Hello kittens, sorry this took so long to update. the next chapter will be the last! Let me know if you want to me write about their 5th year in the comments!

I Do Not Own Harry Potter

Lots a Lot a Love, Kandikitty

Don't get me wrong it's not like I didn't miss the common room or my friends but somehow that equilibrium Hermione and I found was much more comfortable then the damp dungeon. I stared into the fire burning low. After that conversation with the girls I couldn't sleep. I would have to find time to talk to Hermione but when? I could try to catch her after potions, but talking with so many people around would be hard to say the least.

Besides there were way too many variables left. Did the Grangers know about their daughters preferred dating type? No doubt they've at least heard of me… in less than favorable terms as well. Would they even trust me enough to meet them?

Daphne and Tracey made it sound so easy. Maybe due to them already being on the other side of it. I took a steadying breath. I needed to woman up and get this done. I am a Slythrin after all and we are nothing if not cunning and ambitious.

This had to be a sign. Almost 4 months with no interaction with Hermione. After the second task the trio was mobbed with students asking about every detail that went down in the lake. Then all this nonsense with Rita writing about her and Potters heartbreak! Not to mention everything to do with her and Krum, everyone was talking about it. They were perfect together and I wanted to gouge my eyes out or maybe his. And if I ever found out who sent her the letter of bubotuber pus, I would really be murdering someone.

I had taken to basically living in the library. Some deep part of me hoping that Hermione would just come to me instead. Now more on the fence of what I should say and not even knowing if she cared anymore. Not that I really believed Rita Skeeter but it wasn't hard to see Krum fancied her. I was about to pack up when Hermione sat next to me shoulder bouncing off of mine lightly.

She half smiled. "Hi."

Seeing her smile, for me, was like butterbeer in a blizzard. I couldn't help myself. I kissed her. Quick and meaningful. "That's my answer. Whatever happens we can deal with." It wasn't profound or eloquent or even how I rehearsed it but it was enough.

She blinked at me a few times. "That was… unexpected." She was hiding a smile- I could see it in her eyes.

My train of thought crashed. No coherent sentence was made with only the phrase she let you running around.

"A lot will change you know? For everyone. It won't be easy."

I sighed "I am well aware Daph has already informed me. Best not to dwell while you've got Potter to keep alive, yeah?" I held out my hand to her as I stood. "We can deal with this later."

She squeezed my hand "Pansy Parkinson is being patient for once?"

"Don't get used to it." The words lacked their bite, we both knew it but by Merlin my world felt right again.

Everything was changing slowly. I distanced myself from Draco's group, not that he noticed. Keeping only to my girls and stealing knowing glances with Hermione whenever I could. Meeting again would be impossible. Potter wasn't known for his spell arsonal and once word got out about the maze I knew Hermione would be helping him every second she could. No longer were they found at lunch or wandering the halls. I would see them in class and that was the extent. However she did manage a few hastily scribbled notes tucked away in my text books.

The morning of the third task was an energetic one. Rita wrote another article about Potter which Draco and his gang mocked during breakfast. I guess they were still fighting or broken up or whatever they got on with. Hermione dashed out soon after probably headed to Care of Magical Creatures early, as we had that exam first.

I pinched the bridge of my nose. Though I had been studying hard, four years of slacking doesn't get rewound in a few months. The Goblin Rebellion was a dense topic to cover. I skipped lunch to study for my afternoon exams so by dinner I was starved. Thankfully with all of the champions families and members of the Ministry to impress there were many more courses than usual as well as the dessert selection was divine.

After the champions were ushered off to the pitch thes rest of us were allowed to go down. We were divided into sections of our own accord. Creatures of habit witches and wizards are. The houses stayed together except for a few students who mingled, the other schooled segregated as well. So much for making friends. I huffed pulling my robes tighter, suddenly feeling a chill.

This was the most boring task. I knew what they would face in there but watching it from the outside? There was nothing. Everyone seemed to just talk amongst themselves, some younger students playing games. Seemed just like any other day honestly. Daph, Tracey, Astoria and I huddled together talking about exams and what we wanted to do for the break.

I couldn't tell you how long it was when Potter and Digory slammed into the ground on the edge of the maze. Everyone stood while the teachers and proctors swarmed them. The like a cold wave it swept over the crowd

"He's dead! Digory is dead!"

I don't know why but I searched the crowd for Hermione. Something was wrong, very very wrong. The stands emptied as people rushed to the field, except she and Weasel. I dashed toward them weaving in and out and possibly threatening an underclassmen or two.

"This is bad isn't it?" I asked out of breath, noticing the girls had also followed me.

"What the hell do you want?" He was trying to be menacing for whatever reason. He had seen Hermione talking to me a few times now.

"Ronald for once in your life shut up!" She was pulling at her hair.

That's when the next whisper made its way to us "Did he say the dark lord is back?", "He who must not be named has risen?"

I was the first to regain my composure pushing Weasel and Hermione toward the field "Go, go!"

"Right." Hermione shook herself squeezing my hand before pulling Weasel off with her.

"Well this is bad isn't it." Astoria said, clutching her sister's arm.