I woke up the next morning groggy and, at first, slightly confused as to where I was. But the events of the previous night came flooding back to me, and I cursed.

Merlin, I was such an idiot!

Sneaking out of hiding to go and try to research in the middle of the night…what was I thinking!? That was out of character for me really.

Still, I had managed to look on the bright side of things. At least I had done some good. I had saved Draco Malfoy, whom I had completely abhorred then.

Suddenly, it occurred to me that I didn't really have to look for my home the muggle way! Oh how dumb I felt after that epiphany. Of course!

I checked the time. It was almost eleven. Oh well, I could blame the sleeping in on having a hard time going to bed. Everyone seems to get that nowadays.

I disapperated, and reappeared in my room in the Order headquarters. I wondered if anybody had noticed my disappearance. I hoped not.

The room was empty, the door shut, and there was no sign of anything being searched. I sighed in relief. Thank the Lord!

I cleaned myself off, got ready and dressed, and walked down to the breakfast table with Ron eating all by himself. My heart skipped a beat.

"G'morning, Ron." I said to him.

"Hey, 'Mione," he grumbled back.

We made some conversation, and I had almost forgotten what had happened last night until I was forced to be reminded about it again.

"You were up pretty late, Hermione."

I shrugged.

"You weren't up trying to figure out about that last horcrux, were you? I tell you, Hermione, you're obse-"

Ron stopped at the giveaway look on my face. "Aha!" He exclaimed. "I knew it!"

I nodded. There was no point in trying to deny it. Besides, I've always been a terrible liar.

The day passed on and everyone was busy at work. I was deep into research over books and records Harry and I would get and I would pore over. I scowled in frustration.

&&&&

I could elaborate on more what had happened the three months following that event, but that's another story completely necessary if I'm trying to talk about the story of Draco and me.

Fast forward three months into February. All of Voldemort's horcruxes had been destroyed; Harry, Ron, and I were out celebrating, me holding hands with Ron. (We became a couple around Christmastime.)

All three of us had decided it was the perfect time for a butterbeer. We went to visit the Three Broomsticks.

But, bloody hell, out of all the people in the Wizarding world; guess who shows up in the scene? That's right, Draco did. He walked straight though the front door. At the time, I had thought it was a nasty coincidence, but years later I would discover Draco had been keeping his ears out for any signs of me for months. Maybe I'm just overanalyzing, but already the seeds were in place for us to be together.

And the second encounter we would have would just strengthen those seeds.

But for that period, I was just carrying on with Harry and Ron and pretending I hadn't noticed him at all, willing myself not to scan the room to look for him.

But alas, I made contact with him again. I had gone to the bathroom, and was about to leave to go back to my table again, but the ferret stood in my way. The conversation we had was pretty brief though.

I looked at him in hesitation, not knowing what to say.

"Meet me after you have ditched those two baboons." Draco had said curtly.

I felt indignant at his words, and glared at him, but I nodded all the same.

"Is sometime around eight good?" I asked.

"Is that the quickest possible time?" He asked.

"Yes," I told him, "Won't you feel dirty for associating with a mudblood like me?"

Draco had scowled. "Shut up. All I want to do is ask you a few questions and after that, we'll be going on our merry separate ways."

I gave him a sarcastic smile, and left to go back to find Harry and Ron laughing uncontrollably at something.

I decided it was time for me to chime in, "What's so funny?"

Harry and Ron just shook their heads. And then the outburst of laughter continued.

I sighed.

When the two were done, I sat down and leaned against Ron. He, in turn, put an arm around me.

I looked at Harry, his eyes seemed slightly sad somehow. I think he still missed Ginny. It's been around seven months ever since his break off with her, and, well, Valentines Day was coming up.

I'd have to find a way to cheer him up later.

"You were in the bathroom pretty long." Ron commented.

I opened my mouth to make an excuse, but Harry cut me off.

"I'm afraid that's the sad habit of females." Harry said.

"Oh, shut up." I positioned my face to express my false indignation.

The three of us started chucking after that.

&&&&

Later that evening, I walked into the three broomsticks at eight, just I like I said I would.

I felt a little nervous to be seeing him again, to tell you the truth. I figured he probably wanted to discuss that night three months ago, but still.

I felt myself go a little red remembering that night. It was pretty pathetic of me to just run away. What was I thinking when I had done that?

I looked around the room and saw that the guy hadn't arrived yet. Madam Rosmerta was serving drinks at the bar. I remembered Draco Malfoy had placed her under the imperius curse.

Draco was a Death Eater! Of course, how could I have forgotten? Why was I talking to him?

Then again, I supposed I could use this opportunity to ask him a few questions of my own.

I scanned around the room again, searching for him. I sighed.

But right at that moment, the door opened, and there he was again.

I didn't know how I was supposed to greet him. I certainly didn't want to smile and be warm, but if I was going to be talking to him, I didn't want to be rude either.

We walked over to a table and took our respective seats.

"Evening, Granger." He said.

"Evening to you too, Malfoy." I replied. "You wanted to see me?"

"Let's just get down to business, Granger," he told me, "I well, wanted to discuss, well…you know."

Ah, my suspicions had been correct.

"You mean what had happened three months ago?" I asked.

He nodded. "It's just…it was odd. Last I've heard of you, you've been digging deep into resisting against the Dark Lord. And yet…"

I shrugged. "I don't know what happened either. I guess I was just surprised to be seeing you again, and in those circumstances especially. I never thought I'd be rescuing you against a Death Eater."

Draco sighed.

I rolled my eyes. "Thanks for expressing your gratitude, Malfoy. But no matter, I've been meaning to ask you a few questions."

"Oh, let me guess. You want to know who attacked me, why he was attacking me, and what I had done to the man, am I right?"

That had taken me off guard. But I nodded.

"Well, I guess I owe you that. The person who attacked me was Snape. He was attacking me under the Dark Lord's orders to prove if I was still loyal to him. And you're not going to like this part, but I had to kill him after you attacked him."

I gasped. "Malfoy!"

His eyes went dark. "It's a fend for yourself world out there, Granger. If I hadn't done it to him, it would've been done to me."

I had sighed.

Draco blew out his cheeks. "But…I suppose a thank you is in order, so, thank you Granger."

The silence after that was awkward. "You're welcome Malfoy," I said hesitantly.

Draco stood up, stretched, and left the Three Broomsticks without even saying goodbye.

I groaned, and left the place in search of Ron. We were supposed to cook for the Order that night. Besides, I hadn't seen him all day. I missed him.