A/N: Thank you for everyone who left a review, it made my day reading them. Also, for abcd1255, you're right to think that Draco wouldn't experience an abrupt change of mind because of something so simple. I think most changes; though, occur in steps, and as the story progresses, the culmination of things that eventually forced Draco to change his mind will become clearer.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. All quotes in this chapter come from the Iliad.

"So who else knows?" She murmured as they walked down the hall. He'd felt better by the third day and insisted on going to class. He was tired of four walls and silence. They'd argued for hours over it.

"You can't even breathe properly. How do expect to make it through the day?"

"Merlin Granger, I'm going to go and sit in a classroom and probably fall asleep in History of Magic. I'm not running a marathon."

Though after careful persuasion and against her better judgement, she'd found herself caving under those silver orbs.

She was starting to think that she was only getting more confused about Draco Malfoy as time went on.

"Snape. Dumbledore." he spat, obviously displeased at that fact, "Bugger actually guessed."

She hit his arm, as they came up on a few 3rd years. He shot her a look before sneering toward the children to get to class. When they rounded the corner, he continued. "Blaise." he pursed his lips, "Pansy suspects, but I haven't told her."

"And me." She said.

He nodded. "And you." He winced, rubbing his temple.

She was about to comment when he stopped, and turned to go down another hall. "Where are you going?"

"I have a Charms assignment I never turned in for Flitwick. I'll be there." he said waving her on.

"But it's Snape."

"He's my godfather, all he'll try to do is embarrass me when I walk in late." He coughed lightly. Again she moved to comment, but he beat her to it.

"I'm fine." he said walking down the hall.

She bit her lip and turned down the other hall. Harry and Ron were off to the side when she came in. She walked slowly toward them. The feeling of the dark text in her hands from the other night suddenly fresh on her mind. It was vile. The things written in that book made her want to toss it into her fireplace and then vanish the ashes. What could Harry possibly need from it?

"We have to meet tonight." she whispered when she finally reached them both.

Harry nodded, obviously expecting this. She was vaguely aware of the classroom door opening and then shutting.

"And you have to tell me why we are looking in that horrid book." she hissed before closing her mouth shut and focusing on the entering Professor.

Snape walked slowly to the front of the room. When he finally reached his place, the door opened again. A flash of white blonde hair confirmed it was Draco, who seemed determined to take his place amongst the Slytherins as quickly and quietly as possible.

"Mr. Malfoy."

Draco turned his head, and caught Snape's eye. Something flashed over their professor's face, gone as soon as it came. Hermione frowned, but Draco didn't show any signs of concern.

"Do take your place."

She watched as he crossed the room; that same aristocratic glide in his step. Though the rest of him gave away how he felt. His skin was still pale, tinged with gray, and based on the irregular movements of his chest, his breathing was still labored.

"Malfoy looks like hell." Harry commented, completely focused on his rival.

"Yeah. Prat should have stayed in bed, Snape looks like he's on a rampage." Ron replied.

Draco made it to the Slytherin side, and, immediately, Pansy had come over to inspect him. She leaned in and was obviously fussing over him. He said something to her, and she stilled and turned to face Snape.

Snape glanced at the room before clearing his throat. "We resume our lesson on the defenses of the mind."

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Draco stiffen.

"Hallucination and other influences on the mind are extremely effective, though quite draining. They are meant to distract one's opponent long enough to then strike. The ability to resist as well as cast such a spell is reflection on the strength of the mind. The weaker the mind." Snape paused, his eyes settling on the trio. "The faster they fall."

Harry clenched his fist.

Allusio.

The counter Claritate.

After a quick introduction, Snape called out pairs before pausing to consider who would go first. His head turned to Harry, and a slight smirk pulled at his lips.

"Mr. Potter." Snape called as he scanned the room for Harry's opponent, "And Mr. Malfoy. Consider this a welcome back of sorts."

The room erupted into whispers. Her heart dropped. Malfoy coughed, sputtering in surprise. At the sound, Snape focused on him for a moment. Again, she got the impression that they were conversing without needing to speak. When Draco didn't get the response he wanted, he huffed and stepped forward with Harry. He'd assumed his bored expression, which she was fast learning was what he used to hide his emotions.

"Both will cast the spell. You will then wait for the other to break through the hallucination." He paused, "Then you may strike. Non-verbal magic only." He added as an afterthought.

Harry looked livid, while Draco remained blank.

Snape gave the signal, and both boys cast their spells. She held her breath. All eyes waited for a sign from the two. When Harry jerked to the side, she knew.

Draco allowed himself a smirk as he watched Harry stumble around like he was avoiding something. The Slytherin's were snickering and even some Gryffindors had half-hidden smirks on their faces.

Draco held his gaze at Harry as though they were alone in the room.

She bit her lip. "Harry needs to snap out of it quick." Ron grumbled. After a few minutes, Harry broke the spell and immediately shot another at Draco.

She shut her eyes, but the impact never came. A murmur went through the crowd. Draco's shield had gone up instantly and the spell slid past him. She glanced at it in awe. Harry hit him with spell after spell, but the shield held.

"What's he doing?" Ron muttered.

"Conserving his strength." Hermione said instantly. The second she said it, she realized it was true. "Harry needs to change his strategy." She said, keeping her eyes on Draco before stealing a glance to Harry. Her heart sank, Harry's face reflected his frustration. His emotions had taken over, while Malfoy was sticking to his plan.

