Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters in my story. All of it belongs to J.K. Rowling. The plot just popped into my head while I was reading DH.

Chapter 5

The sky was a dreary gray when Hermione walked into the Great Hall. Most of the students had already headed off to class but she had woken up late. Hurriedly picking up a bagel and spreading some butter on it, she walked out into the fog and headed off to herbology.

"Good morning Mione," Neville said as she stopped walking. She nodded to him before continuing to eat her bagel. "Professor Sprout isn't here yet," he informed her, "I think she said something about biblius bogs, I was wondering if she was going to make us clean our wands. Did you know its one of the few acid like plants that wont react with being exposed to magic?"

Hermione did know that but decided not to say. Herbology was the only class he ever had any confidence in.

"Well there's professor Sprout now," He said, as she came huffing with her arms full of what looked like pretty yellow balls. "I'll talk to you later Hermione,"

"Alright," she said.

She walked in and sat down off to the back corner and started getting ready for class.

"Good morning, Hermione" Draco said from behind her. She turned as he pulled out the chair next to her. She gave him a jerky nod and looked forward, wishing for professor Sprout to start.

"That's not exactly polite," he said. She didn't understand him, for most of the year he had been vacant, and now he was almost his old self except ,of course, when he had paired up with her and said they were alike yesterday.

"Morning," she said. And started to reread Plants and Magical Workings.

"Alright, then I'll start. How are you Draco?" he asked himself, "I'm fine thank you for asking Hermione, how are you?" he probably thought it was funny, but to her it was just aggravating.

"I'm fine, so do shut up… please"

"Then would you mine helping me in my classes?" he asked her.

"What?" she asked, sure she had misheard.

"You know, tutor me? I want to raise my grades," he seemed unnaturally buoyant at this.

"I thought you didn't care if you stayed at acceptable?" she asked.

"No, I said living to my satisfaction, and lately I'm just not satisfied with my grades,"

"And when did this change of mind happen?"

"I don't really care when, and neither should you. Now will you help me?"

Hermione tried thinking of why she shouldn't but couldn't.

"Yeah, I'll help you."

"Good, now lets pay attention to class, shall we?"

Hermione turned around and saw professor sprout had already started talking about the lesson. Flustered, Hermione started scribbling furiously on bublius bogs for the rest of the period.

After herbology she went to charms and then DADA, where she met up with Harry and Ron.

"Hey guys,"

"Hey Mione," they chorused.

"did you finish the essay for transfiguration yet?" Harry asked.

"Of course she has, she's Hermione," Ron laughed. She shot him a rueful look that made him shut up.

"Yes, why?" she answered.

"Could you help me on it later?"

"I'm sorry Harry, I have patrol duty for the rest of the week."

"Oh," he said, deflating slightly. "Its alright then, do you any books that I can use for it?"

"Try The Art of Cold Transfiguration. I really am sorry I cant help you,"

"S'okay," just then Professor Lupin walked in. he didn't look nearly as shabby as he did five years ago, though he still had the air of it.

"Settle down, settle down," he called out, "Today we will be studying capfintors, can anyone tell me what they are?" no one raised their hand, as usual.

"Alright then, Harry! Can you tell us what they are?"

"Erm, they like the dark…" everyone laughed.

"Yes, they do like the dark," Lupin said ruefully, "But considering that it is a dark arts creature I was hoping someone might know anything a bit more specific? How about you Draco?" Hermione turned in her seat, she had forgotten he had this class as well.

"Capfintors are selfish creatures." he said strongly. "They prey on small animals like squirrels and gophers and are usually only seen in the Ireland bogs. They're small, have short dark blue hair, with bright child like eyes."

"Precisely, now before I teach you how to handle it, I would like everyone to take notes on their weakness for the rest of the period. Tomorrow, we will start practical lessons." the class groaned at the thought of reading, but got to it right away.

It was hours after dinner when Hermione headed towards the kitchen. She had just come from the library and was starving. On her way there, she was distinctly aware of the empty halls, a sign that curfew was near.

She tickled the pear and stepped inside, immediately surrounded by waist high elves.

"Hello miss, how may we assist you?" a bright eyed female asked, practically bouncing on her feet.

"Hello Pokey," Hermione greeted, "can I just have some leftovers please?" she had given up on her SPEW ideas, deciding the wizarding world needed time before more change was to be brought.

"Yes, yes, miss! Right away!" Pokey scurried away and came back almost immediately with a tray of steak slices wedged in between enormous pieces of bread.

"Thanks," Hermione told her. Pokey beamed, delighted.

