Author's Note: Sorry guys that it took forever to write this chapter. I'm going to be moving on Tuesday. So I won't be able to get to a computer until late in the week. I'm sorry. I'm falling apart inside leaving all that I've known for hte lsat 7 years. So if the chapter sucks, that is the reason. Anyway have fun and review.

Disclaimer: I thought I told you already I don't own a damned thing. Okay well the plot line here is out of my head but well...

The two long hours that Draco spent pouring over a book that could have possibly given some sort of answer to Dumbledore's riddle was nothing but gibberish to him. What good would a stupid spell book that they had used in Flitwick's class be to him. But, even still he flipped lazily through the huge volume.

"Hermione, I'm going to need some sort of nourishment if I'm going to be any help to you," Draco said with a strech to releave the pressure on his back and neck.

Hermione gave a look that said that the last thing that she wanted was to put down the books for food, "Malfoy, don't you want to get to the bottom of this mystery? I mean this has got to be important for you."

"Sure, but if I die from hunger then pouring over these books for an answer isn't going to do much good now is it?"

"Honestly, you sound like Ron."

"Do not compare me to that Weasel. And I'm sure that you could use something to eat, too. I can't have you wasting away either if you're going to be helping me."

"Well thank you, Casper. I know that remark wasn't something that Malfoy would make."

Malfoy laughed, it was a sound that seemed odd to him, "Maybe you just don't know Malfoy well enough. Come on."

Hermione gave a regretful glance at the book that she had in her lap, dog-earing it so not to lose her place when she returned. They made their way down the flights of stairs. Hermione lead the way so she could head off the worst of the confrontations that could be in the path of the kitchen.

They walked into the kitchen and thankfully only Harry was there. Harry looked up and grunted a greeting seeing that Malfoy was also with his best friend. He was fiddling with a mirror. Draco kept the comments that he had to himself. It wouldn't be in his best intrest to insult Potter openly in Potter's house.

"We just needed some food, Harry. We'll get out of your hair shortly."

"That may be best. Ron is coming over soon. I don't think it'd be wise to break the news of our alliance with Malfoy, with him in the room. I'm sure sparks would fly," Harry made eye contact with the blond, "Not that that would be a bad thing."

Draco felt the dangerously hot blade of anger course through his veins, but managed to remain quiet testing every ounce of self control that the boy had.

"Harry. Please stop," Hermione said, going through cupboards for food.

Potter gave her a look then went back to staring at the mirror. Draco went to help Hermione. They conversed a little quietly. Malfoy felt extremely out of place int he the house, being in the kitchen only amplified the feeling of discomfort. If it weren't for Hermione's help he'd tear the damned Boy-who-Lived to a million pieces.

It was halfway through Draco's second sandwich when all hell broke lose. Ron Weasley walked into the kitchen, and upon seeing the unmistakable blond hair of Draco Malfoy he turned purple with rage.

"WHAT THE HELL IS THAT DOING HERE?"

"BLOOD! FILTH!"

"Ronald calm down! Look you've upset Mrs. Black. Sit down, take a breath, and we'll explain everything," Hermione said standing up.

"CALM DOWN? HOW DO YOU EXPECT ME TO CALM DOWN WHEN MALFOY IS HERE?"

"Ron, stop it. He's here under my protection."

Weasley stared at his friend with his mouth open, obviously too dumbfounded to put together words.

Potter stood and made his way to the red head, "Come on mate, just sit down I'll get you a firewhiskey and maybe you'll be better with some liquor in you."

"I don't need whiskey. I want to know why in the name of Merlin is Malfoy in this house. And why you are allowing this Harry?"

"I don't like this any more than you do, Ron. However when has Hermione ever been wrong before?"

"She thought your Firebolt was hexed by Sirius and it wasn't"

"I was right about that Ron. Sirius did give Harry that broom. We didn't know until much later that Sirius was innocent."

"Well you were wrong about Crockshanks chasing Scabbers."

