Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter

When her eyes fluttered open, the first thought she had was that there was coffee brewing. She groaned lifting her head up and walking slowly toward the smell. Draco was leaning over the counter with a mug in his hand flipping through a textbook.

He didn't turn to her, but instead pointed toward a second mug. She took a sip before taking a breath. "Morning."

She watched him as he closed his book and moved so that his back was leaning on the counter.

"Good Morning."

She continued staring at him. After a moment, he raised a brow. "Go on Granger." He said taking a slow slip, "It's killing you, not asking."

"Do you re…."

"Will you go to the ball with me?" he interrupted.

She blinked and watched as a smirk formed on his face. She crossed her arms, her hip jutted to the side.
"Really?"

He laughed, clutching his side. His laughter nearly forced her to join, but she folded her arms willing herself to focus on the fact that he was laughing at her and not with her.

She marched over, and smacked him on his arm. He shrugged, unaffected by her anger. "At least it wasn't my face again."

"And you deserved it." She jut her nose in the air, "Both times."

He raised a brow. "I did. Honestly, I probably deserve worse." He murmured, more to himself than her. She was caught up watching him while his gaze seemed to drift to the recesses of his mind that no one else seemed to reach in to. He blinked, after a moment, before looking back to her with a thin smile on his face.

She returned the gesture before taking her mug. He sighed cradling his own mug, once more lost in his thoughts. She looked over his face for any sign into what he was thinking. As always, she found nothing. She was somewhat pleased to see that the dark spots beneath his eyes had faded slightly. The draught must have worked to keep off the visions.

"Can't believe you remember that." She bit her lip, finally breaking the silence.

He shrugged, his eyes darting between her and the side of the room. She frowned at the action, but shrugged it off.

"One of the few things I clearly remember from last night." He said.

She nodded.

After a moment, he cleared his throat.

"Granger."

"Mhmm."

She took another sip from her mug.

"You're late."

She snapped her head to the clock.

"Godric." She screeched running toward her room, charming hair into something presentable and tossing on clothes. When she returned to the kitchen, Draco tossed her an apple, but made no move to leave.

"Are you not coming?"

He'd opened the same textbook, and was flipping through it with a bored expression. "My charm's class was over two hours ago, and I'm three weeks ahead in the reading."

She shook her head and darted out of the room, not missing the way his laughter drifted after her. Days with no sleep surely gave him all the time in the world. She grumbled racing down the halls, cursing his name.

She yanked open the door to the Charm's class and immediately regretted the action. Several heads turned and settled their eyes on her. She fumbled, her feet permanently nailed to the ground. Merlin, she should have just…

"Come in Ms. Granger." Flitwick called impatiently.

She blinked, regaining her senses. "Professor, I…"

"Yes. Yes. I already know why you are late. Please take your seat." He waved to her usual chair. She bit her tongue. How could he… Draco.

Parvati scooted down and let her pass as she fell into the chair between her and Lavender. She felt Ron's eyes on the back of her head, but she didn't turn. Her hand went to the apple in her robe pocket, a small smile tugged at her lips. Surprises. Always surprises with him.

Charms seemed to end quickly, and then it was Arithmancy. It had all seemed to settle. Her nerves. The curious glances. Normal. Steady.

Lavender shot her another curious glance before returning her eyes to her parchment. She sighed, running her fingers through her hair and undoing any knots. The door opened, and she paid it no mind until a murmur went through the classroom. Her eyes drifted. A flash of white blond. Draco shot her a sheepish grin before turning to Professor Vector.

"Mr. Malfoy, I believe you're 3 hours late and in the wrong class." She said, her brow raised as she regarded him.

He smirked and shrugged his shoulders.

"My apologies." He paused, "I was a bit caught up." His eyes caught hers for a moment before returning their gaze to the Professor. Her cheeks burned. Merlin, what was he doing here?

He cleared his throat. "My excuse." He held up a folded note in one hand, "The homework due this morning." His other hand came up with a roll of parchment. Professor Vector took them and glanced over the note before giving him a slight nod.

"Then I'll be off." He said cheekily, his eyes meeting hers again. "No doubt to interrupt another professor's class." Professor Vector muttered. He smirked and inclined his head, his eyes lit with mischief before he turned and disappeared back through the door.

She had to give it to him. He put on a show. No one would have ever guessed he'd spent the last two weeks awake and only slept just last night for a meager 5 hours.

Lavender leaned closer to her.

"Well Hermione, care to comment?"

She shot the other girl a look before taking her quill back into her hand. Lavender giggled before she leaned in even closer to her ear.

"You never did say, how is sharing a shower with Malfoy?"

Her grip tightened around her quill, and still she stayed silent.

Lavender shook her head, with a slight tilt of her head. "Shame. I hear the best shags are in Slytherin."

"Merlin Lav, we're in class." She hissed, unable to contain herself.

Lavender chuckled before being silenced by a look from Professor Vector. She scooted away from the other girl, glaring at her before returning to her quill and parchment. The way the day had gone, she almost wished she hadn't come to class altogether. She turned her head to listen to Professor Vector, but her mind drifted to the silver that had settled on her moments before. She sighed. Almost.

