The fact that Harry had started dating Luna Lovegood seemed to interest people a great lot more than the fact that Harry and Draco had almost killed each other in the sixth floor boys bathroom, something which suited Hermione just fine; she would very much like to forget everything that went down that day.

Draco, as always, had overstayed his welcome in the Hospital Wing and was now up and about, the previous lines on his face invisible. The Gryffindor – Slytherin hostility had returned to normal, which had to say it was still pretty bad. Though, exceeding all expectations, Snape had an even colder attitude towards the Gryffindors, which was not likely to thaw any soon.

With the good weather approaching and the homework doubling Hermione found herself, more often than not, retreating to her secret room. She just wished the year to be over. So much had happened, and so much was still happening, how could she go through with this? Just breath. One breath at a time and Time would do the rest.

The homework was good, it kept her mind off things. And when that wasn't enough she would spit through the library searching for any information regarding Eileen Prince.

Harry didn't much notice her absence, being too busy with his new girlfriend. Ron, however, seemed to think she was being distant, even more so than ever, but he didn't want to study with her that often either.

It was a truly beautiful Sunday afternoon when Ron had come to her usual table at the library and proceeded to drag her outside.

"You know, you're acting like a goblin, staying indoors all the time," Ron joked as they walked towards the Black Lake, though the tone of concern was unmistakable. Hermione shrugged and gave him a half-hearted excuse about having to study.

"You're lying, and we both know it," Ron said and turned to face her. Hermione stopped walking, too, and regarded him with an expression of surprise. How could it be that Ron, of all people, noticed that something was wrong?

"You're just always absent. Sometimes when you say you are at the library you're not. And you've got this aura about you, like you're keeping a secret or something."

Hermione's heart started beating faster with every word he spoke. He knew. He knew about Draco, Dumbledore, all of it. How could he, a more rational voice in her mind spoke but it was soon lost in the cacophony of panic and disaster.

"Hermione, are you dating someone?"

It took a few seconds for the question to sink in and all the noise in her head suddenly fell quiet.

"What?" she asked, still unsure whether she had heard him correctly.

"I asked if you were dating someone," Ron asked again. And now she knew it was not the question she was so taken aback by but the way he asked it. He looked so serious, like he was dreading her answer. Could he possibly… Ron?

She let her eyes drift over the grass field leading up to the Black Lake. Everywhere she looked there were couples; walking hand in hand; snogging in the shade of the blossom trees; laying next to each other in the green grass. Hormones flying everywhere, love was in the air. It wasn't weird for him to ask, he was just curious, as a friend, she concluded.

"No, Ron, I'm not dating anyone," she said, but somehow it came out as more of a sneer. Because she was angry, not at Ron, but at the weather for being so enjoyable, and at Harry for being happy with Luna, and at all the other people who could just do as they please, ignorant to all that would come in the, not so far, future.

"I should go. It was pleasant and all but I just remembered I still have to finish something for Arithmacy. Later Ron!" she said hastily and turned back towards the castle, taking the steps two at a time. Ron was left behind quite baffled, his good intentions squandered. How come Hermione could be such a difficult girl to be around? He watched her run up the stairs at a surprising speed and then shrugged; at least he had tried.

Hermione stormed the castle, yearning for the safety of the library, the smell of old paper and ink, wanting to lose herself in yet another book, another story. Everything and anything to keep her from thinking about-

"Watch out!" shrieked an all to familiar voice as she turned the corridor, bumping into something. Quickly she took a few steps backwards, ready to apologise, and looked up, only to be caught in his liquid silver eyes.

"Oh, it's you," he said at the same time, sounding a little deflated.

"Can't you see we're walking here, you filthy mudblood?" Pansy shrieked again, impervious to what was happening in front of her.

"Are you okay?" Draco asked quietly as he gazed intently back at her. She wanted very much to disapparate right now, but she was frozen at the sincerity of his words; the way his hand reached up as if to wipe the silent tears from her face but how he caught himself just in time.

"Come one, Draco. There is no reason arguing with a mudblood." Pansy shot her another filthy look before pulling Draco away with her, the enchantment abruptly broken.

