Just wanted to say thank you very much for all the reviews. It's great to hear someone else's opinion on what you are writing!

Draco woke the next morning having had an idea of his own. Hermione was not going to give up on her insistence to take the Polyjuice but he'd thought of a way to end the arguments.

Their meeting last night had gone well. As he got dressed Draco reluctantly admitted that he found Harry and Ron very easy to plan all this with. This was a major risk with no back up and it had to be planned meticulously. It really helped that it would take place at the Manor because Draco, obviously, knew every nook and cranny. He'd thought of a hiding place easily. The four of them had just got on with it last night, no silly arguments or aggravation and Draco couldn't help but admire how the Gryfindors worked.

His thoughts wondered onto Hermione. Did they ever really wonder off her, he asked himself. Yesterday, before Harry and Ron had arrived she'd seemed so insecure and upset about their friendship. Draco found this hard to get his head round because she already had a great life, with good friends and loving parents. He was flattered that his friendship with her seemed to matter so much to her. Which was exactly why there was no way she was coming face to face with Voldemort, no way!

He had first lesson with them all and would try to get a message to Harry then. He was there before them and watched as they entered the room together. Harry and Ron nodded very slightly at him as they took their seats but Hermione didn't look at him. She took a desk to his right and just in front of him so he had a good view of her. She busied herself taking out her books and then flicking through it. She pushed a strand of hair behind her ears and Draco couldn't take his eyes of her for a moment until he realised the lesson had started.

As soon as he got the chance he ripped a page from his book and scribbled a note to Harry on it. As they left the lesson he dropped the note in Harry's rucksack, nudged him and pointed at his bag so that Harry realised what he'd done.

Harry made an excuse and slipped away from the others. Opening his bag he took out the note.

Potter,

I need to talk to you about the Polyjuice. Meet me after lunch in the same classroom as last night.

Malfoy

PS. You can tell Weasley but don't let nosey knickers know about this, she needs to be kept out of it.

Harry chuckled to himself at Draco's name for Hermione. He had to admit that Malfoy had surprised him more than a little. He still didn't like him and he would never completely trust him but he had worked on the plan well with them and had been open to suggestions as well as putting forward some of his own. He was also very nice to Hermione in a teasing but affectionate way and Harry did believe that he thought something of her. He had still to get to the bottom of the kiss that was supposed to have happened but it wasn't the right time at the moment.

He wondered what he wanted to talk to him about and hoped it wasn't to say that they should let Hermione do it because Harry wasn't about to let that happen.

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He had told Ron so they entered the classroom together after lunch. Draco was already there.

"What did you want to talk to me about?" Harry asked as he and Ron took their usual seats.

"Hermione. She's not going to give up on her being the one to take the Polyjuice. She wants to do it and I wouldn't like to think what she'll do to get her own way." Draco pulled a face "Stubborn as hell!"

Harry couldn't help but smile "You really do know her don't you?" he said. "But we can't let her do it, no matter how much she wants to." He hoped this wasn't going to end in a row.

"I know we can't. I agree completely." Draco said "So I've had an idea."

Harry and Ron sat forward in their seats. This was more like it! Thank god they all agreed.

"The best way to pacify her is to let her think she's got her own way. So, we tell her we've changed our minds and she can be the one to take the Polyjuice. We even go as far as letting her take the stuff. She won't know you're taking some as well. Once she's taken it we stupefy her, lock her in here and go. By the time the spell wears off it will be too late to catch up with us and the Polyjuice will have worn off too. This way she'll be out of the way and safe." Draco looked at them for a response.

Ron reacted first with a loud laugh. "Brilliant!" he chuckled again "She's going to kill us though."

Harry was grinning. "Yes, that will work. How would you feel about me telling Ginny about all this? We could leave her to keep an eye on Hermione once we are gone. You know what Hermione is like – she's bound to think of something we haven't and manage to escape. I wouldn't put it past her to go waltzing straight into the Manor!"

Draco nodded. "Yes, good idea."

The three of them looked at each other for a moment realising that they were plotting behind the back of the very person who was the reason they were all together in the first place. Far from feeling guilty they all felt happy that they would be keeping her safe. Very angry but safe!

"You really do like her don't you?" Harry asked the question without thinking about it. He liked the fact that Draco appeared to be as protective of Hermione as he and Ron had grown to be. Draco gave him a look and Harry wondered if he should have kept his mouth shut.

"I believe that is none of your business, Potter." Draco answered him. Harry was about to apologize not wanting to cause any upset when Draco continued speaking. "But yes, I do. I like her a lot. I hope you haven't got a problem with that, Potter?"

Despite the words Draco said, Harry could tell by the tone of them that they were said in a joking way. So he answered in the same tone.

"No, Malfoy. Most surprisingly I haven't got a problem with that!"

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The next day Draco had news from home. It was phrased like an invite and an honour but Draco could read between the lines that he wasn't being given a choice. There was also a letter from his Mother that whilst seemingly innocent Draco could tell she was trying her best to warn him what he was coming back to.

