Harry tossed and turned in his bed, until he suddenly shot up gasping for breath. Another nightmare. They were starting again. He rubbed his eyes, and then reached to the side table for his glasses. He looked at the clock it was just past one a.m. He crawled out of bed and made his way down to the Common Room, doubting he'd sleep at all the rest of the night. He jumped with a slight start at seeing Hermione there alone.

"What are you doing up?" he yawned.

"I could ask you the same." she replied, softly.

"Nightmare."

"About Voldemort?" she questioned. He nodded. He sat down in a chair across from her. She had her legs folded up under her and was writing what looked like a letter.

"What about you?"

"Too much on my mind, I suppose. Draco said he talked to you earlier."

"So that's why you're up, you were seeing him." she blushed slightly at his words.

"I want to apologize for his rudeness, I told-"

"Don't apologize for him, Hermione. There's no point in it."

"I just wanted to tell you, that I told him to leave you alone. I think he just lashed out because of the way his housemates have been treating him." she set her quill down.

"Did you tell him about the Vanishing Cabinet?"

"No, why?"

"Because... some of the things he said to me... he said that you would've done well in Slytherin, that he knew things about you that none of us did."

"He was just trying to get a rise out of you, Harry. It's what Draco does best. I've think you've lost all faith in me. I know that if I told him then we'd all be in danger. He only knows about the prophecy. He keeps questioning me on why I left Fred, but I just tell him that there were personality conflicts. Anyone could see how that would be reasonable." she picked up the quill again. Harry sat there, watching the shadows and light of the flames dance across her features.

"Who are you writing to?" he questioned.

"Fred. Telling him not to put anymore notices of the shop up. I already had to confinscate three order forms from first years. Word, apparently, travelled fast about their business and the snack boxes. Also I'm filling him on the details of my conversation with Draco. Dumbledore's too busy... and I'm not about to go to Snape. Fred can relay anything of importance to the rest of the Order. What was your dream about?" she replied, not looking up.

"The usual. My demise and Voldemort laughing about it as if Christmas had come early, at least I didn't wake up vomiting." he shrugged. A small smile broke across her face.

It'd been a long time since Harry had been alone with Hermione. He missed their talks. Not that he didn't like Ron around too, but it was nice to have a conversation without Ron getting riled up over one thing or another. This was something he could share only with Hermione. He felt equal to her, and felt she understood him, maybe even more so now.

"What do you think of Adèle?" she asked, scribbling down another sentence.

"She seems all right. Glad she was sorted into Gryffindor."

"Why is that?"

"Gives us a bit of an edge, having a part Veela in the house. Might get people to leave us alone if they're busy staring at her and Ron seems to have taken a liking to her." he commented, folding his legs up on the couch.

"Of course Ron's taking a liking to her. I don't know any boy in the school who hasn't except maybe you and Draco. Why is that by the way? I half expected you to turn red and start mumbling half thought answers when I asked about her." she looked up, giggling to herself.

"Oh well, I noticed Ron liked her and well... he's been through enough lately I think. No offense. I don't have time to be chasing girls anyway... truth is, I'm afraid to."

"Because Voldemort might use them against you?" he nodded at her question.

"Like Lucius did with me to Draco... it makes sense. You shouldn't let him control your life though, Harry. You're well protected, as are the rest of us. If you ended up with anyone, chances are they'd be the most protected girl in the school. There's a ball coming up as it is." she turned back to her letter.

"A ball when?"

"Halloween. We discussed it at the prefects meeting tonight. Dumbledore doesn't like the way people have come back to the school not trusting one another. I suggested a masquerade. That way we'll all be in masks and no one can judge another. We'll all be just a bunch of people in disguise."

"Oh great, another opportunity for me to embarrass myself. Where am I going to find a date?"

"I'm sure Ginny would go with you." Hermione was smiling again.

"Oh... well... I don't know, I mean..."

"As a friend, Harry. You're the easy one. Plenty of girls would love to go to the dance with you. It's Ron I'm worried about. He's too shy and if he's taken a fancy to Adèle, he's going to be upset if she ends up going with someone else. You should talk to him, get him to ask her before word of the ball gets out." she finished up her letter then put it in an envelope and sealed it. She stood up.

"Would you walk with me to the Owlery? I don't really want to go alone."

"Sure." Harry stood up and followed her out of the Common Room.

"So how are things between you and Malfoy?" he inquired, lowering his voice.

