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I had kept my promise. I had not let my fears consume me. They were there, I was not fearless, nor did I aim to be, but I had accepted their presence. For two months I had dated Hermione. For two months I had known real love. I was happy.

It was now, as I sat with Hermione in Slughorn's dungeon classroom, gazing at the lengthy list of ingredients scrawled on the blackboard, that I reflected on these achievements. None of it would have been possible without her. I do not know how I would have coped these past two months if she had not helped me the way she had. If I was ridiculed she would whisper sweet words of comfort in my ear, each time building my resistance. If I seemed down, her hand would encase mine and would squeeze tightly, letting me know she was there. Hermione would sometimes ask if I wanted to talk, to confide, but I would always decline. I could not possibly burden her more than I already had.

Swishing my wand over my vividly orange potion, I glanced at her. Her long mane of bushy brown hair was tamed into a loose bun, from which wiry strands were escaping. Reflecting the glow of her potion, her focused eyes looked auburn as she squinted down at her cauldron. She flicked the pencil-like stick of wood in her hand and the finely chopped gurdyroots beside her leapt into the bubbling mixture. Instantly, the potion began to steam wildly, and Hermione's form was soon a mere blur in a haze of fog. I swiftly leant over and syphoned the mist from around her, bringing her back into focus. Hermione thanked me curtly, before returning to her now calm potion.

I smiled to myself as I turned back to my own, I knew Hermione would privately dislike requiring help in class, not that she would ever admit it. I stole another quick glance at her, before adding one strand of unicorn hair to the boiling concoction before me.

Hermione and I's hands swung gently as we walked to Transfiguration. McGonagall always provided a challenging lesson and today was no exception; we would be transforming our feet into flippers. Reaching a staircase hidden behind a portrait, I gave Hermione a quick kiss on the cheek before releasing her small hand; the corridor was too narrow to walk in pairs. Jumping the trick step, I couldn't help longing that her palm was still pressed against mine. We joined the line at the classroom door with the rest of the eighth years and I leant against the smooth stone behind me. My mouth stretched as I yawned widely, I had not had a very restful sleep last night; Lucius had once again infiltrated my dreams.

"Mr Malfoy, I do hope I will not be studying the inside of your mouth all lesson. Make sure you are awake through my explanation, won't you?" Professor McGonagall's harsh tones rung through the corridor.

"Yes of course Professor." I muttered, sheepishly.

Hermione and I followed Professor McGonagall through the classroom door and took our regular seats, towards the front.

"Good Morning students. In today's lesson we will be attempting to transfigure our feet into flippers. This is a complicated spell best performed when…"

McGonagall continued to explain the complex magical theory behind the process, as I tried to keep my eyes open. Beside me, Hermione's face was hard with concentration, her warm, brown eyes squinted at the jam-packed chalkboard, mouthing the words written there. Her hand flew across the parchment as she took notes; she was easily the most attentive in the class.

I was therefore unsurprised that upon trying the spell, Hermione was the first student to be successful. I couldn't supress a laugh as she waddled up the aisle to Professor McGonagall, in order to receive the counterjinx instructions. She evidently caught the remnants of my smirk as she resumed her seat and playfully punched my arm, grinning.

"At least I can do the spell!" She laughed.

"Oh yeah?" I challenged.

Flourishing my wand exuberantly in the direction of my bare feet, I exclaimed loudly, "Fliparo Forvlande!"

My big toes merely gave an odd sort of wiggle.

Giggling, Hermione said, "It's Forvandle! Not Forvlande, you idiot."

I gave her a wicked grin before jabbing her in the ribs, causing her to burst into raucous laughter.

"Draco! Stop it! You're distracting-"Her words were stifled as I poked more vigorously and the giggles consumed her. She squirmed away, and dropped to the floor panting, face scrunched in mirth.

"You are." Pant. "Dead." Giggle. "Meat."

She leapt up from the floor and attacked me, her hands wriggling at my neck. I bellowed and laughed, attempting to prise her off me.

"Heeerrrrmmiiiioooonneee!" I whined. "You're going to suffocate me!"

She continued to tickle me, pinning me against the wall next to our desks.

"Ms Granger! Please release Mr Malfoy this instant."

Our giggles were silenced instantly and the tickling of my neck was halted as Hermione jumped to attention. I straightened my tie and gulped, facing McGonagall. Her stony face glowered at us, no sign of amusement evident in the thin line that was her mouth. Hermione, to my left was straight backed and tense, clearly abashed.

"I do not tolerate poor behaviour in my class Miss Granger and Mr Malfoy. Especially from our head boy and girl. Misbehave again and I may begin to doubt your appointments. So far you have been successful in your positions, but it is essential to always set a prime example for the other students. Not merely when you feel like it. I expected better of you."

She spun on her heel and walked away, leaving us in taut silence. Turning to Hermione to apologise, I merely faced a wall of bushy hair.

I gently prodded her shoulder and said, "Mione? I didn't mean to get you in trouble."

"Just get on with your work Draco." She blurted, refusing to look at me.

"Hermione, I'm really-"

"Just work Malfoy! I can't talk to you right now."

I looked up to the ceiling and heaved a sigh, wishing I hadn't screwed up. Really, I should have known better. Classes were important to Hermione, it was wrong of me to distract her like that.

When the bell went at the end of the lesson, Hermione walked briskly from the room, not even looking back as I called her name. I dragged my books from the table and dumped them into my bag, wondering how I could make it up to her.