"No need, no need! Pokey happy to serve," she said as Hermione walked into the hall.

"Why don't you ever eat in the great hall?" someone asked from the shadows. Hermione turned around, her wand out and ready.

Draco stepped out of an alcove, his arms up.

"No need for that," he said calmly. Hermione eyed him warily but put her wand away.

"So why are you here?" she asked him, walking down the hall.

"I was just wandering around," he said, keeping step with her.

"Then I guess you wont be coming back to the common rooms?" she asked, hopeful.

"No, I think I'm done with wandering." he said. She frowned but decided to keep silent and finish her sandwich. They had gone up four flights of stairs before Draco broke the silence.

"You know what I said yesterday?" he asked softly.

"Yeah?" she said, every word he had said was forever etched in her mind. I know what its like to want to hurt yourself…

"But did you think about it, at all?" he asked.

"Of course I had thought about it,"

"Then is your answer yes, or no?"

"I wasn't aware you had asked me anything," she said.

"Well you know there was a point to it. They weren't just pretty words," his voice was firm and quiet, the walls echoing their footsteps.

"I wouldn't call you speech pretty, malicious maybe, but not pretty," Your just being strong, is that it?…

"I needed you to know," he said.

"Know what? That we're alike?" she asked, venomous, "Did you really need the dramatic scene?"

"What type of person do you think I am? I wasn't about to know on your door and ask to be your friend,"

"You want to be my friend?" she asked shocked, he gave her an angry glare.

"See what I mean? You cant even comprehend me and friend in the same sentence. My question was do you accept me?" his voice was barely above a whisper by now, they had stopped walking and was standing face to face.

"How was everything you said a way to seek acceptance?" Hermione asked him, he was confusing her greatly. "What are you playing at? A few days ago, it seemed like the only thing you were aware of was the passing of night and day! Now you're constantly changing," he gave her a calculating look

"At first I didn't care what went on around me." he began reluctantly. "Then you caught my attention, I watched you when I could. I saw how you lied, saw how you distanced yourself. I saw how you had changed. I was…"

He was scaring her more than ever. He had gone from calm to fierce to distant and now she feared his insanity. And though the thought was horrible, she couldn't help but think insanity might just be an improvement.

"I don't understand," she said quietly. His eyes darkened, and Hermione stepped back. Noticing this, he stepped back as well, closing his eyes and pulling his hair.

"I just want you to know you don't need to pretend. And if you wanted to, we could try expanding our truce," he hadn't opened his eyes yet which gave her the chance to study him.

He still had the dark half-moons under his eyes like the first day she saw him, in fact, he looked the same as ever. The only difference was his eyes, his expression. He seemed alive.

"But I'm not pretending," she told him. His eyes snapped open at that.

"Don't you dare say that and think it's the truth! You know its not, it'll end up killing you if try too hard to make it true. Cant you just say the damn truth for once!"

"Why do you care?" she screamed at him, she was hugging herself, shielding herself from his words.

"Why do you think?! For some stupid reason you're always in my mind, I'm constantly on edge around you, I worry more for you than for anyone outside my family. What do you think all that means? I care about you! Are you satisfied now? I care because its you!" he was breathing hard and at the end he collapsed against the wall. Hermione was leaning against the wall across from him, tears streaming down her face.

"But you shouldn't," she told him, when her throat cleared.

"How can you say that?" he asked, his voice choked.

"It just doesn't make sense. Please don't do this…I just need to be able to live without all these... these complications…please,"

"Complications? Feelings are not complications!" his voice was hoarse and quiet but it still echoed.

"But how can you, how can anyone feel anything toward me? You know how broken I am, as you've pointed out. No one deserves to have to deal with this,"

"If this means you then I will. I'm not asking for your undying love, not even for you like me. I just need you to say you'll accept me, and my help." he stood in front of her now, albeit shakily. She looked up at him and stared long and hard.

His jaw was hard, his forehead creased, his hair matted and sweaty. But his eyes were silvery and determined. She decided she had had enough of this weird game.

"Fine," she said. "Just please stop with these episodes," he gave a laugh that bordered on hysteria.

"Yeah, whatever you say," he held out his hand, and Hermione held out hers thinking they were to shake on it. Instead her pulled her to her feet and snaked his arm around her waist to support her weight.

"Thank you," she said, breathless. She felt comfortable and the thought made her heart speed up.

"Your welcome,"

A/N: sorry for the late update.

I hoped you liked the chapter and PLEASE do not forget to review.

Since this is my first story I need to know if I'm heading in the right direction or not.

Have a nice Thanksgiving!

-A

11-25-08