Song of the Chapter: Almost is Never Enough by Ariana Grande feat. Nathan Sykes

Harry Potter made his long way back to Gryffindor Tower from Hagrid's hut. He just retrieved the memory from Slughorn that Dumbledore desperately needed. He left Slughorn and Hagrid asleep, clutching their bottles for support, and drooling on Hagrid's bench. Harry clutched the small vile in his hand and decided to look at it the next morning in Dumbledore's office.

As Harry entered his common room, his eyes immediately found Ron and Hermione, who patiently awaited his arrival. "Harry! Where have you been? You've been gone for hours!" Hermione immediately exclaimed.

"I got the memory," Harry stated, holding up the vial for proof. Hermione and Ron smiled and let Harry explain exactly what he did. Before the adults got drunk, they were all burying Aragog, a departed friend of Hagrid, and had a few last departing words for them. "Now that I have this, I can take it to Dumbledore's pensieve and have a look," Harry mentioned.

The trio stayed in the common room for a few more minutes before Hermione let out a long yawn. "I'm quite tired, so I think I just might go to bed. Good night, guys," she said, and left the two boys alone.

"She's been tired an awful lot, lately. Did you notice? I mean, we'd usually stay up and stuff, but now all she does is go to sleep," Ron pointed out. Harry merely nodded his head as he waited for the soft click of her dormitory door. The door made a sound and he was able to relax once again. Harry knew exactly what she was up to, because of what Dobby and Kreacher had told him.

How could she betray them like this? Malfoy was a Deatheater, and Harry had a feeling he was up to something. And the fact that Hermione was spending time with him only sickened him. She was in danger, he was dangerous, and Harry could no longer be able to stand by and watch her break down again.

Ron and Harry eventually also went back to their dormitories. Harry waited until he heard Ron's loud snoring before grabbing his robe and leaving the dormitory. The common room was dark and quiet. The fireplace that was usually well lit was now put out. Harry sat quietly in the chair and waited. As expected, a soft click of a dormitory door opened, then closed. He heard gentle footsteps on the stairs and froze so that she would think no one was there.

To his own despair, it was Hermione who was leaving her dorm. She was out of uniform with a light jacket, jeans and a small hat. Harry didn't want to jump to conclusions, but he had a feeling he knew where she was going.

"Ahem," Harry coughed, startling Hermione, with her wand drawn out immediately. "Oh Harry, it's just you. I, um-"

"It's kind of late, Hermione. What are you doing up?"

"I was, um, just- Going out for some fresh air. I couldn't sleep, so-"

"Oh, then I'll go with you! I can't sleep much nowadays so I might as well. Let me get my coat," Harry started.

"Um, I don't know Harry. What if the two of us get caught?"

"Hm, well maybe your right. Don't want to risk it, I suppose. Let's just hang out here in the common room!" Harry ushered Hermione to sit on the couch next to him. She sat down reluctantly with her hands in her lap. "So, what's going on with you, Mione? We never really talk about you, especially with all of what's been going on," Harry began.

"Nothing," Hermione stated.

"Oh come on. I don't believe that! How've you been feeling sinc-"

"I don't think I really want to talk right now, Harry. Maybe we should just go back to our dorms."

"Are you sure? I'm in no mood to sleep right no-"

"Good night, Harry," Hermione said uncomfortably before making her way back to the girls staircase. Well say something!, Harry thought. Hermione was bound to do this again and he wasn't going to keep lying to Ron or anyone else for her. "I know, Hermione," Harry said sullenly. Hermione stopped in her tracks and stood frozen at the bottom of the staircase. "Know what, Harry?" she asked innocently.

"I know about you and Malfoy." Hermione turned around with a look of complete sorrow on her face, matching Harry's. "How'd you find out?" she asked.

"I asked Kreacher and Dobby to tail Malfoy. They saw you...kissing him." Small drops of tears peered out of the corners of her eyes. "I'm sorry, Harry, I wanted to tell you bu-"

"Just tell me one thing," he demanded, "Do you know if he's a Deatheater? Did he tell you what he was up to?"

More tears started streaming down her face before she replied, "I know he's a Deatheater. I saw the Mark, but he won't tell me what he's up to."

"What were you thinking, Hermione? Getting involved with him?! You know he's up to something and he won't tell you! Doesn't that sound at all suspicious?!"

"It's not like that! He really likes me-"

"If he liked you, then he would tell you what's been going on!"

Hermione bravely held herself together and crossed her arms. "He may not tell me, but he still cares about me, I know it! His parents only made him a Deatheater because it was his obligation, not his choice! He doesn't even believe in blood prejudice anymore, he told me himself! He said he would do anything to get out of it, but he can't! He can't defy Voldemort, Harry. He's not like us!"

"He may tell you this, Hermione, but how do you know if any of it's true? How do you know he's not just manipulating you or taking advantage of you?!"

"He's not taking advantage of-"

"Then how do you know it's not rubbish?!"

