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A/N Thanks to all again for all of the great reviews. I know I left the end of the last chapter abruptly but I didn't want the lesson to run too much into this chapter. Sorry. Also for those of you who don't know I update this story every Friday, eastern standard time. Its not random so don't be disapointed if there are no updates for a week. I will update on Fridays. Happy reading and please, please review!

Letters from Viktor

By the end of the day neither Harry nor Draco had eaten much of anything. None of the other members of the house had bothered them since just after they returned. Ron had popped his head in to see how it was going and was promptly told to get out. Harry saw a determination in Draco that he had rarely seen in another wizard. It reminded him of his own resolve to learn the Patronus charm in his third year. And after many hours it seemed Draco had finally got the hang of it. Harry watched in admiration as his patronus, a large eagle, soared around the room glowing brightly.

"Well done Malfoy!" Harry said.

"Thanks." Draco said beaming at his protector. "Why the eagle?" he asked.

"It's different for every wizard. Mine is a stag, Hermione's is an otter, and Ron's is a crup." he smiled thinking of the DA lesson where nearly everyone had conjured their patronus. It was one of the best days of his life.

Draco stood at the center of the room and watched his patronus fly in a circle around him. His first thought of his mother had been marred by sadness. Then his thoughts turned to another woman. A woman he had grown close to. His thoughts had been of Hermione. Specifically the night they made love.

"Incidentally, what was your memory?" Harry suddenly asked.

"Private." Draco replied smiling as his eagle patronus faded. "I'm famished. Let's take a break." he said strolling towards the door and heading towards the kitchen where the rest of the house was waiting.

Hermione and Ginny were standing at the counter chatting when they saw Harry and Draco coming down the narrow hallway. Ginny ran and hugged Harry kissing him on both cheeks. They sat down at the long wooden table and began talking with the others. Draco strolled over to Hermione and smiled.

"How did it go?" she asked desperately attempting to avoid his gorgeous eyes.

"Fine, I learned it already. It was not as hard as I thought once I got the perfect memory." he said winking at her. Hermione blushed deeply secretly knowing what that memory must have been. She was both flattered and embarrassed by his revelation.

"Well, that's good. I'm glad you learned it." she said as she fumbled with some dishes. "So what was your patronus? Let me guess…a snake?" she joked.

"No miss smarty. An eagle." he said poking her in the side. She giggled.

Across the room Harry was not the only one to notice Hermione and Malfoy's overly friendly treatment of each other. Ginny was giggling and poking Harry in the side.

"I think Hermione is smitten." she whispered in Harry's ear. Harry had to admit that Hermione looked happier than he had seen her in a long while.

"Yeah, just don't let Ron hear. You know how he overreacts." he whispered back. Ginny nodded.

"Where is Ronald anyway?" she said looking around the room. His red hair was no where to be seen.

"Not quite sure." Harry replied. "Has anyone seen Ron?"

"He's showering." Tonks replied. "He's got a date tonight."

"A WHAT?" Hermione yelled causing Draco to jump a little. "We are right in the middle of this and he goes on a date? Only Ron would do such a thing." she said throwing her hands up in defeat.

"Some girl he met in Hogsmeade. Just tea in Madam Puddifoot's. No big deal." Harry told her. "Everyone could do with taking their mind of things for a day or so. I feel burned out." Ginny patted his shoulder soothingly.

"It's just our Godric's hollow trip is only three days away…" she started.

"Two now." Ginny interrupted.

"Thanks for reminding me…" Harry said gloomily.

Just then Ron came bounding down the steps, dressed in his muggle best. Dark jeans and a white button up shirt with tiny maroon pin striping.

"I won't be long." he told them looking at Hermione directly. She shifted uncomfortably on the spot. Draco looked at the interaction with curiosity.

"Don't worry mate, just take care." Harry said. Ron grinned as he headed for the fireplace in the sitting room. He was taking the floo.