"And I guess you've forgotten that Scabbers turned out to be Wormtail," Harry pointed out.

Ron looked back and forth between his two friends and then to Malfoy, "Hermione you have to be under the Imperius Curse to be helping that ferret."

"Look Weasel, I haven't used an Unforgivable on Granger. She's helping me and you're just going to have to deal with it, got it?"

"I can't believe you would even think that, Ron! I am not under any spell."

"There is no other explanation for it," Ron said.

Harry put a hand on Ron's shoulder, "Lupin and I've already discussed the possiblity. We've agreed that Hermione is doing this on her own free will. I trust Hermione, even if I don't trust Malfoy. He didn't kill Dumbledore. That's his only saving grace."

"He didn't kill Dumbledore only because he chickened out at the last moment," Ron exclaimed.

Upon hearing what Weasley said Draco was up and across the room with his wand at the boy's neck.

"Draco stop!" Hermione pleaded urgently. The fiery anger was burning in his eyes, the last thing he wanted to do was to stand down. He wanted to blast the damn Weasley in to the next millennium. Fighting the urge to smite the boy, he slowly lowered his wand. Hermione's help was too vital to it blown on the retard.

"I can't take this! I've walked into another universe. Malfoy is listening to Hermione,and she's protecting him! I'm going home so I can wake up an find out this was just a bad dream," Ron turned and left.

Harry looked at Hermione, "I hope you feel happy with yourself. You just broke his heart." With that, Potter left the room to follow his friend.

Hermione's eyes instantly filled up with tears, and ran up to her room. Malfoy was on her heels. He didn't have anything to say. Crying girls just weren't his thing, but he didn't want to be left alone in the kitchen where more havoc would be caused for sure.

Once they were safely in their room Hermione broke down completely flopped across her bed. The tears came fast and hard. She was hysterical, and Draco just stared at her helplessly. Finally, after watching her continue with her breakdown he walked over to her to sit down on the bed next to her. Uncertainly he put an arm around Hemrione's shoulders. He had seen it in a movie that he had seen with Hermione while he was working with Miss Julia.

Hermione pulled away from him. Her tears stopped just as fast as they started. She started pacing the room in a full rant.

"What are you trying to pull? You come bounding into my life as a sweet great guy then drop the bomb that you are really, well, you. Then you've just about complained about everything that I've done thus far in order to help you," Hermione's voice was shakey and hysterical.

Draco got up to look her in the eye placing his hands on her shoulders, "Look, I know it's tough on you. You had the choice to tell me to go to hell. You didn't. I know that that it's killing you that your friends aren't exactly here for you. I know that you can't call me a friend and I wouldn't be so keen on calling what we have a friendship. But I'm here for you and I have to be. It's in my nature to complain. Don't take it personal. You have know idea how much it means to me that you're helping me. You are the strongest person I know. I'm not going to compliment you, I will tell you the truth, though. I doubt that you'll even get a thank you out of me. But I'll always be in your debt, Hermione. Whether you continue to help me or not. I owe my life you."

Hermione stared at Draco blankly. He was full of all sorts of surprises. "What are you playing at? You are going to ruin my life. My two best friends hate me. Why am I putting it all on the line to save you?"

"That's a question that you're going to have to ask yourself. One thing that I've always know about you, though, is you fight for what's right. No matter who disbelieves you."

"How do you know?"

"I watch people. How else do you think I choose to come to you? If I really thought that you were going to turn me over to the Ministry I wouldn't have made my presence known to you. I'd at least have an ocean between me and the Death Eaters if I didn't come to you. I know that you fight for what you know to be right. Trust your insticts, Hermione."

"I don't think I can handle it this time," fresh tears started to stream from Her chocolate colored eyes.

"You can do it."

Hermione nodded and wipped the tears from her eyes. She took a step closer to Malfoy and kissed him on the cheek, "How do you what to say when my best friends never did?"

Draco could only stand there, unable to move from the utter shock of what he had just said to her, and how she reacted.