Chapter 6

(Rewritten July 06)

Hermione's head was splitting apart, or so it felt. She had not slept one wink, instead she laid upon her bed, stared at the ceiling, shook and cried. Misery was suffocating and she just so happened to find herself enveloped in it.

Groggily, she stumbled into the bathroom and stared at her reflection. Dark under-eye circles made their appearance for the first time in years and Hermione shrunk away from the mirror.

"How much worse can this get," she muttered and locked both bathroom doors. With a sigh she collapsed on the bathroom floor and took a few deep breaths. She then decided to take a nice, soothing bath to ease her troubled mind.

It was only eight in the morning so she had three more hours until her first class since it was a Friday.

The strawberry scented bubbles and the dimmed lights of the bathroom helped her muscles relax and for the first time in twenty four hours, she had slept. An hour late, she awoke to the find her hand numb and her fingers pruney so she decided to get out and grab a bite to eat before her first class.

Hermione was revived, if for the time being, from that bath as she walked down the Head corridor. Humming softly, she rounded the corner and yet again, collided with a strong, solid and hard object.

"Damn it all to hell," Hermione cursed as she opened her eyes. Staring back were a pair of familar grey orbs. "Shit."

But Draco didn't lay there for long. He was quickly lifted from her frail form and shoved against the wall.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing, Malfoy," Harry demanded. He was livid.

"It was an accident, Potter," Draco spat. He began brushing off his robes.

"Try not to let it happen again, then," Harry growled and pushed him away.

Hermione sluggishly sat up and Harry ran over to help her up.

"Thanks," she muttered.

"Are you okay," he asked.

"Yes. There'll only be a bruise, but it's no big deal."

"He should watch where he's going."

"He's an ass. He'd do it even if he knew I was coming."

Harry sighed. "Well, let's go down and get some breakfast. I was going to come up here to see where you were but, I guess I found you."

Hermione smiled. "Wait, how do you know where the Head dorms are?"

"Ha, well, when I can't sleep I tend to wander the castle in my cloak and in fourth year, I stumbled upon this corridor. I only assumed that it'd be the same."

"Nice, Harry. Good way to break the rules," Hermione laughed. Harry grinned and helped her to her feet.

"What do you expect, Hermione? I'm my dad's son."

And together they waltzed into the Great Hall and had their breakfast. Ron strolled in casually late and quickly shoved food into his mouth.

"Okay, we have to go now. Potions is in like five minutes," he shouted. Harry and Hermione jumped.

"I've completely lost track of time," Hermione yelped. Harry blushed and Ron gave him a look. "Let's go then."

They then departed for their dormitories to fetch their books. At the staircases, Hermione bid farewell to the boys and told them that she'd meet them in Potions soon.

"Well, I might be late," Harry explained to Hermione.

"Why," she asked.

"I have to go to the owlery and mail a letter but I'll make it on time, don't worry."

Hermione grinned, "You better," and then headed off to her dorm.

Once there, she found a new owl tapping against her window. She let him in and grabbed the note with anticipation.

Hermione,
Please meet me by the lake tonight at 10:00.
I want to start fresh.
Tonight I will reveal my identity
Until then,
Yours truly, forever and ever.

Hermione grinned and twirled around before grabbing her books and sprinting down to the common room where Draco was standing.

"Hell, watch where you're walking Granger. I don't want your dog, Potter, to attack me again. He's rabid, you know. Watch out."

"Oh, shove it," Hermione groaned as she pushed past him.

"Woah, woah, woah," he exclaimed, "Why are you still smiling Hermione? Did you get your first kiss? Or wait, a secret admirer," he asked when he saw the open note in her hand.

Hermione stood still, completely stunned and Draco cursed beneath his breath once he realized what he had said.

'You were supposed to wait until tonight,' his intuition cursed.

'He said my first name. Draco said my first name,' Hermione screamed internally.

The five second silence was heavy as Hermione turned to face Draco.

