Hermione was absolutely exhausted. She had been up the past five nights straight trying to work out some new spells for Dumbledore's Army. It was almost the holiday and she wanted as much done as possible before heading home from Christmas.

For the first time, Hermione was really looking forward to leaving Hogwarts. She had had it with Umbridge's ridiculous rules, Filch's stalking about the castle like the great goon that he was and with Inquisitorial Squad, headed by the one and only ferret face, Draco Malfoy. Her sworn enemy.

"Hermione, you need to take a break," said Harry as he entered the common room, his black hair its usual mess and his glasses slid part way down his nose. She never liked him that way, but he was great looking and sometimes Hermione wondered if she could.

"Why?" she snapped. "Because you're embarrassed to be seen with a brainy, bushy haired Know-It-All?"

Harry looked around. "I'm sorry. I didn't realize I walked into the room marked crazy lady."

Hermione huffed then looked up at her grinning best friend. "Sorry, Harry. I've just never been as good at defense against the dark arts as you. I need all the help I can get."

"There's a learning curve on these things Hermione. Eventually your brain just shuts down. That curve happened, I'm thinking, yesterday. Come on. Let's go for a walk." Harry took Hermione's hand pulled her to her feet. She tangled her fingers with his, loving the relaxing comfort of Harry's touch.

The halls were mostly empty, illuminated by the sunset light filtering in through the windows. The only sound Hermione could hear was Peeves rolling around the castle, making up some deliciously sinister rhyme about Professor Umbridge. Hermione was actually pretty proud of Peeves for that one.

"What's on your mind?" asked Harry. Hermione hadn't said anything as they walked. She was thinking about Silverhawk... she was thinking more and more about him lately.

"Hmm?" Hermione replied. "Oh, not much. Just a little out of it, you know?"

Harry gripped Hermione's hand tighter as Malfoy, Pansy, Filch and the rest of the Inquisitorial Squad rounded the corner. Hermione felt as though she had been cornered. If Harry hadn't anchored her to the ground she would have taken off running.

"Well if it isn't Potter and his little mudblood girlfriend," said... Pansy? Hermione was deeply surprised. That sounded like something Malfoy would say. He just stood by her side, scowling, but it looked oddly like he was scowling at Pansy, not her and Harry. Hermione chose to ignore it.

"What do you want?" said Harry, she could feel the tension running through his bodyl

"We're just wondering what you were up to, wandering around the corridors, this late, all alone" said Draco.

"What rule are we breaking?"

"The newest one. Boys and Girls can't be within-" Pansy sneered.

"You can stop there, Mrs. Malfoy," said Hermione. Draco was awful but she didn't even know what he could possibly have seen in her.

Draco's eyes widened, his molten silver eyes spat venom at Hermione as he drew his wand and closed the distance between them. Hermione looked down at the few inches separating them.

"I think you're breaking the rule now, aren't you?"

"Shut up, Granger." Draco pointed his wand in her face, looking dreadfully bitter, his normally pale face was pulsing red. She wasn't quite sure why she did it but before he could react, Hermione smacked Draco's wand out of his hand and sent it flying across the room. "How dare you touch Malfoy's wand?" he snarled.

"I hate you, Draco Malfoy." The words exploded from Hermione's mouth. Of all the terrible things Malfoy and Hermione had said to each other over the years, they had never admitted hate.

Draco swept across the hall and snatched his thin black wand off the cold floor. "Back at ya, mudblood."

"Leave her alone," Harry shouted. Hermione shook her head.

"Don't worry about it, Harry. I'm sure Draco's just upset because he's late for his appointment to kiss his father's bloody feet!"

Hermione whipped around and stormed out of the hallway. She would ruin the Inquisitorial Squad and Draco Malfoy if it was the last thing she ever did. But she would need some advice.

That night before she crawled into bed, Hermione pulled out a piece of parchment and scribbled a note that she couldn't believe she was writing.

Dear Silverhawk,

I'm sorry to hear about your problems. I wish I could say I understood them more, you see I have the exact opposite problem. I am who am I and sometimes that person hurts people. I wish I knew how appease others, how to act to just make people like me. But it seems no matter what I do, people hate me. I might as well just be me, right? Maybe that's the advice you need. To just be you because even if nobody likes you, at least you can like you? Anyway, as a self-professed "mean" person, I need your help. There is one person whose life goal it is to ruin me. Well, I'm sick of it but don't know what to do. I was wondering, the holidays are coming up and I'll have some time off... would you still like to meet me?

With great affection,

Vinewood

Thanks for reading and reviewing :)