Following the meeting with Hermione, Draco headed to his chambers, the massive books trailing behind him like puppy dogs. His mind was racing. Not only did they basically have their first fight, but there was definitely a moment between them. When her hand touched his, he felt a rush of adrenaline like no other. If he didn't know any better, he'd think Hermione felt it too. There was a rush of color to her cheeks, but yet her hand stayed, that was, until he freaked out. He was kicking himself for the way he had acted. It wasn't her fault that he was so conflicted. It wasn't her fault that he believed in the reasons that each side had for their disdain of him. He kicked himself for showing her how aggressive he could truly be…not that she seemed phased by it at all. She really put him in his place, and he admired that. Draco shook his head lightly, trying to ignore those particular thoughts.

About an hour passed by, and he heard a light knock on his chamber door. He looked up and saw a short black haired lanky boy standing there.

"Hello Mr Nott." Draco greeted curtly.

"Hello Professor Malfoy." Nott greeted, matching Draco's tone.

"Have a seat." Draco said, pointing to the chair across from him. The boy sat down and watched as Draco bent down for something.

"This." Draco said, placing the massive books on the desk. "Is your detention."

"What are these?" The boy sneered.

"They are magical ancestry books." Draco retorted.

"And what do you expect me to do with them?"

"I expect you, Mr Nott, to watch your tone and wait for me to explain the assignment." Draco said firmly, very McGonagall-like. "You will use these books to make your family tree to completion. That would be from the very beginning of the line, as far as these books go back to the present."

"So you are giving me homework?" Nott sneered, and suddenly the quill in his hand exploded, Nott dropped the quill quickly, assessing his hand. "You burned me!" He yelled, holding up his perfectly fine hand to Draco.

"I will do much worse if you don't lose this attitude." Draco sneered, standing up slowly. "I am your professor and your head of house. You will not continue to talk back to me without consequence." Draco sat back down, his fury bubbling. There was a long pause of silence. "You will start the assignment immediately and be warned that I know the correct lineage order so you cannot fool me. Go on, get started." Draco said tersely.

"I just don't get it…" Nott mumbled as he pulled out his supplies.

"Don't get what Mr Nott?" Draco inquired. It was obviously a surprise to the boy that Draco could hear him.

"Nothing, just that my uncle told me you would be…" Nott trailed off, unsure of himself for the first time.

"Would be your ally?" Draco responded in a cold voice. The boy nodded. "Well your uncle was quite wrong." He snipped.

"Obviously he was…he just said that you'd be the same type of head of house that he had back then, that's all…" Nott was reading the spines of the massive books, trying to figure out what to start with.

"Theo…your…uncle, and I had very different experiences in this school." Draco replied slowly, his tone was softer, but still firm.

"But he said you were the Slytherin Prince!" Nott retorted, causing Draco to laugh harshly.

"I very well might have been, but that wasn't the crowning honor you think it is." Draco answered, watching the boy's reactions carefully. "Our head of house was unfairly kind to the students in his house. He allowed a massive amount of disrespectful behavior to happen, that quite frankly should have been stopped. You see…your uncle thought he was great because it benefited him, but there is more to life than yourself Mr Nott. Do you know what I mean?"

"Not really." Nott answered truthfully.

"Do you know what the war was about?"

"Mudbloods, blood traitors and Harry Potter." He answered, venom in his voice.

"I will not tell you again that that word is not allowed in this school." Draco seethed.

"You asked me a question and I answered! I mean what a backwards teaching method, asking and then wanting no answers. It's no wo-" Nott had not been cut off, he lost his voice. His mouth was moving, but no words came out. Draco laughed inaudibly and then waved his wand elegantly, causing words to come out from its tip.

Silencing Charm. You can't behave, you finish this detention in silence.

That is in fact, how the rest of detention went. Utter and complete silence. Draco knew he needed a new strategy with Nott, but he couldn't think of anything else at the moment. After Nott's time was up, Draco removed the silencing charm, checked his work and sent him on his way. The boy did not attempt to talk to Draco at all, and Draco was quite relieved about it. Draco went about his night as usual, hoping something would come to his mind tomorrow.

