Hermione counted to sixty after the door had closed behind Draco before she let out a scream of frustration mixed with confusion and sadness. Tears spilled down her cheeks and she did nothing to stop them. They weren't tears of any one emotion, rather they were the manifestation of so many emotions happening at once:

Anger - toward herself for losing control and kiss Draco back. But also toward Draco for ignoring her afterward. Frustration - toward Ron for insisting they not forgive Draco for all his past actions. Guilt - that she thoroughly enjoyed kissing Draco, and that Ron didn't cross her mind once while it was happening. Also, for wanting more alone time with Draco even though it would infuriate her friends. Confusion - Why was Draco so different? Things between them had always been so black and white... He hated her and she hated him. Now they were swimming in all sort of grays. Disappointment - toward Draco for leaving without so much as a goodbye, and toward herself for hoping for more from him. Sadness - that the one thing that had made her truly happy since Voldemort's return was the one thing she knew she shouldn't want.

Why? Why did he have to come back this year? Why did he have to be so different? Why did Professor McGonagall set up such an outrageous living arrangement? Why did he have to kiss her? Why did she have to kiss him back? Why? Why? Why? The only thing she could think of were more questions, and not a single answer to any of them. She felt as if her head was about to burst into flames due to all the friction of conflicting thoughts pounding against each other. It made her do something that she'd never done in her academic career... lose focus on the assignment in front of her. The Amortentia was slightly over-brewed, but she dipped out a vial and placed it on Professor Slughorn's desk anyway.

Draco was still sulking outside the Potions' classroom when he heard Hermione let out a blood curdling scream. He cracked the door open to find her sobbing over her cauldron, obviously believing she was alone. He wanted to go to her, to comfort her, but he knew he was probably the reason she was screaming and crying in the first place, so he silently shut the door, leaving her to her thoughts.

He'd been wandering for ten minutes when he rounded a corner on the fourth floor and found a shoeless blonde sitting on a window sill, apparently having a conversation with herself. He was preparing to turn around, hoping she hadn't seen him, when her airy voice spoke to him: "Running from your feelings isn't going to make them go away." Her head turned slowly toward him, a knowing smile resting on her face.

"What?!" He asked, trying to sound as confused as possible, but he had the feeling she was reading his soul like a book.

"She is different this year, too, you know. You've got a chance. As much as they'd like to deny it, she and Ron just are not meant to be together. Ron likes the spotlight too much, and she would rather be at home with a book. They are better as friends, and I have a feeling it won't be long before they realize it." Draco was sure his mouth had fallen to the floor, but he couldn't force it back shut. How did Luna, LUNA of all people, know about his feelings for Hermione? But he didn't have time to contemplate an answer as she continued, "She's always known there was more to you than you let on. If you'd given her any reason to, over the last seven years, she would have been the first to defend you. She's still looking for that reason, so give her one. Forgiveness just might be in season..." she hopped down from her perch, glided over to him and added, "Blake" with a wink.

She had skipped off before Draco had time to comprehend what had just happened. "She called me Blake. SHE CALLED ME BLAKE." His thoughts became internal screams. "WHAT IS HAPPENING? HOW DOES SHE KNOW? SHE CAN'T POSSIBLY KNOW! NO, I MUST HAVE MISHEARD HER." His heart rate began to slow as he convinced himself he'd misunderstood the quirky Ravenclaw. "She doesn't know. She can't know. No one but McGonagall and I know." He had almost convinced himself when her smiling face and that wink popped back into his head... "She knows." He resigned himself to the truth, "but how?"

Hermione did not feel the slightest bit hungry as she sat next to Ron, across from Harry and Ginny at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall. What she really wanted was to retreat to the comforts of their cottage, but Ginny had insisted they eat lunch together since, in her words: "they had left her to live alone in Gryffindor tower."

"For the last time, Gin, if it were up to us we would be back there with you, not in some secluded dorm. We have to live with Malfoy for crying out loud. Do you think we'd still be there if we had any choice?" Harry was trying, unsuccessfully, to appease his fiance's frustration. He looked desperately to Ron and Hermione for backup. They both half-heartedly nodded their heads in agreement as he continued. "McGonagall was clear. We are stuck with this, whether we like it or not."

"Fine." Ginny stated determinedly. "What did she say about visitors?"

Harry's eyes lit up as he realized, "She didn't."

"Good, then after dinner tonight, you all will be receiving your first guest." Ginny kissed Harry as if to seal the deal.

Hermione excused herself from the table and was intending to enjoy a thoughtful walk by the lake when someone grabbed her wrist from behind. "Get off me-" she cried shaking her arm up and down before turning to realize it was only Harry.

"Can I join you?" He asked, releasing her wrist.

