Hello faithful reviewers...here's the new chapter BUT...

First I would like to personally address one review. One review that at first made me a little angry. I was unhappy with the words spoken but after I read it again, then went back and read the last chapter I realized that this person was absolutely right.

Caramelemmy- Thank you very very much for your constructive criticism. I'm glad that you were able to point out to me that I was straying away from JK's masterpiece. Hermione was very much out of character and it was by complete accident that it happened. I didn't intend for her to be such a wimp, but I have put into motion some plans to help and bring Hermione back to her former glory. Please bare with me, it could take a chapter or two.

I know you all are waiting for the moment when Hermione and Draco fall madly in love, but you must realize that it will take plenty of time, and will not I repeat WILL NOT be a simple thing. Love will have to be beaten into Draco's head because he's so damn stubborn.

Hermione was easy, Draco's the real challenge.

Anyways thanks for the reviews guys...love them as always...but if you see anything wrong with my direction of the story, let me know...I wont be mad...unless you say something entirely uncalled for as was the case in TFS so long ago...I will take it under concideration...

Also on my myspace...which is my homepage thingy on my Fanfiction profile you can find my groups devoted to my stories...there are areas on there where you can ask questions and complain...take full advantage of that please!!

Anyways...on to the story...

Disclaimer: Not JK...ok??

Figures

"What was it you wanted to talk about Hermione?" Ginny asked as Hermione paced the floor before the couch.

The two girls were currently sitting in the common room of the Heads dorm. Draco was downstairs still eating his lunch, something Hermione was thankful for. Ginny was looking up at her, confusion shining in her baby blue eyes.

Hermione could easily say that Ginny was her best girl friend. But ever since she'd returned from the mansion and regained her memory their friendship had struggled. All of Hermione's friendships were struggling because she was slowly changing before everyone's very eyes. Hermione however didn't seem to notice the fact that she was slowly losing herself, but Ginny did.

Ginny had always admired Hermione for her strength, but she'd noticed that ever since she'd returned from her kidnapped stay with Voldemort, Hermione seemed weaker. She seemed like she was giving into Draco and his ways, becoming submissive instead of the fiery brilliant girl she'd once been. Ginny was more worried than Harry and Ron because they were fooling themselves, telling each other that Hermione was merely having a hard time dealing with things, that she would be back to normal soon. But Ginny knew.

Hermione paced before the grate seemingly unable to articulate what it was that she wanted to say. She would open her mouth and try to explain but nothing would come out, not a single sound. She would promptly shut her mouth again and just keep walking. Eventually Hermione knew that she would have to tell Ginny or she would lose her mind. She hadn't spoken about the incident to anyone, including Malfoy since it happened.

"Ginny this might be hard for you to hear." Hermione began stopping before her best friends and staring her straight in the face.

"Hermione you know you can tell me anything." Ginny said trying to be as supportive as she could.

"I'll just get straight to the point then. I've fallen in love with Draco." Hermione said immediately looking away. She felt ashamed. She knew that she'd done something bad, but she couldn't help what she felt.

"Love?" Ginny asked astonished.

She was staring at Hermione when her eyes lifted to meet the red heads. Her gaze was penetrating and Hermione felt unsure. She knew that Ginny was an understanding person, much unlike her brother, but how would she take this?

"Hermione I'd love to say I'm happy for you. Maybe one day I will be able to, but something about this is bothering me." She paused for a moment, not really sure how to lay her own confession on the table. "You've changed."

"What?"

"You're not the same as you were. You used to be strong, you used to fight everything and anything that went along with the dark side, but now it's like you don't care anymore. You've become his little wife, just what they wanted you to be."

"Ginny I don't know what you're talking about. I haven't changed." Hermione said confusion prevalent on her face.

"Stop trying to ignore it Hermione!" Ginny cried getting fed up.

Ginny had hoped by accusing her that Ginny might be able to stir up some of that strength that used to run through her friend like a river. But Hermione had grown too weak now. They'd taken control of her, not completely, but she wasn't trying to cross them anymore. Ginny was disappointed. Ginny was angry, but most of all Ginny was sad, she'd lost her friend.

"Why can't you see what you've become?" Ginny demanded. "Look at yourself. You would never let anyone talk to you the way I am. You would never let this little story continue. You wouldn't be afraid now because you're back with us. You would fight!"

