DISCLAIMER : I do not own the characters. Please see JK Rowling if you want the details man, I'm just a fan.

Summary : Most of the story takes place in their seventh year with Hermione as Head Girl and Draco as Head Boy of course. This story is just something I decided that I needed to write because I'm a huge D/Hr shipper, and it disappointed me with JKR said that D/Hr will not get together at all while at Hogwarts. She didn't say anything about after that, but who knows if there will be more books after 7. But I wanted them to get together at Hogwarts. It's much harder to sneak around, don't you think. Well this is how I think it should happen. Care to find out? Please read, and then review :D

Authors Note : I know some things lead towards Harry/Hermione. But there's a god damn reason for that, you'll just have to continuously read my story :P lol.

Chapter 2 "The Beginning"
Written on August 9th


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Hermione Granger sat on the edge of the bench that was outside the Hospital Wing at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Next to her was Harry Potter, the boy who now had to remain out of public eye due to media. It was a week before first semester classes began for their seventh year, and Harry and Hermione were awaiting the news on whether or not Ron would be awake for the start of their seventh year. Dumbledore had sent them both owls earlier that morning, telling them that he needed to speak with them, and if they wanted they could simply stay here till school started. Harry accepted the offer right away, saying that if he could get away from the Dursleys, why not. And Hermione also accpeted, claiming that she could settle into her new Head Girl dormitory quicker.

Now the two of them were sitting out here, waiting for Dumbledore, as he told them to meet him here. Madam Pomphrey had come out a few minutes before, telling them it wouldn't be too long, and that Dumbledore would be with them in a minute. Hermione was nervous. Ron was her best friend, and yes at one point, well like 10 minutes, they had been more than friends, but it was too weird for them and they moved on. But Ron had knocked him out pretty bad on their last adventure when they went looking for Voldemort. It had only been days before the big war that he had jumped from one level of a house to another to avoid an unforgivable curse, and the landing had nearly killed him.

Hermione bounced her feet up and down but stopped when Harry placed his hand on her knee.

"Stop." he said. "You're making me even more nervous than I already am." Hermione muttered a sorry, and without noticing, she started bouncing her feet again.

"Sorry." she said again when Harry placed his hang on her knee again. "It's a habit." Harry just smiled at her and kept his hand on her knee, stopping her feet from bouncing. Hermione glanced down at the hand on her knee but forgot about it when the Hospital Wing door opened. Hermione looked up from her knee to see Professor Dumbledore standing there. She felt Harry's hand move from her knee and she stood up.

"Professor," said Harry, standing up beside her. Dumbledore raised up his hand.

"I think somebody would like to see you." he said, motioning for the Hospital Wing. Confused, Hermione walked towards the door and pushed it open, Harry right behind her.

"Just go down to the last bed." said Dumbledore from behind them. Harry grabbed onto Hermione's hand and pulled her to the end of the ward. Approaching the last bed, Hermione's hand was still in Harry's. Standing next to each other, Harry pulled back the curtain around the last bed.

"Ron!" gasped Hermione. Sitting up, wide awake, red hair and freckles was their best friend Ronald Weasley.

"'Ello 'Mione. 'Ello Harry." said Ron, smiling widely.

"Ron?" asked Harry confused. Ron grinned. "You're awake?"

"That I am, mate. That I am." Ron looked behind them at Dumbledore. "Have been for about a day now. Mum, Dad and the family were here yesterday, but I wanted to surprise you guys." Hermione looked over at Ron, then to Harry, then back to Ron. As if finally realising what was going on, Hermione pulled her hand away from Harry and ran up to Ron and gave him a hug.

"Welcome back, Ron." said Hermione, pulling away from him. Ron just grinned up at her.

"Yeah," said Harry, clapping Ron on the shoulder. "Welcome back."

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Hermione said good-bye to Ron and made her way down to the Head's Room. She had visited Ron everyday since she found out he was awake, and now, tomorrow he would be released, and the rest of the students would arrive for the start of a new year. Hermione found herself wandering aimlessly down the halls of Hogwarts. She passed by a window with a view of the lake and glanced outside, shocked at what caught her eye. At first she didn't recognize the figure, but the blonde hair was enough to give him away. Taking one last glance at the figure, Hermione turned around and headed down the hall for the nearest door to the lake. As she reached the door, she took a deep breath and walked out into the late summer weather. Heading towards the lake, Hermione wondered if this was the right thing to do. Stopping just feet away from the figure, Hermione took a deep breath and decided to turn back around and head for the castle. Taking a step back where she came from, Hermione felt a twig crack beneath her feet and she swore.

"Granger?" asked Draco Malfoy in disbelief when he turned around. Slowly, Hermione turned around to meet him.

"Hello Malfoy." She said smoothly, as if she hadn't just made a fool of myself.

"Never thought you'd be one to swear." said Malfoy, smirking as he turned back around to face the lake. Hermione walked closer to him.

"I'd never think you'd be one to be at school before term starts." said Hermione, stepping up beside him. Glancing at him, Hermione noticed the smirk was gone off his face.

"I'd never think I'd have nowhere to go, Granger." Malfoy replied icily. Hermione shivered.

"Sorry. I, uh, I didn't know." she said, looking away from him and back out at the lake.

"And I'd appreciate it if you didn't let anyone know that little fact either." Malfoy said, staring straight ahead.

"Your secret is safe with me." said Hermione.

"Good." Malfoy said and the two of them went quiet. Hermione opened her mouth a few times to say something, but she kept herself quiet. "Go on, Granger. If you're going to keep my secret, it's only fair I answer your question." Malfoy said, sitting down on a rock.

"Why the light side?" she simply asked, taking a spot on the rock next to him. Malfoy shrugged.

"Why not?" Hermione looked at him to find him staring back at her.

"Because you had a life with the dark side. Your father. Everything. You had something." she replied.

"You call that a life?" Malfoy gave a cold laugh. "For the smartest witch of our age, Granger, you're pretty dumb."

"Malfoy, be serious with me. " said Hermione, looking him straight in the eye.

"I think I just realised that there was more to life. And that I actually had a choice in life. Fighting against my father was one of the hardest things I've ever done." Malfoy kept eye contact with Hermione.

"Then why'd you do it?" she asked.

"Because for once in my life, I wanted to be free. And I felt fighting with the light side would give me freedom." he stated.

"Are you free now?" she asked him, her brown eyes piercing his icy blue eyes.

"Are you?" he responded. She nodded. "Then so am I." The two of them stared into each others eyes until a splash made by the Giant Squid knocked them out of their trance. "Goodnight Granger."

Malfoy got up and walked away from Hermione. Once again leaving her alone, wondering what in the world was going on.

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AUTHORS NOTE : Well what did you think? It's weird, the beginning of my chapters start out so well but then it all goes downhill.

I'm going to try and update every day, if I don't update everyday, I'll at least do it once a week, maybe more than once. It's just hard because I have no idea where this story is going. I'm doing my best, but I'm also trying to finish off my other story He Does Have A Heart which is just a few chapters till the end. So then I'll mainly focus on this one after. Anyways, I'm off to enjoy my day. Later!