Draco and Hermione spent the day together after classes practicing again their spells. (A/N: They use the book still to cross check but they have memorized the spells in it already.) Hermione wasn't really getting into it, her head still swamped with the fact that Harry and Draco became civil and almost friendly overnight. She looked at him while he was trying to stand on the jelly legs that she had given him for the 3rd time in a row. He was holding himself up on the table his legs bending and flopping backwards, forwards and side to side. He pointed his wand at his legs, and said the counter-curse. Then he looked up at her. "Hermione, I can tell you're really not putting your heart into this are you?" He asked her stomping his feet lightly trying to get used to putting his weight on them again.

"No not really. Sorry, it's just… I feel like something's going to happen soon." She said flopping down on the silken bed. "It's hard to concentrate when I think that he's going to drop in any second and kill us."

"Ah." He turned from Hermione. "Accio quill." He said softly so Hermione wouldn't be able to hear him. A quill floated out of Hermione's pack and flew toward Draco.

"STUPEFY!" Hermione screamed at the quill, which stopped mid-air. Draco turned toward her.

"Ok, Hermione, you definitely need a break." He walked to her and took her hand in his. "Come on." He walked her slowly out the door. "I'll show you something." He walked her slowly down the stairs from the room of requirement, and slowly through secret passages as to avoid Filch. "Cover your eyes." She closed her eyes slowly and then placed her hands over them.

"I'm trusting you."

"Course you are." He looked at her hand, and saw the ring that had brought them together. He smiled and kissed her fingers softly and then he walked her slowly outside. She heard a faint crackling and stopped.

"Draco whasthat?" She asked worry creeping into her voice.

"Shh, its part of the surprise." He rubbed his hand softly on her back as to comfort her and then walked closer to the lake. He heard her take a deep breath before nodding. "It's ok. I won't let anything happen to you Hermione I promise."

"I know, stupid. I'm just nervous." He could imagine her rolling her eyes at this. He smiled. The crackling got a little louder and she slowed down a little. "Can I open my eyes soon?" she said hesitantly.

"Hold on just a few more steps ok?"

"Ok…" He lead her right before the lake and the stopped her.

"One more thing before you can open your eyes alright? I need you to sit down and then lay back." He told her encouragingly squeezing her hand.

"Draco!"

"It's a surprise and I'm not going to shag you with your eyes closed. I intend doing that when you can look at me back." She pushed her hand into the air where she had heard his voice and hit him in the chest.

"Pervert." She sat down.

"Don't you love it?" He said. She could hear him smiling and smiled back. "Lay down and then you can open your eyes."

"Ugh. Fine." She lay back. The cool grass tickled her neck. She pulled her hands away from her face and opened her eyes. "Merlin." She whispered.

"Beautiful isn't it?" He smiled and sat besides her looking up at the sky. Beautiful lights seemed to dance across it twirling slowly back and forth. "The northern lights."

"Oh Merlin Draco… They are sooo beautiful."

"Actually, its only Draco. Dra-co." He looked at her and she looked up at him matching his smirk.

"Ha-ha-ha." She lifted herself up on her elbows and kissed him gently on the lips. "They're beautiful. Thank you so much."

"Anything for you." He winked at her and then placed himself on his elbows like she was. Together they lay there watching a variety of colors moving across the sky, as if painted there carefully by an artist. He looked down around the lake watching the lights reflection on the cool water's surface. He watched it for a while before looking at Hermione. The lights were nothing compared to her beauty. Her soft chestnut hair framed her delicate face so well. He didn't even want to blink; afraid he might miss something important. Then he saw something past her. A rose bush. Since when had they grown roses on Hogwarts grounds? Especially by the lake! He stood up and started to walk towards it.

"Draco?" She watched him walking away for a few steps before pushing herself up and following him. "Draco, what is it? Draco?" He didn't answer her, but he did look over his shoulder for a second to look at her. She jogged a few steps to reach him. "Draco!"

"Something isn't right." He said in a monotone. She looked into his face and saw fear.
"Draco I don't get it." She looked at where he had been walking. "Look…" She walked closer to the rose bush. One particular rose was a dark shade of red. Almost black, she thought. It's so beautiful. She walked closer.

"Hermione I think we should go back…" Draco said uncertainly.

"No. I want to look at this." She walked closer, drawn into the dark rose. "Look, its such a deep shade of crimson… darker than blood even." Draco was the one who snapped out of it first.
"Hermione. Don't touch that!"

"Why? It's so beautiful."

"Just.. Don't touch it!" Even as he said these words she reached out with her hand to touch the rose. "Hermione STOP!" He grabbed her shoulder just as her fingertips contacted the rose petal. He felt a familiar tug around his navel as if a fishing hook was pulling him somewhere. Somewhere he was sure he really didn't want to go.

A/N: Hey I'm going out of town this weekend so I thought i should put something up before i left so i wasn't review-raped. Thank you so much Stackles for the Northern lights idea. haha i had something else planed but this fit much better. Did i do ok at describing them? I've never seen them before. They sound beautiful though... haha ok anyway. Review if you want another chapter!