A/N: Here's the next chapter as promised… Wow. I've finally updated on time… =) And this is where things start to get more interesting… Yup! Now friends, Ariel/Hermione and Draco's romance finally starts. Whohooo! =) Well, I won't keep you waiting any longer so I'll just keep my nonsensical babble till the very end of the chappie…

Enjoy! ///_^

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*It may happen sometimes that a long debate becomes the cause of a longer friendship. Commonly, those who dispute with one another at last agree. -- Saskya Pandita

* * * * * * * * *

Ginny

I couldn't bloody concentrate. Well, who possibly could in this dormitory-suddenly-turned-battlefield of unfaithful and insanely jealous lovers?

I stared helplessly at my homework, scattered all over my bed but still untouched, and cursed inwardly for the nth time. Since the Common Room was already filled with overly jubilant Gryffindors, who have been cheering all the way from the Quidditch field then from the Great Hall, I didn't even try to study in there. Come to think of it, I would rather surround myself with happy people than enraged and screaming ones.

"Will you stop saying that! I did not sleep with her! Can't you get that through your head?"

"Shut up, Dean! You are such a lying bastard! I saw you two with my own eyes!"

"Borrow Potter's glasses, then! Because whoever it was that you saw wasn't me!"

"Come on, Patty, stop this right now… Can't you two talk reasonably about this?"

"So, now you're on his side, Lavender! "

"I am not! I'm your bloody best friend, remember? It's just – "

Lavender's timid plea was cut short by another of Patty's incensed tirades about how she saw Dean and 'some damn Ravenclaw whore' near the Quidditch field last night in some indecent position.

I didn't dare approach any one of them, especially Patty who was already foaming at the mouth, because I knew that even uttering a single word to them would undoubtedly prove to be my undoing sooner or later. I twisted my hair in silent frustration and threw a glance at the bed next to mine. Hermione was sitting cross-legged, calmly reading a magazine of some sort and appeared not to be bothered at all by the fight, which was slowly intensifying before her. For an uptight Prefect, she seemed very forgiving and patient with Patty and Dean.

Crash! Now this is interesting… Patty, already hoarse and emptied of insults, had now resorted to throwing hexes at Dean. He had fortunately ducked at the very last second and an empty vase received the full blow.

"Damn it, Patty! Are you insane?"

"No. I'm just jealous," hissed Patty through gritted teeth and gripped her wand tighter. Lavender, wisely backing off, simply shook her head and stepped out of Patty's firing range.

I knew that this was going too far but I was still alarmed by seeing Patty's other side – the evil and dangerous one – to do anything. I looked at Hermione and was surprised that she was still absorbed in reading. Surely, the loud crash should've broken her concentration but there she was, unmoving and silently flipping pages.

Instead of shouting another curse, Patty merely pointed at the door and cried, "Get out! Just get the hell out, Thomas! I don't want to see your face again!" Dean glared intensely at his former girlfriend before silently obeying. The door closed with a bang and Lavender quickly rushed to comfort Patty, kneeled and whimpering.

Noticing that Hermione hadn't even looked up at Dean's departure, I finally approached her and said, "Hermione, what is up with you?" To my surprise, she didn't acknowledge my greeting and instead, casually flipped another page. "Hermione? Hermione, why aren't you looking at me? Hermione!" Annoyed, I finally pushed her roughly on the shoulder making her fall to her side.

"What the –? Ginny! Why did you do that?" Hermione promptly sat upright and faced me defiantly.

Finally. "Are you suddenly deaf, Hermione? Dean had just left after an hour long row with Patty and I've been saying your name for the last five minutes and you still – "

Hermione held up her hand and said, "I can't hear you. I'm in a Silencing Charm. Once Dean burst in here, I knew I had to use one." She took out her wand and whispered the counter spell. "There. What was it you were saying?"

"Never mind." I was feeling very annoyed and ashamed at the same time that I hadn't thought of using a spell to block out Patty's screams.

Glancing at my messy bed, Hermione smiled and said kindly, "Do you need help?"

"Oh. I don't but thanks. Now that the dormitory's back to normal, I can finally hear myself think." I paused and added in an undertone, "What about Patty and Dean? Will you take away points?"

