Disclaimer. Im not JK Rowling.

A/N Sorry its been a while. It was my birthday (21 finally!) yesterday, and between that, work, and homework, i didnt have enough time to do this. Ill try to update more then once a week, but I guarentee nothing. Enjoy!

The next few days were full of tension between the two heads. They were avoiding each other, but not having a very good go at it. They would go to classes later then normal, hoping to avoid the other, but found that the other had the same idea. Meals were the same. Both felt that they needed to talk, but just couldn't. Depression was claiming both heads slowly but surely. However, the emotional state of the Heads did not go unnoticed.

Professor Dumbledore was sitting at his desk, watching Fawks preen himself. His gaze went back to the notes that he had received from a few of the teachers. Both notes were the same, but for the person to which it referred.

"Draco Malfoy's marks are slipping. I think there is something wrong with out head boy. Someone needs to talk to him."

This note had surprised Dumbledore. Draco's marks had never slipped, or rather, not this badly. However, the Headmaster had been more surprised by the note that followed.

"Hermione Granger's marks have been slipping. We believe that there is something wrong with our head girl. Someone needs to talk to her about this."

Dumbledore was quite shaken by this turn of events. His heads slipping? That wasn't possible. Throughout their years here, neither had slipped at all. Hermione's didn't even drop a little when she was using the time turner in third year.

Dumbledore thought for a long while, trying to figure out how to tell the Heads. He finally decided that he would owl them with the information, and hope that they come to him to talk about whatever it was that was distracting them.

Hermione was just sitting down for breakfast when the morning owls came. She wasn't expecting anything, since no one ever wrote her. Her mother detested owls, and did her best to avoid the creatures.

She was surprised when she saw a great big white snowy owl, not unlike Hedwig, fly towards her. The owl dropped a note in front of her, and flew off towards the other side of the Great Hall, obviously bearing another note.

Draco watched the snowy owl drop a note of to Hermione. The girl he was desperately avoiding. He watched as the owl headed towards his own table, bearing another note. The owl flew right at Draco, and neatly dropped the letter in front of him, and then flew off towards the windows again with the rest of the owls.

Draco picked up his note and wondered whom it was from. He didn't recognize the owl. He tore open the note, and read it.

"Dear Draco Malfoy.

I regret to inform you that your marks are slipping. The teachers are worried. You can still make up the lost marks through extra homework, and increased participation in your classes. Should you feel the need to talk about whatever it is that is bothering you, please feel free to talk to any of the staff members, as well as myself.

Good luck

Professor Albus Dumbledore

Headmaster

Draco reread the note. His marks? Dropping? His father would have his head for this. Draco contemplated this turn of events, and wondered if Hermione had gotten the same note. He knew what he had to do. He had to stop moping around, sulking even, and get back to work. He knew that he could never have the top mark of his year, since Hermione was the smartest witch, but he needed to be second best.

Draco stood up from the table, got his book bag, and walked of to class. He needed to get his past out of the present. He needed to stop thinking about Hermione, even though he didn't want to. He knew that he could never have her, so why did he still want her?

Draco thought about this his entire way to class, making up his mind. He needed to forget about her, and concentrate on his schoolwork. He would ask for the extra homework, and study more often, even if it meant seeing Hermione more often.

Hermione grabbed the note off the table, and wondered whom it was from. She decided that she should eat first, and then read the note. She knew that she was starting to lose weight, since she hadn't been eating well these past few days. She just hoped that no one else noticed the change.

Hermione pulled a piece of toast towards her, and buttered it. She looked up as someone touched her shoulder. Ginny.

"Hey Hermione, how are you?" Ginny asked her best friend, sitting down beside her.

"Oh, I'm not too bad Gin, how about you?" Hermione asked, mentally asking herself how long it had been since she actually talked to Ginny.

"I'm fine, as usual. Listen; do you want to hang out with me tonight? I can't figure out what I want to be for the ball, and its only 3 days away!" Ginny exclaimed.

"The ball? Oh, the ball! Shit, I forgot all about it! Ya, Ill come help you Gin. How about after dinner? We can do this in my dorm, if you want." Hermione said, snapping out of her depression with this new news about the ball.

"Sounds good Hermione. Its time for class, Ill see you later!" Ginny said, getting up from the table, with her book bag in hand.

Hermione followed her shortly. How could she have forgotten about the ball? It was a good thing that everything had already been planned out. She just needed to confirm everything with the rest of the Prefects. She decided to owl them tonight, and have a meeting the following night, so that everything was set.

Hermione walked towards class, and thought about how odd it was that she had received an owl. Hermione stopped dead in her tracks. THE NOTE!!! She still hadn't read it. She pulled it out of her pocket, and started walking again.

"Dear Hermione Granger.

I regret to inform you that your marks are slipping. The teachers are worried. You can still make up for what you have lost, through extra homework, and an increased participation in your classes. Ms. Granger, should you need to talk to someone about what is bothering you, please feel free to see any of our staff, or myself.

Good luck!

Professor Albus Dumbledore

Headmaster.

'Fuck' Hermione thought. 'How could my marks be slipping? Have I really not been paying attention that much? Stupid memories! Why cant I seem to forget?'

She contemplated her marks, and the ball as she walked to class. She decided that this depression had gone on long enough. This wasn't her. She wouldn't, no, couldn't let this be her. Hermione walked into class, determined to do better, to live up to her bookworm title.

Hermione lived up to her mental decision, always having her hand up, knowing all the answers, and asking for extra homework. Hermione felt better about herself, better then she had in weeks. She walked out of her classes with a smile on her face. She didn't see it, but her teachers smiled also, knowing that the real Hermione was back.

Hermione walked to dinner that night, knowing that she had things to do, rather then mope around, feeling sorry for herself. She had sent the Prefects messages earlier, and had made notes on what needed to be done, and confirmed.

Hermione walked into the Great Hall, gave her greetings to her friends, and sat down at the Gryffindor table, beside Ginny. Harry and Ron were not there yet, nor were some other students. Hermione thought nothing of this, and heaped food on her plate, feeling like she hadn't eaten in a week.

"Still up for tonight 'Mione?" Ginny asked between mouthfuls of food.

"Ya, I am." Hermione replied.

"Good. I have to go to my room, to get some things, so I'll just meet you up there." Ginny said.

'Sounds good." Hermione said.

Dinner continued as normal, and Harry and Ron showed up a few moments after the girls' conversation. The meal was full of conversation, and food, everyone enjoying themselves, finally feeling the tension that had been building in the school disappear.

Hermione walked up to her common room, feeling much better. She knew that she had friends that cared for her, as well as teachers that did too. She walked into the room, and saw Draco sitting on a couch, doing his homework. He barely looked up at her.

'Hmm, interesting. I haven't seen him do that in a while. Did he get a note like mine? But why would his marks be slipping?' Hermione thought to herself.

Hermione thought about this, as she walked up to her room. Ginny would be here soon, and she wanted to change out of her robes before she came.