at her and both drew their wands on Draco who still had their back to them effectively pinning her against the wall.

"'Mione," Ron said incredulously.

"Er, hi guys," she said.

"What's going on right now?" Ron asked. Apparently, Harry was speechless.

"Er," she said but Draco had composed himself and turned to stand behind her with a smirk.

The Gryffindor boys pointed the wands at him and were shocked when Hermione put his arms behind her, shielding him. "Get away from her Malfoy," he said.

"Why Weasel? She seemed to like it," he said and Hermione turned to glare at him. He merely shrugged and smirked wider if possible.

"I SAID GET AWAY FROM HER!" He roared. Malfoy didn't even dignify that with an answer just put his arms around her waist from behind and put his lips to her neck.

"Hermione?" Harry asked disbelieving. He noticed that she didn't flinch away from his touch or his lips. In fact, she leaned into him.

Ron ears turned purple and his face was the same color. He was going to blow any second.

"HOW CAN YOU LET HIM TOUCH YOU!?"

"Ron, calm down," Hermione said trying to reason with him.

"CALM DOWN!? CALM DOWN!? HERMIONE, YOU WERE JUST SNOGGING MALFOY, AS IN THE PERSON THAT TEASED YOU MERCILESSLY AND CALLED YOU MUDBLOOD FOR 5 YEARS!?"

"I know, okay, Ron relax, I know," she said.

"No you don't," he said his voice dropping dangerously. "He doesn't deserve you. He's a merciless, horrible, stupid Death Eater just like his useless father."

Draco's face turned murderous, "Don't ever talk about my family again."

Hermione found his hands behind her back and squeezed them, willing him to calm down. He didn't seem to get the hint.

"I'll talk about whoever I want Malfoy, now take your hands off of Hermione," he said.

"Ron," Hermione said, "I want his hands on me." Draco smirked and Ron's jaw dropped like Harry's and she realized her mistake. "No, I mean, wait, I don't mean it like that. I mean we're together."

"Hermione, he's dangerous," Harry said.

"Ah so Potter can speak?" Draco said.

"Shut up Draco," Hermione said before turning back to her friends.

"What do you mean you're together?" Ron asked.

"I mean… well, er, guys, Draco is my boyfriend," Hermione said quietly.

"HE'S WHAT!?" Ron roared. By now, people had come out to watch the fight. They were standing in the doorways crowding to get a better vantage point. Slytherin's on one side and Gryffindor on the other. Blaise had come over and stood next to Ginny standing behind Harry and Ron, watching in horror as her favorite people in the world squared off with one other.

Ron stepped in front of Harry, "Petrificus Totalis!"

But Hermione had already prepared for this. She raised her wand, "Finite Incantatem!" Ron's spell had no effect on them whatsoever.

Ron's jaw dropped, "Hermione how could you?" he asked.

"I told you Ron, we're together. I would like it if you didn't hex him," she said calmly.

"Hermione, this is not okay," Harry said.

"Harry, just give him a chance," she pleaded.

"I can't Hermione, I just can't," He said and Hermione started to cry. Draco's hands squeezed hers this time and she sighed.

"Please Harry," she said. She had pretty much given up hope on Ron. He was too mad and too far gone. Harry just shook his head and clapped his hand on Ron's shoulder and pushed him through the crowd. Hermione stared at their backs and watched them leave.

The crowd didn't know where to look so they turned their attention back to the scene.

"Hermione?" Someone asked finally catching on.

"You are not Hermione," another voice said.

"It's okay babe, come with me," Draco said and he pulled her through the people and into a compartment. "Dumbledore will make an announcement telling people who you are." She cried even harder and he pulled her onto the seat on his lap. She turned her head to the side and cried into his neck. His arms wound around her protectively and he realized they switched roles. Now he was comforting her. He didn't think something could feel so right as it did when he held her in his arms.

To be honest, he was just kind of winging it. Crying was something he didn't deal with very well. He never knew what to say or what to do. What he did know though, was he couldn't screw this up.

It was just the two of them for awhile, her breathing became less forced and more peaceful, rhythmic. He looked down and found her asleep in his arms. She tired herself out crying so hard.

Someone knocked on the door a few minutes later and Draco looked up to see Blaise and Ginny at the door. He nodded and they came into the compartment. Blaise came over and knelt next to the bench and pushed Hermione's hair out of her eyes. Ginny knelt next to him.

Hermione's eyes fluttered open with the touch, "Hey honey," he said. She didn't say anything but the tears that welled up in her eyes said it all.

