Hermione squinted at the timeline on her desk, rereading it for the millionth time, trying to piece together the Gringotts robbery. Her brain hurt and her eyes were watering. How had Gringotts been robbed on a night it was closed. No people entering or exiting. The guards were stationed there all night, it seems like the robbers had simply disappeared. She looked back at the security measures, ones she had already memorized, and read them again. No apparation, no accio, no floo, no windows. Nothing that would let someone in. She rubbed her eyes and looked at the time, ten to 12. Hermione sighed and packed up her things, heading out to lunch with Ron. She hadn't seen her boyfriend, in nearly 4 days while he was visiting Harry and Ginny in Wales where Ginny played quidditch for the Holyhead Harpies. Her excitement grew as she thought of seeing him again.

"Ms. Granger, a word." She heard almost at the lifts, so close to leaving. She sighed and placed a smile on her face before turning.

"Mrs. Parsons, yes of course." Kendra Parsons, her boss, also a massive pain in her ass, ushered into an empty conference room.

"It seems that, today, it has been two entire weeks since the Gringotts robbery, and I have no new information to give the authorities. The Minister of Magic is breathing down my neck Ms. Granger. I have told him that the brightest witch of her age is on it, I hope that that was not a lie." Kendra's stale coffee breath washed over Hermione and she tried not to stare at the lipstick on her teeth.

"I apologize for the delay ma'am; I have been working extra hours to solve it. It just seems like a perfect job so far; it has proven difficult to conclude."

"I don't need your excuses Ms. Granger; you have another week at the latest. I would hate for your responsibilities to be reverted to monitoring the misuse of magic again. Do not let me down." Mrs. Parsons walked out of the room leaving Hermione with a growing pressure in her chest.

Hermione reached for the nearest chair and sat, putting her head in her hands and swallowing away the panic that was bubbling up. She heard the door open and immediately straightened, thinking that Kendra was back. "Ma'am I –", she stopped when she noticed that it was a tall blonde man instead of the brunette she was expecting, "Oh it's just you." She sighed and slid back into her chair with a creak.

"Granger. It may be just me but I do have this room reserved, if you don't mind having your little breakdown somewhere else." Malfoy stated, his lips pressed into a line.

"Yeah yeah I'm leaving Malfoy, don't get your knickers in a knot." She moved to arrange her files that had dispersed before freezing, an idea coming to her head. "Hey listen, you have experience solving robberies right? After working on the incident in Romania?"

His face grew wary, "Uh…yes?"

"I've been given the Gringotts case and it's proved harder than I thought. Do you think…can you perhaps…um…it's okay if you don't have time…actually never mind, you're probably really busy. Sorry I asked." Hermione scrambled to collect her things.

"You didn't actually ask," Malfoy smirked. "But, out of the kindness of my huge heart, I will be delighted to take a look at the case that has stumped Hermione Granger."

Hermione rolled her eyes, "How thoughtful." She slid the file across the table, "I'll come down to your office after lunch if that works," before finally leaving to meet Ron.

It wasn't until the lift was halfway down that she realized that she had just accidentally told him that she knew where his office was. Hermione leaned against the elevator and sighed, the last thing Malfoy needed was another ego boost and she had just given it to him on a silver platter.

The elevator doors opened, and she saw Ron standing at the fountain, messing around with a cell phone she had forced him to get to stay in touch. Immediately, her shoulders relaxed, and the stress flooded off of her. Ron turned to look up and burst into a grin, arms wide. Hermione had to stop herself from running through the Ministry as she rushed to Ron's arms. She melted into him, smelling the familiar deep rooibos and cinnamon as she buried deeper into his chest.

"I missed you," he said into her head, "I hope you know that I'm never letting go. You should just quit now."

Hermione grinned and pushed him off to get a look at his face before closing her eyes and tilting her head up, waiting. His lips came down softly and she melted a little more, "I'm good with this never letting go plan," Hermione mumbled into his mouth.

"Oi! Get a room!" She heard from somewhere behind her, not bothering to look. She felt Ron grin on her lips before they finally separated.

