She rushed up the stairs hoping she hadn't missed them. They were due back at any moment and she had gotten caught up in her visit with Hagrid and Buckbeak. Her early arrival by Floo had allowed her time to get settled before any of her other friends had come back. She had found herself bored with nothing to do and decided to go see the half-giant for a cup of tea.

Turning the corner into the Gryffindor hallway she watched as Harry, Ron and Ginny stood and argued with the Fat Lady.

"What do you mean no?!" Ron asked the portrait indignantly.

The robust woman sighed from where she had draped herself across the chaise in the background of her picture. "There is a new password. And please don't shout..."

"But we've been away, how are we supposed to...?"

Hermione ran up to the group, breathing hard. "Harry! Ginny!"

Over the Holidays she had thought Ron would write... He hadn't responded to her "Happy Christmas" note that was sent with the new set of wizarding chess pieces. An attempt at a heartfelt apology for her atrocious behavior... Instead she had gotten silence. The same with the next two times she had reached out to try to patch things up. If she wasn't worth even five minutes of his time to write a quick note then she didn't have the time to acknowledge him either. Knowing full well it was childish she deliberately left him out.

All three turned to her and had curious expressions about her outerwear plain on their faces, so she offered up the explanation. "I got back a couple of hours ago. I have just been down to visit Hagrid and Buck... I mean Witherwings. Did you have a good Christmas?"

"Yeah, pretty eventful. Rufus Scrim..." Ron tried answering, expecting her to act as if everything was normal and he hadn't spent the last two weeks avoiding contact with her…

She interrupted him, not interested in much of anything he had to say. "I have something for you, Harry. Hang on... The password is Abstinence."

"Precisely." The Fat Lady muttered before swinging forward and allowing them access to the crowded common room. Ron and Ginny went first, followed by her and Harry.

"What's up with her?" Harry asked.

"Overindulged over break, apparently. She and a friend drank their way through all the wine in that picture of drunk monks down by the Charms corridor." An exasperated roll of her eyes expressed her displeasure in having to spread portrait gossip. She reached into the inside pocket of her jacket and pulled out the scroll McGonagall had tasked her to give to him. "Anyways... Here you go."

"Great. I have loads to tell him and you... Let's sit down." His green eyes shone with worry as his eyes scanned what could only be a summons from Professor Dumbledore. He was excited over... Something. This couldn't be good, he didn't get that type of intense look unless it was serious.

Suddenly her ears were bombarded with a hair-raising shriek from Lavender of "Won-Won!" before the witch launched herself at the unsuspecting boy. She suctioned her lips to his in a kiss that didn't look like it would be ending anytime soon.

Hermione couldn't stop the grimace of disgust that flashed across her face. It wasn't that she didn't understand wanting to have an amorous reunion. It was only natural. But to always have to make it public and to the degree that they would... Ugh... It had to be one of the girl's kinks with the regularity that it happened. She shook her head and turned to Ginny and Harry. "There is an open table over there..."

"I need to go and meet Dean. I will see you guys later..." Ginny said before slipping into the crowd to find her boyfriend. They really needed to have that talk. By the lack of enthusiasm the girl displayed she knew it wouldn't be for her benefit. While they had written quick notes back and forth over break neither one had wanted to get into what was going on with them through written word.

Harry walked over to the table and sat down in one of the chairs impatiently. She quickly followed and situated herself across from him.

"So how was your Christmas?" He asked. Now that he knew he had her attention he could afford the politeness.

It was everything she had wished it to be. For the most part, her parents had adhered to her rules of no parties. She had only been drug to one New Year's celebration, so overall a win. They had spent their time together as a family. Partaking in all of the Granger Family Traditions. She hoped she would be able to have more like it with them in the future. She couldn't tell Harry any of that... Yet. So she just shrugged her shoulders. "Oh fine, nothing special. How was it at Won-Won's?"

Harry's eyes narrowed in her direction at the tone she had used. It was evident that he was on Ron's side. Which from his vantage point was probably understandable, but still stung. He hadn't even bothered to ask her about her side of things... He sighed heavily before starting in. "I will tell you in a minute. Look, Hermione, can't you...?"

"No... No I can't." She knew that he wanted her to apologize. Little did he know that she had already tried. Her efforts would never be enough though. She was always the one who needed to give it one more shot. Not this time, it was Ron's turn to apologize and make amends. "So don't even ask."

"I thought maybe, you know, over Christmas you would have cooled down some."

"It was the Fat Lady who drank a vat of five-hundred-year-old wine, Harry, not me. So what is this important news you want to tell me?" She asked pointedly, trying to change the subject.

It worked. Harry went into a rant about what he had overheard between Draco and Snape. Her mind wandered on exactly what it could all mean. "You... You don't think Snape...?"

