Disclaimer: Nope. Still not mine.

A/N: And I'm back! I'll make this note very brief. I have a very important project to finish and I'm only posting this on one of my breaks.

Anyway, here's Draco's much awaited reaction to knowing Hermes Austen's secret! A lot of people actually got curious. Sorry about the cliffhanger, though. But Merlin, do get used to it already!

Haha, just read and review, okay? Enjoy!

Chapter Sixteen: Confrontations

Hermione instantly scanned the whole common room as soon as she stepped inside. A scowl adorned her face, annoyed that the person she wanted to see was nowhere to be found.

"Hermes!"

She turned around and saw the ever energetic Teddy Nott, Blaise in tow. Judging by the fact that they were wearing their Slytherin Quidditch uniforms and clutching their beloved broomsticks in their hands, they were practicing Quidditch just a while ago.

"Hey," she greeted. A frown gradually grew on her face upon seeing that her other blond roommate was not with them.

"Is something wrong?" Blaise asked, looking over his shoulder to see who Hermione was looking at. "Are you looking for someone?"

Hermione released a frustrated sigh and ran a hand through her messed up hair. "Have you seen Malfoy?" she asked, voicing out her irritation towards the blond. "He pointedly told me that I should meet him for his assignment." She scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Look who was talking, telling me to be punctual when he himself isn't."

"Well… you can check the library," Teddy offered with his usual adorable smile on his face. "Draco tends to spend an awful lot oftime in the library ever since our first year. Odd, if you ask me, seeing that he isn't really fond of reading. But, whatever. If he's being an intolerable git, Hermes, tell me, okay?"

The brunette chuckled and nodded. "Sure, sure," she said in a dismissive tone, now making a move to walk out of the Slytherin common room already.

"Be back before curfew," Blaise reminded with an amused smile on his face.

The brunette, on the other hand, scowled at the Italian. Blaise knew that she tended to stay a bit too long in the library, probably engrossed in reading a new book she found or scribbling furiously on a parchment just to finish her homework. She knew she was starting to get a tad bit suspicious. After all, the whole school knew that only Hermione Granger treated the library as a second home. And so, the disguised brunette solemnly promised to herself that she would lessen her visit to the library, even if it broke her little heart.

Hermione then sighed and gave both of them a small wave in farewell. "I will," she said, before marching out of the common room whilst greeting some of her Housemates in the process.

Once she was gone, Teddy couldn't help but shake his head. "They're awfully getting a bit closer, right?" he asked. Unconsciously, a small and adorable pout adorned his handsome face. "Well… I guess it will be good for Draco, yeah? You know, since he's in a difficult situation right now."

Blaise, with a frown on his own, merely shrugged. He couldn't help but be alarmed with Teddy's voiced out opinion.

The brunette was found in the library as she furiously finished her Potions essay due next week. The people around her swore that if she pressed the tip of her quill harder on the parchment, a hole would appear.

A week had gradually passed, its pace seemingly slower than before. Hermione even found herself anticipating the weekend just so she could enjoy it in the peaceful confines of the library. And when she thought of 'enjoy', it meant reading books and finishing school works in the library.

The past week was strangely uneventful. Usually, something exciting would happen once a week, mostly between the ever-rivals Gryffindor and Slytherin. Ron, who was still vocal about his loathing towards the rivalry between their Houses, was tamed for the whole week. Even Teddy, who usually made rude comments towards the Gryffindors, was silent.

Hermione would blame it on NEWTs. They still had at least seven months to go before the actual tests but the teachers suddenly had this sick idea of giving out practice tests to the complaining seventh years. And mind you, they were nowhere near easy. Normally, students would neglect it. After all, they were just practice tests. But when the professors told all of them that they would be graded, they had no choice but to take them seriously.

The brunette was sincerely challenged with the practice tests. Since the scope of NEWTs tackled their lessons ever since their first year to their seventh year, they had to recall a lot of lessons they took during their past few years. There were contents in the practice tests that weren't tackled yet; thankfully, Hermione always do advanced reading so she answered them smoothly.

