*Claps hands to face to avoid the angry glares*

I'm really really sorry it's taken me so long to update but there was nothing I could do...my laptop broke and we had to send it away. Thank god they managed to repair it and not replace it. I got it back over a week ago, but it took me a while to get back into the creative writing mood...MASSIVE writers block :\ I still need to get back in the rhythm of things...so forgive me if this chapter isn't the best it could have been. Sorry.

Love sent to: ., VioletDhaliwal, LNLestrangexx, CountryObsessedTeen, dreadfuldelights, tfobmv18, Siriusly-a-princess, 11xNaNx11, ManhattanStreetLights, CCCookiexC3, GlaudioseGoddess, BustyxxxxWizard, ZukoNeji, kh2020, Lightning And Blossoms, Storylover456, charmedfan224, Ayriannah, Crossy, sweet-tang-honney, zanessa-troyella1032, okami no kidzukare, bunny08, jamesandscorpius'cheetahfan, VampireKnight22, cmssportzgrl, dracoluvathatiam and Dora Penmoko. : )

Previously...

He turned round and closed the door behind him. Then he lay down on the bed, stared up at the ceiling and tried not to think about the mess he was in. He heard the shower turn back on and realised Hermione would be in there for quite a while.

Chapter 29: Issues

Hermione and Draco had half an hour before they were expected to go to PRC. After Hermione appeared from the bathroom, dressed in her school robes and her hair tied up messily. She didn't look at Draco when she came out. Draco sighed quietly, realising how much he had upset her.

"I figured we could go down to our place in the lake..." he said hesitantly. "It seems like the best place to go. Special, you know? Plus it's private, but it gets us away from here."

Hermione nodded, and opened the door to the living area. There was no-one in there, Draco was thankful. He didn't want a fresh ear bashing from Blaise and Ginny. They walked silently down the many staircases, and into the grounds. Draco pulled his robes tighter, trying to protect himself from the cold. There was snow on the ground, and a bitter wind. Perhaps going outside hadn't been the best idea.

Finally they arrived by the lake, surrounded by trees. He conjured a blanket and they sat down on it, Hermione made sure that she wasn't in touching distance of Draco.

"Aren't you cold?" Draco asked bluntly. He was shivering but Hermione sat perfectly still, staring out over the lake.

"No," she replied.

"How aren't you cold? It's freezing out here."

"You're the one who suggested coming outside. I made a heating charm on my clothes to keep me warm. I'm not stupid." Hermione said coldly, implying that Draco was. Draco didn't reply, stung slightly by the comment.

After a few minutes silence, Draco couldn't take it anymore.

"We're not going to sort out our problems like this. You have to talk to me, and not bite my head off all the time."

"Maybe I don't want to," Hermione replied defiantly. Draco rolled his eyes.

"That's what I'm talking about! Are you trying to provoke me or something? We have a much bigger problem looming and all you can think about is that fact that I didn't go back last night."

"I can't help it!" Hermione exploded. "Don't you realise how much it hurt?! How much it made me feel insignificant? You would prefer to spend the night somewhere else, alone, than staying with me, letting me comfort you. Instead of getting through it together?"

"Well don't you realise that maybe it's what I needed? Time apart to clear my head? Time to get away from it all? That is was so suffocating in our room that I couldn't bear to be in it any longer?

"Are you saying that I was suffocating you?" Hermione gasped.

Draco cried out in frustration. "No! That's not what I'm saying! I just had a letter from my father, from Azkaban, saying he was getting released from prison soon and that I had to get a new fiancée. The same man who helped torture you, who was Voldemort's right hand man. Get a little perspective! That's a shock, and I needed time to absorb it! Can't you see? It wasn't you, it was me!"

There was a pause.

"You just said his name."

Draco blinked.

"Huh?"

"You said Voldemort's name. I've never heard you say it before."

Flummoxed, Draco nodded.

Another silence.

"I'm sorry," Hermione said meekly.

"Come again?"

"I'm sorry. I guess it shocked me as well, and I just took it out on you. The way you left so abruptly, I couldn't understand why. But now I do," Hermione paused, and edged closer to Draco. "Forgive me?"

"Of course I do, silly," Draco ruffled her hair.

Hermione frowned.

"Too much?" Draco asked.

Hermione nodded.

"Never, ever, ruffle my hair," she threatened. Draco laughed and kissed her happily.

"Hermione?" Draco murmured.

"What, Draco?"

"Can you put that heating charm on my clothes now? I'm freezing."

Hermione giggle but obliged.

"So where did you go last night anyway?" Hermione enquired.

"Well, I wondered around for a while, but then I heard Filch and it kind of freaked me out. So, I went to the Room of Requirement and slept there."

"Filch freaked you out?"

"Uh...yeah! It was after hours, and you know how Filch is like. I didn't want to have to sit in his office for hours while he marked it on my personal record."

"You've had worse on your personal record, surely?"

"No, I made sure that they weren't put on there...I was like royalty, reports hardly went to Filch anyway. If they did...I had ways of persuading him."

"Really?" Hermione smirked. "Ways of persuading him?"

"Don't ask," Draco glanced at her, his expression suddenly darkening.

Hermione got the hint, and just leaned into him, enjoying his warmth.

They sat there until it was time to go to PRC. After that, they would go see Dumbledore. They needed to warn him about the situation, and they certainly couldn't do it alone. What would happen if Lucius showed up at the school, demanding to see Draco? What would they do then?

