A/N: woo next chapter! enjoy!

A few hours later into the day, Hermione had awoken. She felt unexpectedly warm. She looked around and saw she was in her room. It was dark outside, she could see. She yawned and got out of bed. She left her room and stepped into the hallway. She turned a corner and was about to go down the large burgundy carpeted staircase. She heard voices downstairs. Unmistakably Narcissa and Draco. They were having a heated discussion at the foot of the stairs.

Hermione hid behind a pillar beside the staircase and listened.

"Draco did you even think about it?" Narcissa asked in a very serious tone.

"Yes mother I did," Draco stated. "And I won't do it."

"Why not? This can do you so much good!"

"I'm not ready. Neither is she."

Is he talking about me? Hermione thought.

"Nonsense. I see the way you look at her. I'm sure you want to do it as much as I want you to," Narcissa pushed on the subject.

"Mother! That is not true. Besides, even if it was, it doesn't mean she wants to."

Hermione was utterly confused. What did Narcissa want Draco to do? Who was this she and her they're talking about? Was it her? Or someone else?

After a pause, Narcissa spoke again. "I only ask this of you for your own happiness."

"Well I believe you asking a bit too much of me mother," Draco snapped.

Hermione heard him stomping up the stairs. Uh oh. she thought. She stepped away from the pillar and ran down the hallways, back to her room. She heard Draco's footsteps pass her bedroom door. As the footsteps started to fade away, Hermione stuck her head outside the door and looked in the direction Draco was walking in. She saw him. His head hung low and he dragged his feet. He had turned a corner in the hallway and disappeared.

Hermione closed her door. She didn't know what was going on but she was going to find out. One way or another

Draco slammed his door behind him and slummed over to his bed. He lied down, laced his fingers over his stomach and stared at the ceiling. Ignore her Malfoy. Come on, you're nearly 17. Your mother can't make your decisions anymore.

That was true. Narcissa must realize completely that Draco was not a child anymore. Yet he couldn't help but feel sympathetic. What she wanted him to do would rush him but he guessed she just wanted to live to see the day. She would anyway. That woman isn't going anywhere.

Then what took away all of Draco's attention was a knock at the door

Hermione knocked on the wood of Draco's bedroom door. She wanted to talk to him but had no idea of what to say.

Draco had opened the door and stared at her. "You're awake," he finally said.

"Yeah..." Hermione replied nervously.

"I saw you on the balcony and I brought you in...Didn't want you to freeze." Fake chuckle.

"Can I come in?" she asked.

"Oh. Oh of course love; come in." Draco could sense Hermione's nervousness. He knew because he felt the same.

Hermione stayed silent and thought of what to say. Once it hit her, she spun around. "Draco, I just want to know what's going on around here. You're keeping something from me and I want to know what it is. And don't tell me it's nothing because I heard you and your mother arguing about it downstairs."

Shit, Draco thought

There was a silence. Not even a pause. A silence. Long and painfully quiet. Hermione was shaking her head as if perplexed at the fact that Draco had had a secret of his own. Draco leaned up against his door.

"So what is it Draco? I know something is up."

Draco sighed. What am I going to say? I knew I should've been more prepared for this.

Hermione just stared at him. Her hands were on her hips and said nothing.

"Hermione, you have to understand-"

"Understand what? What I don't understand is that you would keep something that seems so big from me!"

Draco stomped his foot. "Dammit woman let me talk for once!"

Her eyes widened. She was taken aback from his sudden outburst.

"You make it seem like you're completely perfect. Like you have no secrets of your own. What is discussed with my mother and I shall stay between my mother and I."

Hermione was shocked. Her mouth hung open. She looked away from Draco to the door. Before Draco could say anything else, she walked to the door, opened it and left the room.

Shit, Draco thought

Hermione did not retreat to her room. She turned the corner and walked over to the pillars next to the staircase. She paused, making sure no one was having a conversations downstairs.

Silence.

She walked down the stairs and went over to the now comforting fireplace. She sat on the couch closest to the fire. She put her hands on her lap. Looking up, she stared at the family portrait of the Malfoy's.

The portrait Lucius and Narcissa were having their own quiet conversation. Yet, the smaller Draco stood in front, his arms crossed, looking very bored. He noticed Hermione and stuck his tongue out. Hermione remembered Draco at this age and thanked God for puberty.

