Hermione was alone once more; everyone she knew had left Hogwarts for Christmas break. She had to stay behind so that she could continue to take the memory retrieving potion. At first, Hermione had worried herself over how she would tell Harry and Ron that she wasn't going to the Burrow with them. But then, Harry gave her the perfect alibi.

The three of them were in the common room of Gryffindor Tower, the boys playing wizard's chess and Hermione curled up nearby, reading a book. "Christmas break is coming up," Harry mentioned.

Ron grunted in acknowledgement as he moved his knight towards Harry's bishop. Hermione looked up from her book just in time to watch as Harry's features grew darker. "No doubt Malfoy will be staying behind. Maybe I should stay as well to keep an eye on him…"

That got Ron's attention. He looked up from the game and exclaimed, "But Bill is coming home for Christmas! And maybe Charlie, depending on his schedule. You can't just give up your Christmas just to tail Malfoy! He's not worth the trouble."

Hermione's thoughts traveled briefly to when Draco had said the same thing about Ron. With her thoughts on the Slytherin, Hermione came up with an idea. "Ron's right, Harry," she said, causing Ron's mouth to gape open with shock that she was actually agreeing with him. "You should go to the Burrow." She paused, unsure if she should continue. Biting her lip, she decided just to say it. "I was actually thinking of staying behind anyway… so, if you wanted, I could keep tabs on him a bit for you."

Both boys looked at her in silence, Ron in confusion and Harry with suspicion. "Why do you want to stay behind?" Ron questioned the same time Harry asked, "Why do you want to watch over Malfoy?"

Hermione shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "Well, Dumbledore wants me to continue my internship with Snape over break. I was thinking of taking him up on the offer. I figured that if I was already here, Harry doesn't have to be."

But Harry wasn't convinced. "But you've told me I'm obsessed with Malfoy's behavior. So, why are you suddenly so encouraging?"

"Because you're too stubborn to listen to reason, Harry! I've told you to get rid of the Half-Blood Prince's potion book, but you haven't done that, either. So, I figure it's best if you learn your lessons the hard way."

Harry's suspicion dissipated. "I suppose you're right. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em, right?" he smiled.

Hermione smiled back. "Right you are, Harry."

But, had she known then how lonely she would feel now, Hermione probably wouldn't have been so eager to jump at the opportunity. It was only two days in to break and already she was bored to tears. The only person who had stayed behind that she knew even remotely was Malfoy, but after the bathroom incident, Hermione was slightly reluctant to talk to him. She knew that she wouldn't know what to say, which would only make the situation even more awkward.

Sighing with frustration, Hermione headed to the Great Hall for lunch, the only sixth year Gryffindor to stay behind. She sat at the end of the table and began to tuck in. Just as she was about to take a bite, something in her mind's eye switched from reality to…

Colette strolled lazily through the pavilions set up in the middle of the market square, her skirts swaying with each step. To anyone watching, it would seem as if she was walking aimlessly, but Colette did indeed have a destination in mind. Caelum was just ahead, picking out some apples. Colette's heart leapt just at the sight of him.

Once she got close enough, she whispered to him, "Meet me at the clearing tonight. There is much I must profess to ye, beloved."

She saw the corner of his mouth quirk upwards into a half smile. "Ye already professed thine love for me; what else do ye wish to profess?"

Colette touched his arm briefly before replying. "All will be revealed to ye this eve in the clearing. As soon as ye can get away. I shall be waiting." Then, she turned quickly, moving further down the row, but she couldn't help herself; she looked back towards him, and Caelum was still staring after her, smiling broadly, and about to bite into an apple…

"Daydreaming, Granger? Funny, you don't seem the type."

Hermione jumped slightly and looked to her left. Draco was sitting next to her, smiling broadly, and about to bite into an apple. Confusion swirled within her. Was she dreaming, or was she still in the vision? Why was she even having a vision? She wasn't sleeping, was she? Hermione pinched herself just to be sure.

Nope. Definitely awake, she silently told herself. I have to bring it up to Dumbledore. How strange that I had a vision while awake! To Draco, she replied, "One of my many mottos may help you, Malfoy. Don't judge a book by its cover."

Malfoy rolled his eyes. "What is with you and books?" he asked teasingly.

