A/N: I am sooo sorry that this took so long to update!! Ahh! I feel like such an idiot! I was on vacation for the past week and a half, but I know that I haven't updated long before that. I'm not gonna keep you any longer, cuz I already did for way too long!!

Chapter 6: Marshmallows

You do something to me

That I can't explain

So would I be out of line

If I said, "I miss you"?

I Miss You, Incubus

Hermione wondered if she had ever had a worse weekend in her life. Somehow, she felt responsible for what was happening to Draco, even though she had no idea how, why, or what was going on. She had managed to avoid talking to any Slytherins by staying holed up in her common room for most of the past two days. In the few times she actually went out, most everybody besides Harry, Ron, and Ginny avoided her anyways, as thought they feared she carried in infectious disease that she had given to Draco.

Harry and Ron, though they wanted so badly to know what was going on, knew not to press Hermione and that she would be more willing to tell them if they let her do it on her own.

She had hardly slept the night before, knowing she would probably have to face Draco in classes. She rubbed whatever sleep there was out of her eyes and shuffled towards her bathroom to prepare for the day.

When she finally got down to her common room, she noticed a large, bright blue notice hanging from the notice board. She walked over to it, reading:

Hogwarts students:

There will be some changes with prefects and the like while the foreign exchange program takes place. All changes are notified here and are final. This notice also marks the deadline for students who wished to travel to Greece.

Hermione skipped over the part about the sixth year replacements, figuring Ginny would fill her in on all that later. She continued to read:

7th Year Prefect Replacements

Hannah Abbott to be replaced by Susan Bones

Pansy Parkinson to be replaced by Emily Nott

Draco Malfoy to be replaced by Blaise Zabini

At first, Hermione was filled with extreme joy at the fact that Pansy would be taking off to go to a whole other country. She did wonder, though, why Draco was leaving in his poor condition. She noticed Justin come down the stairs and quickly pass her on his way out. She decided to read what was left of the notice for any additional information. She was in complete shock at what she found:

Also, Head Boy Justin Finch-Fletchley will be replaced by Draco Malfoy.

These changes will go into effect as of next Monday. Anyone with questions may contact Professor McGonagall after classes today.

Hermione's first reaction was to march straight into McGonagall's office and give her a piece of her mind. But as she heard the portrait click shut, she rushed out of it after Justin. She saw him rushing down the hall, but managed to call after him, "Justin! If you run away from me, you'll be really sorry! Get back here right now!"

Justin debated for a moment whether he should just keep walking like he never heard her or turn around and face the music. He decided that Hermione was not a force to be reckoned with and turned back to her with a sheepish, guilty smile.

"When were you planning on telling me that you were going to leave me with a new Head Boy?!" she shrieked in his face.

"Look, Hermione, this is kind of the reason I didn't tell you, but obviously that wasn't the right choice. I'm sorry, but I didn't want to go the rest of the year with bad feelings between two people who are supposed to be role models for the other students. I'm really sorry, Hermione. I didn't know that Draco would be picked as my replacement. I thought it would be Ernie or something."

Hermione was completely knocked off her feet. She had thought that Justin would have said something stupid, but he seemed sincerely sorry. "I would have much preferred it if you had told me instead of me finding out this way, but… Well, thanks for apologizing. I guess I was in a really shitty mood that day anyways. No hard feelings?" She reached out her hand.

He shook it. "No hard feelings."

"Justin, I really wish you weren't going and all. I mean, I hardly got a chance to know you. Well, if I don't see you again, have fun in Greece," she said, silently hoping she could change his mind and that he would stay to relieve her from the torture of sharing Head duties with Draco.

"Thanks, Hermione," he said, heading down the hallway. "I gotta get to class. Good luck with Draco," he called behind him as he turned the corner.

Hermione began to walk in the opposite direction, towards the Grand Staircase, wondering exactly how much good luck she would need to make it through the year with Draco.

'o'

"Oh, Ginny, it's just awful!"

"What's the matter, Hermione?" her friend questioned as they sat down for dinner in the Great Hall.

"Justin, well, you know how I was all mad at him for being an ass that day? Well, today I got all mad at him because he failed to tell me that he would be leaving for Greece."