The group smiled as the two of them walked into Professor McGonagall's classroom. Blaise nodded, as if he approved. Ginny appeared relieved, but she still glared at Draco. Apparently he wasn't forgiven yet.

Hermione and Draco sat at the desk next to Ron and Luna. Hermione fidgeted slightly under Ron's gaze. Since the big movie night, things were better between the two, although there was still some tension in the air. Luckily, Ron and Luna had seemed to work out their issues, they were holding hands underneath the table.

Draco looked around the room, since they had a few minutes to spare. There were a fair amount of empty desks, but Draco didn't worry about it, there were normally latecomers.

"Hello students," Professor McGonagall said as she entered the room, closely followed by Professor Dumbledore, and the other heads of houses.

They stood at the front of the classroom. Professor McGonagall's beady eyes noticed the missing seats.

"Where are Lavender and Ernie?"

"They're in the-" Parvati spoke, but paused.

"Yes?"

"Hospital Wing."

"When did this happen? Why wasn't I informed?" The teacher asked sharply.

"It was..unexpected. Lavender felt ill this morning, so Ernie took her straight to the Hospital Wing. She thinks she is pregnant." Parvati blushed; she didn't like telling the secrets of her best friend to the entire class.

"I see. Then we must go and see them later today. Now then, to the reason why you're here. We hope that you are all making progress, and are still using those diaries we gave you in the first lesson. According to our internal notebook, some of the weddings are coming quickly. Seamus and Susan...yours is on the 14th December yes?"

The couple nodded.

"Good, and next is Ginny and Blaise, on 1st January. How are the preparations going?"

"Umm...fine," squeaked Ginny.

"We've had a lot on our plate at the moment, but we're meeting with Ginny's parents in the holidays to complete the final touches. The invitations went out a while ago, and we've got the venue. But everything else still hasn't been finished yet," Blaise explained.

"Well...as long as it is not seriously behind yet. You know that we're here for you, if you need any help," Professor McGonagall smiled. Blaise nodded.

"Hermione?" whispered Draco.

"What?" Hermione hissed back, keeping her eyes on McGonagall.

"Do you...by any chance...know where our diary is?"

Hermione froze.

"Holy..."

"I'll take that as a no then..." Draco smirked. Hermione slapped his leg.

"Is everything alright back there? Hermione, Draco?"

"Hmm?" Hermione glanced up. Her hand stung...maybe she hit Draco a little harder than normal.

"Oh yes, professor. Everything's great back here," Draco answered, whilst rubbing his leg. It stung like mad, but he didn't want Hermione to laugh at him.

The professor narrowed her eyes. "Just...pay attention."

"Yes, professor," he replied, smiling.

"Right. As I was saying...the reason we're all here now is actually for a good reason, so there is no reason to panic. You have been partnered for nearly three months. You should know your partners very well by now. We are going to hold a competition, with prizes going out for who knows their partner best. These will be split into couple prizes, and room prizes. Whichever room has the combined best score will receive the first end of term prize. This is why we have the glass phials on the outside of every door, they have been accumulating since the beginning of term, when couples have bonded, crystals pour into the phial. So far...room number 16 is winning-" A chorus of woops drowned out Professor McGonagall. She coughed, and Blaise, Harry and Draco fell silent. "- but that can all change depending on the results of this competition. Is everyone following?"

Silence.

"I'll take that as a yes then. So, there are two parts to this competition. The questionnaire side and the practical side. First, you will be answering questions about your partner, and the couple with the most right will win points for themselves and their room. This afternoon, instead of your usual lessons, we will be holding practical tests on the Quidditch pitch. You will be faced with a series of challenges, and you must work together to achieve your end goal. Whichever team finishes the quickest, will win points for themselves and their room. Note; every couple will receive points, but the better you do, the more you will get. Understand?"

A murmur of agreement echoed throughout the classroom.

"Excellent. Now, we ask for one member of each couple to stay here, and the other to go to Professor Snape's room. Kindly make your choice now."

"I'll stay here," Draco said firmly to Hermione. She groaned but consented.

"Good luck," she winked.

"I don't need luck, I know you...nearly... inside out," he smirked in reply. Hermione blushed and left the room.

Draco stretched and winked to Pansy and Ginny. Their men had done the honourable thing and allowed the girls to stay, while they moved to the cold dungeons. Draco hated the dungeons, more than he let out. It was cold, dark and eerie. Besides, Snape wasn't exactly his favourite teacher...but no-one knew that. Everyone thought he was the favourite student, but that was only because of the connection between Snape and his father. Draco shuddered internally when he thought of his father. He looked up and saw Dumbledore looking at him intently, as though he was looking into his soul. Dumbledore seemed to know something was troubling him, as he strode up between the desks.

"Is, everything alright Draco?"

"Umm...Hermione and I urgently need to discuss something with you. Can we talk after this part of the competition thing is over?"

"Of course. I will be in my office. The password is...Pepper Imps," Dumbledore smiled, eyes sparkling beneath his glasses.

Draco nodded, and thanked him. Dumbledore then cheerily waved goodbye to the other students and swept out of the room.

Professor Sprout handed him a parchment, and a quill. Draco looked down at the questionnaire, and then started to write some answers down.

There. Kind of short, but it's been over a month. I feel incredibly guilty.

Also, exams are coming up soon, plus driving lessons and work...I will try to get the next chapter up in the next few weeks, but seriously don't hold your breath. On the other hand, I may surprise you, I go back to school on Tuesday. I may get bored, and write out the next chapter.