Just as Harry was about to cast another spell, Malfoy dropped his shield. Harry looked dumbfounded, and at that moment, Draco's second spell hit. With a flash of red, Harry flew back. "Harry!" Ron called racing over when Harry didn't stand. "Ron." She caught Draco's eye, "It was Stupefy." She said calming him. She and the Gryffindors circled around Harry. She stole a glance to Malfoy who had turned to shoot a smirk in his house's direction, but again, she caught his gaze. He looked troubled. At this point, Harry had been revived and was rushing to stand on his feet.

Snape stepped between the two. He glanced at Harry before turning to Draco.

"Very good Mr. Malfoy." He said before signaling that class was over. Draco put his wand away, glancing at Harry before he spun on his heel and left the room.

"What happened Harry?" She asked as she took his arm and helped him to stand.

"I don't know, but he shouldn't have been able to get into my head." Harry snapped before storming out of the room.

"Bloody Hell." Ron muttered beside her.

They turned and followed Harry, who had stopped in front of a portrait with a dumbfounded expression.

"Harry." She called softly.

He sighed. "I'm sorry I snapped."

"S'alright mate." Ron said.

"I just." Harry ran a hand through his hair, "All those lessons, and he still broke through."

"I know Harry." She said, putting a hand on his shoulder. He shook his head.

"Forget it." He waved his hand in the air, as though he was waving away the incident. He sighed again and turned to face her.

"Have you had a chance to look into it then?" He said changing the subject, "The thing I gave you?"

She nodded slowly. "What on earth am I looking for exactly."

"Dumbledore thinks Voldemort made some."

Her heart stilled.

They'd been walking and had somehow ended up in the first-floor girl's bathroom. "How many?" She said then, suddenly quite sick to her stomach.

He shook his head. "I don't know, but we've been going through some memories."

"How long?" Ron interrupted. They both turned toward him. "How long before we leave?" he asked again, "That is what this is, you telling us we'll have to leave and search for whatever they are."

Harry nodded. "I don't know, but soon."

When she finally made it back to her room, Draco was sleeping on their couch with a potion vial in front of him. She quietly stepped into the Common Room, but her efforts were futile. The moment that she put her book down on the table, his eyes fluttered open. He groaned as he sat up and rubbed his temples.

He still looked exhausted. She almost wanted to tell him to go back to sleep, but they needed to talk to him. Now before later.

"Shouldn't have gone." he mumbled, still half asleep as he got up to the kitchen. A moment later, she heard the whistle of the kettle. He reappeared with a mug in his hand looking considerably more awake.

"What were you thinking?" She said, when he turned to face her.

"What was I thinking? What was Potter thinking, hurling every spell in our goddamn text at me." he hissed.

"He was trying to break your shield." She watched. His face contorted and his entire body seemed to tremble.

"Bullshit. Bullshit. Bullshit." he exclaimed, "It was all a fucking test."

"Wha.."

"Snape, the git was testing us. I passed. Potter failed." He was fuming. He pinched the bridge of his nose, steadying his breathing. "He sent a message."

"That you're mentally stronger than Harry," Hermione snapped.

"That Potter can be defeated with two spells, and the second won't be Stupefy." he snapped back. She bit her lip.

"I shouldn't be in that class." he huffed in frustration.

"Then why are you?" She pushed.

"Because Dumbledore wouldn't split DADA. He refused." He blinked, suddenly schooling his sharp features to a blank expression. He'd revealed more than he wanted, and he was going to stop himself from giving her more.

Taking in his expression, she narrowed her eyes. "How did you get so good?"

"The same reason you've been looking for a mark on my forearm for weeks." he bit back.

"I…" she stammered, stepping back; acutely aware of how close they'd been gravitating toward one another. He glanced her over, his eyes darkened to the color of storm clouds.

He smirked. "What, you didn't think I noticed that? You Gryffindor's." he shook his head, "You're not cut out for stealth."

Her cheeks flushed. He was regarding her with pure indifference, but his eyes, they always seemed to give him away. At least to her. She crossed her arms, defiant.

"You're deflecting."

"I'm protecting myself." he retorted, "Not all of us have Dumbledore watching over and spoon feeding us lessons."

"How do you…"

"Honestly, what do he and Potter do all day, discuss the weather?" He ranted before he broke down in a fit of coughing. He stumbled, and she instinctively caught him by the shoulder.

"Stop it." She said, "This isn't getting us anywhere."

He grunted in agreement, pushing himself off her and settling back on the couch. He winced and leaned his head back with his eyes closed. "Soon. So soon." he murmured, "Then we all have to pick sides."

"Haven't you already?"

"They have my mother, Hermione." His entire body went slack at the revelation, and she swore he'd never looked as defeated as he did in that moment. It was hard to say why he was suddenly so keen on telling her all these things, but he was. He trusted her. It warmed her, even if it was only because she already knew his biggest secret.

"I won't leave her, and she won't leave my father."

He was giving her an opportunity. Finally, a chance to talk about the matter that always hung like a dark cloud unspoken and unacknowledged between them.

"Draco, why do you meet with Dumbledore?"

He looked thoughtful.

"Pray that you'll come home again, back from your enemies, since your heart urges you against my will to those swift ships."

She stiffened at the quote. Priam sneaking amongst the Greeks to retrieve his son.

His dead son.

"I'm going to bed." He stood swiftly, and walked to his room.

"Draco." He turned.

"If he captures you, once he sees you, that man's so savage, so unreliable, he'll show no pity."

A second. Two.

"I know."

Then the door closed.

She wasn't sure why, but at that she fell to the couch. Tears filled her eyes, and she cried.