Previously in Chapter 9 / Concern

"I can't tell you, or any of you." she sighed. "It's completely in my head." he looked into her amber eyes. She had that sad look in them, cloudy… It broke Draco's heart that she was unwilling to share something that was apparently bothering her to this extend.

"Hermione…" his voice cracked and faded. "I don't know what is bothering you, I wish you did tell me so I could provide even the slightest help, but, I will respect your decision if you choose not to." he said. Hermione was looking everywhere, except at his eyes. The grandfather clock right beside them cried, saying it was 9pm already.

"Draco, we are on tight schedule tomorrow and I'm sure you are tired. We both need proper rest." she said. "Let's go to our rooms" she paused and giggled "or our respective apartments for that matter." now able to look at him, she smiled causing the worry in his own heart to ease a little. With that, they slipped in their chambers.

Chapter 10 / Manners

After having a nutritious breakfast, Narcissa had collected them in her study.

"Today, we will be talking about useful daily charms." she started. "First, cleaning charms. Even though Draco has house elves around in the manor, both of you will need to learn it, they come in handy every once in a while." Hermione smiled enthusiastically. "First, I will give you a list of spells, gestures and usages." she handed both kids the lists "you will be cleaning your own chambers yourselves all along your stay. I instructed Dobby to not to do anything on your behalf. Also, you will be preparing your own bath." she said the last two sentences directly to her son, then turned and looked at Hermione in her eyes. "You are banned from using the muggle ways!" she said.

Draco took a look at the lists. They were required to tidy their beds, collect dust, warm the bathtub and create bubbles, clean the dishes, iron their robes, warm up their food, wash the dishes, shine their shoes, dry their hair… and the list went on and on. His mother continued.

"If you have difficulties with any of the charms, you can ask me any time. If you think this lesson is not useful, think about it a little more! Knowing these charms will allow you to have more free time for your actual studies and business." she smiled warmly. "You can go to your chambers and practice there, now. Dobby has not done anything yet today. When you are done, you are free until Lucius comes back home." and with that, they were dismissed.

"Wow, that was short." Draco said, smiling.

"No it wasn't… We practically have an assignment to go on until we are back at Hogwarts." Hermione smiled too.

"So meet me in the Library when you're done?" Draco asked.

"Sure, see you in a bit." and with that, they entered their respective rooms.

Draco looked back at the list. Thinking where to start. He first tidied his bed. Which was one of the most basic charms in the list. It was too close to thee levitating charm wand movement, which they learned at school. Then he started cleaning and ironing his clothes from last night. Then simultaneously collected the dusts from the floors. He then ran the bathroom. First thoroughly cleaned the tub then filling it with water. He heated it and added some schenting and bubbling solutions and bubbled the bath up. Before stepping in, he also set the clothes from the morning to cleaning and ironing which was still going on in the other room. Once out, he went on and dried his hair with another charm. He got dressed using the charm and headed to the library.

He jumped with surprise when someone sank right next to him on the couch in the library.

"Oh, sorry if I startled you!" said the girl. He smiled.

"It's okay, I was caught off-guard." he said.

"What were you reading?"

"Just a book on potions' brewing. This book is amazing, it includes many short-cuts and explains more about the nature and behaviour of the ingredients. I think it is a book you will enjoy." he saw her smile.

"I'm sure I will, if you think so." she approved "How was your charm practice though? I had a really tough time with hair charms so, I gave up finally and only dried them…" she was looking at him with those amber eyes again.

"Do you have so many hair charms? My list contained only one. Drying charm, which I already have mastered before going to Hogwarts." he said, shrugging his shoulders.

"No, I have too many. One for braiding, and one for a bun, one for curling, another for straightening, conditioning, anti-frizz, color-changing, did you know there are different charms for different shapes of curls? It's unbelievable!" she said with enthusiasm.

"Why are you so happy about that? You never try doing anything different with your hair anyways." he stated matter of factly.

"Oh, you think! It's only because I'm unable to get my hair to behave! It's always been this crazy, curly and frizzy… Untamable, really. I will ask about them to Narcissa." she pouted. Looked like Draco had pushed a button there.

"Hey, your stop insulting your hair! They are pretty!" he scolded her. Which brought an end to that conversation, causing Hermione to look down and start reading the book in her lap. He sighed and turned back to his own reading.