"We should probably go get that lunch," he said. Hermione pouted and Ron placed another quick peck on her lips before dragging her out, "We have all night 'Mione."

Hermione stabbed at her lettuce while ranting about her Gringotts project to Ron, getting more frustrated by the second. "It's impossible Ron, there were no witnesses, no proof, nothing that seemed off. The gold just disappeared from the vault. Kendra today had the audacity to threaten to demote me, like she could solve this any better. I don't know what I'm missing, I've gone through all the documents, have interviewed the guards on duty, and even visited Gringotts but nothing." Hermione took a breath, smashing lettuce into her mouth and gulped it down, barely chewing. "I'm so desperate I ended up asking Malfoy for help and the git was so arrogant about it. I even – ," she paused at Ron's hard jaw and tense eyes. "Wha- are you okay?"

"You and Malfoy are going to be working together?" He questioned.

"Uh, I guess so? I'll probably never see him, I just wanted a second opinion. Ron, what's wrong?" His eyes were hard, his jaw still clenched.

"Yeah, sorry Hermione, you know how I get with him. I just don't like the idea of you guys alone."

"I know Ron, I dislike it as well, but I do need to get this project solved."

Ron nodded. "I know but that doesn't mean I hate it any less." He closed his eyes and leaned his head back.

A thought clicked in Hermione head as she gasped, smirking. Was he perhaps jealous of Malfoy? She felt a giddiness bubble up and Ron looking back at her warily. "Ron…are you...jealous?" He narrowed his eyes and opened his mouth to say something before Hermione reached out and caressed his cheek. "Ron, listen to me, I love you. More than anything. He's nothing more than something icky on my shoe." Ron gave a small smile at her analogy before taking a breath,

"I know 'Mione. It just gives me a bad feeling; promise me you'll keep your distance from him?"

Hermione deepened their eye contact, "Of course, we only converse when we absolutely need to." Hermione was uneasy at her untruth, but she didn't let it show. Her and Malfoy had been running into each other quite a bit lately, and with their case, it would probably happen more often. Ron just didn't have to know; it would probably just hurt it more than anything and it's not like she could afford to forgo Malfoy's help.

Hermione finished up her lunch, promising Ron that she'd try to get home early tonight. She was still thinking about Ron's sudden shift in mood when she knocked on Malfoy's door, opening it when she heard an, "Enter."

"Ah Granger. So, you do know where my office is." He motioned her to take a seat in front of his desk.

"Yes of course, I learnt it when I was picking mine as I naturally wanted to be as far as possible." She took a seat in his deep leather chairs and had to stop a gasp from escaping at how comfortable they were. His office was larger, larger than hers, and contained an enormous bookshelf that seemed to be built into the wall. She internally grinned at the color scheme, while he seems to have left the Slytherin green behind, he had adopted the darker browns and blacks as his own, how predictable. She inhaled slightly and the minty, woodsy scent overwhelmed her immediately.

He chuckled, "Glad to know I have such an impact on your life." Hermione opened her mouth to argue but he pulled out the case file, immediately diving into questions. Hermione spent the better part of the afternoon explaining everything she learned and everything she couldn't fit into the file. They went through some theories together, ones that Hermione had already considered of course, but nonetheless ended up at the same dead ends she had. She was, although, quite surprised at his ability to pick up her thought processes and seemed that they were always on the same page. She thought back to how she had to baby step Ron and Harry through her theories over the years and how much easier it would have been if Malfoy was there instead. Hermione stopped abruptly at this thought, shaking it out of her head. Was she going crazy after one day of working with him? She checked the time and noticed that it was almost 5pm.

"I have to head home but tomorrow?" She asked him.

"Believe it or not, I do actually have my own responsibilities during work Granger. Are there some cats in a burning building this evening that you need to save?"

"No," she said curtly, although Hermione wanted to, she didn't have time to banter back, "Ron's waiting for me at home," she finished. "I could meet you before work tomorrow though. Say 6am?"

Malfoy smirked, "Of course, the Weasel. Tomorrow at 6 works fine."

Hermione narrowed her eyes, "Do not insult Ron in front of me. I'm not sure if you forgot the feeling of being punched but I will gladly remind you."

