Disclaimer: Harry Potter does not belong to be, although I wish he did.

Author's Note: So, here is the next chapter. I don't know if I'm going to reveal who put the spell on Blaise and Harry, because I'm not even totally sure who did it. Please give me all the ideas you can, and I think I'm going to end this before I get to chapter thirty, just because that seems way too long. Also, if you have any ideas about who might have put the spell on Harry and Blaise, please tell me, because I have no idea how to do it. Also, I have a pretty good idea about how I'm going to break up Hermione and Blaise. Here we go!

Chapter Twenty-Two

Hermione walked down the corridor to the Head's dormitory alone. She had just finished having dinner with Ron and Ginny, and had been given notice that Blaise and Harry were being released from the infirmary. She was excited to see her boyfriend, and talk to him, and would go see Harry the next day.

Hermione entered the common room, expecting to see Blaise or Draco, but it was empty. She knocked on Draco's door, but there was no answer. Hermione's forehead was creased with concern. Draco hadn't said anything about not coming back after dinner (even though she didn't really talk to him), and she had assumed that Blaise would want to see her before classes the next day.

She changed into sweatpants and a t-shirt, and pulled her hair up into a ponytail. She put Ginny's clothes by the door, so she would remember them in the morning, then grabbed the latest book she was reading, and burrowed her nose in it while lounging on the couch.

Hermione was so into the book that she didn't hear Draco come into the room, and didn't notice him until he sat next to her. She looked up, and smiled when she saw who it was.

"Hey," she said, marking her place in her book with a bookmark. She set the book on the table, and turned all her attention to Draco. "How are you? How come you didn't come back to the room after dinner?"

"Blaise and I hung out for a little bit," he said. "He told me to tell you that, even though he really wanted to come see you, he was completely wiped out. Also, he figured breaking curfew would probably be a bad thing to do on the same day he got into a fight."

"Understandable," Hermione said, smiling. She glanced at her slim, gold watch. "We probably should get ready for patrolling. I wanted to go to bed early tonight. I haven't completed my Muggle Studies homework."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk," Draco said, shaking his finger at Hermione playfully. "Slacking off? And so early in the year?"

"Be nice," Hermione said, lightly smacking him on the thigh. "I just...got distracted. I mean, we had the dance, and then, oh yeah, my boyfriend and best friend got into a huge fight. I think that gives me the right to slack off at least somewhat."

"Sure, whatever," Draco said.

The next few weeks passed quickly, and Blaise and Harry healed. They made peace with each other, but Hermione couldn't get them to sit in the same room together for more than a few minutes. Soon, it was December, one day before Christmas Break officially started. Hermione and Blaise and Draco were staying at school (plus several other students who aren't as important in this story) but Ginny, Ron, and Harry were all going to the Weasley's home. Mrs. Weasley had offered Hermione a place to stay, but she wanted to spend her Christmas with Blaise. Her parents were going to Egypt for some dentist convention, and, even though Hermione would have loved to see the wonderful country, and the world's longest river, she didn't think she would have much fun if all they talked about was teeth.

It had started snowing in November, and the apparel of all the students had changed drastically. Hermione had begun wearing thicker stockings, a thicker scarf, gloves, and jacket. The halls of Hogwarts were almost as cold as it was outside, so she exchanged her thin blouse for a thick sweater under the blazer that was part of her uniform. Even though they weren't the most attractive sleepwear, Hermione wore gray sweats and a long sleeved tee to bed each night. She was surprised when Blaise still found her sexy in those clothes. Of course, Blaise thought everything was sexy.

Hermione was in Ginny's room helping her pack. It was a Saturday, so Hermione was wearing dark, tight jeans, a red, fuzzy sweater that showed a bit of cleavage, and black boots. Ginny had on a black miniskirt, a pink, ribbed turtleneck, thick, nude stockings, and black kitten heels. Hermione wasn't sure how Ginny stayed so warm, in so little clothing.

"I'm so sad you're not coming to stay with us," Ginny whined, folding a pair of jeans and sticking them in her almost-overflowing trunk.

"I know," Hermione said, playing with the hem of one of Ginny's t-shirts. "But I really want to stay with Blaise. It's our first Christmas together, and it's not like you and I aren't going to spend Christmases together ever again. I bet, in ten years, we'll be watching our kids play together, while we gossip and sneak sips of fire whiskey."

Ginny smiled. "We're going to be wonderful mothers, aren't we?" Her smiled faded a bit. "It is kind of sad, though. I mean, next year, I'm going to be all alone. I'll miss you so much."

"God, Gin, you're going to make me cry," Hermione said, smiling. "Don't worry. I'll meet you in Hogsmeade every weekend you go, and during all breaks, we'll spend time together, and we'll write every day. Your going to graduate soon, too, so we won't be apart for long."

Ginny turned to Hermione. "But what if something goes wrong? What if we lose contact with each other? What if we get into a huge fight, and stop speaking?"

"That won't happen," Hermione said. "Ron wouldn't allow it." She wiped at her eyes, that had begun to water. "Where did this come from, Ginny? You're only going to be gone for two weeks!"

"I know," Ginny said, sniffling. "I've just been thinking a lot. About this kind of stuff. It is depressing, isn't it?" Ginny wrinkled her nose at Hermione, making her laugh.

"We'll do fine," Hermione said. She stood and wrapped her arms around Ginny. They stood like that for a few more minutes, then they separated so Ginny could continue her packing.

"So you'll meet me in front of the school tomorrow morning, right?" Ginny asked, after she had filled her trunk.

"Of course," Hermione said. "I wouldn't miss it for the world."

"Eight AM," Ginny reminded her. "Don't be late." Hermione gave Ginny one more hug, then began walking back to the Head's dorm. Blaise and Draco were seated across from each other, playing a card game.

"How are my two favorite men doing?" Hermione asked, sitting next to Blaise. He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek, then went back to his hand of cards. "What are you guys playing?"

"Poker," Draco said, looking intently at his cards.

"We could always make it strip poker," Blaise offered, smirking.

"Please," Hermione said, smacking him on the arm. "I would beat your asses so hard you would have to walk out of here wearing nothing."

"So you're saying your good at this game?" Blaise asked.

Hermione nodded. "My dad used to have a poker night at our house when I was younger with his friends, every Tuesday. I would sit on his lap and watch them play. When I turned twelve, he started letting me play with them, and I became a pro."

"Seriously?" Draco asked. "That's so cool."

"I think the only person walking out of here naked," Blaise said, laying down his cards, "is Draco." Draco groaned, throwing down his cards in frustration, while Blaise pulled the chips in the middle of the table towards him. "He's kind of bad at this game," Blaise explained to Hermione.

"Normally," Draco said, "I'm not. I've just been having some bad luck."

"Excuses, excuses," Blaise said, smirking. "He's just pissed 'cause he's pretty much giving me his trust fund."

"I'm done for the night," Draco said, standing up. "I'd like to leave with what little dignity and money I have left."

Hermione helped the two boys clean up the table, then Draco retired to his room. Hermione and Blaise cuddled on the couch, watching the flickering flames.