In retrospect, it was probably a mistake to go to the Great Hall for dinner. Her head was pounding from a headache, and she wanted nothing more than to go back to her room and sleep. All the thoughts rushing around in her head, all the questions she hadn't asked but needed answers too; it really was driving her mad.

He didn't come. Though she didn't expect him too.

He'd asked her again to the ball, and even though she hadn't stated her answer, she knew. It was a yes, if only to satisfy her curiosity about what he would do.

Ginny took a seat beside her. She smiled to her and said her greeting before turning back to her plate. Going to the ball with Draco Malfoy. She was almost certain Ron might kill her… or Malfoy. Maybe both.

"Hermione." Ginny said shaking her arm.

"Hmm." She said turning toward the redhead.

"I said." Ginny huffed, "If you thought it would be selfish of me to say I was actually excited for the ball?"

Hermione bit her lip and slowly shook her head. "The war hasn't started yet Gin, we should enjoy what time we have." Her voice dropped. Was that what this stalemate was? An opportunity to enjoy things before the inevitable came. She shivered instinctively.

Fate is inexorable.

"Do you have a date?" Hermione asked, pushing things like fate and inevitability out of her mind.

Ginny blushed, focusing her eyes on her cup. "Harry asked me."

Hermione grinned. "That's great Ginny."

"I'm glad he finally did. I think he doesn't want to waste whatever time is still left."

Ginny bit her lip, twirling a strand of red hair between her fingers. "What about you Hermione? Going with anyone?"

She felt her cheeks flush. Ginny's eyes widened before she let out a squeal. "Oh you are. Who?" She leaned in closer, "Is it Cormac? I saw the way he was looking at you in the hall."

Hermione's blush deepened.

"No…No, it's not Cormac." She stammered.

Ginny's brow rose. Before the girl could venture anymore guesses, Hermione leaned in. "Ginny, you can't tell anyone if I tell you."

Ginny hesitated before giving a slight nod. "Ok, but not here." She sighed, "Your dorm." Ginny grabbed her hand then and whisked her out of the hall.

Before she could blink, she was seated on Ginny's bed with a silencing charm cast around the room. Ginny sat beside her, waiting. Oh gods. How to say this?

"It's Draco Malfoy." She said quickly. Fast, like ripping off a band aid.

Ginny blinked. "You're joking."

When Hermione shook her head, her blue eyes widened.

"But…But he's a prat." She stammered.

"Partly, but not completely." She agreed. She sighed, feeling her headache worsening. After a moment, she sighed again and began to speak. She had to tell someone else. Luna, as much as it was nice to confide in her, was not one of her closest friends. Another person's perspective, someone who could reaffirm what she'd concluded, would help her… make sense of Draco.

So, she told Ginny. She wasn't as thorough as she'd been with Luna. She hated that, but she needed Ginny to understand why she'd even accepted Draco before she could begin with everything else. She talked and talked. Ginny interrupted every so often, a questions or two, but she said nothing otherwise. Hermione was grateful for that.

Certain parts were hard to explain without Ginny knowing about Draco's visions, but she couldn't tell her. It wasn't her secret to tell, no matter how much she wanted to.

Other things came out instead. His trip to Muggle London. His admittance to change. She even told her about what he'd said about her magic.

What you have is a gift.

She'd cried then, couldn't even contain it. He'd known, so easily. Every time he looked at her, he saw everything, and it no longer disgusted him or sparked hate in his eyes. He understood and accepted it all. It was hardly fair, when all she saw in him were storm clouds and secrets. So so many secrets.

Ginny rubbed her hand in circles along her back and let her bury her face in her neck until the tears subsided.

"Blood Hell." Ginny murmured, when she'd finally pulled away and dried her tears.

"He's still Draco Malfoy. He's still an entitled git, but" She said wrapping her arms around her middle, "but he's so different all the same. I feel like I'm the only one who knows and…"

"And he trusts you with that." Ginny said thoughtfully.

She nodded, not trusting her voice.

"I can't imagine what Harry and Ron will think." Ginny murmured before shaking her head, "But they'll come around 'Mione. I think." She took a breath. "I think it might be nice, going with Malfoy."

Hermione blinked. "Really?"

"Well, with everything you've told me, and he has been calmer this year. He's certainly not making the same kind of trouble he used to. I mean I saw him help a lost first year Hufflepuff a month ago. Something he never would have done before…" she trailed off, a knowing smile suddenly spread across her face as she studied Hermione. "Yes. I think it would be nice. I mean all those balls he's been going to all his life, I'm sure he knows a thing or two about dancing and having fun at them."

A half smile pulled at the corners of her mouth.

"I suppose so."

Ginny grinned. "Do you know what you're going to wear?"

She frowned. She hadn't even gotten that far. It had been hard enough contemplating it all last night, and then this morning….

"No." She finally said. Ginny clapped her hands together. "Great. I bought two dresses the last time I was in Hogsmeade and one of them would look…"

She quickly climbed off the bed and toward her trunk. Hermione laughed at the sight. She'd known Ginny would be the easiest and most accepting, but Ron and Harry would be another matter. She bit her lip. A worry for another day. She turned back to Ginny and allowed another smile.

It would be nice.

The excitement buzzed in her stomach. A flash of silver gray clouded her mind, and she sighed.

Only Draco Malfoy could inspire such different sentiments with the simple thought of him.