During lunch, which was eaten a little later than usual, he listened to his mother and Hermione talking about the hair charms all along. He was bored, causing all his attention to direct to eating and that meant he ate… a lot! When they were done, he watched as his mother transformed Hermione's hair to various shapes and updo's. Then letting it undone and showing Hermione how to do it. She was, indeed, good at it, he had the chance to observe the wand movements, they were quite difficult, to be practiced from the paper.

"Oh, sweetie, you look absolutely cute in a bun! Is that not so, Draco." Narcissa asked. Draco took his eyes off from the garden, which he found much more interesting than the girls' talk his mother and Hermione gotten themselves into. The two were having fun. Draco… not much.

"I like her hair when it's all crazy, curly and frizzy. But the updo still looks crazy so I'll give it that." he said with a shrug.

"Draco Lucius Malfoy!" his mother called angrily "this is not a good manner towards a woman who is sharing her enthusiasm with you." then her voice and face softened a bit "of course her hair is always beautiful but a girl needs some change every now and then. And Hermione was able to get none, because her magic has been causing the frizz and craziness. No muggle stuff will be able to tame that." she explained.

"Alright, mother. I understand that. But do not expect me to be enthusiastic about her changing her hair. She looks like another person and I am simply not fond of that concept, her turning into another person." he turned his gaze back to the garden and bit his tongue to prevent himself from talking any further.

"Oh, Hermione, dear, do not worry about him, he's just being a boy." Narcissa said. Then he shut himself up once again.

During the Dinner, not much happened until Dobby popped up, startling Hermione to death, then bowing and apologizing millions of time.

"Dobby," Father called "is it time?"

"Yes, Master. Dobby will get the results." he said.

"Go on then." Father permitted. And Dobby casted a charm with his finger, which caused a green coloured haze to move out from Hermione's heart.

"Master Lucius, the report is very interesting sir." he summoned a piece of parchment. Some writings started to list out their own on it. "This will be the list of time when Young Miss's heart was being odd, for the last 24 hours, Master. If she could specify what she was doing at each exact time, it may be helpful to see if they are triggered with events." he gave a huge bow.

"Thank you Dobby, you may leave now." Father said with a stone face, taking the parchment. Examining it, he looked directly at Hermione, "first one is at 20:15, which is when we were talking about the examination itself, I believe." Hermione nodded curtly to that "The second one is at 21:00." she closed her eyes, looking like she already knew that would come out. "Third is at 23:04 then at 2:37, then at 10:30am, then at 13:20, 15:30, 15:35, 15:48… last one is 20:13." Draco's head started spinning. "Does that make any sense to you at all, Hermione?" he asked. Hermione nodded, eyes shining. Lips tightly pursed in a line.

"It does, I don't wish to share it though, right now. I am sorry worrying you all but, I know what causes it and it's okay." she sighed. Draco felt offended, thinking she didn't trust them, but it broke his heart even more, seeing the tears starting to well up in her amber eyes. He looked at his father and shook his head like saying "no". Lucius sighed.

"Hermione, look at me please." he said and she obeyed "I will not push you to tell us about your condition. But, I have a responsibility towards your parents and I have to make sure you are safe and sound. Please at least tell me if it's a medical condition or not."

"I assure you, Lucius, it is by no means a medical condition." she sighed.

"Very well, I'll take your word for it." father said, dismissing the issue just like that and Hermione was suddenly very interested with her dessert now.

After the dinner, Lucius took Hermione with him to his study, while saying Draco that there were some documents he wanted him to check, waiting for him in Draco's study. He went there for the rest of the evening, working on board resolutions and feasibility reports. Some of them were so ridiculous you wouldn't believe they were written by grown ups! Draco stamped those kinds with a red ink. When they finished, he figured, he'll just go straight to bed.

Meanwhile, Hermione was being taught about the duelling, and some basic strikes. Some of them she already knew, especially the shields and disarming charms. But she lacked with striking her opponent.

After about ten spells practiced and nearly mastered, he dismissed the girl. She was in fact brilliant. How strong her magic was… He'd never felt that overwhelmed before. He met with his wife to discuss her day.

"How has it been, darling?" Narcissa asked, with kind of a worried smile on her face.

