A/N: I am sooooooo sorry I've taken so long to update. I really hope you have not given up on me. I do intend on finishing this story. Right now, I feel like I'm going in circles and like it's getting slightly boring. So if you have any suggestions, please email me. Just title it "Fanficton" or something. I appreciate it. Please read and review, and I hope you still like this! I know this chapter is short, but I wanted to update as soon as possible. Thanks! Love, Amber.


Hermione quickly greeted Ron and Harry the next day, anxious to explain all she had heard in detail. When she finished, the guys simply looked dumbfounded.

"Can that really happen?" Ron asked.

"They sounded pretty serious. And anyway, I don't know many witches or wizards who would joke about such a thing," Hermione pointed out. Harry let out a moan of frustration.

"Ugh. This sucks! I can't take it anymore," he yelled loudly. "Maybe we're better off minding our own business this time around," he muttered.

"Have you lost it!" Hermione cried. "Of course we've got to do something."

"Well, do you have any bright ideas? Because I don't. And I know one thing's for sure. My life is taking off right now. I'm not going to put myself through another sixteen years of danger, ridicule, publicity, and everything else that seems to come with helping people!"

"But, mate," Ron protested, "you can do something. Maybe you're the only one who can."

"No way. This is different. No prophecy, no Voldemort. It's Draco. He's a good guy. He wouldn't fall for becoming another Dark Lord. And if he did, how bad could he be? He's not the murdering type," Harry insisted. Hermione shook her head disbelievingly.

"What, in seven years, could have changed so much that you lost your heart?" she asked sadly. Harry softened.

"I care, Hermione. I really do. I'm just sick of having to fight through my life. I mean, why can't I just live?"

"Well, I think it's obvious we've got to do something," Ron said. "Someone has to warn Draco." Both boys turned to look at Hermione. She caught on at once.

"Oh, no. Oh, no, no, no," she laughed nervously. "Sorry, but I plan on not speaking to him. Like, ever," she insisted.

"Come on, Hermione. We've got to do something," Ron said.

"Yes, well, what about you two!" she cried. "Harry, you're his best friend."

"Hermione, I think we all know who has been closest to him, if you know what I mean," Harry suggested with a smile.

"Enough!" Ron said loudly, while Hermione's mouth opened to protest. "I think he's right though, Hermione. Draco would respect the warning much more coming from you."

She glared at them. "I'm absolutely not going."


"May I please speak to Draco?" Hermione stood at the door of Malfoy Manor, her legs trembling. She anxiously waited in the sitting room as the butler went to find the man that she frankly was not eager to see. Her eyes briefly inspected her surroundings. Not much had changed since she'd last been there. How time flew. All too soon, she heard footsteps on the stairs. She stood up and smoothed out her skirt.

"Hey," she greeted, slightly awkwardly. She offered her hand. Draco smirked- that famous smirk that she had at one time loathed, then loved, and now which made her uncomfortable.

"No need to be so formal," he said, sitting down. "Nice to seeyou. How was your trip?" She shifted uncomfortably.

"Oh, it was nice. That's...sort of why I'm here," she explained. He raised his eyebrows.

"Oh?"

"Yeah." She looked around. "Where's uh...Amanda?" she asked. He laughed.

"Alyssa. She's out for the day. Wedding planning or whatever," he shrugged. Hermione thought he looked rather anxious.

"Not up for casualties, are you?" she observed aloud.

"I guess it's a little weird," Draco admitted.

"Well, I was hoping we could put that aside right now. I think we're in trouble," she told him.

"What kind of trouble?" he asked warily. She sighed.

"The kind of trouble we were in almost seven years ago."

"Now, wait, Hermione. I know I was young and immature back then, but I swear, I haven't done anything to Weasley's---"

"No, no, no. Nothing like that," she said, cutting him off. "I mean like, dark wizards, save-the-world kind of trouble." Draco rolled his eyes and leaned back.

"What makes you think that?" he asked skeptically. "If this is about my letter, it was just a bad feeling. I'm sure it's nothing," he insisted. But Hermione shook her head. Then she proceeded to tell him everything that she had learned. After she'd finished, he just stared at her.

"Look, I'm sure they didn't mean me. There's got to be other Draco's---"

"Oh, please. You know as well as I do who those people were referring to," she said.

"But, I'm not dumb. I'd be able to tell if I was playing into some plot," he protested.

"Open your eyes, Draco! You know Death Eaters work quietly, cunningly. You've had no reason to be on your guard. This is serious," she said, almost pleadingly. "I'm just trying to warn you to be careful. As your friend."

"Well, it sounds to me like you're still living in the past. With 'evil plots', and with us," he said, rather roughly. She just shook her head incredulously.

"You sure know where to hit where it hurts," she said quietly. And with that, she stood up and left.


A/N: Well, like I said, it's short. But I tried to link some things together a little. More soon!I promise!