A November Intervention

The breakfast confrontation was not what Hermione expected. When she arrived, Harry and Ron simply stared at her with identical expressions of shock, but neither said a word to her. She glared back until they looked away, then took a seat next to Ginny.

"What's going on?" the redhead asked as Hermione picked up a fork.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Hermione replied. She continued ignoring the two boys (well, two out of the three) who were gaping at her.

Ginny stared her down for a moment before Hermione gave in.

"Ok…well, we…you know…" The slightest grin slipped onto her face.

"Ah." Ginny smiled knowingly. "You guys finally did it."

"Shh..." Hermione looked around. "Look guys, if you want to eavesdrop on the conversation, you're going to have to be a little more discreet than that." She glared at Harry and Ron until they returned to eating.

"So then what's the problem?" Ginny asked.

"There's no problem."

"With Ron and Harry?"

"They saw us."

"Shagging?" Ginny's face wrinkled in disgust.

"After the fact."

"So you did go to their dorm for that?" Harry and Ron looked up, and Ginny narrowed her eyes. "I gave you the password so that you could get the Potions homework…" Hermione turned to Ginny with an accusatory expression. "Sorry…I actually believed them."

"Wait a minute," Hermione said, "I told you two the homework at dinner…" She paused. "Why the hell were you in my dorm!"

"We just wanted to talk to you," Ron said.

"You could've talked to me anytime—without breaking into my dorm!"

"The matter was urgent," Harry said. "And I guess we got our answer."

Hermione stared at them in disbelief and remained silent.

"Hermione, why didn't you tell us?" Ron asked.

"Tell you what?"

"That you were doing that with Draco?"

"Well, for your information, although it's none of your business, that was the first time. And who goes around telling her friends that she was…you know…with someone? No one does that!"

"So then there has been something going on," Harry said.

"I'm not going to talk about this with you two any more." Hermione stood. "We've got Potions. I hope you actually did the homework," she said before stalking off to class.

Hermione was slightly relieved by the sight of Draco already inside the Potions classroom. He smiled when she walked over.

"Hi," he finally as she took her seat.

"Hi." She smiled back.

"How are you?"

"Are you serious? You just saw me this morning."

"Well things might have changed…" Hermione looked down. "What?" Draco asked.

"Nothing…"

"Did those fools say something to you?" Draco glared at Harry and Ron as they entered the room. They glared back and took their seats at the other side of the classroom.

"No. And they're not fools, just too nosy for their own good."

"I'll say; I thought they were never going to leave yesterday."

Hermione only sighed.

"Don't worry about them—they'll come around," he said, forcing himself not to roll his eyes at the last past.

Hermione nodded and tried to focus on what the professor was saying. Draco was focusing well enough, but found what Professor Snape quite boring, as he'd already done extensive research on that particular potion. His focus was instead on caressing the part of Hermione's leg left unexposed by her robes.

She frowned at him and pushed his hand away. "Not right now."

"Sorry," he said, a little taken aback.

Hermione turned back to the professor and ignored Draco for the rest of the lesson. Her mind was obviously elsewhere, he noted, watching how she absentmindedly mixed their potion.

"Hermione is there something wrong?" he asked as the class began packing up.

"Nothing, nothing." She finally looked him in the eye. "I just need to relax a bit. I'll see you later." She quickly exited the classroom before Draco could say another word.

Hermione's thoughts were still focused on what to do about her troublesome friends when there was a knock on her door. She sighed and stood, then walked over to the portrait.

"Draco?"

"The one and only."

She grinned and opened the door.

"Hey," she said, stepping back to let him in.

"Hmm…" He began looking around after closing the door. "Read much?" he said picking up one of the many books strewn across the floor.

"It's relaxing. Like stress release or something."

Draco smiled and walked her over to the bed, thinking of his own ways of relieving stress. "Well, anyway…I've noticed that you didn't talk once to your two followers today."

"Did you?" Hermione sighed. "They're not followers, Draco…"

"Right. What's up with you and them?"

"Honestly? They really freaked me out when they found me underneath your sheets."

Draco sighed and rolled his eyes. "Well, who cares about Potty and Weasel?"

"Harry and Ron…"

"Yes, yes—are you worried that they saw you naked or something?"

"No! Are you being dense on purpose?"

Draco simply stared at her.

"I wouldn't be bothered by that—well, maybe a little. But that's not the point. My point is that they obviously are having problems swallowing the idea of us."

"That's it?"

"What do you mean 'that's it'? This is an actual pro—"

"I mean I thought it was something that didn't have an easy solution." He stood.

"What?"

"I'll be right back," he said, and walked out of the room.

Hermione sighed and fell back on the bed. Minutes later, she heard steps coming up her staircase. Draco appeared at the doorway.

"Care to join me?"

Draco took her hand and she followed him downstairs. Then she stopped. Harry and Ron were sitting in the common room, both looking as bewildered as she felt.

