Hermione pushed her hair out of her face as she walked out of Draco's room. After some serious sessions of "that kissing stuff," they'd decided it was time to turn in for the night. She went into her bathroom and brushed her teeth, and was in the middle of washing her face when she heard someone knocking on the main door. Quickly drying off her face, she hurried to answer, swinging the door open to find a breathless Ron and Harry.

"Whoa guys, what's the matter?" Hermione stepped back to let the two boys in. They quickly made for the sofa and flung themselves down. Hermione went and stood over them and Harry held up his hand to show that he couldn't speak at the moment. Ron merely lay there, gasping for air like a fish out of water. After another minute, Harry was finally able to talk.

"We…just…ran…all the way…up…here…"

"Why? What happened?" Hermione sat down between them, alarmed.

"We heard…Snape…talking to…someone."

"Snape? What about? Who was he talking to?"

"About…someone who betrayed them in the past…we think he meant the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. But we don't know who he was talking to, we didn't recognize the voice and they disappeared before we could get a good look."

"Do you remember anything they said?" Hermione was desperate for some hard facts.

"We missed most of the conversation." Ron said. "All we really heard was that Snape had to keep an eye on whoever this person is, make sure they didn't betray 'them' again."

"Who's them?" Hermione asked.

Ron shrugged. "I'm guessing Snape and whoever he was talking to."

"When is the new teacher coming, anyway?"

"Day after tomorrow." Harry sighed. "One more day before we really have to get to work, now that all our classes will be back on schedule."

"Hermione…?" Ron was staring intently at her.

"What?"

"What's going on with you and Draco?"

"Nothing!" Hermione blushed and looked away from him.

"Nothing? Then why did he help us today? I know it's not because of any secret affection for me or Harry, at least I hope not, and I know Harry said something to him in the Three Broomsticks that I'm not being told." Ron looked a bit hurt. "I'm your best friend Hermione. I think I have a right to know."

Harry and Hermione glanced at each other, Harry a bit inquisitively, as he wasn't even quite sure about Draco and Hermione.

"Right now? Not much…I guess you could say we're with each other, but we're not going out. We're talking it slow."

"But you guys hate each other!" Ron frowned, obviously confused.

"I know. Things changed pretty quickly. He kissed me on the train on the way here and I blew it off. Then everything with Viktor happened and you guys know he saved me both at Hogsmead and here when Viktor first arrived. And, I don't know…we're just taking it slow, seeing where things go."

Ron nodded, obviously still confused. "I guess that's ok…but if he hurts you…!"

"I know Ron, you'll tear him to pieces."

"Yeah!"

"Well, I think it's time we all got to bed. You two need to get rest after your little exercise getting up the stairs."

Harry and Ron said good night, each hugging Hermione before they left to go back to their House.

Hermione lay awake in her bed that night, thinking about what they had told her about Snape and this mysterious person. She was definitely going to have to keep a close eye on this new teacher, and Snape, just in case.

The next morning she was one of the first down to breakfast. Draco was still sleeping when she woke and she decided not to wake him. Harry and Ron took their places next to her a few minutes later and they tucked in to their food. Hermione had slowly been building her appetite back up in the few days she had been at school, and now she looked like she was just eating a healthy amount, but she still had not gained any weight back.

"We thought we'd go see Hagrid today." Harry said as he shoveled hot cakes into his mouth.

Hermione nodded. "Sounds good. I normally see him around the grounds and I haven't seen him at all yet this year, at least not after the Start-Of-Term Feast."

Harry and Ron shook their heads. "Neither have we."

"That's strange." Hermione hesitated with her fork halfway to her mouth. "I hope he's all right."

After breakfast they left the school and walked across the grounds to Hagrid's hut. There was smoke rising out of the chimney and it seemed calm. Harry ran up the steps and knocked on the door. Inside, Fang began to bark.

"All righ', all righ', shut yer mouth!" Hagrid shouted from inside, just before he swung open the door. " 'Arry! 'Ermione! Ron!" He gathered all three of them up into one big hug.

"How are you, Hagrid?" Harry barely managed to say without being muffled.

"Jus' fine! I'm on me way out to the Forbidden Forest righ' now." He smiled widely. "It's a surprise for this school year. We'll have to have tea and a chat later."

Before any of them could say anything, he swung a bag over his shoulder and walked off. They looked at each other and shrugged, then walked into his cottage when they heard Fang yelping for attention. After playing with him for a bit they shut the cottage up and headed back to the school.

"Wonder what he's up to?" Harry said, thoughtfully.

"It's probably big and hairy, or big and scaly, or big with lots of legs." Ron commented, shuddering a bit. He still had not recovered from their encounter with Hagrid's "friend" Aragog, in their second year.

"Let's just hope he doesn't get himself killed." Hermione shook her head. As they got closer to the school, they saw that a carriage had pulled up to the front doors. Trunks were being unloaded and someone was getting out. They stepped out slowly and when they looked up, they looked straight at Harry. Harry felt a searing pain go through his forehead and he hissed in pain. Hermione and Ron both grabbed a hold of him in case he passed out. As they guided him towards the building, Hermione looked at the stranger, obviously the new teacher.

He looked very familiar. Too familiar.

Once inside, they led Harry up to the Gryffindor House and straight to his bed. He protested that he was fine and nothing was wrong, but Hermione would hear none of it and she tucked him in firmly and shut the curtains.

"I need to go talk to someone." She said to Ron as she ran out.

Racing up the stairs to her House, she prayed Draco would be there. Her prayers were granted, as she ran smack into him as he walked out the door.

"Whoa Hermione, where's the fire?" Draco smirked.

"I need to talk to you, now!"

"Well, I was gonna go have breakfast." Draco looked longingly at the door.

"You missed it. You'll have to eat more of your cake thingies. This can't wait anyway. That new teacher is here!"

"And…?" Draco couldn't see what was so exciting about that.

"And the second he looked at Harry, Harry's scar started to hurt, and he almost passed out!"

Even Draco knew how serious that was. "Well, what did the guy look like?"

Hermione started pacing back and forth. "I don't know! I just know he looked so familiar, like I should know who he was and I just couldn't place him! I don't think it's someone I want to place either."

"Have they told us his name yet?"

Hermione shook her head. "No, but we'll find out soon enough. Tomorrow."

Draco got a mischievous smile on his face. "Not to take away from the gravity of the situation, but would you be up for more of 'that kissing stuff?'"

Hermione blushed, then nodded. Draco smiled and leaned down, brushing his lips gently against hers. Hermione wrapped her arms around his waist, leaning against him as the kiss deepened. Draco's hands came up to wrap in her hair, effectively pulling her closer to him. After a few minutes like this, Hermione pulled away and leaned against Draco.

"I have a bad feeling about this new teacher."

Draco said nothing as he stroked her hair and held her tightly.

Please R/R and Thank you for the reviews!