Chapter 15

Hermione and Fred managed to keep their relationship a secret for the rest of the school year, only 2 souls in the world knew about them. One they told willingly and the other was hiding that they knew. Fred of course had told George, how could he not, George would have figured it out anyway. The other was more mysterious though and neither Fred or Hermione knew who it was for they kept their secret well hidden, he didn't want the world to know he cared.

Draco Malfoy had become more and more unbearable to his peers in those last six months of fourth year, he was becoming exactly like his father and everyone noticed. 1st years ran in fright if they happened to get anywhere near him and even his friends were beginning to avoid him, in case he got angry and started at scene, which for Draco was becoming a common occurrence. The house elves were having to repair his part of the dorm on a constant basis as they were finding it always in shreds from one of his fits. If anyone had taken the time to notice they would have realised what he anger came from, but they all kept it so well hidden no one realised

Draco's fifth year started terrible, his family had been hosting the dark lord all summer and his mother had kept him hidden from him, she had insisted that the insufferable git Snape teach him occumlency, he had only agreed when she had finally said it was to help him keep the dark lord from hurting his loved ones by not knowing who they were. His mother had confused him with this but he had played along anyway. It kept her off his back and as long as he didn't wander the halls too much he was left alone to his own devices. He was left him with a lot of time to think. Draco had decided that he was going to spend his summer figuring out how Granger knew the two girls from beaubatons. He thought it was rather odd that she had known other witches and when he had asked the older one where they knew Granger from, it was always the same, "we met last summer in France", but he knew it wasn't true, he knew Hermione was at home that summer or visiting the stupid duo, potter and weasley. He had made one of the house elves tell him her every whereabouts every day.

It was the house elf that had told him about Hermione and Fred, he had already known something was going on between then when he saw them out of the window the night of the yule ball. But they were just walking around talking he didn't think anything of it. The house elf Dory had caught them on several occasions sneaking into a building in hogsmede and had reported it back to Draco instantly, she wished she hadn't because of the rage it had sent him into. Draco hadn't meant to hurt her, he knew how much the house elves meant to Hermione after that silly club she had set up, but he couldn't help it. He was so angry to find out she was out with someone else when she should have been with him. It made him even more determined to find out everything about her and that started with finding out where the three girls really knew each other from.

When Draco was sitting by the lake one day when he noticed something on the other side of the lake, he could see a two girls running around in the field, curious he thought to himself as he got up to walk over to them. He was as quiet as a mouse as he snuck up on the girls, they didn't even notice him though he was in plain sight. " slow down Dee" yelled the younger of the two " no Ria, I can't I'm too happy" yelled the older one. Draco stood shocked how was it that he was so lucky as to run into two of the girls he had just been thinking bout. " Oi, what do you think you are doing on my land he yelled at them, " What do you mean your land" asked the little girl " We live here", " "Excuse me but get off our land before I hex you " said the older girl, Draco stood shocked nobody had lived in that house since he was seven, how was he supposed to know that he had new neighbours. " My apologies then girls, have I seen you before? " Yes you have Draco, now leave us alone." Ah so you do recognize me" he replied " I knew it was you too, your friends with dirty Granger" Draco knew he was getting a rise out of the girls but it enjoyed him way too much to see how angry the older one could get, " Come now, you know my name but I don't know yours beyond what Granger calls you? How is it that you know her again? " We met one summer in France and I don't care to tell you our names," replied Dee. " Come Ria, were going home." Draco watched as the older girl grabbed her younger sisters hand and pulled her away. As they walked away Ria turned around and waved at Draco. Draco surprised by her, winked back, he thought to himself he could use the younger one by getting to know her and could possible find out the truth.

Chapter 16

POP " Excuse me, master Draco, the mistress is looking for you" said Dory "What does she want" Draco said back hastily "she has guests and you must be presentable at once" replied dory quietly she did not want to send Draco into another one of his fits, " tell her I will be there once I'm ready" Draco said, within a second the house elf had gone and Draco sighed, he hated meeting guests but his mother required him to so they could keep up the false hood that they were not harbouring the dark lord. His mother was a very social woman and it would have seemed strange if she suddenly stopped having guests over. Draco shook his head at the thought, why did they still have to pretend that he wasn't back and that he wasn't there in his own home. He hated it, no matter where he stood he was trapped. Instead of calling back Dory to apperate him back to the house Draco decided he would run back. He enjoyed running, the feeling of the wind rushing past him as he moved and the trickle of sweat running own his faced tended to calm him down. He had taken to running early in the mornings to help him get through the day, but it only worked some times.

