Two days later, Draco Malfoy heard a suspicious sounding voice coming out of an abandoned classroom. "Mister Malfoy, spare a moment of your time, do." The tones were perfectly Severus Snape, as was the wording - but the voice was significantly higher pitched. His heart leaping, he darted into the classroom, closing the door quietly.

"There you are!" It was Hermione, warming the entire room with her smile.

Draco Malfoy, whose face seemed more cut for sneering than for smiling, couldn't help but smile back. He gathered her into his arms in a single stride, picking her up and planting a kiss on her lips. Hermione melted into him, her curves pressing against his own frame.

Moments later, Draco Malfoy noticed Hermione trying to push him away. Instinctively, he drew her closer, running his tongue between her lips.

Hermione pulled back, saying, "I've got news!"

"Mmmh," Draco said, as he captured her lips with his, pressing her up against the wall.

"Talk first, then... you know." Hermione tried to say (it got mostly garbled with Draco's lips in the way).

"Other way round," Draco said huffily, "Promise." Draco's greedy lips found hers again, and they curled into each other (despite Hermione's aggravated protests), for a while.

Thoroughly mussed (particularly his hair), Draco finally pulled himself away from Hermione, smirking smugly, "Now, what is it?"

Hermione was irate, hands finding her hips as she asked, "Couldn't that have waited?"

Draco Malfoy put on his best innocent face, the one that looked like he'd been found with his hand in the cookie bowl, "No." Draco leaned forward, "I've been missing you for the past two days... let me at least say hello, properly."

Hermione blushed, and it was a beautiful vision.

"We're going to Gringott's this weekend!" Hermione gushed. "Have you had any other ideas?"

"You're going too?" Draco asked, "Why?"

"We always go together-" Hermione said, breaking off. "You're right, it doesn't make sense. I'll have to ask."

Draco sunk his hands in his pockets, "The goblins are tricky, tricky beasts."

Hermione's eyes lit up.

Draco lifted his hands up, saying, "No, no, I know they're perfectly civilized in their own unique way. I don't mean to treat them as anything less... They're clever, and Slytherins admire cleverness."

Hermione no longer looked like she was about to hex his head off. Small victories. "All I've been able to find has been about Goblin Rebellions."

Draco Malfoy said, "I was looking more recently. There's two words, that come up again and again - confounded and flummoxed. It means something, that so many people have said that, so many times."

Hermione nodded, "Not the words I'd have thought of, concerning the goblins."

Draco Malfoy nodded, "Its why I brought it up. Walk lightly and keep your eyes sharp."

[a/n: Like it? Those two words do indeed mean something. Put your guesses in the comments!]