Results came and the outputs of their practice tests were disappointing. Almost half of the whole seventh year body failed. A few merely passed by a point or two. Only a few, including her, were able to pass with flying colors.

The professors threatened each and every one of them that the practice tests were… well, a practice for them. The real thing would be way harder. Hermione swore that most of her classmates paled upon hearing this news.

And so, Hermione told herself that she would study harder than before, even doubled her study time everyday. She wasn't able to spend more time with her roommates, although she knew they wouldn't mind. The professors 'promised' that they would give another practice tests on an unannounced date, meaning, they should be ready any day. And so, Teddy and Blaise were busy with their studies to.

And Malfoy… well, Hermione hadn't encountered him for quite a while. She even feltthat he was avoiding her. She had brushed off his sudden strange demeanor on the first few days. She thought it was probably because of the practice tests. But then, days passed and he still hadn't talked to her. He rarely ate in the Great Hall, choosing to eat in the kitchen instead (according to a worried Teddy).

Hermione admitted that she somehow… missed his teasing self. She actually missed the times when he would call her names. Frankly, Hermione never got annoyed with his mockeries anymore. Instead, it made her feel like a part of her old self was back again since Draco Malfoy usually insulted her when she was still Hermione Granger.

The brunette paused on her writing, the tip of her quill hovering above her almost finished essay.

Her mind drifted back on the day when she went to the library to demand his lateness towards their rendezvous. She perfectly remembered that Malfoy had threatened her that she would be… severely punished if she did not go on time. And Hermione actually took his threat by heart. But then, she turned extremely furious when he did not show up on the time he ordered himself.

And so, following Teddy's suggestion, she stomped angrily into the library, determined to give Draco Malfoy a piece of her mind.

He was there and she easily pinpointed him, being the only bloke who had a shocking shade of blond hair. He was answering his homework and upon closer inspection, she was able to see his Arithmancy homework… the assignment she was supposed to help him.

It had confused Hermione and she made her presence known. She was actually expecting him to smirk triumphantly and exclaim that he was only joking and that she was so gullible for believing him. But then, to her utmost disbelief, Draco Malfoy wordlessly glared at her.

She was used to his glare after years of being the receiving end of it. But the glare that he had given her was different than before. It was… darker. It held such a great intensity of animosity and disgust. It was enough to make Hermione at loss for words.

Hermione merely stood rooted on the spot, eyes wide in astonishment, and didn't even make a move when Draco stood up loudly from his seat, gathered all of his things, and stormed out of the library.

Ever since that day, Draco Malfoy never talked to her anymore.

It had honestly boggled her. Even Blaise and Teddy noticed Draco's unusual animosity towards the disguised Slytherin. Teddy assumed she had offended him. Hermione expected him to blow up once again like what had happened when she vomited all over Malfoy, but he merely gave her a comforting pat on her shoulder and assured her that she would be forgiven soon.

Blaise, with a thoughtful look on his face, advised her to stay away from Malfoy for a while. His great hostility was astounding for the Italian, seeing now that Draco's subtle showing that he was starting to tolerate the brunette incognito.

His last comment had greatly pleased Hermione, although she was not able to understand why. That odd feeling that stirred in heart was soon set aside and forgotten.

And now, here she was, back in the library and was typically doing her work. Schoolworks were a great comfort for her, serving as both a relaxation (well, for Hermione Granger) and an undoubted distraction; she needed that ever since she was avoided like a plague by Draco Malfoy.

The brunette couldn't believe that she was growing attached to the blond. He had been her enemy for years, for Merlin's sake! But she was and it was frustrating. Everyday, she saw a new side of him – whether irritating or plainly amusing. He would do things that she once thought he wasn't capable of doing. But then again, even the other Slytherins were proving to be different than what she had thought about them before.

Hermione absentmindedly tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, which she perfectly knew was extremely suspicious when done by a man (or a disguised one). Thankfully, no one was around and she sighed in exhaustion, finally finishing her Potions essay.