Hermione looked wistfully at Patty, who was still violently shaking and replied, "I think I'll just talk to them. They didn't cause a public display down in the Common Room and they did stop arguing on their own, so I don't see why I should take any more points."

I nodded and plopped down in front of her. "What's that?"

"It's a Muggle magazine… a medical journal to be exact. It's my parents'. I seem to have packed it in my trunk by mistake." She politely handed it to me and smiled.

I thumbed through the pages, disturbed by the unmoving pictures. I decided against asking what a medical journal was, afraid that Hermione might launch into a full-blown explanation concerning more confusing Muggle terms. "How about that, Hermione? A Quidditch win and a school less of a Slytherin… Things can't get any better for us, right?"

Hermione's face contracted and shrugged, "I suppose so…"

I was starting to feel exuberant that I didn't notice her sudden change of attitude. "When Dumbledore told us that Malfoy wouldn't be coming back for this school year and probably even for the next one, I was so giddy with delight, I couldn't eat afterwards!"

"You weren't the only one," commented Hermione dryly. "Every Gryffindor was itching to celebrate but they couldn't do it in front of the professors, can they? They had to wait until they were inside their own place to gloat their double victory."

"Why are you that upset? Aren't you glad to finally get rid of Malfoy?"

She shifted uncomfortably and shrugged again. "It's just that we shouldn't – Oh, I don't know."

"Malfoy will not be returning to Hogwarts this year due to family concerns." I tapped my chin thoughtfully as I recalled Dumbledore's exact words. "Well, it's about time someone said something about that git. How long has it been? Two months?"

Hermione nodded and focused her gaze on her bed.

"Two months into the school year and still no Malfoy. Well, no one's going to miss him. Except for that Pansy. Bawling in the Great Hall like there was no tomorrow. Hah!" I clapped my hands and grinned at Hermione. "Now no one will ever taunt my family again…"

"I thought you liked him, Ginny."

"I do! But my silly crush for him never went anywhere beyond his appearance." I looked pointedly at Hermione. "He is good looking, you know. The most desired git in Hogwarts… Those eyes, the hair, his perfect body…his I-don't-give-a-damn act… Every girl just melts in front of him. Well, except you."

Hermione smilingly shook her head and turned back to her magazine, looking a bit flushed.

With a tired sigh, I returned to my own bed and plopped down, reaching for my thick Defense against the Dark Arts book. After about insane two hours of essays, notes and charts, I only had Herbology to deal with. I bit my lip in dismay since I was having a hard time tackling the newest lesson and our assignment was focused mainly on that. I turned to my left, hoping to take Hermione's earlier offer to help me, but to my surprise, she wasn't there. I was too engrossed that I didn't even hear her leave. Her bed was completely empty, save for the medical magazine lying innocently open. It was if the exposed page caused Hermione to suddenly leave. Curiosity got the better of me and I approached her bed to see what was printed on it. I couldn't see what made her leave, however, since there was only a photo of a man and his dog and the article's title that stood out in bold letters: To See Again.

* * * * * * * * *

Professor McGonagall

"A dog, Miss Granger?" My incredulous voice bounced off the walls of the empty Transfiguration classroom, producing an echoing effect.

Hermione smiled gravely and said, "I know it sounds peculiar, Professor. But blind Muggles have used dogs to help them live a life as normal as it possibly can be. They can easily provide the assistance that we can't."

"And you believe that Malfoy needs one?"

"Yes." Hermione turned towards the window and continued in a softer tone, "I have been teaching him for two months now and in that time, I've seen his loneliness and his dire need for a companion. I can't be with him always, Professor, but I just can't bear the thought of him in that state and – " She suddenly broke off and reddened as she realized what her final words were.

My lips threatened to break into an amused smile but I quickly overcame it with another stern question. "And where do you intend to find such a dog?"

"My parents know someone who breeds guide dogs and in fact, they have already written back that they can already get a dog in about three to four days. I'll just tell them to give it to someone – Hagrid perhaps – in the Leaky Cauldron." Hermione produced a rolled parchment and placed it on my desk. "But only if you and Professor Dumbledore approve, of course…"

I sighed tiredly and after reading the letter, asked, "Suppose we grant you permission, Hermione. Who will take care of the dog? Surely, you don't expect –"

"Everything from the food to the bed can be taken care of Draco's house elf, Professor. Walking it every night will also give Draco a chance to freely roam around the castle whenever he chooses and with a lesser risk of being seen. Believe me, Professor, I've done a terrible job of looking out for students." Hermione gave a small smile after finishing her explanation and looked imploringly at me.

