Hermione sat surrounded by crumpled sheets of paper in a corner of the Gryffindor common room. Even though it was very late and she was beyond exhausted, she was determined to go to bed only after she had completed her Adjustments assignment, or at the very least, chosen her confession. She knew that she was being irrational, the project wasn't due for another week after all, but she instinctively knew that she would feel better about everything that had happened once she had done this. It would offer some closure. Heaving a great sigh, she glanced down at her latest idea. "I have an indomitable fear of flying." Everyone knew that though, it had been apparent since first year. "Because it is something that I couldn't master the first time I tried it," she added. Better, it was now somewhat vulnerable, but she was sure it still wasn't personal enough. This sheaf of parchment joined the ever-growing mountain on the floor.

Hermione stared at the fresh sheet of parchment she had pulled out as though begging it for inspiration. Staring around the room desperately, her eyes fell on the piece she had just tossed. "Somewhat vulnerable." What was she most vulnerable about? Draco's face flashed across her mind, making her bruised heart ache even more. Dipping her quill into her inkpot, she slowly wrote, "I fell in love with a Slytherin. Unfortunately, he turned out to be an ass." She knew however, that a statement like that would never fly under McGonagall's stern gaze, nor was it really the point of the assignment. Suddenly, she heard Hagrid's gruff voice echo in her head.

"And if anyone is up to that challenge, it's you. You're the brightest witch of your age, and the most kind-hearted person I know. Surely Draco doesn't want to be the way he is anymore after last year. He's probably too scared or ashamed to let his guard down, or maybe he just doesn't know how to be kind. How could he, after being raised by a family like that? But if there's anyone up to the task of rescuing him, it's you Hermione."

Biting her lip, Hermione finally admitted something to herself—she had in fact learned quite a lot in Adjustments. Not just about Draco, but about herself as well. About all of the Gryffindors in fact. No wonder she and Draco hadn't worked out—a relationship needed honesty, from both sides. Having come to this realization, Hermione began to write. And the more she wrote, the more the knot in her stomach lessened.

This class hasn't always been easy. Far from it in fact. It certainly has been instrumental however, in teaching me about my classmates, as well as about myself. What I learned about myself is this: I am guilty, as are my housemates. Guilty of exactly the thing that we accuse the other houses of doing. We are judgmental. Throughout the course of this course, I formed an unlikely friendship, with the person I thought myself least likely to ever be civil to, let alone become friends with…or maybe even more. The reason for my skepticism does have a fair foundation, after all, we have been enemies through school and I have been subjected to quite a lot of bullying from him. However, part of it is my fault as well. The thing is, I didn't think him capable of changing, even when it began happening before my very eyes. I thought it was a plot or a trick, because I let my own bias and prejudice cloud my judgement. And when he did mess up, when he wasn't strong enough to stand up to peer pressure or his prejudice, I became angry at his weakness instead of looking at his strength and how far he has come. So I am just as guilty as him if not more so, because I couldn't even admit my faults due to not even being able to see beyond his.

As Hermione set down her quill and reread the words describing the revelation she had just come to, she felt as though the weight of the world had just been lifted from her shoulders. Now the only question remaining was whether or not she was going to be able to dredge up enough of her Gryffindor courage to share this confession with her classmates.

xxxxx

A week later found the abnormally large group of seventh years sitting anxiously in McGonagall's class, silent as the grave. They were all secretly scared out of their wits. Draco reckoned that the news of the return of the Dark Lord would scare them less than what they were about to do. He caught Daphne's eye and nodded resolutely at her, jaw squared. Though she looked slightly green, she gave him a quick, determined nod back. Her resolve seemed to falter however when, upon McGonagall's imperious entrance, she informed the class that she would perform a charm which would randomly select who would share their confession first. With a a rather elaborate twirl of her wand, she produced a ball of pale blue light which jumped from student to student until it landed on Daphne's shoulder.

"Well Greengrass, you're up!"

Daphne looked about ready to lose her lunch. Draco cleared his throat pointedly, which caused Daphne to start before she clumsily got out of her seat and walked shakily to the front of the class where she turned to face her peers. Several of them cast her pitying looks, as though silently thanking her for sparing them the experience of going first.

"Uh, yes…right, well uh…my confession is that…um…IhaveacrushonRonWeasley."

"What was that?" McGonagall asked sharply. "The point of this exercise is that you confess something to us. That means that we have to be able to understand you, Greengrass!"

Daphne turned a brilliant shade of pink as she repeated more slowly, "I have a crush on Ron Weasley." Upon saying this, she hid her face in her hands. Draco felt quite sorry for her, until he remembered what he would be saying on his turn. This made him feel that Daphne really didn't have it so bad after all.

Hermione and Harry caught each other's eye as they both turned to glance at Ron, who was sitting slack jawed in apparent disbelief as he looked at the Slytherin girl who had just confessed to having feelings for him.

"You like me!" he finally exclaimed croakily.

"Yes…" Daphne said cautiously. She and the rest of the class seemed to be waiting with bated breath for how Ron would react next. Hermione was very nervous for Daphne. Ronald seemed to have missed developing a filter somewhere along the way.

"That's amazing!" Daphne's face broke into a grin upon his words.

"…it's too bad you're a Slytherin though and I wouldn't trust you farther than I could banish you!" Ron finished, face contorting into a frown. Daphne looked as though the life had drained from her. Hermione wanted to curse Ron. Or hit him. Or both.

"Um Professor," she called out. The whole class stopped their hushed murmurings as they looked at Hermione expectantly. Her rows with Ron were legendary after all. Ignoring them, she continued. "If it's alright with you, I'd like to go next."

McGonagall gave her a brusque nod, though Hermione could have sworn that she saw a knowing smile flash across her favourite professor's face.

Hermione gave her presentation just as she had rehearsed it, though she deliberately avoided looking at Draco and made a point of flashing several pointed glances at Ron, who to her relief, reached out to tap Daphne's shoulder and whispered something to her that didn't seem to upset her at the end of Hermione's presentation. He looked quite sheepish, which Hermione took as a good sign.

The rest of the class was absolutely silent at the end of the presentation, several of them, including Harry, seemed deep in thought. Pansy and Ginny, she noted, were doing everything they could to avoid eye contact, which Hermione didn't know how to interpret. She was dying to cast a glance at Draco to see what he thought of her words, but didn't know if she could handle laying eyes on him at the moment. She got somewhat of an answer however, when McGonagall said, "Yes Malfoy?" and Draco replied, "I'd like to present now please." Hermione dutifully returned to her seat with trepidation that only increased when Draco brushed by her on his way to the front. What was he going to say? Would it hurt her more?