I do not own Harry Potter or make any money off this fic. All rights to J.K. Rowling and co.

An hour or two after Draco had left, Hermione heard a buzzing noise. She looked up from the book she was reading- all her belongings had been sorted and put away already- and glanced around her new quarters. Where was the noise coming from? It buzzed again, whatever it was, more insistently and she stood up, putting the book aside, and walked over to the door. There on the wall by the entry was a small box. It was a call box, she realized and she pressed the button on it. A magical call box. McGonagall had really thought of everything, hadn't she? Now Hermione could screen her visitors before they ever made it up the staircase. How nice. She turned her attention back to the box and spoke.

"Who is it?"

"Ginny," came her friend's voice. Hermione smiled and pressed the release button, allowing her friend to pass through the ward across the stairway's entrance. A moment later, there was a tentative knock on her door and she let the girl through- though she was quickly followed by her brother. Hermione frowned at him and looked back at Ginny.

"Ginny, what is this?"

The other girl rolled her eyes and shrugged. "He followed me. You don't have to let him in."

Hermione sighed and waved him through anyway. "You're here now," she muttered. Ron gave her a frown of his own and stalked into the room, taking a seat on the chaise Draco had vacated an hour before. They eyed one another stiffly before Ginny cleared her throat, drawing Hermione's attention away. She was sitting at the small table in the center.

"This is nice," she remarked. "Cozy. Do you like it? Did you have any trouble moving in?"

Hermione raised an eyebrow and took the seat across from her. "So you're here for gossip."

Ginny laughed. "No, I'm here to make sure you're alright. Ron is here for gossip and being a general twat."

Ron seemed to sulk a little at that, but he held his tongue for once. Hermione looked over at him before returning to Ginny.

"I'm alright. Draco was really nice about it, I guess…" Her voice trailed off and Ginny caught the hesitancy in her friend's tone.

"Something happened," she stated.

Ron bristled and jumped to his feet. "I'll kill him," he growled. "What did he do, Hermione? Just tell me and you won't have to deal with it anymore-"

"It's not like that, Ron!" Hermione exclaimed, standing as well. "Sit down, will you? Gods, why can't you just act like a normal, rational person for once? This is all very, very hard for me, you know!"

Ron sat.

"It's okay, Hermione- Ron didn't mean it," Ginny placated her friend, casting fiery glances at her brother. "I'm sure Malfoy didn't mean to upset you, either." She looked at her friend thoughtfully. "This can't be easy for him, either."

Hermione sat back down. "I know. It's just that we were talking and then he was reading my mind, all of a sudden. It was really uncomfortable. I mean, he may have just been trying to get to know me better, but we can't forget he's a Death Eater. He might also be using this situation to get information. I don't know him well enough to say yet. What do you think?" she asked, looking up at Ginny.

Ginny looked thoughtful for several seconds before responding. "Why don't you talk to him about it? He didn't perform the spell or anything, did he? How do you know it wasn't accidental? What you're going through right now may make you especially vulnerable to those sorts of accidents. And you have been getting closer to him…"

Hermione shifted in her seat and rested her head against the back. "But I'm not, really. It's frustrating, but with every three things he learns about me, I seem to learn only one about him. I don't know anything- not his favorite color, or food, or where he spent summers before coming to Hogwarts…or where he spends summers now. Yeah, he's always dragging me off to broom closets, but it's not like anything happens in them. Mostly he tells bad jokes and I blush a lot. I feel like we're twelve instead of sixteen."

Both girls had been ignoring Ron completely throughout the entire exchange, but he reminded them of his presence with a snort.

Ginny turned to look at him. "Oh, are you going to add something valuable to the conversation?"

"Yeah, I am," he responded, his ire rising. He looked over at Hermione, who was still pretending to ignore him and his face softened. "Hermione, that's what blokes do when they like a girl- embarrass them, try to make them blush. We do all the wrong things- never the things like send flowers or tell her she looks pretty. We're complete idiots."

"I'll say," added Ginny with a snort of her own.

Ron cast a glare at her and she smiled back. "Anyway, it sounds like Malfoy does like you. I think he's trying to get to know you better before he exposes himself. He's probably terrified of you, secretly. Of what you could do to him if you don't like him back."

Ginny watched her brother carefully as he finished. What a touching display of maturity. When had Ron learned to control himself and speak in whole sentences that way? He must really regret losing Hermione this way.

Hermione finally looked over at him and voiced Ginny's questions. "Why are you being so nice about this? I thought you hated this whole situation."

Ron looked away, his face turning a bright red. "I'm really, really sorry for what happened. For the way I treated you. And, uh, I think you deserve someone who can take care of you and our child. I can't do that right now. But I don't want you to think you've only got him to rely on, either." He looked up at her, his face determined. "We've been friends for a long time and I don't want anything- my stupidity, or even Malfoy- to get in the way of it. So even if you can't forgive me right now, I want to help. Besides, the kid's going to need uncle's right?"