Hermione wiped the silly tears away from her face herself and continued her way to the library. She needed something, or someone, to distract her. Draco seemed to have moved on, so why shouldn't she?

"I thought you said weren't dating anyone," Ron said, a few weeks later, a hint of betrayal shining through in his voice. It was just after curfew and they were waiting for Harry to return from his meeting with Dumbledore.

"I'm not, Ron. We're not dating, just occasionally hanging out together and-"

"Snogging," Ron interrupted her, scowling.

"Studying, was what I was going to say, but yes, Ron, that too." Hermione was trying very hard to focus on the book she had in her lap, but Ron just wouldn't let her have it.

"But McLaggen? He's such a pompous ass."

"The fact is, Ron," she shut her book a little louder than necessary, "that Cormac happens to be quite an exquisite kisser." He was not. The only reason she liked him was that she would never be able to develop feelings for him, for he was indeed a pompous ass.

The fact that Ron seemed to be thinking he had the same right to be grilling her about her love life as his little sister did was indeed misplaced and annoyed her gravely.

"When do you think Harry comes back?" she asked, trying to stir up the conversation again. Ron had seemed to have taken her comment as a personal insult and for the past ten minutes they had sat in awkward silence.

"Dunno," Ron shrugged and continued gazing into the fire.

"Oh," she said in response and started staring into the fire as well, hoping to find her answers there. But the flames gave her nothing, which didn't come as such a surprise seeing as how she had unceremoniously dropped Divination and how she didn't believe in that nonsense anyway.

When the portrait swung open and Harry came running through, both Gryffindors jumped up in anticipation.

"What does Dumbledore want?" The question had escaped her lips before she knew it and only now did she get a good look at Harry.

"Harry, are you OK?" she added, taking in the gloomy look that was on his face.

"I'm fine," he said and raced passed them up the stairs and into the boys dormitory. Hermione turned to Ron and gave him a puzzled look, which he returned.

"Do you think I should follow, or..." But before Ron had even time to think about the alternative, Harry stormed down the stairs again, coming to a stop in front of them.

"Look, I haven't got much time," he panted, "Dumbledore thinks I'm getting my invisibility cloak. Listen..." In fast tempo Harry explained where he was going, and why.

"… see what this means?" He took no time to look at them for an answer. "Dumbledore won't be here tonight, so Malfoy's going to to have a clear shot at whatever he's up to. No, listen to me!" Harry hissed angrily towards Hermione, who had stood on the verge of interrupting. "I know it was Malfoy celebrating in the Room of Requirement. Here -" Hermione got the Marauder's Map shoved into her hands. "You've got to watch him and you've got to watch Snape, too." Harry quickly started giving out orders. "Use anyone else who you can rustle up from the DA. Dumbledore has put extra protection in place, but if Snape is in on it he'll know how to avoid it – but he won't be expecting you lot to be on watch, will he?"

"Harry-" Hermione began, the fear creeping up to her. Was this really happening?

"I haven't got the time to argue," he said curtly. "Take this as well-" he thrust a pair of rolled up socks into Ron's hands.

"Thanks," Ron said. "Er- why do I need socks?" Somehow, even with all the stress flowing around them, though maybe it was because of that, Hermione could barely hide the small smile that was threatening to take over her face.

"It's the Felix Felicis. Share it. I'd better go, Dumbledore is waiting-"

"No!" Hermione said, horrified, as Ron unwrapped the tiny bottle half-filled with golden potion.

"We don't want it, you should take it. Who knows what you'll be facing?"

"I'll be fine, I'll be with Dumbledore. I just need to know you lot will be OK." A certain dread washed over Hermione, to her this seemed an awful lot like a goodbye.

"Don't look like that, Hermione, I'll see you later." And with that Harry was off and out of the portrait hole, leaving Ron and Hermione to stare at each other with a strange sense of disbelief.

"Well," Ron said after a while, "we better get to it then. Those DA Galleons still work?"

A/N I'm trying to pick up the pace again. Two or three more chapters till the end of the Half-Blood Prince and then we'll move on to Deadly Hallows. I myself am really enjoying the story so far, but let me know what you think :)