A/N: Hello, my lovely readers who never fail to brighten my day with your smile-inducing reviews and never hesitate to forgive me for disappearing from FanFiction from time to time... :D So yeah, that's basically my way of saying I'm sorry it's been awhile. I've been innsaaanneeellyyy busy with my new schedule. I have math this semester. ): And in between that, tutoring (I'm in honors math so it's necessary), flute lessons (CRAAAPPP I FORGOT TO PRACTICE D: ), horseback riding,art homework (A LOT MORE THAN YOU THINK), workouts, eating a lot (is that contradictory?) , and friends, I don't have much time at all.

I'd like to mention that Valentine's day is in like 3 weeks, and that's probably another reason why I came back DX When I think of romance, my thoughts immediately turn to this Dramione. Is that sad? I'm ooohhh sooo verrrryyyyy loneeellyyyy, just recently as well DX Aaahh whatever. It'll be another several years before I ever become notsolazy with romance and date again. Dat's my life, and y'all probably just want to read the Dramione, so... I'll shut up now. :D

Erm, I'd also like to mention that this chapter sucks and I hate it. Kbai.

I used to be a singer in a rock 'n' roll band
He would write the songs and I would tremble at his hands
But oh, la laa,
He lost poetic ethic and his songs were pathetic,
And he's a failure now.
~Failure by Laura Marling

When Hermione woke up, she almost believed that the night before was a dream. The prideful Slytherin boy had actually accepted Hermione's help! She was almost certain he wouldn't. Of course, either way, she would've interfered. This just made her job ten times easier. Her lips twitched into an anticipating grin- she was beginning to find the problem with the Malfoy heir, which meant she was one step closer to the solution. She viewed her much-beloved riddles as she did an algebraic equation: set up a logically constructed equation first, solve for X. That's how she helped Harry through the years they had worked together to defeat Voldemort. That's how she would help Malfoy with his mother... And maybe, along the way, she would get another glimpse at the astrological look that she had managed to catch in the fleeting moments Malfoy's guard would fall. The mere fact that he could feel something other than hatred made her more curious than she aught to be. This boy was a definite mystery.

She tossed aside her blanket and sank her feet to the ground, making her way to the bathroom, her mind brimming- Wait. When did she go to sleep last night? She frowned. The last thing she remembered was pesto with Malfoy... Did she fall asleep at the library? No way, her mind tittered, that would mean that he would had to have carried you back, and Malfoy wouldn't... Or, would he? No, no, I'm certain... But why couldn't she remember, then, crawling underneath her blankets?

Oh. Oh, Merlin. He carried her, asleep, to her room, and put her to bed like a toddler. With her mouth probably swinging open, and her hair strewn everywhere. If that didn't give him superiority, she didn't know what did. How embarrassing!

But, why would he do that, anyway? Why not just... leave her?

Does the boy who won't look at a muggle-born without sneering, have the heart to carry a slumber-heavy one to her bed?

She heard the portrait to their common room open and a heavy sigh that was unmistakably Malfoy's, probably retuning from his patrol. Opening her door just enough for her to squeeze through, she tip-toed down the stairwell and peaked around the corner at him. Immediately she knew he hadn't slept much, if at all. Black half-moons clung to his worn silver eyes, looking striking against his pale skin. His hair stuck up in various places and directions, resembling the infamous Potter Hair. He collapsed on the couch and stared out the window forlornly. The sunrise light oozed on his tired face, golden hues oozing into his emotion-raught moon-colored eyes. He seemed almost vulnerable now.

Quietly, Hermione closed the door and turned to her shower.

Quickly, she was learning that her expectations of him weren't nearly as accurate as they used to be. This, this was a different Malfoy. Surprises around every corner. Oh, what an interesting turn of events.

When Hermione arrived to breakfast, she had forgotten the fact that she had abandoned her best friends the other day. She was quickly reminded, however, when she was ambushed by Ginny.

"Where were you yesterday?!" The Weasley girl cried before Hermione even sat down. "I looked for you everywhere! I even went to your common room after dinner, and you weren't there! We were so worried!"

"Morning, 'Mione," Harry greeted, apparently obvious to his girlfriend's outrage. Ron waved, several forkfuls of pancake stuffed into his mouth preventing him from speaking. They seemed very worried, indeed.

