Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling's world, not mine.

"Alright, Granger. Why don't you show me to this room I'm supposed to be sleeping in. I need my beauty rest." She laughed.

"Come on," she said. Hermione liked this playful side of Draco. Call her selfish, but it made her feel special that she was the only one who ever saw it. Hermione couldn't help but smile as she led Draco upstairs to his new room.

"The twins used to sleep in here during the summer holidays when we all stayed here, so it should be big enough for you." Hermione told him opening the door to Draco's new room.

"As long as I don't find essence of Weasels I'm sure I'll be fine." Draco said in what Hermione hoped was a sarcastic voice.

"Behave or you won't get any linens!" Hermione teased. With a flick of her wand, Hermione produced clean linens and a duvet cover for Draco's bed. "The bathroom's down the hall, my room's down there too if you need me for anything. Don't worry about Harry, his room's the other way and he won't bother you. He'll probably be in Godric's Hollow for most of the morning anyway. I guess that's about it, you should get some sleep. It's been a long night."

"Thanks, Granger."

"You're welcome. Goodnight, Draco."

"Morning, Granger. Good morning," he smirked at her. She smiled and rolled her eyes at him.

Hermione crept down the hall and into her room. Her things had been brought upstairs at some point in the night. She took her shoes off and changed out of her clothes. Hermione didn't feel very tired. In fact, she thought she was wide awake until her head hit the pillow. The next thing she knew, she woke up and it was nearing noon.

Hermione got out of bed feeling very refreshed from the few hours of sleep she received. Once she showered and got dressed it was nearly half past noon, and Hermione decided to scrounge something up for lunch downstairs.

She walked down the hall and past Draco's room quietly. Hermione wasn't sure if he was still sleeping or not, but knocked on his door anyway. Draco looked relieved when he saw Hermione.

"How long have you been awake?" she asked him.

"About two hours."

"You've been in your room this whole time?" she asked him.

"Well, no I showered and everything," he explained.

"I mean you didn't venture past this hallway?" He shook his head. "Alright come on. You can make me something for lunch. I'm in no mood to cook today."

"So Granger, where do they keep the elf heads?" he asked her with a smirk.

It was rather quiet as Hermione and Draco walked downstairs. Mrs. Black must still have been sleeping. It wasn't until they reached the door to the kitchen when they heard a loud crash coming from the other side. Draco pushed Hermione in back of him and opened the door slowly. Hermione knew they were safe at Grimmauld Place, but she indulged him. When he opened the door, Hermione smiled. Tonks had dropped a bowl of stew all over the floor and was muttering to herself as she cleaned. Draco gave Hermione a puzzled look, but she made it clear to him that it was alright, and proceeded into the kitchen.

"Tonks!" Hermione yelled. Tonks looked up at the pair smiling. Hermione made her way over to Tonks and gave her a hug. As they embraced, Tonks whispered into Hermione's ear about the Draco situation, and Hermione told her it was all under control.

"You sure?" Tonks asked her.

"Positive," Hermione assured as she let go. "Allow me," Hermione said. With a swish of her wand, the mess was cleaned up. Hermione then turned back to Draco, who was still standing in the doorway. "This is Nymphadora Tonks, but call her by her surname."

"So, you're Aunt Androdemda's daughter then?" Draco asked as he came into the kitchen.

"That's right. We're cousins, Draco. Come here," Tonks said gently as she pulled him into a hug. By the look on his face, Hermione could tell he was taken aback. Draco just awkwardly patted her on the back until she let him go. "It's good to have you on our side," she said kissing him on the cheek.

"Yes well," he cleared his throat, "I guess it's better than dying, even if it means being allied with," he sighed and rolled his eyes, "Potter."

"Hermione can I talk to you for a minute?" Tonks asked her.

"Sure."

"We'll be right back, Draco. There's stew in the pot on the stove if you're hungry," she said as she led Hermione to the other room. They sat down on the couch together and Tonks smiled at her.

"You weren't surprised to see us," Hermione said.

"No. Harry Floo'd Remus very early this morning," Tonks explained.

"And you just so happened to be there as well?" Hermione could help but tease her. Tonks' cheeks turned pink but she just rolled her eyes.

"You've been hanging around my cousin far too long apparently. I think he's had an affect on you," she told Hermione. "And I do believe, that you've had an affect on him as well."

"A good one I hope?" Hermione asked. Tonks nodded.

"So tell me, what is going on between the two of you?" Tonks asked her.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Hermione asked.

"Well, from what I heard, you two have been meeting for drinks for months. And then you and Draco fled to the shore after the Death Eaters attacked."

