A/N: GOOD NEWS: This isn't the last chapter, I decided!

8. Secrets

Hermione slammed The Daily Profit down on the table at breakfast, sending bowls of cereal and goblets of juice flying everywhere, "I can't believe they've sacked Dumbledore! With him gone, this school will go into turmoil. Umbridge will make our lives a living hell."

"No arguments there," said Ron.

"Yeah, and the cow's been giving me more detentions than ever, trying to get me to tell her where Dumbledore has gone," said Harry, holding out his bandaged hand.

It had been a few weeks since the New Years Eve Party. Everyone was back at school, back to their usual routine, except for the fact that Umbridge had taken over the school and was turning everyone's lives into a living hell. Harry continued to have his nightmares while receiving Occlumency lessons from Snape. And the Gryffindor team continued their losing streak in Quidditch. The only good thing happening (in Hermione's opinion) was her and Draco Malfoy, though she was adamant about keeping it a secret.

It was proving to be difficult for her and Draco to be together, alone. The school was always crowded during the day. The only times they got to spend together were at night, once a week when they were on night watch. Even then it was only for an hour. Other times they sneaked behind the Herbology greenhouse during lunch break.

"What?" said Hermione, as she read a book on the bench behind the greenhouse one lunch time.

"Nothing," Draco smiled as he looked away, he too sitting on the bench. "I just like the way you frown while you're reading."

"I do not frown," she said, relaxing her brow.

Draco just chuckled and put his arm around her. Hermione closed her book and sighed. She leaned her head on his shoulder.

They enjoyed these little moment together, just the two of them, although they hadn't had an intimate moment together since the Room of Requirement. They just sat out in the cold during lunch time, cuddling. Half the time they were looking around to make sure no one could see them. It was hardly romantic.

"What are we going to do?" asked Hermione one night as they were doing night watch, walking through the hallways.

"About what?" said Draco.

"About us! We can't keep this up much longer, someone is going to find us out."

"Like who? No one suspects anything."

"Well, Harry and Ron have been wondering where I go each lunch time. I tell them that I go to the library to study, but I don't know how much longer I can keep lying to them, they're my best friends."

Draco cringed, the thought of her hanging out with Harry irked him. "Why do you hang out with those idiots anyway?"

"They're not idiots! I don't go telling you who you should be friends with." She sighed, "Look, let's not fight, as it is we hardly get any time together."

"You're right, let's savour the moment," he smiled. He grabbed her by the waist and pushed her up against the wall and kissed her, her fingers running through his blonde hair. His hands were gripped tightly around her waist. They hadn't kissed like this is a while; there was a sense of urgency between the two of them.

"Ahem."

Draco and Hermione broke apart to see McGonagall staring at them, frowning.

"I don't know if you two realised but your watch ended half an hour ago, you two should be back in your common rooms," said McGonagall sternly.

"Oh, sorry professor," said Draco, looking smug. "I'll be off then."

McGonagall glared at him as he walked off.

"I'll be off too then," said Hermione quickly, and she stepped forward.

"Not so fast Miss Granger," she stepped in front of her, waiting until Draco was out of earshot. "Now, I am not usually one to pry, but the fact that you and Mr. Malfoy are together is truly disturbing. It's not my place to say who you can and can't date, but I do not think his intentions for you are good."

"With all due respect professor, Draco and I are perfectly happy together and I don't see why his intentions would be bad," Hermione said, getting a little bit angry.

McGonagall looked at her, defeated, "Very well then, off you go."

Hermione stormed off back to her dormitory. How dare she tell me what I can and can't do with my life! Why would Draco have bad intentions for me? Sure we have had differences in the past, but we have both grown up since then and moved on.

Draco walked back to his dormitory, thoughts running through his head. That old bat! It's none of her business if Hermione and I are together. And why did she hold Hermione back to talk to her? Probably to brainwash her into thinking I'm bad for her.

Just then Umbridge approached him, "Draco! Just the person I've been meaning to speak to," she smiled.

"Hello, headmaster," said Draco, forcing a smile. He knew what she was after.

"I wanted to ask you if you made progress in finding out information of Miss Granger's group whereabouts."

"No, I haven't sorry."

"Such a shame," she said sweetly. "If you don't succeed in this task, I will have to take you off the Inquisitorial Squad. You're father told me so much about you, how smart and gifted you are. I only hoped that you could do this simple task for me."

Draco stared at her, how dare she threaten to take me off the squad! What would father say if he found out I was giving Umbridge trouble? Think Draco, think! Did Hermione say anything about a group or where they met? Then it hit him.

"There might be one place she told me about."

"Go on," said Umbridge, her piggy little eyes lighting up.

"She told me about... The Room of Requirement."

A/N: OK, so next chapter will defs be the last. Review and tell me what you think so far :)