Whew! Hermione was physically and emotionally exhausted. She wanted nothing more than to lie down in her warm bed, and let oblivion take over. For once in her life she had no desire to analyze the events of this evening. I wonder if Draco and Snape are finished with their 'talk' yet. I don't wish to intrude, but I do so want to go to bed.

Deciding that it would be best to leave them alone, Hermione grabbed a book off the bookshelf, and settled into her favorite chair to read. I'll just lie out here and relax until they're finished. Surely it won't be too much longer.

She didn't read more than a few pages before she fell fast asleep.

………………………………………………………………………….

Hermione and Blaise were talking in tones so low that Draco could no longer hear them. He finally gave up, and turned his attention to his godfather. "You said you had something to discuss with me, sir?"

"Yes. It wasn't until you and Miss Granger left that Professor McGonagall recalled other parents had been killed in a fashion similar to Miss Greane's."

"Hermione's?" Draco's voice was hoarse.

"Miss Granger is one example, yes."

Draco felt like he'd just been punched in the gut. No wonder she was so upset.
He looked at his Head of House. "I didn't know, Professor! I never would've asked her to help if I had. I swear, I didn't know!"

Snape laid a soothing hand on his shoulder. "Easy. I know. I was also unaware. However, that doesn't change the facts. The teaching staff was concerned about how she was handling this evening's events. Especially Minerva. You know how she gets when one of her 'cubs' are involved."

Draco quickly told his godfather what happened when they left. "I came straight here to the rooms, sir. I also noticed that she was a little upset when she left, and I wanted to check on her. When I entered, I heard her in here crying, and since the door was open, I came in to see if she was okay."

Snape flashed one of his rare grins. "I take it that's where I came in: in the middle of you offering…comfort."

Draco's willed himself not to blush, but it didn't seem to help much. "I was just trying to make sure she was okay."

This time Snape laughed. He actually laughed. "There's nothing to be embarrassed about. I'm well aware of what goes on between teenagers."

"You just seemed so…unsettled when you saw us."

"Well," Snape cleared his throat, and shifted uncomfortably. "Knowing and seeing are two different things."

They talked for a few more minutes before Draco asked. "Do you think Blaise's gone, yet?"
"Long time ago."

"Why didn't you say something? Where's Hermione?"

Even as he asked those questions, Draco was opening the door, and he found his answer. There, in her favorite reading chair was Hermione, for all intents and purposes looking as though she fell asleep, mid page. The book open, her hand still resting on the page, as though marking the spot. Her neck was bent at a slight angle, showing off its graceful perfection.

Draco caught his breath sharply. Merlin, she's gorgeous!

Professor Snape was also looking at the girl, but he had a peculiar expression on his face.

"Something wrong, sir?"

"No. I was just thinking, and remembering."

"Remembering what?"
"Never mind. " He walked to the fireplace and grabbed a handful of floo powder. "I think it would be a nice gesture, if you were to awaken her, allowing her the comforts of her own bed. Alone in her own bed."

Draco grinned. "I know. Alone. At least for another week and a half."
Snape stepped into the fireplace, muttering under his breath about impudent prats. "Good night, Mr. Malfoy."

"Good night, sir."

Draco watched the green flames surge up, swallowing the black cloaked man. Then he turned his attention back to the girl. Not exactly a hardship on his part.

The noise from the floo travel should've awakened her, but obviously her exhausted slumber was not to be disturbed. What to do? What to do?

In the end, Draco decided that Snape was right. If she slept like that all night, then she would surely awaken with a crick in her neck, and clearly, she was sleeping deep enough, that awakening her wouldn't be easy.

Tugging the book from her grasp, he gently eased his arms under her. Lifting her proved to be easier than he'd hoped. Thankfully! No young man liked to admit he was too weak to lift his lady!

Transferring her to her bed proved to be an unusual challenge in and of itself. When he'd first lifted her, the change in positions had her startling, thus she wound up clinging to his neck. Now, she didn't seem inclined to let go.

Holding her poised mere inches from the sheets was causing a slight strain on his muscles. Bloody hell, if she don't let go I'm going to drop her. That will wake her!

Thankfully, gravity took over, and her arms slid from their position. Depositing her as gently as he could, Draco even went a step further and covered her with the sheet and blanket.