"What was that?" Draco whispered to Hermione.

"What do you mean?" she asked in reply.

"That little thing between you and weas…I mean Ron." he said catching himself before he started up with the name calling again.

"I was just surprised that he would go on a date at a time like this that's all." she said. "Although I can't blame him. He is the only one in this house without someone." Her face flushed as she said this. Draco couldn't help but grin.

"Yeah, I guess that would be hard. I still think he has feelings for you." he said quietly.

"We will always care about one another. Harry too." she told him. "We have been through too much together to let anyone come between us."

That didn't sit exactly right with Draco but he kept quiet about it. He had a nagging feeling that Ron's affections where Hermione was concerned were a bit more than she realized. Draco knew he had directed that comment about the date right at Hermione. It was eating at his mind the rest of the night. And to make things even more frustrating Hermione was still keeping their intimate relations at an arms length. Of course this could be due to the fact that Draco was still keeping his true feelings a secret from her.

Draco was changing into some pajamas Potter had leant him and Hermione was in the bathroom showering before they turned in. A snowy white owl came pecking on the window asking for entrance. She was clutching letters for Hermione tightly in her beak. Draco took the letters and set them on the bed before releasing the owl into the hallway so she could find her owner. Draco walked by the bed and glanced at the letters. One was from Hermione's parents, the other from none other than Viktor Krum. Just then he heard Hermione approaching the room. He made a mad dash towards his bed and jumped on just as she turned the door handle.

"Hey, was that Hedwig I saw in the hallway?" she asked. Draco nodded.

"I put the letters on the bed." he said nonchalantly. She smiled and walked over opening the one from her parents first.

"My mum sure was relived to hear from me. I feel so bad that I haven't been to visit in ages. As soon as this mess is over I am taking off a few weeks and staying with them." she said putting the letter on the bed side table. She proceeded to open the letter from Viktor. Draco didn't like the look of happiness that crossed her face as she read the letter. Not that he was jealous of Krum. He tried his best not to watch her read. She giggled a few times as she read the letter and then she set it aside.

"So what did Krum have to say?" he asked in a casual sort of way.

"Not much. Glad to hear from me though. He has heard some awful things about Voldemort's followers torturing muggle borns and he has been worried." she said with a faint smile.

"Oh." Draco replied pretending not to care.

"Better keep all that emotion in Draco, someone might think you cared." she huffed blowing out the candle by her bed.

Draco lay there trying to think of a reply but none came to him. Soon he heard Hermione's steady breathing and he knew then he would need to tell her how he felt or risk losing her. But he needed to see that letter from Krum first. An hour after she had fallen asleep he snuck over to her bedside and snatched the letter. Not wanting to put the light on in the bedroom he ran down the hall to the bathroom and locked the door behind him. He lit the candle and as soon as the glow was bright enough he began to read.

Dear Hermione,

You don't know how glad I was to receive your letter. I have been hearing terrible things about muggle borns being tortured by Death Eaters and all I could think of was you. I know you are a competent witch but the thought of your torture tears at my heart. I miss you terribly and it is lonely up here without you.

When you are alone it gives you much time to think about life and mistakes. I know we said we would be just friends but maybe when this ordeal is over we could consider giving our relationship another try. Just think about it. No decisions need to be made right now. I may visit soon if it is okay with you. I am glad you are making progress in the hunt for he who must not be named. Just be careful. I want you safe and sound when I see you again.

Write to me soon.

Love,

Viktor.

Draco's face flushed red as he read this. Krum did have feelings for Hermione after all. Draco wondered if she returned those feelings. She had told him that they were just friends, was that the truth? Frustrated he left the bathroom and headed back to the bedroom. He replaced the letter where he found it and climbed back in bed. He had never cared this much about anyone before, but he would never admit it if he didn't know she felt the same. He supposed he would have to wait it out and see.

