Hermione and Ginny were sitting at the Gryffindor table during lunch a few days after their most recent prefects' meeting when Hermione finally found the opportunity to discuss the issue.

"Ginny, can I ask you something?"

"Shoot," said Ginny, in the milliseconds she was gracious enough to spare before inhaling a nearby muffin.

"Well…" Hermione, hesitated. "I was wondering if you had noticed anything different about Draco Malfoy?"

"You mean like, how he's not on the Slytherin quidditch team anymore? Guess they finally realized he was a rubbish seeker. Ha! Or, perhaps, are you referring to how his self-righteous smile has turned permanently upside down? I reckon it's because he hasn't got any of mates left to stroke his abnormally large ego." Ginny chuckled proudly at herself.

Under normal circumstance, Hermione would have been greatly humored by this comment. But what Ginny had just pointed out as a joke only made her feel even more uneasy. Draco wasn't on the quidditch team this year? Somehow this tidbit had gone under her radar. It made sense though. As head boy, he wouldn't necessarily have time for such extracurricular activities. Nonetheless, she was still puzzled. She had always had the impression that he'd been rather attached to the sport. She frowned. "No I meant, do you think he's, er, rather more… mundane this year?"

Hermione took a swig of tea as Ginny paused the annihilation of her ham sandwich to consider. "Can't say I've noticed as much. Though, he's never really had much to say to me at all, good or bad. I count myself rather lucky for that actually. But, I don't know, if he is, I wouldn't look into it too much. Mum always said it was a bad idea to look a gift horse in the mouth," Ginny stated matter-of-factly. After another great bite of her sandwich she said ponderously, "Though, now that you mention it, he was uncharacteristically decent at our meeting the other day."

"Yeah," said Hermione. She furrowed her brows. "He and I have been working together as head boy and girl, and it just seems like he's being a lot better about it than I thought he would."

"Maybe the war has gone and given him a good sobering up. 'Bout time too."

Hermione pondered this for a moment. There was certainly some merit to that possibility. Now that she thought about it, he was the only seventh year Slytherin boy to return for another year. That had to mean something…

"Well thanks Ginny. I'm going to head up to the Library for a while, so I'll see you around." Ginny smiled and nodded as her cheeks bulged with potato salad. Hermione's mood lifted at the sight of her chipmunk-faced friend and she actually managed a smile. A sudden pang throbbed in her chest as the image reminded her of Ron. She hadn't seen or heard from him since the day she had left for Hogwarts.

When she arrived in the Library, she made her way to the special prefects' study room and pulled out a bit of parchment. She would write him immediately. Perhaps he could even give her some advice.

Dear Ron,

How are things at the ministry? Are you and Harry taking care of
yourselves alright? It's been fairly lonely without the two of you here.
I miss your companionship. But I'm getting along, and I still have Ginny
to keep me company.

Since I haven't written you, I supposed you haven't yet heard who my
fellow head boy is this year. You wouldn't believe it, but it's Draco
Malfoy. McGonagall chose the both of us to promote some sort of
sense of unity or something. She's hoping that we'll be able to
show others how to turn a new leaf.

It hasn't been as awful as I thought. He hasn't really said much to me
in general, and he has yet to do anything particularly insulting.
Very peculiar. Please do write, to tell me how you're doing, and let
me know what you think about this odd turn of events.

Missing you dearly,
Hermione

She leaned back in her chair and stared at the arched ceiling high above her. It was still September. The next opportunity she would have to see him would be at Christmas break. She groaned at the thought. That was nearly three months away.

She managed to send the letter that afternoon during her free period after Transfigurations class. But when a week passed with no reply, she was growing increasingly worried that she had picked the wrong owl and somehow her note had been misplaced.

To her absolute delight, something much better than a letter was delivered. Ron surprised her in the Library early on a Sunday morning. She recognized the fiery red hair instantly as it rounded a bookshelf nearby. Immediately, she jumped up and threw herself upon him, catching his lips with hers. Oh, how she'd missed him! They broke apart, giggling and blushing wildly, both beaming.

