Hermione trudged her way up the stairs and silently creeped into the common room. She gently laid down the supplies, Draco wanted her to get for him on the couch before tiptoeing into her room to change. She was half an hour early so she had enough time to change and get ready. Not that there was any reason to get ready. She was just doing this to be friendly and to cheer him up. They were friends afterall…

Five minutes prior, she walked out of her room and was surprised when she stepped on soft sand. She yelped and looked around in shock to awe.

The entire common room no longer looked like a common room. She turned around and her door had disappeared. Instead, before her, was sand. There was a beach setting and there were two beach chairs lounging by a seashore. A seashore in their common room. The sea looked on endlessly and so realistically. But this couldn't be real. She gripped her wand and cautiously made her way forward. The water didn't look harmful but it looked to be so real. She dipped a finger in and was surprised to find that it came out dripping wet. She blinked in surprise at the sun that shone so brightly in the west. She turned in surprise when a voice rang out.

"Like it? I think if I show McGonagall this as my transfiguration, I'll get an automatic O." Draco drawled from one of the lounge chairs. He had a basket by the chair and he was in a tank and beach trunks. He had sunglasses on and he looked….good.

"You transfigured this?!" Hermione asked in disbelief. He stood and tossed her a pair of sunglasses.

"Don't sound so surprised. I'm hurt. But yes I transfigured this." He said motioning for her to join him on the chairs. She sat down clumsily still in awe of the common room. "What about all our school work?" She asked in alarm.

He laughed. He actually laughed at a time like this. "Relax. I placed a charm so this beach disappears at 11 tonight." He said pulling things at random out of the picnic basket. "What are we feeling?"

"Butterbear?" She asked putting on her sunglasses and kicking off her flats. He tossed her one and opened on himself.

"To us?" He asked tilting his bottle towards Hermione. She clicked their glasses and they took a sip.

She leaned into her chair and let the sun soak her in. She felt absolutely wonderful and relaxed as she lay on the chair.

After about half an hour she dozed off slightly when she was rudely jerked awake.

"Merlin!" She yelped as ice cold water splashed her. She raised her sunglasses to her hairline and looked around in anger. "Malfoy!" She screeched.

He bit his laughter back and gave a cheeky grin. It was then she registered that he was shirtless and standing waist deep in the ocean and had a bucket of water levitating upturned over her. "Oops?" He offered.

Hermione scowled and transfigured her a swimsuit and waded into the water. He raised an eyebrow at her advancing figure. She used non-verbal magic to immobilize him. His eyes grew wide and she smirked. She transfigured a massive wave that shadowed behind him. She backed out of the water and took out a muggle camera. She waved her wand and the wave released on Draco and she was recording it all. He became mobilized again and was shivering in ice cold water. She had also taken that time to disarm him. He was scowling at her with a hint of playfulness in his eyes. She laughed. "We'll never forget this." She said raising the camera.

"You evil evil little minx." He said slowly trudging out of the water. She burst into fits of giggles and laid back onto her beach chair. She felt the sunlight missing and opened her eyes to see a shadow looming over her. Her eyes widened as the figure swooped her up and ran into the water.

"Malfoy!" She yelled kicking her feet and squealing. "Put me down this instance."

"Are you my mother?" He asked as they went deeper in. She stopped flailing in confusion.

"No." she answered blankly.

"Then I don't have to listen to you." He said simply dunking them both in before she could respond. She was cursing as she resurfaced.

"Wow, I didn't know Granger knew such naughty naughty words." Draco said shaking his head. "I'm awed."

She rolled her eyes. Her stomach gave a gurgle and Malfoy looked at her in surprise.

"Sorry," she blushed. He grinned.

"Race you back." He challenged swimming back. She growled and began chasing after him. She grabbed his foot and yanked him back, propelling herself forward.

"Hey!" Draco shouted. "That's cheating!" He said swimming to catch up.

"You never stated any rules…." She said reaching the shore. "I win." She said triumphantly.

"It was implied." He grumbled.

"Don't be a poor sport." She teased wrapping a towel around herself and sipping her butterbeer. He sat in a huff beside her and wrapped a towel over himself as he pulled out what she assumed to be their dinner.

The sun was setting and the view was gorgeous as she ate her dinner. They ate in silence as they took in the scenery.

"Come on Granger." Draco said standing. She looked at him and he had changed into a pair of khakis shorts and a polo shirt. He looked dashing as he offered her his hand. She raised an eyebrow in confusion. He rolled his eyes. "Come on you're going to love this." He said waggling his fingers. She sighed as she grabbed his hand and he lead her to the shore.

"What are we-" she was cut off when an engine sound became apparent and a large boat came charging out of nowhere. "The S.S Malfoy?" She asked in awe.

