A/N: Sorry I haven't posted in a while! I had no idea how I was going to go about what I wanted to do. Please leave Reviews! I'd love to know what you guys think :) Enjoy!

Chapter 4

"Hermione! Where have you been?" Harry called out. Hermione turned around to see Harry walking down the hallway towards her. She smiled at the sight of her best friend.

"Had a meeting with Kingsley." She told him. He raised an eyebrow at her.

"What about?"

"I've been assigned a new mission." Said Hermione vaguely.

"Why didn't he tell me or Ron?" said Harry, his brow furrowed. The trio always did missions together. They had been working together to save the world from evil since their first year at Hogwarts, and they knew how to get things done. They each had strengths to contribute to their missions, so it was a natural that they'd be put together. Why things would change now, Harry didn't understand.

"Well… because I'm going with Malfoy." She said nervously. She looked up at Harry timidly. She could see his face growing red with anger. She knew that he hated Malfoy with a passion, and the fact that Hermione was going on a mission with him only made things worse.

"Why would he do that? What's the mission? I really don't understand Hermione." Harry was trying to keep his anger under control, but he wasn't being very successful.

"Well, he needed some one with knowledge of hunting horcruxes… and some one who wouldn't kill Malfoy. Apparently you guys just don't have a good enough handle on your anger or something. I don't really know. And he needs Malfoy for his knowledge of Death Eaters, so I guess-"

"Wait a minute. Horcruxes? Death Eaters? Hermione what's going on."

"Well apparently… there's another horcrux. And the Death Eaters are going after it. They want to bring him back. So he's sending me and Malfoy."

"But we destroyed all the horcruxes! Hell we even destroyed the horcrux inside of me! And that one was accidental." Harry exclaimed.

"Voldemort remembered the conversation with Slughorn, and realized he had mentioned seven horxcruxes. Although he wanted the significance of having seven, immortality was more important to him. So Malfoy and I are to find it. I wish you could come. I don't want to be alone with him Harry. I don't trust him." Hermione said. Suddenly she was overcome with immense fear. What if Malfoy turned on her? What if all of this was a trap? It would be such a Malfoy thing to do. He would gain everyone's trust, break his parents out and turn her, an important member of the Order and Ministry, over. Harry, seeing her distress, let go of his anger and gathered Hermione into a hug.

"Shh, it'll be okay Hermione. Nothing will happen to you. If Kingsley trusts him I'm sure you'll be fine. Plus, you are much more talented than him. I won't let anything happen to you."

"You won't be there. It'll be just me and him."

"Just keep your guard up at all times. Always have your wand with you. I think he genuinely feels remorse for his actions. I still hate him, and always will, but I don't think you're in danger from Malfoy." Harry assured her.

"Thank you Harry. I hope you're right. I'm scared to tell Ron. He hates him so much. And he is rather protective of me. Should I wait?" Hermione asked nervously.

"When do you leave?"

"Tomorrow night. Kingsley already has everything in place and ready to go. We have a tent and everything, just like when we were hunting horcruxes."

"Tell him today. Hermione you can't just throw this on him last minute. And he'll need to time to register everything. My mind is still reeling. I can't believe it. I'll come with you." He promised. Hermione smiled at him. She was so lucky to have a best friend like Harry.

"Ron? Can I talk to you?" Hermione asked nervously, looking at Harry for support.

"Sure hun. What's up?" He asked, grinning up at her. She loved his smile. She'd miss him so much on her mission.

"Well you see… Kingsley has put me on a mission. And- Well- It's just- I'm paired up with-"

"Just spit it out Hermione."

"Well. I'm on a mission. It's to find another Horcrux. And I've been paired with… Malfoy." Hermione looked at Ron, hoping for any indication of what he was thinking. She saw a multitude of emotions flash across his face- confusion, anger, wonder. He was clearly trying to reign in his emotions.

"You and… Malfoy. Together. On a mission. For another horcrux. You're kidding me right?" He asked incredulously. Hermione bit her lip and shook her head. Ron looked ready to explode. "Why would Kingsley put you together? You hate each other! He's likely to kill you!" He practically yelled.

"Because I have experience with horcruxes, and Malfoy with Death Eaters. And Kingsley knows I can keep my cool, and hopefully keep Malfoy under control. Kingsley trusts him." She explained nervously.