"You didn't see what I went through Ginny. I can't fight anymore, I'll just lose again." Hermione said her tone sounding defeated.

"I want the old you back. The old Hermione. The one that fought." Ginny said as she reached the portrait hole. "We need her right now, not this weak excuse for a Head Girl."

"I am not weak." She said aloud, after the portrait hole door slammed closed behind the youngest Weasley.

Hermione hadn't changed. Sure she'd fallen in love, granted it was with her enemy, but still he was her husband. She hadn't become what she'd always fought becoming. She hadn't become his little trophy wife, running to him for help, hiding behind him. No, she was still herself, Ginny was just shocked at the news.

Hermione continued to reassure herself that her worst nightmares hadn't come true. She hadn't become like one of the Slytherin girls everyone had figured would be Draco's wife. She hadn't become some mindless follower. She was still herself, still strong, still a fighter.

She walked into her room and gathered her potion's things into her bag. Her last class for the day was in the dungeons, what had once been Snape's territory. She was glad that he was no longer their teacher, though he'd been brilliant at potions, he'd been terrible toward her Harry Ron and the rest of the Gryffindors. She was glad that the traitor was back where he belonged.

That was when Hermione remembered what she'd been meaning to talk to Draco about. The fact that she knew the Order had no spies placed in Voldemort's inner circle. Yet somehow the information was being leaked to them. Hermione wondered what was going on. Who was giving out the valuable information, and who was receiving it.

Throwing her bag over her shoulder Hermione started for the portrait hole, attempting to throw Ginny's harsh words into the back of her mind. The very idea of her accusations was making Hermione angry. Ginny was supposed to be her best friend, she was supposed to be there for her, yet she just seemed to be trying to make Hermione feel guilty for the summer's events.

A few minutes later Hermione was coming down the marble staircase her destination a small corner of the entrance hall where she would meet Draco. They'd made arrangements to enter the dungeons together and sit at the same table for the day. Normally she would sit on the Gryffindor side with Harry and Ron, but they figured every once in a while she could sit with him, to go along with the story.

She stood there, one hand clutching at the shoulder strap of her bag, the other fiddling nervously at her side. She still hadn't gotten used to displaying affection towards Draco in public yet. It was so strange to her because they had been enemies for so long. Now they were just supposed to show everyone that they were friends? It was then that she saw him come out of the Great Hall laughing at something that Blaise had said.

As far as she could tell he hadn't heard her confession the night of the storm. Something she was glad for. She didn't think she could bare the rejection right now. With Ginny suddenly becoming so hostile and accusative towards her and with her and Harry and Ron's friendship hanging by a string she knew that she wouldn't be able to take it.

Draco turned, his eyes landing on her. She looked nervous for her hands were shaking and she couldn't seem to stand still. He remembered how nervous she'd been that morning at breakfast and all that he'd done was kiss her on the cheek. For some reason she didn't like displaying her relationship with him in front of other people, possibly because it was all based on that terrible story in the Prophet.

Or perhaps it was due to her slip of the tongue a few nights before.

"She's waiting for you." Blaise said softly.

"Yeah. We agreed on it. To keep up appearances." Draco said walking toward her.

He knew that they'd agreed on another kiss on the cheek as a greeting but Draco decided to change his mind. He sauntered across the entrance hall, all eyes following him. He knew he would have the attention of the entire hall because everyone had been dying to see it in person, dying to see them kiss.

Hermione tried to smile at him, to appear happy to see him but she only felt her heart fall to her toes. He looked so sexy in his robes, his hair falling into his eyes as always. However as she thought these things she scolded herself. She couldn't think that way about him, not there, in the middle of the hall.

"Afternoon love." He said when he reached her.

Draco slipped his arms about her waist pulling her small frame up against him. Her hand slipped on the shoulder strap of the bag and it fell to the floor. She stared up into his eyes focusing directly on him and Draco believed that he was all she could see. He smirked his normal Malfoy smirk before he leaned in and claimed her lips as his own.

The kiss lasted but a moment but in that moment there was nothing but dead silence lingering like a fog in the entrance hall. Every foot ceased walking, every voice ceased speaking, every eye turned to face the couple that had shared such a touching moment. When Hermione opened her eyes however the whispers escalated in her ears like a symphony.

