The next morning Hermione woke up with Draco's arms wrapped around her, she was obviously too content to wake up when he returned from Patrol the night before. She sighed quietly, that was probably the best nights sleep she has had in a long time. While she was laying there her mood dropped as she thought about how she needed to make things right with Ginny. The two of them just need to sit down and talk it out she thought, Ginny may have a temper but she's not unreasonable. When she got quietly got up to get changed she whispered a quiet goodbye to the still sleeping Draco and headed out of the room.

She pulled on her cloak and snuck downstairs to the portrait outside the kitchen. With a quick look to check the corridor she tickled the pears on the portrait and headed in "Dobby?" She called out into the hustle and bustle of the kitchen.

"Miss Hermione Granger!" Dobby ran forward in delight and bowed low. "What can Dobby do for you?"

"Please call me Hermione, Dobby. And you don't need to bow." Hermione felt a light blush fill her cheeks. "Actually I was hoping you could do me a favour? I'm not going to breakfast but I'm meeting a friend. You know Ginny?"

"Yes Miss Ginny Weasley!" Dobby nodded his head profusely. "I would be happy to put together a breakfast basket for the two of you."

Off Dobby ran back into the madness that was the Hogwarts Kitchen and before long Hermione was walking briskly back up to the Gryffindor common room with a picnic basket full of food in her hands. Once she reached the portrait hole, she leaned against the wall ready to wait. Before long Ginny walked out of the portrait hole hand in hand with Harry only to stop abruptly as she saw Hermione leaning against the wall waiting for her.

"Hermione!" Harry grinned as Ginny looked at her a bit sheepishly. "What are you doing here?"

"Actually, I was hoping to speak to Ginny if that's okay?"

"Sure thing, I'm starving anyway." With a peck on the lips for Ginny and a wave to Hermione he headed down the corridor to the Great Hall.

"I know very well that we both have spare periods this morning." Hermione said awkwardly. "I was hoping you would come have breakfast with me and we could talk?" She held out the breakfast basket the house elves had prepared for her.

"Of course I will, let's go outside." The girls started walking down the corridor to head down to the grounds. "Did Fred and George tell you how to get in the Kitchen?" Ginny raised her eyebrows as she looked down at the basket in Hermione's hands.

"No, I actually worked it out myself back when I was campaigning for S.P.E.W." Hermione sighed. "In a lot of ways I miss those days, they were so much simpler."

Ginny scoffed. "You're telling me, you're the one who is involved with Draco Malfoy, confusing doesn't even begin to cover that."

"I know! How do you think I've felt all year!" Hermione exclaimed. "And I haven't had anyone to talk to about it, it's been really hard."

"Okay," Ginny sighed. "I've calmed down a lot since I spoke to you yesterday. My opinion hasn't changed but I probably shouldn't have yelled at you like I did."

"No, you shouldn't have." Hermione said firmly. "I mean, come on Gin! You know me better than that. You're meant to be my friend. At least let me explain."

"Okay, I owe you that much. I am sorry really, I may have a tendency to overreact sometimes" Ginny shot her an embarrassed grin as the two stopped when they reached a tree by the lake. Hermione pulled out a blanket to sit on and quickly performed a warming spell on the two of them. Ginny opened the basket to see two vials of pumpkin juice and lots of different pastries. "Ah, you've got to love House Elves." She sighed pulling out a croissant to eat.

Hermione looked at her friend with apprehension. "So, do you want to ask questions, or should I try and explain things myself?"

"I'm not sure." Ginny mused. "Both I guess. It's just, when did you stop hating him?"

"It took a while." She laughed. "At the start, all we did was fight obviously. But I guess this year got to both of us. It's been stressful, and us being on each others nerves all the time wasn't helping anyone. So we made a truce of sorts..." she trailed off as Ginny looked at her curiously. "I mean, it took some time, but when we stopped looking for ways to make each other miserable, he opened up. He isn't like his parents I swear! He's been questioning how they live for a long time but he just needed someone to force him to confront those questions, you know what I mean?"

"I don't really know what you mean. It's just really hard for me to believe Hermione." Ginny shook her head. "What if he is a spy, and even if he isn't, he's still a total git."

"I promise he isn't a spy, truly." Hermione's eyes were swimming in sincerity. "I would put my life on it."

"Wow." Ginny let out a long breath. "Okay, that's pretty sure. Maybe, I can come around to it... with time. But I will be watching him. The second he screws up, I will jump him so quickly. Makes up for a few years of him being an idiot anyway."

"Well I give you permission if he screws up royally."

"I still don't see what you see in him." Ginny was still looking at Hermione like she was crazy.

"He's actually pretty sweet when he's not being an arrogant toe rag."Hermione laughed. "Just don't tell him I told you that."

"Not unless he is especially annoying me." Ginny grinned. The girls spent the next couple of hours sitting and chatting, more about Draco, but also catching up for all the talking they hadn't been doing lately. Hermione headed to her classes afterwards in much better spirits than before. If she could convince Ginny, maybe she would have a chance of convincing the others.

Hermione was on her way to the Great Hall after classes when she saw Ron, Ginny and Harry waving her over, with Harry holding a letter in his hands.

"It's from Lupin." Harry said before Hermione grabbed it out of his hands began to read it out loud.

Harry, Ron and Hermione,

"Typical of them to leave me out." Ginny grumbled.

"Oh get over it and shut up so we can see what he wants." Ron shot her exasperated stare and Hermione continued reading the letter.

We have organised a meeting in McGonagall's office tomorrow night at 7pm.

Hermione you will need to bring your 'friend'.

Things are changing fast and plans need to be made.

Lupin

"Things are changing fast" Harry looked out the window. "Sounds like we might not be at Hogwarts for much longer."

"What does he mean by bring your friend, Hermione?" Ron looked at her suspiciously.

Hermione exchanged a guilty look with Ginny. "There is something, I need to tell you guys..." She trailed off. "I know that you're not going to like it, but you need to get over it quickly if we are meeting members from the Order tomorrow."

"Whatever it is Hermione, You know you can tell us. Is this to do with the other night using the fire in the common room?" Harry asked her.

"Yes it is."

"What the hell are you guys on about?" Ron demanded.

Hermione sighed, preparing herself for the drama that would no doubt follow this admission. "It's actually about Draco Malfoy."