"I'm fine, Ginny," Hermione reassured. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you guys. I have to do these bonding exercises with Draco..."

"Bonding exercises?" Ron suddenly became more alert. "With the ferret?"

"What kind of bonding?" Harry asked, disgust filling his voice.

"Every Monday," Hermione sighed. "It's stupid, really. We have to share a random memory with each other in a pensive."

"That's horrible!" Ron cried in outrage. "What if he sees something important? Something about Dumbledore, or Snape, or Voldemort? He could tell the entire school our secrets, Hermione!"

"Ron, we don't have any secrets to hide that concern Voldemort anymore," Hermione murmured forlornly.

"No, Ron has a point," Harry argued earnestly. "What if he finds out about your parents? He won't let you live that down, Hermione, and you know it."

Hermione shook her head. "If he found out, I think I could deal with it. It's just one more year of school, Harry, there's really not that much that he could do to affect me. And, to be honest..." she hesitated, "I don't think he would do that."

Whatever they were about to say, they had apparently forgotten. They simply stared at her instead.

"'Mione, I think you've really lost it," Ginny said gingerly.

"Why wouldn't he?" Harry agreed with Ginny.

"Because... I have something I could use against him, too." Hermione formed her words carefully.

"What is it?" Ron said, leaning forward excitedly. "Tell us everything about the dirty ferret!"

"Well, if I told you, I wouldn't have a secret to use against him, now, would I? What would be worse than the infamous Potter knowing his secrets?"

Before they could argue any further, Hermione gulped down the last bit of her orange juice, smiled at her three friends, and dismissed herself from the dining hall.

"Draco," Blaise elbowed the blonde.

"What?" Draco snapped immediately.

"Chill," Blaise rolled his eyes. "Potions ended 2 minutes ago; you completely zoned out. You're welcome."

Draco looked around and realized that Blaise was right; most all the students were either gathering their schoolwork or were filing out of the classroom. He, too, began to gather his own homework.

"What's up with you?" Blaise asked casually, glancing at Draco as he gathered his things.

"The noisy little mudblood makes it hard to sleep," Draco growled.

It wasn't entirely a lie. Thinking about Granger and her sudden interest in his life had kept Draco up most of the night. Why did she really want to help him? It couldn't have been from the 'goodness in her heart'. Was Potter looking to dig up dirt on him- to ruin his life for all that he had done to the scarhead and his two little annoying followers? There was little he could do about it, though; she was willing to give him information in the process, and at this point, he was desperate for that. And his father had always taught him to keep his enemies close to heart.

"I imagine she is a bit noisy in the bedroom, eh?" Blaise winked teasingly. "She looks like that type. Quiet and reserved in public, but a bloody riot when you get her naked..."

"I am not fucking Granger!" Draco seethed, knocking over the chuckling dark-haired boy.

"Easy, mate," Blaise laughed. "That just means more for me." He smirked.

"Sleeping with a dirty-blooded, try-hard, frizzy-haired freak?" Draco said, regaining his cool. "That seems a little low, Zabini. Even for you."

"I like to get around." As if to prove his point, Blaise winked at a pair of fawning first-years in the corner of the classroom. They giggled and rushed off.

Draco couldn't deny that of Blaise, and neither could most of the girls in Hogwarts. Even the most disgusting and anti-social Hufflepuffs didn't fall short, whom Blaise attested were the best in bed. They're the kind of chicks who look up Sex 101 online and learn all the moves, he had insisted with a smirk. It's creepy, but it turns me on.

"Our first Hogsmeade trip is next weekend," Blaise continued as the two of them left the classroom. "You in for The Hog's Head with Theodore and me?"

"As always," Draco agreed.

The Hog's Head had been a tradition of theirs since their second year. Blaise somehow had connections with the bar owner; all they had to do was mention the man's name and a drink was brought to them with no charge. He was obviously feared by his workers, which did not surprise Draco in the least, being the shady place that it was. Draco often wondered how Blaise knew the owner, but the first thing you learn as a Slytherin is to never, ever question a man's connections. Too often, asking will get you elbow-deep in an illegal business you wanted no part in. Or you will be regarded with suspicion, as a spy who seeks only information.

