The first thing they did back at Hogwarts was going for a butter beer at the Three Broomsticks. Harry suddenly got oddly specific about the seating, but it became clear why when Professor Slughorn turned to their table.

Harry later told Ron and Hermione that Professor Dumbledore had given him the with assignment of getting some important memories out of him It made Hermione somewhat less angry when she knew Harry was kissing up Professor Slughorn on Dumbledore's orders. Although she did still disapprove of the Half-Blood Prince's book. Potions should work the way they are described in her lesson book, not according to some mad man's scribbles.

She had grown tired of the conversation Harry and Professor Slughorn were having about one of his former students, Ambrosius Flume, owner of Honeydukes, and her eyes wandered through the packed room. From the table in the back she had a very advantageous viewpoint.

She noticed Ginny and Dean Thomas snogging in one of the boots and smiled. She was reminded of Krum and decided she should write him a letter, soon. The shrunken heads at the entrance started throwing insults, meaning someone was about to enter. An indeed, Malfoy walked in, stopped a moment nervously scanning the bar – Hermione ducked deeper into the shadows - before going straight for the toilets. He was clutching something against his chest, tucked inside his jacket.

She had been wondering what he had been up to when he, once again, had not attended the prefect's meeting that had taken place in the train. Ever since Malfoy had stopped coming to meetings there had been speculation that he had dropped out. Pansy Parkinson said she didn't know and no one else felt like asking him directly. Harry was still convinced Malfoy had turned to the dark side, but Hermione wasn't one to jump to hastly conclusions. She dismissed the thought and didn't think much of it.

It was only when Katie Bell was flung into the air like a rag doll, that Hermione connected the dots.

"Malfoy," she whispered to herself. Harry and Ron ran towards Katie Bell and her friend, her face filled with terror. Katie let out a heart piercing scream and plummeted to the ground.

"What's going on," Harry asked a sobbing Leanne.

"I – I don't know… It was when she opened the package that.." She couldn't take her eyes off of her friend, who had now started to kick and scream, unable to recognize any of them.

"I'm going to get some help," Harry said and ran off, back towards Hogsmade.

"She's going to hurt herself," Hermione said, moving closer, "we should hold her still." She and Ron both dove on top of her, trying to get a hold of Katie's writhing body.

"Get back," she heard Hagrid's voice shout. She moved away, letting him pick up Katie and watched him hurry towards the castle.

Her eyes slid from the package on the ground to the crying girl that stood beside it. She hurried over and pulled her into a hug.

"It's Leanne, isn't it?" The girl could only nod. Hermione watched with eagle's eyes as she saw Ron and Harry turn their attention to the package. Ron had almost picked it up, only stopped by Harry's loud "Don't." Harry pulled back his arm, saving him from a terrible fate. "I've seen that before, at Borgin and Burkes. The label said it had been cursed."

"We can't just leave it like this, we should take it back to the castle," Ron remarked, looking rather queasy. Neither of the boys seemed too eager to pick it up.

Hermione pulled out her wand. "Wingardium Leviosa," she whispered and silently they all watched the opal necklace float into the air.

"Well, what are you waiting for?" she asked and started making her way to the castle, not once taking her eyes of the necklace.

After they had given their statement to Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape Hermione excused herself and hurried towards their common room. Harry had told their teachers he suspected Malfoy of being responsible for this incident, but without any proof it was but a faint accusation. Hermione knew that and hadn't added what she had seen, it wouldn't help either. She figured that in confronting Malfoy she'd have better results.

Sneaking into the boy's dormitory was easy. Fighting her way through the chaos was not. She marvelled at the mess that was scattered around. Books, socks, papers, a single broken feather and a lot of candy wrappers. Four of the five beds were unmade and mountains of clothing – about to fall off - sat on top of each of the chairs standing next to the beds. Her fingers itched to cast a simple cleaning charm. She ignored the feeling and hopped from one free spot to the next, making her way to Harry's bed. An empty piece of parchment lay on top of his night stand.

"I solemnly swear I am up to no good," she said, the tip of her wand resting on the paper. Slowly the hallways of Hogwarts appeared, filling itself with tiny little footsteps.

"Draco, Draco, Draco, where are you," she muttered as she scanned the map for his name. She found him on top of the Clock Tower, his feet unmoving. She also saw Harry and Ron advancing towards the Gryffindor common room.

"Mischief Managed," she whispered and quickly made her way outside, careful not to run into Harry and Ron.

It was cold when she reached the top of the tower, the wind pulling at her hair playfully. An eerie light shone through the white glass that made up the clock. She scanned the room and saw him sitting in a corner, knees folded to his chest and his head rested on top. He had yet to notice her. She stood quiet, perplexed, taking up the scene displayed in front of her. She had not expected this. She saw he was shaking now, or rather shuddering, like he was crying.

She took two steps forward and stopped again. "Draco," she called, uncertain. He looked up, startled, and immediately turned away, trying to hide his tear stained face.

"Go away," he pleaded, but she couldn't oblige. She couldn't leave him like that and sat down next to him putting a hand on his shoulder. He tensed up and looked at her, the hurt clear in his eyes. He seemed to want to push her away, but then he moved closer and started crying against her shoulder.

"I – I..." he stammered, unable to form the words. "I didn't..."

"It's okay," she told him and stroked his back a little awkwardly.

"I didn't mean to hurt her." It came out in a whisper but Hermione heard it clearly. Knowing what it meant she pulled him closer nonetheless.

When his breathing eased and his tears stopped falling, Draco pulled back. He hated himself for this moment of weakness he had allowed himself.

Hermione could not read his expression, but it soon became anger and he turned away from her. They sat next to each other in silence, mere centimetres apart. She looked at him, wondering what he was thinking about. She did not even know what she herself had been thinking about.

When he finally looked at her again she noticed the unusually grey colour of his irises, like liquid silver. Even with those bloodshot eyes and red nose she could not deny his beauty.

"Granger, I- "She could not let him finish that sentence. Another excuse, another insult. She felt him carefully putting up his mask again, rebuilding his walls, and she did not want that to happen. So she leaned in and softly pressed her lips on his. He sat as if frozen, and after a few seconds she pulled back. Unable to meet his eyes, that undoubtedly stood big in surprise and maybe even disgust, she stood up and turned away.

Why, Hermione, why? Why did she have to embarrass herself like that. But he had seemed so open, so vulnerable, she hadn't been able to help herself. That moment he was about to close himself again, something in her had screamed to not let that happen and she had thrown herself over his walls, while they were still low.

Thoughts were racing through her head at the speed of light, one more confusing than the other,

"Now we both have something to be embarrassed about," she said, and without looking back she left for the staircase.

She ran the whole way down, she could have broken her neck, scared to hear him calling her name, demanding an explanation.

All the way to her room she was afraid that it would show, show that she had kissed Draco Malfoy. In her dormitory she flung herself on her bed, burying her head beneath her pillow. Should've flung myself from the tower instead, she thought

Tomorrow classes would resume and she followed at least three with Malfoy. Hermione wondered if she could still catch the Hogwarts Express back.