Sleeping with Friend Or Foe- Story 2

Disclaimer: Characters, actions, words etc... taken from JKR's Harry Potter © and used in this fanfiction do not belong to me. Even though I'd love to have Draco Malfoy…..Yum LOL!

A/N: Ok my internet and my computer have been on the dead end for so long. I feel bad for holding out on you guys for so long. I hope you enjoy this. And R&R, Thanks TBG

Chapter recap…

"No thank you. I need to empty my bag and get a few more things before I go down." She said. He stared at her for a moment but didn't remove his arm.

"You know we have to do rounds tonight right?" He asked. She nodded.

"Of course I do, now can you please move your arm." Draco hesitated for a second before he nodded and removed his arm from her path. Hermione climbed through the portrait and didn't look back to see if Draco was watching as it shut quietly behind her.

Chapter 11: Tolerance

Hermione hurried into her room and emptied her bag of that morning's books and began to pack it with things for her afternoon classes. She kept on going over what she'd seen and heard in the Room of Requirement. She needed to get a hold of Dumbledore today so she could tell him what she'd seen, but she wanted to run it by Harry and Ron too. Harry had more influence than she did with Dumbledore and it was more likely that she'd get in to see him with his help.

Hermione finished packing her bag and then went down to lunch. When Draco had reminded her of rounds Hermione had wanted to curse because she was not looking forward to it at all. She really didn't want to be walking around the school at night alone with him. She could probably do separate rounds from Draco but she'd have to tell him that that was her plan.

When Hermione entered the Great Hall, she spotted Ron and Harry immediately and went over to them. She sat down in between them and smiled at the two boys.

"Hey guys there's something I need to tell you," she whispered. They looked at her expectantly and hunched in close to listen to Hermione relay her story. When she was finished, both Ron and Harry had very cold looks on their faces. They knew that this could mean something horrible if the cabinet ended up being fixed.

"So I think we should tell Dumbledore. He'd know what to make of this information and the Order should be aware of what's going on. It may be nothing but it also may be something if Voldemort would induct Draco into his leagues just for this," Hermione finished off.

"How did you find this out Hermione? I mean you broke up with that git. I'd doubt he'd tell you," Ron said.

"I overheard heard him talking to Crabbe and Goyle last night about it and it sounded suspicious so I followed him today. It turned out that they'd gone to fix the cabinets. And the way that it was working reminded me of the cabinet that Fred and George pushed Montague into in our fifth year and how he was transported to a toilet. If this cabinet is like that one, or is one in the same, than it can be very dangerous," Hermione whispered.

Both Ron and Harry agreed with that. They made it a point to go and speak to Dumbledore as soon as classes were over. They ate the rest of their lunch in subdued silence. They didn't really feel like talking.

Draco on the other hand was thinking of how he could possibly be with Hermione without the Dark Lord finding out. As Draco ate, he began to think. If there was a type of magic which allowed someone to penetrate another's mind, then there must have been a type of magic which could fight against it.

Draco turned his eyes away from Hermione and looked up at the teacher's table. He looked at Professor Snape, who was discussing something with Professor Vector. Draco could remember the many times his father had said that Snape rivaled the Dark Lord in certain magics, especially ones that involved the mind. Maybe he could help him, but as Draco watched him, the loathing and hatred that he'd felt when he found out Hermione had been with him came back full force. But Draco needed the help, he knew that, so he needed to go to him.

Draco sighed as lunch ended, and made up his mind to speak to him about it as soon as he could. Soon the year would be over and Draco needed to get a move on.

As he shuffled onto his next class Draco was completely preoccupied. He was trying to figure out how he would get Snape to help him. He was not on Snape's good side at the moment and Draco didn't believe that he'd help him. But all through his classes Draco worked up the courage to go and ask Snape for help.

Finally before dinner started, Draco got his chance. He took a deep and knocked on the door of Snape's dungeon office. He waited only a moment before the door to the office opened in a large swoop. His eyes glinted at Draco as he stood there.

"Is there a reason why you have disturbed me in my private chambers?" Snape asked. Draco could tell Snape was not pleased to see him, so he took a deep breath before he spoke.

"Sir I wanted to talk to you about something. Can I come into your office?" Draco asked. Snape stared at him for moment before he stepped aside and let him into the office. Draco stepped in and realized it would be useless to beat around the bush. He quickly turned to look at Snape.

"Professor, I came here to ask you if there is a type of magic that is used to block things from the mind or see into others?" Snape looked surprised at Draco's question. He studied the young man carefully before he answered.

