Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter….wish I did…but I don't…

525,600 Minutes: In Truths That She Learned, or in Times That He Cried-
-Chapter Six

Malfoy walked out of his room just in time to see Hermione sprinting into hers and the door shutting swiftly. Odd he thought. What was she doing sprinting into her room in the middle of the night. The seventeen year old boy walked down to the stairs and made his way to the library of the house.

Draco's head was busy with thoughts. He couldn't believe that he was in the head quarters of the Order of the Phoenix. He didn't, even, fully understand what exactly the Order did. But they did, perhaps, save his life and for that he was some what thankful. Yes, he wasn't fully thankful, only somewhat for he's a Malfoy and Malfoy's can handle anything.

He picked a book from a near by shelf and plopped down on the couch, making dust fly into the air all around him. "Disgusting" he said to himself. He may be a little bit thankful, but this place was horrible. Everything was old and falling apart. Dust was everywhere. And little magical beings and bugs could be found under every nook and cranny. Plus, he was sharing a room with Potter. No Malfoy should ever have to live like this. What would his father think? If my father-his thought was cut off, and his face turned in anger. He immediately pushed the thought of his father aside.

He was about to open the book in front of him, when something on the coffee table caught his eye. He picked up the book and read The Noah Conspiracy.

"What?" he looked at it, turning the book over in his hands. Before reading the back synopsis. "Must be a muggle book." Under normal circumstances the mere thought of touching a muggle book would disgust Draco. But this wasn't normal circumstances, and there was something about the book that drew him to it. He couldn't explain it, but it did. Very slowly he opened the book to page one.

Hermione slowly opened her eyes. She hadn't gotten any sleep last night. Ever since her sprint up to her room, Hermione's mind had been clouded with thoughts. How could she be in any possible danger? What was it that she had? It made no sense. If she had some of importance or value, she would have known about it, right? And the thing she was wanted by Voldemort? It was all to strange. Voldemort no longer had one victim, but three….Harry, Hermione, but who was the third.

"Hermione? Hermione!" the girl was thrown from her thoughts but someone saying her name. She returned her focus to the room and saw Harry standing by her bed.

"I'm sorry Harry, what was it you were saying?" she said with the shake of her head.

"I asked if you had a goodnight sleep."

"Oh, well, no. Not really. What about you?"

"It was horrible. Malfoy snores so bloody loud. I was ready to suffocate him again."

Hermione hadn't heard a word Harry said past 'loud'. Malfoy! He was the third student. The other night, he was wanted by those Death Eaters. But why? How was he tied into all of this.

"Hermione!" Harry almost shouted.

"W-what?"

"Are you alright?"

"Harry, close the door." she demanded, leaving no room for argument.

"What? Why?" Harry hadn't seen Hermione act like this in a long time.

"You won't believe what I overheard last night."

Malfoy sat on the edge of the couch, eagerly reading the last page of the book. He had spent hours last night reading it before falling asleep on the couch. After a few hours sleep he woke with the sun and began to read the book once again. It was now noon and he hadn't stopped reading. He read the last sentence and froze, "What!" he nearly shouted.

Somewhere behind him he heard a chuckle and petite voice say: "Not a very pleasant ending, is it?" He whirled around to see Hermione leaning against the door frame, arms crossed about her chest, smirking at him. How dare she give him that look.

"You know, I never thought I would see the day." she paused only briefly and her tone changed to a sarcastic one. "That the high and mighty pureblood Slytherin, Draco Malfoy would be reading muggle book. I would have thought the filth was too much for you to handle. My, my Draco," she emphasized the use of his first name, "if your Father could see you now." By then, Hermione had made her way into the room, and was standing by the arm of the couch.

Draco was standing, facing her, her book clutched tightly in his hand and his knuckles white. How dare she think those things, and then have the nerve to say them out loud. He was so mad he couldn't speak.