"She's brilliant Narcissa. How has it been for you two?"

"It was beyond wonderful, Lucius…" her voice faded, unable to finish her sentence.

"What's worrying you, mind tell?" he asked, caressing her hair.

"Can you show me the monitoring of her heart again? I may have recognized some pattern." she asked and he handed the piece of parchment to her. Watching her study it. "Yes… I see… Hmmm" she paused. "Oh, right, that too… hmm…" she was blabbering, which didn't happen quite often.

"Well, what is it!" he asked, cannot take it anymore. Narcissa looked at him, apparently not quite able to actually see him.

"Dear, the girl is falling for our Dragon..." she said.

"WHAT? Don't be ridiculous! They are 11 years old!" he said.

"YES! That's why she didn't want to talk about it. She realizes it's too early and ridiculous as well. I bet, she will try to forget all about it to prevent losing her friendship with Draco! Oh, kids are stupid, I'll always say!" she was waving her hands and arms all around the place and up, frantically.

"So what do we do?!" Lucius asked. "I like the girl so much… She's absolutely brilliant! I wouldn't argue if they'd end up together, she is pushing Draco upwards. Can't you see how much he'd matured over only 3 months or so!" Narcissa was now pacing up and down in their study, her robes dancing after her.

"If I had the slightest idea… Lucius! We can't interfere with this. They are too young!" she said.

"I know dear." he sighed. "Although, I really wish, she'd make a wonderful bride for our house." she looked up at him, fires dancing in her green eyes. Then her eyes shined, eyebrows shot up!

"Oh, I know what to do!" she claimed. "I'll educate her to be the next Lady Malfoy! She'll learn every etiquette rule and whatever in our society and she will know who is who, where are the best shops…" she paused and looked at Lucius with kitty eyes "Can I re-decorate the guest room with her please? I need to show her how to do it!" she stopped short. "And then, and then, how to tame a garden. How to ride a unicorn… I bet she'd never even seen one." She was enthusiastic!

"Calm down Narcy, you're scaring me." he sighed. "Also, don't get her all to yourself. I want to teach her how to be good at business too. Okay, so we will revise our schedules. Try not to kill her of exhaust, okay. Intensify the schedule and keep her out of Draco's reach! I need his support in business. He needs to focus. They'll see enough of each other at school anyways…"

Draco had no idea what had gotten in his parents but, they were making Hermione busy… Like hell! He worried for her life but had nothing to do. He was extremely busy with loads of work coming in what seemed like every second of the day, asking for his -well, originally his father's- attention. He felt more and more respect towards his father with each passing second.

He had not been able to see Hermione during the rest of the holiday except for dinner and lunch. And they had not got a proper conversation together. It was frustrating for him but, he tried to cope with it for a little longer. He had no idea what his mother and she were doing all day in her chambers, they even went out some days for hours, not even coming home for lunch.

But finally, the day to return back to Hogwarts came. He was relieved that he'll actually be able to have some time alone with his best friend. He smiled to himself in the mirror straightening his necktie out one last time. This was going to be good!

He realized that, his mother was hugging Hermione for even longer than she hugged him! What was happening? He sighed, turning to look at his father. Taking his hand and shaking it.

"Father, thank you for everything. I will see you soon." he said.

"Thank you son! You have been a great help." he bent down to reach Draco's ear "I haven't even changed any of the choices you've made on the matters! You were good!" he smiled to his son "Go get better!"

Draco smirked. "Of course I will! I am a Malfoy!"

"That's my boy!" Lucius patted his shoulder. "Okay, I think you'd better go now."

They waved to his parents and went climbing on the Hogwarts Express.

Once back, everything was back to normal immediately. Some students seemed to have difficulties focusing their attention back on their studies though, such as Ronald Weasley or Neville Longbottom and Seamus Finnegan or Theodore Nott but he and Hermione were as alert as they had been in the beginning of the term. Their exams were just around the corner and their assignments were over floating. He had very little conversation with Hermione, most of them being about their assignments. The term just flew away.

Draco didn't know what was wrong with his head but he thought he'd missed Hermione, on more than one occasion, and provided that, she was almost always right next to him.