"Of course, it is Occlumency. But those magics are for the strong minded and must be studied most intensively for many years before the ability to defend oneself from another's penetration can be complete. Why are you interested?"

"I'd like to learn it. Well…I'd like to learn how to block my real feelings and thoughts from anyone I feel should not know what I'm thinking."

"Why?" Draco's lips pursed.

"That is for only me to know. Now I believe that you would have the knowledge needed to teach me. So will you?" Draco looked into Snape's eyes. Snape was contemplating why Draco would want to learn this magic.

Draco held his breath in suspense as he waited for Snape's answer. The silence filled the office loudly.

"I will think about it. Now go to dinner." Snape answered. Draco gave a curt nod before he left the office.

At the same time, Harry, Ron and Hermione were making their way to Dumbledore's office. The trio made it up to the stone gargoyle and looked up at it.

"Do any of you happen to know the password?" Harry asked. Ron looked clueless and Hermione shrugged.

"Maybe we can guess the password. Its always a wizard treat right?" Hermione said. Harry nodded, as the three of them began to throw out wizard candies.

"Chocolate frogs…"

"Lemon drops…"

"Licorice snaps…"

The three went through the wizard candies they knew before they stopped. None seemed to work.

"The only other candy I can think of is Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans but it's supposed to be can-dies…he…..likes…." Ron trailed off as the gargoyle sprang to life and jumped out of the way revealing the spiraling staircase.

"Good job Ron," Hermione said as they all stepped onto the stairs and made their way up to Dumbledore's office. When they got there, they knocked lightly and heard the faint, 'Come in'.

Harry, Ron and Hermione entered to see Dumbledore sitting at his desk. He had a book open in front of him and looked up in slight surprise to see them standing there.

"Hello, what brings you three here?" He asked softly. His voice carried through the near silent room.

"Well Professor we gained some knowledge that may be important to you and the Order," Harry said. He looked at Hermione who took it from there, and relayed everything she had seen in the Room of Requirement.

The entire time, Dumbledore listened quietly, with his hands clasped on the desk. When Hermione had finished, he gazed at her over his half moon spectacles. He smiled and nodded very slowly.

"This may be very important. I thank you for the information. Someone from the Order will definitely look into this. Now," Dumbledore glanced at one of his magical items, "it's time for dinner. I think you should begin to make your way down there."

All three of them nodded in agreement and then quickly left Dumbledore's office. They made their way down toward the Great Hall in silence. They didn't know why but they all felt jittery over their talk with Dumbledore. It had seemed like he wasn`t surprised or worried about what they had told him. At least that is what Hermione thought.

As the three of them entered the loud Hall and sat down at the Gryffindor table, they each took their own moments to look over at Dumbledore as he chatted amiably with the teachers at the Head table. But each of them shook off any doubt they had about Dumbledore when they reassured themselves that it was Dumbledore that he was the greatest wizard alive.

At this, Ron turned to Hermione who was about to take a bite out of her treacle tart.

"So Hermione will you come and do some homework with us tonight? Harry and I have been dying," Ron said. Harry gave Ron a look before he turned to Hermione hopefully.

"Well I can come for a few hours, but after that I have to do rounds. But if you guys were having so much trouble, why you didn't come and study with me when I was in the library baffles me," She suggested sarcastically. Ron rolled his eyes.

"Well that was our mistake, but we could use your help now, if you are willing…" Harry suggested with a smile. Hermione sighed and nodded.

"We'll see how much we can do before I have to go do rounds." Harry and Ron both beamed. Ron gave Hermione a quick tight hug.

"Thanks Mione," Harry said. Hermione paused when she heard her nickname. She hadn't heard anyone call her that in a while. Hermione looked at Harry intently for a moment and then smiled.

Draco who had been a little late for dinner, saw the silence that floated between Harry, Hermione and Ron. He watched them for a moment before he began to eat his dinner. As soon as it was over, Draco tried to make his way to Hermione to talk about their rounds that night. But she flowed with the Gryffindors and Draco ended up losing her in the crowd.

Hermione went into the Gryffindor common room and sat down in her favorite armchair with Ron and Harry and began to help them with their homework. It took a couple of hours to get through the essay that McGonagall had set them and Hermione helped them start practicing Charms before she realized she had to leave. As Ron's spoon twitched on the table in an attempt to tie itself into a bow, Hermione stood up.

"Sorry guys, I have to go. Rounds." Hermione made a face as she picked up her wand.

"How about you skip and help us? You'll be doing more good if you stay," Ron said. Hermione smiled and poked his cheek playfully.