"Ok well, the drinks were just casual. And then after the attack, I brought Draco to my family's house at the shore. It only made sense to stay there with him," Hermione explained.

"Right," Tonks said none too convinced.

"I'm serious!" Hermione assured her.

"So there's nothing going on between the two of you?"

"Nothing," Hermione guaranteed.

"So you mean to tell me that all these months, it's all been completely platonic between the two of you?"

"Completely."

Tonks pressed on. "Nothing? Not even a kiss?" she asked. Hermione began to turn red. "Hermione? Is there a reason you're blushing?"

"It was nothing. I'd rather not talk about it," she blushed.

"Hermione, you know you can confide in me. Besides, I'm probably the only family he's got left." Hermione sighed.

"Okay well there was one night when Draco was drunk. It was his mother's birthday and he was really messed up. So I took him back to his flat and he kissed me a few times, but they were drunken kisses. They didn't mean anything," Hermione explained. Tonks cocked an eyebrow at her.

"Didn't they?" Hermione's cheeks flamed. Tonks could be very perceptive at times. Those kisses didn't mean anything to Draco, so even if they did mean something to Hermione (which they didn't!) it wouldn't make any difference anyway. "Okay, okay. Enough of my lecturing. You're a big girl and are perfectly capable of making your own decisions."

"At least you understand that, Tonks. I still think Harry and Ron are upset with me for keeping them in the dark for so long."

"Yes well, I think it may be the mere fact that it's Draco Malfoy. If it were anyone else, I don't think they would have as big a problem with it," Tonks told her.

"I think Ron's really upset. He accused Draco and I of shacking up."

"It's no secret how much Ron," Tonks paused looking for the right words, "cares for you. I guess he's just worried about Draco...invading his territory, for lack of better words."

"It's just that this whole situation has made me reassess certain feelings I have, and feelings I thought I had, and feelings I think I should have but maybe I don't anymore," Hermione confessed. "And if people find out about my feelings, or lack thereof," Hermione said, "I just don't want anyone to get hurt."

"Your secret's safe with me," Tonks promised. "So he really has changed then, eh?"

"I know. If I didn't see the metamorphosis myself, I wouldn't have believed it either. He's different ever since that night in the tower. Losing his parents; Voldemort killed Lucius and Narcissa right in front of him." Tonks gasped. "I know."

"I can't even imagine what he must have went through," Tonks said.

"And the worst part is, he blames himself." Tonks shook her head sadly.

"Well, at any rate, he seems to be doing alright now. You must have really helped him, Hermione." Hermione smiled. "Come on. He must be wondering what we're doing and you're probably hungry too."

"Famished actually," Hermione said as she and Tonks got up. "Did you know Draco cooks?" she asked Tonks.

"No!"

"Yes, and he's really very good at it." The two laughed and went back into the kitchen. Draco was sitting at the table with a bowl of stew when they walked in.

"Everything," he started looking back at Tonks and then Hermione, "alright?" he asked suspiciously.

"Fine," Tonks said as she and Hermione joined him at the table. Hermione helped herself to some stew and began eating.

"Fine?" he asked Hermione.

"Fine," Hermione assured him.

"What were–" he started but was interrupted by Tonks.

"Nothing really. Just a little girl talk." Draco opened his mouth to speak but closed it after a minute.

"Never mind, I don't think I wanna know what that entails," he said. "So, are you here to babysit then?"

"I volunteered to stick around here for a while. Besides, we're family. We should spend some time getting to know each other," Tonks told him.

"Are you serious?" he asked her.

"Yes Draco, I am."

"Alright, why not," he responded, finally giving in. Tonks looked happy.

"You're on a good path now, Draco. And as long as you're on this path, Hermione and I will always be here for you," Tonks told him. Hermione nodded when Draco looked over at her. "Trust me," Tonks said. "Stick with us and they'll remove you from the Black family tapestry in no time." Draco couldn't help but laugh.

Author's Note – I know it's been a while since I last updated. I'm sorry; school, exams, projects, etc. But enough of my excuses! At first this chapter was going to be Ginny and Hermione, but then once I thought about it, I figured Tonks would be more appropriate. In a lot of fics, it's always Ginny who's Hermione's best girl friend, and while I think they have a good relationship in the books, I just felt that it would be more apropos for Hermione to have this discussion with Tonks. She's like the cooler older sister figure, she's seen a lot, she's unbiased with Hermione, and she is Draco's cousin after all.

Oh, and I almost forgot! I wrote another Dramione one-shot while on my little hiatus from this fic. It's a comedy where Hermione gets drunk, and Draco takes her home. So if you're in the mood for something a little off the wall, check it out in my profile, Before You Accuse Me. Thanks for reading!