It was at this point that I was slowly beginning to favor this suggestion of hers. In fact, I was surprised at first that she would concern herself with matters such as this to aid someone she openly disliked so much. Perhaps this tutoring business has not been only been beneficial in the academic arena but in others as well.

But I knew that what Hermione had suggested shouldn't be taken lightly. We would be responsible for whatever harm the dog may bring to Draco and with Lucuis as his father, certain precautions must be observed. "Have you forgotten Malfoy's parents, Miss Granger? They also have to be asked for permission. The final word in fact, lies in them." I started gathering the scattered parchments on my table and was about to stand up to leave when Hermione quickly replied, "But I do have their permission, Professor. I wrote to them yesterday and I just received a reply at breakfast."

Shaking my head in admiration for her determination, I took the parchment in her outstretched hand and settled back in my chair.

Narcissa had written in behalf of her husband, who was currently away, and gave her permission. She gave explicit instructions, however, in assuring Draco's safety and reminded Hermione that she was responsible for whatever will happen to her son. But she ended the letter on a cheerful note and expressed her gratitude once again for our effort and assistance.

"Well," I exclaimed as I slipped the folded parchment inside my robes, alongside the earlier letter. "It seems that you have taken care of everything, Hermione. I'll send for you once I get the Headmaster's approval." I threw an encouraging smile at her and quickly left the classroom but not without getting a glimpse at her relieved and beaming face.

* * * * * * * * *

Hermione

"Thanks for bringing him here, Hagrid."

"I didn't do much. Jus' picked him up at the pub like yeh asked me too. An' I needed somethin' down in Diagon Alley so don' yeh worry about me goin' all the way there jus' to pick him up." He paused then added hesitatingly, "Yeh still givin' him to that Malfoy?"

I smiled knowingly as Hagrid turned a pleading face to mine while longingly patting the black Labrador Retriever. "But you've already got Fang."

Hagrid sniffed as he handed the dog's leash over to me and said, "Fang needs company an' yeh don' know whether that boy would take care o' him like I would."

The dog barked and wagged his tail as if in agreement but I stood my ground. I had a certain feeling that Malfoy would cherish this dog more than anything and care for it like no one else can, even Hagrid. I shrugged and said, "Well, I'd better take him to Draco right away before the students come back from Hogsmeade. Thanks again, Hagrid." I gently tugged at the leather leash and lead the dog away from the hut. Hagrid gave a cheery wave and went inside.

I had a somewhat difficult time lugging the dog towards Draco's room since he insisted on sniffing everything that we passed by. From doors to statues, he would stop and quickly give a little whiff before allowing himself to be pulled again. I knew that he was dutifully taking note of his surroundings but I couldn't stop myself from giving him a small complaint from time to time.

When we finally arrived before Draco's grand door, I knelt down in front of him and rubbed his sleek and warm body while begging him to behave when I gave him to Draco. He licked my face and started vigorously wagging his tail in response and scratched the door, clearly eager to meet his new owner. I sighed and knocked, keeping a tight hold on the leash since the dog was slowly begging to get more impatient.

Draco's house-elf cautiously opened the door and seeing me, announced, "Master! Tutor is – " It didn't get to finish it sentence when the dog suddenly bounded on top of him and started sniffing the extremely terrified house-elf. "Master! Eeeeeek! Master!"

"Don't! Get off him!" I tried to pull him away but he wouldn't budge and instead started licking and slobbering all over the cowering house-elf. "Get off – "

"Just what the hell is going on here?"

Just when I thought it couldn't get worse, it inevitably did. Draco suddenly appeared from the bathroom in the middle of the commotion with only a towel hastily drawn around his waist. As if distracted by Draco's arrival, the dog calmly stepped over the house-elf and stood patiently beside me.

"Cicely? Why are you here?" Draco annoyingly flicked his wet hair away from his face and gave an involuntary shiver.

I didn't get a chance to explain since the dog suddenly gave a loud but friendly bark to Draco's immense surprise. "What is a dog doing in here? Start explaining, Ariel Cicely!"

