A/N: Hey! Sorry, I know this took a while to get up. And there is no one to blame except myself. .::hangs head in shame::. Well, I just sort of realized that this is the thirteenth chapter, and I haven't completely introduced the plot. But then again, Dan Brown inspires me, and I guess I don't like writing Mary-Sues that are that easy to guess. Lol, when this is done, and u go back, and read it all again, you'll see it, and you'll be like "ah! I can't believe I missed that!" lol. Enjoy.

Hermione yawned, looking out the window at the just dawn-broken sky. She liked waking up early, enjoying the feeling of not having to get up for some time.

Today was her first Defense Against the Dark Arts class, with the actor-professor Johnny Depp. 'I wonder what it will be like...'

Eventually, she knew she had to get up. So she did, still in the black pants and red shirt she had put on yesterday.

Yawning, she went to the bathroom to brush her teeth.

After all the morning rituals were done, she came downstairs to see Draco already sitting at the table in the kitchen, holding a mug of something, but not drinking it. He was looking out the window, deep in thought.

"Good morning," she said, smiling. 'I wonder what's got him frowning like that...'

Draco started at her voice, blinking at the bright sun filling the kitchen. "Um, yeah, hey, Mornin'." Yawning, he gulped down the rest of the cold coffee in his mug, shuddering slightly at the taste.

Hermione giggled at him. "Something wrong with your coffee?"

He made a face. "It's stone cold."

She frowned. "How long have you been sitting here?"

Draco sighed. "Since five or so. Couldn't sleep, thinking about what I have to tell you."

She frowned. "Okay, that's a little dramatic. What do you have to tell me?" She sat down at the table with him.

He sighed. "Remember the day Lupin came here?"

Hermione expected her heart to start beating a little louder at the mention of Remus, but it didn't. Odd. "Yes, I remember. Why?"

Draco blew his bangs out of his eyes, and leaned forward slightly. "Did he tell you that the Order needs our help?"

Nervously, Hermione nodded. Without realizing it she was twisting a lock of her hair around her finger.

Draco looked away for a moment. Muttering, he said, "They need us to pretend to.. well.. be lovers."

Hermione almost quite literally fell off of her chair as high color reached her cheeks. "What!" she squeaked.

He sighed. 'Damn... I knew it. Oh well, makes sense for her not to like me like that.' "Yeah.. Apparently, they think my.. Father, has inside information on the Dark Lord. Which is bullcrap if you ask me, but whatever. We'd have to disguise you, obviously, since he knows who you are. But they still want you to do it, because apparently it's convenient and you're the best for it."

Hermione blushed at the praise, trying to keep it all straight in her head. "So... so wait, we'd be spying on your Father by you and I pretending to be lovers?"

Draco nodded, glad she understood.

She let out a big breath. "Starting when?"

Draco took a deep breath. "We're supposed to "get together" today," making the air quotations. 'And I have to leave Rhea... today...'

"Today's topic, class, is mystical creatures. Where do they come from? What are they? And why are we so fascinated by them?" Professor Depp had certainly picked an interesting topic, for a DADA class.

Voices muttered around them, that maybe this should be in Care of Magical Creatures instead, although, admittedly, with Hagrid, that probably wasn't going to happen.

Hermione sat back in her seat. She said nothing, but a small frown was on her face. Honestly, it was hard to pay attention to any of this, partly from what transpired this morning, partly from knowing that she would have to "get together" with Draco at lunch... and he was breaking up with Rhea right now.

"Now, lets start with a general list. Who can tell me about some creatures that are mystical?"

He waited a beat as some hands were raised. "Tell you what. Let's," he scrolled up a map hanging over the chalkboard, "first divide into four categories: Water Creatures, Air Creatures, Land Creatures, and Fire creatures. Then-"

"Professor, how does this help us defend ourselves against the Dark Arts?" called out someone.

"Yeah!" a few agreements were murmured.

Depp grew a small smile. "Let me show you something. Ms. Parkinson!" he barked the girl's name.

"Y-yes Sir?"

A glint grew in the DADA teacher's eyes. "Come up here. I need you to demonstrate."

"Me, Sir?"

He rolled his eyes. "Yes, you, unless there is another Ms. Parkinson here. Well, hurry up!"

The frightened girl edged herself to the front of the classroom, stopping about 6 feet away from the teacher.

Depp rolled his eyes again. "Honestly, I'm not going to bite you." With one swift move, he grabbed Pansy's cloak, and dragged her closer.

"Now, you'll need this." Depp handed her a sword.

The girl's eyes got as big as saucers.

Hermione wasn't sure whether to laugh, or object to whatever this was going to be. At least it let her get her mind off of what would happen at lunch... Rhea would hate her forever after this.

"Now," Depp took up another sword, which had a short brown leather string with 4 beads on it hanging from the hilt, "attack me."

Pansy's face grew splotchy. "Excuse me?! I have no idea how to use a sword!" she shrieked.

