DISCLAIMER: I don't own Harry Potter, nor am I affiliated in any way with J.K. Rowling.

A/N: Sorry about the age it took to update, there's been some problems with the site. Either that, or there's just been problems for my computer and everyone else's has been fine...either way, enjoy! :)

"…Which is when Hagrid told us that her name is Bertha and that he's in love with her!" Ron finished, dramatically waving his arms about. "Me and Harry are just sat there, flummoxed."

"Flummoxed," Harry agreed, mock-solemnly when Hermione glanced at him for his version of events.

"Well, I mean, what are you supposed to say when someone says they've fallen in love with their pen-pal?" Ron went on, rolling his eyes. "Other than what Harry asked, which was 'have you seen her picture?'"

"You asked if she'd seen his, that's much more offensive!" Harry retaliated, leaving Hermione laughing.

"Ron, tell me you didn't," she half-begged for the sake of Hagrid's dignity.

"It was a valid question," Ron muttered. "We should be going down to dinner now."

"Should we, or do you just want to change the topic?" Hermione teased.

She had been in a much better mood since returning from her walk with Draco. While the air was still not completely clear between them, only wisps of fog remained. Those could be shooed away easily once Hermione asked a few simple questions. Now that she and Draco were a team again, the Zella/Trayton situation could be sorted out a lot easier and they'd…well, chances are they'd still remain friendly. Which was really all Hermione could expect. Nothing more than friends. Even though she may want more. Just friends. Which was fine. Really.

When I fail to convince even myself, it's a bad sign, Hermione thought with an inwards sigh, watching Harry and Ron exchange playful banter concerning Hagrid's love life.

When dinner was over and done with a couple of hours later, Hermione had to stop herself from racing to the library. She was looking forward to sitting at her usual table with her usual companion talking about unusual things. It had gotten her through the last two lessons of the day, double Ancient Runes.

When she stepped around the bookcase to their table, she saw that Draco was already there, reading.

"That's not 'Little Women' is it?"

Draco glanced up, smiled and closed the book.

"You know, I bare my soul and this is what I get in return," he complained mildly. "Next time I'll just keep quiet."

"I think that would be for the best," Hermione laughed, taking her seat opposite. "What were you reading?"

"I'm not entirely sure," Draco replied, reading the front cover. "I wanted to look into the secret societies of Hogwarts again, but I think I may have the wrong book."

"What makes you say that?"

"It's only got the extra-curricular things," Draco answered, flipping through the book scathingly. "Wizard chess club, past productions of plays and/or musicals, magic embroidery…I mean, magic embroidery?Come on, that's a waste of time if even I heard one. You'd just sit there watching needles move with string."

"Yes, because embroidery is done with string," Hermione sighed. "Or should I be glad that you don't know how to embroider?"

"You should be glad," Draco repeated, closing the book again. He nodded to it and shrugged. "Of course, I didn't get it from the restricted section so I suppose there was never going to be anything good in it."

"Why don't you ask Trayton?" Hermione asked, unable to keep the sharp edge from entering her voice.

"He's angry at me right now," Draco explained uncomfortably after a moment. Hermione raised her eyebrows at him and he continued. "I was annoyed that you weren't talking to me and I basically took it out on him."

"And when you say 'took it out'…"

"I mean that I told him Zella would never forgive him for killing her and then kind of taunted him a little."

"Draco," Hermione frowned disapprovingly.

"I know, but I was really upset," Draco feebly explained. "When I see him next, I'll apologize."

"Let's not go crazy," Hermione muttered. "Although there are a few things I want to ask him. I mean, is it possible that he was being controlled or blackmailed or…or something?"

"He must've known if he'd been under the Imperius Curse with all these years to figure it out," Draco answered with a shake of his head. "And he definitely would've mentioned if he was being blackmailed into it. He didn't say much about why he did it."

"And you didn't think to ask?" Hermione asked in disbelief.

"He was really traumatised," Draco shrugged. "Although he told me that 'they said it would be okay' a bunch of times."

"Sounds to me like someone talked him into it," Hermione mused, before scowling. "But how can you ever be talked into murdering the person you love the most?"

"I don't know," Draco sighed. "Maybe the Sons of Slytherin were really influential?"

"My argument still stands."

"I know, and I don't have an answer for you."

"We don't even know that it was the Sons - they're the most likely, of course," she added hurriedly at Draco's look. "But there were plenty of people who hated Zella and Trayton being together. Like Fin."

"He doesn't strike me as being manipulative what I've heard of him."

"But what you've heard of him was from Trayton, meaning that the information given was biased," Hermione mused. She glanced up to see Draco smiling slightly. "What?"

"You approach every problem from an academic perspective," he explained. "It's smart, don't get me wrong, but not everything can be solved by logic."

"What can't be solved by logic?" Hermione asked, naively.

"The heart," Draco answered simply. He was in dangerous territory if he wanted to remain in denial about his growing feelings for a certain someone. "Emotions. Love, hate, jealousy…acquaintanceship."

"I thought we were more than that," Hermione said with a playful smile.

