I am trying to update weekly now that life has slowed a bit. I am currently 4 chapters ahead so we have at least 4 more weekly updates after this! I am planning to have this end around 30-35 chapters, then have a sequel... Unless you'd like a fic that is 70-75 chapters? Let me know!

Chapter Seventeen

Hermione seated herself next to Ginny in the common room Saturday evening. "I need to talk to you." She told the redhead.

Ginny looked up in surprise. "About what?"

Hermione glanced around. "Can we go somewhere more private?" Ginny nodded and the girls left the Gryffindor Tower and headed toward the Astronomy Tower instead. Hermione kept quiet on the walk there, but once they were seated on the balcony of the Astronomy Tower, she took a breath.

"Something has been going on. And I need to talk to you about it, but I need you to swear that you will not tell a single soul."

"Hermione, what is it?"

"I need you to swear. Swear to me. It's important."

Ginny tilted her head at Hermione, and stuck out her hand. Hermione grasped it. "I swear, Hermione, whatever you tell me, I will not tell anyone."

"I've started seeing someone."

Ginny laughed. "That's it? That's the big secret?"

"No, it's only part of it. There's a spy on the Dark side."

"And how do you know this?" Ginny's eyes widened. "The person you're seeing! They're from the Dark? Who is it? A Slytherin? Is it that Nott guy?"

"No, it's not him."

"Who is it? How do you know they're a 'spy?'"

"I was the one who took him to Dumbledore. I saw him make an Unbreakable with Dumbledore and I heard all he said while under Veritaserum."

"Hermione! Who is it?"

"Draco Malfoy." Hermione whispered.

Ginny sat stunned for a moment. "He is a spy? For us? How? Is he… oh, Hermione. Is he a Death Eater?"

Hermione nodded. Ginny gasped. "I've seen his Mark. But he was forced. He admitted everything under Veritaserum. They tortured him, Gin. His father gave him up to You-Know-Who to get himself out of trouble after the Ministry battle last year."

Ginny just stared at Hermione. "Hermione…"

"I know. I know it's crazy Ginny. That's why I needed to tell someone. And I trust you more than anyone. Even more than Harry and Ron sometimes. They will freak out if they ever find out."

"It is crazy. It really is. But, I can kind of see it. You're both top of the class, extremely intelligent. You're fire where he is ice. I'm not saying I like it, but I can see it. And I won't tell anyone. You have my word. Just be careful."

Hermione threw her arms around Ginny. "You made this way easier than I expected. I expected a fight."

Ginny looked out over the grounds, taking in the stars reflected in the Black Lake. "I think… I think in another time, I would've freaked out. But right now… We are in a war, Hermione. There are bigger things to care about. You trust him, you say he's gone to Dumbledore. Right now, that's enough for me."

Hermione teared up. "Thank you, Gin."

Draco sat next to her in Ancient Runes nearly every day now. They pretended to ignore each other, but they passed a piece of parchment back and forth each day, asking silly questions while also taking class notes.

What's your favorite color?

Green.

Well that should've been obvious I guess. Typical Snake.

I bet yours is red, Gryffindor Princess.

Actually, it's purple, Slytherin Prince.

That comment had made Draco smirk and wink at her. Passing notes with him and stealing glances sometimes made her forget the pressure of living through a building war.

They met in the library some nights to study. Harry and Ron noticed this, but after the original fight about her studying with him, they didn't say anything. Most nights, they stole time together in the Room of the Requirement. Their armchairs had turned into a velvet sofa, where they would spend some time cuddled together, talking about everything. Except the war; they tried their hardest to avoid that topic.

"What was it like, learning that you were a witch?"

"It was a shock," Hermione recounted, thinking back. "But once everything was explained by McGonagall, and I went to Diagon Alley for the first time, everything made sense. All the unexplained weirdness, all the impossible accidents. I finally felt like I belonged."

"How did it feel coming to Hogwarts?"

"It was great. Until it wasn't. I didn't have friends at first. Even Harry and Ron thought I was odd. I thought coming here would mean I fit in, but I didn't. I was still the know it all that talked too much. I still didn't have friends. And…"

"And then you found out about blood prejudice. I am sorry I ruined the Wizarding world for you."

"You didn't ruin it. I mean, it definitely was awful finding out that I still didn't belong. But I feel more at home here than I ever did in the Muggle world. I just don't truly belong anywhere."

"That's where you are wrong. You belong here. You fit so well here. Honestly, Granger, you were part of the reason I started to change my mind about blood superiority."

Hermione felt her eyes widen. "Was I really?"

"Yes, absolutely. I was taught that Muggleborns were beneath us. That they didn't deserve their magic. They weren't smart enough, quick enough, talented enough. Granger, you are the smartest, most talented witch I have ever met. It was about second year that I began to notice the difference in what you are and what I was taught. That's when I started calling you Mudblood. I thought if I said it enough, it would make it true." He snorted.

Hermione chuckled. "How terrible it must have been for you to realized you weren't as smart as me!"

Draco laughed. "You say that jokingly, but it really was terrible! I hated being bested by you. And my father… He hated it too."

"Draco, I am so sorry."

"It's not your fault." He looked away.

Hermione put her fingers on his chin and pulled his face back to her direction. "It's not my fault, but I can still feel bad." Hermione felt the need to change the subject. He could be really touchy. She forced a grin. "How did you feel when I punched you?"

Draco grimaced at her. "You would bring that up." Hermione laughed. Draco pinned her to the couch and nuzzled her neck with his nose. She suddenly stopped laughing as he peppered small kisses up her neck to her mouth. She sighed as he pressed his body onto hers and kissed her roughly. She felt content. He was her outlet in the tension of Voldemort's starting rein.