Hermione looked everywhere for Harry, but no one seemed to know where he was. Finally, she found him in the back corner of the library, engrossed in a pile of books. She leaned against a nearby bookshelf, watching as Harry pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and debating whether or not she was going to disturb him. She didn't have to decide, however, as Harry looked up to see who was watching him.

"'Mione!" Harry stood up and walked over to Hermione, embracing her in a deep hug.

"Oh Hermione, I've been so worried about you," he whispered in her ear. "I heard about your parents. I'm so sorry. I would have gone to the funeral with you had you asked."

"I - I know. I just, I guess I needed to be alone."

"I can see you just got back," he said, holding her at arm's length and looking at her mourning clothes and tearstained face.

"I've been back for a while, actually."

"How was it?" Harry took Hermione's hand and led her over to the couch where he had been studying.

"Oh Harry... it was beautiful. I mean, it was awful, because it just finalized everything. But I've never seen a better funeral. The flower arrangements were very nice, and my family was all there, and all their friends. It was lovely." She brushed a tear from her cheek. "I miss them so much, Harry. I can't imagine what you must go through everyday."

Harry pulled Hermione into another hug.

"It gets easier. For you it might take longer. I barely knew my parents; you've had seventeen years with yours. Just… just remember all the good times you had with them. And don't forget that they are still with you. They raised you to be a magnificent woman, Hermione, and because of that you will always have them."

She sniffled and nodded against his shoulder.

"But," he began, letting go of her, "enough of this sad talk. I feel like we haven't talked in forever, Hermione, why don't you tell me how things are going with you, besides your parents?" He smiled at her.

"I'm not sure where to begin."

"Well," he looked apprehensive to bring up the subject, "what about the ball? You did a great job with that, and looked like you had a - a nice time." His smile faltered.

"Did Ron tell you what happened, Harry?"

At this, Harry's smile disappeared and in its place was a concerned frown.

"Yea... yea he did. He came in after he disappeared, shaking like a leaf. He smelled like alcohol, and he looked mussed up. I asked him - I said, 'Ron, what happened to you, why do you smell like alcohol?' And then he said something about partying with Lavender and a few other people before the ball, something about a flask - he mumbled most of it. Well the common room was cleared out, so I led him down there because he was too anxious to be up in the dorms. He kept dropping things, he was shaking so much. I sat him down and went down to the kitchen to get him some hot tea.

"I came back, and he drank the tea, and that calmed him down a little bit. I slipped some of Seamus' sobering potion into it. I asked him again what happened, and he started sort of rocking himself back and forth. He said, 'Oh God, Harry, I've screwed up.' That's when he told me everything that happened." Harry looked at Hermione, his face sympathetic.

"What did you say?"

"Say?" Harry snorted. "I didn't SAY much of anything. I punched him. Hard. In the jaw. I glared at him for a few moments while he held his jaw, trying not to do anything too stupid. Then I started reaming him out. I told him how stupid he was, asked him how he could do something like that, and called him just about every name imaginable. He started crying. I told him that I agreed with him, that he did screw up. That he owed you a big apology."

"I hardly think that any apology Ron has to offer is good enough to make up for this one."

"Oh yea, I agree but... but he did say something else. I thought maybe the alcohol hadn't worn off yet, but some other people say they saw it too..." He trailed off, almost afraid to ask.

"What? Saw what?"

"Well…saw you... kissing Malfoy." He gave a forced laugh. "But that is absurd, right?"

Hermione looked down at her lap.

"Right?" Harry craned his neck, trying to meet Hermione's eyes.

"Not completely absurd," she replied meekly.

"So you did kiss him?"

"Yea," she said, letting out a deep breath. "But it just happened, it didn't mean anything."

It was Harry's turn to let out a heavy sigh.

"Are you sure about that?"

"Yea, I mean of course I'm sure."

"I'm not so sure I agree, Hermione."

"Why would you say that?" She looked up at Harry in surprise.

"Hermione, for the longest time I've had my suspicions."

At this Hermione's eyes widened and she opened her mouth as if to say something.

"No, no wait. Listen to me before you say anything." She shut her mouth.

"Like I was saying, I've had my suspicions. Ever since you and Malfoy acted so friendly towards each other. You said you saw another side of him, that he wasn't so bad of a guy. At first I agreed more with Ron... that he was pulling something. But then...I don't remember really when I first noticed it, maybe that night that we all got into that fight. I just remember watching the two of you together and seeing the look in his eyes - it was so different from the look he usually has. I just knew, I could tell, he was falling in love with you. Every time he's around you, he's enamored by you. Call it manly instinct or whatever, but Hermione - he's in love with you, and he has been for a long time."

Hermione sat silent for a minute, sighed, and then looked down at her lap.

"I know. He just… he just told me that he loves me."

"And what do you think about that?"

"I - I don't really know."

"Hermione," he smiled at her, "I've been friends with you long enough to know when you're lying."

"I'm not lying!" she protested.

"Well…I'm not so sure about that either. Please, don't be mad at me for saying this. The look that I saw so prominent in Malfoy's eyes - it's there in your eyes too, shining back at him. I've seen it so many times. You are just as in love with him as he is with you."

She sputtered a few times, starting sentences of protest that never got finished. Then she took a deep breath and gave Harry a sad smile.

"You know me all too well. I- I love Draco, Harry."

He nodded.

"I thought so. So, why not do something about it?"

"It doesn't make sense. He and I are so different."

"Love isn't supposed to make sense, Hermione. Love is supposed to make you feel all crazy and confused, because it's not a simple thing. I think you ought to tell him."

"I'm not so sure."

"Well, it's obviously your decision. I'll be here for you no matter what happens."

She leaned over and hugged him.

"Thanks Harry," she said pulling back. She chuckled. "When did you get so wise?"

"I was born wise," he replied with a smile.

Hermione and Harry continued talking until Madam Pince threw them out, and Hermione went back to her dorm with a clearer mind.