"All right, I suppose. It's different this time around. There's a sense of untrust on both our parts, and conversation isn't what it used to be. We're working on it though. His father is demanding to see him again, and we can all guess as to what it's concerning. Chances are he's gotten word of Draco's trip to the Ministry." she slowed her pace and was talking in a whisper.

"He was there that night. The only reason Malfoy got away was because I cashed in on that favour Wormtail owed me for saving his life from Sirius and distracted him while Malfoy used the time turner. Surprised he didn't tell you that, actually what am I saying anything I'd do to save his life he'd brush off as his own dumb luck." Harry rolled his eyes.

Hermione stopped walking. Harry was about to ask her what's wrong when she pulled him behind one of the tapestries and put her finger to his mouth. He heard it then, voices down the corridor. It was Snape and Malfoy.

"Go to him and tell him that you are sorry." Snape advised.

"But I'm not, professor. I know what he wants me to do and I won't do it." Malfoy protested.

"If you don't Mr. Malfoy, then your own life is at stake. Do you think I'd be standing here speaking with you if I had gone to the Dark Lord and told him I was no longer interested in his offer? You have a destiny, even if you don't agree with it. To save yourself and the others, you need to at least pretend to be on their side. You are a Malfoy and it is expected of you. If you really want to help out, you will do as you are told and ask for forgiveness." Snape replied harshly.

"What if he won't accept it? What if he sees right through me?"

"You heard the prophecy yourself, Mr. Malfoy. If he weren't interested in your forgiveness then you would already be dead. Forget about Miss Granger for the time being. Go to your father and take your place under the Dark Lord. I will protect you and I will make sure you do not go through with his plans. Now is the time for you to step into maturity. To stop being a child, a student and to be a man for the greater good."

"Well if Potter ends up dead, it's not to say I didn't tell you so." Malfoy replied and turned the other direction. Snape just raised an eyebrow and watched the boy leave. Hermione looked at Harry, but didn't speak until both were gone from the hallway.

"So much for you and Fred's plan to keep him from fulfilling the prophecy." Harry muttered as he walked out from hiding.

"Don't talk like that, Harry. You're not in danger yet. He's just going to be playing the same game as Snape. He won't kill you, even Snape said he won't let him." she continued to walk towards the Owlery.

"How are you so sure of everything that's going on Hermione? What makes you so sure that Lucius or Voldemort won't say something to change his mind? He is a Slytherin. I don't care what he was in nineteen forty-two. He is a Slytherin now." snapped Harry. She was about to reply when they ran into Snape around the corner.

"Isn't it a bit late for students to be prowling the corridors? Miss Granger, as Head Girl you should be aware of the rules."

"I'm sorry professor, but it's urgent." replied Hermione. Snape snatched the letter out of her hand and opened it.

"Foolish girl, don't you realize that this could be intercepted?"

"I... just... I-"

"Didn't think. I'll make sure that Mr. Weasley receives this. Go back to your dorms now, before I remove house points." Snape commented shrewdly, then turned and walked away, carrying Hermione's letter to Fred.

"That's odd. He warned us instead of removing house points. Wonder who hit him with a sympathy stick." Harry commented as they began to walk back to Gryffindor Tower.

"I'm sure he knows we heard the conversation, or at least speculates that we did. Probably just wanted to make sure neither of us mentioned it. I'll have to find a way to talk to Fred, somehow I don't think he's going to receive my letter."

Hermione made her way through the Slytherin Common Room to Draco's private quarters, moving carefully so that no one would bump into her while she was under the invisibility cloak. It'd been a little over a week since she and Harry had over heard the conversation with Snape, and once again Draco hadn't been showing up for classes. She knocked quietly on the door. It took a moment, but it opened and she snuck in. She pulled off the cloak as Draco closed the door. She rushed over to him immediately.

"What happened?" she asked urgently, as he flinched and braced himself against the door.

"Nothing. Don't worry about it." he told her firmly.

"You went to see your father didn't you?" she helped him over to his bed.

"It's none of your concern. I'm fine, really." he flinched again. Hermione moved his arm and pulled back his robe. There was blood all down the side of his shirt. She shook her head and began to unbutton it.

"Is it the same wound?" she asked, ignoring his words.

