Hiya! I'm so sorry it took me so long to get this chapter out! I've been swamped with school and Winterguard. Plus, I wasn't too happy with this chapter when I originally wrote it, so I had to go back and start over again. Hm, what else....oh yeah! plastic, I'm so sorry I didn't email you this chapter before I got it out! I know you're my beta and all, but I'm grounded at the moment and I'm not supposed to be getting on the computer in the first place. I have to be very cautious when posting this too, or I'll get into even more trouble. Please don't be mad! =) I promise I'll send chapter seven to you the second I get it out!!!!

Thanks to Sharon, Sam, pinkchiclet, plastic, alba, gabbygoose, SnOwAnGeL, Ellie, Xirleb70, Anarchy Star, Yaika, TriGemini, Jane, and bassoon1_hotb51 for reviewing!!!! And if I missed anyone, I'm sorry!!! So thanks if I forgot you! =) I'm sorry y'all, I had to be "very very sneaky" when I got the names of these reviewers, and I could have very well missed some of you.

Chapter 6:

Hermione awoke in her bed, the covers up around her neck, the golden light of the sun seeping in through the windows reflecting off of the chandelier making it look like millions of diamonds hung from the ceiling. She sat up and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes, then stopped suddenly when she realized that she should be outside in the rose garden with Draco instead of her bedroom.

Highly confused, she got up and headed to the shower hoping to wash off the memories of the previous night. A short while later she straightening up her room wearing snug-fitting blue jean capris that fringed at the ends and down the sides, and a cute bright blue shirt with three monkeys on the front that said "See no evil, Speak no evil, Hear no evil". Seeing that her room was fit to leave, she ventured out of her room. When she was out into the hall, for some strange reason she was drawn to going to Draco's room. That was the only part of the house she had never been in yet, and she figured he'd probably know how she got to her bed last night.

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Draco was lying on his back on his bed, lost deep in his thoughts. His mother had found him and Hermione the night before in the honeysuckle bush, and told him that it was safe to go back into the castle. Lucius was fast asleep, and having a strong love for her son, she felt that he shouldn't have to sleep outside on the hard ground. He helped her take Hermione to her room and then went to his own, only to find himself sleeping uneasily.

Now he was thinking about her. He couldn't stop. It amazed him to no extent that she had helped him last night. She actually stepped in front of him and faced his father, arguing with him and everything. 'That Gryffindor courage sure comes in handy,' he mused.

But where did they stand now? Would things return to normal, him making fun of her and them being hated enemies? 'I hope not,' he thought. He needed to talk to her, to figure everything out. He couldn't believe that he actually liked hanging out with one of Harry Potter's best friends. 'What is the world coming to?' A second later he heard his door open, and the head of a beautiful brown haired witch poked out from behind the door.

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"Draco?" Hermione looked in to find Draco lying on his bed, his head turned towards her.

He sat up quickly and walked over to the door.

"Um, hi. Come in." He motioned for her to come in.

Hermione walked in and shut the door behind him. She took a minute to look around his room. His bed was a chestnut sleigh bed with a black sheets and a matching comforter. He too had a chandelier in his room, along with a fireplace and a huge window. She looked down at his desk and found a picture of the Slytherin quidditch team to find them all sneering and whispering to each other, Marcus Flint looking the most menacing. 'Wow,' she thought to herself. 'He really does look rather troll-like.'

Draco cleared his throat and Hermione's head snapped up at the sound of his voice. "Sorry, I was just looking around. I've never been in here before."

"It's okay," he replied. They stood together in silence before Hermione spoke up.

"How did I get back into my room last night?"

"Oh, my mom found us out in her garden. She woke me up and then had me help take you to your room."

"Oh."

Five more minutes of silence followed, before Draco took his turn and spoke up.

"Thank you, for last night."

Hermione smiled warmly. "Don't mention it."

"No, seriously, thank you so much for helping me. I don't know what would have happened to me if you didn't."

Hermione walked over to Draco's bed, and sat down indian-style. Oddly enough, she was beginning to feel more comfortable around him now. "Does he do that often?"

Draco noticed how she causually went and sat on his bed. His heart lifted slightly, and he carried on the conversation. "Beat me, or use the Cruciatus curse?"

"Both."

"Pretty often. He doesn't always use the curse, only when he's really pissed," he replied joining Hermione on the bed.

"But why?"

"I don't know. I've always known my father to be like that. He loves to make others insignificant. Its just...him."

Hermione looked down in her lap. "I'm sorry you had to grow up like that."

Draco shrugged. "It's not your fault."

More silence followed Draco's last comment, before he finally asked the question he had been thinking about earlier.

"Hermione?"

She looked up into his eyes. "Yes?"

"Are we...um...do you think we could be friends?"

Hermione was shocked. This was the last thing she expected out of Draco's mouth. Then again, she did just have a decent conversation with him, and he was being really polite.

"Actually, I think we could."

Draco smiled. "Good. But, only until school starts up again. I mean, what would people think if they saw us hanging out together? I'm sure your boyfriend and his dog would have heart attacks."

"Hey! Be nice!"

"Sorry, habit."

"It's okay, but if we're going to be friends then you have to learn to respect my friends too."

"Same goes for you. Crabbe and Goyle really aren't all that daft as they're put out to be."

Hermione folded her arms across her chest and stared at Draco giving him an 'I don't believe you" look.

Draco gave in. "All right, all right. They really aren't that bad though."

"Whatever you say." She smiled. "But yeah, I agree, only until school starts."

"Then everything's back to normal. Deal?" Draco held out his hand.

"Deal," replied Hermione while shaking Draco's.

"Draco?"

"Yeah?"

"I almost forgot to tell you until you mentioned Harry and Ron, but I'm supposed to meet them in Diagon Alley on Friday."

Draco's face turned grim.

"You're kidding."

"Nope, I have to be there by noon. You're welcome to come along obviously, but we can't hang around each other because they'll freak. Especially Harry."

"But making scarhead freak is so much fun."

"Draco," Hermione warned.

"Sorry. Okay, okay. I'll just have to let mum know that we're going on Friday."

"Okay. Oh, and if you let anything slip, anything, I will have your head."

"Ooh, touchy touchy."

"I'm serious."

"Fine. Now leave before I change my mind."

"Why?"

"Because I have to shower, and I really don't care to have you watch me even though my body is simply impossible to resist," said Draco, a smirk playing on his lips.

Hermione laughed. 'Wow, he really isn't all that bad once he actually starts being nice,' she thought. She got up to leave. "Hurry up so we can do something, I'm getting kind of bored."

"Okay. 'Bye," said Draco while walking to the bathroom.

"'Bye," replied Hermione.

She walked back into her room and flopped onto her bed, delighted by the day's events so far.

So what did y'all think? Sorry about this chapter being so short. I know that you still haven't learned much more about the "elements" and whatnot, but I PROMISE you will soon. In the next chapter they're going to Diagon Alley, so that should be fun, and Hermione will begin to find out all about her parent's "little" secret. *grins evilly* Until then! =)