"It's been in the family for a while." He shrugged as the boarded the boat. The boat began chugging along slowly and gracefully as they made their way to the side rail of the ship.

"It's beautiful." She said as they watched the sun dipped low into the horizon.

"It is." Draco agreed.

An hour later they were back on the beach drinking another round of butterbeer and looking at the stars.

"That's Draco!" Draco said knowingly. He immediately spotted the constellation in the sky as soon as the stars came into plain view. Hermione struggled to spot the constellation. Draco impatiently pulled her onto his lap and pointed above them.

"The one right there." He said as she trailed his arm then his finger then finally landing on the constellation of Draco.

"It's amazing." Hermione said as the stars twinkled above them.

After a while she registered that she, Hermione Granger, was sitting on Draco Malfoy's lap. "Sorry." She blushed moving back to her own chair. She felt strong arms wrap around her waist, pulling her back down onto his lap.

"Don't be silly. There's a clear view of Draco." Draco smirked looking at the sky but winking at her. She blushed even deeper and placed her arms around Draco's. Was she dreaming or was Draco Malfoy flirting with her?

They gazed at the stars late into the night when suddenly, the familiar sight of the fireplace and sofas were back in sight.

"That was spectacular. Thank you." Hermione said at the door of her bedroom.

"Thank you." He said crossing his arms. "I would have been bored out of my mind if you hadn't come back earlier. This was quite….fun." He said smiling slightly.

"It was." She agreed sincerely. "Goodnight...Draco." She said walking into her room.

"Goodnight Hermione."


Hermione woke up feeling oddly cheerful as she looked at her clock. She was running late and would have to head straight down to class if she were to be on time. The events of last night went through her brain and she smiled at the sight of a drenching Draco. What a sight. There was also a shirtless Draco. What. A. Sight. She scolded herself inwardly at such thoughts and felt she should be repulsed at the mere thought but she wasn't.

She rounded the corner to see Draco strutting down the corridor looking almost like he did in the past. A chill ran through her as she scanned the events last night and noticed that he seemed more like his old self. Cheeky, smart remarks, his old sense of self confidence… He said he wouldn't go back. He said he wouldn't go back to forget who he wanted to come. She nervously sat down in Transfiguration and was beginning to feel extreme anxiety at the thought of Draco going back to old Draco.

She smiled when Draco managed to transfigure Nott into a teapot. Nott didn't look happy about it but Draco looked thoroughly pleased and proud. He locked eyes with Hermione and smirked. She blushed and turned away.

Was old Draco back?

Hermione bit her lip as she watched Draco sit up tall and proud, chatting away with Zabini at the Slytherin table in the great hall. She subconsciously stirred her spoon in her soup as she watched Draco smirk when Zabini pointed out something and to her horror, Draco turned around and spotted her looking and his smirk only grew wider.

"Am I going blind or were you just ogling at Malfoy?" Ginny asked in disbelief as she sat down next to Hermione in her quidditch robes.

Hermione blushed. "You were!" Ginny said her eyes growing as large as plates. "Do you...like him?" She asked nudging Hermione. Hermione licked her lips and took a peek at Draco who was laughing loudly and was being clapped on the back by Zabini and Nott.

"We're friends. Nothing more." Hermione said forcing her attention to Ginny. Now it was Ginny's turn to smirk before she went on to eat lunch.


Hermione paid as much attention as she could muster during the rest of her lessons and had snuck many glances at Draco and all those times, he was either smirking, sitting up tall and almost superior like or proudly. Or he was laughing but mostly smirking. At one time, she had spotted him telling off some first years who were staring at him. Old Draco. Old Draco. Old Draco. That's the only thing that ran through her mind as the day continued. She dreaded the fact that he might be back to his old ways. His old thoughts, ways, traditions, views of muggleborns…

She sat in the common room in the evening, finishing up some homework when Draco came walking in. He sat on the opposite sofa and pulled out his homework too.

"You look tanner." He said observing her. She felt a blush overtake her cheeks.

"I did go to the beach yesterday." She said smiling lightly and he laughed throwing his head back.

"It was quite sunny." He grinned as he pulled out his quill. "How'd you like the constellations? I must say Draco looked quite smashing." He smirked before bursting out in fits of laughter. Hermione shook her head and looked back down at her homework. In her head, the mantra of old Draco kept running through her mind like a loud alarm blaring and wailing.

After dinner, seeing Draco act how he was, with the sudden change of spirit, and then seeing him throughout dinner acting all snarky, she couldn't take it anymore. She didn't want to ruin their friendship by questioning his change of character. But she was running out of options and her patience was wearing thin. The solution occurred to her and she began making her way to the Slytherin dungeons.

She mustered as much Gryffindor bravery as she could as she turned a staircase and slowly descended.

