"Hermione, won't you just tell me what's got you so upset?" Ginny asked for what must have been the fifth time.

"It's not a big problem for you. I just need to talk to someone first thing tomorrow. So getting to sleep is my number one priority right now." Hermione replied finally, still facing away from Ginny as she pulled the blankets over herself.

"Fine." Ginny said, frown obvious in her voice. "Goodnight."

"Night, Gin."

–

"What are you on about?" Draco snapped darkly. He had been looking for her for about an hour before he finally found her coming down from the Gryffindor Tower. He was angry, immediately, when he found out she wasn't in her Head's Dormitory like usual. Anthony had no idea where she had gone off to. His first reaction was to suspect Weasley. But as Draco had no way into the Gryffindor Tower, he started searching everywhere else she could be.

"I can't believe you would lie to me!" She hissed, trying to keep people from staring should they pass by.

"About what?" His brow furrowed instantly.

"You said Ronald was following us last night." She whispered, "But when I got back, he was in the common room playing wizard's chess with Harry. Ginny said they'd been playing all night."

"Well did you ask her if she'd been watching them?" Draco asked immediately.

"Why should I?" Hermione scowled at him, putting her hands on her hips. But she automatically realized that he was quite right. She hadn't. Maybe Ron and Harry had just told Ginny they'd been playing. She deflated, and Draco sighed.

"That's what I thought. Maybe ask her later?" He suggested weakly. "For now let's just continue our act."

"Yes alright.. But do you think...? I mean, maybe it could be beneficial if we... went along with us being angry at each other? People have already seen us. So maybe we're angry, and then one of us-"

"Me." Draco supplied, surprising her. "You're trying to prove to Weasel that a guy wants you, yeah?"

Hermione nodded with a slight blush, "So then.. you decide you want to make up again."

"Brilliant." He nodded, before turning away.

"Wait!" She rushed over and stopped him with a hand on his arm. "How do you intend to 'make up'?"

"It'll be a surprise." He winked, before gesturing for her to storm off and look angry.

She wasn't angry, per se – more like confused and anxious. But it worked just the same.

–

It had been over twenty-four hours since she and Draco had "fought". But still, he'd not done anything that would warrant their 'making up'. In fact, he'd done nothing. Ron was looking incredibly smug, and Hermione had gotten a horrible night's sleep not knowing what to expect. Classes had gone by just fine, though Hermione had to admit she wasn't as focused as usual. Now it was lunch time, and she was legitimately angry with him.

"Hermione, are you alright..?" One of the sixth-year Gryffindors asked her as they passed and saw her fuming expression.

"Yes, of course." She replied, nodding stiffly. The girl said nothing, but shrugged and walked away.

"Oh, bloody hell." Hermione heard Ron growl a few seats down. Surprised, she sat up straighter, and looked at the Slytherin table. Draco wasn't there. Suddenly, she could feel her pulse race, and waited for something to happen.

She began watching Ron's eyes as they followed something. Whatever Draco was doing, she would do her best not to ruin it. Her excitement had to be evident, though, so she hoped Draco would hurry before anyone caught her. Just as that thought hit her, a hand reached around and placed a large bag full of glittery paper and who knows what else in front of her.

"Happy Birthday, Hermione!" Draco said rather quietly. He obviously wasn't interested in having anyone who wasn't already watching look over and stare at them.

She raised her eyebrows as she turned to face him. "What-?"

"You didn't think I'd forget did you? The 17th!" He smiled. "Mind if I sit here?" He asked Neville, who apparently couldn't find anything to say, and moved over. Draco swung a leg over the bench so he sat facing her. Lucky for Hermione, however, he wasn't incredibly close. Otherwise he might have noticed what her reaction to his approach had been. She was still trying to calm her heartrate and was failing miserably.

"You didn't have to-" She began.

"I wanted to say sorry." He supplied. "There's a note in the top that you should read first." He gestured to the bag.

"Here?" She mouthed to him silently. He just nodded with a small half-smile.

Not sure if the note would actually be anything of substance, rather than just a show, she decided to read it to herself. It was most definitely not a show, unless he wanted to see her reaction. The note detailed how sorry he was about everything he'd done, and how Blaise had reacted. He also noted how glad he was that they were getting along. She couldn't tell if he meant as real friends, or as plotting partners. But either way, it was very touching. She put the note back in the bag, not wanting prying eyes like Ginny to go after it. Especially not Ron or Harry.

Hermione looked at Draco who was grinning. He had obviously known she would be a little emotional. She grinned at him and squeezed his arm before reaching for the bag. She pulled out the top papers and looked down into the bag.

"Merlin.." She whispered, eyes wide. She glanced at him, surprised, and he just nodded at the bag once more. Reaching down, she pulled out several miniature-sized books, which she wasn't quite sure what to do with. She stared at them before turning to Draco in confusion. He began unfolding the books and they grew to their normal size. Hermione gaped at him and he laughed – actually laughed, in the presence of Gryffindors.

"I can teach you the spell." He winked, folding the book back up and stacking them next to the bag. "Keep going."

She gave him an awed look before reaching down and pulling out a few beautifully colored quills, as well as a journal with gold-edged pages. Smiling, she set them next to the books after examining them. The last thing in her bag was a small, rectangular box. She lifted it out, but before she could open it, Draco reached for it, and did so for her. He presented it to her, and she gasped at what was inside. A necklace with what she guessed was a real ruby, but hoped wasn't (for, how expensive must that have been?), next to a diamond, and what she really hoped wasn't a real emerald. How insanely beautiful..

"Draco.." She whispered, staring at him.

He stood and pulled the necklace out of the box before standing behind her. He began, under the guise of putting the necklace on her, leaning down to whisper in her ear. "Too much?" He chuckled, knowing no-one else could hear. "I figured it would freak the Gryffindors out considering what it could imply. But besides that, I know you don't hate the color green. Otherwise, why ask a Slytherin for help?" He teased. As he drew back, Hermione laughed and stood to face him.

"Thank you." She murmured. "You're the only one who remembered."

He gave a slight frown before shrugging slightly. This just made her shrug in return as she stepped over the bench, ending up far closer to him than she expected. Almost wishing he'd taken a step back, she smiled up at him, before hugging him around his middle.

For once, Draco was thanking Merlin for Hermione's hair. The Gryffindors couldn't see his grin as he leaned down to kiss her cheek. He could tell the kiss was also hidden from their sight as no-one reacted to it. Except for Hermione, that is. She gasped lightly, which he could feel against the material of his shirt. He released her and stepped back.

"Have a good birthday, Hermione." He winked, then headed out of the Great Hall – probably to avoid his sarcastic Slytherin housemates.

"It's your birthday...?" Ron asked suddenly, being the first to speak after what had just happened.