Then, there was Potter. He had been an acquaintance. They have been sometimes letting the boy sit at their table in the library but, he somehow annoyed Draco. Probably because he was going on and on about Severus Snape. The boy was nice but could be an idiot sometimes. There was no way his uncle would do anything prohibited by Albus Dumbledore. He owed him everything he had and Draco was prohibited to mention anything about this issue with anyone, sadly including Hermione.

The Poisons' Master didn't make his task any easier as well. He was always very gloomy and hanging around the forbidden corridor too. One day Potter approached the two of them in the library.

"Draco, Hermione! I need your help!" Hermione sighed.

"Potter, if you ask of me for my potions assignment one more time, I swear I will hex you and make sure it hurts!" she said with impatience. Harry gritted his teeth in return.

"No!" he hissed "Not here. I need you to understand me, only you two can be able to help, Ronald is quite pathetic when it comes to knowledge and research and stuff like that! Would you please hear me?" Hermione let out a much louder sigh now. Turned her left to look at me, I was actually quite curious with what kind of a stupidity the boy came urging to us this time so, I nodded and we went to an empty classroom and I locked it and put out some simple silencing charms without Potter's knowledge. They were handy!

"Look, I have received a cloak as a gift on Christmas. I don't know whom from but, it makes me invisible." I rolled my eyes to the dramatics of the boy. You have to start from there don't you. I have seen Hermione's eyes double in size with surprize and awe.

"Okay Potter, they are rare, but they are a thing. So come to the point will you? The curfew is about to end…"

"Alright, so I was wandering around the castle last night after curfew under the cloak. I was passing through the forbidden corridor, then I heard a loud voice and couldn't help but go over there to see what was happening."

"Harry James Potter!" Hermione called him with his full name, with a highly disappointed and frustrated expression on her face "You didn't! The corridor is forbidden for a REASON!"

"Hear me out, will ya?" He looked at both of us from above his glasses then continued. "As I closed in, I saw Quirrel with Snape. Snape seemed to be cornered Quirrel onto the wall. I wasn't able to make out most of their little chat but I heard snape hiss the name "the Dark Lord" and heard him say something about Nicholas Flannel…" he looked straight ahead without even seeing anything for a moment than turned to us. "Do you know who Flannel is?"

Draco looked at Hermione. She was lost.

"I know who Flannel is." Draco said.

"You do?" both said synchronized.

"Yes, some years ago, apparently he has applied for a fund from Malfoy Corporations. He was an alchemist and working on some stone." he stopped and gulped. "I remember Father asking me about the investment. I remember telling him that I didn't trust the guy." he said.

"What was the project Draco?" Hermione asked with a worried expression on her face now.

"I can't remember. I will try and recall it and will contact you okay, Potter? Now we have to get back. Not all of us are lucky enough to wander around under an invisibility cloak…" he rolled his eyes.

"See you soon. And Potter, the exams are right around the corner! I think you should actually study! Bye." with that warning from Hermione, they made it back to their common rooms and Draco tried HARD to recall his conversation his Father. Whenever he thought he was near, it escaped his mind. It was frustrating.

Hermione didn't show it. But Draco could see that she was a ball of stress. This was their first exam day and she of all people was stressed. He watched her as she tried to murder her french toast in her plate at the breakfast.

"Calm down, Hermione." he whispered to her.

"I am calm" she hissed in return which signaled Draco to leave her be.

The test periods were unnerving but, thanks to all that study they have done, Draco felt like he wrote more than enough. Both he and Hermione were able to create perfect potions in the potions exam as well. The last exam was History and he didn't feel all that excited about it at all. He read the questions in advance and started answering them in turn. It only took him so long to fill in all the answers and have more than twenty minutes at hand to get bored to death, waiting for the period to be over.

He looked out from the windows into the spring sky, which was quite inviting. He loved lying under the sun, letting it warm him down to his bones, despite what everyone would assume with his skin colour. He thought could lie forever, under the sun.

Forever…

Forever!

As the gong reminded the end of the period. People were hissing, turning in their parchments. Draco stood up and ran towards Potter, who was nearing the exit of the classroom.

"Potter" he called the boy didn't hear him. With much louder voice he called "HARRY!" that got him his attention.

"What's it Draco?" he asked.

"Not here. I need to get Hermione too. Meet with us at the classroom we used the last time, within 30 minutes." he said and turned around to find Hermione.

