I'm giving you guys a heads up. This chapter will be a lil'gushy and romantic and stuff so, yeah, just thought I'd warn ya. I'll warn ya about something else as well. I don't write romantic stuff really well, so bear with me will ya. Thanks…Oh yeah and it'll be shorter than the rest of the chapters so far.

Chapter 11: Hermione's Thanks

The day before Christmas, Hermione received news from the Ministry of Magic, that her parents were apprehended and were sent to jail for abuse. They would be transported to prison where they were going to stay for five years and then be on probation for about two years. Harry, Ron, Ginny, Neville and Luna were shocked when they heard the news about her parents and were even more shocked because she hadn't told them, but the only thing that was on Hermione's mind was how did anyone find out and who did?

Tesania, Asef, and Lilith walked up to Draco and Tesania turned him and pushed him to an area in the room where they new they would get privacy.

"Was it you who told the Ministry of Magic about Hermione's parents?" asked Lilith. She was wearing black Capri's with white stitching here and there on them and on the left leg there were numerous patches of bands. Her shirt was sporting the band HIM, Draco noticed that she wore lots of clothes that sported the bands Him and CKY and a guy named Bam.

"Yeah, I overheard you three talking and I decided to help." Admitted Draco innocently.

"Why you don't like the Gryffindors? Why would you change your mind about them now?" asked Tesania. Draco looked at her and his smiled faded and he looked at her with hurt in his eyes.

"Because she helped me." Tesania looked at him confused. "Without her, you and I wouldn't be going out anymore."

"You heard what she said to me?" asked Tesania. Asef and Lilith sensed what was going on and decided to leave.

"We'll be in the library." and with that they left.

"I went looking for you after Vanex had seen. It was a whole set up between him and Pansy. I found you by the lake with Granger and heard you guys talking. I was about to leave, but then I heard what Granger was saying and I decided to stay. So in return I helped her." Draco stood up and grabbed Tesania's hands. He felt odd doing this, but he cared about her and wanted to say what he needed to. "I care about you a lot and I was afraid of losing you. Hermione stuck up for me, no Gryffindor would have done that for a Slytherin, so it was a big deal on her part and I owed her. Without her and what she said to, I wouldn't be standing here tell you that I love you." Tesania looked up at him and was quiet for a moment.

"So you helped her because she helped you when she didn't have a reason or have to?" Draco nodded and looked down at her. In her eyes he saw pain and sadness, but also happiness and care and loyalty. Draco thought for a moment to himself. Right now his father would think him a pussy for going soft for a weak girl that might not have a high place in life, but he, Draco, saw her differently. For once he looked upon someone as an equal and not just because of the train incident or what she was, but because she was the only one who cared about him and not where he was born in the family and how much money he had. Tesania was the only one to ever get to know him, the real him.

"Draco?" Draco came out of his thoughts at the sound of his girlfriend's voice.

"Hmm?"

"I think you should go tell Hermione." He looked at her. He gave her a pitiful look. He may have changed well enough for her, but he didn't completely change. Old habits were hard to break and he wasn't ready to befriend a Gryffindor.

"What?"

"You heard what I said. And who knows, she might actually thank you for stopping her pain." she smiled up at him. He looked down at her and saw the pleading in her eyes and he gave into it. He sighed, looked down, and then looked back up at her.

"And what if she isn't happy with me?"

"How can she not, you helped her with years of pain and YOU ended it."

"Are you sure you're supposed to be a Slytherin and not a Gryffindor?" She slugged him in the shoulder and he rubbed the spot where she hit him after he flinched. She was stronger than what she looked like. "Fine. Fine I will." He stalked off, ready to find the last person he ever would have thought he would ever apologize to.

Hermione sat in a corridor on the third floor where no one was supposed to go because of Fluffy, Hagrid's overly large three headed dog. She wiped tears from her eyes. So many feelings were flowing through her that she couldn't control them; she had to find a place to go and be by herself.

Hurt and pain was flowing through her at the moment, as well as relief and joy from being released from t he agony that she's lived for years. She also felt gratitude and thankfulness for whoever it was that helped her. She would have to find out who did help her. She owed the person a lot. She believed she owed the person her life, because who knew how far her parents would have gone in abusing her.

A cough came from next to her and she jumped. She looked to her right and looked up to see Draco Malfoy standing there with his hands in his pocket and a facial expression that said he didn't want to be there but knew it was the right thing to do, for whatever he was about to do.

At first Hermione's first instinct was to act defensive and try and tell Malfoy off and to leave her alone, but she knew that would be a futile effort since he was most likely just to make fun of her and what ever else he did to torment people, but the look on his face made her think differently. She was actually shocked to see what she did, but she still didn't bring down her defenses.

"Do you mind if I sit down?" The question shocked her as well as how he asked it. It sounded as if he were a shy new kid. She nodded and he sat down. "Ummm…I wanted to tell you something…that I normally wouldn't say to you." She was confused but let him speak. "I was the one who told the Ministry of Magic about your parents. Well actually I told my mother and she told the Ministry of Magic." Ok now she was officially shocked. It was Draco Malfoy who had helped her. This would have to go in the books. A Slytherin helping a Gryffindor. What the hell happened to make him change so much?

"So it was you who had helped me? Why?" She asked in complete surprise.

"Because you helped me with Tesania and I owed you. Though I, myself didn't want to do this for a Gryffindor, but you helped me so I helped you and you are also friends with Tesania and I would do anything for her." Hermione just started at him in utter surprise. One good deed was reward with a profit.

"You over heard Tesania and I talking?" She wanted to know how he found out about what she said to Tesania.

He nodded.

"Yeah, I went to go find her and explain everything to her myself, but I found the both of you guys talking and I was about to walk away but I heard what you were saying and I stayed. So I guess I owe you a thank you as well."

"No you didn't because I don't even know why I did that. I guess I didn't want to see her get hurt and I was helping my friend, even though it meant helping you." She hesitated for a moment and then spoke again. "But thank you for helping me. It was very…cool…of you to do that." She smiled and he smirked softly.

"I think we should head back to our rooms, before start worrying about us." said Draco. She nodded and the two stood up. They walked together to the opened door, but stopped when they heard movement behind them. They turned around and fear struck there face and a blast forced them back a great deal. Their bodies flew back and over the railing of the stairway, but were only a little lucky to have a landing under them of another staircase. They landed with a thump on the stairs and were immediately unconscious. The figure that attacked them disappeared into the shadows as students gathered around them to see if they were alright.

AN

Well I hope you like this chapter and the cliff hanger that I left. I worked pretty hard to come up with a good ending to this chapter, so I hope it gives off the effect that I was looking for. Well I'm working on the next chapter now, so I hope I can get it up soon. Thanx again for all of you who have read this story and enjoy it. I know we're pretty far into this story and nothing major has happened, but I can promise you that something will happen in the next chapter, but it will not mean that the end of the story is going to be coming soon. Well anyways I hope you like this story.

Skapyk