She shook all over something Draco noticed and attempted to calm. He'd startled her, he knew he would, but maybe it was his way of getting back at her for her confession. Not that she would no however because from her lack of an explanation the next morning Hermione believed that he'd been asleep. He didn't mind letting her believe that for he'd rather forget the comment as well.

He didn't want her to love him. He didn't want her to grow attached. He knew what was coming, after she gave birth to that baby boy. He knew what would happen after the baby was safely in the world and Hermione was weak from giving birth. Voldemort wouldn't even waist a moment. He'd be there to witness the delivery and as soon as the umbilical cord was severed Hermione would perish. If she grew attached to him it would only make things more difficult.

He led her to the stairs and they started down together, Blaise Crabbe and Goyle following closely behind. They reached the landing and turned starting toward the area where they could already see most of the class lined up waiting. Draco stopped when he reached the group, slipping his arm around her waist.

The class went as well as it could have with Hermione sitting there beside him. Harry and Ron didn't cause any problems for they understood that it was all for the act. They knew that she wouldn't be there all the time but it still hurt to see her sitting on the other side of the room instead of between them where she'd always been.

Pansy had seemed a little put off because Blaise took her normal seat, behind Draco. She had to take a seat behind Hermione something that she detested greatly. Draco knew that Pansy was terribly unhappy with the seating arrangements, but Draco didn't care all that much. When it came to Pansy Draco couldn't care less. He'd warned her the day that she released the story to the school that if she ever did anything to hurt Hermione in any way she would have to deal with him, and he wasn't joking.

Hermione was his responsibility now. He had to keep her safe, just like any other husband, only it was against his will. Though they were getting along much better than at the beginning Draco still had the urge to do something to humiliate her, to hurt her feelings. He wanted things to be normal, yet keep them different at the same time.

'Things are so complicated I don't even know what's happening all the time anymore.' Draco thought as he tried to make sense to himself.

The class was far to long in Hermione's opinion. She felt like she was sitting there for three hours instead of just one. She could feel the eyes on her. She could hear the questions of her fellow Gryffindors being whispered from ear to ear. She longed to be sitting between Harry and Ron again, her barrier.

When the bell sounded however Hermione rose slowly taking the hand that Draco held out for her. Their fingers laced a romantic gesture to some, unwanted contact to them. He led her along through the doorway heading toward the stairs that led to the entrance hall. It was then that she decided she needed to get him alone. There were questions she needed to ask and information that she needed to give.

"Draco can we talk?" she asked turning to face him.

"About what?" he asked not looking at her but instead keeping his eyes focused on the dimly lit staircase.

"Your mission." She said and Draco turned to her as if she'd just slapped him in the face.

"Don't even continue. We'll go upstairs." Draco said as they emerged into the entrance hall.

They hurried up the stairs neither saying a word to the sets of friends waiting. Hermione wondered why Draco was moving at such a pace, it was as if the devil himself were at his heels. He broke into an almost run to the portrait when they reached their floor. When they were finally inside Draco seemed to calm down a bit.

"One thing you have to understand Hermione is that no one is supposed to know about my mission outside of the circle." Draco said his voice holding a bit of frustration.

"I understand Draco, but it's urgent. What have you found out about this traitor?"

"Nothing. Why?"

"You don't have to hide it from me." She said sitting herself down on the couch.

"I'm not hiding anything. I haven't found out a damn thing. Whoever this person is they are damn good at keeping themselves clean." Draco said plopping down in the chair. "I don't know what I'm going to do tomorrow. I have to give the Dark Lord some answers, any information that I have, but I have nothing."

"Well I think I may have saved you then Draco."

Leaning forward in the high-backed leather chair he was sitting in, Voldemort's eyes locked on the icy ones of the youngest Malfoy. He was standing before the circle; no papers or anything prepared. However this didn't infuriate Voldemort as Lucius had predicted it would, no, instead it seemed to intrigue him.

"You have nothing Draco. Tell me why."

"My Lord you are correct, I have no speech prepared, I have no information that I have collected that is worthy of your time. I could easily tell you who in this room is not the one who did it because all my research says that everyone here didn't do it, but we all know that someone did."

