After he turned another corner, he stopped, and dropped us lightly onto the ground. Ron growled, and Draco released us from the bindings.
"If you'll take a second to use that peanut brain of yours, Weasely, you might just figure out that I save your sorry asses."
I looked up at him with wide eyes. Ron seemed to mull it over. It all made sense to me instantly, and I clambered to stand up. His hand grasped my arm and held me steady, and I straightened up, pulling out of his grip on instinct.
Ron glared at us Draco stepped forward, and extended his hand. I couldn't breathe. Draco Malfoy was offering help to Ron. He looked at the hand, rather shocked, before leaning away and struggling to stand up on his own.
His first attempt failed miserably, and he fell back on his hands. I averted my eyes as he finally stood.
"Listen up, Malfoy," he spat between gritted teeth, "I don't trust you. Don't know why she does, but I'm watching you. One toe out of line, and I'll hex you to the ground."
"I'm terrified," Draco drawled calmly.
Ron stepped closer, levelling with Draco. His forehead, almost touched Draco's, who took a sudden step back.
"As amusing as I find your attempts to intimidate me, Weasley, I'm sure there's a better time to do it in. You should be more concerned about Potter than turning your back on me."
Ron glared at Draco, and stepped back. He looked at me.
"Cmon," he mumbled, and stalked onwards.
Ron walked for a moment, and Draco turned to me.
"Is he always this childish?" he asked me.
"Not always," I reply with a sigh, "you just bring it out of him."
Draco snorted, and we both joined Ron in walking.
Finally, after what seemed like hours, we ran into Harry. He claimed to have been to the tower, and found out the location.
"The Grey Lady," he explained, "didn't really like me."
"She doesn't like anyone- except for Ravenclaws," I replied.
"Sounds stuck up," Ron remarked.
"I wouldn't judge a book by it's cover, Weasley," Malfoy said, almost neutrally.
Ron didn't reply. I think it was more he didn't know what to say, rather than he was ignoring him entirely. At least, I hope he didn't know what to say.
"So where is it?" I asked Harry.
He looked at me, and grinned.
"With the Snape's potion book."
Ron sniggered, "typical. Last place we'd look. In a room full of utter junk."
"So we go to the room, kill it, find the snake, and then you kill V-" I stopped myself, "him."
Harry ignored my slip up, "you say it as if killing's as easy as the other two."
"Well the other two aren't that easy either.."
"You know what I mean, Hermione," he said firmly.
"Harry," I started, and couldn't think of words.
"Think of the lives you'll save," Draco interrupted, "what you'll do for the world. Think of your parents, your- your life. It depends on this."
For a moment, everyone was silent. His words couldn't have been truer, but the person they came from made Harry fall silent. He looked up at Draco, and his eyes tightened.
"Uhh," he began, "thanks. I guess."
Draco looked away, and didn't reply.
"We should go," Harry said, glancing around, "head back to the others and let them know what's going on."
He started walking, and Ron caught up with him. Draco lagged behind, and I waited for him.
"That was very nice of you to say," I commented quietly.
"Just- forget it. I didn't say it," he replied, without looking at me.
"What do you mean? That was-"
"Just," he spat through gritted teeth, "forget it. It was stupid."
"No it wasn't, it-"
He looked at me, his steely eyes piercing through mine, and I fell silent. We walked, and he clenched his hands by his sides.
"It wasn't stupid," I said softly, barely enough for him to hear.
He sighed, and didn't reply.
We reached the Room of Requirements a few minutes later, and opened the room up. The room was the size of a football field, and was completely filled with junk. I brought my wand up.
"Accio diadem," I spoke clearly.
An errie and awkward silence followed, and Ron snorted.
"Thanks, Ron," I remarked sarcastically.
"Magical diadem, Hermione. He's not stupid," Ron said with a chuckle.
"Whatever."
We began the search, and Draco stuck close to me.
One opposite sides from Harry and Ron, we opened drawers, cupboards, cabinets, finding other junk and crap that nobody's seen in centuries.
Draco sighed, and sat down on a bench that was next to a bookshelf. He pulled out his wand, and silently flicked things away, searching with his eyes.
"Tired?" I asked, laughing,
He didn't reply, but his eyes widened, and then tightened on the other side of the room. Suddenly, he got up, and started jogging to the other corner.
"Where are you-" I began, and decided to just follow him instead.
Once I finally got close, he stopped, and I ran into him.
"What the-" I said as I collided with his back.
I was knocked back, and he hadn't moved. I looked up as he stepped forward, and flipped open a box. He froze and I got to my feet.
"What are you doing?" I said, exasperated, and walked closer.
I followed his gaze to the box, and gasped. The diadem sat there, twinkling in the dim light.
"Harry!" I shouted, and laughed, "I can't believe it! Draco, you found it!"
He met my eyes, and grinned. I instinctively reached and place my hand on his shoulder. It was a harmless, meaningless gesture, but he tensed, and my eyes wildly. I heard Harry approach, and I dropped my hand.
"What is it?" Harry asked us.
I turned, and Draco stepped aside, revealing the diadem. Harry looked up at Draco, and Draco met his eyes.
"Brilliant."