"Was pretending to offer help so that he could trick Malfoy into telling him what he's doing?" Harry asked.

"Well... Yes." She hedged. All of this really was suspicious and cast her hero in a darker light than she wanted to admit.

He shrugged and answered grudgingly. "Ron's dad and Lupin think so. But this definitely proves Malfoy's planning something. You can't deny that!"

"No, I can't." She couldn't argue facts and he knew he had her cornered. There was nothing to say. The boy was guilty... But of what? They still didn't have proof of any actual wrongdoing. This could be a case of only getting part of the story…

"And he is working on Voldermort's orders, just like I said!" Harry exclaimed like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Hmmm... Did either of them actually mention Voldermort's name?" She shuddered at the thought of Draco kneeling before the lunatic. Her mind instantly tried to come up with another explanation. Any other explanation…

He frowned at her, trying to remember. "I'm not sure... Snape definitely said 'your master' though. And who else would that be?"

"I don't know. Maybe his father?" She asked, starting to worry her lip. She knew she was grasping at straws but her mind refused to accept what Harry was proposing. Draco couldn't be a Death Eater. It was bad enough being a Death Eater's son... She asked after Lupin to try and change the subject again. Anything to get her mind from the one thing that promised a massive amount of pain.

"Not great." Harry went into another long-winded summary of the obstacles faced by their former teacher. "Have you heard of Fenrir Greyback?"

It instantly clicked. She had heard that name once before... "Yes... Yes, I have. And so have you Harry..."

"When in 'History of Magic'? You know full well I never listened..." He said, getting annoyed.

"No... Not in 'History of Magic'... Malfoy threatened Borgin with him! Back in Knockturn Alley, don't you remember? He... He told Borgin that Greyback was an old family friend and... and... That he'd be checking up on his progress..."

Harry gaped at her as her words sunk in. He didn't even have the faintest idea that it felt like every drop of oxygen had been taken from the room with her realization. She clenched her hands trying to keep control of her emotions. She couldn't crack now, with the common room full of Gryffindors to witness the descent into the abyss. She could feel her nails digging into the palms of her hands, but she didn't care. The pain helped her to focus.

"I forgot about that! But this proves Malfoy's a Death Eater. How else could he be in contact with Greyback and be telling him what to do?" He pushed.

"It... It is pretty suspicious." She managed to force the words from her strangled throat.

"Oh come on! You can't get around this one!" Harry almost shouted at her in his exasperation.

Her mind tried coming up with something. Anything... Any other possibility than the obvious one. "Well... There is always the chance that it was an empty threat?"

"You're unbelievable, you are! We will see who is right and then you will be eating your words, Hermione. Just like the Ministry." He vowed angrily before switching back like nothing unpleasant had happened. "Oh yeah! I got into a row with Rufus Scrimgeour as well..."

He went on to tell her, in exhausting detail, about what had happened between him and the Minister of Magic. Thankfully all she had to do was nod and look shocked or angry at the expected moments. She couldn't handle more than that.

It was all too much.

There was no way this was possible. She had not just spent a week sneaking away to spend time with a frickin' Death Eater! What if... Oh Gods! What if he wasn't really interested in her?! What if it was all some sick ploy by Voldermort to get in with a member of Harry's inner circle?

And she very well could have played right into the trap…

Could Draco really be that good of an actor though? Were his kisses and soft words all a lie?

They had felt so real, with no hesitation. No one could be that good... Especially if he hated her still. There would be some tell. A twitch around his eyes or a grimace at her touch. Something to give him away.

She hoped she wasn't deluding herself. Maybe she couldn't imagine it because it would hurt too badly to tarnish those memories with a critical eye. They chased away the nightmares. They didn't need to join them.

Once again she found herself needing answers…

After everyone had finally retired to their beds she snuck out to the Owlery. Using a school owl she sent a note to be received in the morning. It was simple and straightforward.

Find me where I hide at midnight. Do not be late…

-\?/-\/-\?/-\?/-\?/-\?/-\?/-\?/-\?/-\?/-

Another chapter with a mix of mine and J.K.R.'s ideas [Ch. 17, A Sluggish Memory, HP&tHBP]. Lots of dialogue is from the book, just like in the last chapter like this. I did have to do a bit more twisting to this one though. :)

Anyways... Hope you enjoyed it. How do you think Hermione is going to react? What about Draco? What's his reaction going to be? Is he really playing a game?

Let me know down below, please! Even you future readers. I really do love seeing your guesses!

Oh and... Grace, don't feel bad. Our girl is much more confused than you are. Hopefully she gets some answers soon! Like, maybe the next chapter? :)

Hope your guys' nights are awesome!

As always…

Much love,

SyltherclawLuv