Hermione stared at him quietly, blinking back the tears that had risen to her eyes. She brushed them away and then reached out a hand to Ron. He took it gladly.

"Thank you, Ron. Thanks so much. I really want us to stay friends, too."

Watching them, Ginny could tell that Hermione wasn't really over Ron yet. That was why she'd acquiesced so quickly. Her heart still ached for Ginny's older brother- and when he could have such heartfelt moments like this one, Ginny didn't blame her. But Ron…she knew he wanted to stay in Hermione's life, but what was this ploy? She didn't believe for a second that he intended to remain just friends with Hermione. If anything, he was probably betting that the ruse with Draco wouldn't last and then he could step in where he'd left off. Ginny narrowed her eyes. Over her dead body. Ron wasn't going to worm his way back into the space Hermione was keeping warm for him if she had anything to say about it.

"Harry really needs solidarity amongst his friends, too, doesn't he?" she spoke up, breaking the moment between the older students.

Hermione wiped at her eyes again, releasing Ron's hand. "You're completely right, Ginny. So, for Harry's sake, then- a truce?" she asked, looking to Ron.

Ron's face had turned red again and he looked ever so slightly uncomfortable. Ginny smiled smugly at him as he reluctantly answered.

"For Harry."

Draco didn't know where to turn. He'd thought about it all night, and the best he could come up with was that he should just go speak to Dumbledore, himself. He couldn't talk to Snape about switching sides- he had no idea where the man's loyalties lay. He couldn't talk to some other professor, because there was no telling who he could trust. Most people who saw his mark would run screaming in the opposite direction. And Hermione? He certainly couldn't go to her after his behavior last night. She'd never believe him. She'd probably just laugh in his face.

So, that left Dumbledore. What better person to go to than the one wizard your old boss was afraid of, the one you were, in fact, supposed to kill? After all, he couldn't try to work as a double agent if the head of the Order didn't know he wanted to work as a spy. Besides, he was fairly certain that Snape had already spilled the beans to the old man anyway, so what did he have to lose?

His life.

His family's life.

Other than that, there was nothing. He smiled grimly and reached for his towel. Well, now that he had that sorted out, it was time to get up and face the day.

Snape was in the headmaster's office, waiting for the meeting with the Grangers to begin. He'd offered to stand in on Draco's behalf during the so-called parent-teacher conference. Draco would be able to speak for himself soon enough, anyhow- although from Dumbledore's story, it sounded as if he already had. The two of them were standing face to face in the office, waiting for the other parties to arrive.

Snape was trying very hard not to look furious while Dumbledore was smiling serenely at him.

"So he's decided to change sides and he came to you for help? And confessed everything?"

"Nearly everything, yes," Albus returned complacently. He held up his dish of candy. "Lemon drop?"

"Not now!" Severus snarled. "I find it very difficult to believe he would arrive at the conclusion to become a double agent without consulting me, or all on his own!"

"So you'll have one later?" the headmaster asked mildly before popping one of the said candies into his mouth.

Severus frowned and turned away, huffing his displeasure. Dumbledore eyed him a moment before taking a seat behind his own desk.

"Come now, Severus. Why do you find it so hard to believe of him? Didn't you do the same thing?"

Snape's expression softened and he nodded reluctantly. "But that's not the point-"

"The point is that he's on the verge of doing what we hoped he would. He doesn't trust you, which is understandable, and so he came to me. It makes a great deal of sense, actually. Furthermore, I am the one who can promise him safety. The only downside is that he will have to keep making attempts on my life throughout the year to try and convince Voldemort."

Snape frowned again. "This is exactly what I don't like about this idea- why not remove him and the Granger girl from school now, put him and his mother in hiding-"

"That won't do, Severus. You know how suspicious that would look. Things must continue as they are. I hope that your lessons with Miss Granger are going well, because she will have to know about his change of heart eventually. Not yet, but soon, I imagine. He will find it increasingly difficult to keep such things from her."

"What do you mean?" The younger man's face went more pale than normal. "Does he care for her, then? I can't get anything from him, though I suspected as much. Albus, this is very, very dangerous," he finished in a harsh whisper.

Dumbledore could only nod silently in agreement before he waved a hand to quiet the other man as Minerva entered the office with the Grangers in tow.

The muggle parents didn't look quite as out of place as Snape had expected them to, but they did look just as upset. Still, handshakes were exchanged as cordially as possible all around before they all sat to discuss the situation.

"Do you have any questions?" Albus asked them, smiling kindly.

The husband and wife exchanged a glance before the woman spoke. "I understand she's been moved to her own quarters. Is sufficiently safe for her to live on her own?"

"Perfectly safe," Minerva hastened to assure them. "I saw to her security myself. Full warding spells, along with a call box to identify visitors and she even has a proper key and deadbolt system. Our caretaker handled it and he is the height of propriety, I assure you."