"No, I'm fine. Stop making such a fuss." he pushed her away, but not roughly. Again she ignored him, and accioed over to them a bottle of rubbing alcohol he'd apparently pulled out to tend to his wounds himself. She tore strips from his sheet. She would have rather taken him to the infirmary, but knew as well as he did that it would raise suspicion and more questions. He closed his eyes as she began to treat the new slash marks that were cut deep along his rib cage. She wrapped his wounds, then sat there on the bed next to him. She went to speak, but he beat her to it.

"We have to go back to sneaking around again." he told her.

"Why? What happened at the manor?"

"I went to my father and begged for forgiveness. He is to take me to Voldemort next weekend, and I am more than sure he's going to have spies lurking around the school. I told him being with you was a foolish mistake that I wish I'd never made. You have to stop coming to see me so frequently. Someone is bound to overhear us eventually." he explained.

Hermione leaned in and kissed him softly, taking him in her arms. He pulled away and looked into her eyes. He ran his fingers through her hair, pushing the curls off her face.

"Your hair still looks good red. You should keep it this way." he rested his hand on her cheek, then moved in to kiss her, she turned her head.

"Draco, what's going to happen?"

"What do you mean?"

"I just... I don't know, it was a prophecy, are you really going to kill Harry? I can't be with you if you're going to kill him, Draco."

"Look I really can't stand the prat, and a couple years ago yeah I would've definitely considered taking his life. That was before us though, Hermione. I'm only going back to Voldemort to protect you, do you understand? If I hadn't gone back, then my father would've just continued attacking everything I cared about until I broke and accepted my place. By going back now, on my own free will, that keeps you out of harm for the time being. I won't kill Harry, Snape has already assured that he's going to make sure that won't happen."

"Well if you haven't noticed Harry isn't one of Snape's most favourite people."

"We're a part of the Order. I'm really surprised in you, Hermione. This is unlike you to worry so much. You're the logical one." he half laughed, leaning back against his pillow.

She wanted to tell him about the Vanishing Cabinet. She was itching to, but she knew better. She rolled her eyes at him instead and lay down on the bed. Things were starting to feel the way they had before they'd broken up. This was the first time they'd been able to hold a conversation without it turning into an argument. An improvement, she thought.

"Who's the new girl?" he asked, breaking the silence.

"Adèle? Oh I don't know her really. She's from France. She's been spending most of her time around Lavender Brown, who I think's converted her. Shame really, she had hope for being better than that." Hermione picked at the fuzz on the blanket.

"Better off by hanging around you, Golden Boy, and the Weasel? No offense Hermione, but I can't really say your circle of friends are the most popular. What with Longbottom and Looney Lovegood hanging around all the time." there it was. He always found a way to pick a fight.

"Stop calling her that, she's not all that bad. Her and Neville are together, and think they're a perfect match, don't elaborate on that. I know what you would say, and I didn't come here to argue." she warned him.

"Why did you come any way? You haven't been by to see me in over a week." he laid down next to her.

"I wanted to make sure you were all right. You weren't in class, and Snape wouldn't answer my questions during our Potions study and-" he interrupted by leaning in and kissing her passionately. She wrapped her arms around him, carefully avoiding his new injuries.

"Sure you didn't stop by for something else?" he teased before kissing her again.

"I'm starting to believe that the only reason you were so persistent about us getting back together was because you missed me in your bed, Draco Malfoy." she smiled.

This was a game he'd grown accustomed to playing. She knew he wasn't serious. They hadn't consummated since being back together, and he made it a point of teasing about it every time they were alone. Hermione pulled him on top of her, ready to throw him off guard.

"Well you certainly are a nice addition to the decor." he replied, as he ran his lips along her neck. She wrapped her fingers along the edge of her blouse and pulled it up and off of her body. She'd definitely caught him by surprise.

"Are we going to- I mean do you want to-"

"One thing at a time, Draco." she kissed him, and then pulled him closer.

Hermione sat herself down next to between Harry and Ron the next morning at breakfast. She tried to suppress a yawn, but couldn't. She filled her plate and began eating. She couldn't help but overhear the conversation next to her.

"So I was wondering if you'd go to the ball with mean, I mean if you want to. You don't have to, but I would like it if you would, if you wanted to that is."

"Yes, Harry. I'll go to the ball with you... wait you're not asking me just because everyone else is already going with someone are you?" replied Ginny.

"No, I haven't asked anyone else." he replied quickly.

"All right, then I'll go with you."

"Good, that's great. It'll be fun." Hermione smiled to herself.