I eyed the dog warily and he turned away from me guiltily, his head and tail suddenly drooping. "Don't you want to get dressed first, Draco? Your needed explanation is a long one." I gazed at his exposed chest, which heaved with every deep breath. This was the first time that I had seen him without as much as a shirt on and I found myself liking what I saw. Ginny's right. Draco does have a perfect body and here I am to my utter embarrassment, unable to take my eyes off it.

Draco's eyes narrowed as he growled, "Fine. Just don't let that destroy anything." He marched back into the bathroom and emerged a few minutes later fully dressed. He crossed his arms and quickly said, "Start explaining."

"I've brought your companion, Draco." I had hoped to introduce the dog in a better manner but given the present situation, I knew that dawdling would only irritate Draco further.

A scornful laugh escaped from his thin lips. "A dog, Cicely? What do you expect that to do for me? Roll over and fetch? A companion, indeed… I wanted a person, Cicely and not a mere pet."

I already knew that Draco would be skeptical, if not insulting, when I would introduce the dog to him but I wasn't easily discouraged. Didn't he do the same thing to me two months ago? I gritted my teeth and tried to explain in the most patient tone I could muster. "Before you throw him out, listen to what I have to say. He is not as useless as you think. He's trained to aid people like you…" I hesitated continuing, knowing that Draco was still sensitive about his being blind even though he didn't express it openly anymore.

"Blind people, you mean? Well, that's one I've never heard before."

"We – I mean, Muggles have used this method – "

Draco interrupted me coldly and sneered. "I will not bring myself down to that level. Don't expect me to adopt some Mudblood practice in my life, Cicely. I thought you already knew that."

"That's it? You're going to let your pathetic pride get in the way of improving your life? I did not bring him all the way here just to let you bask in all your prejudicial glory. He can help you, whether or not you want to." I was tired to reason with him anymore; first me then the dog. I hadn't heard a single Muggle slur from him for the past few weeks but it all came back in one big blow.

His forehead wrinkled as his eyes further narrowed but he didn't say anything back.

"Please, for once, accept things for the way they are and not for the way you want them to be." I had spoken so quietly that I wasn't sure if he had heard but when I looked at him, his silver eyes were wide with emotion.

As if on cue, the Labrador walked away from my weak grasp and towards his unwilling companion. Draco flinched when his clenched fists were nudged by the dog's nose then tentatively licked. But he knelt down and smiled thinly as he scratched behind the Labrador's velvety ears.

"What about my parents?" Draco's voice came out muffled, his face buried in the dog's neck.

"They've given their permission." I didn't mention that his mother had spoken in his father's behalf, fearing that Draco would reconsider relenting to the dog's companionship.

"Did they? Father's getting pretty considerate."

"Right…" I laughed nervously then cleared my throat. "His name is Ares by the way."

"Ares? I hate it."

"Well, live with it. The dog was already called that from the day it was born. He won't answer to anything else." I smiled in amusement at Draco's newfound childlike behavior. I knelt beside them and placed the leash on Draco's hands. "I'll return later tonight. We can take Ares around the grounds to make the both of you accustomed to walking with one another."

"I still think that he shouldn't be my companion."

I found myself finding that hard to believe since he was still petting Ares with a bemused smile on his relaxed face. "Whatever you say, Draco. Whatever you say…"

* * * * * * * * *

Draco

When Ariel finally closed the door behind her, I stopped petting Ares and grumbled into his ears, "What am I going to do with you?" I still wasn't fully convinced that he could function as well as a human companion. Clearly, those Mudbloods had stretched their menial intelligence to the limit if they had to adapt to using pets as their guides.

Ares gave a small growl as if he knew that I was presently insulting his former masters but I just scowled and said, "You think you're so good, eh? Care to demonstrate your guiding abilities?" I stood up and gave a hard tug on the leash. "Strut your stuff, boy."

But Ares silently remained still; his heavy panting rose above the soft whimpering of the Giles, the house elf. Irritated, I pointed my finger at Giles and shouted, "You! Stop your whining and get me my lunch." I ignored another of Ares' reprimanding snarl and pulled the leash.

"What are you waiting for?" I sighed and started walking towards the bed. Feeling Ares following a little behind me, I quickened my pace in order to see if he would keep up. He did but after a few paces, he stopped so suddenly that I was sharply pulled back. "What the – " Stretching my hand in front of me, it was only then I realized that the study table was directly in front of me. The stupid dog had actually saved me from getting another bruise in my battered thighs.

