"You!" She exclaimed.

Malfoy raised a brow at her. "Yes me. And keep your voice down. You'll alert Filch."

"We're prefects. We still have an hour to curfew." Hermione pointed out, slightly dazed by his living presence.

Malfoy sneered at her. "I know. I just don't want to be caught late with you."

Hermione narrowed his eyes at him. "As if I want to be found with you." She tried to get up but a sharp pain in her ankle stopped her from it. She brought her leg in front and saw it swelling slowly.

She tried moving her ankle slowly but hissed at the pain. She looked up at Malfoy, waiting for him to leave, so she could peacefully limp to the hospital wing and not embarrass herself in front of him.

Malfoy cast an uninterested glance toward her ankle. "Well, fix it. The view is extremely grotesque."

"No one's telling you to stay." She retorted at which Malfoy let out a sigh.

"But it's so fun to see you suffer Granger." He smiled cruelly at her, but when he saw her hesitance, his smile turned into a smirk. "Oh no. Does the perfect Granger not know any healing spells?"

Hermione frowned at him. "I know them, but I've never done it on myself."

Malfoy stood there leaning against the wall with an amused look. Hermione ignored him and tried to move herself near a wall. She scooted on the floor, ignoring the piercing gaze of Malfoy, and placed her hand on the wall, taking support to stand.

Malfoy let out a loud laugh when she slipped and once again fell to the floor. "This is much better entertainment than anything I've ever seen. And that includes watching Theo search for glasses that were on his head."

Hermione huffed angrily at him. "You are a git, do you know that?"

Malfoy raised an eyebrow at her. "Oh really? Why didn't anyone tell me before?" He swooned and placed a hand on his head dramatically. "What shall I ever do now Granger? Will I never get betrothed due to my being a git? Aren't I pretty enough? Isn't my dowry sufficient enough?"

Hermione narrowed her eyes at him. "You're an even bigger lunatic than I thought. What the fuck Malfoy?"

"Language Granger." He chided as if talking to a child. Then he straightened himself as he let out a yawn. "Well, it seems that I have reached my limit of being able to stay near you. Thank you for your entertainment, Granger."

"Did the Draco Malfoy just thank me?" She called out in irritation as he walked off.

"Don't get used to it, Granger." He called off.

Hermione grumbled out a few choice words for him before grabbing her wand and casting a patronus.

"Harry, don't panic."

After a very embarrassing encounter with a very panicked Harry, Hermione finally made it back to her room with a fixed ankle.

Just before she fell asleep that night, she felt a burning sensation in her wrist. She glanced at it to see the number 33 marked on her. She groaned inwardly. So this was how Death had planned to remind her of her deadline.

She cast a tempus charm and saw it was 1:27 am. She wondered if that meant Malfoy had ended his life at that time. She shuddered as she thought how she had already wasted a day.

She found herself praying that 33 days would be enough time to convince Malfoy to not kill himself. She wondered how she would manage to do that without killing him herself. Hermione had forgotten to take into account how much of a nuisance Malfoy was.

But Hermione knew this was one assignment that she could not fail at any cost.

The next day, Hermione was on a mission.

She first went to find Anthony Goldstein, a fellow prefect, whom she knew had rounds with Malfoy for the week. She finally found him near the Herbology classroom.

"Anthony! Just the man I was looking for! Have you grown tall over the summer?" She questioned as he looked at her, fidgeting with his robes.

"Um, yes. Had a growth spurt. Thank you for noticing." He smiled at her.

Hermione fluttered her eyes at him. "That is so interesting. You are tall and handsome and smart. Any girl would be lucky to have you."

"What do you want?" Anthony questioned uncertainly.

Hermione withheld a sigh. Maybe she shouldn't have buttered him up that much. "I actually need a favor from you."

"Sure Hermione, whatever you need."

"Would you perhaps consider switching patrols with me?"

Anthony narrowed his eyes at her. "You do know who my partner will be right? And the timings? No one would be around."

Hermione waved her hands. "Oh, I'll be fine. I have my wand and I know Malfoy isn't that stupid to try anything."

Anthony gave her a puzzled look. "But why?"

This time Hermione did sigh. "I don't think you want to know Anthony."

Anthony crossed his arms and raised a brow at her. "I think I should ask just to ensure you are of sane mind at the moment."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Well, I did warn you." She moved closer to him. "You see, the week I've been assigned for patrols is the week my cycle is due, and I'm just worried that it might start in the middle of patrol and I obviously cannot leave mid-patrol, and then there might be blood everywhere and-"

"NEVER MIND, YOU CAN SWITCH!" Anthony screamed out as he covered his ears and rushed off.

