Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter

She woke with a jolt. Her neck stiffened at the movement. Rolling her shoulders, she immediately felt the tension in her back disappear. She hadn't meant to fall asleep waiting, and with a sniff she noticed the still lingering scent of pine and apples. She scowls before stealing a glance around the room before settling on the clock in the kitchen.

Merlin. She shot to her feet. 8 am. She'd slept the whole afternoon through morning. A quick look at Draco's door confirmed that it was closed. Hoovering at the handle, she listened for any sign of rustle or noise. Nothing. She threw her hands up in frustration and headed to the shower. She needed to wash the smell of apples and pine off her before she headed to class.

She dressed quickly and was in DADA a second before class began self-conscious that those same traitorous scents were still clinging to her skin. Harry gave her an odd look when she came to stand beside her. "Your hair's all wet." He murmured. 'I overslept.' she mouthed as the door opened and shut. Snape seemed to glide as he walked into the classroom. Apparently, he'd become their permanent DADA professor, seeing as no one else wanted the job. As he began his introduction, she murmured a quick drying spell for her hair. Today's topic was shields and the various types and strengths of each.

The professor seemed to be looking for a volunteer when the door opened and shut. Every head turned toward the disturbance. Hermione craned her head for a glimpse.

"Mr. Malfoy, how wonderful for you to join us today."

Her heart dropped as she caught site of the boy in question. He paused before the professor and shrugged his shoulders. A few Slytherins snickered, but were quickly silenced by a look from Snape.

"In that case I'm sure you won't mind being our first volunteer for the morning."

Malfoy cast him a bored look before stepping a few feet from their professor, who by now, had explained the challenge and concept behind it.

"Just a shield?" He asked Snape, who only lifted a brow in answer. Malfoy shrugged again and resumed his stance.

Her eyes drifted back between the two in clear fascination. They seemed to converse silently for a moment longer before Snape fired his first spell. Hermione closed her eyes, waiting for an impact that never came. A few murmurs went through the crowd. Her eyes fluttered open and caught site of the blue shield that had formed around Draco. The bored expression was still on his face, though he did lift his head and inspect his handiwork. She could have sworn a thin smile had stretched across his face.

Snape fired another spell, and still the shield did not break. Again and again. Flash after flash and still Malfoy's shield held. After 10 minutes, Snape lowered his wand. "I see someone has been reading ahead." He dismissed Draco, who was soon lost in a sea of green as the other Slytherins took turns in congratulating him.

"If Malfoy can do it, it can't be too bad." Ron muttered stepping forward as the next volunteer.

Apparently, it could be, because Ron couldn't even get his shield to form. Harry's held for a second before collapsing. Hers was much the same. In fact, no one seemed to have much luck except for Blaise Zabini, whose shield held for a record 2 minutes before breaking.

"How'd the ferret succeed when the bloody lot of us couldn't even form the damn thing." Ron cursed when he failed to form the shield on his second try. Hermione shrugged inching closer to the Slytherins, trying to make out Draco. He was sitting on a table one leg up, with his elbow perched up holding his head. Pansy was asking him something, but he shook his head at her. Their eyes met for a moment, and a scowl stretched across his face before he turned back to watch Padma fail at her 3rd attempt to make the shield.

She watched him, looking for something but not quite sure what she was supposed to find. It wasn't even about the exam anymore, though admittedly, she was still bristling about it. No. Now she was curious, and her curiosity had always got her in trouble. Though in this case, she felt it was necessary. There was something going on, and the tension was palatable in their dorm. He didn't have to talk to her, much less be friendly, but Merlin they had to air out whatever was hanging in the air between them before she murdered him in his sleep.

Or he did her.

When Snape dismissed them, she shot over toward him, but the table was already empty.

Blast.

"Looking for someone?" She turned and saw Blaise leaning casually on a second table. She studied him, his dark gaze was fixed on her. He seemed simultaneously amused and interested in her. It was hard to know what that meant. Blaise Zabini was one of Slytherin's elite, and not for good reason. If his posture was anything to go by, he was a force to be reckoned with.

Her eyes met his gaze, and she willed herself to appear unfazed by his obvious scrutiny.

"I just need to go over some details with Malfoy about our trip to Hogsmeade that's coming up. I just can't seem to catch him at a good time."