"All right. You proved your point." Ares barked cheerfully and licked my hand.

Carefully turning around the table, I arrived at my bed without any more mishaps and contentedly sat myself down. Eating from the tray that Giles had prepared, I passed a few slices of meat to Ares in between bites. As I drank from my goblet, my thoughts drifted to Ariel Cicely and how she had brought about such a peculiar answer to my need of a companion. I had only half-heartedly agreed to keep the dog since she sounded near tears when she was convincing me. I shook my head in mingled admiration and annoyance as I took another bite out of my sandwich. That Cicely. What will she possibly think of next?

As nightfall steadily came, I tried my best not to nod off while waiting for Ariel to come. We had agreed that she would come back for me at midnight since we didn't want to meet any student while walking Ares around the grounds. Meanwhile, Ares kept nudging my shoulder in an attempt to keep me wide-awake.

Finally, Ariel knocked on the door and quickly walked in. Ares bounded up to her and her melodious giggles filled my seemingly empty room. "I hope Draco here hadn't mistreated you while I was gone."

I stood up in defiance and raised an eyebrow. "With you around, I know I won't. I still want to breathe my life away, if you don't mind."

"Sure, Draco. I don't think killing you out of dire exasperation is on top of my list right now. Look, why don't you wait for me at the bottom of the stairs while I explain to Giles how to take care of your dog."

I shrugged indifferently and lead Ares towards the door and down the wooden staircase. After waiting for several minutes, I grew impatient staying all alone in the damp room that I finally threw open the metal door and stepped outside. I turned my head from one side to the other, listening for the sound of footsteps and after hearing none, calmly started walking away from the door. But after a few moments, Ares began to whine and started to pull me back in the room with his paws softly pounding on the floor.

"What is it? No one's here, you paranoid mutt! No footsteps, no voices, no – "

Then suddenly Peeve's voice came floating down the hallway. "Little onesies, little twosies, little threesies…"

Suppressing a gasp, I started walking frantically backwards and feeling the door, practically jumped inside and smashed into Ariel, who had conveniently showed up.

"Peeves… Ares knew… Didn't think…" Why does someone have to show up every time I got the nerve to go outside? Was this fate's twisted way of playing with me?

"Well, I won't say I told you so but I will. Ares can guide you in a way nobody else can, Draco. You've just seen proof of that." Ariel patted my hand sympathetically and pushed the door wide open. "I think the coast's clear now…"

Ares seemed to agree and finally let himself be pulled into the hallway. I couldn't bring myself to say it but now I knew that Ariel was right all along about the dog's skills. Leisurely walking out of the castle and onto the grounds, Ares confidently guided me around bushes, statues and trees. Meanwhile, Ariel mutely walked beside me, only muttering a word or two to Ares and ignoring me completely.

As we rounded a bend, a searing pain suddenly ripped through my insides and even though I didn't fall down like the last time, my breathing became haggard and I couldn't take another step because of the pain.

"Come on, Draco. There's a bench here…" Suddenly alert, Ariel calmly led me towards a nearby bench and helped me sit down. Ares gave a concerned bark and laid his head on my lap.

"I'm all right. It'll go away…" I hissed through gritted teeth and tried to distract myself from the pain by scratching Ares behind the ears.

Instead of interfering like she did during our second meeting, Ariel simply sat herself down beside me and calmly replied, "I know… This happened before. And, even though I'm worried to death, I'm not going to nag you about seeing Madame Pomfrey anymore."

Not knowing whether to believe what I had just heard, I turned incredulously at her and quietly commented, "You've changed, Cicely. Well, there was this row about Ares earlier but you've changed somehow…" Slowly, the pain started to go away and I could breathe normally once again.

Ariel didn't say anything and I only felt her hand patting Ares' head.

Sighing in indignation, I turned my face upwards and said, "What did the school say when Dumbledore announced that I wouldn't go back?"

"Well, Pansy cried – "

"I don't care about her; what about the others? They rejoiced didn't they?" We both knew that I was referring about her fellow Gryffindors.

