It had been a few weeks since the encounter at the ball, and they hadn't talked since. Not even the sideways glance. And Hermione didn't think much of it. This was more of a one-time deal sort of thing. Her life had proceeded as usual. And she didn't mind. So when the morning mail was being dropped off, she was quite surprised at the note in her lap with her name inscribed in elegant writing.

Once, I bit into a tomato the way you would an apple, just to see what it would feel like. Your turn.

Immediately, she knew exactly who it was from, and began to scrawl her answer. She felt the need to cover her words as she wrote.

When I was younger, I would always steal the extra lollipops on my father's reception desk.

She sent the owl off, and found herself much more excited for a reply than she was willing to admit. And so it began, over the course of the next few days.

They made me burn the jacket. Made a whole show out of it.

That sounds terribly funny but also terribly inconvenient.

Tell me about it. That jacket wasn't exactly the cheapest thing around.

I hope I didn't cause too much trouble. I wasn't expecting anyone to be awake.

Hardly. I wonder what would've happened if I showed up near you Gryffindors.

Ron would have a fit I'm sure. But you'd be surprised how many wouldn't mind. Particularly a few girls.

Don't think me stupid but why did your father have lollipops on his desk?

He's a dentist. Sometimes a procedure can be less than comfortable, so he puts candy out to make people feel better.

Ok. Now what exactly does a procedure consist of?

It would depend on what someone needs. Usually just a standard cleaning.

That doesn't sound so bad.

Depends on who you ask.

What happened at meal today? Your tables were going crazy.

Some sort of silly game. I tried to stay out of it.

What a detailed description.

It's a shame you can't sigh through paper. It's a muggle game, I doubt you've heard of it. It consists of a few lists, then you pick a number and continue to go through the lists until you are left with one of each section. The result is supposed to define your future spouse, job, house, number of children, etc.

I'd like to play.

It's childish stuff really.

I don't care.

You sound childish now.

Again, don't care.

Well go ahead then.

But I don't know how.

So ask someone.

I'm asking you.

Hermione's heart caught in her throat as she read the final line. He wanted her to teach him? That would require…meeting. And actually talking in real life. Someone might seem them. Might assume the worst. She couldn't have that. She had her reputation to protect. They both did.

What do you suggest?

You seem to know how to get into the library without anyone noticing. Say tomorrow night maybe?

Done.

Hermione couldn't help but pay her hair a little more attention the next day. She had taken her time coming it all through before compiling it in a neat braid that followed her spine. She sat anxiously through meals, and tossed in bed until she knew she could make a clean escape without anyone noticing. This part was crucial. She didn't want any unnecessary questions. Her feet tapped lightly as she took the steps down into the common room. "Where are you going?" Ginny's voice seemed to echo through the emptiness. Hermione stood frozen. "Oh come on Hermione, don't play dumb. I see you writing those little notes. Who is he?" "He's none of your business. Now are you gonna rat me out or not?" Ginny ran up to give her a tight hug. "Of course not. I just…I wanna know everything. Promise Hermione," she shook her a little, "Promise you'll tell me everything." Hermione rolled her eyes and pulled out of the hug. "Fine. But I have to get going." She insisted. Ginny practically pushed her away. "Go! Have fun! Be safe." She urged. Hermione slipped out and made her way to the library.

When she entered, Draco was already there, pacing around a few tables. "Hey." She said, but it came out more awkwardly than she had anticipated. Draco smiled in reply. "So how does it work?" Hermione pulled out a chair and began to explain the game of M.A.S.H. "Ok so pick four jobs." She said. "Auror, Professor, Banker, um, Doctor." Hermione scribbled his choices down. "Ok, now 4 numbers." She told him. "Five, Seven, Thirteen, Twenty-Two." Hermione burst out laughing. "What?" he asked. "Nothing," she giggled, "Just wait." "And now just four girls." "Pansy, Anastasia, Cho, and you." Hermione glanced at him but scribbled the names anyway. "Now pick a number between one and twenty." "Fourteen." He said. Hermione went around the block, scribbling the final verdict in the center of the square. She winced. "What is it? What's wrong?" She gave a short laugh. "Nothing's wrong. I just don't think this was your ideal choice." "Well, what's it say?"

