Guess who...

I'm back. Wow. This chapter literally came out of nowhere. I wrote it a while ago and just realized it was a fairly decent length and a good ending place for a chapter! I wanted to update for you guys so you know that I will be finishing this story!

Ahem, JRK OWNS....

Chapter Twelve

Let the Games Begin

"And so," the tour guide continued, "the majority of original magical works were, and still are, stored here. It was a means of protection against muggle-folk discovering our world. Are there any questions?"

The first day of the trip was only half over. The morning stop was Augusta's Library, an ancient storage site for magical works of literature.

"The library was build in 1523 B.C. by Sole Augusta, who donated many ancient scrolls and was the proprietor until his death in 1401 B.C…"

The tour guide droned on. The majority of the students wanted to get to lunch and their two hour period of free time Hermione heard Ginny stifle a yawn at her side; and Luna's head seemed to be even further into the clouds than normal.

Hermione looked around cautiously before raising her hand, ever so slightly, for what seemed like the eightieth time. The guide saw it coming and was hesitant, but nodded to her anyways. "Yes, your question?" The group all turned their eyes to her, and she ignored them.

"Surely there were spells and charms to keep muggles from stumbling upon the place? It's a fairly large establishment."

The tour guide nodded, "This is true. Although we aren't sure which ones, many are out of use. Also, muggles weren't as likely to be in this area. It was, and remains, a predominantly magical community."

Hermione nodded and wished she had something to take notes with.

"Any more questions before we're through? No? Good. Your professors will escort you back to the villa for lunch."

The walk back to the villa was a distance. And the villa itself, as the students found when they arrived the afternoon before, was rustic, and allowed each student their own spacious room, which connected to one neighbor.

Hermione's decision to connect with Ginny was an easy one. They got along, and when they didn't, she could easily shut the bathroom door. That day, Hermione returned first and tossed her bag on her bed before kicking off her shoes momentarily.

There was a knock at the open door just as she moved toward the window. Crossing her arms, she turned back to the door again.

"All worn out?"

She smiled slightly, "A little…"

Malfoy…surprise. And a surprise to them both that they were still being civil. After she had taken care of him and he awoke, he didn't remember anything that had happened on the airplane, or immediately after. She decided to keep him in the dark. But it seemed that he thought they had somewhat reconciled.

"All those questions…certainly can wear a person down," he said in a slightly bitter tone.

"Well, it's a genuine interest. Perhaps you should give it a try," Hermione said, annoyed now. "The only reason you're here is to slack off and get out of regular classes. You should have known there would be some kind of work involved."

He looked offended and nodded, "And to discover the…secrets of Italy's magical history and…well, you know…natural…" He was at a loss for excuses. She was exactly right.

"Mmhmm, I'm sure."

"Well, even if you were right. It's not for the reasons you think." Malfoy paused, and left the subject. "So you going to make me stand in the doorway all day? Isn't it polite to invite a guest in?"

Hermione rolled her eyes, "Fine, come in," she said as she moved to empty her bag. He was quickly becoming the biggest nuisance at the villa. Even more than Adele.

"So about that plane ride yesterday…" Malfoy began, stepping over the threshold.

"What about it?" Hermione said tersely.

"The guys told me what happened…I was…"

"An embarrassment? A burden? Annoying, arrogant, steps away from me throwing you out the window?" Hermione fumed, her voice rising, and one more item being tossed out of her back with every inflection of her voice.

"I was going to say piss drunk, but I suppose that would have been stating the obvious."

"To say the least." Hermione put her now empty bag under her bed and stepped around it, facing Malfoy. He was seated on the edge of a leather chair, leaning with his elbows in his knees. Hermione looked at him and then looked off sadly.

"Hey…" Malfoy whispered.

"Hermione!" Ginny was in the connector doorway. "You coming down for lunch?" She paid no mind to Malfoy.

Hermione looked to Ginny quickly. "Yeah, I'll be right down."

"But feel free to start without her. I know it could be one of your last decent meals seeing as school ends soon." Malfoy glanced up without a care.

"Just go, Ginny. I'll be right there." Hermione said quietly. Ginny had ignored Malfoy's comment and left.