Ron, predictably, made a fuss when Hermione suggested they simply sit and chat in the Library, claiming that he'd spent enough time around "those dusty old books" in the years he'd attended prior and insisted they go elsewhere. So, they took off to walk hand in hand around the ground outside of Hogwarts.

"When I got your letter, I just knew I had to come visit you. I had imagined you exactly the same way I found you, actually. Surrounded by books, not talking to anyone. I couldn't bear the thought of you all alone here with a bunch of old books as company." She couldn't help but laugh.

"Oh Ron, you make it sound so dreadful. I love books, remember? Or has it been too long?"

"Well it's definitely been too long. I missed you something awful 'Mione." He gave her hand a slight squeeze as his eyes found hers.

"And I you. But I've been alright, really. I imagine Ginny's been writing every now and then?"

"Well, I wouldn't say that. At least, she hasn't been writing to me. Harry gets a letter every now and then, but I reckon he's still a bit uncomfortable around me with the subject so I haven't heard much. I expect she's pretty busy though?"

"Pretty busy might even be an understatement. Nearly had to build a completely new team this year, didn't she? I sat in on one of their practices and she's really doing a good job of whipping the team into shape. She's taking it very seriously. All of her excess time is dedicated to it, so I don't get to see her as much as I'd like, but we sit together every day at lunch and we hang out with each other in the Gryffindor common room every now and then."

"That's what Harry and I miss the most." His tone was wistful. "Being in Gryffindor house. Not enough to wish we'd come back to school this year, mind you. We really are so happy at the aurors office."

"No I get it," she said with a smile. She knew would miss it dearly too. Luckily, her time as a Gryffindor alumni was still quite a ways off, but she knew when the spring semester rolled around she'd be trying hard not to bawl her eyes out every day. It would be a bittersweet ending to, arguably, the best chapter of her life.

"But you and Harry are doing all right? And Kreacher? You haven't missed any meals have you?"

"Not one," said Ron, patting his stomach lovingly. Hermione giggled, then stopped to look at him. A questioning look crossed his face.

"God, I've missed you so much," she breathed. He pulled her in for a sturdy embrace. They stood, wrapped contentedly together in the cool autumn air for what seemed like hours. When they released each other to continue walking, it still didn't seem long enough.

"How did you get here, by the way? Certainly not by train?" she asked him as they sat down on a couple of rocks near the lake. He shook his head.

"Apparated to Hogsmeade. Had to tell McGonagall I was coming though. She was cool about it. Hey, that reminds me, how are things as head girl? You mentioned Malfoy in your letter. He isn't really head boy is he? You're just trying to pull one over on me."

She shook her head, her mouth set grimly. "I'm afraid not." He looked at her incredulously.

"What in Merlin's name was McGonagall thinking? Malfoy? For God's sakes, you'd think there'd be someone in the bloody school better suited for the job than him."

"I don't know… It's strange. He really hasn't been all that bad this year. He seems… different ," she handled the last word delicately. "We had an argument first week, about the whole head boy head girl thing, but then we talked to McGonagall about it and he hasn't done anything since. Come to think of it, I don't think he's said one rotten thing yet this year." That was what bothered her the most. If there was one thing Draco Malfoy was bad at, it was keeping his fat mouth shut. It was very unusual that he would have remained so quiet for so long.

Ron scoffed. "Reckon he's planning something then- the snake. Better keep your guard up 'Mione. He's a dangerous bloke. Really rotten luck that you're stuck working with him for the year. You're sure McGonagall won't do anything about it?"

"Nope, already tried." She shrugged.

He scowled. "Well, like I said then, best keep your guard up. Who knows what's going on in that twisted mind of his."