"Um, Hermione, I don't exactly see what's so terrible…"

"Oh, no, it's not that. He said he was sorry for that and I forgave him. The bad part is that him not telling me led to my extremely unprepared state when I read that Malfoy, of all people is going to replace him as Head Boy!" Hermione said in exasperation.

"Oh, Herms, I know this must seem like the worst thing ever, but it's only as bad as you make it out to be. Just try not to think about it. You'll be fine. It's not as though you are really forced to have much contact with him. What's going on with him, anyway?"

"In all honesty, I don't know. I'd like to find out myself…"

'o'

For the rest of that week, Hermione managed the best she could to follow Ginny's advice. She found that as long as she didn't actually lay eyes on him, it wasn't all that hard to keep from thinking about him. As the end of Monday came around with no Draco in sight, Hermione refused to get her hopes up and believe that he wasn't coming. Instead, she decided to tidy up the common room, finding that in her nervous flurry, she had already cleaned everything up. She was furious at herself for acting this way, but she couldn't help it.

She sat down in an armchair, rubbing her temples and sighing deeply. Hermione certainly didn't want to look like she was waiting here for him, but she certainly didn't want to even imagine what Draco would claim as his if she wasn't here. She decided to go up to her room and get a book so it at least looked like she was doing something else.

Hermione's sensible side finally caught up with her, telling her that maybe it would be better to turn over a new page in the book of their previously horrible relationship. As fellow Heads, they should have a good relationship to set an example for all the other students and encourage interhouse relations. In fact, she could use a good laugh, which Draco's face at the absence of her hostility would provide. She ran up the stairs to her own bedroom to get the things she needed.

'o'

"Mobiliarbus," Draco muttered at his trunk, floating it behind him as he walked out of the Slytherin common room to meet up with Justin Finch-Fletchley in the Entrance Hall. I am only doing this because it's about time there was some pureblood representation in a Head position. I mean, what was Dumbledore thinking when he assigned two Mudbloods as Head Boy and Head Girl? Draco sighed exasperatedly as he reached the top of the stairs.

Justin, a little intimidated by Draco though he tried not to show it, addressed him, "Good, you made it. Uh, since you're going to be Head Boy and everything now, you need to know where the common room is. I'll explain everything to you on the way there," he said, turning on his heel and ascending the Grand Staircase. Draco followed, trying hard to pay attention to Justin's lecture on Head Duties. "Now, as Head Boy, it is very important to set a good example…"

But Draco's thoughts drifted elsewhere. I hope I can make it through this year with her as my co-Head. If we have to share a bedroom… I just don't think I could handle that. "Oy, Finch!" he called out ahead of him, interrupting Justin's monologue on being a good Head Boy. "Do I have to, er, share a room with Granger?"

"No, Malfoy," Justin replied, surprised at his sudden interjection, "You only have to share a common room with her. I don't think I'd still be alive if it had been the other way. Good luck with her. Try to stay on good terms with Hermione, both to set a good example and to survive the remainder of the year. Now, as I was saying…"

Draco tuned out again, wondering silently if there would be any more compromising situations as the one they shared that night in the Hospital Wing. Come to think of it, he wondered if Hermione had thought about that incident just as much as he had…

'o'

Hermione bounded down the stone steps toward the common room, arms full of an assortment of interesting things. She walked toward the fireplace, muttered, "Incendio" at the stack of logs and spread out everything on the rug. She propped her back up against an armchair, draping the heavy quilt she brought with her over her legs, thanking Merlin that it just happened to be a cool night.

Just as she was putting the final touches on her arrangement, she heard a click as the portrait hole closed and Draco walked into the common room. Before he could get out a single nasty word, she spoke up, "Hello, Draco- is it alright if I call you Draco? It just seems so formal to call you Malfoy. Well, I just thought that you'd like to maybe join me for some hot cocoa and marshmallows by the fire when you are done checking out your room. Are you up for it?" She smiled sweetly, sincerely loving the disbelieving look on his face.

THUD.

Draco's trunk smacked into the ground loudly because he was not able to concentrate on keeping it afloat. He was completely agape at Hermione's random act of kindness. He didn't know how to react. What happened to her? Why is she being nice? I don't get it…

Draco finally managed to gather up the ability to speak, "I…er…what the hell…?" Getting no response from Hermione but that smile that was getting creepier by the minute, he just decided to unpack, sort out his brain, and come back downstairs to see what this was all about. He magically picked up his trunk once again, made a mad dash for the stairs, letting out a huge breath when he finally reached the top and barged through the door marked with the letters 'H.B.'