"Wow, Hermione. You look exhausted. Did you sleep at all?" Ron asked, breaking her eavesdropping.

"Yeah, didn't get to bed though until around two. Have you asked Adèle to the ball yet?" she inquired.

"Yeah, she's already going with someone." he muttered.

"Oh who?"

"Seamus." he replied bitterly.

"What about you? I assume you're going with Malfoy?" Harry asked, entering the conversation.

"Yeah, but mostly because we're head boy and girl, it's kind of required so we can keep an eye on things. Make sure people follows the rules and such." she replied, going back to the food for seconds.

She looked up and over at the Slytherin table. He wasn't at breakfast again. She shook her head, and then reached into her bag to pull out her Astronomy essay. There was a loud noise from outside the hall. It sounded as if something had come crashing to the ground. Nearly the whole school jumped up and went out to see what was going on. Hermione pushed her way through the crowd and to the front to see Fred and George standing there, the chandelier in the entrance hall on the ground. Fred noticed Hermione.

"It was Peeves, I swear." he told her. She walked over to them, and pulled him aside.

"What are you two doing here?" she whispered harshly.

"Dumbledore sent for us. We'd just gotten through the doors when it came down. Peeves took off before you all got out here."

"Well, I know that you have an uncontrollable addiction to causing trouble and making a scene wherever you go, but destroying school property? This is a new low for you Weasley." came a drawl from the crowd. Hermione and Fred looked over to see Malfoy approaching them.

"Don't start this, Draco." she sighed.

"She doesn't want to be with you, Weasley. Can't you just get over that and be an adult. No need to come back to the school and starting causing trouble." Malfoy taunted, ignoring Hermione. Hermione shot Fred a look of warning, then pulled Malfoy away.

"He's not here for me. What do you think you're doing?" she started to lecture. He pulled away from her and walked back over to Fred and George who were now talking with McGonagall. Hermione followed.

"I'll inform him that you've arrived." McGonagall finished and walked off.

"Looks like we're here for awhile." George commented turning around to face Hermione.

"Better get used to it, Malfoy." Fred directed towards Malfoy, annoyance apparent in his voice.

"Oh decided to finish out your seventh year then? Figured out that dropouts get nowhere in life? Well good for you two." sneered Malfoy. Hermione put her hand out to block Fred from Malfoy.

"Draco, may I please speak with you in private?" she hissed. He rolled his eyes and followed her to one of the empty classrooms.

"You're not going to be causing trouble while they're here. Do you understand? I don't know what you were trying to do out there, but making Fred jealous and pissing him off isn't going to help the situation. I don't know if you're just trying to show off in front of the school, trying to prove something or if you're just trying to flaunt around the fact that you're with me and not him. Either way you're not going to do this."

"Who are you, my mother? I can do as I please."

"Draco. You aren't going to be helping our relationship any by stirring things up. Just stop it, okay?" she put her hand on his arm, but he pulled away and left the room. She went back out and walked with Fred to Dumbledore's office.

"What are you two doing here?" she reasked.

"We're going to be doing the research the rest of you don't have time for. Hogwarts has the greatest collection of books, and so we're going to stay here until we've found out all we can on Gillium." replied Fred.

"Apparently Voldemort resurrected him two nights ago, so we're running out of time. Another Muggle town was attacked last night right outside of Edinburgh." added George. Hermione stopped Fred.

"Did you get my letter?"

"What letter?"

"Of course... I wrote you letter and Snape took it from me. He said he'd make sure you got it, but of course he didn't bother. Since you're going to be here, can we talk tonight in private?" she asked. He nodded.

"All right. I have to get to class, I'm already late. I'll see you tonight." she kissed his cheek then ran off down the corridor in the opposite direction.

That night, after dinner and after she'd finished her homework for the day, Hermione made her way to the library, knowing that's where Fred and George were. She felt awkward and nervous, not really knowing what to expect or what Fred might be expecting to happen. She was almost there when she was pulled into one of the other hallways. She was about to panic out of habit, but calmed down seeing that it was just Malfoy.

"What are you doing?" she questioned. He kissed her.

"I'm sorry about earlier. I was just-"

"Acting like a wanker, yes, I know." she interrupted.

"Anyway," he continued, raising his voice a bit.

"Listen, don't worry about it. Just give him a break okay?"

"I'll try, I suppose. You coming to see me tonight?"

"Yeah, maybe. I have to go though, I'm meeting Fred." she turned to leave.

