Liang- Ya lor…Write lah.. I've been bugging Clar to write too..But she said not till two months..Haiz. Thanks anyways…

Silversun- Haha. Thanks. How was Mexico?

VampireMasquerade- Thank you!

Prettyprincess- I guess they're not…but it's more fun this way.

quidditchgirl13-Thanks..

By the time Hermione had reached Hogwarts, the sky had turned from its sunny demure to dark and heavy with black clouds lining the sky. It was going to be a stormy night. She would not let the house-elves carry her stuff to her room, so she dragged the heavy trunk up the many flights of stairs and into her room. Her stomach rumbled slightly. Then did she realize how long it had been since her lunch on the train. As she walked to the door, loud footsteps were heard running towards her room.

"Hermione!" that was Harry and Ron, both knocking at the door. She opened it with a small smile on her face.

"You're back!" Ginny, who was with them hugged her tightly

"We were waiting for you to come back so we could have dinner together." She explained "Let's go."

"Yeah. I'm starving!" Ron nodded his head

Hermione laughed. It was great to be back at Hogwarts.

Draco's first glance of Hermione since she returned was at dinner in the Great Hall. She was the same as ever, just a little thinner. His first reaction was to walk up to her and ask where she had been, but he realized how awkward it would have been. Potter and the Weasels were with her and all the other goody two shoes Gryffindors. So… he ate his dinner and tried not to look at her.

"Hey. Look who's back. The mudblood." Blaise commented loudly. Draco pretended not to hear.

Undaunted, Blaise continued. "Look at all the other pathetic Gryffindors, all so concerned over a…mudblood."

Draco ignored him, but it was getting harder. Blaise's taunting continued throughout dinner. By then Draco's nerves were scraping the border. Breathe, relax, calm yourself. If you burst now, then Blaise will win And you're not a loser. Malfoys never lose.

Draco concentrated on that thought and felt Blaise taunting easing away.

Over at the Gryffindor table, Hermione noticed Blaise talking to the Slytherins, but his comments seemed to be directed to Draco. He seemed to be trying to ignore the comments and, thankfully rather successful, if not, a fight could break out. She mouth read the word mudblood, and realized that Blaise was talking about her.

"Hermione!" she tore her eyes away from the scene. Harry was waving his hand in front of her face.

"Are you done?" he asked

"Not really. Why don't you guys go first?" Hermione suggested

"Sure."

The two boys left, but Hermione barely noticed. Ginny leaned over.

"When are you going to ask him?" Hermione had told Ginny about her plan earlier.

"After dinner." Hermione said determinedly.

Then there was a quiet moment in between them. Hermione pushed her food around her plate. Draco stood up. Hermione stood up.

"Well, here goes nothing." Hermione said

Good luck, Ginny silently wished her friend.

As Draco was walking, he sensed someone following him. Quickly, he turned left instead of right. He glanced behind. No one was there. He continued in the opposite direction. He saw a flash of brown hair. Hermione? He wondered puzzled.

Hermione was having a hard time following. Luckily there were many students, so none really cared or noticed about her. Draco turned left? Wasn't his Common Room on the right? Anyway, she continued following, hiding behind walls. They were walking into deserted corridors.

"You can come out you know Granger. I know it's you." Draco said "What do you want?"

"I-I…" Hermione noticedshe was nervous. "I need your help."

Draco turned around. His eyebrows were cocked up quizzically.

"My father is suffering from the Calirea disease. And the only place I know which grow the buleflotrue flower is Malfoy Manor." Hermione said "He'll die if he doesn't get it soon."

Draco didn't know Hermione's family had such problems.

"I have to get the flower. It's my fault that he's going to die." Hermione pleaded.

"Why?"

"Because…I'm a mudblood."

"I've told you why, so now will you help me?" Hermione asked

Draco knew he would regret it later, but he answered. "Yes."