The next morning the countdown to Godric's hollow was on. It seemed only yesterday to everyone that they had decided to go. That had been five days ago. Now with only two full days left apprehension filled the air. Breakfast was somber. No one speaking much, just the sounds of clanking plates and silverware. Ron looked particularly tired this morning. Finally Harry broke the silence.

"How did the date go?" he asked.

"Oh, fine. Got in a bit later than planned." he said winking at Harry. Ginny made a disgusted face and got up from the table, half her plate uneaten.

Hermione pretended to ignore his innuendos by scraping off her leftover food into the rubbish bin. It shouldn't bother her and yet it did. She had Draco, or at least she thought she did. He had been particularly distant that morning. Right after breakfast she headed for the sitting room to read without another word to the group.

"What's up her bum this morning?" Ron asked tactlessly. Harry shrugged but Draco stood up from the table and started to follow her into the sitting room.

"Sometimes it is best just to leave her be mate." Harry called after him, but it was too late.

He ran up the stone stairs after her and attempted to enter the room just as she slammed the door. He checked the snake-like knob and found it to be unlocked. He entered carefully.

"Hey…uh, what was that all about?" he asked.

"Oh it's just Ronald. He has the tact of a troll. As if anyone cares about his date." she spat in a voice that was not her own.

"It almost sounds as if you are jealous." he said bitterly. "Is there something going on with the two of you that you need to tell me?"

"Of course not!" she replied quickly. "We are just friends; it's just that I don't want to hear that he is shagging this girl or that one."

Draco sat on the couch next to her and watched her for a minute before speaking.

"I'm not sure that's the truth." he said flatly. Hermione looked shocked.

"It is! How dare you presume to know what I am feeling! Just because I don't want to hear about the sexual lives of my friends does not mean that I have feelings for him. I wouldn't want to hear about Harry and Ginny either!" she said defensively.

"It's just that I thought we were close but this outburst and letters from Viktor make me think otherwise."

"I told you that Viktor and I were just friends." she sat for a second and then said "Did-you-read-my-letter-from-Viktor?" pronouncing every word firmly.

"No." he replied "I could just tell how you fancy having him write to you. Him being famous and all." Hermione looked mortally offended by this comment.

"What does all this matter to you?" she asked. "I mean we aren't together officially. You don't know how you feel and neither do I."

"That's all you know." he said in a hushed voice.

"What was that?"

"Nothing."

"Spit it out Draco, we might as well get this all out in the open. I don't want our mission to Godric's hollow compromised due to our squabbling."

"I said 'that's all you know'" he replied now speaking directly to her face.

"What does that mean?" she asked. "You speak in riddles and innuendos and never come out to say exactly what you mean. You are acting like a jealous school boy and I have had enough of those to last me a lifetime." tears were welling in her eyes and she looked away from him.

"You want the truth?" he asked harshly.

"Yes."

"Will you tell me the truth then as well?"

"Of course." she said looking back at him, avoiding his eyes at all costs.

"I want us to be together." he said. The lack of emotion confused Hermione.

"That was pathetic." she said coolly.

"I love you." he finally managed to spit out.

"You don't know what love is." she huffed. She felt not at all like her usual self.

Draco felt something deep in his chest hurting. Never had he been rejected like this.

"You asked me to tell you the truth and I did. You agreed to tell me the truth as well." his silver eyes looked into hers. The morning light reflecting in them.

"I think that this is getting too complicated." she said still avoiding his gaze.

"That's not the truth. You agreed to tell me."

"I'm sorry. I don't know what to say." she said staring down at the floor. Draco leaned in and kissed her lips before she could say another word. His chest pressed against hers and his hands ran through her hair trying to remember every strand. She kissed him back for just a moment before pulling away.

"How about now?" he asked trying to catch his breath.

"I'm sorry." she said again running from the room and up to the bedroom.

Draco sat there for a moment before making the biggest mistake ever. Leaving Grimmauld place.