"Of course, Harry. Sorry about that. I was just planning a short walk down by the lake before we have to be to Hagrid's for Care of Magical Creatures." Her response lacked emotion.

They walked in silence to the lake. When the reached the sand beach, Harry looked quickly around to be sure they were alone before asking, "So what was the deal with Ron this morning?"

"Oh that..." Although it had only been hours since her boyfriend made a scene in their kitchen, to Hermione it felt like years. What had happened since had been clouding her mind so much that she almost forgot she owed Harry an explanation. "The short version is Ron caught Draco and I laughing at something completely innocent and over-reacted."

"The short version?" Harry questioned. "Is there a long version?"

She wasn't sure how much she should share with her best friend, but knew that he deserved more than the one sentence she had given him. She decided to tell him everything up to the point that he came down for breakfast. She included the part from the night before when she told Draco his room had been determined.

"So, let me get this straight, you and Draco have been alone in the cottage on more than one occasion and you're... getting along?" Harry was astonished.

"That's right." Hermione's tone came out more defensive than she intended, but Harry didn't seem to notice. She continued, but softened her delivery, "Like I said earlier, he seems different."

"I've noticed the change too, Hermione, but that doesn't mean I trust him. I'd like to believe there is good in him, and that he was just as much a victim as the rest of us, but I can't forgive and forget that easily." Harry was being completely honest with her, and it killed her to not give him the same courtesy.

"But at least you're able to open your mind. You're able to be civil towards him and not antagonistic every second, unlike Ron. Honestly, I don't know if I can make it through an entire year of him acting like this." Hermione's voice cracked as she neared tears.

"It takes Ron a lot longer to accept things that are out of his control. You know that. Plus, he's still reeling about Cormac and the Cannons. Eventually he will settle down. Just be patient with him."

"That's just it..." Hermione stopped walking and turned to face her best friend. "I'm tired of being patient with him. I'm tired of having to walk on egg shells or play referee just because he isn't willing to grow up and act like an adult. I love him, but I'm tired of his shit, Harry." She could no longer hold back the tears that had been building.

Harry wrapped his arms around her and stroked her back kindly. "I know Hermione. Believe me I know. But Ron wouldn't be Ron if he didn't feel passionately and have strong opinions. He's still seeing all the pain that Malfoy has caused."

"You're right." She pulled away and looked Harry straight in the eye. "His intensity is one of the reasons I fell for him in the first place, and now I'm faulting him for it. I'll try to give him some more time."

They continued walking, Harry with his arm around Hermione, and her head resting on his shoulder. She felt his body tense slightly before he quickly blurted, "Ginny told me about you running into Draco in London."

Hermione stopped dead in her tracks, turned slowly toward Harry and tried to be casual despite the blood rushing to her cheeks as she replied, "Oh yeah, what'd she say?"

Harry was relieved she didn't seem angry, but could tell there was something Hermione was hiding as her cheeks were as scarlet as a Gryffindor scarf. "Just that you two cross-paths." Harry chuckled.

"Yes, we did, but I fail to see what is funny about that." Hermione was doing her best to remain nonchalant when, in reality, fireworks were exploding in her stomach just thinking about how tenderly Draco had held her in his arms.

"You would if you'd seen Ginny explain it. She did hand motions and everything." He smooshed his hands together, mimicking his girlfriend.

Hermione's eyes grew wide. "It was nothing like that!" She argued. "It was an accidental, momentary bump. There was no..." Hermione rubbed her hands together mockingly.

Harry raised an eye brow as if to say, "Are you sure about that?"

Hermione playfully smacked him on the shoulder. "Don't give me that look, Harry Potter. I bumped into Draco and he caught me from falling down the stairs. End. Of. Story." She sounded convincing, but her insides were still in knots.

"If you say so." Harry relented with a smirk.

"Let's just get to Hagrid's, please. I don't want to be late for our first lesson."

When they arrived at Hagrid's hut, Ron was sitting on the front steps looking annoyed. "Where the bloody hell have you two been?" He asked gruffly.

"Just down by the lake." Hermione answered, politely, shooting Harry a look that said, I'm trying, but he's not making it easy.

Harry nodded, signalling to Hermione he appreciated her effort, but also letting Ron know that's where they'd had been.

The hut's door swung open suddenly, sending Ron tumbling down the stairs. "Oh...Sorry, Ron. I din't see yer there." Hagrid boomed in his jovial tone.

Ron picked himself up off the ground and muttered something about being more careful or being on time so people don't have to sit on the steps and wait. Harry and Hermione both glared at him, but Hagrid didn't seem to notice as he was turned around motioning for someone inside the hut to come out. The three friends were shocked to see Draco emerge from the darkness of Hagrid's home.

