Well, I got a lot of notes threatening my life if I didn't get this by next week… so here it is ^_^ OH!! And THE question (sorry, I forgot to put this in the first chapter) What year are they in??? In their 6th year ^_^

Ok, sorry for taking soooooo long to update, but I had a crazy week full of tests!! Anyway, here's the 6th chapter:

Thanks to: Me123, Strawberri, Michelle, GerHPfa, narcissusmuses, DracosgirlMakayla, silver fawkes, Tidal Dragon, KeeperOfTheMoon, Miss Conrad, Broken-Hermione, Chocolat Elf, Rachel, Elfin Warrior Maiden, annoyed, dreamer, The Crimson Cornet, Starrynight13, Luna, Leogirl, Vegeta Jr, Hyper_shark, Sher, Draco Lover, DemonWitch666, Gliniel of Tirragen + Malfoy, StarJade, lil-spitfire, history17, Hatokirei, midnight, Gi|Ly, YingRui, hermione 18, and Liquid Fire for reviewing!!

Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. Other citations will be made where necessary

********

"Hermione!" someone yelled.

And she fell.

Or did she?

She was hanging in mid air, with some rocks sticking out of the water below her, the cliff wall beside her, and the sky above her.

But someone was gripping her hand tightly.

She closed her eyes, trembling with fright.

"Hermione, give me your other hand!" the person who was gripping her hand yelled.

"I- I'm too scared!" she whimpered.

"Come on!"

She took a deep breath and, slowly, carefully, she raised her hand over her head, trying to ignore those rocks sticking out of the water…

She felt the other person take her hand, and pull her upwards. She helped by putting her feet on the cliff wall, trying to hoist herself up.

Finally, after being scratched quite a lot, Hermione was on solid ground again, and she had fallen on top of her savior, who was-

"Malfoy?!"

"The same," Draco said from under her. "Could you please get off me, Granger?"

"Oh!" she exclaimed. "Yeah, hold on…"

As she was trying to get off Draco, Harry and Ron, who were both on the firebolt, landed beside them. Ron almost tripped as he got off the firebolt and ran towards them.

"What, may I ask," he said, looking at them strangely. "Are you doing on top of Malfoy, Hermione?"

Harry, who had caught up with Ron, was now helping Hermione to her feet. "No time for that, Ron. Are you ok, Hermione?"

"Ye- yeah," she stammered as he set her gently on the ground. Then he glared at Draco.

"What've you done to her, Malfoy?" he spat.

Draco looked at Harry in astonishment. What had he done to her? He had saved her life! So why was Potter angry, anyway?

"I saved her from falling off the cliff," Draco answered with the same tone of disgust Harry had used.

Now Ron jumped in. "Saved her? You saved her, Malfoy?"

Draco glared at him.

"You probably set the whole thing up! You wouldn't save Hermione!" he went on.

"That's right," Harry said. "You want something in return, huh, Malfoy? That's what you want, isn't it?"

Draco, who was still on the floor, stood up. He wouldn't be sitting down to make Harry and Ron feel superior. Now he was level with them. Face to face.

"So," Draco said looking straight into Harry's green eyes. "You would have wanted me to leave Granger to die."

Ron looked at him, mouth hanging open. "No!"

"Drop it, please," Hermione said softly from the ground. She was slowly recovering from her shock.

"Very peculiar, though," Harry said, ignoring Hermione and staring fixedly at Draco. "That you would've saved her, don't you think? If you didn't want something in return, why'd you do it?"

Now Draco stood in silence, for he didn't know the answer to that. Why had he done it? He had seen Granger heading straight for the cliff and before he knew what he was doing, his legs carried him towards her. But he had to say something.

Finally he clenched his teeth. "None of your business, Potter," he turned around and left, cloak swishing behind him.

Harry, after glaring at Draco, ran towards Hermione. "We better get you to the Hospital Wing," he said. "Can you walk?"

Hermione was looking at Draco as he walked towards the castle. "You shouldn't have been so hard on him," she said.

"Can you walk?" Harry insisted.

Hermione stood up a bit shakily, but, with some effort, she took a few steps forwards. "Yes."

They made their way towards the castle slowly, Harry and Ron close to Hermione just in case she fell.

Ron was pretty angry. "Git," he muttered. "Wants something in return, that's it. Wouldn't have saved you if-"

"Ron," Hermione said. "Stop it, please."

Ron did stop. When Hermione had said that, she looked a bit pale. And her voice had a hint of anger. Why was she defending Malfoy, anyway?

"How did you know I fell?" she asked after a minute of silence.