Hermione snorted at the scene, watching him run away from her. "What an idiot."

The following night, Hermione found herself waiting near the great hall entrance. She rubbed her wrist, the number 32 etched into her skin.

Soon, she saw Malfoy quickly walk towards her, but he stopped short at the sight of her. "You are not Goldstein." He stated blankly.

Hermione raised a brow at him. "Really Malfoy? Well obviously, last I checked, I seem to be missing a very important appendage that would differentiate myself from Anthony."

At that, Malfoy smirked. "Are you insinuating that you do not have a dick, while Goldstein does? Tell me, Granger, have you even seen one up close?"

"Why, are you volunteering?" Instantly, Hermione cursed herself for saying the first thing that came to her mind. She had been spending too much time around Seamus.

Malfoy raised a brow in surprise. "Not in the near future, no."

"So it's a possibility in the far future?" She wished she would just shut up but apparently, her mouth had no control.

Malfoy shrugged. "Well, if you were about to die and didn't want to leave as a virgin, I could be pitiful. Or maybe if you survive long enough and obviously manage to become the Minister of Magic, I wouldn't be opposed to selling myself for some power."

Hermione sneered at him. "You disgust me."

"You asked."

Hermione gestured to the dimly lit hallways. "Can we just get this over with?"

After a minute of silence, Malfoy spoke up. "Why are you here Granger?"

Hermione shook her head. "You don't need to know."

"If I am to be burdened with your presence for the next six nights, then yes, I do need to know." He snarked.

She groaned. "Fine. It's because of my cycle."

"Your cycle." He said, not as a question.

Hermione felt slightly flustered at the way he said it. "Well, yes, I don't want to patrol during my cycle."

Malfoy looked at her with narrowed eyes before straightening and shrugging. "Fair enough."

They continued walking when suddenly Hermione felt the urge to start up another conversation. "What would do if it was your last day?"

Malfoy paused. "Last day at Hogwarts? Attend graduation ceremony, obviously."

Hermione shook her head. "No. What if it was your last day to live and you were stuck here? What would you do?"

"That is not ominous at all. Are you planning to kill me, Granger?"

"Consider me curious." She waved off.

Malfoy let out a deep exhale. "Well, if it were my last day to live, I would definitely not be spending it with you." Hermione frowned at his rudeness. "Shut up with the stupid questions and let's get this over with. I don't want to spend any extra time near you."

"You don't have to be so rude, you know?" Hermione said, following as he quickened his pace.

"I absolutely do Granger, I have a reputation to uphold. Just like you have one of being a prissy bitch."

"Rot in hell."

Malfoy grinned at her. "With your presence, I'm already there."

They continued patrolling, none of them saying anything for a while. "No but, what would you do on your last day?"

Malfoy released a heavy sigh. "Why do you care Granger?"

Hermione shrugged. "Just something on my mind. If it were me then I would spend the day-"

"In the library, I know. In fact, I believe the entire population of Hogwarts knows." Malfoy raised a brow at her expectantly, as if waiting for her to tell him he was correct.

"No. Why would I want to spend my last day the same way I spend every other day? I'd go to the Black Lake."

Malfoy scoffed. "Why, to drown yourself? Die on your own terms?"

"I'm a properly trained swimmer, I can't drown myself easily. Instincts would kick in." Hermione crossed her arms. "Anyway, as I was saying, I'd spend the night near the Black Lake, because it's my first actual memory of Hogwarts."

"Well, if you do decide to take a dip, let me know, I'll watch the show from my room," Malfoy commented.

Hermione rolled her eyes, ignoring him. "Then, I'd probably go to the Forbidden Forest."

"Wow Granger, you really would take any suicidal option you could on that last day, wouldn't you?"

Hermione stopped and glared at him. "Well, what would you do?"

Malfoy shrugged. "Haven't really given it a thought." At Hermione's look, he groaned. "Fine. I would spend it with my friends or read. That is the only answer you are getting from me."

Malfoy moved ahead and Hermione followed behind, with a dazed expression. They didn't say anything throughout the remaining time they were together.

"Mione, wait!"

Hermione's eyes widened and she quickly increased her pace as she heard Ron call her out. Apparently, she had very recently sent a swarm of canaries at him.

Something that she did remember doing, but she was no longer as angry or as jealous as she had been at that time. But, instead of facing Ron like a mature adult, she chose to run.

She turned around a corner and groaned loudly when she saw Malfoy and Nott walking in her direction.

Both the boys turned their heads toward her, stopping their conversation. Nott gave her a confused look while Malfoy glanced behind her. Then, very slowly, his blank look turned into a bright grin.

