It's been a bit too long... Sorry. I'd had it written out, all the way out to chapter 19, but for some reason I never uploaded them. Here is the next chapter. Have fun!

Chapter 11: Fulfilment of a Promise

Hermione had just finished changing into clean, dry clothes when she heard a noise from the window. She opened it and Draco's eagle-owl swooped in and deposited a note on her pillow, to finally stop, perched on her four poster bed, obviously waiting for a response. She picked the letter up and read it.

Granger, could you meet me in the Room of Requirement at eight this evening?

Hermione stared at the note. Why on Earth was he asking her to go up there, they'd just spent the entire afternoon together. Perplexed, she looked at the time that he'd proposed to meet up. She'd agreed to help Neville with his transfiguration homework in the library until about eight thirty, even maybe until the library closed. She quickly scribbled a reply.

Malfoy, I'll be there, but I can't do eight. I'll come a bit later, I promise.

Hermione.

Before she could change her mind, she folded the piece of parchment in half and gave it back to the owl. It swooped out of the still open window and out into the cool evening air. She shut the window tightly behind the bird and put the note it had carried safely inside her trunk along with all the letters she had received from her parents. She didn't know why, but she wanted to keep it safe. She then went down to the library to meet with Neville.

Draco had arrived at the Room at eight, even though he knew that she would come later. He wandered over to the piano and started playing a tune, thinking about the day that had just transpired. Who was he becoming? He had spent an entire afternoon with Hermione Granger, forgotten about Pansy's birthday - although, to be honest, Draco was getting more than a bit tired of the girl - and he'd hit a fellow Slytheryn. He'd become someone else, someone he didn't recognise. Since the beginning of the year, he'd stopped being the carefree Slytheryn he had once been; he'd had to grow up quickly, to take on responsibilities that he was not ready for. But now, with Hermione, he became that carefree person, and more. He was happy, and not happy because he ruled the school, a Malfoy, Pureblood, but because she made him happy. He could be himself with her around, he could laugh and forget everything that was going on around him, forget his mission. His mission… He stopped playing. What would she do if she found out? I would lose her, he thought, she would hate me.

"What are you thinking?" Asked a voice and Draco closed his eyes and smiled. Ah, that voice.

"I was wondering when you were going to arrive, Miss Granger." Grinned Draco and Hermione grinned back.

"I told you I'd come a bit later." She replied.

"Indeed you did." they smiled at each other for a while, taking in the silence.

"Why did you ask me to come here?" She asked, finally. Draco looked back down at the piano.

"I don't know." He replied. "I guess I just needed your company."

"You needed my company?" She parroted back slowly.

"Merlin, Granger. I thought you were supposed to be bright." She flushed.

"Haha." She laughed without humour, though her lips curled upwards into a small smile. "What happened?"

"Well," he stretched, "once in the common I got bombarded with questions, got screamed at by Pansy for forgetting her birthday and punched Blaise in the face." Hermione's eyes bulged.

"You punched Blaise Zabini?"

"Are you just going to be a parrot all night?" He mocked. She stuck her tongue out at him.

"Why did you punch him?"

"Well, he accused me of being a disgrace." His face darkened slightly and Hermione saw just how tired and thin he had become.

"Was he talking about…" she didn't complete her sentence, but Draco understood.

"No, he wasn't. He doesn't know that we talk like we do. I haven't told anyone."

"Neither have I," chuckled Hermione, "good luck explaining that to Harry. 'By the way, Harry, I've been hanging out with Draco Malfoy, you know, the guy that's been nothing but mean to us? Yeah, well, apparently he's really nice and we're kind of friends now. Is that alright with you?' Like that would go down well." They laughed.

"I feel like we're going against a force we can't fight, like everything is trying to tear us apart."

"Well, we'll just have to fight it, won't we?" She smiled. "Why did you want my company, Draco?" At the sound of his fist name, he smiled a genuine smile.

"Because you're the only person who does not pretend to be someone else to hang out with me, you make me feel alive. I really like spending time with you, it feels so natural." They both avoided the other's gaze after that.

Merlin, why did I just say that! Thought Draco.

Does he mean it? And if he does, what exactly does he mean by that? Thought Hermione.

"So, school tomorrow!" Hermione said lamely.

"Granger, we are already at school." Draco replied with a grin, glad for a change of subject. Hermione looked at the floor, realising how stupid that statement was.

"I meant lessons."

"Yes, lessons." He sighed. "How I loath them." There was silence, as neither quite knew what to say.

"What are we?" Asked Hermione, suddenly. Draco stared at her, confused.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, are we friends? We're certainly not enemies anymore. A few months ago, you would never have asked me to come and meet you here. What happened that made us change?" Draco stared at the bushy haired witch in front of him.

"You laughed." He replied at last, and this made Hermione even more confused than ever. "You were the first person to laugh, genuinely laugh. I miss laughter."

"You must laugh with your friends. I always saw you laughing with Crabbe, Goyle and Parkinson."

"Yes, but it was an empty laughter. This doesn't make sense, how can I explain it? We laughed because other people were miserable. And yes, I used to find it funny, it was kind of my purpose in life, making other people suffer. I mean, look at what I did to you, I called you a mudblood," he spat out the word, "for years and years, but now I just can't. It doesn't feel right. I can't feel genuinely happy unless I'm with you. Something about you makes me happy." He let all this soak in. He was surprised by what he had said, but it felt like the truth; he did feel happy with her. As to why, he couldn't say.

"It's nice to know that I'm affecting at least one person in a positive way. Who knew Hermione Granger would turn Draco Malfoy soppy."

"Hey, I am not soppy." He countered, but saw the smile playing on her lips. He got up from the piano stool where he had still been seated the entire time and walked towards Hermione. "So, what more important thing did you have to do this evening that made you late?"

"I was helping Neville with his transfiguration homework."

"That baboon? You're still friends with him, are you?" Draco teased.

"Yes I am. Problem?" She arched an eyebrow at him, while still smiling.

"None at all." He replied.

"Listen, I should be off, it's ten o'clock now and I don't want to be too tired on the first day back." Draco's insides suddenly turned very cold and he tried hard to hide the disappointment in his voice.

"Right, yes, ok, go."

"I'm sorry, but-"

"I know, I know. Lessons are your reason for living." He smirked at her. "Goodnight Hermione." She smiled back.

"Goodnight Draco. And thank you for a great day." And with that, she reached up, pecked him on the cheek and left the Room and a very stunned Draco, whose stomach was now doing what felt like summersaults.