Hermione was steadily coming towards him.

"You look worried, Draco!" she examined him with knowing eyes. "What's wrong?"

"Not here, I will meet with Harry and explain. Are you coming?" he asked her.

"Of course I'm coming!" she said.

They went to the classroom, Draco again enchanted the door. Then he realized that Harry brought Weesel. He saw Hermione pout.

"What is the redhead doing here Harry?" he asked.

"Look, Ron is with me. He's okay. Now tell me, pl-" Hermione cut him out.

"Harry, I like you, you are a good guy. But I almost died because of the redhead! I am not going to trust him just like that! A person with at least a little dignity would get into the trouble of actually apologizing for their wrongs!" Hermione said.

"I AM sorry, okay? I really am! I never thought you were hearing what I was saying and it was an outburst! We are kids, that stuff happens!" he said.

"Oh, yeah? Then why don't I go around cursing people! We are expected to get educated Weasley! On actually practical stuff! Not on killing curses!"

"You know what? It's okay! Beat some sense in me! This is much more important than some bruises on my face. Let Malfoy talk already." He sighed.

"Okay, Hermione, I want you to calm down. If Harry wants Weasley to be here, let him. This actually might be quite important…" he sighed. "I remembered about Flannel…"

"You did?!" Hermione and Harry asked simultaneously. He rolled his eyes.

"Yes, he found the Philosopher's Stone." Harry looked at him empty eyed. Hermione gasped.

"He did WHAT?" she asked turning to look straight into Draco's eyes.

"Yes, Hermione. He did. And if somebody's after the stone, and had connection with the Dark Lord, it would mean the world will collapse! We've got to do somethi-" Harry cut him short.

"I'm not following you guys! What's a Philosopher's Stone? Do you mind explaining?" He asked furiously. Of course he would not know!

"Potter, do you ever read!" Hermione said impatiently. "Look, Philosopher's Stone is kind of the source of immorality. And, it's apparently not a legend anymore!" she sighed. "Think about it Potter, if the Dark Lord had it, he can come back!" Draco shivered at the thought!

"What is Dumbledore thinking, hiding such a dangerous object in the school, where also very conveniently the-boy-who-lived is residing. This is the bottom of irresponsibility! Seriously!"

"Look, if what you're saying is right, we don't have much time. If Snape gets a hold of it, it will be the end and then my parent have died in vain!" he took a deep breath. Even though he didn't think it was Severus Snape who will try to obtain the stone, he knew that someone would.

"I think we should go to Professor Snape for help." Draco suggested.

"And let him murder us?" Harry said, mockingly. "No way! I don't trust him. We should go to Dumbledore. He'll be able to stop him!" That was actually quite logical. So they went rushing to find McGonagall to ask for the password to Dumbledore's quarters, rushing through the corridors.

They found her in the Transfiguration Classroom, shuffling through parchments. Harry ran towards the front.

Professor looked at the four of them.

"How very nice to see two Gryffindors and two Slytherins together. What is the matter? You haven't been hexing each other, have you?" she asked, now looking with concern.

"Professor McGonagall, We need to talk with Professor Dumbledore. It is important! Can you please give me the password for his quarters?" he eagerly asked.

"Mr Potter calm down. I can't give you the password. Besides, Professor Dumbledore is not in the castle." she said matter of factly. "If you have an important matter, Potter, I suggest you settle talking it with me instead." she offered.

"Professor, we think that Professor Snape is going to try to break in the room in the forbidden corridor to get the Philosopher's Stone for Voldemort."

"It is Professor Snape, Mr Potter! And what you say is utterly ridiculous. Why would Professor Snape do such thing! Go to your respective common rooms, immediately!" she scolded them.

"But, Professor McGonagall, you have to believe us. He wants to steal the Philosopher's Stone!"

"Potter!" right, she was angry now… "The Philosopher's Stone is under very through protection. Professor Snape is one of the professors which helped creating this particular protection. He has no reason to try doing such a thing! Now go to your common rooms at once." And with that they were dismissed.

PS: You guys, I wasn't able to proof-read this chapter (I also didn't have the time to proof-read Chapter 9 as well.). So there might be "stuff" but, you'll get the main idea, I suppose.

As always, loves to all of you! You are a huge support! Your comments are so precious. Loves, BTA