The next morning Draco woke up just on time to make his way to the great hall for breakfast. He greeted Hermione kindly when he arrived, not surprised at all that she was there early. Probably can't help herself, poor girl. Before breakfast started, they could hear a loud faraway flapping of wings and everyone minus a few first years knew the post was coming. The first owl to approach his end of the staff table was a jet black barn owl he recognized immediately. This was Potter's new owl, a rare sight to see a barn owl in black, he was sure Potter loved that fact. He was pretty sure black barn owls were so rare, they sold for double the price, but he wasn't positive if that was true or a rumor. Potter's owl dropped one letter to Hermione, and to Hermione's pure shock, one to Draco. Him and Potter had kept in touch since Potter got him the job. Draco was fully amused by the pure look of shock on Hermione's face, but didn't have time to address it because another owl he recognized came swooping down. Again, this owl left one for Hermione, and one for Draco. This particular owl belonged to Andromeda Tonks, the grandmother to Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonk's son Teddy. Draco smiled widely at Hermione's growing confusion, and was happy when the next owl, one Draco did not recognize, only dropped one off at Hermione's spot. Draco wanted to let this play out as long as possible, seeing as it killed Hermione to not know how he had relationships with her allies and friends. So instead of telling her, he opened his letters one by one and read them slowly.

Malfoy,

I hope you and Hermione aren't hexing each other in front of the students, haven't seen any news in the Daily Prophet, keeping an eye out though.

Draco chuckled softly, he'd never say it outloud, but Potter's got jokes.

I wanted to reach out and invite you to my place for the holidays, that is, if you are comfortable with that. I know we aren't exactly buds, but you shouldn't spend them alone. That is of course, unless you already have plans, in which case, I understand. If not, I believe you should be getting an invitation soon to Ginny's baby shower, I do hope you can come.

In other news, I have spoken to Kingsley about your father's request for a trial to give him a lesser sentence. I informed the Prime Minister that you in no way support this, he is working on how to proceed going forward. I'll let you know.

Hope all is well,

Harry.

Draco's face went dark for a second reading about his father, but lightened again. He was glad Potter kept his word and spoke to Kingsley, but he was trying not to think about it. He opened his second letter.

Draco,

How are you my dear? I am hoping you are well! Teddy has been asking about you nonstop, he misses his favorite bad influence. I was hoping you could make some time to come visit us soon, if it's not too much trouble. I heard that a certain someone is now teaching alongside you, maybe you two could come together?

Draco felt quite uncomfortable about this, not knowing where she was getting the idea that they were close enough to come together.

Teddy misses you both dearly. I don't pretend to know what your relationship is like with Hermione at this current stage, but if you two are in a better place, I'd love to have you both. Up to you of course! Let me know what you decide, I am going to let Teddy write a few lines to you now.

Drake! I miss you, when are you coming so I can finally beat you at chess! I've been practicing just like you said so that I could beat you and we can start quidditch! Please tell me you'll come okay gotta go!

Teddy Lupin

Andromeda Tonks

Draco's heart swelled a little. It was such a comfort to him to have this connection with them after losing his whole family to the war. He was so wrapped up in his letters, he almost didn't notice Hermione get rather angry after her letter from the owl Draco didn't recognize, shovel breakfast into her mouth and leave the great hall in a huff. After a long pause, he got up to follow her, shoving his own letters in the pocket of his robes. He followed her through the corridor and out to the grounds, for a split second he thought she was going to Hagrids, but instead she was headed for the whomping willow. Draco watched as she shot a spell that had to be immobulus at the tree, and entered the hollow trunk.

Draco had heard rumors about this after the events of their third year, but had never seen anyone actually succeed in getting through. He tried to follow her, but the tree came back to life with a roaring thump of its branches hitting the ground. It took Draco three tries to hit the right spot, as he didn't actually know what he was aiming for, but he did it nonetheless. He dove into the hollowed out tree trunk and followed the narrow path until he found her, sitting on a ragged bed in the corner of an empty room. He made quick observations, the walls were scratched up, the bed was hanging on by shredded pieces and the door looked like it had been attacked more than once. He was hit by the revelation that the rumors were true, this was where Remus Lupin turned. He wasn't sure if Hermione was crying, or just sitting alone thinking, as there were no noises or movements coming from her. Her back was turned to him, and he slowly stepped towards her, gearing up the courage to say something.

"Hermione…you alright?" He asked, and he head whipped around towards him, eyes filled with rage.