Hermione woke up drenched in sweat. She didn't remember her nightmare, only that she had lost something dear to her.

Well, I'm not going back to sleep now. Might as well get ready for the day.

She loved living in a house with grown wizards; she could do as much magic as she wanted. And she did, it made getting ready so much easier.

Just as she was going to come down for breakfast, Dobby popped into her room. Hermione noted that he looked rather guilty.

"Dobby, what did you do?"

"N-n-nothing." He stammered.

Hermione just raised her eyebrows.

"Tried to get Harry Potter not to go to Hogwarts this year." He didn't meet her eyes as he said this.

"Good luck with that." Hermione sing-songed, "Now, did you want something, or are you just trying to be a Peeping Tom?"

"What's a Peeping-Tom?" Draco asked.

"A pervert." Hermione said grinning.

"No, Dobby is not a pervert. Mistress says breakfast is ready and that Dobby should get Mistress Hermione and Master Draco." Dobby said, looking at the floor the whole time.

"Thank you, Dobby." Hermione said, "Coming Draco?" she asked.

In response her took her hand and led her down the stairs. Thankfully Narcissa had gotten used to the hand-holding over the summer; the same could not be said for Lucias, however. Upon seeing them come into the dining room holding hands he choked on his tea.

"Is something the matter, Uncle Cias?" Hermione asked innocently, Draco had to smother a laugh with a cough.

"Your uncle is just, unsure about the hand holding." Narcissa said.

"Well, he just needs to get over himself." Hermione said.

Narcissa quickly intervened, "We leave for Diagon Alley at nine."

"I need to take Draco to Borgin and Burkes." Lucias said. "I need to sell this." He showed them a necklace.

"How is that Dark Magic?" Draco asked.

Hermione, however, could fell the magic rolling off of it and noticed that Lucias had gloves on. "If you touch either Draco or me with that, I swear that I will curse you into next week!" she hissed.

"Oh, that bad?" Draco asked her.

"You have no idea."

"Hermione, how are you getting to Diagon Alley?" Narcissa asked.

"I was hoping you guys could take me, and I would meet up with the Weasleys there."

"What about the Grangers?" Draco asked.

"I can just tell my friends that they don't like magic and choose to stay home." Hermione asked Narcissa.

"Of course dear." She said as she shot a meaningful look at her husband.


After breakfast they Apparated to Diagon Alley.

"Come, Draco, we have things we need to do." Lucias said.

"Here, Hermione." Narcissa said as she handed Hermione a handful of Galleons.

"Thank you." Hermione said as she walked off to buy her school supplies. When all she had left to buy was her school books, she ran into Harry. Harry looked like he had run into a fireplace and his glasses were broken. He was being escorted by Hagrid, who looked very perturbed.

"Harry, what on earth did you do to your glasses?" Hermione exclaimed. "Occulus reparo."

"Thanks."

"What happened to you?!" Molly exclaimed.

"I ended up in Knockturn Alley and you would never guess who I saw there. Lucias Malfoy and he was selling something." Harry told them excitedly.

"Come dear, we need to get your books. Hermione, where are your parents?" Molly asked.

"Wizards make them nervous; so I told them that they could wait in London and you would watch out for me, if that's alright."

"Of course it's alright."

By the time they arrived at Flourish and Blotts there was a long line. Hermione just rolled her eyes and when to find the books on her list, most were written by Lockhart. Just as she was about to buy them she heard a commotion, Lockhart had seen Harry and was making a big deal about him.

What a fool, I can't believe he is our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Hermione thought to herself as the rest of the group caught up to them.

"Bet you loved that didn't you Potter!" Draco sneered, "Famous Harry Potter can't even go to a bookshop without making the front page!"

Hermione had to smother a smile.

"Leave him alone." Ginny said, glaring at Draco.

"Look, Potter, you've got yourself a girlfriend." Draco drawled, while thinking At least I hope you do.

Both Harry and Ginny turned beet red, Ron turned to Draco intent on beating him up.

"Ron, he's not worth it." Hermione told him, while thinking, "Draco, be nice."

Just then Arthur said, "Ron! Come on guys it's too crowed in here. Let's go outside."