Steadying himself, he took a deep breath and stepped forward. "You know Granger, I'm surprised you are even capable of owning a book such as this one." he held up the book, giving it a little shake. "I mean, our school supplies, books and all, were quite expensive. I can't believe you had enough money left over to buy this book. What did your parents have to do. Sell your house? Though I suppose that wasn't enough to cover the costs." he sneered the last sentence, smirking the biggest smirk he had in all his time.

Hermione glared at him. If looks could kill Draco Malfoy would be dead a hundred times over. She took a step towards him, "What are we going to do with you Malfoy." she whispered in an attempt to control her boiling anger. "First you read a muggle book. Then you insult me but don't even," he voice turned to deadly sarcastic. "have the decency to call me mudblood," she emphasized the insult and paused. Draco almost took a step back due to Hermione's usage of words. "Come to think of it, you haven't called me mudblood since last term. Tsk, tsk. Perhaps I should write your Father." her smirked returned. "And what address shall I tell the owl to deliver it to? Azkaban? I heard he got sent back there, after being put on probation. What did he do this time? Kill someone?"

Something in Draco snapped. She had crossed the line. In all the years he had known Hermione and in all of their bantering, she had never crossed the line, he had, but she never. In those few sentences she had managed to cross that single line.

Malfoy's grip on the book in his right hand increased, and his left hand's fist became tighter. He did everything in his power to not grab his wand, and curse her. "Keep your disgusting nose in your own damn business, you filthy little mu-" he paused. Hermione waited for him to finish the insult, that low slap in the face, but it never came.

She raised her eyebrows, then took a step towards him. Their toes were now touching, she looked up at him, her chin defiantly pointing towards his chest. "What's the matter Malfoy? Cat got you tongue?" she whispered. Their eyes were glaring into each others. Hatred burning through both their beings, knowing that it would ever leave. She waited for a response but got none.

"Go on Malfoy, I dare you, finish that sentence."

Draco glared down at her. He couldn't finish the sentence. He wanted to so bad, but he couldn't. He inwardly cursed himself, and gave himself a mental kick. Without saying anything, Draco left the room, making sure that on his was his shoulder knocked into Hermione's. He hoped that she was pushed to the floor by him doing that, but he didn't look back to see if she was.

Indeed, the force of Malfoy's push had sent Hermione tumbling to the couch. She sat, sprawled across the couch, staring at the door to the room. Her eyes were wide, and her mouth was hanging open. Her life was getting more and more complicated. First, both herself and Malfoy are chased by Death Eaters, she discovers she's in danger, then she finds the Draco Malfoy reading a muggle book, then he showed some emotion by his reaction to the end, he freaked out at the mention of his own father, and finally Draco Malfoy couldn't even insult her. Plus, he still had her book.

Author's Note: I'm back! Well, what do you think? I had no idea how this chapter was going to turn out. I just started writing, I was really nervous about their little fight, but I think it turned out ok….

Tigerlily727: Yes, the title comes from the song Seasons of Love from the musical Rent. You got to sing it in chorus? That's cool. Thanks for the review!

Alanpatty07: Lol, I'm glad to have you reading the story. And I'm glad to know that it's different from all of the other ones out there, that's what I was hoping for. Sorry, this chapter wasn't that long, but Monday's might be. Thanks for the review!

Monkeystarz: I would say that you are definitely onto something, I don't want to give a lot away, but keep that thought! Congrats! Thanks for reviewing!

Silent-Serpent: I must say, that you have an awesome name. Anywho! Hermione has something. And as for Malfoy…I don't wanna give a lot away, but you'll find out in a chapter or two, maybe three…lol. Thanks for reviewing!

Exploded toilet bowl, ktdavey4life, meghan, jesska-14, DMHg 2gether 4ever, and Orli's EEPs Chica: Thank you all for your loverly reviews!

Well, I'm off to go out of town. I'll be back Monday, hopefully with a chapter. I'm thinking I will update then, but if not, then there will definitely be an update Tuesday. But more than likely Monday!

The Lonely Goatherd