Wednesday 7:30 PM

It was late enough in the evening the most of the students were eating dinner, and who would recognize the backs of a boy and a girl sitting down by the lake in the bad light? Together Draco and Hermione sat, arms around each other, gazing out at the lake, happy just to be in each other's presence.

"I should tell you about Sen," he said. Hermione shifted slightly but said nothing.

"My conscious is really killing me, I want you to know," Draco told her first. He moved his arm and scooted around so he was facing her instead of the lake. She glanced away from the lake to watch his face. She knew he'd been not saying something about Sen, and wasn't sure what it was, but knew no matter what, she still loved him.

"I never was attracted to Sen," he started explaining, "But she had a crush on me apparently. So, I guess I was giving the wrong signals or something, I really like her as a friend, she's a great person, you'll really like her, but getting to the point, she- we kissed. I thought you should know. She's the only person who knows that other than me. I love you though, don't forget that, please."

Hermione knew Draco expected anger, or simply cool mistrust, but instead Hermione smiled slightly, a tear trickling down her cheek and she leaned over pulling him close and whispered, "I love you too. I could never have a more truthful, trusting, respectful, loving- boyfriend," Hermione suddenly laughed softly then continued, "Boyfriend sounds weird, after all we went through, it sounds you're some guy I met at a dance."

Draco grinned and kissed her forehead softly, then the tip of her nose moving down to her mouth, pressing his lips against hers softly.

When they came apart he found himself breathless, his heart beating quickly. He found the smile, that was becoming familiar, come to his face as he stared into Hermione's eyes. Her face showed amusement, laughter, happiness, but behind them fear and hurt, telling him despite her outside appearance she wasn't over what had happened to her, and neither was he.

Draco scooted closer and wrapped his arms around her pulling her close in a comforting hug before whispering, "It'll be alright, we'll get through this together."

He heard a slight splash of the kids who were still swimming in the darkness, something that reassured him that they weren't all alone outside in the evening. He glanced at the forest feeling a chill of fear, the same feeling of being exposed creeping up on him. Draco saw Hermione glance over to the kids swimming on the dock then looked back at Draco, then her gaze too shifted towards the forest.

"They're all dead," he said, reading her thoughts, "There's no reason why anyone other than You-Know-Who would be after us."

"You said he was possessing people?" she asked and he nodded. "So he's loose in the school in the form of a soul?"

Again Draco nodded then added, "Possessed Ron once, first too I think. Though he's more after Harry then either of us." He paused then added, "I'm not sure that's a good thing though."

Hermione smiled softly then said, "Been talking to Harry at all? You used to be enemies. We used to be enemies."

Draco grinned then said, "A little, we have, differences. I hope no one over there realizes who we are."

"Would it be so bad if they did?" she asked.

"We'd start civil wars," he said.

Hermione frowned suddenly then said, "I really am starting to hate the whole house thing. I think teams are alright, but sorted by personality... it creates hatred over differences early in our lives."

Draco nodded, "I agree, but try telling that to the whole school. Since the hatreds have already formed, the older grades won't want to mix as much, which just confirms what you said. If anyone could find a way though, it'd be you, to get rid of the houses."

"With your help of course," she said smiling. Draco smiled back then started to stand up.

"Oh, and Sen knows about us, me and you. I'm not sure how she figured it out, she just kind of came into your room and I was watching you and she just blurted it out kind of," Draco explained.

"We should get back to the castle," Hermione told him and Draco gave her a hand. She took it and he pulled her up into his arms giving her a quick kiss before they started back for the castle.

Thursday 7:30 AM

Harry spent breakfast continuing to update Hermione on the going on's at the school. She wanted to know even the tiniest details, like how many games they'd won, and who was getting what kind of grades. He was happy to not have to worry about her getting better, ecstatic that she was.

Hermione did seem to not be talking about something, she told him, slowly, about all the things that had happened. She also told him that Draco had changed, that they'd gotten to know each other while stuck together. Harry wasn't sure about this though, Draco still took on the same appearances at some times, but other times seemed like a whole different person.

Ron had gone over to the Ravenclaw table to ask Sen some questions and hadn't come back, he glanced over and saw him talking animatedly to her. It felt almost strange to suddenly have Hermione back, for more than a year he'd been going to his classes without her, and hating every moment of it, then suddenly here she was, safe and whole. It had a almost dream-like quality to it, almost like going back in time. Except many things were different, Sen and Draco being the main ones.

"So, how have you been lately?" Hermione asked curiously, "I feel like I've been here the whole year with all that you've told me, but what about you?"

Harry glanced over at Ginny who was sitting with her friends and tried not to blush when he shrugged and said, "Not much. Been keeping up with our studies, homework is harder without you to explain things."

"Lazy bums," she said accusingly, "You and Ron always have been."

Harry grinned and pushed his bangs out of his eyes, taking a last bite of his scrambled eggs before shoving them away, full.

Hermione glanced at the clock in the great hall then made to stand up, "I should go get my books and doing some pre-class studying. Quiz today."

"Since when do you study right before class?" Harry asked, his turn to accuse her.

Hermione bit her lip, thinking, Since I've needed time to spend with Draco. She'd done all the studying possible the night before, but small lies didn't hurt now and then. Especially since she didn't think was ready to tell Harry, Ron, or anyone. Draco had told her Sen knew, though she wasn't sure how Sen could have guessed such a thing. Some people had the talent of seeing right into people, maybe Sen was one of them. She was nice enough.

A/N: Hey guys! I almost have a hundred reviews! Yay! I haven't been on my computer in ages, I was going to get this chapter up the day before yesterday, but so much going on! Freaking HSA's this week at school. Anyway, dedications to:

Princess Rinoa

SkittlesStar25

Dreammergurl2007

duochang97

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