It was getting closer to exams and Hermione and I had been studying like mad. She wanted to get the best grade possible and I wanted to make my parents proud. I was sure both of us could pass and be able to get into next year but I still wanted to try my best. We studied together a few times, correcting each other in the fields that we each had an advantage in. I was really focused on our History of Magic examination as that was my weakest subject. Hermione however seemed to be preoccupied with other things and was a little distracted from her work.

"Hermione" I said for the tenth time before she finally turned to look at me. "Are you okay? You look a bit anxious."

"Yeah," she said absentmindedly. "I guess I've just been focusing too much on finding Nicholas Fla-" she slapped her hand over her mouth before she could finish the sentence. She looked back down at her book and pretended not to have said anything. I didn't ask since she obviously hadn't intended to tell me whatever was going on with her and we went back to studying. She looked up at me a few times but otherwise we both ignored the subject. I could see she was relieved I hadn't pressure her into telling me but she still wasn't focusing too well. It wasn't long after that we decided to take a break from it; we had studied enough as it was.

Some days later I began helping Draco with his studies as well. It was a little hard as I kept getting distracted just as Hermione had. In fact, she was what was distracting me at the moment. I was a little worried about her as whatever was going on was important enough to distract her from her studies. And knowing Hermione as well as I did I knew that something had to be big in order to do that. I didn't tell Draco about Hermione as he'd either take it as inspiration for new insults or just complain about our friendship again. But I did manage to concentrate enough to help Draco somewhat that morning. While he wasn't too bad he certainly needed help with a few of the subjects.

"I still say you cheat" he grumbled as he saw how much farther in the readings I was than him. I smiled and we continued to study. We mainly focused on History of Magic as I still needed to study that a little more myself. We knew we'd do well with Potions, and as for our Transfiguration and Charms, that required more practice than reading.

There was a knock on Draco's door and Crabbe and Goyle came into their room. To my surprise Draco didn't kick them out as he usually did when we were in his room. I wasn't sure if it was just my overactive imagination again but he looked a little relieved to see them. They had come in to ask Draco for help with something.

"What is it that you need help with?" I asked them in case I could help as well but they refused to tell me. All they said was they needed Draco's help with "something". Draco also looked like he didn't want me to go with them for whatever reason so I let it go. I got my stuff and headed out of his room and towards mine. As I walked up the girls' stairs I saw Crabbe and Goyle sit in the common room but with no Draco. I kept to my room and couldn't help but wonder what he was up to.

After that day Draco looked very happy with whatever it was he had done after I left him. I also noticed that Hermione looked even more nervous than she had before, especially when she was near Draco. It was strange how every time Draco and I got near her, Ron, or Harry, they became worried. I would've asked Draco or Hermione about what was going on but if they had wanted me to know they would have told me themselves. Still, it bothered me not to know.

I sat in the common room for a little while and read from the potions book Aunt Sacha had sent me. Pansy had been especially nasty as of late and wanted some space. This to her meant that she would nag or "accidentally" run into me if I got anywhere near her. I needed some space too so I came down here to read. It got late and all the Slytherin students began going up to their own dormitories. One by one they all left until I was alone for the night. It was really late now, near midnight, and I was about to leave when I saw Draco sneaking his way into the common room. He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw me.

"What are you doing here?" I said suspiciously as I put my book down.

"What are you doing here?" he asked me as he slyly inched his way towards the door. It was odd; Draco was rude and stubborn and as all Slytherin he wasn't above breaking the rules but it was still strange. He knew he had to keep himself out of trouble as much as possible. I didn't know why he was purposefully breaking rules and heading out at such a late hour.

"I wanted some space to read" I said gesturing to my book. He became even more nervous as I started walking towards him. He slowly backed away from me and more towards the door but still didn't say anything. "And you, why up so late?"

"Umm… Lavatory! Yeah I have to go to the toilet" he said as he reached the door. I sighed at his excuse; he had always been a terrible liar. He covered his head with the hood of his robe and slowly started to open the door. He watched me as he backed out of the room making sure that I didn't follow him.

"Just be careful, okay?" I said before he was completely out of the room. He nodded a bit and hurried out. The door closed and I stood there watching it for a little longer. It wasn't until I heard the clock in the room indicate it was midnight that I finally moved. When I did I went over to where I had been sitting before Draco arrived and grabbed my book. Whatever he was up to I just hoped he would stay safe. It wasn't like Draco to risk getting in trouble for no reason so I had to trust that this was a good one. "Reducio" I said, pointing my wand, and the book shrunk back down to its pocket size. I went up to my room where Millicent, Daphne, and Pansy were all already sleeping, and put my book away in a safe place. Once ready for bed I lay down and wished Draco remained safe. I kept my thoughts on him as I began to fall asleep. If he gets in trouble I'll kill him