(AN:) REVIEW

Professor Stabile dismissed class. Albus, Hermione , and Draco walked back up to the castle where they met Cole at the giant doors. He joined them walking beside Hermione, making Hermione and Draco on opposite ends of the little group. Draco hadn't said a word the entire walk, head down with a pensive expression set on his face. Cole were telling them he had to meet up with the Gryffindor team to plan try outs for the two new spots open; seeker and keeper. Hermione and Albus had decided to skip lunch to pick up a few books from the library. Hermione tapped Draco on the shoulder.

"Me and Albus are going to the library. Do you want to come?"

Draco looked up with a startled expression. "What? Oh no thanks I try to avoid that place. I'll just go with Cole."

Hermione shrugged and ran after Albus who had already started off.

Cole clapped Draco on the back. "She a fine one there that one." he tipped his head in Hermione's direction.

Draco narrowed his eyes but quickly hid the expression, "Yeh what about her?"

"You know mate if you don't have a thing for her then you don't mind if I take a try..."

Draco pulled away, "Whatever dude hurry up you are keeping me from my food."

Draco started walking toward the Great Hall, Cole beside him.

"Yuh know Draco, the Gryffindor team has two new spots open." Draco raised an eyebrow at the boy, "So it would give you a chance to show off this so called skill you boast about so much." Cole grinned.

Draco shrugged, "I don't have a broom."

"You can borrow one of mine."

Draco stopped from walking to look at the other boy squarely in the face, "I do not want your charity."

"It is not charity. I am just looking out for the team we need the best players. Besides it's no problem. What are friends for?"

Draco looked thoughtful, "I'll consider it."

They had both come to the Gryfindor table. Draco was quickly pounced on by Maryl and Brittany and Cole was unable to get another word in. He quickly gave up and went to sit by some of his team mates. Draco was left with the girls fawning all over him. He did not object. They were a quick distraction from everything that had happened to him earlier that day.

HISTORY

Draco had just gotten the girls off him as he saw Cole leave the Great Hall. He followed from a few yards away not really wanting to talk to anyone. He soon found that the next Gryffindor class was History of Magic.

He walked in to find Hermione and Albus had already arrived. Hermione was at a desk reading aloud as Albus bent down behind her to view the text. He was absently leaning closely over her and she looked up to nod at him as the both agreed on something they had just read. The same strange feeling washed over Draco as it had in defense. He quickly strode over to the desk beside them and dropped his books with a loud thud. Hermione looked at him and smiled.

"Always have to make an entrance?"

"It's my job to be the loud, arrogent git you all expect me to be." he remarked smartly.

"Ah, and you do it so well." she complimented twitching her nose as her smile grew wider, something Draco found irresistible.

Albus quick movement caught their attention as he slid into a seat. For good reason, for the door clasped shut and to Hermione dismay it was Professor Nocks, the Head of Gryffindor house standing before the class.

She looked as stern as ever the crisp bun giving her face a strained look. She stood straight and gave a clear crisp instruction that reminded Hermione of an army sergeant.

"Take out your quill and parchment. You will be taking extensive notes on our continued study of the Goblin War of 1622. We left off when basic Goblins rights were unheard of and the ministry and just come about on heightening the taxes on the owner of goblin serfs. As you know the serfs were thought of as less then..."

Hermione suppressed a yawn they had studied this long ago and she had practically memorized the chapter in their text and a few other books as well. She glanced at Draco who too looked bored to tears. She quickly scribbled something on his parchment and handed it to him.

Albus and I have been looking for ways to get us back home.

Draco curiosity got the better of him as he briefly showed the mixture of joy and apprehension. Why did you tell Albus? Black wanted us to keep it to ourselves. Draco didn't want just anyone to share their secret.

Hermione rolled her eyes, He is the prefect. He already knew. she wrote back.

Draco looked at the paper feeling somewhat stupid, So how did it go? he wrote in his neat languid hand.

As Black said time travel is very primitive. They have a few good theories and some of the brave have been shifted into the past or future by a few days but they are still testing. A few people left half their bodies in the different time, others have gone mad. Hermione gave a loud sigh and passed the note.

Draco looked down and frowned, So I guess I shouldn't plan on any help in this time. Do you think OUR Headmaster is doing anything? Draco passed back feeling a little more hopeless.

Hermione had read and was about to write back when a loud "ahem" interrupted her. She looked up into the angry face of professor Nocks. Hermione quickly did a fire spell and the note went up in flames. Hermione met the woman's gaze with as much scorn and passion.

"Miss Austin do you have something you would like to share with the class." Nocks spoke in a clipped voice.

"No, Thank you." Hermione simply replied keeping an even tone.

