Later that night, Hermione, Harry, Ron and Ashlee were sitting beside a flaming fire. The Gryffindor red seemed to echo off the walls in the common room, sending a cozy feeling between the friends. Harry sat upon a lounge chair, red leather. Hermione sat on the floor her back resting against Harry's chair, her knees to her chest, her fingers instinctively twisting the ring around her finger. Ron and Ashlee were cuddled up on the love seat, Ron's arms wrapped around Ashlee, holding her tightly against his chest. The two were playfully tickling each other. While they were flirting, Harry had the chance he had been waiting for to finally ask Hermione who that someone very special was.

"So... Hermione. Nice ring." Harry said trying to sound casual but missing badly. Watching her find so much pleasure from a simple piece of jewelry made the giver important. That made him feel more uncomfortable seeing as who he thought the giver was. He shifted in his lounge chair which for once wasn't feeling all too comfy.

"Oh, thanks Harry. It's the first ring I've ever really been fond of actually." As if by magnetic force her eyes were drawn to the crystal that law embedded in the silver band. She smiled inadvertently. The security she felt just by looking at the ring made her oblivious to everyone around her. That is until she noticed a silence in the room and looked up to find the flirting couple had ceased their flirting and all eyes were on her. Eager eyes from Ashlee, curious from Ron, and cautious from Harry. "What?"

"Oh, nothing." Ashlee smiled wider. "Its just that we have made bets on three different guys in this school who we think would be the primary suspects for who that 'someone very special' is and none of us agree on who it is. If you don't mind, do tell us so that I can win this petty bet."

"Are you guys honestly serious?" Hermione sat there eyes now forgotten all about the ring, searching her friends faces hoping they were kidding.

"Honestly serious."

"Scouts honor." Ron rose to fingers.

"Ron you're not even in scouts. You probably don't know what it even IS!" Hermione retorted.

"So? It's a muggle phrase. And I think I like it." Ron smiled sheepishly.

"He's cute isn't he?" Ashlee asked.

"Who? Ron or my someone?"

"Ron." Ron immediately turned red, the blood mainly rushing to his ears. "See, cute."

"Ya, whatever."

"Ok, so who is it? I have my money on Neville." Ashlee changed position to lean in, watching Hermione's face for a reaction.

"You guys are so stupid. I can't believe you bet on me!" Hermione murmured indignantly.

"And I bet that it was Harry." Ron stated matter-a-factly.

"And what about you Harry? Who did you bet on? I mean since all my friends already had one, and you're the only person here quiet, might as well spill it." Hermione said with a trace of venom in her voice.

"I don't want it to be who I bet on." Harry said quietly.

"Well, then let's drop the matter and let me go to bed." Hermione stood turned her back toward the group and started walking away, hoping that they would let her.

"I think its Draco."

Draco felt his blood run cold. He turned to his friends. "What is your PROBLEM? Will you leave me ALONE? Gosh! Do you even know your way around campus without me? You little bloody SHITS!" Crabbe and Goyle stood in shock at Draco's sudden outburst. Then they turned and walked away like puppy dogs with their tails between their legs. What the hell was that all about? Draco wondered. I have never had that problem with my emotions before. He felt his stomach lurch and his guilt swell. His apology was trying to crawl out of his throat. What the hell? He swallowed harshly and turned back toward his dormitories. They weren't really even doing anything annoying. He paused at his door, his hand resting on the handle. How much do you want to bet this has something to do with Hermione?

Hermione turned back toward her friends, her hands clenching at her sides. Trying to keep her voice calm she looked into everyone of their eyes, proving to them she held no fear behind her own. "And what if it is, Harry? Is it a crime? Am I not allowed to choose who to fall for?" She swallowed the lump of swarming anger that was inching toward her open mouth. But soon the words were pouring out anyway. "Why is it that whenever I am happy you guys always bring me down? What is so wrong about me being happy? Can't you for once, I mean just once, allow me to smile without you questioning what it could be that makes me this way? Merlin sakes, cant you guys just be friends for once and not hovering brothers looking over my shoulder 24/7!" She turned on her heel and she ran up the winding steps to her room and through her frustrated tears whispered "comnpiengos." The door locked quickly and she was finally alone. She jumped onto her bed and grabbed her pillow. She squeezed until her arms felt limp, and then screamed until her voice was hoarse. Well, forgive me Potter. Forgive me for going against everything. Forgive me for listening to my heart instead of my head. I am sorry. Sorry I FEEL. Damn it! She lifted up her head and slammed her fist into the pillow now matted from her tears. She had always been known for her level headiness and now she was falling apart. Why? Why do I feel this? She stopped crying and closed her eyes. She focused on the feeling of the tears running down her face. Her eyes opened quickly. How much do you want to bet this has something to do with Draco?

Draco pulled his notebook back out from his backpack and opened to the page he had finished writing on. He quickly said the spell and started to write.

Hermione. Are you ok? I think the bond thing is going haywire. I know this is random but did anything happen to make you feel angry recently?

Hermione got up from the bed her hand twitching noticeably. She walked over to the table and glided her hand over the contents. It immediately picked up the quill that was lying there and then shook back and forth until it reached parchment. Then in Draco's scrawl it began to scratch out the message. Hermione sat down at the chair and sighed. A single tear landed on the paper, running the ink. She scratched out a message underneath it and then paused for his reaction.

Yes actually. Um. Harry, Ron, and Ashlee just found out about you.

And that made you mad?

No. It was kind of the way they found out. And how they took it.

Wait did you tell them?