"Oh look Nott, we're in the presence of royalty." He placed his hands in his pockets, his polished shoes making clicking noises as he walked closer to her. "It's the Weasel King and the Gryffindor Princess." He gave a mocking curtsy.

"Draco, leave them be," Nott spoke from behind him, but Hermione was focused on Malfoy, who seemed to have ignored Nott as well.

"You leave her alone, ferret." Ron spat out as he grabbed Hermione and pulled her behind him. She instantly jerked her wrist out of his grasp, however, before she could speak Malfoy spoke up.

"Do you truly lack any creativity? Ferret, really? And while we're on the topic of you lacking, it seems you lack proper etiquette as well." Malfoy paused, giving him a sympathetic smile. "Oh, I apologize, in simple words, you lack manners. Otherwise, you wouldn't be manhandling a lady like that."

Ron frowned, narrowing his eyes in anger. "What lady? Are you daft?"

Hermione scoffed and pushed through between the two of them. "I'm pretty sure he was talking about me, a lady, and I believe you would know of that if you spend actual time observing your surroundings and not being glued to Lavender's lips!" She held a finger up to silence him. "I need to talk to Malfoy."

She glanced at the two extra boys standing there and snapped her fingers. "Alone! Leave quickly."

Nott glanced back at Malfoy who nodded and then left them alone. Ron seemed to want to stay but at one glance from Hermione, he left as well.

"Hurry up Granger, I have other-"

"Who do you think you are?" She questioned, pushing her hands against his chest. Malfoy stumbled back, eyes widening in surprise.

"Me? I was trying to be nice. But I have learned my lesson and shall refrain from doing so in the future." He tried to move past her but she blocked him.

"You weren't trying to help me, you were trying to provoke him."

Malfoy shrugged. "Two birds, one stone. You muggles use that a lot."

Hermione frowned. "I don't need you to help me."

Malfoy scoffed. "Yes, you've made that quite clear, can I go now?"

Hermione crossed her arms and gave way. "Don't be late tonight."

"Fuck off Granger."

That night, Hermione was late, which amused Malfoy very much.

"I'm sorry, was the reminder in the evening for me or for yourself?" He questioned as they moved out of the Great Hall.

"Very funny Malfoy. If you need to know, I was busy fixing the mess you created with Ron." Hermione remarked dryly.

Malfoy brought his hand to his chest in false offense. "Me? Whatever did I do Granger?"

Hermione glared at Malfoy. "I had to hear, in excruciating detail, how Ron does indeed think I'm a lady. And trust me, he did not filter anything at all."

Malfoy stopped in his place. "When you say excruciating detail…?"

Hermione sighed. "I mean, every single thing that differentiates me from him, including the changes I have gone through since he first met me."

Malfoy let out a cough, which seemed to be a chuckle. "Are you sure he wasn't trying to flatter you?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "I am sure that is what he believed he was doing."

Malfoy burst out laughing. "Oh Merlin, Granger, your life truly is a real drama. Would you consider selling your memory for entertainment purposes? I can't believe Weasel is such a dunce." He asked in between laughs.

"Hey, that's not fair to him." Hermione defended while trying to suppress her own laughter. "It was an honest mistake. He didn't know I would be offended when he said that he often acknowledged how I now had breasts larger than most of the girls in class."

Malfoy let out a howl. "He didn't Granger. Tell me he didn't actually say that!" Malfoy held onto his stomach, leaning his back against a wall for support.

Hermione was also laughing along with him. She couldn't help it, his laughter was very contagious.

He stopped and looked at her in confusion. She realized she had stopped laughing and was blatantly staring at him.

"What?" He asked, fidgeting with his tie.

Hermione shook her head, looking ahead. "Nothing, I guess this was the first time I saw you laugh."

Malfoy rolled his eyes. "I laugh very often, I assure you, you have seen me do it before."

She grabbed onto his hand, looking directly into his eyes. "I've seen you laugh at me, never with me."

Malfoy shrugged her hand off his and exhaled deeply. "I guess miracles do happen Granger."

"Are you close with Nott?" She questioned out of the blue as they reached the fifth floor. Malfoy paused for a moment and glanced at her.

"Theodore Nott?"

Hermione raised a brow at him. "Do you know any other Nott?"

"Yes, I do actually. But why do you want to know?"

Hermione shrugged, uncomfortable by the way he was looking at her. "Told you, I'm curious."

"I'm shocked you even know who he is. An introvert, that one."

"Any girlfriends?" She questioned and instantly regretted when Malfoy narrowed his eyes at her.

