When they arrived at the Forbidden Forest, they saw that Draco was already there with Hagrid and Fang.
"Alrigh' youngens let's go see if we can't find us a unicorn. There was one killed a few weeks ago, and I found some blood from another one a couple of days ago. We are gonna go into the forest and see if we can't put the poor creature out of its misery. Alright, um, Harry you're with me and Hermione…"
"I'll go with Draco, you take Ron and Fang." Hermione informed them.
"Hermione, are ya' sure?" Hagrid asked her.
"Yes, I'm sure." Hermione stated with conviction.
That left everyone confused. Why would Hermione Granger, a Muggle Born, want to hang out with Draco Malfoy, a known Muggle hater?
"Why would you, Hermione Granger-a Mudblood, want to travel with me?" Draco sneered.
"Well, if you must know," Hermione said loftily, "You are my first cousin." She finished with a smile.
"I am not related to a Mudblood!" Draco smirked.
"I am not a Mudblood! I am a Black! Hermione Lily Black to be exact!" Hermione asserted.
"Wait you're my cousin, the cousin that the Ministry and Dumbledore took away from us? That's why my mother told me to watch out for you! You're Hermione!" Draco exclaimed as he ran over to her and enveloped her in a hug. It was the first time that they had touched since they were two. They breathed in each other's scent and Draco said, "It really is you!"
"Yes, Draco, it is. Now that you know we must see each other more often, even in school." Hermione told him, "However, you must treat me like any other Mudblood."
"Why? You're my cousin. I haven't seen you in ages." Draco asked confused.
"I can't let people know that I know who I am. It would be disastrous for us. Come on, let's see if we can't find that unicorn before the Bloodtraiter and Half-bloods do." Draco sneered, and Hermione sneered right back.
They did find unicorn before the other group, but they did not find it first. There was a dark shape that looked like it was drinking the unicorn's blood. Draco started screaming, but Hermione quickly slapped her hand over his mouth, and hissed, "Be quiet, Draco!"
She then walked over to the shadow, knelt on one knee, and said, "My Lord."
"Hermione" it hissed, "How are you, my daughter."
Draco gasped at that.
"And who is this strapping young man?"
"This is Draco Malfoy, Daddy." Hermione gushed smiling.
"Princess, you must get Harry down to where the Stone is hidden, Quirrell will not be able to get it out of the Mirror of Erised; but Harry will. You must get him down there. Once that happens I will be free and we will rule."
"Daddy?" Hermione asked.
"Yes, my Princess."
"I don't think Harry is the best suitor for my."
"Who do you have in mind? Never mind dear, I will let you choose my dear, now run, run and scream; and tell them what you saw." It sounded like the shadow smirked.
Hermione smirked right back, "Of course daddy."
She turned, smiled at Draco, grabbed his hand, and started screaming and running. They continued until they ran smack dab into Hagrid.
"What's wrong with ya?" he bellowed.
Draco decided it would be best to play the wimpy Slytherin and cowered.
Hermione on the other hand said very breathlessly, "We found the unicorn, but it was dead and something was drinking from it. Whatever it was, was not human."
"Alright, let's go back to the Castle." Hagrid said very nervously.
By the time they got to the common room, Harry had already figured out who was in the forest.
"You saw Voldemort. He must be trying to get the Sorcerer's Stone. We have to go down the trap door."
"But when?" Ron asked.
"Harry, is the Stone in danger." Hermione asked.
"Not yet, but it will be soon." Harry answered confused.
"Then we wait."
"Why!? Why Wait!?" Harry shouted.
"Because, we will not be able to get the Stone while Dumbledore is on the Grounds." Hermione explained, her patience thinning.
"How do you know these things?" Ron asked.
"I read." She dead paned; however that was not entirely correct, she read about Dumbledore but her mum told her about Harry.
Saturday Hermione went to find Draco; they had agreed to meet in the Trophy Room while everyone else was outside. It had not been hard to ditch Harry and Ron; all she had to do was tell them she was going to go to the Library and they would leave her alone.
When she arrived at the common room Draco was already there.
