Okay, next chapter up! I think I did a pretty good job with not taking to long this time, but it is just a little shorter then normal. Hope you enjoy and Happy Early Christmas all you TNG readers!

Chapter 19

When Hermione reached Ginny's room, she smiled to Ginny and Kelly as they walked out in their bathing suits with towels in their arms. Both girls had their hair up in two different ways with sunglasses placed on top of their heads.

"See at the lake later 'Mione!" Ginny called to her as Kelly and her giggled their way down the stairs. Hermione just smiled and walked into the now empty room.

The room was a disaster. It was safe to say that it was even worse then the boy's room upstairs. Ginny and Kelly must have torn the room apart looking for things to get ready to go. Make-up was strung across the desk, with hairbrushes of all sizes lying with the left make-up. Clothes were thrown all about the room, taking up most of the floor space.

Hermione sighed as she grabbed her unfinished essay from underneath the brushes and make-up and left the room. There was no way she'd be able to work in that room at all. As she headed back down the stairs a thought entered her mind. Draco was still in the living room. She took a deep breath and forced herself down the rest of the stairs.

She had planned on working at the kitchen table but found that the breakfast dishes were still there. The only place left was at the small table in the living room. Hermione could hear Draco snoring from his place on the couch. She laughed to herself silently and placed herself and her things at the table.

Hermione's quill was moving faster then she had ever seen it move before. It seemed to barley be touching the parchment but the writing just flowed beautify. She just wanted to get her assignment done so she could leave the room that held her nightmare.

She had just finished and was rereading her work when Draco stirred from his slumber. He seemed drogue as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes and ran his hands through his hair.

As he finished waking up, he noticed Hermione seated at her small table for one. He slowly lifted himself up and walked towards her. He stayed quite as he looked over her shoulder to see what she was working on now.

"That Snape's essay?" She nearly jumped five feet at hearing his voice. Hermione had thought that he was still fast asleep. She recovered from the shock and shook her head telling him that it was Snape's essay.

"I'm a little surprised that you're not done yet. I finished weeks ago." He grabbed a chair and set it across from her.

"I haven't really had the time to really sit down and finish up the ending because of everything that's been going on. You know with Kelly and you and just being here together like this. It's so hard to lie to my best friends," her quill placed a small dot at the end of her last sentence that she had forgotten the first time.

"Done?" She smiled while shaking her head up and down. As she was putting away her ink and quill, Draco snatched her essay from her and began reading her small, neat handwriting.

"This is bloody brilliant! You make it all easier to understand when you put it this way. I worked forever trying to use he right words." Quickly skimming the rest of it, he handed it back to her.

"Well, I think I'm headed back to bed." Before his foot hit the bottom step of the stairs, Hermione's voice stopped him.

"Dra-Timmy! I'm heading down to the lake to meet up with the others for lunch in about an hour. Do you want to come down with me?" Her eyes seemed to shot to the floor for some reason as she awaited his answer.

Silence filled the room for a short time while he thought.

"Sure Hermione. I'll go down with you. I could sure use some heat with how cold they keep this house." He plopped back on the couch. Ruined the moment he had. Hermione wanted so bad to beat the snot out of him, but kept her temper. Draco regretted the words as soon as they left his pale lips.

He watched Hermione turn towards the kitchen to get lunch ready. A bright smile was no longer plastered on her face. Draco sighed at his mouth. It did nothing but get him in trouble.

Lost in his thoughts, he didn't notice Hermione head up the stairs to change into her bathing suit. He had only looked up when he heard the lower step creak as Hermione stepped on it.

His lower jaw dropped only a little as he saw her. Hermione's swimsuit was simple. A gold two-piece with the top being a halter-top and the bottoms a pair of short swimming shorts. She had pulled her hair into a normal high ponytail with sunglasses on top of her head. On her feet were red flip-flops and she held a red towel in her arms. Under one of her arms "Hogwarts A History" was placed. She handed Draco a pair of swim trunks she had taken from one of the boy's rooms. He headed towards the bathroom to change, while Hermione packed the last of their lunch into the picnic basket.

Draco came out of the bathroom after a few more minuets, and then they head in silence towards the lake.