A/N: Hello everybody, I'd like to announce that I'm changing my writing format; I got a review on one of my other stories saying that reading the dialogue in italics was confusing and that's not the first review of that sort that I get. So I decided that confusing you guys with cliffies is much more fun than confusing you with fonts. So from now on the dialogue will be in plain font while thoughts and stressed words are in italics. By the time you're reading this chapter, I'll be editing the older ones to suit that new format to avoid inconsistency. Thank you for your time and sorry for any inconvenience. :)

P.S: I know I posted this chapter later than I'm used to but in my defense this chapter took a lot of effort and editing. Hope you enjoy it.

Hermione opened her eyes lazily at the sound of the door being closed. Last night was going to haunt her for longer than she cared to admit. At some point, the pain attacks came to an end and Malfoy sort of collapsed rather than fell asleep. She freed her hand from underneath his and contemplated whether she could move without waking him up or not. The answer was definitely no, her legs supported his head and there was no way she could move without it hitting the floor.

She sat there silently for a while, her mind raced with everything that's been happening lately as she watched him. She had accused Ginny of reading too much into the matter while actually she was the one who was intentionally reading too little into it. For the sake of her own sanity she refused to dwell over Malfoy's actions, or her reactions to them.

It was those brief moments that drove her mad, and their lack of closure. Every time he stepped closer Hermione knew what would happen next, but she didn't want the anticipation that took over her every time. She wanted back the apathy, despise and occasional fury she usually felt for him. And although the current Malfoy was definitely an improved version of the old one, she was starting to prefer the consistency of that old one to the emotional roller coaster the new one had been putting her through.

The subject of her thoughts started shifting. Opening his eyes slowly, he scanned the room before looking up at her. He held her gaze for a moment and Hermione expected him to move, or rather jump away from her. Instead, he remained very still and closed his eyes again. Malfoy swallowed hard and ran the tip of his tongue between his lips, he took a deep breath and lifted himself off the floor. He sat next to Hermione, his arm barely brushing hers.

"Are you alright?" Hermione asked.

"No" he replied, looking in front of him distractedly.

Hermione didn't know what to say, any attempt at comfort on her side would be met with cold distance and she had had enough of that.

"I need a shower" he announced as he stood up and left the room.

Hermione went downstairs and found everybody already awake. She helped herself to some breakfast and sat down next to Ginny who made some awkward small talk.

"That's a nice wand Hermione, but I believe I haven't seen it with you before." Lupin remarked as he picked up the wand Hermione had placed on the table.

"Yes, it's not my original wand, I lost that one at the Manor...Bellatrix probably broke it." Hermione grimaced at the thought, she loved her first wand; it was the wand that chose her and she had so much memories with it.

"So Dra..Malfoy got me this one instead." Hermione cursed herself silently. She had said his name several times last night that it had become hard for her to switch back to 'Malfoy'.

"It was too powerful at first, but he kept insisting that it suited me. It took me some time to control it but eventually it worked perfectly." she explained.

"Walnut, right?" Lupin asked, inspecting the wand carefully.

"Yes, Walnut, dragon heartstring, 10 inches." she nodded.

"I have to agree with him, it does suit you. Walnut and dragon heartstring are a powerful mix, Walnut is usually associated with highly intelligent witches and wizards, while dragon heartstring allows you to perform the most powerful spells." Lupin agreed as he put the wand down .

"I'm sure it suits you" Malfoy's words echoed in her head and she smiled despite herself. He walked down the stairs and everybody was staring at him, not sure if another tantrum was to be expected.

"Feeling better this morning, dear?" Mrs. Weasly asked anxiously. Draco's raised an eyebrow at the older woman. Dear! Molly Weasly's kindness discomfited him; he wasn't used to this attitude from anybody except his mother.

"Perfectly fine. Sorry for the...inconvenience." he answered as he poured himself some juice, ignoring how her mouth fell open at his reply.