She capped her ink bottle, dried her quill and placed them inside her backpack. She also stashed her finished essay away, safe from harm.

For a few minutes, she allowed herself to only sit down idly on her chair. Merlin, she'd been studying so hard for weeks her whole body was blatantly complaining already.

Hermione popped her knuckles before snatching the scattered books on her table. She piled them up neatly and was about to stride towards the bookshelves when a shadow loomed over her table.

Draco Malfoy.

She allowed herself to show her surprise in seeing him, of all people, in the library. Though, she admitted silently that it was a relief that here he was, looking as if he was going to say something to her.

"Malfoy, it's a pleasure to see your presence here," she commented with a smile, bordering playful.

The blond merely stared at her, his face the epitome of indifference. That had magnetized her lips down and soon, a suspicious frown was seen on her face.

'What did I do now?' she asked herself inside.

"Austen," he drawled out and Hermione couldn't help but cringe. His voice was ice cold. "See me on the seventh floor near the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy at exactly eleven o'clock." He took a threatening step forward and the brunette found herself almost cowering. "And do not be late, you hear me?"

"But Malfoy!" she whined, laying the stack of books on top of the table. "It's past curfew! Teachers or prefects might find us!"

His eyes narrowed into thin slits and he bent his head lower, his face mere inches away from her face. "Go or you'll fucking regret it."

Hermione's jaw dropped in indignation, ready to retort back a witty response, but Draco never gave her the chance as he swiveled around and trudged out of the library, his footsteps echoing loudly in the nearly abandoned library.

The disguised brunette froze on the spot, cold sweat trickling down her neck.

Those footsteps sounded awfully familiar.

"Where are you going?" Blaise inquired, surprised when Hermione excused herself from their game of wizard chess. Teddy was nowhere to be found, already in their room as he snored away into dreamland.

The common room was almost abandoned, except from the two seventh years. After all, it was almost ten-thirty in the evening already.

"Err…" Hermione said, quickly thinking of a good excuse. She actually told Blaise and Teddy that she would stay up late tonight since she had to do something important already. Blaise, who was still wide awake, volunteered to accompany her. Hermione was reluctant at first but soon gave in.

Both of them talked about random things, joked about the funny moments that had happened in their lives, and played some games. Currently, they were playing wizard chess. Hermione admitted that Blaise was exceptional in playing chess and she had bet that if both Ron and Blaise had a match between themselves, the results would be unpredictable.

Hermione found herself enjoying their game until she chanced a glance at the grandfather clock and saw the time.

"Go or you'll fucking regret it."

Those words uttered by an unquestionably hostile Draco Malfoy were enough for her to abandon this enjoyable game and follow his orders.

"Hermes?" Blaise asked, snapping her out of her stupor.

Hermione mentally shook her head and directed her eyes on the Italian, surprised with the genuine worry in his eyes.

Blaise Zabini was truly kind.

The brunette gave him a small smile. "Just in the library," she said. "I… forgot a book I borrowed in the library."

"The library again? You know, you're starting to remind me of a person I used to know…" A sly smirk gradually appeared on his face.

Hermione's eyes widened. 'I knew I'm starting to be suspicious!' she screamed inside her mind whilst releasing a nervous laugh. "What are you talking about?" she hastily asked, her nervous laugh never ceasing. "I… love the library! Everybody loves the library! Who doesn't love the library?"

Blaise chuckled. "All right, all right, no need to get all nervous," he said. Indeed, teasing Hermes Austen a.k.a. Hermione Granger was amusing. "Do you want me to accompany you? It's late, you know."

"No monsters will suddenly grab me from the back and eat me whole, Blaise," the brunette playfully replied. "I'll be fine. Besides, I'm a grown gi-boy! I can take care of myself!"

"Mmm-hmm," he said, eyes raised in suspicion. "Is there something wrong? Judging from your weird actions and annoying babbling, there's seriously something wrong."

"No, no, nothing's wrong. Everything's perfectly all right." Her eyes landed once again on the grandfather clock. 10:45. 'Damn, I have fifteen more minutes,' she thought.