"What no lackeys?" Hermione smirked at him.
"I see your posse is missing as well." Draco sneered.
"Well I could not have them see this; they would be so confused."
"Bet it does not take much to confuse a Weasley."
"The Twins actually seem rather smart."
"You did not arrange a meeting so that we would talk about those Bloodtraiters? Did you?"
"No, I need a place to stay for the summer."
"What, you don't want to stay with Muggles?"
"No! I want to stay with my family."
"I see to it is arranged."
"Thank you, Draco." Hermione said smiling.
"You're welcome; you can stay with us at any time. But what are you going to tell the Grangers?"
"I can lie very well; I'll just tell them that I'm going to stay at Harry's place."
"I will see you this summer then, Princess."
It was not until after their finals that Harry's scar started hurting constantly.
"Harry, what's wrong?" asked Ron.
"It's my scar, it keeps hurting."
"It must be Voldemort, he must be coming soon." Hermione smiled.
"Why are you smiling, we need to find Dumbledore."
However, when they went to find him they found out that he had gone, and Minerva didn't believe them.
Hermione told the boys, "We go down the trap door, tonight."
In order to leave, Hermione had to cast "Petrificus Totalus!" on Neville.
When they arrived at Fluffy's door they saw that she was already asleep, but when they opened the trap door she woke up causing them to jump into the pit and land on something squishy.
"Thank goodness that this plant thing was here." Ron said relived; however just as he said that the plant wrapped its vines around them.
"Just relax." Hermione said patronizingly.
She was obviously relaxed and fell to the floor, which only made the boys panic more. "Incendio!" she yelled at the plant, causing it to drop the boys.
"You are both idiots!" she hissed as she walked don the corridor.
The next task they had to overcome was flying keys. Hermione stoked Harry's ego and let him catch the key, even though she could have caught it before him. At least all three of them made it through before the other keys could kill them.
"Who made the flying keys?!" Harry asked.
"Professor Flitwick." Hermione stated like it was obvious and they were stupid fat not knowing so.
They opened yet another door and were greeted by a life size chees set. Ron sacrificed himself so the other two could go on; and Harry could have sworn he heard Hermione mutter, "Stupid Gryffindor bravery!"
The next task was potions, and a riddle; and if they guessed wrong they would be burned alive. Harry was so confused. Hermione on the other hand knew the answer the first time she read over the riddle.
"Harry you need to drink that smallest bottle."
"You're not coming?" Harry asked nervously.
"There isn't enough for the both of us. I'll drink out of that round bottle on the far house right. I'll get Ron to safety, and bring you back up." Hermione smiled at him before she downed it all in one swallow and disappeared through the purple flames. Little did Harry know that she was going to take her own sweet time finding help.
By the time Hermione made it out of the third floor corridor, Dumbledore had already made it back. When she told him what had transpired he took Minerva and Snape with him to see if Harry was alright. Hermione was left on her own to get Ron to the Hospital Wing.
"He just has a mild concussion. He should be awake soon; but I want to keep him overnight for observation. Let's see how you are, dear."
"I'm fine." Hermione asserted as she pushed Madam Pomfrey's hand away. She then leapt off the bed and stalked out of the room.
On her way to the Gryffindor Common room she ran into Draco, knocking him onto the floor.
"Watch where you're going!" he sneered.
"Excuse me?"
"Hermione, sorry I didn't know it was you."
"That's ok." Hermione smiled as she ran her fingers over his check, and kissed him were her hand had momentarily been, "See you this summer."
It had been a good year for Hermione. She had actually made friends, her House won the House Cup, and she saw her daddy for the first time in ten years.
Now she was sitting at King's Cross Station, waiting for the Malfoys to pick her up. She had not exactly lied to Harry and Ron when she told them that she was staying with family over the summer. It was not her fault that they thought she was staying with the Grangers. She had lied to the Grangers though; she told them that she was staying with Harry over the summer. Since she was staying at the Malfoys, she could practice her magic and not get in trouble for doing so. Hermione smirked; this was going to be a fun summer!