She finally reached the entrance to the Slytherin commons and pretended to walk around as if she were patrolling. Finally, Zabini and Nott rounded the corner and spotted her.

"Granger." They said curtly. Hermione was shocked. She knew Draco was her friend now but his friends too?

"Oh please. We couldn't possibly mistreat the little lady who rose Draco back from the ashes." Nott said as if this were obvious. Hermione remained silent in shock.

"Of course you mustn't tell Draco we told you that. He'd skin us." Zabini said laughing. "Now if you'll excuse us…"

"I have a question." Hermione said finding her voice again. They both raised identical eyebrows and shared a look before nodding. "Draco….in the beginning if you hadn't noticed, he was all quiet and sad and all shy. Not typical Draco Malfoy."

"That's what we mean when we say you rose his from ashes." Nott said crossing his arms in impatience.

"Right." Hermione said blushing. "Well, now….he's sort of all proud and acting superior and he's all "Prince of Slytherin" again. My point being…...it's like he's back to the old Draco." Hermione said biting her lip.

The two Slytherins burst into loud outbursts of laughter. "Prince of Slytherin?" Zabini chortled.

"Shut up Zabini! Answer my question. Draco and I...we've become friends. And I'm just worried that he'll go back to being how he was. The arrogant and rude and selfish prick version." Hermione said in a huff.

"Granger." Zabini said a trying to keep a straight face. "We're his mates too and we're thrilled you managed to get him back to himself. Even if we never used to get along, ever since you started hanging around him and befriending him, he's been happier and we've noticed he's more himself. And as you call it-old Draco- it is true he's more confident and proud but after the war, we've all had our hardships, especially Draco, and even if he's back to himself, the arrogant selfish, blood hater, ignorant part of old Draco died along time ago. And his proud, cocky, smartass self is the real him. So get with it." Zabini said studying Hermione. Hermione blushed and gulped.

"I was just worried those characteristics would return along with him." Hermione said trying a small smile. Nott smirked and Zabini cocked his head.

"Thanks...Granger for bringing our friend back." Zabini said struggling to give his thanks. Hermione smirked and nodded.

"Thanks for watching out for him. And..we are friends…..so I'd do anything for him." Hermione said shocked at how true this was.

"Who?"

"Speak of the devil." Nott smirked as Draco rounded the corner. He stopped dead at the sight of us. His mouth opened slightly and his eyes went wide, it was quite amusing.

"What're you lot doing?" He asked straightening himself. Hermione laughed.

"We were just talking about you." She said innocently. He looked even more surprised.

"All good things." Nott assured winking at Hermione. She laughed even harder. Draco looked baffled as his three friends-two Slytherins and a Gryffindor laughed at some inside joke about him.

"Hermione we should go back to our commons. I'll deal with you two later." Draco scowled. He clearly didn't enjoy his friends in on something he was not.

"Deal with us." Nott scoffed.

"On a first name basis are we?" Zabini drawled smirking the most classic smirk ever. Hermione and Draco turned to scowl. The two Slytherin boys laughed as the two heads returned to their common room.

"Do I get to know what you were all talking about behind my back?" Draco asked once they were in their common room.

Hermione smiled. "Don't be nosy. It's none of your business."

"Of course it is! It's my two best mates and my...best friend." Draco said blushing. Hermione also blushed as she took out her homework.

"Do you trust me?" Hermione asked feeling his eyes demand an answer.

"Yes." Draco said waiting for a response.

"Than trust that your three best mates were not saying anything bad." Hermione said as she began writing her homework. Draco moaned and threw himself onto the opposite couch.

"Trust is for suckers." He grumbled as the night carried on.


Three days later in DADA/House Unity class, it was time for their next House Unity session after 45 minutes of defensive shields.

"Today's lesson is on trust." Giurbin said expressionless as usual. Hermione smirked as she thought of what Draco said yesterday. "Trust is for suckers." Well if they were going to be the winning pair for their N.E.W.T's instead of getting average, they would have to really work together. And she was not going to get a mere average. It would ruin any chance of her having the most expansive future. Then she remembered that she had a job for when she graduated from Hogwarts. She smiled to herself as the pairs began to make their way towards each other. There was a few seconds before Draco was sitting in the seat that was occupied by Neville earlier.