"I hope we are." He paused and, before logic could enter into the equation, he began to speak again. "Do you think it's still wrong for a Gryffindor and a Slytherin to be together?"

"No," Hermione replied. Then she noted the serious expression on his face. "Oh."

"Oh?" Draco repeated, his heart beating faster.

"Oh," Hermione answered with a nod. She paused thoughtfully. "I don't think it's wrong for them to be together. Not if they like each other."

"But they're rival houses. They're supposed to hate each other."

"They're supposed to, yes, but try telling the heart that."

Both pairs of eyes were firmly fixed at the table below them at this point.

"And if their friends don't approve?"

"Then one will be coerced into murdering the other and live out the rest of their lives miserably."

Draco frowned and glanced back up.

"I'm being serious," he told her, annoyed.

"I think that if anyone wants to be together badly enough, they'll find a way," Hermione told him, also looking up. "But maybe we shouldn't complicate things when we're supposed to be solving a murder."

"Who said I was talking about us?" Draco asked with a grin as he leant back in his chair. His confidence had returned now that he knew he had a chance. "I was speaking in general."

"Sure you were," Hermione muttered, although she couldn't resist throwing him a quick smile.

"You know what I think, Harry?" Ron asked as he lounged about in the common room.

"I'm not sure I want to," Harry answered, checking over his latest piece of homework.

Ron ignored him.

"I think Malfoy likes Hermione," he continued. "I mean, look at the facts. He trekked through the snow, ignored my shovel threat and faced pneumonia-contracting weather justto speak to her even when he knew that she was mad at him."

"And you wouldn't do any of that for a friend?" Harry asked, setting down the parchment.

"Would I hell."

"Thanks," Harry commented dryly. "But Malfoy has more sense than that. He knows that if he went after Hermione then Hermione would be upset and he'd have us to answer to."

"When's Malfoy ever had any sense at all, though?" Ron asked, frowning. "And they're together right now, doing Merlin knows what. I think we should interrupt them."

"Ron, they're in a library."

"A secluded part of the library!"

"They're surrounded by people, he won't try anything."

"The thing that bothers me is that she hasn't told him where to go yet," Ron admitted after a few moments of silence.

"She's too polite for that," Harry shrugged, although secretly it had been bothering him as well.

"Harry, she's already punched him in the face, politeness doesn't enter into the equation."

"Maybe she just feels like talking to someone who - yeah, we should interrupt."

The boys quickly stood up, scooped up their bags and were out of the common room before anyone could stop them.

"Has Zella come to you recently?" Draco asked, beginning a new topic.

"No," Hermione answered with a sigh. "I'm worried about her."

"Not to sound harsh, but she can't exactly hurt herself can she?"

"I know, but I bet it's tearing her up inside."

"And still no luck taking the necklace off?"

"None whatsoever. It'd be annoying if it wasn't so pretty."

"I never pegged you as a material girl," Draco teased.

"I never pegged you as someone to cry at-"

"Don't even say it," Draco cut across, holding up a hand. "I'm going to regret telling you that for the rest of my life."

"It does seem that way, doesn't it?" Hermione smiled. "Though that's the price of trust, I'm afraid."

"I suppose the years of humiliation will all be worth it then," he answered sarcastically.

"Definitely. So, what should we do about Zella and Trayton?" Hermione asked, getting back to the subject at hand.

"Well, I would suggest sitting back and seeing how it all works out, but we've already tried that." He sighed contemplatively. "Maybe we should try and contact Zella outside of your dreams?"

"It'd be easier to talk to Trayton, who's actually on the same plane as us," Hermione frowned. "You might have to swallow your pride and call him."

"Only if you're then when I do."

"Deal."

Harry and Ron chose that moment to come skidding around the bookcase and come to an almost screeching halt in front of Hermione and Draco.

"Harry…Ron…" Hermione said slowly, glaring suspiciously at them. "What are you doing?"

"Looking for you," Ron answered, trying to regain control of his breathing. "Do you mind if we join you?"

"Yes," Draco answered shortly.

"Draco," Hermione warned.

"Lucky for us I'm not asking you, ferret," Ron snapped back.

"Ron!" Hermione scowled. She glanced at Harry but was surprised to see that he was furrowing his brow at her. "Harry?"

"If you want to stop role-call for just a moment, Hermione, we can see what they want," Draco said, glaring at Ron, who promptly sat down next to Hermione in revenge.

"You doing homework?" he asked Hermione, pulling out his own half-completed essay. Harry sat down and did the same.

"No," Hermione answered, glancing at Draco apologetically. "We're just talking about Zella."

"Oh, and how she was mutilated by his ancestor, yeah," Ron nodded at Draco, as if he were recalling some long-forgotten information.

"Do you want to help or do you want to sit there sniping?" Hermione snapped, losing her patience.

"We can't do both?" Harry asked quietly.

"No."

"Alright."

An awkward silence descended. Hermione glanced around the table. Draco and Ron were sulking and Harry was keeping his non-moving eyes fixed to the parchment in front of him.

