AN: Back to normally timed chapters, I just wanted you to experience this 'special' time with Draco and Hermione both, anyway enjoy.

Thanks to 4everanime and fiolina for reviewing!

Read and review please!

Song suggestion: Turning tables, Adele.

Chapter Sixteen: Sorting out.

"Come on." Harry nudged Hermione up and the Golden Trio stood up, "We better get to bed."

"I have to stay in the same area as Malfoy." Hermione worried.

"Don't worry…how about this, Ron and I will escort you to your room, ward your room from you getting out and him in and have Ginny come and get you in the morning."

"That's a bit dramatic, but could you?" Hermione asked sheepishly.

"Of course."

"Remember I have to be up at five." Hermione stressed.

"Okay, I'll tell Ginny."

"Okay, tell her the password is the Latin for password."

"Okay, what is the Latin for password?"

"Ginny knows." Hermione laughed as they walked to her portrait.

"Ready?" Ron asked.

"Nope, let's go." Hermione huffed, "Signum."

Hermione stepped in first with Harry and Ron flanking her before she shut the entrance. The three Slytherins turned to look at them as they walked carefully through and Malfoy stood up.

"No, Draco." Pansy whispered to him and holding him back from going to Hermione, "Not tonight."

"Okay." He sighed quietly and slumped back in his seat.

"You okay, Hermione?" Pansy asked Hermione.

"Um…yeah, fine, you?" She wasn't used to Pansy's kind nature, though Pansy had become more tolerant since her relationship with Blaise began.

"I'm good thanks, congratulations on becoming Head Girl."

"Thank you." Hermione nodded, "Goodnight."

"Night." The Slytherins watched them go silently then.

"What they are they going to do? Sleep in her room with her?" Blaise shook his head in disbelief, once they were out of earshot.

"I don't know." Draco sighed and put his head in his hands.

"It's okay Draco, give her some space and she'll come around." Pansy smiled, "Come on, bedtime you." Pulling Blaise up, they headed out, "Bye Draco."

"See you." Blaise nodded before following his Mate out.

Sighing Malfoy got up and headed up the stairs but stopped on seeing Potter casting spells on Hermione's door.

"What are you doing?" He demanded.

"Careful Ron." Harry cautioned his angry friend before turning to Malfoy, "She asked us to do this; it's none of your business."

"Fine." He sneered, "Just piss off when you're done."

"Gladly." Ron spat.

"Potter, Weasley." Malfoy suddenly tried to be civil for Granger's sake before walking in his room and slamming the door. He wondered whether Granger would expect them all to be friends if they became Mates.

"He's such a git." Ron scowled after Malfoy shut his door.

"Come on Ron." Harry rolled his eyes, "All done Hermione! I left the password to undo the ward under your door."

"Thanks guys." Hermione called back before her best friends left for Gryffindor tower.

Then she was alone. Quickly Hermione went through her nightly routine before settling into bed with a book. Absorbing it as much as she could before she lay down and closed her eyes. This is so hard. She sighed internally. It was as if her body knew Malfoy was just a couple of walls away, it was telling her to go to him and complete the Veela Mating Ritual, but she restrained herself and forced herself to sleep, knowing she couldn't avoid the dreams though.

Malfoy had finished his nightly routine and was lay in bed thinking of Granger in the other room. His Veela side was calling him to go in there and complete the Mating Ritual and he couldn't restrain himself. He clambered out of bed and swung open the door before heading straight to hers and reaching for the handle. Suddenly a spark zapped his hand and he was forced backwards, almost falling down the stairs. Staring angrily at the handle, he now knew what Potter had been doing. The git had set up wards! Furious, Malfoy headed back to bed and lay down in a huff.

At least I can still contact her through our shared dreams. He thought before forcing himself to ignore his still recovering body to sleep. Though Malfoy had no control over the dreams like Hermione at least they were to his taste.

"Hermione!" Ginny yelled shaking her best friend, "Wake up!"

"Huh? Ginny?" Hermione rubbed her eyes.

"Yes, here for your five o'-bleeding-clock wake up call, now get up." The younger witch looked irritable and scowled at the clock every now and then.

"Okay, okay." She smiled, "Thank you so much."

"Yes, yes, now get dressed, I'll stand guard."

"Thanks Ginny."

"Right, go!" She stressed.

"Going, going!" Hermione hurried through her morning routine in the bathroom and met Ginny in her room again.

"Right, we have forty five minutes to spare, what do you want to do?"

"I don't know." Hermione shrugged.

"We could hang out in the common room."

"But Malfoy-"

"Will be nowhere near you." Ginny vowed and tugged her down to find an empty common room.

"Thank goodness." Hermione slumped on the cushions.

"Thank goodness what?" Malfoy's voice drifted down to them as he descended the stairs.

"Nothing." Hermione snapped.

"Avoiding me?" He sighed.

"It's not avoiding, it's selectively spending time." Hermione smiled.

"That's avoiding."

"No, it's not." She stood up.

"Easy Hermione." Ginny grabbed her, "Stay away from him." She hissed.

"He will not win this; I don't avoid people, and certainly not him." Hermione frowned.

"So did you get your check up?" Ginny asked thinking of the brief casting of a spell she'd been subjected to last night.

"Yeah, we're clear."

"So is everyone else, I don't think it's really affected our years yet anyway, it seems to work from year to year."

"Thank goodness."

"Come on, let's go now and be early, how you like to be, this is just too depressing." Ginny sighed and they stood up.

"Do you mind if I walk with you, I was just heading down too?" He smirked.

"Actually I would mind, so walk on your own." Hermione spat and hurried out with Ginny as Malfoy chuckled.

"Avoiding me." As soon as the door shut, he nearly heaved over in pain at her harsh demeanour. She really hates me. He slowly calmed himself telling himself that she would calm down and be his soon enough. Then he made his way to the Hall like all the other Seventh and Sixth Years.

As the students sat at their respective tables the same thoughts ran through their heads. What's this all about? Where is all the staff?

Then the staff plus the Minister of Magic and several of his staff entered the Hall.

Well this is going to be interesting. Both Draco and Hermione thought.