Resisting the temptation to climb into bed with her, Draco crept out of the room, making sure to leave the door cracked, so he could hear her if she started crying again.

Feeling quite proud of himself for his thoughtfulness and gentlemanly behavior, Draco went to ready himself for bed. Morning would be here all too soon, and he was anxious to see what the next day would bring.

………………………………………………………………………………..

Hermione woke slowly, and with the customary grogginess. While stretching out her muscles, she willed her brain to wake up and begin functioning. Slowly, the previous day's events came to her.

The girl crying…images of her own mother…being upset and coming to the room…Draco comforting her…Snape interrupting…talking with Blaise…reading in the chair to wait for Draco…

She frowned. I distinctly remember falling asleep in my reading chair. How did I end up in my bed? The answer came to her in a flash. Draco! Oh, no! He must have carried me to bed last night. At least I hope it was him, and not Professor Snape! Oh, how embarrassing.

Hermione knew she was no featherweight. She also had a tendency to snore when she hit her deep sleep. Granted it was a soft, almost feminine snore, but a snore none the less. Her traitorous brain flashed to images of Draco in the bed with her, kissing her, and touching her.

She groaned. Great! He finally makes a move on me and what do I do? Fall asleep! Granted he hadn't been with her when she'd fallen asleep. No, she remembered closing him in her room while she talked with Blaise. Blaise! Darn it, he should be here any minute!!

She jumped out of bed, and rushed to get ready. One of the things she loved the most about short hair was the lack of tangles. Maybe there wasn't enough hair to get matted. She didn't really care why, she was just grateful that it was so.

Their timing was almost perfect. Hermione had just put her shoes on when she heard the knock on the door.

She opened it, and admitted him.

"Good morning, beautiful! Are you ready yet?" He winked at her, but his sharp eyes quickly scanned her face, as if checking her mood.

"Almost. I just need to do one more thing."

He nodded. "Take your time."

Hermione snagged a piece of spare parchment, and quickly scrawled a few words on it, before she muttered a spell, sticking it to Draco's door. All smiles, she turned to Blaise. "Okay, I'm ready!"

…………………………………………………………………………….

Draco woke at his usual time. Like every student he had a choice to make: get up earlier and not be rushed, OR take those few precious minutes of extra sleep, and be stuck running around like a chicken without its head. Draco chose the latter.

He wasn't surprised to see that Hermione had already left the rooms. He was, however, surprised to see a note from her, sticking to his door. He read it swiftly.

Draco,

I'll make this brief so you're not late for class.

Last night brought up an issue that I've been rather negligent about.

Please try and find the time to sit with me today. We need to talk.

Thanks,

Hermione

PS—Thanks for being there for me last night. Sorry I lost control.

Draco chanced a quick glance at his watch. If I really hustle, maybe I can catch her before breakfast is over. He snatched up his school robes, and ran out the door.

…………………………………………………………………………………

Blaise knew he could be charming when he tried. And this morning he was defiantly trying. He'd once again asked Hermione about the night before, but she'd staunchly refused to answer. It seemed to be a difficult subject for her, because every time he mentioned it, her face became overcast with shadows of grief.

Knowing it was time for a different approach, he set about being as funny and charming as he could manage to be. All the while, he was discreetly trying to get more information regarding Draco.

"So, I noticed that Draco wasn't there last night. Where was he?"

She blushed slightly and looked away. "I don't know. Maybe he was…on …hall patrol. Yeah, hall patrol!"

"That late after curfew?"

"Oh, right. Well, I'm not really sure where he was. By the way, how did you manage to come to our room, without being caught?"

He grinned. "That's my little secret. Where was he?"

"I don't know." Her eyes stayed firmly on the ground the whole time they were having this conversation.

"You may be the smartest witch of our age, but you're a horrible liar!"

Even she had to laugh at that one. "Then stop asking me questions that I can't answer."

Fair enough. They moved on to talking about safer subjects. Hermione innocently made the comment that she'd taken muggle versions of self defense courses a few years back.

"Why?"

"Well, Death Eaters aren't the only people that attack, you know. Many people in the muggle world, which I frequently visit, also get attacked. Only muggles attack with their physical bodies, since they don't have magic."

Blaise was intrigued about whether the 'moves' as she called them would really work. "No offense, but those muggle men must be real wimps."