Snape bit his tongue to keep from laughing. Filch? Propriety? Well, the man did have a stiff nose for trouble in the halls. Perhaps McGonagall wasn't so far off the mark. He sniffed and the father turned towards him.

"And you vouch for the young man, aside from his already distasteful behavior?" the man asked stiffly, outrage hovering somewhere behind his eyes. His wife poked him in the side.

"Dear, he did write us that lovely note, apologizing. And he comes from outstanding heritage, Hermione assured us."

Snape turned an eye on them. "I can assure you his intentions are good. And yes, his pedigree is superb."

"I don't care how much money he has or who his family is!" the father practically shouted. At his wife's insistent tugging on his sleeve, he seemed to calm down a bit. "I swear Hermione's mentioned his name before when she's home on holidays and it's never been associated with something good."

"Young women these days do seem to like the bad boys, darling," his wife replied softly.

"These days?" he returned, staring at her with a knowing glance. Both parties flushed and the professors seemed at a loss for words.

"His mother will be here any moment for a conference of her own, if you would like to speak with her," Albus finally suggested. Minerva looked at him with wide eyes. She hardly thought that was a good idea, but she also wasn't in on the secret that Snape had given her as much of the low down as he could without killing himself.

"I'll go fetch her," the DADA teacher murmured nicely before he swept from the room.

There was an uncomfortable silence for a moment before Mrs. Granger began to speak again. "Well, from what I understand, Hermione's mind is made up and she wants to stay in school. You've told us that it will come before a board…is there anything we can do to help?"

"I still think it would be better if she came home," grumbled Mr. Granger.

"Darling, you know there are elements at work here that we know nothing about. I'm sure the headmaster is right and it's safest for her here," his wife responded quietly. He grunted in return and Albus cut in smoothly.

"If you don't mind, you could write a letter explaining your family situation as muggles- I'm sure that would help them decide in her favor. After all, with two magical parents the likelihood that the child will be magical is great. And in such a case, it is best if she is kept somewhere close to our community, in case of complications," he finished, still smiling.

"Complications?" started Mr. Granger again, just when the door opened with Snape and Mrs. Malfoy.

Everyone stood, handshakes exchanged again and they situated themselves once more. The three parents seemed to be sizing one another up during the interim while Dumbledore made the introductions.

Narcissa eyed the Grangers as she carefully removed her hat and gloves, patting her coiffure to make sure it was in place. She addressed Hermione's father first.

"I think it only fair that you know I am as pleased about this as you are. No mother wants to hear that her son has been foolish enough to get a young girl pregnant. That said, Hermione seems like a delightful girl and her brains will be a good addition to our family. I don't know if he plans on asking her to marry him, but he has made it clear to me that he doesn't intend ot shirk his duty as a father." Her eyes narrowed a bit and Mr. Granger bristled a little.

"What do you mean about her brains and your family and all that rubbish? What is this, the Victorian era?"

Snape leaned forward. "Mr. Granger, magical abilities are a relatively rare gift in the world today. Wizarding families give blood and genes as much value as your scientists and geneticists do in the muggle world. It's not as distasteful to speak of in our world."

Minerva sniffed. "Speak for yourself," she muttered.

Albus raised his hands. "Now, now. I'm sure she doesn't mean to speak of your daughter as though she were a horse."

Narcissa made big, googly eyes at the couple and shook her head. "Oh goodness, no. I'm so sorry if I offended you. I only meant that she does well in school, seems to respect the world we live in- that was all. Any mother would want a decent young woman for her son, wouldn't she?" she asked, batting her eyes and appealing to both parents.

Mrs. Granger melted immediately. "Of course, I understand. And your son does seem to be doing the honorable thing. You must be very proud. Not many young men from our side of the pond would stick around, would they, dear?" she asked, nudging her husband. He grunted.

"Er, no, you're right about that, dear. Well, if there's anything else we can help with, please don't hesitate to tell us, Headmaster," he offered.

The meeting was over fairly quickly and then the Grangers found themselves being escorted to the medical wing, where they would meet up with their daughter.

Narcissa and Snape stayed behind to speak with the headmaster separately. Narcissa leveled a glance at Albus.

"Now, about my son," she growled. "What is this nonsense he's told me about switching sides?"

Snape gave a violent start and Dumbledore's eyes continued to twinkle. "Pardon me, Severus," he murmured. "Did I forget to mention that in addition to myself, he told one other person?"

Draco hummed on his way to the headmaster's office. The day had gone fairly well so far, although Hermione had been avoiding him (perfectly understandable, though he'd catch up with her later); and he was eager to speak his mother and the old man at the same time about his plans. He'd forgotten that he was able to trust one other person in all this. His mum would never, ever rat him out- of that he was quite certain.