Malfoy raised his hands defensively, eyes wide, "Calm down mama bear, it was a joke."

Hermione grabbed her things and stormed out, not bothering to close his door behind her.

The smell of rose petals and cinnamon hit her as soon as she opened her door to her flat. There were petals scattered along the floor like a runway and she could hear pots and pans from the kitchen.

"Ron?" She called waiting by the door, not wanting to mess up any of the décor. She heard clattering and Ron swung down the hallway almost losing his footing. A giggle escaped her at his crazy. His hair was dishevelled, his chest panting, and his cheeks glowed red. Hermione slowly took in sight and another laugh escaped when she looked at his outfit. She covered her mouth, taking in the apron covered in flour and some odd colored liquids with the words Queen of the Kitchen peeking out from under.

"Who are you and what have you done with my boyfriend?" She asked with an attempted wary face, but Ron's grin broke her facade.

"Come on, come on!" Ron said, grabbing her arm and she was whisked into the monstrosity that was her kitchen. There were broken eggs on the counter, flour scattered across every surface and even a pasta noodle stuck to the wall. Ron picked her up with ease and placed her on the only clean surface of the counter.

"I know you've been stressed recently so I wanted to do something nice and dad suggested a muggle meal thing which I thought was a great idea but I forgot that I don't know anything about muggle cooking so I went to this bakery store place and the lady there, Hermione, you'd have loved her she was so nice, anyway, so she suggested I cook this pasta thing and a pie and oh even told me that I should get an apron and this was the only one they had, so then when I home, I -", Ron was still rambling when Hermione's eyes pricked. She had never had someone that cared this much for her, that went through such lengths just to make her happy. Hermione grabbed the top of his shirt and pulled him close planting a messy kiss onto his lips. Ron's breath hitched in surprise but soon he relaxed, grabbing her waist and pulling her close, his hands wide on her back.

Their kiss deepened and Hermione's lower stomach coiled. Ron was breathing heavily into her mouth, exploring each section with his tongue and Hermione's hands travelled to his hair, gripping with a need. His mouth travelled down her chin, along her jawline and he gently sucked under her ear. Hermione moaned; she needed more. Her hands travelled under his shirt, clutching at the supple feel of his soft skin that molded to her wishes. She roamed down, toying with the edge of his trousers when Ron groaned with impatience. He grabbed her against him, picking her up off the counter, her legs wrapping around his waist, their lips meeting again and an urgency returning. His exhale was her inhale, bodies acting as one.

Ron pressed her against the wall and undid his trousers, his fingers moving her knickers aside from under her skirt with ease. She quickly muttered a lubrication charm and Ron pulled back, eyes staring at her intensely and she nodded, gasping, as he let himself into her. His movements were rough, eyes shut and Hermione's coil tightened as they claimed this part of her wall. She didn't expect a release as it was rare for her that one ever came but that's not to say that the anticipation of one wasn't infinitely fun on its own. Her gasps grew higher and Ron's movements became sharp until, finally, with a swift upwards motion Ron crumbled into her.

"Merlin's beard Hermione," he gasped cleaning himself up, "If I knew you'd react like this I'd have done cooked ages ago. Remind me to send a thank you to dad," he finished with a chuckle.

She wacked his arm, "Ew, Ron. Don't you dare."

Ron let out a laugh and grabbed her again muttering into her neck, "Did I tell you how much I missed you."

She giggled and wrapped her arms around him, "I don't seem to recall, you might, perhaps, have to say it again."

Hermione checked her watch again as she stood in the lobby of the ministry, it still read 5:59am, same as 10 seconds ago. She bounced on her feet. Her morning had gone perfectly except for when she told Ron that she was leaving early for a morning meeting with Kendra, a lie which was now manifesting as anxiety. Her nerves transitioned into anger as her clock hit 6. The git was late. Finally, at 6:02, the familiar blonde boy sauntered into the lobby. Hermione seethed, the audacity on this spoiled brat, she could kick something.

"Morning. Why do you look like you just swallowed a bee?" Malfoy asked.

"Because someone was late!" Hermione exclaimed.

