Hermione stepped out of the infirmary, with Ginny's support, to see Ron and Pansy waiting outside, talking in hushed tones.

"Hey Hermione", Ron greeted her awkwardly.

"Go away Ron!" Ginny answered on her behalf. "So much for fraternizing with the enemies." She added.

"I'm sorry Weasley. I didn't mean to interrupt. I'm just here for Drake. We went through so much together, that I know him more than anyone else. He needs me now more than ever", she said concerned, her eyes wandering to the door, to see if Draco was inside.

"We'll looks like he doesn't need you though, Parkinson. He left with Blaise already", Ginny cut in scathingly.

Pansy's features momentarily turned to surprise, but she regained her composure immediately.

She smiled sweetly at both the girls and replied, "Oh, it's okay then. I'll just meet him up in his dorm. I guess I better be off." She patted Ron's shoulder goodbye and left.

Ginny and Ron had a five second staring match after which Ron looked down sheepishly, since Ginny's stare had turned into a Mrs Weasleyish glare.

"So umm Hermione.." he managed to stutter.

"So Parkinson is it?" replied Ginny

"Yeah well Ginny I'm not here about her, well..."

"But I'm all about her big brother. Have you forgotten how she treated us girls all along?"

"Well so did Malfoy, Ginny. But that doesn't seem to be stopping you lot. Obviously, being a pretty boy has perks, I see."

"Ron, how dare you!"

"He's right Ginny. Let him speak. Everyone deserves a second chance. I'm too tired to argue anyway. I just want to go back to my room", Hermione intervened before their argument spiralled out of control.

"Hermione, I'm sorry. I really am. I know I don't deserve you. I probably never did. But if you have it in your heart, please forgive me.

I don't want our friendship torn apart. You and Harry are the best friends I've got. Can we at least be friends again?"

"No Ron. You didn't just break our relationship. You broke our trust. You sold me out. Whether you did it because you didn't value our friendship or because you didn't value me, I don't know. But you did. And I don't think things can ever go back to being same again.

I forgive you though. I'll still talk to you for Harry's sake, just to avoid things getting more awkward than they are, but that's where I'm drawing the line."

"Thanks Hermione, I'll take what I get."

He rushed forward to give her a hug, but was interrupted by Ginny jutting her elbow in between.

"Hey stop right there! No touchy feely until Hermione is okay with it", she said.

"Um.. I guess just a gesture of goodwill then?" He said extending out his hand

"I guess", Hermione accepted taking his hand.

Breakfast next morning was a subdued affair. Hermione could hear the whispers of people talking about her behind her back.

Harry had kindly offered to cover for her at the Prefect's meeting. She had a feeling Ginny had not told him the whole truth about what happened at the pub, but she wasn't going to change whatever it was she had told him.

Hermione noticed that Draco hadn't turned up for breakfast. She remembered him telling her that Winky sometimes brought him his food. How he had gotten her to quit her addiction and perform her tasks with even the remotest functionality, was still a mystery to her. Whatever it was, she found it quite admirable.

It didn't stop her from wondering if everything was alright with him.

Is he ill? Maybe he's still hungover?

Blaise seemed to be in a sullen mood, as well, attacking his food like it was a Quidditch rival. So Hermione decided it was best if she approached him during class and left for the library with Ginny to get away from the horrible stuff she was hearing about Draco.

Unfortunately, it even followed her to the library.

There was a group of first years huddled together gossiping away near the bookshelves, right behind where she sat.

"I heard she was drunk.."

"I heard she was Imperiused. Shouldn't have hung out with that Death Eater.."

"Is it true she collapsed? Did he jinx her.."

Even Madam Pince was casting them disapproving glances, but that didn't shut them up.

Finally she had had enough.

"Honestly, one would think people come to the library to actually study ", she said to Ginny, exasperated.

She snapped her book shut with a thunderous clap, turned around and spoke loud enough for the gossiping gang to hear, "Five points from each of you for causing disturbance in the library."

They were shocked. Hermione had never been one to deduct points. They scurried out of there, as Madam Pince watched them with indignation all over her face.

She gave Hermione a kind smile as she walked out of the library

Earlier in the Slytherin Dungeons

"You are avoiding her!"

"Am not!"

"Are so! And don't you dare deny it! You are running away from your problems again, Draco. You're going to end up hurting her again."

"I'm protecting her."

"From what, Draco? How the hell are you protecting her if you aren't even around?"

"I'm protecting her from me. And the darkness I bring."

"We settled this! I am not having the Light-and-Dark talk with you again!"

Saying that he walked away.

Potions Dungeons - Two days later.

For Hermione, things had gone back to normal again. Or whatever that was before Draco had entered her life.

Only... She didn't feel so normal anymore.

She was back to partnering with Ginny in all the classes they shared together.

Ginny was an adequate Potions partner, but not as exceptional as Draco was with the Principles of Potioneering and Astronomical charts.

Also, Ginny wasn't taking Ancient Runes or Arithmancy so she was back to solving her crypts and problems all alone.

To top it all, her nightmares, which had become less nightmarish lately, had returned with a sworn vengeance, hell-bent on unleashing an all-out war on her sanity.

In a span of two days, Hermione felt as if she had reached the end of the rope.

She had turned pale and her eyes had dark bags underneath them.

Until now Draco had been avoiding her. Since he had made it very clear that he didn't want any contact with her, she didn't bother him, either.

She went about her way and continued on as if he didn't exist.

Except he did.

While she was gathering up her Potions Kit to leave, a butterfly flew by and landed on Hermione's wrist. But then, she noticed it wasn't a butterfly.

It was a bewitched piece of parchment.

She decided to open the note in a more private place and walked out of the dungeon, when a pair of iron-hard hands grabbed her and pulled her behind the door.

She wanted to scream as she saw the last of the students walking away from behind the door hinges, but she was gagged with one hand firmly on her mouth closing it tightly shut, and another hand holding her hands and tiny frame from moving, and reaching for her wand.

"Relax Granger", a familiar voice drawled, and she visibly relaxed for a moment. But only for a moment.

It was Draco. How dare he avoid her and act like a jerk! She wanted to turn around and slap his pale face until it turned red.

"Shhh.. You don't want people finding us here and fuelling the rumours Granger. I just want a word, I don't have time." He spoke in hurried whispers.

"I'm sorry for everything. Read my note", he said.

And then, he spoke leaning in closer.

"Wait for me."

And then he left, just as soon as the doors moved in together, closing themselves shut.

She opened the parchment and there was a small note written in a neat hand.

"I'll come back to you, soon. Wait for me."

It was the last weekend before Christmas Holidays began. So Hermione had decided to visit Hogsmeade with Harry, Ron and Ginny to see the Weasley twins.

Hogwarts halls were filled with chatter of who was leaving for home during the holidays and who wasn't.

Hermione was staying back since she was still not on the best terms with her parents.

Ron was staying back because he was grounded and wasn't very welcome at The Burrow at the moment.

Ginny stayed back saying that she wanted to be there for Hermione, whatever that meant.

Harry stayed back since he saw no point going back without the rest.

"Come on Hermione!" Harry's voice sounded outside her dorm. "Wake up! We'll be late!"

She stepped out of her bedroom to see Ginny, Ron and Harry waiting up in the common room.

"Give me five minutes", she said, and hurried to put on her clothes and head out to meet her favourite twins.