DISCLAIMER: As much as I'd love to own Harry Potter and mass quantities of money… I do not.

Author notes:

Wow… I got only one reply for chapter 10. But what an amazing reply it was! Thank you so much Giselle! It truly means a lot!

Since I do update practically everyday (except weekends) here is today's chapter. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!

Chapter 11: Makings of a Plan

"Hermione, Ron, Ginny, everyone, come here!" called Harry urgently.

"The name's Malfoy, Potter and don't you forget it!" drawled Draco as he settled down comfortably in one of the common room chairs.

Harry blatantly ignored him as Hermione rushed in the common room, her face looking quite bewildered at having been summoned so urgently. Ron and Ginny walked in a bit after Hermione, both looking sleepy and disheveled. Harry looked at them apologetically, realizing that he had completely forgotten they were asleep.

"What is it, Harry?" asked Hermione grabbing his arm softly.

"Hermione, I need you to tell me everything you know about wizard's paintings…"

Everyone remained silent for a couple of minutes, wondering if maybe Harry had finally lost his mind. Malfoy broke the silence with his signature scoff and stood up.

"What's there to know, Potter? They are paintings like every other one in the wizarding world. They talk, mostly rubbish mind you, but talk nonetheless. I thought even you knew that!" he smirked.

Harry looked at him blankly.

"Duh, Malfoy! Of course I knew that! What I want to know is… do they have a mind of their own? Can you actually have a coherent conversation with them?"

Hermione frowned, almost sure of where the conversation was going. Ron seemed to realize it too, for after he gave a colossal yawn he stood up and faced his friend.

"Mate… Dumbledore is dead. You can't talk to his painting. It won't tell you anything new. A painting is not Dumbledore himself it's just…" Ron's voice trailed off when he realized he didn't know how to explain what a painting was.

"It's an imprint, Harry. It's an image of what a wizard was when he was alive. It talks of things the wizard or witch knew and deemed most important when they were alive. They do not have a mind of their own. They are not reincarnations of the dead person, if that is what you wish to know," explained Hermione, her voice low and sweet.

"Ok… but what if… what if…"

"What if Professor Dumbledore wanted to leave an imprint of his latest discoveries? What if he wanted to leave behind something that would guide us?" Ginny said, finishing Harry's thoughts for him.

"Guide you to what?" asked Draco suddenly, his eyes narrowing.

"Nothing you have to know!" snapped Ron angrily.

"Watch your mouth, Weasley!" drawled Draco, standing up to face Ron.

"Would you two shut up?"

Ron and Draco glared at each other and then at Hermione as each took a seat in opposite sides of the common room.

"Harry, Ginny… you are right. That might be a possibility. However, have you thought about how difficult it will be to get into Hogwarts castle right now? Security must have increased. Lord knows what kind of charms it now possesses?"

"It isn't that difficult… I mean… if Malfoy managed to get Death Eaters in once surely we can get in too!" said Harry.

At once, Draco's cool face turned an angry shade of red.

"Look, Potter! I was able to get those Death Eaters in the castle through a very clever plan. Much cleverer than anything any of you could come up with!" he walked towards Harry. "And besides, Dumbledore is dead. His protective charms must have lifted at the moment when Snape…" his voice trailed off and he sat back on his chair, his cheeks losing the bright red color and turning a pasty white.

Harry studied his expression for a few seconds before turning back to his friends.

"Well… as much as I hate to admit it, Malfoy makes sense. When Professor Dumbledore was murdered, the petrifying spell he had placed upon me was lifted. Surely that happened to the protection on Hogwarts castle!"

Ginny and Hermione looked at each other for a minute, seemingly asking one another who should break the bad news to Harry. Finally, Hermione spoke.

"Harry… a wizard of Dumbledore's caliber… do you think he did not foresee something could happen to him? Don't you think he left other people in charge of immediately placing protective charms all over Hogwarts after his death? No… he was much too clever. I daresay security must have increased tenfold. No one knows what kind of secrets lay hidden within those walls…"

"Well, Granger, since you are so smart and you know all of this, why don't you come up with a plan of how we are getting in to Hogwarts?" asked Draco, startling with them all.