"I was flying around with my firebolt," Harry answered, as they entered the castle. "And I saw you fall, Malfoy running after you. Then I just got Ron on the broomstick and flied over."

They reached the Hospital Wing, and as soon as Madam Pomfrey saw Hermione she ran over to her and pushed both boys away.

"What has happened, miss Granger?" she asked briskly as she settled the girl down on the bed.

"I fell," she answered.

"Fell?" Madam Pomfrey asked blankly.

Harry, seeing Hermione was still too shocked to say anything, told Madam Pomfrey what had happened.

"I see," Madam Pomfrey said. "Well, you two better go on, there's nothing for you to do here."

Harry and Ron, after telling Hermione they'd check on her later on, left.

Hermione was given some chocolate, and then she was left alone to 'calm down, after all, falling off a cliff! I didn't expect that of you, miss Granger'

She thought about Draco. How he had saved her, how he had yelled her name. How he had gripped her hand tightly… and she smiled. It made her feel good to know Draco had saved her. He had sounded worried. It meant he couldn't possibly be as cold as he seemed. There was someone behind that protective cold shield. And she would try to get to that someone. There had to be a way. And she would find it.

***

Draco paced around the Slytherin common room silently, slowly.

The image of Hermione falling off the cliff kept popping up in his mind. Great. Now, not only did he feel the urge to be nice when he was around her, but he also couldn't stop thinking about her. All Granger's fault. He tried to forget about her, but he couldn't. How was she? Was she in the Hospital Wing? Why had he saved her? Why were Potter and Weasley angry at him for it? Why should he even care about all this?

But anger rose up inside him. Potter and Weasley! How dare they think he had saved Granger just to get something in return? Idiotic fools…

But he couldn't stop thinking about her! How was she? Unable to be kept in suspense any longer, he made his way towards the stone wall where the exit and entrance to the common room was located. He was almost there when someone blocked his way.

Parkinson.

"Where are you going?" she asked, looking up at him eagerly.

"Nowhere," he said, pushing her away.

She went in front of him again. There were tears in her eyes.

"I heard what happened to that mudblood!" she shrieked. "And now you're going to see her again, aren't you? You're always with her! And you-you never go with me anywhere!" she was hysterical now, wiping away her tears furiously.

"Get out of the way, Parkinson," Draco drawled, heading for the exit.

"No, I won't let you!" Pansy jumped in from of him yet again. "I'll go with you!"

"No, you won't," Draco said, and managed to open the wall.

Pansy walked beside him, sobbing. "I can't believe you can like that mudblood!" she said between sobs.

Draco whirled around furiously to look at her. Then, in his deadliest hiss, he said, "I do not like Granger. Now go away."

Pansy started howling, frustrated. "Fine!" she yelled shrilly. "Go with her if you want! You'll- you'll regret it!" and she ran away.

Draco now walked slowly towards the Hospital Wing. What Parkinson had just said had made him think again. He did not like Granger! He would never like her! But then, why was he going to see her? He stopped just outside the Hospital Wing. Should he turn around? Yes, he would. But then he reconsidered, and, without thinking about it, stepped inside.

Hermione was sitting on a bed, reading a book. He walked over to her, but she was so absorbed into the book that she didn't notice someone standing right beside her.

"Granger,"

She jumped a bit, as she always did when Draco broke the silence. She looked up at him. He was watching her with an amused expression.

"Hi," she said, smiling.

"Hello. How are you doing?"

Draco had decided to just let this sentence come out without thinking about it. It sounded foolish.

Hermione was so shocked by this question that she just stared at him blankly for a while, looking up into those cold gray eyes.

"Good," she answered. "Thanks for asking."

Draco regretted having asked. He didn't need Granger thanking him for anything.

"And," Hermione added, looking up at him with honest brown eyes. "Thank you for saving me."

He felt a sudden warmth round his heart, but he pushed it aside.

"If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't be here right now," she went on. "So I'm very grateful, as you can understand."

"You're welcome, Granger," he said in spite of himself.

"And… Malfoy? When you were… saving me, you yelled my name."

Both anger and a weird sensation rose up inside Draco. Anger and… what, exactly? He couldn't really explain.

"So… I was wondering. Could I call you Draco?"

Again that feeling of warmth at his chest. She looked so innocent, looking up at him and asking such a simple question. He didn't know what to do, so he just started to walk towards the door, which made Madam Pomfrey very happy, because, for once, she hadn't had to yell at someone to get out of her Hospital Wing. When he had almost reached the door, he turned around and looked at Hermione's eager face.

"Do whatever you want, Granger," he drawled.

