Chapter 11

Hermione reached the Gryffindor tower and gave the Pink Lady the password. She was quite perturbed to be stirred at such a late hour, but reluctantly her portrait swung open. "Damn." She muttered seeing Harry and Ron sleeping in the armchairs by the fire. No doubt waiting up for her. She tried to sneak by them and up to the girls' dorms, but she slipped on one of Neville's remembralls and fell crashing down to the floor. "Remind me to take points from Neville for being so careless and leaving his things around." She muttered to herself, but had to laugh at her current situation. He probably forgot where he left the blasted thing. She hoped that Harry and Ron would have slept through the commotion, but knew that was too much to ask for as she saw their bodies rousing.

"Where have you been Hermione?" Ron asked releasing a deep yawn.

"Yeah we've been waiting up for you for hours."

Quick. Think Hermione. "I was in the library until Madam Pince kindly asked me to depart and then I went to the Prefects Lounge to work on the House Plans and I fell asleep there, on the sofa. But I really don't see how my whereabouts are any of your concern."

"None of our concern. You stormed out at lunch, never bothered showing up for dinner, and come to think about it neither did Malfoy, then you waltz in her at 3 AM, and it none of our concern."

"It's not 3 AM and Draco had nothing to do with it."

Harry continued his rampage. "Hermione that's not the point. For all we knew you were dead lying in a bloody puddle in the Forbidden Forest. And since when did you start referring to HIM as Draco."

"That's his name, isn't it? What does it matter?" Knowing that she had just slipped up in front of them.

Ron interjected, "It matters because if me and Harry…"

"Harry and I."

"Fine. If Harry and I had disappeared for hours you would have thoroughly chastised us."

"That's because the two of you are always getting into trouble and sticking your noses were they don't belong."

"If I'm not mistaken you've always been right next to us when we were 'getting into trouble'. We were just concerned. That's all." Harry sputtered in exasperation.

"You two are right. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have been so defensive and I should have been a little more considerate. You two are my best friends and we shouldn't fight. Truce."

"Truce." Harry and Ron replied in unison.

"I'm tired and I've got a crick in my neck from the sofa. I'll see you guys in the morning for breakfast. Don't forget classes resume tomorrow."

"Don't remind us."

Harry and Ron climbed the boys' staircase as Hermione ascended the girls'. She breathed a sigh of despair at how easy it was becoming to lie to her best friends. Somehow she had to find a way to tell them about Draco.

Hermione hadn't been the only night owl that evening. In another part of the castle three students were up to no good.

"Did you get it?" She hissed at them.

"Yeah, but if Snape finds out he'll bludger us for sure."

"Shut up Crabbe. All I care is that you have the potion and that you aren't going to back out."

"I don't know about this, Pansy. Draco will be really mad if he finds out we did this."

"That's fine Goyle, but when Draco finally realizes the two of you aren't worth the flesh that covers your thick skulls don't run to me to be your friend. Because that's what will happen, now that he's fucking that mudblood. Soon he'll be great friends with Potter and Weasley and you two stupid gits will be left with no one but yourselves. It's sad really. The two of you don't have enough sense between yourselves to see that I'm trying to help you. I would think you would be grateful. But that's fine. You two can just perish." She pretended to stomp off, but knew full well that they would stop her.

"Okay Pansy. We'll do it."

"Good. I thought you'd see it my way."

They skulked away into the shadows of the castle. Making their way back to their dorm rooms, but their plans did not go unseen.

"When will these children learn that very a rare thing passes by me?" And the wise old wizard chuckled to himself. He always made sure he gave them just enough rope.