He set his trunk down more gently in to a corner of the room and sat down on the bed, head in his hands. What happened to me down there? The real Draco Malfoy doesn't pussyfoot his way out of situations. He's suave, he's debonair… not skittish around girls! Why did I act like that? I mean, is she for real? Maybe she's just trying to start over again… Well, it is rather cold, and I always was a sucker for a cup of hot cocoa, so I guess I may as well just go downstairs… Finally able to calm himself down and recollect himself, Draco descended the stairs in a fashion more like the Draco most of Hogwarts had come to hate.

At the bottom of the stairs, Draco walked into the room, spotting Hermione sitting in front of the hearth, humming what sounded vaguely like Christmas carols. He silently admired her boldness for a moment before making himself known with an undeniably fake cough.

"Oh, Draco! So you decided to come down! Good!" Hermione motioned towards a cushion next to her. "Come sit down! I've got some cocoa here for you."

He smiled at her sweet innocence, not really caring if it was an act or not. He walked over and sat down on the cushion next to her, accepting the perfectly warm drink. He found it to be the best hot cocoa he ever tasted, but he wasn't about to flatter her that much. Draco just smiled and set his cup down on the hearth. "So, Granger, why are you so goddamn happy today?"

"Well, besides being the receiving end of one of Ron's misfired Cheering Charms, I guess I just wanted to give you a warm welcome." Hermione realized that although she was lying, she was up for abandoning her scruples to get him to open up to her. She was very good at reading emotions and was dying to know what troubled Draco so much. Somehow, she also felt as though she had a right to know, what with being exposed to so much of it while only being told so little.

Draco snorted. Somehow, there's something going on other than some wayward spells, but I can't put my finger on it. I didn't think any amount of Cheering Charms could get her to be nice to me, but I guess I may as well take advantage of the situation… "So, if I said that I find your appearance particularly disgusting this evening," he said, suppressing a laugh, "you would just smile right back at me?"

Hermione plastered a painful smile on her face to keep up the charade she had set up for herself. "I guess so… But that's besides the point," she ushered on, ignoring Draco's laughter. "Why don't we roast marshmallows?"

"Excuse me?"

"Oh, right, Muggle custom." Hermione rolled her eyes. "Well, usually, Muggles will go camping in the woods, make a fire in the middle of a small clearing, shove sticks through marshmallows, and hold them over the fire until the turn the appropriate golden-brown shade." She took the look on his face as a sign that he hardly understood a word she had said. "In case you missed all that, it's a rather fun way to make a rather tasty treat."

Hermione ripped open a bag of Stay-Pufts, thrusting a stick into the middle of one of them. She held the puffy white confection over the crackling flames. "Help yourself," she said to Draco, motioning to the bag and another metal rod between them.

Draco followed as best he could to copy what Hermione had done, then leaned back to rest on one hand as he gave her a triumphant smile.

"I wouldn't be so sure of yourself, Draco. Roasting a good marshmallow takes some skill, so this would probably be the worst time to be cocky about something you don't even know…"

But she was cut short by the sudden woosh of flames as Draco's marshmallow caught on fire. He threw the poker down, almost burning a hole in the rug if it hadn't been for Hermione's quick thinking. "Glacius!" She fired a Freezing Spell at the marshmallow, announcing to Draco that he might be best off throwing that one away and starting over with a little help from her.

"I don't need your help!" he responded hotly, picking up the gooey, charred mess. "I'll just eat it- I'm sure it's a hell of a lot better than yours!" he said, furiously shoving the destroyed marshmallow into his mouth.

"Oh, Draco, don't!" she warned in extreme disgust far too late.

His smug expression quickly changed to that of extreme nausea as he swallowed the contents of his mouth. After he was sure he could open his mouth without hurling, he asked in outrage, "How could any one ENJOY that?!"

"Because that's not how you do it," Hermione retorted, stifling a giggle. "They're supposed to look like this," she said, popping the marshmallow off the end of her stick and showing him the perfection of it all before popping it into her own mouth. "Mmm…let me show you how to do it," she said thickly through a mouthful of warm gooeyness.