"That was completely uncalled for!" Hermione said, closing the connector door.

"It's not polite to interrupt a conversation," Malfoy said with a shrug.

"We weren't even speaking, Malfoy!"
"…Yet! I had a very productive conversation going-"

"In your head? Fine, you have that conversation elsewhere. I'm going to lunch."

She made to exit and held open the door. Malfoy stood up and across from her just inside the door. "You're being ridiculous." He said with a groan.

"I'm ridiculous? You've taken a trip back to third year and gone and insulted my friend unnecessarily. Grow up, Malfoy. Stop playing games."

"I'll stop playing games when you admit what you told Potter was a lie." His face was serious, etched and frozen in a look of frustration, and his eyes sparked. "And I don't even care if you admit it to me. Just do yourself a favor and stop pretending."

Hermione was holding her breath. Breathing could have been disastrous. So he did remember something from the plane ride. She stared him blankly in the eye. "That, is ridiculous," she whispered. "Leave." She backed up and opened the doorway more. The distance between them was opened, she could breathe now.

He left without a word, and Hermione slumped against the door. She looked back into the empty room, just momentarily before remembering Ginny was waiting for her.

Right foot, left food, close door.

She willed herself to move and eventually found herself at the base of the stairs.

"So…" Ginny was waiting at the bottom of the stairs.

Hermione looked at her, a strange sensation filling her eyes. "What?" She said unconvincingly.

"Hermione, I'm not stupid. And I'm pretty sure that that insult, as charming as it was, was just to get me to go away."

Hermione led the way through the sitting area and out the double doors. Ginny was a quick pace behind her.

"You can't just walk away!" She put a hand on the door to keep it from opening.

"It was a conversation."

"Which is why you threw him out? Because it was nothing?" Ginny inquired, taking her hand off the door. She had confidence that Hermione wouldn't leave. She always confronted her problems.

"It's over, Ginny. Way, way over." Hermione smiled, a little too sweetly. "Come on," she pulled the door open and exited. "I'm starved."

That evening, the students had a rare chance for free time, within the grounds of the villa. Dinner was served for them at 7:30, during a beautiful twilight in the courtyard gardens.

Each bedroom had it's own balcony, with a spiral staircase leading down to the courtyard, where a large table was set with new China and glassware. Vines grew lush and green up the walls of the courtyard, and flowers were in bloom. The sight would have normally been perfect to an exhausted Hermione, who was in desperate need of relaxation. But something was missing.

She stepped out onto her balcony in a yellow floral sundress, just as some of the others were coming out of their own rooms. Halfway down her balcony stairs, an owl came swooping into her way, a package in its beak.

Surprised, she took the package hastily and opened it. It's contents was an advances copy of the next morning's Prophet. Hermione's first reaction was completely blank. Her eyes crossed the headline. The next feeling was doubt. She wondered if it was true, or a cruel trick. Then she felt…relief. A sweet, calm, soaring sensation that made her know that it was real. At last, the world knew what she did. Voldemort was dead, overthrown, and the second war had come to an end.

Ginny came down her own steps and met Hermione, who folded the paper. Nobody else could know until tomorrow. One more night of fear for them. But then, the happiness would be overwhelmingly beautiful.

"What's that?" Ginny asked from the bottom of the steps.

"Nothing," Hermione said quickly. "Just from my parents." A quick charm sent the paper up to her room and safely under the mattress.

Ginny smiled and went to find a seat at the table. One table. Because they could all get a long perfectly and not have one cross world, gesture or eye roll for a whole evening.

With a sigh, Hermione followed and sat down between Neville and Luna, across from Ginny. Further down the table, Colin Creevy shook out of fright as Malfoy sat next to him, only to be near his own housemates.

Hermione suddenly felt bad for being rude earlier as he looked her way. She knew it was him who sent her the paper. Undoubtedly, it was a furtive move. And even surer Hermione was, it was an attempt to show her up. Give her the old 'I told you so'. No better way to fuel her blood.

Dinner was served by house elves, course after course, to Hermione's anger. The sun set and candles outlined each balcony, setting a hazy glow about he courtyard. The moon was full and low, splashing light through the shadows of the trees.

