A/N: hello you terrific fanfickers you. I felt like updating today so here it is. A reviewer reminded me that I had used one of my other reviewer's ideas. I completely forgot to give them props so I added that in to my last chapter. Thanks a bunch to Soon2BeDirector for the idea and MysticalSpirits for reminding me. thanks to all my other reviewers too, you guys are too cool and I love reading your reviews. They really help and I appreciate them a lot.

Disclaimer: I can't think of a new mean way to say I don't own HP but if I could it would so be my disclaimer

The rest of September passed pretty quickly for Hermione. She had formed some sort of a friendship with Malfoy, so they got a lot more work done together. They steered clear of mentioning anything about Draco being a deatheater, and anything about Hermione being the heir of Gryffindor. They still had verbal sparring matches occasionally, but they rarely got out of hand or ended up with Hermione glowing. She could feel her powers getting stronger because she had stopped glowing whenever her feelings changed. She could also do more and more magic without her wand. Her powers didn't just go to the extent of hexing people when she was mad, she could do other spells without the use of her wand. She could summon objects and perform other basic spells she had learned in her earlier years at Hogwarts. Unfortunately, she was not allowed to use her power in class because it would give her an unfair advantage over the students (not that she wasn't already surpassing other students anyway), and the rest of Hogwarts didn't know of her powers. Only Harry, Ron, Malfoy, and a few teachers knew of her condition.

It was also safe to say that the rest of September had been primarily uneventful. There hadn't been anymore Malfoy-related incidents, Hermione was passing all her classes as usual, and she was a great Head Girl. Even though things were going alright for Hermione, one thing was really bothering her and it weighed down on her mind. She couldn't help but realize how distant Harry had become. She spent a lot of time planning the Yule Ball and going to her meetings and Harry always had Quidditch. They couldn't really talk during classes, and during meals, Harry practically ignored her by talking about Quidditch with Ginny and Ron. Hermione had pretended nothing was wrong, but after weeks of barely speaking to Harry, Hermione couldn't ignore it anymore. Something was wrong.

Since it was now mid-October, Hermione and Draco had to start discussing the Yule Ball. They didn't have to worry about Halloween, because that was the prefects' job and Draco wouldn't even be there. He wouldn't tell Hermione why, but there was a Halloween revel being held for the deatheaters at his manor, and he was obligated to attend. When Hermione had brought up the Yule Ball, she was met with one annoyed Malfoy.

"But we have two whole bloody months!" Draco said, after Hermione told him they needed to get to work.

"Yes, we only have two months to discuss decorations, food, music, a date, what we're going to do about the younger years attending the ball, and entertainment. This is really important Malfoy, and while you might not give a damn, I don't want to screw it up!"

"No one will care if we screw it up! Half of the students will be outside, hiding in bushes snogging!"

"First of all, that's disgusting; second of all, I don't give a damn; and third of all, you fucking wanted to be Head Boy so you fucking got to do the work!"

"Did Hermione Granger, princess of Gryffindor, goody-goody, know-it-all old maid just say fuck twice?"

"And did Draco Malfoy, prince of Slytherin, all time player, bad boy, smart ass just use the term 'old maid'?"

"Bitch."

"Bitch-boy." 

"Funny." 

"I know."

"Mudblood."

"Mudblood-hater."

"And that's an insult how…?"

"Who can do magic without their wand?"

"Point taken, mudblood."

"Fuck you."

"Number three."

"What?"

"You've said fuck three times."

"Thanks for reminding me, Professor Malfoy."

"Oh, so you have the whole teacher-student fantasy going on about me?"

"Gross."

"Hey, it's your fantasy."

"Fuck you."

"There it is again."

"I couldn't give a damn if I said fuck a million times."

"Five."

"I hate you."

"Likewise."

"Oh, how very 15th century of you."

"Whatever."

"That was fun."

"Anytime, love, I'm here to please."

"Oh, get a room!"

"What the hell?"

"You're obviously in love with yourself, so I thought I'd let you go and spend some time with your, ahem, nether regions if you catch my drift."

"That was a little below the belt."

"Well as I said…"

"Bitch."

"Must we go through this again?"

"Can we just get to work please?"

"That's all I wanted to hear."

Realizing that Hermione had won their little match, Draco finally sat his arse down and started to help Hermione plan the Yule Ball. As much as he hated to admit it, he did like spending this time with her. She always had something witty to say in response to his baiting; not many people had been able to do that. Hermione felt the same way. She felt as if they could have been friends…if Draco wasn't a deatheater or she hadn't been muggle born. This was an odd thought for Hermione, because the more time she spent with Draco, the less deatheater she saw in him. Hermione had started to think of Draco's dark mark as just a scar, rather than a sign of his allegiance to Voldemort. They still fought constantly, but Draco was starting to be much more agreeable and Hermione wasn't nearly as afraid of him anymore. Even though Draco was turning out to be an okay guy, Hermione still missed Harry terribly.