"No, Granger and I will not try and help set you two up. Is this why you asked to patrol with me?"

Hermione rolled her eyes at him and continued walking ahead.

"Granger." Malfoy grabbed her hand, pulling her back into him. Hermione stiffened, hyperaware of his front against her back. He knelt his head down, his lips grazing her ear. "I don't know know what you want with Theo, but I suggest you stay away from him."

Hermione swallowed nervously, Malfoy's hands gripping her waist tightly. "Why? Don't want a mudblood near your friends?"

Malfoy instantly let go of her and pushed himself away. "No. I don't think that, and frankly, I'm tired of justifying myself to you. I don't care what your parents are. What I do care about is that Theo is my friend and he has already gone through so much. He doesn't deserve all the burden you come with." He walked away, leaving her alone. "Finish patrol on your own tonight."

Hermione slumped down on the floor, controlling her breath. Maybe Malfoy didn't think less of her because of her lineage, but he still did think less of her. She glanced at her wrist and allowed tears to fall out of her eyes.

She would end up failing. She knew it. How could she save a man who thought so little of her?

"I apologize." Those were the first words she heard as she entered the Great Hall. Hermione glanced up to find Malfoy leaning against a pillar, a sour expression on his face.

"Did you say something to me?" Hermione questioned mockingly, still pissed off by his words from the night prior.

Malfoy scoffed and pushed away from the pillar. "Don't act smart."

Hermione crossed her arms against her chest. "Oh, but haven't you heard, I'm the smartest witch of our age." She reiterated the words Slughorn stated in Potions class that day.

She saw Malfoy roll his eyes. "Slughorn doesn't know shite." After a moment's pause, he sighed. "I am truly apologetic over the harsh words I told you. It was not very gentlemanly of me."

"Oh right, and you have been so gentlemanly to me throughout the years."

Malfoy groaned and walked towards Hermione, caging her with his arms. He glared down at her. "Can you let me fucking apologize? Theo made me practice the entire evening."

Hermione would've laughed if she wasn't so busy paying attention to how their bodies were almost touching.

Malfoy must've noticed it as well as he suddenly pushed away and turned away. "Not that we have gotten that over with, let's go for patrol.

After a few minutes of silence, Malfoy finally spoke up. "Theo is gay."

Hermione glanced up at him with a frown. Malfoy must've misinterpreted her reaction as he instantly started defending his friend.

"I do not want to hear a single word against him. It's taken him quite a while to come to terms with it, and even though it's not a secret, he doesn't go off telling people. So, if you want to ask him out, don't. Because then it would be awkward for the three of us."

Hermione truly did not have any words. Did she get the wrong meaning from his words when they talked at Malfoy's funeral? Perhaps.

"Why would it be awkward for the three of us? You would probably enjoy my misery." Hermione stated.

Malfoy huffed out a breath. "Theo's too good for the world. He'd probably say yes to you just to make you feel better. Or probably to get close to Potter. Who knows."

This made Hermione stop. "Potter? Harry Potter? As in my best friend?"

"No, Potter as in, Wonder Boy, Pain-in-my-arse Potter."

"But why him?" She questioned. "Thought you Slytherins had a thing against us Gryffindors."

Malfoy rolled his eyes. "We're not blind. I can admit that you Gryffindors are good enough to look at. Until you open your mouth." Malfoy smirked. "The only exception to that is Weasley. My eyes start to burn if I look at him for too long."

Hermione slightly pushed Malfoy on his shoulder. "Oh shut up." Malfoy just let out a laugh. "What about you? Are you interested in boys too?"

Malfoy choked on his laughter. "Excuse me, I'll have you know that I have an extreme fondness for the female sex."

Hermione shrugged. "Well, if you are, there's nothing wrong with it."

Hermione rushed ahead, moving away from him as they had finished patrol.

"I'm not gay Granger!" His shout followed her as she laughed her way back to the Gryffindor tower.

As soon as Hermione had reached the Great Hall, she found Malfoy rushing towards her, pushing her against a wall. She was caught off guard and exhaled heavily, closing her eyes. She could feel his breath on her face.

"If you have any doubts regarding my sexuality, I would be happy to prove you wrong." She felt Malfoy push himself closer to her. "Understood?" Hermione nodded her head and she felt Malfoy push away from her.

She opened her eyes and saw him staring at her aloofly.

"I'm slightly disappointed Granger." At her frown, he elaborated. "I expected to be hexed within an inch of my life. But you didn't even take your wand out."

Hermione felt her face flush as she realized, she truly had forgotten about her wand. In fact, she had trusted he wouldn't harm her, so she hadn't taken her wand out.