An uncomfortable silence followed and was only broken by Ares' mournful whine. After a few moments, Ariel finally answered in a small voice, "They did. But I couldn't… "

"And why couldn't you?" I turned my face towards her and stared directly ahead.

"Because I know the truth…" Her voice had dropped down to a bare whisper that I had to lean closer to her to catch the words.

To tell you frankly, I felt somewhat flattered that she would think of me that way but I knew that I couldn't let her sympathize with me since it would only weaken my resolve. "Don't feel sorry for me, Ariel. Because I don't." My hand suddenly came across hers on Ares' head and I squeezed gently it before quickly letting go.

Ariel seemed startled at the action since she drew a sharp breath and placed her hand back to her lap. "Don't you want to head back? It's getting colder by the minute." Without waiting for my answer, she quickly stood up and walked away from the bench.

Annoyed at her change of attitude, I turned at Ares and muttered, "Over-sensitive, that's what she is…"

Ares gave a woeful bark and after waiting for me to stand up, trotted obediently beside me as we tried to catch up with Ariel.

* * * * * * * * *

Hermione

My eyes were watering, my head was slightly reeling, my whole body was aching and I couldn't stop yawning – all effects of Neville's latest mishap in Herbology. Tasked to be his most unfortunate partner, I was the nearest witness to his hazardous blunder. But since Professor Sprout assured the both of us that the effects were only temporary and nothing else more serious or deadly will occur, I dutifully trooped to Draco at the end of the day without any worry at all. It proved to be a waste of time since I couldn't concentrate at all, feeling extremely tired and dreamy both at the same time.

"Are you all right, Cicely? Normally I'm the one who's lounging around but now you can't even finish a sentence without yawning." Draco's concerned voice slowly entered my muddled brain and prompted me to suddenly sit up straight and talk in a more energetic tone.

"It's nothing. My partner and I just had a little accident in Herbology. What I'm feeling right now is just the aftereffect." I stifled a yawn and desperately tried my best to stay awake.

"And Longbottom was your partner," mused Draco as he gently tapped his quill against my hand.

"Uh-huh..." My vision was starting to blur but I could still fight the urge to close my eyes altogether.

Draco huffed then softly said, "Look. I think you really need some rest. We can cover the remaining topics tomorrow." He pushed his chair away, a gesture saying that I shouldn't dare contradict him or else.

I would have normally have backed off, knowing how temperamental he can get but I wasn't actually thinking straight during those times. "But Draco, I won't be able to come here tomorrow…" I yawned again and rested my weary head on my hands.

Surprisingly, he didn't shout back but instead, only repeated himself more firmly. "I don't care, Cicely. You must rest, no matter what you say. " He slowly got up and walked around the table. He then took my hands and without any difficulty, pulled me up to my feet. "And don't come back until you're well, Cicely. Got that?"

I mutely nodded and yawned once more. Then suddenly, my legs gave way and my head reeled more intensely than before; I grabbed Draco's robes on reflex and leaned my head wearily on his chest. If I were thinking clearly I would have instantly jumped back in panic but since I wasn't, I did the exact opposite; I just calmly stood there, leaning against Draco and listening to his pounding heartbeat like it was absolutely nothing at all.

After a few moments, Draco finally took me by the shoulders and slowly stepped back. "Ariel – I – Look, you should really be in bed now," said Draco coldly as he shook me but the dreamy state I was still in just wouldn't go away.

"Uh-huh." I bobbed my head and turned towards the door. I heard Draco breathe a sigh of relief as I started walking obediently across the room. But then I suddenly tripped over Ares, who was sleeping innocently at the foot of the bed, and crashed to the floor with a loud thump. He barked in surprise and Draco walked towards me as fast as he could. I quickly stood up once again, feeling very foolish and still extremely tired. After reassuring Draco that I was fine, I left his room and started staggering back to the Common Room while supporting myself by leaning against the walls.

Once inside the Common Room, I felt the last ounce of my energy ebb away and as a result, I could only sit myself in an armchair instead of reaching the comfort of the dormitory. In no time at all, I fell asleep and was only awakened by Ginny's concerned and accusing voice.

"What is she doing here? Shouldn't she be in bed, getting some rest?"

"Well, she ran off after Herbology to god-knows-where that we didn't have the chance to bring her to her room," retorted Ron in mild irritation while tenderly caressing my clammy cheeks.

