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Promises

"What the hell are you two doing?" Ron asked icily.

Hermione stared at him, utterly shocked. She was unable to react. Next to her, Draco swore silently.

"Ron, I... I can explain this…" Hermione said, looking uncomfortable with the situation.

"Really? Well, I'm just dying to hear that explanation," Ron hissed.

"I… we…" Hermine stuttered, unable to find her voice. So Draco decided to save her from making a fool of herself.

"Listen, Wea… Ron. This is between Mia and I," He said, gesturing between Hermione and himself. "It has absolutely nothing to do with you, understand?"

Ron's face turned red with fury at Draco's words.

"Mia?" Ron said in disbelief. "You already have a nickname for her? What's yours, Drakie-Poo?"

Both boys eyed each other angrily.

"Fuck, Hermione!" Ron yelled, his voice on the verge of cracking. "Malfoy, of all people. Why?" It was a miracle that Madam Pince hadn't thrown them out already.

Ron then went about trying to calm himself down, because he knew that if he didn't he would rip Malfoy's throat out. "How long has this been going on, Hermione?"he asked in an unusually cold voice.

"Nearly two weeks," Hermione said tonelessly.

"Were you ever going to tell Harry and I about this?" Ron asked, watching her every move with a calculating look.

Hermione looked guiltily into his angry blue eyes and slowly shook her head.

"You guys wouldn't have understood," she confessed silently.

Ron just continued staring at her with a stubborn expression. "Then explain it to me, Hermione," he said.

She sighed, defeated.

"Fine, it began two weeks ago, as I already said. Draco (by the mere mention of the Slytherin's name Ron's face reddened) made the offer to help me get along with Snape, and in exchange I had to help him with Transfiguration.

"You've probably noticed the way Draco defended me in Snape's lessons? He was always on my side, if Snape wanted to punish me."

Ron nodded indifferently.

"I saw how you smiled at him."

"Yes, well. And one evening, while we were in the library, it just happened."

"What happened?" Ron asked, not quite understanding her words.

Draco rolled his eyes to the ceiling. 'How stupid can someone be?' he thought to himself.

"We snogged, you idiot?"

Ron eyed him stubbornly.

"Did I ask you, Malfoy?" He almost spat the name out. "No, I did not."

"Please Ron, you can't tell Harry! Draco's changed, really he has. And Harry would have a coronary." Hermione watched him with a pleading look. Ron stared at her for a few moments. There were tears in her eyes.

Finally, his expression softened. He sighed and looked from her to Draco, who just eyed him calmly. Then he turned to Hermione and said: "Alright, it stays in this room. But I just want to say that I don't like lying to my best friend."

So it was done. Or so they thought. Nobody noticed the shadow creeping slowly out of the library.

***flashback***

Wednesday, two weeks ago

"Miss Granger, you are late. I will take 20 points from Gryffindor," Professor Snapes voice sounded cold and smug. "To remind you not to be late for one of my classes."

'Not again', Hermione thought.

She quickly went and sat next to Ron and Harry, who had once again claimed the back row.

Just as Snape opened his mouth to continue with the lesson, the door opened again and an utterly exhausted Malfoy stumbled into the classroom.

"Sorry Professor… I'm late… I was…".

"Please take a seat, Mr. Malfoy," was Snape's only comment. So Draco seated himself while every Gryffindor sent him evil glares. Suddenly, Dean raised his voice.

"But Professor, it's unfair if you take points from Hermione for being late, but not from Malfoy?"

Snape turned slowly to the foolish boy and eyed him with a frosty stare. "5 points from Gryffindor for doubting the authority of a teacher."

The Gryffindors groaned with frustration, when suddenly another person spoke.

"Professor, Thomas is right, if you take points from Hermione, then you have to do the same with me," Draco said.

Everyone in the room, Slytherins, Gryffindors and Snape stared at him unbelievingly. The room was deftly quiet. What did he just said? Had they heard him right? Was he siding with the Gryffindors? Impossible!!!

Snape flinched, as if he just swallowed something bitter.

"Fine, Mr. Malfoy. I'm not taking points from Miss Granger. And now I don't want any more interruptions. The next person who dares make a sound will lose 50 points from their house!"

So Snape was finally allowed to continued with his lesson. While everyone was working in silence, Hermione watched Draco carefully. She couldn't believe it; he really helped her! Did that mean that he was serious about his offer?

Malfoy, who noticed her questioning stare, sent her a cool smile.

***end of flashback***

The next morning everyone met in the Great Hall for breakfast. Harry was abnormally silent, but no one noticed, because Fred and George were again making jokes and entertained the whole table.

Hermione was surprised when Ron sat down, taking the seat beside Lavender Brown, as if this was the most normal thing in the world. Astonished she watched them flirt.

She was just about asking Harry about this, but that moment Harry rose from his chair and left the Great Hall quickly. Her eyes followed him thoughtful.

"Well, Mr. Malfoy, it seems that you have practiced a lot, lately," Professor McGonagall said later during their Transfiguration lesson.

Draco had just managed to perfectly transfigure a goblet into an eagle.

Hermione sent him a proud smile. Ron noticed her smile and shot her a glance, for Harry sat right next to her. But he just stared raptly down at his notes.

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That's it!

Thanks for your reviews.

@ Lovely White: I hope, I did not offend you, because of "MY story" thing. I read the name Mia once, and I thougth it would fit.

Thanks to tfsbaby, DazedPanda and Hallie Walker, too!