"You're meeting Weasley..."

"Hey, don't start this. It has to do with Gillium all right?"

"Fine whatever."

"Ugh, Malfoy! Just stop! I'll come by to see you all right? It just may be a bit later than usual." she kissed his cheek then went to the library. Fred and George were sitting looming over books and taking notes. A sight that she didn't believe she'd ever see. She sat down at the table then looked at George.

"Give us a moment?" she asked softly.

"Yeah, all right. In need of a break anyway." he stood up and left the study.

"Now what is it you wanted to see me for? Why couldn't George hear? Is it top secret, cause you know I'm just going to tell him anyway." Fred pushed his book aside and closed the inkwell.

"Draco's gone back to being a Death Eater. Harry and I overheard Snape advising him to do so. That wasn't in the letter, we heard that on the way to send the letter, but I'm really worried about that. It doesn't look like our plan to postpone fate is working. In the letter I wrote to you about a conversation I had with Draco. He told me that he's afraid to continue helping us. He's worried about how things will turn out in the long run. We're losing him and Harry's in danger." she told him in a whisper.

"Well bollocks." Fred sat there for a moment thinking everything through. Hermione looked around to make sure Malfoy hadn't followed her into the library.

"What do you suggest we do?"

"Tell him you'll marry him and help him fight against Dumbledore."

"What?! Fred! I'm seventeen; I don't want to think about that right now. I have my NEWTs to worry about, I haven't even completely decided on a career, and I really don't see how me being engaged to him will help the situation."

"If he loves you, then he's doing this to try and protect you from his family. Besides it's bound to happen eventually, isn't it? I mean when you saw your life with him you two were married, and from what it sounds like, it wasn't too far in the future. It also seems like he's only on our side because of you, remember? Just pretend to go along with everything, pretend that you're going to help out with the Death Eater stuff. You know what, tell him about the cabinet. Tell him you saw your future with him, and you want that. He might be able to convince his family that you are converting to their side."

"Fred, this is crazy. I come from Muggle parents. Well... my father is a squib, but that still doesn't help. How are they going to believe that I want to kill other muggles? I honestly think you've been subjecting yourself to too many of your own experiments." she made to stand up but he grabbed her arm.

"That's the beauty of it. You'd make a smashing good actress, Hermione. If you can fool them, then you can postpone Draco from hurting Harry. You can keep putting him off from completing the task. Come up with things to distract him. You have a much better shot at that if you were on the dark side, than if you were part of the Order."

"And how do you suggest I convince him that I want to work for Voldemort? I can't just go to his rooms and say that I've changed my mind and I no longer want to work Dumbledore."

"As much as it pains me to say this Hermione, sex can be a very useful tool. If you can make it seem as if he's all wonderful, you could pretend that he's made you see the truth. That, with the Vanishing cabinet could be just enough to prove it to him. He's a man and he's a Slytherin, egos are everything."

"I don't know if I could do this, Fred." she rested her elbows on the table and rubbed her eyes with her hands. It seemed so difficult, it seemed impossible.

"You can do this, Hermione... and it might be our last option. Malfoy is in love with you, but he also has to deal with his father. Parents can be more persuasive and if you really are worried that he's going back, then this might be our last chance. We'll all still be here for you in the end." he pulled her hands away from her face.

"I'll talk it over with Dumbledore." she sighed.

"Let me deal with that. I'll speak with the others about it too. This does mean you're going to have to start treating us like we're no longer your friends though." he intertwined his fingers with hers. Something felt as if Hermione had suffered a blow to the chest. It was as Pansy had said. Her friends would start hating her...

"Yeah, I know. This isn't going to be easy, but you're right. It might be our last opportunity..." she struggled to fight back tears. She didn't want to do this. He leaned in and kissed her softly.

"I said I would be here." he comforted softly then kissed her again. She threw her arms around him.

"Well I guess this is goodbye for now, then."

"Not forever, just until things are safe. You can do this. You did a smashing job in nineteen forty-two as a Slytherin. I have faith in you, Hermione."

"I should go. I told Draco I would come to his room." she pulled away, hesitantly.
"All right." he replied and looked back down at the parchment in front of him. She could tell he didn't want her to go.

"Thank you, Fred... I don't know if this is just going to cause more problems, but it's worth a shot I suppose. I'll keep you informed." she stood up and left the library, feeling worse than she had when she'd entered it.