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She remembered the last time she'd been this nervous. The Yule ball, in the midst of the tournament. She'd been so nervous to even walk down the steps. Her hands went instinctively to flatten her dress as she took one last gaze in the mirror.

Ginny had done a number on her hair. She'd kept the curls, but now they lay tame flowing from one side of her neck in cascades. She swallowed roughly.

"Are you sure you don't want us to leave together?" He'd been confused at her request, but he'd humored her and left a good hour ago. No doubt huddled in some corner in Slytherin, nursing another headache.

The other pain potion from Pansy was still sitting, untouched, in his room. He kept insisting he didn't need it, but she knew that wasn't the case. Not when she came back to the dorm to find him with the lights all off, hands rubbing circles at his temples. He was becoming reliant, and the thought didn't seem to sit well with him. He took to distractions, books mostly, to help him forget about the constant pounding in his head.

It was one failed attempt after another to persuade him to take it before the dance, but again, he refused. They numbed his senses, and he wanted to be awake and alert.

She sighed and turned from the mirror.

She was beginning to see why he thought of his gift more like a curse.

They had agreed to meet at the steps to the hall and then slip in unnoticed through a side entrance. She walked slowly, her stomach still tangled in knots. He was at the end of the steps near the wall, with his back turned to her. If it weren't for the way he straightened at the sound of her heels, she'd have thought he didn't even know she was there. He didn't turn, though.

She frowned, but continued, slower down each step.

Had he changed his mind?

"Wait." He called back.

She stopped, frozen on the third to last step. He turned slowly.

It would be an outright lie to say that Draco Malfoy wasn't a smart dresser. His entire wardrobe was filled with expensive suits and dark shirts. The dress robes he was currently wearing were no exception; cut slightly different with just the right angles to complement his lean figure. She let her gaze move up and settle on his eyes, surprised when she found he'd done the same. And those grey eyes, those storm clouds were something she could never recall them ever being; clear.

He stepped, each movement his own personal dance, toward her. Her hand found his as he leaned in close. "Breathtaking." He whispered before pulling away and leading her down the last few steps.

"Not bad yourself." She said.

He smirked. "Why Granger, I believe you just gave me a compliment."

He was keeping the mood light. She was grateful for that.

"Keep moving ferret." She teased as she looped her arm in his. He smirked again before drawing them to the side and through a small door.

The party seemed to have gotten underway. Chatter echoed all around the hall. She had to admit that the sight was beautiful. The decorations were flawlessly spread from the tables to the ceiling that was spelled to look like it was snowing.

She turned and found Draco to be looking towards the dance floor with genuine interest. Her eyes followed his gaze, and she saw Pansy and Millicent both dancing. The corner of his lip was turned up in a half smile. "Good on Pans." He murmured.

She was about to speak when she heard her name being called from behind. She turned dropping Draco's arm to find Lavender walking toward her. "Oh Hermione you look lovely." She said once she'd gotten closer. Her eyes glued to the dress. "Thank you Lavender, and you do too." Lavender grinned, completely aware of the fact.

Draco cleared his throat, and Lavender turned her head. "Oh. Malfoy. I didn't see you there."

He let out a puff of breath that sounded suspiciously like a laugh, but made no move to acknowledge her otherwise. Lavender's eyes stayed on Malfoy. "So did you two come together?"

Draco glanced at her. He was giving her the choice of what to say. She bit her lip before nodding slowly. "We did. You know, the two Heads coming together; it seemed right."

Lavender looked disappointed for a moment. "Oh, well I hope you both have a good night." She said to her before turning to Malfoy, "You wouldn't happen to know where Blaise is?"

He glanced down at her, with a brow raised. How he managed to look completely bored at the girl's question, she'd never know.

"He came with Daphne."

Lavender met his gaze for a moment, before huffing and leaving them.

"About as subtle as a hippogriff that one." He muttered when she'd left. Hermione chuckled. "I suppose she has to get her gossip from somewhere."

