A/N; I made a minor change in earlier chapters to fit the flow of the story better. I made Hermione and Draco patrolling together on Sunday nights instead of Fridays. Also, if you don't like the story, that's fine. You don't have to read it. Just move on. There's no need for the rude comments.

Hermione woke up early the next morning with a cloud of despair surrounding her. It took a few moments for the memories of the previous night to come rushing back. Draco had known her secret, and soon the whole school would too. She couldn't bear the thought. It took all her strength to not bend over the side of the bed and vomit. With a heavy sigh, Hermione got out of bed and went for a shower in the bathroom conjoining her room. She stood under the scalding, hot water and tried to scrub the dirtiness she felt off her skin until it was raw. She turned off the shower and brushed her teeth, looking at her reflection in the mirror.

Hermione had dark circles under her eyes and a look of sadness to her. She grabbed the towel with a gold embroidered 'G' hanging on the wall and wiped her mouth off on it. She got dressed and went back out to her room.

Hermione wished she had classes this morning so that she had something to focus on and take her mind off of everything. She did not want to think. She did not want to feel. She just wanted to crawl back into bed and sleep until Christmas break, when she could get away from Draco.

With another deep sigh, she walked towards the door and reached for the doorknob. Hermione quickly snatched her hand back and hesitated. She did not know if Draco was in their shared common room, and did not want to run into him. Hermione grabbed her wand from her pocket and pointed it at the door.

"Homenum revelio!" she whispered.

There was no indication from her wand that anyone else was present. With a sigh of relief, she opened the door and strode across the common room and headed towards the great hall. Hermione peeked around every corner to make sure the coast was clear before continuing on. When she reached the great hall, she lingered back in the doorway and quickly scanned the Slytherin table. After seeing no signs of Draco, she started towards the Gryffindor table and quickly found a seat with Ginny and Neville. Luna was also sitting with them.

"Morning, Hermione," Neville greeted her cheerily.

"Good morning," she responded.

"Are you alright, Hermione? You look like you haven't slept," said Luna.

"What? Oh, yeah, I was just… up late reading my new textbooks," lied Hermione.

"Are you sure you're feeling alright? You really do look awful," said Ginny.

"Gee, thanks," said Hermione.

"Maybe you should go see Madam Pomfrey? I'm sure she would have something to perk you up," said Neville.

"I'm fine, I promise," said Hermione, pouring herself a glass of orange juice and a bowl of oatmeal. "I just didn't get a lot of sleep."

Ginny eyed Hermione suspiciously but didn't say anything more on the matter. Neville and Ginny continued a conversation they were having about quidditch team try-outs next weekend, and Luna returned to reading The Quibbler. Hermione listened to the conversations around her without contributing much. She was waiting until breakfast was finished so that she could steal Ginny away. Once they had finished their meal, Hermione broke into the end of the conversation.

"Ginny, do you fancy taking a walk with me? I have some ideas I need to bounce off you."

"Of course. We'll catch up with you later, guys," said Ginny.

They set off towards the door of the great hall. Ginny began walking towards the marble staircase, but Hermione grabbed hold of her wrist. Ginny gave her a confused look.

"Should we go to Gryffindor tower?" she asked.

"No, I want to find somewhere more private," said Hermione.

Ginny nodded. "What's going on? Did something happen last night after you left?"

"In a minute," said Hermione.

They walked out the front doors and began across the lawn. Hermione was guiding them towards the lake. They walked along the shore for a few minutes until they reached a secluded area near where the edge of the lake met the forbidden forest. Hermione stared out across the surface of the water for a moment. Then she turned to Ginny and took a deep breath.

"Malfoy knows. He heard us talking in the common room. I thought he was gone, but he was in his room, listening. He knows that I'm a pureblood and he's going to tell everyone. The whole school will know, and then the entire wizarding world. Everyone is going to think I'm a liar." Hermione let the tears pour down her cheeks. "What am I going to do?"

Ginny's jaw dropped as she listened to Hermione. "No way. No freaking way. That bloody little git! I can't believe this. How did it even come up?"