Malfoy doubled back and looked at his watch, slowly looking back up to her face with amusement, "Oh don't tell me you're that type…nevermind, of course you are exactly that type."

"What type would that be?" She spat.

"The – ."

"I don't have time for this," she interrupted and marched away. She thought she heard him mutter something about a stick up somewhere, but she refused ask and give him the satisfaction.

Hermione led them to the same conference room Kendra had lectured her in. She told Malfoy it was because it's easier to access from the lobby but really it was for her. She felt a little easier lying to Ron when she wasn't spending her days in an office surrounded by his stupid minty aromas and ridiculously comfy seats. Malfoy pulled out various parchments of his ideas and began explaining them.

"This must have taken you forever…" She trailed off.

"I simply had nothing better to do."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Is it that hard for you to admit that you wanted to help."

Malfoy scoffed, "Wanted? Wanted is a big word Granger. If I recall correctly, you basically begged me to, how could I say no."

"Something tells me you have no problem saying no."

"Something tells me you're a pain in the ass. Anyway, I was in debt. After this, consider us even."

Hermione's eyes widened. She hadn't thought he remembered. Her mind travelled back to eighth year when she had returned to Hogwarts to finish her studies. Both Harry and Ron had not, so she was alone in the castle that year. Her and Ron weren't officially together either, both reeling with loss, they had needed some time apart.

Hermione woke up with the sun beating down on her and birds chirping. Looking over, she saw that it was 6:30am. She still had two hours before she had to be at breakfast at the Great Hall but knowing her, she wasn't getting any more sleep. Hermione groaned into her pillow, exhausted with the day already.

She was reading and picking away at her breakfast, when she felt the hair on her neck stand up. She looked around and locked eyes with a blonde boy two tables down. Malfoy. Her eyes narrowed, what did he want. He sneered at her and looked back at the Slytherins next to him, diving into their conversation like nothing had happened. Hermione rolled her eyes. Of course, even though they were in their eighth year technically, both 18 now, Draco was still a massive pain in her ass. Somethings never change. She huffed into her book and continued reading about the uses of gillywead, ignoring when the hair on her neck stood up again.

The rest of her day passed the same as any others, she went to class, did her homework, ate when she was told and headed to the library, planning on escaping the anguish that was her life with a simple fiction novel for the rest of the evening. Hermione had just finished the first couple chapters of her novel, enjoying it so far, when a shadow came over her. She looked up and made eye contact with the same grey eyes she had that morning at breakfast. "What Malfoy?" she said, enunciating.

He smirked. "Is this how the Golden Girl greets people now?"

Hermione rolled her eyes, "Yes, when the people are stalking me." She looked back down into her novel, satisfied that Malfoy couldn't want anything important. She felt him shift but he didn't leave. She inhaled and looked back up, ready to let him have it but there was a change in his eyes. A certain uncertainty. Hermione softened, "What is it?" Malfoy clenched his jaw and muttered a forget it but before he whisked away from the library, a bright yellow parchment fell from his hands. He was long gone by the time Hermione opened her mouth to say something so she walked over and opened it, revealing a letter.

Dear Mr. Malfoy,

Your paper on the comparison of muggle electricity and magic was abysmal. I would have normally given you a 0 but as receiving a NEWT in Muggle Studies was deemed mandatory at your trial, I will provide you with the chance to rewrite. I will be expecting a polished paper by winter holidays.

Regards,

Professor Trent

Muggle Studies

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Hermione read it twice before sitting back down, gears churning. She had heard that Malfoy was given a full pardon under the conditions that he was to return to Hogwarts and excel at Muggle Studies while being on his best behavior. So, he was struggling and came to her for help. Of course, he would, the only thing he deemed note-worthy about her was that she was a muggleborn. She grinned, finding amusement in the fact that he needed her. He wasn't able to spit it out though, she wondered if dropping the letter wasn't an accident. A ploy maybe where she would be forced to approach him and offer her help. Well, she huffed to herself, she wasn't the same Gryffindor that went around tying everyone's shoes for them. Not anymore at least, the war had taken care of that. If he needed help, he would have to suck it up and ask. She settled back into her novel with a smirk still on her face, for once, looking forward to the next day.