My eyes fluttered open and I forced myself to smile at them, hoping that they wouldn't ask where I went in this condition. "Ron…"

"Didn't you sleep for at least six hours straight like Professor Sprout said? You still look terrible," interjected Harry, amusement and concern reflected in his eyes.

"Did she say that? I don't remember… I was too worried since I was already late – Why are you looking at me like that? What's wrong?" I looked at each of them in confusion; their surprised stares sent a bolt of dread through my sore body.

"Your voice – " Ginny turned to Ron and Harry for confirmation and then back at me. "It's different… It's entirely different."

My hand quickly reached for my throat as my still muddled mind screamed, "Damn it! I forgot to drink the antidote! I'm still using my Ariel voice…" I frantically reached inside my robes to get the vial but to my utter horror, it wasn't there. It was then I remembered that I had tripped in Draco's room, which possibly caused the vial to fall out. I simply had to get it back as soon as possible since it contained the last of the antidote and asking Professor Snape to give me more on such short notice is absolutely out of the question. Besides, I couldn't put it off for tomorrow since the Prefects have an early morning meeting planned and I absolutely didn't want to show up with an entirely different voice.

I let out a groan since my eyes were still closing in drowsiness; I was obviously in no state to go all the way back to Draco. "It's – because –"

Harry was eyeing me with more suspicion than the others but he simply said, "It must be another effect of that Poppyruinus plant that Neville had messed around with."

I gazed gratefully at him but feeling that I might give more away, I quickly dropped my head down and said, "Harry's right. Now, I'm going straight to bed and hopefully sleep all of these away..." I ended with another huge yawn and shakily stood up. I ignored Ron's pleas to bring me to Madame Pomfrey right away and assured him that I would be all right as long as I stayed in bed. Reluctantly, Ron kissed me goodnight and Ginny accompanied me up to the dormitory while Harry just stood silently in front of the fireplace.

"'Night 'Mione. We'll bring you to Madame Pomfrey tomorrow morning, all right?"

I was slowly beginning to feel dreamy once again and I simply smiled in response as the urgent task of finding the vial slowly slipped from my mind and sleep finally provided temporary comfort.

* * * * * * * * *

Hermione

I jolted out of my shallow sleep when my partially rested mind suddenly remembered the missing vial. Lying impatiently in my bed, I waited until the dormitory was completely silent except for Lavender's snores and Ginny's incoherent mumbling before tiptoeing out. Knowing that I had to act fast since I was slowly beginning to get exhausted again, I quickly crept into the empty Common Room and out into the hallway without even pausing to throw a robe around my nightgown. After cautiously making my way towards Draco's room, I took out the key I had grabbed from my school robes, and inserted it into the lock. Gingerly pushing the door open, I stepped inside and began my frantic search for the vial.

Remembering that I had fallen near the bed, I started there and to my bewilderment, found Draco lying on his side and sleeping on the floor with Ares at his feet. While wondering why the hell would Draco ever prefer a carpeted floor to a king sized bed as a place to sleep on, I slowly knelt beside the bed and felt under it for the vial. No such luck. I walked to the other side of the bed and looked under it again and this time, a small sparkle caught my eye. Exuberant that I had finally found the bloody vial, I started to reach for it but it was still too far. Having left my wand back in the dormitory, I could only get it by reaching for it in through the far right side of the bed, the place where Draco had conveniently laid himself down.

I bit my lip in annoyance as my vision slowly started to get blurry and my mind entered into a dreamy state once again. Desperate to get the vial before I would collapse with sleepiness and fatigue, I hastily crawled towards Draco, lay down beside him and as I turned my face away from his own, reached with all my might for the antidote. However as soon as I retrieved the vial, Draco suddenly gave a slight movement and before I knew it, I was wrapped in his arms; his head on top of mine and my face buried in his robes. I may not have moved an inch when Draco hugged me but inside, my mind was screaming bloody murder. I would have tried to wiggle out of his tight grasp but my strength had somehow drained from me again and I knew that I would have to wait until he would loosen his hold before attempting to escape. From his soft snores, I knew that he was still in a deep sleep and didn't absolutely have any idea about our awkward position.

Feeling immensely relieved, I yawned and fought the irresistible urge to sleep with my head on his chest. But the effects of the Poppyruinus plant slowly returned in full force and I had no other choice but to close my eyes and spend the rest of the night in Draco's arms.