Hermione's eyes landed back on Blaise and smiled at him appreciatively. "I have to go now. I want to be back soon and crawl into my comfortable bed."

Blaise only nodded and Hermione took that as a cue to dash out of the Slytherin common room.

She'd finally reached the seventh floor.

Hermione was thankful for the privilege given by Dumbledore because if she wasn't exempted from the curfew rule, she would have been caught by approximately five patrollers already.

The tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy was already in sight and Hermione remembered the last time she went in this place – during her meeting with Harry. This place was etched in her memory forever, having been in the Room of Requirement countless times.

That thought brought her back to her present question: What did Malfoy want to discuss to her, seeing that he obviously wanted to meet her in the Room of Requirement? It was surprising that Draco chose the Room of Requirement as their meeting place when they could talk in the common room or in the library.

Dread and worry instantly grew at the pit of her stomach. Judging from his weird actions and his choice of venue, the thing he wanted to talk about with her might be of extreme importance. Millions of questions went through her brain but none of them made sense. Realizing that made her dread grow.

She was finally in front of the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy. Turning around, she expected to see a bare wall but was astonished to see that a door was already present. To increase her astonishment, it was ajar.

Hermione then remembered her last meeting with Harry. The door was opened, too. The Room of Requirement would be invisible to anyone as soon as the door closed. But if the door was ajar then…

'Oh no. What if…' The brunette gulped nervously and slowly approached the door. 'Nah, don't be ridiculous, Hermione! That's perfectly impossible. And besides, Hearing Enchantments are an extremely difficult spell. Only those with great magical ability can master it.'

She was convincing herself and she knew it.

"Damn," she hissed, slowly taking a peak inside the room. "Malfoy? Malfoy? Are you in there?"

Hermione was met with silence but she soon saw Draco. Frowning, she stepped inside the room and made sure that the door was close.

Soon, they were all alone inside the Room of Requirement.

Everything was silent for a while. Hermione waited for Draco to break the silence. But he never did. The minutes ticked by and the brunette grew restless. She had a feeling that she should be anywhere and everywhere but here.

"Umm… Malfoy," she started, carefully choosing her words. "Aren't you going to tell me what I am doing here?"

Draco coolly laid his eyes on the disguised brunette. The look he was giving her forced her to look away immediately. "Malfoy," she started again, this time voicing out her exasperation. "What am I doing here?"

"Drop the act," he suddenly growled, his voice cutting like a sharp knife.

"What? I-I don't know what you're talking a…"

"Drop the act, Granger," he continued. This time, his voice was emotionless. "We're all alone here, so drop the act."

"Wh-what are you talking about?" she managed to wheeze out in a whisper, her eyes wide as saucers. Did she hear him right?

"I SAID DROP THE ACT!" Hermione's jaw dropped in perplexity. "DROP YOUR FUCKING ACT, GRANGER! DROP IT!"

As soon as he was finished with his outburst, he was breathing heavily. Hermione merely stared, at loss for words. Draco was looking at her with such animosity it was terrifying. Judging from his facial expression, he was truly serious.

She was caught.

But how? How?

Hermione's mind drifted back to the time when she had her last meeting with Harry. Those foreign footsteps… the feeling of being followed… the door ajar…

The brunette closed her eyes in guilt. It was her fault, she concluded. If she had been more careful, her secret would be safe.

All thoughts of saving her parents looked like a distant dream to her now. Her secret was revealed, discovered by none other than Draco Malfoy, for goodness' sake!

'But he's a spy for the Order, right?' she asked, hope resurfacing. 'He… he's in the Light Side, right? He wouldn't tell anybody. He wouldn't tell Voldemort.'

"Ma-malfoy," she stuttered, nervously taking a step forward. "Let me… explain."

"Explain? EXPLAIN!" he exclaimed. In three big strides, he was standing a few meters away from the brunette. This time, Hermione did cower. Malfoy was looking murderous. "WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE, DECEIVING EVERYBODY? WHO THE BLOODY HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?"

