"Hermione Granger I don't care what you say, you are never staying behind again." Ginny threw her arms around her neck and pulled her in tight. "I needed someone to gag with and there was no one around" she threw a look at her brother who was wrapped around Lavender. Hermione could only smile slightly as the red head waved her way.

"Ginny, isn't exactly wrong" Harry said wincing as he drank from the glass in front of him. "We really didn't hear much from you?"

"I did a lot of research, would've bored you honestly. Nothing exciting." She took a long drink from her coffee allowing her eyes to stray towards the far table. Pansy wrapped in his arms, the perfect image of normalcy. The blood boiled beneath her skin.

"Research huh, have you found anything? I heard someone else stayed the break too. Some first years were talking about it." Harry turned in his seat and glared at the man paying them no attention. "Right prat to a few of them on the upper staircase from what I understand."

"Can't say I've found anything no, I can tell you he ventures upstairs a lot." She shrugged it off.

"I need to look at the map, see where he's going."

"You haven't done that already?" Ginny took a bite of her muffin as Hermione sputtered into her coffee cup, pulling Ron's attention their way.

"No, I haven't felt the need for it yet. I thought I could catch him in other ways." Harry shrugged his shoulders.

"Really Harry I don't think that's necessary. You'll drive yourself mad staring at it. Besides he's never around, you would have to have it under your nose. I saw him maybe once all the time you were away." She shrugged in return.

"Mate, we still have no proof. Your wasting your time with that one. Just wait until we can talk to Katie and then hardcore the inquisition." Ron said slapping Harry on the back and turning back to Lavender. She could feel her pulse quickening as Harry turned red and went back to eating.

She rose, blaming forgetting her bag and made her way out the double doors to get some air. She felt the small hand on her shoulder and turned with a smile at Ginny.

"You know, I heard the same thing Harry did, about him staying on break. Except when Harry walked away I heard a little bit more about it." Ginny looked at her quizzically flipping her hair over her shoulder. She lowered her voice. "What are you hiding Hermione." She took a deep breath in and cursed whomever it was that couldn't keep their mouth shut. She had known better.

"I thought I could get him to talk. To curse me and let it slide at the same time. Thought maybe he would give something away, so Harry could get over this obsession of his. But he simply ignored me. Nothing else to tell." She shook her head as Gin grabbed her arm.

"Be careful around him, until we know for sure. Okay?" Hermione nodded her head as the redhead squeezed her arm. The bubble of panicked laughter caught in her throat as she made her way to potions. Hearing the familiar laughter behind her coming from the doors.

"Granger." He said setting his books on their shared table. She nodded her head and continued unpacking her supplies. "Still doing all the assignments I see." He sneered at her. She let her hair fall around her face.

"What's the matter Granger, to good to talk to me now?" His voice was carrying, this was an act to him.

"Why don't you get Parkinson to fill in that role. I'm sure she would just love to." She let the words tumble from her lips and the smirk that overtook his face was enough to make her want to leave.

"Jealousy doesn't suite you well." He whispered leaning between them to grab from his bag on the floor.

"I have no idea what you are talking about." She stared straight ahead as the professor walked through the door.

"Hermione." He hissed between his teeth as he chased her through the empty hall. She hadn't said more than one word to him since the class started. Had hardly looked at him. What was she expecting? The Christmas break was over, and people were already talking. She had placed them in danger by assuming the best in people. She would learn.

"Granger." He grabbed her arm and she turned quickly letting her hand fly and making contact with his cheek.

"Do not Hermione me." She said turning away from him and he grabbed for her again.

"What did you expect from me." He rubbed the red out of his face and continued after her. "Did you think everything was going to change now? Was I supposed to present you with bloody roses and beg at your feet?" He grabbed her again and quickly grabbed her other wrist as it flew around again. She glared daggers at him as he pushed her behind a tapestry, forcing both of her hands against the wall as he pressed against her.

"Get off of me Malfoy. I am not playing this game with you." She wiggled beneath him, trying to free herself from his grasp.

"We will not have a normal hello in the open relationship Granger. That is never going to happen." He looked into her eyes and saw the fury flash behind them.

"Why would you need that? Looked like you had your hands full at breakfast." She spat at him and he laughed, letting his head fall down level with hers.

"This. This is about Pansy? She's my scapegoat Granger, haven't you heard the people already talking about your damn breakfast encounters? How else am I supposed to keep them off my back?" He pressed his lips to hers and she bit into his bottom on in return. Causing him to pull away.

"Will you stop being so damn infuriating. I can't help it." He let go of her hands and put both of his on her face. She pulled at his shirt, pulling him close to her, their lips met again and he was home. Their lips melted together as she ran her hands to the nape of his neck and pulled at the hair there. He could feel the growl escape through his lips and he pulled away and rested his head against hers.

"I'm going to be late to class." She was breathing heavily, the vanilla on her breath intoxicated him further. "Be careful, Harry is watching." She said as she ducked between his arms and out from under the tapestry. He punched the wall in frustration, counting his breaths before silently doing the same and leaving the other way.

A.N. Last Chapter was super short and I'm sorry! I hated doing it but I didn't feel like it really fit before this chapter.

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