Hermione cleared her throat. "Well, I didn't want to want to be left alone for patrol. We still have tomorrow left."

Malfoy smirked at her. "Ah, yes. One more day of your insufferable presence. I never knew you talked so much."

"Hey!" Hermione said, offended, but she still smiled at him. She was glad she had made such progress with him. Maybe they could continue being cordial after this. She knew she would try.

She was lost in her thoughts that she didn't even notice Malfoy pulling her behind. "Hermione stop."

"Oh shit."

She glanced up at the voice of her friend. She saw Ron and Lavender, standing in one of the dimly lit alcoves, hair tangled and clothes messed up. It didn't take a genius to know exactly why Ron and Lavender were there late at night.

"A fucking alcove, Weasely? How common could you get? Don't you two share a fucking common room?" Malfoy spat out. Hermione just glanced at Ron's guilty face and Lavender's smug expression and turned away, rushing away from there. She heard Malfoy deduct points but she truly didn't care.

Did her feelings truly not matter? Why did she have to go and fall for the one person who didn't even acknowledge her as a female until she was fifteen? She thought she would get used to it by now. But she guessed it was different to hear about it rather than seeing it. She hated how much it hurt to see Ron and Lavender together.

"Granger! Would you bloody slow down?" She heard Malfoy shout from behind. She instantly tried to wipe her tears away but suddenly Malfoy grabbed onto her shoulders, turning her towards him.

He took one glance at her and shook his head. "Fucking Weasley." He shook her shoulders roughly, causing Hermione to push him away.

"What the hell Malfoy?!"

"I cannot believe someone like you is crying over someone like Weasley."

Hermione crossed her arms. "Someone like me? Do you mean a mudblood like me fawning over a pure blood like him? Right how dare I?"

Malfoy shook his head again and laughed. "No, I meant someone as smart and sharp as you." At Hermione's shocked expression, he scoffed. "Sure, I may hate you, but that doesn't mean I'm oblivious."

Hermione gave him an incredulous look. "You hate me?"

"No Granger. But I don't specifically like you either. You are extremely annoying, you always try to overdo things, begging for extra credit, always have your nose stuck in a book, you have atrocious hair, and well at least your teeth are better now, thanks to me, but there are many things that could be better-"

"Is there a point to this?" Hermione cut him off sharply.

Malfoy shrugged. "All I'm saying is that you deserve much better than the Weasel. And even I know that. Don't waste your tears over an incompetent bastard."

"Don't call him that! He's a good friend."

Malfoy raised a brow at her. "If that's all you have to say in defense of the man you supposedly love, then I think you should sort out your feelings."

With that, he left, his hands in his pockets. Hermione was about to call out to him when raised a hand, still walking away. "Don't deny it, it's obvious from the way you look at him."

Hermione let out a small growl, completely done with the git. She rubbed her wrist, the 28 gleaming brightly beneath her bracelet. How was she supposed to save him from himself when she was pretty sure she had to hold herself back from killing him?

Last day of patroling with Malfoy. And if she didn't succeed, it could possibly be the last ever hour she spent with Malfoy.

Hermione had been so lost in her thoughts that she had not noticed that they were almost done.

"You're quiet today," Malfoy remarked as they climbed the Astronomy tower.

Hermione shrugged sadly in response. She hated the feeling inside her. What if she didn't get any other opportunity to be near him after this? How would she save him if she couldn't even get near him?

Malfoy groaned. "Don't tell me, I spent days trying to get you to shut up and now that I actually crave your voice, you won't speak to me."

His words made Hermione look at him in question. "What do you mean?" She glanced around the empty tower, wondering why he had brought her there.

Malfoy grabbed her hand and pushed her towards the wall, caging his body with hers. "Tell me Granger, why are you here?"

Hermione felt her heart beating extremely fast. "For patrol?"

Malfoy made a clicking sound, shaking his head. "That's not what I'm asking and you know it."

"I told you, my-"

"Your cycle, yes. That might've worked on Goldstein, but I'm not stupid." He breathed out.

Hermione gave him an affronted look. "He's in Ravenclaw!"

"Still stupid." He bit out. "I know enough about the female anatomy to know that your reason for being here is not at all a valid reason." He pushed his body into hers, completely touching, his lips just a breath away from hers. "So, I'll ask again. Why are you here?"

She couldn't focus. Not one single bit. All that she could think of was closing the small gap between them. As she reached up he pulled back slightly. "Answer me, Hermione."

At the sound of her name, she let out a deep exhale. "To be near you, Draco."

The words had not even left her mouth before he crushed his lips to hers.

AN:

Hehe 😀