Hermione headed down to breakfast holding various textbooks against her chest, along with a certain canary yellow letter rested on the outside, allowing for perfect recognition should anyone know what it was. She bit down a smirk, two could play at this game Malfoy. Hermione walked into the great hall with a fixed gaze on her usual seat at the Gryffindor table, not looking at anything or anyone else. She was drinking her morning coffee, well into her novel when she felt his presence. There was no mistaking the bergamot peppermint scent that filled her nose and she had to stop herself from inhaling.

" Oh hello Malfoy...what brings you here?" Hermione asked with an innocent expression. His eyes were narrowed.

" You have my letter Granger. Wasn't aware that thievery was a Gryffindor trait."

Hermione faltered, her brain going through the ways she could handle this. She could continue being ignorant, but he already seemed angry…though he was the one that needed help so was it really her issue that this man had no balls…talk about not being a Gryffindor. She took a deep breath, ready to play the I-don't-know-what-you're-talking-about card but Malfoy spoke before she could.

" Cut the crap, I know you read it. Will you help or not."

Her breath hitched in her throat, shocked by his bluntness. "Uh…with your muggle paper?"

" No with my fashion sense", he rolled his eyes, "Of course with my paper, I thought you were the brightest witch of your age."

Hermione snorted and tried to recover with a cough. "Yeah, I guess I could make time. How's the library after dinner?"

Malfoy nodded with a guarded gaze, but she thought she noticed the faintest bit of amusement in his eyes before he whipped around and left.

Hermione had been standing at the door of the library for what felt like ages, trying to figure out how to walk in, how to say hello. What if he was already sitting? Should she just go over…what if he wasn't, what table should she pick? Hermione shook her head, this was ridiculous, she had helped defeat Voldemort, what was Draco in comparison? She took a breath and walked inside.

The library was fairly busy, relative to her normal midnight study sessions at least. Hermione surveyed the area, not yet seeing him and started walking deeper through the room. She had just turned around the last corner when his blonde peaked through. He was sitting as far away as he could from everyone, crouched over a desk with books spilling everywhere. Hermione walked over, unsure of if she should say hello or just sit down and landed on clearing her throat when she was close.

Malfoy looked up with tired eyes but the harshness from the morning was gone. He nodded and went back to his parchment. Hermione stammered, had he changed his mind? She had said today right? Was she supposed to come back later? She should've just sat down at the beginning. Hermione teetered on her feet and Malfoy looked up again.

" Granger, if you needed a formal invitation, you should've said something. I would've owled you one."

He sounded annoyed. "Well, Malfoy, usually people do more than nod when greeting someone so excuse me for your lack of manners." She said, exasperated but moved to sit next to him. She thought she saw a hint of a smile but when she turned to face him it was gone. "So, tell me about your paper."

Malfoy reached under some books and pulled out parchment, handing it to Hermione. "See for yourself", he said, "I thought it was perfectly satisfactory, but Professor Trent is an evidently an imbecile."

Hermione scoffed. "Yes, I'm sure that he's the problem here", she mumbled and took his paper into her hands.

His paper begun with an 'explanation' of electricity, mentioning how there were people that worked in muggle homes that lived in attics and used a 'by-tercycle' to create power. He then elaborated that they would use this to charge miniature devices that they could talk to people with, which she believed he was talking about cell phones until his paper started on how these devices could be used to read people's minds and hypnotize people to do things. Malfoy ended with an explanation that while muggles were attempting to do things that wizards could, they were failing and would never reach the same level of power as magic.

Hermione finished and stared at the parchment for a minute longer, trying to gather her thoughts and not burst out laughing. "I-uh", she started.

Malfoy looked at her, waiting. "Yes..."

" I mean it's not horrendous…the facts are kind of off. Well, very off. Okay so I don't think there's anything factually accurate in there but technically your structure isn't bad. I mean…okay if you think about it, electricity can be made by bicycles…though you spelt it wrong…and uh…devices do exist that allow for communication between muggles, though they do not read people's minds or anything like that. And though your ending is extremely discriminatory against muggles I guess it's a…way…to wrap up an essay. Good display of…opinion?" She looked up at him, grimacing, waiting for his reaction.