"Oh, for Merlin's sake! Don't tell me you've gone soft too, Hagrid!" Ron bellowed.

Hagrid turned to face the red-haired and currently red-faced boy as he answered, "I'm not sure what yer talkin' bout, Ron, but if it has sumthin' to do with me sharin' a cup 'o tea with Draco here, I'm gonna have to ask yer to pipe down. All students are welcome at me home, not just yer three."

Ron was visibly aggravated, but let it go as he knew he'd get no back up from his friends based on their previous conversation regarding the blonde-haired boy who was supposed to be their enemy.

Seeing he'd receive no more grief from Ron, Hagrid returned to his normal, jolly self and explained what their lessons would look like this year. "Now, I know yer all have more experience than most, so I won't be holdin' anythin' back this year. Yer gonna be more like my apprentices than my students." All four of them felt their stomachs drop. They knew too well the type of creatures Hagrid liked to keep as pets. "Yer first lesson... Changin' the bandages Quill's tentacles. Poor thing got 'erself tangled up with a school 'o grindylows."

"I'm sorry... Quill?" Hermione asked, fearing she already knew the answer.

"Yeah, Quill, ther giant squid." Hagrid grinned from ear to ear.

"That's what I thought." Hermione sounded less confident with every word.

"C'mon," Hagrid encouraged. "She's not too bad. Alls yer gotta do is keep her fed while yer workin', and she'll lay nice an' still."

"And what do you propose we feed her?" Ron's face was turning a sickly shade of green.

"Rabbits o'course. I've got a bin of 'em down by the lake a'ready." Hagrid's enthusiasm was not rubbing off on his four apprentices. "Well no use dawdlin' here. Let's get to it."

Draco was the first to follow the large man. The others reluctantly fell in stride next to each other several yards back. When they reached the shore, Hagrid blew a large whistle he had hanging around his neck. The surface of the water rippled ominously before Quill's daunting figure appeared, floating just off the sand beach. Her bandaged tentacles flicked up and down impatiently.

"A'right, Harry..." Hagrid boomed, tossing a rabbit to the black-haired boy. His instructions were simple, "Just aim for her beak."

Harry nervously heaved the rabbit with all his strength, sending it soaring far beyond the snapping, razor-sharp mouth. She slapped her longest tentacle angrily. Harry quickly grabbed another rabbit and threw it, more accurately this time. Quill snatched it out of midair, and happily ate it in one bite.

"Keep tossin' the rabbits, Harry. The rest 'o yer lot, come with me, and be careful not ter make any fast movements." Hagrid directed, wading ankle-deep into the water.

Ankle-deep for Hagrid meant waist-deep for the boys and chest-deep for Hermione. She was focusing so much attention on the giant tentacles floating in front of her that she lost her footing, and slipped under the water. She thrashed wildly for a moment before remembering Hagrid's directions about not making any fast movements, but it was too late. Hermione had inadvertently kicked the tentacle nearest her, causing Quill to instinctively grab her leg.

The squid was no longer interested in eating the rabbits Harry was now chucking rapidly, hoping to distract her. Quill was in self-defense mode, and she viewed Hermione as a predator. Hagrid grabbed hold of the tentacle next to him, and tugged backward in an effort to keep the squid from sinking into the depths with Hermione in her clutches. He yelled at Ron and Draco to retreat to the shore, but neither of them would leave Hermione. Her head bobbed above the water three times before disappearing completely.

Draco and Ron looked at each other fearfully and sprang into action, diving under water at the same time. Each of them grabbed one of Hermione's arms, and pulled with all their might. The squid's grip was not weakening. They surfaced to breathe, knowing every second they didn't free her made her chance of survival less. "You keep pulling, I'll work on loosening the tentacle." Draco spat to Ron before they disappeared once more. Draco clawed desperately at the coil wrapped around Hermione's leg. He managed to slide it down to her ankle, and with all the power he could muster, pushed it off her foot.

Ron dragged Hermione's limp body well onto the land where there was no chance Quill could reach her. Draco was right on his heels. "GIVE HER TO ME!" He commanded, not waiting for Ron to comply as he ripped Hermione from his arms. He positioned himself behind her, placed his right fist just above her belly button, covered it with his left hand and began thrusting upwards. After five thrusts, water came shooting out of Hermione's mouth, and she began coughing. He removed his arms from her waist and positioned himself next to her, one arm still around her shoulders, one hand cupping her elbow for support. She managed a quick look into his eyes before collapsing into his chest. He slid his arm under her knees and began striding toward the castle. Harry, Ron and Hagrid, who'd only managed to escape Quill's wrath by dumping the entire bin of rabbits into the lake, followed closely behind.