Malfoy blinked before laughing. "An insult, I'm impressed Granger."

She laughed, but caught him grimace after a moment. She slipped her arm back through his and leaned in. "I told you to take the pain potion." He shook his head. His lids shut for a moment, and when it seemed to pass, he opened them again. "Would you like to dance?" he asked suddenly. She frowned, but found that he'd dragged them onto the floor without waiting for her response.

His hands immediately went into the position he'd no doubt been drilled to learn, and soon they were swaying slowly to the music. His jawline was hard, and his posture stiff.

He was trying to distract himself.

She pulled him closer to her, pleased when his eyes widened in shock.

"If you need a distraction, at least do it properly." She chided him. She had a second to worry about the sudden mischief that had sparked in his gray eyes, before she was sent spinning in one direction and back.

When her vision focused again, she was caught between his arms as he smirked down at her. "Better?" he asked innocently.

"Ass." She muttered.

He laughed, but settled back into a normal step. The song soon ended, and he pulled away from her. She mourned the loss of contact. He'd felt so warm.

He was looking above her head. "I'm getting a drink." He said before gesturing to her in the direction he'd been looking.

Ron and Harry were both staring at her like she'd somehow turned into an alien object. Ginny, though, only a step away, was absolutely beaming.

She walked carefully toward the three, prepared for a screaming match to ensue; however, none came. They were in shock.

"Hermione." Harry finally began, "Were you dancing with Malfoy?"

She nodded slowly.

"Why?" Ron finally blurted out.

"Because I came with him Ron." She said stealing a glance to Ginny. The red head bit her lip in attempt to keep from laughing, while shaking her head.

"But it's Malfoy." Ron said. Harry nodded quickly.

She took a breath. "Yes it is, but he's also the other Head. We both thought it would be a nice show of unity if we both came together."

"Malfoy thought…" Harry began.

She quickly cut him off. "Yes. He was the one who suggested it."

"But it's Malfoy." Ron said, seemingly desperate.

"I know." Her voice lowered, "and trust me when I say that I wouldn't have agreed if I didn't know for sure that he was." She paused. "Different."

Harry looked like he wanted to protest, so she quickly continued. "Trust in me and my judgement. I know what I'm doing."

Harry's gaze softened. "Of course, I trust you Hermione." He ran a hand through his hair. "I just don't trust Malfoy."

Her face fell. Seeing her expression, he smiled and put his arms at her shoulders. "But I do trust your judgement. I've had to rely on it more times than I can count, so if you're sure then..."

"Thank you Harry." She hugged him tightly. He grinned sheepishly before turning to Ginny and asking her to dance.

"And you're alright and sure that he's different Mione?" Ron pushed after Harry had left. She nodded, spotting Draco's light head. He was standing beside Theo Nott with a deep scowl on his face. A moment later, it broke into a smile as Theo continued to speak.

"In the ways that matter." She said before walking toward him. He'd seen her start moving toward him, and met her half way.

"All is well between the Golden Trio?" he said. She rolled her eyes before curling a loose strand of her hair between her fingertips. "More peaceful than expected." She bit her lip, noticing a few more stray eyes wonder their way.

"Although, I'm not sure I can take any other confrontations tonight." She added.

He nodded, and she didn't miss the way he winced again before turning his gaze back toward her. "Let's step out then."

She caught Lavender and Parvati staring at them and shook her head. "I think that might make it worse."

He cocked his head and after a moment he stalked off toward a corner of the room. She rolled her eyes, quickly catching up to him. "Where are we..."

Wordlessly, he pulled her arm and turned her toward a wall. "Draco." She tried again. "Just walk." He said, gesturing to the wall. She turned and found that no one was paying them any attention in this corner of the room. "Through a wall." She deadpanned.

"You're a witch. This can't be the most impossible thing you've ever done." He said before moving in front of her and quickly disappearing through the wall. Her eyes widened, and a grin slowly spread across her face. Quickly, she pulled her skirt up slightly and walked in after him.