Depp smiled. "Exactly. And I've no doubt you've realized that, owning swords, I know more than you in this matter. You've never heard of me before, you have no idea whether I'm lying or if this weapon is a true weapon for me."

"You don't know if I'm merely competent... or a sword Master. Do you see my point class?"

"Any harmless old creature could waltz up to you, and tell you that this tentacle they have right there will ooze pus onto you that will paralyze you. And how will you know whether or not that's true? How will youknow whether it's just a harmless tentacle or not?"

"Or the opposite, how will you know whether or not that seemingly harmless hand a creature is extending to be shaken will actually set you on fire or not? Do you get my point now Ms. Parkinson?"

The girl bit her lip. "Uh, I guess so. Can I go sit down now?"

When given assent, the girl gingerly laid the sword down on the teacher's desk and sat back down, a little more respectful looking.

"So, some creatures please?"

Instantly there were shout-outs.

"Dragons!"

"Aughiskys!"

"Blue Men of the Minch!"

"Vodniky!"

"Hamadryadniks!" called out Hermione

"Caladrius!"

"Slyphs!"

"That's very good!" encouraged the professor. "How about some fire creatures?"

"………"

Hermione stifled a snort.

"Apparently not," said the professor. "Well, then, let's see what we've got here. I don't think we need to even discuss the Dragons. How 'bout Aughiskys? What are they?"

"Aughiskys are sometimes called 'waterhorses'." said Hermione. "The horse comes out of the water of an evening to graze on the land. In general no dark stories are told about them, yet most people are afraid to pass a place they frequent after it is dark."

"If a person gets between the Aughisky and the water and can steal up and put a halter on it, it can be subdued and used as long as they are not allowed to see their old lake; but if once allowed to see the lake, all power over them is lost, and various stories of them and their riders dashing into the water never to be seen again, or at least not with their ligaments whole, are told."

Most of the class winced at the end of that.

Depp's eyes had something unreadable shining in them.

Twisted pride, maybe?

But it was only there for a flash. Then he was smiling, and asking for someone other than Hermione to explain Blue Men of the Minch.

Surprisingly, Neville's hand went up, but before he could talk of the creatures, the cause of many a shipwreck, the bell rang.

Shouting over the din, Professor Depp asked them to each check out one book, that SOMEWHERE spoke of a/some mystical creature/s, and to write a brief summary of

what they read, followed by their OPINION of what they read, 'a major difference', he cautioned them.

Hermione's mind wasn't on lunch, like everyone else's. Her stomach churned at the very thought of food, and her legs trudged as if she were walking through quicksand.

This morning, after the conversation with Draco (yes, she called him Draco now), she had finally had the chance to read the letter from his father she had found in the trash.

It said:

Draco:

On New Year's Eve, you will finally join our ranks. You may just come somewhat close to making me proud some day. You will strive to your utmost to please the Dark Lord! Your mother has been daring to make a few sounds of displeasure over this, but I have silenced them. Your position of Head Boy is very convenient. You can slip away during the New Year's Ball, without the muggle-loving fool so much as glancing around.

I'll be seeing you in a few weeks.

Lucius.

When Hermione finally made it to the Great Hall, she saw that Draco was heading toward her, a small smile on his face. She attempted a weak smile, but then she realized he wasn't looking at her but…over her left shoulder.

Turning around, she saw Rhea, and knew what Draco was about to do. And she knew it would hurt Rhea, because right after that, she would become "Draco's love".

She sighed, walking to the Gryffindor table. 'In a way, I'm happy and lucky that I'm not with anyone... We're not even allowed to tell someone it's fake...'

"Hey babe," said Draco to Rhea, dreading the upcoming moment. He put his arm around her, trying to stall, his heart beating fast.

She smiled. "Hey." Her old instincts could hear how fast his heart was pounding. Looking concerned, she asked, "Is something troubling you?"

Draco blew out some air, ruffling his bangs. "Yes. Yes, something is. Rhea I... I'm sorry. I can't..." he looked away, fists tense, fighting tears. 'Dammit, she deserves more than this.'

He looked back up at her, praying she'd be able to see the sincerity in his eyes. "Rhea I-"

"Shh," she whispered, one of her fingers on his lips. She could smell the salt from his tears and knew basically what was about to happen. "You're ending things with me right?"

Too ashamed to even look at her, Draco nodded painfully.

Rhea continued, "Is it because of another girl?"

He shut his eyes tightly, trying to hold back tears since they were in such a public place. Biting his lip hard enough to draw blood, he nodded, his heart thudding painfully hard, hating lying to her. 'Damn it all to Hellfire, why did I have to be picked for this damn job! Why couldn't someone else do this! It hurts so much, to hurt her...'

And so he stood there hopelessly, watching Rhea slowly turn around, and walk away. Away from him, away from a future with him, away from all his dreams and hopes.

A/N: So? Hope you liked it! I know, I'm the Queen of Evil Cliffhangers. I can't help it.