"Hey 'Mione, they're stupid you know that, they'll come around," Ginny said. She nodded and wiped her eyes. Her face turned up to Draco's and he looked pained.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

"Don't cry anymore please," he looked a little horrified, "I don't really know what to do with myself." Hermione smiled and brought her face to his once again. He kissed her back and pulled away.

"I'd say you did alright mate," Blaise said and clapped his best friend on the back. Draco smiled slightly and Hermione sat up and moved out of his arms. She walked over the edge of the compartment and immediately missed his warmth.

Draco didn't like letting her go and couldn't help but shiver when she moved.

"Wait Gin," Hermione said turning around. "Isn't Harry going to be mad that you're here and that you knew?" She asked.

"Yeah, but he can't stay mad at me for long," Blaise snorted, "Well Blaise, if you must know, I have some things he wants badly and he knows if he's a git he isn't going to be very happy the next few days," she finished and winked at him.

Blaise was furious inside. He wanted nothing more then to kill Potter with his bare hands. "What's up Blaise?" Draco asked.

"Nothing," he said through his teeth and his hands balled into fists. Hermione and Ginny were talking so he leaned over.

"Jealous of Scarhead?" He asked with a smirk.

"Yup." He said matter-of-factly.

"Tough break mate," Draco said and opened his arms for Hermione to return to them. She came back and slept in his arms. Blaise and Ginny were sitting opposite them and Ginny had fallen asleep on Blaise's shoulder.

The look Blaise gave Draco when she did made him want to double over in laughter and he would have if there wasn't a sleeping girl in his arms. He was afraid the vibrations in her chest would wake her but that wasn't happening.

He looked pained and happy and terrified and sad and elated all at once. It was a hilarious combination.

"So what are you going to do about that?" Draco asked inclining his head to Ginny.

"I have no idea," he said as he looked at her. Her eyebrows were scrunched together, she was clearly not having a good dream. Her lips were slightly parted and he really wanted to kiss them but she would probably take his life.

No she would take his life.

"Blaise, evil scheme master, Zabini, doesn't have a plan?!" Draco asked with mock surprise.

"Shut it man, but hey we're almost there we should probably wake them," he said and Draco nodded.

"Babe, wake up," he said gently shaking her. She turned her face into his chest and shook her head no. He smiled and used the hand that wasn't around her waist to bring her face to his. Her eyes stayed closed and he kissed her before she could react. She sighed happily and opened her eyes.

"I'm up now, what do you want?" She asked playfully.

"We have to change," he said and she nodded. Draco looked at Blaise and laughed, Hermione looked at him to ask what's so funny and turned when she saw him looking at Blaise. She laughed at him too.

He was looking at them with wide eyes, he didn't really know what to do. Hermione sighed theatrically at her brother and knelt in front of Ginny and shook her gently. "Ginny, wake up girl," she said.

Ginny's eyes opened and she took in her surroundings, she didn't sit up though. "What?" she asked sleepily.

"We have to get dressed," Hermione said and Ginny nodded and moved her arms to stretch and accidentally punched Blaise in the face. She turned a horrified face to his and put her hands on his cheeks, covering his hand that was already there.

"Oh my God, I'm so sorry Blaise! Are you okay?" She asked frantically.

"Yeah, I'm fine," he said with a smile.

The boys went to go change and Ginny came over to Hermione with a huge blush staining her cheeks. "Please tell me I didn't fall asleep on Blaise," she said holding her hands in front of her chest with fingers intertwined.

"Sorry, but you did," Hermione said with a smirk that she had to have picked up from hanging out with so many Slytherin's.

"Ugh," Ginny said and threw her head into her hands.

"What's wrong?" Draco asked Ginny, sliding the compartment door open. Hermione had to catch her breath when she saw him, he had put his shirt on but left the top buttons undone and his tie wasn't tight to his neck, hanging loosely on his chest. His hair was a complete mess and she just wanted to mess it up even more.

I mean, come on, the boy was hot.

"What?" He asked self conscience.

"Nothing," she said innocently and he eyed her quizzically.

Blaise came in with a twinkle in his eyes, "Again man, thicker than Crabbe and Goyle."

Hermione looked out the window and saw Hogwarts in the distance. She turned with a smile, "We're here."

Ending Note: Okay, so I know they said that they would be in Hogwart's but this is 19 pages and I got pretty close. Haha. Keep reviewing because I love them and I love you!