"So, Malfoy, how's the Death Eating family going?" Ron asked casually after a few minutes.

"Oh my God," Hermione muttered, picking up her bag. "If you can't be civil to one another then I'm not sitting here wasting my time."

She stalked out angrily, leaving an incredibly tense atmosphere behind.

"See what you made her do?" Draco snarled, gesturing at Hermione's rapidly retreating form.

"Us?" Harry repeated, slamming down his parchment. "What about you? Why are you always hanging around her? She doesn't want you to."

"Have you asked her that recently?" Draco replied smugly. He leant back in his chair and smirked. "Because last time I checked, she definitely does."

"Will she want to be with you when you have no face?" Ron spat, withdrawing his wand and brandishing it in Draco's face.

Draco considered retorted with 'no face is better than your face' but ultimately decided against it.

"Listen up, Weasel," he settled for instead. Ron pocketed his wand again, although kept one hand on it just in case. "Hermione likes spending time with the both of you. She also likes spending time with me. Probably for very different reasons-"

"Don't even go there," Harry warned darkly. "Once Zella's sorted out, she'll stay away from you."

"Again, have you asked her about that recently?" Draco shot back before continuing. "It's in her best interests that we get along. At least for now."

"It's in her best interests that you're not in her life at all," Ron corrected. "So 'no' would be the answer to that."

Draco leant forward determinedly, placing his hands on the table.

"You know me," he told them both. "Do you really think I'd be spending my time with someone I've been brought up to believe inferior if she didn't mean anything to me?"

"She can't mean anything to you," Harry snarled.

"Why?" Draco demanded. "What's so wrong with us being together?"

There was murder in the Gryffindor boys' eyes.

"Ask that question again and I'll hit you," Ron promised. "We're going to do you a favour and not tell Hermione what you just said."

"Afraid she'll ask the same thing?" Draco taunted.

"Come on Ron," Harry muttered, not able to take any more of this. "We'll go find Hermione."

Draco watched them go. He'd just admitted to the two people that hated him most that he had feelings for their best friend. Was he suicidal? Possibly. But it was the truth. And if Hermione hadn't gotten his (now that he looked back on it) kind of subtle message before, she would now.

She got the message before, Draco assured himself. Unless she thought I really was just speaking in general. Oh Merlin, what if she did? What if she thought I was kidding? Why didn't I just tell her?

He smacked his head down onto the table. A muffled 'ow' escaped his lips a couple of seconds later.

"Am I interrupting something?"

Draco lifted his head swiftly and turned to stare at the figure behind him.

"Trayton! I thought I'd never see you again."

"No need to be melodramatic, Draco," Trayton sniffed. "I just needed some time to calm down."

"Yeah…about that," Draco said, suddenly sheepish. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to take it out on you."

"It's in the past," Trayton dismissed.

"I'm back with Hermione, so things with you and Zella can get going again," Draco said, still feeling guilty.

"You're back with her?" Trayton repeated with a frown. "I wasn't aware you were together."

"Oh, well, we're not, but-"

"You wish you were?"

"I like her," was all Draco answered with.

"Do you think about her when she isn't around? Want to be the one to make her laugh? Feel the need to protect her from dangers that aren't a threat yet?" Trayton took Draco's silence as an answer. "Well then, you want to be together. Have you tried asking her if she feels the same?"

"Yes and no," Draco answered thoughtfully. "Mainly no."

"I believe the library is closing soon, we should be leaving," Trayton said with a glance between the bookshelves. "And you should try asking her outright. Or, if you prefer the more romantic option, try writing her a letter or a poem."

Draco laughed out loud as he gathered up his things.

"Yes, because I write poems to girls," he chuckled, shrugging his bag strap up his shoulder and leaving the comfortable library. "Was that how you, uh, wooed Zella?"

"Actually, I recited Shakespeare to her," Trayton smiled. "And other poetry so, before you scoff, it's actually quite a effective method."

They were out on the corridor in no time, discussing various tactics for attracting the opposite sex. Not paying attention properly, Draco didn't know if he'd slowed down or if Trayton had sped up, but a moment later his skin became ice cold and he felt as though he had been plunged into a lake in the North Pole. What was more, his vision flickered with the scene in front of him appearing closer and further away in rapid succession. He blinked twice, and it was over.

"Sorry," Trayton called as he continued gliding.

Draco stood, confused. He knew the effects of a ghost walking through the living, and altered vision definitely wasn't one of them.

"Are you coming?" Trayton called back.

"Yeah," Draco answered after a moment, frowning.

A/N:

Hello everyone, hope you enjoyed the latest chapter.

This last week has been so busy, with London and coursework and bleh. The plus side of a five hour coach journey to London (there and back, ugh) is that I got to think of quotes and stuff for 'Echo'. The negative side is that we had to watch High School Musical 3 on the way back. No offence to those who like it, but it's like one of the boys said: 'that should be a form of [swearword] torture'.

Thank you very much for your reviews, they motivated me and kept me smiling (:

Have a great week everyone!

- Momo