*One year later*
It was Hermione's 6th year at Hogwarts, and it was also the year in which they started N.E.W.T classes. Which N.E.W.T classes you were in depended on what your score was on your O.W.L.s test of that class, and what grade sufficed as passing in the teacher's class. The results were owled to every student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry who took the owls last term during their summer holidays. Hermione, unsurprisingly, passed all of her O.W.L.S. with O's, but in Defense Against the Dark Arts, in which she got an 'E', which meant 'Exceeds Expectations'. What she didn't know was if the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher sufficed an E as a passing score, since in Hermione's whole school career, there was always a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher every new term. The subject was rumored to have been jinxed.
Right now, Hermione was eating her first breakfast of the term with Harry, and Ron, who was currently stuffing eggs and bacon in his mouth.
"What classes do you think you will be in?" asked Ron, a mouthful of eggs in his mouth. "What?" Ron finished chewing his eggs, and gulped it down, after Hermione scolded him once again for talking with his mouth full. 'I can't help that I'm always hungry! Honestly, woman,' thought Ron furiously.
"I will certainly not go to Hagrid's class… I mean, we like Hagrid and all, but the only reason we tried in his classroom was because we're friends with him. How do you think he'll react?" Hermione winced a bit, and bit her bottom lip in thought.
"Why, I'm surprised. The Hermione Granger not taking every class possible? Guess little miss know-it-all is finally toning it down." Draco Malfoy's sneering voice came up from behind Hermione. Hermione turned around, to see the pale grey eyes, and the blonde hair that Hermione loved and adored.
Harry and Ron didn't know about Hermione's relationship with Draco. Hermione was afraid of what her best friends would say to her if she told them. 'They're going to find out sooner or later…' the little voice in the back of Hermione's head always told her. 'They will know… just not yet.' Hermione always told herself.
"Shut up, ferret. You're lucky that Professor Moody, or rather, the person who impersonated him, isn't here anymore. How come you suddenly decided to casually show up beside me?" Hermione finished with a sarcastic tone.
"I was just passing by to go to the Slytherin table, when I happened to overhear your conversation." Draco retorted, rolling his eyes.
"Well, now that you've heard it, you can leave now and go tell it to your clan." Hermione remarked. Draco gave her the look he always gave her at dinner for the past year before he walked away. It was the 'I'll meet you in the empty classroom after breakfast.' recognized it instantly.
"What was that all about?" Ron asked Hermione, giving her a suspicious, but confused, look right after Draco left to the Slytherin table.
Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Malfoy was just being the arrogant ferret that he always is, that's all." she stated, lifting a egg-filled fork up to her mouth.
They had finished eating, but they remained where they were, for McGonagall still had to announce what N.E.W.T classes everyone would advance to.
"Hermione Granger. You did excellent in Charms, Transfiguration, Herbology, Arithmancy, Ancient Runes, and Potions. You did fine in Defense Against the Dark Arts, passing it with an Exceeds Expectations. You may proceed to these classes. Here is your schedule." McGonagall handed Hermione her schedule, which had Ancient Runes as her first class, which was starting in roughly 30 minutes. She ran outside of the Great Hall, and turned a left, to an empty classroom. The tables were pushed against the walls, with the chairs above them. It was still a bit dusty, so Hermione coughed after a few minutes of being in the room.
About 10 minutes later, Draco opened the door, and walked in. Hermione closed the old Charms book she was always reading while she waited for Draco every day.
"Learned any new charms, Hermione?" Draco smiled soflty as he lay beside her on a table, with his hands behind his head, staring up at the ceiling.
Hermione smiled back.
"Yes, I did. A pretty useless one, actually. It apparently… polishes your shoes..." Hermione squinted her eyes in confusion. She shook her head. "Anyway, Draco, we need to talk..."
Draco's eyes widened for a second before he answered, "About what?" His eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
"Draco, Harry and Ron don't know about this, correct? But it's been way too long… I need to tell them sooner or later about our relationship…" Hermione put her hands in her face and sighed.
Draco sat up and turned to look at Hermione, and sighed.
"Hermione, if you need to tell them, tell them."
"Not today. Not right now. It needs to wait a little longer..." As she said this, Hermione thought about all the insults that would be told to her by her friends and housemates. 'How can you betray us like that?' 'House traitor.' 'You can't be our friend anymore.' She winced slightly at these thoughts, but Draco didn't notice it.
Draco looked at the old clock at the wall, and his eyes widened.
"We need to go, now. Good luck, 'Mione." Draco smiled, and left the room, with Hermione right behind him.
At the intersection, they both parted, with Draco turning to look at Hermione, to smile at her, before he darted off to his first class.
Hermione smiled, and rushed off to her Ancient Runes class without further ado.