"Why are you so red? Cat bite your tongue, or maybe," she paused, "you're just jealous, Draco."

Draco's breath caught in his chest. His response was frozen on his tongue and he was left breathless as Hermione exited the common room for Potions.

"So, what are you two doing tonight," Hermione whispered while Snape left the room to grab some ingredients.

"I think I'm going to spend some time with Lavender, you know," Ron began, "I want to get the nerve to ask her out."

Harry and Hermione smiled sympathetically.

"Don't worry, you will eventually, Ron," Hermione smiled, "You'll do it."

"I hope."

"And what about you Harry," Hermione asked.

"Oh, um, I have plans and such for the night," Harry replied nervously as he rubbed the back of his head. Snape still hadn't returned.

"Thanks for sharing, Mr. Top Secret," Ron teased. Harry grinned.

"Sorry."

"Oh, yes, before I forget. Ron, could you please tell Ginny to come to my room around nine tonight," Hermione asked.

"Sure," he responded. "Woah, no way. Snape's letting us out early. His cauldron must have been broken, or wait, that might just be his heart too." The three laughed their way out of the classroom. Everything was better, slightly better...hopefully.

"You received another letter, didn't you," Ginny exclaimed when she arrived at nine. Hermione blushed.

"I did, I most definitely did and I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't excited."

"I don't blame you," Ginny yelped, "I'd be excited too. You're so lucky you know, to have someone like this."

Hermione smiled. "But I'm even more lucky to have you help me get ready."

"That's true too."

Both girls laughed.

"Find anything exciting," Hermione asked as she sat on her bed and watched Ginny raid her closet.

"Not yet. Well, actually, yes, I have."

Ginny turned with a smile and shoved another low cut, spaghetti strap dress in Hermione's direction. This time it was black and only fell slightly above the knee. It was the dress Hermione's parents had bought her last year for her birthday.

After she had changed, Ginny showered her with more compliments and then insisted on doing Hermione's makeup again. Hermione couldn't argue with Ginny on this one because they both knew Hermione looked amazing with a few touch-ups, here and there. While Ginny was painting her masterpiece, Hermione explained the first date.

"Wow," Ginny muttered as she pulled away, "It sounded suspenseful. Now you need to tell me who it is. I'm dying to know."

Hermione grinned. "As am I, but I think I should leave now? You've done an amazing job once again, Ginny. Thank you."

Ginny nodded and pushed Hermione out the door.

"Now go, have fun," Ginny shouted as the two girls went their separate ways down the stairs. Hermione was excited as hell.

The lake was surrounded with miniature candles when Hermione arrived outside. She rapidly hurried towards it, thinking she was late, but she was nothing of the sort. As she caught her breath, she stood beneath a giant oak tree. It's gnarled branches were beautiful in a warped way but she liked it.

A soft hand then touched her shoulder.

"I'm glad you made it," a male said whose hand was still resting on her shoulder. That hand belonged to the man she had met two nights ago. Hermione blushed. He was dressed in an emerald shirt, black pants and a black hat with a green feather.

"You know, I would never pass an opportunity, such as this, up," Hermione muttered. The man cupped her face and smiled softly.

"Good."

Hermione closed her eyes as he leaned down and placed an electrifying kiss upon her lips. It was so familiar, so perfect, so...no, it couldn't be him.

She pulled away gently and glanced into the masked man's eyes.

"Can I," she asked as she placed her fingers on either side of his mask.

"Yes, you may."

With a deep breath, Hermione started to lift the mask from his eyes.

"Well, wait," he demanded and Hermione paused, "First I want to apologize for everything I've ever done to you. I hope you can forgive me. Do you?"

Hermione paused hesitantly.

"I guess so. I forgive you."

"Okay," the man replied, "You can remove my mask."

What she found was startling. The man she had just unmasked was watching her with concern.

Hermione was confused. She couldn't tell if she was happy or upset that this was who her date was.

"Draco," she whispered.

And that's all she could say.