A/N Hope you all got something nice for Valentines day! Hope you enjoy this chapter :D

TRY

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"Try again," a tall man wearing a smart navy suit and who had half his grey hair missing was weaving through the thirty seven students that were trying to move themselves from point A to point B. this being the hoop laid on the floor in front.

"It's too hard!" Pansy Parkinson whined loudly enough for Hermione to hear her from the other side of the hall. Pansy was standing at arms length from Draco as always and his two brain-dead bullies were behind not surprisingly taking a break and stuffing several biscuits down their throat from the small coffee table by the door.

"If at first you don't succeed, try and try again until you do." the man repeated until he stopped in front of Ron who wasn't making any progress at all and appeared to be missing an eyebrow and a shoe. Luckily the man corrected his mistakes then moved on.

"Why can't I do it?" Ron grumbled as he stared at Hermione in ore.

The bushy-haired Gryffindor smiled triumphantly as she appeared in and out the hoop. "It's just practice, and besides this is only our first lesson, you'll get it soon." Hermione looked around the room and noticed that only she and Malfoy were switching back and fourth easily. The last two days that she had spent with Victor had been the best of her year so far; all of a sudden things seemed worth while, classes seemed to fly by and Harry and Ron never asked why she was going to bed a lot earlier which was fine by her, the last thing she needed was to explain who was in her bed every night.

"Okay great going guys, that's all for today, next lesson is in a week and please for safety reasons no practicing during that time," the man smiled and began a convocation with Dumbledore who was in the corner instead of watching all the 7th years eagerly pile out of the doors.

"I've got an essay to write up." Hermione stopped in the hallway "So I'll be in the library if you need me."

The boys to her relief shrugged and walked on. Dumbledore had kindly given them the rest of the day off, of course Harry and Ron were headed down to the pitch for some extra quidditch practice but she was more interested in getting to her secret spot without anyone seeing her or the person that would be waiting for her.

"Explain this to me…" Hermione was lying on her back under her tree on the grass beside victor whom had turned his head towards her and fiddling with her hair. The key was glowing the same green it had done that night in the library even though she had it clasped in her hand.

"You haven't told anyone you have it?" he asked seriously "Because if you have were in BIG trouble."

She didn't think it a good time to mention Ginny knew so she replied with a smile "No, but I will if you don't tell me why it's so important and we have to keep it so secret."

The young wizard exhaled and sat up before he began "It has to be kept secret because-"he looked around just to make sure no one else was around and he dropped his voice "-It's a horcrux." He finished, cringing at the word.

"It's a WHAT?" Hermione sat up abruptly gawping at him "Why the hell is it here?"

"Because it's the only place its safe." He replied "Except it doesn't contain part of voldemorts soul…it contains all of Salazar Slytherins"

her head was spinning with this overload of information and her jaw was aching from leaving it open so she shut it abruptly but still continued to stare at him blankly. "So why can't you just destroy it? Give it to Dumbledore…"

Victor shook his head slowly and moved closer to the bushy haired girl he loved so much "look, I know this is a lot to take in but the fact is as far as I know it's indestructible and Dumbledore has enough to deal with by means of Voldemort, so I stole it from gringotts and sent it to you. We can't loose it, Voldemorts furious that's its missing, it's his only hope of brining the founder back."

"He always did want to meet him…" Hermione sort of whispered anxious that someone was near by listening.

"Just imagine Riddle and Salazar together, we wouldn't have a hope in hell of winning this war." victor put his arms around his petrified looking girlfriend. "So all we have to do is keep it hidden."

"Around. My. Neck?" she whimpered.

"I never told you to put it there…" he chuckled lightly

Hermione pulled away "We should tell Harry and Ron, we should tell the order."

"No, that's way too risky and you know it, just trust me Hermione, everyone's lives depend on that key, if we mess up everyone pays for it."

"But we should warn the-"

"I said no 'Mione, if you trust me then keep quiet about it and keep it well hidden. Ill do my best to try and find a way to destroy it but its going to take time."

"I'll do my best," she said looking into his dark brown eyes "So Malfoy's after it too?"

"Id day without doubt, Lucius is getting the blame at the moment for its misplacing so I wouldn't be surprised if he ordered Draco to keep an eye out here."

One minute of silence turned into five, then it was half an hour and before either of them could think of anything to say the sun had set and the both of them decided it was a smart idea to sneak back into the castle before someone started to look for them.

"Just shut up!" Hermione growled at Malfoy across the desk "you insufferable little-"

"Don't tell me what to do," Draco sneered back angrily

"Or what?"

"Don't tempt me Granger." he replied squinting evilly at her.

Why does he have to be such an ass? Why can't he just get on with his own work? Why does he have to cause trouble? If he hates us so much why is he wasting words on us?