"Then what do you have for me?"

"I have news presented to me from the Order of the Phoenix. As you know my wife is a member and she has passed this information on to me."

"Continue."

"Upon learning my mission Hermione went back to Potter and asked him if the Order had sent anyone to infiltrate us. He revealed that since Snape there have been no spies sent to your ranks. The spy is not from their side, nor are they working for their side."

"But this makes no sense." Said a cloaked Death Eater.

"Yeah, I would surely have thought that the only person stupid enough to relay messages to the Order had to be sent there to do it." Said another.

"Hermione doesn't lie. She is the only member of the Order in our inner circle and there was no way for her to send the information. The person sending out information is working for personal gain. They aren't sending information to make one side or the other win." Draco said still looking Voldemort in the eye. Voldemort was the only one that Draco had to worry about convincing.

"Very well Draco. Discover this traitor. I want them found and tortured." Voldemort said waving his hand, which permitted Draco to take his seat again.

"Hermione dear," Narcissa said cheerily as Hermione stepped out onto the same porch where she and Narcissa had had tea before. "How lovely to see you again."

"Hello Narcissa." Hermione greeted smiling at her mother in law.

"Come now sit down." Hermione took a seat and the cup of tea offered her.

An hour flew by. Hermione and Narcissa were talking about school and the story in the Prophet and all the things that had happened when Hermione had gotten back to her friends. Narcissa had been listening but Hermione could tell that her mind was on other things.

At a moment of silence Hermione pounced with her question.

"Narcissa what's bothering you? Why have you called me here?"

"That is a complicated matter my dear." Narcissa said in a tired voice.

Snapping her fingers softly Hermione watched as a house elf appeared. Narcissa bent down and whispered something to the elf. Hermione watched as the creature nodded vigorously and hurried away. Hermione turned and gave Narcissa a curious look.

"Just wait." The woman said softly turning her gaze to the garden.

A soft cool breeze swept through the porch cooling both of them. Soon it would be to cold outside to sit on the porch and have lunch, but they enjoyed it while they could. After a few minutes of waiting Hermione heard the soft footsteps of a visitor. She turned and her eyes fell upon the figure in black shuffling toward them.

"It was you!" Hermione cried rising from her seat and backing away.

"What are you talking about Hermione?" Narcissa said as she rose as well.

"I saw that person once before. They were peeking into our room one night. I thought it was a dream but-"

"You are correct child. I did peer into your room, but it was merely to check on you." The figure said softly as it took a seat near Narcissa's.

"What's going on Narcissa?" Hermione demanded looking with wide eyes between the seated figure and Narcissa who stood near her.

"Hermione please sit down. This is very important." She nodded reassuringly as Hermione walked to the chair. "Hermione do you know the entire story about this prophecy?"

"No. I only know that him and I have to have a baby. No one's told us why or what will happen, though I can guess." Hermione said her eyes focused on the figure.

"Hermione there is much more to the prophecy. When I was first told about it I was still pregnant with Draco. It was a few days before he was born. The woman who announced it to Lucius and I didn't even tell us the rest. But since then I've learned, and now it's time you learn too. It's very important that you pay attention." Narcissa said softly sitting down her cup of tea. "Reveal yourself now, I'm sure she can handle it."

Hermione watched as a brittle old hand appeared from within the folds of the cloak. Her heartbeat quickened as the hand began to pull the cloak away. Hermione had a hope within her, though it was ridiculous, she was hoping that the person beneath the cloak was Dumbledore.

The black cloak slide to the floor revealing a very old woman. She was staring directly at Hermione and it was as if she were reading her mind. Hermione couldn't understand it but she felt an enormous amount of power being projected from this woman. Her aura was strong, similar to that of Dumbledore or Voldemort. Could this woman be evil? It wasn't like Voldemort's, filled with malice and destruction, nor was it like Dumbledore's filled with hope, it was almost like a combination of the two, a force to be reckoned with.

"Who are you?" Hermione asked in a whisper.

"You may call me Madam X."

So...yeah...review and let me know...what could Madam X possibly be doing there?? And what in the bloody hell is Draco going to do about this traitor??? And what mad Ginny so mad???

Tune in next time...

Starry