As the owl flew off with her letters, Hermione watched the last rays of sun disappear. She turned to leave, and discovered Jimmy Peakes was leaning by the doorway.

"Hello, Jimmy." she said cautiously. His expression seemed strange… but she had remembered him as a happy and innocent boy on the Gryffindor Quidditch team during Harry's time as Captain. However, right now, he seemed completely different.

"Hello, Hermione." he replied deeply. "I think we should talk."

Hermione was confused. Talk about what? But she honestly was starting to get creeped out by Jimmy's disturbing manner, and instead said, "Sorry, but I've really got to be heading back. Loads of homework. Maybe another time?" and began heading for the door.

Jimmy moved quick as lightning, blocking the doorway before she had even crossed half the distance. "I just wanted to ask you a question." he said, smiling maliciously at Hermione's obvious discomfort. "I figured if I want to replace Ginny Weasley as Captain for Gryffindor, I'd better have someone important on my side. And, I guess, I'd like to date you, in any case."

Hermione was bewildered. Is he mad Is this how boys ask out girls these days? "Sorry, but I'm already dating someone else. And there's no possibility of you replacing Ginny as Captain. Not only does she have more experience, but she's also older."

"She spent all of last year rebelling against Snape and not giving a care to Quidditch. Why should she have the Captaincy?" he asked, angrily.

"Look, I don't understand Quidditch, and I certainly don't understand the way you're acting right now. Move aside immediately, before I start taking points from Gryffindor."

"You wouldn't. That's your House, too, and I'm content to stay here all night if that's what it takes to get what I want."

"As Senior Girl, I technically belong to no House, so I will take points. Last chance."

"Go ahead." he grinned evilly, drawing out his wand. "I WILL get the Captaincy, and you, for that matter. I've always thought women ought to be obedient to their betters, and I think it'll be alright to teach my future girlfriend a lesson."

Hermione was terrified. What in Heaven's name is wrong with Jimmy? Is he under the Imperius Curse or completely insane? Trying to buy herself some time, she said, "Jimmy, no! Why are you acting this way? Ginny and I have never done anything to you. Don't do this."

"You two and Harry Potter and the rest of his cadre were the reason why Hogwarts was so messed up last year, and why so many of students got killed. Especially my friends. Ritchie Coote. Colin Creevey. Sound familiar? If Potter hadn't returned to Hogwarts last May, would there have been a battle there? No. The Dark Lord was right, and so were the Death Eaters. Potter used everyone else as a shield so he could hide and be the coward he is. This will be my own personal form of revenge."

"Listen, Jimmy." Hermione pleaded. "Taking out your anger and resentment on me won't change Ritchie and Colin's fates. In fact, think of what they would say if they could see you right now. Do you think they would be proud? As Gryffindor students, they would hardly be in support of your vindictive ways. Think about it."

For a moment, Jimmy lowered his wand as Hermione's words struck him. It was perfect timing, as Draco silently Stupified him from behind. Jimmy crumpled to the ground, and Draco jumped over him, pulling Hermione to his chest.

"You stupid, stupid, idiotic, unbelievable girl! How could you leave the dormitory without your wand? Have you lost it?" he asked furiously, although he was rubbing the back of her trembling figure. "Are you alright?" he said more gently.

"I'm fine." said Hermione, feeling immediately safer with Draco's presence. "But what about Jimmy? What if he hit his head when you Stunned him?"

"Who cares?" asked Draco, exasperated. "You should be thinking about how to thank me properly, instead of worrying about that pathetic moron." He stepped back, but still had his arms around her. "What happened?" he asked with much concern, searching her face. "Why was his wand raised at you?"

Hermione replied quietly, "I'll tell you about it in the common room. I want to get out of here first. Please"

"Alright," Draco agreed, "But what about that thing?" he asked, shooting Jimmy's unconscious form a murderous look.

Hesitantly, Hermione said, "Give me your wand."

Draco looked very confused, but gave it to her anyways. It felt warm in her hand, and almost as familiar as her own wand. Momentarily distracted, she asked simply out of curiosity, "Did you win its allegiance back? After Harry returned it to you?"

To her surprise, Draco actually laughed out loud. "Yes, yes I did. I'll tell you the story sometime. Potty was quite amusing."

Now it was Hermione's turn to be confused, but she proceeded anyways. "Obliviate." she whispered, pointing Draco's wand at Jimmy's head. When she deemed that about an hour's worth of memory had been erased, she raised the wand, and handed it back to Draco, who looked at her incredulously. "I really do hope he'll be all right. And thanks, Drake. I don't know what I would've done without you."

"I'd probably be scraping what was left of you off the opposite wall right now." Draco sneered while he tucked his wand back into his robe pocket. "C'mon. Let's get back."

The two walked back to the tower in silence, and when they were in the common room, Hermione quickly sat on the couch, and said, "Tell me the story of your wand first. I need to clear my thoughts before I can explain to you." she said, shivering a little.

Seeing her so frightened, Draco decided to indulge her. Sitting down beside her, he first lit the mini-fireplaces to make her feel warmer and safer, then started. "Back in May, after the war was over, my parents and I were resting in the castle and watching the celebrations. We also stayed as a mark of respect to those who had fallen in battle. My mother was exchanging her first words in years to my Aunt Andromeda and consoling her over Tonks's death when Potty came up. He thanked my mother openly, for all those nearby to hear, for saving his life. Father was so stunned that Potty would do something that kind for us that tears actually started to trickle down his face."