Hermione's eyes flashed dangerously with anger as she continued to stare into his cold eyes.

"Class dismissed." Snape said in his menacing voice.

Harry and Ron grabbed their bags and pulled Hermione away from Malfoy before she lunged at him. They had only taken four steps out of the door before he caught up and pulled out his wand and sent a jinx flying at Harry's legs. Something snapped inside Hermione, much like it had a few months ago she couldn't help but pull out her own wand and send a jinx back. Unluckily he blocked it and smirked as his little followers gathered around his and students passing by stopped to watch the fight break out. "Is that all you've got mudblood?" Pansy snickered.

Hermione sent another hex right at her and smirked as it hit her square in the face.

"Mione don't their not worth it." Ron tried to pull her away but failed as she snatched her arm back.

"Don't you have somewhere to be?" Theodore Nott asked crossing his arms smugly.

"Don't you need a license to be that ugly?" she snapped back

Several students were gathering around and watching early.

"We know about your little secret," Pansy giggled, her beetle eyes sparkling with laughter. Clearly she was enjoying this.

Her heart stopped and managed to get jammed in her throat. "I don't know what you mean…" Hermione replied hoping that the fact she was lying wasn't evident in her voice.

"Deny it all you want," Draco added "We know he's here,"

Her face suddenly felt very heated and her hands were slipping off her wand. "Who's here?" Harry asked stepping beside Hermione.

Ignoring the Weasel and the Potty, Draco had his gaze firmly settled on the female Gryffindor who was pleading with him with her eyes not to say anything. "Just face it mudblood, we know you're up to something and we shall find out what it is. No one can beat a Malfoy. Not even a know-it-all like you."

Hermione needed to get back to her room now, she had to find victor. What if Malfoy wasn't bluffing? She needed something smart to say pronto. "I'm not going to bother getting angry with you Malfoy, its be kind to animals week," she smirked as best she could and with a flick of her wand the blonde haired slytherin was no more a human but a small fluffy ferret. Luckily for her the entire crowd burst into laughter and gave her enough time to escape before the scream Pansy let out attracted a teacher.

"They know." Hermione burst through her door and locked it.

"Who knows what?"

"Malfoy knows you're here."

"He won't say anything" Victor didn't appear to be concerned and didn't look up from his book.

"And you know that how?" he replied sitting on the edge of the bed.

"Because he knows if he mutters it to anyone I'll break his neck, or rather his father will," the young wizard looked up and flashed his perfect white teeth.

"Too late, I believe his exact words to me while Harry, Ron and half the school were present were, and I quote 'We know he's here.'"

Victor closed his book and stood up. "I have to go tonight anyway,"

"What?"

"I said I have to go tonight." he repeated.

Tears sprung to her eyes "So soon? I thought you were here for a few months….."

"Plans have changed. Look Mione-"he pulled her up from the bed and embraced her in a protective hug. "You know I want to stay but I can't let Voldemort have any other reason to harm you. I'm doing my best to keep you safe but you have to work with me."

"I know," she whispered not wanting to let go of him.

"Come on, I've got one more thing I want to show you before I go."

Somehow Hermione forced back her tears and the terror that filled her that in just a few hours he would be gone again, and she would be left to deal with everything and spend all her time being worried sick weather he was going to come back or not.

The wind blew through her caramel curls and made her cloak billow behind her as she walked across the pitch hand in hand with victor towards the shed. She knew exactly what he was going to do and felt she needed to tell him now. "There's no way I'm going on that thing again." she gestured to the firebolt he was holding in his manly hands.

Victor only laughed "You know I wont let any harm come to you."

"I know…..but I just hate heights" she replied feeling vile come up her throat. "Please don't make me go."

"I won't make you do anything Mione, but this might be the last chance we get to spend together for a while…."

Those few chosen words sent painful shocks through her body which finished leaving her heart beating vastly and her stomach in knots. Victor held out his hand again and before Hermione let herself think she took it and clambered onto the broom behind him. Before she knew it she was in the air, she was floating on a piece of wood able to see every star in the night sky. She supposed she was squeezing the air out of victor as she had her arms wrapped tightly around his waste, but he hadn't said anything.

"Not one of those stars out there is as beautiful as you." he whispered

Hermione's heart leapt. Oh my Merlin, that was such a sweet thing to say…

"-And I know this is going to sound ridiculous but when ever you feel like you need me just look up at the stars and remember that I'm always thinking of you and I'll be back soon."

"It doesn't sound silly." she whispered back "Just promise me you will try and contact me once in a while…"

"I'll try." He replied "But I can't promise…"

Hermione nodded as she laid her head against his back inhaling the sweet night air as they leisurely glided through the sky, both of them enjoying the few hours they had left togeth

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A/N What did you think? Reviews are very much appreciated!!