Firstly A LONG CHAPTER! I'M SO PROUD OF MYSELF!

That aside, I know the last update almost screams for a Draco chapter now. But I told myself I'd try to stay as faithful to the pattern as possible and, having already switched once, I'm starting here with Hermione. HOWEVER, because it is sorta mean to leave you hanging, half way through perspectives will start changing as the action quickens, ending with Draco's thoughts. And for your viewing delight, the wheels really start turning here so... enjoy!

Oh! And thanks for all your wonderful reviews! They really are encouraging and I hope to live up to your expectations.

Hermione's Point of View

What is the price of virtue? Not for the first time, I find myself wavering. How much more will I have to pay for the sake of giving others a chance they will never take? How much more can I pay without losing myself in the anger it provokes? I cannot help but think that 'righteousness' might just be nothing more than wasteful if all it brings is solitude.

Hermione shook her head, forcing her pen down and sliding her journal underneath her class notebook. 'Focus Hermione, it's not worth it'. But it was inevitable for her not to think pessimistically after her two so called 'best friends' had blown off at her for her good intentions. Granted, these were the same two boys that had celebrated in her name when she'd slapped Malfoy back in 3rd year, despite the fact that she had felt ashamed at her own loss of composure.

"Boys will be boys, Hermione" whispered Ginny from her desk, understanding the frown on her friend's face. 'Thank Merlin for Ginny!' she though, not for the first time grateful that she'd met the spirited girl. She'd explained the situation to her in the hall after potions and the young red head had been nothing but supportive since. 'If only the guys were half as understanding as Ginny, I wouldn't be in this pickle' She looked up at the now golden duo who sat a few desks ahead of her. Ron still looked absolutely peeved while Harry entertained himself by sending death glances at Draco Malfoy.

Draco Malfoy. Now there was a mystery. The more she learned about him, the least she felt she truly knew. Her natural inclination was to snoop. After all, a lifetime of trying to know everything about anything made her somewhat reliant on information to make her decision. 'Perhaps that's what really bothering me' she decided. 'That the information doesn't match. Cross checking my results reveals a man who can be both a noble and a tyrant'. Project Malfoy, she decided, a case study on the effects of childhood indoctrination and the subconscious. It would, if anything, at least prove to be entertaining.

Her thoughts and plans were interrupted by the sounds of the students standing up. She looked dumbly at Ginny who couldn't help but laugh.

"Yes Hermione" said the youngest Weasley with a deliberately condescending tone. "Class is over. It's okay, you just spaced out for an entire class. Happens to everyone". Noting the growing frown on the muggle born's face, the red head handed over her class notes.

"Thank you Ginny dearest" she replied, smiling sweetly and putting the notes away in his bag. Waving goodbye, she headed out into the hall and towards the library in hopes of making up for all the work she had just missed. However, her plans were sent crashing as she noticed Malfoy poking fun at Pansy.

"Not now, not ever Pansy" he snarled. "There is no chance in hell anyone can pay me enough to go out with the likes of you. I tend to like women within the human species, if you don't mind me saying so. Creatures the size of small whales somehow don't allure me quite as much as they used to". He stopped though, spotting Granger, which only make her feel all the more intrusive for being there. Firstly, she didn't exactly condone of his behavior towards Pansy, but she couldn't help but figure that the insistent girl set herself up for such attacks. Secondly though, she felt as though she were snooping, however unintentionally she'd been overhearing their conversation.

It is common knowledge that life tends to sneak up on you when you least expect it. So when Pansy turned around, her eyes puffy from crying, and ran aimlessly towards Hermione, life decided to make things all that more interesting by having one large crash. As if in slow motion, the overweight Slytherin ran towards the usually brave Gryffindor who stood motionless and wide eyed like a deer in the headlights. Pansy realized what was about to happen all to late, managing to move slightly out of the way, making her right shoulder crash into Hermione, shoving the significantly skinnier back. But as she braced herself for the inevitable crash against the stone hard floor, she was instead surrounded by two strong arms that held her from what would have surely been a not so pleasant fall. She dared to open her eyes, hoping beyond hope that the arms around her would belong to someone other than the Head boy who'd watched the scene unfold. Unfortunately, she was greeted by the stunning eyes of the blond Slytherin.

'Blue' was her only thought as she stared into the remarkably bright eyes that bore into hers. 'I wonder why I never noticed'. He frowned, noticing their somewhat compromising position, and quickly helped her upright and let go.

"Head common room, now!" he commanded with an authority she dared not defy. Nearly pulling her arm out of her socket, he took her by the wrist and dragged her. Had she been in her right mind set, she would have struggled and screamed in outraged at the mistreatment. Instead, she allowed herself to be pulled along, her mind filled with thoughts of blue.

Draco's Point of View

'Malfoys pride themselves in composure. Malfoys pride themselves in composure.

Malfoys pride themselves in composure.Malfoys pride themselves in composure.'

'Screw this!' he concluded in less than a second from when his thoughts began. He dashed over, unwilling to watch the mudbl... Granger fall. With a burst of speed that surprised him, he thanked the hours of Quidditch practice that had made him sufficiently agile to reach her in time. But as her warm brown eyes peered into his, he knew this was it. He needed answers. Pulling her quite unceremoniously by that wrist, he dragged her towards the Head common room.