She was silent for the remainder of their walk back to Hogwarts, lost in thought. When they came upon the front doors of the school, Ron confessed that he had to be off because he'd promised he'd be back by dinner to listen to a quidditch game with Harry. Immediately, she regretted letting herself get strung along by the current of her thoughts. He appeared not to be put off by this, however, and drew her in for a firm hug. With a gentle kiss placed on her forehead as his final farewell, he took off down the path towards Hogsmeade. She stayed the small puddles of water gathering beneath her eyes as she watched him go, then turned to make her way up to the Gryffindor common room.

Ginny, Seamus, Dean and some other Gryffindors were sitting near the fireplace talking and laughing. But as much as she wanted to sit and talk, her head was starting to ache from all the grinding gears. So, with a regretful glance over her shoulder, she wandered over to the staircase and made her way up to her room.

Hermione lay on her bed for a while trying to coax her thoughts to be silent. By dinner time, some of the pain had subsided so she made her way down with the rest of her dorm to the Great hall. Though the food looked just as good as usual, the unease in her stomach seemed to have leeched her appetite. She grabbed a meager dinner consisting of slice of bread and an apple and excused herself back up to her room.

Later that night, she lay staring up at the ceiling again. Now she was worried. What if Ron was right? What if Draco was planning something? Something devious or even dangerous? She wouldn't put it past Malfoy to swallow his cockiness if it would somehow benefit him later on. She needed to figure out what to do with him, and quickly.

The answer came swirling through her thoughts as the heaviness of sleep weighed on her eyelids. Like it or not, she would have to confront him.

She found her opportunity on a quiet afternoon. She was out in the library, referencing a text for an herbology paper, when she saw him pass by. His voice sounded the prefects' password and she heard him enter the study room. Just the opportunity she was hoping for. No one but her had been in the room all day, so she knew it was just the two of them. She marked her place in her book and mentally prepared herself as she stood outside. With a nervous glance at the rearing unicorn bookend on the middle shelf, she spoke the words "jelly roll." The unicorn gave a faint whinny, acknowledging that the correct password had been given, and the bookshelf began sliding away.

No turning back now.

He glanced up at her as she entered but immediately turned back to look at his work. She walked a few steps closer but froze, shaking slightly, as the bookshelf slid back into place. Just be firm with him, she encouraged herself. She cleared her throat and he looked over at her again.

"I need to speak with you," she said, trying to steady her voice as she balled up her fists. His expression was that of expectance and something else she couldn't read. "Well, actually, I'm going to talk and you're going to listen, so listen well. I don't know what you're up to, but I do know this: it can't be good. I see you, trying to be all helpful and put on a good show for McGonagall. Well, she may trust you, but I most certainly do not. So you'd better watch your back, because I'm onto you. You try anything, and I'll hex you within an inch of your life." She finished, tone threatening and poised with her eyes daring and her head held high. Before turning to leave, she topped it all off with as menacing a glare as she could muster.

But as she was walking away, still attempting to calm her breathing, his voice came from behind her just as she arrived at the door.

"Wait, Granger."

She froze as icy fingers crawled up her back, setting her nerves even further on edge. Expecting the worst, she steeled herself but did not turn around.

"I'm sorry."

A/N: OOOOOH CLIFFHANGERS! So, I've edited this chapter a heck-ton and I'm hoping that its good enough by this point.

I'd like to apologize in advance in case I don't manage to post next week. It's my finals week, and while I'd much rather be writing, I really should be studying and focusing on them. So, I'll certainly try to get one up, but I can't make any promises at this point. [it should be noted that I didn't plan the cliffhanger to coincide with a potentially longer period between updates, we all just got very lucky ;) ]

Otherwise, thank you to all of your beautiful faces for continuing to follow and read the story! And to those lovelies of you who are reviewing: THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU. Every little thing, be it an encouragement, an affirmation, criticism, or just a little thought, is greatly appreciated. So please, keep the feedback coming!