The lie was easy. She was almost proud at how it had flowed out of her mouth with no hesitation. Blaise didn't seem to react, though his gaze remained fixed on her.

"I'd have talked to him last night, if he hadn't left in a hurry saying he needed to go to the Slytherin House. Is that where he is now?" She pushed on.

At this, Blaise seemed to shift his weight. He crossed his arms and frowned.

"Draco didn't come to Slytherin yesterday."

Her heart stopped. He must have gone there. No one had been caught passed curfew, and though Hogwarts possessed many tunnels and rooms to seek refuge in, patrols had been altered to be more thorough. He couldn't have evaded all the professors or perfects at once. She should know. She'd helped alter the routes.

Blaise was quiet before regarding her with curiosity. He seemed to come to some conclusion because a resolved expression settled on his dark features and he spun on his heel to leave her. He paused by the doorway and called back over his shoulder.

"Granger." She met his gaze, "You're a really terrible liar."

She was about to retort when Blaise disappeared into the hall.

Draco Malfoy was trying her patience. Logically, the prat could only come up with so many excuses to avoid her, but it seemed whenever she might have the opportunity to catch him alone, another would pop out of his mouth. She was starting to wonder how many headaches a normal person could get, because Malfoy seemed to have one constantly.

She grumbled, huddling her arms tighter around her sides as she watched the flying brooms overhead.

Quidditch had resumed, and with it, more opportunities for the House rivalries to play out.

Slytherin v.s. Gryffindor.

Slytherin was currently in the lead, but if Harry could manage to catch the snitch now they'd win. She could begrudgingly admit that the game was keeping her at the edge of her seat. Her eyes darted to Draco. Despite her overall irritation with him, she had to admire his skill. He really did have grace on his broom. More so than Harry really. While Harry played with his heart out in the open and taking risks, Malfoy was the one who played with skill. He always seemed to be analyzing the others. Come to think of it, the only times Harry had bested Malfoy on the broom was when Draco would abandon his normal strategic approach in favor of his emotions. In other words, when he was angry.

He stalled for a second. No one else seemed to be paying him any mind.

"What's the bugger doing?" she muttered. She followed his line of site and caught a glimpse of gold dashing about. The snitch. Malfoy had spotted the snitch. Her eyes searched for Harry and found him on the opposite side. Why hadn't he taken off after it?

As she thought it, Draco moved.

Toward Harry.

She frowned as she watched Malfoy sweep past Harry, who startled, but quickly followed him. Draco led him through twists and turns before turning sharply to his left, leaving Harry to collide with one of his teammates. He slipped past them both and now headed for the snitch.

She stood on her toes watching as he dove for it.

Her heart skipped a beat as she noted his speed. He was diving too fast. She watched him, transfixed. His grip on his broom seemed to loosen, and he swayed. Her heart pounded louder. She knew it was coming before it happened.

Malfoy's hands slipped from his broom, and Hermione screamed.

Her scream seemed to startle the rest of the players, and suddenly they sprang into action. Two Slytherins dove after him, and a moment later Harry joined them.

While Malfoy had seemed to be falling with little resistance initially, he was now scrambling in the air. He shouted and his broom seemed to spring forward. He'd just grasped it when his left leg skid across the ground.

The snap that sounded seemed to echo across the field as the stadium went silent. It was still ringing in her ears as a whistle sounded, signaling an end to the game. The players, coaches, and Madame Pomfrey sprung toward Draco. Snape had also somehow come onto the field. The stiff Professor was anything but graceful as he sprinted toward the fallen Slytherin.

At the mass movement, she quickly stood pushing passed the crowd and down the stands following them.

Even from where she stood several feet away, she could see that his leg was sprawled at an unnatural angle. The blood flow had been stopped, but it still stained his uniform and his exposed skin. His eyes were wide, like he was in shock and he seemed to be muttering several things at once at Snape. She made one last effort and pushed to the front of the crowd. Pomfrey's eyes landed on her and she immediately started giving her instructions for crowd control so that they could move Draco to the infirmary.

She blinked and started calling for the Perfects and any other students she recognized to help her clear a path. Snape joined her as Pomfrey levitated Draco, much to his protest and moved him forward. When they passed, Snape moved to follow them. She watched their hasty retreat back to the castle, catching sight of Draco's clenched fist at his side.