"I enjoy books just about as much as you enjoy calling me mudblood," she retorted scathingly. The moment she had said it, Hermione wished she hadn't. Draco's features instantly turned from teasing to furious. Hermione had seen it before many times when they would have their insult wars, but this time, it felt different. Hermione didn't know why now it seemed so wrong, but deep down, she knew that it was.

Draco tightened his jaw and, through clenched teeth, he said, "That's right; you are a mudblood. How foolish of me to forget." With that, he swiftly stood and sauntered out of the Great Hall.

Hermione watched him go, and instead of worrying about screwing up her mission, all her worries went out to one Draco Malfoy.

* * * * *

It was late; the stars shone brightly in the clear, dark sky, and Hermione looked up at them from the Astronomy Tower. "What do you have in store for me?" she wondered aloud, sighing. "Ugh! Why couldn't I be born as a centaur?!" she was beginning to regret dropping out of divination. If only she held out long enough, then perhaps she could have learned a thing or two from Firenze.

Hermione took her gaze off the stars to search the grounds of Hogwarts. She saw something moving by the Forbidden Forest, but it was too dark to make out what it was. She saw the squid in the lake surfacing for a moment before ducking back down. Turning away, she mumbled, "Whatever I'm looking for, it's not out there."

As Hermione left the Astronomy Tower, she realized that she had never felt so lost in her entire life. Being alone a lot lately made her open her eyes and see that something was missing in her life. Why couldn't she turn to her best friends when she needed them most? Why was it that her missions seemed so impossible? Why did Dumbledore let something so huge fall on her shoulders? Was this what it felt like to be Harry? Hermione made it a point to ask him about it once all this was done and over with.

"If the day ever comes..." She mumbled grumpily.

* * * * *

There may not be much information about the DeFontes, but Hermione felt fairly sure there would be something in some book somewhere about the Malfoys. After all, the DeFontes had died out long ago, but the Malfoys were still a powerful family, and of course, being purebloods, they would want to trace their ancestry. There must be something more about Caelum than what Dumbledore showed her before, if the Caelum from the memories was in fact Caelum Malfoy.

She was so absorbed in her research that she didn't notice Madam Pince come up beside her. That woman took the rule of quiet in the library to a new extreme and gave Hermione a scolding look as she caught her breath to recover from being startled.

"I have a message for you from the Headmaster," she said in a whisper, but to Hermione it just seemed like she was mouthing the words. After handing the parchment to Hermione, Madam Pince returned to her work.

Hermione opened the parchment, and it turned out that the letter told Hermione that Dumbledore had some information that would help her. Actually, it recommended she look at 101 Ways to Know You Are a Wizard. Hermione didn't see what use that would be. If she was at Hogwarts, then she could obviously do magic, and there was no likelihood it would help her with her mission. She didn't see any reason to check out that particular book. She doubted anyone else would either, and in a moment, she realized that was the idea. As she pulled the book out, the others moved aside to reveal a hidden room.

There was no other way to describe it; it was perfect. The room had soft, overstuffed chairs, shelves upon shelves of books, and huge windows that made the room as bright as if she were outside, perfect reading light. And through the windows she could look out over an amazing amount of Hogwarts grounds, the way she'd been doing often lately, still searching for she didn't know what. She wondered if the room was enchanted to allow her to see more than it should be possible to see from one spot.

Turning away from the view, she noticed a stack of books. Dumbledore must have placed them there for her. The top book on the stack, The Malfoys: Purebloods and Powerful, seemed to be the one she should read first. The second, The Diary of Elizabeth Emmerson, didn't seem important to her mission, but Dumbledore must have wanted her to read it, so she settled in to read that one as well.

She skimmed through the list of chapters in the Malfoy book, and then turned to the most relevant one, "Malfoys in the Fifteenth Century."

The most influential Malfoys in the 1400's were Cepheus and Marcelle. The couple gained many followers when they preached the importance of maintaining their pureblood status. They were able to do so when their rivals, the DeFontes, mysteriously vanished from the wizarding world. Once the DeFontes were no longer informing the public of their views, many of their followers soon were on the Malfoys' side.

Because of such opposing views, the Malfoy family were at odds with the DeFontes. None were sad to see them disappear. At first, many believed the Malfoys had played a hand in the downfall of the DeFontes, claiming that the Malfoys were jealous of their power and influence and wanted them out of the picture. But, nothing could prove such theories, and eventually, the rumors were quieted. Such a situation paved the way for Cepheus and Marcelle to gain the power they needed to try to weave out any muggleborn witches or wizards.

