The rest of the week passed much the same as the days before. Hermione and Draco passed the days together, they brewed potions for Snape, polished cauldrons for Filch, delivered letters and packages for McGonagall. In the evenings, they had dinner together; sometimes they would walk the grounds until the moon was high in the night sky. Other nights, Dumbledore called them into his quarters, they would snack on chocolate delights and hear stories of the old ways. Honestly, Hermione could never remember a time in her life when she had been happier.

Draco looked down at his arms, they were even more toned and golden brown than they had been when he arrived at Hogwart's only a few days before. He and Hermione sat with Dumbledore in front of the fire; Dumbledore was going on about the way that it was nearly 150 years before, when he had been at Hogwart's. But Draco wasn't listening anymore. He couldn't take his eyes off Hermione. They had not kissed since Tuesday night at the picnic dinner, but there had not been a waking moment that he had not thought of her. He stared at her beautiful face; she was spellbound with Dumbledore's stories. Draco looked forward to the next week that he would spend with Hermione. He didn't mind the work; in fact he loved all the activity buzzing around preparing for the next school year. He had lead such a comfortable life that he had never worked in the garden or cleaned, but much to his surprise, it was fun. But he had to admit that the best part was Granger's company. He also dreaded the end of the week, all the other students would be arriving and he was afraid that he and Hermione would return to their old rivalry. The Golden Trio would never accept him and he was sure that the proud Slytherin's wouldn't accept Hermione, not that she would ever leave her friends side. At least they would have their evenings, he thought, and the head business. He could always make excuses to be with her. They should be partners in potions because they were heads, they should study together because they had many of the same classes. They should do projects together because their rooms were so close and they could work later into the night. Yeah, that was it. But why did he feel that he needed an excuse to be with Hermione, and why did he need to be with her anyway? Draco's head was ready to split with all the thoughts that ran through his head. But his head wasn't the only thing that was full. For the first time in his life, he cared. When Hermione smiled, he felt good, and when Hermione was sad, it tore his insides. He had never felt this way before but he couldn't say that he minded it.

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