Not exactly.

Go on.

Well, they actually made a bet on me. To see who the guy was that gave me the ring.

Oh.

Yah. Can you believe that?

Well we have been acting strangely…

I guess so but STILL.

Who figured it out?

Take a wild guess.

Harry.

Yep.

Wow he must not have been too happy.

Of course not. Seeing you is like betraying him. I mean after all you guys hate each others' guts.

Duh. But it's more than that now.

What do you mean?

Hermione. If he knows that you like me… he is going to hate me more.

Why.

Because… it's just human nature.

What do you mean? You're not making any sense.

Hermione, he knew you had that thing for him for like ever. Now that the thing is gone and I'm the replacement, well it's like I'm taking away the thing that made him feel important, different. And sense I'M your choice to him your not just liking me, your liking me and defiling him.

What? Why would he think that?

It's a guy thing.

Oh. Ack, that is so annoying.

Ack?

Yes. Ack.

I see.

Well, what am I supposed to do?

What do you want to do?

Excuse me but you are in this too.

Yes well, I'm not his friend, you are. It is your decision.

You suck.

Suck what?

Draco.

Sorry. I'm sorry.

Whatever. A tear landed on the parchment again.

Are you ok?

Of course I'm ok.

Stop lying to me.

What do you mean?

You are crying.

No I'm not. Another tear landed on the parchment, blurring the words.

Stop lying to me. You're crying and I can see it.

Whatever.

Don't whatever me. Meet me at 8:30 outside by the lake. Ok?

That's in 15 minutes! And it's in the middle of winter.

Here, there is a spell in the book, the one we got. It will keep you warm.

But they didn't work last time.

You didn't wear the ring last time.

Oh.

Exactly. Do you want the spell or not?

Fine, since I know you're going to make me go anyway.

Ok. Here it is.

When the elements chill my bones

When the wind tears through my clothes

Keep me safe and keep me warm

That I may be shielded from the storm.

Fine. I'll see you in 15.

Hermione shut her notebook after she had rewritten the spell on her hand. She walked over to the bathroom and splashed water on her face. The cool of the water seemed to awaken her senses, and clear her clouded thoughts. She dried off her face with a towel and quickly smudged on some lip balm before heading toward her door. "Laxioexplicio" Hermione whispered to the doorknob. It unlocked and she slipped out her door, closing it behind her. She slowly tiptoed down the steps. All of a sudden Ron, Harry, and Ashlee stood from their seats. Hermione raised her hands to her temples, and shut her eyes. I don't need this right now! She opened her eyes only to find her friends were frozen. Not by water, but by time. Thank Merlin. She thought. But after that she seemed to want to add: No, thank Draco.

Hermione wrapped her sweater tightly around her as she made her way down the steps. She turned back only to see Harry, Draco, and Ron start to move again, only in slow motion. Their movements were blended together like someone had smudged them. She started to take the steps two at a time; even so their movements began to speed up, until they too were moving at her rate. The little movement they did though was just turn around the room to see where she went. Then, Ron walked over and slid his arm around Ashlee's waist, and Harry sat down upon the step to the guys' dormitories with his fists against his chin.

Hermione finally made it to the bottom of the stairs. She rushed outside and was shocked at just how cold it was. The snow was drifting softly to the ground, and the ice seemed to be dripping off of every ledge at Hogwarts. Hermione lifted her shaky hand and said the spell. It didn't work. She repeated it again and flicked her wrist at the same time. All of a sudden an umbrella of warmth seemed to open above her head and shower down until there was a cone around her. She looked at the floor of her little cone. The grass was green instead of covered in snow. She walked out toward the lake, the cone staying directly overtop of her. It seemed to erase her trail, like the grass was just an optical illusion. She bent down and felt it with her fingertips. No that is real grass. She saw Draco in the distance and hurried her walk. Finally, she caught up to him.

"This is so wicked!" She smiled widely as she sat beside him on a boulder.

"Cool huh?" Draco smiled happy that she was happy. His insides were tearing him apart because his conscience and his body's thoughts were fighting full force. His arms were shuddering from want to wrap themselves around Hermione, but his mind was chastising him telling him he would loose her if he was so rash. Hermione then did the unexpected. She wrapped her arm within his and leaned her head on his shoulder. He looked over at her in surprise.

"Oh sorry." She started to undo her arm from his but he grabbed her hand and smiled.

"No, I was just surprised that's all."

"Ok." She leaned back on him, enjoying the feelings she got from his touch. "Thanks for freezing time for me."

"Freezing time?" Draco looked at her skeptically.

"Yah… didn't you freeze it for like 3 seconds?"

"No."

"Oh Merlin! That must have been ME!" Hermione's eyes widened in disbelief.

"You froze time! Hermione that's GREAT!" Draco laughed and pulled her to her feet. He twirled her around both of them laughing. They fell on the ground.

"Can I ask you something?" Hermione said her back leaning against Draco's chest.

"Anything."

"Why are you so kind? No offence you were one hell of a prick last year." She noticed his chest tighten.

"I don't know. It was just like one day I woke up and I was different. Do you like it?"

"YES." Hermione smiled and then leaned up to kiss him on the cheek. "I like it a lot.

They lay there together, listening to each other's heartbeats and counting each other's breathes. They talked about nothings but at that time it felt like every things. And then they stood and holding hands, walked back to the castle.

M/S: So what do you guys think? Cheesy? Not cheesy enough? Get on with the plot and leave the romance behind? Keep the romance and suspend the rest?

Review!