"You will live in a shack. You will be an Auror, you marry me…and we have twenty-two children." Draco gave a hearty chuckle that filled the room. "Well goodness Granger we live in a shack because you won't stop popping babies!" She laughed with him. "What did you get when you did yours?" he wanted to know. "Well I didn't have much say in it. They pretty much did it for me. But I would be a dentist like my father, marry Neville, and have two kids."

"That's not terribly exciting, now is it?" "No, it makes for a bad game." She smiled, "Although I wouldn't mind if it does end up that way."

"You wouldn't mind a simple life like that?" he said. She shook her head. He leaned back in his chair. "I don't think I could live in a shack." He said. Hermione laughed. "That's the big problem. Not the fact that you have twenty-two kids, or that you end up with someone like me." She laughed again, shaking her head, but stopped almost immediately when she noticed him looking at her. His face was serious. "What?" she asked. "There's nothing wrong with someone like you." He said, clearing his throat. She cocked her head slightly to the left. "I never thought I'd hear you say that." She said, suddenly very quiet.

"Do you think," he was fumbling with the paper, "Do you think if…say Dumbledore survived. Do you think he would forgive me?" His face was hard, unyielding. Hermione seemed to gasp, though she didn't mean to. "I'm sure he would Draco. Dumbledore knew he was going to die anyway. He knew you were better than that."

"But that's exactly it, isn't it? I wasn't. Not then. I went through with it."

"We were all different then, Draco."

He sighed. "So you and Neville. Who would have thought." Hermione smiled, acknowledging his change in topic. "Yes well, he is quite muscular nowadays." "You like that, Granger?" She shrugged. "It certainly doesn't hurt."

Hermione didn't remember making it back to her room. Her first thought was that Draco might have carried her there, but that seemed ridiculous, seeing that he didn't know the password. Besides, someone definitely would have heard them. Nevertheless, she was quite excited to rush downstairs and see if she had any mail. To her dismay, there wasn't any. And there wouldn't be any for the next few days. She knew she shouldn't have expected anything, but she couldn't help it. She thought that maybe, after all this time, Gryffindor and Slytherin could make amends, and she and Draco could be friends. It had been nice talking to him, and his intelligence matched her own, which she respected highly.

After about a week she could no longer contain herself.

How are you?

"Who are you writing to? You promised you'd tell." Hermione's heart nearly caught in her throat. "Damn it Ginny you're gonna give me a heart attack." "What's going on?" Harry said, sitting down next to them. "Hermione's got a secret boyfriend she's not telling any of us about." Ginny said obnoxiously. "He's not my boyfriend." Hermione jumped in quickly, turning bright red. "You've got to give me something. I've been waiting ever so patiently." Hermione rolled her eyes and took a deep breath.

"He's just a friend. Or at least I thought he was. But we haven't talked in a while. I'm not sure he wants to talk anymore." Ginny scoffed. "Then sweetheart move on. People like that are not worth your time." Hermione winced, unsure of how much else she should disclose. "I suppose you're right, Ginny." She said finally. "Damn right I am."

Just when Hermione thought the subject was over and done with, Harry spoke up. "Do you like him, Hermione?" "He was nice enough." She said. "Well, if he doesn't reply back, then you deserve better anyway." He gave a goofy smile. She smiled back.

As they left the dining hall, the crowds seemed unusually thick, and one had to push to get through. Hermione practically tumbled out of the doorway as she was pushed from behind. "Why don't you watch where you're going Granger?" Pansy sneered. She could hear Blaise chuckling. "Aren't we all past this?" Harry snapped. "You tell me, Potter."

"Let it go, Pansy." Draco's voice, while stern, seemed to boom through the hallway. Everyone turned to look at him. The tension was a bit stronger that both sides could have hoped for. As they all turned to leave, Hermione shot Draco a slight nod before turning around.