A/N - I'll say it again, don't own them. Just like to be a puppet master sometimes.

Not much to say on this one...we get to see a little more into Ron's head. It really isn't a pleasant place to be. I only go there when I have to.

This is a short chapter but now the story is rolling forward and the major flashbacks are done.

Hopefully you enjoy.

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Brown eyes met stormy grey eyes.

Back in the present, Hermione had opened her eyes to see Draco's darkened eyes and damn sexy smirk. She still wasn't sure how she had been able to live with Draco this long and not done something drastic, like throw herself at him. There was something about him that turned the normally stoic, cool, calm and collected Hermione into mush. Hermione licked her suddenly dry lips as she gazed into his eyes.

"That's a smirk I haven't seen for quite some time. What devious things are you plotting Professor Malfoy?" Hermione sat up slowly and propped herself against her pillows and the headboard. This wasn't the first time she had awakened in the hospital wing to find Draco there and waiting for her. It was something she had come to cherish; knowing he cared for her on some level. Draco, always quick with a retort, tried to give his response with his typical drawl; however, it sounded a bit huskier than usual. He hoped she wouldn't notice. She noticed just as he had noticed her tongue darting out and licking her lips.

"Well, Professor Granger, I was thinking how I was going to repay Mr. Weasley for his interruption this morning." The grey eyes had taken a slightly sinister look at the mention of Weasley. Draco was still upset at the encounter.

Hermione started to giggle at the response in an attempt to negate the smoldering look and desire simmering in his gaze.

Had Hermione not spent the last year learning about Draco and who he really was, she would have been worried, but she knew Draco was wholly and truly on their side. He wouldn't hurt her or her friends. She also knew that with the exception of Ron, all of her friends were now Draco's friends. Other than Draco, the only Slytherins from their year to return were Blaise, Theo and Pansy. It turned out Pansy's family had been spying for the Order for almost a year. Theo's mother had been on the side of light since Theo was a baby. Theo, Pansy and Blaise had decided, during their time at Hogwarts, to join of their own accord. None of them knew who else was in the Order or who were truly loyal to the Dark Lord until they were brought into the Order during a secret meeting. It was a shocking meeting, to put it mildly. Of those four Slytherins only Theo and Draco's fathers were true and loyal to the dark side.

Hermione still ached for both of them; however, they had told her over and over again that they didn't want pity. She had tried to explain that sympathy and empathy weren't the same as pity but they were still learning other emotions existed. Well emotions beyond hate and greed. Hermione's consistent badgering, bothering and begging had forced Theo to start to open up more and allow her in his world. Draco had already opened up about his family but still hadn't told Hermione his true feelings for her. Hermione was happy about the new additions to her group of friends but Ron hadn't been very open to expanding his circle of friends. In fact he hadn't seemed too pleased with the friends he had prior to the war. Hermione knew something was not quite right since the end of the war and she didn't know what it was.

"Don't be too hard on him. He, he, honestly I don't know what is wrong with him but there is certainly something very wrong. I just wish I knew what it was..."

Draco had moved the chair closer to Hermione and grabbed her hand. He started to rub slow circles on the back of her hand. His other hand reached up and tucked the stray strands of hair behind her ear. He left his hand lingering on her cheek. She leaned her head into his hand. Draco sighed feeling her warmth envelope him. Every touch seemed to pull them closer and closer. Neither understood why, but were, surprisingly ok with just letting it happen. They enjoyed the quiet for a few minutes and allowed their minds to wander over their conversation.

Draco knew Hermione would be determined to figure out what was going on in the ginger's head. Draco was worried about the same thing but he had a strong suspicion of what was happening. He wasn't certain yet; he had even less of an idea of how it could have happened and he wasn't willing to risk his new friendship with a hunch. However, as they had all survived the war by following their intuitions, he knew what needed to be done. He just wasn't going to risk leaving Hermione alone, especially if his suspicion was right. He had seen eyes like what Ron had today. Draco had to live with them, pretend to agree with them and try to survive. He shuddered at the thought that somehow that horrible man had survived too. What scared him more was the fact that Hermione seemed to be the number one target. Draco refused to allow her to be put in the line of fire, again. She had done so much and the least he could do was try to protect her.

"Hermione?" Draco tried to pull her out of her stupor while he tried to stop his own train of thought. He had continued rubbing the back of her hand with his fingers; however, instead of circles he started to trace the letters of his name. If he had used ink her hand would be covered. It felt nice. In his head he was marking the witch as his. He hoped one day he would be able to claim her publicly.

"Hmm?"

"Poppy said that once you feel better we could leave. Let's finish decorating, using magic this time and work on our project."

Hermione's eyes lit up at the mention of their project. Since the end of the war, the majority of the minor Death Eaters had been either killed, captured or turned themselves in. The only ones still on the loose were more powerful and dangerous which made hunting them more difficult for the Ministry. They also were the ones with the most options to flee, hide or remain undercover until it was safe to emerge. Hermione had been thinking of ways to make that search easier when she thought about of Harry's marauder's map.

