A/N: Your kind reviews keep me so motivated, thank you! We're getting there guys and gals, I swear.


Hermione's eyes fluttered open, a light groan escaping as she attempted to sit up. As her vision focused, she finally noticed Dean leaning over her, a hand resting on her shoulder. "Dean? How did you get into the girl's dormitories?"

Chuckling, he straightened and strolled past her while removing his scarf. "If only I was that skilled. You're in the common room, Hermione."

Shrugging off the grogginess of her nap, she sat up properly and planted her feet on the floor, taking in the sight of the empty common room. She'd clearly fallen asleep on the sofa in front of the fire, the book she'd been reading in a heap on the floor beside her foot. Grabbing it, she watched as Dean peeled off his coat and took a seat in the armchair next to her. "What time is it?"

"Just after one."

She stared at him incredulously, turning to observe the sheer black view outside the window. "Where have you been?"

"Out."

"Doing what?"

Shooting her a smirk, he chuckled again. "Wouldn't you like to know?" He nodded in her direction as she attempted to smooth down the crumpled corners of her book. "What might you be doing down here anyway?"

"I couldn't sleep. Or rather, I didn't think I could." She laughed as he raised an eyebrow at her pointedly. "Malfoy and I talked tonight and I couldn't stop myself rehashing the whole thing."

"You're worried about at him." At her weak smile, he nodded and continued. "Theo is too."

"How do you know?"

"It's quite obvious, he seems to hover in his general vicinity as if at any moment Malfoy's going to crumble into a miserable heap."

"Malfoy's not weak." She rushed out, earning a confused look from her companion.

"I never insinuated such. Theo's just very protective and evidently so are you."

Hermione sighed deeply, settling back into the warmth of the large couch cushions. "Everyone's so quick to judge and call him a coward."

"You think I'm one of them?"

Her head tipped to the side to meet his gaze, sensing his slight offence. "No, course not. I guess I just feel a bit guilty, knowing I was probably one of them."

"Hermione, he was awful to you for years, I think you had plenty of reason to feel that way."

She hummed softly in agreement. It was exactly what Ginny had said to her too and yet now when she looked at Malfoy, she saw someone completely different. The hardest part was deciding whether or not he'd secretly been that person all along. It felt bizarre to like someone when deep down she knew he was capable of being the opposite, cruel and prejudiced. Draco had sworn to her he regretted calling her a Mudblood on all those occasions but she couldn't shake the belief that he'd meant it at the time. Was it enough to accept a person can change and forget their history? Hermione wanted it to be that easy because she was fast becoming addicted to this new and better version of the Slytherin.

"I think we're more alike than I was willing to let myself believe and I was prepared to hate him because of Harry and Ron."

"You forgave Ron and he was pretty damn rude to you at the start of school."

"Exactly." She pulled herself forward to rest her elbows on her knees, her gaze on the dancing flames. "Malfoy was raised to despise people like me, he did precisely what was expected of him and I rose to all the taunts he threw at me. I used to take everything to heart, especially what he said. He was such a snarky git but I never asked why, I just followed Harry's example. He was a Slytherin and I was a Gryffindor, he was a pure-blood and I was a muggleborn. It seemed easier to stick to tradition than question why the two of us were at such odds when our personalities are actually quite similar."

Dean listened with concentration then broke out into a grin when she'd finished, causing her unbelievable confusion. "You've been going around in circles all night, haven't you?"

Groaning, she flopped onto her side. "I like him, Dean. We're sort of friends. I want to be there for him and yet Ginny calls me crazy."

"I don't think you're guilty of being crazy, caring about someone isn't the worst thing you could do. He's changed, like you said. In my opinion, you should judge him on who he is now. He's expressed resentment for his previous behaviour and he's made an effort in your partnership. I'm not an expert, but it certainly seems like he reciprocates your feelings."

"You're such a fountain of wisdom." Hermione grinned, the boy instantly returning the gesture.

After a moment, his smile subsided. "Hold on a second. When you say you 'like' him, I took that to mean in a friendly way but are we talking about something else here?"