"Hey! Not all muggles are weak, you know."

"I'm sorry, but I have a hard time picturing some-one like you throwing someone like me!"
"Oh, really. Would you like a demonstration?"

Now if Harry or Ron had been there, they could've warned him what the sickeningly sweet tone of voice meant: but they weren't. Besides, that was a lesson Blaise needed to learn for himself.

"Fine." Blaise stood. "This I have to see."
Hermione also stood and placed herself where she was standing a few feet in front of him, with her back to him. "Now, Blaise, I want you to come at me like you're trying to grab me."

He did as she ordered. Unfortunately, neither of them noticed her other friends approaching until it was too late. Harry and Ron each shouted a warning to Hermione, but it was unnecessary, because from behind them a hex shot out, catching Blaise square in the middle of his back. "Stupefy!"

His limbs froze, and he fell backwards.

Draco didn't spare a glance for his friend lying on the ground; he was fully intent upon getting to Hermione.

She felt like she entered a tug of war as three different males all reached her, and tried to give her a hug. It's really discerning hearing three different voices say the same thing, she thought fuzzily.

She struggled, trying to remove herself from their grasp. "I'm fine. Let me go! I need to help Blaise."

Ron was aghast. "Hermione, are you mental? He was trying to attack you! Blast you, Malfoy, let her go!"

"No way, Weasley, you let go!"

This started them yelling at each other, still tugging on her, and no matter how loud she yelled, they didn't seem to notice. Only Harry had released her, and he happened to notice her wince when Ron gave her arm a squeeze.

"Ron, stop!" He grabbed his best friends arm. "You're hurting her!"

That statement caught his attention, and he abruptly let go, causing her to slam into Draco. He put his arm around her, and asked again. "Hermione, are you okay?"

She nodded. "Yes, but Draco, please help Blaise. He wasn't attacking me. I was trying to show him some moves from my self defense class!"

He didn't look convinced. "Your what class?"
She shot him an exasperated look. "I'll explain, okay. Just please wake him."
"Fine." Draco pointed his wand at the still unconscious boy. "Ennervate."

Blaise came around, and slowly sat up. He rubbed his head gingerly, asking what had happened. Hermione placed her hand on his shoulder. "Sorry, Blaise. Evidently you're act of attacking me looked real, because Harry, Ron and Draco thought I was in danger, so they…well, they tried to save me."

Blaise scowled at the two male Gryffindors. "Are you crazy? I would never hurt Hermione, and that's no reason to hex anybody." He turned to Draco who was standing there. "Well, don't you want to take house points, or something?"

When Draco didn't respond, Blaise gave him a sharp nudge. "Don't just stand there, Draco: do something!"
"Sorry, but I can't."

"Why not?"

Ron snorted. "Because it wasn't us who hexed you, you stupid prat! It was your 'mate' there."
Blaise couldn't decide who he was more upset with. Weasley called him a 'stupid prat', but Draco had hexed him. Him! His supposed best friend! Unfortunately, he couldn't raise either issue, with either person, because everyone was trying to talk at once.

Hermione, ever the voice of reason, cleared her throat. "Okay, obviously there are many things that need to be discussed. First, I want to make it clear that Blaise was NOT hurting me. I was trying to show him a demonstration of some self defense moves. Second, I know it's against school rules to cast hexes, or curses, but seeing as Draco truly thought he was defending me, I suggest he gets a warning, and we move on."

Everyone nodded, so she continued. "Okay, Blaise, Draco, if you two don't mind, I have some things I need to talk over with Harry and Ron, and if I'm not mistaken, I believe you two also have much to discuss. So, I say we go our separate ways and head to class before we're all late!"

Without waiting for them to argue, she grabbed Ron and Harry's arms, and walked off. Leaving the two Slytherins behind her, still glaring at each other. I hope I'm doing the right thing by leaving those two to talk. From the looks of things, we may have another war on our hands!

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A/N: Okay, I knew where I was, and I know where I'm going. Unfortunately, I had no idea how to get there. This chapter is kind of a transition chapter, so sorry if it seemed a little off. BTW I have a confession to make. I thought it would be hilarious for Snape to interrupt them kissing, but had a hard time coming up with a plausible explanation for WHY he would be there. So, I know it's not original, but it was the best I could come up with.

Thanks for the support, and keep reviewing!