"Please," she said, smiling. "Call me Hermione."

***

The next day Hermione was, in madam Pomfrey's opinion, well enough to get out of the Hospital Wing. Hermione was relieved, since she wouldn't have to taste any more awful tonics from the nurse. She walked happily into the Gryffindor common room, wanting to get done with her homework. She opened the portrait, and walked over to Harry and Ron, who were talking about the masquerade.

"Glad you're here, Hermione," Ron said. "Now you can help me by fixing me up with someone!"

Hermione glared at him. "It's nice to see you too, Ron, I'm feeling much better now, thanks for asking."

Ron seemed puzzled for a moment, but then understood. "Oh!" he exclaimed. "Um… so, you're feeling better?"

Hermione turned to Harry, who looked just as defenseless as Ron under Hermione's glare. "I'm glad you're better," he said finally.

Hermione didn't smile. "Thanks," and she turned around to walk towards her dormitory.

"No, wait!" Ron exclaimed, getting up from the couch and grabbing her arm. "Please, 'mione, we need your help!"

"Don't 'mione me, Ron," Hermione said, annoyed. "It won't make me fix you up with someone."

"Please?" Ron insisted. "How about Parvarti?"

"First of all," Hermione said. "She's going with Sean. Secondly, Padma found you a great bore on your fourth year, so I don't think her twin sister would go with you."

"Hermione!" Ron wailed, still clinging on to her robes. "Please help!"

Hermione sighed. She hated to see Ron so miserable and anxious, both because she was her friend, and because he could be a royal pain.

"Fine. With who?" she asked.

Ron's face lit up. "Anyone as long as her nose is centered,"

Hermione pulled away from him and dragged herself into her dormitory, where she found Lavender looking at herself in the mirror.

She took a deep breath and got straight to the point. "Lavender, will you go to the masquerade with Ron?"

Lavender turned around to face Hermione. "What?"

Hermione hated to repeat herself, but she did. "Will you go to the masquerade with Ron?"

"Oh…" Lavender said, getting a bit red. "Well… ok,"

Hermione sighed with relief. Her match-making job was over! "Ok, thanks," she said, and went back into the common room. Ron had seated himself next to Harry, who was now reading a quidditch book.

"Ron, you'll go to the ball with Lavender," Hermione informed him.

"What?" Ron asked, his mouth hanging open.

Hermione had to repeat herself. Again. "You and Lavender will go to the ball together!" she said.

Harry gaped at her.

"Don't know how you do it," Ron said in amazement. "I took so long just to think about who to ask, and, in five minutes, you've found me a date!"

Hermione had to smile at that. "Well," she said. "You talk with Lavender about what time to pick her up and all those pre-masquerade arrangements. I'll go do my homework."

She turned around and left, leaving both Harry and Ron gaping after her, wondering just how she did it.

***

Hermione walked down the stairs, towards the Entrance Hall. Draco was already there, looking at her as she made her way towards him.

"Hi Draco!" she said cheerily.

"Hello Gran- Hermione," he drawled.

Hermione smiled as he said her name, and together they walked outside, towards their tree.

Draco had the urge to ask how she was doing, but he didn't, just stood in silence. Hermione hummed a bit until they sat under the tree, and he got Bluey out of his pocket.

She gasped.

"It…grew!"

And so Bluey had grown a considerable two inches.

"And look!" Hermione said, pointing. "There's a tiny black dot on his stomach!" she looked up at Draco. "He's growing fast! Soon we'll be able to tickle it and see what it turns into!"

Draco was a bit amused at her excitement. It was almost contagious.

Hermione wrote it down, and then looked at the lake. Her mouth dropped open.

"Draco, look!" she said, tugging at his sleeve and pointing at a big, white, beautiful ship that was at the lake.

"A ship," Draco stated.

"What…" but then Hermione remembered. "It must be the ship for the masquerade!"

"Dumbledore brought it a week and a half in advance," Draco said. "The house elves will check that it's presentable by then."

"It looks pretty presentable to me," Hermione, glad to be talking with Draco. "What can the elves do?"

"Put magic charms on it," Draco answered.

"Oh," Hermione said. "That's right. But why the elves?" She had stopped trying to get everyone to wear a S.P.E.W badge a long time ago, but she still strongly disagreed about house elves having to do everything around Hogwarts.

"Because," Draco drawled. "That's their job."

"But they don't even get paid!" Hermione insisted. She had gone over this a lot of times before, but she never got tired of arguing over it.

"Keep writing," Draco said.