Hermione's amusement instantly dissipated and she clamped her mouth shut. What had she meant? If she was being wholly honest with herself, she did feel glimpses of something a lot stronger than friendship. She couldn't stop a smile forming whenever he laughed and how relaxed and inviting it made him seem. The way his hand had gently held her own, soft and comforting like an anchor keeping her grounded, chasing away the memories than still crept into her mind. Her eyes couldn't resist sneaking a glance whenever he passed by in his quidditch uniform. Malfoy gave the illusion of being all hard lines, dark and dangerous but deep in the library at their table under the soft lighting he was anything but. He'd called her 'brilliant' and her stomach fluttered in a way she hadn't experienced in a long time, nothing like when anyone else uttered the same word. Hermione referred to him more as Draco rather than Malfoy these days and she hadn't even noticed. Long gone were days when she'd scathingly hiss his last name in anger, his first name appeared to fit her companion more elegantly. They'd confided in each other, they complimented one another and she felt just as relaxed in his company as her other friends. Hermione couldn't even deny the way her skin heated under his touch or prickled when he looked at her.

"Oh my god." Dean immediately dissolved into a fit of hysterics, clutching at his side as Hermione sat wide eyed in shock. "I think I have a crush on Draco Malfoy."

Finally wrestling his amusement into submission, the Gryffindor boy leaned forward to pat her knee affectionately. "It's about time you figured it out."


"Malfoy!" The Slytherin boy stopped walking and turned at the call of his name. Spotting Hermione's approach, Draco glanced back the way he was headed to see Theo had drawn ahead and out of earshot.

"Something wrong, Granger? You look tense." He asked as she finally came to halt in front of him. It wasn't meant to sound negative but he observed her shift uncomfortably under his gaze regardless. Hermione couldn't believe the effect of admitting her feelings about him since last night created, she felt nervous in such close proximity to him. She put it down to more important things like her current topic of discussion but she couldn't use that excuse forever.

"I don't know if it's fair to ask or rather, it's an offer I suppose. I couldn't stop thinking about it actually, like all night in fact, and I felt like I at least needed to suggest it to you." He remained silent, watching her curiously with an air of amusement at her flustered rambling. She took a deep breath. "You can say no, of course, I won't be offended. I mean it's totally up to you but I mean I want to help, you know. So, if you want someone to go with you to the Manor, when the healers come, I would come. I mean, I'd go with you, if you wanted."

Shell shocked was definitely an accurate description of how he felt. Draco hadn't considered for a moment that she'd be caught up on what they'd spoken about the previous day. He'd certainly divulged enough to her and Hermione had offered him more than just helpful advice but he hadn't contemplated that she'd take it so to heart. "Why though? You barely know her."

"I know but like I said, I understand. Better than most everyone else. I don't want to jump to conclusions but I don't think you've really told anyone besides Theo and you could probably use some moral support." Although sure of her suggestion, Hermione wavered for a second, eyes casting downward. "I am aware I must be one of her least favourite people though so if you think I'd be more of a hindrance than a help, feel free to say so."

"I don't want you to feel obliged to do this; the Manor must hold some dreadful memories." He admitted, shifting his weight. It hardly held any positive experiences for himself; he couldn't imagine having only the memory of being tortured by his insane aunt on the drawing room floor. If Hermione was really prepared to face that kind of fear for him, Draco knew he had to take her offer sincerely.

Shaking her head firmly, she remained resolute, brown eyes staring into grey. "I'm happy to do this. Please."

"I'd like that." Was his honest reply, Draco opening his mouth to say more before being interrupted.

"Draco!" He twisted to see Theo jerking his head at the other students filing in to the classroom behind him.

"We'll talk more later, meet me on the tower tonight?" Hermione nodded instantly, smile sliding onto her face. "Thanks Granger." He squeezed her shoulder appreciatively before retreating into the class behind Theo.

Hermione smiled softly, seeing him disappear into Charms. She felt warm from his touch and she huffed out a sigh, thinking about how worried she'd been to talk to him. Letting out an odd sort of giggle, thrilled he'd accepted her offer, she set off back for the Gryffindor tower.