"What the bloody hell happened?" Ron asked Harry. She turned to look at her friend who was running a hand through his hair. He seemed shaken. "I don't know." It seemed the crowd hushed at those words. She walked to him and looped her arm around his as they walked back toward the castle.

"What happened before he fell?" she asked softly to Harry. He shook his head. "I don't know, he just stopped and…" he trailed off. She nodded walking slower. "He seemed in pain though." he suddenly said. They stopped. She looked to him to continue. "Something about his face, and then he fell."

"You don't think they're going to blame me?" He asked suddenly spinning back to face her. She shook her head. "No. It wasn't your fault." He nodded running another hand through his dark tresses. "He looked pretty banged up."

"It's just his leg." She willed the images of the broken angle it had lain out of her mind. "It could have been worse."

He could have died.

She left Harry at the Gryffindor Tower before heading to the infirmary. She paused at the entryway. Snape and Pomfrey seemed to be arguing about something, while Draco had his head in his hands. He seemed surprisingly calm though three shades paler than he normally was. Gods knew how that was possible.

She trudged closer as Draco snapped at the two adults. "I'm bloody fine. I told you before. I haven't been sleeping well. That's probably why I near collapsed on my broom. Can we please focus on my leg?" Pomfrey stared down at him, studying him closely. He met her gaze, unflinching. After a minute, she threw her hands up in defeat. "I'll get the pain potions. Merlin knows you'll be needing it after the numbing wears off."

She held her breath as Pomfrey snapped in the opposite direction toward her storage area, hugging as she went. She contemplating turning back and heading to her room. She didn't have to be here. Malfoy wasn't fine, though looking worse for wear. Her thoughts were interrupted when a voice rang out.

"If you have something to say Ms. Granger, you may do so in plain sight." Snape said without turning around. She scowled before defiantly continuing all the way over to the bed. Snape regarded her for a moment before he turned to Draco. Something like an understanding seemed to pass between the two before he turned and left the infirmary.

She glanced down at his leg that was thankfully dressed and aligned in the correct direction. The images of how it had been on the field flashed before her, and her stomach churned involuntarily.

"So…" She began.

"It's smashed." He said in a tone much like someone would use in describing the weather. If he thought it was odd that she was there, he didn't show it. He seemed bored, though his eyes were trailing her with a slight glint in them.

"That was quite a fall." She pressed on.

"I suppose it was."

His steel gray eyes kept their gaze on hers. She shook her head after a moment in defeat. If anything, he was less inclined to confide in her about what happened than Pomfrey. His stubbornness was almost admirable. Though, right now, it only served to increase her frustration.

"You've been avoiding me."

She bit it out. There. Straight and to the point. He couldn't avoid answering that directly.

A thin smirk grew across his face as he leaned back into the pillow.

She crossed her arms before continuing, "I wanted to…"

"Are all your friends alright?" he interrupted her. She blinked. "Of course they are, you're the only one who was injured in the game."

He furrowed his brows before shaking his head.

"No, I meant your friends outside these castle walls."

She stopped, the warmth of her blood lost. Her friends were here at Hogwarts. The only people who weren't at the school… He couldn't possibly mean the Order, could he?

He waited for her answer. "Everyone I know is fine." she finally said. He nodded, though his brows furrowed again as he muttered something to himself. Hasn't happened. She caught before he grimaced and gingerly reached to message part of his leg.

"It's starting to hurt, isn't it?"

It could have been a question, but she already knew the answer to it.

He nodded weakly. She sighed. "I'll get Pomfrey." She moved in the direction she'd seen the nurse take only minutes before, when he called out to her.

"Granger."

She turned.

He bit his lip. "Thank you for your concern."

The words shocked her. She felt her hands tremble before she practically ran to Madame Pomfrey. He'd thanked her. He'd thanked her. Mudblood Granger.

He hasn't said Mudblood in 2 years.

And why was that exactly?

She found Harry later, pulling him to the side. "All those meetings with Dumbledore. No one's." she took a breath, "No one's been hurt, right?"

Harry nodded. "Everyone's fine, which is what's got me going crazy. He should be doing something, making a move. Instead, he's waiting it out."

She bit her lip. "Well, at least it gives us time to do the same."

It's a week later when they get the news. Tonks had been attacked.

Well not just Tonks, a few other members of the Order had been targeted. Minor skirmishes. Warm up fights.

Draco's words still rung in her head.

Are all your friends alright?

The one's outside these castle walls.