Hermione did, since it was Draco who was talking to her. She didn't know Draco much, but she didn't want him to get mad at her. And he had sounded a bit annoyed. She wanted to get past all that coldness, not draw him away.

There was a bit of silence but, for the rest, that meeting was ok. Draco talked to her more than usual, and he seemed a bit more easy-going. She made jokes and, once, he almost smiled. His voice wasn't as cold anymore, and he didn't seem arrogant.

Success.

***

Four days later, Harry was frantically pacing around the Gryffindor common room. "One week," he said. "One week, and I still haven't asked Cho to the ball!"

Hermione was getting a parchment and quill, since she had to meet Draco again today.

"Harry," she said in a calming voice. "Don't worry! You still have seven days. Build up the courage and ask her tomorrow,"

Harry gave her a murderous look. "Build up the courage," he muttered. "Easy for you to say…"

She didn't hear the rest, because she went out the portrait hole. This time she was the one early, and Draco the one late.

They sat down under the tree and the usual routine began.

Draco had been thinking about Hermione these past four days. He didn't know why, but she was in his mind. Probably because she was the only one who listened to him, who made him want to talk, made him want to be nice. He didn't admit that, of course. He just didn't know why she was in his mind. But an unusual question had been bothering him: Was she going with anyone to the ball? Was she going with Potter? With Weasley? Perhaps with another Gryffindor boy? He didn't know why he should even care, but he did. Finally, glancing at her, he asked casually.

"Are you going to the masquerade?"

Hermione looked up at him, surprised.

He couldn't really read her face. There was a surprised feeling, and… a sad one? It was the only face he could really read, and he still had trouble with it.

"No," she answered in a normal voice. "Well… I don't know. I don't have anyone to go with, and I'm not sure if I should go alone." then she raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

He didn't have time to answer, because Pansy stopped right in front of them, her face as red as Ron's hair, her face screwed up in anger.

"I- I cannot believe you almost asked her to the ball!" she exclaimed.

Draco looked at Pansy blankly. She couldn't possibly think that he had just wanted to ask Hermione to the masquerade.

"Draco, forget her" she said, and she put on a sweet face. "Go to the masquerade with me,"

Draco looked as if he had been asked to hug Harry Potter.

Hermione looked away. She hated when Pansy came to ruin their little time together. She always made her uncomfortable, going after Draco.

"No," Draco answered, as if it was the most obvious answer to a question.

Pansy's eyes filled with tears. "Please, Draco!"

"No, Parkinson,"

Pansy started howling. "I can't believe this… you and I are," she sobbed. "Meant to be, Draco! Both our parents want us to grow up and follow the Dark Lord," she sobbed harder. "And here you are, spending your time with mudbloods!"

Hermione, who was playing around with a leaf, crumbled it. She was getting angry.

"Parkinson, we are not meant to be," Draco said.

Pansy cried harder. She opened her mouth to say something, but she hiccupped. Then, crying harder still, she ran away.

Hermione would've said "Poor Pansy," but she didn't. Before, she would've felt sorry for her whenever Draco was so mean to her. But not anymore. She found that it bothered her to see Pansy following Draco everywhere. And she had called her a mudblood again! She was angry. Very angry. But there was something Pansy said that bothered her.

"You're… going to become a Death Eater?" Hermione asked softly.

That took Draco by surprise an he didn't say anything. That question was very personal. He hated when someone asked him that. He hated when someone, like Pansy, stated that he would grow up to be one. But he didn't mind much when Hermione asked it. All his feelings seemed knotted down in his stomach.

"My father," he answered silently, aware of what he was about to say. "Wants me to be one. But… I don't really want to." he felt foolish, telling this to Hermione.

She stood in silence, watching him. "Oh," she answered. That was good, she thought. He didn't want Draco to be a Death Eater. "You don't have to, if you don't want to. I wouldn't like you to be one."

And again, that warm feeling at his chest. "My father has ways," Draco replied. "Of making people do what he wants."

"But he can't make you do that!" Hermione exclaimed. "That's cruel!"

Draco chuckled silently. "My father doesn't care about that. He just wants me to follow the Dark Lord. That's all that matters."

"But-"

"Keep writing," Draco said.

It made him feel good to know that Hermione cared. She had listened to him, and she had worried. She cared. That felt both weird and good.

They didn't talk for the rest of the meeting, but Hermione was happy. He had confided in her. He had opened up a bit of his mysterious part, the one no one knew about. And she was glad.

She was finding the way into Draco. She was finally seeing past that cold shield.

*******

Yep yep yep, like everyone pretty much guessed, Draco caught her :D such a gentleman…