His eyes were wide on her and he suddenly let out a chuckle, except it didn't stop there and it wasn't long before he was fully laughing at their table. Hermione's lips turned up and soon she was too dying at the absurdity that was the paper she had just read, two crazies cackling in a library.

" I-I-I'm sorry", Hermione tried between her giggles, "I wasn't expecting something so", she launched into a burst of snorts, "interesting", she finished.

Malfoy doubled over, shaking the whole table with his laugh, "Hermione, I can't", he breathed.

She froze, her laugh stopped in her chest, did he just call her Hermione? He looked over at her, wondering about the sudden change in atmosphere when it dawned on him what he had just done. Malfoy cleared his throat. "Yes…uh, the paper…so…how do you spell bycertycle."

Hermione took a breath, pushing away everything happening in her brain and leaned over his paper again, writing the proper spelling over his. "There."

" Right, okay. What else?"

Hermione opened her mouth, unsure of where to start, still shaken by earlier. He was closer now, inspecting his parchment required him leaning into her. Woody peppermint filled her nose again and she stared down, desperate to figure out what was happening. "I think it would be beneficial if I were to write my notes alone and then we could reconvene to discuss it together", she stated.

" Whatever you say…Granger", he breathed near her ear. Hermione's brain fogged and she got up, grabbing her satchel and his paper, stumbling out of the table. She turned to nod at him before leaving and there was no mistaking the amusement on his face. She spun and rushed from the library.

It wasn't until she reached her dorm when she finally sat down, allowing herself to go over what just happened. He had said her name. Did that mean something? He didn't seem like he did it on purpose so maybe it was just an accident. Did this mean he thought about her as Hermione then? No Hermione, he doesn't think about you period. She moved to the rest of the evening, methodically processing her reactions to him and his changes in attitude. She sighed, still as confused as she was when she came in, but two points were becoming glaringly obvious.

1. She had laughed tonight. Fully laughed. She couldn't remember the last time she did that.

2. She was, for some reason, impacted by Malfoy. While she didn't know what was happening to her during these times of influence, Malfoy certainly noticed the shift and he was using it. Well, she thought, she would just need to find a way to impact him the same way. An eye for an eye, right Malfoy?

She fell back into her pillows, thinking until she fell asleep.

Hermione slowly awoke, surprised by how much sun was shining into her dormitory. She rolled over and checked the time. 8:50am. Her sleep left her immediately and she jolted up, realizing that she was missing breakfast and would be late for her 9am charms class. She threw on random clothes, barely checking her appearance and sprinted to the class. She was panting when she walked in, and the eighth years glanced up, the class already in session.

" Glad you could join us", Professor Flitwick said, "I believe there is a seat at the back."

Hermione nodded, her cheeks burning and mumbled a sorry before making her way to the back, not making eye contact with anyone. She sat down and pulled out her supplies before finally turning to see that no other than Malfoy was sitting next to her. With a stupid smirk on his face. He leaned in close, "Nice outfit…", he whispered, "…Hermione."

Hermione looked down and noticed, for the first time, that instead of her normal Gryffindor robes, she had thrown on muggle clothes. Her cheeks burned again, cursing this day and the stupid arrogant boy she had to spend the next hour with. She clenched her jaw and took a breath; she would not let him have the satisfaction. She turned, looking directly into his grey eyes, "Thank you. I was in such a rush I wasn't sure what I threw on." She looked at him from under her lashes, trying something she had seen Ginny often do at Harry and whispered, "I think I forgot a bra."

His smirk fell from his face and his eyes darkened. Hermione had to stop herself from smiling,

" Oh? Did I say something wrong Draco?"

His breath hitched, his eyes narrowing, "Watch it Granger," he said through his teeth and turned back to Professor Flitwick. Hermione looked back down onto her parchment, unable to suppress her smile. She had succeeded. Hermione wasn't even sure what she just did…was it flirting? She shook her head slightly and directed her attention to the Professor, falling into her studious self effortlessly.