It was darker, compared to the hall outside that was lit with warmth and filled with the chatter of students. There was a desk near the corner and the entire room was lined with bookshelves. She smiled at the sight. She looked behind her and gasped when she realized she could see directly back into the Hall. The figures continued moving about, all oblivious to the room that lay just a wall away.

"Amazing isn't it." Draco said coming up behind her.

She nodded, enjoying the heat of his body near her. The room, while lovely, was dreadfully cold. He seemed to notice because in a second his jacket was off and around her shoulders. It was a like a reflex. He hardly seemed to think much about it at all. More evidence of the manners that had been instilled in him.

She bit her lip and asked, "How did you find it?"

"By accident." He grinned, "Goyle and I stumbled up on it when we came in late to dinner during 4th year. Then we all got together spelled the room so that only one of us could ever find it."

"Sneaky Slytherin."

His grin widened.

Her eyes drifted to the books. He motioned for her to explore as he started on the opposite side. She let her fingers glide over the spines of the books. Hundreds and she hadn't read so many of them. She heard him sniff behind her. She frowned before pulling out an interesting history text.

Another sniffle came, and she clutched the book closer before turning back to him. He caught her gaze, looking up from where he'd been browsing. "What?"

"You're not getting sick again are you?"

He frowned before the realization dawned on him. A thin smirk formed. "Why? Worried about me Granger?"

"Of course." She said softly. She was confused. If he was getting sick, why would he joke about it, considering the last time he'd been sick it had been something as extreme as pneumonia?

The smirk faded. Some unidentifiable emotion passed over his sharp features, and his gaze softened.

"No. I'm fine." He said. She shot him a look. "I'm fine." He repeated before crinkling his nose, "Everything's just gathered a lot more dust since the last time I've been here. It doesn't normally bother me this much, but that, and the fact that it's bloody cold..." He reached into his pocket and pulled his wand.

She nodded, feeling the room warm with his charm. She watched him, a finger under his nose before he unconsciously rubbed it and continued scanning the shelves.

Course it would bother him, his immune system was probably shot to hell. No sleep. Under constant stress. Anxious beyond belief. It was a miracle he hadn't died from the pneumonia last month.

She stole another glance at him. She wondered if she brewed an immune strengthening potion, if he would take it. Offering him muggle vitamins was out of the question. He'd reject them on principle.

She blinked replacing the book in her hands back on the shelf before continuing down the aisles.

She could probably slip it in his tea… She stopped. Merlin, when had she started thinking like Luna?

Probably around the time she started worrying about his wellbeing.

She smiled to herself, deciding to look up a potion recipe when they went back to the room. She pulled his jacket tighter around herself.

"We've been in here a while." He said stopping by the wall looking out back at the ball.

"We should probably go back." She murmured coming to stand beside him. He sniffed again.

"Probably spark even more chatter when we walk out." He glanced at her with a mischievous smile, "Though coming out impeccably dress will probably silence them."

She snorted.

"Please. You always come out impeccably…." She trailed off with her cheeks flaming. He lifted a brow, a curious expression on his face. "You've seen me come out." He paused, biting back laughter, "impeccably dressed?"

"I…" She stammered, "Once. After a Quidditch game. I was going to find Harry in the locker rooms, and then…Gods. You, then Astoria, who looked like she'd sat through a hurricane."

He laughed. In fact, he laughed so hard that he was soon gasping for breath. She smacked his arm. He quieted at that, but the smile never left his face. It was nice to see it. Her own lips stretched at the sight.

She glanced out to the ball waiting for an opportunity to sneak back out. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught Draco's eyes glaze over. After a moment, he shook his head, wincing.

"You're taking the pain potion when we get back." She mumbled, "Even if I have to force it down your throat."

He said nothing before pulling her through the wall. "So bossy Granger." He said softly. She shot him a look, grumbling as they walked through the Hall. She shrugged off his jacket, but he waved his hand for her to keep it.

He stopped, swaying slightly as he grew unfocused. "Draco?"

That's when the ceiling exploded.