It occurred to him how unnatural her submissive state was for he half expected her to try to break away. Figuring it was only gratitude, he carried on, swishing past the painting and nearly swinging her onto the couch. He then began pacing the room, pushing his hair back in frustration and trying to cope with the thousands of thoughts that were troubling him. He forced one to stand above all others in an attempt to regain himself. Repeating his mantra, he tried his best to figure out how to begin.

'Malfoys pride themselves in composure. Malfoys pride themselves in composure.

Malfoys pride themselves in composure.Malfoys pride themselves in composure.'

Hermione's Point of View

'What is Merlin's name is he thinking?' she wondered as she sat on the couch in the common room. He was pacing like a mad man, occasionally looking up at her, only to continue on his endless mumbles. 'He's a schizoid, ... there's no helping it...' she concluded dryly, finding little other explanation for his unpredictable mood changes. First he's being a complete turd towards Pansy, then he's her knight in shining armor, then he goes back to being mean by ordering her and dragging her here, and then he's a pacing psycho trying to compose himself. 'This guy has a lot of issues, more than I care to deal with' she decided 'Perhaps Project Malfoy isn't such a good idea'. She forced herself to concentrate on the boy in front of her as he seemed to slow down. He then moved over, his eyes filled with intent, and dragged a nearby chair towards her, sitting face to face with her. He stared into her for a long time and she forced herself to meet his cold gaze measure for measure. There was no way she was backing down. His expression then softened, as if defeated, and he ran his fingers through his golden hair one last time and spoke.

Draco's Point of View

"Why?" he asked for the second time in the day. She shook her head, confused, and he realized that she didn't know what he'd overheard... or rather, what he'd eavesdropped. 'So much for keeping things simple' he figured, taking a deep breath before submitting himself to the inevitable reaction.

"Why do you believe I am not a death eater?" he asked, only to see her eyes snap wide in realization. 'This is gonna suck' he added as an after thought as she pushed herself up from the couch and sent death glares at him, her face as red as the Weasley hair in fury.

"You were spying on me!" she demanded, her voice filled with anger and... hurt? "I'm not sure about you, Malfoy, but in my definition of civility, the right to privacy seems to be pretty essential. So much for you being a man of your word, boy!". She started walking towards her room door and he knew that if she made it he'd loose his chance to get the explanation he needed. Sucking up his pride, he added.

"I am sorry" he whispered, barely loud enough for her to hear but enough for her to stop and turn towards him. "I have no excuse and won't try to make one up. I... deserve your angry words for I have done nothing to earn your trust". She nodded, and walked back to the seat.

"Apology accepted" she replied, which nearly made him fall of his chair. 'She's gonna forgive me, just like that!' he wondered, shocked by the authenticity of her smile. His reacion must have been pretty obvious for she added: "Don't expect to be able to apologize your way out of everything Malfoy but, though I by no means pretend to understand you, I think I can figure out enough to know how hard it is to get any apology out of you". He stared at her, finding no words to describe what it felt like to have someone who could read beyond his normal behavior and, even more, understand what it meant. Not even his father could read him thus. 'Well, perhaps especially not father'

"Why do you believe I am not a death eater?" he asked once more, hoping to get an answer. He needed to know, had to know, how years of torturing this one girl had not made her hate him like everyone else did.

"I don't know, Malfoy" she replied. "Merlin knows, it's costing me a lot with Harry and Ron to believe what I do, but you already know that if you overheard everything this morning" 'Maybe not completely forgiven' he thought dryly. "But terrible as you are Malfoy, I just can't see you becoming some guy's lap dog for the sake of power. And I want to hope better, I guess. Hope that someone who is willing to 'lower themselves' to make a peace pact with me is also willing to hold up against Voldemort. But is it perhaps too much to hope? Because I want to know Malfoy. I deserve to know. Are you or are you not a death eater?"

"Would you believe me if I told you?" he asked, terrified of what her answer would be. She simple nodded in reply. "I'm not sure if you want to hear the truth considering how easy it would be to go back to your friends and agree with them. But if you do wish to know, I am not and will never become a death eater". She nodded, closing her eyes, a small smile gracing her face. He struggled not to smile in turn, her expression becoming for him to do as much. She then stood up, walking as if in a daze, and headed towards her room. It wasn't until she had closed the door behind her that he allowed himself to smile. 'She knows' he thought, the idea not bothering him at all, 'Perhaps this year won't be too bad after all'.

Author's Note: Hope you guys enjoyed all that. Unlike most chapters that I write in tid bits while in class, this is the first long segment in one sitting... Sorry I haven't updated since Thursday, but I was at a conference in Upenn and had to do more homework than I would have liked yesterday to make up for it. Once again, thanks for all your reviews! It's so encouraging to have my first actual story here getting this many great reviews! So thank you! Oh, and as you might have seen from my favorite's list, I read an obscene amount of fanfiction. So if you guys want me to read anything, add it onto your review and I'll make sure to check it out and review!