-Hermione-

I floated down to the Great Hall for breakfast and landed gracefully on my usual seat across from Ron and Harry. Yesterday had been one of the most fantastic days of my life.

"Morning," my smiling face said as I poured myself some pumpkin juice.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING," Ron screamed. This was not the reaction I was expecting.

He stood up and pointed at me, "You dirty Mudblood. Get away from here Granger!"

Harry rose next to him and in a sing song voice said, "Buckey Beaver!"

The entire Griffindor table followed suit, "BUCKEY BEAVER BUCKEY BEAVER BUCKEY BEAVER!"

"I- I," confounded by their behavior I was speechless.

"TRAITOR!!!" Ron and Harry were screaming above the rest in unison.

"Please- Just-"

"Go sit with your own house, Granger," Harry turned and pointed to the far side of the room. He was pointing to the Slytherin table.

"You know."

"Of course Granger, it's obvious," Ron conjured a mirror and handed it to me. I looked at my reflection. Slowly my shape contorted and shifted. Soon I was no longer myself but… a snake.

Trying to scream in horror I uttered, "HSSssSSSHSSSss."

Draco suddenly appeared behind me and kissed me, "Shhh, its ok this is normal." He touched my arm and slid his hand downward with his movement of sitting down next to me. Then I was Hermione again.

His silver eyes flashed as he pulled into another kiss. The most passionate interaction I had ever felt. We lost ourselves in one another. When I opened my eyes, Draco was holding me in his lap and … he was dressed in gold and red with a lion on his crest.

"How-," my mouth was silenced by his finger which was trembling.

"Shhhhhhhh," his other hand gently went over my eyes.

"MERLIN," I jutted awake.

Just a dream.

A quick glance toward the alarm clock told me that my nightmares had very good timing. Today is the big day. Snape judges our potion.

Getting out of bed I pulled on my school clothes and continued my way to the Great Hall. Involuntarily I shivered as I entered and checked my skin for scales. I was one hundred percent human, thankfully.

Harry flagged me over to our usual spot, "Hey 'Mione." He looked perplexed. Ron said nothing instead he chewed viciously at his toast. "Recovered yet? You seem more normal."

"Excuse me?" Did he read my mind? How does he know about my dream?

"You know, from yesterday when you were all spacey. Malfoy really did a number on you."

"Yeah he did," I couldn't help but smile. Lying is not my strong point.

Ron burst from his shell across from me. Toast flew to the ground, "Hermione. I need to talk to you," his eyes narrowed, "In private." With that he flew to the grounds exit and pushed the door.

Leaving Harry in complete confusion I followed him after a moment. He was staring expectantly at me and was as red as ever when I walked outside.

"WHAT?"

"Ron, you need to calm down..."

"CALM?" he was wide eyed in horror, "DOWN?"

"Hermione. I'd love to," his change was mental patient worthy as he dug around inside of himself for hope, "Just please tell me something." Familiar thoughts drifted into me as he walked closer to me and grasped my hands. "Are you… and… well… Malfoy?"

Oh god, Oh god, Oh god. He knows. How?

OH GOD. He was in the hospital wing… How did I forget… he saw us hug…

"D-Malfoy? How ab- absurb. His father's a… Death Eater. No way. N-no…" falling apart I tried to glue myself together.

"You," Ron unfortunately wasn't that stupid and couldn't bring himself to finish. He just stared for the longest time. He didn't believe the reality.

His two life lines dropped from my hands.

"I shouldn't- I know- Ron please!" I broke down to tears and fell to the ground, "Ron… Ron! ... I Love Him!"

He let out an audible gasp and backed away, "HOW COULD YOU?"

"He changed… I think… I… Changed him."

He pulled out his wand and pointed it at me helpless on the snow, "That boy could NEVER change. I thought you were smarter than that, Hermione," he turned away towards the heavens to seek guidance and was silent for a minute. For the first time ever I saw him shed a tear. It was silent and singular.

"I still love you."

"Ron," I reached for his hand even though his wand was still at my throat.

It was short lasted, "NEVER… again."

-Draco-

Hermione was crying in my arms. My arms and the rest of me and her were in a broom closet. There was nowhere else could we take refuge.

"Shhhh, it's ok," I stroked her hair lovingly.

"No… It's," sob, "…. Not! And please don't 'Shhh' me. It creeps me out." She was under extreme stress, so I went along with her strange request.