"Uhh, Draco…" Hermione glanced at the boys.

"Yes?" He led her to the seats across from Harry and Ron.

"What's going on?"

"Yeah, what is going on?" Ron asked.

"We're having an intervention of the sorts," Draco said gleefully. He smiled at Hermione and she frowned.

"But no one here is taking drugs," Harry eyed Draco. "Unless you are."

Draco ignored him. "So Hermione here tells me that you guys have been giving her a hard time about us sleeping together," he began

"Do you have to say it like that?" she whispered.

Draco ignored her too. "So I thought maybe we should discuss this."

Harry, Ron, and Hermione all stared at him like he was crazy. Finally, Hermione spoke.

"Draco, I don't really want to talk about this…"

"Then how else are you going to solve this problem?" Hermione said nothing. "I'll start, ok?"

"Ok…"

"So, you two listening?" Draco turned his gaze towards Harry and Ron. The two boys mumbled something and stared at him. "Ok, so how did it all start?" he said to himself. "Well, Hermione didn't really want to shag when I first mentioned it."

"Oh gods Draco!" Hermione buried her face in her hands.

"With good reason, Malfoy."

Draco ignored Harry's comment and continued. "But that's not the case anymore."

"Well that's just great Malfoy, you've managed to take advantage of yet another innocent female," Harry said, glaring. "So what's the trick? Did you put some kind of spell on her?"

"Hey! What makes you think I didn't go along with all this?" Hermione said. "Maybe we've been together since first year." Harry's glared turned on her. "I'm just kidding."

"Potter, stop looking so sour. It suits you even worse than your normal face. I suppose it might be a little difficult for you to accept, but this is no trick. So stop giving Hermione such a hard time about it."

"Please tell me this is one big joke." Harry buried his face in his hands. "Hermione, are you serious?" he asked when he looked back up.

"Yes…"

Ron spoke up next. "Ok. This is bizarre. This is also Malfoy we're talking about, which is even more bizarre."

"Maybe it is," Draco said, "and yet, Hermione is completely fine with it. Wouldn't you like to know why?"

Ron eyed him with just the slightest hint of surprise. "Fine. Go ahead."

"Isn't that nice of you?" Draco leaned back on the couch and turned back to Harry. "At least Weasley is willing to listen."

"That's because he doesn't hate you as much as I do," Harry said. "I don't trust you, Malfoy."

"Could you call him Draco?" Hermione asked.

"Call him 'Draco'!" Harry looked at her as if she'd grown another head. "This is enough. Stand up, Malfoy," he said and pulled out his wand. "We're going to duel."

"Harry!" Hermione stood and placed herself between him and Draco. "What the hell is wrong with you? Don't you see that Draco is trying to be civil? At least take a clue from Ron."

Harry lowered his wand and glared at her as she continued to speak. "Now, I know this is a little unexpected—"

"That's an understatement," Ron said.

"But you have to trust me. Draco's not up to anything. We've just finally gotten past our differences, that's all."

"Yeah," Harry said disbelievingly as he glared at Draco. "So what spell did you use, Malfoy? We're going to find out anyway, so you might as well tell me now and spare yourself a lot of pain."

"He does have a point. This is Draco Malfoy we're talking about," Ron added.

"So what?" Hermione asked.

"This is Malfoy, Hermione. MALFOY," Harry said.

"I'm still here, you know," Draco said.

"You shut your mouth," Harry said. "I can't believe this. From the day we first met he's nothing but harass us all, especially you, Hermione—and you expect me to think it's ok? For the gods' sakes, Hermione," Harry said, turning towards her, "he calls you mudblood every chance he gets."

"He doesn't anymore," she replied. "He explained—"

"You can't just explain away six years of deliberate harassment." Harry turned to Draco. "You're up to something," he said, pushing a finger in Draco's face, "and I want to know what it is. What exactly did he do to you?"

"I think we know what they did, so let's not go into detail about it," Ron said. "I'm a little confused about the whys, but maybe he's telling the truth, Harry. I really don't see what's—"

"Because he's Malfoy!" Harry yelled, standing up.

"And who am I anyway?" Draco stepped in front of Hermione and stood face-to-face with Harry. "You don't know me."

"You're right. And maybe if I did know you I'd trust you."

"And you can't trust me?" Hermione yelled.

"Not when you're shacking up with Malfoy. That's ridiculous."

"Well, if it's so ridiculous, then you can leave. Now." She pointed to the portrait "Go away."

Harry stared at her in surprise, which quickly made way to anger. Without another word, he turned around and walked to the portrait. Ron stood and followed him, stopping to give the couple one last puzzled look before he closed the portrait behind him.

Hermione turned to Draco, who was now sitting on the couch again, rubbing his temples with his fingers. She frowned and took a seat next to him.

"Well. So much for your brilliant plan, Malfoy…"