It only took him about an hour to finally turn up at his mother's sitting room. He had decided to take his time getting ready, he knew his mother would prefer that he was presentable over punctual. As he walked down the hall whistle he could hear laughter coming from the sitting room. Odd he thought to himself he never heard laughter in the house. He knocked at the door not taking in who was sitting in the room. " oh good Draco your here" his mother called out as she beckoned him from her seat. " I would like you to meet my dear old friend, Cynthia Greengrass, she has just moved her family back in next door, " nice to meet you" replied Draco as he gave the woman a short bow " you have just moved next door you say, I believe I just met your daughters outside" " oh are Daphne and Astoria here? She replied " no I met them in one of the fields, they were playing about" " ahh yes my silly girls like to play in the sun way too much, and they have been outside every second we have been back home, they did miss the place too much. When Daphne came home last year she begged me to move us back home or let her attend Hogwarts" " oh the sweet child, Draco you can meet them again later they are coming for tea, along with your friend Blaise and his family" said his mother, " You are dismissed."

As Draco disappeared out the door he stood where they could not see him so he could listen in on their conversation. It was not wise for him to do this but it helped him find out something that was quite important and infuriated him at the same time. He heard Mrs. Greengrass say " He makes a fine young man Cissy, he has gone some much since I last saw him. " Well yes he was but a tiny boy then, you have been gone far too long." " None the less I think they will make a fine match, I'm glad we had that document written up when they were babies, I was more than happy to move back here when Daphne asked, I knew it meant they could get to know each other more before we told them" Draco stood outside in the hall shocked, what was his mother not telling them, and who exactly was this family to them, he had no memory of ever meeting a Greengrass let alone them living next door when he was little. It took Draco a moment but that was when it hit him " I knew it" he yelled out he quickly covered his mouth and ran down the hall before he was caught snooping. He finally had a clue to who Hermione really was and how they knew each other.

Draco was sitting on his bed when Blaise turned up " Hello there mate" he said as he walked into the room, " What has gotten you into such a cunning face, have you finaly met a girl willing to talk to you." " Shut it Blaise and listen" Draco had decided that he was going to bring blaise into his plan, if he was ever going to get Astoria to spill on Hermione he was going to need someone to distract Daphne. Hours later dory found them with their heads together making a plan POP "Master Draco, Master Blaise, your mother's require you in the sitting room" and with a pop she was gone again. " well then Draco I don't mind playing with the philly for a bit for you, I think I shall have some good fun tonight" Blaise said as they walked down the hall.

Chapter 17

When they reached the sitting room Draco was greatly amused by the looks on the girls faces when he entered, he could see that they were both shocked to find that they were in his house. He walked over to the two and bowed "Lovely to see you Daphne" he said as he put a soft kiss to her hand before turning to her younger sister. "Lovely to see you as well Astoria," as he put a soft kiss to her hand. He could see the anger in Daphne's eyes as he turned to introduce blaise. "Girls I would like you to meet Blaise Zabini." "Pleasure girls" Blaise replied with a slight bow.

"Well are you two just charming" said Mrs. Greengrass with a clap, POP! "Mistress dinner is served" said dory with another pop she was gone, " Where is father?" Draco asked "He has business to attend to Draco, it will just be you and Blaise to keep us company tonight." "If you say so mother, I don't know how much good company we will make for you ladies." Draco playing the part begun to walk up to Mrs. Greengrass " In that case would you allow me to escort you to the dining room Mrs. greengrass" "Of course Draco your such a young gentleman, you have bought him up very well Cissy" " Thank you Cynthia I try my best" replied Mrs. malfoy. As they walked the short way down the hall to the dining room no one could help but notice how attached blaise seemed to be to Daphne, Draco had distracted the mothers long enough for him to make his move and at present was now leading her down the hall on his arm.

The dinner itself went quite well, with both lads being perfect gentlemen the whole time, while the mothers talked up one end of the table to children had been seated a few seats down to give them their own time to mingle, the mothers had planned it this way, they were curious to see which one Draco would pick out of the girls to talk to. They could see that he was getting on well with the younger of the two, as they chatted they realised some changes would have to be made to the original contract.

After dinner the mothers retreated to the sitting room taking the girls with them and left the boys to their own devices. " Do you think it worked?" Draco asked Blaise " I think so the younger one seems quite smitten with you, and I'm enjoying Daphne she looks like a lot of fun to play with" " come on lets go listen to what they are saying" I know a secret place to listen to mothers sitting room, father uses it all the time" Draco led blaise down the hall to a tapestry of their family, he pulled out his wand and tapped on the place where his mother's heart was and a small door to the right opened. As quietly as possible the two boys went through the door shutting it behind them, they did not have to walk far until they came across a great pain of glass, from this side they could see through it but the unsuspecting victims in the room could not see them for on their side it looked like an ordinary mirror. You could tell this looking glass was well used for there were two stools and a small table built out from the wall so that one could sit and watch for hours.