Draco's patience was gradually slipping as he pretended not to notice how the people in the room kept stealing glances at him. He took his glass and went outside seeking some fresh air. After a while, he heard footsteps behind him, he turned around expecting to see Hermione but he saw Nymphadora instead.

"You frightened everybody with the fits you threw last night." Tonks admitted.

"Not exactly what you expect after a wedding, is it?" Draco twisted his mouth at her.

"Well, last time we had a wedding, the ministry of magic had fallen, so we're kind of used to post-wedding disasters." she grinned at him.

"I have to admit it was a very..different wedding for me to. Usually the bride isn't already married." he smiled humorously at her.

"It was nice having you there, though. The Weaslys are my second family but..it's relieving to know that Sirius wasn't the last sane Black." her expression went grim at the mention of her late cousin. "I don't hate Narcissa...not really. My mother talks about her a lot. Bellatrix, though, is a different story; I won't think twice before cursing her sorry arse." she frowned

"That makes two of you." Draco chuckled "If you're joining them in that upcoming battle you'd better be careful. She's equally determined on getting rid of you." he added more seriously.

"Careful? I'm particularly excited about this battle just because I get to meet her again." Tonks grinned at him.

"So...what caused the change of heart?" she asked after a silent moment.

"What?" Draco frowned in confusion.

"Why did you suddenly decide to switch sides?" she clarified
"This question is starting to become redundant." he huffed "I keep telling all of you that I'm trying to keep my mother safe."

"Oookaaaayy." Tonks rolled her eyes.

"What!" he said impatiently.

"Nothing..I was just wondering if Narcissa is the only woman you're doing this for." she raised her eyebrow at him.

"Of course she is." Draco replied dryly, his manner once more distant, in a subtle attempt to tell his cousin that her nerve wasn't welcomed.

"Alright."she shrugged impassively and went back inside and he followed her.

Draco sat down on the couch, watching in amusement as Ginny tried to lift a pile of books off the table without using her wand. She was almost scowling at the books, her eyes narrowed and her head slightly bent. Potter was standing in the other corner of the room, watching her as closely as she was watching the books. Draco smirked at the scene, it was such a good chance to irk Potter that he couldn't let it slip. He opened his mouth to speak but before he could, Hermione stepped in front of him.

"I want to talk to you about something." she said as she sat next to him.

"Yes?" he turned his full attention to her.

"I was thinking about a place where your mother could stay and I think I found the perfect place. It used to be my aunt's, but she died when I was ten...I really loved her." Hermione smiled at the memory "She was ten years older than my mother, widowed and had no children. She left us that house and...since my parents aren't in the country anymore, I think it would be a good hiding place for your mother." she explained.

"This sounds good, where is it?" Draco asked.

"Gladstone avenue, Chester." she informed.

"Alright_" Draco nodded "_thank you." he mumbled as she stood up and Hermione nodded faintly in response.

Hermione was walking out of her room when she bumped into Malfoy. He looked serious and a frown creased his forehead.

"I was thinking lately and I realized I still don't know what's so important about that cup." he said.

"I told you it could be used as a weapon." Hermione replied carefully.

"Yes, but that doesn't really answer my question. How is it a weapon?" he pursued.

Hermione's eyes traveled between her linked fingers and Malfoy's questioning gaze. She knew that sooner or later that question was coming. But now that it eventually cam she found herself unable to decide whether or not she could tell him. Finally, she grabbed Malfoy's arm and pulled him into the room before closing the door behind them.

"Look, I probably shouldn't tell you this, but I'll tell you anyway." Hermione said.

"And there I was, thinking you had an ulterior motive behind pulling me into your room." he smirked at her.

"Too bad I'll have to disappoint you." she scowled at him.

"You don't." his mouth twisted. "Anyway, tell me about the cup." he said.

"Well...it's a very valuable item for you-know-who"

"I gathered that much, why is it so?"

"Are you familiar with the term Horcrux?"