They weren't meeting tonight as Harry and Ron had Quidditch practise but he wanted see Hermione. They hadn't been alone at all since the brief episode when they were waiting for Harry and Ron the other day. Draco was missing their time alone but obviously other things were taking priority at the moment.

So when Hermione made her way back to the common room after last lesson, lost completely in her thoughts she suddenly felt the increasingly familiar feeling of being dragged into the nearest classroom and a hand put over her mouth.

"It's only me" the velvet smooth voice was close to her ear. She nodded so he knew she wouldn't scream and he moved his hand.

"Do you have to do that?" she asked

"Sorry! I'm always worried you might scream."

"Well how about you stop abducting me then screaming will be completely unnecessary! The boys have got Quidditch tonight so the meetings off." Hermione said thinking that was what Draco wanted her for.

"I remember when we used to arrange to meet for no reason whatsoever." Draco said ironically.

Hermione grinned at him. "Yes, the good old days! When I was pretending to be your friend."

He now laughed at her sarcasm before asking. "So how about it then? Just me and you for no reason whatsoever? See I remember someone telling me that absolutely no reason was actually the best reason of all."

"That would be nice. What time?"

"7pm in the Tower Room?"

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Hermione felt unjustifiably happy as she climbed the many stairs to the Tower Room. It seemed a long time since they had met here and she was looking forward to it just being the two of them again. And it was Draco who asked her. It wasn't long now until Draco was due to go home and receive the wand so this felt like a deserved little treat before all the bad things started to happen. Funnily enough it also felt better not having to sneak up here behind Harry and Ron's back. They had both accepted all her shock news very well. Even Ron who had the worst temper and very set opinions had been acting very well behaved towards her and even towards Draco. The boys all worked together really well and caring about all three of them as she did this made Hermione feel very happy.

She was suddenly grabbed again and pulled into the Tower Room. The whole being dragged into various rooms unceremoniously every few minutes made her suddenly giggle. It really was very funny and was becoming Draco's trademark. Maybe it was nerves as well but she had now lost control and was having a complete attack of the giggles. Draco was watching her with an amused, if slightly puzzled look on his face.

"What's funny?" he asked when she had finally got control of herself.

"Just being dragged into various rooms every day..." she chuckled again "it just seemed really funny." She coughed and tried to keep her face straight, unsuccessfully.

Draco couldn't help but chuckle too, partly at her description and also just because she was laughing so much. Having now got control of herself, Hermione suddenly looked around her.

"Oh! I've missed this place, I forgot how lovely it was." Without standing on ceremony she took her cloak off and flung herself, full length on one of the sofas. Now Draco did actually laugh.

"Have you been drinking?" he asked and then indicated her position "Make yourself at home by the way."

This started Hermione giggling again and Draco raised his eyes to the ceiling. He went to sit on the other sofa and she sat up and put her feet on the floor.

"Sorry about that," She said though she wasn't really sorry at all "I'm just glad you asked me, I've missed doing this."

"Yes I have too." They met each other's gaze for a moment and then Hermione noticed something out of the corner of her eye.

"What's that sitting there for?" she waved her hand a Draco's broomstick which was propped against one of the windows.

Draco smirked at her but said nothing.

"You've got to be kidding! You've lured me up here under false pretences! I thought we'd be having a nice cosy night in. You didn't mention the word broomstick! Believe me I would have remembered that." Hermione was indignant making Draco laugh again.

"You're funny." He said affectionately. "I like the sound of the cosy night in though. What did you have in mind?" he was being suggestive on purpose.

"Well it certainly didn't involve a broomstick." Hermione retaliated.

"Well remember how the lake and castle looked the night of our midnight stroll?"

"Gorgeous." Hermione acknowledged.

"So my idea was we take in the same view again but this time from a new perspective." Draco raised his eyebrows questioningly.

"Yes it would be fantastic if it didn't involve me leaving the ground." Hermione answered. "Sorry, it's a nice thought."

"Oh, it's not just a thought." Draco grinned wickedly "I'm determined to cure you of this."

Hermione stood up. "No! I am not going to let you bully me into this."

Draco stood up too and stepped over to her. "Hermione, no one could ever bully you into anything!" he grabbed her arm and lowered his voice "I was hoping a moonlit flight over the lake might be romantic."

Hermione stared at him with a surprised look on her face. Had he really just said he thought it would be romantic? She felt her throat go dry. Her feelings for him were still there, she had just managed to bury them a bit while all the other things were going on. But here they were, alone for less than five minutes and all the old connections were back. And he was having the same affect on her as before, making her feel a bit wobbly, her thoughts muddled. Forget Voldemort! Draco Malfoy may well be the death me! Hermione thought. He was watching her closely, his eyes gentle.

"Romantic?" she asked this quietly

"Yes, romantic." Draco didn't appear in the least bit embarrassed as he said this. Hermione stared at him trying to decide if he was just teasing her but she couldn't make her mind up.

Nice for them to be back together! I am trying to keep everyone in character but it's more difficult with Draco because he is now being so nice to Hermione! Anyway, keep reading and reviewing x