Cepheus and Marcelle believed that in doing so, they were maintaining the pure blood that ran through their veins. Later in their years, the couple decided to retire from speaking publicly and passed the torch to their first born son, Caelum.

Not wanting to get out of the research groove, Hermione quickly turned to the second book, the diary of Elizabeth Emmerson. She skimmed some entries, but two in particular stood out the most:

I went to the gathering again this morn. Caelum still refuses to speak at them, but his father regaled us all with many tales of those filthy mudbloods. Oh how I wish everyone thought as him. We purebloods would never have to think on the subject again. If only Caelum would join his father so word would spread more quickly. I know my Caelum can be very persuasive.

Oh my heart twitters with the sight of him! But, we have yet to wed- me thinks he's nervous for married life, but he has been promised to me since we were just babes in our bassinets. I shall wait a bit more for him to gather his wits. But ere long, I shall be Mrs. Caelum Malfoy, or I will be forced to take his hand by any means I am able.

I think I hear the Malfoys' carriage approaching! I must bid you adieu! -Elizabeth

I saw her today- the little tart who has stolen my love from me. She had a smile upon her face so large, and oh how I wished for it to fall! Colette DeFonte has my nerves all twisted- she mustn't love my beloved Caelum for he belongs to me. Mayhap I will speak with his father and mother to persuade Caelum away from her. After all, wizarding bonds have dire consequences when they are not fulfilled. Surely Marcelle and Cepheus wouldn't dare to lose their first born son to such treachery. Have your time with him now, Colette, for Caelum will be with me quicker than you may believe. -Elizabeth

Hermione was baffled, and with good reason. First of all, she thought she had read previously, while speaking with Dumbledore, that Caelum didn't involve himself with his parents' endeavors. But now, she had just read that when his parents retired, so to speak, that he took their place. The two tomes obviously contradicted one another.

Secondly, this book implied that perhaps the Malfoys had something to do with the disappearance of the DeFontes. Hermione felt that she couldn't dismiss such a notion as easily as the text had. She knew what the Malfoys could be capable of, some of it from firsthand experience. She couldn't just wave it away.

But most important of all, what the books said seemed a terrible thing concerning Colette and Caelum. Had they stayed together, even though they both had different views? Or, had the horrible Emmerson woman and their families torn them apart? Hermione was becoming more eager yet to solve the mystery. She felt as if it was her destiny to find out what became of Colette, even if all it boiled down to was for her to just know what happened.

Taking a moment to rest her eyes and gather her thoughts, Hermione looked out the windows. Was she having another memory? Was she imagining the image of Caelum? Because she could vividly see him standing on the banks of the lake. She stood up to get a closer view and realized her mistake. It wasn't Caelum she was seeing, but rather Draco Malfoy. It wasn't until that moment that she realized just how much the two resembled one another. In her mind, there was no doubt about it now. Caelum was definitely a Malfoy.

Still watching Draco, Hermione couldn't help but feel a pull to go towards him. She didn't even think about it, and before she knew what she was doing, Hermione had been rushing down the corridors to reach him.

It wasn't until she had almost reached him that she wondered if she should intrude. Maybe it only felt right for her to go to him because she was trying too hard, too fast to try to succeed in her mission. She hesitantly took a step backward, trying not to make too much movement, but she had inadvertently stepped on a twig. A loud snap issued from under her foot, and Hermione looked up with dread.

She saw Draco turn to look at her, and Hermione's heart stopped cold. She had expected him to make some sort of scathing remark to her, but instead he simply turned back to look at the lake once more. It wasn't exactly and invitation, but he wasn't glaring at her and telling her to leave. So, she came closer to him until they were side by side, standing together in silence. Somehow, Hermione realized, they'd reached a different sort of relationship that they once had. She smiled to herself, content with just being there with him.

They stood like that, just staring out at the grounds, for Hermione couldn't tell how long. But eventually, she saw movement next to her and turned to see Draco retreating towards the castle. He had only gone a few steps, however, when he turned himself around once more and said with a teasing smirk, "Nice chat, Granger," before continuing on his way.

Hermione watched him go, that same contented smile stuck on her face.