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Draco

That's odd. I'm hugging someone. I do remember lying down on the floor in exhaustion with Ares at my feet and dozing off afterwards but certainly not in someone else's company. As the sunlight slowly streamed through the window, alarm and suspicion rang throughout my mind, making me more awake than ever. I knew that I was a heavy sleeper but to have slept the night away tightly holding someone was a newly accomplished feat. There was only one person who could have entered my room and the fact of waking up right next to her made me terribly uncomfortable and giddy at the same time.

With a cry of surprise, I quickly removed my arms around her, frantically pushed her away and sat up, waiting for her to wake up and explain her presence.

My rough push somehow did it and a sleepy moan greeted me as I waited with bated breath. "Morning, Ginny…"

Hearing her melodious voice suddenly brought about a sensation of mixed emotions running through my tense body. "Cicely! What the hell were you doing here last night? And in my – my – " I just couldn't bring myself to admit that we were together in such a position for such a long time without even my utter knowledge.

A terrified gasp escaped from her lips and she cried out, "Don't tell me I feel asleep in your arms! And only in my – my nightgown!"

"Well, I won't tell you exactly that but I 'm telling you this: Imagine my surprise when I woke up holding someone… who happened to be you." For some reason, I felt uneasy talking to Ariel even though nothing serious happened. It was a simple hug, prolonged by hours of sleep and exhaustion. Nothing more. So why the hell was I feeling so worked up?

"Look, Draco. I'm terribly sorry. I was looking for something and I was still under the effects of the Poppyruinus' poison and I guess, I just couldn't fight it…" She let out an exasperated sigh and laughed nervously.

Ares suddenly growled at us for waking him up at such an early hour and trotted to another side of the room to go back to sleep. I shifted my attention back to Ariel and promptly asked, "What was it that you were looking for that you couldn't wait until morning to get?" From what she had explained earlier, she was still weak when she came back here last night.

"It's – nothing. I left my – my –wand." She coughed and started to back away form me.

"Are you all right, now?" I didn't want her to suddenly fall over and sleep right in the middle of the hallway still in her nightgown.

"A bit. Part of the cure is to sleep for six hours straight. But I still have to get to Madame Pomfrey before – Oh, no… I'm going to be late for the meeting."

"What meeting?" I absolutely hate it when she suddenly flew off while we were still talking.

Ariel quickly stood up and said, "A very important meeting. I'm really sorry, Draco. I really didn't mean to spend the night with you –" Another nervous laugh then a last flurry of words. "Don't dwell on it, all right? It was nothing, really." The door quickly opened and closed, leaving me with my mind still reeling from what had just happened.

Kneeling all alone on the floor, I slowly encircled my arms around the air, picturing how it was like to hold her. Before I panicked and pushed her away, I felt like I didn't want to let go; in fact, I woke up feeling more relaxed than ever before. Wait. What am I thinking? That I like the idea of spending the night holding Ariel in my arms? I vehemently chided myself for wanting to think that way but somehow the warm feeling inside me won't go away.

Shaking my head to clear those troublesome thoughts, I couldn't help but smile as Ariel's shrill voice lingered in my mind. Spending the night together in my arms may not have been all that pleasant for her but for me it was… How shall I put it? It was… surreal. Surreal but nice.

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A/N: Anyone who could tell me from which movie I got the last line? The 'surreal but nice' bit… =)

Well, did ya enjoy it? Did ya?!?! I do hope the romantic events were enough for this chapter but still kept you asking for more… =) The next chappie will be basically all Ariel/Draco fluff so I need your ideas or suggestions on how to make it work. Talk to me, people! *Review cough Review* Send anything romantic enough that can be used in the story – more walks in the moonlight or surprises for Ariel or whatever!

Oh, yeah. I received my first serious flames/critiques… *shrugs* This just goes to prove that I can't please everybody. But I also know that I don't have to live by everyone's standards…

And don't send me a review telling me how a dog does not fit in the plot and all that. I did not write all of these just to let any of you pop a vein over it. =)

I think that's it. Let's see if you can push the number of reviews to 240… *hint wink hint* I'm already grateful that you've read my story but it would be such a blessing if you left a review, no matter how short it is. ///_^