"Nope, duty calls. I'll see you guys tomorrow."

Hermione slipped out of the common room and quickly got to the Head Boy and Girl dormitory. She didn't even notice Draco who was sitting in front of the fireplace, deep in his thoughts. He snapped out of it when he heard her steps walking toward her room.

He turned to see her go around the corner and waited as Hermione got her long black robe with the hood and changed into a long cardigan and some stretch pants. She covered her clothes with her robe and went back to the common room.

There she noticed Draco, and went over to him as she twirled her wand. She leaned against the back of his armchair and looked down at him. She tilted her head and pursed her lips.

"So are you just going to sit there? We have rounds to do tonight." Draco sighed and stood up.

"I know I was just. . .thinking. Let's go," he said quickly. Hermione squinted for a second at him before she left the common room with him. As they walked, Hermione turned to Draco.

"I'll take the left wing of the castle and you the east. We'll alternate in a quarter of an hour and do the dungeons and upper floors," Hermione said easily. Draco nodded wordlessly as he looked at Hermione intently. He hadn't been this close to her in awhile and he wanted to take it all in.

"Ok, will we meet in the usual place to do the dungeons and upper level together?" He asked. Hermione turned to him and shook her head.

"No. I can do the dungeons alone."Draco frowned.

"That isn't really safe is it? I mean anyth-" Hermione raised a hand cutting him off.

"I'll take my chances, plus I'd feel safer alone."

Draco didn't say anything as Hermione turned and went down her hallway. Draco looked after her as she went. He sighed before he went on his way and begun to do his rounds.

Hermione went through her rounds without incident. She realized that she should have grabbed the Marauder's Map from Harry. It would have made things so much easier.

As Hermione neared the dungeons, she kept her hand on her wand. She didn't really expect to find anything down in the dungeons, but it was the place that was most likely to harbor something bad.

Hermione wondered if she should pull out her wand when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned around and pulled out her wand fast, but the person caught her wrist before she could point it and caused it to fall to the dungeon floor.

Hermione's heart pumped erratically in her chest as she looked at her assailant. The torch lights glinted in a pair of silver eyes and Hermione sighed as she realized it was Draco, but her heart continued to pound. She could feel his light breaths and his hard chest pressing against her. Hermione got angry over her reaction and frowned at Draco, who'd been staring into her eyes. He stepped back and picked up her wand.

He handed it to her and Hermione snatched it back. She flung her bangs aside so he could get the full view of her anger.

"What the hell Draco? Why did you sneak up on me like that?" Hermione hissed. Draco grinned and then shrugged.

"I wanted to keep you on your toes," he replied. Hermione gave him a deadly look before she stormed past him. But he anticipated that, so he caught her wrist and stopped her. He chuckled a little.

"I'm just kidding. I already did the dungeons. I saw you going down as I came up through another passageway. I would have called you but you were far ahead of me and if Snape is down here you know he'd be mad. So I just caught up to you, that's it."

Hermione took a deep breath and then continued to walk out of the dungeons. Draco followed. Hermione didn't say anything until they had come out in the Great Hall.

"Did you at least do your side of the castle?" Hermione asked. Draco nodded. She gritted her teeth slightly before she looked at him.

"Thanks for saving me the trouble of doing the dungeons," Hermione spit out. Draco tried not to be hurt by the obvious pain and effort it took for her to thank him. They made their way up to the fifth floor. They needed to patrol it and the sixth and seventh floors.

Hermione didn't say anything against Draco coming with her as they patrolled. The halls were quiet as usual and they finished quickly. They continued to walk in silence as they reached their dormitory.

"So you're beginning to feel a tad bit better about me aren't you?" Draco asked. Hermione turned to face him.

"Why would you say that?"

"Because we spent forty five minutes in each others company and you didn't throw up." A hint of a smile curved over Hermione's lips.

"Well that doesn't prove anything. I just have good control over my bodily functions," she replied. Draco nodded slowly as he moved closer to her.

"That may be, but you allowed other things too. Things like this…" he puttered out as he stood beside her and took her hand. Hermione hesitated, allowing it for two seconds before she pulled her hand away and took two steps away.

"I've just been able to block you out that's all. Don't see it as anything else." Draco grinned at her as Hermione pursed her lips.

"Don't grin," she said threateningly. Draco didn't stop as he watched Hermione try to get angry.

"See you're beginning to tolerate me, that's the first step." Hermione gritted her teeth again and stomped out of the room as loudly as possible to drown out Draco's quiet chuckle which was following her.