Hermione wiped her face with her sleeve. "I ran into him last night when I went to patrol. He wanted to walk together, and then he just sprang it on me." Hermione gave a barking laugh. "He tried to tell me he heard some younger students gossiping about it in the corridors, like I'm some kind of idiot. You and I are the only ones who know. There's no way some random third years would know."

"What a stupid prat. I knew all that rubbish about him changing was just a front. He's the same slimy little toerag he's been all these years. Don't worry about him, Hermione."

"Ginny, he'll tell everybody. Everyone is going to know, and they'll all think I've been lying! Do you remember how the whole wizarding world came at Harry when the Daily Prophet accused him of lying when he spread the word about Voldemort being back?"

"Hermione, you're a hero. The entire wizarding world knows you as someone who sacrificed everything for them. I'm sure this won't get out, but if it did it wouldn't even matter. The good will more than outweigh the bad. People talk anyways, let them talk about the good."

"Ginny, I just can't handle it," said Hermione.

Ginny didn't say anything for a moment. They both just sat, staring out at the water.

Ginny smirked and looked back at Hermione. "You know, I could go threaten Malfoy for you. Make him too scared to even want to say anything."

"That's not funny," said Hermione, although she grinned back at her friend.

"I'm serious. Or if you don't want that, could you just talk to him? You did say that he was trying to be a more decent person. If he really is, then he might not want to say anything anyways."

"I couldn't face him. I don't want to feel like I'm begging him to keep a secret for me. I mean… he's Malfoy."

"Do you want me to talk to him? I promise I'll try not to threaten him.. at first," Ginny added that last part under her breath. When Hermione didn't say anything, she continued, "you know, maybe you should just talk to him. It couldn't hurt. What's the worst that could happen?"

"He tells everyone," said Hermione.

"Or, he doesn't," said Ginny.

Hermione sighed and wiped her face on her sleeve. "I just don't believe that he wouldn't. But I suppose I could try it. I really don't want to face him though."

"I could be there with you, for support. I promise I'll be on my best behavior," said Ginny.

"I believe you. But I don't want him to think I'm trying to intimidate him. That might make things worse. But if it comes to that, then you can be there. I'm not above threatening him or using violence, if you can remember," Hermione smirked and added the last part after seeing the quick shocked look across Ginny's face.

Ginny recovered quickly and flicked a bug off her arm. She looked seriously at Hermione. "Are you sure? You know I'll be there for you."

Hermione took a deep breath. "I can do this. I'll just be completely honest. I guess there's no reason not to at this point. And if it goes sour… well, I'll face that if it comes to it."

Ginny nodded and watched Hermione, who had returned to staring over the water's surface. She was pulled abruptly out of her thoughts when Ginny exclaimed, "oh, bloody hell!" Hermione stared.

"Do you realize what this means?" Ginny said seriously. "Malfoy heard me call him hot! I could die!"

"Oh, Merlin, Ginny," said Hermione, shaking her head.

The pair of witches walked back up to the castle a little while later. Hermione said goodbye to Ginny in the entrance hall, wishing for some time alone. She was so overwhelmed. Everytime she thought her head might explode from everything that had been thrown at her, something else came along to stretch her brain just a bit farther.

Hermione made her way towards her common room, hardly paying attention to the world around her. Just as she was halfway down a corridor, she sensed somebody else walking towards her. She looked up and felt her heart drop as she met eyes with Draco Malfoy at the other end of the corridor. Her heart began racing and her breath hitched as Draco spoke.

"Grang–" he tried, but Hermione quickly ducked down a corridor immediately to her right. She heard Draco call behind her, "Granger, wait!" but she started running and didn't stop until she was three floors above and was sure she had put ample distance between Draco and herself.

Hermione leaned up against a wall and tried to steady her breathing. "Oh, Merlin. I can't do this," she whispered to herself, wiping tears from the corners of her eyes and willing herself not to cry. Hermione didn't think seeing Draco again would be so hard. She had no idea why she was struggling so much with this. Hermione had fought in a war. She was held at knife point and tortured by Voldemort's most evil lieutenant. She'd danced around a battlefield while killing curses and much worse soared through the air, missing her so narrowly that she could feel the heat coming off from them. But this was just... different somehow.