She told Draco about the map and Harry allowed her to show Draco how it worked. With that Draco and Hermione started working on how to create a similar map, but it would only show an individual that had been given the dark mark or had true evil in their hearts. It was hard work that had taken the entire term and they still weren't done. They couldn't find anything in the Hogwart's library that was dark enough to give guidance. They had a fight the week before on whether it was even possible; Hermione swore it was possible if only she could find more information on what the dark mark was and how it worked, Draco wasn't sure.

After finishing the little decorating that was left in the Great Hall they made their way back to the dorms a sudden idea popped into Hermione's head.

"Draco, your library. The one at the Manor. Would it have anything helpful?"

Hermione stumbled over her words when mentioning Malfoy Manor. She still had some lingering pain from the torture and the scars were probably never going to get any better. She had been invited by Narcissa, a few times, for tea but she was able to politely decline. Neither Narcissa nor Draco pressured Hermione. They hoped that somewhere, in the future, she would be able to face the demon that was the Manor. Draco stared at her knowing her fear of his house after the war. His eyes dropped to the ground remembering what happened to her.

"Draco, stop that, we've talked about it and you did what you had to do. You did nothing wrong. Do you understand me?" She stood in front of him and stomped her foot as to make her point. The childlike reaction typically got a smile out Draco. This would not be one of those times. At least not because of the tiny foot stomping in the dirt.

Draco had told her that seeing her being tortured was the second worst experience in his life. Hermione realized the only thing he believed worse than what Hermione went through was watching his mother sacrifice herself for him. Watching Hermione's torture was what finally drove Draco to change sides. Shortly after Hermione's escape, was when Voldemort had decided Draco was a liability and needed to be dealt with. Lucius seemed all too happy to follow through with that order. Draco knew Hermione was tougher than any other person Bella had tortured. Hermione's strength and bravery was what finally made him realize that birth wasn't what made a person worthy. The moment Dobby caused the distraction for her to escape, Draco began to plot his own escape. He hadn't been able to put anything into action before his demise had been ordered. He knew they were both lucky to have escaped the Manor with their lives. The other reason he hadn't pushed Hermione to visit was simply because he hadn't returned to the building either. Narcissa did eventually return and updates Draco on the progress of returning the home to its glory.

Staring at Hermione and thinking about everything they had experienced, Draco didn't know how she could forgive him for not helping her on that fateful night, but she had. She told him she categorically believes if he had attempted to help her in the least they both would have been killed that night. If that had happened, the odds would have strongly shifted to the other side. No one knows what Narcissa would have done if her son's life had ended that night.

"I know Hermione but it still hurts to think that it happened in my home. Mother had that half of the Manor rebuilt. She says that it still feels dark but the rooms are different. Are you sure you want to go?"

"If you think there will be something there, then yes. I'm sure McGonagall will let us go."

Hermione started to walk again, this time toward the headmistress's office. Draco quickly followed realizing that he would follow her until she sent him away. Draco sighed to himself knowing that he was no longer just falling in love with Hermione. He loved her.

"Wait up!" Draco started to jog after her.

' - - - - - - '

"They will both pay...I'll kill the mudblood in front of the traitor and then the traitor will finally meet the fate I decided for him. Lucius failed me twice; I no longer have any faith in his ability to follow my orders. I will mete out judgments from now on. After I have taken care of the heroes I will destroy Lucius and claim myself as the rightful heir to those family names also. I will find a suitable bride or a few and make an army that will be totally loyal to me and me alone." What did it matter if the actual families were gone? He would bestow names on his children and they would carry on the names in the future.

Ron had been heading back to the castle when he saw the interaction between Hermione and Draco. His anger grew each time he saw them together. The voices in his head only got louder. He stood frozen for a moment before he slowly turned and started walked back toward the Forbidden Forest his black eyes clouded in anger and hate. The positive for him was that both sides of Ron Weasley hated Draco Malfoy with a passion. The reason for the hate was the same. Jealousy. There would be no issue with destroying Malfoy. Both sides wanted the Malfoy heir dead.

He reached for his wand only to realize it wasn't there. Determined he spun and headed back toward the castle. 'Where in the bloody hell is it?' Ron started searching but the wand wasn't in the Great Hall. He did not have much time to continue his search as it was almost lunchtime and the last thing he wanted to do was have to interact with any of those damned Gryffindors. "That half-blood better not have it!" Ron muttered to himself as he headed toward the Gryffindor Tower. He would take a quick shower while the rest of them were eating. On his way he silently sent a spell to the missing wand. 'If any of those heroes touch it they will quickly regret it.' His feral smile at the thought of destroying any or all of those three was a pleasant idea. Damaging the school would only be a bonus.