"Whore..?" Malfoy raised an eyebrow at her

"God no! Horcrux, as in h-o-r-c-r-u-x" Hermione spelled the word. Malfoy looked up for a minute, forming the word in his head.

"What's that?"

"It's an...umm...it's a form of extremely dark magic; it allows you to fragment your soul."

"I'm not sure I understand" he looked puzzled.

Hermione looked around her for a moment before grabbing a book that lay on her bed. She stepped closer to Malfoy, holding the book.

"Your soul is supposed to be here." she pressed her fingers against Malfoy's chest. "But then, you...transfer a fraction of it here." she held up the book. "So now if I killed you, you still won't die because there's a fraction of your soul preserved in that book." she explained.

Draco gaped at her, he looked down at the hand touching his chest, his gaze traveled to the book and then back to Hermione.

"So part of his soul is in that cup?" he asked, already knowing the answer. Hermione nodded in response.

"Is it the only piece?"

"No..there are others...three were destroyed, but there are still three others, the cup is one of them."

"What are the other two?"

"We're not really sure yet but..." Hermione started to talk but she stopped as Malfoy muttered something inaudible. "What?" she asked.

"The snake, he has a..pet snake. I just know something is ominous about that bloody snake. It's always with him. He talks to it, pets it, always keeps it by his side...refers to it as a she. And it acts..humanly. I was starting to think she was an animagus." a mix of concentration and disgust took over Draco's expression as he kept remembering every time he saw Voldemort with his snake. Now with everything Hermione just said, he was almost positive the snake had part of Voldemort's soul in it.

"Actually, we think it is one of the Horcruxes." Hermione frowned, she couldn't help but be impressed by how fast he came to the conclusion.

"So technically speaking, we're fighting an immortal man." Malfoy grimaced. Hermione paused for a minute before replying...did he just say 'we'?

"If all of the pieces are destroyed then he's as mortal as any of us, a lot more mortal actually." Hermione said.

Draco pondered over her answer for a while trying to tell whether she actually believed what she was saying or was just trying to be optimistic.

"Alright, the cup, the snake, what else?" he asked

"We don't know yet."

"And how do you plan on finding something you don't know about?"

"We're still trying to figure that out." she admitted.

"And what do you do to..kill them?"

"They can't be destroyed by normal means, it's very strong magic and it requires something equally strong to destroy it. Basilik venom for example."

"Why Basilik venom in particular?"

"Because it's the most powerful venom ever known. It only has one antidote and it's very rare." Hermione replied

"No it's not. It's not the most powerful." Draco shook his head.

"I'm sure it is." Hermione nodded confidently.

Draco looked like he was going to argue further but then he decided against it.

"Never mind." Draco said distractedly as something caught his attention.

"What's 'Pride and Prejudice'?" he asked as he took the book from Hermione's hand and started inspecting it.

"It's just a book..a Muggle book." Hermione replied, reaching for the book, but Draco moved the hand that was holding the book further and his other hand pushed Hermione's hand away.

"Interesting..." he murmured as he started flipping through the pages. He started reading the first line his eyes fell on.

"To be fond of dancing was a certain step towards falling in love" he read aloud then instantly regretted it.

He heard Hermione suck in a breath sharply and looked up at her. Her lower lip was trapped between her teeth, her eyes wide and her hands clenched into fists.

She hesitated for a moment before walking forward, with one hand on her waist she extended the other hand to Draco. She blinked a couple of times before speaking.

"Give me the book." she ordered, lifting her chin up.

"Did you just do that on purpose?" Draco asked as he stepped closer, his eyes lingering on her throat.

"What? No!" Hermione frowned at him.

"Too bad, I was hoping you'd say yes." his eyes gleamed mischievously as he bent his head down, bringing his lips closer to Hermione's.

A loud thud came from downstairs followed by a high-pitched scream.

Draco groaned "This is becoming extremely infuriating." he muttered as he opened the door and descended the stairs followed by Hermione.