Hermione couldn't go back to her common room and risk seeing Draco before she could mentally prepare herself, but she wanted to be alone so desperately. That left out Gryffindor tower or the great hall, as both of those places would be crowded with people.

Sighing, Hermione walked up the next staircase to the floor above, in search of an empty classroom. She found one that hadn't been used since her third year and quickly ducked inside. There was a bookshelf at the front of the room and Hermione went to browse the selection, thinking that nothing could distract her from the real world better than immersing herself in some literature. Hermione picked out some spellbooks and settled herself behind the teacher's desk. She began to read, waving her wand through the air and practicing some spells she found particularly interesting.

Hermione woke up several hours later with her face on the desk, stuck to the pages of the book she'd been reading when she fell asleep. It was nearing dusk, and the sky outside was a muted pink color. Peeling her face from the book on the table, she stretched her arms over her head and stood up. It was almost time for her to meet up with Draco for Sunday night patrol. Hermione knew she couldn't keep putting off seeing him, but she'd hoped it would come later rather than sooner.

Hermione gathered up the books she'd collected and returned them to their spots on the shelves. She walked out of the classroom and started walking in the direction of Ravenclaw tower, hoping to find Luna and get the synopsis for the earlier evening patrol. However, Hermione just barely reached the bottom of the marble staircase leading to the entrance hall when she spotted her.

"Hello Hermione," said Luna cheerfully.

"Hi Luna. I'm glad to see you. How are things going tonight?" asked Hermione.

"It's been pretty quiet. I've only run into a pair of first years that got lost on their way back to their common room. There hasn't been anybody else out all evening except the other prefects."

"Okay, that's pretty good. Hopefully it stays calm. I don't really feel like docking points on the third day back," said Hermione. "Shall we walk together for the last bit of your shift?"

"I think that would be lovely, but aren't you supposed to patrol together with the Head Boy?" asked Luna.

"We don't have to meet up until the prefects retire for the evening. Plus, I don't really fancy hanging out with Malfoy. He is Malfoy, after all."

"Yeah, alright," said Luna.

They walked together in the direction of Ravenclaw tower, catching up with each other from the summer away. Luna told Hermione about the holiday she and her father took in Ireland to find and study magical creatures that only they believed existed. Hermione recounted tales of tracking down her parents and restoring their memories, and her stay at The Burrow. They hardly noticed that they had gone a few minutes past ten o'clock.

"Do you want me to walk you to your common room?" asked Hermione. "You won't get in trouble for being out past ten, but I could still accompany you."

"That's alright. It's not very far from here. Thank you for walking with me, Hermione. I'll catch you at breakfast," said Luna. She strode off to her common room, and Hermione hesitated for a moment before turning back towards the entrance hall, where she was supposed to meet Draco. But as she rounded a corner a floor above, she once again collided with him.

"Oh, damn," said Hermione, grabbing her nose and finally meeting his eyes.

"Sorry," Draco said quickly. "Are you alright? Shall I fetch you some ice?"

"No, I'm fine. It just surprised me a little, that's all," she said.

"Well, alright," he said, looking awkward.

Hermione just looked at him. She didn't know what to say. She didn't want to say anything. But looking up at Draco, she felt some of her anxiety dissipate at the look of genuine concern on his face. It calmed her to see him wear an expression other than disdain, which she had grown so used to over the years. "Really, I'm alright. You don't have to look so panicked, I'm not about to hex you in retaliation."

Draco looked relieved and gave a short laugh. "Thank Merlin. I was so worried there for a minute," he said in a playfully sarcastic tone.

Neither of them said anything else for a moment. The tension was thick, and they could both feel it. Then they spoke at the same moment.

"Malfoy–"

"Granger–"

They both paused to let the other continue.

"I wanted– sorry," they said in unison.

Hermione cut in before he could speak again. "Please, let me go first."