"Oh no I insist because what you were discussing was obviously so much more important than what I have to say. Here Miss Austin let me be quiet so you may address the class. In fact why don't you go ahead and teach since you have no need to listen to me." Professor Nocks said thinking she had truly embarrassed the girl.

"As you wish." Hermione replied sweetly with vicious smile. She stood before the class beaming with confidence. Hermione held the class in silence for a moment before the plunged into her vast knowledge of the war.

"The Minister of Magic at the time was Michel Augistine Antionette Thermpolis the thirteenth. Although he was said to be quite liberal. Thermpolis' past dealings with the elf and giant revolts of the previous Novermber of 1621 showed him to be more of a left winged individual."

Hermione took this moment to again give a sweet, mincing smile at the professor before she continued.

"He had a significant amount of power in the ruling for Goblin serf rights. Although he did rule in favor for most of the issues he stripped Goblins of the most important demand; equality with the rest of the magical world. The first uprising began on March 22 in Greendale and became increasingly violent across the globe..."

The class was held in aww as she recited the precise names and dates in chronological order going even more in depth than their own teacher who was now steaming at the ears.

"That will be quite enough Miss Austin!" Professor Nocks shrieked. "You are obviously an insufferable, misguided, low bred know-it-all and I can no longer stand you in this class. Leave! You do not deserve to be at this school..."

Hermione heard no more. Her lip was trembling as tears threatened to burst forth from her eyes. She knew she had to get out of there before she showed how hurtful the words had been. She bolted from the classroom her feet taking her in no particular direction.

Draco had watched the entire scene grinning when Hermione had gotten the better of the teacher and furious at the teacher's outburst. He picked up his books and hers and went after the girl. Giving an audible bitch as he passed the steaming professor.

She screeched after him, "Mr. Marselione if you leave this classroom that will be fifty points from..."

"Bite me." He said without even turning around slamming the door behind him leaving a delighted class in his wake.

Draco stood in the empty corridor searching every direction for his lost companion. It would take him hours to search the entire castle. He closed his eyes shifting through all the thousands of emotions the students emitted around him. He could feel them, from the deepest depressed poet to the overjoyed heart of a young girl, they were all clear to him.

It took him a moment to find her. A sense of regret and anger lingering through her mind. She was only a little ways off, no longer moving. He ran into the direction with the sense of her becoming stronger until he came onto a dark, deserted corridor. A small form crumpled against the wall about half way down.

He carefully approached not wanting to startel her. Hermione had her knees pulled up to her chest with her face hidden in a cloud of wavy brown hair sobbing her heart out. Once she had started crying over the professor then about Harry and Ron and being stuck in the past and before she knew it everything just seemed to come down her mind jumbled in anguish and sorrow. He slid down the wall beside her not knowing how to comfort her, never being comforted himself. She sensed his presence and gave a half-hearted attempt to apologize for her behavior.

"I'm sorry...I didn't...she was such...I lost it..." this too got lost as she gasped for breath.

"Shh...it's okay....she was just being bitchy because you outsmarted her...it's okay it's not your fault..."

Hermione broke into a new wave of sobs, " Then I thought Harry...lost....and Ron..."

Draco put an arm across her shoulder and pulled her close to him. She didn't object as her tears ran down onto his new robe. " Sh.. Harry and Ron are fine they are probably even more worried about you...it's okay....they wouldn't want to see you like this... sh.." He pulled her to him and he was now cradling her in his arms acting as her protector from this harsh reality.

"What if we....never...get back...stuck....here forever..." she buried her head in his shoulder her sobs becoming lighter.

"There is nothing we can do. Dumbledore will come for us and until then we just have to be patient." Draco could hardly believe what he was saying as his own doubt at there return came back.

Hermione remained silent every once and a while giving a small wimper. Draco held her close nuzzling her soft hair. He would never forget the aroma of peaches and creme. They remained content for an hour or so before Draco broke the tender silence.

"Do you want to go back to your dorm?"

"No, I only have one more class." Hermione softly replied making no movement to remove herself from his arms.

Draco sighed savoring theses last few moments. The clatter of students empting from their classes was soon heard throughout the halls.

Hermione reluctantly stood up wiping her tear stained face. Draco stood beside her.

"You ready?"

"Yeah as long as you are coming with me." she looked up to him.

"I won't leave your side." never meaning anything more in his life.

&#(%

(AN)I love fluff. Yes I do. Yes I do. So what you think??? to clear a few things up.

-Lucid is Draco's grandfather

-Harry and Ron's story is not slashy. Sorry I don't take joy in that kind of writing.

-As for Hermione and Draco well hey that depends on you my friend.

Write more, don't write more. Review, don't review. Your choice.

I yearn for the approval of complete strangers

cough-REVIEW-cough