Hermione gave him a look of utmost loathing.

"I can try! But I am not match for Dumbledore's brand of magic!"

Harry approached Hermione and pulled her into a tight hug.

"I believe in you the same way you believe in me, Hermione. I think that all of us, together, can come up with some way to get into the castle. I am sure Hagrid and other members of the Order can help us too. We have to find a way… I just feel it…"

Hermione relaxed into his embrace and smiled. She liked knowing Harry Potter, a wizard who Professor Dumbledore esteemed so much, thought so highly of her.

"I'll try, Harry, I promise," she assured him smiling.

"What do you all need guidance in, Granger?" asked Draco, taking off his shoes and shirt and laying down on his bed, not bothering to turn down the covers.

Hermione blushed profusely. She had never been in the same room with a shirtless guy. Not even Ron or Harry. She studied his anatomy with a sort of curious impulse she couldn't resist. As much as she really hated to admit it, apart from being a complete idiot, physically, Malfoy was beautiful. He smirked, very amused at Hermione's expression.

"Take a picture, Granger. It'll last longer!" he said, laughing slightly before closing his eyes.

"Conceited git…" she muttered under her breath, blushing an even deeper shade of red as she, too, removed her shoes and robe.

"I asked you a question, Granger. What are you guys planning to do?"

"As Ron said, it is none of your business!" she said firmly.

Draco opened his eyes and sat up, ready to chew her out. But the sight that greeted him left him slightly dumfounded. Hermione's pajamas were the cutest, sexiest thing he had ever seen a young woman wear in his presence. Her pants were short and hugged her curves beautifully. The shirt was small and tight, accentuating her firm breasts. Hermione blushed a third time, but instead of running to her bed and covering herself, she placed her hands on her hips and smirked.

"I hope you brought a camera…"

For a minute it looked like Malfoy was about to say something stupid an annoying. But he surprised her, yet again, by bursting out laughing.

"Nice of you to turn that around on me…" he smiled sincerely and closed his eyes, knowing deep inside of him that if he kept staring he wouldn't be able to converse freely with her. "Now for my question…"

"Nox!" whispered Hermione turning the lights off and lying on her bed. She considered Malfoy's question momentarily, wondering if she should give him a real answer.

"Why'd you turn off the lights?"

"It's easier to talk to you this way," she admitted softly.

"What way?"

"In the dark…" she whispered.

Draco felt his heartbeat quicken. He wasn't sure why, but he felt he had no control over his situation anymore. It was a feeling of anticipation, excitement and at the same time… fear. He turned on his bed, facing Hermione's direction and blinked, trying to make out her silhouette. Hermione did the same.

"I can't answer your question. Not yet. I don't know if we can trust you…" she said finally.

"Ok…" he said, his voice sounded hoarse, even to him.

He had been alone with girls on countless occasions and he had never felt as nervous as he did now with the girl he had hated for so long. He stood up from his bed and slowly made his way to hers, sitting at the edge and trying to look into her eyes with the feeble light that filtered through the fabric of the tent.

Hermione trembled. What was he doing?

"I have never really seen you, you know?" he whispered.

"What do you mean?" she asked, also whispering.

Draco reached out and gently touched her cheek. Surprisingly, his tough was warm and gentle. Hermione sighed very softly, actually enjoying his caress.

"I've spent so many years seeing in you what my parents saw. I never took the time to actually look at you… It's incredible, isn't it? The best way I see you is in the darkness of the night…" he smiled.

"What do you see?" she ventured to ask, reaching out and touching his cheek as well.

He closed his eyes, feeling her soft hand on his skin and enjoying it inmensely.

"More than I ever thought I would…" he said simply, standing up and walking towards his bed leaving Hermione very much awake…

Hope you liked it! Now, why don't you take a few more minutes and leave a review for me? THANKS!