Draco looked at her and opened his mouth to say something, but shut it again and nodded.

Hermione looked around to make sure that there was no one near to eavesdrop on them and then began before she could change her mind.

"Look, we both know what kind of person you were, or, presented as, despite who you say you are now. I have no reason to believe what you said the other night. But, I do. I believe you. And I know I have no right asking for any favors from you, but I really just–"

"I'm not going to say anything to anyone," he interjected. "I know you didn't mean for me to hear, so I have no business even knowing. And I don't really even think it matters anyways. I shouldn't have asked you about it, but honestly… I thought you knew I could hear and made it up to mess with me or something…" he trailed off.

"I– what? That's completely absurd," said Hermione.

"Yeah. Saying it out loud, it does sound completely stupid," he laughed nervously.

"Completely," agreed Hermione, letting out a little laugh of her own. She suddenly felt tears prickle at the corners of her eyes and looked down at the ground between them. "Do you mean that? Do you promise that you won't tell anyone? I am so afraid of it getting out and everyone turning on me. I couldn't handle it."

Malfoy grabbed her gently by the shoulders, to her surprise. Hermione looked up at him, stunned by this gesture.

"Granger, I promise. I will not tell a single soul."

She gave a sob and fell into his arms in a hug. Draco didn't move at first, then awkwardly patted her on her back. Hermione, realizing what she'd done, quickly pulled away and looked at him with a look of horror on her face.

"I'm… so sorry. I don't know where that came from. I've just been so overwhelmed, I didn't think…" she stammered.

"It's quite alright, Granger," said Draco, looking like he didn't know what to do. He looked around. "Well, er… shall we?" he jerked his head down the corridor.

"Yeah, I guess we'd better start actually patrolling," agreed Hermione.

They strolled through the castle, making small talk. Hermione studied Draco periodically through the night as they moved from floor to floor, looking for any signs that he might be thinking of committing a mutiny against their spoken agreement. But to Hermione, Draco seemed genuine in his efforts to prove to her that he indeed intended to keep his word.

They patrolled through the castle over the next two hours, cracking awkward jokes to break the tension and chatting about their upcoming lessons. Their patrol was coming to a close as it neared midnight, and they made their way back towards their common room. Hermione was laughing at Draco about a story he'd been telling her from when he was a kid.

"No way. I just can't believe that you would write a love letter to Mafalda Hopkirk," she laughed.

"I sure did, complete with a haiku and all. And that's not even the best part, if you can believe it," Draco teased.

"Oh, do tell."

"I sent it to her at the ministry with one of our house-elves and instructed him to read it out loud to her, and to make sure there were plenty of people around to bear witness to my devotion to her," said Draco, reddening slightly.

"Oh. My. GOD. That's pure gold! I'm so embarrassed for you," Hermione laughed even harder.

"You absolutely should be. And I didn't even get a letter back. We were supposed to be happily married and have seven children by now," said Draco, flashing his Head Boy badge at the portrait of the witch to let them into the dorm.

"That's a bad move, telling me that story. Now I'm going to tell everyone," Hermione said, smirking.

"Granger, I will die of embarrassment if you do," said Draco.

"Then you better not cross me," she smirked again.

"Alright, I won't. Just please, have mercy on me," said Draco.

Hermione laughed again. "Well, I guess I'm off to bed then. Thank you, for everything tonight."

"Of course, Granger. Sweet dreams."

"Oh, I'm sure yours will be sweeter, as they'll probably be filled with visions of your wizard baby army with Mafalda," she giggled.

"Bugger off, Granger. I take back my sweet dreams," said Draco, going red again but laughing anyway.

Hermione closed her door behind her and began changing into her nightclothes. She felt like a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders. Climbing into bed, she pulled a book from her nightstand and opened it. There was nothing that could bring her down right now. Not only did Hermione feel like she no longer had him as an enemy, she felt she had found a new friend in Draco. They had shared a very pleasant evening together, something neither of them expected.

She set her book down a while later and put her light out, snuggling up under her covers and feeling lighter than she had in years.