"Let me explain!" she retorted back. She impulsively grabbed his collar and pulled him until her eyes were leveled with his. Bold move, yet she was desperate. "I… I have to do this."

He slapped her hand away in disgust and took two steps back. "Why do I have to listen to you, anyway?" he spat. "You've… you've lied. Do you honestly think I'm going to believe what you are going to say mext?" He scoffed and crossed his arms across his chest. "For all I know, you'd just make up some bloody lie and continue messing around with us."

Ouch. That had hit a nerve and Hermione showed it through her face.

"What would Blaise say?" he exclaimed, continuing. "For fuck's sake, what would Teddy say? Granger? YOU'RE HERMIONE GRANGER? And you made us believe that you're dead!"

"I have to do this, okay?" she exclaimed back, starting to get frustrated. "Malfoy, you're bloody lord has my parents!" To her horror, her eyes started to get blurry. "That… that bastard has my parents. And he's already in the process of retrieving the Secrets of the Order, which can result to their death… for Merlin's sake, it could lead to the defeat of the Light Side!" Tears slipped down from her eyes and she looked away, haphazardly wiping her face. "I… I can't just sit around and allow him to do those goddamn things to my parents!"

Despite her steady flow of tears, she was able to observe that he was undoubtedly stunned. She unconsciously wondered why he did not know, seeing that he was one of Voldemort's Death Eater.

His stance changed; the fury dissolving. Instead, fatigue emanated from his body and he looked away from Hermione, an odd expression on his face. "I have no time for your sob story, Granger," he grumbled, eyes still not meeting hers.

Typical of him. Hermione released a humorless laugh, which was weird since tears fell down from her eyes. "You want to hear something funny, huh, Malfoy?" she asked. Her eyes were trained intently on his whole form. "I trust you. And you know what? I actually thought that if you were able to discover this secret of mine, you'd understand."

The blond looked indignant, his mercurial eyes settling back on her. He was about to retort something back but Hermione had beaten him.

"I…" she started, her voice a mere whisper. "I… honestly thought that you, of all people, should be able to understand my current situation." She pointedly ignored the huff he made. "I… you… you're a spy for the Order – oh, don't deny it! You are, and you are all doing this to protect your mother."

His eyes widened in disbelief.

"Malfoy," she continued. "You should understand that I am… deceiving everyone because I want to save my parents from Voldemort myself."

Silence ensued. Hermione expectantly stared at Draco, waiting for any reaction from him. The blond, on the other hand, seemed too surprised for words.

Minutes passed by (which felt ages for the brunette) and as what she expected, Draco's face contorted into unadulterated resentment. "You… you have no idea how…" He sputtered for words, proof of his blinding anger. He then fell silent as he seethed, his chest heaving heavily up and down. His hands were fisted tightly; his knuckles too pale to be healthy.

Hermione merely stared, her eyes pleading. If people were able to discover her secret, everything would have been futile. "Please. Please, don't tell anybody."

He glared at her. "Don't… don't fucking…" Out of rage, he slammed his fisted hand against the door and the sudden 'bang' resounded all throughout the Room of Requirement. Hermione cringed in surprise and only watched as Draco turned around and walked out of the secret room, slamming the door so loudly in the process.

A/N: Dearest readers, please excuse Draco Malfoy's potty mouth. He could help it if he's angry... Ooh, Draco Malfoy's enraged! Why is that? Haha, I think this chapter is another cliffie *wink* *wink* Oh, what the heck. I can spice up my stories once in a while. Also, some were probably thinking why I made Draco discover her true identity when it's still the fifteenth chapter. Trust me, there's a reason for that. You just wait *evil grin*.

Lol, anyway, as you've already noticed, there are no review responses (*sigh* once again). I'm sorry, summer is already approaching but that doesn't mean our school work has been getting lighter! Truth be told, I think the teachers are starting to get a little sadistic (perhaps, a lot? XD)

So, to make me happy, please review! I'll still faithfully update every Thursday, okay? So, ciao for now!

With love,
2booklover4