"You're not going are you?" asked Ron. Hermione looked at him, completely stunned. She was expecting anger and disbelief, but she hadn't been expecting this. She thought he would support her.

"Of course I'm going Ron!"

"You're honestly going to leave on a mission with some one who hates you? He's been awful to you your entire life. He's a Death Eater! How could you trust him enough to be alone with him?"

"If I don't go, Voldemort could come back. I can't let that happen Ron. So many people have already died, I can't let that happen again. We wouldn't be able to start a family if he did. What if more people close to us die?"

"I can't let you go. I don't trust him not to kill you, and I don't trust him not to try anything with you."

"He hates me Ron. He would never try anything with a mudblood like me. And I don't believe he'd kill me. It'd be way too risky. Kingsley trusts him, I'm sure not without good reason."

"I can't Hermione. It's too dangerous. And blood status aside, what if he does try something? I can't let it happen Hermione, I just can't."

"Do you really trust me that little Ronald?" Hermione said, suddenly hurt. She didn't understand how he could say these things. He was completely missing the point.

"You're not going."

"You can't control me like this Ron. I'll do what I think is right." She said defiantly. Hermione was beyond hurting, now she was angry. "If I want to go on a mission to destroy a horcrux with Malfoy, then that's what I'll do."

"You could get killed."

"I could have gotten killed every year we were at Hogwarts! Hell I could get killed walking down the street. If I die, I might as well die doing something worth dying for."

"I couldn't live without you Hermione. I can't protect you out there. Why would you want to go on a mission with that scum anyways?" Ron spat.

"You are so selfish! What happened to you?" She asked. Suddenly she was overcome with sadness. Where was the man she loved? The Ron she knew would support her in this. He would want her to do her part to save the wizarding world. Suddenly she couldn't even look at him. Hermione turned and stormed out of Ron's office. She couldn't believe him. As she turned the corner, tears started forming. They were tears of anger, sadness and hurt. She was angry that Ron was trying to control her. She was sad because she thought that she might have lost the man she loved. She was hurt that he didn't trust her. Mixed in with all these feelings after her fight with Ron, was fear. She was scared that Ron was right, she was scared that she might lose Ron, and she was scared that she might fail. Failure was something she was not accustomed too, and the thought that it was a possibility was horrible. All these emotions were just too much for her to handle, and the tears were flowing freely now. She looked around quickly to see if anyone was around and, upon realizing she was alone, sank to the floor. She was so wrapped up in her own misery that she didn't hear the footsteps until some one was standing right over her.

"Granger if you're going to mope around like this before we even start, I might as well just go on this mission alone." The voice said. She knew the cold voice before she even looked up. Looking down at her were those awful, cold grey eyes- full of contempt for her and the weakness she was showing. Not wanting to appear so weak infront of the man she loathed, she wiped her eyes and stood up to face him.

"Like you could get out of London without my help Malfoy." She retorted.

"Oh I'm sure I could just great without you. Mudbloods are such inferior witches you surely wouldn't be of much help to me. Your emotional baggage would certainly weigh us down as well." Hermione's anger spiked at such an insult. She instinctively reached for her wand and pointed it at Malfoy.

"Do it Granger. I dare you." He taunted. Hermione started at him, her eyes full of anger and hatred. For a moment, Malfoy thought that she might be capable of it, there was so much hatred in her eyes. Not wishing to betray his fears, he laughed. "You don't have the guts to use the Cruciatus curse. Don't try to pretend like you do." Then he grabbed her wrist and lowered her shaking hand. Malfoy smirked at her and headed back down the hallway.

"Petrificus Totalus!" Hermione called. Malfoy's body went completely rigid, then toppled to the ground stiffly. Hermione knew that it must of hurt. She lowered her wand and marched up to Malfoy, knowing that he could see and hear everything. "You don't know anything about me Malfoy. I won't sink to your level but performing the Cruciatus curse on you. I'm better than that, and I'm better than you. I may just be a mudblood, but I'm a hell of a lot of a better witch than you could ever hope to be. Just because you're pureblood doesn't mean you're a pure person." And with that, she spat in his face and stomped on his hand. She smiled at the satisfying crunch it made, and walked away. Some one would find Malfoy soon enough.