A/N: This took a lot less time than I expected, so here you are! Thanks to all my reviewers. You people are amazing!!! Oh, by the way, I kind of messed with time in this. I moved practically the whole 7th book back a year, so just pretend everything in their 7th year happened in their 6th, and this it their 7th.
About a week later, Hermione walked into the Great Hall where there was a huge commotion at the Slytherin table.
"Are you feeling better now, Draco?" she heard Pansy ask in her sniveling voice. As she moved closer, she could also hear Draco saying, "Yeah, I'm fine. Move, please. Yes, I'm fine, Pansy, get out of my way. Now. Move." Hermione smiled slightly. That meant he was back to normal. He finally fought his way out of the crowd. She was only slightly jolted when he headed toward her. She saw Pansy's eyes follow his path to Hermione. You could practically see her turn green. Hermione tried to repress a smirk of her own to match Draco's. She smiled sweetly at Pansy and turned to Draco.
He sighed. "Guess the secret's out now." She glanced at the Gryffindor table. Some of her housemates were glaring. Others were gaping like a school of fish. "Yeah." She sighed, too. They were going to give her a really hard time about her relationship with Draco. "I know you must be really sick of this, but are you okay?" she asked.
He rolled his eyes. "I'm fine."
"That's not what I meant and you know it," she said crossly. "I know that Madam Pomfrey would never let you go in less than perfect condition. You know what I'm asking about."
"I'm better. Not great," he admitted. "But… okay, under the circumstances."
"You're not going to try your little stunt again, right?" She thought she had better make it clear that jumping off something high was no longer one of his options.
"Of course not, Hermione." He looked insulted that she'd even asked.
She relaxed. "Good. Well, I'd better go. I'm starving, and I have a quiz in Ancient Runes to study for."
"Okay. Bye." Draco wondered if Hermione ever thought she studied enough.
"Bye." They walked back to their tables. Harry and Ron glared at Hermione.
"What do you mean, running off to him like that?" Harry asked, outraged.
"I didn't 'run off to him'. I'm allowed to talk to anyone I like," she replied haughtily.
"You're a bloody idiot," Ron told her furiously.
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Two weeks later, Hermione was sitting a ways down the table at breakfast from Ron and Harry. Cho had talked to her before thy got into the Great Hall, but she was now sitting next to Harry. Ginny was across the table from Hermione. They sat in silence. Hermione, who was now, along with Draco, practically exiled from the rest of the students, was glad for Ginny's support. She knew Ginny had more accepted, and probably more fun, friends to hang out with, and was feeling eternally grateful to her. Hermione hadn't spoken to Ron or Harry for over a week and a half.
Draco was still a bit moody, but he was improving. She wasn't afraid of him jumping out another high window anytime soon. Hermione had felt totally useless for a long time. She had hated Lucius Malfoy, which made it hard to be comforting after he died. She remembered, shuddering, her second year, when he had almost gotten Ginny killed.
About half way through the meal, the post arrived. Hermione watched the owls swoop under the cloudy gray ceiling, not looking forward to walking through the snow to Herbology later. She was surprised, though, when a gray owl landed in front of her and stuck out it's leg. She unfastened the letter it carried, gave the owl a bit of bread, and shooed it away. It soared back to the ceiling as she opened her letter. She read it quickly, feeling similar to the way she had when she had read the letter informing Draco of his father's death.
"Dear Hermione,
We would love it if you stayed with us at the Burrow for Christmas. Arthur and I heard that your parents are in Australia, and Hogwarts is being closed for renovations over the holidays. It's all arranged. Don't worry about a thing. We look forward to seeing you!
Love,
Molly Weasley"
Hermione dropped her head into her arms and groaned. Ron was not going to take this well. And the worst part was, Mrs. Weasley was right. Hermione didn't have anywhere to go for the holidays. She grimaced and lifted her head. Look forward to spending a couple weeks with Ron. Try not to get killed, she told herself grimly. At least Ginny would be there. That offered a little protection at least. She glanced back down at the letter and noticed a P.S. "Harry will be coming as well. I'm sure you three will have a wonderful time. Great, Hermione thought. Another person to help with my murder. She noticed Ginny looking worriedly at her.
"What's wrong?" Ginny asked. Hermione pushed the letter across the table and Ginny scanned it. "Ah," she said, biting her lip. " I see. Well, if all else fails, you could always move in with Bill and Fleur." Hinny's brother had gotten married the summer before, before Death Eaters had crashed the party. Then, Ginny scowled. "Never mind. I'll bet anything that Mum's invited them, too. Well, with any luck, Ron won't try killing you with Mum around.'
"Yeah, good luck with that," Hermione muttered. "I've got to go. See you later, Gin." She hurried off to Charms, knowing that she would be going to the Burrow for Christmas, whether she liked it or not.
A/N: Thank you again (and again and again) to my fabulous reviewers- if you didn't review, trust me, I would not be typing this story right now. And to everyone new reading this, REVIEW!!!!! Next chapter will be coming some time soon, with Christmas at the Burrow.