"Trust. The reliance on something or someone. The belief upon that person or thing. Trust is something all pairs must master before they can even begin any serious competition against other pairs. Mcgonagall and I have already discussed and planned all the challenges throughout the year you and your partner will face. There will be a total of 10 tests until the end of the year and the pair with the most winnings will get top grades. Everyone else either gets an average or below." Giurbin explained. Average. There was that word. It didn't settle well with Hermione. Draco better put his best foot forward because if she didn't pass because of him, she didn't know what she would do. "Your first challenge for all pairs is next class. Today you'll be working on trusting your partner's." Giurbin said monotone. With a flick of his wand, the desks disappeared and all furniture along with it. "This is a classic muggle trust activity but we're doing it anyways. Let's start with one partner in front, one behind. The one in front will close their eyes and release all their body weight and trust that the partner behind will catch them. You must fully trust them that they won't let you fall. Begin." Giurbin said as he headed over to Hannah and Terry.

Hermione didn't know why but she felt nervous as she stood in front of Draco. She wrung her hands together and inhaled a couple of times before taking a peek at Draco who looked relaxed and wasn't even breaking a sweat. He turned to meet her nervous glance and furrowed his brows.

"Don't you trust me?" He asked. Hermione bit her lip but nodded slightly. "Relax Hermione. I won't ever let you fall." He breathed into her ear as he dipped in close. Hermione nodded and inhaled once more before falling back. She felt herself being caught by strong arms as they wrapped around her underarms. She felt herself go slack as she felt his muscles wrap protectively around her, separating her from the ground. She shook her head as she stood and gulped.

"See?" Draco asked switching spots with Hermione. She rolled her eyes but moved behind him.

"Er...I don't know if I can catch you." Hermione said nervously. Draco raised a perfectly blond eyebrow.

"Gee thanks Hermione." He said.

"No! Not like that. I meant, you're a lot bigger than me and well you were stronger so you could catch me with all the quidditch you do and all but I'm not that muscular built and I guess my point is I don't know if I can catch you when you fall because as I've said your a lot-" Hermione said quickly before she was cut off.

"You ramble a lot." He whispered smiling slightly. Hermione blushed but shrugged. "That's why Giurbin said to use a weight loss spell to lower my weight so you can catch it." Draco said performing a quick spell on himself. "I thought you payed attention in class." He said smirking before he turned around.

"Do you trust me?" She asked opening her arms.

"With my life." Draco said before falling back into her arms and she caught him as he did her and he lay still for a minute before jerking out of her arms and sweeping her up. She gasped as he held her in his arms.

"I thought you trusted me." He said smirking. Hermione caught her breath and placed a hand to her chest.

"Yes until you decided to give me a heart attack." She grumbled as he laughed and set her down.

"Attention please!" Giurbin called waving his skinny arm around. "The last thing we'll be doing before the end of class is quick and simple. You must share a deep secret with your partner and if your partner tells anyone else, they will suffer the consequences….and of course you fail this class but nevertheless! Before you go, share a secret. Go." Girubin said sitting at his desk and watching us as he held a clipboard and quill.

"A secret hmmm?" Draco asked leaning against the wall. She couldn't help but notice the way his hair framed his face and his muscles bulged under his robes. And his eyes….so much were held in there.

"Yes. A secret." Hermione managed to breath out. Draco grinned and nodded for her to go first. "Why do I have to go first?" She asked sounding a little whiney. Draco grinned. "Fine. I'll go." He seemed to think a little as he ran a hand through his hair. "I've already told you my fears but I guess one of my secrets are, I've never been in love." Draco said blushing. Hermione blinked in surprise and Draco looked away as she seemed to digest this.

"But….you've had endless girlfriends and you're not a virgin and-" Hermione said before getting cut off again.

"How do you know I'm not a virgin?" Draco asked raising an eyebrow and smirking.

"Oh please." Hermione said waving a hand. "Your choice of woman have no sense of privacy. After you've done something with them, within the next hour, the whole school is aware." Hermione said crossing her arms defensively.

Draco laughed. "Your turn."

"I guess….a big secret of mine, is that, before the war, I...obliviated my parents and sent them to Australia so they would be safe away from the war and they wouldn't be in harm if they were to be targeted by Voldemort and the death eaters." Hermione said looking away this time. There was a silence as Hermione bit back tears. She felt a finger tip her chin up and she was met by Draco's grey eyes.

"You did a good thing. Yaxley was sent there not long after and he reported that the house was empty. You saved them Hermione." Draco said gently. Hermione sniffled and nodded.

The bell rang and she exited class with Draco and she felt her secret was safe with Draco. Part of old Draco was back. Himself. And if they were to be friends, she would learn to love the real Draco, accepting all those other characteristics weren't in his belief any longer. And to be honest, she already did.

Author's Note

Thanks for all your support and reviews I was really busy but here was the chapter.

*I have an Instagram account that is: bookworm_08. It includes all the books I've been reading and reviews, comments and ratings. So if anyones intrested, that's there. And if I decide to start a fan account for Harry Potter, including all my fanfiction latest updates or just facts, Dramione, I'll be advertising the username there.*

Reviews please :)