"That was the only time I'd ever seen my father cry. Anyways, Potty turned to me afterwards, and told me that he knew where my wand was, and would be happy to take me to it. So I followed him outside, when he suddenly grabbed my arm, and Apparated, dragging me along. I still don't know where he took us, but it was a deserted field of some sort in the country. He drew out my wand from his pocket, and told me since he had won its allegiance from me, I would have to win it back the old-fashioned way for it to truly belong to me."

"At the time, I hadn't any idea what he was talking about, so he just rolled his eyes, and started taunting me, saying I was a poor runner as well as weak, and started running across the field, trying to get me to chase him. As I ran after him, the taunts got worse, and you knowing my competitive nature, I began to really sprint after him as he dangled my wand from his hand while running backwards."

"I finally caught up to him. Man, he was fast! I tried to grab my wand from him, but Potty just kept whipping it out of my reach every time I almost had it. I eventually managed to wrestle it from him, and when it was securely in my grasp, it shot out sparks. Now I knew what Potty was talking about. He just stood there, panting from the run, but grinning. At that moment, I knew we had finally struck a true friendship. From playing tag."

Hermione had been listening in rapture, but laughed at the end. Then she said indignantly, "Why didn't you or Harry ever tell me this? And I thought you still hated him after all this time we've been together, especially when you call him 'Potty'."

Draco smirked. "It's more of an affectionate nickname now." Then more seriously, he said, "Now, it's your turn."

So Hermione gave Draco a precise account of what had happened in the Owlery, starting when she had seen Jimmy lurking at the doorway, to when Draco had Stunned him. She told him what Jimmy had been saying, and Draco's brow furrowed.

After she finished, Hermione said quietly, "He was right, in a way, wasn't he? If we hadn't come back to Hogwarts that night, there wouldn't have been a battle, and so many lives would've been saved."

Draco shook his head, disagreeing. "It was going to happen anyways. Potty told me about the Horcruxes after we Apparated back to Hogwarts. He didn't fully explain, and we haven't kept in touch, but I know that they were essential prerequisites needed to be destroyed in order to kill the Dark Lord. Without coming to Hogwarts, you guys could theoretically have caused more deaths, since V- V- Voldemort would have had more time to murder others."

Hermione felt a stab of pain when she heard Draco still stammer over Voldemort's name. He really was traumatized, she thought sadly.

After a moment of pondering in both people, Draco finally said, "So why did you erase his memory? He should've been punished for this. Drawn and quartered at the least."

Hermione sighed. Boys. "Drake, he's been hurting. He lost his closest friends in one night, and with his somewhat abnormal hormones right now, he must have just lost it for a moment. I think he deserves a second chance."

"Y'know, at this moment, I feel Weasel and I would actually be on the same side in saying Peakes deserves something other than a second chance, but I won't push for it if forgiveness is truly your choice." Draco replied, irritated. "But he'd better not utter another word to you about dating, even if he doesn't remember his first disastrous attempt to ask you out." he added on coldly.

"Hey, it's okay. No harm, no foul." teased Hermione, feeling better from hearing his protectiveness spoken out. "Now, let's tackle those essays."

With each other's help, the two brightest students of their age finished the two essays in three hours, which put them at around eleven o' clock when they were done. Hermione showered first tonight, while Draco practiced Flitwick's charm. When it was Draco's turn to shower, Hermione then perfected the charm. Although it was near close to midnight when both were in pajamas, neither wanted to go to bed yet.

They decided to draw up more ideas for the "House Unity" concept. While Hermione was using her wand to inscribe on a large scroll of parchment the details of the first waltzing class on Friday night in the Great Hall, Draco conceived the idea of a "Quidditch Good-Luck Party" before every game. Both teams would be required to attend a party thrown by their opposing Houses working together to encourage team spirit as well as fair sportsmanship. Hermione thought it was a wonderful idea, bringing the Houses together through the most popular activity offered at Hogwarts.

However, since she knew nothing about Quidditch, she suggested that Draco himself plan it out on paper first. As she was making the sign-up sheet for the waltzing class, Hermione almost made Draco faint by saying she had also thought up another idea that was Quidditch related.

"What if each player on both teams at the Good-Luck Party gave the opposite team's member a present? For example, if Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff are playing each other, Ravenclaw's Keeper could exchange gifts with Hufflepuff's Keeper, and Hufflepuff's Seeker could exchange presents with Ravenclaw's Seeker!"

Draco blinked several times. "You know what Keepers and Seekers are?" he asked, genuinely astonished.

Hermione glared. "Those were Ron and Harry's respective positions!" she said indignantly. "I know a lot more about Quidditch than you think!"

"Oh yeah?" Draco smirked. "What do the Chasers do?"

"Erm," said Hermione, suddenly a lot less confident. "They're the ones that use the stick-thingies, right?"

Draco chuckled. "Aaaang. Wrong answer. Try again next time!"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "But do you think that it could work out?"

"I think it has a kind of chance to backfire on us." replied Draco seriously. "I can just imagine the players sending each other prank items that could injure, like the Zonko or Weasley products. That could quickly turn the fun into ugliness." Seeing Hermione's disappointed look, he added, "But, we could definitely try it. We'll probably just have to take some extra precautions and have Filch inspect them first."

Hermione smiled. "Great. I'm glad I could contribute." Rolling up both the announcement sheet and the sign-up sheet she had finished making, she yawned, and said, "Well, g'night Drake. Don't stay up too late. We should wake up a little early to practice Flitwick's charm again, and also post copies of the waltz class notices and sign-up sheets in each House's common room tomorrow morning."

Draco smiled back. "It's a plan. I'm almost done, anyways. See you tomorrow morning!"

As Hermione closed her bedroom door, and then her bathroom door, she wondered as to how she had been so lucky to find someone as beautiful, inside and out, as Draco.