"You would tell me your secret wouldn't you?" she asked. The portrait shook his head and sat down on the chair behind him while his parents spoke.

So she sat there, just her and the fire. She sat with a blank expression, letting her mind drift off to better times. Times before Draco: Hogsmead with Harry and Ron, adventures with the Time-Turner, meetings with the Order... She was on the right track but Hermione couldn't help but look back on the Halloween ball. Draco had looked so handsome and had been so charming and romantic. All was perfect; even the kiss. Until, of course, they found out who the other was.

Why did Draco have to be so secretive and mysterious? Just the thought of him made Hermione weak in the knees sometimes.

All of a sudden, Hermione heard Narcissa's voice at the top of the staircase. She wasn't talking to anyone. She was muttering things to herself with a parchment in her face. She came down the stairs and walked in Hermione's direction.

"Narcissa?" Hermione said.

Narcissa jumped. She placed her hand over her heart. "My goodness child. Trying to give me a heart attack?"

"No, no. Sorry."

Narcissa sighed and looked at the parchment again. "I need more time to plan this."

"A week isn't enough?" Hermione asked.

"No. Not nearly enough."

Hermione bit her lip. "I can help," she volunteered.

Narcissa looked at Hermione and back at the parchment. After a minute or so, she passed the parchment to her. "You can help. It can speed things up a bit. I want you to look these over while I go check on something for this weekend."

Before Hermione could say anything, Narcissa raced off.

Ok. Lets see what we have here. Her eyes widened. Oh geez Narcissa...

Draco escaped the manor and wandered outside in the snow. Holy shit it's cold. He was freezing even with his coat on but he had to get out. Think about things. Thin about better times. Times before Hermione: Pranks on Harry and Ron, having the younger years fear him, being proud of his cruel attitude. Then his mind drifted off back to the Halloween Ball. He remembered how beautiful Hermione looked. And that kiss. He couldn't forget it.

That's when Draco finally remembered why Hermione was here in the first place. HE LOVED HER!

Draco went around back into the garden. All the plants and trees were covered in snow. He went to the middle of the garden and looked around .Is it my fault I love her? No, no it's not. It's hers! Why does she have to be so perfectly un perfect? Why does she have to be so beautiful? But why, oh why, does she have to be so nosy?

Unable to stand the cold anymore, Draco walked out of the garden and went his way back to the manor. It was starting to get dark. He looked up at the sky and saw a few stars peeking through the semi-darkening sky. He touched the nob of the manor's front door and the door opened. He was still looking at the sky when he stepped in. He didn't see anyone but he ran into someone. Please let it be mother, he thought.

Alas, he had been Hermione. She had fallen onto the floor and the piece of parchment she had floated about a foot away. She was wearing a coat and a scarf was around her neck. "Sorry," Draco mumbled. He extended his arm out to help her.

She looked at his hand and got up herself. She went over to the parchment and picked it up. "It's...um...it's cold out there," Draco said dimly.

Hermione looked out the door. "Well Draco, it's snowing. I would've never guessed." She walked passed him and walked the path he had just taken. Draco stared in the direction she had just gone. With a "what-the-fuck-just-happened" look on his face. Minutes later, Hermione came back into the room. She quickly closed the door. "Damn, it's freezing out there," she said.

"Well Hermione, it's snowing," Draco said sarcastically.

Hermione looked at the parchment in her hand. "If you must know, I'm helping your mother plan the New Year's gathering." She made it sound as if she was in an all-girls club and Draco couldn't join.

He blinked. "You're serious?"

"Yes."

"Ok."

"Ok?"

"Ok."

"Oh...ok."

Draco walked away and went up the stairs, taking two at a time, and went to his room. Hermione, on the other hand, watched him go. For some reason, she expected more. Something else for Draco to say. She didn't know what, but she expected more than just an "ok."

She shook her head and looked back at the parchment. I guess there's no such thing as 'too much' for Narcissa Malfoy, she thought.

A/N: hope u liked it and as a special treat since i take so long to update...imma give you a preview of the next chapter!

Gazing around the ballroom, Draco turned to Hermione and said, "You surely outdid yourself on this one."

"Is...is that Malfoy in the background!?"

"I don't think that's a good idea Ron." "Ron? Ron? RON!" "Ron don't do this." "Please Ron, be rational." "Ron no!"

There was a loud, piercing scream coming from the ballroom and Draco ran full speed as soon as he heard it.