AN: Sorry for taking so long to update. This chapter has been written for weeks, but I didn't have time to post it. Anyway, I felt the need to explain what exactly happened in the last chapter and what will happen in the next chapter.

Hermione heard a knock at the door and, soon after, she saw Ron move to answer it. She watched curiously as he slammed it shut.

"Ron, who was that?" she asked.

A very annoyed-looking Ron was about to answer when the knocking started up again, except this time louder and more persistent. He opened the door and stepped outside.

"Who do you think's at the door?" the red haired girl next to her asked.

"I don't know, Gin. Whoever it is, Ron doesn't look too happy about it."

The red head thought for a moment. "It could be Draco Malfoy. Remember, Snape went to talk to him? Maybe he convinced him to join our side. What do you think?" She asked again.

"I think that's very wishful thinking," Hermione said with in an exasperated voice.

Just then, Ron opened the door and muttered something to the blond young man that strutted in. It was, indeed, Draco Malfoy.

Ginny turned to Hermione with raised eyebrows. "What was that you said about 'wishful thinking'?"

She chose to ignore the Weasley girl and kept her focus on Draco. He was different, he had somehow changed— yet he was exactly the same. She searched him with her eyes, trying to pry open his soul. That task became even harder when he met her gaze with equal confusion and added malice. She kept watching him as time progressed, but that became harder when the curious whispers started. He moved faster up the stairs until Hermione could see him no more. She had missed out on her chance to figure out his end game, the ulterior motive she knew he had.

"I hate him,"seethed Ron, who was now sitting on Hermione's other side.

"What's he doing here?" Hermione asked.

"Hell if I know. All he said was that he wanted to speak to Snape. He didn't say why."

"I told you he's coming to our side," said Ginny. Hermione shook her head in thought.

"Just because he's here, doesn't mean he's repentant."

"I'm with 'Mione. The day that Malfoy's on our side, I'll wash Snape's hair."

The three of them turned their heads in shock and curiosity as cries of anguish were heard from beyond the stairwell.

"I wonder what's going on up there," Ginny said. Ron scoffed.

"Snape probably told Malfoy he has split ends or something."

Hermione rolled her eyes at the childish comment. There were some things that would never change. Her gaze slowly moved from the arguing siblings and down to her left hand. But then again, if the ring on her finger meant anything, some things did change. Her thoughts wandered to memories of their wedding; a small, rushed ceremony in the Weasley's backyard. It was all they could afford with the little money that they had. Harry, in a very sweet and thoughtful gesture, offered to help pay for the wedding, but she and Ron refused to take his money. After all, it was their wedding, not Harry's. Besides, she loved Ron and a glittery wedding would be small and insignificant in comparison to the rest of their lives.

Hermione then remembered where she was. The rest of their lives. How long would that be? With the eminent danger of the coming night hanging over their heads, she couldn't help but wonder if they would have a "rest of their lives." She wondered if they would wake up the next morning, or if there would even be a morning. She wondered if there was any hope at all. Suddenly, she felt something she loathed to feel: Genuine fear. It was something she hadn't felt in a long time, even during times of almost certain death— and in her life, there were a lot of them— she failed to experience teeth-chattering fear. Deep down she knew that those other times couldn't even begin to compare to that particular night because that night would be the end of their cause, win or lose. At that moment, Hermione feared the sunset just as Lupin feared the moon.

And where was Harry in all of this? Out. Probably planning with Lupin, Moody, Tonks, the Weasley's, and other aurors, but Ron and a few others remained to guard the house. After all, the house needed protection from people like Draco, the man they had just invited in. Hermione almost shook her head at the irony. She really respected Harry's courage and the leadership he had shown since they left Hogwarts. For once, he acted like the leader the wizarding world had portrayed him to be. He had grown up their seventh year, as did all of them. There were serious times ahead and serious times called for mature adults, not silly children. But as brave as Harry was, Hermione still worried about him. He continued to suppress his emotions just as he had in their Hogwarts days, and she knew that wasn't healthy. Someone with the worries and troubles that he had shouldn't be bottling up their emotions because someday, they might crack under all the pressure. Her husband interrupted her thoughts.

"What do you think 'Mione?"

"About what?"

"About Malfoy's hair. I think he dyes it, but Ginny thinks its natural."

Hermione smiled. She admired the siblings' resilience, their ability to joke at a time like this. She wished that she could find the time between panicking and planning to laugh, but she could not. Ron quickly picked up on this.

"We can't do anything about anything right now, there's no use in worrying yourself to tears."

"That's why I'm worrying, because I can't do anything," she explained.

"Well, if it helps, you can try and figure out what Malfoy's up to. Inquiring minds want to know," Ron said with a playful smirk.

Just then, she heard the stairs creak and saw Draco beginning to walk down. "Yes, I think I'll do just that."

"You better get the shampoo ready when she's done, Ron," an amused Ginny said. "I think Snape will prefer the flowery scents."

"Shut it, Ginny," was Ron's only reply.

AN: So what did you think? The next chapter will definitely be Draco-centric. Please review!