He glared at her with hurt pride, but he let her hand him a stick with a fresh marshmallow on it.

"Now, hold it over the flames," she instructed. "No, not in the pit of the fire, like this…" She surprisingly placed her hand on his, guiding it to the right position.

Hermione let her hand linger on the spot and neither of the two seemed to mind. She turned to look at him, seeing him staring intently at his marshmallow, not knowing whether it was the heat of the fire making him blush.

She realized that she herself could feel a rosy color forming on her cheeks, so she, too, turned towards the fire, breaking the heavy silence. "It should be about done now," she proclaimed and Draco retracted the rod from the fire.

Hermione pulled the marshmallow off the end of the stick, holding it gingerly in her fingers. "You see, this is the color it is supposed to be," she told Draco, who admired the perfect marshmallow. Hermione broke it in half, showing the white insides of the marshmallow, giving half to Draco.

Somehow, he managed to get this second marshmallow down, but when he did, he was pleasantly surprised. "That's a hell of a lot better than mine," he said thickly through a mouth full of sugary sweetness.

They both laughed together, actually enjoying each other's company whether they wanted to admit it or not. They spent the rest of the night talking very little about Head responsiblilities and a lot more of the sort of things that you might converse about with an old friend. They drank cocoa and roasted marshmallows far into the night, laughing and later watching the flames die out.

"I think I should be getting to bed," Hermione said, letting out a large yawn. She was so comfortable here just sitting in front of the hearth, but she knew she would regret it in the morning.

"I'll help you get everything together," Draco said, taking his hand away from Hermione's, only realizing then that it had been resting on top of hers. Hermione turned away, blushing but pretending to pick everything up, but not refusing his offer.

They climbed the stairs silently, both thinking about the night they spent together until Hermione practically walked headlong into the door marked with 'H.G.'

Draco was the first to speak. "Well, I had a good time…" he trailed off, hoping Hermione could find something better to say.

"Yeah," Hermione responded quickly, anticipating something, though she couldn't figure out what. She felt like she should say something more, do something more, but didn't know what.

"Well, er, maybe we could walk to class tomorrow together or something?" he blurted out, not knowing why he would ask such a thing, just trying to extend the moment because he felt something was missing.

"That would be nice, but wouldn't that attract unwanted attentions?"

"Yeah, I guess you're right."

Hermione yawned again. "I'm tired, so I'm gonna head off to bed. I'll, er, see you in the morning. Maybe we'll just happen to walk to class together anyway." She flashed him a small weary smile and turned to open her door.

"Hermione, wait!"

She spun back around, extremely surprised that he actually used her first name and wondering what was so urgent.

Before she could respond or knew what was happening, she was experiencing the most wonderful sensation, similar to but better than the night in the Hospital Wing. But just as soon as it began, it was over, much to her dismay.

"Goodnight, Hermione," came Draco's voice and he headed down the stairs and towards his own bedroom.

"Goodnight," Hermione breathlessly whispered at his turned back, reluctantly going into her own room.

'o'

Later that night, Draco lay in bed, relishing in the passionate electricity of the kiss that still lingered on his lips, knowing that if he hadn't pulled away, things could have gotten way out of control. Not that he would exactly mind…

He had been so close to telling her, feeling like there was actually someone in this world he could trust. He decided right then and there that he would tell her. When the time came, he would tell her, let her know it all. The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

Suddenly, there was a tapping on his window from a particularly ugly post owl who wanted to deliver the letter attached to its leg. He unfurled the small roll of parchment, reading the four ominous words etched on the parchments surface:

Stay away from her.

A/N: Did you like it? I hope so! Okay, you all know I suck at fluff, so please don't get too mad at me about it!

I wanted to say thanks to these extra superfantabulous reviewers:::

ragingkitsune: You can't hide from me! I know your REAL identity!! Muah ha ha!

crimsonskie: So sorry the update took so long!

LadyPaine: You are so great for always reviewing! I'm soo sorry this took so long and sorry for this cliffhanger! Please forgive me!!

thebluemarshmallow: You rock! Specific, longer reviews are what this world needs more of!! I'm glad you like my story!! And yes, the story title is from Maps. Random inspiration. Gotta love it!

Soon, you will all get to find out Draco's secret…But in the meantime, REVIEW!!

Charlotte ;)