And besides, everyone in Slytherin has their own dirty business to attend to. You learn not to care early on: you have your own connections to worry about. Why bother with someone else's?

The bar, to the three Slytherins, was their outlet. They never once mentioned this to each other, of course, because a Slytherin also grows up to learn that emotion is weakness. But they all knew it; it had been that way since the very beginning. They drank away the memories of Voldemort's return and their own Death Eater trainings. They drank their way through beatings and Potter-headlined newspapers, through looks of fear or hatred that was often thrown their way. Whilst Harry had his own little Dumbledore's Army at The Three Broomsticks, Draco had his own little group at The Hog's Head. A group that liked to drink until they had forgotten the fact that they were forced onto a side of the war that they didn't care to be on, but were expected to be on by both the good and the evil.

The two boys reached the part of the hallway where they would separate to go to their own common rooms. "You coming to the Slytherin commons?" Blaise asked.

"Can't today," Draco said.

"Head duty stuff?" Blaise asked. "We could always tag along. Take points from other houses just for the hell of it. The first years are the best, I'm telling you, they get so scared..."

"Can't," Draco repeated. "I have some other business to attend to."

In Slytherin, that simply meant: I have some connections I need to focus on and dirty business to finish. So unless you want to throw yourself in it, I suggest you leave.

Blaise nodded quietly, his mouth setting into a firm line. "Alright then, mate." He took on a more serious tone. "I'll see you around."

Once Blaise had left, Draco let his shoulders fall. He stepped into his common room and sat at the piano.

He lost himself in a bittersweet song that reminded him of home.

Hermione was anxious to get her rounds done. She was excited to research the curse further, and, hopefully, retain her pride by not falling asleep. Her cheeks still burned at the thought of that. Did she drool while he carried her? Snore? Something, anything embarrassing that he could have used against her. Just the fact that he had to carry her was enough, she supposed. But that would be more embarrassing for him than it would be for her.

She shook her head and strode to the library, her fingers itching to set to work. As she had assumed, Malfoy had already carefully charmed the forbidden section and was seated in their table, already starting on his first book. She slid in across from him and grabbed a book of her own. He raised his gaze to her momentarily before returning to his studies- it was the only acknowledgment she expected to receive. Or, at least, the only acknowledgment that was not meant as an insult.

"Erm, thanks for last night," she said uncertainly.

He glanced up at her again, disinterested. "You snore, Granger," he answered gruffly before retuning his attention to his work.

There it was.

Hermione bit back her irritation and set to work, her quill ready at her hand. She leafed through her first book with no results. And another. It already appeared as if their results would be the same as yesterday's. Hermione let out a small sigh. It was only their second day, yet with what little she had gathered beforehand, the task seemed very unlikely to complete. At least with the horcruxes, she had a background to work with. Something to begin with. This, this was a blind search. The familiar feeling of frustration set in.

A common misconception about Hermione was that she was very patient when it came to research. That was certainly not the case. Sure, she was a hard worker, but that was due to determination rather than patience. Hermione's secret was to calm her frustration with a song. Her parents's song, to be specific.

So, momentarily forgetting Malfoy's presence, she began to hum.

As her frustration wore on through the next 15 minutes, she grew louder, until she was singing beneath her breath to silence the negative thoughts that now set in the back of her mind.

"You sing?"

Hermione squeaked, nearly falling out of her chair. She looked up to find Malfoy's eyes on her own, a cautiously disinterested expression on his face.

"Um, what?" She asked, clearing her throat.

"You sing."

"I... I suppose," Hermione answered, regaining her breath. "It helps me study."

Malfoy regarded her again. Hermione desperately wished to know what he was thinking, for his face portrayed nothing.

"Why do you ask...?" She finally continued.

"No reason," he growled.

Hermione bit her lip. Now, it was her turn to regard him.

"What?" he snapped.

"Nothing," she smiled, shaking her head. "You just seem suddenly interested in my personal life, Malfoy. Couldn't resist?"

Malfoy simply glowered at her.

Hermione grinned and began to sing softly again. He didn't protest.

They began to work again, Hermione's soft voice the only sound to fill the void of silence.

A/N: Sorry for that drop-off ending and this sucky filler-chapter. It will speed up. I have plans :DDD