The girl continued, "Draco," stopping her lamenting for a moment as she looked up at me, "Did you really mean it?"

"Mean it," I double checked myself instantly, "It means everything to me… Of course," I kissed her passionately, "I love you Hermione Granger more than I've ever loved anyone before. And

I might add, that you tripped me up the fastest too…"

Her last sob ended with a smile which quickly remembered recent events and stowed itself away again.

"This is no time for jokes. Can you tell me something?"

"Anything."

Complete seriousness surfaced in her eyes and her face grew to stone.

"Are you a Death Eater?"

"Hermione, it's complicated."

"Complicated," her legs fell out beneath her at the shock of what I could be saying. She leaned back out of my arms unto the wall.

It was a peculiar feeling not having her in my arms so I quickly reassured her, "Until I met you I was a servant to the Dark Lord. This was not my choice but my Father's and I did not express much feeling toward it. I was just being Daddy's good little boy…"

How I despise myself.

"You showed me how foolish this was. To only listen and not think for yourself. And so for the first time I thought for Draco Malfoy," I looked at her face for the first time since the sensitive question, "From now on, I am on a new path. Maybe we could speak to Professor Dumbledore soon? Get myself a copy of 'How To Be A Good Guy For Dummies'?"

She laughed again as I wiped the tears from her cheek reclaiming her body.

"You're not lying?"

"I would never lie to you."

-Hermione-

"I love you too."

"You're not lying?"

"Shut up," my muffled response came from his neck which I was currently kissing, "You know… this is the first time I've ever skipped class for a boy… or ever…"

"Well, I'm honored but in the interest of your education… Merlin knows you can never learn enough," he winked, "it's two minutes to potions. Did you happen to grab a vial of our project?"

"No, I actually have four."

"I guess you're the one and only girl who can keep their mind straight after me…"

I punched him playfully and smirked. Then it was 007 out of the broom closet and into potions.

Thankfully we were early and I took my seat.

At least something was normal.

That was, until Ron stepped in. Without thinking I had sat in my usual spot occupying the space next to Harry and in front of him. Deep needles sunk into the back of my neck from his penetrating stare. Then added to that as if it wasn't enough already Harry soon arrived obviously informed of my closet romance (taken literally unfortunately). He avoided me and sat next to Ron. No one attempted to grace my presence before classes… Ron must've filled them in?

"Page four hundred and thirty- four you have the whole hour and please begin," directions always seemed best when delivered like the ripping of a band aid.

-Draco-

Subconsciously, I've always kind of liked frizzy hair…

"Hey Draco," Crabbe and Goyle stepped into their seat next to me.

Crabbe happened to follow my gaze to the back of Hermione's head, "I know it's horrible. The scent of mudblood is stinking up the entire dungeon," Goyle nodded in disgust.

"Shut up you bleeding dimwits. Don't talk about her like that," why do I put up with these guys anyway? They barely recognize English… I'm better than this!

My out of the corner of my vision I caught her shifting uncomfortably. Ron and Harry were practically throwing daggers at the back of her head!

One of them must've found out.

That was the last straw. I picked up my books and ingredients and sat next to her. A Griffindor behind us gasped as I grabbed her hand under the table.

"Thank you," she smiled that wonderful smile. My insides melted.

-Hermione-

"No problem at all," and for the first time I saw a side of Draco I'd never seen. He was showing overpowering lovesickness (which is something to say considering his friends were present.)

Leaning on his face I whispered into his ear, "Everyone knows… No need for closets…"

Sympathetically he nodded a, "I noticed." Snape drifted by and leered at us. This was a clear signal: If you liked not failing. Shut up.

Opening my potions book for what seemed like the ninetieth time since Saturday I read our work page. It was laughably simple compared to the concoction we brewed that weekend. Proudly Draco and I finished it halfway through class to Harry and Ron's dismay. We exchanged victory glances which were shortly gone.

Snape appeared behind me and in the complete silence of his room inquired, "Ms. Granger and Mr. Malfoy may I please have your weekend homework," he didn't wait but simply lifted his wand and floated a small vile into his hand from my robe. He muttered a spell and the contents flashed a vivid blue color. He repeated himself a couple of times then shook his head and walked away.

Draco drifted a questioning look my way, but I could only shrug.

What was Snape thinking?

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A/N:

Don't Worry! It's not over.

I'm having a HORRIBLE case of writers block, so i thought that i would post what i have so far and see what you think.

Please suggest some outcomes to set a spark in my mind : )