After about an hour of working in complete silence, Draco stood up, stretched and went to the kitchen. When he came back, he had a bottle of firewhiskey and two glasses.

"Where in the hell did you get that?!"  Hermione asked as he poured some of the strong alcohol into the two glasses.

"My father sends it to me. The one thing he's good for. He said he wished he had it when he went to Hogwarts."

"Your father? He sends you strong alcohol even when it's not allowed?"

"Yes, Granger, very good" Draco said in his mock teacher tone while handing her a glass.

"What are you doing?"

"Being a gentleman and offering you a drink."

"Ok, first of all…" Hermione started

"Ok, quit with all the 'first of all's', alright?"

"First of all, I haven't been…dammit!"

"I was wondering when you'd realize you said 'first of all' again" Draco said, smiling.

"Whatever. As I was saying, since when have you been a gentleman? And we definitely are not allowed to drink, let alone be in possession of alcohol at Hogwarts."

"Oh, please, Granger. You're seventeen. Time to get rid of your goody-goody image and live a little. You're allowed to change."

"No, Malfoy."

"And another thing, why have we always called each other by our last names? I mean, even when we met, when we didn't hate each other, we called each other by our last names."

"Well, I call you by your last name because I actually did think that you hated me for being a muggle and in Gryffindor House. And I would much rather have you call me Granger, than mudblood bitch."

Draco couldn't say anything to that. The way she said mudblood really made him think about what it meant. It was dirty, and he knew then that the beautiful Gryffindor in front of him was anything but dirty. When Hermione said it, it sounded cruel and hurtful. A sudden attack of conscience hit Draco harder than any hex ever had.

"I'm sorry, Hermione."

"What did you just say?" Hermione asked, slightly confused.

"I said I was sorry."

"And you said…my name. Wow, I never thought I would ever hear you say my name and sorry in the same sentence."

"I know; neither did I."

"Well," Hermione started, picking up the glass of firewhiskey Draco had placed before her, "I guess people can change…Draco." She touched her glass to Draco's and took a sip.

'Here's to change' Draco thought.

Hermione had no idea how much draco actually had changed before his apology. Only Severus Snape and Albus Dumbledore knew that.

Halloween was drawing closer and closer, and Hermione had still not properly talked to Harry. His secretiveness was really starting to worry her. She decided that she would go watch one of his Quidditch practices, in hopes to speak with him afterwards. She got bundled up in thick robes and her Gryffindor scarf and walked out to the pitch. The practice was already half way over, but she watched anyway. After about an hour, Harry, Ron, Ginny, and the rest of the Gryffindor team landed and demounted their brooms. Ron spotted her first and got Harry and Ginny to walk over to her with him.

"Hey, 'Mione. Been a while since you watched one of our practices, huh?" Ron said, happy to see his friend after a hard Quidditch practice.

"Yes, well, I thought I'd come down and see you. I've been so busy with Head girl things, that I haven't had a chance to hang out with you guys for a while."

"Too true, 'Mione. Harry, aren't you happy to see Hermione?"

"What?" Harry asked, showing he hadn't been paying attention. "Yeah, good to see you Hermione." Hermione frowned at this. Harry was being so formal; anyone who didn't know them would have thought they were meeting for the first time.

"Good to see you too, Harry. Do you guys want to go to dinner?" Hermione asked.

"Well," Ginny interjected, speaking for the first time since seeing Hermione, "I have to put the Quidditch stuff away." Ginny turned away and left.

"Oh, okay. Well, I'm going to head down" Hermione replied.

"I'll go too. You comin', Harry?" Ron asked.

"No, I think I'll help Ginny. You guys go ahead" Harry said, turning around to follow Ginny back to the equipment.

"Let's go, 'Mione."

Dinner passed quickly enough, but neither Harry nor Ginny had come down to dinner. Hermione had started to get a little worried. She thought that Ginny might be ignoring her too.

'I don't understand' Hermione thought. 'What could I have done to offend Harry or Ginny?' After dinner was over, Hermione quickly left and started walking towards the Gryffindor tower. She needed to talk to Harry and make sure they were still ok. She knew the password to common room and the boys' dormitories so she didn't have a problem getting in. She walked into what she knew was Harry's room that she shared with other boys in the house, but she couldn't move. She just stood there. She prayed and prayed that the sound coming from Harry's bed had been her imagination or a dream. A very, very bad dream. But she couldn't deny how real everything felt. Nightmares didn't even feel this real. But to Hermione, that's exactly what this was. A nightmare.

A/N: I'm guessing everybody knows whats happening but if you don't, more power to you. And if you are seriously confused, leave it in a review. Well I will probably have another chapter soon but until then take a chance and review. hey it could be fun. See ya round the flip side hehe just kidding i'm not that weird. Is it weird to say that? Shutting up right about now