" Well hello ladies" blaise said " Shush I'm not sure if they can hear us I just know they can't see us you idiot." The two boys watched and listened as they females talked until they were both started by a POP, oomph, ouch Draco said after he had just fallen of the stool " what do you want" " excuse me master Draco you mother says to come out from behind the mirror and make yourself known in the sitting room, she has things to discuss with you. " oh shit" Draco said as he realised of course his mother could see through it, it was for spying on guests, not his mother " looks like you're in trouble now Draco" said Blaise " you will be in just as much trouble as I am your here too" the boys stopped squabbling when they heard the POP of dory leaving, " well I guess we had better hurry up then. Said Draco as he ran down to the exit door, they both stopped just outside the sitting room door and took amount to compose themselves before entering " ah there you are boys, we were wondering where you had gotten to, the girls were just telling us how much they enjoyed the Yule ball last year, we have decided to throw one ourselves this year and would like you to help the girls make a list of the best kind of people to invite to it" " yes, we trust that you will pick guest the girls get along with" said Mrs. greengrass " if that is what you wish mother, but I must ask you to clarify what you mean by the best of people, you already know everyone that is of worth to ask, or are you planning on inviting dirty muggleborns to this party? Replied Draco with a smirk, it was the first time all night he had not been playing the part and he could see in all the girls eyes the anger he had stirred. He mother replied simply "if the girls like them invite them, who are we to pick who is the best of people" "you are dismissed Draco, get out now!" "Blaise would you stay behind for a minute please" asked Mrs. Greengrass

Draco waited outside tapping his foot, his mother had never spoken that way to him in front of guests, he did not think he would get such a rise out of calling someone a dirty muggleborn, it was not as bad as calling someone a mudblood. When blaise exited the room he had a stupid grin on his face, "what did she want" asked Draco, oh not much she just asked if I would escort Daphne to the ball, to be exact it seems she is quiet taken with me already, I do believe I am the man, Draco scowled at this "oh shut up you git your just acting, she is terrible, the only thing going for her is her looks and her secrets."

Draco spent the rest of the summer playing his part; he was convinced that it would not be long before Astoria would be spilling all her secrets and Hermione's. After all she was just a silly fool of a girl and he was the great Draco Malfoy.

Chapter 18

Hermione could not believe her eyes when she arrived on kings cross that September morning in her fifth year. Standing in front of her on the platform was none other than Dee and ria. Hermione so surprised ran up to Dee and tackled her into a hug "what are you guys doing here?" "were going to Hogwarts now, I convinced mother that we should move back and she agreed with me when I said that Hogwarts was the safer place for us to be and that I missed it here too much, to not move back" Dee replied.

The three girls continued to converse until Hermione noticed someone walking over to them. She stood shocked as she watched blaise wrap his arm around Daphne. "Hello there beautiful girls, how are we today?" he asked Hermione was flabbergasted as she watched Dee lean up a give him a chaste kiss on the cheek, "were perfect handsome we were just telling Hermione here about our summer" "really blaise said "from the look on her face it appears you left out the best part" "and what would that be" ria replied "well me of course, you forgot the part about where you met me and Draco." Hermione still shocked and at a loss for words was luckily saved by an intrusion into the group, " oi Hermione, come on we have to go find the prefect car" Hermione sighed with relief " I will talk to you girls later she said as she ran off to meet up with Ron.

After sitting through a dreadful prefect meeting where Hermione had found out that the git Malfoy was also a prefect and even better yet half her prefect duties were paired with him. She had spent the first hour of the train trip on duty with him in silence. Not a word was said between the two until it was time for them to part their ways. Hermione having been brought up right politely said good bye to Draco, she did not expect him to reply and was not surprised when all he said was "I still hate you granger" and walked off. Hermione shook her head and went off to find harry and Ron.

She was in luck as it was not before long that she found the pair sitting in a cabin with none other than Fred and George. Fred smiled up at Hermione as she entered through the door. "It's your turn for duties Ron" she said. Ron humphed as he got up to exit, he was right in the middle of a game of chess with Fred. "I'm not in the mood Ron for your attitude today, hurry up before I take points from our own house" Ron ran quickly from the cabin he knew better than to fight with her today but he could not help himself, as he was at the door he said "bloody hell Hermione, Draco must have gotten your knickers in a real twist." Hermione fumed at this and threw a pillow at Rons head "GET OUT" she yelled before curling up next to the window. George seeing that Hermione needed some time grabbed harry by the shoulders "come on chosen one lets go find the trolley, it looks like Hermione could use a chocolate frog,

The second the two were out of sight; Fred moved next to Hermione and turned her into his chest, "what's wrong love? What did he do? I'll kill him if he hurt you?" at this Hermione broke down and begun to cry "that just it" she replied "he didn't touch me, we barely even spoke" she said between sobs. "He scares me," Fred stayed holding her till she had calmed down. Hermione looked up at him with sad eyes " your too good to me Fred" " damn right I am my messy girl, but who else would I be without you, I need my messy bookworm to tell me when I'm being silly and bring me back down to earth, through when I'm with you I feel higher than the clouds." Hermione blushed a brilliant shade of red after hearing his declarations, "hey now we match, your face is the same colour as my hair. Hermione couldn't help but laugh. "I don't know what I would do without you either Fred" she said as she lent up to give him a soft kiss.

Later when George had headed back to the cabin he found Hermione and Fred wrapped up in each other. He slipped inside an placed a concealment charm on the cabin so no one else say them "good work Freddie" he said softly as he picked up his potions book to continue reading.