Hermione spent the whole morning giddy with success. She walked into lunch, starving from not having breakfast in the morning and dove in, pausing only to catch her owl deliveries. One letter with HERMIONE written in Ron's messy scrawl caught her eye. Weird, she thought, he never wrote to her. Their relationship from before had taken a halt when he took his Auror position and she went back to school. They were on rocky terms anyway with Ron still grieving for Fred and Hermione for her parents, whose memories never did come back. She opened the letter and read on.

Hermione,

I hope you're doing well. I've been attempting to write this bloody thing for ages but couldn't get the words out right. You were always the writer after all. Listen, I've spent the past several months chasing criminals through whole bloody globe and it's taken me almost dying at the hands of one to realize that I don't want to spend another day without you. You're all I think about and merlin's beard it's annoying. I need to see you. I love you. I'll be at Hogsmeade tomorrow evening if you can make it. Please do.

Ron

Hermione gulped. Her chest felt like it was going to explode, she hadn't realized how much she missed her best friend. His familiar scrawl almost brought a tear to her eye before she blinked it away. Of course she loved him too, she always had and she was sure…she thought…that she wanted Ron back as much as he wanted her but for some reason, her mind kept travelling to the whispers and laughter in a dark library corner with a peppermint scented boy. Hermione folded up the parchment and tucked it safely in her satchel. She would deal with this later.

Hermione found herself at the library doors that evening, teetering, unsure if she'd find Malfoy in there. They hadn't discussed when they'd meet again but she was finished writing her notes in and it would be beneficial for him to get a head start in fixing it up. She walked in confidently, heading straight to their table from the other night and couldn't suppress the disappointment when she noticed it was empty. She sat down anyways, thinking that it was a good place to get some work done as any other. She was an hour into reviewing her charms notes when the screech of the chair in front of her startled her. She jumped in her seat and looked to see Malfoy sitting.

" Oh sure, yes, please make yourself at home Malfoy."

He smirked. "I was planning on it." So, she guessed he was over his mood from charms.

" I finished writing my notes." She started, handing him his paper, "I've circled in red areas that are factually incorrect, blue represents discriminatory words or phrases, and green are places that I thought you should actually keep." She then handed him another parchment and continued, "I've written some ideas that you could explore and…" She pulled out a stack of books, placing them on his hands, "I've also taken liberty of finding texts that cover electricity and magic relations and have tabbed pages that you may want to study."

Malfoy looked stunned, "Almost took my bloody hands off with your books." He muttered, glancing at the height of the stack. "Merlin's beard that's a lot."

" A thank you would have sufficed." Hermione rolled her eyes. "I'd imagined you actually wanted to do well, considering the alternative."

" I'm writing a paper not a novel," He said pausing while he counted the books, "7 textbooks are hardly needed to do well Granger. Not everyone needs their professors worshipping the ground they walk on."

Hermione froze and her eyes narrowed, "At least I do not need to pass a class to stay out of Azkaban you ungrateful twat," she spat. "Excuse me for trying to help to the best of my ability." Hermione jerked up, fuming, pushing her chair out with a large screech and gathering her supplies. She was leaving when she whipped around for a final word, "And when you get stuck trying to understand the muggle texts, don't bother asking ME," Hermione roared.

She couldn't believe he was ever the reason she was uncertain about Ron. Malfoy could suck it for all she cared, calling her teacher's pet. Her steps became quicker as she became more frustrated, she would go to Hogsmeade tomorrow and take Ron back and she planned on never seeing Malfoy again, if she could help it.

Hermione shook her head, leaving the memories of eighth year behind and refocussing on the Gringotts files in front of her. She hadn't really seen Malfoy again after that night for the rest of the year and her and Ron had picked up their relationship effortlessly. Hermione wondered how often Malfoy thought about being in debt before her thoughts were interrupted by the conference room door opening.

"Sorry, this room is booked." Hermione stated, barely looking up.

"Actually, Granger," Malfoy countered, "I thought we could use the help, so I called backup."

Hermione glanced at him and then looked back at the door, taking in the new arrivals. Blaise Zabini, Daphne Greengrass and Seamus Finnigan were waiting.

"Oh sorry, yes, please come in."