"Because I see it!" she cried out. Hermione glanced around her to make sure she hadn't woken anyone before taking a few steps toward Harry. "I see something in him, Harry. He's not the same boy he was a few years ago! He's changed, and for the better! When he looks at me, I know that he's telling me the truth. Sure, maybe there are some things he keeps from me but it's not like I'm exactly telling him everything either! I don't tell him what you and I talk about it! I don't tell him about your lessons with Dumbledore. There are certain things that people must keep to themselves, and this is one of them."

"Bollocks," Harry cursed under his breath, "You're just saying that because he's not telling you something. You're justifying his actions when even you know it's wrong. Don't try to make this situation look any better. Because in my opinion, whatever you and Malfoy have together, it will only hurt you in the end. And this time, I'm not going to stand around and watch it fall to shit. Not this time." Harry moved away from her and back toward his staircase. He was through being the friend who watches his friend repeatedly crash and burn. He refused to be her shoulder to cry on because Malfoy wasn't worth her tears.

"Harry, please, wait."

He paused and responded, "What?"

"Just...tell me what you want me to do."

Harry turned around slowly but refused to look up at her. "End it. Before it gets out of hand," he solemnly replied before going back to his dorm.


"Orchideous," Draco whispered to his left hand. His wand touched his palm lightly before several long stems of red and gold Hibiscus flowers appeared in his hand. He'd seen the flower before in a photograph and it reminded him of Hermione. The vibrant red and the light metallic gold represented Gryffindor, and even though he preferred Slytherin Green, he knew she would love it.

Thinking that the several flowers might be too much, he separated one flower from the others and his the rest of the arrangement behind a pile of books. Just on time, he heard footsteps ascending the spiraling staircase of their Tower. He waited patiently with the flower behind his back and saw her appear from the archway. But Draco's happy moment was short-lived when he saw the look of utter despair on her face.

"Hermione? What happened?" he immediately reacted, walking towards her and examining her face. Her eyes were watery and red. She had obviously been crying and he hadn't seen her cry since those many nights ago when he had been the cause. She didn't respond until he took her chin gently in his hand and kissed her lightly on the lips.

"Tell me what happened, Hermione," he demanded.

"Harry knows," she began, "About us." She muffled a sob with her hand as Draco wrapped both arms around her and pulled her close. They didn't want anyone to know because of what the rest of the school might think, but having Potter know was more like a death wish then embarrassment on his part. "How'd he find out?" he asked.

"He, um, saw us snogging in the library."

"Bollocks, I knew someone was following me," Draco muttered, "What else did he say?"

"He hates me," she cried into his chest.

"He doesn't hate you, Hermione. He's your closest friend." As much as it pained him to admit that, it was true. "He wants me to break up with you," she muttered.

"I expected that," Draco said sadly, "But Potter can't stop you from doing what you want."

"I know, it's just, how long will it take before he can forgive me?"

Draco kissed the top of her head, sighed, and said, "I don't know." Hermione continued to cry into his chest as Draco stood their holding her tight. Usually Harry would be the one to do this for her, but now the tables have turned, and Harry turned out to be the one to make her cry. "You shouldn't cry anymore, Hermione. He'll forgive you," Draco said soothingly.

"It's not just that."

"Then what else?" Hermione slowly pried herself away from Draco and his tear-stained shirt. "It was the other things he said," she continued.

"Like what?"

"Like the fact that you may not be completely honest with me."

Draco took a moment to absorb her words before he began to question, "What do you mean I may not be honest with you?"

"Well, for one thing, you haven't told me anything about what you have to do. You said it was something terribl-"

"I only said that to protect you, Hermione."

"But maybe I can help. If you were just honest with me then maybe we can find away to get you away fro-"

"I already told you there was no way out of what I have to do! And that once you find out you're only going to hate me."

"I can't hate you if you haven't done anything yet! So just tell me, Draco! Tell me so I don't have to feel like you're just never going to let me in! Tell me so I don't have to feel like you're just going to leave me in the end!" Draco faced away from her furiously. How could he tell her? He couldn't stand seeing her hate him again. He shouldn't have let it go on for too long. Who was he kidding? He was being selfish. He wanted what he couldn't have and was letting her take the consequences.

"You are going to leave me in the end, aren't you?" It was the forbidden question. The unspoken question.

"I have no choice, Hermione. My world isn't like your own where we can pick and choose what we want out of life. And I was only selfish enough to step into your own and have a sense of freedom. But I was wrong, I can't escape it."

"So that was the plan then? Have a little fun before you step out of my life forever?! You are selfish, Draco. And I was just too blind to notice it in the first place! Harry was right, I shouldn't have ever trusted you."

"And I told you that! Why do you think I was pushing you away in the beginning?! You said you didn't care. You told me that I deserved a little forbidden happiness in my world, but guess what? You're that forbidden happiness! You're everything I've ever wanted in my life, but at the same time you're everything I don't deserve! You're everything my world doesn't allow! We are forbidden to ever be together! You are my impossibility." And with that Draco pushed past Hermione, leaving the Tower.

He couldn't look at her. He wouldn't talk to her. She was nothing but a hypocrite, saying that things could work out when she knew deep down that it wouldn't. And the worst part of it all...

He actually believed her.