Everyone was full and that sleepy, happy feeling washed over them. Conversation had come to a lull, and birds were singing their final songs of the evening.

"I think I'll take a walk," Hermione said around nine, as a few people moved to go back to their rooms.

The rest of the Gryffindors had already retreated, and Adele ran off somewhere with Blaise. Hermione found a secluded park bench, hidden away by shrubbery.

Exhaustion had overwhelmed her and she found herself laying on her side on the bench, faeries mesmerizing her into a state which brought her back to dinner.

She has been watching him. Only discretely, out of the corner of her eye. Every moment, stretch, crease in his neck when he turned his head, got her attention. She felt as if he was almost doing it on purpose. He was taunting her, keeping her from reality. He had everything wrong. And she wasn't supposed to think these things. Any shred of reason was gone now. Not even Harry could pull her back to earth, as he wasn't around.

Yet, she was still furious. A small part held a large grudge. A few minutes of companionship couldn't erase year of humiliation and hate.

She adjusted on the bench and took a longer look around. Some time must have passed; the moon was a bit higher in the sky, and the only sounds she could hear was the small amount of wind through the trees. And then something that sounded like footsteps, closer and closer until they stopped just behind the bench. Hermione didn't need to turn around. She was used to this.

"You have such a way of coming easily to me."

She could hear him smirk. "A bit more cryptic, if you will?"

"I only mean that…I'm just so angry with you. And you wont let it alone, or let me be angry."

Malfoy leaned on the back of the bench, his head closer to her. "What are you so afraid of?"

Hermione paused, looking straight ahead. She didn't know how to use words anymore, which was very out of character.

"A few months ago I told Ginny that…this…you…well it was because you didn't know me. And now…I'm not so sure."

Malfoy rounded the bench slowly and sat down next to Hermione. She looked down and closed her eyes.

"You love this game, don't you?" She said as she faced him again.

"I'm a star player, haven't you noticed?"

He came nearer; Hermione flinched unusually and moved away. "I've already told you that I don't like games, your games…when will you learn to listen to people?"

Malfoy sat up and sighed. "Tell the truth now."

"That is the truth!" Hermione said, standing up and turning away again.

"Well then, forgive me for not believing you after everything that's happened!"

"Oh, don't act all proud and mighty now!" Hermione turned back in a rage. "Don't you pretend that everything can be washed away because your father's dead and Voldemort's dead and you pulled that newspaper stunt! Your passed can not be erased simply because you kissed a mudblood."

"And made her feel?" Malfoy was hardly touched by her screams and he stepped closer.

"What?" There was only so far she could back up before reaching the hedge. Her breathing hitched, becoming rapid and nervous.

"She can't possibly pretend that she hasn't felt more than ever. More than a quidditch player or a certain Weasel could allow, just because she kissed a Slytherin." He respected her space a bit, allowing a foot or so between them.

"Was she kissing a death eater as well?" Hermione said through clenched teeth, trying to reign in the urge to touch him and close the foot gap between them.

"That's beside the point."

"I disagree."

"What does it even matter? His eyes narrowed, still in contact with hers.

"It matters everything!" Neither cared if anyone was still around, though most had gone inside. Hermione could see the moon shining over his shoulder, casting an angelic halo of light behind his head. "I really need to know-!"

"Then yes! Alright? Yes, yes, yes!" Malfoy flew away with angry steps. "I was a servant of the Dark Lord! Is that what you need to hear? Can you sleep soundly now? Knowing that the person you've been closest to at times had been able to kill you, and would have normally? Are you satisfied with that?"

Hermione's face and mind were blank once again. She shook her head in an attempt to get it working again. It took a moment for her to wrap around just what the words mean. For a brief second, all their time flashed before her eyes. She had suspected it, of course, even believed it fully at times. But now, to have confirmation, to hear the words…was defeating.

"Thank you," she whispered, nearly inaudibly. "I have to go." She blinked a few times and turned away, beginning to make her way out. Malfoy grabbed her arm.

"Don't."

"I wont say anything," She whispered.

And, as much as it pained him to do so, Malfoy let Hermione go, once again.

Y/N? Questions, comments, annoyances? Review.