"Well, well, well, Arthur Weasley." Lucias drawled, "Busy at the ministry I hear. All these raids, I hope they are paying you overtime." He reached into Ginny's cauldron and pulled out a very old, very battered "Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration" and sneered, "Obviously not. Dear me, what's the use of being a disgrace to the name of wizard if they don't even pay you well for it?"

All the Weasleys blushed a very deep shade of red.

"We all have a different view of what disgraces the name of wizard, Malfoy." Arthur spit out.

"Clearly" Lucias sneered as he dropped Ginny's book back into her cauldron, "And here I thought your family could sink no lower. Associating with Mudbloods." He looked at Hermione, who glared at him.

"Come on kids, let's go." Molly said, hoping to break up a fight before it started.

The Weasleys tried to treat both Harry and Hermione to lunch at the Leaky Cauldron, but they both insisted that they pay themselves. Harry left with them about one, and Hermione headed to Knockturn Alley to find the Malfoys.


That night Draco found her in the library, "What are you doing?" he asked, as he sat down in the chair next to her.

She scooted over to make room, "Reading the books we need for school."

"Why? We still have a week left till school starts and then the whole train ride. You'll need books for that."

"Don't worry I saved one of Lockhart's for that." Hermione said as she put the book down and laid her head on Draco's shoulder, "We need a plan for meeting this year. We can't be seen together, that would arouse too many questions that can't be answered yet."

"The Room of Requirement" Draco said, "My mom said that is where the young death eaters would meet to practice spells."

"That's perfect! Do you know where it is?" she asked turning to look at him.

"Sadly, no." Draco sighed, wrapping his arms around her.

"We'll find it, and if not I'm sure I can always come into the Slytherin common room." Hermione said, smiling.

"Do you think that's wise? They all think you are a Mudblood."

"They have their doubts, especially those who have seen a picture of my mum." Hermione smirked.

"You do look like the spitting image of Aunt Bella."

Later that night Narcissa found them fast asleep in the chair, she covered them with a blanket. "Come, Lucias, we mustn't wake them."


The last week seemed to go by very fast; Hermione spent most of her time in the library reading. Draco stayed with her; wanting to spend as much time with his cousin as he could before they went back to Hogwarts and being bitter enemies.

On the eve of their departure, both Hermione and Draco were sitting in the chair by the fire. Draco was sitting in it properly and playing with Hermione's hair. Hermione, on the other hand, was sitting so that her head was resting on one arm and her feet were dangling over the other. She was not reading, for she only had one book left and she was saving it for the train ride to Hogwarts.

Narcissa came in to the library, "You two all pack and ready to go?"

"We're pack, but I don't think we're ready to go." Hermione said, while Draco just groaned.

Narcissa smiled, "Well, you are more than welcome to come stay with us any time." She then turned and left the library.

"Tomorrow you go back to being a Mudblood and I go back to hating you. Why can't we just tell people?" Draco asked.

"The Order and we can tell people. We can tell Slytherins, but only if they promise to keep their mouth shut. Now it's late and we have an early start tomorrow, I'm going to bed."

Draco just wrapped his arms around her waist, "You are staying here."

"Draco!" Hermione tried to chastise him but her smile made it fall short, "Fine I'll stay here."

"You don't sound upset." Draco smirked.

"Draco!" Hermione giggled as Draco started tickling her sides, "Stop!"

"Aw, you're no fun." Draco whined.

"I'm no fun!" Hermione stated as she turned and started tickling him.

"Hermione" Draco laughed, "Please, stop!"

Smiling Hermione said, "Now look whose no fun. You know, this chair is rather comfortable. I think I'll just stay here." She snuggled down into Draco's arms and they both fell asleep.


"Narcissa!" Lucias yelled.

"Quiet! I don't want you to wake the kids." Narcissa hissed.

"They fell asleep in the chair again!" Lucias was absolutely livid.

"Yes and your point is?"

"They are not acting like Pure Bloods!"

"Lucias! Drop it! Leave them alone!" Narcissa said very quietly, "You do not leave them alone; I will leave you and take Draco with me."

"You wouldn't." Lucias paled.

"Try me" Narcissa hissed, "You mess with the Black family you get burned."

Lucias slept on the couch again.