A/N: ZL here! Sorry for the long wait for such a short chapter. I had some pretty major writers block, and this one's just a filler chapter. I'll update a bigger one either tommorow or the next day. Promise! :) As always let me know how you like it.

Summary: In 6th year when Hermione discovers that Harry's baseless acusations about Malfoy are more true than she had anticipated, she goes to Dumbledore who stages Draco's death and sends him into hiding. But thats not where her part ends. Dumbledore expects her to tutor him on the 6th year material. Left with more time together alone then ever before, they begin to see things differently, in this, the prelude to their end.

Chapter 5: In The Waiting Line

The following weeks, for Hermione, seemed to pass sluggishly. Yet, before she knew it, it was almost Christmas. After the past 6 weeks of spending entriely too much time with the ferret than she preferred, she was glad that the Christmas break would soon arrive. After dodging questions about her thrice a week, late evening excursions from Harry, it couldn't come a moment too soon. At which point she would go home to her parents and the boys would gallivant off to the burrow for the holiday. Little did she know that an entire different set of plans would befall her holiday.

Hermione stood obediently before McGonagall's desk, curious as to the reason for her summons. McGonagall allowed herself a small frown before speaking.

"Miss Granger, I am aware that you wished to spend your holiday with your parents. However, Professor Dumbledore has expressed concern that, in light of recent events and your close friendship with Mr. Potter, that you, Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley should spend your holiday at Grimmauld Place."

The news hit her like a ton of bricks. She wouldn't be going home? Her frustration multiplied when she realized that the reason she had been given probably wasn't really true. Things weren't so bad in the wizarding world just yet. Voldemort had been very quiet these past months. No one was in doubt as to why. It just made sense that he was rallying his forces. Be that as it may, she knew that she would be safe in the muggle world for now.

For her anyway. Harry, on the other hand, would have to go to Grimmauld Place. And if Harry and Malfoy were in the same building for any amount of time...

"Do I have any choice?" she managed to spit out. She was too frustrated to speak properly.

"I'm afriad not, Miss Granger. The headmaster was very adamant on this matter." McGonagall said, evenly.

Hermione closed her eyes and took a deep breath in order to calm herself.

"Do my parents know?" she asked without opening her eyes.

"Yes. They agree with the headmaster's decision."

Hermione simply nodded and turned to leave.

Hermione looked at her watch as she nearly stormed from her favorite professor's office. She knew she probably should have conducted herself better, but she was frustrated. Curse that Malferret for ruining her holiday! She continued to look at her watch, silently fuming, until the time finally registered.

6:55 p.m.

Sod it all! She had 5 minutes to retrieve her bag from Gryffindor tower and be in Dumbledore's office. She went as fast as her feet would carry her and arrived at the gargoyle at a pathetic 7:02.

Mildly out of breath she muttered "Fizzing Whizbees" and as soon as it had moved she bolted up the staircase. Dumbledore simply smiled at her dishevelled appearance and waved her in the direction of the fireplace. She managed a smile back, even though she was fuming mad at him (he's still a professor!), and flooed through to Grimmauld Place.

Out of the fireplace and into the kitchen she came face to face with the angry features of one Draco Malfoy. Arms crossed and glaring at her, he said nothing. She eyed him speculatively until she became impatient. She put her hands on her hips, in Molly Weasley fashion, and frowned right back.

"What!" she finally snapped.

He narrowed his eyes at her. "Potter and Weasley are going to be here during the holiday."

"Yes, I am aware of this." she said in a clipped tone. "Your point?"

For a moment his anger hardened face folded into a weary grimace. "They're gonna kill me."

"Malfoy, they are not going to kill you." she folded her arms and tutted at his ridiculous fears, "Thats why I'm staying here too, I'm sure."

"But why do they have to come? Can't they go back to...to whatever hole the Weasels live in?" he whined.

"This is Harry's home, in case you didn't know. It was given to him when his Godfather died."

"Bloody hell. I will never escape them." he put his hand on his face in a pure facepalm moment.

"Malfoy, quit whining. If anyone has any reason to complain its me. I was supposed to go visit my parents. But I'm stuck here babysitting you three, making sure you don't kill eachother."

"Don't deny you would like to kill the Weasel as much as I do. Still snogging that tramp, Brown, is he?" Malfoy smirked evilly.

She frowned and looked away, embarassed. "Yes."

"Green doesn't suit you, Granger."

Hermione chuckled, "What then, pray tell, is a good color for me?"

He pondered jokingly for a moment.

"Blue."

"Blue?"

"Blue."

"I look godawful in blue. Thank goodness I wasn't a Ravenclaw." she laughed at this ridiculous conversation.

"I've no doubt you could have been one." he said seriously.

"I suppose I could have. Which reminds me." she suddenlly remembered, "Your homework."

She pulled out a stack of parchment. He balked at the thick stack she held.

"Bloody hell," he groaned, "I was hoping to distract you."

"Your Slytherin charms don't work on me, Malfoy." she smiled sweetly, handing over the parchment. "As a Gryffindor, I'm immune."

"Someday." he grumbled, and wandered off, out of the kitchen and undoubtedly toward the library.

She watched him leave without following. She grasped the bridge of her nose and mumbled something incoherent, no doubt as a result of her continued frustration. Had she just flirted with him? This question was becoming a repeated one in recent weeks, and was rather starting to scare her. More disturbing even, had he flirted back? They had long since stopped the slough of insults; it was just too tiring for them, and it interefered with her teaching. But these episodes of...of flirting(she shuddered at the word) was just taking it a bit too far.

He was still a ferret.

Maybe it wasn't even flirting. Yeah. Maybe it was just friendly banter between two friends. That sounds good. Sounds innocent enough. But why on earth did she still feel a faint sense of betrayal for something so innocent?

"Do you believe
In what you see
Motionless wheel
Nothing is real
Wasting my time
In the waiting line
Do you believe
In what you see"

In the Waiting Line, Zero 7